Author's Note:

Rejoice another chapter completed hopefully it's a good read for you the reader as always PMs are open and feel free to ask questions and I'll try answer as fast possible

Apzeta and Bishop are working on the background with them making a pretty nice "Eggman announcement" as Bishop puts it

Hopefully this chapter is to your liking till next chapter, Knight

As the last remnants of the Dispider dissolve into nothingness, the pulsating energy of the Fall Maiden's power stabilizes within the ornate pedestal ahead.

Akira and Amethyst exchange a glance before stepping forward. The crimson-orange glow of the Maiden's energy swirls within the floating orb, almost as if it's aware of their presence.

Akira wastes no time. He unslings the Thousand Jacker from his back, its metallic form glinting under the warped light of the Mirror World.

He reaches into his belt and retrieves a Blank Progrisekey, pressing the activation mechanism before slotting it into the Universal Slot.

Thousand Jacker: [ Progrisekey confirmed. Ready to break. ]

Akira grips the hilt firmly, taking a deep breath.

Akira: "Let's see if this works as well as the last one."

With a swift thrust, he drives the blade of the Thousand Jacker into the orb, feeling immediate resistance as the artifact pushes back.

The orb cracks violently, tendrils of pure energy lashing out in defiance. Akira grits his teeth as the energy surges into the weapon.

Thousand Jacker: [ Jackrise ! ]

The energy condenses, flowing into the Blank Progrisekey like liquid fire. The Progrisekey pulses rapidly, stabilizing before locking into its finalized state—the Fall Maiden Progrisekey.

Akira retracts the Thousand Jacker, shaking his arm slightly to rid himself of the tingling sensation left behind.

Amethyst tilts her head, observing.

Amethyst: "That looked… painful."

Akira rolls his shoulder, smirking.

Akira: "Just a little resistance. Nothing I can't handle."

Amethyst sighs before activiting her communicator, opening a direct line to Adam and Ark/Onyx.

Amethyst: "Fall Maiden secured. We're moving to regroup."

[ Meanwhile with Adam and Ark/Onyx ]

The battlefield surrounding them is littered with the remnants of shattered Mirror World monsters.

Adam with exhaling sharply. His Burning Falcon armor flickers briefly before stabilizing.

Ark/Onyx remains as composed as ever, stepping forward toward the pedestal where the Summer Maiden's power rests.

The orb before them radiates intense heat, its golden hues illuminating the dark reflections of what once was Beacon Academy.

Adam steps beside Ark, pulling out his own Thousand Jacker. With an almost mechanical efficiency, he loads a Blank Progrisekey into the Universal Slot.

Thousand Jacker: [ Progrisekey confirmed. Ready to break. ]

Without hesitation, Adam thrusts the blade into the orb. The resistance is stronger this time, a surge of heated energy trying to push him back. But Adam holds firm, gripping the weapon tightly as the extraction begins.

Thousand Jacker: [ Jackrise ! ]

Flames swirl around the Progrisekey, the intense heat warping the air around it. Adam narrows his eyes as the transformation completes, leaving behind the Summer Maiden Progrisekey in his grasp.

Ark/Onyx, having received Amethyst's message, turns to Adam.

Ark: "Amethyst and Akira have secured Fall. We now possess Winter, Summer and Fall."

Adam tosses the Progrisekey toward Ark, who catches it effortlessly.

Ark/Onyx examines the key before nodding.

Ark:"We return to the ship. The Spring Maiden is next."

Adam grips his weapon tightly, taking one last glance at the ruined remnants of Beacon's reflection. His mechanical eye flickers before he turns away.

Adam: "Fine. Let's move."

[ Small Time Skip - Back on the Ship ]

The dim lighting of the ship casts long shadows across the metal walls as Akira, Amethyst, Adam, and Ark/Onyx gather around the table.

Three Progrisekeys—Fall, Summer, and Winter—rest upon the surface, glowing faintly with the stolen power of the Maidens.

Ark/Onyx taps his fingers against the table, his voice calm yet commanding.

Ark/Onyx: "Once we locate the Mirror World's Spring Maiden, I will absorb all four Maiden Powers and merge them into a singular force."

He gestures toward an empty slot within his mechanical palm, where a new Progrisekey is forming.

Ark/Onyx: "This will become the Ark-One Progrisekey. A final evolution, surpassing even the natural limits of the Maidens' power."

Adam crosses his arms, his mechanical fingers tapping against his forearm.

Adam: "And then what? You planning to use that power yourself?"

Ark/Onyx's visor flickers briefly before he responds.

Ark/Onyx: "I will be its vessel, but the power will belong to us all. A force of absolute dominance."

Akira leans against the table, his smirk widening slightly. A faint red glow flickers in his eyes as his malice begins to surface.

Akira: "Speaking of dominance… while Little Red is out there making her cute little 'truth bomb' about Salem, shouldn't we take a more… impactful approach?"

Amethyst raises an eyebrow.

Amethyst: "You mean another broadcast ?"

Akira chuckles, his fingers drumming against the table.

Akira: "Not just a video. A call to arms. She wants to expose the darkness? Fine. But let's make sure everyone knows the real enemy. Let's shatter that fragile 'black and white' worldview of hers."

The room falls into a thoughtful silence. Adam eventually nods.

Adam: "We've already taken so much from them. Why stop now?"

Ark/Onyx: "If we are to rewrite the future, we must control the narrative."

Before any further discussion can take place, the ship's atmosphere suddenly shifts. A strange ripple courses through the room as if the very fabric of space is being disturbed.

A voice, refined yet theatrical, echoes from the entrance.

???: "A most fascinating conversation. But I'm afraid you are running out of time."

The group turns, hands instinctively moving toward their weapons as a figure steps inside. A man dressed in elegant, dark green attire with a book in hand, his expression carrying the air of one who knows far too much.

He smiles.

Woz: "Greetings. I am Woz. Or, if you prefer… Kamen Rider Woz. An loyal follower of the Demon King of Time"

Silence lingers for a moment. Akira's eyes narrow, a certain name instantly coming to his mine.

Akira: "Tsukasa sent you, didn't he?"

Amethyst glances between them.

Amethyst: "Who the hell is Tsukasa?"

Woz merely chuckles, flipping open his book as his finger dances around its pages.

Woz: "All in due time. I bring a warning, one that you may wish to heed."

Ark/Onyx takes a step forward.

Ark/Onyx: "Explain."

Woz's smile doesn't waver.

Woz: "You have precisely one hour and thirty minutes before the Mirror World collapses around you. If you fail to leave before then… you will be trapped forever."

A tense energy fills the air. Adam clenches his fists, Amethyst's expression hardens, and even Ark/Onyx tilts his head slightly in contemplation.

Akira, however, merely smirks.

Akira: "Well then… I guess we better make this quick."

The Mirror World's distorted sky churns above as Akira, Ark/Onyx, Amethyst, and Adam move swiftly toward their final destination.

The trek through the warped reflection of Remnant leads them to a location Akira knows all too well—the Branwen Tribe's camp, or at least, its twisted counterpart.

As the group nears, Ark/Onyx halts, his sensors locking onto the precise location of the Spring Maiden's power.

Ark/Onyx: "It's here."

Before anyone can respond, dark shapes begin manifesting in the distance.

The Mirror Monsters descend upon them.

Adam rolls his shoulders, gripping his Slashriser.

Adam: "Tch. Looks like we're not getting a quiet extraction."

Amethyst sighs, activating her Attache Shotgun with a flick of her wrist.

Amethyst: "Figures."

Akira glances at Ark/Onyx before nodding toward the camp. "We'll handle the Spring Maiden. You two keep these things occupied."

Adam ( smirks ): "Try not to die before we get back."

Without another word, he and Amethyst charge into battle, steel meeting flesh as sparks fly.

Akira and Ark/Onyx press forward, entering the eerie silence of the Branwen Camp's Mirror World version.

The air is thick with a strange, humming energy. Akira slows his pace, eyes scanning the surroundings with an air of familiarity.

Akira: "Nostalgic…"

Ark/Onyx glances at him. "You recognize this place."

Akira chuckles, shaking his head.

Akira: "Of course. This is where I fought Raven Branwen for the second time. And Later executed her in Haven's vault."

Ark/Onyx says nothing, simply processing the information as they step forward.

At the center of the camp, the final orb hovers—a pulsating, emerald-green sphere radiating raw power. The energy within shifts restlessly, almost as if aware of their presence.

Akira reaches for his weapon, pulling the Thousand Jacker from his back.

With practiced ease, he loads a Blank Progrisekey into the Universal Slot.

Thousand Jacker: [ Progrisekey Confirmed. Ready to Break. ]

Akira raises the blade, the weapon's systems whirring to life.

Thousand Jacker: [ Jackrise ! ]

He thrusts the blade into the orb.

The resistance is immediate and overwhelming.

Green lightning crackles, surging through the blade and into his body. Akira grits his teeth as the Spring Maiden's power fights against him, trying to reject its new host.

Slowly, the energy is siphoned into the Progrisekey, condensing into a single, concentrated force.

As the process completes, the final Maiden Progrisekey locks into place.

Akira exhales, rolling his shoulder as the last traces of energy settle within him.

Ark/Onyx: "It is done."

Before they can relish the moment, footsteps echo behind them.

Adam and Amethyst approach, their weapons still drawn, but no immediate threats following.

Amethyst: "Took you long enough."

Akira smirks. "What can I say? Quality work takes time."

Adam: "Then let's get back to the ship."

The group turns, leaving behind the mirrored ruins of the Branwen Tribe.

[ Back on the ship ]

Woz stands at the center of the room, idly flipping through the pages of his book and eating small pack of chips

As Akira and the others step inside, he snaps the book shut with an almost theatrical motion.

Woz: "Ah, splendid. You have all returned in one piece."

Akira ( raises an eyebrow ): "You almost sound surprised."

Woz ( smirks ) : "I simply enjoy observing events unfold."

Without another word, he raises a hand and snaps his fingers.

A shimmering Aurora Curtain bursts into existence before them.

The swirling gateway expands, its energy humming as it stabilizes.

Woz gestures toward it with a flourish.

Woz: "Your escape route, courtesy of yours truly."

The group wastes no time.

One by one, they step through, the Mirror World dissolving around them as reality pulls them back into Remnant.

As the team regains their bearings on solid ground, the familiar yet unwelcome light of Remnant greets them.

Woz adjusts his sleeve, clearing his throat before addressing Akira.

Woz: "Now that you have returned, I bring yet another message. From Tsukasa."

Akira ( crosses his arms. ): "Being ?"

Woz's grin returns. "He intends to test Little Red's team."

Amethyst ( scoffs ): "Test them? What does that even mean?"

Woz ( chuckles ): "Ah, you shall see soon enough."

Adam ( narrows his eyes): "And why should we care?"

Woz tilts his head.

Woz: "Because, my dear rebels, there is something far more pressing at hand."

He steps forward, his tone shifting slightly, losing some of its playfulness.

Woz: "There is a Time Jacker in Remnant."

A ripple of tension spreads through the group.

Ark/Onyx's visor flickers. "Explain."

Woz nods. "Salem… has acquired the Another Zero-One Watch."

Silence.

Even Akira, who had been exuding an air of confidence this entire time, momentarily falters.

Woz: "If she uses it, this timeline—your timeline—will be rewritten. Erased. Warped into something unrecognizable."

Akira clenches his fists. "That witch just doesn't know when to quit…"

Amethyst (frowns): "So what's the plan?"

Woz shrugs.

Woz: "That, dear friends, is up to you. But tread carefully. The flow of time is delicate, and a single wrong move could spell disaster."

As the weight of his words settles over them, Woz takes a step back.

With a flourish of his hand, his scarf twists unnaturally, coiling around him in an intricate pattern.

Ark/Onyx observes, his digital mind analyzing the movement.

Ark/Onyx: "Fabrikinesis."

Before anyone can react, Woz vanishes, leaving only a lingering ripple in the air where he once stood.

The ship remains silent for several moments.

Adam finally exhales, shaking his head. "Well… that's just great."

Amethyst ( crosses her arms): "A Time Jacker? Salem with Rider's power? Yeah, that's just fucking fantastic."

Akira chuckles darkly, the red glow flickering in his eyes once more.

Akira: "Then it looks like we're going to need to accelerate our plans."

Ark/Onyx: "We must act before Salem makes her move."

Akira's smirk widens.

Akira: "Then let's get started with our Anoucnement."