DISCLAIMER: The following is a fan-fiction based story.Engine Sentai Go-Onger, the Super Sentai series, Kamen Rider Build, 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.
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Lap 036: If Tomorrow Never Comes...[明日がコナケレバ.../Ashita ga konakereba...]
WARNING: This chapter contains scenes of torture and blood. Viewer discretion is advised!
(*Opening: "Be The One" by Pandora feat. Beverly from Kamen Rider Build*)
"It has been 10 years the Go-Ongers have fought the forces of evil that is the Barbaric Machine Clan Gaiark. However, peace is disturbed in the two Human Worlds – the Go-Ongers' and Kamen Rider Build's world. Standing in the way of these allies of justice is the evil organization known as Foundation X!"
[~Kono mama aruki-tsuzuketeru~] (Tonight again, I keep on walking)
[~Konya mo massugu hitori no ashiato tadotte~] (Down this same path when I come across a set of footprints)
[~Hateshinai dakedo kimi dake wa~] (Which never end. But you're the only one...)
[~Dokoka de matteru egao tayasazu ni~] (Waiting for me somewhere without ever losing your smile.)
[~There you will...~]
[~Be the One! (DA!) Be the One! All right!~]
[~Ashita no chikyuu wo nagedasenai kara~] (I won't give up on the Earth's future.)
[~Be the Lights! (DA!) Be the Lights! All right!~]
[~Tsuyoku nareru yo ai wa makenai~] (I will become strong! Love doesn't lose!)
[~Nanika wo tasuke sukutte dakishime~] (Help something, save something, hold something)
[~Kokoro ni furete todoku yo tsutaware~] (Touch my heart and get through, shout it out)
[~Be the One! Be the Lights!~]
[~Messeeji okuru yo hibiku yo~] (Send the message, it resounds!)
With no time to hesitate, the Kamen Riders and Go-Ongers will make it clear to save Saki and defeat Foundation X. Once that Sento's plan is going to succeed, the merging of the two worlds will result into a merged continuity, resulting the creation of a new world. As theorized by both Goro and Sento, those people Sento encountered will live in their different lives with no memory of the latter.
The Go-Ongers are unfazed by this, but still they are determined to save their friend, regardless of the outcome of Sento's plan. Sosuke, whose determination is just burning hot than just anyone else, wants to make sure Amataro is going to pay for his sins and save Saki.
"We can't afford to hold back, we're going to beat that Foundation freak at mach speed!", Sosuke added.
"The only thing that matters is we need to bring balance to the Braneworlds.", Renn followed. "We are willing to risk our own lives to save Saki."
"All of us will. To the point we willingly injected ourselves with more Nebula Gas to raise our Hazard Levels.", Gentoku reveals that he and Kazumi went into the old Neo Faust headquarters, even though the base is no longer used by Neo Faust (since it was already disbanded after Katsuragi Shinobu's death) and Foundation X, he along with Kazumi had themselves willingly undergo Nebula Gas experimentation, despite Sento's protests; even if it means to take the risk of this final mission against Foundation X.
The two Riders with Sento went into the destroyed Neo Faust base, where the Nebula Gas incubator is still intact. Gentoku and Kazumi willingly had themselves injected with dose of Nebula Gas to raise their Hazard Level. The fact when someone is injected with a second dosage of Nebula Gas acts as a double-edge sword to the human body, the moment the Rider or a Smash is defeated, they'll die instantly.
Regardless, the Go-Ongers, Team Build, and Team Izumi prepare themselves to embark on a final mission to save a friend with the fate of two worlds lying in their hands.
After two hours, Team Build and Team Izumi boarded on Engine Jum-bowhale, with the Go-Ongers piloting their respective Engine Partners as they once again return into the prime Human World.
Kamen Riders' prime Human World
Meanwhile, at a Foundation X facility...
Inside the Nebula Gas incubation room, Kai is planning to turn Saki into a Smash using all 5 Lost Bottles at once. However, he recalls from Katsuragi Shinobu's research that if using than more than one Lost Bottles to forcibly transform a human into a Smash, the weaknesses can be worse than one Lost Bottle used. Even if with Genius Form, Saki will most likely die.
