Ding!
[Enter the Level 10 Dungeon immediately?]
"Yes!"
The familiar black hole appeared. Aomori blinked, and his surroundings had completely changed.
He was in what looked like a tropical rainforest. The sky was a murky gray, and he was surrounded by strange plants he had never seen before. Oddly, Aomori couldn't sense a single insect.
"Another world?"
He activated Mind's Eye, projecting the surroundings within a few hundred meters into his mind.
"Huh, what's this?"
He quickly noticed something interesting. Walking forward about twenty meters to a large tree, he reached out to touch the trunk. With a slight push, his hand passed through as if through a thin film.
"Hollow, just as I thought." Aomori stepped inside the space. His gaze immediately locked onto a small, puppy-like creature hiding in the hollow.
It was snow-white with a golden collar around its neck, engraved with complex patterns. Its eyes were tightly shut as it huddled in a corner, trembling. Aomori picked it up by the scruff of its neck. The "puppy" fearfully raised its paws to cover its eyes.
"Hmm, I remember you. You're called 'Salamon,' right?"
Ding!
[Dungeon Quests Initiated:]
[Main Quest 1/3: Hero-Brand Antivirus]
[Summary: For virus removal, choose Hero-Brand. Hero-Brand is reliable; Hero-Brand gets the job done.]
[1. Delete 5 Virus-type Digimon within 5 days. ☆]
[2. Delete 40 Virus-type Digimon within 10 days. ☆☆]
[3. Delete 100 Virus-type Digimon within 15 days. ☆☆☆]
[Main Quest 2/3: Reign Over the Digital World (I)]
[Summary: A transmigrator who doesn't want to be the King of the Digital World isn't a good hero. Use your 'King's Aura' to recruit Digimon! A happy life with Angewomon on the left and Rosemon on the right is not a dream!]
[1. Gain the loyalty of 100 Digimon within 10 days. ☆]
[2. Gain the loyalty of 500 Digimon within 20 days. ☆☆]
[3. Gain the loyalty of 1000 Digimon within 30 days. ☆☆☆]
[Main Quest 3/3: Reign Over the Digital World (II)]
[Summary: If you have the Digimon, you need the land. Go forth and conquer; the whole world shall be yours!]
[1. Occupy 30% of Server Continent within 30 days. ☆]
[2. Occupy 50% of Server Continent within 60 days. ☆☆]
[3. Occupy 80% of Server Continent within 90 days. ☆☆☆]
"Just as I thought. This is the world of Digimon Adventure."
Digimon, a story about a group of "Chosen Children" adventuring in a network world alongside digital lifeforms born from data. Like Pokémon, there were many versions and parallel worlds. Aomori was most familiar with the first four series. Seeing this adorable Salamon wearing a Holy Ring, he realized this was likely the plot of the first series.
"Please don't tell me this is the WarGreymon Chronicles version..."
That would be a bit too much pressure. He decided to ask the Salamon first.
Through the gaps in its paws, Salamon peeked at Aomori. Once it realized it was spotted, it squeezed its eyes shut again.
"Can you speak?" Aomori touched its long, drooping ears and asked softly. Salamon shook its head, remaining silent.
Seeing injuries on the creature, Aomori frowned and pulled it into his arms. Light flowed from his hands as he activated Healing Spell. The holy light enveloped the creature, and the wounds slowly vanished. The Holy Ring on its neck glowed brightly, seemingly absorbing the energy.
In the warmth of the holy light, Salamon finally mustered the courage to lower its paws. It opened its round, moist eyes to look at Aomori and spoke in a tender, childlike voice: "Are you my Mash-tah?"
Aomori smiled gently, set Salamon on the ground, and shook his head. "I am not the master you are waiting for."
Salamon's expression instantly dimmed, its long ears drooping.
"But I can be your new master, if you don't mind," Aomori added with a smile as warm as a spring breeze.
"Wuu~" Tears began to well in Salamon's eyes. It leaped into Aomori's arms, babbling, "I don't mind! I'm willing! I really like the way you smell."
"Alright then. From now on, you stay with me." Aomori gently stroked its fur.
"Mm-hmm!"
Picking up a Salamon at the start wasn't just because it could evolve into Angewomon, the "White Moonlight" of his childhood, but because he wanted to use it to understand the Digital World and find a way to pivot into the main storyline.
Once Salamon had calmed down, Aomori placed it on his shoulder and summoned his utility bird, Pidgeot.
"Pii?" Pidgeot looked at the small creature on Aomori's shoulder with immense dissatisfaction. Why does this shrimp get to stand there? I've never even been up there.
Salamon hid timidly behind Aomori's neck.
"Pidgeot, don't be moody. You're the first one I've called out in this world." Aomori's casual remark immediately pacified Pidgeot. With a blush and a joyful chirp, the bird allowed Aomori and Salamon to mount up and took to the skies.
"Pidgeot, find a place where creatures gather." In terms of vision, Aomori couldn't compete with Pidgeot.
"Pii!"
"This big bird flies so fast!" Salamon, hiding its head from the wind, watched the forest blur beneath them with a look of delight. "Master, Master, are you all Digimon? You look different from me."
"I am a human called Aomori. This is a Pokémon called Pidgeot."
"Aomori~ Pidgeot~ Hehe, I'm Salamon."
"I see."
"Master, Master, why don't you have fur?"
"Humans just look like this."
"Master, Master, there's a big red bug chasing us from behind."
"Oh, it's a rookie Digimon. Looks like a Virus-type. Pidgeot, turn around and take it out!"
"Master, Master, Pidgeot is so strong!"
"You'll become strong too, eventually."
"Master, Master..."
"Ahem, Salamon, why don't you tell me your story from before we met?" Aomori found that this Salamon was quite the chatterbox; even someone with his iron will was starting to feel a bit frazzled.
"Okay! A long, long time ago, when I was still a Nyaromon, a voice in my head told me to wait for a fated master. I waited and waited and waited... for a long time, but no one came. Later, after I evolved into Salamon, I decided to go find my master myself. I searched for a long, long time but couldn't find anyone. And then I found you, Master!"
It sounded like this was definitely the Salamon that had been separated from its group. Aomori nodded and comforted it: "You'll have me now, and there will be others later. You won't be alone anymore."
"No, I only want Master Aomori," Salamon said firmly, rubbing its face against his neck.
"Alright," Aomori replied.
"Master, Master."
"Yes?"
"I'm hungry."
After drifting alone for so long, it must have been starving. But what did Digimon eat? Aomori pulled out some dog food he had stored in his system inventory for ages. Salamon sniffed it, took two bites, and made a face of disgust. Even the dog wouldn't eat this dog food.
He then pulled out a Bag of Potato Chips, which the creature happily began to devour.
"Pii!" Pidgeot gave a cry.
A village had finally appeared ahead.