SZ: *azure electricity coming off me*welcome back folks...to the next shocking world of hte Omniverse Arc.
GT: Hope you're ready for this world, folks.
SZ: It'll be quite..shocking
Z0: *kicks down door* A Bad pun summoned me...
SZ:...I regret nothing.*looks at readers*before I get hurt for my pun..we own jack squat aside form original content..so start us off z0.
Z0: Okay *begins chanting and forming a massive ball of fire which begins condensing down smaller and smaller till it becomes this tiny little orb* here you go *floats it forward towards GT and SZ* Good luck~ *fireball begins growing and glowing brighter*
GT: Ah pants…
SZ: Ah sh-
*BOOM!*
"Okay…" Ryuga began as he, Kazumi and Gentoku stepped back into the shop, "By the looks of it, we're in a very high tech and advanced city."
"One Sento doesn't know about...and yet this place seems like a wet dream for him," Kazumi added.
"How high tech we talking?" Rex asked.
"Hover cars, robots...vending machines that give out full food," Ryuga listed.
"And yet there's something...odd about most of the people here," Gentoku added with a slight frown.
"How so?"
"I can't say but...a few of the humans we did see are not normal," Gentoku answered.
"As in they have powers," Kazumi added.
"But they seem weary about it," Ryuga added, "As in..they fear something here…"
"You...sound familiar in this." Ben noted.
"Well so am I and my friends." Makoto spoke up.
"If you ever wondered, we didn't exactly feel homesick." Ryuga grumbled.
"We know how it feels to fear a possible authoritarian world government," Kazumi added...while shooting a look at Gentoku at the moment.
"...oh don't you start with me…" Gentoku frowned.
"Point is…" Sento began as he walked into the room, "It's a world that's new to us, yet has a familiar vibe to it."
"How is it you have mapped the multiverse but found a new world?" Ben asked.
"The Multiverse isn't as simple as an already set map; it's a constantly changing thing. New worlds form all the time, with their own histories and futures as wide and diverse as the bottomless pit that is Makoto's stomach." Sento smiled.
"Hey!" Makoto complained.
"But you get my point." Sento stated, about to take a step before stopping, "...it seems we have a customer…"
"?" the others blinked at that.
"...act casual, and stay silent until I say so," Sento whispered before a knocking was heard, "We're open!"
A moment of silence passed before a teenager of Asian descent with short, somewhat spiky white hair walked in. He wore a white suit underneath a blue waistcoat with gold highlights, black shoes, and a white and black jacket draped over his shoulders with blue and silver highlights. He also wore a black belt with a silver buckle and black gloves as he looked on with his closed eyes.
"...rather interesting shop…" he noted, taking a slight bite of the apple he had in hand as he walked in, "Funny...there isn't normally a smoothie shop here in this part of the city...tell me. Was this recently opened?"
"It is," Gentoku confirmed.
"Ahh...interesting," he noted with a small smile...one that felt familiar to Makoto in some way as he walked around a bit, "It is nice to see something new...especially fellow Adepts."
"?!" the group tensed up at that.
"I know you are not normal...but that is fine…" the young man stated as he walked over to a counter with Bobo hiding behind it, grabbing a glass of water on there...before it began to freeze slowly until even the glass itself froze over, "So am I."
"...Who are you and what do you want?" Ben cautiously asked, keeping a suspicious eye on the man.
"Tenjian...and an offer if you will," he explained as he let the glass drop, letting it shatter into snow and ice, "You see...Adepts like us have been subjected by the humans for years...especially by Sumeragi. They often detained, experimented, mentally broke...or killed our brethren," he exclaimed as he looked at each member of the group, "Eden...we're aiming to create a utopia for all Adepts. One where we don't have to be afraid..one where we can live freely...one where we won't be betrayed. But sadly...in order to create our utopia…" he paused as a small, cold smile formed on his lips, "We must exterminate the old humanity...so that the utopia for Adepts everywhere can be created."
"...so you want to commit genocide on the humanrace," Rook noted.
"Correct...but really…" Tenjian paused as he walked over to the doorway, his back turned towards the group, "Who would miss a race of weaker and lesser beings anyway?"
"..."
"Think on my offer for a while," Tenjian smiled as he opened the door, "Oh and...be careful. Things are about to get cold real fast...Zhīhòu," he said in Chinese as he stepped out.
"...That….was unnerving," Sari whispered once Tenjian was gone.
"So many red flags…" Makoto muttered.
"Crimson…" Lambda added with Noel shivering a bit.
"...he was holding back," Sento spoke, catching the others' attention, "If he wanted...he could've frozen us all within seconds if we allowed him."
"So...we almost died." Ben chuckled, "I'm starting to hate the multiverse…"
"Oi...don't you know anyone good with this human vs robots thing?" Ryuga asked Sento.
"Actually yes, but I highly doubt I can contact them at the moment," Sento replied.
"So we need to be extra careful while we're in this world," Rex added.
"Emphasis on safety," Bobo added as he got out from behind the counter..before he shivered a bit, "Someone mind turning the AC up? It's freakin' cold in here."
"...We...never touched the AC," Kazumi replied….before he and the others headed for the door.
"There's no w-" Ryuga began as he touched the handle, only to wince as he quickly pulled his hand back, "JEEZ THAT'S COLD!"
"...Skurd?" Ben spoke.
"Allow me," Skurd spoke as he spread around Ben's arm, changing it to resemble Heatblast's as he opened the door..and let the group see the entire part of the city they were in was frozen over, completely covered in snow and ice with any nearby people completely frozen solid.
"Oh my god…" Noel whispered with wide eyes, holding her hands over her mouth.
"He must've done this after he left," Sari added as she looked around.
"...Sento," Gentoku spoke, a frown evident on his face, "In all seriousness...I think we're gonna need to transform for this world."
"Agreed, but we may need to stand back in case he has any friends and they arrive here," Sento replied with his own frown, "Ben, you and Rex each lead a small group of three and two each with you to examine the city...see if you can find Tenjian."
"...We beat him, we get rid of the ice?" Ben guessed.
"In theory, maybe." Sento spoke, "It seems their power causes a massive shift in the temperature in a given environment. Chances are until they are dealt with, they will keep this up." he leaned his head side to side to crack it, "I'll get to work on some more gear, would those without super suits or super powers of instant quality please stay here with me?"
"So...basically the boys go out and risk their butts while the girls stay here for upgrades?" Makoto asked.
"Eeyup." Sento nodded.
"Ahh...gotcha," Makoto nodded.
"I'll take Ryuga and Rook with me then," Ben nodded, "Rex, you take Kazumi with ya."
"We'll contact ya if we spot him," Rex nodded.
"Ryuga, Kazumi...if you guys do happen to encounter Tenjian..or anyone like him?" Sento spoek up, earning his fellow Riders' attention, "...Don't be afraid to hold back and transform….and Lambda?"
"Hai?"
"Go with Rex...there's a new toy for you I want you to test out."
"Hmm?" Lambda blinked at that as Sento walked back in...before walking out with an odd-looking weapon.
It seemed to resemble a set of Guardian's claws, but more compressed and sharp as it was covered in a dark bronze and white metal as they were connected to a pair of dark-brown and gold hilts with wide guards, both connected to what looked like a thin string of blue energy.
"...The heck are those?" Makoto asked as Lambda took the weapon from Sento.
"They look like Guardian parts," Sari added.
"Little something me, Purah and Robbie were making in secret while you all were prepping for the Castle Raid back in Hyrule," Sento explained, "We went through so many prototypes on the incoming days, but...I present a Sento original made just for La-chan...the Ancient Flails!"
"...flails?" Noel blinked as Lambda looked at her new weapon in curiosity.
"They look a bit more like nunchucks than flails," Rex muttered, "Plus...what's with the claws?"
"Slam Fist…" Sento smiled, "Big Freaking Sword…speaking of which, bring it out."
"...fair but...okay," Rex muttered as he brought said sword out, "Now wh-"
"La-chan..flick one of them."
"...understood," Lambda nodded as she flicked one of the flails...which immediately grabbed onto Rex' BFS.
"Woah hey! What are you…!" Rex began with a yelp, trying to pull his sword free before the claw let go...and was now holding a blue energy version of it as it retracted back to Lambda, "?!"
"Any weapon it grabs? It can make a hard light construct version of it," Sento smiled further, Bluey looking at it in curiosity, "Downside however...the copy of the weapons will break overtime, and the flails will take a bit of time to recharge."
"...How much time?" Rook asked.
"A few seconds to a minute give or take...but it can go faster while you're hitting your enemies with them," Sento answered.
"...that's kinda broken," Ben noted.
"Exactly...perfect for La-chan," Sento smiled, "Now go on, shoo."
"B-"
"Shoo…" Sento said as he pushed Ben and Rex away in different directions.
"Oaky, okay!" the two complained before they walked off, Rook and Ryuga following the former while Kazumi and Lambda followed the latter.
As the group was leaving, a figure was looking down at the three groups from on top of a building nearby, their crimson-red eyes glaring down at them before they began to follow after Ben's group.
"...Tenjian was here," a young teenage male with electric blue eyes frowned a bit, looking out at the frozen city before him as he stood on top of a building.
He had somewhat spiky blonde hair with a long braided ponytail going down his back with purple, pink and blue colors on the end of it. He wore a black shirt underneath a very dark-blue coat with small black straps with a white and blue neck brace, black pants, and a pair of black, high-tech looking boots with glowing-blue highlights on them.
"Achoo! So..th-th-this ice is definitely not normal then," a second voice spoke as a young man of japanese descent walked over, shivering a bit as he shook off some of the snow on him.
He had brown eyes, a pale complexion and eye-length, styled brown hair with an ahoge poking out of the top. He currently wore a modified black collar skintight jacket with short sleeves and cross emblems, black fingerless gloves with red guards with his right arm tightly covered by a material, black trousers with a red belt, and black-red boots with metal guards. A red cross with white outlines appears on the back of his jacket and on his trousers while another big, yellow, strange symbol was on the back of his jacket, right above the cross symbol.
"I told you to be careful, Naoto..."
"Yeah...and it resulted in me covered in snow, Gunvolt," he muttered as he walked up next to him, looking out at the frozen city, "...let me guess, a 'friend' of yours did this?"
"Yes…" Gunvolt replied as a frown grew on his face, "The same person who shattered Joule and has a piece of her power."
"You mean the girl only you can see, right?"
"..."
"Hey. I'm just saying...I know you're speaking with someone, so I assumed you're talking to them via communications, or they're invisible and only you can see 'em," Naoto shrugged, "But still….if whoever this guy who hurt your friend is capable of this...then it's best we stop him."
"I appreciate the help, but…" Gunvolt began as he began to stop onto the edge of the building, "I need to do this alone…"
"GV…" a voice spoke as a faint image of a young girl in a white, black and blue dress appeared before him, her blonde hair done up into a ponytail held by a butterfly-themed hairband while a pair of energy butterfly wings hovered behind her.
"I can't let civilians get in the way, Joule," Gunvolt whispered to her.
"He doesn't seem like a normal person, GV...plus I can tell he's nice," Joule argued, "Let him help."
"..." Gunvolt paused for a moment, giving a sigh as he looked back at Naoto, "Can you fight?"
"Wait...really? I kinda expected you to go on this, 'No I have to do this on my own, cause I'm cool like Batman' tangent for a lot longer…" Naoto muttered.
"I don't know what a 'Batman' is," Gunvolt stated, "But this person I'm about to fight...I need to know if you're able to hold your own in a fight."
"Well not to brag but I can hold my own pretty alright." he explained.
"Good...then grab onto me."
"...okay…" Naoto muttered as he grabbed onto Gunvolt's shoulder, "Now wh-AHH!" he yelped as Gunvolt jumped off the edge of the building.
As they were getting closer to the ground..and despite Naoto screaming a bit, Gunvolt closed his eyes as azure electricity began to crackle off him. After a moment, a circular bubble of electricity surrounded the two as their fall began to slow down.
"Wh...how did…?!" Naoto began.
"My Septima," Gunvolt explained as he landed, letting Naoto let go of him as he dismissed the electricity, "It allows me to freely control the electricity in my body."
"Oh...okay...cause...that explains...that…" Naoto muttered, "Oh I swear this world just gives physics the middle finger, doesn't it?"
'This world?' Gunvolt mentally repeated, "...you'd be surprised what people with Septima can do…" he stated out loud as he began to walk...before he tensed as he heard something up ahead, "...heads up. We have company up ahead…" he warned, reaching for a holster on his belt as he pulled out a black gun with white detailing and a blue sphere.
"...got it," Naoto nodded, taking on a more serious face as he took a fighting stance.
Gunvolt held his hand up as he cautiously walked over to the corner of the building, Naoto following his lead as the former peeked out of the corner.
"...three people, two men and one girl," Gunvolt whispered to Naoto, peeking out to see Rex and his group looking around.
"So first we're lost in this new world...now we gotta stop a Revolution which could potentially lead to a race war...oh and find Frosty the ice robotman...by way of Sub Zero...anyone else hating their life?" Kazumi asked.
"Kinda…" Rex muttered as he moved some snow away.
"...being spied on," Lambda answered, gaining her armor as she prepared her new weapons.
"Oh come on…" Kazumi sighed.
"...an Adept?" Gunvolt questioned before frowning a bit, "One that knows we're here…"
"Okay...but...if that's true, what are those guys?" Naoto asked.
"GV...they might be like Naoto here," Joule whispered to Gunvolt, "People from another world…"
"...you might be right…" Gunvolt whispered, holstering his gun as he looked back at Naoto, "They might be like you…"
"Eh?"
"Follow my lead….also you're going to answer some questions later," Gunvolt stated to him, holding his hands up as he walked out from behind theri cover, "It's okay…"
"...a kid?" Kazumi blinked.
"I'm not a kid…" Gunvolt deadpanned.
"You are kinda young looking, GV," Naoto pointed out as he followed him.
"...?" Lambda blinekd behind her visor for a moment, seeing Ragna taking Naoto's place for a moment before she shook her head, "...false alarm...I think…"
"...you're not friends with this guy named 'Tenjian' are you?" Rex asked.
"...no," Gunvolt scowled as electricity cracked off him for a moment.
"We're here to stop whoever caused this ice," Naoto explained, "What about you guys?"
"More or less the same," Rex answered, "Right after we were offered to join this Eden cult."
"...then we're on the same side," Gunvolt noted as he lowered his hands.
"No fight?" Lambda asked.
"...don't be sure of that," Kazumi spoke, earning the group's attention as he frowned, "We got company."
"...Pawns," Gunvolt frowned, pulling his gun back out as he stood ready.
"Pawns? Wh-woah!" Naoto yelped as he narrowly avoided a laser shot.
"Azure Striker spotted in the area," one of a few armored men spoke into their helmet, holding high-tech blasters as a group of drone-like robots flew above, "Preparing to engage."
"Okay...this is more than I was…" Naoto began.
"Henshin!"
=ROBOT IN GREASE!=
"Orya!" Grease shouted punching one of the armored men, flipping him head over heels before landing face first on the cold hard ground.
The lasers bounced off his armor before he grabbed another Armored soldier and lifted him up by his neck. Grease growled slamming him into the ground before rolling over him. He swung his leg down and landed an axe kick to the shoulder of another bringing them down face first into the ground. Grease got up as he popped his neck.
"The Festival starts now!" he cheered as he spun around before leaping into the air and kicking another Armored Soldier, sending them flying away and bouncing off a wall.
"Ah...you can let him handle it." Rex held a hand up as Grease dragged a Drone down and slammed it into the ground, making it explode.
"...Danger detected," Lambda spoke as he turned around, flicking one of her flails as it grabbed the blaster of an armored man that tried to blast them, creating a copy of his blaster as she used it to destroy the original, "...Effective…"
"Okay that doesn't seem balanced…" Rex muttered before the copy shattered, "...nevermind. Guess guns or blasters are one and done kind of deal."
"Complaint for later." she muttered before doing it again and fired a shot at another armored man.
"Okay so everyone here is freakishly powerful…" Naoto awed as Grease jumped and karate chopped a drone in half.
"...what did I get myself mixed up in?" Gunvolt whispered to himself.
"Come on, come on! This is getting boring!" Grease shouted as he jumped and slammed his knee into an Armored man's throat and pinned him to a wall, "Talk, or I rip your spine out your ass...why you after my friends!?"
"Why...are you betraying your own kind?!" he grunted.
"Hah? That's not what I asked. My kind are who I say they are...now talk." Grease growled, applying more pressure, "Don't answer my question with another question, dumbass!"
"Look out!" Rex shouted as he jumped to Grease's side, bringing his Slam Hands out as he quickly caught a large green energy saw that was heading for him.
"What now?" Grease asked, slamming the man's head into the wall knocking them out, as he looked at a tall, white and orange pillar-like robot nearby as the saw retracted back into it.
"...there's another…" Gunvolt spoke, looking over his shoulder to see a similar one not too far, "...I'll take care of that one. One of you handle the other, and try to get one of them to talk on Tenjian's location."
"Wh-" Rex began before Gunvolt rushed at the other robot, firing off a few thin pins as they embedded into it, "...uh...th-"
"Flashfield!" Gunvolt called out as the energy bubble returned, only for it to pop as bolts of azure electricity headed towards the robot, hitting the pins in it before the machine exploded.
"Wow…" Rex awed.
"Banzai!" Grease shouted, jumping into the air as he jumped towards the other robot just as it was about to fire its saw at him.
=SCRAP FINISH!=
With that, Grease's shoulder armor turned and burst a stream of black flames as he crashed a kick that tore through the robot.
"...wait….he's a Kamen Rider, isn't he?" Naoto asked Lambda.
"Correct," Lambda answered before the light in her new weapons dimmed, "...recharge."
"...I've missed a lot while I was away from home," Naoto whispered...before he grabbed an armored man just as he was about to run, "Okay...talk."
