Taki couldn't believe that he actually was one of those who won the second round of the tournament. But, he was also worried; rumours of riders, using fake rider systems had been a hot topic, both on the Rider PDAs, and in the locker rooms of the second tournament round. Many riders had started to disappear right after the second round. And on top of that, golden, briar-like plants had been sprouting up everywhere, almost right after the end of the second round. Now, Taki was riding around Skydome City, trying to find Shohei, who also had vanished after the second round himself.
"Come on, Shohei, where are you?" Taki asked himself.
Taki's motorcycle was suddenly hit by several shots, which made his bike go out of control, and he was thrown off it. He got off the ground as fast as he could, happy that the fall hadn't been too serious. He looked at his attackers and saw that it was Kamen Rider Garren, or at least someone looked like him, because he was surrounded by a small army of creatures he had never seen before. They had features from both Worms, Imagins and Fangires, and they looked very dangerous.
"I am Bio Garren, and you're coming with us, rider." Bio Garren said, and the horde of monsters he lead began to attack.
"Not without a fight I ain't." Taki said as he pulled out the Zetsu-O belt, and clipped it on. He pressed the button and said, "Because your chosen path... is defeat. Henshin." before he passed the Rider Pass over the SetTouch.
Scythe Form!
And soon after, Zetsu-O was ready to fight. Taki started to assemble the ZetsuGasher into its scythe formation, hitting the Hybrids as he did so, but soon he was slashing away at them. Taki hadn't fought long, before he noticed that the Hybrids easily blocked and evaded his attacks.
"What the hell is going on here?! how do they keep evading me?!" Taki asked and lunged out for another Hybrid who evaded the slash of his blade.
"Because they have been programmed to evade their opponents, tiring them so they're easier to defeat." Bio Garren said in a mocking tone.
"Then I guess its time for a change of strategy." Taki said. He managed to kick a few of the Hybrids out of the way, giving him enough time to pull off the edge piece of ZetsuGasher, and place it on the handle. He then kicked a few more of the Hybrids out of the way, and connected a piece of the handle to the edge piece, making the ZetsuGasher look like a rifle. He had learned to use the ZetsuGasher like this by experimenting with it on his way to Skydome City. He pulled out the Rider Pass and swiped it over the SetTouch.
Full Charge!
A purple beam charged into the rifle's hilt. He pointed the rifle at the ground, and pulled the trigger. A huge explosion of purple energy shot Taki away from the Hybrids, taking a good deal of them down in the process. Taki landed hard the ground, but quickly shook it of and started firing at the Hybrids, having bigger success at killing the Hybrids. As Taki was busy, shooting at the Hybrids, Bio Garren snuck up behind him and inserted a crimson Bio Whistle into the back of the Bio Garren Rouser.
Bio Execution: Burning Crash, Rise Up!
He jumped into the air, his boots ablaze, and hit Taki on his shoulders, knocking him to his knees. As Taki got off the ground, Bio Garren landed a powerful roundhouse kick right in his face, which sent him flying into a wall, knocking him unconscious, and reverted him back into human form.
"Take him." Bio Garren said to the Hybrids, who started to carry Taki away. Bio Garren reverted back into human form, and pulled a cellphone out of his waistcoat and dialled a number. As he was dialling the number, he picked up the Zetsu-O belt and Rider Pass, before he hit the receiver button. He waited for a moment before someone answered.
"It's Darren Wolfe." Bio Garren began.
"Another stray rider has been captured. I'm awaiting your orders, sir." After a while, Darren turned off his phone and walked over to his bike. As he drove off, the city's deformed state became worse as many more of the golden thorns appeared.
Opening Theme: Supernova by TETRA-FANG.
Afuredasu Kanjo ga Kono Karada Tsukiyaburi!
Toki wo Tokashi Hajimatta NEXT STAGE!
Itsumo Tari Nakute! Iiwake Teki na Akirame!
Zutto Tsumiagete Ita Kakusu Yo ni!
Doko ka Toomaki ni! Nagameteta Yo na Keshiki!
Kyuu ni Tenohira no Ue Konagona ni Kudake Chiru!
Kono Kimochi no Ikiba Oshiete!
Seigyo Funo Atsui Honoo! Tomadoi wo Yakiharai!
Kino Mate no Kankaku Wasuresaseru!
NO ONE EVER KNOWS Boku no Oto! Dokomademo Shinka Suru!
Mada Shiranai Jibun ga Mezameteku SUPERNOVA!
Mae ni Susumu Koto! Kowagattari wa Mo Shinai Kokai Suru Koto ni Narenai Yo!
Mamoritai to Negau Taisetsu na Hito no Mirai Kizuita Shunkan Kara Subete wa Kawari Dashita!
Hora Unmei Kasoku Shite Yuku!
Shogeki do Saidai no Dekigoto ga Kiseki Yobu!
Umarekawaru Jibun wo Tomerarenai!
NO ONE EVER KNOWS Boku no Hado!
Sekaijuu Hibikasete! Atarashii Jidai e to Hashiride so SUPERNOVA!
Afuredasu Kanjo ga Kono Karada Tsukiyaburi!
THERE'S NO NEED TO ESCAPE!
Boku wa Ima Kawatteku Unmei no Naka Chiisana Hoshi Umareru Mitai ni!
Seigyo Funo Atsui Honoo! Tomadoi wo Yakiharai!
Kino Mate no Kankaku Wasuresaseru!
NO ONE EVER KNOWS Boku no Oto! Dokomademo Shinka Suru!
Mada Shiranai Jibun ga Mezameteku SUPERNOVA!
Mienai Kurayami no Naka!
Kasuka na Hikari Tsukuridasu Yo ni!
Gekijoban Tournament Kamen Rider: The Golden Thorn.
Part 1.
Nero looked around him: Skydome City was engulfed by darkness and thorns that were sharp and stuck out the sides of buildings, with golden, briar-like plants accompanying them. He then ran towards the fountain in the middle of the city (where he had last left his friends) and saw something he didn't believe...
"Phoenix! Taryse! Hao! Travis! Jessie! Everyone!" Nero yelled out. They weren't able to hear him as they were entangled in vines inside black pod-like structures, deep asleep. And Nero's friends weren't the only ones... other Riders and the rest of the whole city were all encased. Kivat, Phoenix's mechanical bat and the source of Kamen Rider Kiva's power, was not asleep and frantically kept trying to escape Phoenix's pod. Nero ran over to that particular pod, but couldn't touch it as a shock surged through his hand. Kivat bit at the sides of the pod, and managed to cut a hole in the side, poking his way out. He tried flying towards Nero, but he suddenly collapsed. Kivat sailed towards the ground, causing Nero to catch Kivat before that happened.
"What the heck happened here?" Nero wondered to himself as he hooked Kivat to his shoulder.
"Those thorns came out of nowhere..." Kivat commented, sounding really sick.
"Follow me, Kivat... we're going to see if any other Riders survived this." Nero decided. He took one final glance at his friends before running off.
--xxx--
"Keep running, Reina! I'll push 'em back!" Isild suggested as he and Reina ran through Skydome City's streets.
Full Charge!
Isild loaded the ZeroGasher Bowgun with his Zeronos card and shot the Grand Strike finisher, knocking their strange pursuers back. They looked like Imagin in shape, but yet had the stained glass pattern of a Fangire and the faces of Worms. Isild kicked the paralysed leader of the pack backwards before he caught up with Reina. They took refuge in an abandoned restaurant. But then again, everything was abandoned. Isild took a deep sigh before he retracted the Zeronos card and placed it back in the card holder. He then detached the Zeronos Belt from his waist. After reverting to human form, Isild clutched his left arm.
"Are you alright?" Reina asked in concern.
"I've been better, Reina. I hope Deneb hurries up with the ZeroLiner; then we can find out what the hell happened to Spike and Rick." Isild groaned. The two Riders then froze in horror as the front doors of the restaurant opened up slowly. Isild didn't take any chances as he constructed the ZeroGasher Bowgun again, slowly detaching the pieces from the Zeronos belt.
"If it's one of those things... I'll distract it so you can take your shot." Reina whispered. Isild slowly nodded in response, gingerly clutching the ZeroGasher with both hands. Reina waited and jumped up, only to see the bumbling Imagin Deneb come through the restaurant.
"Get up, Isild. It's only Deneb." Reina assured Isild, who put his weapon away and stood up.
"I saw all the thorns over the city and I knew something was wrong, Isild." Deneb began.
Isild felt obligated to joke: "So what was your first clue?"
"I have brought the ZeroLiner with me; its outside." Deneb said. Isild then shushed everybody as he heard voices chattering.
"Outside, Deneb? Let's get in the thing already! Those Hybrids are back!" Isild growled in response, snapping the Zeronos Belt to his waist. Reina summoned the Kuuga Arcle.
"Henshin!" They both yelled.
Altair Form!
Both Riders and Deneb burst through the front door and found their Hybrid pursuers all over the place.
"So that's that escape route nixed!" Reina commented before all three of them ran back inside the restaurant. Deneb let rip with some blasts from his Zeronos Nova while Isild blasted away with his ZeroGasher. There were too many to mount an effective assault. Reina kicked one in the head and punched another in the gut at the same time. Isild converted the ZeroGasher into its Saber Mode, slashing one Hybrid and then taking out another three with a flipping roundhouse kick. Deneb just kept firing his finger missiles, but each time he would defeat a Hybrid, three more would show up.
Hastily, Isild asked: "Deneb! Where the heck is the ZeroLiner?"
Deneb replied: "The roof! I parked it over the roof!"
--xxx--
Nero kept on running as more and more of the dark pods became visible. One caught his eye.
"Urataros!" Nero called out. Like his other friends, the blue turtle Imagin was unable to respond. Nero resumed his running and came across pods with the other Imagin inside: Kintaros, Ryuutaros...
What happened? Nero asked himself again. Realising it wouldn't be long before his legs gave out on him, Nero clicked his fingers and brought the Machine DenBird to help. Nero mounted and rode through the city. He spotted monsters running rampant as he got deep downtown.
"Kivat... stay with the DenBird." Nero ordered. Kivat nodded and slowly perched himself on the seat Nero just dismounted from. Nero inserted the Rider Ticket into his Rider Pass and summoned the Den-O Belt. Nero snapped it on and pressed the red button.
"Henshin."
Sword Form!
Nero forewent his introduction routine (which Phoenix usually mocks) and ran towards the Hybrids. He executed a Full Charge early and disabled a group of Hybrids with the Extreme Slash. Nero peered around a corner to see someone being ganged upon by another group of these Hybrids and swiped the Rider Pass over the Terminal Buckle again.
Full Charge!
"Hissatsu! Ore no hissatsu waza! Part 3!" Nero cried out, destroying the gang of Hybrids with his weapon. As the final traces of the Hybrid attackers vanished, Nero unhooked the Den-O Belt from his waist and looked down to see the victim... a teenaged girl, or so it seemed.
"Who are you?" Nero wondered.
"They call me Alicia. But I'm not as young as you think I am." The girl answered.
Confused, Nero scratched his head: "If you're not young... then how old are you?"
"Immortal. I'm just cursed to this neverending life until I return to the Sands of Time. I'm running from him... for he believes my immortality can be bestowed upon him." Alicia revealed.
Nero guessed: "The one who started this mess."
Alicia nodded.
"You'll have to tell me all about it then... I've got to make things right." Nero requested. Alicia suddenly grabbed ahold of Nero's hand.
"Please don't go! He will kill you! You're no match for his power!" She warned.
"I've come up against a lot of tough things and won... what makes this guy any different?" Nero scoffed.
"He is too powerful for anyone to handle! I beg of you... don't walk to your death!" Alicia continued. Nero withdrew his hand from Alicia's grip.
"You don't believe that I can defeat him, whoever he is... but I can damn sure try! I have two things he'll never have when fighting on the battlefield: courage and friendship." Nero retorted with confidence.
"Believe me, young Rider... alone, even that won't be a match for him!" Alicia protested.
Nero, tiring of going back and forth on the matter, changed the subject: "So... do you know anything about the dark pods with everybody inside?"
Alicia nodded again: "They are his work, to keep the Tournament from advancing any further."
Nero's eyes widened: "What?"
"He doesn't want the Tournament of Kamen Riders to take place... because it interferes with his plans to rule, so he's forced every Rider he could find into a deep sleep." Alicia explained.
Nero huffed: "Great, a psychopathic nutjob who wants to rule the world!"
"This is serious, Den-O! He also wants to drain the Riders' powers to create the ultimate force of energy to power his army's effiency to 200!" Alicia continued.
"Alright, I got it. But he still needs to be stopped and you don't look like the type who likes to fight. Did any other Riders survive the thorns?" Nero asked. Then a big emerald-colored explosion was heard. Nero looked in the explosion's direction and saw that the ZeroLiner was parked on a roof.
