[essenceoftriumph]

A young man in worn clothing makes his way over the paved hill, ignoring the looks he got from passerby. He was a traveler; one who had no definable home. And for the first time in several months he was returning to the large city area. His feet, although tough, were bound in wraps; his walking stick had carvings that sank deep into the bark and then rose again, weaved in intricate patterns around a chunk of amethyst that was wedged in a chink. He couldn't help but smirk at the sight of the city....it was nice to come back. After that...mess with nightmares, he decided he needed to return to the countryside, and appreciate the modest life for a while...and now here he was. "Heh....I'm already nostalgic."

[imagin-of-fear]

Sweet Dreams (@kamenridercoleos, essenceoftriumph, galevonianridermint)

[essenceoftriumph]

Shori ducked under the arc of the scythe, sitting back and letting the others have at Kyofu, occasionally getting a hit in with his walking stick now and then. 

[caucasus-reborn]

"I’ve been waiting to use this."  He’d hold out his hand, and the Hyper Zecter would materialize from time-space in it.  He’d then set it onto the left side of his belt.

"Now…to show you the fruits of my labor…all my training and tinkering with this….HYPER CAST OFF!”  He’d grab the horn and pivot it down. 'HYPER CAST OFF!'  Sparks of energy flew from the Hyper Zecter, striking parts of his armor as it changed, forming new parts over existing parts, until the transformation was complete.

'CHANGE HYPER BEETLE!'  The Coleos Zecter detached and re-attached to the right side of his belt as the transformation ended.  ”Now I’m going to show you how I’m a nightmare to you. HYPER CLOCK UP!”  He’d slap the top of the Hyper Zecter. 'HYPER CLOCK UP!'  And with that, he vanished from normal time.

[imagin-of-fear]

((OOC: Please stick to the posting order, Coleos-mun; The order is Coleos, Nightmare, Jenn/Fuu, Shori. Things might get confusing if everyone replies at once. Jen-mun, you’re next.))

"Your tricks aren’t going to help you, Rider!" Kyofu barked into the space where Coleos once resided. The Dark Rider waved a hand over his belt, activating the Module within, adorning his legs with crimson trimmings. 

"Clock Up."

CLOCK UP.

Kyofu whizzed by Fuu and Shori, knocking them down, then found himself a perch where he could observe his surroundings.

"Come out, Coleos. Nothing left now but to fight me! This is my final battle! Your final chance to prove to me that my being a Dark Rider is a wrongdoing! So where are you now!"

Kyofu was gathering energy in his center of mass and legs; the energy in his center was predicting the Golden Rider’s usual attack patterns…but the energy in his legs was just in case the Golden Rider had learned since ther last encounter. 

[tempestandtorrent]

"Agh!" Fuu was knocked on her back by Kyofu, quickly getting back to her feet. She saw something streak by—that was the Clock Up? Jen frowned, working the wind up around her. When they returned back to normal speed, she’d be ready.

[essenceoftriumph]

Shori sits up, rubbing the back of his head and sighing. Picking up his walking stick (which had been knocked out of his hands), he leaned on it. He really was out of place here. A beast made from fear, a speedster, a wind manipulator, and then there was him. For now, he'd sit back and watch. 

[imagin-of-fear]

Sweet Dreams (@kamenridercoleos, essenceoftriumph, galevonianridermint)

[imagin-of-fear]

The Nightmare leaped over to the Riders and his former contract holder, and began his assault.

The Dark Rider slashed at the wind Rider with his sickle, twirling as he slashed, aiming for Coleos with his large sword.

"I was close to achieving my goal. You Heroes have continued to interfere with my plans! So, with my final bit of strength, I’ll cut you down!"

[caucasus-reborn]

Seeing the sword come his way, he’d slap the side of his belt.  "Clock Up!" 'CLOCK UP!'  The belt would echo his words as he slipped into faster-than-light movement, and dashed under the blade to slam his fist into Kyofu’s gut.

After the blow was landed, he’d move around and come out of hyper-light movement as his belt exclaimed 'CLOCK OVER!'  ”You’ll have to be faster than that to hit me, Kyofu!”

[tempestandtorrent]

Kamen Rider Fuu ducked under the wide arc of the scythe. Stepping back, she withdrew her weapon, extending the blade. She disappeared in a white-and-green blur, rushing past Nightmare and thrust the blade into his back.

[essenceoftriumph]

Shori ducked under the arc of the scythe, sitting back and letting the others have at Kyofu, occasionally getting a hit in with his walking stick now and then. 

[imagin-of-fear]

Sweet Dreams (@kamenridercoleos, essenceoftriumph, galevonianridermint)

The Nightmare…was all he was. His contract torn from him, he was no longer an Imagin, nor was he a paradox. He had wrought havoc, and now was close to being nothing more than a memory. He had lain in wait for the right time to finally strike. The Riders’ guards were down.

"I am Kyofu…I am terror. If nothing else, these ‘heroes’ will remember the fear they felt in this battle. The fear of death."

"HENSHIN!"

A storm started to brew as the Dark Rider strode forward into the city for what he knew would be the last time. Even if he was victorious, his body was unstable.

The Dark Rider leaped into the air and kicked a large chunk out of  a building, crushing the unsuspecting people below. Those around the area fled in panic as Kyofu leaped down, brandishing his large black sword in one hand, and his mall silver sickle in the other.

[caucasus-reborn]

He wasn’t too far away when he heard the chunk of building hit the ground.  ”So…he’s finally here, huh?”  Running towards the scene, he’d yell out, "KYOFUU!!  COME OUT AND FACE ME!"  His Zecter buzzed around him before he held out his hand, feeling it land in his palm.  He’d bring it to the wrist brace on his right arm and place it, feeling it pivot into position as he yelled out, "HENSHIN!"

'HENSHIN!'  The armored suit formed up around him, and the Zecter would announce 'CHANGE BEETLE!' as the transformation ended with the eyes of his helmet flashing bright blue.  ”It’s time for this nightmare to end, Kyofu…and for you to die with it.”

[tempestandtorrent]

"Still as flashy as ever, I see!" Jen yelled to the dark Rider, adjusting her Gale Driver. "Even when you’re staring your own death straight in the face! You’ve got guts, at least!" The wind started blowing around her, funneling into the vents of the belt. "Henshin!" She ran forward as the wind collected around her in the transformation, stopping a few yards in front of Kyofu.

The Gale Driver let out a satisfied chirp as she now wore the white and green Galevonian armor. The compound eyes on the helmet flashed a bright pink, similar to the other Rider nearby. She cast a glance over at him. That gold sure was distinct, and she was fairly certain she’d never seen any Rider like that before. However, this was not the time for introductions. There was a menace that needed to be put down right in front of them.

[essenceoftriumph]

Shori shook his head, standing on the roof of a small flat nearby. "You always had a thing for showing off. You're such a ham." He chuckles, leaping down to street level and gesturing towards Kyofu with his walking stick. "It's not much, but I think this will be the last time you cause any trouble, friend. Speaking of, I went and got a few for you to play with." 

A grin spread across his face. "Now....let's begin, shall we?"

[essenceoftriumph]

Shori scratched out Phoenix's kanji on a piece of bark he had been carrying around. Seemed like he would have to make do with Jen and Masaru. The Phantom had lived up to his name; he was elusive and hard to track down. Sighing, he put the piece of bark up and rested his walking stick on his shoulder. Oh well. Not like he couldn't help. After all, he knew how to fight for a reason.

[essenceoftriumph]

"Two, actually. Another Rider, Masaru- otherwise known as Kamen Rider Coleos- and Phoenix, who I have yet to find." He sighs. “Phantoms….I can testify that their name suits them well."

[tempestandtorrent]

Jen grimaced when he mentioned a phantom. “Oh…Are you thinking of bringing that Phoenix along, too? Doesn’t exactly sound like a good idea if you are, honestly."

[essenceoftriumph]

"Well....it's still a maybe. He's proving hard to get a hold of, so I might just have to skip him. Though he probably won't be too happy about that..." He shrugs. 

[essenceoftriumph]

"The short version, then. I was actually two halves stuck in one body before. An Imagin decided to drop by and found not one, but two personalities. One was a destructive power hungry one, and the other was…well, plain and innocent. So, the dark half formed a contract, wishing for power. The other half trird to stop him and made a contract of his own, creating a paradox. Imagin use memories to travel back in time- but since neither half shared memories…well, you can see where I’m going with this. I’ve already managed to seal those contracts, and become whole in the process, so it’s just a matter of fighting him. Without the contracts, he doesb’t have any sand constructs, with which he likes to bring nightmares to reality. And that’s why I’m here- I can only do so much." Shori moves the walking stick so it was resting on his shoulder. “He is still very strong, though. Do not underestimate him."

[tempestandtorrent]

Jennifer’s eyebrows raised and she folded her arms. "Very strong is less difficult than immortal. Most importantly, it’s possible. By the way, has anyone else fought him? Have you talked to them"

[essenceoftriumph]

"Two, actually. Another Rider, Masaru- otherwise known as Kamen Rider Coleos- and Phoenix, who I have yet to find." He sighs. "Phantoms....I can testify that their name suits them well."

[tempestandtorrent]

essenceoftriumph replied to your post: A young man with a walking stick approaches, looking Jen over, then nodding. “Mint, right? You put up quite a fight against Nightmare…he’s not too happy, you know." He chuckles.

"I suppose the best way to start would be to introduce myself. My name is Shori. And I also apologize for this mess. My condolences." He rests his weight on the walking stick. “That said, you want the long version or the short version?"

"So…you’re the contract holder. That’s what I can guess. How about for now, you tell me why this thing is so hard to kill, and what we can do do make him less invincible." Jennifer’s expression quickly turned serious.

[essenceoftriumph]

"The short version, then. I was actually two halves stuck in one body before. An Imagin decided to drop by and found not one, but two personalities. One was a destructive power hungry one, and the other was...well, plain and innocent. So, the dark half formed a contract, wishing for power. The other half trird to stop him and made a contract of his own, creating a paradox. Imagin use memories to travel back in time- but since neither half shared memories...well, you can see where I'm going with this. I've already managed to seal those contracts, and become whole in the process, so it's just a matter of fighting him. Without the contracts, he doesb't have any sand constructs, with which he likes to bring nightmares to reality. And that's why I'm here- I can only do so much." Shori moves the walking stick so it was resting on his shoulder. "He is still very strong, though. Do not underestimate him."

[essenceoftriumph]

((Alright, before I go any further I'm gonna bs a reason as to why Shori knows exactly who to look for. When the paradox was closed, Shori's memories were completed, but at the same time, he also gained all memories Nightmare had while that paradox existed. So not only does he know who to look for, he also gets to carry the burden and guilt of Nightmare's actions on his shoulders! Oh boy!))

[caucasus-reborn]

essenceoftriumph replied to your post: He rests on his walking stick, nodding. “Good, good." After a moment, he laughs. “I guess I should explain myself. I should apologize first, since I’m the reason you’ve been having a bit of trouble as of late. I had the best of intentions, though, I assure you. My name is Shori. I’m assuming, of course, you’re already familiar with our good friend Nightmare, right?"

"Good, good. That’ll make this easier on me." Shori rests his walking stick on his shoulder. “What if I told you that he has just been weakened?"

"I’d think you’re bluffing, unless you can prove it somehow."

[essenceoftriumph]

"Well. I’m sure you know how an Imagin works, right? Then tell me…what happens when there are two personalities in one body?" He draws a small diagram in the dirt with his walking stick. “The answer is a paradox. One half has memories of an event, but the other doesn’t. If an Imagin can’t use stable memories to travel back, then it is useless. I’m sure there was more to it, but basically, my halves unwittingly made this mess." He rests his walking stick on his shoulder again. “And now that those halves don’t exist anymore, there’s no contracts. No contracts means no powers. All of that black sand he was playing with is useless now." 

[caucasus-reborn]

"So you’re saying he can be beaten now?  What about the Rider powers he stole and has been using?"

[essenceoftriumph]

Shori raised an eyebrow. “Rider powers?" He shook his head. “Wasn’t aware of that. But yes, he should be more manageable now." 

[caucasus-reborn]

"Then count me in if it means bringing his reign of terror to an end."

[essenceoftriumph]

"Good, good. I'm sure you have a score to settle." He rolls his shoulders, turning around. "Later. I have other people to fetch."

[caucasus-reborn]

essenceoftriumph replied to your post: He rests on his walking stick, nodding. “Good, good." After a moment, he laughs. “I guess I should explain myself. I should apologize first, since I’m the reason you’ve been having a bit of trouble as of late. I had the best of intentions, though, I assure you. My name is Shori. I’m assuming, of course, you’re already familiar with our good friend Nightmare, right?"

"Good, good. That’ll make this easier on me." Shori rests his walking stick on his shoulder. “What if I told you that he has just been weakened?"

"I’d think you’re bluffing, unless you can prove it somehow."

[essenceoftriumph]

"Well. I’m sure you know how an Imagin works, right? Then tell me…what happens when there are two personalities in one body?" He draws a small diagram in the dirt with his walking stick. “The answer is a paradox. One half has memories of an event, but the other doesn’t. If an Imagin can’t use stable memories to travel back, then it is useless. I’m sure there was more to it, but basically, my halves unwittingly made this mess." He rests his walking stick on his shoulder again. “And now that those halves don’t exist anymore, there’s no contracts. No contracts means no powers. All of that black sand he was playing with is useless now." 

[caucasus-reborn]

"So you’re saying he can be beaten now?  What about the Rider powers he stole and has been using?"

[essenceoftriumph]

Shori raised an eyebrow. "Rider powers?" He shook his head. "Wasn't aware of that. But yes, he should be more manageable now." 

[caucasus-reborn]

essenceoftriumph replied to your post: He rests on his walking stick, nodding. “Good, good." After a moment, he laughs. “I guess I should explain myself. I should apologize first, since I’m the reason you’ve been having a bit of trouble as of late. I had the best of intentions, though, I assure you. My name is Shori. I’m assuming, of course, you’re already familiar with our good friend Nightmare, right?"

"Good, good. That’ll make this easier on me." Shori rests his walking stick on his shoulder. “What if I told you that he has just been weakened?"

"I’d think you’re bluffing, unless you can prove it somehow."

[essenceoftriumph]

"Well. I'm sure you know how an Imagin works, right? Then tell me...what happens when there are two personalities in one body?" He draws a small diagram in the dirt with his walking stick. "The answer is a paradox. One half has memories of an event, but the other doesn't. If an Imagin can't use stable memories to travel back, then it is useless. I'm sure there was more to it, but basically, my halves unwittingly made this mess." He rests his walking stick on his shoulder again. "And now that those halves don't exist anymore, there's no contracts. No contracts means no powers. All of that black sand he was playing with is useless now." 

[essenceoftriumph]

The necklace was now useless. Shori realized now it was a tool for becoming whole....and whole he was. He felt like casting it aside, but....instead, he kept it, mainly so he could wedge that chunk of amethyst in his walking stick. Now he had business to attend to.

"I'll let that be the first blow," he had said. "Your punishment isn't my job." Even so, Shori still had to round up those who had survived a fight with Kyofu...or, really, Nightmare.

So off he set to seek out these people.

[essenceoftriumph]

Lucid Dreams ||| @ imagin-of-fear

[imagin-of-fear]

Kyofu shielded his eyes, and when the two personalities became one, he felt a part of him cease to be. The Dark Rider doubled over in pain.

