"Now, this is getting good!" Lambdadelta cheered, grabbing a handful of popcorn from the bowl and eagerly shoving it into her mouth. She craved excitement, always seeking relief from her boredom. Watching people struggle against impossible odds was her favourite form of entertainment. Success was sweet, but failure — repeated, relentless failure — was even sweeter. Yet, she couldn't help but admire the perseverance of humans, their refusal to give up in spite of the odds.
While Lambdadelta revelled in the chaos, Bernkastel's gaze was more critical as she watched the numerous screens before them. Each screen displayed scenes of the world in peril as it was besieged by monsters. The situation was truly dire, and saving the world seemed like an impossible task. However, fortunately, there were heroes ready to step up and save the day.
Showa Chronicles: Road to Annihilation
Act XXV: Heroes' World Tour
Hong Kong
The Failed Agitos were hot on the heels of a group of teenagers, their grotesque forms filling their prey with nothing but terror as they pursued them relentlessly. Panic-stricken, one of the teens – a young girl - stumbled and fell. Her cries for help were swallowed by the cacophony of terror and the pounding of feet as her friends fled, too consumed by their own plight to realise that she had fallen behind.
She tried to climb to her feet, to resume her escape, but found her ankle twisted.
"Help!" she shouted in Cantonese, desperate to flee as the Failed Agitos came closer. "Please, someone help me!" Tears streamed from her eyes as she realised that she would die. She had snuck out of her house, disobeying her mother. Now, she would not be able to go back home.
Suddenly, a wave of blue fire surged across the street, halting the monsters in their tracks. From the flames, crystalline icicles erupted, forming an impenetrable barrier. The girl, wide-eyed with fear and awe, was gently lifted to her feet by a man with long, jet-black hair, and clad in a black bomber jacket.
"Run," he urged in Cantonese, his tone brooking no argument.
"My ankle's twisted," she told him.
"Damn," he cursed. "Loki!"
Grey sand poured out from his body, gathering into a growing pile which morphed into the humanoid form of his Imagin partner Loki. The girl shrieked at the sight of the cloaked Kaijin, but the young man handed her to him.
"He'll keep you safe," Ryuji reassured the girl. "Get her to safety, Loki."
"OK, Ryuji!" Loki obeyed and took the girl to safety.
The Failed Agitos snarled and thrashed against the icy wall. Meanwhile, Ryuji stood firm, his ice-blue eyes narrowed in cold, steely resolve. Once, he would have watched people being terrorised with indifference and apathy, his misanthropic heart hardened against humanity. He had despised them all — their hypocrisy, their bigotry, their penchant for cruelty over the pettiest reasons. But one exceptional human had changed his outlook, softening his disdain and showing him that goodness still existed, even if sparingly. It was for her that he fought, for her that he had chosen to become a Kamen Rider.
As the Failed Agitos clambered over the wall of ice, Ryuji readied himself as he clenched his fists. The first creature lunged at him, but he met its charge with a powerful punch, his fist shattering its eyes and loosening its teeth before sending it crashing to the ground. Another tried to grab his shoulder; he twisted away, driving his foot into its stomach with a force that sent it flying. The remaining monsters attacked in unison, but using his GenJyuKen skills, Ryuji evaded their blows with fluid grace, countering with strikes that sent them sprawling.
He somersaulted backwards to create some distance, landing nimbly on his feet. With a swift motion, he thrust his arms forward, and segmented tentacles shot from his sleeves. They coiled around the necks of two Failed Agitos, yanking them off their feet. Once he had them, he swung them like wrecking balls, the bodies of the creatures smashing into their comrades. With a final, forceful slam, he slammed the two to the asphalt, the ground cracking under the impact before he retracted his tentacles.
The remaining Failed Agitos, animalistic and now wary, hesitated. Ryuji's icy gaze bore into them as he strapped on his Dyno Belt and retrieved his Dyno Pass.
"Henshin!" he declared, his voice resonating with authority.
[SABER FORM!]
The Dyno Pass scanned across his belt, the buckle emitting a feral roar. His base Plat Form suit materialised first, followed by the rest of his armour. Piece by piece, they attached to his body, culminating with the DenKamen visor sliding down his faceplate to snap into place. The red slits of his helmet glowed ominously, signalling the complete transformation.
"Let me tell you this only once: it's Extinction Time!" Kamen Rider Ifrit declared.
Elsewhere in the city, the Failed Agitos appeared to have cornered prey in a narrow, dimly lit alley. The air was thick with the stench of garbage and decay, the flickering street lights casting eerie shadows on the brick walls.
Their prey was a young woman in her late teens with long, straight blonde hair cascading down her back and piercing blue eyes that held an unsettling calmness. She was dressed in a tight white sports jersey with the number '77' emblazoned on the front, tied at the bottom to show off her toned midriff. Her legs were clad in skinny jeans that were torn at the left knee, and she wore white sneakers that contrasted starkly with the grime of the alleyway.
Despite being cornered by monsters, she did not seem distressed. In fact, there was a hint of a smirk on her lips. She had good reason to be confident as she possessed a secret that made her far more dangerous than she appeared.
Her hands twitched, and the sound of cracking bones echoed in the confined space, a grotesque symphony of transformation. Her fingers elongated and twisted, flesh and bone reshaping into monstrous, clawed appendages. Her arms morphed into grotesque demonic forms, veins bulging and skin darkening to a sickly hue.
Not wasting any time, she darted towards the nearest Failed Agitos with inhuman speed. She grabbed them by their heads, her clawed hands sinking into their flesh with a sickening crunch, before smashing them to the ground with brutal force. The impact left a crater in the concrete, and the creatures' bodies convulsed before going limp.
Looking up, her eyes flashed dangerously, glowing with an otherworldly light. She lunged at the remaining Failed Agitos, her movements a blur of violence and fury. Their bodies splattered across the walls of the alley as she tore through them, their black blood painting the brick in macabre patterns. The air was filled with the sounds of ripping flesh and the agonised screams of the dying creatures.
In mere moments, the alley was silent once more, the only evidence of the battle being the dismembered remains of the Failed Agitos and the heavy breathing of Ariel Chylde. She straightened up, her demonic arms slowly reverting to their human form, and wiped a streak of blood from her cheek.
Seiten leapt off her cloud, her long purple twintail-tied hair flowing like a comet's tail behind her. She slammed her battle staff to the ground with a thunderous crack, the impact sending tremors through the earth. The resulting shockwave propelled the Failed Agitos into the air, their screeches piercing the battlefield. As they flailed helplessly, black shadow spikes erupted from the ground, skewering them with deadly precision.
Seiten turned to see Obsidian, whose dark figure stood amidst the chaos as his eyes glowed with a cold, eerie light.
"Hm, not bad, shadow guy," Seiten admired, a smirk playing on her lips. She watched as Obsidian's shadows withdrew, the dark tendrils sinking back into his body as if they had never been there.
Obsidian ignored her, his focus unwavering.
"Focus," he grunted, his voice a deep rumble. Without another word, he turned, his cloak billowing behind him as he moved to engage more Failed Agitos.
Seiten rolled her eyes at his aloofness, the playful glint in her eyes undimmed. With a sigh, she sprang back onto her flying cloud, the fluffy mass lifting her effortlessly into the air. She scanned the battlefield below, her keen eyes seeking out more prey. The thrill of the hunt surged through her veins as she spotted a new group of Agitos. Gripping her staff tightly, she urged her cloud forward, ready to unleash her power once more.
Star Sapphire Lala Deviluke was blasting the Failed Agitos with her power ring, trapping them in pink crystal prisons. All of a sudden, a hulking beast with four arms came barreling into the crystal garden, smashing them apart along with their prisoners.
Then, surprisingly, the seemingly female and muscular beast shrank and morphed to become a young blonde Caucasian woman with long hair, dressed in a midriff-showing white sports jersey and torn skinny jeans.