"Before commencing this experiment, perhaps we should give her the appropriate treatment.", as Kai puts his experiments into motion, he has his fellow scientist to subject Saki into an excessively painful shock therapy before entombing her into the Nebula Gas incubator.
"Giiiyaaaaahhhhh!", the usually cheerful and smiling Saki now screams in pain and agony as she is subjected to a brutal experimentation by Kai. Kai, at the same time, takes so much sadistic glee hearing the screams of someone who is about to be thrown into despair.
As Kai watches Saki suffer by electric torture before she is placed into the Nebula Gas incubator, all he can do is watch complete with a disturbingly sadistic smile on his face, to make sure the Go-Ongers will never be the same and the whole world will be his to rule as a living god.
With no time to waste and anticipating the Go-Ongers and Kamen Riders' arrival, Kai prepares to set his plans into motion.
The Go-Ongers, Team Build and Team Izumi made it into the other Human World. The Engines safely dropped them into where the Isolation Barrier tower is located. Just before they could enter the facility, Kai just suddenly appeared out of nowhere right before them.
"Greetings, Go-Ongers and Kamen Riders.", as always, Kai maintained a calm and civil demeanor while being confronted by the heroes, now irate, sick and tired of his petty acts. "I guess that you all agreed to my terms..."
"You bastard, you'd better not do anything to Saki!", Sosuke makes no hesitation to threaten Kai.
"Oh, her. I guess our scientists currentyl analyzing her. But, don't worry, they're not going to be so rough to her.", Kai replied.
Kai insinuates that he's putting Saki into a Nebula Gas experimentation, which angered the Go-Ongers. The six Rangers quickly changed into their forms, and charge at Kai. Even he is not yet transformed into the Hell Bros or Evol Ophiuchus, Kai effortlessly managed to fight the Go-Ongers and Go-On Wings, easily gaining the upper hand.
Not only he injected himself with the last fragmented essences of Evolto, he even injected himself with Amazonz Cells, which granted him brute strength and animalistic instincts. Having infused himself with the DNA of an extraterrestrial being (Evolto) and cells from mutant abominations (Amazonz Cells), it becomes clear that Kai is willing to sacrifice his own humanity for god-like powers.
"Not only I have injected myself with Evolto's fragmented genes, I also infused myself with Amazonz Cells!", Kai elaborated. "You are all powerless before me, and you will realize the truth... That you could have been gods!"
Sosuke refuted, "Like hell we ever believe that!", he and the other four main Go-Ongers take out their Mantan Guns (with their Engine Souls loaded), "Mantan Gun! Go-On!"
Using acrobatic-like agility, Kai even dodged every beam fire from the Go-Ongers, and then went on to overpower Go-On Gold and Silver, which pushed them back to a corner.
"This guy doesn't look even human anymore!", said Sento.
"Now, I shall demonstrate to you all the full extent of my power!", Kai then took out his Cobra Lost Bottle and the Rider Evol Bottle.
*Cobra! Rider System! Evolution! (lever rotation loop) Are you Ready? [...] Evol Cobra! Fuahahahahaha!*
After placing the two Bottles into the Evol Driver, Kai cranked the Driver's lever, and with the chant of "Henshin!", he transforms into Kamen Rider Evol Ophiuchus in Cobra Form.
The other Kamen Riders quickly transform into their respective Rider forms. First, G7 Icarus XYZ (EX-Strike Armor) and Cross-Z Magma take on Evol Ophiuchus. Despite his form albeit having the weaker stats compared to the original Evol, Evol Ophiuchus is skillful enough to hold against Icarus XYZ, despite the G7 System being the superior counterpart to Katsuragi's Rider System.
Evol Ophiuchus managed to push Cross-Z Magma and G7 Icarus XYZ back, Rogue, G7 Type-S Aqua, Grease, and Build (RabbitRabbit Form) followed after to take on Evol Ophiuchus. Kai was able to stave off Rogue and Grease's Rider Kick finishers, this gave the Go-Onger enough time to get back on their feet to get back at him.
Sosuke takes out the the Kankan Bar, and after inserting Kishamoth's Engine Soul in the Mantan Gun, with T-Line and K-Line's Souls into the Kankan Bar, he combines the two weapons into one, the Kankan Mantan Gun.
"Kankan-kan Express! Go-On!", Go-On Red pulled all two triggers on the weapon, shooting out all three Ancient Engines together towards Evol Ophiuchus.
However, Evol Ophiuchus manages to swat the attack as if it were nothing more but a mere housefly.
"This is pointless.", the Foundation X scientist gloated.
Evol Ophiuchus demonstrates his ability to run faster than the speed of light, to the point he was able to get close to Go-On Red. Something that was once demonstrated by the original Kamen Rider Evol. Once Kai is now close to Sosuke, he cranks the Evol Driver's lever.
*Ready, go! Evoltech Finish! Ciao!*
Evol Ophiuchus's right hand is enveloped with swirling purple energy, then he connects a punch to Go-On Red, that sends him to a nearby car. Sosuke is forced out of his transformation seconds later.
"Sosuke!", the other Go-Ongers exclaimed.
If curb-stomping one of the Go-Ongers wasn't enough, Kai prepares to do the same with all the other Go-Ongers, Kamen Riders, and to Taki, Natsu, and Aizawa. By taking out the Kuwagata Lost Bottle, he removes the Cobra Lost Bottle in order to make room for it.
*Stag Beetle! Rider System! Creation! (Lever rotation loop) Ready, go!*
The Stag Hard/Hazard Smash's Rapture Scissors weapons are summoned, and Evol Ophiuchus wields the weapon.
"That's Syuuya's Lost Bottle!", Kazumi recognizes the bottle since it was formerly used by one of his late goons, Aoba.
At superhuman speeds, Evol Ophiuchus uses the Rapture Scissors to execute lightning fast slashes at each of his enemies, starting from Go-On Gold, Silver, Blue, Green, and Black, followed by New G7 Icarus, Type-S Aqua, Icarus XYZ, Build, Cross-Z Magma, Rogue, and Grease. After his attack, it appears that Kai's targets appear to be unaffected at first.
"Not a scratch...", Taki muttered.
"Is that so?", Kai sarcastically responded, as his finisher took effect 5 seconds later.
*Stag Beetle...FINISH! Ciao!*
The attack's effect kicked in, and the Go-Ongers are de-powered from their transformation. As their suit is not durable enough to take hits from a Kamen Rider whose power rivaled even Build's own most powerful forms.
Sento is forced to take out the Genius Bottle, and quickly Build Ups to Build Genius Form.
*Are you Ready? [...] Build Genius! [Genius Bottle voice A] Sugei! [Genius Bottle voice B] Monosugei!*
With Genius Form, Sento turns the tide of the battle. Evol Ophiuchus manages to fight Build at an equal footing. Taki, Natsu, the G7 Riders - Icarus XYZ, New G7 Icarus, and Type-S Aqua, Cross-Z Magma, Grease, and Rogue continue to lend Sento their assistance.
The veteran ninja now suits up with the Victory Armor and readied her Victory Braceulette. G7 Icarus XYZ spun the Legend Bracer, the roulette now selects Skyrider. Seconds later, Taki then spins the Bracuelette's wheel, which it now selects Kamen Rider Ryuki.
*Kamen Rider Ryuki: Survive!* / *Skyrider!*
By channeling the power of Ryuki's final form, Survive, the Rider's contract monster, Dragredder appears out of nowhere and evolves into Dragranzer. Taki jumps into the dragon, where it transforms into a motorcycle and riding Dragranzer in Bike Form. The Ride Winger, G7 Icarus XYZ's own motorcycle, appears out of nowhere, and drove on its own. Goro jumps into the bike, where the Ride Winger suddenly transforms into the Sky Turbo, Skyrider's own motorcycle.
While the other Riders are still holding off Evol Ophiuchus, Kai managed to stave off attacks from Grease, Rogue, Natsu, G7 Type-S Aqua and New G7 Icarus. Then, Cross-Z Magma manages to deal damage to him with a Volcanic Knuckle through his Magma Knuckle.
"Those who don't have the courage to fight will not survive!", Taki invokes the creed that is associated to the Mirror Riders, Ryuki in particular.
"You [Kai] are still 400 years too early to call yourself a god!", Goro added.
*Dragon Firestorm!* / *Rider Break!*
Dragranzer (in Bike Form) begin breathing balls of fire at Evol Ophiuchus, followed by Icarus XYZ ramming the Ride Winger (assuming the form of the Sky Turbo) on the target.
*[...] All side! Ready, go! Genius Finish!*
Build then follows up with a Roundhouse Rider Kick at Evol Ophiuchus, pushing the Foundation X agent to a corner. Kai was able to hold on, even after Genius Form managed to trump him.
"No one in the other side of this world can touch me!", Kai continues to boast that even the Riders from Build's world can't touch him.
However, Kai's massive God complex and over-inflated opinion of himself start to get the better of him, already rearing on its ugly head.
The Evol Ophiuchus suit starts to get sparks, and at the same time Kai is experiencing the life-draining side effects of his Rider Form. Seconds later, he is de-powered of his transformation. It seems that the Evol Ophiuchus system still has a crippling flaw: not only that the Evol suit is designed only for Evolto, it puts a risk to an ordinary human, even if he/she is injected with Evolto's fragmented genes, which drains them of their life-force.
And worse for him, the effects of the Amazonz Cells mixed with the aforementioned fragmented DNA of Evolto caused him to drop to his knees, coughing and then vomit blood. Not just blood, but blood that's already jet black; the same kind of blood color whenever any Amazonz bleed out.
"He wasn't kidding about those Amazonz cells in his body...", said Banjou.
"I didn't think this through...", Kai had no idea that the experiments done to himself also lead to risky drawbacks, even for his own body. "Going beyond my limit caused this Driver started to drain away my life!", then turns to the Go-Ongers and Kamen Riders with a vow to fight another day and get the other four Lost Bottles. "It's not over yet. We will meet again!", he takes out his Nebula Steam Gun, and fired a stream of white smoke, escaping the battlefield.
The horror on everyone's faces is just evident, Sento is even worried about how would Kai go so far to sacrifice his own humanity to achieve the goal of being a god. What's ironic is that Kai's God complex also doubled as his fatal flaw.
Ridewatch count:
- Ridewatch obtained: N/A
- Ridewatches in Taki's possession: 2 (Huntress Creator Gamer, G7 Type-S)
Engine Soul count:
- Engine Soul in Kamen Rider Grease's possession: 1 (Bear-RV)
- Engine Soul in Kamen Rider Cross-Z's possession: 1 (Carrigator)
- Engine Soul in Go-On Red's possession: 5 (Speedor, Kishamoth, T-Line, K-Line, Machalcon)
- Engine Soul in Go-On Blue's possession: 1 (Buson)
- Engine Soul in Go-On Green's possession: 1 (Birca)
- Engine Soul in Go-On Black's possession: 1 (Gunpherd)
- Engine Soul in Go-On Gold's possession: 2 (Toripter, Jum-bowhale)
- Engine Soul in Go-On Silver's possession: 1 (Jetras)
Author's Note:
This chapter's title comes from the song of the same name by Garth Brooks.
This chapter reveals that the Evol Ophiuchus form has a crippling flaw for Kai, prolonged usage of this Rider form drains away his life force, akin to Ryugen Yomi. Since the Evol Driver he used originally belonged to Evolto, the Driver acts like a double-edged sword for Kai. Even if he is injected by Evolto's DNA and infused himself with a lethal dose of Nebula Gas, and even injected himself with Amazonz Cells, Kai's body will more likely break down unless if he comes up with a remedy for this defect. The fact that he uses the Cobra Lost Bottle doesn't help matters either.
This chapter commemorates the 25th Anniversary of the Power Rangers franchise. And my thoughts of Tommy's transformations into all of his four Ranger powers in one team-up episode is my favorite moment in the Dimensions in Danger special of Super Ninja Steel. Who would have thought one Power Ranger uses one morpher to transform into all four Ranger powers at once?
Much like I mentioned of the Legend Bracer's introduction, Icarus XYZ's motorcycle transforming into Skyrider's Rider Machine is similar to Decade's own bike, when two instances it transformed into two Smart Brain-based Rider Machine: the Auto Vajin (for Faiz), and Side Basshar (Kaixa's own machine, Decade used as Violent Emotion). Goro does it when he channels Skyrider's power via the Legend Bracer.
This is the first time Banjou said about Amazonz cells, since he did encountered some of the Foundation X Amazonz. One should take into consideration that Eiji Akaso's first role was Hiroki Nagase from Amazons S2 before he played Banjou.