Chapter 13: Leadership
08:48 AM (Japan Time), Sunday March the 19th…
"… Sakurai. Why did you call me to this place?"
"Enzan – kun. It's true, right? You're part of that "Navi Team" which is "releasing" the Internet areas taken over by Nebula…"
"… Hmpf. Alright, I'll admit to it. Yeah. I want to do something useful and this it. But even if you had your Navis you don't get to join by pure chance: none of them have enough battle potential or the abilities needed to overcome the obstacles in our way…"
Meiru had called Enzan to come at the Akihara City Park in front of Higureya and was talking with him: Enzan shrugged and stuffed both hands on his pockets like looking calm.
"I see… And do you know anything about Netto or…?" She began asking while sounding eager.
"No. Not yet. But I suspect we're hot on their trail. By the way: try to avoid talking of this to those other two." Enzan quickly replied.
"Too bad! We heard it all!" A familiar girl's voice rang out.
Both Yaito and Dekao came out of Higureya and Enzan sighed in defeat while they grinned.
"You guys. Ayanokouji. Are you going to start a war?"
"What! We're just saying that we want to recognize the great labor you've made and this is how you thank us?" Yaito got annoyed.
"What a self-centered guy!"
"… I could say the same about you… Only thinking of the impossible and eluding reality plus lying to your little brother… Hikari tends to come loosen his tongue from time to time… And this info sometimes is useful, even…"
"Yikes!" Dekao gasped.
"Hah! See? Watch your tongue!" Yaito grinned.
"Well then… We don't want to bother you anymore so we'll be going and good luck." Meiru smiled.
"I've heard your talk!"
A girl caught up with them all of a sudden: she appealed as being in their same age group and height.
Her hair was colored black and was neatly arranged while being rolled into two spring rolls shapes beneath the ears: her eyes had a tint of brown to them too.
She wore a simple one-piece white suit with a red-edged skirt reaching past her knees: the sleeves reached all the way to the sleeves and had red cuffs on them while the neck area was also colored red.
She sported white socks and thick black wooden platform shoes which looked hand-made and simplistic.
She carried a lot of stuff: a black moden backpack, a hewn handbag with a leather strap plus a small pouch with something inside of it attached to the handbag plus a short wooden container to carry something hanging from her neck and, lastly, a hand-made umbrella colored in a brownish color.
She looked like some sort of old times' traveler even.
"You! You're fighting THE Nebula?" She asked Enzan.
"And what if? Do you need to know that to survive?" Enzan shot back.
"How rude! I'm named Jasmine! I've come from Choina to study Japanese medicine! Cha! Are cha familiar with the Reverse Internet?"
"The Reverse Internet ain't a place for women like you."
"How rude, how rude! I am not a "woman"! I'm a "girl"!"
"Women are women." He shrugged his shoulders.
"Hmpf! Men are men then!" She was annoyed by now.
Meiru got a twitch over her right eye along with Yaito and both seemed to boiling with annoyance at Enzans' motto yet he didn't see them giving how he was facing forward: Dekao gulped and stepped back like fearing to be turned into the scapegoat for this mess.
"And what would you do if I told you?"
"I'm searching for a secret medicinal book said to be sleeping in the Reverse Internet! I need that to heal my grandpa's illness! Tell me the location of the Reverse Internet!" She explained.
"Go see a specialist. It's not worth sticking the neck out there to begin with. The jerks down there could steal your ID or do some horrible stuff to you once they find out who you are. And I won't tell you."
"W-why not?"
"Why not, you ask? ONBA secret." He argued.
"Bu~! ONBA and whatever! Forget it! I'll find that Reverse Internet thing by myself! Baka guy!" She snapped before she ran away in a rush.
"Hmpf. What a waste of time… We need to get ready for the last mission and…"
"Enzan – sama, sir! The auto-phone, sir!"
"… Hum. Me… Got something to tell you so come to the Science Labs ASAP…" Barrel quickly whispered before cutting the line.
"He's in a rush, I guess. Well then… No other choice but to go there and check it out. See you around. And don't do reckless stuff."
"We know!" Meiru seemed to have cooled down by now.
"Hmpf!" Yaito folded her arms.
"One day I'll beat ya and Netto~!" Dekao challenged.
"Dream on." Enzan calmly countered.
Dekao grumbled while both girls began to burn with bad mood again so he gulped and fled while they cursed under their breaths…
09:03 AM (Japan Time)…
"… Ridley ate Barley!"
"Ookuda. You fail at those."
"Come on, Meijin! Don't be so stone-faced."
"Stone-faced… How silly."
"Excuse me. Let me through."
Enzan came to the Science Labs and spotted Meijin discussing with another employee at the start of the stairs: Meijin stepped away to let Enzan pass.
"Well then Scott ate Marlott!"
"That's so lame, really." Meijin replied as he sipped some cappuccino from his plastic cup.
Enzan ignored them and made his way to the command room where Barrel was finishing a phone call with someone.
"… Understood… Do as you like… Mr. Smith. Later."
"Mr. Barrel. What's up? Do we start the last mission?" Enzan asked as he stored the PET.
"… Hum… No. Today it's not stuff related to the mission… I received some information about the current affair which is being researched on but which I'm concerned about… There's something I'd like of you to research."
"Research? What research?"
"I'm convinced that it's related to this current afair… The "something" Regal is looking for: and he abducted Hikari Yuuichirou to find it… The "Hikari Report"…" He announced.
"… Hikari…? As in Hikari Netto…? So it's a report made by Hikari – hakase…?" Enzan was surprised.
So that's the "something" Dark Miyabi was talking about some days ago…!
"No. To be exacts, it's a research report which his father, Hikari Tadashi – hakase, left behind. My reasoning is that Yuuichirou – hakase has that "Hikari Report" or he knows its whereabouts." Barrel corrected.
"A research report left behind by Hikari Tadashi – hakase… What kind of report is it, anyway?"
"Regarding the contents… They're still being investigated. What we know insofar is… Hikari Tadashi – hakase was, about 30 years ago, besides researching in Network theory, carrying a two-man research with a certain scientist. It'd seem the report is about another type of Network technology…"
"..."Another type of Network technology"…? Can't you be more precise?"
"There's no doubt that it's something wholly different than the current Network we use but we don't know anything besides that…"
"Hum. Sounds like a top-secret project if you ask me yet the info is too vague." Enzan rubbed his chin.
"Can't be helped. We're talking over 30 years ago. And, besides… This research information wasn't made public so… We also are in a position into which we can't clearly tell if the "Hikari Report" really exists or not. I dunno what Regal intends to make by using Hikari – hakase's Network tech, but, anyway, it's obvious that we must get the "Hikari Report" before Regal can. Do you have any info about if Hikari Tadashi – hakase entrusted Yuuichirou – hakase with something?" Barrel exposed before asking of him.
"From father to son… Hmmm…"
"Enzan – sama, sir… Perhaps that letter which we discovered…" Blues offered.
"But in the end that was but a hint to get to the Akihara Town the year Hikari Netto was born in…" Enzan was quick to discard it.
"The Akihara Town of the year when Hikari Netto was born…?"
"True. It's a split area which one can come in through Akihara Area in which the Akihara Town of 11 years ago is recreated."
"… A "Past Vision"…?" Barrel wondered.
"… "Past Vision"...?"
"A tech which is the preservation of a real-world instant by its digitalization into the Cyber World: I wouldn't have though it was hidden in Akihara Area… By the way… What was written in that letter you mentioned a moment ago?" Barrel summed up.
"… One moment… Hum… "To my son Yuuichirou… I ask of you not to neglect tasking care of Gau. I always say it, but Gau mustn't get wet. Given how he gets mad at those times, let Gau inside of house when it begins to rain." … That's what it says. The dog named "Gau" did live in the reverse of Hikari Netto's house 11 years ago." He read aloud before explaining the meaning of "Gau" to Barrel.
"Ijuuin Enzan. Search for that dog: it could become a very important clue to find the "Hikari Report"… Head for the "Past Vision"…" Barrel suddenly commanded while looking impatient.
"Roger."
"Counting on you…"
Enzan headed over to the terminals on the left side of the room and drew his PET.
"Plug – In! Blues, Transmission!"
Blues quickly made his way through the Science Labs' Area and reached Akihara Area where he located the door: he stepped into the "Past Vision" and searched the area.
"Hmmm? How odd. I was convinced that the dog was here last time around, Enzan – sama, sir…"
"Can't you spot if it went off to somewhere else?"
"Negative, sir. I cannot spot them." Blues reported.
There was the sound of a door opening and Colonel rushed out of the entrance to meet up with Blues.
"You came." Blues greeted him.
"Was it there?" Colonel anxiously asked.
"Truth is… Last time it was yet…" He admitted.
"What? The inhabitants of a "Past Vision" belong to a certain moment of the past which was digitalized: they shouldn't be able to freely move around!" Colonel argued.
"Then Nebula might've beaten us to it?" Blues suggested.
"Could be yet there's another thing I'm thinking of…" Colonel brought the left hand to his chin.
"And that's…?" Blues asked.
"Yeah. Carry out an investigation as much detailed as possible about that dog. I'll check out if there are any new movements by Nebula… If they have gotten the dog then they should be on the move by now." Colonel commanded to him next.
"Fair enough." Blues acknowledged.
"Let's go talk with Hikari – san, Blues. Plug Out."
Enzan retrieved Blues and holstered the PET while Barrel merely nodded and drew his own PET: Enzan came out and closed the door to then exit into the lobby: Ookuda and Meijin were still arguing.
"… Matt will beat Ratt!"
"No. Foot Man will beat your run-of-the-mill Navi." Meijin shot back.
"Run will beat nun!"
"That sounds offensive. Watch your words, Ookuda."
"How silly." Enzan muttered with a hint of annoyance after he'd walked past them.
09:35 AM (Japan Time)…
"… Good morning, ma'am. I apologize for my sudden visit yet there is something I would like of you to tell me."
"What's up?"
Enzan came to visit Haruka and tried to look friendly while she was apparently trying to keep herself together and not break down.
"When your son… Sorry. When you sons were born… Did you have a dog in the house, ma'am?" He corrected himself.
"When Netto and Saito were born? When they were born we didn't have any dog in the house…" Haruka replied.
"How odd." Enzan frowned.
"Wait for a min." She suddenly seemed to have remembered something given how she frowned and brought the right index finger to his chin as if concentrating.
She ran off towards the stairs and Enzan sat down on a chair next to the table while looking somewhat fueled by her behavior: he looked out at the dog-house he'd inspected before and then began to write down a summary of what he'd found insofar.
"…There it was… It's a photo of over ten years ago, though." Haruka's voice rang out as she came back about 10 minutes later.
Enzan grabbed the photo and it showed a younger Hikari Tadashi along with Gau somewhere: he was smiling at the camera.
"Ah! It's this dog indeed…! Ma'am! You said that back then there wasn't a dog yet are you sure there's no room for mistakes?"
"Yes. There's no room for mistakes."
"I see… I am sorry to ask, but might I borrow this photograph for a few hours?" Enzan requested.
"Yes, I don't mind." Haruka invited.
"Do you know anything related to this dog, ma'am? Like a place which this dog was fond of…" Enzan asked.
"Hum… The dog was there before I got married so I don't know much about it yet… Ah! True… That photo… It seems to have beem taken where Grandpa used to bring Gau along to often… I don't know where they went to but every time they came back from there both Grandpa and Gau were covered with dust…" Haruka admitted after thinking back on it for a little while.
"Stained with dust… Hmmm… Ah! I remember. The Oran Island mine… Thank you for your help, ma'am!" Enzan looked animated by the information so he stood up and politely bowed.
"I'm glad I was of help."
"… I will rescue them. We are catching up to them. Please hold on, ma'am… For their sake. It can't be much longer. I'm sure that it won't be even 6 days from now on…" Enzan tried to rally her.
"… Truth is…" Haruka trailed off.
"What?" Enzan politely asked.
"I got a strange message. It was written in binary so I asked Yuuichirou – san's aide to decode it for me… It was from Saito!"
"What!" He gasped.
"Yet it was extremely short and rushed… "We're alright for the moment. We're trying to find a way to save Papa. Please be strong, Mama. We're doing all we can. Saito." … I know it's from him because he added my stew recipe which I'd asked of him to bring to a friend's on that day…"
"I see…! So he managed to sneak a message out… That's a good sign: they must be doing their best… I need to help them too so I must go! Please believe in them, ma'am!" Enzan sounded animated.
"I do. And I also believe in you, Enzan – kun, as their friend."
"Thank you, ma'am… Goodbye."
11:48 AM (Japan Time)…
"…What do you seek in this inhabited island?"
"That's my motto."
Enzan had come to the coal mine entrance when he spotted an old man there who looked suspicious of him yet Enzan was not surprised.
"Me? I used to work here time ago! It pains me to see how this island is getting gradually abandoned… So I come from time to time to cleanse the island up." The old man admitted.
"So you worked before, mister? Maybe you've seen this person and this dog?" Enzan had an idea.
He handed him the photo and the man immediately gasped so Enzan's hopes grew.
"Oh! I know them! This is a scientist from the Science Labs who used to come here a lot in the old days. He did get to help me out a lot."
"So you know my companion's grandfather?"
"What! Are you a friend of that scientist's grandson? Ah! True, I've got something which I was granted custody of by that scientist… My Navi possesses it. My Navi should be in the Internet Oran Island Area which can be accessed from the abandoned mine. I wouldn't have though that I'd end up meeting a friend of that scientist's grandson… Maybe my time is getting closer, even?" The man sounded surprised.
"Alright."
Enzan headed over to one speaker close by and aimed the PET's IR port at its Plug-In port: Blues made his way to an isolated spot of Oran Island Area 1 and spotted a Navi standing there so he headed over to him: the Navi stretched and then looked at him.
"…You came. I heard the talk from my Operator. Go and take this with you." The Navi went straight to the point.
"… "Old P-Code"…?" Blues wondered.
"I wonder… Is it a "P-Code" of a "Security Cube" set somewhere? Given how it belonged to that scientist… I wonder… Could it be related to the Science Labs…? I've always been picked by it truth to be told… If you figure out where that old "P-Code" belongs at then please tell me…"
"Fine."
"Now that you mention it… A young lad… Well, I say young but he had to be at least 10 years older then you… Came by a while ago asking if the mine had anything but coal on it and I admitted that there was this curious "Magne Metal" ore… That scientist seemed to be pretty interested on it…" The old man recalled.
"Hmmm… An agent of Nebula or someone else…? Didn't he leave any names?"
"Oh sure he did. I wouldn't speak to him without knowing his name so he elegantly and speaking like a samurai he introduced himself as "Mr. Smith" and said he "came and went"… Odd fellow."
"Mr. Smith… Wait. Wasn't Mr. Barrel taking with someone named like that a while ago…? But "Smith" is a pretty overused English name… It could be totally unrelated yet…" Enzan muttered.
"In fact… I haven't seen him come out of the island… He also spoke to that beautiful Princess – sama in the beach and I couldn't help but overhear on them… Heh, heh, heh. But he was very business-like and only wanted details of an incident in which her Navi went berserk…"
"The "Magne Metal"… It emitted some kind of EM waves which turned Navis berserk when coming close to it…" Enzan muttered.
"Oh! It can do that? Well, I do remember that the scientist was muttering about it being very hard to crack and very effective but he wouldn't say why he thought of it to be "effective"…" The old man added.
"This is turning strange. Maybe I'll talk with Princess Pride later but I doubt her having spotted anything else… Let's go try to find where we must use this code… And I have a hunch of where to look at… Thanks for the information, mister. Goodbye."
12:14 PM (Japan Time)…
"…"OLD-MODEL"… AND THAT'S WHY THEY MAKE A FOOL OF ME? HEY, DID YOU KNOW? IT'S NOT LIKE I AGE BECAUSE I LIKE IT! JEEZ! HOW ANNOYING, REALLY! "
"Ah… No… Where is this? I used an "Old P-Code" to open an old Security Cube in the Science Labs Area 3 and now I'm here…"
"THEY CALL THIS "OLD COMPUTER TERMINAL CYBERNETICS"… OLD! HAH! BACK THEN… WE WERE THE FASTEST TERMINALS IN THE SCIENCE LABS!"
"Old computer terminal…?"
Blues had come up into the "Cybernetics" of some device and was talking with a Program – kun who sounded annoyed.
"Move on, Blues."
"Roger, sir."
He spotted another Program – kun near the exit and tried to call for its attention: it took a little while for him to reply.
"…AH. SORRY. LATELY MY REACTIONS HAVE TURNED SLOWER … DUNNO WHY: MY BODY FEELS SLUGGISH… AH! AGE, IT'D SEEM!"
"Where does this lead to?" Blues asked.
"A VERY OLD SECTION OF AKIHARA AREA… CUT OFF FROM THE REST OF THE AREA…"
"Hum. I see. Thanks."
Blues jumped into the "Warp Point" and reached a section of Akihara Area 2 cut off from the rest of it: a Navi was standing there.
"I am the Navi of Hikari Tadashi… If you have come here then that means you are the Navi of Yuuichirou – kun?" The Navi asked.
"No. I am a companion of Yuuichirou – hakase's son, Hikari Netto's, Net Navi, whose name is Rock Man… I am Blues." He admitted while not bothering to conceal his surprise.
"So that's how it is… He probably is carrying on Hikari Tadashi's will as well… Well then, I shall hand this over to you. Give to him…"
"… "Past Key Data"…?" Bliues wondered.
"Alright… I have handed it over…" The Navi muttered.
"Oi. Is this a key to enter a "Past Vision"?" Blues asked.
"There is a riddle from Hikari Tadashi… "The 4th rock-smashing machine… A box which stops the rocks marks the place…" …With this my work has ended…" The Navi trailed off.
"Wait…!"
Blues gasped as he spotted how the glow on the Navi's eyes died and he remained still like a statue.
"T-this Navi…! Given how it's a pretty old model then his data has deteriorated past repair and stopped functioning! We made it on time!"
"It was worth it making the route from Oran Island Area… Let's go check the drilling machines… Plug Out!"
Enzan ran into the mine and used the elevators to climb down into the large drill room: he then sent Blues inside of the "Drilling Machine Cybernetics 4" and headed him over to the device stopping the rock conveyor belt: a Program – kun was standing close by.
"A VISITOR: HOW SURPRISING… MAYBE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?" He asked.
"Yeah. Have a look."
"HUM, HUM… "THE 4TH ROCK-SMASHING MACHINE… A BOX WHICH STOPS THE ROCKS MARKS THE PLACE …" … ISN'T THAT THAT DEVICE OVER THERE? SPEAKING OF WHICH… LONG, LONG AGO… I SAW A NAVI VANISH INTO THE EMPTY SPACE NEXT TO THE DEVICE! I WAS OBVIOUSLY SURPRISED BY THAT… I THINK THAT AN ENTRANCE TO ANOTHER DIMENSION IS LOCATED THERE… MAYBE… SO THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S BETTER NOT TO COME TOO CLOSE TO IT…" He explained while trailing off.
Blues rushed over to the space and stood there.
"… Hum, hum… "A box which stops the rocks marks the place"… Isn't that here?" He wondered.
He took a step closer and the "Past Key Data" glowed to then allow a door to reveal itself.
"There is it! A door linking to the same 11-year ago Akihara City "Past Vision"…!" He exclaimed.
"Good work. Once you feel ready then come inside!"
"Roger, sir."
Blues opened the door and came out of a medium-sized cargo ship parked next to the main Oran Island wharf: he could see several persons around there plus the speakers were working and looked like they'd been recently installed.
"This place…? The old Oran Island…!"
"We should've expected it… Blues! Begin the search!"
"Roger, sir."
Blues approached a scientist who was going over some notes set in a clipboard and heard him mutter.
"Like we'd thought… It'd seem that huge amounts of "Magne Metal" are sleeping in this island's soil… I must contact Hikari – hakase."
Blues seemed to mark the words and then came closer to a man standing in the beach.
"Fu~h… How hot! Processing coal ain't a walk in the park…" He groaned.
Blues then tried to hear to a foreigner musing over a cart filled with coal.
"Hah, hah, hah! A lot of stuff today as well! I did well on bothering to come all the way from Ameroupe!" He exclaimed.
Blues dashed towards a man walking around there and humming.
"Today we dug up a lot of coal as well! Oran Island is rich in mineral resources!" He exclaimed.
He then spotted a woman who looked like a typical worker-class housewife and who was muttering in an annoyed tone of voice.
"The men who work in the coal mine eat up a lot! They want so much rice: I never have enough!" She complained.
Blues shrugged and then climbed down to the other beach where he spotted a young boy playing around plus another ship.
