DISCLAIMER: The following story is based on fanfiction.Kamen Rider Zi-O, and the Kamen Rider series in general are properties of TOEI, TV-Asahi, and Ishinomori Productions. Soul Calibur is property of Project Soul and Bandai Namco. The Witcher series is property of Andrezj Sapkowski and CD Projekt Red. Metroid, Samus Aran, and all likeness are properties of Nintendo. Ultraman Orb, and the Ultra Series in general are property of Tsuburaya Productions and TV-Tokyo.
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In memory of Stanley Martin Lieber, also known as Stan Lee
(December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018)
Ep. 021: Aval Organization ~A.D. 1584~ [アヴァル機関 〜1584年〜/Abaru kikan ~1584-nen〜]
WARNING: This chapter contains scenes of blood, bloodshed, and body horror. Viewer discretion is advised!
"Transcending history and the world, a tale of souls and souls, once again eternally retold..."
(*Opening: "Gimmick Zone" by Hiroyuki Takami of access*)
[~Sobieru machi ga sakebu kage wo~] (In a strewn city of echoing shadows)
[~Atsumete yami o tsukisasu~] (Scattering and piercing the darkness)
[~Kouritsuku kiseki no kakera wo~] (A dream wanders in search)
[~Motomete yume ga samayou~] (Of a frozen miracle sword)
[~Tozasa rete ku yoru wo~] (The night that is being shut down)
[~Terasu tsuki ni soreta~] (Losing sight of the illuminating moon)
[~Kieta ashita ga irodoru~] (I will catch the afterimage)
[~Zanzou o tsukamae ni yuku~] (That the disappearing tomorrow is colored)
[~Sen kira reta setsuna wo kizu-goto saratte~] (I scoffed a scar with every moment passed)
[~Yobisamasu negai wa eien no senritsu~] (Hope is eternal melody that evokes)
[~Nidoto wa modosenai kiseki wo koete ku~] (Going beyond miracles that can never be returned)
[~Yami o saku hikari o nusumidase~] (Take the light that splits the darkness)
[~Break out, Gimmick Zone!~]
A.D. 1584
(1584年)
This is the third time Taki has met Gai. And, first in the case of Geiz. It seems Gai is curious to investigate about the Azure Knight's rampage, despite the fact that he revealed to the two time travelers that he has lived over a thousands of years due to his extraterrestrial origin.
Like those who stumble into the fight for the cursed sword, whether by coincidence or fate, it seems that said its that warriors will not hold back the moment they encounter worthy opponents.
Speaking of which, the next thing Taki and Geiz must focus into is the Aval Organization.
A.D. 1583
(1583年)
The Aval Organization is something of a legend...
Long ago, the king of a knightly order took up the spirit sword to confront the wielder of the cursed sword. Lurking in the shadows of history, the secret society has persisted through the ages.
Their mission has been to find the lost spirit sword and bestow upon it to their future king, while preventing those that they call "Outsiders" from wreaking havoc upon the world.
Grøh, a young man blessed with a cool head and magnificent fighting skills, became the leader of the organization's punitive force.
They sent him on a mission to hunt down and kill the wreaker of chaos, the Azure Knight. However, his entire force was destroyed, and he was dealt a nearly mortal wound.
With him the last remaining of his punitive force, Grøh has just found himself at the mercy of the Azure Knight, Nightmare.
The dark knight mocks the weakness of the warrior, "You are so fragile...so weak..."
"Damn you, outsider!", Grøh couldn't help grit his teeth realizing the state of hopelessness he is in.
"Submit your soul to me..."
"Never... You have not defeated me yet!", Grøh angrily charges at Nightmare, but his efforts were futile...
As Grøh blacked out after being defeated by the Azure Knight, he began to hear voices from within...
"Am I...dead?", he thought to himself.
"Kill... Kill... Kill anyone still alive...", the mysterious voice began to speak to him.
"Huh...? My soul... It is being taken over..."
Meanwhile, having woke up at the Aval Organization's headquarters, it appears that Grøh is losing control of himself - his hair just turned blood red with white highlights and his eyes began to glow in a malevolent red.
One of the organization's members, Azwel, observed this. It seems that Grøh is now part Malfested, or what the organization referred to the corrupted creatures as Outsiders.
"Hm... He's being consumed by an evil force. There is no use in letting him live as a hideous monster.", Azwel laments in seeing Grøh's humanity being slowly eaten away. "Perhaps I could kill two birds by having him fight that outsider I already experimented on. He's being held around front."
As what Azwel set up, he has Grøh fight the Malfested knight he just experimented on. Upon his observation, while in this state, Grøh goes in a feral state where he ruthlessly takes his opponent in a more vicious fashion. The warrior manages to kill said Malfested without second thought.
After the battle, Grøh returned to his senses, but is surprised when Azwel is observing him.
"Azwel...why are you here...?", he grumbled.
"Bravo! Magnificent! You've done well to return to your senses!", Azwel commends the young man's determination to overcome his enraged state. "Dear Grøh, you fascinate me!"
Grøh recalls the fateful battle against Nightmare to the anthropologist, "I was battling the Azure Knight..."
Azwel backed up the facts, "And you failed. Without my aid, you would be dead now."
"What of the Azure Knight?"
"I could not defeat him. It took my all simply to bring you back with me.", Azwel continued, "He's a malevolent king, and wields the cursed sword. It would have not ended well for me."
"Blast! Could we assemble a new punitive force?", Grøh asks one more opportunity to hunt down Nightmare.
"You wish to challenge him again?! So loyal to the organization and the cause!", Azwel is impressed by the young man's desire to kill the Azure Knight. "The extermination of outsiders, indeed! Sacrificing everything - even your life - to achieve the organization's objective!", then bringing up Grøh's history, "Is it because of the hatred you bear for the outsiders?! Those fiends who took your friends, family, and home!"
"They are evil... All outsiders must perish. The deaths of my brothers shall not be in vain.", Grøh makes a vow that all outsiders will be sentenced to death by his hands.
"Of course! How could it be otherwise? That's who you are!", Azwel is touched by Grøh's rhetoric. "And so you must be cursed by fate! Oh, the tragedy - the drama is palpable!"
That's when Grøh finally realized what happened to him during the fight against Nightmare. "What do you mean...? Ngh... My arm...!", the swordsman felt the sudden pain on his left arm.
"Have you not realized of what has become of you yet?", Azwel continued.
"No... It cannot be...", Grøh couldn't bear to accept the fact that he's cursed with the power of Soul Edge.
Azwel even enjoyed seeing the young man's sorrow and pain, "It can and it is! Your body is now partly infected by the power of the outsiders you so despised!"
"But-"
"Tell me, how does it feel having within you the very same power that robbed you of all you hold dear?"
"Me...? An outsider...?", Grøh couldn't carry the weight of the curse in his body, and it serves as a reminder that he becomes the very monster he seeks to destroy.
"Such despair, yet such hatred, too! But fear not.", Azwel comes up an idea to help Grøh with his malfestation. "If you had lost your senses and been consumed by the monster within, I've disposed of you but that did not happen! You are not the fiend you think you are! You are still human...for now!"
Even with Azwel's reassurance that Grøh still has his humanity, the latter isn't too happy about it.
Azwel continued, "You wish to die, though your life is saved? Well, that certainly aligns with the organization's belief of eradicating outsiders, those who've rejected humanity. And as such, you should die!", and reminds to the young warrior that his curse is actually a blessing in disguise. "But why not see this as an opportunity? The great power you've gained will aid your mission to fulfill that belief."
Grøh is skeptical with that idea, knowing that the organization will discover that he has become a Malfested, or in his point of view, an Outsider.
"You think I should use this power, though it is a sin even for me to be alive? What foolishness. Such an act would betray the very organization I serve."
"But you could use that power to give you the strength you need to defeat the Azure Knight. Is that not so?", Azwel insisted.
"...What is this?", Grøh notices the new armor covering his right arm.
"A gift.", replied Azwel. "I modified it to help suppress the evil within you. It should ease your burden at least a little." The modifications in Grøh's new armor will serve as an exchange of silence to make sure the other Aval members don't find out about what happened to him. "Of course, in the end what you decide to do is up to you. But fear not, I shall not report anything to the organization."
"You have done too much for me.", Grøh thanked the anthropologist. But he's not too happy about it to say the least.
To which Azwel replies, "Not at all! I love humans, especially ones such as yourself, who are tossed about by emotion and reason."
As part of a deal by Azwel, the alchemist/anthropologist decide to keep Grøh's Malfestation a secret. And for that matter, Grøh decided not to let that evil power inside him corrupt his soul, knowing the fact that he sustained a near-mortal wound while fighting Nightmare.
A.D. 1584
(1584年)
Going back a year later, Gai traveled along with Geiz and Taki to investigate about the Aval Organization. Along the way, they encountered bandits who attempt to attack them. But, Geiz was merciless enough to teach them a lesson, usually by singlehandedly killing them one by one.
Taki and Gai are shocked and horrified at the young man's murderous tendencies. This is more likely that the experience he had in his future where it was ruled by the demon king, Oma Zi-O. Each time Geiz experiences the nightmares as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder, there are chances he could lose control of himself.
"Geiz...", Taki muttered quietly seeing Geiz seething after he just killed the ruffians that attacked moments ago. It seems that everything that happened when Oma Zi-O rose to power seems to have an effect on his sanity, to the point he will go in lengths, determined to kill Sougo before he becomes the demon king who has the whole world in the palm of his hands. And even he would go back further into the past to seek after Soul Calibur.
Gai played that familiar melody from his Orbnica, it calmed Geiz from his outburst earlier. It appears that the melody played from the explorer's signature harmonica can even calm those lose control of one's actions. In addition, the melody appears to be ear-splitting to any Malfested who hear it.
"I hope you returned to your senses, boy.", said Gai.
Geiz finally calmed down. It was that he revealed that each time that he suffers PTSD as the result of the experiences of losing his comrades during the rebellion against Oma Zi-O, the only thing Geiz can do is vent his frustration on anyone unfortunate enough who get in his way. The Another Wizard and Another OOO incidents was a reminder that Sougo was taking advantage of his cynical behavior to get him do what the boy wants. That's why Geiz is desperate to obtain Soul Calibur and use the sword to kill Sougo, no less.
"This is why you're letting your emotions cloud your judgment.", Taki once again points out Geiz's fatal flaw. "Each time you think about almost everything related to Oma Zi-O, you're prone to let out these unsettling outbursts. Could you at least maintain control of yourself?"
"What's it to you?", Geiz answers back. "Don't you know what it's like to experience the traumas that I have been through...? That blasted demon king took everything away I hold dear... I will do whatever it takes to change the future, even if I have the spirit sword in my hands and kill Tokiwa Sougo with it! I will make him atone for the sins he has done."
"Geiz...", Taki sighed, but still is concerned of the young man because of his desperation to make sure Sougo doesn't become the overlord Oma Zi-O. Yet again, he is desperate to find Soul Calibur to use as an equalizer against Sougo. Geiz also believes that like Soul Edge, Soul Calibur is an undeniably powerful weapon. But, only those who have an indomitable will, pure heart, and a strong sense of justice are those worthy to wield the sword. And Geiz obviously lacks the first two characteristics.
"I will obtain Soul Calibur and use it to kill him [Sougo]; for the sake of changing the future.", Geiz makes it clear that he will have Soul Calibur.
As Geiz went on to find the Aval Organization's base, Gai then asks for the two blank Ridewatches on Taki's Triwatch Holder.
Gai takes out his Orb Ring and infused the Light of Orb into the two blank Ridewatches, thus creating two Ridewatches bearing Orb's likenesses - one is Specium Zepellion's Ridewatch and the other for Orb Origin.
"But how...? A Ridewatch with a power of an Ultraman?", Taki shook her head.
"I've seen how you and that young boy used the power of those watches.", Gai replied. "Perhaps I will lend you the power of Orb's light." Then, the explorer presented another Ridewatch, "I have another one, this is from a man named Zasalamel.", the Ridewatch is revealed to bear the likeness of another Ultra - Ultraseven.
So far, Taki has received three Ridewatches that have the power of Ultramen - two with the powers of Ultraman Orb Specium Zepellion and Orb Origin, and the third being Ultraseven.
Gai assures that the Ultra watches will help Taki in her quest. As they moved along to find the Aval Organization's base. They were blocked by a mysterious person whose identity is hidden by her hood and cloak.
"Who are you?", Geiz confronts the mysterious person.
The hooded person replied eerily, "You should have never come here.", then took out his/her weapon called the Shoukan Buster.
The hooded person is revealed to be the same summoner who sent out Demaaga earlier. To Geiz's surprise, he notices that the summoner took out a Ridewatch, bearing the likeness of Kamen Rider Rogue.
*(Digital beeping) Rogue!*
The Rogue Ridewatch is loaded in the Shoukan Buster, the summoner fired the weapon, summoning a copy of Kamen Rider Rogue.
If that wasn't enough, the summoner took another Ridewatch, this time bearing the likeness of Kamen Rider Snipe.
*(Digital beeping) Snipe!*
After the Snipe watch is loaded on the weapon, the Shoukan Buster's trigger is pulled, releasing a copy of Kamen Rider Snipe.
Last but not the least, he/she took out another Ridewatch, which bears the likeness of a purple scorpion Rider.
*(Digital beeping) Sasword!*
After firing the Shoukan Buster, a copy of Kamen Rider Sasword is released.
"He summoned Kamen Riders from Ridewatches as his puppets?!", Taki exclaimed.
Turns out that the mysterious summoner not only has Ridewatches, it's revealed that he/she has Ultra Ridewatches - on the left Ridewatch holder has the watches of Ultraman Belial and Ultraman Geed (Primitive) - and Kaijuwatches - on the right Ridewatch holder, the summoner has two Kaijuwatches - Demaaga and Galactron. That means, the mysterious summoner's presence signals a dangerous threat Taki has to face.
"You have been warned. Leave this timeline at once.", the mysterious summoner gives another eerie warning before escaping. As the Riders he/she summoned are left to do his/her dirty work by dealing with the interlopers from the future.
The summoned Kamen Riders Sasword, Snipe, and Rogue attack Gai, Geiz, and Taki. Geiz quickly takes out his Zikuu-Driver, with the Geiz Ridewatch already inserted on the right side. He takes out the Genm Ridewatch, and inserted it on the left. Geiz then unlocks the belt, and chanted "Henshin!" and spun the driver.
*Armor Time! [Rider Gashat voice] Level up! [Ridewatch voice #2] GENM~!*
Afterwards, Taki has the three Ridewatches - Huntress, G7 Icarus XYZ, and G7 Type-S loaded on the Triwatch Holder and used the Galaxy Riser to activate Galaxy Fusion.
Followed by Gai scanning the Ultra Fusion cards of Ultraman Jack and Ultraman Zero, and by doing so he activates Fusion Up, taking the form of Ultraman Orb Hurricane Slash. Instead of going giant, Orb stays in human size to fight alongside Taki and Geiz.
*[Orb Ring voice] Ultraman Orb: Hurricane Slash!*
"I cut down darkness faster than the speed of light!", Orb declared as he summoned the Orb Sluggers from the two crests on his forehead. The blades of light then form a spiraling barrier where it summons the Orb Slugger Lance.
Mayhem instantly erupts as Taki, Geiz, and Ultraman Orb fight the summoned Riders sent out by the mysterious summoner. Geiz takes on the copy of Rogue, Taki takes on Snipe, while Orb focuses on Sasword.
From a distance, a swordsman in black witnesses the battle from afar. The swordsman wielding a double saber is revealed to be none other than Grøh.
"Outsider detected. Preparing to eliminate threat.", the swordsman muttered as he has eyes on his targets.
It was only a matter of time Taki, Geiz, and Orb managed to gain the upper hand this time as they managed to wear down the summoned puppets.
*Finish Time! Genm!*
Geiz then pressed the Ridewatches inserted on his Driver before unlocking the belt and spin it at 360 degrees.
*Finish Time!*
Taki then uses the Ultraseven watch and inserted it in the Ryuuseimaru in Nitouryuu mode. And by doing so, the blades begin floating and wait for the wielder's command.
Orb proceeds to pull the Orb Slugger Lance's Gear Level three times, he then proceeds to charge at Sasword to unleash a Trident Slash attack.
*Critical Time Burst!*
Geiz then manifests a Trick Flywheel from Sports Gamer and hurls it on Rogue.
*Ultraseven Rengeki Strike!*
Taki directs the energy into Ryuuseimaru's separate blades in a way Ultraseven does his Ultra Knock Tactic with the Eye Slugger, his crest weapon. The two blades are launched towards Snipe, and the blades slash the summoned Kamen Rider in different directions.
The summoned Kamen Riders are defeated, and they were nothing more but empty shells as they were under the mysterious summoner's control. Apparently, it was a sweet victory. But, the celebration is interrupted when the trio are confronted by a warrior from the Aval Organization...
"Stop right there, outsiders.", Grøh confronts the three while wielding his double blade.
Ridewatches count:
-Taki:
Ridewatches: 10 (G7 Icarus XYZ EX-Strike Armor, G7 Icarus XYZ Archangel Kerberos, G7 Type-S, Grease, Huntress Creator Gamer, Jiraiya, Rewind, Bike, Phone, Unknown Ridewatch)
Ultra Ridewatches: 3 (Ultraman Orb Specium Zepellion, Ultraman Orb Orb Origin, Ultraseven)
-Zi-O: 10 (Zi-O, Build, Ex-Aid, Fourze, OOO, Kiva, Kabuto, Ryuki, Bike, Phone)
-Geiz: 10 (Geiz, Cross-Z, Genm, Ghost, Drive, Wizard, OOO Tajadol Combo, Faiz, Bike, Phone)
-Tsukuyomi: 1 (Phone)
-Fubuki: 3 (Fuin, Phone (x2))
-Mysterious summoner:
Ridewatch: 3 (Rogue, Snipe, Sasword)
Kaijuwatch: 2 (Demaaga, Galactron)
Ultra Ridewatch: 2 (Ultraman Belial, Ultraman Geed Primitive)
Days left before the seal in the Unknown Ridewatch is broken: 32.
Ridewatch Profiles
Gai: It's time for the Ridewatch Profiles!We're going to show you the Ridewatch of this chapter! (Takes out the Ultraman Orb Ultra Ridewatch, rotated the dial and pressed its activation button.)
Ridewatch voice: (Digital beeping) Ultraman Orb: Specium Zepellion!
Gai: Ultraman Orb Specium Zepellion. By using the Ultra Fusion Cards of Ultraman-san and Tiga-san to fusion up into Orb's basic form. In this form, Orb lights the darkness to strike evil! Tune in next time, everyone!
On the next episode...
(次回挿話)
The mysterious summoner's words that echoed on Taki and Geiz saying "You should have never came here.". What does it mean? Yet again, the summoner's identity is still a mystery but why is she trying to prevent Taki from progressing in her mission?
In order to learn more about the spirit sword, Taki and Geiz meet the swordsman named Grøh. But, before they can attain that, Grøh must challenge Geiz to prove his worth.
Next time on Taki Gaiden, Episode 22: The Agent in Black ~A.D. 1584~.
Author's Note:
This chapter pays tribute to the very face of the Marvel comic book franchise, and the entire comic book industry as a whole, Stan Lee. He passed away last night at the age of 95. No wonder, he lived long to see how the heroes he created have reached the peak of their time. Godspeed and Excelsior, Stan! You really made my childhood meaningful with heroes like Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, Spidey, and the X-Men.
Not only the mysterious summoner has Ridewatches and Kaijuwatches, he/she actually watches with the powers of Ultramen. That even includes Geed and his father, Belial. Speaking of Ultra Ridewatches, Geed's successors, Rosso and Blu also get their own Ultra watches.
It's revealed in the game (and for that matter in this story) that Grøh suffers bad luck throughout his life. This means, he serves as a counterpart for Kamen Rider Den-O, namely Ryotaro Nogami. They both have a lot in common in terms of the misfortunes they faced. Unlike Ryotaro, Grøh's bad luck however, is not played for laughs.
The mysterious summoner is portrayed by Aoi Morikawa. In the introduction in the first chapter, her role was labeled as "?" due to the fact that she is yet to be revealed. Fubuki was the first character to be revealed in the second chapter.