"Wha-what have you done?!" Thundered the Imagin.

He looked around as the sand constructs he had conjured crumbled to dust; the tendrils blew away in the wind, the corpses became piles of normal sand, and the fake Riders vanished like they were never there.

"It can’t be…the paradox…!" Kyofu gasped, clutching his throat and gasping for air. “But your personalities were to different to reconcile!"

[essenceoftriumph]

"And despite that, they still did." He walked over, tapping Kyofu's helmet with his walking stick. "You still don't understand, do you? Humans are strong." He turns around, resting his walking stick on his shoulder. "Even against the most impossible of odds, they still find a way. Maybe it's that will to live." A grin spreads across his face. "Perhaps I should introduce myself. Unlike my halves, I have a name. Shori." He turns around to face Kyofu once more. "I am triumph." Leaning down, he comes eye to eye with Kyofu. "My beginning is your end. That said..."

Shori brings the walking stick down hard over the dark Rider's head, a loud retort echoing through the empty streets as wood met helmet. "....I'll let that be the first blow. Happy trails! Your punishment isn't my job." With that, he turns around and starts to leave, walking stick resting on his shoulder.

[essenceoftriumph]

Lucid Dreams ||| @ imagin-of-fear

[essenceoftriumph]

The pain coursed through him; even though his dark half was in control, he could still feel the pain. “I told you…..you can’t fight him."

"What made you think that, huh?" He was fighting to get out of Kyofyu’s grip, but it was no use. “It’s not like you would have had a better chance!" Anything would work right now. He was thrashing in the dark Rider’s grip, kicking, trying to pry the hands off of his throat- nothing worked.

"Stop it!" 

It was a rare instance, but the other half stopped struggling. Although he was still trying to pry the hands off his throat, that was because he needed to breathe; the Imagin-turned-Rider had a strong grip.

"I said stop! You’re…you’re wasting effort!" 

Somewhat hesitantly, he stopped struggling. Both were still.

"Don’t you realize…..I can’t….I can’t fight him either!" No one was in control at the moment- the body was motionless now, despite still being alive. In his sub-conscious, that familiar, ashen faced, twisted copy was staring him in the face. “Then what’s your plan? Pleading for mercy won’t work." He sighs. “You started this!"

“We started this, if I remember your ramblings correctly." Another sigh. “I know but…." Where was he going with this? "….listen…..we’re both imperfect, aren’t we? I can barely interact with people, and I’m still learning things about being….me, I guess…..you….you’re violent, unpredictable….." 

"And?" 

[imagin-of-fear]

"I’ll leave you two crippled again. This time, I’ll leave the boy crippled this time so that neither of you have the energy to stop me."

The Dark Rider’s hands coursed with amethyst energy.

"You are nothing but a coward, boy. And your other half is nothing but a savage. I’m thankful for my creation…but I’ll be happy to be rid of you."

The amethyst glow grew more intense. "Au Revoir”

[essenceoftriumph]

"My point is.....alone, we're useless.....our flaws are what make us...well, us. But maybe.....if we worked together, we might be able to do this."

"Ah. I see where you're going with this. So..."

The motionless body starts to move again, and he looks up to see the charged fist. It wasn't the best way to wake back up from an internal conference, but that didn't matter. "...my point is...even if I falter, I'm human." Despite the fact that he was staring death in the face, for once, he didn't feel afraid. "Fear is an emotion, and emotions can be controlled. So as long as I keep pushing, I still want to live...and that's what makes me human!"

Briefly, his demeanor changes, irises darkening again. "Heh....even if I dislike this boy...this town is my turf. In the end, it will be me who will destroy it! Listen you bastard...people may be afraid, but they're stubborn as hell! Even if they get pushed down, they're going to get right back up."

Again, it switches, this time back to normal. "I've accepted this.....we have flaws! But my strengths overshadow them!" The chunk of amethyst in his necklace glows, blasting the dark Rider away and releasing him from his grasp. Rubbing his throat a bit, he picks up his walking stick. "Oi....I'm pretty sure we're not done!" He nods. "I know...." A transparent copy of himself appears beside him, before merging with him, releasing a bright light.

"Humanity...they'll- no, we will always triumph!" 

[essenceoftriumph]

Lucid Dreams ||| @ imagin-of-fear

[imagin-of-fear]

"Your arrogance brought your downfall. You think you’re going to find peace by rampaging through the streets? Well all you’re going to find there is fear. I know from experience."

"But if you still think this is the way to go…then let’s fight, boy.”

Kyofu assumed a fighting stance, a light chuckle emerging from the helmet.

[essenceoftriumph]

"What, is it wrong to crave power? I don’t want peace! I want to destroy! Starting with you!" Suddenly, he charges and swings his walking stick at Kyofu, using it as a bo staff. It was made of pretty sturdy stuff, though it probably wouldn’t be long before it snapped in half during the fight.

"N-no! Don’t fight him! We’re going to….I’m going to get….don’t you realize how bad of an idea this is?!" No use. The other half wasn’t listening, which was aggravating. This fight wouldn’t last long, and he knew it.

[imagin-of-fear]

Kyofu dodged the staff, laughing to himself. “You’re brash. I can see this is the personality that has insisted on causing fear."

Kyofu grabbed the staff and flung it aside. “You, other, are nothing more than an arrogant nothing. And the boy is too afraid to do anything! You couldn’t protect anyone. Your contradictions brought me into existence, and your clashing personalities will sustain me into the future!"

The Dark Rider punched the boy into a wall and then caught him by the throat.

"You’re weak. Your fear makes you weak. And your weakness makes me strong."

[essenceoftriumph]

The pain coursed through him; even though his dark half was in control, he could still feel the pain. "I told you.....you can't fight him."

"What made you think that, huh?" He was fighting to get out of Kyofyu's grip, but it was no use. "It's not like you would have had a better chance!" Anything would work right now. He was thrashing in the dark Rider's grip, kicking, trying to pry the hands off of his throat- nothing worked.

"Stop it!" 

It was a rare instance, but the other half stopped struggling. Although he was still trying to pry the hands off his throat, that was because he needed to breathe; the Imagin-turned-Rider had a strong grip.

"I said stop! You're...you're wasting effort!" 

Somewhat hesitantly, he stopped struggling. Both were still.

"Don't you realize.....I can't....I can't fight him either!" No one was in control at the moment- the body was motionless now, despite still being alive. In his sub-conscious, that familiar, ashen faced, twisted copy was staring him in the face. "Then what's your plan? Pleading for mercy won't work." He sighs. "You started this!"

"We started this, if I remember your ramblings correctly." Another sigh. "I know but...." Where was he going with this? "....listen.....we're both imperfect, aren't we? I can barely interact with people, and I'm still learning things about being....me, I guess.....you....you're violent, unpredictable....." 

"And?" 

[essenceoftriumph]

Lucid Dreams ||| @ imagin-of-fear

[imagin-of-fear]

"Your arrogance brought your downfall. You think you’re going to find peace by rampaging through the streets? Well all you’re going to find there is fear. I know from experience."

"But if you still think this is the way to go…then let’s fight, boy.”

Kyofu assumed a fighting stance, a light chuckle emerging from the helmet.

[essenceoftriumph]

"What, is it wrong to crave power? I don't want peace! I want to destroy! Starting with you!" Suddenly, he charges and swings his walking stick at Kyofu, using it as a bo staff. It was made of pretty sturdy stuff, though it probably wouldn't be long before it snapped in half during the fight.

"N-no! Don't fight him! We're going to....I'm going to get....don't you realize how bad of an idea this is?!" No use. The other half wasn't listening, which was aggravating. This fight wouldn't last long, and he knew it.