God's Garden - Ghostly Evasion

'What makes you say that?'

'The internet can be cut off on Earth...Don't you have access to my thoughts and memories at anytime? Besides, when you search the internet, you often find surface-level information, facts, or snippets of knowledge...When you search my thoughts, what you find encompasses the context, emotion, and interconnectedness of experiences, which is not something you gain from a simple online search.'

'Hahahaha! Well said kid.'

"More like, 'well thought'. We were conversing inside my head again."

'That's because it takes a fraction of a moment, compared to speaking out loud. Look how much closer those things have closed in on us because you choose to say that out loud for effect.'

'Good point, I don't even really need to use 'cosmic catalogue' on those last two, do I?'

Norvin glanced at the last two creatures that had stepped forward from the woods. Both of them were emitting bright flames from their bodies. 

'They look like fire type Pokémon...That thing looks like an Emboar and the other one's a monkey, like an Infernape...'

The last two beasts had fur that glowed and seemed to move around their bodies as if they were actively burning flames. As they approached, the pig like creature gathered up flames on its tail and in its mouth while the monkey's feet and hands lit up.

'You know what? I'm kinda curious after all...'

Norvin focused his eyes quickly on the remaining two fire Metas. All of the creatures headed their way were only around fifty meters away from Norvin at this point.

He turned his attention to the boar first.

It was a formidable sight on this soon to be battlefield, standing at an impressive three-foot height with a thick, muscular frame. Its fur resembled a molten copper hue, flickering like embers in the night. The tips of its bristly mane were ignited with radiant flames, flickering and dancing as it moved, while wisps of smoke curled out of its snout into the air.

Its sharp tusks were encased in a glowing orange aura, exuding heat and radiance that looked like they could scorch and pierce anything that dared to come too close. The boar's eyes, a fierce red, shined with an intense determination and a spark of intelligence that showed it was more than just brute strength. Thick, flame-patterned markings ran down its sides, resembling the cracks of a volcanic rock, pulsating with energy as it prepared to unleash its powers.

'This one is called a 'Brimfire Boar', let's see...the description says it's signature move, inferno charge, allows it to charge forward engulfed in flames, leaving a trail of fire in its wake, burning any foes caught in its path.

With its ability blazing tusk, the boar can unleash a powerful strike infused with fire, igniting its target and causing additional burn damage over time. Additionally, it possesses a defensive ability called cinder-shield, where it can create a barrier of flames that protects it from incoming attacks, while also reflecting a portion of the damage back to its attackers.

As a creature born of both earth and fire, the Brimfire Boar is a symbol of resilience and fury, embodying the primal forces of nature. Its presence alone can inspire awe and fear in those who witness its fiery prowess. Hates other fire element Metas.'

'All right, so that thing is a volcano pig, more or less...let's check out the ape before we get the heck out of here...' 

Norvin looked in the other direction at the monkey.

It stood at about four feet tall, with a slender, agile body covered in shaggy fur that flickered like flames in different shades of orange, red, and yellow. Its fur had a unique texture, resembling molten lava, with vibrant patterns that shifted and glowed as it moved.

The ape's face seemed expressive, with wide, spirited eyes that sparkled and a playful grin that revealed its sharp, black teeth. It's ears were large and tufted, resembling flickering flames. A long, bushy tail trailed behind it, constantly curling and unfurling, emitting small sparks that danced in the air and on the ground every time it whipped its tail, almost like it was a flint. The tips of its fingers and toes, were also glowing, all four limbs lit up with a ball of fire on them.

'The Ignifur is known for its playful and fiery abilities, making it both a trickster and a formidable opponent. Its primary ability, fire leap, allows it to make long, agile jumps that leave trails of flames in the air, illuminating dark spaces as it moves.

With its skill called flame trick, the Ignifur can produce small bursts of fire from its hands, creating illusions or distractions to evade hunters or confuse rivals. This ability is often used to set playful pranks, dazzling others with fiery displays.

When threatened, the Ignifur can call upon its blazing aura, creating a protective shield of flames around itself that burns nearby enemies while keeping it safe. It also has the ability to control sparks with its tail, allowing it to ignite objects or create small fireballs to defend itself or provide warmth.

The Ignifur is known for its cleverness and agility, often seen swinging from tree branches, playfully taunting anyone who dares to approach. This vibrant creature embodies the duality of fire: a symbol of destruction and chaos, yet also warmth and life. Hates other fire element Metas.'

The sub body chimed in. 'The fire Metas aren't even looking at you kid...they are clearly eyeballing each other. Let's just run straight forward and get past the Gale howlers and the Stormchaser. The Gale Howlers are weak, make sure you snag one as we break past them...Stay away from the mantis.'

