Kamen Rider Zero-One: Revised Chapter 01: A New Era, a kamen rider fanfic

Reviews:

Q. Rex: Fuck you. Grey and I love Zero-One and wanted to show how much we appreciate it. We just felt like COVID stole what could have been a fantastic ending. This is just an interpretation of what could have happened.

SuperiorSpyder: Thanks very much for understanding.

Neo-Arsene: Thanks for your kind words. And no, I haven't seen Revice's trailer, but I am excited for it.

merendinoemiliano: Don't worry, we've got plans for Reiwa's Musato Kusaka.

Ohma flame: Um...We have something similar on Grey's profile called 'Hiden Bodyguards'. You might've been inspired from that.

WeAreTheWord: Don't worry, Gai's whole Ark will be made clear. HAI! Ghost Ja~, nai to!

Here are some reviews answered by our own GreyKing46:

Neo-Arsene: Yes.

May 5 c1Guest: I am looking forward to all three projects. Especially Fuuto PI. It is such a fun and good manga but it stopped being translated very early. I have read a lot of it untranslated, and it's so good you can get most of the story just from that if you know enough about story and framing, but I can't wait to fully enjoy this thing.

WeAreTheWord: The biggest problem with Gai's redemption is right up until the redemption happens, even during the same episode, be is still the absolute worst of the worst.

SIRasdf: Oh yeah. We decided to do 01Revised for fun. Ghost and I are planning on not doing 'good' seasons in the revised series. So we aren't doing Kuuga, Double or OOO for example. And if we want to write about those it'd be as normal fanfics. Probably onehsots.

merendinoemiliano: The biggest problem Zero One had is honestly the pacing.

Q. Rex: Or... You know... Have FUN with one of the best Rider shows ever after having to deal with Zi-O and before dealing with other bad shows?/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Kamen Rider Zero-One Revised

Chapter 01: A New Era

Co-Writer GreyKing46

We do not own these characters. All rights belong to Shotaro Ishinomori, Ishimori Productions and Toei Company

We begin our story in a technologically advanced city in Japan. Here were buildings integrated with technology, billboards and giant TV screens that showed the news every hour of every day; there were people walking about enjoying their days. Walking alongside the everyday folk were people wearing strange white headphones with blue circles over their ears, but apart from that, they looked to be in every bit the same as normal people.

Buildings reached up and touched the sky, small businesses were open to the public and enjoying the trades of the day.

On the blimp/drone TV, we see a black screen where a strange robot was sitting, it had the same blue-ringed white headphones as the other people down below. The robot had black arms and legs with small amounts of grey metal plating on the joints and feet, white chest protection and shoulder guards and an expressionless white face like an opera mask on a smooth silver head.

"The new age of AI technology will bring you the future. An android built with AI."

The robot seemed to be shown from different angles, taking in its sight.

"They are called 'HumaGear'."

To the side was an elderly man of refinement. A respectable man wearing a light brown business suit, a pale blue shirt and an ascot.

"With the technology of object recognition, they recognise who I am and act accordingly." The man continued to speak, it being the person who was narrating this program. "Good morning." He turned to the robot, who was now looking at him with an inquisitive look as the man extended his hand to shake it.

"Good morning, President Korenosuke Hiden." The robot, or 'HumaGear' responded politely, shaking the President's hand.

Soon, a flash of a blue logo came and swiped towards the camera footage of a curved glass skyscraper, with the blue logo reading 'Hiden Intelligence'.

"A section of Hiden Intelligence is dedicated to activating new Humagers." Korenosuke continued as the footage showed hundreds if not thousands of blank HumaGears ready, as 3D printers scanned over each one and gave the robots human appearances, save for the ears and all of them had blue eyes.

We soon see on the TV that in space there was a magnificent satellite with a similar blue lens.

"Via the Broadcast Satellite Zea or 'BS-Zea', the Humagers are managed and will help you at work-sites." Korenosuke spoke, as HumaGears worked alongside humans in their workplaces. Hairdressers, hospitals, police; HumaGears helping the jobs of humans to make things better for all. "The new era of work possibilities are endless."

The Hiden Intelligence logo once again swiped away, revealing a bright white room instead of it being illuminated by darkness. Where President Hiden and the HumaGear at the beginning were.

"Now let us rise and chase your dreams!" Korenosuke smiled, believing in his words and the hope it inspired.

...But it was not a normal advert. As it froze on President Korenosuke's face, it shrank into the corner and revealed a HumaGear newscaster.

"The funeral service of Hiden Intelligence's founder and President, Mr. Korenosuke Hiden, was held this morning to members of the political and economic world..." The newscaster spoke as she regaled the news.

Today... was a heart-breaking day for Japan. This man was brilliant, a hero who advanced technology in ways people never expected.

He helped bring a future that many thought would be science-fiction. But to have it in their lifetime? It was a sight to behold and live through. And many people did mourn, both HumaGear and human alike.

We zoom through the air, to a large building. A building that rose into the heavens, two towers that spiralled around each other as a DNA Helix with the words 'Hiden intelligence' written upon it.

This was the building that created the HumaGear, the place that made this future a reality.

The place... where the hurt ran deepest.

The people inside were being respectful as they slowly took down a large painting of Korenosuke in a golden frame, bringing it down with covering curtains to respect his memory.

Inside there were three people, or more specifically, two people and a HumaGear were seeing the lowering of the picture. "It's such a sad day, Mr Fukuzoe." A man wearing a blue suit and round-frame glasses, a red striped tie and had a handkerchief to dab his watering red eyes expressed his sadness.

"Yes, Mr Yamashita. It is." Mr Fukuzoe, a thin bowl-cut man agreed. He wore a black suit with a similar red tie and had steeled himself...but he too had some tears. "But we must continue his legacy. This company must continue. Shesta." He turned to the HumaGear.

The HumaGear, Shesta, was a woman. Her hair was tied back in a bun, wearing a white and red-edge suit-skirt with black gloves, long red stockings and red shin-high boots. "Of course, Mr Fukuzoe. And with the President's passing, you will take up the reigns as President of the company."

"Of course, I will." he nodded confidently.

"Shesta, inform the members of the board that until the reading of President Hiden's will, I will be taking control until it is settled." Mr Fukuzoe informed.

The blue rings in Shesta's headphones began to glow and circle like they were loading or uploading something. "It is done, sir. They have been informed."

"Perfect." he nodded "Now, for the redecorating." he called "Where is the President's secretary?"

"Ah, Izu is currently in the President's room, receiving updates in her station," Shesta answered.

We rush up the building, to a secret lab where a figure was sat in a chair.

We see another HumaGear woman, one that looked younger than Shesta, maybe an early twenties appearance. She had a short bob-cut with green highlights, wearing a white jacket with green and black lines and black cuffs, a black bow with neon teal-green edges, a teal-green skirt with a black crease, black stockings with a teal-green line going up the side and black shoes. Her HumaGear headset was loading something or having something uploaded into them. She was waiting patiently as she was given orders.

In the secret lab, a large 3D printer was activated; printing lasers were hard at work, crafting something on a platform table, the skeleton of something being made.

Printing Begins! Information from Zea received! Project Zero One, Begin!

Beep, Beep

The HumaGear woman's headset flashed a bit as she sat there, unmoving, like a statue

*elsewhere*

"I'M LATE!" A panicking voice yelled in worry as it zoomed down on a bike.

We see a young man in his early twenties zooming down a hill on a blue bike. He had red-blonde hair, brown eyes, wearing a blue coat over a light red hoodie and blue jeans and a pair of black sneakers with yellow highlights on them. He was in a sweat as he was pedalling as fast as he could, going to his job.

"I EVEN SET FIVE ALARMS!" He cried out, the wind blowing through his hair. "HOW AM I SO LATE?!"

The young man had to pedal as fast as he could, going to an amusement park where there was a poster which read:

Welcome one and all!

We are opening our new rides and also some new talent!

Starring:

GUT BUSTING TARO!

And Aruto Hiden.

Showing a picture of a half-naked HumaGear wearing a black dicky bow and shorts held up by black bracers; and the young man who just cycled into work.

The young man panted as he entered the park, trying to catch his breath as he arrived backstage to the comedy show.

"I... I made it." He panted.

"Hiden!" A stern voice spoke up, the park's manager, walked towards him. "You're late!"

"I'm-I'm sorry, Sir. I-I set alarms but...I couldn't-" Aruto panted, trying to compose himself.

"I don't want to hear it." He frowned.

Aruto flinched and looked away in shame.

The owner sighed as he looked at him. "You're lucky Taro is here to pick up your slack. Go get changed, you have three minutes."

"Right." Aruto grabbed his bag and headed to the changing room, he only had three minutes to practice his routine to himself, he told jokes. He was an aspiring comedian. He took off his blue coat and off his jumper, but soon replaced it with a comedian's black suit, as neatly pressed as it could be. But he had his chance here. "Ha!" He exhaled and smiled to psyche himself up. "You can do this." The young man looked at himself in the mirror... And sighed sadly "Grandpa..." He mumbled "Wish me luck. I'm... Okay. I can do it."

He walked out, buttoning his suit up and walked backstage where he saw a HumaGear sitting on his own, it was 'Gut Busting Taro'. It looked like he was collecting himself and running over his routine in his circuitry.

"Hello, Taro." He nodded lightly.

Beep, beep, beep.

Taro remained silent as he was finishing up his routine in his mind before standing up almost robotically before turning around. "Ah, Aruto. I see you're here."

"Yes, sorry about- I set alarms." Aruto explained sheepishly with a smile. "Hey, bust a gut out there." He chuckled awkwardly, trying to break the ice.

Taro smiled and nodded. "I intend to."

...

"Not even a chuckle?" Aruto frowned softly.

Taro looked back before 'taking a breath' and stepped out to the stage to a clapping crowd who were waiting for the star of the show.

Aruto looked out at the crowd, his hands in his pockets sadly.

"Hello, everyone!" Taro called out with a cheer, making the crowd get hyped up. "Who's up for some gut-busting laughs?"

Minutes passed as Gut Busting Taro did his routine, getting the crowd more than warmed up for the jokes. These were on point, hilarious and had some minor explosives, mostly because of his name.

"Thank you all, you've been wonderful! Have a great day at the park!" Taro smiled, waving to the crowd as he walked through the curtains. "Your turn, Aruto." He spoke to the fellow act.

Aruto nodded as he had a tough act to follow, but he was soon called up from the speakers.

"And now, the 'unique' stylings of Aruto Hiden!"

Aruto opened the curtains with a bit of a clumsy flourish, seeing the small number of people there in the seats, some rubbing their cheeks from the laughs that they had from Taro's gags. "Hello, everyone! It's nice to Arutoo meet you all!"

...

"Ahem." Aruto coughed as the warm-up joke didn't go over that well, but he pulled his phone out. "Alright, Rise Phone. What's the weather, for crying out loud?"

The phone responded with a human-sounding voice "It's gonna rain on your parade."

Aruto began to shudder as part of his act. "Oh, that's cold! Before he stopped and spun, before pointing at the audience. "Hai! Aruto ja~, nai to!"

...

Nothing. In fact, it was more than nothing...people began to get up and leave.

"E-Eh?" Aruto's face dropped as he saw the crowd vanish before his eyes. 'Why?... Why?'

He wanted to reach out, but the disappearing crowd before him spoke volumes...as he walked off backstage in shame, as the only two left were an elderly couple being lovely with each other.

The manager of the park sighed as he patted Aruto's back. "You're fired."

"Huh? M-Manager! Wait! Give me another chance!" Aruto begged.

"Hiden, as you know, this era is suited for HumaGears." The Manager shook his head. "You heard the laughter that everyone was cheering for."

"But...HumaGears..."

"My Park was filled with the sounds of joy from laughter. It's my dream to have that." The manager explained.

"I understand that." Aruto agreed, almost whining. "My dream's to make the crowd laugh as well."

"I already have someone like that, Hiden. You're not suited to be a comedian. Go find another dream." The manager answered, walking away.

Aruto was frozen, his heart breaking. 'But...I want to make people smile.'

*Elsewhere*

We go to a different location than the amusement park, a destroyed town that was mostly underwater.

A dark, deserted place. A place where all hope felt like it was lost.

The ruins of the city were like skeletons that were left in an open grave. A grim reminder of something no one could forget.

We go deep, deep into the water, under buildings that were kept as dry as possible where people could possibly enter. But dare not to.

Here, we see a leaky area, puddles on the floor but kept away from sustained and working computers, wires and cables filtering into a dilapidated but functioning 3D printer, where two figures were.

One was a man, with blonde hair held back by a black and purple headband that covered their ears, a long black duster with a purple-black sash and mismatched boots as he was typing away on the computer with dark eyes.

The second was a slumped over young man, with long black hair, brown eyes, a hood over his head, wearing a dark pink and black tattered clothing, dark black trousers and shoes.

"Hey, Horobi. Are we going to make a new friend?" The hooded young man asked, twiddling with something on the floor as he was kind of scrunched up.

"Soon, Jin. But we must prepare. We have to find a HumaGear who's close to Singularity." Horobi responded. "Korenosuke Hiden has died."

"What? He has?" Jin inquired.

"Yes. Now, there is none who can halt His progression." Horobi answered, continuing to type.

Outside, deep in the cold dark waters was a ruined machine. A large circular satellite that was broken and discontinued, but it looked ominous, like the relic of that forgotten age.

"The Age of Humanity will end...soon, will come the Age of HumaGears." Horobi's voice spoke darkly from under the water.

*Flashback*

We find ourselves outside of the sunken city, seeing no trace of it as we zoom in towards a young boy and a man wearing chunky silver headphones with blue dot lights on his head; both of whom were standing in front of a white brick building.

The young boy had reddish-blonde hair coming through, wearing a bee-striped yellow and black shirt, blue hoody and green trousers, with the man standing in front of him.

The man, or HumaGear, had short black hair, blue eyes, wearing a black jacket on a black shirt and blue jeans. He was making eye-contact with the young boy and smiling. "So, what did you want to do today, Aruto?" The man asked, before kneeling.

"Okay, Dad." The young Aruto smiled and began a sing-song. "Let's. Do a. Star-ing con-test. Booo~!" And made a funny face to his 'father'.

The HumaGear laughed. "You're funny, Aruto."

"But, you're not laughing from the heart. Let's do it again." Aruto frowned a little.

"The result will be the same." Aruto's father explained gently.

"I will make you laugh!" Aruto answered with a smile, determined to make his father laugh. "Boo~!"

Then...in the distance. The echoes of an explosion, as blue coloured flames came rushing towards him. Aruto released his hands from his silly face to look, but things went dark.

