Helheim's flora invades through the cracks.
Yggdrasill created the Scalar System as a last resort in case they had to destroy Zawame City entirely,
causing Kouta to erupt with rage at Yggdrasill's actions!
What's Yggdrasill trying to do here?!
There's no way they're just trying to make people feel safe.
They'd level the whole city if their secret got out!
What kind of secret could possibly be that important?
They're still hiding something, I'm sure of it.
This doesn't make sense.
What if Sid was just messing with you?
He's got nothing to gain by saying that.
It wouldn't make sense.
Yeah...
You're right...
Blast that Sid. What is he thinking?
Mai?
Hello?
Kouta?
I've found another crack.
It's still small, like it's not really open yet...
But it's...
Got it, move... wow...
Don't say no, just live more!
It's survival, you gotta move
When life's in a warring state
Who's got the strength to win
Now that all the locks are open?
Don't say no, just live more!
Where will you find...
Don't say no, just live more!
And how will you use...
The forbidden fruit?
The wind of the moment has its own message to share
It's blowin' stronger and stronger till it reaches you
Your dreams and future may seem so far away...
When you've got all you can out of life, that's when you can stop
But don't let life get you down
Keep your head held high
Wherever you may go
Never compromise yourself
Follow the path you believe in, and just live more!
Don't say no, just live more!
A crack finally opened where we can't hide it.
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On a bridge right in the middle of town.
We'll have to close off both ends of the bridge to buy time.
If no Inves come through, it shouldn't be possible to tell what the crack is from that distance.
What's your plan, put a "keep out" sign on the other end?
Precisely.
We'll put a defense system on the Helheim side and stop the Inves coming through.
That's not going to help much.
But I won't trigger the Scalar System... unless an Inves comes through.
Well, you are in charge, Takatora.
It's only fair that you get to make the biggest decisions.
So if you do decide that we have no choice but to torch Zawame City...
you push the Scalar button yourself.
Of course...
Just relax.
I'll take care of Helheim personally.
We'll live up to your expectations, I assure you.
Make the preparations, Ms. Minato.
Of course, Professor Ryoma.
There it is.
A crack opened up right where anyone can see...
Yggdrasill's sealed off the bridge.
At least no one will get anywhere near it.
But what if an Inves gets through?
You can't exactly miss that.
We just have to hope that the crack closes before that happens.
That's not good enough!
Yggdrasill can't cover this one up.
So they're going to...
Kouta, do you really...?
Yeah.
I don't doubt they'll do it.
They'll do anything to save their skins.
Wait! There is something we can do, Mitchy!
Set up on the Helheim side of the crack and keep the Inves out.
We just need to buy time until it closes itself.
You're right.
There's no other way.
That's...
Hey, Kaito!
Kaito!
We haven't heard from you for a while. Where have you been?
It's none of your business.
Hey, can you lend us a hand? The city's in trouble.
Really?
They're going to use the scalar EM weapon?
You know about that?
I've heard the gist.
And I know what they're after, too.
Who told you about that?
A man named Sengoku Ryoma.
You know that, I take it?
He's...
It's no concern of mine, though.
I have better things to do.
What?
What's the matter with you?
Zawame City and Yggdrasill both cower weakly in fear of the forest.
There is an even stronger enemy I must face...
The world of Helheim itself.
This is no time for jokes!
Even more overwhelming power.
Something that will let me go beyond humanity and bring the whole world to its knees.
Somewhere in this forest is a way to obtain it.
What has Sengoku Ryoma told you?
I think you two must be in a hurry.
Do you really have time to sit and chat?
Let's go, Mitchy.
We've gotta find the other end of that crack.
Yeah...
Mitchy, that's...
There's no doubt about it.
That must be the other side of the crack on that bridge.
But... what are they doing there?
Quiet!
They're guarding the area too.
So... that's how it is.
Kouta?
Well, well. Welcome, Kazuraba Kouta.
What are you doing here?
Essentially the same thing you are, I think?
And if an Inves gets through the crack, you...
Yes.
We'll just have to give up on Zawame City.
But we'd still like to keep our secrets, of course.
So we're exhausting our options here first.
I'm sure you have a lot on your mind...
But we could both do with a helping hand.
So let's call a truce and cooperate for the time being, shall we?
I guess you're right.
How about it, Mitchy?
Well...
If Yggdrasill really means to hold this place...
I should probably return to town.
What?
If you help here, the crack's defense should be solid enough.
But the city itself could be in danger.
We need to think about protecting Mai and the team...
Yeah... you're right.
Thanks, Mitchy.
Sure.
Can we trust you?
Just for today.
What are you sitting there for, anyway?
I'm trying to see if I can throw together a device
that can make this crack close any faster.
You can do that?
Goodness, no. It's quite impossible.