The other Failed Agitos fired their psychic blasts at her, but the mysterious woman hardened her skin to tank their attacks before morphing her arms into dark-skinned limbs that ended in long and sharp blade-like claws. Her feet also changed, becoming wheels made of flames which she used to rush at the Failed Agitos before she beheaded them all.
"Wow," Lala uttered in amazement as she observed the polymorph. She had witnessed Yami change her limbs and hair into weapons thanks to the nanomachines in her body, and she had also seen Garfield Logan change into animals, but she had rarely seen a human who could shapeshift into demonic forms. However, as much as she wanted to interrogate this person, she needed to focus on fighting the Failed Agito. After that, she could satisfy her scientific curiosity.
Kamen Rider Ifrit clashed with a swarm of Failed Agitos, his twin Ifrit Sabers whirling through the air. Each swing of his blades sent cascades of sparks flying, and a powerful roundhouse kick knocked several Agitos back, their bodies hitting the ground with a thud.
With fierce determination, he charged forward, his swords slicing through the chests of the creatures. One of the Agitos attempted to ambush him from behind, but his Orphenoch tentacles erupted from his back, their spear-like tips piercing the creature's chest. The Agito turned an ashen grey before crumbling to dust, its life extinguished in an instant.
Surrounded and attacked from all directions, Ifrit fought furiously, his swords cutting through the onslaught as his tentacles lashed out, skewering and flinging Agitos aside. Despite having already dispatched several of them, more kept coming, a relentless tide that tested his resolve. He was painfully aware that these Kaijin were once human, but the irreversible transformation inflicted by Kyofu left him no choice but to end their suffering.
"Hey, how about you let us out to play, Ryuji-sama!?" Tyrain's voice echoed inside Ifrit's mind.
"I want to flex my muscles," Kishamoth chimed impatiently.
"Indeed," Cyrain agreed, his tone eager.
"Alright. Have at 'em, boys!" Ifrit shouted, releasing three spheres of light from his body. They burst forth, transforming into the physical forms of his DynoLiner Imagin trio.
Kishamoth the Mammoth Imagin barreled through a cluster of Failed Agitos, his massive frame knocking them down like bowling pins.
"MUSCLE POWER!" Kishamoth roared, flexing his arms before continuing his rampage, his punches and kicks obliterating the enemies brutally.
Tyrain the T-Rex Imagin, wielding his spear, zipped across the battlefield with blinding speed. The Failed Agitos were helpless against his rapid strikes, falling instantly to his swift assaults.
"Too slow, slowpokes!" Tyrain taunted, twirling his spear and laughing as he dispatched them effortlessly.
Cyrain the Triceratops Imagin, the ranged specialist, manoeuvred gracefully around the area, his pistols spitting bullets that cut down the Agitos. As one lunged at him from behind, he calmly pointed his revolver over his shoulder and fired, the bullets piercing its chest. He then spun around, delivering a kick that sent the creature sprawling.
"I can read you like a book," Cyrain declared with a smirk.
"They must've been bored," Ifrit mused as he watched his Imagin fight.
"They have been cooped up on the train all this time, Ryuji," Loki replied in his head.
"What about you?" Ifrit asked.
"I'm happy fighting alongside you this way," Loki answered, his presence comforting.
Suddenly, Ifrit sensed a presence behind him. He whirled around, his sword clashing with the monstrous claws of a blonde woman.
"Friendly?" he asked, his eyes narrowing beneath his mask. She did not appear to be an Agito, but he was not sure whose side she was on.
"Yeah," the woman nodded. "Name's Ariel; I'm with Hiro."
"I see," Ifrit said, noting the inhuman features of her limbs. "Think you can keep up?"
"Hush now, these guys ain't even a challenge," Ariel scoffed. But before she could react, Ifrit grabbed her, shielding her with his body as a group of Failed Agitos unleashed a barrage of psychic blasts. However, the blasts were deflected by a pink dome that suddenly appeared around them.
"Don't get too cocky," Lala advised as she descended, her presence commanding. With a wave of her arm, a wave of pink light swept across the Failed Agitos, encasing them in pink crystal. Once they were immobilised, she summoned a dozen pink crystal construct cannons which hovered around her. With a snap of her fingers, the cannons fired, the blasts shattering the crystal prisons and obliterating the Agitos trapped within.
Not too far away, another group of Failed Agitos were being slaughtered as a demonic stake pierced their skulls with lethal precision. One by one, they crumpled lifelessly to the ground. As the last body hit the dirt, the stake shimmered and morphed back into Mammon, the Stake of Greed.
Spotting the pink crystal shards scattered across the ground, her eyes gleamed with avarice. A surge of temptation gripped her, and she almost reached out to gather them. However, she clenched her fist and forced herself to resist. There would be time to collect the spoils after they saved the world.
A new wave of Failed Agitos charged at her, their grotesque forms driven by relentless malice. Mammon decided it was time to unveil a gift she had recently acquired from Mistress Beatrice.
Her entire body erupted in a blinding golden light. As the luminescence intensified, golden butterflies emerged from her, swirling in a dazzling dance. When the glow subsided, she stood transformed.
Mammon now resembled a fierce and flamboyant pirate queen. A heart-shaped eye patch covered her right eye, adding a touch of menace to her allure. She wore a skintight golden leotard that accentuated her figure, paired with a luxurious blood-red pirate coat that billowed dramatically. Atop her head perched a pirate hat emblazoned with a dollar sign. A bandolier of golden coins was slung across her chest, jingling with every movement.
With a confident smirk, she snapped her fingers. In an instant, four ornate treasure chests materialised before her, their exteriors studded with jewels and gold filigree.
"Fire in the hole!" she shouted, her voice ringing with authority. The chests sprung open, and from each emerged a cannon, their barrels gleaming ominously. With a deafening roar, the cannons fired, launching magical cannonballs that trailed sparkling golden contrails through the air.
As the cannonballs struck the Failed Agitos, a brilliant transformation occurred. The grotesque creatures were instantly transmuted into gleaming gold statues. For a moment, they stood frozen in macabre poses before crumbling into piles of gold dust, carried away by the wind.
As much as she loved gold, Mammon did not want to keep such ugly statues. They would just ruin her collection back home.
New York
Kotonoha stood atop the roof of an apartment building, surveying the chaos below as Failed Agitos rampaged through the streets, attacking people and destroying everything in their path. Her eyes narrowed with determination, her fists clenched tightly.
In the past, she never would have imagined herself as a hero. She would have preferred to avoid danger altogether. But everything changed, thanks to one extraordinary person.
Born to wealthy parents, Kotonoha had always lived a life of privilege. Anything she desired was hers, and she had inherited her mother's stunning beauty. Yet, despite her good fortune, her life was marked by loneliness and unhappiness.
Her shyness had made it difficult to make friends, and her classmates mistook her reserved nature for arrogance. As she matured, her rapid physical development drew unwanted attention from boys and jealousy from girls, who had spread malicious rumours about her. Friendless and isolated, she had endured relentless bullying throughout her school years.
When she had finally made a friend, the betrayal was devastating: the boy she was dating had cheated on her with that very same friend. Heartbroken and desperate, Kotonoha decided to end her life to escape the pain.
And then she met him — Ryuji Hasuma, a new transfer student who had saved her life just as she had lost all hope. His presence had transformed her world. Because of him, she had found friends and people she could trust. Her bullies, fearful of his protective presence, had left her alone, and she never had to face her tormentors alone again.
The day came when she had returned the favour, stepping up to protect him. That was when she decided to become like him...
"Henshin!"
...a Kamen Rider.
Leaping off the roof, she plummeted toward the ground, a green light enveloping her. As she landed gracefully, her armour materialised, and a cascade of white feathers rained down around her. Standing tall, she reached for the two pieces of her primary weapon on her belt, assembling them into her A-Gasher Bowgun.
"Heaven has descended!" Kamen Rider Tenshi declared, her voice filled with resolve. Charging at the Kaijin, she opened fire, her shots precise and devastating.
Not too far from Tenshi's location, a horde of Failed Agitos surrounded Origa. Before they were so grotesquely mutated, they would have gazed upon her voluptuous form with lecherous intent. However, their minds were long gone, replaced only by a primal hunger. She felt a grim satisfaction in putting them out of their misery.
"Rest in peace!" she intoned, her voice echoing with a dark resonance.
Raising her staff, Origa slammed its butt onto the ground, releasing a wave of dark magic. The energy surged outward, slamming into the Failed Agitos, leaving them momentarily stunned and disoriented. Seizing the opportunity, she raised her staff high, conjuring multiple spheres of pulsating dark energy. With a fierce thrust, she launched the spheres at her foes. They rained down like malevolent stars, each impact vaporising the creatures into nothingness.
Above, Tenshi soared through the air, her A-Gasher Bowgun blazing with rapid shots that tore into the Failed Agitos below. They snarled and swiped, but she deftly manoeuvred out of their reach, her wings a blur of motion. A lucky attack hit her left wing, sending her spiralling down. She crashed hard but sprang to her feet instantly, her weapon reconfiguring into a sleek sword as she braced for close combat.
One of the Failed Agitos conjured a jagged sword, aiming for a death blow. Tenshi met the strike with her own blade, sparks flying from the clash. She drove her foot into its stomach, shoving it back before slashing it across the chest. Another lunged from behind, but she spun around, her blade singing as it cut through the air, sending the attacker reeling.
The swarm pressed closer, relentless and overwhelming. Tenshi fought fiercely, but the numbers were against her. Suddenly, dark energy spheres descended from above, obliterating the creatures in bursts of shadowy light.
"You seem to be in need of assistance," Origa observed, striding toward Tenshi with a confident grace, her staff still glowing with residual magic.
"Thanks, that was some impressive magic," Tenshi acknowledged, her breath coming in short gasps as she nodded in gratitude.
"Oh, that?" Origa smirked, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "That wasn't even my most powerful spell."
Conda swung her demonic whip with precision, each strike landing on the Failed Agitos with deadly accuracy. The whip's potent venom acted instantaneously, causing the creatures to drop dead on the spot, their bodies convulsing before going still.
"I see you're enjoying Hope's gift," Hiro observed. He moved with a fluid elegance, spinning a pair of scimitars bathed in elemental fury — one engulfed in fire, the other swirled with wind. With lethal grace, he sliced through several Failed Agitos, their bodies falling apart under his expert strikes.
"It's a useful tool," Conda replied, a smirk playing on her lips. As a Failed Agito lunged at her, she delivered a super-strong kick that sent it flying backwards. Before it could recover, she lashed it with her whip, the venom ensuring its immediate death. "But a tool is only as effective as its wielder."
"Wise words," Hiro agreed, nodding.
Suddenly, a massive white owl descended upon the battlefield. Its wingspan was impressive, casting a wide shadow over the chaos below. With claws sharp enough to tear through steel, it let out a mighty cry and snatched up a Failed Agito in its talons, ripping the creature apart mid-air with terrifying ease.
"What is that creature?" Conda questioned, her eyes widening at the sight.
"That would be Tundra, Sasha's familiar," Hiro answered, his tone calm despite the carnage.
"And who's 'Sasha'?" Conda inquired, curiosity piqued.
"That's Sasha," Hiro clarified, pointing to a woman riding atop the giant owl.
Sasha, perched confidently on Tundra's back, commanded the skies. With a gesture, she summoned bolts of lightning from the heavens. The lightning struck the Failed Agitos with devastating force, their screams of agony echoing before they were reduced to charred corpses. The scent of ozone and burnt flesh filled the air as Tundra landed, eyeing the remains with interest.
"No, you're not eating them," Sasha scolded her familiar, gently patting its feathers. "We'll get you some nice mice later, OK?"
Tundra let out a soft hoot, seemingly understanding Sasha's words. The owl's immense presence added a sense of awe and power to the already chaotic battlefield.
"Quite the impressive team you've got here," Conda praised as she glanced at Hiro, admiration in her eyes.
"We all have our roles to play," Hiro smiled, his scimitars still at the ready. "Cause when it comes down to it, we kick serious ass."
Bursts of magma erupted from the streets, sending Failed Agitos flying before incinerating them in midair.
Kamen Rider Talon lunged out of the magma blast, moving with brutal savagery. She sliced one Agito's arm clean off, the limb disintegrating in the fiery heat, before beheading another with a swift strike. Her toe talons slashed across another Agito's face, spilling blood as she kicked it away. She then executed a perfect dropkick, landing with deadly precision on an Agito's waist.
A menacing chuckle escaped her lips as she stood over her fallen foes. She raised her sword high and then plunged it into the chest of the Agito beneath her. Lava erupted from the wound as she yanked the creature up by its neck and hurled it onto the sidewalk, where it exploded on impact. Rolling her shoulders, Talon surveyed the remaining Failed Agitos who were now backing away in fear.
"What's wrong?" she mocked, rolling her head as she strutted towards them. Her eyes flashed, and her suit glowed like molten lava. "You were all fine hunting those who couldn't fight back. So why back out now? Let's keep having fun!" She flicked the switch on her belt twice, causing the eye to blink in sync.
[B-B-BLAZING!] her Driver exclaimed in a fierce female voice.
She spun into the air, tucking her legs in before extending her right leg in a powerful kick. Her toe talons glowed red-hot, shooting volcanic blades from her leg. Some Agitos managed to dodge, but others were not as lucky as they were hit, turning instantly into burning ash. Talon leapt high into the air, trails of magma falling from her feet, and came crashing down on the retreating Agitos. Magma exploded outward on impact, the heat searing them as they screamed in agony, their cries quickly silenced by the swift hacks of her sword.
"Uh... Hiro-kun?" Tenshi asked warily, watching Talon carve through the Failed Agitos like a wild predator.
Hiro fired a bullet into another Agito's head and looked up.
"Yeah?" he responded.
"Is Shinjiro-kun's girlfriend always like this when she fights? I thought Onmyoji were supposed to be calmer," Tenshi remarked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Oh, from what I hear, her personality changes when she transforms. It might have to do with the deinonychus DNA in her," Hiro explained, casually holding his gun upside down over his shoulder to shoot an Agito attempting a sneak attack from behind. "I don't think she minds, though."
"I hope augmenting her DNA like that doesn't leave any permanent side effects," Tenshi said worriedly.
"According to Jiro, she's as much a beast in bed as she is on the battlefield," Hiro joked, smirking.
Tokyo
Kaguya effortlessly dispatched a Failed Agito with a swift swing of Zangetsu-to, the creature's body hitting the ground with a resounding thud. Her intimidating presence was somewhat undermined by the absurd sight of her bored gaze and Chibimoose perched atop her head, resembling a cartoonish hat one might find at a theme park. Yet, unlike those harmless souvenirs, her pet possessed unique and decidedly dangerous capabilities.
As several more Failed Agitos charged at her, Kaguya raised her left hand, causing them to levitate helplessly in the air. With a decisive snap of her fingers, she issued a silent command. Chibimoose's previously goofy demeanour shifted as he opened his mouth, unleashing a rapid barrage of energy blasts. Each shot was precise, hitting vital spots and transforming the floating Agitos into lifeless husks before they fell to the ground.
Coming onto a wide crowd of Failed Agitos, Kaguya arched her legs and entered an iaijutsu stance. Her body seemed to shimmer before she suddenly vanished. There was a flash of silver and the very next second, several cuts hovered all around the Failed Agitos, seemingly entering in and out of space, as the creatures stood frozen. Kaguya was standing on the other side of the Agitos, and she slowly sheathed Zangetsu-to into her scabbard. As the blade was completely sheathed, with the sound of a small click, the Failed Agitos all instantly shattered like glass.
Kaguya reached up and lightly petted her unusual companion. Chibimoose responded with a goofy smile, his eyes twinkling with delight.
