Walking to school, I pondered what I had learned last night. Given what Arylide told me, the temptation to stay up and theorize how things would play out going forward nearly kept me up all night. However, the exhaustion of yesterday knocked me out shortly after Melanie and Mr. Whitaker left for the night. I woke up with an odd sense of optimism, like today was gonna be a better day. It might've been because I had a foundation to work with. After school, I had to make my way to AEGIS and meet with Axel, or at least the ones manning the investigation. The way Arylide described them made me think of Leonardo Jones, the AEGIS agent whom the future version of me turned into BanchoLeomon. There's a chance it's him; if so, maybe he retained his memories. Otherwise, he could be like Melanie, dead and therefore unaware of his past life unless it was relayed to them.

Now that I say that... Melanie's case is weird. She said she didn't know she died, yet she must've known, right? And even more, still on the assumption that Eve created everything in this reality, so precisely, why make it so that this world's version of herself is Melanie's AI? It could've been the result if things didn't go awry, but Eve has always been methodical—if not conditionally unorthodox—in how she went about things. In normal circumstances, this world should be riddled with paradoxes. And yet...

Just what is your actual goal, Eve? Is this really the face of the Idealistic Future, or is there more to it than that?

I was left chewing on this thought as I entered the campus gates. I still had a few minutes before class began, leaving me the option to stop at the campus café and grab something warm. As I started walking, I finally noticed the murmuring from those around me. They weren't staring, nor did I hear my or Melanie's names. I'm curious to see what everyone's talking about.

When I reached the café, walked inside, and got on the line, I was close enough to hear the students ahead of me talk about it.

"You actually believe those rumors?"

"You don't?! Seriously, Jackie from Mr. Hudson's class was talking about it. She said her older brother was chased by a mob of freaks in gas masks last night. Even weirder, they challenged him to a game of Digimon, of all things, to get away from them.

I hesitated. Those voices...

"Okay... so this was an in-game Babylon event?"

"NO! Like around Ocean Street and 5th Avenue."

The first speaker paused, allowing me to match a face to the voice. As I thought, the tall, glasses-wearing boy looked over the conversation despite the expression the shorter, brown-haired girl gave.

As if this world hasn't run out of ways to screw with my head.

"Look, I know it sounds crazy, but—"

"Stop believing everything you hear," Nick interrupted Mikayla. "She's screwing with you guys."

"She said her brother wouldn't lie like that..."

"When have you ever known Ocean and 5th Ave to be empty, especially at night?"

I was tempted to put my two cents in, but I had nothing to contribute. Though a group of mystery creepers assaulting individuals in the city sounds plausible if I stretch it to the situation involving Vantus. Heck, if the rumors are true, then I can consider this a potential lead to bring to AEGIS' attention if they're not privy to it.

"...I can't stand it when you do that!" Mikayla hissed softly.

"You mean when I point out how you're quick to believe things?"

As much as I wanted to intervene, I didn't want to lose my spot in line, so I planned to wait for them to come in my direction before I said anything. After a minute to two, they had what they had ordered and made their way in my direction. I pretended not to see them, but I purposely made eye contact with Mikayla as they reached arm's reach.

And yet they kept walking.

I know I said I would say something, but she looked at me first. Knowing her, she should've come to me. Unless...

Damn you, Isabella...!

"Hey, Mikayla!" I reluctantly called out, risking my spot.

Mikayla stopped short, and Nick turned, wanting to know who was calling out to them. I gave up my spot in line to catch up to them.

Nick turned and answered for her, "You're Zack, right? From Mr. Garcia's class?"

"Yeah," I nodded. If he's asking me that, that confirms that he doesn't remember anything. "I didn't know you knew Mikayla."

"Same here," he told me, giving his full attention. "Anyway, do you need something?"

"Oh, uh, nothing; I just heard that you were talking about some rumors?"

I couldn't tell if it was because he was annoyed by Mikayla's naivete or bothered by the fact that I was trying to talk to her. Either way, his question was aggressive, coming from him.

Nick rolled his eyes, "Not you too..."

"I mean...wouldn't be the craziest thing to happen recently," I muttered aloud.

"Do you... know anything about what happened?" Mikayla turned finally. She didn't make eye contact, indicating that she was shy in speaking to me. Weird but expected, given how Isabella embarrassed her yesterday. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel awkward being in her presence.

"Not about yesterday specifically...but an acquaintance I heard disappeared similarly. AEGIS was looking into it, last I checked."

"Why AEGIS? They handle cybercrime, not stuff like this."

"From what I understand, a lead implies that it could be cybercrime-related somehow, as weird as it sounds. Though, until they can prove it or otherwise, it's on their radar."

Nick remained skeptical while Mikayla thought about it herself. It was true that this sounded far-fetched to ordinary people, but given how society is structured, it still holds weight. She also did seem a bit reassured.

"Though...I am with you on this one; until concrete evidence comes to light, we can't jump to conclusions…"

Mikayla immediately deflated upon me as I opted to side with Nick. I only did it because the last thing I needed was to stir panic. Besides, I haven't even been to AEGIS yet, so I can't presume both situations are related. After all, Nick did have a point; a busy intersection like that should've had more people aware of it, as opposed to on-campus rumors.

Unfortunately for me, siding with Nick resulted in him cutting the conversation off anyway. I get that I'm not confident in my theories, but still. This also gave Mikayla the incentive to follow behind him, leaving me to wonder what exactly this interaction was. If anything, it's weird being on the other side of things. When we first met, Mikayla tried her hardest to be friends with me, and Nick tagged along for her. Now it's the other way around, and now I'm perceived as an eavesdropper; or, at the very least, a weirdo.

The first bell of the day didn't give me time to process what had happened. Reluctantly, I dragged myself to my first-period class, wondering just how the rest of the day would play out...


Around the middle of 3rd period, an announcement came, summoning me to the Headmaster's office. Snickers and whispers floated in the air as I retrieved a pass to head to the nearby building. Honestly, I didn't know why I was being asked to come, though, with everything regarding this world, it's as convenient as it was confusing. If I was willing to bet, between Arylide and her assistants, the missing Vantus, and the rumors spreading around the school...

