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. 029: With An Engraved Oath ~A.D. 1584~ [刻んだ誓いと 〜1584年〜/Kizanda Chikai to〜1584-nen〜]
"Transcending history and the world, a tale of souls and souls, once again eternally retold..."
(*Opening: "Gimmick Zone" by Hiroyuki Takami of access*)
[~Sobieru machi ga sakebu kage wo~] (In a strewn city of echoing shadows)
[~Atsumete yami o tsukisasu~] (Scattering and piercing the darkness)
[~Kouritsuku kiseki no kakera wo~] (A dream wanders in search)
[~Motomete yume ga samayou~] (Of a frozen miracle sword)
[~Tozasa rete ku yoru wo~] (The night that is being shut down)
[~Terasu tsuki ni soreta~] (Losing sight of the illuminating moon)
[~Kieta ashita ga irodoru~] (I will catch the afterimage)
[~Zanzou o tsukamae ni yuku~] (That the disappearing tomorrow is colored)
[~Sen kira reta setsuna wo kizu-goto saratte~] (I scoffed a scar with every moment passed)
[~Yobisamasu negai wa eien no senritsu~] (Hope is eternal melody that evokes)
[~Nidoto wa modosenai kiseki wo koete ku~] (Going beyond miracles that can never be returned)
[~Yami o saku hikari o nusumidase~] (Take the light that splits the darkness)
[~Break out, Gimmick Zone!~]
A.D. 1584
(1584年)
The candidates for joining the emperor's guard had slowly been whittled down. Some gave up and joined the army, while others returned home. Each had their own path to follow. Still in the running, Xianghua and Lingyu taught each other techniques, and threw themselves wholeheartedly into their training.
That is until, they meet a young man from the future who is destined to be king...
Sougo had to split from Taki and the others while exploring the Chinese imperial palace, the boy imagined what its like to see a palace looks like, fitting with the fact with his ambitions of becoming a king.
As Sougo explored, he recalled the exchange between him and Taki before they were about to subdue Geiz...
"I'm sorry I had to drag you into this.", the ninja said.
"It's okay. I really want to look further in the 16th century, to see what it looks like how kings do their duty to rule their nation.", Sougo replied. "Why Geiz is desperate in searching for Soul Calibur to use that to kill me?", he asked.
"Geiz has been digging too deep involving with the spirit sword.", Taki continued. "Even worse, that summoner named Ray is also after Soul Edge. And you know what makes Geiz and Ray very similar? They both want to use the soul swords to kill you and prevent Oma Zi-O from rising to power.", she then brought up why she's keeping Geiz from getting close to the spirit sword. "Geiz's hatred of you has becoming increasingly warped each time he is obsessed with the spirit sword. There's a reason why I'm trying to prevent him from obtaining Soul Calibur; it's because I don't want any of my allies in the present to be drawn to the soul swords as a means to protect them. Soul Edge had corrupted my master in the old timeline, and I've witnessed both Soul Edge and Soul Calibur clashed, resulting in a cataclysm."
"So, you're saying both Soul Edge and Soul Calibur are evil?", Sougo replied again.
"To be accurate, Soul Edge is a weapon of pure evil. But, Soul Calibur, despite being designed to destroy its evil counterpart, is nowhere as benign as it was meant to be. It instantly warps the wielder's sense of justice of those who lack a pure heart. This is why I'm trying to warn Geiz about."
"So, that's why you want both the two swords destroyed?"
"More likely, yes."
The flashback ends as Sougo inadvertently stumbled into a sparring with Xianghua and Lingyu.
"Phew...", Xianghua took a deep breath in and out after a round with Lingyu. "Another tough training session today. Wanna get some food together, Lingyu?"
"How about we go for another round first?", Lingyu insists for another round.
"What? Now?!", Xianghua pouted.
"What would you do if the emperor was attacked right-", Lingyu got to the point until she notices a presence - a young Japanese boy watching their sparring. "Wait, someone's watching us."
Xianghua and Lingyu direct their attention to Sougo, who observed them from a distance. Lingyu sensed the soon-to-be king's presence while she was insisting Xianghua for another round. To their surprise, the fact Sougo wears casual wear and it doesn't match with the current era, the two girls are curious to know where he is from.
"Hey, have we met from somewhere?", asked Xianghua.
"No.", Sougo replied.
"Who are you anyway?", Lingyu demanded.
"Tokiwa Sougo. I'm from 400 years from the future.", Sougo introduced himself. "My dream is to become a king."
"From the future?", Xianghua had no idea about the concept of time traveling.
