So, Morio Koganeya took advantage of Keiwa Sakurai's absence to search through his luggage.
"What a naïve guy. He doesn't even carry something like this with him," he couldn't help but exclaim. "It's only right that you're the one who gets eliminated."
He decisively pocketed the Boost Buckle and handed it over to his partner, Michinaga Azuma, a.k.a. Buffa. After all, Buffa was a veteran player, and a powerful single-use item like this would be put to best use by him.
Michinaga took the Boost Buckle and immediately figured out that Morio must have snatched it from Keiwa. Morio certainly didn't have the guts to pull such a stunt on Raven.
"Now the last-place spot is absolutely his," Morio said smugly.
Michinaga shot back, "Are you really that afraid of Tycoon? Enough to play this dirty?"
"There's always a 'what if,' isn't there? To secure victory, holding your opponents back is just part of the plan, hahaha!" He burst into loud laughter.
This moment immediately reminded Michinaga of a scene from the past. His best friend had also died amidst such mocking laughter. Those people were all Desire Grand Prix contestants who were desperate to eliminate their rivals by any means necessary.
What Morio didn't know at this moment was that this very laugh had sealed the doom of his own chance to advance.
When the break was nearing its end, just before the third round of the game began, Buffa secretly used the lottery privilege by himself.
The result? He drew Keiwa Sakurai again.
Morio had become a victim of his own scheming, right back where he started. Now, there was no possibility of a comeback.
Thus, without either of them knowing the full details, the game began.
Kamen Rider Buffa appeared using the Boost Buckle and assisted Keiwa Sakurai (Kamen Rider Tycoon) in defeating several Jyamato.
Tsumuri arrived shortly after and announced the change in personnel assignments.
"What?!"
Hearing this, Morio was thunderstruck.
"You bastards!"
He completely panicked. He immediately tried to join Kamen Rider PunkJack (Pumpkin) in an attempt to defeat some Jyamato. This was their last chance.
Morio was using the Arrow Buckle at the time. Yet, for some unknown reason, he mysteriously drew all the firepower, getting ambushed by several fierce Jyamato. Kamen Rider PunkJack couldn't keep up.
This ultimately led to Morio suffering a fatal injury. He collapsed onto the ground.
By the time PunkJack arrived, it was too late. PunkJack couldn't help but sigh inwardly. You dared to use that cursed Buckle. Sure enough, he's dead.
Not long after.
This round of the game officially concluded.
Raven and Neon Kurama (Kamen Rider Na-Go) were still firmly in first place on the scoreboard. Ace Ukiyo (Kamen Rider Geats) was close behind. The remaining spots were held by Keiwa Sakurai and Buffa.
The pairs eliminated were, naturally, the duo of the deceased Morio Koganeya and PunkJack.
"Why... why did it turn out like this?" Keiwa was dazed after learning of Morio's death. Does someone really have to die in every round of the game?
Raven glanced at the Buckle Morio had left behind and instantly understood something. He reminded the cat-themed Rider beside him.
"Neon, remember this: if you ever pick up that Buckle in a treasure chest, you'd rather throw it away than use it."
"Why?" asked Neon, puzzled. After all, the Arrow Raise Buckle was considered a decent long-range weapon among the low-rank Buckles. Its priority was certainly higher than the Shield or Hammer Buckles.
"Think about it carefully. Up until now, who has used that Buckle?" Raven said to her.
"The ones who used that Buckle..." Neon started thinking, and several faces quickly flashed through her mind.
First, there was the first Kamen Rider she met, Kamen Rider Shirowe, the firefighter who didn't even survive half an episode.
Next was Kamen Rider Ginpen, Takahito Taira.
And then...
Kamen Rider Da-Paan seemed to have used it for a while.
And now, Morio Koganeya.
"Ah!" Realizing this, Neon's expression instantly changed. Frightened, she clutched Raven's arm tightly.
"E-everyone who... who used that Buckle... they seem to have all died!" Neon stammered, her voice trembling.
"What are you two discussing?" Ace walked over.
Raven had been surpassing him several times in a row, which forced him to be more vigilant and view Raven as his greatest rival ever.
Neon quickly told him about the situation.
"Hmph. I used that Buckle before, and I'm still alive and well," Ace said dismissively.
"True. It's probably just a coincidence," Raven said with a faint smile.
The "cursed item" concept was, of course, a joke. After all, Keiwa used it in the original series and was perfectly fine. However, the item was genuinely lackluster. Its long-range output wasn't high, and in close combat, it was as fragile as glass. Anyone without sufficient skill or self-awareness could easily fall to the Jyamato while using it.
"Now that this is over, we should have a few days of rest."
Raven said this as he left the lounge after Tsumuri announced the end of the game.
The next game would be the final round of this season's Desire Grand Prix. The winner would become the Dezashin (Desire God). Once that happened, his mission would be complete, and he could slowly begin to tear apart the true face of the DGP.
Returning to the Helheim Forest, he went through the usual routine of 'creating life' with Mai. Afterward, he went into the forest to observe the growth of the Golden Fruit.
"Looks like I need to speed things up a little," Raven mused, rubbing his chin.
The best way to accelerate the growth of the Golden Fruit was naturally to allow the power of the Helheim Forest to completely permeate the Geats world, covering the outside world with Helheim plants and fruits. However, doing so could easily endanger ordinary people, as the fruits naturally possessed a seductive power, enticing ordinary people to consume them.
"I'll have them grow in uninhabited areas first."
Raven decided to directly grow Helheim plants in deserted areas like the cold Antarctic and Arctic regions. He also planned to dispatch A-rank Inves to guard each location. If anyone were to pass through these forbidden zones, the Inves would simply drive them away. This was Raven's initial experiment.
And so, the encroachment of the Helheim Forest upon the Geats world was accelerated.