"N-never! I won't talk to a human sympathizer!"
"Kazumi…" Rex spoke as Grease walked over and picked the Armored Man up.
"Talk or I'll rip something out of your body and make you eat it!"
"And trust me when I say this...I"m normally a pretty chill guy, but…" Naoto paused as he frowned, "I don't like people who harm others for whatever warped reasons they have…"
"I suggest you speak and tell us where Tenjian is…" Gunvolt spoke as he walked over, "I doubt I could hold these two…"
"...th-the five star hotel nearby."
"See? Was th-" Naoto began before the man began to choke out, "?! Oi oi!"
"Glory….to Eden...to Zonda's love…!" the man grunted out before he slumped.
"...he's dead," Grease said as he dropped the man, "They are either so loyal they die for them...or they got something in them that does it if they spill secrets. I'm betting both…" he sighed as his armor faded away, "Meaning they're more dangerous than expected, they'll throw themselves at our biggest attacks for the sake of their boss. Who I'm willing to bet has some mental hold over them, probably something to do with love. Which...is a new one to me."
"I'm not surprised," Gunvolt frowned as he holstered his gun, "Zonda's not the type to underestimate."
"Zonda?" Lambda repeated.
"The leader of Eden," Gunvolt explained, "All I know at the moment is that they're looking to commit genocide on humanity to create a utopia for Adepts."
"...so basically a cult," Naoto noted.
"Of terrorists," Gunvolt continued with a frown, "One of the Seven-the top members of Eden- I previously faced intended on flooding the Land while another experimented on humans and fellow Adapts for their blood."
"...so we're dealing with a cult of terrorists with superpowers…" Kazumi noted, "...may need to inform Sento…"
"Info already relayed to him," Lambda answered, her visor beeping for a few moments before she noticed Joule, "...kawaii."
"?!" Joule tensed up a bit, "...GV, she can see me."
"Hmm?" Gunvolt blinked at that.
"What did.." Kazumi began before his phone went off, prompting to pull it out and answered, "Hello?"
=I just got La-chan's recording= Sento answered.
"That was fast," Rex whispered before noticing the looks Naoto and Gunvolt were giving him, "...Sento's a friend of ours."
"Ahh…"
"Super genius inventor with amazing powers and an annoying Superhero complex…" Kazumi sighed as he put Sento on speaker.
=Loser who got his butt kicked by me says what?=
"What? ...DAMN IT!"
=Hah! Got him...ahh but in all seriousness, this Eden group is more dangerous than I initially thought= Sento stated =I can only imagine what their leader is capable of=
"...did you encounter Tenjian beforehand?" Gunvolt asked.
"He came to us with an offer to join," Lambda answered.
"...I suggest you set up some defenses and break any reflective surfaces you have," Gunvolt suggested to Sento.
"...mirror powers?" Naoto guessed.
"Yes. Zonda can create mirror portals and use them-and most likely- any reflective surface to travel and attack."
=Oh I get it. Like Ryuki…= Sento spoke up =I already got something for that=
"Wait...what's that mean?"
=Don't worry about it~=
"...just don't underestimate Zonda," Gunvolt warned before looking at the others, "For now..I suggest we look for Tenjian before this ice further spreads out across the city..or at worst cover Japan."
"...wait. We're in Japan?!" Naoto exclaimed.
=Who was that?= Sento asked.
"Someone we met with Gunvolt, a.k.a the person you were just speaking with," Rex explained, "...and given his reaction to Kazumi earlier...I think he's like us."
"Isekaied into another world," Lambda added.
"Different worlds," Naoto corrected once he calmed down enough, "I'll...explain once this whole situation is dealt with."
"Are you a doofus on a journey to save the world or is this all about a girl?" Kazumi asked simply.
"...latter kinda," Naoto whispered as he turned his head away, "L..let's just hurry and find this Tenjian guy turns Japan into a Winter Horrorland."
"I think y-"
"I know what I said…"
"...I like these guys. They're funny," Joule giggled a bit.
"They are something…" Lambda muttered.
"...okay. I think we stumbled into a five star hotel," Ben muttered as he, Rook and Ryuga stepped into a huge yet frozen hotel lobby.
"How many fountains does this place need?" Ryuga asked.
"Perhaps they had the money to spar," Rook offered, keeping his Proto-Tool out as the group looked around.
"This is stupid rich levels." Ryuga muttered.
"Agreed," Ben muttered before blinking, "...this would be something Billy would enjoy…"
"Painstakingly so…" Skurd groaned.
"Billy?" Ryuga repeated.
"An enemy of Ben's," Rook replied, "An evil boy genius who tries to beat Ben and prove he is superior to him."
"He fails at it...a lot," Ben added.
"So...like the worst genius ever?"
"More or less, correct," Skurd added.
"Gotcha," Ryuga nodded as they began to step towards a set of stairs, "...I ain't climbing those."
"Wh-" Ben and Rook began before Ryuga pointed up...and let them see how tall the hotel was, "..."
"...yeah no," Ben deadpanned.
"If this place has no elevator...that is just cruel," Rook added.
"So...should I transform and bring it down?" Ryuga asked, "I could go Magma and make it sink into the ground till the top floor comes to us…"
"And risk being sued in a world we're not even from?" Skurd countered.
"How's anyone gonna kn-" Ryuga began before a lasershot nicked his shoulder, "Gh!"
"Don't move, Adept…"
The three looked over to see a human teenager with short white hair glaring at them with his crimson red eyes. He wore sleek white and red armor with a red cross on his chest armor and a pair of red armored boots, a white gun with black highlights in his hand as the barrel smoked a bit.
"Okay...I'm gonna twist your head off...and then shove it up your ass…" Ryuga growled as he cracked his knuckles.
"Not before I terminate you and those other two, Adept filth," the teen scowled.
"Wait wait wait!" Ben spoke up as he moved before Ryuga, "A: We don't do that…"
"You realize I am not Sento, if I fight a bad guy I end em…" Ryuga spoke up.
"Ignoring…" Ben sighed, "And B: We are not Adepts...I mean...we honestly don't know what that is. If it's robots...he's hurt like a human...although…"
"Bring up the alien dad thing again and its your head I twist off…" Ryuga leaned in towards Ben.
"Shutting up."
"Then explain why I saw a member of Eden's Seven leaving that building you all were in," the teen demanded.
"I have no clue the hell that even is…" Ryuga replied, "And no I'm not playing dumb…"
"He just is." Rook added.
"You want your head twisted off, Space cop?" Ryuga complained.
"Shutting up."
"..I don't care what your explanation is," the tene frowned as he gripped the trigger of his gun, "In my eyes your Adepts...and your kind deserves to be terminated from the face of the Earth."
"Oh dear...I do believe h-" Skurd began.
"That's it!" Ryuga snapped as he rushed, about to punch teh teen before he suddenly took off into the air, "?!"
"Lola, engage combat maneuvers," the teen ordered.
=Okay Copen!= a small red and white orb with yellow optics replied as it and smaller red and white orbs flew out of the black metal pack on the teens pack as they began to float around him.
"You're really pissing me off kid! Don't make me hit you for real!" Ryuga complained before Copen tackled into him, flipping off him as he fired concentrated lasers at the Rider...before a green flash went off as a wall of crystals blocked the lasers.
"I don't think he's willing to listen," Diamondhead pointed out.
"Tsk…" Ryuga groaned, "Okay...fine we'll do this his way," he pulled out his belt and grabbed his little dragon, "Henshin!"
=Wake up Burning! Get Cross-Z Dragon!Yeah~!=
"...I knew it," Copen scowled before flying away from Cross-Z's incoming kick, landing against a nearby balcony as he looked down, "Adepts…"
"Shut the hell up! I'm not an Adept! I'm human!" Cross-Z snapped, "I don't give a crap what your issue is, your pissing me off and I got important shit to do! In case you don't know your world is in danger and me and my friends are trying to do something about it! So let's make this fast chibi! Come down here so I can spank you and send you off to cry to someone!"
=Oh he is mad…= Lola noted with a cringe before a series of diamonds and a laser were fired at Copen, only for a barrier to appear around him for a moment as the attacks deflected off it.
"I see...those bits seem to act as a form of defense," Rook noted as he lowered his Proto-Tool.
"Meaning it'll be hard to get past it when he's not moving," Diamondhead added.
"Ah leave this brat to me!" Cross-Z complained, "You guys go on ahead, you can probably elevate your way up as that guy." he pointed to Diamondhead.
"...fair point," Diamondhead nodded before slamming his hands into the ground, creating a large pillar of crystal as it reached high up to the top floor, "Let's go Rook!"
"Try not to hurt him too badly!" Rook spoke up as teh two began to run up the crystal pillar.
"Wait!" Copen called out, only to flinch as Cross-Z's fist almost struck his face.
"I told you...you're getting a spanking brat!" Cross-Z growled as he punched the ground, causing it to buckle and roll like a wave towards Copen.
"Hpmh!" Copen snorted as he took off into the air once more, hovering for a second as he glared down at Cross-Z, "Lola, engage copy program."
=Got it! Engaging Hydro Zapper!= Lola replied as she flashed for a moment, her body a light-purple with a pair of 'fins' jutting from below and a fin on top.
"Hydro wh-" Cross-Z began before he was sent skidding back by a few pressurized beams of water.
Cross-Z growled as he began stepping forward, walking through the water, taking Copen by surprise as he stepped closer and closer. Cross-Z swung his arm down before summoning his sword the Beat Closer and swinging up and cutting through the water, parting it away from him.
=EEK= Lola panicked before she changed to a yellow color with a set of twin drill 'pigtails' =Twintail Bunker!=
"Ha!" Cross-Z roared as he slashed, only for a pair of drills to send Copen up high into the air as they separated back into the individual bits flying around him, "Damn it!" he spun around, "Your real good at shooting and running kid! What's the matter, not man enough to fight for real!?"
"No...I know when to play it smart," Copen argued as he flew over him, Lola changing back to her normal color.
=Stellar Spark set, boss!=
"Stellar wh-" Cross-Z began before the bits fired off a set of electric bolts at him, causing him to grunt out as electricity coursed through his body, "Gh!" he babbled as he fell over, "Okay...I'm getting real tired of this gimmicky Metroid nonsense…"
"I don't know what that is, nor do I care," Copen bluntly stated before firing off a few more shots at Cross-Z.
"HA!" Cross-Z shouted, swinging his sword and deflecting all his shots away, "I'll be honest, this is getting old kid, so let's just give it up...at this point I'm so angry I'm done with this, either take your beating like a man or get lost! I got better crap to do then let you vent your issues. You know...like actually help people! Something you probably know nothing about!"
"..I do," Copen frowned as he glared at him, "I make sure Monsters like you never harm another human being ever again."
"I am Human dumbass!" he snapped, "Human! You know, Mom and dad, I was a baby, I grew up! How is that not sinking in...I just have super powers!"
"Then that makes you an Adept!" Copen snapped as he fired off more shots, "And my father was killed by demons like you!"
"Gh…" he sighed as he quickly dodged the lasers, "Your like a broken record of stupid...and I'm the dumbest person I know...AH! I called myself stupid again!" he swung his sword and deflected the lasers, "Know what fine...ugh...I'll take this seriously for a moment…"
=...oh I think he's serious, Copen= Lola whispered =What should we do?=
"...He's focused on close ranged combat, limited on projectile attacks," Copen whispered as he scanned Cross-Z, "His powers seem to derive from that device on his belt, yet it could be possible he could change forms…take the belt off him...he loses his power."
"Ora ora ora ora!" Cross-Z chanted cranking his belt.
=Dragonic Finish!=
Suddenly Cross-Z was covered in blue flames, which flew off his body in the form of a giant eastern dragon. It circled around the entire room several times unleashing an absolutely blistering heat which overwhelmed Copen for a moment.
=Boss...he's reaching supernova levels of heat intensity!= Lola exclaimed.
"...then we'll have to use that," Copen frowned before he took off towards Cross-Z, the jets on his back and his boots growing as he began to go faster and faster, "May claws shatter chains. Of those who traipse in my wake...Begone, you impure!" he chanted, a crimson aura engulfing him as he became a blur, "SHRED STORM!"
"..." Cross-Z tensed as blue flames formed around him turned brighter, "Got ya bitch!" his fist swung in a wide arc as it moved at just the right angle to strike Copen out of the air before his attack could hit, the dragon blasting fire along his arm as Copen was sent slamming into a wall, "Yeah...I can move without thinking...kinda helps since I hate thinking."
"...Tch…" Copen grunted as he forced himself up, spitting out some blood as he used the wall to help himself stand, "That's fine...it was enough to get close…"
"Eh? Cl-" Cross-Z began before a clattering sound went off, making him look down to see his belt on the ground..before he lost his transformation, "..."
"Now…" Copen began before Ryuga punched him into the wall, then again...and again.
"I don't need the belt dumbass…" Ryuga spoke, dragging him out of the crumbled wall, "It just helps focus what I can do. But now the damn inventor of the thing is gonna get pissy over what you did..." he sighed, slamming him into the wall once more.
"GH!" Copen grunted as he was forced against the wall.
"So you gonna admit you lost...or do I still need to bring you over my knee?" Ryuga sighed.
"Let him go…"
"...ugh….a friend of yours?" Ryuga asked, not bothering to look to see Gunvolt aiming his gun at him.
"...hardly," Copen scowled a bit, glaring at Gunvolt as he pushed Ryuga away, "Adept…"
"So you're just made of bitch right?" Ryuga asked with a groan, "Cause that seems to be all you do man…"
=Hey!= Lola snapped as she floated before him =We were about to go stop the Adept here before he spotted you guys!=
"That's what we were about to do, dumbass!" Ryuga snapped at Lola, making her yelp as she shot behind Copen.
"It's true…" Gunvolt spoke as the others in his group walked over, "Copen, we're here to stop Tenjian to free this part of the city...adn take back the part of Joule he has….speaking of which…" he paused as he cautiously walked over to him, "I need the piece you have…"
"...no," Copen denied as he began to walk off.
"It's the only way I can restore Joule!" Gunvolt argued.
"I still need it for my research," Copen argued back.
"Listen, we were…" Naoto began before Copen aimed his gun at him, "?!"
"Don't follow me…" Copen growled a bit.
"Can I just hit him?" Ryuga asked as he picked up his belt.
"You're the kind of guy who uses that as an answer to everything aren't you?" Gunvolt blinked.
"It hasn't failed me yet." Ryuga argued.
"It's true…" Kazumi muttered.
"It's your answer to everything too, Bakazumi!" Ryuga complained.
"Yeah...and I found out quite a bit about this Eden group before the guy we interrogated killed himself!" Kazumi argued back.
"We all witnessed it, amigo," Rex added.
"...great. So we're basically dealing with a death cult of people with superpowers," Ryuga groaned.
"Terrorists," Lambda corrected.
"That's not exactly helpful!" Ryuga snapped, "Now kid, y…" he began as he turned back to face Copen...who was already gone with the ground burnt up a bit, "..."
"Don't be surprised…" Gunvolt sighed as he holstered his gun, "He refuses to listen to anyone..especially if they're an Adept."
"Which is just anyone with superpowers...which...I'm pretty sure is all of us…" Ryuga added.
"You'd be right," Gunvolt nodded before looking up at the crystal pillar leading to the top floor, "...Something made by a friend of yours?"
"Hmm.." Rex muttered as he walked over to it, tapping it a few times, "...yup. This is Ben's handiwork."
"Your friend can make crystal pillars?" Naoto blinked.
"He can do a lot more than that," Rex answered.
"Henshin da," Lambda added.
"He can have any power," Ryuga added.
"How well he does shifts between if he's trying or goofing the hell off." Kazumi added.
"Oh…" Naoto blinked at that.
"...I'm going to go after him then," Gunvolt spoke as he walked towards the pillar, "You all check to see if there are any survivors in here."
"Like hell!" Ryuga snapped at that, "I…!"
"Copen made a fool of you and made you lose your transformation," Gunvolt stated, not even once turning to look at him, "Do you think you'd be able to take Tenjian...who wouldn't hesitate to cut you down before you even could transform?"
"That's different, I wasn't even taking him seriously…" Ryuga sighed.
"It's true...he wasn't." Kazumi chuckled, "If he was...this whole place would have melted down."
"That explains why this place doesn't look like a winter castle in here," Joule noted as she looked around.
"...fine," Gunvolt sighed, "Naoto, you're with me….everyone else? Search for any survivors that are trapped here."
"..I will come and assist," Lambda spoke as she walked over..
"And stay out of the action? As…" Rex began.
"Multiple heat signatures detected...most of which are hostile," Lambda spoke as she gained her armor.
"More of Eden's Pawns then," Gunvolt noted, "Better that we split up into groups then…"
"I'm gonna go fight the guy up top." was all Ryuga said as he ran ahead.
"...he really is that much of a fighting nut, isn't he?"
"You have no idea," Those that knew Ryuga sighed.
"...I do not like this," Rook frowned as he and an untransformed Ben walked into an area that seemed...normal compared to the part of the hotel they were previously in.
"The young man must be expecting someone," skurd spoke as his eyes narrowed, "He's that confident in his skills, he must feel he doesn't need to use his powers in this room."
"IE this is his place to relax and wait till someone shows up to stop him." Ben added, "Wow Ego much?"
"I would argue on that, but you have toned down on the Ego a lot since we first met," Rook stated.
"Yeah well…"
"Ahh...you made it."
"...and we found him," Skurd frowned as Ben and Rook looked over, seeing Tenjian standing not too far from them as he was taking a bite of an apple.
"I will admit, I was expecting someone else...but this is quite the nice surprise," Tenjian smiled a bit as he looked at the two, "Did you think of my offer...my 'Adept' brethren?"
"?"
"I can tell none of you are from around here," Tenjian stated, making the two tense up as he looked at his apple, "All the more reason why you should join us...and if you don't...what do you think would happen?" he questioned as he looked back at the two, "You defeat the 'villains' and be called heroes? Heh...sadly that is not how it works here. Even if you save the humans...they will see you as monsters still and will treat you as such…." he frowned as his apple began to freeze over, "No matter what you do...humans and Adepts will never accept each other...they will be caught in an endless cycle of hate…!" he growled a bit as his apple shattered into snow and ice, "...but my offer still stands. Join us in Eden...and you will be treated as true heroes...and depending on how things goes…" he paused as he shot them a smile, "We can offer to help free your worlds of oppression as well...create true utopias for people with special gifts...and weed out humanity so those utopias can thrive. So..." he held his hand out to the two, "Will you join Eden and its cause?"
"Nah…" Ben spoke up, getting his attention, "I get your point, people not getting along...is messed up. But that's not my problem to solve, no matter how much I'd want to. The Hero thing comes with fame most times, but I've learned that's pretty overrated. Trust me if I could, I would give almost anything to not be famous where I'm from. But even if you're right...it's not gonna stop me from helping."
"Truer words have never been spoken," Rook added, giving Ben a small smile before glaring at Tenjian, "No...we will not accept your offer and join your plan to commit genocide on an entire race."
"...I see…a shame then," Tenjian noted, his smile fading as he held his hands out, a glowing blue and yellow book appearing before him as it opened up, "Perhaps my sword will cure you…"
As the pages turned, a pillar of black and icy-blue flames burst forth before black butterflies covered in an aura began to fly out and engulf him. Soon he was covered in a dome of azure and black electricity as it swirled around him until it shattered, revealing him in a transformed state. His hair was now a bright blue while his eyes open, revealing them to be black his pupils a pale blue. He wore a set of black and gray armor with white and blue highlights with two wing-like appendages attached to his lower back. On his shoulders were a set of large, half-spheres attached to a set of arm-like appendages coming from his shoulders.
"...did...did he just transform with a book?" Ben blinked in surprise.
"The power of the Muse," Tenjian explained as he reached for the spikes jutting out of the orbs, pulling them out as they formed a straight blade and a curved blade respectively, "Thanks to it, the power my Septima, Permafrost, has increased exponentially. If anything…" he paused as he tapped one of the swords on the ground...and instantly froze the entire room around them, "The ice age is a mere snowstorm compared to it."
"Well...this is happening…" Rook muttered.
"I hate twists…" Ben sighed, slapping the Omnitrix as he turned into NRG.
"Good...I thought you'd try to run away," Tenjian smirked a bit before he jumped back, his orbs firing off a set of icy chakram at the two.
"I almost never run!" NRG shouted, blasting radiation from his optic vents, "Unless it is da Girlfriend when she is in mood, in dat case...da I run!"
"Focus! We…!" Rook began before narrowly dodging a slash from one of Tenjian's blades, knocking his shoulder armor as it began to freeze over, "?!"
"Rook!" NRG shouted as he fired off another beam, tenjian combining his two blades as he spun them in place to deflect the laser before jumping back, allowing NRG to run over just as Rook fell to a knee, "You alright, partner?"
"I am fine, but…" Rook grunted, using his Proto-Tool to quickly break the armor that had been frozen over, "Do not let his blades touch you. He was not kidding about how cold his powers are..."
"Da...this will be a pain." NRG spoke, raising his glowing hands.
Tenjian just smirked a bit before using his combined blades to deflect the incoming blast, separating them before he charged at NRG for a slash, only for the metal alien to grab his blade, causing the metal to creak as it began to freeze up..until it started to melt from the heat.
"Not so cocky are you?" NRG taunted as the blade melted, prompting Tenjian to jump away.
"It's fine…" Tenjian begna, holding his empty hand out before a katana of ice formed in it, "I can always create more."
"Oh you are nothing like the ice guy I know...and frankly dat is pissing me off," he sighed as he reached for the handle atop his suit.
"Hmm?"
"Let me slip off the restraints…" a hiss went off as the headpiece of the suit flipped open.
Tenjian looked before flinching as the real NRG crawled out in his red glowing glory.
"Da...much better." he smiled as he raised his hand and began to unleash a barrage of fireball-like blasts, prompting Tenjian to jump away as the blast hit the floor and began to melt it away, "Mr. Extreme Cold...meat Mr. Extreme Heat...a.k.a NRG!"
"What...are you?" he grunted, honestly taken a bit back by this level of ability or change within someone.
"I am a strange boy with a neat watch, if you ask my girlfriend I am also oddly cuddly as well," NRG laughed as he formed a larger ball of energy between his hands and tossed it at Tenjian.
Tenjian quickly slashed his blades, creating a few walls of ice to block the incoming energy ball, only for each of them to melt as he quickly jumped out of the way, "Such power….truly a shame…" he sighed as he looked at the two, "Zonda would have welcomed you both with opened arms."
"Apologies, but would have turned it down anyways," Rook countered, using his free arm to fire off a shot at Tenjian, only for him to deflect it away.
"Hmph...I…"
"ORA!" Tenjian truened before quickly moving out of the way of Cross-Z's jump kick, "Damn it! Missed!"
"Another one?" Tenjian questioned before wincing, bolts electricity hitting him as he looked over at a frowning Gunvolt, "...the Azure Striker...your name perceives you."
"Mmm…" Gunvolt frowned as he glared at him.
"You okay?" Naoto asked as he and Lambda helped Rook up.
"Cold...but otherwise okay…"
"Rook...Frostbite is a thing…" NRG sighed in concern.
"...medical attention," Lambda spoke as she scanned Rook's frozen shoulder, "Muscles and blood have been frozen over."
"Then we need to finish this now," Gunvolt spoke as he aimed his gun at Tenjian, "I'll be taking that Shard you stole back."
"Hmph...you and your obsession with shards," Tenjian snorted as he quickly jumped away from an energy beam from NRG.
"I don't know what that is, but I am mostly here to kick your ass!" Cross-Z shouted.
"That's it?" Gunvolt and Naoto blinked.
"I'm not professing to be some super hero fighting for peace and love, that's Sento's thing! I just kick the ass of murderous assholes who want to hurt people for no damn reason!" Cross-Z declared.
"...no reason?" Tenjian scowled at that, the spots of the room NRG melted starting to freeze over once more, "I am doing this for my Adepts brethren"
"You are harming innocents," Gunvolt argued as he fired a few pins at Tenjian, only for him to deflect them away with one of his blades.
"The Adepts of my home country were innocent," Tenjian argued with a growl, "In my home country, Adepts are hunted down the moment they are born...it is why my mother and father abandoned me...to save their own skins."
"If I stopped to listen to everyone's reason why they wanted to kill people who have nothing to do with your bullshit, I'd be dead." Cross-Z walked forward, "I don't care why you do it. I am not out to save you or make you my friend, I'm fighting cause if I don't people will get hurt. I don't care if you got your reasons, that's not my problem. But you are my problem… Here's a spoiler, life sucks! The woman I loved got killed cause people wanted me for my DNA! But I'm not out to destroy the world...cause she's still with me, and I'm not gonna make our tragedy anyone else's problem! I just know...if I don't fight, someone else will suffer like we did...so get over yourself...and fight me!" a sudden shockwave came from Cross-Z that cracked the ice around and made Tenjian tense.
"...then you leave me no choice but to use it…" Tenjian frowned, crossing his arms as an icy-bleu aura began to surround him, "Strike down cold petals...On a plain of perfect white...With this frosted blade..." he chanted as he began to float up into the air, "Frigid Blossom!"
The group tensed a fierce blizzard began to blow off of Tenjian, practically engulfing him from view. After a moment, the blizzard died down, revealing no trace of him anywhere.
"...where d-" Cross-Z began before tensing, quickly jumping back before his arm and part of his leg were hit by a beam of icy-blue light, instantly freezing both over, "Gah!"
"?!" Lambda tensed up before picking up Rook and flew up, narrowly avoiding another icy blue light.
"Where is…!" NRG began before a beam of icy-blue light hit him from behind, making him grunt into he was caught in an large ice crystal in the shape of a snowflake, "GH...can't..move!"
"What is this?" Naoto asked in shock as he was able to avoid the attack somehow.
"A last resort for Armed Adapts," Gunvolt explained, standing ready as he looked around, "They channel their powers into a chant, and unleash it into a devastating attack."
"...So that's what...that brat was whispering…!" Cross-Z grunted as he tried to lift his frozen arm up while trying to move the frozen part of his leg. He grunted to little success, "So all that power...and all you want to do is fill that empty hole in your heart with killing people who have nothing to do with what happened to you?" he slammed his free hand onto his frozen arm, "Is that all people like you ever think about?!" he smacked his arm as the ice began cracking.
"It is what all Adepts around the world think of!" Tenjian's voice shouted, "We of Eden are here to make sure they never have to suffer again...to never be betrayed again!"
"...that's what happened to you, isn't it?" Gunvolt questioned as he looked up,
A human betrayed you, didn't they?"
"...when I grew up on the streets, I collapsed from hunger and was saved by a human when they gave me food…" Tenjian replied...before the fierce blizzard began to grow once more, "But in truth they tried to poison me! I barely survived...but I knew then what true human nature truly was! Nothing but a bunch of filthy monsters that attack and hate anything they do not understand...because they are not like them! It is why Eden will create the Utopia for Adepts...so that we can be free of this persecution..and terminate humans of the face of the Earth!" he roared out as he was seen diving down towards NRG, his blade aimed down as he was going for a downward stab, "DIE, HUMAN SYMPATHIZERS!"
=BOTTLE BURN!=
A sudden wave of heat knocked Tenjian back and melted a large amount of the ice. Everyone turned to Cross-Z as he slammed his Magma Knuckle into the ground. He stood up before slotting it into his belt.
"Like I said...I don't care for your story…" Cross-Z sighed as he began cranking his belt, causing the air to grow hotter, "I don't pretend like I fight for something like love and peace for the planet Earth...I fight...so no one has to suffer pain like I did...so no one has to outlive the person they cared for more than their own life...any world born from the death of people trying to just survive in a harsh world...is not perfect!"
"Humanity may not be perfect...but they're trying to survive just as much as Adapts are!" Gunvolt added as an electric blue aura began to surround him, "It's why I fight to protect both kinds..to protect them from people like Sumeragi...people like you."
"Tch...gr…!" Tenjian growled as he stood his ground.
"I don't get how this world works...but something tells me...its future isn't with people like you…" Cross-Z spoke as he stopped cranking his belt, "People who think taking lives will make the world better...or just cause they can…" the air around him was glowing with heat, "Just like him...are the ones I can't stand!"
=Are you ready!?=
"...then die!" Tenjian snapped as he threw one of his blades at Cross-Z just as he was finishing cranking his belt...only for Naoto to grab it by the hilt, "?!"
"You know...I really detest people who subjugate others just because…" Naoto frowned, a familiar red and black energy seething from his hand as he crushed the blade, "Especially those who think what they're doing is right…" he stated before looking back at Cross-Z, "Mind if me and GV join in on this? This guy's attitude is really pissing me off."
"AH!" he roared as heat formed magma, which pooled around and covered him as multiple dragon heads formed around him.
"...I'll take that as a yes then," Naoto noted before looking back at Tenjian. He then took a deep breath as he gripped his arm, his eyes closing as red and black energy began to seep off him.
"...wait...that looks like.." NRG began.
"Bloodedge!" Naoto called out as his eyes shot open, showing they were now a red color as the energy burst off of him, his hand-which was covered in glowing rune-like symbols-now holding a blood-red energy sword. Another thing to note was his brown hair...was now a stunning white...much like a familiar Grim Reaper the Omni Team knew very well.
"...Rag….na?" Lambda whispered for a moment.
=Gokunetsu kinniku! Cross-Z Magma! Achachachachachacha Acha!=
An explosion went off as volcanic rock was tossed around. Cross-Z Magma roared as he rushed forward and punched Tenjian, the heat coming off the Rider causing the ice around them to evaporate to steam.
"GH!" Tenjian grunted as he staggered back, a burn mark evident on his cheek, "...tch...filthy…!"
"ORYA!" Naoto shouted as he jumped over, his sword reeled back as he slashed down on Tenjian's chest armor, causing sparks to come off it as he further staggered back. He quickly stepped aside to let Cross-Z charge at the Eden Adapt and began to rapidly punch him before tossing him towards Naoto, "Ha!" he shouted, swinging and slashing Tenjian away.
Tenjian grunted as he was sent flying right towards Cross-Z, who reeled his arm back as he punched him right back towards Naoto, who was reeling his own arm back as he was prepping for an uppercut motion.
"Divine Reaper!" Naoto shouted as he punched upward, sending out a blood-red energy demon head that crashed into Tenjian, making him grunt out as he was sent high into the air, "GV!"
"The flashing lightning is the guidance of counter-attacking…The roaring thunder-roar is the bloody proof…The piercing thunder is the reason of the Universe…!" Gunvolt chanted as Joule faintly appeared behind him for a moment, faintly singing an aria as the electricity surrounding him began to grow out, "Burst forth...Armed Blue! VOLTIC CHAIN!" he roared out as chains of azure electricity shot out from behind him and began to bind Tenjian into place in the air.
"GH! N...no…!" Tenjian grunted as he tried to free himself, "Impossible...the Power of the Muse…"
"Was never yours to begin with…" Gunvolt frowned as he held his hand out.
=Volcanic Finish!=
"If you're gonna change the world, you should strive to change it for the better," Cross-Z began as his wings ignited and took him into the air, "If all you do is hurt and destroy, the world will never change! You have to fight for a better world by being better!" he aimed his leg forward as a dragon head of magma formed around his leg, "Even an idiot like me knows you can't change the world by being a monster!"
"Same!" Naoto shouted as he jumped up towards tenjian, reeling his arm back as blood red and black energy began to swirl around his fist, "You claim humans are the monsters, and yet you're no different! Which is why as long as I'm in this world...I'll help take down your death cult! Divine…!"
"RAHH!/Smasher!" the two roared out as they shot towards Tenjian, passing by one another for a moment before they shot past each other as Naoto landed just across from Cross-Z.
"G...gah…" Tenjian gasped out, spitting out blood as a pair of holes were seen in his body, "I...impossible..ugh...Z...zon…" he rasped out, slowly being engulfed in flames as the chains began to spark, "ZONDAAAAAAAAAAA!" he cried out as the chains exploded in electricity, the shadowed view of hsi figure breaking apart as it dissipated into the butterflies from before as they flew into Joule, leaving only the book Tenjian had used to transform until it burnt away from the combination of Gunvolt's electricity and Cross-Z's heat.
"I will never understand the things my friends are…" Rook spoke up as he and Lambda just watched all that in awe.
"...hey. W-" NRG began before the ice crystal he was in instantly melted, letting him fall to the floor as he changed back into Ben, "...guess I was right kinda."
"Now that Tenjian is gone…" Gunvolt began as he looked out the window, seeing the ice engulfing the city starting to melt and vanish away, "There's no one to keep the ice and snow in check…"
"Meaning the people of Japan are safe once more," Joule added before looking at herself, "Also...two more Shards left, GV…"
"Yes...the one held by Copen…" Gunvolt paused as he frowned, "And the one over at Eden HQ…"
"Meaning Zonda most likely has it…"
"Agreed...but for now, we need to rest and tend to the wounded," Gunvolt stated as he looked over at Ben and the others, "And have certain questions answered for me…"
"..I do believe one of his questions involves us being from another world," Skurd whispered to Ben.
"Had a feeling…" Ben grunted as he stood up, "But I doubt Sento's gonna like it…"
"Sento? The uh Genius guy you mention a lot?" Naoto asked as his eyes and hair changed back to normal, the blood red and black aura dissipating.
"He knows everything we don't know, knows how stuff works, makes stuff that works, and is able to make a machine to jump around the multiverse…" Ben sighed, "In short...he's a kinda annoying guy with an IQ of 600."
"So...jerk genius, but has a good heart?" Naoto guessed.
"More or less," Cross-Z answered as he dismissed his transformation...and fell down onto his back, "...starting to miss the ice…"
"Never fear! Skurd is here!" Skurd assured before he inhaled and shot out a mist that hit Ryuga, covering his head in a pile of snow.
"Thanks…" Ryuga sighed in relief as he settled into the snow, "I don't even care how Sento's gonna react…"
"BAKAs!"
*WHAP!*
"Ite/ow!"
"Did you guys not learn anything after what happened last time?!" Sento snapped as Ryuga, Ben, and those in their respective search parties -minus Rook- rubbed their heads.
"To be fair...Tenjian was already onto us not being from this world…" Ben muttered.
"So basically...that makes it twice now…" Ryuga added.
"...damn it. You're right," Sento groaned as he walked away.
"Also technically, I'm not from this world either," Naoto added form nearby.
*WHAP!*
"OW!"
"No excuses!"
"To be fair, a place like this suddenly popping up out of nowhere would raise some questions," Gunvolt stated as he sat at a nearby table.
"You are new here and competent so I won't thump you...but don't think I can't…" Sento spoke.
"Hey I'm new…" Naoto groaned.
*WHAP!*
"Silence, boy, you bother me." Sento stated as Naoto was face first on the ground.
"Ow…"
"At least you got Rook back in time," Mai spoke as she walked into the room with Noel, wiping their hands a bit, "We're low on medical supplies and me and Noel had to use a few hot towels to get the blood in Rook's shoulder pumping again."
"And Rex is making sure to keep an eye out if any of Tenjian's buddies show up," Makoto added as Rex stood near the front door.
"...If you're referring to the rest of Eden's Seven, they're dead," Gunvolt spoke, earning the group's attention, "I took down three of them...and Joule sensed Copen had three more Shards on him."
"...then why the intense look?" Rex asked.
"Let's say I have experience in dealing with top officials of an evil cooperation suddenly coming back to life," Gunvolt explained with a frown, "Sumeragi had an Adept that could bring the dead back to life, powers and all….so I wouldn't be surprised if Zonda did something to bring the Seven back."
"...Ben, Makoto?" Sento spoke up, earning the two's attention, "Mind going to get some medical supplies for Rook's injury? I need to ask our new friend here some questions."
"That's fine…" Gunvolt spoke as he looked directly at Sento, "I have my own questions…"
"You mean get out of here and away from the crazy mad scientists who wants to take apart things he doesn't understand?" Ben asked as he and Makoto looked at eachother.
"Bye!" Makoto declared happily as they bolted.
"Traitor!" the girls shouted.
"That is some strong survival instincts," Joule noted as she floated near Gunvolt.
"...okay…" Gunvolt began as Sento sat across from him, "What do you want to know?"
"Adepts….what are they and Septima?" Sento asked.
"...Adepts...or rather Psychics as they were once called in the past are people with special gifts, connected to the seventh stage of the Lifewave," Gunvolt explained as he held his hand up, showing bits of electricity crackling off it, "It's a force of nature connected and present in all living beings on Earth...depending on the beings that are born, they may be granted with great cognitive and physical abilities….first, second and third stages are your typical average human or animal while those calling themselves ESP users or spiritualist are part of the fourth stage, also known as Tetrad...stronger ones that are part of the fifth stage, which is known as the Quinary. Beings known as 'Saints' and 'Spiritual animals' are on the Senary...part of the sixth stage. The seventh stage is for people such as myself, Tenjian, and those of Eden's Seven...known as Septima, which is the name of our powers."
"I see…"
"As for what Septimas are…it's a superpowered phenomenon that occurs in Adepts as early as ten years old," Gunvolt continued in his explanation, "Basically...they can defy the laws of both nature and physics, able to control things such as energy, fire, insects...even alter reality itself...it is because of this the Sumeragi Group created a ranking system to determine how dangerous certain Adepts are, S+ being the most powerful."
"...and...how strong are you exactly?" Gentoku asked as everyone listened in.
"...After certain events that transpired at their main HQ months ago…SS class."
"Interesting." Sento noted.
"Just so you know, he just processed all that and used math to find out how strong you are…" Ryuga spoke, "Also if he thought you were dangerous...he'd Batman you."
"I still don't know what a Batman is," Gunvolt stated, "Now for my question...how did you come to my world?" he questioned while shooting a look at Naoto, "That includes you as well."
"I invented a machine and map of the multiverse." Sento bluntly stated, "I don't know this one." he pointed to Naoto, "I'm willing to bet he got here by total accident."
"...You're not wrong," Naoto muttered, earning Sento's attention, "Listen, I can't explain it, but there's some...force that's making me jump from world to world...and there's one person I need to find amongst the world's I end up in...Raquel A-"
"Hang on." Sento spoke while reaching into his jacket. Naoto shrugged in confusion before yelping as he felt a sharp prick to his arm, "Oh...interesting…" he spoke as he plugged the needle into a little hand held computer machine.
"What?!" Naoto snapped.
"I'm studying the energy around your body to see if I can make a machine to help you control this jumping, stabilize it, or help you find the one you need to go to." Sento explained simply, "Hang on…" he pulled the needle out and pricked him again, making him yelp as this time it went deeper, "There we go."
"What did you just do?!" Naoto snapped before blinking, seeing Joule floating near Gunvolt, "...wait...that's that girl that appeared behind GV back at that hotel."
"Girl?" Sento and the others in the room -minus Lambda- repeated.
"Hmm?" Joule blinked at that as she looked over at him, "...You...you can see me...like that Lambda girl?"
"Yes!" Naoto nodded, "To be honest...I thought GV was speaking to some invisible girl or someone over a headpiece or something."
"Seriously, what girl?" Kazumi asked.
"Her!" Naoto shouted as he pointed at the air.
"He's referring to Joule," Gunvolt spoke up, "She's the reason why I'm considered an SS Class Adept...and the same power that Zonda and those of Eden's Seven have stolen from her."
"Then why can't we see her?" Rex questioned.
"...it's because she's literally part of me now," Gunvolt replied, giving a small, sad sigh.
"Hmm?" Noel blinked, only to groan as Sento gently pushed her back.
"No no no…" Sento shook his head.
"Okay, can we circle back to you and the needle?" Naoto asked.
"You mean this one?" Sento asked, pricking his thigh this time for no real reason.
"Ow! Stop it!"
"Make me," Sento smiled, returning attention to his device.
"Don't take the bait…" Ryuga and Kazumi whispered, "He's not a normal nerd…"
"Hmm...yes I see...you are a weird one." Sento nodded, "Ah I think I can make something to stabilize you, so you don't randomly vanish and poof to other places at inopportune times."
"...you're kidding," Naoto whispered with wide eyes.
"I/he never kids," Sento and his fellow Riders replied.
"So excuse me, I am going to go study and experiment for a bit," Sento smiled as he walked off.
"Wait! You n- and he's gone…" Naoto whispered before he heard a slight giggle from Joule, "...oi. Don't laugh at me, butterfly girl."
"But it was rather funny."
"Joule, don't laugh at his misfortune," Gunvolt sighed.
"But it was~!" Joule complained.
"Act your age…"
"You're a year older than me!"
"It would really help if we could see her…" Rex muttered with a sweatdrop.
"Maybe Sento could whip something up," Sari offered.
"Side project!" Sento called out.
"Nevermind…"
"So...I guess he won't tell me what...you all are…" Gunvolt noted as he looked at the others.
"We're freaks…" Kazumi sighed.
"We used to be normal people. But we had our bodies altered at the genetic level by a compound known as Nebula Gas. Most times...it kills or mutates a human into a horrible monster. Only the strongest of the strong can survive its effects and retain human shape."
"It made us stronger, faster, but it makes our bodies unstable with cosmic energy." Kazumi sighed.
"It was brought to Earth by an alien entity known as Evolt…" Ryuga added, "He wanted to destroy the world, but settled for doing it slow and chaotically for some sick sense of fun. Sento is the one he messed with the most...Sento is a composite being, someone's body used as the vessel for another person's mind."
"He is also the inventor of a military project known as the Rider System which would make the Nebula Gas enhanced super humans even stronger." Gentoku added.
"I see," Gunvolt noted in interest, "...You're lucky then...if Sumeragi was still at full capacity, they'd take him and force him to use this Rider System of yours for their Adepts."
"...what exactly is this Sumeragi Group?" Mai asked.
"A massive conglomerate that controls the power companies, the media, space development, military tech, and national defense over Japan...they hold so much control, they've rendered the actual government useless, making them Japan's de facto government body," Gunvolt explained, "They also lead the country in the research on Adepts and the Lifewave."
"...let me guess, they have a dark side to them," Gentoku frowned.
"Correct," Gunvolt frowned in response, "They were planning on using Joule's Septima, The Muse, to subjugate all Adepts in the nation of Japan...and eventually the world."
"The Muse?" Naoto repeated, "That's the name of her power?"
"Yes...through certain songs, she could increase the powers of an Adept's Septima exponentially," Gunvolt explained, "...and had I not stepped in to rescue Joule from Sumeragi, they would've succeeded in Project Diva...creating an army of mind controlled Adepts."
"Wow…" everyone awed.
"...wait. Then how is Joule a part of you?" Noel asked.
"...after I took out Nova, the top Adept in Sumeragi and rescued Joule…" Gunvotl paused, looking down in a somber manner as he gripped his hands, "Someone..I thought I trusted... killed me and her…"
"?!"
"Using the last of her strength, Joule brought me back to life...in exchange for her own Septima and soul becoming one...and part of my own," Gunvolt sighed, "Thus...she is now part of me."
"...how old are you exactly?" Rex questioned.
"14...Joule was 13 when she had her body," Gunvolt replied.
"...not even fully teenagers..." Sari whispered.
"So this world is total ass...knew it." Ryuga sighed.
"Agreed," Bobo muttered, having woken up during Gunvolt's explanation about Sumeragi, "And correct me if I'm wrong...but dose guys in Eden have a piece of dat Joule girl's power right?"
"That's r-" Gunvolt began before he did a double take and looked at Bobo, "?!"
"'Sup, Spikes?"
"That's Bobo," Mai explained, "...and no. He's not an Adept...just a real...smart monkey."
"Give me a gun, and I'll shoot it at da nearest unlucky punk," Bobo added, using his thumb and point finger to imitate a gun as he 'shot' the air.
"...n-noted…" Gunvolt whispered before shaking his head, "But yes...Eden has one Shard...I have four, and Copen has four…"
"And Copen is…" Gentoku began.
"Someone who detest Adepts with every fiber of his being," Ryuga explained, "And I kicked his ass."
"After he made a fool of you and made you lose your belt and transformation," Kazumi muttered.
"He what?" Sento asked, behind a now-pale Ryuga and a hand on his shoulder, the fingers digging in.
"Not surprised...Copen's a pretty smart individual," Gunvolt sighed, "Especially since he was the son of Dr. Kamizono...one of the former officials on Adept research."
"You fool!" Sento declared as he chopped Ryuga's neck, making his eyes roll back as he fainted.
"...did...did he kill him?!" Naoto gawked.
"No. Just knocked him out," Gentoku sighed.
"It's okay, Ryuga's taken worse." Kazumi added.
"...N-noted..."
"...You know, this kinda takes me back," Makoto spoke as she and Ben walked down the road, carrying a few bags filled with medical supplies, "Back when we first met and before you me and Rook formed a three man team….least 'till Tsubaki came along."
"Huh, you're right," Ben noted, "I guess you and I really have been together for a long while," he chuckled, "Now we're dating...very seriously…"
"Oh so serious~" she smiled.
"Right now being stuck in all these weird worlds...is this how it felt for you at first?" Ben asked, "I mean a world that almost seems like home, but different...in varying ways."
"...Honestly...yeah," Makoto admitted as she looked up at the night sky, "When I was younger...I always snuck onto the roof of my home through my bedroom window just to look at the night sky...and thought that someday I'd go to other worlds...and look at me now. I'm a super heroine that travels to other worlds, kick evil bad guy butt with my best friends…" she paused as she looked back at Ben ,"And paired up with a goofy, yet handsome and cute boy that can turn into Aliens."
"Well, we got a world all our own to get back to, and lots of problems to clean up before we can fully relax. But feeling this new experience...is kinda fun." Ben spoke up, "I'm just glad I have you here...I don't think I could handle this nonsense on my own."
"Aww hun~" Makoto smiled, using her tail to bring him closer as she nuzzled against his cheek, "And it's not just me...you have Noel, Mai, La-chan, Rook, Sari...heck you even reunited with your buddy Rex. Plus..we're travelling with Kamen Riders~! How more awesome is that?!"
"Methinks she got into the sugar again while we were busy…" Skurd whispered to Ben.
"I heard that, boogerboy," Makoto deadpanned, "Also you ruined the moment."
"Ah forget it. Even with Skurd, time with you is still great." Ben chuckled, "We just gotta learn to deal with him for...however long he's stuck to me. Maybe I can ask Azmuth for a new Omnitrix…"
"He did say this one was incomplete...even if it was his magnum opus so to speak," Makoto recalled as she looked down at the Omnitrix, "...oh~! What if its that armor function we read about in the manual?! What if that's the incomplete part he mentioned before he left with Kokonoe?"
"...huh. You might be…" Ben began before a laser shot nearly nicked the two, "Woah! Who…!?" he began before Copen landed before twh two, "...oh not you again!"
"Adept filth…" Copen scowled as he aimed his gun at the two.
"Dude, Tenjian's gone! What do you want with us?!" Ben snapped.
"Gunvolt's location...I still have unfinished business with him."
"Why? Wh-" Makoto began before yelping when Copen fired at her, "Hey! Watch the ears, ya brat!"
"Whether you tell me or not, I don't care…" Copen scowled as Lola and her bits floated out and surrounded him, "I'll make sure all Adepts in the world are terminated...including you two."
"Okay...look aiming a gun at me is one thing, it happens every Tuesday, Thursday and alternating Sunday! But you don't aim at her," Ben pointed to Makoto as she took the bags from him, "So...either you learn to act like a person, or I finish giving you the spanking Ryuga started."
"Ryuga spanked him?" Makoto asked in interest.
"More or l-" Ben began before quickly ducking under a laser shot, "...okay you know what? I was gonna go Spidermonkey and bind ya….guess what?" he paused as he turned the Omnitrix on, "You're getting Gravattack."
=Surprise attack!=
"Wh-" Ben began as he was selecting his Alien of choice...before Lola rammed right into his face, "Gah!" he cried out as he fell back, his finger slipping as he pressed down on the Omnitrix.
"Hey! Cheap shot ya…!" Makoto began as a green flash went off...and Clockwork took Ben's place, "...uh oh."
"Oh no…" he realized as he covered his face, "No don't look!"
=Wait...he changed into a robot?= Lola questioned.
"Alien zank you very…!" Clockwork began as he shot up to glare at her...and ended up looking at Makoto, "...ack du lieber…"
"You…ooh~ What's happening?" Skurd groaned as Clockwork began to stagger around.
"About...to...puke…"
"You see what you and your little toy did!" Makoto snapped at Copen.
=Hey! I'm not a toy!= Lola argued.
"What is…" Copen asked, confused before flinching as a green beam was literally barfed up by Clockwork and it struck his arm and shoulder, knocking him over.
=...ah! We got distracted!= Lola realized.
"Not...intentional…" Clockwork groaned.
"I feel nauseous…" Skurd groaned as well, looking a more sickly green at the moment.
"You gotta change...oh right…" Makoto dug into her tail, "I totally forgot I have this remote control." she pulled out a device with the Omnitrix symbol, "How have I never needed to use this before?" she tapped on it a few times as Clockwork changed to Feedback.
"Oh whoa...I feel much better!" he shook his head, "Uh-oh…" he looked at the green orb floating in the air, "Uh Babe...I think I broke time again…"
"Oh geez...who're ya gonna bring now?!" Makoto panicked, "...wait. Most of everyone from my time..er….world...basically most of everyone I know is back home, so who…" she began as a figure landed right between her, Feedback, and Copen.
Slowly standing up...was what appeared to be Copen, but a few years older. He seemed to be wearing the same armor, but it had red and blue highlights while a jetblack jetpack was on his back, and a red 'X' was seen on his chest. He also seemed to have a pair of headsets with a pair of red visors above his eyes. As he slowly stood up, he began to open his eyes...and yet unlike Copen's rage filled eyes, his seemed more...wiser. As if he survived ages of battle and war.
"...bakana," the other Copen whispered in Japanese as he looked around, "This place...it's been restored...no...something's...different."
"...what did you do?" Copen demanded as he aimed his gun at Feedback and Makoto.
"Well...off the top of my head...my Time beam struck you then opened a portal in time...so...that's you dude." Feedback explained.
=...he's right, boss= Lola spoke as she looked at the other Copen =That...that's you!=
=Hah? Was that me just now?= a voice that sounded a bit like Lola's spoke as -to Lola's shock- another floated out from the other Copen's jetpack =?!...Acura…=
"I noticed, Rora…" the other Copen spoek as he noticed the younger Copen, "...oi, you two," he spoke as he turned to face Feedback and Makoto, "What is this place?"
"Uh...Japan?" Feedback answered.
"We were getting medical supplies after talking to this Gunvolt boy my boyfriend and his friends met," Makoto added.
"...that's impossible," Acura frowned.
"Eh? Why?"
"Because Gunvolt is dead."
"Okay…" Feedback began, "Now...this is gonna sound major weird...but hear me out man...but this...is the past. One of my powers went wild...and I ripped a temporal hole in the space time continuum after striking the...shorter brattier version there...and it dragged you from the probably bad timeline you lived in."
"...Rora?"
=Hmm….= Rora hummed as she began to scan Feedback, stopping on the Omnitrix for a moment =...he's right. He has the same wavelength as that portal that appeared before us...and has some weird slime on it=
"Boo!" Skurd shouted.
=EEK!= both Rora and Lola yelped as they shot behind their respective Copen's =IT'S ALIVE!=
"Really?" Makoto deadpanned at Skurd.
"I couldn't' re-"
"ENOUGH!" Copen snapped as he aimed at Feedback, "I don't know what you did, Adept...but it's clear you're a danger that must be terminated!"
=...Wow….I forgot how younger you was really moody= Rora whispered to Acura.
"No k-" Makoto began in agreement.
"Shut up! I…!" Copen began before one of his head pieces went off, prompting him to touch it, "What is it, Nori? I…"
=It's Mytyl, Master Copen…=
"?!" Copen tensed up at that, "...I'll be there right away." he turned the headpieces off before glaring Feedback and Makoto, "This isn't over…" he frowned before he began to run off.
=Uh...and sorry for the headbutt!= Lola quickie apologized to FEedback before she followed after Copen =Bye!=
"Well...that probably means something bad…" Feedback sighed, flashing back to Ben.
"..." Acura said nothing as he looked out at the running Copen.
=...Acura, you don't think…= Rora began in a sad tone.
"Hai...but not right now…" Acura paused before looking at Ben and Makoto, "You two."
"Gh?!" the two tensed up from the fierce glare he gave them, "Y-yes?"
"I need you to tell me everything you know…"
SZ: Quite the twist, eh folks? Didn't expect Copen..or rather Acura from Luminous Avenger Ix eh?!
Z0: These two lost their shit over the ideas here...GT got so hyped he froze in place and now he's just standing there…*points to frozen GT* I pointed him towards a wall so it felt less creepy…
SZ: Phew...I think I've calmed down...but yes. Hope you've enjoyed this twist...and stay turned for the final part of this world as battles are about to get on the level of….I almost spoiled a potential world for this arc.
Z0: Well we're done here so...as the least invested I politely say, *puts down a giant explosive barrel in the middle of the room while pulling out exploding kunai* Hasta la vista….baby *tosses Kunai in slow motion to the barrel*
SZ: *speaks in slow motion*Enjoy...and review...folks…
*BOOM!*