It's 12:43, so I figure I can post the next chapter now (technically, it is tomorrow...or, today. Whatever). It's page longer then the last chapter and with more action! Enjoy.

Ulrich landed in a crouch, Yumi and Aelita falling next to him.

"Alright Jeremy, we're here," he said, standing up and looking around the mountain sector. "Where's the tower?"

"Due west of your position." Jeremy's voice said, booming down from the sky.

The group shared a look, confirming everyone was present and ready, then as one they began to run in the direction of the tower. After a while Yumi spoke up.

"You know, things are strangely quiet around here," she said, looking around the rather empty mountain region.

"Yumi, you spoke to soon. You've got five hornets headed your way."

"Great, just what we need," Ulrich grumbled, grabbing his swords. He and Yumi took up places slightly ahead and to either side of Aelita. "Ready Yumi?" he asked as the hornets begin to appear through the mist. Yumi just gave him a grin in response and shot ahead, launching her first fan. It took out the hornet on the far left of the group, alerting the others to her presence. Yumi flipped out of the way as they began to fire on her and Ulrich.

Ulrich swung his sword around, blocking the hornets' attacks and trying to send them back at the flying monsters. One laser hit its mark, the unlucky hornet exploding in a burst of light. Just as Ulrich was celebrating his success, a laser found its way through his defenses, knocking him to the ground.

Off to the left Yumi also took a hit, getting thrown dangerously close to the edge of the thin rocky path.

"Yumi, watch out!" Ulrich shouted, noticing the hornet bearing down on the girl. Yumi saw it too, and launched her fan at it. At the same moment the hornet fired a laser, and the two attacks met in midair, canceling out. But Yumi's second fan was right behind the first, and it cut through the hornet easily.

"It's alright Ulrich, I got it," Yumi said, standing up and retrieving her fans. Ulrich gave her a small smile, glad she was okay. The smile disappeared quickly though, as a second hornet appeared behind Yumi, firing at her.

"Yumi!" Ulrich shouted, launching himself forward. The hit had knocked Yumi to the very edge of the path, and she was swinging her arms wildly in an attempt not to fall. Before Ulrich could get there to pull her to safety, another shot from the hornet had Yumi falling over the edge and through the fog below.

Yumi heard Ulrich shout her name as she tried to think of a way to stop her dangerous plummet. Unable to come up with anything she tensed, preparing herself for the fall into the virtual sea she knew was coming. But instead of the splash and the feeling of all your data being pulled apart that she was expecting, she landed rather hard on what was unmistakably land.

Yumi felt a few of her life points drained away from the painful landing, but really couldn't bring herself to care. She was too happy about still being alive.

"Yumi!" Jeremy's voice shouted, sounding strained. "Yumi, are you alright?"

"Yes Jeremy. I've felt better, but I'm alright. I landed on a platform lower down."

"That's good," Jeremy said, and Yumi could hear a sigh with the words. "Just be careful now. You've only got twenty life points left."

"Alright Jeremy. I'll just-" Yumi paused, a loud thud from behind getting her attention. She turned slowly; facing whatever it was that was behind her.

"Yumi, what's going on?" Jeremy asked. "Something just appeared behind you."

"I know," Yumi said, "It's the monster that took Odd."

The Wulf watched Yumi through its eye, giving a low growl. Yumi took a step back from it, tossing one of her fans at the monster. She was shocked when it just jumped up and grabbed the fan in its jaws, destroying the weapon with a crunch. The Wulf then turned back to Yumi and let its jaws fall open, revealing its cannon. Yumi tried to dodge the attacks, and was able to get away from the first two lasers. But the third one found its mark, and with an angry shout Yumi was devirtualized.

--

"Jeremy, is Yumi alright?" Ulrich asked, sounding slightly panicked.

"She didn't fall into the virtual sea, if that's what you mean," Jeremy said, "But she was just devirtualized. She was attacked by the Wulf. And now it's headed your way!" Jeremy finished with a shout, just as loud thud got Ulrich's attention.

The Wulf had jumped up to the path that Ulrich and Aelita were on, and was now making its way towards the pair.

"What should we do?" Aelita asked, stepping up beside Ulrich. The samurai like warrior watched the monster approach, trying to think of a plan.

"Aelita, I'll get the Wulf's attention," he said, deciding that this was the only thing he could do. "Once it's distracted, you make a dash for the tower. I'll hold it off as long as I can."

