History Recap / ShinKamenRider2023

The film [[ActionPrologue starts in the middle of a chase]] down a highway in the middle of nowhere: two large trucks, pursuing a man and a woman on a [[CoolBike sleek motorcycle]]. The woman gives the man some cryptic instructions[[note]]"Gather up the wind! And use your mask![[/note]], just before an explosive roadblock separates them, sending the woman falling into the forest below. A group of strange-mask wearing men disguised in riot police uniforms bring the woman to their leader: a leather-clad man wearing a spider-based helmet. The man declares that his task is to eliminate all traitors to the "Organization", but his orders this time is to bring the woman back, he will instead make sure she can never escape them again.

Ruriko brings Hongo, with the [[CoolBike Cyclone]] following after them, to a safehouse that she'd prepped before she and the professor had defected. Declaring that she's [[CharacterCatchphrase always well-prepared]], Ruriko calls it the perfect place for them to prepare for their next confrontation with SHOCKER without their knowledge. However, inside the duo discovers that two officials from the Japanese government have gotten inside and are waiting for them. The officials are working to clean up SHOCKER's mess, and they want Ruriko and Hongo's help with dealing with their Aug agents, in exchange for information and security. It's also here where Ruriko divulges SHOCKER's goals.

[[folder:Koumori Aug]]

[[/folder]]

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At Uoguchi Dam, Kumo Aug is confronted by Takeshi, who rejects his "Batta Aug" label and declares his identity as "Kamen Rider". Dismissive, Kumo Aug sics more of his minions on Kamen Rider before fighting him one-on-one. [[EvilCannotUnderstandGood Unable to understand why Kamen Rider doesn't find any happiness in killing humans]] as [[MisanthropeSupreme he]] does, Kumo Aug restrains the renegade with his multiple arms. Kamen Rider turns the tables by jumping into the air with Kumo Aug, spinning fast enough to dislodge the assassin and striking him with [[FinishingMove a prana-powered flying kick]]. Dead, Kumo Aug's body dissolves - a fail-safe that destroys any evidence leading back to the Organization.

Kamen Rider recovers Ruriko, who is alive and unharmed from the kidnapping, and not as unconscious as she appeared. After she disengages his transformation, Takeshi comments that what he did pains him, and [[DueToTheDead can only bow his head in mourning for Kumo Aug and his minions]]. Ruriko dismisses Takeshi's apologies for failing to save her father, revealing that her relationship with Midorikawa quite distant.

Before he can [[EyeScream gouge out her eyes]], everyone's attention is caught by a loud noise from the ridge above. The source: the man on the bike, his helmet now transformed into a grasshopper-like mask. The spider mask recognizes him with delight: "Batta Aug", who immediately jumps down to the forest and starts attacking the spider's minions, allowing the woman and the spider-masked man leave the scene. Only when the bloodbath ends does Batta Aug leap away.

Professor Midorikawa explains that Takeshi is now an Augment, a human being with superhuman abilities thanks to possessing a large amount of [[LifeEnergy prana]], an omnipresent life force that all living things generate. With the Organization's other Augments only using their prana-granted powers for their own gratification, Midorikawa had decided that the future of prana could only be entrusted to Takeshi, who is horrified by his new power, but isn't able to argue. Hiroshi declares that they need to destroy the Organization and thus require Takeshi and his new abilities to do so, and Ruriko fastens a red scarf, a motorcycle rider's garment, around Takeshi's neck.

Suddenly, the spider-masked man—Kumo Aug—knocks out Ruriko, grabs the professor, and webs Takeshi to the wall. Takeshi can only watch helplessly as Kumo Aug strangles Midorikawa, who gasps out to Takeshi to [[LastRequest take care of Ruriko]] before [[NoBodyLeftBehind his dead body dissolves into nothing]]. Kumo Aug then leaves the house, planting a bomb and taking Ruriko away. The blast completely pulverizes the house—but Takeshi manages to leap away unscathed. He immediately gets on the bike from earlier, his personalized motorcycle Cyclone, and moves to intercept Kumo Aug.

The film [[ActionPrologue starts in the middle of a chase]] down a highway in the middle of nowhere: two large trucks, pursuing a man and a woman on a sleek motorcycle. The woman gives the man some cryptic instructions, just before an explosive roadblock separates them, sending the woman falling into the forest below. A group of strange-mask wearing men disguised in riot police uniforms bring the woman to their leader: a leather-clad man wearing a spider-based helmet. The man declares that his task is to eliminate all traitors to the "Organization", but his orders this time is to bring the woman back, he will instead make sure she can never escape them again.

In an abandoned house, brought there by the woman, Batta Aug is in shock, hearing wind from inside of his body and wondering how he could kill people so easily. His horror grows when he gets a look at his body, now mutated to give him great strength. It's not until a third, older man enters the house that Batta Aug—and the audience—start to get some answers.

"Batta Aug" is Takeshi Hongo, a brilliant though withdrawn college graduate and motorcycle enthusiast. The older man is Professor Hiroshi Midorikawa, Hongo's college professor and the one who had him "upgraded" into a half-grasshopper mutant. The woman is Ruriko Midorikawa, the professor's daughter, [[HowWeGotHere who had freed Takeshi from the Organization shortly after they had augmented him, leading to their pursuit]].

Professor Midorikawa explains that Takeshi is now an Augment, a human being with superhuman abilities thanks to possessing a large amount of [[LifeEnergy prana]], an omnipresent life force that all living things generate. With the Organization's other Augments only using their prana-granted powers for their own gratification, Midorikawa had decided that the future of prana could only be entrusted to Takeshi, who is horrified by his new power, but isn't able to argue.

Suddenly, the spider-masked man—Kumo Aug—knocks out Ruriko, grabs the professor, and webs Takeshi to the wall. Takeshi can only watch helplessly as Kumo Aug strangles Midorikawa, who gasps out to Takeshi to [[LastRequest take care of Ruriko]] before he dissolves into nothing. Kumo Aug then leaves the house, planting a bomb and taking Ruriko away. The blast completely pulverizes the house—but Takeshi manages to leap away unscathed. He immediately gets on the bike from earlier, his personalized motorcycle Cyclone, and moves to intercept Kumo Aug.