All across the Boiling Isles, witches and demons alike stared at their crystal balls in stunned silence, bearing witness to the final moments of Luz Noceda, the once feared Dark Empress Oscura. The news of her death rippled through every corner of the realm, filling homes and streets with a strange, haunting stillness. Only days ago, they would have celebrated her fall, but now a hollow ache settled over them. Luz had returned to right her wrongs, to redeem herself — and now she was gone.

In the Owl House, Eda's hands shook as she watched the girl she loved like a daughter taken from her yet again. Only this time, she knew there would be no coming back. Tears spilt down her cheeks, unchecked, her fierce composure shattered as the reality set in.

Beside her, Raine wrapped their arms around her, pulling her close as she let out a quiet, broken sob. Eda's shoulders shook under their hold, her heart raw with pain.

"Luz…" she whispered, her voice a strangled mix of sorrow and disbelief. "Why... Why...?"

Raine held her tighter, sharing her grief in silence, the weight of Luz's sacrifice settling over them both.

In the Blights' mansion, the family gathered around their crystal ball, the faint glow casting long shadows over their faces. Emira broke the silence, her voice quiet, laced with sorrow.

"Poor Mittens…"

They all looked away from the CB, grief hanging heavily in the room.

Meanwhile, Ghost was dutifully watching over the egg of her master's beloved in her bedroom. She could sense that her mistress was feeling a great agony in her heart, and part of her wanted to go out and help her. To either soothe that pain or help inflict it on the cause. But Ghost knew her mistress wouldn't want that right now. She gave her the task of watching over the little one within the egg. It was made by the one she loved, and right now, this might be the last thing she had left of her lover. She would not let any harm befall it.

However, it seemed the egg had other plans. Ghost screeched in shock as the egg started to glow. She then jumped back a couple of feet as she watched the egg slowly rise into the air. The cat Palisman panicked. She didn't know what this meant, or how to make it stop. Desperately, she jumped into the air and landed on top of the egg, hoping that her weight might make it fall back onto the bed. Unfortunately, Ghost only ended up slipping off the egg due to its smooth surface.

The egg started to glow brighter and brighter, and in the next moment, the egg blasted forth. It smashed through the balcony doors, making them explode outwards as glass and splintered wood littered the floor. A streak of purple light followed the path of the egg as it zoomed off into the distance.

Ghost jumped off the bed and stood at the edge of the balcony doorway, inspecting the damage before letting out a sigh, believing her mistress was going to be displeased with her when she found out her loyal companion had lost her beloved's egg.

Gato, Lumina and Amara stood before Terra. The three Riders looked beaten, their armour was scuffed with scorch marks and cracks. The future witches had come to aid Gato in her revenge-fueled attempts to destroy Terra for killing Luz. But their efforts were all for nought.

Terra was every bit as powerful as the Game Master warned, and then some. Her army was endless. And with a body that was not bound by the limitations of a witch's natural physiology, Terra's magical stamina was nearly infinite. As for her physical power, the witch's Jyamato body was strong and sturdy, making the blows from her punches and kicks hit like a runaway freight train.

To sum things up, things were not going well for them either.

"Oh, don't tell me that's all you've got, little Ms. Blight. I killed your lover, and this is all you can muster? I must say, I'm rather…disappointed. But then again, I guess you probably didn't love her as much as you profess you did, hmm?" Terra goaded.

The glow in Gato's eyes intensified as she glared at Terra hatefully.

"I'm going to carve open your chest…tear out your heart…AND MAKE YOU EAT IT!"

"Oh, you're welcome to try, Poppet," Terra dared.

"Aunt Amity, I know you're hurting. But you're going to die if this keeps up!" Amara warned.

"I understand your pain," Lumina added. "But we have to work together and come up with a plan to–!"

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT FROM EITHER OF YOU!" Gato yelled as she turned her glare onto Amara. "What does it matter if I die?! You're not my daughter or granddaughter or even my great-granddaughter! You're Emira's! So long as she lives, you'll still exist! And you!" Gato now glared at Lumina. "You'll still exist so long as Little Luz lives! What does it matter if I die!? So long as that bitch dies with me, then that's fine by me!"

Lumina and Amara realized it just now.

"Amity, you can't mean–!"

"Auntie, don't–!"

Gato, ignoring the two future witches, charged straight for Terra. The Queen Jyamato drew a large spell circle with both of her hands and conjured five Wyvern Jyamatos that appeared in Gato's path. The cat-themed Rider's eyes flared with magical energy as the vats on her legs produced Abomination slime, launching herself forward. She threw herself at the first Wyvern Jyamato as the beast opened its maw to release a blast of poison.

Gato willed the Abomination slime to form around her right leg and transformed it into a huge, glowing sickle. With a single, slashing kick, she violently decapitated the Wyvern Jyamato. Once it was beheaded, Gato landed on the stump of its neck and continued to move forward undaunted by the remaining four Wyvern Jyamatos. Another tried to attack her from the right while another attacked from the left. The Abomination slime gathered in her hands to form a kusarigama, a sickle-chain weapon. She tossed the chain at the Wyvern Jyamato on her left. Using her magic, she had the chain wrap around the monster's neck, and once it was secure, she jumped towards the Wyvern on her right.

Gato moved swiftly as she managed to get the chain wrapped around its neck. She jumped off its back and landed in the centre as she gave a hard tug on the chain, forcing the chain to go taut as it brought both Wyverns careening towards each other. The two Jyamato beasts crashed into one another as their necks were bound together by the chain. She sent a surge of her power into the blade of the sickle and swung it towards them, striking the Wyverns at the same time, beheading them both.

The fourth Wyvern came charging at her. The beast was about to pounce, but she was ready for it. The Abomination slime gathered around her hand, transforming into a large drill. She launched herself at the Wyvern Jyamato and slammed the drill right into its gut. The plant monster let out a painful wail as she pierced into its abdomen and burst out of its back, her body dripping with its green chlorophyll blood.

The last Wyvern Jyamato was in her way, so she made the slime form into a giant version of the Berserclaw and slashed the beast. The Abomination claws carved through the monster with ease, making it divide into four parts.

The cat-themed Rider landed on the ground as she dashed for Terra, yelling a powerful battle cry filled with anguish, vengeance and bloodlust.

She didn't care anymore. She didn't care if she died killing Terra, so long as she managed to kill the monster that killed her beloved, it didn't matter to her. Not anymore.

Terra, strangely, didn't do anything else to stop Gato. Not even when she reached down to her Raise Buckles to initiate her finisher.

[HYPER ABOMINATION VICTORY!]

Abomination slime poured out of Gato's armour, pooling beneath her feet. As the pool grew bigger, the slime crept up her body, encasing her, with only the glow of her eyes left visible. The slime soon took shape, granting her a pair of bat-like wings, four arms that ended in sharp claws, and a jaw full of sharp teeth.

Roaring loudly, Abomination Gato lunged forward, her claws glowing brightly as they became unbelievably sharp. She swung her claws at Terra, who did not even bother to dodge as she was slashed by the berserker. Glowing gashes marked the Queen Jyamatos before she was swallowed up by a huge explosion that obscured her.

"She did it," Amara spoke, amazed.

"No," Lumina countered, her eyes narrowed warily. "That was too easy."

As the slime melted off her body, Gato panted and huffed, letting out a growl as she readied to attack again. She knew it was too easy. There was no way a simple attack like that would take down Terra. Gato had to attack again before–

*STAB!*

"GAH!" Gato gasped as she felt something pierce her body. Looking down, she saw that a huge thorn had gone through her side.

"Ah, too bad, Poppet. Well, I hope that was fun for you," Terra mocked as the smoke cleared. The gashes on her body healed instantly, her flesh knitting together to remove them.

Terra withdrew the thorn and kicked Gato in the chest. The force of the blow sent Gato sailing in the opposite direction. The cat-themed Rider bounced on the ground like a stone skipping across the surface of a lake before she used her Abomination claw as an anchor to stop herself. Five long gashes formed on the stone road. When she finally stopped, Gato realized that she had stopped right next to the other person responsible for Luz's death...

"You…" Gato growled.

"I-I'm sorry…" Bria stammered, trembling in fear.

Gato's eyes were glowing bright purple, filled with rage.

"I should kill you, too! If it wasn't for you, Luz would still be – she wouldn't have – AH!" Gato winced as her wound throbbed and blood started seeping out. "Damn that bitch…she missed my vitals on purpose…"

"Ahahahahaha! Ooh, this is grand! Just grand! I killed that little wench! And now I'm about to create the most beautiful garden for myself! I will reshape the Boiling Isles in my image, and from here I shall spread this beauty across the Demon Realm and to all worlds!" Terra glanced at the other Riders. "And my first stop will be that wretched Human Realm. It could use my brand of beautification, don't you think?"

Gato dragged herself up to a standing position, placing her hand on her wound.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And from where I'm standing…you're the ugliest thing I've ever seen."

Terra's expression shifted to an annoyed frown.

"Since you seem to have a death wish, I'll oblige you! Go and be with your 'beloved', and lament your failures together!"

Terra's body erupted with countless tendrils, each one lined with razor-sharp thorns glistening with malice. Like serpents, they writhed and lashed out in unison, surging toward Gato with terrifying speed.

Lumina and Amara reacted instantly, raising their Laser Raise Risers and opening fire. Beams of energy tore through the air, striking the oncoming vines in rapid succession.

But no matter how many they destroyed, it wasn't enough. Each time a tendril was blasted apart, it regenerated almost instantly, growing back even faster than before.

The relentless assault showed no sign of stopping.

"AMITY!"

"AUNTIE!"

Gato watched the tendrils surge toward her…and dropped her guard.

Why fight it anymore?

What was the point?

Without Luz, was life even worth living? She was gone — lost forever — and Amity had failed to protect her. Even if she somehow survived this battle, she would have to live with the crushing truth that Luz would never come back.

Her fists trembled. Her vision blurred.

"…Luz, I'll see you soon…" she whispered.

And then—

"You're right!"

A voice rang out, clear and defiant.

A pillar of aurora light crashed down from the sky, slamming into the ground just inches in front of Gato. The vines that had been reaching for her recoiled the instant they touched the light, as if seared by an invisible flame.

Terra shrieked in pain, yanking them back, her expression twisting into something between shock and fury. She expected them to regenerate, but they didn't.

Panic crept into her eyes. That was impossible. Her regenerative abilities should have already healed the damage.

But they hadn't.

Everything stopped.

The battlefield fell silent as all eyes turned toward the radiant column of light. Even the Jyamatos, Adrian, and the other DGP Riders halted their clashes, momentarily forgetting their fight.

Nearby, a handful of news reporters stood frozen, cameras locked onto the pillar. Within moments, the entire Boiling Isles was watching.

Was this an act of the Titan?

Had their god taken pity on them and decided to help them out?

The pillar of light remained for a few more seconds before it finally broke down into a shower of cascading rainbow feathers. From that pillar of light emerged a new Kamen Rider, one that no one had ever seen before.

Her helmet gleamed in gold, with wing-like frills elegantly extending from the sides. The upper half of the helmet featured luminous green eyes and a crest that evoked the visage of an owl. The visor, crafted from a violet, amethyst-like crystal, was framed with intricate metallic designs that gave the illusion of piercing eyes.

The gold chestplate, resembling the top half of an owl's face, bore a commanding presence, accented by two glowing green eyes that pulsed faintly. Her pauldrons were layered like feathers, seamlessly blending with the chestplate's design. Below, a long, flowing waistcoat of deep violet cascaded down, its sharp black patterns and gold-edged trim giving it an air of regality.

Her forearms were protected by sleek silver bracers, each adorned with a gold stripe running down the middle, which formed delicate rings around her wrists. Her boots forged from the same gold-like metal as her armour featured elegant wings at the ankles. Black and gold knee pads completed the design, lending a balance of strength and grace.

At her waist sat a Driver — unfamiliar to many, though Gato, Honey, and Mirage recognized its distinctive design.

But the most breathtaking element of her armour was the cape, a masterpiece of aurora light that seemed alive with motion. Its lower edges resembled the intricate wings of a bird, shifting seamlessly between colours as it fluttered in the crosswinds of her arrival. Each movement released delicate feathers of prismatic light that shimmered briefly before dissolving like stardust.

"What…who…?" Gato stammered at the sight of the new Rider.

She turned around and gazed warmly at Gato.

"Don't worry, sweet potato. Everything is going to be alright."

Gato's eyes widened. That voice, she knew that voice anywhere.

"Luz…is that you?!"

"Empress Oscura…?" Bria questioned as she looked upon the Rider with awe.

"Yes and no," the new Rider answered. "What stands before you is neither Luz nor Oscura. I am a being comprising both of them. Light and darkness, along with the magic of the Boiling Isles, have come together for this one moment to end the scourge that threatens all realms!"

The new Rider raised her right hand into the air. As soon as she did, a bright light like a star shined in the distance. That same star zoomed past the rooftops and stopped just above her hand. That was when Gato saw that it was the Palisman egg that Luz had carved.

"Hey there, little one. I know it might be early, but do you think you can lend your mamá a hand?"

As if responding to her call, the Palisman began to crack as light seeped from the fissures. In a burst of magical energy, the egg shattered apart to release a small galaxy of swirling and sparkling hues of purple and violet. From that swirling galaxy, a weapon began to materialise. The new Rider grabbed hold of it, causing the light that coated the weapon to flake off and reveal its true form.

The weapon resembled a traditional witch's staff, exuding both elegance and power. Its grip was wrapped in vibrant red, offering a firm yet refined hold. Below the grip, the sleek, white shaft extended, gradually tapering into a sharp, spear-like point. Surrounding the tip was a large golden feather that acted as a blade, giving the staff a distinct and striking appearance.

At the top of the staff perched a beautifully crafted golden owl, serving as both a focal point and a Palisman. The owl's design was intricate, with its body and wings detailed in fine filigree. The chest of the golden owl opened dramatically, its wings spreading wide as if taking flight.

Within the owl's chest, a mesmerizing display awaited: a cluster of four glowing crystal orbs, each radiating a soft, otherworldly light. The orbs shimmered in vibrant hues, each corresponding to one of the four elemental glyphs: fire, ice, plant, and light.

[Glyphowlcalibur!]

The new Rider brought down the staff's feather blade tip against the ground, creating a shockwave of sparkling energy that blasted through the area, creating a strange, comforting warmth that seemed to lift the spirits of those around them while also making the Jyamato army reel in revulsion.

"As I said before, I am neither Luz nor Oscura. I am a unified being who has come here to rid this world of your evil, Terra Snapdragon! You can call me Kamen Rider Luzura!"

Kamen Rider Luzura's aurora cape flared out as if she were spreading her wings. The reborn heroine raised her weapon into the air as the eyes of her helmet, staff, and visor glowed bright, brimming with power.

The combined heroine glanced over her shoulder at a still stunned Head Priestess.

"Bria, now is the time to rejoice."

Bria's eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat as she was filled with renewed hope and admiration. With conviction, she stood up as the cultists looked at her. With a beaming smile on her face, she thrust both her arms out as if presenting Luzura.

"REJOICE! FOR THE ARRIVAL OF OUR NEW SAVIOUR! SHE WHO HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK BY A MIRACLE OF THE TITAN! SHE NOW STANDS BEFORE US AS AN INCARNATION OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS! TWO OPPOSITES MADE ONE, IN A GRAND HEROIC IMAGE! AND HER NAME IS KAMEN RIDER LUZURA!" Bria announced in the most bombastic fashion she could muster. "Now, let us witness the majesty of her power!"

Luzura chuckled. She figured Bria would lay it on thick, and she liked it. The united Rider turned around and stared at her beloved for a long moment.

"So…you're both. Luz and Oscura… I …I don't know how to feel about that, honestly. I'm happy to have you back, but at the same time…" Gato's conflicting emotions were seriously ruining the moment. She should be overjoyed to have her future wife back from the dead. And she was. But the fact that Luz came back as a fused being with the person she despised the most, it was something she had difficulty wrapping her head around.

Luzura reached out with her left hand and cupped Gato's face.

"No need to worry. This form is only temporary, mi amor. But take comfort in one thing: even though they both despise each other, the one thing they both agree on – above anything else – is how much they love you." Luzura moved her left hand down from Gato's helmet and right over her wound. Multiple glyphs formed around her hand, and in a flash of light, the damage to Gato's armour had been mended. Not only that, but the pain Gato was feeling was gone, and the wound healed.

Terra was furious right now. She had killed her. She had killed Oscura. And yet, somehow, the little bitch was back from the dead. It was as if the universe itself was spitting in her face, mocking her.

"This is getting rather irksome! How many times do I have to kill that little bitch before she stays dead! And on that note…" Terra swiftly slammed her hand against the ground. "HOW DARE YOU IGNORE ME!?"

The ground below Terra began to rumble violently. A moment later, the stone and dirt blasted upwards as a giant plant monster erupted from the underground. It had several thorns around its body made of tightly coiled vines. The head of the creature had several crimson flower petals lined up in a ring near its mouth, and each petal had a single glassy eye. The plant monster's mouth was huge and lined with numerous rows of thorn teeth that made it appear as if you were staring into the mouth of a meat grinder.

Luzura glanced over her shoulder as she whistled.

"Oh, wow, a Mongolian Death Worm? You're really getting creative there, Terra."

"THANKS FOR YOUR CRITIQUE! WHY DON'T YOU ENJOY IT UP CLOSE?!"

Terra gave her a mental command for the Death Worm Jyamato to attack. The beast rose up higher, and dove into the ground. A great tremor rumbled throughout the entire area, making even Adrian a little scared of what Terra was about to do.

"Is she going to swallow the entire square?!" Red-Pan shouted.

"Terra, what are you doing?!" Adrian questioned in a panic.

"If that's the case, then I guess I'll respond." Luzura raised her Glyphowlcalibur and pulled the trigger three times. As soon as she did, the green crystal orb glowed bright.

"Rise!"

Luzura struck the tip of her staff against the ground, sending green energy tendrils surging through the dirt and rock.

The ground rumbled violently, shaking with a force that grew stronger with each passing moment. Muffled impacts echoed beneath their feet, creating a cacophony of tension that rippled through the air.

Terra frowned, confusion darkening her features as she scanned the battlefield. Her Death Worm Jyamato should have surfaced by now. But before she could piece together the reason for the delay, the answer erupted before her: the ground between her and Luzura heaved, cracks splintering outward like a spider web across the stone road. With an explosive burst, two massive plant creatures tore through the earth, rising high into the air.

One was Terra's creation, the Death Worm Jyamato. But the second was something altogether different, and it stole the attention of all who gazed upon it: the newcomer resembled an Eastern dragon, its body an awe-inspiring amalgamation of nature's might. Its sinuous form was composed of interwoven wood, grass, and soil, its mane a cascade of vines adorned with delicate cherry blossoms that swayed with each motion. Majestic horns, crafted from the curving trunks of ancient white oak trees, arched gracefully behind its head, their tips gleaming like polished ivory. Its fangs, massive and sharp, were forged from pure white thorns, glinting with an otherworldly menace.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE TITAN IS THAT THING?!" Terra exclaimed.

"Gaia Dragon!" Luzura called.

"Nice," Honey praised, awed by Luzura's creation.

The Gaia Dragon had coiled itself tightly around the Death Worm Jyamato, its muscular body constricting like a serpent. Its jaws clamped down fiercely on the worm's neck, the white fangs digging deep into the writhing monstrosity. As the two titanic beings struggled in a primal clash of dominance, the battlefield fell into an uneasy silence, save for the thunderous roars and splintering wood of their violent clash.

Luzura raised her right hand and pointed it at the Gaia Dragon as she gave another command:

"Burst and Bloom!"

The green eyes of the Gaia Dragon shined brightly before the rest of its body glowed as well. The Death Worm struggled against its captor, but it was of no use as the dragon's body held fast. Once the Gaia Dragon's body was completely illuminated, it exploded, producing green tendrils of light that dug into the Death Worm, as if taking it over. Terra could feel her connection to her creation being broken completely as the Death Worm was merged with the Gaia Dragon, transforming both of them into a giant cherry blossom tree.

"What do you think, Terra? I think it looks better than that ugly thing you made. I would think a Plant witch of your calibre would want to fill the world with beauty rather than these hideous abominations," Luzura teased.

"Hi-Hi-HIDEOUS?! HOW DARE YOU DARE CALL MY CREATIONS HIDEOUS!?" Terra yelled with fury.

"Well, considering who the artist is, I guess it's no surprise," Luzura continued.

'Yeah, I'm starting to see Oscura's influence coming through,' Gato observed in thought.

Luzura disappeared in a flurry of rainbow feathers, and everyone glanced about in all directions to see where she went. That was when the fused heroine reappeared right in front of Terra. She smirked under her helmet as multiple glyph patterns appeared over her right arm before she slammed her palm against Terra's chest. Upon impact, a powerful shockwave erupted that flung Terra towards the House of Justice. The Jyamato-witch hybrid smashed through the building before coming out the other side.

Luzura disappeared and reappeared on an intercept path. Just before Terra could pass her, she spun in midair and kicked the Queen Jyamato straight into the air.

Terra growled in anger as a pair of bat-like wings made from vines sprouted from her back, bringing herself to a halt in midair. She looked around for her enemy, but failed to find her until she was already right behind her.

"Where are you looking at, Terra?"

"AURRGH!"

Several spear-like vines shot out from Terra's back in an attempt to skewer the bane of her existence. However, Luzura had already flown out of range. Terra spun around as she transformed both of her arms into cannons. Black and green energy gathered within the barrels before being discharged in powerful dual beams that roared through the air at the fused heroine.

Luzura pulled the trigger of her Glyphowlcalibur once, activating the light glyph orb.

"Ray of Light!"

A huge light glyph appeared in the air before her along with several, smaller, interconnected light glyphs to form a pattern in the air. Once they had come together, the smaller ones channelled their power into the larger one, unleashing a huge beam of radiant golden light.

The twin dark beams crashed into the golden beam, sending yet another powerful shockwave that rumbled through the air. The beams clashed in the skies above, neither one backing down as they battled for supremacy.

"Gotta say, the Titan really hooked me up. Feels good not having to call on my negative emotions to use powerful magic. This is how magic should be wielded! Freely! And from your heart!"

The beam of golden light suddenly doubled in size as it began to overtake Terra's twin beams. The Queen Jyamato's eyes widened with shock as she hurriedly cancelled her attack and flew high to avoid getting hit by the beam as it continued to sail in the distance before becoming a golden star in the sky.

Terra wasn't deterred as she formed two plant swords in her hands and flew at Luzura. The fused heroine twirled her staff around, switching it into Saber Mode as she met Terra's oncoming attack with her own. The two clashed their blades as an eruption of multicoloured lightning spread throughout the skies as the sound of thunder roared.

Lumina and Amara were standing on a rooftop as they witnessed the clash between Luzura and Terra. With each strike of their weapons, more lightning and thunder spread through the skies. Despite having witnessed it, they were still in disbelief that it happened.

"How the hell did that happen?! S-She died! I mean, I'm not mad about it. But still, HOW?!" Amara exclaimed in confusion.

"Amara," said Lumina. "Let's not question the miracle of the Titan." Amara could hear some sniffling coming from her lover. To which she reached out and placed a comforting hand on Lumina's shoulder. "I'm just happy my Aunt Luz is back."

Just then, Kamen Rider Leviathan landed behind them. The gigantic Rider crossed his arms as he looked over the battle that was going on in the air and on the ground below.

"Decided to dip out?" Amara asked.

"This isn't our fight now, it's theirs. We're their Supporters. If they need it, we'll support them. But I think they got it now," Leviathan explained.

Lumina chuckled.

"True. Then let us bear witness to history!"

The Game Master's jaw had dropped. Oscura dying was one thing, but she had somehow come back to life. Even the player registry showed her as an active player under the new name of 'Kamen Rider Luzura'.

It didn't make any sense.

How was this happening at all?

'How in the world is this girl so powerful?! What eldritch deity did she make a deal with to get away with cheating death?! On one hand, it seems she's been resurrected with the power to match the Queen Jyamato. At this rate, she may actually defeat that creature. But on the other hand…she's proving to be a greater annoyance than I had previously anticipated.'

The Game Master took his eyes off the main monitor and glanced at the rest of the screens around him, each showing him the audience's reactions.

