Chapter 10: Welcome back

19:44 PM (Japan Time), Friday March the 17th…

"…You came again sans disgust, huh? Ya won't get past here!"

"Ijuuin Enzan! Coming!"

Colonel made it back to End Area 1 and the platoon of 12 grunts came into the area again: one of them took a step forward too.

"Heh, heh, heh! Coming back alone: what a silly guy! We'll go all out into ya, alone or not!" He mocked.

"Napalm Man! Show me your power!"

Napalm Man came in and glanced at Colonel over his right shoulder while looking slightly annoyed.

"Che! Don't command me in a bossy manner!" He grumbled.

"Ya alone can't win so ya summoned a helper, huh? However! Even if you increase your numbers by one… That won't change that you've got an overwhelming disadvantage!" The grunt boasted.

"Hmpf. I wonder about that. Napalm Man! Blow them up!"

"Don't order me 'round each time! Even if ya hadn't told me to, I'd blown 'em up anyway! Ura~h! Blow away~!" Napalm Man roared.

He tossed one "Napalm Bomb" into the area and the explosion took out the 12 guys at once.

"… Gwrya~h! R-Regal – sama…! We shall…! Offer…! No excuses…! Ngna~h!" The lead grunt roared before all of them were deleted and the road got cleared.

"What the heck? What really weak grunts! There obviously gotta be a stronger jerk up ahead, right?" Napalm Man asked.

"True…" Colonel confirmed.

My word. "Demon Prince" inwardly giggled.

"This blow seems to have triggered fire in my heart! I wanna blow more stuff… I'll be waiting on ahead!" Napalm Man laughed.

"Ijuuin Enzan! We've got no time to sit idle… Let's go!"

"Go!"

Colonel rushed down the avenue while "Demon Prince" tagged behind him as he met up with Napalm Man while inside of End Area 2.

"The other team members aren't ere yet?" Napalm Man asked them.

"I think they'll soon appear though…" Colonel confirmed with a nod.

No sooner he'd finished his wording than both Knight Man and Shadow Man came in.

"I kept you waiting… Another request got prolonged…" Shadow Man admitted with a shrug of his shoulders.

"You came. Let me introduce you right now to the attacking member, Napalm Man." Colonel introduced.

"I go shootin' with a dong: be careful not to get hit!"

"… Hmmm… Hum, hum! Heh, heh…! From what I can grasp… He holds quite some power…! So… Colonel… Today's target is your everyday opponent?" Shadow Man asked.

"… Huff. You could say so. There's no mistaking it: they're a formidable foe…" Colonel trailed off and looked resigned.

"If you say so much… What kind of foe is it?"

Someone you guys know about… Expect for the rookie… Heh, heh! Go ahead and look on!

Colonel signaled the NNW segment of the area and they spotted "Dark" Blues standing in control while having a smug smile on his face and with his body glowing with power.

"… Hmmm… Heh, heh, heh! So! It'd seem that those "Team" cowards have finally gathered…" He taunted.

"Huh! That's… Blues! So that's what you meant to say…"

"True. If we don't delete that guy then we won't be able to "release" this area… We must all be careful that we don't bring unnecessary emotions into the strategy…" Colonel warned.

"Acknowledged."

"And so, this area's secondary problem is… Look at that."

Colonel signaled the ground ahead of them and they spotted that the density and numbers of "Dark Panels" was higher than the usual.

"Well then. This area's extra problematic spot… Look at that. As you can see the numbers of "Dark Panels" are above the usual and there are just a few "Item Panels"…" He warned.

"… And, by association, we'd be concerned about the "Order Points"…"

"Correct. In short: we've got no other choice but to extensively "Liberate" panels with the few "Order Points" we have…" Colonel concluded.

"When it comes to extensive "Liberations" then my "Napalm Bomb" should be useful. But given its high destructive power then any items in the inside will be destroyed too… With the exception of the barrier release key: since that's sturdy then I believe it should be alright… " Napalm Man offered before placing a warning.

Oh my. A double-edged weapon, then?

"Did you hear that, Ijuuin Enzan?"

"Y-yeah…" Enzan muttered.

