"Everyone line up and proceed with the awakening in an orderly fashion."
Li Tianwang said earnestly.
He, as the homeroom teacher, couldn't accompany them to the Knight Awakening Ceremony. It was best to caution these mischievous kids.
"Understood, Teacher Li."
"Alright, Tianwang..."
"..."
The students replied with laughter and chatter.
As the first student walked up to the awakening device, it signified the start of Class 25's Knight Awakening Ceremony.
As before, some students awakened their Drivers and became Kamen Riders.
Sengoku Driver and Lock Seed, Leo Watach, V-Buckle and Card Holder...
The number of awakeners was quite significant.
Unfortunately, there wasn't an awakening as stunning as Mu Qingzhu's.
Jiudu First High School had always been like this...
This year, the number of students awakening Knight Drivers was even higher, but the combat power of most was not high. If compared to gacha games, 'N' was the lowest, and 'SSR' was the best. The vast majority of students at Jiudu First High School were at 'R' level, with 'SR' being only a few.
The difficulty of awakening an 'SSR' was sky-high!
It wasn't that the students of Jiudu had such poor talent.
It was mainly due to the loss of students.
Too many talented students were poached every year.
Fang Wen was one place ahead of Chen Ran.
He successfully awakened the Genesis Driver and the Pine Energy Lock Seed, allowing him to transform into Kamen Rider Baron - True!
This was a Gaim-series Rider.
A next-generation Kamen Rider Baron!
Next, it was Chen Ran's turn.
One going up, one going down.
"Chen Ran, don't be nervous, good luck!"
Fang Wen extended his fist.
Chen Ran didn't say anything, nodded, bumped fists with Fang Wen, and walked to the awakening device.
There was no need for the teacher in charge of recording the awakening status to remind him.
The curriculum in high school had covered how to awaken more than once.
He just needed to place his right hand on the flashing crystal.
Of course, this was his first time actually doing it.
Chen Ran held his breath, concentrating, and strove to put himself in the best state.
Just as he was about to receive the baptism of the awakening device.
However—
A prompt sound suddenly rang in his ear.
"Ding!"
"Knight Evolution System bound to host."
[Awakening Mission: Confess to the School Beauty (0/1) Reward: Decade Driver]
Chen Ran: "..."
He was speechless!
On the eve of his awakening.
The system he had longed for finally appeared.
But what was this awakening mission?
Confess to the school beauty...
System, you're acting strange!
However.
Among the possibilities of randomly awakening one of the countless Knights in Rider history or being unable to awaken as a Kamen Rider, Chen Ran decisively bypassed them and chose the third option available to him: to become Decade through the system's awakening mission.
Moreover, Decade was Chen Ran's favorite Rider.
This hadn't changed even with the birth of Zi-O.
He was 'devoted until the end'.
This awakening mission was a bit unexpected, but it was harmless.
For the Decade Driver...
He'd do it!
In this instant, Mu Qingzhu, the school beauty admired by countless people at Jiudu First High School, completely became Chen Ran's tool.
'I'm sorry, Senior Mu, I... had no choice.'
Chen Ran thought to himself.
"This student, don't be nervous. Place your hand on the crystal and begin awakening."
The recording teacher thought Chen Ran was a little nervous.
In reality, Chen Ran was not at all.
He took a deep breath.
A hint of struggle flashed in his eyes.
After a moment of silence, Chen Ran spoke.
"My name is Chen Ran..."
His voice, amplified by the stage's speaker, slowly echoed out.
Li Tianwang, standing in the class area, raised an eyebrow.
He felt something was amiss.
Chen Ran's grades weren't particularly good, but he had been very reliable for the past three years. He wouldn't cause trouble at this moment, would he?
"Mu Qingzhu, I like you."
He blurted it all out in one go.
Chen Ran immediately felt much lighter.
At this moment!
The entire Jiudu First High School, school leaders, teachers, students, and even reporters looking for a big scoop, were all stunned, frozen in place. They looked at the figure on the stage. The campus, which had been lively with the Kamen Rider awakening, suddenly became extremely quiet.
After a moment of silence, it erupted into a frenzy.
A large question mark appeared above everyone's heads simultaneously.
What the heck are you doing?
Some people were unhappy.
They felt Chen Ran was like a toad lusting after swan meat.
Some people were excited.
Because Chen Ran had done what they wanted to do but dared not.
This was a true man!
Class 25 area.
Li Tianwang helplessly covered his forehead, revealing an expression of 'as expected'. Chen Ran truly was a case of 'silence is golden, but speech is silver'—he actually dared to confess to the school beauty at the Knight Awakening Convention...
He could only sigh, "Youth is wonderful."
Fang Wen looked at Chen Ran on the stage, dumbfounded.
Good heavens!
Chen Ran is truly brave!
No wonder Chen Ran was distracted even when he told him so much 'rumor' about Mu Qingzhu earlier. So he was saving this big move!
"Chen Ran, you're awesome!"
Fang Wen shouted excitedly.
Chen Ran stood on the stage, looking at the 'faces of all living beings' below.
"Classmate Chen Ran..."
The recording teacher called out to remind him.
Chen Ran nodded.
In fact, he didn't need the reminder; he was already preparing to awaken.
Confessing to the school beauty was merely an interlude.
Brilliant light emerged from Chen Ran's body.
Immediately, a warm current swept through his entire being.
Finally, the light converged into a magenta Rider Driver and a card holder.
The last Rider of the old Heisei era in the Rider universe.
Kamen Rider... Decade!
This was the Rider power he awakened.
It was also a Rider series that had never appeared in this world!
Chen Ran was in a very good mood.
The others, however, were once again bewildered.
Previously, it was because of Chen Ran's sudden confession to the school beauty Mu Qingzhu.
Now, it was because of the Rider Driver in Chen Ran's hand!
This world had entered the 'Rider Era' for decades.
Most Rider Drivers were on record.
During awakening, only the forms were different.
For example, Build had best matches like Rabbit Tank and Hawk Gatling.
But the Decade Driver that Chen Ran awakened was undoubtedly brand new, with no prior records.
A new Rider?
This time!
Even the principal couldn't sit still...