Dilapidated buildings, deafening roars, and strange crystals scattered all around.
“Where… is this?”
In the ruins, a figure muttered to himself, but the only response was a violent roar from behind him.
Not long ago…
“It’s here, it’s here! My Faiz belt!”
In a bedroom, a somewhat youthful boy shouted excitedly, holding an express package and impatiently tearing it open.
After ripping through the outer packaging, the delicate objects inside were revealed.
Following a flurry of quick adjustments, the boy strapped on the Driver and carefully picked up a flip phone.
The silver-black body, paired with the dazzling Mission Memory slotted in the middle of the flip cover, oozed a pure sci-fi aesthetic.
The boy gently flipped it open.
Looking at the keypad, as if making some grand resolution, he slowly pressed down.
5 — 5 — 5
STANDING BY…
“Henshin!”
The boy then slid the phone into the Driver.
COMPLETE!
As the transformation sound effect finished, the boy could no longer suppress the corners of his mouth and burst into loud laughter.
“Hahahahaha! Cool, so freaking cool! As expected of the Bandai Deluxe Edition. I, Li Qianqiao, worked a summer job for so long and spent a fortune just for this moment!”
It wasn’t just the belt; the Deluxe Edition included all of Faiz’s accessories, immensely satisfying his fantasies as a die-hard Tokusatsu Kamen Rider fan.
After finishing the college entrance exams and getting his admission letter, Li Qianqiao didn’t choose to just lie flat at home until the semester started.
Instead, he worked to earn money for an upcoming anime convention before school began.
He had chosen to cosplay Takumi without a hint of hesitation—not just because they shared the same name, but because Faiz was the series that originally got him into the fandom.
(Translator’s Note: The protagonist’s name, Li Qianqiao (李 乾巧), directly shares the Chinese characters used for Inui Takumi (乾巧), the protagonist of Kamen Rider 555/Faiz. If you find Qianqiao is too tricky to pronouce, you can just call him Li.)
To gather Faiz’s full set of equipment, Li Qianqiao spent his off-hours handcrafting a Faiz leather undersuit.
He then set his sights on his family’s second-hand motorcycle, wanting to modify it into the Auto Vajin.
Unfortunately, as an amateur, his craftsmanship wasn’t up to par, so he had to bring in the professionals.
Since his dad and the Empress Dowager (his mom) were out traveling, Li Qianqiao took Old Li’s used motorcycle and had it drastically overhauled.
Even though he knew he’d probably get a taste of the belt (the literal one) when they returned, he accepted his fate.
He could only pity his old man, who would soon have to commute to work riding the Auto Vajin every day.
“Good thing the Auto Vajin arrived a few days ago, and now the final pieces are complete. It’s just a pity my salary and the living expenses that dad left me are basically gone, woo hoo…”
Li Qianqiao silently mourned his lost money for a second, then turned around, rubbing his hands together with a face full of smiles as he walked toward his prepared Faiz suit.
Half an hour later, in the small courtyard downstairs from Li Qianqiao’s apartment, Kamen Rider Faiz made his debut!
He walked toward the parked, second-hand…
Auto Vajin.
Faiz said nothing, merely staring at it quietly.
He moved.
He… adjusted his crotch.
“Hiss—even though I’ve worn it once before, this leather suit is still a bit too tight.” Li Qianqiao complained softly while adjusting himself and sitting on the bike.
He had to admit, at first glance, it really had that authentic vibe.
He struck a few more poses, thinking he looked cooler by the second.
“Wait, I don’t think I have a motorcycle license. Whatever, I’ll just have my best friend give me a ride. Hopefully, we won’t get pulled over on the way to the convention. Let me snap a picture to show him.”
Just as Li Qianqiao was about to take a photo, a call came in.
“This window~ This night~ Flowing with radiant colors~” (Ringtone)
“Hey, Old Chen, you called right on time, let me tell you…”
“A-Qiao! I pulled Astra Yao! And it was a triple gold! From today onward, she is my goddess! Also… Hello? Why did you hang up?”
He had been careless.
He was so excited about the transformation device arriving that he forgot Astra Yao’s banner dropped today.
And that lucky dog got three of her in one pull?!
Li Qianqiao ground his teeth, quickly running back to his bedroom and booting up his computer, not even taking the time to take off the leather suit.
“Hurry up, aren’t you usually pretty fast?” He glared resentfully at the loading screen, forced to wait slowly.
Finally, the loading finished.
His goal was clear: go straight to the gacha.
Success or failure, it all came down to this!
“I have 85 pulls on hand. Even though I haven’t built pity for the 50/50, I believe in my luck. I have no dreams, but my dream right now is to protect Miss Yao! Don’t underestimate my resolve, temee (you bastard) !”
After a surge of hot-blooded excitement.
“Hey you! Quit staring at me like I’m a kid!” (Gacha voice line)
…
Li Qianqiao got Koleda Belobog, he lost 50/50.
“…Hahahahaha, fuck!”
Li Qianqiao laughed out of pure anger.
He couldn’t help it; ever since he saw Astra Yaos PV a while ago, he had been deeply captivated, rewatching it countless times.
As a veteran HoYoverse tri-game player, it was the first time his heart fluttered this much for a character—he didn’t even feel this way during Firefly’s banner.
At the time, he swore he would only love Miss Yao, but he had already spent his money buying the belt.
He had no choice but to give up on Hoshimi Miyabi’s M2, otherwise, he definitely would have swiped his card for it!
“85 pulls, why did it have to be like this! Phew~ Calm down, getting angry is bad for your health, there’s still a chance…”
Just as Li Qianqiao was calming down, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest.
No way, did I really just give myself a heart attack out of anger?
Am I going to log off this abruptly?
Unfortunately, before Li Qianqiao could think further, his vision went black, and he collapsed completely.
……
It’s so noisy… why is it so noisy?
It’s hard to breathe…
No, wait!
Amidst a pile of rubble, Li Qianqiao slowly woke up.
What he saw wasn’t his familiar room, but rather dilapidated buildings and strange crystals growing on the walls.
“Where… is this…” Li Qianqiao said, confused.
“Why… does it look so much like a Hollow?”
Li Qianqiao looked down and realized he was still wearing the leather suit he had on before passing out.
He reached for his waist—the belt was gone!
The other parts were missing too.
It was over, he was really going to cry to death now.
“ROAR——!”
A violent roar from behind interrupted Li Qianqiao’s thoughts.
He turned his head and saw several Ethereals!
There was no time to mourn the belt; the next to take the stage was the famous mob brawler—the Tyrfing!
“Damn it! I actually transmigrated into Zenless Zone Zero, and I’m in a freaking Hollow!” Li Qianqiao cursed loudly.
Seeing them closing in, he struggled to get up, dragging his weak body as he ran.
The Ethereals were still chasing him.
Li Qianqiao could feel the distance between them slowly shrinking.
Were they getting faster?
No, he was getting slower!
He raised his hand and noticed crystals had already appeared on his skin.
I’ve already been corrupted!?
“Cough! Cough! Cough!”
Coughing up a mouthful of blood mixed with crystal fragments, Li Qianqiao could already feel a severe, tearing pain in his lungs, though the pain was gradually growing numb.
His body was vaguely showing signs of forming a Core.
There wasn’t much time left.
Li Qianqiao knew he was about to turn into an Ethereal.
He smiled miserably and joked, “Looking at the situation now, cough cough, after I die, I’ll probably become an Ethereal version of ‘Another Faiz’. Haha, cough cough cough!”
Watching the Ethereals getting closer and closer, Li Qianqiao prepared to fight for his life.
“Since I’m going to die anyway… then! Even if I die, I’m taking a few of you down with me as a cushion!”
With those words, Li Qianqiao, having made up his mind, turned around and charged straight at the Ethereals!
The Ethereals hadn’t expected the dying man in the leather suit to turn around and attack.
One was hit in the head by the incoming fist, stumbling back a few steps and blocking the Ethereals behind it.
Unfortunately, that single strike had exhausted all of Li Qianqiao’s remaining strength.
Unable to hold on any longer, his body simply collapsed.
Watching the Ethereal carrying a massive blade slowly walk toward him, Li Qianqiao realized he was completely done for.
His mind began to wander frantically: I can’t believe I’m getting killed by a trash mob like this.
Doesn’t every transmigrator get a system?
System?
System, save me…
Sadly, before Li Qianqiao could finish his thoughts, a cold light flashed, and the tip of the blade pierced his chest.
At the moment of death, Li Qianqiao’s final thought flashed by: So this is… death… what a pity…
I just transmigrated… and I didn’t even get to see Miss Yao…
So, this is my second book I translate.
Umm, Idk what to say next.
So, Have a great day!