Tense, that was how one could describe the air in the room, not a single one of the four dared to speak up, almost able to see the glares of their master who was sitting in his throne, the darkness covering his face. While he sat comfortably and without any sign of stress, all of them could feel it, the anger, the furry and the disappointment. He hadn’t touched his wine in over ten minutes, instead had just sat there, listening carefully to Unicron’s explanations, not speaking a single word. Even the confidant Phantom could feel that even though she brought with her new and useful information, he was none too pleased with her.
“So, Kraken has fallen. A shame, really, but this is just how life goes. If you aren’t born for greatness you will never achieve it,” Heinrich sighed, sounding surprisingly calm all things considered. “However,” he added, a malicious undertone in his voice. “Unicorn, you said you saw everything? From the point you gave him the second stone to his death, may I ask why you didn’t intervene? As much as I despise failures, he still could have been useful to me, so why? Do tell me, I’m interested.”
The Nobel stood up from his throne and slowly walked towards Unicorn, trying to remain as confident as she usually was, with emphasis on trying. Even in the dark room one could see her body slowly starting to shake, first just a little bit but with every step, her master made it grew and grew, her mask cracking more and more as he stepped closer and closer, like a predator that was hunting his pray. “Come now, Unicorn, you must have had a good reason not to intervene, right?” He whispered into her ear, his voice as cold as a blizzard.
With her breath quickly shooting up she stammered back: “Reason… A reason… Of course my lord. I… I just wanted to see how well he faired with these new powers of him.” While she had spoken Heinrich had circled around her, but the moment she said this he stopped, spinning around and staring him right in the eyes.
“New powers? What do you mean with that? And why is it that I only now hear of this, Unicorn,” the last words were spoken with such distance and malice that even the Phantom took a few steps back staring at her master in absolute fear. “Oh, no need to be afraid of me my dear. Well, as long as you don’t betray me, so, do tell, what are these ‘new powers’ and why did you think it necessary to withhold this information from me?” The cold glare that came her way just made her even more afraid, her breathing grew more and more uneven. “Speak! I command it!”
This finally got the Phantom to speak, quickly returning an answer she hoped would save her from an untimely demise. “Magic, he bonded with magic from this world. It acted as a form of an enhancer for his powers, it also saved him from dying,” she spat this answer out so fast there was no chance that she was lying.
“And?” Heinrich asked again, not showing any of the calm and collectedness he had shown before, no he was unearthed, angry and glaring at her.
“I… I was just unsure if my assumption was correct and didn’t want to deliver my lord wrong information, especially if it might have unsuspected side effects,” Unicorn continued, sweet now dripping of her forehead, as she stared back at her master in fear.
“Oh, is that so? You think I can’t handle a bit of magic, as otherworldly as it might be?” He asked with a low growled, taking several steps to his terrified underling. “I’m the greatest mage to have ever walked this earth. I created the Philosopher Stone, I was so powerful that only a group of five mages could restrain me and banish to another plane of existence. You really think I could not master another form of it? How dare you?” He hissed, stepping closer and closer towards Unicorn who started to step back more and more as she tried to avoid the wrath of her master.
“No, no! I would never suggest something as ludicrous as this master. I was just worried about any unforeseeable consequences, but if you say it is of no concern to you I made a terrible mistake,” she returned, the panic in her voice finally boiling over and leaving her a terrified mess as she slumped to the floor and frantically started to bow before the mage. “I made a terrible mistake my lord, please, may you forgive this ignorant servant?” She let her head sink to the ground, forced shut, unable to open them out of fear what would stare back at her if she dared as much as to blink.
Heinrich threw a disgusted glare down at her before his posture relaxed again, the mage taking a deep breath. “You may be forgiven, while your actions were wrong, you handled out of pure intent.” The pressure seemingly melted off of her, her muscles relaxing in an instance. “However, do not think this will always be the case. I decided to be merciful for now, but ever think of questioning me again and…” He continued, leaning down towards the Phantom and whispering it into her ears, the threat clearly pronounced.
“Of… Of course, my master, as you wish,” she added, trying not to stumble over her own words.
“That is good to hear, especially since I managed to get my hands on this,” he pulled out a small bracelet, blue in color and engraved with small lightning insignia, she could feel the otherworldly energy erupting from it. No, she had felt this kind of power before and not too long ago, it was the same energy that had saved Krakens life as he had been on hells doorstep.
“Master…” She managed to stammer, staring at the beautiful piece of jewelry.
“What, do I need to spell it out to you? I thought you were so smart? You should be able to figure out what I want from you. Now, are you gonna be loyal to me, even if it might kill you, or are you just a traitor and worthless to me after all?” Heinrich asked, turning away from her, staring out through one of the windows and into the night sky.
She stared back at him, and then again at the window, if this was indeed going to kill her, then maybe… No, she had been loyal to him for so long, he had created her and showed her true power as well as the world, she couldn’t betray him, never! Right? The pull of the window grew stronger and stronger like it was screaming to her to get out. She almost made the first step as her mind suddenly stopped her, internally yelling at her how ungrateful she would be if she would even for a second think about abandoning him. With her eyes drawn back towards her master, she bowed down and opened up her hand.
“Good, it seems I was not mistaken in you. It would have been a major disappointment,” these words felt like daggers in her no existant hearth, like someone had ripped a hole into her stomach. Her eyes darted towards the floor as her master continued: “Not that I would ever be mistaken,” he added with a dismissive huff as he placed the bracelet in her open palms.
The moment the metal touched her skin, she could feel the strange energy running through her, light lightning. With every passing second, she felt more and more of the power overtaking her body, the small little piece of jewelry starting to glow in a bright blue. From the outside, a one could see a bright light shining through the windows of the old abandoned mansion, but with the fact that night had already fallen over the suburb this did not cause anyone to really notice that they had moved in, the estate had become a meeting ground for the kids anyway.
Meanwhile, Unicorn finally emerged from the light, the bracelet around her arm and still giving off a bit of lighting. With shaking hands she stared at the new accessory before slowly standing back up, everything felt so slow, unlike anything she had ever experienced. Still, it felt good, the power, the strength, everything just felt sharper, like the voice of her master.
“So, it worked. Excellent, excellent, just as expected. Thank god that I took a few of these beauties when we required my gear,” the mage mused, returning to his throne as well as picking up another glass of wine. “Now, what are we gonna do with you? Should I experiment on you? Test you? Or how about I send you on a little trip to further my goals and show your newfound powers? Oh, the last one sounds good, we are still far away from our final goal and with you and my new breakthrough I’m positive we can advance even further. What do you say, Unicorn?” Heinrich asked smugly, before taking a sip from his glass.
“I would be honored to fulfill your commands, my master, especially after this tremendous gift you have bestowed upon me,” she returned, holding back her own tears. “I beg of you, use me; however you see fit.”
“Oh, this is excellent. This vigor, this enthusiasm, this willingness to sacrifice oneself, it brings me to new heights!” The mage burst out, holding his glass of red liquid high into the air before throwing it to the side without as much as a second thought. “Truly, I have the greatest servants a man could ever ask for. A true gift from God showing again that I’m chosen by him!” After he had taken a few steps towards her, he continued: “I will accompany you, it’s time these peasants see who they are up against. Let’s go!” He proudly proclaimed before walking towards the door. Unicorn could only look after him in awe before quickly following her lord.
>-------<AxWxD>-------<
Exhaustion, that was without the shadow of a doubt what all of the felt, the day had taken a good amount out of them. Two attacks plus the fact that they had searched the city the whole day did not work favorably for one's energy. And then there was the arrival of this new Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider Decade was how he called himself. A man named Tsukasa Kadoya, a self-proclaimed traveler of worlds. Apparently, Haruto had meat him on several occasions already, so there was this at least.
Around the small table in the living room, the six Riders had gathered, trying to decide their next move. While Phoenix and Ocean, as well as Haruto and Nitoh, had taken place right next to the table on the couch both Pinecone and Tsukasa, had sat down a bit further away. Nothing new for Pinecone, he enjoyed to listen and occasionally say that their plan was stupid and how to do it better, but with Tsukasa, it irked her. Ocean had already dealt with the man in the previous fight, and it seemed this was just an appetizer of what was to come.
While he had shown impressive combat skills, this did not hide the fact that he was innately rather full of himself, and so quite aggravating to be around, not like any of the Riders they had meat until now, that was for sure. Instead, she had to listen to snide remark after snide remark as he called her a rocky time and time again. It might be true that he had about a decade more experience on his hand, this, however, did not mean he could just walk over her, he was a guest in this world after all. And even during their planning he just decided to sit on the sidelines and occasionally take some photos. Ocean threw several furies looks his way, he either didn’t notice or far more likely just didn’t care.
“You shouldn’t take Tsukasa too serious, he is a good man at heart, just…” Haruto whispered to her, the woman not really impressed with his attempt.
“Just a bit of an asshole?” She bluntly finished for him, getting a weird look from her boyfriend.
“I wouldn’t go this far, without him a good amount of worlds would have ended, he actually brought me to several rather weird ones already, but the one with the talking horses was the weirdest yet. But this is beside the point, he can be rather cheeky, but ultimately he is a good man.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that, but still… There is just something that irks me about him, and it’s not just his attitude, but really he could work on that,” she whispered back, but apparently not enough.
“You know I can hear you, newbie, right?” The rough voice of Tsukasa hit her like a speeding train, her eyes shooting open and she quickly slammed her hands over her mouth, all while her cheeks were overtaken by crimson. “Maybe if you would learn to take your surrounding into consideration you could become as good as I am one day,” he continued, his aloof tone quickly overshadowing Ocean’s embarrassment and turning it into annoyance.
“I don’t know, I kinda like him,” Phoenix added, giving his girlfriend a little nudge with his elbow complete with a devilish smile. He would regret this, but it was so worth it.
And indeed, she quickly shot him a glare that could have probably killed if that was possible, but unlike usually he didn’t jump back at this, no his smile grew even bigger. “I know you would, you both can be huge pains in the butt, you know that?” Ocean quickly added with a light growl.
“Oh, I know, and I take a good amount of pride in it,” he smirked back, almost tempted to stick out his tongue just to bring it to the next level, but ultimately reason won out in the end… for now.
“You know, sometimes I just could…” she started to mutter before shaking her head and continuing. “Moving on, so you are here because you heard about this guy and wanted to lend your assistance, right?” Ocean returned her gaze towards Tsukasa who was ideally taking pictures of the group.
“Huh?” He looked up, giving her a disinterested look. “Not really, I just thought this might be a fun world for my next stop. Even as a dimension traveler finding a world where two Riders from different universes show up is always interesting. That is all, I thought it would be amusing,” he carelessly continued, taking a snapshot of the baffled Ocean.
“You are shitting me, right? That is all, really?” She was almost at a loss for words, she could only stare at the Rider in complete and utter disbelievement. “And you are supposed to be a savior of worlds?”
“I’m the destroyer or worlds, not a savior, there is a difference newbie,” he returned before standing back up and started to walk around the room, picking up whatever he could get his hands on and putting it down somewhere where it didn’t belong. Haruto meanwhile just shook his head.
This was the point where she had it. “I need a moment,” she gritted through her teeth, storming down the stairs towards the kitchen and a loud bang could be heard in the distance, the sound of a door.
Everyone threw confused looks at Phoenix who had until now just stared after her, the awkwardness of the moment however quickly catching up to him. “So, don’t you want to go after her? I don’t think she will achieve much when she sulks outside a bit, but if you want we can continue without her, I’m sure we will manage,” Tsukasa continued, playing a bit with one of Thunders picture frames, one that showed a newspaper article of Alchemy and Charge.
“I’ll go get her, without Ocean this will dissolve into absolute madness anyway,” he sighed, standing up and leaving the rest of them in the living room. As he entered the kitchen Thunder was already expecting him.
“So, what in the name of Tartarus got her so riled up? Or in other words, what did you do?” The chef asked with a pulled up to browse and a judgemental look in his eyes.
“Ok, first? Why do you think it was me who pissed her off? Am I your go-to problem guy or what?” He asked a bit of aggravation in his voice. “Don’t answer that. Second, nope, not this time, it was this new Rider Tsukasa, he kinda edged on with Ocean. A bit too self-confident and arrogant for her taste apparently. And third, never call her newbie, she hates that,” he finished with an exhausted sigh. “So, would you be so kind and let me talk with her, I kinda want her to be with us when we decide what we will do next.”
“Yeah, you have a point,” he sheepishly returned rubbing the back of his neck as he made room for Phoenix to finally leave. “But don’t make it worse, got it! I don’t want to hear your sobbing because she left you!”
