Hiiro grabs his collar angrily. "Wake up, intern!" He yelled Emu worriedly.
Emu shoved Hiiro away before holding Level 50 Gashat of Knock Out Fighter and Perfect Puzzle. He twists to activate Knock Out Fighter Gashat while everyone looks surprised.
"Why does he have Paradox's Gashat?" Taiga asked out loud and couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Ophelia stood up with the help of Poppy and Nico. "That's not Emu we know." She informed them and they looked at her. "Parado merged with him and took over his body. It explains why he had the Gashat because of Parado."
Kanade's eyes widened in realization. "Then that means—" She saw Ophelia nod her head sadly. "Damn it."
"Henshin." Parado smirked in amusement. 'That's one of the things that I love about you, Moon. You analyze the situation fast and never cease to amuse me.' The male Bugster thought.
"Dual up! Knock Out Fighter!"
Hiiro and Taiga activated their Gashat.
"Henshin!"
"Henshin!"
"Taddle Quest!"
"Bang Bang Shooting!"
Emu punched Hiiro and Taiga before his fists were covered in a fire before swaying it. It took them one hit to stay down. "I'm sick of being a doctor." He expressed how he felt and looked at Ophelia. "You should've stayed by my side, Fee." He disappeared before anyone could stop him.
————————————————————
"Oh, no! I'm in a pipupepopanic!" Poppy yelled in shock while holding her head.
Nico shoved Poppy away. "How did M transform into Paradox!?" She asked before being shoved back by Poppy.
"There's no way Emu would quit being a doctor! There..."
"... must be some reason!" Nico and Poppy yelled as they demanded an explanation.
"You guys..." Luna's body shook in anger before whacking their heads. "One question at a time! Stop shoving each other!" She yelled and summoned a hammer to slam the table as they squeaked in fear.
Taiga looked at the table blankly. "There is only one answer." He glanced at Hiiro.
"Parado has always had a strange obsession with the intern and... Ophelia." Hiiro answered while glancing at Ophelia as she flinched, surprised at her name.
Ophelia and the others are back in CR to have a meeting about Emu's situation. None of them would've imagined all this time Emu's Bugster is Paradox and his strange obsession towards Emu and Ophelia.
"Also... every time we tried operating on him... no Bugster emerged." Hiiro explained.
"The Bugster isn't appearing." Nico pointed out.
Kanade hums and looks at Ophelia. "Didn't this crazy doctor, Zaizen Michihiko, perform surgery on Emu? 6 years ago." The red-haired pointed out as she recalled the crazy doctor from the Pac-Man incident.
Ophelia glanced at Luna. "Luna, would you retrieve the videos from 6 years ago? Their disappearance when they perform a surgery." She asked the female android.
Luna shook her head after hacking the system without being traced. "Negative. The video was cut off after they turned themselves into Bugsters." She answered truthfully.
The former goddess noticed their expression and explained. "16 years ago, Kuroto gave Emu a game sample when he was young without knowing the Game Syndrome virus on it. The virus was still growing inside of him as he grew older—his personality changed when it related to games and I often argued with him about his health." She wouldn't forget they fought through calls and lost contact until returning to Japan after studying or working overseas. "He collapsed for pushing himself and Zaizen took the opportunity to examine him as the first patient zero of game syndrome. That's how Parado was born."
"Parado is a Bugster born from Emu?" Poppy asked curiously and she nodded her head. "How come you didn't sense his aura?"
"Since Emu and Parado are one... he must've concealed his aura to prevent detecting from me and realized he's the one we're looking for." Ophelia answered and blamed herself for not seeing it for Parado addressed him or her.
Nico frowned at Ophelia's explanation. "This makes no sense."
Poppy gasps and remembers that Kuroto explained his envy and jealousy towards Emu. "You're right, Fee-chan! It took 10 years to grow inside Emu's body into Parado." She understands Ophelia's theory about Parado.
Nico's eyes widened in shock. "Then the one I lost to 6 years ago, at the game tournament..."
"You battled Parado instead of Emu. He called himself Gamer M." Kanade finished off her sentence. "It makes sense why Emu is still infected— because Parado must've found a way to deflect your healing, Ophelia."
"It doesn't change the fact as the Bugsters grow stronger— my healing powers are useless against them." Ophelia pointed out.
"It's not useless, Ophelia." Hiiro retorted back and she looked at him curiously. "You can still use your healing in an alternative way."