As I walked out of the main building, an SUV marked with AEGIS' insignia sat outside the gate in plain sight. Convenient, if I do say so myself.

As I walked across campus and approached the admin building, a cold chill suddenly came over me. Aside from the eerie mid-morning silence out here, the feeling of being watched again was back, only this time, it felt more intense. I suddenly remembered those eyes from my nightmare, the deep red, ring-like patterns burning holes in me from all directions, like I was a spectacle on stage...

My gut says this is a trap, yet everything has been scarily normal up to this point. Maybe I'm just really paranoid. Perhaps I want something crazy to happen to justify this awkwardness in my chest. Maybe I... maybe…

I chuckled to myself as I built the nerve to open the door. It was funny that it took me this long to figure it out. Because at the end of the day...

...Maybe I want Chaos...


Remaining on the brink of a silent breakdown, I headed to Headmaster Lancaster's office. Upon entering it, I saw the Headmaster at his desk, and a pair of AEGIS agents were there. However, the faces of the two agents were not what I expected.

"Mr. Sullivan, I'm pleased you came to join us briefly," Headmaster Lancaster welcomed me.

I grew skeptical as I closed the door behind me. As I sat, I looked back at the two agents awaiting introductions. The dark-skinned woman with curly black hair tied back and the tall, slim, black-haired Caucasian man also looked toward me.

"What's going on…?" I asked, being cautious as ever.

"Good morning," the dark-haired woman said, approaching closer. "My name is Agent Megan Jones, and this is my partner Dion Allister."

"It's a pleasure," I shook their hands.

I knew full well who they were; what I didn't know was why they ended up as AEGIS agents in this world. Ms. Jones, I could understand, but Dion…? As far as I was aware, he was killed by Majorelle during the Day of Liberation, and that was the last we knew of him. Maybe he plays a role in Eve's new world somehow.

"Agents Jones and Allister wanted to speak with you for a few minutes," the Headmaster began to explain, "It seems you have been considered a person of interest in an investigation they're conducting."

"Does this investigation have anything to do with Vantus' disappearance?" I asked straightforwardly, catching the three of them off guard. With two agents and a man who was turned into a Digimon, I was betting on Arylide's words from last night to come through.

The Headmaster folded his hands and exhaled while the two agents showed subtle defensive signs in their demeanors. I focused on the Headmaster before speaking.

"I found it interesting how everything since running into Melanie Whitaker has been lining up for me, between me being invited to SAIBA Enterprise, you encouraging me to go, and me running into Arylide, who just so happens to be working alongside AEGIS. Also, given what she said about us digital beings being unaffected by the memory erasure side effect this new world brings, I'm assuming that you didn't lose your memories either, right, Dynasmon?"

Upon hearing that name, Headmaster Lancaster relaxed and set his hands on the table, "I apologize for the rather complex nature of your interactions with her, but we needed to be sure that we weren't making a mistake in handling this matter."

I nodded, understanding where he was coming from. This prompted me to turn to our guests. "This may seem a bit of a stretch, but do you two remember anything of your former lives?"

"No, but we are aware of some of the events thanks to Ms. Arylide and her companions," Dion replied, his body language denoting a bit of shame on his part. "We've been assigned to help with this investigation in any way we can. Currently, Axel and his partners are doing their part looking into the rumors of other disappearances."

"I knew it!" I couldn't help but exclaim. "I had a feeling that they were connected!"

"Rumors, you say?" Headmaster Lancaster quirked a brow.

"We've been receiving separate reports of citizens being assaulted by a small group of individuals in gas masks. The latest victim of these attacks was a man named Marco Alvarez."

I jumped at the sound of the name. Ms. Jones confirmed this by unveiling the report before us. Marco Alvarez worked with another agent named Grey Sterling and Layla Saiba, who was an Agent in the old world. They were known as the Three Musketeers based on their aces being a trio of gun-slinging Digimon who focused on Option Card manipulation. Based on the record, he wasn't an AEGIS agent in this world.

"Why was he targeted?" I asked.

"We don't know. The attacks all seem to be random encounters; we have yet to discover a pattern."

"Arylide is working along Layla Saiba as a body double, right? Not only that but Marco and Vantus were both Pathfinders in the old world. Could that be a common thread? Everyone being targeted was a Pathfinder to some degree?"

"What is that? What's a Pathfinder?" Dion asked.

"Someone that Eve chose to lead the path to what she deemed an Idealistic Future. Those individual's actions were intricate to the creation of this world, it seems." Headmaster Lancaster broke down for them. "If memory serves, you two fell into that category as well."

"And this 'Eve,' is where exactly?" Ms. Jones asked.

"Gone, technically," I answered. "Instead of Eve, Melanie Whitaker, along with her personalized AI named Eve, exists."

Megan pondered the thought for a moment, allowing me to speculate. The fact that she asked that means that Arylide nor Axel disclosed that information. I hope my explanation didn't shift this situation in an unfavorable direction…

"We'll work on this information and reach out shortly," Ms. Jones said, satisfied for the time being. "We'll keep in touch."

"Very well then." Headmaster Lancaster nodded, rising from his desk.

As he escorted them out, something prompted me to turn back in my chair. "One more thing!"

Ms. Jones turned to me. "What is it?"

"I was just wondering if there's a Leonardo Jones at AEGIS currently…"

"My father? He serves as the current Director of AEGIS; do you know him?"

"Sort of," I smiled a little. "Tell him that I look forward to working with him."

Ms. Jones seemed a bit hesitant but relaxed, picking up on the idea that we were familiar with one another. "I'll be sure to do that. Have a good day."

"Same to you," I nodded, the door closing behind the two agents. Watching Headmaster Lancaster return to his desk, I waited for him to sit before speaking up. "Assuming that Pathfinders are being targeted, we need to keep our guards up before this goes south."

"I wholeheartedly agree with you," he replied. "Have you made contact with the Merlo siblings yet?

The name made me pause, but after a few seconds, I made the connection in that he was talking about Nick and Mikayla, "I have. That's how I caught wind of this case, actually."

"In that case, I suggest you keep an eye on those two. I can manage my Grandson and Ms. Rosenthal."

"Do you know of anyone else? Like the other Beta Testers, Ms. Reinhardt, Ben?"

"Arylide has both Mastemon and Sakuyamon watching over them. As for Omnimon, Jesmon, Gankoomon, and the Sistermon siblings, they all are on the hunt for Vantus. These rumors of gas mask-wearing assailants prompt me to believe that remnants of the Purple Faction have crossed over."

"What makes you think that? Zantia broke free of Vantus and MOD's control, Vantus gave up his conquest, and MOD was erased from all reality. If all that could happen, I doubt some rebel stragglers managed to crawl their way over. Besides, what would Eve gain by putting conspirators in her ideal world?"

"I was hoping you knew the answer to that. I was under the impression that the Lancaster lineage would make their mark for the future to come, and yet it seemed that my true calling was, when it came to it, to become Wallace's strength in his battle with Reseda. In a way, my redemption set a mark and resulted in this new world, but in pure Eve fashion, it resulted in an unexpected turn of events."

"Well, maybe in pure Eve fashion, the Lancaster Lineage will make their mark in this world," I shrugged. With the endless amount of surprises, it could go either way.

Headmaster Lancaster smirked, seemingly in agreement with that thought. "You're dismissed, Mr. Sullivan. I'll alert you if I learn anything."

"Likewise." I nodded in agreement.


"AEGIS showed up at your school?" Melanie asked through my phone speaker. "Do you know why?"

I was approaching the front gate of the campus amongst the sea of students pouring out upon our dismissal for the day. "They're conducting an investigation related to what Arylide was telling us last night. Have you heard anything about a group with gas masks assaulting people randomly?"

"Rumors here and there, but nothing substantial." She answered.

"I'm led to believe that Arylide's presence at SAIBA is for that purpose. I think these assailants may be targeting specific individuals."

"Oh…that's why she insisted on having AEGIS present during the exhibition tomorrow." It sounded like she realized something.

"You're not going to cancel it?" I was surprised.

"SAIBA has numerous contingencies in place in case something happens. Humor me for a sec?"

"Okay…?"

"What if there was a mole in SAIBA Enterprise?"

I stopped midway through the gate, my heels still in the campus' territory. "What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. Since it was first announced, Omnia has drawn much publicity towards SAIBA Enterprise. Competitors, and possibly hackers, would love to jump at the opportunity to see it for themselves."

"All the more reason to cancel it, especially if minors are involved. AEGIS is strong, but I have a feeling this is a threat we're not prepared for."

"No offense, but don't you think you're being a bit paranoid?"

"Don't you think you're being a bit too relaxed?" I countered her almost immediately.

She didn't answer. I pressed on.

"You know something, don't you?"

I felt a tap on my shoulder, making me jump out of my skin. I quickly spun, finding Mikayla again standing behind me, startled herself.

"Mikayla? What are you—!" I paused, hearing the speaker hang up. "Mel? Hello?!"

I snickered and exhaled sharply. The day's not passing before I get an answer out of her.

"Sorry, I saw you from a distance and caught up. I didn't know you were on the phone with someone…" She meekly apologized.

"It's not important," I replied, putting my phone back in my pocket. "Anyway, what's going on? Where's Nick?"

"He had some Student Council business to take care of, so he told me to head home without him."

Well, at least that's something that hasn't changed. "You live far?"

"We live in Cisco City. Our Mother is having us stay with our cousin and her fiancée to save cost.

Cousin…okay, so that's how that dynamic works. In passing, I wondered how that was going to work. Mikayla and Nick were originally born in the world that the Liberators ruled over. In it, they both were the children of Melissa Reinhardt, with Mikayla also being the daughter of Ben Merlo. The Melissa Reinhardt in my old world was pregnant at the time, so one would assume that baby would've turned out to be my world's version of Mikayla (maybe). This world must have adapted itself so that both Melissa Reinhardts would be cousins instead of complete strangers who happen to resemble one another.

I know that sounded backward, but the TLDR is this: this new world found a way to have potentially retconned an otherwise very confusing family tree. I think.

In any case, since she's heading to Cisco City, maybe I can use these few minutes to my advantage and pull some info out of her.

"I'll walk you to the train station."

Mikayla seemed surprised, "Wha—no, it's fine. I—I'll be okay."

"True, but you were the one trying to catch up to me, remember?" I insisted.

"Well, yeah, but…" she blushed a little, unable to argue with me.

"And don't worry, I live like a ten-minute walk from Campus, so it isn't out of the way either."

"Well…I—"

"If I were you, I would take him up on the offer…"

The voice caught both of us off guard, and suddenly, a pillar of shadow erupted behind Mikayla and grabbed her. Before I could react, about a dozen more pillars appeared, and we found ourselves surrounded by a group of individuals in gas masks.

"…After all, you don't know who's lurking to snatch you up!"

"MIKAYLA!" I exclaimed, lunging without hesitation. I was blocked by a gas mask-wearing freak, who held me back while Mikayla's muffled screams and thrashing did little to help her.

The shadow figure solidified, turning into a tall, bulky lavender-haired individual dressed in a black tailcoat suit with a pink-colored ascot tie and cyan-colored gems on the buttons of his vest and jacket. Even more unusual than his attire was the very noticeable spiral-red eyes he possessed.

Between my anger and lack of patience, I didn't waste any time, "who the hell are you supposed to be?!"

"My my, where are my manners? My name is Matthias Von Sorin. It is a pleasure to meet the former Vantus in person."

My gaze narrowed. The only thing freakier than these gas masks freaks was the one leading them. "You're the one behind the disappearances and assaults, aren't you?"

"I expected nothing less. It seems that it was wise of me to examine you from a distance."

"Yet you made the mistake of messing with my friends!" I found the nearest foot and drove my heel into it, allowing some freedom. I kicked the shin just above it and gained my left arm, which I sent into the helmet of the one who had my right arm captive.

Causing the remaining freaks to react to me, I weaved around their strikes and retaliated, rolling out of the crowd to have space. I roundhouse kicked the first one to approach, chaining my strike with a sweep kick that took out the following one. Another pair followed, so reactively I rolled back and bounced back on my feet, charging and chaining punches between them, elbowing the one behind me who tried to be sneaky. As the remaining half surrounded me, I grew into a fighting stance, quickly calculating the most efficient way of dealing with—!

"DUCK!" A new voice suddenly exclaimed.

Knocked out of my train of thought, I reacted and dropped to the ground, the remaining gas masks collapsing around me right afterward. The only sound made was the sheathing of a sword, drawing my attention to the navy-blue-haired AEGIS agent rising from her position several feet from me.

"Ciel…!" I recognized her immediately.

Sorin snickered at the Saibatar's presence. "You'll pay for that!"

He attempted to summon his shadow, but I quickly got on my feet and charged. "No, you don't!"

I succeeded in making contact, tackling him hard enough despite his size. We all collapsed, and he lost hold of Mikayla, Ciel wasting no time in scooping her up and getting as far away from Sorin as she could. I sat up and pressed my arm against the creep's throat to pin him. "Assuming you're a Saibatar, you have five seconds to start talking before I rip your core out through your throat!"

Sorin chuckled between breaths, "In your pathetic state…?" His eyes began to glow purple, and he flexed his muscles, a wave of energy expelling and blowing me off of him, sending me several feet into the air away from him. "Maybe if you were at your full strength as when you faced off against MOD, but not when you've been reduced to no more than a human." He got back on his feet and dusted his coat, "Oh, how the mighty have fallen…"

"Keep talking," I snarled, forcing myself onto my feet. "I may not be able to change into Alphamon, but I'm just as powerful as I've ever been!"

Sorin scoffed and snapped his fingers. Suddenly shadow tendrils erupted between the three of us, and we were entangled in them. Ciel reactively pushed Mikayla out of the way, resulting in her being the sole one able to escape.

"Mikayla, run for it!" I exclaimed.

Clearly distressed, she didn't know how to respond.

"Just go!"

"Could it be you want to save him?" Sorin asked, drawing Mikayla's attention.

"Shut up! Don't involve her anymore!"

"I will allow you to save them both. Otherwise, you three will be my prisoners."

Mikayla was still shaking. I don't know what motivated her to move forward, but I was reminded of the moment when she challenged MOD. My chest tightened as she grew closer to Sorin, the nightmare slowly coming back to mind.

"Mikayla, please…!" I was beginning to fight tears. I turned to Ciel to see if she was reacting any differently. She was silent. I looked around my surroundings and came to another startling realization. I was so caught up with everything it only took me this long to realize it finally.

The area surrounding us was barren, just like how Mikayla described the situation with Marco! What was up with that? What happened to everyone?

"Smart girl," Sorin raised his arm, unveiling a purple gauntlet nearly resembling the one the Liberators used.

"Mikayla, you don't have to fight!" I kept trying to persuade her to run. "It's not your place to—!"

"If I turn my back now, I'll regret it!" She finally responded. Her words rocked my core, pulling the memories of my last moments with her in the old world.

I was too overwhelmed fighting my emotions to reply and left it be.

She raised her arm, continuing to shake, but she forced herself to be as steady as possible. Sorin, in the meantime, was eating her fear up.

"In the name of our great Lord, I request the power to shroud the world in your image…"

Raising his arm into the air, Sorin smirked. "DIGI-GATE: OPEN!"

Above our heads, the purple Digital Gate sparked to life, expanding overhead, taking only Mikayla by surprise. Sorin chuckled, bringing his arm down and savoring the fear in Mikayla, despite the front she put up. Her breath shook as she uttered the declaration herself.

"Di-Digi-Gate...Open...!"

From her device, the red ring expanded overhead, overlapping with the purple gate, signaling her acceptance. With Ciel and I being reduced to helpless spectators, I could only hope that this encounter wouldn't be as bad as I foresaw it being.


"Ladies first," Sorin stated, giving Mikayla the opening move.

Mikayla swallowed hard, her hand shaking as she obediently followed his direction. "I-I hatch...Ka-kapuri-Kapurimon...!"

The familiar baby Digimon suddenly appeared upon her command. Kapurimon turned to her and quickly picked up on her hesitation, to which it itself grew a bit anxious.

Kapurimon (BT7-001)

Color: Red

Level: 2

"Kapurimon digivolves into Agumon...and then I'll..." She drew her card for digivolving and paused, her nerves getting the better of her.

"You're going to be fine!" I called out. "Don't let this creep scare you!"

"I agree; after all, if you falter, then there's no telling what may happen..." He taunted.

Hearing us didn't calm her down much, but it did prompt her to take a deep breath. "I play Flamemon for three Memory."

An anthropomorphic humanoid Digimon emerged from the pillar of flame and binary, sporting beast-like qualities as well as flaming red hair and white markings on its body.

Flamemon (BT7-008)

Color: Red

Level: 3

DP: 1000

MEMORY

0-3 (Turn Change: Sorin)

"When Flamemon is played, I reveal the top four cards of the deck. I can add one Takuya Kanbara and a Hybrid to my hand from among them while the remainder goes to the bottom."

Flamemon punched its fists together and then the air above several times, sending small fireballs into the air that turned into Tai Kamiya, Takuya Kanbara, Agunimon, and then RizeGreymon. The middle two flew to Mikayla while the remainder fizzled into binary. From there, the turn passed to Sorin.

Sorin drew, "I myself hatch Tsunomon, who then digivolves into Goblimon, and then Ogremon."

On Sorin's side appeared the horned, orange furball Digimon, who then transformed into the green goblin Digimon armed with a wooden club and, finally, the horned, muscular ogre Digimon armed with the bone club.

Tsunomon (BT6-006)

Color: Purple

Level: 2

Goblimon (BT6-069)

Color: Purple

Level: 3

DP: 2000

Ogremon (EX1-059)

Color: Purple

Level: 4

DP: 5000

MEMORY

3-1

"I end my turn by playing a Troopmon directly into the Battle Area," Sorin concluded by summoning a Digimon wearing a gas mask. The Digimon itself looked like a typical foot soldier with the white, hollow-looking mask and the bulky grey exterior it called a body.

Troopmon (BT5-074)

Color: Purple

Level: 4

DP: 3000

MEMORY

1-3 (Turn Change: Mikayla)

Mikayla drew her next card. "Agumon moves into the Battle Area. Afterward, I'll play Takuya from my hand."

In a stream of binary came another brand-new tamer I had never seen before. This Tamer was a young boy wearing a backward olive-colored cap with goggles, along with an open red shirt and a yellow t-shirt with a crescent sun design. His cargo shorts and sneakers matched his upper body in terms of colors.

Takuya Kanbara (BT7-085)

Color: Red

MEMORY

3-0

"Kapurimon's IE effect boosts Agumon by +1000 because I have a Tamer present in my Battle Area. With 3000 DP, Agumon attacks your Security!"

Agumon: 2000-3000 DP

Agumon crossed his arms and took a deep breath, firing a small fireball at Sorin's first Security. It was a clean shot, breaking apart on impact.

Sorin

Security: 5-4

"Security Check," Sorin said, revealing his first Security. Gabumon appeared on the other side and retaliated against Agumon.

Agumon: 3000 DP

Gabumon: 2000 DP

The two Digimon locked claws with one another, and after a brief scuffle, Agumon came out on top.

"Flamemon, Security Attack!" Mikayla followed, causing the initial Digimon to join in on the action eagerly. Leaping into the air and pulling its fists back, it dove down like a rocket, smashing Sorin's second Security with a flaming tenacity.

Sorin

Security: 4-3

"Security Check..." He flipped the card. "Eyesmon: Scatter Mode."

Eyesmon: Scatter Mode: 4000 DP

Flamemon: 1000 DP

Just as Flamemon landed, the shadows that kept us captive expanded around it. A creepy, flat shadow monster rose in front of Flamemon and, without hesitation, lunged at the startled Digimon. Flamemon repeatedly punched Eyesmon, but the ethereal being was untouchable where it was concerned. On the other hand, it was able to shroud the panicking Flamemon and swallow it up into the shaded ground, vanishing afterward.

It was only a few seconds, but it was a very disturbing few seconds...

"Anything else you would like to try?" Sorin asked out of curiosity.

Mikayla was back to shaking after watching how her Flamemon was dealt with. Takuya stepped up and flashed a black, handheld device with a red grip in his hand. The Tamer turned to Mikayla and nodded, which seemed to be the reassurance she needed.

"When digivolving on a Tamer, this card's digivolution cost becomes two. I Spirit Digivolve Takuya into BurningGreymon!"

Takuya himself flicked his wrist, sparking about a helix of red binary, which he then used the device to scan it. From there, the binary spiraled around his person, transforming the Tamer into the draconic Digimon. Flaming orange wings extending out of red and white armor, the Level 4 Hybrid Digimon emulated Takuya's determination to motivate Mikayla to stay strong.

BurningGreymon (BT7-011)

Color: Red

Level: 4

DP: 6000

MEMORY

0-2 (Turn Change: Sorin)

"When BurningGreymon is digivolved into, I can delete one of your Digimon with 4000 DP or less so long as there's a Hybrid or Tamer in its sources. I delete Troopmon!"

BurningGreymon heeded Mikayla's instructions, conjuring flames and spewing them onto the pavement, making a trail that led to the Troopmon, who couldn't resist the heat. Despite that, Sorin was calm and waited until BurningGreymon finished.

"When Troopmon is deleted, I can play another one from my hand for no cost."

And just like that, another Troopmon replaced the fallen one, wasting Mikayla's turn. With no options on her end, she was forced to surrender the turn to Sorin, who proceeded to draw. "Ogremon moves to the Battle Area, and I think it would be wise of me to do something about that Agumon you have, lest it also becomes another threat. Troopmon!"

With a snap of his fingers, Troopmon went into action. With the effects only usable during her turn, Agumon was at a disadvantaged, evident moreso by the staggering it did when Troopmon's shoulder met its snout.

Troopmon: 3000 DP

Agumon: 2000 DP

Agumon attempted to put up a fight, but Troopmon was out for revenge. It caught Agumon's claw, twisted its shoulder around, and dropped the lizard onto the ground before raising its barreled fingers towards its backside and taking close-range shots. Seconds later, Agumon was a floating cloud of red binary.

"Now Ogremon, Security Attack! I discard a card from my hand to grant Ogremon Security Attack +1," Sorin revealed the discarded card to us. The illustration, despite the color difference, took me by surprise, and by Sorin's reaction, it was intentional.

"When I discard Nidhoggmon from my hand, its effect grants me a Memory, bringing my total to three.

MEMORY

2-3

"Goblimon and Tsunomon's IE effects are triggered as well. Goblimon grants Ogremon +2000 DP, and Tsunomon allows me to draw a replacement card."

Ogremon: 5000-7000 DP

"Why do you have Nidhoggmon?!" I exclaimed without a second thought. Sorin turned to me and only smirked, making my blood boil. In the meantime, Ogremon came down like a demonic meteor, a crazed grin causing Mikayla to shriek and fall back as her Security swooped in to protect her. The first of two was Agunimon, who leaped from the shattered remains and grabbed ahold of Ogremon before he could swing for the second time.

Ogremon: 7000 DP

Agunimon: 5000 DP

Agunimon lit Ogremon's club on fire, and it subsequently, but Ogremon cackled with its slack jaw and shook Agunimon off, gathering the flames that shrouded it and sending it back with a flaming punch. Agunimon attempted to punch the energy wave back, but the darkness-infused flames tackled and carried Agunimon into Mikayla's second Security. Tai appeared this time, a Tamer resembling a brown-haired boy with a blue shirt, matching goggles, and brown shorts. He helped Mikayla onto her feet while she recovered from the brutality that was Ogremon.

