"You wait for me!"
Night Rogue spat bitterly, retreating in a cloud of smoke. His words rang hollow—as soon as he vanished, War Rabbit collapsed.
A jolt of electricity sparked from his belt, and the Dragon Full Bottle popped loose, forcefully ending his transformation.
"Why is your bottle so overpowered?!" War Rabbit gasped, sprawling flat on the ground, drenched in sweat.
Long Wo knelt down beside him, eyes fixed on the bottle. The last attack War Rabbit had unleashed—a roaring, silver-white fireball—still played vividly in his mind.
"That's odd," Long Wo muttered. "Dragon Bottle's energy was blue before. Why the sudden shift to silver?"
He picked it up. The bottle, originally a sapphire blue, had now turned a shimmering silver-white.
What the hell?
It shouldn't have evolved. His Danger Level hadn't yet reached 7.0. Evolution at this point was impossible—wasn't it?
And if it evolved this early... What would happen when it actually reached 7.0?
"Wait… your bottle's changed?" War Rabbit had finally sat up, groaning as he took the silver Dragon Bottle from Long Wo's hands.
"You're asking me? You're the one who used it!" Long Wo threw up his hands in disbelief.
"Maybe it… activated because it was my first time using it with the Rider System?" War Rabbit rubbed his temple, searching for a logical explanation that even he didn't believe.
"I don't know, I don't care, and I don't want to think about it," Long Wo replied bluntly. "But if you ask me? It wasn't the system. It was you."
After all, as the protagonist, War Rabbit was no ordinary human. His body contained anomalies—maybe even latent Evolto gene resonance. It wouldn't be a stretch to assume that his presence alone had awakened the Dragon Bottle's hidden potential.
The next morning, War Rabbit's phone buzzed.
It was a video message.
Night Rogue stood before the camera, holding a woman hostage.
"Reporter Sawa. Turned her into Smash. I'll leave her on the street. Come get her—if you dare."
War Rabbit didn't even hesitate. Despite his injuries, he got up and grabbed his coat.
"Wait!" Misora stood in his path. "You're barely standing! And she's a traitor! Why would you walk into an obvious trap to save her?!"
"Enemy or not," War Rabbit said with a quiet smile, "I don't let people die."
Then he tossed something to Long Wo.
Long Wo's eyes lit up. "When did you build this?"
"While you were sleeping last night," War Rabbit smirked.
"Then it's settled. War Rabbit's life is in your hands, Long Wo!" Misora said, still concerned but trusting.
"No problem." Long Wo gave a casual wave.
By the time they arrived, the Smash was already wreaking havoc—smashing shop windows, flipping cars, sending civilians running.
As War Rabbit and Long Wo stepped into the chaos, Night Rogue emerged from the shadows.
"You're finally here. Time to settle yesterday's score!"
[Rabbit! Tank!]
[Best Match!]
[Are you ready?]
"Transform!"
[The Moon of Steel Returns!]
[Rabbit-Tank!]
[YEAH~]
But War Rabbit didn't even look at Night Rogue. He charged directly toward the Smash. With his injuries, facing Rogue would be suicide—Smash was the safer bet.
Being ignored enraged Night Rogue.
"You bastard!" he growled, preparing to attack War Rabbit from behind—
Until Long Wo stepped between them.
"Sorry, pal. You're my fight."
"Move." Rogue snarled. "You think flesh and blood can stop me?!"
"Funny you say that," Long Wo smirked, pulling something from thin air and slapping it onto his waist.
The Build Driver.
Rogue froze. "What?!"
"You tried to sneak me yesterday. Time for payback."
Cross-Z Dragon flew into his hand with a gleam.
[WakeUp!]
Long Wo inserted the Silver Dragon Bottle. At once, Cross-Z Dragon absorbed its power, evolving—its body gleaming with silver armor.
He slotted it into the Build Driver.
[SilverCross-ZDragon!]
[Are you ready?]
"Transform!"
[WakeUpShining!]
[GetSilverDragon!]
[YEAH~]
With a brilliant gleam, silver armor locked onto his body.Kamen Rider Cross-Z—Silver Dragon Form was born.
"Night Rogue," Long Wo called out, "you hit me once. I'll hit you once. Call it even."
He didn't wait.
[Ready? Go!]
"Rider Kick!"
A massive five-clawed silver dragon materialized, spiraling around Long Wo. It carried him skyward—then dove, encasing him in power.
[Dragonic Finish!]
The kick struck Night Rogue square in the chest, sending him flying backward into a fireball of debris.
Long Wo landed silently, back turned to the explosion—cool, composed.
Because he knew who rushed in to pull Night Rogue out before the fire reached him.
Stalk.
"Oi! War Rabbit! You done yet?!"
Long Wo turned back to see War Rabbit still struggling with the Smash.
"…Seriously?"
"Move faster! I'm getting old over here!"
"Are you injured again?! Do you have kidney deficiency?!"
War Rabbit nearly exploded. "I DO NOT HAVE KIDNEY DEFICIENCY!"
Already agitated, he failed to block a punch from the Smash, taking it to the chest.
That did it.
With a furious shout, War Rabbit surged forward and unleashed a furious Knight Kick, sending the Smash into an explosive heap.
Then he stormed toward Long Wo, livid.
"YOU'RE the one with kidney deficiency!"