Kamen Rider SideRide Chronicles: Oscura's Encore
Requiem II: Mall Fight
It was a good thing that the Noceda house had an extra bedroom for Amity. As much as she loved living with Luz and her family, the teen witch still needed her space.
It was night and Amity couldn't fall asleep as she stared up at the ceiling fan. The day's events kept replaying in her mind.
Taking out her phone, she began to record herself.
"Alright, so Luz and I just graduated from high school. Let me tell you that the social hierarchy is not much different here. It was just like Hexside without the magical chaos. I'm just glad to have Luz with me to show me the ropes. But this isn't about high school. This is about what happened when we went out to have milkshakes.
"Luz and I ended up being chosen to participate in this secret tournament called the Desire Grand Prix. Here's the twist: we are given the ability to transform into Kamen Riders so we could fight these mysterious monsters known as Jyamatos. I was not about to let Luz do this alone, not after everything we'd been through.
"At the end of the first round, only ten of us made it through while many players were eliminated. And yours truly managed to make it to the top of the leaderboard for clearing the mission. Luz helped me but she doesn't mind getting second place. After the first round, Luz told me what her wish was."
"…I wish I could undo everything I did when I became Oscura," Luz confessed.
"Luz, what do you mean by that?"
"I mean I want to undo all the damage I did as Oscura. When I became a Rider, the first thing I did was kill a bunch of Coven Scouts. Sure, I did a few good things like break Eda's curse, and abolish the Coven System, but I've got blood on my hands. So many people died because of me. Including Eda's parents."
"Luz…you know that you did not kill them. It was the Phantoms."
"My Phantoms, Amity. Even before that I still killed a lot of Coven Scouts who were just doing their job, not even realizing who they were working for. I have to fix it, I need to fix it. So I need to win."
"Luz wishes to undo all the damage she did to the Demon Realm. I know she still feels guilty so I get why she would make that her wish. I don't know if that's possible but Luz is going to see this game through and I'll be with her every step of the way."
Amity felt a presence in her room and immediately cast a light spell. Standing in the corner of her bedroom was the DGP navigator.
"GAAAAH! Tsumuri, what the hell!?" Amity gawked.
"I hope you don't intend to share that recording, Ms. Blight. The DGP must remain a secret from outsiders. If you violate this rule, you will be disqualified," Tsumuri warned.
"No, this is just for my own record," Amity answered and she narrowed her eyes. "How did you get in here?"
"We have our ways. Now, remember, do not tell anyone."
Amity blinked and Tsumuri was gone. Damn, that was freaky.
The following morning, after breakfast, Luz and Amity were summoned to the Desire Temple. Instead of the floating platform, they were brought to a lounge area. There was a bar with stools, red sofas, coffee tables and potted plants for decoration. It looked like a nice place to rest between rounds.
There were others already making use of the amenities. Sitting at the bar were three girls who were having drinks together. They were served by a man dressed like a butler who warmly served them. His name was Mr. Butler.
"I could get used to this," Sasha said as she took a sip of her drink.
The lounge area did not use any regular currency. Instead, it used a form of digital currency called 'Desire Money' that the players could earn by playing the game. They could then spend it in the lounge area to purchase drinks, food and even cosmetic changes.
"Hey, can we use this Desire Money to buy loot boxes?" Marcy asked.
"Sorry, but you cannot buy any Buckles or upgrades," Mr. Butler said.
"Oh," Marcy frowned. "I guess that's fair. It wouldn't be much of a competition if it was pay-to-win."
"Hey, maybe we could have a makeover party," Sasha suggested as she checked the menu on the tablet. "How about it, Anne? Care for a new hairstyle?"
"I dunno, Sash," Anne hesitated.
"Oh, lemme try," Marcy volunteered as she took the tablet and selected hairstyle options. She could change the length of her hair, add accessories or dye her hair. She tapped the screen a couple of times. In a flash, her hair was dyed bright green. "How do I look?"
"Green is definitely your colour, Marbles," Anne praised.
"Hm..." Sasha took the tablet and began tapping the screen. In a flash, she had hot-red hair and her clothes had changed into a DGP leather jacket, blue jeans and boots. "Nice."
"Anne, you have to try it!" Marcy insisted.
"No way, dude. The last time either of you gave me a makeover, I had to grow my hair back," Anne said warily.
"C'mon, Boonchuy. Have you ever imagined what you'd look like with straight hair?" Sasha asked. "Now's your chance."
"And if you don't like it, you can always switch back," Marcy added.
"OK, fine," Anne sighed. "It's temporary, right?" She tapped the screen as she made her selection. In a flash, she had blue hair. "Whaddya think?"
"Wow, that's…" Marcy blushed.
"Anne, you should dye your hair blue for real when you get back," Sasha said approvingly.
"No way, my mom would kill me," Anne protested.
Sasha soon spotted Amity and Luz come in and stood up from her stool.
"Sasha, what are you doing?" Anne asked.
"Just gonna go talk to Miss Number One," Sasha winked and she stepped up to Amity. "Yo, Gato!"
"Huh?" Amity blinked. "You are…?"
"Name's Sasha Waybright, or in this game, you can call me 'Kamen Rider Soaron'," Sasha introduced herself.
"Amity Blight. Nice to meet you."
"Congrats on getting to the top of the leaderboard." Sasha offered her hand and Amity shook it. She noted Sasha's firm grip. "Don't think you'll be at the top forever, 'kay? I'm gonna knock you off the top and get my wish." She let go and returned to her friends.
"Amity, that was a declaration of war!" Luz exclaimed. "Guess you have a rival."
"Yeah…" Amity shook her hand and then took a seat on the sofa with Luz. Luz took the tablet that was laying on the coffee table and began to make an order when Tsumuri entered the lounge.
"Congratulations on making it to the second round of the DGP," Tsumuri said.
"So, since we're in the top ten, do we get any special items?" Marcy asked.
"Certainly, but only the top five will receive a special gift," Tsumuri said as she tapped her tablet. Mission Boxes appeared in front of each participant and they opened them. "The top five players will receive one-of-a-kind Raise Buckles while the rest will receive new Raise Buckles to add to their arsenal."
"Sweet!" Marcy grinned as she studied her new Raise Buckle. It was green with a ninja star attached to it and a ring switch on the side. Anne and Sasha also took out their own Raise Buckles. Anne's looked like a yellow and blue bear that was sleeping and Sasha's had what looked like piano keys and a DJ disk.
Amity and Luz opened their Mission Boxes too and the witch found a purple one that resembled a ribcage with a twist knob.
Amity's Spider Phone pinged, giving her the name of her Raise Buckle.
"Zombie…" Amity frowned. It matched the colour of her helmet but why did it have to be something creepy?
Luz studied her new Raise Buckle. It was white with a handle and it looked like the front of a gun's bullet chamber.
"Magnum, huh?" Luz remarked. "Guess I might get a gun with this thing."
"Hey there, kids." Peter Prospects approached Luz and Amity. "How about you sell me those Buckles?" He had a chequebook open, ready to negotiate. "Name your price."
"Sorry, Mister, but not interested." Luz shook her head.
"C'mon, how much do you want for them?" Peter continued to push but Amity narrowed her eyes. She knew the look in Peter's eyes. She had seen it many times whenever her mother was trying to negotiate a deal.
"She said she's not interested," Amity growled. The man's lips curled into a scowl and he stomped off to maybe make a deal with the others who got big Raise Buckles. "Can you believe that guy?"
"Yeah, some people think that throwing money at everything will fix all their problems," Luz agreed.
Los Angeles
The mall was packed and despite people preferring to do their shopping online, it was still a popular hangout spot for teens. It was only at the mall that people could try out clothes and shoes before buying them. You could not do that online. It all seemed normal until a red energy wave spread out from the fountain before it stopped at the edge of the mall.
Suddenly, Jyamatos dressed like security guards appeared and began assaulting the people inside the mall. They tried to escape but the doors would not open and they were stopped by the red energy barrier that looked like barbed wire.
Back at the Desire Temple, an alarm blared in the lounge and everyone wondered what was going on. Tsumuri swiftly tapped her tablet and brought up a large holographic screen.
"It appears a Jyamar Area has appeared at a mall in Los Angeles, trapping people inside," Tsumuri said. "There have already been several casualties."
"What!?" Luz exclaimed. "Then we need to go save them!"
"Your mission is to find and defeat the Boss, a Rook-class Jyamato," Tsumuri explained as she showed the picture of the Jyamato in question. It was intimidating, with a crown-like growth on its head and purple skin and vines hanging off its body. "Once the Boss is defeated, the Jyamar Area will vanish and everyone that died inside will be revived."
"Wait, revived?" Anne asked.
"If you succeed in clearing the mission, all deaths that occurred will be undone. Of course, that only applies to civilians. Players who die during the round may not be revived even if the mission has been cleared," Tsumuri explained.
"Wait, you never mentioned that!" Sasha cried. She was not worried about herself, but she was worried about Marcy and Anne. She needed to protect them.
"Then I am telling you now. In this game, you fight with your life on the line to obtain your wish. Though, if you wish to withdraw, then you will never be able to return," Tsumuri said. "The choice is yours."
Amity and Luz shared a look and nodded. They had decided to fight together to have their wishes granted.
"Guys, this is going to be dangerous," Sasha warned her friends. "I won't hold it against you if you decide to forfeit."
"Don't worry, Sash," Anne smiled. "If we watch each other's backs, we'll survive this."
"Yeah, and you're gonna need my brain for tactical thinking," Marcy added confidently.
"Oh, you girls," Sasha smiled as she hugged her best friends. "I'm glad you have my back."
"Alright, Kamen Riders! Mission Start!" Tsumuri declared.
The Riders were transported into the Jyamar Area and found themselves standing in the middle of a mall that was in complete chaos as people fled from the Guard Jyamatos. The Riders could see blood stains on the ground and there were bodies strewn about.
Luz spotted a mother and child cowering from a Guard Jyamato who had its club raised and leapt into action. This time, she came prepared as she swung her baseball bat at the monster, knocking it out.
"Get to safety!" Luz shouted and the mother and daughter went to find someplace to hide. Narrowing her eyes, she tossed away her baseball bat and took out her Magnum Buckle before she attached it to her Desire Driver.
[Set!]
The logo for the Buckle, which was the word 'MAGNUM', appeared in holographic form beside her.
"Henshin!"
Luz spun the barrel-like front before she squeezed the button on the grip to activate the transformation.
[MAGNUM!]
The Jyamato she had knocked out got back up as energy bullets shot out of the logo. The bullets struck the Jyamato, knocking it back down as they curved back and hit the logo, causing it to come apart and reassemble into a mechanical apparatus as Luz transformed into her Entry Form. The mechanical apparatus had an arm attached to it, holding her new armour. The arm then slid into the apparatus, equipping her with her new armour.
[READY, FIGHT!]
Her torso was covered in white armour with red trim, black magatama around the collar and broad shoulder pads. Her forearms were equipped with matching gauntlets and in her right hand was a semiautomatic gun. Her helmet also gained a white chin strap under the black mouthplate with red markings on the sides. Finally, the black eyes filled in with colour, turning orange.
As the Jyamato lay on the floor, she pinned it down with her boot and blasted it until it exploded.
"Got one!" Kamen Rider Lechuz declared.
[Set!]
A logo with the word 'ZOMBIE' written in it appeared next to Amity.
"Henshin!" Amity declared and she twisted the knob, causing her Zombie Buckle to open up, revealing a claw that came out to clutch her ID Core.
[ZOMBIE!]
Purple slime burst out of the Zombie Buckle as the holographic logo morphed into the mechanical apparatus as her armour materialized. The mechanical arm holding her armour slid into the apparatus, equipping her in her armour.
Gato's Zombie Form armour was purple with orange trim on the ribcage-like chestplate. The silver pauldrons had orange spikes as spiked purple and silver armour covered her arms. She carried a chainsaw sword in her right hand and her left hand was covered by a purple gauntlet with long and sharp orange claws. She now had a purple chin strap attached to her lower jaw which resembled the lower mandible of a skull. Her eyes lit up, turning from black to orange.
[Set!]
Anne attached the Monster Buckle to her Desire Driver, causing a hologram of the 'MONSTER' logo to appear beside her.
"Henshin!" Anne called as she pressed in the head of her Monster Buckle.
[MONSTER!]
Two holographic fists burst out of the logo and pounded together, creating a starburst explosion as the mechanical apparatus assembled itself. The arm held her armour and slid into the apparatus, equipping her with her new suit.
Qrok's Monster Form armour was blue with yellow trim. The blue chestplate was decorated by yellow stars and she had thick stars mounted on her blue pauldrons. Blue armour was wrapped around her biceps and she was equipped with a pair of thick yellow and blue gauntlets. Her helmet's eyes lit up, turning blue and she also gained a new yellow mouthplate with a blue lower jaw with jagged teeth. The upper half of her helmet was blue and comically oversized, resembling a frog's head. The left eye was round while the right eye was star-shaped.
"Henshin!"
Beside Marcy was the logo for her Ninja Buckle which read 'NINJA'. She pulled on the ring switch, causing the ninja star on her buckle to spin.
[NINJA!]
Ninja stars hit the logo, causing it to explode in a burst of smoke before fading away to reveal the mechanical apparatus designed to equip her in her armour. The arm slid into the apparatus, equipping the armour as it easily came onto her body.
Newtonne's Ninja Form armour was green with a silver chestplate and a thick silver collar that barely covered the red gears underneath. The pauldrons came over the shoulders and had red trim. Green armour with silver mesh covered her arms and she had shurikens mounted on her forearms. Her newt-like helmet was green and decorated with black diamond-shaped spots. Her eyes turned red and her helmet also gained a new silver mouthplate with a green chinstrap. She was equipped with a double-bladed sword with curved blades.
Beside Sasha was the logo for her Beat Buckle, a large rainbow-coloured text that read, 'BEAT'.
"Henshin!"
She turned the knob that was above the piano keys, causing musical notes to emerge and dance in front of her.
[BEAT!]
The mechanical apparatus that held her armour formed and the arm slid in, allowing it to combine with her 's Beat Form armour was aesthetically pleasing with a chestplate that looked like a screen that displayed vertical bars. The pauldrons had tiny speakers in them. She wore matching gauntlets and her weapon was a guitar that doubled as an axe. Her heron-like helmet was red, with a long beak-like nose, black crests over the wine-coloured eyes, a silver mouthplate and a blue chinstrap with a microphone attached to it.
[READY, FIGHT!]
The Riders known as Joy, Kata, Clamp, Tai-Ger and Smog also transformed. As they only had the small Raise Buckles, they were provided with only minimal armour and weapons.
[Armed Propeller!]
Joy's rabbit-like helmet was orange with long ears. She had a cute little nose and buck teeth beneath it. She also wore the Armed Propeller armour which equipped her with the Raise Propeller weapon. The weapon could be used like helicopter propellers for flight or as a bladed staff for melee.
[Armed Water!]
Kata's white hawk-like helmet resembled Luz's, minus the crests and the beak-like nose was gold. He was given the Armed Water armour along with the Raise Water. The Raise Water resembled a toy water rifle. There was a faucet on the weapon that resembled his Raise Buckle.
[Dual On! Armed Chain Array! Armed Claw!]
Smog's skunk-like helmet resembled Amity's, but it was black with a white stripe going down the middle. He decided to dual on, equipping two Raise Buckles to give him armour for his upper and lower body.
[Armed Claw!]
Tai-Ger's yellow tiger-like helmet was also like Amity's, but it had tiger stripes all over it and black ears. He equipped himself with the Armed Claw armour and Raise Claws.
[Armed Hammer!]
Finally, Clamp's helmet was aqua blue and had eyestalks as well as a pair of goggles that resembled crab claws that framed his visor. He wielded the Raise Hammer with the matching pink armour.
Each of their visors lit up, turning yellow.
[Ready, Fight!]
"OK, I can work with this," Qrok said as she pounded her thick Monster Gloves together.
"Alright, Kamen Riders." Newtonne shouldered her Ninja Dueler."Let's Ride to the Rescue!"
"And let's rock!" Soaron let out a battle cry and charged at the Jyamato and swung her Beat Axe, taking off their heads. She tapped the Elementadrum button on her Beat Axe thrice, activating one of its modes.
[Metal Thunder!]
She strummed the guitar, building up its charge as the Guard Jyamatos charged at her.
[TACTICAL THUNDER!]
With a swing of her Beat Axe, she fired bolts of lightning that struck the Jyamatos, destroying them.
"Yeah!"
"Sweet, Sash! That was amazing!" Qrok yelled as she knocked a Jyamato down with a punch. Pounding her knuckles together, she threw punches that sent them flying and they exploded. "Man, this armour rocks!"
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Newtonne called and she created clones of herself to surround the Guard Jyamatos. Then, with the swiftness of a ninja, she cut them down with her Ninja Dueler blade. "I've always wanted to do that!"
"C'mon, girls! Stick together and we'll win this round!" Soaron declared as she strummed her Beat Axe.
Qrok darted forward, showing impressive fighting skills as she demonstrated her mastery of Muay Thai. The Monster Buckle was the perfect fit for her as it took advantage of her skill to use her whole body as a weapon. She blocked the clubs with her gauntlets before knocking the Jyamatos back with punches and kicks. The oversized helmet also doubled as a weapon as she delivered devastating headbutts.
Meanwhile, Gato had a Guard Jyamato pinned to a pillar with her Zombie Breaker sword. She squeezed the trigger, causing the chainsaw blade to spin furiously.
[TACTICAL BREAK!]
She swung, cutting the Jyamato and pillar in two before she moved on to the others. They tried to swing their clubs at her but she struck them down with her Berserclaw before cutting them apart with her Zombie Breaker. This armour felt different from the Armed Claw armour she had worn before. It felt stronger like she could take on anything. But she could not afford to be cocky.
She spotted several Guard Jyamatos going after civilians but she was too far away to get to them in time.
"No!" Gato yelled as she formed a spell circle and shot fireballs at the Jyamatos, blowing them up. Hopefully, no one witnessed her use magic.
Soaron paused during one of her attacks and witnessed as Gato launched the fireballs.
'She didn't use her buckle or her sword. She just…drew a circle? What's up with that?'
"Sash! Heads up!"Newtonne warned.
Soaron glanced over her shoulder and saw a Guard Jyamato about to strike her with its baton. Fortunately, Newtonne came in at the last second and struck the monster in the face with a kick. The Guard Jyamato rolled on the floor before getting back on its feet, with Newtonne readying herself.
"No one attacks my friends like that! Time for my Secret Taijutsu!"
Newtonne got into a ready stance, but the Guard Jyamato was not about to wait as it charged for her to swing its baton. The moment it made contact with Newtonne, however, her body disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The monster looked to its right, left, and front, but could not find Newtonne. Unfortunately, the Guard Jyamato failed to look behind itself. Newtonne was crouched low, with her Ninja Dueler poised and ready for the attack.
"Secret Taijutsu!"Newtonne, to the various shocked expressions of the other Riders, thrust her Ninja Dueler right towards…well…the Jyamato's 'backdoor.' "A THOUSAND YEARS OF DEATH!"
The Guard Jyamato shrieked as it was flung straight to the ceiling by Newtonne's 'secret technique' before it exploded from sheer embarrassment.
"Hope that scores me some bonus points!" Newtonne cheered. She looked around the area and saw the other Riders staring at her. Even the Jyamatos paused to look. "What?"
"Dude…you just…did you just shove your blade up that thing's ass?"Qrok asked.
"Yes, and?"
"No…Just…Just no, Mar-Mar."
"I'm all for low blows and cheap shots on these things. However, that was over the line," said Soaron.
"Oh, c'mon! You know what I was going for!" Newtonne could not believe what she was hearing and looked to the only other Rider who was possibly an anime nerd like herself for support. "Luz, you know what I was going for, right?"
"I do, but…it's one thing to see it in an anime. Another to actually see it done in person. Plus, you used your blade, and that hurt me by proxy," said Lechuz, rubbing her butt.
"Agreed," Gato nodded. There were just some things that were not allowed in battle. Shoving your weapon up your opponent's asshole was one of them.
Newtonne groaned and poofed away to cut down more Jyamatos.
Meanwhile, back at the lounge, Tsumuri and Mr. Butler observed the Riders' battle and also watched the leaderboard as they earned points.
"That was a rather…unique technique," Mr. Butler remarked. "Are there any rules against it?"
"As long as she doesn't use it on other Riders, it should be fine," Tsumuri frowned.
Back at the mall, Lechuz was firing at the Guard Jyamatos when one of them managed to get the drop on her and knock the gun out of her hand. Stunned, she received a club to the face that knocked her to the ground. The Guard Jyamatos gathered around her and began beating her relentlessly. Reaching down to her Desire Driver, she tapped the button to unlock the centre unit and spun it around.
[Revolve On!]
A metal circle materialised, throwing the Guard Jyamatos off before Lechuz was lifted into the air, floating inside the circle. The top half of her helmet – called the Lechuz Head – popped off as her body turned upside down. Her head retracted into her body as her armour reconfigured itself. Then her hands and feet switched places before her head popped from her shoulders. Once the change was complete, she landed on the ground with the Lechuz Head reattached to her helmet.
"Did my head just pop out of my butt?" Lechuz wondered as she recalled her body parts shifting in impossible ways. She noted that her Magnum Armour now covered her legs, as her pauldrons had become thigh armour and her gauntlets had turned into greeves.
The Guard Jyamatos got back on their feet to charge at her but she was ready for them. One Jyamato got kicked and shot in the chest as the blasters on her feet opened fire. Ducking and dodging their clubs, she retaliated with punches and kicks, shooting bullets as her feet made contact. She then performed backwards somersaults to gain some distance. The Guard Jyamatos chased after her to surround her, which she was hoping they would do. She did a handstand and the splits before she performed a headspin. Gunfire burst from her legs as she spun in place, blasting the Guard Jyamatos until they all went down and exploded. She flipped back to her feet and dusted off her hands.
"Nice moves," Gato praised as she caught up to Luz.
"Thanks, but have you seen the Boss yet?" Lechuz asked.
"No." Gato shook her head as she had yet to see a Jyamato that resembled the one Tsumuri had shown them. "I don't think he's out in the open."
"Let's see…if these security guards are the ones working the floor, that means the Boss might just be watching from the security room."
"Then let's go!"
Soaron saw Lechuz and Gato go running off somewhere together and narrowed her eyes. The last time that happened, they had stolen the win for the round. She would not fall behind this time.
"Anne, lemme borrow this!" Soaron went and took the Monster Buckle off Qrok's Desire Driver.
"Sash! Wait!" Qrok shouted as she reverted to her Entry Form. "Oh, crud!" She quickly took out her Chain Array Buckle and used it.
[Armed Chain Array!]
"Where is she going?" Newtonne asked.
"She must've found out where the Boss is," Qrok assumed as she used her Raise Chain Array to knock a Jyamato upside the head.
"And she took your Monster Buckle," Newtonne frowned under her helmet. That was a rather selfish move.
"I'm sure Sasha knows what she's doing."
Meanwhile, Joy was using her Raise Propeller to gain some air before she dropped and knocked down several Jyamato with a swing of her Raise Hammer. She had decided to arm herself up with her Hammer Buckle to give her an extra advantage.
"Man, these guys are tougher than the last batch," she said before she blocked a club with her Raise Propeller. "But they're no match for Joy!" Another tried to get her from behind but was kicked away by Kata. "Oh, thanks!"
"No problem!" Kata nodded before he swung his Raise Water like a club. "Dang, I can never use this thing right."
"Really? It looks like a gun, though," Joy pointed.
"Yeah, but it's got no ammo," Kata said. "Makes a nice club, though."
"It's from the Water Buckle, right? Maybe it needs water," Joy suggested.
"Out of the way!" Smog shouted as he pushed them aside. The skunk-themed Rider was wearing his Armed Chain Array armour for his upper body and Armed Claw for his lower body. He swung his flail at several Jyamato, knocking them down. "Stop wasting time yapping unless you wanna lose, kids!"
Kata turned the knob on his Raise Water and a hose shot out the back end to find a source of water. It dove into the water fountain in the middle of the mall and he aimed at the Security Guard Jyamato before blasting them with water like a firehose.
"Nice!" Kata looked at his weapon in a whole new light.
The aqua crab-themed Clamp just hummed a song as he used his Raise Hammer on several Jyamato Security Guards, playing the drums on their heads.
[Hammer Strike!]
Then, with a swing, he sent them flying and they exploded.
"And that's my latest hit: 'Seven with one blow', man!"
Tai-Ger, the yellow tiger-themed Rider, was using the Raise Claws to slash at the Jyamato. He sliced through their bodies with his claws, attacking furiously like the beast he was modelled after.
"Gotta thank Sashi for those self-defence classes," he said to himself before the Jyamatos rushed him en masse. "Oh, crap!" He turned tail and ran.
The path to the security room was not easy. According to the mall directory, it was located at the lower ground level. They tried the elevators first, only to face Jyamatos as they poured out to attack the couple.
Finding the emergency exit, they ran down the stairs and found their path blocked by Guard Jyamatos coming up to stop them. The stairwell was narrow so they had to fight their way through.
[Poison Charge!]
Gato pushed up the Deadly Pump on her Zombie Breaker and then she swung, squeezing the trigger.
[TACTICAL BREAK!]
Gato tore through the Jyamatos with her Zombie Breaker, melting them with her sword's corrosive poison and clearing the way for them as they continued to run down the stairs. Meanwhile, Lechuz fired upon the Jyamatos that managed to survive her girlfriend's attack.
After fighting through the horde, they finally reached the door of the security room. Lechuz kicked it open to find the Boss sitting and watching the security screens.
Meanwhile, Soaron chased after Lechuz and Gato and found a path of destroyed Jyamatos. She ran down the stairs to catch up with them only to see the wall explode and the two being sent flying into the parking lot.
"Ow…" Lechuz groaned. "Amity, are you OK?"
"Ask me after the world stops spinning," Gato grunted.
The Head Guard Jyamato emerged from the hole in the wall. It was a Rook-type with a purple body and a head that resembled a pitcher plant with a crown of three horns on top. It was dressed as a security guard, and its left arm was a pitcher plant with an open mouth.
"You guys just stay there!" Soaron said as she put on the Monster Buckle in the left slot of her Desire Driver.
[Set!]
"The Boss is mine!"
[Dual On!]
[BEAT & MONSTER! READY, FIGHT!]
The Monster Form Armour formed on her lower body, giving her yellow and blue thigh armour, star-shaped knee pads and thick armoured boots. She rushed with her Beat Axe and swung but the Head Guard Jyamato shot a fireball at her. It exploded and sent her sailing until she crashed into a car. Fortunately, she was not wounded and managed to get back up.
[Rock Fire!]
"Let's fight fire with fire!"
[TACTICAL FIRE!]
She strummed the Beat Axe before she swung, throwing a fireball at the Head Guard Jyamato but it easily absorbed the attack before it charged at Soaron. It slammed through the car as she sidestepped it before she delivered a kick, knocking it back. She then swung for its head but it dodged before hitting her across the face with its pitcher plant arm.
While Soaron fought the Head Guard Jyamato. Gato and Lechuz managed to recover as they climbed to their feet. Grunting in pain, Gato fell to her knees.
"Amity!" Lechuz went to help her girlfriend up. "Are you OK?"
"Ugh, damn, that hurts," Gato groaned as she felt her ankle had been twisted by the fall. "Luz, I don't think I can stand."
"It's OK, hermosa," Lechuz said softly. I'll finish this for you."
"Then use this," Gato said as she handed the Buckle she had won in the last round to her girlfriend.
[Revolve On!]
Soaron had spun her Desire Driver around, causing her body to shift. It revolved 180 degrees as her head retracted before popping back up, her Monster Armour now covering her upper body as the Beat Armour covered her lower body. The Beat Armour's chestplate and pauldrons had become thigh armour while the gauntlets turned into greeves. She put the Beat Axe on her back and pounded her Monster Gloves together.
"Fine! Let's do this, woman to monster!"
She charged at the Head Guard Jyamato as it shot its fireballs at her. Using the Monster Gloves as shields, she deflected the projectiles and then threw a punch at the Head Guard Jyamato. It staggered from the blow but recovered quickly to punch her in the chest, knocking the wind out of her. She grunted but she would not fall. Her resolve would not let her.
[Bullet Charge!]
Several shots exploded off the Rook Jyamato, sending it staggering away from Soaron who blinked as she saw Lechuz standing beside her.
"Hey, this is mine!" she snapped but Lechuz ignored her as she rotated her Driver and then snapped on the red chrome Buckle.
[Revolve On!]
[Set!]
Lechuz's body was lifted off the ground as a mechanical circle surrounded her. Her body rotated, switching her hands and feet. Her head retracted before it popped out of her new shoulders on top.
[GET READY FOR BOOST & MAGNUM! READY, FIGHT!]
In Boost Magnum Form, Lechuz's upper body was covered in red armour with silver trim and exhaust pipes attached to the red gauntlets. She had a red chin strap with metal plating on the inside of the black mouthplate. Her Magnum Armour now covered her legs. What was originally her pauldrons now covered her thighs while the gauntlets became greaves. Finally, her eyes lit up, turning yellow.
"You hurt my Amity. Now I'm going to make you suffer," Lechuz swore as she advanced on the Head Guard Jyamato. The Head Guard Jyamato readied to attack but then it froze as it trembled. Something primal was at work within the Jyamato, something that told it that this Rider approaching it was dangerous, very dangerous.
The Jyamato's hesitation was all Lechuz needed to quickly cross the distance between them. She cocked back her right fist, and as she did, the exhaust pipes on the forearm bracers ignited. They released blazing hot jets of flames as Lechuz struck the first blow against the Boss. Sparks immediately flew off the Head Guard Jyamato's body, but Lechuz didn't stop there. She struck again with her left fist, followed by another punch before it turned into a barrage. Her punches were flying so fast that they began to lift the monster off the ground.
Soaron could only stare in amazement as she watched Lechuz's punches, which, at this point, looked like blazing comets, lift up the monster from just the impacts alone. Lechuz crouched low and threw a Boost-powered uppercut that sent the monster flailing into the ceiling. The former Dark Empress widened her stance as the gun barrel on the boot of her right foot extended. When the Head Guard Jyamato fell, somehow, Lechuz timed her next strike perfectly as she slid back, raised her right leg, and thrust forward into a sliding kick. Her kick landed right in the middle of the monster's stomach, but it didn't stop there. Upon her command, the leg gun barrel opened fire, releasing several rounds as sparks filled the air and sent the monster tumbling onto the ground a few feet away from her.
Back at the lounge, Tsumuri and Mr. Butler observed Lechuz's battle with the Boss.
"Looks like our former Dark Empress hasn't lost her touch," Mr. Butler remarked.
"It was why she was chosen. Her experience will make her a top contender in the game," Tsumuri said.
[Revolve On!]
Lechuz switched to Magnum Boost form. Her upper body was once again equipped with the Magnum Armour while the crimson Boost Armour covered her legs. She got crimson knee pads and ankle bracelets with a set of exhaust pipe attachments. She then twisted the handle on her Boost Buckle and flames spewed from it.
[BOOST TIME!]
A red motorbike with six exhaust pipes on the rear materialized behind Lechuz before it transformed into a mechanical owl. She jumped onto the avian machine's back and rode it like a surfboard as it soared straight towards the Head Guard Jyamato with flames enveloping the both of them.
[MAGNUM BOOST GRAND VICTORY!]
Lechuz jumped off the Boostriker, but before she could hit the ground, the Boostriker flapped its wings forward, creating a blast of flames that wrapped around Lechuz and sent her flying for the Head Guard Jyamato so she could deliver her Rider Kick. The Boostriker followed right behind her, appearing less like an owl right now and looking more like a fiery phoenix. Lechuz's ID Core symbol appeared in front of her extended right foot just as she and the Boostriker struck the Head Guard Jyamato. A powerful explosion rocked the underground parking garage moments before Lechuz leapt out of the flames, and skidded on her heels to a halt. Her helmet's eyes shined brightly, and the Booststriker screeched victoriously behind her as embers danced in the air.
[MISSION CLEARED!]
Lechuz released a sigh of relief, glad that the round was over. The Boostriker swiftly changed back to a motorcycle as Lechuz went over to it to admire her new vehicle.
"Looks like I won this round," Lechuz commented. "And I got a sweet bike too!"
"Hey, you stole my kill!"Soaron snapped as she angrily approached Lechuz. Suddenly, the Boost Buckle ejected itself from Lechuz's Desire Driver and flew straight into Soaron's face, knocking her down. "OW! WHAT THE CRAP?!"
"Hey!" Lechuz yelled as the Boost Buckle rocketed away and then the Boostriker drove away without her. "Aw…my bike! Wait, Amity! Oh, crammity!"
"Dammit, Lechuz! That hurt!" Soaron yelled.
Lechuz ignored Soaron and ran back to where she left Gato with all due haste. She practically slid against the asphalt as she dropped down next to Gato. Lechuz's armour shimmered as it disappeared from her body.
"Amity! Are you okay?!" Luz asked with deep concern.
Gato's armour disappeared as well. Once it was off, Amity smiled at Luz.
"I'm okay," said Amity, "It's just a sprain. Nothing serious." To emphasize her point, Amity drew a spell circle and cast a healing spell over her injured ankle. After a few seconds, the swelling went down and Amity was able to flex and rotate it without any discomfort. "See? Good as new."
Luz breathed another sigh of relief as she held her girlfriend's hands.
"I was…I was scared there for a sec, Amity," Luz admitted.
"Heh, you didn't look scared, you were a complete badass. You mopped the floor with that thing. It was amazing!" Amity praised.
Luz blushed from the praise and rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment.
Their tender moment was brought to an end when the entire area began to glow and reconstruct itself, repairing the damage caused by their battle in the blink of an eye. After the repairs were done, and the victims revived, the Riders were brought back to the Desire Temple.
"Congratulations, Riders, on completing the second round. Now I will tally the scores–"
"Hold up!" Sasha cut Tsumuri off. "Before you do that, we need to discuss the blatant cheating that one of the players committed!"
The other Riders began to murmur, confused as to who it was that cheated.
"Sash, what are you talking about? You saw someone cheat?" Anne asked.
"Yeah, and that person…" Sasha pointed an accusatory finger towards the pinkette standing next to Luz, "Is Kamen Rider Gato! Amity Blight!"
"Excuse me?!" Amity exclaimed angrily.
Sasha, smugly, crossed her arms and looked at Tsumuri.
"Hey, can you play back what happened during a round, Miss Tsumuri?"
"As a matter of fact, we can." Tsumuri used her tablet to bring up a holographic screen.
"Okay, go to the start of the battle, and watch Blight closely."
The others watched the battle they were in a moment ago, as far as they could see, nothing was out of the ordinary. However, when some civilians were about to get attacked by a group of Jyamatos, Amity, as Gato, drew a purple ring of light, and from that light launched several purple fireballs directly at the monsters.
"Pause the video," said Sasha. "Then rewind to when she drew that circle." Tsumuri did as Sasha asked. "Ms. Tsumuri, does Amity's Zombie Buckle allow her to do that?"
"No, that is not a function of the Zombie Buckle," Tsumuri confirmed.
"Okay, now go to after the battle, when Noceda went to check on Blight."
Luz was starting to feel both worried and angry at Sasha for what she was trying to do, but the truth was, she didn't know if using magic counted as cheating or not. The people who organized and recruited them knew that Amity was a witch from another dimension, so they must also know that Amity had magical powers.
'They never told us that magic wasn't allowed. If they try to disqualify her for that, it's their fault for not defining the rules clearly! If anything, Amity should just get a warning since this is her first offence!'
The footage now showed Luz and Amity, out of their Rider forms. Amity drew yet another circle of light and made her ankle glow blue before she was able to walk on it.
"Blight was injured, I know, because I saw it when I got there. But then she goes and does that circle thing, and she heals herself. And that time she wasn't in Rider form." Sasha turned to Amity and continued. "Whatever you're doing, it's not related to your Buckle. So, do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"Lay off, Waybright! Amity wasn't cheating!" Luz yelled in her girlfriend's defence.
"We just saw the evidence, Noceda. If a player has an unfair advantage, it should be grounds for immediate disqualification," Sasha countered.
"Listen, blondie–!"
"Luz!" Amity exclaimed, causing Luz to turn around and look at her. "It's alright."
"But Amity…"
"It's OK." Amity faced her accuser. "Okay, you want to know how I was able to do that, right? The answer's simple." Amity took off her necklace, and upon doing so, the illusion spell around her ears faded away and revealed pointed ears. "The truth is I'm not a human being. I'm not even from this dimension. I'm a witch and what you saw me do was cast magic spells. The first one was a fireball spell, and the other was a healing spell. In my world, magic is as natural to us as breathing, eating, sleeping, and drinking. It's a part of me, my own natural ability."
To say the other Riders were shocked by this would be an understatement. They had already seen a lot of weird things in these last couple of rounds, but now they just had a bombshell dropped on them. They were competing with what was practically an alien creature. A magical being. Sasha merely scowled. Anne was surprised but also intrigued. Marcy was about two seconds away from gushing and running up to Amity to ask if she could touch her ears and ask her a ton of questions about magic.
After shaking off the shock of this revelation, Sasha turned to Tsumuri.
"Okay, she admitted she was cheating! She has an unfair advantage over the rest of us! She has magic powers! If anything, she should be disqualified from this whole game!"
Luz looked as if she was about ready to march up to Sasha and knock the blonde teen off this platform. Seeing her girlfriend look so angry, Amity gently placed her hand on Luz's shoulder, calming her down.
"Ms. Tsumuri, I apologize if my use of magic was not allowed. But you never said magic was prohibited. Regardless, if there is such a rule, then I apologize for not following it. I only ask that you allow me to continue fighting, and I promise to not use my magic for the remainder of my time here," Amity swore.
Tsumuri glanced between the two teens before she gave her verdict.
"You are correct, Amity Blight. I did not make you aware of any such rule," Tsumuri said. Luz gritted her teeth, Sasha smirked, and Amity waited for the hammer to fall. "But neither did I say there was any rule against the use of your magic."
"HUH?!" the entire room questioned at once.
"You can't be serious! She has a clear advantage over us with her magic! How can that not count as cheating?!" Sasha argued.
Tsumuri directly addressed Sasha.
"Tell me, Ms. Waybright. Is it cheating that you and your companion, Ms. Boonchuy, are more athletically gifted than some of your fellow competitors?"
"Well…no, but…" Sasha answered as she faltered.
"Is it unfair that Ms. Wu is incredibly smart and quick-witted?" Tsumuri asked.
"I mean, no, that's just how we are! We can't help it," said Sasha.
"Correct." Tsumuri looked at the rest of the Riders. "These are natural gifts, talents, and abilities. Not everyone is born the same; some are swifter, stronger or smarter. These are things that you are born with. Ms. Blight's magical powers stem from a biological organ within her own body that allows her to tap into magical energies to cast her spells. Since she is not a human being, her anatomy is different from your own. But in her home world, such a thing is natural. If I disqualified Ms. Blight for such a thing, we would have to disqualify you, Ms. Boonchuy, and Ms. Wu from any further participation, to make it 'fair' as you say."
Sasha was at a loss for words. She couldn't really come up with a good counterargument because she knew it was true. She had been in cheerleading since middle school, and even weight trained on the side to build up her strength. Anne was always naturally athletic, playing tennis at the varsity level in both middle and high school. Plus, she even kept up with her Muay Thai training. Marcy was a certified genius and it wasn't hard to see that the Taiwanese teen was going to win a Nobel Prize later in life. If she continued to push this, Sasha could inadvertently get herself and her friends kicked out of the Desire Grand Prix.
"Never mind…You're right," Sasha reluctantly conceded.
Tsumuri nodded to Sasha and looked back at Amity.
"Ms. Blight, do not feel the need to hold back in using your magical powers. This game isn't just about defeating the Jyamato, it's also about survival. It would be a great pity if you failed to prevent someone's untimely demise when you possessed the ability to save them."
Amity was almost positive that when Tsumuri said that, she was looking at Luz.
"I'll remember that," Amity nodded.
"Well, now that that's been settled, here are the point totals for this round!" Tsumuri announced as the leaderboard was displayed.
1. Luz Noceda/Kamen Rider Lechuz: 55,400 pts
2. Sasha Elizabeth Waybright/Kamen Rider Soaron: 42,000 pts
3. Amity Blight/Kamen Rider Gato: 38,000 pts
4. Marcy Regina Wu/Kamen Rider Newtonne: 36,000 pts
5. Anne Savisa Boonchuy/Kamen Rider Qrok: 34,500 pts
6. Molly McGee/Kamen Rider Joy: 34,000 pts
7. Penn Zero/Kamen Rider Tai-Ger: 33,400 pts
8. Marco Ubaldo Diaz/Kamen Rider Kata: 32,500 pts
9. Sebastian Krabbs/Kamen Rider Clamp: 32,000 pts.
10. Peter Prospects/Kamen Rider Smog: 30,000 pts
"How can I be in last place!?" Peter demanded, gripping his head. "I fought as hard as these kids!"
"I am sorry but since you placed last in today's round, you have been eliminated," Tsumuri informed him.
"I'll sue you for this!" Peter yelled. "I know I would've won if I had one of those special Buckles!"
[Retired!]
Peter's ID Core vanished as he dissolved into blue particles and disappeared, leaving behind his Desire Driver as it dropped to the floor.
"What happened to him?" Molly asked.
"He has returned to his normal life with no memory of the Desire Grand Prix," Tsumuri answered.
"So, everyone who was eliminated in the first round got their memories erased?" Anne questioned.
"That makes sense. This is supposed to be a secret tournament so players who get disqualified need to have their memories erased to maintain its anonymity," Marcy concluded.
"Now that the round is over, you may make use of the lounge before you return home," Tsumuri informed them.
After the end of the second round, the Riders were allowed to use the lounge to rest before returning to their homes. Some opted to return home anyway while a few remained in the lounge to celebrate their victory. Amity and Luz sat at the bar as Mr. Butler made them their drinks.
"That was a real close one, Amity," Luz smiled.
"I know. I thought I was going to be disqualified," Amity said, relieved.
"Yeah, I'm glad you weren't. I wouldn't want to continue without you, hermosa," Luz said warmly.
"Hey, Blight!"
Amity groaned in annoyance as she turned around on her stool to see Sasha come stomping towards them. Luz glanced over her shoulder, glared at the blonde, and got out of her seat.
"Sasha! Wait up!" Anne exclaimed as she followed after her friend.
"Sashy, calm down," Marcy urged.
Sasha was about a few feet away before Luz put herself between the blonde and her girlfriend.
"Get out of my way, Noceda," Sasha ordered.
"Or what, Waybright?" Luz asked, completely unfazed.
"I have business with that cheater, not you!"
Luz crossed her arms as she continued to glare at Sasha.
"That's my girlfriend so if you have anything you want to say to her, you can say it to me. But I do advise you to choose your next words very, very carefully."
"Are you threatening me, Noceda?" Sasha retorted as she shot Luz with a glare.
Luz began to chuckle, and it was kind of creepy, unsettling even. Sasha seemed to take a small step back when she heard the borderline insane laughter.
"Oh, Sasha, Sasha, Sasha. No, that wasn't a threat. A threat would imply consequences. What I did was give you a warning. Allow me to show you the difference." Luz took one step towards Sasha, and suddenly the air around the Latina became heavy and ominous.
A heavy pressure befell Sasha, something that she had never experienced before. It was as if Luz stood taller than her, and not in a physical sense. Sasha could see something in Luz's eyes, something beyond her understanding and that intimidated her.
Sasha was at a loss for words.
"If you try to hurt my girlfriend, or pull another stupid stunt like what you did earlier, I'll make sure that you regret ever being chosen to play this game!" Luz growled.
Sasha stumbled backwards. For a split second, she thought she saw something dark in those eyes that made her jump back on primal instinct alone.
Luz stepped back and smiled sweetly at Sasha.
"So, what did you want to talk to Amity about, hmm?" Luz asked.
Sasha gritted her teeth, growled, and stormed out of the lounge without saying another word.
"Sasha!" Anne was about to chase after her friend but before that, she turned to face Luz and Amity. "I am so sorry about that. Sasha…Sasha's just really competitive. And she's always looked out for Marcy and me. So this turning into a life-or-death game is kind of stressing her out a bit."
"I get it," Luz sighed. "You two at least seem nicer than her. So I'll let it slide, for now."
"Thanks, Luz. Really," said Anne.
"Just tell her to watch herself if she doesn't want to get eliminated this early in the game," Luz advised.
Anne nodded and swiftly ran after Sasha. Luz went back to sit beside Amity to enjoy their drinks.
"Sorry, I kinda channelled my old self there," Luz apologized and she paused when she saw her girlfriend had a bright red blush on her face. "Amity?"
"…That was sooooo hot," Amity breathed. Sure, she felt a bit intimidated whenever Luz gave someone 'The Glare', but when done in her defence, she could not help but find it hot.
Luz blushed a little at the compliment, but then let out a sigh.
"It's weird to see Anne again."
Amity sighed as well.
"Yeah, I get it. When I first saw her on the platform, I didn't know what to think. I still remember the other Anne and the other you."
"Yeah, they saved me from myself," Luz smiled fondly.
"Maybe we could talk to her? Get to know this Anne?" Amity suggested.
Luz thought about it for a second but shook her head.
"I'd like to, but she's not the same Anne that saved me. Plus, with how Waybright's acting, she'll probably think I'm trying to steal her friend or make Anne turn against her," said Luz.
"True," Amity groaned. "I can totally see Waybright thinking exactly–"
"Poke."
"GYAAAAH!" Amity jumped out of her seat and drew a spell circle, preparing to cast a spell, but stopped when she saw Marcy standing there with her hands raised. "W-What are you doing?!"
"Sorry! Sorry! I just wanted to see your ears! They look so cool and cute! I just…couldn't help but want to touch them," Marcy confessed.
Amity released a sigh and dismissed her spell circle.
"How about you ask before you just decide to violate someone's personal space like that?"
Marcy rubbed the back of her head as she stared down at the floor.
"I…Yeah, I'm sorry. I really am. I just, I just get so excited sometimes and I forget my boundaries. I love Cynthia Coven and when I find out that there's a real-life witch here that can do magic, I just got curious."
"I bet you never thought you would become a Kamen Rider too," Luz remarked.
"No, never in a million years," Marcy admitted as she joined the couple at the bar. "I've been watching Kamen Rider since I was a kid and now I am one!"
"So, how are you friends with that Sasha girl anyway?" Luz asked.
"Oh, we go way back," Marcy smiled nostalgically. "See, Anne and I met Sasha when we were little. Some bullies pushed us off the swings then Sasha came and chased them away. We've been friends ever since."
"Hey, mind if I join you?" the other Thai girl in the DGP asked.
"Oh, you're 'Kamen Rider Joy', right?" Luz identified.
"That's right, but you can call me Molly. Molly McGee," Molly said as she offered her hand. "Congrats on getting first place, Lechuz!"
"Please, call me Luz," Luz smiled as she shook Molly's hand. Molly then looked at Amity.
"And are you really a witch? When I saw your ears, I thought you might be an elf," Molly commented.
"Oh, she's not an elf but she's pretty like one," Luz teased.
"Oh, Luz," Amity blushed.
"So, this whole thing is wild, huh?" Molly asked as she sat down at the bar.
"Tell me about it," Marcy agreed. "We've become real Kamen Riders!"
"And we can get a wish if we win!" Molly added. "How wild is that?"
"But you could die," Amity pointed out.
"Yeah, I know," Molly nodded. "Life is short but that's why it's so precious. So we need to live each day like it's our last so we don't waste it. And that's why I'm gonna give it my all for this game! I won't lose until I've en-happified the world!"
"That's the spirit," Luz admired.
"So, what did you two do today?" Camila asked Luz and Amity as they sat down for dinner with her and Vee.
"Oh, we hung out at the mall," Luz answered. It was not a total lie. They were at a mall but they were not exactly hanging out.
The Game Master watched the last round's replay on multiple holographic screens. On each screen, he watched the performance of each player as they fought the Jyamatos and defended the civilians. Three of the players stood out among the rest.
"Amity Blight, Luz Noceda and Sasha Waybright. Three potential candidates for the title of God of Desire," the Game Master said. When Amity and Luz were chosen, he knew their experience would make them contenders in the Desire Grand Prix. As for Sasha, she had a strong competitive spirit and a drive to never give up. "Which one of you will get your ideal world?"
Dr. Exposition: So, it looks like Mr. Prospects did not get to advance. But, the guy probably would not last that long. So, Peter Prospects is based on Stinky Pete aka the Prospector from Toy Story 2. That is why I made him a skunk-themed Rider.
And here's the wish he wrote on his Desire Card:
"I want to be the richest and most powerful man in the world." - Peter Prospects.
I'm going to write down the wishes of the players that get eliminated from the game. That way we know their motivation and what drives them to fight in the Desire Grand Prix.