"Alright, hotshot, got any brilliant ideas on how we waltz into this party?" Momotaros says.
Yeah, Ace, I don't see any open invitations lying around, Urataros says.
Ace looks around, eyes narrowed. "We're gonna have to 'borrow' some clothes. Find a scientist, snag his gear, blend in."
A bit cliché, don't you think?, Urataros asks.
"Effective," Ace says, cutting off any further debate.
The group moves deeper into the putrid landscape, staying hidden behind the gnarled trees. The layout of the Dai-Shocker camp comes into view, and Ace scans the perimeter. To his surprise, there aren't any walls, or fences. No barricades. Just a sprawling collection of tents, vehicles, and equipment sitting out in the open.
Well, ain't that convenient?, Momotaros says. They really think no one's gonna sneak in?
"Looks like they're expecting everyone to come at them head-on," Ace replies, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "Or maybe they didn't think anyone would be crazy enough to come through Helheim itself."
Finding a lone scientist isn't hard. The guy is fiddling with some equipment near the edge of the camp, oblivious to the world. Ace creeps up behind him, and with a swift move, knocks him out cold. No one seems to notice.
Smooth moves, Ace!, Ryutaros says.
Changing into the scientist's gown is quick, the fabric feels itchy and smells like chemicals. Ugh, I feel disgusting, Ace says. Ace discards the unconscious scientist behind a bush.
With the gown on, Ace takes a deep breath. "Alright, here goes nothing."
He strolls into the camp, trying his best to act like he belongs. The lab coat hangs loosely, and he pulls it tighter. Walking with confidence is key.
The inside of the camp is a flurry of activity. Scientists run back and forth, fiddling with strange machines and shouting orders. Lock Vehicles, modified with Dai-Shocker symbols, are parked haphazardly around the perimeter. Inves, seemingly under the control of the scientists, shuffle around, performing menial tasks.
Just act natural, Kintaros says. Don't draw attention to yourself.
Ace nods mentally, keeping his gaze forward and trying to mimic the hurried pace of the other scientists. He walks past a group of them huddled around a table, examining blueprints. He catches snippets of their conversation: something about "energy readings" and "stabilizing the portal."
Ace walks through the camp, taking everything in.
He noted the soldiers, a stark contrast to the scientists, wearing Sengoku Drivers. These weren't the customized ones he'd seen before; they were mass-produced, lacking the individuality of Gaim or Baron's belts.
The largest artificial Crack dominated the camp's center. Machines hummed and whirred around it, maintaining its unstable form. Without hesitation, Ace approached, blending in with the scientists monitoring the energy flow. He passed through, no one suspecting a thing.
The other side mirrored the first, scientists and equipment stretching as far as he could see. Gotta find out where this place is, Ace thought, his mind racing. He needed to know the location to plan an attack. But one wrong move and I'm toast.
Ace passed through a chamber filled with disinfectant spray, emerging into another section. A pair of scientists toiled over a workbench, their focus trained on a Genesis Driver and Energy Lockseeds. Ace paused, surprised. The Genesis Driver was a level above the Sengoku. A more refined, stronger transformation system. I want one, he thought.
But Ace keeps moving. Sneaking out of those is not going to be easy.
Ace continued deeper, navigating the maze of equipment and personnel, until he reached a window. Beyond the glass, a sprawling cityscape sprawled beneath him, lights shimmering in the distance. Further out, the vast ocean stretched to the horizon. The city itself was a marvel of modern engineering, structures reaching toward the sky, connected by skyways and crisscrossed by glowing transport lines. Artificial beaches and parks dotted the landscape, creating an oasis of nature amid the metallic structures.
The artificial island looked familiar. Ace racked his brain trying to place the image, the layout, the distinct structures until he saw a banner hanging from one of the towers. The letters read: I-Island.
I-Island?
The realization slammed into him. I-Island, the mobile research city known for its scientific advancements and hero support technology. What could Dai-Shocker be doing here? And so openly? Were they so confident in their operations that they didn't even bother to conceal their presence?
"Is Dai-Shocker operating so openly now?" Ace muttered.
Why? It is good! Ryutaros says.
Yeah, what's the problem? Momotaros says.
"You don't get it. Dai-Shocker having a base in I-Island means they may have established themselves in this world a long time ago," Ace responds. "I thought only Imagins with Inves are involved, but now we are facing something bigger."
But there was another reason for Ace's concern. Melissa, the American engineer he'd met in Musutafu, resided here. They had been frequently chatting through messaging apps, sharing thoughts and ideas, while staying in touch.
Hey, that is the babe, right?, Momotaros asks.
The one we met before, she was pretty cool, right?, Ryutaros says.
Kintaros, cutting through the noise, spoke with his usual stoic tone. The Quirkless one, we should visit her, it has been a while.
"We're here to investigate Dai-Shocker," Ace said firmly. "We don't have time for detours."
Come on, Ace-kun, Urataros says, his voice dripping with charm. It's not just a detour. It's called being a good friend. Plus, he added slyly, who knows what she might know? She's around all these scientists, right? Maybe she's picked up something about Dai-Shocker. We can just, you know, subtly probe for information.
Ace hesitated. Urataros's logic was… questionable, but not entirely without merit. A part of him wanted to see Melissa again, to make sure she was safe. And if she could provide intel on Dai-Shocker's activities, that would be a bonus. "Fine," Ace relented, "but we keep it brief. And no flirting, Urataros."
As you wish, Ace-kun! Urataros says.
With a sigh, Ace pulled out his phone. He needed to call Melissa. He couldn't just show up unannounced; he didn't even know where she lived on the island. He tapped on her contact and pressed call, holding the phone to his ear as he waited for her to answer.
[Ringtone]
A bright, cheerful voice came through the speaker. "Ace? Hi! What a great surprise!" Melissa said.
Ace's voice dropped to a hushed tone, mindful of eavesdroppers. "Hey, Melissa. I know it's out of the blue, but I happened to be on I-Island. Thought it would be cool if we could meet."
"Really? That's awesome!" Melissa squealed, her excitement evident. "I'm totally free right now! Where are you? We have to catch up!"
Ace paused, considering. "How about that park near the Central Tower? The one with the big fountain?"
"Perfect! I'll be there in, like, ten minutes!" she chirped. "I am so excited to see you!"
"Got it," Ace said, a smile tugging at his lips despite the serious situation. "I'll see you soon." He ended the call, sliding the phone back into his pocket.
What a surprise, Acey-boy! Now all we need to do is sneak out of this place first, Momotaros says.
"I really wonder what your pick-up lines would be like, if you ever got the chance, hmm?" Ace muttered, ignoring the Oni.
Right, now, how do we get out of this mess? Urataros said, snapping Ace back into the mission.
Ace took another look around, then set his sights on the exit. It was time to pay a visit to Melissa Shield.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz