AN: Alright you guys have been hounding me for years about this so I'm doing this, alright? I'm going to update Blade. So now…Showtime!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kamen Rider Blade or Symphogear.
Chapter 5: The Four Aces
Genjuro was studying the Garren Belt by himself. He was curious about how this works but he was also worried if they can even find a compatible user to use it and assist Daisuke and the others.
Genjuro laid out the cards that belonged to the Diamonds which were only the Ace, Two of Diamonds, and Six of Diamonds.
It was getting late and Genjuro yawned.
"I suppose I should get some sleep now." Genjuro said as he pushed himself off the table before noticing something from the table. "Huh?"
(Play Round ZERO~BLADE BRAVE by Nanase Aikawa)
The song starts by colored lights shining on a dark room, revealing Kamen Riders Blade, Chalice, and Leangle who were kneeling. The three then stood up.
The setting soon moves into a similar place and all the major heroes of the story so far are standing on separate platforms with black suits on.
[Tatta hitori kiri no kimi no sonzai ga] The camera zooms in on a few of the characters before zooming in on Daisuke Kenzaki, who took a bite out of an apple he was holding and smiled. Then it moves to Hajime who was kicking a soccer ball around.
[Itsuka sekai no subete kaeru darou] Then it moved to Hibiki who was smiling while doing eating a snack. Then we see Miku trying to juggle. We then see Kanade trying to do a cool pose with her suit while Tsubasa was looking at her with a smile. With Genjuro behind them laughing while Chris had her back turned on them but looked at Hajime.
[Koko ni aru mono wa kibou zetsubou] We soon see Blade, Chalice, and Leangle driving their bikes through a beach. We then see the Symphogear Users walking through a dark room.
[Round Zero hajimatteru] We soon move back to the Riders' room where Blade, Chalice, and Leangle were not far from each other and were next to their bikes. They started practicing their weapons.
[Shiranai to iu tsumi to shirisugiru wana] The two continue practicing their weapons while we move to Hibiki and Tsubasa, in their Symhpogear armor, doing the same.
[Ugokenaku naru mae ni ugokidasou] We then go back towards Blade, Chalice, and Leangle's ride through rocky hills. They soon stopped and the camera moves back to the room with the Riders.
[Kaze ni mekurareta Card] The two practice their weapons while posing. Blade was swinging his Blay Rouzer while Chalice was swing and spinning with his Chalice Arrow and Leangle was twirling and slashing her Leangle Rouzer against the air.
[Uranau you ni warau. Mayowanai hazu mo nai sore demo ashita wo sagase] We move back to their Symphogear room where Hibiki was punching and kicking the air while Tsubasa was slashing the air with her katana.
[Mekurumeku unmei. Kowaresou na jidai ni.] We soon see Daisuke, in front of the apartment, sitting against his bike. The camera soon changes to seeing Blade, Chalice, and Leangle on their ride.
[Kifuda wa kimi no naka togisumasareta yuuki ni shite. BLADE BRAVE! ] Blade stops swinging his sword for a brief moment as the logo appeared with Chalice and Leangle standing next to him. The camera sees Hibiki and Tsubasa doing the same before going back to the Riders.
(The next day)
Hajime was relaxing in the park as he laid himself on the grass. It's been weeks and there were still no signs of Junichi or Amane. He was starting to become sick with worry. What if something happened to her? Is she even alive?
Hajime shook his head from those thoughts. He was going to find her and make Junichi pay. He sighed before closing his eyes but when he did he felt something trip on his leg before hearing a…
THUD!
"Ow!" A familiar female said.
Hajime instantly opened his eyes. He recognized that voice anywhere. He sat up to see that it was Chris. She looked back at him.
"How is it that every time I run into you something bad always happens to me!?" She rhetorically asked.
"I don't know…but I'm not questioning it." Hajime responded.
Chris got up and walked over to him before putting her arms on her waist. Hajime could tell that she was glaring at him.
"What?" He asked.
"I thought you'd be doing something a bit more…productive." Chris admitted. Despite their multiple fights and arguments, Chris knows that Hajime doesn't seem to be the type to be lazing around in the grass on a good sunny day.
"This is productive." Hajime answered. Chris raised one eyebrow.
"You're lying on the grass, literally doing nothing." Chris deadpanned. She was seeing Hajime do nothing but lying on the ground like a lazy bum.
"You wouldn't understand." He calmly answered, being too relaxed to deal with this.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Chris asked, feeling a bit offended at the answer.
"Today is a good day and I'm taking time to appreciate it. While doing so, I'm being able to calm down and that'll help me do other things later on during the day." Hajime explained.
Chris just tilted her head with a very confused look.
"Like I said, I didn't expect you to understand. If you'd tried it, you would." Hajime said.
Chris looked around as a cool breeze brushed past her. She looked at her watch, she had time to spare. So Chris sat down next to Hajime and decided to enjoy the scene. As Chris looked up at the blue sky above, she almost forgot what she was doing in the first place. She sighed before lying on the grass with Hajime.
"See? What did I tell you?" Hajime asked but didn't hear any response. He soon opened his eyes and saw her asleep. "What the heck? She was pretty cold at first but now she's sleeping like a little kid." Hajime remarked, seeing Chris's sleeping contented face. 'She looks kind of cute like that…Wait, why am I saying that?' Hajime knows that Chris was one of the people on his most annoying list but he couldn't help but admit that she looked innocent asleep.
He soon heard something vibrate and saw a vibrating phone fall out of Chris's pocket. Hajime checked to see that the call was from someone named Finé. Hajime left the phone next to Chris, it wasn't any of his business.
As he watched the day goes on, he hears Chris stirring a bit before opening her eyes and sitting up. Hajime looked back at her.
"Morning, sleepy head."
Chris instantly blushed for some reason with an expression that was a mixture of surprise and shock.
"H-How long were you there!?" She asked.
"Ever since you slept, by the way, you have a missed call." Hajime pointed out. Chris quickly got rid of her blush and instantly went for her phone nearby. She went through his missed call log to see that Finé called her.
"Crap, damn it!" Chris got up before running away.
Hajime watched her go and tilted his head a bit.
"I'll never understand her." Hajime sighed before relaxing on the ground again.
(Later with Chris)
Chris has just gotten back to the hideout and looked around.
"Finé, I'm here!" Chris called and looked around.
"She just left."
Chris turned and saw Junichi.
"You again." Chris narrowed her eyes a bit at the sight of the young man.
Ever since Junichi teamed up with Finé, Chris has been keeping an eye on him. She personally did not trust the guy. There was something about him that made the girl suspicious as if there was something otherworldly him. But if there was one thing that Chris can compliment him on was that he was very informative on the matter of the Undead especially the Joker Undead posing as Kamen Rider Chalice.
"Now is that how you treat an ally, Chris?" Junichi smiled.
"Just tell me Finé went." Chris said, not really wanting to put up with this guy.
"Hold it for one second, we both want the same thing, don't we?" Junichi asked.
"Just spit it out already, what do you want?" Chris asked before two Undeads appeared before her. One looked like a jaguar while the other appeared to be dragonfly.
"Meet the Jaguar and Dragonfly Undead. They bare no love for the Joker and are eager to see him gone just like you, me, and everyone else." Junichi explained.
"And I'm supposed to trust these monsters?" Chris asked. Even though she has worked a bit with Noise, these Undeads are dangerous and can think for themselves. What makes them so trustworthy?
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Junichi explained. "Like I said, they bear no love for the Joker Undead and would love to see him gone like you. They'll come in handy."
Chris stared at them.
"Do whatever you want." Chris said before going upstairs to sleep.
The Jaguar Undead looked at Junichi.
"Afanf akcs kicsa mza Joker?" It asked.
"No, I don't think she even has the slightest hint. Just work with her for now. I'll prepare him." Junichi said.
Unknown to Chris, in another room was the Joker Undead and he was tied up and locked into a technological chair.
(At Lydian Private Music Academy)
Hibiki was alone on the roof and she looked at her arms as she was thinking on several things. Soon her trail of thought was interrupted when she heard a knock nearby. Hibiki turned her head to see Daisuke with a bag.
"Your delivery is here." Daisuke said as he gave Hibiki the packaged food while Hibiki gave him money in return. "Miku isn't with you?" Daisuke asked. He was slightly surprised since those two girls are inseparable.
"She has a class right now, it should be ending soon. But…I have been a bit distant from her lately." Hibiki admitted.
"Is this about…you know?" Daisuke asked. He doesn't blame Hibiki for being distant with Miku. To be fair, between fighting Undead and Noise, training with Genjuro to be a better fighter, and working with the others, Hibiki herself is surprised to even see Miku and say hi to her.
Hibiki nodded.
"I want to try to talk to her. We promised no secrets among each other but…honestly all of these things going on, I'm going to die of guilt at this rate." Hibiki said. It sounded a bit extreme but Daisuke saw her point.
"I know the feeling, Amane is still nowhere to be found." Daisuke said as he joined Hibiki near the railing.
"Amane?"
"She's Hajime's younger sister. Amane is a good friend and was like a little sister to me too." Daisuke answered.
"So I take it your two were close?" Hibiki asked.
Daisuke nodded.
"You can say that. I've been stuck with those two since elementary school." Daisuke smiled at the memory of how they met. "Whenever me and Hajime fought, Amane would calm us down and have us apologize to one another. I miss her." Daisuke said, hoping that Junichi didn't lay a finger on her.
"I'm sure she's fine and that you and Hajime are definitely going to see her." Hibiki assured, trying to make Daisuke feel better.
"Thanks, Hibiki." Daisuke said before Miku appeared.
"Hibiki, I finally found you-." She then noticed Daisuke. "Daisuke, what are you doing here?"
"Oh, Hibiki ordered delivery and I was the one who did it." Daisuke explained before looking at his watch. "Oh I'm late for other deliveries! I'll see you guys later!" He said before rushing out of the door.
He started leaving the Academy's premises until…
"Hey, Daisuke!"
Daisuke turned to see Kanade.
"Oh hi, Kanade! I'm sorry but I really need to leave to make this next delivery." Daisuke apologized.
"Oh and where is it?"
Daisuke pulled out the paper.
"It's…near your home."
"I ordered it." Kanade said. "It was earlier ago and I thought it would come there in time."
"Oh, well here you go." Daisuke gave her the delivery and received the money for it.
"Thanks and hey you got some time?" Kanade asked.
"Sure, that was my last delivery for the day. The boss won't call me unless there are more deliveries for me to pick up." Daisuke answered, a bit happy of spending time with Kanade.
"Great! Come on." Kanade and Daisuke went to a nearby table. Kanade unpacked her package and started eating the food from there.
"So what do you want to talk about?"
"Just trying to get to know my fellow Rider a bit better, you know? Especially since we're friends and that I told you my story the other day." Kanade explained. While Daisuke does know a lot about Kanade, she doesn't know much about Daisuke.
Daisuke nodded, understanding her reasoning.
"I suppose you have a point. What do you want to know?" Daisuke asked, seeing a bit of Kanade's curiosity in her eyes.
"Anything, really, I know you have my back but that's it." Kanade said.
"Well I was born in Shibuya district back in my world. I'm 17, going to be 18 pretty soon. I'm really sort of a…nerd, really." Daisuke admitted with a blush and in an embarrassed tone.
"So? At least you're a subtle one." Kanade replied.
Daisuke smiled.
"Thanks. For a former pop idol, I expected a different answer from you." Daisuke admitted.
"I'm not that kind of person and you know that but still, I don't mind. Where did you learn to use a sword?" Kanade asked.
"A couple of places, really. Sword fighting was a game that Hajime and I used to play when we were kids.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I was a kid when my uncle and aunt decided that I should learn some form of self-defense so they trained me themselves." Daisuke explained.
"Your relatives? What happened to your parents?" Kanade asked. Daisuke only had a sad look.
"They died in a house fire when I was very young. Despite my age, I still remembered them and trying to get in the house to save them…but I couldn't." Daisuke recounted.
Kanade's eyes widened with surprise before her eyes went downcast a bit.
"Sorry, I didn't know." She said, earning a confused look from Daisuke. Daisuke instantly smiled and pat her on the back.
"Don't worry about it, you didn't know." Daisuke assured with a smile, cheering up Kanade a bit. "Besides that was years ago like I said. Anyways, let's move onto some lighter things, okay?"
"Okay." Kanade nodded. "Wanna go for some sparring after this? My classes are already done for today."
Daisuke nodded.
"Sure, why not." Daisuke said. He did needs his skills to be a whole lot sharper especially if the Royals are going to be tough as the show implied.
"Great, come on! I'll race you there!" Kanade said as she finished her food and tossed the box into the trash.
"You're on!" Daisuke before the two ran from the table and into the stairs that lead to the elevator.
As of now, Kanade was in second place compared to Daisuke.
"Damn it, I can't lose." She muttered to herself before tripping on the last stair. "Woah!"
"Huh?" Daisuke turned around only for Kanade to land in his arms before falling on the floor. "Ow…"
"You okay?" Kanade asked.
"Yeah…" Daisuke and Kanade opened their eyes to see what kind of position that they were in. It looked like that Kanade was pinning Daisuke to the floor. The two's minds were completely blank due to them processing this. As soon as their minds were normal again, they immediately got off and looked away from each other.
"S-Sorry about that." Kanade said blushed, while fiddling with her fingers.
"I-It's no problem." Daisuke assured with his face being the same color.
"My, my, what have we here?"
The two teens were snapped from their thoughts before looking to see Sakurai just outside the elevator. They immediately stood up.
"This isn't what it looks like!" They protested but judging from the smirk on Sakurai, she wasn't going to buy any excuse that they would make up.
"Sure, it isn't." She smiled.
"W-What were you even doing here to begin with?" Daisuke asked a bit nervously.
"Just taking my break. Anyways, if you're going to go in there then go right on in." Sakurai smiled.
"Right, let's go." Daisuke said, dragging Kanade by the hand. She blushed upon contact but she shook her head from these thoughts before the two went in.
(With Hibiki)
Hibiki could see the sunset from the windows. She was excited to say the least because tonight was the shooting stars and she was going to watch it with Miku. Before she could think of anything else….
"What are you looking at, young lady!?" The teacher asked.
She has to deal with turning in a late assignment due to recent Noise attacks. Outside, Miku was waiting for Hibiki to show up. She didn't want to be late. She soon saw Hibiki come out of the teacher's office.
"So what did she say?" Miku asked.
""What is this chicken scratch? They look like hiero-somethings.'" Hibiki quoted depressingly.
"That wasn't what I asked. You were late, so did she accept your report?" Miku asked, hoping that her friend was okay.
Hibiki faced with her with a bright and wide smile.
"She's making a special exception!" Hibiki cheered with a bright and wide smile. She held out her hand for a high-five. "We're going to see the shooting stars tonight!"
Miku gave her the high-five. She was excited as much as Hibiki because this was the first time they've done something together in a long time. Recently, they've been distant from each other and this night might be their one chance to reconnect.
"That's great, Hibiki! Wait here, I'll go get our bag from the classroom." Miku instantly took off.
"You don't have to!" Hibiki said.
"You earned yourself a break!" Miku insisted before she was gone from sight.
"Man, Miku is so fast! No wonder she was on the track team." Hibiki remarked before hearing her phone ring.
Hibiki had a terrified face. She was hoping it wasn't Genjuro. Her one moment to reconnect with Miku could be taken away. She hesitantly took out the phone and answered it.
"Hello?"
(With Blade and Leangle)
The two Riders clashed weapons as they were fighting on a rooftop.
"Not bad, you're good." Blade complimented.
"Well, you might be a bit older than me but…I have more experience!" Leangle said before doing a sweep kick on Blade, making him fall on the ground. He saw Leangle about to pierce him with her lance. Blade quickly rolled of the way and got up before slashing Leangle in the back.
She stumbled a bit before regaining her composure. She chuckled a bit before turning to face Blade.
"Not bad but that was a cheap shot." Leangle mused.
"Need every advantage I can get, right?" Blade said.
Leangle drew out a Rouze Card and was about to scan it but Blade stopped her.
"Don't. That could be a waste to your AP." Blade said.
"AP?" Leangle tilted her head with a question mark above it.
Blade pointed at the end of Leangle's lance and she saw a counter.
"Whenever you use a card, it'll cost a certain amount of AP. Once all the AP is used up, you can't use the cards again for a while." Blade explained.
Leangle nodded, taking all this info in.
"So…like a card game?" Leangle said.
"If you want to think of it like that." Blade answered.
"Oh, in that case…" Leangle jabbed Blade in the chest with her weapon before slashing him a few times and kicking him away. Blade landed on the ground before he rolled over for a few minutes.
He got up.
"And you said I take the cheap shots." Blade replied as he got up.
Leangle laughed as she twirled her weapon a bit.
"Aw come on, you have to have saw that coming." Leangle said, expecting a bit more from one of the original Riders.
"Hai, hai…" Blade said before charging. The two continued sparring with Leangle pummeling Blade's faceplate before Blade slashed her against the gut. The two flew before rolling around the ground. They stopped and looked at each other. The two took a deep breath before reverting back to their human forms. "That was a good fight."
"Thanks, you weren't bad yourself." Kanade complimented.
"I do what I can." Daisuke said before getting up and walking over to Kanade. He offered his hand and she took it before pulling him down onto the ground. "Ow."
Kanade chuckled.
"Okay, now we're done for real." She said as the two sat up and looked at the sunset presented before them. "Hard to believe this planet was a battleground for deciding the dominating race for it."
"Still wrapping your head around Battle Royale?" Daisuke asked, sensing a bit of Kanade's apprehensiveness.
"Yeah but…in a way, I'm proud of them."
"Huh?" Daisuke said, caught offguard by such a statement. How could she be proud of these creatures that have fought for supremacy of the Earth.
Kanade chuckled.
"I sound like a sadist when I say that, huh?" She smiled before looking at the dropping sun. "They fought so the rest of their races wouldn't have too. It could've become way more bloody but instead looking back on it…I believe there is something waiting for us beyond just fighting and I think these Undead fought to make sure we see it for each race they represent, like the Human Undead. He fought believing in that, just like you and me do." She smiled.
Daisuke was surprised at her answer but smiled nonetheless. This girl was definitely wiser than she looks.
"Yeah…" Daisuke then playfully pushed Kanade. "You still sound like a sadist, though!"
Kanade smiled and pushed him too.
"Thanks a lot!" She said before the two laughed. Just then the alarms went off.
"Huh!?" The two Riders got up before the entire setting changed back into the dull training room.
"Kanade Amou and Daisuke Kenzaki, report to the Command Center ASAP!" Genjuro ordered through the intercom.
The two ran there and saw Genjuro overlooking a big map before looking at the two teens.
"What's the situation!? Noise?" Kanade asked.
"That's not all." Genjuro answered before bringing up both the Jaguar and Dragonfly Undead aiding in their destruction.
"Huh? Why are they working with the Noise?" Daisuke wondered. From what he recalled ever since he and Hajime both arrived here, the Undead may have been rampant but the ones that were sealed up had fought Noise. Why were these Undead cooperating with them?
"Yeah, I'll admit that something does seem off about them." Kanade agreed, sensing her friend's distress. This doesn't add up.
"This could be a trap." Genjuro guessed. The Undead were working with the Noise, which was a dead giveaway that something isn't right and a trap could be about it.
