Chapter 26

Mirror, Mirror

As I regained consciousness, I found myself in a strange bed in an equally strange room. Jerking myself up, I saw that the room was strangely very mediaeval, noticing that sleeping beside me was a woman with long green hair and a strange green jewel in her hand that was radiating the power of wind. "So that's why I've been feeling oxygenated.", I thought. Looking at the ceiling, I saw an equally strange astrolabe that seemed to be pulsing with fire, ice, electricity, water, earth, wind and nature, the 7 elements not appearing to overshadow or overpower the others. Attempting to get up, I then felt the woman beside me holding me down, her voice murmuring, "It's not time to get up yet. Either for you or for me.". Lying back down on the bed, I then felt a strange drowsiness overcome me, causing me to go back to sleep. As I slept, I found myself in a strange white room adorned with mirrors, with strange beasts – Chinese dragons, bats, bulls, cobras, crabs, stingrays, rhinos, phoenixes, tigers, gazelles, swans and chameleons – prancing about within them. Not only that, but the phoenixes in particular looked like they were distorting time and adorned with majestic black and dark gold auras. Overcome with a strange sense of awe, I walked toward one of the mirrors only to see what looked like my reflection looking back at me and smirking. "Huh?", I thought, wondering why I was feeling a strange sense of dread from it. Before I could get any further, I then found myself back in the room, the woman who was sleeping beside me having left. Jerking myself up, I saw my glasses manifest on my face again. It was then that I realised that I was wearing a strange set of clothes; a white t-shirt and blue trousers. "Weird.", I thought, slipping on a pair of dark blue slippers and walking out of the room.

Finding myself in a very lavish and extravagant dining room, I then saw a group of 7 people – Venti, Zhongli, Ei, Nahida, Furina, Mauvika and Neuvillette – sitting at an equally lavish dining table. Walking over to the table, I then felt a strange pulse of energy surge forth from my body, the power vanishing just as quickly as it had appeared. Looking at me, Zhongli said, "Ah, you're awake at last. Us Archons thought that you might not wake. Understandable, though, given that the 13 Advent Beasts tried to pull you into the Mirror World.". "Mirror World?", I asked. "A world were terrible monsters called Advent Beasts roam.", Neuvillette said before waving his hand over his empty glass, causing it to refill almost instantly. "Still, you're probably wondering why we brought you here to Teyvat and why we needed your friend Emeri to do so. And in case you ask, we need you here in Teyvat so you may realise your destiny and duty as Our Sovereign. Ask our friends the Crypters – they attacked Angel Island and destroyed it but only after they made sure you had taken the Master Emerald so you may use it alongside the seven Chaos Emeralds to ascend as the Sovereign. As much as you may try to resist, it really is your duty to become Sovereign and reign over all of reality.", Venti said. "But what about your domain? About giving people freedom to choose their own fates? What about that?", I asked. "Please, that is a foolish notion taught by a foolish Archon to foolish human subjects and believed by foolishly foolish fools.", Furina said. "Besides, isn't pure control what most people dream for? Us Archons are no different.", Ei said. "And you shall know that is what all potential rulers ultimately strive for. Besides, your refusal to succeed Alphen as Sovereign was even more foolish than the beliefs your parents instilled into you, that people have to strive to be better than who they are.", Zhongli said. Noticing a strange sphere on the table, I asked, "What is that?". "Why, it is the device that shall force you to acknowledge who and what you are meant to become.", Ei said as the room distorted. "I don't like this.", I said. "Oh, but you will and shall.", Neuvillette said with a vacant smile on his face. Watching as the sphere rose into the air, I then sensed a horrid power radiating from it, causing it to unleash a blinding light that forced me to cover my eyes.

