Author's Note:

Rejoice ! another chapter has been finished and we wanna say we are almost done with Volume 9

For UnseenUrge: Thouser will be a thing just a bit time

For Just a reader now a writer: the idea of Ruby becoming Ark will be incorporated so a bit of time since we want to make things run as smooth as possible

As always PMs are open and etc and hopefully next chapter is to your enjoyment as we all write all of this

Till next chapter, Apzeta, Bishop, and Knight

P.S: Knight is leaving the crew for awhile hence he has written this chapter

Also we are planning on making this into a cross platform but it depends

[ Elsewhere – A Campfire in the Ever After]

The crackling of the fire was the only real noise in the quiet of the Ever After night. The camp had been set up hastily, but none of them seemed particularly concerned with comfort.

Each Rider was focused on their own task—Tsukasa and Kaito sat near the fire, examining their respective Rider Cards, flipping them over, studying them as if they would reveal new secrets.

Sougo, ever mindful of the little things, was ensuring the fire wouldn't burn out of control. Peridot assisted, but with her usual erratic energy, she occasionally tossed in stray sticks just to see how the flames reacted.

And then there was Akira.

Sitting slightly apart from the rest, he checked his equipment—his Ark-Driver, the Forceriser, and the chains that bound the Relic of Knowledge and Relic of Creation to him. The cold, unbreakable metal still wrapped tightly around his arms like shackles, a constant reminder of his burdens.

Then, he connected to the Ark.

A flood of data surged through his mind, red binary digits cascading like a waterfall before forming a coherent message.

ARK: "Interesting. You wish for a report?"

Akira's eyes narrowed. "Tell me about Ruby Rose."

The Ark processed for a fraction of a second before responding.

ARK: "She made contact. I spoke with her."

Akira's smirk was immediate. "And?"

ARK: "There is a high probability she is beginning to see your side of the argument. She clings to the idea of justice, yet she drowns in malice. Given the right conditions, she may join us."

Akira exhaled, amused. "I had a feeling. She's always been more fragile than she lets on." He leaned back slightly, his eyes flickering with satisfaction. "Good. Keep watching her. Prepare something in the near future—we'll give her a proper push."

ARK: "Understood."

Then, the Ark shifted the conversation.

ARK: "There is another matter to consider. I suggest bringing in the rest of ."

Akira's smirk faded slightly, replaced with contemplation.

ARK: "Amethyst, Adam, Onyx—assembling them here could accelerate progress. Your faction operates best as a unit."

Akira tapped his fingers against his knee. It was a logical move. If he could get his team into the Ever After, things would certainly escalate in his favor.

After a moment, he gave a slow nod. "I'll make it happen."

With that, he disconnected from the Ark, his mind returning to the real world.

The fire still burned. The others were still caught up in their own thoughts.

Tsukasa, however, seemed to notice Akira's pensive expression.

Tsukasa: (casual) "So… have you found your answer yet?"

Akira didn't immediately respond. He didn't have to ask what Tsukasa meant.

Destroy, or reset?

The fate of his world had always been an uncertain variable. A broken world, a false hope of salvation.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

Akira: (quietly) "I'll just let things play out."

Tsukasa raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Then, Akira's eyes glowed faintly in the firelight. His voice was colder, more decisive.

Akira: "But this place—this Purgatory…"

His fingers gripped the chains of the Relics.

Akira: "It's better off destroyed."

For a brief moment, the fire crackled louder, as if responding to his intent.

[That Same Night – At the Riders' Campfire]

The campfire flickered lazily in the dim clearing, its embers casting long shadows over the group of Riders who had gathered around it. Each of them was occupied with their own thoughts and tasks.

Tsukasa and Kaito sat side by side, silently examining their Rider Cards, flipping them between their fingers. The light of the fire danced across the holographic surfaces, reflecting the countless battles each card had been through.

Sougo knelt by the fire, carefully ensuring it would be properly extinguished before they moved on. He gently stirred the embers with a stick, watching as they dulled and dimmed.

Peridot stood beside him, her glowing green irises shifting like a camera lens, analyzing his method.

Peridot: (tilting her head) "So, this is how you humans ensure a fire doesn't spread? Rather inefficient."

Sougo: (chuckles) "It's not inefficient. It's careful."

Peridot: (crossing her arms) "I could just put it out instantly."

Sougo: (grinning) "Yeah, but where's the fun in that?"

Peridot: (pauses, considering this, then shrugs) "Fair point."

Akira leaned back, staring at the sky above.

The Ever After was a strange place, but if the others joined him, it might make navigating this twisted world easier.

Akira: (mentally) "Yeah… That's not a bad idea. I'll make the arrangements."

[ Ever After – Riders' Campsite – Late Night ]

The crackling fire had settled into a steady, comforting rhythm.

The Riders remained lost in their own thoughts, each processing the night's conversations in their own way.

Then, suddenly—

CRUNCH.

A sharp noise echoed from the darkness beyond their camp.

Akira's eyes flickered up instantly, his senses sharpening.

Tsukasa and Kaito exchanged glances before standing up, their bodies tensing.

Sougo turned toward the sound, his expression shifting from thoughtfulness to focus.

Peridot, who had been idly kicking a stray rock, immediately straightened, her irises narrowing as they shifted into scanning mode.

Peridot: (calmly, but with a hint of intrigue) "Something's coming. Multiple heat signatures… Surrounding us."

Akira: (coldly, as he rose to his feet) "Tch. More obstacles."

Then, the shadows moved.

Dark, emaciated figures slithered between the trees, their movements unnatural and jittery.

Glowing yellow stripes flickered between the gaps in the night as their long, spindly limbs stretched and recoiled like twisted marionettes.

Jabberwalkers.

They emerged in droves, their sealed jaws twitching, their claws scraping against the earth as they encircled the Riders.

The firelight reflected off their grey, lupine masks, making them look even more grotesque.

Kaito smirked, twirling a card between his fingers.

Kaito: (amused) "Well, this is new. I don't remember these things from the last time I was here."

Tsukasa sighed, adjusting his NeoDecadeDriver.

Tsukasa: (deadpan) "Another world, another headache."

Sougo took a step forward, his hand already reaching for his Ziku-Driver.

Sougo: (calm, but firm) "Whatever they are, they're in our way."

Akira's lips curled into a grin as he lifted his Ark-Driver.

Akira: (mocking) "Then let's remind them why we're called Riders."

Without another word, each of them raised their respective transformation devices.

Akira, Tsukasa, Sougo, Kaito, and Amethyst: "Henshin!"

NeoDiendriver: [ Kamen Ride: Diend ! ]

NeoDecadeDriver: [ Kamen Ride: Decade ! ]

Forceriser: [ Forcerise ! ]

Ziku-Driver: [ Rider Time! ]

Ark-Driver: [ Singularize ! ]

A burst of multicolored energy erupted from each Rider as their armor materialized around them.

Akira, now clad in his ominous Ark-One form, stood with a menacing red glow in his eye.

Tsukasa's Decade armor shimmered with the hues of multiple Riders.

Kaito twirled his blaster, the blue-tinted Diend suit shining under the firelight.

Sougo's Zi-O form stood regal yet foreboding, the clock-like motif of his armor reflecting his role as a king of time.

Amethyst's form, pulsing with violet red energy, radiated barely contained destruction.

The Jabberwalkers lunged forward, their movements erratic and unnatural.

Akira didn't hesitate. He surged forward, grabbing one by the throat before crushing it with sheer force.

It shattered into glass-like fragments, dissolving into the air.

Tsukasa proceeds to use Blade's sword before cutting down three Jabberwalkers in one swift motion.

Kaito unloaded round after round from his NeoDiendriver, each shot breaking through multiple enemies.

Sougo flipped his driver, activating his finisher move—a spinning roundhouse kick that obliterated a Jabberwalker mid-air.

Amethyst, laughing almost gleefully, smashed her fists into the ground, creating a shockwave that sent multiple Jabberwalkers flying before she finished them off with rapid strikes.

Peridot, standing on the sidelines, tilted her head.

Peridot: (curious) "Huh. They're… just illusions with mass."

She observed as each Jabberwalker that was struck shattered like glass, vanishing into the night as if they had never existed.

Peridot: (crossing her arms) "So, these things are basically a scare tactic. Pointless."

Akira snapped the neck of another Jabberwalker before tossing the dissolving remnants aside.

Akira: (flatly) "A failed one."

Within moments, the last of the Jabberwalkers were destroyed.

The Riders deactivated their transformations, their suits vanishing in flashes of energy.

Tsukasa rolled his shoulders.

Tsukasa: (nonchalant) "Well, that was underwhelming."

Kaito dusted off his coat and scarf, smirking.

Kaito: (grinning) "At least it was entertaining."

Sougo, however, frowned slightly as he glanced around.

Sougo: (thoughtful) "If they were just illusions, then who sent them?"

Peridot suddenly perked up, her irises glowing as they scanned something in the distance.

Peridot: "Detecting new heat signature. Smaller, Human. Stealth pattern irregular…"

She paused, her eyes widening slightly in recognition.

Peridot: (grinning) "Oh. It's her."

Akira turned to her, intrigued.

Akira: (calmly) "Her?"

Peridot tilted her head toward the trees, her grin widening.

Peridot: "the umbrella girl. She's watching us."

The Riders turned toward the shadows beyond the campfire.

Kaito, however, simply smirked, twirling a card between his fingers.

Kaito: (amused) "Now that's interesting."

He had encountered her once before in this strange world. And now, fate had brought her back into the picture.

Akira exhaled through his nose, his interest piqued.

Akira: (coldly) "Then let's see what she wants."

With that, the Riders remained on high alert—because the night in the Ever After was far from over.

[ Next day ]

Ruby tightens her grip on the Forceriser.

Ruby: (quietly) How long have you been dealing with this… alone?

Jaune sighs and dismounts Juniper, running a hand through his messy hair.

Jaune: Feels like forever. Time works differently here. I stopped keeping track.

Weiss: (crossing arms) And you just… let this happen? Every day?

Jaune: (shrugs) It's a cycle. The Paper Pleasers mess up, I fix it. If I don't, they get hurt, or worse.

Yang gestures to the town still smoldering from the fire.

Yang: That's not normal, Jaune.

Blake: No one should have to do this alone.

Jaune forces a smile but avoids their eyes.

Jaune: Heh. I'm not alone. I have Juniper.

Juniper snorts, nudging him.

Ruby takes a step forward, looking at the Forceriser clipped to her belt, then back at Jaune.

Ruby: You're still trying to be the hero, aren't you?

Jaune flinches slightly, then exhales, patting Juniper's neck.

Jaune: Someone has to be.

Before anyone can respond, a loud crack echoes through the village.

The calming pebble tower begins to lean dangerously to the side. The Paper Pleasers let out polite gasps of concern.

Jaune: (groaning) Right on schedule.

He turns to Team RWBY.

Jaune: (firm) Either help, or stay out of the way.

Jaune rushes off toward the crumbling tower, leaving Team RWBY standing in the middle of the village.

Little: (munching on a berry) He's very dramatic.

Yang: (crossing arms) No kidding.

Weiss: We should help.

Blake: Obviously.

Ruby stays still, looking down at the Forceriser again. The others notice.

Yang: Ruby.

Ruby hesitates before finally clipping the Forceriser back onto her belt.

Ruby: …Let's go.

The team takes off after Jaune, ready to assist with the next disaster.