In order to conquer the multiverse, Kugai Kudo, founder of the Black Bohdi Tree pulled miscellaneous heroes from across the multiverse and placed them in randomised teams in order to maximise their combat data that could be recorded and defeat their allies once his invasion began. But his 10th and final experiment lineup proved far too much of a wildcard in the end, with Kugai's ambitions being thwarted before they could begin. All the people he had abducted were returned to their normal lives, all memory of their adventures in his world vanquished from their minds. We will now tell a few of these stories, to ensure that they are not forgotten.
This exploit will focus on Team 8, composed of Yua Yaiba/Kamen Rider Valkyrie, Nariaki Utsumi/Kamen Rider Mad Rogue, Dr. Haima Kagami, Deputy Commissioner Jun Honganji/Kamen Rider Jun and Ryoji Hase/Kamen Rider Kurokage. Facing them are the malevolent AI known as Ark, the alien Evolto, Masamune Dan/Kamen Rider Cronus, Dr. Tenjuro Banno/Gold Drive and the Overlord Inves Demushu. While the two sides would come to be joined by Hideyasu Jounouchi/Kamen Rider Gridon and the Overlord Inves Reydue, this tale takes place before their appearance.
This confrontation between the two groups began as with any other. With one of them issuing a challenge to the other. "Hey, get out here! All of you bad guys!", Utsumi yelled at the sky. He then picked up a nearby twig. "What's the matter? Afraid I'm going to break you like this?" He then tried to break the twig over his knee, but it failed to snap, instead injuring his leg.
It was then that Masamune Dan appeared. "If that's the best you can manage, then I suppose I don't mind fighting you myself." He took out his Gashacon BugVisor Zwei and inserted it onto his belt. Buggle-Driver Zwei! He then took out and activated his Gashat. Kamen Rider Chronicle! "Henshin!" He activated the Buggle-Driver, causing the Gashat to insert itself. Gashatto!
"Bring it on!", Utsumi announced as he donned his own belt. Evol Driver. He then took out the Bat and Engine Fullbottles. "Henshin!" He then inserted them into the Evol Driver. Koumori! Hatsudōki! Evol Match! He then began cranking the handle until it clicked, while Masamune pressed a button on the side of his own belt. Are You Ready?/Buggle Up!
Ten wo Tsukame, Rider! Kizame Chronicle! Ima Koso Toki wa Kiwamareri!/ BatEngine! Hahahahahaha!
The two then began grappling with each other as Evolto, having taken on the form of Soichi Isurugi, appeared to observe. "Well, I'd help out, but his looks like it'll be more interesting as a one-on-one fight.", he commented.
The two Riders proved very evenly matched in terms of fighting ability. "In that case…", Masamune decided as he managed to pull himself backwards. He pressed onto both buttons on the Buggle-Driver at once, as Utsumi came running towards him. Pause! Things froze in place, as Masamune approached his foe in order to destroy him once and for all. Critical Crews-Aid! But as he did so, Utsumi moved forward and punched him. "Impossible! How are you still able to move?"
"You forget, I can use this to make anything.", Utsumi declared, flashing back to how he used the Ex-Aid Fullbottle with a copy of Evolto's Rider System Evolbottle. Muteki Gamer! Rider System! Creation! This had generated a unique Gashat that Utsumi had activated to allow himself to be able to movie while everything was paused. Hyper Muteki! "This power will give me a brief edge. But one I can make use of." He then swapped the Ex-Aid bottle for the Gatling. Kikanhou! Rider System! Creation! This summoned a copy of the Hawk Gatlinger, which Utsumi proceeded to spin 10 times. 10/20/30/40/50/60/70/80/90/100! Full Bullet! He then pointed the weapon and fired, knocking his opponent back far enough to knock his Driver off. Gachuun! "Alright, let's finish it." Utsumi then cranked his handle, before leaping forward to deliver a kick. Ready, Go! Evoltic Attack! Ciao!
The kick knocked Masamune over the horizon as time resumed. Restart! As Utsumi walked away, Evolto walked over to the BugVisor and Gashat. "Well, it looks like you got unlucky this time, Cronus.", he commented. "There's always next time though." But when he inserted the Gashat into the BugVisor, nothing happened. "Odd, he should've regenerated by now."
"Unless he's still alive.", the hooded figure who had brought Evolto and the others to this world suggested, as he appeared as if from nowhere. "And I suggest you and your motley crew work to find and recover him."
"As much as I'm loath to admit it, you're right.", Evolto sighed. "After all, while we may not like each other, we can agree that we need to defeat those interlopers you've also brought in for some unfathomable reason. And we'll need all of us to do that, in order to exploit all of their potential weaknesses." He turned to see that the figure had vanished. "Looks like I'm on my own in convincing them then." He turned and walked back to his base.
And back at the hero's base, Utsumi recounted the battle to the others. Who were in a celebratory mood. "I can't believe we actually took one of those guys out.", Hase stated.
"And it was Masamune at that.", Dr. Kagami added. "If we keep up with this level of progress, then we can beat all of them soon enough."
"I wouldn't be so sure.", Yaiba spoke up. "We've got some reports of a flying man all over social network sites." She gathered everyone around to see a video showing said flying man. "According to this, he was seen coming somewhere in the countryside."
"Oh, looks like we'll have to find him ourselves.", Honganji sighed at this. "But, if we can get to him first, we'll be able to detain him, and we'll still be able to take out one of our threats."
"Especially since I knocked his Driver away from him.", Utsumi pointed out. "We'll have to search and neutralise that as well."
"Never mind that now.", Yaiba announced. "For now, let's go and retrieve Masamune Dan."
And speaking of Masamune Dan, he had awoke in a room he didn't recognise, with a young woman standing over him. "You're awake!", she said with joy. "Thank goodness."
"Wh-where am I?", he asked as he pulled himself out of bed. "How did I get here?"
"You fell out of the sky last night, into my backyard.", the girl answered. "Well, it's my grandfather's backyard, but he's currently out. I was hoping to have you up and on your way before he got back from his trip to New York."
"I see.", Masamune said as he looked around the room, taking note of several trophies and medals from dancing competitions, along with a photograph of a young couple. "Are these your parents?"
"Yes.", the girl said sadly. "They died when I was a little girl. Grandpa says it was a car accident. Since then, I've been living with him, and I had to put my dreams of joining the Takarazuka Revue on hold." She then went over to so,e drawers, opening them to take out a set of photos. "Which is why I've since dedicated myself to trying to make as many friends as possible."
She showed Masamune the pictures, all of which were groups of people with different fashions, but were mostly in the same age groups. He didn't recognise any of them, but he did see something interesting. In the forest picture, alongside a woman in a military uniform and a man in 70s clothes, there was a man in a tracksuit with a suit jacket, and what seemed to be a belt similar to the one that Ark resided within. "How interesting." He took out his phone and photographed the image, planning to share it later to see if there was any recognition. "I think you'll be meeting some more people to take a photograph with.", he commented. He was sure that his faction's enemies would likely find him soon enough.
"Eh? Really?", the girl gasped, clearly more excited at the prospect than Masamune was.
"Indeed. If anything, they'll be coming here for me.", Masamune answered her as he grabbed his clothes and departed the room.
Nearby, Evolto was walking towards that town using the BugVisor Zwei as if it was a diving rod. "That's right, little console-chan. Lead me to your master. You're covered with his essence."
"Let's go." Recognising the voice of that woman who the AI was targeting, Evolto leapt into the bushes and watched as they passed by. "We should be a few miles away from where Masamune Dan landed. It won't be long until we get there."
"There's a pretty big village up ahead.", Hase pointed out. "And that guy could have been taken into any of them."
"Then we'll just have to check all of them.", Dr. Kagami suggested. "If we even need to do that, since I think we'll create some noise simply by looking."
As they left, Evolto emerged from the bushes laughing. "Oh, this is just too good." He then took out his Evol Trigger, activating it. Over the Evolution! He then summoned his Evol Driver, before plugging in first the Trigger and then two Evolbottles. Cobra! Rider System! Revolution! He then cranked the handle until he transformed into his Evol Black Hole form. Black Hole! Revolution! He then opened a portal, into which he disappeared.
And down the road, the heroes had arrived in the village. "Alright, we'll fan out and check all of these houses.", Yaiba instructed. "The target has to be in one of them."
And so the group spread out, but none of them had much luck in finding anything. Yaiba and Honganji had luck in using their credentials to enter and search buildings, while Utsumi was allowed in by a middle-aged woman who was perhaps a little too eager to let him in and serve him tea. Soon enough they met up. "Nothing.", Hase reported in. "Just a few men coming home from working at the office. And one of them seemed to be with a woman far too happy to be his wife."
"Another came home as a delivery van pulled out.", Dr. Kagami reported. "But what's going on in the neighbourhood isn't our concern, so I decided not to press it."
"By contrast, what happens here is our concern." Everyone turned to see the other 4 of their enemies, Demushu, Banno, Evolto and Ark, standing nearby. "Evolto told us you'd come here in search of our wayward ally.", Banno continued. "So we thought we'd merely follow you to find him, and then destroy you."
"But it looks like that opportunity has presented itself.", Demushu announced, as he pointed his sword. "Prepare yourselves, monkeys."
"Looks like there's no choice.", Hase stated, as he and the others tried dodging out of the way of the attacks. "We have to fight them off." He donned his Sengoku Driver and took out his Lockseed, clicking it open. Matsubokkuri! "Henshin!" Lock On!
"Right.", Honganji nodded as he donned his Mach Driver and took out his key. "Henshin!" Signal Bike Shift Car!
Dr. Kagami then took out his Gashat. Kamen Rider Chronicle! "Game Start!"
Utsumi then took out a Nebulasteam Gun. "No time for the Evol Driver. I'll have to settle for this." He inserted one of the two Gears required to use the weapon long enough for it to read, before removing it. Gear Engine! He then inserted the other Gear. Gear Remocon! Funky Match! "Jundou!" He pointed the weapon and fired. Fever!
Finally, Yaiba donned her ShotRiser and took out her Rushing Cheetah Progrisekey, pressing on it. "Now commencing destruction of targets." Dash! She inserted the key into her belt. Authorise! "Henshin!"
All of the group proceeded to complete their transformations. Soiya! Matsubokkuri Arms! Ichigeki in the Shadows!/Rider!/Enter the Game! R-R-Riding the End!/Perfect!/ShotRise! Rushing Cheetah! Try to outrun this demon to be left in the dust. The 5 were now transformed into Kamen Rider Kurokage, Kamen Rider Jun, a Ride-Player, Hell Bros and Kamen Rider Valkyrie respectively. "Hah! How interesting.", Banno commented. "Prepare to die." He then charged in to join Demushu in fighting the heroes.
Evolto merely stood on the side. "Should we really be wasting time doing this? We have a wayward comrade to find." He held up the BugVisor to enunciate this.
"I shall handle that matter.", Ark insisted, snatching the item from his comrade's hand. "Stay here and aid in the fighting." He then turned and departed with the item. "But first, a little something to handle matters." He used his 3D printer to create copies of the Onycho and Gaeru Magia, who joined the fight.
"So that's how it is.", Evolto sighed. "I might as well take on that little Utsumi." He then changed his face to that of Sento Kiryu, before summoning his Evol Driver and inserting two Evolbottles. Rabbit! Rider System! Evolution! He then ran in, cranking his handle. "Henshin!" Are You Ready? Rabbit! Rabbit! Evol Rabbit! Hahahahahaha! He then threw a punch at Utsumi, disorientating him. "You always were second best where I was concerned, Cyborg." He said this in the voice of the face he had assumed. He knew that this would cause Utsumi to lash out, focusing more on landing a hit than on how he would land it.
Nearby, Yaiba and Dr. Kagami were facing the two Magia. "Where did these guys come from?", the latter asked as he swung his weapon fruitlessly at the Gaeru Magia, who leapt backwards and and opened its mouth, unleashing its Kogael Bombs to buffet him.
"It doesn't matter.", Yaiba stated as she took a shot at the Onycho Magia, before pressing the button on top of her ShotRiser in gun mode. Dash! "We need to take them out all the same." She then leapt into the air, using a rock as a launchpad before firing a shot that destroyed her opponent. Rushing Blast!
Inside the house that Masamune had ended up in, the sound of the battle could be heard. "What's going on out there?", the girl asked, running upstairs to her bedroom.
"Stay there. I'll check." Masamune went to the door, opening it to be greeted by the figure of the Ark. "I assume you came here to find me. I'd be happy, but I know your reasons aren't anything other then pragmatic."
"Exactly.", the AI nodded as it handed Masamune his BugVisor and Gashat. As its ally put them on, Ark explained its reasoning. "All of our unit are required in order to attain total victories." Buggle-Driver Zwei! "You provide us with knowledge of the Ride-Player's strengths and weaknesses to use in battle." An electronic sensor then went off in its body. "There is another human present here."
"She's not important.", Masamune insisted as his Gashat inserted itself. Gashatto! "Let's go."
"Nonetheless, she could prove to be a liability in several of my calculations.", Ark answered him. "I will eliminate her." The robotic body then proceeded up the stairs.
Masamune sighed. "So that's how it is." He then pressed on his Buggle-Driver to trigger his transformation. "Henshin!" Buggle Up!
In her room, the girl feared for her life. She had looked out of the window to see 4 armoured people, facing off against what looked like two more people in armour, a monster of some kind and a robot. And the first 4 seemed to be on the losing end of the fight, except against the robot, who was flailing about. Suddenly, she heard heavy footsteps, turning around to behold a metallic figure entering her bedroom by forcing the door off its hinges and smashing it. "All of humanity will be extinct by my hand.", the Ark stated as it approached her. "You will merely be among the first to perish." It then pressed its belt. All Extinction! As the robot approached her, the girl feared for her life. Pause! As she heard this word, she saw the Ark vanish from in front of her, with nary a trace he was there. Now he was down in the garden, causing an explosion that knocked the Riders down.
And down in the garden, the heroes were recoiling from the sudden attack by the Ark, not noticing that Cronus had also reappeared. "Where did he come from?", Hase asked.
"I see.", the Ark commented to Masamune. "You wanted me to focus more on defeating our enemies then on pointlessly killing one human."
Masamune hesitated for a moment, before answering. "Indeed. We're done here. Let's go."
"Just a moment.", Demushu declared. "I'm not going to retreat until I've had my fun. He ran towards the recovering heroes, managing to deliver a slash that knocked down Hase, before firing a bolt of energy, that pushed Honganji and Dr. Kagami into the wall, before grappling with and overpowering Yaiba.
"You forgot about me.", Utsumi declared, as he activated the Nebulasteam Gun's finisher. Funky Finish! He surrounded himself with giant energy gears, before pointing and firing a large burst of white and turquoise energy.
But Demushu acted quickly, grabbing the Gaeru Magia and placing it in front of the blast, resulting in that getting destroyed instead. "Nice try, Monkey." Demushu then warped his body closer to Utsumi to deliver a close up slash. "Now, I've had my fun, so I'll let you off this time. But next time…" Demushu slashed a rock in half to demonstrate his point, before leaving with the rest of his allies.
After the dust had settled, the girl came out of her house to tend to everyone. "Hey, are you guys alright?"
"We'll live.", Yaiba assured her. "Though unfortunately, we weren't able to defeat our enemies or even so much as weaken them, so we're back to square one. This whole trip was a waste."
"Oh, don't think like that.", the girl assured her. "I'll be willing to let you and your friends rest here until they're feeling fit. Won't it be good for you to get something of a break?"
Everyone paused to consider it. "I wouldn't mind the break.", Hase spoke up.
"Neither would I.", Utsumi added. "Though, I am a cyborg, so I'm mostly saying we shouldn't set for your benefit."
"We could definitely use it.", Honganji and Kagami said in unison.
Yaiba sighed. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt us to spend a few days with you, Miss -?"
"I'm Sakura.", was the girl's answer. "Sakura Megumi."
Next time on Before the Fractures: Which team will it be?