It seemed to have ended in a flash, things happened so fast before Aruto regained consciousness. Aruto was flung to the ground, dazed...but safe. His head was throbbing from the explosion, as around him the garden of the building was littered with rubble and fire. As he awoke, Aruto's eyes welled up with tears...his father was hurt. "D-Dad." He slowly got up.

Aruto's father was a HumaGear, his face was damaged, bleeding blue liquid, his limbs couldn't move; his mechanical legs were exposed and his voice was short-circuiting. "Aruto...Head towards your dream..."

"Dad, no. Please, dad." Aruto cried.

"Jump to them." Aruto's father continued.

Aruto held his father, refusing to let go, trying to save him...but what could a pre-teen do to help a dying person? "Dad! Dad...!" He wailed in anguish as his father was dying in his arms.

*End Flashback*

"Dad..." Aruto muttered as he finished gathering his items. He looked down at his arm, tapping his skin lightly.

He slowly shook his head and grabbed his bag, putting his suit inside and walked out from the amusement park. Having to leave this job for 'another dream'.

As he left the park, he heard people talking. About the death of his grandfather and what might happen to HumaGear and Hiden Intelligence.

"Granddad..." He whispered as he heard that, feeling his heart hurt. He didn't know what to think; all he's been focussed on was his dreams of being a comedian. "...What's going to happen now?" As he looked up at the comedy stage, where two more comedian HumaGear were making people laugh.

He remembered the funeral the other day. He had cried his eyes out.

There were kind people there, trying to give Aruto support. Giving Aruto some affection to help alleviate his sorrow. 'Your grandfather was a good man', 'He talked about you and of how proud he was'. Though it was the company who had to take initiative, they did mourn, but they were worried about Aruto in their own way.

Aruto, however? After the funeral...

He was alone.

No parents, no siblings...He was surrounded by people he didn't know, all people who knew his grandfather, but not him.

Just... Alone.

His bag over his shoulder, he walked out of the theme park for one final time...

And he saw a woman standing next to a limo.

It was a woman she had never seen before. It was a woman HumaGear in a white dress with teal-green and black lines, black stockings and shoes, her hands folded in front of her, a black bow with teal-green edges around her neck, short black bob-cut with highlights.

"I...I'm sorry; can I help you?" Aruto asked.

"Recognition confirmed, Aruto Hiden 22 years old." The woman spoke politely as she nodded at him. "Currently the self-proclaimed 'Killer Comedian', with minimal success as a performer."

DONG!

"That hurt..." Aruto fell to the floor as that was...salt on the wound. "Who are you?" He asked as he got back up, brushing himself off.

"I am Izu, Presidential Aide." Izu responded with another bow. "Please, come with me."

"'Presidential Aide'? You mean for granddad?" Aruto asked, slumping his bag on his back. "You were my dad's... What, secretary?"

"Correct." She nodded emotionlessly with another bow "Please, enter the vehicle. Your presence is needed at Hiden Intelligence."

Aruto looked at his bike and then at the limo. "Okay. I'll come." He nodded, parking his bike on the bike-rack at the amusement park. He locked it up, looking to the limo sadly 'What do those fossils want?' he thought in annoyance.

Izu just stood there, opening the door for him and entered it herself at the opposite side when Aruto was comfortably inside. "Hiden Intelligence, please." She asked the driver, another HumaGear, and headed to the massive company.

"What does Hiden want with me?" Aruto asked on the way there.

"You are needed for an important meeting, Sir." Izu explained.

"Great." He muttered sadly.

*Elsewhere*

We arrive at a police station of sorts, it was a large building with the acronym 'A.I.M.S.' on the front. Inside were a group of people were getting their gear and guns fixed and prepped for anything that would happen.

A.I.M.S are a government-sanctioned military group to deal with high-risk threats in Japan.

A small group right now were practising with their firearms on blank HumaGears.

Their shots roared through the air, ripping apart the metal skeletons.

One of them was a young man with fluffy-styled black hair, wearing black body armour and holding a Glock in his hands, his steely angry gaze looking at the metal skeleton.

Next was a young woman with her brown hair down her neck tied back, brown eyes, wearing a pair of goggles to protect her eyesight and wearing black armour.

"Good work, Fuwa." The woman spoke as she emptied her gun to decommission it.

"It'll be better when I get to fire upon a rogue HumaGear, Yaiba." 'Fuwa' answered.

Yaiba sighed heavily as she heard that, Fuwa's anger towards HumaGears was well known among A.I.M.S.; he was always training in the shooting gallery, ready to take down any HumaGear who went rogue. "I understand, but you can't keep barging in here to let off steam."

"Well, if you let me use the new system, we wouldn't have this problem! I'm the captain, damn it!" He snapped.

Yaiba sighed as she shook her head, acting like this is a daily routine. "And I have told you that you need my authorization. And I will not give it to you if you are a threat and abuse it." She crossed her arms, glaring at him "I don't work FOR you, Fuwa. I am AIMs scientific advisor. I work WITH you. And since I think you are unstable then I shall not be authorising any time soon. The ShotRiser is not some weapon for you to work out your anger with."

Fuwa angrily pointed at stern and stoic Yaiba who remained calm at his empty threats. "I'll show you that I am worthy to use the ShotRiser." As he walked off.

Yaiba pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head. 'He's going to be more trouble than he's worth.'

*at Hiden Intelligence*

Aruto had soon arrived at the company his grandfather created; the place of so many memories that he remembered fondly...And the vacant place where his grandfather's portrait once was. "Mr Aruto? Are you alright?" Izu asked politely.

"I'm just...remembering. Izu just a lot to take in." Aruto smiled gently, making a small joke

Suddenly he heard a crane, seeing a new picture descending.

"Is there a new president?" Aruto asked.

"It seems that there is a pre-emptive initiative, Mr Aruto." Izu responded. "Please follow me to the Board Room."

"The board room?" Aruto frowned softly as he followed the female HumaGear through the facility.

Aruto felt afraid, being here brought back memories, but the promise his grandfather made. Was it all going to come crumbling down? What was the Board going to do with him?

Izu remained silent as she led Aruto to an elevator which brought them up to the Board Room, some floors up. "Mr Aruto, are you well?"

"I'm nervous. I thought that...I don't know what to expect." Aruto answered honestly as they went up.

Izu's headphones picked up Aruto's tone and his slouching position. He was disheartened like all these things were too much for him. "Rest assured, Mr Aruto. Former President Korenosuke had his reasons for this."

"But Grandpa promised... I wouldn't have to be dragged into this." Aruto muttered as he looked at the boardroom door "That I could pursue my dream, that I didn't have to do anything involved with Hiden Intelligence..."

"... I do not understand Mr Aruto." Izu commented as the lights on her headset began to flash "According to my records you have 5% of the company's stocks and have several high-level engineering degrees, apparently you were a prodigy in the field."

"Just because you are good at something means you enjoy it." Aruto argued "Growing up with my grandfather and father, engineering just came... Naturally. But I didn't enjoy it. I only got those degrees because my grandfather agreed that if I got them, he paid for my first bike. He just wanted to make sure I had a good future."

Izu's headphone lights rotated and acknowledged Aruto's history. "Oh, I understand. Former President Korenosuke wanted you to be your own person."

"Yes. He wanted to make sure I had a... Safety net." He explained, "Money and qualifications so that if I fail, if I fall, I can stand back up."

Izu nodded as they soon arrived at the board room. "Please enter, Mr Aruto. I will accompany you momentarily."

"You're not coming in with me?" He asked.

"I have to get something from the President's Office. I will be but a moment." Izu reassured.

Aruto sighed and entered the room as his hands went into his pocket.

Inside, the Board were already waiting there. People Aruto recognised from the funeral. The Vice President, the Senior Managing Director, the Financer, HR; everyone around by a round table. And they ALL turned to see Aruto. "Ah, Aruto. Korenosuke's grandson." Mr Yamashita spoke as he saw him.

"Mr Yamashita. Sorry for intruding...I was asked to come." Aruto apologised.

"No, of course." He responded.

Mr Fukuzoe looked at Aruto, wondering why he was here. He sat in his seat, covering his mouth as he rubbed his top lip. "Shesta, do a quick search; was he invited?"

Shesta, Mr Fukuzoe's assistant HumaGear nodded, giving a quick search. "Yes, Sir. He was brought for the Reading."

"... Reading?" Aruto asked the female HumaGear as he passed, taking his seat a few next to Mr Fukuzoe "What reading? Also, hello Mr Fukuzoe. It is nice to see you again."

"Aruto." Mr Fukuzoe removed his hand over his mouth and nodded respectfully to Aruto. "Your grandfather's reading. His Will."

"This-? It's a 'will reading'?" Aruto asked in shock.

"Specific instructions were given to ensure that the Will must be opened when all parties are in question." Mr Yamashita answered, holding the will in question. "Your grandfather, President Korenosuke's, last wish."

Aruto slumped back in his chair. He was dreading this. This... this would make it real.

"Now. With everyone here, we will read Mr Korenosuke's Will." A member of the board spoke, bringing out an envelope with an instruction slip with it. "...Mr Aruto Hiden." He spoke, passing the will to him.

"Y-Yes." Aruto nodded, taking the letter nervously. Aruto read the name on the will and felt his throat close a little, seeing his grandfather's name before he turned over the envelope to open it carefully.

He slid out the will in the envelope and unfurled it. Aruto looked at the words and his eyes widened like he was betrayed by something. Aruto was mumbling something under his breath as Izu walked in, carrying a silver briefcase that she didn't have before.

"What? What is it?" Mr Fukuzoe asked as he leaned over and took the letter.

Aruto lowered the will down and gulped nervously. "I...I think you should read this, Mr Fukuzoe." He spoke, holding his head.

Mr Fukuzoe took the letter and spoke it aloud.

"In the near future, our company will be faced with a grave threat. A great number of HumaGears supplied by our company will be swayed by people of ill intent, and become a threat to humanity. There is only one countermeasure: the Zero-One Driver and its ProgriseKeys. These are tools to allow HumaGears to remain under human control, equipped with next-generation security systems. Only the Company President is authorised to use them."

Mr Fukuzoe felt confident as he read that, thinking he would be the Company President. But the talk of HumaGears going out of control was worrying to him. All the while, Aruto rubbed his arm out of nerves and Izu walked to him and Mr Fukuzoe holding the case.

"Therefore, I hereby name my grandson..." Mr Fukuzoe smile soon soured as he read that passage, getting the shocked attention of the board. "Aruto Hiden as company President. It is my last wish that the company will stand united against this crisis. That is all."

The letter soon dropped down to the table as he spoke it aloud, his gaze turned into a glare toward Aruto. "This...this is nepotism. Giving this company to a child!"

Click.

Izu opened the case, revealing the device in question.

The Zero-One Driver.

It was a black belt-like device with a neon-yellow circle on the right-hand side with a tilted neon-yellow line and grey arrow within the circle; a silver arrowhead design on the black part where the circle was connected, a red arrow-like section on the base with two rails to hold it in place.

And its corresponding ProgriseKey.

It was a black keycard/SD-Card like device with a yellow base with black front flip-screen with yellow print with the depiction of a grasshopper and a name and ability.

RISING HOPPER

ABILITY: JUMP

"The Zero-One Driver and ProgriseKey, President Aruto." Izu spoke respectfully to him. "Alongside inheriting the position of President, you also inherited 50% of the shares in the company, most of your grandfather's shares." Izu continued the will reading "The rest are split amongst the other board members. With Mr Fukuzoe getting the summer home and other small gifts."

Aruto held his head. 'This...this can't be happening.' He turned to Izu. "Izu, this-"

"This is outrageous!" Mr Fukuzoe snapped. "President Korenosuke giving this company like a nepotist gift to his grandchild?"

"Are you going against the last will, Mr Fukuzoe?" Izu inquired calmly. "This is the wish of President Korenosuke."

"Excuse me, everyone." Aruto stood up.

And instantly all attention was on the young man.

Aruto gulped a little, but he was going to treat them as an audience. "I know you're shocked at this. Believe me, I am too. But...I cannot do this. This is too much for me." He respectfully bowed and left for the door, leaving the board stunned.

"President Aruto." Izu blinked in shock.

As Aruto left, Izu closed the case with the Driver and Key.

"Shouldn't that remain here?" Mr Fukuzoe asked, trying to stop Izu.

"President Korenosuke's will is final. President Aruto must be given this, Vice President Fukuzoe." She answered respectfully and walked out with the case.

And like that, there was a small... pause pf awkwardness.

Aruto continued to walk out of the building. His mind thinking about all that had happened today. Silence at his comedy show, getting fired, that long car ride, the silence with Izu...the case and this new weight of responsibility? How was he to shoulder it?

What was he supposed to do?!

"Granddad..." He whispered, pressing his hand hard against his head and pushed through his hair out of frustration. He thought he didn't have to do this.

"Sir, are you alright?" A security guard HumaGear asked as he saw Aruto struggling.

"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine... Er..." Aruto blinked.

"You seem stressed." The HumaGear spoke with concern.

"I've just...had a bad day. What's your name?" Aruto asked.

"I am designated 'Mamoru', Sir." He answered.

"'Mamoru'." Aruto smiled gently. "Thank you."

"For what, sir?"

"For just...being you." Aruto answered kindly, pulling out a handkerchief from his bag. "I don't want to blow anything out of the way." He looked down at the handkerchief... And tied it around the guard's arm.

"What is this for, sir?" Mamoru asked

"It's a gift." Aruto smiled, patting Mamoru's arm gently, like a friend. "Bye." And began to walk out of the door and out of the building.

The elevator soon came down, Izu following close with the briefcase containing the Driver. "Mamoru, have you seen President Aruto? He must have come through here."

"'President Aruto'?" He asked in shock. "I-I think he just went outside."

"Thank you." She bowed and followed his instructions.

"...The President...gave me a 'gift'?" He whispered, gently patting the tied handkerchief on his arm.

Outside of Hiden Intelligence, Aruto was going to walk off grounds...hoping that he could get back and ask for his job again.

*elsewhere*

We return to the dark and dank waters of the sunken city, in the caverns where Horobi had finished the project he had been working on. And Jin was looking around the city for the umpteenth time in his boredom.

"Horobi~!" He whined like a child "I want a new friend!"

Ding.

"And you will have one, Jin." Horobi answered as the computer had finished creating the device he was working on...a ProgriseKey.

"Ohh~! Yes, yes, yes! Who's it gonna be?" Jin asked excitedly.

"Patience. You cannot just go yet." Horobi stood up and walked to a room with printing lasers.

"Why not?" Jin whined.

"You didn't have this." Horobi produced a strange-looking silver device, it seemed to be a belt buckle of sorts with red vein-like wires coming from the left-hand side. "Attach this first. Then give the Key. Understand?"

