Last time on Academy Kamen Rider:
"So that's what's happened. Augen told me to come let you all know and I saw you all congregating during lunch, so I took this opportunity." Eddie finished explaining. Professor Liger placed his hand on the roundtable.
"So what you're telling us is Erik Caine is being controlled by some unseen force and causing carnage?" Professor Liger asked. Eddie nodded slightly, causing Professor Muro to get out of his seat.
"We've got to stop him. This academy has already been weakened by the constant Oni Rider invasions and Frantz's financial undermining. We need to restrain Erik Caine... if only for his own good." Muro decided.
Professor Mikuchi spoke up: "Are you thinking of using the sealing techniques again?"
"No. My memory of their usage is gone. I haven't had to worry about it since Nero got himself back under control." Ryker said, shaking his head. "No, this time... drastic measures are needed. Eddie, as a Kamen Rider, I feel as if I must request this from you. Attempt to restrain Kamen Rider Yusei and draw him out into the open so I can put a capture plan into motion."
Eddie nodded: "Yes, Professor."
Eddie then plucked the Skull Gaia Memory from his jacket and headed out the door.
"Capture plan?" Professor Boyd wondered.
Ryker gave off an annoyed smirk: "Not so much a capture plan... as an unpopular decision. Professor Liger, gather the Academy's Disciplinary Squad."
Augen's suit energised into Thought Ruler Form while Raz's costume became more violent. Both Riders began to advance. Raz threw a punch forward but was quickly halted by Yusei. The former Fangire King lashed out with a kick to knock back Augen then slammed his own fist into Raz's chest. While Raz recovered, Augen moved forward again, grappling hold of Yusei and trying to restrain him. This was Raz's chance, moving in again and striking both fists forward. Yusei let out a growl of annoyance: "Alright you've had your fun. Now it's my turn…" The Riders both knew what was coming but there was no time to avoid it. Multiple dark lightning blasts flew out of the Darkness Edge Eternia. Still holding onto him, Augen received the brunt of the attack, crashing to the ground. Raz was also knocked back but managed to stay on his feet. Yusei, however, intended to change that. He charged in and took hold of the wannabe detective, swiftly lifting Raz high above his head thanks to his immense strength. "Oh, you better put me down!" Raz snapped. "As you wish!" Yusei shot back, and threw Raz down, straight on top of Augen. Yusei didn't have time to take advantage, as Kamen Rider Skull arrived on the scene on his SkullBoilder, armed with the Skull Magnum.
"Eddie!" Augen called out.
Eddie produced Raz's Spider Shock and attached it to the Skull Magnum.
Spider!
Eddie fired a spider-like net at Yusei and restrained him briefly, before Yusei used the Darkness Edge Eternia in an almighty swing to rip himself free. Another lightning pulse followed, putting Yusei's opponents on the floor.
"None of you are worth my time." Yusei concluded, taking off in a different direction once more.
Erik mustered up a smile: "Don't turn all soft on me now, Augen. Your toughness is what made me respect you."
Augen went wide-eyed; those had been the very words he said to Erik after the rematch against Makai. Augen placed his hand on Erik's shoulder and nodded.
"My friend... I will rescue you! I swear it!" Augen declared. Erik nodded in agreement.
"What's the meaning of this?!" Augen demanded.
"It's for your own good."
The students and professors all looked back to see Professor Ryker appear with more Disciplinary officers in tow.
"That was too close a call for me to overlook. The powers of Kamen Rider Yusei have so many dark secrets that threaten the academy, this island and more importantly, the lives of my students. I can't let that slide, not after three Oni invasions and Frantz's deception. I'm sorry, but Erik Caine..."
Ryker picked up the idle YuKivat and YuKivat Belt: "...you are hereby expelled from Academy Kamen Rider and are no longer a Kamen Rider. Your departure arrangements will be made in the morning. For now, you'll be placed in the Disciplinary cells."
---xxx---
Academy Kamen Rider.
Chapter 25: End of Term.
Nobuya slammed his PDA on the desk in his room, causing the battery compartment to come loose. He scrambled to reattach the battery as he digested the news that was just linked to his PDA: Erik Caine had been expelled by the Academy.
"Now I'll never have my vengeance. I've got to find a way to get him reinstated!" Nobuya told himself as he switched his PDA back on, clicking the satellite uplink that refreshed the news feed. He looked towards the MakaiDriver in his jacket before turning back to the news feed. His eyes focused upon the announcement.
All of a sudden, an inferno melted the door from his academy room, causing Nobuya to drop down to protect himself. He looked up, and the Dragon Dopant had entered his dorm room. Nobuya could hear the panic among his fellow Agito dorm students.
"Professor Frantz... or do you prefer 'Dragon Dopant'?" Nobuya greeted mockingly.
Frantz grinned under his kaijin face: "Long time, no see, my former student. You know, I'll never forget that even after I gave you all the tools necessary to defeat Erik Caine, you still failed me. His recent departure from this island has allowed me to exact revenge on those who've now outcasted me. This also presents an opportunity to punish you for your failure... Dori-kun."
"Go ahead and try, Dopant..." Nobuya challenged, strapping the MakaiDriver to his waist. "Henshin!"
Kamen Ride: Makai!
Nobuya transformed into Makai and leapt at his former mentor, who used the Dragon Memory's superspeed ability to sidestep, letting Nobuya sail to the ground below, right off the balcony. Frantz jumped after Nobuya, picking him up violently by the throat.
"At one time, you were the greatest Rider in the Ichigo dorm and my greatest student... it sickens me to see how far you have fallen. No matter; I'll be putting you out of your misery soon!" Frantz vowed, clawing at Nobuya's chest repeatedly before Nobuya managed to kick himself free.
"I'm sure you're still missing Yusei's company... so I have something to tide you over!" Nobuya taunted, taking out one of the few cards he had in the Card Holder and inserted it into the MakaiDriver.
Form Ride: Yusei Stardust!
Nobuya crystallised into Yusei Stardust Form, bringing an artificial Stardust Saber to his hand. But even with this empowering, Frantz was still too strong for Nobuya, who was sent crashing into a tree and then the stairs up to the Agito dorm's balcony. Frantz continued his assault, forcing Nobuya's hand after he is reverted to his regular form.
Final Attack Ride: Makai!
Nobuya attempted to pull Frantz in for the Dimension Burst, but Frantz's bulky frame was difficult to move. Instead, Nobuya found himself being pulled into his own card holograms by Frantz's weight. Nobuya soon lost his grip and went sailing into a violent blast by Frantz, knocking Nobuya straight back into human form, with his Agito dorm jacket torn at the back and blood dripping from his mouth.
Frantz began to approach his foe for the final blow: "Goodbye... Dori-kun!"
"No... your opponent is me!"
Frantz turned his head to see Augen, having pulled up on his Rider Runner. Augen removed his gloves and stood across from Frantz, ready to fight.
"You..." Frantz growled in a hateful tone, equipping himself with a Dopant sword.
"Time to make it a final two days to remember!" Augen thought to himself.
"Henshin!"
---xxx---
Raz Hybrid burst into his makeshift office at the Riderman dorm and threw down his fedora in anger. The Fang Memory appeared on his desk and Raz allowed himself to sink into his seat.
"I'm sorry, but Erik Caine, you are hereby expelled from Academy Kamen Rider and are no longer a Kamen Rider."
"I've gotta find some way to help get Erik reinstated!" Raz told himself. Someone heard it.
"I heard that." Eddie said, poking his own torn fedora through Raz's door. "But unless Professor Ryker can turn his concrete decisions to water, I doubt there's anything we can do."
Raz sighed: "Not to mention Frantz is still nosing around somewhere on the island."
Eddie then had a thought: "I guess we could finish what Erik started and bring Frantz down ourselves!"
Raz stood up from his chair and pulled the six Gaia Memories from his jacket, placing them on the desk, along with the Double Driver.
"I'll be taking those."
Eddie turned and they both saw Rito Inukaze standing in the doorway with the Engine Blade on his shoulder.
"We didn't manage to finish our fight the other day. You ran off like a little bitch." Rito mocked with a grin.
"Blade dorm student, you are fined one credit for a violation of the Academy's verbal morality code."
"We don't have time to fight, Accel... plus, I'm not in the mood." Raz insisted, filling his jacket back up with his henshin device.
Rito's grin was gone: "I don't like that tone, Hybrid. I'm going to get your Double Driver sooner or later. Not to mention Eddie's Lost Driver and all those Gaia Memories. I'll be seeing you both very soon... that is if Professor Frantz hasn't marked you for death yet."
Eddie was surprised: "What?!"
"Oh, you didn't hear? Frantz and his Masquerade buddies are tearing down the Agito dorm as we speak. He was looking for a fight." Rito explained.
"We've gotta get over there!" Eddie panicked as he turned to Raz, who placed his fedora on his head.
"Wanna' come along? You could use the action... since I have more important things to be doing than fighting you." Raz asked Rito.
Rito shrugged: "Let's go then."
Accel!
"Hen... Shin!" Rito called, transforming into Kamen Rider Accel and quickly moving into Bike Form while Raz & Eddie mounted the HardBoilder and the SkullBoilder respectively.
---xxx---
"Professor Ryker... Jack... I'm going to ask you to reconsider your decision on this one." Professor Mikuchi began as he entered his superior's office. "I normally agree with everything you do, but this seems a little rash considering that Erik Caine had been released from the dark influence."
Ryker was having none of it: "My mind is made up, Keitarou... Erik is to leave this island. I will not risk my students' lives to keep him here. Plus, if he gets taken over by that dark force again... we could all end up dead."
"True, but remember what you told us about Nero Samson, the boy I was cloned from. He was the White Lion Relinquished and managed to get that power in check before he destroyed those close to him. And you forget that because of my previous affiliation to Professor Jaden Stryder, I may be part Relinquished and/or Hybrid." Keitarou argued.
"That isn't an argument, Keitarou. Nero is strong, just as you are. He could come to terms with accepting all those sins he committed while he was out of control, but Erik Caine is different. I'm not only expelling him because of my students' wellbeings... I'm sparing him the horror of destroying that which he holds dear, which could lead to destroying himself. Erik Caine's judgement is clouded; if Nero Samson cared too much for his friends, then Erik Caine is ten times worse. I don't do this because I want to, Keitarou... I do it because I must." Ryker responded.
Keitarou scratched his head: "Have you talked to his friends? They all deserve an explanation."
Before Jack could answer, Keitarou's PDA bleeped.
"Frantz is over at the Agito dorm with an army of Masquerade Dopants. Augen is fighting Frantz now. I should get over there." Keitarou concluded. Ryker nodded and watched as Keitarou left, before turning back to his window. He then walked to the next room, the Disciplinary Cells. He walked into Erik Caine's cell, watching the boy as he looked at YuKivat's unconscious body, chained to the wall.
"Professor." Erik greeted without much enthusiasm.
"A lot of people are fighting to keep you here, Erik. It's very difficult telling them that my mind's made up already, especially since you're one of my greatest students." Ryker began, taking a seat next to Erik, who turned to the professor.
"No. You made the right decision. I'm dangerous... and I don't want my friends caught in whatever revenge I might have cooked up in my mind. I thank you for everything, Professor... but if you say it's time for me to leave, then I'm going to leave." Erik replied, listening as Negataros & Ziggy struggled in their cells.
"Considering the press you've brought to this academy since your arrival, I'm not so sure this expulsion is a good idea, but I have to stick by it." Ryker explained, just as his PDA began to buzz just as Keitarou's had earlier.
"Ryker here."
"Sir, several students are trying to get into your office to see you... should I turn them away?"
"No, wait for me to get back to the office and then let them in. I'm sure it's Erik Caine's friends. They mean no harm." Ryker said, switching the PDA connection off, before turning to Erik again. "Looks like your friends are about to try and shy me away from my decision. After I'm done talking to them, I'll let them come see you."
He walked out of the cells while Erik continued to watch YuKivat and listen to the distress of his Arms Monsters. Ryker walked into his office once again, sitting down before Erik's friends, lead by Dax, burst into the office.
"Professor! You've gotta' reconsider expelling Erik! He's been there for us, taken care of us and defended this academy to the last Rider! I think this is a lousy way to be repaid for his efforts!" Dax protested.
Ryker remained calm: "On the contrary, Erik believes my decision to be a good idea. He said he doesn't want you getting hurt by his hands and that he sees this expulsion as a way to ensure that."
Dax was taken aback by the statement: "Can we see him?"
Ryker nodded: "One at a time of course."
---xxx---
Frantz suddenly jumped, pressing on Augen's arms and using that to lift himself up. The evil Dragon Dopant slammed a kick straight into Augen's face, sending him reeling backwards. Augen tried to shake off the disorientation but Frantz was already taking full advantage of the situation, moving in again and ramming with his shoulder.
Augen flew backwards, landing on the grass with a dull thud. Frantz charged again, leaping up and sending a airborne kick slamming into his enemy. Augen toppled back but went with the momentum, rolling over and quickly standing back up. Augen fought back, performing a fast combo of punches. Frantz shook the cobwebs just in time to grab onto Augen's arms and stop him.
The pair fought for control again – but this time Augen had Frantz right where he wanted him. He suddenly let his rage ignite, bursting into Frantz with a Skull Dragon Break. The Dragon Dopant cried out in pain as the signature attack did its job, hitting him with a jolt of dangerous energy and blasting him back. Augen did not stop there either, thrusting his arm forward and sending out a powerful Rider Punch that promptly hit its target.
Frantz refused to back down. Quickly bringing out his Dopant Sword he opened fire with a slashblast, the pain he inflicted on Augen only minor but enough to buy him some time to recover. Augen summoned the God Blade and emitted a shockwave of his own, striking the ground with an earthquake heading straight for Frantz. However Frantz was fully alert, leaping up to avoid the blast and firing off more shots.
As the two Riders met again, Augen was quick to land several hard strikes with his Saber. Frantz was weakened but resolved to fight back, ducking under the weapon's next swipe and grabbing onto Augen's arm. Augen lashed out with his leg, sending kick after kick into Frantz's side but the Dragon Dopant refused to budge. He just took the offense as he continued to pull back on his opponent's arm.
Augen eventually let out an involuntary sharp cry that let Frantz know he had the upper hand. The pain in Augen's arm forced him to loosen his grip on his Saber, which is exactly what Frantz had wanted. A sharp kick upwards sent the God Blade flying out of Augen's hand, and Frantz was already moving for it.
With a strong leap he caught the God Blade in midair and descended back down, striking Augen with his own weapon and the Dopant Sword at the same time. Augen stumbled back towards a tree, and Frantz saw his chance, spearing the God Blade forward. Augen rolled away at the last second as the God Blade pierced the tree where Augen's head had been.
Meanwhile, Nobuya fought with the Masquerade Dopants. Nobuya began to fend off the Dopants using his fighting skills. He was quick to kick one in the chest, before delivering a strong punch. Two more Dopants moved in unison, both kicking Nobuya while he was still crouched. He rolled away, getting back up to continue the fight.
Nobuya concentrated on the multiple Dopants rushing towards him. He executed a swift roundhouse kick to one, before punching another that tried to rush in. He then flipped backwards, quickly shifting into a twist and swiped his fist straight across a Dopant's neck. Nobuya took out the Final Attack Ride card, deciding it was time to end the fight.
Final Attack Ride: Makai!
Nobuya blasted most of the Dopants with the Dimension Burst. Unluckily, more Dopants arrived to take their place.
"Was there a sale on you guys down at the Dopant store?" Nobuya taunted before the Dopants overran him. Luckily, Raz, Eddie & Rito arrived at this moment. Shifting to Rider form, Rito used the Engine Blade to strike each one of the Dopants down, giving Nobuya space to move out of harm's way. Raz & Eddie attached their Drivers to their waists, taking their Memories in hand.
Heat!
Skull!
Joker!
"Henshin!" Eddie called.
Skull!
Eddie transformed into Kamen Rider Skull.
"Henshin!" Raz followed, parting the Double Driver's memory terminals.
Heat! Joker!
Raz became Double HeatJoker and they joined the fight.
---xxx---
"Erik... I don't want you to leave... man, we're all best friends. I couldn't bear losing someone from the group. Much less the leader." Dax explained.
Erik placed a hand on his friend's shoulder: "It may have to be done, Dax. I don't want anyone to lose their life because of me. Which is why I'm going to ask a favor of you."
"What is it, man? I'll do anything for a brother." Dax offered.
Erik smiled: "If I ever go out of control again... if I ever attempt to kill anyone I love... I want you to take your Final Vent and destroy me."
Dax nodded slowly, weary of his friend's words: "You can count on me, Erik. But it's not going to come to that. I swear it."
Dax then left the room, allowing Christina to walk in.
"Hello, Christina." Erik greeted with a smile.
"I don't want you to go... and I'm shocked you even agree with leaving. I'm sad... because I was just starting to like you. No... I love you. I can admit it now. It's because of that, that I don't want you to be gone. I'm doing everything I can to convince Jack otherwise." Christina explained, tears welling up in her eyes from her admittance of love. Erik grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. They embraced and then shared a kiss.
"I love you too, Christina... but I have to leave. For your safety and the safety of the rest of the student body. But I will always be with you, no matter where you go... and remember that I'll be waiting after you graduate." Erik replied. Suddenly, the alarms went off.
"Attention! Dopant attacks are in progress! Repeat! Dopant attacks are in progress!"
"Christina, take the others and go take care of Frantz... I'm counting on you all." Erik encouraged, kissing Christina's hand. She hesitated for a moment and then nodded, taking off with the others. Erik sighed as he spotted several teardrops she had left behind.
---xxx---
Joker! Maximum Drive!
"Joker Grenade!" Raz commanded, jumping into the air before splitting in half and striking a group of Dopants with HeatJoker's finisher.
Skull! Maximum Drive!
"Paradise Lost!" Eddie yelled, letting a continuous burst stream from the Skull Magnum devastate his enemy Dopants with ease.
Accel! Maximum Drive!
"Accel Glanzer!" Rito finished, striking his enemy Dopants with the swinging roundhouse kick finisher.
"Despair is your goal!" Rito quipped as the Dopants all became victims of a Memory Break. Unfortunately, the Masquerade Dopants were quickly replaced with more, with the three Riders finding it difficult to cope with them all.
"Don't you see, Kagemarou? The time of this Academy is over! I soon shall be taking your lives!" Frantz promised, striking Augen in the chest with his Dopant Sword and then stomping on Augen's shoulder. He turned his gaze towards the Academy building, specifically at the professors' lounge. He spread his wings and kicked Augen over before crashing into the Academy's wall, straight into the lounge, coming face-to-face with the other professors. Feeling somewhat confident, Frantz detransformed and flipped the Dragon Memory up and down in his hands. Then in front of the professors, he once again inserted it into the Memory tattoo.
Dragon!
---xxx---
"This isn't getting any easier!" Nobuya complained.
"Yeah, these are grim days, but we can't give up now! Not with the academy's future at stake!" Eddie responded.
"Raz, go help the professors! The rest of us will fight off the Dopants!" Augen suggested. Raz nodded and pressed some buttons on the Stag Phone, summoning the HardTubuler from the RevolGarry. He hopped on and chased after Frantz.
"Hey!"
Everyone turned to see Dax, Amanda, Christina, Puppy, the Ryozakis, Phil & Zane show up to even the playing field. Eddie and Dax teamed up on a group of Masquerade Dopants, both of them using their Skull Magnum & EmeraldShot weapons, rushing in after them.
Eddie held his Skull Magnum in both hands, allowing Dax to use it as leverage to flip over him. In mid air, Dax grabbed Eddie's Skull Magnum, and with a weapon in each hand, took down two of the Masquerade Dopants with well-placed shots to the chest. Dax ducked as he tossed Eddie his Magnum, and Eddie jumped over Dax, shooting off two of the Masquerade Dopants' heads.
Puppy and Christina stood back to back, each of them with a weapon in hand, blasting through the Masquerade Dopants. A Masquerade Dopant charged at them, but they hit a double spin kick, and while it was in midair, both of them used their weapons, Memory-Breaking the Masquerade Dopant on impact.
One of the Masquerade Dopants were able to kick the Slash Buster out of Puppy's hand, but before it could make a move, Christina rushed at the Masquerade Dopant with a series of kicks, taking it down. Puppy did a flip, catching the Slash Buster in midair, landing on his feet, aiming the Hurricane Slash in Christina's direction.
Christina ducked. The finisher blasted a hole through the Masquerade Dopant behind her. Then a strong Dopant bashed them down, relieving them of their weapons. Shiro got back from fighting a group of Masquerade Dopants and came to help out. Two Masquerade Dopants rushed at him, but he ducked, picking up both the Poison Rose and the Slash Buster, aiming and slashing at them.
It was enough to cut a hole through their chests, and as they stumbled back, Shiro rushed at them with a flying sidekick, taking them down. Two more shot their guns at him, but he did a flip to avoid them, landing behind them. As one turned around, he kicked it in the stomach. It dropped its gun, and Shiro picked it up, ramming it into the Masquerade Dopant's head.
The other one rushed at him, but he pushed it forward, sending it into the other Masquerade Dopant. Both collapsed to the ground, and he quickly constructed the Savage Gasher, stopping another Masquerade Dopant from rushing towards him. One more tried to enter the fray, but it was promptly floored by the Savage Gasher for its troubles.
"Right! Let's stop Frantz!" Augen yelled, leading the others into the Academy.
---xxx---
"Dopant? You actually obtained a Gaia Memory?!" Taylor yelled out as Frantz's physical form was upgraded to that of the Dragon Dopant.
"I did what had to be done to rid this Academy of unworthy students... and to bring to me some satisfaction that the weakest were denied! In my last black market transaction, I bought the Dragon Gaia Memory! Now that my identity has been revealed, my only option is to relieve you all of your lives!" Frantz explained, with Kiva the First's influence awakening to set his Life Fangs on Professors Taylor & Kato. Raz Hybrid arrived on the scene on the HardTubuler, taking the Stag Phone from his pocket.
"I'll get you, Dopant!" Raz declared, inserting the Heat Memory into the back of the Stag Phone.
Heat! Maximum Drive!
The Phone flipped out into its Live Mode and blazed into the Life Fangs, saving Taylor & Kato from certain death.
"You're that annoying Riderman dormer I can't seem to get rid of! So you'd use that Rider Belt of yours against a professor of this Academy who busted his ass to give you an education?!" Frantz raged.
"We use Rider Belts to shop for groceries... dick." Raz quipped, holding the Luna and Trigger Memories ready.
Luna! Trigger!
Raz changed into Double LunaTrigger and shot at Frantz with the Trigger Magnum, using the Luna Memory's illusion ability to bend the bullets around and strike Frantz at the back.
"Nice trick. Now watch mine!" Frantz growled, thrusting his fist in the air. Suddenly, a platoon of Masquerade Dopants burst into the room and overran Raz with their guns. Ryker quickly retreated into his office, taking the keys from his desk. He marched into the Disciplinary Cells and opened Erik's cell door.
"Everyone is getting overrun out there... I have no choice but to risk your entrance back onto Academy grounds! Unlock your friends!" Ryker suddenly announced, passing Erik the keys.
Back out in the corridors, everyone was being attacked by Masquerade Dopants as Frantz watched. Augen and the others burst in, attempting the subdue the Dopant crowd.
"Why are you doing this, Frantz?!" Professor Kato demanded.
Frantz smirked: "Power. Energy. Strength. My ultimate vengeance will be complete when I've eradicated every last Rider on this island and then I'm going to confront the Riders who aren't on this island! You can admit now that your decision to expel that monster Yusei was a dumb mistake... one that us Dopants are going to take advantage of!"
"Wrong."
Frantz watched Jack Ryker appear from the office, with some very familiar people behind him.
"Erik!" Dax yelled out, happy to see his friend back. Amanda was also overjoyed, as was Christina. Augen was relieved to his friend save and sound.
"I know... I may not be a student at the Academy any longer... but I made a vow! To protect my friends! To protect those close to me! And you, Frantz... I'm going to destroy you! YuKivat, let's go!" Erik declared. Ziggy & Negataros winked as they assumed their fighting stances
"YOSH! YUKIVATTE IKUZE!"
Biting!
The YuKivat Belt was summoned to Erik's waist as the stained glass tattoos extended throughout his body, with the powers of Castling Eternia having affected and altered them. In fact, Christina couldn't believe how violent Erik looked; even his eyes were shrouded with the darkness that Castling Eternia represented. Suddenly, YuKivat flashed into his Eternia form, causing the professors some alarm.
