Chapter 24: Glacial Rider

Once the night arrives, the group are now ready to head back to Castle Rausten to discuss something with L'Arachel. But a few minutes prior, we see Sento vising Kazumi's room.

"Hey, Kazumin. Do you have a minute?" Sento asked as he entered his room.

"What is it, Sento?" Kazumi asked.

Sento then hands out the Blizzard Knuckle and the Blizzard Full Bottle.

"Wait, why are you giving me this?" Kazumi asked.

"We made some slight modifications about the Blizzard Knuckle..." Sento answered.

"We?" Kazumi was confused as to who's he referring to.

"Let's just say that I...had some assistance from another genius of the group." Sento answered.

"I see..." Kazumi muttered. "So, does this mean I can-"

"Yes." Sento nodded. "You can finally transform into Grease Blizzard without getting the risk of dying."

"Are you sure about this?" Kazumi asked. "I mean, what if it didn't work..."

"Trust me on this one." Sento assured him. "Why do you think I had a certain genius mage helping me out then? Don't worry, though, she put some kind of spell that would prevent you from dying. It'll only last as long as we're still here."

"So, that means if we return to our world..." Kazumi guessed.

"The spell would wear off and using it there would mean that you die again..." Sento answered, which caused Kazumi to frown. "Don't worry, though, once we return to our world, I'll modify it so that you will not die again. You have my word on that."

"Thank you, Sento." Kazumi thanked him. "I promise I'll use this to help you defeat Evolt!"

"I knew you would..." Sento nodded. "By the way, do you still have the Build Driver from you?"

"Oh, yeah. I still have it right here." Kazumi said as he showed the Build Driver.

"I see..." Sento nodded. "Still, I'd never thought that you would take my father's Build Driver and use it as your own..."

"Well, what was I supposed to do?" Kazumi asked. "I have no choice but to use it, if it means sacrificing my life..."

"I know." Sento nodded.

Then, they heard someone knocking the door. Kazumi proceed to open and it turns out that Eirika was on the other side.

"Kazumin, have you seen Sento?" Eirika asked. "He's not in his room for some reason..."

"Oh, he's right here." Kazumi answered as he points to Sento.

"What is it, Eirika?" Sento asked.

"We're about to head back to Castle Rausten." Eirika told him.

"Alright, let's go then!" Sento said.

The group eventually arrived in Castle Rausten. While they were discussing with something, a knight arrived to inform them of something.

"Your Holiness! There's been an attack!" The guards informed.

"What?! At a time like this?!" Keiichiro said.

"We think it's Grado's men, fleeing from Frelia's forces." The guard continued.

"So, they managed to find this place, huh?" Kairi asked.

"However, they've breached the palace defenses at multiple points." The guard continued.

"What?!" Mansel was shocked to hear that.

"That easily?" Sento was surprised as well.

"They must planned this all along..." Gentoku thought.

"Yeah, they knew that Rausten still has the last Sacred Stone." Sento nodded in agreement.

"The imperial guard is at a terrible disadvantage of numbers right now. It's less a battle than a slaughter." The guard continued. "I'm not sure they will be able to hold out until the Knights of Rausten arrive."

"How has this happened? Our sacred capital invaded? I must..." Mansel asked.

"They must have known that we're here. That or they must have known that the Sacred Stone here is still intact." Noel answered.

"Uncle, please, you must keep yourself safe. We can take care of this." L'Arachel told her uncle. "Is everyone ready to go?"

"Princess Eirika, please..." Seth told her. "Prince Ephraim and I will handle this."

"Seth, it's all right." Ephraim told him. "Eirika can take care of herself. Isn't that right, Eirika?"

"Yes. I'm sorry if I troubled you. Let's go, we have to protect Pontifex Mansel." Eirika nodded.

"Alright, everyone, let's transform!" Sento told them.

Then, we see Sento, Banjo and Kazumi take out the Build Driver and equipped it.

"Wait, why are you equipping the Build Driver?" Banjo asked.

"Don't tell me..." Gentoku said.

"Yeah." Kazumi nodded as he takes out the Blizzard Knuckle. "Looks like it's finally time for me to use this..."

He takes out the Blizzard Full Bottle, shakes it a bit before inserting it into the Blizzard Knuckle.

BOTTLE KIIN!

After that, he lifts the grip of the Blizzard Knuckle upward before finally inserting it into the Build Driver.

GREASE BLIZZARD!

"Are you nuts?! You're gonna die again if you use that!" Banjo told him.

"Not this time around!" Kazumi responded while cranking the lever.

"Don't worry, Banjo. I had someone to assist me from modifying the Blizzard Knuckle so that he won't die from using it." Sento assured him.

"Is that so?" Gentoku asked.

ARE YOU READY?

