Sangokuden no Gaim

by Vanishing Raptor

After stopping a thief in the museum with his two friends, Yamato Kusanagi found himself in a new world, where the major figures of the Three Kingdoms era are all beautiful girls. With his companions on his side and as the new Gaim, he seeks to unite the land bringing peace to ancient China and stopping Helheim Forest to Devour this world. Just Live More! Rated M just in case.

18. The Calm Before the Storm II

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Kamen Rider Gaim or Koihime Musou. I only own my OCs and plot twists.

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Chapter 18: The Calm Before the Storm Part 2

The world that was now the new Helheim Forest was silent like a graveyard, even with who-knew-how much Inves that crawled all around the dead world. That silence was broken when a large Crack in the shape of a flower opened before rose petals burst out from it together with a Rose Attacker. The Lock Vehicle spun in the air several times before landing on the ground and stopped.

The rider cut off the engine of his machine before removing his helmet, revealing himself to be Shun. "So, here we are Your Loliness. Welcome to Helheim Forest."

Karin looked around the unnatural forest from her passenger seat and frowned. "So this is Helheim Forest...Just being in this place makes my skin crawl." The blonde empress then hugged herself as she repressed a shudder.

"And this is why I don't want you to come with me. Inves and Lockseeds are only a small part of Helheim's horrors," Shun replied as he picked up the folded sacks tied to his Rose Attacker before returning the vehicle into its Lockseed form.

Karin then noticed red fruits growing on a vine wrapped on a nearby tree's bark. "Baron, are those fruits…?"

"Yep, that's Helheim Fruits or Immature Lockseeds. Take your pick what you want to call it," Shun finished for her. He strapped on his Sengoku Driver and felt the hypnotic effect of the fruit faded into nothingness. "I'm surprised that you managed to keep your mind straight."

"Those fruits are tempting indeed, but I know better to pick one and eat it," Karin replied as she watched Shun picked a fruit from the vine. She was surprised when the fruit glowed in rainbowish light and transformed into a Himawari Lockseed. "Huh, so that is how Lockseed is created…"

"Yep. Pretty flashy and showy, huh?" Shun replied as he examined the Lockseed in his hand.

"I think it's simple enough. It's just the light show that makes it, flashy and showy, as you put it," Karin responded in kind.

Earlier today, Shun had requested permission to go to Helheim Forest to acquire some Lockseed to increase his arsenal. Karin had given him the permission under one condition: she would go with him to harvest Lockseeds as well. Her senior officers were against her decision, but Karin pointed out that they were going to need every advantage and tools on their disposal for their battle against Shoku. Whereas Yamato reluctant to add Inves to his force, Karin had no such worries. To her, Lockseeds and Inves were only tools for her to victory. Nothing more and less. Besides, she was curious how the so called 'Forest of the Dead' looked like.

Karin had no idea how utterly wrong this place felt like.

'Curiosity kills the cat, they said,' Karin thought to herself as she held back a grimace. Being in Helheim Forest felt just like under the gaze of that traitorous uncle of hers. May he rot in hell forever.

Shun picked up a Helheim Fruit with a darker shade of red for its skin and watched as it transformed into a Kurumi Lockseed. "So that's how it goes…"

"What is it, Baron?" Karin asked, intrigued with his muttering.

"The darker the color of the fruit is, the better Lockseed it produces. I think it signify its ripeness or something," Shun answered as he picked up a maroon skinned Helheim Fruit and watched as it transformed into a Kiwi Lockseed. "And I love it when I'm right!"

"Now that's a start. We don't have to pick all the fruits here, just the riper fruits," Karin smiled and looked around her. "It looks we're in luck. We have plenty of them here."

Shun nodded before he turned to Karin. "Are you sure you want to use the Lockseeds for our battle against Shoku?"

"Of course." Karin said. "How else are we going to conquer China? We need to use any and every means necessary to achieve that goal."

"Well, I guess that's true... to an extent." Shun said.

"What. Backing out already?" Karin raised an eyebrow.

"No. I'm just making sure that you really want to do this." Shun remarked. "If so, then there's no turning back."

"I've never backed out on any decision I've made, Baron. Never," she told him firmly.

"Alright, if you say so." Shun shrugged before walking away. "Just try and keep up with me." He then looked at her over his shoulder and added, "And Your Loliness? Let me welcome you to the Point of No Return."

Karin scoffed goodnaturedly at his words, "You and your annoying quips."

What neither of them realized was that they were being watched by a presence, clad in white Ride Wear suit. His green visor glared coldly at the back of Shun and Karin. He knew why they were here. They were gathering Lockseeds and in large quantities. It wasn't odd for a Rider to gather Lockseeds to add to their arsenal, but the forest had told him they had come here to gather Lockseeds in order to form an army of Inves. It was bad enough with the mysterious monks in white robes and the Riders that worked with them. More Inves on the other side would just be a cause for more trouble.

Making his decision, Zangetsu decided to make his presence known. He would stop them before they walked on the path that would eventually lead their world into an early demise.

Shun picked up a Helheim Fruit and grinned when he saw it transformed into a Suika Lockseed. "Alright! This should help a lot!"

"That is the Lockseed that Yamato used to transform into that giant warrior, correct?" Karin asked.

"Yup! Since every Lockseed can be used on any Sengoku Driver, that means I can use this too," Shun replied.

Not a second later, he and Karin tensed when they heard footsteps coming from behind them. Thinking it was an Inves, Shun quickly ushered the Queen of Sou Gi behind him and readied himself for a battle. What he saw surprised him.

"Zangetsu…?" Shun muttered with wide eyes as the White Armored Rider approached with measured and steady gait.

"Who is he? Another Rider?" Karin inquired, her cautious gaze never left the mysterious Rider.

"Yeah, this one is Zangetsu, known also as the White Armored Rider. He is also known as the strongest and the most skilled amongst the Sengoku Riders," Shun answered. "I wonder what he is doing here?"

Zangetsu unsheathed his Musou Saber and pointed it at Shun and Karin threateningly, surprising the former. "Drop those sacks and leave this place at once. You don't know what you would cause if you use those Lockseeds."

"And if I don't?" Shun shot back.

"I will use force if I have to," Zangetsu answered firmly. "I will not ask again. Drop those sacks and leave at once."

Shun glared at Zangetsu and his fists clenched. He wasn't going to back down from this guy. Even if he was the legendary White Armored RIder, he was threatening Karin, and he had made his pact with her. He wasn't going to back down from his decision. He wanted to face Yamato and the only way he could was to follow Karin. Now Zangetsu was trying to stop him.

"No chance," Shun retorted as he took out his Banana Lockseed.

"So you decide to fight?" Zangetsu stated than asked.

"I have one goal in mind and like I'd let you to get in my way!" Shun retorted and unlocked the Lockseed in his hand. "Henshin!"

"BANANA!"

"LOCK ON!"

"COME ON! BANANA ARMS! KNIGHT OF SPEAR!"

"I'll make a smoothie out of ya!" Baron roared as he charged at Zangetsu, only for his initial blow to be blocked by the Melon Defender.

"Power alone is not enough to defeat me," Zangetsu retorted as he withdrew the Melon Defender to slash Baron violently across the chest. The force of the strike caused a massive burst of sparks to explode from Baron's chest as he was sent reeling, crying out in pain.

"Guh…!" Baron grunted as he stood up once more and charged at Zangetsu. "I'm just getting started!"

This time, Zangetsu didn't even bother to block and opted weaving and dodging in between of Baron's slashes and stabs. Growling frustratedly, Baron increased his pace and delivered even stronger blows at his white clad adversary, still to no result as Zangetsu was also parrying and deflecting his attacks at times. Baron roared as he swung his Banaspear with a mighty two-handed slash, but was blocked by Zangetsu's Musou Saber.

"My turn," Zangetsu declared coldly as he shoved Baron backward. The white samurai Rider then unleashed a series of brutal slashes which his knight-themed adversary had no chance to block or avoid. The attacks were delivered twice as fast and as hard as Baron's missed attacks and caused sparks anytime it connected with Baron's armor.

"Aaargh!" Baron cried out in pain, staggering from the last blow. But Zangetsu wasn't finished yet and sent him flying with a powerful backhanded strike.

"Baron!" Karin called out.

"T-Teme...!" swore Baron as he struggled to stand up with Banaspear as his support. He then slashed his Lockseed with the Cutting Blade.

"COME ON! BANANA SQUASH!"

"Hyah!" Baron thrust his energized Banaspear to impale Zangetsu who countered swiftly with his own finisher.

"SOIYA! MELON SQUASH!"

Zangetsu shattered Baron's finisher with his Musou Saber before he accelerated. He was a green blur as he struck Baron repeatedly, performing hit and run tactics before sending him skyward with an upward thrust.

Zangetsu's visor flashed and the vines came to life as they grabbed hold of Baron and smashed him to the forest floor. As Baron struggle back to his feet, he was suddenly assaulted by the vines which lashed out at him violently like whips. The vines then grabbed hold of him and bashed him against the trees before tossing him to the ground.

"Gah…!" Baron grunted as he stood up shakily. "T-That was…!"

"You have no chance to defeat me here. Leave now," Zangetsu commanded.

"Y-You're an Overlord!?" Baron questioned incredulously.

"Overlord?" Karin repeated. That was the first time she had heard the term.

