Shiryu referred to Raven's entry ID. This was decided by the DGP staff. Raven wasn't too concerned about it.
"Whatever. Anyway, you small-fry will be retiring soon."
Michinaga's gaze settled on Neon and Keiwa.
"Small-fry?"
Keiwa and Neon were both taken aback.
"That's not necessarily true. No one can predict what will happen in the Desire Grand Prix."
Ace walked in from outside.
When Keiwa saw him, he recalled the previous events. He immediately stood up and thanked him: "Thank you for saving us last time. I really appreciate it."
Ace said dismissively, "Don't mention it. It was just an afterthought while I was changing the world."
Just like that, after a few minor exchanges in the lounge, nearly everyone who had collected a Buckle soon gathered.
Girori received a phone call. Then, as if following a script, he addressed the group, "Contestants, an emergency situation has arisen."
Everyone grew serious and looked toward him.
They were then transported to the giant aerial platform.
Tsumuri stood in the center, speaking to the remaining eight people: "Just now, the leader of the Thief Jyamato appeared."
On a large virtual screen behind Tsumuri, the information and markers for the dozens of contestants were displayed. Most of them had already turned black. Only the eight of them were still lit up.
"Please flexibly use the items you hold and be sure to defeat all Jyamato," Tsumuri continued. "Those who survive will pass the first round."
"What do you mean, 'survive'?"
Morio Koganeya, the user of Kamen Rider Mary, noticed something was wrong.
"This is a survival game concerning all of your lives," Tsumuri explained.
"Why didn't you say that sooner...?"
Morio was startled. The others' faces also became grim and uncertain.
Among them, Neon instinctively grabbed Raven's arm.
"D-Don't worry... I know a soba shop owner, and he's still alive and well," Keiwa stepped forward to comfort the scared participants. He still thought this was just a game where losing simply meant exiting.
"Kamen Riders aren't that lucky," Ace shattered Keiwa's illusion.
"Huh?"
Keiwa was dumbfounded. The others gradually accepted the reality. Having come this far, they could only grit their teeth and continue, especially since it was to realize their desires.
Raven remained perfectly calm, his eyes fixed on Tsumuri the entire time. This made Tsumuri intentionally avoid his gaze.
This is the first time I've seen a contestant like this, she thought. Why did Girori-san invite him to compete?
Neon also noticed that Raven's eyes were almost exclusively focused on Tsumuri. A woman's competitiveness surged within her.
"Raven-san, you have a beautiful woman right next to you, so why are you staring at the Game Navigator?" Neon nudged Raven's shoulder and whispered.
"A beautiful woman? Where?"
Raven looked left and right, deliberately teasing her.
"You... you're awful!"
Neon instantly became annoyed. It was the first time anyone had suggested she wasn't a beautiful woman.
However, Raven's words also made her feel a little down. She had been so forward, yet he was still drawn to the Game Navigator. Am I really less attractive than her?
Before she could ponder this further, Tsumuri continued, "Contestants, the mission starts now!"
Tsumuri suddenly leaped and performed a classic Kamen Rider pose.
"Henshin!"
As Tsumuri shouted the command, a huge screen of light appeared.
The scene around the contestants shifted, and they reappeared in the earlier forest. Immediately, the Drivers on their waists automatically logged in their ID Cores and completed their transformations.
They were:
Raven (Shiryu)
Ace Ukiyo (Geats)
Michinaga Azuma (Buffa)
Keiwa Sakurai (Tycoon)
Neon Kurama (Na-Go)
Morio Kogane (Mary)
Kanato Sumida (Da-Paan)
Takahito Taira (Ginpen)
Before they could even get used to their current appearances, they saw the leader of the Jyamato thieves approaching with a gang of his minions.
The group reacted by mostly starting to use the Buckles they had obtained, entering into combat mode.
Except for Keiwa, who was still unable to process what was happening. He possessed the strongest Buckle, the Magnum Buckle, but didn't know how to use it. He hid behind a tree, saying with confusion, "Why is everyone fighting so naturally? This is a life-or-death battle. How can they act like this?"
While everyone else was using their Buckles to counter the Jyamato, Raven, on the other hand, didn't use any Buckles, confronting the enemies directly in his basic form.
Under his fierce and fluid offensive, the Jyamato surrounding him fell one after another. The sight was genuinely horrifying.
Michinaga, who had transformed using the Zombie Buckle, was also taken aback. On the other side, Ace, who was easily defeating several Jyamato, couldn't help but notice Raven. He was quite surprised. An expert had entered the Grand Prix this season.
"He's incredible," Keiwa, still unprepared for battle, said with great admiration.
Meanwhile, behind Raven, Neon was following him closely with her small hammer, symbolically tapping the Jyamato that had already been defeated.
"Following him was definitely a wise decision," Neon was extremely happy, congratulating herself on her good judgment for clinging to the powerhouse.
Just as Neon was congratulating herself, a Jyamato suddenly rushed at her from the side of the forest. Raven, who was walking ahead, reacted instantly, pulling the ambushed Neon into his embrace with a quick turn.
Seeing its sneak attack fail, the Jyamato angrily stepped forward to attack again. Raven smiled faintly, his arm around Neon's waist. As if they were dancing, he controlled her body to fight.
"Whoa!" Neon cried out excitedly.
Finally, Raven lifted her up, spun around, and kicked the Jyamato attacking from all sides.
"That was so cool!" Neon, after being put down, was still immersed in the thrill of the moment.
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