Chapter 26: From Husk 'Til Dawn
Disclaimer: I do not own Kamen Rider or RWBY as they both belong to their respective owners, except for my OC(s).
Chaos.
A single word that encompassed the state Vale City was in.
The Husks swarmed the city once more, becoming more aggressive and agile than before. The heroes desperately tried to keep them away from the citizens at any costs, all the while holding up until the recon team could arrive with the Ex-Aid Totem.
On the other side of the town, the Genm Corp. Building was also fortified against the Husks' skirmish. Ghost, Specter, and Necrom were on the corners of the building and set up some barriers made from their respective Damashiis' energy to double the tower's defenses. Inside the tower, Sento was holed inside an office as he contacted the recon team who were sent to retrieve the Ex-Aid Totem.
"There are multiple portal gates that somehow opened in several corners of the town, and the Husks just came out of them. Everyone's currently holding on their own posts, and the citizens are currently being relocated to the Beacon Academy since it was far enough from the city." Sento reported.
"I assume that the Academy was also put on siege, as well." Kuroto said.
"That's correct. What's worse, is that I received some reports that they grew more agile and aggressive than before. I have no idea if we could hold out much longer at this rate."
"I see. How about the cure machine?" Emu asked.
Sento continued by laying out the rundown of their plan. "It hasn't been tested yet, but I hope it's ready. The Genm Corp. tower has enough vantage point for the cure to spread and blanket the whole city, hence why I chose to set it up there. While the cure itself is ready, we still need more components to boost the effect so that it would sterilize the entire city. You need to deliver the Ex-Aid Totem to the Tower. We're also gonna need the Maximum Gashats and Doctor Mighty XX, as well."
"Copy that. Still, there's one thing that just doesn't add up." Kyle said. "The quarantine zone was supposed to be safe and secure. It's access is only restricted for the Ex-Aidverse Riders and it can't possibly be accessed from the outside. Unless... it's the other way around"
"So you're saying that someone pried it open from the inside." Yang guessed. "Just like opening a locked door by going through the other side. But how?"
"I might've got a good answer for that..."
The door behind Sento was opened, revealing a bruised and battered Poppy that was being carried by Akari. Sento quickly rushed to her side as the others also noticed her arrival.
"Poppy!? Are you okay!?" Sento asked.
"Still hanging in there... Thank you very much...!" she panted.
"Is that Poppy? What's going on!?" Emu asked from the comms.
The female Bugster was being handled by Akari into a nearby chair for her to sit. "Whoa easy there, Pop."
The female Bugster then explained her ordeal. "It was Gamedeus, guys. He became much stronger and meaner like you said. He used the Husks that we quarantined to hack into the zone's codes and find his way through the Q-zone. He's also got Parado, but he used his last ounce of strength to blast me off of there."
"No way... Parado, does he really...?"
"He's fine. As a virus embodiment, we're no use to him dead. But I got away so that I could deliver the word, and I brought a souvenir, too." Poppy dug into her pocket and took out the Doctor Mighty XX Gashat in her possession."Here... you're gonna need this, right?"
"Good job, Poppy! One less Gashat to worry about!" Sento complimented.
"You should take a rest at your game cabinet, Poppy. We can't have you fight like this." Akari suggested
"But I won't be able to help you guys! I can still stand, see-ugh!"
"See what I mean?" Akari softly scolded. "Come on, you musn't put up a lot of muscle for now. The cabinet's gonna heal you and hopefully, hide you at least long enough before Gamedeus takes notice. Doctor's orders."
"Akari..."
"Don't worry Poppy, we'll get there soon! We'll save the city and the people! I'm sure we can get through this!" Ruby assured.
"And besides, the Riders are not the only one fighting here. This is the World of Remnant, where Huntsmen and Huntresses fight monsters all day. Don't left us out just yet." Weiss remarked.
"You can count on us, too." Blake continued.
"You've got the best Beacon can offer. I'll make sure to send your regards to Gamedeus once we've delivered our stuff!" Yang added, pumping her fist to the air.
"They're right, Poppy. We'll take it from here." Kyle said. "It's high time we do our job as the All Kamen Rider League's newest recruits. I'm sure teams JNPR and CFVY are doing their best out there, too."
Poppy's face softened. She sighed and teleported into the game cabinet in the room. The least she could do for now is to patch herself up. "Alright. Be safe, y'all."
"We'll contact you if anything else happens. For now, We'll be preparing for the tower's siege. Kiryu out."
After the communications were cut off, Sento turned to Akari, "Is your little pet project ready?"
"We'll see it soon." She assured. "Just hope we could last much longer for now."
"You're right. Well, here goes everything..."
Back in the former Dai-Shocker hideout...
"Dammit!" Kuroto cursed, infuriated by his helplessness. "The Q-zone is supposed to be impenetrable! If only I knew he could even do that...!"
"Hey, don't put this all on yourself." Emu consoled. "All we gotta do now is to regroup with the others in the town, and pray that we still have any hopes left to stop this."
Kuroto calmed down and said. "You're right... we have to return to Vale as soon as possible and fix this mess once and for all."
"Say, Kuroto..." Yang asked. "Xiphon said something about you and the Bugster virus, back then. What does he mean by that? Do you really have something to do with any of this?"
Ruby interjected. "Umm Yang, I don't think this is the time for-"
"It's fine. I shall tell you all everything along the way." Kuroto replied.
"You sure about this?" Emu asked.
"I have long since prepared for this moment, Emu. Ever since I know the origins of the Shocker Virus, I know that my past sins had caught up on me once more. But now I have you and the Rider League to lean on. I shall come clean with everything I know." He then turned to Yang. "That is, if you can handle the truth."
"That depends on your story... I think." Yang replied with a glint of a doubt in her eyes. But she complied, regardless.
