Ace grits his teeth. This wasn't going as planned. One moment, Dragreder was a savior; the next, a predator. He couldn't just let it run wild, not with Yuri's life on the line.
"Chou Henshin!" Ace shouts.
Crimson energy erupts around him, solidifying into Kuuga's Mighty Form. He crouches, channeling the Linto warrior's balanced power. Dragreder roars, a sound that seems to shake the very air. The dragon lunges, claws extended.
Ace sidesteps with practiced ease, narrowly avoiding the attack. He throws a punch, aiming for Dragreder's armored snout. The blow connects with a resounding clang, but the dragon barely flinches. It whips its tail, forcing Ace to block with his forearms. The impact stings.
Not enough! Ace thinks. Mighty Form isn't enough to subdue this beast.
Blue energy washes over him. Kuuga Dragon Form. The Dragon Rod materializes in his hands, extending with a metallic shing. Ace darts forward, a blue blur against the backdrop of the city street. He unleashes a flurry of strikes with the Rod, each blow aimed at Dragreder's joints and weaker points.
Dragreder snaps at the Rod, its jaws narrowly missing Ace's hand. Ace leaps back, creating distance. He twirls the Rod, preparing for a Splash Dragon attack. He pours energy into the weapon, ready to strike.
He can't wait any longer. It needs to be decisive.
The color of his body changes, from blue to green.
Kuuga Pegasus Form. His senses heighten, the world sharpening into hyper-focus. He can hear the subtle creaks of the damaged buildings, the distant sirens wailing through the city. But more importantly, he can see the minute shifts in Dragreder's movements, the subtle telegraphs of its attacks. The Pegasus Bowgun forms in his hands, glowing with emerald energy.
Ace lines up a shot, focusing all of his heightened senses. His finger tightens on the trigger. The bowgun fires, a bolt of pure energy streaking towards Dragreder. The dragon twists in the air, narrowly avoiding the direct hit. The bolt grazes its sides, leaving a scorch mark.
Dragreder seems unfazed, its eyes burning with predatory hunger. Damn it! Ace thinks. Pegasus Form is precise, but it lacks the raw power needed to bring down this beast. And the heightened senses… they're starting to overwhelm him. The strain is immense, threatening to shut him down.
Time is running out. He has to save Yuri, and fast. He can't afford to hold back.
Purple energy surges through him. Kuuga Titan Form. The heavy armor encases him, sacrificing speed for immense power and defense. He feels the familiar weight of the Titan Form settling over him, grounding him. A steel pipe appears in his hand, morphing into the Titan Sword.
He hefts the sword, the weight reassuring. Titan Form is slow, but it's his best chance at stopping Dragreder. He charges forward, a purple juggernaut against the backdrop of the city street.
Dragreder lunges, claws extended. Ace raises the Titan Sword, blocking the attack. The force of the impact reverberates through his arms, but the armor holds. He swings the Sword, aiming for Dragreder's neck.
The dragon twists, avoiding the blow. It unleashes a torrent of flame, forcing Ace to raise the Sword as a shield. The heat is intense, but the Titan Armor withstands the inferno. Ace pushes through the flames, swinging the sword once more.
I have to protect the people! And save Yuri!
The Titan Sword slams against Dragreder's scales, a resounding clang echoing through the night. But the dragon barely registers the blow. It knocks Ace to the ground, sending tremors through his armored body.
He hits the pavement hard, the impact jarring his senses. Stars dance in his vision. Through the blur, he sees Dragreder looming above, its jaws open wide, ready to chomp down.
This is it? Ace thinks.
Suddenly, a streak of light cuts through the darkness. A barrage of missiles slams into Dragreder, sending it reeling back. The dragon roars in pain and fury.
A familiar voice booms through the night. "Sorry I'm late to the party, but I couldn't just stand by and watch Godzilla's cousin have a midnight snack!"
Iron Man lands nearby, repulsor rays glowing. He strikes a pose, his armor gleaming under the streetlights.
"Stark?" Ace mutters, struggling to his feet. The Titan Form feels heavy, cumbersome. He needs to switch back, but he's winded.
"That's Iron Man to you, kid," Tony retorts, firing another volley of repulsor blasts at the enraged dragon. "This little scrap of yours was starting to get a bit too noisy, even for New York standards. So, what's the story? How'd you manage to piss off a Chinese dragon?"
Ace barely dodges Dragreder's swipe, which is still recovering from the last attack. "No idea," he says breathlessly. "But we need to take it down, and fast."
Iron Man nods, his faceplate retracting to reveal Tony's determined expression. "Alright, kid. Let's turn this oversized lizard into scrap metal."
Dragreder roars, unleashing a torrent of flames. Iron Man raises a deflector shield, deflecting the worst of the blast. Ace seizes the opportunity, charging towards the dragon with the Titan Sword raised high.
He pours all of his remaining energy into the blade, the edges glowing with purple energy.
He swings, aiming for Dragreder's neck. The dragon twists, narrowly avoiding the direct hit. The sword grazes its scales, sending sparks flying.
"Calamity Titan!" Ace shouts.
Ace puts the Titan Sword on the ground, sending the weapon to create a shockwave in the area.
Dragreder hisses, retaliating with a claw strike. Ace blocks with the Titan Sword, the force of the blow sending him stumbling back. He digs his heels into the ground, struggling to maintain his footing.
Iron Man unleashes a barrage of repulsor blasts, peppering Dragreder with energy. The dragon roars, its movements becoming erratic.
Ace sees Dragreder's attention shift, those predatory eyes now locked on Tony. "No!" he shouts, reacting instinctively. He can't let that thing get its claws on Stark.
A blue aura engulfs him once more. Kuuga Dragon Form. He leaps, launching himself towards the dragon, grabbing onto its back before it can fully turn towards Tony.
"Get off me, you pest!" Tony shouts, dodging a swipe of Dragreder's claws.
Ace clings to the dragon's scales, gripping them tightly. He slams the Dragon Rod against its armored hide, each strike resonating with the force of a battering ram. The dragon roars, bucking and thrashing, trying to dislodge its unwelcome rider.
"Eat this!" Tony yells, his voice strained above the din of battle.
Ace glances towards Iron Man just in time to see the missile pods on Tony's armor extending. Missiles?! Ace's eyes widen. That's a bit overkill, even for this monster. He has to get out of here, and fast.
"Now's my chance!" Ace yells, jumping off just in time before the missiles hit Dragreder.
He tucks and rolls, landing hard on the pavement, the impact jarring his bones. But he's clear. He watches, holding his breath, as a volley of missiles slams into Dragreder with earth-shattering force.
The explosion is blinding, deafening. The ground trembles beneath him. When the smoke clears, Dragreder is still standing, though visibly weakened and battered. It snarls, smoke curling from its nostrils.
"Time to finish this!" Ace thinks. This has gone on long enough. He has to end it, now.
This time, the energy that washes over him is different. It's green, but intensified, crackling with raw power. Black plates materialize over the green, shifting, reforming. Gold highlights blaze across the newly formed armor. The chestplate gleams with intricate patterns. Sleek black blades extend from his forearms. The horn on his head is longer, more menacing.
Rising Pegasus Form.
The Pegasus Bowgun appears in his hands, but it too is changed. It is enhanced, deformed, with a golden bayonet fixed to the top of the barrel. The transformation has amplified the weapon's capabilities.
This is it. Time to end this nightmare.
He aims the Rising Pegasus Bowgun at Dragreder, his heightened senses guiding his aim. His finger tightens on the trigger.
"Rising Blast!"
He shoots, multiple arrows.
The arrows streak towards Dragreder, each one leaving a trail of golden light. They slam into the dragon's armored hide, detonating with explosive force. The explosions send Dragreder crashing to the ground, the force of impact shaking the earth.
Ace slumps against a chunk of rubble, Rising Pegasus Form dispelling, leaving him in his street clothes. His muscles ache, and the lingering strain from the heightened senses throbs behind his eyes. Tony lands nearby, retracting his faceplate.
"Well, that was a tad more intense than my average Tuesday," Tony says, wiping a smudge of soot from his cheek. "You okay there, kid? Looked like you were about to go supernova back there."
"Yeah," Ace sighs, running a hand through his sweat-drenched hair. "Just peachy."
"Peachy, huh? You know, for a guy who just went toe-to-toe with a dragon and almost blew himself to kingdom come, you have a funny definition of 'peachy'." Tony gestures to Ace.
Sirens blare in the distance, growing louder. Ace spots flashing red and blue lights cutting through the smoke. Captain Stacy steps out of a patrol car, his expression a mix of relief and concern. Uniformed officers swarm the area, surrounding the downed Dragreder, weapons raised.
"Everything alright here, Rider?" George asks, his gaze sweeping over the scene of destruction. He doesn't seem surprised anymore by all this, maybe even expecting it.
Ace nods, exhaustion weighing him down. "Yeah, Captain, everything's clear." He glanced at the unconscious Dragreder. For now, at least.
George approaches, his eyes narrowed as he takes in Ace's disheveled appearance. "Just… try to keep the property damage to a minimum, alright? My guys can barely keep up."
Ace doesn't reply, the Captain wouldn't understand if he told him the truth, anyway. It's always the same everywhere he goes.
The police surround the downed Dragreder.
"The only thing left now..." Ace murmurs, more to himself than to George, "...is to figure out how to save Yuri."
The air crackles with anticipation. Dragreder, still prone on the street, begins to shift, its immense body trembling. Ace tenses, ready to spring back into action. Even Tony Stark, usually so flippant, is visibly on alert, repulsor rays charging. Captain Stacy barks orders, the police officers tightening their perimeter, weapons trained on the fallen beast.
But then, something unexpected happens. Dragreder's roar subsides, replaced by a low, guttural growl. Its body settles. The crimson eyes, previously burning with predatory fire, soften, becoming almost…calm.
Ace feels it too, a strange stillness washing over the battlefield. He stares at Dragreder, a strange connection forming between them. It was as if he knew, somehow, what it was thinking. The ferocity had been replaced with a kind of understanding.
A surge of power courses through him, originating from the Arcle, his belt. It throbs, resonating with the newfound connection to the dragon. A brilliant light erupts from the buckle, momentarily blinding everyone present.
As the light subsides, a new object materializes in Ace's outstretched hand: a blank card deck. It's sleek and silver, with intricate designs etched across its surface. But it is unadorned, like it has to be filled.
Ace's breath hitches. He recognizes it instantly. This is no ordinary item.
This is Kamen Rider Ryuki's Card Deck!
Tony Stark, observing the display, raises an eyebrow. "Okay, now things are just getting weird," he says, lowering his repulsor rays slightly, intrigued.
"What the hell is that thing, Rider?" George calls out, his voice strained with a mixture of confusion and concern. The officers echo his sentiment, looking from Ace to the dragon and back again, uncertain of what to do.
Ace ignores them, his focus solely on the card deck. His fingers tremble as he flips through the blank cards. Each one feels charged with potential. He reaches for one, his heart pounding in his chest. He pulls it free.
The card is pristine, white.
A Contract Advent Card.
Without hesitation, Ace points the blank card at Dragreder. The dragon responds with a deafening roar, as if in response. A beam of energy shoots from the card, enveloping the dragon in its light. An image of Dragreder materializes on the card, its scales, horns, and teeth rendered in exquisite detail. The white surface transforms, becoming a vivid representation of the Mirror Monster. The power is flowing.
The connection is complete.
The once blank card now bears Dragreder's image. It is complete.
A sudden imprint appears on the deck, a dragon head, symbolizing the connection between Ace and Dragreder.
Ace stares at it, the heat from the fusion burning his hands. It worked!
Tony's eyes widen, impressed. "What in the world…?"
George just stares, his mouth agape. "Rider, what the hell is going on?"
Ace looks up, a newfound resolve hardening his features. "That dragon... it's not a threat anymore." A determined glint flashes in his eyes. "I have a way to save Detective Watanabe."
He turns toward the nearest reflective surface: a glass window of a nearby store. With a deep breath, Ace approaches the mirror, the Card Deck held firmly in his grip.
"This is it," Ace says.
He raises the Card Deck, pointing it at his reflection.
The Arcle on his waist shimmers, the familiar silver and gold fading away, replaced by something new, something… sinister. It morphs, twisting and reshaping itself into the V-Buckle, the transformation belt of Kamen Rider Ryuki. The belt buckles, waiting for the card.
"Henshin!"
Ace inserts the Card Deck into the V-Buckle.
The V-Buckle reacts, emitting a piercing shriek of light. Armor erupts from the belt, encasing Ace in a sleek, red and silver exoskeleton. A dragon-themed helmet forms around his head, its visor glowing with malevolent red energy.
It is Kamen Rider Ryuki.
Tony, Captain Stacy, and the police officers gape at the transformation, stunned into silence.
Ace, now Kamen Rider Ryuki, turns to face Captain Stacy. His voice, distorted by the helmet, is calm, but firm. "I'll be back, Captain. I'm going to save Detective Watanabe."
Without another word, Kamen Rider Ryuki strides toward the mirror. With a determined look, he reaches the mirror. With confidence, Ace takes a step.
He steps through the reflective surface. The glass ripples, then shatters, leaving behind a swirling vortex of light.
Dragreder, without a second of hesitation, follows Ace.
The portal collapses, leaving only the quiet reflection in the mirror.
Tony stares at the spot where Ace had disappeared. His face contorted in a mix of confusion and awe. "What just happened? And where are they even going?"
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz