After everything that happened with the Rangers, Ace went back to work on his project drawings. On the table was the Water Stone. Ace studied it, and his research matched Rose's information. That magical stone was a powerful source of energy, along with the ease of handling water and ice. Placing the Water Stone inside a basin of water, Ace watched it absorb in a few seconds what would be an overflowing bucket of water.
"Interesting... the energy stored inside this Water Stone increased by 10% in total, but it's already reached its limit." Leaving his notebook aside, Ace put the Water Stone in a safe place. Taking it out of his pocket, he looked at his own morpher with a smile on his face. "Time to give yourself an upgrade, don't you think, friend?" So he went back to the workshop.
———
• Meanwhile on the Internet •
People were excited about the new episodes of Power Rangers. The quality of the show exploded immensely when it was introduced. It was as if everything was real.
[AceNumber1Fan: I was already a fan of Shovel Knight, but now? Even more so! Ace is my husband!
[TunaKaslana: I forgot people like you exist... anyway, he appeared in Goblin Slayer, so maybe he'll appear in other media?]
[PerryThePlatypus!?: I bet all my money he appears in One Piece!]
[AshenOne: I don't know... I have a feeling he'll be in a much more interactive place...]
[TunaKaslana: Like what? A gacha? Come on, this is crazy.]
Crazy maybe it was, but they couldn't imagine how right they would be. Theories circulated around the Internet it didn't take long to find out what Ace's appearance was based on, but other than that, no information.
The corporations tried to contact Hasbro to find out what was going on as they also filed a lawsuit. Capcom was furious about everything, but nothing could be done. So after a long discussion, something new came out of it, a partnership.
Figures of Ace and his equipment started appearing in stores, which took everyone by surprise, but it wasn't something unwelcome, especially for Megaman fans "Argh, seriously, they make a toy instead of thinking about a new game? Come on, Capcom!" In front of the PC, ButterPufferFish was irritated since he was also a fan of the Blue Bomber game series, even though he had just bought all of Ace's figures.
[SpaceSpartan: Bro, you're not exactly one to talk; you complain, but you just bought the whole collection!]
"Do what I say, but not what I do!" He shamelessly said, placing his hand on his chest, maintaining a dignified posture, which easily became a new meme on the Internet.
"Anyway, I'm super curious about the future. Imagine the possibilities! Maybe the Purple Ranger will become live action! Although I still find Bulk as a Ranger funny." Everyone on the livestream agreed Zordon's speech was a hint of something big in the future.
———
• Back to Ace •
After looking at the notifications, he just smiled like an idiot, although he was confused about something too. "Counter Force is interested in me? But what is Counter Force?" The system didn't say anything about it, which made Ace even more confused.
[Popularity: 350]
[Fanarts: 100]
[Counter Force is interested in you; you will be able to go to a new world at no cost. Become a pseudo-servant and help Chaldea in the fight against evil and save humanity!
[Aha is interested in you.]
[You will be able to travel to a world at no cost, explore the vast universe full of possibilities, help in the battle against the destruction and Mara's soldiers, and protect Xianzhou!]
Ace had no knowledge about Fate, so he couldn't imagine what kind of trouble he would find himself in, although Counter Force wouldn't let him deal with everything alone. "Pseudo-Servant? Interesting, a new world means new opportunities." But something inside him told him to prepare himself first before jumping at this opportunity, and of course he would listen to his own instincts.
"And aha? Who the hell should that be?" For some reason Ace felt worried just thinking about that name. The upgrades on his Shovel Knight transformation were finished, a more resistant armor along with a little extra. "They'll be surprised when this is done! Tomorrow after work, go back to Goblin Slayer... there's still a lot to do there." Besides the Power Rangers, he made another group of friends who were waiting for him. "Take some souvenirs for them." Knowing everyone a little, Ace went shopping.
———
• Real World •
[TunaKaslana: Anyway, I'm going to go back to playing Star Rail I have a good feeling!]