"Yeah but if they have Noise cooperating then they must be working for whoever is controlling them. If we played their game, we could learn more on our enemy." Kanade proposed. She was right, the Noise wouldn't be ordered around unless something was controlling them. If they humor who's setting this trap up, then they have a better idea of what's really going on.
Genjuro thought about it.
"Very well, but be careful. Tachibana should be on the scene." Genjuro stated as he noticed Hibiki's signal near the group.
"Got it, we'll go meet up with her." Daisuke said before he and Kanade left the room. As they were running, they got their buckles out and quickly inserted their cards into them. They arrived in the parking lot before placing their devices on, belts forming and the sounds humming. The two got on their bikes before leaving the place.
As they were driving on the road, they placed their free hand on their belts and then...
"Henshin!"
"TURN UP!"
"OPEN UP!"
Their fields of energy appeared before them before driving through them and coming out as Blade and Leangle.
They continued driving, ready to help Hibiki and face whatever is after them.
(With Hibiki)
Hibiki, in her armor, was in the park and looked at all the Noise in the terminal entrance before singing.
(Play Gekiso Ganguniru)
She readied herself before charging into them and fighting hand-to-hand combat with them. She elbowed one in the face before kicking one in the rear.
"We've detected something big inside. Don't get reckless. The others are on their way, Hajime should join you soon since he is the closest." Genjuro said over the intercom.
"Got it!" Hibiki responded before she saw Hajime running towards her from behind. He had his belt on and with his card ready to be scanned.
"Henshin!"
He scanned the card.
"CHANGE!"
Hajime transformed into Chalice before taking his bow out and firing at a few of the Noise.
"Thanks, Hajime!" Hibiki said.
"Hmph." Chalice answered, wanting to focus on the task on hand. As they were fighting the Noise, they notice a particular Noise that had a bunch of orbs attached to its head. The two focused on the more minor Noise before the unique Noise released a bunch of its purple orbs that surrounded the two before exploding. Debris was about to fall from the ceiling and bury them before Chalice scanned a card.
"TORNADO!"
Chalice summoned a gust that threw all the debris away. He soon noticed Hibiki on her arms and knees.
"Tachibana, are you okay?" Chalice asked.
"They made me break it…" Hibiki muttered.
"Huh?" Chalice let out before Hibiki stood up.
"I just wanted to see the stars with Miku!" Hibiki snapped, charging at the Noise and destroying every one of them in her path. This slightly scared Chalice a bit. He didn't know the nice and caring Hibiki can have a real big temper.
"Wow…" Chalice remarked. Obviously Hibiki was not messing around.
"You guys made me break my promise!" Hibiki snapped as she punched another Noise in the face and then kneed one behind her. "My peaceful days, everything that I knew…if I can't have it…" Hibiki face became shrouded in darkness before her eyes glowed bright red. "I'LL DESTROY YOU ALL!" She declared.
Chalice was a bit intimidated as Hibiki was literally tearing each Noise apart with her bare hands like a feral animal. Chalice shook his read to remember what he was doing before slashing a few more of the Noise with his bow. He looked at Hibiki and was trying to catch up to her, making sure that she won't lose control.
"Tachibana!" Chalice called before the unique Noise fired more bombs at them and at the ceiling above it before escaping through the hole that its explosives made.
(End Gekiso Ganguniru)
The explosions didn't do anything harmful to them, only snap Hibiki back into sense. They got up before seeing the Noise gone through the hole.
"Hey, wait!" Hibiki said before going through the hole followed by Chalice. They made it back to the park before noticing something in the sky.
It soon appeared to be Tsubasa in the sky with her sword, preparing an Azure Slash attack. She managed to use it to kill the Noise as she landed.
"Tsubasa!" Hibki ran up to her while Chalice just followed her.
"Nice of you to join us." Chalice said while Tsubasa looked at them.
"Tachibana, you should be more careful otherwise-." Tsubasa then heard something and pulled out her sword. "Someone's here! Come out now!" Tsubasa said, looking at the bushes.
"My, my, aren't you the sharp one?" A female voice said.
Chalice's eyes widened underneath his helmet, he recognized that annoying voice anywhere. They soon see Chris in a white armored suit with dark green gems and purple-like chains. Tsubasa only shared Chalice's shock, not because of Chris but because she recognized the armor she was wearing.
"The Nehustan armor…but how!?" Tsubasa thought out loud.
Chris just smiled before the Jaguar and Dragonfly Undead appeared from behind.
(At the 2nd Division)
"The Nehustan armor!? I thought that it went missing!" Genjuro remarked. Ever since the battle of the concert, the Nehustan armor was stolen. They kept looking for it but it looks like whoever's behind that attack stole it as the real prize.
Genjuro got Blade and Leangle on the line.
"We have a problem, other than the Undead, someone is using the Nehustan armor and is engaging the others." Genjuro reported.
"What!?" Leangle said, sharing her concern.
"What's the Nehustan armor?" Blade asked.
