DC X Rider Ch 153

Another day, another drone of Ms. Tanaka’s lecture. Haruka stared at the whiteboard, pretending to take notes while his mind drifted. College applications loomed, a decision he still hadn't made. Should he follow his parents’ expectations, or forge his own path?

Suddenly, the classroom's old TV flickered to life. A breaking news alert flashed across the screen, cutting through the usual school announcements. On screen, a crudely-made, wooden-looking toy soldier stood center frame. It resembled something from a bygone era, all stiff joints and painted eyes.

A squeaky, almost childlike voice crackled from the speakers. "Greetings, citizens of National City! It is I, Toyman, here to claim responsibility!"

A collective groan rippled through the classroom. Haruka felt a familiar sense of irritation. Supervillains and their grandstanding. He glanced at Kara, who was watching the screen with a mixture of concern and annoyance.

The image zoomed out to reveal the setting: a workshop overflowing with discarded toys and half-finished contraptions. A man with wild, unkempt hair and goggles perched on his nose grinned maniacally.

"You may remember those delightful giant robots that graced your city not too long ago?" Toyman continued, his voice laced with mock innocence. "Those magnificent metal marvels, so rudely interrupted by your caped crusaders? Well, those were my creations! All mine!"

The TV showed snippets of Kamen Rider Abyss, Supergirl, and even that show-off, Superboy, battling the robots.

Haruka frowned. He knew Toyman was a threat, but this public display was particularly brazen. What was he planning?

Toyman chuckled, a sound that grated on Haruka's nerves. "But don't fret, my little playmates. This is just the beginning. I have so many more toys to share with you all!"

Toyman's grin widened, morphing into something genuinely unsettling. "But enough about the past," he chirped. "Let's talk about the future. A future filled with... explosions!"

A collective gasp swept through the classroom. The implications were immediate and terrifying.

"That's right, my little darlings," Toyman continued, his voice taking on a menacing edge. "I've hidden bombs throughout your fair city. Ticking time bombs, disguised as the most innocent playthings imaginable!"

He held up a plush teddy bear, its beady eyes gleaming unnaturally. "Tick-tock, tick-tock. Two hours, National City. That's all you have."

Haruka's blood ran cold. This wasn't some petty robbery or a misguided attempt at artistic expression. This was outright terrorism. Two hours. It wasn't nearly enough time.

"Now, I'm not unreasonable," Toyman said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I have demands. Demands that, if met, will ensure your continued... existence."

A list appeared on the screen, scrolling upwards too fast to read in detail, but Haruka caught snippets: "Venom distribution," "control of the underworld," and "a lifetime supply of building materials for… larger toys." A disturbing mix of Bane's calculated cruelty, Blockbuster's thirst for power, and Toyman's warped sense of play.

The image of the toy soldier reappeared. "Two hours, my little lambs. Or BOOM! The choice is yours."

The screen went static. The school bell rang, jarring in its normalcy.

Chaos erupted in the classroom. Students screamed, grabbed their bags, and stampeded towards the exits. Ms. Tanaka, her face pale, struggled to regain control, but her voice was drowned out by the rising panic.

Haruka barely registered the pandemonium. Bombs. Two hours. He glanced at Kara. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and resolve. He knew what she was thinking.

Kara raised her hand. "Ms. Tanaka, can I be excused? I… I don't feel well."

A weak excuse, but it was enough. Ms. Tanaka, desperate to maintain order, nodded numbly.

Haruka raised his own hand, mirroring Kara's action. "Me too, Ms. Tanaka. Think I ate something bad."

They both knew they had to get out of there. Kara went to the bathroom, while Haruka slipped out of the school's side entrance.

"Come! Kabuto Zecter!"

The air shimmered, and a blur of red and silver slammed into his hand. The Kabuto Zecter. It felt heavier than it looked, cool metal against his skin.

He glanced around, ensuring no one was watching, then attached the Zecter to his belt.

"Henshin." The cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind. He was ready. He rotated the Zecter.

"Change Beetle!"

The familiar surge of power coursed through him. Red armor materialized around him, encasing him in its protective shell.

He was Kamen Rider Kabuto.

Kabuto leaped onto the nearest rooftop, the city stretching out before him like a concrete jungle. A red and blue blur shot past, landing gracefully beside him.

"Rider," Supergirl said, her voice tight with concern. "Did you hear the news?"

"Yeah, Toyman. We need to find those bombs."

Before they could discuss further, Supergirl's comm crackled to life. "Supergirl, Kamen Rider, this is Director Chase."

"Go ahead, Director," Supergirl replied.

"We're aware of the situation. The DEO is mobilizing all available resources to locate those bombs. Every agent, every scanner, every tech expert—they're all on it."

"Any luck so far?" Supergirl asked.

Chase's voice was grim. "Negative. Toyman's good. These aren't your run-of-the-mill explosives. They're designed to blend in, to be overlooked. We've got two hours, and frankly, I doubt we'll find them all."

Kabuto clenched his fist, frustration building. Two hours wasn't nearly enough. Even with the DEO's resources, they were fighting a losing battle. He had to find a way to turn the tide.

"We can't just sit here and wait for the city to blow," Supergirl said, her voice laced with desperation. "There has to be something we can do."

"We'll do what we can," Chase replied, her tone weary. "Just… be careful. Toyman's not playing around."

The comm cut out, leaving them in silence. The city, normally vibrant and full of life, felt suffocating under the weight of the ticking clock. Every passing second was a step closer to disaster.

"Well, that was encouraging," Supergirl said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Kabuto turned to her, his red compound eyes gleaming behind his helmet. "We need a plan. Fast."

"I have one," a voice said, cutting through the tension.

Haruka and Supergirl whirled around. A figure materialized from the shadows of a nearby rooftop, his movements fluid and silent. A cape billowed behind him, stark against the afternoon sky.

Robin.

Haruka hadn't expected to see the Boy Wonder in National City. The kid operated primarily in Gotham, as far as he knew. What was he doing here?

"Robin," Supergirl said, her voice a mix of surprise and relief. "What are you doing here?"

Robin ignored her question, his gaze fixed on Haruka. "I've been tracking Bane's activities. I suspected something like this was coming."

He stepped forward, pulling a device from his utility belt. It was small, sleek, and undeniably Bat-Tech. Haruka recognized the telltale design elements immediately.

"What is that?"

Robin held up the device. "Bat-Bomb Detector. It's designed to pick up the specific frequencies emitted by Toyman's explosives."

He turned a dial, and the device hummed to life. A small screen illuminated, displaying a series of complex waveforms and numerical readouts.

"It's not perfect," Robin admitted, "but it's the best chance you have of finding those bombs before time runs out."

Haruka stared at the device, a flicker of hope igniting within him. Maybe, just maybe, they could pull this off.

"Here," Robin said, tossing a small, circular device to Supergirl and Haruka. "Communicators. Encrypted. Keep in contact."

Haruka caught his. It was cold and surprisingly heavy in his armored hand. He clipped it onto his belt.

"The detector has a limited range," Robin continued. "You'll need to cover as much ground as possible. Supergirl, use your speed and aerial advantage. Kamen Rider, you're fast, but stick to the streets. We need to sweep every corner of this city."

He paused, his gaze piercing. "We don't have much time. Don't fail."

With that, Robin vanished as quickly and silently as he'd appeared, melting back into the urban landscape. Haruka watched him go, a knot of apprehension tightening in his stomach.

He turned to Supergirl, his voice tight. "Ready?"

Haruka stared at the Bat-Bomb Detector, its sleek surface reflecting the red glow of his compound eyes. He clipped the device to his belt, a new weight alongside the Kabuto Zecter.

"Let's go," he said to Supergirl, his voice tight. "Time's ticking."

Supergirl nodded, a grim determination etched on her face. "I'll cover the higher ground. You take the streets."

Without another word, she shot into the sky, a streak of red and blue against the afternoon sun. Haruka took a deep breath, focusing his energy. He activated the Kabuto Zecter.

"Clock Up."

The world blurred. The sounds of National City compressed into a high-pitched whine. Cars became stationary objects, pedestrians frozen mid-stride. Time itself seemed to slow, the frantic energy of the city reduced to a near-standstill.

He was moving faster than thought, a red blur weaving through the frozen tableau. The Bat-Bomb Detector pulsed against his hip, a constant reminder of the deadly game at play.

He focused on the device, his enhanced senses straining to decipher the subtle fluctuations in the readouts. It was a needle in a haystack, searching for a specific frequency amidst the chaos of the city's electronic hum.

Block after block, street after street, he moved with impossible speed. A playground, frozen mid-swing. A bustling market, vendors forever hawking their wares. A group of kids huddled around an ice cream truck, the melting treat suspended in mid-air.

Each scene was a snapshot of normal life, a life that could be snuffed out in an instant.

Then, the Bat-Bomb Detector pulsed violently.

Haruka slammed to a halt, the compressed time snapping back into focus. His head swam for a moment, the sudden shift disorienting. He looked around, his gaze scanning the immediate area.

A toy store.

The gaudy sign hung crookedly above the entrance, the colorful displays visible through the window a stark contrast to the deadly intent hidden within.

