A Rider Kick in Marvel Rewrite Vol 2 Ch 87

Ace's gaze swept across the ballroom, taking in the devastation left in the wake of the Quirk extraction. He saw the emptiness in the eyes of seasoned Pro Heroes, their faces etched with disbelief and vulnerability. But it was the sight of Class 1-A that twisted his gut.

Even these aspiring heroes, with their bright futures seemingly assured, were now shells of their former selves. Bakugo, typically a volcano of explosive energy, stood frozen, his usual sneer replaced with a mask of silent shock. Uraraka, normally radiating warmth and optimism, looked utterly deflated, as if someone had drained the very air from her lungs. The loss was palpable.

Shoji, whose Dupli-Arms had been a source of both strength and reassurance, struggled to control his limbs, his extra arms twitching uselessly. He moved like someone relearning to walk, his usual coordination vanished. And it wasn’t just the Emitter-types. Even those with Mutant Quirks were affected, their bodies unresponsive. Tsuyu, normally agile and frog-like, couldn't extend her tongue. Ashido's acid refused to secrete. It was like watching a vibrant tapestry unravel, thread by thread.

Izuku, though visibly shaken, seemed to fare the best of the group, likely a byproduct of his training, but he had a look of dread on his face.

He needed to act, to salvage what he could of this disaster. Ace moved quickly, scanning the crowd for Asahi, weaving between dazed heroes and petrified civilians. He spotted the youth near the edge of the room, staring blankly at his hands.

"Asahi, are you alright?" Ace asked, his voice sharp with concern.

Asahi looked up, his eyes unfocused. "I… I don't know," he mumbled, his voice barely audible above the rising panic. "Something's gone. Like… something got stolen from me. I felt it just now. My head's all fuzzy." He continued to stare at his hands, a flicker of panic in his eyes.

Nearby, Melissa watched the unfolding chaos, her face a mixture of disbelief and horror.

Impossible, Melissa thought, her mind racing to reconcile what she knew about Quirks with what she was witnessing. Quirks were genetic, inherent. Could they truly be… taken?

Ace shared her disbelief. This shouldn't be possible. Not even All For One can do this on such a massive scale. A disturbing thought occurred to him. Unless All For One is involved.

Above the rising murmur of the crowd, Dr. Momochi's voice cut through the confusion, now laced with triumph. "Excellent. Everything is proceeding exactly as planned." He adjusted his glasses, a sinister glint in his eye.

Momochi turned toward a figure at the edge of the stage, his voice taking on a mocking tone. "Isn't that right, All Might?"

Every head in the ballroom swiveled toward the figure, expecting to see the familiar, muscular form of the Symbol of Peace. But what they saw was… wrong. A gaunt, almost skeletal man stood there, his frame frail, his eyes sunken. The man was nothing like the All Might everyone knew.

A wave of confusion washed over the crowd. Whispers of "Who is that?" and "What's going on?" rippled through the room.

Momochi chuckled, reveling in the mounting bewilderment. "Don't you recognize him? This… shell… is the true form of your beloved Symbol of Peace. The mighty All Might!"

A collective gasp swept through the ballroom. The revelation hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.

The skeletal man flinched, his eyes widening in distress. "Damn it!" he spat, his voice raspy with exertion. "I didn't want anyone to see me like this!" He clutched at his chest, a desperate plea in his eyes. "I am the Symbol of Peace! I have to maintain this image!"

Melissa stumbled backward, her hand flying to her mouth. Uncle Might? This whole time… Her eyes darted between the skeletal figure and her father, a sense of betrayal crashing over her.

Ace cursed under his breath, the implications of this reveal hitting him like a physical blow. All Might's secret… exposed like this?

"Momochi, why?" the skeletal man croaked, his voice barely a whisper. "Why are you doing this?"

Momochi simply smirked, adjusting his glasses. "I am merely fulfilling my purpose, All Might. Completing my mission." His tone dripped with fanaticism, his gaze never leaving the Symbol of Peace. "To unify this world, to bring order under the benevolent rule of our great leader."

All Might's eyes narrowed, a spark of defiance igniting within their depths. "Your leader? Who is he? Is it… All For One?" He struggled to stand straighter, his skeletal frame trembling with the effort. The mere thought of his nemesis pulling the strings sent a shiver down his spine.

Momochi tilted his head, a gesture that spoke volumes. "I have no need to answer your questions, Symbol of the Past." He spread his arms wide, surveying the room with a dismissive sneer. "You have all outlived your usefulness. Your Quirks have served their purpose. Kurokage Troopers!" Momochi barked, his voice echoing through the sudden silence. "Eliminate them all! Leave no survivors!"

