Let's reach 250 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
I walked away from Midtown High, a sense of grim determination settling over me. It was time to step into action. No more waiting around, hoping things would magically resolve themselves. Oscorp was calling, and the Goblin was waiting.
I slipped into a nearby alley, activating my Digi-Camo. The world around me shimmered and blurred, the air bending around my form until I was effectively invisible. It felt good to be back in the stealth game.
"Alright, you two," I muttered, tapping the Digivice on my wrist. "Let's do this. Oscorp Tower, here we come."
"Finally! Some real action," BlackGatomon purred in my ear, her voice crackling through the Digivice. "This should be fun."
Gatomon's tone was more measured. "Remember, Ethan, we're here to gather intel, not start a fight. Try not to be reckless."
"Reckless? Me?" I scoffed, even though they couldn't see me. "Never. I'm the picture of responsibility."
I navigated through the city streets, weaving through traffic and sidestepping oblivious pedestrians. With the Digi-Camo active, I was a ghost, a shadow moving through the world unseen. It made infiltration a breeze.
The closer I got to Oscorp Tower, the more pronounced the damage became. Shattered windows, scorched facades, and twisted metal littered the area, testaments to the Goblin's destructive power. The police had cordoned off the area, but the tape was easily circumvented.
"Looks like someone had a party," BlackGatomon commented, her voice laced with amusement. "A very destructive party."
"This place is a mess," Gatomon added, her tone disapproving. "Such waste."
I slipped through a gap in the security perimeter, entering the lobby of Oscorp Tower. It was a scene of utter devastation. Debris was everywhere, and the air was thick with the smell of smoke and chemicals. It was eerie and abandoned.
"Okay, team," I murmured, my voice low. "Let's find that lab. I have a feeling that's where the answers are."
Following my mental map of the building, I made my way to Norman Osborn's private lab. The elevator was out of service, so I took the stairs, using my augmented strength to clear any debris blocking my path.
The lab was a wasteland, a scene of scientific pandemonium. Equipment was smashed, chemicals were spilled, and the air was thick with an acrid stench.
"Yikes," BlackGatomon said. "Looks like things got a little out of hand here."
"I think we found patient zero," Gatomon added grimly. "This is where Osborn became the Goblin."
I took a deep breath and started my search. It was time to find out what exactly happened in this lab.
I think we found patient zero," Gatomon added grimly. "This is where Osborn became the Goblin."
I took a deep breath and started my search. It was time to find out what exactly happened in this lab.
I think we found patient zero," Gatomon added grimly. "This is where Osborn became the Goblin."
I took a deep breath and started my search. It was time to find out what exactly happened in this lab.
I took a deep breath and started my search. It was time to find out what exactly happened in this lab.
It was time to find out what exactly happened in this lab.
Amid the wreckage, I spotted a glimmer of hope: a computer terminal, miraculously still standing, though its screen flickered erratically. It was ancient, probably from the 90s.
"Jackpot," I announced. "Let's see if this dinosaur has anything useful."
The screen flickered and sputtered, barely functional, but it was enough. I knew a thing or two about tech. My hacking skills had come a long way in the past months, leveling up alongside my stats. I'm practically a digital ninja.
"Alright, time to get digital," I muttered, touching the Digivice and concentrating. "Connect Jump!"
My vision swam as my physical form dissolved into a stream of data, flowing into the computer's archaic system. Suddenly, I was inside, navigating a digital landscape of ones and zeros.
Okay, old girl, let's see what you're hiding.
The security was laughably outdated, a simple firewall that barely registered as a speed bump. With a few lines of code, I bypassed the system's primitive defenses, gaining access to the encrypted files.
"Easy peasy," BlackGatomon said, her voice echoing through the digital space. "Like taking candy from a baby."
"Don't get cocky," Gatomon warned. "The real challenge is finding the information we need."
The files were a mess, a chaotic jumble of research notes, schematics, and personal logs. I began sifting through the data, searching for anything related to the Goblin Serum or Norman Osborn's transformation.
The digital threads swirled around me as I plunged deeper into the files. I ignored the random documents and focused on the notes marked "Project Oz." My hunch was right. It was a research project, and the files confirmed my suspicions.
"Bingo," I announced, a triumphant grin spreading across my face. "We got ourselves a Super Soldier Serum. Or, well, the Super Soldier Serum, judging by the results."
"What's next?" BlackGatomon asked, her voice eager.
"Keep digging," Gatomon reminded me. "There has to be something more."
I kept searching, and a compressed file caught my eye. The file was labelled "Site B Access." I ran a decryption program, and it revealed a set of coordinates and a keycard code. This wasn't just a research project; it was an entire operation, and this was a second location.
"Hold the phone," I said, my fingers flying across the keyboard. "Looks like Osborn had a backup plan. We got a new location. 'Site B' it is."
The coordinates pointed to a warehouse district in Queens, not too far from my apartment. Of course. It figured that crazy would be close to me.
"I am going to visit Site B. Let's see what Osborn was hiding in his back pocket."
"Alright, Ethan," Gatomon said, her tone serious. "But be careful. We don't know what we're walking into."
I disconnected from the computer, my data self reforming in the ruined lab. It was time to move. This could be the lead I was searching for.
Still cloaked, I slipped back through the lobby and out into the night. I found a relatively quiet side street and whispered the command, "Behemoth, summon."
The air crackled with dark energy, and with a guttural roar, Behemoth materialized beside me, its crimson eyes burning like embers in the shadows. I swung myself onto the saddle, the bike rumbling beneath me, eager to ride.
"Alright, let's ride," I said, revving the engine. The coordinates for Site B led to the outskirts of Queens, a desolate stretch of warehouses and abandoned factories.
The ride was a blur of asphalt and wind, the city lights a distant haze as we sped through the night. This part of Queens was remote, a place where secrets could easily be buried.
I arrived at a dilapidated warehouse, its windows boarded up and its walls covered in graffiti. The coordinates matched perfectly. "This is it," I muttered. "Site B."
Activating the Digi-Camo once more, I dismounted Behemoth and approached the warehouse. I punched in the keycard code I'd extracted from the computer. The lock clicked open, and the heavy metal door creaked inward. I slipped inside, my senses on high alert.
Suddenly, with a resounding clang, the door slammed shut behind me, plunging me into darkness. I whirled around, trying the handle, but it wouldn't budge. The door was sealed.
"Uh oh," BlackGatomon muttered, her voice laced with concern. "That doesn't sound good."
"We're trapped," Gatomon stated grimly. "Someone was expecting us."
A distorted voice echoed through the warehouse, crackling with static. "Welcome, Chosen Child. I have been expecting you."
I froze, my hand instinctively reaching for my Digivice. "Who's there? Show yourself!"
"Patience, little Tamer," the voice continued, its tone mocking. "All will be revealed in time."
I scanned the warehouse, my eyes darting from shadow to shadow. The Amulet of Azazel began to heat up. "A trap, huh? Very clever."
Who is this guy? And how did he know I was coming? My mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. Was this connected to the Digital World? Or was it someone from this reality, someone who knew about my powers?
The voice chuckled, a chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine. "You have walked right into my little game. Let's see if you can survive."
I was alone, trapped, and facing an unknown enemy. The hunter had become the hunted, and I had no idea what awaited me in the darkness.
***
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