"He's going to kill everyone!" Professor Boyd panicked.
"See? It's just as I say! Kamen Rider Yusei is truly a monster!" Frantz yelled. But these words just drove Erik more and more.
"Henshin."
Erik latched YuKivat onto the Belt, causing his body to start sparking with black electricity. A completely black Fuestle appeared in YuKivat's mouth.
Castling Eternia!
Erik's body went black as Ziggy & Negataros felt themselves being absorbed into the shadows. The two monster friends reached out for one another, allowing the shadows to overcome them. Erik shattered from dark crystal to reveal Yusei Castling Form, wielding the Darkness Edge Eternia once more. Dax was shocked, but he also remembered what he had to do if Erik got out of control. Dax reached down to his Vent Deck and pulled out the Survive Nishi card. The Emerald Shot combined with Emerald Visor shapeshifted into the Emerald Visor-Zwei before Dax placed the card in the slot and assumed Survive Form.
Survive!
Erik forewent any pleasantries and charged straight for the Dragon Dopant, ignoring his Dopant comrades along the way. Frantz tried to sidestep as before, but Erik would give him no such opportunity. Darkly staring at the Dopant, Erik lifted him up by the throat and then swung a roundhouse kick that sent Frantz flying back.
The Masquerade Dopants attempted to follow after Erik and blindside him, but Dax & Amanda were there to stop them. Dax took out a card and placed it in the slot on the Emerald Visor-Zwei.
Advent!
This summoned Gargonizer in motorcycle form, who crashed into the Masquerade Dopants with no problems at all. Amanda chipped in with her Queen Rouser. Raz continued to fight as the Fang Memory came to his aid. Raz ducked under a few gunshots from the Dopants as he flipped the Memory out and replaced the Memories in his Double Driver.
Fang! Joker!
Now Double FangJoker, Raz laid into the Dopants with ferocity while Eddie shot at most of them with the Skull Magnum. Zane punched out at his enemies using the Hunter Knuckle, Puppy used his Slash Buster to deadly accuracy and Christina tore through her opponents with relative ease.
Royal Straight Flush!
Final Vent!
Final Vent!
Final Attack Ride: Makai!
Fang! Maximum Drive!
Skull! Maximum Drive!
Engine! Maximum Drive!
Wake Up!
Hurricane Slash, Ascend!
Hunter Knuckle, Rise Up!
Wake Up!
Full Charge!
Full Charge!
With their finishers, the Riders defeated the Masquerade Dopants, swiftly emptying the lounge, which was completely trashed from the fight. Augen turned to see that Erik & Frantz had taken their skirmish outside, with Frantz unable to get a lookin due to the ferocity of the Darkness Edge Eternia.
"W-wait! You were right! I was wrong! It was an honor to teach you here!" Frantz panicked.
"No more lies!" Erik yelled out, striking Frantz again with his larger weapon. Augen dropped down from the Academy to watch the fight's continuation, in which Erik was dominating.
"Why did you always have to get in my way?! You could've been so much more if you'd listened to me and came over to the Ichigo dorm!" Frantz continued to placate the enraged Erik Caine.
"I'm tired of listening to your voice! It grates on my nerves! All you've done from day one was lie to me and most of the other students! You've stolen money, bought Gaia Memories, stolen Rider powers and tried to kill off all non-bluejackets! Not to mention you almost killed Christina! You should die by my hands!" Erik yelled out, raising the Darkness Edge Eternia for a final attack.
"Erik! Don't! If you kill him, none of his victims will get justice! And you'll be no better than him!" Augen pleaded.
Erik barked: "After all he's done, you're asking me to show mercy?!"
Christina and Erik shared another apologetic and worried look, each seeming to feel that this mess was their own fault. But a shake of Erik's head and a grim nod from Christina put that issue to rest, the two reaching a silent agreement to drop the issue for now and focus on getting out before it was too late. Each began to struggle against the bonds with furious determination, eyes repeatedly drifting down to the bomb as it tick-tick-ticked its way toward their doom. They had ten minutes before their lives went up in smoke.
Frantz smiled, hiding his contempt for this Den-O dormer: "You're too late. The Legendorga already took him. And I know the location."
"Tell me!" Erik requested.
"Before we get this thing on the road... Frantz! There's something I've gotta' say to you. I don't appreciate the fact that you've been out to get me since I enrolled, but that's not what boils my skin to the brink! I also hate the fact that not too long ago, you tried to blow me up with the entire Kuuga dorm building! That's right, Professor! I'm accusing you of being Imperer!" Erik yelled, causing everyone to stare at Frantz in utter shock.
Frantz just smirked, pointing at Erik: "Watch your tongue, boy. You're talking to an executive shareholder of the Academy! Anyways, how dare you come and accuse me of being the rumoured Advent Thief? Joseph Harbinger is a thief, so it easily could've been him that took all those Vent Decks! How can you be so sure that I've tried to kill you time and again? Because I've had nothing to do with the incidents involving you!"