"My dad is working on that coal mine deeper inside! It's gotta be cool!"
"I cannot seem to spot any dog, sir." Blues reported.
"So it'd seem… Maybe we need to head back already."
"Gau! Gau!"
"A dog is barking…!" Blues gasped and looked around.
"Gau! Gau! Gau! Gau!"
"Loud dog! Be quiet already!"
Blues spotted a black-colored Nebula Navi cornering Gau in the western edge of the island.
"If ya yell so much then that Blues guy will find me out!"
"No need. I've found you lowlife already." Blues was already behind them with the Long Sword drawn.
"Guh! Blues!" He gasped.
"A Nebula Navi… They've been following me. We won't hand that dog over to you lowlifes!"
"Keh! Just by saying "let go" you think I'll go "yes, is that so?" or what? It's obvious that I'm not gonna let go of it! While I'm at it I'll go and delete ya! If I get the dog and beat Blues then Regal – sama will surely be rejoiced!" He boasted.
"Come!"
"Guora~h!"
"Slow!"
Blues quickly sliced him up and the Navi groaned.
"Mugo~h! I'd heard the rumors but didn't expect the guy to be so strong…! Nugo~h!" He roared before being deleted.
Blues took a step forward towards Gau while lowering the Long Sword to try to look less hostile.
"Gau. It's alright by now. Calm down."
"Grrr…"
"It looks like it is still either scared or annoyed yet I wonder why Nebula was chasing them… Catch them, Blues."
"Roger, sir."
"Grrr!"
"Relax. I've come to help you. Calm down."
Blues took another step forward and Gau remained quiet.
"Good. Come over here. Like this…" He invited.
"Gau!"
Gau tackled him and then rushed past him and he managed to get on his feet again.
"Wha! Wait! I apologize: he escaped, sir."
"He can't have gone too far. Search for him. He must be close by."
"Roger, sir."
Blues examined the forest of plants close by and heard rustling sounds coming from there so he came closer and tried to listen in as he determined the source of them.
"I heard a sound over there…"
"Gau!"
Gau jumped out and tackled him again before running southwards: Blues stood up and grumbled.
"Wha! I got caught again…" He cursed.
"Come on. It's just a dog." Enzan animated.
"I understand, sir."
"Woof! Woof!"
"The dog's voice…! T-that's…!"
Blues looked at the southern beach to spot Blizzard Man who'd caught Gau inside of a snow ball.
"Hyururu~! Caught ya~! Alright, let's kiss farewell to this hot place. However… What use has Regal – sama for this dog, I wonder?" He laughed before he began wondering.
"Gau! Gau! Gau!"
"Hyurururu~! Jeez! What a loud dog!" He protested.
"Let go of that dog!" Blues yelled.
"Hyururu?"
Blues jumped down and confronted him by aiming the Long Sword at him and looking annoyed.
"Blizzard Man! You lowlife fell in the 1st "Liberation Mission"!"
"… Hyurururu! You'd expected to beat me back there…? As long as there is "Dark" in this world then… We "Darkloids" can be revived countless times…! Hyururururu~!" He laughed.
"Don't care! I'll defeat you over and over again! Go, Blues!"
"Your will!"
"Hyurururu~! I've got no time to properly deal with ya! Hyururu~! Have at ya~!"
He suddenly escaped with Gau in tow and Blues growled in frustration while making a grimace.
"You lowlifes! I shall no offer no apologies, Enzan – sama! I failed miserably, sir!" He apologized.
"Che! Then we gotta go back to the Science Labs and report on the situation!" Enzan growled.
His auto-phone rang all of a sudden.
"Enzan – sama, sir! The auto-phone, sir! Connecting…"
"Ah! Good, good! It connected!" Someone exclaimed.
"Who are you?" Enzan questioned.
"I am a Science Labs worker! Right now… The Science Labs HP is suffering an attack by Nebula's "Darkloids"…! We need you to lend us your power! Please come to the Science Labs ASAP!"
"Ijuuin Enzan! The Nebula guys finally came! Give us a hand!" Barrel called out in background.
"By all the…! We must get there ASAP! Blues! Plug Out and let's rush to the Science Labs!"
"Roger, sir!"
Enzan rang out and into the surface where he sent Blues into the speaker leading to Oran Island Area 1.
"No time to do the 2-hour long return trip yet… Do it! I'll be on my way there but I can use the IPC satellite to remain uplinked!"
"Roger, Enzan – sama, sir!"
"I'm counting on you! Plug – In! Blues, Transmission!"
"Here I come! Nebula dogs!"
12:47 PM (Japan Time)…
"… Colonel!"
Blues made it to a corner of the Science Labs HP where Colonel was fending off four Nebula grunts plus Shade Man hovering behind them and looking amused.
"Ki, ki~! Blues, huh… A troublesome guy showed up…"
"Grah! Shade Man got resurrected too!" He cursed.
"Ki, ki, ki~… Given those looks then you've already met with Blizzard Man… Which means that… We've gotten "it" at last…? Ki, ki, ki, ki! There's no more need for stalling…" He muttered.
"I'll lend a hand!" Blues told Colonel.
"Ones who rebel against us of Nebula…! The time has finally come! The idealized world by our Lord, Regal – sama… The completely evil world shall be born!" He proclaimed.
"What!" Colonel gasped.
"Ki, ki, ki~! I'd liked to play around for a bit more but you'll have to excuse me in this spot…" He laughed.
"Running away?" Blues growled.
"My servants! Delete these two guys!"
"Shade Man! You lowlife!"
Shade Man escaped while the four Nebula grunts took a step forward while chuckling.
"Where are looking at? We're your opponents!"
Another three of them came in behind Blues and he had to whip around so as to face them.
"Grah! We're surrounded!" He cursed.
"Blues. Handle the rear…"
"Roger."
"No matter what strategies you knead… You guys can't win!" The Nebula grunts boasted.
"Coming, sir!"
"Uora~h!"
"Delta Ray Edge!"
"Colonel Army!"
Blues quickly sliced his three opponents while Colonel formed some "Stone Cubes" which then gave way to some "soldier" programs who were armed with machineguns and swords and were able to strike the enemies off-guard while Colonel finished them off.
"Gu~… Gurya~!"
"Kuh! The Science Labs have suffered a direct attack…! We can't use the Science Labs as a Command Room anymore." Colonel grumbled once all enemies had been deleted.
"… Colonel. Nebula stole the dog." He reported.
"I roughly got that from their chatter but… As I thought: the dog wasn't an inhabitant of the "Past Vision", then!" Colonel muttered.
"Huh? Wasn't an inhabitant…?" Blues wondered.
"Correct. The "Past Vision" is an instant cut out of the past real world and preserved… In short: they're events which happened in the past… And since it supposedly eternally repeats that instant... It's impossible for it to take action in "real time"… I did think that it was suspicious back when we found out that the dog wasn't there…" He exposed.
"… Then that dog did have some connection to the "Hikari Report" after all?" Blues guessed.