The DGP feed's comment section was going wild:

[HOLY SMOKES, SHE CAME BACK TO LIFE?!]

[Is that even allowed?]

[Who cares, this is epic!]

[A fused Kamen Rider?! Now that's sick!]

[Wait, so Luz Noceda and Oscura are fused? What would that look like under the suit?]

[Get your head out of the gutter, and enjoy this fight! This isn't something you get to see every day!]

[You guys do remember that if they don't win…WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE?! KILL THAT WEED, LUZURA!]

More and more comments were flooding in, the vast majority of them being positive towards this new development. The ratings also went through the roof, with a much, much higher viewership than what the trial had originally attracted.

Despite how irritating Luz had become, even the Game Master prayed for her victory.

"Luz Noceda, I wish you luck."

"WHOO-HOOOOOOOO!" Eda cheered as she jumped off her seat and fist-pumped into the air. "THAT'S MY GIRL! THAT'S YOUR BIG SISTER IN ACTION!"

Lil' Luz and King were staring in awe at the crystal ball, which showed Kamen Rider Luzura in all her awesome glory. The two of them had bawled their eyes out when they saw Luz die and disappear. Even their mom and Raine were devastated. But then that pillar of light appeared, and Luz came back as a new Kamen Rider. She looked so cool and heroic, and now she was fighting against the big bad to save them all.

"I wanna be a Kamen Rider like Big Sis!" Lil' Luz exclaimed.

"Heck, yeah!" King shouted.

Tsumuri, who had been watching these events from her tablet in the Desire Temple, smiled gratefully when she saw the name 'Luzura' appear as part of the roster of active Riders. This was the first time that she could remember that she felt true relief and happiness to see one of their contestants alive and well.

For many years, throughout countless seasons of the Desire Grand Prix, Tsumuri had not felt anything for the Riders. Yes, she cared as far as her duties as a navigator were concerned, but she never experienced this level of concern or even happiness for the safety of a Rider before. Truly, this season of the Desire Grand Prix had made her aware of emotions she never thought she had.

"Luzura, go forth and win!"

Red-Pan smirked upon seeing the resurrected Oscura…Luz…doing battle with the cause of this nightmare. Despite not seeing her crush's face, Red-Pan could tell that Gato was feeling overjoyed right now. But now wasn't the time to get swept up in emotion.

"GUYS! DON'T LET NOCEDA SHOW US UP! SHE'S NOT THE ONLY KAMEN RIDER HERE WHO CAN KICK ASS, RIGHT?!" Red-Pan yelled.

Although they all had mixed feelings when it came to Red-Pan, the other Riders couldn't deny that she had a point: this stage was big enough for more than one Rider, and it was time they caught their second wind.

"As much as I hate to admit it…" Just then, Gato came surfing in on a wave of Abomination slime as she landed at the head of the group. She glanced over her left shoulder at the others. "Boscha's right. We have our part to play, too."

The Adrian clones all let out a hearty, mocking laugh at the Riders.

"You really think you can beat me?"

"Just because Oscura came back to life?"

"Don't think that means you're going to win against me."

"You have a point, but what if we all worked together?" Gato inquired.

"What?"

The ground erupted violently, sending hundreds of jagged stone glaives shooting upward in a deadly forest of spikes. The glaives tore through the clones, impaling them with ruthless precision. Moments later, streams of Abomination slime twisted around the stone blades, hardening into sharp, glinting shards. These shards launched in rapid succession, piercing through the heads and chests of the clones with devastating accuracy.

As if the onslaught wasn't enough, a barrage of potion flasks descended from above, shattering on impact. Each explosion unleashed a fiery burst or a cloud of caustic smoke, scattering the clones like leaves in a storm. One by one, the Adrian clones dissolved into nothingness, leaving only destruction in their wake.

"WHAT'S GOING ON?!" Adrian shrieked.

At that moment, Bria, along with her Elite Four, appeared in front of Gato. Each of them were ready for battle. On the outskirts, several members of the Children of Oscura were all poised and ready for battle.

"We'll take care of the clones. You all deal with that monster," Bria volunteered.

"Don't think I've forgotten, Bria. We still have unfinished business," Gato warned.

"Believe me…I am aware of that. And for my mistake, I'm willing to pay the price. But for now, please, allow me to try and atone for that mistake… At the very least, take the first step."

Gato glanced at the other members of the group, Marina, Vuvu, the twins, and even Geo all seemed to be on the same page as Bria. How true that would be after this was over would be a different story. But for now, they were united in their goal to end the Jyamato threat.

"I won't let this stand! A bunch of Oscura-worshipping fanatics standing between me and my destiny! I will not allow it!" Adrian roared.

"No, we won't allow you to kill our friends!" Newtonne proclaimed. She has had enough of this, of Terra and Adrian. She was not about to see another one of her friends die like that again. Never again. She widened her stance as she gripped her sword with both hands. Her visor suddenly glowed bright green as a surge of power flowed through the brainy Rider's body. Emerald lightning arced off her body, causing small pieces of debris to float off the ground around her feet while her cape fluttered in the wind generated by her power.

"I've seen someone I love die in front of me! I won't see another person I care about die again!" Soaron announced. Her eyes glowed with magenta light while flames raged around her body. Bright magenta embers danced the air around her as the flames grew in intensity, building up for the attack to come.

"This ends now," stated Newtonne.

"Agreed," Soaron concurred.

Several Adrian clones leapt into the air, their transformed blade arms poised to strike, ready to cut down the group of Riders.

Soaron stepped in front of Newtonne, clenched her right fist, and punched the air, unleashing a torrent of flames that blasted a hole straight through the incoming swarm.

Newtonne wasted no time. She jumped just as Soaron planted her feet, using her teammate as a platform. With precision, she kicked off Soaron's shoulder, launching herself forward like a bullet.

She didn't waste a single movement.

Ignoring the clones entirely, Newtonne dashed straight through them, her focus locked onto one target: the real Adrian.

Adrian's confidence wavered. He watched her cut through the battlefield with pinpoint determination, closing the distance at an alarming speed.

And for the first time, a flicker of worry crossed his face.

'Impossible, did she manage to pinpoint my location?! How?! Not even that boy was able to see which one was the real me!' Adrian thought in panic.

Newtonne tossed her sword into the air as two clones lunged to intercept her.

Without missing a beat, she countered — twisting her body into a spinning backhand punch that sent the first clone reeling. She seamlessly followed up with a spinning right heel kick, her momentum carrying through as her foot slammed into the second clone, launching it in the opposite direction.

As the clones flew back, Newtonne landed smoothly, before twice sheathing and unsheathing the blade on her Raise Buckle, preparing for her next strike.

[WISE SWORD VICTORY!]

Newtonne leapt into the air, spinning once before snatching her sword mid-flight. The moment her fingers closed around the hilt, tornadic streams of green energy spiralled around the blade, crackling with raw power.

Adrian held his ground, nestled safely among his clones. Surely, she couldn't tell which one was—

She did.

In a flash, Newtonne dropped straight down, landing right in front of the real Adrian. Her visor pulsed with an ominous emerald glow, locking onto him with predatory precision.

Before he could react, she slashed diagonally, her blade carving through the air in a jagged streak of green light. In the same breath, she followed up with a second slash, the two strikes forming a glowing 'X' across his chest.

With deadly precision, Newtonne twirled her sword once before driving it forward — piercing straight through him.

The jagged 'X' on his chest flared, its energy absorbed into the blade. Then, with a final surge of power, it fired off in a concentrated beam, tearing a massive, gaping hole through Adrian's torso.

The blast didn't stop there. The beam ripped through the clones behind him, obliterating several in a single instant.

Adrian stumbled backwards a few steps before catching himself. The damage was severe, but it was already starting to heal.

"Nice try, but that won't be enough to–!"

[RISING PHOENIX VICTORY!]

Adrian's eyes widened at the announcement. He barely had time to react before Soaron burst into existence behind him, embers swirling around her like falling stars.

In an instant, magenta flames engulfed her entire right fist, the heat distorting the air around it. With a fierce battle cry, the avian Rider threw a full-powered uppercut, driving her flaming fist straight into Adrian's midsection.

The impact was cataclysmic.

