Rider Time Zi-O: Roze from Remnant
Chapter 105 – 2006: Next Level, Kabuto
Woz was currently in his shared bedroom in 9-5-DO, alone and by himself as he held his book close to him. He was currently sitting on his bed as he glanced out the window in the room to view the night sky.
"There now remain three Watches that Tokiwa Sougo must collect," Woz said as he continued his slow but steady countdown that inched forward ever so slightly, "Space and time distortions continue to become an issue to us even when dealing with Another Drive."
He shifted as he heard movement outside the door, more than likely his roommate Geiz ready to turn in for the day. He then got himself in a more comfortable position before lying down on his bed.
"As our next foes come from space once more… we will soon ally with those who hold the key at granting us the next Ridewatch…"
Earth, Late May 2019:
During the night there was another meteor that struck Earth. This one was larger than the ones that had brought about Boot, Ginga, and GingaOh, but it wasn't filled with cosmic energy. Damage was caused however as it had struck an area in the city and wrecked the area.
The most dangerous part about the meteor wasn't it crashing and causing damage. No, it was about what was inside the meteor. Escaping from the meteorite after it crashed were green chrysalis-like creatures that began approaching any unlucky person who was nearby. While anyone nearby cowered in fear, the creatures began shifting and jittering about, their bodies turning into exact copies of the people they were in front of.
One lone creature however suddenly shifted as it didn't take the appearance of anyone who was in the area. He wore black leather pants, boots, and a sleeveless jacket with only a tattered red shirt covering his chest. He also had various bands and chains on him as he had bushy black hair. He looked himself over, as if noticing this change in form was odd but simply smirked as he gained the memories of the person he had taken the form of.
Watching from afar was an older man in similar attire, wearing a long-sleeved black leather jacket and a black shirt, having various chains draped all over him. His hair was black and somewhat outgrown, being swept to where he had a bang covering his left eye.
Watching the two in particular was Uhr who was holding the Kabuto Anotherwatch. He held it up as he thought about the situation before walking forward to make the most out of the chance he had.
The Next Day
It was a rather standard morning at 9-5-DO, well as standard as it could get with Weiss now living with everyone else. The table was a bit more cluttered than usual but no one seemed to mind. As everyone was finishing up, Tsukuyomi was currently looking through her tablet at some news after Junichiro had mentioned some loud crashes the previous night.
"We're at the impact site of last night's meteor," The reporter said as she was currently standing at ground zero of the impacted area, "As you can see, the damage is severe."
"Jeez, this is like the fourth one, right?" Junichiro asked as he got up and began working on taking the plates everyone was finished with, "I'm honestly surprised."
"There has been a lot lately," Tsukuyomi agreed.
"It's likely those time/space distortions we keep theorizing about," Weiss pointed out.
"Yeah, last time it was Paradox who was able to revive… and before that it was Kamen Rider Ginga, plus Boot and that Kannagi guy," Sougo recalled as he thought a bit about it before slightly paling at a sudden realization, "Do we have to deal with another Ginga?"
"While there definitely is a connection, my Overlord," Woz said as he brought out the Ginga Finaly Ridewatch, "There is one factor you are understandably overlooking."
"Some are reporting missing family members that can't be found…" The newscaster seemed to suddenly pause in her reading before her form flashed and shifted into the chrysalis-like creature before it went to attack the news crew. Geiz, Sougo, and Weiss immediately stood up at this, all going to huddle behind Tsukuyomi as they saw the attack happening.
"What the…?" Sougo stared at the footage.
"They kind of look like Inves…" Weiss muttered.
"Unlike our last guests that were living meteors themselves, this one seems to have brought passengers. Worms, specifically Salis, but in general are extraterrestrial lifeforms that can mimic human beings," Woz stated as he opened his book, showing the Salis Worms being combated by a black warrior with silver armoring, the top of his armor being red with a distinct kabuto beetle motif, "As it is written here, Kamen Rider Kabuto once battled against them.
"Kamen Rider Kabuto…?" Tsukuyomi and Weiss asked.
"These guys might be our lead for the Kabuto Watch," Geiz noted.
"Certainly so," Woz agreed as he closed his book.
"Let's handle the invasion, first," Sougo pointed out before looking over at Weiss, "Think you can call up Ruby and her team?"
"Already on it," Weiss said as she was on her phone, having sent several text messages to her Team's group chat and already getting responses, "And they're aware."
"Nice Weiss," Sougo gave a thumbs-up.
"It always helps to be prepared," Weiss replied with a proud chuckle, "Now how about we start our investigation."
"You all stay safe out there," Junichiro called out from the kitchen.
"Thanks uncle," Sougo smiled before quickly rushing out with Weiss, Geiz and Tsukuyomi in tow, Woz simply staying where he was since he didn't need to worry about trying to catch up.
Ruby, Blake, Yang and Penny were all rushing from their apartment as fast as they could. The group managed to find a Ride Vendor for Yang to use, Blake getting on while Penny accompanied Ruby on the Rose Attacker. The two were riding through the streets towards the crash site before suddenly skidding to a stop when they saw another meteor coming crashing from the sky, it passing them and heading in the opposite direction.
Yang grimaced, "Another one?"
"Do you think it has more of those strange creatures that Weiss mentioned?" Penny asked.
"I don't know, maybe we should…" Blake paused when an even larger meteor began to fly past and head in a direction that wasn't the crash site or the last meteor's destination, "Oh joy…"
"Give me a second," Ruby said as she quickly drew out her Faizphone X, calling Sougo, "Hey did you see those other two?"
"Yeah we just did," Sougo said, "Given you're the only Rider of you group you guys stay together, my group will split up."
"Sounds good to me," Ruby said.
"Tsukuyomi, Weiss and I will check the first impact," Sougo replied, "Your team will check the third impact."
"Alright," Ruby said.
"And Geiz-"
"Am I stuck with Woz again?!" Geiz questioned.
"I'm counting on you!" Sougo called out before hanging up.
Ruby giggled a bit as she could hear the loud groaning from Geiz before hanging up, she then shifted her bike to where she could get in position, "Alright, we're going for crash site three!"
"Sounds good to me," Yang nodded before revving up the Ride Vendor.
It didn't take long for the two to take off, changing course and heading for where the third meteor had landed.
Cinder was currently on a rooftop that was able to view all the crash sites with ease. With her was Finis who was also observing the situation.
"More meteors," Cinder said.
"You don't sound pleased," Finis said, "Are you thinking about the last incident?"
"I couldn't claim Ginga's power," Cinder admitted as she gritted her teeth briefly, "And then we just ran…"
"You know we can't risk Roze defeating you," Finis replied, "While the Anotherwatch was able to recover, that was before she grew stronger. There's no telling what her or Zi-O Trinity will do to you."
"I suppose that at least means I'm invaluable," Cinder said before scoffing as she turned away, "Still…"
"That being said, I can't hold you onto you forever like this," Finis admitted as they started out into the city, "If I'm to try for my big plan soon, I'll need to allow you your freedom to do as you wish."
"What do you mean?" Cinder asked.
"It means I'll have to trust that you can keep doing this on your own," Finis replied, "Should everything go to plan then I can create a new world with you at my side. But this is something I'll need to start on my own."
"I see," Cinder said, "Is that why you aren't with the others? And why you didn't have me work with Ora for the last plan?"
"I simply wished to help Ora in a constructive manner while she simply grew more apathetic," Finis replied as they gripped the Den-O Anotherwatch tightly, "As of now we're all simply fighting our own battles as Swartz grows closer to his goal. Something I'm not about to allow."
"Fine then," Cinder replied, "Do what you have to."
"Of course," Finis said before turning and walking off, "I expect great things from you Cinder. You can still push that power farther, after all."
Cinder turned just as Finis vanished before giving a mischievous grin, "While not as tight, it was still a leash… one that I can disregard for the time being."
Geiz and Woz quickly ran over to a construction site that had been reduced to a crater, various small chunks of rocks scattered from the main meteor that had broken apart.
"This is terrible…" Geiz said as he saw that the meteor in its path had destroyed a few portions of several buildings.
The two walked over to the edge of the crater, the rocks being moved to the side as Salis Worms emerged from underneath.
"Indeed, the meteors are escorting the Worms to Earth," Woz confirmed.
"Then we need to clean this up," Geiz said as he prepared his personal and Drive Ridewatches, "Let's go, Woz."
"Do not presume to command me," Woz remarked as he prepared his Quiz Miridewatch, "I shall take the lead. Come along."
"Hey now," Geiz glared, "Don't get-"
He was cut off as the Salis Worms charged forward, the two Riders spinning back before initiating their transformations.
"Henshin!"
[RIDER TIME! KAMEN RIDER GEIZ! ARMOR TIME! DRIVE! DRIVE!]
[FUTURE TIME! FASHION! PASSION! QUESTION! FUTURERING QUIZ! QUIZ!]
The two Riders took their alternate forms from the get go, Geiz speeding forward to ram through the Salis Worms and disperse them.
"What was that about taking the lead?" Geiz turned with a chuckle as he pointed towards Woz.
"Come now, do not get so easily riled up," Woz wagged his finger with a hint of annoyance as he drew out his Despear in cane mode, rushing forward to strike at the Salis Worms.
Ruby and Yang quickly skidded to a stop near their location on their bikes. The meteor had been angled at just the right distance to avoid any buildings for further damage. But it had crashed into a warehouse, having completely torn it up for the most part, only part of it still standing as Salis Worms began crawling out of the warehouse while people began to scream and run off.
"Alright, looks like it's time for Silver Roze," Ruby said as she dismounted her Rose Attack with Penny, recalling the bike as she prepared her transformation.
"Wait, why Silver Roze?" Yang asked, "Why not Rose Armor?"
"Because Geiz is hogging Drive all to himself," Ruby pouted slightly as she paused on her preparations, crossing her arms, "And Mach doesn't have a cool upgraded weapon."
"Oh… this is what this about…" Yang said in near deadpan.
"Leave it to Ruby," Blake said as she shook her head, quickly turning and drawing out her Gashacon Sparrow.
"Okay, Silver Roze this time then," Yang spoke up before bringing out her Knuckles.
"Ready, Penny?" Ruby asked.
"Affirmative," Penny said as she accessed her magic, bringing out Floating Array and floating upwards.
"Good," Ruby set Silver Roze into her Ziku Driver and prepared herself, "Henshin!"
[SILVER TIME! KAMEN RIDER~! (RIDER~!) SILVER! (SILVER!) SILVER~! ROZE!]
Silver Roze brought out Silver Crescent, taking aim and crouching before firing off powered up blasts, "Let's go girls!"
Blake raised her sickles before charging forward with Yang, Penny flying from above to assist from a higher angle.
Sougo, Tsukuyomi, and Weiss quickly made their way to the impact site that had been broadcasted at. When they arrived however they saw a calm scene of several people surveying the damage alongside a couple of workers.
"Huh?" Sougo looked around, "There's no Worms."
"Something's off," Weiss realized almost instantly, noticing how there were just random civilians hanging around with the workers not even doing much, "I don't like this…"
"Well there's one way to find out," Sougo looked at Weiss before looking at the area again, soon getting the same feeling. He closed his eyes and opened them again, accessing his Semblance as the world turned grey to his eyes. However his senses kicked into high gear as the people in the area became warped and red in coloration to him, "Worms!"
The four civilians and two workers in the area soon turned at those words, narrowing their eyes as they shifted shapes, soon transforming into Salis Worms. The Worms were ready to approach when sparks flew from their bodies, all six having been shot at as they turned towards the source.
The source was a black suited Rider with silver armoring on the sides of his arms and legs, having bulky silver armoring on his chest and shoulders with blue accents. On his shoulders were mounted cannons, his belt being a blue stag beetle slid onto a silver buckle.
"A Kamen Rider…?" Tsukuyomi asked.
"Kabuto…?" Weiss asked.
"No," Sougo immediately saw the stag beetle buckle, "It's a stag beetle."
"Stay back, I'll handle this!" The blue stag Rider called out as he rushed forward to start striking the Salis Worms.
"Well he doesn't know us very well," Sougo had a knowing smile while Weiss lightly bopped him on the head, "Ow…"
"Because he's not aware of whom we are," Weiss said, "Let's get in there."
"Right," Sougo nodded as he drew out his base and Fourze Ridewatches, "Since they're from space…"
Tsukuyomi meanwhile brought out her base and Hibiki Ridewatches, "Alright…"
"…Henshin!"
[RIDER TIME!]
[KAMEN RIDER ZI-O! ARMOR TIME! 3, 2. 1! FOURZE!]
[KAMEN~ RI~DER~ TSUKU~YOMI! TSU-KU-YO-MI! ARMOR TIME! HIBIKI!]
The two transformed into their most recently acquired Armor Times respectively while Weiss drew out Myrtenaster and the Chalice Arrow. They then rushed in, each going against one Salis Worm each and keeping the pressure off of the new Rider that showed up.
"Huh?" The beetle Rider stepped back in surprise before he turned and shot an approaching Salis Worm away, "You all are Riders?"
"Not all of us but yeah," Zi-O said as he punched a Salis Worm away, "The names Zi-O," he then gestured with his rocket gauntlet at Tsukuyomi and Weiss respectively, "That's Tsukuyomi and that's Weiss."
"Ah, I had heard rumblings about new Riders but I didn't think I'd run into them," The beetle Rider admitted as he punched a Salis worm away, "I'm Kamen Rider Gatack."
"Gatack, so not Kabuto," Weiss said to herself as she used a Glyph to force a Salis Worm back before sliding a card on her Chalice Arrow.
[TORNADO!]
The Salis Worm attempted to move forward only to get cut into by razor gusts of wind.
Tsukuyomi meanwhile brought out her Ongekibou Rekka, she lit the tips on fire as she struck against two Salis Worms trying to charging at her.
Geiz was currently using Drive Armor's speed to zip forward, easily ramming through the Salis Worms. Woz meanwhile was corralling most of them into one spot with precise swings.
"True or false," Woz said as he held up a finger, "These Worms are unable to grow stronger."
"Clearly false," Geiz called out as he spun and kicked two Salis Worms away, "If they were this weak and couldn't grow stronger then I doubt Kabuto would be needed."
"Correct, the answer is false," Woz said as his left shoulder opened up to reveal a blue X, blue electricity gathering in his cane. He stabbed the tip of it against the ground as electricity began striking through the ground, plumes of smoke erupting near the Salis Worms and launching them into the air.
Geiz yelled out and threw his arms forward, the Shift Cars mounted on his forearms launching out and striking against the airborne Salis Worms. The projectiles continued to zoom around and strike at them, explosions occurring as they were fully defeated before returning to Geiz.
"Easy," Geiz replied as he grabbed his wrist and flexed his fingers, "So what was that about them being able to grow stronger?"
"Remain cautious Geiz," Woz said as he gestured towards the clearing smoke from Woz's first attack to show one Salis Worm still intact, "For you see…"
The Salis Worm began to heat up, its body smoking and peeling away as an even larger version of it emerged, it being pure white as it lumbered forward.
"It looks different now, but barely," Geiz replied, "So what?"
"Oh, you got lucky," Woz chuckled as he interrupted his statement, "Seems as though a mutation occurred in its molting. Otherwise it would've been able to use Clock Up to move at impossible speeds and overwhelm us."
"Looks like it's our lucky day then," Geiz said as he readied his finisher.
[FINISH TIME! DRIVE!]
Geiz yelled out as the wheels on his shoulders began spinning before launching out numerous amounts of Shift Tires from them. The tires launched forward, their effects all active as they struck against the Mutated Salis Worm which tried to move forward.
[HISATSU TIME BURST!]
Despite its evolution it was unable to truly do anything, sparks flying as the Shift Tires had mostly cut through it. It could only give out a few gurgled noises before falling back and exploding.
"ORA!" Yang shouted as she hit a Salis Worm with an uppercut, sending it tumbling into a barrel that had a radio set on it. The result was the radio being knocked over and turned on, it playing the last station that it was set on.
(Insert: 俺の戦い～GOD BLESS AMERICA – Kamen Rider Kabuto God Speed Love OST)
"Is it just me or are these monsters just pushovers?" Blake asked.
"Ease of fighting or not, there are quite a lot of them," Penny said as she leapt between Salis Worms, extending out Floating Array and coating her blades in fire to deal more damage.
"Team, regroup!" Roze called out as she brought out Crescent Rose, beginning to attach Silver Crescent to it, "We'll end them all in one strike!"
Blake, Yang and Penny all gave nods, breaking away from their fights as the Salis Worms began to regroup too. The one that had been hit near the radio accidentally kicked the radio again while getting up, upping the volume up just as the song grew louder.
Roze fully connected her weapons together and held the Silver Crescent Rose up, Yang kneeling in front of her and raising the extend rifle upwards. Blake and Penny went to brace Roze by holding onto her shoulders. To help offset the fact that Weiss was not with them, Penny coated each members feet in ice to stick them to the ground while also bringing out Floating Array and stabbing it into the ground to act as a stronger brace.
[SILVER FINISH TIME!]
Roze watched the silvery white energy gather in her weapons barrel as the Salis Worms began to group up and charge forward. The Worms had all gotten into a stampede formation, planning on completely overwhelming the four before they fired. "Silver Crescent Rose…" she trailed off as she waited for the right positioning, "FIRE!"
[RYOSHI SASUSASU SHOOT!]
In an instant a giant beam of silver and white launched forward, engulfing the Salis Worms and causing them all to scream out. It wasn't long before they all exploded one by one before the beam fully died out.
Thankfully with Penny's extra precautions, the recoil wasn't as bad as it could've been. The Rider and three Huntresses slumping forward a bit. Roze lowered her weapon before dismissing her transformation.
(Insert End)
"Okay, Mission Accomplished," Yang said before glancing towards the fallen radio that switched to a different song, "But what the heck was that song on the radio?"
"Playback enabled," Penny said as she held up a finger, her eyes shining a bright green as she began accessing prior data, "Starting search… search completed… an instrumental version of God Bless America."
"What?" Blake tilted her head, "Why that song?"
"I am unsure though it is likely the radio was playing a station that plays foreign music," Penny guessed.
"Music choices aside, I think we managed to clean up good here," Ruby said as she looked around, "Come on girls, let's try and rendezvous with the others."
The others nodded and they four quickly went to hurry off, all unaware of one lone Salis Worm that had stayed behind and hid in the destroyed warehouse. Its body began to visibly heat up as smoke began spewing from cracks in its body, it shedding its skin to evolve further.
Gatack, Zi-O, Tsukuyomi and Weiss were making quick work of the Salis Worms. The two had ended up splitting from each other and pairing up, Zi-O with Gatack while Tsukuyomi and Weiss worked together.
[BIO!]
Weiss quickly launched out two vine-like whips to wrap around the three Salis Worms they were facing. Tsukuyomi yelled out as she swung her Ongekibou Rekka forward, fire engulfing the trio of Worms, the Salis Worms screeching as they exploded.
"Good job Tsuki," Weiss complimented.
"Thanks," Tsukuyomi nodded.
Gatack meanwhile yelled out as he unleashed full power blasts from his cannons while Zi-O readied his rocket gauntlets before launching them forward. The rockets shot through the air at high speeds and punched through the Salis Worms, explosions occurring not long afterwards.
[CHANGE PUNCHHOPPER!]
[CLOCK UP!]
Everyone suddenly looked around at the announcements as a bronze and brown blur suddenly sped through, knocking everyone around and to the ground.
"What was that?!" Zi-O shouted in surprise.
Soon enough the blur stopped revealing a black suited Rider pure white eyes and pointed shoulders, having bronze and silver armor with a hopper motif, a hopper-like device sitting on a buckle at his waist. Kamen Rider PunchHopper merely chuckled as he stared down everyone.
"Is that you, Kageyama?!" Gatack questioned as he pulled back on his belt's stag beetle horns, the upper armoring on his body extending out, "Cast Off!"
[CAST OFF!]
Soon enough the armor exploded off of Gatack, revealing slim blue armoring with gold accents at the chest, two stag beetle pincers moving up from his shoulders to the sides of his helmet. His cannons were also replaced by two horn themed blades.
[CHANGE STAG BEETLE!]
"His armor changed," Tsukuyomi gave a light gasp.
"Clock Up!" Gatack shouted as he pressed the pad on his before he suddenly became a blue blur.
[CLOCK UP!]
KickHopper complied and performed his own Clock Up, becoming a blur that shot forward. The two began speeding around the battlefield. Or at least for everyone else they were, the two Riders themselves were moving at normal speed but everything else had been slowed down around them, the brightness of the area being turned up heavily.
Of course, everyone else was still overwhelmed by how fast the battle had become. Debris being pushed and knocked around, sparks being kicked up. Everyone could only stumble back in surprise by these, Zi-O trying to hide behind a piece of debris only for it to get knocked away.
"Oh jeez," Zi-O quickly brought out his Zi-O II Ridewatch, swapping his Ridewatches and initiating his form change, "If they're going fast…"
[RIDER TIME! KAMEN RIDER~! (RIDER~!) ZI-O! (ZI-O!) ZI-O~! II!]
Zi-O II quickly stepped forward as he drew out his Saikyo Girade, looking around as he got on guard.
"A heavy armored form and a slimmer speedster form?" Weiss asked as she backed away, not liking that there wasn't an easy way to keep up.
Tsukuyomi meanwhile was trying and failing to keep track of the battle, at least until PunchHopper slammed Gatack into a building. The resulting crash sent several chunks of the building down towards a mother and son that were still trying to clear away from the area.
"Watch out!" Tsukuyomi shouted as she held her hand forward, stopping the debris via time stop.
"Close call," Weiss let out a breath of relief as she watched the two civilians hurry off.
Tsukuyomi nodded before gasping as she held her head, suddenly receiving a flash of what appeared to be a white eyed red monstrous like figure looming over her while slowly approaching.
"There you are…"
"Tsuki…?" Weiss asked as she put a hand on her friends arm only to get it shoved off, "Hey, are you alright?"
"Sorry, I got another memory flash… I think…" Tsukuyomi admitted as she shook her head, "I wasn't expecting another one of these after they stalled… but, that was frightening…"
"It's been a while since one of those yeah," Weiss agreed, unaware that Tsukuyomi had one recently, "What did you see?"
"A monster…" Tsukuyomi muttered.
"Tsuki…" Weiss muttered before she heard yelling, turning back towards the fight as she realized PunchHopper was mostly ignoring them.
Zi-O meanwhile had attempted to try and help Gatack out, though that resulted in PunchHopper targeting him. The Rider could only gasp and hold his chest as he was struck again.
"Faster than Harriet, so it's likely closer to Geiz Revive," Zi-O realized as he quickly used his Future Sight to view the future, "If that's the case…! One… two… three…! Let's go for this method again!"
PunchHopper quickly batted away an attack from Gatack before noticing that Zi-O was standing still. He went to rush forward, striking Zi-O in the chest twice and turning the Rider around as a result. He wasn't aware that his opponent was counting up all this time. Right when he went for a punch at the seemingly stunned Zi-O, the future king of time ducked and stabbed forward with the Saikyo Girade.
PunchHopper gasped out as an explosive burst occurred, sending him stumbling backwards and onto the ground.
"Nice!" Sougo pumped his fist at this.
"It's over, Kageyama!" Gatack called out as he drew the blades from his shoulders, gathering energy in them before releasing that energy in the form of a cross-slash.
Before the cross-slash could reach PunchHopper, a blur of red suddenly got in the way. Everyone could just barely see the figure of red stop and roundhouse kick the cross-slash into two blasts that impacted against the ground, explosions kicking up on the sides.
The figure soon turned, having a monstrous black suit with silver-bug legs all over, red armoring covering his hips, thighs and upper body, resembling that of a Kabuto bug with blue eyes. The styling of the armoring also made it seem like a Worm.
"Hands off my little bro," he said as his arms shifted slightly, revealing a silver belt with a pupa-like buckle at the center. His right thigh held the word 'Kabuto' while his left thigh held the date '2006'.
"You…" Gatack trailed.
"Another Kabuto…?" Zi-O asked.
"That name on him confirms it," Weiss said as she narrowed her eyes.
"Kagami… you've got it good, don't you?" Another Kabuto asked towards Gatack before backing up towards PunchHopper who was getting up.
"Bro…" PunchHopper spoke up.
ClockUp!
Another Kabuto grabbed onto PunchHopper before initiating his own Clock Up, the distorted announcement sounding as he sped away with the dark Rider that he called brother.
"Huh," Zi-O said before dismissing his transformation alongside Tsukuyomi.
Gatack himself dismissed his transformation, moving the horns of the stag beetle back in place before the buckle suddenly removed itself on its own from the belt and flew off. His transformation faded to reveal a rather ordinary man in a black suit and blue tie with neatly combed hair.
"So you're…" Sougo trailed off.
"Arata Kagami," Arata explained, "I take it you all are aware of that fake Kabuto's purpose?"
"We are," Weiss said as she walked over while Tsukuyomi stayed where she was.
"I think we can help each other out," Sougo said as he brought out a Blank Ridewatch and held it out for Kagami to take, "But first we should regroup with the others."
"I'm not sure what this is, but thanks I guess," Arata said as he took the Blank Ridewatch.
"Just hold onto it for now," Weiss replied.
"You guys can go ahead without me," Tsukuyomi spoke up as she stayed where she was, "I'd like some time alone."
Sougo and Weiss looked at each other, before looking back at Tsukuyomi and nodding.
It didn't take long for mostly everyone to coordinate and regroup, well everyone except for Geiz who was determined to find Tsukuyomi despite everyone's protests. Since Ruby's apartment was closer, everyone chose to hold their meeting there. Arata had chosen to sit at the dining table with everyone positioning themselves around him, either sitting or standing.
Weiss meanwhile had gone and served Arata some tea since he was a guest, the Rider taking a few sips as introductions were made.
"This is admittedly weird," Yang said.
"How exactly is it weird?" Arata asked.
"We sort of already know a Kagami," Blake admitted.
'Yeah but I'm cooler…' Kagami sounded off in Ruby's head.
"Shush," Ruby muttered.
"Huh, small world," Arata admitted.
"Not in the way you'd think admittedly," Ruby muttered with a sigh before giving a smile, "So what exactly are you investigating?"
"Well for one I'm pretty sure I know the identity of our fake Kabuto," Arata said.
"Whoa… impressive," Sougo admitted.
"That's a Legend Rider for you," Weiss spoke up.
"It's likely Sou Yaguruma," Arata said as he pulled out a picture of a young man with messy hair in leather.
"Okay what kind of try hard guy is that?" Yang asked as she tried to keep from laughing.
"He and I are both former ZECT Members," Arata continued as he placed the picture on the table.
"One turned out better than the other I see," Yang remarked further before wincing as Blake elbowed her, "What?"
"So, what's ZECT?" Sougo asked.
"An agency that protected humanity from the Worm invasion," Arata explained as if it was an obvious concept.
"That's a thing?" Sougo asked, "I've never heard of it!"
"Well you were a kid when they were mostly active," Ruby spoke up, "And it went the way of most organizations of that time back then like BOARD, Smart Brain, etc…"
"Ah yes, I seem to recall that there were some notes about ZECT in your findings," Penny nodded, "But not a lot."
"Yeah, didn't get too lucky when it came to them to be honest," Ruby admitted.
"So what makes you think that this Yaguruma guy is our Another Kabuto?" Yang asked.
"There's that term again," Arata said, "What exactly do you mean by Another Kabuto?"
"The Another Riders are corrupted versions of Rider powers," Ruby explained, "They're basically employed by this group called the Time Jackers to rule over space and time."
"But you wouldn't be able to beat him," Weiss spoke up, "Only our Rider Powers have any chance at fully defeating an Another Rider."
"I see," Arata nodded, "Aside from the voice which I can recognize given he was a colleague at points… the Rider that attacked us was PunchHopper, Shun Kageyama. The two of them were a team known as the Hell Brothers."
He had pulled out another picture from his pocket, setting it near Yaguruma's. It was of a younger male in attire that was different but had a similar style to Yaguruma's.
"They're brothers?" Sougo asked as he stared at the pictures.
"Not literally," Arata shook his head before taking another sip of his tea.
"That seems rather obtuse," Woz sighed as he paced around.
"Cool title then," Ruby corrected.
"Under what definition is it cool?" Weiss asked.
"Our Genius Physicist Sento had to fight a guy named Hell Bro's," Ruby pointed out, "Pretty sure it's a cool title."
"Or they just want to sound cool," Blake added.
"Getting back on track," Woz said as he cleared his throat before looking over at Arata, "What is your aim in all of this?"
