Natsumi was gone. In her place stood the Crow Imagin, a nightmarish figure with a chilling agenda. A wave of helplessness washed over Asahi as he watched the Crow Imagin wreak havoc, his friend's face twisted into a cruel mockery. But there was no time for despair.
Before the Crow Imagin could inflict further damage, Ace took action. He knew what he had to do. Sorry, Natsumi. I'll save you.
[Orange!]
Ace's thumb snapped open the Orange Lockseed, its juicy aroma momentarily cutting through the smoke-filled air. He slotted the Lockseed into the Sengoku Driver at his waist, the mechanism whirring to life.
[Lock On!]
The belt announced the transformation, its mechanical voice echoing through the chaos. A holographic orange materialized above Ace, shimmering with energy. The driver's blade snapped down, slicing through the image with a sharp, clean motion.
A sleek, indigo undersuit formed around Ace's body, a foundation for the samurai armor to come. With a series of mechanical clicks, the bisected orange exploded into armor segments that locked into place: a chestplate designed like orange slices, shoulder guards trimmed in gold, leg greaves of interlocking blue and orange panels. Finally, a kabuto-style visor snapped into place, its crescent crest glowing with power.
Gaim crossed his arms, then swung them out in a flourish, completing the transformation.
[Soiya! Orange Arms! Hanamichi on Stage!]
Kamen Rider Gaim stood ready.
The Crow Imagin turned his attention to the armored figure, tilting his head in mocking curiosity. "Another Rider? How annoying."
"Asahi, get back! This is my fight!" Gaim shouted, his voice distorted by the helmet's vocoder. He knew Asahi's compassionate heart would compel him to try and help Natsumi, but this was too dangerous.
Asahi hesitated, torn between his desire to help and the chilling reality of the battle before him. He saw the determination in Gaim's stance, the unwavering resolve in his eyes, and finally relented, stumbling back to a relatively safe distance. He watches Ace and the Crow Imagin's upcoming battle. He can only trust Ace to save Natsumi.
The Crow Imagin sighed theatrically, his avian mask conveying a sense of boredom. "I suppose it was inevitable that you would show up. Always meddling, aren't you?" He made it clear that the armored warrior's arrival was an interruption. He would have preferred a less complicated route to his goal.
With a dismissive flick of his wrist, the Imagin unleashed a burst of dark energy that slammed into Gaim, sending him staggering back. The blow, unexpected and powerful, nearly knocked Gaim off his feet. "I don't have time for games," Crow exclaimed.
From seemingly nowhere, a handful of Lockseeds appeared in the Imagin's grasp. A moment later, he threw them onto the ground.
[Click!] [Click!] [Click!]
The devices exploded with Helheim energy, summoning a trio of Inves. Seiryu, Shika, and Lion surrounded Gaim, their guttural snarls filling the street. The beasts were eager to fight, their claws and teeth bared, ready to tear apart anything in their path.
Gaim found himself encircled, the Inves closing in. His priority shifted. The beasts' immediate threat meant he could not deal with the Imagin first. The Pro Heroes had enough to deal with, without the Inves adding to their burden.
"My mission is nearly complete," the Crow Imagin cackled, his voice dripping with amusement. "I do not have time to play with you, Kamen Rider. Perhaps we will meet again, once my work is done. But for now…"
With a snap of his fingers, the Imagin unleashed a cloud of dark feathers, obscuring his escape. The feathers swirled and dispersed. The villain was gone.
"Wait!" Gaim roared, frustration lacing his tone. He lunged forward, hoping to catch the retreating villain, but only grasped at air. "Dammit!"
He turned back to face the Inves, his jaw clenched. First, these guys. He knew every second counted. If he wanted to stop that Imagin, he couldn't waste time.
As Gaim turned to face the Inves, Asahi saw his chance. The Crow Imagin's retreat had not gone unnoticed. Driven by a need to protect those he admired, Asahi ignored Gaim's earlier command. Now, he bolted, disappearing into the alleys, following the villain.
Ace's visor snapped towards Asahi, catching a glimpse of the younger man darting away. A surge of worry went through him. He couldn't protect everyone at once, and Asahi was walking right into danger. "Hey! Don't do anything stupid!" Gaim yelled after him, his voice strained with concern.
Asahi sprinted down the street, his heart pounding in his chest. Gaim's warning echoed in his ears, but the hero's words were drowned out by the immediate need to stop the Imagin. He had to save Natsumi. The sight of her transformed into that grotesque creature replayed in his mind.
He rounded a corner and skidded to a halt. The Crow Imagin stood before another row of shops, its cane raised high. Each tap of the cane against the storefronts triggered another explosion, dark energy ripping through the glass and metal. Screams erupted as people scrambled to escape the destruction. The air was thick with smoke and the smell of burning plastic.
Asahi watched for a moment, paralyzed by fear. But the faces of the fleeing civilians, etched with terror, snapped him back to reality. He couldn't just stand by and watch Natsumi—the Imagin—destroy everything. He had to do something.
He charged forward, yelling, "Stop it! Natsumi, stop!" He lunged for the Crow Imagin, grabbing at its arm, desperate to break the connection, to reach the person trapped inside. "Natsumi! Can you hear me? It's me, Asahi! Please!"
The Crow Imagin didn't even turn. With a casual flick of its wrist, it backhanded Asahi. The blow sent him flying, crashing into a pile of debris. Pain exploded in his shoulder, and he gasped for air.
Asahi lay there for a moment, dazed. The Crow Imagin continued its work of destruction, indifferent to his presence. Despair threatened to engulf him. Was this it? Was he really this helpless?
No. He couldn't give up. Natsumi was counting on him. The people fleeing were counting on him. He had to try again.
With a groan, Asahi pushed himself to his feet. His body screamed in protest, every muscle aching, but he ignored the pain. He had a promise to keep, a friend to save. He couldn't let fear dictate his actions. He had to fight, for Natsumi, for everyone. He stumbled towards the Crow Imagin, his eyes filled with a renewed determination.
"Natsumi! Please, this isn't you!" Asahi cried, his voice cracking. He reached out, his hand outstretched towards her.
The Crow Imagin paused, a flicker of annoyance crossing its avian face. "You again? Do you have a death wish, boy? Because I would be happy to grant it." Its voice, a chilling baritone layered with Natsumi's gentle cadence, sent shivers down Asahi's spine. The cane lifted, ready to strike.
But then, a tremor ran through the Crow Imagin's body. Its hand, poised to deliver the killing blow, faltered. "No…" a faint voice whispered, barely audible. "Don't... hurt him." It was Natsumi, fighting for control.
Asahi's eyes widened, hope flooding his system. "Natsumi! It's me, Asahi! What you're doing isn't right! Is this really what you want? To hurt people, to put them in danger? Would you be proud of that, Natsumi? Ruining everyone's life because of your selfish wish!"
Ace, hearing the commotion, finally arrived on the scene, only to be surprised by the change of events. He watched, hesitant to interfere, as Asahi tried to reach Natsumi.
Asahi's words seemed to strike a chord. The Crow Imagin shuddered violently. "Stop it…" Natsumi's voice pleaded, stronger now.
But the respite was brief. A surge of dark energy pulsed through the Crow Imagin, silencing Natsumi's voice. The avian features hardened, and the red eyes glowed with cold resolve. "Enough," it snarled. "You are a threat. You must be eliminated." The cane crackled with dark energy, aimed directly at Asahi.
Asahi closed his eyes, bracing for the end. I'm sorry, Natsumi, he thought, I tried.
Ace was about to interfere, but something odd began to happen. Ace's body began to glow. Not a raging inferno, like Kuuga, nor a blinding light, but a soft, comforting radiance, like a gentle sunrise. The light condensed, coalescing into a spinning orb of pure, azure energy.
The Crow Imagin's attack was mere inches from Asahi's face when the orb shot forward, intercepting the dark energy. A shockwave erupted, knocking back. The Crow Imagin staggered back, its feathers ruffled, its cane clattering to the ground.
Asahi cautiously opened his eyes. Instead of pain, he saw a blue device lying at his feet. It was a belt, with a muffler on the side, sleek and futuristic. Beside it lay a collection of miniature motorcycles, each one different, each one humming with contained power.
Ace recognized them immediately. The Mach Driver Honoh and its Signal Bikes. But how? How had they gotten here?
The other Signal Bikes circled around Asahi, their tiny engines whining like excited puppies. A white looking one with red stripes broke formation, stopping directly in front of him. It tilted back and forth, its diminutive headlight flashing, and HONKED its horn.
Asahi stared at the miniature motorcycle, dumbfounded. "You… want me to use you?" he asked, gesturing at himself.
Before the bike could respond, Ace's voice cut through the air. "Asahi, put the belt on your waist. Then, insert the white bike into it."
Asahi whirled around, spotting Ace standing a few feet away, a mix of concern and determination etched on his face. The instruction was strange, utterly illogical, but something in Ace's tone made him trust him. He didn't know where this tech had come from, but there was no time to think.
Confusion warred with a flicker of excitement. With a shrug, he did as Ace said, grabbing the belt and fumbling with the unfamiliar straps. With a satisfying CLICK, the Mach Driver Honoh secured itself around his waist, its digital display flashing to life. It felt surprisingly light, conforming to his body as if it had always been there.
He picked up the white bike with the red stripes—the Signal Mach—and hesitated for a moment before jamming it into the slot on the Driver.
[Signal Bike, Rider]
Flames erupted from the muffler. He jumped back, surprised. Heat washed over him as the engine revved.
Ace stepped forward, his voice firm. "Now, press the white button. And shout, 'Henshin!'"
Asahi took a deep breath. This was insane. But if it meant he could protect Natsumi, if it meant he could finally be the hero he always dreamed of being, he had to try. "Henshin!" he yelled, slamming his thumb on the white button.
[Mach]
Two white wheels detached from the Driver and began to circle around Asahi, picking up speed until they blurred into streaks of light. Then, from what seemed like thin air, rings of metal appeared, encasing his body. Pieces of sleek, white armor materialized, snapping into place with mechanical precision.
The transformation was quick, intense, and strangely… exhilarating. When the light faded, Asahi stood tall, clad in advanced protection. The white wheels, that had been circling around him, formed into a small wheel embedded on to his right shoulder. His helmet, a vibrant red, bore a single black eye.
Asahi had become Kamen Rider Mach.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz