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.
Ep. 025: A.D. 2019: The Strongest Soul Edge! [2019年：最強のソウルエッジ！/Nisen-jūkyu: Saikyō no Souru Ejji!] [Episode 105]
WARNING: This chapter contains scenes of dismemberment, decapitation, blood and gore. Viewer discretion is advised!
(*Opening: "Over "Quartzer" (TV version)" by Shuta Sueyoshi of AAA feat. ISSA of DA PUMP from Kamen Rider Zi-O*)
[~Oh yeah...~]
[~Ohhh...~]
"Transcending history, and the world, a tale of souls and swords, eternally retold. Two swords and two Rider legacies to sever the chains of fate, the curtain rises for history's final battle! Carve your own fate with your own hands to infinity and beyond!"
[~Isshun de tsukami-toru no sa Are you ready?~](Catch it in an instant! Are you ready?)
[~Are you lazy?~]
[~Atarashii rekishi wa soko ni Feel it! Feel it!~](That's where the new history is! Feel it! Feel it!)
[~Crazy baby!~]
[~Hikari wo kate ni kasoku shite~](Use your bonds of light to accelerate)
[~Kono mama Shout it out! Shout it out!~](Just keep at it! Shout it out! Shout it out!)
[~Ima wo susumeyou~](Let's keep going in the present)
[~Madou hi mo ikudotonaku asu no tobira tatake~](There will be confusing days, but knock on the door to tomorrow)
[~Mitsumeta sono saki ni tobikonde mitara Believe yourself!~](Just plunge into what's ahead of you! Believe yourself!)
[~Now, Over "Quartzer"!~]
[~Toki no ame suri-nukete tomo ni~](Let's slip through the torrents of time together)
[~You, Over "Quartzer"!~]
[~Mirai wo koeyou~](Let's cross over to the future)
[~Kako no ishi wa uso de wa azamukenai~](Lies can not fool the will of the past)
[~Kanjiro sou Nexus Future~](Feel it in your bones! The Nexus Future)
[~Now, Over "Quartzer"!~]
[~Mabayui sekai... Misete!~](That dazzling world... Enchant me!)
A.D. 2019
(2019年)
Following Sougo's battle with Another Den-O, he suddenly disappeared. And from that day onward, time itself has changed as if the past has changed...
One morning, Taki woke up as if everything is okay. While the rest of her gang are still okay, it seems that they've forgottten something. Taki was the only one who remembered of Sougo's sudden disappearance after Another Den-O's destruction, and she apparently is still concerned of the young man's whereabouts.
When asking Goro about looking for Sougo, it seems that he does not recognize the name.
"Sougo? Who's that?", asked Goro.
"What?!", Taki was surprised as if Goro doesn't recognize Sougo.
"What's going on, Taki?! You look like you had a panic attack again?", Goro continued.
"No. Nothing.", the demon huntress replied. "I'll go and check around the city to see what's going on."
"Okay. Be careful out there.", Goro replied back as he leaves for work.
To Taki's confusion, apparently her close friends at least recognize her. But, they have forgotten about Sougo ever since he disappeared; the same can be said with Kengou, Akagi, and even her own apprentice Natsu.
The moment Taki scouted around the city, she notices everything in ruins; as if something ravaged the town. She continued patrolling around until she stopped by a mansion with a monument of... Another Riders!
She observed at the statues of Another Riders and looked at the plaque below it, it reads "Monument of Kakogawa Hiryuu's first transformation".
This shocks Taki even further, as she thought that Hiryuu was brutally murdered by Ray and Black Huntress, how come he was revived? She thought, "Kakogawa Hiryuu... I thought Ray killed him months ago. How is this...?"
Moments later, a dimension wall appeared right in front of Taki and it phased through her, teleporting her to someplace else...
Later, Taki finds herself at the rooftop of a building. Kadoya Tsukasa and Kurenai Gai were waiting for her.
"Kadoya Tsukasa. Kurenai Gai. What's going on?", Taki clarified to the interdimensional wanderer.
Tsukasa starts, "Ever since that Demon King disappeared after defeating Another Den-O, someone else has messed up with this timeline."
"And the Time Jackers are responsible for this?", Taki quickly jumped into the conclusion.
