Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Ace stood motionless, acutely aware of Dark Kiva's overwhelming presence. The slightest loss of concentration threatened to overwhelm him. Behind him, a small girl trembled, her tiny hands clutching his leg with desperate fear.
"How unexpected," Dark Kiva's regal voice resonated through the space. "Another Rider in this universe."
The two faced each other in a tense standoff. Ace's body was rigid with apprehension, while Dark Kiva exuded an unsettling calm, like a predator observing its prey.
"Are you with Dai-Shocker?" Ace asked, his voice steady despite his inner turmoil.
"Indeed," Dark Kiva declared, a hint of amusement dancing beneath his authoritative tone.
"Dai-Shocker really exists?"
A subtle chuckle escaped Dark Kiva. "I see you're familiar with our organization. Fascinating."
Ace's mind raced. He knew of Dai-Shocker's reputation, but encountering them directly was something else entirely. "Which Dark Kiva are you? King or Taiga Nobori?"
"Neither," Dark Kiva responded, his voice a measured blend of pride and mystery. "I am something... different."
"Impossible," Ace challenged. "Dark Kiva can only be wielded by members of the Royal Fangire family."
Dark Kiva's response carried a note of triumphant superiority. "Typical rules no longer apply. Dai-Shocker has discovered methods to harness the powers of Dark Riders."
The implications struck Ace like a physical blow. Dai-Shocker—a name whispered with fear in the Kamen Rider multiverse—now possessed the ability to wield Dark Rider powers. The potential threat was immeasurable, and Ace had no way of gauging their newfound strength.
The little girl behind him whimpered, sensing the dangerous energy crackling between the two figures. Ace instinctively shifted, positioning himself protectively in front of her, his mind racing to understand the magnitude of this unexpected encounter.
Dark Kiva's gaze swept over Ace and the scattered remains of the destroyed Kasshines. His voice carried a note of cold assessment. "You have proven yourself quite capable. Which also makes you dangerous."
Ace's body stiffened, the weight of Dark Kiva's killing intent pressing against him like a prey being watched by a predator.
"I can see you have recently acquired your power," Dark Kiva continued, his tone calculating. "Which makes things considerably simpler. How about you join Dai-Shocker? If you cooperate, we won't be forced to eliminate you."
Without hesitation, Ace turned to the young girl standing nearby. "Run," he said firmly. "Get as far away from here as you possibly can."
The girl, sensing the gravity of the situation, nodded quickly and darted away, her footsteps echoing in the tense atmosphere. Ace turned back to Dark Kiva, his resolve hardening.
"Join Dai-Shocker?" Ace's response was immediate and unwavering. "Never in a million years."
He knew the reputation of Dai-Shocker from the stories, from the shows he had watched countless times. They were a cruel organization, driven by a dictatorial ideology that crushed individual freedom. Everything they represented was antithetical to his core beliefs. Joining them was simply not an option.
Dark Kiva's response was a low, menacing chuckle. "What a shame. You would have been a remarkable asset to our cause."
Slowly, deliberately, Dark Kiva began walking closer. Ace's body tensed instinctively, and he found himself taking an involuntary step backward, maintaining distance from the approaching threat.
"I have terminated many Riders with my own hands," Dark Kiva declared, his voice a blend of contempt and cold promise. "And you? You are not even a fraction of their strength. This battle will be child's play."
Ace's body trembled, but his determination burned brighter than his fear. He rushed toward Dark Kiva, knowing full well the overwhelming difference in their abilities. Each of his attacks seemed to dance around Dark Kiva's imposing form, the dark Rider effortlessly evading Ace's desperate strikes.
The young Rider punched and kicked with everything he had, but Dark Kiva treated him like a mere child, his movements so precise and dismissive that they seemed almost contemptuous. When Ace launched another punch, Dark Kiva's hand intercepted it with terrifying ease, capturing the fist like a predator seizing its prey.
"Is this how much your strength amounts to?" Dark Kiva's voice dripped with cold mockery.
A devastating kick struck Ace's stomach, sending him crashing into a nearby wall with bone-crushing force. The impact left a distinct foot imprint carved into his armor—a brutal testament to the vast gulf between their power.
"Ugh..." Ace struggled to his feet, pain radiating through every fiber of his being.
He understood the harsh truth: he was hopelessly outmatched. Yet surrender was not an option. Death would claim him if he stopped fighting, so he would fight—no matter the cost.
Summoning what remained of his courage, Ace prepared to attack again. But before he could move, Dark Kiva's hand seized his throat, lifting him effortlessly.
"Your attempts are futile," the dark Rider declared.
Suddenly, dark energy surged through Dark Kiva's arm, invading Ace's body like a malevolent force. "AHH!" Ace's scream tore through the air as electricity and sparks danced across his armor, each bolt a testament to the overwhelming power consuming him.
Dark Kiva released his grip, and Ace dropped to the ground. Broken and barely conscious, he could scarcely muster the strength to even lift his head—a stark reminder of how completely outclassed he was in this brutal encounter.
"Come to think of it. You saved that girl, right?"
The tension in the air was palpable as Dark Kiva's gaze swept over the escaping figure of a young girl. His voice carried a chilling indifference.
"How young. Too bad her life is going to be cut short."
Ace, driven by an overwhelming sense of desperation, clung to Dark Kiva's feet. "I won't... let you... hurt her!" he declared, his voice trembling with determination.
Dark Kiva's response was swift and merciless. He stomped on Ace's back, grinding his foot with calculated cruelty. "Agh!" Ace cried out in pain.
"You have no right to stop me," Dark Kiva declared coldly. "Blame your weakness for not being strong enough."
A sinister ball of dark energy gathered around Dark Kiva's hand, aimed directly at the girl. "No... stop it..." Ace pleaded, his voice barely a whisper.
The dark energy launched towards its target. "NO!!!!" Ace screamed.
A massive explosion erupted, leaving behind only destruction. Where the girl once stood, only a burning teddy bear remained. "A... A... A-AAAHHH!!!" Ace's scream tore through the air, a mixture of anguish and something else—something primal.
Black lightning began coursing through Ace's body, his eyes transforming from red to an intense black. Dark Kiva observed with intrigue. "Hmm? Interesting."
Ace rose, now radiating a newfound power. He began striking Dark Kiva with unprecedented force. The dark Rider could sense the transformation—Ace's attacks were now actually affecting him, if only marginally.
"Magnificent Power!" Dark Kiva caught Ace's fist, acknowledging the pressure behind the blow. "But it is still not enough."
Gathering energy in his arm, Dark Kiva delivered a devastating punch to Ace's midsection, sending him tumbling to the ground. The black lightning dissipated, and Ace's eyes returned to their original red.
"It is time to end this," Dark Kiva declared.
He tapped the bat on his belt.
[Wake Up One]
A bat symbol appeared on Dark Kiva's feet, and massive amounts of dark energy gathered around his right leg. Leaping high into the air, he prepared a devastating kick towards the helpless Ace.
Suddenly, a wall materialized—grey with aurora-like patterns. It enveloped Ace just as Dark Kiva's kick connected, shattering the mysterious barrier. When the dust settled, Ace had vanished.
"He ran away," Dark Kiva muttered, a hint of frustration in his voice. "This is a problem. You are a lucky young man. But if our paths cross again, I'll be sure to kill you."
With that, Dark Kiva transformed into hundreds of bats, dissolving into the night sky.
…
Ace landed in a remote alleyway, his armored form dissolving as exhaustion and severe injuries overwhelmed him. The young Rider looked around, his senses picking up the distant sounds of cars and urban noise. The surrounding buildings were unfamiliar, and he realized with growing uncertainty that he was no longer in a place he recognized.
"Where am I?" he muttered, his voice weak and strained.
Despite the pain coursing through his body, Ace summoned every ounce of willpower to push himself to his feet. Each movement was a battle against his rapidly failing body. With determination etched on his face, he stumbled towards the alleyway's exit.
As he emerged onto the street, Ace's eyes widened. The architecture was distinctly different—not the familiar landscape of Japan he knew so well. Sleek buildings and bustling streets surrounded him, filled with yellow cabs, diverse pedestrians, and a rhythm entirely foreign to his experience. Something about this place felt different, almost like another world.
His injuries, which he had been desperately holding at bay, finally caught up with him. The world began to spin, and Ace's legs gave way beneath him. He collapsed onto the sidewalk, his vision blurring.
Nearby pedestrians rushed to his aid, their voices a distant echo.
"Oh my god, are you okay?" someone asked, concern evident in their tone.
As consciousness slipped away, Ace's fading vision caught a glimpse of a wall. A familiar logo stood out—Stark Industries—before darkness consumed him completely.
The last thought that flickered through his mind was a mix of confusion and wonder: How had he ended up in this strange place?
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz