"Since you are so slow to make a choice, I shall select a suitable stage for you myself," Genm remarked, glancing at the cautious Harold and Danny with a faint, self-satisfied chuckle.
"Let's see, which one would be best?" Genm muttered to himself, waving a hand to flip through a light-screen displaying various scenes.
A moment later, Genm snapped his fingers. "Decided. This is the one."
With a tap on the light-screen, the surrounding environment underwent an earth-shattering transformation. In the blink of an eye, the group found themselves in the middle of a vast white jade plaza, its edges lined with towering jade pillars carved with dragons that pierced the clouds.
"Genm... sir, was it?"
Danny watched the environmental shift, suppressing the shock in his heart as he addressed Genm. "Could you tell us what exactly this 'Game Area' is? And what did you mean earlier by 'collecting data'? What is this Bugster Virus?"
The Rider System's information-gathering device can't detect what this so-called Game Area is at all, Danny thought, his mind full of doubt. This sudden environmental change is like being moved to a completely different dimension.
Genm nodded toward Danny and spoke. "This Game Area was developed to facilitate dueling games. You have been selected by me to participate as players. As participants in this round, you will fight with everything you have. By completing the game, I can collect sufficient data to further perfect my masterwork."
"Game Master? Game Area? What a load of nonsense! It's nothing more than a parlor trick!" Harold interrupted irritably. "To think you dare drag me to this godforsaken place and expect me to fight like a gladiator for your little game—how preposterous. Lift this illusion immediately, or I'll crush you, you 'Game Master' hack."
Before Harold even finished speaking, he lunged at Genm in a sudden, preemptive strike.
The scene around them was undeniably strange, but it was clearly Genm's creation. In Harold's mind, regardless of the mechanics, defeating the creator would naturally break the spell and allow them to escape.
Danny remained silent, watching coldly from the sidelines. This self-proclaimed "Game Master" who had appeared out of thin air was an unknown variable with inscrutable motives. Since Harold was impatient enough to strike first, Danny was content to let him test the waters and see just how deep this Game Master's power ran.
Facing Harold's assault, Genm simply took a light step back. He didn't seem angry at the sudden attack; instead, his tone remained indifferent. "Attacking the referee is a violation of the game rules."
Though the physical distance between Harold and Genm appeared short, Harold felt as though he were reaching across an insurmountable chasm. No matter how fast he lunged or how far he reached, he could not truly get near Genm.
"What is this?" Harold growled, realizing his strikes were failing to connect.
Genm chuckled and explained, "I am the administrator of this game. Within this space, I am the referee. As players, your attacks against me are, naturally, null and void."
"I don't believe you! There's no such thing! To hell with your game!" Harold roared, unleashing a sphere of energy at Genm.
The result was the same. The energy ball appeared to be mere inches away from Genm, yet it could never bridge the final gap to touch him.
"I don't believe this Game Area can withstand my full power!" Harold, seeing that direct attacks on Genm were useless, began unleashing indiscriminate waves of destruction on the surroundings, hoping to tear the Game Area apart.
Though the attacks were fierce and appeared to cause significant damage, Genm simply waved his hand. In an instant, the destruction was undone, and the plaza was restored to its pristine state. It was a complete exercise in futility.
"Damn it, what the hell is going on?!" Harold's anger was now laced with panic. He had to admit his attacks were ineffective—this situation defied his understanding of reality. He asked with a tremor of unease, "What do you want? Why keep us trapped here?"
Genm waved a dismissive hand. "I'm not trying to trap you. Didn't I make myself clear? This is a round of a game I designed. You only need to complete the game to leave whenever you wish."
"Then how exactly do we leave?" Danny couldn't help but ask.
"Finish the game, and you exit the game. Isn't that common sense?" Genm spread his arms.
"This is a dueling game between the two of you. The rules are simple: once a winner is decided, the game ends, and you can leave." As he spoke, a chair appeared out of thin air behind him, and Genm sat down casually.
"It seems we must settle this after all," Danny said, turning to Harold. "But perhaps it's for the best. At least here, the aftershocks of our battle won't harm innocent people."
Harold let out a cold snort. "Fine by me. I'll just finish you off here first."
With that, he charged directly at Danny. Danny raised his arms to block, but was sent flying by Harold's massive size and sheer strength.
"That strange power in your fists—you can't use it whenever you want, can you? Once it's depleted, you can't follow up immediately," Harold noted smugly. He hadn't felt the sting of the Iron Fist's "Chi" in that last clash. "Without that power, you're no match for me! I'll stomp you into the dust!"
Danny watched the Triceratops Dopant barreling toward him and felt a surge of anxiety. Without "Chi" as the source and medium, he couldn't manifest much of the Iron Fist's power. Facing a Dopant with such overwhelming physical dominance, the situation was dire.
Sensing Danny's unease, Ao Xing spoke with a hint of pride. "It seems this Dragon must step in to handle this fellow after all."
"You have a way?!" Danny's spirits lifted instantly.
Ao Xing's voice was full of disdain. "Before the fangs of a Divine Dragon, a character like this is beneath concern."
"You mean the Fang Memory?!" Danny realized immediately, though he hesitated. The last time they used the Fang Memory, he had lost control of his mind.
"Would you prefer to be trampled by this behemoth, or use the Fangs to strike back?" Ao Xing asked teasingly.
"Fine!" Danny took a deep breath. At this point, there was no other choice.
Ao Xing spoke to ease Danny's fears. "Besides, you've made some progress lately. If your will can keep up with my power, you might actually master the Fangs this time."
Danny nodded heavily. Ao Xing's physical form spat out the Fang Memory. The device activated and was inserted into the driver.
"FANG!"
A clear, resonant dragon's roar echoed through the plaza.
"The Fangs of the Divine Dragon."
Danny and Ao Xing transformed once again into Kamen Rider W: FangJoker Form.