Out in the mountains of Ibaraki Prefecture, a selection of Ugutz, Baros and Zargoal, lead by Malthiua, was combing the mountains with scanning technology. Eventually, one of the Baros found something and signalled his empress to come over and inspect it. "Good work, my servant.", she said, placing her hand on the soldier's head. "You've managed to locate the energy source beneath this mound. Now there's just the simple matter of excavating it. And of course, making sure that those pesky members of Fractured Infinity don't interfere before we can."

And back at Fractured Infinity's warehouse home, the heroes received a call on the handset Kaito had bought and had installed, which out of town customers could use to call them if they had a problem, for the nominal fee of 200¥ a minute. Momo answered the phone. "Hello? Who is it?", she asked.

"This is Hiroaki Sengen, from Kashima City.", the voice on the other end said in response. It was the voice of a young-sounding man. "I've heard that you can solve unusual cases."

"That we do.", came the reply from Momo. "What's your emergency?"

"Well for the past three nights, we've been getting some tremors that are causing massive damage. Some safety officials said that they were just regular earthquakes, but that's impossible out here. We're nowhere near a fault line. And soon afterwards, people started… changing."

"Changing how?", Momo asked, concerned.

"Well one man, who'd failed to get into the police because of how scared he got, went and tackled a criminal to the ground like he'd been doing it for years. And yesterday, Mrs. Mashimi, who'd been trapped in a relationship with a very horrible man for 49 years, walked out on him. Surely if their relationship was that bad, they would've split up years ago."

"We'll be there soon enough.", Momo stated as she put the phone down and went over to the others. "Guys, we have a case."

Soon enough, the entirety of Fractured Infinity showed up in Kashima City. "Well, if you ask me, this city doesn't look any different than you'd expect it to be.", Hiroto commented.

"Maybe the Antlers are playing.", Shinya suggested. "They are one of the town's biggest draws."

"That and the Shinto shrine.", Kaito added. "But no, I think there is something up with this city." He went over to a passerby. "Excuse me, but would you be so kind as to…?"

"Push off!", the man snarled, shoving Kaito aside before moving on.

"So much for our Japanese hospitality.", Yakumo sighed. "Perhaps I'll have better luck asking around." He hen proceeded to throw a smoke bomb to the ground, disappearing.

"I hate it when he does that.", Hiroto sighed. "Though I can't argue with his logic. Let's look around and ask people for any clues."

So, everyone went their separate ways. As they did so, they were observed by Demushu. "So, all of those apes are here, huh?", he noted. "Now I have a chance not only for revenge, but to eradicate the others before they can defeat me."

And elsewhere in the city, Malthiua went over to where she got a good view of a timid office worker, setting he YoShuriken to its black face before placing it on the hammer. Ei! "Yojutsu: Kyotoru (Fear Absorption) no Jutsu!" EEEIII! The man had dark energy emerge from him, before turning into a liquid that fell into a gourd a Jukkarage was holding. "There, this operation allows us to kill two birds with one stone. Not only will the BankiJuu Yogosmacritein provided find the energy source underground, but we can take the fear from these humans for Ariake's benefit. And without fear, these humans won't be afraid to obstruct Fractured Infinity in their mission."

"Truly an impressive plan.", Yogosmacritein spoke to her from the other side of a communicator. "But I think we should find one of those Fractured Infinity heroes and make an example of them."

"Right.", Malthiua nodded, as she ended the communication. She then opened another channel. "Shovel Banki. Take a break from digging. I have a new assignment for you."

Elsewhere, Hiroto had just finished pushing himself away from a woman approaching him. "She seems very uninhibited.", he thought as he carried on. "In fact, everyone I've seen here seems very uninhibited. Which seems like a strange plan. What could it be for?"

As he asked this, the ground beneath him started quaking. Then something burst out of the ground. A robotic warrior with the head of a spade for a right hand, a crusher for a left hand and a head that had two handles on the side. When it spoke, it did so with a moving mouth. "So, the one I found first is one of the Go-Ongers that wrecked Prime Minister Yogosmacritein's Earth Cleaning Plan.", the robot announced. "Well I'm going to enjoy getting payback."

"So a BankiJuu is behind the tremors.", Hiroto stated, as he took out his Wing Trigger. "That explains half of this case." He then inserted his Change Soul, transforming. "Let's Go-On!" Now transformed into Go-On Gold, he leapt forward to attack… only for a group of Ugutz to appear to attack him. He tried cutting through them, but was notably struggling. "There are two many of them… for me alone."

And as he managed to start fighting back, the BankiJuu leapt in and put his shovel under Hiroto's foot, flipping him into the air. "You thought you could face the mighty Shovel Banki on your own." He then dug not the ground, launching rubble at Hiroto that undid his transformation and sent his Change Soul flying into the BankiJuu's crusher hand. "You can't defeat me as a solo act."

From the side, Malthiua stepped out, waving the hammer once more. "Yojutsu: Kyotoru no Jutsu!" EEEEEIIIII! Hiroto had the fear within him sucked out, causing him to get up and charge forward once again, managing to knock all of the Ugutz aside through a variety of punches and kicks.

He then proceeded to continue punching at Shovel Banki, barely managing to knock the BankiJuu back. "Oh, if I knew you were gonna pose this much of a fight without your Change Soul, then I wouldn't have taken it.", he cried out, throwing it back to Hiroto. "There, take it and go. I give up."

Hiroto transformed and took out his Rocket Dagger, flicking all of the switches one by one. Mission 1! "You know what? So do I.", Hiroto almost laughed. Mission 3! "I give up with the whole 'hero of justice' schtick." Mission 6: Full Power! "Jet Dagger!" He took off into the sky, blasting up using the thruster in the hilt of the dagger.

"Not just yet, Go-On Gold.", Malthiua stated as she fired her bow, striking Hiroto down with one of her arrows. "Shovel Banki, get back to the excavation project."

"Roger.", Shovel Banki nodded, before digging back underground, as Malthiua also departed the scene, leaving Hiroto to pull himself up.

At the nearby shrine, Kaito was admiring some of the architecture, when the priest in charge of the shrine approached him. "Are in need of anything, my son?", he asked.

"Nothing in particular.", came the reply from Kaito. "I'm just admiring the Shinto architecture. The city I was born in used to have a strong Shinto culture, before the land was bought out and demolished to make way for factories." He was silent for a moment, remembering how many lives had been ruined or ended by Yggdrasil's machinations. His parents, Hase, the butler for Shapool's father, Mai, Kazuraba, even his own, in a way. "It's like coming home."

"I see.", the man said gloomily. "I'm glad to see that someone is still visiting this old temple. Up until a few days ago, people used to come here for guidance, or ofudas, when they were having problems. But lately, they've stopped turning up."

"Yes, I'm here with a group I know investigating exactly that.", Kaito explained, before the ground began shaking and the two were almost knocked off the feet. "Along with locating the source of these tremors."

It was then that Hiroto appeared, his calm face gone. "I can answer both of those questions.", he practically snarled. "The tremors are the result of a BankiJuu digging into the ground for some reason. And the reason people are losing their fear is because Dark Guild are using the Kibaoni Yokai's hammer to absorb it from the people."

Kaito took in this information and took a good look at Hiroto. "Did they absorb your fear as well? After all, you do seem off."

"They got me, but I'm fine.", Hiroto insisted. "Let's get the others, and then I'll show you where I found Shovel Banki." He grabbed Kaito, dragging him off.

Elsewhere in town, Momo, Yakumo and Shinya had attracted the ire of irate townsfolk. "We don't need you people coming in to solve our problems.", one of them yelled.

"And we're sick of you asking us questions.", a woman snarled.

The people hen began pelting the trio with random items. "And here I thought this was going to be easy.", Yakumo sighed, taking his wand out. "Surikucho Kaike!" A barrier appeared that surrounded the three, stopping the three from taking any blows."

"Good job.", Shinya commented sarcastically. "But we haven't actually solved the problem, so much as stopped any damage to us. We need to contend with this crowd."

As if on cue, both Kaito and Hiroto appeared, beginning to subdue the attacking crowd. However, while Kaito took special care not to injure anyone too severely, merely fighting to incapacitate, Hiroto was being a lot more brutal, punching at the people with enough force to send one man flying, and to render another unconscious. "Something's wrong.", Momo said with shock. "I've never seen Hiroto get so vicious in either battle or in practice sessions."

Within minutes, both combatants had managed to get the rest of the irritated townsfolk to withdraw, with Hiroto going to the others trapped in the barrier. "It's alright, you're safe now."

But as they undid the barrier, Kaito kicked Hiroto off his feet, knocking him to the floor, to everyone's shock. "Kaito, what was that for?", Momo yelled at him.

"He's had his fear extracted from him, like the people who just attacked you.", Kaito explained. "That was Dark Guild's distraction. An army of unfettered civilians would be all too willing to see us as condescending and try to throw us out."

"I told you, I'm fine.", Hiroto insisted. "I won't be a problem-."

"Your wrong!", Kaito snapped. "You're not afraid to hurt innocents while fighting. Or to stop yourself from getting hurt. You're too much of a liability in this state."

Yakumo, bough reluctantly, nodded his head. "He's right." He then placed his Goton NinShuriken on his Ichibantou. Ki no Jutsu! "Shuriken Ninpo: Tsurutsuru Shita no Jutsu!" Moku Moku Ja! Vines shot out and bonded Hiroto, causing him to fall down. "That should hold you until we can fix what's wrong with you."

"I'm fine.", Hiroto insisted as everyone set off, leaving him behind. "Hey, where are you going? Let me out." But everyone was already gone, leaving him ranting at no-one. "LET ME OUT!"

Sooner or later, Kaito had led the rest of the group to the outskirts of the city. "This is where I felt the tremors coming from.", he explained. "The BankiJuu must be digging beneath here."

"Then there's only one thing to do.", Yakumo stated, placing his Goton Shuriken on his sword. Tsuchi no Jutsu! "Shuriken Ninpo: Tsuchi no Jutsu!" Don Don Ja! A whole opened beneath them, onto which all of them fell.

After they landed, Shovel Banki burst through the wall and bumped into them. "Hey, what're you guys doing in my place?", he asked. "I'm in the middle of digging."

"So it was a BankiJuu digging behind these tremors.", Shinya surmised. "Dark Guild strikes again."

"But what I want to know is, what's all this drilling for?", Momo asked. "I mean, I can guess that the crowd of fear-drained people were just to distract our attention, but what's the point of the digging?"

"I'll never tell you about the super amazing source of energy we discovered down here.", Shovel Banki announced. "The one that could power our operations for a thousand years."

"You idiot." Malthiua appeared and hit him with the borrowed hammer. "Why don't you give them the location of our hideout, while you're so busy explaining everything?"

"Well okay.", Shovel Banki nodded. "Our new secret base is at…"

"The point is…", Malthiua interrupted, "Once we have the energy source, we can build our armies and launch an all out conquest of this world. Just like Uncle and Autie did back in our world, Momo."

"And what about using the absorbed fear?", Yakumo asked. "Other than distracting us, what benefit does it give you?"

"Oh it's simply an experiment.", Malthiua explained. "From what Ariake told me, the Kibaoni's fear reserves were always at a low, which she didn't help by using it for her beauty treatments. But I've worked out that their flaw was that they only collected immediate fear, which is fleeting and inefficient. I decided to drain the subjects completely and at random. And the results have filled up ten gourds already." She then held one up. "This one is half full with the fear of your friend Hiroto."

"In that case!" Kaito said as he took out his Lockseed. "I'll have to beat you to take it back. Henshin!" Banana!

"And we'll take care of your friend before you can get that power source.", Yakumo added as he and the other prepped their transformations. "Shuriken Henge!"

Banana Arms! Knight of Spear!

Ao-ja! Ninja!

"Souchaku!"

"Choriki Henshin!"

Soon all 4 were transformed, all of the combatants leaping out of the hole to fight each other in the fields.

Back in the town, Hiroto was still struggling. "Damn that Yakumo. These ropes are too tight.", he hissed. "But I can't just sit here. I need to stop that BankiJuu."

It was then that Demushu appeared, doing a slash that built up power to cut through the vines. "Transform now, ape. You'll be much more sporting if you're fighting me at full power."

"Oh, so you're here too.", Hiroto sighed as he took out his Wing Trigger. "Looks like I'll have to deal with you as well." He inserted his Change Soul, transforming and pulling his Rocket Dagger. "Let's go." He leapt forward and locked his blade with the Overlord's, before leaping backwards. As Demushu launched his slash attack, Hiroto deflected it, causing a building nearby to explode.

Back in the field, Momo, Yakumo and Shinya were all facing Shovel Banki, who began throwing debris from the ground at them. "Circle Defenser!" Momo managed to deflect much of it, but the three still took damage from the flying projectiles.

Yakumo realigned his Shuriken. Mizu no Jutsu! "Shuriken Ninpo: Reito no Jutsu!" Jabu Jabu Ja! Water shot out and hit the clumps of dirt, causing them to freeze in midair. Then he replaced his Henge NinShuriken. "Igasaki-Ryu Magical Ninpo: Dragon Change no Jutsu!" He transformed into a copy of Dragomaru, made of water, to attack Shovel Banki.

"Gant Shot!", Shinya called out, firing at the BankiJuu to disorientate it.

Across the field, Kaito was clashing with Malthiua, locking his Banaspear with her bow, before delivering a slash manoeuvre. "Using a spear akin to a sword.", Malthiua commented. "You're quite the unusual fighter."

"If you want me to use a sword, then I'll oblige." Kaito pulled out his newest Lockseed and opened it. Shadow Moon! As a giant version of Shadow Moon's head appeared from smoke, he placed the Lock on his Driver. Lock On! He then cut it open. Come On! The head landed on him, dispersing the Banana Arms and opening to reveal his newest Arms, which had Shadow Moon's eyes on his shoulders, along with his mouth on his chest and the eyes on his usual helmet were now like green. Shadow Moon Arms! King of Century! Kaito then stepped forward, activating his Au Lait function. Come On! Satan Saber! He summoned the Century King's weapon, holding it by the hand guard, before using it to deliver a series of slashes to his opponent. He then added energy from his Lock into the sword. "Shadow Slash!"

Malthiua was hit by the sword, leaving a large mark down her chest. "Curse you, Kaito Kumon!", she growled. "I'll remember this." Then she teleported out.

Back in the city, Hiroto was still fighting with Demushu, in spite of his increasing exhaustion taking a toll on him. "You're certainly an interesting ape.", Demushu noted. "You've no regard for your own safety."

"I won't give up!", Hiroto hissed. "Not until I've stopped you from hurting the citizens."

"Oh?", Demushu said with confusion. "Look around you. I've barely touched any of the weaker apes since I've come here. Most of the damage has been your fault. The blood of those weaklings is on your hands, the mothers, the fathers, the sisters…"

Hiroto fell into shock at at hearing Demushu's words. In his determination to defeat the Overlord, he had become no better than he was. If anything, he had become worse. What would Miu think of him if she could see him now? He was so enraged he flicked all the switches on his Rocket Dagger, plugging it into his Wng Trigger. "Attention, Wing Booster!" He then took out the Toripter Soul. "I hope you can forgive me for how I've been acting.", he said as he inserted it into the weapon.

"Don't worry, you weren't in control.", Toripter assured him as the countdown began. 3, 2, 1, 0! "At least you're awake now."

"Right.", Hiroto nodded. "Demushu, let's wrap this up. Go-On!" He pulled the trigger, firing a laser blast shaped like Toripter at Demushu, which caused an explosion that knocked him back.

"You're pretty good.", Demushu noted. "We'll meet again when you're more in control." And with that, he was gone.

Back at the battlefield, all 4 heroes had knocked Shovel Banki down. "Alright, let's finish this.", Yakumo stated, placing his AoNinger Shuriken on his GamaGama-Gun. "GamaGama-Gun!"

Ninja Ichigeki!

Kaito slashed down on his belt three times. Come On! Banana Sparking! He stabbed his Banaspear into the ground, causing giant bananas to sprout out and hit the BankiJuu.

Momo and Shinya then proceeded to double team Shovel Banki with their blasts. "Senkou: Choriki Hikoudan!"

"Gant Slugger! Versus Cannon!"

The two shots hit Shovel Banki, buffeting him critically. "Be careful with swinging spades around!", he cried out as he collapsed and exploded. But soon afterwards, he returned as a giant due to the Bikkurium Energy capsule implanted within. "Industrial Revolution!"

From the sidelines, Malthiua placed a different YoShuriken on Kyuemon's hammer. This one had a skeletal creature on it and was marked with the kanji for "smash", along with outer blades that resembled bones. "Gashadokuro Shokan no Jutsu!" A giant skeletal monster with a long neck and armed with a billhook appeared. This was a Gashadokuro, the Kaiju foot servants of the Kibaoni Clan. "So we've seen all the features this hammer can offer. All except one." And with that, Malthiua teleported out.

From the ground, Kaito's group observed all of this with shock. "Looks like the hammer and Goton YoShuriken weren't the only leftovers from the late Kyuemon Izayoi.", Yakumo commented.

"We have trouble beating 1 opponent.", Kaito said, with concern. "How will we handle 2 at once?"

"Leave the pile of bones to me." Seikuu-Oh leapt in to do battle with the Gashadokuro, landing a punch to knock it back. "You focus on Shovel Banki.", Hiroto radioed to them."

"Hiroto?", Momo said with shock. "But you're-."

"Fully back to normal.", Toripter assured them. "Thanks to Demushu, of all people."

"That sounds like an unusual turn of event.", Shinya noted. "But I won't argue with the results." He did his summoning pose, sending a beam into space, where it reached Shadestar. "Seishinjuu Riseross, summon!" The giant robotic dragon descended to Earth. "Dive In!" Once inside, Shinya initiated another summoning ritual. "Genseijuu Kouki, summon!" The giant black turtle mecha soon descended, combining with Riseross to place Shinya in the centre. "Genseishin, JuuRiser!"

"Eat this!", Shovel Banki announced as he began scooping up the road and throwing it at JuuRiser. But the robot merely used its cannons to blast each of the pieces of debris to pieces, before going closer to its opponent and getting into a fist fight, which it managed to win. "Hey, I can't dig that."

Shinya then initiated his robot's finishing move. "Thunder Impact!" JuuRiser charged up its weapons, before unleashing a large burst of energy that totally destroyed Shovel Banki.

From the side, Seikuu-Oh had managed to overpower the Gashadokuro and Hiroto prepared his own finisher. "Seikuu Sonic! Go-On!" The robot unleashed beams of energy from all of its weapons, which hit the Yokai and destroyed it utterly. "Go-On Wings, touch down." He then sighed, exhausted from his experiences. "Can we go now? I'm sure the townspeople will recover in a few days."

"You go ahead.", Kaito stated. "I'm going to find the energy source that Dark Guild was interested in first."

And so, after some digging with his Mango Punisher, Kaito found his way into a cavern, where he saw a small golden item, like a pocket watch. It had a face on it, with "Zi-O", written in kanji. "Hard to believe something so small could be giving off so much energy.", he noted, pressing the button on top of the watch. This caused 19 more faces to pop out of both sides of the watch. Grand Zi-O! Kaito was shocked, as one of the faces on the watch was that of Kazuraba's as Armoured Rider Gaim. He also took out the Kiva Lockseed he had on him and noted that the same face on the Lock was also on the watch. He then saw a message written next to the watch in giant letters, with some faded words:

"Th-s -a- happ-e- -for-."

Kaito was shocked. What was this watch doing here? And what had whoever left it here (it clearly wasn't a natural part of the Earth) been trying to say in that message? That was yet another piece of the mystery he had ended up embroiled in.