Tai Kamiya (BT1-085)

Color: Red

Mikayla

Security: 5-3

"For three Memory, I play Labramon, which allows me to draw and discard a card from my hand. I discard Eyesmon, whose own effect activates; If I have an Eyesmon: Scattered Mode in my trash at the time, my discarded Eyesmon can be played immediately into the Battle Area!"

Labramon, a pink-eared white dog Digimon appeared and howled, activating its effect. As a follow-up, the shadows stirred up once again, morphing into a draconic shadow monster covered in those red-ringed eyes. Seeing it now, I could see the similarities to Nidhoggmon in how it moved. Its jaw was nearly unhinged, a purple tongue oozing from the front, surrounded by needle-like teeth.

Labramon (BT4-079)

Color: Purple

Level: 3

DP: 2000

MEMORY

3-0

Eyesmon (BT7-072)

Color: Purple

Level: 4

DP: 5000

"To end, I digivolve Eyesmon into Rebellimon. I discard one card from my hand to give Rebellimon Blocker and Retaliation until the end of your turn. And since I discarded the Option Card Underworld call, I draw a card from my deck to replace it."

Eyesmon's presence didn't last long, with the draconic eye monster morphing into the post-apocalyptic, cyborg variant of Ogremon. As Sorin discarded, Rebellimon illuminated in purple and black light.

Rebellimon (BT6-077)

Color: Purple

Level: 5

DP: 7000

MEMORY

0-3 (Turn Change: Mikayla)

The line-up was less than ideal; one Level 4 Digimon versus four Digimon overall. Mikayla looked at Ciel and me, and I tried to put a strong face on for her, though I didn't think it'll do much good coming from someone she barely knew...

I turned to Ciel, whose been silent all this time. She looked focused as if she was devising a way to escape. That would be difficult, given that her weapon and hands were in no way in close contact.

"I trust you!" I stated. I had no idea if that would work, but I didn't have any other option.

The three words made her catch her breath and hesitate for a moment. "Are you sure...?"

I nodded. "I do."

Mikayla took a moment for some deep breaths and drew. "I hatch DemiMeramon!"

Her Level 2 Digimon materialized, appearing as a small, devious fireball with eyes.

DemiMeramon (BT6-001)

Color: Red

Level: 2

"DemiMeramon digivolves into Agumon, and then BurningGreymon into Aldamon!" Mikayla continued, transforming DemiMeramon into the rookie and turning BurningGreymon into a Digimon resembling Agunimon but equipped with its armor.

Aldamon (BT7-014)

Color: Red

Level: 5

DP: 8000

MEMORY

3-2

Sorin showed a hint of surprise due to the low shift on the counter. Mikayla took the chance to fill him in.

"When my Digimon digivolves into Aldamon, so long as there's a Tamer in its digivolution cards, the cost of it is reduced by 2. Not only that, but when digivolving, because Aldamon has BurningGreymon in its traits and Takuya, he gets a combined total of 6000 DP added to him, making his DP 14,000 for the turn!"

Aldamon: 8000-14,000 DP

"Aldamon attacks Ogremon!" Mikayla declared.

Sorin scoffed. "Did you forget that quickly that Rebellimon has Blocker and Retaliation? Block it!"

Aldamon: 14,000 DP

Rebellimon: 7000 DP

Aldamon's wings lit the surrounding area ablaze in glory, its radiance not only blinding Sorin but eviscerating the shadows, dropping both Ciel and me onto the ground. I saw Ciel quickly reach for her weapon, but the heat made her hesitate. Turning back myself, we watched as Aldamon raced towards Ogremon, only to be blocked by its evolved brethren. Rebellimon swung its revving chainsaw arm, and Aldamon blocked it with its gauntlet, becoming stained with a corroding liquid. The pair continued to go back and forth, Rebellimon swerving around Aldamon while the latter continued to meet it at every attempt; all the while, the liquid continued to stain its body all over. With the remainder of its strength, Aldamon swung its wings and arms around Rebellimon to constrict it and summoned the flames that surrounded us to it, igniting them both until they eventually disintegrated into binary.

"All that and nothing to show for it…I presume there is a method to your madness?"

Mikayla answered by revealing the Agunimon in her hand, "Tai Spirit Digivolves into Agunimon!"

Tai took steps forward and allowed the binary to encircle him, transforming him into Agunimon to replace Takuya.

Agunimon (BT4-011)

Color: Red

Level: 4

DP: 5000

MEMORY

2-0

"Agunimon now attacks Ogremon!"

Agunimon: 5000 DP

Ogremon: 5000 DP

Following suit with their evolved counterparts, Agunimon and Ogremon clashed and pummeled one another into binary.

"I end my turn by playing the Option Card Giga Storm to delete two of your Digimon with 8000 DP each. I use it to take out both Troopmon and Labramon."

In response, two flaming orbs suddenly materialized before her, each of them firing burning torrents at both targets.

MEMORY

0-7 (Turn Change: Sorin)

That was a very risky and expensive play. She's lucky Sorin was drawing and not dropping another Troopmon onto the Battle Area.

"I can't tell if that last move was an act of genius or desperation," Sorin commented, making Mikayla unnerved.

"Don't give up!" I continued to cheer, offering a reassuring counter to Sorin's taunting.

"Cheer all you want; it'll do little to change things, my friend," Sorin said as he hatched another Tsunomon. "Tsunomon digivolves into Gabumon."

Tsunomon transformed into Gabumon, a yellow reptilian Digimon wearing a wolf pelt over its head, giving it the appearance of a bipedal canine Digimon.

Gabumon (ST6-03)

Color: Purple

Level: 3

DP: 2000

"I as well, will play an Option Card: Jack Raid. With eleven cards in my trash currently, I gain a Memory.

MEMORY

7-8

That was like rubbing salt in the wound. The question now is, what did he intend to do with all of that Memory?

"From my hand, I play WereGarurumon." He declared, summoning a black variant of the commando-themed werewolf Digimon.

