Asahi stood tall, clad in Kamen Rider Mach's sleek armor. The red visor of his helmet blazed, taking in the state of the world. "Whoa…" he breathed, flexing his armored hands. A surge of power coursed through him, unlike anything he had ever experienced with his Quirk. It was exhilarating, overwhelming, and… right.
[Analyzing threat… Target identified: Crow Imagin. Threat level: High.]
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in his helmet. The onboard computer guidance system. It was strange, detached, but also strangely reassuring. It knew what to do, even if Asahi didn't.
[Recommended course of action: Engage in combat. Utilize Zenrin Shooter for optimal engagement.]
Zenrin… what now? Asahi thought, momentarily distracted.
As if in response, a compact, futuristic firearm materialized in his right hand. The Zenrin Shooter.
Its sleek, white chassis gleamed. Red and blue racing stripes flowed down its side. A strange tire-like cylinder spun at its front.
It felt solid, balanced, and surprisingly intuitive. He gripped it tightly, the weight grounding him in the face of the sheer absurdity of the situation. "Okay, okay," he muttered, his voice echoing slightly within the confines of the helmet. "Zenrin Shooter… got it."
He glanced up, spotting the Crow Imagin perched atop a crumbling building, its red eyes burning with malice. The Imagin clearly wasn't expecting this development.
Good, Asahi thought, a surge of confidence coursing through him. Surprise is on my side. He focused his attention on the task at hand. Natsumi was still in there, somewhere. He had to save her. And with this power, with this armor, he knew he could. "Yosh! Let's do this!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the deserted street.
The Crow Imagin scoffed, its beak-like mask twisting into a sneer. "Another Rider? Pathetic." It raised its cane, and dark energy began to gather around it. "You will share the same fate as the others."
Without waiting for the Imagin to launch its attack, Asahi moved. Guided by the computer's recommendations, he launched himself forward, his armored boots hitting the pavement with surprising force. He flipped, moving with speed he never thought possible.
The Crow Imagin unleashed a volley of dark energy blasts, but Asahi dodged and weaved through them with ease, the Zenrin Shooter held steady in his hand. He fired a series of shots, the energy bullets streaking towards the Imagin.
The shots connected. The explosions rocked the Crow Imagin, sending black feathers fluttering to the ground. Asahi landed gracefully, skidding to a halt. Now came the fancy move. He gripped the Zenrin Shooter. With a flick of his wrist, he spun the front wheel.
[Front Wheel!]
A surge of energy crackled around the weapon.
"Haaaah!" Mach charged, blurring across the distance. Before the Crow could react, Mach slammed into him, the force of the blow sending the Imagin hurtling through the air like a discarded doll. It crashed into a boarded-up storefront.
Asahi stared at his hand, marveling at the force behind it. This power… it's amazing! He'd barely even tried, and he'd sent that monster flying.
Suddenly, Ace was beside him. "Not bad for a newbie," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "You got the hang of that fast."
Asahi turned, almost tripping over his own feet in his excitement. "Ace-san! What… what happened to me? Did I get one of those armor things like you have?"
Ace nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah. It's the power of Kamen Rider. Specifically, you're Kamen Rider Mach now."
Asahi stared, mouth agape, taking in the enormity of it all. Kamen Rider… Mach… The words echoed in his helmet, a strange mix of disbelief and overwhelming joy bubbling up inside him. "Kamen Rider… Mach…" He repeated in a daze.
The Crow Imagin emerged from the ruined storefront, brushing off tattered black feathers. "Damn you, Riders!" it hissed, its red eyes blazing with renewed anger. "I will erase you both!"
Ace, however, wasn't about to let Asahi have all the fun. A new Lockseed appeared in his hand, its bright red surface gleaming. With a swift motion, he ejected the Orange Lockseed from the Sengoku Driver.
[Lock On]
An enormous, vibrant strawberry materialized overhead.
Ace lowered the cutting blade, slicing open the new Lockseed.
[Soiya!]
[Ichigo Arms!]
[Shushutto Spark!]
The blocky orange armor gave way to a sleeker, strawberry-themed set. The new plating snapped into place, leaving the strawberry top resting jauntily on his left shoulder. Gaim Ichigo Arms was born.
Two crimson kunai, each bearing a delicate strawberry design, materialized in Ace's hands. He twirled them expertly, the metal glinting.
"Let's do this, Asahi," Ace declared, his voice resonating through his helmet. "If we defeat that Imagin, we can save your friend, Natsumi."
Asahi, still reeling from his transformation, snapped to attention. "Yes, Ace-san! Let's fight together!" A grin stretched across his face beneath the helmet. The two Kamen Riders stood ready, a beacon of hope against the gathering darkness.
The scene was set. The Imagin stood ready, and the Riders would protect.
Ace didn't waste time. With a burst of speed, he closed the distance, launching one of his kunai. The crimson projectile spun, narrowly missing the Crow Imagin's head, forcing it to duck. He followed with a high leap, soaring over the monster, taking advantage of Ichigo Arms' increased jumping height.
He landed behind the Crow Imagin, whirling to throw the second kunai, but the monster vanished in a puff of dark feathers before it hit. Damn. Too slow. Ace thought, scanning his surroundings.
"Asahi, heads up!" Ace shouted. "It can teleport! Keep moving!"
Asahi, still getting used to his enhanced abilities, nodded and gripped the Zenrin Shooter. As if reading his mind, the computer voice spoke.
[Targeting system engaged. Predicting enemy movements.]