And Lingyu then poke fun of Sougo's ambition of kinghood, "Wait, if you're a king, why are you dressed like a pauper?"
"I have not become a king yet! But, I am going to be.", Sougo made an insistent reply. "I come here to apologize in behalf of a friend of mine who attacked you guys."
"So that red guy was your friend?", Xianghua raised an eyebrow.
"Hardly. But, I still want to get along with him.", the 18-year old high schooler answered.
It seems that Sougo is willing to apologize for Geiz's actions earlier. However, he's not aware that interacting with people in the past can lead to disastrous consequences. Regardless of Geiz's hostile relationship with Sougo, the latter is more willing to defend him if he needs to.
"Say, if you're from the future, do you use that watch-like "thing" like that guy did?", it seems that Xianghua asks Sougo to spar against her and Lingyu by asking if Sougo uses the same Driver as Geiz.
"Oh, you mean this?", Sougo replied as he donned his Zikuu-Driver.
*Zikuu-Driver*
"I guess it is a king's duty to take on challengers.", Sougo added as he took out the Zi-O Ridewatch. "I got a feeling this will work out."
*(Digital beeping) Zi-O!*
Sougo inserted his Ridewatch on the right side of the Driver. He then unlocks the belt as a clockwork-like projection appeared behind him. Sougo then poses as he is about to spin the belt.
"Henshin!", he yelled and spun the Driver.
*(Electronic beat) Rider Time: Kamen Rider Zi-O!*
Now transformed into Kamen Rider Zi-O, the word "Rider" (ライダー) in katakana is now branded on his visor.
*Zikan Gilade! Ken!*
The Zikan Gilade is summoned, Xianghua and Lingyu charge at Zi-O as they fight him. Like their fight against Geiz, Zi-O proves to be a stronger opponent, along with the fact that Sougo possesses superior arsenal, suit, armor, and equipment, no less.
Much how Geiz's Zikan Zaxe that has both an axe and bow-and-arrow modes, little what Xianghua and Lingyu did not know that Zi-O's Zikan Gilade can also turn into a gun.
*Zyu!*
Sougo changes the Gilade to its gun mode. He fires at his opponents.
"Hey, no fair! Don't use that!", Lingyu asks Sougo to refrain from using a ranged weapon.
"Oh, right!", Sougo realizes that the 16th century still lack the usage of guns at this period. So, he takes another method.
Zi-O took out the Ryuki Ridewatch.
*(Digital beeping) Ryuki!*
After twisting the dial to match the Rider's face, and subsequently activating the watch, Zi-O inserted the Ryuki Watch into the left side of the Zikuu-Driver. Sougo unlocks and spins his Driver, which initiates Armor Time form change.
*[Zikuu-Driver voice] Armor Time!*
A projection of the Dragredder Advent Card appeared along with the Ryuki Armor doing the armor itself doing Ryuki's Final Vent pose and subsequently combines with Zi-O upon passing through it, resulting him assuming the Ryuki Armor. The word "Ryuki" in katakana (リュウキ) is branded on his visor.
*(Electronic beat w/ V-Buckle-esque music) [V-Buckle voice] Advent! [Ridewatch voice #2] RYUKI~!*
That was the same form that Zi-O assumed rescued Xianghua and Lingyu when Geiz attacked the two girls.
Zi-O Ryuki Armor conjures his copy of Ryuki's Drag Saber called the Drag Saber Z. It looks just like the Drag Saber itself, only it is made for Zi-O himself. Sougo focuses on Lingyu, while Xianghua was about to attack him, he conjures a copy of the Drag Shield to protect himself from her Chinese sword.
Despite her weapon being inferior against Zi-O, Xianghua refused to give up. It's becoming clear that she is almost like Sougo himself. Lingyu already conceded to Zi-O's strength, but Xianghua continued to prove that she can prevail against a warrior from the future.
As Sougo clashed blades with Xianghua, he senses something odd with Krita-Yuga.
("Her sword is..."), Sougo said to himself upon noticing a radiant glow within Krita-Yuga's blade.
However, the downside is that, it left Sougo vulnerable and open, as Xianghua managed to push him away.
Xianghua lowered herself before she slashes Zi-O into the air and deliver combos until he's left standing where a burst knocks Sougo to the ground, and forced out of his transformation.
"Wow, that was amazing!", Sougo harbored no ill-feeling towards Xianghua after having lost to her. It seems Taki and Geiz's hunch about Krita-Yuga only made him partially-know of it being the spirit sword's primal form.
Lingyu stood up and caught up to Xianghua, "Hah. This is why I chose to stick close to you.", she said and observed at the latter's use of different techniques and solid foundation.
"It's nothing compared to yours...", Xianghua replied modestly. "I'm just doing what my mother taught me to do."
"If you've got one weakness, it's your mentality.", Lingyu continued.
"Yeah. It's like we're similar too.", Sougo butted in. "No matter how good you are with a sword, you can't defend justice if you're easily discouraged."
"Hmm... I'm fine when I needed to be.", Xianghua ends the discussion.
After the sparring session, Sougo decided to tag along with the two girls until he catches up with Taki, Geiz and co.
The Ming Empire's intermittent search for the Hero's Sword had yet to turn up any solid leads. Now, as an officer cadet, it was Xianghua's turn to help join in the search. To this end, she was deployed to an area near the western region - where Sougo would eventually caught up to Taki and company...
Accompanied by Sougo, Xianghua and Lingyu went into the western far reaches outside of China to search for this so-called "Hero's Sword". Little that China's imperial government know at this point is that no such weapon exist.
"Do you think the Hero's Sword really exists?", asked Xianghua.
Lingyu answered, "Shh! Don't mention that here."
"Are you sure about this place?", Xianghua insistently asked.
"I hear they have a lot of riots around- Eek!", it seems that the girls were drawn to the presence of ruffians. "Right on cue! Just try it, scoundrels-"
Just before Sougo, Xianghua and Lingyu were about to deal with the bandits...
*You, Me!*
The bandits were hit on the chest by stray arrows made of energy, that happened to be coming from the Zikan Zaxe; something that Sougo found out at the very moment. Sougo turned around, only to find Taki, Tsukuyomi, Fubuki, and of all people, Geiz, who happened to be the one who shot the bandits dead.
"It's you guys!", Sougo then approached Taki and the others.
"You just never learn how to keep your mouth shut.", Taki is not pleased with Sougo interacting with the two girls, as this can affect the flow of time in the past.
Xianghua's eyes were locked onto Geiz, instilling fear, knowing that Geiz was desperate in stealing Krita-Yuga from her as it served as the true form to Soul Calibur.
"You...", Xianghua said.
"Save it. I'm not in the mood to take your precious sword.", Geiz replied, barely showing any expression. The fact that Geiz has to set it aside for now, Taki managed to talk some senses to Geiz, along with the fact that Krita-Yuga was gifted to Xianghua by her mother. As it is needed for Xianghua herself to one day, awaken the sword's true form on her own, given the fact she was chosen to wield that sword.
There is more why Taki and company have something with Xianghua and Krita-Yuga; it appears the Traitor Time Jacker, Ray is planning to destroy Krita-Yuga, in hopes that it will become Soul Calibur, so it will not stand in the summoner's way in obtaining Soul Edge.
"Taki-san, what brought you guys here?", asked Sougo.
"The girl and Krita-Yuga are in grave danger.", the ninja replied and brought up Geiz's recent encounter with Ray. "Ray is planning to destroy Krita-Yuga, so it will not be a hindrance to her path to Soul Edge."
"Did somebody said my name?", Ray's voice echoed somewhere.
Fubuki had a mixed expression of fear, paranoia, and panic on her face upon hearing Ray's voice. ("No, it can't be!"), she muttered to herself, as if she knew Ray from somewhere. It also hints of a possible secret connecting her and the hooded summoner, which Taki isn't aware of at this moment.
Ray appeared before the time travelers, Xianghua and Lingyu.
"It's Ray!", Taki exclaimed.
"What do you want, Ray?", Sougo calls out the diabolical summoner.
"I'm giving Geiz the response to his refusal.", Ray took out her two Shoukan Busters, and then two Ridewatches - one that has the likeness of Armored Rider Kurokage, or rather a Kurokage Trooper, and the second being a Ride-Player. "Treat this as a gift from me, Zi-O."
*(Digital beeping) Kurokage Trooper!*
*(Digital beeping) Ride-Player!*
*Shoukan Time!*
After loading the two Ridewatches on the Shoukan Buster, Ray summoned 30 Kurokage Trooper and 30 Ride-Players for a total of 60 foot soldier cannon fodder.
"You should not have refused my offer, Geiz.", Ray then took out a jet-black and red Ridewatch that bears the face of an Ultraman. Or, an evil Ultraman, that is. "It would have been easier if you just said yes."
*(Digital beeping) Ultraman Belial!*
Ray activated the Ultraman Belial Ridewatch and inserted it into the Shoukan Buster.
