"Hurry up!"
Seeing Asuna frozen in place, Ryuga immediately grabbed her hand and dashed off, blending into the crowd fleeing the scene.
"By the way—what did you mean by seizures earlier?"
As they weaved through the panicked masses, I prompted her to reveal more. I couldn't afford to remain in the dark.
"There's a new, unidentified virus threatening humanity. It originates from video games. We call it the Bugster Virus."
Internet addiction, personified?
What we need now... is Thunder King Yang, the beast of the hour!
"The virus continues to replicate inside a person until it takes over their entire body!"
"What about treatment? That 'surgery' you mentioned—is that it?"
"Exactly!"
Asuna looked at me, stunned, and abruptly stopped running.
By now, most civilians had evacuated. The only remaining threat was the Bugster creature wreaking havoc in the distance. Aside from that, it was just the two of us.
She placed the box she'd been carrying on the ground and opened it, revealing a belt and cassette.
"This is the GamerDriver," she said, pulling out a lime-green belt and a pink game cartridge. "With this, we can separate the Bugster Virus from its host."
"This thing's huge. Can't it be, I don't know, a little more compact?"
"...Seriously?"
Asuna sighed. "Is this really the time to nitpick design?"
"Then you wear it!"
"I would—if I could! Not just anyone can use it!"
She shook her head. "I'm here to find the one who can!"
"Who?"
"The Genius Gamer M."
"Well then, what a coincidence."
Noticing the Bugster had finished demolishing a nearby building and was approaching, I grabbed the belt from Asuna's hands. "That's me."
"Huh?! Are you serious?"
Asuna stared at me, stunned.
"Watch and see."
I secured the GamerDriver around my waist and pressed the button on the pink cartridge.
[Mighty Action X!]
A game screen shimmered into existence behind me. At the same time, a wave of energy rippled outward from beneath my feet, transforming the world around us into a game field.
Asuna's eyes widened. "The game field actually appeared?!"
"I will protect the fate of the patient," I said with a confident smile. I rotated the cartridge halfway and inserted it into the belt.
"Henshin!"
[Gashat!]
Character templates spiraled around me. When Ex-Aid's helmet passed before me, I reached out and smacked it with determination.
[Let's Game! Metcha Game! Mutcha Game!]
[What's Your Name?]
[I'm a Kamen Rider!]
A blinding flash erupted—and just like that, I transformed into a portly, round-bodied figure: Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, Action Gamer Level 1.
Despite standing over 1.8 meters tall, the armor's chubby design gave the illusion of a squat, neckless cartoon hero.
I glanced at my reflection in the building's glass. My lips twitched. This form was… far from cool. But it was necessary—the only way to separate human and virus was to start from this initial level.
All Kamen Riders begin like this. Everyone starts small.
"Take this—my flying kick!"
Desperate to evolve into a taller, leaner form, I charged toward the "poop monster."
[Hit!]
Leveraging Ex-Aid's impressive jumping ability, I launched into the air, bounced off floating item crates in the game field, and drop-kicked the Bugster with surprising agility for my rotund frame.
If I had red drills on my arms, I might've pulled off a fat version of Crimson Twelve.
Each attack triggered visual pop-ups—[Hit!], [Great!], [Perfect!]—accompanied by satisfying retro game sounds.
Compared to my nimble moves, the Bugster was clumsy and slow. Every time it tried to hit me with its awkward oxball-shaped fists, it missed and ended up punching itself in the face.
Before long, it burst into floating data particles. The host it had infected collapsed to the ground.
But the fight wasn't over.
"The game's not finished yet!" Asuna warned, just as the dispersed data began to reform.
From the swirling pixels emerged a new figure—taller, more imposing, and glowing blue. Behind him, numerous combatants formed like summoned minions.
Solti, a Bugster modeled after "Earl Salty," the boss from Mighty Action X.
He sneered, "Hah! Your game skills are pathetic!"
"Just need to beat it, right?"
"No!" Asuna shook her head. "Your current game level is far too low!"
"No problem. My strength isn't bound by game mechanics!"
Grinning, I yanked the lever on the GamerDriver.
"Henshin!"
[Gachan!]
[Level Up!]
[Mighty Jump! Mighty Kick! Mighty Mighty Action X!]
My comically oversized helmet detached, flipping back to become armor on my shoulders. My real form emerged—taller, more powerful.
Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, Level 2!
…So the face really was the main body, huh?
[Gashacon Breaker!]
A glowing ring appeared over my belt. I grabbed the summoned weapon—a compact hammer capable of transforming into a sword, adorned with classic "A" and "B" buttons.
"Let's go!"
"Leave it to me!"
Solti grinned and unleashed his minions, all wielding makeshift weapons like pots and pans.
[Hit! Hit! Hit!]
I knocked them aside one by one. With a single button press—[JaKin!]—my hammer shifted to sword mode. Now clearing enemies was even faster. With each slash, several fell.
Three swings, and they were done.
"You killed my minions?! You son of a—!"
Despite his outburst, Solti was grinning. He clearly didn't care much for them.
"Take this!"
He swung an electrified punch.
"Whoa now~"
I hopped up, landing on his head. His Thunder Fist missed entirely as I danced out of reach, slashing downward mid-air.
"Stop hopping around, damn you!" Solti roared in frustration.
"You said it."
I hit the B button—special attack mode.
[Hit! Hit!]
[Hit! Hit!]
[Great!]
Now, each of my attacks landed twice. Solti flinched and staggered under the barrage.
You mock a Rider's agility? You brought this on yourself.
"Time for the finisher!"
As Solti collapsed, I tossed aside the Gashacon Breaker, removed the cartridge, and loaded it into the special slot on the side of the belt.