Extra Chapter
Let's reach 300 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
A few weeks pass. Midtown High is still closed for repairs after the Devimon incident, which leaves me with a lot of free time. I'm lounging on the couch in my apartment, trying to ignore the urge to spend my Stark Industries dividends on more Supply Boxes.
My Digimon are making good use of the training area in the Digi-Home. Agumon and Gabumon are sparing with MailBirdramon, trying to improve their aerial combat skills. But Gatomon and BlackGatomon are the most dedicated. Ever since their beatdown against NeoDevimon, they have been pushing themselves harder than ever.
I'm texting Jessica, mostly about nothing, to pass the time.
"So, you excited about the field trip in a few months?" I tap out.
A beat later, her reply comes: "I guess. Oscorp isn't exactly my dream destination, lol."
"True," I respond, "but free science, am I right?"
"Haha, yeah. Hey, you wanna hang out later? Maybe catch a movie or something?"
I consider it. Hanging out with Jessica would be nice. She's been a good friend, and it would be a good distraction. But before I can respond, another text pops up from Jessica.
"Ugh, never mind. Family trip came up. We're leaving in a few days. Mom and Dad want to visit some relatives upstate."
"Oh, bummer," I text back. "Have a safe trip, then!"
"Will do! Talk to you when I get back."
I close out the texting app, a thoughtful expression crossing my face. A trip, huh? It has been a while since I went anywhere.
I was thinking about going somewhere when the Digivice lights up, displaying a new mission.
[Hunt 3 Rogue Digimon]
[Progress: 0/3]
[Reward: 30x Supply Boxes]
"Well, that's convenient," I mutter, a grin spreading across my face. "Looks like I'm going on a little trip of my own."
I tap the screen to bring up the map app. It shows the locations of the Rogue Digimon. South America, huh? One in the Amazon, one in Brazil, and...great, one in the middle of the freaking Atlantic Ocean.
"Seriously?" I grumble to myself. "Who puts a Digimon in the ocean? I don't even have a water-type, for crying out loud!"
I shove the problem of the aquatic Digimon to the back of my mind. I'll figure that out later. For now, I need to focus on the two land-based ones.
I teleport back to the Digi-Home. The others are chilling. Agumon and Gabumon are finally done with their sparring and MailBirdramon is preening its metal feathers. Gatomon and BlackGatomon are nowhere to be seen, probably still in the training area, pushing themselves until they drop.
"Alright, team," I announce, clapping my hands together. "We got a new mission!"
Agumon perks up, tail wagging. "Another bad guy to smash?"
"You know it, buddy. But this time, we're going international."
Gabumon tilts his head. "International? Where are we going?"
"South America!" I exclaim, and I pull up the map app on the Digivice. "We've got one Rogue Digimon chilling in the Amazon Rainforest, and another one causing trouble in Brazil."
MailBirdramon squawks. "Amazon Rainforest? That is quite far."
"Yeah, but think of the experience!" I respond, rubbing my hands together.
"Alright, everyone, gear up! We're leaving ASAP."
I turn to MailBirdramon. "Hey, buddy, you think you could give us a lift? I'm not exactly keen on booking a plane ticket."
I definitely don't want to deal with airport security, or the TSA. It's also a waste of money, considering I've got a perfectly good mechanical bird at my disposal.
MailBirdramon nods, his red crystal gleaming. "Affirmative. I can reach South America in less than two hours, utilizing my maximum velocity."
My eyes widen. "Whoa, hold up! Two hours? At your top speed?" I picture myself clinging for dear life, face contorted by the force of the wind. I don't think my body can take that.
"Uh, maybe we should slow down a bit, big guy. I don't exactly have super-strength or anything. I might not survive the wind resistance if you're going full throttle."
I nervously rub the back of my neck. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure terminal velocity isn't something I want to experience firsthand. Besides, if I get airsick on the way, everyone will make fun of me for it.
"Perhaps a more moderate pace would be prudent," MailBirdramon concedes, tilting his head. "I can adjust my speed to ensure your comfort and safety. However, the journey will be significantly longer."
"Longer is fine! Longer is good!" I exclaim, relieved. "We don't need to break any records. Just get us there in one piece, okay?"
MailBirdramon nods, a low whirring emanating from his mechanical body. "Understood. I will calibrate my flight path accordingly."
"Alright, let's do this," I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel. "South America, here we come!"
I step out of the Digi-Home, glancing around to make sure no one's watching. Materializing in the middle of Times Square isn't exactly ideal, especially when you're about to summon a giant mechanical bird.
I head into a narrow alley, figuring it's as secluded as I'm going to get in this city. With a mental command, I release MailBirdramon from the Digivice. The alley is instantly filled with the whirring of gears and the flapping of metallic wings as MailBirdramon materializes, towering over me.
I take a deep breath and activate the Digi-Boots, feeling the familiar tingle as the micro-scale digital manipulators engage. I reach out, placing a foot on MailBirdramon's back. The adhesive properties kick in, and I feel myself sticking firmly to his metallic surface.
"Alright, big guy," I shout, gripping onto the edges of his wings. "Let's do this!"
With a powerful surge, MailBirdramon launches into the air, scattering pigeons in his wake. The wind whips past me as we ascend, but the Digi-Boots keep me firmly planted on his back.
As we clear the skyscrapers, the city sprawls beneath us. The sun glints off the glass towers, and the streets below are a chaotic tapestry of yellow cabs and bustling crowds. It's a familiar sight, but seeing it from this vantage point makes it feel almost alien.
I take another deep breath, trying to relax. This is it. My first international trip, courtesy of the Digimon System. As we soar southward, the wind flowing through my hair, I can't help but grin. South America, here I come!
…
The humid air hangs heavy, thick with the scent of decaying leaves and unknown life. Dr. Anya Sharma wipes sweat from her face, her glasses fogging in the close atmosphere. "Remind me again why we couldn't have studied spider monkeys in Belize?"
Dr. Ben Carter chuckles, adjusting the heavy pack on his back. "Because Anya, you've already studied spider monkeys. Besides, who can resist the allure of the Amazon?" He gestures to the riot of green surrounding them. "Think of the discoveries waiting to be made!"
Anya sighs, swatting at a persistent mosquito. "I'd be happy with discovering a decent cup of coffee right now."
They push deeper into the jungle, the canopy overhead filtering the sunlight into dappled patterns on the forest floor. The air grows quieter, the usual chirps and calls of the rainforest animals muted. A strange stillness settles around them.
"Did you hear that?" Ben asks, his voice hushed.
Anya frowns. "Hear what? The sound of my impending heatstroke?"
"No, listen."
Anya stops, straining her ears. At first, there's nothing. Then, a faint buzzing begins, almost imperceptible at first.
"Sounds like bugs," Anya says.
"Yeah, but..." Ben trails off, his brow furrowed. "That's one hell of a swarm."
The buzzing grows louder, quickly escalating into a drone that vibrates in their chests. It's like a million angry wasps, amplified to an ear-splitting pitch. They look up, trying to pierce the thick canopy, but see nothing.
"What the hell is that?" Anya asks, her voice rising in alarm.
Before Ben can answer, the jungle explodes.
A monstrous shape tears through the leaves, a blur of red and black. It's vaguely insectile, but impossibly large, blotting out the sun as it descends upon them. The air crackles with an alien energy, a wave of heat that sears their skin.
Ben screams, a primal sound of pure terror. He shoves Anya aside, scrambling for cover behind a massive tree trunk.
Anya doesn't have time to process what she sees. The creature is upon them, a whirlwind of razor-sharp edges and unimaginable power. She hears Ben's scream cut short, replaced by a wet, sickening crunch.
Driven by adrenaline, Anya turns and runs, blindly crashing through the undergrowth. Thorns tear at her clothes, vines whip across her face, but she doesn't stop. She can hear the creature behind her, its buzzing roar growing closer.
She glances back, a fatal mistake. The creature is right on her heels, its massive pincers snapping open and shut.
She doesn't see the attack, only feels a searing pain in her left arm. She stumbles, falling to the ground as her severed limb lands beside her. Blood gushes from the stump, soaking into the earth.
Anya screams again, a high-pitched, desperate sound that is swallowed by the jungle. The creature looms over her, its shadow engulfing her.
Then, silence.
A lone figure stumbles through the undergrowth, his face pale and streaked with blood. He clutches the bloody stump of his left arm, his eyes wide with shock. Ben, or what's left of him, doesn't know what he saw, but he knows one thing: the Amazon is no longer a place of discovery, but a place of nightmares.
***
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