Unknown Cave, Austrasia Empire
The forest air hung heavy with an eerie silence as Satria, Esdeath, and their group approached the cave's entrance. Corpses of soldiers littered the ground, their lifeless forms grotesquely mangled. Severed limbs, torn torsos, and viscera spilled across the rocky terrain. The metallic tang of blood mixed with the rancid stench of decay, making the air almost unbearable.
Peter Parker, unaccustomed to such horrifying sights, clutched his stomach. His face turned pale before he doubled over, retching violently.
"Ugh!" Peter groaned, wiping his mouth as his body trembled.
"Hey, man, you okay?" a soldier asked, giving Peter a wary glance.
Another soldier, older and more grizzled, shook his head. "This guy's new to this. You can tell he's not a soldier."
"If you can't handle this, kid, turn back now," the grizzled soldier added, his tone sharp. "Out here, a weak stomach can get you killed—or worse, us."
Satria stepped forward, his expression soft with concern. "Peter, are you alright?"
Peter tried to steady himself but avoided looking at the carnage again. "I...I'm sorry, Shin. This is just...too much. I've never seen anything like this before."
Fatalis's voice resonated in Satria's mind, calm but firm.
[Fatalis: This is normal for someone like him, partner. His world isn't drenched in blood like yours]
"True," Satria agreed internally. "If anything, I'm surprised he hasn't fainted."
As Satria steadied Peter with a reassuring hand, his mind drifted to a memory—a formative moment in his life that shaped who he was today.
Flashback
The trip began under the guise of a father-son bonding experience, but Satria quickly sensed this wasn't an ordinary holiday. The terrain grew harsher as they ventured deeper into the isolated region, where city were dilapidated and devoid of hope.
"This place, brat," his father had said as they approached their destination, "is where law and order mean nothing. There are no rules here, no justice—only power. I'm bringing you here not for fun, but for a lesson."
The city they stopped at was bleak, a shadow of its former self. Buildings were barely standing, and the few residents moved like specters, their faces hollow from years of living under oppression. There were no smiles, no laughter, only the heavy weight of survival.
"Why are we here, Old Man?" Satria asked, his voice tinged with unease.
"To show you the other side of the world," his father replied, his tone firm. "The side no one talks about in textbooks. The side you'll need to understand if you want to avoid making the wrong decisions in life."
That night, Satria's father led him to a small gathering of locals. They sat in the dim glow of a flickering oil lamp, discussing the region's plight. It was a land where Unlawful ruled with absolute power, enforcing their will through fear and violence. Here, the laws of humanity were meaningless.
One residents, an elderly man with sunken eyes, explained the reality of their existence. "Here, a man with a weapon and money is a judge, jury, and executioner. Those without power are nothing more than dust."
Satria listened, his stomach churning with a mix of anger and helplessness. He had never imagined such a place could exist, where human lives were treated as commodities, and justice was a distant dream.
His father's voice broke through his thoughts. "Do you see, brat? The world is not only sunshine and rainbows. There are places like this, where life is cheap, and survival is the only law. If you ever want to make a difference, you must understand this truth. Ignorance will only lead to mistakes."
Their lesson took a violent turn when the sound of motorcycles echoed through the town. Unlawful enforcers had arrived, demanding their usual tributes—food, valuables, and even people. Satria's heart pounded as he saw the residents cower, their eyes filled with dread.
"This is their world," his father said, his voice calm but sharp. "But today, we'll show them it doesn't have to be."
Satria's father, flanked by a handful of soldiers, confronted the enforcers. What followed was a tense standoff that erupted into a brief but brutal skirmish. Satria watched from the shadows, his heart racing as his father and his friends pushed back the enforcers with precision and strength.
When the dust settled, the enforcers had fled, but the victory was bittersweet. The residents were grateful but terrified of the retaliation that would surely come.
"What now?" Satria asked his father as they packed up to leave the next day.
"We gave them a moment of courage," his father replied, his expression unreadable. "But it's up to them to decide if they'll let it grow into something more. Remember, brat, the world is not fair, and you can't fix everything. But sometimes, just standing your ground can make a difference."
Flashback End
As the smell of death and the oppressive atmosphere of the cave pressed down on him, Satria drew strength from that memory. His father's words echoed in his mind: "The world isn't just sunshine and rainbows, but it's your choices that define the kind of man you'll become."
Turning to Peter, who was still struggling to regain his composure, Satria offered a steadying hand. "You're stronger than you think," he said, his voice calm but firm. "The world is harsh, but that's why we're here—to make it a little less so."
Peter looked up, his resolve hardening. "I won't let you down."
"Good," Satria replied, the fire of determination igniting within him.
[Fatalis: Still, you should stay alert. I sense something unnatural inside that cave. Prepare yourself, brother]
Satria gave a curt nod to Esdeath. "Lead your men inside. We'll catch up after checking on Peter."
Esdeath's piercing eyes scanned the area before she barked orders to her soldiers. "You heard him. Formation! Prepare for hostiles—we move cautiously but swiftly."
"Yes, Ma'am!" the soldiers replied, saluting before marching into the foreboding cave.
