Although Parad and Genm did not commit any harmful actions this time, the mood of Li Hua and the other two was still very heavy when they returned to the Hospital base.
The feeling of defeat after being easily taken down by Parado again was indeed a huge blow.
"That guy called Parado!"
Elena gritted her teeth: "What does he take us for? NPCs in a game for his amusement?"
"But his strength is just too great. We are no match for him at all.
Moreover, he has the ability to directly manipulate the items in the Game Area. In front of him, we can't even use the power-up items in the Game Area," Gwen said in a somewhat low tone.
Li Hua shook his head upon hearing this: "Compared to Parado, Genm is the real biggest danger.
No matter how strong Parado is, there is a limit.
As long as we continuously defeat Bugsters and level up, we will surpass him someday.
But that Genm seems to have inherited Boss Dan's knowledge and has the ability to create Gamer Drivers and Game Cartridges."
"That means," Gwen reacted, a light flashing in her eyes, and she spoke solemnly: "Genm possesses the potential to infinitely level up himself and Parado!"
"And the ultimate game Parad mentioned before leaving is certainly not a simple matter.
It might pose a huge threat to social stability and the lives of the public," Li Hua's right fist clenched tightly.
"It looks like you encountered something unexpected this time?" Dan appeared on the base's conference room screen at this moment, pretending to be completely unaware.
"After you dealt with the separated Bugster monsters, I suddenly lost contact with you. What exactly happened?"
"So Genm and Parado broke into the Game Area, defeated you, collected data, and created a brand new, unknown Game Cartridge," Dan repeated.
"That's right, Dan. The interruption in communication with us should have been orchestrated by this guy who calls himself Genm," Elena guessed.
Dan nodded: "That is indeed possible. If, as you said, he possesses the ability to create Gamer Drivers and Game Cartridges, it indicates that he likely inherited my knowledge and memories. Being able to analyze and affect the Game Area is not too big of a problem."
"What should we do now?" Gwen frowned slightly.
"We need to level up faster, faster than both Genm and Parado, to catch up to them," Li Hua said with focused eyes, his voice low but very firm.
"This needs to be done gradually. If you cannot fully control the power of the Game Cartridges you possess, rashly increasing your level may lead to loss of control.
Furthermore, if you use higher-level Game Cartridges without regard for your own condition, and the Bugster Virus within exceeds the limit you can bear, you might be consumed by the virus," Dan warned with a serious expression.
"I understand," Li Hua was silent for a moment, then nodded softly.
"Also, Dan. Can the Game Area be modified?"
Elena suddenly spoke, with a lingering sense of alarm on her face: "This time, after we were knocked down by Parado, we couldn't exit the Game Area and were forced to stay put and be at his mercy.
Even in game levels, players should have the ability to enter and exit at any time, right!"
"I will further refine the Game Area, but the current stage of the Game Area is only a transitional product. It is produced using the separated Bugster Virus."
Dan smiled slightly and promised with a nod: "Actually, in the original design, when you are able to use your own Gamer Drivers and Game Cartridges to activate the Game Area in the future, you will naturally be able to open and close the Game Area at your own will at any time.
However, since you brought it up, I can make some corresponding adjustments, allowing your Gamer Drivers to have the ability to exit at any time."
"So, is it still that our ability isn't enough?" Gwen suddenly realized.
"Gwen!" Elena complained sweetly.
While it was true, there was no need to say it out loud.
Following this, Holy City Hospital continued to treat Bugster Virus patients, but no other accidents occurred during this time.
Basically, with the Bugster Virus not yet fully erupting, the resulting Bugster monsters were not difficult to deal with.
Only occasional virus outbreaks in infected people outside the hospital would give rise to relatively strong Bugsters, but the Kamen Riders, who had already leveled up to Level 3, could handle them with ease.
In the St. Jude Hospital underground base.
"In the news, there's a green monster appearing on the NYU campus. Are you sure it's not a Bugster monster creation?" Elena asked Dan Kuroto with slight doubt.
Elena had just learned from the news that military forces were engaged in combat with an unknown humanoid monster on the university campus.
Elena and Li Hua were suspicious that a Bugster monster had appeared, as the military had a history of such incidents. It was entirely possible that they had done something else to trigger the birth of a Bugster monster.
However, the base's detection had no reaction, so the two immediately came to the base to contact Dan Kuroto to inquire about the situation.
"Is the equipment malfunctioning?" Elena asked.
"If a Bugster Virus outbreak occurs, the Hospital base would definitely be able to detect it. There is absolutely no problem with the equipment for detecting the Bugster Virus," Dan Kuroto said confidently.
"I also saw this matter in the news.
That monster that appeared on campus is definitely not a Bugster monster. Judging from the video footage, the military was clearly prepared for the monster's appearance.
Perhaps this monster is the product of biological experiments conducted by the military. Maybe the U.S. military has been secretly carrying out a super-soldier program," Dan said, narrowing his eyes slightly.
The characteristics of this green monster were very obvious—it was the Hulk.
It seemed that Bruce Banner had returned to New York after several months of being on the run.
"Then should we... intervene?" Elena looked hesitant.
"This is none of our business. Since the U.S. military caused the trouble, let them solve it themselves.
Besides, we don't even know where that monster is," Li Hua said coldly. Since it wasn't the Bugster Virus, but a mess created by the U.S. military, let them clean it up.
"And, aside from the military personnel, there seem to be no other casualties," he added afterward.
In any case, as far as they could tell, although the monster appeared on campus, it didn't cause any civilian casualties, which meant the military was able to control the situation.
After a moment of consideration, Elena nodded: "That's true. It seems the military can control the situation, so we shouldn't pry into their affairs."
But Dan knew clearly that what was coming next was the street battle between the Hulk and the Abomination.
At night, in the Brooklyn neighborhood, amidst the bustle and lights.
A gigantic, hideous humanoid monster suddenly appeared, causing massive destruction.
Military forces drove into the city to confront the monster, using various weapons, but were still unable to stop it.
The busy streets of New York instantly turned into a brutal battlefield: shattered roads, burning fires, wrecked vehicles...
Pedestrians frantically ran, trying to escape the area.
This monster that appeared was the Abomination, a powerful monster created from a sample of Bruce Banner's gamma-irradiated cells.
Since the gamma ray experiment accident, Dr. Bruce Banner was forced to flee, evading the pursuit of his father-in-law, General Ross, and settled in Brazil.
But during this time, Bruce had never given up searching for a way to restore himself and eliminate the mutation.
Bruce Banner had been communicating with Dr. Sterns, who went by the online name of "Mr. Blue," under the alias "Mr. Green."
He wanted to research a method to eliminate his mutation.
Since transforming into the Hulk, he was constantly on the run from his military father-in-law, unable to return home or see his beloved girlfriend, and at any moment, he could lose control and turn into a massive monster only capable of destruction.
Bruce was tired of this life of constantly moving around the world under an assumed name and wanted it to end immediately.
Dr. Sterns, having received a blood sample sent by Bruce Banner and witnessed the incredible power of the Hulk's blood cells, performed extensive cultivation and replication, hoping to use the Hulk's gamma cells to achieve fame and fortune.
Recently, Bruce's experiments had achieved a breakthrough, coupled with the exposure of his whereabouts.
General Ross tracked down Bruce in Brazil through clues, so Bruce decided to return to New York to find Dr. Sterns and completely eliminate the mutation in his body.
Blonsky, a veteran in the special unit General Ross assembled to capture the Hulk, saw the Hulk's immense strength and became obsessed with gaining greater power to defeat the Hulk. He demanded that Dr. Sterns inject him with gamma cells, which then turned him into the Abomination.
"I need to take a trip and talk to that Hulk.
While I'm at it, I'll pick up some things. Do you two want to come along?" Dan stood at the window, looking at the distant firelight visible in the direction of the Brooklyn neighborhood. He pulled out the Eternal Memory and put on the Lost Driver, speaking to Izu and Azu.
"Eternal."
Dan Kuroto transformed into Kamen Rider Eternal, clad in white armor, with blue flame-like patterns covering his hands, a flowing cape on his back, faintly glowing yellow compound eyes, and a three-pronged crown-like sharp blade decoration on his forehead.
Izu and Azu exchanged a glance, sharing a rare, knowing smile.
"Zero-Two."
"Zero-Two Rise! Road to Glory has to Lead to Growin' path to change one to two! Kamen Rider Zero-Two! It's never over."
"Eden."
"Progrise! Ark! Imagine! Ideal! Illusion! Eden the Kamen Rider! The creator who charges forward believing in paradise."
Kamen Rider Zero-Two and Kamen Rider Eden appeared.
Dan nodded slightly, waved his right hand, and a dimensional wall swept through, and the three disappeared from the room.