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"What...what is this!?" Bujin Gaim demanded incredulously.
"What you are seeing is the birth of a new legend, born from the spirit of sisterhood! They are the Armored Trinity!" Ryujin Gaim declared.
Idunn glowered with jealousy as her cousin granted Kanu, Ryuubi, and Chouhi power. It just wasn't fair. However, she reined in her emotions. Now was not the time to erupt with jealousy. Later, once everything was over, she would have to take her frustration out on their dolls. She had some new knives to test out on them after all.
"Then I'll just destroy you and take that power for myself!"
Bujin Gaim charged at Ryujin Gaim with his swords. Ryujin Gaim made no obvious move to defend himself. As the blades struck Ryujin Gaim's shoulders, Bujin Gaim was treated to a pleasant sight as sparks exploded and rained down around them. It took a moment for Bujin Gaim to pause in realization once he noticed Ryujin Gaim was not showing pain.
Then all of a sudden, Bujin Gaim was electrocuted, and he recoiled in shock. Smoke rose from his body and weapons as he twitched from the electrical charge. Ryujin Gaim's fist slammed into Bujin Gaim's face, throwing him to the ground.
"You know, Nise. You just never change. All it takes for you to get carried away is a small taste of power. Then you think you're invincible. But no more! We're finishing this right here, right now! Tonight, this is our stage!"
Sangokuden Armored War Gods Saga: End of the Armored War Gods
Co-Written By: Ten-Faced Paladin and Kamen Rider Chrome
Beta Reader/Editor: Busterleader92
Chapter 11-2: Bloody Vengeance (Part 2)
Bujin Gaim recovered from the blow and picked himself up just as Ryujin Gaim swung his sword, sending Bujin Gaim staggering with a brutal slash across the chest. Bujin Gaim growled and charged back at him in retaliation, determined to beat his nemesis.
Ryujin Gaim parried each of Bujin Gaim's strikes before spotting an opening to land a blow. A slash across Bujin Gaim's chest caused him to backpedal before another slash knocked him back even further.
Bujin Gaim couldn't comprehend it. His power was superior to Ryujin Gaim's! It had to be! However, it seemed that Ryujin Gaim had become stronger than him.
Nagata Oda infuriated Bujin Gaim. Not only did the upstart manage to gain the reputation and prestige he so rightfully deserved, but Nagata also got the woman he desired and the power he coveted.
How!?
How could this be!?
It wasn't fair!
[SOIYA! RYUJIN AU LAIT!]
Lightning crackled along the length of the Ryujinmaru as Ryujin Gaim charged at Bujin Gaim.
"Time to count up your crimes, Nise! SEI-YAH!"
Ryujin Gaim slashed at Bujin Gaim, who tried to parry with his swords, only to have them broken. Ryujin Gaim then landed another slash across Bujin Gaim's chest before following up with an upward slash that sent him flying. He fell to the ground, his body numb from the electrically charged slash.
"Gah! Damn it!"
Bujin Gaim grunted as he picked himself back up, staggering on his feet. Hearing three simultaneous yells, he dared to look up and saw Kanu, Chouhi, and Ryuubi ready to attack.
"LIGHTNING VIPER SLASH!" Chouhi shouted as yellow lightning gathered around her Viper Spear. She jumped and spun in the air before striking the ground. A massive snake made of lightning emerged and surged towards Bujin Gaim.
"BLAZING OGRE STRIKE!" roared Kanu as she twirled her Green Dragon Crescent Blade as green energy gathered around her blade. It took the shape of demonic green flames. Swinging her weapon, she sent a massive green fireball in the form of a demon's head flying towards Bujin Gaim.
"DRAGON STAR FLASH!" Ryuubi shouted as she swung her sword downward, hurling a huge five-pointed star made of light. It sliced through the air like a shuriken as it soared towards Bujin Gaim.
Bujin Gaim screamed as he electrocuted by the lightning snake, burned by the demonic green fireball before the giant star sliced right through him. He fell to his knees as his injuries worsened by the constant attacks.
"Good job, girls!" Ryujin Gaim praised. He wasn't finished yet as he put his sword away and twisted the Ryujin Key.
[HINAWA DAIDAI DJ JU!]
Ryujin Gaim aimed his DJ Gun at Bujin Gaim as the latter gathered blood red energy in his right hand. Bujin Gaim fired a blood red energy beam at Ryujin Gaim who countered with his DJ Gun.
As they rapidly fired upon each other, Ryujin Gaim turned the dial to switch modes. As he squeezed the trigger, he fired a cannon-like blast from his DJ Gun that struck Bujin Gaim explosively. With his enemy stunned, Ryujin Gaim turned the dial again and scratched the disk before firing a spray of rapid fire bullets. Bujin Gaim hysterically yelled as the ballistic barrage repeatedly and mercilessly bombarded him.
Satisfied with the damage he had dealt, Ryujin Gaim hit his Cutting Blade for the finisher.
[SOIYA! RYUJIN SQUASH!]
Wielding both the Ryujinmaru and DJ Gun, electrical energy arched around Ryujin Gaim's body before being transferred into his weapons.
"DAI RYUJIN... FINAL WAVE!"
Ryujin Gaim fired the DJ Gun, shooting out a giant energy bullet. He followed up by sending a crescent-shaped energy slash with the Ryujinmaru. The slash met the round, adding more power and speed to it. The shot accelerated, moving at a speed that was too fast for Bujin Gaim to dodge. The attack hit and exploded, sending Bujin Gaim tumbling across the ground. The electrical energy caused Bujin Gaim great pain as he convulsed on the ground.
Bujin Gaim picked himself up, his stance shaky as he tried to recover from the attack.
"This...this can't be. I'm supposed to be...the victor. I'm superior to you all."
The Shoku Warriors took their cue and attacked Bujin Gaim while he was weakened, giving him everything they got. Bacho and Chou'un, being the fastest, pierced him with their spears. Batai then lunged at him, following their example, and slashed him across the chest. He staggered from the attacks. Ryofu was upon him next as she grabbed him by the throat and tossed him up into the air. She leaped up, followed by Chouhi and Gien, who then smashed him with their weapons. He crashed down to the ground with immense force, forming a crater on impact.
Picking himself up, he was attacked again as Kanu and Ryuubi rushed at him. He was slashed by Kanu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade, before receiving a stab from Ryuubi. He staggered back from both sisters who struck him again, knocking him backward.
"This is for taking my family sword and name!" Ryuubi yelled as she slashed Bujin Gaim violently.
"And this is for trying to defile me!" added Kanu as she struck him as well.
[HAI~! YOMOTSUHEGURI SQUASH!]
[COME ON! RINGO SQUASH!]
"And this is for eating us!" Ryugen-Yomi and Idunn screamed.
Bujin Gaim reeled back as the explosive energy blast from Ryugen-Yomi's Budou Ryuhou and an energy slash from Idunn's Sword Bringer hit him simultaneously. He was barely able to stand as Ryujin Gaim charged at him.
"AND THIS IS FOR NANAMOMO!" Ryujin Gaim roared as he put all his might into his fist and drove it into Bujin Gaim's chest, shattering the armor and sending Bujin Gaim skidding backward. Coming to a stop after sliding back thirty feet, Bujin Gaim staggered before he collapsed to his knees and groaned.
