[DreadBringer]

The invincible turns out to be not so invincible after all. And I guess this episode also answers some of the stupidity complaints before, outside of a bunch of reveals.

I'd say that, Ace being eliminated here is quite expected for me at this point due to how being eliminated is only being sent back to normal life and they can regain DGP memories via ID Core, and also due to already seeing the secondary Rider eliminated at ep. 7 before, though it was the most unexpected Geats decision for me at that time. The ep. 15 preview even still focused on Ace. Just ironic that one of the more actually invincible main Rider is the one who didn't get plot armor and lose here. Otherwise, Ace still got a clever plan to deal with his situation, as Neon anticipated, almost always one step ahead. There are those which complained Ace being stupid to neglect his Driver, but actually it's answered here that it's on purpose to lower Girori's guard and get Ace and Win stuck in similar situation.

Overall yeah, Win is Michinaga 2.0, both are Ace's rivals who can never measure up to him, but Win is more on the trickery side rather than Michinaga's fighting or gaming. Every single of Win's schemes got foiled, from the toilet excuse which had Ace dominating Jamatos to here where he purposely manipulates the events that got him the info he needed. Win obviously only gives information to Ace after Girori backstabbed him, so I guess Ace also made a right guess about Win having a hard time serving under the GM, and thus Ace also expected the GM to think Ace is eliminated, and then backstab Win, leaving Win more open to help Ace. This also reveals that Win is the total opposite of having blind loyalty to GM, actually he's purely mercenary type to only do the job when he can get something to gain, his memories in this case.

I thought Ace revealing his goal to Neon is about him being attached to her, but actually, Ace reveals even more of his goals to Win?! Though probably there's a difference when revealing something due to needing the answers or just because he can (to Neon). Otherwise, the reveal is also that Win isn't a villainous Rider made totally hatable (.. and seems to get along with Ace faster than Michinaga), actually he had struggling and sympathetic part as well, of him being a failed musician in debt... again losing to Ace, in job department where Ace is a world-famous star. Thus his grandfather assigned him to become a DGP Staff in Management. Which also gets him to reveal that Mitsume, Ace's mother, was a DGP Navigator and Tsumuri's predecessor. Unlike Keiwa though, actually Win being 'tricked' by Ace here opens him a better path, thus I talked about Ace's main problematic trait is being ruthless before to leave Keiwa a bloody mess.

I'm annoyed again at the beginning where Keiwa offers Ace his Driver again to beat another Jamato Rider, which appropriately got stopped by Michinaga. But I guess, the reason for this is kinda answered here? So Keiwa and Neon, despite their growth, are revealed to still have some insecurities regarding the game, they're kinda dependent on Ace to tackle bigger problems, thus by this Keiwa seems to prefer leaving the task of getting Desire Drivers back (by fighting Jamato Riders) to Ace who is more guaranteed to defeat them, with how Neon temporarily hesitating to keep fighting against Jamato Riders shortly after. Another discovery for him so far is the Rider's desires being used to make Jamatos, Ginpen's in his case. A Jamato named Rook claims to not be lumped together with Archimedel... but was it genuine or just emulating Shirowe?

Neon particularly lamented over being powerless against the Knight Jamato final boss and the current game being more difficult. I guess this is the reason too Neon is more open to teamwork now? Where she rejected Keiwa's teamwork suggestion before as other than to win, she'd think the Riders simply can face the boss head on without convoluted team plan to beat it and save the captured civilians, but after being beaten, she recognized the DGP's stakes better even as a capable player? Thus since her return she looks after the other Riders while competing, to Buffa for this case. I'd also say her deeming herself as powerless to Knight Jamato explains how she thinks Propeller Buckle sucks. I guess her performance as human is displayed in this episode, brief but able to block Jamato's attacks with her henshin pose, giving her less openings.

So Buffa didn't actually attack Na-Go, it was only an illusion created by the Hide-and-seek Jamato a.k.a Red Hat Girl. Michinaga was someone who'd attack infected Neon before, but I guess those 2 are surprised due to having no clear reason to attack here, as they don't see him as an enemy (Keiwa using '-san' honorific for him). Poor Buffa seems to be overshadowed by the Riders he deemed extras, Tycoon and Na-Go are beating a Jamato Rider each, and Buffa got caught by the illusion again with Na-Go to have Tycoon use Command Twin Buckle to clear the game. This fight now portrays the 2 as Buffa's equal, but yeah, that wouldn't erase their doubt against the final boss because it's Ace they're measuring up with, and Buffa was also equally powerless to Knight Jamato as Na-Go. Tycoon clearing the game though, inadvertently makes him the one to kick Ace out of DGP.

John and Ben claimed to be on Neon's side rather than at least her father (dunno about her mom), but so far they're only serving Irumi, not Neon, as they're dragging Neon home against her will, with their concern on Neon so far only their reaction when Irumi attempts to slap Neon. If they're loyal to Neon herself, probably they should eventually protect her from her parents themselves, though currently they're cooperating with her. Neon speculated that she re-entered DGP due to assigning her bodyguards tasks related to her wishes. That was done before she regained her memories? Which'd mean her inherent personality still exists that time (like Keiwa regaining his motivation to take action?).

John and Ben are not people who'd later become Riders, but are past Riders, who had big cats theme (white tiger, black panther). Their fighting skills as a bodyguard should be advantageous, but they're the eliminated ones if they lost their memories but regained it via ID Cores. This is done to reveal that Kurama Foundation is one of DGP's sponsors, and a possible nepotism for Neon or her bodyguards, as Keiwa speculated. I hope this Rider reveal can be more significant for those 2 later.

This episode's DGP rule talks about the Game Master being forbidden to manipulate the game, which Girori clearly breaks by joining the fight as Glare (another Rider with same name as the user like Geiz... just english translation). And actually Girori is more than just power tripping here, he only attacks Punk Jack, and using a valid, if harsh reason to do so by leaking DGP information, and actually didn't directly attack Ace, but just making Punk Jack mind controlled to take advantage of Ace's surprised reactions and knock the Driver out of his hands, leaving the DGP's game conditions to eliminate him. Dunno though about the DGP itself, and dunno if Girori insisted that it's for DGP's sake if he's gonna be fired. So far Glare's ability is about being immune to the player Rider's attacks, purple energy hand to hand combat, and Hacking On. A̶ ̶m̶e̶t̶a̶ ̶i̶r̶o̶n̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶V̶i̶s̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶D̶r̶i̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶v̶o̶i̶c̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶K̶i̶r̶i̶t̶o̶ ̶(̶S̶A̶O̶)̶'̶s̶ ̶V̶A̶ ̶Y̶o̶s̶h̶i̶t̶s̶u̶g̶u̶ ̶M̶a̶t̶s̶u̶o̶k̶a̶,̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶a̶k̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶o̶l̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶K̶a̶y̶a̶b̶a̶ ̶i̶n̶s̶t̶e̶a̶d̶.̶