0DISCLAIMER: 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. 045: Another Decade ~A.D. 1583~ [アナザーディケイド 〜1583年〜/Anazā Dikeido 1583-nen]


WARNING: This chapter contains blood, murder, mention and references to rape. Viewer discretion is advised!


"Welcome back to the stage of history, retold..."

(*Opening: "BIRI × BIRI" by Takanori Nishikawa feat. Shuta Sueyoshi of AAA*)

[~BIRI BIRI YA YA YA~] {x4}

[~We don't stop and move!~]

[~Virtual ja kanjiru wake nai sa tough na risk ga BIRI BIRI Oh Yeah~](I can't feel it in virtual; a tough risk BIRI BIRI Oh Yeah)
[~Jinsei, jiko sekinindashi yaritai dake BIRI BIRI Oh Yeah~](Life, a self-responsibility; doing whatever I want BIRI BIRI Oh Yeah)

[~Don't give it away kando ageyou Rock you!~](Don't give it away Increasing sensitivity Rock you!)
[~Motto surudoku motto tsuyoku Knock you~](More sharply and stronger enough to Knock you)
[~Manzoku sa sete kure yo~](Give me satisfaction!)

[~We don't stop & move! Kanetsu shite ku kogetsuite BIRI BIRI YA YA YA~](We don't stop & move! Heating to get burnt BIRI BIRI YA YA YA)
[~Don't stop & move! Bibirazu Remove omou mama BIRI BIRI YA YA YA~](Don't stop & move! Remove it as you expected BIRI BIRI YA YA YA)

[~Tomarazu Move Hitasura Groove~](Don't move, just groove)
[~Chikaratsukiru made do~](Do not let it run out)
[~Age sugita taion de moetsuki-sou!~](Until the body burns at a temperature so high!)


A.D. 1583
(1583年)

The summoner Ray has achieved the first phase of her goal - to create the Ultimate Another Rider, as she had infused the powers of 18 Another Riders' watches along with the combat data of Kamen Rider Decade into one new Ridewatch.

"Finally, I have done it!", Ray looked into her new Another Watch bearing the likeness of a monstrous caricature of Kamen Rider Decade. "With this, I will be able to claim Soul Edge as my own..."

Ray pressed the watch's button as she activates it.

*[Digital beeping with a deep ominous voice] D-D-Decade!*

She then injected the Ridewatch into her body as she transforms into a monstrous version of Kamen Rider Decade, also known as Another Decade.

Upon transforming into Another Decade for the first time, Ray could only laugh in joy and insanity as she begins to carve her path to the cursed sword, in hopes she will rule the past and future using its power.


Palgaea Shrine, the Fygul Cestemus's underground shrine within the desert...

Ray appeared before Kunpaetku and his cultists. Apparently, the high priest knows Ray and is revealed to have sent his Lizardmen and undead Revenants to the present. What little Kunpaetku did know is that Ray has no more use for him and his cult.

The fact that Ray uses the powers of Kamen Rider Decade - a Rider that uses the powers of almost every Heisei Kamen Riders, just like Zi-O, as Another Decade, she can use every Another Riders' powers. Starting with Another Ex-Aid's ability to summon a swarm of Bugster Virus to annihilate the cultists.

Kunpaetku ordered his Lizardmen Army to attack Ray, but thanks to Another Ghosts' intangibility rendered her invulnerable to their attacks. She then uses Another Drive's ability to slow down time, similar to that of the Roidmudes. While the Heaviness is still in effect, Ray takes the opportunity to flush out all every living member of the Fygul Cestemus, including Kunpaetku.

With the entire Fygul Cestemus annihilated, that means Astaroth's existence is erased. If that wasn't enough, one of Nightmare's elite guards, a Lizardman with the name of Aeon Calcos, was also erased due to his association with the cult like the giant.

"My apologies, high priest.", Ray addresses the now-deceased Kunpaetku as she reverts back to human form, implying that she had manipulated his cult in the shadows. "But, Soul Edge is mine, and mine alone. You have outlived your usefulness."

