Ace finished wiping down the counter at Starry Café, the scent of coffee lingering in the air. The day had been long, a relentless stream of customers seeking refuge from the summer heat. He was exhausted, but the knowledge that the Crow Imagin was still out there, potentially altering the timeline, kept him on edge. He grabbed his jacket from the back room, ready to begin his search.
As he stepped out of the café, the evening air cool against his skin, Asahi appeared as if on cue. The young man's eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and concern.
"Ukiyo-san!" Asahi called out, jogging to catch up. "Are you going after that villain again? The one you were fighting earlier?"
Ace sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, I am," he confirmed, his voice weary. "But listen, Asahi, I need you to stay away from this. It's too dangerous. You're just a civilian."
Asahi's expression hardened, his enthusiasm momentarily replaced by a stubborn determination. "But I want to help! I can heal people, remember? And I know you don't have a Quirk. You might need me!"
Ace's patience wore thin. He appreciated Asahi's eagerness, his unwavering belief in heroism, but this wasn't a game. This was a fight against forces beyond Asahi's comprehension, forces that could rewrite reality itself.
"Asahi," Ace said, his voice firm, "I appreciate the offer, but this isn't something you can just jump into. I'm dealing with things you can't even imagine. Just stay here, stay safe. That's the best way you can help."
He turned and began to walk away, hoping Asahi would heed his warning. He didn't have time to babysit a civilian, no matter how well-intentioned. He needed to focus, to find the Crow Imagin before it could cause any more damage.
Asahi, however, was not one to be easily dissuaded. He jogged to keep pace with Ace, peppering him with questions. "But how do you fight without a Quirk? Is that armor you had some kind of support item? Did you make it yourself? It looked so cool!"
Ace gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to snap. "It's a long story, Asahi," he said, his voice tight. "And I don't have time to explain. Just drop it, okay?"
He quickened his pace, hoping to lose Asahi in the crowded streets. The last thing he needed was a tag-along, especially one as relentlessly curious as Asahi.
They arrived at the district where the Crow Imagin had been sighted earlier in the day. Ace scanned the area, his senses on high alert. The atmosphere was unsettling, a subtle wrongness that sent a shiver down his spine. Asahi, oblivious to the danger, continued to pepper Ace with questions.
"Hey, I think some of the stores here are new," Asahi noted, tilting his head. "I don't remember seeing that ramen shop before. Or that antique store, for that matter." Asahi glanced around, brow furrowed. "But…why are they all closed?"
Ace's expression darkened. He had noticed the same thing. The district had undergone subtle changes, new businesses appearing overnight, only to shutter their doors just as quickly.
"The Crow Imagin," Ace explained, his voice low, "it's been targeting these stores. I don't know why, but it's definitely connected to its wish."
Asahi's eyes widened, the pieces clicking into place. "Wait," he said, his voice filled with realization, "those villains you've been fighting…you call them Imagins?"
Ace cursed inwardly. He hadn't meant to reveal so much, but Asahi's persistence had worn him down. "Yes," he confirmed, his voice clipped. "I'm hunting them and that's all you need to know."
Suddenly, a chorus of guttural growls echoed through the district, cutting through the night air like a knife. The sounds were primal, animalistic, filled with a hunger that sent a chill down Ace's spine.
The shadows seemed to deepen, to coalesce into monstrous forms. From the alleyways, from the darkened storefronts, they emerged—the Inves. Elementary Inves, their bodies grotesque parodies of animals and insects, shuffled and snarled. Advanced Inves, larger and more menacing, with distinct animal motifs, stalked through the streets.
Civilians screamed, their faces etched with terror, and fled in panic, stumbling over each other in their desperate attempts to escape. The Pro Heroes on patrol, caught off guard, struggled to contain the chaos, their Quirks flashing in the darkness as they fought to protect the fleeing citizens. However, the Inves were too many, their numbers overwhelming the heroes' defenses.
Ace cursed under his breath. He hadn't expected this, not here, not now. But there was no time to hesitate. People were in danger, and he was the only one who could stop it.
"Asahi," he barked, his voice filled with urgency, "get out of here! Now! This is too dangerous!"
He didn't wait for a response, his mind already racing, calculating the best course of action. He needed to transform, to unleash the power of Kamen Rider, but he couldn't do it in the open, not with so many eyes watching.
He darted into a narrow alleyway, hoping to find a secluded spot to Henshin. He glanced back, his heart sinking as he saw Asahi hot on his heels, his expression a mixture of awe and excitement.
"Ukiyo-san, wait! I want to see what you're going to do!" Asahi exclaimed, his voice breathless.
Ace ignored him, his focus solely on finding a safe place to transform. He ducked behind a stack of overflowing dumpsters, hoping it would provide enough cover.
"Asahi, I told you to leave!" Ace whispered harshly.
Asahi, however, was undeterred. He peered around the corner of the dumpster, his eyes wide with anticipation.
Ace sighed, realizing there was no point in arguing. He was out of time. He pulled out the Den-O Belt, the metallic device gleaming in the dim light. He pressed the red button, activating the Sword Form Jingle. He shouted with every fiber of his being, "Henshin!" and swiped the Rider Pass in front of the Den-O Belt. In a blinding flash of crimson energy, the armor materialized around him, transforming him into Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form.
Asahi gasped, his jaw dropping as he witnessed the transformation. The sight of Ace bathed in that crimson light, becoming a figure of armored might, was something he would never forget. "Amazing…" he whispered, his voice filled with awe.
Before Momotaros took action, he snapped, "Hey, kid! Get to safety! This ain't a spectator sport!" Then, with a roar, Den-O was off.
He moved with surprising speed, leaping into the chaos. His sword, the DenGasher, flashed as he engaged the Inves, slicing through their ranks with ease. Sand exploded from their bodies with every strike.
The Pro Heroes, initially stunned by the sudden appearance of the red-armored warrior, quickly recognized that he was on their side. They pressed their own attacks, inspired by the Rider's bold entrance. The tide of battle began to shift.
From a shadowed alcove, Asahi watched, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never seen anything like this before. The raw power, the incredible skill, the sheer spectacle of Kamen Rider Den-O carving a path through the monstrous Inves—it was like something straight out of his favorite tokusatsu shows.
Den-O spun, ducked, and slashed, each movement precise and deadly. He was a whirlwind of crimson energy, a force to be reckoned with. Asahi's admiration grew with each swing of the sword, each defeated Inves dissolving into sand. He wanted to cheer, to shout his support, but fear kept him rooted to the spot.
High above, perched on a nearby rooftop, the Crow Imagin observed the conflict. Its beady eyes narrowed, taking in the scene with a cold, calculating gaze. The Crow surveyed the chaos with detached interest, a sinister amusement twisting its beak-like mouth. Then, with a chilling, mocking laugh that echoed through the district, it spread its shadowy wings and disappeared, dissolving into the darkness.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz