Steve knew he had an enemy to deal with. Although he was bewildered by the combat fragments that had flashed through his mind, and deeply curious about the Kuuga belt that seemed to be beckoning him, he quickly regained his focus. He sidestepped just in time to dodge a stream of spider silk fired at him by the Spider Gurongi.
He hurled his shield. The circular disc flew through the air in a singular, arcing trajectory, slicing through the oncoming webbing and striking the Spider Gurongi squarely.
"Such incredible regenerative power! It seems this world seventy years later truly has entities that exceed my understanding," Steve muttered, slightly taken aback as he saw the gash carved by the shield heal in the blink of an eye.
Steve himself was a super-soldier enhanced by the serum; his bone and muscle density far surpassed that of an ordinary human. His cellular metabolism was incredibly high, granting him powerful self-healing, but there was still a glaring gap between his abilities and the freakish recovery speed of a Gurongi.
However, Steve didn't hesitate for a second. During the battlefields of World War II, he had frequently faced Hydra's strange, logic-defying, and devastating weaponry, often finding himself in dire straits.
Strange as the monster before him was, Steve was not intimidated. He charged forward, throwing a punch to test the creature's mettle. Steve Rogers was never the type of man to retreat just because an opponent was powerful.
This was true of the scrawny kid who tried to enlist before the serum. It was true of the Captain of the Howling Commandos facing Hydra's endless arsenal. And it was naturally true of the Captain America who had just awakened after a 70-year slumber.
The Spider Gurongi raised a hand to block Steve's powered strike, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Your strength is impressive—for a Rinto."
Steve couldn't understand the Gurongi tongue, but as a warrior, his fists wouldn't stop just because of an opponent's chatter. The punch blocked by the Spider Gurongi transitioned instantly into a grab; Steve locked the monster's wrist, stepped in, and pivoted his body forward. He coiled his other arm, driving his elbow into the Spider Gurongi's ribs.
A standard, practiced, and effective combat maneuver. Against an ordinary person, this strike would shatter ribs and damage internal organs before slamming them into the ground, leaving them dead or crippled.
Steve didn't expect the fight to end so easily, though. From the initial exchange, he realized the monster's strength was at least equal to his own, supplemented by insane regeneration. His plan was to throw the creature and then pin it down.
"How is this possible?" Steve was stunned when his shoulder and elbow collided with the monster. Despite a solid hit, the creature felt as if it were rooted to the metal floor; Steve couldn't budge him an inch.
The Spider Gurongi counter-grabbed Steve, spitting silk to bind him. Because of the close proximity, Steve couldn't retreat fast enough to dodge completely. He raised his arm to block, resulting in his right hand being ensnared in the webbing.
The Spider Gurongi yanked the silk, attempting to pull Steve in while extending fangs from his wrists to impale him. Steve's reflexes remained sharp; with his hand bound, he executed a spinning back-kick, knocking the Spider Gurongi back. He then immediately ripped the webbing off his hand.
The Spider Gurongi retreated a few steps and looked at Steve with a look of growing satisfaction. "What a troublesome Rinto warrior. You are indeed quite capable. It seems I don't have to worry about accidentally killing you and losing my eligibility for the Gegel. I can finally fight without holding back. I hope you can entertain me—consider this an appetizer before I harvest Kuuga."
With that, he lunged at Steve like a predator pouncing on its prey. Steve sensed the danger had escalated. He focused with every fiber of his being, preparing for the onslaught.
Then, with a single punch, Steve was sent flying.
"Damn it, he wasn't even using his full strength before?!" Steve scrambled up from the floor. But as soon as he stood, he had to face the pursuing Spider Gurongi's assault. He was being suppressed by sheer, absolute force.
Steve narrowly avoided the blows, creating distance and reclaiming his shield. Only by utilizing the shield's unique properties was he able to hold his ground. For a while, the two were locked in a stalemate.
But as time ticked by, Steve inevitably began to lose ground. The Gurongi held the advantage in physical constitution and stamina, while Steve's strength began to wane under the high-intensity combat. Finally, the Spider Gurongi found an opening, spitting silk to snag Steve's shield and wrenching it away.
"An interesting weapon. It seems to nullify my force," the Spider Gurongi remarked, looking at the shield with interest.
Steve leaped up to reclaim it, only to be struck mid-air by a much stronger blow that sent him crashing back.
"How can this be? Even the Captain is no match for it," Coulson said through the monitors, his voice thick with disbelief. Nick Fury's face was also grim; the monster's power exceeded his estimates.
Slammed into the ground, Steve tried to stand. Suddenly, his mind was jolted again. Images of Kuuga fighting the Gurongi flashed once more. Coming back to his senses in a daze, his gaze locked directly onto the Kuuga belt in the laboratory.
Steve felt a mystical calling. He inexplicably knew that if he put on that belt, he would gain the power to oppose the monster. Looking at the Spider Gurongi, he realized he had no other choice.
Gritting his teeth, he lunged for the belt and buckled it around his waist. The belt flashed with light and merged directly into Steve's body. A circle of his clothing disintegrated, revealing his chiseled physique.
"What is this..." Coulson watched in total shock. Nick Fury's eyes flickered, but he remained silent, staring intently at the screen.
"Gurongi... Kuuga... The Gegel game..." Steve whispered softly as he processed the flood of information entering his mind. He looked up at the Spider Gurongi. "Your so-called 'game'—I will never allow it! The power of Kuuga, protector of humanity in ancient times... I shall inherit it!"
He placed his hands at his waist, and the belt embedded with the Amadam spirit stone materialized. His left hand tucked by his side, his right hand extended forward, sweeping slowly across his front.
The spirit stone erupted in brilliance. Kamen Rider Kuuga appeared for the first time.
He transformed directly into the red Mighty Form. Steve Rogers lacked neither the will nor the resolve for combat. The Amadam stone resonated with his spirit, granting him the strength of the Almighty Warrior.