[Androzani84]

Chapter 15: New Enemies! The Kyōka Vorjuujin Are Born!

In his lab, Megaro had bought up a graphic of two different DNA strands to demonstrate to Dimayta. “As you can see, the DNA pattern of Ginga-Khimaira is almost identical to that of the Vorjuu you keep in your zoo.”, he noted

“How interesting.”, both turned around to see Oomikaoo walking into the room. “If they’re so similar, then why is it that Ginga-Khimaira was so much smarter than any Vorjuu we’ve sent out?”

“We’ve worked that out as well.”, Dimayta answered. “The DNA sample we took from Giga-Khimaira…’s body” she added, trying to maintain the guise of Ginga-Khimaira having been defeated by the Qidengers “contains an extra enzyme that enhances his intelligence and strength. If we add this enzyme to the Vorjuu, along with some artificial limbs for enhanced power, then we can create something we call a Kyōka (modified) Vorjuujin.”

“Interesting.”, Oomikaoo noted. “You have permission to begin the experiments at your earliest convenience.”

Dimayta was confused at this. “Isn’t Moboroshina-sama supposed to be the one who hands out hose permissions.”

“Moboroshina-sama is indisposed.”, was all Oomikaoo had to say. “I am in charge for the time being.”

“It doesn’t matter who tells me to do this.”, Megaro declared, clenching his hands together. “As long as I get to prove my genius, I’m happy.”

In the city, Takumi felt something off. “Something dark is due to come.”, he stated. “If only I knew why I was getting these premonitions.”

Elsewhere, Kamijo was returning from doing shopping for the old man. “Who knew an old geezer like him could want to eat so much food.”, he commented. As he kept walking, he came across an older man, wearing a black leather jacket. A man who was blocking his way. “Sir, do you mind?”

The man punched him backwards, before sweeping him off his feet and grabbing the bags of groceries before they hit the ground. “”You should’ve been prepared for that.”, the man stated, helping Kamijo up and handing him his groceries. “You can never know what your enemy throws at you, whether it’s a fight or a game.” He then walked off. “If you feel inadequate, then you can find me at the location I gave you.”

“‘Location’?”, Kamijo asked as he looked at the bag. He saw a slip of paper with numbers written on it had found its way into his bag. “What could these mean?”

He then received a call on his JuuKeitai from the old man. “Everyone, two new Voldos signals have appeared in the plaza. Get over there quickly.” Kamijo put the groceries on his car and ran off towards the scene.

Elsewhere, Mio was also responding to the call when she bumped into someone. “Oh, I’m sorry.”, she said, helping the other person to her feet.

“It’s alright.”, the other answered. Mio could see she was a woman, middle-aged, wearing a pink vest with a black jacket and a red scarf. “I should’ve been more careful where I was going, just as much as you.”

“I do have somewhere to be.”, Mio countered. “I’m due to take part in… a ceremonial fight.”

“Ah, so your a warrior.”, the older woman guessed. “I could actually teach you a few things, if you meet me here.” She handed a slip of paper to Mio before leaving as quickly as she came. Mio took a brief glance at the contents of the paper (a series of numbers), before hurrying on.

The 5 main Qidengers arrived in the middle of the carnage. “What is it this time?”, Takuto asked. “Vorjuu, Bukikai or Kanjin?”

“We don’t know for sure, yet.”, Wataru answered him. “The culprit’s about to show themselves though.”

The smoke of the devastation cleared, showing a metallic dog-like creature with a beak, armed with a sword. “He doesn’t seem like either of our usual enemies.”, Hibiki thought. “If anything, it kind of looks like a tengu.”

The creature laughed. “Very astute, QidenPink. Indeed, I am the first of the new group of Kyōka Vorjuujin, Kishi (knight) Tengu. Ginga-Khimaira’s genes have evolved me beyond a simple Vorjuu.”

“This thing is a Vorjuu?”, Mio said with shock.

“It doesn’t matter.”, Takuto assured her. “We’re going to take it out just as easily as all the others. Everyone, let’s go!”

Everyone pulled out their JuuKeitais and inserted their Soul Chips. “Kijuu Henge!”

Shishi! Kame! Falcon! Kajiki! Jaguar! Doubutsu Gashin!

The 5 completed their transformation. “Kijuu Sentai… Qidenger!”

“I’m not impressed by your little act.”, Kishi Tengu declared as he brandished his sword. “Let’s make this intense.”

He charged into battle with the 5 Qidengers, who pulled out their weapons to grapple with the Vorjuujin. He managed to hit QidenBlaco all of once, but the others quickly overpowered him and hit him back with their own weapons. “Well, you might as well surrender.”, QidenBlue suggested. “We do have the advantage of numbers here. It’s 5 against 1.”

“Count again, Qidenger.” The 5 then found themselves attacked by a fast moving figure, which quickly revealed itself as a turtle-humanoid with a harpoon for a left arm. “You didn’t think that Voldos would only create ONE Kyōka Vorjuujin now, did you?”

“Great.”, Black grumbled. “Now we have to deal with two of these things. What do you call yourself?”

Kishi Tengu ran over to his ally. “Oh, so you made it after all, Kaizoku (pirate) Kappa.”, he said happily. “Now I don’t have to handle these guys alone.”

“Indeed, my friend.”, Kaizoku Kappa nodded, before turning to the others. “Qidengers, allow us to demonstrate our camaraderie.”

“Yeah.”, Kishi Tengu pumped his fists, as he transformed into a crow-like form and connected to Kaizoku Kappa’s harpoon. “We’re gonna rampage. Try and stop us! Vorjuu Bomber! Set!”

“Thunder!”, Kaizoku Kappa declared as he launched the combined weapon at the Qidengers, blowing them back. “Heroes, shatter gloriously.”

QidenBlack stood up from the blast. “I won’t go down that easily.” He pulled out his Kijuu Caliber and inserted his Soul Chip. “Qiden Powered Slash!”

Qiden Charge! Kame!

The energy slash flew towards Kaizoku Kappa, but Kishi Tengu jumped in front of the attack and absorbed it. “Nice try, Qidenger. Let’s see how you stand up to this.” He held out his sword, zooming towards his opponent without moving his legs. “Slash Straight!” The attack hit QidenBlack, sending him flying and reverting him to Kamijo. “We’ll let you off today because it was fun to turn the tables on you.”

“But we won’t be so lenient next time.”, Kaizoku Kappa clarified. “Let’s go, Aniki.”, he said to his partner.

As the two Vorjuujin turned and left, Mio was left thinking something inside. “Maybe I should try to improve myself.”, she thought.

At the Voldos Fortress, the inter-dimensional invades were celebrating their victory. “Those Qidengers thought they had the same advantage they always have.”, Kishi Tengu laughed. “But we managed to show them our real power.”

“They will surely think twice before thinking they can defeat us again.”, Kaizoku Kappa gloated.

Gelashi was the only one not happy. “Don’t get too comfortable with your brief defeat.”, she warned. “QidenTora didn’t appear to face you the first time. If he does the second time, there’s no guarantee he’ll fall any easier than the others.”

“You make a good point.”, Oomikaoo decided. “I shall accompany the two on their next mission. That way, we can get the advantage over all the Qidengers, in addition to demonstrating the capabilities of this reconstructed body.” He flexed his cybernetic arm to make his point.

“Let’s see those Qidengers stand up to that.”, Dimayta said, holding up her glass of wine for a toast, and then drinking it.

Elsewhere, all of the Qidengers had gathered at the old man’s house. All except one. “What do you mean Mio hasn’t joined us?”, the old man exploded at Takuto, punching him backwards. “We need all of us here to agree on a course of action.”

“She said she had somewhere to go.”, Takuto answered. “Something about ‘self-improvement’. I couldn’t stop her if I tried. She’s always been faster than me.”

Kamijo thought about the mention of ‘self-improvement’, but quickly left it, dismissing it as a coincidence. “We’ll have to do without her.”, he suggested. “After all, perhaps we can turn things around if QidenTora joins us in this battle.”

The old man shook his head. “It’s not ideal, but we’ll have to work without her for now. Our main problem is that these two Kyōka Vorjuujin are formidable when they work together.”

“Then that’s the solution.”, Wataru realised. “If we can separate the two and pick them off individually, then we have the advantage.”

Then, Takuto felt something. “I can feel a Voldos signal. It’s a lot stronger than the usual ones though.”

Hibiki was confused. “I thought you didn’t get those anymore.”

“That must be an indicator of how strong it is.”, the old man realised. “Qidengers, go!”

At a quarry, Mio walked into the centre of the site. “Well, this is the place.”, she thought to herself. “Seems like, a weird place to meet someone.”

It was at that point the woman from earlier showed up. “So, I see you figured out my little cryptic clue.”, she smiled.

“Of course I did.”, Mio nodded. “I knew the amount of digits you gave me weren’t consistent with phone numbers, but was consistent with a set of coordinates. All I had to do was find out the location in the coordinates and head there.”