"Damn you all..." Bujin Gaim cursed as he radiated with angry dark energy.
"Let's finish him off," Ryujin Gaim instructed.
"Alright!" Ryugen-Yomi, Idunn, Ryuubi, Kanu and Chouhi agreed.
The three Shoku Armored War Gods and the new Armored Trinity charged at Bujin Gaim. He fired a series of blood red energy blasts at them, but they still kept coming at him. Idunn led the charge, using her Apple Reflecter to cover Ryugen-Yomi, Ryujin Gaim, Kanu, Chouhi, and Ryuubi. Ryugen-Yomi and Ryujin Gaim fired back with their Budou Ryuhou and DJ Gun, respectively, hitting Bujin Gaim with blasts of energy. As they neared their target, Ryujin Gaim banished his DJ Gun and twisted his Ryujin Key.
[COCO BOXERS!]
Idunn, Ryugen-Yomi, Kanu, Ryuubi and Chouhi, and Ryujin Gaim finally reached Bujin Gaim and separated to encircle him. Kanu, Ryuubi, Chouhi, Idunn and Ryugen-Yomi repeatedly struck him with their personal weapons, forcing him to defend himself from the attacks which were coming at him from all directions. The consecutive assault left Bujin Gaim wide open for Ryujin Gaim as he punched him repeatedly with the Coco Boxers. Each blow was made even more devastating due to the hidden pistons that allowed Ryujin Gaim to exert more force into his punches.
Kanu, Ryuubi, and Chouhi all thrust their weapons forward, striking Bujin Gaim with incredible force and sending him tumbling before he came to a stop on his back. He shouldn't be getting back up from that.
But just to make sure, Ryujin Gaim hit his Cutting Blade.
[SOIYA! RYUJIN SQUASH!]
"Rider Rocket Punch!" Ryujin Gaim shouted as he punched forward with both arms, launching the Coco Boxers like missiles. Seeing the impending attack, Bujin Gaim managed to flip back to his feet in time to dodge them.
"Damn you..."
Bujin Gaim regenerated his weapon, forming the Musou Saber Naginata Mode. He broke into a run, and the chase was on. The Armored War Gods and Armored Trinity ran parallel with their foe. As Bujin Gaim hurled energy slashes at them, Ryugen-Yomi, Ryujin Gaim, and Idunn responded with their personal long-range attacks. Ryugen-Yomi fired his Budou Ryuhou as Ryujin Gaim did the same with his DJ Gun while Idunn threw energy slashes at Bujin Gaim.
[BLOOD ORANGE AU LAIT!]
The chase ended as the sextet ducked away from Bujin Gaim's rapid energy slashes. Ryugen-Yomi and Ryujin Gaim repeatedly fired at their enemy, causing sparks to explode off his body. Pressing on the advantage, Kanu, Chouhi, Ryuubi and Idunn rushed towards Bujin Gaim. As they ran past him, they slashed him, adding to the damage he took.
As the combined assault ceased, Bujin Gaim growled as he stood shakily on his feet.
"Now!" Kanu ordered as she charged forward with her sisters-in-arms. They slashed at him in succession, starting with Kanu, Chouhi, Chou'un, Bacho, Batai, Ryofu and finally Ryuubi. Kochu and Gien also smashed him with their bow and kanabo, respectively, forcing him to his knees. The girls then backed away from Bujin Gaim as he picked himself back up. His body had sustained a heap of damage, but his resilience and stubbornness would not allow him to fall.
"Ready to give up yet?" Ryujin Gaim taunted.
"Damn you! I am a GOD! How can I possibly be beaten by the likes of you!?"Bujin Gaim shouted.
"Don't make me laugh. You're no god. You're just a monster that needs to be put down," Ryujin Gaim countered.
"You should've stayed in the dirt where you belong," added Idunn coldly.
"Face it, Nise. You're not wanted here," finished Ryugen-Yomi.
"DAMN YOU ALL!" roared Bujin Gaim as he hit his Cutting Blade thrice to execute his finisher.
[BLOOD ORANGE SPARKING!]
Bujin Gaim prepared to finish them all for good as his body blazed with blood red energy oozing from his body. He separated his swords and the blood red energy spread across both blades as they charged up.
"Iori, Kara-chan, let's finish him now!" Ryujin Gaim commanded. "Triple Rider Kick!"
[SOIYA! RYUJIN SQUASH!]
"OK!" Ryugen-Yomi obeyed.
[HAI~! YOMOTSUHEGURI SQUASH!]
"You got it, Naga-kun!" obliged Idunn.
[COME ON! RINGO SQUASH!]
"Aisha, Rinrin, let's do it!" Ryuubi ordered as she raised her sword. Kanu and Chouhi understood and crossed their blades together. Their armor and weapons glowed as energy gathered around them. Ryuubi closed her eyes to concentrate as she focused her energy into her Dragon Claw Sword. Kanu and Chouhi stepped back as Ryuubi inhaled, gripped the handle then, exhaled.
The three Riders leaped into the air and performed a Triple Rider Kick together as energy gathered around their feet. Ryujin Gaim's energy blazed with the colors of a rainbow as red energy surrounded Idunn's leg and purple energy in the shape of grapes circled Ryugen-Yomi's extended leg.
"TRIPLE ARMORED WAR GOD RIDER KICK!"
At the same time, Ryuubi yelled, "TRINITY POWER: CELESTIAL DRAGON SLASH!" She sent a wave of blue energy that roared as it surged towards Bujin Gaim.
As they came down to strike, Bujin Gaim performed a cross slash, sending an X made of blazing blood red energy flying at his foes. However, much to his shock, Ryuubi's Celestial Dragon Slash broke through his attack, allowing the Triple Rider Kick to strike him directly in the chest. The demonic Armored War Devil screamed as he was thrown back and engulfed in a massive explosion.
Ryugen-Yomi, Ryujin Gaim, and Idunn landed together before they rose up and turned their backs to the flames and smoke. Ryujin Gaim's Ryujin Raiment flapped in the wind.
Kanu, Ryuubi, and Chouhi approached them as well. Briefly, the girls' armor shone, before vanishing. Ryujin Gaim took a moment to note the presence of new magatama earrings hanging from their left ears, each in their respective colors.
"Aww...My cool new armor's gone." Chouhi looked at herself in disappointment.
"Well, it was an exciting experience while it lasted," Kanu admitted.
"Indeed," Ryuubi nodded. "Thank you, Nagata-sama."
"You're welcome, but I don't know what I did. The Ryujin Key just told me something," Ryujin Gaim answered. He really couldn't explain it. It was like his vision. It just happened.
"Do you think it's finally over?" Ryuubi asked hopefully but with a hint of worry.
"I doubt even he could've survived that," stated Idunn confidently as she admired the flames of Bujin Gaim's destruction. 'Yeah, burn! Burn in Hell you bastard! BURN!'
"Wait," Ryugen-Yomi said as he narrowed his eyes. "I don't think it's over."
As the smoke cleared, it revealed Bujin Gaim as he survived their attack, shocking them as they gasped. However, he did not manage to escape unscathed.
His upper body was reduced to a disgusting nest of slimy, writhing, flailing tentacles as he tried to repair himself.
"Naga-kun, finish him off!" Idunn yelled.
[HINAWA DAIDAI DJ JU! MUSOU SABER! DAIDAIMARU!]
After summoning the three weapons, Ryujin Gaim combined them into DJ Sojinto Mode. First, the Musou Saber slid into the DJ Gun, forming its Taiken Mode, before the Daidaimaru connected to the Musou Saber. As he took hold of the gestalt dual-bladed weapon, Ryujin Gaim swiftly struck his SengokuDriver's Cutting Blade three times.
[SOIYA! RYUJIN SPARKING!]
Siphoning energy from both the Kachidoki Lockseed and Ryujin Key, the DJ Sojinto's dual blades glowed. Once it was fully charged, Ryujin Gaim called out his attack.
"DAI RYUJIN NO SOJINTO ZAN!"
Ryujin Gaim first hurled a vertical energy slash before he spun on his heel and threw a second horizontal power slash. The second slash merged with the first, and the combined energy slashes accelerated, speeding towards Bujin Gaim as he was attempting to regenerate. Unfortunately, Bujin Gaim failed as the attack quartered his entire body. Each of his pieces was instantly vaporized.
The Blood Orange Lockseed remained intact as it dropped to the ground. Flashing angrily with a crimson light, it began to bleed. Thick black ichor oozed out of the abnormal Lockseed, forming a bubbling pool. All of a sudden, a massive nest of slimy tentacles burst out of the earth, spilling the thick tar-like substance all over the ground. The appendages wrapped around each other and swelled, growing upwards and reaching the night sky like some hellish beanstalk. The twisted limbs soon hardened to form a thick tree trunk with writhing tentacles crowning the top.
At the very top of the tree, Bujin Gaim emerged, completely restored but also changed. His armor had taken on a more organic appearance, and his mouthplate looked like a real mouth filled with razor sharp teeth. Even his fingers had turned into wicked claws. His legs were replaced with a mass of tentacles that were merged to the tree-like abomination.
In this form, he was now Bujin Gaim Demonic Spawn Formation.
"THIS WORLD SHALL BE MINE!" Bujin Gaim declared as he raised his fists. "NOW WITNESS MY TRUE POWER AS I DESTROY YOU ALL!"
The Shoku Warriors gawked at the horrific sight incredulously.
"He still lives!?" Kanu yelled in disbelief.
"Bu-but we hit him with everything we got!" Ryuubi gasped.
"He must've inherited his former self's stubbornness," Chou'un remarked.
"He's on his last leg already. He won't last long," Bacho observed.
"Yeah, we can still beat him!" Chouhi cheered confidently.
The tentacles around Bujin Gaim had bulged around the base before the swollen bumps moved to the tips. The disgusting limbs then began to fire rapidly at the Shoku Warriors, explosions erupting all around them.
[MELON DEFENDER! APPLE REFLECTER!]
Summoning both shields, Ryujin Gaim used them to erect a barrier around himself and his comrades, protecting them from the ballistic barrage. The assault bombarded the shields, but they gradually buckled under the pressure.
"DIE! DIE! DIE! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Bujin Gaim cackled as he continued to fire hell down upon them. His tentacles started dripping black liquid onto the ground. These were seeds. When they sprouted, new Black Sproutmen came to life. More and more of the seeds fell to the ground, spawning an army of them.
Once he finished spawning his minions, Bujin Gaim stopped firing. It was a good thing too. Ryujin Gaim's shields weren't going to hold for long. The Black Sproutmen began to attack the Shoku Warriors who fought back.
"Nagata, you have to go stop him for good!" Ryugen-Yomi shouted as he impaled a Black Sproutman with his Yomiyari. "We can handle things here!" He shot at a couple more with his Budou Ryuhou.
"Are you sure?" Ryujin Gaim asked as he sliced a Black Sproutman in half with his Musou Saber.
"Just go! Hurry, Naga-kun!" Idunn yelled back.
Ryujin Gaim looked around at all the destruction before looking up at Bujin Gaim who stood at the top of this demonic tree. Ryujin Gaim resolved that this had to end tonight. He crouched, and his visor flashed before he unleashed a burst of electricity, frying some nearby Black Sproutmen, and ran. He ran towards the demonic tree, faster and faster until he reached his top speed. He ran up the trunk of the wicked tree, trailing blue lightning behind him. He arrived at the peak in the blink of an eye, ready to confront Bujin Gaim. The Armored War Devil stood at the very center of the makeshift floor which was encircled by hideous writhing tentacles.
"What do you think, Gaim? Isn't it grand? I've become an even grander being than before," Bujin Gaim gloated. He looked even more demonic as his armor had gained a more organic quality.
"I think you need to be cut down to size," retorted Ryujin Gaim.
In response, Bujin Gaim lashed out at Ryujin Gaim with his tentacles. They slammed into the Seiryuoh repeatedly, sending sparks blasting off on impact. However, Ryujin Gaim didn't seem to be affected at all as the tentacles repeatedly slammed into him. It was like he wasn't bothered by them at all. It was like he couldn't feel them at all as well.
Enduring the relentless assault, Ryujin Gaim twisted his Ryujin Key and summoned his weapon of choice.
[GREEN DRAGON CRESCENT BLADE!]
A sharp tentacle shot towards Ryujin Gaim's heart, but a familiar weapon suddenly appeared to deflect the limb. Ryujin Gaim seized the polearm, twirled it and gripped it in both hands. Bujin Gaim's eyes widened as he recognized it as Kanu's signature weapon.
"How!?"
"Surprised? This weapon proves the strength of our bond!"
Ryujin Gaim lunged towards Bujin Gaim. The demonic Rider responded with more tentacles, but Ryujin Gaim quickly sliced them apart with the guandao. Bujin Gaim kept regenerating and attacking, but Ryujin Gaim kept on slicing away, causing Bujin Gaim to become more and more frantic.
The tentacles converged on Ryujin Gaim, but he evaded them in a flash of lightning. Targeting Bujin Gaim, he shot towards him with the Green Dragon Crescent Blade pointed forward. Panicking, the demonic Rider tried to defend himself with a makeshift shield, but Ryujin Gaim managed to break through his defenses and strike furiously with Kanu's weapon.
The way Ryujin Gaim was using the guandao, the way he moved, it was just like Kanu. It was just like watching Kanu fight, and for a moment Bujin Gaim thought he saw Kanu's image superimposed upon Ryujin Gaim.
As Ryujin Gaim injured Bujin Gaim, spilling more of his dark blood, he called forth another weapon.
This one was special because it belonged to his little sister.
[VIPER SPEAR!]
The Viper Spear appeared out of thin air and flew at Bujin Gaim like a javelin. It pierced his chest and caused him to let out a scream.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"
Ryujin Gaim grabbed hold of the Viper Spear and roughly yanked it out of Bujin Gaim. The demonic Rider, this time, willed his tentacles to aim upon Ryujin Gaim. He watched as they bulged at the base and glowed. The glowing lumps then moved to the tip before they fired at him like cannons. He twirled both the Viper Spear and Green Dragon Crescent Blade around, deflecting the energy blasts. They hit the tentacles, destroying them, with some of the deflected blasts hitting Bujin Gaim himself. The blasting ceased once all the limbs were killed, leaving scorched stumps.