"I'm after Kageyama…" Arata tapped the picture in question, "He's a worm mimic."
"How can you be so sure?" Woz asked.
"The real Kageyama died a while back," Arata answered.
"They can even mimic dead people…?" Sougo gasped in surprise.
"He's got Yaguruma convinced, though," Arata replied as he began to stand up, finishing off his tea as he gave a bow to everyone, "I can't do much against that Another Kabuto but I can at least stop Kageyama. So if you guys get any intel on him, I'd appreciate you letting me know."
"Sure thing," Ruby said as she brought out her business card before grabbing a pen and writing something on the back before handing it over, "You can call our hotline if you find anything out as well, or if we don't answer my cell is on the back."
"Thanks," Arata said as he took the card before heading for the exit, he paused however before he reached the door, "Since when was Shibuya this far along?"
"Far along…?" Sougo asked.
"It was destroyed in the meteor strike of 1999, remember?" Arata asked, as if everyone should have known such obvious history.
"Is that true?" Sougo looked around.
"Reports indicate that yes it is," Penny answered after doing a quick search.
"Oh, well… I wasn't born yet so you know," Sougo said with a sheepish smile as he started to realize why exactly Shibuya was fine.
"I see…" Arata gave a slow nod before heading out of the apartment.
"Okay so…" Yang spoke up when she saw everyone was silent, "We're all figuring out the same thing, right?"
"It's what you all told me about, right?" Sougo spoke up, "About how Swartz did something to me and the Rider Worlds likely started to merge together afterwards?"
"From what little I read of Ruby's notes… that feels like the correct theory to take," Weiss said, "I said it before but Rider History is a mess of calamities that should not be able to stack on top of each other year after year especially with how far back the setup takes for certain battles."
"I wonder if the merging is causing the space time distortions," Ruby mused.
"Or the trips to and from Remnant," Blake added, "After all, Tsukasa did mention it was harder to get from Remnant to Earth prior to now."
"Regardless," Ruby said, "Let's see if we can-"
RING RING RING
"Huh?" Ruby turned towards the hotline before hurrying over, "Why's it ringing now?"
"Maybe he found something already?" Sougo suggested.
"Hello, Team RWBY Rider Hotline," Ruby spoke up as she answered the phone, "This is Ruby-"
"Ah, thank goodness you answered Ruby!" The familiar yelling of Genpachiro Otta was heard, "We've got trouble! I think Another Drive had a few spare Roidmudes that escaped!"
"Wait, what do you mean a Roidmude?" Ruby asked in surprise, "Why are you saying that?"
"There's an impersonator of me wrecking a shopping district!" Otta called out before giving a yell, "Hey you're under arrest! I could use some help!"
Ruby didn't get to even rebuttal as she was hung up on, "Okay… what?"
"Miss Rose, clearly it is not a Roidmude," Woz said as he walked over, "After all, we are dealing with another set of mimicking creatures."
"Oh crap that's right," Ruby realized, "Uh… we'll need to split up then!"
"Okay then Ruby you keep your team from last time, while Woz will join Weiss and I," Sougo said as he went to grab the two pictures that Arata left behind, "Sound good?"
"Yeah," Ruby said as she went to get prepared, "My team will deal with the Worm while the rest of you all can look for clues on Kageyama."
Sougo nodded as he looked back at Woz and Weiss, the retainer unfurling his scarf and wrapping it around them to warp them away. Blake, Yang and Penny meanwhile went to make sure they were prepped alongside Ruby.
Tsukuyomi was currently at the top of a hill, a small park with various benches around a stone sundial that was in the center. She was currently thinking about the monstrous figure she saw in her sudden vision and she wondered if it was the reason that she had lost access to her powers and memories.
"Tsukuyomi," Geiz spoke up as he began to walk over.
Tsukuyomi turned in surprise, "Geiz?"
"What's wrong?" Geiz asked as he went to sit down on the bench near the one his friend was sitting on, "I know you wanted some space but you could always use someone to talk to."
"I appreciate it," Tsukuyomi admitted, "I just needed some air really."
"It can't be about your powers, right?" Geiz asked.
"Somewhat," Tsukuyomi said as she stared off into the distance, "I've been growing stronger, and I think I can fully break out of Time Stop if I give enough of an effort. But…"
Geiz raised an eyebrow, "But what?"
"I mentioned it briefly back when it happened in Torkia, I started getting visions when I used my powers," Tsukuyomi said as she looked down, "It stopped after I became a Rider but it happened again with Boot's sacrifice, and now it happened today. This one… I saw this weird red monstrous figure with white beady eyes… it towered over me and said something about finding me…"
"That…" Geiz muttered in surprise, "Do you think it might be the cause of your amnesia?"
"Maybe…" Tsukuyomi admitted, "It just caught me off guard. I just needed some space was all since well…"
"Understandable," Geiz sighed as he stood up and walked over before placing a hand on his friends shoulder, "Your past is a big unknown. Just know that the others and I have your back."
"Thanks Geiz," Tsukuyomi smiled as she looked up.
Unbeknownst to the two, an odd gold ball of light was currently watching from the leaves of a nearby tree, it simply floating in place. Though from the way it floated it seemed as though it was paying close attention to the two while neither time traveler was aware of its presence.
'Are you really…?'
"Alright, that should take care of that," Sougo said as he finished texting on his phone. He was currently walking alongside a waterway with Woz and Weiss, "Gave Geiz all the details he'd need, hopefully he'll relay it to Tsukuyomi."
"I hope she's alright," Weiss said, "She was pretty shaken after using her time stop."
"I'm sure young Tsukuyomi will be fine," Woz reassured, "For now we should focus on finding the Hell Brothers-"
"You guys looking for me?"
The three turned as Kageyama walked out from behind a corner, the Rider of hell staring intently at them.
"You…" Sougo said as he quickly brought out the picture that Arata left, "Shun Kageyama!"
"He doesn't look a day older than that photo…" Weiss muttered as she glanced back and forth.
"Why would you approach us?" Woz asked.
"I want your help," Kageyama said as he walked forward, "I need to save my bro!"
"This 'bro' you speak of, is Sou Yaguruma?" Woz asked as he brought out the picture of Yaguruma.
"Kagami told us… you're a worm, aren't you?" Sougo stepped forward, wondering what exactly Kageyama's plan was here.
"I am, but I still have the same memories," Kageyama explained as he paced around, "It hurts seeing my bro turned into a monster! We've been through enough hell. I don't want to fall any further."
Everyone was skeptical at this, though Sougo's answer was the most surprising.
"Sure."
"Wait, my Overlord," Woz spoke up in warning, "You would take the word of a Worm? This is a trap."
"While I do agree Woz, I can see Sougo's reasoning for this," Weiss said as she crossed her arms, already knowing that Sougo wasn't that dense.
"Exactly," Sougo said as he patted Weiss' shoulder before pointing at Woz, "C'mon, you should be a little more trusting, Woz. Besides, we wanted to help Yaguruma anyway, right?"
Woz could only watch as both Sougo and Weiss began to follow after Kageyama. Of course he knew that Sougo and especially Weiss were smarter than this. So he turned to walk away, already figuring he'd get into position.
Junichiro meanwhile hummed as he exited the backroom of 9-5-DO, holding an old fashioned radio clock that he had gotten on sale recently. With the dishes done and everyone out of the house he figured he'd preoccupy himself by keeping his repair skills in shape.
"Alright, done," He said as he went to set the radio clock on, "Now let's see if it's working."
"We have breaking news."
Junichiro's face lit up as he heard the radio turn on with little effort, "My repairs keep getting better and better."
"A giant meteor is approaching Earth. The estimated impact is central Tokyo. It will be the largest of all the recent impacts."
"Jeez, ever since they got back there have been a lot of meteors lately," Junichiro commented nonchalantly when he heard this.
…
…
…
After a soft pause he had backtracked on what had been said, "EHH?!"
"Hey stop that you Roidmude!" Otta called out as he grabbed onto the copycat to try and wrestle him away from the few fleeing civilians that were left in the shopping district.
The Copycat Otta yelled out and grabbed Otta by the arm, tossing the policeman down to the ground. The Copycat could only chuckle as it raised its hand, ready to strike when it heard footsteps.
"Stop right there, Worm!" Ruby shouted as she arrived with Blake, Yang and Penny.
"Huh, Worm?" Otta groaned out as he managed to get on his side and look up.
The Copycat Otta grinned in a maddening way as its body shifted into a blue prickly-like almost crustacean-like monster with long antennas and a hook-like hammer claw known as the Cammarus Worm. It made a weird high pitched clicking sound as it began to walk towards Ruby and the others.
"What the fudge is that?!" Otta shouted as he began backing away.
"Hey, we'll handle this!" Yang shouted, "Just get out of here!"
"You got it!" Otta gave a shaky thumbs up before quickly running off, "I'll leave it to the professionals!"
"I don't like that this thing's already evolved," Ruby said as she quickly brought out her Ziku Driver, readying it alongside her Roze and Rose Ridewatches, "Henshin!"
[RIDER TIME! KAMEN RIDER ROZE!]
As Ruby took her base form of Roze, the Rose Armor formed in its pieces all around her while her friends brought out their weapons.
[ARMOR TIME! KAMEN RIDE! YEAH! ROSE! ROSE! ROSE~!]
"Alright, let's go!" Roze called out as she charged forward and slashed at the Cammarus Worm. The Worm responded with swinging its claw, managing to force her sword back with its makeshift parry, "What?"
"It appears as though it has more power in its swings," Penny said as she quickly launched herself forward, landing and swinging Floating Array outwards. The attacks managed to force the Cammarus Worm to a quick defensive stance which it was forced back from.
"Let's just finish this quickly!" Blake called out as she leapt into the air alongside Yang, brandishing her sickles while Yang prepped her Knuckles. Blake launched downwards with Shadow to make the first strike, only for the Cammarus Worm to suddenly become a blur and speed away.
Blake gasped as she landed and rolled against the ground, Yang landing after her. The two were ready to question what happened when they yelled out, being rammed into by a blue blur that was soon revealed to be the Cammarus Worm.
Penny's eyes widened, "Blake! Yang!"
"So that's the Clock Up that Woz and Sougo mentioned…" Roze trailed as she got in a defensive stance.
The Cammarus Worm continued to use Clock Up in order to overwhelm the group, Penny and Roze shouting out as they were struck numerous times, being sent tumbling across the area. The Worm could only continue make clicking noises, the noises almost mocking in how they sounded, stopping as it stared at its scattered opponents.
Roze growled out as she rushed forward via Petal Burst, splitting into numerous streams of petals to try and overwhelm the Worm's senses as she formed behind it and stabbed forward. The Cammarus Worm however had used Clock Up once more to dodge out of the way, getting behind Roze and smacking her away with its hook hammer claw.
"We need to try and overwhelm it," Blake said as she managed to stand, "It's too fast otherwise."
"Will that even work?" Yang asked.
"I am unsure it will make a difference," Penny admitted, "But we need to try."
Kageyama had led both Sougo and Weiss to a fairly empty and large warehouse, if the two weren't skeptical before they were very skeptical now.
"So Yaguruma is in here?" Sougo asked as he gestured towards the very empty warehouse with barely any spots to hide.
"Are you sure he's still here?" Weiss asked.
"Yeah," Kageyama pointed forward, "He's right down there."
"Okay then," Sougo said as he and Weiss shared a glance before walking forward.
Kageyama began to follow them at a hurried pace, ready to choke Sougo out first only to suddenly gasp as he felt gravity weighing down on him.
"An empty warehouse, really?" Weiss asked as she turned, Myrtenaster in her hand as she had formed a Gravity Glyph underneath Kageyama.
"You… you knew?!" Kageyama gasped out as he tried to use his monstrous physiology to try and force himself free of the Glyph.
"Please, I can keep this up all day," Weiss narrowed her eyes.
"Kageyama!"
The three turned to see Arata running in from one of the other open entrances.
"Kagami's here too?" Kageyama gasped out.
"I followed you here," Arata said as he began to approach the three, "You kids are too trusting."
"I mean of course I'm going to trust Weiss to have my back," Sougo said with a chuckle.
"I am his girlfriend after all," Weiss stated in a matter of fact tone, "Plus I figured Sougo knew what he was doing."
"So you purposely ran into a trap to lure you out here?" Arata asked.
Kageyama began to laugh as he kept where he was, "Yeah, it was a trap… but I don't care about the kids… this was all for you, Kagami."
Before anyone could even say anything, they were all smacked away by a red blur, Another Kabuto stopping as he looked around.
"Honestly it's a laugh to think that these kids have a better grasp on the situation than you do," Kageyama remarked.
Arata wasted no time, holding out his hand and calling the Gatack Zecter before initiating his transformation, "Henshin!"
[HENSHIN!]
A blue wave formed over Arata, it depositing the suit of his Masked Form over his body. He then shifted the horns on his Zecter, "Cast Off!"
[CAST OFF! CHANGE STAG BEETLE!]
Gatack rushed forward with Another Kabuto doing the same, the two meeting at the center of the warehouse and trading blow after blow with each other.
Kageyama meanwhile turned towards Sougo and Weiss, "Time to deal with you brats, Henshin…"
He called the Hopper Zecter to him, grabbing it and sliding it onto the open pad on his buckle, an orange wave going over him as his armor began to form.
[HENSHIN! CHANGE PUNCH HOPPER!]
PunchHopper's transformation completed as he leapt upwards to try and strike before Weiss could.
Weiss quickly summoned a Glyph as a shield as she brought out the Chalice Arrow while Sougo got in a defensive stance. The two relaxed slightly however when they heard certain loud noises outside of the warehouse.
PunchHopper gasped out as a swirling vortex of energy formed over him, it releasing a gravity wave that forced him down to the ground.
Another Kabuto looked over in surprise, "Partner!"
"Your fight's with me!" Gatack shouted as he forced the Another Rider back with a shove.
"Took you long enough, Woz," Weiss said as she lowered her weapons and looked back.
"I think he made good time," Sougo defended.
"It is said that every galaxy rotates around a super massive black hole… have a small sample of their gravity," Woz in Ginga Finaly began to approach from off to the side, his hand extended out, "My my, you are impressive as ever my Overlord, snaring the enemy in their own trap. You were no slouch as well Miss Schnee."
