"Evening, everyone!" The beauty on the screen waved her hand, her smile enthusiastic. Ever since Reine had become the spokesperson for Ymir Industries, Johan had been lovestruck. Her stunning smile brought joy to his day. With her frilly, tastefully revealing dress, Reine was quite a trendsetter! The idol was stunningly beautiful, with bright gray eyes and a button nose dusted with noticeable freckles. She wore her dusty-blond hair short, in contrast to current fashion. Reine was quite the trendsetter!
Johan gazed up at the screen attached to the skyscraper above him. Other screens displayed the same picture, almost everyone stopping their business to watch Bifrost City's premier idol.
"We have remarkable news! Ymir Industries is announcing a brand-new, revolutionary project!" The idol gave a self-conscious smile, which tugged at Johan's heartstrings. "I'm afraid its science is beyond a dummy like myself, but I can explain the general premise."
After extending a hand, a shimmering image of two lab-coated men appeared within it. One scientist placed a metal cube on a platform while the other fiddled with some controls. Johan's eyes widened in amazement as the cube glowed with light before re-materializing on the other platform three meters away. People muttered in astonishment, wondering if this stunning feat of science was only a clever illusion. The picture vanished when Reine's hand closed.
"Ymir Industries is proud to announce that it has uncovered the secret of matter transference! An unbelievable breakthrough sure to change life forever! We're already working hard to make it affordable for the average consumer."
"I'm moving into a new apartment. I wonder if they'll loan me one? Anyway, the possibilities are endless! President Wilson will hold a press conference later tonight to announce further developments. See you there!" Reine winked before her picture blinked out.
The excitement created by this announcement was infectious, everyone hypothesizing how it might affect life in Bifrost City. It was the first major city built on the ocean, constructed almost twenty years ago by pushing human technology to its limit. The marvel housed almost ten million people. It earned its name, Bifrost City, because it stood between Canada and Norway off the coast of Britain, connecting both land masses by an enormous, expansive bridge. It was known as one of the newest marvels of the world, a feat of unprecedented construction.
"Reine is so amazing!" Johan said. "She even made me interested in this boring science junk."
His best friend, Randall, snorted in derision. "Who cares? It'll only make Ymir richer. Like we'll see a dime from it. Quit wasting time—we have a job to perform."
Johan sighed at his friend's painful ignorance, but Randall was right. The Boss loathed tardiness. They left the glistening streets, with their automated vendors demanding attention, and skyscrapers for Bifrost's more unsavory parts.
During the city's construction, the politicians had promised that Bifrost would be different—a crime-free paradise without slums or homeless people. What a joke that had been. The rapid technological advances had made getting lower, menial jobs difficult. As a consequence, the city suffered a high unemployment rate.
Towering architectural wonders were replaced with rundown, squat buildings as they traveled downtown, graffiti lining most of their walls. People huddled in corners, exchanging money and product with deft fingers. In this place, asking questions was dangerous. Johan heard distant gunfire. While some glanced around cautiously, nobody seemed particularly alarmed. In this section of Bifrost, life was cheap. Johan's gang, the Jotnar, had involved themselves in their fair share of scraps to survive.
Johan kept alert for danger. You never knew when another gang might start trouble. Everything seemed normal until he spotted a woman in a black motorcycle suit staring at him. Her helmet's visor was down, hiding her face. The odd, oval-shaped disc hanging around her neck caught his eye. Her ride was an expensive, sleek piece of machinery—dangerous to have in this unsavory neighborhood. Before he could warn her, she disappeared into a side street.
"Strange." Johan only shrugged, following his friend into their hideout.
The place was rundown, the skeleton of a moving company office ruined by the invention of self-driving cars. While a mess of old pizza boxes, scattered computer parts, and soda cans, it was home. It had a fully stocked fridge and a basketball hoop, which served their needs nicely. While Johan wanted to grab a quick beer, he required a clear head for tonight.
"You're late," the Boss said without preamble. He was an enormous man with broad shoulders, standing tall enough to be a professional basketball player. His expression brokered no nonsense, his hard, piercing eyes unwavering. Rumors said he'd led an L.A. gang before coming to Bifrost. While a tough man, he protected his own. Johan respected that.