"Don't worry. If it's possible we'd rather try to capture Blues than to delete him. But you must be ready for the worst-case-possibility." Colonel warned him.

"… I know. Let's start." Enzan turned serious and snapped outta it.

"Hum! The targeted "Liberation" is within 10 Phases. I'll be counting on you!" He told the team.

"I go first then! Check out my "Napalm Bomb" and let's open a way across this bog-like area!" Napalm Man rallied.

Let me see it too… Napalm Man!

"… Colonel." Shadow Man whispered to him.

"… I see." Colonel seemed to guess something.

Shadow Man didn't move from his position and merely placed his middle and index fingers together while aiming upwards: "Demon Prince" didn't see another Shadow Man forming behind him which kicked him from behind and made him fall into the ground.

"Whack! Not again! You gotta have ESP or something!" "Demon Prince" groaned as he tried to stand up.

"Where is Rock Man?" Colonel demanded.

"In your imagination, Mr. Universe!" He grumbled.

"We aren't going to play." Shadow Man told him as they aimed the katana at him.

"… Let's make a deal then… I'll give you a hint… If you can retrieve Blues intact! Heh, heh, heh! Oh! Partner! You came!"

"What!"

The other Navis (Napalm Man was busy being Operated by Enzan and fighting Viruses) looked at the entrance and found no – one: they looked ahead of them and spotted "Demon Prince" calmly running over the "Dark Panels" until he reached "Dark" Blues who kneeled in front of him and made a reverence.

"Demon Prince – sama."

"Erase all HQ data from you now. Everything. Now."

"Roger."

"The rest is up to you. Good luck trying to find a way around this, you guys! Heh, heh, heh!"

"Che. Bothersome mice." Colonel grumbled.

"What happened?" Enzan asked.

"That "Demon Prince" again… He's challenged us to try to free Blues in exchange for a hint on Rock Man…" Colonel admitted.

"He won't make it easy but we won't chicken out either. Shadow Man! We need to find the key so it's your turn to shine!" Enzan called out.

"My pleasure… That guy is still around, hiding high in the air… I can feel the mark I placed on him but that "mark" only allows me to detect him when he's less than 10 meters from my position…" Shadow Man announced.

"That's something." Enzan shrugged.

"… Hah! There. 1st key… Gotta find the 2nd one next…"

"Knight Man: we need you to free that "Dark Hole"…"

"Your will! Hah! Dishonorable Viruses! Royal Wrecking Ball!"

"Lastly, Colonel… Let's make way for the area where Shadow Man is at given how there's another "Dark Hole" there…"

"Roger. Screen Divide! Hah! Hrah! Colonel Cannon! There. Road opened and our "Phase" is over… Blues get his phase now."

"… Who will the first one to become prey for my sword? Heh… Heh, heh…!" He taunted.

"Look: a new "guardian" who wields a sword and looks like a mutated version of those "Swordy" Viruses…" Shadow Man spotted.

"We'll have to learn that guy's attack pattern and be careful with the other two because they've experience a level up…" Colonel warned while rubbing his chin.

"Hah! Guardian and whatever. I'll blow them up easily! Come! Ya useless weaklings! I wanna blow ya up!" Napalm Man yelled.

"Go!" Enzan rallied.

"Heh, heh, heh… Napalm Man looks like he'd blow the whole area up and wouldn't have enough… Amusing, truly." "Demon Prince" giggled.

"That tune sounds familiar." Knight Man muttered.

"True. It also sounds familiar to me." Shadow Man admitted.

"Yeah? Now that ya mention it I think it does but I can't remember when I heard that…" Napalm Man admitted as he finished blowing up some more Viruses.

"… Yo. Aibou. The pancakes are ready." "Demon King" whispered over his radio.

"Pancakes? Why would I need those?" "Demon Prince" seemed to frown.

"Dunno." "Demon King" giggled as a response.

"That ain't an answer!" He grumbled

"Invent Answer Man." "Demon King" giggled.

"How ridiculous." He fumed next.

"Another "Dark Hole" fell and we found the 2nd key…! Let's move on forward!" Enzan commanded.

"The Doc will need some Earl Grey tea soon enough."

"Well… That could be true, yeah, but…"

"But Tea Man and Teapot Man are waging war to each other over their roles." He laughed at his joke.

"Please…" "Demon Prince" groaned.

"Please a peace!" He laughed.

"Then it wasn't a drunkard but you were playing those rhymes?"

"Correct, Watson Jr." He confirmed.

"That's Enzan – kun's title so don't rob it off!" He scolded.

"My, my. Bravo, Ijuuin." He made a mock applause.

"Hmpf." Enzan was unimpressed.

"Hum! No evil-doers will stand in the way of justice! Kingdom Crusher! Be gone evil-doers!" Knight Man exclaimed.

"Ops. They're coming closer and they have just another two "Dark Holes" left to "Liberate" before they can face Buruusu…"

"Blues a blues!" "Demon King" laughed.

"Go codfish." "Demon Prince" settled.

"My. Truly."

"Truly… What's "truly"?" He asked with a hint of confusion.

"Your face. Truly tempting." His partner replied.

"Oi, oi… A guy like me is "tempting"? Don't you need someone to check that?" He sounded nervous.

"Nope. It's fashionable." "Demon King" argued back.

"Fashion is as speedy as Jupiter's daily rotation! Forget that: in less than 24 hours it'll have changed for something new by the hand of ZARA and the others." "Demon Prince" scolded.

"Last "Dark Hole"…! I'll do it!" Colonel exclaimed.

"How speedy…! It's been 5 "Phases" and they've come so far…! Their Folders have improved a lot and I blame Higureya for that." "Demon Prince" muttered.

"… No more "Dark Holes" and we have to end our "Phase" here: we must free some space around Blues to get to him. Knight Man should go first because he is strong against sword-types…" Enzan decided.

"Please count on me!" Knight Man exclaimed.

"Good. Napalm Man should go next given his burning nature which would burn hotter than a wild fire…" Shadow Man chuckled.

"Hah! That's right! I burn hotter than a wild fire!" He confirmed.

"…Heh! So! You've managed to get this far sans the great me, eh?" "Dark" Blues taunted Knight Man.

"Blues – dono! Do awaken!"

"Yeah, Blues! Can't you hear my voice?" Enzan asked.

"Heh, heh! Useless, useless! This body is being ruled by the "Dark Heart"! If ya wanna beat me then ya gotta delete me 'long this body!" "Dark" Blues laughed.

"Huh, huh… Can't be helped, then… Ijuuin Enzan – dono! Do handle the Operating." Knight Man sighed and called out to Enzan.

"Blues…! Che…! There's no other way around…!" He cursed.

"Let us go for it!" Knight Man exclaimed.

"Come! Fool! Long Sword!"

"Air Hockey! Drill Arm! Royal Wrecking Ball!"

"Gurah! Grah! Gu~h…! Bloody hell!" "Dark Blues" cursed as he took three attacks in a row.

"… And given the double damage rate then he'll be weakened soon enough and defeated…! Let's go, Knight Man! "Mega" Battle Chip: Django! Slot In!" Enzan announced.

Django, the "Solar Boy", showed up on the field and made a casket appear in the middle of it as three boulders fell down from the ceiling and three beams of light circled around it: "Dark" Blues roared and collapsed into the ground.

"No way… The "Dark Power" should've made ME invincible! I have… lost…? Uwa~h!" He roared.

"Enzan… sa… ma…!" Blues' weak voice called out.

"Che. But you still need to try to bring the real Blues out you know! I'm still winning!" "Demon Prince" taunted.

"Bothersome mouse!" Colonel grumbled.

"Dark" Blues managed to stand up but his body was frizzling and he looked unable to move.

"Ngh… I won't lose to… the likes of you lowlifes!"

"… B-Blues…! Wake up…! Don't lose to that idiotic "Dark Power"…! BLUES!" Enzan called out.

"Grh…! What's this hot sensation welling up in my chest…? C-can't be…! B-Blues…! You should've been totally swallowed by the "Dark"…!" "Dark" Blues cursed next.

"Blues!" Enzan kept on calling out.

