The Seed of Change

by Remus973

Tokyo, 2039. 10 years had passed since Lost Christmas happened. The nation of Japan is now under occupied rule. There is resistance, but they need more power. It comes in the form of Shu Ouma, a young boy with a desire to change. To be better. He becomes a Kamen Rider to make a difference for himself and everything and everyone connected to him. Rated T for some language.

5. Phase 05

New chapter! Sorry this one took so long. I had to take some time as how to write this chapter . Got some reviews saying they want the banana. Today, you get the banana. Yay. For this chapter, more mysteries surround the motivations of DJ Sagara. One more thing. The winner of the last poll is Sigurd. Which means Bravo will be an OC. Whether he lives or dies is up to me. Please enjoy.

Phase 05 - Training; My Opponent is a Banana?!

Deep underground, Shu followed Gai, Inori, and Ougumo to their base. Shu was looking back on all his battles. Most importantly, he reminisced on his talk with DJ Sagara and wondered why would he help him. He also thought as to who was this Mana person he mentioned.

xxxxxx

(flashback)

"If you can show me that you can walk the walk as good as you talk the talk, I gots your back. I can see the reason why Mana wanted you as her Adam."

(flashback ends)

xxxxxx

'Who's Mana? And what does she have to do with this?'

They kept walking for a while until they stopped at a metal door. Ougumo pressed a button to open it. When the steel doors opened fully, Shu saw a circular glass ceiling that looks like it was modeled after some european design. He looked around further and saw they were in a library. It was filled with bookcases that looked like hallways leading to who knows where. At the center of the library were four computer screens. The whole place was fashioned like a meeting room. Some people were there as well. Some Shu was familiar with, like Ayase and Tsugumi. Others he hardly knew at all. Gai talked with Shibungi for a while.

"Has Kido been caught up with everything?

"Yes, Gai. He's fully informed about our group and his role in it. He's currently waiting to be filled in on the next mission."

Gai was sweating a little bit. Shu noticed and thought,

'He looks a little under the weather.'

"Good. I'll meet up with him soon."

Gai then turned his attention to the rest of the room.

"In case you all have forgotten, this is Shu Ouma, the one who helped us in Roppongi. He possesses the Void Genome."

A few of Gai's fighters remembered him for his 'presentation' on that day.

"As of right now, he will be the core of our strategies."

Some of them felt that the missions from now on will be ones where survival will be certain while others felt that if Gai made the right call due to Shu not looking much of a fighter. Shu looked at one of the floors and noticed a girl younger than him being there as one of Gai's fighters. He wonders how many more like her are in this resistance.

"With Shu's allegiance to our cause and the recent acquisition of Kenji Kido, our most immediate goals are within our reach. We now have the means to retrieve the Leukocyte."

Shu was curious as to what this 'Leukocyte' was. Typing on a nearby keyboard, Gai displayed the plan for the mission.

"This is the proposed plan. Considering all variables, there are a possible 145 possible outcomes. Have them memorized by the advent of the mission."

Argo Tsukishima, one of Gai's fighters with a blonde cockscomb, spoke.

"What's the timeframe?"

"Three days. If that's not enough time, we don't need you."

Everyone gasped as to the short time they have to prepare. Shibungi spoke out as to summarize what everyone was feeling.

"It hasn't been a full day since the raid on the GHQ compound. Fatigue is a realistic concern here."

"According to who? What drove you people to sign up for this? Was it the hope of a good night's rest? You can rest when your dead! The enemy isn't going to wait just so that you can catch up on your beauty sleep."

Everyone agreed to the point their fearless leader made. Gai called for Ayase.

"Ayase."

"Yes, Gai?"

"I'm giving you the responsibilty of giving him basic training so that he can pull his own weight for the mission."

"You want me to do what?"

"He gonna drag us down if we fail to make him ready for what his role is. Train him well if you want us to live."

Ayase was disheartened by both the assignment Gai gave her and how he said it. Gai then left the room. Shu tried to raise Ayase's spirits a bit.

"Listen, you don't have to worry about me that much. I don't mind the training. I'm willing to do what ever it takes to be ready for anything. If Gai thinks you can make me a fighter, then so do I."

Ayase approached Shu in her wheelchair. She extended her hand to Shu. Shu holds, think it was a handshake. In reality, it was a feint made to lower his gaurd. Ayase grabbed Shu by the arm, made a full 180 turn on her whellchair, and shifted her upper body strength to flip Shu to the ground. When Shu was slammed to the floor, the first thing that came to his mind was,

'She's like a female Joe Swanson.'

Ayase looked down on Shu and said,

"You better be ready for anything cause I don't tolerate slackers."

Shu was then rendered unconscious.

xxxxxx

As Shu laid dormant, images of a summer day played in his mind. It was like a memory long since past. It featured two young boys and a broken bridge. They spoke to each other.

"Hey, are you serious about jumping?"

"Yeah! It'll be fine. Trust me."

A lone image of a boy, standing on the other side of a broken bridge, clouded in darkness in a bright landscape. Then everything turned blurry.

xxxxxx

Shu woke up lying on a bed in a room with a Spartan setting. When he got up, he noticed that the only thing he was wearing was a blue towel covering up his private parts. Shu walked around the room a little bit to look for any clothes to wear.

"I don't even have my lockseed. Where is it? Oh yeah. Clothes first."

He looked around a bit further, not noticing the towel around his waist was getting loose until it dropped. Just then, the latch on Shu's door turned. When it opened, Ayase was there to check on him only to see his ding-a-ling being footloose and fancy free for all to see. To her embarrassment. Ayase had more red on her face that a person suffering a sunburn. Shu turned to see her entering the room and asked her in a casual tone,

"Hey. Do you know where my clothes are?"

Ayase screamed as sped her wheelchair to slap Shu in the face.

xxxxxx

"Starting now, you life is training. You had enough sleep, so I expect no slowing down."

Shu had a handprint on his face and still felt a little pain from it.

"Yes ma'am."

"One question. Why do you even want to join Funeral Parlor, anyway? I can't even imagine someone like you being one of us."

Ayase had on her lap Shu's orange lockseed.

"Is that my..."

Ayase saw Shu's reaction when he found the lockseed on her lap.

"So you noticed."

"Can you please give it back to me? It really important to me."

"I had a feeling you say something like that about his thing."

Shu did not like the tone in her voice.

"Consider this motivation. If you want this back, prove to me you deserve it. In one week, you'll be tested to see if you have what it takes to join us. If you pass, Ill give this back to you. BUT, only of you pass.

xxxxxx

First phase of Shu's initiation was Argo, one of Gai's fighters who was skilled in knife combat.

"Name's Argo. I'm a sophomore at Ryuzen. Now tell me your name."

"My name's Shu Ouma."

Argo gave Shu a large knife.

"Come after me like you're gonna kill me."

Shu was a bit baffled at what that meant.

"Umm... This knife is real, right?"

"You're gonna face death every day from here on in. You gonna have to get used it!"

Argo charged at Shu and swinged his knife at Shu. Shu managed to dodge by flipping backwards. He then lunged forward at Argo, extending the arm holding the knife forward, only for Argo to grab his arm and knee-kick him in Shu chest. Shu coughed for a while. Argo spoke to Shu.

"Get up. We're doing this until you get it right."

He did so and continued his 'assault.'

xxxxxx

The second phase was Tsugumi. She made Shu run a continuous lap until she said stop or until he gave out. Of course, she was not really there on the field with Shu. She just used one of her wheeled drones to monitor his vitals as Shu kept running. She expected Shu to be a lazy slowpoke, but was rather impressed by his vitals and speed. However, she enjoyed the role of drill Sargent a little too much.

"25 MILES AN HOUR?! I WANNA SEE 50 OUT OF YOU, MAGGOT!"

Shu tried to go faster, but tripped on a piece of rubble. Tsugumi yelled at him for being 'lazy.'

"NAP TIME'S OVER! GET YOUR ASS IN GEAR!"

Shu got up and kept running. He then thought,

'I get the feeling that (*pant) this part of my training (*pant) is less for my benefit (*pant), and more for her enjoyment.'

xxxxxx

Next was Ougumo who was the artillery expert of Funeral Parlor. He, Shu, and Ayase were in an armory room. Ougumo gave Shu a rather large firearm to test Shu's upper body strength and endurance.

"It's kind of heavy."

Shu looked at the heavy firearm with determination.

"'Give it to me."

Ougumo tossed the firearm to Shu. Shu grabbed with both arms and buckled to the weight of the weapon. Shu almost tripped, but gained some steady footing. He lifted the heavy firearm with effort that was rooted in his resolve. Shu stood upright with difficulty as he was still lifting the weapon. Ougumo looked at Shu for moment before tapping his forehead to make Shu lose his foundation as a way to test him further. Shu momentarily lost his footing and almost fell on his behind before regaining his footing and stood upright with heavy weapon in hand once again. Ayase asked Ougumo,

"So, what do you think?"

"He's got something, but we gonna need more time to get it out of him."

xxxxxx

Last phase for the day was Inori. Shu, Ayase, and Inori were in a firing range. Inori showed Shu how to fire a gun and aim with precision. Shu remembered the pistol function of his Musou Saber and how sometimes he either misses his targets or hit on a point that just grazes the target. After firing all the rounds of her gun, Inori removes the bullet magazine and places her gun down. Ayase then said to Shu,

"As you can see, she's good at this stuff."

The targeting range automatically moved closer the target sheet, demonstrating to Shu how to fire a gun with accuracy.

"I want to see the same results from you."

Shu stood at the same spot where Inori demonstrated her skills, and held the gun with one hand. Shu thought,

'This gun feels a bit light. Maybe it has something to do with the face that there's no blade attached at the top of the thing. Wait, if I imagine this gun as my Musou Saber, then I can get better at using its gun function."

Shu then turned his gun sideways, making the slide facing towards the ceiling, and proceeded to fire his rounds at the target sheet. Ayase and Inori were wondering why he did that. Ayase thought he just wanted to look cool in front of two girls. Inori just watched to see it means. Shu finally finished and the target sheet revealed that although not at the same level of accuracy as Inori's, he still hit the vital points of the sheet as if it was an actual, breathing person. Inori smiled at Shu's progress. Ayase simply said,

"Not bad. Not what I was looking for, but still..."

Shu spoke to Ayase about his technique.

"I learned how to handle a gun by remembering about how I used my Musou Saber when I was Gaim."

"You mean the sword you carry on your waist when you use your void?"

"Yeah. It has a gun function. The thing is, the saber part adds more weight if I held the gun the way Inori held her gun. By turning it sideways, I can probably cut some weight off to improve my accuracy."

Ayase looked at Shu, still making up her mind about him.

"That's good for your own weapons, but we're training you to handle other weapons. Learn to use them right. Inori, show him."

Inori listened to Ayase and reloaded the gun. She then placed it in Shu hands, and positioned them to hold the gun the right way.

"Is this right?"

"Not really. The slide will take a chunk out of your hand like that. Hold you thumb like this."

Inori placed herself behind Shu to get him on how to handle a gun properly. Inori wrapped her arms around him so that Shu can achieve the scope of accuracy as she did. Shu tried to hold still as he felt Inori's chest, and tried not to make a big deal out of it.

"L-L-L-Like this?"

"Yeah,"

Inori noticed something was bothering Shu.

"Is something the matter?"

" . .No. Let's keep going."

Ayase saw how Shu reacted when Inori got behind her. She huffed and wrote down in her assessment on Shu.

'Pervy, but has potential.'

xxxxxx

At the main headquarters of GHQ, a secret meeting was being held. Keido and Segai were the only ones there at first, but they were expecting one more to join. Segai spoke first.

"The Leukocyte plan seems to be progressing smoothly. The Invisible Cage. You can't help but like such a perverse concept."

"Enough small talk. How is the plan to divide them playing out?"

"I'm afraid it hit a dead end. Seems as though he's made a decision and committing to it."

"Told ya he ain't gonna go for it. There's enough fire in his eyes to burn a building."

Segai and Keido turned to see a familiar face. Keido spoke.

"So you finally make it, Sagara."

DJ Sagara entered the room and joined the meeting. As soon as he sat down, Segai responded.

"Seems like you know the boy well."

"Not really. It's just a impression I got about him. Turns out I'm right."

"Is that why you gave him 'presents?'"

Keido was intrigued at what Segai was trying to say.

"Oh, that. Well, it's just a little thing I call research."

Keido spoke to Sagara.

"So, that's the reason why you've been arming Dr. Ouma's son with weapons that possess the potential to derail our plans? Just what is it you are trying to research with this course of action?"

Sagara detected the irritation in Keido's voice. He reached for his breast pocket and took out a vial. It was similar to the vial that carried the Void Genome during the incident at Roppongi. What made the vial Sagara was holding different was the coloring. It was blue with a red DNA strain in the middle.

"I've been trying to replicate the boy's powers."

Keido and Segai were surprised by this.

"I've been analyzing his abilities through the video feeds we had of him in his battles with our forces. Combined with what I had when I examined the physical remnants of both destroyed Endlaves and Inves corpses. Not to mention the blood sample I requested a while back, I have determined the genetic makeup of the Void Genome and attempted to replicate it to the best of my abilities."

Keido smiled a little bit. All this time, Sagara was helping Dr. Ouma's son only to find he was using him a glorified lab rat. Keido also felt a bit envious that Sagara thought of this but not him. But he put it aside because there was a major breakthrough in Void technology.

"However, it can't fully replicate the void extracting ability that the main ones do. What it can do is be a near-perfect imitation of his abilities."

Segai spoke, trying to paint an accurate picture of what the vial Sagara was holding can do.

"In short, you can summon only the form of his void, correct?"

"Yes. You can get his void form, but it needs to work in conjunction with this."

Sagara held a lockseed. It was labeled 'LS-08' and was shaped like a banana. Keido spoke to Sagara.

"I assume it can be ready for testing?'

"Yes, it can. I have already scouted for a compatible candidate. With your permission, I can commence trials for what I called this vial, The Sengoku Genome, immediately."

"Who have you chosen for the testing?"

"Daryl Yan."

Keido and Segai were surprised by Sagara's selection. Keido spoke out.

"You do realize that were trying to keep this hidden from the top brass. Are you sure that the supreme commander's son can be trusted?"

"I spoke with him a little while ago about this project. I didn't get into much detail about it. All I told him was that if he wanted to expand his fighting skills, I have a proposition that might interest him. He accepted, and came with me. I told him to wait outside of this room. He's waiting right now for me to call him.

Keido and Segai looked at each other and decided to continue what Sagara had in store. Keido told Sagara,

"Call him in."

Sagara stood up, walked to the door, opened it slightly, and said,

"Okay. Come on in."

Daryl walked in. He was wearing a simple white-buttoned t-shirt and blue jeans with black sneakers. He sat down and waited for an explanation fron anyone in the room. Keido spoke to the lieutenant.

"Do you know why you are here?"

"I was told by the guy with the bandana that I can be qualified to use that handheld anti-Endlave weapon Funeral Parlor's using right now. When he told me that, I knew I want in."

"Why did you feel the need to volunteer?

Daryl took a moment to get answer together in a coherent manner. Segai had a question that came to mind and said it to Daryl.

"Why risk it? I mean, this project you're volunteering for may cost you your life. What compelled you to do this?"

After a moment had passed, Daryl spoke with a tone of conviction and serious in his voice. Something that made the Keido, Segai, and Sagara listen to every word.

"I know what having strength means. The power to take destiny and shaping it to the image of your own desire is something I crave so much. The way I see that Gaim guy fights, he's not interested in being stronger. He's comfortable being the hero, the glory hog, not the victor. Conquest is the true form of victory. Anything less is something only the weak find solace in. Not me. Give me power or give me death! I ACCEPT THE TRUTH OF THE WORLD WITH NO HESTITATION! For the truth of the world is this: The will of the mighty is the only will worth recognizing."

Keido, Segai, and Sagara exchanged looks in confirmation of their first candidate of the Sengoku Genome. Sagara spoke first.

"Okay, gentlemen. We got a winner."

"Indeed we do."

Said Segai. Keido ordered Sagara to inject the Sengoku Genome in Lieutenant Yan. Sagara complied. Before he did so, Sagara gave a warning to Daryl.

"Just remember, this is experimental. We have no idea as to what will exactly happen. All I know is that I designed the Sengoku Genome to manifest itself in a certain way. We don't know what will happen to your body. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes."

He injected the genome into Daryl's arm. The vial was finally empty as the genome entered Daryl's blood stream. Nothing happened at first until Daryl started to feel a tightness in his chest.

"Something's happening..."

Sagara spoke to Daryl to calm him down.

"Just calm down, and let it take it course."

Inside of Daryl, his DNA was in the process of integrating a major upgrade. Everywhere in his body was a surge of biological energy caressing his being with strength unlike anything Daryl had felt before. He was down to his knees as the Sengoku Genome was in the final stages of establishing itself within Daryl's genetic makeup. Daryl then became unconscious, and jerked his chest forward. Convulsing like he was having a seizure, a glowing circle appeared on his chest. Coming out of it were crystal streams that converged together to create a single item. The creation was an item that Shu Ouma summoned out of him. It was a Sengoku Driver with a blank faceplate. The driver then floated down with Daryl instinctively reach out for it with his hands until he grasped it. He regained consciousness, piecing together what had happened. He looked at what he was holding. Sagara talked to Daryl at what he was holding.

"This is the power that used to be exclusive to Gaim. But now, you have access to it as well. This is only one half. This is the other half."

Sagara held in his hand the Banana lockseed. Daryl took his driver, placed it on his waist, and begun his transformation. Keido and Segai looked how it was done. They were amazed that now this aspect of Void technology could be duplicated. Keido had all sorts of plans that went on in his head. Segai saw this as an extension of what the Void Genome is capable of.

