Extra Chapter
Let's reach 500 Power Stones for an extra chapter
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The next day at Midtown High, I grab a tray and meet Gwen and Peter at our usual table in the cafeteria. The smell of mystery meat and stale pizza fills the air. I get a burger and fries, while Gwen opts for a salad and Peter grabs a plate piled high with spaghetti.
"So," I say, taking a bite of my burger, "anything exciting happen while I was gone?"
Peter launches into a story about a science experiment gone wrong in his lab, which ends with him covered in green goo and earning a detention. Gwen laughs, and I grin, enjoying the easy camaraderie.
"Speaking of science," Gwen says, twirling spaghetti around her fork, "did either of you hear where we're going for our next field trip?"
Peter shakes his head. "No idea. Mr. Warren's been super secretive about it."
"Well," Gwen says, a hint of excitement in her voice, "I overheard him talking to Dr. Connors. Apparently, we're going to Oscorp."
My eyes widen. Oscorp? That's a bad idea. A really bad idea. But I can't just tell them that. I have to play it cool.
Peter's face lights up, and he nearly drops his fork. "Oscorp! Seriously? That's amazing! They're doing some cutting-edge work in bio-engineering. The possibilities are limitless! Genetic splicing, neural augmentation, nanotech...it's like something out of a comic book!" He goes on a tangent about the potential breakthroughs Oscorp could make, listing off a bunch of sci-fi sounding terms I barely understand.
Gwen chuckles, cutting him off. "Alright, Peter, calm down. It's just a tour, not a job interview." She turns to me. "I might actually be the one giving us the tour. Dr. Connors said he might need me to help out, which would be so awesome."
Awesome for her, maybe. Nightmare fuel for me. I force a smile. "That's...great, Gwen. I'm sure you'll do a fantastic job."
Oscorp is a den of mad scientists and radioactive spiders waiting to happen, but I guess it's a canon event for Peter to become Spider-Man. I can't change the future, so I might as well sit back and enjoy the show. Or at least try not to get caught in the crossfire.
Suddenly, the cafeteria shakes violently. A loud boom echoes through the room, and the lights flicker. People scream, scrambling for cover under the tables. What the hell just happened? An earthquake? A gas explosion?
Before I can figure it out, a kid near the window shouts, "It's a giant robot! It's attacking the school!"
All heads snap toward the windows, including mine, Gwen's, and Peter's. We push our way through the crowd to get a better look.
What I see outside makes my blood run cold. Standing in the middle of the courtyard, crushing parked cars under its massive feet, is a hulking armored figure. It's bigger than the Iron Monger, and way uglier. Beside it, Golemon stands like a silent sentinel, its glowing red eyes piercing.
"No way…" I mutter under my breath.
The front of the new armor opens with a hiss of steam, revealing a familiar, hate-filled face: Obadiah Stane. His voice booms from the armor's speakers, amplified and distorted. "Come out, Chosen Child! Or I'm going to level this school!"
"Everyone, remain calm!" Mr. Warren yells. "Evacuate in an orderly fashion! Follow the designated routes!"
Yeah, good luck with that, teach. I spot police cars pulling up outside, sirens wailing. Officers pile out, weapons drawn, and shout at Stane to surrender.
"You are surrounded! Put down your weapons and surrender!"
Stane just laughs, a grating, metallic sound. "Golemon, deal with them."
The stone monstrosity lumbers forward. It raises its massive fists and slams them into the first police car, crushing it like a tin can. Officers open fire, but the bullets bounce harmlessly off Golemon's rocky hide. With terrifying efficiency, Golemon tears through the police barricade, smashing cars, sending officers flying, and generally making a mess of things.
Before I can formulate a plan, my Digivice buzzes, and a familiar blue screen appears.
[New Mission: Stop Obadiah Stane and the Evil Digimon from Destroying Midtown High!]
[Reward: 20 Supply Boxes]
Twenty Supply Boxes? That's enough to buy a decent meal, at least. Still, I roll my eyes. The System always knows how to motivate me.
I clench my fists, ready to summon Agumon and put a stop to this madness. I can't let Stane destroy the school, and I especially can't let him hurt anyone else. But before I can even leave, Gwen grabs my arm.
"Ethan, we need to go!" Gwen says, her voice laced with urgency. "Now!"
She tugs at me, and I reluctantly follow, Peter close behind. We join the mass exodus of students, all trying to get out of the building. As we move, I spot Jessica being shoved aside by the panicking crowd.
"Jessica!" I shout, reaching out to help her up. "You okay?"
She nods, looking shaken. "Yeah, just…caught off guard."
Before I can say anything else, the school rumbles again, and a section of the ceiling collapses near the exit. Stane's voice booms through the building, followed by more explosions. He's actively targeting the school now. This is getting out of hand.
"Go with the others!" I tell Jessica, my voice firm. "Get out of here, now!"
I push her gently towards the evacuating students and turn to face Gwen and Peter, and I take off running, going against the crowd.
"Ethan!" I hear Gwen scream my name.
"Where are you going?!" Peter yelled.
I ignore them, knowing I can't explain. They think I'm crazy. They are probably right, but I can't let Stane destroy the school, and I especially can't let him hurt anyone else.
I duck into an empty classroom, slamming the door behind me. Time to suit up. With a quick thought, I transform my jacket, shifting its colors to the black and orange of Cipher. I pull on my goggles and the face mask, concealing my identity.
I unleash Agumon and Gabumon from the Digivice, and they appear in a flash of light.
"You felt that too, huh?" I ask them, knowing they sensed the chaos as well.
Agumon nods, his expression serious. "We knew something was wrong."
"That armor smells like trouble," Gabumon adds, his voice low.
"We're going to stop Stane and Golemon," I tell them, my voice determined. "Together."
Agumon roars, fire flickering in his eyes. "Let's do it, Ethan!"
Gabumon nods in agreement, ready to follow my lead. "For justice!"
I kicked open the classroom door, revealing the chaotic hallway beyond. Students still poured out, screaming and pushing. We had to get to Stane before he caused more damage.
"Agumon, Gabumon, with me!" I yelled, and we charged into the fray.
We sprinted through the crowded halls, dodging panicked students and falling debris. Reaching the main entrance, we burst out into the courtyard. The scene was even worse than I imagined. The new Iron Monger armor loomed over the school, Golemon still smashing police cars.
"Alright, you two," I said, "let's show them what we can do."
***
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