"E-Enzan – sama…" Blues weakly called out.

"Shut up! Shut up! I'll have you be swallowed inside of the "Dark Swirl" once again! Nga~h!"

"Dark" Blues formed a mass of energy around his body and roared while Colonel gasped.

"The "Dark Power" is increasing…! Is it at its limit already?"

"Blues' heart won't lose to the "Dark Power"… I believe on him! Blues! Wake up!" Enzan rallied.

"Guo~h… Wo~h! Huff, huff… Heh… Heh, heh, heh… Captured him… Captured him! Completely! You lowlifes are stupid: you should've delivered the last blow back then! There'll be no second chance for you lowlifes!" "Dark" Blues exploded into laughter.

"W-what frightening power…! Can't be compared to that of before…! Do we cut it…? But… However…!" Colonel grimly muttered.

"Prize for driving me so far… So that you don't suffer I'll erase all of you at once…!" He taunted.

"Stop, Blues! Can't you hear my voice? Has Blues totally died by now or what? Come back! Blues! That's an order! We need your power and our mission is to defeat Nebula! BLUES!" Enzan kept on calling out apparently not wanting to give up.

"Give it up, Enzan – ku~n! I win!"

"Bwah, hah, hah, hah, hah! Ijuuin Enzan! You lowlife's voice can't reach Blues anymore! This is… the end! Dark Sword!"

"Dark" Blues began to form the dreaded blade but he began to frizzle again and the blade broke down.

"Ugrah! B-Blues? Diehard jerk!"

"E-Enzan – sama… I won't… lose, sir…! As long as I hear you voice, sir…! I won't lose to this idiotic "Dark Power"…!" Blues called out.

"What in the…!" "Demon King" sounded baffled and spoke aloud.

"I knew it: he was chatting with his accomplice!" Shadow Man muttered as if he got confirmation.

"Blues! Shatter the "Dark Power"…! Blues!" Enzan yelled.

"My duty is protect Enzan – sama…! And fight with my companions against Nebula…!" Blues' voice grew stronger.

"Guh! I'd better if you… went off to nap…!" "Dark" Blues cursed.

"I w-won't lose no matter what!"

"T-this body is… mine!"

"Get out, you fake!" Blues' voice sounded confident by now.

"BURUUSU~!" Enzan exclaimed.

There was a sudden outburst of white light and some sounds before it dimmed and everyone gasped upon seeing how Blues' colors had returned to normal.

"Blues…?"

"I shall… offer… no… apologies… Enzan… sama…! I heard you voice, sir…! I am… ready for… the next… mission…!"

He suddenly collapsed face-down into the ground and the group quickly checked on him.

"…He's sleeping! It'd seem he could overcome the "Dark Power"… Ijuuin Enzan! Now that Blues is back my duty will expire. I'll transfer Blues over there." Colonel announced with a smile.

"I owe you a lot, Colonel!"

"There's no need for thanks: this is a job too. Blues EXE: transfer!"

"No way! No way! NO WAY!" "Demon Prince" exclaimed.

"We win!" Colonel told him.

"… Che… ! Grftx! Grah! Rock Man is alive and unhurt: I'll give you guys that! But when you meet him you might not recognize him… Given his behavior…!" He let out.

"You lowlifes… You've turned him into a puppet?"

"Not exactly."

"Extortion. You use Hikari – hakase as extortion!" Pride exclaimed over the line.

"Good catch, Princess – sama! Well then! Farewell!"

He suddenly vanished and the group sighed in relief as the area began to regain its usual coloring: Colonel looked at the group.

"…I firstly must apologize to you guys. Originally, were Blues to have lost his self then I should've cut it… Hadn't Blues recovered his self back then you guys would've been in danger… My judgement as "Leader" was naïve…" He told them with a sigh.

"I liked Colonel – dono's spirit… Anyone would've cut Blues in that spot… However, that'd been disregarding the danger… I believed Blues would overcome the "Dark"." Knight Man told him.

"All's good if it ends well, right? Blues, huh? Sealing up the "Dark Power"… Man! What a strong guy…"

"… Hum! Heh, heh, heh…! Colonel! Even you got carried away, it'd seem…" Shadow Man chuckled.

"You guys…"

"… Well then let us Plug – Out! We did a good work today! Colonel – dono! Thou should go to Barrel - dono's place and make sure to rest as well." Knight Man suggested to him.

"Hmpf… Well then… Guess I should…"

"By the way… Where is Ijuuin Enzan at?" Dark Miyabi asked.

"There: on the Science Labs Command Room…" Barrel replied.

"…Enzan – sama… I shall offer no apologies."

"…Don't mind that! You're not to blame! Welcome back… Blues…!" Enzan told him.

"Ijuuin Enzan… It'd be wise to have Blues undergo some scanning and repairing…" Barrel called out.

"I knew that."

"Tonight, my Program – kun brothers… The revolution!" A voice called out from close by.

"The bloody vending machine is acting cozy again! When will someone go and bother to fix it? I can't work without my cappuccino cup!" Meijin cursed aloud.

"My beak will peak!"

"Shaddup! Gimme my cappuccino cup you machine!"

"Revolution, my brethrens! King under the Mountain: gather the dwarves and conquer the lands of your parents! My dock will clock!"

"At least they don't speak in katakana anymore…" Rokushakudama muttered with a shrug.

"MY CAPPUCCINO~! GIVE IT TO ME~!" Meijin pleaded.

"My deck will peck!

"WHY, YOU~…!"

20:57 PM (Japan Time)…

"…Bothersome Blues… Who'd said he'd be able to push back that dose of "Dark Power" which had been deeply dug in… It'd seem I've underestimated their power somewhat… Were Blues become able to control the "Dark Power" then that would be troublesome… Che. If I could make Hikari Yuuichirou confess ASAP and complete the research… If I get my hands on the research report he owns then my ambition would be achieved, hence why I need it…"

Dr. Regal was standing inside of his command room while looking southwards and grumbling aloud.

"Regal – sama…" A voice called out from the computer.

"… Cosmo Man, huh." He muttered without bothering to turn away or look over his shoulder.

"Yes, sir."

"Blues has been regained and the Internet Areas we rule over are being "released" one after the other… Truly discomforting…"

"Regal – sama, sir. I have an idea, sir. A strategy to destroy that "Navi Team" which conflicts us from the inside…!" The one named Cosmo Man eagerly exclaimed.

"… Interesting. Give it a try… Let those fools who dirty our sublime ideals be struck by a hammer of anger!" He rubbed his beard and sounded amused.

"Y-yes, sir!"

"Where is that "report" at…?" He wondered.

"My crash will trash! My bang will gang! My couple will quadruple! My twice will rice!" A voice rang out.

Dr. Regal got a twitch over the right eye and began to grumble under his breath while some noise rang out through the speakers which sounded like a fight…

21: 05 PM (Japan Time)…

"… Yo! Guys. Awake?"

"You. Whaddya want now?"

"Yeah. What happened to Buruusu?"

"We underestimated him truth to be told…"

"Oh yeah? Take that. You got a goal scored in your goalpost."

The twins had been discussing something in the room they were closed into when "Demon Prince" informed them through the slit and sounding slightly resigned.

"But the Doc admitted your dad is hiding some "research report" or another which he needs no matter what… And the remaining "Darkloid" Cosmo Man has thought of something to destroy that foolish "Team" from the insides…" He teased.

"Yesssir. We're cleverer than the "brain"…" "Demon King" added with a little chuckle.

"What! You lowlifes!" Netto snapped at them.

"My. What vocabulary. Truly." "Demon Prince" giggled.

"And Meijin – sama is struggling with a vending machine who wants to start the Program – kun revolution!"

"How idiotic." Saito growled.

"Well then… Remember! Your codenames are James for Saito and Mark for Hikari - kun! The Fynex Brothers! Heh, heh, heh. Let James Bond play cool: this is the 21st century's new warfare and he'll soon be outta league except as magazine front cover model!" "Demon Prince" sneered.

"My word." "Demon King" added.

They closed the slit and the eyes of both twins shone with barely restrained rage and anger: they formed grimaces and looked about to go and blow both of them up in a fit of pure hatred…