Fuyuki – Homurahara Academy
Moonlight poured over the ruins like a cold silver shroud, the night wind howling as it carried swirls of dust through the air. In the shattered courtyard, two armored figures stood face-to-face. The air between them was taut, ready to explode at any second.
Juuga flexed his wrist, joints cracking in sharp, dry pops. He stepped forward, boot crushing rubble underfoot, arms spread wide as he tilted his chin in challenge toward Archer.
"Well damn~ Kamen Rider Calibur turning out to be the oh-so-famous Hero of Justice himself, huh… But for real, I gotta ask—who's this 'Holy Master Solomon' you keep talking about?"
Archer gripped Kurayami tight, the blade swallowed in darkness, his eyes cold as ice burning through the visor of his helmet.
"You don't need to know… Now, take this!!"
He bent his knees slightly, then slammed a foot down—
BOOM!
The ground erupted, and Archer shot forward like a black bullet, both hands swinging Kurayami in a vicious diagonal slash.
Juuga leaned aside, the golden blade of wind tearing past him by mere inches. Without missing a beat, he planted a hand to the ground, twisted his hips, and whipped a roundhouse kick straight for Archer's waist.
CLANG!
Metal clashed like a thunderclap—Archer caught Juuga's leg with one hand, then instantly brought Kurayami down. Black lightning surged along the blade, tearing the ground as it descended. Juuga launched another kick into Archer's chestplate, using the rebound to escape the strike.
CRASH!
The slash split the courtyard, gouging a deep trench from the yard to the school wall, shredding tile and concrete as if some giant beast had just taken a massive bite out of the earth.
Archer brushed a gloved hand over the dent in his chestplate and chuckled under the metal mask.
"Truly strong… You're worthy of being called a warrior. Juuga… tell me your name. This Moonlit Dark Sword has never taken the life of a nameless man."
Juuga shrugged, rolled his neck, and flashed a mocking grin.
"Aight, bet… since you're so pressed to know, I'll bless you with the answer. Name's Kurosaki Ichigo — don't forget it."
Archer nodded, not realizing it was a lie, his voice firm as he lowered Kurayami into stance.
"Kurosaki Ichigo… I will remember it well."
Without another word, Archer drew a different Wonder Ride Book. He slid it along Kurayami's length—an icy scanning tone rang out—then pulled the trigger. Mechanical chimes echoed like a death knell:
[Jaou Read! Jackku Dragon…]
[Kurayami Hissatsu Geki – Shūtoku Issen!]
BOOM—!!
Purple-black energy exploded outward, engulfing Archer's frame. His compound eyes blazed blood-red like a hanging moon, darkness spreading from him like a living thing. Purple lightning cracked the ground, shattering stone to dust.
The shockwave swept across the courtyard, and the very air felt sucked away. Archer's cold gaze locked onto the Rider before him.
Juuga responded without hesitation. He yanked the Juuga Vistamp from his Driver, flicking it once—then twice more to the right. Mechanical roars split the night, as if heralding the awakening of an ancient beast:
[Crash Genome Edge!!]
CRACK—BOOM!!
A surge of black-gold energy engulfed Juuga's armor. The collision of their auras sent cracks spiderwebbing through the earth. It was as if two Yonko from One Piece had unleashed their full Haoshoku Haki, the battlefield trembling under the invisible weight.
Without signal, both launched forward.
Archer blazed in a violet aura, Kurayami spilling darkness like toxic smoke as he swung an enormous, pitch-black X toward Juuga—the blade of fate itself.
Juuga's armor flared with molten-gold veins as he leapt, hips twisting into a crushing axe kick. Above him, an immense orange mammoth's foot materialized, its weight crashing down, shaking the entire academy to its core.
BOOOOM!!!
The two Finishers collided, the impact blasting everything apart—the school roof, the courtyard floor—everything was torn up in the wake. Both were thrown back, yet instantly dashed forward again, their speed so fast that only afterimages remained. Steel clashed again and again, each strike spitting showers of sparks into the night.
Archer suddenly thrust Kurayami straight forward. Juuga leaned aside, one armored hand snapping up to grab the blade mid-strike, stopping it with nothing but raw arm strength. Archer's lips curled into a smirk, his left hand snapping the Jaou Dragon book shut on the Driver.
[Jaou~! Hissatsu Dokuha…]
Sensing danger, Juuga instantly grabbed the Juuga Vistamp, flicking it to the right four rapid times. The Driver roared like the ignition of some colossal engine:
[Juuga Amazing Finish!!]
[Jaou~! Hissatsu Geki!!]
A black-and-gold magic circle erupted beneath Juuga's feet, energy surging upward, sweeping away everything nearby. Golden aura wrapped his armor, pressure bearing down like it could crush space itself.
Archer, wreathed in purple energy, held Kurayami as it trembled like a beast on the verge of pouncing. The darkness coating its blade thickened, twisting into writhing purple serpents, each ready to strike and shred all in their path.
Both sprang back—then shot forward—
SHHK! — CLAAANG!!
Archer swung hard. Five massive black-purple dragons exploded from Kurayami's edge, maws gaping with bloody fangs as they roared toward Juuga. The slash ripped the very air apart, the ground quaking in violent tremors as the draconic onslaught chased him.
Juuga vaulted into the air, twisting mid-flight. His right leg rose high, greaves blazing gold like a thunderclap given form. As the swarm of dragons and the slash closed in, he answered without hesitation—with a Rider Kick.
BOOOOM!!!
The detonation ripped the sky open. Shockwaves tore half the academy apart, flattening the area into a wasteland. Black smoke and burning debris rained down, the destruction well beyond anything human hands could withstand.
Juuga landed, his armor scorched and scratched, dusting off his hands. His eyes burned with battle lust as he shouted toward Archer:
"Man, you got me feelin' all kinds of ways right now! Archer… fr, fightin' you got every cell in my body buzzin' like—ah~ this is way too hype!"
The haze cleared. Archer stepped out from the scar left by the slash, the corner of his mouth twitching into the faintest smirk, his voice calm:
"You're truly not bad… but I've yet to use my full strength."
"Wot ya mean by that, blud?" Juuga crossed his arms, tilting his head.
Archer said nothing, spreading his arms wide. Mana condensed, and with Projection Magecraft, a pitch-black longbow materialized. He set Kurayami upon the bowstring and drew it back. Darkness and mana exploded outward, tearing apart the air around him. His cloak whipped violently in the mana winds as he whispered:
"I am the Bone of My Sword…"
"Calibur!"
BOOM!
The bowstring snapped forward. Kurayami transformed into a death arrow, tearing through space at impossible speed. Juuga's pupils shrank—he barely managed to dodge. The blade screamed past, slicing a chunk off his helmet before embedding far away—
KRA-KOOM!!!
A towering pillar of violet energy speared skyward, leaving behind a crater the size of a building. One shot like that could erase a Rider from existence.
Juuga swallowed hard, cold sweat trailing down his neck.
"Hold up, big man… can't we, like, talk this out? I'm just a lil' mage who studies critters and life 'n stuff — couldn't hurt a fly, fr."
Archer narrowed his eyes, recalling Kurayami into his grip and pointing its tip squarely at Juuga. His compound eyes blazed crimson, voice sharp as a blade:
"Are you mocking me?"
"C'mon now, bro… we were just sparrin' for fun. No need to get all pressed about it, right?"
Archer was about to charge… but stopped.
The corner of his mouth curled beneath the visor. His voice was low, almost calm—yet steeped in killing intent:
"Never mind… someone else will deal with you. Pray for your soul."
"Eh? Who you say gonna take me out? Sorry fam… but this unit's never even heard of fear—"
THMP.
A hand rested lightly on Juuga's shoulder.
Cold.
Predatory intent pressed down like a tyrant choosing its prey.
Juuga's skin erupted in gooseflesh.
He turned his head.
Out from a thick swirl of crimson mist stepped an armored figure of white and gold. A cloak billowed behind him, the red trim of his helmet's visor glowing like the slash of some demonic blade. The sheer oppressive aura he carried wasn't human—it was that of a hunter beast.
None other than… Zoth. Kamen Rider Solomon.
A cruel laugh, long silent, tore free into the air. The eyes behind the visor darted wildly, brimming with violence and exhilaration. Zoth tilted his head, voice fractured, sounding as if hundreds of roars had been jammed into a single sentence:
"BeKaBo… yOu lItTlE SHiiT!!"
The words had barely ended—
BOOM!!!
The sky instantly turned pitch black.
Scarlet lightning crashed down like the scream of the apocalypse. The very ground cracked beneath the violent torrent of energy pouring from Zoth's armor. His bright-red aura swirled and twisted, each pulse like a knife slicing through the air.
Juuga felt the killing intent sweep over him like a firestorm.
He jerked back, wrenching himself free of that hand heavy as stone on his shoulder. Sweat streamed down his face, every muscle locked taut, his heartbeat hammering uncontrollably—a primal reflex to mortal danger.
Zoth hunched forward slightly, right hand letting Caladbolg hang loose, the blade swinging faintly as if keeping time with the prey's heartbeat. His left hand gripped the side of his helmet, scraping it lightly, the sound of metal grinding against metal screeching through the air. From within came laughter, thick with bloodlust. The glowing red visor locked on Juuga's throat like a predator sighting its kill.
"What a delightful surprise~… This is only the second time… I've met another Kamen Rider besides myself~"
Juuga swallowed hard, then forced a deep breath. He took a battle stance, his voice still trembling, but trying to steady itself:
"You… who even are you? Another isekai drop-in like me? Or… are you actually Isaac from the Kamen Rider world?!"
Zoth straightened. One hand lifted a corner of his cloak, eyes tilting with a mocking angle. His words slid out like blades cutting into the brain:
"Guess who~… Who am I, hmm? That's right… I'm not Isaac… I'm… just like you~ Kuhahahaha~"
Juuga stepped back half a pace, heart tightening. He pointed directly at Zoth, shouting:
"You're—"
"Shhh~… my little secret~ Don't you dare say it out loud."
Zoth raised one finger to the visor, tilting his head again as he continued, voice dripping with madness:
"Anyway… you will be the one to bring disaster to this world. I've seen the future… you'll be the one who drags Sodom's Beast here~ And so…"
BOOM!!!
A wave of crushing force blasted outward from Zoth.
Those watching—whether standing on the battlefield or observing from afar through magical projection—felt their breath stolen, their chests compressed under the sheer weight.
The air itself seemed warped; dust and debris swirled in twisting currents.
Then—suddenly—
Sound vanished.
The sky's color drained away.
Shadows inverted, as if the world itself was holding its breath for his declaration.
Zoth spread both arms wide, voice savage enough to tear the silence apart:
"…You! Will die here today!!"