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A Rider Kick in Marvel Rewrite Ch 88
🕑 Added 2025-05-11 14:24:59 +0000 UTCNico and Berto rush to Ace, who sits on the ground, breathing heavily. Dust motes dance in the single shaft of light slicing through the grimy warehouse.
"Ace! You okay?" Nico’s voice, usually sharp, holds a tremor.
Berto kneels beside him, eyes wide.
"Yeah, just a little… banged up," Ace manages, a weak smile tugging at his lips. His armor, once gleaming, is scratched and dented.
Ace notices Koji’s Advent Deck on the ground, amidst the shattered remains of the battle. Reaching down, he retrieves it, surprised by its unexpected weight. A slight smell of ozone, like after a lightning strike, lingers around the smooth, dark plastic casing.
Holding the Advent Deck in his grasp, a deep, guttural growl echoes throughout the warehouse. Shadows begin to stir and coalesce, and the dust motes in the air tremble with the force of something immense. Volcancer. The massive, humanoid crab slowly materializes from the darkness, its form becoming more defined with each passing moment.
Nico and Berto instinctively recoil, taking a step backwards, their faces reflecting a mixture of fear and uncertainty. But Volcancer doesn't immediately attack or lunge forward. Instead, it remains stationary, its enormous claws poised menacingly, its multifaceted eyes fixated on Ace.
Ace realises something. Volcancer's contract card is in the Advent Deck, so now he can control Volcancer.
Ace raises the Advent Deck towards Volcancer. "Volcancer, stand down, now. Return to the Mirror World where you belong. And this time, you are forbidden from attacking people."
Volcancer's shell clicks, a subtle sound that speaks volumes. Disappointment hangs heavy in the air, like the dust motes settling on the cracked concrete. But obedience overrides all else. With a final, almost hesitant movement, the gigantic crab heads to a mirror and enters the Mirror World, leaving only the faint scent of brine.
Nico and Berto let out simultaneous breaths. Relief washes over them, palpable as the sudden silence in the echoing warehouse.
"Thank you, Ace," Nico whispers, her voice choked with emotion. "Again."
Berto nods, his eyes still wide.
"Don't mention it," Ace mutters, guilt twisting in his gut. "Sorry you got dragged into this..."
"It's not your fault," Nico protests, her hand resting briefly on his arm. "That… detective was a total creep."
Berto offers a gruff agreement, "Yeah, a real piece of work." He helps Ace to his feet.
They leave Ace to his thoughts, the silence punctuated only by their retreating footsteps. But as they go, a faint, almost imperceptible glow emanates from within Nico's amulet, a flash of light unnoticed in the cavernous warehouse. A secret pulse in the dust-filled air.
Ace eyes the darkness, the spot where Scissors disappeared, and a chill crawls up his spine. He shoves the Advent Deck in his pocket. Dai-Shocker is getting bolder.
Berto claps Ace on the shoulder, a little too hard, trying to shake off the tension. "Right, well, that was… intense. How about we get some pizza? My treat!" He offers a weak grin, his eyes still holding a flicker of the fear from before.
Ace shakes his head. "Nah, I'm paying. You two deserve it." He knows pizza won't erase what happened, but a small gesture is a start.
Nico nods slowly, her gaze fixed on Ace. "Okay, but extra cheese."
"Deal," Ace smiles.
They start for the exit, Berto chattering about toppings, Nico silent, her expression unreadable. Ace glances back one last time. The warehouse remains silent, dark, a tomb for secrets best left undisturbed. He walks a little faster to catch up with his friends.
Nico is about to check her necklace for a sign but before she can, Berto pulls her by the arm and says, "Come on, let's hurry up, I'm starving".
They leave the warehouse. Ace does not notice Nico's amulet glows faintly, nor does Berto.
A few days pass. The city sighs, holding its breath between battles. Ace finds a rhythm, a delicate balance. School, café, friends – a semblance of normalcy. No Grongi, no Mirror Monsters, just the quiet hum of ordinary life. He almost dares to relax. Almost.
At the precinct, Ace meets Yuri. "It was Koji. He was Scissors."
Yuri's face is a mask of shock. The betrayal cuts deep. "I… I don't understand. He seemed so…"
"He was good at pretending," Ace says grimly.
Yuri nods, her jaw tight. "I need to tell Captain Stacy."
Later that day, Ace learns the Captain tightened security, a wave of background checks sweeping through the NYPD. The air is thick with suspicion, trust fractured. Ace feels a pang of guilt.
Back at Pole Pole, the café is quiet, the lunch rush over. Sunlight streams through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Ace leans against the counter, a damp cloth in hand, polishing the already gleaming wood. The scent of coffee hangs heavy, comforting. Pops hums a tuneless melody in the kitchen.