"I knew we had backup coming," Sougo admitted, "But for sure I wanted him to show me where Sou Yaguruma was hiding so we could deal with the Another Rider now."
"Now we just need to defeat them both," Weiss added.
"Yep," Sougo brought out Zi-O II, only to pause as the area began them around to rumble, "What?"
Weiss' eyes widened as she quickly ran out of the warehouse, Sougo and Woz following after her as they were treated to a stunning sight. Just as reported, a giant meteor could be seen hurtling towards the Earth.
"Eh?" Sougo asked as his eyes widened, "IT'S HUGE!"
"Magnitudes larger than the others…" Woz muttered in near shock.
"This is insane…" Weiss managed to speak up.
"See to the meteor, My Overlord," Woz said as he addressed Sougo, "Miss Schnee and I can handle the affairs within."
"Wait, you want him to do what?!" Weiss questioned in near shock.
"Don't worry Weiss," Sougo said as he brought out his personal Ridewatch alongside Fourze's, "I can go to space now, remember?"
"That still doesn't make this plan any less insane!" Weiss shouted.
"Don't worry, I won't be gone long," Sougo said as he initiated his transformation, "Henshin!"
"Safe travels my Overlord," Woz said, clearly seeing no issues.
"Please do not ignore me!" Weiss shouted further as the transformation took place.
[RIDER TIME! KAMEN RIDER ZI-O!]
Sougo's form flashed pink, it fading to reveal his base armor as the Fourze Armor formed and went to latch onto him.
[ARMOR TIME! 3, 2, 1! FOURZE!]
"IT'S TIME FOR SPACE PART TWO!" Zi-O shouted as he crouched before standing and spreading his arms out, launching up into the air as he assumed his rocket form, soon flying towards the meteor.
"And he ignored me…" Weiss muttered with a low growl.
"Come now Miss Schnee," Woz gave a quick pat to Weiss' back as he gestured towards the warehouse, "We must best these enemies for the sake of my Overlord!"
Roze yelled out as she was slammed against a wall, the wall cracking against the impact before she stumbled forward.
The Cammarus Worm continued with its almost laugh-like clicking noise as it had completely outpaced her, Blake, Yang and Penny. Despite their attempts at using high amounts of firepower to overwhelm it, it was reacting to fast for them to try and counter. The Worm's hook hammer claw began to crackle with electricity as it swung its claw directly towards Roze.
Blake's, Yang's and Penny's eyes all widened.
"RUBY!"
[HYPER CLOCK OVER!]
A flash of green began to fade between Roze and the Cammarus Worm, the female Rider having had her arms up in defense only to lower them in surprise.
There was a black suited individual in front of her, having grey-ish silver armor with red accents, the armor having some heft and bulk to it. Of course his helmet was predominantly grey, lit up with a blue visor separated into two by a Kabuto beetle's horn. His forearms and shins also had Kabuto beetle horns as armor accents.
He had the same belt as Gatack, but on it was a Kabuto Zecter that had its horn moved. In addition to it was a grey Kabuto themed Zecter that was attached to the left side of his belt. The Rider wasted no time in punching the Worm in the face, sending it rolling across the ground.
"Wait…" Roze muttered as she backed up, "A Kabuto Rider?"
The Rider stepped forward, watching as the Cammarus Worm lifted itself up. He went to face the Worm head on, blocking before countering with several powerful punches. Everyone could only watch as they saw that his fighting style was pure counters, getting right in the face of the enemy and easily blocking or parrying their attacks.
The Rider then turned the Worm around before performing a few more punches, ending on uppercut to send the Cammarus Worm flying.
"Hyper Clock Up," he announced as he slapped the button on the Zecter he had on the side.
[HYPER CLOCK UP!]
His armor began to shift, his chest splitting open with the outer portions of his shoulders lifting up. The wing-like armor on his back spread out to form energy wings, and the horns on his arms and legs extending out to reveal gold wing-like protrusions.
Everything became a bright white blur to him as the Cammarus Worm's fall was considerably slowed down.
He held the horn of the Zecter on his left side, pumping it downwards to transfer the energy needed for his next attack.
[MAXIMUM RIDER POWER!]
Pressing the buttons on his Kabuto Zecter he shifted the horn back to its normal position as energy began to flow from the Zecter to his head crest.
[1, 2, 3!]
"Hyper… Kick!" He shifted the Zecter's horn again back to where it was before leaping up into the air.
[RIDER KICK!]
He kicked out at the slowly falling Cammarus Worm, electricity flowing wildly as it gathered into his right leg. The Cammarus Worm was unable to do anything but be kicked, the energy overtaking it nearly instantly as it exploded into a bright blue burst of fire.
[HYPER CLOCK OVER!]
The Rider landed as his armor shifted back into its closed state, having landed in a slight crouch before standing up straight.
"Okay who the heck is that?" Yang asked.
"I think the more important question is how he showed up," Blake spoke up.
"I am detecting a space time distortion near Ruby," Penny said as both Blake and Yang looked at her in surprise, "It is likely that he traveled through time to appear in that spot."
"You're…" Roze started as she wasn't paying attention to what Penny said and carefully approached the new Rider, "You're Kamen Rider Kabuto, right?"
"Yes," Kabuto said as he reached behind him with his left hand before pulling out something that caused everyone to stare in shock. It was a Ridewatch, it being predominantly grey with a red dial and button, a variant of his Rider mask on the front as it was dated 2006.
Roze gasped, "The Kabuto Ridewatch?!"
"Wait, what?!" Yang asked as she began to hurry over alongside Blake and Penny, "How do you have a Ridewatch already?"
"Grandmother once said this," the supposed Kamen Rider Kabuto said as he held his right hand up, his finger pointing skyward, "If you wish it to be so, luck will always be on your side."
"What an inspiring quote," Penny clapped a few times.
"How did you get this?" Roze asked in surprise as she watched Kabuto walk over and place it in her hand, "Wait, you're just giving it to us?"
"Trust me, it will all make sense in due time," Kabuto said before turning and walking away, "For now, you all have bigger issues that take precedence."
The four could only watch as the air around Kabuto began to shimmer and tint green before a flash of light occurred and he warped away. Roze dismissed her transformation while the others put their weapons away.
"That… was weird," Ruby admitted, "But Sougo's now another step closer to getting all the Ridewatches."
"But unfortunately we can't celebrate just yet," Yang pointed out.
"Yeah, there's still the Worm invasion to deal with alongside the Hell Brothers," Blake agreed.
"Then perhaps we should get going to meet up with the others," Penny suggested.
"Good idea," Ruby nodded.
The fight at the warehouse wasn't going well for Gatack, because everyone else was pulled away momentarily, that meant PunchHopper could back Another Kabuto in fighting the blue stag Rider.
"Yaguruma, stop it!" Gatack shouted as he managed to force PunchHopper back with a few quick punches, "This isn't Kageyama, it's just a Worm in disguise!"
"Yeah, so what if he is?" Another Kabuto asked as he caught PunchHopper before patting the Rider's shoulder. He then charged forward to grapple with Gatack, "Would anyone else but a Worm give a damn about me?! I'm going to protect my little bro!"
Gatack gasped as he was kicked back before rolling away.
PunchHopper and Another Kabuto were ready to rush forward when a Summoning Glyph appeared in front of them. The Evolved Shika Inves howled on its way out of the Glyph as it slammed its arms near the Another Rider and Rider duo to force them back.