"I'm not sure if they have anything to do with it, except for Kakogawa Hiryuu.", Tsukasa also reveals that the young Hiryuu wasn't killed by Black Huntress in 2009. Someone else managed to prevent his death. "In 2009, Black Huntress supposed to have destroyed the hospital where he was confined there."
Also, Tsukasa brings out to Taki that Hiryuu is even more dangerous than he was before. He's no longer Another Zi-O, but Another Zi-O II. Only that his power is almost at the exact same level as Oma Zi-O. But that's not all, although Taki's close friends can still recognize her amidst the altered timeline. The only exception to that is Sougo.
According to Gai, everyone close to Sougo no longer remember him as a result of his disappearance. However, the only ones who remember Sougo are Woz, the Time Jackers, and Hiryuu himself. The same can also be said with Taki and Tsukasa, no less.
"I need to find him, if he's back in the present that is.", said Taki.
Within moments, Gurenryu appears out of nowhere and relays information to Taki. And this time, Gurenryu reveals that Sougo has returned to the present.
"Hey, oneechan. I saw this Another Zi-O II fighting that twerp!", the ancient dragon brought up during his scouting.
"That boy has a lot of explaining to do...", Taki replied, and is visibly upset and wants to lash out on Sougo for his disappearance. "Come on, let's go."
Taki rode on Gurenryu's back as they flew to Sougo's recent location.
Meanwhile at a park, Grand Zi-O and Another Zi-O II are fighting with them summoning Riders. Grand Zi-O summoned Gaim and Den-O and equipped Agito's Flame Saber. Sougo defeats the enemy's Another Rider army.
But, Another Zi-O II turns the tables by rewinding the flow of time as the clock hands on his forehead spin, causing Another Gaim, Agito, and Den-O's destruction being undone. The Another Riders controlled by Hiryuu counterattack.
"Positron Geyser!", Gurenryu's voice is heard from afar as he fired a positron beam from his mouth.
Gurenryu's Positron Geyser is able to reduce Another Zi-O II's Another Riders to dust before Another Zi-O II once again rewinds time, causing to turn nighttime to daytime.
"He's reversed time. Man, this is sick to my eyes!", exclaimed Gurenryu.
"You!", Hiryuu apparently remembers Taki.
To which Taki replied sarcastically, "Do I know you?" as she took out and activated the Mugenryu Miridewatch.
The Mugenryu watch's lower jaw opens to reveal the Rider face of the watch. Taki then inserts it into her Beyondriver. She yells "Dragon Ascent!" and close the belt's lever...
*Touei! Mugen Time! Mugenryu Taki!*
Gurenryu disassembles himself to form Mugenryu Taki's armor and backpack to combine with Taki to become Mugenryu Taki. The transformation sequence ends with the hiragana for "Mugenryu" (むげんりゅうー) branded on her visor.
Since Mugenryu Taki allows her to tap into the abilities of seven future Kamen Riders powers, and by extension, their elemental affinities, she taps into Kamen Rider Rock's powers as she inserted the Rock Miridewatch into the Zikan Kenganbrade in Danganken Mode.
*Rock! Bakibaki Godfist!*
And by punching the ground, Taki sends Another Gaim, Another Den-O, and Another Agito floating in midair. After that she disengaged Mugenryu Taki's backpack to enter to Edge Master Type, allowing her to tap into the weapons and fighting style of her contemporaries of the new timeline.
To start, she summons Mitsurugi's katana, the Shishi-Oh. While the three Another Riders are afloat, Taki unleashed a barrage of Iaijutsu-style slashes using the sword. Though the blade doesn't hit the targets. But, it's effect will kick in once it is sheathed back.
The three Another Riders are quickly sliced in multiple pieces from top to bottom upon sheathing the Shishi-Oh back on its scabbard. Taki then summons the Fatibal, Maxi's nunchaku. She strike each falling body part into viscera from arms, legs, head, and torso.
To Sougo's surprise, though the Mugenryu powers are amazing. He is horrified the way Taki destroys the Another Riders, as if this is a Mortal Kombat game. He is even unaware about the Mugenryu Miridewatch after each use causes Taki to become increasingly brutal and vicious as she pushed herself to the limit, stimulating her emotional stress.
Even Hiryuu is surprised by Taki's act of brutality. But, he still rewinds the flow of time.
Just as Sougo is about to continue fighting, he suddenly drops to his knees as Soul Edge's evil energy is starting to howl violently. Sensing that Sougo has pushed to his limits already, it's more likely that another Soul Edge will be born from him.
"It can't be...", Hiryuu paused as if he felt Soul Edge's presence. The new demon king has learned about the evil blade from the Time Jackers, and like them, he has no interest with the cursed sword.
"Soul Edge... And a new one is about to be born from his body!", said Taki. "At this rate, if Soul Edge isn't extracted, you [Sougo] will become its puppet!", then turns to Hiryuu. "We'll settle this another time!"
Taki then re-equips the backpack since Gurenryu's wings is the only thing allowing her to fly. She carries Sougo with her as she flew off to find Azwel.
Elsewhere...
Even when the world is brought to the knees at the hands of Another Zi-O II, Nightmare is unaffected by the changes of the timeline. Yet, his bloodlust and craving for more death and destruction remains unchanged.
After having massacred more resistance members, Nightmare felt a powerful presence from afar. It's linked to his incomplete Soul Edge.
Just then, he is approached by Time Jacker Ora.
"Even with history being changed, you are still hungry for souls.", said Ora.
The Azure Knight roared, "SHUT UP, WOMAN!", as he felt the emanating energy. "I can feel it... A new Soul Edge is..."
"A new Soul Edge?!", Ora raised an eyebrow.
"The sword is being extracted from a human vessel... This is it!", Nightmare also thought that a new Soul Edge is being extracted from a human vessel, in this case, Sougo. Since Sougo's corruption level is at 99%. The sword has to be extracted from Sougo's body and have it sealed in a Ridewatch.
Ora proposed a suggestion, "I think I know a guy who can lead you to that new Soul Edge you're babbling about.", as Kaitou Daiki appears before her and the Azure Knight.
The dimension-hopping thief wastes no time for introduction. Since he is a thief after all, Kaitou looks for treasures. And like Tsukasa, he doesn't like being bossed around. Nevertheless, Kaitou will be the one leading Nightmare to the Soul Edge being extracted from Sougo.
Meanwhile, at Azwel's safehouse...
Inside the laboratory, Ivy and Sophitia were talking to the scholar in regards of the sudden timeline alteration as Taki arrives with Sougo in the verge of being corrupted by the evil energy in his body.
Azwel spoke, "Ah, my dear Taki. You have arrived. No need for clarifications, I know that the Soul Edge in young Sougo is about to be awakened!"
"He has Soul Edge in his person?!", Ivy is shocked that the cursed sword is being created in Sougo.
The fact that Sougo sustained a near-fatal wound when Black Huntress slashed him with the cursed sword, causes the fragments of the evil blade to build up inside his body. As what Taki hypothesized, each time Sougo is pushed too far will cause the evil inside him to concentrate and produce another Soul Edge once his corruption level reaches critical.
"This is bad...", Sophitia had a grim expression on her face.
But, the self-proclaimed Leader of Humanity reassured, "It's too early to give up, emissary of the Olympian gods. If we can safely extract the cursed sword from his body and seal it in a Ridewatch, he's going to be okay. In fact, Zasalamel had sealed the spirit sword inside that device and entrusted it to Taki."
Azwel decides to extract the Soul Edge inside Sougo's body, and to start. He uses his time manipulation powers to freeze time. With that, Sougo won't feel any pain as Azwel carefully pulls the cursed sword from his body. In his viewpoint, he calls this process as a temporal anesthesia.
Once time is stopped, Azwel makes use of his magic and as if he's about to dissect a frog. By manifesting a scalpel-like object from his palindrome, he opens a wormhole within Sougo's chest as if he's opening the boy's spiritual and astral energy. With that, Azwel carefully placed his hands into the hole as he pulls the Soul Edge inside Sougo.
Azwel concentrated and he cannot afford to mess up, knowing if he fails, Sougo will die or worse mutate into a Malfested.
("You can do this, Azwel... Think of humanity's future! There's no room for error!"), Azwel pressures himself as he carefully extracts the cursed sword and eventually succeeded.
Once Soul Edge is extracted from the astral wormhole of Sougo's physical body, he closes the dissected wormhole.
Azwel then resumes the flow of time with the snap of his fingers.
"You can open your eyes, child.", said Azwel.
Sougo then wakes up, and he felt better. And to his horror, the Soul Edge that Azwel extracted is even more powerful than it was before, despite it still remains in its zweihander form.
"So, that's the new Soul Edge?!", exclaimed Sougo.
"Yes! And I am getting goosebumps!", Azwel continued.
Azwel elaborated the time when he was thrown into the future by Kamen Rider Decade, the scholar fought and was defeated by Oma Zi-O. Because not only the tyrannical overlord had all the 20 Heisei Kamen Riders' powers in his disposal, he also had Soul Edge in his person.
"Oma Zi-O wielding Soul Edge means overkill. And we are all screwed for that matter.", Taki insinuates the fact that Oma Zi-O's already invincible to begin with, and the idea of giving him Soul Edge will be the end of everything.
"Now, now. Don't say that. You don't have to worry about that vile tyrant wielding such evil weapon!", Azwel smiled. "Now that Soul Edge is extracted, it needs to be bound by two Ridewatches!"
Azwel already had two blank Ridewatches with him, and it is most likely his last blank watch he held. And by using his Palindrome gauntlets in tandem with the two blank watches; the cursed sword is splintered into two halves as they are being contained into two Ridewatches. And once the cursed sword dissipates into particles of energy upon being absorbed. Azwel combines the two watches to create a single Ridewatch, and can be split into two like the Zi-O II Ridewatch.
"This is too easy. Now that I successfully sealed Soul Edge through two Ridewatches which restrains their power when they are linked together. I give you, the Soul Edge Ultimate Ridewatch! Once they are split again, Soul Edge's power will awaken its true form!", Azwel christened the Soul Edge watch. "Now that the two Soul swords in their Ridewatch forms are gathered, it's time I proceed to reveal my plan to reverse this timeline alteration."
Azwel unveils a futuristic gauntlet to Ivy, Taki, Sougo, and Sophitia. The scholar created it as the successor to his original bipolar pulse-enhancement device, but even more advanced.
"I introduce to you to the Neo Palindrome!", Azwel proclaimed. "Unlike my current devices, it is only a standalone gauntlet that harnesses the energies of the two swords in their Ridewatch forms. Thanks to this era's state-of-the-art nanotechnology, it was worth the effort I came up with this beautiful piece of work!"
Ivy plays Devil's Advocate, "And how are you going to equip those watches into that glove?"
Azwel continued, "The spirit sword's Ridewatch is inserted into the slot in the forehand. While Soul Edge's Ridewatch will be on the dual-slot of the glove's forearm part. With this, it can produce a variation of the Ultimate Seed that only affects the space-time continuum: the Future Seed! The Future Seed undoes an altered timeline, restoring it to the way it was and even negating the deaths of people who died in the opposition against Another Zi-O II with the snap of my fingers. Thanks to my blood, sweat, and tears in conceiving this device, the human race can once again pursue their desired future!"
The Neo Palindrome must be Azwel's answer to undo the Time Jackers' meddling with the timeline and restore it back to the way it supposed to be. Given the fact that the anomalies on the space-time continuum is the result of both the Kamen Riders and Time Jackers' actions, Azwel was prepared for this course of action.
However, Azwel reveals that the Neo Palindrome is far from complete; even though he has successfully constructed the gauntlet, taking him almost a week to complete the device.
"Sadly, even though it looks complete by the looks of it. It's still far from complete.", Azwel lamented. "And, the only way to complete the gauntlet, a sacrifice must be made."
"A sacrifice?", Sougo raised an eyebrow.
"The Neo Palindrome needs to be powered by those who have the ability to bend time to their control. My answer would be one of your friends, or the Time Jackers."
According to Azwel, the Neo Palindrome requires to have someone who has time manipulation powers to wear the incomplete gauntlet, and then kill him/her to finally fully activate the gauntlet. Both Sougo, Sophitia, and Ivy are unsettled by Azwel's method. Tsukuyomi has the ability to manipulate time, even more powerful than Swartz's, and Sougo suggests not to have her involved in this.
But, Taki on the other hand, decides to take it upon herself and decides to use one of the Time Jackers as a sacrifice.
"If that's the case... We're going to hunt down a Time Jacker.", said Taki.
"Taki-san?!", Sougo gasped. "Are you saying that you're going to kill one of the Time Jackers just to restore the timeline?!"
"What choice do I have? I'm not prepared for something like this, and so are you. So, we're going to play along with Azwel's plan.", Taki begins to show a dark side of herself.
"Are you mad?!", Ivy exclaimed. "Just because you're going to kill one to save millions, the only thing will not change is what you are doing right now!"
"Taki, this is insane!", Sophitia likewise objects. "And, Ivy's right. This isn't like you at all..."
Taki is already showing signs of desperation, and takes it upon her hands to end this mess once and for all, even if it meant having her hands dirty. Despite being an honorable ninja who seeks to stop anyone from reaching either Soul swords, Taki is willing to do something morally questionable if it benefits her mission.
"There's no turning back. And I will put an end to this altered timeline once and for all! I don't care if any one of you stand in my way.", Taki affirms her objective.
"I'm intrigued by your charisma, Taki.", Azwel lauds the ninja. "Here, take the gauntlet and have one of the Time Jackers wear it before you kill them. I'll be holding on to Soul Calibur's Ridewatch from now on. Come on, the clock is ticking!"
Taki takes the incomplete Neo Palindrome as she leaves Azwel's safehouse. As she makes her way outside, Sougo continues to object to what Taki is doing.
"Taki-san, what is wrong with you?!", Sougo yelled. "Why are you going along with Azwel's plan to kill one of the Time Jackers so that gauntlet will be powered up?"
Aggravated by the boy's persistence, the demon huntress grabs him by the collar. And to his shock, Taki has become vicious and hardhearted. Which is likely the side effect of her constant usage of the Mugenryu watch. And the stress of the altered timeline is already taking a toll on her mentality.
"If it weren't for your shortsightedness, this would have never happened! Take a look around you, everything is just as worse than Oma Zi-O's tyranny. Kakogawa Hiryuu allowed himself to be consumed with hatred and spite so he can destroy everything you hold dear! Geiz, Tsukuyomi, Woz, and even my own daughter barely remember you now! I'm going to take it upon myself to undo the Time Jackers' meddling, even if I'm going to kill them one by one!"
"Taki-san..."
"Now, move out of the way!", the ninja pushes Sougo aside as she begins her Time Jacker hunt.
Just what pushed Taki to allow Azwel's plan to undo the altered timeline by sacrificing a member of the Time Jackers? With Sougo having seen Taki visibly upset over this recent tragedy, the demon huntress has no other choice but to jump off the slippery slope...
"The names of the warriors whose fates were bound to the two swords have been etched into the very fibers of history..."
On the next episode...
(次回挿話)
In the midst of the fighting between Sougo and Hiryuu, Taki targets Time Jacker Ora; using her as a sacrifice to complete the Neo Palindrome gauntlet. When Taki forces Ora to wear the incomplete gauntlet and outright kill her right in front of Sougo, much to his chagrin; the gauntlet is completed. With it, Azwel can use the gauntlet along with the Soul Edge and Soul Calibur Ridewatch to reverse the timeline alteration.
With the timeline restored to the way it was supposed to be, Geiz, Tsukuyomi, Woz, and even Goro are shocked when they found out about Taki's actions...
Next time on Taki Gaiden, Episode 106: A.D. 2019: Future Seed.
NOTE: The next episode is still a tie-in to episode 41 and 42 of Zi-O.
Ridewatches count:
-Taki:
Ridewatches (Heisei Riders and Ride Gadgets): 25 (G7 Icarus XYZ, G7 Icarus XYZ Archangel Kerberos, G7 Type-S, New G7 Icarus, Grease, Snipe, Huntress, Amazon Alpha, Amazon Omega, Amazon Neo, Necrom, Mach, Ryugen, Zangetsu, Zangetsu Kachidoki Arms, Mage, Cronus, Diend, Evol, Evol Black Hole, NEW Den-O, Bike, Phone, Disk Animal (x2))
Ridewatches (Showa Riders): 15 (Super-1, Skyrider, Stronger, Amazon, Black RX, Black, X, ZX, Ichigou, Nigou, V3, Riderman, Shin, ZO, J)
Miridewatches: 9 (Taki, Taki Imperial, Jet Phoenix, Aqua Mermaid, Volt, Shippu, Rock, Mugenryu. Smapho)
Astralwatches: 4
Other: 7 (Rewind, Jiraiya, Aka-Rider, Ao-Rider, Ki-Rider, Mido-Rider, Momo-Rider)
-Zi-O: 21 (Zi-O, Zi-O II, Zi-O Trinity, Build, Ex-Aid, Fourze, OOO, OOO Tadajol Combo, Gaim, Decade, W, Kiva, Den-O, Kabuto, Hibiki, Blade, Ryuki, Agito, Kuuga, Bike, Phone, Kodama)
-Geiz: 9 (Geiz, Geiz Revive, Ghost, Drive, Faiz, Wizard, Genm, Bike, Phone)
-Black Woz:
Miridewatches: 5 (Woz, Shinobi, Quiz, Kikai, Ginga)
-Tsukuyomi: 2 (Phone, Taka)
-Fubuki:
Ridewatch: 3 (Fuin, Phone (x2))
Miridewatch: 1 (Grease Blizzard)
-Elysium: 17 (G3-X, Knight, Kaixa, Garren, Ibuki, Gatack, Zeronos, Ixa, Accel, Birth, Meteor, Beast, Baron, Specter, Brave, Cross-Z, Cross-Z Magma)
-Oma Zi-O:
Ridewatch (main Riders): 19 (Build, Ex-Aid, Ghost, Drive, Gaim, Wizard, Fourze, OOO, W, Decade, Kiva, Den-O, Kabuto, Hibiki, Blade, Faiz, Ryuki, Agito, Kuuga)
Ridewatch (Final Forms): 19 (Build Genius Form, Ex-Aid Muteki Gamer, Ghost Mugen Damashii, Drive Type Tridoron, Gaim Kiwami Arms, Wizard Infinity Style, Fourze Cosmic States, OOO Putotyra Combo, W CycloneJokerXtreme, Decade Complete Form, Kiva Emperor Form, Den-O Liner Form, Kabuto Hyper Form, Armed Hibiki, Blade King Form, Faiz Blaster Form, Ryuki Survive, Agito Shining Form, Kuuga Ultimate Form)
-Azwel: 2 (Soul Edge Ultimate, Soul Calibur Supreme)
Ridewatches unclaimed: 1 (Drive; Sougo and co must encounter Kamen Rider Mach in the Movie.)
Sougo's Malfestation Level: 100% (The Soul Edge inside Sougo's body is extracted and now sealed inside a Ridewatch)
Astral Fissures sealed: 10 (Azwel has sealed off 5 more Astral Fissures offscreen and has 5 Astralwatches in his disposal)
Author's Note:
The Soul Edge Ultimate Ridewatch is a kitbashed Zi-O II watch. And, SPOILER ALERT, it will be used by Geiz the instant Inferno uses him as a new vessel.
Gurenryu stays in his dragon form throughout this chapter.
The fact that Taki is deadset to kill any of the Time Jackers will most likely make her even more murderous like Ray and turns her into a villain. This is a reference to her personality in Soulcalibur IV, where she is willing to dirty her hands to prevent anyone from coming contact with Soul Edge or Soul Calibur even if it means killing them. The next chapter will elaborate how Taki is going to cross the Moral Event Horizon in order to undo the altered timeline.
When Taki used Maxi's nunchucks (Fatibal) in MT Edge Master Type, she emulates Liu Kang's fatality from Mortal Kombat 11 where it involves destroying the opponent's dismembered body parts using nunchucks. Instead of Kang's classic cartwheel kick to uppercut fatality, Taki simply taps into Kamen Rider Rock's power by punching the ground, then used Mitsurugi's katana (Shishi-Oh) to slice them into dismembered body parts before taking out the nunchucks to reduce them to a bloody pulp.