Aelita gave Ulrich an unsure look, and for a moment it looked like she might argue. But a glare from Ulrich made her hold her tongue. "Alright," she said with a sigh, "but be careful."

Ulrich gave her a nod. "Now get ready to go. As soon as I get the Wulf's attention, you head for the tower. Got it?" Aelita nodded. Ulrich watched her a moment longer, then turned back to the monster.

"Hey!" he shouted, causing it to look his way. "Come and get me!" Ulrich then ran towards the Wulf. He had to weave back and forth to avoid the lasers being fired at him, but he made it up to the monsters legs. With a shout he stabbed his sword through one of the creature's black paws, pulling the sword free and running to the left. The Wulf screamed, pulling its paw up and looking at. It then turned and went after Ulrich.

The boy was looking for a quick escape from his pursuer, which presented itself in a small platform hovering a little ways below the path Ulrich was currently on. With a glance back at the approaching Wulf, Ulrich leap towards the platform. He was about halfway to it when he felt a laser hit him in the back. It propelled him forward, causing him to slam into the platform and slide towards the edge.

Ulrich realized where he was heading and swung his sword around, digging it into the ground. The sword caught and held just as Ulrich felt his legs swing over the edge of the platform. Ulrich sighed as he came to a stop, resting his head against his arms. His moment of peace was short lived though, as the platform gave a frightening shake.

The Wulf had followed him, and now crouched on the little piece of floating land, its cannon aimed at Ulrich. With no place to go, Ulrich had no choice but to take the shot, and prey that Aelita got to the tower in time.

--

During all of this, Aelita was finding herself with some trouble of her own.

The moment Ulrich had charged the monster Aelita had activated her wings and shot into the air. She had gotten past the monster, and was headed for the tower glowing in the distance when a little fact made itself known. There were still two hornets left.

Aelita hadn't even realized they were behind her until the first laser hit her. She dropped some; but didn't fall out of the sky as she turned to confront her attackers. The two hornets immediately began firing on her, not giving Aelita a chance to attack back as she weaved and swerved to dodge their laser fire.

She flew as fast as she could, quickly moving out of range of the hornets attacks. Once she was far enough away she spun around, preparing her attack.

"Energy field!" she shouted, firing the two balls of energy at the little monsters. One attack hit its mark, but the other missed. Aelita turned back around and continued flying. The hornet behind her continued its pursuit, firing off the occasional shot. Just as Aelita was getting close to the tower one of the lasers got her.

It hit her in the back, knocking out her wings and sending her tumbling from the sky. She hit front first, but quickly rolled over at the sound of nearing wings.

"Energy field!" she shouted, launching her attack. This time it hit, blasting the hornet from the sky.

"Are you alright Aelita?" Jeremy asked.

"I'm fine Jeremy. How's Ulrich doing?"

"Not good, he was just devirtualized. You're on your own." Jeremy said. It wasn't what Aelita wanted to hear. "Be careful," Jeremy continued, "You've only got forty life points left."

"Okay. I'm almost to the tower," Aelita said, climbing to her feet and beginning to run for the structure just ahead of her. Just as she began to run the path beneath her feet shook, startling her.

"What was that..?" she asked, turning to look behind her. She immediately wished she hadn't. Xana's crazy new monster had caught up with her. The Wulf noticed her looking at it, and fired off a laser. Aelita yelped as she jumped away from the blast, then began running for the tower again. She could hear the Wulf thudding along behind her, the heat of its lasers at her back.

Aelita was only feet from the tower now. A laser landed right beside her, but she ignored it, reaching her hands out. She was only inches away now. With a shout she leapt towards the tower, just as the monster fired another laser right behind her.

--

Yumi and Ulrich looked up as the last occupied scanner hissed open. Aelita was sitting inside it, looking slightly disoriented. When she noticed the others looking at her she sighed, banging her fist against the scanner's side.

"Sorry Jeremy, I couldn't get to the tower," she said, climbing out of the scanner.

"It's okay Aelita," Jeremy said, "Xana left the tower right after you were devirtualized and moved onto the next one."

"What?" Ulrich said, "What was he doing in that one for so long?"

"Well, according to this," Jeremy said, and everyone could picture him pointing to something on his screen, "it looks like Xana took more data from this tower then he did the last one. That's why he was there longer."

"So it was just a false alarm?" Ulrich asked, sounding worn out.

"Yeah, sorry guys. Come on, let's head back to school. I'll keep an eye on Xana with my laptop while we have some lunch."

...wish I had some lunch, I'm hungery. And tired. Goodnight!