"Found it!"
Following Dan Kuroto's guidance, Gwen, Li Hua, and Elena tracked the distribution of Bugster virus patients and the directional data from their detectors.
Finally, they locked onto the location of the Dragon Knight Hunter Z Bugster.
"According to the analysis and detection, this should be the spot. There's a massive reaction of gathered Bugster viruses. However, this is a busy downtown area; if a powerful Bugster monster was born here, how could no one have noticed it?" Gwen spoke up, sounding slightly puzzled.
"It should be a Game Area," Li Hua speculated. "It's likely separating the Dragon Knight Hunter Bugster from the real world."
"Exactly, it is a Game Area. Once you transform using the Rider System, you'll be able to sense it and enter. By defeating the Demon Dragon within the Game Area, you can clear the game and eliminate the virus from the many infected patients. If all goes well, you'll receive special rewards and a level-up."
"Sounds like a hidden stage in a game. I wonder if it has special restrictions or requirements like an actual game level?" Elena curled her lip, pulling out her Gamer Driver and Gashat.
"We'll know once we go in." After completing his transformation, Li Hua used the Rider Armor's systems to "see" the Game Area ahead.
Gwen and Elena nodded in agreement.
"GAME START!"
As the three entered the Game Area, the sound effect echoed. A dragon's roar, loud enough to pierce the clouds, rang out. A pitch-black Demon Dragon appeared in the sky, breathing pillars of flame and roaring at the trio.
"So this is the Dragon Knight Hunter Bugster... what intense pressure. It feels like it's on a completely different level compared to the monsters we've faced before," Gwen said, her voice heavy with gravity.
"Naturally. The monsters we met before were born from a virus infecting a single human. This time, the virus has infected at least a hundred patients. Having gathered so much virus, it is bound to be unprecedentedly powerful. We cannot afford to be careless," Li Hua warned.
After asserting its dominance with a series of roars, the Demon Dragon locked onto the three Kamen Riders challenging it from the ground. It unleashed a blast of black dragon fire at them.
With the intent to test the dragon's strength, Li Hua swung his holy sword. A slash of azure ice energy met the raging dragon flames. However, the sword energy only lasted a moment before being incinerated by the black fire. Having annihilated the Brave's attack, the flames continued toward the three without losing momentum.
The three immediately scattered to evade the blast.
"What incredible flames!" Li Hua exclaimed in surprise.
From that brief exchange, it was clear the Demon Dragon's attack power was not to be underestimated; it was definitely higher than a Level 3 Brave.
Seeing its flames dodged, the Demon Dragon roared, flapping its wings to whip up a violent hurricane that buffeted the trio. Elena, using the Jet Combat Gashat, tried to take flight, but the powerful wind slammed her back down to the ground.
Elena raised the Gatling guns on her arms and poured a rain of energy bullets toward the dragon. However, with a slight flutter of its wings, the dragon moved with extreme agility, easily dodging the Snipe's barrage while spitting energy spheres back at them.
"Damn it, this dragon is too agile in the sky, and it can use those hurricanes to restrict my flight! It's too hard to hit with long-range attacks," Elena said, her voice tinged with frustration.
"If we can't find a way to get close to it, I'm afraid we won't be able to clear this game."
Li Hua swung his sword to block an incoming energy sphere, his tone heavy. "Since we can't go up there, we have to lure it down or knock it out of the sky."
"Gwen, help me! Let's see if we can bring it down," Elena called out.
"What should I do?" Gwen asked.
"I'm going to try a Finisher. Gwen, help me pin down its movements!" Elena pressed her Jet Combat Gashat, preparing to release her finishing move.
Gwen nodded and unleashed a curtain of light-arrow rain at the dragon. The Snipe's Gatling barrels then fired two beams of light directly at the beast.
The Demon Dragon used its wings to block the dense shower of arrows but couldn't evade the Snipe's focused energy beams. It took a direct hit and let out a massive shriek.
"Did it work?!" Elena watched as the dragon began to descend.
"No, wait... it doesn't look hurt. It looks like it's just enraged, and it's diving straight for us!" There was a hint of tension in Gwen's voice.
"Regardless, we achieved our goal. Let's combine our strongest attacks and take this dragon down together!" Watching the ferocious dragon charge, Li Hua flipped the handle on his Driver, and both Gashats glowed simultaneously.
"Right!" Gwen and Elena responded in unison.
The Demon Dragon's charge collided head-on with the combined ultimate attacks of the three Kamen Riders. A massive explosion of energy erupted, spreading outward in waves like an incoming tide.
After a moment of deadlock, a blinding flash occurred. The impact of the colliding energies sent the Demon Dragon and the three Riders flying back in opposite directions.
"How does that dragon look completely unfazed? Our Rider Gauges have dropped significantly!" Elena felt a sense of dread.
"The dragon must be able to continuously absorb Bugster viruses to restore its status. Elena's energy beams hit earlier, so the attacks aren't ineffective—it's just that the dragon recovers too quickly," Li Hua analyzed.
"Which means we have to take it down completely in one shot, or else..." Gwen paused, emphasizing every word: "We can't win."
From the previous exchange, it was clear that even with all three of them using their strongest attacks, they were still at a disadvantage. They simply lacked the overwhelming power required to slay the Demon Dragon.
"It seems you are in need of help."
Genm suddenly appeared within the Game Area, addressing the three of them.
"Genm! Why are you here? As I thought, is the birth of the Drago Knight Hunter virus your doing?" Li Hua spoke through gritted teeth.
"The Dragon Knight Hunter game is a multiplayer game. Up to four players can join simultaneously to conquer the Demon Dragon," Genm said, ignoring the accusation and speaking as if explaining game mechanics.
"So, how about it? Will you cooperate with me to defeat the Demon Dragon?"
"Isn't this game your creation? Why would you be so kind? What's your real goal?" Li Hua did not trust Genm, his voice full of wariness.
"Though the Dragon Knight Hunter game possesses great power because it has infected so many humans, it is also because of that large number of hosts that the absorbed viruses are too disorganized. A complete Bugster cannot be successfully born this way."
"So you want us to help you create the Dragon Knight Hunter Bugster? You think we'll just obediently help you? Dream on." Elena snorted. "Since the game allows four players, even if we can't clear it now, we can just come back next time with a fourth person to defeat it."
Genm let out a confident laugh. "Oh, you will definitely cooperate with me."
"The moment you entered the Game Area and started the game, the Demon Dragon was awakened. As the game runs, the viruses within the humans infected by Dragon Knight Hunter naturally become active. If the game isn't cleared in time, those infected humans will likely become nothing more than nourishment for the game."
"The symptoms of the patients in the hospital have suddenly worsened," Dan Kuroto's voice came through the comms at that exact moment. "I can't enter the Game Area to help you; it seems the game has a player limit."
Li Hua took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm as he asked Genm: "How do we beat the Demon Dragon?"
(End of Chapter)