My own Battle Network Story
Hello. My name is Woodman.
Miss Sal finished her dream, a cyber forest for the world to see. She invited Lan and his friends to check it, but a Netnavi called Fenrir interrupted our peaceful tour.
Megaman fought against him, but Fenrir was there only to deliver a message from Harpuia. But still, he burned our entire forest… Thanks to Megaman and Aquaman, the fire was extinguished.
The entire forest was a valley of ashes, but the seeds of the trees survived, and the sprouts are growing peacefully.
Miss Yai offered Ayano corp. to protect the forest, our dream is reaching the humans, and it will soon reach the world. I have hope on Megaman and friends to discover who is really behind everything and who is that "He" Zero told Fenrir about.
I have faith… I believe…
Chapter 26. – Thori's rival.
A few days passed after the Forest fire. And the worst day of the school year arrived… the regional exams. The regional exams are the ones that decide who is the best student in the entire Dencity region.
As always, Thori is more than ready to show that he is the brain of ACDC!
We were in the classroom waiting for the bell to ring. As always, we stood this time at Maylu's desk next to the window. It was kinda cloudy outside.
BGM: "NYPD 17th precinct" from "Parasite Eve"
Maylu: So, is everyone ready for the regional exams?
Lan: Don't ask me about it…
Dex: Yes… This is all a dream… I'm gonna pinch myself and I will wake up from this nightmare! "Pinch" Ouch! It isn't a dream!
Aldo: At least you two have to put an effort into it. Look at Yai! She is even ready!
Yai: Well, look what money can by like the ultimate encyclopedia for PET to study before the exam.
Brandon: I won't even care about it.
Yai: You wanna get an average grade Brandon?
Brandon: Anything to get this over with.
Aldo: He's been like that from a loooooong time.
Brandon: Listen to him! He's right!
Maylu: That's… very probable. But I bet Thori is more than ready!
Thori: Of course I am! I have been waiting for this an entire year!
Lan: He will show that he's got the brains!
Thori: I could say that… but it is fine.
Megaman.Exe: So Lan, finally going to show that you're the son of Dr. Hikari finally?
Lan: Megaman, I cannot be like dad. He's all-smart, but I got more like mom. More spontaneous and energetic than brains!
Megaman.Exe: But Lan, Mom's smart too.
Lan: Then what do I look like? Adopted?
All: ………
Lan: I knew it! I am adopted!
Maylu: Lan… always with your stupidities. We've seen the video of how you were born.
Lan: WHAT?!?
Dex: Yes dude, your mom showed that video to us when you went to save the world from the asteroid.
Lan: I'M GONNA KILL MOM!!!
Maylu: Gotcha! Just kidding! HA HA HA!
Lan: Don't be so rude on me! I got an exam to do!
Aldo: Well, enough with the humor. Ms. Mari is here already.
We settled on our seats as Ms. Mari stepped on her desk.
Ms. Mari: Good morning class.
Class: Good morning Ms. Mari!
Ms. Mari: As you know, all school schedule for today has been cancelled.
Lan, Dex: Yeah!
Ms. Mari: For the Dencity regional exam.
Lan, Dex: Oooh…
Ms. Mari: I'll be downloading the test into your computer desks, you may discuss the exam with your Netnavis for assistance, but you have to take the decisions by yourselves. Got it? Then you have three hours to finis the test. And it begins… now!
So everyone stared at their screen as they got the different pages of the test. I was doing quite fine, with Frogashi's assistance.
I was able to hear Dex's voice during the Math part of the test.
Dex: 7… 8… 9… 10… Gutsman! Help me! I'm out of fingers!
Gutsman.Exe: Guts! 11… 12… 13…
Maylu was doing fine. Discussing with Roll, she was doing just fine.
Yai was doing fine also with Glyde.
Lan… he got asleep during science test… but Megaman woke him up.
