Author's Note:

Rejoice ! another chapter has been completed and a Special Hyper Battle Video is on the works and we might start a new arc being something akin to the "Reiwa first generation" movie

As always PMs are open and etc and hopefully next chapter is to your enjoyment

Till next chapter, Apzeta, Bishop, and Knight

The moment Akira had finished saying, "Perfect. Now, shall we begin?"

A sudden, ethereal whoosh filled the air behind Ruby, Weiss, and Blake as an Aurora Curtain shimmered into existence.

The radiant hues of light cast long, flickering shadows across the devastated grand hall.

Stepping through the portal with deliberate, theatrical purpose was Tsukasa Kadoya. His coat swayed dramatically as he took in the scene, unimpressed yet keenly observant.

Behind him, emerging into the chaos of the manor, were Willow Schnee, Whitley Schnee, Klein Sieben, and Nora Valkyrie—who now looked visibly better, albeit slightly dazed.

Tsukasa sighed, shaking his head as he regarded Ruby, Weiss, and Blake.

Tsukasa: "I hate to break it to you three, but your priorities are a mess. Instead of making sure your friend was safe, you charged straight into a battle that could've gotten her—or these three—killed."

Ruby, still reeling from Penny's transformation, turned with wide eyes.

Ruby: "W-Wait… Nora?! How—?"

Nora blinked, looking around in mild confusion before flexing her fingers. Her strength felt… renewed.

Nora: "Weird… I feel like I just took the world's best power nap…"

Tsukasa smirked, tapping the side of his belt.

Tsukasa: "You're welcome. Time flows differently for me, so I sped up her recovery. As for the Schnees and their butler? I made sure they weren't caught up in this mess before stepping in."

Weiss' face tightened, glancing at her mother and brother, who looked shaken but unharmed.

Weiss: "I…" She clenched her fists. "I didn't think—"

Tsukasa: "That's the problem. You didn't." His magenta eyes sharpened. "You talk about protecting people, but you were willing to let your own family be collateral damage in this war of yours. If I hadn't intervened, what do you think would've happened?"

Weiss flinched at the harsh truth, unable to argue.

Blake shifted uneasily, processing his words.

Blake: "We didn't—"

Tsukasa: "No, you didn't. But we don't have time for regrets."

His eyes flicked toward the other side of the room, where Akira stood clad in his Ark-Scorpion Armor, his Zetsumetsu Driver humming with Malice.

Standing beside him were Amethyst—still smirking in amusement—and the Onycho Magia—the now corrupted form of Penny, standing rigidly like an apex predator awaiting its command.

Tsukasa's expression turned serious as he studied Akira.

Tsukasa: "Hmph. Zero-One"

Akira tilted his head slightly, amused.

Akira: "Well, well, the 'passing-through' Kamen Rider finally decides to stay for once. Should I be honored?"

Tsukasa smirked.

Tsukasa: "Not quite. Just figured I'd let you know that things are about to get a lot more interesting."

Akira arched an eyebrow, crossing his arms.

Akira: "Oh?"

Tsukasa took a step forward.

Tsukasa: "Salem is about to use the Another Zero-One Ridewatch."

A pause.

For the first time in a while, Akira's smirk faltered.

Amethyst noticed, her smirk dropping into a curious frown.

Amethyst: "Another… Zero-One?"

Akira exhaled sharply, his amusement fading into something colder.

Akira: "Tch. That woman just keeps getting more irritating…"

Tsukasa: "And as we speak, Woz is dealing with a little problem of ours. The Time Jacker."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

Akira's eyes flickered with sharp recognition.

Akira: "...Time Jacker?"

Tsukasa nodded.

Tsukasa: "Goes by the name Riot. He's currently fighting Woz while using the real Another Zero-One Watch."

Akira clicked his tongue in irritation, then looking towards Amethyst.

Akira: "Change of plans. We need to accelerate things."

Amethyst pouted, crossing her arms.

Amethyst: "Aww, but I was enjoying the chaos."

Akira shot her a pointed look.

Akira: "If Salem gets her hands on a completed Another Zero-One form, we'll have more than just Atlas to worry about."

Amethyst sighed dramatically.

Amethyst: "Fine, fine… but I am taking Penny with me." She shot a smug glance at Ruby. "She's much more useful now, after all."

Ruby took a shaky step forward, Crescent Rose trembling in her grip.

Ruby: "I-I won't let you—!"

Akira snapped his fingers.

Immediately, the Onycho Magia moved.

With a terrifying burst of speed, Penny closed the gap between herself and Ruby in an instant, her clawed fingers stopping inches from Ruby's throat.

A heartbeat passed.

Ruby's breath hitched as she locked eyes with Penny's crimson gaze—devoid of warmth, devoid of recognition.

Penny (Onycho Magia): "Target."

Ruby's stomach dropped.

She barely managed to whisper—

Ruby: "Penny…?"

Akira chuckled darkly.

Akira: "She doesn't recognize you anymore, Ruby. The Penny you knew is gone for the time being."

Ruby's grip on Crescent Rose tightened as her vision blurred with unfallen tears.

Tsukasa exhaled, rolling his shoulders.

Tsukasa: "Well… if this is where things are going, I suppose I have to get involved now."

Akira smirked.

Akira: "Oh? And here I thought you were just passing through."

Tsukasa's eyes glowed with light as he raised his DecaDriver.

Tsukasa: "I was. But now?" He slotted a card into the belt.

Tsukasa: "Let's see if you're powerful enough to fight Salem"

Akira chuckled, the crimson glow of his eyes intensifying.

Akira: "Finally. Something actually interesting."

Akira takes out his other driver being the "Forceriser"

[ Outskirts of Mantle ]

The Aurora Curtain swirled into existence on the battlefield, depositing Akira, Amethyst, and Onycho Magia onto the bloodstained snow.

Tsukasa Kadoya stepped through behind them, his coat billowing in the cold wind before the curtain snapped shut.

The moment they arrived, the battlefield revealed its gruesome reality—Atlas soldiers entrenched in makeshift fortifications, desperately fending off waves of Grimm.

The monstrous creatures swarmed the trenches, clawing over barricades as gunfire rang through the frozen air.

From above, Adam—still clad in his Burning Falcon armor—soared like a vengeful specter, his blade carving through flying Grimm with ruthless precision.

A sudden thud echoed across the battlefield as the four Giger Units slammed into the ground, the impact sending shockwaves through the area.

Their glowing red eyes scanned the battlefield before their mechanical limbs extended, tusk-like blades detaching to be wielded as weapons.

The Giger Units surged forward. In an instant, their tendrils lashed out, ensnaring a swarm of Grimm and AK-2000 androids, corrupting the latter into Trilobite Magias.

The battlefield shifted violently as these newly created enforcers turned their weapons on the Grimm, fighting alongside the Giger Units with methodical efficiency.

Atlas soldiers, momentarily stunned by the new arrivals, hesitated before realizing—these machines were helping them.

Among the chaos, Amethyst tapped the side of her helmet, receiving an update from Ark.

Amethyst: "Looks like Adam's having his fun. Ark says all four Gigers are deployed, and the Trilobite Magias are reinforcing our side."

Akira, standing at the edge of the battlefield, smirked as he observed the scene. His red-glowing eyes reflected the carnage like twin embers.

Akira: "Perfect. Let's see how long they last against overwhelming force."

Tsukasa, standing beside him, surveyed the battlefield before exhaling in mild amusement.

Tsukasa: "You sure like tilting the scales, don't you?"

Akira chuckled, arms crossed.

Akira: "War is about control, Kadoya. If we dictate the pace, we dictate the outcome."

Tsukasa hummed, before turning slightly toward Akira.

Tsukasa: "That reminds me… before you get too excited, there's something you should see."

Reaching into his coat, Tsukasa produced a card with a glowing silver armor—etched with the unmistakable design of a grasshopper.

Akira's eyes narrowed.

Akira: "...The hell is that?"

Tsukasa flipped the card between his fingers before tossing it toward Akira. He caught it effortlessly.

The words Metal Cluster Hopper gleamed against the battlefield's light.

Tsukasa: "A contingency plan."

Akira examined the card, his fingers tightening slightly. He recognized the energy within—it was violent. Chaotic. Pure malice.

Akira: "...And you expect me to use this?"

Tsukasa smirked.

Tsukasa: "Only if things go sideways."

Akira let out a low chuckle before slipping the card into his coat.

Akira: "We'll see."

At that moment, the battlefield shifted.

From the horizon, the skies darkened.

A pulse of pure malice—thick and suffocating—rolled over the battlefield like a tide.

Amethyst, usually playful, frowned as a shiver ran down her spine.

Onycho Magia, sensing the shift, raised her claws defensively.

Even Adam, high above, faltered mid-flight, his Burning Falcon sensors blaring in warning.

And then—

The air around them distorted as the fabric of reality warped.

Tsukasa exhaled sharply, his expression losing its usual amusement.

Tsukasa: "Tch. Looks like it's about to happen."

Akira, despite the overwhelming presence, grinned.

Akira: "Let's see what about to happen."

[ Monstra Throne Room ]

Salem stood at the edge of the Throne—her form shifting, twisting—and in her hand, a Another Ridewatch.

The markings upon it gleamed with a twisted insignia—Another Zero-One.

Another Zero-One Ridewatch: [ Zero-One ! ]

She lifted it, pressing it against her chest.