"There's nothing in this world I can't cut!"
Hiiro sneered, slashing his light-imbued longsword with precision. In one swift move, he sliced the Bugster's composite form into four pieces.
This wasn't a challenge—it was a necessary step. Something that had to be done, like brushing away a pesky fly. A few appearances early on, and then it would be gone for good.
The shattered Bugster exploded into a swarm of digital viruses, dispersing into the air before quickly recombining—this time taking on a new form.
From within the swirl emerged a new monster: red, ominous, and twisted in shape.
Alhambra—a Bugster modeled after the evil magician of the same name from the game TaddleQuest.
"Entering surgery level Lv.2! Commencing separation procedure!"
Hiiro raised both arms to pull the Gashat lever on his Gamer Driver.
But just then, the air shimmered—and a new game field formed around them, disrupting everything.
"What's going on?"
Everyone turned toward the direction of the spreading game zone. From the pixelated mist emerged a familiar silhouette—one that resembled Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, but with a critical difference:
The pink hair was now pitch black.
It was also an Action Gamer Lv.1, but not Ex-Aid. This was Kamen Rider Genm, transformed using the prototype Mighty Action X Gashat.
The enigmatic Game Master, nicknamed "Shrimp Dumpling," had arrived.
"Him...?" Hiiro narrowed his eyes, sensing something dangerous. Then he watched as Genm calmly pulled the Gashat lever.
[Gachan!]
[Level Up!]
[Mighty Jump! Mighty Kick! Mighty Action~~X!]
A purple-black version of Ex-Aid—Kamen Rider Genm: Action Gamer Lv.2!
"Why... does he have the same armor as Ex-Aid?" Poppy asked, baffled.
Without a word, Genm raised his right arm and opened fire using the Buggle Driver on his forearm. Purple energy bullets rained toward Hiiro.
Several shots landed cleanly—one-third of his life gauge visibly drained on his chest plate.
These life slots represented the Rider's survival. When they hit zero... the transformation ends—and death follows.
"You bastard! I'm in the middle of a surgery!"
Hiiro activated his shield and lunged forward with his sword to retaliate.
Genm didn't respond. Calmly, he rotated the Buggle Driver 180 degrees—activating its chainsaw mode—and swung it up violently.
The moment their weapons clashed, Hiiro's standard sword shattered. In the next instant, he was blasted backward by a follow-up strike.
By the time he got back on his feet, both Genm and the Alhambra Bugster had vanished.
Left with no choice, they quickly evacuated the patient and their family back to the CR (Cyber Rescue) unit in the underground level of Seito University Hospital.
In the CR:
"Poppy Pipopapo..." Hiiro muttered while seated, catching his breath.
"Yes!" Poppy saluted instinctively—then remembered herself. "Ahem. I've told you to call me Asuna from now on!"
"Whatever," Hiiro replied indifferently.
"Huh?!" Poppy puffed her cheeks.
"More importantly," Hiiro stood up, hands in his coat pockets, "who was that Rider just now?"
"If it weren't for him, I'd have completed the operation."
Poppy frowned. "It's the first time I've seen him too. I'll run a check right away."
"Good. Let me know immediately if another Bugster appears."
"Wait—aren't you going to check on the patient?" Poppy asked.
"I'm going to replenish my stamina." Hiiro walked out and returned shortly—with a whole cake.
Ryuga's eyes lit up. He hadn't had cake in ages. Without hesitation, he grabbed a plate and helped himself.
As the saying goes, eating together builds camaraderie.
Hiiro: "…"
"Shouldn't we be focusing on the patient?" Poppy sighed, watching them in disbelief.
"My job isn't to baby the patient," Hiiro said coolly, slicing into the cake. "My job is to cure them."
"She's got a point," Ryuga nodded in agreement.
After all, getting emotionally attached to a patient was risky—especially when a Bugster might stab you in the back with thirteen knives at any moment.
Just then, Poppy returned in a rush. "Bad news—the patient's condition suddenly worsened! The family member was taken by the Bugster!"
Perfect timing.
"Let's go," Ryuga said, already halfway to the door.
"...Why do I feel like I'm just an intern being dragged around by this guy?" Hiiro muttered, reluctantly following.
The Bugster Alhambra had taken the patient's family member to an abandoned church.
Ryuga and Hiiro burst inside—immediately spotting a woman tied to a giant cross made of dark vines.
"I will make her my princess!" Alhambra cackled. "Once he's gone, I will replace him completely! Ahahahaha!"
"That's such a cliché villain line..." Ryuga muttered.
"No more stalling. Time for the surgical procedure!" Hiiro said, pulling out his TaddleQuest Gashat.
[TaddleQuest!]
"Transform!"
[Gashat Inserted!]
[Let's Game! Metcha Game! Mutcha Game!]
[What's Your Name?]
[I'm a Kamen Rider!]
Ryuga smirked and followed suit, drawing his own cassette.
[Mighty Action X!]
"Transform!"
[Gashat Inserted!]
[Let's Game! Metcha Game! Mutcha Game!]
[What's Your Name?]
[I'm a Kamen Rider!]
As both Riders reached for their levers—
"Stop!" Alhambra roared, pointing his wand at the hostage. "Upgrade, and she dies!"
"Really? You think that'll stop us?" Ryuga sneered.
Hiiro didn't even hesitate.
"Transform!"
[Gachan!]
[Level Up!]
[Mighty Jump! Mighty Kick! Mighty Mighty Action X!]
"Surgical Procedure Level 2!"
[Gachan!]
[Level Up!]
[TaddleMeguru! TaddleMeguru! TaddleQuest!]
Two glowing Level Up signs flared across the church.
"You fools!" Alhambra screamed and summoned a flaming magic circle beneath the hostage, preparing to burn her alive.
Hiiro ignored him entirely, marching forward with purpose.
Meanwhile, Ryuga used Ex-Aid's agile jump mechanics to reach the hostage just in time, plucking her free from the trap with the deftness of a professional thief.
"Got her!" he shouted.
"Nice one!" Poppy cheered from the church doorway, catching the hostage in her arms.
"You'll pay for this!" Alhambra screamed, raising his wand again.
But this time, nothing happened.
His wand had been cleaved in two—its severed halves dropping to the floor with a clatter.
Hiiro stood at the center of the church, holding a new weapon.
Moments earlier, he had drawn a sword from the stone—a relic summoned within his game field. Though crude and stone-like at first, the sword ignited in fire as soon as it touched the air.
When the flames died down, it had transformed into a holy sword wreathed in flame.