"Master, regarding Brave and Snipe from Holy City Hospital—how should we arrange them? Should we reveal some information to them in advance so they can be mentally prepared?"
[Yes I know the Ex aid characters work in Seito Hospital, but this takes place in the US]
Izu blinked her eyes, a mysterious light flashing within them as she spoke.
Dan pondered for a moment, then said,
"Yes, we should indeed inform them ahead of time about the impending outbreak of the Bugster Virus. Although we've already warned them in advance, they still haven't experienced any real combat. They need time to prepare themselves mentally. At this point… their work at the hospital should already be finished, right?"
"Yes, they have already left the hospital."
Data streams flickered in Izu's eyes. After querying the hospital system, she answered calmly.
"Since they've already left Holy City Hospital, there's no need to rush. We'll notify them tomorrow." Dan yawned, rubbing Izu's soft cheek with a smile.
"Yes… Master."
Izu's pale face flushed bright red as she answered softly.
Holy City Hospital was a semi-charity institution under the Genm Group—naturally, founded by Dan himself.
The purpose of establishing Holy City Hospital was to search for suitable users for the Gamer Driver, doctors who could transform into Kamen Riders derived from the Ex-Aid series and utilize the power of the Bugster Virus.
Dan needed individuals whose beliefs could unlock the full potential of a Rider's power—after all, almost every Rider system inherently possesses the potential to break through its limits, the so-called power of will.
The source of that power comes from the user's resolve, belief, and determination.
If one merely needed to transform, then as long as the hardware conditions were satisfied, anyone could do it. But such people held no value for Dan—they would be no different from NPCs he could manufacture at will.
With the Chronicle System, collecting enough energy would allow him to create a Rider System capable of ultimate power.
The reason he searched for users with strong willpower and conviction was because such resolve not only allowed the Rider System to fully exert its power, but also held the possibility of surpassing theoretical limits—powered by pure human will, limitless potential.
To Dan, such people were extremely valuable, and within the game, they were indispensable.
Since most Riders who wished to reach the ultimate limit and transcend form must possess immense willpower, determination, and resolve—
Dan chose to distribute the Gamer Drivers to others, allowing them to transform into Riders.
He hoped that those with strong enough belief would push the systems beyond theoretical limits and cause them to evolve.
In doing so, Chronicle, which governed all Rider powers, would become even stronger.
Since there would be so many Riders, he could not personally attempt to break the limits of every single system—it wouldn't be practical or suitable.
As the owner of Chronicle, he could freely use any Rider System's theoretical maximum strength, but to go beyond theory was not so simple.
The correct approach was to find a large number of "tools"—to have others break the limits for him. Efficiency was far higher.
Currently, his focus was on the Game Rider System born from the Bugster Virus.
Thus far, after countless evaluations, he had identified two doctors within Holy City Hospital most capable of fully wielding the powers of Snipe and Brave.
They underwent compatibility modification surgery and were implanted with Bugster Virus antibodies—voluntarily, of course, after being entrusted with the mission of saving patients and protecting the world.
Though Holy City Hospital possessed world-class medical equipment and frequently collaborated with top medical teams, as a charity-leaning institution, doctors there did not earn much.
Dan designed the hospital system this way intentionally—to filter out doctors with strong professional ethics and conviction, and then select Gamer Driver candidates from among them.
Lazer, Snipe, and Brave.
To the two chosen candidates, Dan first demonstrated the effects of the Bugster Virus—if a human became infected and was not properly treated, they would turn into data and disappear from the world entirely.
He then explained the virus's origin—a mysterious digital virus born from the electronic network, capable of making fiction real and reality vanish.
If infected individuals could not eliminate the virus in time, the result was complete disappearance.
The virus could even manifest monsters from games into reality. If no one stopped them, they would wreak massive destruction and threaten countless lives.
Ordinary weapons were useless; only Rider Systems developed by Genm Group using the Bugster Virus as a base could fight back.
Thus, they were carefully selected to become Riders who would heal and protect humanity, fighting the unknown virus.
After inner struggle, both resolutely agreed to undergo surgery and use the Game Rider System to save infected victims and fight Bugsters.
"Of course, I wasn't technically lying to them. The Bugster Virus is indeed exactly as I described— I simply didn't mention that I created it."Dan said inwardly.
The Next Day — Holy City Hospital
The hospital was as busy as usual. As a charity hospital with advanced equipment, many patients came seeking treatment.
Receiving better medical care for less cost made it the top choice for residents nearby.
Elena parked her Porsche sports car as usual. Ignoring the admiring looks from doctors and nurses, she went straight to her department and changed into her medical coat.
"Li, it's not your break time. What are you doing here—could it be that you're trying to pursue me?"
Elena flicked her golden hair behind her ear, blue eyes curious as she looked at the famously cold Chinese-American surgeon known for his exceptional skills.
Li Hua's mouth twitched. He replied calmly:
"I'm not in the mood to joke with you. I'm here to bring you to the base.
The Boss needs us."
Elena froze.
"The base? No wonder you came personally. Did something happen?"
Li Hua shook his head.
"I'm not sure either. The Boss rarely contacts us directly. If he wants us in the base, it must concern Game Disease."
At the words "Game Disease," Elena's expression immediately turned serious. She stood up quickly:
"Let's go."
Both had witnessed the horrors of Game Disease. Without intervention, infected victims gradually faded into nothing.
The two were prominent figures in the hospital, and walking together publicly caused immediate commotion.
Elena was undoubtedly a stunning beauty—tall, curvy, long legs, fair skin, dazzling golden hair.
And clearly wealthy—her jewelry, clothes, and handbags were all luxury limited editions, not to mention the rotating collection of luxury cars she drove daily.
"Rich beautiful princess" perfectly described her.
If the hospital security wasn't strict, her suitors would fill the entire hospital. And if she weren't in charge of the gynecology department, many men would purposely injure themselves just to be treated by her.
Li Hua, meanwhile, was a Chinese-American surgeon with a PhD from UC, one of the top surgical specialists in the U.S. Only Stephen Strange in New York could match him.
Countless major hospitals had tried to recruit him, but he declined them all, choosing instead to remain in this low-pay charity hospital—leaving many confused.
Although the two were both stars of Holy City Hospital, they rarely interacted publicly. Seeing them walking together now sparked endless speculation— Had they become a couple?
Ignoring everyone, they reached the deepest storage area of the hospital. After confirming no one was around, they pushed a section of the wall, revealing a high-tech metal door.
After an iris scan, the door opened, revealing an elevator leading to an underground secret base. They entered a meeting room and sat down.
The screen in the center flickered on—Dan appeared.
"The time for Brave and Snipe to appear has come."
"Has the Bugster Virus reached the point where it must be released?"
Li Hua asked with a frown.
Dan nodded solemnly:
"Although I used the game to contain the virus and restrict its spread, doing so also means I am cultivating and strengthening it. It is like storing water behind a dam—if the water is not released and continues to rise, the dam will one day collapse and unleash destruction."
Elena frowned.
"Can't we seek help from the government?"
Dan shook his head righteously:"Only Riders created with the Bugster Virus can effectively counter it. If the government or military learns about the power of the Drivers, they will attempt to seize them and use them for war and invasion. The Gamer Driver was developed to save lives. I will never allow it to fall into military hands."
Li Hua nodded deeply."If the U.S. military learns the power of the Drivers and cartridges, they will stop at nothing to control them. Their use in warfare would devastate the world."
Elena fell silent. She knew well what the U.S. military was capable of, and having experienced the power of the system herself, she understood the consequences.
Dan smiled in satisfaction."Without the right heart, great power brings only catastrophe. That is why I carefully chose you two doctors to become Rider Players."
"What do we need to do?"
Li Hua asked quietly.
"You must eliminate the Bugsters when they appear—just like heroes defeating monsters in a game,"
Dan said with a smile.
"There isn't a way to completely cure the virus?"
Elena asked with dissatisfaction.
Dan shrugged: "The Bugster Virus can turn fiction into reality and reality into fiction. It is far beyond the scope of modern science to analyze. Your Gamer Drivers are themselves created using Bugster technology. Human science cannot yet decipher the virus, let alone erase it completely."
(End of Chapter)