Reviews:
DCDGojira: Thank you, friend.
Nexus240: Yeah, I agree. I should have made this clear earlier but Odin won't be using Time Vent to that effect in the story. It would create too many problems and I don't feel like writing recap chapters. Not to mention that in canon, Odin used Time Vent once for no reason so we can get a recap episode that changed nothing. Sure, Ryuki figured out what he would do but it literally did nothing else in the story. I guess you could argue that Ryuki's many alternative endings are because of timelines created by Time Vent. But I won't be addressing other timeliness and dimensions until XDU and we have a long time before that happens.
maxfz19: Nos escribo a Odin desde el primer capitulo de la serie y la verdad es una pasada user sus poderes para creer peleas.
Chapter 19
The Allfather
"So you're telling me that's Odin? The guy you mentioned a shit ton of times?" Ryuki observed the golden Rider in front of them with curious eyes."I don't know. Doesn't look like that big a deal to me. He's really shiny, I'll give him that. But I expected...I don't know. Something else, I guess."
"I guess it goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover," Zolda commented, eyeing Knight and Scissors. He didn't know their story, but they were shaken up by Odin's presence.
"So is he like...actually Odin? The God?" Ouja asked no one in particular.
"Are you insane? You really think that he's an actual God? And Odin, on top of that?" Gai glared at him.
"That's actually him." Ryuga spoke up, earning everyone's attention."Or rather, he's an avatar. A representation given form."
"What do you mean?" Ryuki asked.
"Ordinarily, Gods like Odin reside in a realm that's higher than the one we live on. And they can only access this world by using a human as a host. This can be done by either taking complete control over their body or making a contract with them. Once they do that, they can manifest using the human's body, even though it's not really them, per se."
"Wait...so Odin is an actual person? A human?" Ryuki grew more confused by the second. None of it made sense in his head.
"Not exactly. The Allfather most likely stole whatever person's body he was using by tricking them. More likely than not, that person is long dead. Or to be more precise, their personality has been overwritten by Odin."
"And how do you know all of this?" Ouja asked the question everyone was wondering.
Ryuga remained silent, and this only seemed to anger Gai further.
"This isn't the time to clam up! If you got the information, go ahead and spill it!"
"It seems you are in a similar boat as I am." Odin addressed Ryuga."So that explains the existence of this...anomaly. Interesting. I suppose I was wrong in believing that killing you straight away for interfering with the game was the right decision. You may just have made this a lot more interesting."
"What does that even mean?" Ryuki demanded, growing impatient."What do you mean he's interfering? He's a Rider like us, right?"
"I wonder about that..." Odin chuckled ominously."Regardless...this is an unexpected turn of events. It's funny how things work. This is the outcome he absolutely did not want to happen."
"He...?"
"But we're getting off-topic here." Odin brought the conversation back on track. "As I have said, I wish to test your abilities and see how much stronger you are in comparison to your predecessors."
"Stronger than our predecessors?" Ryuki parroted."But I...Knight, did I become stronger than Akira-san?"
"Naturally those who inherit decks from other Riders are stronger and hold a stronger conviction in them." Odin answered."The fact you're alive and was chosen by that deck means that the previous owner was inferior to you. Of course, there are other cases. Gai over there obtained it by other means."
"Tch." Gai grunted."So what? I'm worthy of this power! I was rightfully deserving of a Deck and this is mine! I would kill my so-called brother again if I must!"
"You...killed your brother...?" Knight turned to him in horror.
"He wasn't my brother. None of them were." Gai spat."I only had one person I truly cared about. But she's long gone. And that's why I'm in this war now. So I can get my wish and bring her back to life."
"And here I thought you had more devious plans than that." Ouja chuckled in amusement."It turns out you have someone precious to you. What was it? A family member?"
"What the hell do you care?" Gai answered, his gaze lowering."At any rate, the only one who deserves that wish is me."
"I guess that means I'm just cut above the rest since this deck has been mine since day one." Ouja placed a hand over his chest.
"We don't have time for this shit!" Zolda cried."Our friends are in trouble! So get out of the way, Odin!"
"I'm afraid I can't let you leave until my evaluation is over." Odin shook his head."I must test your determination. How far are you willing to go? How strongly do you want your desires? We'll find that out now."
"Look, I don't care if you're a God or whatever." Ouja approached him slowly, Odin crossing his arms."But all we have to do is kill you now. One of us will get that wish. So whoever kills you first is the true winner!"
Ouja went for a punch, but Odin slapped him away in a second. To them, it looked like he hadn't even moved his arms. But Ouja felt the impact of his attack and fell to the ground.
"This is how it's done!" Gai charged in, going for a haymaker but Odin teleported in a flash. Gai turned on his heel, only to be backhanded across the face.
"I didn't even see him move...is it teleportation?" Zolda wondered.
"So he can teleport like Ryuga?"
"Teleportation?" Odin hummed."No, that's not exactly it. But you can figure that out on your own, I believe."
"We have to get out of here." Knight found his voice, though it came out as a whisper rather than a strong command.
"Yeah, no shit, Sherlock." Ryuki retorted."But I doubt he'll let us just-"
"You don't get it! He's going to kill us all!" He snapped, earning surprised looks from his teammates."He killed Akira!"
Scissors clenched his fists, closing his eyes under his helmet.
"We have to get out of here, right now. We can't...we don't stand a chance!"
"But this is a good opportunity. If we all gang up on him, we might win." Ryuki tried to reason with him.
"Thinking of leaving, Knight?" Odin faced the four Riders."Not one to try your luck? It has been a few years. I'm sure you must have grown stronger. Here you are leading your group of Riders. Leading the newest Ryuki."
"Shut up..." Scissors whispered, his vision turning red at the sight of Odin.
"It's a shame. I can't imagine how it must feel to bury even more people that you care about. It's funny how things work. Who would have thought you'd be burying another Ryuki and a second Scissors?"
"I SAID SHUT UP!" Scissors screamed at the top of his lungs, drawing a card from his deck and leaping into the air.
Strike Vent: Scissorspinch
ATK: 1000
Scissors tried to grab Odin's head but seemed to go through him due to how fast he had moved it.
"Bring it on, you damn freak!" Ryuki was the next one to go, activating his ability.
Sword Vent: Dragsaber
ATK: 2000
Ryuki slashed horizontally, his attack only hitting air due to Odin sidestepping.
Strike Vent: Gigahorn
ATK: 2000
Zolda gave a battle cry, attempting to go for a stab. Odin teleported away and returned to his spot when Zolda had passed through."Heh."
All Riders were not deterred by this display of speed and rushed him simultaneously. Odin effortlessly dodged their attacks, his arms remaining folded as he was purely on the defensive. No matter how fast and how hard they attacked, none of them were landing a hit. Odin was too fast for any of them to track. Ryuki and Zolda went for a combined attack, but Odin vanished. A shower of gold feathers struck the Riders, causing them to yell in pain.
"Why...why can't I move...?" Knight's hands trembled, his body not listening to him in the slightest."I finally have him right in front of me...I can avenge Akira...so why...why am I so scared...?"
Ryuga eyed him from the side, sighing."I can't stay here for long. I have to go back to Lydian."
Black Vent: Calamity Gates
Knight shifted his gaze to the black portal opening next to Ryuga, but before he could go in, Odin appeared in front of it.
"How? Where did he go?!" Scissors looked around, bewildered.
"Going somewhere?" Odin slapped Ryuga twice, sending him flying into a building."Your little portals aren't fast enough to help you escape from me."
Zolda, Scissors, and Ryuki lunged at Odin, the latter not even bothering to acknowledge them.
Venom Vent
ATK: 1000
Zolda was caught in a purple void on the ground, engulfing him in a pillar of energy that stunned him.
"What the hell?!" Ryuki stopped in his tracks, only to be pushed harshly by Gai.
"Move it or lose it, schoolboy!" Gai yelled as he headed for Odin. A tail wrapped around his leg, and before he could respond, tossed him against a window, going through the inside of an office.
Venosnaker hissed at Odin, coiling around a traffic light. Ouja jumped off its back and vanished, moving at great speeds in a zig-zag.'I'll strike him with my full speed to his pressure points. He may be a God, but can the emotions of a God surpass that of a human?!'
Ouja went for a jab, but it went right through Odin. He halted in his tracks, going for a back-kick aimed at Odin's head. The kick hit Odin on the side of the head, moving his head.
"He got him!" Zolda cheered, realizing he was cheering for the guy he hated the most."Ugh..."
"No. He didn't." Ryuga walked closer to the battle, his eyes wide open in shock. Odin was unfazed, chuckling after receiving Ouja's kick to the side of his head. He grabbed Ouja's leg, squeezing tight.
The snake Rider grunted, jumping in place and going for a second kick. Ouja grabbed it with ease, holding him now upside down.
Shoot Vent: Gigacanons
ATK: 2000
Zolda aimed his cannons at Odin, not bothering to try to avoid Ouja, and fired consecutive rockets at him. Odin tossed Ouja at Zolda, using him as a shield. The bull-theme Rider yelped in pain as Ouja's body crashed against him.
"Goro...Ryu-kid..." Knight tried calling for his friends, but his voice barely rose in pitch."He'll kill us all..."
Scissors and Ryuki went for a pincer attack, only to hit each other when Odin teleported away. He appeared behind Ryuki, slapping him across the face. Scissors rose his arms anticipating an attack, but Odin swept his legs, knocking him to the ground. Before he could touch the asphalt, Odin kicked him in an instant, sending him flying toward a sign, and knocking it down.
Ryuki groaned in pain, noticing pieces of his helmet starting to break."Fuck...I sure hope the girls are having a better time than us. I'm getting worried here...Hey, Ryuga! You are supposed to be chosen by God or whatever the hell, right?! Why the hell aren't you doing better than us?! You worry about Miku, right? Well, we're worried about our friends! So don't be like Ouja and Gai and help us out!"
"That won't do us any good." Ryuga muttered dejectedly."We can't even scratch him. No matter what you guys do together, there is no way to beat him. At least, not at our current power.."
"You know a lot more than you're letting on." Ryuki accused him."You're supposed to be the strongest Rider, right? So come on, show us what you got!"
"Stop goating me." Ryuga scoffed."It's not like I'm planning to lose here. But my wish can't be accomplished at the moment. So I have no reason to fight as hard as the rest of you."
"What do you mean? Look, it doesn't matter. You gonna help us or what?!"
"Fine." Ryuga drew a card, and inserted it into his visor.
Strike Vent: Dragclaw
ATK: 3000
"Hope you can keep up with me." Ryuga narrowed his eyes at Odin."Because I'm going full throttle."
"Now you're talking." Ryuki nodded along, summing his own Dragclaw.'I hope the girls are having a better time than us.'
Kamen Rider Tiger sat outside of Lydian, a grim look hidden under his helmet. Something was wrong. Other than Fine attacking this school, he could feel something abnormal far from their location. But he felt it clear as day. A strong presence calling him over. He shook his head, snapping from his thoughts. There was no time for that. He came to hold the end of his promise and put an end to Fine. By himself, if he had to. And this was the perfect opportunity as well as the last one. Whatever Fine was planning, it was happening today. And he knew that he wouldn't get another chance to kill her like this one.
"I don't know if I'll make it out of this...sorry, guys. Your idiotic older brother might do something really stupid today."
"Hey! Tiger-san!"
Tiger perked up, glancing over his shoulder and meeting gaze with the cream-haired girl from before."It's you guys. Here to save your school? But hey, you're a couple of people short."
"The Noise! And the...school..."
Hibiki fell on her knees when she noticed the destroyed school she had just attended earlier today.
"Yeah...I'm sorry. When I got here, it was already like this. There were some Noise but I killed them all." Tiger walked up to Hibiki, kneeling beside her and rubbing her back."I'm sorry I wasn't able to be here sooner."
"Why are you here?" Chris' tone was accusatory, causing Tiger to sigh."Here to kill one of the Kamen Riders we're with? Well too damn bad. They ain't here."
"No, that's not why I'm here." Tiger shook his head."I'm here to keep my promise to Zolda and myself."
"To Takeru?"
"I promised him I would keep an eye out for you until this whole Fine thing was over." Tiger explained."And I'm here to put an end to Fine. But I don't think I can do it alone."
"What's your connection with Fine, anyway? And why are you helping us?" Chris demanded."You're hiding something."
"I am. However, I'm not at liberty to say more than that. These lips are sealed."
"Don't give me that bullshit!"
"Calm down, Yukine." Tsubasa held Chris back."If he's here to help, then we should cooperate."
"Wow..." Tiger marbled at the girl in front of him
"...What is it?" Tsubasa stared back, puzzled.
"Oh, nothing. It's just...I didn't expect to meet THE Tsubasa Kazanari." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly."I know it's shitty timing, but I'm a big fan."
"Ah...thank you..." Tsubasa gave him a faint smile."I always appreciate meeting a fan."
"I'll ask for an autograph later." Tiger turned on his heels, glaring directly at the person standing on top of the roof."We have bigger fish to fry."
"That's...Ryoko-san!" Hibiki cried.
"Ryoko..." Tiger's eyes shot wide open, memories of himself and his siblings being tested on and forced to do things against their will. He could never forget the people watching behind the glass. One of them being the same woman in front of them.
"My, my." Ryoko laughed, almost maniacally."When I heard Ouja mention a Tiger, I had a feeling it was you. You were always the bold one out of those children, weren't you, Tiger? Don't worry. I won't reveal your name. I'm not that cruel."
"What is the meaning of this, Ryoko-san?!" Tsubasa snarled, though she already knew the answer in her heart.
"That's Fine." Chris gritted her teeth."That bitch! I have unfinished business with her!"
Ryoko removed her glasses and undid her bun before a blue aura engulfed her body as she began morphing. Once the light died out, the brown-haired scientist they knew was replaced by a blonde woman clad in gold armor.
"Fine!"
"You wretched monster..." Tiger growled, rage beginning to consume him.
"But...but it can't be! Ryoko-san is Ryoko-san! She can't be Fine!" Hibiki shook her head in delusion.
"And where are the rest of you?" Fine ignored her completely, glancing around in search for the other Riders."Did they stay back to fight Ouja?"
"Where is Ryoko-san?!"
"I was trying to ignore you." Fine sighed."But I can't bring myself to do that to a cute thing like you. If you really must know, Ryoko Sakurai's body was consumed long ago. 12 years to be precise, a year before the Kamen Riders began appearing. My real name is Fine, a priest from ancient Sumerian times. I sealed my consciousness within my genes so that if any of my descendants ever experienced an Aufwachen waveform, all of my memories and abilities would resurface in that body."
"So a parasite that takes over the host once it dies." Tiger remarked."Truly fitting of you."
"You really don't know anything, do you?" Fine grinned at him, sending chills down his spine."Good. I don't want to spoil the surprise. But if you really think you can kill me and make everything better, you're sorely mistaken. I am eternal."
"What are you talking about?" Poor Hibiki was still trying to recuperate from her shock.
"12 years ago, when Tsubasa accidentally awakened the Heavenrend, I awoke within Ryoko Sakurai. But this is hardly the first time I've done this." She continued with a smug smile."Through the course of history, there have been many visionaries and great heroes that brought about the paradigm shifts that ushered in a new age."
"Like the Symphogear system?" Tsubasa inquired, receiving a scoff.
"That's just an imperfect system with little use other than secure funding from the authorities. I tried making them based on the Kamen Rider suits, but I was not able to replicate their power. But they can have their little battle and their petty wish. The only thing that's going to bring about a new age is my Kadingir!"
Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to shake, and a huge tower rose from the ground. Everyone could only stare in shock as the tower grew taller and taller until it stood towering over everything.
"Jesus..." Tiger muttered."That thing is humongous. You could see it from miles on end."
"Chris..." Fine glared at one of her former minions."You always went about unifying the world and stopping all wars. Well, here is the solution at last. By piercing the Moon."
"Pierce the...what in the world are you talking about?!" Tsubasa snapped."How is that going to unite the world?! You can't just destroy the moon! Think about all the catastrophes it will bring!"
"I simply wanted to reach Him." Fine calmly said."Close to God. So I built a tower to reach for the heavens. However, no mortal can stand on the same level as a God. So He struck it down. Not only was the tower destroyed, but the very tongues of mankind were confused. A punishment without measure, the curse of Balal."
"So you're suggesting that the conflicts within humanity are because of this presumed curse?" Chris asked.
"Yes! And the only way to break that curse is by piercing through the moon. Why do you think the Moon has been a symbol of disharmony since ancient times? Because it's the key to the curse itself." Fine rose her arm, trying to grasp at the moon."I'll free mankind from this curse of confusion by destroying the Moon! Then I'll have the whole world in my hands again!"
"Freemankind only for them to be enslaved by you?" Tiger scoffed at the notion."You just want to look like you're God."
"Yeah, you're making it sound like your goal is world domination." Chris chimed in.
"To put it in the simplest of terms, yes." Fine nodded."I guess that it is."
"That's so cheap!" Chris snorted."Incredibly tawdry!"
"I am eternal." Fine bellowed."What can mere insects like you do to stop me?"
With a snap of her fingers, the tower began to charge up.
"You're telling me this is your goal...?" Tiger muttered, his arms shaking."To rule over the world...? You're telling me we all suffered because of that? That my sister and my two brothers died because of that?!"
"You have more, don't you?" Fine shrugged dismissively."I don't get what you're complaining about."
"I'm going to rip your FUCKING HEAD OFf YOUR GODDAMN BODY! MY SISTER! AND MY TWO BROTHERS?! DEAD! AND YOU'RE THE REASON WHY MY OTHER SIBLINGS HAD THEIR FREEDOM TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM!"
"Tiger?!" Tsubasa was shocked at how feral he sounded.
Tiger materialized his Destvisor, rushing at Fine as he drew a card.
"Wait, you idiot!" Chris cried after him."You can't go in alone!"
"Naive!" Fine lashed out her whips, sending them towards Tiger.
Strike Vent: Destclaws
ATK: 3000
Tiger spun in circles, cutting the whips away and closing in on Fine.
"What the-"
Before Fine could react, Tiger stabbed her in the stomach, piercing through her. His white suit was stained with blood, but he didn't care. He jumped off the roof, launching Fine with one arm across the area, prompting her to crash against a wall, spitting blood.
Chris, Tsubasa, and Hibiki, who had all followed him to help him, could only stare dumbfounded.
"He just...did that like it was nothing?" Chris blinked.
"He's on a whole other level to the previous Rider we've faced." Tsubasa noted."I'm glad he's on our side."
"It's not over yet." Tiger hollered.
Indeed, the holes in Fine's stomach closed up, her wounds regenerating. The woman laughed sinisterly, as she stood back up again."I am truly impressed. I did not know that you were this strong. Definitely a cut above the rest. You are the Perfect Warrior, after all. But I am one with the Neshtan armor. I can regenerate from any wound you inflict on me."
"Guess it'll take more than that to beat her." Tiger sighed."I'm sorry about that, girls. I...lost my composure. I won't let it happen again. This time, let's all go together."
Meanwhile, everyone who managed to escape the destruction of Lydian hid inside a shelter underground, watching live as the fight outside raged on.
"That Kamen Rider..." Genjuro narrowed his eyes at the screen.
"Kamen Rider Tiger if I'm not mistaken." Sakuya informed him."It seems he's on our side on this one."
"Chris is there. But...Is...is Ryuga there as well?" Miku meekly asked.
"Ryuga?" Aoi hummed, focusing on the feed."No. As a matter of fact, none of the other Riders are there. I wonder what happened?"
"Ryoko-I mean, Fine..." Genjuro closed his eyes, his heart still aching from her betrayal."Was working alongside Ouja. The others must be fighting him right now."
"How much do you know about all this stuff? About Biki?" Kuyiro asked Miku."You knew everything?"
"I did." Miku nodded slowly.
"So when you guys fought...it was because of this?" She questioned."So does that mean that Hajime guy is also involved?"
"He's a Kamen Rider. The one that looks like a dragon. The red one." Miku quickly added."The black one is Ryuga."
"Wait...I'm still focused on that Tiger part." Yumi rose her arm."Is that like...his nickname?"
"His official name," Genjuro answered.
"That's so not anime at all!" Yumi exclaimed."So bland!"
"Is that what you were concerned about?" Miku sighed in dismay.
Genjuro gazed up at the ceiling."We need to get in communication with Yosuke and the others. Something feels wrong."
Ryuki and Scissors screamed as they were both tossed against the ground, cracking the street.
Odin released his hold on their legs, focusing his attention on Zolda.
Shoot Vent: Gigamini
ATK: 3000
Zolda sprayed his minigun at Odin, following him as he took off into the air, practically flying.
"He can fly?!" Ryuki groaned in exasperation."Come on!"
Ryuga began firing black fireballs from the opposite direction for a pincer attack, forcing Odin to fly up to dodge.
Final Vent: Veno Crash
ATK: 6000
Ouja leaped out of one of the windows of a building, holding his Venosaber in hand. He went for a stab, but Odin teleported away."Not done yet!"
Venosnaker slithered up a building, spitting venom at Ouja and propelling him to Odin's new location as he went for a final kick.
Odin rose his arm, unleashing a barrage of golden feathers that shot Ouja down, falling several stories down onto a car.
Odin shot more feathers at Zolda, destroying his minigun.
Black Vent: Calamity Gate
A portal opened up behind Odin, with Ryuga came out of it and was ready to punch him. Odin grabbed his gauntlet, but Ryuga began firing a rapid-fire of fireballs.
"Hold him, Ryuga!" Ryuki and Scissors leaped towards them. Odin forced Ryuga's arm to aim at Ryuki, hitting him with a few fireballs before changing to Scissors. Both of them fell to the street.
"You won't win like this," Odin whispered in Ryuga's ear before kneeing him in the gut, cracking his chest plate. Odin threw Ryuga back into the portal he came from before descending back to the ground.
"Are you ready to join in, Knight?" Odin asked the petrified bat-theme Rider.
Knight made no sound and wouldn't move, only gaping in horror.
"I suppose that it's a normal reaction to be afraid of the unknown." Odin commented."You seem to be the only one conscious enough to realize the fruitless efforts of continuing to fight me."
"HYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
From practically nowhere, Gai lunged at Odin, pushing him back with his Metal Horn before he began trying to stab him with it."I've had it up to here with you people looking down on me! The only one who is worthy of having that wish is me! And I'll rip it off their corpses if I have to!"
Wordlessly, Odin kneed him in the gut, sending him flying toward an abandoned bus, denting it, and falling on his knees, holding his side. The pain was so intense that he was about to pass out from it.
But he remembered. The days when his only happiness was to converse with the person he cherished the most.
"Why don't you come to play with us, Teru-nii?" The brown-haired girl holding a stuffed chipmunk sat beside him.
"I don't want to." The black-haired boy hugged his knees."I want to stay here and think."
"Oh, okay." The smaller girl nodded."Then I'll accompany you and we can think together."
"Huh? Are you an idiot?" The boy gave her an odd look."You don't have to do that. Go hang out with the other idiots if you want. I'm fine by myself."
"But I don't want you to be lonely. Teru-nii." The girl insisted, holding up her chipmunk in front of her and moving its arms."Toby wants to hang out with you too. You won't say no to him, would you?"
"Seriously..." The boy sighed, a smile gracing his lips."You're worse than that knucklehead. You're so stubborn...Serena."
"Stubborn? Me?" Serena innocently looked away."I wonder where I got that from."
Gai snarled, forcing his body up despite the pain."I'm so sick and tired of this shit! I will...!" He screamed at the top of his lungs.
"What is he doing?" Scissors sat up.
"I guess it's true...we're all here because we have strong convictions." Ryuki couldn't help but admire Gai."And that guy...I hate him. But I can tell. He has a reason why he's clinging on."
Odin folded his arms, waiting for Gai patiently.
"I will...I WILL BE THE ONE TO GET THAT WISH! FOR HER!" Gai yelled to the heavens, tossing his card at his visor. Metalgelas appeared behind him as they ran at top speed.
Final Vent: Heavy Pressure
ATK: 5000
Gai jumped on top of Metalgelas' shoulders, reaching their maximum speed."DIE!"
Odin rose his arms, catching the Metal Horn with his arm and with a golden aura expelling from his body, canceled the momentum.
"N-no...way..." Gai muttered in pure horror. Odin punched him in the solar plexus, completely shattering his armor, leaving only his bodysuit before tossing him away like a ragdoll.
"You're kidding me..." Zolda muttered in bewilderment."He just...stopped his attack like nothing..."
Ryuga swallowed the lump in his throat."You told me the Allfather was strong but...I wasn't expecting him to be this out of our realm..."
"Is there nothing we can do?" Scissors gasped, noticing something shining in the distance."What's that?"
Everyone, including Odin, turned to see a giant tower in the distance that wasn't there before, shining bright in the dark skies of the night.
"That's from Lydian!" Scissors cried out."Something's going on there!"
A chuckle caught their attention, coming from Ouja, who was holding onto his left arm.
"What's that thing, you snake asshole?! You know something!" Zolda aimed at him with his Magnuvisor.
"It's Fine's ultimate goal." Ouja replied."Her plan is coming to fruition. The end is here. And I will finally see the strongest emotion aimed towards the strongest goal. That is...if I don't die today. Clearly, we're all too weak to put a dent in him."
"What, you ready to work together with us then?" Ryuki rhetorically asked, receiving a chuckle in return.
"I think it's obvious what I intend to do. Odin hinted at it earlier. This war is not about power but about desires. We're fighting to see whose motivation is the strongest. Those who came before us, or well, you, are weaker because they died before realizing their objectives."
"Get to the point!" Zolda screamed, fed up with his theatrics.
Ouja turned to Scissors, immediately rushing towards him and slashing him against his chest, knocking him back."The only way to advance in this war is to get stronger. And the only way to do that is by killing other Riders."
"Scissors!" Ryuki aimed his Dragclaw at Ouja, but Odin stood in the way."What?!"
"It appears that you are slowly beginning to realize the true nature of this game."
Scissors stood up, panting for air, barely managing to block Venosaber with his Scissorspinch."I'm not...I'm not just going to let you kill me!"
"I would hope not." Ouja mused, applying more force, but Scissors didn't move further."You've changed since the last time we fought. I can feel your emotion. At least, it's stronger than that coward you call a leader."
"Don't you dare talk about him like that!" Scissors used all of his strength, pushing Ouja back as he blocked his attacks between chuckles.
"Oho! What a fighter! Yes! Show me more!" Ouja blocked everything with ease, wanting to feel more from Goro.
Scissors clicked his tongue, going for a kick to Ouja's kick, but the purple Rider leaped back.
Shoot Vent: Scissorscrap
ATK: 2000
A metal canon appeared on his right arm, aiming it at Ouja. He began firing bullets made of scraps of metal. Ouja grunted, backflipping away.
"We have to go help him!" Ryuki exclaimed, but Ryuga stood in front of him."What are you doing?!"
"Believe in your friend. You and I have a job to do." Ryuga told him."We need Zolda to make a distraction. And when we see an opening, we'll attack him with everything we have."
"Okay..." Ryuki hated to admit it, but he was right. If he went to help Goro, Odin would just kill them regardless. They had to take their chances.
Zolda glanced at the tower."Chrissy...please be okay..."
Chris groaned in frustration, firing all her missiles at Fine.
Mega Deth Party
Fine swung her whips, destroying the missiles before they could even touch her.
Advent: Destwilder
ATK: 5000
Fine yelled, ducking at the last second before the Advent Monster grabbed her head. Hibiki and Tiger jumped down from both sides. Fine blocked Hibiki's attacks and focused on dodging Tiger's claws, not wanting to be pierced by them again. She grabbed Hibiki's wrist, tossed her away, and grabbed Tiger's claws with her whips. She pulled the claws out of his arms before he could cut them, leaving him vulnerable to her attacks.
Before she could attack him, Tsubasa blocked her whip with her katana.
"Hold her, Tsubasa!" Tiger materialized his axe, rushing towards Fine.
The woman disarmed Tsubasa, swinging her whips at her. The bluenette leaped back past Tiger who rose his axe above his head.
"What are you without that ultimate offense of yours?" Fine mocked, spinning her whip around and blocking Tiger's strike.
"I'm an older brother!" Tiger declared, jumping back and switching with Tsubasa, who used her arms to spin around, using the blades on her heels to attack Fine.
Fine simply repeated her maneuver, blocking Tsubasa's blades with her whip by twirling it around.
"Got you!" Hibiki appeared from Fine's side, winding her fist back before releasing it with a battle cry. All of them were sent skidding away from each other.
"This is what I'm after!" Chris yelled, sporting two missiles on her back.
"As if you can hit me with that!" Fine challenged, jumping back and noticing the missiles were homed on her, forcing her to continue avoiding them.
"There's still one more! Snipe and destroy!"
With that, the second missile launched toward the tower.
"Think again!" Fine swung her whip, destroying the missile before it reached the tower."Wait...where's the other one?!"
To her shock, Chris had shot up toward the sky with the missile.
"Chris-chan!" Hibiki screamed.
"What is she trying to do?" Tsubasa narrowed her eyes.
Tiger didn't like the look of this one bit."She's planning something. Stay alert in case we need to back her up."
"No matter how hard you try, they're just toys!" Fine scowled in disdain."Nothing can stop Kadingir!"
"Gatrandis Babel Ziggurat Edenel..."
Fine's cocky smirk vanished in an instant."No way!"
"Her Superb Song?!" Tsubasa exclaimed.
"Emustolronzen Fine el Balal Zizzl..."
A purple tint covered their surroundings as she jumped off the missile, standing above the Kadingir.
"Gatrandis Babel Ziggurat Edenel..."
Tiger took a step back, his eyes wide open."This is...just like that time..."
Multiple diamond-shaped reflectors popped out from her skirt armor, with the armor itself forming reflector units too. Chris' gauntlets then extended to form two pistols, which she used to fire off two beams of energy that started reflecting between all the reflector units.
"Emustolronzen Fine el Zizzil..."
With the reflector units lit up after gaining power, Chris aimed her pistols at the tower, which both extended into two massive cannons. Pulling the trigger, all reflector units fired, letting all the beams converge into a single attack.
Kadingir fired in reply, shooting a powerful beam of green energy that aimed for the moon.
The two beams clashed and could be seen from out of the planet itself.
"It stopped?!" Fine cried in disbelief."She's countering it?!"
"She's going to get killed!" Tiger turned to Hibiki."Try throwing me towards her! Use your pistons and all of your strength."
"B-but-"
"There's no time! I have to get close if I want to use my Freeze Vent!"
"Would it even work?" Tsubasa brought up a question that Tiger did not want to think about.
"I...The blast of the Kadingir is too powerful for my Freeze Vent to work for long. At most, it'll freeze it for a second." Tiger rose his head, meeting gaze with Tsubasa."But it'll be enough for me to get Chris out of the way and save her. I have a promise to keep. And I never break my promises. You with me, Hibiki Tachibana?"
"Right! Tell me what you need from me and I'll do it."
"What are those cretins planning?" Fine scowled as Tiger and Hibiki began running up the tower."You can try as you might, but Chris has sealed her fate! Once a Symphogear sings her Superb Song, she is almost guaranteed to die. But you know that already, don't you, Tiger?"
"Tiger-san..." Hibiki glanced at him in concern, but the young man kept running.
"Now! Jump off the wall!"
Hibiki did as he instructed, jumping off with him."Now grab me and used your boosters!"
"Roger!" Hibiki wrapped his arms around his torso as she used her boosters to fly up toward the sky. Tiger tapped Hibiki's arms, causing her to release him and pull the pistons on her gauntlets back. The girl pulled her arms back, pushing her fists together as Tiger planted his feet on her knuckles."Now!"
Hibiki threw her body weight forward, punching Tiger's feet and the pistons were released, propelling him high in the air at high speeds.
'I promised myself I would never let another person die by their own Superb Song.' Tiger grimaced under his helmet.'I let Serena die because I was useless. And subsequently, I let TeruTeru and Atticus-nii die...But I'm not anyone to die like that again! This time I'll stop it!"
"Mom...Dad...I've always loved you..." Chris' weapons and armor began breaking apart as she closed her eyes, blood coming out of her mouth due to the internal damage her song was causing."That's why I want to carry on with your dream...I want to bring peace to the world with my song...with Takeru."
Kadingir's attack began overpowering Chris' slowly closing the gap between them.
"Takeru...I never said it, did I? How much you meant to me" Chris opened her eyes, staring at the blast that would bring about her demise."I'm sorry...I never got to say it. Please don't be sad...I...I love you. I love you with all of my heart."
The image of Takeru, her Mom, and Dad smiling at her appeared in her mind."You all are...the reason for which I sing..."
Freeze Vent
Kadingir's blast was frozen in ice, but the ice quickly began breaking away. Tiger tackled Chris out of the way, but the blast managed to grace them before continuing on its path.
"Shit...we're going to hit the ground..." Tiger grabbed tightly onto Chris, trying to shield her as best as he could before the crashed like a meteor in the forest.
"Chris-chan! Tiger-san!" Hibiki screamed in utter despair."No!"
"They both...were hit by that attack..." Tsubasa's eyes widened.
"Chris, foolish as ever, killed herself to protect the moon." Fine scoffed."And on top of that, Tiger thought he could make a difference this time. What a delusional fool."
"How dare you look down on them?!" Tsubasa snapped."Their selfless acts were nothing short of noble!"
A blood-curdling scream erupted from Hibiki, taking both Fine and Tsubasa by surprise as her eyes turned red and her entire body was covered in a black shadow."DON'T YOU DARE LAUGH AT MY FRIEND!"
'What's wrong with you? You've never been one to doubt yourself like this.'
Knight heard a voice in his head as he idly observed Ryuga and Ryuki fight, Odin, with Zolda shooting rockets from behind.
"Akira..."
"They need you, Yosuke. Come on, this is unbecoming, man. You scared or something?"
'Of course, I'm scared! He killed you!'
'Yeah...yeah, he did, huh.' Akira's voice sounded as carefree as he had last heard it.'But I wasn't thinking straight. I jumped in by myself without a plan. I died for my own mistakes. But you've always been smarter than me. More level-headed. Protect them, Yosuke. They need you.'
'But...why are they still fighting? Despite knowing we stand no chance...we can't win...I always thought that getting a group of Riders together would be enough to beat Odin but...this is...'
'They're fighting because each of them has their dreams and ambitions. Things that push them forward. A motive. And a motive is enough to drive a person to their fullest potential. Sure, they know it's a losing battle, but if there's a sliver of hope in getting their wish, they'll go for it. You should do the same.'
'I don't think I was the right choice to be the leader of the Rider Unit...' Knight glanced at his Winglancer on the floor.'I'm not like you. I'm not fit to be a leader.'
'You're not like me, you're right. You're better. All you need is a will to get started on working towards a goal. These boys are fighting with everything they've got. And they need a leader. Someone with the brains and experience to show them the path to victory. That's all I can tell you. The rest is up to you.'
"Akira..." Knight turned his head towards Scissors and Ouja."I'll do it. I'm done sitting around watching my juniors fight my battles. I swore I'd put an end to Odin's game and that's what I'll do!"
"What's wrong? Getting tired?" Ouja kicked Scissor's arm canon out of his arm, punching him in one of his pressure points on the other one, prompting him to drop his sword. He kicked his left knee, dropping him on the other one before readying his sword to behead him."Game over."
Knight blocked the attack, saving Goro at the last second.
"Yosuke-senpai!" Scissors beamed. Knight kicked Ouja in the stomach, pushing him back before following with a series of thrusts. Ouja parried all of them except the last one, which pierced around his left shoulder, stabbing into his arm. The snake Rider hissed, returning the favor and piercing Knight's leg. Knight fell on his rear while Ouja stumbled back, grabbing his bleeding arm.
"Damn...I wasn't expecting you to join in..." Ouja chuckled."Why save him? You could have saved the others."
"That's simple. But I guess a heartless person like you would never understand..." Knight supported himself with Winglancer."I have to protect them. They are under my command and as such I'm responsible for them. But above all else, they're my friends."
"How touching..." Ouja snickered.
"Alright! You go, Yanagi!" Ryuki cheered from afar."It's time for us to deliver the final blow!"
"Your efforts are fruitless." Odin crossed his arms, not worried in the slightest.
Advent: Magnugiga
ATK: 6000
"We'll see about that, you arrogant prick!" Zolda summoned Magnugiga, who rose its arm and began firing its Gatling guns at Odin.
Odin merely teleported in front of the robot, kicking it and causing it to fall. A portal opened up underneath Magnugiga, teleporting it inside.
The Allfather rose his head, watching as the robot was now falling from the sky, aiming both its arms and shooting missiles and bullets. Odin was forced to leap away, only for a dragon made of fire to come his way. Raising his arm, Odin fired a barrage of feathers, putting out the fire.
"Don't forget about me!" Ryuga went to attack him from behind using his Dragsaber. Odin grabbed the blade with his hand, shattering it to pieces, and went to slap Ryuga. Before the attack could connect, a missile collided between them, causing Odin to fall back.
"Now!"
Final Vent: Dragon Rider Kick
ATK: 6000
Final Vent: Dark Dragon Rider Kick
ATK: 7000
Final Vent: End of the World
ATK: 7000
Zolda inserted his visor into Magnugiga, pulling the trigger and unleashing hell on Odin. Odin flew away, avoiding Magnugiga's attacks as they destroyed the area around them. Ryuki followed behind with Dragreder, as the dragon breathed fire and propelled him toward Odin with a kick. Odin rose his arm, firing more golden feathers at Ryuki. A black portal opened up in front of him, absorbing the feathers and shooting them from below. Another portal opened up beside Odin, causing him to scoff. He noticed another portal opening in between where Ryuga and Ryuki would connect.'So that's their plan.'
Advent: Metalgelas
ATK: 4000
"Hmm?"
Unexpectedly, Metalgelas rammed into Odin, pushing him through the portal.
"Gai!" Ryuki cried, watching as the other Rider was breathing heavily for air, leaning against a wall inside of the building Odin had launched him to.
"Fuck him up!"
"Can't teleport and attack at the same time, can't you?!" Ryuga yelled as Odin appeared in front of them from his portal.
"Checkmate!"
Odin's body began shining more than before, giving the sky a golden tint. Ryuki and Ryuga gasped as their kicks were stopped by Odin, who had caught their feet. He pulled them over, now grabbing them by their necks.
"Poor children of men...You both have no idea of the truth, do you?" Odin gently rubbed the side of their helmets with his thumbs."I pity you. Destiny is indeed cruel."
"Go ahead..." Ryuga spat, his left eye turning yellow."Kill me. You want to kill me, right? I'm not an official part of your game, Allfucker!"
"And there it is." Odin mused."I was wondering if you'd have it in you to talk to me. While you are right that your appearance is...unexpected. It's not at all unwelcome. I knew you'd follow me here. It's in your nature, after all."
"What the hell...are you talking about?!" Ryuki tried to kick Odin, but his attacks were not even tickling him, and instead tightened his grasp on his neck.
"Like I said, he'd be very disappointed if he were to know that you both became part of this game." Odin drawled, his hands twitched until they released their necks."Hmmm. As I thought..."
Ryuki and Ryuga fell to the ground, but before they could reach it, Odin flew past them. The next thing they knew, they had two golden glows in their stomachs, screaming in pain after Odin punched them in a rapid motion.
Odin crashed into Magnugiga, barely missing and crushing Zolda to death as the robot was catapulted onto a wall.
"Our coordinated attack...failed..." Ryuki held his aching belly, noticing the golden glow beginning to disappear."Any...more ideas...Ryuga?"
Ryuga grunted, sitting up against an abandoned car."Shit..."
"Very well. After some thinking, I made my decision. I shall make you an official player in this game, Ryuga. You will be the 14th Rider." Odin declared, shocking everyone in the vicinity.
"14...? Wait, so Ryuga wasn't part of the 13 Riders?" Knight asked.
"So what are you...?" Ryuki turned to Ryuga, whose eye had returned to red.
"I am pleased to see this game will be interesting. You see, my goal is to test humanity." Odin splayed his arms, leaning forward."I wish to see just how far humans are willing to go for their desires. And let me tell you, humanity has some dark thoughts. You all are proof that humanity's tenacity is not to be understimated."
"For what purpose...?" Knight inquired.
"Why, indeed. That is the question." Odin hummed."I suppose it's because I wish to see if humanity can save itself from the catastrophe coming.."
"Catastrophe?" Scissors echoed."What catastrophe?"
"You mean what Ryuga mentioned?" Ryuki pressed on."About how humanity is driving itself to its demise?"
"Oh? He said that much?" Odin turned to Ryuga."How bold of you. Are you that confident about your plans? I see...then this proves it. This will be humanity's ultimate test."
"If there is a humanity after this," Ouja said, causing them to turn in his direction. He pointed towards the sky in the distance. A beam of green light was colliding with a purple.
"Wait...that's...that's Chrissy!" Zolda screamed, his heart skipping a beat.
"How do you know? It could be anything."
"No...I don't know how to explain it. But I can feel it deep inside me..." Zolda grabbed his chest, panic filling his mind."I have to go! Chris needs me! She's using her Superb Song!"
"It's too late." Ouja cackled, grimacing as his arm continued bleeding."When Symphogear used their Superb Songs, they are bound to die. Or at least, be critically injured. It's a shame. I was hoping to kill you and make her show me the ultimate emotion. But I'll have to make due."
"Shut the fuck up!" Zolda began sprinting away.
"Ryuga, make him a portal!" Ryuki cried."Please!"
Ryuga shook his head."It's too late."
In effect, the purple blast lost ground and was utterly consumed by the green one.
'I love you.'
Zolda fell on his knees, drooping his visor."No..."
"Chris-san!" Ryuki yelled in vain."Fuck!"
The green blast broke part of the moon, earning a gasp from Ouja."It missed?"
"What do you mean it missed?" Knight addressed him."Was that aiming for the moon? What is Fine planning?!"
"It hardly matters at this point." Zolda grabbed his Venovisor, inserting a card inside."Now, Takeru, what you will do?"
Advent: Venosnaker
ATK; 5000
Venosnaker slithered towards Zolda, spitting venom at him. The Rider did not attempt to move, his gaze on the ground.
"Zolda!" Scissors came in at the last second, pushing Zolda out of the way.
"You guys alright?!" Ryuki rushed in, grabbing Zolda by the shoulders."Get a hold of yourself! That thing almost melted you!"
"There's no...point..." Zolda's voice is devoid of all emotion."Just...Just leave me here..."
"We don't know if Chris is dead! The girls wouldn't let that happen!" He insisted."Tsubasa used her Superb Song and lived!"
"Is this your reaction, Takeru?" Ouja shook his head."I guess I chose right in wanting to kill you first. Chris does seem to be more volatile than you."
"You shut your mouth!" Knight snapped."You won't get what you want as long as I'm around!"
"I won't have to." Ouja stood up, chuckling."This fight is over. Whether we survive here or not doesn't matter."
"You know if Fine destroys the moon all life on earth will be in danger!"
"But that's what Ryuga wants too." Ouja shifted his gaze to Ryuuga."Right?"
"Right." Ryuga responded without missing a beat."But unless I get my wish, this whole thing is pointless."
"Just shut up, Ryuga." Ryuki growled under his breath, helping Zolda up."Come on, Takeru-san...We still need to fight."
Zolda was like a limp doll in his arms, threatening to fall back to the ground."Chrissy...I never got to...give her a happy life..."
Odin, who had remained silent, observing the humans with interest, broke his silence."Very well. I suppose it is time to wrap up this test. I got what I wanted. And I'm afraid to say that at your current level, you are not even close to ever achieving your wish."
"All we have to do is beat you." Knight seethed."We'll find a way. We'll destroy you and stop this game from continuing..."
"I think there is a misunderstanding about this game." Odin said, causing them all to gasp."That's right. Do you believe that besting me will stop this game?"
"But...isn't that how it's supposed to be?" Ouja asked."Whoever kills you will be the one to get their wish?"
"It's a survival game. One that will not end until all players have been bested by one. In other words, even if by some miracle you beat me, you will still have the other contenders to deal with. Otherwise, the game will never end. Only one Kamen Rider may stand at the top as the sole victor."
That revelation caused them all to gape, suddenly losing all the will to fight. Ryuki took shaky steps back."So you're saying...we have to kill each other? Like...all of us?"
"You're lying..." Scissors' voice was barely above a whisper."You're lying..."
"What a joke..." Gai grumbled in the distance."This doesn't change anything. A human is only free when they can take that freedom from others..."
"Just what I expected." Ouja gave a dry chuckle."Then again, it makes sense. Only the one with the strongest conviction can win."
Knight couldn't believe what he just heard. So if he wanted to wish away the Noise...his friends had to die too?
"I declare this evaluation over. This is a promising group. One with potential. Continue fighting and evolving. And above all else, continue to survive. Otherwise, you won't stand a chance against the other Riders." Odin finally reached for his deck, his Goldvisor manifesting in his hand."I'll leave you with a final test. I want to see how much you want to live. If you avoid this, you are worthy. But if you die..."
Final Vent: Eternal Chaos
ATK: 10000
"10000?!" Knight screamed, immediately forcing his body up despite the wound on his leg. He hissed in agony, but used every ounce of willpower to run towards his group."Start running! RUN!"
Ryuki and Scissors grabbed onto Zolda, running with him."Ryuga!"
Ryuga clicked his tongue, inserting a card in his visor and jumping through a portal.
"That motherfucked just sold!" Ryuki exclaimed in frustration.
Odin began levitating in the air as a gold phoenix soared through the sky, turning the night into day due to its powerful glow. The phoenix flapped its wings, creating a powerful gust of wind that began tearing apart everything in its surrounding.
Ouja realized the danger of the situation and began to run away down the street.
Gai sneered, coming to terms that he had to live to tell the tale. He jumped down from the building he was on, limping as fast as he could.
Odin's power covered the whole city and the light could be seen from outer space. The God-like Rider spread his hands, unleashing a powerful blast that obliterated everything in its path. The Goldphenis screeched, its wings releasing a gold light that covered everything in all directions. The buildings were consumed by the light, disintegrating them as it threatened to catch on to the Riders.
"Keep running!" Knight roared, pushing them."And don't look back! No matter what you do, don't look back!"
The blast destroyed the city in its entirety, leaving several buildings destroyed, others still standing but threatening to collapse, and others reduced to ash. The streets were covered in dust, and no sign of life ever inhabiting there could be seen. Odin remained in the middle, his glow slowly dying down as Goldphoenix disappeared.
"Let the games begin."