We get right back into the thick of things this week with episode forty of Kamen Rider Gaim "Awakening As An Overlord".  After a quick recap of last week's events we see Kouta and Sengoku continue there search for the captives the Overlords have.  Meanwhile Kaito, Minato, and Zack finally are able to break through the defense system to move forward.  Kouta and Sengoku find a elevator that wasn't there before and find the captives.  Kouta tries to wake them up with no success and Sengoku has no idea on how to shut the system down.  Redyue shows up which causes Kouta to go straight into Kiwami to fight her.  Sengoku joins and the three are soon fighting outside the tower.  After the opening we see the two are not doing well against the Overlord.  Redyue taunts Kouta about Kiwami's power which causes some hesitation from Kouta.  She goes as far as to say he is no longer human and is one of them now due to the Kiwami Lockseed.  He then sends Kouta into a trance like state to hammer home his statements.  Sengoku takes this opportunity to go invisible and get his camera network back up to see what they have been up to.  Meanwhile Mai is finding out about the fruit, from both Roshuo and Sagara, and finds out that whoever takes the fruit to stop the forest will have nowhere to go afterwards.  To create or destroy is the choice faced by the fruit bearer and Kouta has already gotten a taste of it. 

          In the trance Kouta finds himself in a park with no monsters until the people seem to run away from one.  Yuuya arrives and calls Kouta a monster which we soon see is true.  Kouta transforms into the monster both Yuuya and Hase did while Yuuya transforms into Gaim to smite the one that threatens Zawame City.  Kouta panics and runs off after hitting Yuuya by accident.  Meanwhile Mai continues to hear about the fate of those who bear the Forbidden Fruit.  Mai is upset by what she finds out and knows this will not end well for him.  Meanwhile once more Kouta injures Rat much the same way Hase did and runs away after that.  Kaito and crew manage to find the captives and after a swift kick to the machine free them.  Kaito heads off to find Kouta while Minato and Zack get them out of the Tower.  Kouta continues to run from Yuuya and after a one sided fight hides under a tarp to evade his purser when he is knocked out of sight.  Kouta seems to accept that this could have happen and is visibly upset.  After running into Zack and Minato in the trance and Overlord and a regular Inves come to help him.  Kouta runs into the waiting of Redyue ready to accept their new brother.  Kouta is initially scared by his presence but eventually decides to join them since they are the only ones who will accept him.

          Meanwhile Kaito runs into Micchy and after trading words with him begins to fight the traitor in Shin Zangetsu form.  We see Micchy is able to handle himself against Kaito but is easily thrown off his game by Kaito's insults.  Sengoku finds out about the fruit and Roshuo and even knows where Mai is now.  Kouta transforms into his monster form to attack Yuuya when he arrives and even manages to knock him out of his rider form.  Kouta seems to be ready to kill Yuuya once more but goes against it since no matter what he will defend humanity no matter the cost to himself.  Mai echoes this sentiment to Sagara as we see Kouta regain Kiwami form in the trance.  Kouta is fighting for what he wants and will not stop no matter what.  Out of the trance we see Kouta collapse and detransforms as Helheim plants extend from where he kneels.  We end with Kouta declaring he has no regrets over his actions.  This was an interesting episode where we see Kouta faced with the fact he may become an Inves and simply chooses to continue forward. 

          Kouta shows his resolve and shows his willingness to press onward even though he believes he doesn't have to sacrifice anything to get the ending he wants.   We in the audience know he has already made the sacrifice and Kouta just doesn't know it yet until now.   Mai shows how much see cares out Kouta as the knowledge of what Kouta will do with the fruit brings her to tears knowing Kouta always puts others before himself and will more than likely destroy himself in order to save the world.  Sengoku continues to plot while Sagara shows his true colors for a bit as a puppet master pulling the strings of our main rider.  Redyue tried his best to turn Kouta into his pawn but failed to do so and only strengthen Kouta resolve.  Overall this was a good episode and leads us into a huge episode to come next week from the looks of things.  Next week Kouta and Kaito square off with Roshuo, the Nutastic Duo face off with Micchy, and Mai receives something from Roshuo?

          If you want to see the show for yourself check out Aesir Subs or TV-Nihon for subbed episodes every week or check out http://taima.tv/r/TokuNMecha for Super Hero Time, Ressha Sentai Toqger and Kamen Rider Gaim, live at 6:30 p.m. EST on Saturday.  Join the discussion either in the comments or on the forums on the site and check out TGSR Saturdays at 9:00 p.m. EST for both me and my co host Rampant Epsilon as we discuss the show further.