“Yeah, as if. If she stayed with me for so long, this will not break her, she is used to my insanity. I would rather have her get along with Tsukasa, that is all,” he shouted back while dashing towards the door, it falling shut behind him.
“You think they are gonna be ok?” Summer asked, coming in from the restaurant door and putting down several plates next to the other dishes.
“Eh, they’ll manage, I’m sure they will. They always have after all,” Thunder returned with a shrug, getting back to his pizzas.
“Yeah, you are probably right,” Summer added with a little chuckle. “Would be a shame if this would mark the end for them. Nah.”
With that the door slammed shut behind them, leaving them to continue their work for the customers, there were many hungry mouths still to fill at this point, but this didn't matter for Phoenix, right now there was something far more important on his mind. And this thing was not that hard to find, standing in the fresh night air outside the restaurant, not even ten meters away from the door, her entire body tense. With her hands balled up into fists, she slammed one of them against the brick wall of the Magnum Opus. He could almost see storm clouds forming over her head as she stood there, taking one deep breath after the other.
He couldn’t other than to just stare, his tongue seemingly glued to the bottom half of his mouth, unable to speak even a single word. She hadn’t noticed the closing of the door apparently since she made no attempt to turn around and just kept staring straight ahead, her fist cramping up more and more with every second, so much so that he was getting worried that she might pierce her own skin. Then suddenly she spun around, a furious look on her face that made Phoenix stumble backward and right onto his temples as he slipped and fell. He had accidentally knocked over a small empty can next to him, the sound enough for her to jump around and throw a death glare at him, one that quickly faded as she saw who she had just started.
“Phoenix? Oh, no. I’m so sorry,” she quickly hushed, running over to him and offering him a hand he gladly accepted. “Here, let me help you up,” she added, quickly bringing the man back to his feet where he promptly dusted himself off. “Are you ok?”
“Ah, don’t sweat it, I feel over my own two feet, add that to the list of my stupidity,” he chuckled before shaking his head a bit. “Bigger question is if you are ok?” He returned, giving her a worried frown.
She looked at him for a moment in shock before violently shaking her head. “No, no, everything is fine, I just needed a moment. I’ll be right back, trust me. You can go ahead if you want, I’ll be there in fi-“
And that was what she managed to bring out as Phoenix interrupted her. “Yeah, not buying it. You are far too professional to just pull something like this without any reason behind it, and I’m pretty sure I know the reason. A certain Tsukasa Kadoya, am I right?” He asked in a nonchalant tone before giving her a week smile. “Look, how did it go for me when I tried to bury my problems last time? I nearly got myself killed thanks to going insane. And you nearly got a friend killed because you couldn’t open up to us. We are not good at dealing with this shit on our own, you have to get that right?”
“Of course, but-“ She was quick to start again, this time it sounded like she was getting annoyed with him.
“No buts, no complaints, no arguments, I’m right. So, if you get it why do you even think this is a good idea? Because he will be here for only a few days? We don’t know that, and we need you on your best through all of this. Newbie or not, like that matters, you are still a Rider worth the title. Trust me, I know that, so you should act the way and the first step towards that tells me what is bugging you because otherwise, I can’t help you. So, how we start this again?” He cleared his throat before continuing. “So, what is the matter Ocean?”
She looked at him for a moment with a somewhat bewildered look in her eyes before sighing and saying: “Ok, fine, you got me. I can’t stand the guy at all. He just comes off as a massive prick that is only out for himself, that someone like him could become a Kamen Rider at all is beyond me,” she growled, throwing a stink eye at the upper part of the restaurant.
“Look, I get that, but if Haruto said is true then he has saved countless worlds already, you don’t do that without caring about the people in them at all. And he vouched for him, and that seems to me that he is certainly on our side in this. Not that I’m any less cocky,” he started to say before being interrupted by Ocean.
“Oh, yeah, because you are clearly so up your own ass. I know what Haruto said but it doesn’t gell with what I have seen of this guy, he just seems too arrogant and casual about all of this, like he doesn’t care. And why should he? This isn’t his world, it’s just one he is passing through, that is all it is to him, amusement, that is all,” she started to pick up her voice, her words echoing through the small alleyway.
“I don’t think so. If it was all just amusement, then why did he help you? Why did he help us with the Phantom before, because who else could it be? I’m not expecting a fourth Rider from another dimension to just pop up, except if you somehow contacted Scoots. I think he is ultimately a good man, so maybe just try to ignore it? I don’t know, but I have a good feeling with the guy like there is more to him, I don’t know,” he muttered while rubbing the back of his head while grinning awkwardly.
Ocean looked at him for a few more moments before starting to chuckle and finally said: “Fine, you win, I’ll come back with you, and I try to just ignore his bullshit, but you owe me one for that, clear?” She returned with a playful look in her eyes. Phoenix quickly turned crimson, unable to get even a single word out while she just walked past him and right through the door before turning around one last time and saying: “Are you coming?” This got him back to reality, and he quickly jogged after her and back to the rest.
>-------<AxWxD>-------<
Alarm, again, these monsters were really not anyone for a break it seemed. Both he and Haruto had meat up on their way to the next monster sighting, probably another Phantom. It had appeared at another suburb of the city, just like the rest and again there were reports of a purple glow. Both their bikes roared in the distance, alarming the Phantom to their appearance, one she quickly greeted with light blue projectiles heading their way, not that it was hard to dodge them, the Riders managing to maneuver through them with ease. When both hit their breaks, they jumped off their bikes and let their legs head straight for the monster. And it actually worked, the Phantom being taken by surprise by the two Riders that were heading her way through the air and quickly kicked in the head from both of them simultaneously. With the monster landing in a parking car, both Rider quickly summoned their respective weapons.
<Conect! Please!>
\ Flame Disc Attack Mode! /
\ Flame Saber! /
With their weapons in hand both Alchemy and Wizard rushed towards the injured Phantom who they just now could really make out in between the wrecked car. She had a blue skin color and was clad in silver armor, her feet ended in horse legs. Engraved in her armor were strange runes shaped like lightning bolts as well as blue gems all over it. He head was covered in an equally as a silver helmet with a long sleek horn at the top as well as two glowing blue eyes, long silver hair flowing out of the back of her helmet. In her hand, she held a silver rapier that was pointed at the two Riders as she charged towards them.
This, however, did not face the Riders all that much, they were kinda used to it at this point, both managing to block the attacks of the Phantom and dashed past her, only to spin around and let her armor groan under the following strikes. With a pained grunt, she stumbled forward only to pierce her weapon into the ground beneath her and covered the whole parking lot they had been fighting in with bolts of electricity that didn’t take long to reach the Riders. Both of them were quickly struck with immense pain as the shock worked itself through their armors and body, their muscles cramping up all, while the Phantom just laughed.
While she was somewhat distracted, Haruto tried his best to switch his weapon into range mode, and after a few failed attempts actually succeeded, the only thing left to do was use that to his advantage. To the Phantom who was far too consumed in her own victory, this came out of left field as several silver bullets hit her chest and send her flying away from her rapier that was still stuck in the ground. With cursing and swearing, she crawled back up only to see both Rider changing into another form.
<Land! Dragon! Dan Den Don Zu Dogon, Dan Den Dogon!>
\ FRIENDSHIP DISC ACTIVATED! /
<Copy! Please!>
\ Friendship Disc Attack Mode! /
\ Connect Protector! /
“How dare you stand in my way and in the way of the master? You are nothing but insulant worms to him, not even fit to lick his boots so why do you defy one that was chosen by the heavens to rule?” She growled at them, several blue energy orbs appearing around her horn hat were quickly fired at the two of them. Wizard just quickly switched his ring and held it over the Driver.
<Defend! Please!>
Out of nowhere, an earth wall appeared in front of them, the incoming projectiles just crashing into it and with the last one the wall shattered, the debris landing around both of them. To their surprise, the Phantom was gone, together with her weapon. “Well, seems she just got scared. Let’s finish this off and stop-“ Pain, that was what he quickly felt through his back, and just a moment later Haruto staggered backward, clutching his chest in agony. The Phantom came to a stop in front of them, every jewelry on her armor glowing in electric blue.
“Well, seems like you were wrong. And you,” she pointed at Haruto who was right now struggling to get back on his feet in his orange armor. “How dare you even to attempt to take back what is rightfully his? You tainted it enough already with the spirit of this woman,” Unicorn continued, energy sparking of her and scorching the are around her. “I will make sure that you will suffer, slow and-“ Then the gunshots rang out through the empty streets as three more bullets headed for her, only for something to swipe in the way of the bullets. As the dust had settled a man in black armor and long flowing coat stood in front of her. “Master…” Unicorn managed to stammer out before the man started to speak.
“Oh, Unicorn, this is so touching of you, but you should look out what might come your way, after all, I still need you,” the mage chuckled, Alchemy and Wizard now finally able to get a good glimpse of the new foe. His coat was just as black as wizard’s, in general, the suit reminded them a lot of his, minus a few details. The gems on the chest were arranged in the form of a butterfly and a deep shade of purple. There was also the fact that his helmet was in the same shape as well. On his waist, he had a Driver close to Haruto’s just with red instead of yellow. And in his hand, he held a long silver staff with a purple crystal at the tip and small hand near it.
“Yes, my master,” Unicorn quickly returned, lowering her head immediately.
“Heinrich!” Haruto spat out, finally managing to stand back up, Phoenix noticing how the grip on his sword handles quickly tightened. “What are you doing with Koyomi?”
The mage quickly looked up and returned with a smug tone: “Who? Oh, right, the trespassing girl that has nested itself in my creation. Like any trespasser I’m planning to get rid of her, isn’t that obvious.” And with a chuckle, he added: “Oh, and might it be possible to call me by a more fitting name for this form? What was it you called yourself? Kamen Rider’s, right? Then I am Kamen Rider Mesmer, has a ring to it, doesn’t it?”
This was enough for Haruto to go ballistic, he thrust himself off the ground and stormed towards Mesmer, the other mage just sighing in frustration and putting his hand over his Driver.
<Explosion! Now!>
With this, the entire area in front of him was consumed in a massive explosion, both Riders thrown back by the force of it all. As their senses came back to them, they could only see how a bright purple glow shined over them and quickly disappeared again, their opponents nowhere to be seen. Haruto slammed his fist on the ground before his armor shattered into small gems, Phoenix cursing under his breath and deactivating his transformation as well.
“Fuck, they got away again. They are smarter than they seem, I’m sure they plan this out so they have enough time to finish this thing before we can stop them.” In his anger, he kicked one of the small stones that had been ripped from the concrete as the explosion struck and with a good amount of force it hit Haruto directly in the leg. “Oh fuck,” Pheonix muttered, his face completely pale. “Sorry, sorry, sorry,” he quickly started to stammer, running up to the image to continue his apology, only for him to ignore him and after a few more moments Phoneix stopped and asked rather confused: “Hey, are you listening?”
This snaped the mage out of his own head and turn around with a smile. “Yeah, no problem,” he returned in a tone not even Phoenix was buying.
“Hmh, sure,” he muttered back with his arms crossed. “How much did she mean to you?” The senior Rider looked at him with a confused expression on his face. “Koyomi, the girl in the ring. How much did she mean to you? Apparently a lot or you wouldn’t fight so much for her.”
Haruto just stared at him before sighing and returned: “She was a good friend. In the end, I couldn’t save her, but she was ok with that. She asked me to not bring her back again, she couldn’t bear it if others had to suffer so she could live. I swore to make sure the ring was never used for anything like this ever again, and now this monster has it. As much as it hurts sometimes, you have to live in the now and not in the past.”
Phoenix looked at him for a moment, unable to respond before finally finding the right words. “I know how it is to lose someone and to want them back. I’m sorry for you, but I’m also impressed that he kept that promise for so long, and a stupid mage won’t let you break it. So, let’s get this sorry excuse for a Kamen Rider.” The other Rider just chuckled for a moment before nodding in return, both Riders quickly picking up their bikes again and heading after the monster.
>-------<AxWxD>-------<
It didn’t take long for the Phantom to show her ugly mug again, and not even that far away in a quite populated park. Like the three times before she had placed a purple gem inside a gazebo in the park and scared of everyone around her, with the two Riders quickly arriving on the scene of the crime.
The Unicorn Phantom was currently busy with scaring of several police officers that were trying to keep the situation under control and attempting to evacuate civilians that had been caught in the crossfire as the bikes of Wizard and Alchemy came to a screeching halt a reasonable distance from the monster. “I assume everything is more or less under control?” Alchemy asked the officer who was currently hiding behind a waist-high wall.
“Under control? A monster is attacking us, and we are desperately trying to stay alive and get everyone out of here, how is that under controlled?” The officer shouted back at the Rider.
“Yeah, yeah, get it, I meant for the situation at least. Could be worse, and we are here, after all, so don’t worry, we’ll take care of this,” he returned before unplugging the Disc from his Driver.
\ Flame Disc Attack Mode! /
\ Flame Saber! /
“So, should we teach her a lesson Haruto? No one talks like this to one of my friends,” he chuckled before pointing his sword towards the Phantom. The senior Rider just chuckled as he summoned his own weapon.
<Conect! Please!>
With an affirmative grunt, both Riders dashed towards the monster, Alchemy spinning the handguard of his sword multiple times while wizard switched it into gun mode. “Flaming Barrage!” With these numerous waves of fiery energy hurled towards the Phantom accompanied by silver bullets from Haruto.
To no one's surprise this did not really worry the Phantom all that much, brushing off the attacks with nothing more than a flick of her wrist, and the following balls of lightning their attacks were quickly turned into explosions that went off far too early to do any kind of damage. This, however, was precisely what they had waited for. “It’s Showtime!”
<Big! Please!>
A giant magic circle appeared around Haruto’s arm, swallowing it and enlargening it to enormous size. Phoenix quickly ran up to him and jumped into the images open palm which then proceeded to throw him directly through the explosion that had blocked their sight from the Phantom. With insane speed, the Rider flew towards his target, all while spinning the handguard of his sword again, the energy gathering in the blade before shouting out: “Flaming Slash!”
Out of the smoke and flames of the explosion the red Rider emerged, hurdling towards the monster who couldn’t do anything else but to stare at him in horror as he came closer and closer until he finally reached her, the fiery strike slashing across her chest and letting her wail out a pathetic scream as she stumbled backward. The moment Alchemy landed he quickly turned around, spinning the handguard again and dashing towards her to follow up his first attack.
Then the pain hit him, surging through his entire body as acres of lightning danced across his armor, the flaming energy around his sword quickly subsiding and the blade itself tumbling to the ground as he screamed in agony. Unicorn glared at him with her glowing eyes as she took in every scream that escaped his lips with delight. “You think this would hurt me? This was nothing, nothing I tell you. I am the loyal servant of one of the greatest nobles to ever walk the earth! He created me, he gave me life, and I will make sure that the betrayed and injustice that befell him so long ago never repeats itself. And that means dealing with you pests, I can’t be hurt or beaten by the likes of you,” she growled, almost spitting the words out. “Don’t think I forgot about you,” she added with a sadistic undertone, slamming her other fist that was not extended toward Alchemy on the ground, the screams of Haruto soon joining Phoenix. But as she returned her focus to Alchemy something else shouted out from behind her.
<Flame! Dragon! Bou-Bou, Bou-Bou-Bou!>
“As if this would save you. Just give up and die already,” she hissed over her shoulder with a smug tone in her voice, one that only held on until something else could be heard from behind her.
<Drago Time! Set Up! Start!>
<Water Dragon!>
Out of nowhere, a blue magic circle appeared right behind the Phantom and out jumped another Wizard, just in blue armor. This new development surprised the monster so much that she had not even the sliver of a second to react as the new Rider slashed across her back, stopping her attack on Haruto and Phoenix, the later immediately seizing the opportunity. “How about we shift into the next stage?”
\ FRIENDSHIP DISC ACTIVATED! /
\ Friendship Disc Attack Mode! /
\ Connect Protector! /
With the Rider now equipped with his weapon and new form, he dashed forward, joining Haruto’s clone in his assault of the Phantom, slashing across her chest with his sword. While the two were keeping the monster, busy Wizard pushed a button the strange watch-like contraption on his arm that quickly shouted out something new.
<Hurrican Dragon!>
Just like before another magic circle appeared, this time right above the Phantom, out jumping a green clone of Wizard that quickly let his sword come down on the beast. While it seemed to hurt her, the anger of Unicorn quickly pushed away all the pain she felt, letting out a loud scream of rage, electric energy surging around her and knocking all the Riders around her back. “Whatever you are doing, keep doing it, I think it might work!” Phoenix shouted back to Haruto who was already in the process of pushing the button on his device again.
