Extra chapter for 250 powerstones
Let's reach 500 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
The dude is shell-shocked. Mr. Fear stares at the photo, mouth agape, lost in some geriatric nightmare. It's kinda sad, honestly. All that villainous bluster, all that grandiose talk of a "Fear Renaissance," and it boils down to this? An old guy with a bad case of mistaken identity.
"What is this?! What have you done to me?!" he croaks, his voice thin and reedy. The transformation must have been tied to the bond with Soulmon. With the Digimon gone, it all comes crashing down.
Amidst the wreckage, a glint catches my eye. On the floor, near Mr. Fear's discarded skull mask, lies the Shadowstone. What's this doing here? I bend down, picking it up. It pulses with cold, dark energy, a sinister weight in my palm.
I gotta get some answers here, even if the show's over. This whole thing is bigger than some washed-up special effects artist. "Alright, grandpa," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "Let's cut the crap. How did you get mixed up with Soulmon? And what is up with this stone?"
He glares at me, but there's no fire in his eyes, only a flicker of resentment. "You think I'll tell you anything?" he spits, the name dripping with disdain. "You're nothing but a child playing hero."
I grit my teeth. "Don't play coy with me. People got hurt because of you and your monster. You're gonna tell me everything, or I'll-"
Before I can finish my threat, Daredevil steps forward. His presence alone is enough to shut me up. He's all business.
"Step aside, kid," he says, his voice low and gravelly. "I'll handle this."
I don't argue. DD has a way of getting people to talk, a way of stripping them bare with nothing but his voice and those freaky senses. I step back and let him do his thing.
What follows is a masterclass in interrogation. I can't hear the specifics, but I can see the way DD moves, the way he leans in, the way his questions cut through the lies and fear. He's a goddamn machine, designed to extract the truth. Mr. Fear tries to resist, to deflect, but Daredevil is relentless.
After what feels like an eternity, Mr. Fear finally cracks. I skip the gory details of DD's methods because, frankly, I don't wanna know. What matters is that the old man starts spilling his guts.
Turns out, some Digimon called Jokermon found him in his lab. I have never heard of him. This Jokermon offered him power. The ability to make his twisted vision a reality. A chance to create his "Fear Renaissance" on a scale he couldn't even imagine. Jokermon gave him some thingamajig called a Shadowstone. Supposedly, the Shadowstone is what let him bring Soulmon here. That's how he got Soulmon to partner up with him.
Jokermon… Shadowstone… That name sends chills down my spine. It's not just some random villain, not even close. This reeks of something organized, something bigger than a single deranged artist. Is this "Jokermon" the one responsible for the appearance of Digimon in this reality? Are they the reason for all the chaos?
Daredevil continues his interrogation, pressing Mr. Fear for more details, but the old man seems to have reached his limit. All he knows is that Jokermon showed up, offered him the Shadowstone, and suddenly, he had a monster pal and a power boost. It's a start, but we're still missing huge chunks of the puzzle.
And then there's the age thing. He claimed to be in his thirties, yet he looks like he's pushing eighty. Could the Shadow Bond have reversed his age once it was broken? Was it a side effect of that connection to Soulmon? I honestly don't have the answers. One thing is sure, though: we've only scratched the surface of this nightmare.
As DD keeps interrogating Mr. Fear, I tap my Digivice and shunt the Shadowstone into the Digital Home's storage. That thing is too dangerous to exist in this world. Hopefully, it rots away there. It's out of my hands, and hopefully, it stays that way.
When he's done, DD turns to me. "Thanks, kid," he says, offering a rare, almost-smile. "You and your… partners, did good work here. This could have been a lot worse."
I nod, meeting his gaze. "Likewise," I say, extending my hand. "We make a pretty good team."
His grip is firm, calloused. A quick shake. "An uneasy one," he says, his voice a low rumble, "but effective."
I smirk. "Hey, I'll take it. Just don't expect me to start wearing red anytime soon."
He doesn't smile, but I see a ghost of amusement in his expression. "I'll leave the theatrics to you."
He releases my hand. "I'll take Mr. Fear into custody. I'll make sure the authorities are aware of this Fear Gas device and how to safely dispose of it." He pauses, then adds, "I have a feeling this isn't the last time our paths will cross, Kepler."
"Yeah, probably not," I reply, already knowing it's true. This Digimon thing, this Shadowstone crap—it's not going away anytime soon. And somehow, I know that wherever it goes, trouble is going to follow.
I turn to leave. "See ya around, DD."
As DD disappears into the grimy city night, LadyDevimon sashays over, striking a pose that would make a supermodel jealous. Seriously, she's working it.
"So, Ethan," she purrs, her voice dripping with sultry confidence, "did you enjoy the show? I do hope I made a lasting impression."
"LadyDevimon!" Angewomon scolds, a hint of steel in her tone. "Must you always be so… provocative?" There's a definite undercurrent of irritation there. I swear, they are something else.
"What? Can't a girl have a little fun?" LadyDevimon retorts, her crimson eyes flashing. "Besides, our partner deserves a reward, don't you think? All that fighting must be tiring."
"He needs rest, not your… advances," Angewomon snaps, her wings rustling with annoyance.
"Oh, come on, lighten up. A little teasing never hurt anyone," LadyDevimon says, smirking. "Unless, of course, you're jealous?"
"I am not jealous!" Angewomon protests, but her cheeks flush a delicate pink.
This is getting out of hand. "Hey, hey, knock it off, you two," I say, stepping between them. "You were both awesome out there, alright? Now, save the catfight for someone who appreciates it."
I can't help but grin. Seeing them bicker, even in their amped-up Ultimate forms, is kinda… comforting. It reminds me that, beneath all the power and fancy evolutions, Gatomon and BlackGatomon are still the same sassy cats I know and love.
Suddenly, there's a flash of light, and the world seems to shimmer for a moment. When it fades, Angewomon and LadyDevimon are gone. In their place stand Gatomon and BlackGatomon, looking a little dazed and disappointed.
"Aww, man, I liked being tall," BlackGatomon grumbles, stretching her claws. "That was amazing."
"Yeah, that was pretty awesome, Ethan!" Gatomon pipes up, a genuine smile on her face. "Thanks for letting us try it out."
"There will be more chances in the future. Especially since that our enemies are getting stronger and stronger."
My Digivice screen lights up, breaking the tension. The System cheerfully announces,
[Mission Complete: Investigate the fear incidents]
[Level Up!]
[Level 13 -> 15]
[Reward: Supply Boxes x20!]
[New Skill Acquired: Digi-Mimic Lvl 1]
"Whoa, new skill!" I exclaim, my interest piqued. "System, what's Digi-Mimic all about?"
[Digi-Mimic Lvl 1: Allows the user to temporarily copy a Digimon's special ability. Consumable skill. One slot available.]
Consumable, huh? That means it's a one-shot deal. Still, freakin' sweet. One slot is enough, I'm not greedy. Imagine popping off a Celestial Arrow or a Darkness Wave. Or Mjölnir Thunder. I'd be like a freaking Swiss Army knife of destruction. And if I level up this skill, I could unlock more slots to use more different abilities.
"Alright, guys," I announce, clapping my hands together. "Show's over. Let's head back home and get some rest. I need to figure out how to use this new skill before we face anything else."
BlackGatomon stretches, claws extended. "Sounds good to me, Ethan. After what we did tonight, even I need a break."
Gatomon nods in agreement. "A good night's sleep is essential for optimal performance, after all."
I grin. "Then what are we waiting for?" We slip away from the sewers and head back towards my apartment, leaving behind the chaos of the city and the unsettling revelations about the forces at play. Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but at least for now, we have each other, and that's enough.
***
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