After Long's defeat, Rio is invited to SCRTC along with Mere. However, Ran and Retsu are reluctant at this. Rio burns the Rinjū Hall to symbolize the end of the Rin Jūken branch, and takes on Retsu in the Fist Judgment to cleanse himself, with the intention to sacrifice himself. However, Sanyo and a revived Long interrupt the proceedings as Long assumes his true form. After Mere's selfless sacrifice, Rio takes a small remnant of her Ki into himself and decides to eliminate Long, despite Jyan's protests. As a final act, he gives the Gekirangers the last remaining Rinki that was given to him by the Kenma as penance for his deeds, and sacrifices himself in order to stop Long's rampage, promising Jyan a rematch in the future. Upon arriving in the afterlife, he is met by Mere and the two walk off, hand in hand. During the finale, both Rio and Mere guide the three Gekirangers into the Rin Jū Hall and reveal the Kenma before them, showing the path to unifying the two Jūken schools. Rio is later revived during the events of "Go-onger vs. Gekiranger", helping to defeat Long Banki before returning to the afterlife as a condemned soul as the price of his revival.