The train rattled over the tracks, the soft hum of machinery and the faint whistle of wind through the cracks filling the silence. In a dimly lit train car, a silver-eyed young man with black hair and cat ears sat hunched over a book. His robotic right arm rested on the table beside him, the faint whir of its servos punctuating the rhythmic clatter of the train.

Corey’s silver eyes glimmered faintly in the low light as he turned a page. “A utopia,” he murmured to himself. “A world where there’s only one race—where people are judged by their actions, not what they are.”

A figure leaned against the doorway, arms folded and blue eyes narrowed. Shadow, a ronin-like warrior with cat ears and black hair, looked every bit the seasoned fighter as he rested his hand on the hilt of his katana. His cost  tail swished lazily behind him. “You’re reading one of Blake’s books, aren’t you?”

Corey glanced up, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Nah. This one’s my pick. Thought I’d see what all the fuss was about.” He closed the book, resting it on his lap.

Shadow raised a skeptical brow. “And?”

“It’s interesting,” Corey replied, his gaze distant. “Imagine it: a world without Faunus, without Grimm, without Salem. A world where peace isn’t just a dream.”

Shadow snorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Sounds like wishful thinking. Hope’s dangerous, Corey. You start dreaming about places like that, and it’ll make the real world seem even worse.”

Corey leaned back, the faint hum of his robotic arm accompanying the motion. “Maybe. But what’s the harm in dreaming? Even a warrior can hope for something better, right?”

Shadow stepped closer, his blue eyes softening slightly. “You’re not wrong. But don’t let it distract you from reality.”

Before Corey could respond, the train jolted, and the dim light flickered. Shadow’s ears twitched, and his hand instinctively went to his blade. Corey, ever alert, tucked the book into his bag and rose from his seat.

“Looks like reality’s calling,” Corey said, his tone dry.

Shadow nodded, his expression grim. “Let’s get this over with.”

As the train sped toward Atlas, the faint glow of moonlight through the windows cast shadows across the walls, an omen of the trials yet to come.

Corey’s robotic arm whirred softly as he adjusted his bag. He looked out the window, silver eyes reflecting the distant glow of Atlas. Shadow stood beside him, silent but alert.

Neither of them noticed the faint ripple in the air behind them—a distortion, almost imperceptible, that seemed to hum with an energy not of their world.

______________________________________________________________________________

On a stone staircase bathed in moonlight, a figure in a white Kitsune mask descended with an air of divine authority. A flowing cape resembling nine tails trailed behind him, glowing faintly as if alive. Each step echoed in the silence, accompanied by the mechanical hum of the Desire Driver strapped to his waist.

The Rider’s voice rang out, calm and commanding. “Geats Nine.”

The driver responded with a resonant chime.

“Ready? FIGHT!”

Below him, a group of Riders—Keiwa (Tycoon), Neon (Na-Go), Michinaga (Buffa), and others—stood frozen, their gazes locked on the lone figure. The weight of Ace’s transformation into Geats Nine was palpable, a presence that seemed to fill the air itself.

“Damn it, Ace,” Michinaga muttered, his fists clenching. “Why do you always have to act so untouchable?”

Ace paid them no mind, his slow descent filled with unshakable confidence. At the bottom of the stairs, a hooded figure waited. His brown hair peeked out from under his hood, and his crimson eyes glowed faintly in the dark. Most unnerving of all was the blackened, clawed arm at his side, resembling a Grimm’s appendage.

“Well, well,” the hooded figure drawled, his tone mocking. “The ‘Star of the Stars of the Stars’ himself. Come to light up my little corner of the world?”

Ace stopped a few steps above him, tilting his head slightly. “You’re out of your depth.”

The hooded man grinned, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “Am I?”

Before Ace could react, the man surged forward, his Grimm arm slashing through the air with unnatural speed. Sparks flew as the claws tore through Ace’s armor, sending him staggering back.

“Ace!” Keiwa shouted, stepping forward, but a barrier of dark energy slammed into place, separating the other Riders from the fight.

Ace steadied himself, his hand gripping the Desire Driver tightly. He looked up at his opponent, his expression unreadable but his eyes burning with determination.

The hooded man chuckled, flexing his monstrous arm. “You’re not the only one with tricks, Rider. Let’s see if your stars can outshine the darkness.”

Ace tried to figure out what the end game of this man was. “Tell me, are you with the Staff of the Desire Grand Prix, Jyamatos, or a third party?”

The hooded man smirked. “That's the beauty of it, but I'm with someone stronger than your silly little time traveling Reality show, your villainous plants and whatever else you face. She has a bigger picture than just erasing the world and replacing it.” His Grimm arm managed to knock Ace out of his Final form. “So my Semblance works here on Earth.”

Ace staggered backward, the force of the strike ripping away the glowing aura of his Final Form, leaving him in his base Geats form. He gritted his teeth, steadying himself as the hooded man loomed closer, his Grimm arm pulsating with dark energy.

“Semblance?” Ace muttered under his breath, analyzing the situation. “So you’re not just some rogue Rider. You’re from another world entirely, aren’t you?”

The hooded man’s smirk widened. “You’re quick, I’ll give you that. Yes, I’m not from this reality. And neither is she,” he said, his voice dripping with malice. “She sees what your little games are—a pathetic distraction from the real problem. My Semblance lets me nullify powers, knock you down to your most basic state. Let’s see how you handle a fight without your fancy Rider tricks.”

Ace’s eyes narrowed, his mind racing. The man’s ability to neutralize his transformations wasn’t just dangerous; it meant Ace would have to rely on pure skill. He tightened his grip on the Desire Driver.

Keiwa, on the other side of the barrier, slammed his fists against the wall of dark energy. “Ace! We need to help him!”

Neon’s eyes darted around the battlefield, searching for any weaknesses in the barrier. “There has to be a way through. We can’t just stand here!”

Michinaga growled, gripping his Buffa Driver tightly. “If he’s fighting a guy like that alone, he won’t last. That Grimm thing he’s using—it’s not normal.”

Inside the barrier, Ace shifted his stance, his cape fluttering as he prepared to engage. “You talk a lot about your boss, but I wonder… does she know what she’s dealing with? You might have your Semblance, but I’ve fought stronger foes than you.”

The hooded man chuckled darkly. “Confidence won’t save you.”

In a flash, the man lunged again, his Grimm arm cutting through the air like a blade. Ace sidestepped at the last moment, his movements precise and controlled. The claws missed by inches, slashing into the ground and sending debris flying.

Ace countered with a powerful spinning kick, aimed at the man’s midsection. The hooded figure staggered slightly but recovered quickly, swiping with his arm again. This time, Ace ducked low, sliding under the attack and coming up behind him.

“You’re fast,” the man admitted, turning to face Ace. “But let’s see how long you can keep this up.”

Ace didn’t respond, instead using his agility to weave around the attacks. He was testing the man, learning his patterns and searching for an opening.

Meanwhile, outside the barrier, Ziin appeared next to Keiwa and the others, his expression grim. “This barrier… it’s not just energy. It’s tied to his Semblance. We’ll need to disrupt its connection to break through.”

Keiwa clenched his fists. “Then tell us how to do it!”

Ziin’s gaze shifted to Kekera and Kyuun. “You two, focus your energy on the barrier. If we overload it, we might create a breach.”

Kekera grinned, his eyes gleaming. “Finally, some action!”

As the supporters worked together, Neon glanced at Keiwa. “Ace is buying time. We have to trust him until we can get through.”

Inside, Ace dodged another strike, his movements fluid as he landed a punch against the hooded man’s chest. It wasn’t enough to do significant damage, but it caused the man to stumble.

“You’re good,” the man said, his tone more serious now. “But you’re fighting a battle you can’t win. My Grimm arm isn’t just for show. It feeds off your fear, your doubt. And you? You’re full of it.”

Ace’s expression didn’t waver. “If you think fear is my weakness, you don’t know me at all.”

The man lunged again, and this time, Ace didn’t dodge. Instead, he leapt toward his opponent, his eyes burning with determination. In one swift motion, he activated a hidden card in his Driver, summoning a glowing construct of his signature weapon, the Geats Magnum Shooter.

“I don’t need my Final Form to beat you,” Ace said, his voice steady. “All I need is a clear shot.”

With that, he fired a precise energy blast directly at the man’s Grimm arm. The shot connected, the force sending the hooded figure skidding backward.

The man growled, clutching his arm as cracks of light spread across its surface. “You’ll regret that,” he snarled.

But before he could retaliate, a loud crack echoed through the air. The barrier shattered, and Keiwa, Neon, Michinaga, and the others rushed in, their weapons at the ready.

“You took your time,” Ace said, smirking at his allies.

Michinaga stepped forward, his eyes locked on the hooded man. “You’re not the only one with tricks. Now it’s our turn.”

The Riders stood together, their Drivers glowing with power. The hooded man’s expression darkened, but he didn’t retreat.

“Interesting,” he said, a cruel smile spreading across his face. “Let’s see how you handle all of my power.”

The air grew heavy with dark energy as the fight escalated, the Riders ready to face whatever came next. The masked man injuries all of the Riders with a single move.