Gundam Build Divers Ep. 3: The Protector

Following the results of the 14th Gunpla Force Tournament, Rommel has a drink with Kyoya and comments that as a tactician he shouldn’t have been fighting out in front. Kyoya responds that Rommel’s force was strong and that he wants a rematch. Rommel mentions that lots of newcomers are joining lately, and Kyoya answers that he’s trying to do something about the Mass-Diver situation. After school, Riku and Yukki rewatch a video of Kyoya’s fight with Rommel, and Riku declares again that he wants to be like Kyoya. Yukki asks if Riku is fixing the 00 Diver and mentions he has some new weapons ready for his own Gunpla. When the two arrive at The Gundam Base, they’re surprised to see Momoka there with Nanami. Momoka says that she doesn’t want to get left behind and will be joining them in Gunpla Battle. Since Momoka doesn’t have a Gunpla or avatar, Nanami wants Riku and Yukki to be her guide. Momoka joins the game using guest Diver gear that gives her a generic Haro avatar. Momoka is disappointed that she doesn’t look human, and Sarah picks her up and holds her. Magee introduces himself and gives Momoka cat ears so that her guest avatar stands out more. Riku and Yukki want to do a mission and pick a Serial Battle that requires beating enemies in multiple phases. A masked man named Kyoya asks if he can join them because he’s afraid to go alone. Riku notes the similarity of his name to the champion, and Kyoya explains that he was inspired to join GBN by the champion. Riku and Sarah start the mission in the 00 Diver, with Yukki in the GM III Beam Master and Kyoya in a custom AGE-2 Dark Hound. The battle begins in a ruined city against Death Army units, which are quickly cleared. They then come under attack from Death Birdie units in phase two, and Death Navy units in phase three. The units are then repaired and resupplied in the intermission area, and Riku congratulates Yukki on his new changeling rifle. Kyoya asks Riku why he changes weapons after every battle, and Riku explains that he’s trying to learn to fight without Trans-Am. He says that he recently lost a battle and has been confused since then. Kyoya tells him it’s natural to feel frustrated by a loss, but that frustration is proof of wanting to win. Sarah and Momoka stay behind as the next battle begins against the Walter Gundam. However, the Walter Gundam is defeated from behind by several Jegans emitting a strange purple glow.

Kyoya warns Riku and Yukki that these are Mass-Divers who illegally manipulate GBN data to power themselves up. He states that their appearances are causing bugs in the game, and Riku is reminded of the malfunctioning Leo NPD. The Mass-Divers offer to complete the mission and then attack them. To counter the illegal boosts, Riku and Yukki attack the joints, but then Riku is attacked by a strange bird robot. The sky begins to crack and opens to reveal the massive Devil Gundam. Gundam Heads appear and eliminate the Mass-Divers. Kyoya tells Riku and Yukki to stand back, but they insist on working together. A Gundam Head targets Sarah and Momoka, but Kyoya takes the blast and protects them. The Dark Hound’s armor then crumbles and reveals the AGEII Magnum beneath it. Kyoya charges forward and instantly destroys multiple Gundam Heads. He then combines his funnels into a massive sword and slices the Devil Gundam in half. After the battle, Kyoya apologizes for lying to them and explains that he had to pretend to be a low level player to investigate the Mass-Divers in the Serial Battles. Riku and Yukki don’t mind because they were happy to see Kyoya in action. Kyoya says he wants to protect GBN from the Mass-Divers and asks if he can have their help when needed. He then asks to friend them as a hooded figure watches from nearby.