"When me and Christina were tied up in the Kuuga dorm basement without any doors by Kamen Rider Imperer, Imperer was there mocking us for getting captured. And then he said the words 'any explosion will be blamed on that Mikuchi again', referring to Professor Mikuchi, who you have a long-running distaste for! Plus, you made the mistake of saying those last three words in the same room with Professor Muro in the exact same way, with me listening in. Attempted murder and DIY demolition is going to screw up your prospects in life, Frantz!"
"So, not only were you plotting to kill my students, Markus... you also stole money from us too? 'Disappointed' is going to be a nice way of putting my now-foul mood at my finding-out about your embezzlement schemes." Ryker announced.
Erik's anger grew but once he reached boiling point, Erik tossed the Darkness Edge Eternia to one side, instead pulling Frantz up by his neck and punching the daylights out of the Dragon Dopant.
"Frantz... I'm not going to kill you... you're going to live to regret your sins!" Erik declared. Suddenly, his armor lit up and changed. The darkness was replaced by an aged bronze look with a white Omnilens and a silver Hell's Gate chest armor. The material underneath turned dark blue and a bronze cape unveiled itself from behind Erik's back. Erik had assumed the true Yusei Castling Form. The Darkness Edge Eternia levitated itself back to Erik's hand, where he took the sword's now-bronze Fuestle and gave it to YuKivat, now back in his original silver coloring.
Final Wake Up!
Erik crossed his arms and turned the day prematurely to night. He turned the Darkness Edge Eternia to its side. The chains shattered to reveal the Hell's Gate wings on the hilt of the sword. He levitated into the sky and once in front of the moon, swiftly descended upon the Dragon Dopant with the Bloody Eclipse Break that sliced through Frantz before striking the ground. Frantz dropped to his knees. While still in Dopant form, the Memory retracted and bashed against the floor intact, but Frantz remained in kaijin form.
"What is this?" Erik wondered as Frantz's human body fell to the floor, but the Dragon Dopant also remained. Suddenly, the Dopant struck Erik with its claws and stood up. Augen rushed to Erik's aid.
"You dare mock my armor, boy?! I'm going to take back those powers and then the Fangires will rise to prominence again!" The Dragon Dopant declared in a very familiar voice.
"Kiva the First?" Erik asked in surprise.
"Must've invaded Frantz's body when we expelled him from yours!" Augen guessed. Soon he was forced to push Erik in the opposite direction before the empowered Dopant's blasts reached them.
"Your lives end here!" Kiva the First growled, sending more blasts their way. Augen withdrew the Thought Ruler Fuestle and fed it to KageDoran.
Thought Ruler!
Kiva the First used the Dragon Dopant's wings to fly into the air, forcing Erik & Augen to ride on Osiris Doran to chase him. Braving the Dopant/Fangire's powers, the two Riders decided it was now or never.
"Erik! It's been an honor!" Augen said, taking the Orichalcos Fuestle in hand.
"Honor's been all mine, buddy!" Erik responded, doing likewise with the Awakening Fuestle.
Waking Up!
Wake Up!
Day turned to night again as Kiva the First turned to face Erik & Augen, who both vaulted off of Osiris Doran's back and backflipped in front of the moon before descending upon Kiva the First with the Thought Ruler Skull Dragon Break and Castling Dominance Crash Break attacks. Back at ground level, Kiva the First crashed against the hard concrete as Erik & Augen landed across from him.
"My rebirth... has been... a failure... why?!" Kiva the First screamed in defeat. His possessed body crystallised and then shattered like a Fangire.
"We did it." Augen commented, returning to his human appearance. Erik did likewise, keeping his smile intact.
"A lot has happened in the past year, champ... I'm glad I was along for the ride." Erik responded.
Augen shook his head: "You made the Academy what it is today, Erik. Not me. It's safe to say I was the one along for the ride. All eyes used to be on me... but now they're on you. The future of this Academy rests with you, Erik... provided Professor Ryker doesn't still want you gone."
"ERIK!"
The two triumphant Riders turned to see the students who had returned. Erik embraced Christina upon arrival.
"I thought I'd lost you for good." Christina cried.
"Well, I'm right here... and I'm not going anywhere." Erik replied, giving Christina a quick kiss before hugging her tightly. Augen high-fived Eddie as everyone gathered, with Zane & Puppy at the front.
"Erik... before I leave this Academy after prom night, I need to know whether I was right in placing the future of Hongo Island in your hands. Please... fight me." Augen requested.
"Huh?" Erik blinked.
"Only through battle do people understand one another, Erik. So, please... fight me." Augen repeated.
Erik nodded: "Let's go... Kagemarou."
Augen smiled: "Yeah... Yusei."
Suddenly, Erik punched Augen in the gut and then in the mouth. Augen responded by kneeing Erik in the gut several times and throwing him across the floor, where he followed and attempted a ground-and-pound attack, but Erik kicked Augen away. They stood across from each other.
