Masamune Dan

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 was one of the primary antagonists of Kamen Rider Ex-Aid. He was the former first CEO of Genm Corp. and Kuroto Dan's father who after being released from prison transformed into .
==History==
===Background===
Masamune Dan was the original president of Genm Corp., the husband to Sakurako Dan, and the father of Kuroto. Sixteen years ago, during the Y2K crisis, he was alerted by Kuroto of the first instance of the Bugster virus on his son's laptop. Unbeknownst to everyone, Masamune would infect himself with the virus to develop an ultimate antibody. A few years later, Kuroto enacted Zero Day and Masamune allowed himself to be incarcerated to absolve him of guilt for the events that would follow. In his place, Kuroto would step up to become CEO of Genm Corp. to further conceptualize Kamen Rider Chronicle, while unknowingly becoming a pawn to his father's goals.
===Incarceration===
In Christmas Day 2016, Masamune Dan was visited by Kiriya Kujo in his prison. He would later give the information about the truth of Zero Day to Kiriya. While Kiriya intended to share his findings with his allies, this led to his death at the hands of Genm Zombie Gamer Level X, who was his own corrupted son.
One day, a detective named Heiji Uesugi visited Masamune and questioned him regarding Zero Day as both Kuroto Dan and Kiriya Kujo had gone missing. Despite telling the detective everything he could answer, Uesugi suddenly developed symptoms of Game Illness right after. Later that same day, Emu Hojo and Asuna Karino went to visit him. Masamune revealed to him how he was truly disappointed by his son's actions and informed everything he told Kiriya. He also requested Emu to stop his son's sinister plans.
===Becoming Kamen Rider Cronus===
Months after his son's death, Masamune was released from prison and reassumed his role as CEO of Genm Corp., much to Ren Amagasaki's disappointment. As CR faces off against the high tier Bugsters to clear Kamen Rider Chronicle, Masamune made his presence and reveals himself as the true mastermind of the events that have unfolded. With the Master Gashat in hand, Masamune transforms into Kamen Rider Cronus. Because of his exploitation in the use of Pause, Cronus demonstrates his ability to permanently kill Bugsters, and declares himself as the "True God" of Kamen Rider Chronicle.
He sought to continue Kamen Rider Chronicle as it was improving Genm Corp.'s business and raising the company's stocks. He later confronts with his own son, Kuroto, after many years and now considers him as a product. To ensure his plans go smoother, he blackmails Hiiro Kagami to become his right-hand man as he possesses the Proto Gashats that carried his late girlfriend's data. Masamune also brought Kiriya Kujo back to life as Kamen Rider Lazer Turbo as his left-hand man.
Masamune proceeded onto the next phase of his plan to increase Kamen Rider Chronicle customers by holding a "Cronus Capture Quest". He had granted Hiiro the Taddle Legacy Gashat to evolve him into Level 100. Although Kuroto developed the Hyper Muteki Gashat to combat his Pause ability, Cronus manages to swipe the Gashat away. Back at the Genm Corp. head office, Masamune confides with Kiriya using the Kamen Rider Chronicle death toll as motivation to produce more customers. During the quest, Masamune granted Kiriya the Hyper Muteki Gashat as a reward for beating Ex-Aid. However, Lazer Turbo revealed his ruse and returned the Gashat, allowing Ex-Aid to transform into Muteki Gamer and overcomes Cronus' Pause ability through his unlimited invincibility.
Angered by this defeat, Masamune was determined to do whatever it takes to ensure Ex-Aid was out of the equation. He threatened Hiiro to terminate Parado, as the Bugster's existence was the key to Emu's transformation ability. While Hiiro was further hesitant in doing so, his right-hand man finally turned on him after Masamune deleted Saki's data. This causes Cronus to take matters into his own hands and eliminate Parado. However, Ex-Aid and Para-DX would make peace with one another and managed to seemingly defeat Cronus and destroy the Master Gashat.
However, Masamune suddenly displayed his ability to reset reality to restore the Master Gashat. Despite erasing Hyper Muteki's existence and regaining most of the Proto Gashats, Masamune's desire to distribute Kamen Rider Chronicle worldwide was cut short after talks with Machina Vision CEO Johnny Makishima fell through. Desperate to ensure the game in persisting on, Masamune attempted to reset the game again, only for Kuroto to recreate the Hyper Muteki Gashat again, with an additional "Save" function as the last boss, Gamedeus, began to approach. 
===End Game===
Following the advent of Gamedeus and his Bugster Virus pandemic, Masamune took advantage of the crisis to instigate a global pandemic. Once the Kamen Riders developed a vaccine to neutralize the virus, Masamune desperately injects Gamedeus' remains into his body. This not only gets him a Game Over and turns him into a Bugster, but removed all traces of his humanity as a result. As Gamedeus Cronus, Masamune targets Nico Saiba as the only opposition to his eternal game. While he is stopped by the efforts of Ex-Aid, Brave, and Snipe, he further evolved himself as Super Gamedeus to unleash his ultimate plague.
Through the sacrifice of Poppy Pipopapo, the Kamen Riders persisted in defeating Super Gamedeus by assuming their Level 1 forms to seperate Masamune from Gamedeus. Before he could re-absorb Gamedeus, Parado uses the Doctor Mighty XX Gashat in an attempt to terminate Gamedeus for good at the cost of his life. This delights Masamune, knowing Emu could no longer transform and intends to give the Kamen Riders and his son a well-deserved "Bad Ending".
===Final Battle and Death===
While he initially had the upper hand, the battle unexpectedly turned against him. Not only did enough of Parado's Bugster Virus remain in Emu to grant him immunity to Pause, Parado's sacrifice had suppressed the virus inside Cronus as well, severely weakening Masamune as a result. The Riders transformed into their Level 2 forms and overwhelmed Cronus, with Ex-Aid delivering the final strike. However, in a final act of defiance, Masamune injected himself with the Kamen Rider Chronicle Master Gashat. The deranged CEO dissolved into data shortly after, taking away any chance of saving the Game Illness victims with him.
Considered a victim of Zero Day, Masamune and his family was acknowledged by Emu Hojo as he spoke at a televised press conference by the Ministry of Health following his demise.
===Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy: Another Ending===
Masamune Dan was eventually revived by Kuroto using the Kamen Rider Chronicle Master Gashat and is placed into a Next Genome Institute facility. Kuroto employs Saiko Yaotome to operate on his father in order to separate his Bugster Virus out of his body, which forms into Black Parado. Masamune is also revived as a Bugster and tied with the Level 0 program so that he could not escape. Kuroto revealed his plan to Masamune which infuriated him. Kuroto Dan was so satisfied to be able to humiliate his father that he invited him to join his newest game, Zombie Chronicle.
Masamune was able to break out as his imprisonment and used the Gashacon Bugvisor to inject Black Parado back into his own body. After engaging a Zombie Gamer, Cronus arrived after Lazer Turbo's initial fight against Genm God Maximum Gamer Level Billion. Although he tried to take advantage of Pause, Cronus was overwhelmed by Genm's ability to create games and defeated by Cosmic Chronicle's effect as he was slammed by the Moon. Nearing death, Masamune gave Kiriya his reset ability and confessed his regret of bringing Kuroto into the world as his greatest sin.
===Kamen Rider Genms -The Presidents-===
Masamune was revived as a Bugster emerging from Gai Amatsu's body and decides to confront his son by using the Pause ability as the former is determined to stop the latter from reviving Genm Corp. for malicious purposes.
Masamune transformed into Kamen Rider Cronus and engaged Genm in combat to fight for Genm Corp.'s presidency. Masamune claimed to be the original founder of Genm Corp. and is for fit to lead the company. Both Kamen Riders continued to throw punches and kicks at each other. They were both knocked out of transformation but continue to growl at each other. Gai, who had found his own resolve, stepped in and stated that both of them had the wrong idea about being a president. It was never about the position itself, but about the love for their work, for their company, for their employees. As they both realized their error, Masamune apologized and embraced his son, so they reconciled and disappeared together, freeing Gai of his illness.
==Video Game Appearances==
===Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbarizing===
Kamen Rider Cronus Chronicle Gamer and Gamedeus Cronus is a playable character in Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbarizing.
Cronos spelling.png|Kamen Rider Cronus Chronicle Gamer in Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbarizing
GB Gamedeus cronus.jpg|Kamen Rider Cronus Gamedeus Cronus in Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbarizing
===Kamen Rider Buttobasoul===
Masamune Dan Kamen Rider Cronus Chronicle Gamer and Gamedeus Cronus is a playable character in Kamen Rider Buttobasoul. 
Disc175 Cronus Buttoba.jpg|Kamen Rider Cronus Chronicle Gamer medal
BS Gamedeus chronus .jpg|Kamen Rider Cronus Gamedeus Cronus medal
===Battle Spirits===
Kamen Rider Cronus Chronicle Gamer and Gamedeus Cronus is a playable character in Battle spirits with other Kamen Riders
BSpirits chronus.jpg|Kamen Rider Cronus Chronicle Gamer in Battle Spirits
BSpirits gamedeus chronus.jpg|Kamen Rider Cronus Gamedeus Cronus in Battle Spirits
==Personality==
While a cunning and charming businessman, Masamune actually is a far worse person than his son, Kuroto. He is a manipulative and remorseless individual with a severe god complex who has no qualms of murdering others and committing underhanded tactics to get his way. His ultimate goal of conquering Earth fuels his desire to be a controlling god and ruler of the world, even going as far as committing mass genocide to achieve this, although it is unknown what motivated him towards this goal in the very first place. For the first half of the series, he claims to be a devoted father towards Kuroto while hiding his anticipation for Kamen Rider Chronicle. Masamune feigns disappointment in his son after allowing himself to be arrested, but Masamune allowed his son to believe that he was calling the shots while indirectly removing threats to his own agenda.
Once He was cleared of all charges and later released, Masamune uses his charm and pulls ties to win the loyalty of Genm Corp employees upon reclaiming his position as CEO. He shows his true colors after reclaiming his position by beginning to distribute Kamen Rider Chronicle worldwide. He also dehumanizes the Kamen Riders and Bugsters as nothing more than Genm Corp property, referring to them by the names of the games they drew their powers from. Masamune does not seem to acknowledge the users of the Gashats and has no problems with killing them as he believes that it is simply "discontinuing a product".
*Emu Hojo - Maximum Mighty X, then Hyper Muteki
*Hiiro Kagami - Taddle Fantasy, then Taddle Legacy
*Taiga Hanaya - Bang Bang Simulations
*Kiriya Kujo - uniquely referred to by his Rider name Lazer Turbo, sometimes referred to as Bakusou Bike
*Kuroto Dan - Dangerous Zombie, then calls his given name
*Parado - Perfect Knock Out
*Lovelica Bugster - Toki Meki Crisis
*Graphite - Drago Knight Hunter Z
*Asuna Karino/Poppy Pipopapo - DoReMiFa Beat
Despite being a skilled manipulator and schemer, most of Masamune's actions in furthering his goals to preserve Kamen Rider Chronicle usually backfire on himself. Such examples include reviving Kiriya (who feigns loyalty before stealing back all the Proto Gashats), keeping Energy Items for himself (causing a humiliating defeat after Para-DX Puzzle Gamer used them), manipulating Hiiro using Saki's data for extortion, forcing Emu to destroy Parado, or failing to honor the collaboration with Machina Vision to release the game through VR.
Since his first defeat by Ex-Aid Muteki Gamer, Masamune is prone to violent outbursts which manifests into paranoia (very similarly to Kuroto Dan). As Ex-Aid and Para-DX nearly succeed in defeating Gamedeus, Masamune uses a last ditch option and injects Gamedeus's virus into himself to become the "True Last Boss" of Kamen Rider Chronicle to prevent the game from being completed. This completely removed all aspects of humanity due to his lack of sanity. After being defeated for the final time, Masamune rejects Emu's offer to turn himself in and kills himself by stabbing the Rider Chronicle Gashat into his chest in an act of spite. Not only rendering the Doctor Riders' efforts to bring back those who died in the Bugster infection moot, it shows that he is the same as his son in which he considers himself to be the only one deserving to pass judgment, and that no one else has the right to do so onto him.
In Another Ending, it is also revealed that Masamune genuinely loved his wife, with her infection by with the Bugster virus having been the catalyst to his and Kuroto's villainy. He also expresses his remorse following his resurrection and is horrified to see his son going off the deep end when the latter instigated Zombie Chronicle. However, instead of recognizing Kuroto's misguided intentions, Masamune denounces him as irredeemable, showing no empathy as a father. This shows that for all of his affection towards Sakurako, Masamune never truly understood her wishes, having completely failed to help their son in his time of need.
==Powers and Abilities==
===Powers===
*Original Bugster Virus: Being the other Patient Zero, one of the two first individuals to be infected of the Bugster virus before Zero Day, Masamune had incubated the virus for a prolonged period of time, causing the virus to fuse with and alter his DNA, thus granting him Rider and possibly even Bugster-like powers and abilities that would have required external intervention to acquire.
*Natural Game Disease Immunity: Like Emu, Masamune can utilize any Gashat accessed Drivers like the Buggle Driver II and Rider Gashats without the need of the compatibility surgery. His immunity is more complete and extensive, unlike the other Riders' recently acquired immunity which can still be overwhelmed by large doses of Bugster virus. Ren/Lovelica explains that normal humans with compatibility surgery would have lost their lives should they try to use the Buggle Driver II.
*Data Restore: He can enter the Game World, which was normally an ability of bugsters, and retrieve the data of patients, who had been taken over completely by the virus. By inserting the respective Proto Gashat used to infect them into the Buggle Driver II. He can wipe out the revived data as well.
*Circadian/Weather Manipulation: He can easily turn day into night (or vice versa) in his civilian form. He can also control various weathers, but the reason behind this ability is unknown, possibly a variant of the Stage Select function.
*Security Bypass: Through unknown means, Masamune was able to slip through tight security and steal a briefcase of Proto Gashats that the Ministry of Health had kept.
*Time Manipulation: As Cronus, the Sanctions Effector on Masamune's Lung Lifeguard breastplate has a built-in Time Executor which allows him to manipulate time within a Game Area. The Crono Blade shoulder armor enables Cronus to be unaffected by his own temporal manipulation. However, it is possible to render this ability ineffective by destroying the large clock that often appears around Masamune, thus canceling the ability.
**Pause and Restart: Using the Buggle Driver II, Cronus presses both A and B buttons to pause time for his advantage. Any being killed during a time freeze, even a perfected Bugster, cannot be revived through any means.
*Reset: By utilizing the power of the Bugster virus within him at maximum, Masamune can initiate a "Reset" by separating the Bugvisor II from the Bugster Buckle II, pressing and holding the B button like a remote, reversing the game's progress to an earlier point. In the sole instance where he used this ability successfully, the following took effect:
**Kamen Rider Chronicle Master Gashat was fixed.
**Hyper Muteki Gashat was erased from existence.
**Nico's Game Illness was undone.
**New Kuroto Dan's remaining Continues were restored to 94.
**The Gamer Drivers and Gashats he had stolen earlier were returned to their owners, while Proto Gashats stolen from him are returned to him.
**Graphite's adaptation to the Gamedeus Virus was weakened.
**Saki's data was recovered.
*Teleportation: As Cronus, Masamune is capable of teleportation as means of quick retreat. This ability is similar to Bugster's teleportation.
===Weaknesses===
*Gamedeus: As the archenemy of Cronus, Gamedeus can suppress certain abilities of Cronus', such as nullifying his time manipulation ability. However, if it is in a form of a small portion of virus, it can be easily neutralized with a Level 0 Gashat.
**Graphite: Due to him (as a Bugster) having a sample of Gamedeus's virus in his body, Graphite can bypass Cronus' time manipulation ability.
*New Kuroto Dan: Since Kuroto was revived as a Bugster, he could enter his Buggle Driver II at his own free will and manage to manually cancel Cronus's 'Pause' ability. Though this requires Kuroto to receive a Game Over first in order to do so, and this plan was eventually ruined by a blackmailed Hiiro.
**God Maximum Mighty X: Kamen Rider Genm can resist Cronus' time manipulation while using this Gashat, a feature that was previously unique to Hyper Muteki.
*Hyper Muteki: The Hyper Muteki Gashat, whether it is being used in the Gamer Driver's second slot or by Ex-Aid as Muteki Gamer, can resist Cronus' time manipulation.
*Save Item: If anyone uses this item, their progress in the game won't be affected by Cronus's Reset function, completely nullifying the effect. 
==Forms==
Kamen Rider Cronus's ending theme is JUSTICE.
==Equipment==
===Devices===
*Bugster Buckle II
**Buggle Driver II - Transformation device. Combined from Bugster Buckle and Gashacon Bugvisor II.
*Rider Gashat - Transformation trinkets.
*Rider Gashat Case - Used to hold all the Proto Gashats, later stolen by Kiriya Kujo
*Energy Item Holder - Used to hold all the Energy Items, only letting himself use them.
===Weapons===
*Gashacon Bugvisor II - Transformation device and primary weapon.
*Gashacon Breaker - Briefly stolen from Genm Zombie Action Gamer Level X-0. 
*Deuslasher - Shield gained after fusing with Gamedeus. Also, used it as Kamen Rider Cronus Chronicle Gamer in 
*Deus Rampart - Sword gained after fusing with Gamedeus. Also, used it as Kamen Rider Cronus Chronicle Gamer in 
==Legend Rider Devices==
==Relationships==
===Family===
File:Kuroto Dan.png|Kuroto Dan (Son)
File:Sakurako Dan.png|Sakurako Dan (Wife)
*Kuroto Dan/Kamen Rider Genm: Masamune's son, and Kamen Rider Genm. He originally had high hopes for him up until he was framed for the Bugster Virus outbreak. His son was killed by Parado after Ex-Aid rendered Kuroto powerless from becoming a Rider until Poppy managed to find the way to revive Kuroto during the Kamen Rider Chronicle incident. However, Masamune actually planned all of this in order to become the 'True God' of Kamen Rider Chronicle, even calling his son by his most used Gashat, 'Dangerous Zombie' and sarcastically saying that his talents are merely products of Genm Corp. Kuroto, in return, became determined to stop his father, since he believes his genius abilities are nothing beyond compare.
*Sakurako Dan: Masamune's wife. He deeply cared about her after she was infected by the DoReMiFa Beat virus courtesy his son Kuroto to give birth to a Bugster aptly named Poppy Pipopapo.
===Enemies===
*Emu Hojo/Kamen Rider Ex-Aid: Masamune appears to know about Emu since their first meeting 16 years ago during Emu's special surgery led by Kyotaro, though how much is unknown, as he expressed surprise after hearing his name for a long time. It is currently unknown how exactly he knew him 16 years ago. Later, he revealed that there are actually two Patient Zeros, one is Emu and the other one is himself, thus was explained why Masamune's able to transform, despite never receiving a compatibility surgery, just like Emu. Later on, after Masamune explained his plans about Kamen Rider Chronicle, Emu swore to stop him at all costs.
*Parado/Kamen Rider Para-DX: By killing Emu's Bugster, he won't be able to transform anymore. Masamune makes Parado suffer slowly in fear of death. Eventually, Parado & Emu work together against him.
*Hiiro Kagami/Kamen Rider Brave: Masamune's former right-hand man. Masamune blackmailed Hiiro to betray CR in return to revive Hiiro's late girlfriend, Saki Momose, while the latter felt rather uneasy on him in return.
*Taiga Hanaya/Kamen Rider Snipe: After being killed by Graphite, Masamune had Hiiro destroy his operation as a means of an "accident".
*Kiriya Kujo/Kamen Rider Lazer (Turbo): After Masamune revives him, Kiriya became his left-hand man. Unlike Hiiro who was blackmailed by Masamune, Kiriya followed Masamune by his own free will, thereby explaining why Kiriya is still on Masamune's side even after being reprogrammed by Emu. It is unknown if Masamune is aware of this, however. All of this turned out to be a big mistake for Masamune, as Kiriya later revealed that his "true purpose" is to make an opening so Emu and Kuroto would create a new way to defeat him and had Emu successfully getting back the Hyper Muteki Gashat that he had given to Kiriya before.
*Poppy Pipopapo/Asuna Karina/Kamen Rider Poppy: to be added
*Nico Saiba: to be added
*Graphite: to be added
*Ren Amagasaki/Lovelica: When Lovelica took over Genm Corp after Kuroto, Masamune was released and reclaims the corporation from him as Cronus, later erasing Ren in the process.
==Behind the Scenes==
===Portrayal===
Masamune Dan is portrayed by . As Kamen Rider Cronus and Gamedeus Cronus, his suit actor is with Yuji Nakata acting as his substitute.
===Concept Art===
Gamedeus was designed by .
Gamedeus concept art.jpg|Gamedeus concept art
Super Gamedeus concept art.jpg|Super Gamedeus concept art
===Etymology===
*Cronus's name is assumed to be from , a Greek mythological figure who is the leader of the Titans and father of the Olympians. Aptly, Masamune is the true father of the Bugster virus and Kuroto's father. This connection is deepened by how Kuroto is now fighting against him in the same way Zeus fought against his father, Cronus.
**One version of his legend is an inverse of the intent behind Kamen Rider Chronicle in that while the game pits players against each other in combat, Cronus led humanity to a Golden Age where no one fought and immorality was nonexistent.
*It could also be connected to , the personification of time in ancient Greek culture. In fact, Cronus is often confused with Chronos because of their similar names. The confusion is so common that even some historians treat the two as one god. However, according to the origin of the myth, , Cronus has no relationship with any form of the "Time" concept, as he was born after time had begun, and was only titled as the Titan of the Harvest.
**It could also be partially derived from the word "chronicle" in Kamen Rider Chronicle, the game his Rider Gashat is based on, which itself uses "chron-" for "time" derived from "Chronos".
==Notes==
*Throughout the series, most of Cronus' appearances are followed by the presence of a giant ornamental clock within his vicinity. It is not explicitly stated as to what the purpose of this clock is, although it is implied that this clock has some sort of connection with Cronus' time manipulation abilities.
*Masamune's style of transforming into Cronus involves his Gashat is drawn into his Driver by itself after he presses it as opposed to him physically inserting it into the Driver.
*Although Gamedeus Cronus is a derivative form of Cronushttps://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/ex-aid/rider/cronus_top/https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/ex-aid/rider/gamedeus_cronus/, most post-series material classify him as a monsterhttps://www.kamen-rider-official.com/zukan/phantoms/71 and does not bear the "Kamen Rider" name.https://tamashiiweb.com/item/12960/?wovn=en
==Appearances==
==References==
==External Links==
*Kamen Rider Zukan page on Masamune Dan.
*Kamen Rider Zukan page on Kamen Rider Cronus.
**Kamen Rider Zukan page on Kamen Rider Cronus Chronicle Gamer.
*Kamen Rider Zukan page on Gamedeus Cronus.
==Navigation==
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