Brandon had a few problems in English, but he was doing fine with Foxman's assistance.
Thori… Thori was like an answering machine. I was able to hear him.
Thori: And the Mitochondria created adenosine triphosphate by gathering electrons and oxygen elements from the product of Photosynthesis…
Iceman.Exe: Let me see that… You're right!
Thori: Iceman! I need to concentrate!
Iceman.Exe: I think you don't need to concentrate, but if you want so.
Time passed like a turtle race… sloooooooow… until…
Ms. Mari: Okay class! Time's up! If you finished your exam, well for you! If you didn't finish it, you may make it up for class credits. I'm taking the data.
The finished exam disappeared from our screens.
Ms. Mari: The results will be posted tomorrow. And I think I know who will get first place…
She looked at Thori with a very predictable smile.
Thori: He he…
BGM fades.
So after waiting one day, the next day was on, and the results were posted on the news board in the School's main hall. Everyone was there…
BGM: "Resistance Base" from Megaman Zero.
Aldo: Look! I'm in 834th place!
Lan: Too bad! 827th!
Dex: I just knew it. 874th.
Maylu: It was a good idea for us to study together Yai! 412th!
Yai: But I still beat you by one place! 411th!
Brandon: Quite average… 845th.
Thori: Time for the truth! …… 2nd. Place?!? By one single point?!?
BGM fades.
Lan: Who is the one in first place?
Thori: Some Oscar from this school…
Dex: I think I heard of him… he's the boy genius from 12-B.
Thori: I… I can't believe this… I never got second place in these kind of tests…
There was a blue haired boy trying to look at the exam scores.
BGM: "Seymour's ambition" from Final Fantasy X
???: Excuse me…
Thori: Oh! Sorry.
The boy looked at the test scores.
???: Hmm…
The boy turned around keeping his same emotionless expression.
Lan: Geez, stiffer than the stiff back home…
Thori: He looked at the top ten… I wonder…
But we were able to hear a couple of boys around muttering about that boy.
Boy: Have you heard? He is the one who got first place!
Boy 2: Yes! His name is Oscar! They was he is the smartest kid in the whole school since he got here.
Boy: Yeah, before that it was Thori Ikawa from 12-A.
Thori: So he's Oscar!
Lan: What are you gonna do?
Thori: It is a manner of pride now! Gotta settle this!
Maylu: Wait! Thori!
Thori ran to catch Oscar.
Lan: Do you believe?
Dex: That he's gonna NetBattle him?
Aldo: Thori's pride is at risk, of course he will.
Maylu: I just hope he knows what he's doing…
Thori caught up with Oscar.
Thori: Oscar!
Oscar turned around keeping his emotionless expression.
Oscar: Yes?
Thori: I, Thori Ikawa! The one who got second place by a single point! I challenge you to a NetBattle!
Oscar: Choose the place where you want to be deleted…
Oscar sounded serious…
Thori: The old gym during lunchtime!
Oscar: Be there…
Oscar turned around as he walked through the halls.
Maylu: Are you sure about this?
Thori: He might be smarter than me, but maybe he's not so good at Netbattling!
Aldo: Still… I got a bad feeling about this…
Brandon: Yeah… he sounded creepy…
Lan: Still, better be careful…
BGM Fades.
Time passed, and it was lunchtime. We had an hour before next class, so it was going to be enough time for the match. We accompanied Thori to the old gym… where Oscar was waiting sitting on a box in the darkness.
Oscar: You're late…
Thori: Sorry… I had to…
Oscar: Cut the crap… let's finish this…
Thori: What?!? Grr…
Iceman.Exe: Hey! Cool it! I guarantee I'll finish this fast!
Thori: Right…
Oscar: We'll jack into that old treadmill machine, My Netnavi is waiting there. No one will bother us there.
Thori: As you wish. Jack In! Iceman.Exe! Freeze!
