"If your research ultimately succeeds, what do you plan to do then? Realize the so-called evolution of humanity you keep talking about…?"
A troubling thought flashed through Elena's mind as she looked at Otto and asked him.
"Isn't it obvious?" Doctor Otto replied matter-of-factly. "Of course I'll spread the special Bugster virus I created and turn all of humanity into Bugsters."
"We will definitely stop your madness!" Li Hua's expression darkened as he spoke with firm resolve.
Otto shook his head in disappointment. "You truly disappoint me—so shortsighted.
"With the game cartridges and Player Drivers you possess, can't you imagine the changes humanity would undergo after gaining Bugster traits? They would completely surpass fragile flesh and blood and step into a brand-new era."
Li Hua snorted coldly, unmoved. He pulled out the Level 50 game cartridge and activated it.
"Li!?" Elena and Gwen cried out in alarm. According to what Dan Kuroto had said, Li Hua's body had not fully recovered yet and was not capable of supporting the use of a Level 50 game cartridge.
But Li Hua had already made up his mind. Without hesitation, he inserted the cartridge into the Player Driver.
However, the moment the cartridge was activated and inserted, Li Hua's body suddenly trembled violently. Energy like crackling electric arcs burst out of the cartridge.
In the end, Li Hua was unable to control the power of Level 50. The game cartridge automatically popped out, and he himself was blasted backward by a tremendous force.
Seeing this, Gwen immediately rushed forward and caught Li Hua.
"Damn it!" Li Hua instinctively clutched his chest with his right hand, speaking unwillingly.
He had no choice but to temporarily give up on forcing himself to Level 50 and instead wield his sword to fend off the Bugster monsters attacking them.
"What exactly is going on with these Bugsters? Why can't they be killed no matter what?!"
After fighting for a long time with no results, Victor spoke anxiously.
Only by eliminating the Bugsters could the Bugster virus inside his daughter's body be removed. Yet these Bugsters surrounding them seemed immortal—once defeated, they immediately reformed, making the battle endless.
"I've contacted Mr. Dan Kuroto—has he figured out how this game is supposed to be cleared?"
Li Hua froze a Bugster in front of him with a sword strike, then shattered it with a punch. Breathing slightly heavily, he spoke.
Although the Bugsters' combat strength was far inferior to theirs and posed no great danger, dragging this out wouldn't solve anything.
If this continued, their Rider Gauges would keep dropping, and eventually they wouldn't be able to hold on.
More importantly, if the game couldn't be cleared for a long time, patients infected with the Bugster virus would be in grave danger.
"Yes, we have to figure out what's really going on with this game, or it'll never end like this," Elena agreed, her tone slightly hurried.
Dan Kuroto's voice came through the communication channel:
"This game is a virtual world. In other words, the area you're currently in is the very source of the Bugster monsters.
"The reason the Bugsters can recover so quickly after being defeated is because the surrounding environment itself is the foundation—it can immediately resupply them with Bugster virus."
"So according to the game's rules, it's like we're fighting the enemy inside their own respawn fountain?" Gwen said thoughtfully.
"That's right," Dan Kuroto replied in a serious tone.
"Then how do we break this situation?"
Li Hua didn't dwell on the reasoning and immediately asked for a solution. "Destroy the surrounding game field directly?"
Elena scanned the surroundings hesitantly. "How do we destroy a game field? Just blindly smash everything around us?"
Dan Kuroto chuckled calmly. "Of course not. That would be far too inefficient. Even if you drained all your Rider Gauges, you might not achieve the goal.
"I do have an idea, but…"
"If you have a method, just say it already—don't keep us in suspense!" Elena urged impatiently.
Dan Kuroto sighed and explained the plan:
"Use a game field to break a game field.
"If two Rider systems simultaneously deploy sufficiently powerful game fields and cause them to clash, the conflict between the fields can disrupt and destroy this virtual game world.
"But given Li Hua's current condition, he can't use a Level 50 game cartridge.
"Although Victor's level is high enough, we're still missing another Rider of sufficient level."
"Does it really have to be Level 50?" Elena frowned. "Gwen and I can also deploy our game fields together."
"Your levels still aren't high enough. The game fields you deploy likely won't be sufficient to directly destroy this virtual world," Dan Kuroto rejected Elena's idea outright.
"Maybe we can wait until Li Hua recovers, then enter this game field again and destroy it to clear the game."
Li Hua clenched his teeth. "There's no time. The Bugster virus in the patients infected with Game Disease has already erupted. If we can't clear this game immediately, all the patients—including the little girl at the base—will be in mortal danger!
"I'll try using the Demon King cartridge one more time."
"Don't force yourself anymore. This time, let me try," Elena said after a brief inner struggle. She reached out to stop Li Hua and took out her own Level 50 game cartridge.
"You… can you really do it?" Li Hua asked softly.
Elena pouted, slightly displeased. "You're doubting me at a time like this?! Are you serious? Shouldn't you be encouraging me instead?"
Gwen immediately spoke up, her tone firm. "Doctor Elena, I believe you can definitely control the power of Level 50."
"Of course," Elena replied, pretending to sound relaxed.
She took a deep breath and pressed the game cartridge.
A virtual screen corresponding to the game appeared behind her, and a battleship sailed out from the screen.
"Bang Bang Simulation"
As Elena fully activated the power of the Admiral game cartridge through the Player Driver, the battleship disintegrated and transformed into individual armor components that attached themselves to the Shooter armor.
"Gachan! Dual Up! Scramble da! Shutsugeki hasshin! Bang Bang Simulations! Hasshin!"
The shoulders, wrists, and arms of her upper body were fitted with enhanced armor and naval cannons, making her look like a humanoid mobile artillery platform.
After equipping the Level 50 Admiral armor, an unprecedented surge of power flowed into the Shooter armor.
Cartoon-like electric arcs crackled across her body. Elena bent her knees slightly, as if bearing an enormous weight.
"Elena…" Li Hua and Gwen watched her with visible concern.
"I'm a doctor who's absolutely not inferior to Li!" Elena said, trembling as she clenched her fists. "I will definitely cure that little girl at the base!"
She swung both arms forcefully.
The out-of-control electric arcs across her armor rapidly converged and vanished. For the first time, Elena successfully brought the power of a Level 50 game cartridge under control.
"Mr. Shaw, let's deploy our game fields together," Elena said immediately as she turned to him.
"Alright," Victor replied, his voice filled with excitement.
At last, the game could be cleared—and the Bugster virus inside his daughter's body could finally be removed.
(End of Chapter)