"It'd seem there's no room for mistakes… Let's Plug – Out once for the time being… Since we dunno if Nebula set up any listening devices or not!"
"Roger."
"Ijuuin Enzan. Plug – Out. Barrel will talk with you."
"Fine. Blues. Plug – Out."
"Yes, sir."
"Use the satellite uplink to come back… I'm going to risk it and go full speed today to reach the coast sooner… Mr. Barrel! I am to blame that the dog got stolen. My apologies." He reported over the PET.
"Can't be helped in regretting what's already happened. What's important is how we're going to operate from now on. I dunno what exactly Nebula intends. But it'd seem that now that they've gotten "Gau" then their scheme is going to enter into its last stages without any doubt…"
"So what can we do?" Enzan asked of him.
"First is smashing Nebula's forces occupying the Reverse Internet. And then uncover Nebula's hideout while defeating Regal before he can make something happen…" Barrel replied.
"Yeah… But the main danger lurks in the Reverse Internet. And doing a "Liberation Mission" seems to be risky even…" Enzan sighed.
"What's wrong? When did your statements become so bearish…?" Barrel sounded puzzled.
"I was useless to stop Nebula from stealing the dog. Even if we delete Nebula's "Darkloids" then they get resurrected soon enough like we've checked today. And I don't feel like I'm properly Operating as of late either…" Enzan admitted.
… True: you're the "Team Operator", yet… Who do you think the "Team Leader" is? Leave the "Team" combat up to Colonel. You just concentrate on performing the best Operation…" Barrel reminded him.
"Guess you're right. We've got a powerful "Leader" after all."
"…We're a "Team"… It ain't like you're fighting all alone… Don't forget that." Barrel warned.
"Alright." Enzan acknowledged.
"Well then. Let's begin the strategy for the next mission and… Well, that's what I'd like to say but… The Science Labs have been hit and intruded by Nebula… We can't use this place as command room anymore. In this situation… I'd like of you to find new a place to serve as replacement of this command room..." Barrel charged him with.
"A new command room… Hmmm… Somewhere wide enough yet where the enemy can't locate it… Somewhere like that?"
"Finding that is your job. I don't care what methods you use. But, if possible, try to find it out ASAP."
"Roger. I'll think of something. Maybe I'll find a small palace even which is shining with newness…" Enzan came up with some sarcasm.
"Heh... I'll be expecting it…"
Enzan finished the call while Blues reappeared inside of the PET: Enzan soon spotted the coast so he parked the water-bike in the store's dock ramp and headed into it.
"I've returned it: here, the keys."
"Please do come again soon." The clerk bowed.
"Sure thing."
Enzan came out of the store and then headed for the nearest Metro Station: he bought a coffee cup from a machine and spotted something odd in the display so he made a sign to Blues.
"… Some kind of hijacking program has been left behind along with binary data… Yet that data looks like a post-addition… Maybe they're another message by Rock Man?" He wondered.
"Copy it and decode it ASAP." Enzan whispered.
"Your will."
Hikari, Rock Man… Where are you at?
13:29 PM (Japan Time)…
"… You are Higure Yamitarou, right? Hikari talked me about you."
"Oh! Ijuuin – kun! Welcome, de masu. Welcome to my Higureya, de masu. What's the matter, de masu?"
Enzan had come to Higureya and was talking with Higure as he stood next to the Chip Traders and the Loto Machine.
"Truth is…"
He whispered something to Higure and he nodded in understanding while he looked intrigued too.
"You're looking for a wide space, de masu? There's a place I can think of which may serve, de masu… If you lend me a hand in my job then I'll provide you with that place, de masu…" He grinned.
"Lend a hand…?" Enzan asked.
"…True, de masu! This world is "give & take"! De masu! If you want to gain something… You gotta pray its price, de masu!" He insisted.
"I knew that. I'm not IPC's VP in vain! But, whatever. What do you want me to do?" Enzan shrugged his shoulders.
"Truth is… Number Man went into End Area 3 to deliver a product to a customer but was suddenly attacked by Viruses… And the file with the customer's personal data was dropped there, de masu…"
"Then you're in big trouble." Enzan lifted his eyebrows.
"True, de masu… If society gets to know it… That'll mean a big drop of confidence in Higureya, de masu… Please, de masu! I'd like of you to find the data file which Number Man dropped, de masu!" He pleaded.
"Can't you be somewhat more specific? End Area 3 is a big place after all!"
"True… He'd been admiring something really admirable when the Viruses assaulted him or so he told me, de masu…"
"Something really admirable…? Hmmm… Alright. I get it."
"Please, de masu~!"
Enzan nodded and came out: he stepped into a phone booth and used it to allow Blues inside of the Cyber World.
"Let's start the search… Luckily I secured some P-Codes and we can come through their HPs from the links in my office's PC… Go to IPC Home Office and then to End Area HP…" Enzan commanded.
"Roger."
Blues swiftly made his way through the IPC firewalls where the Navis saluted and unlocked the doors: Blues then reached Enzan's PC and used the Warp Point to skip to End Area HP and from there to End Area itself where he stopped to get his bearings.
"Over there…" He muttered.
He ran into End Area3 and soon reached the replica of the "Shachihoko Castle" which was the communications system.
"I think it's this, Enzan – sama."
He looked behind it and found a "Data File" which he picked and stored: he failed to spot a normal Navi colored black and sapphire looking at him from a distance without muttering anything.
"Good. Let's go back to the store."
Enzan recalled Blues and quickly headed into the store where he showed Higure the file.
"… Oh, oh, oh, o~h! T-t-this is it, de masu! Saved, de masu! You've solved it without the occurrence of Higureya's greatest scandal, de masu! Well then! Let me provide you with the secret base as we'd agreed… De masu…! But, before that…"
He glanced around the store and cleared his throat: the only customers were a couple of elementary boys and one girl.
"All visitors! My bad, de masu, but we're closed today! De masu! Come out ASAP, de masu!"
"E~h? Why the heck!" A boy uttered.
"And now that I was thinking of doing a Net Battle~!" Another groaned in disappointment.
"How oppressive!" A girl protested.
"Come out already, de masu!"
"Boring! Let's go!"
"Yup! Go, go!"
"I'm going back too~!"
"Come again, de masu! Kept you waiting, de masu… Well then, follow me, de masu… Here, de masu…" He called out: he looked at Enzan and smiled.
Enzan shrugged his shoulders and followed Higure to the northern wall where a cardboard silhouette of Number Man had been glued to.
"Here, de masu… Overnight, overnight, people in full bloom! Inside, de masu… Follow me, de masu…" He chanted some kind of spell.
A door unlocked and Enzan lifted his eyebrows.
"Inside, de masu… Follow me, de masu…"
"Amusing."
Enzan followed Higure into what had the looks of a back store given the piles of boxes accumulated there.
"So there's a backroom to your store…"
"This is Higureya's storeroom and, also, my office, de masu… Alright, over here, de masu…"
"My."
