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
***
Ace arrives early at the arthouse cinema near Harlem, a little nervous. He straightens his jacket, hoping he doesn't look too eager. He wants to make this right. After everything that's happened—the disappearances, the Grongi, Dai-Shocker—he knows he hasn't been the best friend lately.
He spots Nico and Berto walking up the street. Relief washes over him. They actually came. Nico, as always, is decked out in her signature gothic style. Berto bounces with an energy that makes Ace smile.
"Hey!" Ace calls out, waving. "You guys made it."
"Yeah, well, I haven't seen Flaming Skull 2 yet," Berto says, grinning. "And Nico said it was good."
Nico shrugs, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Don't get your hopes up. It's still a B-movie sequel."
Ace chuckles. "Hey, even B-movies deserve some love. Besides," he winks, "it's about flaming skulls, exploding cars, and questionable acting. What's not to love?"
Nico raises an eyebrow. "We'll see. But if this is another one of your terrible movie choices, I'm blaming you for the rest of the week."
"Deal." Ace grins, relieved that she's at least engaging with his attempts at humor. "So, ready to witness cinematic history?"
As they head inside, Ace tries to lighten the mood further, joking about the ridiculous plot of Flaming Skull 2. "I heard the villain is a cyborg ninja who controls an army of… wait for it… sentient rubber chickens."
Berto bursts out laughing. "No way! That's amazing!"
Nico rolls her eyes, but Ace catches the corner of her mouth twitching. "You're making that up."
"Am I?" Ace says, feigning innocence. "You'll just have to wait and see. But I promise, even if the movie sucks, the popcorn's on me."
Nico sighs dramatically, but there's a hint of amusement in her voice. "Fine. But don't think this makes up for everything."
"I know," Ace says, his voice turning serious. "But it's a start, right?"
Ace, Nico, and Berto find their seats in the dimly lit theater. The smell of popcorn hangs heavy in the air. Ace sinks into his plush seat, a sense of contentment washing over him. He glances at his friends—Berto practically vibrating with excitement, Nico settling into her usual stoic pose.
The opening credits of Flaming Skull 2 roll, accompanied by a cheesy metal riff. Ace snorts, already finding the movie hilarious. Berto is completely engrossed, eyes glued to the screen. Nico, however, remains unimpressed, arms crossed.
"This is already terrible," she whispers, just loud enough for Ace to hear.
He stifles a laugh. "Just wait, it gets better."
The movie continues, a whirlwind of explosions, bad dialogue, and rubber chickens. Ace is having a blast, Berto is in heaven, and Nico is… well, Nico is still Nico. But Ace can see a faint smile playing on her lips as the movie progresses. Maybe, just maybe, things are starting to get back to normal.
As the credits rolled, Ace stretched, a satisfying pop echoing in the quiet theater. "Okay, that was… something," he said, glancing at Nico.
"Questionable," she deadpanned, but there was a definite glint of amusement in her eyes. "But I'll admit, the rubber chicken army was a stroke of genius."
Berto was practically buzzing with energy. "Dude, that was the best movie ever! I need to see it again!"
"Maybe," Ace said, grinning. "But first, I promised you guys popcorn."
They filed out of the arthouse, the cool night air a welcome change from the stuffy theater. As they walked down the street, Ace felt a surge of determination. He had to try to explain. "Hey, guys, can we talk for a sec? About… things."
Nico raised an eyebrow. "About what 'things' exactly?"
Ace hesitated, searching for the right words. "About why I've been… distant lately. I know I haven't been the best friend, and I'm sorry. The truth is, I've been dealing with some… stuff." He paused, struggling to find the right way to phrase it. "Some really weird stuff. It's hard to explain, but it's something I can't really tell you because you wouldn't believe me, and I don't want to make you a target. It takes up a lot of my time and then I have to disappear without any notice."
He looked at his friends, hoping they would understand. Nico's expression was unreadable, and Berto looked concerned. He had to make them understand but couldn't tell them about the Grongi, about Dai-Shocker, about being Kamen Rider. He needed them to know why he had to disappear suddenly, but couldn't jeopardize them if they knew the truth.
Suddenly, a deafening BOOM shook the street.
Ace stumbled, grabbing Nico and Berto to steady them. The ground vibrated beneath their feet, and a wave of heat washed over them.
"Stay close!" Ace shouted, his voice barely audible over the ringing in his ears. "Something's wrong!"
Another explosion ripped through the air, closer this time. A building across the street shuddered, glass shattering and raining down on the sidewalk. People screamed, their voices filled with panic and terror. A stampede erupted, people surging in every direction, desperate to escape whatever was happening.
Nico's eyes widened, her usual composure cracking. "What the hell is going on?"
Ace scanned the chaotic scene, his mind racing. This wasn't normal. This wasn't just some random accident. This felt… orchestrated. Military vehicles roared down the street, sirens blaring. Gunfire erupted in the distance, adding to the cacophony of noise and terror. Something big was happening, and he had a feeling it wasn't good. He grabbed Nico and Berto's hands. He had to get them out of here.
"Run! Get out of here!" Ace shouts, pulling Nico and Berto along with him. He doesn't know what's happening, but one thing is clear: this isn't a safe place to be. The explosions, the military presence… something big and bad is going down.
He tugs them towards a side street, hoping to escape the chaos of the main thoroughfare. But as they emerge from the alleyway, the sight that greets them stops them in their tracks.
The street is a war zone.
Smashed vehicles litter the road, their metal twisted and torn. Debris from damaged buildings is scattered everywhere. And towering above it all, a hulking, grotesque figure is wreaking havoc.
Abomination.
Ace's breath hitches. The creature is massive, easily dwarfing the military vehicles trying to contain it. Its gray-green skin is stretched taut over exposed bone ridges. The monster's muscles bulge with unnatural power as it effortlessly smashes cars, throws debris, and swats away soldiers like flies.