As Esdeath and her troops moved ahead, Satria turned back to Peter. He knelt beside him, offering a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Peter shook his head, shame clouding his expression. "I'm sorry, Big Bro Shin. I—I didn't think it'd be this bad. I feel like a burden."
Satria smiled, his tone understanding. "You're not a burden, Peter. You're human. Nobody gets used to something like this overnight. Use this as a lesson—you'll grow stronger from it."
Satria crouched beside him. "The question is—can you keep going? If not, I won't force you."
Peter hesitated, but after a moment, he straightened up. Though his hands still shook, there was a new resolve in his eyes. "No. I came here for a reason. I won't run away."
Satria smiled faintly. "Good. Let's move."
•
The soldiers inside suddenly froze as a low growl reverberated through the cavern. The air grew heavier, and the shadows seemed to shift unnaturally.
"Hold the line!" Esdeath commanded, her voice cutting through the rising panic. Her soldiers formed a defensive formation, weapons drawn.
From deep within the cave, a pair of glowing, golden eyes pierced the darkness.
As Satria and Peter ventured deeper into the dimly lit cave, the atmosphere grew heavier with each step. A low rumble echoed through the walls, followed by an earth-shattering roar.
Groaaaaarrrrr!
The sound was deafening, like a primal force shaking the core of their being. Both instinctively covered their ears, grimacing against the thunderous noise.
"What the hell was that?!" Peter shouted, his voice barely audible over the echoing roar.
Satria didn't answer. He took out his driver, his movements calm yet resolute.
"Henshin."
In an instant, a burst of energy engulfed him. When the light subsided, Satria stood clad in sleek, black armor with sharp, angular edges and glowing crimson accents. His transformation into Kamen Rider was complete, and his presence radiated power and determination.
Peter gawked, his amazement evident. "Holy crap! That's like... Iron Man on steroids!"
"Not the time, Spidey," Satria replied, his tone focused. "Esdeath's in trouble. Let's move!"
Without another word, Satria sprinted toward the source of the roar, Peter following closely behind.
At the heart of the cave, Esdeath and her fifty soldiers faced a nightmare incarnate. The monstrous Shagaru Magala stood before them, its golden scales glinting in the dim light, giving it an almost divine appearance. But there was nothing divine about the destruction it unleashed.
The beast roared again, sending tremors through the ground as its wings, now massive golden sheets, unfurled with a star-like brilliance. It exuded a palpable aura of menace, its mastery over the Frenzy Virus evident in every movement.
"Attack formation! Don't let it intimidate you!" Esdeath commanded, her voice cutting through the chaos.
The soldiers obeyed, launching a coordinated assault, but their weapons barely scratched its hardened golden scales.
"The skin is too tough! We can't pierce it!" one soldier cried out, fear evident in his voice.
"Hold your ground!" Esdeath barked, her ice-blue eyes narrowing as she analyzed the beast's movements.
The Shagaru Magala roared again, unleashing a barrage of Frenzy energy beams from its mouth. Purple streaks of volatile energy rained down, tearing through the ranks of soldiers.
"Aghhhh!"
"Help! Someone, please!"
"My leg... my leg is gone! Esdeath-sama, save us!"
Esdeath's jaw tightened as she saw her men being decimated. She raised her hand, summoning a storm of ice spears.
"Weiss Schnabel!"
The spears rained down on the beast, managing to wound it slightly, but not enough to stop its rampage.
'This creature is smaller than that colossal snake in Konoha,' she thought grimly, 'but its power, intelligence, and resilience far surpass anything I've faced before.'
The Shagaru Magala retaliated, firing a massive purple energy ball from its mouth. The orb exploded upon impact, annihilating anything caught in its radius. Esdeath dodged skillfully, but her forces were reduced to half their numbers.
Some soldiers, overcome with terror, broke ranks and fled.
"Cowards," Esdeath muttered under her breath, her icy demeanor barely concealing her anger. 'I'll deal with my insubordination later.'
Just as the Shagaru Magala prepared another devastating attack, a series of black, glowing arrows shot through the air, striking the beast's side. The arrows detonated on impact, causing a chain of explosions that made the monster roar in agony.
Esdeath turned toward the cave entrance, spotting Satria emerging from the shadows, his black bow in hand.
"Sorry, we're late," Satria said, his tone calm yet confident.
Peter followed closely behind, looking more determined than before. "You've got one badass entrance, dude."
The Shagaru Magala turned its enraged gaze toward the newcomers, its wings spreading wide as it prepared another barrage of Frenzy energy.
"Peter, stay back and help evacuate the injured," Satria ordered.
Peter nodded, quickly moving to assist the surviving soldiers. Meanwhile, Esdeath joined Satria, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
"This thing's tough," she said, her voice laced with frustration. "Its scales are practically impenetrable."
"Every armor has a weak point," Satria replied, aiming his bow at the beast's glowing eyes. "We just have to find it."
The Shagaru Magala roared again, its golden wings shining brighter as it unleashed a torrent of scales that erupted into energy pillars upon touching the ground.
Satria leapt into action, dodging the explosions with agility while firing a series of explosive arrows at the beast. Esdeath followed suit, conjuring a massive ice sword to slash at the monster's legs.
Despite its immense power, the coordinated assault began to take a toll on the Shagaru Magala.
As the fight raged on, the cavern shook with every blow exchanged. Satria's black armor glinted in the dim light, his movements a blur of precision and power. Esdeath's ice magic froze parts of the cavern, creating an arena that limited the beast's movement.
But the Shagaru Magala was far from defeated. With a mighty flap of its wings, it created a shockwave that sent both Satria and Esdeath sprawling.
"Damn, this thing's relentless," Satria muttered, picking himself up.
"Relentless?" Esdeath smirked, despite the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. "Good. I like a challenge."
The two warriors exchanged a determined glance before charging at the beast once more, ready to give it everything they had.
Esdeath watched closely, noticing faint bruises on the beast's golden scales from Satria's earlier assault.
Satria created another volley of dark fire arrows, each imbued with crackling energy, and fired them at Shagaru Magala. The arrows streaked through the air like meteors, but before they could hit their target, the beast flapped its mighty wings.
A colossal gust of wind surged forth, snuffing out the arrows mid-flight and sending Satria staggering back.
"Holy shit, this beast is smart," Satria muttered, his eyes narrowing. The creature's intelligence was apparent, making it even more dangerous. He gripped his bow tighter, realizing this fight would require not just power but strategy.
The Shagaru Magala roared, its guttural cry reverberating through the cave. A dark aura surrounded it as it charged toward the group with blinding speed, aiming to knock them down.
"Evade!" Satria shouted, leaping to the side as the beast barreled through their formation.
"Spidey!" Satria called out, his voice urgent. "Try to seal its movements with your webs. Anything to slow it down!"
Peter Parker nodded. "Roger that! I'll find a good angle." He leapt onto a jagged rock formation above the battlefield, observing the beast's movements like a predator sizing up its prey.
Satria turned to Esdeath. "I need you to create an opening. Don't let it flap those wings again—I'll line up a shot."
Esdeath smirked, unsheathing her sword. "Leave it to me." She stepped forward, her icy presence radiating confidence.
"Come to me, you overgrown lizard!" Esdeath taunted, her voice echoing in the cavern.
Shagaru Magala's attention snapped to her. With a mighty roar, it lunged, claws slashing toward her with deadly precision. Esdeath sidestepped, deflecting the attack with her blade while launching a barrage of icy spikes at its face.
Above, Peter seized the moment. "Now or never!" He shot thick webs at the beast's legs, wrapping them tightly. Shagaru Magala roared in frustration as it stumbled slightly, its movements momentarily hindered.
"Go for it!" Peter yelled, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Satria didn't waste the opportunity. Drawing back his bowstring, he summoned a dark arrow pulsing with energy and aimed for the beast's exposed side. The arrow flew true, striking Shagaru Magala and causing it to roar in pain.
The explosion rocked the cavern, sending chunks of stone raining down.
But instead of faltering, the beast grew more frenzied. Its golden scales shimmered ominously, and its attacks became faster and more ferocious.
"Damn it," Esdeath gritted her teeth as she struggled to parry its relentless claw swipes. "It's powering up!"
The Shagaru Magala reared back, its wings spread wide as it prepared another charge.
Esdeath quickly acted, slamming her hand to the ground and encasing the floor in a thick layer of ice. The beast slipped mid-charge, crashing to the ground with a deafening thud.
"Now's your chance!" she shouted.
Satria focused all his energy, dark flames swirling around his bow. The air crackled with power as he prepared his attack.
"Arrow of Calamity!"
The arrow shot forth, a black comet streaking through the air. It struck the Shagaru Magala square in the chest, erupting into a massive explosion that shook the entire cavern.
[Fatalis: Did we get him?]
As the smoke cleared, the group's hopes plummeted. The Shagaru Magala still stood, battered and bleeding but very much alive. Its chest glowed with an ominous light as it began charging a devastating attack in its mouth.
[Fatalis: Dangerous! Don't let it hit you with that]
"Stay away from him!" Satria yelled at everyone.
Peter attempted to retreat, but his foot caught on a jagged rock. He tripped, falling hard onto the icy ground.
"No, no, no!" he muttered, scrambling to get up.
The Shagaru Magala's glowing eyes locked onto him, its charged breath aimed directly at the vulnerable Spider-Man.
"Damn it!" Satria cursed, his mind racing. He knew he couldn't reach Peter in time.
Esdeath's eyes widened as she realized the danger. 'If that attack hits... Spider-Boy will die.'
Peter looked up, frozen in terror as the beast prepared to unleash its deadly Virus Breath.
________________
Group Chat:
Pervert Sage: "Someone do something!"
Man with Gender Equality: "Quick! Help him!"
Evil Spirit: "They weren't prepared for this..."
Emilia: "I can't watch this..."
____________________
Satria clenched his fists. His mind was racing, but one thought burned brighter than the rest.
"I can't let this happen. Better to die trying than live with regret. The World! Stop Time!"
To be continued