"Henshin." Erik said.
"Henshin!" Augen responded.
In Rider Form, they charged at each other again, grabbing each other by the throat before breaking away.
---xxx---
"So... did Ryker tell you why he reinstated you?" Christina wondered, sipping her coffee at the lunch hall.
Erik shrugged: "I guess it could be because I brought Frantz back alive. It must've proved that I'm better than killing those who should face trial for their crimes."
Raz nodded: "Frantz went down for 25 years, not to mention he has no say over any of our futures anymore!"
Erik high-fived Raz and then turned to Dax: "What I said to you still applies, Dax... can you handle it?"
Dax grinned: "No problems, chief."
Nobuya walked up to their table: "Just so you know, Yusei... our rivalry is far from over. I will defeat you. I guarantee it."
"I'll be waiting, Nobuya." Erik simply replied. Nobuya smirked and walked away.
Phil spoke up: "I think it's time we talked about prom and got ready for it."
Erik nodded, and then turned to the table where Augen & Eddie sat with Professor Liger. Augen noticed and couldn't help but wave, as did Eddie. Erik returned it and then let his gaze shift to the bright sky outside.
"This has been quite a first term."
"You can say that again!" YuKivat commented.
"Hey, boss... the ride ain't over... and we'll be there along with you every step of the way!"
---xxx---
A/N: Chapter over! And with it, the first term has one more chapter to go before the movie! Which reminds me: anyone who hasn't completed their diary entries please do, as you're running out of time! I hope you've enjoyed the first term so far!
Next time on Academy Kamen Rider: The Academy's Prom! With Frantz now in jail, the students of the Academy can relax... or not! Shiro & Daniel 'King' Leon face off against each other to take Amanda as their date, Nobuya tries to regain his cards from Harbinger, Dax & Phil deal with Lucifer one more time and Augen is honored at the head table of the prom! Erik & Christina take a dance as the Academy launches into the future! Taiyou Maximum Drive!
This is a presentation of DJ Diddy Dog - DECADE FORM.
Let's Ride! Set your sights on the Other Side!
Coming Soon...
Two former Academy students are revived from the dead...
"Taichi... are you there?"
"Didn't we die?"
"Yeah. What's going on? We shouldn't even be here. Our bodies are mobile."
Chosen to stop an ancient evil...
"The Lost One... his prophecy is slowly being fulfilled!"
"If your powers are fed to the Lost One... the apocolypse will come."
"Lost in my darkness will be your rotting corpse!"
"The Lost One... Azrael!"
"The dark spirit of Azrael is infinite!"
Drawn back to the academy, some will put aside their differences to fight this evil...
"Oh my God! You guys got in too!"
"First class is Mecha. You ready for some fun, Doug?"
"Yep. Thrown in at the deep end; just the way I like it!"
"Friends?"
"Always, partner! Henshin!"
"Henshin!"
"I suppose we must band together if stopping such an entity is to be reality!"
Some will look to claim it's power as their own...
A sharp kick upwards sent the weapon flying out of Danki's hand, and Taichi was already moving for it. With a strong leap he caught the trumpet gun in midair and descended back down, striking Danki with his own weapon. Danki stumbled back and Taichi flipped open the Solar Divider. He then withdrew the Taiyou Memory from the Solar Driver and inserted it into the weapon, closing it back up.
Taiyou! Maximum Drive!
"Solar... Break Limit!" Taichi yelled, taking a superhuman leap into the air as the Solar Divider blazed with flames. Taichi descended swiftly to the floor, stabbing the Divider into the ground hard, causing Danki to become engulfed in a pillar of fire that destroyed him.
With an uppercut from Zanki following, Doug found himself back on the floor. Zanki took his buckle from his belt and connected it to his guitar, a sign of his finishing attack. But Doug wouldn't give Zanki the chance, backflipping to his feet and using the Crescent Edge as a boomerang once again to daze Zanki. Once the weapon had returned to him, Doug withdrew the Eclipse Memory from the Lunar Driver, inserting it into a Maximum Slot above the handguard.
Eclipse! Maximum Drive!
"Full Moon... Collapse!" Doug yelled out, jumping into the sky like Taichi had before him before swinging his arm from side-to-side, sending a crescent-shaped slashblast in Zanki's direction.
And one Rider... will stand in the way to save the world...
"Yusei... carry on the will of the Lost Champions... before this world is destroyed... take his life!"
"The comrades around me help and encourage me. They have always been there for me and I always try to return the favour. Fail or succeed, our souls will always shine through! And with their power to guide me... I will use the darkness you have shown me to bring an end to your apocalypse, Lost One!"
Final Wake Up!
"This is for all the people you have harmed. For all the lives you have taken. And for the future!"
And he will never have to face this challenge alone...
Fang! Maximum Drive!
"Fang Strider!"
"We're partners, now and forever!"
"YUKIVATTE... IKUZE!!!"
GEKIJOBAN ACADEMY KAMEN RIDER: LOST CHAMPIONS!
COMING 2010!