Reviews:
neostardustdragon101: Of course, we're not going to give the Gary Stu of Hibiki.
HackerEX: Well, yeah. Having Junichiro reveal it at the very end was a bit silly. But yeah, we're going to do our best.
Shooting Star Dragon 3000: Ha-ha, yep.
Dragon Rider 66: Sougo can still use his regular RideWatch. And yeah, there's something with Tsuki.
Redrangerlegacy: Heck yeah we will. And yeah, it is going to be interesting.
Bastion Lightz: It's a reference to Ex-Aid but it's also a tongue in cheek way to show Sougo's progression in his forms.
Here are some reviews answered by our own GreyKing46:
Bastion Lightz: Yeah, this was his first real victory since chapter one.
And yeah Twice Henshin is a reference to Ex-Aid. And Kuuga. And Build. And Kabuto. Just every season where they modify phrases for big form changes
ConflictQuestio: The guy who cheated in all of his Oni training, wanted to be an Oni just to prove he was 'better than everyone else' and could be compared to Kusaka from Faiz? Yeah, no.
HAZZARD OVERFLOW: The RideWatches back-story and creation, or where they are even from or how the Another Watches work or ANYTHING, could have easily been explained via a throw-away line like every other similar item in Heisei Phase 2, especially considering how important those items are to the story.
The Another Rider's where a joke in the show. Outside Another Ryuga, Another Zi-O and Another Decade they were all easily defeated once they got the RideWatches. The only reason they were not beaten in, like, five minutes is because of a mix of characters not being smart or because of outside situations such as the Worm Invasion during the Kabuto arc leading to a distraction. The biggest problem however is the fact some of them are shown as being stronger than others for no reason, such as Another Kiva.
And, personally, I do not think we have made them a joke. Since Another Kuuga nearly beat Sougo to death, Sougo had to go through a personal journey to beat Another Decade, he had to better himself as a person in several cases to win the fights with Another Rider's. Another Ghost pushed Geiz to his limits mentally at just the complete opposite opinions between them clashing. Another Ex-Aid and Another Double being oddities they had to find their way around. And so on.
But even then, these Another Rider's are just the start. Yes, they nearly have all the RideWatches. But you forget, we are not doing two part chapters. Grand Zi-O isn't coming in around chapter 20.
And no, the Zi-O II watch protecting Sougo was never given in the show. Want to know how I know? It was not said in any of the episodes involving Another Zi-O and every other person who defends Zi-O I have seen in this argument claims it is because Another Zi-O was made in 2019 and he has different rules. But again, that wasn't said in the show either.
No explanation was given for Ginga either. Nor how Sougo became Oma Zi-O besides the fact he 'had to as it was the only way to stop Swartz's plan' as Oma Zi-O said to Sougo in the second to last episode.
Also, and here is an idea. Maybe we are doing something different with Oma Zi-O?
MKDemigodZ-Warrior: Simple. He carries around the Mirror watch. And when he needs Zi-O II he merges the watches.
Shooting Star Dragon 3000: Got to admit, thought it would be higher.
merendinoemiliano: He will. Just not now. We are pacing that stuff a bit more.
DS Rider: *grins*
Sakura Kudo: ... yes... we know.
KoutaMamba24: Have not gotten around to it yet, just seen clips of Henshin's and fight scenes. But what I do have to say... they seem to hate Zi-O in this movie. Like look at the Zi-O Rider's in a lot of those clips, they are just NOT using any of the effects they'd normally use
Guest chapter 20/21 on May 17, 18 and 20: First off, I recommend you come up with a penname to write your reviews as. I am not saying make an account, but instead of leaving the reviews being left by 'Guest' fill it in as... Zi-OFan or QuestioningFan or NamesAreHard or even just a few random letters or something. That way you don't need to say things like "Hi, I was the guest reviewer from May 17"
Also, do not worry. Every few months Fanfic just does this stupid thing where it does not show new Review's for several days. It is very annoying.
Now on to your actually review... *laughs* That took a while.
And yes Fic!Sougo is a bit bland... because that is what we are going for. We are trying to go for a boring, but GOOD, person with no ambition in life growing from his experiences with heroes and making a CHOICE into being a king. Growing from a generic nice guy with social awkwardness and no real interests into a powerful and confident man and king.
Also I completely disagree with Swartz's plan being well made. It felt very slap-dashed and made little sense.
Also *points at chapter 21* That was Sougo's flaw on display. Feeling like he isn't good enough. He is use to being in the background, to helping and being forgotten. Not being replied upon... and feeling like he is useless.
I will get back to this point later, but the Heisei Rider's sharing a world? That is a totally valid view point and opinion of the series. As every Rider from Double to Ex-aid have been directly shown to be sharing a world, and the opening episode of Zi-O implies that the world Build fused their world into was the main Rider world, which shared it's world with the Showa Rider's. Now, where did the first ten Heisei Rider's come from? Decade. In the Double and Decade movie it was clearly 100% stated that the aftermath of the Rider War fused the main nine Heisei worlds with the Showa/main rider world. As later shown in the Taisen movies, which are cannon, and the opening episodes of Fourze where we were shown footage of the Rider's fighting bad guys and finally in the Wizard finale where the real Rider's where summoned, including the real Kouta/Gaim. However if you disagree with this stance, that is fine, but it is the one I believe in based off the evidence I have listed.
My rants where always me responding to questions asked by reviewers. I would not have said a word if it was not for people asking me.
And no I am not over-blowing Show!Sougo's flaws... I am stating MY OPINION and interpretation of the character. Because from the very first minute of the first episode his characterisation made me hate the character and if you hate the character you do not give the benefit of the doubt and can only see the negative aspects. Is this unfair? Oh yes. But considering what 'Demon King' means and his statement at the start of his first fight being something a lot of the defenders of Zi-O use to claim those who dislike him are wrong LITERALLY can be read as 'I will be the nicest, kindest mass murdering dictator' it is the opinion I hold.
I have watched Zi-O three times. I have watched all of Japanime's reviews of Zi-O. I have listened to every episode of Radio Sentai Castranger's podcast when Zi-O was the topic. I followed five different Tokusatsu live tweet twitter accounts where they critiqued the show as they watched it. I have, by proxy, technically seen Zi-O roughly ten times total. I have heard eleven different opinions on the show (minus Ghost's) with every one being different. And I REALLY dislike the show. So I misremember/don't 100% remember every detail of the show. Have I been wrong a few times? Oh yeah, such as White Woz using his tablet on Kenzaki and Hajime... but that was only shown ONCE.
And as I said before, when you dislike a character you do not see those other options. I mean, to me, I read the scene of Sougo giving up the belt being because he lost to Oma Zi-O which is the first time he REALLY lost. Because until that point Sougo was never shown to waver in his dream, not be scared of becoming an evil King. He came across as the selfish person who just wanted to be A King and not care about what KIND of King he would be. A mix of the writing, acting, directing and the fundamental's of the character are why I read the scene that way, because I cannot see the 'bright side' of his character in a way that does not look... for a lack of a better term, fake.
This last point will take some explaining.
The first part is, of course we are only going to reply to the parts of the review we WANT to talk about. Heck, technically, we do not even HAVE to answer reviews but we WANT to.
Second, it is up to Ghost on if reviews are deleted. It is his account and story. Although any reviews that were deleted had unjust insults towards us that where edited out of the account repost.
Third, they were not pointing out errors. They where claiming my OPINIONS where wrong and I did keep giving counter arguments to these people, if it WAS multiple people because their wording and their points where so identical I still believe it was only one person spamming the reviews and agreeing with himself. And I was not ignoring the facts of the show, as again I pointed to directly what was said and shown on screen and why I did not like those things and they kept responding with 'you are wrong because they OBVIOUSLY felt this way' when that was not said or shown on screen.
And now for the final point. Why haven't we responded to negative reviews after chapter 18? Well...
It was because of my mental health
These assholes were directly PM-ing me and sending me death threats over my opinions OF A JAPANESE FAMILY/TEENAGE/KIDS SHOW and the fact that the Heisei Rider's were all sharing the same world FOR LITERAL MONTHS! Sure I blocked them and ignored them as best I could but there is only so long you can take such harassment until I just decided to stop responding to them.
I cannot say about Ghost, as it is up to him how/why he responds to reviews but that is why I haven't responded.
And can I come across as rude? I guess so but I can't help it. I am just blunt and say my opinion and that's all there is about it to me *shrugs*
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Kamen Rider Zi-O Revised
The Well Trained Oni, Hibiki
Co-Writer GreyKing46
We do not own these characters. All rights belong to Shotaro Ishinomori, Ishimori Productions and Toei Company
It was a few days after the events of Hiryu's escape and the slaughter of over fifteen people at the buffet. People wept and mourned their lost friends and loved ones. Though the Kamen Riders knew who did it...they couldn't do much about it. Having the public learn of time travel and mad serial killers on the loose would just induce panic.
Plus Kamen Riders tried to stay in secret, a semi-secret identity scenario to try and avoid big panic.
Sougo was still resting his hands, the sting of the fight and crafting that blue Quartz Zi-O II RideWatch was hard on him. "Are you okay?" Tsuki asked as she sat next to him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. My hands feel better though." Sougo admitted. "I'm sorry that you and Geiz have to make the RideWatches."
"It's fine. It's something to do...But. You can't keep beating yourself up about it." Tsuki answered.
"I don't know how Tsuki did so, however." Geiz added. He had tried cutting a piece of blue Quartz and it had hurt his hand as well.
"Maybe it's special? Like Woz's Quartz?" Sougo asked.
"Perhaps. But normally, it'd be fine." Geiz rubbed his hand.
"Maybe what you three need is some time off?" Junichiro asked as he brought some tea for them. "You do spend most of your time indoors nowadays, anyway."
"That...that's true." Sougo sighed heavily.
"Where should we go?" Tsuki asked.
"Well, I know this quiet forest outside of town. It should be perfect for you three." Junichiro answered.
"Well, should we get going then?" Sougo asked.
"Tea first." Junichiro responded, passing them over.
"Right." The three sighed and took their drinks.
*Elsewhere*
We arrive at a small apartment, filled with junk.
"Urgh...What a mess." A figure walked inside the room, trying not to step in anything...rotten.
Said figure was Wol "Why did Swartz send me here? " he muttered.
Clatter!
"Wh's ther'?" A voice groaned as it came through the trash.
"GAH! Trash demon!" Wol screamed and backed up in shock.
"I'm. No 'Trash Demon'." The figure pulled himself out of its own filth. "I'm the awesome Kyosuke Kiriya!" the man called.
"'Kyosuke'...Ah, you're who I'm supposed to find." Wol answered, pinching his nose to block the smell. "Um. I'm here to find you."
"Yeah? Why?" Kyosuke asked as he pulled himself up revealing an overweight man in his late twenties to early thirties.
"I. Got this. For-I'm sorry, I gotta open a window!" Wol answered, opening the door to take a breath of fresh air. Taking a deep breath and walked back inside. "This! Take it!" And produced Another RideWatch.
HIBIKI!
"What is this?" Kyosuke asked as he took the item from Wol while the word sparked anger and greed in his eyes "You making fun of me, punk? I was trained as an Oni, you know! The best Oni ever!"
"Yeah, I know. I heard. This thing, that RideWatch. It can give you that power again!" Wol answered, wiping his eyes from the sting. "You can take back the mantel that was stolen from you!"
"My-My mantle. As an Oni?" Kyosuke asked as he held the Another RideWatch.
"Yeah. No lies. You just have to absorb that." Wol answered. "Take it in! Accept your power!"
Kyosuke gripped the Another RideWatch and felt it shake in his hand. "Yes. YES! It's mine! ALL mine!" Kyosuke proclaimed and shoved it into his heart, flooding him with its power. "RAAAAAAARRRGH!" The dark purple aura shot around him, pouring out of him like a torrential waterfall.
Wol was caught and almost forced out of that crappy apartment, feeling the power radiate from Kyosuke...and saw the monster that lay beneath the surface. 'Oh god. Swartz. What is this guy?' He thought in fear.
