Inside the base, the air was filled with the smell of pizza and fizzy soda. The five gathered around the table, holding slices of pizza and cold drinks.
MANG GA LIN: "Awesome! Everyone's back!"
ZHONG KUI RIDER clinked his soda lightly against MANG GA LIN's cup.
ZHONG KUI RIDER: "Yeah."
HEART RIDER glanced playfully at CHEN YU XIN.
HEART RIDER: "No wonder she's yours."
CHEN YU XIN chuckled softly:
CHEN YU XIN: "Yours isn't bad either. Instant understanding."
They shared a smile; the atmosphere was light and cheerful.
CHEN BAI SHI adjusted his glasses and smiled:
CHEN BAI SHI: "Still, I admire your willpower and strategy, young ones. Actually… Mang Ga Lin, you didn't need to revive me. Just reviving Yu Xin would have sufficed."
MANG GA LIN grabbed CHEN BAI SHI's hand, then Yu Xin's hand as well.
MANG GA LIN: "Doctor, all five of us are essential. We'll save the world together!"
CHEN BAI SHI's eyes glistened with emotion.
MANG GA LIN: "Even the 46-year-old old uncle."
ZHONG KUI RIDER and the others almost spit out their drinks, trying not to laugh.
CHEN BAI SHI: "What do you mean by that?"
MANG GA LIN waved frantically:
"No, no! I'm complimenting your age and how strong you still are!"
CHEN BAI SHI blushed:
"That's…!"
CHEN YU XIN: "Dad, don't be so narcissistic!"
ZHONG KUI RIDER couldn't resist teasing:
ZHONG KUI RIDER: "By the way, Doctor, how did you get that… Ku… KUGU thing?"
CHEN BAI SHI smiled, recalling the incident.
CHEN BAI SHI: "Oh~ that…"
The KUGU Driver Recall
MANG GA LIN remembered the driver STAR SAINT had handed him:
STAR SAINT (flashback): "This is the KONGWU DRIVER, created by fusing ten gray cards. It allows transformation into KONGWU, and has the power to counter constellations, Chinese constellations, divine energy, and HEART CARDS."
MANG GA LIN smirked inwardly:
MANG GA LIN: "Alright, not only did I revive them, I also gained one more Rider."
ZHONG KUI RIDER slowly approached MANG GA LIN, mock-gripping his neck, teeth gritted:
ZHONG KUI RIDER: "So this is why I have to endure your jio (foot) and sword!"
MANG GA LIN: "Eh eh, I didn't mean it… if I hadn't… then…"
Night Before New Year
Rain pattered against the window; thunder rolled in the distance.
MANG GA LIN: "Only four days until New Year!"
ZHONG KUI RIDER: "Yeah, and we've left middle school behind too."
MANG GA LIN sighed helplessly:
"Ah~ let's sleep… but! She? Why? Why? Kenapa? Why is she sleeping next to you…?"
ZHONG KUI RIDER looked at the situation, shaking his head helplessly:
ZHONG KUI RIDER: "She used to sleep in Yu Xin's room, but now…"
MANG GA LIN was speechless.
CHEN YU XIN: "Let her sleep in my room!"
MANG GA LIN: "Ok!"
HEART RIDER immediately ran out, jumping onto Yu Xin's bed.
CHEN YU XIN: "So, what do you think of ZHONG KUI?"
HEART RIDER: "He's… he's… okay, kinda cute."
CHEN YU XIN, teasingly: "Oh~"
HEART RIDER: "And you?"
CHEN YU XIN blushed slightly: "W-what…"
HEART RIDER smirked: "You know~"
CHEN YU XIN: "Not listening~ Not listening~"
Thunder roared, rain lashed at the windows, but inside, the room was warm and lively.
MANG GA LIN and ZHONG KUI RIDER sat on the bed, playing a mobile game:
MANG GA LIN: "Die die! Push push! Win!"
Suddenly, the door was kicked open. Two little girls stood at the doorway, clutching blankets and pillows.
MANG GA LIN & ZHONG KUI RIDER (simultaneously): "You two?"
CHEN YU XIN: "We're sleeping here tonight."
ZHONG KUI RIDER: "APA?!"
MANG GA LIN: "Huh?"
CHEN YU XIN: "No way!"
MANG GA LIN: "Well… it's not really no way."
Morning Alarm & Mecha Assault
The next morning, CHEN BAI SHI looked puzzled at MANG GA LIN, who usually woke early:
CHEN BAI SHI: "Strange… he usually wakes early, today why…"
Through the window, he saw CHEN YU XIN lying on MANG GA LIN, HEART RIDER lying on ZHONG KUI RIDER, shaking his head silently:
CHEN BAI SHI: "Ah… flirting again."
He quietly left. As he stepped out, the alarms blared. The five leapt from their beds. MANG GA LIN grabbed CHEN BAI SHI by the collar, taking him to the bike lot.
The five bikes slowly lifted off the ground. MANG GA LIN shouted excitedly:
MANG GA LIN: "Wow!"
ZHONG KUI RIDER: "Wow!"
CHEN YU XIN: "Wow!"
HEART RIDER: "Wow!"
They mounted their bikes and charged toward a group of monsters ravaging the streets.
MANG GA LIN: "Try this!"
Pressing a button—
MANG GA LIN: "MOTOR! TRANSFORMTING!"
Four bikes combined into a giant mecha, charging the monsters. MANG GA LIN fired the energy cannon; the monsters fell.
However, a massive monster pulled out an EMPTY CARD, inserting it into its body, instantly evolving into a bizarre new form.
MANG GA LIN: "Looks like henshin!"
Five Riders Form Up
The five dismounted, lined up in formation, drivers ready:
"STARS RIDER!"
"CHINESE STARS!"
"HOLY ADVENT!"
"RIDER! SHAM!"
"RIDER UP! KUGU!"
All shouted in unison:
"Transform!"
Light exploded:
"STARS UP! RIDER! STARS! ALL IN ONE!"
"STARS UP! DARK OWL!"
"NAZHA HOLY!"
"RIDER! KUGU!"
"RIDER UP! SHAM! GANJIN FORM!"
The five riders, fully aligned, charged the monster!
From afar, STAR SAINT observed, smiling faintly:
STAR SAINT: "Haha, not bad… interesting!"
The battle's curtain had risen…