Song: Kamen Rider Garren - Rebirth (Lyrics Video)
Kamen Rider Blade flies through the snowy plains. He intends to put a stop to the Undead once and for all. His thoughts would take him back, to a time in the year 2001. It was a time when he was chosen, one of many candidates, to become a Kamen Rider. It was practically a dream come through for someone like him.
Why is that so?
In point of fact, Shirou loved Kamen Rider. It was... one of the only few things that connected him to his own past. He dimly recalled, long before being under the care of his adoptive parents, Kiritsugu Emiya and Shirley Emiya, he was watching old Showa Era shows. That was the one thing he can recall as a child, a connection that made it as if it were a reminder of what he was, and how he is now.
He recalled jumping from his own sofa, as he sees in the television screen, of a warrior with the thematic design of a green grasshopper with black schemes and white lines, and that iconic crimson scarf.
Kamen Rider Ichigo.
A fictional hero of justice. ...No. Actually, no. Not justice. Never about justice.
It was the lesson of Kamen Rider that made him slowly begin to realize something. Justice, peace, evil, rightfulness, they were vague and technical terms. What Kamen Rider was, is a hero of defending and protecting and preserving life.
When there are wars, both sides are swinging their sense of justice, believing that they are right. Winners are the victors who happen to write and decide history, on who gets to decide what's right or wrong. Reality was a complex and fickle thing. But the fundamental value of protecting life itself never changed.
So...
No...
Not a hero of justice.
But rather...
A hero with the desire to protect.
Once he decided that was his route to go, Shirou Emiya felt like he can take everything now. The path of a Kamen Rider was a Cross of Fire, one littered with thorns and hardships, which blaze a trail across his and other peoples' lives.
His crimson eyes flashed, as he narrowed his own vision. He can spot two ferocious fighters, of well-renown and of ancient antiquity. One was Berserker, who with ferocious rage, tries to strike the Smilodon Undead where he stood. His rage was like a never quenching fire, that sparked such determination, that was haunted by regrets of the past.
Blade's movement of flight felt natural and well balanced, as a thought of a great warrior with white hair and crimson priestly robes came to the forefront of his mind. A flash of sorts. It was a battle. A memory of a battle between this great warrior and this titanic beast of rage and regret. And a voice of declaration from that warrior.
"I am the bone of my sword. Steel is my body and fire is my blood."
Thunderous lightning, conjured up from various points of Blade's being, as a circumferential pattern of various swords of ancient languages littered across them, like organized pieces of history. They fired crosswise, as the swords would aim straight for a precise point, towards the Smilodon Undead that was busy dodging the latest ramming attack and speed of the hulking monster.
"KAAH!"
A direct hit. As if through a precise piercing of an Archer, the Smilodon Undead would suddenly find itself tagged by several swords, which sprayed its' acid blood towards the blades, which were melting. But it was more than ample time for Berseker to send the Undead flying through several concrete steel blades, sending its various structures down to the ground, even caughting many of the sabertooth predatorial creatures and humanoids into its steel, killing them with ease.
Blade focuses his flight speed, and bursts forth like a military aircraft. He readied his final attack, using three Undead Cards and one Class Card.
KICK! THUNDER! MACH! RIDER!
LIGHTNING SONIC!
As if in sync, Kamen Rider Garren would make use of his own final attack, using four Undead Cards and one Class Card.
BULLET! RAPID! FIRE! GEMINI! CASTER!
BURNING SHOT!
Illyasviel and Akiha would both sense the immense power coming forth from Garren, as they both widened their eyes. They saw Garren slicing into at least two more variants of itself. As each made their respective poses, they opened fire across several directions, in rapid successive fire. The Garren on the left fired on his general direction; the Garren on the right fired on his general direction; and the Garren on the front, the real Garren, would fire his own shots, upwards, as it hits rock bottom.
All of their shots caused an immense supernova explosion, which increased through the usage of the Caster Card's power, which would send it waving across the terrain and incinerating every sabertoothed creature.
As the dust settles, the snow was nothing but ashes.
Blade focused all of his power as a sound of echoing thunder came from behind him. He made a respective pose, forming his body into a kind of running ball that would destroy every sharp spike that tried to stab through him, to no avail. No matter what the Undead does, he cannot counteract this much power.
Blade's sword now differs, as another weapon of great renown would compliment his other blade. Now, they were both complete.
Dark purplish beams of pure energy would materialize from all sides, allowing no escape for the ancient predator of pre-history. They first launched themselves in a straightforward line, before they zigzagged, making it difficult for it to dodge.
"ArKK!"
Allowing the Undead to get hit. There was no way out to teleport. His green acid blood spun out of control, leaking in several places across the snowy ground, and whose scars were clearly visible as it kneeled down. It's like more than half of his body was broken down. But it was starting to heal all just the same, in quick pace response.
That's what Blade was counting on. He would free his body from his circular rotation, allowing his legs to maintain free forms of flight and hover, as he brings one blade and another towards the Undead, stabbing him in quick succession, towards the head and the heart, making him kneel down again.
"Krrrraaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Blade's body now took a bluish golden lightning that sparked across and shot through the Undead, electrocuting him. Blade now made of a kicking for, raising his right foot that had a symbol under it, which glowed with dark purplish and crimson red, as if combining the energies of both those connected with the classes of Archer and Caster. A potent power for twofold destruction.
He was fast, than a speeding car, as he would finally reach the chest of the Undead, and touch the back portion of one of his swords, allowing the kick to pierce through with a double attack.
"KKKKKKKKKKRAAAHHHH!"
An explosion would happen, as the Undead would get sent violently a couple of meters away. As it lay down upon the snowy floor, it gritted his teeth as he felt his belt now opening. Alas, his time was now up. All the Kamen Rider had to do was to seal him away.
The Undead, as a rule of law, cannot die, by any means whatsoever, whether through modern conventional means, or through the use of powerful magic and other non-natural methods. The only thing that can be done is seal them away, where they would no longer be a threat.
As Blade drops to the ground, a few moments later, he would stand up. He would take something from his belt, an empty card, which he looked at with a grim expression. He glances at the Undead, who looks at him. The swords were already disappearing from the chest and head.
...Hmm. The Smilodon Undead saw something within the boy. Within the one who was Kamen Rider Blade. He saw... a projection of sorts. Of a young man that had the same garbs of a priest, with a bandana of scarlet, as he scours through the snowy plains. This is interesting. A boy who is more than meets the eye. Not quite the ending I envisioned... but I would not have this any other way.
If the Smilodon Undead could smile, he would, and he did, as he would see Blade throw the card towards him. A greenish aura engulfed around him the moment the card hit his chest, causing him to get suck in towards the card. Afterward, the card would return back towards Blade, who took it with his right hand, as he sees the image of the Undead and the card that he obtained.
Song: OST Fate Stay Night - Aintsuberun No Mori
...Then, something happens to the world. It would all begin to change back to normal.
Blade, and everyone else, was now all back at the deserted park. With the spaces returning to normal, he was noticed by Garren and the others.
Illyasviel would look at the young man in front of her. He was quiet, as he would flip the switch of his belt, allowing the blue rectangular field to engulf him back to normal. Garren would do so as well, returning him back towards Shiki, who sighed in relief.
The young man was just standing there, looking at the card where he contained the Undead. Illyasviel, with a hint of inquiry on her face, would walk towards the young man. Garren and Akiha would follow behind her. Blade would notice them coming towards him, as he glanced sideways.
"...Hmm," Illyasviel, with her hands behind her back, would smile curtly as she couldn't help but try to glance at the card. "That's quite the card you got there, onii-chan."
Blade's face twitched. That word made his heart almost shatter. A part of him felt that he didn't deserved to be call that, much less be addressed as such by Illya. But why? This was the very first time he met Illyasviel von Einzbern in the flesh. He only actually heard from the various stories that his father had told about her.
...A very complex thing.
Truth be told, the Kamen Riders, such as Shirou and Shiki, were generally informed, once they took their roles as Kamen Riders, that their world... is not how it is suppose to be. Elements of different and oftentimes contradictory timelines converged within this plane of reality. Why?
...There is a war.
What war would this be?
A war of proxies.
In this war, there were factions who fight amongst each other. Factions that, one way or another, are considered as enemies of the Kamen Riders. The Order. The Metal. The Will. They were the names of these three alignments that fought within these series of spatio-temporal metaphysical wars, and a side effect from these wars was the merging of elements that should not be found within this timeline.
But how does this relate with Shirou and Shiki?
There is a connection. The moment they began to make use of their power, of Undead and Class, something was slowly but subtly pricking into the back of their minds. A deja vu. They noticed oftentimes, especially when they were close to a few people. For Shirou and Shiki, there were a few that qualify for such an inkling. Flash memories of other lives, lives that for the life of them seem very inconsistent to how they actually knew them.
Something was very wrong with the world, as it is.
It was because of this that the New Generation Kamen Riders had been formed. Heroes of this era. Of the Heisei Era. People from different walks of life, who one way or another, come from different lives, and even different worlds. They were the Successor Generation to the Original Generation of the Heisei Riders. They are the heroes, in a world where things are not as they should be, or used to be.
As Shirou gazed at Illya, whose crimson eyes prowled with a hint of inquiry, yet also a feeling of caution and... glint of malevolence. Can he truthfully blame her? From what Kiritsugu told him, it would be very clear that Illyasviel von Einzbern would be led to believe that she was totally abandoned by him, no doubt in part due to the Einzbern Patriarch, who was somewhere on the other side of the world.
Shirou couldn't help but form a natural disgusted expression underneath his mind, while from the outside, a feeling of empathy rose within him... and perhaps a longing that he could not truthfully explain.
Did Shirou knew Illyasviel von Einzbern from another life?
It was almost certain.
But even now, he has no actual context, except the feeling that never wavered. Don't let her go this time. Protect her at all costs.
He glanced towards the side and would see the intimidating Berserker who towered over them like if he was a skyscraper, with glinting red eyes. Akiha felt intimidated upon looking at the titan's presence.
"...Wha...What the..." She felt like shaking a little. She could already tell that the thing in front of her was no ordinary beast.
Illyasviel looked amused at such a reaction, before saying. "Berserker, stand down for now, and make yourself scarce. The Holy Grail War hasn't started yet after all, and it wouldn't do to fight now and get disqualified unintentionally. I'd rather not have to get forced back into the Einzbern Castle from the other end of the world and informed grandfather of such a loss."
Berserker acquiesced to her request, as he suddenly vanished like a phantasm.
"Now then," Illyasviel turns towards Shirou and Shiki with a cheeky smile, with both hands placed to her waist. Though she did noted that the two didn't seem afraid of Berserker, which she found to be odd, since not anyone can just brush off that level of intimidation from her precious servant. "Can any of the two of you tell me just what is going on here? In details if you will."
As the one with the actual proper authority in the context of the Holy Grail War, it was Illya's task to make sure that things ran smoothly. What she sees here, is concerning. A simple visit option towards her estranged brother, turned into a rediscovery of what appeared to a battle of ancient pre-historical times. The monster she just saw was something she could not just put to the back of her mind. The mana signatures within that thing were strong, and... it felt like it was less of something, and more of the foundation of something. A blueprint of sorts.
If she was the fundamental ingredient of the Grail, then this monster was something that was fundamental towards something else. What that something else was - as that monster described - relates to a battle of sorts.
The only ones who appear to know fully of this context are her dear younger brother, and his associate who happens to be related to this vampire. Which leads her back to her worries if the Holy Church is involved heavily on this matter, even if this crimson-haired woman had nothing to do with it.
The term "vampire" is simply a category, referring to species deemed as such by the Church, regarding those who consume human blood. There were organizations dedicated to hunting these creatures down. The Burial Agency (*1) was one such noteworthy organization. A mage and a churchmen don't exactly go hand in hand with each other, as far as general interactions between the two would go. Illyasviel would trust the Holy Church less, and they in turn distrusted her, the Einzberns, and everybody else.
Self-interests. Self-preservations.
Shirou sighed heavily, as he looked at Illyasviel with a a saddened smile. "I suppose we should stop at my place. Me and my partner will explain everything from there."
"Ah! Oh yes," Akiha immediately recalled what she requested, as she glared at Shiki, who felt like sweats would drop at that very moment. "You better explain what's going on, nii-san. I want every detail on the situation that you're in, and, we're gonna be talking about your risky nightly activities, right!"
Shiki couldn't help but sigh heavily as he raised his hands. "Alright, fine, fine, I get it, I'm sorry for keeping this from you, Kohaku-chan, and Hisui-chan, though," He eyed at her with a deadpan. "Not like you can talk, Akiha, considering you kept that from me."
"What are you-AH!" Akiha suddenly realized something. Her hair was still crimson.
"Yeah, my point exactly," Shiki sighed heavily as he was walking in a different direction where two motorcycles were now seen heading towards them, both blue (Blade's bike) and burgundy (Garren's bike). Shiki would hop towards the bike, as a helmet would automatically materialize from his head.
"Well, hop on, Akiha, it's going to be a long drive." He said, as Akiha would nod and walk towards him.
"Hmm," Illyasviel looked at the bikes with interest, as she run towards it. "Are these bikes... self-automated by any chance?"
"You could say that," Shirou muttered with a smile. "Do you want to hop a ride?"
"Hmm," Illyasviel muttered, putting her hand to her chin. "Normally, I'd be riding on Berserker's shoulders, but... still, it's rare for me to try to ride a motorcycle, especially one that belonged to a Kamen Rider. There's no way I'd ever pass that out."
Anything for you, Illya-oneechan. Shirou muttered in his thoughts as he smiled.
Song: Houou Kaguya Quartz (Seiichiro Nagata) - Living Legend | 『Kamen Rider Legend』 Insert Song
Somewhere in the quiet corners of Misaki Town...
"GRRAAAHHH!"
There was someone who, with piercing steel of metals from within the hands of a trained executioner of the Church, would slash through a horde of people. No, far from people. If only because of their black eyes.
"Grk. Kill that bitch!" One of the black-eyed individuals, a young woman with brown hair and wearing a sailor fuku, explained.
Despite their clothing, their eyes conveyed a different story. Ciel knew these monsters all too well. You might say that they were a very familiar foe that all of the organizations of the Church, in her over two thousand years of history, would recognize. The shortened term for these category of foes are usually referred to as BEDs. Black-Eyed Demons. In reference to their eyes.
Ciel (*2) understood that these monstrosities - abominations of twisted nature, worshiped and served a dark elusive figure throughout the annals of history, one who was much older than history. According to church archive records, this monster was called Azazel, The Yellow-Eyed Demon, in reference to his eyes, which distinguishes him from his underlings who are inevitably his own work of creation. He was considered to be a very grave yet unpredictable threat, with variations of names and aliases. An existence beyond comprehension, sneaking behind underneath dead individual bodies.
A Hell Lord of the First Sovereignty.
"KRRAAH!" One of the BEDs fell down, as she jumped straight at it, and killed it off with a stab from her Black Keys. With two throws, she stabs two BEDs, before grabbing the swords and kicking the dead bodies to the ground. With a strong kick, she sends one BED flying higher before the latter get's tagged by her blade, killing it swiftly.
Ciel moved out of the way as the dead body fell to the ground. The BED's dead body was that of a child. Somewhere around ten years old. She narrowed her eyes, as bad memories came rushing back into her.
In her long immortal life thanks to the machinations of a certain Dead Apostle Ancestor, these monstrosities were always somewhat of a constant for her, by virtue of being a Church Executioner. Heretics and Vampires were something she'd personally prefer over to these monsters, because the latter tends to make the former two look like actual saints, as they represent cruelty in their most sublime cravings. They make it their own personal hobby of employing masterful psychological tortures and of what makes the human body and soul tick under their skin.
The BEDs don't really need blood as they are spiritual existences no longer bound to life. Yet many of them would go so far as to enter into outright human sacrifice and cannibalism. Hence, a type variant of the BED that does that is called "Zombie". Which is the type of BED she's currently facing. Zombies.
Various zombies would try to flank her from all sides. Their eyes craved with malevolent chaos and hunger. She glances somewhere on a smeared bloody wall, where she could spot the remaining entrails of a few poor souls that have been taken in as their current meal, hence how she found them.
She drew her weapons, showing no fear against these monsters.
"I've always wondered what executioner nuns taste like," A bald man with black eyes would say with a twisted grin. "Guess I'll find o-KAH!"
"Ah?!"
Ciel would turn around where the magenta-colored energy shot was fired, killing the bald demoniac via headshot, whose blood splatters on the floor. The BEDs made terrible, malevolent grins. Who dares try to interrupt their playtime? They all thought.
Ciel would find a young man, somewhere around the age of seventeen, wearing a dark black jacket, with a white collar shirt and an orange undershirt, and black pants. He wasn't alone. Along with him was another woman, with long dark brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a dark brown jacket of a first year high school student, with a white collar with a tied light brown ribbon.
The Zombies would sneer viciously, recognizing the faces.
"Shit, it's the Kamen Riders!" One of the BEDs exclaimed.
That didn't escape Ciel's ears. Kamen Riders? Here?
In response, both of the individuals would begin to make their respective poses.
The young man was of a simple pose and determined face, only drawing out what appeared to be a card. His belt was already seen materializing from his waist, which had a white casing with a circular magenta shape on the center, with twenty significant symbols.
The young woman was making a martial arts pose, placing her left hand as a support for her right which has three open fingers. She would draw the right hand forward, then back a little. As if in response, a belt would materialize on her waist, which had a yellow circular center that glowed from the dark, making the BEDs flinch and even fear.
As her belt enters its stand-by mode and noise, the young woman raised her hand forward, before she and the man would exclaim.
"Henshin!"
KAMEN RIDE: DECENNIUM
They would both transform.
The young man flipped the card and inserted it into his belt, with the barcode symbol could be seen through the glass in the center, closed it back, a hologram manifesting in front of the belt displaying the name of the Kamen Rider and announcing it.
Then, 20 shadowy translucent figures appeared around him, beginning to converge on him, a full-bodied armor materializing on him. The armor had an 'X' shaped black line with thick gold outlines along with the shoulder pads to the chest piece. The suit was bulky, but not too bulky, and had a sleek design, along with black, white, magenta, and gold in some of its inner legs and arms, except for the bright emerald visors. Several cards flew out of the belt's center, which would head towards the nearby Zombie BEDs who were unfortunate to get close, tagging them as they explode instantly into ashes, beofre returning them back to the helmet, forming its horns. The golden gem on the center glowed for a second before its golden-colored the suit between the horns on his head, the shoulder pads, outer legs, arms, and chest.
At the same time, a bright light engulfed the woman, as armor formed around her. The light would also cause the nearby Zombie BEDs to burn to ashes.
A black bodysuit, with golden circular knee pads with silver accents and golden bands just above the ankles; golden bands wrapped around the forearms. The chest was thoracic and feminine, with a sleek figure, that had pectorals and an abdomen with a black rectangular stone in the center of the chest. The helmet had large red lens eyes.
"Decennium... Agito..." Ciel muttered softly, with eyes widened.
She'd immediately recognized these two.
Kamen Rider Decennium. A mysterious Kamen Rider who was one of the members of the famous superhero team: the Midnight Sons, which defended the world in the year 2000 from a hostile alien invasion. He was recorded to possess a power that most had thought was lost to time. The Imagine Breaker.
Kamen Rider Agito. A Kamen Rider that is well known even amongst the various church organizations, known for assisting Kamen Rider Kuuga against the Grongi, as well as getting involved in the affairs of the supernatural. There were rumors of Agito being a chosen delegate of the divine, meaning ordained as if God Himself. Some amongst the Church would have thought this was blasphemy, and considered her as such. Nevertheless, Agito, like the other Kamen Riders, are definitely on the side of humanity and the Church was willing to work with them in cases of necessity.
Not to mention, the following of the old protocol:
"If ever encountered, one must never antagonize a Kamen Rider, and if encounter is inevitable, one must assist them in any way possible, especially in light of potential threats to world safety and security."
Decennium would place his clenched right hand towards his open palm. "I figured a Church Executioner could use a little hand against these guys, if you don't mind?" He would say. "Since us Riders have a personal score to settle with these edgy stooges."
Ciel would only mutter softly. "Umm, be my guess." She certainly wasn't complaining for the additional help, especially for famous heroes like the Kamen Riders.
"Hey!" One of the BEDs took offense to that. "Who the fuck are you to call us edgy stooges?!"
"Me?" His emerald eyes glowed. "Me and her," His neck indicated Agito. "We're just passing through Kamen Riders. Remember that."
"RAAAAAGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Like piranhas who found their delicious meal, the Zombie BED hordes would charge against the Kamen Riders, who in turn charged as well. In their first attacks, Decennium and Agito would dodge the Zombie BEDs hands and performed multiple punches and jabs that would incinerate the latter to ashes upon contact. Agito herself would use specific martial arts movements, like she was moving in the flow of mere water, as she moved her body forward and dodged the unbalanced and undisciplined Zombie BEDs. Decennium was more straightforward, raw, and personal, as he used his right hand to destroy them - as an echoing sound of glass was heard with each punch - and a few kicks and side punches with his left hand.
New Generation Kamen Riders - Main Riders (Appearance Chart):
Kamen Rider Kuuga = ?
Kamen Rider Agito = Haruhi Suzumiya (First Appearance: Episode 4)
Kamen Rider Ryuki = ?
Kamen Rider Faiz = ?
Kamen Rider Blade = Shirou Emiya (First Appearance: Episode 1)
Kamen Rider Hibiki = ?
Kamen Rider Kabuto = ?
Kamen Rider Den-O = ?
Kamen Rider Kiva = ?
Kamen Rider Decennium = Touma Kamijou (First Appearance: Episode 4)
Kamen Rider W = ?
Kamen Rider OOO = ?
Kamen Rider Fourze = ?
Kamen Rider Wizard = ?
Kamen Rider Gaim = ?
Kamen Rider Drive = ?
Kamen Rider Ghost = ?
Kamen Rider Ex-Aid = ?
Kamen Rider Build = ?
Kamen Rider Black Zi-O = See (2025) MS: The Twilight Guardian of Hearts for this Rider Identity.
Trivia Section:
(*1) - From TYPE-MOON Wiki - (2000) The Burial Agency (埋葬機関, Maisō Kikan?) is a group of special Inquisitors gathered by the Holy Church in the original Tsukihime series.[1]
(2021) The Burial Agency (埋葬機関, Maisō Kikan?) is a group of special Inquisitors gathered by the Holy Church in the Tsukihime Remake series. The director manages seven primary agents allowed free action by an archbishop.
(*2) - From TYPE-MOON Wiki - (2000) Ciel (シエル, Shieru?) is seventh member of the Burial Agency of the Holy Church. Formerly an incarnation of Michael Roa Valdamjong, she goes undercover at Private Misaki High School, acting as Shiki Tohno's senior. She is one of the five heroines of Tsukihime.
(2021) Ciel (シエル, Shieru?) is the seventh member of the Burial Agency of the Holy Church. Formerly an incarnation of Michael Roa Valdamjong, she goes undercover at Souya's high school, acting as Shiki Tohno's senior. Ciel is one of the six heroines of the Tsukihime Remake series.