The corridor turned to the left and led to a wide room having a gigantic LCD monitor on the far wall, a desk, and a table with two working computers plus a half-dismantled one: wires, bolts, screwdrivers and papers were scattered around.
"How is it, de masu? I've staked money and equipment, de masu, so you can do almost anything anytime, de masu…"
"Not bad, Higure Yamitarou. This is exactly what I was looking for."
"Heh, heh, heh… I'm honored that it picks you, de masu… You can start using it today, de masu…" He grinned.
"Thanks. But won't you get into trouble from letting us use it?"
"I get it, de masu. This a secret base, right? I won't tell anyone, de masu! A secret base is secret so that's why it's worth it, de masu! Exposing a secret base's secret it's not manly! … Right? Ijuuin – kun?" He exposed.
"Heh. True. Let's call Mr. Barrel over."
Higure came out while Enzan drew his PET and dialed a number while trying to ignore the buzz of a dragonfly hovering around the ceiling: Barrel soon connected.
"Found it. Higureya's back store. Akihara Town Park… Next to the Metro Station… The owner is trustable: Hikari buys Chips from him very often and he knows useful info..." Enzan reported.
"Roger. Be there soon."
The call got cut and Enzan sat on the edge of the desk while looking rather amused.
"Hikari would like to come and play hide-and-seek here." He muttered with a hint of amusement.
"Regarding Hikari and Rock Man, sir… The message we found earlier says "Two jerks bossing us around like field agents… Hard to shake off… Regal looking for some "Hikari Report"… HQ…" … Yet it gets cut off. I'm afraid they found this one out yet they decided that by now it wasn't dangerous for us to know this…" Blues reported.
"I see… We gotta tell this to Mr. Barrel once he comes over." Enzan calmly rubbed his chin.
"Tell me what?"
Barrel came in and stopped to look around with a hint of curiosity: he checked the working computers and then the monitor before assuming his post behind the desk.
"…Hum. This spot, as command room, is irreproachable… So, what did you want to tell me?"
"We've found two messages left behind by Hikari and Rock Man in two spots… They say they're largely alright yet those two lowlifes are bossing them like they were field agents… They know Regal is looking for the "Hikari Report" yet when they were about to relay the position of the HQ it gets cut off." Enzan summed up.
"I see. Then they might be the "infiltrators" who sneak hijacking programs in several strategic facilities during late night…"
"Ah. I didn't know of those… I'd heard about the Waterworks yet… So that's what they're doing apart from ruling the Network… Anyway. We can talk later. So let's get on with planning the strategy for the next mission and…!" He began but was cut off.
A beeping sound rang out and Barrel gasped as he looked at his PET with a surprised face.
"The surveillance alarm?" Barrel exclaimed.
"Surveillance alarm, you say?" Enzan wondered.
"A device which Colonel set on the door connecting with the Reverse Internet… It'd seem that someone is attempting to come into the Reverse Internet…" Barrel explained.
"No way…" Enzan groaned.
"Got any hunches?" Barrel looked up.
"Some foreign woman named Jasmine was bothering me with questions over the route to the Reverse Internet!" He confessed.
"… Huh…! A civilian…! Ijuuin Enzan, head for End Area 5! I'll send Colonel in later!" He ordered.
13:56 PM (Japan Time)…
"… Stay away from that door! Don't come closer to that!"
"Who are cha? I gotta go there, ya see."
"What's wrong, Meddy?"
"Jasmine. Listen up: this man is blocking me from going to the Reverse Internet. "
Blues intercepted a female Navi trying to interact with the door blocking the way to the Reverse Internet.
Her general height appealed to be at around a meter and sixty or maybe slightly less yet shorter in height than Blues.
Her helmet's main color was navy blue and it covered her whole head: reddish transparent shades shielded her bluish eyes while two hair string-like shapes formed from each side of the forehead having a small reddish band near the end of them.
The rear part of the helmet had a cylinder-like shape emerging from it which also had a thin reddish band towards the end of it: her ear pads had a reddish outer rim and the insides were white: nothing particular was drawn into it.
A curved white-colored object was set slightly over her forehead and had her emblem drawn into it: four upper-half-of-a-finger-shaped and red-colored forms aiming NW, NE, SW and SE with a diamond-shaped white space set on its center: the rim was colored blue and the rest of the space was colored white.
She wore a white bodysuit over the central part of her body which ended around the hips while forming an irregular-sphere-like form: two lines of a brownish color travelled down it starting slightly beneath the neck and ending past the hips: they drew two circles at around the hips' height.
The bodysuit was sleeveless, so part of her arms' "skin" was exposed: the forearm covering began around the elbow: it included a small circle which was placed above the elbow.
Her fingers were covered by that white "glove" like-material.
Part of her legs' "skin" was exposed until the boots began around the knees' height: they had a slightly heel-shoe-like form with reddish domes forming around the ankles on the "outer" side of each boot: the "inner" side only had a circle drawn inside of it.
She also carried a kit-like case with a red handle and her emblem on on it.
"I knew it. Didn't I tell you not to come in?" Enzan grumbled.
"The smug-faced manly guy from before…! Nya~h!"
"Smug-faced or not I'm part of the ONBA and I can have you arrested here and now for unauthorized entry." Enzan warned.
"I don't need to listen to cha chit-chat! Meddy! Pry that door open!" She fumed.
"Yup!"
"You woman! Don't be a fool!" Blues cursed.
"Hmpf! I don't recall receiving orders form cha! Kya~h!"
She suddenly ran back and hid behind Blues as a blackish cloud floated towards the barrier from before and destroyed it.
"Been a while…" A voice rang out.
"Che. I know that voice. Show your hide!" Blues growled.
"Oh come on." Enzan groaned.
"I've been revived from the depths of Hell to defeat you guys!" The voice exclaimed.
Cloud Man floated until the spot where the door had been at.
"Che! And now I must fight while shielding this woman?"
"It'd seem that all of you "Darkloids" are diehard folk…" A familiar voice rang out as Colonel came into the area and drew his sword.
"About time, Colonel!"
"Blues. Leave this to me!" Colonel announced.
"Hmpf! I don't care how many come in! Elec St…!"
"Slow! I've already seen that move once… Moves I've seen once don't work on me!" Colonel exclaimed as he warped in front of him and attack with his sword.
"Ugugugu… Why, you…!" He grumbled as he floated backwards while his body frizzled and sparkled.
"He ran…"
Blues shook Meddy off him and both of them drove her into a corner where she looked scared.
"I dunno your goal. But, for a civilian, stepping into the Reverse Internet is absolutely and totally reckless. Learn this and Plug Out ASAP. And don't come close to the Reverse Internet twice." Colonel scolded.
Meddy remained silent and looking at the ground while Colonel turned to speak with Blues.
"… Hum! Let's Plug-Out once and build up the strategy for the next mission…" He began saying.
Meddy gasped and suddenly ran for the road beyond the broken barrier to their surprise.
"You woman! Are you deaf? Come back!" Blues yelled.
"Kyah!"
She was frozen in place because Cloud Man was still around and looking pretty annoyed by now.
"C-Colone~l…! Y-you guys won't go back alive…! Wo~h!"
"He intends to self-destruct!" Blues cursed.
"Kya~h!" Meddy was paralyzed by the fear.
"I'll smash you~!" He roared as he spread his arms open.
"Che!"
Colonel warped in front of her and attacked Cloud Man: there was an explosion and when the flash died down neither Colonel nor Cloud Man were anywhere to be seen at all.
My. That's called going down with a bang. "Demon Prince" giggled as he looked at the scene.
"A… Ah…!" Meddy gasped in horror.
"C-Colonel…!" Blues gasped.
"No way… You're kidding…!" Enzan uttered.
"COLONEL!" Blues called out.
Heh! Is that the so-famous "KIA" status? Well! It sure does look like it to me... Amusing, truly!
"… YOU LOWLIFE~!"
Blues leapt into the air and cut through it to knock "Demon Prince" down from the air and open a gash on his cloak around the upper portion of his body thus revealing a purplish bodysuit with a yellow line traveling down its center and stopping on the yellow edge of a chest emblem which couldn't be seen: the guy drew his right hand which was funded in a purple glove and covered the wound.
"Grah! I still dunno how you can detect me at such distances! And I didn't tell Cloud Man to do anything! He was there 'cause he was in charge of that door!" He groaned.
"Where is the HQ? Answer me!" Blues growled.
"Che. I refuse. I hate spoilers! Have at ya~! Flash Escape!"
A large blinding flash rang out and the guy escape to Blues' increasing anger yet Enzan frowned.
That bodysuit design… Doesn't he remind me of someone…?
14:09 PM (Japan Time)…
"…What do you mean by "Colonel got deleted"?"
"And ya wanna do all future missions sans a "Leader"? Aren't we a bunch of amateurs, anyway? Well: lot of things happened until we joined the "Team" but… It was pro Colonel who leaded us down the road. He made me feel relieved when I took part in the missions. But without the "Leader" things are different!"
Pride and Nenji were arguing with Barrel as he'd summoned them into their new "secret base" and both looked baffled.
"Guys, forgive me… I'm guilty of this disgrace of Colonel…"
"No. Colonel got deleted to fulfill the mission. Protecting civilians is our obligation too…" Barrel calmly replied.
"How can I apologize?" Jasmine weakly asked to Barrel.
"There's no need for apologies… Colonel was, until the very end, walking on the road he believed in…" Barrel dully countered.
Jasmine remained silent and looked sad.
"It's true that losing Colonel is a big blow. But, in the meanwhile, Nebula's scheme is advancing… There's no point on weeping right now."
"In short… We'll execute the next mission sans a "Leader"…?" Laika looked doubtful.
"No. There is one… There's a "Leader"… Ijuuin Enzan and Blues. You'll be marking off the next mission as "Leaders"…" Barrel announced.
"… Me, you say…" Enzan weakly muttered.
"I see. As qualifications, he's got the experience and the technique."
"Wait. I can't do it. I can't hope to equal Colonel in skill. We've got no qualifications to become "Leaders"…" Enzan argued back.
"Ijuuin Enzan. I'm requesting of you: I recognize you as such." Barrel wasn't surprised in the least by his reply.
"I repeat: I can't do it. I'll lead you into self-destruct. You ask the impossible." Enzan growled.
"…Think about it for just 1 day. Even if you insist that it's in vain after thinking for 1 day… Then I'll pick another "Leader"…"
"… Alright…"
"That's enough for today. Ijuuin Enzan. Be cool and think about it…"
Enzan headed out without uttering a word and the others glanced on his directions.
"But can he do it?" Laika asked.
"Just wait." Barrel merely replied.
"It's too much pressure…" Pride muttered.
"… We shall see." Dark Miyabi merely announced.
"That kid… I wonder if he'll be alright…" Nenji wondered.
"… I got in the way… I'm… going back." Jasmine told them.
"Fine." Barrel authorized.
"Colonel – dono…!" Knight Man muttered.
"That man leaded us even after we lost Blues… Will Blues be able to guide us on his stead?" Shadow Man wondered.
"W-well… Dunno…" Napalm Man trailed off.
"… I can't calculate the answer to that." Search Man replied.
"… I'm to blame, I know…" Meddy muttered.
Barrel merely kept his serious face while the other members disbanded as well: he sat down on the ground and sighed while glancing at the dragonfly hovering around the room.
"… Mr. Smith. Come on. That trick is too old. Your info is good and you ask nothing in exchange yet I don't like you stalking us 24/7…"
18:45 PM (Japan Time)…
"… Who the heck comes bother me at this hour in the afternoon?"
Enzan came out into the hall of an apartment building's floor and found Jasmine there.
"Yo~!"
"You. Jasmine. What do you want outta me?" Enzan questioned while folding his arms.
"I wanna ask a favor so I came over…" She admitted.
"Favor, you say."
"I want cha to let me in your "Team"! Cha are the "Leader" so cha can at least do that, right?" She suddenly requested.
"I'm not the "Leader" and I don't feel like carrying all responsibility on my shoulders. Being the VP to IPC is stressing enough for me…" He shot back with obvious foul mood.
"Cha! One of your important companions got done in and cha don't feel vexed at that?" She scolded.
"I am! But I told you: I can't be the "Leader"!"
"What a sissy guy! Can't you think of how that Barrel man felt like when he appointed cha to be the "Leader"?" Jasmine insisted.
"I won't reply to that." Enzan merely shrugged.
"I get it! I won't ask a favor outta cha anymore! I'll avenge Colonel by myself, see!" She snapped at him.
She ran down the stairs and Enzan slapped his forehead.
"You idiotic woman! Going alone is suicide!" He yelled.
"I am afraid that woman is being serious, Enzan – sama, sir. It would be wise to intercept them."
"Obviously!"
18:57 PM (Japan Time)…
"… Huh! S-sorry!"
"Wait. That's an order."
Blues made it to the Reverse Internet 1 and stumbled upon a normal Navi who was running away.
"What? I'm in a rush, ya know?"
"Have you seen a woman Navi around here?"
"Woman Navi…? Ah! That Navi! I didn't get to talk to them but I saw that they were rushing towards the depths of the area. She did look like she was in a big rush, anyway." The Navi admitted.
"As I thought… Let's bring that woman out there or Mr. Barrel will have our heads." Enzan grumbled.
"Roger."
"Wait a min! You can't seriously intend to walk on ahead, right?" The Navi gasped.
"Obviously. I've been here countless times already."
"Y-ya really do? In case you didn't know it: t's fearful! They come out up ahead!" The Navi exclaimed.
"Nebula pawns?" Blues guessed.
"I said that they come out: isn't that settling enough? Ghosts, I mean! G-h-o-s-t-s!" The Navi exclaimed next.
"Hmpf. Nebula's newest idiotic trick…" Blues was unimpressed.
"True! Ghosts in the shape of disembodied souls show up! Those guys are wandering all over the area in a whacked way: and they suddenly assault you! And if you're caught by those disembodied souls… You'll be possessed during a while. And during that time…"
"There's more?" Blues guessed.