He leaped towards the entrance, his hand already reaching for the Zecter. But then he remembered Robin’s instructions – he couldn’t handle these bombs himself. He had to trust the plan. He contacted Supergirl.

"Supergirl, I've got one. A toy store on Elm Street. Looks like the real deal."

"On my way, Rider," her voice crackled through the communicator.

He stood guard outside the store, his senses on high alert, watching the frozen scene inside. Mannequins, toy trains, stuffed animals – all potential weapons. He had to stay focused.

Supergirl arrived moments later, landing softly beside him.

"DEO's on route, should be here any minute." She said.

"We hand it over to them?"

"We call Robin. He takes it from there."

Just as Supergirl finished, the familiar form of Robin appeared. Haruka wasn't sure how the boy had gotten there, but he had to admit, the guy was good at stealth.

"Detector confirmed. It's a big one." Robin said. "Clear the area."

Supergirl ushered a small crowd of onlookers back. Haruka didn't know there were people around until now.

Robin stepped inside the toy store, his movements precise and efficient. Haruka watched from the doorway, the tension coiling tighter in his gut.

After what felt like an eternity, Robin reappeared, carrying a large, brightly-colored box. He held it carefully, as if it were a newborn baby.

"That's it. Primed and ready to go." He looked at Haruka. "Take it. Careful."

Haruka took the box, handing it to Supergirl, who would take it to a safe distance before Robin disarmed it. He trusted them, but this part of the plan still made him feel uneasy. He’d prefer to handle the explosives himself.

Supergirl nodded and took off into the sky with the bomb, and he focused on helping Robin find more.

More blocks, more streets, more ticking time bombs. They worked like a well-oiled machine, a grim ballet of speed, precision, and deadly intent.

"This is getting us nowhere," Supergirl said. Her voice was tight with frustration. "We’ve found five bombs, maybe six, but the city is huge. It feels like we're just scratching the surface."

"We can't give up," Haruka said, his voice firm. "Not while there's still a chance."

"I'm not giving up," Supergirl snapped. "I'm just saying—"

Suddenly, her head snapped up, her eyes widening.

"I hear… I hear people screaming. Multiple locations. They're being held hostage… and… and they have bombs strapped to them."

The air crackled with tension. The mission had just taken a horrifying turn.

Haruka’s gut twisted. He knew it. He knew this was more than just bombs. Toyman wasn’t working alone.

"Bane and Blockbuster," Robin said, his voice grim. "They're spreading themselves thin. Drawing us out."

"We have to save them," Supergirl said, her voice filled with anguish. "We can't just leave them to die."

"We can't risk it," Robin said, his tone brooking no argument. "There are still bombs out there. We find those first, then we deal with the hostages."

Haruka bristled. "People are dying, Robin. We can't just prioritize property damage over human lives."

"Those hostages are already dead if we don't find the remaining bombs," Robin retorted. "We stop the bombs first, then we have a chance to save everyone."

A cold, calculated logic. It was Batman's way of thinking, Haruka knew, but it felt wrong. Utterly, irrevocably wrong.

"Supergirl?" Haruka said, his voice pleading. "What do we do?"

Supergirl hesitated, her face a mask of inner turmoil. The weight of the city, the lives hanging in the balance, pressing down on her.

Then, a voice cut through the tension.

"Maybe you don't have to choose."

Haruka whirled around. Five figures stood on the rooftop behind them, their faces set with determination.

Hila, Tula, Kaldur, Miss Martian, and Superboy stood firm. Superboy gave Haruka pause, but there wasn't much choice in the matter.

"We will handle the hostage situations," Hila said, her voice echoing with the weight of Xebel's command. "We are more than capable. You three," she gestures towards the team of heroes, "continue searching for the remaining bombs."

Robin nods and said "Agreed." He turns to Haruka "You and Superboy, search for the bombs. Supergirl, go with them."

Haruka felt conflicted but knew Robin's tactical mind was sharp. Still, Kara's safety weighed on his mind.

"We need to split up." Supergirl says.

Haruka looked towards Hila and the rest and said "Be careful."

Hila nodded "As will you."

With a deep breath, Haruka turned to Superboy and Supergirl. "Let's go. Time's ticking."

Superboy met his gaze with a confident nod, and Supergirl offered a reassuring smile. With that, the two teams turned and dashed towards the city's separate emergencies, one group hoping to find bombs before time runs out and the other hoping to rescue people from a terrible fate.

Haruka wasn't sure if this was the right choice, but knew that every moment wasted was another life at risk. He'd put his faith in his allies and hope they could pull through. He activated the Zecter and entered Clock Up. He had to trust in them, they were racing against time itself.