It's peaceful. A rare moment of respite. Ace savors it, knowing the calm never lasts. The storm, he feels, is always coming. He only hopes he's ready.
Ace wipes the counter again, a useless gesture. He glances at the clock above the espresso machine. Seven minutes until the after-school crowd descends. Seven minutes of peace.
The bell above the door 🔔 CHIMES. Ace looks up, expecting a student eager for a caffeine fix, but his eyes widened. Standing in the doorway, shrouded in shadow, is Narutaki.
"Well, well, Ace Ukiyo," Narutaki says, stepping inside. His voice, as always, holds a strange mix of warmth and warning. "Fancy meeting you here."
Ace straightens, surprised. "Narutaki? What are you doing here?"
Narutaki removes his wide-brimmed hat, revealing a thin smile. "Just passing through. Thought I'd check on your progress." He gestures around the café. "Nice place you've got here. Cozy."
"It's home," Ace admits, a hint of defensiveness in his voice. "So, what brings you to New York?"
Narutaki walks to the counter, his gaze lingering on the framed photos behind it. "Business, of course. The multiverse never sleeps, you know." He leans closer to Ace. "But enough about me. Tell me, how have you been holding up? Growing stronger, I presume?"
Ace nods, a flicker of pride in his eyes. "I have. I've taken down a few Grongi, some Mirror Monsters. I even defeated Kamen Rider Scissors."
Narutaki raises an eyebrow, impressed. "Scissors, you say? A formidable opponent. And you managed to overcome him?"
"Yeah. It wasn't easy," Ace recalls the chilling moment when he had to fight Koji. "But I did what I had to do."
Narutaki chuckles softly. "Indeed. You have a knack for acquiring the powers of other Kamen Riders, don't you? An interesting ability. Quite useful, I imagine."
Ace tenses, wary of Narutaki's interest. "It's just something that happens."
Narutaki waves a dismissive hand. "Don't be modest. You're proving to be quite the asset, Ace Ukiyo. Which is why I'm here." He pauses, his expression turning serious. "I need your help."
Ace frowns. "My help? With what?"
"Dai-Shocker," Narutaki says, the name hanging heavy in the air. "They're invading another world. A world that needs a Kamen Rider."
Ace takes a step back, his mind racing. "Another world? I don't know, Narutaki. I've been doing everything that I can to stop what has been happening here."
"This is more than just this world, Ace. Dai-Shocker is a multiversal threat. They are an enemy of all worlds, and we need to stop them before it's too late."
Ace hesitates, his gaze drifting around the café. Pops is still humming in the kitchen, oblivious to the conversation. The posters of old movies on the wall seem to mock him with their ordinary stories. He has built a life here. Friends, a job, a place where he belongs. The thought of leaving, even for a short time, fills him with dread.
"How long would I be gone?" Ace asks, his voice barely a whisper.
"That's the tricky part," Narutaki admits. "Time moves differently between worlds. It's difficult to say for sure."
Ace shakes his head. "I can't just disappear. Not again. Not to Nico, not to Berto, and definitely not to Pops. They think I'm getting my life together."
He clenches his fists, the familiar fear gripping him. "I lost everything once before. I don't want to lose this too."
Narutaki studies him, his gaze softening slightly. "I understand your concerns, Ace. But you need to understand something, this is not a decision to take lightly." He sighs, stepping closer. "Trust me, Ace. Even if you were to stay in that other world for a year, it will only feel like a day, or even a few hours back here. You won't be gone long. I promise."
Ace looks up, hope flickering in his eyes. "You're sure?"
"As sure as I can be," Narutaki says. "I would not lie to you about something like this."
Ace hesitates for a moment longer, then nods decisively. "Okay. I'll do it. I'll help you."
A smile spreads across Narutaki's face. "Excellent. I knew I could count on you."
"But I need a few days," Ace says, his voice firm. "I need to settle things here. Tell my friends, make sure Pops is okay. I can't just vanish."
"Of course, of course," Narutaki says, waving a hand dismissively. "Take all the time you need. I'll be in touch when it's time to go." He turns to leave, pausing at the door. "And Ace? Thank you. You're doing the right thing."
Narutaki disappears into the street, leaving Ace alone with his thoughts. He stares out the window, watching the bustling city, his mind already on another world, another battle.
He has a few days. A few days to say goodbye, to make amends, to prepare for the unknown.
The bell above the door 🔔 CHIMES again. The after-school crowd begins to pour in, their laughter and chatter filling the café. Ace takes a deep breath, forcing a smile. He has a job to do.
He wipes the counter, a purpose now behind the action. He will be ready.
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Deja Vu ?