"Good job," Kaguya murmured, her voice soft but filled with satisfaction.
The battlefield around them was a chaotic blend of screams and destruction. Kaguya moved with grace and purpose, her sword slicing through the air with lethal efficiency. Chibimoose, despite his comical appearance, remained focused, ready to unleash his deadly blasts at a moment's notice.
Her next target, a particularly large Failed Agito, lumbered toward her with a menacing growl. Kaguya's absent-minded expression did not match the threatening being in front of her, and she darted forward with incredible speed. She ducked under its swinging arm and, with a powerful upward slash, cleaved through its torso. The creature staggered, its body splitting apart before collapsing into a heap.
As more Agitos advanced, Kaguya once again raised her hand, lifting them off the ground. Chibimoose let out a triumphant squeak before firing another series of energy blasts, each one finding its mark with unerring accuracy. The enemies dropped like flies, their bodies hitting the ground with dull thuds.
Despite the chaos around her and her airheaded demeanour, Kaguya was a motion of swiftness and control. Her movements were almost dance-like, her sword an extension of her will. Chibimoose, perched on her head, added an element of whimsy to her deadly efficiency, his presence a stark contrast to the seriousness of their task.
The battlefield gradually cleared, and the once-threatening horde of Failed Agitos was reduced to lifeless corpses that were scattered across the ground. Kaguya stood amidst the carnage, her sword dripping with dark ichor before she flicked it off swiftly. She glanced up at Chibimoose, who gave her an encouraging nod, his goofy smile returning.
"Well, that's done," Kaguya said, her voice frivolous as ever. "On to the next."
With Chibimoose at her side — or rather, on her head — Kaguya pressed on, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Together, they were an unlikely but formidable team, blending humour with deadly precision in their fight against the darkness.
Marika and Chloe fought back to back, the former wielding a roaring chainsaw and the latter expertly handling twin daggers, as they were surrounded by a horde of Failed Agitos. The air was thick with tension, the growls of the Agitos blending with the hum of Marika's chainsaw.
"Alright, let's see which of us kills more," Marika challenged, a mischievous glint in her eye. "And just to make it more interesting, the winner gets to spend the whole day alone with Crow."
"I believe that honour shall be mine," Chloe replied with a confident smirk, her voice dripping with a competitive edge. "May the best woman win."
"And that'll be me," Marika responded.
"Dream on," Chloe retorted as she engulfed herself in a shadowy mist, becoming a swift blur. She blitzed forward, her daggers slicing through a Failed Agito with surgical precision, the creature collapsing in a heap.
"Oh, I don't think so," Marika snorted. She revved up her chainsaw and charged at the group in front of her, the blade biting through flesh and bone with ease, sending dark ichor spraying through the air.
The Failed Agitos turned their attention to Chloe, attempting to overwhelm her. But before they could get close, a flash of white and blue streaked past them, severing heads in a flurry of motion. Chloe whirled around to see Marika standing triumphantly among the decapitated creatures.
"Hey!" Chloe snapped, glaring at Marika. "Stop stealing my kills!"
"Then be faster than me, Chloe," Marika teased, her grin widening as she wiped some of the blood from her cheek.
The two women exchanged fierce, competitive smiles before turning their attention back to the horde. They moved in perfect synchronization, their different fighting styles complementing each other seamlessly. Marika's chainsaw roared as it cleaved through multiple Agitos in a single swing, while Chloe's daggers flashed like lightning, each strike precise and lethal.
Chloe danced through the battlefield, her shadowy mist making her nearly impossible to track. She moved like a wraith, her daggers finding the vital spots of her enemies, dropping them instantly.
Marika, on the other hand, was a force of nature. Her chainsaw tore through the Agitos with raw power, each kill accompanied by a spray of dark fluid and the grinding roar of her weapon.
As the battle raged on, the ground became littered with the bodies of the fallen. The two women continued their deadly dance, neither willing to concede an inch to the other. Chloe ducked under a swipe from an Agito, her daggers flashing up to pierce its heart, while Marika swung her chainsaw in a wide arc, decapitating three Agitos at once.
The horde began to thin, their numbers dwindling under the relentless assault. Chloe and Marika found themselves standing back to back once more, surrounded by the carnage they had wrought. They were both breathing hard, but the fire in their eyes showed no sign of diminishing.
With one final, coordinated strike, they dispatched the last of the Failed Agitos. Marika's chainsaw revved down as she let out a triumphant cheer, while Chloe twirled her daggers with a satisfied smirk.
"Well, that was fun," Marika commented, wiping the sweat from her brow. "I think I got more than you."
"Dream on," Chloe retorted, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "We'll count the bodies later."
"Deal," Marika agreed, slinging her chainsaw over her shoulder.
Elsewhere in the city, chaos reigned as a horde of Failed Agitos prowled the streets, their guttural growls and monstrous forms sending civilians fleeing in terror. Suddenly, a thick, ominous mist rolled in, enveloping the Agitos in an impenetrable shroud of darkness. The air grew cold, and an eerie silence fell over the area.
The Agitos began to convulse violently, their bodies wracked with spasms. They clawed at their throats and chests as bubbles of flesh swelled grotesquely across their armoured skin. The pressure built rapidly, causing their eyes to bulge in agony. With a series of wet, sickening pops, the bubbles burst, and the Agitos exploded in a shower of blood and gore, painting the streets red with their remains.
Perched gracefully atop a lamppost, the lovely assassin Xiē Yīngluò surveyed the scene with a serene smile. She was a vision of deadly elegance, her presence both captivating and terrifying. As she observed the aftermath of her deadly mist, she idly twirled a slender, poison-tipped dagger between her fingers, the blade catching the faint glow of the streetlights.
The assassin's smile widened as she noted the precision of her work. Each Agito had been meticulously targeted, their demise orchestrated with a blend of poison and dark magic that only she wielded. She relished the control she had over her victims, the way their lives ended with but a whisper of her power.
As the dark mist dissipated, the street lay silent once more, the only evidence of the massacre being the gruesome remains of the Failed Agitos. Xiē Yīngluò had completed her task with ruthless efficiency, a testament to her lethal skill and the quiet, deadly beauty she embodied.
Bishie had Mega Evolved and was using her Mega-powered Vine Whips on the Failed Agitos, launching them into the air before slicing them apart with a volley of Razor Leaves. Fighting beside her was Genie, a blonde woman with wild hair and a horned headpiece. She wielded a wicked long sword with deadly efficiency. Her appearance was striking — like Lady Death, she was scantily clad, donned in orange bikini armour with shoulder guards, gauntlets, and large boots adorned with stony teeth around the rims and heels. The spade-tipped tail curling behind her confirmed she was not human, but a demon.
Genie dashed at the Failed Agitos, her movements a blur. They fired beams of psychic energy, but she deftly deflected them with her sword - Dragynne. Closing the distance in an instant, she swung her blade with rapid precision, reducing her foes to pieces.
An Agito hurled a large energy ball at Genie, but she effortlessly sliced through it, dispersing the energy. She sprinted forward and with a single swipe, cleaved the creature in half from head to groin. Several more Failed Agitos lunged at her, but she smiled wickedly, opened her mouth wide, and breathed fire like a dragon, incinerating them where they stood.
"Are you a dragon?" Bishie asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"A demon, actually," Genie replied, her voice tinged with amusement.
"You know, I've always wanted to try bikini armour," Bishie admired, her tone light despite the chaos around them.
"You really should. With your curves and muscles, you'd look fantastic," Genie stated confidently.
"Thanks," Bishie accepted, a small smile on her lips as she launched another barrage of Razor Leaves.
"Have you ever thought of using those vines in the bedroom?" Genie asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Well, sometimes Alan likes it when I use them on him," Bishie admitted, a hint of blush creeping up her cheeks.
"Now's not the time," Chloe interjected sharply, cutting down a Failed Agito with her daggers. "Focus on the battle, not the bedroom."
"C'mon," Genie grinned wickedly. "You know you'd love to have your dear Crow tie you down to your bed and have his wicked way with you."
"Shut up! Shut up!" Chloe snapped, her face flushed a deep red from the teasing. Embarrassment fuelled her ferocity as she slashed apart any Failed Agitos in her path with rapid, angry strikes.
"Is she secretly a sub?" Bishie questioned, glancing at Genie.
"She is, but her man prefers to be dommed, it seems," Genie answered with a knowing smile.
"And what about your lover? Does he prefer to be on top or the bottom?" Bishie inquired, hurling Razor Leaves like throwing stars, each one finding its mark.
Genie laughed, a rich, melodic sound even in the midst of battle.
"He likes to mix it up. Keeps things interesting."
London
Beelzebub and Belphegor soared across the battlefield, their light blades cutting through the Failed Agitos with deadly precision.
"Can we please take five?" the Stake of Sloth complained, her voice tinged with exhaustion.
"Yeah, I need a snack break," the Stake of Gluttony concurred, her stomach audibly growling.
"You may rest when you finish!" Lady Death snapped at them, her tone sharp with irritation. Though she knew the two as allies in the future, she couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration at their childish behaviour. After all, they were practically her lover's aunts and their current demeanour was far from befitting of their stature.
Lady Death, wielding her fearsome sword Apocalypse, moved with deadly grace as she cut down three Failed Agitos with a single, swift blow of her blade. Her weapon gleamed with dark energy, each strike leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Meanwhile, Crow was making short work of the other Failed Agitos with lethal efficiency.
"Way of the Wingless Blade..." Crow chanted, dipping into a stance as a windy aura rippled around him. "Phoenix Howling!" He slashed down his blade, causing the ground around him to shatter. Instantly the Failed Agitos around him were sent flying as he spun his sword for another technique. "Tempest Call!" He spun around rapidly, a tornado forming around him, and his sword swinging as chi blades circled within the tornado, drawing the Failed Agitos in and slicing them into bloody chunks.
"So glad to see your swordsmanship has not dulled, Crow," the undead demigoddess said to the prince as the tornado around him vanished.
"Nice to be acknowledged," Crow accepted the praise as the gore fell around him.
"I would think you would skip training to be more intimate with your lovers," Lady Death teased.
"Seriously, like you're one to talk," Crow retorted.
Meanwhile, Beelzebub and Belphegor found themselves back to back, surrounded by a horde of ravenous Failed Agitos. The creatures eyed them hungrily, their grotesque forms twitching with anticipation. Beelzebub, true to her nature as the Stake of Gluttony, was well-acquainted with the concept of hunger.
"Hey, sis. I think it's time we brought out the big guns," Beelzebub suggested, her voice laced with a hint of mischief.
"Fine," Belphegor grumbled, her reluctance evident. She had little desire to exert herself further, but facing the horde of Agitos was an annoyance she could do without.
With a shared nod of agreement, their bodies began to shimmer with an intense, golden light. The radiance emanating from them was blinding, temporarily stunning the surrounding Failed Agitos and affording the two demonic Stakes a moment of respite.
When the golden glow subsided, Beelzebub and Belphegor had undergone a startling transformation...
Beelzebub now bore an insectoid form, her body adorned with vibrant yellow and black stripes reminiscent of a fearsome hornet. Her uniform had been replaced by a revealing bikini set, its colours mirroring those of her insectoid form. From her midsection sprouted a second pair of arms, granting her a total of six limbs. Buzzing behind her back was a pair of insect-like wings, their iridescent sheen glinting in the dim light. Antennae protruded from her forehead. And her eyes had transformed into multifaceted orbs, granting her enhanced vision.
"Taste my Honey Trap!" Beelzebub bellowed, her voice dripping with malice as she spread her arms wide. A sickly-sweet scent filled the air as she unleashed a viscous, sticky substance upon the Failed Agitos before her. The honey-like substance coated their bodies, immobilising them and leaving them vulnerable to her onslaught. With a vicious grin, Beelzebub launched herself into the fray, her spiked hands and feet morphing into deadly weapons as she delivered punishing blows to her ensnared foes.
Meanwhile, Belphegor had assumed a more demonic and formidable guise. Her skin had turned a deep, inky black, adorned with intricate tribal markings that pulsed with dark energy. Her once-tamed hair now flowed freely around her, a wild mane of ebony strands that framed her fierce visage. Her forearms had swelled in size, now coated in coarse black fur and sporting three razor-sharp claws on each paw, resembling the deadly appendages of a predatory beast. Her usual uniform had been replaced by a menacing black coat, its edges lined with pristine white fur.
Opening her mouth wide, Belphegor unleashed a noxious gas that billowed forth, enveloping the Failed Agitos in a choking cloud of toxin. Instantly, the creatures began to falter, their movements growing sluggish and disjointed as if they were in the throes of drunkenness. Seizing the opportunity, Belphegor charged into the fray, her claws slashing through the weakened Agitos with lethal precision. Despite her title sharing the name of a certain animal, she moved with startling speed and agility, her every movement a testament to her ferocity and power.
Shera L. Greenwood stood perched atop a rooftop, her keen eyes scanning the chaotic streets below. With precision born from years of training, she took aim with her bow, unleashing a volley of enchanted arrows at the oncoming Failed Agitos. Each arrow found its mark, detonating on impact and engulfing the monsters in golden flames.
When she chose to join on this mission, she knew that war was a possibility. A person like Kyofu would not go down without a fight and after losing everything, he would not be satisfied until he dragged everyone down with him. With nothing left to lose, he just wanted the world to burn.
As she continued sniping, she spotted a group of civilians being chased by a pack of Agitos and swiftly shifted her aim. With practised ease, she unleashed another volley of arrows, each one finding its mark and neutralising the threat.
Lost in the heat of battle, she failed to notice the stealthy approach of the Agitos behind her. Suddenly, a shadow descended upon her and, before she could react, a black blur slashed through the creatures with deadly precision. As their screams echoed in the air, Shera turned to find Yami standing beside her.
"You should be more aware of your surroundings," Yami advised, her voice calm but tinged with concern.
"Thank you," Shera said gratefully. "You really saved my bacon, Auntie Golden Darkness-chan!"
"Just call me Yami. You'll bite your tongue if you keep saying that."
The Failed Agitos were losing terribly. Connected by a psychic hive mind, they could sense the loss of each member keenly, no matter the distance. Fearing for their survival, this triggered a sudden metamorphosis as bat-like wings sprouted from their backs before they soared into the sky. Forming a tight-knit flock, they hovered above, maintaining a safe distance from their adversaries.
As the group of Flying Agitos drifted ominously, Lady Death observed with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"What in the world are they up to now?" she pondered aloud.
The eyes of the Flying Agitos glowed intensely and their jaws split open, revealing rows of menacing, razor-sharp teeth. Emitting a bright white light from the depths of their throats, they unleashed a synchronised barrage of laser beams upon the city of London. The beams tore through structures, causing buildings to crumble and explode in a shower of debris.
Amidst the chaos, Shera's heart raced as the floor beneath her gave way, sending her hurtling towards certain doom. As she was falling to her death, a familiar figure swooped in, a pair of elegant white angelic wings unfurling from her back.
"I've got you," Yami reassured, catching Shera in a graceful embrace as they descended.
"Seems like I have a Guardian Angel after all," Shera remarked with a hint of humour, relieved to be safe in Yami's arms.
Above them, the Flying Agitos continued their onslaught, laying waste upon the city. The once vibrant landscape now lay in ruins, engulfed in flames and shrouded in billowing clouds of ash and smoke.
"Shit!" Crow cursed as he shielded himself from the debris. "These monsters are gonna turn London into a hellhole at this rate!"
Lady Death gripped Apocalypse tightly as she witnessed the senseless destruction taking place all around her.
"Then they must be exterminated," Lady Death declared as she held her blade vertically in front of her. She closed her eyes and focused her power, which radiated off her. Her aura chilled everyone who had little to no resistance to it, causing them to shiver.
"W-what...what is that?" Beelzebub asked as she shivered.
"It feels...like death," Belphegor concluded, wanting to run away from the feeling but she could not will herself to move.
The dark aura gathered inside of Apocalypse while Lady Death's eyes snapped open, flashing as she raised her sword and delivered a swing. Instantly, a wave of darkness shot out of the blade and expanded, striking the oncoming flock of Flying Failed Agitos. The wave violently dispersed and the Agitos began to drop like flies, raining down on the city and splattering all over the ground like a flock of birds that suddenly died in mid-flight.
"So, that is why you are called Lady Death," Conda observed as the pale woman sheathed her sword. "A well-earned title if I do say so myself."
Kuala Lumpur
When the Failed Agitos first appeared and began their assault, the civilians fled for their lives. The monsters attacked indiscriminately, targeting anyone within their sights. Race, age, or religion did not matter — every person was fair game.
When an old man and his grandchildren were cornered by the creatures, he stood up to them defiantly, raising his cane while performing Silat moves in an attempt to intimidate them. He had been out with his grandchildren when the monsters appeared. Stubborn and brave, he refused to let these creatures harm his grandchildren.
Suddenly, the Failed Agitos were grabbed and hauled into the air by an invisible force, before they were smashed into the road. The old man seized the moment to usher his grandchildren away as they ran for their lives.
Lucy glowered at the Failed Agitos. As an agent of ARMOR, she had access to the Multiverse and had seen how her life might have turned out had Warren never adopted her. Thanks to him, she grew up with a loving family who accepted her despite her differences, steering her away from becoming a total misanthrope. She agreed with her Uncle Ryuji that people could be cruel to anyone different, as the kids in her orphanage had bullied her for her horns. However, she knew that not all people were like that.
So she fought to protect humans, even if they didn't always deserve it, because she was a better person.
As the Failed Agitos recovered and picked themselves up, she flipped open her Orga Phone and dialled in the code: 0-0-0.
[Standing By]
"Henshin!" She closed her phone and docked it into the holder in the centre of her belt before pushing it down.
[Complete]
Once the Orga Phone was docked in place, the Photon Streams flowed from the belt to create an intricate pattern all over her body. In a flash of gold, Lucy Smith transformed into Kamen Rider Orga. As soon as she transformed, her Orga Stylanzer materialised and then she went on the attack.
[Exceed Charge]
Gliding across the ground with the aid of her vectors, Kamen Rider Orga delivered a series of slashes, obliterating the Failed Agitos and sending them into oblivion as they exploded.
Simultaneously, the Vampire Queen Cara Cromwell launched spears from her body like harpoons, impaling the mindless monsters and ending their mayhem.
Fighting alongside them was a girl who appeared to be in her teens. She had long elf-like ears, long purple hair, and blue eyes. She also had a pair of long, sharp horns growing out the sides of her head, a spade-tipped tail, and two pairs of bat-like wings. She wore a black gothic Lolita-style dress with puffed sleeves, a corset, a large red bow in her hair, a long skirt that concealed her legs, and red Mary Janes. Despite the dress, her curves were evident, and the plunging neckline showed off her cleavage.
Her name was Sheliss Elleness Zurbach, and she was a Demon Princess. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a trio of whips with the heads of demonic dogs, sending them to attack the Failed Agitos. The whips' jaws dug into the creatures' flesh, tearing them apart.
"It's nice of Crow to invite me to this little skirmish," Sheliss commented as she charged forward, bobbing and weaving between energy blasts to reach her prey so she could slash them with her elongated claws. "Even if these things fall too easily." One of them jumped at her and grabbed her tail, causing her to cry out in outrage. "Hey, hands off!" She transmuted herself into fog to escape its grasp before reforming to rake her claws at it. With a single swipe, her nails sliced the Agito's body to pieces. She soon found herself surrounded, but instead of panicking, she smiled viciously. "Oh, you wanna play? Then play with my pets!"
She slammed her foot on the ground, and a red magic circle appeared, spreading out. Suddenly, huge and thick tentacles burst from the circle, flailing around and grabbing the Failed Agitos. They screamed as they were dragged into the magic circle, which then vanished along with the tentacles.
Raheem backfliped to avoid the energy blasts that pelted the ground before spinning into the air to swing his legs. With each kick, he fired crescent blades of shadow energy which sliced through the Failed Agitos. Upon landing, he summoned his dual blades before fading silently. Reappearing behind another Failed Agito, he drove his swords through it before disappearing again when its upper half toppled over. He reappeared behind another Failed Agito and sliced it in half. When the others noticed him, they threw energy blasts at him but he vanished again, avoiding their attacks. Pulling off the same disappearing-and-reappearing act repeatedly, he slew each of the Failed Agitos before they even knew what hit them.
Nozomu, clad in a black ARMOR uniform, was using her inhuman strength while fighting the Failed Agito. Her punch alone could knock the head off one's shoulders, and her kicks could send them to Heaven as she struck their imperfect Alter Rings. As one attempted to ambush her from behind, she managed to twist her body around and grab it by the waist before twisting its upper body around, tearing it in half at the waist.
As more came at her, she tossed the severed pieces at them before getting down on all fours like a wolf. Her eyes narrowed, and she snarled ferociously before she lunged at them with her claws out. They attempted to blast her while she was in the air, but they were all frozen by Megan who used her telekinesis to stop them in place.
As soon as Nozomu descended upon the Failed Agito, she became like a blender as dismembered body parts and blood went flying. To spare herself the sight, Miss Martian closed her eyes and turned her head away.
"It bothers you that they used to be human, doesn't it?" Raheem asked, walking next to her with both his swords over his shoulders. Despite his youth, he was unfazed by the violence.
"A little," Megan admitted. "Why aren't you?"
"I'm used to it. Just ask my mother."
"Violence is part of life, my dear Miss Martian," Cara lectured as she threw another spear through the chest of a Failed Agito. "Just remember that violence without purpose is just blind savagery."
"Right, this is about saving people," Megan grimaced. "Even if it means killing these things."
"If it makes you feel any better, these things are soulless and mindless," Raheem informed the Martian.
"I know," Megan nodded. When she came to fight the Failed Agitos, the first thing she did was scan their minds to see if any humanity remained. However, even at a subconscious level, any humanity that they might have had was gone, erased the moment they were mutated by Kyofu. He had stripped it from them, and now the only thing piloting their bodies was feral instincts.
Megan regained her resolve as she decided to unleash the beast. Charging at the Failed Agitos, she briefly assumed her true White Martian form before changing again into a much larger and frightening beast. She got on all fours as her hands and feet grew sharp claws. Her neck lengthened while branching at the base into two more necks, which grew new heads. The three heads then changed into those of dragons while a long tail grew out of her rear.
With a roar, the hydra attacked, swiping at the Failed Agitos with her new claws while all three of her draconic heads snapped at them. Her jaws bit a Failed Agito in half before the other two heads ripped another one in two pieces. They tried to attack Megan, but she had diamond-hard scales in this form and would not be harmed by their attempts. In retaliation, she swiped her claws at them, killing them.
"She must have been really pent up," Cara remarked, observing the hydra as it went on a killing spree, slaying the Failed Agitos one at a time.
"It hasn't been an easy week for her," Raheem said sympathetically.
Paris
In Paris, Coyote appeared to save several people being chased by the Failed Agitos. Wielding her Lupin Gunner, she fired upon the deformed monsters, buying the civilians time to escape. Her shots sent the creatures reeling, but they quickly recovered and retaliated. One of them swiped at her, but she ducked under its arm and shot a bolt of lightning at the ground, launching herself into the air. She landed gracefully on a lamppost, her Viral Cores circling her and shining their headlights like spotlights.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" she declared dramatically, spreading her arms wide. "Allow me to introduce you to the amazing, the fantastic, the miraculous..." She pushed the muzzle of her Lupin Gunner, her smile widening.
[Lupin!]
"Henshin!"
As gemstones appeared and slammed against her body, she transformed into Kamen Rider Lupina. She jumped off the lamppost, landing gracefully on her feet. With one hand on her hip and her gun held to her faceplate, she bent one knee.
"Kamen Rider Lupina, and I shall steal your hearts!" she declared, tossing her cape dramatically.
Shinobu was the least heroic among her siblings. As a Phantom Thief, she repeatedly found herself on the wrong side of the law and at odds with her sister Kaguya, who was in law enforcement. Her career choice stemmed from a deep void left by growing up without a father, which led to her kleptomania. Stealing filled that void and provided a thrill, especially since she was always being hunted for her crimes. Yet, she was so skilled that no cop could ever hope of catching her.
[Tune: Lupin Blade!]
Inserting her golden Lupin Blade Viral Core into her weapon, the blade flipped up and extended, turning her sidearm into a cutlass. Another Failed Agito lunged at her, only to be run through by her blade. A second one tried to grab her from behind, but she leapt over it and slashed its back. Charging forward, she landed slashes across their bodies, sending sparks flying.
One grabbed her arm, raising a fist to strike, but she released a burst of electricity that repulsed it before delivering a kick to its gut, sending it tumbling.
"Adieu!" she declared, squeezing the muzzle of her weapon.
[Ultimate: Lupin Stlash!]
A shining aurora of energy surrounded her blade as she swung, delivering an energy slash that sliced through the Failed Agitos. They froze, their bodies engulfed in gems before shattering into pieces. Twirling her weapon, she rested it on her shoulder.
"Magnifique," she congratulated herself, giving a chef's kiss for her victory.
Lupina was not alone in her fight. Her Viral Cores, their AIs recognizing the Failed Agitos as a threat, moved to assist. Ruby Bat soared like a fireball, blasting through the abominations and causing them to explode. Sapphire Spider shot its ice webbing at the Failed Agitos, freezing them solid before ramming into them, shattering them into icy fragments. Finally, Emerald Cobra raced around the Failed Agitos, lifting them into the air with tornadoes before tearing them into ribbons with vacuum blades.
Meanwhile, Amora blasted the Failed Agitos with her green magic, sending them into oblivion. Nearby, Jade used her own brand of green magic to strike down the Failed Agitos. Her father and the Green Lanterns may not approve of the act of killing enemies, but these were extreme circumstances. Besides, this was less about killing and more about saving the world from a madman's tantrum.
They were joined by a new hero, a young girl in a green domino mask with blue goggle lenses and green hair. Her costume was a green bodysuit with a matching miniskirt, black opera gloves that reached her elbows, and dark boots that reached her knees. Finally, a dark green scarf was wrapped around her neck, hanging behind her like a cape. She was Shinobu's friend and partner, Jade Cicada.
As the Failed Agitos moved to attack her, she weaved between the creatures with an agile grace, her movements a blur of speed and precision. As she moved past them, her fingers darted out like striking vipers, each touch seemingly light and inconsequential, yet potent with purpose. Wherever her fingers made contact, they left behind a glowing, green cicada-shaped mark that pulsed ominously on the Agitos' grotesque bodies.
Once she managed to hit them all, she paused, standing amidst the encircling creatures with serene confidence. With a swift, decisive motion, she clapped her hands together.
"Construction!" she intoned, her voice ringing with authority.
Instantly, the marks she had left began to glow brighter, the green light intensifying to a blinding brilliance. The Failed Agitos froze in place, their twisted forms trembling violently. Then, one by one, they began to swell grotesquely, their bodies expanding at an alarming rate. The sound of stretching flesh and creaking bones filled the air, a grotesque symphony of impending doom.
Within moments, the creatures reached their limits, and with a series of wet, explosive pops, they burst apart, sending a shower of blood, gore, and shattered bones in all directions. The once menacing horde was reduced to a gruesome mess, the ground slick with the remains of the failed abominations.
"HYAH!" Shia the rabbit girl shouted as she swung her giant hammer, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through the air. The head of one of the Failed Agitos flew off, rolling several feet away before coming to a stop. She then spun around, her ears twitching as she spotted the trio of green-clad heroines. "Wow, you're all green!"
"That's really the only thing you notice?" Amora incredulously asked, cocking an eyebrow and placing her hands on her hips, the emerald glow of her powers flickering around her fingers.
"How about we discuss our similar colour scheme a little later?" Jade offered politely, her voice calm and composed even as more Failed Agitos emerged from the shadows to attack them. "We've still got more of those things to deal with."
"Alright, but after this, I'm going to need a snack break," Jade Cicada said with a grin. She reached behind her back and took out her weapon: a sleek, black baton that crackled with electricity as she activated it.
The four women exchanged determined glances, their game faces on, and charged at the Failed Agitos. Jade and Amora unleashed blasts of energy, their combined powers creating a dazzling display of lights and explosions. Shia's hammer swung with relentless force, each impact sending Agitos flying or shattering them to pieces.
Jade Cicada moved with the grace of her namesake, her electrified baton striking with precision. Each hit stunned the Failed Agitos, their bodies overloaded by the electrical surges, causing them to collapse in a heap.
Jura appeared to be the sole male combatant as he ferociously hacked and slashed his way through the mob of Failed Agito with his axe. Each strike was precise with no movements wasted. He was brutal and straightforward, exhibiting no mercy as his blade cleaved into the monsters.
His heart pounded in his chest as his blood boiled in his veins, his body guided only by ferocious instincts. These creatures were a threat, encroaching on his territory. As the Champion, it was his duty to eliminate them before they could spread and become an uncontrollable threat.
"Roaarrrghhhh!"
In the middle of his brutal assault on the Failed Agitos, he drove his fist into the ground, causing a tremor of earth and crimson bio-energy to surge forth like a tsunami that consumed every Failed Agito in its wake. Withdrawing his fist, he whipped out his blue triceratops crystal coin and slipped it into his axe. Once the coin was secured, he flipped his weapon into its Gun Mode and prepared to unleash its payload.
[TRICERATOPS: LOCKED IN! METEOR SHOOTING! GAAAOO~!]
Jura planted his feet firmly on the ground to anchor himself and aimed hisweapon as an intense blue light gathered in the barrel of the gun. Once it had gotten its maximum charge, he pulled the trigger, firing a massive blue laser in the shape of a roaring triceratops. The recoil from the bio-energy beam pushed Jura back several inches, causing his feet to dig grooves into the ground. The beam struck the deformed Agitos, who failed to avoid the beam, and they were instantly obliterated.
Once the laser beam finally dissipated, it left a deep, black, sizzling trench. That should have been the end of it. However, the smoke cleared, revealing that the beam had failed to destroy them all, leaving survivors. Some of the sturdier Agitos managed to come out of it alive, though they did not get away unscathed as they sported burns from the laser.
Jura's eyes narrowed, annoyed that his attack had failed to finish them all off. Flipping his weapon around, he grabbed hold of it in its Axe Mode and made his way towards his enemies. He would not rest until every single one of them was dead.
Realising that they were severely outmatched, the Failed Agitos decided to make one last desperate attempt to destroy their enemy. Quickly, they jumped into a dogpile before morphing into a glowing mass of energy that began to grow to the size of a building.
Jura observed the phenomena, his gaze critical as the glowing mass metamorphosed into a gigantic Failed Agito that completely dwarfed him. The thing was even more deformed as it had eyes made up of the many faces of the Agitos that fused together to create it and many, many vestigial limbs hung from its titanic torso.
The thing was an abomination and as soon as he set his eyes on it, Jura decided to finish it once and for all.
[METEOR CUTTING! GAAAOO~!]
Jura bent his legs and jumped up high. In midair, he spun his axe over his head as it glowed, creating a blue energy projection around itself which grew in size and power with each rotation.
