Yuriko's world twisted into darkness as Kamen Rider Fifteen dragged her through a rift of shattered light. When her vision cleared, she found herself standing in a desolate wasteland—blackened soil cracked under her boots, and a storm of violet clouds churned above.
Fifteen released her arm with a rough shove, and she stumbled forward, steadying herself. His skeletal armor gleamed faintly under the storm's light, his golden "十五" mask radiating authority.
"Why did you bring me here?" Yuriko demanded, clenching her fists.
Fifteen's voice was low, gravelly, and cold. "Because you carry what does not belong to you. Ohma Zi-O gave you a fragment of Rider power… a gift you are not worthy of." He raised his massive blade, pointing it at her. "I will strip it from you, here and now."
Yuriko's heart pounded, but her spirit did not waver. She stepped back into a ready stance, her transformation belt glowing faintly.
"Then you'll have to beat me to take it."
With a guttural roar, Fifteen lunged forward. His blade crashed down, sparks erupting as Yuriko barely dodged to the side. The shockwave from his swing cracked the earth.
She transformed instantly, her basic Tackle armor wrapping around her in a surge of light. With heightened speed, she darted forward, trading blows with Fifteen. Her punches connected, but he blocked with ease, his blade parrying each strike with brutal efficiency.
"You are strong," Fifteen admitted, pushing her back with a shove that nearly knocked her off her feet. "But strength means nothing before inevitability."
He raised his sword high, energy crackling down its jagged edge. Yuriko braced, her mind racing. She couldn't beat him like this. She needed something more.
Her hand shot to the keychains at her side. Her fingers brushed against one in particular—the glowing blue keychain of Kamen Rider Nadeshiko. The moment she touched it, warmth surged through her, as though a kindred spirit reached out to her across time.
She slammed it into her slot and shouted:
"Henshin!"
Blue and silver light exploded around her, her armor shifting into a sleek, futuristic form. The moment her helmet locked in place, she felt different—lighter, faster, sharper. Energy thrummed through her body, radiating from the rocket-like patterns across her arms.
Kamen Rider Nadeshiko had awakened within her.
Fifteen's visor flickered faintly, as though acknowledging her power. "So you wield another Rider's strength…" His grip tightened on his blade. "It changes nothing."
Yuriko charged first this time, her speed blurring as she closed the distance. Her rocket-powered strikes slammed into Fifteen's armor, forcing him back step by step. For the first time, the skeletal Rider grunted, sparks flying from his chestplate.
"You're not the only one who knows inevitability!" Yuriko shouted, launching a powerful kick that sent Fifteen staggering. "I may not be the strongest Rider… but I fight to protect, and that's something you'll never understand!"
They clashed again, blades against rockets, their fight shaking the desolate battlefield. With each strike, Yuriko gained ground, her movements sharper, her energy more focused. Fifteen's blows grew heavier, more desperate, but Yuriko parried, countered, and pressed on.
Finally, with a surge of momentum, she knocked his sword aside and leapt into the air, rockets igniting behind her. "Rocket Kick!"
Her strike connected, sending Fifteen crashing into the dirt with a thunderous impact. Smoke billowed around his body. For a moment, it looked like Yuriko had won.
But before she could finish the fight, a new roar split the air.
From the storm clouds above, a monstrous figure descended—a twisted amalgamation of steel and shadow, its body bristling with spikes and glowing eyes. It lunged at Yuriko, claws slashing. She barely managed to block, sparks scattering across the battlefield.
Fifteen rose slowly to his feet, watching the chaos. His visor glowed faintly as he studied Yuriko. Then, without a word, he stepped back into the shadows.
"This fight is not over, Tackle," he said, his voice echoing as he vanished. "But soon, the power you hold will be mine."
Yuriko gritted her teeth, but she had no time to dwell on his departure. The monster lunged again, and she met it head-on. Her rocket fists lit up as she unleashed a flurry of blows, driving it back. With each strike, her determination hardened.
She spun, launched into the air, and delivered one final kick that erupted in a blast of light. The monster howled before exploding into smoke and fire, the wasteland trembling under the force.
Breathing heavily, Yuriko stood victorious. Her Nadeshiko armor flickered as the transformation faded, leaving her in her basic form again. She looked toward the dark horizon where Fifteen had disappeared.
"I'll stop you," she whispered, her hands clenching. "No matter what it takes."
And as she turned back toward the faint glow of the city, she knew one thing for certain: the battles ahead were only going to get harder.