Kamen Rider Geats: Back in Time

Shadow II: Named Threats (P2)

At the Kurama residence, Neon's father Kousei was sitting down watching TV when the news broke in with alarming footage of the battle. His eyes narrowed as he watched the all-too-familiar monstrous creatures.

Slamming his fist down, Kousei stood up abruptly. "Not this nonsense again!" He swiftly pulled his phone and dialed.

Within seconds, Kousei was on a call. "What is the meaning of this public skirmish?! You guaranteed all matters relating to the Desire Grand Prix and the Jyamatos would be handled discreetly!"

The voice on the other end sounded irritated. "With the DGP disbanded, our agreement no longer stands. We have no obligation to cater to your conglomerate's wishes anymore."

Kousei's expression turned murderous. "How dare you—we've had an understanding for years! You can't just cut ties whenever you want!"

A derisive chuckle. "You can't hold up your end of the bargains anymore, now that the DGP is gone. We no longer need to entertain you or your ilk. Consider this relationship terminated." With that, the line went dead.

Kousei tossed his phone angrily aside where it skittered across the floor. His breath came in ragged gasps as outrage threatened to consume him. 

Irumi hurried to her husband's side, laying a gentle hand on his arm. "Dear, please calm down. Getting worked up will solve nothing."

Her soothing tone did little to ease Kousei's turmoil. "How can I stay calm?!" he spat. "That wretched government agency has washed their hands of us. Without our connections and resources, all the secrets we've helped bury may, no, WILL come to light."

He sank back into his chair despairingly. "The conglomerate is finished. All our assets will be siezed, our names dragged through the mud. I'll likely face prosecution for the deeds of our past. What can I even do?!" He gritted his teeth hard.

Irumi fought back tears seeing her love in such a state. She took his hands in hers reassuringly. She doesn't know what to say as she herself saw no way out of this either.

Once a powerful man with influence over entire organizations, Kousei now felt the cold grasp of powerlessness. All the promises and bargains that built his empire, about to come crashing down on his head...

Within the familiar walls of the former Desire Grand Prix lounge, the place remained intact and functioning - against all logic. Ace had willed it to remain as a place Tsumuri could feel at home, and a place everyone could talk.

Win and Ace found her there now, lost in thought while gazing out the walls.. Her pensive expression told them she was wrestling with her own mysteries.

"Tsumuri." Ace's gentle voice drew her attention. "What troubles you?"

She looked. "Why am I still here when the DGP is gone? I have no purpose anymore."

Ace stepped closer, smirking. "You have a purpose - you're my sister. Besides, this is a DGP, a DGP to protect the happiness of the world."

An adorable pout formed. "Stop calling me that!"

But beneath her protest, Ace saw lingering worry. He smiled softly. "You have a purpose. You can help us."

"Tsumu-chan, if you don't want to be Ace's sister, be my wife instead!" Win teased.

"Hey!"

Tsumuri slowly felt more comforted. She had a place here, and she will do her best, to help. She stood up, "I understood, Ace-sama. How can I help?"

"That's more like it" Ace said as they begin getting into topic.

Some times later, a hologram popped up. A lore drop from Tsumuri:

"That strange woman who confronted your friend...her name is Avara." Tsumuri's expression darkened. "She belongs to a shadowy group from my time called the Desire Jack."

Win listened attentively. "Desire Jack? What are they?"

Tsumuri sighed. "They are a group of supernatural humans who've always been obsessed with the DGP's Goddess of Creation. For ages they've sought to steal this power for themselves. Even though the power may or may not have an impact at all on the future world, they believe, mixed with their owns superpowers, they can ascend further above even the Metaverse."

She turned to Ace solemnly. "They must have realized Ace now embodies those dormant abilities, as the new Goddess. Avara, the leader, went back in time to probe Sakurai's mind for information on Ace and his capabilities."

A troubled look passed between the three heroes. Tsumuri continued, "The Desire Jack believe if they can take Ace's power, it will allow them to reshape reality on an even worse scale. They are up to no good."

Her news painted a grave threat looming over their new world. They would have to be vigilant in defending Ace and humanity's future from the Desire Jack's wicked designs.

But, that's not all.

As Tsumuri’s holographic display abruptly distorted in the center of the room. Pixels coalesced to form the cruel visage of Archimedel chuckling ominously.

“Greetings! I thought I’d pop in, if anyone's seeing.” He eyed them scornfully.

Archimedel’s image was joined by a dark flower-like object floating in the space behind him. Its crimson petals pulsed with sinister energy.

“Behold my counter to that meddlesome Creation powers,” Archimedel boasted. “This is Archiflora - a Jyamato construct fueled by my hatred. As long as it exists, should Ace try using his reality warping again, it will instantly explode! Wiping out even Ace himself!"

The hologram leaned closer intimidatingly. “So you see, any defiance is futile. Bow to my rule, or face extinction. The choice is yours, Kamen Rider!!!!! Ahahahhahah!”

And with that threat delivered, Archimedel’s mocking laugh echoed as his projection abruptly cut out, leaving the heroes gazing at where it had been in stunned dismay.

Two threats coming back-to-back, sure took a hit in their mental.

Win commented, "Oh boy... two for one. Great deal."

DGP Rules: An Archiflora can explode, with a force capable of killing Ace.