Atomic Collapse

After Bronya let out that cry, a massive pitch-black robot suddenly materialized out of thin air.

Project Bunny. Though its name sounded somewhat cute, Gu Yu, facing this enemy head-on, did not think it resembled a "bunny" in any way.

Its black armor gleamed with an incomparably dazzling sheen.

Steam constantly billowed from the metal around Project Bunny's head.

The weapons mounted on both arms exuded a sense of raw, primal violence.

In short, this thing did not look easy to deal with.

The instant Project Bunny appeared, Gu Yu pulled the trigger, firing a barrage of enhanced bullets like a torrential downpour.

However, Project Bunny merely raised its heavy right arm slightly and held up the Rider Shield mounted on it, blocking every bullet Gu Yu fired.

At the same time, after stopping the barrage, an ominous red light burst from Project Bunny's head as it charged straight at Gu Yu.

[Attack Ride Invisible]

In the past, Gu Yu had believed that when fighting humanoid targets, a bulky machine like this would inevitably be too slow and insufficiently maneuverable to hit its target.

Yet only after experiencing actual combat did Gu Yu realize how absurdly wrong that conclusion was.

The comics, games, and anime he had encountered all used this kind of presentation to tell their audiences that large-scale weapons could not perform delicate movements.

But in real combat, Gu Yu discovered that these massive technological weapons possessed even better targeting and acceleration systems.

Whether in attack speed or attack accuracy, these large weapons far surpassed ordinary soldiers.

If Gu Yu had not long prepared for emergencies by keeping the [Attack Ride Invisible] card in his hand, Project Bunny's Rider Lance might have sent him flying with a single blow by now.

"Hm? Strange, did he disappear?"

When she saw Project Bunny's Rider Lance pierce straight through and scatter Gu Yu's transformed figure, Bronya immediately watched her surroundings with vigilance.

"Project Bunny... couldn't you scan that thermal signature from just now?"

"He actually ran away? Strange. Aren't he and Raiden Mei supposed to be in a protector-and-protected relationship?"

After using Project Bunny to conduct a thermal scan of the area, Bronya frowned slightly.

Judging from Gu Yu's performance just now, Bronya indeed had not sensed any intention from him to confront Project Bunny head-on.

And according to Project Bunny's scan, he truly was no longer nearby.

But for some reason...

—The vigilance Bronya had honed through her career as an assassin kept warning her not to let down her guard.

"Forget it. Since he has already disappeared, Bronya has no need to keep wasting time."

After saying this in a deliberately relaxed tone, Bronya headed toward the room where Raiden Mei and Kiana were resting.

"Bronya's mission is to bring Raiden Mei back. As long as the mission is completed, nothing else matters."

The moment she said that, Bronya instantly tensed up like a cat with its fur standing on end.

Just now, she had clearly felt a gaze lock onto her body.

[Kamen Ride Kabuto]

"Little girl, I have to admit, your provocation worked quite well."

"Project Bunny!"

After detecting where that gaze came from, Bronya immediately leaped backward, landing directly behind Project Bunny.

Gu Yu's newly revealed figure transformed at that moment into a burgundy stag beetle Rider.

At her master's command, Project Bunny activated its acceleration system, erupting with blue acceleration flames as it charged toward Gu Yu.

[Attack Ride Clock Up]

"But this time, I'm really a little angry!"

"Clock Up, activate!"

At that moment, Gu Yu activated Clock Up and entered the world of Speeding-Up.

After transforming into Kamen Rider Kabuto, Gu Yu could increase his speed a thousandfold with Clock Up.

At this moment, even Project Bunny, bursting forth at top speed, looked slower than a snail in his eyes.

"Ah, let me run a little experiment."

Gripping the newly materialized Kabuto-exclusive weapon, the [Kunai Gun], in a reverse grip, Gu Yu strolled toward Project Bunny while drawing a card from his deck.

"Although this mech has now taken physical form, it is fundamentally still a construct made of energy and Honkai Energy."

[Final Attack Ride Kabuto]

"If its atoms collapse on the spot, can this energy construct still maintain its original form?"

After swiping the finishing-move card, azure electricity condensed over Gu Yu's armor and gathered around the Kunai Gun in his hand.

Then, after switching the Kunai Gun into Kunai Mode, Gu Yu aimed its short blade at Project Bunny's right arm and slashed down.

"Then, let the experiment begin."

"Avalanche... Slash!"

The moment the slash landed, a crack appeared on Project Bunny's right arm.

Yet this crack, which should not have affected the main body, began madly spreading outward in the next instant.

Although Kamen Rider Kabuto gained the speed-enhancing Clock Up ability after switching into Rider Form, his punching power, kicking power, and defense all dropped drastically.

To make up for this form's lack of destructive power, Zect gave this Rider's finishing move a special effect when developing it.

That special effect was called Atomic Collapse. As its name implied, it directly caused the enemy struck by it to collapse at the atomic level.

Project Bunny's armor, which should have been incomparably hard, actually suffered a negative effect that prevented it from maintaining its structure after Gu Yu's slash triggered Atomic Collapse.

The next second—Project Bunny's entire arm could no longer maintain itself under the effect of Atomic Collapse and dissipated into the atmosphere on the spot.

"Good. The experiment was successful."

After completing the experiment, Gu Yu tossed the Kunai Gun in his hand aside and walked coldly toward Project Bunny.

[Final Attack Ride Kabuto]

"I don't want to keep clashing head-on with you later, big guy. So make your exit here."

After walking up to Project Bunny, Gu Yu could feel that he had little time left to maintain Clock Up.

"Rider..."

"Kick!"

Staring at the mech before him, Gu Yu spun around himself as the axis and kicked Project Bunny's body.

The next moment, as electricity and the Atomic Collapse effect flowed into Project Bunny's body, Clock Up was immediately released from Gu Yu.

Still unaware of what had happened, Bronya...

—could only watch as the companion who had fought alongside her dissipated right before her eyes.