Ren Akamichi was not having a good week. It had all started when he had left Southern Base, ostensibly to find Kento. Deep down, it was due to his own underlying resentment towards Reika Shindai, stemming back to when both had trained at Southern Base. He had inherited the Fuusouken Hayate following the previous owner losing her life in the events of 25 years ago and had trained under Master Logos himself. But despite his proficiency with the wind element far surpassing Reika's own smoke element, the Master had chosen her to be his emissary. When Ren had asked why, he was simply told that "Reika's strength is greater than yours." To say that had kicked off an unhealthy obsession when combining these words with the Sword of Logos' mission statement to uphold justice, would be an understatement. But regardless, Ren had soon after transferred to the Norhern Base, believing he'd have more opportunities to become stronger there, until recent events had built up to him leaving the Sword of Logos altogether to find Kento Fukiyama, the one Swordsman in the organisation he had formed a bond with, now a rogue element himself, so to speak. But then, when they reunited, one of Hayate's two halves was sealed by the man it's weirder looked up to like a brother. Now, he stood with no side, merely wandering aimlessly, while trying to ignore that annoying voice that had taken to following him.
"Oi, Ren." Ren turned around. Though he recognised the face and voice, it mercifully was not that hybrid Megid that had been annoying him constantly. It was Old Man Ogami, who he had last seen leaving the Southern Base. "What do you think you're doing?"
"What do you want?", Ren asked irritably. "Didn't you tell me to find my own path? Well that's what I'm doing."
Ogami tutted at this. "Still as abrasive as ever, eh Ren? Well if you want to know, there's a crisis we're trying to deal with. And in order to deal with it, we'll need to get as many strong swordsmen as we can to defeat it."
These words stung Ren more than they normally would have motivated him. With his humiliating defeat and loss of his wind powers still fresh in his mind, he didn't respond as Ogami had anticipated. "Didn't you tell me to find my own path? So why are you dragging me back in to your battle?"
But before the conversation could degenerate into an argument, both heard a scream and instinctively ran to investigate.
The creature inhabiting Mei Sudo's body was discussing the plan with the ally Zooous-sama had loaned her, or more accurately, the ally summoned from the Getting Spider Altair Ridebook she had been loaned. The Spider had sympathised with her plight, having been created from a human himself. Specifically, his progenitor was a manservant in a castle who never did a particularly effective job of cleaning up dust, resulting in a lot of cobwebs. He had been re-imprisoned for 8 years following his last defeat at the hand of the Swordsman of Earth, but now he had been released again. "So, do you know the plan?", she asked him.
"Yes.", her ally nodded. "I pretend that I'm attacking you to lure in one of the Swordsmen other hose of Flame, Water or Darkness. When one comes, I let myself be defeated and they take you to their Northern Base where you can reclaim your true visage. A brilliant plan, if I do say so myself, sister."
"Just remember to play your part.", Neko hissed at him. The two then noticed that the Swordsmen of Wind and Earth were both nearby. "Good, now we just need to attract their attention." So to do so, she screamed as loud as her body would allow. Astoundingly, it worked.
Within a few seconds, Ryo Ogami and Ren Akamichi had run to the scene and observed what was happening. "Aren't you that woman who's always with Touma Kamiyama?", Ren asked. "What're you doing here?"
"Does that matter now?", she cried out in response. "Hurry up and save me."
"Right.", Ogami nodded as he and Ren both pulled out their Ridebooks and initiated their transformations. "Henshin!"
Genbu Shinwa. Ittou Ryoudan! Buttagire! Dogon, Dogon, Dogouken Gekido!
Sarutobi Ninja Den. So To, Bundan! Ichi no te (Shuriken), Ni no te (Nittoryu)! Fuusouken Hayate!
The Spider Megid tutted at this. "It's been a while, Swordsman of Earth. And I see you've brought along an apprentice to help you out."
"I'm nobody's apprentice!", Ren insisted as he swung his weapon at the Spider. But, as "Mei" noticed, his style wasn't as polished as it normally was, nor was he using his Seiken's ability to split into two. Of course, she wasn't aware that the other half had been sealed.
"That all you got?", the Spider asked as Ren swung his sword weakly. But then he saw his "sister" shooting him an angry look, that said "remember the plan" without saying it out loud. So he decided to do some acting. "Oh no! You are too powerful for me to stand against. I am no match against your overwhelming might! Here, take this." He weakly threw a web to the side of his opponent.
"Is this guy for real?", Ren asked. "You sure this guy was a challenge for you, Ogami? I could defeat him even with half my power." He took out his book and inserted it into the side of his sword, triggering his final attack.
Hayate Sokudoku Geki! Ninnin!
Ren slashed at and destroyed the Spider Megid, who made no effort to dodge. "This was simply for old times' sake.", he called out to Ogami as he reverted to normal. "I'm not going to join your battle. Not yet." He then turned around and walked off.
Ogami was shocked, but had no time to do anything about to, going over to Mei. "Are you away, Missy?"
"I'm fine.", "Mei" assured him. "That creep didn't rough me up too much." Beneath her guise as the helpless victim, she was smiling at how little suspicion her ruse had generated. "I just need to get somewhere safe."
"Don't worry about that.", Ogami assured her. "I'll take you back to Northern Base."
As he carried off his rescue victim, the rogue hybrid Megid known as Desast had observed the events that had transpired. "So, one of my former ilk has ended up with the body of their human progenitor. Interesting." Desast didn't remember what his human progenitor was like. Nor did he care to remember. But this intrigued him. "I wonder how long it will take for the truth to out."