"Henshin!" Kazumi shouted.

GEKITOU SHINKA! GREASE BLIZZARD! GAKIGAKIGAKIGAKI! GAKIIIN!

And with that, Kazumi has transformed into Kamen Rider Grease Blizzard.

"Wow..." Eirika was amazed.

"I'd never thought I would see this again..." Gentoku chuckled.

"Alright! It's been a while since I've used this." Kazumi commented.

Then, the rest of the Riders, as well as Kairi, Keiichiro and Noel, proceeds to transform into their respective forms, with Noel going with Patren X this time.

"The laws of victory has been set!" Sento declared.

And with that, the group began attacking the invading Grado forces inside Castle Rausten. Eirika and Ephraim are on the left side of the castle, helping the Rausten Knights take out the invaders. On the right side, we see Kairi, Keiichiro and Noel fighting against the invaders on the right side. The Riders decided to fight off the invaders in the middle while the rest of the group split up, with some going to the left to help Ephraim and Eirika, the other half decided to go to the right while the others chose to stay in the middle to help the Riders.

"Alright! We should take these guys out!" Sento said.

"Let's do this!" Banjo shouted.

And with that, the Riders began fighting off the invaders. We see Kazumi using the Twin Breaker as a weapon to shoot from afar.

"So, how are you holding up?" Sento asked Kazumi.

"Pretty fine, I guess." Kazumi answered. "I'm feeling great in this form! Now I can unleash my full power!"

"That's the spirit, Kazumin!" Sento nodded. "Now, let's go! We still have a lot of enemies to beat!"

The Riders continued to fight off in the middle. In the left side of the castle, we see Ephraim and Eirika take out the forces that are in their way.

"Is that all of them?" Ephraim asked.

"Yeah, I think so." Eirika answered.

"Thank you for your assistance." The guard thanked them.

"No problem. I'm glad we're able to help you guys." Ephraim said.

"We should head back, brother." Eirika told him.

"Right." Ephraim nodded.

And with that, Ephraim and Eirika head back in the middle part. Everyone has gathered by then, however, just as they were about to celebrate, another force arrived, this time with the boss in it.

"I can see why they're taking so long..." The boss said.

"You must be the boss..." Kairi said.

"You're...Riev!" L'Arachel pointed out.

"You know this guy?" Gentoku asked her.

"Heh heh heh." Riev laughed. "The young lady of Rausten...The more cruel and gruesome your death, the more that cur Mansel would weep, am I right? And that would make me so very, very happy."

"I'm afraid we're not gonna let that happen!" Sento said.

"Kamen Riders! Once I eliminated you from the picture, the Demon King can finally conquer Magvel!" Riev said.

"Do you think your words frighten us?" L'Arachel asked. "I am the princess L'Arachel! And together with the Riders on my side, slaying demons is our forte! You who have sold your soul to the soulless...We grant you release from your wretched existence."

"Well, you heard the lady. We're not gonna lose here!" Sento told the enemy.

"Alright, everyone. Let's go!" Eirika commanded.

"Fools! You think you can defeat me?" Riev asked.

"We sure as hell we can! Don't underestimate us Riders!" Banjo retorted.

And with that, the group began fighting against Riev and his own forces. Then, L'Arachel focuses on fighting Riev himself with the Riders assisting her.

"You can never defeat me! I'm the most powerful servant of the Demon King!" Riev said.

"We'll see about that!" L'Arachel said.

Riev fires up another spell towards them, but they managed to dodge in time. L'Arachel counters by using her own spell, hitting Riev.

"W-What is this?!" Riev said.

"It's a spell that I recently mastered! Now, you can't escape!" L'Arachel answered. "If you please."

"You do it, Kazumin!" Sento told him.

"Yeah!" Kazumi nodded as he cranks the lever.

SINGLE ICE! READY! GO! GLACIAL ATTACK! KACHI KACHI KACHI KACHI KACHIIIN!

Then, Kazumi creates a construct made out of ice in his right arm and starts attacking Riev with it. After damaging him, he grabs him using the construct and crushes him with it.

"Heh heh heh...No! No!" Riev ranted. "It's been so long. I got carried away. I'd best to stop and withdraw for now. Follow me. Come to Darkling Woods...The Demon King awaits your pleasure..."

And with that, Riev managed to teleport himself away from the castle before the Riders could do anything.

"Damnit! He ran away!" Banjo ranted.

"We'll get him next time! Once we arrived in Darkling Woods, that is." Sento told him.

Then, the Riders proceed to power down. Now, for Kazumi, you'd expect him to die after using the Grease Blizzard, but this time, he didn't...

"Well, what do you know? It actually worked." Kazumi chuckled.

"Of course it worked! It's a spell that only I, the genius mage, could come up with!" Lute told him.

