Let's reach 150 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
I sigh, shaking off the lingering frustration and steeling my resolve. "Alright," I announce, turning to Agumon and Gabumon, "let's get out of here. I want to check on Peter, Gwen, and Jessica."
The Digi-Home shimmers as Connect Jump activates, and a moment later, we materialize near Midtown High. The sight that greets us is... well, it's not pretty. The courtyard looks like a bomb went off, with chunks of rubble scattered everywhere, overturned cars, and gaping holes in the walls. Yellow tape cordons off the area, and police officers mill around, taking statements and trying to maintain order.
I spot them near the entrance, huddled together and looking shaken. Relief floods me as I recognize Peter, Gwen, and Jessica.
"Hey!" I shout, waving my arms to get their attention.
Peter's head snaps up, his eyes widening in surprise. "Ethan! You're okay!"
He rushes forward, followed by Gwen and a hesitant Jessica. "Where did you go?" Gwen asks, her voice laced with worry. "One minute you were helping Jessica up, and the next you were gone!"
"Yeah, dude, you vanished," Peter chimes in. "We were freaking out!"
"Sorry," I say, offering a sheepish grin. "Things got a little... complicated." I glance back at the school, taking in the destruction. "What a mess, huh?"
"Tell me about it," Gwen sighs, running a hand through her hair. "I can't believe all this happened. I thought it was just a normal school day."
Jessica nods silently, her eyes wide with lingering shock.
"Well, at least you guys are okay," I say, clapping Peter on the shoulder. "That's what matters, right?"
"Yeah, but..." Peter hesitates, then lowers his voice. "Did you see those things? The dinosaur, the wolf, that rock monster, and Stane? What the heck was all that about?"
I shrug, feigning ignorance. "I have no idea. Crazy, right?"
Just then, a familiar voice booms from a nearby loudspeaker. "Attention, students! Stark Industries has graciously offered to assist with the repairs to Midtown High. We expect to resume classes within the next few weeks. Please check the school website for updates."
I roll my eyes. Of course, Stark is involved. I pull out my phone and dial Tony's number. It rings a few times before he answers.
"Kepler," he says, his voice casual. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Just wondering why you're playing Mr. Fix-It at Midtown High," I say, cutting to the chase. "Feeling guilty about Stane or something?"
Tony chuckles. "Guilty? Nah. But I do feel a bit responsible. Besides, gotta keep the image up, right? Can't have the world thinking Iron Man is a heartless billionaire."
"So, you're just doing it for PR?"
"Hey, a little PR never hurt anyone. But yeah, I also don't want kids getting hurt because of my screw-ups. Besides, Stane is now locked in maximum security. So, all is good."
I can hear the smirk in his voice, and I can't help but grin myself. "Alright, Stark. Just try not to blow up the school while you're at it."
I hang up and shove my phone back in my pocket, shaking my head. "Typical Stark," I mutter.
"What was that about?" Gwen asks, her eyes narrowed with curiosity.
"Nothing," I say quickly. "Just... dealing with some stuff." I change the subject, clapping my hands together. "So, Midtown High is going to be closed for a while, huh? Guess we have some free time on our hands."
The next few days are a blur of news reports and speculation. Every channel is buzzing about the Midtown High attack, with grainy footage of Greymon, Garurumon, Golemon, and Stane's new armor plastered across the screen. They also talked about the mysterious blue jacket figure.
Honestly, I don't sweat it too much. As long as they don't connect "Cipher" to "Ethan Kepler," I'm in the clear.
What does concern me, though, is how to get stronger. I consider my options. Learning martial arts? Viable, but it'd take too much time, and I'm not particularly talented with that stuff anyway. Letting my Digimon train in the Digi Training area? Possible, but if we ever confront someone in the Ultimate Level again, like NeoDevimon, they'll still lose. The only way for us to get stronger is to rely on the supply boxes.
I pull out the Digivice and decide to buy more. I have 20 currently from the mission reward. I start opening them, one after another. White box, blue box, white box again. It's always the same: coins and Digi-Memories.
Frustrated, I decide to go all-in. I buy 100 supply boxes, spending 100,000 dollars. I sit on the couch, ripping through the boxes with manic energy. Still, I get nothing noteworthy. More coins, a pile of Digi-Memories that I'll probably never use, some new training equipment for the Digi Training area, and a handful of Digi-Modify Cards that seem kinda useless.
I pause, staring at the last item: equipment for myself to use. I equip the Star Sword. It's the sword used by Shoutmon X4, with its blade jagged like a star. Cool, but how is a sword going to help me against a Digimon?
I toss the sword aside and slump back against the cushions. Is the universe conspiring against me? I can't shake the feeling that the System is rigged to drain my resources and keep me from progressing. I am no closer to being powerful. I need to become stronger.
I am in too deep, so I might as well keep going. I spend the rest of my money without a second thought. Box after box yields the same disappointing results: more coins than I can count, useless Digi-Memories, and a few minor stat boosts. I am about to give up when a golden light erupts from one of the boxes, bathing the room in a warm glow. Finally! A gold reward! I jump up, my heart pounding with anticipation.
"Yes!" I shout, fist-pumping the air. "Finally, some good luck!"
I rush to the Digivice and tap the screen, eager to see what I have won. My eyes widen in disbelief. A champion-level Digimon, MailBirdramon?
"No way!" I exclaim, hardly believing my luck. I thought only rookie Digimon are hatchable from eggs. "I can get Champion-level Digimon in these things?"
Without hesitation, I tap the 'Release' button, summoning the newly acquired Digimon into the Digi-Home. The space warps and shimmers as a massive form materializes before me.
MailBirdramon stands nearly twenty feet tall, a mechanized avian dragon clad almost entirely in sleek, silver-blue steel armor. Its wings are bladed jet wings lined with thrusters, making it resemble a futuristic war machine. A sharp, visor-like helm covers its head, with glowing red optics peering out from beneath. Spikes jut from its shoulders and tail, completing its streamlined but intimidating appearance.
"Whoa," I breathe, craning my neck to take in its full size.
"Greetings, Ethan Kepler," MailBirdramon says, its voice a deep, synthesized rumble.
"Hey there!" I say, grinning. "Welcome to the team."
[Mailbirdramon]
[Level: Champion]
[Type: Machine]
[Attribute: Data]
[Special Move: Plasma Cannon, Nighthawk, Trident Tail]
[A predatory flying Digimon. It surveys battles from the sky, and specializes in support assaults using hit-and-run tactics to inflict precise damage on enemies. MailBirdramon's movements are quick, and its eyes are sharp. Its Nighthawk technique utilizes its strengths to the fullest, as it closes in and unleashes aerial bombardments on foes without them noticing. Plasma Cannon has enough power to exterminate the enemy as it fires ultra high-energy plasma bullets from its mouth at point-blank range. MailBirdramon's overall fighting strength is significantly higher than Digimon who possess only melee skills. Because it always analyzes the flow of battle from above, it boasts a cool and calculating personality that allows for excellent judgment.]
My other Digimon also notice the newcomer, rushing to greet it. Gatomon, BlackGatomon, Agumon, Gabumon, and Cutemon approach MailBirdramon, their eyes wide with awe.
"Wow, that's a big bird!" Agumon exclaims, tilting his head back to look up at MailBirdramon.
"It is great to have you on the team," Gabumon says, offering a polite bow.
Gatomon circles MailBirdramon, assessing its capabilities. "Impressive," she says, her tail flicking with interest. "You are quite the specimen."
BlackGatomon struts forward, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "So, big bird," she says, "you got any special tricks up those metal sleeves of yours?"
Cutemon, ever the cheerful one, hops excitedly. "Welcome, chu! I hope we can all be friends, chu!"
As if the universe wanted to troll me some more, another purple box popped up on the screen. I almost dismissed it—another useless Digi-Memory or some crafting material, probably—but something about the icon caught my eye. It looked... different.
Curiosity piqued, I tapped the screen. My jaw dropped. A hexagonal-shaped necklace materialized in the Digi-Home's inventory, a dark red orb pulsing ominously at its center. I checked the System info, and the words made my blood run cold.
[Force Digivolution Necklace: Can forcibly evolve a digimon to a higher tier. Evolution is random and can cause dark evolutions.]
"Oh, hell no," I mutter, staring at the necklace with a mixture of morbid fascination and sheer terror. This was not good. This was really not good.
I knew enough about Digimon lore to understand the implications of that "dark evolutions" clause. When Digimon undergo Dark Evolutions, they become totally uncontrollable and unresponsive to their human partner. They are aggressive and indiscriminately destructive, if not genuinely evil. MegaGreymon becoming SkullGreymon, anyone? No, thanks.
This thing was a double-edged sword, a trump card that could easily blow up in my face. Sure, the potential for a sudden power boost was tempting. But if one of my Digimon went dark, I'm not sure I can control them and return them to their normal selves. I shudder to think what a dark evolved Gatomon or BlackGatomon might do, let alone a Mega-level Agumon. I could picture a rampage across the city, leaving nothing but rubble and chaos in its wake. And I'd be responsible.
No, this was too dangerous. I could shoot myself in the foot if I used it carelessly. As cool as a sudden boost would be, I do not want to risk it. I quickly stored the Force Digivolution Necklace in the system storage, banishing it from sight. I hoped I would not have to use it soon. It was something I should only consider using as a last resort, and only if I can get a stable evolution item. For now, it's just another reminder that this new world of mine is as unpredictable as it is dangerous.
***
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