Hours slip by. The sun dips below the horizon, casting Helheim in an even deeper gloom. Ace moves through the undergrowth, carefully selecting and harvesting fruit.
Each fruit morphs into a Lockseed. The collection grows heavy in his hands. The fruits from Helheim, with the Sengoku Driver. It felt… different than any Rider power he has ever had before.
His haul includes:
Matsubokkuri Lockseed
Kurumi Lockseed
Donguri Lockseed
Melon Lockseed
Pine Lockseed
Ichigo Lockseed
Orange Lockseed
Banana Lockseed
Budou Lockseed
Suika Lockseed
Mango Lockseed
Durian Lockseed
Kiwi Lockseed
Too Many Himawari Lockseeds
The majority were Himawari Lockseeds, which were next to useless, but he managed to get all of the standard Lockseeds.
A grin spreads across Ace's face. Lockseeds, huh? Not bad. It wasn't Ryuki. It wasn't Kuuga. And it sure as hell wasn't Den-O. But it was something. And 'something' was better than nothing when facing down Dai-Shocker. He imagines the possibilities. Gaim's Kachidoki Arms, with the DJ Gun. Zangetsu's Melon Defender. Baron's Banaspear. The power boost coursing through his veins is undeniable.
Not bad at all.
[Rustling]
[Crunching]
The sounds pull Ace from his reverie. A ring of Inves encircles him. Their eyes, glowing with feral hunger, fixate on his Lockseed haul. Seems they didn't appreciate him raiding their pantry.
"Well, well… looks like I ruffled some feathers."
He readies himself, dropping the useless Himawari to the ground. These overgrown plant monsters were probably wondering what he was doing, taking all their precious snacks. They clearly hadn't taken kindly to the gesture.
"Guess I'll have to clear a path."
The largest Inves, a hulking brute with sharpened claws, lunges. Time to see what this Sengoku Driver can do.
[Orange]
A colossal orange materialises above him, filling the space with vibrant light.
"Henshin!"
With a swift motion, he loads the Lockseed.
[Lock On]
The slicer blade descends.
The massive fruit plunges towards him. A rush of energy floods his senses, a strange mix of organic and mechanical. A sleek, indigo bodysuit hugs his form. As the orange bursts, Samurai armor forms around him. It locks into place with satisfying clicks and whirs.
[Soiya]
[Orange Arms]
[Hanamichi on Stage]
He becomes Kamen Rider Gaim.
His helmet, a stylized samurai kabuto, features a translucent orange visor, with sharp, golden trim accentuating the lines. Ornate orange plating covers his chest and shoulders, reminiscent of traditional samurai armor. A decorative sword, the Daidaimaru, rests in a scabbard on his hip. Vines of energy course through the armor, giving it an organic yet high-tech aesthetic. The transformation complete, Gaim surveys the Inves, the light from his visor intensifying.
"Alright, fruit monsters. Let's see what you got."
The Inves surge forward, claws extended. Gaim draws the Daidaimaru, its orange blade catching the forest's strange light. With a fluid motion, he unsheathes the Musou Saber from his back, now wielding a blade in each hand.
"Alright, let's dance!"
He charges, a whirlwind of motion. The Daidaimaru flashes, deflecting a claw strike from a Komori Inves. Gaim spins, the Musou Saber cleaving through the air, forcing a Seiryu Inves to stumble back. The Inves, sensing their advantage, press their attack.
Gaim is a blur of orange and blue, a human buzzsaw carving through the Inves horde. He leaps over a low-slung branch, the Daidaimaru deflecting a projectile of acidic spit from a strangely evolved elementary Inves. Landing, he pivots, the Musou Saber slicing through another with ease. He ducks under a swipe from a hulking boar Inves, then delivers a brutal kick to its exposed leg.
A winged Inves swoops down, claws bared. Gaim throws the Daidaimaru, embedding it in the Inves's shoulder, and then grapples another, using it as a shield against the incoming assault. It shrieks as its comrade slams into it. Gaim retrieves his sword, the blade dripping ichor, and spins, throwing the Inves to the ground. The winged Inves is still writhing on the ground, so Gaim steps over it and leaps into the air, twisting his body.
He drives his heel into the earth, sending cracks spider-webbing through the soil. A ring of Inves stumbles, thrown off balance. Gaim seizes the opportunity, sheathing the Daidaimaru and connecting it to the Musou Saber. The two weapons click seamlessly into a single, double-bladed sword.
"Time to crank things up a notch!"
[Lock On]
With a slam, the Orange Lockseed clicks into the hilt of the Musou Saber.
[1, 10, 100, 1000]
[Orange Charge]
Energy crackles around the weapon, orange sparks erupting from the blade and handle. Gaim takes a stance, feet firmly planted, and fires the combined Daidaimaru and Musou Saber. A torrent of orange energy erupts, tearing through the remaining Inves. The world around him explodes with light and force. When it fades, only scattered vines and smoking craters remain.
His breath comes in ragged gasps. The Sengoku Driver, even with its power, still demands a toll. He surveys the damage, the air thick with the scent of ozone and burnt vegetation. The forest is eerily silent.
"That should clear the way… for now."
He unloads the Lockseed. But how long until more came to take their pound of flesh, or Lockseed?
He ventures deeper, hoping to uncover a clue, some sign of Dai-Shocker's meddling, but hours pass without a trace. The forest remains indifferent, a twisted parody of nature. There isn't a single symbol of Dai-Shocker anywhere. It's almost like they are invisible.
Guess I'm wasting my time here, he thinks, exhaustion creeping in. Gotta cut my losses. Turning, he retraces his steps, back towards the fissure where he entered this decaying world.
Emerging from the Crack and into the abandoned factory, he reverts to his normal self. Now what to do with that? He eyes the glowing portal, a gateway for Inves to invade this world. How to shut it down?
Yo, Ace! Momotaros's voice slices through his thoughts. That geezer Owner has a way to close that thing!
Before Ace can respond, the familiar form of the DenLiner materializes, its sleek design somehow incongruous against the factory's dilapidated backdrop. Naomi steps out, her ever-present smile unwavering.
Naomi skips forward, offering a device. It's small, rectangular, and bears the logo of the Yggdrasill Corporation.
"The Owner thought you might find this useful!" Naomi says, handing him the device. "He said something about 'fighting fire with… corporate fire?' I dunno, he was eating fried rice at the time."
Ace examines it. The Yggdrasill Corporation, huh? The people who made the Sengoku Driver, and all the mess it came with. Well, I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Thanks, Naomi," Ace says.
"Just point it at the Crack and press the big red button," she chirps, pointing at the clearly marked button.
Ace does just that. He aims the device at the Crack and presses the button. The device emits a high-pitched whine, and the air around the fissure shimmers. The Crack begins to shrink, the swirling green energy receding. With a final flash, the portal vanishes, leaving behind only the cracked concrete of the factory wall.
Naomi claps her hands together, delighted. "All gone! And the Owner also wanted me to give you this!" She gestures towards the DenLiner, and from its side, a sleek motorcycle rolls out. It's a vibrant, cherry-blossom pink. The Sakura Hurricane.
"He figured you'd need a way to get back to Helheim if things get rough," she explains. "The Owner says you are able to take the bike, since you are Kamen Rider Gaim now."
Ace stares at the bike, then back at Naomi. "Tell the Owner I said thanks."
Naomi waves goodbye as the DenLiner dematerializes, leaving Ace alone with the motorcycle. He walks over to it, running a hand along its smooth frame. Well… this is definitely a step up from the Trychaser. Still, something in the back of his mind wouldn't rest. The cracks. Helheim, again. Dai-Shocker's meddling.
He straddles the bike, revving the engine. The growl of the engine is a welcome sound.
This is escalating too fast, he thinks. The existence of cracks suggests someone out there is trying to open a permanent gate to Helheim. This isn't some random monster-of-the-week scenario. Dai-Shocker's cooking something big and Ace needed to find out what. And fast.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz