At the Temporary Hero Headquarters in Asagaya, Seiji Tanba, head of the Research and Development Department, was monitoring Haneda’s situation.

「Haa ha ha haa! With this, you can no longer escape!」

「As expected, mobilizing all the heroes of Eastern Japan is a bit much, isn’t it……?」

Commander Samejima Asaka, who had dispatched the Victory Falcon to Antarctica at Tanba’s request, raised an eyebrow at the sight. Tanba, however, raised his voice at Asaka as if she did not understand.

「Listen Samejima, Kirika is the best prototype!　If we study her egg cells, we can mass produce a hero with the power of a mysterious being!　If we lose Kirika now, our research will be delayed for another 10 years or more!」

「If this comes to light, the International Federation of Heroes will not remain silent!」

「That’s why we have to catch them here!　Before the information leaks out of Japan!」

「Does that mean that in certain cases, there is a possibility of silencing people?」

Tanba’s wrinkled mouth hung up in a grin.

「We’ve already taken steps to make sure that doesn’t happen.」

…………

From beyond the horizon, the dazzling morning sun illuminates the land.

At Haneda Airport, the most famous heroes from all over eastern Japan had gathered. They were all superhumans, no less than one thousand.

They had only one goal: to defeat Mayuzumi Kirika and the Darkness mysterious being Drakirika. The flames of justice filled Rintaro’s group’s field of vision from edge to edge.

「Awawawawawa…… Anikii! This is bad, ssu!」

「A gathering of local heroes? …… Geez, they’re a bunch of immature people, this Hero Headquarters.」

Rintaro held up his Death Green Gear, but couldn’t help but hesitate about transforming.

It wasn’t much, but this situation was not something that could be dealt with in a time limit of 10 minutes. Considering the fact that they had giant robots hidden away, a frontal assault was a fool’s errand.

He understood that Kirika was reasonably important to the Hero Headquarters. However, it was completely unexpected that she would be valuable enough to bring together a large group of heroes from all over eastern Japan.

「Listen up, do not be afraid, warriors!　Justice is ours!」

「That’s right! That’s right!　We must unite and condemn these evil mysterious beings!」

The circle of encirclement kept creeping closer and closer. A tense silence flowed between the three mysterious beings and the heroes.　 Rintaro held up his “Ninja Poison Sword” to protect Samecchi.

「If it’s now……」

It was Kirika who broke the heavy silence. She took a barefoot step forward, and the heroes forming the circle flinched slightly.

「I think I know how Senpai would become such a heinous mysterious being!」

Mayuzumi Kirika, she was already a legend among heroes across the country.

At the age of 17, she is a young prodigy who holds the title of the top student in the 50th year of the Hero School. She was born to be a hero, having broken all previous records. She is the strongest hero, loved too much by the gods for her abilities, talent, appearance, and everything else.

Her physical specs are so overwhelming that even a hundred heroes could not compete with her.

「Amongst you guys, are there any one who would like to have a go at me?」

The clear, icy voice, colder than the Antarctic wind, rapidly stole the heat from the 1000 heroes. They looked at each other, but no one wanted to be brave.

「D- don’t be afraid! We’ve got Priority weapons supply from the Research and Development Department!”」

「Yeah, don’t be scared!　We’ll finish this quickly!」

The first to make their move was the Particle Sentai Laser Five, that had been beaten to a pulp by Rintaro earlier in the day. The five of them simultaneously raised their laser guns and set their sights on Kirika.

「Sh- shoot! I will shoot! For real!」

「W-w-w-we will do it!　We’re going to clear our name!」

In their sights, the girl slowly holds up her hand.

――Chubiiin――!

With a sharp “Dorori” sound, the laser gun melted away. A thin beam of energy emitted from the palm of Kirika’s hand transformed the laser gun into mere molten iron one after another.

「I’m going “home” with my senpai. Please don’t get in my way.」

A black whirlwind blew around Kirika, and as her coat fluttered, her figure was revealed.

She has a black armor-like shell that encases half of her body, and a thick, long tail reminiscent of a reptile’s. She has two huge wings like those of a pterosaur, and two sharp horns sprouted from her head. The eyes of Kirika, who has transformed into a mysterious being form, glow crimson.

「Senpai, I will crush the front. Please take care of Samecchi-san!」

「Mayuzumi, you… as expected, this number is unreasonable…」

「Don’t worry, it’s only 1000 people.」

Kirika began to asks questions, the thing you want to protect, is it order, or is it the world?

No, the thing that Kirika wants to protect, would be decided by Kirika herself.

Even if it is self-righteous justice, she will not hesitate anymore. She had decided to pierce through everything that stood in her way.

Kirika beckoned the heroes with her black, sharp-clawed hands.

「Let’s finish this quickly. If one person lasts for 0.1 seconds. We can finish this in two minutes.」

Even if it’s to defeat the enemy in the name of order. Even if it’s to destroy this unkind world. And even if it’s to protect her own loneliness and peace.　

 To protect and love those she holds dear, and to carry out her own warped justice. This was Kirika’s determination to wield her power as a mysterious being.

「God damn it!　Move at once!」

Heroes with weapons in hand rush toward the darkness mysterious being, Drakirika. The long, whip-like tail of the mysterious being flicks them away with ease. A little less than ten heroes roll onto the runway, convulsing with a single blow.

At the same time, the heroes rushed towards Rintaro and Samecchi.

Rintaro twisted his body to dodge the oncoming attack and struck a blow to the neck with his ninja poison sword.

Using unconscious heroes as “human shields,” they take down heroes one after another as if they were dancing, even though they are still alive.

「Damn it!　Why!　Why can’t we attack!」

「Thank you for coming all the way from the provinces. Even though I look like this, I’m a former elite member of the Tokyo Headquarters, You know?」

Rintaro picked up a gun and shot five people in the face in rapid succession. The heroes, who were hit in the face with a violent shock wave, rolled over in a heap.

「You’re using a gun that looks like a toy. I don’t want it. I’ll give it back.」

「……Whoops! Treat it with care! It’s a precious energy gun, you know!」

One of the heroes barely catches the gun that is thrown at him. The next moment, the gun caused a huge explosion in the hero’s hand.

「Ugyaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!」

「It’s less than an amateur to receive a weapon that has fallen into the enemy’s hands without warning. But that poverty mentality isn’t bad, at least to me. Hahahaha, then let’s get serious.」

When Rintaro’s body glowed green, he was instantly enveloped in a hideous green armor.　

Rumored to be on par with Mayuzumi Kirika, now the hero of eastern Japan trembles with fear just by hearing his name. A messenger from hell who single-handedly destroyed Victory Ranger, the victory sentai that reigned at the top of the Japanese hero world.

「”Peace”-loving green light, Death Green. Let’s make peace one by one with those who don’t make way!」

「Senpai, Ever since the first time I saw you dressed like that, I think it doesn’t look good on you.」

「You can’t say those things even if you’re thinking them!」

「Aniki is cool, ssuyo! I think it’s cool, ssuyo!」

Rintaro and Kirika, back to back with Samecchi in the center, stared at each other and at the heroes in front of them.

Each of them is a great mysterious beings who pushes instead of retreating from 1000 heroes. For the heroes who usually enjoyed peace while patrolling the countryside, it was too heavy an opponent.

As if to make matters worse, a heaven-shattering aura of blackness rises from the darkness mysterious being Drakirika’s entire body. The air shivers, and the seabirds that have been spreading their wings at the edge of the airport take off in unison.

「Come on, keep it together. I’ll give you “love” until you become kind.」

For the young heroes, such a powerful enemy was, of course, something they had never experienced before. Even if we go back in history, there are not so many great mysterious beings who had a serious encounter with an army of heroes of this size.

No matter how many heroes were gathered from all over eastern Japan, each and every one of them was a human being. The mysterious beings were so powerful that even the 1000-member heroes were unable to make a careless move.

――Except for one person――

「Then let’s see you catch my fist of love.」

The man’s fist broke through the crowd of heroes and leaped out like a bullet, striking Kirika. Kirika guards with the shells of her arms against the heavy punch that feels like a meteorite striking from above her head.

「Aka Punch!!」

「Ugh…… Guuu!!!」

A bomb-like impact traveled through Kirika’s body, causing the runway to cave in around both legs.

A bright red fist and a slightly faded mask. A hero wearing a flowing cloak, the founder who still stands at the top. The oldest hero Aka Justice.

The director of the Hero Headquarters, Ittetsu Morikuni, clenched his fist tightly.

---

<75: The Return of the Red Wings
77: Lullaby of the Zako Fighters>