The magenta flames erupted like a volcanic explosion, swallowing Adrian in a storm of shimmering fire. He let out a piercing cry of agony as the sheer force of the punch sent him rocketing into the sky, leaving a blazing trail in his wake.

As the explosion finally settled, his body plummeted back to the ground, charred and smouldering. But even as his Jyamato regeneration kicked in, something was different.

The flames still clung to his body, burning away at him. His healing was slower, struggling against the lingering fire.

For the first time, Adrian realised he might not be able to regenerate fast enough.

"Hope you're ready for something spicy!" Joy exclaimed.

Adrian blinked. And that was when he could see Red-Pan, Joy, and Kata now hovering above him.

[Rock Fire!]

[BOOST TIME!]

[BOOST TIME!]

The exhaust ports on Kata's right arm ignited in unison with the ones on Red-Pan's left arm, sending out bursts of heat and sparks. Within seconds, both of their fists were engulfed in crimson flames, burning with raw intensity.

At the same time, Joy's Beat Axe erupted into fire, the flames dancing along its strings, crackling with energy.

[TACTICAL FIRE!]

[BOOST GRAND VICTORY!]

[BOOST GRAND VICTORY!]

Simultaneously, Red-Pan and Kata smashed their fists into Adrian's face. The impact released an explosion that sent him plummeting towards the ground. But before he crashed, Joy slashed the air and sent a flaming crescent down to meet him. The attack hit its mark and exploded, further engulfing the Jyamato hybrid in searing flames.

[HYPER FANTASY VICTORY!]

Without warning, a magic circle materialized beneath him, its intricate design bearing the motif of a nine-tailed fox. Before he could react, Kurma raised their right hand, making a subtle yet deliberate gesture.

A split second later, the circle erupted, sending a pillar of gold and purple light surging upward, engulfing Adrian in its radiant fury.

He screamed, his voice raw with agony. His body was desperately trying to heal itself, regeneration working in overdrive — but it wasn't saving him.

It was only prolonging his suffering.

And then, through the haze of pain, realization struck.

He finally understood what they were trying to do.

'They want to overwhelm me! They want me to overtax my body to the point that I have to focus on regenerating my body or risk dying!'

"HELP ME, YOU FOOLS!" Adrian ordered.

His clones were currently occupied by the Children of Oscura. The horde of cultists were swarming the clones, hitting them with anything and everything at their disposal.

Bria and her Elite Four were putting in a good chunk of the work as they shattered one clone after the other. With Adrian being otherwise distracted, his hold on the clones was severely weakened to the point that even non-Riders like them were able to do damage to his illusions.

[GIGANT STRIKE!]

Suddenly, a green and yellow energy-coated sword sliced through the pillar of light and right through Adrian Graye himself.

The hybrid Jyamato gasped in agony as his body was severed in two, his upper and lower halves splitting apart.

But he wasn't given a chance to process the damage.

Honey came crashing down from above, wielding her Gigant Hammer, now supercharged with energy. In an instant, the weapon expanded into a colossal construct, twice the size of the original.

Then she swung.

The Gigant Hammer slammed down, smashing both halves of Adrian into the ground with a devastating impact. The sheer force of the attack carved out a massive crater, leaving Adrian's imprinted remains embedded deep within the earth.

But even that wasn't enough to stop him.

Tendrils of Jyamato vines sprouted from both halves of his body, writhing and twisting as they desperately tried to reconnect.

Honey wasn't about to let that happen.

Without hesitation, she jumped over the crater, flipping her Gigant Blaster downward. She pulled the trigger, and a massive beam of green and pink energy erupted from the weapon, streaking toward the crater before detonating in a colossal explosion.

Her aim was perfect.

The blast struck Adrian's lower half, completely obliterating it.

Now, Adrian had no choice but to regenerate his entire lower body — on top of the damage his upper half had already sustained.

The hole in his chest had finally closed…

But his body was still in ruins.

[HYPER ABOMINATION VICTORY!]

The ground under the crater suddenly erupted as a huge version of the Zombie Breaker rose, made entirely out of Abomination slime. The teeth of the giant chainsaw sword rotated rapidly, creating a continuous streak of purple and violet light that ground and tore at the back of Adrian as he was forced to rise into the air. As he rose higher and higher, Adrian noticed that he was in the sights of the final member of their group, Kamen Rider Mirage.

"NO! NOOOOOOO!" Adrian yelled in desperation.

"IT'S OVER, ADRIAN!" Mirage roared as he descended, his jet engines flaring behind him, propelling him forward at breakneck speed.

His right leg extended, locking into a perfect flying kick pose. Energy crackled around him as he streaked toward his target like a missile.

He couldn't help himself — this was the moment.

With all the force he could muster, he shouted the magic words:

"RIDEEEERRRR KICCCCCCKKK!"

[COMMAND TWIN VICTORY!]

Mirage's right foot ignited, blazing with azure energy that crackled like a raging wildfire. The jets on his back roared, releasing a powerful burst that sent him hurtling downward at blinding speed.

In a single, decisive instant — impact.

His flaming kick slammed into the centre of Adrian's chest, the force rippling through his body like a shockwave.

Adrian let out a piercing scream, his arms flailing wildly as his head thrashed back and forth in a panic. He had just come back to life, he wasn't ready to die again!

"MERCY! I BEG OF YOU! MERCYYYYY!"

"SORRY, GOT NONE TO SPARE!"

Mirage's right foot blazed even brighter, the energy around it intensifying as the jets behind him roared, turning white-hot with sheer force. With unrelenting power, he drove Adrian backwards, slamming him against the grinding, rotating teeth of the giant Zombie Breaker.

For a fleeting second, Adrian's body strained against the onslaught.

Then, finally, detonation.

A massive explosion ignited the air, engulfing the battlefield in a fiery inferno. Simultaneously, every one of Adrian's remaining clones shattered like glass, their illusions breaking apart in an instant.

As the blast settled, Mirage landed smoothly, skidding to a halt before his fellow Riders.

Above them, the dying embers of the explosion flickered in the sky.

In the shadows it cast, the eyes and visors of every Rider gleamed brilliantly, their silent stares fixed on the destruction before them.

Emira and Edric jumped into the air as they shouted out with excitement.

"YEAAAAAAH! GO MITTENS!" Edric yelled.

"KICK SOME ASS, SIS! WOOOHOOO!" Emira exclaimed, loudly.

Alador sighed with relief. The battle was looking grim, but now the tide had turned. And all because of the human girl, Luz Noceda. Truly, her presence was something of a rallying cry for her little girl and their friends.

"GOOOO WILLOOOOOOOWW!"

"DID YOU SEE THAT!? THAT'S OUR BABY GIRL RIGHT THERE!"

"This is Perry Porter, coming to you live from the streets outside of the House of Justice where moments ago, Oscura – or as she is now known as Luzura – appeared and is now doing battle with a transformed Terra Snapdragon in the skies above our town. And just now, the other Kamen Riders have defeated the former Head of the Illusion Coven, Adrian Graye. As a reporter, I am here to give you an unbiased telling of the news and events that transpire here."

Perry fixed his glasses as he stood up straight.

"That being said, what I say next is not as a reporter, but as a proud father of one of those Riders." Perry turned around and faced the direction where the other Riders were. "YEESSSSSSSS! THAT'S MY SON OUT THERE! YOU DID IT, GUS! THAT WAS INCREDIBLE! YEAH! YEAH! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

After freaking out the other reporters with his outburst, Perry composed himself and turned around to face the camera.

"It should also be made known that the members of the cult, the Children of Oscura, rendered aid to the Kamen Riders to assist in the defeat of Adrian Graye. What does this mean for their organization going forward, and for the stability of the Boiling Isles? We shall have to wait and see."

The young illusionist puffed and panted, and as he stood up he shook with glee.

"I JUST DID MY FIRST RIDER KICK!"

Honey walked up and patted her friend on the back.

"Guess you can cross that one off your bucket list."

"I still need to own a Human Realm bucket. Dang, I should've got one back when we were in the DGP," Mirage lamented.

"Guys, we can't relax yet," Kata reminded them.

"He's right, this isn't over yet until the wicked bitch is dead," Kurma stated.

All the Riders turned their attention back to the skies as the battle between Luzura and Terra the Queen Jyamato was still raging as lightning and thunder continued to rage above.

"…Luz, you can do it," Gato whispered.

Luzura and Terra were floating in the skies above Bonesborough, sizing each other up as they contemplated their next move. But Terra's attention was briefly drawn back to the ground when she sensed Adrian's passing.

"ADRIAN!?" Terra screamed.

"And then there was one. You're on your own now, Terra," Luzura taunted.

"Heh, in all honesty, I should probably thank your little friends. When I recreate him, I'll make sure to tinker with him so that he's not as annoying as he usually is," Terra retorted.

Luzura sighed as she apologized, "Terra, I'm sorry."

"...Excuse me?"

"I know it doesn't make up for what I did all those years ago," Luzura said, her voice steady yet laced with regret. "I never meant to take your life… but I did. And I understand your anger, your hatred toward me." She stretched out her left hand toward Terra, an unspoken offer lingering in the space between them. "But is this really what you want? To become this monster? To bring harm to the people of the Boiling Isles? You've been given a second chance at life — literally. Just like I have. Just like so many others have. I didn't bring you and the others back expecting a 'thank you.' I did it because it wasn't my place to take your lives in the first place." Luzura's voice softened, yet there was conviction in her words. "But now, you still have a choice. You can still be something more. Someone better."

Terra clicked her tongue, a sharp, irritated sound. Then she scoffed, rolling her eyes before fixing Luzura with a smirk.

"Tch. Hate to break it to you, Sprout, but this?" She gestured to herself, to the monster she had become. "This is exactly what I want." Her voice dripped with bitter amusement as she continued. "Back when I was a Coven Head, power was all that mattered. The Emperor was the strongest among us, or so we thought. But then you showed up… And now, to find out he was nothing more than a human?" She sneered, disgust curling her lips. "A Witch Hunter who wanted us all dead?" She let out a humourless laugh. "Ugh." Her gaze flickered over the Boiling Isles, taking in the city that had changed so much in her absence. Her fingers curled into fists. "If I'd had it my way, I would've taken the throne for myself. But look around you!" She threw her arms wide, her voice rising with fervour. "In just four short years, this place has become unrecognisable! Everyone has grown soft. Weak."

Terra's smirk returned, sharp and predatory.

"But I'll change that." Vines twisted around her feet as her power flared. "I will take my rightful place as the one true Empress of the Boiling Isles. I will transform this land into my garden of beauty — and then, I'll expand to other realms!" Her eyes gleamed with raw ambition as she took a step closer, her monstrous form towering over Luzura. "And neither you nor any so-called 'Kamen Rider' will stand in my way."

Luzura lowered her left hand as she gave a dejected sigh.

"Fine, let the record show that I, at least, tried to offer you a chance to surrender. But just like four years ago, you guys never take the option that lets you live."

"Unfortunately for you, I'm not giving you any options! And this time when I kill you, STAY DEAD!"

Terra summoned forth dozens of vines with harpoon tips at the ends. The vines spread out, and then quickly converged on Luzura's location at blinding speed. All of them struck at the same time, but when they did, the only thing they managed to hit was a scattering of rainbow feathers. Streaks of light appeared in the sky, and in the next moment, all the vines were sliced apart in an instant.

"Right back at you, Terra!"

Luzura pulled the trigger of the Glyphowlcalibur twice, causing the blue orb to glow intensely. Frost crept along the staff's blade as the surrounding air plummeted in temperature, growing colder with each passing nanosecond.

Across from her, Terra slashed a wide spell circle into existence with her vines, summoning forth a monstrous new Jyamato.

It was a chimera, a nightmarish fusion of beasts. Three massive heads snarled: one a lion, the second a dog, and the third a goat. Gargantuan bat-like wings unfurled behind it, while a long, writhing snake tail coiled beneath. The unholy fusion let out a deafening cry, its roar a dreadful cacophony of all its combined parts, shaking the very ground beneath it.

Then, its mouths opened.

Black and green energy swirled within each gaping maw, building into crackling spheres of destruction. Even the snake tail arched above, its fangs bared, gathering energy for a fourth blast.

Luzura stood firm, her grip tightening around her staff as multiple ice glyphs began forming over its blade, layering upon one another in rapid succession.

"DIE!" Terra screamed.

The Chimera Jyamato unleashed its attack, releasing all four beams in unison. As they shot forward, they merged into a single, gargantuan blast of raw devastation, tearing through the sky. Compared to it, Luzura was nothing more than a speck, a mere flea about to be swallowed by the sun.

But she wasn't afraid.

The ice glyphs continued to multiply, interlocking and building upon themselves, their power intensifying. Then, her aurora feather cape flared.

In an instant, she moved.

A blur of rainbow feathers streaked forward, the only sign that she had vanished at all.

Something struck the massive energy beam, and without warning, it stopped cold. A split second later, an eruption of ice exploded outward, instantly coating the attack in crystalline frost. The ice surged forward, snaking along the beam, racing toward the Chimera Jyamato itself.

The creature had no time to react.

The freezing energy engulfed its massive form, creeping over its limbs, its wings, and its heads until it was completely encased in solid ice. Even the beam it had fired remained frozen in place, transformed into a towering, jagged pillar of ice, locked in time.

Luzura reappeared behind the Chimera Jyamato, the frigid aura surrounding her staff fading into nothing.

"Absolute Entropy."

The words left her lips like a death sentence.

In an instant, cracks spiderwebbed across the abominable creature's massive form. A heartbeat later, its entire body shattered, collapsing into a cascade of snow and ice.

Terra's eyes widened in disbelief. Impossible.

It was one thing for the beast's flesh to freeze solid — but its energy attack? That was beyond comprehension. The very beam it had fired, an embodiment of raw destructive force, had frozen midair, its heat stripped away as if it had never existed.

Energy shouldn't freeze. It was impossible.

It was hot, for Titan's sake!

'Did her attack reach a temperature so low that not even heat and energy could exist?!' Terra thought as a twinge of fear shot through her.

Luzura pulled the trigger on her staff four times, each click resonating with power. Then, with a swift motion, she spun the Glyphowlcalibur, repositioning it so the bladed end pointed toward the sky.

Above her, multiple fire glyphs ignited into existence, their brilliant red glow cutting through the air. One by one, they connected, strands of crimson energy weaving between them until they formed a massive, fire glyph: a blazing sigil of pure destruction.

"COME FORTH! BURNING IFRIT!"

From the massive fire glyph emerged a towering beast, equal in size to the monstrosity Terra had created. Its entire form was composed of roaring red and yellow flames, shifting and crackling with raw power.

The creature bore a bestial appearance, its head framed by a blazing yellow mane and crowned with two curved horns of pure fire. A bear-like snout jutted forward, exhaling embers with every breath. Its muscular frame radiated intense heat, while its massive hands ended in clawed fingers wreathed in searing flames.

Then, it roared a deafening, earth-shaking bellow that drowned out the Chimera Jyamato's cry. Yet this was no mindless beast's howl. This was the roar of a lion — bold, commanding, a declaration of dominance from the king of beasts itself.

Driven by sheer panic, Terra summoned every last one of her remaining Jyamatos, commanding them to converge upon her. Obediently, the grotesque creatures swarmed, piling onto her in a frenzied mass.

Vines twisted and flesh melded as they fused together, forming a monstrous, towering abomination. Its writhing body was covered in the tormented faces of the Jyamatos that comprised it, each one frozen in agony.

The creature possessed six arms: two ending in massive cannons, two releasing clouds of spores, and the final pair gripping twin seven-bladed swords. Its lower half was a seething mass of vines, each tipped with claw-like thorns, constantly shifting and writhing.

A grotesque fusion of bat and feathered wings — six in total — jutted from its back, tattered yet imposing. Its head bore a dragon-like snout, and atop it sat a crown of gnarled wood, its jagged edges resembling twisted horns.

This was no mere creature. It was Terra's final, desperate monstrosity.

Luzura gave the command, and the Burning Ifrit roared in compliance, diving toward Queen Jyamato in a blazing streak.

Terra retaliated instantly. The cannon arms on her monstrous form fired a barrage of black and green energy spheres at the incoming flame beast. But despite its massive size, the Burning Ifrit was agile, weaving through the blasts with ease.

The Queen Jyamato fired again. Only this time, two spheres merged into a single, colossal projectile, far too large to evade.