"In short...The ruler of this Forest…Beings with the power comparable to Gods'," Baron answered for her, causing Karin's eyes to widen. "Damn it… But I won't lose here just yet! I still have a reason to fight! To prove myself to him!"

"Just who is this person you want to fight so much that you would risk the world for it?" Zangetsu questioned.

"Heh, you probably don't know how it feels to be in another person's shadow. And I want to prove to that person that I am as strong, no, even stronger than he is! I would do anything for that!" Baron replied defiantly.

Zangetsu's mind flashed back to the person who he failed the most, his own brother. All those time, he wanted to be his own person and yet all Zangetsu had done was pushing him for the role that he didn't want. The end result was his brother became a twisted shell of the person he was once.

Bitterness crept into Zangetsu's heart as he looked at Baron with cold gaze. "Is that all you want? You would risk the world for that just one thing?"

"Aside from my own personal goal to prove that my definition of strength isn't a mistake, yeah, that's it," Baron answered.

"And your definition of strength is…?"

"To bear the hardship of the world with a smile on my face," Baron added resolutely.

Zangetsu then looked at Baron, hostility dropped a little after hearing his proclamation. So he was different than Kaito Kumon and wasn't completely lost like his brother.

"I see. Very well, show me your resolve then in the face of overwhelming odds. Show me your drive to reach that ambition of yours."

Zangetsu's body flashed as he changed his form.

"SODA! MELON ENERGY ARMS!"

As the Japanese techno music played, the light from his body faded and Zangetsu had evolved into his Genesis Rider form, Zangetsu-Shin. Instead of a sword and shield, he was armed with the Sonic Arrow. His Ride Wear suit now had black padding on the side and his armor had changed significantly. His chest plate was still green and textured like melon skin, but has orange panel on the right side, along with large orange shoulder plate. His personal emblem was etched on the left side of his armor while his left shoulder was bare. His visor was now orange with more prominent black trims and had futuristic design on the helmet and head crest. Strapped to his waist was none other a Genesis Driver with a Melon Energy Lockseed locked in.

"Shit…!" Baron cursed. Things have gone from bad to the very worst. A Genesis Rider was stronger from a standard Sengoku Rider due to the output of the Genesis Driver and the S-Class ranking of the Energy Lockseed. Added to the fact this was Zangetsu and an Overlord...well Baron was fucked. The red Rider shook his head and grabbed his Mango Lockseed. "If I'm going to down, then I will put on one hell of a fight!"

"MANGO!"

"LOCK ON!"

"COME ON! MANGO ARMS! FIGHT OF HAMMER!"

Brandishing the Mango Punisher, Baron rushed towards Zangetsu-Shin with a defiant roar and brought his weapon down for a crushing blow. The Overlord Rider parried the swing before shoving the weapon away and slashed Baron's chest, causing the red Rider to tumble away from the blow. But Zangetsu-Shin didn't let up and struck again with a series of brutal slashes and sent Baron flying with a powerful uppercut.

"GAAAAAH!" Baron cried out in pain as sparks exploded from his armor. He tumbled on the ground for several meters before stopping. He shakily tried to stand up using his Mango Punisher as support. "Damn...Such power…!" This was definitely the strength of an Overlord.

"What's wrong? Is this the extent of your power and resolve?" Zangetsu-Shin asked coldly as he pulled the shaft of his Sonic Arrow.

Baron growled before he quickly rolled to the side, dodging an energy arrow before he deflected the next two with his war hammer. The Bloody Crimson Knight then charged at Zangetsu-Shin once more, Mango Punisher heldred ready. Zangetsu-Shin dodged the blows with ease before distancing himself as he let loose a three-shot barrage that homed right into his target. Baron staggered from the shots, but he quickly recovered and slashed his Mango Lockseed thrice.

"COME ON! MANGO SPARKING!"

"Have some of this!" Baron roared as he swung his weapon, firing an energy projectile in the shape of Mango Punisher's head.

Zangetsu's only reaction to the finisher was a calm push on his Seaboll Compressor of his Genesis Driver.

"MELON ENERGY SQUASH!"

The White Armored Rider then swung his Sonic Arrow down and a green energy arc struck Baron's finisher, dispersing it, before it collided with Baron. Massive burst of sparks erupted from Baron's chest plate and sent the red Rider tumbling painfully to the ground.

"If this really is the extent of your resolve and the power behind it, then this place will become your graveyard," Zangetsu stated as he locked his Melon Energy Lockseed to his Sonic Arrow and pulled the shaft.

"LOCK ON!"

Karin suddenly stood defiantly before Zangetsu-Shin, placing herself between Baron and the White Armored Rider.

"I can't have you destroy one of my generals. I still need his power and talent," she spoke boldly. While small in stature, Karin's charisma and presence were overwhelming. It how she was able to garner respect.

"Move now," demanded Zangetsu-Shin, still pointing his charging up Sonic Arrow.

"I won't!" Karin objected defiantly.

"Why is it? Is it because you don't want to lose such a powerful tool in your disposal?" Zangetsu-Shin asked.

Karin closed her eyes for a brief moment before she looked into Zangetsu-Shin's orange visor, "It's because I don't want to lose my friend."

"Your Loliness?" Baron asked, surprised.

"He might be obnoxious, and won't stop calling me by that stupid nickname, but those are just his quirks. Besides that, he is strong and his strength benefits me. Plus, I don't want to lose such a talented warrior and cook."

"Gee, never knew you regarded me that highly," Baron chuckled despite the situation. "Still, thanks Karin."

"Hmph, who allowed you to call me by my true name?" Karin shot back.

Zangetsu-Shin regarded the petite blonde neutrally for a moment before lowering his Sonic Arrow and let the charged up energy disperse harmlessly. "If you really regarded him as such, why would you need an army of Inves?"

"Because they are useful to me. Only a foolish person who would not use every tool in their disposal to achieve victory," Karin answered.

"You sought conquest to rule the land, but let me ask you something. What would you rule if you let the world to be destroyed because of your actions?" Zangetsu-Shin asked again.

"Then I shall rebuild it with my power. The new world shall be reborn in my image," Karin didn't relent to his question.

"So that is your answer," Zangetsu-Shin replied before he turned back and walked away.

"Wait, where are you going?" Baron asked.

"Learn the truth of this forest. By then, think again of your answer to me. Will you stay true to your words or will the truth sway you?" Zangetsu-Shin shot back, looking them over his shoulder. "Whatever your choice is, I hope your actions will not lead your world into the path of destruction and extinction."

Vines then covered Zangetsu-Shin's form and he was gone a moment later.

Baron closed his Lockseed and his armor vanished, "Thanks, Karin. You really saved my ass back there."

"Like I told that White Rider, I only do this because you are useful to me. It would be a great waste to lose you here to him," Karin retorted.

"Aww, and I thought I was your friend. Were you lying back then?" Shun mock pouted.

"Just...Shut up," Karin answered, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

Shun just laughed as he picked up the sacks and led the blonde deeper into the forest.

"Hey, Karin?"

"Yes, Baron?" she responded curtly.

"When we get back, how about I make us some sweet rice pudding?"

Karin seemed to perk up upon hearing that. "It would be much appreciated. Thank you."

"Anything for my little sister," Shun grinned as he tussled Karin's hair.

"Quit that! And who allowed you to call me your sister!?" Karin snapped as she batted his hand away, causing Shun to laugh.

---

On another side of the forest, a Crack formed as Yamato was riding his Tulip Hopper as he entered the Helheim Forest, followed by Touka, Shuri, and En'ya. As the group finally crossed over to Helheim, the newcomers took in the sight of the unnatural forest in awed fear.

"T-This is Helheim Forest?" Touka asked as she looked around.

"H-Hawawa...This place is so scary…" Shuri whimpered.

"Feels like death is everywhere around this place," En'ya commented as she barely repressed a shudder.

"That's why it's called 'Helheim'. It means 'Land of the Dead'," Yamato replied as he deactivated his Tulip Hopper, placing its Lockseed form into his pocket. "It wasn't always like this though. It used to have a thriving civilisation before Helheim consumed it"

"I-It's hard to believe that this place was once like that…" Shuri commented.

"It is, isn't it? It was said that Helheim's purpose was to promote evolution. However, evolution also means survival of the fittest where the weak are consumed for not being strong enough to survive," Yamato frowned in return.

"And that's why we will stop Helheim from consuming our world," Touka swore resolutely. The pink-haired girl shared the same sentiment with her lord and fellow generals that power should be used responsibly.

"That we will," Yamato concurred as he strapped on his Driver. "Put on your Driver, En'ya. The faster we done our business here, the faster we get out from here."

"Right," En'ya nodded, strapping on her silver-belted Sengoku Driver.

Touka then spied some fruits growing on a vine wrapped on the bark of a tree.

"I don't know why but…" Touka said as she approached the fruit, holding out her hand towards it. "...that fruit looks so~ delicious…"

However, she was stopped when Yamato clapped her shoulder, "Don't do it."

"Eh?" the rosette blinked in confusion. "What was I...?"

"You almost ate the Helheim Fruit," Yamato answered.

"W-What?" Touka paled in realization.

"So these are Helheim Fruits…" En'ya uttered as she picked up one. She was surprised when the fruits glowed and transformed into a Lockseed. It bore the image of an avocado with the code LS-20 written in the cover.

"Helheim Fruits are what our Lockseeds start as before a Rider picks them. They change when picked by a Rider wearing a Driver," explained Yamato. "It's the only safe way to use their power. Eating them is forbidden." He told them firmly, "When you eat the fruit, you don't just get turned into an Inves. You basically die and the fruit's seeds alters your body into an Inves. You're basically a walking corpse from then on."

"H-H-H-Hawawawawawawawawa! T-Those fruits t-turn you into an I-Inves?!" Shuri stuttered badly. Yamato nodded, recalling what happened to Hase in the series. It had been tragic. Despite being able to return to human form, his mind had gone feral and he had been killed by Sigurd. It had also been tragic for Kouta when he learnt he had killed his friend, Yuuya, who had just been mutated into the Inves on his first fight as Gaim.

"It's how the forest tests you. Though, not all Inves are mindless," Yamato told them, remembering the Overlords, members of the Femushinmu race who had evolved and not become mindless Inves. Then there was also Zangetsu of this world who apparently had become an Overlord himself. He made a mental note to ask to him when they met again about what happened to Zawame City until it became like this.

"What do you mean by that, Yamato-sama?" Shuri asked.

"Like I said after my first visit here, those who managed to survive Helheim's trial will obtain the power to rule this forest, similar to that of Gods," Yamato answered, causing the girls to gasp in surprise. "However, one person who managed to eat the Golden Fruit will eventually become a true God that not only capable of ruling the forest, but also the very fabric of reality itself."

"That's…" Touka started, but was left speechless by the revelation.

"Amazing I know, but is that kind of power worth the cost?" Yamato replied as he gestured around the Helheim Forest,

"...It's not worth it, is it?" Shuri answered with sad look which Yamato answered with a nod.

"That is why we have to keep the truth about Helheim Forest to us. If any warmonger out there ever learns about the Golden Fruit, the tragedy that befell this world will be repeated into ours." The girls nodded to his words, understanding the gravity of the situation before them.

"Yamato-sama, what do you think this Lockseed is capable of?" En'ya asked as she showed him the recently harvested Avocado Lockseed.

"Now this is new," Yamato commented as he took a closer look at the new Lockseed. "This must be one of the newer Lockseeds, similar to my Cherry Lockseed."

"Why don't you try to transform using it, En'ya-san?" Shuri suggested.

"Be careful with the Inves. Once you open the Lockseed, they will come here as fast as they could," Yamato told her.

"Right," En'ya nodded. But just as she was about to activate the Lockseed, a familiar voice called out.

"Well, well. We come here for more Lockseeds and what do we found? It's Monsieur Kusanagi and the puppets."

Yamato turned around and glared at the familiar sight of Sebastian Lucas Francoise, along with Sasuke, Keiichi, and several White Clothes monks. "You...Francoise."

"Bonjour, Monsieur Kusanagi," Sebastian bowed.

"So we meet again, you bastard…! I'll have my revenge now!" Sasuke growled as he punched his open palm.

"It's three against two this time. I'm sure we can win this," Keiichi smirked smugly.

"What are you doing here?" Yamato asked warily while standing protectively before Touka and Shuri.

"Like I said, we are here for the Lockseeds," Sebastian answered. "Coming across you and your merry band is just an amazing coincidence."

Yamato grimaced. It was just him, En'ya, Touka and Shuri. While En'ya could fight, Shuri was a non-combatant and Touka was just learning how to wield a blade. They were easily outnumbered and in Helheim Forest they also needed to worry about wandering wild Inves.

"Well, I guess it's time we had this dance then," Francoise kissed his Durian Lockseed and called, "Henshin!"

Sasuke and Keiichi performed identical Henshin poses as they unlocked their Lockseeds, "Henshin!"

"DURIAN!"

"DONGURI!"

"MATSUBOKKURI!"

"En'ya!" Yamato yelled as he unlocked his Lockseed. She got the signal and unlocked hers.

"ORANGE!"

"KURUMI!"

"Henshin!" Yamato and En'ya yelled together before all five Riders locked their Lockseeds into their Sengoku Drivers.

"LOCK ON!"

Cutting Blades came down, slicing open the Lockseeds. En'ya and Bravo's released loud guitar riffs.

"SOIYA!"

"COME ON!"

Energy gathered above them, forming their Armor Parts which came down before disassembling to form their armors.

"DURIAN ARMS! MISTER DANGEROUS!"

"KURUMI ARMS! MISTER KNUCKLEMAN!"

"ORANGE ARMS! HANAMICHI ON STAGE!"

"MATSUBOKKURI ARMS! ICHIGEKI IN THE SHADOW!"

"DONGURI ARMS! NEVER GIVE UP!"

"Now then! Shall we dance?" Bravo chuckled as he swiped his Duri Noko together. "Boys, some of you will continue to harvest the Lockseeds while the rest of you help us deal with Monsieur Kusanagi and his party. Is that clear?" Bravo commanded.

"Yes sir!" the cultists obeyed.

Touka drew her sword and kept Shuri close to protect her, "I won't let you to harm my friend!"

"Ah, so the puppet does have some courage. But will it be enough?" Bravo commented.

Kurokage and Gridon charged towards Gaim, but were intercepted by Knuckle who sent them reeling with punches.

"Yamato-sama, I will deal with these two! Concentrate on the spiky one!" Knuckle told Gaim.

"Will do! Thanks En'ya!"

Gaim cut down a cultist that came too close with his Musou Saber before knocking another with a kick. However, Bravo took advantage of the opening to slash into his chestplate, knocking him back against a tree. He slashed and Gaim dodged, causing Bravo to slice the tree in half instead. Two cultists were charging at him with spears brandished, but Gaim swiftly struck them down and scored headshots against four others.

"Don't forget about me now!" Bravo said as he lashed out with dual chop which Gaim blocked with some effort. The Gladiator-themed Rider then kicked him on the chest before he unleashed several slashes on Gaim and ended up his brutal combo with a spinning slash that sent Gaim tumbling away with a shout of pain.

"GAH!"

"Yamato-sama!" Touka cried out in distress, barely blocking a spear stab from a cultist.

Gaim stood up defiantly while glaring at Bravo and his troupe of cultists. This wasn't good. He couldn't change into his Jimber Form to deal with Bravo because the cultists weren't letting him. If he were to deal with the cultists, Bravo would sneak in and land a punishing blow on him.

'Looks like I have to take this more seriously,' Gaim thought to himself, before a familiar announcement suddenly rang.

"COME ON! BANANA SPARKING!"

White Clothes screamed as giant bananas burst out of the ground and sent them flying.

"Huh?" Bravo gasped before he saw Baron coming at him. He was struck across the chest by the Banaspear and then smacked away by the weapon.

"Shun!?" Gaim exclaimed as he saw Baron.

"We heard a commotion so we came to join the party!" Baron answered.

"Wait, 'we'?" Gaim asked and they heard a feminine yell before a White Cloth's head rolled by. "Huh?"

Karin had her scythe called 'The End' in her hand and it was stained in blood. She twirled the weapon around as she glared at the white-clad cultists. Gaim wasn't about the question his reinforcements. He was glad to see her and Baron, at this moment at least. Now this was turning into a fair fight.

"Are you alright, Ryuubi?" Karin asked as she strode over to the rosette.

"Ah, yes. Thank you, Sousou-san," nodded Touka.

"I can't let my rivals perish in the hands of these worms, so don't get the wrong idea," Karin replied.

Touka giggled before resuming her stance. "Thank you again, Sousou-san."

"I see you have an unexpected reinforcements, but no matter, it won't help you at all!" Bravo declared.

"Oh we'll see about that, you man-lady!" Baron retorted.

"Hey, I took offense on that! Nothing's wrong for being flamboyant, you know!" the Durian-themed Rider shot back, insulted with Banana-themed Rider's words.

"You're just having questioned masculinity then!" Baron replied, grinning.

"Ça suffit! You're going down, Monsieur Banana!"Bravo growled angrily.

While Baron and Bravo were trading banter back and forth, Gaim had replaced his Rider Indicator with the Genesis Core knowing that his best friend had given the chance to swap his Arms. He then reached for his Matsubokkuri Energy Lockseed and activated it.

"MATSUBOKKURI ENERGY!"

"Are?" Bravo blinked as he heard the announcement. His eyes widened behind his mask when brown energy coalesced into Matsubokkuri Energy Armor Parts above Gaim's head. "Bon dieu! Someone stop Gaim from completing his transformation!"

"Like hell you would!" Baron declared as he slashed his Lockseed once.

"COME ON! BANANA SQUASH!"

"Take this! And this!" Baron jousted his energized Banaspear forward, causing banana projection appeared with each trust and pierced through the White Cloth cultists that tried to approach them.

"Why you-!" Bravo growled before charging at Baron himself.

The Knight-themed Rider blocked his double blow, grunting in his effort. "You won't get pass me!" Baron roared out as he managed to push Bravo back.

Gaim then locked Matsubokkuri Energy Lockseed in place before slicing it open together with his Orange Lockseed.

"LOCK ON!"

"SOIYA! MIX!"

The Orange Arms folded back into its Armor Parts form before shooting upwards and fused with the Matsubokkuri Energy Lockseed to form the Jimber Armor Parts which glowed with brown energy. The Jimber Armor Parts landed on Gaim's shoulder and unfolded to become his new Jimber Arms, similar to his Jimber Lemon Arms, but the motif on the sides of his chest plate was now brown, similar to pinecone skin with his insignia in black on the left side. Instead of Sonic Arrow, the Kagematsu Shin appeared on his hand as his Arms glowed briefly to signify the completed transformation.

"JIMBER MATSUBOKKURI! HA-HA!"

Gaim twirled his new weapon above his head several times before bringing it down and struck a battle ready pose.

"Hey, that's a new one," Baron commented as he disengaged from Bravo.

"That was my Lockseed, you goddamned thief!" Kurokage protested before he was sent sprawling with a well placed hook from Knuckle.

"Pay attention, you idiot!" Knuckle taunted.

Bravo regarded Gaim warily, knowing that now the Samurai-themed Rider had more than enough to overpower him in his Jimber Arms. But this could go either way for him as Jimber Matusbokkuri's special skill was unknown so Gaim will have to figure out about it first. Plus, it was armed with Kagematsu Shin instead of Sonic Arrow and Bravo doubted Gaim knew how to use polearms.

"You may have changed your Arms to get stronger, but that is not enough to defeat me," Bravo said.

"We'll see about that," Gaim replied as he tensed. "Let's go, Shun!"

"Right behind ya!" Baron agreed as he and his best friend charged at Bravo and the cultist under his command.

Several cultists went ahead to intercept the Rider duo, but were swiftly struck down by Gaim and Baron. A cultist tried to impale Gaim with his spear, but the Azure War God deflected the weapon and impaled the cultist with the other end of his Kagematsu Shin. Two others tried to sneak on him, but Gaim swiftly turned around struck them on the chest. Baron easily dodged the stabs from a cultist before spearing him on the chest and decapitated others who tried to sneak on him.

"En Garde!" Bravo shouted as he ambushed Gaim who was struck on the chest. But to his surprise, a log fell to the ground instead of the Armored Rider. "What in the-?"

His exclamation was cut short as he was suddenly struck from behind. Bravo tumbled before turning around to see Gaim was there.

"How did you get behind me?" Bravo asked.

"Trade secret," Gaim replied easily as he readied his Kagematsu Shin. "Now let's dance on my stage!"

"Hah! I will show you my dance!" Bravo replied as he rushed at Gaim, Duri Noko brandished ready.

Bravo swung his weapon at Gaim which the samurai-themed Rider dodged and parried easily. Gaim deflected a blow before slashing his opponent with the end of his Kagematsu before unleashing a series of stabs before sending the gladiator-themed Rider reeling with a powerful thrust. Unrelenting, Gaim pursued his opponent and slashing his opponent horizontally followed with a quick stab with the smaller end of his spear and ended his combo with a diagonal uppercut.

"GUHA!" Bravo grunted as he tumbled and rolled on the ground several time. He stood up shakily as a chuckle escaped his lips. "Fufufu! Yes...This is it! Show me more, Monsieur Kusanagi!" he declared as he slashed the Durian Lockseed thrice.

"DURIAN SPARKING!"

"Ha! Ha! HYAAAAAAAH!" Bravo slashed his Duri Noko, sending waves of green energy slashes at Gaim who watched the incoming attack carefully.

The finisher attack homed into their target and the resulting explosion obscured everyone's view.

"Yamato-sama!" Touka and Shuri called out worriedly.

"Yamato will not fall by such attack. You two should know it better than anyone," Karin stated as it was an obvious thing after she loped off another cultist's head.

As if it was called by Karin's words, a blur leapt off of the explosion and struck Bravo in the chest. Another blur followed the first example, and another, and another. The last blow sent Bravo rolling on the ground and when he looked up, he was shocked to see four Gaims were surrounding him.

"Q-Quoi dans le monde?!" Bravo exclaimed.

"H-Hawawa...There are four Yamato-samas!" Shuri gasped.

"Interesting…" Karin commented as she eyed the four copies of the Rider.

"That's Yamato-sama and that's Yamato-sama too, but that's…" Touka then held her head as her eyes turned into spirals. "Uwaa~ I'm so confused!"

"Teme! Give me back my Lockseed!" Kurokage protested again, only for Knuckle to send him tumbling away with a well aimed uppercut.

"Focus, Sasuke-kun!" Gridon advised as he charged at Knuckle.

"Dude, you just become a ninja!" Baron said as he gouged another White Clothes.

The four Gaims then gestured with their free hands in front of their faces, thumb, index, middle finger stood out while their ring and pinky finger folded as they said, "Nin nin nin."

"It doesn't matter if you duplicate yourself, I will still defeat you, Monsieur Kusanagi!" Bravo said defiantly as he rushed at one of Gaims. The clone dodged the attack as another struck Bravo on the back and another struck on the side. The attacked clone from before then added on with a thrust to his chest before the last Gaim struck Bravo with a jumping backhanded slash.

"GAAAH!" Bravo cried out in pain, tumbling away from the last hit. He stood up slowly, glaring at the four copies of Gaim. "It looks like I really underestimated you, Monsieur Kusanagi. I never thought you would be an adept with polearms too."

"What can I say? I have great teachers and sparring partners," one of the Gaims–probably the real one– replied.

Bravo scoffed. "So you really put those puppets in high regards...How sad of you."

Gaim unleashed his pressure and focused it solely on Bravo. "...Just you know, you just earned the right to be kicked in the ass over and over for that one remark. I told you before, those girls are as real as me and you. If you seek to harm them, then you will have to walk over my cold and dead body!"

"That can be arranged!" Bravo replied with maniacal grin behind his mask as he charged at the four Gaims.

The four copies of the Azure War God then returned his challenge by charging at Bravo in a formation. Two Gaims took the frontline while the other two ran behind their copies. Bravo took a swing on the Gaim on the left, who blocked while the Gaim on the right used his superior speed to get behind Bravo. But the Durian Rider noticed this, so he shoved the copy he was deadlocked with before slashing the copy that tried to sneak behind him. The copy vanished from existence with a puff of smoke before Bravo dispatched the other clone with a solid kick to the gut.

'It appeared that these clones could only took one hit before they dispelled,' Bravo analyzed before his eyes widened and looked around in alarm. 'Wait a second...Where are the other two?'

Unknown to Bravo, something emerged from his own shadow before a blur leapt out and struck the gladiator-themed Rider. As he tumbled around, another blur struck him from his own shadow and sent Bravo rolling across the ground.

"Guh!" Bravo grunted as he rose to his knee. "That was...Shadow Walking!?"

"That's right. I'm not surprised you know about this. You after all, love Japanese culture," Gaim replied as he dismissed his remaining clone.

"Of course. I have read everything about what Shinobi could do, but to face a real one in a fight…" Here Bravo grinned, thick with bloodlust, under his mask. "...is the greatest honor to me!" He then gave his Cutting Blade two quick taps.

"DURIAN AU LAIT!"

Miniature durian projections grew on Duri Noko and Bravo slashed his weapon at Gaim, firing those projections as they grew in size.

Gaim reacted quickly by activating his own finisher with a quick slash to his Lockseed.

"SOIYA! ORANGE SQUASH!"

Gaim jumped over the projectiles and readied Kagematsu Shin, which crackling with energy and threw it Bravo as hard as he could.

"Ha! Naive!" Bravo shouted as he jumped to avoid the spear. Kagematsu Shin embedded deep to the ground before energy crackled from it to the ground. Bravo stood up from his jump, but suddenly he was unable to move a single muscle. "Quoi!? What trickery is this!? Why can't I move!?"

Slices of orange projections appeared between Gaim and Bravo as the former positioned himself for a flying side kick and leapt through the slices.

"JIMBER MATSUBOKKURI SQUASH!"

"Kagenui Burai Kick!" Gaim shouted just before his energized feet made contact with Bravo, causing a fiery explosion.

Bravo was flung out of the explosion and his transformation cancelled due to the power behind Gaim's finisher. Sebastian groaned painfully as Gaim retrieved his Kagematsu Shin, glaring coldly at Sebastian.

"Dance over," Gaim said with finality.

---

(Several minutes earlier…)

With Knuckle, the medieval squire-themed Rider was more than capable of dealing with Kurokage and Gridon on her own. They had improved somewhat compared to the last time, but they were still unable to match Kikyou's disciple. Gridon tried to whack her with an overhead smash, but the other squire-themed Rider evaded the blow and retaliated with a quick one-two punch. Kurokage tried to ambush her, but Knuckle reacted faster and knocked Kurokage backwards before sent him flying with an uppercut.

"Sasuke-kun!" Gridon called out for his friend before slashing his Lockseed.

"COME ON! DONGURI SQUASH!"

Gridon yelled as he jumped at Knuckle from behind, "Gridon Impact!" Knuckle heard and spun around, hitting her Cutting Blade once.

"KURUMI SQUASH!"

Knuckle countered Gridon's attack as her right Kurumi Bomber connected with the Donkachi. An explosion occurred as the two Riders were flung backwards. Knuckle managed to land properly as her Kurumi Bombers dug to the ground whereas Gridon smacked against a tree painfully.

"Oi! Don't give in just yet, Keiichi! We still can win against her!" Kurokage told his partner-in-crime.

"You're not the one who get smacked into a tree!" Gridon shot back.

Seeing her opponents arguing, Knuckle decided to swap her Lockseed with her recently gotten one.

"Time to find out what you can do," she said as she activated her Avocado Lockseed.

"AVOCADO!"

Since they were in Helheim Forest, instead of a Crack opening, green energy materialized above Knuckle's head and formed a metallic avocado before she switched Lockseeds, locking it in place.

"LOCK ON!"

She then sliced the Lockseed open to reveal the core image depicting the cut up avocado flesh complete with its big seed while the lower image showed an avocado-themed gauntlet, similar to Kurumi Bombers, called Avoca Smasher.

"AVOCADO ARMS! MISTER SMASHER!"

The Avocado Armor Parts lowered itself to Knuckle's shoulder as Kurumi Arms dispersed into motes of light before it disassembled. The sides lowered itself to be a pair of shoulder armors, similar to Pine Arms without the studs and brown in color, similar to avocado skin. The chestplate flipped down to form a green chest plate with brownish core, similar to avocado flesh. Her helmet attachment was brown with two half-gear-like decorations on the side while her visor turned green with brown center. Knuckle's new arms generated green avocado 'juice' splash as a pair of gauntlets, modeled after a sliced avocado which was green on the back with brown core on the palm with brown fingers and underside, summoned to her arms, completing the transformation.

"Again with the Mister…?" Knuckle sulked briefly before shaking her head and readying herself for battle. "Gripe later, smash these guys first!"

"Don't think you're the only one who has a new Arms!" Gridon retorted as he took out the new Lockseed he recently got and activated it. The new Lockseed was modeled after mockernut with code LS-25 written on it.

"MOCKERNUT!"

Tannish energy formed above Gridon and formed the Mockernut Armor Parts which shaped like a metal mockernut. He then swapped his Donguri Lockseed with the Mockernut Lockseed, locking it in place before cutting it open. The core image was hollow shell of a mocker nut with a small kernel on the center while the lower image showed a war hammer with two iron mockernuts as the head.

"LOCK ON!"

"COME ON! MOCKERNUT ARMS! CRUSH AND CONQUER!"

The Donguri Arms dispersed in motes of light as the Mockernut Arms landed on Gridon's head and shoulders and disassembled itself. The sides lowered itself to become tan shoulder armors, similar to Kurumi Arms, only looked tougher and thicker. The front parts flipped down to form a chest plate that mimicked a man's pectoral muscle and his helmet attachment was rather plain with white highlights while his visor remained yellow. The war hammer on the Lockseed appeared in his hands, called the Mock Crusher, as the Arms flashed briefly to signal the complete transformation.

Gridon took a deep breath as he tightened his grip on the Mock Crusher. He could feel the power coursing through his body once adorning the Mockernut Arms.

"Crush and conquer, eh? I like the sound of that," Gridon commented as he grinned under his mask.

"I don't have any new Arms, but that doesn't mean I don't have a way to beat you up!" Kurokage declared as he activated his Almond Lockseed.

"ALMOND!"

"LOCK ON!"

"SOIYA! ALMOND ARMS! YOUGEKI IN DECEPTION!"

"Take this!" Kurokage threw his Almond Shuriken at Knuckle who dodged and punched the shurikens before they could touch her.

Gridon took the chance to rush at Knuckle, roaring as he brought down the Mock Crusher on her. But the other squire-themed Rider managed to block the blow with a grunt before smashing the Avoca Smasher to his chest, sending Gridon reeling. She then landed a quick one-two combo before unleashing a double punch that tumbled the hammer-wielding rider.

"Looks like not even a new Arms can help you," Knuckle remarked as she assessed her new form. It was stronger than Kurumi Arms, but noticeably slower due to thicker armor. So it was a power and defense type Arms, similar to Gaim's Pine Arms.

"Don't get cocky!" Gridon retorted as he hit the Cutting Blade once.

"COME ON! MOCKERNUT SQUASH!"

Energy gathered into Mock Crusher's heads as Gridon charged at Knuckle once more. "Take this! Gridon Super Impact!"

"Calling out your attack won't help you!" Knuckle yelled in retort as she prepared her counter.

"AVOCADO AU LAIT!"

Energy gathered into the left Avoca Smasher as Knuckle waited for Gridon patiently. As soon as he swung his war hammer, the female Rider ducked before rushing in and planting her energized fist into Gridon's chest. Green energy similar to avocado juice rippled as Knuckle's fist connected with her target, sending the enemy Rider flying as he cried out in pain.

"AAAAAAAARRGHHH!"

"Keichi!" Kurokage called out worriedly before he glared at Knuckle. "KISAMA!" he roared angrily as he hit Cutting Blade of his Sengoku Driver thrice.

"SOIYA! ALMOND SPARKING!"

Almond Shuriken crackled with energy as the blades elongated and sharpened before Kurokage threw them with all of his might at Knuckle. The female Rider was more than ready for the attack as she sliced her Lockseed thrice.

"AVOCADO SPARKING!"

Energy gathered into her right Avoca Smasher before Knuckle punched the ground with a shout. A dome of energy formed around Knuckle and struggled against the energized Almond Shuriken. The two finishers pushed against each other, before the higher output from Avocado Sparking won and deflected Almond Shurikens and washed over Kurokage which caused sparks to erupt in contact with his armor and sent him flying to join his friend.

"GUHAARGH!" Kurokage cried out as he crashed to the ground.

"A-Are you alright, Sasuke-kun?" Gridon asked as he tried to stand up.

"Ergh...What do you think?" Kurokage shot back with a groan. "If only I still have my Energy Lockseed…!"

"Give it up. You guys can't win and you know it," Knuckle stated as she resumed her stance.

"Shut up! Don't you dare to look down on us!" Gridon growled.

Just then, animalistic cries were heard and everyone turned to see a group of Inves were coming at them. No doubt they had heard the sound of combat and smelled the Lockseeds in Riders' possession. There were several Elementary State and Berserker State of various forms approaching in full speed.

"Inves!? At times like this…" Touka said in alarm.

"Hawawa…! There's so many of them….!" Shuri whimpered.

Sebastian, seeing his way to escape, tore off a vine of Helheim Fruits from a tree nearby which quickly morphed into a set of Lockseeds. He smiled and tossed the Lockseeds to the gathered Inves as he shouted encouragingly, "Bon appetit!"

"Not good!" Baron tried to catch the Lockseeds, but it was too late. The Inves were instantly upon the Lockseeds and gobbled them up.

The Inves then metamorphosed into their respective stronger form, Berserker and Evolved State Inves. The sight of them all roaring and glaring at Gaim, his party, and anyone else was rather a rather terrifying sight that even made Karin felt fear.

"Alright boys! Time to bail out!" Sebastian called out to the surviving cultists and his two lackeys.

"Come on, Sasuke-kun! We've gotta get out of here!" Gridon urged.

Kurokage glowered in disdain, but complied nonetheless. He glared hatefully at Gaim, Baron, and Knuckle before he followed his friend, and Sebastian to safety.

"W-What should we do?" Touka asked fearfully.

"Simple! Kick their asses like usual!" Baron answered as he activated his Suika Lockseed.

"SUIKA!"

Seeing the Suika Armor Parts formed above Baron's head, Gaim then threw his spare Suika Lockseed to Knuckle. "En'ya, use that!"

Knuckle caught the Lockseed in her hand and nodded, "Hai!" She then removed one of her Avoca Smasher and activated the loaned Lockseed.

"SUIKA!"

She and Baron locked their Lockseeds in place before slashing them open.

"LOCK ON!"

"COME ON! SUIKA ARMS! OODAMA BIG BANG!"

"SUIKA ARMS! OODAMA BIG BANG!"

Knuckle gulped when she saw the massive girth of Suika Armor Parts descending on her, but to her surprise it didn't crush her like she thought. It was like she was looking through a glass. She saw Baron's Suika Arms shifted and transformed into a giant mechanical warrior and Knuckle decided to do the same as she pushed the handle.

"YOROI MODE!"

Two identical watermelon-themed mechanical warriors appeared to face the Inves horde. Knuckle's Suika Arms didn't have any weapons, but instead had watermelon-like energy around the fists. Baron's Suika Arms didn't have the Suika Sojinto but instead a lance with the blade shaped like a chunk of watermelon.

"Right then," Baron declared as he rolled his left shoulder. "Let's party and get wild!" He roared as he pushed his Suika Arms forward, Suika Lance brandished for upcoming clash. Knuckle followed his example as she too strode forward.

"Stay here. I'll handle the Inves," Gaim said to Karin, Touka, and Shuri.

Touka watched his retreating back, feeling guilty for not being able to help Gaim.

Gaim thrust his Kagematsu Shin at a Byakko Inves Inves before he swung and performed a slash that knocked it back. A Lion Inves lunged at Gaim but he used the ability of his Jimber Matsubokkuri Arms to make a substitute of himself to take the hit, allowing him to hit the confused Inves with a brutal slash. A group of Kamakiri, Shishi, and Ookami Inves tried to surround him, but Gaim sunk into shadow causing the Inves to look around in confusion. They were unaware that Gaim had created clones of himself and struck them from behind as he and his clones emerged from their shadow.

"Alright, let's finish this!" Gaim declared as he dismissed his clones and slashed his Lockseed twice.

"SOIYA! ORANGE AU LAIT! JIMBER MATSUBOKKURI AU LAIT!"

Gaim twirled his Kagematsu Shin as it crackled with energy. Rows of hologram orange slices appeared between him and the Berserker Inves horde. Gaim pointed his three-pronged spear forward before leaping through the orange slices, his body was pushed by an unseen force as the energy wrapped around his Kagematsu Shin increased after passing each slices. He struck through the Berserker Inves horde without any kind form of resistance before his feet skidded on the forest floor on the aftermath of his attack. The Inves behind him exploded as Gaim twirled his Kagematsu Shin and planted it on the ground.

