DC X Rider Ch 162

The afternoon sun warms Haruka's face as he sits beside Megan on a park bench, the familiar scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers filling the air. He leans back, his hands clasped behind his head, and closes his eyes for a moment, trying to soak in the tranquility. After the whirlwind of recent events, the simple peace of the park feels like a balm to his weary soul.

"So," he says, turning to Megan, "how are you liking those cooking videos I sent you? Any luck with the omurice?"

Megan laughs, a bright, melodic sound that usually puts him at ease. Today, though, her laughter seems a bit forced, a little too high-pitched. "It looked so easy in the video! Mine ended up… well, let's just say it resembled scrambled eggs more than a perfect oval."

Haruka chuckles, genuinely amused. "Hey, practice makes perfect. I'm still trying to figure out how to make decent miso soup without burning it." He launches into a story about his latest culinary disaster, complete with exaggerated gestures and self-deprecating humor.

Megan smiles and nods along, her eyes crinkling at the corners. She asks the right questions, throws in the appropriate comments, but Haruka can’t shake the feeling that her mind is elsewhere. There’s a subtle tension in her posture, a slight tremor in her hands as she fidgets with the strap of her bag.

He tries to keep the conversation light, steering clear of anything that might trigger whatever unease she's trying to hide. They talk about school—the looming finals, the agonizing college application process. He tells her about a particularly demanding guest he had to deal with at the hotel, a diva demanding a room with a specific view of the city.

"Wow, sounds like a real piece of work," Megan says, her voice flat.

Haruka glances at her, concern tugging at his brow. "You okay, Megan? You seem a little… off."

She forces another smile, but this time, it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. "I'm fine, Haruka. Really. Just… something on my mind. That's all…"

He wants to press her, to offer some kind of comforting words, but something stops him. He doesn't know what’s going on, but whatever it is, she's not ready to share it. And maybe, he tells himself, it’s just a case of nerves. Being on an unfamiliar planet, trying to fit in with humans… it can't be easy.

The sun begins to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange, pink, and purple. They fall silent, watching the spectacle unfold. For a moment, the shared beauty of the sunset seems to bridge the distance between them.

The air crackles with an ominous energy. The vibrant colors of the sunset seem to fade, replaced by an unsettling pallor. Haruka feels a jolt of adrenaline as figures materialize out of thin air, landing with a soft THUD 💥 on the manicured lawn nearby.

They are tall and gaunt, with chalky white skin stretched taut over sharp bone structures. Their eyes glow with an eerie, crimson light. Haruka has never seen anything like them. Halloween cosplayers? Some new street gang with a flair for the dramatic? Whatever they are, they look dangerous.

"Megan Morse," one of them hisses, its voice a rasping whisper that carries an unnatural resonance. "You have been marked for termination."

Haruka tenses, his instincts screaming at him. He has no idea what's going on, but he knows, with absolute certainty, that these creatures mean Megan harm.

"What the hell are you talking about?" he demands, stepping in front of Megan protectively.

The White Martian ignores him, its gaze fixed on Megan. "Your transgressions will not be tolerated. The Council has spoken."

Megan gasps, feigning shock. "I… I don't understand! Who are you people?"

Before Haruka can react, the White Martians unleash a torrent of energy blasts—jagged bolts of crimson light that tear through the air. Haruka's instincts take over. He grabs Megan's hand, yanking her behind him, and dives to the side as the blasts slam into the park bench where they were sitting, reducing it to splinters.

"Run!" he yells, his voice tight with urgency. He pulls Megan to her feet, and they sprint away from the White Martians, dodging the energy blasts that continue to rain down around them. The park, moments ago a haven of tranquility, becomes a deadly battleground.

"What are those things?" Haruka pants, glancing back at their pursuers. The White Martians are gliding effortlessly through the air, their red eyes burning with relentless purpose. "Who are they?"

Megan stumbles, her face pale with fear. "I… I don't know! I've never seen them before in my life. I don't know why they are attacking me!" she said with a shaky voice, a voice that sounds unsure of herself.

Haruka leads Megan through the city, darting down alleyways and weaving through traffic, his mind racing. He needs to get them to safety, but where? Then he spots it—an abandoned industrial complex, its rusted gates and crumbling walls offering a semblance of seclusion.