The summoner curves a sinister grin, and she makes it clear that she will erase those who will seek after or destroy the cursed sword. And if she achieves that goal, she will be the one to rule the past and the future.

However, Ray is confronted by her half-sister, Fubuki; who managed to follow her way through the hazardous lair; the fact that Palgaea Shrine is under a volcano as a result of its extremely hot temperature, Fubuki was wearing a unique hazard suit. While Ray is already immune to the heat of the shrine.

"What are you doing here, onee-chan?", said Ray when she knew that Fubuki was behind her. "You followed me all the way through here, didn't you?"

"Tell me, Reina...is this what you really wanted?", Fubuki confronts as she brought up so many of the worst transgressions her half-sister has committed, "You've killed a lot of people here in this timeline so you could change the future...all for the sake of an evil weapon. For me, I don't want any of this; and neither does Geiz, Tsukuyomi, the rest of the Resistance, and even the Time Jackers themselves. Do you really think you would use Soul Edge to defeat Oma Zi-O?"

Ray continued to justify her actions, "Like hell do I care?", she spoke in a snobbish tone. "The people in our timeline were unable to do anything! Including yourself. Oma Zi-O is too powerful even changing the future won't defeat him; that's why I'm going to obtain Soul Edge! I've come too far more than you, onee-chan. This is why, I will be the ones who can change the future!"

Fubuki told Ray if what her life would be like if she and her mother should have kept her in the dark about Soul Edge. Unfortunately, it was too late when she did learn of the evil weapon.

"If my mother and I never talked about Soul Edge, you should have lived in a normal life. Because, we should have kept you from finding out about it to protect you.", Fubuki continued, "But...you've dug too deep. And, now look at you now; you have already went off the deep end - and I can't bare to see you have done so many heinous acts from you betraying the Time Jackers and your recent killing of the Fygul Cestemus cultists. It really hurts me, Reina; because my parents took you in, gave you a home, a family, and a future of your own."

"I told you before... My old life is dead to me.", Ray rebuked. "Izumi Reina is already gone to begin with. The only way to put an end to this nightmare is to defeat that demon king with Soul Edge. I won't let you and mother get near Soul Calibur, as I am going to destroy it by killing the girl who wields Krita-Yuga again!"

Fed up with Ray's rant as she is already beyond reason, Fubuki takes out her Faiz Phone X in its gun mode, pointing her phone gun to her own half-sister.

Even she pointed the gun to Ray, Fubuki's hands begin to tremble, in fact she can't bring herself to kill the person she considered an adoptive sister who has now took the path of evil. Ray even mocks her older half-sister for that matter.

"What's the matter, onee-chan? Why can't you just shoot me now?", smug as ever, Ray sneers. "Face it, you can't even pull the trigger at someone you still consider a family!"

*D-D-D-Decade!*

Ray once again transforms into Another Decade and just went into a Dimensional Wall and left the shrine, with Fubuki still in shock while she faces her dilemma of unable to kill her own half-sister. Fubuki felt that it was her fault why her sister chose the path of evil, even when Taki and Geiz insisted to her that Ray is already beyond redemption.


A.D. 1586
(1586年)

Meanwhile, at the Black Tail Inn, nearby the docks in Spain...

Another Taki visited the site where she last fought Cervantes together with the Greek holy warrior, Sophitia. Though Soul Edge has been partially revived under Nightmare's possession, she is positive that Cervantes's isn't yet dead. A fragment of the cursed blade made him nearly immortal.

"It's been a while since we last met, my counterpart.", the original Taki greeted her NT counterpart as she is accompanied by Goro, Geiz, and Sougo.

"It's you people.", said the other Taki.

"You really haven't change here in this timeline, no wonder you and the real Taki here are the same.", Goro added.

The Taki of the present day looking at the sight of where Cervantes was vanquished is the same is in the old timeline, to which she sees them as old memories. In fact, the events of the old and new timeline are the same, the only main difference is the year that takes place.

"If I can assume correctly, Cervantes is still on the loose.", the original Taki said.

