Let's reach 250 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
The aroma of roasted coffee beans and pastries fills the air at "The Daily Grind," Olivia's coffee shop. It's become our unofficial study spot. Gwen's patiently walking Jessica through some AP Physics notes, her brow furrowed in concentration. Jessica, bless her heart, is really trying to get a handle on things, even with all the craziness.
Jessica's scribbling furiously in a notebook, her brow furrowed in concentration. Gwen points to a diagram on the page, her voice soft and encouraging.
"See, the energy conservation principle here is key," Gwen explains. "It's all about how energy transforms, not disappears."
Jessica nods, though a hint of confusion still lingers in her eyes. "So, like, if the energy in a Digimon fight transfers to its Digivolution?"
Gwen laughs, a light, tinkling sound. "Exactly! You're getting it. It's all interconnected."
I'm nursing a lukewarm latte, trying to look like I'm paying attention to their study session. Honestly, my mind's a million miles away. The Digivice is tucked discreetly in my pocket, its subtle vibration a constant reminder of my other life. I can feel the faint hum against my thigh.
Jessica's really opening up. She's got this quiet strength, and seeing her push through her trauma and her studies is pretty inspiring. Gwen's been amazing, too. She's like the anchor, keeping everyone grounded.
I discreetly pull out my Digivice, angling it so the screen is hidden from Jessica's view. A low buzz confirms a new alert. My eyes scan the glowing text.
[MISSION ALERT: ROGUE DIGIMON DETECTED.]
My Digivice buzzes again, a more insistent vibration this time. A rogue Digimon. Great. Just what I need when Jessica's finally starting to get her life back on track.
I lean over to Gwen, pretending to point out something in her physics notes. My head is close to hers, and I subtly angle the Digivice so she can see the alert without Jessica noticing.
"Looks like trouble's calling," I murmur, my voice low.
Gwen's eyes dart to the screen, then back to Jessica, who's still wrestling with Newton's laws. A flicker of something – concern? resolve? – crosses her face.
"I'll go," I say, already making a move to slide out of the booth. "You stay with Jess."
Gwen puts a hand on my arm, her grip surprisingly firm. "No, Ethan. I need to do this."
Her tone is serious, leaving no room for argument. I blink, taken aback.
"What? Gwen, are you sure? It could be dangerous."
She meets my gaze, her blue-gray eyes steady and filled with a new confidence. "Renamon and I can handle it. We've been training, you know. I need to prove I can do this on my own."
I hesitate, looking from her determined face to Jessica, still oblivious, then back to the Digivice's insistent glow. Gwen's not the same shy girl who used to blend into the background anymore. She's grown.
"Okay," I concede, a knot of apprehension tightening in my stomach. "But you have to call me if anything goes wrong. Anything at all. Promise?"
"Promise," she replies, a small smile finally touching her lips. "Now, you focus on making sure Jessica doesn't fail physics. You're her tutor, remember?"
I nod, a flicker of apprehension mixing with a growing trust in her abilities. My gaze drifts back to Jessica, who's now explaining a concept to Gwen with newfound clarity. She's doing great. I just hope Gwen's ready for whatever's waiting for her.
* * *
-Gwen-
My Digi-Camo feels weirdly snug, like a second skin, all sleek white and black with these cool pink highlights Ethan insisted on. It hums softly, a subtle vibration against my body. The mask is molded to my face, obscuring my features, which is for the best. Right now, I don't want anyone seeing Gwen Stacy, just the operative tracking this signal. The Digivice in my hand pulses, a steady, guiding beat.
"Are you sure about this, Gwen?" Renamon's voice, a calm murmur in my ear, carries a hint of worry. "Ethan wouldn't want us going in alone."
"We can handle it, Renamon," I say, my voice muffled by the mask. "He's got his own stuff to deal with, and we've got this. Besides, you're with me."
Renamon sighs, a soft rustle of fur. "As you wish."