"You'll see soon enough." Genjuro said before hanging up. He sees that Blade and Leangle are getting close but Genjuro looked at Shinji and Ryoko. "Take care of this place while I'm gone." Genjuro said.
"Commander, what are you planning?" Shinji asked, seeing a couple of things in Genjuro's hands.
"Evening the odds." Genjuro answered before rushing out.
(With the others)
"So you recognized the armor, huh? Then you must know where this came from." Chris said.
"How can I forget!? From my weakness, not only my armor was lost but Kanade's song as well…" Tsubasa said. "And those lives lost…that memory will be in mind forever!"
(Play Ame no Habakiri)
Tsubasa started singing as she and Chris got into a combat position while Chalice got ready as well. He knows full well that while Chris is a brat in his eyes, he didn't hate her enough to assault but he can't just stand around to get beaten as well.
Hibiki, however, tried to get in-between them.
"Wait, but guys, she's human! Human like us! There's no reason for us to right, right?" Hibiki asked, really not wanting to fight a fellow human.
"Idiot, this is a battlefield!" Both Tsubasa and Chris said before Chris looked at Chalice.
"Besides, I know who you are, Joker Undead." Chris said with a serious look, surprising both Symphogear users and Rider.
"But...I'm not the Joker Undead." Chalice said with full confidence. Despite his belt looking exactly like the Joker Undead's, this belt was a man-made duplicate of it. Chalice was just as human as Chris is, even sharing their mutual hatred.
"Your lies won't work on me, Undead!" Chris said, not buying his answer.
'I always thought you were an idiot but this…' Chalice prepared himself before Hibiki grabbed him. "Tachibana, let go!"
Hibiki refused to heed his words before Chris and Tsubasa engaged each other. Chris swung her whip but Tsubasa dodged it as she leapt into the air. Tsubasa's sword charged before sending a Blue Flash attack at Chris. Chris easily deflected it before Tsubasa landed on the ground and they proceeded to engage each other on foot.
Chris dodged Tsubasa's next attack before kicking her in the stomach, the force propelled Tsubasa through the air.
'Is this…the power of an unbroken relic!?' Tsubasa thought. All the Symphogear armors were merely fragments of what they used to be but Nehustan was a full armor.
"Try not to underestimate the power of Nehustan, will you?" Chris mocked with a cocky smile. "I'm not even bringing my A-game here!" Chris swung her whip again and Tsubasa was constantly dodging it.
Meanwhile Chalice finally pushed Hibiki off him.
"But she's human!" Hibiki said.
"And an idiot! What else is new?" Chalice asked before Chris looked at them with a strange metal staff.
"This should keep you occupied for now." Chris said before using the staff a few Noise.
"She can summon Noise!?" Hibiki asked before the Noise noticed them. They separated the two and while Chalice was shooting down a few of them with his bow, a few others trapped Hibiki in a glue-like substance.
"Damn it!" Hibiki cursed, she was stuck alright.
Chris immediately turned to see Tsubasa swinging her blade down on her. Chris immediately dodged it before sending her whip out. Tsubasa dodged it before tried to slash her in a circle but Chris jumped and kicked Tsubasa in the chin, sending her flying.
Once she landed, Chris quickly ran over to her to lash Tsubasa with her whip before…
"STAB!"
Chris turned to see Leangle jabbing her enhance lance at her, pushing Chris away.
"Kanade!" Tsubasa recognized before Leangle helped her up before the two girls were joined by Blade.
"We were in the neighborhood and thought you could use a hand." Leangle said before looking at Chris. "So you're the one with Nehustan armor…" Leangle observed.
"And you're the original Gungnir owner who's now trying her luck with cards, right?" Chris observed before smiling. "You have bad luck with three clovers and that'll cost you your life."
"As if you had better luck, you short brat." Leangle said, gritting her death behind her helmet.
"Short brat!?" Chris snapped before whistling. "I thought a few of you Riders might interfere so I got a little help."
Blade was about to say something until a blue ran up to him and he felt multiple punches around the face and chest area before being kicked away. Blade flew and rolled on the ground before he got up to see the Jaguar Undead.
"Daisuke!" Leangle was about to go to her friend before being picked up into the air by the Dragonfly Undead. The Undead dropped her before Chalice saw and fired his bow, hitting its wing, taking it down with her. Chalice continued focusing on the Noise in front of him.
Meanwhile Chris managed to intercept Tsubasa's attack with her whip before using it to swat Tsubasa away. Chris then sharpened the end of her whip before charging in and piercing through Tsubasa's lower ankle.
Tsubasa screamed in agony as blood spurted out.
"Tsubasa!" Both Leangle and Hibiki shouted as they tried coming to aid her but were too preoccupied.
"Now then…" Chris looked at Chalice, who just finished his last Noise. Chalice caught her gazing at him before rolling to the side and dodging her whip. "I'm going to get you, Joker!"
"How many times do I have to beat it into your head that I'm not the Joker!" Chalice said before firing his bow. Chris swats the energy arrow away before Chalice ran up to her and clashed weapons. "I knew you were an idiot but to assume this-!"
