Chapter 8 Judgment
Disclaimer: I don't own Kamen Rider or Konosuba, they belong to their respective owners.
Note: As said before, because of a comment I received and a bit of reflection on my part. I've decided to change the name of this "OC" to Haruka Kazuya. Anyway, sorry for the confusion, without further ado let's get on with the chapter.
Chapter 8 Trial
(Night.)
Haruka tries to keep her eyes closed to sleep, but she can't because of her anxiety and anger. He just stares at the checkered stone ceiling of the prison, feeling very cold because it's winter and he's not wearing his coat. Remembering what happened in the morning.
"Honestly..." Haruka gets up abruptly from the floor and turns his attention to Kazuma. "THIS IS ALL RUBBISH!" Haruka shouts at Kazuma who is sitting on the floor with a sad expression on his face.
(Flashback.)
"You two saw it with me!" The woman in the blue formal clothes demands to the two of them.
"Kazuma, Haruka you're criminals!" Aqua grabs them both by the collar and starts swinging them back and forth. "I don't believe it, apologize now!" Aqua says nervously to the two boys.
"What kind of twisted talk is that?" Kazuma breaks free of Aqua's grip. "I'm not some kind of criminal!"
"And besides." Haruka pulls Aqua's hand out of his jacket. "What's this about terrorism?" Haruka demands, glaring at the woman.
"Very well." The woman adjusts her glasses. "The core you teleported at your request landed in Feudal Lord Aldarp's house. And since it was your request." The woman looks at them both with a serious and frightening expression. "You're being accused of terrorism."
"Wait a minute!" Megumin stood in front of the boys. "They're not any kind of terrorist criminals." Kazuma seemed to be relieved by his partner's words. "Apart from Haruka, Kazuma only commits petty crimes, like sexual harassment." Kazuma is disappointed by this defense.
"Excuse me, Miss Sena." Darkness steps forward. "They can't possibly be terrorists." Kazuma seems relieved by his companion's decision.
"Ah, it's you. You're the knight who was doing the human shield work against the Destroyer, aren't you?" Sena says, causing Darkness to give a slight moan of excitement.
"But we help defend this city." Kazuma says to the prosecutor.
"We put ourselves on the line and that's what we get?" Haruka asks with her hands on her waist, but something doesn't feel right.
"That's it! You were both very helpful in defeating the Destroyer!" An adventurer shouts, encouraging the others to protest the nobleman's decision.
"Those who continue with this useless protest." Sena looks at the group of adventurers. "I'll be happy to put you all in a saddle with the two of you."
The protest stops at the same moment. Kazuma and Haruka are shocked by how quickly their mood has changed and the silence has thickened in the air.
"I remember your words well." Aqua with her hand on her chin. "My luck is very high, so we'll be fine. Those were your words." Aqua looks away from the two boys.
"If only I'd stopped them!" Megumin says, turning away from them and covering her face with her mage's hat. "If only I'd been there to stop them, but I wasn't there so I couldn't do anything." The boys look shocked at the mage.
"You guys suck." Kazuma mutters to himself.
"You're coming with me!" Sena points at the boys, indicating for her knights to capture them.
(End of flashback.)
"Sorry, I was very stupid..." Kazuma puts his legs together, sitting up and resting his head on his knees. "I dragged you with me into that abyss, I'm so sorry..." Kazuma looks very sad.
"Ahh man..." Haruka lets out a sigh, going over to Kazuma and sitting down next to him. Haruka holds Kazuma's shoulder. "Don't be like that, man. You had no way of knowing that that core would fall into a nobleman's mansion." Haruka tries to reassure Kazuma.
"Even after all this you're still by my side..." Kazuma looks at Haruka with eyes full of tears and liquid dripping from his nose.
"Hehe don't be like that." Haruka lets out a giggle, punching Kazuma lightly in the chest. "Seeing a friend cry is a terrible thing for me, so calm down a bit, I'm sure we'll get out of this!" Kazuma seems to have calmed down a little at Haruka's words.
"Haruka... can I ask you a question?" Kazuma wipes the tears from his face.
"Huh? Sure, go ahead." Haruka watches his friend wipe his face, taking a deep breath Kazuma looks at Haruka.
"What was your life like before you ended up in this world?" Kazuma asks, sitting down more comfortably on the floor.
"Well..." Haruka thinks of a way to summarize her life. "It's a bit long, are you sure you want to hear it?"
"Well..." Kazuma chuckles slightly. "We're in prison, with no prospect of time until we get out. So I think a long story would be more than useful." Kazuma shrugs his shoulders in mockery.
"Hehe you're right..." Haruka laughs, settling down next to Kazuma. "Well, when I was born my family was a bit poor. My mother gave everything she had to take care of me and our home, and my father spent most of his time at work so that we could eat at home. Even though our lives were very busy, I never lacked love and care from both of them."
"Really, that's why you're such a nice guy to people." Kazuma says, paying attention to the story.
"Well, over time my father devoted himself more to work, until he got a higher position..." Haruka pauses the story.
"So that was good news." Kazuma says enthusiastically.
"There was something else too..." Haruka says, scratching her cheek. "My mother became pregnant shortly before we moved..." Haruka says in a sad tone.
"Then that's even better news!" Kazuma says excitedly, but notices Haruka looking down. "Did anything happen during the pregnancy?" Kazuma asks cautiously.
"Well..." Haruka lets out a sigh. "The pregnancy was high-risk, it could kill both my mother and the baby." Kazuma's eyes widen as he hears Haruka's words. "She could still survive if she had an abortion..."
"E..." Kazuma is reluctant to ask. "What did she decide?"
"She decided to continue with the pregnancy." A slight smile appears on Haruka's face. "Even though she knew she would die and that the baby had minimal chance of survival, she decided to continue." Tears begin to flow from Haruka's eyes, but they don't look sad.
"My father and I decided to make the last nine months of her life the best she would ever have. We did everything she liked and then some." Haruka clenches her fist in determination. "Before the birth took place, I had a talk with her."
(Flashback.)
Haruka, a child, approaches a woman who is eight months pregnant. Placing his hands on her belly and caressing her.
"Mom, please don't die..." Haruka child cries a little looking at her mother.
"I'm sorry, darling. For this life to be born, I have to go." The woman strokes Haruka's hair. "But I want you to promise me something!"
Haruka looks at her mother and holds her hand.
"Promise me that you'll become a great brother and protect your little sister from all dangers." She smiles at Haruka.
"Yes, Mom. I promise!" The child Haruka speaks with conviction.
(End of flashback.)
"You promise you'll protect her from everything!" Haruka speaks with conviction, but becomes discouraged. "But then that damn day happened when I was run over."
"Your family were really nice people, but what about your sister?" Kazuma asks curiously.
"She survived childbirth, as a baby she was a little angel, but she grew up to be a very energetic child." Haruka giggles as she finishes the sentence.
"Honestly, I'm very impressed. Not everyone can get over a loss of that size." Kazuma crosses his arms.
"Really, if I'd been alone I wouldn't have been able to, but since I had my father's support and the responsibility of looking after my little sister, I got over it easily." Haruka relaxes her body, leaning her back against the wall.
"Man, your life story is so good, it's ridiculous." Kazuma laughs.
"Oh, come on. Don't talk like that because..." An explosion near the city interferes with their conversation.
"What was that?" They both ask themselves mentally.
"Hey, guys!" A person catches the two's eye, seeing Aqua talking at a very high window in the saddle.
"Aqua!" Kazuma says in surprise.
"Hey Aqua, it's pretty stupid of you to come back after you didn't defend us." Haruka puts her hands on her waist.
"Yeah, yeah. Sorry about that." Aqua looks away embarrassed. "But look, I have a plan to save you!"
"A plan?" Haruka says coldly.
"Yeah!" Kazuma snaps. "What's your plan?"
"Well, as we saw just now, Megumin cast an explosive spell, giving you time to escape." Aqua says, throwing down some sandpaper. "Use this to cut the bars."
Kazuma picks up the sandpaper. "And how are we going to do that? The door bars are made of very thick iron, and the window bars are too high."
"Well..." Aqua thinks for a few seconds. "Ah, Haruka can grab onto the walls and climb up to the window!" Aqua smiles as if it's a splendid idea.
"I could do that..." Haruka says. "But they've taken my Driver, and besides I'm really hungry so I can't use my powers."
"Oh yeah." Aqua realizes. "You can only use your powers if you're well fed... I know, what if I brought you some food?"