After the light disappeared, I found that I was back in White Space, my clothing having changed back to a black and dark orange hooded cloak and black Chelsea boots with the Ziku-Driver yet again around my waist. "Why am I back here in White Space?", I asked. Noticing 7 strange crystals in the distance, I walked forward only to feel a strong gust of wind. "Now you are back in White Space, the time has come for you to realise the truth of your existence.", Venti's voice said. "Start with the Anemo Crystal.", Zhongli's voice said. "That would be the green crystal, right?", I asked. Getting no response, I walked up to the green crystal only to see it break, causing strange green energy to fly into me. As my eyes briefly flashed green, I then unleashed a giant green tornado that caused a giant wind to swirl. At that moment, I saw a vision of Tsukasa speaking to Noah, Mio, Eunie, Taion, Lanz and Sena. "So, Mr. Kadoya, you sure it'll work?", Sena asked. "Please, Sena, just call me Tsukasa. Of course, if Jack is to pick up where we left off, then he has no choice but to give in to the darkness and embrace his true nature. For it is only then that he shall gain the power to decide the fate of all of reality.", Tsukasa said, looking at a strange card. "Just seems like a very tall order, forcing him to become Ohma Zi-O and reign over all of reality, even if he will possess the power of a God if he does so.", Lanz said. "Still, are you sure that the Ridewatches will work?", Mio asked. "Oh, I'm more than sure that they will work. After all, I did place something in the Decade Ridewatch that only reacts to all 7 of the Archon Powers, even though one of the powers is actually held by a Sovereign.", Tsukasa said before the vision faded. Panting heavily, I then saw a yellowish-brown crystal in the distance, with Zhongli's voice saying, "Next is the Geo Crystal.". "Still, just what did Tsukasa place in the Decade Ridewatch?", I thought.

Walking up to the Geo Crystal, I saw that the surrounding area looked like a rural Chinese shrine with strange rock formations and crystals. However, I had no time to wonder why as the crystal broke apart, causing a yellowish-brown energy to flow into me. As my eyes briefly flashed yellowish-brown, I formed a spear made from earth in the shape of the Vortex Vanquisher and thrust it into the ground, causing crystalline pillars to rise out which I then shattered, firing off the crystals in various directions. At this, I then saw another vision in which I saw YHVH attacking a village with German-inspired architecture. "Rejoice. Now that all of Teyvat has fallen to Me, devote yourselves to My covenant and worship Me for all eternity.", YHVH said as the vision faded. Filled with an acute rage, I dismissed the spear and screamed. "Now on to the Electro Crystal.", Zhongli's voice said as I saw a purple crystal in the distance. Walking over to it, I felt a large amount of static electricity in the air causing my hair to spike up. As the crystal broke, a large amount of purple energy entered my body and caused my eyes to briefly flash purple, causing me to manifest a katana from purple lightning that I gripped tight and promptly performed a series of lightning fast quickdraw slashes with before extending it into a naginata that I stabbed into the ground, dismissing the katana/naginata and causing a giant lightning storm to appear. After this, I saw (you guessed it) yet another vision, this time of a legion of people dressed in what appeared to be Russian military uniforms that made them look like Tsarist Russian soldiers wielding weapons with strange elements coursing through them. As the vision faded, I heard Zhongli's voice say, "Now for the Dendro Crystal.". Noticing that what used to be the Electro Crystal resided in what appeared to be a traditional Japanese shrine, I then saw a brownish-green crystal.