"Reine again. I tell you, he needs help," Randall said, rolling his eyes.
"Hey, you can't fight true love!" The Boss's second-in-command, Samuel, said. His scarred lips snickered in amusement. The pale scars contrasted sharply with his almost chocolate-colored skin. "I'm sure he keeps his imaginary wife happy!"
"Shut up!" Johan rolled his eyes but smiled at the jest. Why couldn't these guys understand true art when they saw it? They'd actually laughed when he tried to play one of Reine's albums for them.
"Enough gallivanting about," the Boss said, drawing everyone's attention. "We've got a job to do."
The Jotnar went serious, ready to conduct the dangerous job they'd planned for weeks.
---
"You certain it's not just an old warehouse?" Johan asked.
The Boss nodded. "Rebecca confirmed the intel's good. The place is drawing an unusual amount of power. Inside, Ymir is hiding something."
"The security appears light," Samuel said. "No doubt to avoid drawing attention. I've seen people go inside, but not many. But stay on guard—Ymir guards their secrets jealously."
"Avoid using them unless pressed. I don't want the cops breathing down our necks." The Boss opened a duffel bag, revealing some handguns—Glock 19s, from their appearance. "But don't hesitate to kill if necessary."
Everyone nodded, grabbing a weapon and concealing it somewhere for easy reach. Johan swallowed. While he'd been on the practice range many times, he'd never actually fired on a living person before. He cast aside his doubts. If they completed the job, they'd be rich! Still, the firearm's cold, hard steel pressed against his hand caused an involuntary shudder.
Seagulls cried overhead as they slunk into the shadows, keeping well hidden. Since every self-driving car had cameras, they wished to avoid any possible detection. The ocean crashed behind them, the sea's strong scent filling Johan's nostrils. After passing long-abandoned, empty warehouses, they approached Warehouse 9—their target—a craphole that had seen better days.
Johan furrowed his brow. "Why here and not one of their fancy facilities in Yggdrasil Tower?"
"Not legal, I bet!" Samuel bellowed a laugh. "Good for us. I doubt they'll report the robbery to the police."
The Boss's phone buzzed, and he answered it. "Yes, we're there. We'll rendezvous with you soon."
"Rebecca says the coast is clear. The place is empty," the Boss said. "She'll meet us inside."
After checking for any sign of cameras or guards, they darted inside the building. Trash and garbage covered the barren, abandoned floor. Johan gave the hole-ridden ceiling a worried glance, fearing a possible collapse. Rebecca stood inside, impatiently waiting for them.
"Don't worry about cameras. I've already disabled the three watching the place." The hacker girl wore baggy clothes, the type of generic brands you'd expect to find in a low-rent department store. A fashionable gray beret covered her curly red hair. She clutched a backpack shaped like an oversized koala, containing her laptop.
"The entrance?" the Boss asked.
"Over here." She directed them toward the manager's office. Beyond a rusted metal desk and some rotting bookshelves, the room seemed barren at first glance. On closer inspection, however, Johan spotted footprints in the dust.
"Excellent work, Becca!" Samuel gave their hacker genius a thumbs-up.
"You sure you aren't coming?" Randall asked.
"Heck no!" Becca stuck out her tongue. "It's dangerous! Best leave you big, strapping men to handle the shooty part."
"Big, strapping men?" Samuel rolled his eyes. "Sure."
"Call if there's an emergency. I have several contingency plans ready." Rebecca waved her phone. Its wallpaper displayed a koala chomping eucalyptus leaves. "Now stop distracting me."
The hacker girl revealed a hidden panel behind one of the bookshelves and connected her computer to a port with a cable. After a quick tap of some keys, the panel light flashed green. A bare spot opened up, revealing a hidden staircase.
"This'll give you Level 1 access." Rebecca passed the Boss a plastic card. "They got lazy when they designed this place. It uses typical Ymir security systems."
"Stay alert, everyone. Keep your weapons at the ready." The Boss crept down the stairs, ready for any trouble.
"Good luck!" Rebecca bit her lip in worry.
---
"A hidden lab. It's hard to believe," a figure said, watching behind her visor as the gang members entered the abandoned warehouse. "So, my hunch was correct. Ymir is up to something."
Considering the many rumors, it wasn't surprising. She'd learned about this heist thanks to her friend's excellent investigation skills. While the gang's employer remained unknown, she had her hunches. Many rival corporations were jealous of Ymir's success.
She grabbed her pendant tight with a gloved hand. After counting to ten, she followed in a crouch. If she was correct, she'd finally uncover the truth she sought.
"What's with this place?" The secret facility turned out to be more expansive than they'd expected. The underground tunnels wound around in confusing patterns, and Johan feared they'd get lost. Much to their surprise, they encountered no guards while sneaking through the tunnels. Several times, Johan thought he'd heard something, but his investigations turned up empty.
"Wait." The Boss pushed them behind a wall as a suited man with slicked-back red hair and a goatee passed by.
"Isn't that Bert Visscher, a CEO bigwig in Ymir?" He recalled seeing him standing next to Reine in Ymir press shoots.
"Stay quiet. He might lead us somewhere interesting," the Boss whispered, and everyone nodded.
After a dozen corridors, the CEO halted at a metal door. He pulled out a plastic card from his coat pocket and swiped it. The door's light flashed green, allowing him access. Beyond the door, Johan saw more endless, bland corridors.
Thankfully, their card worked, and they traveled deeper into the facility. It appeared to be one enormous lab. Behind glass doors, they saw various research rooms filled with expensive-looking equipment whose purpose was impossible to determine. Ymir must have spent millions to construct this place. Voices caught their attention, and they spread out, hiding behind some pieces of equipment as the CEO spoke to a lab-coated man. The Boss pointed toward a far door, instructing Johan to keep watch. The other Jotnar guarded the other entrances so they would remain undisturbed.
"Burning the midnight oil, Doctor Nomikos?" Visscher asked.
The scientist rubbed his greasy, shoulder-length hair with a hand. The man yawned, harried from lack of sleep. "No choice. The president wants the Ragnadriver in production as quickly as possible. The prototype is temperamental."
He gestured to a strange belt connected to a nearby computer by multicolored wires. The device contained an enormous silver belt buckle for some unknown purpose. Strange runes were etched into the device's surface, extending from the buckle to the strapping of the belt. They'd finally located their target.
"It's too powerful," Doctor Nomikos continued. "After inserting their Uhyre Key, the shock of the transformation either incapacitates or kills the subject. We are still uncertain why."
"Wonderful," Visscher sighed. "The president won't be pleased. This delays our plan by several weeks at least."
"This is delicate work. Ragnadriver can't be rushed."
"Don't move."
A voice whispered behind Johan, whose body stiffened in response to the cold barrel pressed against the nape of his neck.
"Seems like we've uncovered some intruders," the guard spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. "Drop your weapons, or this one dies. You only get one warning."
Nomikos and Visscher's eyes widened in surprise as Johan and the others stepped out of the shadows. The other Jotnar dropped their weapons as instructed, sending their teammate angry glares for messing up. A pit formed in Johan's stomach, realizing they might all die because he'd gotten distracted. Ymir wouldn't tolerate some busybodies leaking their secrets. The Boss's eyes darted around, seeking any escape routes. The guard whispered into a communicator, requesting more reinforcements. He kept his gun trained on the Jotnar, ensuring nobody tried anything stupid.
"And who are you?" Visscher asked. "Are you from a rival company? Ophion, perhaps? The Ragnadriver is a wonderful piece of military technology. Its applications are limitless. It isn't an exaggeration to say that it will change everything."
"Answer him."
Johan winced when a gun barrel pressed harder against his neck, his body quaking in terror. The Boss remained quiet, refusing to betray his employer. The Jotnar leader would rather die than provide Ymir with any information. Johan's legs trembled, feeling faint. He didn't want to die.
"Pity. Seems you require some persuading."
The guard's finger tightened on the trigger. Johan closed his eyes, praying his death would be swift and painless.
The guard screamed as someone violently tore his hand away from his captive's head. Johan gasped. It was the motorcycle girl. Oddly, her motorcycle helmet still masked her face.