"Very well. Let's head back to Vale together."
BAKUSOU BIKE!
Emu and Kuroto took out their Bike Gamers, followed by Yang with her Bumblebee and Kyle with his Machine Decader. The group got on the bikes and set out to return whence they came.
Kyle strengthened his resolve once more as he hit the bike's gas. "I'll end this soon, Hector, Linda. I promise."
Vale Hospital...
The Vale Hospital was put in siege. The surrounding grounds were set with numerous vines that protruded from the ground and acted as a trap to keep the Husks at bay. On the field, Brave, Lazer, Jaune, and Nora were put on the front lines behind the plants in case a Husk managed to get through, while Snipe and Pyrrha took a vantage point to shoot the Husks from afar.
So far, only a few Husks managed to slip through the vines due to their increased aggressiveness, and were quickly struck down by the heroes. However, it was also the reason why the Husks piled in front of the plants in order to force their way through it. For how long the plants could hold on, only time will tell.
Nico and Ren directed the refugees onto the rooftop with several Bullheads waiting for them to pick up and relocate to Beacon Academy that had recently been set into a refugee camp as well. The Bullheads descended into the hospital's rooftop launch pads. The evacuees made a line for each Bullhead guided by the city's guards. The process went smoothly so far as the evacuees queued in front of the airship.
Lie Ren could never unsee the faces of the people he tried to help. Fear, panic, and despair are the emotions that became way too familiar in his earlier life. He remembered how desperate he was when the same thing happened to him: attacked by Grimms, worrying about the loved ones, it is what, ironically, attracted Grimms in the first place. Only this time, it was Vale's infected populace that went after them instead.
Of course, he wasn't alone in that regard. Nico also remembered the time when the people are taking refuge in Seito University Hospital due to the Bugster Virus taking control of people. Although, there was a bit of relief that the Husks are nothing different than what happened back then. They knew what kind of threat they were dealing with, and they were currently working on a cure for it. Her only concern lies with if the recon team could make it back in time.
"So far so good. Anyone still inside?" Nico asked as a Bullhead finished loading up the people and lifted them away.
"I'll do another check-up." Ren replied. "Hope it'll be the last of them."
"Alright, then. Snipe, Pyrrha, how are things up front?"
On the frontlines...
"They just keep coming!" Jaune reported as he pushed his shield towards an invading Husk. "Is it just me, or those guys just got angrier than before?"
"No kidding, Jaune! As if they don't bother giving us a breather, at all!" Nora remarked as she swung her hammer to the Husks.
"Has everyone made it to safety, yet?" Brave asked.
"We've just finished loading another group to a Bullhead. Ren's also doing another check-up inside the Hospital." Nico reported.
"Duly noted. We'll hold them off as long as we can." Brave replied.
Lazer noticed the Husks slowly began to tear the plants apart with their sheer numbers and strength. He soon issued the warning as the Husks finally breached through their defenses.
"Guys! Defenses are down! I repeat, defenses are down! Prepare for hostile takeover!" he screamed through his comms so that everyone could her him.
"Everybody fall back! Fall back now!" Jaune followed the warning.
"No way... they've broken through already?" Pyrrha gaped, astonished by the Husks flooding the ground. She also saw the four below quickly making their way towards the hospital.
"Looks like Dai-Shocker's not playing around this time." Snipe gritted his teeth inside his helmet. He took his Gashacon Magnum out and opened fire towards the Husks that were closing in on the fleeing group. Pyrrha followed suit with her sniper rifle. Their efforts were enough to keep the Husks away from the ones below as they made their way into the Hospital's entrance.
Inside the entrance, Brave and Lazer held the doors as Nora and Jaune pulled the benches and various things to build a makeshift barricade, there. It was sturdy enough to keep the Husks from breaking through, but there was no telling how long it would last.
Pyrrha soon reached to her Scroll and reported the situation. "Nico, Ren, they breached through the barricade!"
"What!? It's sooner than I thought!" Nico gasped. She then contacted Ren. "Anyone else still inside?"
"We still have people inside! Including the kids! They're supposed to be the last batch of people!" Ren reported.
Pyrrha was surprised and agape, especially since there were the kids that she talked to back then. The same could also be said with the others as they were unsure if they could rescue them in time. Nico however, had no choice but to keep her composure and focused back on the duty.
"Can you bring them to the top?"
"I'll try. And what about the Bullhead?"
"The last one's about to come, too. Let's prepare for the pickup."
"Roger that. Ren, out." Ren complied as he guided the people to the rooftop.
"Snipe, we have to get to the people, quickly." the red-headed Huntress said to the sniper in front of her.
"Roger that. You sure you're not coming to the others down below, though?"
"I wanted to, but I'm more worried about the kids. I feel like they need me the most at times like this." Pyrrha suggested.
The Rider paused for a bit. As much as he needed more boots on the ground, the citizens' safety is still their first priority above all else. He understood that Pyrrha wanted to give them a moral support the people desperately needed at the time, and that his own strength must compensate for those who were trying to hold the Husks long enough until the citizens make it to safety.
It has to be enough, he spoke to himself. And so, he turned to Pyrrha for yet another favor. "Alright, then. I'll provide support for the others myself. Go tend to them, and Stay safe."
"You too." She answered.
"Come on, this way!"
"Watch your steps! Make sure none of you get left behind!"
And so it began. Ren and Pyrrha went on to guide the citizens to the rooftops, with Pyrrha picking up and escorting the kids who were still inside the hospital. Snipe made haste towards the first floor, where the Husks finally broke through the barricade. Jaune, Nora, Brave, and Lazer quickly made their way towards the emergency stairs, switching to their respective long-range weapons to hold back the Husks' advance, at least long enough until the citizens made it up above. They also barricaded the emergency doors to prevent the Husks from reaching the second floor. Snipe soon joined them and with Lazer, they used their respective Combat Gamer Gashats to provide a suppression fire.