Iceman jacked into the old treadmill machine… the network inside of it looked old and dusty…
Iceman.Exe: Whoa! Someone needs a decorator here!
Thori: Stay on guard! Oscar's Netnavi is around here somewhere!
???: Welcome… I have been waiting Iceman…
A Netnavi revealed himself from the darkness.
Iceman.Exe: Who are you?
Bookman.Exe: My name is Bookman. The one who will defeat you…
Thori: You think so? Ready Iceman?
Iceman.Exe: I'll keep it cool!
BGM: "Challenge" from Final Fantasy X
Oscar: Bookman… Activate battle program.
Bookman.Exe: Program activation… complete. Ready to battle.
Thori: First thing first! Iceman! Bubbler1! BattleChip in! Download!
Iceman's right arm turned into an aqua buster as it fired a sudden burst of bubbles.
Oscar: Bookman! Activate AquaTrap!
Suddenly, a barrier surrounded Bookman absorbing the bubbles and returning them to Iceman.
Thori: Iceman! Dodge it!
Iceman made a quick roll to the left, but one of the bubbles hit his shoulder.
Iceman.Exe: ARGH!
Thori: Iceman! Are you alright?
Iceman.Exe: Just a bruise! What the heck was that?!?
Oscar: By judging on your Netnavi's name, I knew he was an aqua elemental. So I took the freedom of preparing some Aqua counter Chips. Also this! Bookman! MagBolt3! BattleChip in! Download!
Bookman's left arm turned into a magnet attracting Iceman slowly.
Iceman.Exe: Whoa! Help!
Thori: Iceman! Hold on!
Iceman's wound was grave, he wasn't able to hold his grip, and he was lifted being attracted by the magnetic field. When his body hit the magnet, a sudden charge of electricity invaded Iceman's body. Plus it was double damage because of the elements.
Iceman's body fell on the ground as he tried to stand up.
Iceman.Exe: Why you?!? Cyber-Blizzard!
Iceman aimed his Cyber Blizzard to Bookman's feet. Bookman had a neutral face, not moving.
Thori: This is weird…
Iceman.Exe: Who cares?!? Hurry and use a close range BattleChip!
Thori: Right! AquaBlade! BattleChip in! Download!
Iceman.Exe: RAAAAAR!
Iceman ran faster and faster, but before anything could happen. Bookman smiled as a sudden explosion burst from the ground below Iceman. Iceman's body feel on the ground with burn marks and wounds.
Iceman.Exe: HAAAAA!
Thori: Iceman!
Oscar: Your Netnavi concentrated on a direct attack unaware of the Mine Bookman planted during the bubble counter attack.
Thori: What?!?
Oscar: Bookman is also known as the Trapmaster… before you know it, there's a trap already set for anything you might do.
Thori: !
Oscar: It is time to finish this. Bookman! Thunder3! BattleChip in! Download!
Before the sudden thunder blow would hit Iceman, Iceman's body disappeared within a beam light.
"Iceman.Exe logging out."
Thori: You win….
Lan: What?!?
BGM Fades.
Dex: I never expected those traps!
Aldo: Bloody hell!
Oscar: How predictable… Bookman! Jack out!
"Bookman.Exe logging out."
Oscar: You will never win with such state. No one has ever defeated Bookman in less than a minute. I'll spare your Netnavi's life for now… but next time, there'll be no mercy…
Oscar turned away exiting the gym… Thori bent his knees as he lowered his head and a single tear feel to the ground.
BGM: "All a same Mitochondria" from Parasite Eve
Maylu: Thori!
Thori: I can't… I'm just an amateur…
Lan: That's not true! You have improved over the years!
Dex: And we make an excellent team with our Blizzard-Wave combo!
Thori: I just do well with the help of people… but never on my own…
Aldo: Thori…
Thori: I… I just need to be alone…
Thori was never this worried before… is this Oscar that strong as smart?
But soon, a real life or death battle would prove who was stronger…