Chapter 9: Chapter 9
The heat from the spreading flames filled the building, creating an intense atmosphere as Ace and the Rat Grongi faced each other in a tense standoff. Captain George Stacy stood at a distance, carefully observing the unfolding situation.
Despite the dangerous fire consuming the structure around them, both Ace and the monstrous Grongi remained laser-focused on each other. The silence broke when the Rat Grongi, its beady eyes gleaming with malice, lunged forward with razor-sharp claws extended. Its movements were quick and precise, like a predator hunting its prey.
Ace was ready. With the martial arts training he had practiced for years, he deflected the creature's deadly swipe with fluid motion. In the same breath, he countered with a powerful strike, targeting the Grongi's exposed form.
The Rat Grongi screeched, an inhuman cry piercing through the crackling flames. It twisted mid-air, its long tail whipping like a weapon, attempting to catch Ace off-guard. Ace ducked, the tail slicing through the air where his head had been moments before. He rolled, using the burning debris as temporary cover, then launched a swift counterattack.
His fist connected with the Grongi's chitinous body, sending it sliding across the scorched floor. The creature hissed, its claws scraping against the burning surface, preparing for another assault.
Suddenly, a girl's scream cut through the chaos.
"Mommy!" she cried.
The girl was trapped nearby, surrounded by flames with no apparent escape. Captain George Stacy tried to reach her, but the flames were too intense.
"I need to help her!" Ace thought.
Just as he prepared to rescue the girl, the Rat Grongi attacked. Its claws struck Ace, forcing him to the ground. The creature moved in for the kill, thrusting its claws forward. But Ace caught its hand, refusing to be defeated.
"Get off of me!" he shouted.
The girl's continued screams echoed through the burning building. "Mama!"
A memory surfaced in Ace's mind - a previous moment when he had failed to save a girl, watching helplessly as Dark Kiva's blast erased her existence. Determination and fighting spirit rose within him. The challenges he faced - fighting the Grongi, stopping Dai-Shocker, confronting Dark Kiva - were terrifying, but he would not let this girl die. He would not allow history to repeat itself.
He was a Kamen Rider now, and he would protect people's smile.
"I won't lose!" Ace declared, his voice filled with resolve.
A vision flashed before Ace's eyes - a red warrior, Kuuga, surrounded by flames that seemed to dance around him like a divine blessing. A mysterious voice echoed in his mind.
'When evil rises, don the stone of hope and be the warrior who strikes down evil in flames. Kuuga.'
Something shifted within Ace at that moment. He could feel power flowing from the Amadam, coursing through his entire body like electricity through a wire.
With newfound strength, Ace gradually pushed against the Rat Grongi. The monster's eyes widened in disbelief, unable to comprehend how its prey had suddenly become so powerful.
In one fluid motion, Ace delivered a powerful kick, sending the Rat Grongi stumbling backward. He rose to his feet, the raging inferno behind him casting dramatic shadows across his determined face.
His hand moved to touch the Arcle, and he raised his other arm skyward. "Henshin!"
The Amadam responded with a brilliant red glow, and transformation began to sweep across Ace's body. His armor shifted and changed, taking on a striking red color adorned with black and gold accents. The golden horns on his helmet grew more prominent, and his eyes blazed a fierce crimson.
The power of Kuuga's Mighty Form had awakened within Ace. This new form enhanced his physical capabilities beyond their previous limits, granting him mastery over martial arts techniques. The versatile Mighty Form excelled in close combat, making it ideal for a wide range of battle situations. Like a well-forged sword, it struck a perfect balance between offense and defense, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The Grongi is shocked and now felt a bit of fear. He instinctually knows that the opponent in front of him as change and gotten stronger, but it still did not stop him from fighting. George who watched from the side was intrigued. The armor of the insect-looking warrior changed and he is intrigued.
The Grongi, more wary now, crouched low with predatory intent. Ace stood facing the creature calmly, his body settling into a practiced martial arts stance. In a blur of movement, the Grongi pounced forward, but Ace was prepared. He smoothly fell backward, using the momentum to kick the creature over him with practiced precision.
Before the Grongi could recover, Ace was upon it. He pinned the creature to the ground, delivering a series of powerful strikes that showcased his extensive martial arts training. With a swift motion, he lifted the Grongi and hurled it against a nearby wall. The impact shattered the wall, sending debris scattering across the ground.
The Rat Grongi struggled to rise, its movements sluggish from the assault. But Ace did not relent. He pressed his advantage, moving with the fluid grace of someone who had trained extensively in multiple fighting disciplines. Each punch and kick was calculated, each movement a testament to his dedication to martial arts.
When the Grongi attempted to counterattack, Ace's defensive skills shone through. He effortlessly intercepted the creature's strikes, his body moving with an almost instinctive understanding of combat. For every attack the Grongi launched, Ace had a swift and decisive response, turning the creature's own momentum against it.
His right leg began to heat up, signaling the moment to end the battle. As the Grongi charged toward him, Ace responded with equal intensity. He slid across the ground, using his arms as a launch pad, and propelled himself forward. With precision, he drove his right foot into the Grongi's chest, sending the creature flying backward and crashing against a nearby wall.
Kuuga's symbol appeared on the Grongi's chest, and cracks started to spread across its body. In its final moments, the creature's broken language echoed with a desperate threat: "(I'll kill… kill you… Kuuga… Kill—)"
Ace stood there, his right foot still emitting wisps of smoke, as the Grongi's form was consumed by the erupting green flames. A quiet resolve burned in his eyes, a testament to his triumph in the confrontation.
"I did it," he murmured, the words a soft acknowledgment of his victory.
Kuuga's keen senses picked up the faint, desperate cries of a young girl trapped within the burning building. The flames roared around him, consuming everything in their path. Nearby, George Stacy was struggling, overcome by the thick, suffocating smoke. With a swift, purposeful movement, Ace helped the police captain to his feet.
"Are you able to stand?" Ace asked, his voice steady and reassuring.
"Yes," George replied, his words punctuated by a rough cough.
"You must leave immediately," Ace urged, his eyes reflecting an unwavering determination.
George hesitated. "But the girl—"
"Trust me," Ace interrupted, his gaze meeting George's with a calm resolve. "I will save her."
Something in Ace's expression convinced George. With a reluctant nod, the police captain made his way out of the burning structure, leaving Ace to face the inferno.
The building groaned and crackled, its wooden frame succumbing to the relentless flames. The girl's cries had grown weaker, almost imperceptible beneath the roar of the fire. Ace burst through a charred doorway, finding the young girl barely conscious, her small form overcome by smoke inhalation.
"Hey, can you hear me?" Ace called out, his voice cutting through the crackling flames.
The girl stirred slightly, her response a mere whisper.
"It's going to be alright," Ace said softly, his tone a mixture of compassion and determination. "I'm here to help you."
Gently but swiftly, he scooped the girl into his arms. The floor beneath him was unstable, sections already collapsed or burning fiercely. The previous hallway was now a death trap of flames and falling debris. Ace's eyes quickly scanned the room, searching for an alternate escape route.
Time was running out, but Ace remained calm. He would find a way to save the girl—that was his promise.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows as George Stacy emerged from the burning building. His fellow officers greeted him with relief.
"Captain Stacy, you're alive," one of them said, a mixture of surprise and admiration in his voice.
"Yeah, I guess I got lucky," George responded, his weathered face showing the strain of the recent ordeal.
Nearby, a distraught mother struggled against the police barricade. Her desperate cries pierced the smoky air.
"Please! Let me go! My baby is still in there!" she screamed, her voice breaking with raw emotion.
"Ma'am, it's too dangerous!" an officer tried to restrain her.
"I don't care!" she shouted back, her maternal instinct overpowering all reason.
George glanced back at the burning structure, silently hoping the armored warrior would rescue the child. Minutes passed, feeling like hours. Suddenly, an explosion rocked the building, sending a plume of smoke and debris into the sky.
"No!" the mother wailed, believing her worst fears had been realized.
In that moment of despair, a sound of shattering glass drew everyone's attention. An armored figure leaped from a window, cradling a small girl in his arms. With graceful precision, he landed on the ground.
Ace approached the mother, gently placing the child in her arms. The reunion was instantaneous—tears, relief, and overwhelming joy mixed together as the mother embraced her daughter.
"My baby girl, you're safe..." she whispered, her voice trembling.
She looked up at Ace, gratitude flooding her eyes. "Thank you."
Ace, overwhelmed by the moment, found himself speechless. The weight of his successful rescue settled upon him. Unable to find words, he simply gave a thumbs up, a gesture that spoke volumes.
The NYPD officers, including George Stacy, watched in amazement. George, in particular, couldn't quite believe what he had just witnessed.
"Hey, you! Whoever you are, you need to be taken in for questioning!" a police officer shouted, breaking the emotional moment.
Ace, not wanting to be detained, made a swift decision. With superhuman agility, he bounded away, leaping across massive leaves and landing atop a nearby building before disappearing from view.
"He's getting away! After him!" the officers began to mobilize.
"That won't be necessary," George interrupted, his calm voice cutting through the chaos.
"Captain?" his subordinate looked confused.
"Let him go. There are more pressing matters to attend to," George said, his years of experience guiding his judgment.
A swarm of news reporters descended, their cameras and microphones hungry for details. George could feel a headache forming. The aftermath of such an incident was always complicated. For a moment, he longed for the simple comfort of home—his wife and daughter waiting, blissfully unaware of the drama that had just unfolded.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz