"Looks like we don't need to step in. This 'car-man' seems capable of defeating the monsters causing the slowdown phenomenon on his own.
However, after these monsters are defeated, they all turn into numbers. It doesn't seem like they're completely destroyed."
Watching the situation in New York on the screen—where the mechanical mutants were being defeated one after another by Kamen Rider Drive and turning into their corresponding numbers—Tony Stark voiced his speculation.
"Car-man? Tony, do you know this person?" asked Nick Fury, raising an eyebrow.
Tony shook his head.
"No idea. First time seeing him. But don't you think he looks like a car that turned into a humanoid form?"
Nick's mouth twitched slightly at the comment but chose to keep his attention on the battle between Drive and the mechanical mutants.
From the sound of it, Tony Stark also had no idea where this suddenly appearing, car-themed armored warrior came from.
At this time, all the mechanical mutants were still in their initial forms, so naturally they were no match for Drive and were defeated one after another. The situation was rapidly becoming dangerous for them.
"Drive!!"
Heart, clutching his chest, roared through gritted teeth.
Number 002 Heart regarded every mechanical mutant as his closest companions and friends. Seeing them fall one after another at Drive's hands caused an intense surge of emotion within him.
From that emotional explosion, Heart grasped the essence of evolution.
The mechanical mutants evolved.
Their forms changed into unique appearances with distinctive characteristics, no longer the uniform bodies that previously differed only in having bat, spider, or cobra-like head traits.
The evolved mechanical mutants now manifested different physical forms based on their individual abilities.
Heart's own evolved form developed a pair of massive curved horns on his head, his body glowing crimson like burning fire, and a protruding heart-shaped structure on his chest.
Inside Drive's belt, Krim looked at the terrifying aura radiating from Heart (002). Though he sensed something was wrong, he still cooperated with Chase and launched a direct punch.
[My goat Heart]
Heart did not dodge at all, taking Drive's attack head-on.
A blazing red light burst from his body as he immediately returned a punch, sending Drive flying backwards.
"002 appears to absorb Drive's attacks and then retaliate with even greater force," Chase said calmly.
"If we cannot defeat him in one blow, we may end up being defeated ourselves."
Krim's consciousness inside the Drive belt made a decision.
"Chase, then we'll release Drive's full power."
"Full Throttle!"
With the belt's lever twisted, Prototype Drive leapt into the air, red energy surging across his body as he delivered a devastating kick toward Heart.
Facing Drive's finishing attack, Heart still refused to dodge.
That was his fighting style.
He relied entirely on his defensive power to withstand attacks, then returned them with multiplied strength.
"Looks like… I've won this time," Heart said with some difficulty.
His entire body glowed red like an overloaded machine, radiating heat that warped the surrounding air.
Though it was clearly exhausting—and barely within his limits—Heart successfully endured Prototype Drive's full-power strike.
Then he returned the accumulated force.
A punch carrying terrifying power smashed into Prototype Drive.
Drive could not withstand the overwhelming attack.
He crashed heavily onto the ground, his transformation immediately undone.
The Drive Belt containing Krim's consciousness was knocked away, while the user—Chase (Unit 0)—was severely damaged, losing consciousness and entering a shutdown state.
The situation instantly reversed.
"This situation doesn't look good."
Seeing Drive defeated by Heart, Tony's expression darkened.
"Jarvis, how is the analysis of this special force field going?"
"Sir, I'm afraid there is still no progress," J.A.R.V.I.S. reported.
"Finding a way to counteract the negative effects of this field will likely take some time."
Tony's face shifted uncertainly.
The only "car-man" capable of resisting the Heavy Acceleration had been defeated.
Were they supposed to just watch helplessly as these monsters continued destroying New York?
"Contact Holy City Hospital for me," Tony said in a low voice.
This strange force field slowed all physical movement—both living and non-living—within its range.
Without a way to counter it, the situation was almost impossible to deal with.
Even wearing the Iron Man armor, entering the field would mean his movement speed—including his attacks—would become as slow as a crawling turtle. Fighting monsters under those conditions would be extremely dangerous.
After thinking it through, Tony could only hope that a Game Area might cancel out the slowing field produced by the monsters.
From Dan Kuroto he received both good news and bad news.
"So the special Game Area can indeed neutralize the slowdown field…
But when the field suddenly erupted, Li Hua and the others were already fighting Bugster monsters inside a Game Area.
Because the slowdown field interfered with it, the Bugster virus forming the Game Area became too stable. They currently can't dissolve the Game Area, so they're temporarily trapped inside?"
Looking at Dan Kuroto, who could still talk normally, Tony wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed.
The Game Area could counter Heavy Acceleration.
But Li Hua and the others were stuck, unable to help fight the mechanical mutants.
After defeating Prototype Drive, Heart glanced at the unconscious Chase.
Although Chase chose to protect humanity, in Heart's eyes Unit 0 was still a precious companion, another mechanical mutant.
Heart would never kill his own comrades.
But he had no such hesitation toward Krim's consciousness inside the Drive Belt.
"Krim, I never expected that after killing you once, you'd still manage to preserve your consciousness like this.
And even activate the Drive System to defeat so many of my companions.
But in the end, we mechanical mutants are the victors.
You won't get a third chance."
Krim panicked.
The Drive Belt vibrated wildly, like a desperate struggle.
But without a user to operate the Drive System, Krim was just a belt.
At most, he could shake slightly. He couldn't even move away.
All he could do was watch helplessly as Heart raised his foot to crush him.
"Don't—!"
Krim cried out in despair.
At that moment, a red figure dashed in at high speed.
A sword strike slashed toward Heart, forcing him back several steps.
It was Kamen Rider Accel, transformed by Frank Castle.
Although Accel lacked the ability to negate Heavy Acceleration, his incredible speed allowed Frank to move far more freely than others inside the slowed field.
After receiving Nick Fury's notification, Frank had immediately rushed over to fight the mechanical mutants.
Heart raised his hand and blocked Frank's Engine Blade, studying him with interest.
"You don't possess the ability to control Heavy Acceleration…
Did you counter its effects using your own speed?"
"Exactly," Frank replied coldly.
Although Frank's acceleration ability wasn't extraordinarily powerful in normal circumstances, the Heavy Acceleration field generated by the unevolved mechanical mutants wasn't overwhelmingly strong either.
Because of that, Accel's speed allowed him to partially offset the slowing effect.
(End of Chapter)