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BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked the entire factory.
Another blast followed, and a figure was flung out through a cloud of smoke.
Cough cough cough—
The Cross Gunblade clattered to the ground as Erik coughed up a mouthful of blood. This Fangire was way stronger than anything he'd fought before—probably on par with that werewolf thing.
"Tsk tsk... Blade, you're a real letdown. All that hype and you're barely worth fearing."
The green, fish-scaled creature leapt up through the hole it had blown in the ground and strolled toward Erik like it was on a runway.
Erik struggled to stand, grabbed the Cross Gunblade, and started firing.
Bang bang bang bang—!
A hail of bullets poured out, but the monster only paused for a moment. He casually patted the smoking scales where he'd been hit and gave a mocking smirk.
"I heard you can transform. You call yourself a Kamen Rider after that, right? Go on, transform now. I heard those guys say you've got the power to wipe us out once you're transformed. Heh… I'd love to see if that's true."
With that, the monster stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Erik like he was watching a circus clown.
"Damn it!"
Erik roared in frustration and pulled the trigger again. Blasts of energy rained out like an extension of his fury.
"What's the matter? Still refusing to transform? I'm about to run out of patience."
The monster's voice grew colder as he materialized a weird green crossbow.
Suddenly, a wave of danger washed over Erik.
Bang!
The trigger clicked, and a green energy blast burst out.
BOOM!
A massive explosion shattered every window in the factory.
"Uh oh, might've overdone it."
As thick smoke rose from the ground, the monster gave a half-smile, half-smirk.
"Still not dead? Damn, you've got some tenacity. A human-vampire hybrid, huh? That kind of mixed blood being this strong… that's actually kinda interesting."
As the smoke cleared, Erik was lying on the ground, his right arm completely blown up, the flesh shredded. But his half-vampire regeneration was already kicking in, trying to heal it.
"Well, I'm officially out of patience. So go ahead and die now. From this moment on, there's no more Blade."
The monster slowly raised his crossbow and began to pull the trigger.
Bang bang bang!
A sudden barrage of energy bullets shot through the air.
The monster dodged instinctively, but his crossbow got blasted out of his hands.
"Who's there?!"
He turned angrily toward the direction of the shots—then saw, glowing in the dark, a pair of eyes like car headlights. A red figure stepped forward, holding a gun shaped like a car door.
"Just a passing Kamen Rider. Remember that."
Dan said casually, quoting a famous catchphrase. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed a belt toward Erik.
"It's fully upgraded. Next time, don't go charging into dangerous places alone."
Erik caught the belt and downed two blood capsules.
"This was just a one-time accident."
"Heh."
Dan scoffed. Just as he'd stepped out of the lab, Stark had called, saying Erik had gone solo again, storming a vampire base. Dan didn't even think twice—he rushed over. Thankfully, he made it in time.
"Kamen Rider… So you're the one who's been screwing with us everywhere. Kamen Rider Drive, right?"
"Oh, so you've heard of me? I'm flattered. Guess I'll return the favor—by sending you straight to hell."
With that, Dan opened the car-door-shaped weapon, its energy fully charged.
Boom!
A powerful energy blast shot straight at the monster's chest.
"Damn you, Kamen Rider!"
The monster roared, his scales standing on end. His webbed claws doubled in size, and he charged head-on into the blast.
Seeing the ranged attack wasn't working, Dan put away the door-gun and summoned the Handle-Ken sword.
Clang!
With a sharp sound, the sword clashed with the monster's claws, sending out a shrill screech.
Erik stepped up to help.
"No need—I've got him. You go clear out the vampires in the factory. Don't let any escape!"
Seeing Dan so confident, Erik nodded and ran off to deal with the grunts.
The lesser vampires were enraged that Erik dared to face them alone, and they screeched as they swarmed him.
But Erik calmly buckled the belt around his waist and pressed his palm against the Fist-On weapon.
[R-e-a-d-y]
"Henshin!"
[Fist On]
[Ixa Save Mode]
A golden suit of armor shimmered into view, then fused with Erik's body.
"Vampires! Time to return your lives to God!"
As the Ixa armor fully activated, new data updates flashed in Erik's HUD. Without hesitation, he triggered the newly upgraded form.
[Ixa Burst Mode]
BOOM!
An intense heat burst out from Ixa's body, instantly incinerating nearby vampires into ash.
As the mechanical hum kicked in, Ixa's gold cross-shaped visor split open, revealing glowing red eyes.
"What the hell?!"
"What is that thing?!"
"Damn it! Why's this happening?!"
Just a second ago, the vampires had been feeling cocky about their numbers. Now, they were in full-blown panic.
"It's over."
Erik held out his hand, and the cross-bladed gun flew straight into his grip.
He pulled a whistle-shaped item from a side compartment on his belt and plugged it in.
"I-x-a Ca-li-bu-r R-i-se U-p!"
With the mechanical chime, a high-pitched whistle rang out. The factory's temperature surged, and it looked like a sun had risen behind Ixa.
Erik raised the holy sword.
"Ixa Judgement!"
With one swing, he wiped them all out.
The vampires were reduced to ash in a single slash. Even the metal in the factory melted under the heat.
"Incredible power."
The sheer heat from that strike even disrupted the green monster.
Dan seized the moment of distraction and darted in, slashing at the monster's chest.
Swoosh!
The sword struck true, releasing a cascade of golden sparks. The monster staggered backward.
"Damn you, Kamen Rider!"
The blow had done real damage—his chest scales were split open.
Dan gave him a smirk.
"Don't lose focus in a fight."
"....."