The battle begins (open)

[darknight-rider.livejournal.com]

It seemed like any other day. Ren grabbed Darkwing’s mirror and headed off to the Sensoriums to fight. No particular reason—he never needed one. Without thinking twice about it, he set up a battle against a swarm of Hydragoons--not an overwhelming swarm, but just enough for a good challenge. There was just one little problem.

He’d never seen a Hydragoon before. Not in the time he’d originally come from.

Without even taking out the Survive card, Ren held out his deck and shouted, “Henshin!” immediately transforming into Survive Form. Beside him, Darkwing changed forms to Darkraider; if the Contract Monster found anything strange about the situation, it wasn’t letting Ren know. Instead, it flew overhead, attacking the Hydragoons in the air while Ren pulled out his sword and ran toward the ones nearest the ground.

(OOC: Due to the wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey that is Kamen Rider Ryuki, Ren is currently reliving different iterations of the canon, currently the movie, Episode Final. He isn’t yet physically de-aging, but his memories of the events of the series have been overwritten with events of the movie. The effects of the Melting Clock will not be obvious for a little while)

Comments

[twilit-midna.livejournal.com]

Well, what do you know? Midna's never seen a Kamen Rider, but she thinks she knows a hero type when she sees one. So she's more than happy to barge right into the middle of the fight, using her trademark black and orange field magic to attack a few of the Hydragoons.

"Hey, mind if I play, too?"

[darknight-rider.livejournal.com]

Ren risked a quick look behind him to see that Midna was doing all right. It meant a Hydragoon nearly divebombed him, but he cut it down with his sword.

"Go ahead," he said. It wasn't like this was a private party--just a training session to keep his skills sharp.

[twilit-midna.livejournal.com]

"Eee hee hee, how generous of you to share." Midna dissolved into a cloud of dark bubbles as a Hydragoon charged her, reforming once it had safely flown past.

"So, do you have a name? Or should I assign you one?"

[darknight-rider.livejournal.com]

Another quick slash blew up a Hydragoon next to him, and as the smoke and fire cleared, he answered, "Akiyama Ren. Or Kamen Rider Knight, whichever."

Three more Hydragoons were coming at them, and he managed to destroy one before the other two flew over the reach of his sword.

[twilit-midna.livejournal.com]

"Ren? Aww, that's kinda cute." She hovered up a little higher, batting one of the Hydragoons out of the air hard with her ponytail. This was pretty realistic for a simulation.

"I like your little sword, by the way." It reminded her of someone.

[darknight-rider.livejournal.com]

Ren didn't answer, instead selecting a card from his deck and sliding it into the reader on his arm.

[Trick Vent]

Two copies of Knight Survive split off from him, each brandishing a sword. The three went in separate directions, cutting through Hydragoons as they buzzed overhead.

[twilit-midna.livejournal.com]

"Eee hee hee... ignoring a lady? Not very gentlemanly of you."

Midna pierced the shell of another Hydragoon with her hair, watching curiously as Ren pulled out his card. That was a nifty trick, splitting himself up like that. Magic, maybe?

[darknight-rider.livejournal.com]

Three more copies split off, and the six Knight Survives tore into the Hydragoons, taking care not to be caught in the explosions, which would destroy the solid illusions.

Hearing Midna's comment, the real Ren smirked underneath his mask and replied, "No one's ever accused me of being a gentleman before."

[twilit-midna.livejournal.com]

"Oh? My mistake, then. I saw the armor and the sword and figured you must be a hero-type."

She crushed another Hydragoon, not really trying now that there were six of Ren hard at work. "So, what are you, then? A villain?"

[memory-hax.livejournal.com]

Phillip rarely went to the Sensoriums but today was one of those days that he felt like he should. Noticing Ren had already arrived, he paused to watch Ren's attack run, admiring his skill. It wasn't to say that Phillip wasn't well versed in the martial arts, but he knew Ren liked to be alone during these fights.

So, sitting down on a nearby bench, he watched Ren's technique.

[darknight-rider.livejournal.com]

Ren barely noticed Phillip's presence, owing mostly to the fact that he was in the air now, standing on Darkraider's back as the Contract Monster blasted energy blades at the Hydragoons while Ren kept fired with his Shoot Vent. A brief glance down let him see that Phillip was there, but with no Hydragoons going after the other Rider, Ren didn't let himself worry about him. Instead, he simply fired on the next two Hydragoons above him.

[memory-hax.livejournal.com]

Ren was as usual, well versed in any form of combat, something that did make Phillip feel a touch inadequate at times but otherwise all right with the world.

The monsters he had never seen before, but Phillip figured he'd check them out later.

A low electronic squeal came from the other side of him, and he looked down. "Fang?"

The Fang Memory nodded at him, making its cry. Phillip chuckled. "You want me to join in, is that what you're saying?"