"Yeah, you do that!" Haruka says excitedly.
PAUSE
Haruka picks up the cauliflower Aqua left with them, taking an angry bite.
"It's no use." Haruka mutters.
"At least it's something to eat." Kazuma tries to be positive, but it's very difficult.
"It's not like that." Haruka finishes eating the cauliflower. "It's just that for me to keep control of my inner Amazon I need to eat proteins and carbohydrates. Like meat and bread."
"Is that why you eat a lot of hamburgers?" Kazuma says in surprise, until he notices something. "Wait, Amazon inside?"
"Yes, it's like there's an Amazon inside me that I need to control by feeding it." Haruka says, lying down on the straw lining on the floor.
"So you're like Naruto?" Kazuma said mockingly.
"Do you think I look like a Ninja with orange clothes and blond hair and blue eyes?" Haruka laughs at Kazuma's joke.
The boys start laughing, distracting themselves from what is about to happen.
(Next day.)
(Morning.)
The boys are in a room, sitting on a chair each. The two wait for the woman who called them in for questioning.
"We're screwed!" Kazuma mutters to himself.
"Calm down, man." Haruka pats Kazuma on the back. "We didn't do anything wrong."
Sena enters the interrogation room with a man, Sena sits in front of Kazuma and Haruka, while the man sits in the corner of the room with a parchment and pen to write down their every word.
"Okay." Sena puts her hands together, resting her elbows on the table and placing her hands in front of her mouth, she begins to face the boys. (Sitting down like Gendo Ikari.) Placing a bell on the table. "This is a magic bell that will detect lies, if any of you lie it will make a sound." She begins the interrogation. "Where are you from and what did you do before you came to Axis?"
Haruka sighs. "We're from a place called Japan. I was a student before I came here." Haruka says. The bell doesn't ring.
"I was a student too." Kazuma says and the bell rings. "Wait a minute! I really am a student!" The bell rings again. "But I was a bum who stayed locked up all day." Kazuma groans in frustration as he curses the magic bell in his thoughts.
"And why did you decide to come to Axis?" Sena says, staring at the boys.
"Let's just say... we didn't have any other choice..." Haruka says, looking away. Sena looks at the bell, seeing that it hasn't rung.
"And why did you decide to become adventurers?" Sena asks, still staring at the two of them.
"I did it to keep a promise." Haruka says to Sena.
"I did it to kill the demon king." Kazuma says and the bell rings. Giving up, he admits. "I thought that by becoming an adventurer I could get rich easily and pick up more girls easily." Kazuma groans in frustration again.
"You know that because of your request, the core was teleported to a nobleman's house, destroying everything in the process." Sena says, still staring at the two of them.
"Look, it may have happened, but we didn't know it would. And we did it to save the city!" Kazuma says, trying to defend himself and Haruka.
"We put ourselves on the line to stop that giant spider, and this is what we get?" Haruka says indignantly.
"W-well, that's not it!..." Sena says timidly. "It wasn't exactly that!"
Kazuma finds an opportunity. "Ohhh it looks like we're being tried without evidence doesn't it?!" Kazuma speaks in a tone of superiority.
"Kazuma, what are you doing?" Haruka asks without believing what his friend is doing.
"Come with me, Haruka." Kazuma says smugly. "We were locked up for two days, and yet they only gave us junk food to eat!" Kazuma sticks out his tongue, remembering the junk food the guards gave them.
"And there wasn't even any meat..." Haruka rests her head on the table, regretting that she's still hungry.
"W-well, I can fix you something!" Sena said shyly.
"Umh!" Kazuma mocks Sena. "It wouldn't be surprising if someone like you didn't have a boyfriend, so tell me my dear lady, do you have a boyfriend?" Kazuma says, pointing at Sena.
"No, I don't." Sena says coldly. Kazuma swallows dryly at the woman's change.
"Wow, what a change of personality." Haruka says in confusion.
"You're still suspects, and Mr. Sato, I'd ask you to lower your ball, I don't want to have to use other methods to put you in your place." Sena says, staring at Kazuma.
"Even so, a random teleportation can't be calculated. As the name implies, it's random." Haruka says to Sena.
Sena lets out a sigh of exhaustion, already getting tired of this pointless interrogation.
"Well, as much as you blew up the nobleman's house, there's not much I can do about it, but you should still spend some time in jail." Sena speaks with exhaustion. "But still, I have to ask, you two have no relation to the demon king, do you?"
"Of course not!" Kazuma and Haruka speak together and at the same moment the bell rings.
Kazuma swallows and Haruka puts his hands to his face, remembering Wiz. Haruka tries to shout, but his cheeks swell from trying to shout quietly.
"Both of you! Go to trial!" Sena shouts, getting up from her chair and pointing at the two boys.
PAUSE
Everyone is in a tight area for the trial. Inside a huge circle are two huge tables, two parts for people to stand at, a table next to one of the big tables and outside the circle all the adventurers of Axis have gathered to watch the trial.
"Is this serious?" Haruka asks, seeing that her hands are bound by wooden handcuffs.
"We're dead." Kazuma looks up at the sky, giving up on everything.
"You'd better cut the crap, we'll get out of this alive." Haruka says, elbowing Kazuma in the arm.
"What? We don't stand a chance." Kazuma looks ahead, seeing the judge and the noble Feudal Lord Aldarp sitting at one of the large tables.
"Let's start the trial!" Sena said, drawing everyone's attention.
"Kazuma, Haruka!" Megumin said, approaching the boys. "Don't worry, we have a plan to get you out."
"It's okay." Darkness put his hand on Kazuma's shoulder. "I'll go and negotiate with Feudal Lord Aldarp."
"Honestly, Darkness. I don't think he'll want anything common with this negotiation." Haruka looks at the nobleman, who is watching the boys with a smile of superiority.
The group takes their leave and Aqua, Megumin and Darkness sit down at a table near the boys. Watching the trial as defense witnesses.
"Let's begin!" The judge says to all the adventurers. "Bring in the first witness." The judge orders and Chris approaches and stands in the witness box.
"Chris?!" Kazuma says to the adventurer.
"Hi Kazuma!" Chris waves to Kazuma. "Hi too Haruka!" Chris gives Haruka a smile.
"What's she going to say?" Haruka thinks, watching Chris.
"Very well Miss Chris, can you confirm that the adventurer Kazuma Satou used the stealing skill to take your panties?" Sena says approaching Chris.
"Well, yes. But I taught the skill to..." Chris tries to speak, but is interrupted.
"I saw it!" A female adventurer speaks up from the crowd. "I saw him with her panties in his hands, and he was spinning them in the air laughing like a maniac..." The adventurer cries a little talking about Kazuma.
"His reputation is terrible." Haruka says, turning to Kazuma.
"WHAT?!" Kazuma shouts to his friend.
"Thank you very much!" Sena speaks dismissing Chris from the trial.
[...]
"So Mr. Mitsurugi, can you confirm that the adventurer Kazuma Sato dressed up his cursed sword and then sold it?" Sena says to Mitsurugi.
"Ah, yes. But I challenged him and..." Mitsurugi tries to speak, but Sena interrupts him.
"Thank you very much!" Sena speaks, dismissing Mitsurugi from the trial.
[...]
"So you two claim that you tried to recover Mr. Mitsurugi's sword, and when you tried to take it back you were threatened with losing your panties?" Sena said, addressing Mitsurugi's two companions.
"Yes, that pervert wanted to take our panties!" The girls say, pointing at Kazuma.
"I saw" A man speaks up from the crowd. "I saw when he made strange movements with his hands."
"Dude, what were you thinking?" Haruka says incredulously.
"Look, I did it in the heat of the moment!" Kazuma tries to defend himself so as not to have his reputation tarnished in front of his friend.
"Thank you very much!" Sena says, striking a pose.
[...]
"And you admit that the adventurer Haruka Kazuya is someone violent?" Sena turns to a large, muscular man.
"Well, yes. But I'm the one who picked the fight and..." The man tries to speak, but again Sena interrupts him.
"Thank you very much!" Sena says, striking another pose.
[...]
"According to all the witnesses, it has been confirmed that the adventurers Haruka Kazuya and Kazuma Sato are criminals. And as predicted, you will be punished severely." Sena says to the boys.
"Wait a minute!" Aqua stands up, slamming her hand on the table. "That doesn't prove anything."
"That's right!" Megumin stands up too. "That's not a crime that goes so far as to carry a severe punishment."
"Right." Sena straightens her glasses. "To begin with, even if it was to defeat a general of the demon king, he flooded the entire city!" Sena consolidates and Aqua lowers her head to avoid the blame. "There's also the fact that it was overused and provoked Beldia's fury - the explosions disturbed the whole city with their noise!" Sena consolidated herself and Megumin also bowed her head to avoid blame. "And another thing! You've heard several reports that Kazuma Satou used drain on touch! An undead skill." Kazuma also lowers his head in despair. "Besides, Haruka Kazuya possesses a magic item unknown to the entire kingdom!" Sena makes a sign with her right hand.
A few people bring out the Amazon Driver for everyone to see. Haruka bites her lip in frustration and anger.
"With reports that you use this magic item and a very strange armor appears out of nowhere on your body," Sena turns to Haruka. "Now explain to me, how do you possess this item?" Sena says, staring at Haruka. Everyone is silent, just watching Haruka stare back at Sena.
"I have no obligation to answer you." Haruka replies firmly.
"That's your answer?" Sena mocks Haruka. "From all these reports, it's clear that you two deserve severe punishment."
"Wait a minute!" Haruka shouts, drawing Sena's attention. "I want this trial..." Haruka stops speaking, feeling something strange.
(Play マレー/Murray ... Amazon Riders Season 1.)
"What would that be, Mr. Kazuya?" Sena says, directing her gaze at Haruka.
Haruka takes no notice of Sena's call, observing the surroundings intently, every corner, every brick, every meter of this trial.
"Mr. Kazuya!" Sena speaks up to get Haruka's attention.
"Haruka..." Kazuma realizes that Haruka is strange. Haruka's body is stiff and firm, his eyes moving in all directions. "Haruka, are you all right?"
"That's total bullshit!" Feudal Lord Aldarp says. "Execute them soon!" Feudal Lord Aldarp orders, pointing at the boys.
Haruka focuses her gaze on the Feudal Lord, sending a chill down the man's spine. Haruka looks deeply in the Feudal Lord's direction.
"What are you looking at, you brat!" The Feudal Lord shouts at Haruka.
Haruka pulls on the wooden handcuffs and manages to split them in two. Picking up each piece of the handcuffs, he throws them towards Lord Aldarp.
Everyone is shocked by Haruka's action, while Lord Aldarp ducks to avoid the handcuffs that have been thrown in his direction.
The handcuffs hit him, raising a small cloud of dust. Haruka jumps up and starts running towards the Amazon Driver. Haruka avoids the riders and pushes Sena away, grabbing the Amazon Driver and putting it around his waist.
"Haruka, what's wrong? Are you crazy?!" Kazuma shouts at Haruka, but he ignores him.
"You bastard!" Lord Aldarp stands up. "Execute him now!"
The knights move towards Haruka. Haruka notices a movement coming out of the dust behind Lord Aldarp, and giving a backward thrust, Haruka moves away from the guards. And one of them falls to the ground, as if something had fallen on him.
"Counting you, that's the third." Haruka turns the Driver's left lever, making it speak. "OMEGA-" Haruka speaks calmly, focusing on what's in front of her. "Amazon." The Amazon Driver starts chanting "EVO-E-E-EVOLUTION!" Haruka engulfs herself in green flames that quickly disappear. Everyone is impressed by Haruka's attitude. Kazuma and his group are shocked to think that Haruka is going to attack Lord Aldarp.
Haruka gets into a fighting stance, looking like he's going to attack the knights. A slight grunt sounds near the knights, a breeze of wind comes from the knights. Haruka kicks the air, everyone thinks he kicked the air, but Darkness sees two small trails of dust being made by the ground after Haruka's kick.
"There's something here." Darkness says, confusing Megumin and Aqua.
"What do you mean?" Megumin looks nervously at Darkness and then turns her attention to Haruka.
"I'm saying there's something or someone fighting Haruka." Darkness says, focusing on Haruka.
Aqua and Megumin realize that Haruka does indeed seem to be fighting someone.
"What does that mean?" Sena shouts at Haruka, but the boy ignores her and focuses his attention on his surroundings.
"That's clearly an assassination attempt!" Lord Aldarp shouts to the crowd. "He's clearly a criminal."
Haruka starts to dodge something while trying to hit back. "Is he crazy or something?" An adventurer in the crowd asks, making everyone look confused.
"What are you doing, Haruka?" Kazuma mutters nervously.
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Lord Aldarp shouts. "Get him!" He orders the knights.
The knights approach Haruka to capture him. Haruka stretches out his hand, looking like he's grabbed something, and quickly turns his body to throw whatever he's grabbed onto the table where the judge is standing. A bang hits the table, causing the underside to shatter.
(End of music.)
Everyone is shocked before they realize something, a figure starts to appear where the impact happened and something like a humanoid Chameleon becomes visible trying to get up.
"I was sure it was an Amazon Chameleon." Haruka says, focusing her vision before stumbling a little and putting her hand on her stomach.
Everyone is shocked by the monster that has appeared. Some are shaking with fear, others are frightened and some are curious about the creature.
"What is that?" Sena asks herself, observing the monster that is rising.
"What... what is that beast?" Megumin says trembling as she watches the monster, taking cover behind Dakness with Aqua.
"Haruka! What happened?" Kazuma shouts as he approaches Haruka, noticing that her breathing is heavy, Kazuam remembers. "You haven't eaten yet!" Kazuma says worriedly.
(Play バン/VAN ... Kamen Rider Amazons Season 1.)
"It's okay." Haruka says getting up, he uses his claws to cut Kazuma's wooden handcuffs. "Get everyone out of here. I'll take care of it." Haruka walks towards the Amazon who is now getting up.
"Everyone back off!" Kazuma shouts to the crowd as he approaches Sena. "Let's go!" Kazuma pulls on Sena's arm and walks away with her.
"Wait Kazuma!" Aqua shouts running after Kazuma, with Megumin and Darkness following her.
Haruka is still breathing heavily, trying to keep his breath to stay transformed. Seeing that people have left the court area, he relieves himself a little. Haruka looks at the Amazon Register of the Amazon Chameleon he is with his eyes glowing red.
"He seems to be out of control." Haruka thinks, looking at his Amazon Register on his left arm, seeing that the eyes are blue, but blinking slightly. "I need to end this quickly..."
The Amazons Chameleon throws its gooey tongue towards Haruka, who manages to defend with her arm, but the tongue wraps around her arm.
The Amazon bounces off the walls trying to drag Haruka with him, with difficulty Haruka stands his ground being slightly dragged by the pulls.
"What the hell is that?" An adventurer asks himself nervously as he watches the fight.
"I've never seen that kind of monster before," a mage said, looking at the fight.
"Kazuma Sato!" Sena said, approaching the boy. "I demand an explanation, what is that thing?"
"I... I don't know..." Kazuma speaks focused on the fight, his heart racing as he sees that Haruka is at a disadvantage.
The Amazon leaps towards Haruka, managing to land a kick on Haruka's head knocking him to the ground.
"Haruka!" Megumin shouts worriedly, trying to jump the fence separating the crowd from the fight, but Darkness stops her.
"No, Megumin. It's too dangerous, let me go." Darkness tries to jump over the fence, but is pulled back.
Kazuma grabs an adventurer's sword and pulls Darkness back. Jumping forward and heading towards Haruka.
The Amazon, with his tongue still stuck in Haruka's arm, lifts him up and throws him against the wall, then pulls him off and throws him to the ground. Haruka grunts in pain.
The Amazon prepares to throw Haruka again, but feels a cut on his back. Turning, he sees Kazuma trying to make another cut, but the Amazon slaps the sword away, causing Kazuma to let go.
Grabbing Kazuma by the neck, the Amazon focuses his gaze on Kazuma.
"Shit, why did I act on impulse..." The Amazon begins to choke Kazuma.
Haruka, who is still trying to get up, tugs on the Amazon's tongue. Taking Kazuma's attention away from him, the Amazon gives Haruka a kick that sends him rolling across the floor.
Haruka tries to get up, but his Rider armor disappears due to exhaustion and he spits blood because he's weak.
The Amazon focuses his attention back on Kazuma, but before he can kill him, Darkness appears and throws himself at the Amazon, hitting him with his shoulder and knocking him away.
"Darkness..." Kazuma says, trying to catch his breath.
"Go help Haruka, I'll hold this monster." Darkness said, helping Kazuma to his feet. She drew his sword and pointed it at the Amazon.
The Amazon launches his tongue towards Darkness, he manages to tie his two arms together, but Darkness is much stronger than the Amazon. He uses his arms and body to pull the Amazon, lifting him up and throwing him to the ground.
"Haruka!" Kazuma approaches and crouches down next to his friend. "Haruka are you okay? Talk to me!" Kazuma lifts Haruka who is badly bruised and breathing heavily.
"I need to... kill that... Amazon..." Haruka tries to walk, but he doesn't seem to have the strength.
"Haruka..." Kazuma tries to think of something. "That's it!" Kazuma uses the drain on touch, with his hand having a purple glow he begins to pass his magic and life force to Haruka.
"What..." Haruka seems to improve a little.
"You clearly have a better chance of beating that thing." Kazuma says to Haruka. "Besides, Darkness can't hit it." Kazuma looks at Darkness who has freed herself from the Amazon's tongue, but it looks like she wanted him to pin her down again.
"Thanks..." Haruka lets out a long sigh, feeling more energized thanks to Kazuma's help. "Now leave it to me."
Haruka turns the Driver's left lever, making it speak. "OMEGA-" Haruka runs towards the Amazon Chameleon while shouting. "AMAZON!" Haruka engulfs himself in green flames. "EVO-E-EVOLUTION!" Falling on top of the Amazon the flames disappear and Haruka kicks the Amazon in the head, making it stagger with the blow.
"It's good, isn't it?" Haruka asks debauchedly in a calmer tone.
"Haruka." Darkness stands next to Haruka with his sword ready to strike.
"Darkness, can you distract him while I attack?" Haruka moves into combat position.
"Count me in." Darkness speaks advancing against the Amazon, Haruka moves along.
Everyone is shocked watching the fight. Sena can't understand what's going on. Lord Aldarp watches the fight, enraged that his trial was interrupted, that he was almost hit with a piece of wood, that he was almost killed and that he was saved by a shitty adventurer.
The Amazon attacks Darkness, but the knight's resistance is overwhelming. Haruka manages to punch the Amazon in the arm, distracting him for a few seconds. Giving Darkness the chance to land a cut, but she misses as usual.
Giving Haruka another chance to land a knee on Amazon's back.
The enraged Amazon flicks her tongue at Haruka, but Darkness steps in front of her and flicks her tongue across her face. She lets out a moan of excitement at being treated like that by the creature.
Haruka grabs the Amazon's tongue, using the blades on her arm to cut the Amazon Chameleon's tongue.
The Amazon groans in pain, turning invisible again to try and escape the adventurers.
"Do you think you'll escape?!" Haruka looks around. Seeing drops of blood falling near the judge's table, Haruka pulls the Driver's right lever, taking out a whip he grabs the Amazon and pulls him close.
"Now it's my turn!" Haruka throws and slams the Amazon all over the place, breaking much of the trial site.
"Wow!" Kazuma mutters, watching as the Amazon is thrown and slammed into the ground several times.
"Get Darkness!" Haruka throws the Amazon towards Darkness.
"With me!" The knight moves her sword like a beseball bat and hits the Amazon, throwing it against another wall.
The Amazon, still strong, tries to advance against Darkness, but is stopped by Kazuma, who has him by the back.
"You're not getting away!" Kazuma holds him back with all his strength. "Go Haruka!"
Haruka puts the whip away in the Driver. Advancing towards Kazuma, he turns the left lever making the belt speak. "VIOLENT STRIKE!" Haruka closes his fist gathering strength to punch the Amazon.
(The Theme ends here.)
Haruka punches Amazon in the stomach from below. Everyone hears Amazon's bones breaking as Haruka pierces Amazon's stomach with his punch.
Haruka shoves his arm deeper into the Amazon, pulling his arm back out of him, coming out all wet with the Amazon's black blood and his heart in his hand.
Everyone is silent and shocked by what has just happened. Kazuma lets go of the Amazon, and the Amazon starts to stagger around trying to keep up.
Haruka looks at the Amazon's heart and crushes it, causing a lot of blood to flow from the crushed heart. After crushing the heart, the Amazon begins to melt and turn into a small puddle of black gooey liquid.
"Haruka..." Kazuma is startled to see the black blood, slowly approaching his friend. Haruka loses his strength and the Rider armor disappears.
"Sorry..." Haruka begins to close his eyes, about to fall to the ground from fainting.
Kazuma runs over to Haruka and catches him before he hits the ground.
"Haruka! Haruka wake up!" Kazuma tries to wake up his friend, but to no avail.
"Haruka!" Aqua, Megumin and Darkness shout running towards Kazuma who is holding Haruka.
PAUSE
(Next day.)
Haruka is lying on a sheet on the floor of the main room, starting to open his eyes and feeling sore all over. He looks over and sees Kazuma pacing back and forth, Megumin sitting on a chair with her leg shaking with anxiety and Aqua trying to calm her down.
"What happened?" Haruka speaks weakly through exhaustion. Everyone is startled to hear Haruka's voice.
"Haruka!" The three of them shout in the boy's direction.
"Are you all right, are you hurt, are you bleeding?" Megumin asks astonished.
"Calm down, Megumin. I healed his wounds." Aqua says to calm her down. "But are you really all right?" Aqua casts a worried glance at Haruka.
"I'm fine, but it's very sore..." Haruka reassures the girls, focusing her attention on Kazuma. "Hi, Kazuma. For how long..." Haruka is interrupted when Kazuma punches him in the shoulder.
"Ouch! Man, that hurt..." Haruka stops talking when Kazuma hugs him.
"Sorry, I couldn't help much at the time..." Kazuma hugs Haruka tightly
"Don't worry. I'm here, and I'm fine." Haruka lightly pats Kazuma on the back.
[...]
Once everyone has calmed down, Haruka is able to sit on the floor more calmly.
"What is this place, anyway?" Haruka asks, finding the place familiar.
"It's our house." Kazuma says.
"Our house? And where are all the furniture?" Haruka asks, trying to take it all in.
"After you fainted, the guards wanted to capture you to exile you or even execute you." Aqua says sadly.
"But the Darkness managed to make a deal with the Feudal Lord Aldarp." Megumin adds.
"A deal?" Haruka says a little worriedly.
"As Darkness is related to the Royal Empire, she managed to convince Aldarp that you and I were not a threat." Kazuma adds, leaning against the wall.
"What about her?" Haruka asks worriedly.
"She went with him to the royal capital to complete the deal." Kazuma says.
"I just hope she'll be okay..." Haruka sighs deeply. "But that still doesn't explain where all the furniture went."
"About that..." Megumin says, looking away.
"The destruction you and Darkness caused in that fight, as well as the damage we caused to the city, has been repaid." Kazuma says coldly. "And as first payment they took all the furniture from the house."
"And how much is the debt?" Haruka asks hesitantly.
"Almost 3,000,000." Kazuma says without hesitation.
"3 MILLION?!" Haruka shouts, quickly getting up from the floor, not believing what she's just heard.
"Our lives are over!" Aqua cries lamenting all that has happened.
"Ahhh man..." Haruka puts her hands to her face, wanting to scream, until she feels a touch on her arm.
"Hey, Haruka..." Megumin whispers to the boy. "I think this is yours..." Megumin places the Amazon Driver in front of Haruka.
"Thank you... Megumin..." Haruka takes the Driver, Megumin gives the Boy a slight smile and sits down next to him.
"What do we do now?" Megumin wiggles her legs and rests her head on her knees.
"Well..." Haruka watches Kazuma trying to calm Aqua who is still crying non-stop. "Honestly, I don't know. But if we're together, I'm sure we'll be able to pay off this debt!"
Megumin is a little more relieved by Haruka's words, and seeing Kazuma still trying unsuccessfully to calm Aqua, she ends up laughing at the situation.
(End of chapter.)
Note: Holy crap! This chapter was longer to write than I expected. But anyway, as you've seen, now we have the story of Haruka's life, the adventurers now "know" about the existence of the Amazons, because they saw the monster, but didn't know what it was. Haruka had already killed two of them, but they were hiding. And why did they start appearing to people? That answer is for the future. And as seen in this chapter, no one thought it was strange to see Haruka's powers... well, until now. After this trial, some things will change. Like Haruka's "fame" in Axis City.
That's all for today, folks! Until the next chapter!