"The ZeroLiner! Deneb's awake!" Nero realised. He and Alicia ran out of the ally they were in, running towards the DenBird. Kivat went back onto Nero's shoulder before all three of them drove towards the building ZeroLiner was above.
--xxx--
My name is Sergeant Travis Triton. I found myself alone looking out across the battlefield. My eyes searching out targets, a soft rustling came from behind as I turned, swiftly bringing up my rifle, picking out my target. Before I could pull the trigger, I recognized the face: it was one of my Non-Commisioned Officers and my best friend Mark Kenji Damage. Thoughts rapidly swirled into my head that something bad must have happened to the squad for Mark to come find me.
I asked him what happened. Mark's face was covered in blood, wearing a crimson mask as it were. Mark was talking way too fast; he was in shock. I sat him down and repeated my question. Mark's answer was that the squad had come under fire whilst patroling the hills on Hirojima and suggested that if we could get there soon we could help some of the guys left alive. The rain had started to pound against the war-torn grounds around us about half-an-hour after we set off for the ambush site and steadily had got worse.
Mark spoke to me and said, "We're nearing the site now... maybe you should take point."
I slowly patrolled forward keeping my eyes open well as best as I could with this rain.
Damn! My foot hit something hard and I fell forward into something warm. I slowly looked up seeing how my friends and comrades had been chopped to pieces by the machine gunfire.
Horrified, I then slowly stood up. I heard Mark come up behind me slowly, watching my back... then, BLAM!
Everything went dark...
--xxx--
As he awoke from that terrible memory (and remembering his enemy Mark Kenji Damage had escaped him the last time they crossed paths), Travis dropped out of the black pod violently against the ground, coughing to try and throw up the sticky substance that filled his lungs during his time in the pod. He took a couple of minutes to allow his bearings to recover and to realise where he was. He was shocked to see Phoenix, Jessie, Taryse & Hao sealed inside three more of those black pods. Then he glanced over and noticed that another pod was functional, but empty.
"Nero..."
Travis walked over to Taryse's pod and began to examine it. The vines that bound the female Kamen Rider looked to be natural wildlife but it also appeared to be part mechanical because there was a control panel hooked into the side of the pod. Travis moved towards it and found out that they needed a code to break it. He tried to hack into the system, but ended up on the sharp end of an electric shock.
"Shit!" Travis exclaimed. He moved over to the empty pod other than his and checked the timer. It had an unchanging ETA of 99:99:99... almost to indicate that the Riders were condemned there.
Travis looked befuddled: "Who the hell let me out?"
Travis then suddenly turned to see a gigantic explosion in the city. He briefly turned back to his friends.
"I'll come back for you." Travis said. He strapped the Delta Belt to his waist and raised the Delta Phone to his face.
"Henshin!"
Standing By!
He hooked the Delta Phone to the Delta Mover.
Complete!
Travis transformed into Kamen Rider Delta. He left a note right underneath Phoenix's pod and summoned his combat unit, the Jet Sliger.
Dear Burning Bird,
I'm going to find out what's happening around town. If any of you wake up, look for Nero... and godspeed.
Double-T.
--xxx--
Travis sped through the city in the direction of where the explosion occured. He noticed that the city was in really bad shape... and was flooded with Hybrids. It didn't take long for Travis to get the monsters' attention, so he dismounted and noticed another Rider being overwhelmed. It was Ray Blazer, A.K.A Kamen Rider IXA. Travis removed his sidearm from its holster and rushed into battle. He shot one Hybrid and swung a kick at another.
Travis leapt into the air and scored with a forward single-leg dropkick that took down a group of the beasts. He helped Ray up off the ground.
"I was wondering if anybody else had survived these thorns!" Ray quipped, bringing the IXA Calibur to his side in blade mode. Travis held up the Delta Phone while Ray inserted the Calibur Fuestle into the IXA Belt.
Exceed Charge!
IXA Calibur, Rise Up!
Travis took out several Hybrids with his Rider Kick, the Lucifer's Hammer, while Ray inflicted IXA Judgement on a group of several others. The monsters all met death soon after.
"So, do I need to ask what happened to you?" Travis said in sarcasm.
"No. I was placed in a pod like you were. I'm interested in finding out who has committed this sin." Ray responded.
"You and me both. I'm going to find out what happened. You're welcome to tag along." Travis offered.
Ray grinned: "Do I have much choice?"