"…If you get into Virus Battles then something turns weird. I can't speak in details. But you'll battle in a state in which you've got something weird on you somewhere… The body may not properly move… Strength consumption turns violent… You may pointlessly turn annoyed… A-anyway… That isn't anything else but a curse! …I know I rushed it but did you understand what I said?" He explained in a rush.
"I understood it."
"You understand it but you don't look like going back at all…"
"I'm not a coward." Blues insisted.
"But I did tell you what I had to tell so… I'm not to blame for whatever happens… Well then, sayonara~!"
"Another reason to find that woman and soon. I don't think she'll survive long in this environment." Enzan grumbled.
"Acknowledged. Mission start."
Blues rushed through the area and found few Navis save some vendors: the "ghosts" did come out but he was able to duck, dodge, roll or jump over them to avoid them and push his way deeper: the decoration combined with the color of the atmosphere helped make the whole area spookier than ever.
"… You lowlifes. Stop following me. Show up!" He challenged.
There was no reply and he continued on ahead while crouching to examine the roads from time to time until he found a ramp leading to a platform the end of which was locked with another of those energy-based doors: Meddy was standing there.
"Meddy. That's as far as you come. As an ONBA member I command you to halt." He commanded.
"As I thought! You came, Blues! Alright! Call out to the gang: let's go beat the Nebula Navi deeper inside of this area!" She rallied.
Blues didn't reply and an uncomforting silence filled the air.
"Is there any need to hesistate?" Meddy questioned.
"We've come to bring you back. Go back or I'll have Blues arrest you here and now." Enzan replied.
"How sloppy! I dunno why this kind of guy got chosen as the "Leader! Meddy! Beat that sloppy guy and let's go avenge Colonel by ourselves!"
"That's a good idea. Weak-kneeded guys need some punishment."
"Stop with the meddling idiocies!" Blues growled.
"We'll open up cha eyes!" Meddy countered.
"You lowlife think you can rival me, the ONBA's Ace Net Navi?" Blues questioned as he drew his Long Sword.
"No questions asked!" Meddy exclaimed.
"Blues! Just lower the opponent's HP."
"Roger, sir."
"Chemical Flash!"
Meddy formed two spheroids colored red and blue which spun to form a circle yet Blues sliced them up and hit Meddy with his Long Blade followed by a Wide Blade.
"Meddy Capsule!"
"Slow. Ojiouzan."
"Kyah!"
Meddy's pills hit the statuette and so a thunderbolt rained down from above: Meddy mumbled something and then focused again in the ongoing battle.
"Chemical Flash!"
"That won't work twice. Air Shot! Counter Hit! Program Advance. Giga Cannon! Double Power!" Blues announced in a sequence without slowing down at all.
"What!"
"GO~!"
The hyper-powered Giga Cannon Program Advance hit Meddy and brought her HP counter down to 1 HP and unable to continue anymore so she collapsed into the ground while Blues panted a bit from the effort he'd just done.
"Huff, huff… You've got a pretty manly face, don't you…? Can't you do it by now?" She announced.
"You'll get yourself killed." Blues told her.
"That girl pushed you up until there. If you don't admit it you'll run into trouble." A familiar voice rang out.
Search Man came in and Blues whipped around in surprise.
"And what will your answer be, Blues? You won't recognize that bravery to cross this accursed area alone? We're all going to gather and we'll discuss. The others are on their way here."
"For a normal Navi who'd normally never come into the Reverse Internet to end up coming and, above that, challenge Blues – dono to a battle… I look up to their courage!" Knight Man exclaimed as he showed up.
"…Hum… Hmpf…! Doing inefficient stuff… But it'd seem it had some effect…" Shadow Man muttered.
"I'd rather prefer to do it by brute force!" Napalm Man laughed and swung his arms.
"Not a really admirable strategy but it'd seem it had some results." Search Man muttered.
"… I see. So you guys were trying me on… Guess I pass… Jasmine, Meddy… I've woken up. I won't run away like a coward dog anymore. Yet the only road ahead is the road of battling. Go! Mission start!" Enzan sounded resolved by now.
"Acknowledged."
"Heh, heh! Now that it's already settled… Meddy! Take out that way-blocking door!" Jasmine giggled.
"Leave it up to me!"
"Wait a min, missy… Lemme handle this spot. I'll blow this thing up. Step aside for a min. I'll blow ya up! Ora~h!"
Napalm Man tried to attack the door but fared no batter than Knight Man the day before.
"…Geh! It took in my attack but there isn't a single dent even! What's going on?" He gasped.
"… Brute force won't do with that door. That door contains "anger" and "hatred" and is made of negative power… Hence why there won't be any effects when you hit with wild power just like you did. You only need one thing to open this door… A healing power neutralizes the negative power…" Shadow Man detailed.
"Healing Pulse! E~i! Roughly like that!"
Meddy projected some rings of energy towards the door and it faded out of sight: she smiled and turned around to look at them.
"Hah! My skills have healing power which relieves people's hearts!" She revealed with a blink of the right eye.
"W-wow." Napalm Man muttered.
"…"Leader" - san! I am ready! We can start the mission anytime! And I obviously plan on fighting along too!" Jasmine rallied.
"Try not to get yourself killed in the first attack. Good. Guys. We're gonna tackle the Reverse Internet 4 "Liberation Mission"… Before that… Knight Man! You remain here and report if any enemy reinforcements come this way. Alright?" Blues instructed.
"… Blues – dono… Is that a request…? Or is it an order from the "Leader"…?" Knigth Man asked.
"An order as your "Leader"…" Blues insisted.
"Then there shouldn't be a need to say "alright?" at all and instead just let that order burst out of the chest." Knight Man suggested.
"I know. Knight Man: remain here and be on the lookout for enemy reinforcements."
"I am aware: I acknowledge... I, Knight Man, staking his life, will protect this area!" He exclaimed with pride.
"Enzan – sama, sir. Once you feel ready let us start the mission…" Blues addressed Enzan.
"Alright!"
"Do excuse me. Yet I think I must warn you gentlemen."
The black and golden Navi from before caught up to them yet his voice sounded like it was being amplified somehow.
"Mr. Smith." Barrel muttered.
"I apologize for that of the dragonfly: I was doing a test run and I intended to pull it out right afterwards. Yet I was impatient to see if we'd seized any leads or not…" The Navi admitted.
"… That Navi is a walking speaker, ain't it?" Search Man asked.
"Correct. Yet I am on your side: I provide information and ask nothing in exchange. Mr. Barrel has granted me some trust."
"Alright, Mr. Smith. Do you know something else?" Enzan questioned with a hint of suspicion.
"Someone you don't expect is waiting ahead. It is for you to discover yet the moment of relief will soon be extinguished…" He warned them in a serious tone of voice.
"Fair enough. Let's go, guys!" Enzan rallied.
"YEAH!"
They rushed inside while Knight Man sighed and "Mr. Smith" chuckled in a low tone of voice as if being amused…