'If this is just a copy, image how powerful the real article is.'

As Daryl saw his armor, he thought to himself,

'Get ready, Gaim. Your era ends now.'

xxxxxx

Back at the headquarters of Funeral Parlor, Shu was lying down on the floor with a towel on his face after days of training. Kyou, one of the younger members of Gai's resistance, provided the towel. Argo was there and talked with Kyou.

"I heard you're going side-by-side with this one."

"Yeah. He's finally gonna let me join him in battle. I'm kind of bummed that I won't be able to see the test fight, but I wish you the best of luck Shu."

Shu smiled at Kyou's support and positivity. Kyou left the room after saying,

"See ya guys later."

After Kyou left, Shu remarked at how someone like her wants to fight.

"She seems so young for this. Makes me wonder. How can Gai make a rebellion like this possible? I like to know how he can have this much confidence and having people see what he has to offer so appealing. I mean, I know there are so many people frustrated with the occupational government being more powerful than the one we have. But for Gai to inspire people to take up arms..."

Argo replied,

"It's not just that. Gai inspires us to make a difference not just for ourselves or our families and friends. It's for the others who feel the same way we do. The people who refuse to accept things the way they are. That's why we follow Gai. We wanna change the world we live into something better than this."

Shu was surprised at Argo's loyalty towards Gai and his cause.

"Sorry if I insulted you or anything."

"You didn't. But what you said proves you still have a lot to learn. On a different note, you can draw out those void things from anyone?"

Shu looked confused by that question.

xxxxxx

It was night time. Shu had finished bathing himself and was off to sleep. He was in thought as to what was his role in Funeral Parlor.

'With all this training I've done, do I now have what it takes to be one of them?'

Then, he heard a familiar voice singing in the distance. He followed until he saw Inori with Funell singing in the moonlight. Hearing Inori sing filled Shu with emotions of melancholy, hope, and a reminder of an empty space each person feels they have in one way or another. When she finished, Inori turned to see Shu staring at her. Shu spoke to break the silence.

"No wonder you're famous. You have a very lovely voice."

It made Inori smile a little bit. They both sat down near the window. Shu spoke to Inori.

"This almost reminds me of how we met. Do you remember?"

Inori was silent, staring at the floor.

"Hey, I've been wondering. Why did you join Funeral Parlor anyway? Does Gai believe in the same things as you do?"

"I've been wondering about the same way about you."

"Really?"

Shu was deep in thought as to what specific reasons were for being a part of Funeral Parlor. After thinking for a while, the reason came to him.

"If you wanna know the truth about why I want to be here, here it is."

Inori looked at Shu for she wanted to hear every word.

"I want to change. I want to be different from before. Before the Void Genome, I always kept my head down and never made a effort to stand out in some way. I made some friends, but I never could be a friend to them because I was always acting like I don't consider their feelings. In reality, I don't know how be a person. Everyday I would wish that something would happen that could make me a better man. It wouldn't be anything instantaneous. But if it could make me something completely different to who I am right now, I would go for it because I don't want to be this way for the rest of my life. I guess you could say that's the reason I want to join Funeral Parlor. Everyone here is so sure of who they are here. I wanna be the same way."

After hearing everything, Inori stood up and spoke to Shu.

"For me, Gai gave me the thing I needed most. I had nothing and he gave me a name. A world to live in. A place to call home."

Inori walked out of the room, leaving Shu alone. Shu went to his thoughts.

'More mysteries to think about. Wonder where all this is leading?'

Shu then went downstairs where he saw Inori entering Gai's room. Shu didn't know what to make of it. Gai closed the door. Shu continued on his way to his room for a while until he bumped into Ayase. She was wearing a white nightgown.

"Hey. Couldn't sleep?"

"A little. Just wanted to take a walk, so to speak. What about you?"

"Came out of the shower a little while ago. I was heading to my room until I heard Inori somewhere. We talked for a while until she left. When I came downstairs, I saw Inori entering Gai's room for some reason. I didn't want to pry, so I just left."

Ayase blushed a little bit when she heard Shu said, in a casual tone, that Gai was alone in his room with Inori.

"Is there something going on between them?"

"How would I know?!"

Shu flinched when Ayase yelled at him.

"Sorry I said that. Really I am."

Ayase calmed down and was surprised that Shu would act this way over a misunderstanding. She chuckled a little bit.

"Saw their room, did you?"

"Yeah, but I didn't know what to make of it."

"They sometimes spend the night together in that room. Usually two or three times a month. We pretend not to see it, but we've all noticed by now."

"Ah, so that's why. So, everyone's cool with this? Even you?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, I've noticed how much you like Gai. I'm surprised that..."

Ayase wheeled closer to Shu and grabbed him by the shirt collar.

"Where did you come up with that stupid assumption?"

"Well, I've seen the way you act around him and..."

"You have no idea what's going on! I have respect for Gai, that's all!"

Ayase threw Shu to the floor as she blushed over Shu's insinuations.

"Sorry if I made you mad. I'm just trying to piece things together. I didn't mean to make you angry or anything. It's just I'm confused about a lot of things I don't get. Like how Gai can get people to follow him to do anything. Either I don't see the signs or I do see them, but I don't understand them. I just don't know what my problem is: either I'm too naïve or just socially illiterate."

Ayase placed her hand on Shu's shoulders as he was still on the floor.

"You wanna know? Then I suggest you try your hardest at the mock battle. If you win, you'll officially be one of us. Then, you'll see things a little more clearly now."

Feeling a new sense of determination, Shu stood up.

"Thanks Ayase. Good night."

xxxxxx

In Gai's room, he was talking with Inori. Gai had a sort of dialysis machine attached to him.

"You look so much like her. More and more everyday."

Inori looked at Gai's physical state of being on his bed.

"Does it bother you?"

"I'm not sure."

xxxxxx

Morning hit on a GHQ military airport. Two trucks belonging to Funeral Parlor snuck on to the place. Gai stepped outside of the front trailer. Kyou was outside first with red smoke was fuming behind here from a distance. She called out for him.

"Gai. Looks like a series of crates."

"Crates?"

"Yeah. I thought it was a mistake, but I checked the data again. It crates alright."

Gai felt a sensation of uneasiness tingling inside of him. He said to Kyou,

"If I give the order to fall back, make sure everyone gets it. For now, we proceed to the plan with a change of targets."

"You got it, Gai."

Kyou obeyed the order willingly. Gai reached for his binoculars, and saw three carrier planes like he planned. But the change of content within the planes was something he did not foresee. Gai was expecting two groups of mercenaries and their Endlaves to arrive. He would then initiate an ambush on them, thus cutting GHQ's military arsenal and personnel by a significant margin. Gai was in thought about this change.

'Did I make a mistake? Or did GHQ anticipate for this and have something else on their sleeve?'

xxxxxx

Back at the headquarters of Funeral Parlor, the mock battle to determine Shu's eligibility and membership had arrived.

"Time to put your training to the test. This mock battle is called Scenario D-14, and is modeled after the Leukocyte mission. It assumes a possible situation where you will have to face an Endlave by yourself without the aid of your lockseeds. If you want to win this, you'll have to get past Steiner and take shelter in the train car. The paint bullets are strong enough to make you unconscious, so don't get hit."

With steely eyed resolve, Shu responded,

"Got it and ready."

Ayase went to her pod to pilot her Endlave, Steiner. Everyone in the room anticipated a one-sided fight. Inori looked ahead on a steel balcony, whispering,

"Good luck."

At the sideline seats, Argo and Ougumo were talking about how this fight was expected to be short, but brutal.

"She's setting him up to fail. Hell, even I can't make it past Ayase's Endlave."

Tsugumi was in her holodeck, listening in on the conversation.

"And she's even faster now that she has Steiner."

Ayase was in her pod, ready for Shu's rite of initiation.

"Okay, Aya. All set?"

"Plug me in."

The silver new model Endlave, Steiner, activated. Ayase spoke through its voice channel to Shu.

"You ready?"

Shu nodded yes. One of Tsugumi's wheeled drones appeared in the middle between Shu and Ayase. Tsugumi spoke through it.

"Okay. Ready? Go!"

Shu charged first, but stopped when he saw how the Endlave was bigger than him. He then ran to the sidelines, with the Endlave charging at him. He went behind one of the steel pillars and shot his paintball auto-rifle at the Endlave only for it to dodge his shots. It then closed in where Shu shot his gun. Shu ran to another location. The Endlave fired its guns. Ayase spoke,

"You really wanna show me your back? Quit running away like a little coward."

Gai's fighters looked at the battle, and were collectively underwhelmed, to say the least, at Shu's performance. He was running from enemy fire without so much as a fight. Some of them wondered if he really was an asset as Gai implied, or he was just a clueless kid who got in over his head and just wasn't much of a threat without his little plastics toys to even make him a considerable nuisance. All this was going on while Shu was focused on surviving.

"I don't understand on how you can fight an Endlave with just a gun."

"Look sharp! You act like you want to get shot!"

Shu then had a idea occur to him. He decided to act on it. He stopped running for a little bit. It was enough time to get some distance between him and Ayase. Ayase still charged at Shu and readied her gun to shot. Shu then ran towards the Endlave Ayase was piloting. Instead of standing his ground and shooting at the charging Endlave, he ran under it. Shu ran a little further until he stopped. Ayase turned around and was ready to shot at Shu. Shu aimed for the part of the Endlave that gave Ayase visual data. Shu fires his gun, and the paintball bullets splattered all over Steiner's eyes. This shocked Ayase.

"What the- I can't see! Where are you Shu?"

Everyone who saw this was impressed at Shu's quick thinking. Shu then ran for the train car to complete the test. However, the opportunity was short-lived as Ayase's Endlave did something no one expected.

'Nice move, Shu. But this thing has got some tricks that you'll won't see coming."

The Endlave caused the paint that was all over its eyes to evaporate. Ayase regained visual data and saw Shu running for the train car. Ayase shot a couple paint rounds at Shu. Shu, still running, had his adrenaline levels at a personal record high. As he was closer to his goal, he felt everything slow down around him. Every sound that would normally not be noticed were suddenly pronounced. He heard the sound of his rapid breathing. The sounds of his footsteps stomping on the ground. He also heard something coming up behind him fast. Shu made a big side step and found out it was a huge paintball bullet that almost hit him on the back. He then ran the opposite of his goal just get away from Ayase.

"Nice try, Shu. But in a real battle, you gotta be ready for anything."

Shu felt he was out of options.

'Damn it! I can't keep running forever. I thought I had this. I'm fighting using only I was given... Wait! Maybe that's it. In a real battle, you can't expect the enemy to follow the same rules you follow. Maybe I need to be unpredictable. Do something the enemy won't expect out of you! In other words, CHEAT!'

Shu ran to the side as he decided to use a person's void to win the mock battle. The first person he saw as he ran to the sidelines was Argo. Shu yelled,

"SORRY ARGO! I NEED TO BORROW SOMETHING FROM YOU!"

Shu remembered the technique Inori taught him to extract other people's voids, dropped his gun, and extracted Argo's void. Argo's void was a metal stick resembling a tuning fork. Shu pointed Argo's void at Steiner and used its ability. The ability was that it created an orb of absolute darkness. Ayase could not see anything in front of her. The orb seemed to be working, but Shu did not know for how long. He took advantage of the time to run for the train car. He made it and thus the mock battle ended. By then, the orb of darkness finally dissipated and Ayase could see again. One of Gai's fighters remarked on the battle.

"He really did it."

Another remarked,

"That's impossible."

Shu stepped outside of the train car. When he did, he heard applause. Everyone who saw the battle were impressed by both his abilities of void extracting and putting up a decent fight. Shu smiled at how much people accepted him as one of them. Shu went to the trailer where Ayase piloted her Endlave. Ayase removed her helmet and Shu began to talk to her.

"So, I guess I cheated."

"That's debatable. You just used what made you unique."

Shu took that as friend to friend advice. As they both stepped outside of the trailer, Ougumo met Ayase and Shu and spoke to Shu.

"Well I guess I should say 'Welcome Aboard.' Starting today, you're one of us."

Everyone was there to welcome Shu as a member of Funeral Parlor. While Shu felt like his life was going somewhere. Ayase bumped her wheelchair into Shu. He turned around to face her.

"Here, your reward."

Ayase held Shu's orange lockseed in her hand. Shu thanked her, and grabbed it from her. He held it like a piece of his soul was returned to him.

"If it means so much to you, you might want to put it somewhere safer than your pocket."

Just then, Kenji Kido stepped downstairs to where everyone was.

"Team building drills? Looks like fun."

"Kenji Kido?"

"Duh."

Ayase spoke out,

"There's nothing wrong with team building."

Kido stared with an indifferent gaze.

"You don't seem too quick. In many ways. What's up with Gai's recruiting?'

This made Ayase mad.

"Screw you!"

Then Tsugumi ran to where everyone was, bearing bad news.

"GUYS! We got big trouble. Gai and his team are under attack by monsters!"

Shu instantly realized what Tsugumi was talking about.

"What kind?"

"The same kind you fought against at that park that time near your apartment, Shu."

"Ayase, I need all my lockseeds."

"Gotcha. Inori!"

Inori heard Ayase call out to her, and Inori went downstairs from the steel balcony she was on. Funell followed her. Shu met Inori halfway. When they met, Inori stopped to wait for Funell. Funell finally caught up, opened its lids, Inori reached inside, and took out all the lockseeds Shu had on him. As well as his blue hoodie. Shu discarded his black jacket and put on his blue hoodie.

"Thank you, Inori."

"No problem. Just help Gai and Kyou."

Shu remembered both that name and the person as well. Shu knew he had to fight.

"Where's the exit in this place?"

Tsugumi heard, opened her holo-terminal, and typed in the command to open the big steel gates in the place where the mock battle took place. Shu saw the exit, and leaped down so he could move out as soon as possible. As soon as he got down, he activated his lock vehicle. It transformed and expanded into his motorcycle, the Sakura Hurricane. Before Shu would ride on his bike, Tsugumi gave him an earpiece so that she can give Shu directions to where Gai was located. He then got on and broke all kinds of speed limits just to get to the place where the Inves were attacking Gai's team.

xxxxxx

The Inves swarmed around the trucks that Gai and his team were hiding in. They were all feeling nervous as the Inves were ramming their claws to the surface of the trucks. Some of them even scratched the trucks, hoping to claw their way inside. Before the Inves stormed the trucks, Gai ordered his fighters that were with him to get inside the trucks and await for reinforcements that he called for. Gai was in the driver's seat. Alongside him was Kyou. She held on tight to Gai as Kyou was scared of the monsters that wanted to kill her. Gai calmed her down.

"Don't worry. I called for help. They'll be here soon."

Kyou smiled for a bit until another Inves slammed its claw into the truck window. The window broke, and the claw that broke it gained a hold into the only safe place there was at the moment. Kyou screamed in fear. Gai then made a quick decision. He grabbed the driving wheel, started the ignition, and stepped on the gas. He told Kyou,

"Hold on to me as tight as you can."

Kyou did so as Gai paved through the swarm of Inves that surrounded them. The second truck belong to Funeral Parlor started to drive as well. The fighters inside of the second truck followed Gai's lead. Gai saw an opening out of the military airport and took it. As he got closer, he saw it closed by another Inves. This one was different. It was red and black all over with metal claws that extended. It had spikes on its back that resembled wings. It had goldenrod kneecaps and silver shins. It was the Lion Inves, and Gai feared for the worst. However, the Lion Inves was pushed aside by a familiar looking motorcycle. Kyou recognized it.

"Gai! It's Shu! He came for us!"

Both trucks kept on driving forward until another swarm of Inves blocked their escape. Gai saw and turned the truck around. Both stopped as their exits were closed to them. Their only way out was for Shu to wipe them out. Shu rode his bike to where the trucks stopped. He got off his bike to check on everyone.

"Hey! Is everyone all right?"

Gai stepped outside to meet Shu.

"Everyone is fine. But right now, we can't get out. Not without those things blocking our way."

"I'll take care of them so you can escape."

"Be careful, Shu. I just another variant of those monsters around. It had a lion's head and possess long claws that could rip people to shreds."

"Got it."

As Gai stepped inside, Shu saw how the Inves surrounded him and Gai's group.

'Where do these things come from? Are they from GHQ like that giant monster from Roppongi? I'll worry about that later. Right now, I got to fight so we can get out of here.'

He summoned his Sengoku Driver and placed it on his waist. Then he activated his lockseed and said,

"HENSHIN!"

"ORANGE! "

A metallic orange appeared over him. Shu did his pose and placed his lockseed on his driver.

"LOCK-ON!"

The driver then played the Japanese horagai music with a techno beat before Shu used the Cutting Blade on his driver.

"SOIYA! ORANGE ARMS! HANAMICHI ON STAGE! "

Shu charged at all of them. The results of his training were showing. He was more agile, more quick on his feet. His strikes with his swords were swifter and stronger than ever. Wherever there were windows, Gai's fighters looked through them to see Shu fighting in his armor and slaying the monsters that were terrorizing them a little while ago. Kyou looked at Shu with wide eyes full of wonder. She thought Shu was one of the coolest things she ever saw. Gai looked at Shu with this thought in his head.

'Looks like he's part of the resistance after all. I imagine he passed the mock battle, but not without a struggle.'

Shu continued his attacks at the Inves. He took down a few of them, but there were still a huge number of them to handle. Shu attached the rear ends of both his swords to make a naginata. Shu then took off the lockseed on his belt...

"LOCK-OFF."

and put it on his naginata.

"LOCK-ON! 1, 10, 100, 1000 "

Shu rotated his naginata as fast as he could. He stopped and charged forward the front swarm. Shu thrust his naginata towards the front swarm...

"ORANGE CHARGE! "

and the resulting explosion, which resembled an orange slice, killed them off. Although Shu wiped out a good chunk of the total swarm, there were still some Inves left. Shu decided to switch weapons. He then switched to the pine lockseed.

"PINE! "

A metalic pineapple appeared above Shu. He then placed the pine lockseed on his driver...

"LOCK-ON! "

and sliced it with the Cutting Blade on his driver.

"SOIYA! PINE ARMS! FUNSAI DESTROY!"

With his Pine Iron, Shu swung it around to get some space between him and the horde of monsters. Five Inves charged at him. Shu threw his iron at them only for it to go around the charging Inves and tying them up. Shu held on to the iron chain as he flipped the Cutting Blade on his driver two times...

"SOIYA! PINE AU LAIT!"

and attacked the trapped Inves with his Musou Saber. As he sliced them, energy pine slices came out of Shu's attack and hit the surrounding horde, thereby destroying them in the process. When Shu finished the attack, he saw a number of them were left. It was time for switch again. He took out his Ichigo locckseed."

"ICHIGO!"

A metallic strawberry was above Shu. He then latched the Ichigo lockseed on his driver...

"LOCK-ON! "

and used the Cutting blade to slice it.

"SOIYA! ICHIGO ARMS! SHUSHUTO SPARK! "

Shu threw his Ichigo kunai at the remaining Inves. Some of the Inves were hit by the kunai Shu was throwing at them. Two managed to dodge them. Shu remembered his knife training with Argo and had one kunai in each hand. As the two Inves lunged at Shu, he stood still for a moment until he crouched down and thrust his kunai at their vital parts. The Inves fell flat on their back, struggled for a while until they finally died like dogs. Shu saw the reaming Inves on their knees. He had the opportunity to wipe them out, and he took it. Shu took off his Ichigo lockseed...

"LOCK-OFF."

and placed it on his musou saber.

"LOCK-ON! 1-10-100! "

Shu swings his saber into the air.

"ICHIGO CHARGE! "

Out came an energy strawberry that floated in the air until it came apart as a kunai storm over the monsters. Each of the kunai exploded on contact with the monsters until the monsters were destroyed themselves. There was a bit of fire. Behind it was the Lion Inves. Gai yelled out,

"Watch it, Shu! This thing looks more tougher than the small fries you fought before."

"I got this!"

Shu readied himself for another monster fight. As the Lion Inves was ready for the kill, someone yelled out to the Lion Inves.

"Alright, that enough! He's mine."

The Lion Inves heard and kneeled down in obedience to that voice. Shu looked forward to see a person walking up behind the Lion Inves. He had blond hair, blue eyes, and a malicious grin. What he was wearing was a crimson red shirt, black dress pants and the suede shoes of the same color of his pants to match. He also wore a black and red overcoat with big gold buttons. He saw Gaim in his Ichigo armor and introduced himself.

"What's up? My name's Daryl Yan. I'm here for one reason. To kill you, Gaim. I know what you're thinking. 'How can I when it looks like you can kick my ass like its nothing?' That's the thing. You're not the only one who can summon a void."

Shu, as well as Gai, ware shocked at the last thing Daryl said. Shu thought,

'He can summon a void?'

Gai thought,

'Did GHQ give him one of the remaining Genomes? Or is it something else?'

Daryl then closed his eyes. Shu thought if he's performing the same technique he does to summon his Sengoku Driver. He was right. Shu, Gai, and everyone within the trucks saw crystal streams appear out of Daryl's body. The streams then formed a familiar shape. A Sengoku Driver like the one Shu summons as his void. Gai was reeling in as to how this was possible.

'How is this possible? How can he summon a void that is exactly like Shu's?'

Daryl then held his driver in his right hand, and placed it on his waist. His left hand reached inside his left pocket and took out a Banana Lockseed. Daryl then said,

"HENSHIN!"

"BANANA!

A metallic group of bananas appeared over Daryl. He then placed his lockseed on his driver.

"LOCK-ON!"

The driver then played European trumpet music with a techno beat as the banana lockseed was placed. Daryl let it play for a while until he finally used the Cutting blade on his driver to flip open his lockseed. The metallic bananas then formed a silver and red latex suit around Daryl's body.

"COME ON! BANANA ARMS! KNIGHT OF SPEAR!"

When the bananas descended on Daryl's head and unfolded, it then formed a kind of armor that looked like what the old knights of England wore in their time. On Daryl's right hand was a weapon that formed alongside the banana armor. It was his weapon, the Banaspear. The lance looked like a banana peeled off. The only difference was the sharp tip. Daryl then said,

"Call me Baron. Kamen Rider Baron."

Shu knew this was a battle unlike anything he ever had before. First, he transformed back to his Orange arms. Then, Shu tried to tell Gai, to get the rest of his team out of the area. Before he could do that, Daryl interrupted him by saying, "

Don't even try to help the rest of your terrorist pals. If they move from where they are, I'll just sic this red guy on them. Believe me when I say this: I have seen him tear apart tanks like they were cardboard."

Shu realized he had only one option left to him.

"If fighting you is the only way to get the hell out of here, then I'll gladly kick your ass."

"I don't think you understand this Gaim. You're going to die, courtesy of me. You are the most pathetic person alive!"

Daryl charged at Shu with his weapon forward. Shu blocked it with his Daidaimaru, and used the gun function of his Musou Saber to shot Daryl in the chest. Daryl stumbled back a bit before regaining his footing. Shu swung his swords at Daryl and hit him a couple of times. Daryl, showing prowess at spear fighting, swung his Banaspear to block Shu's attacks and dealt a couple blows himself. Daryl then retracted his spear back, thrust it towards Shu, only for it to be blocked when Shu crossed his swords in an X, and caught the Banaspear by closing the swords up like a pair of scissors. Within the closed standoff between the two opposing riders, Shu talked with Daryl about the remark about him being pathetic.

"What gives you the right to call me pathetic?"

"Its how you use your power. Where's the passion? Where's the brutality? Where is the primal need to dominate?" You don't even try to take what you want."

Daryl kicked Shu in the gut. Shu kneed down for a while. Daryl spoke out,

"You don't seek to challenge yourself or your abilities by locating other opponents and exterminating them."

Shu stood up again. Daryl swings his spear towards Shu left side and strikes. Shu stumbles backwards to distance himself.

"Why?!"

"Why should I?! I don't need to act like a bloodthirsty, war-loving asshole to prove that I'm a man."

Shu pulled the cock hammer of his Musou Saber. The saber indicated that Shu was fully loaded to fire. He did so on Daryl. Daryl was forced to step backwards when the shots impacted on him. Shu then charged towards Daryl, and swung his swords at him, striking Daryl down.

"I don't see the reason why we need to engage horrible fighting for nothing. If we fight for the sake of it, it would amount to nothing."

"That's the kind of rhetoric only cowards would say. You don't find new ways to grow stronger. You're just happy being stuck in stagnation! That's what gives me the right to say you're pathetic! YOU LACK THE GUTS TO SEE THAT THE ONLY WILL THAT HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE RULES IS THE SUPERIOR ONE!"

Daryl then flipped the Cutting Blade on his driver. Seeing him do that, She decided to do the same thing. Both initiated their final attack moves.

"SOIYA!"

"COME ON!"

"ORANGE SQUASH!"

"BANANA SQUASH!"

Shu thrust his swords into the concrete ground as he jumped high, aimed at Daryl while his left foot emitted an orange energy aura. Daryl's Banaspear emitted a yellow energy aura. As Shu readied his kick attack at Daryl, Daryl was ready to counter's Shu's attack. Shu executed his rider kick while a large energy banana formed around Daryl's Banaspear. Daryl thrust his spear forward , colliding Shu's rider kick. The two final attacks canceled each other out, leaving both riders exhausted. Shu thought about the length of the battle.

'If I can't defeat this guy now, then we can't get out of here. I need to take him down before more GHQ forces come.'

Just then, a huge blinding light hover over the military airport. Gai looked up, and feared for the worst.

'No. It can't be. The Leukocyte, its...'

Gai yelled out to Shu.

"SHU! GET OUT OF HERE NOW!"

Shu, however, did not hear that as he was focused on the light. He instinctively thought he had to do something. The Lion Inves looked at the light and, within its savage mind, remembered its orders. The Lion Inves then knocked Daryl unconscious as he was looking at the blinding light as well. When Daryl was knocked unconscious, his Baron armor was canceled out. The Lion Inves then jumped as high it could, extended the spikes on its back so it could form wing-like appendages and gilded as fast it could fly. Shu took out his Suika Arms.

"SUIKA!"

A metallic watermelon appeared over Shu. He took off his orange lockseed, and placed the Suika lockseed on his driver...

"LOCK ON!"

and used the Cutting blade on his driver to flip the lockseed open.

"SOIYA! SUIKA ARMS! ODAMA BIG BANG!"

Instead of the metallic watermelon dropping on him, it instead dropped behind Shu. He then did a huge backflip into the watermelon. It then formed into Shu humanoid armor that could fly.

"GYRO MODE!"

The gyro mode maintained its humanoid appearance. However, its skin open up further to resemble some sort of hovering propulsion engine. The metallic hands formed an L-shape with its fingers now becoming gun barrels. Shu, in his blue latex suit, stood upright as the cockpit as he controlled it in that fashion. The Suika Sojinto (the huge watermelon naginata) was also a part of the propulsion engine as it attached itself to the open skin, like it kept it open like that. Shu flew up to the sky to see what was that bright light that appeared over them. When he got past the clouds, he saw a huge laser head straight towards him and the airport Gai and his team were on.

xxxxxx

On the ground, Gai ordered his team to escape via CB radio now that they have the opportunity.

"Everyone, we need to leave now."

Kyou was distraught by this.

"But what about Shu? He's still up there."

"Kyou, listen to me. Something horrible is going to happen right now. We need to leave if we want to live."

"But, Shu is..."

"I'm sorry, Kyou, but we need to leave now!"

Kyou stepped out of the truck, and ran towards where Shu last stood.

xxxxxx

Shu only had one idea, but was not sure if it was going to work. He gave the mental command for this Suika Arms to change into its humanoid form.

"YOROI MODE!"

The humanoid form had rocket boosters in its feet. It could fly as well, but the gyro mode offered more maneuverability and speed. He flipped the Cutting blade on his driver three times to see if a final attack would at least weaken the impact.

"SOIYA! SUIKA SPARKLING!"

The Suika Sojinto suddenly had a energy aura on the right blade and it grew until it had formed a large energy blade. Similar to what Baron's Banaspear did. Shu readied his weapon like a baseball bat. When the laser got closer, Shu then swung his Sojinto at the laser and collided. She held on as long as he could. He pushed the limits of his armor as it buckled under the pressure of the blast. Unfortunately, Shu's will power was more than what the Suika arms could match. The Sparkling function dwindled and Shu was taken down with the blast. The laser finally hit the airport where Gai and his group were located. Gai was the only one left standing. As he went into the site to locate Shu, he remembered the last thing he did before the destruction.

xxxxxx

Back the Funeral Parlor base, everyone saw the sheer magnitude of the destructive power of the Leukocyte. Argo commented on the situation.

"This is bad. This is really bad."

Inori saw the destruction of the airport where Gai and his team were. She was worried if Shu survived or not.

xxxxxx

Up in space, a satellite in the shape of a rail with solar panels sticking out sideways to maintain it geostationary orbit had fired a huge energy beam on the earth. Specifically speaking, Japanese earth. It belonged to GHQ. This was their penultimate grip on power yet.

"We fired at an output rate of 3 percent. Target destruction rate was 110 percent with an error field of 7 meters."

Keido stood as he recited a passage of Dante's Inferno.

"Through me the way to the suffering city; Through me the everlasting pain; Through me the way that runs among the Lost. Justice urged on my exalted Creator: Divine Power made me, The Supreme Wisdom and the Primal Love. Nothing was made before me but eternal things And I endure eternally. Abandon all hope, Ye Who Enter Here."