"That means you can finally use Grease Blizzard to your heart's desire." Sento told him.

"Well, we managed to defeat the enemy..." Kairi said. "That means the Sacred Stone is safe and sound, right?"

"Let's find out." L'Arachel answered. "Come, we should find the Sacred Stone, if anything were to happen to it..."

"Then, we've lost our only chance of sealing the Demon King..." Ephraim answered.

The group managed to arrive at the room where the Sacred Stone is located. L'Arachel was relieved that the Sacred Stone was safe and sound and proceeds to take it.

"I'm holding it in my very hand! The Stone of Rausten!" L'Arachel showed it to everyone. "It's glorious radiance suits my complexion, wouldn't you say?"

"This is it. The last one. The last remaining Sacred Stone." Ephraim said.

"It is. And the time to defeat the Demon King draws near." L'Arachel added.

"We're now fully prepared to take on Evolt!" Sento said.

"We should be leaving. We have to act before those creatures gain more momentum." Eirika told the group.

"Yes. We should make haste." Myrrh added. "The poison spreads. It is growing ever stronger."

"Where?" Ephraim asked.

"Darkling Woods...Where the Demon King fell..." Myrrh answered.

After a small break, the group is about depart Castle Rausten, but they were interrupted by Mansel.

"L'Arachel, must you leave so soon?" Mansel asked. "You've only just returned, and you have to leave?"

"Uncle, defeating evil is the highest calling I can perform." L'Arachel told him.

"Of course, my dear. It is a divine calling, but..." Mansel said.

"You needn't worry, Uncle. After all, I'm not on my own. I have my friends." L'Arachel told him.

"I see. You've been blessed, L'Arachel. Blessed with many good friends." Mansel said.

"Indeed I am, Uncle." L'Arachel nodded. "And they, in turn, are blessed with me! Farewell, Uncle. I shall return. Once evil has been vanquished, we'll all return safe and sound."

"Hold on. Not so fast now." Mansel told her. "I have something I wish to present to Princess Eirika."

"To me, Your Holiness?" Eirika asked.

"Yes, Princess. I'd like you to accept this gift." Mansel answered as he hands over the Sacred Twin of Rausten.

"What is it?" Eirika asked.

"Oh! Aren't those...Aren't those the Sacred Twins of Rausten?" L'Arachel seems to recognized it.

"That's right, dear niece." Mansel nodded. "These are the weapons of Saint Latona, most holy father of Rausten. Here, we have the glorious Ivaldi, and it's twin, the divine Staff of Latona. I will also spare some funding to feed and arm your forces. After all, there is much that you must do before you leave these halls."

"So they are the blessed Latona's most sacred relics..." L'Arachel muttered. "Is this allowed?"

"I know the law, L'Arachel. The relics must never leave the temple, with the sole exception of the occasional ascension ceremony." Mansel answered. "But I think that, when the world needs saving, we can make the odd exception."

"That's my uncle!" L'Arachel said.

"You will return them, of course...once you've finished your task." Mansel told her. "Princess Eirika, I would have your oath on this."

"Of course. You have my word." Eirika nodded. "We shall return safely, and we shall restore your relics."

"Darkling Woods is home to naught but demons now." L'Arachel said. "Indeed, I hear tell that none who enter it's borders ever leave again. We ought to stock up on supplies in town before we set out."

"Yes, we must be as prepared as possible before we set out." Eirika nodded. "I don't want to take any reckless chances with our lives."

As the group prepare themselves before they head to Darkling Woods, we see Kairi, Keiichiro and Noel discussing about something.

"Are you sure about this, Noel?" Kairi asked.

"Oui, I feel like it's necessary. We need every bit of help we can get if we were to defeat the Demon King." Noel answered.

"He's right." Keiichiro nodded. "We need to prepare ourselves if we're going against him."

"Wow, it's not like you to agree on something that involved us..." Kairi chuckled.

"S-Shut up! We don't have much of a choice here!" Keiichiro retorted.

"Anyways, I must return to our world in order to bring the rest of our allies here." Noel told them. "Like I said, we need every bit of help we can get."

"Alright, we're counting on you, Noel!" Keiichiro said.

Then, Noel takes out the Lupin Collection that he's been carrying the entire time and used it to create a portal on the way home.

"Be careful, you two..." Noel said before entering the portal.

A/N: And that's Chapter 24. I'm sorry if I'm not uploading new chapters for quite a while. I was sick by the time I released the previous chapter, but now, I'm back, so there will be no more delays.

Anyways, we finally got to see Grease Blizzard for the second time and Kazumi did not die by using it. Hooray!

Also, Noel temporarily leaves the group to gather more reinforcements in their world. You know what that means?

That's all for now and I'll be seeing you in Chapter 25.