Chapter 11
Fearless and Free
Looking at the green crystals, I saw that Sixth Street had been completely covered in them. "Weird.", I said. "I guess it would be.", Kukulkan said as she walked in front of a particularly large crystal covering the Godfinger arcade, holding a strange purple watch. She was followed by a strange person under a trance; he had long blonde hair and was wearing a pair of sunglasses with a white t-shirt, a black jacket, grey trousers and grey boots. "And who are you?", I asked the blonde man. "Why, my name is Tezcatlipoca, the Grand Berserker.", the man said. Smirking, Kukulkan pressed a switch on the purple watch she was holding, causing a distorted voice to yell out, "Build!". "Wait, you're not going to-?", I asked before Kukulkan shoved the watch she was holding into Tezcatlipoca, causing him to writhe in pain on the ground before he was covered in a red and blue vortex of energy, dispersing to reveal Another Build. "I can leave the first step of Jack's accession to you, can't I, sweetie?", Kukulkan asked Another Build before he rushed at me, forcing me to dodge. "Whoa there!", I said as Another Build violently swung at me, causing me to dodge with a very fancy display of footwork. Firing a volley of Doom Spears, I then unleashed a powerful burst of darkness that dispelled many of the crystals and sent Another Build into a lamp post. Summoning the Zi-O Ridewatch to my hand, I then said, "Transformation!", before placing it into the right slot of the Ziku-Driver, transforming into Kamen Rider Zi-O. Chuckling, Kukulkan said, "That's not gonna be enough. What, are you trying to get yourself killed?". "You think I don't know that?", I asked, summoning the Zikan Girade to my hand. Gathering a large amount of dark red energy into the sword, I then unleashed a powerful black and dark red beam of energy that bowled Another Build over. Suddenly, the Another Rider then unleashed a giant surge of blue and red energy that resonated with the crystals that had apparently regrown. As the energy pierced the sky, I then saw the town warp and distort into what resembled a Doom Zone only to return to normal just as quickly. I then rushed at Another Build only to be repelled by a strange burst of blue and red energy.
"Damn it. I thought forcing you to awaken the power of Kamen Rider Build would be easy, but it seems I was wrong. Well, there is always a contingency.", Kukulkan said. "And that contingency would be?", I asked before I saw Sixth Street distort into a Doom Zone covered in green crystals. Suddenly, I found myself in a strange wasteland with a giant crimson wall in the distance. "Huh?", I asked as I detransformed. Looking at the sky, I saw a giant Ether Aurora as Lanz called it and none other but the giant Ethereal Nineveh flying nearby. "Just like Chaos Island. How can Ethereals exist outside of Hollows anyway?", I said. Sensing a strange burst of energy, I then dodged a giant beam with a strange gold and grey colouration. Turning around, I then saw a man who resembled Atsuhiro Inukai in the distance; running up to him, I had a strange feeling as if we'd met somewhere. As I got closer, the man looked up at me, his face lighting up. "Hey! Jack! You've returned to us!", the man said. "I'm sorry but who are you?", I asked. "Typical. Though it is consistent with the reports we've been getting. Oh, don't mind that. My name is Sento Kiryu, the man who transforms into Kamen Rider Build and the Devil's Scientist.", the man said. Suddenly, I then felt a strange feeling of dread. "What's wrong?", Sento asked. "No, ORT can't be here already. I thought it was confined to South America.", I said. "What is this ORT anyway?", Sento asked. "The Ultimate One of the Oort Cloud, also known as Type Mercury. Or maybe…no, that can't be possible.", I said. "Incidentally, do you know a woman called Kukulkan?", Sento asked. "I do. Why?", I asked. "Well, Kukulkan is ORT's heart, given form, given purpose. A woman who contains the power of ORT because she is ORT. Well, ORT's heart but still ORT nonetheless.", Sento asked. Feeling a strange feeling of dread, I then asked, "Wait, are you implying what I think you're implying?". Suddenly, I heard Kukulkan behind me say, "I would hazard a guess that he is.". Turning around apprehensively, I saw Kukulkan smiling with a sinister smirk on her face. She also had a nauseously bright aura around her. Terrified by what I was seeing, I then saw Another Build saunter up and attack me with a renewed fury.
Gripping the Zikan Girade tight, I then unleashed a silver beam of energy that cut through Another Build's armour only for it to repair itself quickly. Sighing, Sento said, "You need my power. You need the power of Kamen Rider Build channelled through the Build Ridewatch. If you don't take it, you'll lose and reality itself will crumble.". "But how can you create the Build Ridewatch anyway?", I asked as I dodged one of Another Build's attacks and unleashed a dark silver beam of energy in response. "Why, by doing this!", Sento said before procuring a blank Ridewatch that promptly glowed red and blue before it transformed into the Build Ridewatch. Without missing a beat, I unleashed a Doom Spear that pushed Another Build back before Sento threw the Build Ridewatch to me. Grabbing the Ridewatch, I then pressed a button on the top of it, causing a voice to say, "Build!". It was at this moment that I saw that the slot on the left side of the Ziku-Driver had opened up, driving me to slam the Build Ridewatch into the open slot. Suddenly, I was then covered by a vortex of blue and red energy that dispersed to reveal me in the Build Armour. "Armour Time! Best Match: Build!", the Ziku-Driver announced. "I don't believe it.", Kukulkan said. "I can. After all, it invokes my own Rabbit Tank form.", Sento said. "Huh? Wait, where's the Zikan Girade gone?", I asked in confusion as I noticed that I was now holding a drill in my right hand. Breaking free from the Doom Spear, Another Build rushed at me before I was suddenly overcome with a violent fury. Rushing towards Another Build, I then unleashed a violent onslaught of punches, kicks and energy beams, finishing the attack with an array of multiple complex equations that electrocuted, burned and froze the Another Rider before I unleashed a red and blue beam of energy that destroyed the Another Build armour and returned Tezcatlipoca to normal. "That is the bestest match of all.", he said as he collapsed from exhaustion, the Build Another Watch shorting out and exploding. Detransforming, I suddenly collapsed, barely maintaining consciousness as Kukulkan said, "Your accession into the Demon King of Time has now begun. Go forth and collect the other Kamen Rider powers.", before finally drifting off.
As I regained consciousness, I then found myself in a strange hospital ward. "Huh? How did I get here?", I asked, confused. Noticing a strange cartridge on the nightstand, I saw that it read Mighty Action X. Beside it was a strange bright pink and neon green belt with the letters "GD" inscribed on it. Sitting up, I noticed that the rest of the ward was completely empty. "Weird.", I said before noticing that the belt and cartridge were strangely glowing. "Could it be Ether corruption? It would make sense, given that Ether can corrupt both machinery and organic flesh.", I said. Noticing a strange glitch on the door leading outside, I climbed out of the bed and walked over to it, noticing a strange reflection in the mirror. Opening the door, I then noticed an equally completely empty corridor, albeit one that looked like it was heavily banged up. "Just where am I?", I asked. Suddenly, I saw the Ziku-Driver around my waist crackle with a strange red burst of electricity. Returning to the ward, I noticed that the Mighty Action X cartridge was also crackling with the same red electricity. Whipping out my phone, I noticed that my reflection in the glass was also moving oddly. Strangely, it also seemed to be smirking. Suddenly, I found myself outside the hospital, which from the outside looked absolutely pristine. Looking at the name plaque, I read, "Seito University Hospital.". Feeling a strange sense of dread, I then wondered why I was so afraid. "It's normal to be scared. After all, I was too.", Hanabi said behind me. Beside her was a listless-looking Kirito. Turning around, I saw that Hanabi was holding a strange purple watch. "Wait, is that the Shinobi Miridewatch that was in Random Play?", I asked. "What is a Shinobi Miridewatch or a Random Play?", Hanabi asked. "Wait, you've never been to New Eridu before?", I asked. "What do you mean by 'before'?", Kirito asked. "It doesn't matter. Anyway, Kukulkan said something about me obtaining the other Kamen Rider powers. Based on that, where am I?", I asked. "Why, this is the World of Ex-Aid. Previously, you were in the World of Build. Here, you will obtain the power of Kamen Rider Ex-Aid.", Hanabi said sweetly before pressing a button on the purple watch, causing a distorted voice to say, "Ex-Aid!".
Horrified, I then watched as Hanabi shoved the watch she was holding into Kirito's body, causing dark pink pixels to cover him, warping him into Another Ex-Aid. "At least you transformed like a good boy, unlike Tez.", Hanabi said sweetly as various item boxes appeared around me and Another Ex-Aid; some were blocks, some were treasure chests, some were green barrels and others were trophies. Steeling myself, I summoned the Zi-O Ridewatch and slammed it into the right side of the Ziku-Driver and yelled, "Transformation!", transforming myself into Kamen Rider Zi-O and then summoned the Build Ridewatch before slamming it into the left side, invoking the Build Armour. "How cute, you think you can actually defeat me with that.", Another Ex-Aid snarled. "Well, I won't know unless I try.", I said before the Another Rider rushed at me, prompting me to dodge and summon an array of powerful complex graphs that barraged Another Ex-Aid with a powerful array of red and blue energy beams. Suddenly and perhaps most concerningly, Reader, Another Ex-Aid then summoned a suit of armour resembling red blocks. Undeterred, I summoned a blue and red tornado of energy that dispelled the armour only for Another Ex-Aid to warp right behind me and attack with a powerful punch. Parrying the blow with the drill in my right hand, I then saw the Build Armour disappear without a trace, returning me to the base Kamen Rider Zi-O form; shrugging, I then unleashed a powerful beam of dark red energy that bowled the Another Rider over.
As I turned around, I then noticed that the area around us was heavily glitching out. Hanabi was also nowhere to be seen. "Coward.", I muttered under my breath as I saw Another Ex-Aid rush into the university hospital, causing it to warp and distort into a mediaeval castle. Rushing after him, I found myself in a damp corridor with knights patrolling the area. Slashing my way through them, I found myself in a strange dining hall with the Mighty Action X cartridge entangled in thick vines. "Come. Get the Gashat…if you can, that is!", Another Ex-Aid taunted. It was then that I noticed an altar in the middle of the hall with a blank Ridewatch on it and the Mighty Action X Gashat directly above it. Rushing forward, I then summoned the Zikan Girade and slashed through the vines only for them to regrow just as quickly as I slashed through them. Gripping the Zikan Girade tight, I then bathed it in dark red and navy energy that made progress in cutting through the vines but still not enough. Suddenly, I saw a man resembling Toshiki Seto rush in. "What are you doing? Unleash the power of the Gashat and it will come to you.", the man said. "Who are you?", I asked. "Oh, sorry. My name is Hiiro Kagami, a surgeon based here at Seito University Hospital.", the man said. "Mind explaining why it's turned into a castle?", I asked. "That shouldn't be possible. No Bugster I've fought was ever that powerful.", Hiiro said. "But I'm fighting against an Another Rider.", I said. "Another…Rider?", Hiiro asked. "Yeah. Another Ex-Aid at that.", I said. "Anyway, what you need to do is use the power of Incarnation to force the Mighty Action X Gashat and the Blank Watch to you. That should give you the power to use my friend Emu's power.", Hiiro said. "Emu?", I asked. "Emu Hojo, the Genius Gamer M.", Hiiro said before he was promptly trapped in a crimson Cyber Cage. As a strange burst of anger came over me, I then unleashed a burst of dark red energy that burned away the vines covering Mighty Action X and caused the blank Ridewatch to rise. "Huh?", I asked as the Gashat fused with the watch, turning into the Ex-Aid Ridewatch. "No way.", Another Ex-Aid said.
Grabbing the Ridewatch, I pressed the button on the top, causing a voice to yell, "Ex-Aid!", before slamming it into the left slot of the Ziku-Driver. This caused me to be covered in an array of pink pixels that burst into a pink pillar of light that dispersed to reveal the Ex-Aid Armour. "Armour Time! Level Up: Ex-Aid!", the Ziku-Driver announced. Suddenly, the Ex-Aid Ridewatch became covered in a surge of black and dark red electricity that then caused me to cycle between the forms of Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, Kamen Rider Brave, Kamen Rider Snipe, Kamen Rider Lazer Turbo and Kamen Rider Poppy. "That's not supposed to happen.", Hiiro said calmly. "Ya think?!", Another Ex-Aid roared. Then, my form stabilised at Kamen Rider Brave before changing from the Level 2 Fantasy Gamer form to the Level 50 Fantasy Gamer form. "Taddle Fantasy?", Hiiro asked before his face lit up with a smile. Overcome with a strong burst of anger, I then unleashed a giant burst of black and dark red fire that none of Another Ex-Aid's summoned walls could stop. "Go on, Jack! Use the power of Taddle Fantasy to its greatest extent! After all, it was made for someone like you.", Hiiro said before I unleashed a giant storm of black lightning that summoned shadowy versions of Dantes, Jeanne Alter, Salieri and Lobo. As the shadows overwhelmed Another Ex-Aid's own summoned army of Bugsters, I then unleashed a giant volley of black and dark red spheres of darkness followed by black and dark red spikes and dark red lightning that seemed to merge together. "Now things are getting interesting!", Another Ex-Aid said. "Kazuto!", I yelled as I rushed at the Another Rider. "Come on! Let's dance!", the Another Rider said, rushing towards me. Suddenly, my rage spiked, causing me to summon spectral swords all around the Another Rider which then impaled him; I followed this up with a brutal beatdown by summoning two swords to my hands and then unleashing a violent 16-hit combo with them, yelling, "Starburst Stream!". "Wait, what did you just say?", Another Ex-Aid asked before detransforming back into Kirito and falling on his back, the Ex-Aid Another Watch shorting out and exploding.
As I detransformed, I saw the castle warp and transform back into a hospital as Hiiro's Cyber Cage disappeared, the cyber energy flying into my right hand. Suddenly, the energy caused me to keel over in pain, my right hand unleashing a black and dark red storm of electricity. "Jack!", Hiiro said as he rushed toward me. "Stay back! The Azure Grimoire is reacting to the cyber energy and I can't control it!", I said as the electricity gave way to a black and dark red aura. "Don't fight it! Unleash it!", Hiiro said as I screamed in pain. Suddenly, I then found myself at the base of a strange volcano, the aura and my pain mysteriously gone. Getting up, I then heard a deep eruption coming from the volcano's caldera; wondering what it was, I raced up to find out. Watching me from a distance, Miyabi said, "His ascension as the Demon King of Time is proceeding smoothly. But still, he will need some additional rousing if he is to ascend as Our Sovereign. Yes, I know. Don't worry, Father. Leave it to me.". Looking at her cursed katana, Miyabi then said, "Don't worry, Tailless. You'll get the blood you crave soon. Just hold tight for now.". Smirking, she then said, "And you will not disappoint me, will you, little bro? Because as your big sis, I will make sure you don't.".
The story continues in the next chapter.