"Like it'll be that easy!" Weiss scoffed as she rushed forward with Woz.
Woz rushed forward and began going for direct combat with Another Kabuto, figuring his upgraded form would provide him an advantage.
Weiss meanwhile directed her Evolved Shika Inves to attack PunchHopper who just barely staggered away from one of its punches.
[CLOCK UP!]
"Like I'll let you all ruin everything," PunchHopper said before speeding away.
"No you don't!" Gatack shouted as he initiated his own Clock Up, speeding off after the worm mimic.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Weiss called out as she took a few steps forward only to realize it was pointless.
ClockUp!
"Miss Schnee, defensive maneuvers now!" Woz shouted.
"Huh?" Weiss quickly brought out a Glyph, wincing as it was shattered from a high speed punch, "Clock Up… not good."
Another Kabuto was now a speeding red blur, trying to overwhelm all of his opponents in the area. He had managed to force the Evolved Shika Inves to its knees while forcing Woz against the ground.
Weiss quickly began forming Glyphs around her as she made her way to Woz, dismissing her Summon while getting close, "You've got any ideas Woz?"
"The power the Kabuto Anotherwatch possesses is great…" Woz stated as he removed his Ginga Miridewatch while turning the dial, watching as the defensive Glyphs began to shatter from the Another Rider's assault, "However…"
[TOUEI! FINALY TIME!]
Projections of planets formed around the two, acting as a shield to force Another Kabuto back from his assaults against them.
"What is this?" Another Kabuto questioned as he backed away.
[WAKUSEI! WAKUSEI! GINGAWAKUSEI!]
Weiss tilted her head, "Why Wakusei?"
"All will be clear… in a moment," Woz stated as he initiated his finisher.
[FINALLY BEYOND THE TIME!]
He summoned projections of the planets once more, all of them hovering above before they shattered and turned into hundreds of energy spheres that rained downwards.
Another Kabuto quickly sped forward to try and strike at the two, only to run into the rain of energy spheres. Every time he tried to go somewhere else there were more energy spheres that would strike at him. He gasped as he staggered out of Clock Up, red electricity forming on his body as he held out his hand, a mechanical hopping sound being heard.
[SUI-KIN-CHI-KA-MOKU-DO-TEN-KAI EXPLOSION!]
The last of the energy spheres rained down, catching Another Kabuto in a massive explosion as he yelled out. Fires kicked up and raged due to the massive explosion that had occurred, a warm heat filling the air as the warehouse took on an orange hue.
"Overwhelming firepower," Weiss noted, "I suppose that works."
"Kabuto's power is rooted in the power of space…" Woz boasted as he held a finger up, "Did you really think the powers cosmic would defy me?" he then heard heavy breathing and saw a figure behind the flames, "Huh?"
"No way…" Weiss muttered as she stared in surprise, "He survived that?!"
Within the flames was a Hopper Rider just like PunchHopper, but this one was predominantly green and silver, having red eyes and a yellow mouth, the hopper leg being positioned on his leg.
[CHANGE KICK HOPPER!]
"Well I don't have any power from space…" KickHopper said, his voice very clearly Yaguruma's. He then shifted his Hopper Zecter's legs as he initiated his finisher, "My power comes from hell!"
[RIDER JUMP!]
He leapt into the air and shouted, "Rider Kick!"
[RIDER KICK!]
"Miss Schnee, get back!" Woz shoved Weiss out of the way while holding up his arm and gathering a quick shield of cosmic energy around it. He managed to defend against the kick, skidding back before stomping to keep from going back further.
"Woz!" Weiss shouted as she had stumbled back from the push before readying Myrtenaster and the Chalice Arrow only to look around in confusion, "What?"
"Huh?" Woz began to breathe heavily as he looked around as well, KickHopper having used the distraction of a Rider Kick to flee.
"Woz! Weiss!"
It wasn't long before Geiz and Tsukuyomi hurried over, the two having been nearby the warehouse on their way to meet with the others when they heard the fighting inside.
"Where's Sou Yaguruma?" Geiz asked.
"I suppose he fled," Woz guessed.
"Are you serious?" Geiz asked.
"He sort of had an actual Rider form that we weren't aware of," Weiss admitted, "So he caught us off guard with that."
"What about Arata Kagami and Shun Kageyama?" Tsukuyomi asked.
"They ended up using Clock Up and I guess left the warehouse," Weiss said, "I'm not sure if they're even nearby anymore."
"That isn't good," Geiz said as he quickly hurried out the opposite entrance to the warehouse, everyone else following after him. Running a fair distance outside of the warehouse, they were all greeted by a strange sight…
A bowl of instant ramen on top of a letter addressed 'Hell'.
"Where's Sougo?" Tsukuyomi asked.
"He went to stop the meteor that's approaching. Hopefully he'll be able…" Weiss began to trail off as she went to point at the meteor only to lower her hand, "Oh…"
"What?" Geiz asked as he looked to see the meteor that was still approaching only for his eyes to widen, "Shit…"
Zi-O grunted as he fully exited Earth's atmosphere, shifting out of rocket form as the large meteor was coming closer and closer.
"Alright, I think this might…" Zi-O began to trail off as he soon realized the size of the meteor, it being larger than he thought it'd be, "…not work. That is way too big!" he shook his head however despite the doubts, "But I still need to try!"
[FINISH TIME! FOURZE!]
Zi-O entered rocket form again, spinning forward feet first as he launched directly towards the Meteor, "Space Rocket Drilling Kick!"
A pink shockwave occurred as he struck the meteor, his spinning drill-like kick tearing through the rock and allowing him to drill inwards.
[LIMIT TIME BREAK!]
Zi-O had drilled through most of the meteor, causing it to shatter into multiple small pieces that were scattered, the Worms inside floating helplessly through space.
"I DID IT!" Zi-O shouted in victory as he shifted out of rocket form, stretching his arms outwards, "I REALLY DID IT!"
His celebration would get cut short as he could feel the rumblings of something else. A gigantic red meteor that dwarfed the one he just dealt with in size began to come into view. He could only stare in shock and horror at the sight before him…
A loud shout of disbelief soon turned into that of a whimper.
"You've got to be kidding me..."
The meteor that was approaching was so large that it began to act as a pseudo-eclipse, blocking out the sun and shadowing the entirety of Tokyo.
There was one man who was standing at the top of a building, it overlooking Tokyo tower as he stared up at the pseudo-eclipse. He raised his hand high up into the air as buzzing was soon heard, a Kabuto Zecter suddenly flying towards him as he grasped it.
To Be Continued…
Next Time:
"I don't think he has enough raw power to make it in time."
"You just want to fight Roze, right?"
"This whole planet will belong to us!"
"Why so many…?"
"A gift from the future to ensure our present continues."
Chapter 106: 2019: Lords of the Speed
Author's Note: We're going pretty straightforward this time around since I'm utilizing the same plot from the show just like I did for Hibiki. Of course we've got a few wrinkles, what with Tsukasa not appearing so Tsukuyomi is still with the main group. But of course the bigger more immediate one is Hyper Kabuto and what he brought with his sudden appearance.
Also yes, the usage of God Bless America was totally and absolutely necessary for the purposes of this chapter. With that said, thanks for reading and I'll see you all next time.