Ray points the Shoukan Buster up in the sky. "Evil giant, harbinger of darkness. Bring forth destruction in all that is good.", she invokes an incantation as she is about to send out Ultraman Belial. "Rise, Ultraman Belial!"
*Ultraman Belial Shoukan Time!*
A black energy beam is fired from Ray's Shoukan Buster, once its on the sky, it transforms into a dark energy ball, surrounded with black mist. Said ball of energy starts forming into a humanoid-like being as Ultraman Belial is summoned.
"Fufufufuwahahahahaha!", the evil Ultraman's laughter echoed on the battlefield.
The fact that Ray can summon a copy of a Legend Rider, Ultraman, or even a kaiju, it shows that she is a dangerous enemy to reckon with. And, summoning an evil Ultraman only turns it up to eleven, as Belial, being once a giant of light corrupted by his lust for power, no lifeform is safe from this terror of the galaxy.
Taki, Geiz and Sougo must find a way to stop Ray's plans from destroying Krita-Yuga. Can Xianghua and Lingyu give the heroes from the future a helping hand?
"The names of the warriors whose fates were bound to the two swords have been etched into the very fibers of history..."
Ridewatches count:
-Taki:
Ridewatches: 10 (G7 Icarus XYZ EX-Strike Armor, G7 Icarus XYZ Archangel Kerberos, G7 Type-S, Grease, Huntress Creator Gamer, Jiraiya, Rewind, Bike, Phone, Unknown Ridewatch)
Ultra Ridewatches: 6 (Ultraman Orb Specium Zepellion, Ultraman Orb Orb Origin, Ultraman X, Ultraman Zero, Ultraman Zero Beyond, Ultraseven)
-Zi-O: 12 (Zi-O, Build, Ex-Aid, Gaim, Fourze, OOO, Kiva, Kabuto, Blade, Ryuki, Bike, Phone)
-Geiz: 10 (Geiz, Cross-Z, Genm, Ghost, Drive, Wizard, OOO Tajadol Combo, Faiz, Bike, Phone)
-Tsukuyomi: 1 (Phone)
-Fubuki: 3 (Fuin, Phone (x2))
-Ray:
Ridewatch: 8 (Rogue, Ride-Player, Snipe, Kurokage Trooper, White Wizard, Eternal, Sasword)
Non-Rider Ridewatch: 2 (Engine Bros, RemoCon Bros)
Kaijuwatch: 3 (Demaaga, Galactron (x2))
Ultra Ridewatch: 2 (Ultraman Belial, Ultraman Geed Primitive)
Days left before the seal in the Unknown Ridewatch is broken: 22.
Ridewatch Profiles
Taki, Geiz, & Tsukuyomi: It's time for the Ridewatch Profiles!We're going to show you the Ridewatch of this chapter!
Taki: (Takes out the Ultraman Zero Beyond Ridewatch, rotated the dial and pressed its activation button.)
Ridewatch voice: (Digital beeping) Zero Beyond!
Taki: Ultraman Zero Beyond. Ultraman Zero's most recently strongest form. By combining the Capsules of four New Generation Ultramen - Ginga, Victory, X, and Orb into two: Alpha (Ginga and Orb) and Beta (Victory and X), he casts away all his limits with Neo Fusion Rise into this silver giant of light
Taki, Geiz, & Tsukuyomi: Tune in next time, everyone!
On the next episode...
(次回挿話)
Ray unleashes Ultraman Belial and a platoon of Kurokage Troopers and Ride Players in an effort to destroy Krita-Yuga, hoping that it will never stand in her way in claiming the cursed sword.
Xianghua and Lingyu must team up with the Taki from the future, Zi-O and Geiz to foil Ray's plans.
Next time on Taki Gaiden, Episode 30: My Mother's Wish ~A.D. 1584~.
Author's Note:
The title of this chapter is taken from the lyrics of Over "Quartzer":
(重ねたその痛み刻んだ誓いと)
[Kasaneta sono itami kizanda chikai to] (The pain piled up with an engraved oath)
Along with the reference to Over "Quartzer", this title also fits Xianghua to a tee, this refers to her mother's dying wish when Krita-Yuga was bestowed onto her and carried on her mother's legacy with the way of the sword. The next chapter will once again use the song during the fight against Ray's summoned Kurokages and Ride-Players along with Ultraman Belial.
Sougo using Ryuki Armor during the battle vs. Xianghua and Lingyu is fitting. In addition to the Chinese dragon motif, the Drag Saber is based on a type of Chinese sword called Liuyedao.