WereGaurumon (ST6-011)

Color: Purple

Level: 5

DP: 7000

MEMORY

8-1

"And now, the evil king of the obsidian skies will descend to cast darkness onto the lands below! WereGarurumon, take to the skies and digivolve into Murmukusmon!"

As Sorin played the card, the strange feeling hit me with full force. It felt like pure evil coiling around my throat as the air was filled with a thick sensation. We watched as WereGarurumon howled while binary infused into it. Slowly it grew twice in size, transforming into a humanoid monster with arms and legs resembling the limbs of a griffin, crimson bat wings, and a chest piece with the head of a large bird-like creature. The Digimon had a green face, and along with Sorin, they smirked as the pair stood before us menacingly.

Murmukusmon (BT7-079)

Color: Purple

Level: 6

DP: 10,000

MEMORY

1-2 (Turn Change: Mikayla)

"That's the monster's true form…" Ciel finally spoke up after all this time.

"What do you mean?" I turned to her. "Just who is this guy?"

"We don't know for sure, but we do know that he's a Saibatar like us—a mighty one at that. It seems he's been in this world longer than we have."

"Are you sure? Eve created this reality, didn't she?"

"There's a lot that we have yet to understand fully. What matters now is defeating him and pulling as much information out of him as needed. Only then can we take steps to figure out what's going on."

I looked toward Mikayla, who was trying to put up a brave front. "You know she doesn't have her memories, right?"

Ciel didn't answer me. I couldn't help but grit my teeth.

Mikayla drew. Her hand was back to trembling. "I—I digivolve Agumon…"

"Oh, come now, I didn't expect you to falter after making it this far. You can do it; Agumon digivolves into…?"

"Agumon digivolves in—into Greymon…" She finally played the card, her voice trembling as if Sorin was holding a knife to her throat. I turned back to Ciel, who continued to be a statue after her brief exposition. Greymon erupted in a pillar of fire, replacing Flamemon in Mikayla's Raising Area.

Greymon (ST1-07)

Color: Red

Level: 4

DP: 4000

MEMORY

2-0

"I end by playing another Takuya from my hand…" She said, summoning another Tamer onto her Battle Area.

MEMORY

0-3 (Turn Change: Sorin)

Sorin drew. "Gabumon moves into the Battle Area…" he then turned to me. "Murmukusmon, digivolve one step further…"

My eyes widened. Is he actually going into a Level 7 Digimon?

"Dying Embers and Shattered Verglas…merge to become the Fallen Obsidian Maverick! Omnimon Zwart Defeat!"

An overwhelming force erupted from Murmukusmon, knocking all three of us on our backs while both it and Sorin cackled triumphantly. As I sat up, I was awestruck at the swirling pillars of purple and black binary covering Murmukusmon. Eventually, the Digimon was swallowed by the ensuing vortex, and as it settled moments afterward, we bore witness to the result.

It was Omnimon Zwart—Vantus—only it looked weak, defeated. Belts restricted its gauntlets, and its cloak covered its head and upper body, causing it to resemble a battle-ridden, zombified warrior of a forgotten war. If that really was Vantus…

Just what the hell happened to him…?

Omnimon Zwart Defeat (BT5-112)

Color: White

Level: 7

DP: 13,000

MEMORY

3-0

Sorin raised his hand and snapped, "Do it."

Mikayla let out a scream as Omnimon suddenly appeared before her. However, rather than be after her…

It happened so quickly. Before anyone could say anything, Takuya was slashed across his torso, binary spraying out of the Tamer's body, similar to blood. We were all caught off guard and watched as Takuya collapsed face-first and dispersed into binary.

Sorin took our shock in and cackled even more, "when Zwart Defeat digivolves, it deletes one of your Tamers. I apologize for the graphic nature of it all, but if at all else, it should demonstrate the unfortunate circumstances at hand…"

We continued not to say anything, fear encroaching on us. Sorin motioned his hand toward Gabumon before directing it toward Mikayla. "Gabumon, Security Attack!"

Gabumon obeyed the command of its master, charging Mikayla, who was too mortified to flinch. The Security dispersed, revealing the Option Card Atomic Inferno. It flashed briefly before dismissing itself. Meanwhile, Zwart raised the blade used to cut down Takuya and did the same to Mikayla's following Security. The pink bird, Biyomon, stood no chance and dispersed right away.

Mikayla

Security: 3-1

"I end my turn by playing the Option Card: Grave Memory Boost. I return Nidhoggmon to my hand from my trash and set the Option Card into my Battle Area."

MEMORY

0-3 (Turn Change: Mikayla)

As the Option Card materialized, all eyes were on Mikayla. She was still sitting on the ground, pale white and silent. After a few moments of waiting on her to stand, Sorin quirked a brow, "Well? Are you going to make your move, or should I just end it now?"

A slight jolt on Mikayla's part was followed by sounds of whimpering. She shook her head and pulled back. "No more…!"

My voice caught, and my throat tightened as she spun around towards us. The fear in her expression was nauseating, and I could tell that she was desperate to run. As much as I wanted to berate her for getting herself into this, I also supported her and pushed her to continue.

"I don't…I can't do this anymore…" she was steadily breaking down. "I'm scared…!"

I turned to Ciel, who continued to remain adamant in her stance, to which I ignored her and ran in between the two. Zwart's presence was overwhelming up close, but I could only focus on one thing at a time.

"Have you finally licked your wounds, hero? Come to save your damsel, hm?"

"What are…you doing…?" I heard her say between breaths.

"That should be obvious," I said, holding my arm up. Mikayla's been struggling against this guy, but now that I have his strategy in my head, Dorugoramon can likely eat this freak alive. "Go with Ciel and run for it. I'll finish him off."

"But what about—!"

"Just go already!" I barked at her. I turned my focus back to Sorin, who was patiently waiting. I wanted to punch the smirk off his face so badly. "Get ready, you clown, because now you're going to have to deal with—!"

"Greymon moves into the Battle Area!" Mikayla exclaimed, causing her Digimon to stomp up from behind me. I turned back and found Mikayla rising up, wiping the tears from her eyes and standing resilient all of the sudden.

"What do you think you're doing? I told you to leave already!"

"You can't make up your mind very well…" she laughed a little, "One minute you want me to run, and then you want me to fight, then you want me to run again…"

Is she…was she…? "Mikayla, stop this! Don't be naïve, he can kill you—!"

"Us! he can kill us… right?" She corrected me with a new sense of sternness in her shaky voice. "But I don't think he's not going to…right?"

Sorin threw his hands up guiltily. "I'm enjoying my time with you all personally."

"I can beat him…I promise…" Mikayla said, the shakiness lingering just then.

I didn't hold back, "My god, you're so damn annoying."

"I guess…Nick does say that a lot about me..." She smiled a little for the first time.

With me putting more blind faith into this girl, I conceded and stepped back for her. Sorin as well seemed intrigued, wondering what Mikayla had up her sleeve.

She took some more deep breaths and tried to psych herself up. "I don't know if you noticed, but that Atomic Inferno that triggered gives all my Digimon Security Attack +1 until the end of this turn. I'm going to take advantage of that and send you back where you came from!"

"Oh, I'm sure you will," Sorin grinned, taking her declaration as a facade, "show me, my dear, the power you possess!"

"You asked for it!" Mikayla replied, revealing a RizeGreymon card in her hand. "Greymon digivolve into RizeGreymon!"

Greymon responded, digivolving into a red armored Greymon variant armed with a revolver on its arm.

RizeGreymon (BT4-017)

Color: Red

Level: 5

DP: 7000

MEMORY

3-0

"Between Atomic Flame and Greymon's IE effect, RizeGreymon can triple break your Security! Go, Trident Revolver!"

RizeGreymon roared, throwing its weaponized arm into the air to gather the energy from the sunlight, charging its barrel. Once full, it took aim and popped a trio of shots, the three sun bullets spiraling into Sorin's Security.

The first card appeared as a trigger: Underworld Call.

"Security Trigger! Underworld Call revives Eyesmon from my trash!" Sorin responded, summoning the shadow monster once more.

The second one was SkullGreymon, a skeletal variant of Greymon who emerged from the security with a ghastly ferocity. Sorin smirked. "Too bad; both SkullGreymon and RizeGreymon have matching DP values."

"You're wrong about that," Mikayla responded. "Agumon's IE effect activates when I'm attacking you. An additional 2000 DP is added, pushing Rize to 9000 DP!"

RizeGreymon: 7000-9000 DP

SkullGreymon: 7000 DP

Sure enough, she was right. SkullGreymon fired its back missile at Rize, but the latter unfolded its wings, opened its chest plates, and proceeded to unleash a laser barrage that not only did away with the missile but with SkullGreymon as well. Sorin was forced to shield his face as the shockwave shook our surroundings.

Finally, the last of Sorin's remaining Security broke, revealing an eight-headed snake Digimon, each pair of heads a combination of organic and mechanical.

RizeGreymon: 9000 DP

Orochimon: 8000 DP

This Digimon, too, didn't fare any better, with RizeGreymon turning its lasers on it to ensure it was burned away as well.

Sorin

Security: 3-0

Sorin finally lowered his arms. "And here I thought you were going to finish me off this turn."

"I plan on it. RizeGreymon activates its Digi-Burst! Sending DemiMeramon and Greymon to the trash, I play my third Takuya from my hand!"

Sorin didn't seem phased despite the appearance of the Tamer. The "revived" Takuya pulled on his gloves and stared down Sorin, filled with anticipation. Nonetheless, the Saibatar scoffed again, "you have no Memory left nor any way to gain enough for you to attack me. Even if your Tamer Spirit Digivolves, you can't defeat me."

"Takuya's ability activates…" Mikayla ignored Sorin's taunt and pulled a card out of her hand. "So long as there are at least five Hybrids in my Trash, then Takuya can use their powers to digivolve as if he was a Level 5 red Digimon!"

Sorin paused for a moment, watching as the device in Takuya's hand began to glow. Seconds later, the device morphed, inverting its colors and becoming more advanced and regaler. Red binary poured from the small screen, summoning the Digimon in Mikayla's trash as silhouettes.

"Aldamon, BurningGreymon, two Agunimon, and Flamemon join my Tamer for a Unified Spirit Evolution!" Mikayla exclaimed. "Come Forth, Transcendent Draconic Emperor: EmperorGreymon!"

Each silhouette condensed onto Takuya as the Tamer howled, brimming with newfound power. A massive pillar of flame and binary erupted in a fiery geyser. Not long after, Takuya emerged, not as a Tamer, but as a hulking crimson and gold suit of draconic armor, a massive sword slung vertically down its back. The appearance of the brand-new Digimon took us aback.

EmperorGreymon (BT7-016)

Color: Red

Level: 6

DP: 12,000

MEMORY

0-4 (Turn Change: Sorin)

"This power…" I heard Sorin hiss. "A fragment of the Ancient Digimon was still in her possession…?"

A fragment? I looked up at EmperorGreymon. Now that he pointed it out, it did give me AncientGreymon vibes… I looked towards Sorin, who lowered his arms and stared at the dragon warrior, slightly humored.

"EmperorGreymon has Blitz…and if you would try to block it somehow, it would just unsuspend and give me a memory for each Hybrid underneath it."

In response, Sorin's smirk turned into outright hysteria, and he threw his arms out. "Come at me then! Show me the full extent of your power!"

"EmperorGreymon, Direct Attack!" She practically screamed as hard as she could, awakening the giant and causing it to pull its sword from its back.

Thrusting the blade forward, the sides of the blade pulled open, and after grabbing the triggers placed on both ends of the hilt, the blade itself began to shine and conjure flames. EmperorGreymon roared one final time before pulling both triggers, sending a flaming projectile toward the cackling sociopath that was Sorin.

Sorin went up in a mighty blaze, the explosion causing us to brace for cover, though we were tossed back again. It was a good minute or two before I bothered to sit up, the adrenaline showing signs of wearing off. Still, in the meantime, I took deep breaths and allowed myself to relax a bit.

For now, things were over…