Chapter 2: Wilting Flowers

(Note: Not only is this the first appearance of Fire Ryukendo, but as the title suggests, it's also the debut of the Plant Demon Beast Giga Flower. This is also Clover's first transformation into Ryugunou. Hikaru spends a considerable amount of time with Winter and Robyn here. Enjoy!)

Three days had passed since S.H.O.T. was formed. During that time, no major Jamanga threats has occurred, other than a few Tsukaima attacks. It was around this time that Hikaru was being paid a visit by his own adoptive mother, Robyn Hill. While they bond for a bit, Robyn asks how Hikaru is doing fitting into his new role.

"I'm alright, mom. Don't worry, I can do this myself." remarks Hikaru. As he says this, however, Winter suddenly joins in the conversation, having a few things to say to him.

"Hikaru, I hate to break it to you, but you can't really do this on your own, even if you had GekiRyuKen with you." remarks Winter. "Sometimes you need someone to keep you company."

"Winter has a point, Hikaru." laments Robyn. "Our battle with the Jamanga isn't going to be easy."

Without saying a word, Hikaru attempts to leave, only to be stopped by Winter grabbing him by the arm.

"Listen to me, Hikaru." remarks Winter. "This isn't about you, it's about all of us. We're doing this for the greater good."

Hikaru just kept his lips shut, not saying a word. After Winter let go of his arm, he left the room, beginning to contemplate to himself, holding GekiRyuKen as he does so.

"Why was I chosen?" He said to himself. "I don't think I'm cut up for this."

"You say that, yet your heart says otherwise." comments GekiRyuKen. "Underneath that cold and aloof exterior is someone who wants to protect all of Remnant. I know the thought of becoming Ryukendo is putting weight on your shoulders, but trust me on this, you will eventually grow as both a person and as a warrior."

After gaining some assurance from GekiRyuKen, Hikaru then met his partner, Clover Ebi, the wielder of GouRyuGun. It was the first time they ever talked to each other.

"Nice to meet you, Hikaru." greeted Clover. "Name's Clover. Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

"Whoever said about going easy, Clover?" replied Hikaru.

"You're awfully cocky for someone new around here."

"I am Robyn Hill's adoptive son, after all."

After joining up with Clover for some training exercises, Winter left the room, looking towards Hikaru, and smiled as she does so.

A few hours later…

Meanwhile, Dr. Worm and Jack Moon, in preparation for their next move, eventually used the Aqua key to create the Plant Demon Beast Giga Flower, hoping that the spores can spread across both Atlas and Mantle.

"Hopefully this would gather the Minus Energy we need." gloats Dr. Worm. "At some point we have to rethink our strategy."

Once the Giga Flower was released onto Mantle, the spores began to spread, causing fear within the general populace, allowing the Jamanga to gather Minus Energy. However, this whole scenario caught the attention of, not just S.H.O.T., but also that of Cinder and Salem, the latter observing all of this through her Seer.

Curious about this ongoing phenomenon, Salem ventured further into the Land of Darkness, and was astonished to see that the moon was completely blocked out by a giant green orb, looming onto the barren wasteland.

It was there that she first met the Jamanga's resident scientist, Dr. Worm, who was anticipating her arrival after he had heard of her exploits. A rather confused Salem began wondering what was going on. Dr. Worm then goes on to explain that they were gathering Minus Energy for the sole purpose of reviving their master, Daimaou GrenGhost.

"That's…relatively interesting." remarks Salem.

"And what's more, you don't need any of the 4 Relics to do this." replied Dr. Worm. "All you need is a lot of Minus Energy and you're good to go. It may be slow and time-consuming, but it is effective."

Meanwhile, as the Giga Flower began infecting the people of Mantle using its spores, Clover and GouRyuGun, both of which had recently arrived at Mantle, came to the rescue, only to be greeted with a horde of Tsukaima. Clover, being his usual confident self, decided to take on the Tsukaima himself, transforming GouRyuGun into his gun mode.

"Ryugun Key! Activate!" Clover then turns the key, and slams it into the chamber, revealing the muzzle.

"Change! Ryugunou!"

"GouRyu Henshin!" He then shoots the Tsukaima coming after him, creating an energy dragon as he does so. After the two merge together, Clover becomes Ryugunou, continuing his attack on the Tsukaima as he dashes through the streets of Mantle.

