[SystemNotice: 100 Origin Points deducted to purchase information on the Current Era.]
[CurrentEra: The Final Phase of the Great Cycle of the Root. Time remaining until the end of the era: 1,000 years, 1 month, and 10 days.]
[Upon the conclusion of the Final Phase, the cycle will reset.]
[With the exception of Divinity, everything within the Root will return to the Chaos.]
[Method to escape the Cyclic Reset: Apotheosis.]
Kawashima Toya felt as though he had been scammed. "If I had known, I wouldn't have been so curious."
"Great. Now I have this sense of urgency hanging over me."
Originally, he was just curious about what Nyaruko meant by the "Final Phase."
But now, he had discovered that there were merely a thousand years left until the end of the Root's cycle.
As a transmigrator, he was likely the first person in this timeline to know exactly when the world would end.
"One thousand years... Can I ascend to godhood in that time?" Toya wasn't sure if he could succeed.
Gods were beings far above mortals. Who knew how much time was required to reach that level?
Perhaps tens of millions of years were considered the norm for such a feat.
"If only I knew my current power level."
Toya looked at Nyaruko, who was happily munching on cake beside him, and asked calmly, "Nyaruko, is there a specific method to ascend to godhood?"
"Ascend to godhood? Darling, why do you ask?" Nyaruko polished off her cake in a few bites and replied, "Well, you'll find out sooner or later anyway."
"I might as well tell you now."
"The Root has countless power systems, but on the path to godhood, those distinctions don't really matter."
"Some people, over long eons, might get super lucky and ascend in a single moment."
"But those are rare exceptions."
Nyaruko's eyes glinted with a sharp light. "However, those methods have nothing to do with you, Darling."
"All you need to think about is getting stronger—using every means available to continuously grow."
"Getting stronger..."
Toya felt the power within him, strong enough to shatter stars, and silently thought, I'm still far from it.
He was strong now, but he was far from reaching his limit.
"Once I deal with the Evil God problem, I'll seek out methods to reach higher levels."
Nyaruko's eyes were full of hidden mirth as she thought to herself, Darling, getting stronger isn't just about power; your heart needs to keep up too.
The "Mirror of Past, Present, and Future," forged by gathering all pantheons over an entire Great Cycle of the Root, is already in your possession.
The distance between you and godhood is just one step away—the shortest, yet most distant step.
.....
Noon.
Toya and his group had just finished lunch and rested for a short while when the resort hotel staff came to inform them that it was time to visit the Sanctuary.
"Let's go." A glint flashed in Toya's eyes as he led everyone onto the shuttle bus specially prepared by the hotel.
A massive convoy of vehicles drove toward the peak of the mountain range, carrying passengers eager to witness the glory of a mythical era.
"It's so cold." Kasugano Sora rubbed her small hands together, shivering.
As they ascended the mountain, the temperature dropped rapidly.
Even inside the warm, comfortable shuttle bus, a chill began to seep in.
"Kabuto Zecter!" Toya grabbed at the empty air, and the mechanical red beetle materialized in his hand.
At the same time, the Rider Belt appeared around his waist.
Toya handed the Kabuto Zecter to Sora and said softly, "If you're cold, just copy my moves and transform into Kamen Rider Kabuto."
"Eh? Really?" Sora instantly perked up, the cold forgotten.
Toya smiled and nodded. "Of course. If you're cold, just transform."
Having spent more time with the Kabuto Zecter, he had unlocked abilities it didn't originally possess.
As long as he designated a user, the Zecter wouldn't reject them.
"Onii-chan, I'll try it!"
Sora was so excited she could barely articulate her words. Standing in the middle of the bus, she shouted, "Henshin!"
Her slightly childish voice echoed through the vehicle.
A burst of red light erupted, and Kamen Rider Kabuto stood silently inside the bus.
This scene left everyone dumbfounded.
"Sora transformed?" Kasumigaoka Utaha blinked, unable to believe her eyes.
Nyaruko bit her handkerchief in frustration. "What is going on?!"
"Why do I need the main body's help to transform, but a little girl can do it without anything?!"
Sensing everyone's confusion, Toya smiled faintly.
"Designated Transformation. Now, as long as I designate someone, they can transform into Kamen Rider Kabuto."
"There won't be any rejection like before."
In the back of the bus, Eriri stared intently at the armored figure of Kabuto, excitement bubbling in her voice. "The rumors were true! Kamen Riders really exist!"
"This is a Kamen Rider?" Yukinoshita Yukino frowned, confused.
"Isn't that just a tokusatsu show? How is it real?"
From inside the armor, Sora's excited voice rang out.
"It's real!"
"Onii-chan, I'm going outside to play!"
"Can I?"
"You can, but stay close to the bus. Don't run off."
Toya warned gently, "If you get lost, the consequences will be serious."
"Got it!" Sora replied cheerfully.
The next second, her figure vanished from the bus. The open window indicated her exit route.
At that moment, several eager gazes turned toward Toya.
"Kawashima, do you have more transformation devices?" Eriri asked, her face full of anticipation.
Utaha and Nyaruko looked at him too, hope shining in their eyes.
"You guys..." Toya sighed helplessly. "Fine, I'll satisfy your curiosity."
"System, purchase the Zecter series transformation devices!"
[System Notice: Purchasing Gatack, TheBee, Drake, and Sasword Zecters. Total cost: 4,000 Origin Points.]
Buzz, buzz, buzz—
The sound of mechanical wings filled the air.
Toya calmly opened the window, and several mechanical insects flew in, landing on his arm.
They were the Gatack Zecter, TheBee Zecter, Drake Zecter, and Sasword Zecter.
"Are these all Kamen Rider transformation devices?"
Seeing the living mechanical Zecters, everyone's worldview was shattered once again.
Yukino couldn't maintain her cool demeanor. "Is this really the world I know?"
"Why do many things that defy science exist?"
No one answered her question. Everyone's eyes were glued to Toya's hands.
"Can I try?" Eriri stared intensely at the yellow wasp in Toya's hand. "I want to try TheBee."
"Go ahead, TheBee." Toya gently picked up the wasp and handed it to Eriri, then picked up the scorpion and handed it to Utaha.
Just as Utaha was about to speak, Toya interrupted with a teasing smile.
"Don't complain now."
"You are users reluctantly chosen by the Zecters."
"Consider yourselves lucky to gain their favor. Don't make any demands."
"If they reject you, you won't be able to transform."
"Sasword, please take care of me," Utaha said with a smile.
However, her friendly greeting was met with cold silence from the mechanical scorpion.
Its only master was Toya. If not for Toya's request, it wouldn't even acknowledge this human.
Toya looked at the Gatack and Drake Zecters remaining in his hand. "Does anyone else want to try being a Kamen Rider?"