But my terrible boss won't hear otherwise.
So I'm sitting here pretending to be busy.
Is this the time for that nonsense?
You realize some things are simply impossible.
I thought the fate of the world hangs on your research!
Oh, did I not mention this?
My research is already up to standards.
What?
The mass production of the Sengoku Driver.
It's the centerpiece of the plan that will save humanity, Project Ark.
Project... Ark?
Come on, no time for chit-chat.
ORANGE
LOCK ON
ORANGE ARMS
THE PATH OF BLOSSOMS! TO THE STAGE!
They just don't stop coming!
Let's try this out!
CHERRY ENERGY
LOCK ON
MIX
JINBA CHERRY
Whoa!
Not bad.
You do adapt quickly, don't you?
A new open stage?
Yes. There's an open space that was just developed underground.
It should be finished now. Let's go check it out.
I guess... but now?
Yeah, right now!
How will mass producing the belts help save humanity?
My Driver converts Helheim's fruit into Lockseeds, and enables the wearer to absorb their energy safely.
No other nourishment will be necessary.
Thus, humans will survive in Helheim's environment without becoming Inves.
So we'll all have to depend on our belts to survive?
Wait, can you even make that many of these things?
A billion of them, at the very most.
But the current population is...
Correct. Approximately seven billion.
So only one in seven will survive.
That's ridiculous...
So you'll just let the other six billion die?
Let?
How naive of you.
You realize they're all doomed to become Inves?
If we let them do anything, they'll be a clear threat to the survivors.
So you'll...
Indeed. In the ten years before Helheim has consumed the entire Earth,
we will cull its population down to just one-seventh.
Yggdrasill is the world leader in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
We have no shortage of solutions.
How can you say that so calmly?
Don't forget. You have to fight off these Inves or your precious city goes up in smoke.
MIX
JINBA CHERRY
Once that's closed... I'm gonna...
Please follow instructions to your assigned shelter.
Attention, evacuees...
Hey, is this really a open stage?
Weird.
Maybe I was mistaken.
I'm really sorry.
Let's get back then.
It looks like the elevator's broken. Let's wait a bit.
What are they so afraid of?
This isn't right...
Okay!
Well, that ended well.
I honestly didn't think we could do it.
Well done.
You too, Mr. Kazuraba.
If you hadn't been there, things may have gotten a little... hairy.
I'm done with you!
ORANGE
LOCK ON
Wait.
But the HQ crack is that way!
And Takatora is at HQ.
It'll be fine.
This is my stage now!
You won't get away with this, Yggdrasill!
Bring up #11!
Yes, sir.
It may be able to burn down the whole city,
but they can't use it if I wreck their control room!
So where is it? Where'd they put it?
Why are you here?
I'm going to wreck your Scalar System.
I thought I told you...
that Yggdrasill is humanity's last hope.
Yeah, I heard from Sengoku Ryoma.
About the bad joke you call Project Ark.
Ryoma...
Why would you...
There's no way what you're doing is right!
I don't expect you to think so.
We bear our sin gladly for humanity to have a future.
Transform.
MELON ENERGY
LOCK ON
SODA
MELON ENERGY ARMS
LEMON ENERGY
LOCK ON
MIX
JINBA LEMON
After the break, Gaim vs Zangetsu Shin!
You're really going to kill everyone in the city with the press of a button?
Of course I am!
The population of Zawame City is 200,000.
We'll have to cull 30,000 times that number in the next ten years.
If anything, the first blow should be much larger.
What good is a future bought with the lives of that many innocent people?
Don't be stupid!
Any way forward requires sacrifice.
Are you so immature that you can't understand that?
Sacrifice?
Indeed.
The human experiments on the Beat Riders.
The resulting death of Hase Ryouji.
All of that will bring hope to humanity.
You can't do that!
You can't bring hope in exchange for that kind of sacrifice!
You'll just bring them despair instead!
What's so funny?
Kazuraba Kouta.
You already stand here on lives sacrificed.
Did you still not realize that?
What do you mean?
October 6th. Case File 167.
Record of a civilian who made it into Helheim.
Yuuya...
Everything that happened that day was recorded by our intelligence agents' cameras.
You remember, don't you? The first Inves you defeated after becoming an Armored Rider.
Yuuya... no...
That's...
I don't blame you.
You had to fight, or you would have been killed.
I... I...
You found hope from the sacrifice of your former friend.
You're free to abandon it and fall into despair.
Over the lives your actions saved...
And over your own survival...
Next time on Kamen Rider Gaim:
I never wanted you to find out, Kouta.
There exists a sapient Inves.
It is not your place to decide.
TRIUMPH ARMS
The ultimate arms!!
I'll never give up!
Episode 23: Take the Field! Triumph Arms!
TAKE THE FIELD!