“You’re a smart girl.”, the woman noted, before throwing her new charge a fencing foil. “Since you asked for some combat training, we’ll start off by working on sword fighting techniques.” She pulled out a sword of her own and began by crossing it with Mio’s. “Let’s begin, shall we?” She knocked her opponent’s sword back before hitting Mio to the ground with her sword. “You’re not bad. You just need to try and be quicker to act. If this were a real fight, you’d be dead in seconds.”

“I’ll bear that in mind.”, Mio said as the woman helped her up. “By the way, what do I call you? ‘Shishou’?”

The older woman put her hand on Mio’s shoulder. “I’m Rei. Tachibana Rei.”

Elsewhere, Oomikaoo and the two Kyōka Vorjuujin were rampaging once more, blowing up cars and sending citizens running. “This is so much fun.”, Kishi Tengu laughed. “Instead of hiding in the shadows, we’re rampaging.”

“Stop right there.” Takumi leapt in front of the three, prepping his KijuuSlasher. “I’m going to stop you here and now.” He noticed Oomikaoo among them. “You look different to before, Oomikaoo. Is it a result of that Soul Chip you created?”

“I know not of what you speak.”, Oomikaoo stated. “I have been recreated as the ultimate warrior of destruction.” His eyes glowed purple as he said this.

Takumi felt a slight pain, but recovered quickly. “Kijuu Change!” He transformed into QidenTora and ran towards the three. Kaizoku Kappa launched his harpoon at QidenTora, but it was deflected and he was slashed backwards. Kishi Tengu flew towards QidenTora, but was swatted aside into some crates. “Your minions aren’t up to snuff, Oomikaoo.” Then Oomikaoo’s eye glowed, causing Tora to clutch his head. “What’s happening?” Beneath the suit, a tattoo of a moth appeared on Takumi’s arm, glowing purple.

It was then that the other Qidengers appeared. “Looks like Takumi-san’s already got things under control.”, Pink noted.

“I wouldn’t be so sure.”, Yellow said, cautious.

Sure enough, QidenTora turned towards the 4, screaming violently. He ran over to the Widengers and begun slashing them down, first Black, then Yellow, then Pink. Only Red successfully had time to block. “Takumi-san, what’s happened to you?” QidenTora didn’t answer, merely continuing to swing the KijuuSlasher violently.

The other Qidengers swiftly recovered. “What was that about?”, Black asked.

“Who cares.”, Kaizoku Kappa stated. “It frees up our side to destroy you individually.”

“Good luck with that.”, Yellow said in response. When Kaizoku Kappa threw his harpoon, Yellow grabbed it and used it to throw the enemy over his head, going over to continue attacking with his Kijuu Magnum. Pink then went on to face Kishi Tengu, but found herself being buffeted by his crow transformation. But she managed to hold onto him, throwing him the other way from his partner and delivering a flurry of punches and kicks to knock him back.

That just left Black to face Oomikaoo. “So, we meet again.”, Black noted, preparing his Kijuu Caliber. “Well this time, I’m going to defeat you once and for all.” He ran forward with his weapon, bringing it down…

… only for Oomikaoo to catch the blade with his cybernetic arm, spinning his arm at sufficient speed to strip the weapon like a screw. “You’re predictable, QidenBlack.” He then sent bolts of energy through the remains of the sword, causing Kamijo to stagger backwards. “Whereas I have turned this body into a more powerful killing machine than it already was.” He fired a beam of energy at his target, knocking him back into Kamijo. “Goodbye.” He summoned a more jagged version of his previous sword, preparing to bring it down.

But as he did so, it was caught by a man running in, who used it to throw Oomikaoo back. Kamijo got a good look at the man, recognising him as the one who he had an altercation with earlier. “You…”

As everyone stopped fighting to look at the newcomer, he spoke to Kamijo. “You should’ve taken me up on my offer. Now you’ve made a mess and I’m here to fix it.” He revealed a small brace on his wrist. “In battle, just like in Shogi, you need to change your strategies.” He then pressed the brace. “Goggle Black!” He was surrounded by a purple light, which cleared to reveal a black cloth suit, with a white chest section bearing a yellow “V” logo, white gloves and boots, with a belt that had a weapon in a holster. His neck was black, with a white scarf hanging from it. His helmet had an ornate pattern with a black emerald in the centre and a silver mouth area. “Goggle Black, Kuroda Kanpei!”

The mysterious newcomer, Kuroda Kanpei: Goggle Black. What does he want with Kamijo? Mio continues to train with Tachibana Rei, but will it be enough to defeat the two Vorjuujin? Look forward to “Great Science! Dynamic Tag!”