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REVI GIFFARD FINISH!
Ikki covered his lower arms in red energy and placed his hands on two Giff Juniors, causing them to be surrounded by spiraling red magnetic energy. His foot glowed, and he delivered a roundhouse kick to both opponents, producing a trail of red energy. After a moment, both of them exploded.
VICE GIFFARD FINISH!
Vice jumped into the air; his lower leg covered in cyan energy as waves of light blue energy flowed around it. He performed a flying kick while surrounded by two cyan rings, producing a blue shockwave as he struck a True Gifftarian, causing it to explode.
REVI/VICE GIFFARD FINISH!
Ikki and Vice put their hands together, generating oppositely charged red and blue magnetic fields. The energy flowed into their arms, and they punched the air, creating a large combined red and blue magnetic field, all the surrounding demons lifted into the air by blue energy as a sphere of red energy appeared in the middle of the crowd, forcing them together into a writhing mass of bodies. The duo used magnetism to draw the energy field towards them, switching polarity at the last second as they punched the sphere, repelling it and launching it into another mob, the resulting explosion killing them both.
"Ha! Yes! #NiceVice!" Vice chortled, only to scream in terror as over a dozen mime assassins suddenly appeared around them. "Oh no, it's mimes! And they've got invisible guns and invisible grenades!"
Indeed, the mimes were miming holding guns and about to pull out the pins on grenades.
"Wait, guns and grenades are complex pieces of machinery, when they're miming them do they have to imagine every single part and component to make it work, or just picture the whole thing and it goes from there?" Ikki wondered.
The mimes hesitated, uncertain looks on their faces.
"Hah! Nice one, partner! Quick, let's kill them before they come up with an answer to that!" Vice urged eagerly.
REVI/VICE GIFFARD FINISH!
Red energy constructs of the Rex, Megalodon, Lion, Kong and Brachio Vistamps appeared from Ikki's driver and lined up on the underside of his forearm before transforming into five T-Rex fangs, while blue constructs of the Eagle, Mammoth, Ptera, Jackal, and Mantis Vistamps appeared from Vice's Driver and did the same thing to form five blue energy fangs. The fangs then transformed into red and blue energy constructs of the Giffard Rex Vistamp's Side N and Side S before flying away, leaving red and blue magnetic fields on their arms, the fields overlapping and trapping the mimes within. The two constructs then enlarged and crushed the assassins between them, wiping them out in a spectacular explosion.
"And another bunch bite the dust!" Vice exulted.
"But there's still more," Ikki pointed out as a few dozen mutant demons approached.
"Geez, they just keep coming, don't they?" Vice complained. "Hey, Ikki! Let's use that new move we've been working on!"
"Which one?" Ikki asked.
"You know, the new finisher!"
"Vice, that doesn't really narrow down, we've already got over a dozen different variations for our Giffard Finish and counting," Ikki pointed out. "It's scarily versatile."
Vice sighed in exasperation. "Oh for… The really cool one that's sort of a throwback to our early days!"
"Our early… Oh! That one!" Ikki realized. "Yeah, sure, let's do it!"
REVI/VICE GIFFARD FINISH!
Red and blue magnetic energy crackling around them, the duo fist bumped, causing a pulse of magnetic energy to blast out from them, simultaneously repelling and attracting all the demons, causing them to start floating in the air, flailing about wildly. More red and blue energy crackled around Ikki and Vice, their polarities shifting as all the scrap metal in the vicinity flowed into the air and started coalescing behind them, each piece stained either red or blue by the magnetic power and taking on a rather massive form.
Finally, Ikki and Vice themselves floated into the air, the magnetic force pushing them back-to-back as they stretched out, hands and feet interlocking, and took their place at the forefront of the construct… Which was none other than a replica of the T-Rex energy construct that appeared when they changed into their Ultimate forms, with the two of them forming the head.
More magnetic energy crackled around the metal dinosaur, which opened its "mouth" and roared ferociously, magnetic energy pulsing out from its jaws and sending the mutants flying.
"We are! Ultimate Revice Rex!" Vice shouted, laughing maniacally.
"It's been a while since we've done this!" Ikki shouted, feeling the urge to laugh as well.
"Let's have a good rampage! We're way better than those Abarangers!" Vice bragged, he and Ikki using their magnetic powers in tandem to manipulate the metal T-Rex, stomping on demons too slow to get out of the way, batting away larger ones with its tail, and unleashing more magnetic roars to either blow monsters away or pull them in close so it could "eat" them.
ERROR!
ERROR!
ERROR!
"I don't understand, why isn't this working?" An increasingly frustrated and worried Sakura wondered as she repeatedly stamped the God Dragon Vistamp on her Libera Driver to no avail.
A Hell Gifftarian snarled and tried to slash her with its claws, only for Hana to drive one of her stingers into its back.
"Nobody hurts my goddess!"
DEADLY APPROVAL! KILLER QUEEN STAMPING DESTROY!
The cords on her back started glowing as honey was pumped into her stinger and from there into the Hell Gifftarian's body, causing it to start blowing up, the demon gurgling, eyes bulging, as honey started oozing out of his orifices before finally bursting like a water balloon filled with honey, the amber substance splattering all over the place, landing on several demons and mercenaries and causing them to scream as it started dissolving their flesh.
"Sakura, what the hell was that? You should have seen that guy coming a mile away!" A frantic Hana berated her girlfriend.
"Sorry, I… It's Lovekov. She should have been here several minutes ago!" Sakura said, futilely stamping her Driver again.
ERROR!
"She's coming, I can sense it, but… It's like there's something in the way… And she's moving much too slowly… Hana, something is wrong, I can't feel her as strongly as usual. I think something's gone very wrong at the school," she said worriedly.
"Is she okay? Is she in pain?" Hana asked, immediately sharing her partner's anxieties.
"Did she have enough to eat? Is anyone bullying her?" Hani asked frantically, driving a stinger through the cranium of the clown mercenary she'd gotten in a headlock, ignoring the knife he had left in her abdomen.
"If anyone is picking on her because of her weight again, then I will destroy that school and have a temple to her erected in its place and enslave all who dared to hurt her feelings to build and maintain it for the rest of their lives on threat of death and torture," Astarte said angrily, vaporizing a dozen clowns with a wave of her hand.
"Astarte, they're just children," Sakura pointed out, fighting her maternal urge to let her future daughter-in-law do just that. "You can't enslave them."
"I'm pretty sure I can," the demon retorted, offended.
"I mean, yes, you can, but you shouldn't, it's not allowed," Sakura corrected.
"Aren't there several countries that use child labor to produce consumer goods for far more affluent nations-" Hana spoke up.
"Not helping," Sakura hissed.
"Are there? Intolerable. After I establish my kingdom, I shall destroy all such places and give those children shelter in my dominion," the disgusted Astarte sneered as she telekinetically levitated a Hell Gifftarian in the air and snapped its neck.
"You were just talking about enslaving kids a minute ago," Hani pointed out.
"Yes, ones who hurt my betrothed's feelings. As long as these children don't do something like that they're fine," Astarte said dismissively.
"Okay, fair," Hani said.
"I'm not sure it is," Sakura protested. She sighed and put away her Vistamp. "Dammit… I think I've taken her for granted. I can't remember the last time I fought without her. Even when I was just starting out, I could use her to create weapons when I needed them. Most of my finishers rely on her too."
"Well, that's just a sign of how strong your bond is, like your brothers," Astarte pointed out, psychically dragging a mutant demon to her and driving a stinger into its gut repeatedly. "They wouldn't be nearly as strong without each other."
"That's true," Sakura agreed fondly as Ultimate Revice Rex charged by, Vice laughing hysterically as they chased a group of mime assassins, whose attempts to mimic rocket launchers, mines, or other high-yield explosive weapons failed due to Ikki constantly asking if they were really able to focus on every single component of such complex devices while running for their lives. "Which is why I know my daughter is coming… I don't know what's delaying her, but when we get here, we'll deal with it together. So, until then…"
COBRA STAMPING SMASH!
"I will continue to fight alongside the ones I love!" She declared, delivering a roundhouse kick to a pair of True Gifftarians, producing a trail of blue and orange fire. The strike flung them back, both exploding.
"I am a member of the Igarashi family, descended from the demon king Giff, a demon God in my own right," Sakura continued, charging towards a mime assassin who swiped at her with an invisible knife. Her ponytail flicked through the air, knocking the nonexistent weapon out of the mime's hands, and she delivered a series of high-speed close quarters punches and kicks, crushing his ribs and shattering his joints.
"I have always been strong, even before I was chosen to become a Kamen Rider."
Half a dozen more mines leapt at her from behind, drawing invisible katanas. Sakura didn't even bother turning to face them, her ponytail flicking through the air, elongating to wrap itself around all six of them. She sharply flicked her head to the side, and the ponytail contracted, sharpening as a golden sheen ran down its length, slicing the mimes to pieces.
"After all… I'm invincible!"
COBRA STAMPING SMASH!
She drove a burning fist into the chest of a Hell Gifftarian, penetrating its armor…
But not enough. The demon grinned as it grabbed her head from both sides, preparing to crush her skull…
When Ultimate Revice Rex grabbed the Hell Gifftarian's upper body in its jaws and flailed it about before flinging it into the air. Hani appeared and grabbed the demon from behind as Hana rose up to meet her.
DEADLY APPROVAL! KILLER QUEEN STAMPING DESTROY!
The stinger on her leg elongating as honey flowed into it, Hana launched herself at the restrained demon in an aerial Rider Kick, red and gold energy swirling around her foot just before she made contact with its chest, the fiend howling in agony before exploding.
"But most importantly…" Sakura said fondly, gazing up at her beloved. "I never fight alone."
DOMINATE UP! KOMODO DRAGON! NEO BURST!
"Hang on, Yukimi! I'm coming!" Genta shouted, the Komodo Dragonic Heat forming on one arm.
KOMODO DESTREAM NOVA!
He launched a flaming stream from his weapon, setting a group of mutated demons ablaze. This didn't last long, however, as a group of mime assassins stepped forwards and used invisible fire extinguishers to put out the flames as well as engulf his weapon in fire-retardant foam.
"You mean we're coming."
CRIMSON IMPACT!
Vail slashed the Crimson Vistamp through the air, enveloping the mimes in crimson paint, giving them a splash of color just before they exploded.
"I can't believe this is happening," the demon said giddily as he charged up his Vistamp and rolled it across a True Gifftarian's face, crushing its skull. "We're going to be a father again! Isn't this wonderful?!"
"It is!" Genta agreed giddily, deciding to change armaments.
DOMINATE UP! CROCODILE! NEO BURST!
Now wielding the Croco Wizarolling, he thrust his drill into the stomach of a Giff Junior and started spinning, causing the hapless demon to rotate along its axis. Genta charged forwards, catching more and more demons on his drill, the armament spinning faster and faster with each body impaled.
CROCODILE DESTREAM NOVA!
Energy charged up the drill, finally tearing them all apart in a gory finisher.
"I honestly thought we were too old to have another one," Genta said happily. "I guess we can thank dad's genes for that!"
"Like everything else in our lives," Vail agreed, catching a mutant's claws on his Vistamp, the Invade Roller spinning at high speeds, breaking the monster's claws. As the demon reeled back, Vail punched the abomination in the chest with Vistamp, releasing another blast of red paint which obliterated it.
"I demand to play a part in the rearing of this child," he continued as he kicked a clown mercenary's gun out of his hands before headbutting him, his Red Vail Hair goring his face. "I have to make sure you don't screw it up this time!"
"Screw it up?!" Genta demanded indignantly, grappling a Hell Gifftarian with his Herclaws while repeatedly driving his drill into his chest. "What are you talking about, my children are wonderful-"
"Daiji."
Genta glared at him.
DOMINATE UP! KOMODO DRAGON! NEO BURST!
"Mistakes were made," he said gruffly, setting the demon's face on fire, stunning it, ripping its limbs off with his Herclaws, and digging his drill into his chest even harder.
CROCODILE DESTREAM NOVA!
The drill tore through the demon's chest and out its back, killing it.
"Which is why I will make sure those same mistakes aren't repeated," Vail said smugly as he exchanged blows with another mutant demon, kneeing it in the groin, sticking his Vistamp in its mouth and firing off another Crimson Impact, blowing out the back of its head in a flash of paint. "This may be our last child – or rather, pair of children – so we have to be sure they take more after Sakura, and, to a lesser extent, Ikki and Vice."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!" Vice demanded as they stomped past.
"You tried to eat your mother!" Genta and Vail yelled at him.
"That was a joke! Probably!" Vice protested lamely.
"Also," Daiji commented as he glided past, clashing blades with Kagerou. "I kind of resent the implication that I was a 'mistake-'"
"Yes you are, everyone knows it," Kagerou sneered.
"Shut up!"
"I'm the one giving birth here, I don't remember giving Vail permission to call himself the father, or one of the fathers," Yukimi complained, eyeing the rather ominous-looking machinery looming over her in concern as Chic and Georgina continued their preparations to alter the DNA of her baby.
"Yukimi, Genta and I are a package deal, you knew that when you married us," Vail chided her.
"No I didn't! I thought you were gone for good after Karizaki sealed you in that belt! And then his son had to go and give that belt to Hiromi!" Yukimi snapped.
"Sorry," Masumi said apologetically, filling a clown mercenary with lead.
"I'm not! I got so much data!" George said giddily, reveling in the power of his suit.
"I almost died!" Hiromi yelled, webbing up some demons.
"Yes, but you didn't, did you?"
"Also, mom, to be fair, did you ever actually marry dad?" Sakura asked pointedly.
"Oh yeah, that's right, we're all bastards!" Vice said gleefully.
"… Just… Just get me out of here, okay?" Yukimi grunted awkwardly.
"Working on it, sweetie!" Genta said, only to find a group of demon monkeys in his way. "You damn dirty apes! I'm not gonna let you lay a damn dirty paw on my wife!"
DOMINATE UP! KONG! NEO BURST!
Genta punched his Kong Astro Breakers together. "Now, let's see which of us is the real King of Kong!"
"Not you, you were always terrible at that game," Vail pointed out.
"Was not!"
A Kong Deadman hooted and lurched forwards. Crying out, Genta charged towards it, drawing back his fist to deliver a powerful punch, the demon ape doing the same.
KONG DESTREAM NOVA!
Their fists collided…
And Genta was sent flying.
"Told you," Vail said idly as his partner flew past.
"Shut it!" Genta yelled, pulling himself up. "What the heck? That's a Phase 1 Deadman! It shouldn't be that strong!"
"Normally you'd be right, but it's been enhanced, like all my demon monkeys, using the demonic cell cultures in this place!" Chic bragged. "Each of them is as strong as a Phase 3, if not higher!"
"So, still weaker than us," Vail said dismissively. "Come on, Genta, let's go all out."
"Sure thing, best buddy!" Genta said cheerfully.
DESTREAM FINISH!
CRIMSON FINISH!
Polygons made from lines of cyan energy emanated from Genta's fist as he delivered a running punch surrounded by additional red and blue energy to the Kong Deadman. Again, the ape tried to counter with a punch of its own, only for its arm to be shattered by the vastly more powerful blow, the Deadman exploding shortly after. At the same time, Vail hit an Orangutan Deadman with a red-charged running punch of his own using his Vistamp, smashing his face and killing it.
In unison, they turned to face the remaining Mandrill Deadman, cyan energy forming on Genta's leg while crimson paint covered Vail's. They both hit the demon with a side kick at the same time, an energy Hercules beetle's head forming around Genta's foot and spinning like a cyan and red drill while crimson and black fire ignited around Vail's, the two simultaneously hitting the Deadman at the same time and sending it flying across the room…
Right at the startled Chic. The madman screamed in terror, only for Georgina to step in and deflect the Deadman with one of her mighty arms, the demon smashing into a wall and exploding. "My goodness!"
"Listen up, Chic, because we're only going to say this once!" Genta shouted.
"Relinquish our wife or suffer the consequences!" Vail snarled.
The two of them performed a complicated handshake without even looking, fistbumping as explosions went off behind them, one shaped like a Hercules beetle and the other like a Tyrannosaurus.
"We are the Igarashi patriarchs! Accept no substitutes!" They cried.
"… You know, I'm still not used to dad actually being cool," an awestruck Ikki admitted.
"Papa's got style!" Vice agreed giddily.
"Fine, I guess Vail isn't the worst parent we could have," Sakura admitted grudgingly.
"… Okay, the whole two husbands thing is actually starting to grow on me," an amazed Yukimi confessed.
"But of course. Why limit yourself to one spouse? I've never understood that," Astarte commented.
"Dammit… Get them get them GET THEM!" An irate Chic shouted, sending even more demons at the meddling family.
"Come on, kids!" Genta shouted.
"Except you, Daiji! Keep doing what you're doing!" Vail yelled at the middle child.
"I don't think I have a choice in the matter!" Daiji yelled back, barely deflecting a blow from Kagerou which would've taken his eye out.
Shouting at the top of their lungs, the Igarashis – and Astarte, Hani, and Hana – charged or flew towards the enemy horde.
They didn't stand a chance.
DOMINATE UP! HOPPER! GENOMIX!
His legs changing into the Demon Bottom Higher, Hiromi literally sprang all over the room, assaulting demons and mercenaries and assassins with high-powered kicks from his grasshopper legs, using occasional spider string to swing across the room like Spider-Man to increase his airtime and deliver more powerful blows to his opponents.
The Mercs started unloading their weapons into the air, trying to hit him with exploding beanbags which burst into confetti and laughing gas, while the demons used more conventional weapons like fireballs or acid spit. Hiromi generated a red energy web from his shoulder to shield him from the attacks, spinning about to deflect projectiles fired at him from every direction.
Shooting a strand of webbing at the ceiling, he pulled himself up and out of the range of his adversaries, deciding to switch armaments.
DOMINATE UP! MOLE! GENOMIX!
As the Demon Digzon drill formed on his right arm, he let go of the web, plummeting towards the ground.
MOLE DEMONS REQUIEM!
The drill started spinning, causing a much larger drill construct made of green, orange, and blue energy to form around it, smashing through all the projectiles being fired at him. He struck the ground, shattering it and sending the enemy flying, then shattered it again as he burst out from beneath their feet, his drill ripping any unlucky enough to get caught in its path to shreds.
The clown mercenaries recovered quickly, hurling water balloons filled with nitroglycerin at Hiromi. He quickly projected his web shield to protect himself from the explosives as he stamped another Vistamp on the Demons Driver.
DOMINATE UP! CONDOR! GENOMIX!
The Demon Rumblejoker formed on his back, and he launched himself back into the air in a burst of purple wind, buffeting the clowns back. Not wanting to give them time to recover, he prepared his next finisher.
DEMONS FINISH!
He spread his wings, bladed feather projectiles shooting from them and striking the water balloons in the hands of the mercenaries, popping them and causing them to explode in the clowns' hands, rather messily killing them. He dove into a flying dropkick with both feet covered in purple energy before the smoke could clear, planting his feet in the chest of a surviving mercenary, sending him flying back and exploding in a shower of confetti.
As demon monkeys gathered around him, he prepared his next form change.
DOMINATE UP! SCORPION! GENOMIX!
The Demon Ridolstinger emerged from his tailbone, arcing over the back of his head. The tail lanced out again and again, striking the chest of each demon within the span of a handful of seconds before returning to him. A moment paused, and the apes convulsed with high-voltage energy and exploded.
Catching a shadow out of the corner of his String Eyes, Hiromi launched his stinger again…
Only for it to be caught by the hand of a Hell Gifftarian.
The demon grinned.
Hiromi's eyes widened in alarm.
With a ferocious roar, the demon started flailing Hiromi about, using the tail to smash him into the ground repeatedly, the warrior's still-weak bones cracking and surging with pain with each impact. Finally, the brute pulled Hiromi in close to deliver a one-inch punch which cracked most of his ribs and sent him flying, his tail dissipating as he hit the ground and rolled across the floor a few times.
"Ugh… Dammit…" Hiromi gasped, struggling to his feet. "I won't… I won't die here. I promised I wouldn't throw my life away to save the world!"
"You may not have a choice in the matter," the Hell Gifftarian taunted, stomping towards him.
"… Unfortunately, you may be right," Hiromi admitted unhappily. "But… If that's what it takes…!"
He pulled out all his Vistamps, hesitated for a minute, and then began slamming them onto his Driver one after the next.
DOMINATE UP! HOPPER! GENOMIX!
He grunted as his legs transformed again.
DOMINATE UP! MOLE! GENOMIX!
He cried out as the drill formed on his right arm, electricity crackling across his body, his nerve endings screaming in pain.
DOMINATE UP! CONDOR! GENOMIX!
He nearly threw up as the wings emerged from his back. His head was swimming, his breath short, his heart racing. "I… I can do this…"
DOMINATE UP! SCORPION! GENOMIX!
His tail materialized once more, and for a moment, he stood there in the combined Full Genomix form, something only Tamaki had managed before.
And then explosions erupted all over his body, his armaments fell apart, and his suit dissolved as he fell to his knees, throwing up blood.
"N-no… Not… Not like this…" He rasped desperately, clutching his chest.
Was this it? Was this how he went?
The Hell Gifftarian snorted and turned away. "Pathetic. You're not even worth killing. You've doomed yourself already!"
"No, I… I can still…" Hiromi insisted desperately, struggling to lift the Spider Vistamp, only for it to slip through his trembling, bloody fingers. "No!"
The demon laughed in amusement, nodding as a pair of True Gifftarians appeared on either side of him. "Pitiful human. You know what, I think I'll show mercy on you. Kill him and make it quick."
"No!" Hiromi gasped as the demons charged at him.
IMPULSE GENOME EDGE!
A purple nervy brachiosaurus tail swept through the air, striking the True Gifftarians and sending them flying.
The Hell Gifftarian gaped. "What?!"
"Goddamn! You really got yourself into a fine mess this time, didn't you, Hiromi?" George tutted as he marched past him, resplendent in his black and gold armor.
"Karizaki…?" Hiromi whispered, stunned.
"The one and only! Sit tight on your pretty ass, Hiromi, I'll take it from here," George said smugly.
Hiromi blinked. "… You think my ass is pretty?"
"Among other things," George said, cracking his neck as he started towards the angry Hell Gifftarian.
"Human… You dare to interfere? Then you shall perish alongside him!" The demon snarled angrily, gesturing at the True Gifftarians, who sprang to their feet and charged him again.
"Mmmm… Nah," George said dismissively.
IMPULSE GENOME EDGE!
A yellow jackal energy construct emerged from his Driver and combined with his leg, causing it to glow, along with the rest of his body. Racing forwards at superspeed, he proceeded to deliver a flurry of-speed punches and kicks to the Gifftarians, producing a shockwave with each strike, ending it with a side kick that sent the demons flying. This time they exploded when they hit the ground.
"What?!" The Hell Gifftarian cried in disbelief.
"That all you got?" George taunted, bouncing around on his heels.
In response, the demon rushed forwards using high speeds of his own, exchanging dozens of blows faster than the eye could see with George, the two combatants finally punching each other so hard they were both flung back. George grunted and stumbled slightly, while the demon laughed, the moderate damage inflicted already regenerating. "Human weakling! What do you think you can do against me? You don't even have any demon power of your own!"
"That's because I don't need it to take care of the likes of you," George replied. "The power of humanity, my brilliant mind, and this finely trained bod of mine… You like what you see, Kadota?"
Hiromi found himself blushing, much to his surprise. George cackled at this.
"And on top of all that, a heart full of love… For Kamen Riders!" George proclaimed, and Hiromi found himself oddly disappointed for some reason. "Put all that together… And I can't be beat!"
CRASH GENOME EDGE!
Large fists of orange energy appeared on his arms, and he punched the ground, creating a tremor moving in the direction of the Hell Gifftarian. At the same time, a giant red energy construct of a mammoth's foot tried to stomp down on the demon, but he caught it in both hands, grunting with exertion as he pushed it back, stomping the ground before the tremor could reach him and blowing up the resulting fissure.
Eyes glowing, the demon roared and fully pushed the foot off him, causing it to dissipate, and fired a blast of purple fire at the scientist.
CRASH GENOME EDGE!
Golden energy covered one hand while crimson electricity appeared around his arm and he punched the fire blast, causing it to explode in gold, black, and red energy.
As the flames dissipated, the Hell Gifftarian, who'd crossed the space between them in the blink of an eye, swung his claws at George's face, blazing with purple energy. George raised an arm, grunting as the claws caught on his forelimb, and laughed in the demon's face. "Getting up close and personal? Big mistake!"
CRASH GENOME EDGE!
He performed a roundhouse kick with his lower leg covered in magenta energy, producing a pair of jagged magenta energy slashes which struck the demon in the chest and forced him to take a step back. His arms then lit up with blue energy blades, which he used to perform a series of Crescent-shaped slashes of light purple energy; a spinning slash with both arms, followed by an upward slash with both arms, where he crouched and then swung his arms, producing a 360° wave of magenta and blue energy slashes, slicing deep into the Hell Gifftarian's armor and causing sparks to fly.
"D-damn you…" The Hell Gifftarian snarled, dark flames burning around him as his eyes flashed, his wounds already starting to regenerate. "I will not… Fall to humans!"
"Incorrect."
DELTA STAMPING STRIKE!
Masumi, standing over Hiromi's body, fired his Ohinbuster50 at the Hell Gifftarian, George quickly jumping out of the way as a yellow energy construct of a rhino beetle's horn surrounded by blue, purple, and cyan energy shot past, impaling the demon, who howled as electricity crackled around his body.
"George! I neutralized his regeneration! Finish it!" Masumi commanded.
"Sure thing, daddy!" George said eagerly.
AMAZING FINISH!
He sprouted pteranodon wings of red energy as his body burst into flame, flying at the stunned demon. He performed an uppercut, causing a magenta energy construct of a brachiosaurus head to launch him into the air. He then performed a downward punch, the head smashing the Hell Gifftarian back to the ground, and stomped the earth, causing a red energy mammoth's foot to flatten the demon.
"No… I… Won't…" The Hell Gifftarian gasped, struggling to hold the foot back.
"Yeah, you will."
AMAZING FINISH!
His lower leg was surrounded by black and gold energy before a large shockwave of gold and crimson energy emanated from him. The rest of his body was surrounded by black energy as well, lightning constantly produced from his leg as he leapt into the sky, performing a flying kick accompanied by a Sonic Boom.
"No!" the demon gasped.
"Yeah, baby!" George exulted as he hit the demon with his kick, causing it to explode spectacularly. "This is so awesooooooooooooooooome!"
"Goddamn…" Hiromi whispered, eyes wide.
"Daddy! Thanks for the assist!" George cried, clasping arms with his father.
"It was the least I could do. Especially since someone had to protect your boyfriend while you were busy fighting," Masumi pointed out, gesturing at several demon corpses surrounding them.
"Oh, thanks," George said, embarrassed.
"I'm not his boyfriend," Hiromi protested.
"I saved your life, which means you are now," George insisted.
"That's not at all how it works," Hiromi insisted.
"Then you don't want to get some fruit parufait later?" George asked pointedly.
"It's called fruit parfait," Hiromi emphasized. He paused. "And yes, I would."
George cheered and high-fived his father.
DOMINATE UP! ANOMALOCARIS! GENOMIX!
Tamaki raised his arms as the Demon Bladiors materialized on them, getting into a stance, Ampaz hiding behind him as they were surrounded by a mob of clown mercenaries. "If you want to get her, you'll have to go through me."
The Pythonian swooned. "Oh, Tamaki…"
The clowns squeezed their noses, which honked, then ripped them off and hurled them at the Rider. Tamaki quickly activated his Stag Module, the O Wingal Shade expanding to cover both of them as the noses struck his shield and exploded, engulfing them in a great conflagration.
The clowns giggled ghoulishly, only to cry out in horror as two telescopic tentacles shot out from the blaze, wrapped around a pair of mercenaries, and pulled them towards Tamaki as he stepped out of the fire, wreathed in flames, and impaled them on the claw on his left arm. Callously tossing them to the side, he pressed the Demons Knocks twice, then a third time.
ANOMALOCARIS DEMONS REQUIEM!
Tamaki cried out, flames blazing up around him, and drove the tentacles on his right arm into the ground. Moments later, far more than just two tendrils erupted from the ground, impaling the clowns and flailing them about. One of the clowns, whose body armor had blunted some of the damage, squeezed a flower on his chest, firing a potent stream of acid at Tamaki.
It didn't get very far, a glowing shield made of a serpent's coils appearing in front of the Rider, the acid splattering harmlessly on it.
"We fight to protect each other! That's what love is!" Ampaz declared, one of her rings glowing.
"And that love… Makes me almost as unstoppable as Lady Hana!" Tamaki declared, the claws on his left arm glowing as he released a powerful energy slash which struck all the clowns, slicing them to pieces.
Suddenly, he jerked back as his armor was pelted by gunshots and explosions burst around his feet. "What… Oh no!" He shrieked. "It's mime assassins, with invisible guns and invisible grenades!"
"Wait, guns and grenades are complex pieces of machinery, when they're miming them do they have to imagine every single part and component to make it work, or just picture the whole thing and it goes from there?" Ampaz wondered as the terrified Tamaki hid behind her.
The mimes considered this for a minute…
And then bombarded both of them with more bullets and explosives, though Tamaki was able to protect them with his O Wingal Shade.
"Oh, I guess they can."
"Oh no! They figured it out! Now they're unstoppable!" Vice shrieked as he and Ikki ran past, chased by mimes.
"I think not! Dominate up! Cobra! Genomix!" Ampaz declared.
The mimes tensed, then exchanged confused looks.
The Pythonian grinned. "Hah! Gotcha!" She shouted, flinging her baby serpent demon at the assassins, who recoiled for a minute, then scoffed.
Their tune changed fast when Ampaz activated a ring, causing the snake to suddenly become the size of an anaconda, the mimes screaming silently in terror as she fell upon them, crushing them with her tail and coils and poisoning them with her incredibly sharp fangs.
Tamaki sniffed and wiped away a tear as he and Ampaz fondly watched the serpent rampage. "They grow up so fast."
"TAMAKIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"
The couple turned to look in confusion at an enraged man in tattered clothes charging at them with murder in his eyes, waving a knife. Tamaki quickly moved in front of his girlfriend. "A civilian? What are you doing here?"
"A civilian?! It's only been a few minutes, and you forgot me already?" The man shouted, livid, eyes wild.
"You look badly injured. Did you run into a demon? Was Chic holding you hostage? Are you some sort of test subject?" Tamaki asked in concern. "Don't worry, we're with Weekend, we're here to put a stop to all this."
"Don't! Don't play games with me! You know who I am!" The man shrieked.
"I'm sorry, but I really don't," Tamaki said.
Ampaz nodded. "Yes, this is the first time either of us have seen you before in our lives."
"Hikaru Ushijima! You know me! You all know me!" The man shouted, getting even angrier. "Everything that's yours is rightfully mine! I was the first Over Demons, and you took that from me!"
"The first Over Demons?" Tamaki asked in bewilderment. "I thought he died."
"Oh! Maybe he survived, but was being held captive by Chic all this time?" Ampaz suggested, only to frown. "No, wait, the timeline doesn't match up…"
"We went through all this already! I was waiting for you all in ambush when you entered the facility! You left me behind to fight an abomination of nature which killed all the others, and I only barely made it out with my sanity intact!" The stranger yelled, only to turn pale. "It asked if I knew how I was going to die, I still don't know if it was asking me or telling me."
"Not sure he's right about the sanity bit…" Ampaz muttered.
Tamaki winced. "Oh geez, you were there? Sorry about inflicting that on you all, but… Well, we did have to save Mrs. Igarashi, and in our defense, you're working for the guy who kidnapped her and forced us to come here in the first place."
"It's all because of me that any of that happened! I helped Chic break out! I helped him steal Weekend equipment! I helped him kidnap Yukimi! All which I've already told you, and you've already forgotten!" The mystery man shouted.
Tamaki gasped. "That was you?!"
"You see? Exactly like that! Just as I said!" The stranger shouted. "You'd think a betrayal like this would stick in your minds, but no, no matter what I do, nobody remembers!"
"… That's actually kind of sad," Ampaz admitted, feeling sympathetic despite herself.
"Look, if what you're saying is true, and we really did know you but for some reason can't remember you, I'm sorry," Tamaki said, slowly raising his arms and trying to look as nonthreatening as possible. "It sounds like you've been handed a rough deal. I'm sorry if it feels like I've stolen from you, that was never my intention. If you'll just put down the knife and calm down, maybe we can work this out and find a way to help you. What do you say? How does that sound, Hibiki?"
