243Toa Solaric: I don't own either Kamen Rider or Symphogear! It's been fun and all, but it's time to wrapped everything up as this story will come to an end.
Kamen Rider Kamuro: Music of Heaven G
Ch21: Ignite The Tomorrow
Lapis let out a groan when he regained consciousness.
"What happened…?" The Overlord muttered before he opens his eyes and found himself in a new place that he has never seen before.
It's a distorted grey area with mirrors around him. Before Lapis could get himself up from the ground, he noticed two objects beside him.
His Rider Key and Kachidoki Driver… both of them are heavily damaged and shattered to pieces, void of any color now. Simply put, they aren't in use anymore.
I guess that was the end of Luminous Arms when I used all its powers against Ver… Lapis thought to himself. He didn't seem upset about losing his powerful form.
After all, he already fulfilled his goal of saving Miku and Hibiki from danger. Before his final battle with Ver, and destroying themselves including the Noise World. That was certainly a heavy price to pay when it came to ensuring this world's safety.
He got up and looks around this strange place. The big question is how did end up…wherever this place could be? He is certain that last attack couldn't have killed him in the process.
"Maybe it could be the gray wall dimension Decade used…" Lapis muttered as he looking around.
It seems that his theory might be a bit close as several windows in this strange dimension showed different events in different times.
But there is one that caught the Overlord's attention after hearing a familiar voice through it and decided to take a peek at that one.
There in the window, Lapis can see a father, mother, and their daughter spending time together in what looks like a meadow.
"Chris…" The young Overlord muttered. Lapis knows for certain that the daughter is Chris and she seems to be at peace with her parents after everything happened. Even though he finds it strange the window is letting him see Chris and her family.
He wants to call out to her, but decided against it. For one, he wasn't certain if this was the same Chris. The one he knew is in peace, in a better place, and doesn't need to fight anymore.
She is happy, no longer burdened by her sins… Lapis thought before the large mirror moved away from him.
Lapis soon continued looking for his way around the strange dimension before another window got in his way. This one caught his attention.
Within the window it shows him what looks like a bunch of black/orange creatures, grunts chasing folks away and the one who happens to be fighting them is an individual with magenta hair and what looks like a game controller on his armor.
"I will clear this game with no continues!" the pink rider declared.
"A new Kamen Rider…" Lapis whispered in surprised. He is certainly intrigued that there is a Rider based on videogames made by humans.
Lapis wasn't able to continue watching until the window was destroyed by powerful blast of black flame and coming at him was a pitch black version of Dragreder.
"Dragreder?!" Lapis asked before jumping out of the way of the black Chinese dragon.
Soon Lapis hears footsteps and turned around as his eyes widened in shock.
Before him was a being in a purple bodysuit in one of the most sinister looking armors. The helmet looks similar to Fifteen's, but also resembled that of a serpent. The armor pieces seem to resemble those from previous Riders mixed together and the symbols of Dark Riders seem to be attached to his legs and arms while the symbol of Dark Decade is in the middle of the chest. The being also has two massive grey claws for hands.
"I hope you didn't get too comfortable in this place… Kamuro." The mysterious armored being said. Even though he looks different, Lapis is certain that this was Maja.
"Maja…" Lapis said at the presence of the absent villain since Grand God Duke made his own presence. .
"Since you're confused about where you are, I will fill you in." Maja explains. "This place is known as Void of Nothingness, existing outside of the universe. And there is no way for you to get out."
"Did you drag me here?" This made Maja laugh.
"No… it seems that after you clashed with the Professor, you managed to survive. But I was able to obtain the weakened Golden Fruit that you worked to subdue and consumed its power." He answered as he shows a broken apple in his hand and crushed it with his hand.
"I see…Ver was nothing more than your scapegoat to weaken the Golden Fruit." Lapis concluded.
"Ver showed promise and potential to surpass Ryouma Sengoku, but his ignorance and obsession with the Golden Fruit led to his own downfall. And that lead him to become something that went astray from his original goal. With him fulfilling his purpose, I now possess the power to conquer the living." Maja explains. "But enough of that. The thing is that…you can't escape this void without defeating me, but without your Luminous Kiwami arms, you can't!" He stated before he releasing a powerful shockwave at Lapis, who was sent flying backward.
"I already possess the power of Dark Riders of the past and future… and consumed the remaining power of Golden Fruit, what chances do you even have leaving alive?" Maja asked in a mocking tone. "The power of the Showa and Heisei Riders are no longer in your disposal anymore!"
Then suddenly, Lapis began to laugh which was something Maja did not expect at all. Has he gone mad? He wondered.
"What are you laughing?" Maja asked, confused.
"This really sucks…" Lapis said before placing his Sengoku Driver on his waist and the yellow belt materialized around his waist.
"SILVER!"
The Silver Arms descended down upon him without the presence of a Crack. Lapis locks his Silver Lockseed into his Driver and pressed down on the Cutting Blade.
"Henshin…!" shouted Lapis.
"SOIYA! SILVER ARMS! HAKUGIN NEW STAGE!"
Lapis became Kamen Rider Kamuro Silver Arms.
Maja materialized DragBlacker's head on his arm and fired black flames at Kamuro. But the Silver Rider turned into a silver blur to avoid the black flames before running at Maja with his Souginjou in hand.
Kamuro thrusts his weapon at Maja, who dodged few blows before Kamuro sending couple of jabbing at Maja in the process. Maja then returns with punches to send Kamuro back, but when he focused the power of Dark Kiva straight into his fist and throws at Kamuro.
Kamuro uses his full speed to dodge the attack that created a crater shaped like a bat. He then thrusts his Souginjou at Maja and sends a few sparks at him.
"Why is that you're standing when you realized you have no chance?!" Maja questioned.
"I was the one who sealed away the Fake Golden Fruit before and matched its power! Do you really think that I can't stand up against scrapes that were leftover?" Kamuro replied to Maja. "This is nothing to me!" he shouts before he pressed down on his Cutting Blade twice.
"SOIYA! SILVER AU LAIT!"
Kamuro spins his weapon around and created several silver orbs before sending them flying at Maja and caused quite an explosion on him.
The Demon Snake soon released DragBlacker to attacked Kamuro. The black Chinese theme dragon went flying at Kamuro. The Silver Rider dodged and his visor glows as Helheim vines from out of nowhere come and trapped the black dragon in its grasp.
Kamuro jumps straight into the air and his weapon glowed before he stabbed DragBlacker in the forehead, causing the Mirror Beast to scream in pain.
"SOIYA! SILVER SQUASH!"
There were cracks in the body of the black dragon before DragBlacker has its last screamed and exploded in the process.
After Kamuro landed on the ground, Maja soon materialized weapons around him similar to what Gaim and Kamuro can do before firing at him.
Kamuro erected his barrier to protect himself from the incoming weapons before his staff glowed and transforms himself into his ball form, then goes flying fast at Maja who was struck back a few feet and Kamuro came down with a downward slash on Maja to send him further back.
Maja focuses power beneath his feet and sent the Kiva Insignia straight at him. Kamuro conjured another barrio to protect himself from the overwhelming power of Kiva's Insignia before noticing Maja had jumped straight into the air and virtual cards coming down toward him.
"Shit…" Kamuro said before Maja attacked him with Dark Decade's Dimension Breaker and struck him hard before a large explosion happened.
Rolling out of the explosion was Kamuro in his Overlord form Shamubishe.
"I am not done yet…!" The Overlord said before his eyes glowing and turning into a blazing blue mist.
"Two can play the game…" Maja said before he turned into a black mist.
The two beings clashed with each other in their mist forms and destroyed the windows that viewed other dimensions. But it wasn't long until Kamuro rolled across the ground with a painful groan while Maja still stood.
"No matter what you do… you cannot defeat me." Maja said.
Kamuro was trying to catch his breath. This might be the most difficult fight he got himself into since Maja can use the powers of the Dark Riders, similar to how he did when he had Luminous Kiwami Arms. But he wasn't about to quit yet.
If I don't win, I won't be able to get home… Kamuro thought to himself before he raised his hand into the empty air itself.
"Then I will surpass the Riders and you…" The Silver Rider declared before focusing his power to create his last trump card. "With my power…as both a Rider and Overlord."
Soon Kamuro's form disappeared as a Lockseed materialized in his hand. The Lockseed seems to resemble that of Kachidoki Lockseed except the color schemes are those of Kamuro and the design in the front resembled blue fire.
"What is that?" Maja asked.
"IGNITE!"
Suddenly, blue flames surrounded Lapis before he locked the Lockseed in his Driver and pressed down his Cutting Blade.
"Henshin…!" shouted Lapis, serious.
"SOIYA!"
(Play Kamen Rider Kiva: Supernova OST!)
The blue flames wrapped around him had covered him entirely. Some might have thought that Lapis committed suicide…but he didn't as the flames vanished.
This Rider has the color schemes of his basic Silver Arms and wolf-like claws for legging and green emerald attached to his knee. His chest armor will have a green crystal orb with his Rider symbol which is white. His helmet will be mixed of his Silver Arms helmet and Overlord form. His visors are emerald green. He had only one shoulder armor which shaped like diamond on the right side of his shoulder. Attaching to his left shoulder are silver and blue shields. His weapon happens to be a mounted emerald green long sword that is attached to a small shield on his right arm.
"IGNITE ARMS! HERTIAGE OF HOME AND RIDERS!"
"What in the world…?" Maja asked, looking surprised at the newest form of Kamuro.
"Kamen Rider Kamuro Ignite Arms! Slashing through the future!" Kamuro declared as he flew toward Maja.
Kamuro unleashed a slash which Maja jumps out of the way as a large crater can be seen on the ground beneath them. Kamuro soon pressed down on his Cutting Blade.
"IGNITE SQUASH!"
His blade glowed with an intense light before Kamuro released a powerful energy slash at Maja, who screamed in pain.
"W-What in the world is this power?!" Maja questioned. He was certain that the only thing Kamuro had that powerful was the Luminous Kiwami Arms, which was formed by the power of the Riders who achieved their final forms.
"The sign that I can go on my own as a Kamen Rider!" Kamuro shouted in response before releasing another energy slash at Maja.
This caused sparks flowing across Maja's body and noticed that some of the Dark Riders' symbols began to vanish. He lost G4, Ryuga, Nega Den-O and Kabuki. Soon Maja channeling the power of Clock Up and moving faster as light traveled.
"You won't escape…" Kamuro said before the shields attached to his left shoulder detached and hovered around him.
Without saying anything, Kamuro made the shields flew around after Maja and they shoot green energy beams everywhere.
It wasn't long until Maja got caught in the rain of energy beams.
Kamuro soon charged forward at Maja. But the Demon Snake managed to get up before firing fireballs from his palms at him. Kamuro soon leap over and his emerald blade vanished and replace with a gun instead.
"—What?" Maja looks surprised before Kamuro released a barrage of energy blasts at Maja. This caused the Demon Snake to being forced back by the shots. The attack caused more of the Rider symbols on started to vanish than he expected.
Maja soon responds back with energy blasts of his own against Kamuro. Kamuro dodges the blows while firing his own barrage of attacks at him.
This soon made Maja become angry before his black aura radiation across the field and everything become heavy and slower than before.
'Damn…!' Kamuro thought as he felt his movements become slower than before.
"See you later!" Maja shouts before he jumps into the air and showing his large claw at him.
But before Maja can even hit him, Kamuro suddenly vanishes into thin air. This surprised Maja since he remembers that Kamuro no longer have the power of Drive to moved out of Gravity Surge.
"That was certainly a close call…" Maja turns around and saw Kamuro standing far outside of the Gravity Surge field.
"H-How did you do that?" Maja questioned, looking baffled at Kamuro's teleportation.
"It's simple. I can use my shields as teleportation marks to reappear at the place that they are." Kamuro explains before his shields flew around him.
Maja then tried to get close to him. But Kamuro soon pressed down on his Cutting Blade again, but twice.
"SOIYA! IGNITE AU LAIT!"
Energy gathered in his gun as the shield gathered around in front of him before generating what looks like a gate.
Kamuro then pulls the trigger and fires the powered up shot. The blast went straight to the mini gate in front of him.
Soon the gate created by the shields enchanted the power of his attack and released the attack onto Maja who was caught in the blast before the explosion took place.
But Kamuro knows that it won't be the end for Maja as dark green energy cracks within the dust and seeing what looks like a large monstrosity black serpent with glass marks of the Dark Rider symbols rising up from the smoke.
Maja soon let out a powerful sonic boom from his mouth and Kamuro soon made a dodge in midair to avoid the attack that destroyed many windows in the area.
Kamuro tried firing at Maja, but the blasts bounced off Maja's scaly like body. He soon changed his gun back to his emerald blade and swing his blade, but the attacks did a little to Maja as he went flew passed the monstrosity black serpent.
It soon turned into a massive dogfight between the two as Maja pursued Kamuro to crush him. Using his hands, he summoned electric shock at Kamuro who swerved around in the air to avoid them.
Kamuro soon charged at him with his blade to slash him across the chest. But Maja wait for the moment like this before using his tail to catching him, causing Kamuro struggling in the binds. Soon Kamuro's support shields tried to firing at him, but Maja send them away with his wave of hands.
"Grrr…" Kamuro growls before Maja swings his tail with Kamuro far away.
This sends Kamuro flying and crash through many windows. But Kamuro came back as he shot rapid blasts at Maja. He then switched to sword mode and slice off one of Maja's arm, but Maja eventually regrows it and using the power of Gravity Surge to trapped Kamuro where he was. Maja then forced Kamuro slammed straight to the ground hard by increasing the pressure of the Gravity Surge.
Kamuro struggled against being pinned straight to the ground while Maja looks down at him.
"It looks like you will lose again." Maja stated. "This proves you can't do anything without the Riders' powers rather than your own."
"You're wrong…!" Kamuro said as he struggled against the gravity surge. "It wasn't how strong Rider Key made me… but it was because they gave their hand to me and pushed me further! That is why I am going to prove to them that I can stand as their equal!"
Soon Kamuro began to glow brightly before he slowly gets himself up from the ground and soars through the air as he broke through the Gravity Surge. He pressed down on the Cutting Blade three times.
"SOIYA!"
The flying shields are gathering around him as they form a gate for the Silver Rider and he dived through the gate, making his entire body shin like a shooting star.
"IGNITE SPARKLING!"
"This is the end!" Kamuro shouts serious before he descends down at incredible speed with a fiery Rider Kick.
Kamuro soon reach Maja's chest but Maja tried to stop the attack with both of his hands. However, what surprised him next was that his hands starting to crack and being moved back before.
"This shouldn't be possible! There is no way you can have this much power left in you!" Maja exclaimed furious.
Soon Kamuro was able to break through Maja's large hands and his kick went straight to his chest. The Silver Rider then reappeared on the ground and standing on one knee.
Maja looks at himself and surprised that attack didn't destroy him. He soon starts laughing loudly in the process.
(OST Ending)
"Is that supposed to do something to me—?" Before Maja can even finish his sentence, he felt like his entire body was burning hotter than usual. No… this cannot be. This shouldn't be even possible! "I-Impossible…!"
"You lost…" Kamuro said before Maja exploded in the process.
Kamuro then saw what looks like a shimmering gateway appear after Maja was put down and saw that his friends are there, but with shocked and despair looks.
"That is my way home…" Kamuro said before he soon ran through the gate and vanished through it completely.
After those who heard about what happens to Kamuro were grieving. Kaito reverts back to his original form after the relics and Zuuban split from him, the three relics return to their respective owners and Zuuban returns back to his sword form.
But it wasn't long until Kouta and everyone else heard a strange cracking sound as this made everyone look up at the sky.
They saw what looks like a crack in the air before more appeared as a large hole shattered. Then something, or rather someone, had come crashing through.
It was none other than Lapis himself!
"Lapis-kun?" Hibiki gawked before the Overlord fell straight on top of her and causing the two fall straight to the ground in comical fashion.
"Oww…" The two groaned in unison.
"What the hell…?" Ryoji asked, surprised that Lapis fell out of nowhere.
"Where did you come from?" Kanade questioned, surprised at him from falling out what looks like a crack in the air.
"It's… not… easy… being a… Rider… you know?" Lapis said before getting off of Hibiki and catching his breath.
"We thought you were dead!" Tsubasa exclaimed. They were certain there was no way for Lapis to survive after the gate to Noise World was destroyed.
"But I'm not. I'm still here." answered Lapis.
Serena looks at Lapis before her eyes widened in surprise. "You lost the ability to use Luminous Kiwami Arms…?" she asked while others look surprised at her words.
"Really?" Kanade looking surprised at Lapis.
Lapis nodded in confirmation to Serena's words.
"That is kind of depressing to lose your powerful arsenal…" Ryoji commented.
"It's a fair price to pay for blowing Ver and Noise World into oblivion. Now this world no longer has any issues with the Noise anymore. I have no regret about it." Lapis shrugged.
"I can feel the air around you is different. You fought with your real strength." Kaito said.
"You did a good job, Lapis." Kouta said. "You truly proved that you fought on your own two feet. It shows that you're ready to stand on your own without our help."
Lapis nodded.
Unknown to everyone else, resting near the wreckage of the ruin building on Frontier was the Dark Rider Lockseed. It was hard to believe the thing that Maja consumed was still intact after Maja infused with its power.
Even if it stayed there, there is no doubt that someone would come along and use the power for vile purposes when falling into the wrong hands. But it seems that it mostly likely won't happen.
However, we can see a hand reaching down and picks it up from the ground. Then hand belongs to a mysterious man who wore an exciting grin upon his lips.
"Thank you, Kamuro… I finally got my new treasure." The mysterious man said with what looks like a strange gun in his hand.
Soon he pressed the trigger of the device and opens up what looks like a gray mirror.
He soon walks through the gray mirror and vanished onto the other side.
"Umm… no thanks." Lapis refused as he looks away from her.
"But Lapis, these are good for you." Serena insisted.
"There is no way that I am going to eat them. I already promised myself that I won't and will rely on human food instead." Lapis said.
"Stop being a big baby, these will help you recover faster!" Serena protested seriously.
What's going on you ask? Lapis is taking a rest in the guest room aboard the Second Division's mobile base and Serena volunteered to help him recover with fruits that Lapis vowed to never eat again.
That is right. Helheim fruits.
"They won't make you lose your taste buds for human food, since I learned how to grow these with Tou-san and Kaa-san! I promise!" Serena said before took out one from the bowl and place it in front of Lapis. "See?"
Lapis still looks skeptical at Serena's claim. "There is no way I will—" Before he can even finish, Serena pushed the whole fruit straight into his mouth.
"Urk!" Lapis couldn't believe that Serena made him ingest the fruit into his mouth and he can't throw it out due to Serena's hand over his mouth.
But there is something else he noticed about the fruit. It's… good. Really good and not causing any major changes to his diet. He hesitated slowly swallow the fruit before Serena released her hand.
"So are you finally going to admit that it's good~?" Serena teased.
"I guess it's kinda good…" Lapis admit hesitantly.
"Then have some more…" Serena offered the fruits to him.
Lapis soon slowly eating the Helheim fruits in order to regained his strength. It wasn't long until he finished the bowl and let out a sigh of relief.
"I don't think that I would be eating anything else for a while…" He said before wiping the juice from his mouth.
He soon hears footsteps not far from where he was and turned toward the door. There standing over there was none other than his friend Miku.
"Miku-chan…" Lapis said quietly.
"… Lapis…" Miku said hesitated.
The two friends look at each other as they remained quiet for what seem to be a long time. Serena wanted to say something, but she felt that this is something they need to settle on their own.
"It looks personal… I will check on others." Serena said before she leaves the room where the two friends stared at each other.
It wasn't long until tears rolling down from Miku's face before she goes on her knees.
"I'm sorry…" Miku croaked. "I'm so sorry…"
Lapis gets off the bed and came to Miku's side and gently pats her on the back.
"It's alright, Miku-chan. The thing that matters is that you're alright now." Lapis said softly.
"H-How can you forgive me like this!?" Miku questioned. "I was the one who stabbed you!" she pointed out.
"Because I deserved it since I was the one who abandoned you in the first place." Lapis said, making Miku look surprised and shocked. "That's why I'm okay with it."
"But I'm not fine with that!" Miku said, shaking in fear. "I-I didn't realize what happened when Ver offered me power. But…my mind…It was scary! So scary! It felt like someone else took over. I didn't even realize what happened until I woke up. I did something that I can't take back… I'm sorry! So sorry…!" Miku breaks down and faces the ground while Lapis couldn't help feel bad for her.
He pushed the others away when he couldn't handle losing Miku when he thought the hope of saving her was beyond anyone's ability. But now that conflict is over. Lapis felt sadness dwelling upon him seeing Miku regaining her senses. He did one thing that he felt was right and that's pulling Miku into a hug, then pats her softly on the back.
"It's okay, Miku-chan. You can make up for your sins." Lapis said while Miku continued crying on his shoulder.
While Lapis is consoling Miku, there was another matter going on in the main room of the mobile base.
"Maria-san is going to prison…?" Hibiki asked shocked.
"Even though she helped, she's still a terrorist from the start and the instigator for Ver's plan." Genjuro respond serious.
Maria didn't say anything since she knew deep down that she has to face her crimes as a terrorist. With Ver dead, there is nothing more than stopping her from facing judgment for her crimes.
"How long will this be?" Kanade asked.
"It's depends. But the place I believe will benefit Maria especially from the best psychological therapists I know of." Genjuro explains.
"Psychological…? What are you talking about?" Maria asked, deeply confused.
"He's talking about the abuse you and the others went through while under the watch of Nastassja Sergeyevna Tolstaya." Kouta said, making Maria looks shocked. "We know this after we took Serena in and looked through her memories. We saw all the children who suffered the abuse done by her… she dealt them with riding crop." He revealed as this made everyone gasp.
"You're fucking shitting me… That hag…" Ryoji frowned.
"No way…" Tsubasa whispered, shocked.
Kirika and Shirabe looked away when the topic was brought up. They still remember those moments. But, Maria didn't seem to bother as she tried to defend the professor.
"Y-you don't understand… Mama deeply regretted doing that and was trying to prepare us!" Maria protested.
The girls wanted to sympathize but Kaito stopped them. "But it won't change the fact that she abused children, and converted them into loyal child soldiers! Your loyalty to that woman is nothing more than Stockholm syndrome that you were forced to develop." Kaito countered seriously. He knew that the trio went through something and always had his suspicions of that woman. Even though the battle is over, he won't feel any sympathy for Maria regarding the woman's death.
"That's…not true…she died trying to save us…" Maria hesitated.
"But it's still most asinine thing to do to children!" Ryoji pointed out.
"…" This left Maria speechless.
Genjuro and the other grownups present came to the conclusion that her Stockholm syndrome was deeply rooted into her when she was younger, and that she will need a lot of help.
"Like or it, you need this more than you think." Genjuro stated serious. Though it might make him seem cruel, but Stockholm syndrome is not something that can be easily dealt giving how Maria reacts.
"What about Kirika and Shirabe?" Hibiki asked, looking at the two girls who were quiet.
"Since they've lived with Kaito for quite some time…I believe it's safe to say they don't seem troubled. But Kaito, I suggest that you take them to see a psychologist for evaluation." Genjuro recommend.
"Fine with me…" Kaito said.
Miku sat alone in the cafeteria with a contemplated expression. Even though she assured Lapis that she can be fine by herself, she wasn't.
"How can he forgive me for what I did?" she asked. Although she knows Lapis forgives her, she couldn't forgive herself for what happened. Even if he says that it was his fault. Miku couldn't find it in herself to hate him after what he did.
"…Why did he save me rather than Chris?" Miku pondered in confliction. After reuniting with her friends, she heard about what happened to Chris. 'She deserved to be saved…rather than me…' she thought.
"Why am I alive? What's the reason for why I was spared?" Miku asked.
"You can't give up on life." An unknown voice said as this made Miku startled that someone else in the cafeteria.
She turns around and faced someone who she didn't recognize…
Mitsuzane Kureshima. A young man who is all too familiar with the tragedies Miku experienced.
"W-Who are you…?" Miku asked.
"Someone who knows what you went through. My name is Mitsuzane Kureshima." The younger Kureshima introduced himself. Though he told Mai that he didn't need to be involved with others, he couldn't overlook Miku since she reminded him of himself in regards to his past actions.
"Y-You… You're Takatora-san's brother, aren't you?" Mitsuzane nodded. "Why are you here?" the young girl asked quietly.
"To tell you that you can't take your own life after what happened." He stated.
"But I should've died…! Instead, I… hurt my friend so badly. It was because of me, another of my friends is dead! I shouldn't be alive unless there is a reason…!" Miku said.
"You can't give up on life. To do so would be an insult to those that have died. You have a duty and responsibility to keep on living no matter how hard the circumstances get. It is our penance and our duty." The younger Kureshima replied to the young girl.
This made Miku quiet before asking, "But…what am I supposed to do? If I stay with my friends…I feel that I would be a threat to them and endanger their lives." She said.
"You can try to find somewhere like a temple to find peace." Mitsuzane said. "They can help you when it comes to what you feel."
After returning to Japan, Lapis and Kouta are seen together walking through the park without anyone in sight. The two Overlords want to be alone while everyone else is preoccupied with other things. Kouta had changed into his human form to further blend in without drawing any unwanted attention if they saw him in his Man of Beginning form.
"Kouta… I want to apologize." Lapis said. "The mistake that my people caused… the mistake that I caused… you ended up losing your humanity in the process. You won't be able to be with your friends especially your older sister." He confessed quietly.
"It's ok, Lapis." Kouta replied assuring to Lapis.
Lapis still felt responsible when he thought about his prior actions. "It's still unfair that you had to take on the mantle that I never took for myself…" Lapis continued. "If I only told you about what you got yourself into with the Golden Fruit, then-"
"It's ok, Lapis." Kouta repeated. "Even if you did take the Golden Fruit… I doubt that we would have met, right? You told me before that you didn't regret us meeting, remember?" he reminded.
"Yeah… I did." Lapis said with a small smile. But he still feels bitter about what Kouta and Mai have to endure when they chose the path of Godhood.
"Lapis, you have a nice home and a lot of friends despite a lot of them are girls. It's made me wonder if you've become popular with girls." Kouta remarked.
"It's not like I intended for that to happen, Kouta." Lapis answered. "But tell me… what are you going to do now that you're a god?" he asked.
"Continue protecting humanity even if I am apart from them…" Kouta answered. "What are you going to do?"
"I guess resume my normal life. I promised Boss Lady that I'll return to work after I finish my self-vacation. But if the world is in some kind of trouble, I will continue to protect it." Lapis answered.
"I see…" Kouta spoke. "You really do care about the nature of this world?" he asked.
"I know I can't reach everyone in the world, and how there are humans not trustworthy. But I enjoy the natural beauty of this world, since it reminds me of the times back in my old world before Helheim. And protecting those close to me." Lapis answered.
Suddenly Lapis remembers something else. "Since you're here due to the moon curse, I finally get to say the thing that's been on my mind." he added with a frown.
"This is about Serena calling you her uncle?" Kouta guessed, nervously laughing.
"I rather have you talk to me first and give me the chance to think about it before dropping her onto me." Lapis stated.
"Sorry…" Kouta apologized. "But I can tell that you two get along well."
"I won't deny that it's kind of nice to have some company especially if one being part Overlord." Lapis admitted.
"But I really do see you as a little brother and… part of my family."
Lapis looks surprised. "Umm… Kouta, you know that might sound a little wrong considering that I am older than you, right?" he asked.
"Well, you were reborn in this new world. Doesn't that mean you're younger considering you chose to be a 16 year old?" Kouta remarked.
"Umm… that's not true." Lapis said, blushing. He did think about having an adult form but he didn't know what he would look like. "Besides, I'm not like Fine who can reincarnate to a random host after she perished. Wouldn't it mean she's the same age as a newborn infant every time despite having her prior memories?"
Kouta was about to say something before he stopped to think about it.
"That is a confusing topic." Kouta remarked. "But I assure you that she won't reincarnate again after this life."
"That will certainly be a relief." Lapis said.
A week has passed after the final battle on the Frontier. Life seemed to be normal again in the city. There was a big funeral established for those who were killed during the conflict especially Chris who is missed by her friends.
The Frontier was put under protect by the government after the final battle. Though the main operative room was no longer exist on the floating island, but researchers and excavators are determined to search for any relics about the past that could possible linger among the flying island.
Fine, the immortal priestess of the past, she received a fitting punishment for her prior crimes that she wasn't able to receive due being backstabbed by Kougane months ago. She had no choice but once again work in the same organization that she used for her goal, as Genjuro's assistant. It doesn't mean that she will easily gain their trust easily as everyone is wary after what she did.
Maria was brought in for her crimes as a terrorist especially her role as instigator of Ver's plan. Lapis sealed off her ability to sing which prevented her from using Symphogear technology or being forced to use them. Where she is held was a prison where she was under watch and being treated for her Stockholm syndrome which might took a long time to recover.
"Miku-chan… why?" Lapis asked his friend.
"I-It's not like I…will be moving away. It's just that… I need some time on my own." Miku said, holding her suitcase.
Hibiki couldn't help but feel heartbroken by the news.
Miku is moving out of the academy and going to a monk temple. That's why there are suitcases in the taxi outside.
"But it won't be the same without you!" Hibiki said. "We just want everything to go back to normal!" The decision made by Miku was too sudden for her.
"Not everything will be the same, Hibiki." Miku said.
"But Miku-chan, we can fix this together." Lapis said. "We can move past this."
"I would like to think that too, Lapis-kun." Miku answered weakly. "But it's just that… I need to find answers for myself. Being able to move on from this guilt alone… that's why I'm going to train at a monk temple."
"How long will you be gone?" Hibiki asked sadly.
"Don't worry about me… I will be back after I find my answers." Miku assured. "But just promise me that you two will look after each other. Lapis, I want you to make sure that Hibiki passes her grades when I am not around."
Lapis looks at Miku and he can tell that she really is going through with this. He took a deep breath before he faces her again.
"I promise that when you come back… we'll throw a welcome back party for you!" Lapis said.
"And it will be a lot of fun!" Hibiki added, trying hard to hold back her tears.
"I would like that… but promise me that you won't go overboard." Miku smiled. "I'll be going now."
Lapis and Hibiki watch as Miku went up to them and gave one last hug to them. Miku wasn't done yet, as she gives both of them a kiss on the cheek.
"Take care, Miku…" Hibiki and Lapis said in unison.
They watch Miku get in the taxi and rode away from them. Hibiki started crying, but it wasn't until Lapis pulled her close to him and holding her tightly while she is still crying.
Meanwhile in the taxi, Miku is trying hard to wipe away the tears coming from her eyes.
"So Miku left…I don't blame her after what Ver did to her." Ryoji said quietly while looming over Chris's gravesite. "But it was still too sudden…"
"Hase… do you hate me for not being able to stop Chris or being able to help her with her issues?" Lapis asked, standing not far from him. He won't mind if Ryoji uses him as a punching bag since he took whatever hit he dished out on him in frustration.
"I never blamed you for what happened… It was Bujin Gaim who fooled us." Ryoji said. "I just wished we figured it out sooner…and maybe did something. If I knew this would happen, I would've knocked her out unconsciousness and kept her away from the fight!"
Lapis remains silent while listening to Ryoji.
"Lapis… what were we fighting since we've been in this world?" Ryoji asked, quietly.
"To protect the innocent…and for the friends that never gained in our previous lives." he answered.
"But how can we let one of our friends die like this?" Ryoji asked. This was the first time Ryoji had ever seen someone die from using Swan Song.
"There people who feel guilty that they went to the point of no return. Chris felt so responsible for what happens to her father and made a rash choice." Lapis said quietly.
Lapis soon approaches Ryoji and took something out of his pocket. "Hase… I want you to have this," he said, giving the item to him.
Ryoji looks surprised at the red Lockseed with picture of familiar relic armor and the code 'S.L.S-ICHIAVAL'.
"How did you-"
"This… is from the ashes that I went looking on the Frontier." Lapis said before placing it on his hand. "I didn't tell this to others. I may not regret my decision about saving Miku, but I prefer you have it instead of me."
"Do you really think that I am worthy of it…? After I failed her?" Ryoji asked uncertain. Lapis nodded.
"We think that you're more worth of it than you doubting yourself." Shirabe said as she and Kirika shown themselves in their presence.
"Kirika… Shirabe…" Ryoji said quietly. "What are you two doing here?" he asked since the two girls were getting a psychological evaluation test.
"We just left from our test and saw you doubt yourself. You cannot let yourself be like this forever." Shirabe said calm. She can't admit that she might be worried about the young man after Chris' funeral.
"How are you feeling after Maria went to prison?" Lapis asked. He didn't see her after he sealed off her ability to sing like he promised.
"If it wasn't for Maria and M-I mean the Professor, we would still be in the fight for our lives every day." Kirika said with downward expression. "But… it doesn't excuse everything that we've done since we came here." She confessed sadly.
"Even though we should be in prison with Maria, we were fortunate… but Maria needs more help than we do." Shirabe said.
"Hase, whatever happens," Kirika said. "We know that you can get over this. A lot of people in this city wouldn't want you to be like this." Like Shirabe, she is also worried about how down Ryoji was after Chris' death and funeral.
Ryoji then took the Symphogear Lockseed from Lapis's hand and clenched it tightly.
"Anyway, I will be going now." Lapis said before leaving the three by themselves.
Lapis is seen on his way down the street walking by people who are busy with their usual routines. He is glad that everything in the city went back to normal…he hopes the same goes for himself.
"Hey, Lapis!" Lapis turns his head to the side and sees Kanade coming toward him.
"Kanade, how are you?" Lapis asked to her.
"Good… but I want to get away from the mobile base for a while. Damn that she-devil," Kanade said before a scowl form upon her face.
"Did something happen?" Lapis asked.
"Can't stand being near her…" Kanade grumbled.
"I see…" Lapis said. Of course Kanade is still upset at the woman responsible for her parents' death is still alive and working with them again. He is a bit skeptical if she will changed, no doubt everyone will keep a watchful eye on her.
"But enough about that. There is something that I want to talk with you about… are you busy?" Kanade said.
"Not really." Lapis replied. "What is it?"
"Come with me," Kanade said before taking his hand and dragging him across somewhere that there are less people.
"Okay. Kanade, what is this about?" Lapis asked.
Kanade took a deep breath. "Lapis…" she hesitated. "Do you remember back in the forest… and we… we kissed?"
"Forest… and Kiss? Wait…" Lapis remembered what happened back in the woods. "Yeah, what about it?" he asked nonchalantly.
He doesn't seem embarrassed by it… Kanade thought.
"H-How did you feel about it?" Kanade asked, nervous. With the conflict over, she feels this will be a good chance to confront Lapis about the accidental kiss and what to do about it.
"Not sure." Lapis shrugged. "Are you uncomfortable by it? If so, you can forget about it and everything will back to normal-"
"No, I can't just forget about it! It was my first kiss with a guy!" Kanade interjected, making Lapis look surprised. But she also felt responsible since she was the one who took Lapis's!
"Kanade… are you alright?" Lapis asked
Kanade didn't listen to him as there was only one way for her to resolve this conflicting feeling in her chest. "There's only one way to resolve this! We're going on a date!" she proclaimed.
"W-What…?" Lapis looks shocked, completely caught off-guard by her words.
"What the hell do you want, Mitsuzane Kureshima?" inquired Kaito with his eyebrows narrowed at the young man before him.
It wasn't long since Shirabe and Kirika passed their psychology test without any issues. Kaito had sent them away in order to deal with a certain pest who still lingers in this world.
"I came here to settle things from before…" Mitsuzane said. "About my wrongdoings in the past…" he hesitantly said.
"Like hell I'll believe anything from that filthy mouth of yours, Kureshima!" scoffed Kaito.
"I mean it! I truly mean what I say and that I'm here to make amends with you!" Mitsuzane said, trying to reason with Kaito. "Please you have to let go of what happened in the past, you should do that when you have those girls to look after…!"
"Like I said, I won't listen to someone as pitiful and weak as you! You Kureshima pricks are the ones who took everything away from me… You use power to oppress people who can't even fight… You and your brother are lucky to survive from your fate, but that is going to change…" Kaito taunted before getting out his Sengoku Driver. "Now, I won't have to worry about the girls or Kazuraba, even if they're aware of this, I can make this easier with killing you."
Kaito got out his old Banana Lockseed and pressed on it.
"BANANA!"
"Henshin…" Kaito said.
"COME ON!"
The Banana Arms descend from the Crack while his bodysuit forms.
"KNIGHT OF SPEAR!"
Original Baron charged forward at Mitsuzane with no mercy.
"BUDOU!"
"HAI~! BUDOU ARMS! RYUHOU HA-HA-HA!"
Mitsuzane transformed into Ryugen and dodges the incoming strike upon him.
"Go to hell!" Original Baron exclaimed as he overpowered Ryugen with a string of spear slashes.
Despite Ryugen's effort of trying to reason with his old nemesis, he is still at his mercy despite his efforts to defend himself…
Lapis looks dumbfounded at what Kanade just said. He have trouble of perceptive what she say about them… going on a date.
"A date. No, it definitely can't be one date… but multiple until we can be certain." Kanade said, deep in thought about this. "What do you think, Lapis?" she asked.
"Well… I don't think that would work for me," Lapis said, looking away from the redhead. "After all, I'm pretty much unsuited for this kind of thing." He answered.
"What?!" Kanade exclaimed in shock at his rejection to her dating proposal. Sure, she did receive a bunch of dating requests before in the past and rejected them. But Lapis, being the first guy and Overlord reject her dating request is a total shock to her.
"You know that I'm no longer able to react to things like that anymore." replied Lapis.
"But it's not fair for me!" Kanade retorted, getting close to his face. "When you can't feel anything, I'm stuck with the confusing feeling! It get even harder when I thought you died! You got to help me out!" Lapis is backing away while Kanade advancing on him.
"Umm-"
"And that is why we're going on a date!" Kanade said.
Lapis gulped. "I-I'm sorry about this. But I will have to refuse!" Lapis said before he turns around and did one thing that caught Kanade off-guard: he runs away.
"Get back here, Lapis!" Kanade shouted before running after him.
Lapis soon makes a turn for the corner of the street. When Kanade came around, she found no sign of Lapis anywhere and there are too many people around.
"Where did he go!?" Kanade questioned while looking around for him.
Lapis let out a sigh as he teleported himself far away from Kanade while she was looking for him. He hopes that Kanade will give up when he shows her that it's pointless. Besides looking for romance is something that he feels unsuited for someone like Kanade. Especially if it with someone like him.
Lapis suddenly sees what looks like the sound of explosion nearby and went to investigate the cause of it.
"What in the world?" Lapis wondered in surprised.
There he saw Original Baron overbeating down on Ryugen before Original Baron knocked him straight out of his transformation
"Someone like you doesn't deserve to repent for what you did!" Original Baron said before readying himself to deal the final blow on Mitsuzane.
"That is enough!" Lapis shouted before he used his power to summon a barrier to deflect Baron's attack and knocked him backward.
"W-What the…?" Mitsuzane looks shocked to see Lapis coming to his aid.
"Mitsuzane!" Takatora shouted after finding his brother on the ground and helping him.
"What did you do that for?" Original Baron asked to the other Overlord.
"Not unless you tell me what this is about, Kaito." Lapis stated calmly.
Original Baron closed his Lockseed and reversal back to his original form.
"That traitorous bug wants to make 'amendments' with me. Do you want to know what I think? That he and his brother should leave this damn world before their corrupted influence ruin lives here." Kaito continued belittling Takatora and Mitsuzane.
"Kaito Kumon… what gives you that right to my brother especially when we come to set things right?" Takatora demanded, looking angry at him.
"You have no right to say you can make things right here, but get out of this world or I should destroyed the remains of Kureshima corrupt bloodline." Kaito threatens the two.
Mitsuzane tried to get himself up, but he struggled due to his injuries. But Takatora held his brother back from going after Kaito.
"That's enough, Mitsuzane!" Takatora said with genuine concern.
"I see… I get it." Lapis said as he understood Kaito's hatred for the Kureshima brothers and their prior actions. Mitsuzane wished to settle the problem between them, but Kaito won't let it go due to the belief that Mitsuzane won't change. "How about this? We settle this somewhere far from the city."
"We…?" Kaito inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"I will help the Kureshima brothers settle this duel. Not Kouta or the residents of this world involved." Lapis said. It is true that they never had a reason to fight each other or clashed, but this might get Kaito's interest to accept it.
"But if they choose to chicken out?" Kaito added.
"I will fight you in their place." Lapis answered.
Kaito thought about it for a moment. Though he might be angry at Lapis to side with Kureshima brothers, he also has the opportunity to really see Lapis' real strength if the Kureshimas choose to chicken out. Maybe this won't be a bad deal.
"Very well… but I will be choosing the location, you know how to find me and the fight in few days." Kaito said before he left.
"You didn't have to help…" Mitsuzane said before twitching in pain after Lapis applied some medicine on Mitsuzane's wounds.
Though Lapis wants to keep eye on Mitsuzane… there is no doubt that he will try to leave and deal with Kaito by himself.
"Says the one who choose to stay in this world and got beaten close to death," Lapis countered. "I was certain that you two would leave and this could've been avoided." He lectured.
"I'm sorry about this," Takatora apologies while sitting on the chair beside his brother. "I should've known that my brother was trying to settle things with Kaito Kumon."
After Kaito left, Lapis took the Kureshima brothers to his private house outside of the city to recover. But for him to avoid Kanade considering that she has a spare key to his apartment.
"What can I do to end his resentment toward my family?" Mitsuzane asked quietly.
"It's not going to be easy. Hate is easy for most people but forgiveness is much harder." Lapis said.
Mitsuzane didn't say anything. "…"
"Kaito… is someone who's been hurt and pushed for a long time, and no one gave him compensation for what he endured. Things have been taken away from him. That is why he was willing to see the entire world be rid of those people who does that to everyone else." Lapis said.
"Mitsuzane wasn't the only one who shouldered the blames… because I felt responsible that he ended up becoming a fool like me. But we cannot settle with arguing among ourselves." Takatora reassured. "Mitsuzane, as much more you would worry about me, you can't defeat him all by yourself. If you attempt to do so, you will definitely die."
"Are you really okay with paying the price to let your brother live?" Lapis asked.
"I have nowhere else to turn, what am I supposed to do?! Live with regret and fear that Kaito could come for me at any time!?" Mitsuzane retorted. "I know that I have to do something even if it means to receive the overdue beating from him." He can still remember those beatings before Lapis and his brother come to his aid.
"You too are a victim that happened in the past. You have been used by those cursed Overlords and Ryouma for nothing. But, you are lucky to survive, and so am I." Takatora holds his younger brother's head. "If Kaito had a point about you being a weakling, you must acknowledge it. There is nothing to be ashamed of that, and that weakness is nothing in comparison."
"But… what can I…" choked in between his tears, Mitsuzane sobbed.
"You aren't alone, Mitsuzane." Takatora said. "Don't keep things to yourself. You can count on both of us."
Mitsuzane couldn't take it anymore. He soon grabbed onto his brother's shirt and cried, letting out all the sadness and grief that he had been holding. Lapis decided to quietly excuse himself before he went outside to give the brothers some time.
He soon took out his cell phone and pressed on speed dial for a certain number.
"Hey…"
"What's up, man? Why are you calling me so late?"
"It's kinda of long story. But I might need your help." Lapis said before giving the details of the situation.
"I see…Count me in." The voice said.
After Mitsuzane recovered, they found New Baron waiting for them in what looks like a hillside farther away from the city.
"So you didn't cower away…" New Baron said, looking at both Mitsuzane and Takatora.
"So the one who has time to beat around a dead horse," Takatora retorts.
"No matter, I will take you two down!" New Baron said, readily his Sonic Arrow.
Before Lapis, Takatora, and Mitsuzane were ready to transform… they heard a loud engine rumbling to see Ryoji riding on his motorcycle and lands nearby. "I hope you don't mind a fifth member to this party!" he added.
"Hase, what are you doing here?" Mitsuzane asked surprised by his presence. Even Takatora show a bit surprised at his appearance.
Ryoji soon come to join them. "Joining the party of course! It's for us not from this world." Ryoji said with a grin.
"Who said you were invited, Hase?" Kaito asked.
"Well… this is a fight for those who aren't originally from this world, right?" Ryoji asked as those who remembers Lapis's conditions and they nearly forget about him.
"You didn't have to-" Mitsuzane said before Ryoji place a hand on his shoulder.
"You don't need to shoulder blame for everything." Ryoji answered. "Besides, I can't let you guys hog the glory of fighting him."
"And you choose to side with those imbecile insects despite my warning?" New Baron asked.
"Like I need to care about what you say…" Ryoji chuckled.
"Baka…" Mitsuzane commented with a deadpanned expression. But with Ryoji's unexpected aid, maybe it is possible for them to overcome Kaito's hatred. "Don't get yourself kill…"
"I won't," Ryoji answered. "After all… we're Kamen Riders!"
"SILVER!"
"BUDOU!" "LEMON ENERGY~!"
"MELON ENERGY~!"
"AASHUIMU ENERGY~!"
"Henshin…!" All four of them shouts before inserted their Lockseeds into their Drivers.
"SOIYA! SILVER ARMS! HAKUGIN NEW STAGE!"
"HAI~! BUDOU ARMS! RYUHOU HA-HA-HA! JIMBER LEMON! HAW-HAW!"
"SODA~! MELON ENERGY ARMS!"
"LIQUID~! AASHUIMU ENERGY ARMS!"
(Play Law Of The Victory- RIDER CHIPS)
Soon they donned their armor as Kamuro, Ryugen, Zangetsu-Shin, and Kurokage-Shin.
"This is our new stage now!" Kurokage-Shin and Kamuro declared at the same time.
New Baron released the first arrow at them which blows the ground beneath and created a large explosion.
"Bring it on!" New Baron said.
The four Riders soon charged forward at New Baron.
New Baron pushed his Seaboll Compressor once.
"SODA~! LEMON ENERGY SQUASH!"
With his Sonic Arrow glowing, New Baron released a powerful energy slash at the Riders.
But the Riders jumps into the air to avoid the attack and coming down at him with a Rider Kick. New Baron brought up his arms to hold back against all four Rider's kick.
This result the energy emitting from the Rider can be seen as powerful bright light before loud explosions can be heard.
The confrontation involved Ryugen and his party allies against the hatred of New Baron began after that explosion.
Ryugen fired his Lemon Rifle at New Baron who used his Sonic Arrow to shield himself from the bullets while coming at him and brought down his Sonic Arrow on him. But Ryugen brought up his rifle's blade tip to blocked the attack and standing his ground.
"How long are you going to hold that grudge? There are people who look up to you back home… and they won't be happy about it!" Ryugen said.
"You have no right of bringing them into this!" New Baron throws back. "It's you who betrayed everyone for your selfishness!"
"What about those girls you're caring for? What kind of future are you raising them for?!" Ryugen pointed out.
Unknown to Ryugen, he unknown crossed the line with New Baron.
"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO QUESTION ABOUT THEIR FUTURE!" New Baron roared before he slammed Ryugen straight to the ground and slashes him several times in the chest with his Sonic Arrow.
But Ryugen was moved back when Kamuro got in his place and blocks his weapon with his Souginjou.
"Mitsuzane! Are you alright?" Zangetsu-Shin asked to his brother.
New Baron and Kamuro traded blows with each other.
"Not bad…" New Baron said. "So this is what you can bring up in your basic form."
"Don't forget about me!" Kurokage-Shin said before coming with his black blade.
New Baron jumps backward to avoid his attack, but he soon noticed Kamuro's visor glowing with rainbow colors as Helheim vines emerging and trapped him.
Kurokage-Shin soon charged forward and released multiple slashes on New Baron's chest before New Baron was sending rolling across the ground.
"Lapis!" Kurokage-Shin said as Kamuro pressed down on his Cutting Blade once.
"SOIYA! SILVER SQUASH!"
Soon appearing around Kamuro were silver orbs before he fired them at New Baron. New Baron gets up and grabbing his Sonic Arrow as he firing rapid shots to destroyed the orbs while dodging them.
"AASHUIMU ENERGY SQUASH!"
But Kurokage-Shin soon let out a roar before coming charging at New Baron with aura of bull coming at him. New Baron soon managed to find his ground and managing to lift Kurokage-Shin into the air before throws him into the air and firing arrow at him.
It seems that the fight between the Riders seems to have drawn attention as Hibiki, Serena, Tsubasa, and Kanade showed up after coming out of the Crack made by Serena herself.
"W-Why in the world… they're fighting now?!" Hibiki questioned in shock.
"No doubt that's why Mitsuzane with them since Kaito hates the Kureshimas." Serena said.
"We need to stop them now!" Tsubasa respond angry as she tried to intervene in the fight.
But soon three figures emerged out of nowhere and standing in her way.
"Kirika! Shirabe! Zuuban!" Hibiki said in shock.
"Zuuban! Zuuban!" The golden swordsman chided.
"You shall not pass beyond this point." Shirabe stated calmly.
"Why?" Kanade questioned.
"Kaito-sensei says that he is about to settling his overdue vendetta against the Kureshima. We're in charge if anyone tried to get in his way." Kirika explains.
"But revenge is wrong!" Hibiki retort. "They shouldn't fight each other when they fought against Ver and others."
"That won't change how Kaito-sensei feels about the ones who caused him great pain... Mitsuzane Kureshima… Ryouma Sengoku, and those who related to Yggrdrassil." Shirabe said coldly.
"I see…" Kanade said. Though she is a little upset that Lapis chose to help the Kureshima brothers for the last few days than respond to her.
"Are you three really okay with Kaito behaving like this?!" Tsubasa questioned strictly.
"Or do you know a way to ease Kaito-sensei's hatred? How to free him from ease?" Kirika asked to the bluenette.
This made Tsubasa quiet as there is no answer in her mind.
"We have to let them settle this." Hibiki and Tsubasa turn around to see Serena who watching the fight.
"Are you sure about this?!" Tsubasa questioned.
"Like it or not, Mitsuzane Kureshima want to becalmed Kaito's linger of hatred and wants to show that he truly changed." Serena said.
"I think she has a point… this isn't a fight that we should be involved with. They need to settle it." Kanade said.
(Play Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~The Golden Country Soundtrack- Battle!)
Kamuro is dealing against New Baron while Zangetsu-Shin and Ryugen firing at the Genesis Rider from distance.
"Damn you!" New Baron barks angrily before staggering backward.
"Well, there are no rules in a fight!" Kamuro pointed out while blocking his Sonic Arrow.
Soon both Kamuro and New Baron turned into a blur as they used their speed as Overlords and those who are watching the fight can only see blurs and sparks.
They then saw Kamuro rolling across the floor before New Baron pressed down on his Seaboll Compressor.
"LEMON ENERGY SQUASH~!"
Kamuro managed to get himself up from the ground and catching the attack with his hands.
"As expect of you… but you should never help the Kureshimas in the first place! They will eventually go behind your back!" New Baron argued as he increasing energy into the blade of Sonic Arrow and there is the sound of hissing on Kamuro's hands.
"You're right about your reason for hating the Kureshima and you have every right." Kamuro said despite feeling his hands being in pain.
"Of course… I am right!" New Baron said, pushing his Sonic Arrow downward. "Isn't he, Redyue's counterpart!?"
"Whether he is same as Redyue or not, I choose to believe in him!" Kamuro said. "That is the choice I made!" he answered before he vanished into thin air.
The Lemon Genesis Rider looks surprised before he was shots from behind by Ryugen who come charging at him.
New Baron soon moved out of the way and bringing out his Sonic Arrow to slash the younger Kureshima. Before the attack could hit Ryugen, he sliding down to avoid the attack and Kurokage-Shin soon charging back into the fight with his blade slashes against him. New Baron sent Kurokage-Shin back before dodging a blow from Zangetsu-Shin's Sonic Arrow. Ryugen continued firing which New Baron spins his Sonic Arrow to deflect the bullets coming at him.
New Baron soon charged straight at Ryugen before he was shot by rapid bullets from out of thin air. The one who did that was none other than Kamuro in his Kachidoki Arms.
Kamuro then go and scratches the DJ Table and shooting out cannon like burst shots at New Baron and forced the Genesis Rider went into defense.
"Now!" Kamuro shouts to the three.
Zangetsu-Shin and Kurokage-Shin charged forward as they pushing their Seaboll Compressor twice.
"SODA~! MELON SPARKLING!"
"LIQUID~! AASHUIMU ENERGY SPARKLING!"
The two Riders soon grabbed onto New Baron's arms and pinning him where he was.
"Now, Mitsuzane!" Zangetsu-Shin shouts.
Ryugen pressed down on his Cutting Blade twice.
"HAI~! BUDOU AU LAIT! JIMBER LEMON AU LAIT!"
Soon Ryugen brought his Lemon Rifle close to his face as energy gathers at the tip until he pressed the trigger. The shot went across the field and struck New Baron while he was pinned by the two Genesis Riders. The attack did enough damage for New Baron to cancel out his transformation.
(Song end)
"Did we do it?" Ryugen asked carefully.
Kamuro still held on to his DJ Gun since he knew Kaito would keep going.
"Lapis, stop this fight now!" Kamuro turns around and sees Tsubasa who seems to be restrained by Zuuban. Kamuro is also surprised that others are here.
Hibiki tried to stop the fight before jumping in and ready to ceased this fight, but Kamuro managed to get out of the shock and placed a sleep spell on Hibiki as the young girl collapsed straight to sleep. But Kanade was able to catch her and looks back at Kamuro for explaining.
"Knowing Hibiki-chan, she will jump straight in… but Kaito and Mitsuzane are the two won't likely listen to her. This is the only way that I can think to stop her. Look after her." Kamuro explains.
"Sorry, but this is the matter between us and our sins." Zangetsu-Shin added calmly. "Someone like Kaito Kumon won't settle peacefully with words after what he endured."
"Beside this is not over yet…" Kurokage-Shin said after seeing movements from Kaito.
Kaito managed to stand up on his two feet, much to the chagrin of his opponents.
"I…I'm… NOT… done …yet!" Kaito droned as he transforming into his Overlord form again. Standing before the four Riders was none other than Lord Baron himself.
Lord Baron let out a roar before he changed into a blur before the four Riders.
"Hase, to your right!" Kurokage-Shin turns around and saw Lord Baron come at him with his Guronbaryamu. Kurokage-Shin tried countered the attack, but Lord Baron eventually overwhelmed Kurokage-Shin before slamming his fist hard into Kurokage-Shin's chest.
Kurokage-Shin was soon rolling across the ground and his Genesis Driver was knocked aside as he reversed back to his human form.
"Hase, are you alright?!" Kamuro asked in shock.
"I-I will be fine… I will sit this one out… man," Ryoji answered before he falls straight into unconsciousness. Kamuro soon summoned an energy bubble around Ryoji so that the young man can rest and recovering in it. As for how long? He predicted until the end of the battle.
Both Ryugen and Zangetsu-Shin tried to attack Lord Baron, but Lord Baron soon turned into a bloody mist and swarm upon the two brothers.
"I will show you the power of my vengeance coursing within me!" Lord Baron declared and then taunted Zangetsu-Shin. "Watch as I take away your pathetic brother… from your eyes!"
"Mitsuzane!" Zangetsu-Shin cried out as he and Ryugen was shot out of the clouds and forced out of their transformation.
Lord Baron then walks toward Mitsuzane with his sword in his hand.
"How pitiful. Is that what you got? This time, nothing will save you. Your days of avoiding death will end today!" Lord Baron mocked. "Prepare for your death!"
Soon Kamuro charged at Lord Baron with a shoulder tackle before he ends Mitsuzane's life.
"You…!" Lord Baron growled angry at Kamuro, who wore his rival's old form. He soon turned into crimson smoke and went charging at him.
Kamuro soon got out his Ignite Lockseed before the crimson smoke over took him completely and pressed on it.
"IGNITE!"
Suddenly everyone witness bright blue flame shining and canceled out Lord Baron's attack as Kamuro hovering in the air and soon his Kachidoki Arms vanished before replacing with new form.
"IGNITE ARMS! HERTIAGE OF HOME AND RIDERS!"
The girls' expression cannot be any wider than ever when they saw this new form of Kamuro.
"So THIS is your true self!" Lord Baron said before charging forward with his Guronbaryamu.
Kamuro brought out his blade and traded blows with Lord Baron himself. Lord Baron then summoned Helheim vines after him, but Kamuro moved out of the way and deploy his shields from his shoulder.
"Take this!" Kamuro shouts before the shields started to spin rapidly like saw in the air and sending them at the incoming vines before slicing through them. Then Kamuro comes straight for Lord Baron as he turned on his gun and firing at him with rapid shots.
Lord Baron got bombardment by the energy blasts, but Lord Baron soon reach his hand and focused the remaining shots to gathering into his palm and sending back at Kamuro who dodged.
"I never expected that you held back this much power…" Lord Baron gasps. "It makes me wonder why you relied on power of previous Riders in the first place and holding yourself back."
The other Overlord only chuckled. "It wasn't just their power that I relied on, but I was also interested in the personalities of the previous Riders to learn their views on humanity." He mused. "Mitsuzane, now you see what Kaito can do… do you still wish to face off against him?"
"I will…" Mitsuzane said as he struggling to get himself up.
"What do you think you cannot do? Your Jimber Arms won't work against me…" Lord Baron pointed out.
"But I have something that Lapis-san gave me…" Mitsuzane said before showing him a new Lockseed.
The new Lockseed looks like the Yomotsuheguri Lockseed, but the colors are white, silver, blue, and purple. The code on it is LS 'ATONEMENT'.
"What is that Lockseed?" Lord Baron asked.
(Flashback)
"When Kaito reaches the point of using his Overlord form, it will be best to use this." Mitsuzane and his brother looks at the new Lockseed given to him by Lapis.
To him, it looks like his Budou Lockseed but something about it is different.
"Atonement…?" Takatora asked after reading the code of the Lockseed.
"To represent Mitsuzane's goal of redemption…" Lapis explains.
"But why after he used his Overlord form?" Mitsuzane asked, confused.
"In order to use that Lockseed you need to empty your self-doubt, keep a clear mind and a steel of resolve to accomplish that. Kaito won't take your words unless you prove to him at his strongest form. It won't activate for you when you have doubts about yourself or going down the wrong path." Lapis explains the failsafe that installed in it.
Mitsuzane looks back at the Lockseed in his hand and clenched his hand on it.
(Present)
"I will show you my true strength, Kaito!" Mitsuzane pressed on the button of the Lockseed.
"ATONEMENT!"
Soon there was a Crack opened above him and white feathers rain down on around him, Mitsuzane soon goes into his pose.
"Henshin!" Mitsuzane shouted before locking the Lockseed in his Driver and pressed down on his Cutting Blade.
"HAI~!"
Lord Baron let out a roar before charging at him and won't let him transformed. However the feathers protected Mitsuzane from being harmed and his entire body glow in a bright light.
"AMENDMENT OF HIS OWN SINS!"
Standing before them was Ryugen in his new form. It resembled his dark counterpart Ryugen Yomi, but it's different at the same time. For his bodysuit is white. The armor is replaced with cerulean blue and the gold plate become silver. His helmet looks more like a dragon yet it looks more exotic and majestic. His visor happens to be red.
This is Ryugen Atonement Arms.
(Play Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Believer OST)
"Mitsuzane…" Takatora said in awe at the newest form of his brother.
"Like that will scare me!" Lord Baron said before he charged forward with his weapon raised in his hand.
Ryugen soon brings up his arms to block his attack and surprised Lord Baron with how he defending himself.
Ryugen then pushed Lord Baron backward and released barrage of punches as he struck Lord Baron several times in the chest, pushing him further backward.
Lord Baron soon released powerful red lightning bolts from his hand at him. Ryugen soon pressed down his Cutting Blade once.
"HAI~! ATONEMENT SQUASH!"
Soon Ryugen goes into an incredible speed and come at Lord Baron with a screw kick to tossed Lord Baron backward.
"Impossible… there is no way that he would give this much power for an imbecilic worm like you!" Lord Baron hissed.
"This isn't just from him alone… but to fill my resolve to amending my ways and keep walking as long as there is life in me." Ryugen said before he turns into a blur and punched Lord Baron further away.
Lord Baron tried to throw a flying kick, but Ryugen dodges the kick and continued punching him backward as he was knocked far away from him.
"So fast…" Kanade remarked.
Lord Baron got back up and summoned his weapon as he charged at him.
"Atone Staff!" Ryugen called out as a bright light shined in front of him. Appearing in front of him was a ringed staff with dragon decoration on it.
He brought up the weapon to blocked Lord Baron's Guronbaryamu and send Lord Baron staggering backward. Ryugen soon swings his Atone Staff and sending energy waves at Lord Baron, increasing the damages that the Overlord Inves.
Kamuro soon closed his Lockseed and reversed back to his original form. Takatora walking beside him and the two watching Ryugen and Lord Baron fighting against each other.
Meanwhile Ryugen and Lord Baron continued fighting each other.
"In the end, you are nothing more than backstabbing bastard! It was because of you that Mai was forced to accept her role and couldn't escape from that fate! If you die early, then she wouldn't have gone down that path!" Lord Baron snapped as his fist struck Ryugen hard in the chest and sending him backward.
"I know that will be my fault and it will forever haunt me for the rest of my life. Seeing my friends move to Godhood that they didn't even want and being further away from them is worse than death to me!" Ryugen shout before bring up his Atone Staff. "That is why I will continue on fighting for what Kouta believed in and everyone even if they don't believe me!"
"Silence!" Lord Baron attempts to lunge at Ryugen, but to no avail.
"HAI~! ATONEMENT AU LAIT!"
Soon Ryugen slammed the Atone Staff to the ground and coming down from above the clouds were gold energy shaped Chinese theme dragons, they came descending at their target who was none other than Lord Baron himself.
Lord Baron got bombarded by them. But it didn't matter to the Overlord as he can recover from his injuries.
Ryugen tried to release more of them at Lord Baron but the Overlord turned into crimson mist and tackled Ryugen straight across the field and ditched on him.
But Ryugen get himself up and using his Atone Staff as his crutch to get up from the ground.
"Kaito… It's time to end this!" Ryugen said before reaching his hand straight for his Cutting Blade.
"HAI~! ATONEMENT SPARKLING!"
Ryugen's entire body glowed in a bright light as two pairs of angelic wings spurts from his back and spread across the field. Lord Baron tried to move, but he finds himself immobilized by the feathers coming from Ryugen.
Seeing this as an opportunity to attack, Ryugen immediately leaped in mid-air, and he comes down with a spinning attack.
Lord Baron gasped in pain when Ryugen's kick struck him in the gut and being forced to move backward. It was after the kick, a large explosion can be seen.
(OST Ending)
After the explosion, Mitsuzane and Kaito have reverted back into their original forms as both men are too tired from fighting. Everyone thought the fight would be over, but it wasn't as the two continued onward.
"You have your revenge, why are you still obsessed with it!?" Mitsuzane questioned. "Don't you have anything important? Don't you think that killing me and my brother will save your soul!?"
"Shut up!" Kaito shouts. But Mitsuzane is still holding his ground and refused to back out.
Suddenly Serena sensed a familiar presence and saw her mother emerged out of a Crack with her father.
"Kaa-san?!" Serena exclaimed in surprised.
"Kaito! Micchy stop this senseless fight!" Mai pleaded, but the two aren't listening to her.
"This is enough!"
"Mitsuzane, stop this!"
"Kaito-sensei, please stop!"
But to no avail, they didn't listen.
"This is the last!" Mitsuzane said before he and Kaito ran at each other as the sound of their screamed filled the air. As they get close, everyone can see energy gathering in both Mitsuzane's and Kaito's fists. Mitsuzane is still channeling a bit of energy from Atonement Lockseed while Kaito focused on his Overlord power through his fist.
Their punches collided with each other's faces and both combatants fell straight to the ground.
Takatora hurry and picks up his brother in his arms. "Mitsuzane… you gave everything you got in the battle." He said. "I'm proud of you." Mitsuzane couldn't say anything as he was completely drained from the fight.
Meanwhile Kouta and Mai are with Kaito as they tried to help him and conciliated with Mitsuzane after coming back to life for the second time.
Lapis let out a sigh. His role in this conflict is finished. He soon went to check on the energy bubble as it unraveled itself and revealed Ryoji who let out a yawn from the nap.
"So… what did …I missed?" Ryoji asked, still yawned.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" Lapis points and Ryoji's eyes widened in surprised to see both Mitsuzane and Kaito are down. Not to mention the damage been made through the hills by their attacks.
"Dang… that must be an intense fight," Ryoji remarked.
"After facing against Kaito's Overlord form, how do you feel?" Lapis asked.
"Well… I guess that seeing Kaito's real strength which he obtained. Even though I saw Kanade face him, I know that Kaito grew stronger from before." Ryoji said before having a downcast expression. But he is a little bit down that he can't use Magma Saurian Arms until the Lockseed it's restored.
"I see—"
"But I'm glad that you invited me to the fight. I can see how much I still have to improve until I can become stronger so that we don't lose anyone important again." Ryoji answered.
This made Lapis smiled before he helps the young man up from the ground and the two soon joined them.
"It seems… that I misjudged you after all… Kazuraba was right about you… Continued on become stronger…" Kaito said before he closed his eyes.
"Kaito-sensei!" Shirabe and Kirika gasped in fear that he might die.
"Don't worry, he will be alright." Kouta reassured to the two younger girls.
After the fight between Kaito and Mitsuzane, Lapis returns to his apartment. Kouta assured that Mitsuzane and Kaito will be alright. Ryoji decide to stay with Shirabe and Kirika to keep them company despite having Zuuban to help the two girls.
But it wasn't long until he got pushed straight to the wall and looking back at the red eyes stare back at him.
"Why are you still following me?" Lapis asked unnerve to the unwanted guest in his apartment. He knows that he can get out at any time, but he didn't feel the need for it.
"I still want an answer... after you ditched me and went off fighting Kaito in a duel!" Kanade replied.
Lapis let out a sigh. "Like Takatora said, it was none of your concern." He answered.
"But you should have at least told us than disappearing off again! Why didn't you tell us anything?" Kanade questioned angry.
"I have to make sure that Mitsuzane won't wander off despite his own injuries... to face against Kaito. Even he can be unpredictable to Takatora most of the time." Lapis answered. "I doubt that Mitsuzane will open up to you lot after what happens to him." he added before freeing himself from Kanade's hand and leaving her as he walks to the living room.
But he didn't go that far into the living room when a hand was holding his.
"Lapis, what are you going to do now?" Kanade asked. "You have your revenge on Redyue, saving Miku, and ending another possible world destruction. What are you going to do now?"
"I'll just go back to my normal life as dangers are no longer troubling the world for now." Lapis said. Though his normal life wasn't the same with Miku gone, he hopes that time will come again.
"But don't you want to seek more than that? More than a quiet life?" Kanade asked.
"There is nothing else that I need or want." Lapis answered. "What about you? I know that you still have a grudge against Fine for what she did to your family…"
This made Kanade remains quiet. "…"
"You can also blame us for bring her back to this world if you think that will help you feel better." Lapis shrugged.
"No, I can't do that... I can't hold it against you…" Kanade respond in a quiet tone. "That is why I want us to find another reason… to keep on living in this world."
"In case you forget… I'm still an Inves and older than you. I will probably end up killing you in the process since Inves can't have relationships outside." Lapis reminded. "It wouldn't work out."
This made Kanade look angry at Lapis remembering the one thing he said back during the fight against Ver.
"Sorry, but that won't affect someone like me as I can't respond to something like that from someone anymore,"
"Then has anyone tried before!?" Kanade questioned loudly to Lapis.
"Wha… What…?" asked Lapis, looking shocked.
"Even if it is going to be difficult…Those moments of happiness would make life worth living for. Isn't it better for someone to have known love and loss then to never have known love at all?" Kanade asked.
Lapis couldn't find the strength to respond. Somehow Kanade was able to turn the tables on him with something that he can't respond to. How could he? He no longer has the ability to answer something like that anymore. After all the last time someone confessed to him, she died because he was too careless and obsessed with his own revenge. He was certainly fine with living the simple life he gained in this world. He doesn't mind being a Rider still to honor his memories with Kouta and protect those he cares about. He didn't mind of looking after Ryoji Hase since Kouta would want to save his life even though that he never get the chance to do so.
"…"
"Well?" Kanade demanded, wanting to know.
"I have no answers… to give you." Lapis answered, averting his gaze to the side.
"I thought so…" Kanade said before placing her hand on his shoulder. "That is why we're going to do this several times."
"And if it doesn't work out?" Lapis asked.
"I hope it won't come to that… but if you feel that it won't work out between us," Kanade said. "Then you have the right to break the relationship."
"I'm surprised you're okay with that…" Lapis remarked. Not to mention that Kanade will let him go back to his normal and quiet life.
"I will find a way to overcome it… somehow." Kanade promised.
Lapis wasn't sure if he will believe that. But he wasn't sure if what Kanade says that this can really help them.
Lapis soon took a deep breath. "I guess I have no choice since you aren't going to leave me alone…" Lapis began. "So how do you want to do this? I mean sealing the agreement?" he asked.
"This will do." Kanade leaned in close and kissed him on the lips again.
The End…
AN: This is end of the chapter and completion of the story. Anyway, be sure to review or message me for any questions, comments, or concern. And don't be afraid to look at my other stories.