It nodded and Phillip laughed lightly. "I guess its safe enough. All right then, come Fang!"



Hopping into his hand, he twisted it around, locking the Memory into its device form and clicking the button.

[darknight-rider.livejournal.com]

Hearing Phillip join the battle, Ren fired off another few shots at an approaching Hydragoon before leaping to the ground.

"Decided to join in?" he asked, still shooting.

[memory-hax.livejournal.com]

"Ah, something like that," said Phillip, moving to engage a Hydragoon as he pumped the tail once. "Fang Arm Blade!"

[darknight-rider.livejournal.com]

One of the good things about Survive form was that Ren didn't have to sacrifice cards nearly as much if he needed more than one weapon. As he continued shooting, he pulled the sword from the Visor, easily wielding both weapons.

Maybe too easy, now that he thought about it. Between himself and Phillip, this was going to become routine fast. Maybe it was time to add another challenge.

As he thought this, stormclouds filled the sky, and the roar of a dragon could be heard.

[memory-hax.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was speaking too soon as Phillip looked up and then looked at Ren. "Friend of yours?" he inquired quickly, steeling himself for the incoming fight.

[darknight-rider.livejournal.com]

The dragon breathed out a burst of black fire, and as the flames hit the ground, a Rider emerged, clad entirely in black (http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Kamen_Rider_Ryuga).

"You could say that," Ren answered grimly. "Kamen Rider Ryuga, Kido's mirror image."

With a threatening battle cry, Ryuga got into a fighting stance.

[andyallgrownup.livejournal.com]

Andy walked into the Sensorium only to see that it was already in use. Although, seeing the guy who was there turn into something similar to a Ranger probably meant these things would be a good thing to train against.

You know, provided that the other guy wanted him here, of course. He was already morphed into his Ranger form. He was going to wait to see what happened in this fight though.

Worse come to worse, he could always have some of that Zedd guys Putties appear.

[darknight-rider.livejournal.com]

Shooting the Hydragoons had turned out to be a lot easier than slashing at them, so Ren was firing energy arrows out of the Dark Visor Zwei on his arm. The Hydragoons had surrounded him, but with a few arrows each, he'd managed to thin the ranks, and their explosions took out even more.

Seeing Andy in Ranger form waiting, he called over, "Are you planning to join in or not?"

There was that whole lack of social skills thing again. It only got worse in a fight.

[andyallgrownup.livejournal.com]

Andy grinned beneath his helmet, materializing his staff as he charged forward. "Just wanted to wait until I was sure you wanted someone else in on this!"

[darknight-rider.livejournal.com]

The Hydragoons weren't happy to have company, and they began to swarm toward Andy as the ones near Ren got more aggressive. One grabbed him from behind, carrying him into the sky. Though Ren tried to shoot at it, the way he'd been grabbed kept him from getting a clear shot.

Managing to tear his other arm free, he reached for the deck on his belt and pulled out another card, scanning it through the Visor.

[Blust Vent]

Darkraider came over, the fans on its wings spinning wildly, generating whirlwinds. The twin tornadoes blasted away several of the Hydragoons, forcing the one carrying Ren to drop him.

Landing safely on the ground, Ren pulled the sword from his Visor. He hated having to lose the Shoot Vent, but it wasn't like Kanzaki wanted to make anything about being a Kamen Rider easy.

[andyallgrownup.livejournal.com]

Andy swung his staff at the Hydragoons that came towards him, hitting a few of them in the head and knocking them away.

Only to have another one slam into his chest and send him stumbling back a bit.

[darknight-rider.livejournal.com]

Ren cut down two more Hydragoons before seeing Andy take the hit.

"Hey!" he called. "Are you all right?"

As it stood, he might have to downgrade the simulation or take a break. He'd been at it all day, purposely fighting a battle where he'd need Survive form. Now, he was running low on useful cards, and there were still too many Hydragoons for a Final Vent to do much.

[andyallgrownup.livejournal.com]

Andy nodded, making it to his feet. "Yeah, I'll be alright. These things are pretty tough though."

[darknight-rider.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Ren admitted. "I've only fought them twice--one on my own, and a swarm like this. Both were just as hard."

And the swarm had been the worst. He and Kido had flown right into it, knowing they would die but doing everything they could to deny it. They'd just had to survive long enough to fight each other, to finish the battle Kanzaki had set up. But they hadn't made it that far. In fact...

...That was strange. Ren couldn't seem to remember what had happened in that battle. He and Kido had fought the Hydragoons, both using Survive form. They were outnumbered by at least a thousand to one, more kept coming, and... Then nothing. Was that when Stacy had taken him?

It didn't matter. The more Ren lost focus, the more hits the Hydragoons were scoring against him.

"Darkraider!" he shouted.

Darkraider flew over, and Ren leapt onto his back. It made him a more tempting target, but it also meant he had an easier time hitting the Hydragoons.

"You take the ones near the ground."