Civilians scream, their cries of terror piercing the air as they scramble for cover. The army puts up a valiant effort, but their weapons are useless against the Abomination's raw strength. Bullets ricochet off its hide, and even the heavier artillery seems to do little more than irritate the beast.
"That's not a movie monster," Ace says, his voice barely a whisper. He can't believe what he is seeing. "That's real."
Nico stares at the Abomination, her face pale with shock. "What do we do?!"
Ace's mind races. He has to protect them. He has to get them out of here. This is too dangerous for them to witness. He's dealt with Grongi, fought Mirror Monsters, but this... this is something else entirely.
"Run! Get out of here!" Ace repeats, more urgently this time. He grabs Nico and Berto's hands, pulling them in the opposite direction of the Abomination's rampage. He knows that they must act fast to get out of here, before it is too late.
He sprints down the street, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He has to get them to safety. He glances back, seeing the Abomination continuing its destructive path, crushing everything in its wake. He quickens his pace, pulling Nico and Berto along.
Suddenly, a deafening roar fills the air. Ace looks up just in time to see the Abomination hurl a twisted, mangled vehicle into a nearby building. The impact is earth-shattering. The building groans and shudders, then a section of the facade collapses, sending tons of debris cascading onto the street.
"No!" Ace yells, his voice lost in the rumble.
He tries to pull Nico and Berto out of the way, but it's too late. The debris crashes down around them, a chaotic mix of concrete, metal, and shattered glass. The force of the impact throws them to the ground.
Dust fills the air, making it hard to see, hard to breathe. Ace coughs, trying to clear his vision. He looks around frantically, trying to find Nico and Berto.
"Nico! Berto!" he calls out, his voice strained.
He hears a faint voice cry out from under a pile of rubble.
"Ace! Help us!"
It's Nico. He scrambles towards the sound, his heart pounding in his chest. He sees her trapped beneath a section of collapsed wall, her face pale with fear. Berto is beside her, pinned under a twisted metal beam.
"I can't move!" Berto cries out, his voice laced with panic.
Ace's mind races. He has to get them out of there, now. The Abomination is still rampaging nearby, and who knows what else could happen. More of the building could collapse. He has to act fast.
He rushes to Nico's side, grabbing at the rubble pinning her down. It's heavy, too heavy for him to lift on his own. He strains, gritting his teeth, but the debris doesn't budge. He glances over at Berto, his face contorted with pain.
"Hold on!" Ace shouts, his voice filled with desperation. "I'm coming!"
He grits his teeth, digging his fingers into the rough concrete. He plants his feet, and pulls. Nothing. The weight is too much, even with adrenaline coursing through him.
He looks at Nico, her eyes wide with fear. Then at Berto, his face contorted in pain. He can't do this. Not like this. Not as just Ace Ukiyo.
There's no other choice.
He takes a step back, away from his trapped friends. He closes his eyes for a brief moment. I'm sorry, guys. I should've told you sooner.
He clenches his fist. Henshin!
A surge of energy erupts from within him, a primal force that makes his bones vibrate. Red light envelops him, swirling around his body like a raging storm. He can feel his muscles expanding, his senses sharpening. The world around him shifts, becoming brighter, clearer.
The red light dissipates, revealing a figure clad in crimson armor, a golden horn gleaming on its forehead. Kamen Rider Kuuga, Mighty Form.
He opens his eyes, and a surge of relief floods him as he surveys the scene. He turns to face Nico and Berto.
Their expressions are priceless.
Nico's jaw is dropped, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Ace… you're…?"
Berto shakes his head, his mouth agape. "No way…"
He ignores their shock, focusing on the task at hand. He needs to get them out of here. Now. There's no time to waste. He'll explain everything later.
"I'll explain later," he says, his voice deeper, resonating with power. "Right now, I need to get you out of here."
He focused on Nico and Berto. He had to get them out of here. Now. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, his enhanced strength surging through his body. He reached for the collapsed section of wall that trapped Nico, gripping the rough concrete with his armored hands. With a mighty heave, he lifted the debris, the weight feeling surprisingly manageable.
"Nico, get out!" he ordered, his voice echoing with authority.
Nico scrambled out from under the debris, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looked at him. He quickly moved to Berto's side, assessing the situation. The twisted metal beam was pinning Berto's leg, but it looked like he could lift it.
"Hold on, Berto," he said, bracing himself. He gripped the beam, his muscles straining, and lifted it with all his might. Berto cried out in pain, but quickly scrambled free.
"Go! Get to safety!" Ace urged, his gaze shifting between his friends. "I'll handle this."
He watched them as they stumbled to their feet, brushing dust and debris from their clothes. Nico looked at him, her expression a mix of awe and concern.
"Be careful, Ace," she said, her voice barely audible above the sounds of chaos.
Berto, his eyes wide, stared at him with undisguised admiration. "You're a freaking superhero!"
Ace forced a smile, trying to reassure them. "Just go! Find somewhere safe! I'll meet you later, I promise."
With Nico and Berto safely away, Ace turned, his gaze hardening as he faced the Abomination. The monstrous figure towered over him, a grotesque parody of a human form.
"Hey, ugly!" Ace called out, his voice amplified by the suit, a challenge thrown into the chaotic air. "Over here!"
He stepped forward, drawing the Abomination's attention. The creature's head snapped in his direction, its red eyes locking onto Ace. A low growl rumbled from its throat, a sound that promised violence. Ace steeled himself, planting his feet firmly on the ground. He was smaller, yes, but he was faster and possessed a strength that belied his size.
Ace and the Abomination sized each other up.
***
Leave a comment and review of your thoughts
Give some power stones to support this novel.
Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz