Knights of the Digital World

At this moment, Dan Masamune pulled the box back and chuckled:

"There's no need to be in such a hurry. I've already shown my sincerity, what about yours?"

Amasaki Ren raised an eyebrow, said nothing more, and took out the unfinished Kamen Rider Chronicle Administrator cartridge from her suit and tossed it to Dan Masamune.

He never intended to break the contract, nor did he plan to use his superhuman strength as a Bugster to forcibly seize the game cartridges. After all, even if he completed the Kamen Rider Chronicle, releasing the game would still depend on Masamune Dan and the Genmu Group.

Furthermore, the Kamen Rider Chronicles cartridge is different from the cartridge that Dan Kuroto specially made for Parado; it cannot be used without human genes. Even if Amasaki Ren broke the contract and took the cartridge, it wouldn't actually benefit him.

Since that's the case, why not just keep your promise, relax and have a sweet romance with your lovely girls? Wouldn't that be better than turning your back on them?

After receiving the administrator's cartridge, Dan Masamune was quite satisfied with Amasaki Ren's attitude. He pushed the box directly in front of Amasaki Ren and then examined the cartridge in his hand.

Renya Amasaki opened the box and quickly checked it over.

He didn't care about the other prototype cartridges, but specifically took out the Dragoon Z remaster cartridge to experience it in detail.

As a Bugster, he could detect multiple data extractions within the cartridge, but the core Graphite data remained intact, more than enough to complete the Kamen Rider Chronicle.

that's enough.

Amazaki Ren put down the cassette tape, thought for a moment, and said:

“The cartridge is fine, and the Kamen Rider Chronicle can be completed at any time. Once Parado returns, we can move on to the final step. I have already handed over the Administrator cartridge to you. After the Chronicle is completed, I will also join the Phantom Group and work for you.”

For Amasaki Ren, cooperating with either Dan Masamune or Dan Kuroto makes no difference. If Dan Kuroto were still alive, she might still choose him out of consideration for their past relationship. But now that Dan Kuroto is dead, and Parado is a liar who shows no sign of reviving him, while Dan Masamune has demonstrated his abilities, Amasaki Ren's choice is quite clear.

Hearing Amasaki Ren's words, Dan Masamune's smile deepened. He fiddled with the administrator cartridge in his hand and said:

"You won't regret this decision. I think we don't need to wait for Parado anymore. Let's finish the Kamen Rider Chronicle now, and when he comes back, give him a surprise. Wouldn't that be great?"

Upon hearing this, Amasaki Ren shrugged and said:

“Alright then. I originally said that as partners, we should witness this important moment together. After all, my long-cherished wish for Bugster depends entirely on this game. But since you can’t wait, President, I’m ready to start anytime. Please hand me the administrator cartridge first.”

Dan Masamune tossed the administrator card back to Amasaki Ren. Amasaki Ren took the card to the terminal that he had placed aside. She first moved the large photo of herself that was leaning against it, and carefully checked whether the terminal was still working properly before inserting the administrator card.

After a brief loading process, a virtual screen was projected onto the terminal. On the screen, only one black shadow remained, which was the silhouette representing Graphite.

Amasaki Ren then took out the prototype cartridge of Ryukijin Z, reached out with his right hand towards the card, and seemed to enter another dimension, disappearing directly into the card. When he pulled his hand out, he was holding several shimmering rays of light in his hand.

This is exactly the data from Graphite.

The virtual screen projected by Kamen Rider Chronicles seemed to resonate with Graphite's data; the black shadow representing Graphite trembled slightly, and the data in Amasaki Ren's hand also vibrated toward the virtual screen.

Amasaki Ren made no attempt to stop her, grabbing the data and extending it towards the virtual screen. The data immediately flowed into the virtual screen, and Graphite's silhouette gradually became clearer, his image appearing on the screen. Festive sound effects echoed throughout the room.

Kamen Rider Chronicles, complete!

"very good!"

Seeing this, Dan Masamune nodded in satisfaction. Together with Amasaki Ren, who had retreated to his side, they admired the interface of this ultimate game, which represented the culmination of Dan Kuroto's hard work. After a while, he spoke:

"Amasaki Ren, I've seen your ability and determination. From today onwards, you are the head of the publicity department of the Dream Group. From now on, you will be in charge of the publicity work for all games. Of course, Kamen Rider Chronicle is of great importance, so I will handle its publicity. Is that alright?"

"Propaganda Minister? That's a good position. I accept."

Amasaki Ren is a narcissistic person who likes to show off; otherwise, he wouldn't have posted so many selfies. If he were to be the publicity manager, he could add himself to many promotional videos, which would be a great opportunity for him to steal the spotlight. This made him very satisfied with Dan Masamune's appointment.

Chapter 34 Kamen Rider Cronus

Just as Dan Masamune and Amasaki Ren reached an agreement and smiled at each other, there was another sound at the door, and Parado strolled in carrying a bag of new games.

He was startled to see Tan Zhengzong standing in the room. He put down the game he was playing and frowned as he asked:

"Dan Masamune? What are you doing here?"

Because Dan Masamune rushed to Amasaki Ren's place immediately after obtaining the prototype cartridge to make a deal. Apart from Kiriya, Kohoshisaku, and Kagami Hiiro, Emu and the others had only just learned of the news, and Parado was completely unaware of anything.

However, Parado instinctively sensed something was wrong and became very wary.

To be honest, Parado was originally neutral towards Dan Masamune. As a fellow Bugster, his attitude was basically the same as Amasaki Ren's; he didn't really care who he collaborated with.

However, Emei always insisted on instilling correct values ​​in Parado, constantly reminding him of things like respecting life whenever they played together. Old Dan and his son, Shrimp Dumpling, were also frequently used as typical counter-examples and publicly criticized by Emei.

After all, Xiaojiao had collaborated with Parado for a while, and because he was driven to despair by the high-end cartridges that Emu kept pulling out, he became a shut-in and didn't go out and roam around like in the original work. So Emu just casually mentioned him, and Parado wasn't too affected.

But Old Dan was different. Parado had never met Old Dan before, and he had an innate trust in Emu Dai, so his preconceived notions about Old Dan made him have a very bad impression of him.

Furthermore, before his suicide, Dan Kuroto specifically mentioned Old Dan to him and Amasaki Ren, warning them about Old Dan's danger.

In this context, Parado's wariness and resistance towards Old Tan become understandable.

But Amasaki Ren, unaware of Parado's change in mindset, replied with a smile:

"Parado, Mr. Dan Masamune brought the prototype cartridge. Look, the Kamen Rider Chronicle is complete! Our long-cherished wish is about to be fulfilled!"

Parado's face lit up with joy when he saw the virtual screen behind Amasaki and the others. After all, the Kamen Rider Chronicle was a goal they had always strived for. Even though Parado had been influenced and no longer saw it as a tool to destroy humanity, he was still filled with joy at its release.

However, Parado quickly realized what was happening, raised an eyebrow, and said:

"Wait a minute! Didn't you say it would be delivered in five days? Amasaki Ren, don't forget our promise!"

When Parado brought up that promise, Amasaki Ren answered frankly:

"Although we had agreed on a two-week timeframe, now that Mr. Dan Masamune has already obtained the prototype cartridge, there's no need to waste any more time."

Besides, it's not like I didn't give you a chance. If you had revived Dan Kuroto before Mr. Dan Masamune arrived, I would have absolutely kept my promise. But you just spend your days having fun and have no intention of reviving Dan Kuroto at all. If you don't care, why should I?

Besides, is there any difference between cooperating with Mr. Dan Masamune and cooperating with Dan Kuroto? For us, it's all the same! If that's the case, why are you so resistant?

Amasaki Ren's words left Parado speechless. He couldn't very well say that he hadn't been unprepared, but was simply planning to team up with Emu Dai to conquer the game and revive Dan Kuroto.

"I don't care, there are still five days until the agreed time! You shouldn't have handed over the administrator card before then!"

Parado no longer wanted to persuade Amasaki Ren; he simply focused on the promise.

"Parado!! Do you think this is a child's game?! I've made my choice, and there's no point in bringing up the agreement anymore. If you really want the cartridge, then come and take it!"

Amazaki Ren was also angered by Parado's attitude. The smile on her face completely disappeared, and she revealed an annoyed expression, saying irritably.

Although he said that, it was just an angry outburst. He didn't think Parado would actually do it, and he was thinking of trying to persuade Parado later to stop being so stubborn.

To everyone's surprise, after hearing Amasaki Ren's words, Parado remained silent for a moment, then pulled out his "Perfect Knockout Spinning Cartridge" and pressed it hard:

"MAX Transformation!"

"Gachan! Mazaru Up! Red Fist Powerful! Blue Puzzle Chain! Red and Blue Intertwined! Perfect Knock Out!"

In an instant, Parado transformed into a player who had perfectly defeated her, her large eyes fixed on Amasaki Ren, and she whispered:

"Amasaki Ren, get out of my way, I don't want to hurt you. I'm taking this cartridge today!"

"I think you've really gone mad! This is betrayal! If you really want the cartridge, defeat me first! Train me!"

Ren Amasaki's face flushed red; he was practically raging. He couldn't understand Parado's logic at all. Parado's blatant attempt to rob him was an insult to Ren Amasaki. He also revealed his eccentric side, standing in front of Parado and shouting at him.

"I'm sorry, Amasaki Ren."

Parado listened silently to Amasaki Ren's reprimand, but his resolve remained unshaken. He was now essentially in the shape of Emu Dai. He would absolutely not leave powerful Gacha cartridges like the Kamen Rider Chronicle Administrator Gacha cartridge to Emu Dai's enemies.

After Parado whispered an apology to Amasaki Ren, he took a step forward. His Lv.99 speed was on full display in the confined space. As if teleporting, he appeared in front of Amasaki Ren with a perfect knockdown, his right fist striking her directly in the stomach.

Ren Amasaki clutched her stomach, staggered back two steps, and knelt on the ground, reverting to her human form. The Malfunction Driver II also fell to the ground.

With his strength, he was no match for a level 99 knight. If the area were more open, allowing him to summon his cute girl, he might have been able to last a few more rounds, but Parado gave him no chance, directly defeating Amasaki Ren with his superior speed and strength.

In reality, Parado held back. Otherwise, with his strength, he could have easily defeated Amasaki Ren on the spot.

"Clap clap clap."

At this moment, Dan Masamune, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, clapped his hands vigorously, bent down to pick up the faulty Driver II, and praised Parado:

"Such powerful strength, truly a valuable asset to our Dream Group. You can become a hidden character in Kamen Rider Chronicles, with an extremely high drop rate and an incredibly difficult difficulty to defeat as a wild boss. Hehe, it will definitely pique the interest of players!"

"Don't talk nonsense. I have nothing to do with Huanmeng. I don't want to hurt humans. Now get out of the way, I'm taking the cartridge and leaving."

Parado didn't want to listen to Dan Masamune's nonsense. He no longer saw Kamen Rider Chronicles as a game of exterminating humanity, and his attitude towards humans was even as Emu had wished—he no longer thought of taking human lives, or even of causing harm. Even if the other party was Dan Masamune, it would be the same.

"That won't do. All the company's valuable assets shouldn't be taken away by others. It's regrettable, but given your attitude, I have no choice but to make it a collector's item! Henshin!"

Dan Masamune shook his head regretfully, pulled out the administrator cartridge from behind him, put the fault driver II on his waist, and immediately inserted the administrator cartridge.

"What are you doing! The Fault Driver II is specifically designed for bugsters; it's full of game viruses. Any normal person who uses it will die instantly!"

Parado was startled and was about to stop Dan Masamune's reckless behavior when a powerful energy blasted him away. A dazzling transformation effect and a solemn chant appeared simultaneously:

"Bugge Up! Grab the Rider of the Sky! Wow! Engrave into Chronice! This is the moment of ultimate glory! Wow!"

Kamen Rider Cronus has arrived!

Chapter Thirty-Five: Transition

"System, how much longer until the Alphamon cartridge completes its upgrade?"

Yongmeng lay quietly in her room, her eyes closed, asking the system questions.

The news that Dan Masamune had taken the prototype cartridge has been relayed back by Kiriya and the others. Without a doubt, Dan Masamune is about to obtain the power of Kamen Rider Cronus.

Kiriya and Kagami Hiiro originally wanted to discuss with everyone what to do, but both Emu were still in a state of excessive energy depletion, making it difficult for them to speak.

Furthermore, Emu had previously revealed information about Kamen Rider Cronus to them. The doctors in CR were well aware that their current strength was far from sufficient to defeat Cronus; his time-stop ability alone could instantly kill them.

This overwhelming force of raw power renders any further discussion futile. The only hope might be to revive Shrimp Dumpling and allow him to create an invincible father's cartridge, just like in the original story.

However, Emu Dai is currently powerless and unable to contact Parado. Even if he wanted to revive Emu, he wouldn't know where to start. Everyone can only wait silently for news from Parado.

Kiriya harbored a deep dislike for Emu, and was deeply dissatisfied with Emu's disregard for human life. He wasn't going to place his hopes on such a guy, so he dragged Kosei back to his grueling work. He hoped Kosei could develop a cartridge that could break the time-stopping barrier, just like his invincible father.

However, although Xiao Xingzuo is considered a genius by ordinary standards, there is still a gap in talent between him and Xia Jiao. Xia Jiao worked himself to the bone to create Invincible Dad, while Xiao Xingzuo might not be able to create Invincible Dad even if he worked himself to death.

Kiriya didn't hide the difficulty of this research from Kohoshi. They might work themselves to death without producing any results. However, after touching his sparse hair, Kohoshi resolutely agreed to Kiriya's request.

He felt it was his duty to protect everyone!

Besides Kiriya, Emu also wanted to contribute. Counting the time, it had been almost three months since he arrived in the Knight World. The system fragment had given an estimated upgrade time of three months, but this time wasn't necessarily accurate, as it was just an estimate and could be longer or shorter.

Regardless, the time for the Alphamon Gacha to complete its upgrade is fast approaching. Having also mastered the ability to control time, Emu is confident that he can face Kamen Rider Cronus head-on with the Alphamon Gacha.

"The upgrade is currently 95% complete and is expected to be finished in five days!"

The system fragment quickly provided the answer.

Emu waved his hand in frustration. If it weren't for Dan Masamune's surprise attack, which brought forward the deadline by five days and took away the prototype cartridge, Emu would have been fearless even if Dan Masamune had obtained the power of Kamen Rider Cronus according to the original deadline.

But now, all we can do is hope that Dan Masamune won't make any big moves in these five days.

As it turns out, expecting Dan Masamune to stay out of trouble was a very unreliable thing. On the very night the prototype cartridge was taken away, Parado lay battered and bruised at the entrance of the CR Center, where he was picked up by a passing Kagami Gray.