Haruka navigated the grocery store's produce section, carefully selecting apples and checking their firmness. His phone buzzed in his pocket - another text from Kara. He pulled it out, balancing a bag of oranges in his other hand.
"Haven't seen you patrolling lately," her message read. "Everything okay?"
He typed back slowly, choosing his words carefully. "Going through some personal stuff right now."
The response was intentionally vague. Haruka couldn't risk revealing too much, not when he suspected Lena Luthor might have eyes and ears everywhere. And Superboy - who knew whose side he was really on?
He dropped a few more items into his shopping basket: bread, milk, some protein bars. His mind wandered to the bug he'd found on his jacket, the one he'd destroyed with precise efficiency. The Candroids were currently monitoring Lena's movements, but he couldn't be certain of anything.
Another text from Kara came through. "Everything good?"
"Yeah," Haruka replied. "Just need some time."
Haruka's phone buzzed again. Kara's message read: "If you need any help, you can count on me."
He smiled, appreciating her genuine offer of support. "Thanks," he typed back. "Good to know I have a reliable friend."
The simple exchange brought him a moment of comfort amid the complexity of his current situation.
Haruka was walking through the grocery store when a sudden commotion outside caught his attention. He set down his basket and moved toward the store's entrance, peering out the glass doors.
Outside, police vehicles surrounded a section of the street, their red and blue lights flashing against the surrounding buildings. Yellow crime scene tape cordoned off a small area near the sidewalk. Curious, Haruka stepped outside, his keen senses alert.
As he approached the perimeter, he could see the reason for the police presence. A body lay on the ground, partially covered by a white sheet. What was visible looked distinctly unusual. The woman's corpse appeared shriveled, as if something had completely drained her body of fluid. Her skin looked like dried parchment, stretched taut over what seemed to be an almost skeletal frame.
A police officer noticed Haruka's approach and held up a hand. "Sir, please stay back," he warned.
Haruka stopped, his eyes fixed on the bizarre scene before him. The body looked like it had been completely drained of blood, leaving behind a husk that barely resembled a human form.
Nearby civilians spoke in hushed, anxious tones, their voices a mix of shock and speculation.
"Another metahuman attack, maybe?" one woman whispered to her companion.
"Look at how she's dried up," a man said, shaking his head. "It's like something sucked her entire body dry."
"Could be some kind of vampire metahuman," another voice suggested. "National City's been seeing some weird stuff lately with all these superhuman incidents."
The whispers continued, each theory more bizarre than the last. Some blamed Supergirl's recent activities, others spoke of unknown creatures lurking in the city's shadows. Haruka remained silent, his eyes fixed on the crime scene, absorbing every detail and every hushed conversation around him.
The police officers moved carefully around the body, their expressions grim and professional. Forensic technicians in white suits carefully photographed and examined the scene, their movements precise and methodical.
Haruka knew from his experience as Kamen Rider that this was no ordinary crime. Something supernatural was at play, and the civilians' speculation might be closer to the truth than they realized.
Haruka stepped away from the curious onlookers, his movements deliberate and measured. The alleyway offered a moment of privacy, sheltered from the prying eyes of the crowd. He reached into his system storage, summoning several Candroids with a subtle gesture.
The small robotic creatures materialized around him, their mechanical forms gleaming in the dim light. Haruka's voice was low but clear as he gave his instructions. "Search the area. Look for anything unusual. Track any metahuman signatures or traces of supernatural activity."
The Candroids acknowledged his command with a synchronized nod. They began to move methodically, spreading out across the alleyway and surrounding areas. Each Candroid deployed its specialized scanning equipment - some using infrared sensors, others employing electromagnetic detection capabilities. They moved with precision, their small forms weaving between trash cans, investigating every shadowy corner and potential hiding spot.
Haruka watched as his robotic assistants carried out their mission, their systematic approach a testament to their advanced programming.
A Takacandroid returned to Haruka, its mechanical eye projecting a holographic image. The footage showed a shadowy figure trailing a young woman through a dimly lit street. Her pace quickened, shoulders tense, clearly aware she was being followed.
Haruka's muscles tensed. Something wasn't right.
He activated the Abyss Driver, transforming into Kamen Rider Abyss. The armor materialized around him, sleek and aquatic-themed, with sharp fin-like protrusions and a helmet resembling a shark's mouth. A nearby storefront window caught his reflection, and he stepped through, entering the Mirror World.
The Mirror World shimmered around him - a distorted version of reality where colors seemed muted and reflections moved independently.
The Takacandroid's guided Haruka through the Mirror World, its mechanical eye tracking the shadowy figure stalking the young woman. As the predator raised his hand, preparing to strike, Haruka burst through a nearby reflective surface.
In a blur of motion, Kamen Rider Abyss tackled the mysterious assailant, sending both of them crashing into a stack of nearby garbage cans. The woman spun around, her eyes wide with shock and terror.
Haruka quickly recovered, positioning himself between the woman and the attacker.
"Run!" he commanded, his voice sharp and urgent. The woman hesitated for a moment, then turned and fled down the alleyway, her footsteps echoing against the brick walls.
The shadowy figure kicked Haruka with surprising strength, sending him sliding across the wet pavement. But Kamen Rider Abyss landed gracefully, his armored boots scraping against the ground as he regained his balance.
The attacker stood motionless, a tall figure draped in a dark coat that seemed to absorb the surrounding shadows. His pale skin gleamed under the streetlight, contrasting sharply with his dark attire.
"I've been expecting you," the man said, his voice smooth and aristocratic. There was something predatory in his stance, a coiled tension that suggested immense power barely contained.
Haruka shifted, the Abyss armor's mechanical joints clicking softly. "Who are you?" he demanded, scanning the area for potential civilian casualties.
The man smiled, revealing the faintest hint of sharp canines. "I am an escapee from Fort Rozz," he announced, executing a small bow that was both mocking and elegant. "My name is Anur Vladias."
"Another one…"
Haruka stood his ground, the Abyss armor gleaming under the streetlight. "Why are you attacking these people?" he asked, his voice steady and controlled.
Anur Vladias tilted his head, a dismissive smirk playing across his pale features. "They are nothing more than sustenance," he replied coldly. "Merely food to maintain my existence."
"You're draining their blood?" Haruka pressed, taking a cautious step forward.
"Precisely," Anur responded, his aristocratic accent dripping with disdain. "Though I find your simplistic terminology offensive. These are not mere 'victims' - they are a necessary resource."
Haruka's tone grew more direct. "Are you a vampire?"
Anur's eyes flashed with sudden irritation. "Vampire?" he spat the word like a bitter curse. "I am no common bloodsucker. I am a Vladat - a noble species from the planet Luna Transyl. Do not insult me with such pedestrian classifications."
The Vladat's posture shifted, radiating a mix of pride and barely contained predatory energy, making it clear that he considered himself far superior to any Earth-based mythology about blood-drinking creatures.
Haruka's stance remained rigid, his Abyss armor gleaming under the streetlights.
"Vladat, Vampire, don't care. I'm taking you down," Haruka declared, his voice cold and determined.
[Sword Vent]
He lunged forward, the Abyss Sabers extended, ready to strike. But before the blades could connect, Anur Vladias suddenly burst into a swarm of bat-like creatures, each one dark and chittering with an otherworldly energy. The creatures swirled around Haruka, momentarily disorienting him.
Anur's voice emerged from the swarm, smooth and aristocratic. "As much as I enjoy a good duel, I'm afraid I don't have time to entertain you, Kamen Rider. Farewell"
In an instant, the bat-creatures dispersed into the night sky, leaving Haruka standing alone on the empty street. The Vladat had vanished as quickly as he had appeared.
Haruka lowered his weapons, knowing this encounter was far from over. This was going to be a problem.
///
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