Meanwhile, Baron and Knuckle were dealing with the Evolved State Inves. Baron stabbed his lance at a Shika Inves and slashed it with a powerful backhanded slash, before jousting his Suika Lance upward and struck a Komori Inves that tried to dive bomb him. Knuckle bashed a Byakko Inves into submission before using the mechanical forearms of her Suika Arms to block the fire breath from a Seiryuu Inves. She then dismissed her gloves and caught the dragon kaijuu by its neck and slammed it to the ground. Knuckle repeated the process for several times before slamming the Seiryuu Inves at its tiger counterpart like a whip for several times before she slammed the dragon kaijuu one last time powerfully.

Seeing that the two Inves weren't going to stand up anytime soon, Knuckle decided to finish them.

"SUIKA SQUASH!"

Knuckle banged her fists together as a watermelon projection formed around her knuckles. The projection then split into two as Knuckle separated her fists and she launched them at the Byakko and Seiryuu Inves, entrapping them inside watermelon projections. The Suika Energy Gloves reappeared on Knuckle's hands, glowing with so much energy before she rushed toward the entrapped Inves, the thrusters on her shoulder roared to live. Knuckle then swung her fists in vicious double hook at the watermelon projections, causing them to explode and raining fire as well as watermelon 'flesh' to her surrounding.

"So she finished hers already, huh? Can't let my junior one-upped me then!" Baron commented before shoving the Shika Inves backward. He then slashed his Suika Lockseed twice and activated the second finisher function of his Driver.

"COME ON! SUIKA AU LAIT!"

Suika Lance crackled with energy before a projection of its blade appeared and elongated to twice of its size. Baron then slashed his lance at Shika Inves in cross-like pattern before he skewered the Komori Inves. The two Inves froze in place before their body exploded violently.

The three Riders looked around to see if there was any Inves remaining and there was none of them. Sebastian, Sasuke, Keiichi, and the White Cloth Cultists had also left during the chaos. After making sure there was no threat left, the Riders reverted to their civilian identity.

"You okay, there, buddy?" Shun asked to Yamato.

"Yeah, thanks for your help," Yamato answered. "What are you and Karin doing here in the first place?"

"I'm here to get more Lockseed for my arsenal. Her Loliness though, come for another reason," Shun answered as he jerked his thumb to Karin.

Said blonde's eyebrow twitched at his blatant disrespect, but eventually took it straight as it was a part of his personality. "I come here for two reasons. The first one is because I want to see the Helheim Forest for myself and the second one is I want to gather as many Lockseeds to bolster my army."

Yamato frowned in disapproval, knowing what she is planning, "Inves are dangerous. It is for the best if you leave them alone."

"All weapons are dangerous. That is why we use them for war," Karin justified.

"Look Karin, you clearly have severely underestimated how dangerous Inves are. They are not something you should toy with," Yamato argued.

"Yamato-sama is right, Sousou-san! Please, you have to listen to him!" Touka pleaded.

"Only fools that does not use everything in their disposal to their fullest, be it weapons, tools, or warriors under their command. To me, Inves and Lockseeds are just another weapons in my disposal," Karin retorted coldly. "Unlike you who are scared of Inves,Yamato, I have none of those fear and reservation."

Yamato narrowed his eyes at the blonde empress. "I am afraid and wary of Inves for a good reason. A reason that fled from your mind in your quest for power."

"And that reason is?" Karin countered, only for Yamato walked away from her.

"Follow me. There is something that I wanted to show you," Yamato said without looking at her.

Karin stared impassively at Yamato's back before she followed him wordlessly.

"Yamato-sama...Sousou-san…" Touka muttered sadly as she watched they left before following them right after.

"Touka-sama! Wait for us!" En'ya called to the rosette, before aftering her with Shuri in tow.

Shun sighed and scratched the back of his head. "...Oh boy," he muttered before jogging slightly to catch up.

---

The walk toward the destination that Yamato had in mind was spent in tense silence. No one was in the real mood for talking. Yamato was silent as he led Karin and the others while the Empress of Sou Gi contented herself with looking around, taking the sight of Helheim Forest. Touka and Shuri looked at Yamato and Karin back and forth with worried expression whereas En'ya gazed at the second-in-command of Shoku in concern. Shun had an idea of where they were going, but decided to not to comment on it.

The trees got thicker as the group went deeper through the Helheim Forest. Thankfully, they encountered no Inves during their trip, which they counted as a blessing.

Yamato then led the group out of the forest and stood over to the edge of the cliff. The reason was to show them what was in the valley below. The group gasped in surprise when they saw what lay before them.

"Behold. This is the price for recklessly exploiting Helheim's power," Yamato stated as he gestured toward the truth of Helheim Forest.

The ruins of Zawame City. While the Helheim Forest had completely overtaken the city with vines and Helheim fruit covering every inch, it was clear that this had once been a flourishing city. At the centre of it was what remained of the Yggdrasil Tower, now a grim monument to this once bustling metropolis.

"W-What in the world…?!" En'ya got out in shock while Touka gasped, falling to her knees as her hands covered her mouth. Shuri fared no better as she went pale and trembled like a leaf.

"O-Oi, Yamato...I-Isn't this…." Shun struggled to say as he tried to fight off the shock from his system.

Yamato nodded grimly. "Yes, Zawame City. Or rather, what is left of it after Helheim's Invasion."

"B-But I thought…!" Shun said, but Yamato cut him off.

"This world is certainly an Alternate Reality compared to the one we know of, but make no mistake that this place is Zawame City, the world where the tale of Gaim and other Armored Riders were born."

"...Yamato, what is this place?" Karin asked, the shock in her tone and expression told the king of Shoku everything he needed to know.

"The remains of a city from once flourishing civilization, reduced to ruins by greed and the desire for more power. It was consumed by Helheim as a result," Yamato spoke grimly. "Now it stands as a reminder."

"Reminder of what exactly?" Karin pressed further.

"A reminder to those who attempt to use Helheim's power without a thought of its consequences. This is what happened to those who fell for temptation of Helheim and they were not the only one who pay for their greed and hubris. The innocents who were in the dark about this and the rest of the world also paid for their sins," Yamato answered.

Karin didn't reply. Instead she gazed at the ruins of Zawame City with unreadable look.

"Inves carried the seeds of Helheim with them and they could spread them around if they feel like it. Those seeds once planted, will grow into Helheim Plants which will spread endlessly and consume anything in their path. But do you know what is worse?" Yamato clenched his fists as he inadvertently recalled the memory where he almost lost Aisha because of the Helheim Infection. "They can plant those seeds in anything they come contact with, even inside human body from wounds they inflict."

'Just like what happened to Aisha-chan…!' Touka thought to herself with wide eyes.

"When I saw this, I swore an oath. I would prevent this from happening. If your actions would cause such a disaster in our world..." Yamato drew his Musou Saber and pointed it threateningly at Karin to emphasize his point, "I will do everything in my power to stop you, Sousou." He even exerted his pressure to get his point across.

Karin looked at him and the tip of the sword in front of her for a moment, before saying, "So, that is what drives you, Yamato. Are you feeling responsible perhaps because you are the First Messenger of Heaven, in another word, the person who caused our world and this world to be connected?"

Shuri and Touka gasped at her accusation while Yamato closed his eyes for a moment before opening them. "Perhaps, but this is also my duty as a Kamen Rider, to protect and fight for those who cannot protect and fight for themselves."

"I see, then I shall prove it to you," Karin replied, her blue eyes bored into his own. "I shall control this power, the power of Helheim, and use it to conquer the land as I envisioned. If you want to stop me, then I shall defeat you like any obstacles in my path."

Yamato and Karin stared against each other for a minute that felt like an eternity.

"Is this your declaration of war then, Sousou?"

"That it is."

Yamato sheathed his Musou Saber while Karin walked away as she said, "We are leaving Baron. Say your goodbye to Yamato for now."

Shun stared at his best friend before raising a fist at his direction. "I look forward for the day of our fight, Yamato. You better give it your best or my victory will mean nothing."

'Shun…You…' Yamato thought as he watched his best friend leave with Karin.

"Yamato-sama...Are you alright?" Shuri asked after a moment of silence.

"...Let's head back. We have a lot of things to prepare," Yamato answered as he activated his Tulip Hopper Lockseed.

Once it grew to the Lock Vehicle proportions, he used its laser to open a Crack that would take him and his party to their home.

---

Shun let his back plopped on the bed as he let out a deep sigh. Today was certainly a surprising day. It was supposed to be easy as he supposed to just pick up a few Lockseeds, explore the Helheim Forest for a moment and left, but no, Karin wanted to go with him to bolster her rank with Inves, getting his ass handed by Overlord Zangetsu, helped Yamato with the White Clothes, before finally having a bomb dropped right into his head: the Helheim ruins which was actually Zawame City post Helheim invasion.

The Unmatched Red Knight still trying to wrap his mind about the idea of the AR World of Gaim where Helheim consumed it, but it did explained how Zangetsu became an Overlord. He must be a survivor of the Invasion and turned into an Overlord at some point. He tried to get some sleep, but when he closed his eyes we would see the ruins of Zawame City again and his mind would conjure the images of the city's last days. It was more than enough to keep him awake.

"Maybe some walk will help me clear my mind," Shun muttered as he stood up and wore his jacket.

He was walking through the hall near the gardens when he spotted Karin, leaning on the handrail as she gazed on the moon.

"Can't sleep too, Your Loliness?" Shun inquired as he approached her.

Karin turned to him and acknowledged him with a nod. "So are you. Do you feel excited at the prospect of fighting Shoku and Yamato?"

"Just my conscience showing its head again," Shun answered. "Still…Wish I can erase the image of the ruins from my head."

Karin didn't reply to that, but she gazed back at the moon without a word.

The brunette sighed and looked at the blonde pointedly. "You don't need to put the tough girl mask with me, you know? I can see through that." Karin still didn't respond to him, so Shun continued on. "I admit I'm not the brightest person but I can tell if a person is putting a facade to mask what they truly feel. Yamato wears a mask to hide his loneliness. Yuki wears a mask to hide her sadness. Even I wear a mask to hide my envy."

"...Your point is?" Karin finally asked without even looking at him.

Shun then placed a hand on her shoulder. "Back then in Helheim Forest, you said to Zangetsu that I'm your friend and I'm seeing you as my little sister. You can share your fear and burden with me, you know? After all that is what friends and family are for."

Karin didn't respond verbally, but her hands clutched the handrail tightly and Shun could hear the wood creaking under stress. The brunette sighed again at Karin's stubbornness, He knew something must happened in her past that made her to put the 'a king does not trust anyone' front, but her senior generals like Kakouton, Kakouen, and Jun'iku were quite tightlipped about it.

"Listen here, Karin. Whatever path you choose, I will follow. Your ambition allows me to reach my own ambition and I'm not one to abandon someone who I've sworn an oath to," Shun spoke up again.

Karin finally responded with a sigh. "...I can't erase the image of that ruins from my mind. I know I can not hesitate in making my choices and already declared my intention to Yamato, but…"

"You're wondering if you're making the right choice," Shun finished for her and Karin nodded. "Honestly, it's your call. You may make some questionable and bad calls at times, but the most important thing is to not to have any regrets afterward. That is what needed to keep moving forward."

Karin was silent for a moment before she chuckled. "You know, sometimes you can be strangely serious. Why don't you behave like that all the time?" she asked Shun.

"Meh, not really my style. Being uptight is Yuki's role in our trio while I'm the joker and Yamato is the one who keep us grounded. I call it personality balance," Shun shrugged helplessly. He then turned to her. "Now, how about you get to bed. I'll come by later with a midnight snack for you and some tea to help you get to sleep."

"That would be appreciated, thank you," Karin smiled in return.

Shun grinned as he patted Karin's head. "Anything for my imouto-chan."

"...I'll let it slide this time," the blonde grumbled, looking away from him with a hint of blush on her cheeks.

XXX

Shun was in the kitchen and making tea and riceballs for Karin. At night, she just needed something simple to soothe her nerves. He made sure to add some spices to the riceballs that would help her sleep and make sure she was well-rested. The tea helped to calm her down too and made sure she would have pleasant dreams and wouldn't be plagued by any nightmares created from her visit to Helheim and the sight of Zawame City's ruins.

As Shun was making the riceball, he felt a presence behind him. Quickly grabbing a kitchen knife, he held it defensively and found himself staring at Sagara in his robes.

"A bit jumpy, aren't we?" Sagara joked as he raised his hands to show he was unarmed. Though, even without weapons, Sagara could still use his words as weapons.

"Oh it's you. Can you stop the ninja act once in a while?" Shun asked with a raised eyebrow

"Sorry, but it's just my style. You should know about that," Sagara responded.

"So, why are you here?" Shun questioned as he held the knife down but still kept his grip on it.

"I heard what you said about balance and I wholeheartedly agreed," Sagara spoke as he approached Shun. The Red Knight was wary of the man but then Sagara placed two objects down on the kitchen counter, causing Shun's eyes to widen.

"These are..."

"Yamato is becoming stronger. As his rival, you need power to match his to maintain a balance," Sagara winked.

Laid on the surface of the counter was a Genesis Driver and a Lemon Energy Lockseed, the very two items that would allow him to transform into Genesis Rider Baron.

"You're giving me these for free?" Shun asked suspiciously.

"Just doing my job to even the playing field," Sagara answered. "Whether you want to use it or not, it's up to you."

Shun stared at the two objects for a moment before he picked them up and pocketed them, causing Sagara to smile in satisfaction. Shun had just accepted Sagara's gifts. It would appear that in order to prove his strength to Yamato, he would even make a deal with the Devil himself.

"Glad you pick them up. Anyway, I have to go since I can't stay here for long. Good luck with your ambition, Shun Murayama!" Sagara saluted to Shun before his image faded away. "And one more thing! I added something extra to that Lemon Energy Lockseed. It's not something bad I assure you and you'll definitely like it when you use it!"

Shun sighed and went back to making the riceballs. "How rude. Barging in when a chef is working and he even didn't stay for a quick snack."

---

OMAKE: The Seventeenth Birthday Party Incident

Yamato woke up with a groan, feeling like his head had gone through the meat grinder over and over. When he looked around, he found himself sitting on the floor in the middle of pretty much ruined living room of his home.

"What happened...?" he asked, spotting the torn banner that said his seventeenth birthday. "Oh, right. The birthday party. What the heck happened anyway?"

He then spotted his sisters sleeping next to him while Shun and Yuki were next to each other, sleeping like logs. And they were facing each other. And their face was so close to each other.

"...Something definitely happened," Yamato quickly surmised.

Just then, his mother, Yuuko Kusanagi, entered the living room and spotted her son was awake. "Ah, Good Morning, Yamato."

"Morning, mom," Yamato replied, massaging his forehead to lessen the headache. "Why does it look like a tornado tore through this place?" Yamato asked.

"I'm afraid you have to ask your friends and sisters. I'm still tending to your father," Yuuko answered as she grabbed some ice and put it inside an ice pack. "You nearly cracked his nuts yesterday."

Yamato gaped at her answer. "WHAT!?"

"That's why I told you to ask your sisters and friends what happened yesterday. Your father doesn't stop moaning and groaning so I have to at least reduce it to tolerable level."

"Honey, where's the ice pack?" Yamato heard his father's moan.

"See?" Yuuko said before a feminine shriek was heard followed by a meaty thwack and pained yelp. "Looks like they're awake. Now you can ask them."

Yuuko left the living room just as Yuuhi and Yukari woke up. The two sisters yawned and rubbed their eyes sleepily. They turned to see their brother before they looked away from him and blushed, Yuuhi did more so than Yukari.

"G-Good morning, Nii-san," Yuuhi greeted, unable to meet his eyes for some reason.

"Morning, Onii-chan," Yukari also greeted. Unlike her elder sister, the youngest Kusanagi child was able to look at him right on the face.

"Morning. Now can someone tell me what the heck happened last night? I can't remember anything save for a massive headache," Yamato asked while still nursing his head.

"Blame the idiot over here," Yuki growled through gritted teeth as she jabbed her thumb at Shun. The brunette was nursing over a black eye, courtesy of Yuki's wake up call. If one look closely, his other eye was also blackened but was already fading quickly. "He brought alcohol with him and made you drunk."

"Alcohol? You made me drunk?" Yamato gawked.

"It was supposed to be for your sweet seventeen birthday celebration. How the heck I know that you are a total lightweight?" Shun defended his actions.

"...And what exactly happened after that?" Yamato asked in dread.

"I'm not sure I want to remember, but Sir Idiotus here recorded the whole thing with his phone," Yuki pointed to Shun.

"Hey, I resent that!" Shun protested.

"Look, just tell me what happened so we can get this over with," Yamato requested, his tone was almost pleading.

"...If you say so," Yuki answered as Shun wiped out his phone. He fiddled with it for a moment to look for the video he recorded last night.

"Alright, but you may want to sit down. It's pretty hilarious–I mean embarrassing." He corrected himself when Yuki glared at him.

"...Just show us already," Yamato demanded, letting out a bit of his pressure to make his point.

"...You don't have to do that, you know?" Shun grumbled as he hit the play button.

---

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY YAMATO/NII-SAN/ONII-CHAN!" Yamato's friends and families congratulated him as they popped up some confettis and blew a party whistle.

"Thank you, everyone," Yamato replied, smiling happily.

Yuuko came forward and brought a chocolate cake with two candles shaped into number '1' and '7', forming a seventeen lit up. "Now make a wish, dear. You know how it goes, right?"

Yamato's cheeks flushed red and I protested, "Mom, I'm not a kid anymore!"

"I know, but this is your seventeenth birthday and I insist you to act like a child just for once," Yuuko insisted.

"Besides, I made this cake with Yuuko-Obasan, you know?" Shun chimed in with a grin.

"Okay, if you say so." Yamato closed his eyes as he made his wish before he blew the candles. Everyone clapped their hands merrily at that.

---

"Okay, I remember this part. Can we just skip it to the part where you made me drunk?" Yamato asked pointedly to Shun.

"You sure?" Shun asked. Yamato glared in response. "...What's with me and being glared at today anyway?"

"Because you're an idiot," Yuki answered dryly causing Shun to slump in defeat.

---

"Hey, buddy! Let's have a toast!" Shun declared. He then whipped out a bottle of sake and several saucers from god-knew-where.

"You brought alcohol?" Yuki asked incredulously.

"Hey, it's for Yamato's celebration! Besides, it's not like everyday you celebrate your best friend's sweet seventeen," Shun replied.

"I know that, but seriously, alcohol?" Yuki tried to clarify.

"It's up to my buddy to decide," Shun retorted before turning to Yamato. "So what do you say, buddy?"

---

Yuki spoke, "At that point, I really should've just taken the bottle and thrown it out." She then glared at Yamato, "And you shouldn't have taken his offer."

"...Just how bad was it?" Yamato shrunk under her glare. Yuki could be really intimidating if she wanted to.

"Just keep watching the inevitable trainwreck."

---

"I guess one sip wouldn't hurt," Yamato replied as he took a saucer. Shun grinned and filled up everyone's saucers.

Once everyone, save for Yuuhi and Yukari, had their fill, Shun raised his cup to the air. "For my best bud's seventeen birthday! May anything he wished comes true! KANPAI!"

"KANPAI!" Everyone replied as their clinked their saucers together and downed their sake.

"Whew, that hits the spot!" Shun grinned in satisfaction.

"You sound like you had drunk sake before," Yuki glared in response. "Still, it's not bad to have this once in a while."

"You have a good taste, Shun-kun," Yamato's father, Yahiko Kusanagi, praised the brunette.

"Meh, I took one from my old man's stash. He won't notice it anyway," Shun waved off. He then turned to Yamato, "So how was the sake, buddy?"

Yamato didn't answer. Instead, his head was hung low so his bangs were covering his eyes. Everyone looked at him in worry just as his shoulders began to tremble and he was giggling in the manner of a not so sane person.

"Uh, Yamato? Are you alright?" Yuki asked slowly.

"Hehehe…" the birthday boy looked up with a dopey look on his face and his cheeks were flushed red. "I'm doing sooooo~ good!"

"No way! You're drunk already!?" Shun gawked.

"Just one saucer? A half-full saucer? Really?" Yuki gaped in disbelief.

---

"...That's it what takes me to be drunk?" Yamato asked in surprise.

"Surprising, isn't it?" Shun grinned, only to double over as Yuki elbowed him in the gut harshly.

"Shut. Up. And watch."

---

The now drunk Yamato then suddenly hugged his sisters and rubbed his face against theirs.

"W-Wha-!? Nii-san, what are you doing!?" Yuuhi asked in disbelief.

"O-Onii-chan!?" Yukari squeaked out.

"Ufufu...Onii-chan is really happy! His beloved imouto-tachi planned all of this…." Yamato then sniffed dramatically before bawling his eyes out. "Uwaaaaaa! I'm so happy that I'm crying my eyes out!"

"Uh...We just helped a little actually," Yuuhi awkwardly replied as she tried to calm down her brother.

"Yeah, it's all Shun-niichan's plan," Yukari added.

Yamato then stopped crying before turning to Shun who gulped nervously. He then sprung on his best friend and grabbed him in a tight hug. "SHUN MY BEST FRIEND! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PARTY!"

"Uh...You're welcome," Shun replied, completely weirded out with his best friend's behaviour. He then mouthed 'HELP!' to Yuki and Yamato's family.

Before they could help, Yamato released the hug and asked him, "Shun, do you want to become my brother-in-law?"

"WHAT!?" was the general response of everyone present.

---

"What did I say?" Yamato asked with wide eyes.

"You heard it already…" Yuki grumbled. Yamato had the feeling that the scene he watched wasn't the only time he offended Yuki somehow.

---

"That's not a bad idea, right?" the obviously drunk Yamato gestured to his sister who blushed profusedly. "I mean, look at them! Aren't they the definite description of loveliness!?"

"Uh...that's…" Shun tried to reply, only for Yamato to cut him short.

"Do you prefer the tomboyish and energetic Yuuhi? Or do you prefer the bubbly and cheerful, yet younger Yukari?" Yamato offered with a grin.

"W-Well...It's not like I don't like them…" Shun tried to reply, only for Yamato cut him off with comically darkening expression.

"...Are you saying you're too good for my sisters, you punk?"

"T-That's not what I meant!" Shun tried to deny as he waved his hands frantically.

Yamato then glanced at Yuki before snorted. "You know what? Even my sisters has more curves than Yuki. Hell, even Yuuhi's breasts are bigger than hers!"

"N-Nii-san!" Yuuhi squeaked in embarrassment, crossing her arms protectively in front of her breasts. Yuki on the other hand, went white in shock as an imaginary arrow with the word "Small" pierced her chest.

Yahiko slammed his hand on the table and his cheeks were red and flushed, also apparently drunk. "*Hic!* YAMATO! You can't go and offering your sisters *hic!* to be someone else's bride *hic!* without my consent!"

"Screw you, old man! I was the one who protected their chastity from those perverts!" Yamato snapped back at him. Normally, Yamato when sober wouldn't even dare to snap at his father like that. But apparently, all Kusanagi men were cursed with low alcohol tolerance and would have one-hundred-eighty personality change when they were inebriated.

"Why you–! Daddy's charge!" Yahiko roared as he brandished a bokuto out of nowhere.

"Naive!" Yamato hollered as he brought out another bokuto and slammed its tip right into his father's groin before Yahiko could react. "Kusanagi Tai-Hentai Ougi: Kyoseiken!"

Yahiko's mouth opened in silent scream before crumbling to the ground haplessly.

---

"I… did all that…?" Yamato asked stunned.

"Yes, you did," Yuki deadpanned. "And for the record, I'm still mad at you for what you said while you were drunk."

"Sorry," Yamato apologized.

"Guess what? It's not over yet," Shun grinned knowingly, which faded as Yuki leveled a glare on him.

---

The drunk Yamato then turned to his friend while brandishing his bokuto threateningly. "Alright you small chest lover, I'll beat some sense to you and make you see the light!"

In the background, Yuuko was dragging Yahiko's body out of the war zone.

"W-Wait a second! This has nothing to do with your sisters or breast size!"

"Oh yes it does you goody two-shoe bastard! I'm gonna beat you senseless right now!" Yamato then charged at the freaked out Shun. The latter screamed like a little girl and got out of the way of a powerful chop that nearly broke the wooden floor.

"Yuki, do something!" Shun pleaded to Yuki, only for the girl to be seemingly out of it as she muttered dazedly.

"Small...small...small…" she repeated for a minute before her body trembled dangerously. She then exploded roared out, "MINE AREN'T SMALL, YOU BASTARD!"

"GIRLS WITH SMALL BREASTS AREN'T REAL GIRLS! ALL HAIL BIG BOOBS AND BOOBS KINGDOM!" Yamato hollered back.

"DIE, YOU COVERT PERVERT!"

"W-Wait, Nii-san!"

"Onii-chan! Snap it out!"

Yuuhi and Yukari tried to stop their brother, only to no avail.

"Calm down, Yuki! Small breasts are fine too! It's nothing to be ashamed of!" Shun tried to calm the enraged girl, to no avail.

"THIS IS THE MATTER OF FEMININE PRIDE! YOU KNOW NOTHING OF IT!" Yuki snapped as she elbowed him in the eye.

"Gah! My eye!"

"Nii-san! Calm down already!" Yuuhi pleaded, but it fell on deaf ears.

"DIE YOU AGGRESSOR OF NATURAL LAW!"

"THAT SHOULD BE MY LINE, YOU CLOSET PERVERT!"

What followed next was a chaos that wrecked the entire living room of Kusanagi household. Yuuhi, Yukari and, Shun could only watch helplessly as the drunk Yamato and berserk Yuki went all out on each other.

---

Yamato only watched dumbly as the recording ended. He then turned to his friends and said in flat monotone, "We shall not talk of this incident. Ever."

"Agreed," Yuki concurred before turning to Shun, "You better delete this footage Shun or else…"

"Aww, why can't I keep it?" Shun whined before receiving the end of scathing glares from Yuki and Yamato. "O-Okay, okay! I'll delete it! No need to glare at me!"

"Good," Yamato then turned to his sisters, "Can you keep quiet about this?"

"About what, Nii-san?" Yuuhi asked innocently.

"Yeah, it's not like anyone would believe us," Yukari added.

"Good girls," Yamato smiled before he stood up. "Alright let's fix this place up. I hate to leave it to mom since we're the one who made the mess."

"Uh, we?" Shun questioned only to double up as Yuki elbowed him harshly.

"You're the instigator of this incident thanks to your stupid idea, so you will help us all to fix this place," Yuki added harshly.

Shun sighed dejectedly as he went to work. "But I think it was a good idea…"

"Note to self: Immediately reject any ideas for fun from Shun in the future," Yamato muttered under his breath.

---

A/N: And that's for chapter 18. I thought the title didn't fit quite right, but it is relatively calmer with the upcoming Gi Campaign arc. Sorry for the late update. Real life and stress got in the way, along with Fate/Grand Order. It is addictive and I'm still gunning for Jeanne/Ruler from the Gacha. *Sigh* And here come the plot bunnies...If anyone noticed the lackluster quality of the chapter, my apologies. I'm looking for an editor since my old one is getting busy and didn't have time. That said, thank you for reading and have a nice week end. Now, back to Grand Order and grinding for Quartz...

Kusanagi Tai-Hentai Ougi: Kyoseiken - Kusanagi Anti-Pervert Secret Technique: Castration Strike