"Alternative way... huh?" She whispered while thinking in deep thoughts.
"Dan Kuroto used Zaizen Michihiko to separate Parado from the intern." Hiiro pointed out.
"Then Emu's sudden aspiration to become a doctor that time..." Poppy looked at Hiiro and Ophelia.
Hiiro narrowed his eyes. "When Parado was separated from him... he began using 'boku' again, returning to his original self."
"Then... if we smash up that Parado..." Taiga trailed off his thoughts.
"...then the intern's Game Syndrome will be cured."
Luna exhales softly and crosses her arms. "It's difficult to challenge Parado since he controls Emu against his will."
"We'll do whatever it takes to get our clumsy Emu back." Kanade assured her with a smile.
The female android silently summons her hologram computer and hacks the satellite system. 'I owe Emu a lot for taking care of Ophelia-sama while being brainwashed by them. This is the least I can do to get you back.' She vowed trying to find his location.
"Ar-a-are you hacking the satellite system!?" Poppy yelled in shock and received a smirk from a female android. "Lu-chan, that's illegal!" She couldn't believe her friend could hack a government system without asking.
Luna snickered while smiling smugly at the satisfaction. "Let's face it... I'm a genius hacking advanced android created by Ophelia-sama. I'm searching for their location knowing Parado would take him somewhere to fight him."
Nico stepped back away from Luna. "I didn't know you could create an evil android, Ophelia." She whispered under her breath.
Ophelia laughs nervously at her statement. "Luna is special and did the right thing to hack the system."
"She better pray if that midget gets caught... she asked for it." Taiga warned the former goddess.
"Ye-yes, sir." She stuttered nervously under his glare.
"It would take a long time to search him and you have my word that I'll alert you guys." Luna informed them while searching for Emu.
————————————————————
"Hey, Piiro!" Poppy shook Hiiro's shoulder. "We need to defeat Parado somehow or Pemu will...!"
Kanade, Taiga and Nico left the CR knowing it would take time to find Emu. Poppy, Hiiro and Ophelia are the only ones in the office room whereas Luna is alone in the quarantine room to avoid distractions from them.
"Cease the yelling, Poppy." Ophelia stops the female Bugster from screaming before Hiiro can snap at her. "Panicking won't solve anything and Luna is still searching for him at the once."
"Ophelia is right." Hiiro silently thanked Ophelia for stopping Poppy from screaming. "We now know the true form of his Game Syndrome. I would need to perform the operation."
"We, Hiiro." Ophelia corrected him while he looked at her. "You're not alone in battling Parado. He's a sly and cunning Bugster. We shouldn't underestimate him."
Poppy nodded her head. "Fee-chan is right! If Parado hides in Emu's body, we won't be able to do anything! Emu brought me back to normal with Ophelia, Luna and Kanade's help. He saved me! So I want to save him this time. I want to retrieve his smile!" She vowed and remembered something. "Wait... what about your angel form that Emu talked about? Can you use it to save Emu, Pophie-chan?"
"My Heavenly Moon form?" Ophelia asked Poppy curiously as she nodded her head. "I don't even know if it will work against him. That form drains a lot of energy and not use it recklessly. It's one of the reasons why I rarely use it. If things get chaotic, I'll use it as a last resort to save Emu and bring him a smile too. After all... Emu is a brother to me."
Hiiro sighed heavily at their dedication to save Emu. "Man... Dan Kuroto sure has made trouble for us." He pointed out bluntly.
"There's a reason why it happens." She retorted back with a soft smile. "If it wasn't meant for this to happen now— I'd still be dead and never met any of you guys."
Poppy gasped and looked down startling. "Eh? What?" She held her head and remembered something from the person's past.
"What happened?" Hiiro asked Poppy curiously.
"Was that the memory of the person I infected?" She whispered and Ophelia narrowed her eyes.
"I guess... it's bound to happen to have memories from someone's past— when you and the person are one despite the differences." Ophelia suggested and Hiiro looked at her.
"Memory of a person?" Hiiro asked the former goddess as she nodded her head.
"Think about it. How did Parado know Emu more than you guys except me?" She asked them. "That's because they used to be linked together and share memories before splitting up."
Poppy hums and remembers the times she had a memory relapse from the past. "Now that I think about it—"
They heard rush footsteps to reveal Luna and looked at them grimly. "I found Emu! They're in the forest battling each other!"
Ophelia nodded her head with a soft smile. "Good job, Luna." She thanked her for the succession.