"That's right. Like in your original timeline, I've fought the evil pirate alongside Sophitia, the holy warrior blessed by the gods.", Another Taki replied. "But...long before that fated encounter, Cervantes had raped a woman in the Black Tail Inn and somehow impregnated her. As some time passed, the woman gave birth to a girl. However, she had to abandon the child and left it into the doorstep into a noble family in England."

"You mean...", Geiz replied.

"The Valentines, and they gave the child a name: Isabella. In short, Ivy.", Goro finished.

"This makes Cervantes her true father...", Sougo commented.

Based on the history from Taki's original timeline, Cervantes intends to have Ivy as a spare vessel for the cursed sword. Back when she confronted Ivy in the old timeline, that's where the latter found out the truth about her cursed lineage. Currently, in this timeline, Ivy is still a member of Nightmare's faction, still unaware of the truth of her cursed blood.

The other Taki also brought up something related to Nightmare's faction - two of his elite guards: Astaroth and Lizardman, both are from the Fygul Cestemus cult, were reported dead. However, their deaths are apparently bizarre, as if their existence is being erased.

Based on Goro's perception, whoever went back further into the past to annihilate the Fygul Cestemus to erase Astaroth and Lizardman is the work of somebody who really wants to seek Soul Edge from Nightmare. Taki assumes that this is her future half-daughter's doing. Goro is at least 1% percent certain of this, and that 1% percent will only mean a possible 99% probability.

This will most likely let Cervantes get close to Soul Edge and will be drawn to his flesh and blood.

"I will let her tell the truth about her cursed blood.", the original Taki said.

But, Another Taki warns her that doing so can change the future, "However, if you do so, the future will be changed, like how you changed my future."

Taki already knew what its like to change the future, though the result will lead to disastrous consequences, but the outcome will sometimes end for the better. But, original Taki is positive that this action will draw out Cervantes to his daughter. As the orignal Taki planned to draw out Cervantes to put an end to his reign of terror once and for all.

Much like in the old timeline, Taki is the one who told Ivy of her cursed lineage and connection to Cervantes. In this new timeline, Another Taki is supposed to do so. But, with the original deciding do it in her counterpart's place will instigate a time paradox.

"I told you before, I will destroy Soul Edge, even if it means changing the future.", the present-era Taki replied to her counterpart. "I fully understand the possible consequences of my actions and I'm very aware of it."

"I see...", Another Taki replied. "If that's the case, show me what future you have chosen. I will look forward the next we cross paths again. Farewell."

The other Taki jumped at an unprecedented height as she heads to an undisclosed destination. This leaves Taki and her party to regroup and form a strategy. While Taki, Geiz, and Goro find a way to draw out Ivy, Sougo voluntarily chooses to split up from the party to draw out Cervantes by going back to 1583, to which Fubuki is waiting for him there.


Turning back to Ivy's viewpoint...

Meanwhile, Ivy is in a state of confusion after seeing Astaroth being dissolved to nothingness during the giant's soul harvesting. Ivy couldn't care less about the golem at all as if he never existed.

But, the more she thought of Soul Edge and Nightmare, Ivy finds herself wracked by inexpressible anxiety, she decided to ask Nightmare himself for the truth. But, the closer she got to returning to his fortress, the more anxious she became, until it was written in her face.

On her way back to Ostrheinsburg, Ivy finds herself surrounded by warriors from the future - Kamen Riders Geiz and G7 Icarus XYZ.

"This is as far as you go.", said Geiz.

"Sorry, nothing personal.", Goro added.

Then, Taki makes a three-point landing on the ground as her eyes locked on Ivy.

"I wouldn't if I were you. You can't win in your present state.", the ninja said.

Ivy rebuked, "Get out of my way! I don't care who you are, but perhaps you could share me what you know."

The Ivy Blade starts to react violently, along with Mekki-Maru glowing simultaneously as it has a shard of Soul Edge. As Taki points out, Ivy's weapon is bonded to her with Mekki-Maru sensing the presence of Soul Edge.

"Her snake sword has a mind of its own!", Goro analyzed from his helmet's heads-up display, as the energy levels are so high and its surpassing the Hazard Levels of those who used Katsuragi's Rider System.

Taki then points out to Ivy, "It is reacting violently to your weapon...and to you. You seek the truth...but perhaps you already know it, Daughter of the cursed sword."

Upon hearing it, Ivy could not take the revelation very well, as her anger then caused her snake sword to desire the souls of the three Riders.

"No! That's not possible!", an emotionally shocked Ivy exclaimed.

"Geiz-san, let's do it!", Goro gives the signal.

"Right!", the warrior from 2068 takes his Zikan Zaxe in Ono Mode.

While he's still assuming EX-Strike Armor, Goro takes out the Kaizoku Hasshar, as it still retains the ability to use both Build's and Icarus XYZ's main weapons. He charges the Hasshar...

*Kakueki Densha~ (All-Station Train~) Kyuukou Densha~ (Express Train~) Kaisoku Densha~ (Fast-Service Train~) Kaizoku Densha! (Pirate Train!) Hassha! (Fire!)*

Icarus XYZ launches an ocean-blue energy train from the Kaizoku Hasshar right towards Ivy when her guard is down. This leaves her to be open for Taki and Geiz to attack her up close. But, Taki and Ivy locked their blades while the ninja takes out her Miridewatch.

"I'm the daughter of the cursed sword!", exclaimed the Valentine family heiress.

*Taki!*

"It's the truth... Accept it.", Taki replied as she inserted the watch into her Beyondriver, she opens the watch after pressing its button now inserted into the handle. Taki closes the lever as she shouts, "Henshin!"

*Touei! Future Time!*

Ivy is pushed back as Taki is surrounded by a circle of app icons and her hirigana "Rider" (らいだー) icon rotates right in front of her. Taki kicks the Rider icon as the characters then fly right towards Ivy and transforms into Kamen Rider Taki Genesis Type, the sequence ends with the "Rider" inscription now branded into her visor.

*Fuma Kanryou! Sosei! Kakumei! Kamen Rider Taki! Taki!*

Taki's Rekki-Maru and Mekki-Maru transformed into the long and short blades of Ryuuseimaru, she continues clashing with Ivy while Goro and Geiz back her up.

Ivy then unleashes the full power of her sword and yelled, "Blade, show me your power!"

*Armor Time! Level Up! GENM~!*

In response, Geiz assumes Genm Armor to take on Ivy. But, the fact that Ivy unleashed the full extent of her weapon's power almost had him on the ropes. Goro helps the time traveler back to his feet while Taki is then clashing with the deadly dominatrix.

"Evil powers can't hurt me!", Taki pushes Ivy back.

Ivy answered back, "Silence!"

Goro then regroups with Taki and asks her to use Future Ring Jet Phoenix. As it is going to more futuristic powers to trump Ivy's weapon. That said, Taki resorts to taking out the Jet Phoenix Miridewatch.

(*cues: "WHAT YOU WANT" by Nana Mizuki from Monster Strike (anime)*)

*Jet Phoenix!*

Taki sets the watch into her Beyondriver...

[~Hey you're gonna be brave! (Say 'Yeah')~]
[~
Hey don't give it away! (Say 'Yeah')~]

*[Beyondriver voice] Iza!*

[~Hey we're heading for brighter way (Say 'Yeah')~]
[~
Hey you would stand up right away! (Say 'Yeah')~]

The moment she opens the Miridewatch's cover after pressing the button, Goro is forced out of his transformation and collapses as his mind and soul merged into Taki's body to use Future Ring Jet Phoenix.

[~Oimotome yo shimei wo What you want (What you want)~](Chase your calling what you want (What you want))

*[Beyondriver voice] Touei! Future Time!*

[~Madowasu osore nado mimi wo kasazu ni Just go your way~](Don't listen to the fears blind you; just go your way)

The Beyondriver's handle is closed, and it jettisoned a firebird from the belt's Miride Scope, along with it Taki jumps. The firebird envelops her in the form of a vortex of fire as Future Ring Jet Phoenix's suit assembles and merges onto Taki, resulting in a form invoking G7 Icarus XYZ's Jet Phoenix Armor, the sequence ends with the hirigana for "Phoenix" (ふぇにっくす) branded into her visor.

[~Asuno shouri wo~](Cast away your disbelief)

But, this epic introduction ensues...

[~Ginen nagiharai mirai ni hi wo tomose~](And light the way to tomorrow's victory and the future)

With Goro's consciousness speaking through Taki, "We brawlers are sustained by willpower, even when mocked as reckless and crazy!"

Followed by Taki herself, "If there's a wall in our way then we smash it down! If there isn't a path, then we carve one ourselves!"

[~Keep on chasing what you want~]

*[Beyondriver & Miridewatch voice] (G7 Jet Visor's orchestral waltz) Moetsu! Nekketsu! Fumetsu! (Burning! Hot-blooded! Immortal!)*

The two altogether yell, "The magma of our soul burns with a mighty flame!" as the transformation announcement finishes itself.

*[Beyondriver & Miridewatch voice] Future Ring Jet Phoenix! Phoenix!*

And then ends with a very familiar catchphrase uttered by Samus's crew, "JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM!", followed by unleashing a heat wave on the battlefield.

And an intense sunlight shone on the battlefield.

[~Asu wo kakero~](Overcome tomorrow)
[~Sono hokori wa nanpito mo kegasenai Shine forever~](Overcome tomorrow)

"My blood is already boiling to the maximum!", Taki said as she channels Icarus XYZ's burning fighting spirit.

[~What you want (What you want)~]

"That's more like it!", Goro added.

[~Madowasu osore nado mimi wo kasazu ni Just go your way~](Don't listen to the fears blind you; just go your way)
[~Fukutsu no yuuki wa kudakechitte nao kagayaku~](Smash up your tenacious courage and shine even more)

Now assuming a fire-elemental based form, Taki turns things around against Ivy. As she managed to recall the limitations of Ivy's snake sword, as it cannot go further high above ground, as Future Ring Jet Phoenix still allows Taki to fly much like Icarus XYZ's Jet Phoenix Armor.

[~Todomaru koto shiranu gekijou de~](And with unstoppable passion)

Taki and Goro decide to finish this quickly as the former opens her Beyondriver...

[~Keep on chasing what you want~]

*Beyond the Time!*

...and closes the Driver's lever. And by doing so, she summons Icarus XYZ's robotic companions - Jet Pegasus and Shadow Winger, and they fuse together to form Jet Pegasus Winger. Taki then jumps as she rides on the winged robotic horse...

*Jet Phoenix Bakunetsu Overblaze!*

Taki, while riding on Jet Pegasus Winger, is charging right towards Ivy. She and the winged robotic horse are wrapped in a veil of fire and rammed through Ivy with extreme force, defeating her in the process.

Ivy's blade is depleted of its power as a result of unleashing its full power and now in a hibernating state.

"Y-You... You know nothing!", Ivy struggles to stand up.

Taki still points it out, "You have strength - strength that comes from evil.", as she reverts back to Genesis Type, with Goro regain consciousness as a result.

"Get away from me!"

"It's up to you whether you believe me or not...but I've fought one who wielded the cursed sword before."

"Do not take me for a fool!", Ivy still refuses to believe what Taki is trying to say.

"If we're not mistaken, the energy reading coming from your sword is too high, the same level with those who have held Soul Edge.", Geiz added.

Taki continued, "That's right. The eldritch aura that envelops you...if my closed my eyes, I'd believe it was Cervantes himself.", and much like in her original timeline, she reveals to Ivy that her father is Cervantes. History repeats. "Think. Who is your real father?"

"You're lying!", and again, Ivy couldn't accept this revelation.

*Time Mazine!*

Within moments, both Taki and Geiz's Time Mazines appear out of nowhere as she along with Goro boarded on her mecha along with Geiz already inside of his robot's cockpit.

"So long.", Taki said as she and Geiz took off in their Time Mazines.

With Ivy already being told of everything about her, what's next is to draw out Cervantes. That said, Sougo is already in the process to find and confront the evil undead pirate.

Meanwhile, on the ground, Ivy is still shaken by this untimely revelation.

"I refuse to believe it...until I see it for myself.", she said. "Nightmare... Damn you..."

Taki had no other choice but to tell Ivy the truth about her cursed lineage, yet she knows that her actions had created a time paradox. As her other counterpart was supposed to do so. Either way, this is the only way to draw out Cervantes in an effort to destroy him permanently.


[TIME PARADOX MESSAGE]

"When you make a choice, you change the future." — Deepak Chopra

[END TRANSMISSION]

"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: 14 (New G7 Icarus, G7 Icarus XYZ EX-Strike Armor, G7 Icarus XYZ Archangel Kerberos, G7 Type-S, Grease, Huntress Creator Gamer, Mach, Jiraiya, Rewind, Bike, Phone, Disk Animal (x2))
Miridewatches: 3 (Taki, Aqua Mermaid, Jet Phoenix)
Ultra Ridewatches: 6 (Ultraman Orb Specium Zepellion, Ultraman Orb Orb Origin, Ultraman X, Ultraman Zero, Ultraman Zero Beyond, Ultraseven)

-Zi-O: 17 (Zi-O, Build, Ex-Aid, Gaim, Fourze, OOO, W, Decade, Kiva, Kabuto, Hibiki, Blade, Ryuki, Agito, Kuuga, Bike, Phone)

-Geiz: 10 (Geiz, Cross-Z, Genm, Ghost, Drive, Wizard, OOO Tajadol Combo, Faiz, Bike, Phone)

-Woz #2:
Miridewatches: 1 (Woz)

-Tsukuyomi: 1 (Phone)

-Fubuki: 4 (Den-O, Fuin, Phone (x2))

-Ray:
Ridewatch: 9 (Rogue, Cronus, Ride-Player, Snipe, Kurokage Trooper, White Wizard, Eternal, Sasword)
Non-Rider Ridewatch: 2 (Engine Bros, RemoCon Bros)
Another Watch: 19 (Another Kuuga, Another Agito, Another Ryuki, Another Faiz, Another Blade, Another Hibiki, Another Kabuto, Another Den-O, Another Kiva, Another Decade, Another W, Another OOO, Another Fourze, Another Wizard, Another Gaim, Another Drive, Another Ghost, Another Ex-Aid, Another Build)
Kaijuwatch: 4 (Demaaga, Galactron (x2), Grigio Bone)
Ultra Ridewatch: 2 (Ultraman Belial, Ultraman Geed Primitive)


On the next episode...
(次回挿話)

Ray's actions have changed the future! With Fygul Cestemus annihilated, Astaroth and Lizardman's existences are erased, Ivy finds herself encountering the Taki from the present, who told her the truth of her connection to the cursed sword. However, the earlier fateful confrontation only created another time paradox.

Meanwhile, Sougo finds himself fighting the evil undead pirate, Cervantes de Leon!

Next time on Taki Gaiden, Episode 46: Captain Cervantes ~A.D. 1586~


Author's Note:

Another Decade's appearance is a combination of Chinomanako Diend and Decade Violent Emotion. That said, while Ray as Another Decade still retains the ability summon Legend Riders/Another Riders/Kaiju/Ultramen with her Shoukan Buster, she can also use other Another Riders' powers, relevant to Violent Emotion.

As mentioned in the previous chapter, the fact that Ray annihilated the Fygul Cestemus not only erased Astaroth from existence, it also includes Aeon Calcos/Lizardman, this leaves Ivy being the remaining member of Nightmare's faction.

With present Taki being the ones who told Ivy the truth about her connection to Soul Edge very early instead of her NT counterpart (towards the end of Ivy's character episode in the game). As a result, this also qualifies as a time paradox in the Soulcalibur VI timeline along with the aforementioned erasure of Astaroth and Lizardman.