*back with the others*
Junichiro had driven the trio down to the forest that he had mentioned. It was peaceful and serene. A quiet place for them to forget and relax.
Sougo stretched, enjoying the sun and breeze.
"You're right, this is nice." Sougo commented.
"Yeah, I'm surprised we don't do this more often." Geiz agreed.
"I've got the stuff." Tsuki said, holding some picnic gear and outdoor cooking equipment.
"Ah, thank you, Tsukuyomi." Junichiro answered as he helped get a large picnic box out of the boot.
"We can go find a spot to sit in." Sougo pointed with Geiz.
"Yeah." Geiz nodded.
"Brilliant. But err. Not too far in. These old bones won't survive any steep hills." Junichiro joked about himself.
"I promise, Uncle." Sougo nodded as he and Geiz walked off.
"...You're Uncle isn't that old." Geiz commented.
"It's just a joke he says." Sougo answered with a small smile.
"Well. I think he's gonna live forever." Geiz answered with a confident tone, making Sougo laugh.
"I think that'd drive him crazy." Sougo answered as they came near a slightly hilled grassy area. "Here should be good."
"Hmm. One problem I can see though. Do we have enough rubbish bags?" Geiz asked.
"Huh?" Sougo asked.
"I saw that there's a 'don't leave your trash lying around' sign over there." Geiz pointed.
"Oh, right." Sougo answered. "Yeah, we should have enough."
"We shouldn't have too much trash anyway." Tsuki added as she followed them "But it's good of you thinking ahead."
"Well...You spend half a year in the past, you appreciate the rules." Geiz answered openly making Sougo smile.
"Is this where we're setting up, Sougo?" Junichiro asked as he came with the remaining half of the picnic.
"Yeah, we'll be good here." Sougo nodded.
He was going to enjoy today, he was sure.
The family group got all their stuff in the right place, blanket down on the floor, the baskets holding the corners down to prevent wind from flicking it up. It was going to be a bright day.
The sounds of the city were behind them, taking out their lunch boxes as they sat above the river bank and could see the local fauna scamper about. "Whoa! A deer?" Geiz asked in shock, pointing through the forest.
"It's so cute." Tsuki covered her face in awe.
"Yeah." Sougo smiled as he looked at her.
"It's days like this you can sit back and relax-" Junichiro spoke before some loud snap alerted the deer and caused it to run.
"What was that?" Geiz asked as he could hear that, where they saw a smart-looking man walking towards them.
"Yo." the man said, doing a strange hand motion.
"Um, I'm sorry but. Who're you?" Junichiro asked as he stood up.
"I'm Asumu." The man greeted, putting a hand in his doctor coats pocket. "Just a man who's been well trained. What's up?"
"We're just having a picnic here." Junichiro answered, a little wary of him.
"Ah, that's good." Asumu nodded.
"What're you doing here?" Geiz asked as he was reaching for his RideWatch.
"Just having a walk around the woods. It's where I train." he commented casually before they all heard what sounded like a bird chirping.
"What's that?" Sougo asked in confusion, hearing the birds.
"Nature." Asumu responded calmly as a small red translucent bird came flying down and landed on Asumu's shoulder.
"...Okay, it's not just me; right? Or is that bird see-through?" Geiz asked.
"No, it's not just you." Tsuki answered before the bird jumped into the air and turned into what looked like a CD.
"Oh my. Are you a Kamen Rider?" Junichiro asked innocently, but he's also heard enough crazy thing from Sougo, it was possible to accept it.
"Yes, Kamen Rider Hibiki." Asumu nodded, attaching the CD to a folded up tuning fork and spinning the disk. He hummed, nodding as if he understood the weird noise the disk gave off.
"Okay, nice to meet you, Sir." Sougo added.
"I've heard a lot about you, Sougo Tokiwa. The 'King of Kamen Riders'." Asumu commented as he removed the disk and smiled "Ah. There you are, Makamo."
"I'm sorry; who?" Geiz asked in confusion.
"Oh, sorry. Just getting ready to murder a giant killer crab monster."
"'Giant killer crab monster'?" The four asked in shock as they heard that.
"Uncle, you-" Sougo thought in worry for his Uncle.
"Go on, you can help him." he smiled.
Sougo nodded gently and all of them got up. "Where's this killer crab?"
"Follow me." He nodded as the doctor walked into the woods.
"Sorry, Mr Tokiwa." Geiz apologised, really looking forward to the picnic.
"It's fine. Go." Junichiro sighed, but he understood.
The trio headed into the woods, following the doctor as best as they could, but with the upturned roots and stones, their clothes catching on branches and nearly slipping on mud, they still persisted.
"Makamo's are the monsters I fight. I won't go into detail, but they can only be beaten by specialised frequency attacks." Asumu nodded.
"'Specialised'-? I'm not quite sure what you mean." Tsuki asked.
"Yeah, I'm a bit lost too." Sougo added.
"You'll see." Asumu laughed as they neared a canyon... Where a giant crab was thrusting around.
"This canyon was here?" Sougo gasped.
"Yeah, it was." Asumu nodded in response as he pulled out the tuning fork and flicked it open.
"Huh? What's-?" Geiz asked before Asumu pulled out a metal knife, tapping the tuning fork on the edge of the blade, making a high ringing sound.
He brought the tuning fork to his forehead, purple flames beginning to grow around him.
The trio looked on as they saw Dr Asumu transform, turning into...a strange armoured humanoid creature.
It was mainly purple, bright red gloves with silver tooth-like zip wrist and ankle bands, silver clasp around his neck and segmented belts under his arms, a silver belt with brown leather straps and pouches holding it together. On the belt was a modified tomoe symbol in the centre and finally his mask, solid purple with red markings giving the impression of a face with silver horns and a golden miniature face resting on his forehead.
"This is a Kamen Rider?" Geiz asked in shock.
"He-he looks like an Oni!" Sougo gulped in worry, having remembered stories of Oni when he was younger.
"I am." Hibiki nodded, pulling a pair of drumsticks from his back.
The giant crab turned around and hissed, having heard Hibiki's voice and transformation. Soon charging at him with its giant pincers and frothing mouth with Hibiki jumped and flipping, running down the beast's arm as he threw fireballs from the tips of his sticks.
"Whoa! Okay, that's impressive." Geiz commented as he slapped his Ziku Driver onto his waist.
"Where were you keeping that?" Sougo asked.
"Secret pockets. Come on!" Geiz responded.
"I've got your back." Tsuki added, flipping her FaizPhoneX to its blaster mode.
She took aim, shooting at the beast's eyes.
The creature screamed, feeling its retina getting scorched as Tsuki sniped its vision.
Both Sougo and Geiz, now fully armoured leapt down, aiming to help Asumu fight this creature...and admittedly, it was going to be difficult. The crab was about three cars stacked on top of each other high.
They weren't used to dealing with beasts like this.
"Wait... What about the Time Mazine?!" Sougo realised.
"Yeah! That could-!" Geiz agreed before he was stopped.
"NO! No machines!" Asumu called out. "That will destroy the local surroundings. You have to rely on your own strengths!" as he dodged some foam that the crab shot from its mouth... Which melted the rocks said foam touched.
"WHOA!" Sougo gasped. "Okay, let's try this then!" As he pulled out a RideWatch.
KUUGA!
ARMOUR TIME! KUUGA!
"This'll probably work." Geiz chose his own RideWatch.
EX-AID!
ARMOUR TIME! EX-AID!
"So that's how you get stronger?" Hibiki asked as he landed in front of them while his armour was smoking.
"Are you on fire?!" Sougo panicked, never seeing this before, worried that he would spontaneously combust.
"No, not as such." He answered before his purple armour began to turn red, his power clearly growing.
The monster crab hissed and slathered, shooting its acidic spit over the place, as Tsuki was trying her best to blind the creature. But it was going into a frenzy. "I'll take its legs!" Sougo spoke and ran at it.
"I'll crack that shell open!" Geiz followed up, running under the crab.
The two yelled and started attacking.
"This is the 'King of Kamen Riders' and his allies?" Hibiki commented as he shook his head; liking their enthusiasm, but saw their inexperience.
He detached his belt buckle, tossing it in the air a few times.
Hibiki focussed on the giant crab before the symbol was in his view.
Hibiki Kuranai rushed forwards, slamming his belt buckle into the crab... The buckle expanding into a giant holographic drum.
"Huh?" Sougo, Geiz and Tsuki gasped as they saw the expanded drum.
"Move. Now!" Hibiki instructed Sougo and Geiz, so they weren't in the line of fire.
THUM!
"GAH!" Both Sougo and Geiz jumped out of the way, after Hibiki began to drum with his large drumsticks.
The two landed on the ground while Hibiki began to beat the drums of war, each hit rattling the monster crab deep within, smashing the shell and causing flames to erupt out from within.
The beats where loud, a victorious rhythm which carried a feeling of power within it.
Hibiki continued to sound the drums of the Oni. Before he completed and struck the final strike and destroyed the giant crab.
KABOOM!
"Holy cow." Sougo whispered as he saw the explosion...and so relieved he wasn't covered in crab guts.
"How strong is this guy?" Geiz asked in shock.
"Not that strong." Hibiki commented, his armour returning to purple. "My powers are just designed to stop Makamo. The best of my drumming gives off a special vibration that makes it be destroyed from the inside out. Although they don't normally explode, I think this one was eating something bad."
"'Something bad'? Like what? People?" Geiz asked as he stood up.
"P-p-people? Like an Oni?" Sougo gulped nervously.
"Oni don't eat people." Asumu sighed "Makamo do eat people but they are their normal diet. They are basically humans predators, like lions with gazelles. No, this one ate something bad for it. Could have been a psychic, Imagin, Phantom or any number of things."
"Ah-ha...urgh!" Sougo groaned in worry as he heard that and almost fainted.
"Hey, no fainting now." Geiz shook him.
"Is he normally like this? Or is this because he's not used to Oni?" Hibiki asked.
"Probably the second one. He's a lot braver than this." Geiz answered, after slapping Sougo out of his fear.
"Just... The idea of people... Getting eaten." he shuddered.
"A very reasonable thing to be revolted by. I understand." Hibiki answered as his face/head was revealed, his helmet disappearing by a large shine of light.
"I think you three might need some training." Hibiki commented as he took a blank RideWatch from Geiz.
HIBIKI!
In Asumu's hand the blank RideWatch had turned into a dark-purple base and light-purple faceplate RideWatch with the number 2005 and depicted his face.
"I'm sorry; 'three'?" Tsukuyomi asked as she heard that.
"That's right. You two managed to help me as much as you could. But your friend there helped blind the monster." Asumu answered. "You all need some help."
"You're not going to make us fight more of those things; are you?" Sougo asked as he stood up.
"Of course not, I'm not crazy." Asumu responded. "Just some light training."
"Oh, that's good." Geiz nodded.
...
*time skip*
"How is this 'light training'?!" Geiz groaned as he, Sougo and Tsuki were carrying boulders.
Literal boulders. Each one as big as a small dog. The three carrying them as they ran.
"It was for me. Don't worry, I wouldn't give you human-sized boulders until later." Asumu answered, carrying a much larger boulder himself.
...
"What?!" the two groaned.
"I. Hope. You're. Jo. King." Tsuki groaned as she tried to carry the boulder, trying to keep up, but...was a good few metres away.
"When I mean 'later' I mean, 'when you become accustomed to this level of weight'." Asumu answered. "In a few weeks. After all, you guys get stronger now and your power will be even stronger."
"You serious?" Sougo asked as he was middle of the three.
"I'm serious." Asumu nodded "I mean it's basically power armour, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I suppose." Sougo nodded.
"And armour is as only as strong as the one who wields it." Asumu followed up. "You can wear the most powerful and indestructible armour in the world, yet if you're not strong enough to wear it, you won't be."
"I get it. A weapon's only as good as its user." Geiz nodded, recalling his training with a blaster.
You could have the strongest weapon on the battlefield, but it was useless if you couldn't hit your target.
"Exactly." Asumu answered.
"I-I gotta stop." Tsuki panted as she buckled to her knees. "I-I'm not cut out for this."
"You're doing fine. Better than I did when I was first starting out." Asumu praised. "The 'Young King' here is struggling."
"I-I'm just. Worried. About my Uncle." Sougo panted.
"... Oh! Right!" Asumu facepalmed "I forgot about that guys. Sorry."
"Urgh!" Sougo groaned and fell face first.
SPLAT!
"...Thank god it's just leaves and mud." Sougo sighed.
"Come on, I'll lead you back to your camp." Asumu smiled.
"Okay. C'mon, Sougo." Geiz answered, trying to help him up.
"Go. I'll be there in a minute." Sougo waved.
Tsuki took a deep breath and nodded, following but refusing to let go of the rock.
"That's the spirit. Let's go." Asumu called out, leading the way.
Sougo struggled, pulling himself up, though having dropped the heavy stone next to him. His bones were throbbing in pain.
He followed Geiz and Tsuki, Geiz having discarded his rock as well.
"Your body throbbing in pain too?" Geiz asked.
"Yeah. I am not suited for this. I'm soft." Sougo admitted while Tsuki followed at the back, sweating but refusing to let go of the rock.
"Ts-Tsuki, are you alright? Why're you still carrying that?" Sougo asked, wanting to help her.
"I'm... Fine." she panted 'I have to keep going! I... I can't help them enough as is! I need to get better! Be stronger! I don't want them to... They could die because I was too weak to help! But I won't let that happen!'
"Okay. But if it gets too much, we're going to help." Sougo answered.
"I've got this." she repeated calmly.
Geiz sighed and knew, while Sougo was being a doting boyfriend; Geiz was being the big brother he was, seeing her as a little sister trying to be strong.
This was a situation that he was better suited for, not Sougo "Zi-O." Geiz whispered, his tone saying to Sougo 'here, now, serious talk.'
Sougo heard that...and nodded. "Tsuki, please excuse me."
"No. Problem." She responded.
Sougo nodded and jogged forwards, arriving at Geiz's side "Yeah Geiz? What's up?"
"You need to back off right now." Geiz said simply "This is something Tsuki feels she has to do by herself. Something she has to do to prove her own worth. She doesn't want help right now, she feels like you are patronising her and that she isn't good enough. Trust me, you need to back off."
"I. Hmm. I understand." Sougo took that bitter pill and swallowed it. He didn't mean to patronise Tsuki...but his actions made it seem so.
"You aren't BEING patronised. But to Tsukuyomi, it is most likely coming across as that." Geiz assured.
"I'll give her space. I'll apologise when we get to camp." Sougo answered.
"No! Don't apologise!" Geiz snapped and slapped him around the head. "Calling her out on it will just make her upset!"
"Ow! Okay, sheesh! Guess I'm not doing well today." He groaned, rubbing his head.
"Just... Leave her to it for now." Geiz assured.
"Okay. I'll leave it to her." Sougo nodded.
*time skip*
"I'm glad my Uncle's home safe." Sougo sighed as they were camping out under the stars.
"And you can stop worrying." Geiz nodded.
"Yeah." She smiled.
"You know, it's nights like this I enjoy in the wilderness." Asumu commented as he walked by their tent now wearing new clothes, finally having detransformed fully.
"Why did change clothes?" Sougo asked.
"When Oni lose their armour forms, we are naked. The transformation destroys our clothes." Asamu unexplained.
The three just blinked and looked up at the sky. "So glad that doesn't happen to us." Geiz admitted.
"Yes!" Sougo and Tsuki agreed.
"Or 'Another Riders'." Sougo followed up.
"That's true. No-one wants that." Geiz shook his head.
Sougo nodded, trying to stop his mind from wandering.
'No! No! Not that!' Sougo thought, trying not to think of Tsuki in that sort of compromising situation which made his face atomic red.
"It's getting late. We should turn in, kids." Asumu spoke. and yawned gently.
"Right." they nodded.
"Wait; what about the monsters?" Sougo asked.
"Don't worry. I'll see to them." Asumu answered. "Besides, there was just that one."
"Oh, thank goodness." Sougo sighed, his inner scared child calming down making Tsuki laugh a bit. "What?"
"It's nothing." Tsuki reassured him.
"Night you two." Geiz yawned, tucking into a sleeping bag.
"Night."
The three tucked into their respective sleeping bags, listening to the sounds of nature, trying to fall asleep.
Meanwhile, Asamu was just looking out at the forest.
He knew to be an Oni was a lonely life. But to help further the strengths of these Riders and their friends. To become better? That was rewarding enough.
And he also noticed something in the distance.
It was strong. Dangerous. Almost like a wild animal. That killer crab should have been the only thing that appeared in the forest this time. Something was wrong.
Time ticked by, eventually, Asamu fell asleep as well.
It was around four AM when Sougo felt himself waking up, feeling something rubbing against his chin and his cheek. It felt like leather... Maybe a boot?
"Did a... Fox get Geiz' boot or... something? Gross..." Sougo whispered tiredly as he woke up... And what he saw DEFINITELY woke him up
Aura was sitting on his lap, casually just sitting there as she looked at her nails while she pushed her booted foot against his face almost like she was caressing it.
"Oh, you're finally awake." She said casually as she saw him staring at her, Aura flicking her hair behind her shoulder.
"Hmm!" Sougo gulped in shock, trying not to wake Tsuki or Geiz up, seeing her slender and boot-clad leg caress against his cheek.
She twisted her body slightly, setting both boots on his shoulders. Giving him a clear view of her long legs, those boots, that small bit of bare flesh between her boot and skirt... With her skirt positioned in such a way that it perfectly blocked what was behind it. It was as if she had practised this position, trying to get the exact spot that would show everything while not 'revealing' anything.
"Did you like your chocolate?" she asked "And feel free to speak. Times frozen."
"Ch-Chocolate?" Sougo asked nervously, seeing her soft legs before him...his body and instincts betraying him.
"Yeah. The valentines chocolate I left you, remember?" she smirked.
"Wait. That was you?" Sougo whispered, even though time was frozen, he wanted to be quiet.