[Rider_KuugaTheBest!: I have that feeling too, and I ordered the Ace figures, when they arrive, I'll leave him next to my Shovel Knight!]
ButterPufferFish was just reading the comments on your live and thinking a little; maybe it would be worth starting to play Star Rail again. He had finished the story so far, so all that was left was to hunt chests. "I think I'll go back; I want to see what I can get." He felt excited.
———
Ace was thinking about his choices, but he decided to accept Aha's option, since for him the vast universe would bring many more opportunities than becoming a servant. In his hands were two morphers. "I can also put this to use, but first." He gathered the morphers that merged into one in light; the place where the morpher was located was his belt. "I feel like a Kamen Rider..." And pressing the system button, he accepted. Light entered his vision, and the smell of fresh air hit his face, but he also began to hear the sound of people fighting.
"Huh? What's going on?" Ace began to go in the direction where the sound came from, looking and noticing the presence of two people. He didn't expect it at all.
"HENSHIN!"
His body took on the appearance of Shovel Knight, his spear shone in the sunlight, and he soon advanced towards the sound of battle. There was a young woman with gray hair and golden eyes wearing a hat and a spear as her main weapons while fighting these creatures, they looked like Rita's clay soldiers.
The young woman easily dealt with everything, the problem was the amount that began to appear without stopping. Ace jumped from where he was doing acrobatics in the air, and when he reached the middle of the confusion, he attacked everything with his spear. His steps were light and calm, looking like a waltz dance. He pulled the young lady by the waist, bending her knees, which made her stand with one leg up in the air dramatically. "Hello, mon amour, do you need help?" Ace didn't wait for the answer, grabbing the young woman by the waist and throwing her into the sky, who understood the message well, and with his flaming spear he descended like a missile, exploding in the middle of the creatures and burning them completely.
"Shovel Knight at your service!" Putting his left leg forward, he raised his spear, causing an explosion of blue smoke in the background.
———
• ButterPufferFish livestream •
ButterPufferFish was starting the chest-hunting stream when he mysteriously received a message from an unknown person through the game's notification, inviting him to a party in Xianzhou, starting a mission. "There was no news about a new mission, did I miss any news?" He was a little thoughtful but ignored it, teleporting to the mission location. When he arrived, he was already cornered by enemies, starting a battle, but after the third wave, the battle ended forcibly, starting a cutscene.
Stelle was cornered by enemies that didn't stop coming until a figure began to fall from the sky in the middle of everything. A curtain of smoke made it difficult to see until a spear cut through the smoke along with the enemies, revealing who it was.
ButterPufferFish was standing there watching his computer screen in shock. "WHAT!?" He found it strange that a new mission appeared in his game, but now? Ace was there! His heart was racing as his breathing deepened. Not only that, the quality of the animations was wonderful.
[TunaKaslana: HEYHEY! I said! I had a great feeling! Hahaha, but wait, if he's on this mission... does that mean a new character!? Please be free!]
[KonoDioDa!: You have too much hope, so as the bad person that I am... Let it be from Gacha!]
[TunaKaslana: Mooh! What a villain you are!]
ButterPufferFish laughed at the comments, just looking at his screen stuck in a dialogue. It was Ace talking to Stelle with his somewhat animated and fun way. He seemed excited to be there despite pretending to be a super knight in his way of speaking. After the dialogue, something appeared on his screen.
[Obtained Ace 4* Elation, Physical.]
Ace's splash art appeared, showing him sitting in a chair looking at his morpher, while behind him was him transformed into Shovel Knight with other Power Rangers behind him. "Wait, ELATION!?" Not only was he is a playable character, but he was also from a completely different path!
[TunaKaslana: Mamamia! I said it, hahaha!]
[KonoDioDa: I'm not wrong yet! Look, the gacha has a new banner with him in the middle, even though the main character from the banner is hidden...]
[TunaKaslana: You're right...my jades, noooooo!]