"Yes." Jin mumbled.

"Repeat it." Horobi glared.

"Belt first then Key. I've got it." Jin answered.

"Good." Horobi nodded "Then let project Magia begin."

*With Aruto*

Aruto had managed to walk back to the amusement park, seeing the place packed as another pair of HumaGear comedians were doing the late afternoon show. The rows were full of people laughing as they watched the show, it honestly made Aruto's heart lighter but sadder. He always wanted to make people laugh, but he couldn't hate the HumaGears doing what their profession was. Before the back row was the manager, laughing along with the crowd, seeing the HumaGear make everyone happy. "Manager." Aruto spoke up.

"...Hiden? You came back?" He asked, turning around as he saw Aruto.

"Yes, Sir. I...I want another chance for my job." Aruto asked, hoping for it.

The manager sighed, looking down and shook his head. "Hiden, I stand by what I said. You're a good person, but, you're not funny. This morning when you tried to tell your jokes, they left."

"I know but. I can get better. It's my dream to make people smile." Aruto responded.

The manager rubbed his eye with his finger. "So is mine. This place is the culmination of my dreams. Seeing people have fun, enjoying themselves...Aruto, do yourself a favour...Get. A new. Dream. Comedy isn't for you."

Aruto frowned as he heard that again, but he didn't know what else to do.

"Hiden, why don't you enjoy the park? Get your mind away for a little while." The manager asked as he turned to the comedians again.

Behind the stage was Taro, thinking back on his routine...and smiled as he saw the smiles on the faces of the people. His blue rings began to glow a little brighter...and his smile was more genuine. It was like something had awoken within him. "Those smiles." He whispered to himself and chuckled lightly.

"Hey, there~." An unknown voice spoke from behind Taro.

"Huh? Who's there? What're you doing back here?" Taro asked as he saw a strange person in a dark hooded jacket and trousers; before he had his hand on his waist, planting a silver buckle-like device around his waist.

Erupting from the buckle, were a pair of spiked belt-lines; like an iron maiden, the belt stabbed into the waist of Taro, causing red lightning to spark around him. Taro screamed in agony as he felt the spikes dig into his body, his vision where he saw the cybernetic information was being corrupted, he doubled over in pain and had to force himself to look at the hooded figure. "wH0 4r3 y0u?" Taro's voice glitched out as his sight turned red, a white equilateral diamond with four Kanji in the corners and square-like design lines appeared.

"I'm your new friend." The hooded figure smiled. "We're gonna have some fun."

Taro felt an immense pain was through him as he felt who he was, his very existence, being ripped away. He screamed as agony, hatred and rage was being forced into his mind, eating away at his joy and dreams. "n0!" He yelled as he tried to fight back, to fight back with all his might to hold onto who he was "1 hav3 a j0b!" He cried, trying to fight off the hate. To still be... Him! But this darkness was too strong.

As they talked an upload bar went from 5% to 100% almost in a flash as the final words appeared:

Connecting to MetsuBouJinRai dot Net complete

Taro's screams were halted as his headphone's blue rings turned red along with his blue eyes. "C0nn3ct1on c0mpl3t3."

The hooded figure cheered as it was covered up by the cheers and laughter. "Here, this is yours." And passed over a strange black and green USB/SD card looking device to Taro.

On the device was a green screen with a negative of a mantis-like insect.

BEROTHA

TYPE: ZETSUMETSU

Taro stiffly walked out to the back area, like this he was holding back rage and hatred; the comedian HumaGear were just finishing up as Taro burst onto the scene.

"What the? Taro?" The crowd asked in confusion as they saw him.

"What's he doing out? He's not performing-" The Manager asked in confusion, before Taro grabbed both of the comedian HumaGear and threw them aside.

"1 w4nt t0 m4k3 p30pl3. L4ugh. Hum4ns mu5t be Extinct!" Taro glitch spoke, shocking the people around, before pressing the button on the device.

BEROTHA!

SLAM!

He slotted the device into the belt buckle and hit the side of the buckle where the red wires were. The wires in the belt shot out and injected themselves into the USB-like device and cracked the screen.

Z̷̺͑E̸͙͊T̷̓͜S̸̞͗U̵̟͝M̶̳̃E̵͂ͅR̵̺̔I̶̛̫S̵͆ͅE̴̫̍!̴̂

Taro roared as the belt gave out that horrible sound, peeling and cracking off his outer shell, revealing the blank HumaGear self underneath. His blank white face-shell shattered off to reveal a mechanical skull with red eyes underneath that moved with his screams as thick green wires vomited out of his mouth, surrounding him in a cocoon of sorts. Dark orange digital DNA formed around his body.

SHATTER!

Taro was gone. Now, there was only a...thing in his place. It had the black undersuit of the HumaGear, but it had silver toes on the feet like armour, green wires that strapped onto the legs to the metal-pieced belt around its waist. His chest had an elongated octagon chest-guard covering it with three green wires that strapped it down, riveted silver shoulder-guards and black bracers with green metal mantis-like arms and sickles in its hands. Finally, was its head, a large green insectoid head with yellow protruding diamond-shaped eyes and a pair of antennae on the forehead.

"W3 w1ll 4nn1h1l1t3 4ll hum4n5!" The creature...this 'Berotha' monster proclaimed in his glitched voice.

The people were terrified and immediately ran towards the exits, pushing past Aruto and the manager, while the Berotha creature raised his hands and shot out wires at the two comedian HumaGears, infecting them and shattered their own bodies...leaving them in their blank body forms, but their eyes and headphones turned red. Their faces and their harmless plating were destroyed and replaced with grey wires and a multi-plated faceguard.

"What's going on?" The manager called out in fear, terrified for their lives.

Aruto looked at this in horror and remembered what was said at Hiden Intelligence.

'There will be a Crisis.'

Was this it?!

Something was happening to HumaGears...

"K1ll th3m!" The Berotha HumaGear proclaimed, leaping into the amusement park while the other HumaGear ran through the chairs and rushed towards Aruto and the other people.

And like that, an attack began.

Aruto's body was screaming to run, but where was he going to go? He couldn't just leave people here to be attacked by these HumaGear.

Screams filled the air as an explosion sent Aruto flying.

His bag flew over his head and cushioned his fall, falling onto the hard concrete, making him roll on the floor in pain. Aruto had a flashback to that time he was a child, the explosion and flames. The sound of crashing buildings and fire burning around him. He was feeling fear, the terror of being a helpless child again.

"...to. ...ruto. ...Ident Aruto!" A familiar voice called through to him through the explosions and screams.

"Izu?" He looked up from his position.

"Yes, Sir." She nodded, helping him up. "I am sorry I could not arrive sooner."

"Why? Why're you here?" Aruto asked, worried for her safety, unaware of his own wounds and scrapes.

He tried to stand up...and saw the destruction around him

"I came to find you." She answered. "You are the only person who can activate this."

"Look out!" Aruto pulled her away out of an oncoming fire.

BOOM!

"We have to get the people out of here!" Aruto shouted, trying to be heard over the explosions.

"President Aruto." Izu whispered in shock as she saw the heroism that this young man hand.

His attention, however, was brought to the park's manager.

"Manager!" Aruto called out, seeing him being pinned down by the Berotha HumaGear who was sharpening his bladed hands against each other. "Let go of him!" Aruto yelled as he rushed forwards.

The Berotha HumaGear turned to Aruto's voice, seeing the human rush at them and was knocked away with Aruto saving the Manager.