'These things really do look like Pokémon...why are we catching one? To train it?'

'...No, dummy...To eat it...pick a form that doesn't seem too powerful and then activate your skill 'Archivist's Aegis', it'll be helpful with this many opponents, especially the bug.'

"Oh...okay. There goes changing into 'Saiyaman'..."

The creatures were closing in on Norvin, who now had his hand on the Holodex, he was moving through his options, searching for something that would be able to get him out of here without too much effort.

As Norvin prepared to activate the Holodex, the beasts closed in to a mere twenty meters away. As they approached the giant doors, the energy from the still-open portals dissipated, leaving behind nothing but their dark, metallic archways.

'Eh? Why did the portals stop working?' 

'None of the creatures housed here should be able to escape into the outside worlds...That would be detrimental in more than one way...'

'Alrighty...you're going to need to do a lot of explaining, as soon as we get gone.'

Norvin shook his head and rotated the dial on the Holodex.

The creatures were a mere fifteen meters away. Various characters emerged as holograms on his wrist, flickering by quickly as he searched for the one he thought would suit him best, considering that the sub body warned him not to pick anything too powerful.

Norvin could feel that his own psychic energy was not near its peak, he didn't feel as energized as he did after he had first been transformed in Makoto's pub. 'Does my transformations depend on my energy and strength levels?'

'Yup...I'll explain how that works later...Now hurry up! That mantis has already shifted into that doorways shadow, it's nearly on us!' As per usual, the sub body had read Norvin's mind in an instance and responded.

It had taken Norvin a few seconds to sift through the numerous entries before locating his target. A smile spread across Norvin's face as the Holodex displayed the entry he sought.

His thumb clicked on the center of the device, activating it.

"Henshin!" 

As his thumb pressed the center of the Holodex, the golden-hued hologram it was projecting briefly flared in brightness before diminishing back into the apparatus, the same way it had when he transformed for the first time. The energy then reversed its course, pulsating through the device, ascending Norvin's arm, threading across his body, and culminating in a dazzling, two-meter-wide circle of golden energy on the ground, rapidly encircling his feet. In tandem, his eyes blazed to life, aglow with the same vibrant light.

In the briefest of moments, the radiant golden energy swelled behind Norvin from the circle. The energy now flowed into a point and materialized into a translucent, elaborately detailed figured. It was another Kamen Rider with sleek armor. You could see a horn poking out of its forehead, despite the hooded sweater that covered its torso and head.

The Umbrantiss had leapt from one end of the shadow of the massive archway towards Norvin's position, shortening the distance for itself by a bit, it did seem as if it could move instantly from point to point inside a shadow. It raised one of its large, gangly arms and gathered shadows onto it to form a scythe. It looked sharp and deadly, despite being crafted out of darkness.

Norvin noticed it and started leaping backwards while the energy like silhouette of his chosen hero started to follow his bodies movements, mimicking his actions exactly behind him. Norvin leapt much higher than he had expected, several meters into the air to be exact. 

The bug slashed its shadowy limb into the ground, narrowly missing Norvin as he leapt away. It left a huge slash mark, several meters deep where it landed. A massive cloud of dust and dirt was shot it every direction, covering everything nearby in an instant, including Norvin.

It crouched, gathered itself up for another attack.

As Norvin flew backwards through the air, the Rider outline landed on his body, combining with him.

The armor that had settled on him was a stunning blend of black and white, sculpted to accentuate a powerful, athletic form. The chest piece gleamed with a smooth finish, while the segmented abdominal armor allowed for ease of movement without sacrificing protection.

Thick, angular shoulder pads added an imposing silhouette, and armored gauntlets adorned his forearms. Norvin's legs were armored in a similar manner. All of it had a small layer of clear, solidified energy covering it, making the suit seem almost like it was encased in a layer of unbreakable, visible air. 

Flowing behind Norvin was a long, black coat that seemed to dance with the wind, giving it an ethereal quality. Its tattered edges contributed to the aesthetic, enhancing the sense of movement as he flew backwards. Atop his head rested a sleek, angular helmet resembling a skull, with large, glowing eye lenses that shifted in color depending on his energy. The overall appearance was sinister yet captivating. A large, pointed horn on his forehead stopped the hood of his coat from drooping to conceal his helmet more than it was already.

He had taken on the form of Kamen Rider Ghost!

Norvin felt a fresh surge of power flow through him, he couldn't help but call out the catchphrase of the hero he had transformed into, despite the dark menace below him leaping up for another attempt. 

"My life is burning bright!"