Hello everyone! It's good to see you. I'm sorry I took so long! I hope you enjoy this episode.
Kanetsu Expressway Irmua River Bridge
"Let's see if I can kill one of you before I take Mari," Kusaka challenged.
"That's far enough, Kusaka," Saeko said in echo, having the battle to stop.
"That voice..." Yuka said, as she turned to see Saeko. "Saeko!"
"What is she doing here?!" Takumi asked Saeko.
"More importantly... How are you here?!" Michael asked, as Saeko snapped her fingers, revealing six men in suit and ties. The six men soon puts on a belt on their waist.
"Henshin!" The six men exclaimed, as pushed over their buckles.
Complete!
The six men then transformed into carpenter ant-like soldiers, with Omicron-like helmets. These were called the Riotroopers.
"What?!" Yuka said in surprise.
"They upgraded their security?!" Takumi asked.
"Now... Let's go!" The fourth Riotrooper said, as all dix Riotroopers took out a small blade, called the Axelaygun, and charged at the three heroes, with Sakeo watching.
The three were struggling against the sixth Riotroopers.
"Hey! Why are you doing this?" Michael asked, being tackled by a Riotrooper. "I though you wanted to be an clay sculptor! Saeko!"
Saeko didn't respond. She just stood and watch.
"Hey, Saeko! I got ourselves a hostage!" Kusaka, still transformed as the Shark Orphnoch, told Saeko.
"Hood on. I did not agree to take hostages. Leave her!" Saeko ordered, but Kusaka ignored her. "Are you even listening me?! Hey, Kusaka?!"
As Saeko grabs Kusaka's Orphnoch left arm, Kusaka pushes Saeko away from his arm, before hitting her to the ground.
The three were getting overwhelmed by the power of the Riotroopers.
"These guys are strong! Just what are these guys?!" Takumi asked, getting overwhelmed by the Riotroopers, as was Yuka.
As Mihara was watching in fear, something sped towards him and knocked him out. It was revealed to be Hanagata, transformed as the Goat Orphnoch. Hanagata sped towards Takumi and knocks him out with a single blow to the chest, forcing the Delta Belt to fly from his waist, causing the Sol Foam and Metal to disappear.
"Hanagata-san?!" Yuka questioned, taking notice, as she was then knocked out from a single side kick from Hanagata, having the Kaixa Belt fly from her waist, causing the Luna Foam and Luna Metal to disappear.
"Yuka!" Michael exclaimed, as Hanagata sped towards him into a bridge pillar, having the Faiz Gear fly from his waist, causing the Sol Foam and Sol Metal to disappear. Michael starts to lose consciousness as he saw Hanagata, as the Goat Orphnoch.
(cue Justiφs's by ISSA; same as the original except a switch in places: Michael in Takumi's place, Yuka in Mari's place, Kiba in Keitaro's place, Sawada in Kiba's place, Saeko in Yuka's place, and Takuma in Kaido's place. Kaido, Mari, Keitaro, Kitazaki, Murakami, Kaixa, Faiz's Axel Form, Delta, Faiz's Blaster Form and Kaixa's Break Form will also be included. Neo-Alpa is now added.)
(Created by Shotaro Ishinomori)
Hirogaru uchuu no naka Can you feel? (? as Michael Taylor, Yoshika Kato as Yuka Osada)
Chiisa na hoshi no hanashi wo shiyou (Masayuki Izumi as Yuji Kiba, Mitsuru Karahashi as Naoya Kaido, Yuria Haga as Mari Sonoda, Ken Mizorogi as Keitaro Kikuchi, Kento Handa as Takumi Inui, Mai Saito as Saya Kimura, Go Ayano as Aki Sawada, Atsuhi Harada as Syuji Mihara, Kayato Watanabe as Teuro Suzuki)
Tell me the truth shinjite 'ta mirai ga (Waka as Saeko Kageyama, Jun Yamasaki as Itsuro Takuma, Ray Fujia as Kitazaki, Kohei Murakami as Masato Kusaka, Hiroshi Yanaka as Arch Orphnoch)
Kuzure sarou to shite'ru (Koji Naka as Hanagata)
Kanashimi wo kurikaeshi (Written by Shoji Imai; Music by Kazunori Miyake)
Boku-ra wa doko e yuku no darou?
Ima hitori-hitori no mune no naka (Character Designs by Tamotsu Shinohara)
Me wo samase The time to go
Tsuyoku aru tame ni (Produced by Jun Hikasa, Naomi Takebe and Takaaki Utsunomiya)
Mata mamoru koto to tatakau koto
Dilemma wa owaranai... hashiri-tsuzukete mo (Directed by Takao Nagaishi)
(The) end justiφ's the mean
Episode 43: A Sign of Destruction
Smart Brain's Medical Laboratory
Michael's eyes open and sees a ceiling with poles. Michael rises from the bed and looks at both directions, and sees Yuka and Takumi asleep.
"Hey! Osada-san! Takumi!" Michael shakes the two, Takumi groans as he gets up.
"You don't have to shake me that hard," Takumi said, as he got up.
"What happened? How did we get here?" Yuka asked, as she got up.
"Father brought everyone here," A voice explained, as the three turned to see Saya,
"Saya!" Takumi exclaimed, as Kiba and Sawada stepped from out of the shadows.
"Kiba-san!" Yuka exclaimed.
"Sawada!" Michael exclaimed. "What's going on here?"
"We should be asking the same question?" Takuma responded, as he, Saeko, and Kitazaki, stepped out of the shadows.
"You guys!" Takumi said.
"I don't get it. Why is the Lucky Clover here? Why are you here, Saeko?! Where's Sonoda-san?!" Yuka asked.
"Did something happened to Sonoda-san?" Kiba asked.
"I think he was taken by Kusaka," Yuka assumed. "She's in danger! We have to help her!"
"You can't leave," A voice said, which was then revealed to be Hanagata, who has Kaido's right wrist.
"Who the hell are you?! Let go! Let go!" Kaido said, as Hanagata lets go of Kaido.
"Kaido-san! You're here too?" Yuka asked.
"What are you guys doing here?! And what are they doing here?!" Kaido asked, pointing at the Lucky Clover. "More importantly... Where's Teruo?"
Then, Keitaro found stumbling himself into the Medical Laboratory.
"What is this place?" Keitaro wondered.
"Keitaro-san!" Yuka cried, running towards Keitaro.
"Yuka-san!" Keitaro exclaimed as the two embraced.
"Humans can't be in here. This is a conversation reserved for Orphnochs," Hanagata told Keitaro. "Get out."
"But, Mihara-san told me about Mari-chan being captured. I want to help! Please!" Keitaro begged.
"No. The power for the belts is for Orphnochs only," Hanagata declined.
"Explain me then," Michael challenged, which caught Hanagata off guard. "Who are you? Why are you doing this? Why did you experiment using two construction workers underground back then? The question that I know most is that how come I know so much about the future, yet it changes?"
"Father... Please, tell them," Sawada said. "It's the same story you told me, Saya, and Kiba."
(Cue Seconds by VideoHelper; 0:00-1:08)
Hanagata was hesitated, but began to tell his story anyways.
"I am one of the first few Orphnochs in existence in the modern era. Therefore, explains why I know so much. I founded Smart Brain in order to find more Orphnochs like me. People who are broken that needed saving. I had two pupils... Murakami Kyoji... and Kageyama Saeko. Both of these two were different apprentices. Murakami-kun was filled with anger and wanted revenge for those who shunned him. Saeko was a confused young woman with tears of trauma. She was in pain. Much like Osada Yuka was. By the time the Ryusei School massacre happened... Murakami forced me to abandoned my post as president. To let him be in charge and have him to try and eliminate the work I've done for the past 20 years," Hanagata explained.
"Keep going," Takumi said.
"Yeah. Where's Teuro?" Kaido asked.
"One at a time," Hanagata said, as he kept going. "I bargained for the Ryusei School students' lives. I bargained for my student's lives. I was willing to make that sacrifice of them being Orphnochs for the rest of their lives. However, only Mari had her memory wiped for the massacre. The rest were didn't know they were Orphnochs or were brainwashed to do Smart Brain's bidding. Mari is grateful that she doesn't know anything... about this."
Hanagata shows his ashy right hand.
(End Track)
"That's...!" Michael exclaimed, as it was a similar thing happening to him.
"What is this?" Kiba asked. "You didn't tell me or Sawada this."
Kitazaki then starts to giggle a bit.
"What's so funny? You've been awfully quiet," Takumi pointed out.
"Don't you realize we're letting this old man talk?" Kitazaki asked.
"Do you even have respect for anything besides yourself? Do you care about anything but power?" Takumi asked.
"What's life without power? You sure wasted it that night," Kitazaki said, which struck a raw nerve in Takumi.
"What? Why you...!" Takumi shouted, about to throw a punch at Kitazaki, before being stopped by Saya.
"Don't listen to him! It's not worth it!" Saya told Takumi.
"Yes, especially for someone who was murdered," Saeko said.
"Don't. Just don't," Saya said.
"I wasn't referring to you," Saeko said to Saya, as her eyes were turned to Kitazaki.
"What are you doing?" Kitazaki asked.
"Ladies and gentleman... The great dragon, Kitazaki... got his start because he was murdered by a jealous rival. That rival is who Faiz and Kaixa killed earlier," Takuma explained, as Michael and Yuka got flashbacks of them fighting the Frilledlizard Orphnoch.
"What... Just what exactly is going on?" Kiba asked.
"We're going to find the Orphnoch King," Hanagata responded.
"What?" Michael questioned.
"The Orphnoch King?" Saya questioned.
"King?" Keitaro said in confusion.
"You've gone mad haven't you?" Kaido asked.
"Why?" Takumi asked.
"I'll taking from here, Hanagata-san. I recently learned from Hanagata-san... about the deadly fate that awaits all Orphnochs," Saeko said.
"Huh? Deadly fate?" Kaido questioned.
"What deadly fate?" Yuka asked.
"Everyone should learn the truth. We, Orphnoch, are the next step in the evolution of humanity. However... Our bodies are not accustomed to such a rapid evolution. If left alone... It is only a matter of time before we die," Sakeo explained, which had almost every Orphnoch in shock.
"Die? We'll die?" Kaido asked in shock, collapsing to his knees.
"Is this true?!" Takuma asked.
"It can't be! It just can't be!" Keitaro exclaimed, covering his ears.
"It is true, though," Saeko confirmed. "Hanagata-san and Murakami-kun both knew about it."
"That's bullshit!" Sawada shouted slamming his right fist on the wall. "Is everyone really going to accept this?! Father may be older... But he doesn't know everything!"
"Yeah. Just because it's fate... doesn't mean we can change it," Michael agreed. "I've learned that throughout the year."
"I agree too," Saya nods.
"This can't be true!" Takuma said, freaking out.
"Nothing lasts forever. It's not set in stone as you might think. If Inui-san and I managed to survive Delta's influence... then the Orphnochs can survive this!"
"But what can we do? None of us are doctors or scientists," Keitaro said, worried.
"Does anyone have any ideas? Any at all?" Takumi asked.
"I have one," Kitazaki smiled.
"If you say anything about destruction, you're out," Michael warned Kitazaki, who smiled.
"De-struc-tion," Kitazaki said.
"Get out!" Michael shouted.
"It was worth it," Kitazaki said, as began to leave, before being stopped by Hanagata.
"There is one way to escape our deadly fate... If we awaken the Orphnoch King... We can use his power to escape our fate," Hanagata explained.
"Eh? Seriously? For real?" Kaido asked, getting up from his knees. "So then we should all just protect the Orphnoch King! Right? Right? Right?"
"If we awaken the King, humanity will be destroyed," Hanagata continued. "Only Orphnoch will remain in this world."
"All of humanity...?" Yuka asked, as she turned to see Keitaro and Michael. "I refuse!"
"What? Don't you value your life?" Hanagata asked.
"Don't you see?! I'm alive... but the humans I love aren't!" Yuka exclaimed.
"I can't deal with this anymore," Michael said, walking out of the laboratory.
"Didn't you hear the former president?!" Takuma asked. "If we can awaken the King, we'll be saved."
"But, don't you care for any humans?! That was a silly question to ask. Because I don't think you have any love for humanity! Come to think of it... From the look of your behavior, you're only do this because you value your life. You're a coward!" Yuka called Takuma out.
"Osada-san! Please calm down," Kiba said, calming Yuka down. "I get it. You're tense. But, fighting with words isn't going to get us anywhere."
Saya then notices that Sawada is leave.
"Sawada-kun? Where are you going?" Saya asked.
"To find Mari. Father forgot to mention that there's two more belts. They were originally going to be sent to Rina and Mihara. But, due to Rina's condition. Father's giving you the Pyron Gear," Sawada explained.
"Me?" Saya asked. "I'm not sure."
"It's not Delta. It works similar like to Neo-Alpa Belts. No need to fear the belt's power," Sawada reassured Saya, as he left.
Saya turns to see Hanagata handing her a Smart Brain case, which Saya takes and opens it, revealing the Pyron Gear.
"This is...!" Saya said in surprise, as Hangata as opened another Smart Brain case, which contained the Seeda Gear.
"You're so silly, Takuma-kun. You shouldn't believe that story," Kitazaki commented. "Firstly... there's no way I can die. I'm the strongest in the world!"
"Says the guy who was beaten up by a Orphnoch with the power of a goat," Yuka commented.
"It doesn't matter if he's the strongest or not! We're going to die if don't we awaken King!" Takuma said in worry.
Saya then started to realize something on what Hanagata said.
"I'm going to go wait outside with Michael," Saya said, as she began to head out.
"I'm coming with you, Kimura-san," Keitaro said, leaving with her.
"I think can contain the amount of knowledge my brain can handle," Kaido said, as his way of leaving.
"Looks like the human and two traitorous Orphnochs have left," Kitazaki said, as his eyes widen, meaning he has an idea. "Oh! Let's play a new game. The first person to defeat the Orphnoch King... will be the new King. What do you think? Sound interesting, right?"
"Forget it. We're not playing your game," Takumi declined.
"I have a plan," Kiba said.
"You have plan?" Saeko asked, doubting Kiba.
"Yes," Kiba responded.
"What is it?" Takumi asked.
"With Hanagata-san's knowledge of Smart Brain, it would give us access to all of their technologies," Kiba explained. "If they can bring back the dead... If they created Orphnochs in the first place... There must be something in their labs that will cure us."
"There is no cure. I've tried over and over and over. We can't be fixed or cure. Our DNA is permanently changed after we cheated death. The devil has created the perfect virus," Hanagata said.
"Nothing is impossible!" Yuka exclaimed, as she slammed her hands on the table. "And Saeko... I had hope that you can live as human. I still do. I wanted you out of the Orphnoch live. I wanted you to live as a human!"
"Shut up! When are going to learn about the true meaning about humans?!" Saeko asked.
"I've already learned some of their abusive nature! For years... when I was a human. I still am," Yuka said, as she walked out.
"Hey, Osada-san!" Kiba said, running after her, as was Takumi.
As Yuka left the laboratory, she saw Michael crying by in the passenger's seat of the laundry van, which still had a dent in the front.
"Why is Michael crying?" Yuka wondered.
Warehouse
Mari wakes up in a warehouse, which appears to be by the forest, and finds herself restrained in chains, as if she was being crucified.
"Where am I? Let me go!" Mari begged, as Kusaka stepped out of the shadows. "Kusaka-kun? No... Orphnoch!"'
(Cue Potential Catastrophe by VideoHelper; 0:00-0:38, 0:52-1:21)
"Mari..." Kusaka smiled. "I've missed you, Mari."
"Well, I sure didn't," Mari struggled.
"Don't worry… You will," Kusaka smiled.
"What do you want with me?! Why have you taken me from my friends?!" Mari asked.
"Mari… You've always protected Kusaka Masato when you were children. You've always loved him. Now, you'll be just like him," Kusaka said.
"Why?! You want me to be a mindless monster like you?! No thanks, I'll pass," Mari declined.
"Do you even want to know what it's like to be an Orphnoch?" Kusaka asked.
"Yeah. I am one!" Mari responded.
"Doesn't your body feel like it's slowly rotting away?" Kusaka asked. "Because it is."
Mari was confused by this.
"What are you talking about?" Mari asked.
"I thought you didn't know. Looks like Father didn't tell you everything. We, Orphnoch, are the next step in the evolution of humanity. But, out bodies are not accustomed to such a rapid evolution. If left alone... It's only a matter of time before we die," Kusaka explained.
"What?! We'll die?! I'll die?!" Mari asked.
"That's why I'm going to find the Orphnoch King and have you save your life… by taking away your humanity," Kusaka continued, which had Mari shocked,
"I'd be immortal.. with the cost of my humanity?" Mari asked herself, not knowing how to react.
Kikuchi Cleaners
(End Track)
Michael, Keitaro, Takumi, and Saya were sitting around the table, deciding what to do.
"Well... What should we do?" Keitaro asked.
"I don't know! Hanagata says that there's no cure for the Orphnochs, Kitazaki is going after the Orphnoch King, and Kusaka still has Mari!" Michael shouted.
"Calm down. I have a plan," Takumi said.
"Really?" Michael asked.
"Yes," Takumi responded.
"What is it, Takkun?" Keitaro asked.
"Hey, Saya... You know that guy, Mihara?" Takumi asked.
"I know where' you're getting at. He's saying that he won't fight. It's impossible to get him to fight. Now that Ota-kun is dead... Mihara-kun won't have anyone to tell him to fight," Saya said.
"Well... That girl, Rina, is in the hospital, isn't she?" Takumi asked.
1 hour later
"Forget it. I'm not doing it," Mihara declinded.
"Mari is your classmate. She was taken by Kusaka and your friend is in the hospital. Not to mention most of your classmates and your teacher are dead. Don't you care?!" Takumi asked.
"You get off my back!" Mihara shouted, standing up from his seat. "You think I wanted them dead?! I was traumatized! I've traumatized since my parents died in that car accident!"
"Your classmates' parents were killed by accidents! I looked at all the files of the Ryusei School students and they're connected somehow," Michael said.
"Don't just assume Father killed our parents!" Saya shouted.
"Everybody calm down!' Takumi said, calming down mostly everyone.
"Forget it. I'm not doing it," Mihara said, as he got up to leave.
"Coward!" Saya called out, which had Mihara stop in his tracks. "What would your other classmates think?! What would Inukai-kun think?! What would Haruko think?! What would Kyosuke think?! What would Sensei think?! What would Sawada-kun think? What would Rina think? Would Mari think? What would I think?"
Mihara was silent when he heard was Saya said.
Kiba's Apartment
The Orphnoch trio were silent on what they discovered today.
"I still can't believe that we'll die due to us being Orphnoch," Yuka said. "Not only that… Saeko remembers herself as an Orphnoch."
"I think, from the look of what she's wearing, she's the new Smart Brain president," Kiba assumed, which has Yuka turned to Kiba. "Think about it. Murakami was killed, so who else did Hanagata had in mind for Murakami's successor."
"I think… We're close to the end of the battle. No matter what happens or who wins the battle… the outcome will be the same," Yuka said, as the two turned to see Kaido, just sitting there. "Kaido-san."
"Yeah?" Kaido flinched.
"Is there anything you want to say about this situation?" Yuka asked.
"I don't know. I think if it was at the beginning of my life as an Orphnoch… I would find the Orphnoch King and watch humanity be destroyed. Right now… I'm not so sure," Kaido said.
"We've been able to survive for this long… But it could be a matter of time before we die," Kiba said. "But, that doesn't mean we can let that happen."
"Do you have a plan or plan B?" Yuka asked.
"No," Kiba shook his head. "Not yet."
Yuka's Kaixa Phone rang and she quickly answered it.
"Yes? Sawada? When? Tomorrow? Okay. Everyone will be there. Bye," Yuka answered, as she then hanged up.
"Was that Sawada?" Kiba asked.
"He's found Mari's prescience. But, he needs some help," Yuka told Kiba.
"You two go. I need some time to think," Kaido said.
"Kaido! Don't you care about Sonoda-san?!" Kiba asked, walking to Kaido.
"Yes," Kaido nodded.
"Then why would you sit out on this battle?!" Kiba asked.
"I don't know what to do this time," Kaido said. "I'm sorry. I need time to think."
Kaido looks out in the window, thinking,
"Kaido-san…" Yuka softly said.
Hospital
Mihara was by Rina's side at the hospital. Rina took quite the blow from Kusaka. She's been in the hospital since yesterday.
"Rina…" Mihara said, holding onto his classmate's hand. "Rina!" What should I do?"
Mihara then starts to cry.
"I…" Mihara said, shedding tears. Rina then opens her eyes. "Rina?"
(Cye Ethereal Journey by Video Helper; 0:00-0:27, 0:16-0:27, 0:20-0:36)
Rina holds Mihara's hand right hand.
"Mihara-kun… You told me before. "I want to go home." Me too. But there's no place for us to return to. That's why everyone's trying so hard to live. If we can live life to the fullest… the place we are at now… wil become our home," Rina told Mihara, who was thinking on what Rina just said.
Ryusei School
(End Track)
Michael, on Auto Vajin, Yuka, on Side Basshar, Kiba, in his car, and everyone else, in Keitaro's laundary van, with the dent still in the front, pulled up at the Ryusei School. As they got out, and Michael and Yuka took off their biker gear, they were more than confused.
"I don't get it. Where is it?" Michael asked.
"It should be here," Saya said, as he saw Sawada with a young boy. "Sawada-kun?"
Saya quickly runs to Sawada.
"Hey! Kimura-san!" Keitaro exclaimed, as everyone follows Saya, who stops when she sees Sawada and the boy. "Don't scare us like this!"
Yuka then notices that the boy was Teuro Suzuki.
"That's... Teuro-kun? What are you doing here?" Yuka asked, but Teuro was silent.
"I found him wandering. I assume you know him," Sawada said, as Yuka bit on her lip.
"Yep," Yuka confirmed, remembering how Teruo tried to lift Yuka's skirt.
"This is it, everyone. Everything... started here," Saya said.
"It looks like it's been torn down," Kiba assumed.
"Or underground," Michael said. "Saya, could it be that your Father destroyed the outside, but not the inside?"
"How would that work? Also, what makes you say that?" Saya asked.
"The outside building could've been used for outside, while the inside could've had a secret entrance. We've been in the Ryusei School before... It was underneath Smart Brain," Yuka explained.
"So... The Ryusei School was overseen by Smart Brain?" Takumi asked.
"Hey! What are you guys talking about?!" Teuro asked.
"Please be quiet. This is a private conversation we're having," Michael told Teuro, who stuck his tongue at him, which annoyed Michael. "You!"
"Let it go, Michael," Kiba told Michael.
"Sawada-kun... This where we met Mari, Kusaka-kun, Mihara-kun, and Rina. We've had a lot of fun times together during our childhood. And... hard times," Saya told Sawada, referring to the Ryusei School reunion massacre. "That's when the Orphnoch kept following us."
Kiba, Yuka, and Takumi senses an aura nearby and was coming closer.
"I don't think we're alone," Kiba said.
"Look out!" Takumi exclaimed, as an explosion appeared in front them, causing everyone to fall down, wth Keitaro holding onto Teuro. Michael, Yuka, Takumi, and Sawada turned to see Kitazaki, Sakeo, and Takuma step out of the smoke.
"You guys again?!" Takumi asked, as Keitaro when to get the three belts from his bag, with Sawada opening the Neo-Alpa case.
"Now... Let's start the game," Kitazaki said, as all three Lucky Clover members transformed into their respective Orphnoch forms.
"Of course they have to be here," Michael sighed in annoyance, as Kitazaki charges at them with his dragon-like claws.
"I'm going to win!" Kitazaki declared, as his human form appeared through his shadow.
"Michael! Yuka-san! Takkun!" Keitaro exclaimed, throwing their respective belts to them, as Sawada takes out the Neo-Alpa Belt.
555
913
001
Faiz/Kaixa/Neo-Alpa Gear: Standing By!
Takumi: Henshin!
Delta Gear: Standing By!
Michael/Yuka/Sawada: Henshin!
Complete!
All four transformed into their respective Rider forms and begins to fight Kitazaki. Michael and Takumi hold onto Kitazaki, but manages to break free.
"I think they're stalling for time!" Takumi shouted.
"If that's the case... Kiba! Saya! Keitaro! Get Teuro out of here! Hurry!" Michael exclaimed.
"Hurry up and run!" Takumi exclaimed, as Saya nodded.
"Teuro-kun, let's go," Saya said, as she, Kiba, Keitaro, and Teuro began fleeing from the fight.
"Inui-san... You and Sawada-kun find Mari! We'll hold off these guys!" Yuka exclaimed.
"But... I have something to settle with this guy!" Takumi said.
"We'll do it for you! Right now, find Mari and save her from Kusaka!" Michael exclaimed.
"Inui. Let's go," Sawada said, as Takumi hesitated at first, but precedes to do was Michael and Yuka told him to do, leaving the fight with Sawada to find Mari.
Saeko and Takuma stop in their tracks and look at each other and precedes to walk to where the battle was being taken.
Warehouse
"They're here," Kusaka said, which had Mari smile in relief.
"I told you they'd be here," Mari said, as Kusaka began to laugh. "What's so funny?!"
"Oh, Mari. You didn't think I wouldn't let them come without a plan did you?" Kusaka asked, as Mari's eyes then widen. Kusaka then hides as Takumi and Sawada enter the warehouse.
"My Otphnoch senses say that she should be right in here," Sawada told Takumi.
"Takumi! Sawada-kun!" Mari exclaimed.
"Mari!" Takumi exclaimed, as he ran to the chained up Mari.
"Mari!" Sawada exclaimed, as he ran to the chained up Mari,
"No! Stay away! It's a trap!" Mari exclaimed, as Kusaka appeared, striking at the two with his saw-like swords.
"So predictable," Kusaka cracks his neck.
"Shut up. You really are a pain," Takumi said, getting and fighting Kusaka, taking out his Delta Blaster and firing at the Shark Orphnoch. Sawada joins the fight, with his Alpa Raizer. Kusaka proved to be powerful for the two of them.
As Sawada stumbles after a kick from Kusaka, Sawada takes out the Neo-Alpa Mission Memory and inserts it into the Alpa Raizer.
Ready!
The Alpa Raizer was converted to its Blade Mode, generating its red blade, made out of Sol Glass. Sawada charges at Kusaka, who blocks the attack.
"You never learn do you, Sawada?" Kusaka taunted.
"You need to learn your surroundings," Sawada shot back, which had Kusaka confused, as he then heard a blast hitting the right cuff straining Mari.
"You bastard!" Kusaka growled jumping towards Takumi and tackling him. As Mari shook off the broken right cuff, her face faded light gray as she then transformed into the Falcon Orphnoch, breaking off the rest of her restraints. Mari rolls into the ground and transforms into her Flying Form. Mari dashes at Kusaka grabbing him and flying him out of the warehouse, throwing him towards a tree.
Mari lands on her feet and reverts back to her human state, as Takumi and Sawada runs to her.
"Thanks," Mari thanked Takumi and Sawada. "That felt good, honestly."
"You bastards! Damn you! Damn all of you to hell!" Kusaka shouted as transformed into his Swimming Form and began fleeing.
"Wait!" Takumi exclaimed, as all three of them chased Kusaka.
Meanwhile
The fight between Michael, Yuka, and Kitazaki was taken to a warehouse, as the two were knocked into boxes. Kitazaki, with his dragon-like claws, proved to be more powerful than before, giving Michael and Yuka a hard time to handle him.
Kitazaki uses his right dragon-like claw to knock Yuka into barrels.
"You!" Michael clenches his fist, as he went to punch Michael. But, !itaza,I intercepted the punch, and struck Michael with his dragon-like claws. Even with combined forces, Kitazaki proved to be powerful on his own.
Just then, Kitazaki was struck in the back. Kitazaki turned to see Saeko and Takuma, with his Centipede Butte.
"What are you doing?" Kitazaki asked, as all three Orphnochs' human forms appear in their shadows.
"Sorry, Kitazaki-kun. We don't want to play your little game," Saeko apologized.
"We want to live," Takuma said.
Kitazaki laughs for a bit, before shouting in rage (Cue Thrill Injector by VideoHelper; 0:00-0:30, 0:52-1:17), briefing transforming into his Dragon-Human form to slap Saeko and Takuma a way, before speeding his way back to Michael and Yuka, reverting to his Demon-Human Form, grabbing the two, by the throats and lifting them with his dragon-like claws. Michael and Yuka tried to punch their way out of this predicament, but to no avail.
"You… Let go!" Yuka shouted, taking out her Kaixa Blaygun and shooting Kitazaki in the face, causing him to let go of Michael and Yuka.
Michael and Yuka took out their Axel and Break Mission Memories from their respective Watches, and inserts them into their respective phones.
Complete!
The Fullmetal Lung chest plates started to rise and recessed themselves into shoulder pads, revealing their repsetivd Core on the center of the chest. The suits flashed and transformed the Photon Streams into white, transforming Michael and Yuka into their Axel and Break Forms, respectively.
The two then pressed the red button of their Watches.
Start Up!
Everything around then became slow motion as they jump in the air and extend their legs, which had red and yellow energy drills on Kitazaki's chest. The two did their finishing kicks and entered through Kitazaki's body.
3, 2, 1
Time Out!
As they existed through his body, the Faiz and Kaixa symbols appeared. But, Kitazaki struck down the symbols, as he had blue flames in his body, which slowly went out. Kitazaki then retreated from the battle.
Road
Kitazaki runs in pain (End Track), but falls down for a bit, before getting back up, reverting back to his human form, collapsing on the ground.
As Kitazaki was groaning, Takuma, still transformed as the Centipede Orphnoch, walks to him. As they were face to face, Takuma's human form appears through his shadow.
"That's a good look for you, Kitazaki-san. I'v'e been waiting for this moment... for a long time!" Takuma said, as begun cracking his whip at Kitazaki, but not on his body. Instead, it was more of a torture expirence for Kitazaki, bring pleasure to Takuma.
Meanwhile
Kiba, Saya, and Keitaro, still running from the fight, suddenly stopped when they saw someone was missing.
"Hey! Kikuchi-san! Where's Teruo-kun?" Saya asked, as Keitaro looked around for Teruo, but he was not around. "Damn it!"
"Teruo-kun!" The three called out, but to no response. Saya then got a call from her cell, which she answered.
"Hello?" Saya answered.
"Saya," Mihara said, through Saya's phone.
Hospital Hallway
"I will fight. This time, for sure. For my classmates," Mihara said, as he walked through the hospital hallway.
Hill
"Before you hang up... Could you get something for me back at the cleaners?" Saya asked. "I have a plan."
Road
Walking through the tall grass, Teruo sees Takuma tortuing Kitazaki, with his Centipede Butte. Takuma stops to see the 9-year-old boy, as did Kitazaki. Teruo's shadow then came alive, as the grasshopper-like Arch Orphnoch had appeared, with his muffler being blowed by the wind. The Arch Orphnoch then walks to the two Lucky Clover members.
"The Orphnocoh... King?" Takuma questioned in shock, as Kitazaki began to flee in the tall grass, with the Arch Orphnoch following him.
"Kitazaki... The most powerful and rebellious Orphnoch... You thought you could get rid of me?! Huh?!" The Arch Orphnpoch asked, which sounded more like an adult voice.
"I'm not going to be defeated! I am the King!" Kitazaki declared.
"Oh, how wrong you are," The Arch Orphnoch said, as blue lasers appeared from his hands, as the hit Kitazaki's body, even cutting a majority of the tall grass. Kitazaki screams as he bursts into the blue flames, before being then frozen like stone, similar to what happened to Murakami.
The Arch Orphnoch walks to the now deceased Kitazaki and grabs his face, taking it off his body and eating it. The Arch Orphnoch then devours the rest of Kitazaki, which had Takuma run off in fear. Takumi, still transformed as Delta, sees what happened, as the Arch Orphnoch walks to Teruo and retreats back into his shadow.
"It can't be... He's...?" Takumi said in shock, as he turns to see Kusaka. "Kusaka?!"
"Yes. That boy is the... Orphnoch King," Kusaka confirmed.
"No... That's crazy," Takumi said in denial. "No... No! He's just a kid!"
"You didn't know it until now... but You've been protecting the Orphnoch King all this time," Kusaka told Takumi.
"Teruo-kun!" Keitaro exclaimed, as he runs to the boy. "Kiba-san! Over here!"
"Teruo-kun!" Kiba exclaimed, running to Teruo. "You had us worried."
"We were looking all over for you!" Keitaro told Teruo, having Kusaka too smirk at the moment.
"You should be grateful, Inui... that the King hasn't fully awaken yet. But... Can you kill that boy?" Kusaka asked. "And even if you defeat the King... You will die very soon."
"You... You know about that?" Takumi asked.
"I learn from the shadows. I hide and listen. I'm saying this if you value your life. It's best to live as an Orphnoch. Until then..." Kusaka said, as his face faded gray, transforming into the Shark Orphnoch. "I'll kill that boy myself."
"Hey! If you want a challenge to kill someone, try me!" Michael challenged, as he, still transformed as Faiz, and Yuka, still transformed into Kaixa, jumped in the air and kicked Kusaka in the chest. Sawada, still transformed as Neo-Alpa, and Mari, still transformed as the Falcon Orphnoch, grabbed Takumi from behind.
"What are you doing?!" Kusaka asked.
"Inui-san! Take the shot!" Yuka said, but Takumi was frozen, due to the revelation.
"Hey! What's wrong?! Takumi!" Michael shouted, as Kusaka managed to break free of Mari and Sawada's grip, throwing them towards the aslphat.
"Kiba-san!" Yuka cried, which gained Kiba's attention.
"Keitaro... Take Teruo-kun out of here. Don't let him see me," Kiba whispered to Keitaro.
"Got it," Keitaro said, as Kiba ran to help his friends, transforming into the Horse Orphnoch, punching Kusaka so hard, sending him flying.
Beach
Kusaka falls on his right side on the sand, slamming his right fist.
"That's it!" Kusaka shouted, transforming into his Swimming Form. Kiba runs to Kusaka and transforms into his Dash Form.
The two, in their secondary forms, were equally matched, in terms of strength. However, Kiba managed to get the upper hand, even grabbing Kusaka, with the point of his Orphnoch strength almost crushing him.
"Yes. Give into your anger," Kusaka said.
"Kiba-san!" Mari exclaimed, which Kiba turned to Mari, and back at Kusaka, dropping him, and reverting back into his Fight Form.
"What's wrong? Just given into your anger like you did the first time," Kusaka, with his human form appearing in his shadow, egged on Kiba.
"I… I'm different back then," Kiba told Kusaka, as his human form appeared through his shadow.
"You bastard!" Kusaka growled.
"Kiba!" Michael cried, as he, Yuka, Takumi, Sawada, and Mari, came running to his aid.
"Don't get in the way!" Kusaka shouted, slashing at the five them with his saw-like swords. "You made a big mistake, Kiba. You have chosen death."
Just then, Mihara, transformed as the Sheep Orphnoch, jumped in and grabbed Kusaka, throwing him to the ground.
Mihara rolls on the ground and gets back up on his feet.
"Mihara! What are you doing?!" Kusaka asked, as his human form appeared through his shadow.
"I'm going to fight… to find my home," Mihara, explained, his his human form appeared through his shadow.
"Do you really think you have what it takes to fight me and win?" Kusaka asked.
"Oh, I won't be fighting you. She will," Mihara said, as a motorcycle appeared, which had Kusaka turned and get hit in the face by the front wheel. The motorcycle screeches as it stops. The rider takes off her helmet… and it was Saya.
"Saya?" Takumi questioned, as Saya got off her bike, with a belt on her waist.
"That's…!" Michael said, as Saya flipped open a phone, whose appearance is similar to the Faiz Phone.
816
Standing By!
Henshin!
Complete!
Purple Photon Blood surged around Saya's body, as the Photon Blood flashed. In Saya's place, was the new hero, Pyron.
"Saya!" Yuka exclaimed.
"She transformed," Kiba said.
"No way," Takumi said, as Saya cracks her knuckles.
"Alright… Here I come!" Saya said, as Kusaka charged at Saya, who sped her way behind Kusaka. "Hi!"
Kusaka tried to strike at Saya again, but she used her super speed to dodge Kusaka's attacks again.
"Hey! Stop moving!" Kusaka shouted, as Saya took out a weapon, looking similar to the Axelraygun, the weapons of the Riotroopers, called the Pyron Dagger, and slashed Kusaka in the stomach. "You little girl! Don't get cheeky!"
Kusaka suddenly slashes at Mari, sending flying into the sand, reverting into her human state.
"Mari!" Takumi exclaimed.
"Why you!" Michael cried, charging at Kusaka, who jumped and slashed at Michael, who fell to the sand due to the impact.
Mihara then joined the fight, attack Kusaka with his strength. But, Kusaka was so powerful, that he easily overpowered Mihara by grabbing his Orphnoch horns and throwing him aside, reverting Mihara back to his human state.
"Michael!" Saya exclaimed, taking out the Faiz Blaster from her bike sand throwing it to Michael, who caught. Michael hesitated in taking out the Faiz Phone, looking at his right hand. "Oh stupid of me. On second thought, please give it back."
"Saya... I remember what you told me... But that's not going to stop me for protecting my friends!" Michael said, as equips the Faiz Phone. into the Faiz Blaster.
Awakening!
555
Standing By!
Then, a red light glowed around Michael, as the Sol Foam suit transformed from black to light red. The Photon Blood also transformed from red into black. The Fullmetal Lung armor, on the back, transformed into a jet-pack like armor, transforming Michael into Faiz's Blaster Form.
Michael talks to Kusaka slowly, much to Saya's worries. Kusaka punches Michael, who catches it and throws Kusaka to a rock.
"Go!" Michael called out, as Takumi and Sawada fired their weapons at Kusaka, which had sparks flying from his chest. Yuka then came charging at Kusaka, putting her right foot on Kusaka's stomach, with the Kaixa Pointer on her Power Ankle, before side-opening the Kaixa phone and pressing the enter button, then side-closing it.
Exceed Charge!
A yellow surge came from the Kaixa belt through the Photon Blood, before making contact with the Kaixa Pointer, which had Kusaka being pushed back due to a giant yellow drill emerging from his chest.
"You never learn, do you?!" Kusaka shouted in annoyance.
"I actually… I should be saying that to you," Yuka shot back, as, just then, a light blue drill appears behind his back.
Sawada and Saya inserts their Mission Memories into their respective weapons.
Ready!
Sawada's Alpa Raizer was converted into its blade mode, generating its dark red blade made out of Sol Glass.
Both Sawada and Saya opened their phones, pressed the enter buttons, and closed them.
Exceed Charge!
103
Faiz Blaster: Blaster Mode!
The Trunkbox Mode of the Faiz Blaster was converted into the Photon Buster.
Sawada and Saya charged at Kusaka first, doing their finishing slashes, the Alpa Clash and Pyron Slash. Kusaka was damaged by the two slashes, as he was then paralyzed by two energy drills, a yellow one aiming for his chest, and a blue one aiming for his back.
Yuka and Takumi jump and execute their respective kicks, the Gold Smash and Lucifer's Hammer kicks, respectively.
Michael targets his Photon Buster at Kusaka and fires a powerful and large blaster of Proton Energy, as Yuka and Takumi enters through Kusaka's body, executing the Photon Buster. Yuka and Takumi exited through Kusaka's body, which had blue flames coming from him.
"How?! How can I lose?!" Kusaka asked, as the blue flames were burning brighter.
"I think you know the answer. We have what you don't… Love for humans," Michael responded, as Kusaka shouts in pain.
"Mari," Kusaka groaned, as collapses to his knees and exploded.
"We did it!" Saya said in excitement, as she was going to give Sawada a high five, but stops.
"Come on," Sawada said to Saya.
"Really?" Saya asked.
"We're classmates, right?" Sawada asked, as Saya smiles under her helmet and gives Sawada a high five.
Michael and Yuka walked to each other and locked eyes, as they undid their transformations.
"We finally did it," Michael said.
"Yeah. Kusaka is finally gone. I can't explain it. But… it's like a monster following me like a shadow for s half of a year is vanquished. I feel at peace," Yuka smiled, as the two hugged. "I love you."
"Love you," Michael smiled, as the two locked lips.
Takumi and Mihara, back to their regular forms, were watching the moment between the two.
"Hey, are you grossed out by this?" Mihara asked, as Takumi shook his head no as a response.
"It's love. They love each other. I can't be help but to be happy for their bond," Takumi told Mihara, as he then saw Kiba holding Mari. "Mari!"
Takumi runs to Kiba, holding Mari.
"So that's what you've been doing all this time, Kiba! Is she alright?" Takumi asked.
"She is. But she needs help. Her injuries aren't serious. But, she needs to be bandaged up," Kiba explained to Takumi.
"I'll take her," Takumi offered.
"You sure you can handle it?" Kiba asked.
"It's okay. I've done something like this before. Once," Takumi said, as Kiba gave him Mari, who was the on his back.
"Inui-san!" Saya called out, as back to her regular form. "It would be easy if we get in the van faster."
"It's alright. I need the exercise anyway," Takumi said, as began to walk home, with Mari on his back.
Saya couldn't help by smile at the moment and on what was finally over.
"It's over. We did it," Saya smiled, as Sawada puts his hand on her right shoulder. Sawada then gives Saya a bird origami. "Eh?"
"A memento. I won't be around soon. I want you to have it as a memory of me," Sawada said.
"Sawada-kun… We're going to find a way to beat this. We're going to prove Father wrong. We'll find the Orphnoch cure," Saya said with determination.
"It would be impossible though…" Sawada responded. "…for Smart Brain not having their strongest Orphnoch."
Saya smiled to Sawada's remark.
Road
Takuma, still transformed as the Centipede Orphnoch, was running in fear from the horror of the Arch Orphnoch eating Kitazaki. Takuma stumbles down a hill, rolling down, reverting back to his human form in the process.
"Takuma-kun?" A feminine voice said, as Takuma looked up to see Saeko. "What are you so scared of?"
Takuma had every right to be scared. He never saw any Orphnoch done that to any human nor Orphnoch before.
"Isn't this nice? Kitazaki-kun has finally been taken care of. And now… No one's going to bully you anymore," Saeko told Takuma, who kept remembering on how the Arch Orphnoch ripped of Kitazaki's face and ate it. Takuma crawls his way to Saeko, but running away in fear. "What? Silly boy."
Hospital
Mihara walks to the hospital to check on Rina. Mihara stops when he sees Rina exist the hospital, with a bandaged wrapped around her forehead.
"Rina!" Mihara exclaimed, as he walked to Rina, who exited through the automatic doors.
"Mihara-kun!" Rina smiled.
"Are you okay? You were just hospitalized!" Mihara said in concern.
"Yeah!" Rina nodded, crossing her arms. "I was worried about a certain someone, so I couldn't sleep."
"Sorry," Mihara apologized. "It's okay now! I got some of your strength. The fight is now over. The last member of the Ryusei School masacure and Kusaka are now dead."
Rina was expressionless for a moment.
"What's wrong?" Mihara asked.
"Do you think he could've been saved?" Rina asked. "Mari tried to find his humanity but was unsuccessful."
"Don't know. But, the important thing now is that we're safe. The battle for us is over," Mihara said, as the two smiled at each other. Mihara offered to take Rina's bag as the left the hospital.
Hill
Mari's eyes start to open a bit as she was staring down at a hill.
(Cue Backflash Nostalgia by VideoHelper; 0:00-0:28, 0:45-1:13)
Mari's body was numb, but her five senses were still active.
"So, your awake?" Takumi said. "That's a relief. I wasn't going to lose you twice."
Mari didn't know what Takumi was talking about, until he felt his heartbeat. Mari recognized that heartbreat. She hadn't felt that heartbeat since she was seven.
"Takumi… It was you, wasn't it? You saved from that fire when I was young, didn't you?" Mari said, as Takumi kept silent, for a few moments.
"I didn't think I was going to make it out alive. I got trapped in a room and died from the impact of the debris," Takumi responded.
"I'm glad you're an Orphnoch… and that your fighting for humanity," Mari said.
"Like I was going to listen to Smart Brain," Takumi smiled, which made Mari smiled to, as Takumi kept carrying Mari on his back, as the sun was setting.
Beach
It was nearly night, and everyone had left the beach to go home.
(End Track)
An Orphnoch was limping from his injuries after a long battle, groaning. He was in a tremendous about of pain. The Orphnoch was Kusaka, still transformed as the Shark Orphnoch.
"I was so close! How?! How did I lose?!" Kusaka shouted, with his saw-like swords in his hands. "Did you think… that I'll die here?! Tell me! Tell me the answer! Why couldn't I obtain Mari?!"
"Because your obsession drove you to self-destruction," A voice responded, and Kusaka turned to see Saeko, transformed as the Lobster Orphnoch. "Hello, Kusaka Masato."
"Saeko! What are you doing here?!" Kusaka asked.
"I must admit, I'm impressed that you and Kitazaki-kun had the guts to try and kill the Orphnoch King," Saeko said.
"Like you have guts!" Kusaka shouted back.
"You are a treacherous Orphnoch, like Kitazaki. The only difference was that Kitazaki gave in to the Orphnoch power the first time he was reborn. At least, that's what Hanagata-san told me," Saeko said.
"Do you really have to believe what that traitor says. He's probably using you as a pawn!" Kusaka shouted.
"More like you were the pawn," Saeko shot back.
"What?!" Kusaka questioned (Cue End of the World by VideoHelper; 0:00-0:24, 0:42-0:58, 0:47-1:10), as Saeko generated a fireball from her shrimp-like gauntlets and fired it Kusaka, causing the blades of his saw-like swords to be cut in half. "Damn you!"
Saeko summoned her rapier and charged at Kusaka, stabbing him through the chest.
"A new era has come. The era of Kusaka Masato has come to an end. It's now my era. My first decision is to kill assholes like you," Saeko said, as she took her rapier out of Kusaka's body and struck him down, forcing Kusaka to revert back to his human state, collapsing onto the ground. Saeko then lifts Kusaka from the ground, by the throat. "Goodbye, Kusaka Masato."
Saeko then snaps Kusaka's neck, finally killing him. Saeko looks at Kusaka's dead body for a moment, before transforming back to her human form, and smiling, before turning and walking away.
Kusaka's skin was then turned to ash gray, as Kusaka turns into ash. The winds of the night carry Kusaka's ashes away from the beach to the sky.
(End Track as Closing Screen Appears)
To Be Continued
Here we are. The end of the second arc. I've been writing this arc for about an entire year. I appreciate your patience. The reason it took so long was because of me trying to balance two stories at once, summer break, and school just starting back up for me. For the second arc: Inner Demons, Episodes 27-30, were also the Rising Action of the story, while Episodes 31-43 were the Climax.
But this is a time to celebrate. Kusaka and Kitazaki are no more. For those wondering where did Kitazaki's story came from, that was Kiba's backstory from the Deformed Flowers novel. I probably mentioned this before, but my main problem with the Lucky Clover is their backstories. We got it a bit of information of Saeko's backstory in 1 episode, but Inoue, Faiz's head writer, didn't bother to delve into that. I made a theory that there reason that Takuma was so scared of Kitazaki, was that Kitazaki killed Takuma, resulting him to be an Orphnoch. This is just an inference I made, while watching Faiz.
I also changed Kusaka's killer from Kiba to Saeko. I originally was going to do Sawada, but I felt like it wasn't his character. Speaking of characters, I changed Mihara just a bit. But, I hope it's to some readers satisfaction. I did the best I could.
Also, that idea of Takumi being the one who saved Mari in the fire that killed her fire, resulting in the death of her parents, that was from the Deformed Flowers novel as well. Despite me not being fond of the novel, because of you-know-who/Kusaka (in case you didn't know who I was referring to), it had some great ideas. Though, I didn't like Yuka dying like the show and the movie. That was the typical Inoue trope. She should at least have a happy ending. And the reason why she died in the novel, because she was mute. I don't like this idea, mostly because Yuka is my favorite character of Faiz and the franchise, in terms of Heisei Phase 1.
With that out of the way... Thank you so much for reading, everyone. If you want, you can leave a review to share your thoughts. I will see all of you guys, girls, and all in between, next time. We're in the endgame now.