"Let's leave things like Foundation X for later. Can we start the Bugster virus removal surgery right now?"
Victor glanced at his daughter lying on the hospital bed and spoke impatiently.
"But there are still some people whose consciousnesses are trapped inside the virtual game world…"
Li Hua hesitated slightly when he heard this.
"Those people's consciousnesses have already completely merged with the game world. When we entered the virtual game world earlier, weren't we unable to wake them up?
There's nothing we can do for them anymore. Besides, they aren't good people either. That organization called HYDRA seems to be a terrorist group with shady ties to Foundation X,"
Victor said, only wanting to remove the Bugster virus as soon as possible so his daughter could recover, in case anything went wrong.
"HYDRA?"
Gwen looked uncertain. "You don't mean the German spy organization that was destroyed by Captain America during World War II, do you?"
"Wasn't HYDRA supposed to have long since vanished into the dust of history?" Elena shook her head, speaking with some uncertainty. "Maybe it's just a terrorist group borrowing the name of that old enemy of Captain America?"
"I don't know about that," Victor said indifferently. "But Foundation X told me the organization's name really is HYDRA.
All this messy stuff has nothing to do with us. Let's hurry up and remove the Bugster virus from Emily's body."
"I understand how anxious you are, but as doctors, we should still do everything possible to save patients,"
Li Hua said, not reacting much to the mention of HYDRA, but looking troubled as he spoke to Victor.
"Mr. Dan, do you have any way to free the consciousnesses that have already fused with the virtual world game's Bugster virus?" Seeing the two at an impasse, Elena's eyes flickered as she turned to Dan Kuroto and asked.
Dan Kuroto replied gravely, "I'm afraid there's no time. Look at the little girl's condition."
Everyone was startled and turned toward the medical pod.
They saw yellow particles continuously emerging from the girl's body as she trembled in pain.
"Is this a Bugster virus outbreak?"
A trace of concern appeared in Gwen's eyes.
Dan Kuroto nodded.
"Li Hua and Victor entered the virtual game world and freed the human consciousnesses inside it, damaging the structure of the virtual game world.
As a result, the Bugster virus inside the patients infected by that corresponding game has completely lost stability and is about to erupt in full."
"In other words, we're out of time. We can only perform the Bugster virus excision surgery immediately,"
Elena said sternly, turning to look at Li Hua.
Li Hua looked at the groaning little girl inside the pod. A hint of struggle flashed through his eyes. After a moment, his gaze hardened, and he let out a soft sigh.
"Begin the Bugster virus excision surgery immediately."
Although he wanted to free all the human consciousnesses inside the virtual game world, he had no choice but to make a decision now.
If they hesitated any longer, the erupting Bugster virus would devour all the patients. At that point, no one would be saved.
"I'll go with you!"
Seeing Li Hua and the others operating the medical pod and transforming using their game cartridges and Gamer Drivers, Victor spoke firmly.
"Letting Mr. Shaw join you is a good idea,"
Dan Kuroto said. "Since this game was designed by Parado, you may encounter Parado or the other Bugsters.
Li Hua, you haven't fully recovered yet and can't use the Level 50 game cartridge. Having Mr. Shaw as an extra powerful ally won't hurt."
Li Hua pondered for a moment, then exchanged glances with Elena and Gwen. Reaching a consensus, they decided to bring Victor along.
They immediately used the medical pod to separate the Bugster virus from the little girl's body, and the four of them entered the game together.
Virtual World Game Domain
"Where are the Bugster monsters?"
Elena looked around at the environment, which was identical to the real world. Seeing no Bugsters, she asked in confusion.
"So you really did come."
A voice sounded from high above. Dr. Otto, existing in a consciousness form through the Virus Memory, looked down at them from the air and spoke.
"What exactly is going on here? What was Parado's purpose in creating this game?"
Li Hua asked cautiously.
"I don't care what your goal is, but I will not allow you to harm Emily. Hurry up and let the monster formed from the separated Bugster virus appear!"
Victor ignored everything else, swung his blade, and unleashed a whirlwind of light blades toward Otto.
Otto shook his head. His form flickered as he effortlessly dodged Victor's attack.
"You really disappoint me. I thought that since you can also use the power of the Bugster virus, you might at least understand my great experiment."
"Great experiment?"
Elena scoffed. "Your so-called experiment is stealing other people's consciousnesses using the Bugster virus?"
Otto waved his hand, releasing a thick mass of energy that blocked Victor's offensive. He sighed.
"It seems you truly can't understand me. What a pity.
Since you're determined to find the existence where the Bugster virus converges, then I'll grant your wish."
With that, he scattered beams of light around them.
One after another, humanoid Bugster minions with rooster-like heads emerged from the ground, surrounding the four Kamen Riders.
"Just these cannon-fodder minions?"
Elena spoke disdainfully. "You're really underestimating us. No matter how many there are, this level of enemies won't be our match.
Hurry up and let the real deal come out."
She casually unleashed firepower toward the Bugsters ahead. The overwhelming barrage instantly wiped out dozens of them.
The other three Riders followed up, easily clearing out large numbers of Bugster monsters as well.
Seeing this, Otto showed no panic at all. He simply smiled lightly.
"Don't rush. This is only the appetizer."
As his words fell, the destroyed Bugster monsters reformed and appeared once again.
At the same time, another group of Bugsters emerged—fully armed, wielding various weapons.
These fully equipped Bugsters clearly possessed far greater power, and the pressure on the Riders increased sharply.
Moreover, after being blown apart, these Bugsters quickly regenerated. The Riders were inevitably dragged into a tough battle.
"These Bugsters… are they born from the fusion of the consciousnesses of those people left behind in the game world and the Bugster virus?"
Li Hua watched them closely, a realization flashing through his mind as he spoke.
"Correct. They are my creations,"
Otto nodded proudly. "Formed by fusing human consciousness with the Bugster virus."
"The human body is far too weak to withstand the power of the Bugster virus,"
Otto continued, explaining with enthusiasm. "But consciousness carries none of the burdens of flesh.
So I used the virtual world game designed by Parado to absorb human consciousness. Inside the virtual game world, I allowed the Bugster virus to fuse directly with human consciousness."
He spoke as if showing off his masterpiece.
"Why are you doing all this?"
Elena blasted apart a Bugster lunging at her and couldn't help asking.
Otto's voice rose with passion.
"Of course—to achieve human evolution!"
"The human body is unbearably fragile. Disease, aging, even the smallest accident can end a person's life.
But if humans can merge with the Bugster virus, they can transcend their current level of life and become higher beings.
They would no longer fear disease, and could even break free from aging itself."
"If my research succeeds, it will absolutely change the world and become a great achievement that truly pushes humanity into evolution!"
Otto raised both hands, shouting uncontrollably.
(End of Chapter)