A Rider Kick in Marvel Rewrite

"I would prefer you leave this girl alone," Kintaros says, his voice low and dangerous. He steps in front of Melissa, shielding her from their leering gazes.

The burly man chuckles, exchanging glances with his cronies. "Oh, really? And what are you gonna do about it, pretty boy?" He takes a step closer, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Maybe she'd rather hang out with some real men, eh, sweetheart?"

"Yeah, what's the matter with you, huh? Can't satisfy a lady?"

The man makes a gesture to come hither, and the woman behind Kintaros flinches. Kintaros does not like that.

"Don't you think she would rather be with us," the first man says. "We can treat her much better than you can."

"We can show her a good time," the second man says. "We can give her everything she wants."

Melissa trembles behind Kintaros, but he is steadfast. The thuggish men are not to be trusted.

"I'm warning you," Kintaros says, his voice hardening. "Leave. Now."

The leader laughs, shaking his head. "Look, pal, we're just trying to be friendly. No need to get all worked up." He reaches out, attempting to grab Melissa's arm. "Come on, doll. Let's go somewhere we can… talk."

Kintaros grabs the man's wrist in a vice-like grip. The burly man's face contorts in pain.

"I said, leave her alone," Kintaros growls, his Kansai accent thickening. "My strength is making you cry!"

The thugs, startled by Kintaros's sudden show of force, step back slightly. The leader, his face flushed, tries to wrench his hand free, but Kintaros's grip is unyielding. The man tries to break free of Kintaros' grip, but his hand is locked in place. Kintaros is not backing down, so why should the thugs?

"Get him!" the leader barks, his face now red.

The cronies surge forward, a wave of aggression crashing against Kintaros. One lunges with a wild haymaker, but the bear-themed Imagin sidesteps the clumsy attack with ease. He spins, delivering a chop to the thug's neck. The man crumples to the ground, unconscious before he hits the pavement.

Another thug tries to tackle Kintaros, but the Imagin plants his feet, meeting the charge head-on. The thug bounces off Kintaros's chest like he hit a brick wall, staggering backward. Kintaros seizes the opportunity, grabbing the thug by his jacket and flinging him into a nearby dumpster. [CLANG]

"Enough games," the leader snarls, finally freeing his wrist with a grunt. "Use your Quirks!"

The remaining thugs grin, their features contorting as their powers manifest. One's hands turn into metallic blades, glinting menacingly in the dim light. Another's eyes glow with an eerie red light. He raises his hands, and the ground begins to tremble.

"Try this on for size, tough guy," the blade-handed thug sneers, slashing wildly.

Kintaros weaves through the attacks, the blades whistling past his face. He grabs one of the incoming arms, and twists. A sickening [CRACK] echoes through the alley as the thug screams in agony.

The ground rumbles more intensely as the third thug focuses his Quirk. Cracks spiderweb across the asphalt, and chunks of debris lift into the air. Kintaros glances at Melissa, ensuring she's far enough away, before focusing his attention back on the threat.

"My strength makes you want to cry." He pops his neck, before charging towards the source.

The ground quakes violently, but Kintaros barrels through. He closes the distance, ignoring the flying debris. Reaching the thug, Kintaros grabs the man's head and slams it into the ground. [CRACK] The earth stops shaking as the thug slumps.

Kintaros turns his gaze back to the leader, who's jaw drops. He makes eye contact with Melissa. He nods at her.

"You're next," Kintaros declares, his voice resonating with barely contained power.

The leader, now alone and outnumbered, grits his teeth. He can't let this guy win.

"Don't underestimate me!" he roars, his body convulsing.

Suddenly, jagged rocks begin to sprout from his skin, encasing his arms and torso in a crude, earthen armor. The leader focuses, and the rocks thicken around his fists, forming grotesque, stony gauntlets. He swings his arms, testing the weight of his new appendages.

Kintaros watches, unimpressed.

The leader charges, throwing a wild punch. Kintaros effortlessly sidesteps the clumsy attack, the rocky fist whistling past his face. The leader throws another punch, a third, each one telegraphed and easily avoided. The sumo wrestler moves with a grace that belies his massive frame, dodging and weaving with minimal effort.

The leader, frustrated by his inability to connect, roars in anger and throws a haymaker.

Kintaros allows the fist to connect—with his forehead. The sound of rock impacting bone echoes through the alley, yet Kintaros doesn't even flinch. The leader, however, clutches his hand in pain, his rocky fist crumbling slightly.

"Is that all?" Kintaros asks, his voice mocking. "That's not enough."

He moves forward, closing the distance between them. The leader tries to backpedal, but Kintaros is relentless. He ducks under a wild swing and plants his feet, his body coiled like a spring. With a mighty grunt, Kintaros unleashes a devastating sumo palm strike to the leader's chest, shouting, "DOSUKOI!"

The force of the blow sends the leader flying backward, his rocky armor shattering upon impact with the alley wall. He slumps to the ground, gasping for air, his eyes wide with shock.

Kintaros approaches the fallen leader, looming over him like a mountain. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a neatly folded tissue.

"My strength has made you cry," Kintaros says, his voice surprisingly gentle. "Wipe off your tears with this." He tosses the tissue onto the leader's chest, then turns to Melissa, his expression softening.

"Take him," Kintaros commands, gesturing towards the whimpering form of their boss.

With a surprising burst of energy, the two thugs, one nursing a broken arm and the other cradling his head, scurried over to their leader. They hauled him up, half-carrying, half-dragging him away from Kintaros's imposing figure.

"We'll be back!" one of them shouted over their shoulders, though the threat rang hollow. They disappeared into the night.

Melissa's eyes are wide. "That was incredible! I can't believe how strong you are." She stares at him, her expression a mix of awe and gratitude. "I've never seen anything like it."

Kintaros shrugs, flexing his biceps. "It was nothing. They were not a true challenge." He dismisses the altercation.

"Was that your Quirk?" she asks, tilting her head in curiosity. "Super Strength, maybe?"

Kintaros throws his head back and laughs, a booming sound that echoes through the narrow space. "Quirk? No, no. This," he says, patting his impressive muscles, "is pure strength. I don't have Quirk."

Melissa's jaw drops. "You're Quirkless?" she asks, her voice laced with disbelief.

Kintaros nods, a hint of pride in his eyes. "Indeed. Strength does not always come from a gift, it is earned through discipline."

Her gaze lingers, absorbing the news. A thought hits her.

"But… how?" she asks, a mix of wonder and confusion coloring her tone.

Kintaros smiles gently, his eyes twinkling. "Even without a Quirk, you can be a hero, Melissa." He says her name. He emphasizes the final word of his sentence.

Melissa's gaze never wavers. The Imagin continues.

"It is not the power that makes a hero, it is the heart," Kintaros continues, his voice filled with conviction. "As long as you train, as long as you have the strength of heart, you can do the impossible. That is the truth."

Melissa is speechless, but Kintaros can see that she understands what he is saying.

Hey, Kintaros, can you switch out for a sec? I want to ask Melissa something.

Kintaros gives a curt nod. He closes his eyes and bows his head for a second. A flash occurs, and Ace is back.

"Melissa," Ace starts, his voice softer than before. "You said you're great at making support gear, right?"

"Yeah!" she answers, her enthusiasm bubbling to the surface. "I love designing and building things to help heroes push their limits."

"Have you ever thought about creating support gear… for yourself?" Ace asks, carefully watching her reaction.

Her eyes widen, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "For me?"

Ace nods. "Some Pro Heroes have Quirks that don't directly translate into firepower. They rely on martial arts, or support items to amplify their abilities. Power Loader for example! Or even Snipe!"

Melissa is quiet, considering.

"I was thinking, you know… you could build your own gear," Ace continued, trying to choose his words carefully. "Become a hero that way. Like…" Tony Stark, he thought. Iron Man.

Melissa bites her lip, her mind racing. "I... I never really thought about it that way before. I was always focused on helping others with their Quirks." Her gaze drifts to the ground.

"Why not use your own genius to forge your own path?" Ace prods gently. "You have the knowledge and skill to make yourself into a hero. It's like... building your own Quirk."

A slow smile spreads across Melissa's face. "Building my own Quirk..." she repeats, the idea taking root. "That's… actually kind of amazing."

She looks up at Ace, her eyes shining with renewed determination. "I've been so busy helping heroes use their abilities, that I haven't even thought about finding my own strength. Thank you, Ace."

"You can be a hero, Melissa," Ace reiterates, smiling. "I know you can."

Her expression conveys that her worldview is shattering, yet simultaneously, she is seeing the world in a whole new light. Her eyes are wide open, a new horizon dawning before her. The possibilities seemed endless, a stark contrast to the path she had been resigned to.

"Ace," she says, her voice filled with emotion, "thank you. Really. You've just... you've given me a whole new perspective." She runs a hand through her hair, a nervous habit. "I always thought being Quirkless meant I had to stay on the sidelines, helping others shine. I never considered that I could shine, too."

Ace smiles, his heart swelling with a mix of admiration and affection. Her enthusiasm, her passion for support items, and her kindness... she was a great person. He could see her potential, a potential she had not seen herself.

She is a diamond in the rough, Ace muses.

"You have so much to offer, Melissa," he says, his voice gentle but firm. "Your intelligence, your creativity… those are powers in their own right."

"But... with strength like you have," Melissa says, gesturing to Ace, "you can be a hero too. I saw you handle those thugs, even with your Quirk sealed, or whatever it is you call it!"

Ace chuckles, a warm sound that fills the air. "I am a hero," he says, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "In my own way."

He doesn't elaborate, of course. How could he explain that he was a Kamen Rider, a protector of worlds, without sounding completely insane? It was a secret only a handful of people knew. Telling her would lead to more questions. And telling her the truth would put her in danger.

I don't need another friend hurt, Ace thought. Not again.

They continue to walk, a comfortable silence settling between them as they make their way through the streets of Musutafu. Soon, they arrive in front of a large, modern hotel. Ace guesses that is where Melissa is staying.

"Well, this is where I stay," Melissa says, stopping in front of the entrance. She is sad to see Ace leave.

"It was nice meeting you, Melissa," Ace says, extending a hand. "I'm glad I could help you see things a little differently."

She takes his hand, her fingers intertwining with his. "Me too, Ace. Thank you again for everything." She hesitates for a moment, then blurts out, "Could I... could I get your number? So we can stay in contact?"

Ace is surprised by the request, but his smile widens. "Of course," he says, pulling out his phone. They exchange numbers, a silent understanding passing between them.

"I hope we meet again, Ace," Melissa says, stepping back. "Maybe at the I-Island Expo?"

"Maybe," Ace says, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Until then, Melissa."

He turns and walks away, leaving her standing in front of the hotel. She watches him go, a thoughtful expression on her face. She glances down at her phone, a new contact saved in her phone.

"Goodbye," Melissa murmurs to herself.

As Ace walks away, Kintaros speaks in his head.

She is a great person, Ace.

Yeah, she is, Ace responds, a smile gracing his lips. She is going to be an amazing person someday.

***

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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz