Knights of the Digital World

If it weren't for this, why would he have had to endure so many beatings?

However, despite her grand pronouncements, Amasaki Ren offered realistic advice:

"Although your injuries are only superficial, they cover a large area and are quite serious. My bandaging skills are only amateurish and won't be of much help to your recovery."

We're probably on the Ministry of Health's blacklist now, so going to the hospital is impossible. You'll have to recover on your own. Until you recover, I don't recommend researching new cartridges; that will only lead to your death.

Shrimp Dumpling dismissed Amasaki Ren's advice:

"What are you talking about? I'm a Kami! How could I be defeated by mere injuries? Help me up! I can still make cassette tapes!"

Parado, who was playing a game nearby, watched Shrimp Dumpling's outburst, clicked his tongue, and then pressed his right hand on Shrimp Dumpling's wound, causing Shrimp Dumpling to gasp in pain and howl. He then withdrew his hand and continued attacking the BOSS, casually remarking:

"It's already like this, so don't push yourself. Your injuries are one problem, and Emu has also taken away your transformation ability. We still need to figure out a way to perform transformation surgery on you... It's incredibly troublesome."

You must know some medical professors or experts, right? We could call them to perform the surgery on you, and treat your injuries while we're at it.

Shrimp Dumpling, drawing in the cold air, said:

"The people I know, apart from those Kamen Riders in CR, are just a bunch of hypocritical money-grubbers. I'm a wanted criminal now, how could they dare to associate with me? If I were to contact them, the Ministry of Health would be knocking on my door in no time!"

"You humans are really complicated. Well, you figure out what to do yourself. This kind of thing is troublesome just thinking about it."

Parado shook his head, not intending to use his brain in this regard.

For a moment, the room fell silent. Parado, having finally defeated the final boss, stretched and realized that Dan Kuroto hadn't spoken for a long time.

He turned his head and saw Dan Kuroto lying on the table with his arms crossed in front of his chest, looking remarkably peaceful, his eyes staring straight at the ceiling, lost in thought.

"Hey, what are you doing? Stop pretending to be so serious. Tell me what to do next."

Parado impatiently poked at Shrimp Dumpling's wound, instantly causing Shrimp Dumpling to break free of its composure and frantically gasp for air, in unbearable pain.

"Parado, Amasaki Ren, I've discovered it: there are limits to humanity!"

Shrimp Dumpling sucked in the cold air as he tried to speak in a serious tone.

"Oh, so what? What exactly are you trying to say?"

Parado was about to poke it a couple more times when Amasaki Ren, who couldn't stand it anymore, stopped her, saying in a bad mood.

"So, I'm not human anymore!!! Parado!!!"

The shrimp dumpling let out a desperate cry:

"Humanity is so inconvenient! Human limitations severely hinder the development of my talents! Things like staying up all night can lead to sudden death, and injuries require constant recovery—it's such a waste of time! I don't want to be human anymore!!!"

"So what do you want to do? Bugster?"

Parado didn't react at all to what Xiajiao said, and even seemed to want to yawn.

"That's right, it's Bugster!"

The shrimp dumpling flashed a healthy smile and arrogantly declared:

"Sixteen years ago, when I was plotting Bugster's scheme, I prepared countermeasures just in case. If I die in this game, my data will be stored in this 'Prototype All-Around Sports X Play Cartridge Original'!"

When the time comes, all you need to do is use this cartridge, find me in the virtual game world it creates, and awaken me, and I will be resurrected as Bugster!

I had already set it up beforehand: after being resurrected, I would have 99 lives!

Don't worry about sudden death, don't worry about injuries! There's nothing one life can't solve. If there is, then two lives will do!

Without the hindrance of human limitations, that will be the time when I can truly unleash my divine talents! Hahahaha, cough cough cough cough…

Dan Kuroto laughed wildly for a moment, then coughed violently due to his injuries. His words excited Parado and Amasaki Ren, the two genuine Bugsters.

Parado: "That sounds interesting, so shall I kill you now?"

Amazaki Ren: Count me in! I'm really interested in this too!

Seeing that one of them held up a "Dual Spinning Cartridge Gear" and the other pulled out a malfunctioning driver, looking like they couldn't wait to kill him, Shrimp Dumpling, who had been gloating over his ingenious idea, panicked instantly. He waved his hand laboriously and said:

"You can't just die anytime! You have to die from a virus to have your data preserved! I'm just an ordinary person now, there's no point in you killing me like this!"

"What? Can't I kill him?"

Parado disappointedly took back the cassette, and Amasaki Ren also sighed with regret.

After resting for a while, Shrimp Dumpling had regained some of her mobility. With a dark expression, she struggled to climb down from the table and said:

Are you all just hoping I'll die?

“Because it’s interesting. Anyway, you can be resurrected, right?” Parado said nonchalantly. “Since you can’t die yet, what should you do before you die?”

Shrimp Dumpling's face darkened even more. Although Parado's words seemed to make sense, something about them sounded rather strange.

However, the shrimp dumpling didn't argue with Parado and simply arranged for:

"You and Amasaki Ren can do whatever you want now. Just be careful and don't get taken care of by the CR doctors."

I'll take a break for a bit, then I'll upgrade your cartridge first. I've had some ideas, and with the data I got from the beatings, it shouldn't take too long.

"Only after your cartridge is completed and strong enough to fight against Emu Hojo and the others will I dare to die in peace. At that time, I will inject myself with the Honkai Impact Virus to ensure my data is properly stored in that cartridge. Remember to find my data in time to revive me. Got it?"

Parado nodded listlessly and said:

"Okay, go and rest. Amasaki Ren, what are you planning to do?"

"Me? I want to go for a walk on the street and see how couples talk these days. My conversations with my lovely girls should also keep up with the times!"

"That sounds boring too. How about we go to the arcade?"

"Oh, that might be a good choice. There should be a lot of couples there. Let's go!"

Parado and Amasaki Ren talked and left their hiding place, leaving only Shrimp Dumpling alone in the dark room, feeling the pain in her body and inexplicably feeling a sense of desolation.

Pathetic, lonely, and doesn't even want to be human...

Chapter Twenty-Two: Old Tan Released from Prison

"Dan Zhengzong, right? You can leave now. You've been proven innocent. I never expected that the real mastermind behind Zero Day was your son. He was only in his twenties back then, wasn't he? He actually framed his own father and got him imprisoned. What an unfilial son! But now that the truth has come out, you don't have to stay in jail anymore. Are you feeling a little conflicted right now?"

As the prison staff opened the cell door for Dan Jung-jong, they muttered about the information they had gathered. They showed great interest in this amusing gossip about a loving father and filial son.

Having already packed his things, Dan Masamune showed no displeasure. He merely glanced deeply at the incessantly talking staff member and muttered a quiet agreement:

"Yes, I have mixed feelings... I should also take my things back..."

After saying that, Tan Zhengzong ignored the staff who were still nagging and quickly left the prison.

…………

"What! Dan Zhengzong is out of prison! Didn't I tell you, this guy isn't a good person either, keep him locked up if possible, don't let him out?!"

Emu jumped up and slammed his hand on the table, expressing his shock and anger at the news brought by Hiiro.

Fei Cai sighed and said:

"There's nothing we can do. Dan Kuroto is too arrogant. He openly attacked citizens in an entire neighborhood and acted with the Bugsters. These were all used by Dan Masamune as evidence to clear his name of crimes. At least now everyone believes that it was Dan Kuroto, who was with the Bugsters, who caused the Zero Day, not the honest Dan Masamune."

"Behave yourself? This guy is the final boss in the TV series! Those four words have absolutely nothing to do with him!"

"I'm annoyed," Emu said.

"But that's at least how he acts. We can't exactly go to the government and say, 'We've encountered someone from another world, and our world is a tokusatsu drama on his side, where Dan Masamune is the final boss, and we can't let him go...' Do you think the government would believe that?"

I put my hands in my pockets and shook my head as I spoke.

Yongmeng had nothing to say, so she could only sigh and sit back down.

If we actually do what I suggested, the government will probably just treat it as a not-so-funny joke. And if the government takes it seriously, they'll be the first to suffer.

This can be seen from countless anime, movies, and novels, showing what kind of actions governments would take when faced with beings from another world.

CR is not DATS after all; it is just an agency under the Ministry of Health and has no authority to make any decisions regarding otherworldly beings.

Even with DATS, Rentaro Satsuma is doing his best to conceal Emu's origins, not daring to expose him to those high-ranking officials, for fear of something unexpected happening.

But Fei Cai brought more than one piece of bad news, he said:

"I heard that Tan Zhengzong is applying to regain his position as president of Huanmeng Group. He was the former president of Huanmeng Group and was wrongly accused, spending several years in prison. Even if it's just to make amends to him, the chances of his application being approved are quite high."

Moreover, it's unsustainable for such a large company as the Huanmeng Group to remain under investigation indefinitely. Many innocent employees rely on these jobs to support their families. Even the Ministry of Health can't continue suppressing this situation.

I think it won't be long before Dan Masamune officially takes over the Huanmeng Group.

After Fei Cai finished speaking, everyone fell silent again.

Emu had already discussed the original storyline with them. Even though things had changed a lot, the original character information could still play a crucial role.

Therefore, everyone knows that Dan Masamune is no good person. As the final boss in the original work, Dan Masamune is cunning, capable, decisive, and adept at exploiting people's weaknesses. He even possesses a bug-like ability to rewind time.

Emu had originally hoped the government would step in and keep Dan Masamune locked up, preventing him from causing trouble. Now it seems that expecting the Japanese government to be a reliable ally is wishful thinking.

"Well, everyone, relax a bit. Dan Masamune's strength is only because he can use Kamen Rider Chronicle to play the cartridge and transform into Kamen Rider US. However, the Kamen Rider Chronicle game hasn't even been made yet, so Dan Masamune can't transform into US. With our current strength, there's absolutely no need to be afraid."

Emu (the elder) comforted her.

Cheche, however, looked grave and said:

"That's hard to say. Last time, although Amasaki Ren didn't manage to brainwash Poppy and take him away, she did manage to steal Poppy's data. We have absolutely no idea how far the Kamen Rider Chronicles development has progressed."

For the past month, Dan Kuroto hasn't shown up. Only Parado and Amasaki Ren occasionally bother us, and they've been avoiding Emu and Komu. Their actions give me a very bad feeling; I wonder what they're planning…”

Cheche's words caused the atmosphere, which had improved somewhat, to sink again.

Emu closed his eyes and looked at the progress bar of "Alphamon Reincarnation Caricature" displayed by the system fragments, which was only two-thirds complete. He sighed inwardly.

There's still a month until his cartridge is fully upgraded and ready to use. Until then, we can only hope that the Kamen Rider Chronicles isn't finished yet.

…………

"Hahahaha! This is the talent of a god! Hahahaha!!"

Dan Kuroto held up the cassette tape in his hand and let out a triumphant laugh.

"Oh? Dan Kuroto, what have you done?"

Parado and Amasaki Ren were drawn over by Dan Kuroto's laughter.

"'Perfect Knockout' cartridge! A brand new game that combines 'Perfect Puzzle' and 'Knockout Fighter'! After using it, Parado can transform into Perfect Knockout Player Lv.99, reaching the theoretical level cap! No matter how advanced Hojo Emu's cartridge is, you won't be weaker than them."

Shrimp Dumpling proudly tossed the cassette tape in his hand to Parado and introduced it.

"That sounds great. I can't wait to try it!"