Taiga: "…"
Let's just pretend we didn't hear that. Don't say anything, and maybe it'll go away...
Before Ryuga could even complain, a dozen Bugster soldiers burst into the clinic, attacking both Taiga and Ryuga.
"Just as expected!" The two Riders glanced at each other, silently acknowledging the incoming chaos as they dove into action.
At the same time, Ryuga suspected that the frightened young boy who had fled the hospital earlier must have escaped from CR on his own—and had ended up leading the Bugsters right to them.
"Ex-Aid! Let's settle this once and for all!" Taiga suddenly shouted.
"Whoever defeats the Bugster infecting that boy gets the other's cassette!"
Ryuga already understood Taiga's obsession with collecting cassettes. One reason was the legend: gathering all of them would supposedly grant the power to eradicate the Bugster virus completely. The other was more personal—Taiga believed that if only he bore this burden, others wouldn't have to. It was why he always declared, "There only needs to be one Kamen Rider—and that's me."
However, when he said it, it lacked the authority of a true king. More like a knockoff product next to the real thing—the seller's fantasy versus the buyer's reality.
"If it makes you happy." Ryuga shrugged with a casual smile. He had no interest in Taiga's cassette, but if it was a contest, why not? He could always give the cassette back afterward.
"Excellent!" Taiga grinned, taking a swing at a Bugster soldier before donning his belt.
At the same moment, Bugster Liver appeared—dragging the frightened little boy with him.
"Oh ho ho! Once your stress hits its peak, you'll vanish, and I can take over your body completely!" Liver sneered, grabbing the boy's face and forcing him to look at the two people he feared most—Ryuga and Taiga. The doctors.
The Bugsters' ultimate goal was to become full-bodied—complete Bugsters like Poppy, capable of manifesting human forms and surviving even when defeated. And to achieve that, they needed to replace the very patients they were born from.
"Right into my hands," Taiga smirked, pulling out his Gashat.
[Bang Bang Shooting!]
"Transform!"
[Gashat!]
[Let's Game! Metcha Game! Mutcha Game!]
[What's Your Name?]
[I'm a Kamen Rider!]
"Tactic Two!"
[Gachan!]
[Level Up!]
[Bang-Bang! Bang-Bang! Bang Bang Shooting! Go!]
Kamen Rider Snipe, Shooting Gamer Level 2!
"Let's settle this, Ex-Aid!"
"Alright then," Ryuga replied confidently, "let's see if I can clear this stage of life!"
[Mighty Action X!]
"Transform!"
[Gashat!]
[Let's Game! Metcha Game! Mutcha Game!]
[What's Your Name?]
[I'm a Kamen Rider!]
"Transformation!"
[Gachan!]
[Level Up!]
[Mighty Jump! Mighty Kick! Mighty Mighty Action X!]
Just before the battle began, a third presence arrived—Hiiro rushed in and stepped between them.
"Well, if it isn't the great doctor back from America?" Taiga taunted.
"I'm here to confiscate your Player Drives and cassettes," Hiiro stated coldly.
Taiga had once caused a medical accident that injured Hiiro's girlfriend, and that grudge ran deep. The moment he saw Taiga transformed, Hiiro made his move.
[Taddle Quest!]
"Transform!"
[Gashat!]
[Let's Game! Metcha Game! Mutcha Game!]
[What's Your Name?]
[I'm a Kamen Rider!]
"Surgical Gamer, Level 2!"
[Gachan!]
[Level Up!]
[Taddle Meguru! Taddle Meguru! Taddle Quest!]
[Gashacon Sword!]
"Unlicensed quack. Your existence is a liability—no thank you."
[Stage Select!]
"Fine! Let's settle this here and now!" Taiga shouted, pressing his belt's skill slot button. The battlefield morphed instantly into a sprawling digital wilderness—flat plains stretching into the horizon.
Since three game fields had overlapped, the stage was cluttered with elements from each: wooden crates from Mighty Action X, paint buckets from Bang Bang Shooting, and treasure chests from Taddle Quest.
"Well then, the patient's life—I'll save it!" Ryuga declared.
[Gashacon Breaker!]
Watching the other two bicker, Ryuga simply shrugged. "They're wasting time. Might as well enjoy myself."
Bugster soldiers flooded in as Liver summoned them with waves of machine-gun fire.
[Hit! Hit!]
[Hit!]
[Hit!]
"Stop messing around, Ex-Aid! The patient's about to disappear!" Poppy shouted, using her Bugster ability to enter the game field.
"Ah—right, right." Ryuga halted mid-air. He almost forgot why he was here in the first place.
Well, technically, wasn't gaming his job?
Still, saving lives came first.
[Gashon!](Pulling Gashat sound)
[Gashat!](Insert sound)
[Kimewaza!](Final Move)
[Mighty Critical Finish!]
Ryuga drew his Gashacon Breaker, switching to sword mode, and leapt into the air. Energy surged through the blade as he spun and slashed—cutting through Liver with precision. The robot-like Bugster shattered.
[Great!]
[Perfect!]
[Game Clear!]
Taiga and Hiiro paused their deadlock, attention drawn by the explosion.
Ryuga had already defeated the Bugster. Which meant... they both lost the challenge.
"Damn…" Taiga froze. If I lose my cassette, I'll never complete my collection. I'll never be able to save the world…
Ryuga noticed his reaction, but he never intended to keep the cassette anyway. Still, he decided to have a bit of fun.
He walked over, casually pulling Taiga's Gashat from his belt—forcing him out of transformation.
"Tsk tsk, got myself a cassette for free. Wonder how much this'll sell for?"
Taiga didn't resist. He just stood there, stunned, mouth slightly open.
"Relax. I'm just messing with you." Ryuga smiled and tossed the cassette back. "Here, take it."
"Why'd you return it?" Hiiro asked gruffly, lifting her transformation.