Category:Bugsters

The Bugsters (バグスター), otherwise described as game illness (ゲーム病), are a type of computer virus and the main antagonists of Kamen Rider Ex-Aid.

Background
The Bugster virus is a variety of computer virus. It was born from the glitches in the 10 games that Genm Corp. had in development five years ago, and most Bugsters seem to be based on characters from these games. Unlike most malware, the Bugster infects human beings, replicating until they take over their host's bodies, eventually causing the host to disappear and be completely taken over. The only way to treat the victim is to use the Gamer Driver to remove the Bugster from the host and then destroy it before the virus completely takes over.

Many patients appear to be singled out and infected directly, often by Graphite using the Gashacon Bugvisor. The growth of the virus withing the patient is triggered by stress, leading to a weakening of the patient's immune system. When it first flares up, the infection takes over its host's body, transforming it into a giant virus-like Bugster Union monster. Bugster Unions can only be defeated by a Kamen Rider in Level 1; the reason why is unexplained, though it may be because other Levels are too strong and may injure the patient inside the Union. Once the Union is defeated, the Bugster itself manifests from the virus debris, and can call Bugster Virus foot soldiers to help them fight. The patient begins fading away, eventually will fade completely and die, letting the Bugster become a complete being.

There are two ways to cure the patient from Game Disease: The only currently known complete Bugster is Graphite. If a patient dies from some other means first, it appears as if the Bugster connected to them will also eventually die.
 * 1) Defeat the Bugster who infected the patient.
 * 2) Perform a "GAME CLEAR" according to the rules of the game that the Bugster infected, so the Bugster may survive depending on the rules.

Most Bugsters don't have their original personas. Instead, some of the characters from the video games that they have infected will manifest as Bugsters' persona while the Bugster act as their bodies.

As hinted by Parad, unlike humans/riders who will be "Game Over" if killed, Bugsters can always "Continue" to infect more victims. It was demonstrated by the reappearance of Salty Bugster.

Bugsters can also "Level Up" like game characters,in a similar manner of the mutation of general virus to against vaccines.

History
Though long kept a secret, the Bugster virus was born from a computer glitch in the year 2000 caused by the Y2K event, appearing on the laptop screen of a teenage Kuroto Dan.

In the year 2011, the first patient to be infected with the Bugster virus was identified to be Emu Hojo, during an operation led by Michihiko Zaizen.

The first Bugster outbreak took place five years before the series through an event designated "Zero Day". CR was founded by the joint efforts of the Ministry of Health and Seito University Hospital to fight the Bugsters.

In the present day, the Bugster virus re-emerged. The first known victim was a boy named Sota Suyama, who was infected by the Salty Bugster. Hoping to make the boy feel better (and not realizing the severity of the condition), his doctor Emu Hojo brought him to the release of Mighty Action X, where the Bugster took over Sota's body. In the resulting chaos, Emu was able to use the Gamer Driver and become Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, removing the Salty Bugster and defeating it, saving Sota.

Soon, more Bugsters began to appear as they were fought and defeated by the Kamen Riders. Graphite tried to start off a second Zero Day by using the Proto Drago Knight Hunter Z Gashat to spread the Bugster virus over a widespread area, but he was later defeated by the Kamen Riders. In an effort to find out the truth behind Zero Day, medical examiner Kiriya Kujo went to Masamune Dan, but Kiriya was later killed at the hands of Masamune's son Kuroto.

As part of his masterplan to complete Kamen Rider Chronicle, Kuroto began to create leveled-up Bugsters such that he could collect their data once they were defeated.

"Tricks": Virtual Operations
Bugster Virus appeared in virtual simulation where Ex-Aid and Snipe was testing their powers.

Kuroto Dan simulated his own Proto Mighty Action X Gashat and faced Graphite who sneaked into VR world. When asked why, Graphite simply said that he needed to test his competence, too. Dan then transforms and activates his Critical Strike finisher using the Kimewaza Slot Holder and cleared the simulation by beating Graphite.

"Tricks": Kamen Rider Genm
Collabos Bugster in his prime body reemerged with Proto Gekitotsu Robots and Proto Giri Giri Chambara installed. After quick battle with Emu, who used Kaigan Ghost, Full Throttle Drive and Toukenden Gaim Gashats, he falls on the hands of Kamen Rider Genm, who uses the power of the Legend Rider Gashats to complete his Ganbarizing Gashat. Using the blank Collabos Bugster as a conduit to harness the power of Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbarizing, a game Emu is unfamiliar with, Genm brings forth manifestations of Kamen Riders Double, OOO and Fourze.

Team of Bugster viruses appeared in the Game Area of Famista where they encounter Brave acting as baseball pitcher. Back in the real world, Poppi Pipopapo discovers the inert Collabos Bugster which she is unable to budge, projecting a blank Game Area which soon enough manifests as Ganbarizing, causing it to come back to life and go berserk before Ex-Aid arrives, allowing Poppi to get away. Taking out the Ganbarizing Gashat from the Bugster's head, Ex-Aid inserts it into his Gashacon Breaker, performing its Critical Finish to destroy the Bugster.

Major Bugsters

 * Parad (Kamen Rider Para-DX)
 * Graphite Bugster
 * Dark Graphite Bugster

Minor Bugsters

 * Salty Bugster
 * Aranbura Bugster
 * Revol Bugster
 * Motors Bugster
 * Collabos Bugster
 * Collabos Bugster (Gekitotsu Robots)
 * Collabos Bugster (DoReMiFa Beat)
 * Collabos Bugster (Giri Giri Chambara)
 * Collabos Bugster (Jet Combat)
 * Collabos Bugster (Legend Rider Stage)
 * Hatena Bugster
 * Burgermon Bugster
 * Gatton Bugster
 * Vernier Bugster
 * Kaiden Bugster
 * Charlie Bugster

Combatmen

 * Bugster Virus

Other Bugsters

 * Emu Hojo's lenient personnality (Kamen Rider Ex-Aid)
 * Poppi Pipopapo/Asuna Karino (Kamen Rider Poppi)
 * Genomes
 * Robol Bugster
 * Giril Bugster
 * Doral Bugster
 * Futago Bugster

Gallery
Major Bugsters=