The young man wrapped his arms around the monster's waist, gripping at his belt as he pushed with all his might.

"Hum4n5 mu5t d13!" The Berotha HumaGear roared, slamming his arms into Aruto's back.

Aruto screamed as blood shot into the air, his arms slipping from the creature's waist before the monstrous HumaGear kicked him away.

"President Aruto!" Izu gasped as she saw him rolling to the ground.

"You. Won't kill. Anyone. I won't let you." Aruto whispered, his wound bleeding as he tried to get up to his feet.

His hoodie was torn in places, bruises covered his face and hands. His lip was bleeding, his hand twitching. A large gash was along the side of his face where old slipped down his face. He did his best to try and stand up, his form shaking.

The manager yelled as he ran, only to trip and fall. He grunted as he stumbled, until he was on his back. He tried to crawl backwards... And froze in fear as he saw what had happened to his park "N... No... No... My park..." He muttered in horror. "My... My... My dream!"

"I can't. Let you do this." Aruto looked up angrily as he saw the Berotha HumaGear, determined to fight back...even though he was unprotected against the HumaGear. "I won't let you destroy his dream!"

"Dr34m5 0f hum4n5 4nd Hum4G34r i5 hopeless." The Berotha HumaGear responded. "Dreams. Noun. A cherished aspersion, ambition..."

"SHUT UP!" Aruto suddenly roared.

Izu was stunned by how...angry? No, passionate Aruto sounded.

"Dreams are more than just 'descriptions'. It's...It's a feeling, it's what you want and strive for." Aruto stood up. "It's not something you can just dissect and throw away! Something you can just treat like toys!"

Izu listened to this, feeling something start to stir in her, the Manager was still out of it...terrified by the sight and disheartened.

"Hey! You, Izu was it?" Aruto called powerfully.

"Yes, President Aruto?" She asked as she went to his side.

"That Driver...Will it work for me?" He asked.

"Yes, President Aruto." Izu nodded confidently, opening the case and brought out the Driver and ProgriseKey for him.

"It's the only way to stop this thing, isn't it?" He asked, taking the Driver and Key from the case

"Yes." Izu nodded as she saw the Berotha HumaGear ready to attack. "You must hurry, Sir."

"Right." Aruto answered, attaching the Driver to his waist.

ZERO-ONE DRIVER!

FLASH!

Aruto felt his mind fly away from his body, almost like he was being transported to somewhere else...and in a way, he was.

"Gah!" He gasped. "Where-?"

Aruto was currently in a white room with blue zeroes and ones floating in straight lines in patches around the room.

"President Aruto, please do not be alarmed." Izu's voice spoke as she soon appeared to his side.

"Izu? What's going on?" He asked.

"Our minds are currently projected into the Sattelite Zea. We have very little time before you are attacked." Izu answered.

"What do you mean?" Aruto asked as he saw a hologram projected screen where the Berotha HumaGear was moving extremely slowly.

He saw a large glowing green blade spiralling in the air, rushing at Aruto... Moving so slow it looked like it should fall to the floor.

The Berotha HumaGear was saying something, but time was so slow it could not be heard.

"What do I do? How long do I have?" Aruto inquired.

"You have about three seconds in the real world to move. But while we are here, you have to learn the means to fight the oncoming crisis." Izu informed as screens appeared behind Aruto as she gestured to them.

"You think I can do it?" Aruto asked

"You have to, Sir. Unless you will die." Izu frowned.

Aruto nodded, raised his hand to a folder that read 'Basics' and opened it.

FLASH!

We arrive back outside in the Amusement Park where the Berotha HumaGear was attacking.

"Learning Complete." Aruto said confidently as he looked up.

The slashes of the Berotha HumaGear launched at Aruto, but his newly acquired and heavily trained skill was shown, dodging the attacks of the Magia as he held the ProgriseKey in his hand.

"1mp0ss1bl3!" The Berotha Magia glared.

Aruto pressed the ProgriseKey's button activating it for use. Following that, he scanned the Key over the circle on the right-hand side of the belt.

JUMP!

Authorise!

In a flash from the belt, a beam of yellow digital light shot down from Zea itself with pinpoint accuracy as a large mechanical grasshopper landed. It was mainly silver, glowing yellow with large red eyes. It croaked as it protected Aruto, while the Berotha gasped in shock.

Aruto extended his hands out, still holding the ProgriseKey, before making a circle with his arms to overlap in front of him.

While he did this, the Hopper did its namesake and hopped around as holographic blue screens appeared with the outline of the Zea satellite and shifted screens.

Aruto, using his right hand that held the Key, flipped out the screen of his device which revealed a blue mechanical skeleton of the Hopper inside. His hand reached up to his right ear before he proudly proclaimed a single word.

"HENSHIN!"

And slotted the Key into the Driver with the flipped screen going in first.

PROGRISE!

The silver arrowed front of the Driver slid to the left, covering the red arrow and moved the circle of the scanner to the centre, giving the impression of an eye, with the image of a grasshopper in the centre of a white circle with a yellow edge.

The blue holographic screens in front of Aruto showed the outline of a schematic for something that fit Aruto. The schematic pulled over Aruto and formed a black bodysuit with a silver 'mask', red markings over his chest and partially on his thighs, silver lines over his shoulders to his arms

TO-BIA GA RISE! RISING HOPPER!

The yellow grasshopper leapt at Aruto, before its body and limbs separated and digitized, forming neon-yellow armour over the young man's black bodysuit. Aruto's body was now lined with the hopper's data turned solid, his boots now hand neon-yellow protection on the top, connecting to the yellow shinguards, his thighs were protected by the same yellow guards that reached up to his waist. Aruto's chest had a slightly segmented chest-piece that covered the exposed red markings while his arms were the same black with silver lines. And lastly was Aruto's mask, which now was a plain neon-yellow grasshopper mask with two red eyes and a pair of antennae on a black helmet with thin red lines.

A floating black briefcase appeared next to Aruto, it too had the same neon-yellow lines on its cover with a large yellow button on one corner.

A Jump To The Sky Turns Into A Rider Kick

"Wh0 4r3 y0u?" The Berotha HumaGear demanded.

"My name is..." Aruto's voice spoke through the mask, passing the briefcase to Izu, giving an on the spot spin and pointed at him with his left hand while his right rested on his left arm's joint. "ZERO-ONE!"

There was a flash of light from his eyes, the suit glowing for a moment as its power settled in.

Izu smiled gently as she saw Aruto take his position as President of Hiden Intelligence, but also as a Kamen Rider.

The Berotha HumaGear flexed his arms and slashed at Aruto, whose stance was like a mantis' claws ready to strike, before running at the HumaGear.

The HumaGear raised its clawed hands up, but Aruto blocked and punched it in the face, knocking it down with a swift and strong punch. Though it was kicked away, the HumaGear got back up and screamed. It was not going to let a human win, it will be destroyed; it got a running start, ready to slash at Aruto, but was kicked back, with much more oomph coming from it.

CLANG!

It landed against the metal bars of the rollercoaster's fence before Aruto leapt at him with great speed, though it tried to slash at him overhead, at the waist and even from the sides, Aruto dodged them with ease; Aruto kicked the Berotha HumaGear in the chest before grabbing its two scythe arms and pushed back.

Aruto landed a couple more punches in before it tried to slice off his legs with the energy blades, forcing Aruto to leap overhead. "HA!" Within his rolling jump Aruto landed safely, he turned around...and couldn't see the Berotha HumaGear. "EH?!" Aruto had jumped so high, he was now on the highest point of a rollercoaster's track. He put his leg on the railing of the tracks and patted his leg. "My leg power can leap the distance!" He smiled, impressed by the capabilities of Zero-One.

The Berotha HumaGear growled and shot a blast of light from its massive eyes right at Aruto, who leapt right into it and blocked the damage with his black bracer covered arms. Aruto rode down the light-beam right to the HumaGear's head and smashed it down but didn't destroy it.

The Manager saw this and was in awe, before screamed as the skeleton looking HumaGear came rushing at him with intent to kill. Aruto quickly reacted to this and leapt in, taking the attacks of the two HumaGear. "GO! Get to safety!" Aruto called out.

"R-Right!" The Manager panicked, forcing his feet to run outside.

Aruto dragged the two skeleton HumaGear away, punching, kicking and dodging them as he had to take on two enemies at once now.

PUNCH!

KICK!

WHOOSH!

KICK!

WHOOSH!

PUNCH!

Aruto was almost dancing around these two HumaGear as he had to break them soon. Izu saw her President fighting and looked at the case in her hand and then back at Aruto. "President Aruto!" She called out, throwing the case at him.

"Huh?" He turned and-

CLANG!

"Ah! Ow, ow, ow, ow!" Aruto took the case right to the face.

"I'm sorry, President Aruto!" Izu apologised as she saw what she had done.

"Don't worry about it." He answered, waving it off as her trying to help...First-time try and all.

He reached down, pulling up the suitcase.

The HumaGear ran at Aruto, striking him with their fists, but Aruto blocked with the briefcase, causing small sparks on the robot AI's hands.

Fight and you can do everything to ascend, go

Find a new life, everybody, what's the wait?

You deserve it!-

Aruto used the case as a club to push back the HumaGear, dodging and punching the corrupted AI.

That's alright, check the mirror, trust your projects

Aruto pressed the yellow button of the case and unlocked the case's hidden secret, it had turned into a blade-like weapon!

"Weapon time!"

BLADE RISE!

If it's something you've never seen before.

Fight and you can do everything to ascend, go!

SLASH!

PUNCH!

Aruto almost danced with that new weapon in his hands, slashing and stabbing the corrupted HumaGear as he fought them. That training he did inside of Zea was paying off!

"WAHOO!" He cheered, doing a backfilp.

Find a new life, everybody, what's the wait?

You deserve it!

Aruto landed on his feet as he continued, slashing one of the HumaGear's arms off to pacify it somewhat.

That's alright, check your mirror, trust your projects.

If it's something, by mistake

If it's something, go to say

If it's something you have never seen before~!

"HA!" Aruto slashed at both the disarmed HumaGear and the second one, cutting their robotic heads off, making them explode.

The Berotha HumaGear saw this and its anger was rising even more, seething at Aruto for destroying its allies.

Hey, make you height

Judgement make a right?

There's two ways you always rest on your heart.

The monstrous HumaGear reached down, slamming its fist against the button on the side of the device around its waist.

A terrible cracking came from within the belt, like it was breaking into the device in the buckle even more.

Z̶̠͊É̷̱T̶̥̍Š̵̨U̷̼̾M̷͎̿E̸̹͊T̸̍͜S̷̰͂Ù̵̻ ̸͍̍N̶͖̍Ő̷̟V̶̽͜A̵̧͠!̵͉͂

The Berotha's mantis looking arms began to glow with dark green electricity; like whatever was causing the HumaGear to be controlled was enhancing and enraging its attack.

"HA!" The monster called as it slashed its arms.

Aruto jumped as he noticed the blades, twisting and twirling in the air. Arms close to his body, his form like spiral as he flipped. One blade flew above him, causing sparks as it scraped against the tip of one of his helmet's antenna, while the other clearly missed his back.

The Berotha HumaGear stumbled a little as it saw Aruto's spiral to miss his attacks and landed confidently. '1mp0551bl3!' It thought in shock.

Your carefulness is not finalized

It's already decided, it's on your own

"Berotha. There's only one person who can stop you: Me!" Aruto proclaimed.

Too many kind, takes so low, depressed

You find out the low who feel you want some way

Aruto pressed the ProgriseKey in his belt and activated it, making the circle in the middle of his belt shine.

Save it for the rest, don't care for the fear

Just starting your direction of future

Fight and you can do everything to ascend, go

Find a new life, everybody, what's the wait?

You deserve it!

Aruto rushed forwards, disappearing in a blur of yellow streaks before he kicked as hard as he could. The Berotha HumaGear gasped, being sent flying into the air.

It flailed about as it had no purchase, except gravity, holding it...and even that was failing it, as it was about to fall to the ground.

"HA!" Aruto proclaimed as his foot shot straight through the HumaGear, cracking its body straight through with the image of a mechanical foot breaking through.

Blue coolant, wires and circuitry shot out of the HumaGear as it was broken and soon destroyed.

RISING! IMPACT!

Aruto had won!

The young man rocketed down to the ground, tearing up the concrete underneath to slow his landing...before-

Crack!

"Ack! Ow, ow, ow, oof!" Aruto caught his ankle and crash-rolled into the ground, causing a small boom where the loose concrete landed on him. "Here's...my stop." He joked and chuckled.

clatter

Falling soon after him, was the small device that the HumaGear had used. Though the buckle device was gone, the cracked device remained.

"Ow..."

Izu hurried to his side and saw him, wanting to remove the concrete, but he was doing it all on his own. "President Aruto, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Izu." Aruto answered, getting up and out. "Thank you." He looked at her with a kind smile, even though it was under his helmet.

Unknown to both of them, the Berotha device that the HumaGear had was gone; neither thought any different, thinking it was destroyed.

Jin was standing atop a building, laughing as he held the Key.

"'Zero-One', this is gonna be fun!" He tossed the Key in the air before he caught it and left.

*elsewhere*

Gunfire filled the air as AIMs was in battle.

"Keep firing!" Fuwa roared, shooting at a group of HumaGear that had transformed like the silver-plate faced HumaGear Aruto had faced off.

Their bullets ripped through their leather padding but their metal armoured shells that protected their important parts just made the bullets bounce away. And despite their internals being struck by bullets, the damage was minor at best

"Fuwa! We need to fall back!" Yua called.

"Damn it!" Fuwa growled, before he remembered something; he raced to the van that they arrived in and saw the weapon's cache, where a blue shielded gun was waiting.

SMASH!

Fuwa shoved his hand through the breakable glass and pulled out the weapon.

"Damn it Fuwa, where did you go?" Yua hissed as she took aim, blasting at the HumaGear "Fall back everyone! Fall back!" She called.

"Yes, Ma'am-" The AIMs soldiers responded before they heard rapid fires off a gun that wasn't theirs.

The shots raced out, connecting and actually causing damage against the HumaGear!

Shredding right through their armour and making them explode.

And standing there, with the blue gun in his hand, was Fuwa. Glaring right at the scraps of rogue HumaGear as their wires smoked. "Think I'm not authorized yet?"

"You almost took my head off!" She snapped, walking forwards and snatching the gun from his hands "I did not give you permission to use my invention yet!"

Fuwa glared down at her. "If I didn't, you'd be dead. You're welcome."

The two frowned at each other, glaring.

*Elsewhere*

Horobi was waiting for Jin, the Berotha Key must've done its work, causing enough chaos and slaughtered enough humans to make a start.