Luna's cheeks flushed embarrassed at the praise. 'Wah! Ophelia-sama, praise me!' She thought while cupping her cheek.
"Hiiro, let's go. Luna sent us the exact location of Emu." She ordered the female android and she nodded her head. "Poppy, you and Luna stay here. We're not taking chances of you guys getting kidnapped again."
"Ye-yeah." Poppy stuttered nervously as they left and Luna stared at her curiously.
"What's up with you?" Luna asked bluntly.
"Eh?" She stared at her shock.
"You look lost and strange for you to be quiet." She pointed out and wondered what made her silent.
"I have this memory about Kuroto when he was young and created an infection... countermeasure." Poppy answered nervously while the female android blinked her eyes in shock.
"WHAT!?"
————————————————————
"Didn't Luna mention he's battling Parado?" Hiiro asked Ophelia curiously while they watched Double Emu battle each other. They made it to the forest thanks to Luna's direction and found them.
"She is and the orange Emu is Parado!" Ophelia rushed forward and threw the punch at Parado which caught him off guard.
"Fee-chan!?" Emu yelled in shock to see Ophelia standing in front of him. He's relieved to see her and the others except Luna and Poppy but worried at the same time. He knows Parado's intention to fight Ophelia once he's defeated.
Parado coughs at the surprised attack while rubbing his stomach where she lands her fists. "I thought we'd be able to enjoy ourselves... but it looks like we have pests and your knight. I'm jealous you have Moon stay by your side."
Hiiro's eyes narrowed after hearing a familiar voice from orange Emu. "Ophelia is right. You are Parado?"
"Guys..." Emu was surprised to see them again.
Parado stared at him. "M. Mighty Brothers XX allows one to become two." He explained about Mighty Brothers XX Gashat. "Right now, we share each other's genes and memories... Remember! Remember why you're still alive with the help of the three girls?"
Emu gasps and remembers when he nearly disappeared after hearing a cold truth about his Game Syndrome. He was saved by Ophelia, Kanade and Luna's Miracle Harmony song. "At that time, I..."
"If the girls didn't have an alternative way to save you— it could've been me to saved you. Under normal circumstances, you'd have vanished and died without us." Parado explained.
Taiga's eyes widened in realization. 'It makes sense why Ex-Aid didn't vanish because of Fairy's strongest healing spell. They purify his negative feelings instead of vanishing Parado completely.' He thoughts. "So that's what happened!"
"Ophelia's theory is right. You can take over the intern's body..." Hiiro commented with a grim look on his face. "... and released his stress?"
"Moon and I gave your life a continue." Parado explained while Ophelia stepped in front of Emu to protect him.
Emu shook his head in denial. "No way..."
"Whether I let you live or die depends on my puzzle before I target Moon next." Parado declared while staring at Ophelia and Emu. "You do not have the power to decide your fate. None."
Emu pushed Ophelia behind him while she looked at her with an unreadable look. "Stop screwing with me or Ophelia..."
Parado laughs in amusement. "Feeling irritated?" He asked teasingly. "Then prove that you can change your fate with your own hands and protect Moon. You'll never be cured of Game Syndrome until you defeat me. Fight me."
Kanade frowned at Parado's taunt. "I have a feeling he's going to scheme something but I don't know why..." She whispered while Taiga and Nico looked at her worriedly.
"Then let's do it." Emu declared to have a battle showdown between him and Parado. "Fee-chan, I want you to stay with Hiiro-san. I don't want to drag you into my problems."
"Emu..." Ophelia stared at him worriedly at the thought of facing Parado alone. She's scared to lose someone she cares about.
"Trust me." Emu glances at Hiiro as he nods and vows to look after Ophelia.
————————————————————
After an intense battle between Parado and Emu, Emu defeated Parado using his final attack. Ophelia looks worried to see Emu glitching although he managed to reprogram Parado.
"Intern!" Hiiro called Emu worriedly as he and the others ran toward him.
Taiga looked at Parado and Emu. "Ex-Aid won this duel." He declared.
"Get out..." Emu grunted and glared at Parado. "...of my body!"
Parado laughs heartedly despite Emu's anger at him. "Fate is a puzzle."
Nico looked at him in surprise. "What are you laughing about? You lost!"
Ophelia looked at Parado confused. "You should have disappeared after Emu used that final attack on you."
"Lost? Me?" Parado asked and stood up. "Stop joking. I have M's human genes now that I've been reprogrammed."
"What?" Hiiro asked in surprise.
Kanade scowled in anger after knowing his true intentions. "You used him so you can have human genes."
"Gungnir is right. This means I can level up. Now I can use a Gamer Driver..." He showed them the Gamer Driver to everyone. "...which only humans could use."
"Since when did you have one, Parado?" Ophelia couldn't help but ask the male Bugster.
Kanade shook her head. "The better question is— how did he get one?"
Taiga's eyes widened in realization. "The one Genm used?" He asked.
Parado placed the game driver on his waist while holding his Gashat. "My heart's dancing." He commented with an amused look on his face.
"Dual Gashatto! The strongest fist! What's the next stage?"
"Max Dai Henshin!"
"Gacchaan! Mix up! Strongest red fist! Blue puzzle chain! Red and blue combine! Perfect Knock Out!"
"Perfect Puzzle and Knock Out Fighter. Two level 50 mixed become one. And it's called... Perfect Knock Out!" The male Bugster declared after revealing his new transformation while everyone looked surprised. "Kamen Rider Paradox... level 99!"
"Level 99!? Seriously!?" Nico yelled in shock.
"This is bad!" Kanade couldn't help but comment worriedly while Ophelia stared at him with a grim look. 'Emu is the only one with level 99 Gashat to fight against Parado!' She thoughts.
Parado laughs at their reaction and steps forward while Hiiro and Taiga step in front of the females and Emu. "Take Ex-Aid away." Taiga ordered them. "Ophelia and Red, protect them. Tactics Level 50."
"Skill level 2."
"Taddle Quest!"
"Bang Bang Simulation!"
"Henshin!"
"Henshin!"
"Gashatto! Gacchaan! Level up! Taddle Quest!"
"Dual Gashatto! Gacchaan! Dual up! Bang Bang Simulations!"
Ophelia nodded her head. "We need to go now." She lifts Emu with the help of Nico.
They distance themselves away to avoid getting involved in their fight. Parado overwhelmed them using his final attack to cause Taiga to revert after taking the hit. Kanade, Nico and Ophelia couldn't believe his power and strength matched Emu's Maximum Mighty X.
The female genius gamer couldn't help but run toward Taiga. "Taiga! Are you alright? Hang on!" She pleads and helps him to move away from him.
"Stop it!" Emu yells and hates to see his friends suffer. His body aches because of his stress to see them hurt.
"Emu!" Kanade looked at him worriedly before glancing at Ophelia. "Elena, what should we do?" She asked the former goddess worriedly.
Parado laughs at Taiga's suffering while Hiiro snatches Level 50 Gashat from Taiga. "Skill level 50!"
"Taddle Fantasy!" Parado shoots him with his ax-gun but it deflects it. "Gacchaan! Dual up! Taddle Fantasy!"
"Hiiro!" Ophelia yelled at his boyfriend worriedly as she watched Parado taunting him.
"Melee attacks?" Parado asked and activated his final attack to switch his weapon back to an ax.
"Zi-coon!" He slams his ax at Hiiro's chest.
Parado clashed his ax against Hiiro's sword and pushed him away. He pressed his button 7 times to activate the final attack for Hiiro. The male Bugster is about to hit Hiiro but the genius surgeon clashes his sword against him to stop but the attack is powerful. Hiiro couldn't hold it for long and took the hit 7 times to cause an explosion. "7X Combo!"
"A game on easy difficult is no fun." Parado whined and couldn't find a worthy opponent like Emu.
"Gashuun! Dual Gashatto!" Parado activated his final attack for Hiiro. "Finisher! Speed up! Muscle up! Knock Out Critical Finish!"
"Finisher! Gacchaan!" Hiiro activates his final attack. "Taddle Critical Slash!"
Both attacks clash, however, Hiiro's attack isn't strong enough to cancel Parado's attack and it hits him. Hiiro reverts himself covered with bruises. "Gashuun! K.O!"
"Hiiro!" Ophelia yelled.
"Stop it!" Emu yelled and stood while holding his Gashat.
"Stand down, Emu!" Ophelia stops him from transforming. "You're going to make your condition worse." She warned him.
Kanade holds Emu's hand. "Ophelia is right. Let us handle him."
"I don't want you guys to get hurt too." Emu looks at Ophelia and Kanade worriedly. He's the only one who can match against Parado.