A wave of terror washed over the ballroom. The music died, the lights dimmed, and the air grew heavy with the scent of fear. Pro Heroes and civilians alike looked around in bewildered panic, their faces illuminated by the red glow of the Troopers' visors. The terror quickly turned to screams as the soldiers moved in unison, weapons drawn.

Even All Might, weakened and exposed, could only manage a feeble gesture of defiance. He tried to activate One For All, but the power wouldn't come. A hollow cough escaped his lips as he stumbled, his frail body unable to withstand the strain. It was over.

"Not if I can help it!" Ace roared, his voice cutting through the terror. I can't let this happen.

He knew he couldn't save everyone, but he had to try. He clenched his fists, channeling his resolve. "Dragreder! Volcancer!"

As if answering his call, the mirrored surfaces around the ballroom rippled and distorted. From behind the band, the full length of the windows, and even compact mirrors on the tables, Dragreder and Volcancer emerged, their forms a terrifying contrast to the elegance of the room. The crimson dragon roared, unleashing a torrent of flames, while the armored crab scuttled forward, its massive pincers snapping shut. The Kurokage Troopers were sent flying, their bodies crashing into tables and sending crystalware scattering across the floor.

Ace stood defiantly, his gaze locked onto Momochi. Dragreder’s fiery presence and Volcancer’s armored bulk were a stark contrast to the frightened faces of the partygoers, yet offered a sliver of hope in the ballroom’s now corrupted atmosphere.

Melissa watched Ace, her mind reeling. How could he summon those… those monsters? And the strength, the speed he possessed – it couldn’t be just skill. There was something more, something she couldn’t comprehend. Ace? What are you?

Momochi, however, remained unfazed. "So, Kamen Rider finally shows himself. I must confess, I expected you to interfere eventually. I commend your efficiency."

His words rippled through the room. Hesitation began to blossom, faces furrowing with doubt. They looked from the monstrous dragon to the young man they had been getting to know on I-Island, to the heroes and villains, unsure whom to trust.

"But," Momochi continued, his voice taking on a hard edge, "your meddling ends here. You are a threat to our grand design, Kamen Rider. And threats… must be eliminated."

With a practiced motion, Momochi reached inside his coat and produced a white and black device, attaching it to his waist with a metallic click. It was a Genesis Driver, identical to the one Ace had secured in Helheim.

He really was working with Dai-Shocker, Ace thought grimly, realizing this had been the plan all along. He wasted no time, mirroring Momochi's actions. From within his own coat, he produced a Genesis Driver, securing it around his own waist.

"I know all about your little break-in at our facility, Rider," Momochi said, his voice laced with malice. "Stealing those Genesis Drivers. You thought you could use our technology against us? How foolish." A cold smile stretched across his face. "I assure you, I am more than capable of defeating you, even with your stolen toys."

Ace simply smirked. "We'll see about that." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a familiar object, a Lockseed glowing with a vibrant citrus hue.

[Lemon Energy]

Momochi's eyes narrowed as he produced his own Lockseed, a crimson-and-black fruit pulsating with draconic energy.

[Dragon Fruit Energy]

Above them, two armored fruits manifested in shimmering light. One pulsed with a sharp, geometric pattern evoking the facets of a lemon, while the other throbbed with reptilian power, scales glinting like obsidian.

With a synchronized motion, they brought the Lockseeds to their belts.

[Lock On]

"Henshin!" Ace shouted, his voice echoing through the sudden silence.

"Henshin…" Momochi replied, a dark whisper escaping his lips.

The lemon and dragon fruit plunged down, enveloping them in a torrent of crackling energy. As the light faded, two new figures emerged, clad in battle armor.

Ace stood as Kamen Rider Duke, his armor a sleek combination of silver and cobalt blue. A segmented lemon-like crest adorned his helmet, and light patterns radiated from his chestplate, signifying the energy output. His weapon, the Sonic Arrow, materialized in his hand, its design reflecting the streamlined elegance of the Genesis Driver.

Across from him stood Kamen Rider Tyrant. His armor was a menacing indigo, overlaid with black dragon-scale plating and gold accents. A tattered, cloak-like cape billowed behind him, while the serrated maw of his helmet emitted an ominous red glow. His chest gem pulsed with crimson energy, betraying the power coursing through him.

The ballroom was stunned into silence. Every eye was glued to the two armored figures, the air crackling with anticipation.

Melissa's mind was spinning. Ace? Kamen Rider? It was too much to process. The kind, sometimes goofy guy who worked at Starry, who made her laugh and encouraged her dreams… he was a warrior capable of wielding such incredible power? It can't be…