The man sat back, looking at a strange belt.

It was mainly black belt with four yellow markings, one small triangle on the left-hand side, an pointed downwards yellow arrow-like marking in the centre, a silver-grey metal piece on the right-hand side with a yellow grip that looked like a claw and a 'V' shaped silver grip on a fourth overhead yellow claw.

It was a Driver, much like the silver buckle that he gave to Jin.

"Horobi~!" Jin called.

"Jin." Horobi responded, acknowledging him, but it sounded...heartless. "What happened out there?"

"Oh, it was awesome! The belt worked, it turned a HumaGear into a Magia! And there were more Magia that it turned!" Jin responded excitedly. "It was just-Whoo!"

"Excellent."

"I know! There was this guy there, he called himself 'Zero-One'." Jin continued to smile, which Horobi's sight turned sour.

...

"What... Was that?"

"There's...there's this guy. 'Zero-One', he-he fought Berotha and the Magia." Jin answered nervously. "He broke them. It was cool but-"

SLAM!

Horobi's fist slammed into the desk.

"Zero One? Hiden." Horobi stated simply.

"O-Oh. Them." Jin gulped a little, getting a little sheepish.

"... As the Ark predicted." Horobi stated, standing tall.

"Ark knew this was gonna happen?" Jin asked in confusion.

"Yes, he did." Horobi answered as he took the Berotha Key and slotted it into a scanner to upload its data.

"As predicted. And so Project Magia shall continue. As per the Will of the Ark."

*time skip, with Aruto*

The young man followed Izu into Hiden Intelligence, as he walked in, he saw Mamoru doing his job...and gave a quick bow towards him. "Mr Hiden, Sir!" He respectfully spoke.

"Hi, Mamoru." Aruto waved as they entered the building as he and Izu went to the elevator. "How are you?" he smiled

"I'm very well, Sir. I'm happy to see you've returned." Mamoru responded, standing upright.

"Well...You know, I've got to do the right thing." Aruto answered as he looked down at the case holding the Zero One Driver.

"Of course, Sir. But again...welcome back." Mamoru smiled and bowed again.

Aruto gave a smiling nod as Izu turned around. "-Aruto, this way, please. We have important business to attend to."

"Okay; sorry, Izu." He responded and followed.

'Time to get this settled.' He thought to himself...while catching a glimpse of Izu's gentle hands

There was something about her that was... different to normal HumaGear's, he wasn't sure what that was honest.

"This way, please." Izu asked.

Aruto nodded as he stood next to Izu in the elevator. "Time to lift this weight off this elevator."

Izu's mind was whirring as she heard that 'joke' immediately coming to an answer. "Ah, you used the term 'lift' as the same way for 'elevator' to make a pun."

"Huh?" Aruto double-took as Izu explained the joke. "Did... Did you just explain my joke?"

"I did." She answered. "To fully understand your 'comedic style'."

"But... But you explained the joke!"

"Was I not supposed to?" She tilted her head cutely as they arrived at their destination.

"I...It's fine." He sighed, while Izu opened the door for him. Aruto walked inside, followed by Izu and they both saw the board who had reconvened as a response to the news of the Amusement Park attack.

"You!" Mr Fukuzoe snapped

"Hello everyone." Aruto bowed "I came back to return the Zero One-"

"Everyone, welcome to the board, President Aruto Hiden." Izu interrupted

Tick.

"HUH?!" The board, Mr Fukuzoe and Aruto questioned in a comedic shock.

"When? How?" Mr Fukuzoe demanded.

Izu's headphones glowed a little as she soon produced the footage of Aruto's acceptance of the Zero-One Driver and subsequent fight against the Berotha HumaGear and the plated HumaGear. "As you can see, President Aruto accepted and used the Zero-One Driver, this accepting the responsibilities and position of Hiden Intelligence's President."

"... Correct." Shesta commented as her headset flashed as well.

The board muttered among themselves as Mr Fukuzoe was stunned as he heard Shesta agree with Izu.

Aruto was even more stunned. He had just accepted the job. Accepted his grandfather's last request.

By ACCIDENT?!

"Everyone, please welcome President Aruto." Izu asked politely.

The board stood up and respectfully welcomed Aruto as their new president of the company. "Welcome, President Hiden."

"I." Aruto gulped nervously, turned to Mr Fukuzoe and saw the glare...turned to Izu, who was waiting with a kind smile. "Thank you." He bowed back to them. "I will do the best that I can."

He stayed bowed; his eyes closed. This... Was where he needed to be. His dream was to make people smile, and he remembered his old manager

The way he smiled as he thanked Aruto for saving his park

While he refused to give up on being a comedian, for now at least he could fulfil his dream of making people smile by protecting them from this threat that was trying to use HumaGear.

The board soon raised their heads and looked at Aruto. One of the members asked a question that was on his mind. "President Aruto. The company does need to hold a news conference. To indicate that you have taken the position."

"I understand." Aruto nodded, raising his head.

"That being said, do you have a suit?" The board member asked.

...

"I have one," Aruto answered with a nervous smile, holding up one finger.

*time skip*

It was sometime later, news reporters from various stations were waiting in a conference room in Hiden Intelligence. They were about to get confirmation about what happened at the Amusement Park and the naming of a new President of the company.

In the room was a podium with a picture of Hiden Intelligence's logo on the front, microphones with Mr Fukuzoe and Shesta standing to the side...and no Aruto standing there yet.

"Where is he?" Mr Fukuzoe snarled quietly.

Shesta responded quietly. "I do not know, sir. President Aruto did enter the building."

"Then where the blast is-?" Mr Fukuzoe hissed before the doors opened by the side.

Walking out, wearing new pressed dark blue trousers, a pair of shiny black shoes, a neatly pressed white shirt with a striped white and blue tie and dark blue suit jacket; was Aruto Hiden. Dressed for the part of a president of a major company.

SNAP!

Pictures were taken of the new president.

Aruto went behind the podium and gulped nervously. This was the first time...that people were paying attention to him. "Good morning." He spoke into the microphone, at a safe distance so that it didn't distort. "My name is Aruto Hiden. I am the grandson of Korenosuke Hiden, the former President of Hiden Intelligence."

SNAP!

"As of yesterday, I have taken the position of President of Hiden Intelligence from my grandfather." Aruto continued, doing his best to not flinch because of the camera flashes. "Are there any questions?"

Reporters rose their hands in a clamour, wanting answers from Aruto.

"Mr Hiden! Mr Hiden!" The reporters asked.

"Yes." He asked, pointing to a reporter.

"What happened at the Amusement Park? Will it happen again with the HumaGears?" The reporter asked.

Aruto took a deep breath and began to give his answer. "Unfortunately, yes."

The sound of fear and silence in some of the reporters was stunning.

"But, steps have been put in place to counteract this crisis." Aruto continued, Izu smiling as she heard this, seeing Aruto's conviction. "Hiden Intelligence has someone to fight against the rogue HumaGear. And gears have been put in motion."

And once again, more pictures and questions were taken.

"Thank you for coming, everyone." Aruto bowed as he stood tall "Hiden Intelligence will have far from hidden success thanks to some real brain power!"

The reporters felt confused by that line as Aruto stood away from the podium.

"HAI! Aruto ja~ naito!" Aruto proclaimed, pointing at the reporters.

Tick.

"The name 'Hiden', is similar to the word 'hidden'." Izu began.

"Ah, ah, ah! Izu, don't explain the joke!" Aruto panicked.

To be continued

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