Assuming a stance, Ryujin Gaim wielded both Chouhi and Kanu's signature weapons. He crossed both polearms and uncrossed them, scraping sparks off the blades before he dashed towards Bujin Gaim. With both his weapons, he repeatedly and furiously landed brutal strikes. Not only was he handling both weapons with immense skill, but his movements were also an exact mimicry of Kanu and Chouhi's.
"GET OFF ME!"
Bujin Gaim sent Ryujin Gaim flying back with his chest tentacles, but the Azure Dragon Rider managed to land safely on his feet. Ryujin Gaim looked up as Bujin Gaim opened up his chest. Tentacles burst out of the horrific mouth-like cavity, but it was the glow that emerged from the very center of the mass of limbs that truly got Ryujin Gaim concerned. It couldn't be anything good.
"TAKE THIS, GAIM!"
Bujin Gaim fired a black and crimson energy blast at Ryujin Gaim from his chest.
[SOIYA! RYUJIN SQUASH!]
Ryujin Gaim twirled both the Viper Spear and Green Dragon Crescent Blade as a golden aura rose from his body, taking the form of a dragon.
"ORE-TACHI NO CHIKARA! DAI RYUJIN TRINITY STRIKE!"
He hurled both spears like javelins, sending them flying as an aura in the shape of a dragon engulfed them both. The weapons crashed into Bujin Gaim's energy blast and smashed right through before heading towards Bujin Gaim. He screamed as he was hit by the weapons as they exploded. The blast was so powerful that it blew off Bujin Gaim's entire right side.
"You...damn you...damn you to HELL!" Bujin Gaim cursed as tentacles grew out of the wound and began to reform his body.
"Correction, you're the one who's going to Hell," said Ryujin Gaim as he gripped his Ryujin Key. "Say hello to Ox-Head and Horse-Face for me."
He quickly twisted the Ryujin Key several times, over, and over, and over again.
[DAIDAIMARU! MUSOU SABER! DURI NOKO! COCO BOXERS! BERRAPIER! BLUE GAUCHE! WIZARDSWORDGUN! PINE IRON! BANASPEAR! MANGO PUNISHER! PAPAYA CHOPPER! ICHIGO KUNAI! CARAMBOLA STARS! SWORD BRINGER! GREEN DRAGON CRESCENT BLADE! VIPER SPEAR! DRAGON FANG! SILVER FLASH! SHADOW FLASH! HEAVEN PIERCER! DRAGON CLAW! BLUNT SHATTERED BONE!]
Bujin Gaim's eyes widened at the unbelievable sight as dozens upon dozens of weapons now occupied the sky. Ryujin Gaim knew these weapons well. It wasn't just the Arms Weapons he had accessed before, but also the weapons of his Shoku Warriors.
"What...what is this...HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS!?" Bujin Gaim demanded as he saw all the weapons hovering in the sky.
"This is the power of our bond! I call it the Infinite Armory of the Dragon King!" Ryujin Gaim proclaimed as he pointed at Bujin Gaim. He then raised his arm and swiftly brought it down.
"GO!"
The weapons screamed as they rocketed towards Bujin Gaim like missiles. Since he had stuck himself in a stationary position, he had no way of dodging them. Immediately, he used the tentacles that surrounded him to form a barrier. However, it proved useless as it shattered under the combined assault of all the weapons.
"No...This cannot be. My triumphant victory...so close..."
Bujin Gaim's body had taken too much damage. All that remained of him now was just a horrifically disfigured head sitting atop a terribly damaged tentacle. He started to regenerate, but his recovery was as slow as a snail's crawl.
[SONIC ARROW!]
After summoning the Sonic Arrow, Ryujin Gaim loaded it with his Grapefruit Energy Lockseed.
[LOCK ON!]
And then he hit his Cutting Blade.
[SOIYA! RYUJIN SQUASH!]
He aimed the Sonic Arrow at Bujin Gaim's head, the weapon siphoning power from the Grapefruit Energy Lockseed, Kachidoki Lockseed, and Ryujin Key, as he stretched the bowstring to its maximum tautness. The tip glowed, crackling with energy as it was charging up.
"Now embrace the darkness and rest in peace," concluded Ryujin Gaim.
[GRAPEFRUIT ENERGY!]
"DAI RYUJIN ARROW!"
The Sonic Arrow released a powerful stream of orange energy, which morphed into a shape of a roaring dragon as it engulfed Bujin Gaim completely. He was vaporized in an instant as the stream kept going and going until it dissipated in the night sky. Bujin Gaim's screams turned silent in that single moment, and nobody would ever hear from him again.
Down below, the Shoku Warriors were still fighting the Black Sproutmen.
"There's no end to these things!" complained Batai.
"I hope Nagata's doing OK up there," said Ryugen-Yomi.
"Have more faith! Naga-kun has a habit of pulling off a miracle in the end!" Idunn admonished.
Suddenly, they heard a loud explosion and looked up to see a bright flash. They saw the weapons converging on the top of the tree before another explosion followed. Then they saw a dragon of energy fly into the sky before winking out of existence.
"What in the world...?" Ryuubi gasped.
The Black Sproutmen collapsed to the ground and started to melt, dissolving into black goo. The tree itself began to develop cracks all over as dark blood spilled out of the cracks. More and more cracks began to spread all over the tree before it exploded. A wave of dark blood traveled towards the Shoku Warriors. They panicked as they tried to flee from it.
Ryujin Gaim landed smoothly on his feet as the dark blood rained down all around. He looked around. The village had taken damage, but the group managed to survive. There were puddles of dark blood all over the ground. It was a miracle that the village did not get flooded.
"Minna-!" Ryujin Gaim called only to freeze as he saw their state. The wave of dark blood had drenched them all completely. Some of it probably got into their mouths. Thank goodness his helmet covered his mouth.
After an awkward pause, Ryujin Gaim commented, "Er...you guys look like you might need to take a bath."
"YOU THINK!?" everyone yelled in irritation.
Nagata undid his transformation and chuckled awkwardly at the mess. It was a good thing that he managed to defeat Bujin Gaim when he did. He already felt drained from the use of his Ryujin Arms. Iori and Karasu also deactivated their armor.
They could relax and rest easy now as it was finally over.
Or was it?
Suddenly, Bujin Gaim's still intact Blood Orange Lockseed shot towards Nagata like a speeding arrow. The Lockseed loaded itself and locked into the empty Drive Bay of Nagata's SengokuDriver.
[LOCK ON!]
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Nagata-sama!"
"Naga-kun!"
"Nagata!"
"Onii-chan!"
Nagata continued to scream in agony as the aura engulfed him.
"AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Karasu and Iori quickly darted towards the SengokuDriver, intent on removing the Blood Orange Lockseed. The energy violently repelled them when they tried. None of them could get close as the strange and wicked aura stopped them in their tracks.
"We need to do something! He needs our help!" Ryuubi pleaded.
"There's nothing we can do," Karasu frowned as she clenched her fists.
"But we can't just stand here and do nothing!"
"It is Nagata-sama's fight now, Aneue. Have faith and believe in him," Kanu told her sworn sister.
"Kanu's right," Karasu agreed. "We can't have any doubts right now."
Ryuubi clasped her hands together and quietly prayed, "Nagata-sama, you can do it."
Nagata's aura flickered between red and blue repeatedly. In what felt like hours, the violent blood red aura soon died down. It seemed that everything was okay, allowing them to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Nagata-sama, are you alright?" Kanu gingerly asked as she watched him warily.
When Nagata opened his eyes, she instantly knew that he was not alright. His irises were now blood red instead of silver while the surrounding sclerae had turned pitch black. An evil grin stretched across his face as he said a word in a familiar demonic voice.
"...Henshin."
The Cutting Blade came down on its own, slicing open the Blood Orange Lockseed.
[SEIFUKU ARMS!]
Seifuku...meaning conquest.
His desire.
A red-tinted, black tar-like substance oozed out of Nagata's SengokuDriver to completely engulf his body, from head to toe. The ooze then began to morph and change shape before the featureless black layer shattered like glass to reveal the horror hidden underneath.
[DAI AKUMA, SEKAI SEIFUKU!]
Great Devil, World Conquest.
A Great Devil of Conquest.
And what a devil he was.
The armor was black and worn over a matching black bodysuit. The bodysuit had a blood red pattern resembling veins. The chestplate sported jagged red patterns that formed a demonic skull-like visage. Similar plate armor protected the shoulders. Black flaps of armor hung from the belt to protect the thighs and crotch. The helmet was tall and pointed with a blood red version of Gaim's crest on his brow and a blood red visor. The black gauntlets and boots had gold plate armor on the forearms, shins, and toes. A tattered blood red cape with an equally tattered high collar pulled the look together.
The Shoku Warriors could only stare in silence as the horrific transformation took place as Bujin Gaim successfully took over Nagata's body.
Bujin Gaim flexed his clawed fingers and took a moment to appraise his newly acquired body. He liked what his saw. His armor reflected his true nature.
"Finally..."
"Nagata-sama...?" Ryuubi questioned, confused and scared.
"Sorry, but your king isn't here right now," taunted Bujin Gaim.
"What?" Ryuubi gasped.
"He's been possessed!" Iori realized.
"You bastard! Get out of him!" Karasu angrily demanded as she drew her blade.
"I can't do that. In fact, I won't do that. Do you know how long I've waited for this day? I've wanted Gaim's power for as long as I can remember, and now I finally have it. Why would I ever want to give it up?" Bujin Gaim casually responded.
"You got it by bodyjacking him!" Iori snapped.
"Well, why don't you do something about it? Come on, beat me out of him," dared Bujin Gaim. When nobody made a move, he grinned. "Nobody? What's the matter? Afraid of hurting your precious king?"
Kanu's knuckles turned white as her grip tightened on her Green Dragon Crescent Blade, barely containing her rage. The others were angry too but could do nothing.
"Release him this instant!" Kanu ordered.
"Please! Please let him go!" Ryuubi begged.
"Give back Onii-chan!" Chouhi pleaded.
"Now why in the world would I even do that?! Did you people not catch the part where I have finally gotten the power I have so coveted!" Bujin Gaim answered triumphantly.
"So what are you going to do now? Kill us?" Bacho spat.
"I could utterly destroy you all right now," Bujin Gaim said, causing them to tense up and ready themselves for a fight. "But I won't. I'm not interested in crushing a bunch of weak and tired warriors. It would be far too easy and not as enjoyable."
"So you're just going to let us live?" Chou'un questioned.
"Just granting you all some mercy," he answered generously. He snapped his fingers and opened a portal to Helheim Forest.
"Mercy?" Kanu repeated, confused.
"Yes, consider it your reward for showing me such a good time. But it's the only act of mercy you will receive from me, so feel grateful. Once you're all fully rested and recuperated, you can look for me if you want your dear master back. You'll know where to find me." He stepped into the portal and turned to look at them one last time as it began to close. "I'll be waiting."
The portal zipped up and vanished as the Shoku Warriors stood helplessly, unable to stop Bujin Gaim.
The Shoku Warriors were shocked. It was not supposed to end this way. They should be victorious. They should be celebrating. Isn't that how it was meant to be?
"Damn," Iori cursed. "Damn it!"
"Naga-kun..." Karasu was in shock as she shook on the spot, fists clenched and teeth gritted.
Ryuubi fell to her knees in shock before she cried out Nagata's name, "NAGATA-SAMAAAAAA!"
Kanu and Chouhi both knelt down to comfort Ryuubi as they hugged her.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Batai asked.
"We're going to track Bujin Gaim down and get Nagata back. Until then, we need to get some rest. It's been a long night for all of us," Iori answered.
"Aneue, come on. Let's go back," Kanu gently urged her sworn sister.
"I wish Nagata-sama were here," Ryuubi sobbed.
"Me too," concurred Kanu.
Chouhi silently agreed as she teared up alongside her sworn sisters.
"Aisha!"
Kanu's eyes widened when she heard the voice and suddenly stood up. In fact, Ryuubi gasped as Chouhi suddenly stood up as well.
"I heard something! It's Nagata-niichan's voice!" exclaimed Chouhi.
"You must be hearing things," Karasu glared. She wasn't in the mood for jokes, not after what happened to Nagata.
"No, I heard it too," confirmed Ryuubi.
"I as well. I can hear Nagata-sama's voice," Kanu seconded.
"Aisha, Touka, Rinrin! Guys, I'm right here!"
That was when something miraculous happened. Ryuubi, Kanu, and Chouhi could see a humanoid of light approaching them. They weren't the only ones to witness this. The rest of the Shoku Warriors could see it too.
They watched as the light surrounding the humanoid suddenly evaporated, giving way to more human features. Their eyes widened in shock as they saw who it was underneath the light.
It was Nagata Oda.
Nagata smiled at his stunned friends and gave them a two-fingered salute. "Yo."
"EEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHH!? NAGATA-SAMA!?"
They immediately crowded around him, with Chouhi hugging him tightly around the waist.
"You're back!" Chouhi cheered.
Nagata smiled as he patted her head, but then his smile turned upside down as he looked at everyone.
"Naga-kun, is that really you?" Karasu asked. She feared it was a dream.
"Yes, Kara-chan. It's me," Nagata answered.
"But we saw Bujin Gaim take over your body," Iori said suspiciously.
"OK, seriously, what is going on? How can you be here when we just saw that monster take over your body?" Bacho demanded impatiently. She was happy that Nagata was back, but it didn't make sense.
"It's a long story. How about we all head back inside so I can tell you all about it?" Nagata said.
"Yes, I think we all need to hear how you managed to escape from Bujin Gaim," Chou'un said.
The Shoku Warriors headed back to the castle with Nagata to get the full story. A lot had happened tonight, and they really could use a break. They nearly lost Nagata, again.
Once inside the castle, the Shoku Warriors all sat down in the living room. Komei joined them. She asked what had happened and she got the full story of how Bujin Gaim attacked them.
Komei cried out, "Hawawawawawa! You were attacked by Bujin Gaim!?"
Nagata reassured her, "Don't worry, Shuri. We managed to drive him off."
Komei felt relieved, especially since everyone returned alright. But she could still tell that there was something wrong.
Nagata made himself comfortable on the couch as Chouhi sat on his lap. She didn't want to let go of her big brother, not after nearly losing him.
"OK, so what's going on?" Iori asked with his arms crossed. "And we want the truth."
"To make a long story short, what you see right now is just a spirit body," Nagata answered.
"A spirit body?" everyone repeated.
"That's right. Bujin Gaim still has my body. When he took over, my soul ejected itself," Nagata elaborated.
"But that's not possible, is it?" Bacho questioned.
"We've all see it happen before. Don't you all remember when Nagata-sama returned to face Braco?" Kanu reminded.
"Why didn't you try to fight him?" Karasu asked Nagata.
"He got me while my guard was down. I was already weak from using the Ryujin Arms, so I did not have the strength to fight back. I had to abandon ship to save myself," Nagata explained.
Ryofu sniffed Nagata and frowned. He didn't have the smell she loved so much. Being a spirit, he didn't have a scent at all.
"So, Nagata-sama's like a ghost now?" Batai asked. Kanu and Chouhi shuddered at the mention of ghosts.
"Yes, and no," Nagata answered. "I'm still alive. It's just I'm not occupying my body right now."
"That's a weird sentence," Batai remarked.
"Tanpopo, this whole situation is weird," Bacho retorted. "I swear our lives stopped being normal since we met you, Nagata-sama."
"How does it feel?" Chou'un asked.
"Weird," Nagata answered. "Best way I can describe it, it's like I'm in two places at once."
"That probably means you can still feel your body," Iori theorized.
Nagata suddenly flickered, becoming see-through for only a second, surprising everyone.
"What was that?" Bacho asked.
"That happens sometimes," Nagata answered.
"So, how were you able to escape your body?" Iori asked. It sounded like a weird question, but an apt one.
"We can thank this little thing," said Nagata as he held up the Ryujin Key.
"So it was like your ejector seat."
"That's right."
"That's good. At least Bujin Gaim won't have that in his arsenal," said Bacho, shuddering at the thought of their enemy having access to Nagata's strongest form and the powers that came with it.
Karasu took a step forward and looked Nagata in the eye. She gently grasped his cheeks. He felt cold, but he was solid. He wasn't gone. He was still here.
"Naga-kun, I swear we'll get your body back," Karasu vowed.
"We all will," Kanu vowed as well. "We won't let that fiend keep your body."
"Thank you," Nagata said in appreciation. "But now, how about we all get some rest? It's been a long night for all of us."
"Yes, that is a good idea," said Komei. "You've all been through quite the ordeal and will need your rest."
"Nagata-niichan, can I sleep with you tonight?" Chouhi asked. She didn't want to let him go. She was afraid he would vanish.
"Sure, Rinrin," Nagata said to his little sister.
"I would also like to join you," said Kanu.
"Me too!" Ryuubi raised her hand.
"I think Naga-kun would prefer to sleep peacefully," Karasu admonished.
"It's OK, Kara-chan," Nagata said. "Aisha, Touka, you can come sleep with Rinrin and me tonight."
"You know, maybe we should call you 'Kamen Rider Ghost' from now on," Iori joked.
"That's not funny," Karasu disapproved.
"Um, Nagata-sama, would it be alright if I asked you a few questions about your current condition?" Komei asked. "Not right now, of course. Perhaps, later?"
"Sure," Nagata promised.
Kanu, Chouhi, and Ryuubi were all headed to Nagata's room. They were dressed for bed, and feeling refreshed after a nice warm bath. Kanu was glad she got most of the gunk out of her hair. She spent hours cleaning her hair and due to its length she needed help from Ryuubi. She managed to nearly deplete all the soap trying to get the smell out.
Their clothes were also stained and trying to get the stains out was a huge hassle resulting in the girls having to dispose of all their clothes. They decided just to burn the clothes as they just couldn't be cleaned anymore. They were just too unclean.
The streets outside would require a thorough cleaning since there were still patches of Bujin Gaim's dark blood scattered all over the village. It would be a very tough job to clean it all up, but it needed to be done.
"Is something wrong, Aisha?" Ryuubi asked Kanu.
"I just have mixed feelings about Nagata-sama's condition," answered Kanu. "On one hand, we didn't lose him this time. On the other hand, he's a..." Kanu shuddered, "A ghost."
"You mean a spirit," Ryuubi corrected. "He's not dead yet. He's just not in his body right now. Wow, that's a weird thing to say now that I think about it."
"Well, our lives have never really been normal since we met Nagata-sama," replied Kanu.
"Ne, ne, ne! Wasn't it cool how we transformed like that?" Chouhi reminded, changing the subject. "I didn't know we could do that!"
"That's because it was Nagata-sama who gave us that power," replied Kanu.
"I wonder if we can do it again," Ryuubi said thoughtfully. She then noticed something on Kanu's ear. "Aisha, where did you get that earring?"
"What earring?" Kanu reached up and touched her ear where the magatama was. "Huh? Where did this come from?"
"Touka-neechan, you have one too!" Chouhi realized.
"And you as well," pointed Ryuubi. "But how?"
Kanu smiled in realization.
"Perhaps that power can be regained after all."
Ryuubi nodded, but then her expression turned somber.
"Nagata-sama seemed very down after Nanamomo-san died."
"Of course. While Nanamomo-dono was a Rinrinshi, she proved herself to be a friend and sacrificed herself to try and protect Nagata-sama. It's just unfortunate that her death was in vain," Kanu replied sympathetically.
"Nagata-niichan's going to hold another funeral again, isn't he?" Chouhi asked.
"He will," Kanu confirmed. Nagata would always hold a funeral for those who have fallen either in the line of duty or battle. He even presided over the funerals for the innocents who were killed by their enemies. It wasn't one of his favorite duties, but it was still one of his responsibilities.
Nagata was alone in his room. He sat on his bed, looking at his hands. It felt odd. He was corporeal, but he was also a spirit living without a body. It was a strange existence.
He had no heartbeat, no pulse; he also wouldn't need to breathe or eat.
They managed to survive another night. It was a small victory since Bujin Gaim withdrew, but it wasn't an actual win either.
People had died, including someone Nagata had recently accepted as a friend. It just didn't seem fair, but life was rarely fair at all. It could be cruel, and he just had to accept it.
He hated the feeling that came from losing a friend. It was a painful experience. He nearly lost Iori and Karasu tonight. He was lucky that they survived. However, Nanamomo still lost her life even after he promised to protect her.
Nanamomo's death reminded him that he could lose his friends and the girls he loved. They could die at any moment, especially in these dangerous times. As warriors, they faced death on the battlefield, with each battle possibly being their last. He didn't want to lose any of his loved ones. He wouldn't know what to do if any of them died.
Before Nanamomo died, she left a message for him. She left it in Kada's clinic after she broke out of the barrier. It was Kada who delivered the message to Nagata on a sheet of paper.
"The RinJyuDen is located above Mt. Tai."
The information matched Masataka's findings and the evidence he gained from tracking the RinJyuKen's movements. They now had an exact location. The RinJyuKen Akugata's base was on the peak of Mt. Tai. Nanamomo had kept her promise after all. Nagata immediately shared this information with the rest of the Alliance, including what he knew of their plans to revive their leader, Dai Shi.
Who was Dai Shi? They would need to do research on him. Perhaps there was information about him in the Imperial library. Komei said that the library remained mostly untouched by the fire and they managed to salvage books, which were divided among the factions equally. If they could learn anything about who he was, maybe they could find a weakness.
Nagata was surprised when he learned that the RinJyuKen Akugata could travel back in time, but it looked like it was a one-time deal. They had enough knowledge of this era to manipulate events in their favor, but the presence of himself and the other Armored War Gods had changed things, forcing them to modify their plans due to unexpected variables.
It wasn't just Nanamomo's death that weighed heavily on his mind. It was her last words as she crumbled to dust in his arms.
His pondering was interrupted when he heard a knock on his door.
"It's open," Nagata answered, and Iori entered.
"Nagata, can we talk?" Iori asked, oddly nervous.
"Sure, Iori," Nagata replied as he moved from his bed and onto the couch with Iori joining him. Whatever Iori wanted to talk about seemed to be important. With how Iori's eyes darted around, it seemed he was reluctant to talk about it.
"So, how are you doing?" Iori asked.
"Well, my body was taken by a psychopath, and I'm a ghost," Nagata answered bluntly. "We all need time to adjust until we get my body back."
"Right, because you're a ghost right now."
"Spirit," Nagata corrected. "I've also been doing some deep thinking."
"What have you been thinking about?" Iori asked.
"You ever wondered what you would do if you returned from the dead?"
"That's a strange question to ask."
"I'm technically a ghost right now. Just humor me," Nagata requested.
"I guess I'd look for my loved ones to check up on them," Iori stated.
"And what if everything and everyone you knew was gone?" Nagata questioned further.
"Nagata, what is this about exactly?" Iori asked worriedly.
"It's about Nanamomo. I mean, she just woke up one day in her own grave. Everything was different for her. She was in a strange new world. That must not have been easy for her to accept," Nagata said. "Yet, she was still able to move on and tried to live how she wanted to, even when she was a Rinrinshi. Sure, she chose to live a life of hedonism and decadence but sought to do the right thing in the end."
"She really was an odd one," Iori mused.
"She was, and I hope she's in a much better place now. Then we have Bujin Gaim. He claims he isn't Nise, but it was Nise's hatred that created him. I know emotions can be a powerful thing, but I never realized they could be powerful enough to tether someone's soul to this world and stop them from moving on. I also never thought they could corrupt someone's soul so far that they turned into something inhuman."
Iori grimaced once Nagata mentioned Nise and Bujin Gaim. He came here not just to talk, but also to confess.
"Nagata, there's something I need to get off my chest. It's about what happened, and to an extent about Nise."
Nagata frowned as he waited for Iori to elaborate. He was wondering what had happened to Nise since they last saw him. His transformation into a demonic being, while claiming he was not the imposter, made Nagata wonder if the RinJyuKen were somehow involved. They were, after all, undead beings so raising somebody from the dead would not be beyond their capabilities.
"I was the one who killed Nise," Iori confessed.
There was a pregnant pause before Nagata responded.
"I would say I am surprised, but I'm not." Everyone Nise ever wronged had a motive, including Iori. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"I just...I didn't want anyone to know," Iori answered with a bit of shame.
"You were ashamed," Nagata concluded. "You didn't want us to think you were capable of cold-blooded murder."
"How did you-?" Iori started but was interrupted.
"Because if you had killed him in battle, you wouldn't have felt so ashamed," Nagata deduced. "How did it happen?"
"I blew his brains out while he was down," Iori answered bluntly.
"I see. I guess you were in the same position that I was. You just decided to pull the trigger."
"Nagata, I'm sorry!" Iori apologized. "Because of me, your body got stolen!"
"Don't apologize. What's done is done. You did something I could only dream of doing myself. It scares me that I wanted to do something terrible like that, even if it was to Nise, and I understand how you must feel. Still, you only did what you thought was right, and I can't be mad at you for that."
"But you still lost your body," Iori said with regret.
"We'll get it back," Nagata said hopefully.
Iori couldn't understand why Nagata wasn't angry at him. He just lost something precious! He should be furious! He should be yelling at Iori for causing this mess!
"How can you not be upset about losing your body!?" Iori demanded.
"Will getting upset get my body back?" Nagata retorted. "It won't, so you shouldn't beat yourself up over this."
"But everything that happened tonight could have been avoided if I hadn't killed Nise in the first place!"
"We can't always foresee the consequences of our actions, especially when blinded by rage. You did not know it would happen. I just hope this experience teaches you to demonstrate better judgment in the future. Actions do have consequences," Nagata advised.
That was some pretty good wisdom. It was a good thing Nagata had a good teacher. He also read some good books.
"Tell me about it..." Iori mumbled. "I just never thought I would ever feel guilty for killing that scumbag."
"Have you told this to Shion?" Nagata asked.
"No, I haven't," Iori admitted as he hung his head.
"You should, but that is up to you. I promise I won't tell," Nagata smiled.
The door opened, and Chouhi exclaimed, "Nagata-niichan, we're ready for bed!" Kanu and Ryuubi stood behind her, all of them carrying pillows.
"Well, guess this is goodnight, then," said Iori as he headed for the door, letting the girls walk past him. "See you all in the morning."
The next day, a funeral took place. The ceremony was a depressing affair. Many innocent people had died on the night of Bujin Gaim's rampage, and their families would mourn them. Some homes ended up destroyed as well. Fortunately, homes could be rebuilt. However, lives could not.
Nagata planted a grave marker for Nanamomo even if there was nothing to bury. He also put down a plate of egg rolls and a piping hot bowl of katsudon as offerings. He had promised to make them for her before she died, and he wasn't going to break that promise. While they had not known each other long, Nagata would miss her. After all, she was his first Rinrinshi friend.
"Iori, do you ever think about what will happen to us when we die?" Nagata asked his friend.
"Can't say I do, at least not all the time," Iori answered.
"I do, but I think more about the people I leave behind once I pass on."
Funerals were sobering. They reminded people of their mortality.
"Nagata-sama, will you be alright?" Ryuubi asked worriedly.
"I will be, I guess," Nagata answered, not feeling so sure. "If the situation had been different, I think we might've become good friends."
"I believe that too," Kanu agreed. "She sacrificed herself for you. Perhaps there is a possibility that not all Rinrinshi are evil. Perhaps there are more who are just as honorable as she was. Perhaps there is a chance for peace."
"I owe her my life," Nagata nodded. "We need to end this before even more innocent people are killed."
"And we'll support you," Ryuubi vowed. The others shared her promise.
Nagata smiled softly at Ryuubi and the others.
"Thank you."
As Nagata continued to pay his respects while dwelling on his current existence, he also pondered Nanamomo's last words to him.
"There is a traitor among you."
KRC: What a twist! I mean, typically, after such an epic beatdown the enemy stays down for good. They gave Bujin Gaim everything they got. It seemed that victory was assured, but Bujin Gaim still had one last trick up his sleeve and obtained his victory from what looked like a total defeat. Of course, Nagata once more escaped from a terrible fate, and now everyone has to work hard to get his body back. Thank goodness for the Ryujin Key.
Honestly, this chapter had a different ending in the earlier drafts, but I actually like this version of events. It allows me to use the 'spirit body' deus ex machina that I did early on in the season. Now, Nagata has become like Takeru. He's not really dead, but he's not alive either.
I hope I've redeemed Bujin Gaim's portrayal. When I had Nise don the armor, I was actually going for an ironic twist there. Sadly, I failed since it made Bujin Gaim look like a chump and a wimp. And while Bujin Gaim once more went down with a bang, he's not going anywhere. I'm going to do my best to make him memorable as a threat and enemy. By the way, "Seifuku" translates to "Conquest". It fits since Bujin Gaim was an allusion to one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, either Famine or Conquest. I decided to include those aspects with him craving power and conquest.
I'd also like to think that this was Bujin Gaim's most terrifying portrayal yet. Nise has always been a very tenacious character. While he would flee like a coward once the odds were against him, his tenacity would always convince him to come back for more and face his enemies. This determination was carried over to this version of Bujin Gaim. He didn't call himself 'Bloody Gaim' either, which was probably done to distance himself further from his weak former self. However, it was this tenacity that finally led to Bujin Gaim's downfall. Even when outmatched, he still tried to fight. Though, his near-invulnerability and resistance to attacks are probably factors that convinced him he could win despite the odds rising against him. While he went out with a bang, he still had one last trick to assure him his survival and victory.
Nanamomo's one of my favorite recurring characters. While she didn't do a whole lot in any of her appearances, but when she does appear it's always fun. She's one of the most neutral Rinrinshi I ever made. A complete pacifist initially, but she shows here that she can really put up a fight. Sadly, I had to kill her off. However, she did manage to leave a lasting impact on Nagata. Her 'Slowdown' ability is similar to the 'Density Shift' used by Roidmudes. Everything slows down around her. Anyone caught in her 'Slowdown Field' just sees her moving at super speed due to the altered perception. This is the reason why Bujin Gaim wanted her power. It's a shame he had to laugh at her death. He just pushed Nagata's berserk button. Another addition I added was Ryujin Gaim's new attack where he throws his helmet crest like a boomerang. I'd like to call that the Blade Slugger, like Ultraseven's own Eye Slugger.
Also, the debut of a new power up for the girls. Ryuubi, Kanu, and Chouhi were just given access to new armor and powers, upgraded by Nagata and his Ryujin Key. Just what else can this item do and how much more powerful have the girls become? Anyway, I just want to explain that the girls' armor is based on their SD Gundam counterparts. If you watch SD Gundam BBW, you know what I mean.
TFP: Well, I'd like to call this one the Epic Showdown (TM) for the chapter. We see Nagata pull out all of the stops to win. Bujin Gaim really didn't want to go down. Even when all of his power was whittled down to just his Lockseed, he still wouldn't quit. That's a tenacity only a demon could really have. And so everyone begins to rest and recover from Bujin Gaim's attack. Iori confesses to what he did, and Nagata reflects on the information he has been given. Things are going deeper than he feared. Still, when will it end? Can these conflicts go on forever? Can Nagata stop it, or will he be swept along with the tide?
BL92: Okay, now that's what I called an Ultimate Epic Showdown for the chapter, and once again Nagata saved the day as usual. But unfortunately, that Neasel just doesn't know when to quit and to make matters worse, he possessed Nagata's body. Will Nagata get his body back or remain a ghost forever? Let's just hope Nagata will win and get his body back in the next chapter. Oh, and one more thing for Bujin Gaim: BOO! I HATE THAT GUY! HE SMELLS LIKE A ROTTEN FRUIT SO DIE ALREADY YOU MISERABLE YELLOW-BELLIED WEASEL! Oh, and one other thing for Neasel in the underworld: *BLEEP* YOU AND GO SCREW YOURSELF WITH A SCREWDRIVER NEASEL! Hehe yeah, that's better.
Bujin Gaim sat upon the throne within the Helheim Forest ruins. He found this place by accident while wandering the forest. The Inves that occupied the place had cleared out upon his arrival. They understood that messing with him was a bad idea.
As he sat on his new throne, Bujin Gaim mused on his victory. He recalled the failures of his former self and the constant humiliation that followed. That was all in the past. He finally got what he wanted. He finally defeated Nagata Oda, taking his body and his power for himself. He was one step closer to getting everything he wanted.
There was sure to be obstacles to his ambition, but he was the victor now, and the world would soon be his.
It was his DESTINY.
AWG CHIBI OMAKE #11C: WELCOME TO HELL, NEASEL
"Ugh..." Nise groaned. "Where am I?"
"Welcome to Hell, you weasel-faced bastard," Horse-Face glowered at him.
"Enjoy your stay. You're going to be here for eternity," added Ox-Head with a sadistic grin.
"What!?" Nise cried as he backed away from the two underworld guardians. "I can't be in Hell! I have so much to do!"
"Now you have much to do here!" Ox-Head picked Nise up.
"Let me go! Let me go! Unhand me!" yelled Nise as he struggled in his captor's grip.
"Don't forget this," Horse-Face hung a wooden board on Nise's neck.
"What is this?" Nise demanded.
"Your new name, 'Neasel'," Horse-Face grinned.
"What!?" the newly dubbed Neasel gasped.
"Now, enjoy your new home," Horse-Face grinned sadistically as he pointed at a pit. Ox-Head threw Neasel inside the pit.
"And don't worry! We made sure you had company!" Ox-Head yelled down the hole.
"Wait, are those tentacles!? Get away! Get away! GET AWAAAAAYYYYY!" Neasel shrieked like a little girl.
"What a weasel," scoffed Horse-Face.
"Don't you mean 'Neasel'?" Ox-Head joked.
"Hah! Good one!" Horse-Head laughed.
AWG CHIBI OMAKE #11D: BRUSA LI'S WISDOM #2
"I must go help my friends! They need me!" exclaimed Kanu as she was about to head into battle.
"YOUNG WARRIOR!" Brusa Li called out, stopping Kanu. "Wait! Before you go into battle, allow me to offer you words of wisdom and advice! When the dog pees on your carpet, the food in the kitchen will be spoiled."
There was a moment of awkward silent as Kanu attempted to process Brusa Li's words.
"...Forgive me, elder, but are you lost? Do you need me to help you find your family?" Kanu asked, concerned for the strange, senile old man.
"Kanu-dono, have you seen-!" Kada suddenly stopped as he found Brusa Li. "Brusa-sennin, there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
"Is he your friend, Kada-sensei?" Kanu asked.
"There you are!" Brusa Li snapped at Kada. "Now, where's my soup!?"
Kada sighed and took Brusa Li's hand.
"Unfortunately yes. Come on, Brusa-sennin."
Kanu watched them go before she headed into battle.
"Remember, young warrior! Before you shoot an arrow, make sure the dogs' tails are wagging in the air!" Brusa Li shouted.
Kada sighed again.
"You need to stay off the herbs, Brusa-sennin."
AWG CHIBI OMAKE #11E: KARA-CHAN, DO THE THING
Karasu and Nagata were in the middle of a forest clearing, surrounded by a gang of bandits.
"Alright, hand over all your valuables, and we'll let you go," a bandit demanded.
"Kara-chan," Nagata addressed his cousin.
"Do the thing?" she asked as she started to draw her sword.
"Do the thing," Nagata confirmed.
Karasu's lips instantly spread into a cruel smile.
Like a whirlwind of death, Karasu brutally tore the bandits apart. They screamed as blood, guts, and limbs spilled on the ground.
As a head rolled by, Karasu sheathed her sword and sighed. Suddenly, she blushed as she felt Nagata cup her chin and raise her face.
"Kara-chan, you got some on your face," Nagata said as he gently wiped away the blood on her face with a handkerchief. "There, all better. Now, come on. We should be able to reach the next town before sundown if we stay on this path."
Karasu felt her cheeks heat up and smiled as she happily followed her cousin out of the forest.