DC X Rider Ch 160

Haruka sprawls on his bed, a rare afternoon free from rampaging robots, exploding toys, and Kryptonian aunties. Finals are over, summer stretches ahead, and for the moment, the world seems content to let him relax. He closes his eyes, enjoying the quiet.

[RING 🔔]

His phone buzzes on the nightstand. He squints at the caller ID—Lena Luthor. A sigh escapes his lips. What does she want now? He answers. "Kojima," he says, businesslike.

"Haruka! I hope I'm not disturbing you," Lena's voice crackles through the speaker, a noticeable lilt of excitement coloring her tone.

Haruka frowns. "Depends. Is this about another imminent world-ending threat? Because frankly, I’m all heroed out for the day."

Lena laughs, a genuine sound that surprises him. "Nothing quite so dramatic. Though, depending on your perspective, this could be equally impactful."

"Oh?" He raises an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Something good happen then?"

"Something like that," she replies cryptically. "You'll want to see this."

His mind races. Had she managed to synthesize a new element? Perfected artificial Kryptonite? Or worse—figured out how to mass-produce Kamen Rider armor? He sits up, the lazy afternoon instantly forgotten. Whatever it is, Lena's enthusiasm is infectious… and more than a little unnerving. He needed to see this.

Haruka climbs into Auto Vajin, the engine purring beneath him. LexCorp. He grips the handles, revving the engine. What has she done now?

As he cruises through National City, buildings blurring past, he can't help but think about Lena. Her relentless pursuit of scientific advancement, her unwavering belief in the power of innovation—it's a stark contrast to his own somewhat… chaotic path. Yet, there's something undeniably compelling about her vision. What is she thinking?

The LexCorp tower looms ahead, piercing the sky. Even from blocks away, he senses the frenetic energy, the almost palpable hum of activity. Security is tight, a phalanx of guards stationed at every entrance, their expressions grim, alert. He pulls up to the main gate.

Inside, the building buzzes with activity. Technicians scurry through the corridors, carrying equipment. Executives stride purposefully, their faces etched with determination. Haruka navigates the labyrinthine hallways. A mix of excitement and trepidation churns within him, a familiar cocktail he usually reserves for facing down giant monsters or rogue Kryptonians. What was waiting for him?

…

Inside the lab, the air crackles with scientific energy. Lena Luthor, a whirlwind of contained excitement, greets Haruka. "Glad you could make it. I've been dying to show you this." She gestures toward a workbench, upon which sits a curious object shrouded by a silken cloth.

With a flourish, Lena whips away the covering. Beneath it rests a belt, a sleek band of green metal, faintly glowing with an inner light. It was a curious sight. Intricate circuitry seemed etched into its surface, pulsing with contained power.

Haruka's brow furrows. "This... is the prototype?"

Lena beams, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. "The one and only. Isn't she a beauty?" Lena steps closer, her eyes gleaming. "Kryptonite-powered, of course. And I've managed to incorporate Mother Box technology for compression. The whole thing can fold down to practically nothing."

Kryptonite. Of course. What else would a Luthor use? On brand doesn't even begin to cover it, Haruka thinks. The green glow of the belt suddenly felt colder. While impressive, the use of Kryptonite always carries a degree of risk, especially for Kryptonians like Kara. He knew he shouldn't be surprised, but that didn't mean he had to like it.

Lena claps her hands together, the sound sharp in the sterile lab. "Well, are you going to just stand there gawking? Or do you want to see what this baby can do?"

Haruka raises an eyebrow. "Please. By all means, demonstrate."

Lena grins, a flash of something almost predatory in her expression. She snatches up the belt, and beckons him to follow. "Come on, then. Show time."

They walked in silence down a long corridor, the hum of machinery the only sound. She stops in front of a door marked [Simulation Testing Room].

Haruka feels a familiar wave of apprehension. He'd been in this room before, this stark white space where Lena put her inventions through their paces. It felt less like a lab and more like some kind of futuristic gladiatorial arena.

Lena punches in a code, the door slides open, revealing… nothing. Just the same, blindingly white room.

Lena buckles the belt around her waist, adjusting the fit with a practiced hand. The green light intensified, bathing her face in an eerie glow. She took a deep breath, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Alright, showtime," she muttered, her thumb hovering over a small fingerprint scanner on the buckle.

"Hold up," Haruka says.

Lena pauses, her eyebrow arched in question. "Problem?"

"You can't just activate it," Haruka says, shaking his head. "There's a process."

Lena rolls her eyes, a hint of amusement tugging at the corner of her lips. "Oh, really? And what process would that be, Mr. Kamen Rider Expert?"

Haruka shrugs, feigning nonchalance. "You have to say it."

"Say what?"

"You know…" He hesitates, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious. "The thing. The… incantation."

Lena stares at him, a slow smile spreading across her face. "You can't be serious."

Haruka's cheeks flush. "Hey, it's tradition! It's part of the whole… Rider thing."

Lena's smile widens. "And what exactly is this tradition?"

He sighs, knowing he's walked right into this. "You have to say… 'Henshin!'"

Lena bursts out laughing, the sound echoing in the sterile room. "Henshin? You want me, Lena Luthor, brilliant scientist and CEO, to shout 'Henshin' like some kind of… anime character?"

"Hey! It's Tokusatsu, not anime! And it's not just some incantation," Haruka insists. "It's a declaration! A commitment! It's what makes the Rider… the Rider."

Lena continued to chuckle, but there was no malice in her tone. "Alright, alright, I get it. It's important to you." She sighs dramatically, her eyes sparkling. "Fine. I'll humor you. But if I start sprouting antennae, I'm blaming you."

Haruka grinned. "Deal."

Lena took a deep breath, placed her thumb on the scanner, and looked at Haruka, "You better enjoy this."

Lena rolled her eyes one last time for good measure. Then, taking one final, theatrical breath, she pressed her thumb to the scanner.

"Henshin!"

The word ripped from her throat, surprisingly forceful. A beat of silence followed, then the belt erupted.

Blinding green light consumed the room, so bright that Haruka instinctively threw up an arm to shield his eyes. The air crackled with energy, ozone thick in his nostrils. He could feel the vibrations in his bones, a low hum that resonated deep within him.

When he dared to look again, Lena was… different.

Armor materialized around her, a sleek, form-fitting suit of green, silver, and dark blue. Energy lines, glowing with that same eerie green light, pulsed across the surface, tracing patterns that seemed almost… organic. The helmet was perhaps the most striking, the faceplate bisected by a pair of large, yellow eyes, vaguely insectile, reminiscent of Faiz, yet utterly unique.

Damn, Haruka thought, a genuine smile spreading across his face. She actually pulled it off.

The suit looked… good. Really good. Sleek and powerful, yet undeniably Lena. He could see touches of her style in the design, subtle adaptations that elevated it beyond a mere copy of existing Rider tech. It was a Luthor creation, alright - ambitious, elegant, and undeniably dangerous.

Lena flexed her hands, watching as energy crackled around her gauntlets. She took a tentative step, then another, her movements fluid and confident.

"Well," Haruka said, unable to contain his admiration. "That's… impressive."

Lena turned, her glowing yellow eyes fixed on him. "Functionality remains to be seen." She raised her arms, testing the range of motion. "But so far, so good."

"Do you… have a name for it yet?" Haruka asked, genuinely curious.

Lena shook her head, her attention already focused on something beyond him. "Not yet," she said, her voice slightly distorted by the helmet's internal comm system. "Right now, I'm more interested in seeing what it can do." She turned toward the simulation room, her every movement projecting confidence.

The simulation room hummed to life, a low thrum that vibrated through the floor. The pristine white walls shimmered as the energy fields activated, solidifying into a virtual battlefield.

Lena, now fully armored, strode confidently to the center of the room. "Alright, system," she spoke, her voice echoing slightly. "Load program Alpha-Nine. Medium difficulty."

[Acknowledged. Commencing combat simulation in T minus ten seconds.]

Red numbers flashed on the wall, counting down the seconds. Haruka watched, his heart rate quickening. This is it. Time to see what Lena's cooked up.

[Simulation commencing.]

The countdown hit zero, and the room exploded. Not with sound, but with matter. Robots, sleek and metallic, materialized out of thin air, forming a phalanx of silent, deadly machines. They were humanoid in shape, but their faces were blank, their movements unnervingly precise.

Definitely medium difficulty, Haruka thought, his eyes scanning the ranks of the simulated enemies. There had to be at least twenty, maybe more.

Lena didn't hesitate. Before the robots could even fully orient themselves, she moved. A blur of green and silver, she was a whirlwind of motion, weaving through the ranks with impossible speed.

Haruka watched, his jaw dropping. She's fast. Faster than I expected. Even with his enhanced Rider senses, he could barely track her movements. It was like watching a scene straight out of a Kamen Rider show, all hyperkinetic action and stylized violence.

Lena unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, each blow connecting with devastating force. The robots, designed for heavy combat, crumpled like tin cans. She weaved between them with cat-like grace. Her strength has definitely increased.

The robots attempted to retaliate, lasers spitting from their weapon arms, but Lena was too quick. She dodged and weaved, her movements almost preternatural, leaving a trail of smoking wreckage in her wake. One robot tried to grab her, its metallic fingers snapping shut, but she simply vaulted over it, landing behind it with a silent grace.

She reached out a hand, palm open. A bolt of green energy erupted from her forearm, striking the robot square in the back. The robot shuddered, its systems overloading, and collapsed in a shower of sparks.

Energy blasts? Haruka thought, impressed. That's a nice touch.

As the remaining robots converged, Lena drew her weapon. From a compartment on her left gauntlet, a blade of pure green energy sprang into existence. The Photon Stream shone like a deadly, ethereal sword.

Lena spun into a flurry of slashes, each strike clean and precise. The robots, armed with lasers and brute force, were no match for her skill. The robots burst into sparks and crashed into the walls. Haruka felt a surge of adrenaline, his body instinctively tensing with the thrill of battle. He could practically hear the J-rock soundtrack in his head.

The robots were almost gone. Haruka notes that she has the battle under control. She is going to win this.

Lena powered up, and then she jumped.

It wasn't a normal jump. It was a leap, a soaring arc that carried her high above the remaining robots. Haruka watched, transfixed, as she reached the apex of her jump, the green energy lines on her armor glowing brighter than ever. This has to be it, her finisher.

She tucked her body into a spin, her right leg extending, crackling with energy. Even from his vantage point, Haruka could feel the heat radiating from her.

And then she came down.

The side kick connected with a thunderclap of force, impacting the last cluster of robots with an earth-shattering boom.

The room erupted.

Not in fire, but in a wave of pure, raw energy. A shockwave of green light washed over the remaining robots, vaporizing them instantly, leaving behind nothing but twisted metal and smoking circuits. The force of the impact shook the entire simulation room, the walls vibrating with barely contained power.

As the dust settled, Lena landed gracefully on her feet, the green energy lines on her armor fading slightly. She stood in the center of the room, surveying the wreckage, a triumphant glint in her yellow eyes.

Haruka felt a swell of pride. Lena was amazing and creative. Her strength and passion were a sight to behold.

Another Kamen Rider has been born.