It was already 10 AM and Matt was still asleep. Fortunately, his school was on vacation, so he wouldn't miss anything. He rolled over, but rolled too far. He slipped off the edge oh his bed and slammed into the floor.
"Ow" he said, groggily.
The PeT on Matt's desk began to beep loudly, but Matt paid it no attention. He lifted himself up from the floor and almost walked past it. Something on the screen had caught his eye.
"Huh? A note from Dad?"
He read it to himself, then pulled his computer chair towards him and sat down. Matt reached out to press a button on his PeT, but it disappeared before he could do so, and Wolfbase.EXE appeared on the screen.
"About time! You're a heavy sleeper" he joked. "I'm your new Navi and, if you like, you can customize me further"
Matt still kept staring gorggily, not moving nor channging expression.
"Uuuh, hello? You in there?"
Matt rubbed his eyes and stared back at the Pet.
"What, you think I wasn't real?"
"Who are you?" asked Matt.
"I'm your new Navi. You want me to load the customisation program?"
"Uuh, how'd you get here?"
"Simple! The PeT Operating System your Dad sent had my configuration file on it, so your old Navi must've installed it"
"W-what's this you say about the customisation?"
"That comes with the OS. You can customize me further, if you want to. Y'know, stuff like element, main weapon, attacks"
Matt stared at the PeT again for a second, blinked then pushed a button, causing the Navi Customisation program to load up. He then moved over to his keyboard and began to type, his fingers dancing across the keys like demented ballroom dancers. Minutes passed and Matt was still typing, all the while Wolfbase's appearance was changing. Twenty minutes had passed since Matt woke with a bump, and he had finished customising his Navi. He switched his gaze from his PC monitor to his PeT Screen and marveled at his creation.
Standing in the PeT was a dark-grey wolf with fire-red tips on his tail and ears. He certainly looked stronger and faster than before. Matt was pleased with himself. So much so that he grinned from ear to ear.
"You want to apply this configuration? You won't be able to change it" said the Navi.
"Yeah, this is what I want" said Matt, sitting back and watching the program run.
"Okay, it's complete! You'll need to rename me, though"
Matt leant back and thought for a second. He needed to give him a name, but what could he use? He needed something good. Something cool. Something that described him in a nutshell. Matt spun around on his computer chair, thinking up something suitable, while the Navi stood patiently and waited. Finally, Matt came up with a name.
"I got it! I'll call you ... Firewolf.EXE" Matt said, grinning with anticipation as he did.
Firewolf nodded, then said "So, you know who I am, but I don't know you"
"I'm Matt. Matt Cage. It's great to have a Navi like you"
"The pleasures all mine"
Matt scooped up the PeT and hooked it onto his belt, which was where he normally kept it, anyway. He wanted to fight against Ray and beat him. He ran back into the city and straight into the NetBattle store, where he and Ray had duelled the day before. Matt pushed his way through the crowds. As was expected, Ray was showing his prowess by beating yet another Navi in a battle. He threw his arms up as a sort of victory pose.
"Hah! No-one can beat me! Me and Woodwiz are INVINCIBLE!"
"Hold it right there!" shouted Matt, grinning greatly. "I'll take you on!"
"Pfft! What can you do? I beat your puny Navi good last time! You'd better be worth it!"
Matt ran over to the other side of the table, and pulled the cable from his PeT and slammed it into the connection port on his end.
"Jack in! Firewolf.EXE! Transmission!" he souted, as Firewolf beamed into the arena, facing Woodwiz.
"Hmm, what do we have here? A pup who needs to be taught a lesson?"
"Wrong! We'll be doing the teaching, here!"
"A little mouthy too. We'll see how this end, but the probability of you winning is low! Even if you are a Fire Navi, you will still lose!"
"We'll see!" shouted Matt. "Battle routines, set!"
"Execute!" declared Firewolf, as he leapt into action.
Woodwiz was the first to make a move.
"Hand Blaster!"
He held out his hand once more and the shots flew from his hand, careening towards Firewolf. Firewolf stood still, watching them approach. They were a dead aim, and they would hit him if he didn't move. Yet still he stood, watching them approach. He closed his eyes and listened to them hurtle towards him. Suddenly, he leaped up just as the shots were a few inches from him. They whizzed past as Firewolf flipped into the air. He spun himself round, cat-like in mid-air, and held out one arm. The arm then deployed itself into a buster which was aimed straight at Woodwiz. Firewolf fired a few shots at woodwiz, most of them hitting their mark and leaving damage. Woodwiz shouted out in pain as they hit, but it'd take more than that to take him down.
"Battle Chip! Cannon! Slot in!" shouted Ray, jamming a chip into his PeT.
A little off to the right, a Cannon cirus appeared and began to fire at Firewolf. He ran around, dodging each shot, yet getting closer to the virus all the time.
"Battle Chip! Shotgun! Slot in!" exclaimed Matt, sending one of his own chips to Firewolf.
Firewolf's buster began to glow white, and it grew slightly larger. He leapt towards the Cannon and fired one shot of his Shutgun at it, obliterating it instantly. He swished round and darted towards Woodwiz, who was preparing his next attack.
"Battle Chip! Shockwave! Slot in!"
Woodwiz brought the pickaxe down agaisnt the ground again, the shockwave kicking up dust as it hurtled towards Firewolf. Sensing danger, Firewolf leapt up into the air and fired a few shots of his shotgun at Woodwiz, who feebly held up his arms to block the attack.
"Alright, Firewolf, let's finish this! Battle Chip! Sword! Slot in!"
Firewolf's shotgun disappeared, and was replaced with a sword. Ray sensed the emminent sword-fight and sent one to Woodwiz.
"Battle Chip! Longsword! Slot in!"
As firewolf brought his sword down, slicing through the air, Woodwiz brought his sword up to parry the blow. Firewolf was knocked back, but wasn't knocked off his feet. He lunged forward again, both swords clashing against each other and creating a light-show that anyone would be jealous of. Clash after clash after clash came, but niether Navi seemed to be having an advantage over the other. Firewolf leapt back again, getting just out of range of Woodwiz's large swipe.
"Battle Chip! Minibomb! Slot in!" shouted Matt, slamming his last chip into hus PeT.
Firewolf's sword disappeared again, and a small bomb appeared in his outstretched hand. He threw it with all his might at Woodwiz.
"Battle Chip! Metgaurd! Slot in!"
Ray had sent another chip to Woodwiz. He may have had more chips, but would it be enough to win this battle? Firewolf's minibomb exploded harmlessly in front of Woodwiz, as a shield appeared and blocked the damage. Firewolf landed on the ground, and surveyed the carnage. Woodwiz still stood, yet was wounded. All he needed was to turn up the heat.
"Firewolf, don't you have any attacks left?" asked Matt, desperate to win this fight.
"Hmm ... I got it! I'll use my fire attacks!" was Firewolf's reply.
Firewolf lifted one hand into the air, and watched as they burst into large flames. Woodwiz noticed this too, and took a step back. He didn't like fire at all. Firewolf looked back at Woodwiz, who was planning to dodge, but he would be too slow. Firewolf started at a slow walk, then sped up slowly to a jog, a run, then a flat out sprint. He ran as fast as he could, keeping his claws behind him. He was inches away from Woodwiz when he brought the claw forward, slashing Woodwiz and burning him with the power of his claws. Firewolf skidded to a halt as Woodwiz doubled over in pain, then logged out. A buzzer sounded, and then Matt realised it.
"YEEEEAAAAAAAH!! WE DID IT!" he screamed excitedly.
"Heck yeah! We won!" Firewolf shouted in reply, dancing around on the Arena floor in triumph.
The whole crowd gathered around Matt, cheering and clapping and congratulating him on his victory. Ray, on the other hand, slumped down looking glum, and never said a word. Matt pushed his way past the mob of people and towards Ray, who still said nothing.
"Hey, you put up a great fight" Matt said.
Still, Ray said nothing.
"That was fun, and a challenge"
"...I didn't win" groaned Ray. "I lost to a little kid ... al because I was careless"
"Don't say that! I haven't had a challenge like at all! We're still friend, but I have to thank you for being so tough. I wouldn't have enjoyed it if you weren't"
"D'you really mean it?"
"Yeah! You and Woodwiz are a great team! Even Firewolf would agree with me. We should battle again!"
Matt held out one hand, offering it to Ray to shake. Ray stood for a second, then spoke.
"You betcha! Next time, we'll win!"
Ray grabbed Matt's hand and shook it vigorously. Both he and Matt were grinning from ear to ear. Both were happy that they were now the best of buddies.
"MAAAAAT!" a voice called out from the crowd. "Matt, how could you do that? That was incredible!"
A small boy wearing a gray Super Mario t-shirt, blue jeans and glasses pushed his way to the front. The only thing Matt could see at first was his thick, unkempt brown hair. This boy was Luke 'L-Drive' Modem, a friend of Matt's from ACDC High.
"Hey, L-Drive! I didn't know you were here"
"I was here! I saw it all! You were incredible! Even Cyberlink couldn't beat Woodwiz!"
"Heheh" laughed Matt, blushing slightly.
"Hey, make room! We got great Netbattler comin' though!" Shouted Ray, making motions with his arm for people to move aside.
The crowd parted and made a passage to the exit. Matt, L-Drive and Ray all walked out of the store, together. They had barely left the store, when the commotion inside started again, with everyone chatting ot each other about the battle. L-Drive spun around to face Ray and Matt.
"Hey! I got an idea! We've all got Custom Navis now, right? So why don't we form our own little gang!"
"You mean like the ACDC Posse or something?" asked Ray.
"Sure! Why not? Three unbeatable NetBattlers working together!"
"Sounds like fun to me" added Matt.
L-Drive held out one hand, then Matt placed his on top of it. He then jerked his head to beckon Ray to do the same.
"Well ... Ah whatever! Count me in!"
Ray placed his hand on top of the pile. Cyberlink then threw his hand up into the air, causing the others to do the same. All three of them shouted out loud, then laughed at their antics on the way back to ACDC town. They would have the strangest of adventures from now on...
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Dentech City, someone was plotting something.
"Hmm ... these Forbidden Chips ... they could destroy the whole Earth along with the Cyberworld? Sound like something I will need ..." said a dark voice in the shadows of a laboratory. "I must have them. The world will worship me in terror as I hold their lives in the balance. Nothing can stop this plan. All I need is ... oh yes, and some ... Ahahahahah! It's wonderful! UNBEATABLE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!"
No-one knew about this plot, or that the Forbidden Chips existed. Only the Net Officials knew, as they were the ones that kept it out of NetCriminal's hands.