GASHATTO! KIMEWAZA!
JET CRITICAL FINISH!
The two Huntsmen and the remaining citizens finally made it up above. After Nico confirmed this to those below, they jumped from the window as Snipe and Lazer used their respective Combat Gamer armors to carry them up.
"Nico, now!" Snipe commanded.
CRITICAL DEATH!
Nico pressed both of the Buggle Driver's buttons and followed it with "B". She casted a barrier based on her Rider symbol that locked the rooftop door shut and layered it with another barrier in front of it. That should at least hold the Husks inside the hospital until the people made it out safely.
"Okay... that should do it." The Rider girl panted. "You guys still doin' good?"
"Nothing to worry about, Nico!" Nora assured. "Though I might think taking on those creeps would get really annoying after a long while."
"Yeah, especially if they're piling up on us. I get that a lot."
"One of your earlier pro gaming days?" the ginger girl teased.
"You have no idea..."
"Is that everyone else?" Jaune asked.
Ren nodded. "All that's left is for the Bullhead to pick them up."
"Yeah, and for the recon team to show up too. I just hope they'd make it in time."
"You and me both."
The redheaded Huntress arrived to the rooftop safely along with the kids. She then approached them and asked, "Is everyone alright?"
"Yeah..." one of the girls nodded. "Is it going to be safe, there?"
"Don't worry, it'll be safe. I'm sure of it."
"But... everyone's going to stay alive too, right?"
Pyrrha took a glance at the kids' faces. Such fear of being infected might be too much for the likes of them to handle. Everyone was overwhelmed, and even the adults were also left unsure of what is going to happen next, for their future is uncertain as well. She then remembered Poppy's words to her, that no matter what happens, faith shall prevail.
"Please... believe in me."
"Huh?"
"I know I might not be able to do much in this situation myself. Everything's gone to hell, is what most people would say. Everyone's going crazy... monsters running around... but that's why we're here! The Huntsmen, the Kamen Riders... our duty is to keep everyone safe! It might be a long shot, but we've already had a solution, and it's just a matter of time until we could get it done! That's why..."
Pyrrha mustered her resolve once more. For the sake of the kids... the people she wanted to save, she must put her faith in those who fight beside her and most importantly to herself.
"Please believe in me! Believe in us, the ones who are trying to solve this problem together! I'll get your teacher back to normal, too! I promise you that!" Pyrrha said to the kids.
"You do?" ask one of the kids.
The red-haired amazon nodded happily. "We won't let you down. I promise! Again..." she said the last part sheepishly and laughing along the kids with it.
"I never knew Pyrrha would be really good with kids." Jaune sheepishly remarked.
"That's a champion Huntress for you." Brave reeled in. "It is an important trait to have, nevertheless. One of out priorities in this world is to ensure hope for the people so that they won't be instilled with fear, for that is what the Grimms feast on. Ater all, we are INDEED their role models for their future."
"Role models, huh?" Jaune pondered. "You think... you think I'd be good enough for that?"
"Just give yourself a time. All that matters is faith in one's self. That's how I strived to become the number #1 doctor in the world too, back home."
"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Brave."
Nico shook her head fondly upon the scene, seeing her junior was able to keep her composure despite the chaos and how it affected the people's morale. With the whole uncertainty going on, it is important for the abled ones to ease off the panic as they are, to quote from a certain old man, Remnant's beacon of hope. The gamer girl then gazed upon the last batch of the evacuees boarding the Bullhead aircraft, recalling Poppy's words of wisdom.
"Looks like she took your words well, Poppy..."
Bike engines roared through the depths of Emerald Forest as our heroes searched for a way back to the city of vale. Their rubber tires rolled through the soil that led to their destination. With the only hope of repelling the crisis laid in their hands, the heroes steeled their resolve as their destination comes near.
The heroes all rode in their respective bikes while some sat on the backseats: Kyle and Ruby on Machine Decader, Yang and Blake on Bumblebee, Kuroto and Weiss on the Bike Gamer, and finally Emu leading the way on his own Bike Gamer.
Kuroto Dan soon began recalling the tales of Ex-Aidverse, the origins of Bugster virus, and his regrets.
Years ago, young Kuroto Dan was just a simple game designer who was consumed with jealousy upon witnessing the one who rivalled his genius, Emu Hojo. Upon his discovery of the Bugster Virus, he began his experiments by infecting the young Emu with a game he created to house the virus. Years later, the dormant virus soon awakened in what the world called "Zero Day", where the Bugster Virus formed monstrous entities and run rampant in the world. In that response, the World of Ex-Aidverse created their Kamen Rider System to combat the virus, all the while erasing his own trace from the creation of the virus itself.
His reign was supposed to have ended with his death at the hands of his own creation, but fate had another plan for him.
His presence was called upon once again when Kamen Rider Chronicle began, a real life game event where people gamble with their lives to fulfill their own wishes. While his insanity pertained at first, he was finally cured of his Proto Gashat affliction in the end, although he would still had some of its side effects, and had been taking on some therapies afterwards in the Rider League to further improve his work efficiency.
And that is the story of Kuroto Dan and the Bugster Virus.
"Kuroto..." Weiss muttered.
"After years spending time with the All Kamen Rider League, I have realized that I was never meant to have the easy way out of this. That is why for all the madness I have sowed, for all the chaos I have wrought upon... I must bear my cross once again."
"Yeah, I can see that." Yang replied as the one who asked the question first. "Normally I would've been super pissed if you're still at it again, but if you're willing to make things right, then I won't stop you from doing just that."
"Thank you for your understanding, Yang." The CEO thanked. "The burden of my own evil is mine, and mine alone to bear. And in order to bear that cross... I SHALL BECOME THEIR GOD AND REIGN UPON THEM ONCE AGAIN! HUHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Oh boy, he's at it again..." Weiss sweatdropped at Kuroto's sudden change of mood.
"I'm sure we'll get used to it, right Weiss?" Ruby said.
"Yeeeaaaahhh... right."
"Some peculiar guy you have on your fold eh, Emu?" Kyle remarked.
"I know, right?" the doctor replied. "We have all sorts of people in the Rider League, but we all shared the same thing: we want to change the world for better, and in order to do that, we have to change ourselves first. That's the meaning of the word 'Henshin' we all chanted on."
"Words to live by."
"How much closer, are we?" Blake asked.
"Just a few Kilometers left and we'll be at the entrance, already." Emu said.
"Then let's hit the top gear!" Kyle said, all went full throttle towards the city.
The last Bullhead had finally finished boarding the people and was about to take off the rooftop. Despite all the worries the citizens still had over the worsening condition o the city, the Huntsmen and Kamen Riders' presence were quite enough to give them assurance that everything will b solved. After all, they were inded the only ones who had the power to do something amidst the overwhelming chaos.
That is... assuming if things were that simple.
Two figures appeared from below and assaulted Brave and Snipe. They were the Bat and Tiger Kaijins that somehow returned. Both let off a somewhat more menacing aura than the first time they encountered them.
"No way... Kaijins!? it's too soon!" Nico gasped.
"This is bad..." Jaune suddenly remembered both monsters from their previous encounters. "Wait... aren't you guys supposed to have been destroyed, already?"
"You could say that we have received a... special invitation from the main star himself." Bat kaijin said.
"Soon, there will be nowhere left for you to run. Now, prepare to rot in this place just like the Husks are!" Tiger Kaijin retracted his claws.
"Like hell!" Snipe shot his Gashacon Magnum towards the Kaijins as Brave charged towards them. Not wanting to take any chances with the citizns still being evacuated, both Riders decided to execute their finishers earlier at point blank range.
GASHATTO! KIMEWAZA!
TADDLE/BANG BANG CRITICAL FINISH!
However, the connecting attacks didn't affect both Kaijins and the latters delivered their slash attacks with the wing and claws respectively, which were somehow powered up by a dark aura and temporarily downed the Riders. The Kaijins used this chance to seemingly infect them with the Shocker Virus.
"Wh-what the...!?"
"No way... all this time, they've been-!"
"Doing what must be done, indeed." The Bat Kaijin added in delight. "The power of Kamen Riders, now ours for the taking once again!"
"Resist, and you will all suffer like they do!" The Tiger Kaijin threatened as Brave and Snipe both let out the same Dark Aura, turning their attention towards the heroes and the evacuees.
"R-run..." Snipe parched on his breath getting the words out as his conscience slowly dissipated by the virus.
Everyone watched the scene in horror. Nico recollected herself and ordered. "Pilot, get these people out of here now! Our first priority is their safety!
"We'll draw their attention to us!" Jaune added.
"Oh no, you don't!" Lazer, still in his Proto Combat Gamer armor, fired at the infected Brave and Snipe who were about to approach the evacuees.
Pyrrha spoke to the kids who were about to leave with the Bullhead. "I'll be fine! Just stay safe, okay? Go, leave this to us!"
"Promise you'll be safe too, okay?"
"And look for our teacher, too!"
"I promise! You have my word!" the redheaded amazon eagerly replied as the last Bullhead finally left the overran hospital, leaving the heroes to deal with the Kaijins and the infected Riders.
The Beacon Academy had been set into a temporary refugee camp due to the Husk infestation, something that Ozpin had always been having in mind should a city-wide incident ever happen. Perhaps the name "Beacon" itself had manifested in the most literal way possible, provided that they could solve this soon. And so, Ozpin the Bacon Headmaster set out into the outside world once more with his trusty cane.
The rest of the teachers also had set themselves up on the courtyard to watch over the academy's perimeters. Glynda set up the spiked barricades made out of the courtyard's ground behind the Helheim vines. Port and Oobleck armed themselves with their weapons alongside some expert Huntsmen, some students prepare the rations for the refugees that would soon be relocated, and the Huntsmen's "good old Rider pals" also helped out in the field.
It has been a long while since Kouta Kazuraba exerted his true godlike powers as the Man of Beginning, especially since he was doing it in his surrogate body as he was still in Helheim himself. Taking care of an entire planet filled with extra dimensional creatures had surely took a lot of his time, and he had to thank for his friends' support that he was able to come up with the surrogate body idea. Even so, he still prefer if he could keep his powers to the extent of Helheim vines and his powerful Rider forms.
The fruit Rider was also accompanied by Yusuke Godai, Natsumi Hikari, and Kiva-la the bat upon his arrival. They also went on to check the situation with the rest of Beacon's teachers.
"Fret not, everyone! This predicament of ours will end soon! Our professionals in the city are working on it!" Port assured the worried citizens.
"Here's the first aid kit! Make sure you patch up the injured ones here, okay? Good! Don't worry, this will all end soon! Hello, can you please help deliver this to the ones over there? I'm counting on you! Thank you!" Oobleck kept switching over from chcking out the civillans to instructing his students.
"As long as you don't lose hope, I'm sure it'll work out! Your friends will be back soon!" Yusuke assured the teenagers while also displaying his signature thumbs up.
Natsumi and Kiva-la were checking on Glynda who was still busy setting up the academy's defenses. They noticed how exhausted she was, and the former was ready to hand ovr an energy drink to the blonde witch.
"Can you still go on, Glynda?" Natsumi asked.
"I'm fine... Don't worry about me."
"In that case, here's to keep you in top shape."
"Thanks for being here."
"Least we could do." Kiva-la replied. "My, this reminds us of the old days, isn't it?"
"Except that right now, I'm much busier than you." Glynda pointed out, which earned a laughter from her companions.
"Is this the last batch of evacuees?"
Kouta turned to face the Headmaster of Beacon. "Yeah. Every last citizens on Vale Hospital have all been transferred to here. All that's left is to hold the line until the recon team arrived."
"Any news on them?" he asked again.
"Emu said that they'll be here shortly with the Totem."
"Good to know. All that matters for them is to get past the Husks overrunning the city and deliver the cure to Genm Corp." Ozpin said as he looked up to the sky. "And pray that we can solve this as soon as possible."
UNIDENTIFIED AIRSHIP APPROACHING
Suddenly, Glynda's Scroll rang and displayed the message. At the same time, a Bullhead was approaching the school grounds too fast for an evacuation Bullhead to arrive with.
"Incoming unidentified airship!" Glynda reported to the two nearby.
"That's odd..." Kouta said. "All Evac Bullheads are supposed to have been accounted for. What gives?"
"And it's approaching too fast. Ms. Goodwitch, if you please?" Ozpin ordered Glynda to contact the approaching airship.
This is Beacon Academy's temporary shelter. Identify yourself and state your ship's designation." She contacted the ship's radio through her Scroll.
Kouta also felt a shuddering, ominous presence that was fast approaching their location, and that came from none other than the approaching ship.
He needed not to tell them what that could possibly be.
"No response..." she muttered.
"This presence... no way!"
"What's wrong?"
"Get the defenses running! That ship's not gonna slow down anytime soon!" Kouta warned.
"On it!"
Trusting the Rider's instinct, Glynda lifted several spiked debris made out of the grounds and aimed it towards the approaching Bullhead, but it was protected by a barrier.
"A barrier!?"
"I suppose that our guest is in the mood for battering rams." Ozpin remarked.
"In that case...!" Kouta took out his Henshin gears, being the Sengoku Driver and a Lockseed resembling a watermelon.
SUIKA! LOCK ON!
As the belt's standby jingle played, Kouta ran towards the crashing ship and chanted, "Henshin!"
SOIYA!SUIKA ARMS! ODAMA BIG BANG!
GYRO MODE!
A giant mechanical watermelon descended from the zipper portal. As Gaim jumped high, the watermelon opened its hatch for him to ride on and unfolded some of its parts into a set of wings and a pair of hand-like machine guns. The cockpit also revealed Gaim in his undersuit with a red visor resembling a slice of watermelon.
Gaim took his Suika Arms right towards the ship before going above it and changed its mode once again.
YOROI MODE!
The gyro vehicle then dislocated some of its parts and form a green and red humanoid mecha. The cockpit's hatch covered Gaim's body as his head went onto the mech's giant samurai helmet. As the transformation is complete, Gaim pummeled himself towards the ship, halting it from its crash route in an attempt to divert its course into the academy's training grounds far in the back.
"SEI HAAAA!"
The mechsuit and the Bullhead connected as he let out his battle cry. The teachers, Riders, and several people watched as both crashed into the empty grounds of Beacon Academy. Flames sprout from the damaged ship as Gaim landed.
But it was soon followed by two shadowy figures that emerged from the flames.
"Well, at least the barrier held up pretty well…" Pirate Kaijin nonchalantly remarked as the Tribe Kaijin grunts and went on to his stance.
"I take it you're the Kaijins that my juniors destroyed, back then?" Gaim asked, pointing his mechsuit's naginata at the monsters.
"Destroyed, yes. Out of the picture? Not yet!"
"Then I'll just do it once again!"
As Gaim made his way towards the Kaijins, Pirate Kaijin made a gesture that summoned an Uber Ursa, one of Dai-Shocker's prized creations, to stand against the Rider. The experimental Grimm grazed some of the Suika Arms' armor plates, but Gaim was swift enough to counter it with his naginata. The rotor on the mechsuit enabled him to twirl his weapon in quick succession and even launch a spinning punch with its left arm. The Uber Ursa then increased its aggression by constantly striking at the Suika Arms' cockpit and slowly pummeled the fruit Rider with its sheer strength.
"Don't... even... think about it!"
GYRO MODE!
SUIKA AU LAIT!
Switching to the mechsuit's Gyro Mode, Gaim lifted the Grimm high enough for him to execute his finisher. By twisting the Sengoku Driver's knive twice, he loaded the gatling guns with more powerful explosive rounds and shot the Uber Ursa mid-air, causing it to explode.
Soon, Gaim noticed that the Pirate Kaijin had already summoned his own ghost ship, with him and the Tribe Kaijin boarding it, while Gaim was preoccupied.
"You gotta be kidding me..."
Gaim rushed towards the ship, but waiting in front of him was a ghastly spectre of a cannon, summoned by the Pirate Kaijin. The shot seemingly hit the Rider along with the mechsuit, setting it ablaze and crashing into the sturdy deck of the ship. However, the Kaijins did not sense Gaim's presence until the Rider launched his attack from above.
SOIYA! ORANGE ARMS! HANAMICHI ON STAGE!
1! 10! 100! 1000! 10000! ORANGE CHARGE!
Gaim's aerial slash encased the Kaijins in a huge orange sphere. He continued his assault with a direct slash, but it was blocked single-handedly by the Tribe Kaijin who stepped forward, thus cancelling out his finisher. The Kaijin kicked Gaim away, but the Rider could still regain his composure.
"Okay... didn't see that coming..." Gaim grunted.
"You can go on ahead. Leave the orange lad to me." Pirate Kaijin said to Tribe Kaijin, in which the latter grunted in agreement. He summoned a spectral cannon and the Tribe Kaijin loaded himself into it.
"Like hell I'll-Ugh!"
Gaim attempted to prevent the Kaijins from executing their plan, noticing that they were aiming straight to the academy grounds. Suddenly, Pirate Kaijin summoned a pair of Uber Ursai to pummel him into the ground and in turn, clearing a path for him to launch the Tribe Kaijin away.
Pirate Kaijin then kneeled down into the pummeled Rider's level. "See? Now that's what you'd call teamwork, isn't it? Having a useful companion to do the rest of your errands, a beautiful sign of friendship that you Riders are so proud of. Such a pity when it's being used against you."
"That's rich-guh...! coming from you." Gaim countered. "The moment when you see something, or someone unable to do their job... you deem them as useless and threw them away. News flash, buddy; that's not how it works."
"Oh? Do tell then, even if it's pointless." The Kaijin sneered.
"See, there's this little thing called faith..."
LEMON ENERGY!
"And it's gonna be enough to take you down!"
The Rider twisted his belt's knive, causing two zipper Cracks to appear above his position and sent the Uber Ursai away. The Orange Arms part in his suit dissolved into orange splashes, and another Orange Arms appeared from the Crack. Along with it was another Arms part in a form of a black sphere with white accents.
LOCK ON! SOIYA! MIX!
ORANGE ARMS! HANAMICHI ON STAGE!
JIMBER LEMON! HA-HA!
The new Arms part descended towards Gaim and unfolded itself to form a new set of armor for the Rider. It resembled a Japanese war robe called Jinbaori with lemon ornaments on both of the armor's sides and a pair of pointy shoulder pads. On his right hand was the Sonic Arrow, a red arrow with blue sharp blades on both of the arrow's hands, a pair of chords that are connected to the arrow's bow-like lever, and a lockseed slot on the arrow's body. His helmet also changed the crusher mouthplate's mid-section color into black and his symbol horn into silver.
Donning the Jimber Lemon Arms, Gaim pushed forward once again as the Pirate Kaijin's ship moved towards the Beacon Academy. The Uber Ursai lunged and swung their claws at the Rider, but Gaim easily blocked them with the Sonic Arrow and the Musou Saber that he quickly unsheathed in response. He easily pushed the Uber Ursai back and slashed both of their abdomen and, causing them to roar in pain. He then cut one of the Uber Ursai's legs, sled under it before it fell down and stabbed both of his weapons to the Grimm's unprotected back.
LOCK OFF! LOCK ON!
LEMON ENERGY CHARGE!
Gaim then shot the enhanced Grimm's back, causing it to explode and send its remaining cristals into the other Uber Ursa. Using it's explosion as a cover Gaim launched a surprise attack towards it and stabbed his weapons into its torso, slicing it with another finisher while the Sonic Arrow's function was still active.
ICHIGO! LOCK ON!
1! 10! 100! 1000! 10000! ICHIGO CHARGE!
Gaim repeatedly sliced the monster's body with the speed of Ichigo Lockseed and the immense strength of Lemon Energy Lockseed. He sent a roundhouse kick that finally ended the Uber Ursa's life.
The fruit Rider scanned his surroundings to look for the only enemy let in the ship. He soon anticipated the Pirate Kaijin's sneak attack by blocking his cutlass with his Musou Saber. The two traded hits with each other. Their swords connecting and sending sparks from each of their attacks.
"Haha!"
The Pirate Kaijin thrusted his cutlass right towards Gaim's head. The latter managed to avoid it with a graze on his helmet. He kicked the Kaijin back and sent a slash from his Sonic Arrow, but the Kaijin jumped back from it with some of his piece of cloth being cut off. Pirate Kaijin summoned several spectral cannons that surrounded him and quickly fired them at Gaim. An explosion occurred from th collision of the blasts. Suddenly, Pirate Kaijin found the Musou Saber stabbed to his chest all the way to the deck's wall, realizing that it was shot from Gaim's Sonic Arrow as he jumpd out of the attack. Gaim then released his stronger attack at the disabled Kaijin.
SOIYA! JIMBER LEMON SQUASH!
Several lemon-slice like portals appeared and lined up in front of Gaim as he executed his signature Rider Kick. His foot soon connected into the Musou Saber he used to trap the Pirate Kaijin with. The Rider jumped back once he was done and took the Musou Saber with him. The Kaijin finally exploded. However, Gaim wondered why the ghost ship was still intact after he was supposed to be destroyed.
"Fool! Do you really think you can take me down that easily!?"
"What the-?" the ship's hull beneath Gaim began to rumble. Several spikes began to protrude from it and it grew a pair of devilish ayes, arms, and teeth, similar to the Captain Ghost ship. He quickly summoned his Dandeliner to get away from it.
"Gamedeus brought me back for this neverending game! That is why I shall savor my moments with you as the cherry on the top! And how exciting it is for me to tell you... THAT MY BODY IS THE SHIP ITSELF!"
"Great, NOW I wish I have my own ship..." Gaim muttered.
Meanwhile in the city, team CFVY and several Riders were striking down the Husks as many as they could, all while searching through the buildings to see if there are still some people left. So far, the buildings have pretty much emptied by either the fleeing citizens or that most of them had been infected.
Howver, as times went by, the Huntsmen team and the Kamen Riders began to tire themselves out due to the seemingly endless wave of the Husks. They took one down, dozen others would came. Even if they don't need to worry about hurting the infected citizens since they would all be fine once they turn back to normal, their energy is finite.
To make matters worse, they had to confront the resurrected Chimera Kaijin, one of the toughest Kaijins the All Kamen Rider League had faced, so far. Coco powered her Dust bullets with her Semblance and fired at the Kaijin, but his skin was too strong for her bullets to pierce through.
"Dammit! Not even my hype bullets got him!" Coco cursed.
"The feeling of not being in control and the frustration that builds up from it is my nourishment. And with all of Remnant suffering the same fate, I shall become unstoppable!"
Yatsuhashi and Fox charged at the Kaijin and struck him with their weapons. Chimera Kaijin single-handedly bested them with his reaction speed despite his bulky body, stopping their weapons with his bare claws and returned their attacks. He was also empowered further like the rest of the resurrected Kaijins. Using his Nevermore wings, he easily navigated the battlefield, and his newly-grown Death Stalker stinger prompted the Huntsmen to keep their distance from him at a certain point.
On the ground, Coco also needed to keep an eye on the Husks that came to their position. She could still easily sweep them away with her gatling gun while trying to find another safe ground. She was glad that there were only a few number of Husks approaching her, but let her guard down once and she is done for. After dealing with the remaining Husks, Coco rejoined her team and gave an instruction to Yatsuhashi as they were waiting for a chance to strike back the Kaijin.
Velvet summoned a copy of Weiss' Myrtenaster and casted several fire Glyphs below the Kaijin's ground. Chimera Kaijin noticed it and flew away, but Yatsuhashi threw Fox towards the Kaijin and grazed his back, followed by an explosive round of fire Dust. Velvet summoned Blake's Gambol Shroud and grappled towards Chimera Kaijin. She struck the blades into the monster's shoulders and quickly switched to Yang's Ember Celica. The rabbit Faunus rapidly punched him in the head and chopped his claws off using the hard light Dust copy of Ruby's Crescent Rose. She then propelled herself up high for one last shot.
"Oh no, you don't!"
The Kaijin quickly had his stinger face right towards her. Knowing that her weapon wouldn't reach it in time, Velvet quickly switched to Jaune's shield before the stinger could get to her. As the shield broke down, Velvet quickly switched to Gambol Shroud once again to lift Fox up towards the unaware Kaijin. He successfully tore the wings apart, causing him to fall, as well. Seizing the chance, Coco had Yatsuhashi threw her towards Chimera Kaijin, bashing her gatling gun into the monster and sprayed his abdomen with her hype bullets as they crashed into the ground.
Yatsuhashi managed to catch Velvet in time as she fell down. "You okay, Velvet?" he asked.
Velvet nodded. "Thanks. Good thing I still kept many stock photos for this occasion."
"That oughta do it, just fine." Fox smugged.
"A fine display indeed..." The Kaijin slowly regained his composure. Much to the Huntsmen's surprise, his wounds were all regenerated. "But not good enough."
"He... he grew them back!?" Velvet gasped.
"Wh... what the-!?"
SHOOT VENT!
Coco didn't have a time to react as she was shot by what appeared to be Kamen Rider Zolda with his bazooka launcher. The blast knocked her down into the ground and her Aura began to flicker from the sheer force of the blast. The green Rider appeared to had been infected by the Shocker Virus as depicted by an ominous dark aura surrounding him. His hand was trembling, trying to fight off the infection with every last bit of his willpower with little success as his conscience slowly dissipated. Her teammates also shared the same shock upon witnessing it.
"Zolda...?" Coco trembled.
"Aah, just in time for the main attraction." The Kaijin smirked. He snapped his fingers that summoned several other infected Riders as he slowly regained his composure.
Zolda, Gills, Accel, and Knight had all succumbed to the infection. They charged towards the respective members of team CFVY.
"No way... you guys, too?" Yatsuhashi struggled against Accel's Engine Blade. His giant stature might be enough to go toe-to-toe against the red Rider, but Accel's infected state had no regards to his own stamina. Heavy strikes from the silver blade caused the Huntsman's hands to tremble, to the point that he had his sword swept away and
ENGINE MAXIMUM DRIVE!
Accel struck Yatsuhashi's chest with the finisher that pushed him down to the ground. It would have been fatal if his flickering Aura did not cushion the damage.
Fox and Gills both possessed arm blades. While Fox could also shoot Dust bullets from it, Gills' savage fighting style gave the blind Huntsman a run for his money. Fox had to resort shooting either flame or ice Dusts to slow Gills down, knowing that he wouldn't fare well against the Rider on a simple close quarter combat. The infected Gills delivered his signature vertical scythe kick to the Huntsman. He blocked it by crossing his weapons together. Gills forced the kick to break Fox's defense and kicked him once again with a roundhouse kick.
Velvet used a hard light copy of the Myrtenaster to fight against the infected Knight, clashing her weapon against the Rider's Dark Visor. The rabbit Faunus landed several hits on him, but he was unfazed despite taking the hits. Velvet knew that the man inside must had felt the pain, and that the virus locked his consciousness deep inside the armor he was wearing. He must had tried to scream out of his lungs, telling her to run despite his controlled body not letting it happen. She couldn't help but share the pain silently.
Loading the weapon with her wind Dusts, she shot a heavy gush of wind at the Rider and blew him into a nearby building. The force seemed to have knocked him out. However...
TRICK VENT!
NASTY VENT!
It turned out to be an shadow clone, and the real one emerged from behind her along with his Mirror Monster. Darkwing's scream pierced Velvet's bunny ears like a needle. She screamed in agony and slowly lumped to the ground. The brainwashed Knight took the chance to kuck her away. Coco gathered the remaning strength she had left to run towards her, with the others following suit. She held her in his hands as she and her teammates took another glance at the horror they were brought into.
"Velvet, are you okay!? Velvet!" Coco cried out.
"I-it's too much... these guys are just on another level from us!" Fox gritted his teeth.
"How... how dare you...!" Yatsuhashi growled as he tried to stand up to no avail.
"I believe I've been delighted enough by the despair you have displayed. Now, then... finish them."
FINAL VENT!
Zolda summoned the Magnugiga and attached his Magnavisor into the monster's back, revealing his array of missiles and powering up all of his weapons. Team CFVY could only helplessly watch as they had too little energy to run away nor recuperate. Suddenly, the attack was interrupted by a blast coming from above the sky. It was G3 shooting his Scorpion gatling gun, riding alongside Agito on top of his Machine Tornader.
Decade, Agito, G3, Ryugen, and Zangetsu arrived just in time to save team CVFY. They were all armed and ready to stand against the Kaijin and hopefully, return their brainwashed friends back.
"Sorry for the delay, guys. Can't keep them away long enough." Agito said as more Husks approaching their position.
"You guys!" Velvet said.
"Looks like being fashionably late really suits you Riders, well." Coco remarked.
"Heh, can't argue that, Coco. Decade, you go on ahead with team CFVY. We'll hold them off!" Agito said.
"The recon team's definitely going to make it here. But until then, we'll make our stand!" Zangetsu declared by unsheathing his Musou Saber, pointing it at the enemy.
"Alright. Be careful, you guys. Let's regroup for now!" Decade summoned 2 FFRs for the others to ride on. As Velvet rode on Machine Decader's back, Coco and Fox took on Agito Tornader while Yatsuhashi hung onto Kuuga Gouram's leg, having his hand electrocuted a bit so that his hand wouldn't let go until they reached safety.
FINAL FORM RIDE:
KU-KU-KU-KUUGA!
A-A-A-AGITO!
After the group got away, the remaining Riders took their stand against Chimera Kaijin, brainwashed Riders, and the Husks that began surrounding them. They would need everything they have got in order to keep them all at bay. All that is left was for Decade and team CFVY to recuperate and further plan their next step.
"Don't worry, guys... we'll deinitely bring you all back!" Agito clenched his fist as he and his team rushed towards the Chimera Kaijin.
"Everyone alright?"
Decade asked as he unfolded his helmet. They had successfully retreated to Tsukasa's residence, which was quite far enough from the city to give them a breather. He took a glance at his fellow warriors who were all exhausted, bruised, and battered. Though he was confident with the remaining Riders' skills that he left behind, he could not help but worry about what else Dai-Shocker could do in this full-scale attack.
"Yeah... for now, at least." Fox replied.
"I never thought the Riders could get infected, too..." Velvet added. "But how? Aren't we supposed to be immune to it because of our Aura?"
"It's possible that this is an evolved strain of Shocker Virus. The previous one's just a warm-up, so it's safe to say that they might had discovered how to breach our Aura's immune system through the infection." Decade hypothesized.
"Xiphon's really not messin' around, I'll give him that." Coco sneered.
"Any contacts from the recon team?" Yatsuhashi asked.
"They're currently on their way. All we have to do is just to have faith in them." Decade answered.
"Faith, huh? Dunno if that's gonna last at this point." Fox remarked.
"It has to be, Fox. That's all we have left other than our remaining strength." Velvet said. "Standing our ground is the least we could do for everything. I've always been the one who got picked up ever since before coming here. I don't want to feel helpless like the Faunus people had been trying to paint me as. That's why I won't go down without a fight!"
"Can't agree more." Decade praised as the others were impressed by her resolve. After all, Velvet had always been the heart of the team. Soft, she may be, but it was the one that held the team back together. "I just hope that they wouldn't outnumber us sooner with that virus."
Suddenly, a loud boom was heard from the outside. The heroes went to look for the source, only to find the front doors had already been blasted to smitherens. From the courtyard, Gamedeus Kaijin stood menacingly along with his army of Combatants, all armed with various weapons. It seems Gamedeus knew that he would be taking on the best of his adversaries.
"Great... the plague arrives by himself." Fox cursed.
"All Combatants, no Grimm, no Husks. Kinda peculiar, don't you think?" Coco observed.
"You know there's a doorbell on your right side, right?" Decade remarked.
"Knocking hard suits me the best, and what happened to that door shall be your fate soon, Rider."
"Oh yeah, I forgot you're such a simpleton like those before you." Decade shook his head and sneered.
"Hey, Decade..." Coco took out her gatling gun as she was still recuperating from her fatigue. "Mind if I leave the head honcho to you? Not that I'm making excuses, but..."
"Just make sure you guys could still hold up." He nodded.
The magenta Rider and team CFVY stepped outside of the house with their weapons ready. The experienced Huntsmen team, CFVY, and the Great Leader of All Kamen Rider League, Decade, all were putting everything on the line as they came face to face with the arrival of the plague himself: Gamedeus Kaijin.
Kamen Rider Decade took out his sword and ran his hand through the weapon's blade. His visor flashed brightly as he steeled his resolve. It is all, or nothing.
"Well then, team CFVY... Let's make this a bit more showy, shall we?"
(A/N)
Hey there, folks! And welcome to RWBY : DCD's 26th chapter!
Man, it's been a REALLY long while since I've written this fanfic! Real life sure took a lot of my time, but here we are! I'm also thrilled with the debut of the Revice duo and now, they're one of my favorite Riders! XD
Speaking of which, I'm also considering on writing shorter chapters from here on out since I have a feeling that I wouldn't have much leisure like I used to, since this would all come to the preparations for getting a job and more things to come. I think it'd be best if I write shorter chapters so that I can plan and work things out better in the future, be it for the fanfic stories or my daily schedules. Even with all the workload that I might be having in the future, I'll still try my best to upload more chapters and hopefully, finish this story arc once and for all.
As Kyle and his recon team head back towards the city of Vale, chaos ensues with out heroes slowly being pushed into the corner! Will the recon team succeed in transporting the Ex-Aid Totem? Will the cure work in time? And how will the finest of Remnant's Huntsmen and Riders fare?
As always, please leave your comments below and remember: BE CONSTRUCTIVE.
Until Next Time.