We move into the warehouse, the cavernous space echoing with silence. The Digivice's pulse intensifies, a frantic throb now. The air hangs heavy with the smell of ozone and something acrid. Crates are overturned, their contents spilled across the dusty floor.
The Digivice leads us not to some grimy warehouse, but to a sleek, imposing government building. Steel and glass gleam under the harsh sunlight, a stark contrast to the rundown places we usually end up. Definitely not the kind of place you'd expect a rogue Digimon to hang out.
"A government building?" I whisper, confused. "What would a rogue Digimon be doing here?"
Renamon shifts beside me, her fur bristling slightly. "This location is unusual," she murmurs, her voice a low hum in my ear. "The energy readings are… unstable."
Before I can ask what she means, a deafening EXPLOSION rips through the building from the inside. The ground lurches beneath my feet, and dust and debris rain down from the ceiling. Panicked screams erupt around us, echoing through the structure. The air fills with the smell of smoke and something burning.
"What was that?" I shout over the din, my heart pounding.
Renamon's eyes narrow. "Something is very wrong."
We need to get inside. Now. Whatever is happening in there, we can't just stand by. I grip the Digivice tighter, its pulse now a frantic throb against my palm. Renamon's gaze is steady, her foxy features set in a determined mask. We exchange a look, a silent understanding passing between us. Whatever is going on, we're in this together.
The blast had blown a gaping hole in the side of the building. Smoke billows out, thick and black. I can see terrified figures stumbling out, covered in dust. This is bad. Really bad. Renamon nudges me forward.
"We must see what is happening," she insists, her voice firm.
I nod, taking a deep breath. "Alright. Let's go." We slip through the breach, the chaos inside overwhelming.
The air inside is thick with smoke and the smell of burnt metal. It's hard to see, but I can make out figures stumbling through the haze.
"Over here!" I yell, spotting a man pinned under a fallen beam. Renamon rushes to his side, her lithe form moving with surprising strength as she tries to lift the heavy metal.
"Renamon, I'll try to clear the debris!" I scramble forward, pushing aside smaller chunks of concrete and twisted metal, trying to create enough space.
We pull the man free, his leg clearly broken. He groans, clutching his arm. "Thank you… you two…"
"Just get out of here," I urge him, pointing toward the hole in the wall we came through. "It's not safe."
Renamon nods in agreement, her amber eyes scanning the surroundings. "There are others trapped further in."
We push deeper into the ravaged building, navigating through the wreckage. The scale of the destruction is immense. Overturned tables, shattered glass, and sparking wires litter the floor. The distant sounds of groaning and panicked shouts fill the air.
Then, we see it. Standing amidst the ruin, a hulking, ape-like creature looms over the destruction. Its golden fur is matted with grime and what looks like blood. A massive, bone-like club is clutched in one of its massive hands. Its eyes, usually a bright, intelligent brown, now burn with a savage, unnatural red light. It's bigger than I imagined, easily twice the size of a man, its musculature rippling with raw, untamed power. The sheer primal ferocity radiating from it is palpable.
"What in the world…?" I mutter, a shiver tracing its way down my spine.
Renamon's ears twitch, her gaze fixed on the beast. "Apemon…"
[Apemon]
[Level: Champion]
[Type: Beast Man]
[Attribute: Vaccine]
[Special Move: Angry Spike]
[A legendary Beast Man Digimon with golden fur. Many sightings of Apemon have been reported in the central Asian region of the Network, but no actual evidence of its existence has yet been found. Since it's extremely rare and reportedly excels at defeating malicious computer viruses, some humans consider it to be a mythical Digimon. It is also said to travel at extremely high speed within the Network by riding on some sort of cloud or puff of smoke. Its special move is Angry Spike, by which it fires out hardened tufts of its metallic fur.]
The Apemon's head snaps up, its red eyes locking onto us. A guttural roar tears from its throat, a sound of pure warning and aggression. It raises its bone club, shaking it threateningly.
***
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