The Burning Ifrit cocked back its fist, embers swirling around it, and punched the massive energy sphere head-on. A shockwave erupted as the two forces clashed, pushing against each other in a fierce struggle. For a few tense moments, it seemed as though neither would give until the Burning Ifrit's fiery power overwhelmed the sphere, shattering it in a midair explosion.

Without hesitation, the flame construct barreled through the smoke, claws bared, ready to tear into the Queen Jyamato.

But Terra was prepared.

The vines that formed her lower body pulsed with dark energy before lunging forward, black and green light crackling along their lengths. Four of them wrapped around the Burning Ifrit's wrists, restraining it.

At the same time, the spore arms released a thick cloud of particles into the air, the two swords igniting with searing energy. The spores surrounded the Burning Ifrit before detonating, engulfing it in a dense cloud of black and green smoke.

The Queen Jyamato seized the moment, raising her swords high before swinging them down, aiming to sever the Burning Ifrit's arms in a single decisive strike.

But just before the blades could connect, the Burning Ifrit roared.

Its maw opened wide, unleashing a concentrated plasma beam straight into the Queen Jyamato's chest. The impact triggered a massive explosion, sending shockwaves through the battlefield as Terra shrieked in pain.

The Burning Ifrit didn't stop there. It swept its beam across, slicing through the vines that had bound it.

Now free, the fire construct unleashed a relentless barrage of flaming punches, each strike detonating on impact like a meteor shower. The Queen Jyamato's form shuddered under the assault, each explosion chipping away at her monstrous body.

Then, with one final, deafening roar, the Burning Ifrit grabbed the Queen Jyamato by the shoulders.

Its lower half, a mass of swirling inferno, ignited with concentrated flames, creating a propulsion effect. The sudden burst of energy rocketed both of them downward at incredible speed.

The Queen Jyamato struggled, thrashing against its grip, but the construct held firm, dragging her down in a fiery descent.

The moment they hit the ground, the Burning Ifrit's entire form flared, its flames surging outward in an explosive dome of crimson and gold.

The Queen Jyamato let out an ear-piercing scream as the flames consumed her, burning through her form like a wildfire tearing through dry wood.

Terra barely managed to launch herself free from the inferno, but the army of Jyamatos she had used to construct her monstrous form weren't as lucky. The flames devoured them whole, reducing them to nothing but ashes.

Had she stayed in that form a moment longer, she would have perished with them.

She landed hard, her body smoking, her breath ragged. Her wounds should have been healing already.

But they weren't.

Luzura's magic was having an adverse effect on her. Her once-rapid regeneration was slowing, struggling against the damage she had taken.

It was only now sinking in.

The Queen Jyamato — she — could die here.

Then, in a flash of light, rainbow feathers fluttered through the air.

Luzura appeared, standing just a few feet away.

And she was ready to finish this.

"Terra, you should know that the Titan himself brought me back from the dead to ensure that you are stopped once and for all! What you believed you deserved, what you sought, will never come to pass! Not so long as I exist! Sorry to tell you this, but you have been rejected by your god!"

Terra's eyes widened with shock. She had to be lying. The Titan itself was responsible for bringing Oscura back to life. It believed she was a threat that couldn't be allowed to exist in the world. The Queen Jyamato growled with fury as she dug her claws into the stone and dirt. Terra got to her feet and glared defiantly at the supposed 'hero' before her.

"IS THAT A FACT?! THEN TO HELL WITH THE TITAN! IF THAT'S WHAT THE TITAN BELIEVES, THEN I'LL BECOME THE GOD OF THIS WORLD! I WILL TAKE THE TITAN FOR MYSELF AND TURN IT INTO MY GREATEST CREATION!" Terra screamed in a deranged state.

"Yeah, by all means, make yourself a bigger target for me. But either way, that's not happening! This ends now, Terra!"

"BY ALL MEANS! LET'S PUT AN END TO ALL OF THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL!"

The ground trembled violently as a network of massive vines erupted from below, writhing like living serpents as they surged toward Terra. They coiled around her, layer upon layer, until she was completely obscured from view.

But they didn't stop. More vines continued to rise, expanding outward as they fused together, forming a colossal sphere of an unknown crystalline substance with Terra at its core.

Then, with an ominous lurch, the vines below pushed the sphere upward. Higher and higher it rose, ascending above the city until it loomed over everything like an unnatural moon.

The crystal pulsed, a steady, rhythmic glow emanating from within. It was drawing in energy — siphoning power from the land itself. And from Terra.

"SOMETIMES IT'S BEST TO WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN AND START FRESH! I'LL USE EVERY OUNCE OF MY POWER AND RID THE ISLES OF ALL OF YOU! I WILL CREATE A NEW WORLD! ONE WHERE MY JYAMATOS REIGN SUPREME!"

"And just like that, you've become just like Philip," Luzura pointed out. "If I didn't let his genocide plan go through, you must be out of your mind to think I'll let another happen under my watch!"

Luzura dismissed her staff, her focus shifting to the WizarDriver. With a swift motion, she flipped the Hand Author into spellcasting mode. A glowing ring materialized on her right hand as she brought it over the scanner, activating its magic.

[UNLEASH THE MAGIC! KICK STRIKE! EXCELLENT!]

Luzura's body radiated with aurora light, her cape flaring dramatically behind her. With a burst of speed, she launched herself skyward, soaring higher and higher until she was far above Terra's position. Once there, her form began to shift — her right side glowing with brilliant white light while her left darkened into deep shadow.

Then, in a dazzling transformation, the two halves separated. They reshaped into birds of pure light and shadow, their forms still outlined in shimmering aurora energy.

But Terra wasn't about to wait any longer. It was time to rid this world of the pests who refused to see the beauty of her creations.

With a furious cry, the Queen Jyamato unleashed a devastating burst of green and black energy from the crystal. The blast expanded outward, swallowing the crystalline shell and racing toward the ground below.

The people of the Boiling Isles, the Riders, even the otherworldly spectators of the DGP — all of them held their breath. Was this the end? Their final curtain call?

The birds of light and shadow shrieked as they dove toward the oncoming destruction. Spiralling around each other, they accelerated, their motion growing faster and faster until they merged into a single, dazzling beam of black and white energy, encased in aurora light.

At its core, Luzura surged forward, her right leg extended — preparing to deliver a Rider Kick powerful enough to decide the fate of their world.

The beam struck the expanding sphere, halting its advance as Terra let out a feral cry of defiance. The forces clashed, the Queen Jyamato pushing against Luzura's Rider Kick, forcing her back inch by inch.

She was going to win. She had to win.

Victory was the only future Terra could imagine. It was always meant to be.

However, something strange began to happen.

On Luzura's right, a female humanoid figure emerged, her body composed of pure white light. On her left, another figure took shape, this one formed from deep black shadows. In perfect unison, both figures extended their right legs forward, their kicks merging seamlessly with Luzura's own.

The expanding spherical explosion field came to a sudden halt — but that was only the beginning.

Before them, glyphs representing the elements of light, fire, ice, and plants materialized in a diamond formation. More glyphs followed, interwoven with strands of radiant energy, creating an intricate lattice of power. The formation pulsed, its brilliance intensifying, as the force of the combined Rider Kick and the amplified glyph magic erupted in a blinding aurora of light.

"NOW EAT THIS, SUCKAAAAAAAAA!" Luzura roared, letting out a fierce battle cry as her attack tore through the barrier. She vanished into the sphere, and for a brief moment, everything was silent. Then, in an instant, the sphere began to shrink rapidly before detonating in a brilliant explosion that lit up the skies of the Boiling Isles.

The sheer intensity of the blast forced everyone to shield their eyes. Those who had been standing were sent tumbling onto their rears as a powerful shockwave ripped through the air.

As the light gradually faded, they hesitantly opened their eyes — only to be met with a breathtaking sight. Rainbow-coloured feathers drifted down from the sky, shimmering like fragments of the aurora.

Then the aftermath became clear. The towering, tree-like structure that Terra had conjured began to shift, its surface turning dull, ashen grey. Cracks splintered through its form, and piece by piece, it started to crumble.

But it wasn't just the tree. Every vine Terra had created suffered the same fate, their once-mighty forms reduced to brittle, chalk-like remnants. One by one, they collapsed into heaps of dust, leaving behind nothing but silence and the fading echoes of battle.

