#Brave Commander Test Type

[specshroom]

hello hello, I stumbled across your writing and wanted to say how much I enjoyed “Blood In The Water” I was curious about how reader struck that deal with all the mer-creatures in the first place?! did they try to eat reader too? or did one/many have an attachment or attraction since reader grew up around that place? the whistling was soooo cool, like they were dogs trained to a command! does that mean they had struggles with communication at first? do the mer-peeps understand language or just body language? I’m full of questions 😂❤️ it was just so enthralling and love a good morally grey character! is reader struggling to make ends meet and that’s why they do this? or is it more of ‘it’s either me or them’ type scenario? OR reader is just like this is the easiest way to get money?! 👀 oml lemme stop here this is getting quite long— LOVE UR STUFF 😚

I'M SO GLAD IT INTERESTED YOU SO MUCH (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

I like to keep things up to interpretation cus I think it's more fun BUT I can answer a few of those.

- They definitely struggled at first lol. The merfolk can't speak human language and don't understand it. Humans can't speak mer-language either because it's mostly high pitched clicks and chitters. Reader figures out that the closest they can get to making sounds the merfolk understand is by whistling because it's loud and high pitched enough that they can hear it easily even through the water.

- They do share a lot of body language and mannerisms with humans (like kissing👀) so that made things easier.

- The merfolk do recognise Reader as a local and that made them more trustworthy. (Later on they marked the bottom of Readers boat so they know it's them🥺)

I wrote a little drabble to answer the "How did this happen?" question.

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

You sigh as you row your way out of the canal and into the open waters.

Your new patron lounges in his seat on the opposite side of the gondola, staring up at the clear blue sky. You preferred doing business at night when it's quiet, few braved these waters at night. Alas dwindling funds force you to suffer the business of the day. There's just too much comotion in the daytime, too many tourists.

Its been like this since the first rich fool "discovered" that your relatively small and unimpressive lake town actually boasts some magnificent and horrific monsters in the depths of the decievingly calm waters surrounding it. Now flocks of fools come to "test their bravery" by crossing the dangerous waters.

Conservationists and locals convinced them that hunting down the monsters in the lake would lead to environmental catastrophe and the snobs decided that it would be a better investment as a tourist attraction.

"Don't you get bored of this?"

Your patron slices the silence in half. You blink out of your thoughts, releasing the iron grip you had on your oar.

"I could give you a different job."

The well dressed man's tone is almost convincingly sympathetic. You keep your gaze locked onto the familiar waters ahead of you...until you hear the distinct sound of coins being jostled against one another. That changes things.

You hesitantly turn to where the stranger sits comfortably, grinning with pride.

"I thought so, it's always the same with you locals."

The tourist opens his money bag and takes out one gold coin. At least enough for a small meal.

"What would you do for it?"

He plays with the coin in his fingers before tossing it out of the boat and into the water. The carelessness with which he tosses his gold makes your blood run hot. Through the thick permanent fog that hangs over the waters, you can just barely see the gold coin as it sinks into the abyss and your stomach growls pitifully.

He holds out the pouch over the side of the boat, dangling it over the water.

"Would you dive for it?"

The sick thing is that you actually consider it. You stare intensely at the stupid pouch that could keep you going for a good while.

The man suddenly drops the pouch and you jump forward to catch it but he yanks it back up by the drawstring before it can touch the surface of the water. He laughs at his cruel humour and your blood reaches it's boiling point.

You don't know why it was that patron in particular that made you snap or why that bad day in particular made you finally put the knife skills your father taught you to good use.

But before either of you know it his laughter turns to bloody choking. You scramble off of him, panic clear on your face. He reaches for the knife in his neck but it's useless. His body sags over the edge of the boat and his blood mixes with the water. You watch with wide eyes as he takes his last struggled breaths.

It's silent for a while before you take your eyes off of the man Infront of you to look down at your red stained hands. You look around as if anyone could've seen your crime through the fog anyway.

After a while of just staring blankly at the still body Infront of you, you try to compose yourself and lift him off the side of the gondola. You manage to tip him over and watch his body sink down.

You stare at the corpse fading deeper into the water. Just as you ready yourself to leave the scene something rocks the gondola slightly and you fall on your ass, gripping the side of the boat.

You feel a breath on the side of your cheek and jump when you look over and see two big pitch black eyes staring at you from over the side of the boat. Your skin turns to ice, unable to move.

You hear chittering from the other side and jump again as another one peers over the furnished wood of the boat. The first one takes your frozen hand in their cold clawed hand and inspects the drying blood covering it.

They stick their tongue out and slowly lick all the way up your shaking hand, licking away at the blood as if cleansing you of your sin. The other makes a clicking sound that sounds oddly like laughter.

Once all the blood on your hand has been licked off, the creature looks up at you for a moment before disappearing below the surface once more. The other one doesn't look like it wants to go but a few clicks from the water convince it to slowly lower back into the depths.

You lean over the side of the gondola trying to get a better look at the creature before it leaves. You deflate when you don't see so much as a ripple in the water.

Suddenly, just as you were sure they weren't coming back, the same one from moments ago bursts from the water. In a second it cups your cheek and kisses you. It's hard and deep, more passionate than you'd ever had before. The creature releases you and this time before it leaves it gives a little wave with its strange webbed hand. You wave back, a little dazed, as the monster dives back into the water.

You have to sit there for a good while staring at the pouch of coin the tourist left behind and then back to the murky waters, touching your lips while contemplating what the hell just happened.

[lint-beetle4]

Toys with wukong?

Wukong With Toys Headcanons (Smut)

Smut Headcanons down below!

Wukong enjoys experimenting a lot

He gets bored with a routine, so it's important that you keep him on his toes

In bed, that also means you get to choose what he gets to try out

Sometimes it's cuffs or vibrators, maybe feathers or food if he's brave enough--which he almost always is

Wukong is pretty responsive to most toys, he's preferential to dildos and blindfolds though

The only time Wukong had to use the safe word with you was when you bound him to a wall to test out a fuck machine

Rather, he broke the wall when he escaped and tore through his restrains off in a fit of panic

Wukong doesn't take well to be restrained, he always needs to have the ability to move in some way, so you two quickly learned to stay away from ropes and certain types of bondage

Nevertheless, Wukong hordes his toys just like everything else he's collected or stolen in the past

On days where Wukong is particularly pent up, he'll drag you to the bed room and demand you get on your knees while he uses you, eager to test your endurance with far too many vibrators to be healthy

Yet, there are also days where Wukong would like to be cared for and will cum at the touch of your hands alone and drool at the sight of the dildo that filled him up wonderfully while you commanded he didn't cum

Wukong is a bit of a brat, so you have to reign him in with a few whips and gags that have him screaming and crying out for release

Wukong himself is partial to using collars and handcuffs on you, tempted to parade you around while teasing you with sharp yet kind praises

[the-bravest-gingerbread]

hey how would the ancient cookies react if a cookie gave you a gun hypothetical

“A gun? That’s… a heavy thing to hold, you know? I’m not really the type to use something so dangerous, even if it was given to me. I mean, I’m used to facing danger—big monsters, Dark Enchantress’s minions, and all that—but a gun? That’s different. It’s not just about bravery; it’s about responsibility. Something I don’t take lightly.”

“I’d probably want to understand why they gave it to me first. Like… what’s the point? I don’t want to fight Cookies or hurt anyone if I can avoid it. My job is to protect, not to bring more pain.”

But the ancients…?

Pure Vanilla Cookie would approach this with calm and wisdom. He’d gently take the gun from me, his expression serious but kind. He’d remind me that true strength is about protecting others and seeking truth—not destruction.

He’d probably say something like, ‘GingerBrave, it is important to hold fast to your ideals, but also to understand the weight of the tools you carry. A weapon like this is a burden—one that changes the truth of what it means to be a protector.’

And then he’d probably quietly store it away, making sure it couldn’t be misused, while silently hoping that peace could be the answer instead.

Dark Cacao Cookie would immediately narrow his eyes and tense up. He’s not one for words when it comes to threats.

Without a doubt, he’d snatch the gun away with a firm grip, like he’s ready to snap it in two if he had to protect his kingdom. His voice would be low and commanding, ‘Such weapons are not to be trusted in careless hands. They bring destruction, not resolution.’

Though he rarely shows it openly, I know he’d be scared deep down—scared of what could happen if that weapon fell into the wrong paws. He’d keep a close watch, his resolve to protect stronger than ever.

Hollyberry Cookie would probably laugh with a spark in her eyes—half excitement, half challenge.

She’d see it as an opportunity for training, maybe even a test. ‘Well then, Ginger, if you must have it, you’d better learn how to wield it properly!’ She’d be ready to spar or put me through some wild drills, not because she loves fighting, but because she wants to make sure I can protect the ones I care about without losing myself.

But underneath her fiery spirit, I’d know she worries about what could happen if the balance tips.

Golden Cheese Cookie would give me a dazzling smile and probably try to make a trade out of it. She’d say something like, ‘A fine weapon for a fine Cookie! But is a gun worth more than gold?’ Then she’d scheme to turn it into something that could benefit her kingdom’s prosperity—or at least her own glory.

Despite her grandeur and pride, I know she’d keep it safe because, beneath it all, she treasures her people more than any treasure.

White Lily Cookie would appear quietly, her eyes wide with concern.

She’d ask gentle, searching questions: ‘Who gave this to you? Why?’ Her soft voice would carry the weight of her endless curiosity, but also the sorrow of knowing that some knowledge and power come at a terrible price.

She’d probably be the one to carefully examine the gun, trying to understand its nature—not just as a weapon, but what it means for freedom and safety.

And I’d sense the burden she carries—knowing that sometimes, even the brightest intentions lead to dark outcomes.

So, what would I do?

“I’d be honest: I’d want to refuse it. Because the courage I want to show is the courage to protect, not destroy. And I’d hope the Ancients remind me that there are always other ways to fight—ways that don’t make the world darker.”

I’m not just brave for me—I’m brave for everyone who can’t fight. So, no guns. Just hope, friends, and standing together.

[hopelessoptimisttea]

You should do a resume of Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and Agent Tequila (Channing Tatum)

Name: Gary “Eggsy” Unwin.

Age: 22-24

Nationality: British

Gender: canonically heterosexual, but can also be bisexual

Biological species: human

Religion: unknown (although he has something resembling icons in his house)

Appearance:

Hair: brown

Eyes: Green, possibly with a tinge of gray or blue.

Height: 5'10

Weight: 176

Distinguishing Features: Large mole on neck, chiseled jaw line

Social Life:

Occupation: originally a gopnik, then a Kingsman agent, then a Prince Consort of Sweden

Hobbies: gymnastics, parkour, manual dexterity, playing with dogs, socializing

Intelligence: gifted (huge IQ)

Talents: has skills of an Olympic gymnast, great physical strength, agility, endurance; good command of various weapons, excellent marksmanship, excellent stress resistance, willpower, charisma, acting ability; often gives good ideas in times of crisis.

Personality type: extrovert

Positive qualities: kind, fair, honest, brave, intelligent, resourceful, responsible to loved ones, generous, responsive

Negative qualities: reckless, cynical, infantile, rude

Biography:

Family: Michelle Unwin (mother), Lee Unwin (father), Daisy Unwin (younger sister)

Marriage and love: canonically married to Princess Tilde

Significant events: lost his father at age 5-7; lived under the oppression of a tyrant stepfather until age 22; trained to become Lancelot but failed the dog test; saved the world from Valentine; took the name Galahad; began a romantic relationship with Princess Tilda; lost almost all the members of Kingsman; met the Statesman agents; recovered Harry Hart's memory; saved the world a second time; married Princess Tilda and became the Prince of Sweden

[thebluestbluewords]

"Hey, Squeaks." 

Squeaky freezes. 

Mal sighs. She's not trying to scare the kid. She's only interested in being wicked and evil to the Auradon brats these days, and she's been actively trying to be friendly to the kids who are living in her house now. (Thanks, Evie, for that one). 

"At ease, tiny one," she commands. "I come in peace." 

Squeaky relaxes, one tiny, fractional inch at a time. His (their? The twins are basically tiny, silent shadows around the house so far, and Mal doesn't actually know what the kids go by, beyond allowing her crew to call them Squeaks and Squirms in an attempt to feel like they're friends) hand is hovering slightly in front of the fridge, which Mal, in her all-knowing wisdom of being eighteen and old enough to understand at least some things, assumes means he's hungry. 

"You here for food?" Mal guesses, and is rewarded with a tiny, fractional nod. "Cool, me too. You want to scavenge for leftovers again, or should we be brave and try cooking?" 

Squeaky shrugs, a tiny motion. 

Right. They've had the twins here at Evie's place for all of a week so far, and nobody except for Dizzy has been able to get them to talk. No reason to think they're going to start now, at least not with Mal. She's the big mean princess now, the one who's connected to the scary Auradon adults who keep wanting to do things like poking and prodding at them and taking blood and doing other awful things, like giving them school aptitude tests, which made Squirmy cry and Squeaky go very red and flustered and unsure what to do with his hands. Mal's the one who gets to drag them to fun things like that, so it's really not a surprise that they're not talking to her now. 

"Well, I'm going to make chicken nuggets," Mal decides, moving deliberately, so that it's very obvious where she's going. “And apple slices. Have you had apples yet?" 

This gets a nod. 

"D'you want me to make some for you too?" 

Another nod. 

Cool. Great. They've progressed to communication, which is wonderful. The sort of progress that should be celebrated. Preferably with cake, but chicken nuggets and apple slices will have to do, as Mal’s baking skills are not nearly as solid as her skills in other things, like magic and knives and being scary around the real princess-types, who mostly treat her like the monster she is to anyone not from the isle. 

The celebratory apples (and nuggets, for that matter) are in the fridge. Squeaky, inconveniently, is still standing frozen in front of the fridge. Mal, in order to do her duty as one of the oldest people in the house, needs access to the fridge, because it's pretty fucking hard to heat up food when you can't get to said food, and her magic is good, but it's not good enough to levitate a bag of frozen meat out of the freezer, through the door, and into her hand so she can put them in the microwave. 

Scratch that. She's putting these in the oven. They've had successful communication. Multiple nods. Basically a whole conversation. This is deserving of quality oven nuggets, and maybe even chocolate milk on the side.  

[spinnerprincess]

A Test of Bravery (Pokemon Sun/Moon, Selene/Lillie, 1892 words)

Febslash February Prompt for 2/8: Ghost

If Acerola discloses that she's a ghost-type trainer before you go the abandoned supermarket, uh, haha, no she doesn't. This one got away from me, huh?

"Come with me?" Selene said, extending a hand with a bright smile.

Lillie grimaced. "I'm not even a trainer," she insisted, shaking her head. "I have no reason to be in even the vicinity of a trial!"

"Please?" said Selene, giving her a set of Lillipup eyes that were far, far too effective for Lillie's own good.

So it was that she found herself dragged out to an abandoned supermarket, trying to put on a brave face. Nebby hung out in her bag, cooperative for a change. Buried a pocket deeper, she knew her favorite Poké Doll was close at hand. She let that knowledge give her strength. She had her Doll. She had Nebby. She had Selene. They would be just fine.

Selene nudged open the door to the old, broken-down Thrifty Megamart. The glass doors slid well, with a little bit of effort, but opening them did nothing to change the gloomy atmosphere inside.

"Can we at least leave the door open?" she said, tentatively following Selene inside.

Selene looked back at her, shrugging. "I don't see why not." Turning back, she continued deeper into the store.

Lillie glanced around, clutching the straps of her bag tightly, looking for something to say. She saw her own breath as she exhaled. It was chilly in here, despite the warm sun outside.

"Professor Kukui once told me that a sheer cold like this is highly indicative of the presence of ghost Pokémon," she shared, rotely.

"That makes sense." Selene seemed utterly immune to fear, giving a little smile without hesitation. "Acerola gave off that vibe, you know? I was trying to figure out what type she specialized in earlier."

Lillie startled. "You could figure that out just from, what, her clothes?"

"I guess? It's more of an aura thing. And how Brionne reacted to her."

"What do you mean?" Lillie hadn't noticed anything odd about Brionne's behavior, but then, she'd been distracted by Nebby at the time.

Selene frowned, coming to a stop in front of a mess where the shelving had been ravaged and knocked over. "It's hard to say exactly… Brionne didn't seem to take much notice of her. As if he wasn't totally sure she was there."

That sounded ghost-like alright. Lillie shuddered.

Selene, trying without luck to lift a fallen shelf blocking the way to the back of the store, paused. "Lillie? Are you afraid of ghosts?"

"You're asking that now?!"

"I thought you'd say something earlier if you were!"

Lillie pouted. "I'm hardly afraid of them! I'm just not very accustomed to them," she argued. "But there are far worse things than ghost Pokémon. I'll be fine."

"Thank goodness." Selene smiled, relieved. "Sorry that I didn't ask earlier. I guess I got caught up in the excitement of meeting them."

"Excitement?" Lillie asked, surprised to hear that.

Selene didn't have the chance to respond. There was a loud crash somewhere to their left in the dark supermarket. It was followed by a frightening cackle, with high-pitched, cruel delight. Selene dropped the shelf she was lifting, straightening up. Lillie screamed instinctively, jumping closer to Selene in her fright.

Far calmer, Selene reacted quickly. "Go, Umbreon!"

Umbreon leaped into action right away, the golden rings around its ears bright in the darkness. She yowled, clearly sensing something.

"Use Dark Pulse!" Selene commanded.

Lillie watched with awe, still stuck tight to Selene's side, as Umbreon bowed her head and released a wave of energy in the area to their left. From the darkness, as the wave swept over it, she could suddenly see a Haunter floating past. The pulse hit it strongly - it flinched back, its fingers uncurling with the shock.

The Haunter, now fully visible, attempted to recover from the blast. It rose from the ground, its eyes glowing red, and cast a spectral image of itself in Umbreon's direction. But Umbreon shook it off, barely fazed.

"Finish it!" shouted Selene.

Umbreon made a gentle howl of obedience, and dashed straight for the Haunter. Its eyes widened and it tried to float away, but Umbreon tore into it with a dead-on bite. With a little shriek, it passed out, and faded entirely from sight.

"Is it over?" Lillie asked, taking a deep breath.

"Yeah, think so. Great job, Umbreon!" Selene said, praising her partner and crouching low. Umbreon leaped over to her for some admittedly well-earned head scratches.

"Thank you, Umbreon," Lillie added, smiling. "That Haunter really spooked me." She glanced at her bag to check on Nebby. Nebby was, of course, not in her bag, but it was at least close by, huddled near her shoes. With a sigh of relief, she picked Nebby up and returned it to its spot.

Selene returned Umbreon to her Pokéball, and looked up at Lillie, smiling. "You're okay?"

"Just fine. I'm so sorry for getting all clingy with you."

"Don't be," Selene said, winking.

Lillie found herself tongue-tied, for a moment. She looked away, really, really wishing she was better at saying no to Selene. Or tolerating her jokes. They were jokes, right?

"Oh, right," said Selene, immediately distracted by something. "Go, Shiinotic!" Her mushroom friend appeared in a burst of light, and illuminated the supermarket far more clearly. They could now see the path to the back of the shop. Shiinotic made a magical little bubbling sound, happy with himself.

Lillie sighed. "That's much better. Why didn't you do that earlier?"

Selene frowned. "Didn't think of it."

"Right. I guess you did say you were excited to meet the ghost Pokémon?" Lillie said, leadingly.

Selene nodded. She was looking over the shelf that had fallen in their way again. Instead of trying to lift it out of the way, she very carefully stepped over it, avoiding broken glass and discarded soup cans. "I know it's weird, but I've always thought they were neat. I loved hearing about ghost stories when I was growing up. One of my friends who moved in nearby was from Lavender Town. He always told the best ones!"

"I've only ever heard that they're dangerous," said Lillie. "And dangerous, mysterious Pokémon… They worry me. Not like you, Nebby," she clarified, hearing a curious chime noise. "But other things. Worse things."

Including some dangerous, mysterious things that she wasn't sure were even Pokémon. Things that had taken her already difficult mother, and changed her to a breaking point. Things she didn't know how to deal with, or fix, and maybe never would.

Lillie shook her head fiercely. She didn't want to think about that right now.

In front of her, Selene had turned around, halfway across the shelving. "I think if you follow what I do, you'll be safe."

Lillie flinched. "I didn't pay close enough attention. I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize." Selene took a step back towards her, watching her footing, and reached out.

She still couldn't say no, could she? Lillie sighed and took Selene's hand, and carefully, anxiously, stepped up to the shelf. She was sure she would slip, or cut her shoes, or fall.

But Selene took her other hand, too, and nudged her feet, and guided her well. "There you go," Selene said brightly. Behind them, Shiinotic sat down with a fond noise, smiling placidly and continuing to shine.

One step at a time, they made it across. It was almost like a dance, Lillie thought, embarrassed. Selene was so close to her, and so gentle. It didn't matter if she was bad at this. It didn't matter as long as she trusted Selene, and pressed forward.

Her kindness, her bravery… Lillie could never match up. But maybe she was learning, slowly, how to follow.

She was startled out of deep thought when Selene let go of one of her hands, stepping down safely to the floor.

"Just like that," Selene said, beaming. "Here we are! That's most of the trial conquered, just like that!"

Lillie smiled at her, infected by her cheer. "You did it! But what about Shiinotic?"

"Oh, don't worry about that." Selene lobbed her Pokéball to recall Shiinotic. For a moment, the store was plunged back into darkness, and Lillie shuddered. She thought she heard the snicker of a Gastly, somewhere, everywhere. But as soon as his Pokéball returned to her hand, Selene tossed it again, this time ahead of them. Shiinotic returned, shaking spores from his head with amusement.

"That's cheating," Lillie said, giggling and relaxing again.

"Just using my head, like someone keeps telling me to," Selene replied, giving her a wide grin. "Hey, Lillie?"

"What?"

Selene's bright smile didn't budge, but Lillie still sensed a change. "You don't think I'm weird, do you? For liking them?"

Lillie frowned, shifting on her feet. "Weird… No. But… Ghost Pokémon have a reputation. Sure, some of them can be little pranksters, but some can do real harm." She winced as her mind ran away with awful possibilities: possession, haunting, psychological tricks, being spirited away… Being changed. Being stolen. "I just hope your fascination doesn't get you hurt."

"Ghost Pokémon can be dangerous, sure. But any Pokémon can." Selene huffed a breath, clearly thinking something through. "I believe I know what I'm doing. If you're worried about me, I understand. But if something does go wrong, I want you here. I know you can help. With you, I'll be just fine."

Lillie felt herself redden at Selene's faith. "But I'm not even a trainer…"

"So? You're so clever, and you know so much. I'm not the one who can recite Kukui's teachings at the drop of a Patrat, let alone follow half of what Burnet's researching about dimensions," Selene said, praising her warmly.

Lillie didn't know what to say. She rarely did when receiving compliments, truthfully. After a moment, Selene reached forward. Lillie stilled, to keep herself from flinching away, but Selene simply adjusted the brim of her hat. It had fallen slightly askew in all the commotion.

Once it was fixed, Selene, still holding her hat in her hands, smiled at her. Her face was only inches away. If she just leaned forward, a little… But Lillie didn't have that kind of courage. Yet.

Selene settled back, satisfied. "I'm here to fight and maybe catch ghost Pokémon, but I'll play it safe, I promise. You're the one person I most want with me for something like this. I trust you to have my back. Okay?"

Lillie took a deep breath, and steeled herself. She couldn't fix everything. But if Selene believed in her, she wanted to rise to that challenge. To be worthy of her kind words, and worthy of her in general. Selene made her hope that maybe, just maybe, she could fix things. Someday. "Okay," she agreed, surprised to hear the determination in her voice.

"Thanks, Lillie. Come on. I bet the Totem Pokémon is just ahead!" Selene rolled her shoulders back, a competitive fire in her eyes as her focus left Lillie and returned to the shadows in front of them.

"I've got you," Lillie promised.

Selene stepped forward, but Lillie held her back by the shoulder. When Selene looked at her questioningly, Lillie smiled, and as Selene kept doing for her, she held out a hand. For once, she was treated to seeing Selene flustered. Gracefully, Lillie decided not to point it out to her.

Hand-in-hand, they stepped into the gloom.

[natedogx15]

Kamen Rider Deku Mission 15: The Next Phase

Previous Chapter / AO3 / Master List

In one of the office buildings of Deika City's central tower, the Meta Liberation Army executives are meeting about the Kamen Riders. The room is dark, with the only light playing being a projector showing various data they've collected on the Kamen Riders over time.

They're reviewing Deku's performance against Overdrive Nomu and how fast he and the Plus Striker are

"It's impressive that they can have such speed and control to keep up with that Nomu. They're quicker than any of our warriors, I would say." Trumpet says with an intrigued smile as they watch the chase happen.

"Yes. That motorcycle is faster than any support item my company has created. Not only that, it uses the same system as its rider." Re-Destro nods in agreement as the tall man, who recorded him and Giran, pulls up footage of Plus Striker using the Barrier Power Coin.

"It's amazing. I wonder what the capabilities of the system are. It's too bad we can't just take the one wielded by the one Slidin' Go and Shinonome without drawing suspicion. I'd love to see what the inside of such a revolutionary device looks like." Curious says with her usual smile as she watches the different videos.

"I wouldn't mind having our scientists look into them as well. Amazing job as always in collecting data, Skeptic." Re-Destro says while he smiles at the tall man.

"It was a simple task with the resources of Feel Good Industries, Grand Commander." Skeptic nods.

"So, what will our next move be?" Trumpet asks calmly, much to Skeptic's annoyance.

"Obviously, we'll try to find a weakness from the data gathered." He tells Trumpet in a somewhat condescending manner.

Trumpet rolls his eyes at his fellow executive's antics as Re-Destro speaks up.

"That's one of the reasons for this meeting. Another is that I'm having Geten look for a warrior who can wield the proto-type duplicate of the Driver the Kamen Riders use. I was wondering if any of you had any suggestions as well." Re-Destro tells them.

"Unfortunately, I don't know any warriors around me that can wield it." Trumpet tells Re-Destro.

"It's the same for me. I can't think of anyone." Skeptic nods.

The only one not denying it is Curious, who has a finger to her chin as she thinks about those around her.

"I might have someone in mind to test the device and make sure it's safe. He's a rather brave man who works as a security guard at my company. I'm sure he'd be more than willing to test the Driver for our cause. Do you plan to give it to Geten when you know it's safe?" She asks her leader with a smile, causing him to nod.

"Yes. Geten's Meta Ability has already gone through its awakening. Should we give him another way to enhance it, he may even be capable of fighting All Might, and our revolution can happen sooner than initially intended." Re-Destro says with a confident smirk that excites the others.

"Having the next All Might be on the side of our cause would greatly increase our influence. People would believe this was meant to happen and that your ancestor was right from the beginning, Grand Commander." Trumpet says with a pleased smile.

"Imagine how many hearts I could claim for the army by doing a story on Geten's life and his constant training for the Meta Liberation Army's belief. Everyone loves the story of a hard-working underdog whose efforts let them rise to greatness." Curious says happily while imagining publishing the article after Geten's debut and getting the M.L.A. more recruits.

Skeptic doesn't say anything but smiles at the prospect of their revolution taking off quicker with far more firepower than expected.

"Yes, yes. That's all perfect. However, we mustn't get carried away. We don't know how strong that device is or if it will help Geten's Meta Ability." Re-Destro chastizes the revolution leaders.

The leaders calm themselves from their excitement, and Re-Destro continues.

"Now, we have a good amount of information on each of the powers the Kamen Riders have used. Deku seems to be the most well-rounded of the group, with abilities that work to enhance his already incredible abilities along with long-range attacks, such as this Petrification Power Finish." Re-Destro states while the scene of Deku using the Solidification Power Coin against Overdrive Nomu is shown.

"On the other hand, Chamber is a mainly long-range Kamen Rider but does seem to have a mid-range form that relies on invisibility or camouflage," Re-Destro states while images of both Chamber's forms appear for the executives to see.

"Finally, the Kamen Rider we're trying to get on our side. King Explosion Murder." Re-Destro says as Katsuki's image appears onscreen along with his Kamen Rider form.

"From what Slidin' Go has told me, trying to get him on our side has been difficult. He has his mind set on only becoming the number one hero and isn't interested in anything else. All he cares about is the chance to be seen as the strongest." Skeptic states.

"Yes. He's a wild card but is also one of our more promising candidates for new warriors if his history at Aldera is anything to go by. He's apparently smart and has a lot of natural talent. With his Meta Ability, he'd make him the perfect warrior and possibly give him a chance to usurp Geten's position as the strongest warrior to our cause. Especially if we can get him to join us while he's wielding the Driver." Re-Destro states while holding up a file of Katsuki given to him by the Aldera Middle and Aldera High School principals.

"The problem is how we can get him to side with us. And how to do it without drawing suspicion to us." Trumpet nods.

"Exactly. Slidin' Go has told me his teachings haven't been going well. Luckily, from what I've been told, he likely won't hesitate to attack the other Kamen Riders when given the chance again." Re-Destro tells them with a smile.

"That's comforting to know. Even if he's not a part of our cause yet, he's still willing to help us by weakening the other two." Trumpet says with a content smile of his own.

"Yes. That's why I believe the key to our victory is to separate the Kamen Riders so two will be in one place. We'll give our wildcard the chance to take his anger out on the other Kamen Riders while forcing another to fight alone." Re-Destro explains.

"So, we're going to have our wildcard battle one of the Kamen Riders and soften them up for us?" The only female executive asks with a cheerful smile, much to Skeptic's annoyance.

"Obviously. The real question is, who do we make fight the Nomu, and who will fight our Kamen Rider?" He tells her.

This question causes the executives to fall silent as they think about the best course of action.

"Wouldn't it be best to have Deku face off against K.E.M. since his history with Deku made Shinonome choose him?" Trumpet asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Plus, since Chamber is a long-range specialist, it may be easier to handle him with a Nomu than Deku. We can just find someone with a speed Quirk who will easily close the distance against him." Curious states in agreement.

However, Skeptic has other plans.

"I say the one we should make fight King Explosion Murder is Chamber. Lately, they've been at each other's throats more than King Explosion Murder and Deku. Also, Chamber has displayed more experience and tactical thinking, constantly putting himself in a position where his range gives him the advantage. Let's not forget about his new form." Skeptic states calmly.

Re-Destro doesn't say anything as his executives discuss what to do. He can see their points and isn't sure what to do. Finally, after a few minutes of debate, he makes his decision.

-------------------

In Hisashi and David's lab, the two put the final touches on the fourth Hero Driver to ensure it's running right.

"Looks like everything's running right. Get some of the test Power Coins ready so we can test the power output of the nanotech." David tells Hisashi as he sets the Hero Driver on a table with multiple scanners.

Hisashi nods and goes toward a cabinet. He opens it to reveal different sets of Power Coins. He quickly takes a few and heads toward the Hero Driver. He quickly inserts one, and David checks the real-time data it's displaying from the scanners.

"Everything looks good for emitters," David tells him.

Hisashi nods and inserts another.

"Transformation looks good too." David nods.

Moving onto the last one, Hisashi inserts it, and David frowns when he sees that data.

"Something seems off with the mutant-type Quirks. The output is a little sporadic." David warns Hisashi, who frowns in response.

"Let me see," Hisashi says while walking toward David to see the problem.

Just as David says, the power output being shown is moving at a sporadic rate.

"Huh. Well, it's not like we didn't expect this. Mutant Quirks are the most difficult to copy since they have a more permanent effect over the other two types." Hisashi mutters as he tries to figure out where the problem may lie.

"True. We may have to re-check the analyzer again. It may just be a small glitch like last time." David nods as he types a few things on the computer.

Hisashi groans in annoyance when he hears that.

"I can't believe people will want to mass-produce these eventually. It takes so much time to finish one of them. Plus, it takes laser surgeon-like precision to guarantee that it works." Hisashi grunts as he prepares to open the Hero Driver. 

"Well, you know people. They always want more." David laughs as he walks over to help Hisashi.

"Don't I know it? Plenty of the heroes I've made equipment for always wanted me to improve the design of something I made for them so they have a better chance to get up in the rankings." Hisashi says, annoyance clear in his tone.

"We can probably develop a mass-production model by cutting back on some things," David tells him.

"Probably. We'll work on the design later after we finish working on the Hero Drivers." Hisashi tells him.

-------------------

While plots are being formed, Izuku and Shiki are with Toshinori for their usual beach training. Compared to the beginning, Izuku is showing clear improvements in physical ability by continuing to lift various medium-sized pieces of trash like Shiki. Shiki isn't far behind in growth, either.

"So, how have things been with you?" Shiki asks as he carries a refrigerator door off the beach next to Izuku, who's holding a beaten-up trashcan.

"They've been going good. I'm starting to get used to everything, I think." He tells Shiki.

"That's good. I'm glad you're getting used to everything. It'll make things easier when we try out for U.A." Shiki nods before setting the door in Toshinori's truck.

Izuku's eyes widen at the reminder of U.A.

"That's right. I've been so busy that I forgot the entrance exam will be in a few months. It's a good thing I already sent in my application." Izuku thinks in relief as he follows Shiki's lead and sets the trashcan in the truck.

After doing this, he looks toward the horizon.

"It feels weird. After everything I've been through these last couple of months, the idea of the entrance exams doesn't feel as scary. In fact, I'm looking forward to it." Izuku thinks with a smile.

"You realize we can't use our Kamen Rider forms for it, right?" Shiki randomly asks Izuku, causing his brain to pause.

"What?" Izuku asks in confusion.

Shiki continues, thinking Izuku wasn't listening to him.

"We can't use our Kamen Rider forms. We don't want people spreading rumors that the Kamen Riders weren't even in a hero school when they started saving people. We can use other things like our weapons, but not the armor." Shiki states to Izuku.

Suddenly, Izuku's bravado disappears as he realizes it'll be up to his physical abilities without being transformed. He crouches and begins to mumble to himself about the possibilities. Shiki sweatdrops at this reaction.

"Did I say something wrong? I thought he already knew. Did he really think we could use the form for an exam where people can see us and tell everyone?" Shiki questions in his mind as he stares at Izuku.

"Are you okay?" Shiki awkwardly asks as he stares at the panicking Izuku.

"What am I going to do? Will I be able to handle the exam without my body being enhanced? I'll be the only one between us to fail, and All Might will hate me because I took up the precious time he could have used to save people." Izuku continues to mutter as he thinks about multiple bad scenarios.

Shiki's sweatdrop grows when he sees his partner's reaction to his question.

"I kind of feel bad now." Shiki thinks before trying to shake Izuku out of his stupor.

"Hey. Calm down. You still have a good chance of getting in without the armor." Shiki tells his friend as he finally wakes Izuku up.

"R-really?" Izuku asks hopefully as he looks at Shiki as if he's on the verge of crying.

"Yes. We can still use weapons like the Power Blade, and we have another advantage most people don't." Shiki tells him to try and cheer the teen up.

"What?" Izuku asks curiously, and Shiki motions toward Toshinori. Who is currently going over something on his phone and not paying attention to them.

"We're being trained by All Might himself. That's something most people, especially our age, can say. Not only that, we're also getting real experience. That's something only vigilantes have over other applicants." Shiki tells him.

Izuku thinks about Shiki's words before realizing he's right. Most applicants for a hero school have little to no experience unless they break the law by becoming vigilantes or have a hero in their family since those family members can often help them train. He and Shiki would have a clear advantage in the U.A. exam due to their experience as Kamen Riders.

"You're right. But we don't have Quirks either. That could be a problem still." Izuku tells him.

"We're not going up against Nomu during the exam. Our weapons and training should be more than enough." Shiki tells him with a calm shrug.

Izuku still looks unsure, and Shiki sighs.

"We'll be fine, Midoriya," Shiki reassures him.

"Quite right. You two can handle anything that comes your way with proper training and by sticking together." Toshinori tells them as he walks toward them, having heard only the end of their conversation.

The two turn toward their teacher as he smiles at them.

"I want you two to remember. Heroes often work together to accomplish a common goal, even if they have to compete for attention. Teamwork is important for heroes so the people will feel safe with them around." Toshinori tells the two.

Izuku and Shiki nod at his words, causing Toshinori's smile to widen.

"Good. Now, back to your training. Time waits for no one." Toshinori orders while pointing toward the beach.

With a sigh, the two quickly get back to work. As they do, they're both thinking about their futures.

"I can't believe the entrance exam is only a few months away. Am I really ready for it?" Despite Shiki's best efforts, Izuku is still nervous about his chances, given the acceptance percentage of U.A.

On the other hand, Shiki has a determined glare and seems to be pushing himself a little more than before.

"I'm going to get into U.A. I have to. The best way to become a strong hero is to go there." Shiki thinks while lifting another large piece of garbage and power-walking toward Toshinori's truck.

Toshinori watches the two work and can't help but smile at their progress.

"Both of them are showing real signs of change. One of them might be worthy to inherit my title." Toshinori thinks as he keeps a close eye on the two.

He then looks at his palm before clenching it into a fist.

"I'm running out of time. I can barely keep my strength up for a few hours now. I may need to choose a successor soon." Toshinori thinks with an angry scowl.

"Hopefully, I can finish him off before I run out of time. I'm sure he's still alive. The Nomu prove that." Thinking along those lines causes the scar on his torso to start acting up with phantom pains, and he winches.

"I shouldn't have let him get to me. The suffering and Nomu are my fault. I can't leave it to the next generation." Toshinori thinks with a tone of finality before returning to observing his students.

He watches as Shiki determinedly puts more pieces of trash in his truck while Izuku seems to be moving somewhat sluggishly like he's thinking about something.

"They don't deserve to suffer for my mistake." Toshinori thinks.

-------------------

Days after that, Slidin' Go is on his phone with Skeptic.

"That is our current plan for the Kamen Riders," Skeptic informs him about the executive's plans.

"Alright. I'll try to make sure Bakugou works with one of the other Kamen Riders." Slidin' Go nods, knowing his boss doesn't like it when he asks questions.

"Good," Skeptic says before hanging up.

Slidin' Go sighs as he looks at his phone while rubbing the back of his head.

"How am I supposed to do that when neither wants to be near him and are usually together? It's more likely that they'll already be near each other." Slidin' Go mutters as he tries to figure out how to separate Deku and Chamber.

"This is going to be tough." Slidin' Go complains before sighing and getting to work.

-------------------

Somewhere else, Izuku and Shiki are heading to school on Izuku's Plus Striker.

"So, are you feeling better about the entrance exams?" Shiki asks while holding onto Izuku.

"I-I think so. I think you're right. We do have a good chance of getting into U.A.," Izuku tells him with a nod.

"It's not like we can aim for anything lower. Most schools with a hero course have a ban on people without Quirks even trying out. Besides, we'll likely get into the General Studies Course. So, we'll have the chance to get into the Hero Course later on." Shiki explains to him.

"Wow, you know a lot about this." Izuku can't help but praise his friend.

Sure, he's a hero nerd. But his hobby usually involved studying different heroes and their Quirks. Of course, he's kept up with other hero subjects, such as schools. But U.A. was more secretive and protective with their curriculum since it's the best school in Japan for heroics.

"It comes with being the grandson of the Hero Public Safety Commission chairman. I learned a lot that others don't about heroics. And I do mean a lot." Shiki states calmly while checking to make sure his helmet is secure.

"Really?" Izuku asks excitedly.

"Yeah. I might know more than you. Hard to say, though. I've heard you are a heavy hero nerd." Shiki tells him with a shrug.

Hearing this makes Izuku more excited about talking to Shiki. However, something comes to his mind when he keeps hearing Shiki discuss his grandfather instead of his parents.

"Hey, Hikage. What are your parents like? I've only seen you're grandfather, and they weren't at your apartment when I visited." Izuku asks curiously.

Unknown to Izuku, Shiki winches when he hears that but answers anyway.

"They're not around that much. They're both heroes that travel often." Shiki tells Izuku calmly.

"That's cool. What are their names? Maybe I've heard of them." Izuku says excitedly.

"I'll tell you later. We're almost to school now. So, we don't have time if you want to fanboy over them." Shiki quickly states as he sees the school in the distance.

"Alright." Izuku nods.

-------------------

Unknown to the two, the Meta Liberation Army is about to begin their latest plan.

"I'm in position." A male warrior with a shaved head, slightly tanned skin, and brown eyes says into an earpiece.

The man is wearing a black shirt with a skull, blue jeans, and black boots that go a bit above the ankles.

"Good. You sure you're Meta Ability will be able to separate the Kamen Riders when you see them?" A feminine voice asks into his earpiece.

"Yeah. It should work without a problem. I've practiced with it before we got here and have a pretty good idea of how it works." The man states.

"Good. I'll be ready to pounce on them as soon as we see them." The female voice nods.

The man doesn't say anything and looks toward a roof where a woman with long black hair, pale skin, green reptile-like eyes, and skin-colored scales around her cheeks. She's dressed in a long-sleeve black shirt with diagonal dark green stripes, turquoise green jeans, and beige flats.

Seeing she's up there. The man takes a deep breath and starts morphing into his Nomu form.

The man's Nomu form gives him pitch-black skin with a grey belly and legs. His face elongates into a reptile-like one as his skull separates to reveal his brain, and his eyes turn golden. Purple pants replace his clothes as his body bulks until he can dwarf Death Arms, and he seems to grow a tail. Finally, purple scales that wouldn't look out of place on a stegosaurus grow from his back to the end of his tail.

With his transformation done, the man growls like a predator in the wild before charging out of his hiding place and slamming into an oncoming car. The driver screams in a panic and quickly gets out as Stego Nomu picks the vehicle up and throws it at another one.

"Bring me the Kamen Riders!" Stego Nomu screams at the top of his lungs before getting on all fours, and the scales on his back and tail fire in different directions. The scales pierce through anything in their path like a spear through paper, and Stego Nomu regrows his scales instantly to perform a rapid fire of this.

When the two un-transformed Kamen Riders see this, Izuku immediately skids them to a halt while Shiki has to duck to avoid getting his head cut off.

"Get us somewhere to hide! Now!" Shiki shouts in alarm as he sees Stego Nomu's scales regrow, and he's about to fire another volley.

Izuku quickly turns on the gas and drives them toward a corner they passed before to get out of Stego Nomu's line of sight. After turning that corner, Izuku lets up, and the two park. It takes a little bit for them to get their bearings from the sudden Nomu, though.

"Okay. Do these guys have nothing better to do? That was way too close for comfort." Shiki says as he puts a hand to his heart to try and calm it down.

Izuku isn't in better shape. He's shaking a bit from the shock as he tries to relax. After a few moments, the two calm their nerves. When they do, they see most people are busy doing their own thing or heading toward where the screaming is to see the heroes fight.

"Looks like we have room to transform," Shiki tells Izuku before the two duck behind a truck and pull out their Hero Drivers.

They insert their respective Power Coins simultaneously and cause their Hero Drivers to sync with the other as they announce.

"Rabbit + Quirkless, blank match/Rifle + Quirkless, blank match."

Following the synchronization of their Hero Drivers, the two turn the keys simultaneously without realizing it. Causing smoke to envelop them both.

"JUMP, JUMP, REACH FOR THE MOON, JUMPING RABBIT/READY, AIM; I'VE GOT YOU IN MY SIGHTS, SNIPER RIFLE!"

When the smoke clears, both Kamen Riders are ready.

"Kamen Rider Deku/Chamber!"

That announcement draws a few eyes in their direction.

"It's the Kamen Riders!" Someone says excitedly.

"Go take that villain down!" Another person says.

"Go, heroes!" A young boy says happily as the Kamen Riders run past them.

As soon as Stego Nomu sees the two, he grins.

"Perfect. They're here." He says into his earpiece.

"I see that. Make sure to separate them." The woman orders.

"You're finally here, Kamen Riders. You're about to be destroyed by the dino might of Stegogai." The newly named Stegogai announces before charging toward the Kamen Riders, slamming any vehicle in his path to the side as he does so.

The Kamen Riders see him coming, and Chamber fires upon Stegogai with his wrist-mounted guns while Deku equips the Mighty Knuckle. However, the bullets don't seem to slow Stegogai down. He continues to charge toward them while raising his fists above his head. Seeing that the attacks aren't working, Deku runs toward Stegogai with the Mighty Knuckle ready to deliver a punch.

"I need to dive in close to hit him." Deku thinks as he and Stegogai are about to meet.

But before he can meet Stegogai, the dinosaur-themed Nomu slams his fists into the ground and causes the earth around him to move like waves in the ocean. This attack sends Deku flying and pushes him and Chamber to opposite sides of the street as Stegogai stands before them.

Chamber shakes his head and moves to stand up. Before he can, though, he feels talons latch onto his shoulders before picking him up and quickly bringing him into the air. After taking a second to get over the shock of his current situation, Chamber looks behind him to see a feminine Nomu who looks like a pterodactyl is the one carrying him off the ground.

"Sorry. But we can't have you two work together. But don't worry. I'll let you have a partner for our playtime. You can call me Terra Swoop, by the way. As you might have guessed, we're here to take you down." The Nomu says in a mischievous and slightly sadistic tone as she increases their speed to get him further away from Deku before either Kamen Rider can try anything to stop her.

Deku sees Chamber being taken away as he recovers and screams.

"Chamber!"

He gets up and is about to equip his Power Blade to fire upon Terra Swoop before getting slammed into a building by Stegogai.

"No, you don't. You and I will be fighting mano a mano while my friend deals with him." Stegogai says confidently before grabbing Deku's leg and throwing him into a car across the street.

Stegogai follows this up by getting on all fours and charging toward Deku. As he does, he fires the top spines on his back at the prone Kamen Rider. Deku barely looks up in time to see them and pull himself out of the way. He then has to jump back to avoid Stegogai's charge but gets hit with a tail swing before he can do anything else.

Deku groans as he crashes to the ground again.

"Wow. This guy is fast for his size. He's strong, too. He's using his Quirks amazingly. I can't even tell which is his real Quirk." Deku thinks before finding his leg getting grabbed again.

Not wanting history to repeat itself, Deku quickly uses the Mighty Knuckle to punch the arm holding his leg before Stegogai can lift him too far off the ground. The force from the punch causes Stegogai to let him go and take a couple of steps back while rubbing his hand.

"Man. You do pack a punch. No wonder the other guys couldn't get the job done if only one of you packed that much power." Stegogai says in slight irritation as the pain starts to subside.

Deku quickly takes advantage of Stegogai's shock to distance himself from Stegogai and regain his bearings.

"Good. I managed to get away from him, and the Mighty Knuckle can hurt him on its own. If it's like this, I can probably beat him if I keep moving. Should I run toward the Plus Striker, just in case?" He wonders in his mind as he raises his fists in a fighting stance.

"I was hoping this job wouldn't be too easy. It wouldn't do us any good if the Kamen Riders were weak. Besides, it's more fun to beat the crap out of someone to get what you want." Stegogai says as he cracks his knuckles before charging toward Deku.

-------------------

With Chamber and Terra Swoop. The Kamen Rider is struggling to get away from the pterodactyl-like Nomu. However, every time he tries something like shooting her or reaching for his Power Coins, she maneuvers herself to stop him by suddenly diving, corkscrewing, looping, or letting her hold go to grab another part of his body.

After some time, she releases him and throws him into the window of a school building. When Chamber collects himself, he sees that he's in a classroom. More specifically, Katsuki's classroom.

"Woah!"

"What's happening?"

"It's a Kamen Rider!" Someone shouts excitedly.

"Awesome!"

"Wait. He was thrown through a window. Is a Nomu here?"

As his classmates start panicking, Katsuki growls at how Chamber is thrown into his classroom before running out of the room. Luckily, Slidin' Go gave him some lee-way today and let him keep the Hero Driver on him. But while having the chance to turn into a Kamen Rider is nice, it annoys him that he has to hide to transform and can't show that he's the best to the extras around him.

Back with Chamber, he's standing up but doesn't have a chance to do anything else as Terra Swoop flies through the hole she made with him and slams beak first into him, causing the windows and wall behind him to break as they leave the classroom and he lands in the school's track field.

"What's the matter, Kamen Rider? Can't get your feet off the ground? I thought you could fly. I guess I was wrong. I'll bet I was wrong about your aim too." Terra Swoop mocks him as she flies in place by flapping her wings.

Chamber glares when he hears this and equips the Ultra Magnum. He tries to hit her, but Terra Swoop quickly soars out of the bullets' paths, and Chamber has trouble keeping up with her speed. He soon hits the ground again when Terra Swoop divebombs him again and crashes into his chest.

"Looks like I was right about your aim being terrible." She mocks again before needing to dodge an explosion courtesy of the school's resident secret hero.

"Die!" He shouts as he uses his explosions to propel after the Nomu.

Despite his best efforts, he can't keep up with Terra Swoop. That doesn't stop him, though. All it does is anger him more, which he uses to fuel himself and continue chasing her while trying to figure out how to catch her.

As K.E.M. tries to catch Terra Swoop, Chamber gets up and looks through his Power Coins for something to help him shoot her down. After a second, he chooses his new go-to Power Coin, the Dragonfly Power Coin, and inserts it into the Ultra Magnum.

"Dragonfly Power Finish!" The Hero Driver announces as Chamber fires bullets with sporadic flight patterns at K.E.M. and Terra Swoop.

Terra Swoop sees these incoming bullets and secretly smirks.

"Time to put the plan into action. Let's see how you like this." Terra Swoop thinks as she concentrates on the bullets while K.E.M. is charging behind her.

As the bullets are about to surround and pierce Terra Swoop, they suddenly change flight paths and fly toward K.E.M.

K.E.M. is shocked at the sudden shift and is hit by the bullets in full force, causing him to crash to the ground while Terra Swoop charges toward a shocked Chamber. She slams into him and drags him across the ground before she picks him up and soars straight up. She then dives back down and sends Chamber flying into K.E.M.

"Get off me, you useless shit!" K.E.M. shouts as he kicks Chamber off him.

Chamber grunts as he gets up while glaring at K.E.M. and trying to figure out what happened. However, he doesn't have long, as K.E.M. grabs and lifts him off the ground.

"What was that, you worthless fuck? You shot me instead of the Nomu!" He shouts into Chamber's face with a tone full of venom.

"I don't know. It must be one of her Quirks. I was aiming to take her out." Chamber tells him as he pushes K.E.M. off him.

Their fight amuses Terra Swoop before choosing to end it by diving toward them again. The two Kamen Riders don't notice her until she's close to them and don't have time to avoid the hit.

From the ground, Chamber growls and fires at Terra Swoop with her wrist-mounted guns. Luckily, one of the bullets managed to hit her, causing her to falter slightly.

"Why, you little." She grunts in slight pain and surprise as Chamber continues to fire at her.

-------------------

Back with Deku, he's currently ducking under a punch from Stegogai before delivering an uppercut to Stegogai's chin. However, the Nomu sees this coming and quickly intercepts the punch by grabbing Deku's arm before throwing him to the side.

Not wanting to stay on the ground long, Deku quickly springs back to his feet by running forward to keep out of Stegogai's grip. He turns around just in time to see Stegogai, with his back turned to him, about to fire his spines at the Kamen Rider.

Seeing this, Deku instinctively reaches for his Power Coins and manages to pull out the Barrier Power Coin and insert it into the Mighty Knuckle.

"Barrier Slam Finish!" The Hero Driver shouts as Deku slams the Mighty Knuckle into the ground to create a green barrier around him that blocks the incoming spines while they crack the barrier upon impact.

Stegogai turns around in time to see the barrier dissipate and glares at the Kamen Rider.

"Alright. You're as annoyingly tough as they said you were. But you won't be able to beat my combination of Meta Abilities." The stegosaurus Nomu tells him as he prepares to charge again, not knowing that his words cause Deku's eyes to widen in surprise.

"He's referring to his Quirks as Meta Abilities, too, like with the Paper Nomu." Deku thinks as he jumps over Stegogai, causing the Nomu to crash into the wall behind him.

He then follows this up by charging at him and delivering a strike to Stegogai's butt, with the Mighty Knuckle, pushing him deeper into the wall.

"Why, you little," Stegogai growls as he gets up and turns toward the Kamen Rider.

Only to be met with a boot to the face courtesy of a dropkick from Deku before the Kamen Rider uses his face to jump back again. The full-body kick causes Stegogai to stagger back while holding his face in pain.

"Good. It looks like I'm doing some damage to him without the Power Coins." Seeing this makes Deku happy, knowing he's not as weak as he first thought due to the damage done already, even if it's only minor.

However, his happiness is short-lived when Stegogai throws a table near him at Deku and sends him crashing into the concrete. Stegogai then follows it up by charging at Deku and jumping to try and land on him with the entirety of his weight. Deku sees this and panics before rolling to the side. The force behind Stegogai's landing leaves cracks in the concrete.

Deku quickly gets off the ground while equipping the Power Blade in his other hand. He then turns the blade and grip around so the gun muzzle is pointing behind the blade.

He charges at Stegogai and slashes at Stegogai. The blade doesn't cut into Stegogai's tough skin, but Deku doesn't give up. He quickly pulls the trigger on the Power Blade and uses the extra force from the gunshot to force the Power Blade into Stegogai's skin.

Stegogai grunts and quickly slams the arm Deku is cutting into him, sending the Kamen Rider skidding a few feet back. He tries to follow this up with a straight, using his other arm, but Deku ducks under this attack and launches his own punch with the Mighty Knuckle. The force from the weapon sends Stegogai skidding back before he falls forward and gets on all fours. He then launches the top spines at Deku to stop him from getting too close.

Deku instinctively jumps in the air to avoid the shots, but that opens him up for the other spines on Stegogai's back and tail. Deku tries to use his arms to block the attacks, but it doesn't help much, and he falls on his side in pain.

Stegogai takes this chance to charge at him. Luckily, Deku is one step ahead of him this time. While in the air, he reached into his Power Coin holder and pulled out a Power Coin before hitting the ground.

He inserts that Power Coin into the Power Blade, causing the Hero Driver to shout.

"Swamp Power Finish!"

Deku quickly slams the blade of his sword into the ground and the ground before it starts turning into sludgy water, heading toward Stegogai in a wide arc. The Nomu doesn't have time to dodge it and finds his feet stuck.

"Really, A makeshift tar pit since I'm a dinosaur? Too bad for you. This dinosaur has a way to fight against it." Stegogai says as he slams his hands into the muddy water.

This causes ripples within it before it explodes and goes everywhere, freeing him. Deku stares in shock as that move has hardly failed him besides when Overdrive Nomu jumped over it.

"Surprised? We've studied your moves and worked out good ways to counter them. All for the glory of our revolution. You won't be able to beat me with your usual tactics. I can easily break out of any trap you set. Even if it's that weird ability where you petrify someone." Stegogai says while pointing toward Deku with a confident tone.

Hearing this causes Deku to tense up.

"Wait. If they've studied my moves, does that mean they studied Hikage's too?" He thinks, suddenly even more worried about his friend after he was taken away.

"You don't have time to be thinking about other things. Especially since I'm done playing around." Stegogai says before slamming his hand on the ground again and sending a wave of earth at Deku.

Seeing this causes Deku to jump to the side, but Stegogai already predicted that. He got on all fours and fired the top spikes on his back at the hero, hitting him in the arm and causing him to drop the Power Blade in pain. Stegogai follows this up by charging while still on all fours and slamming into Deku, sending him flying into another lamp post.

Deku groans as he gets up and reaches for another Power Coin to try something else. In desperation, he pulls out the Draco-Breath Power Coin and inserts it without realizing what it is.

"Dragonic Breath Power Finish!" The Hero Driver announces as the Mighty Knuckle is covered in flames while glowing orange as Deku charges at Stegogai.

He throws his fist forward, and Stegogai is sent staggering back from the impact while there are slight burns in a knuckle outline where he was punched. However, it doesn't look like he took any substantial damage.

"Now that had some sting to it. But it's not enough to get through my skin." Stegogai grunts before charging and trying to punch Deku.

Deku moves to the side, but Stegogai follows it up by spinning and slamming into Deku with his tail.

Deku manages to stay on his feet and reach into his holder for another Power Coin.

"Division Power Finish!" The Hero Driver shouts as Deku inserts the Division Power Coin.

"I haven't used this one yet." Deku thinks as he charges forward and throws another punch.

As the Mighty Knuckle soars toward Stegogai, energy fists suddenly appear around Deku's arm to launch multiple punches simultaneously, each with equal force to the last. The strength of these punches sends Stegogai flying into the ground and causes his scales to get stuck in the concrete.

"Damn it," Stegogai grunts as he tries to get up.

But he's positioned in a way that he can't reach the ground with his arms and legs that well. He can't put enough power into his attempts. Deku sees this and decides to try and finish things.

He pulls out the Rabbit Power Coin and inserts it into the Hero Driver instead of his weapon.

"RABBIT POWER FINISH!" The Hero Driver shouts as energy builds around Deku, and he charges forward.

He jumps into the air and tries to deliver a flying kick to the trapped Nomu. However, Stegogai suddenly rolls backward while his scales remain stuck in the ground. When Deku crashes into the ground, a small explosion and the earth around him is destroyed.

Unfortunately, it doesn't do much to Stegogai, and he takes advantage of Deku's opening to send another wave of earth at him and send him flying.

"I can't believe you fell for that. I told you, we studied all your moves." Stegogai laughs as he looks at the downed Kamen Rider.

Deku groans as Stegogai charges and tries to jump on him.

-------------------

With K.E.M. and Chamber, the two are having trouble dealing with Terra Swoop and each other. Chamber is being targeted after one of his bullets managed to hit her and her orders.

Currently, Chamber is trying to hit Terra Swoop with his wrist-mounted guns, but she is nimbly avoiding them with the ease of a hummingbird changing directions. Luckily, Chamber has started to adapt to her speed and is avoiding more of her strikes than before.

On the other hand, K.E.M. is trying to chase after her in the air but is getting hit by a few of Chamber's stray bullets for some reason. Needless to say, the two are starting to clash from their situation.

"Will you fucking quit shooting with the pea shooters! You're doing nothing helpful and getting in my way!" K.E.M. shouts at Chamber.

"Maybe if you would stop getting close to her, my bullets wouldn't be at risk of hitting you. I'm trying to figure out what she's doing!" Chamber shouts back with a bit of sharpness in his tone.

"It's obvious this bitch is manipulating your bullets! Quit making my job harder, Pompadour!" K.E.M. screams back as he tries to swipe at Terra Swoop, only for her to move out of the way.

Chamber grits his teeth but realizes that K.E.M. is right and decides to switch things around. He quickly grabs the Chameleon Power Coin and inserts it into his Hero Driver.

"You can't see me? Where am I? I'm on the wall! I've got you in my sights!" The Hero Driver shouts as smoke covers Chamber while he transforms.

"Kamen Rider Chamber!" It says with a tone of finality as Chamber switches forms.

Terra Swoop dives toward Chamber, but he vanishes before she hits him. As she's trying to gain altitude again, a whip suddenly wraps around her wing, and she's pulled toward the ground, causing her to skid across it from her previous momentum.

"You bastard!" Terra Swoop shouts as she gets up and instinctively looks around for the Kamen Rider that sent her crashing to the ground, only not to see him.

While she's doing that, the other Kamen Rider comes diving in and slams into her with a double palm-generated explosion that shakes the ground slightly. Seeing this causes Chamber to drop the camouflage a fair distance from the two as he waits for the smoke to clear.

However, Terra Swoop flies back into the air as if nothing happened, shocking the Kamen Riders.

Before she can see him from above, Chamber quickly camouflages himself again while K.E.M. chases after her. However, Chamber's action wasn't enough for him to completely escape her view. Having the features of a flying predator, her eyesight is enhanced exponentially. So she can distinguish the shifts in coloring and movement from Chamber's camouflage.

She charges at the area where she notices the shifting, and Chamber barely has time to jump over her attack. However, that doesn't stop him from getting hit by K.E.M., who chased after her. The impact causes Chamber to lose his camouflage while the two crash.

"Get off me," Chamber tells him as he kicks K.E.M. off him before needing to duck under another attack from Terra Swoop.

"Quit getting in the way!" K.E.M. shouts at Chamber, getting sick of the other Kamen Rider constantly messing him up.

"That was your fault. You're the one that keeps charging after someone you obviously can't catch!" Chamber shouts back at him.

"Like your fucking bullets are helping Pompadour. You've been hitting me more than you've been hitting Prehistoric Bitch!" K.E.M. screeches.

Terra Swoop sees their argument and secretly grins when she realizes the plan is working.

"Now for a quick disappearing act." Terra Swoop says before flying off at top speed before the Kamen Riders realize she's gone.

It takes longer than you should have for them to realize this. And when they do, K.E.M. pushes Chamber away while growling.

"This is your fucking fault, Pompadour! I could have handled that bastard without you! You and your worthless aim!" K.E.M. screams.

"My aim was fine. Whatever Quirks that Nomu had was the problem. And what about you? You uselessly chased after her when you couldn't catch her." Chamber tells him.

K.E.M. growls, but Chamber isn't done.

"Then again, that's all you can do, seeing as you don't bother collecting Power Coins like you're supposed to. Instead of keeping them on you just in case, you go out of your way to destroy them. So, you're nothing but a one-trick pony." Chamber tells him with an edge in his tone.

Hearing this causes K.E.M. to growl.

"At least I can make better fucking use of this stupid thing than you. You're nothing but a Quirkless reject who got lucky! If your grandfather weren't in such a high fucking position, no one would give a shit about you like Deku!" K.E.M. snaps at Chamber, causing the Kamen Rider to tighten his fist.

"I'm using the Hero Driver better than you. If I remember right, I almost beat you at the docks." Chamber snaps back, causing K.E.M. to growl.

"I didn't fucking lose to you!" K.E.M. snarls back before going for an explosive palm and sending Chamber flying to the ground.

Chamber has enough of K.E.M.'s attitude and launches his whip at the other Kamen Rider, sending him skidding back.

-------------------

Back with Deku. He's running from Stegogai and trying to reach the Plus Striker for extra help since Chamber hasn't returned and K.E.M. is nowhere to be seen.

"I need help to beat him." Deku thinks as he pulls the Unicorn Power Coin off the Plus Striker's Power Coin holder and inserts it.

The Plus Striker quickly turns into its mechanical animal form and throws Deku atop it before running from the charging Stegogai.

"Get back here!" Stegogai snaps at the Kamen Rider and steed before firing his scales at them.

However, the Plus Striker turns around and fires lightning bolts at the attacks, stopping them and causing them to fall harmlessly. It then takes it a step further by charging at Stegogai. As it does, Deku pulls out another Power Coin and inserts it into the Plus Striker.

"Overdrive Power Charge!" The Hero Driver announces as light blue energy surrounds the Plus Striker and its power and speed increase.

With the increased momentum, the Plus Striker tries to slam into Stegogai. However, the Nomu quickly uses his other ability to make a wave of earth rise between them to reduce the damage. The Plus Striker runs through it and slams into the Nomu, sending him flying but not turning him back to normal.

"Alright." Deku thinks happily, but before he can do anything else, he suddenly feels something slam into him and knock him off the Plus Striker.

He looks up to see what hit him and sees Terra Swoop staring down at him while holding a struggling Plus Striker.

"It's your turn to see what it's like to be hunted." Terra Swoop says excitedly as Stegogai stands up.

Deku looks between the two Nomu and backs away nervously while they close in on him. As he's getting cornered, he worries about what happened to Chamber while wondering what he'll do.

Power Coins Deku Rabbit, Draco-Breath, Charge, Marsh, Solidification, Unicorn, Overdrive, Wheels, Division, Bull, Barrier, Creation, Razor Edge, Mantis

Chamber Rifle, Fierce Wings, Shadow Stalk, Gatling, Chameleon, Dragonfly, Sonar, Burrowing Drill, Sprouting

King Explosion Murder Explosion

Next Chapter

[inspirdgboutique01]

Dallas Stars 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Grey Hoodie

Product link:https://inspirdg.com/product/dallas-stars-2025-stanley-cup-playoffs-grey-hoodie/

Store link:https://inspirdg.com/

DALLAS STARS 2025 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS GREY HOODIE: WHERE HOCKEY HEART MEETS HERITAGE STYLE

Some apparel screams team spirit. Others whisper legacy. The Dallas Stars 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Grey Hoodie does both—and then some. This isn’t just a hoodie. It’s a battle flag worn close to the chest, a garment that rallies fans and players alike behind one singular vision: take the Cup. For Dallas. For history. For glory.

Crafted with precision and passion, this hoodie is a tribute to resilience, grit, and Texas-sized pride. It’s more than playoff merchandise—it’s a symbol of a team that’s not just in the race, but writing its name into the record books.

A DESIGN THAT STRIKES LIKE A SLAPSHOT

The front of this hoodie delivers a clean and commanding message. Across the chest, “DALLAS STARS 2025” is emblazoned in bold white, broken by a shimmering green star that centers the composition like the North Star itself. Below, “Stanley Cup Playoffs” is laid out in crisp capital lettering—a call to battle written in the language of champions.

Flip to the back and the design goes full roar: “LET’S GO DALLAS TAKE THE CUP” is printed in powerful type, the Stars logo glowing green against the storm-grey cotton. A subtle yet sharp image of Lord Stanley’s Cup itself reminds you why we fight, why we cheer, why we believe.

This is apparel with authority, with impact, with playoff pulse. Every line is deliberate. Every letter is a promise.

BUILT TO LAST, DESIGNED TO LEAD

There’s nothing more disappointing than fan gear that fades. But the Dallas Stars 2025 Grey Hoodie is crafted with heavy-duty comfort and arena-tested durability. Its cotton-blend fleece is soft yet structured, warm without being weighty, and designed to last far beyond the final horn of this season’s playoffs.

With its double-lined hood, metal-tipped drawstrings, and ribbed cuffs and hem, this hoodie is constructed like a defensive line—sturdy, stylish, and hard to beat. Whether you’re braving the cold outside American Airlines Center or watching from your own living room war zone, this hoodie has your back.

And let’s talk fit: it’s athletic, yes—but also roomy enough to layer over your game day tee or jersey. You’re not just wearing this hoodie. You’re wearing a mindset.

A SYMBOL OF BELIEF, CITY, AND BROTHERHOOD

This hoodie carries the weight of a team hungry for greatness. It’s not just fabric—it’s folklore. It speaks for every shift, every blocked shot, every chant that echoes from the rafters. The Stars aren’t just skating—they’re surging, fueled by their fanbase and bound for history.

Wearing this hoodie is a statement. It says you believe in more than stats and scores—you believe in moments. In resilience. In that one perfect puck drop that changes everything. It says you stand with your city, your squad, your brothers in green.

It’s not just fanwear. It’s family wear.

STYLE THAT TRANSITIONS FROM ICE TO STREET WITH EASE

While its DNA is deeply rooted in hockey, this hoodie is designed with modern streetwear sensibility. The minimalist grey canvas gives it versatility and edge, while the bold playoff printwork provides identity and energy. Pair it with joggers, jeans, or shorts—whatever your vibe, this piece fits right in.

It’s just as at home in the arena as it is on the avenue. Throw on a cap, grab a Stanley Cup tumbler, and you’ve got a postseason outfit that turns heads and raises eyebrows. From tailgates to taco spots, you’ll walk like you belong in the locker room.

This isn’t merch. This is movement.

FINAL VERDICT: A MUST-HAVE FOR TRUE BELIEVERS

The Dallas Stars 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Grey Hoodie is more than apparel—it’s armor for fans and fuel for fire. It’s classic, bold, and battle-ready, delivering both emotional weight and visual power in every stitch. Whether you're chanting in the stands or pacing your living room in overtime, this hoodie makes you feel like part of the mission.

With iconic branding, modern cut, and championship energy stitched into its seams, this hoodie is your new go-to for playoff season and far beyond.

So wear it loud. Wear it proud. And when Dallas takes the ice?

Take the Cup.

[emberdoodle]

Alright, here is 1 out of 2 of the main aliens for my sci-fi project "Beyond the Galactic Boarders", Alitstin. I wanted to give him hair that doesn't have the usual materials most humanoids have. Then I remember that some aliens in other movies and games have hairs that are made of flesh and skin and decided to do that, but make the hair color black because I still want him to have a "hair" color. And now to the clothes. I already got the colors in mind, but couldn't figure out what they're gonna look like. So I looked up some references on futuristic and alien clothes and put the pieces together. Gave him a brown jacket (with dark lines where the sides are) that has shoulder plates in for protection and have the sleeves stop at the elbows, a green t-shirt under the jacket, and knee length pants with knee pads on them. I have him have black sclera with a light orange in the iris and black animal like pupils. With those eye types, he has really good night vision which is perfect for fighting the dead of night or something like that.

I imagine Alitstin being pretty brave and determined in battle, but can be a bit of a dumbass when it comes to picking on people 2x his size and pissing them off. But off battle, he is wisecracking a tiny bit irresponsible which can be a bit annoying to some people. But despite that, he is still an understanding person on how other people are feeling. He doesn't like to talk about his past because it makes him feel bad on himself, so he tries to shut it away from anyone and him as much as he can. Now with Mandy along, he gets paranoid if she'll spill the beans that aliens do exist and will become some sort of helicopter parent type person.

Name: Alitstin Trejind

Nicknames: Alit

Age: 34 (in appearance), 59 (actual age)

Species: Veinniell

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Gay (Trakek)

Birthday: December 16, 1964

Height: 7’8 (239 cm)

Weight: 256 lbs (116 kg)

Weapons: Divine Prime shooter, dlocka war hammer

Abilities: Enhanced sight, night vision, stealth

Homeplanet: Monagow, Ofertaway, Erainax d3

Native language: Xaugmiyuni

Role: Lieutenant, hunter

Family: Sozuo Cacer (husband), unnamed parents (estranged)

Friends: Mandy Rose, Phinna Yegner

Likes: Hunting, cooking, synet (sport), Bittersweet (band)

Dislikes: Yeechee (vegetable, allergic), boredom, his ex-boyfriend, losing a hunt

Bio: Alitstin is considered a very great hunter in his home city Monagow. His skills in strategy with his species’ abilities made him a really good one. This caught the attention of the Galactic Self Defense System and offered him to join them and that his skills and abilities will help them stop the Council of the Unknown. Alitstin says that he needs time to think about it. Then 16 days later, Alitstin’s abusive ex-boyfriend tried to rape him, but Alitstin was able to escape, break off the relationship and hid in his parents' house and told them everything. Alitstin’s father comforted him, but his mother started to victim blame him for breaking off the relationship. Alitstin feeling upset and full of guilt, he went into hiding and ran into a GSDS member who gave him the offer again. And this time, Alitstin accepted, wanting to get away from his ex and mother. Over the next 2 years, he was quickly able to make it to the rank of captain and a respected soldier. After passing a test on his loyalty to the GSDS, Alitstin was introduced to his new partner named Sozuo who was a major at the time. The two first found each other annoying, but 48 hours later, they were able to get along and then became friends. Then 17 days later, Alitstin started to fall in love with Sozuo who later fell in love with Alitstin 4 days later. They both confessed and then started dating. 3 years later, they finally got married. For the next 17 years, Alitstin and Sozuo were promoted to lieutenant and commander respectively. Then one day, they were assigned to go to Earth to get a map for a GSDS mother ship to hide for a bit. While on Earth, they discovered 4 Council of the Unknown members and were able to defeat them. The two were then quickly spotted by a human named Mandy Rose. After giving her more information about the GSDS and giving her new prosthetics, they were ordered to bring Mandy in so she wouldn’t tell the planet about her alien encounter and new prosthetics, but Mandy rebelled against that. After being introduced to Mandy’s friends, finding clothes to hide her prosthetics, and helping Mandy save one of her friends from an abduction and an attempted invasion on Earth. Alitstin and Sozuo were put as Mandy’s teachers after her deal with the GSDS and must use a device to disguise themselves as humans every time they go to Earth to keep an eye on her for her safety and not spill the beans on her secret.

[lingrenyu]

About Brave Standard Test Type and Brave Commander Test Type commentary of Mobile Suit Gundam 00.

[alianoralacanta]

Part 7 – Help! I Don't Know Where To Start

If you are completely stumped about how to search for a particular item you need (for example, you don't know any sources, or what the category of what you want is called, you just have a half-remembered phrase), try the following strategy:

- What sort of information do you want? Considering this may help you understand which actual search engine you want.

- Go to an appropriate search engine (not an AI, especially not a generative AI - an actual search using some sort of actual search algorithm directly on web pages or robot-generated caches of web pages). The two most popular generic ones are Google and Bing.

Beware: both main general search engines (Google and Bing) incorporate AI in their search - whether you want it or not. This means that their results must be verified every single search, by checking the links that look promising. You will encounter some information you don't want before getting anything useful, because some of it will be hallucinating the search terms. A giveaway for when that has happened is if you get to the site, do a search (Ctrl+F or Command+F) for one of your search terms and get absolutely nothing.

- Get your trusty search engine. Consider getting at least one of each of the following types of search engine bookmarked:

A general search engine you find comfortable to use (I prefer Ecosia, but Brave is becoming an increasingly good option. If you have a typical search engine to use, carrying on using its links remains valid).

A free-use content search engine (such as openverse.org) - this allows searching for items you can include in your work that doesn't have copyright restrictions. Often useful for test/lorem ipsum material (for example, to show what a website you are designing will look like). If your STEM degree includes presentations or creative work, this may come in useful for that.

A wiki search engine (such as wiki.com) - this will allow you to search wikis. The correct way to use wikis in academic research is to go to them, check out the links and find some that either explain the terms you need well enough to use one of the strategies I listed earlier - or mention academically valid resources in their own right (the gold standard are static items by subject matter experts that have been peer-reviewed; sometimes you may be given permission to use weaker sources in service of a particular learning goal, or need to use them to troubleshoot a problem with a project).

A PDF search engine (such as Bielefeld Academic Search Engine or ResearchGate - if you're in STEM, bookmark both - or Gutenberg - if you're in the arts, bookmark this at least) - this allows searching for ebooks. Many ebooks are academically valid resources in their own right, although many… aren't. Caution is advised, but when this works, it will save you a lot of time.

The Wayback Machine. Highly useful for resources that aren't on the main part of the internet, or which have changed significantly.

Your university/college library system

Your local public library system

Your university/college/department thesis/dissertation search system

For STEM specifically, also consider the following:

WolframAlpha

The Directory of Open Access Journals

CSS Search - specifically for CSS code

DevX - specifically for coding in DevC

(IT is relatively light on required literature searching, by STEM standards.

(Please avoid any sort of AI-generated summary from search engines. This not only includes the summaries that Bing and Google in particular do, but also search engines that have AI-generated answers as their main reason for being, such as Perplexity.ai, You.com. or ChatGPT Search/ScholarGPT. These are even less appropriate for academic searches than they are for general use. I say this because a lot of well-meaning tech enthusiasts use AI summaries to do trickier parts of their code, and end up either leaking sensitive information to the large language model AI - or getting wrong answers).

hello! i remembered you took a course in library sciences if i recall correctly, and i've always loved reading your essays. i was wondering who to ask for tips on academic research and i felt you were the perfect person to ask!

strangely my instructor is encouraging us to use scholar GPT, saying that if we didn't use AI for searching for literature, writing, etc then we would fall behind. let me just say, i did, convincing myself i'd only use it that one time on a time crunch. i then got lazy, and i felt extremely unproductive.

i would love any advice or anything really that you could give! i'm in STEM, i don't think that is particularly relevant but just in case it is. although it doesn't have to be exclusive to that, only supplementary. thank you

Warning! Long entry alert!

Thank you for the ask! You remember correctly, I studied library sciences, which included some research training. I'm also in the early part of degree #2 (IT with - long story - a history component).

Firstly, I should ask: is this for searching for literature, or a literature search? To a non-student, those will sound identical. However, there's a big difference at university/college level. Searching for literature is simply getting sources to understand a topic. Most university/college coursework requires this to some extent. A literature search seeks to obtain every significiant item of knowledge about a very narrow question. It is typically not needed until the third year of undergraduate level.

Most of my advice is focused on the first question. However,

Some of the departments have given different ideas for how to research (which makes sense - library science is a social science, IT is a pure science and history is an art). However, most of it is applicable across disciplines.

AI is not ready to do literature searching of either type. It has too many hallucinations and mistakes to be useful. However, I can see why an instructor might ask people to use it anyway:

Part 1 – Providing Alternative Viewpoints

University and college are partly there to provide contrary opinions and challenge received wisdom. Academia in general is aware that AI is a hot topic and most universities and colleges have strong anti-AI-in-academia opinions. Thus, any of several pro-AI positions might be posited by other academics to ensure that students think about their use of AI instead of reflexively taking a position and never reconsidering it.

You may be being asked to consider multiple takes on the subject, as this is good training for the official course material in upper levels of degree courses. If you have no insight into your instructor's motives, this is the safest reason to assume, because it doesn't assume anything about their actual opinion (for example, it's possible to be anti-AI, still advocate thinking about AI through multiple lenses and thus be willing to take an opinion one does not actually believe for the benefit of students' developing a thoughtful approach to AI).

The proper answer to this is to make a sensible decision about AI and be prepared to revise it. You've used the tools currently on offer and found them inadequate, so different techniques are appropriate. You have, therefore, done your honest best as a student to thoughtfully consider the matter.

The sensible move in 2025 is to avoid using AI for literature search. However, colleges and universities want students to think about this and not simply assume the position they had entering university is or will continue to be the case. That applies to AI and almost every other topic the university/college teaches.

[numachi]

[murumokirby360]

GundamVersusV3: Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost - 057 Brave Commander Type Gameplay

Tagged: @ftgxsee, @lordromulus90

[lesser-mook]

[gundamfight]

[darthveda]

Gundam00 -A wakening of the Trailblazer- 7th Anniversary!!-

Artwork by  巴