Suddenly, the Crow Imagin reappeared, materializing directly in front of Mach. The monster's cane crackled with dark energy, ready to strike.
Acting on instinct, Asahi didn't hesitate. He squeezed the trigger of the Zenrin Shooter, unleashing a barrage of energy bullets.
The Crow Imagin, caught off guard by the sudden attack, was forced to raise its cane. Dark energy flared, intercepting some of the shots.
However, some attacks got through. The impact caused it to stagger back, disrupting the flow of energy.
This was Ace's opening. He lunged, delivering a powerful kick, connecting squarely with the Crow Imagin's chest. The monster went flying, crashing into a pile of debris.
Gaim landed gracefully, twirling a kunai in his hand. He glanced at Mach, who was still finding his footing. "Nice one, Asahi! Keep it up!"
"H-hai!"
The duo fought like a well-oiled machine. Mach's speed and ranged attacks kept the Crow Imagin off balance, while Gaim's acrobatic maneuvers and close-quarters combat kept the pressure constant. Black feathers littered the ground as dark energy clashed with the neon glow of Rider armor. The Crow Imagin was strong, but with two Riders, it was outmatched.
Ace could sense the Crow Imagin was weakening. "Asahi, time to finish this!" he yelled, leaping back to create distance. He lowered the blade of the Sengoku Driver, slicing it down across the Ichigo Lockseed once.
[Ichigo Squash!]
Energy crackled around Gaim as he jumped. With a shout, Ace unleashed a flurry of kunai. Each one glowed crimson, streaking towards the Crow Imagin with deadly accuracy.
As the projectiles flew, Asahi acted. He swiftly removed the Signal Mach bike from his driver and inserted it into the Zenrin Shooter.
[Hissatsu!]
[Full Throttle, Mach!]
The Zenrin Shooter whirred to life, blue energy coalescing into a swirling orb at the barrel. Asahi braced himself, his heart pounding in his chest. He focused all his energy on the Crow Imagin. He squeezed the trigger, releasing the energy.
The blast collided with the Crow Imagin, engulfing it in a blinding flash. The resulting explosion ripped through the night, shaking the very foundations of the district. Debris rained down. Then, silence.
Where the Crow Imagin once stood, there lay Natsumi, unconscious. Her clothes were tattered, and her face was streaked with dirt, but she was alive.
Asahi didn't hesitate. Adrenaline surged through his armored veins as he rushed towards Natsumi. He dropped to his knees beside her, his gauntleted hands hovering anxiously above her. He wanted to check on her, to make sure she wasn't injured, but he was afraid of hurting her further. Thankfully, no further transformations were seen.
"Natsumi! Natsumi, can you hear me?" he called out, his voice laced with worry.
After a moment, her eyelids fluttered open. Her dark irises shifted around, and she focused on the armored figure kneeling before her. A confused expression crossed her features. "Asahi?" she whispered, her voice hoarse.
Relief washed over Asahi in a great big splash. He wanted to pull her in for a hug, but his body was restrained by the armor's restraints. "Natsumi! You're okay!" He couldn't keep the elation out of his tone. He could tell that she was all right.
Natsumi blinked again, processing what she saw. Her eyes traveled over the white and red armor. It was like something out of a tokusatsu show. "Your looks…"
Asahi caught her gaze and realized how he must appear. "Oh! The armor, right? It looks cool, ain't it?!" he asked, striking a quick pose.
Natsumi managed a weak smile. "Yes, even though that monster possessed me," she confessed, wincing. "I still remember everything… the red visor…the wheels… You look cool."
A blush crept up Asahi's face, warming his cheeks despite the cool night air. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, suddenly self-conscious under her gaze. "Hehehe…"
Natsumi reached out, her hand finding his armored one. Her fingers closed around his. "Asahi… thank you," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for saving me."
Asahi's heart swelled with pride and determination. He squeezed her hand gently. "No problem, Natsumi," he replied, his voice full of conviction. "After all, I'm a hero!"
Natsumi chuckled, the sound light but genuine. "Huhu… right."
Suddenly, Asahi swayed, his vision blurring at the edges. The world tilted. He felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him, threatening to pull him under. His knees buckled.
Before he could fall, Ace was there. Gaim swiftly moved, propping Asahi up, his grip firm and steady.
"Asahi!" Natsumi cried out, her eyes widening with alarm. "What's wrong?! Are you hurt?!"
Ace shook his head, his expression serious. "He's fine, he is only tired. The armor stresses the user a lot in prolonged use. It is best if he rests." He surveyed the street, his gaze sharp and assessing. "The Pro Heroes are coming, so we will be taking our leave."
Ace began to move, intending to help Asahi make a quick departure. But Natsumi spoke up. "Kamen Rider!"
Ace paused, glancing back at her.
Natsumi met his gaze, her expression sincere. She dipped her head in a respectful bow. "Thank you for also helping me!" Her smile widened. "Please take care of Asahi."
Ace nodded curtly, his voice softened, and replied, "I will."
The weary teen's gaze followed as Gaim assisted Mach, disappearing into the night. Moments later, sirens wailed as the Pros arrived. Kamui Woods, and Mt. Lady emerged, faces grim. They questioned Natsumi intently, pressing her for details of the battle and identities of the two armored figures.
Despite her fear, she offered only vague descriptions. She described a blur of white and red, and a flash of orange. To reveal more would betray Asahi, the childhood friend who'd just saved her life. They were protectors, not villains, she was sure of it.
***
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