The encounter with Ellen Joe was just a small interlude in Kenji's new life. After returning home, he fell back into his routine: a grueling workout alongside Substitute Cloth. He couldn't help but sigh with relief; it was another day he hadn't needed to use a belt. Ethereals couldn't leave the Hollows, and a world where monsters didn't roam the streets was a world Kenji could appreciate.
"That being said," Kenji told Sub-Bot as he wiped sweat from his brow, "I have a feeling this 'monsters stay in the cage' setting is meant to be broken. Ethereals and Hollows are constantly growing. Eventually, they're going to try and breach the limitations of the distortion. It's a classic Tokusatsu trope—once the monsters learn how to step into the real world, that's when the plot really kicks into high gear."
He thought of Kamen Rider Ryuki. At the start, the Mirror Monsters were trapped behind glass. By the end, they were swarming the streets, successfully claiming the lives of the heroes. It was the ultimate "highlight moment" for the villains.
"Ora!" Substitute Cloth chirped, denting the heavy sandbag with a sharp jab. Its meaning was clear: If they step out, I'll punch them back in.
Suddenly, the lights flickered and died. Kenji walked to the window, looking out over Sixth Street. The entire block was submerged in shadow. He wasn't surprised; power outages were becoming a local tradition. The utility company blamed "unauthorized high-voltage equipment" used by secret electricity thieves, but they had never found the culprit.
Kenji looked at the dark room. "I was just saying I didn't need a belt today. I stand corrected."
He walked to the mirror, placed his hands on his waist, and willed the hidden gear to manifest.
"Henshin!"
A black belt appeared, centered by a large, crystalline Philosopher's Stone. As the transformation completed, Kenji was encased in golden chest armor with matching protectors on his wrists and ankles.
"Kamen Rider Agito: Ground Form."
Kenji looked at his reflection, but he wasn't preparing for a fight. He had a much more practical goal. The Philosopher's Stone possessed a specific ability: Illumination. It was a feature developed for fighting in the abyss-like darkness of deep Hollows or subterranean tunnels.
The stone on his belt flared with a brilliant, steady white light, illuminating the apartment as if the sun had just moved indoors. Substitute Cloth didn't have night vision, and Kenji didn't want it tripping over the gym equipment.
"Ora!" The Bangboo gave a grateful salute and returned to its training.
Kenji, still transformed, lay down on his bed. He wondered how many Riders actually slept in their suits, but for him, it felt natural—like his body had simply grown a second, stronger skin. The only downside was the weight; his bed groaned under the heavy gold-alloy armor. To him, using the power of a god as a glorified floor lamp wasn't a waste—it was efficient. Agito was a hero of the people, after all; surely he wouldn't mind helping out a roommate.
The next morning, Kenji woke up to find the transformation had automatically timed out at 4:00 AM. It was a sobering reminder: he had a window of vulnerability every morning when his "daily Gacha" reset. If he was in the middle of a fight at 3:59 AM, he'd be standing in his underwear by 4:01.
He looked at the bed. The Agito belt was gone, replaced by a sleek, minimalist metallic buckle. Resting on top of it was a familiar red mechanical beetle.
"You again? You really must like me," Kenji chuckled, picking up the Kabuto Zecter. The beetle spread its wings and gave a friendly buzz. At this stage, having Kabuto's power was a security blanket. If a monster was too fast, he'd Clock Up. If it was still too fast, he'd Hyper Clock Up. There was no problem the speed of light couldn't solve.
He dressed, ate a quick breakfast, and headed to the PSB. He clocked in exactly five minutes early—the perfect "unbothered junior" timing.
"Kenji! You're here. Have you eaten?" Qingyi greeted him from her desk, her interface displaying a cute =ω= face.
"I have. Why? Are you treating me to a second breakfast, Senior?" Kenji joked.
"No," Qingyi replied flatly. "I just wanted to make sure you won't throw up when we enter the Hollow later."
"Is it really that bad?"
"You tell me after you've spent ten minutes spinning through a spatial distortion while falling from a hundred-meter drop," she said.
"That... is an experience I am happy to miss," Kenji muttered.
"Let's move," Zhu Yuan interrupted, walking in fully geared. Weapon components were snapped onto her arms, waist, and thighs—modular parts she could combine into a dozen different firearms on the fly. "Internship time. We're heading to a low-risk Temporary Hollow."
Kenji grabbed his PSB riot shield and standard sword. He followed them to the parking lot and climbed into the back of a heavy riot transport vehicle. As Zhu Yuan steered them toward their destination, Kenji mentally rehearsed his "shield-bearer" role.
Suddenly, Zhu Yuan's radio crackled. She gave a series of clipped, professional replies before hanging up. Her grip tightened on the wheel.
"Kenji, change of plans. This isn't an internship anymore. We've been diverted to a high-priority incident at the Kritt Hollow on Fourteenth Street."
She yanked the wheel, sending the heavy transport into a high-speed drift.
"What happened?" Kenji asked, his pulse quickening. The Kritt Hollow was one of the "Six Greats"—a permanent disaster zone. Its Companion Hollows were notoriously lethal.
"The Red Tooth Gang raided a research lab and stole a high-value prototype," Zhu Yuan explained, her voice tight with focus. "A rival syndicate tried to hijack the loot, and the ensuing shootout drew in the Air Police. In the chaos, both groups—and the stolen item—fell straight into a manifesting Companion Hollow. We're going in to recover the asset and, if possible, extract the survivors."
Kenji looked at his standard-issue shield. A research lab robbery, a gang war, and a Great Hollow. His first day of "training" had just turned into a nightmare.
"Understood," Kenji said, his hand drifting toward his waist where the Zecter waited in the void. "Let's see if the Kritt Hollow is ready for a real 'cleaning.'"