"Of course it was. What, you thought Wol left it?" she rolled her eyes.
"No." Sougo answered. "It. It was nice." He admitted.
"Oh, thank you." Aura smiled "Homemade. Glad it was to your kingly standards."
"'Home-made'?" Sougo asked as he looked up at her. "Y-You didn't have to-"
"Of course I did." She answered.
"It is the point, isn't it?" she giggled and leaned forward slightly, her legs pushing out slightly. Her feet were now behind Sougo's head, the boots ending right next to his eyes with her naked thighs brushing his cheeks "I am so glad you enjoyed it. But that isn't the reason I am here."
"Wh-wh-what is your reason?" Sougo stammered as he looked up at her legs and then her face. And he saw her smirking at him. Her lips and eyes showing an almost evil glee and mischief as well as some genuine joy.
"Swartz is insane. But he has Wol and I under his thumb." she explained.
"I could've told you that. Wait, under your thumb?" Sougo asked, before double-taking. "Wait, you mean you can't leave him, even if you tried?"
"Yes." she nodded "He'd be able to find us. No matter when or where we go. It's like he knows, psychically or something. And our time powers are useless compared to his, he overpowers ours.
"Damn. I-I'm sorry. But, I don't know what to do to help." Sougo answered.
"I'm not asking for help." she commented with a frown "I'm giving the warning. And the heads up that Another Hibiki was made.
"Oh...Wait, what?" Sougo nodded and then double-took. "'Another Hibiki is made'?"
"Exactly." She nodded. "I should leave."
"Do you have to?" he asked, unable to help himself as she shifted her position again.
"Really? You want me here?" She inquired. "But Swartz might come."
She was now, basically, laying atop him with her legs kicking back and forth in the air.
'S-Stupid body!' Sougo blushed as he saw her legs before his eyes, wanting to kiss and rub them affectionately. But his heart was on Tsuki, he couldn't do this right next to her!
He gulped, looking up. Aura's face inches from his.
"You know. You're cute when you're flustered." Aura teased, wanting to kiss him...but pulled back. "I'll be seeing you, future King." she said and ran her hand across his face "Good night."
Suddenly time continued, Aura gone. Like a succubus gone in the night's wind.
Sougo was fully awake now...And needed to splash some cold river water on his face. Some much needed cold water.
"Hmm..." Tsuki mumbled as she was unaware of what had transpired.
*the next day*
"Good morning, Riders." Asumu spoke, having started a campfire to cook some sausages. "Sleep well?"
"Yeah." Geiz stretched.
"I slept fine, thank you." Tsuki added.
"...Hey; where's Sougo?" Asumu asked as he hadn't seen him stir awake.
"Sougo? Sougo!" Tsuki gasped and yelled.
A strange groaning came from the tent, worrying the group that Sougo was taken.
"Sougo!" Tsuki yelled and rushed to the tent.
Inside they saw!
Sougo.
He was groaning as he couldn't get back off to bed again, groaning between the sun being up, the others talking and what transpired last night. He looked and was exhausted
"Morning." he yawned.
"What happened? You look...terrible." Tsuki asked in concern.
"Rough night." He answered, not exactly lying, but not telling the entire truth. After all, he was slightly ashamed.
"Well, we've got a full day ahead of us. And you can't start without some breakfast." Asumu sighed.
"Okay." Sougo yawned.
"You might need a few more hours, Sougo." Geiz commented.
"I-I'm fi-yawn." Sougo tried to answer but his speech was impeded by his lack of sleep.
Tsuki frowned, rubbing his back.
"Hope you don't mind fried sausages." Asumu apologised.
"No, no. It's fine." Sougo nodded gently, his eyes were heavy.
Asumu nodded, setting up the small stove.
"Thanks for doing this." Geiz answered. "It's...nostalgic."
"Is that right?" Asumu asked.
"Yeah. It's how the resistance ate every meal." Tsuki nodded.
"Huh. I didn't think you three were part of any 'Resistance'." Asumu responded.
"Oh, not Sougo. Just me and Tsuki." Geiz clarified, Sougo leaning against a tree and getting some more naptime.
He relaxed, the two future heroes telling Asumu about their adventure so far.
"God. You really have been through a lot." He commented.
"It's been hectic, to say the least." Geiz answered.
Asamu nodded, sitting back. "But. You're making progress. That's as much as you can ask for."
"I suppose, but prior to this training, we might be slowing down." Tsuki added in realisation.
"Well, considering your desolate future...It's understandable that you'd want to slow down a little." Asumu answered, being considerate.
"Understood." Geiz nodded, before he looked at Sougo. "What about him?"
*time skip*
"aH! tHeRe yOu aRe." A terrifying voice hissed as it crushed through the forest
"Huh?"
"hIbIkI!" The voice proclaimed and leapt down, crashing down before him with disk animals falling to the floor around it, all of them damaged.
Standing before Asumu was a large humanoid figure, dark blue armoured with golden oni faced armour, bloody red hands with black claws, a golden sash and horns, veiny red face markings and tusks with two tetsubo clubs in its claws with a dark grey sash that went around his torso to behind his head. Like depicting a classical Oni portraiture. Even including a beer belly, which...sort of threw off the whole 'intimidating Oni' aura.
Asumu frowned and pulled out his tuning fork, flicking it open. He tapped it against a tree, looking at the Another Rider.
"dOn'T eVeN bOtHeR. tHiS fOrM bLoCkS yOuR tRaNsFoRmAtIoN!" Another Hibiki laughed and punched Asumu in the stomach, sending him flying into a tree, only for Asumu to be surrounded by purple flames, Hibiki grabbing the Another Rider's arm.
"hUh?!" Another Hibiki gasped. "wAs i lIeD tO?"
"I think. I know who you are." Asumu glared as he was transformed.
"Mr Asumu!" The group called out.
"O-O-Oni!" Sougo panicked, seeing Another Hibiki before him and scared from the original depictions he recalled as a child.
Hibiki and Another Hibiki glared at each other, Hibiki pulling out his drum sticks.
"It's you. Isn't it?" Hibiki asked. "There is only one person who makes sense to be given this power, after all."
"gLaD tO sEe i wAsN't fOrGoTtEn. bUt yEs. iT's mE!" Another Hibiki answered, wielding his own clubs.
"This should be impossible. Shouldn't it?" Tsuki asked as she saw the two Hibiki.
"Kirya." Hibiki frowned, getting into a fight position.
"i'Ve aCqUiReD tHe pOwErS oF tHe oNi oNcE aGaIn. How? hOw aRe yOu sTiLl tRaNsFoRmEd?" Kirya glared as he ran at him, clashing their clubs together.
"Because I'm well trained!" he smirked and kicked Kiryua away, swinging his drum sticks like he was playing a drum which launched fireballs from them.
Kirya retaliated, throwing his own fireballs at Asumu, made of dark purple flames, some collided, but some missed their mark, while Asumu's did.
"You haven't been practicing." Asumu laughed mockingly, throwing a drum stick into the air before catching it.
"i sHoUlDn'T nEeD tO! i aM tHe gReAtEsT oNi iN tHe wOrLd!" Kirya responded, causing flames from his mouth to spew. "I aM tHe StRoNgEsT! ThE bEsT!"
"... He's just like Hiryu..." Sougo frowned as his fear faded away "HENSHIN!"
ZI-O!
DECADE!
ZI-O~! ARMOUR TIME! KAMEN RIDE! WOW~! DECADE~!
Sougo rushed forward in Decade Armour, the RideHeisaber at the ready as he slashed Another Hibiki back as he pulled out a new watch.
HIBIKI!
FINAL FORM TIME: HI-HI-HIBIKI!
Sougo was now clad in the Decade Armour, though his face showed the final form of Hibiki, and the lower half of his body showed a black torso with red legs and arms, his chest and left arm had the Katakana for 'Kuranai', meaning Hibiki's final form with the right shoulder saying 'Hibiki' in Katakana.
"i-iMpOsSiBlE!" Kirya gasped.
"No. It's not." Sougo glared, staring right at the 'Oni' while he drew the ZikanGlade, using both blades like the drum sticks that Hibiki uses.
Each 'drumming slash/beat' carved into Another Hibiki, causing him to recoil in pain and get carved up by the razor-sharp edges.
"When did Sougo get brave again?" Geiz asked as he equipped his belt.
"Wait." Tsuki asked, stopping him from inserting his Geiz RideWatch.
"Why-? Oh. You're right. He's got this." Geiz nodded in understanding as Hibiki and Sougo rushed forward, striking with their weapons.
Kirya tried to block, pushing back as best as he could...but the difference in their strengths was apparent, Asumu and Sougo were trained and still training, compared to Kirya who had become a sloven shut-in who just revelled in his past glory and became weaker.
He was lazy, he was a cheater.
"i. i wAs. hIbIkI!" Kirya panted as he was fully wounded.
"You were never a true Oni." Hibiki answered.
"NOOO!" Kirya roared, red smoke blazing off his form as he began to... Change.
"What on Earth?" Sougo gasped as he and Hibiki backed up in shock and fear.
Seeing Another Hibiki grow and morph, changing into a more horrifying giant version of itself.
"...Oh. Crap." Gezi looked up in shock.
"Okay, now you can." Tsuki gulped.
Sougo took the Hibiki watch off and threw it to Geiz "Use this!" he called, reverting to the basic Decade form.
"What about you?" Geiz asked, Sougo replying as he pulled out the Mirror Watch which quickly evolved into Zi-O II.
"I've got it." Sougo nodded, pressing the button.
ZI-O II!
Click
ZI-O~
"This better work." Geiz spoke.
GEIZ!
HIBIKI!
"HENSHIN!" Sougo and Geiz proclaimed as they transformed.
RIDER TIME!
KAMEN RIDER~! (RIDER~!) ZI-O! (ZI-O!) ZI-O~! II!
KAMEN RI~DER GEIZ!
ARMOUR TIME!
HIBIKI!
The two Riders had transformed into their new forms, Sougo as Zi-O II; Geiz had gained a new silver and purple armour, his chest was protected by a protruding purple chest, round shoulder-guards that looked like Hibiki's belt drum symbol, silver arm guards and a purple faceplate with his yellow Hiragana visor read 'Hibiki', with small silver horns on his head.
"IWAEI!" Woz called as he suddenly appeared... Before he frowned. "Wait... Darn, I missed it!"
"We'll deal with it later, help now!" Sougo called out as he held his twin blades.
"Of course, My Overlord." Woz nodded and equipped his belt.
CRASH!
"dIe! DiE yOu InSeCtS!" Another Hibiki roared, smashing his foot down on them.
"I see your future." Sougo said, rushing forward.
Both Geiz and Hibiki followed Sougo, dodging the giant foot that almost crushed them, which was lucky for them. "What's the next move, Zi-O?" Hibiki asked.
"Geiz, go left! Hibiki, jump!" Sougo instructed.
The two did so, immediately following the instructions and dodged Another Hibiki's coming attack. 'He can see the future!' Geiz realised as Sougo leapt back and dodged the giant fist. He thought Sougo had just been boasting in the battle with Another Zi-O, but this proved it.
The clock hands on Sougo's helmets began to glow, as Sougo ran up A-Hibiki's arm.
Kiryua span around and spewed fire from his mouth, sending Sougo flying, before he used his clubs to crush Geiz and Hibiki
"I see it!" Sougo called, summoning the Saikyo Glade
RIDER!
RIDER GIRI GIRI SLASH!
Sougo have a mighty twist of his arm, forming a circle shape. His finisher was launched as a wave, a circular wave which acted as a shield and blew the flames back into Kiryu's face.
"ARGH! MY EYES!" Kirya screamed, slamming his hands into his face to stop the burns.
"Asumu, aim for his legs!" Sougo pointed.
"I'm on it!" He responded as Asamu unleashed his own flame breath attack at Kiryu's legs.
"ARGH! I'M BURNING! BURNING!" A-Hibiki roared in pain.
"Let's end this. Right now!" Sougo spoke as he activated his belt and RideWatches.
RIDER FINISH TIME!
TWICE! TIME! BREAK!
Sougo came down with a yell, sending A-Hibiki crashing hard onto the ground... And as he did so, Asamu slammed his belt buckle onto Kiryu's stomach making it turn into the giant drum.
"Let's finish this! Oni style!" Asamu called.
"Right!" Geiz nodded, activating his own watches.
HIBIKI! FINISH TIME!
Both Asumu and Geiz now had their taiko drum clubs in their hands as they began the thunderous crash of their attacks into Another Hibiki, shattering the Another RideWatch from within and attacked Kirya in his normal state.
ONGEKI TIME BURST!
"ARRRRGHH!" Kirya screamed as he was released from the Another Hibiki RideWatch and fell to the ground. Defeated, dejected and broken. Mentally, not physically...though he wasn't in the best shape.
"You let yourself go, Kirya." Asamu smirked, twirling his drum stick.
"Urgh..." Kirya groaned as he was laid out on the ground.
Geiz looked at Sougo and removed his RideWatches. "Thanks."
"No problem." Sougo smiled as he took back the Hibiki Watch.
"So, what do we do with him? I doubt the police will believe us about Oni attacks." Geiz asked.
"I'll handle him. He was an Oni." Asumu answered.
*time skip*
It was the next day and the trio was still in their gruelling Oni training from Asumu, doing deadlifts with boulders.
Luckily they weren't the biggest rocks but... Still, they were heavy.
"HNN! Too. Heavy." Sougo groaned, lifting as best as he could.
"Yeah." Geiz agreed.
"You two are doing fine. I mean, you faced a giant Oni the other day. This should be much easier for you." Asumu encouraged them.
"There's a difference between 'dodging' and 'lifting'." Tsuki answered, doing her best with her own weights.
"Agreed." Woz nodded.
"Where have you been?" Geiz glared, dropping the boulder to the floor.
"Off in the future, trying to gather information." Woz replied.
"And what did you find?" Tsuki asked.
"Just one thing. A book that spoke of Oma Day." Woz explained.
"Oh great. What's it say?" Geiz asked.
"I don't know, all I know is that the book exists." Woz answered. "The book is apparently about how our Overlord ascended to the form of Oma Zi-O. However, there is one bit of information that makes me worried."
"If it makes you worried, then it's going to be bad." Sougo asked.
"What is it?" Tsuki asked.
"... The reference to the Book of Oma Day lists how 'the mighty Overlord, and his trusted ally Swartz, obliterated the foolish Rider's of old'."
"My...What?" Sougo asked in shock, horrified that this revelation. Swartz, their enemy...was his 'trusted ally'? That couldn't be right. No, it can't be right!
Everyone knew there was something wrong here!
"'Oma Zi-O'?" Asumu asked in confusion, looking at Sougo.
"That clinches it." Geiz answered.
"What do you mean?" Woz asked.
"The Oma Zi-O in our time...isn't Sougo." Geiz clarified shocking and confusing everyone. "Think about it. After everything we've done, after everything we've been through...Sougo could never be the Demon King." Geiz answered making Tsuki smile.
"He... Isn't the Overlord?" Woz asked.
"Woz, be honest. Has Sougo ever treated you like Oma Zi-O would?" Geiz asked, thinking of his experience while fighting him and also how he treated Woz the past few months while Woz stumbled back, almost looking betrayed.
"N-Not my." Woz whispered, looking at Sougo like he was a stranger.
"Woz, wait." Sougo tried to reach out, only for the Chronicler to flinch in fear and quickly disappeared.
"He's gone, Sougo. This is all too much for him." Tsuki frowned.
"Yeah. Yeah I...I guess that makes sense." He nodded sadly.
"Rider drama." Asumu sighed.
"'Rider Drama'? You mean this is old hat to you guys?" Tsuki asked in confusion.
"You can't go anywhere being a Rider without having some drama while saving the world." Asumu answered. "So... We need to do something to wind down."
"What do you suggest?" Geiz rebutted.
"How about a song? That usually helps." Asumu smiled as he passed out some tanto drums "One of my teacher's quirks which helped him relax was singing these tiny made up songs. Simple tunes."
"Oh, okay...Anyone know how to play the drums?" Sougo asked.
"I'll do the drumming, you three have fun." Asumu reminded.
"Right, thank you." Tsuki apologised and nodded.
"It's fine." Sougo nodded, Asamu walking towards the drum
"What should we sing?" Geiz wondered
"He said anything tunelessly." Tsuki responded while Asumu began to play.
"Hmm, hmm, hmm." Sougo began to hum as his soul... Moved, his heart and ridewatch glowing gently. "Toki no naka o kakeru yō ni. Shinjitsu dake o sagashite."
Both Geiz and Tsuki looked at Sougo, listening to him 'sing'.
'He can sing?' both thought in shock
"Tome sasenai dare no toki mo, kakegae no nai monogatari. Tsunageru arubeki yō." Sougo continued, feeling his heart get lighter. "Me o tojireba uchinaru koe ga hibiku, Itsuwari naki mirai iku."
Tsuki smiled and grabbed his hand, pulling Sougo into a dance suddenly
"Wh-whoa!" Sougo double took.
"Don't stop." She asked gently as the two started dancing.
Geiz sighed gently as he listened to the music being played while looking on at the two.
However he decided to head up and join Asumu with the drums, smiling.
Asumu sighed as he played, letting the music and rhythm carry on with Geiz.
* ? ? ?*
We arrive at a concert, where a young man was playing the violin to a crowd of thousands.
The beautiful notes hummed through the air like an aria of a majestic singer. The sights that the music conveyed brought tears to the eyes of those who beheld its majestic tune. Truly, it was a masterpiece dedicated to hard work and talent.
With one final dramatic flair of the violin, the song was finished. The crowd erupted into cheers, the man bowing.
With that last flurry, the man walked off the stage where a golden bat flew around him "Hey hey, Wataru! That was a great show!"
"Thank you Kivat." The man, Wataru, nodded.
"It may have been your best yet." Kivat, the golden bat, responded.
"I hope so." Wataru nodded proudly.
To be continued
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