Infinite Evolution of Kamen Rider

"Let's go—back to 2018!"After the contract was signed, Ora casually stepped away from the release device and approached Ryuga, who was leaning against the Time Demon Machine.

"What's that in your hand? I saw you playing with it earlier—it looks familiar," she asked, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.

"See for yourself."Ryuga tossed a crystal-clear bottle toward her and casually turned around, stepping into the Time Demon Machine.

"This… this looks like one of those transformation bottles used by Kamen Rider Build, right?" Ora followed him, inspecting the bottle in disbelief. Then, as if suddenly struck by realization, she called out, "Wait—you haven't even told me your name!"

It hit her just then—she didn't even know the name of the man who had shamelessly stolen her first kiss.

"You're only just now thinking of asking that?" Ryuga sighed, feigning heartbreak. "We've spent all this time together."

"Who's spent time together with you?!" Ora snapped and angrily hurled the bottle at him.

He caught it with a grin. "It's bound to happen sooner or later. Remember this—your man's name is Ryuga."

"What the hell—Ryuga?!" Ora froze in place. "Build's friend… Kamen Rider Cross-Z… Banjou Ryuga, Ryuga?!"

"I'm Banjou Ryuga—but I'm not that Banjou Ryuga. I'm a friend of Build, but I'm not Kamen Rider Cross-Z."

"???"Ora stared at him, utterly dumbfounded by the contradiction.

Ryuga only smiled, took her hand, and pulled her with him into the cockpit of the Time Demon Machine. With a flick of the joystick, the machine whirred to life and set course for 2018.

The controls were laughably simple. Choose the date, pull the lever—no throttle, no brakes, just foolproof functionality. He had figured it all out just by watching TV.

Back in 2018, the another Ex-Aid had already existed for two years, leaving countless people comatose in its wake. However, since these events were anomalies—events that shouldn't have existed in history—only a few individuals were aware of them.

Among them was Tokiwa Shōgo, the destined Kamen Rider Zi-O, future Demon King Ohma Zi-O. At this point in time, he was just an ordinary Japanese high school student, only beginning to unravel the mysteries of his future.

Supporting him were two time-travelers from 2068: Gates Myokoin and Tsukuyomi.

Gates, also known as Kamen Rider Geiz, was born in 2050 and died in 2019 at the age of 31. In some timelines, he was known as the "Savior." Battle-hardened and stern, he was determined to stop Shōgo before he could become the Demon King.

Tsukuyomi, real name Alpina, was a mysterious amnesiac and a short-lived Kamen Rider herself. Hailing from a separate timeline, she was once royalty with mastery over time. Her brother, Swartz, had exiled her out of envy for her superior potential. Stripped of memory and status, she joined the resistance against Ohma Zi-O.

Their goal: kill Tokiwa Shōgo before he evolved into the tyrannical king of time.

But the Shōgo of this era was... different. He was kind-hearted, optimistic, and full of youthful dreams. Despite his obsession with becoming a king, he was far removed from the merciless Ohma Zi-O. This caused Gates and Tsukuyomi to hesitate, choosing to observe him rather than destroy him outright.

At this point, Shōgo and Gates had only known each other for two days. Though Shōgo considered Gates a friend already, the feeling wasn't mutual. Gates remained cold and guarded.

When Shōgo insisted on searching for the another Ex-Aid, Gates refused. He feared the more Shōgo used the powers of Zi-O, the closer he would become to the Demon King.

Still, despite his protests, Gates unwittingly helped Shōgo—solving clues and ultimately encountering the another Ex-Aid.

From the vantage point of Ryuga and Ora, who were now observing from the sidelines, three people sitting outside a hospital suddenly vanished in a flash of strange light.

"They've entered the another Ex-Aid's game field," Ryuga noted. "Should we go in and take a look?"

"Hmph! I don't need you to tell me!" Ora huffed, ever proud.

Because of the contract she signed, she now had partial control over the powers of the another Riders. She reached out and pulled Ryuga into the game field with her.

Even though she pretended to be indifferent, her subconscious had already decided—she wanted to be with him.

The game field was a virtual dimension where the Ex-Aid Riders' powers fully manifested, materializing data into physical reality. Originally designed for healing rather than harm, it now served as a battleground. Officially, it was just a fast way to change locations.

Shōgo, Gates, and Tsukuyomi materialized inside a dark warehouse.

And before them stood the another Ex-Aid.

"Let's do this!" Shōgo and Gates drew their Ziku Drivers.

"You do realize that defeating him here won't eliminate him, right?" Tsukuyomi warned.

Indeed, another Riders could only be truly erased in two ways:

By using the power of their original timeline and Rider type. To eliminate another Ex-Aid, one needed Ex-Aid's Rider powers and had to destroy him at the moment of origin—in 2016. This required the corresponding Rider Watch.

By overwhelming force from a higher tier, such as demonic energy, resurrection abilities, or cosmic-level powers.

But at this moment, neither Shōgo nor Gates possessed such power, nor had they obtained the Ex-Aid Rider Watch. All they could do was fight a temporary battle.

"But if we don't fight, nothing will change," Shōgo replied calmly, strapping on the Ziku Driver.

Gates, though reluctant, stood beside him in silence—ready.

[Ziku Driver!] ×2[Geiz!] [Zi-O!]"Transform!" ×2

They inserted their Rider Watches, rotated their belts 360°, and activated the transformation sequence.

[Rider Time!] ×2

Two luminous clockfaces appeared behind them. Rings of metallic straps circled and wrapped around them, reminiscent of the Evol Driver's transformation effects.

[Kamen Rider Geiz!][Kamen Rider Zi-O!]

Geiz appeared in a red and black suit with yellow highlights, while Zi-O emerged in his signature pink and black armor—his name boldly engraved across his visor.

"Let's go!"

Both charged into battle with the another Ex-Aid. It was quickly apparent that Shōgo, still a novice, lacked combat experience. He was knocked back repeatedly, while Gates, the seasoned warrior, held the line.

The battle had begun—but for now, victory was still out of reach.