"Boss, how about letting Gwen use a higher-level Gashat as well this time?"Seeing Gwen's determined expression, Li Hua sighed and spoke.
Elena clicked her tongue in surprise."Li, weren't you the one who kept refusing to let Gwen get involved in the Bugster Virus incidents?
Why are you suddenly changing your stance?"
Li Hua's expression remained calm."Using the Rider System to fight Bugster Virus monsters is extremely dangerous. If she weren't involved, of course, I wouldn't recommend a high-schooler to join us. But since she's already become a comrade, become a Kamen Rider fighting Bugsters, she must be as strong as possible—strong enough to defeat those monsters.
"Otherwise, she'd actually be more in danger when fighting them.
It's just like military training: sweat more in peacetime so you bleed less in war."
"Dr. Li is right!" Gwen's eyes burned with determination as she looked at Dam.
Dan fell silent for a moment, then burst out laughing."Since you have that resolve and awareness, then I'll let you try."
Showing sufficient will and conviction—of course Kuroto was happy to see it.He certainly wasn't going to suppress her enthusiasm.
Another blank Gashat appeared on the table.
"How do we operate this?" Elena picked up the Gashat, eager to try.
"I've already set up all the game data. You just need to insert the Gashat into the console here in the meeting room. Then place your Gamer Driver in the designated slot. The Bugster Virus stored inside the Driver will be drawn out, and the blank Gashat will absorb it to form a new game Gashat. "That will give you new power—higher-level power."Kuroto smiled.
"I never expected this game console to have such a use! I thought it was just here so we could play games. I mean, why would a secret base have a random game console sitting around for no reason?
"But the process sounds easy. Does it not affect us at all?"
Elena asked.
Kuroto shook his head."After the Gashat is formed, it still needs to be activated. Only Riders who possess Bugster antibodies—you—can activate them with your Drivers.
"But during activation, you must withstand the pressure of the virus being stimulated.This is a safety measure I designed. If you can't endure that burden, it means you're not ready to use a higher-level Gashat yet. Otherwise, the virus power might overwhelm you,and you'd end up like ordinary infected patients."
Li Hua and Elena nodded.
"Very thorough."
Gwen, however, acted immediately— she inserted her blank Gashat into the consoleand placed her Gamer Driver in the tray.
Both Gashat and Driver lit up with brilliant multicolored radiance. Countless light particles overflowed from the Driver and gathered into the blank Gashat.
Moments later, the light faded.
The once-blank Gashat now displayed its name and icon:
Giri Giri Chambara — Extreme Swordfight
Though still grayed out, indicating it was unactivated.
"This is the new, higher-level Gashat?"Elena asked curiously as Gwen held it.
Gwen stared deeply at it, took a breath, prepared herself, and slotted it into her Gamer Driver.
A burst of dazzling light exploded from the Gashat, light patterns ran across her whole body—and intense pain surged from every cell,as if her entire being were being transformed.
"Gachan! Level Up! Bakusou dokusou gekisou bousou! Bakusou Bike! A Gacha! Giri-Giri-Giri-Giri Chambara!"
She cried out and fell to one knee.
"Gwen!" Elena called out anxiously, trying to rush forward.
But Kuroto stopped her."This stage can only be overcome by one's own will and conviction.No need to worry—I designed safety measures.Even if she fails, she won't be in danger."
After about two minutes, the light gradually faded.The glowing lines retreated back into the Gashat,and the black-and-white icon turned full color.
A hint of lingering fear passed through Gwen's eyes—then excitement.
"I… I succeeded!?"
"Gwen, you're amazing." Elena helped her up, praising her sincerely.
"Our turn."Li Hua nodded to Gwen.
Soon, the new Gashats for the Brave (Li Hua) and the Sniper (Elena)were also fully activated:
DoReMiFa Beat — DoReMiFa Rhythm
"Gachan! Level Up! Taddle meguru! Taddle meguru! Taddle Quest~! A Gacha! Do-Do-DoReMiFa-So-La-Ti-Do! (Yeah! Yeah!) Ok! (This is the beat they ask for!) DoReMiFa Bea~t~! (To the beat! To the beat!)"
Jet Combat — Jet Combat
"Gachan! Level Up! Ba-Bang-Bang! Bang-Ba-Bang! Yow! Bang Bang Shooting! A Gacha! Jet! Jet! In the sky! Jet! Jet! Jet Comba~t!"
"Do we transform directly with these higher-level Gashats,or do we use them together with our existing ones to level up?"
Li Hua asked, noticing that the Gamer Driver had two Gashat slots.
Elena blinked."So that's why there are two slots—you planned this from the beginning, boss!"
Kuroto nodded approvingly."You're sharp. Yes, you must use both Gashats simultaneously."
"Since we already have higher-level ones, why can't we just use them alone?"Gwen asked.
Kuroto's face turned slightly serious."The Rider System you use comes from the Bugster Virus. The higher the level, the stronger the virus power inside.
"For now, you still need your base Gashat—the one most compatible with you—as a link and buffer. Only then can you safely use the higher-level Gashats.
"When you eventually completely synchronize with your base Gashat, gain Bugster qualities yourselves, you will naturally be able to use higher-level Gashats directly.
"So, let me ask again—are you all mentally prepared?"
"…Why is my game a rhythm game?"Li Hua asked with a strange expression, staring at DoReMiFa Beat. He seemed to drift entirely off topic.
But the meaning was obvious: he had already made up his mind—no need to discuss further.
Kuroto laughed helplessly.
So he had been worrying too much.
Elena also looked strangely at Li Hua's Gashat.
Her Sniper form using a shooting game made perfect sense.
But Li Hua, the Brave—a fantasy warrior adventurer— getting a music game Gashat?
The mismatch was absurd.Gwen's sword-dueling game fit the Brave far better!
"This isn't something I can fully control,"
Kuroto said with a faint smirk.
Li Hua tapped the Gashat against the table.If Lazer could evolve from a racing game to a dueling-type speed form,that was understandable. But him—getting a bizarre rhythm-game upgrade?
What did that have to do with being a Brave?
"One thing I need to confirm—can we use other people's Gashats?"Li Hua suddenly asked.
"Different games have different attributes. If we can use each other's high-level Gashats, we could make flexible strategies."
"In theory you can. But each base Gashat carries a different type of Bugster Virus. Your upgraded Gashats correspond to your own base ones—they are the same lineage. You can safely use your own evolution Gashat, but not necessarily someone else's.
"The risk is huge. Two different Bugster virus types colliding could cause unpredictable accidents. So until you can freely and perfectly control your own base Gashat, I don't recommend swapping."
(End of chapter)