An ear-splitting sound echoed through the lab as the gun discharged, shooting a bullet into a nearby piece of machinery. The girl twisted the guard's hand tighter, forcing him to release his weapon. She kicked it aside and hurled the man onto the cold, hard floor. A follow-up kick knocked the guard unconscious.
She froze when the Boss scooped up the fallen weapon and pointed it at their rescuer in one swift motion.
"Who are you?" the Boss asked, narrowing his eyes.
"The one who saved your life," the woman replied calmly. "Fighting amongst ourselves wastes time. I cleared out several guards, but reinforcements will arrive soon."
A light bulb lit up in Johan's head. So that's why they hadn't encountered any guards. Yet, the Boss remained unmoved. "That doesn't answer my question."
The girl gripped the pendant around her neck. "I only want the truth."
The Boss studied her strange garb, which completely obscured her identity. "You're not a cop. Reporter? PI? It doesn't matter. You're not getting the prize."
His head gestured toward the belt. Randel got the message, scooping the device into a duffle bag. The scientist and CEO didn't object, eyeing Samuel as he covered them with a gun. Dr. Nomikos held his hands up high. Visscher, in contrast, wore a cool, almost amused expression.
"I don't care," the girl replied. "I only want their computer's data."
After studying their tentative ally for several beats, the Boss lowered his weapon. "Fine. Do what you want. We've obtained our objective."
"Hey, that's mine!" the scientist protested as the girl accessed a workstation, inserting a USB stick. After typing a few quick commands, she pocketed the device into a side compartment. Somehow, she knew Ymir's passwords.
"I'm ready," the girl said, rejoining them.
"Fine, let's get out of here," the Boss said. "I'll allow you to accompany us, but only if you give me a copy of that stick."
The biker girl nodded, finding the arrangement agreeable.
Samuel brightened. "That's sure to get us something extra. Good thinking."
Visscher watched as they exited the lab, his amusement only growing. "You're not escaping here alive, fools."
Something about the CEO's words set them on edge. Did he know something? Unease creeping in, they broke into a sprint.
As they fled, Johan couldn't help but study their new ally, sensing something off about her. It was on the tip of his tongue, but the thought refused to surface. Finally, he couldn't stay quiet any longer.
"What's with the helmet?" Johan asked. "We turned off the security cameras. There's no reason to hide your identity."
The girl didn't reply at first, tension practically radiating from her.
"I'm Johan. This is Samuel and Randel," he said, gesturing to the other Jotnar members. "And up ahead is the Boss. He doesn't need any other name."
"Yareli," the biker girl hesitated before continuing. "I'm not very attractive. Terrible scars. It scares people."
"Really?" Johan's eyes widened.
"It can't be that bad!" Samuel rolled his eyes. "From your voice, I can tell you're a real babe!"
"Or you have something to hide," Randel said, narrowing his eyes. "Something's not right about you."
"We're allies. Isn't that enough?" Yareli said stiffly.
"You saved our lives," the Boss said. "I appreciate that. Few people stick their noses out for a stranger. You could have stayed hidden and retrieved that data later."
Yareli shook her head. "And allow Ymir to commit murder? Never."
On the streets, such selflessness often got you killed. Yet Johan couldn't help but be grateful for the timely intervention.
They turned another corner—then stopped cold.
A single man blocked their path.
"You're not going anywhere," the newcomer said, his voice carrying a hard-to-place accent. Italian, maybe? He wore his messy brown mop of hair in a ponytail and grinned at them with a predatory smile.
"Out of the way." The Boss pointed his weapon at the man.
For some reason, the Ymir thug carried no weapons. Did he seriously expect to stop several armed men with his fists? Was he crazy?
Johan noticed a strange silver armband on the man's wrist, a narrow slot at the top. The thug's grin widened as he pulled a small metallic disc from his suit.
Yareli jerked in surprise. "That looks like my pendant!"
Johan realized she was right. The two objects were nearly identical, except for the different rune patterns etched onto them.
"You should provide useful combat data," the man said.
He pressed the disc, which clicked open, shifting into a key-like shape. A glowing image of a bear appeared on its surface.
"Terrorize."
Sparks cascaded from the armband as the Ymir thug jammed the device into the slot.
"What the—?"
Sensing danger, the Boss opened fire—but it was too late.
The man's face elongated, stretching into a gruesome, fearsome muzzle lined with jagged teeth. Brown, shaggy fur erupted across his body, more like bristling needles than hair. His fingers stretched, claws extending into jagged, meter-long blades that tore deep rivulets into the pavement.
Johan took an involuntary step back, heart hammering in his chest.
"What the hell!" Johan stumbled back, his breath hitching in sheer terror. Despite firing mid-transformation, the Boss's bullets ricocheted harmlessly off the creature's armor-like fur.
"Impossible!" Yareli gasped, her voice laced with disbelief.
"Kill him!" The Boss's voice wavered, but his eyes remained sharp with determination.
Johan's hands trembled, too paralyzed to fire, but his comrades snapped out of their stupor and unloaded their magazines into the beast.
The bullets were useless. They bounced off like pebbles, failing even to slow the creature down. With inhuman speed, the monster swung a massive claw, slamming the Boss against the wall. Cement cracked on impact. Blood dribbled from the Jotnar leader's mouth as he weakly lifted his gun, pressing it point-blank against the monster's eye. He fired.
The creature snarled but didn't flinch. The bullet dropped harmlessly to the floor with a soft clang. A cruel laugh rumbled from its chest before it grabbed the Boss's head and smashed it against the wall. His body collapsed in a lifeless heap.
"Boss!" Johan's stomach dropped as horror flooded his veins.
"Bastard!" Randel lunged at the creature's arm, desperately clawing at the strange armband. If they could rip it off—maybe, just maybe—they could end this nightmare.
But the device wouldn't budge. The monster grinned, tightening its grip around Randel's skull.
Snap.
Randel's lifeless body hit the floor with a dull thud, his duffle bag spilling open. The stolen belt tumbled out—the very device they'd risked everything to steal. The price had been far too high.
Johan turned to flee, but a wall of armed guards had already cut off their escape. Their smug expressions made it clear—they were enjoying the show.
"There's no way out!" Samuel rasped, panic rising in his voice.
"I don't know!" Johan's breath came fast and shallow. This was it. They were going to die.
"I won't let you hurt them!"
Yareli moved like a blur, leaping onto the beast in a desperate attempt to restrain it. "Run! I'll keep it busy!"
"But—"
"Go!"
Johan hesitated for a fraction of a second too long. The creature flicked its arm, sending Yareli flying into a concrete wall. Her helmet cracked off on impact, skidding across the floor.
And then everything stopped.
Johan's blood ran cold.
Yareli had no face.
No skin.
No flesh.
Where there should have been a human, there was only a bare, grinning skull.
Silence gripped the room. Even the monster faltered, its expression twisted in shock.
Johan's mind reeled. How is this possible?!
Yareli's skull turned, eye sockets scanning the room as if looking for an exit. But there was none. More guards had appeared, sealing off every path.
Her gaze dropped to her pendant—then to the stolen belt lying mere feet away.
"What the hell," she muttered.
In one swift motion, she grabbed the belt and strapped it around her waist.
The bear monster's stunned expression twisted into amusement. "Ha! Pointless! No one can use the Ragnadriver. And you don't even have an Uhyre Key to activate it!"
"Wrong." Yareli's voice brightened with something new—something dangerous.
She tore the pendant from her neck, pressed it open, and revealed a gleaming wolf emblem within.
"Henshin."
She slammed the pendant into the belt buckle.
The Ragnadriver roared to life. Ancient runes blazed red-hot as the buckle split open, revealing a blood-red gem pulsing with the image of a snarling wolf.
A brilliant white light engulfed Yareli.
Johan shielded his eyes as bluish-gray armor solidified over her skeletal frame. The plating formed a sharp, angular design resembling fur. Gauntlets snapped into place, their fingertips extending into razor-edged claws. A helmet locked over her skull, its lupine visage fierce and unrelenting. Twin purple eyes ignited like burning embers.
The bear monster took an uneasy step back. "I-Impossible!"
Yareli flexed her fingers, examining her transformed body with a mixture of awe and certainty.
"I suppose I need a name," she mused. Then, she looked up, her glowing eyes locking onto her enemy.
"Call me Kamen Rider Fenrir."