Perhaps For Love, Or Maybe Justice (A Tokusatsu/Magical Girl Quest)

Himari seems to analyze the new combatants with a discerning eye. Any calculations or estimations that you could be making are probably well outclassed by hers: she's much less out of practice than you are, after all.

Himari cracks her knuckles one last time, before looking Archfiend directly in the eyes, hands behind her back. "Eh, who am I kidding with the theatrics? This should be quick. You'll be easy pickings for someone like me."

The Archfiend seems to consider whether he should respond, before closing his eyes, and scoffing. "AND WHY'S THAT, CHILD?"

Himari grins without amusement, and you can immediately tell exactly what she's going for. "I mean, if your Lady was so weak to be defeated by some no-name grunts, you shouldn't be that much stronger than her…"

Cheshire_V
> A fellow instigator, it seems

Archfiend's eyes shoot open, turning from yellow to red! "YOU LITTLE FU—"

And everything bursts into chaos. The armored Archfiend crouches for a split-fraction of a millisecond, before bursting into motion. He jumps through the air and lunges at Himari, any poise and tactful stances abandoned for pure, brute force in one swing.

A lot of things then start to happen in a few seconds, and even with your enhanced perception in this state it's hard to keep up. You duck out of the way, spear now summoned to your hand. Meanwhile, Himari easily dodges and weaves her way out of the slash, the claymore just inches away from taking off her head and landing into the floor. The floor almost seems to crumble underneath the weight of the slash, but thankfully doesn't fully break. She takes out her hands from behind her back— they're glowing purple.

While Archfiend is enraged, Himari just looks vaguely amused at best. "You know, you really shouldn't have let me distract you from my coding."

She then looks over at you, as you quickly dodge out of the way of a chandelier that falls into the ground with a sudden crash!

"Yo Rei, can I borrow your move?

Both of the demonic servants from the stairs jump through the air aiming at you, and you just barely catch a kitchen knife that the green one throws at you. "Sure! Do it! If it helps us not die!"

"Sweet! Enabling Code: Disable!"

Himari raises her hands up and plants her feet into the ground, and Archfiend just barely has the time to put his greatsword into a guard. Himari punches anyways, purple lightning and pixels sparking from the impact. Your eyes are blinded, as both Archfiend's greatsword and armor-body are completely wasted, the carefully forged metal of both weapons crumbling into themselves. A quick clank is all you manage to hear, as Himari's power warps reality itself and outputs way more force than a girl of her age should be able to.

The force from the punch and the carefully placed lightning launch Archfiend back across the room, with him flying straight into a stairwell, leaving a crater in the wall.

[COOL]

Himari dusts off her hands, before looking at you in alarm. "Rei! Dodge!"

As you spin your head back to focus on the fight, the green maid yanks her knife out of your still-clasped hands, before viciously slashing at you.

She isn't even speaking or making any expressions… like some sort of killing machine.

Red_I
>No… she doesn't even look like she's breathing!

The Red Queen's observation sets off at least five different alarm bells in your head, all of which are drowned out by pure assassin instinct telling you to move your head to the right. You jump away from an incoming attack, as the pink maid throws a metallic serving platter so hard that it flies across the room and gets lodged into a wall behind you, splitting a wooden beam.

The green maid just shakes her head, before punching the wall next to her. You hear something click as a segment of the wall is pushed in, but you don't know what it means.

In the span of time that it takes for all that to happen, the Archfiend pulls himself out of his crater in the wall. The armor that makes up his body is a bit bent now, but what's really notable is his claymore. As he lifts it up to take a look, you see pixelated cracks spreading along the length of the weapon, most likely from Himari's power. He throws the claymore into the ground; and simply starts to run in a dead sprint.

The Archfiend should not be able to run towards you, nor should he be able to move that fast for something so heavy and large; the laws of physics and basic common sense forbid it, he's about ten feet tall. But as he jumps through the air once again, now-outstretched silver wings blocking the light of another chandelier, something clicks in your mind.

Rabbit_III
>Both logic and physics are on break today, aren't they?

He lands in front of you, and it dawns upon you how large the Archfiend is. He reaches out with a gloved hand the size of your thigh, but you and Himari manage to dodge out of the way

He turns to you, and as you see him lock his reddened gaze on you, something in you shivers. A primal instinct tells you to brace instead of dodge— you can't run away from this next one.

"IT SEEMS THAT THIS SHALL BE A DUEL INSTEAD OF A BRAWL, CHILD IN PURPLE. ARIANNA, ARIANE!"

The maids jump over and land right in front of you, but as you cross your arms into a block, you realize that they aren't here to hit you— not yet.

Without anymore words to say, the Archfiend lifts his leg up to about stomach level, and then stomps the floor in one smooth, powerful motion. The ground beneath you starts to feel less like concrete and more like jelly for a second, before you get launched through the air. You try to spread your arms to stop your sudden aerial spin, but your world explodes into pain and wood as your body collides against what you think are walls.

As you land on the floor face first, you quickly get to your feet and look up. You're in a different room now, same as all the other ones that replaced the apartments. Problem is, you aren't in the same room as Himari anymore. You squint, before recolling back as both maids seem to appear out of thin air from the wall.

Shit…!

Hearts_II
>Use our powers! And MOVE!

You don't have to be told twice! You reach into whatever pocket dimension/hammerspace/whatever that your stuff gets sent to when you become a Rider, and grab the card with the M∀LICE girls on it as you dodge another knife throw.

You slam the card into your belt, and silently pray.

Change! Link!

Overlay— Wonderland!

You'd best take care of her, otherwise I have a feeling we're all going down together.

DorMous_III
>Don't worry, we'll be fine. Just trust us!

Red_I
>Everyone, on me!

Power flows into you as both maids close in on you, knife, silverware, and trident in hand. You take a deep breath, and as light bursts out from your armor, catch both of their wrists in your hands, before throwing them against the wall. As the light subsides, you take a moment to appreciate your new form.

The same decorative neon tubes and screens from Himari's outfit run up and down your arms, but they're glowing red instead. You crack your neck, and distantly note that you've got a red hoodie decorated with hearts on, which is worn over your white armor right now. Cool.

Hearts_II
>Classic VR and streetwear fashion, combined with some knightly armor. My pick for kicking butt in style!

The maids pull themselves off the floor, and as you clear away the smoke to get a better view, you manage to confirm Hearts' earlier theory: they're both already dead. The way they get up is inhuman— both of them practically shamble to their feet, and their eyes don't have any light left.

Good. Now you don't have to hold back anymore!

You flip off your hood, and hit a peace sign with your other hand. "Now, I'll burn bright against your consuming darkness… and I'll kick you two back into the grave, now!"

The dead stay dead. The living stay alive.

As an assassin, you're just the person who makes sure they cross that border and stay there.

---

You are Himari Kuromi. You readjust the goggles on the top of your head, and get into another fighting stance. You don't know where Rei is, but you know damn well she can handle herself alone.

The metallic Archfiend towers over you, almost double your size. It seems to almost be taunting you just by standing there. "DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT YOU CAN INSULT MY LADY'S HONOR AND LIVE FOR THAT?"

You almost wish your Magical Girl outfit still had your old face mask from back when you were with the Guild. It would make hiding your fear easier. You gulp down any doubts, and face the Archfiend's stare head-on. "It's basic tactics, y'know? Riling up your enemy. I read Arias's diary, by the way. She wouldn't have been proud of you right now. Puppeteering corpses and taking a plea deal with your enemy in the hopes of doing the impossible."

The Archfiend seems to drop into silence. For once, as he grabs his still-cracked claymore, his air of menace seems to drop a bit, the veneer of terror peeling away to reveal his own fears. "...it is what it is."

You gear up for your next move. Even with his claymore being cracked by your Codes, he'll still have time to get in one free swing. You'll have to make this count. If only you had someone else to help…

(Labrynth Labyrinth Complex, d100, DC 20)
(d100+17=87. Success! DC rises to 30.)

Purrson helps…(Labrynth Labyrinth Complex, d100, DC 30)
54+20+30 (Already Seen These Halls)=104. Great Success!

Suddenly, you hear a sound from behind. A woman in a black kimono seems to fly into the room, ending her jump and hitting the floor with a boom. As you look closer, you see the white cat perched on her shoulder. There's only one person that can be.

The woman lifts up her bamboo hat, which is painted in a piercing black. It's Akemi!

"Hey. Missed me?"

(Akemi Perception Check, d100)
(d100=2. Critical Fail! A trap is triggered!)

The Archfiend lifts his arm and flicks his hand. "NO, ACTUALLY." In an instant, a barrage of flying knives pop out from the wall, and skewer Akemi in the gut, Dio-style. Ouch. She'll be ok… you think.

You feel a bead of sweat drop down your forehead. "Seriously, man?"

"I'VE HAD WELL ENOUGH OF WOMEN WITH SWORDS FOR ONE LIFETIME ALREADY."

---

You are Rei Maruki, and you are doing pretty well, all things considered. The Malice girls and their snazzy outfit doesn't seem to have come with a convenient weapon like with Atry, but you're throwing hands pretty well.

You dodge another trident throw from Green (you honestly aren't even bothering with remembering their names) by nonchalantly leaning your head to the side. Pink reaches out a hand, and the trident returns from the wall-- but you duck, and sweep her off of her feet before punching her into the wall.

You get back up to your feet, and grin madly. "Please. I've fought children better than both of you combined!"

Both of the maids just stare at you, absolutely nothing in their eyes. At least looking at Himari feels like she's paying attention to you. These two probably barely even register your presence.

Cheshire_V
>Just move dumbass banter doesn't do shit if they don't get tilted

DorMous_III
>Keep hustling and focus on the fight rn.

Pink snaps her fingers, and an orange stove with eyes (>wait what?) pops out from a wall. It sucks in oxygen, and turns to you, a fierce glare in its eyes.

Oh hell no. You dash over and immediately grab it and throw it across the room. It crashes into the wall, and explodes, hitting both you and the maids with hot coals. Ow!

Rabbit_IV
>Of course it explodes! Why wouldn't it?

Red_I
>Rei. Focus. Here, I'll lend you some of my power.

You take a step back to regain your composure and dodge as Pink tosses a fork and knife past your head. You then close your eyes. Next up…

A strange mixture of electricity and light courses down the right sleeve of your hoodie, and you point that arm at your enemies. Out of sheer instinct, you know this attack's range will be a cone— so you point it at Green, who's a bit closer now.

The voices of the Malice girls seem to fade to a whisper, as what would normally have to be implicit directions fades into a newly imprinted piece of muscle memory. You make a fist, ground your feet— and release! A beam of purple shoots out of your opened palm, hitting Green in the chest. Then, what seems like a random flurry of pixels fly past you, turning into air slashes that hit Green and a flurry of leaves that hit Pink. Nice!

The two servants stagger back, before one of them thrusts out an arm. Something clicks from the walls, and the trap that Green set earlier springs into motion, sending out a barrage of flying knives that nick your arms and hood. Argh… hopefully, Himari's doing better.

---

You are Himari Kuromi. And right now, you are ducking your head oh god—

You barely dodge your way out of yet another claymore swing, and barely catch a downwards fist. "Hey man, seriously! You're really gonna get hurt if you keep fighting against us! We're all very well trained, and no offense, but, uh…"

Archfiend looks at you expectantly, and that's when you realize that you've run out of banter. Uh oh.

A backhand that you almost aren't able to block almost tears something in one of your arms, but you just manage to stop yourself from falling on your butt. You manifest holographic keyboards once again, and start typing up another Code. There has to be something...

Archfiend swings again, just barely clipping your goggles as you lean back and fall over. "They are my family. If I give up against the likes of YOU, I wouldn't be a very good family member, would I?"

Archfiend pulls the claymore out of the ground for a follow-up attack, and you see your own reflection in the blade--

*CLINK*

--but all of a sudden, something blocks the weapon?!

As you scotch back, you see it clearly. It's Akemi, grinning like a madwoman and parrying Archfiend's attack like it's nothing using her black blade. "Y'know, it's been a few years since I got an actual fight in. Closest thing was some sword training I've been doing with Purrson."

"...WHY DO YOU REMIND ME OF SOMEONE?"

She elegantly weaves through another barrage of slashes, before jabbing Archfiend in the stomach with the blunt end of her sword. She ducks again, and looks back at you for a second. "Hey would you mind taking point for me? I don't think I'll be able to take another attack while I'm charging up my finisher, Himari." She then immediately focuses back on Archfiend, taking a huge blow while you rest on the floor.

Your breath catches in your throat. "Taking point" would mean taking a hit from that claymore. Can you really do that? You always depended on someone else to do the actual "direct" part at this point in the mission. You were just the girl in the chair, the person who was coordinating all the operations. You're not some fighter.

For a second, even the most traitorous thought passes through your head. You could just run. There's nothing stopping you... just the life of some enigma that you learned about today. It's not like you have anything to give up your life for anymore.

Then, you feel something on your shoulder. It's Purrson. "Kuromi."

"Huh?"

"Stop looking at the floor and wallowing in your own misery. Look forward."

You do just that-- and you see Akemi fighting against Archfiend. She's got... a knife still in her gut. And she's still fighting? How?!

Purrson's voice was already deep before, but now it sounds somewhat authoritative. "I know what you're going through-- Akemi went through it too! You can't just be ok with fulfilling the role the Guild forced you into! Akemi's no cleaner, she's Kaneko Akemi! She loves calligraphy, reading, and can't touch tech for crap. And you're no hacker, you're Himari Kuromi! You've got a knack for anime, a refreshingly blunt tone, and a great smile!"

"Don't be afraid! Get up there, listen to the morality I know you have, defend Rei's best friend, and believe in yourself! And if you can't believe in yourself just yet, think about all the people who believe in you! Are you going to die here, so unfulfilled and without purpose?! You can't! Get up!!"

You almost are taken aback by Purrson's tone as he hops off your shoulder and nudges you forward. But something in his words... reminds you of someone.

---

"Himari! What are you gonna do, give up just because it's your body being worked instead of your mind?!"

"I... I don't even know what I want to do, aside from hacking. What happens when all this is done, Hanzo? What happens?"

"You don't need to think about those questions right now! You need to stop overthinking everything! Get out of your own head, and we can make it through! You can get up one more time, can't you?!"

---

You grit your teeth, and get back up to your feet, and burst forward in a dash of motion. As Archfiend gears up for another strike, your fingers move faster than ever. You speed up your own hands, muttering code activations underneath your own breath, before activating one more thing. "Hey, dumbass! Shut up about your family!"

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"

"I said what I said! You're fighting for the people you love, that's fine! But so am I! You're not the only one here who has people they'd kill for!"

The Archfiend pauses-- it's momentary, almost blink and you'll miss it, but his eyes turn back from red to yellow. You take that momentary distraction to get into his space, as Akemi meets your eyes and dashes into the shadows of the room.

He looks at you with his yellow eyes, and seems to pause. "I... I'll..."

For a second, he almost seems to stop his slash. You stare at him, desperate black meeting frantic yellow. But then, another figure bursts through the wall, along with the two maids. You recognize that bug-eyed visor. It's Rei!

Both of the maids crash down, dropping down to the floor like puppets with their strings cut. They bleed from their heads, clearly dead. Archfiend's eyes change back to red. His voice is tinged with desperation now. "I have to get the people I love back, even if it means taking this entire place into the Void. Stop taking them from me! Stop!"

He's... like you.

He jumps up, and drops into a dive aiming right towards Akemi and Rei. He raises his claymore over his head, screaming. You jump into the air, as Rei and Akemi put their hands up into a block. As he swings his claymore down, you put your hands forward, and fully activate the Code you prepared earlier-- a barrier of light, surrounding your body. Gritting your teeth, you block the claymore by headbutting it, proving your grit with actions instead of words this time. The power of your Codes reflects the sword off, and Archfiend is knocked back.

"Akemi! Now!"

From below, as you fall through the air, you see Akemi dash forth from the shadows. Power almost emanates from her body, shadows blotting out the light of the chandeliers. She grabs the handle of her sword-- and pulls.

What you see can't easily be described as a slash. As the sword comes out, it's like a black line is drawn in your vision. It goes from the bottom to the top of everything you perceive, right before turning towards Archfiend. It goes right through him-- and then, all of a sudden, he just drops. His wings seem to droop downward, and he falls to the floor.

---

You are Rei Maruki. The Archfiend falls down, at least 300 pounds of pure metal hitting the floor with a huge thud. As the cloud of dust gets kicked up, you feel the killing intent from the Void drop away. As you brush away the dust, you see what Akemi just did as she lands down on the floor after the Archfiend does.

The mysterious Labyrnth is... peeling away. The glass chandeliers and furniture of the mysterious mansion seems to peel away like cheap wallpaper. Behind the black tear in the world that Akemi made with her slash, you see the dull grey walls of Rensoku Apartments. The two maids' bodies dissolve away, into black dust. And behind all that dust, you see the Archfiend, getting up one more time. Somehow, he seems calmer now. His eyes have returned to yellow, and when he speaks, there isn't nearly as much animosity behind his words.

"You all reminded me... of someone I used to know. Girl with goggles. Stranger in armor. And you, with that world-rending sword. I can tell that you were all just like that knight, who would always give us something to look forward too. I am not disappointed about this loss. It is simply what heroes do, defeating people like me. Once I am gone, all the residents of this building will come back. Do take care of them for me."

Himari seems... sad, almost? Huh."You just wanted to have your family back, and you were willing to even work with the people who caused their deaths to get them back. I would have done the same thing in your position... I'm no hero."

Purrson leaps onto Himari's shoulder, gently comforting her. As he does, the Archfiend turns to you and Akemi. "If that's what you think. I personally believe you two are like HER, but it's fine. What do you see yourself as? Do you want to be a hero? And fight people like me?"

(This decision will be remembered over the duration of the entire quest. Choose wisely.)

[ ] [Are You?] "I've never really thought about it before. But I'll… be a hero."
-Rei will accept the title of Kamen Rider, with all the pain and heart it implies.
-Rei will gain the trait [A Monster And A Hero].
-Rei will learn to bear the suffering of others with a smile, one day. But she will accept that she will never be normal.

[ ] [Are You?] "I'm not. Not yet. But one day."
-Rei will call herself a Kamen Rider. BUT if asked, she'll specify that she's a "Kamen Rider in training".
-Rei will gain the trait [Searching For A Light].
-Rei will seek to become a better person than she was in her past, always moving forwards. However, she may become blind to what she learned from before…

[ ] [Are You?] "No, that's not who I am. But I've still got people I want to keep safe."
-Rei will NOT call herself a Kamen Rider. She'll call herself a "Masked Warrior" or a "Striker", but not a Kamen Rider.
-Rei will gain the trait [A Monster That Still Seeks Kindness].
-While she may not be accepted by either Secret Society, she will become much more resistant to manipulation or any attempts to sway her from the path she's chosen.

[ ] [Are You?] (Write-in?)
-(What would Rei say here?)
-(This will likely be in one of the above categories, but Rei's personality and new Trait will differ.)

Akemi nods, and gives a similar answer to yours in turn.

The Archfiend closes his eyes. Yellow fades back into black. "...That's a good answer. It reminds me of... hm."

The glass cracks further. The Archfiend gets to his feet, eyes still closed. "And one last thing. I never got your name. That's on me. I should… respect you by committing that to memory at least."

"It's Himari Kuromi."

[ ] [A Name] "…I used to be known as Operative Roze. Just call me Roze."
[ ] [A Name] "It's Rei. Just call me that."
[ ] [A Name] If we ever meet again, I hope that you'll remember me as… (Write-In)
(This name will be added to whatever title Rei decides to take. So if you pick Roze and "be a hero", she'll be Kamen Rider Roze.)

The Archfiend nods, armored helmet dropping down to his chest. "...I know what you three reminded me of now. You reminded me of my family. Live strong, all of you. Fight for what you really believe in." You see Himari reach out with her hand, but she can't get close enough. Akemi places a hand on your shoulder, head bowed.

You hear the sound of a slash, a slash impossibly twenty seconds late, and then-- the Archfiend falls to the ground, perfectly bisected into two halves. His armor drops onto the floor with a mighty thud, before fading away, leaving only dust and a small glowing core.

The illusion breaks, the glass shatters away, and all that's left of the Labyrnth is the damaged boiler room of Rensoku Apartments.

Himari lets out a breath she doesn't seem to have realized she was holding, as her outfit, screens, goggles and all, fades away back into nothingness. "...I'm tired now. It's been a long few hours."

Rabbit_IV
>...I just realized that the day hasn't even gotten halfway through yet.

You close your eyes, and look up at the ceiling. This is your life now.

It's fine. Fine. Out of everyone on Earth, somebody had to be special. Somebody had to draw the short straw.

Hearts_II
>…What a maddening life we'll be living from now on.

---

[ ] [Loot] Grateful Farewelcome
[ ] [Loot] An Archfiend's Armor

---

Author's Note:
We're back on our usual once per week for both quests update schedule! No more edgy pfp! Now for some rambles.

I will likely be halving the EXP you can get from writing Omakes, in exchange for letting you apply EP to certain rolls outside of the week planning phase. Break Down did its job as a great early game boost though, and I'm glad for that. It'll take you a while to get to level 5, but it'll be worth it then.

Next update is going to be shorter, and encompass both your next two level ups and the Trademark Kamen Rider Motorcycle. After that, with the next update, we get into the actual bulk of Arc 1 with Week 1 planning, and that'll be the end of the Prologue.

Archfiend was meant to have a cool second phase at 20 health, where he regained his health and you 1v1d him while he dissed you about being a killer. But then Akemi had her moment, so that one went down the drain. Ah well. Next time!

And of course, it'd be remiss to bring this quest back without catching up on something I should have done a good while back— shoutouts!

My good friend @ThaTrueRealmWalk started their first quest, The Booksworn Beacon. We don't know much about the story they're planning to tell yet, but they've already made some great art for the quest!

Also, it'd be nice to have the entire Remnant of Arcadia group in one place again. If you know you know. 😉

Happy voting heroes— it's great to be doing this again!

Oh hey I'm early to this! Nice!

Thank you for the wonderful shout out Kermie! Oh and here is a gift from me to you!