With the Shika, Seiryu, and Lion Inves vanquished, Ace, still in Kuuga's Rising Titan Form, felt a surge of exhaustion wash over him. The remaining Inves, mostly elementary types, seemed less aggressive now, their wild energy diminished with the fall of their leaders. Ace knew the Pro Heroes could handle them. His gaze turned toward the vanished Mantis Imagin. He had to stop it before it caused any more damage. Before he could move, a figure landed heavily in front of him, blocking his path.
"Not so fast, vigilante," Endeavor's voice boomed, radiating heat and authority. Endeavor, the Number Two Hero in the Hero rankings, stood as an imposing figure. He was tall and muscular, a physique honed through years of relentless training. The Flame Hero's fiery beard was blazing, a controlled inferno that accentuated his chiseled features. His eyes were burning with determination, twin embers reflecting his unwavering resolve.
Behind him, Burnin, Kido, and Onima took up their positions, forming a wall of professional heroism. Burnin's green flames flickered playfully as she cracked her knuckles. Kido calmly adjusted the bandages on his arms, and Onima remained a stoic figure. Several other Pro Heroes, many of whom had been in the Sports Festival crowd, began to surround him, their expressions grim.
"I don't want to fight, Endeavor," Ace said, his voice weary. "I have to go."
"You're not going anywhere," Endeavor retorted, his voice hard. "You're a menace to society. You're interfering with Pro Hero work and killing villains. You're a danger to everyone around you."
"I'm trying to protect people," Ace protested, but his words were lost in the rising tension.
"By taking the law into your own hands? That's not heroism, that's vigilantism. It's against the law!" Endeavor's eyes blazed brighter. "Stand down, now. We're taking you into custody."
From the corner of his eye, Ace saw All Might approaching, pushing his way through the crowd, but Endeavor seemed determined to ignore the Symbol of Peace. He will not listen.
"Endeavor, that's enough!" All Might called out, his voice strained. "Let's hear him out. We don't know the full story here."
Endeavor scoffed. "Stay out of this, All Might. This doesn't concern you."
"It concerns everyone when a dangerous vigilante is running around," All Might countered, his expression troubled. "We need to understand his motives. Maybe we can resolve this peacefully."
Endeavor ignored All Might, his gaze fixed on Ace. "This ends here. You're coming with us, one way or another."
Ace sighed, bracing himself. He really didn't want to fight them, but he couldn't afford to waste time arguing. The Mantis Imagin was out there, changing the timeline, and every second counted.
"Look, I really don't have time for this," Ace said, his voice tight with urgency. "There's something else I need to take care of, something much bigger than you realize."
"Then tell us," All Might tried to interject again, hoping to de-escalate the situation. "We can help."
Endeavor's patience snapped. "Enough talk!" He unleashed a torrent of flames, his signature Hellflame Quirk engulfing the area.
Endeavor's Quirk, Hellflame, allowed him to generate intensely hot flames, capable of incinerating nearly anything. This emitter-type power enabled ranged attacks, close-quarters combat, and even flight. The hotter the flame, the more energy Endeavor expended, requiring precise control. His signature move, Prominence Burn, focused his Quirk into a concentrated beam. But overusing Hellflame could lead to overheating, limiting his stamina.
Ace cursed under his breath. "I really didn't want to do this." He channeled energy into his legs, leaping back to avoid the flames. He landed lightly on the edge of the stadium, his eyes scanning for an escape route. This is a losing situation.
Before Ace could formulate a plan, Burnin, flanked by Kido and Onima, launched herself forward. Burnin's fiery copper-toned hair, perpetually ablaze with vibrant green flames, streamed behind her as she moved. The hero's gray mini-dress, edged with orange and black, was fire-resistant. Strapped to her back was a temperature gauge. And a fire extinguisher. Her intense red-orange eyes narrowed, and her sharp canine teeth glinted.
"We're not going to let you get away, Kamen Rider," Burnin declared, her voice a mix of determination and playful enthusiasm. Kido and Onima flanked her, ready for action.
Burnin's Quirk, Blazing Hair, allowed her to manipulate her fiery locks as living flame. She could grasp and throw chunks of her hair as ranged weapons, propel herself through the air with bursts of flame, and create shields to block attacks.
"If you surrender now," Burnin continued, her tone softening slightly, "we promise... not to hurt you too much." She grinned, but there was no humor in her eyes.
"I said I don't want to fight you!" Ace shouted, his voice frustrated.
But Endeavor wouldn't listen. He launched another barrage of flames, his Prominence Burn searing the air.
"I can't let you get away with this!" Endeavor bellowed, his determination unwavering. "You're a danger to society!"
I'm protecting the timeline!
He focused his energy, preparing to transform again, but then, with a deafening roar, Dragreder appeared, slamming into the Pro Heroes with overwhelming force. The dragon, summoned from the Mirror World, unleashed a torrent of fire, scattering the heroes and creating a momentary distraction.
"Dragreder, what are you doing?" Ace yelled, his voice surprised.
[ROAR]
Dragreder roared in response, its eyes fixed on Endeavor and the other heroes. The dragon seemed determined to protect Ace, even against his wishes.
"Damn it," Ace muttered, realizing the situation was spiraling out of control. With Dragreder attacking the heroes, All Might was in the crowd, and with Inves, there was no way Ace could make things more dangerous by using Den-O's power. He needed an out, and he needed it now.
Just as Endeavor was preparing another attack, a loud [CRASH] echoed through the stadium.
Suddenly, a cloud of bubbles covered the Pro Heroes. A crab-like Mirror Monster with massive, armored pincers, stepped through the mirror and landed beside Ace. Volcancer was at his side.
"Thanks, Volcancer."
The Mirror Monster, usually silent, responded with a series of clicks and whirs, extending one of its pincers toward Ace. In its grasp was the Rider Ticket.
Ace took the Rider Ticket, his eyes widening as he saw the familiar image of the Mantis Imagin, along with a date and time.
"Good job," Ace said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I owe you one."
He knew he had to leave, but Endeavor was still standing in his way, his face a mask of fury, alongside other Pro Heroes.
"You're not going anywhere," Endeavor snarled, his hands crackling with flames. "I'll stop you, even if I have to burn you to the ground."
Just as Endeavor prepared to attack again, a new sound cut through the air—a powerful, echoing horn, followed by a familiar musical chime. The sound reverberated through the stadium, catching everyone's attention.
[HONK!] [doo doo doo doo doo!] [doo doo doo doo!]
Ace smirked, a glint of defiance in his eyes. "My ride is here."
The air shimmered, and a portal tore open in the sky above the stadium. From the portal emerged a train—a sleek, futuristic bullet train that defied gravity, suspended in the air by an unseen force. The DenLiner had arrived.
Train tracks seemed to materialize out of thin air, stretching across the sky. The train traveled across the tracks, and passed between Ace and the Pro Heroes, cutting them off. With a final burst of steam and a triumphant blast of its horn, the DenLiner was through. The train and tracks vanished in a flash, leaving the Pro Heroes, All Might, and the stadium audience stunned and speechless.
Ace was gone.
…
Inside the DenLiner, Ace rushed to the front car, where Naomi was already waiting. The Taros, surprisingly quiet, watched him with a mix of concern and excitement.
"Thanks, Naomi," Ace said, his voice breathless. "That was a close one."
"You're welcome," Naomi replied with a smile. "The Owner said you might need a quick extraction."
"He was right," Ace said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Those Pro Heroes weren't going to let me go, no matter what I said."
Naomi nodded, her expression serious. "They just don't understand what you're up against."
Ace took a deep breath, turning his attention to the task at hand. He took the Rider Ticket and slid it into the Rider Pass. He then approached the DenBird, his fingers flying over the controls. The Machine Denbird was already purring, and ready to transport them through time. He then slotted the Rider Pass into the Denbird. The controls began to glow with energy.
"Setting course for…" Ace read aloud, his eyes scanning the information on the screen. "April 15, 2433. That's when Mineta was still in middle school."
The DenLiner lurched forward, accelerating through the Sands of Time. The world outside the windows blurred into a kaleidoscope of colors and swirling energies, and Ace gripped the controls tightly, his focus absolute.
"Hang on, everyone," Ace shouted over the roar of the engine. "We're going for a ride!"
…
In the blink of an eye, the DenLiner burst through a vortex of energy, arriving in a quiet suburban town. Ace steered the train to a gentle stop in front of a modest-looking middle school, its windows dark and lifeless.
"We're here," Ace announced, his voice grim. "Mineta's middle school. Let's see what that Imagin is up to."
He disembarked from the DenLiner, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The air was thick with an unnatural stillness, and a sense of foreboding hung heavy in the air. The only sound was the gentle hum of the DenLiner's engines.
As Ace approached the school, he noticed signs of destruction. Windows were shattered, doors were ripped off their hinges, and debris littered the hallways. The scene was eerily similar to the chaos he had witnessed at the U.A. Sports Festival, only on a smaller scale.
What is that Imagin planning?
He ventured deeper into the school, his senses on high alert. Then, he heard a faint sound—a rhythmic thumping that grew louder with each passing second. He followed the sound, his heart pounding in his chest, until he reached the school gymnasium.
The scene inside was even more disturbing than he had imagined. The Mantis Imagin was wreaking havoc, its thorny vines lashing out, tearing through the bleachers and shattering the basketball hoops. Students lay scattered on the floor, unconscious or injured, their faces contorted in terror.
Ace spotted the Mantis Imagin with glee. Standing over students.
"You!" Ace shouted, his voice echoing through the gymnasium.
The Mantis Imagin turned, its insectoid eyes narrowing in recognition. A sinister grin spread across its face.
"Ah, Kamen Rider," the Imagin said, its voice a chilling mix of Mineta's childish tones and something far more sinister. "I was wondering when you'd show up."
"Like the little present I left for you back there?" Mantis taunted, its voice dripping with venom. "Those Inves were such a delight. Did you enjoy my chaos?"
Ace scoffed, rage surging through him. "A bad joke. You endangered innocent lives, and now you're going to pay tenfold." For those kids at the Sports Festival and now these middle schoolers!
"Oh, but it's just getting started," Mantis replied, its laughter echoing through the gymnasium. "I am changing everything!"
That's enough, Momotaros roared inside his head, impatient for a fight. It's my turn! I'm gonna make him cry!
Ace finally relented, letting the Imagin take control. He reached for his belt, feeling the familiar weight of the Den-O Belt in his hands. He pressed the red button.
"Henshin!" He then swiped the Rider Pass across the Den-O Belt, unleashing a surge of crimson energy that engulfed his body.
[Sword Form]
As the light faded, Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form stood ready, Momotaros fully in control.
"Ore Sanjou!" Momotaros declared, his voice booming through the gymnasium.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz