Hello everyone! My book - Astra Warriors is on a free promotion until May 16th. Which means you can get it for free. I hope you can download it from Amazon and write an honest review to show your support.
Link to the Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F7WFHNKV
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Yuri dangles helplessly, suspended in the grotesque web spun between the warped reflections of the Mirror World. The sticky strands bind her tightly, a horrifying cocoon woven by a monstrous predator. Her heart pounds against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the eerie silence of this desolate dimension. Damn it! she thinks, adrenaline coursing through her veins.
Dispider Reborn, its drider form a sickening blend of human and arachnid, descends slowly. Its multiple eyes gleam with predatory hunger, each one fixated on her. Yuri clenches her jaw, refusing to succumb to complete terror. Years on the force have taught her to compartmentalize fear, to push it down and focus on survival. Think, Yuri, think!
Even trapped, she refuses to go down without a fight. She strains against the webbing, muscles burning with the effort. Hopeless. The strands are too strong, too sticky. Still, she keeps struggling, a futile but necessary act of defiance.
Dispider is almost upon her. Its fangs, elongated and dripping with venom, glint in the unnatural light of the Mirror World. Yuri closes her eyes, bracing for the inevitable. "Damn it..," she whispers, a desperate plea lost in the warped reality.
Suddenly, a roar echoes through the Mirror World, shaking the web that holds Yuri captive. A blast of searing heat washes over her, momentarily distracting her from the approaching monster. She opens her eyes to see a streak of crimson fury slamming into Dispider, sending the drider crashing into a distorted reflection of a building.
Yuri blinks, trying to make sense of the new arrival. A dragon—a massive, serpentine creature wreathed in red scales and gold accents—circles above. It resembles an Eastern dragon, its eyes glowing with an ancient power she can't comprehend. What is going on?
A territorial dispute? The Mirror World must have its own inhabitants. She only heard stories about it, but never believed them. This can't be good, she is nothing more than a bystander.
"Detective Watanabe!"
The sound of her name cuts through her racing thoughts. It's a voice she recognizes, but distorted, echoing in this bizarre dimension.
Yuri strains her neck, searching for the source. At first, she only see the dragon circling above, until her eyes follow the dragon to find Kamen Rider.
Rider? A figure stands below, bathed in the red glow of the dragon. The armor is unfamiliar, a sleek design of crimson and silver with a dragon-like visor. Who is that?
"Rider?" she asks, her voice barely a whisper.
The armored figure looks up, a sense of relief washing over her. "Don't worry, Detective. I'm here to get you out of there."
Relief floods through Yuri, so potent it almost brings her to her knees. That's Kamen Rider? The color of his current armor matches the dragon now looming over her, with red eyes and silver lining. It must be Ace. That brings her such relief.
She trusts him. She knows he'll save her.
With a swift movement, Ace draws a card from his Card Deck and inserts it into his Dragvisor in his left arm.
[Sword Vent]
A curved blade appears in his grasp, a shimmering weapon with a silver blade and a red hilt. With practiced precision, Ace slashes through the webbing, severing the strands that hold her captive. Yuri plummets downwards, her stomach lurching.
Ace moves faster than she anticipates. He catches her effortlessly, his armored arms strong and secure. Yuri clings to him, her body trembling with adrenaline and relief.
"You okay, Detective?" Ace asks, his voice muffled by the helmet.
Yuri nods, still catching her breath. "Yeah," she says, her voice shaky. "Thanks, Rider."
Ace sets her gently on her feet, his grip lingering for a moment longer than necessary. Yuri looks up at him, a thousand questions swirling in her mind. What is that dragon? And what the hell is going on with Kamen Rider?
"Don't worry, Detective," Rider says, his voice muffled by the helmet. "Dragreder's a friend."
Yuri stares at the dragon, skeptical. A friend? This dimension is already off the rails, she's beginning to think Ace is, too. Dragreder, as Ace calls him, backs off, floating behind Ace. Its fiery eyes never leave her, but its posture seems less threatening.
Dispider Reborn screeches, a sound that grates on Yuri's nerves. The drider's multiple eyes fixate on her, its spidery legs twitching with impatience. Its prey has been released, and it's clearly not happy about it.
"Stand back, Detective," Ace orders, his voice firm.
Yuri obeys, stepping behind Ace. He takes a fighting stance, legs shoulder-width apart, fists raised. There is determination in his stance.
He and Dispider square off, the air crackling with tension. The distorted reflections of the Mirror World seem to close in, amplifying the claustrophobia and the danger.
She watches intently. Whatever Ace is, whatever powers he possesses, he's all that stands between her and a gruesome death.
Ace glares at Dispider Reborn, his visor reflecting the monster's grotesque form. He grips the Dragsaber tightly.
Dragreder roars, its mechanical screech echoing through the Mirror World. The Dragsaber materializes in Ace's hand, shimmering with red energy. The blade pulses with the dragon's power.
He charges.
Dispider Reborn lunges, its spider legs skittering across the mirrored ground. The monster fires a volley of webbing, aiming to ensnare Ace once more. Ace spins, the Dragsaber slicing through the sticky projectiles with ease. He closes the distance, his movements a blur.
The Dragsaber clashes against Dispider's chitinous armor, sparks flying. The sound reverberates through the distorted dimension. Ace presses his attack, a flurry of slashes aimed at Dispider's weak points. He remembers Yusuke Godai. He fights to protect everyone just like him.
Dispider Reborn hisses, its multiple eyes gleaming with malice. It counters with its razor-sharp claws, each strike carrying deadly force. Ace parries, the Dragsaber humming under the strain. He stumbles back, narrowly avoiding a swipe that would have torn through his armor.
Damn, this thing is strong.
Ace regains his footing, adjusting his grip on the Dragsaber. He focuses, channeling his energy. He needs to find an opening.
He feints left, then right, trying to bait Dispider into a mistake. The monster remains wary, its movements precise and calculated. Ace realizes brute force alone won't be enough.
Dispider lunges again, its fangs bared. Ace ducks under the attack, the Dragsaber whistling as he brings it up in a sweeping arc. He connects with Dispider's underbelly, scoring a shallow cut.
The monster screeches in pain, recoiling slightly. Ace seizes the opportunity, launching a series of rapid strikes. The Dragsaber becomes an extension of his will, dancing around Dispider's defenses.
He slashes at Dispider's legs, attempting to cripple its mobility. The monster stumbles, its movements becoming erratic. Ace presses his advantage, driving Dispider back towards a cluster of shattered mirrors.
Dispider retaliates with a desperate burst of energy, firing a concentrated beam of energy from its mouth. Ace raises the Dragsaber, deflecting the blast. The energy ricochets off the blade, striking a nearby mirror and shattering it into a thousand pieces.
Ace sees an opening.
He slid the Advent card into the Dragvisor on his left arm.
[Advent]
Dragreder answers the call, materializing in a burst of crimson energy. The dragon coils around Dispider, its fiery breath scorching the monster's armor. Dispider screeches, thrashing wildly as Dragreder constricts its grip.
"Alright, Dragreder! Let's do this!" Ace yells.
Ace charges forward, the Dragsaber humming with power. He slashes at Dispider's legs, forcing the monster to shift its focus. Dragreder releases its grip, allowing Ace to get in close.
Dispider tries to fire a web blast at Ace, but Dragreder intercepts, engulfing the projectile in flames. The web dissipates before it can reach its target. Ace leaps, the Dragsaber descending in a powerful overhead strike.
"HAAA!"
The blade connects with Dispider's head, cleaving through the monster's armor. Dispider stumbles, its movements becoming sluggish. Ace lands gracefully, the Dragsaber poised for another attack.
Dragreder roars, circling Dispider and preventing its escape. Ace takes a deep breath, synchronizing his movements with the dragon. They work together seamlessly, a whirlwind of steel and fire.
Ace ducks under a swipe of Dispider's claws, Dragreder unleashing a torrent of flames at the monster's exposed flank. Dispider screeches, its body writhing in agony.
"Now!" Ace shouts.
He leaps onto Dragreder's back, gripping the dragon's scales for support. Dragreder surges forward, ramming Dispider with incredible force. The monster crashes through a cluster of mirrors, its body shattering the reflective surfaces.
Dispider struggles to regain its footing, but Ace and Dragreder show no mercy.
"This ends now!"
Ace lands back on the ground, the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He glances at Yuri, making sure she's okay, then focuses back on the downed Dispider Reborn. Now's the time.
He draws the Final Vent Advent Card and slides the card into the Dragvisor.
[Final Vent]
Dragreder roars, its mechanical screech echoing through the Mirror World. Crimson energy crackles around Ace's body. The dragon takes flight, circling him in a dizzying vortex of flames. Ace feels the heat intensify, his armor shimmering under the inferno.
He clenches his fist, feeling the raw power at his command.
Ace jumps, launching himself high into the air. The Mirror World blurs beneath him as Dragreder soars in pursuit, its scales gleaming in the eerie light. Ace feels the dragon's energy converging around him, building to a crescendo.
"Raaaaaaah!"
He angles his body, preparing for the final strike. Dispider Reborn struggles to rise, its movements sluggish and uncoordinated. Ace locks onto his target, his eyes burning with determination.
Dragreder unleashes its fiery breath, a torrent of flames erupting from its maw. The fireball explodes behind Ace, engulfing him in a blazing inferno. The flames lick at his armor, igniting the air around him.
He feels the heat intensifying, his body supercharged with the dragon's power. The flames dance across his form, transforming him into a blazing comet. This is the ultimate attack, a fusion of Rider and Mirror Monster.
Ace extends his leg, focusing all his energy into a single, devastating kick. He sees Dispider Reborn growing closer, its multiple eyes widening in terror.
The kick connects.
The impact is cataclysmic. A blinding flash of light erupts, obliterating everything in its path. The Mirror World trembles, the shattered reflections distorting and collapsing.
Dispider Reborn explodes in a wonderful fashion. Fragments of its chitinous armor and webbing rain down around Ace. The air crackles with residual energy, the scent of burning flesh filling his nostrils.
Ace pushes himself up, brushing off nonexistent dust from his Rider suit. He scans his surroundings, ensuring Yuri is safe. The Mirror World shimmers and distorts around them, the aftermath of the Final Vent leaving a palpable tension in the air. He takes a step, then another, towards Yuri.
He can feel her gaze on him, a mixture of relief and awe. He's glad she's okay. The fight was brutal, and he's not sure what he would have done if Dispider had managed to—
He cuts off the thought. No point dwelling on what-ifs.
He reaches Yuri, his visor reflecting her image back at her. He sees the genuine relief etched on her face. He mirrors her sentiment. That fight had pushed him to his limit. He needs to get stronger.
Suddenly, an orb of energy rises from the remnants of Dispider Reborn. It pulsates with a strange, ethereal light, hovering in the air for a moment before streaking towards Dragreder. The dragon opens its maw, and the orb vanishes inside.
Yuri stares at Dragreder, her expression a mix of confusion and concern. "What was that?"
"Mirror Monsters can absorb other Mirror Monsters to get stronger." He pauses, letting the information sink in. "Just like they hunt humans for their life energy."
Yuri's eyes widen. "So, Dragreder…"
He understands her apprehension. It's a valid concern.
"Dragreder won't hunt people," he says, his voice firm. "It's my Contract Monster. It will listen to me."
"I see… that's good to know."
Ace stares at his hand. A faint shimmering surrounds it, and tiny particles, like dust, are flaking away, drifting into the ethereal air of the Mirror World. He glances at Yuri. The same phenomenon is occurring to her.
Her eyes widen in alarm. "What's happening to us?"
He grits his teeth. He knew this was a risk, but he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. "The time limit is up."
Yuri's brow furrows in confusion. "Time limit?"
"Anyone who stays in the Mirror World for too long," he explains, his voice urgent, "starts to disintegrate. This place… it rejects us. We're not meant to be here."
He gestures towards their fading forms, the particles drifting away like lost memories. "We need to leave. Now."
Yuri nods, her face pale with concern. "Right."
Ace grabs Yuri's hand, his grip firm. "Let's go."
He leads her back to the shattered remains of the mirror he'd entered through. The reflection shimmers, showing the real world beyond. He can see Captain Stacy and the other officers, their faces etched with concern. They're waiting.
Ace squeezes Yuri's hand, his gaze unwavering. "Ready?"
She nods, her expression determined.
"On three," he says. "One… two… three."
Together, they step towards the reflection.
He felt the familiar pull as they crossed the threshold, the distorted reality of the Mirror World replaced by the mundane reality of the parking garage. The air was thick with the smell of ozone and burnt rubber, a testament to the battle that had just transpired.
He stumbled slightly as his feet hit solid ground, his body still buzzing with residual energy. Yuri swayed beside him, her face pale but resolute. He tightened his grip on her hand, making sure she was steady.
"We're back," he said, his voice hoarse.
Captain Stacy rushed towards them, his face etched with relief. His eyes scanned Yuri, then settled on Ace. "Detective! Thank goodness you're alright."
Yuri offered a small smile, her hand still clasped tightly in Ace's. "I'm safe, Captain. The monster… it's dead."
George turned his attention to Ace. "Kamen Rider," he said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. "Thank you. For saving her… for defeating that… that thing."
Ace met the Captain's gaze, his expression somber. He released Yuri's hand, stepping forward slightly. The weight of his actions settled upon him, the responsibility for the lives he had saved.
"I'm only glad people are safe again," he replied, his voice low.
The relief on Captain Stacy's face was evident. He clasped Ace on the shoulder. "We appreciate it, son. More than you know."
Ace simply nodded, his gaze sweeping across the scene. The parking garage was in disarray, pillars cracked, and debris scattered everywhere. The officers were starting to secure the area, their faces a mixture of exhaustion and awe.
The battle was over. For now.
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