Back at Atlas, over at S.H.O.T. HQ, Hikaru got the news of the Giga Flower spreading chaos over at both Atlas and Mantle, realizing that there so many people in danger. But he learns from Ciel Soleil, S.H.O.T.'s Navigator, that Clover is taking care of the situation at Mantle and was instructed to be on guard. However, the moment the 2nd Giga Flower spawned in Atlas, Hikaru had to leave the building, transforming as he does so.

Meanwhile, Clover, despite his Semblance, was beginning to struggle. This was because he was essentially a one-man army against several hordes of Tsukaima. Luckily, his former team, the Ace-Ops, more specifically Elm and Harriet, were able to assist him just in time.

"Don't you ever think you've forgotten us, Clover." Remarked Harriet. "We got your back."

"Where's Vine and Marrow?" asked Clover.

"Oh, they're still in Atlas." Replied Elm. "They're helping out Winter and Hikaru with the other Giga Flower."

While the Tsukaima horde was taken care of mostly thanks to Elm and Harriet's help, that's when one of the Jamanga's generals began to interfere: Rock Crimson. Enhanced by the Giga Flower's spores, Crimson was able to best the three, sans Elm, who used her Semblance to keep herself on the ground.

Luckily, Clover was able to land on his feet, and was able to catch Harriet by summoning Buster Wolf. Afterwards, Harriet used her Fast Knuckles to beat Rock Crimson, but even then, he's extremely hard to kill.

Meanwhile, Vine, Marrow, Hikaru, and Winter were having a much easier time dealing with the Tsukaima since there were 4 of them, but as the Giga Flower began to create more spores, that was when Hikaru pulled out the Fire Key, the very same key he acquired from the Reptolilix.

Activating the Fire Key, he transforms into Fire Ryukendo, which allows him access to fire-based powers. Winter, meanwhile, uses her Glyphs to summon a Queen Lancer, allowing Hikaru to freely dodge the Flower's vines, as well as setting it on fire.

Once it was weakened, Hikaru then activates the Final Key to burn down the Giga Flower in Atlas. Similarly, Clover then uses his Final Key to destroy the Giga Flower in Mantle. And that's where the Aqua Key was contained in.

However, their job wasn't done yet, as Hikaru eventually encountered Rock Crimson, armed and ready to fight him. Elsewhere, Jack Moon was observing the battle in his human form, refusing to intervene until necessary. As Rock Crimson began to overpower Hikaru, Winter, Marrow, and Vine, depleting their Aura as he does so. But as they were about to be finished, he was shot from above, from a mysterious girl with red hair wielding a high-caliber sniper rifle. As Rock Crimson gets continuously shot, he ultimately retreats, being unable to defend himself.

As she descends onto the vicinity using a parachute, she reveals herself to be one of Ironwood's top soldiers, and the current leader of the Ace-Ops, Eliza Flannery. This came to Winter's surprise, considering up until that point, she had never met huntresses on par with herself.

"Hello, guys." Greets Eliza. "I know I haven't formally introduced myself because of what just happened. But I'll do so anyway…"

But before she had that opportunity, Hikaru immediately recognized her voice.

"Liz is that you?" asked Hikaru.

"That voice…" Eliza then recognized who he was. "Hikaru?"

Liz and Hikaru then greeted each other, with the former greeting Hikaru with a hug. As it turns out, Weiss wasn't the first friend Hikaru ever had, but rather Eliza. Weiss happened to have befriended him after she began to sympathize with him regarding his loss.

This led the Ace-Ops and Winter incredibly confused, as they didn't know about their previous history prior to this. Vine then contacted Harriet and Elm about the destruction of the other Giga Flower.

Later, back at S.H.O.T. HQ, Clover approached Hikaru with the Aqua Key still with him. The key was later given to Hikaru afterwards. Eventually, Hikaru began to wonder if he could talk to Winter personally. But he was hesitant to do so. Later, as he leaves for the day, Hikaru suddenly detected the presence of Minus Energy; his very own, in fact.

Naturally, he became curious about how this energy worked, and began to wonder how this energy attracts both Grimm and Jamanga alike. But before he could proceed any further, he was greeted by Liz, who was observing him.

"Hey, Hikaru, I was wondering about something…", asks Liz. "Since you're now Ryukendo, I wonder if you can help us create a new set of Madan Keys."

Without a word, he and Liz get to work on that new set of Keys, one that could turn the tide of battle in their favor.

End of Episode 2…

Not much to say here, but I supposed that would do. And yes, this is technically Eliza Flannery's first appearance. Anyway, on the next episode, Cinder finally meets our duo. Until then, farewell. –RedPhoenix2001