Wondering why I was being shown these strange sights from the crystals breaking, I then felt a chill run down my spine. "Why? Why am I trembling?", I thought. At that moment, I saw White Space itself begin to twist and distort. Picking up my pace, I rushed over to the Dendro Crystal, the crystal itself having a large amount of flowers and other plants surrounding it. As the crystal broke, a brownish-green energy flowed into me, causing my eyes to briefly flash brownish-green and causing me to unleash several plants and vines in an aggressive tornado of plant life. At this, another vision then appeared, this time of YHVH fighting against a group of 7 dragons with absolute control of their respective elements. When the vision faded, I saw a blue crystal in the distance, with Zhongli's voice saying, "Next on the list is the Hydro Crystal.". "Oh good, I can't wait.", I sarcastically replied. Making my way over to it, I noticed that the architecture had changed to something much more French. Not only that, but the floor was also wet and partially submerged in water. As if sensing my presence, the crystal broke and caused a large amount of blue energy to flow into me, causing my eyes to briefly flash blue and me to unleash a giant torrent of water that flowed into a giant tsunami and then a volley of highly pressured bubbles. At this, another vision appeared, this time of Venti, Zhongli, Ei, Nahida, Mauvika and a strange woman standing around a coffin and mourning. "Oh, you shall never be forgotten, dearest Focalors. And your death at YHVH's hands shall never be forgiven.", Venti said. As the vision faded, I felt a chill down my spine from sensing someone behind me. Turning around, I saw a man with short and spiky orange hair and blue eyes wearing a grey jacket, grey trousers, black boots and a long red scarf holding a blue bow. "Oh, bravo, bravo!", the man said. "And you are?", I snarled. "Don't be like that. After all, you are making fine progress with your awakening as the Sovereign. Incidentally, my name is Tartaglia, known as Childe to my fellow harbingers.", the man said. "Childe? So you're a minor?", I asked. "No, Childe's my codename in the harbingers. Though I am the youngest of them, that's neither here nor there.", Tartaglia said. Walking over to me, Tartaglia looked in my eyes with a very obsessive grin on his face. "What are you-?", I asked before I saw him whip out a Ridewatch. It was at this moment that I saw that he was also wearing a strange mechanical belt around his waist. "Tsukasa's been telling me you've become quite the Kamen Rider. You know, I'm something of a Kamen Rider myself.", Tartaglia said as the Ridewatch in his hand started to glow with a strange blue light. "Oh, but you need to consult with the Pyro Crystal first.", he said, breaking away from me and strangely vanishing.

Shrugging my shoulders, I saw a strange orange crystal in the distance. Walking over to it, I felt an unbearably hot temperature radiating from it. Suddenly, the crystal broke and caused a strange orange energy to flow into me, with my eyes briefly flashing orange. This was followed by me forming a fiery greatsword in my hand and causing it to unleash a giant wall of flame followed by jets of lava and magma that I slashed through, causing it to unleash a volley of fiery beams that seemed to incinerate the very ground itself, dismissing the greatsword soon after. "Well I'll be.", a voice said behind me. Turning around, I saw a woman with long white hair tied into a ponytail and red eyes with pale white skin wearing a white and grey business suit with a red cravat and black high heeled shoes; "Who are you?", I asked. Sighing, the woman said, "I knew your amnesia was bad but this is really getting ridiculous now. Anyway, my name is Arlecchino, one of Tartaglia's fellow harbingers.", the woman said. Clenching my fists in anger, I then saw a strange vision, this time of Giganto, Wyvern, Knight and Supreme entering Cyber Space. "Is this really for the best?", Shadow asked. "Trust me, it is.", Gilgamesh said. After the vision faded, Arlecchino said, "Seems you're beginning to have visions again. Then again, it is a sign that you're beginning to awaken and reclaim your place as the Sovereign.". "What do you mean?", I asked. Chuckling, Arlecchino said, "Never you mind. Still, in order to fully awaken you need to absorb the powers of the Cryo Crystal. Of course, me and Tartaglia are preparing something special for you when you do so.", before vanishing.

Wondering what Arlecchino meant, I then saw a cyan crystal in the distance. Running towards it, I felt that the atmosphere around it was extremely cold. I also saw a field of snow around it. As if on cue, the crystal broke and caused cyan energy to flow into me. After my eyes briefly flashed cyan, I then unleashed a giant blizzard followed by several icicles. Suddenly, I saw a strange vision, this time of Tsukasa and Sonic sheathing a golden sword and placing it into a stone altar in a strange forest. "Sleep now, Excalibur. Sleep and the Sovereign meant to wield you shall eventually come for you.", Tsukasa said. As the vision faded, I saw the green-haired woman who was sleeping beside me walk up to me with a spring in her step. "Oh, now you've finally acquired the seven powers!", she said excitedly. "Who are you?", I asked. "Do you even have to ask. It's me, your girlfriend Sucrose.", the woman said. "I-.", I said before Sucrose aggressively hugged me and leaned in for a kiss. Suddenly, I found myself back in the mediaeval room with Sucrose still hugging me tight. "After all this time, I thought you'd never come back. And now you have. Please, stay with me.", Sucrose said, crying. "But I-.", I said before the mirror in the room started to distort. "That's not normal.", I thought. "In fact, why do you have to leave right now?", Tartaglia said, walking in to the room. Looking in the mirror, I saw that it was radiating a strange dark red energy. "Of course, you need to collect the Ridewatches in order to become Our Sovereign but there really is no rush to do so.", Zhongli said. "He's right. Please, just rest for once.", Venti said. Wondering what he meant, I then felt a strange drowsiness come over me, compelling me to sleep.

Waking up, I then found myself in a burning arena. "Where am I now?", I asked, only to see a girl with long crimson hair tied into twintails with yellow ribbons and crimson eyes run up to me. "I knew you'd come back. I knew you would.", the girl said. "Wait, who are you again?", I asked the girl, sensing a strange dark energy from her. It was at this moment that I saw a man with spiky black hair and grey eyes and a girl with short silver hair and green eyes walk up to me as well. "The Archons were right. You really have returned.", the man with spiky black hair said. "And now you've returned, it is time for your awakening to accelerate.", the girl with silver hair said. "Wait, who are you?", I asked. Sighing, the girl with crimson hair said, "Well, you may have physically returned but that does not necessarily mean that your memories have. Anyway, my name is Stella Vermillion.". "I am Ikki Kurogane.", the man with spiky black hair said. "And I am his sister Shizuku Kurogane.", the girl with silver hair said. Feeling a strange sense of dread, I then saw that all three of them were covered by a nauseously bright aura. "Why are you so scared? It isn't like you.", Shizuku said. "Don't tell me you were corrupted by the Silent Core as well.", I said. "It's just as Taiga said. You really don't take well to the holy and divine Silent Core, especially after you were terminally and irreversibly corrupted by the Infinity Core.", Stella said before whipping out a strange purple watch. "Wait, is that an Another Watch?", I asked. "What are those? On second thought, don't tell us.", Stella said before she pressed the button on the top of the watch she was holding, causing a distorted voice to yell out, "Ryuki!". "Wait, are you-?", I asked before Stella shoved the Another Watch into her body, causing her to transform into Another Ryuki. Steeling myself, I summoned the Zi-O Ridewatch to my right hand and yelled, "Transformation!", slamming the Ridewatch into the right side of the Ziku-Driver and transforming into Kamen Rider Zi-O. Summoning the Zikan Girade, I then rushed at Another Ryuki and unleashed a series of powerful slashes that the Another Rider managed to counter with a strange scimitar. Undeterred, I summoned a blood red dagger to my left hand and gripped it tight, promptly throwing it and using it to continue my attack. Dodging the attack, Another Ryuki chuckled before I unleashed a powerful burst of darkness that she countered with a burst of fire. Angry, I then unleashed a powerful slash of dark silver energy that promptly threw the Another Rider off guard. Screaming with rage, I then unleashed a powerful slash that Another Ryuki countered with a powerful slash of fire. Noticing a mirror in the distance, I clashed the Zikan Girade against the scimitar that Another Ryuki was holding and used the force to push her slowly and steadily into the mirror. Charging myself up with the power of the Negative Speed Force, I then sped up and ran into the mirror, noticing that my reflection seemed to be smirking.

Entering the mirror, I then found that I had completely detransformed. Not only that, but the arena itself didn't seem to be burning as well. "Strange.", I thought. Standing in front of me was, well, a complete mirror image of me. "Who are you?", I asked. "That's rich. You ask who I am without considering that I am you.", the other me said. "What do you mean?", I asked. "Seito University Hospital, the day you obtained the Ex-Aid Ridewatch. Did you notice anything strange in one of the mirrors there?", the other me asked. "Come to think of it, I did see that my reflection was strangely smirking for some reason.", I said. "You might not have noticed it, but that reflection was me.", the other me said. "And not just there either; when I was in that room with Sucrose, I entered a strange white room in my dreams, with a strange reflection of me in one of the mirrors looking at me.", I said. "That was me too. I nearly managed to pull you into the Mirror World in your dreams if not for that scamp.", the other me said. Noticing a strange watch on the floor, the other me then said, "Of course, to defeat Another Ryuki, you will need the power of something beyond Zi-O, beyond the Ridewatches, beyond even what the Archons and that Sovereign gave to you. But of course, to gain its power, you will need to prove that you are capable of handling it.", the other me. "Does it entail me embracing my true nature?", I asked. "Kind of.", the other me said, picking up the watch off the ground. "Anyway, this is the Zi-O II Ridewatch.", the other me said, placing the watch in my hand. Hearing a strange explosion behind me, I turned around to see Another Ryuki glowing with a strange dark red aura. Transforming into Kamen Rider Zi-O, I summoned the Zikan Girade back to my hand and unleashed a powerful slash that the Another Rider countered, only for me to unleash a powerful blast of dark silver energy that forced Another Ryuki back to the mirror, forcing her back into the burning arena. Following her, I ran into the mirror and found myself back in the burning arena. Holding up the Zi-O II Ridewatch, I said, "OK, let's see if this will work.". Slamming the Ridewatch into the left side of the Ziku-Driver, I then felt a strange surge of powerful energy come over me, transforming me into Kamen Rider Zi-O II. Suddenly, I felt a strange sense of pain come over me, the Ridewatch causing dark red electricity to surge forth and cover my body. "Unleash it! Succumb to it! Embrace it! Show them that you are the One True Demon King of Time!", a strange voice said in my head as a surge of black and dark red energy covered my body. At that moment, I then felt something within me just break, causing the surge of dark energy to grow more intense only for it to then turn into a blazing inferno. "Wait, is that-?", Ikki asked as the inferno covered my body causing me to detransform only for me to then unleash a powerful burst of flame. This was in turn followed by me launching a violent and furious series of slashes and stabs from the Zikan Girade that culminated in a giant explosion, with me dismissing the Zikan Girade shortly afterwards.

Before Another Ryuki had time to react, I then formed a black and dark red energy scythe that seemed to be brimming with the powers of air, earth, electricity, nature, water, fire and ice that I promptly used in a series of powerful slashes before dismissing the scythe and manifesting a giant tornado of flame that burned the Another Rider before I fired a blast of darkness at her, causing Stella to forcibly detransform and causing the Ryuki Another Watch to short out and explode. "What was that just now?", Venti said as he rushed in. "The power I gained by partially embracing my true nature.", I said. Suddenly, Venti punched me, causing me to reel back in pain. "Hey, what was that for?", I asked. "You weren't supposed to use our full powers.", Neuvillette said as he walked in. "He's right. The purpose of the Vision Crystals was to empower you with the powers of Anemo, Geo, Electro, Dendro, Hydro, Pyro and Cryo for you to hold on to and then promptly give to Yuito upon his coronation as Sovereign. But now you used them, there is no way to transfer the powers from you to him.", Venti said. "Who would even want to spend their time being ruled by a fake Sovereign like that git?", I asked. "Hey, that was uncalled for!", Venti said. Glaring at him, I then said, "You know, I was chosen to be Sovereign by Ultima Himself. As I am His chosen vessel, it is my duty to become strong so He can subject the Multiverse to Primogenesis when the time comes for Him to claim me.", I said. "But still-!", Venti said before I said, "Look, it was wrong of me to refuse your gifts to me. And the only way for me to atone is by collecting the Ridewatches and using whatever power is available to me. For only then can I become the Sovereign and the Demon King of Time. No ifs, no buts.", I said. Grumbling, Venti then said, "Fine. Now you've used them, there is really no way to extract them from you. But don't expect us to help you in collecting the Ridewatches.". Shrugging, I then walked forward, only to find myself in a strange street. Looking up at the sky, I then felt a strange chill down my spine.

The story continues in the next chapter.