novelraw Chapter 323: The Birth of a New Card
Chapter 323: The Birth of a New Card
During the years Kamibi was imprisoned by the elders of the Grass, he was often subjected to the torture of the Tengoku no Rou (Heavenly Prison). Every time his heart burned under its searing pain, he would study its structure in the dead of night, trying to unravel the jutsu.
As the saying goes, "long illness makes the doctor"—and indeed, he did it. Kamibi managed to reverse-engineer the Heavenly Prison. Just when he was preparing to free himself and escape, suddenly the seal disappeared from his body on its own.
The understanding of the jutsu filled him with mixed emotions—joy, regret, and a bitter sadness.
Eventually, on a dark moonless night, Kamibi broke free. From then on, he set out on his journey to find the girl.
"…Back when Jinako lost control, I planted the Heavenly Prison on her, to suppress her rampages."
Kamibi's face twisted bitterly as he formed hand seals, explaining to Gin beside him.
The Heavenly Prison could do two things: suppress a target's chakra completely, turning them into a powerless shell—or ignite their chakra from within, burning until nothing remained.
"Gyaa!"
Go suddenly shrieked, feeling its body flare up with fire. Chains of flame wrapped around its vast form, and it immediately turned its eyes toward Kamibi, who stood shirtless, weaving seals, his aura blazing.
Its chakra—burning away at frightening speed.
Immortal or not, Go's existence depended on its core chakra. If that burned out completely… even it could truly die.
"Katon: Tengoku no Rou."
Kamibi's eyes were filled with grief. He knew what this meant. He was killing his wife. But if he didn't, the monster wearing her skin would keep devouring the innocent.
"Kamibi… it hurts…"
From within the fire, Jinako's pale face appeared, twisted in pain, tears streaming.
"Jinako…"
Kamibi's eyes trembled. For a moment, he faltered.
"Kamibi, let me go! I'm burning!"
Her pleading face was so convincing even Gin nearly clapped.
Tch. This monster's acting skills… it could at least get a free meal in a drama studio.
"…Thank you."
"Huh?"
Go froze, startled by Kamibi's sudden gratitude.
His eyes clung to Jinako's face with longing. Then, slowly, he closed his eyes. Formed the next seal.
"Katon: Gōka Tengoku no Rou (Great Fire Heavenly Prison)!"
"BOOM!"
The fiery chains surged, engulfing the monster. Jinako's face twisted, screaming in agony. Kamibi, jaw set, forced even more chakra into the blaze.
"You damned human!!"
Go dropped the act, its beastly head emerging once more, fangs bared. The monstrous voice slashed at Kamibi's mind, dripping with killing intent.
The minutes dragged. Go's vast body burned, but its chakra reserve was so deep that Kamibi's life force began to drain faster than it diminished. His skin paled, sweat poured, his body shriveling from the strain.
"Stop it—you'll die like this!"
Gin's crimson eyes watched, amused but frowning faintly. Kamibi's vitality was collapsing fast.
"I know. But there's no other way."
Kamibi's smile was pale, yet resolute.
Go sneered. "I'll outlast you. Let's see how long you last, human."
Time crawled. Kamibi's body shook violently, his breaths ragged. His thin frame hollowed.
"Is that all? Come on, burn hotter!" Go mocked, grinning wide.
But then—its grin froze.
"Kamibi…"
Jinako's voice returned, soft, desperate. Her face surfaced again, eyes burning with urgency.
"Kill me. Quickly!"
Kamibi's heart shattered.
She had discovered Go's secret years ago: it wasn't flesh, only malice given form. Without her body as vessel, it would be sucked back into the Box of Bliss. That was why… she begged for death.
"Jinako… I…"
He hesitated, trembling.
"Hurry!!"
Her face warped again, red carapace creeping over it. Go seized control once more, laughing cruelly.
"Human, next meal is your lover's heart!"
"Kamibi, do it now!!"
Jinako screamed as her last shred of consciousness began to sink again.
"JINAKO!!"
Kamibi roared, eyes burning. He sacrificed everything, life force pouring out of him like a storm.
"Katon: Gōka Tengoku no Rou!!!"
The flames erupted. Go howled in agony, rolling across the ground, its massive frame splitting and burning.
Amidst the pain, Jinako's face smiled faintly, tears in her eyes.
"…Thank you, Kamibi."
"Pfft—!"
Kamibi coughed blood, collapsing. Yet his eyes softened, gentle as he looked at her. Their gazes locked. Behind them, the monster screamed as fire consumed it.
"Clap! Clap! Clap!"
The sound of applause broke the tragic scene.
Both Kamibi and Jinako froze. Even Go stopped howling for a second, turning its head in disbelief.
"Subarashii! So touching!"
Gin and Kakuzu sat on folding stools, clapping wildly. Gin even wiped at his helmet's compound eyes.
"…When did I sit here?" Kakuzu muttered, realizing he'd somehow joined in.
"Don't worry about details. Just say—moved, or not?" Gin's voice dropped threateningly.
"M-moved! I've never been so moved in my life!" Kakuzu blurted.
"…That's better."
Gin rose, striding casually toward the burning monster.
"Rabbit knight! Don't come closer!" Jinako panicked.
Gin ignored her, crouching before Go's snarling face.
"…Ugly. You'll never survive in the Rider world without plastic surgery."
"…What?"
Go blinked, baffled.
"Who's in charge here? You, or her?" Gin asked lazily.
"Not the time!" Kamibi shouted, but Gin raised a hand, a gust flinging him away.
"Finally free again!" Go cackled, its body breaking the chains.
"Human, I'll allow you to be my first servant!"
"…Sorry. I don't kneel to anyone—unless you're a 1.5-meter-tall blonde loli with beast ears."
"…WHAT?!"
Go roared, charging, claws gleaming.
"Relax, kid." Kakuzu patted Kamibi's shoulder. "That's Decade Rider."
"B-but—!"
"No buts."
BANG! BAM! BAM!
Gin caught the monster one-handed, slamming it left and right like a ragdoll. Craters formed in the ground. Go's tongue lolled, eyes empty.
"You… who are you?!"
Gin's eyes lit up. At last—the line he had been waiting for.
"Since you asked sincerely, I'll answer. I am just a passing Kamen Rider—Decade Rider. Remember that."
He dropped Go carelessly.
"Decade Rider!!" Go shrieked, fury flaring. Its fins sharpened, glowing. It leapt high, blades descending.
"Double Guillotine!!"
Gin smirked. "Not bad. But…"
He shifted his stance, right leg sliding back.
"…Rider Kick."
A single spin. His leg brushed lightly across Go's body.
"Crack."
Time seemed to freeze.
Then—
BOOM!
The monster's body erupted, covered in countless glowing boot-prints. Its scream echoed as it exploded into red particles, scattering like dust.
Gin raised his hand, snapping his fingers. The particles surged into a blank card he held, engraving an image upon it—a crimson man-eating shark.
"Barely passable. But you'll do."
The name appeared:
[Alpha]
"…Jinako!"
Kamibi rushed forward, ignoring his broken body, scooping up the fallen girl.
"…Kamibi? Is this the Pure Land?" she whispered faintly.
"No. We survived. Thanks to the Rider." He pointed toward Gin.
But Gin turned, tone cold. "…You two don't get to walk away that easily."
Kamibi fell into a desperate bow, forehead slamming the earth until blood flowed.
"We'll accept any punishment! Just… don't separate us!"
Gin's eyes lingered on the town gates, the carved name above them.
"…Then spend your lives here. Protect this town you've scarred."
[Nozama]
(End of Chapter)
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