Ophelia shook her head and looked at Kanade. "Save your strength, I'll deal with Parado this time."
Her red eyes widened in shock at Ophelia's requests. "Are you crazy, Ophelia!? He overpowered Hiiro and Taiga!"
"Kanade-san is right!" Emu nodded and leaned on Kanade. "I'm the only one who can match him."
"You're in no condition to fight, Emu." Ophelia pointed out and hated to see him in more danger. "I'll deal with him. I'll give you guys a time to escape."
"Elena..." Kanade stared at her worriedly.
Ophelia's eyes flashed blue while glaring at Parado. "Parado! I won't forgive you for hurting them! 𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒆, 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒏" Her whole body glowed as everyone covered their eyes.
She's wearing an angel-like outfit. At the top of her head, she has a two-ringed halo and a pair of double wings. Her bodysuit is white and decorated with golden outlines. The bodysuit is somewhat translucent on both sides of her stomach. She wears white gauntlets with a lavender accessory attached to it. This accessory can also be found at her waist. She wears a pink flower hairclip with golden leaves.
"She looks like an angel." Nico commented while looking at Ophelia surprised.
'This is the second time I've seen up close.' Emu thought and remembered the first time he saw her using that form.
Parado whistles in amusement to see Ophelia in a serious look. "That's the look I've been waiting to see, Moon." He spoke and was impressed at her new transformation.
"Let's fight, Parado!" Ophelia brings out her weapon a rapier and clashes against his ax.
"Now is our chance to escape." Kanade snapped out of her shock and slowly dragged Emu to escape.
Hiiro helped Kanade to carry Emu. "Ophelia is buying time to help us escape. We can't waste more time knowing her form has a time limit."
Ophelia's body and sword glowed to increase her speed and attack.
𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝑺𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒉
Parado managed to deflect some of her attacks and failed to stop the last one. He crashed on the wall to make a huge dent. The male Bugster grunted in pain but smiled for battling Ophelia a second time. "You made my heart racing, Moon." He commented and wasn't surprised how strong she was on the battlefield.
"I'm not here to impress anyone." Ophelia retorted back and created a barrier to protect herself from the shot
Parado notices they're escaping from his sight and realizes Ophelia's true plan. 'You're giving them a time to escape, Moon? I won't let you do it.' He thoughts and reverts himself to normal. "Such a vixen you are, Moon." His eyes glowed red and merged from Emu's body.
Parado took over Emu's body and shoved Kanade and Hiiro away. "So close for you guys to escape from me." He clicked his tongue and smirked. "I almost fell from the plan."
Nico glares at Parado. "Parado! I'll send you flying!" She threatened the male Bugster.
Kanade shoved the female genius gamer behind her. "Are you trying to get yourself killed, Nico!?" She whispered angrily while glaring at Parado.
"Parado! Release Emu at once and fight me!" Ophelia yelled and stood in front of them.
"I would love to after my battle with M." Parado suggested and the former goddess clenches her rapier. "That'd be great. It's been six years, after all. Let's play again." He wasn't intimidated by Nico's threat. The male Bugster stares at Ophelia. "I hate to cut our game short, Moon. You force me after finding out your true agenda."
"Emu, I know you can hear me somewhere..." Ophelia stares at his eyes. "We'll find a way to save you."
Parado scoffs at her vow to save Emu. "Your words don't reach him, Moon." He waves and leaves them out of their sight.
Ophelia reverted to normal and couldn't help but yell in anger. None of them blame her frustration for failing to save Emu.
————————————————————
Luna and Poppy couldn't believe they found a treasure box hiding inside Kuroto's old hideout. Poppy remembered the glimpse of the past and managed to find a treasure box. The female android couldn't leave Poppy alone to find the answers she was searching for because she feared for her safety. "Lu-chan, thank you for accompanying me. Even if you didn't want to—"
"Ophelia-sama would be disappointed if she found out you ignored her orders and investigated yourself." Luna cuts her off bluntly and masks her true feelings. She grabs the book and reads its title. "Level 0?"
Poppy chuckled in amusement at her small lie but ignored it. She opens the treasure to reveal a Game Driver and black Gashat of Mighty Action X. "Proto Mighty Action X? But the color's different..." She whispered looking at Luna with confusion.
"We don't even know unless we read the manual about it." Luna shakes the manual book in her hand. "Let's gather everything we have and leave before someone comes in."
Poppy nodded. "You're right, Lu-chan." She placed the proto Gashat back inside the box before locking it.