[MISSION CLEARED!]

The Riders disengaged their suits, the weight of battle finally lifting as the danger seemed to pass.

Amity extended her left hand, catching a lone feather as it drifted down. The moment it touched her palm, it dissolved into shimmering particles of light.

Her breath hitched.

"Luz… LUZ?!" Panic surged through her. "LUZ, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Her voice trembled, desperation creeping in. She had lost Luz once, she couldn't bear to lose her again.

"LOOK!" Willow called out, pointing toward the sky.

Everyone's eyes followed her gesture. From above, an angelic figure descended: Kamen Rider Luzura. She floated down slowly, her feathered aurora cape billowing behind her, shimmering with celestial light.

Amity was the first to move, breaking from the group and rushing toward the spot where Luzura was about to land. As Luzura's feet touched the ground, Amity came to a halt, keeping a few feet of distance between them. The others hesitated behind her, uncertain of what would happen next.

A magic circle materialized beneath Luzura and began to rise, passing over her in a slow, deliberate motion. As it moved, her armour dissolved piece by piece, fading into nothingness. The staff in her grasp shifted as well, its form warping until it no longer resembled the weapon it once was. Now, it looked like an ordinary witch's staff — except at its peak, where a Palisman should have been, a miniature galaxy swirled, glowing with violet and purple starlight.

As the magic circle completed its ascent, Luz stood before them, unarmored, dressed in the very same attire she had worn before her death.

A wave of mixed emotions rippled through the crowd. Luz looked like herself, but that wasn't the real concern. The true question loomed over them all: when she spoke, would it be Luz Noceda or Empress Oscura addressing them? Even the cultists held their breath, waiting for the answer.

Slowly, Luz's eyes fluttered open. She blinked, adjusting to the sight of so many anxious, worried faces staring back at her. Then, in a steady voice, she asked, "Is everyone okay?"

Amity took a cautious step forward.

"Is it… Is it really you? I mean… Oh, Titan… Are you Luz?"

Luz let out a small chuckle.

"Yeah, it's me—"

"Ugh! Cut the crap, human!" Boscha snapped, arms crossed. "Are you you, or are you Oscura?! Because if you're her, then I'm about to—"

"Boscha, chill the fuck out," Sasha interrupted, shooting her a look before turning back to Luz. "Seriously though, are you?"

Luz's grin widened.

"Yep! I'm me, alright! Now come on, bring it in, you guys!"

"SHE'S BACK!" Willow, Gus, Masha, and Amity shouted in unison.

Before Luz could so much as brace herself, the four of them crashed into her, tackling her to the ground in a tight, tearful group hug. Molly and Marco let out relieved sighs, with the former openly crying and overwhelmed with joy. Sasha held Marcy as the Taiwanese girl sobbed into her shoulder — though even the normally composed blonde wasn't able to fight back her tears.

Boscha, meanwhile, crossed her arms and huffed.

"Whatever," she muttered, though the tension in her shoulders eased. At least she didn't have to deal with the worst-case scenario.

"Oof! You guys are gonna crush me!" Luz wheezed.

"DEAL WITH IT!" Masha shot back. "Do you have any idea how much I dreaded going back to Earth and telling my girlfriend her big sister died — and I couldn't stop it from happening?!"

Luz winced.

"Sorry 'bout that…"

"I'd say 'never do something that reckless again,' but let's be real: that's easier said than done," Willow sighed.

"Wouldn't be Luz if she didn't," Gus added with a smirk.

Amity, still sprawled over Luz, pushed herself up and began peppering her fiancée with kisses, unable to contain her relief and joy. But as she pulled back, her gaze landed on the swirling galaxy hovering atop Luz's staff.

"Luz… is that…?"

Masha, Amity, Gus, and Willow scrambled off Luz, giving her space to sit up. As she did, her staff began to shrink, and the swirling galaxy detached, now resting between her open palms. Slowly, it began to rise, its energy shifting, solidifying, morphing.

First, it took the shape of a wolf. Then, it changed into a spider. A moment later, a hippogriff. Finally, the transformation settled, revealing its true form: a sleek, snake-like Palisman. Small, cat-like ears with dark pink insides perched atop its head while soft, fur-like tufts framed the slender curve of its neck. Its protruding eyes gleamed, dark purple irises set against striking lime-green sclera.

Its body was a gradient of rich aubergine along its upper side, accented by a vivid purple stripe that began at the back of its head and tapered to a point near the tip of its tail. Two more stripes framed its sides, curving from its lower cheeks to the glowing lime-green crystal orb that replaced a traditional rattle at the end of its tail.

The underside of its body was a soft lavender, contrasting sharply with the deep tones above, while its snout and nose were snowy white, forming a heart-shaped patch on its forehead. A pair of delicate fangs peeked from her mouth, and its dark purple forked tongue flickered with an almost playful energy.

"My…Palisman…" Luz gasped. The Latina began to shed tears of happiness as the little serpentine Palisman floated around and nuzzled her cheek. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Stringbean. Don't be shy, girl. Say hello."

Stringbean hissed gleefully as she went to Amity, nuzzled her cheek, and did so to Gus, Willow, and Masha. She even flew over to Sasha and Marcy to nuzzle them as well. Marcy was practically gushing over how cute Stringbean was and petted her on the head before allowing the Palisman to return to Luz.

"She's perfect," Amity smiled as she sat next to Luz.

"She is," Luz replied as Stringbean stretched herself across Luz's shoulders and rested there. "She really is."

"But what is she?" Marcy mused, studying Stringbean closely. "She looks like a snake, but she's also a shapeshifter…"

"She's a snakeshifter," Luz declared proudly.

Masha hummed, a knowing smirk on their face.

"Hmm, wonder where you got that idea from."

It wasn't hard to guess: Luz's Palisman was likely inspired by the shapeshifting basilisks of the Boiling Isles, particularly her adoptive sister Vee. But in truth, when Luz first carved her Palisman, she had simply wanted them to choose their own form. The fact that Stringbean became a snakeshifter was just a happy coincidence.

In the Desire Temple's lounge, Mr. Butler stood behind the counter, his expression unreadable as Tsumuri approached. Without a word, she set her tablet down and took a seat, ready to deliver her report.

"Here." Without preamble, Mr. Butler placed a parfait in front of her.

"Sir, I'm here to deliver my report," Tsumuri said.

"I've already seen the footage, but go on," he permitted.

Tsumuri nodded.

"Luz Noceda successfully defeated the Queen Jyamato," she reported. "Additionally, her status was reinstated following her revival." She slid her tablet toward him, displaying the updated player list:

Luz Noceda was still active, despite having been killed by Terra.

Mr. Butler examined the screen, his expression unreadable.

"She was revived, and her ID Core was miraculously restored," he mused. "So, I see no issue with her reinstatement."

Tsumuri allowed herself a small smile.

"Luz Noceda is truly a remarkable player."

"Yes…truly remarkable," Mr. Butler echoed, though his tone was devoid of enthusiasm.

He couldn't deny it: Luz Noceda's revival had shattered records, drawing in the highest ratings in the history of the game. And yet, the girl unsettled him. The players were supposed to compete, to turn on each other, driven by paranoia and ambition. That was the very reason he had planted a Mole among them.

And yet, despite his efforts, they remained united.

Ironically, it was that very unity that had enabled them to overcome the threat of Terra Snapdragon.

Mr. Butler clasped his hands together and offered a slow, measured smile.

"Good work, Kamen Riders."

Dr. Exposition: And thus, Luz comes back to life with a new Rider form and defeats Terra, saving the Boiling Isles, the Demon Realm, and all realms from her threat. However, this is not the end just yet. There is more to come.

Just so you know, Kamen Rider Luzura is actually based on a piece of concept art I originally created for Michael Ravencroft. When he told me about Kamen Rider Witch Wonder Style, I thought I could contribute a design for her. However, he already had one in mind.

Fortunately, I had saved the image on my DeviantArt page. It's a good thing too because now, I finally got to use the design. It may not have served its original purpose, but I'm just happy it found a place after all.

Here's the link to the original sketch: https/chromedragozoid/art/Kamen-Rider-Witch-Wonder-Style-Sketch-889855822.