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March 2025 "Transform!" flash fiction by Ulysses Ochoa

Ulysses Ochoa



Ryohei Sawada crashes through the window of a large department store, slamming hard onto the street. The people around him panic and disperse as a monster emerges from the shop, the grotesque Devil Cicada. Ryohei scrambles out of the way just as the beast lunges at him with an outstretched hairy claw and strikes his signature pose with conviction. “Flash Changer!” Ryohei is bathed in light and transforms into his heroic persona. “The warrior of light who shines before the darkness of evil: Flash Kaizer!” Flash Kaizer strikes with a flurry of punches and chops before dropping the beast with a roundhouse kick. “Well done, however you’re too late Flash Kaizer! I’ve already set part of my plan in motion. Emerge, Cicada Troopers!” Three massive-sized cocoons burst from the asphalt, and out of them, human-cicada hybrids emerge, assuming a fighting stance. “So this is what’s been going on with all the recent missing person cases. Is there any depths Black Cerberus won’t sink, is seducing people with riches and eternal life not enough?!” “The outcome is inevitable, Flash Kaizer. The earth will belong to Black Cerberus, no matter how hard you fight humanity will do our bidding. Even if it's against their will!” Devil Cicada scurries away, chittering more insults at Ryohei. The Cicada Troopers circle, attacking Ryohei in sequence, one after the other. He manages to defend against the first two, but the third manages to nick his side with its claws. These Cicada Troopers are quite a bit stronger compared to the usual grunts sent out by Black Cerberus. I’ll have to use techniques normally reserved for the Brimstone Generals. Striking another fierce pose, he summons to his hand the Flashcalibur!  It is his signature hand-to-hand weapon, one of several that he can call upon as the situation sees fit. “Take this: Finishing Move No. 3! Flash Exceed!” Ryohei’s sword begins to glow as he speedily chains together three slashing attacks, passing between his foes and cooly sheathing his sword. Just as the Cicada Troopers turn to ash and blow away, he is ambushed by Devil Cicada. “You fool, you should know better than to let your guard down! Devil’s Reverb!” Devil Cicada emits a low, droning rumble that stuns Ryohei in place. He fights with all his might to move, but his efforts are rewarded with sparks of pain exploding throughout his body. “This is the end, Flash Kaizer! Devil’s Stinger!” The foul needle that functions as Devil Cicada’s mouth begins to extend and drills toward Ryohei, spelling certain doom. “Come to me, Flash Rider!” Ryohei’s trusty motorcycle tackles Devil Cicada, freeing him from the trap and providing a vital opportunity.

“Finishing Move No.1: Flash Bomber!” Ryohei leaps to the sky, front flipping into a sparking dive kick that strikes Devil Cicada with impactful precision. “Curse You, Flash Kaizer! Guwoooo!” Devil Cicada slowly falls to the ground, erupting in a dramatic explosion, while Ryohei turns away from the defeated beast and poses victoriously.

 

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