The stranger, who looked as if he was starting to waver, snapped. "My name," he screamed. "Is HIKARU!"
And then he produced an all too familiar Proto-Vistamp.
Tamaki gasped. "No… That's…!"
WOLF!
The nameless man stamped himself, screaming as he was engulfed with red energy, barbed protrusions bursting out of his skin as, in a blast of crimson power, he transformed into a horrible monster.
"Oh no, it's the Werewolf Deadman!" Ampaz cried. "I don't want to become a puppy!"
"No, that's the Wolf Deadman Riot, the form I assumed when I was at my lowest, darkest point," Tamaki corrected her.
"It is? It kind of looks like the Werewolf Deadman," Ampaz said in confusion.
"The legs are different."
"Oh."
"Tamaki… How does it feel to be confronted with the embodiment of your sins?" The unnamed man snarled. "This is you… The real you! That suit doesn't suit you! You aren't worthy of the name of 'Kamen Rider!'"
"… You may be right," Tamaki admitted.
"Huh?" The Deadman and Ampaz exclaimed at the same time.
"I'm fully aware that Lady Hana and I deserve a lot worse than we've been given," Tamaki said grimly. "We've hurt a lot of people. Killed a lot of people. Both of us have done terrible things, things that can never be forgiven.
"And yet… We've been forgiven anyway. People wiser and kinder than us have deigned, for some reason, to give us a second chance, and I don't even have the excuse of being the love interest of a member of the Igarashi family. I don't know what we've done to deserve such kindness, but… Every day we will strive to improve ourselves worthy of their trust in us. Maybe we'll even believe in ourselves the way they believe in us one day."
"… Are you fucking kidding me? Am I the only one who sees how messed up this is?!" The wolf howled. "You and Aguilera were terrorists, and now you get to hang around the Igarashi family and date their daughter, whom I've been in love with for years!"
"Yeah, I don't think you ever had a chance there, sorry," Ampaz informed him.
"The man who murdered my father is just walking around like nothing happened! Giff has killed hundreds of people since being revived, and now he's just hanging out with the Igarashis whenever he wants and going in and out of the Weekend base willy-nilly and become a revered member of the Zeaist Pantheon! Another super demon has awakened and openly talks about establishing a new empire, and Giff still plans to take over the world, and nobody bats an eye! Daiji betrayed everyone and everything he ever believed in and has been welcomed back with open arms! It's like everyone's forgot we were at war with each other just a couple of months ago and now we're supposed to act like we're all buddy buddy?!" The Deadman ranted.
"… You're right. Put like that, it is kinda messed up," Tamaki admitted. "We live in a weird world, where things don't always make sense, and the delineation between good and bad isn't always clear cut. You aren't wrong about anything you just said.
"However, it also doesn't change the fact that you've turned into a literal monster, betrayed everyone and everything you've believed in, and aided and abetted a madman in kidnapping an innocent woman so he can steal her baby. Yeah, Giff and Akaishi and Daiji have done some pretty shitty stuff, but they're trying in their own way to turn over a new leaf and make good for all the bad they've done. And now you're being just as bad, if not worse, out of spite. Who's the real bad guy here?"
Ampaz swooned.
"… Shut up. Shut up shut up SHUT UP!" The enraged Wolf Deadman Riot screamed, charging at extreme speeds towards Tamaki, who wouldn't be able to protect himself in time. Ampaz quickly created a force field, only for the Deadman to smash right through without slowing down and deliver a powerful red energy charged punch to Tamaki's face, cracking his visor and snapping his head back. Howling madly, the Deadman kept punching Tamaki, too quickly and ferociously for him to have a chance to retaliate.
"Get off of him!"
Ampaz pointed a ring at the Deadman, firing a wave of force which pushed him away from her boyfriend. She rushed to Tamaki's side. "Are you all right? Here, let me help!"
She activated her healing ring, mending the damage the Deadman had caused to his suit.
"Thanks, sweetie," he said gratefully. "And… Shit, look out!"
He quickly pushed Ampaz to the side and generated his shield just before the Wolf Deadman Riot could strike her with his red-glowing claws, the energy slashes slicing into his O Wingal Shade instead. "You shouldn't have a beautiful snake girlfriend… I deserve her! I deserve everything! I'll take her, once I kill you!"
ANOMALOCARIS DEMONS REQUIEM!
"She's not a prize to be won… No matter what, she'll never be yours!" Tamaki retorted, wrapping his tentacles around the Deadman's arms to bind him, thrusting forward with his claws to try and impale him.
However, just before his claws could pierce, the Deadman's wolf jaws clamped shut on his arm, holding it in place, and the mad demon cackled, releasing a burst of red energy which destroyed the tendrils and hit him with another red-charged haymaker, cracking his helmet again and hurling him back, what was left of his Demon Bladior shattering.
"Then maybe I'll just kill her too, so you can be together in hell!" The Deadman shouted, his jaws mashing up what was left of the left-arm Demon Bladior.
"You're… Insane!" Tamaki gasped, struggling to stand, Ampaz rushing over to heal him again.
"Can you blame me?!" The Wolf Deadman Riot yelled.
"You know, I think we can!" Ampaz hissed. "Tamaki, here!"
She activated another ring, causing her boyfriend to suddenly grow three times as large, towering over his demonic opponent. "Okay, this'll help!" He decided, throwing a gigantic punch at the Deadman. "Take this!"
The fist shot towards the demon… Who matched it with a punch of his own. Their fists collided, a shockwave of red energy blasting out and rocking the room. Sparks flew and energy crackled around them, as both opponents gave their all as they tried to overwhelm the other.
And, astonishingly, the smaller combatant won.
In a blast of red energy, Tamaki found himself staggering backwards, crying in pain, his arm dislocated and his hand broken. Howling in triumph, the Deadman clamped his chest jaws and launched large red energy slashes at Tamaki, leaving deep claw scratches in his chest armor.
"NO!" Ampaz cried in horror as her boyfriend cried in agony and hit the ground hard enough to shake the room, shrinking back to his regular size. "Don't worry, I'll heal-"
"Not this time!"
She cried out as the Wolf Deadman Riot suddenly appeared in front of her, grabbing her wrists and squeezing hard, Ampaz screaming as a sickening crack could be heard and her hands fell limp. "There, no more tricky spells from you," he sneered. "After all, always take out the white mage first."
"AMPAZ!" The wounded Tamaki shouted, staggering to his feet, clutching his chest in pain.
There was an outraged hiss, and Ampaz's demon, still enlarged, lunged at the Deadman, furious he had hurt her mommy. Without even looking, the Deadman hit her with a red-charged backhand, cracking her fangs, snapping her head back, and flinging her several feet away, shrinking back to her original size before she hit the ground.
"NO! MY BABY!" Ampaz screamed in fury, lunging at the Deadman, jaws opening wide…
Only for him to dodge the bite, punch her in the gut hard enough that red energy blasted out her back, and then dealt her a vicious uppercut, shattering her fangs and lifting her for a few seconds off the ground before hitting the floor hard.
"AMPAZ!" Tamaki shrieked as his girlfriend lay there, crying and spitting up blood.
"Stupid lizard. Should've stayed out of this," the Wolf snarled.
Tamaki trembled in rage. "That is ENOUGH! Whatever beef you might have with me, you have no right taking it out on my girlfriend and her pet/our future daughter!"
The Deadman groaned in facepalmed. "Oh God, not you too…"
"I'm sorry for everything you've gone through… But this is too far! This is unforgivable!" Tamaki raged. "This ends now!"
He produced the Anomalocaris Vistamp and stamped it on his Driver.
DOMINATE UP! ANOMALOCARIS! GENOMIX!
"This again?" The Deadman sneered as the Demon Bladior materialized again. "Have you forgotten how well that worked last time?"
Instead of answering, Tamaki rushed the demon, roaring in fury, and threw a punch at the Deadman.
He didn't budge an inch. Scoffing, the demon viciously backhanded him. "I see you haven't learned-"
DOMINATE UP! WOLF! GENOMIX!
The Deadman frowned as the Demon Eleclaws, a pair of clawed boots with crackling energy conduits resembling the Electrer on the sides, formed on his feet. Tamaki howled as electricity crackled around his body, powering him up, and he once again charged at the Deadman, moving much faster this time, and once more threw an electrical punch…
With no effect. Getting irritated, the Deadman savagely clawed Tamaki across the chest. "Are you done yet? This is getting old-"
DOMINATE UP! CHAMELEON! GENOMIX!
This time the Demon Machameleo, a chameleon tail curled at the end into a wheel and housing like the Zenrin Shooter, emerged from his rear. Once again, he ran at the Deadman, throwing a punch. Exasperated, the demon lashed out with his claws…
Only to be startled when the punch turned out to be a feint, and at the last second Tamaki spun around, his tail unwinding and striking him across the chest, throwing up sparks. "What?! I… I actually felt that-"
DOMINATE UP! SABERTIGER! GENOMIX!
Now Tamaki was equipped with the Demon Revolfang, a sword resembling a cross between a sabertooth fang and Black RX's Revolcane.
The Deadman's eyes were wide. "Four at once?! Oh great, now you're ripping off my idea again!"
Howling, he generated a tremendous red shockwave which raced across the ground with enough power to destroy city blocks, shattering the floor. Tamaki took a stance, raised his sword, and brought it down in a chop, not only cutting the shockwave in half and causing it to obliterate the walls behind him, but also cut a vertical scar across the Deadman's front, causing him to howl in pain.
"What?! HOW-"
DOMINATE UP! PLANARIAN! GENOMIX!
"FIVE?!" The Deadman screamed in disbelief as the Demon Chaseguns, a pair of blasters resembling a cross between the Break Gunners and Signal Ax with a planarian motif formed on Tamaki's shoulders. "That's… That's not possible-"
The lamps on the size of the guns flashed red a few times before switching to green and shouting "GO FOR IT!"
Tamaki did just that, bombarding the Deadman with energy bolts shaped like planarians, already in motion the second the volley left his guns, zigzagging across the floor and leaving lightning bolts in his wake, before swinging his sword at the Deadman as soon as he was in range. Blinded and maddened, the Wolf tried to hit him with a claw attack, only for the chameleon tail to wrap around his wrist and deflect the strike at the last second, allowing Tamaki to diagonally slash the Deadman across the chest, leaving another massive scar behind. Before his adversary could even reel, Tamaki punched him in the face, the blow so powerful this time it knocked the Deadman off his feet and sent him skidding across the ground.
"No… There's no way… You can't be this powerful! How?!" The incredulous demon demanded.
"Because I'm fighting for someone other than myself. Because I have a heart full of love," Tamaki said, taking out one more Vistamp and regarding it for a moment. "And because… I'm a Kamen Rider!"
DOMINATE UP! QUEEN BEE! GENOMIX!
Tamaki cried out as the Demon B-Wings, wings like the ones Hana had in her base form but in a different color, emerged from his back. All six of his armaments started glowing, energy constructs of the animals they embodied manifesting around him and roaring as they all turned gold and the Ohinjector lit up with the Deadmans emblem while a second Stag Crusher formed over the right side of his face, and he now had a second Stag Module and O Wingal Shade.
DELETE UP! UNKNOWN. UNREST. UNLIMITED. KAMEN RIDER GRACIAS OVER DEMONS! GRACIAS!
"Six… At the same time? How… How are you not dropping dead right now?!" The Wolf Deadman Riot screamed.
"After all the times I've become a Deadman myself, I have a stronger than usual resistance to the effects of Vistamps, especially ones associated with the Deadmans," Tamaki explained. "As you can see, I'm now carrying the sins, the burdens of my colleagues from the organization… And I wield them as tools of justice! How fitting I'm going to be able to use this power for the first time against my reflection, the monster I became at my lowest point."
"You think you're a hero? That using this power based off your old cult makes you a good guy, that striking me down will somehow redeem you of all your past sins?" The Wolf Deadman Riot snarled.
"No," Tamaki replied. "I'm not fighting for redemption. I'm here to save a life… And I will save you as well."
Roaring, the Deadman clamped his jaws three times, the ground starting to melt around him as a tremendous red aura manifested. "I! Don't! Need! SAVING!"
"And I will save you anyway."
Ampaz, cradling her injured demon, stared at the man who would one day be her husband, eyes wide in adoration. "Tamaki… No matter what anyone else thinks, even if you doubt yourself… You really are a hero."
Spreading his wings, Tamaki rose into the air and pressed the Demons Knock.
ANOMALOCARIS WOLF CHAMELEON SABERTIGER PLANARIAN QUEEN BEE DEMONS REQUIEM!
The Wolf Deadman Riot howled at the top of his lungs, firing a tremendous red energy beam from his chest. Tamaki spread his wings wide, all his armaments glowing as the Deadmans emblem appeared behind him. Placing his sword between his feet, he extended his tendrils and tail into the ground on either side of the Deadman, flying backwards until they pulled taut, then released, launching himself at his enemy, striking the beam head on with the point of his blade and cleaving through it.
"No… NO!" The Deadmans shouted, frantically flinging fireballs and energy slashes, only for Tamaki's shoulder guns to open fire, blasting the projectiles out of the air. "This… Can't…BE-"
Tamaki Rider Kicked his electrically-charged sword right in the Deadman's exposed guts, the blade ripping out the other side and burying in the ground, impaling him like an insect on display rather than a vaguely lupine monster.
Their eyes met.
"You… Really are… The better Over Demons…" Hikaru finally admitted.
Tamaki backflipped, landing on his feet and turning away as the Wolf Deadman Riot howled in pain and anguish and exploded, the blast forming a Deadmans geoglyph in the ground with an unconscious, burnt, and naked Hikaru in the middle.
GRACIAS!
There was a rush of movement, and Ampaz embraced Tamaki, kissing him on the mask. "I love you," she said, wrapping her coils around him. "You're amazing. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Once I've made a ring worthy of you, we're getting married in the Pythonian way, and I'm going to take you right in front of all our friends and family and live happily ever after. You hear me? You're mine forever. I'm never letting you go."
Tamaki's mask parted, revealing his smiling face. "I know."
They kissed, Ampaz's demon hissing happily and nuzzling her parents/owners.
KING CRAB EDGE!
Ryu's forearm was covered in orange energy as he punched a mutant demon, a silver energy construct of a crab's claw appearing beside him and crushing his foe as the punch made contact. He then swung his arm to the side, flinging the surrounding abominations away with the strength of his crab claw before it dissolved.
A group of clown mercenaries approached, blowing up balloons into inflatable swords as they charged at him, giggling maniacally.
KING CRAB EDGE!
Manifesting his crab claw again, Ryu swiped it through the air, popping all the balloons. The clowns looked at their empty hands and dismay, then offered him sheepish grins. He responded by crushing them with his claw.
Suddenly, something slashed into his back, causing him to cry out and lose control of his claw, the construct dissipating. A mime assassin flipped over his head, spinning around and stabbing him in the chest half a dozen times with an invisible knife, sparks flying. Ryu gasped, then tried punching the assassin, only to strike an invisible brick wall the mime pantomimed into existence. The assassin smirked as the clowns cackled madly, blowing up inflatable bazookas and firing them at the rookie Rider.
KING CRAB EDGE!
Once again, Ryu formed his crab claw, using it to shield himself from the explosives, and even then, got pushed back a few feet by the concussive blast. "Don't suppose you want to help?" He grunted at his demon.
The Giff Junior, still playing on his phone, ignored him completely.
"Yeah, that's what I thought."
The mime fell back, then pantomimed an invisible bazooka into being, firing it as the clowns reloaded and fired again as well. Cursing, Ryu charged forwards, pressing down on the Twin Chimera Vistamp in his Driver a few times to power up and enlarge his crab claw, using it as a shield to protect him from the missiles. He was engulfed in flames, disappearing from the sight of the hired goons…
CROCODILE EDGE!
Only to leap out of the conflagration, wreathed in flames, his lower leg covered in orange energy. That energy formed a construct of a crocodile head as he shot down and kicked the mime, the jaws smashing through the barrier and clamping down on the mime, causing it to explode.
The clowns discarded their inflatable bazookas and started squirting acid at him from their flowers.
KING CRAB EDGE!
Once more using his claw as a shield, Ryu rushed the clowns, who ripped off their noses and hurled them at the ground, where they exploded in a large smoke cloud, enveloping all of them.
Unable to see, Ryu spun around, trying to spot the clowns as they rushed around him in the smog, the loud honking noises from their novelty shoes and their incessant laughter disorienting him and making it surprisingly difficult to track them.
Sparks flew as an inflatable katana struck his back, then one from the front, and the sides, Ryu helplessly flailing about as he tried and failed to catch them before they could attack again.
Realizing he was going about this the wrong way, he took a deep breath and concentrated, trying to hear beyond the laughs and honking. All the noise was just a smokescreen, like the literal one surrounding him. If he could just focus on the more subtle changes in the atmosphere around him…
There.
CROCODILE EDGE!
His leg was covered in orange and yellow energies as he performed a roundhouse kick, an energy construct of crocodile head appearing on the end as he struck all the clowns about to attack him at once, the force of the impact flinging the clowns back and blasting the smoke away. More crocodile heads manifested around the mercenaries, crushing them to death between their jaws.
He took a moment to catch his breath…
And then he got stabbed in the back again.
Gasping, he spun around, trying to see who had done it, but there was nobody there. "What-"
He cried out as he got sliced across the chest, then the arms, then his back again. "Who… who's there?!"
Nothing. No reply, no sound, not even the slightest footfall.
A cold sweat broke out. This was even worse than the smoke cloud. Where was his opponent? What was his opponent?
"Really could use some help here," Ryu nervously called to his demon. "I mean, if I die, you die too, right?"
The demon shrugged and grunted apathetically.
"Thanks, big help-"
He screamed as the knife went between his ribs. The suit took the brunt of it, but it still hurt a lot.
And then he felt something grab him from behind, and the edge of an invisible knife was pressed to his throat. He went very still, realizing he might be about to die.
And on his first mission, too!
The knife pressed closer-
OCTOPUS EDGE!
An orange and black blur slammed into something just behind Ryu, tearing the invisible knife away from his throat. Ryu gasped for breath and whirled around in time to see Azuma, his leg covered in orange energy and several red energy octopus tentacles, releasing red and black energy as he continued pushing… Something away.
The air seemed to shimmer, and suddenly a mime appeared, crackling with red and black energy before it exploded, Azuma landing elegantly on his feet, cape billowing behind him.
He looked really cool.
"What… What just happened?" Ryu stammered.
"That was clearly a high-ranking assassin," Azuma exclaimed, turning to face him. "Capable of miming an invisible cloak of invisibility while also wielding an invisible knife. Not many would be capable of such a feat. Not many can survive, let alone defeat, an adversary like that." He chuckled. "But then again, most adversaries aren't me. Still, you are to be commended for lasting as long as you did. You show potential, young man."
"Th-thanks, but… Not to sound ungrateful, but why did you save me?" A confused Ryu asked. "I mean… We're kind of on opposite sides, aren't we? I know there's a cease-fire going on, but…"
"The demarcation between our organizations grows increasingly blurred every day thanks to the influence of the Igarashi family and their associates," Azuma replied. "Perhaps one day that division will cease to exist. Or… Perhaps we will once again find ourselves at war. Regardless, I see no reason not to be cordial, or not to save someone who is currently an ally even though he may become an enemy tomorrow."
He glanced at Ryu's Chimera Driver. "So, you are the one chosen to be my counterpart on Weekend? To be able to fight me on even footing should hostilities ever resume?"
Ryu nodded. "Yeah. I wanted to join Fenix to be a hero, but then it turned out you were the bad guys, so… I decided to enlist in Weekend instead. My best friend and his family – my family, really – tried to talk me out of it, but I was determined to do my part."
"Admirable," Azuma said in approval.
Ryu's shoulders slumped. "Of course, by the time I got here, the fighting had stopped. But Doctor Karizaki got a hold of my medical records and seemed to think I would be a good candidate for being a Rider, so… Here I am."
Azuma nodded. "I see. Young man, while I understand your desire to fight for justice, take it from an old man: there is no shame in never having gone to war. Still, if it is truly the path of the hero you desire, coming to rescue a woman in need isn't a bad start."
Ryu blushed. "Thank you, sir."
"Now… If you truly seek to be a hero, come with me," Azuma said, turning away, cape swishing behind him as he faced a group of demons forming up around them. "If you are to be my destined rival, I must make sure you measure up. Giff willing, the war will never resume, but if it does… You will need to be ready. See if you can keep up with me. And pay attention to my motions. I have been fighting for longer than you've been alive and have much wisdom to impart. Are you willing to learn?"
Ryu nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, absolutely! Hey, you want in on this?" He called to his demon.
The Giff Junior ignored him completely.
Ryu sighed. "Yeah, that's what I figured."
DIVINE JUDGMENT FINISH!
SUPREME DARKNESS FINISH!
Light and dark clashed repeatedly in the surprisingly high reaches of the chamber, an angel and a devil warring far above everyone below, winged demons shrieking as they swarmed around them, the lesser fiends repelled by the shockwaves of black and white energy blasting out whenever the two Riders struck each other. The air was full of beautiful feathers and bats, aftereffects from the twin warriors rapidly teleporting all over the place.
The two combatants parted for a moment, wings spread behind them, radiating waves of light and dark. Their eyes locked, an unspoken agreement flashing between them.
DIVINE JUDGMENT FINISH!
SUPREME DARKNESS FINISH!
Each of them circled their blades through the air, light and darkness energy gathering around the weapons…
And then they spun about, swinging their swords outward, white and black energy blades slicing through the air and shredding the surrounding demons to pieces.
Kagerou laughed, supremely confident that Daiji wouldn't attack while his back was turned, amused that Daiji assumed he wouldn't take advantage either.
He was right, of course, but it was still naïve.
"Got sick of the peanut gallery too?"
"We don't need any distractions," Daiji said dismissively. "This is between the two of us, nobody else."
Kagerou chuckled. "Agreed."
DIVINE JUDGMENT FINISH!
SUPREME DARKNESS FINISH!
Light and dark energy started gathering in their guns. Each of them pointed their weapons in the air, back still to each other, waiting patiently…
And then, just as the power reached its peak, spun around and fired simultaneously, bladed projectiles leaving the barrels at the same time and colliding in the air between them, exploding in a tremendous blast of light and shadow. The blast flung both of them away, wings spread wide to brace themselves, and each of them planted their feet on walls on opposite sides of the room at the same time to catch themselves before springing off, launching themselves at each other once more.
VICTORIOUS JUDGMENT FINALE!
CONQUERING DARKNESS FINALE!
The two of them cried out, wings expanding behind them as rings of light and dark energy formed around their legs, angel and bat wings appearing on each ring depending on the Rider, white, cyan, red, and black energies swirling around them.
Their feet collided…
And the ceiling was obliterated by the resulting blast of power, letting the sunshine down on everyone below them.
As everyone looked up in astonishment, the two Riders rose higher into the sky now that there was no longer a roof in the way, rapidly teleporting all over the place, firing energy blasts or clashing blades, bursts of light and darkness exploding in the sky as they struck again and again and again.
Some of the facility's defenses came online, massive turrets swiveling about to open fire on the two brothers. As dozens of missiles screeched towards the duo, they exchanged looks, nodded, and pointed their guns over each other's shoulders.
DIVINE JUDGMENT FINISH!
SUPREME DARKNESS FINISH!
Waves of light and dark exploded outwards, disintegrating the missiles and destroying the turrets, some of the walls enclosing Area 666 crumbling as the energy shield flickered and collapsed before the might of the Igarashi twins.
The brothers exchanged smirks…
Then adjusted their guns to point in each other's faces. They squeezed the trigger at the same time, heads shifting at the last second to allow the projectiles to shoot past them.
DIVINE JUDGMENT FINISH!
SUPREME DARKNESS FINISH!
The energy shots transformed into a white Raven and a black bat as they flew around and struck their targets in their backs, causing both to gasp and tumble downwards as their wings faltered.
Thankfully, they each regained control just before they could hit the ground and rose back upwards, their vectors bringing them on a collision course.
VICTORIOUS JUDGMENT FINALE!
CONQUERING DARKNESS FINALE!
Their swords swung through the air.
They shot past each other.
And then both of their wings disintegrated, sending them falling towards the ground.
They landed on their feet and were immediately already in motion as a small army of mutant demons charged at them from all sides, resuming their duel with no regard for the interlopers. Every missed shot took out another demon, every deflected blade slew another mutant, the brothers light and dark locked in a deadly dance of which they were the only participants, everything else nothing more than a momentary distraction.
Within seconds, all the demons were slain, and still the duo continued their heated struggle. "We can't keep this up for much longer," Daiji said through gritted teeth, locking blades with his brother once more.
"Says you! I can do this all day!" Kagerou bragged, firing his gun into his brother's gut the same time Daiji did the same thing, both flung back.
"Same, but mom is counting on us," Daiji reminded his twin. "You want the others to rescue her while we were too busy fighting? How do you think she'll feel? We've disappointed her enough already."
"You've disappointed her," Kagerou corrected him, but he was already taking out a pair of familiar Vistamps. "But you make a good point. Shall we end this?"
Daiji nodded, producing his own pair. "Let's settle this once and for all."
They stamped their Vistamps into their Vistamp Slots at the same time.
BAT DARKNESS FINISH!
JACKAL DARKNESS FINISH!
JAPANESE DWARF FLYING SQUIRREL JUDGMENT FINISH!
GIRAFFE JUDGMENT FINISH!
"Wait, you're… You're using those Vistamps?!" Kagerou asked in disbelief as their weapons powered up. "The ones that made you even more of a laughingstock?!"
"Trust me, I know what I'm doing," Daiji insisted.
Kagerou snorted. "Yeah, sure, whatever you say."
Empowered by his Vistamps, he charged forwards at high speed, his body covered in teal energy and leaving a trail of purple lightning behind him, dark energy gathering in the barrel of his gun.
Daiji raised his gun…
And pointed it skywards, firing an energy ball which exploded into a scurry of Japanese dwarf flying squirrels, the rodents gliding down and covering Kagerou's armor, the dark Rider crying out and tripping as they crawled all over him, scurrying about and clawing at his mask. "What the-"
The blade of Daiji's sword extended until it was as long as a giraffe's neck. Shouting at the top of his lungs, Daiji stepped forwards, swinging his blade at Kagerou as he stumbled past him, then spun on one heel and struck him again in the back before he'd finished taking a step. He calmly turned his back on his brother as Kagerou cried out and fell to the ground, exploding.
As the dark Rider lay there, gasping for breath, he glanced up to see Daiji standing over him, extending a hand. After a moment, he reached out a hand of his own…
To point a gun in his brother's face. "Still naïve."
"Am I?"
Kagerou glanced down and saw that Daiji's sword was pointed right at his throat.
The demon stared for a minute, and then burst into laughter, putting away his gun and taking the offered hand. "Well played."
"We're good then?" Daiji asked, helping his partner to his feet.
"We're good," Kagerou confirmed. "Let's go get mom."
REVI/VICE GIFFARD FINISH!
DEADLY APPROVAL! KILLER QUEEN STAMPING DESTROY!
COBRA STAMPING SMASH!
DESTREAM FINISH!
CRIMSON FINISH!
DEMONS FINISH!
AMAZING FINISH!
DELTA STAMPING STRIKE!
DEMONS FINISH!
TWIN CHIMERA EDGE!
TRI CHIMERA CHARGE!
DIVINE JUDGMENT FINISH!
SUPREME DARKNESS FINISH!
As the final demon fell to the ground and exploded, the united Igarashi family and associates strode forwards, Georgina and her Deadman hooting frantically while Chic looked like he was on the verge of tearing his hair out. "Dammit, knew I should've sprung for NEVER."
"Ook."
"Yes, I know they're dead, that's what makes them such good mercenaries-"
"Ook."
"Wait, they're dead dead? Really? Nobody revived them? I thought nobody stayed dead in this line of work."
"Ook."
"Wait, was that time even canon?"
"Chic! It's over!" Genta declared.
"You've thrown everything you had us, and it wasn't enough," Vail said smugly.
"You've reunited us with old friends," Daiji said, nodding at Kagerou, who scoffed.
"And given us a chance to become even stronger!" Tamaki exclaimed, Ampaz continuing to fawn over him.
"Seriously, when did Tamaki of all people get so cool?" An incredulous Vice wondered.
"Now, give back mom, or face the full wrath of the entire Igarashi family!" Ikki threatened.
"Except Lovekov," Sakura reminded her.
"Except her," Ikki corrected.
"Wait, shouldn't Akaishi be here as well? Where did he go?" A confused Azuma wondered.
…
"Do you know how you are going to die?" The atrocity asked.
"No, and it won't be today!" Akaishi declared, claws burning with purple flame as he prepared to face his greatest adversary yet, the broken bodies of countless demon mutants littering the ground around him.
…
"He'll show up eventually," Masumi said dismissively.
"So, you think you have me beaten, do you?" Chic shouted.
"Kind of, yeah," Hana remarked.
"Well think again! Georgina? Do the thing!" Chic told the gorilla.
"Ook!"
Georgina produced a Kong Proto-Vistamp.
KONG!
A red contract materialized in front of her Kong Deadman. She stamped it, causing the demon to dissolve into a flurry of red pages which swirled around her before converging on her body, transforming her into a Kong Deadman Phase 2.
Everyone was unimpressed. "So, you turned her into a demon every single one of us outclassed ages ago. So what?" Kagerou scoffed.
"Oh but you see, the Demon Extractor isn't the ONLY thing I've gotten working," Chic sneered triumphantly. "Or haven't you recognized what this chamber is, Karizaki?"
Everyone instinctively looked at George. "I think he means daddy."
Masumi gasped. "Wait… This room is… No! It CAN'T be! Not the Demon Growth Chamber!"
"The what?" Ryu asked.
Every stared at him like he was an idiot.
"It's a room that can turn demons into giant monsters," Masumi said very slowly.
"Obviously," Vice snorted.
"Oh. Right."
George gaped at his father in disbelief. "Daddy! Why would you do something as horribly incredible as that?!"
"Since mass-producing armies of demons wasn't working out as planned, NOAH was looking into ways to make individual militarized demons more powerful by developing a way to turn them into giant monsters, so they could be snuck behind enemy lines and grown into kaiju capable of destroying hard targets with great ease and minimal cost of resources," Masumi explained. "Also, we all thought it would be very cool."
Everyone nodded and murmured in agreement at this.
"Of course, I was never able to get it working," Masumi continued. "But if Chic has…"
"And I have!" Chic said gleefully. "And I had more than enough incentive. After all, we always have liked bigger women!"
Cackling madly, he slammed his hand on a big red button on his Control Panel. Klaxons started blaring and red lights flashed as panels opened in walls all over the room, monstrous mechanical arms ending in huge claws with glowing cybernetic eyes in the middle emerged. The eyes lit up and projected beams of red light at Georgina, who roared as the energy soaked into her body…
And she started to grow.
Very quickly at that.
"Uh, guys? I think we're about to run out of room quickly," Tamaki said nervously as the growing Deadman loomed over them.
"I suggest a tactical retreat," Hiromi advised.
"In other words, RUN FOR IT!" Vice shouted, rushing for the exit.
Everyone else was quick to follow suit, and they all made it outside just as a now-gigantic Georgina smashed through what was left of the roof, a wailing Yukimi clutched in one hand with a cackling Chic on one shoulder.
"YUKIMI/MOM!" The Igarashis cried in horror.
"Well, she is a Kong Deadman, I suppose it was inevitable something like this might happen," George remarked.
"We have to save her," Hiromi panted.
"But how? That's a giant monster! We're not Sentai, we don't have giant robots!" Ryu protested.
"Please, we don't need them!" Vice scoffed. "Diablo turned into a giant monster, and Ikki and I took him down with only two other Riders for backup!"
"That few?" Astarte remarked in surprise. "How disappointing. He always was the weakest of us…"
"Vice is right. We have everything we need to stop them right here; all of us," Ikki spoke up.
"Except Akaishi," Azuma pointed out.
"Right, which means our chances of success are even higher!" Vice jeered. "No, wait, we have Daiji, I guess it's about the same."
"Hey!" Daiji protested as Kagerou burst into laughter.
"Son, we can make fun of your brother later. For now, we have to join together to save Yukimi-" Genta started, only to be interrupted by Sakura.
"WAIT! I can sense Lovekov!"
"Really? Where?" Hana asked frantically, Hani and Astarte looking eager as well.
Without warning, screaming could be heard as an airborne Moraboshi Elementary suddenly shot through the air and smashed into Georgina's head, toppling her over.
"There," Sakura said faintly.
Everybody stared.
"EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"