"Come on," he says, pulling Megan toward the complex. "We can lose them in there."

They scramble over a broken fence and slip into the shadows of the complex, their breath coming in ragged gasps. Haruka guides Megan behind a massive, rusted shipping container, its corrugated metal scarred with years of neglect. They crouch down, trying to catch their breath, the silence broken only by the distant wail of sirens.

"We'll be okay, Megan," Haruka says, his voice low and reassuring, even as doubt gnaws at him. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise!"

He scans their surroundings, trying to formulate a plan, but his mind is blank. How do you fight creatures like that without revealing his powers?

Then, a familiar rasping voice cuts through the silence. "There's nowhere left to run, Megan Morse. Your time is up."

Haruka whirls around, his heart pounding. The White Martians have found them, their red eyes glowing menacingly in the gathering gloom. They encircle Haruka and Megan, a ring of chalky white figures closing in with deadly intent.

Haruka knew this was it. No more running. "Sorry, Megan, you're about to see something you weren't supposed to," he mutters, his voice barely audible. He pulls the Faiz belt from thin air and snaps it around his waist. The device comes to life with a digitized [FAIZ] sound. He enters the code. 5-5-5.

[Standing By]

"Henshin!"

[COMPLETE].

A blinding surge of energy engulfs him, followed by the rapid materialization of sleek, black and red armor. Visually stunned, Megan could do nothing but watch as Kamen Rider Faiz comes to life before her. The White Martians hiss and charge, but Haruka is ready. He meets them head-on.

The battle erupts, a symphony of clashing metal and alien energy. Kamen Rider Faiz, Haruka, moves with a speed and precision that belies his inexperience. The Faiz Edge flashes, deflecting crimson energy blasts and slicing through the air with deadly grace. The Faiz Shot barks, peppering the White Martians with concentrated bursts of photon energy. But the Martians are relentless, their telepathic assaults a constant barrage against Haruka’s mind. He grits his teeth, fighting to maintain focus, to block out the invasive whispers that try to unravel his thoughts.

One moment, he's deflecting a blast with the Faiz Edge; the next, he's countering a telekinetic shove with a burst from the Faiz Shot. It's a whirlwind of motion, a dance of desperation. He struggles to keep the White Martians at bay, knowing that if they reach Megan, it's game over. He can sense her watching from the sidelines, her presence a strange mix of fear and… something else. He dares not look, dare not lose focus, even for a fraction of a second.

Despite his best efforts, one White Martian slips through his defenses. It’s fast, a blur of white against the backdrop of the dilapidated factory. Its red eyes are fixed on Megan, its face contorted into a feral snarl.

"Megan!" Haruka shouts, his voice raw with panic. He tries to intercept, to cut off the Martian’s advance, but it's too late. The White Martian is upon her, its clawed hand outstretched, ready to strike.

Haruka tenses, ready to lunge, knowing he can’t possibly reach her in time. He braces himself for the worst, for the sickening crunch of bone, the despairing scream. But it never comes.

Instead, there's a sudden, sharp crack.

He watches, stunned, as Megan calmly intercepts the White Martian's attack with her bare hand. Her fingers close around the Martian’s wrist with unnatural force, stopping it dead in its tracks. The White Martian recoils, its red eyes widening in disbelief. It tries to wrench free, but Megan's grip is unyielding, unbreakable. With a casual flick of her wrist, she sends the White Martian hurtling through the air like a rag doll. It crashes against a stack of metal pipes, crumpling to the ground in a heap of white limbs.

Haruka stares, his mind reeling. He is speechless, trying to grasp the impossible. He just knew that no normal human can do that.

Shocked, Haruka stares as Megan effortlessly throws the White Martian to the ground. She turns to him, her eyes glowing a faint green. “I’m sorry, Haruka. I didn’t want you to find out this way,” she says. Her form shifts, her skin turning a vibrant green, her hair flowing into a fiery red mane, a white uniform materializing on her body. Her features morphed into a more alien, yet still familiar, face. Two X-shaped straps crossed between her torso, leading to a white belt.

"Megan…?"

Haruka is stunned, his mind racing as he processes the revelation.