<Land Dragon!>
With another magical seal appearing under the monster the next clone jumped out of the ground and slashed the Phantom across her chest, letting her stager back in pain. The orange Wizard quickly joined his fellow Riders in their assault of the monster, the green one circling around her and delivering a quick strick to her backside. Water coming from the side and letting few sparks erupt from there and the original joining Alchemy in an attack from the back and the front simultaneously, both Riders hitting at the exact same time, only to each receive a burst of lightning from the Unicorn that sent them flying backward.
Unicorn was fuming, glaring at Wizard and Alchemy as she tried to figure out who she was taking revenge on first, ultimately turning her sights on Wizard. He, however, had again pushed the button and now put the device over his Driver.
<Set Up! Start!>
<Final Time! All Dragon! Please!>
The four mages started to levitate off the ground, and towards one another, the Phantom staring at them in shock as magic circles appeared around them and three of the copies turned into energy dragons heading for the original. With Haruto taking in the dragons each one lett another piece of a dragon appear on him, from the tail to the wings, claws, and mouth on his chest. The mage rushed towards the monster, while Alchemy spun the Disc on his sword. “Eternal Bond!”
Both Riders dashed past the monster, Alchemy delivering a devastating blow with his sword while Wizard used his claws to damage Unicorn who could only screech in pain and sink to her knees as a bot of them passed her.
“So, had enough Pointy?” He mockingly returned, pointing his sword at her. What he received as an answer was however not what he had expected, the Phantom letting out another bloodcurdling scream as countless lightning bolts rained down on them, knocking the Riders back and right next to each other. “Wow, she is one tough cookie,” he hissed through his teeth, all while holding his side. “Any last tricks up your sleeves?”
“Only one. And that will be the finale!”
“Well then, I probably should also go all out, right?” He chuckled back, only interrupted by the pain in his side. Alchemy and Wizard dragging them back to their feet and placed a new Disc into the driver as well as changed rings to let the belt scan them.
<Infinity! Please! Hi-Sui-Fu-Do, Bou-Zaba-Byu-Dogon!>
\ HEUREKA! /
While Alchemy emerged in his white armor, Wizard was now clad in a silver crystal blue armor that reminded him of diamonds. It was beautiful, not a single imperfection in sight and it radiated power. As the mage held his hand out a crystal dragon emerged from him and formed into a silver sword with an ax-like handle. Alchemy following this example activated his own weapon.
\ Philosopher Stone Attack Mode! /
\ Magnum Opus! /
<Infinity!>
With inhuman speed both Riders rushed towards the monster, slashing across her chest before dashing around her and delivering another strike to her back. Unicorn was flung through the park and right at the steps of the gazebo, just at the moment the stone sunk into the earth and submerged the entire area in its light.
“You are the kind of person I can’t stand. You think you are better than everyone else and because of that, you can trample on everyone else. But news flash, you are just stuck in the past. You can’t accept that the time of your master is long gone. You stand in the way of everyone who looks forward, especially Haruto. And I will make sure that he can move forward towards a bright future,” Alchemy shouted towards the Phantom who was currently trying her hardest to stand back up again.
“Exactly. You can’t just live in the past, you have to live in the now! And right now, I have to save Koyomis soul from your master!” Haruto joined in, turning his sword and now gripping it at the blade.
<Turn Up!>
“The Final!” Haruto pushed a button on the ax hilt before twirling the ax around his body, it growing in size with every second until he jumped high up in the air, the ax now several times his size. Alchemy meanwhile pushed every gem on his weapon before spinning the Disc.
<High Touch! Shining Strike!>
<Kirakira! Kirakira! Kirakira!Kirakira>
\ FIRE! /
\ THUNDER! /
\ WIND! /
\ EARTH! /
\ WATER! /
\ FREINDSHIP! /
Alchemy threw his weapon towards the Phantom, it turning into a white Phoenix during the flight that collided with the monster just as Haruto brought his ax down on her. The Phantom and the entire gazebo behind her were consumed by the explosion, leaving nothing behind besides the small blue bracelet.
“These Phantoms keep getting tougher and tougher,” Phoenix sighed as he picked it up as well as his weapon. “But they won’t stop us from getting your friend back, right Haruto?” The other Rider just gave a nodded in return as well as a slight chuckle.