Ace's mind reels, a cacophony of thoughts clashing within his skull. What the hell is going on? Why can't I move? He tries to wrestle back control, to wrench his limbs back into his own rhythm, but it's like trying to steer a runaway train. His body moves with a swagger and confidence that isn't his.
"Ore… Sanjou!"
That voice… that catchphrase… Momotaros? It clicks into place with the force of a runaway locomotive. He's Kamen Rider Den-O—no, he was Kamen Rider Den-O. Now, he's just a passenger in his own body.
"Hey! Red Oni! What are you doing in my head!" Ace shouts internally, his voice echoing in the empty space.
A booming voice, laced with arrogance, answers him. Sorry, needed a body to fight. Gotta borrow yours for a bit.
Borrow? You just took over! Ace retorts, fury building. Get out of my body!
No time for that! Momotaros brushes him off. Gotta smash that sandbag. Don't worry, I'll give it back... mostly in one piece!
Gorilla's eyes widen beneath the sand-encrusted brow. "You're… Den-O!"
A grin splits Momotaros' face. "That's right!" He snatches the four pieces of the DenGasher from the Den-O Belt, assembling them with practiced ease. The crimson blade gleams, reflecting the construction site's harsh floodlights.
"Let me warn you… from beginning to end, I'm always at climax!"
A primal roar rips from Gorilla's throat as he charges. Momotaros leaps forward, a crimson blur against the backdrop of twisted metal and shattered concrete. "Let's GO GO GO!"
The DenGasher sings as it meets Gorilla's brute strength. The Imagin swings a haymaker, a fist of compacted sand that could pulverize concrete. Momotaros dances back, the red armor a blur, dodging the attack by a hair's breadth. He retaliates with a flurry of slashes, each aimed with precision at the Gorilla's joints and exposed core.
[CLANG]
[WHOOSH]
[SHATTER]
Sand explodes from the Gorilla's form as the DenGasher connects. The construction site becomes a whirlwind of destruction, each blow from the Imagin sending tremors through the ground. Momotaros weaves through the chaos, taunting his opponent with every strike.
"Not bad, sandbag! But can you handle this?!"
Momotaros launches himself into the air, spinning like a top. The DenGasher crackles with crimson energy. With a shout, he brings the blade down in a devastating overhead strike.
The Gorilla roars in pain, staggering back as a deep gash opens across its chest. Sand spills from the wound.
The Gorilla Imagin glares at Den-O, pure hatred burning in its sandy eyes. "Damn you, Den-O!" it roars, refusing to accept defeat.
Momotaros cackles, a sound that grates on Ace's nerves. "Alright, sandbag, let me show you my Hissatsu attack, Part 1!" He strikes a pose, then swipes the Rider Pass across the Den-O Belt.
[FULL CHARGE]
Crimson energy surges from the belt, snaking up the DenGasher's hilt like living lightning. The blade erupts with red light, then detaches, floating in the air. Sparks crackle between the blade and handle.
"Here I go!" Momotaros shouts, his voice echoing through the ruined construction site. He makes a sweeping slash towards the Gorilla, and the floating blade follows, a crimson comet. It slams into the Imagin, tearing through its sandy form.
Momotaros raises the DenGasher's handle high, then slams it down. The blade mirrors his movement, slicing through the Gorilla. A crimson gash splits the Imagin's form, and with a final roar, it explodes in a shower of sand and sparks. The DenGasher's blade returns to the handle.
"Heh," Momotaros boasts, striking another pose. "I'm so cool."
He is strong, Ace admits grudgingly, his thoughts echoing within the shared mental space. Even if his style is...lacking. But there's no denying the sheer power Momotaros wields. It's raw, untamed, but effective. The sheer number of fights that Oni has under his belt… it shows. Okay, enough gawking, time to get out of here.
Hey, Oni, we gotta go,
"Huh? Why?" Momotaros retorts, a touch of annoyance coloring his tone. He flexes his gauntleted hand, admiring his handiwork. "I was just getting warmed up!"
Because, in this world, there are people called Pro Heroes. They fight criminals, villains.
"So? Sounds like good guys to me," Momotaros scoffs.
That's not the problem. The problem is they have licenses to act, official permission. What we just did? That's called vigilantism. It's illegal. Those Pro Heroes will try to arrest us too.
A pause. Ace can practically feel the gears grinding in Momotaros' mind.
"Seriously…" Momotaros finally grumbles. "What a lame system."
Yeah, well, it's the system we've got. So, let's hurry and leave already.
With a final grunt of disapproval, Momotaros relinquished control. In a dizzying rush, Ace was back in the driver's seat. The red armor faded, replaced by his normal attire. He didn't waste a second, vaulting onto the Trychaser and kicking the engine to life. The motorcycle roared to life, its engine echoing the chaotic battle that had just concluded. Ace revved the engine and drove away.
Minutes later, Death Arms and Kamui Woods arrived, their faces grim. The scene before them was one of utter devastation. Twisted metal, shattered concrete, and lingering energy crackled in the air.
"What in the world happened here?" Death Arms mutters, his voice laced with disbelief.
Kamui Woods surveys the scene, his expression thoughtful. "Looks like a battle happened here." He gestures to the extensive damage.
Kamui Woods surveys the destruction with a professional eye, assessing the structural damage to the surrounding buildings. "Did anyone see what happened?" he asks the small crowd that had gathered.
A few workers nervously recounted what they'd witnessed—a hulking brute tearing through the site, followed by someone in red armor battling the monster. But they didn't know the man in red.
Death Arms grunts, flexing his augmented arms. "Red armor, huh? Sounds like that vigilante, Kamen Rider, we saw yesterday."
Death Arms and Kamui Woods exchange a look, a silent question passing between them: Had Kamen Rider killed the villain?
"Did that vigilante… kill a villain?" Death Arms asked, his voice tight.
The Pro Heroes know that killing is against the law, and if Kamen Rider really killed that villain. He would be convicted with murder.
Kamui Woods frowned. "We need to find out who this Kamen Rider is and what his intentions are." He casts another look at the destruction. "If he's willing to kill, he's no better than a villain himself."
…
Momotaros stumbles into a darkened alleyway, confident he's finally shaken the Pro Heroes. "This place should be safe. No one will find me here."
[POP]
Suddenly, Momotaros is ejected from Ace's body, his sandy form materializing abruptly. Ace sways, catching himself against a wall. "Finally in control…" He breathes, surprised. Guess I learned how to reject him…
Momotaros is now sprawled out in front of Ace, half of his body emerging from the grimy pavement. His legs flail uselessly above his head. The oni Imagin resembles an upside-down lollipop, legs the stick, and his upper body the candy.
"What the—how did you push me out!"
Ace takes a step back, adjusting his posture. "I just learned how to. You're Momotaros, right?"
Momotaros rights himself, brushing off imaginary dust. "Hmm? You know me?" He points a finger at Ace. "Who are you? Some kinda fan?"
Ace considers his words. "Well… sort of… Listen, what are you doing in this world?"
"That's none of your business, but whatever. Imagin started popping up here," Momotaros explains, waving a dismissive hand. "We're here to kick their asses before they screw up time. Simple as that."
"Is Urataros here too? Kintaros? Ryutaros?" Ace asks, already knowing the answer.
Momotaros narrows his eyes. "You also know them? Who are you?"
A loud whistle cuts through the air—[WHOOOOSHHH]. Both Ace and Momotaros turn to see a massive train materialize at the end of the alley. It's the DenLiner. Time has stopped for Ace, but he feels as though he is floating in the air. He could not believe that he was able to witness the real DenLiner in front of him.
The doors of the DenLiner slide open with a [HISS]. A woman steps out, her pink-streaked hair bouncing as she moves. She wears a stylish waitress uniform, complete with a frilly pink apron. Her smile shines brighter than any neon sign in this city.
"Welcome aboard!" Naomi chirps, waving Ace over. "I'm Naomi, the DenLiner's stewardess. You must be Ace, right? Hop on in, the Owner's been expecting you."
Ace blinks, momentarily stunned by her sudden appearance and overwhelming energy. "Uh… sure," he mutters, still processing the reality of the DenLiner. He finds himself walking towards the train, Momotaros forgotten in his wake.
Naomi beams, stepping aside to let him pass. "Great! We've got fresh coffee brewing, just the way you like it."
Ace climbs aboard, the DenLiner doors [SHUSHING] closed behind him. The train lurches forward, phasing through the alley wall and into a swirling vortex of time. The alley is left silent once more, save for the rustling wind and the distant siren of a police car.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz