The Gorilla Imagin barrels toward Ace, its massive arms swinging like wrecking balls. Ace ducks under the first blow, the wind from its passage ruffling his crimson armor. The Imagin's strength is immense, each strike threatening to shatter concrete and bone.
Gotta keep moving, Ace thinks, gauging the Imagin's speed. Can't let him corner me.
He pivots, sidestepping another wild swing. This time, he seizes the opportunity. Channeling energy into his fist, he launches a punch. The blow connects with the Imagin's rocky torso, sending a jolt of feedback up his arm. The Imagin staggers, momentarily stunned.
"Not bad," the Gorilla Imagin growls, flexing its muscles. "But it will take more than that."
The Imagin recovers quickly, resuming its assault with renewed ferocity. Ace dances between the attacks, weaving a web of dodges and counters. He needs to find an opening, a weakness. This Imagin's raw power is overwhelming.
The battle spills into the skeletal remains of the construction site. Twisted rebar and dangling wires create a maze of obstacles. The Imagin's rage fuels its attacks, each punch aimed at obliterating Ace.
The Gorilla Imagin smashes its fist into a support pillar, sending chunks of concrete raining down. Ace narrowly avoids the debris, his boots crunching on shattered stone. He glances up, seeing the Imagin tear through floors above, creating gaping holes in the unfinished structure.
"Come on, Rider!" the Imagin booms, its voice echoing through the site. "Let Kongaros crush you!"
Ace leaps over a pile of twisted metal, the air thick with dust and the smell of pulverized concrete. He spots an opening, a brief moment of vulnerability in the Imagin's onslaught. Channeling his energy, Ace lunges forward, delivering a series of rapid-fire blows to the Imagin's chest. Each strike lands with a resounding THUD, causing the Imagin to stumble backward.
"RRRGH!" The Imagin roars, clutching its chest.
Ace doesn't relent, pressing his advantage. He ducks under another wild swing, hammering the Imagin with a final, devastating punch that sends it reeling. The Gorilla Imagin is clearly staggered, its movements sluggish, its roars turning into pained grunts.
Ace seizes the moment, launching upward with a mighty uppercut.
[Rising Mighty!]
His fist connects squarely with the Gorilla Imagin's jaw, sending it rocketing into the air. The Imagin flies backward, crashing through the unfinished floors above. Each impact echoes through the site, a symphony of destruction.
Ace doesn't hesitate. He leaps after the airborne Imagin, dropping through the gaping holes in the structure. [WHOOSH!] The wind whips past his crimson armor as he descends, gravity pulling him down.
The Gorilla Imagin plummets, crashing through the ground floor with a bone-jarring THUD. Dust billows out, obscuring the scene. Ace lands gracefully, absorbing the impact with practiced ease.
The dust settles, revealing the Gorilla Imagin struggling to rise. Its rocky body is cracked and broken, sand leaking from the fissures. The Imagin groans, its voice strained and weak. He staggers to its feet, clutching its chest.
"You... you will pay for this, Rider," the Gorilla Imagin rasps, glaring at Ace. The Imagin's eyes burn with hate, but its movements are sluggish, its power diminished. It is hurt, badly.
"This wish... Kongaros will complete it." The Imagin coughs, trying to stand up straight.
Ace focuses. This ends now. He lowers into a stance, energy gathering around his right leg, crackling like static. The air shimmers with heat.
Time to end this.
Before he can jump, a booming voice echoes through the wreckage.
"Hold it right there! That's enough!"
Ace halts his kick, the energy dissipating as he straightens up. He turns toward the source of the voice, his gaze narrowing. Two figures emerge from the perimeter, cutting a path through the chaos.
The first is a hulking man, easily six-and-a-half feet tall, with a construction-themed costume. Black and yellow hazard stripes adorn his suit, and a yellow helmet covers his head, fingerless gloves cover his large hands. This is Death Arms, a Pro Hero known for brute strength.
Beside him stands a taller, slender figure, encased in a wooden suit. Bark-like textures cover his body, and branch-like extensions crown his head. It's Kamui Woods, known for his Arbor Quirk.
"Pro Heroes," Ace mutters. Of course.
"Both of you, cease fighting immediately!" Kamui Woods commands, his voice calm but firm. "Surrender now, and come with us quietly."
Ace eyes the two heroes, assessing the situation. Death Arms looks like he's itching for a fight. Kamui Woods stands ready, his wooden limbs poised to ensnare.
"This doesn't concern you," Ace says, his voice low, "Stand aside."
"Don't play coy. We saw you two tearing up this place," Death Arms retorts, his tone accusatory. "Surrender now. You're both coming with us."
"We're not asking again," Kamui Woods adds, extending a wooden branch toward Ace. "This ends now."
"Kongaros doesn't surrender!" the Gorilla Imagin roars, seizing the distraction. With a surge of adrenaline, it slams a fist into a weakened support column. The structure groans, metal twisting and concrete shattering.
"EARTHSHAKER SLAM!"
The upper floors of the construction site buckle and collapse, sending a cascade of debris crashing down. Dust explodes into the air, obscuring everything. The Gorilla Imagin uses the chaos as cover, disappearing into the cloud of destruction.
As the dust begins to settle, the Gorilla Imagin is gone, leaving only a trail of destruction and a lingering scent of ozone. The Pro Heroes turn their attention to Ace, their expressions hardening.
"Where did your partner go?" Death Arms demands, his voice tight.
Kamui Woods glares, "You're not getting away that easily. Explain yourself, villain!"
Ace meets their stares head-on. "I'm not a villain." He crosses his arms, channeling his inner cool. "I'm a hero."
Death Arms raises a skeptical eyebrow. "Oh really? And who are you supposed to be, then?"
"Yeah," Kamui Woods adds, his wooden gaze unwavering. "What kind of hero runs around tearing up construction sites?"
Ace hesitates. This is where things get tricky. "I'm Kamen Rider."
The two heroes exchange confused glances. "Kamen what-now?" Death Arms asks, scratching his head.
"Never heard of you," Kamui Woods admits, his tone dubious. "Let's see your Hero License."
Ace winces. Busted. "Uh... about that..." He shifts uncomfortably, averting their gazes. "I don't exactly have one."
Suspicion hardens in Death Arms' eyes. "No license? Are you a vigilante?"
Kamui Woods steps forward, his wooden branches twitching. "That's enough. Come with us. We'll sort this out at the station."
Crap. Ace knows this situation is deteriorating rapidly. He can't afford to get caught.
"Cho Henshin!"
Blue armor erupts around Ace, sleek and streamlined. Before the heroes can react, he launches himself into the air with inhuman speed.
Death Arms and Kamui Woods stare in astonishment as Ace transforms and leaps away.
"What the—?" Death Arms sputters, watching Ace disappear into the Musutafu skyline.
Kamui Woods shakes his head, his wooden features tight with frustration. "He got away."
"Damn it!" Death Arms clenches his fists. "A transformation Quirk, huh? And no license... that guy's trouble."
"A vigilante, most likely," Kamui Woods murmurs, his eyes scanning the horizon. "We need to report this. This 'Kamen Rider' is operating outside the law. We have to find him."
Ace lands in an empty alley, the city's sounds muffled by the surrounding buildings. He cancels the transformation, the blue armor dissolving into motes of light as he reverts to his street clothes.
Damn, he thinks, running a hand through his hair. The Gorilla Imagin escaped, but at least Ace knows the monsters in this world are Imagin.
For anyone unfamiliar, Imagin are beings from a ruined future. They latch onto people like a parasite, and they grant their host's wishes. Each Imagin draws its form from the contractor's memories and imagination, resulting in a wild variety of powers and appearances. They appear in the Kamen Rider Den-O series and are the main antagonists.
Dai-Shocker's sending Imagin here now. That's not good.
One dangerous thing about the Imagin is their ability to grant a contractor's wish. Once the wish is fulfilled, the Imagin can travel to the past and change events. They can then wreak havoc and affect the present and future, changing the timeline to whatever the Imagin's desires. Ace has no means to pursue the Gorilla Imagin through time. He has to defeat the Imagin quickly, before they can grant their host's wish and cause changes to the past.
Ace pushes off the alley wall, blending into the Musutafu crowds. He needs a plan, and fast. The Pro Heroes are on high alert. He's got no license, no ID, and just wrecked a construction site.
Think, Ace, think.
The good news? He knows the Gorilla Imagin's host: Kenji, the disgruntled construction worker. That gives him a lead. Ace plans to follow Kenji, hoping the Imagin resurfaces. But where to start?
Ace heads back toward the construction site. Maybe Kenji lives nearby, or his coworkers might know something. He keeps a low profile, avoiding eye contact and sticking to the shadows. The last thing he needs is another run-in with Pro Heroes.
As he circles the site, he spots a small group of workers milling around, their faces grim. Perfect. Now to play it cool and get some intel. He leaves the alley to find Kenji.
A red and silver train speeds through the endless expanse of the Sands of Time, hurtling forward. Its metallic body gleamed, reflecting the swirling temporal currents. Inside, anticipation crackled.
"This world's got heroes everywhere. Imagine the babes," said the blue turtle-themed Imagin, adjusting his glasses.
"More importantly, imagine the strong opponents!" roared the red oni-themed Imagin, slamming a fist into his palm. "I'm at my climax just thinking about it."
The bear-themed Imagin flexes his muscles. "I wonder if they're strong enough to make me use my full strength."
"I bet they have cute animals!" The Imagin with the dragon motif spins in his chair, headphones bouncing. "I want a pet dragon!"
The oni scoffed, "You always thinking about drawings and animals, Brat."
The turtle Imagin laughed. "Leave him alone, Sempai. Not everyone's as bloodthirsty as you."
"Shut up, Turtle," the oni growled.
Suddenly, a swirling vortex of energy materialized directly in their path. The train didn't slow, didn't hesitate. It plunged straight through, the temporal energies rippling around it like water.
The DenLiner emerged into a vibrant blue sky, far above a sprawling cityscape. Buildings stretched as far as the eye could see.
"Where are we now?" the bear Imagin mumbled, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Looks like another world," the turtle Imagin said, adjusting his glasses. "I wonder what kind of people live here?"
"Are we going to help people?" asked the dragon Imagin.
"Who cares!" shouted the oni. "As long as there are strong guys to fight, I'm at a climax!"
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz