[ Introduction Arc ]
Location: Gotham City
Time: 11 AM, Monday
Date: March 18, 20xx
The sun shone brightly overhead as late morning gave way to the creeping heat of noon. Raven was walking beside Tendo who was taking her to have lunch. He already bought his groceries and placed them in the car.
She glances at the bag that contains attire that should last her a week before laundry. Raven rarely took baths and changed attire simply used magic to keep herself clean along with her attire. However, if given a choice she would rather take baths when she could.
The reason she couldn't was because she's always travelling and hiding from her father.
"What place are you taking me again?" Raven asked curiously as she walked beside him.
"It's a place where my grandmother, Cass, and I used to eat," Tendo replied, his stride confident as ever. He can't help but let his arrogant nature get the best of him.
"It's quite good," he added. "Naturally."
Raven glanced at him. "Of course it is."
Tendo smirked, clearly pleased with himself as he continued down the road. "You'll understand soon enough."
She shook her head slightly, realizing there was no point in pressing him for more details. With Tendo, explanations came only when he deemed them necessary. She simply waited and saw what the place held for her.
Whatever it was, she had the feeling it would tell her a little more about Tendo Soji than he was willing to say outright.
They eventually arrived at a modest Japanese restaurant tucked between two aging buildings. The sign was old but well cared for, its characters slightly faded—yet the place radiated warmth the moment they stepped inside.
Raven glanced around, taking in the wooden interior, the soft lighting, and the comforting aroma of simmering curry and fried cutlets. It felt… lived in. Familiar. Safe.
Before Tendo could say anything, an elderly man behind the counter looked up—and his face immediately lit up.
"Soji!" the man called out with a broad smile. "You're back!"
Tendo inclined his head slightly, a rare hint of respect in his posture. "Good afternoon. Table for two. And the usual—pork cutlet curry."
The elderly man laughed. "As expected."
Tendo then turned to Raven. "What would you like?"
She hesitated, caught off guard by the question. "I—"
The elderly man leaned forward with a teasing grin. "Oh? Bringing a young lady now, are you? Is she your girlfriend?"
Raven's eyes widened. "N-No, that's not—"
"She wishes," Tendo said smoothly, completely unapologetic.
Raven stared at him, momentarily stunned. "W-What!? That's not what I—!"
Tendo merely shrugged. "It's a fact."
"…You're unbelievable," Raven muttered, clearly offended.
The elderly man burst into laughter. "Arrogant as always, Soji."
He then turned to Raven, smiling kindly. "And you, young lady?"
Raven glanced at Tendo, then sighed. "…I'll have what he's having."
"Very well," the man said with a nod.
The two were led to a table near the window, sunlight filtering in softly as they took their seats.
They waited quietly for their food. Raven sat by the window, her chin resting lightly against her hand as she stared outside.
Sunlight reflected off passing cars and pedestrians, the world moving at a calm, ordinary pace that felt almost foreign to her.
Tendo watched her in silence.
He followed her gaze to the street beyond the glass, noting how her eyes lingered as if she were memorizing a peace she didn't expect to last.
Soon, the food arrived.
Steam rose from the plates as the elderly owner set them down with a satisfied hum. Golden pork cutlets rested atop rich, fragrant curry, the aroma warm and comforting.
They began to eat.
For a few moments, everything was normal.
Then—
Raven stiffened.
Her fork froze midair as a chill crawled up her spine. The air felt wrong. Heavy. Pressured. Her heart skipped.
Tendo noticed instantly.
He set his chopsticks down, red eyes narrowing slightly. "Let me guess," he said calmly as he stood up, adjusting his jacket. "Demons?"
Raven turned sharply. "Yes—but wait!"
Tendo was already walking toward the door.
"Let me handle it," Raven insisted, standing up. "I'm the one they want."
He didn't slow.
"Even if that is the case," Tendo replied evenly, his scarf lifting as a breeze swept in from the open door, "my fate is to slay those who oppose my path to Heaven."
Raven scowled. "That doesn't even—just wait a mi—!"
She raised her hand, trying to summon her magic—
Pain tore through her body.
"Gah—!" She stumbled, clutching her arm as the spell fizzled out entirely.
Tendo stopped just short of the exit and glanced back.
"No," he said firmly. "You should stay here and protect the owner while I handle it."
Raven gritted her teeth. "You're impossible."
"This won't take a minute," Tendo added calmly.
Then he was gone.
The door swung shut behind him, the bell chiming softly as if nothing unusual had happened.
Raven stood there, arms crossed, equal parts annoyed and worried.
Moments later, the elderly owner stepped out from behind the counter, glancing around. "Hmm? Where did Soji go?"
Raven sighed inwardly, forcing her expression to stay neutral.
"He went to the restroom," she said. "He'll be back soon."
The owner nodded, satisfied, and returned to the counter.
Raven turned her gaze back to the window.
'Please…' she thought, reluctantly. 'Be strong enough.'
A few blocks away, police cruisers lay scattered across the street at odd angles, doors hanging open, light bars still flashing red and blue, painting the narrow street in frantic color. Smoke curled from a shattered storefront, glass littering the asphalt as sirens wailed without pause.
Several officers were already down.
"One officer hit—need a medic!" someone shouted into a radio, panic cutting through the static.
An officer lay slumped against a patrol car, helmet cracked, blood seeping from beneath the visor as his chest rose unevenly. Another was sprawled face-down on the pavement, one arm twisted at a sickening angle.
"Central, this is Unit Twelve—suspects are not human!" an officer yelled, firing his rifle in controlled bursts.
"Requesting immediate backup!"
The cause of all of this chaos were monsters. They moved with unnatural speed, bodies twisted and jagged, some towering with elongated limbs, others crawling low like animals. Their skin ranged from scorched black to raw crimson, eyes glowing as they hissed and laughed.
A shotgun blast thundered.
"Target hit!" an officer called out.
The demon's head exploded—only for the body to keep moving.
"What the hell!?" the officer shouted as the creature barreled into him, slamming him into a cruiser hard enough to dent the door.
"Fall back! Establish a perimeter!" a sergeant roared.
"Less-lethal won't work—aim center mass and keep firing!"
A demon leapt over a squad car, claws tearing through steel like wet paper. Another scaled a fire escape and dropped from above, knocking an officer to the ground as he screamed for help.
"Help! Someone—!"
Gunfire echoed. Batons snapped. Radios crackled with overlapping distress calls.
Then—
Tap.
A single, deliberate footstep echoed from the shadows of a narrow alley between two buildings—far from the streetlights, far from where anyone could get a clear look.
The air shifted.
A demon froze mid-lunge as something pierced straight through its torso, pinning it to the pavement. The creature shrieked before dissolving into ash.
The remaining demons turned.
From the darkness, half-hidden by shadow and steam vents, stood a lone figure—red scarf fluttering slightly in the heated air. His face remained obscured, features swallowed by the alley's gloom.
Tendo Soji.
He adjusted his jacket, voice low and steady, barely audible over the chaos.
"My grandmother once said," he murmured,
"'When beasts bare their fangs, it only proves they're already cornered.'"
The demons snarled and charged toward the alley.
"Something's engaging them!" an officer shouted.
"I don't know who, but they're drawing fire!"
"Copy that," the sergeant replied.
"All units, regroup and cover civilians—whatever that is, let it handle the hostiles!"
Tendo stepped forward into the deeper shadows.
The demons followed.
And none of them would come back out.
The demons lunged at once—only to be struck mid-charge.
The Kabuto Zecter tore through the air like a crimson bullet, smashing into the first demon with a burst of sparks before ricocheting into another, then another. Each impact sent showers of light and distorted screeches echoing through the alley. The creatures barely had time to react before the Zecter abruptly stopped—
Caught.
Tendo's hand closed around it effortlessly as he stepped forward, the shadows still concealing his face.
"Hen…shin."
With a smooth, practiced motion, he brought the Zecter down and slotted it into the Rider Belt.
[ Henshin! ]
The mechanical announcement rang out, sharp and absolute.
Metal plates materialized around his body in rapid succession, forming piece by piece with heavy, industrial precision. Armor locked into place with solid clacks,
In moments, the transformation was complete.
Standing where the human once was now stood Kamen Rider Kabuto — Masked Form, his helmet gleaming beneath the flickering alley lights, power radiating from his armored frame as the remaining demons recoiled instinctively.
Tendo stepped out from the shadows into the flickering light of the streetlamps. The police froze in place, their weapons still raised, mouths hanging open.
'A new hero?' they thought, awe and disbelief mixing with relief.
The demons, however, were far less impressed. They shrieked and growled, circling him like predators sizing up a dangerous prey.
Tendo didn't even flinch. He walked forward calmly. A demon lunged with claws extended, aiming for his head. Tendo tilted his body ever so slightly, weaving past the attack like water flowing around a stone. With a flick of his arm, he struck the creature in the chest, sending it staggering back with a sharp metallic clang as sparks flew off his armored gauntlet.
Another demon barreled from the side. Tendo pivoted, redirecting its momentum with a subtle push. The creature spun out of control, crashing into a nearby car. Without breaking stride, he delivered a powerful kick to its jaw, sending it sprawling across the asphalt.
Yet another charged, this one with jagged teeth bared and a shriek like metal grinding. Tendo leaned back, letting it overshoot, then struck with a sweeping arc of his leg, the demon tumbling forward into the remains of its own fallen comrades.
The fight was fluid, almost dance-like. He walked casually, his armor glinting in the dim streetlights, each motion measured but lethal. He didn't need to run or jump—he was the movement. Every dodge, every counter, every strike flowed naturally, like the steps of someone who had fought a thousand battles and never been truly threatened.
Bullets ricocheted from nearby cars as terrified police fired, but Tendo's aura didn't waver. The demons' growls grew frantic as their coordinated attacks were one by one dismantled.
The demons shrieked and laughed, their grotesque bodies pulsating as black energy swirled around them. Before Tendo could strike again, their wounds began to knit themselves back together with unnatural speed, flesh reforming, claws sharpening, and eyes glowing brighter than before.
Tendo's brow furrowed slightly as he took a half-step back, analyzing their movements. Something's off…
A blur of shadow shot toward him. Before he could react, the first demon vanished from sight—teleporting?
A sudden, violent impact slammed into his side like a battering ram. Sparks flew as he collided with a parked car, the metal crumpling under the force of his armor. The car shuddered and groaned, windshield cracking, but Tendo's form remained intact, masked and unyielding.
Another demon appeared behind him in an instant, launching a flurry of claw strikes that moved faster than the eye could follow. Tendo ducked and twisted, sparks flying as the claws scraped against his armor, chipping away at the paint but never breaching the reinforced plating.
Yet another emerged from above, dropping like a spear from the rooftop. Tendo rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, the wind from the impact whipping his scarf around his helmet.
"'They have a clock up? No…'" he muttered to himself, recalculating their movement patterns mid-combat. "It's similar… but not exactly."
He landed in a crouch, surveying the street as the demons converged again, moving with eerie precision.
'Like I'm fighting worms, huh?'
A surge of excitement coursed through him—not fear, not panic. A grin could almost be imagined beneath the mask. Every dodge, every impact, every scrape of claw on armor was a test, and Tendo welcomed it.
'Finally… a challenge worthy of my skills.'