"ROOAAAARRRGGHHHHHH!"
Once it reached its maximum size, he reared his axe-wielding arm behind his back before he swung it down, cleaving the giant Failed Agito in half with the huge axe. The two severed halves of the deformed Agito tilted towards the ground before they were consumed by a pillar of flames that completely incinerated them.
Jura landed on his feet, shouldering his axe as he stood with his back towards the flaming pillar.
The four women had just witnessed Jura destroy the deformed, fused Agito. Shia just laughed, applauding her lover's little brother while Jade, Jade Cicada and Amora were gobsmacked.
"Well...he's definitely his father's son," Amora remarked. "Quite the formidable youngster."
"And he's strong as hell," Jade concurred, adding in her two cents.
"Yep!" Shia smiled, folding her hands over her head. "That's why people call him the 'Champion of Earth'!"
"...That's Jiro!?" Jade Cicada cried in shock. She knew he was powerful, but she was rarely on the field to see it with her own eyes. She mostly worked closely with Shinobu.
Meanwhile, The Citadel, Floor B-13
A portal opened in the ceiling, and Alice descended gracefully, her wings ensuring a soft landing. The Nth metal that composed the Citadel's structure thwarted magical teleportation, but advanced tech like the Teleportal system bypassed this barrier. Shinichi had speculated that Kyofu might detect the intrusion, but he should be too preoccupied to notice.
Being back here dredged up old memories. This was where she had been created and trained by Gebok. Ordinarily, she would avoid this place, but she needed to be here — not just to save her cousins, but to atone for her sins. She had come alone. Had she informed her siblings, Celine and Daiki would have insisted on joining her, and she couldn't risk their safety. As their big sister, protecting them was her responsibility and she took her responsibilities seriously.
Alice hadn't even told Shinichi or the others about her plan to rescue her cousins. She knew her family would have objected, especially given her recent near brushes with death. Her mother was particularly protective, but she felt compelled to act. She was going rogue for a good cause, believing it was easier to seek forgiveness than permission.
Once her cousins were safe, they would have no reason to be mad at her. She was an adult, — or at least she had the body of one — so they couldn't stop her.
Huh. Maybe she and her brother/uncle had more in common than she thought.
Scanning her surroundings, she found she was in the right place. Down a corridor, she saw a set of metal doors marked 'B-13'. Her cousins were behind those doors. The tiled floor between her and the door had a multicoloured pattern, reminding her of the pressure-sensitive tiles that triggered booby traps. Fortunately, she had a way to overcome this obstacle. Deploying her wings, she hovered off the ground, floating toward the door.
Simple, yet effective. Her Daddy always said it was best to work smarter, not harder. It was strange that neither Gebok nor Kyofu had accounted for someone with the ability to fly when designing the traps. Considering how common that power was, it seemed a significant oversight.
At the end of the corridor, she retracted her wings. Forcing the doors open was impossible — they were sealed and required a six-digit passcode. She studied the keypad, considering that Kyofu might have changed the code. Still, she inputted the one Gebok had made her memorise:
130274
[Access Granted]
The heavy steel doors slid apart with a grinding noise, revealing the threshold and allowing her entry.
"He didn't even change the code," Alice muttered as she stepped through. Did Kyofu not think that one of them might know the code? Apparently not.
Inside the room, she found child-sized stasis pods lined up against the wall. Her cousins were inside. However, the floor was strewn with bodies, all torn apart, blood splattered everywhere. None of the remains appeared to be human. Staring at her with lifeless eyes was the severed head of an Agito, its insectoid features grotesque.
"What happened here?" she whispered, horrified. She was no stranger to blood and gore, but if she could physically throw up, she would have. Questions swirled in her mind:
Were her cousins okay?
Was whatever had done this still here?
As she stepped further into the room, the steel doors slammed shut behind her. Her synthetic heart pounded. If she could perspire, she'd be covered in cold sweat.
The room was dim, with enough light to see the pods while the rest remained in shadows. She quickly realised she wasn't alone as several sets of eyes glowed in the darkness. Pushing aside her anxiety, she ignited fireballs in her hands and deployed her bladed wings.
"Come out with your hands, claws, tentacles, or whatever limbs you have up!" she commanded, ready for a fight. She had seen plenty of weird things after living with her daddy.
The figures complied, stepping out of the shadows to reveal a group of jungle cats of different species: a lioness, a tigress, a cheetah, a panther, a leopard, a jaguar, and a puma.
"Do not come any closer," Alice warned, flexing her fingers in preparation to defend herself.
The cats were engulfed in shadows before standing upright, transforming into dark-skinned catgirls in matching leotards and loincloths, with jackets resembling the skins of their beast forms.
"Don't be alarmed," the leader, Jojo, assured her.
"Who are you?" Alice demanded, not lowering her guard.
"We are the Watoto, and our Mistress sent us to rescue your cousins," Jojo explained.
"You're a witch's Furniture, aren't you?" Alice asked warily. She knew about the friendlier Furniture like the Stakes of Purgatory, but also the more vicious ones like the Siesta Sisters.
"Yes, yes we are," Kwabena answered dismissively.
"You killed all the Agitos here, didn't you?" Alice asked, though she already knew the answer.
"They got in our way," Kwabena confirmed. "Now enough talk, we have young ones to save."
"Why haven't you yet?" Alice questioned as she extinguished her fireballs, but kept her wings out. As she checked the pods, she saw her cousins asleep, looking peaceful.
"Because we need a password." Jojo pointed at a console beside the pods. There was a monitor with a keyboard to input the password.
Alice approached the console, momentarily worried that Kyofu might have changed the password. But since he hadn't bothered changing the door code, she decided to risk it by typing in a familiar name:
ALICIA_
And she hit 'ENTER', praying it worked.
[Access Granted]
The stasis pods hissed as the lids loosened and opened, freeing the captive children.
"Take them out gently," Alice advised. The Watoto carefully lifted the sleeping children fro the pods.
"How long will they be asleep?" Abeeku asked.
"Not long. When they wake up, all this will just be another bad dream," Alice reassured. "Now, do you mind letting me take them home?"
"Sorry, but we were given a task," Jojo insisted. "Our Mistress wants to take the children to her realm to keep them safe."
"Why should I trust you?" Alice demanded, suspicious. "Who's your mistress?"
"Her name is Zawadi," Jojo answered, and Alice recognized the name.
"Daddy told me about her. She kidnapped Shinichi-niichan."
"It's more complicated than that," Fifi said warmly. "Think of us as future in-laws."
"Does he attract women everywhere he goes?" Alice muttered. "Wait. Dumb question. Daddy does that too. Forgive me for not trusting the servants of someone who abducted my brother."
"Trust that your brother would do anything to get his children back, and our Mistress isn't foolish enough to provoke his ire," Jojo offered.
"Fine," Alice relented. Anyone who knew Shinichi would know no force in the universe could stop him from retrieving his children or punishing those who took them.
"I'm glad you understand, daughter of the Traveller," Jojo nodded. The Watoto vanished into the darkness, leaving no trace.
"My name is Alice!" she corrected loudly, her voice echoing in the empty chamber. She scratched her head, unsure of what to do next. "Now, what am I supposed to tell everyone?"
"Why not play it back?" Sheila suggested. "Your eyes record everything like a camera and store them in your CPU. To play it back, just hook yourself up to me."
Alice grimaced. She wondered if everyone would be relieved that the kids were rescued from Kyofu or mad that she let another group take them instead.
"Wait, how did they even get in here?" she wondered aloud.
End of Act 25
Tailsmo4ever: So I'm guessing you've all noticed the number of characters that appeared. They originally debuted in the interlude chapter 'Se7en'. I wanted them to appear again during the fight in New Orleans, but Dr. Exposition was too much in the zone to make that happen. So I'm making due here. Don't worry, this is the only time they have this much of a presence, but at least I got that out of the way. Most importantly, we are reaching the finale of this trilogy. Stay tuned for that.