"What do you mean by that!? I don't know you!" Chris argued before doing a sweep kick that got Chalice on the ground. Before Chalice can get up, Chris stomped on his chest. She twisted her heel to press it further into Chalice's chest. He screamed in agony.
Chalice weakly grabbed a card and scanned it.
"TORNADO!"
A force of wind surrounded Chalice and blew Chris away but she landed slightly farther away from the Rider. Chalice got up only to be wrapped in Chris's whip. Chris twirled him around for a bit before throwing Chalice against a tree.
"Chalice!" Blade noticed before he dodged a slash from Jaguar Undead. It charged at him again before Blade scanned a card.
"BEAT!"
Blade's fist charged with energy before he punched the Undead in the face with it, doing some damage. Blade ran to his friend but the Jaguar Undead used its enhanced speed to stop him before resuming their fight.
Chris was about to approach Chalice but she dodged Tsubasa's attack. Chris could see that Tsubasa is struggling to stand.
"Looks like I have to take care of the diva here. As soon I'm done with you, I'm heading for the brat." Chris said, looking at Hibiki.
'What? Why me?' Hibiki wondered as she continued trying to get out.
"NO!" Tsubasa said as she used her Thousand Tears attack. 'I can't fail anyone again!'
Chris dodged them and looked at Tsubasa.
"Now then what can you even do?" Chris asked, earning a smirk from Tsubasa. She and the other girls realized what Tsubasa was planning: a Swan Song.
"No, Tsubasa! Don't do it!" Leangle said, before the Dragonfly Undead appeared in front of her, earning a slash from her lance. "Get out of my way!" But the Dragonfly Undead just slashed her in return.
"You…You wouldn't dare!" Chris exclaimed.
"No, don't do it, Tsubasa!" Hibiki was trying her best to get out of her sticky situation to help her friend.
Tsubasa smiled.
"Don't worry, this way I can protect my friends and redeem myself for what happened." Tsubasa said peacefully. "Kanade…Hibiki Tachibana…thank you for everything." Tsubasa said but before she can sing…
"Henshin!"
"TURN UP!"
Chris turned and saw a blue energy field, similar to Blade's but this time it had a stag beetle on it. It hits Chris, pushing her away before a red blue went through it. Chris got up and saw a man on a motorcycle. He stopped it before getting off. He had a red bodysuit, covered with silver armor with the diamond shape at the middle of the chest armor, greaves and elbow pads. On his shoulder pads, he had his insignia in gold color. As for his helmet, he had green eyes and the shape of it resembled a stag beetle. This was Kamen Rider Garren.
"Kamen Rider Garren!" Blade recognized before slashing the Jaguar Undead again and charging.
"Another one!?" Chris said, she certainly did not expect this. Before she can regain her composure, Garren took out a red gun and fired at Chris a couple of times in the chest, pushing her back a little. Garren looked at Tsubasa.
"Young lady, don't think you're in alone in all this. No can do something like this alone." Garren said and with that Tsubasa's eyes widened along with everyone else's because they recognized the voice.
"No way…" Tsubasa let out in shock.
"Old man!?" Leangle recognized.
Chris was about to retaliate but Garren shot at her a couple of times before charging. He gave her a few good punches before kicking her away. The Jaguar Undead, seeing Chris's distress, knocked Blade to the side and used its super speed to get in between Chris and Garren.
"You want to play? Fine." Garren said as he readied himself.
The Jaguar Undead charged and gave a few rapid punches which Garren blocked. Garren the counterattacked by blocking the Undead's next hit before punching it repetitively in the stomach and those punches seemed to be doing a lot of damage.
Garren then punched the Undead in the face before the Jaguar Undead regained its composure and used its super speed to circle around Garren.
Meanwhile Leangle was dealing with the Dragonfly Undead with the help of Chalice. Chalice shot at it before Leangle slashed it. The Undead fell and rolled on the ground before trying to get up.
"Let's finish it." Chalice said getting a card out.
"Right!" Leangle got a card out as well. She scanned hers first.
"BLIZZARD!"
Leangle pointed her staff at the Undead before it emitted a frosted spray that cased the monster in ice. Chalice then scanned his card next.
"CHOP!"
Chalice leaped in the air and his hand charged with energy.
"Taste this!"
Chalice did a karate chop on the frozen Undead, breaking the ice and making it fly a bit away. The Undead lied on the ground before it exploded and Chalice approached it to see the Undead's belt opened. Chalice dropped a blank card into the belt before the Undead was absorbed into it. It flew back to Chalice's hand.
The two Riders then saw Chris getting up.
"Go help Tachibana. Leave her to me." Chalice said before charging. Leangle nodded before coming across the Noise surrounding Hibiki.
Chris was about to say something before seeing Chalice firing at her. Chris dodged the attacks before using her whip to attack. Chalice got swatted to the side and rolled over before getting up and firing his bow.
Meanwhile, Garren was just watching the Jaguar Undead ran around him. He was frozen as a statue, examining movement before he quickly turned, aimed his gun, and pulled the trigger. The shots were a direct hit to the Jaguar Undead's chest. It fell on the ground as Garren holstered his gun and charged. Garren ran up to the Jaguar Undead and punched the creature multiple times with powerful hits before sending only last punch that knocked the Undead away. When the Undead got up, Blade appeared from the side and slashed him.
"Payback!" Blade said before joining Garren.
"Let's finish this, Blade." Garren said, earning a nod from Blade.
"Right!" Blade responded before pulling out his cards and scanning them as the Undead stood up.
"KICK!"
"THUNDER!"
"LIGHTNING BLAST!"
Blade readied himself as Garren scanned his cards alongside the side of his gun.
"BULLET!"
"FIRE!"
"FLAMING SHOT!"
Garren's gun started gathering fire at the gun nozzle before he aimed and pulled the trigger. A fireball emerged from the gun and hits the Jaguar Undead, result in an explosion. When the smoke faded, the Undead was still standing but was stumbling a bit before looking up to see Blade using his lightning-charged Rider Kick aimed at Undead's chest.
Upon impact, the Undead flew back before landing on the ground and exploding again. The Undead groaned before his belt opened and Blade threw a blank card at it before the Undead was absorbed and flew back to Blade.
The two then decided to rejoin the others and looked at Chris before more Noise appeared between them.
"Damn it…" Chris muttered before getting away.
The 3 Riders fought the small group of Noise easily before seeing Chris nowhere in sight.
"She got away…" Chalice said as Leangle appeared with a freed Hibiki and supporting an injured Tsubasa.
Everyone undid their transformations.
"SPIRIT!"
Garren undid his transformation last, taking the Change Ace card out of his belt, revealing Genjuro.
"So you really are a Rider now!?" Kanade asked, surprised like the others.
Genjuro nodded and while everyone was questioning him, but he stopped them.
"I'll explain later but right now, someone need an infirmary." Genjuro said, looking at Tsubasa's bleeding leg.
Everyone nodded in agreement except Hajime, who was thinking about Chris and tonight's battle with her.
'Chris…who are you?' Hajime wondered as he looked at the last spot where Chris was last seen.
(Not too far)
'Chalice…who are you?' Chris wondered as she reverted back, thinking on the words he said to her. Soon Junichi started approaching her.
"I see that backup I sent you is no longer here." Junichi simply stated.
"You didn't tell me there was a fourth Rider!" Chris barked at him.
Junichi sighed.
"Alright I'll admit it, I wasn't expecting it either, alright? And Garren does seem powerful." Junichi commented.
"So what now?" Chris asked.
Just then Isaka emerged from the bushes.
"This is Isaka, one of my assistants. He'll be helping you on how to approach the Riders." Junichi explained.
"Is that so?" Chris asked, a little skeptical of this 'assistant'.
Isaka smiled.
"Don't worry, Yukine. While I may dislike humans, I dislike the Riders even more…especially Garren. I can assure you of that." Isaka said with confidence.
(Omake: Poker Night at the Crossroads Part 1)
Four people were gathered around the poker table. Lelouch Lamperouge (from Code Eternal), Kazuto Kirigaya aka Kirito (From Gaim: The Orange Swordsman), Ruby Rose (From RWBY: Enter 555), and Rei Ayanami (From Neon Genesis W).
The four sat down before the referee appeared.
"The game will be No Limit Texas Hold 'Em. The starting bid will be 10,000 US dollars." The referee said.
"Here you go." Rei laid her money on the table.
"Let's see if there's such a thing as Lady Luck." Lelouch laid his money on the table.
"The die has been cast." Kirito laid his money on the table.
Ruby had an embarrassed smile.
"I did have the money earlier ago but Crescent Rose has been very good to me lately. I had to get her some rewards." Ruby then sighed and stood up. "I guess have no choice…"
"But you gotta play." Rei said.
"I guess I have no choice but to buy-in with Crescent Rose so I can keep my honor for the team and game." Ruby pulled out a tricked out and upgraded Crescent Rose and laid it on the table before sitting down.
"It's beautiful…" Rei gasped while the two males examined it with fascination.
"I hope it is okay." Ruby wondered.
"I have no problem." The referee said. "Whoever knocks her out of the tournament receives her buy-in. That being said, I will periodically raise the blinds. May the best player win!"
They received their chips and cards and allowed the night to progress as their game followed in suit.
AN: Finally after a long time, I finally have the chapter out. As for the Guest that keeps requesting this: I am trying constantly but I can't let it affect my college work. As for Genjuro being Garren, Genjuro is head of the 2nd Division and is practically not only the most experienced but also one of the calmest out of the Riders like Sakuya. As for his skill with a gun, well if he can teach Chris in the OVA, he has some degree of knowledge in firearms. Anyways, you guys know the drill. Be sure to review or message me with questions or comments regarding the story. And don't be afraid to check out my other stories as well. Alright, I'm done. Goodnight.