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Chapter 18: Flames of Vengeance
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Dash turned his hand into a buster, as did Tyria, Beta, and Rockman. Crushman clenched his fists while Zero summoned his saber.

Pyroman finished his pyrotechnics, then spoke. '' Before we begin, there is a warp point behind me that leads to the CPU's core. But if you go there, you better be ready to face a horde of viruses.''

'' Not so!'' Tyria shouted back at him. '' We've deactivated the security here!''

'' Yes, the security of the factory.'' Pyroman answered. '' The CPU's security system is on a separate, internal network. You can't deactivate it externally.''

'' One of us will have to leave the battle... '' Zero muttered. '' Beta, when I tell you, break for the warp.''

'' Yessir.'' Beta responded.

'' Combustion Ball!'' Pyroman shouted, throwing one of those small fireballs at the navis.

'' I've got this one!'' Butch said, inserting a chip into the side of his PET. '' Slot in! Antifire!''

The fireball ground to a halt, and then flew in the opposite direction, slamming into Pyroman and detonating. Unsurprisingly, he emerged from the explosion relatively unhurt.

Slate selected a chip and dragged it over. '' Magnetbolt! Slot in!''

Zero's left hand was replaced by a large magnet, which he used to glue Pyroman's feet to the floor. '' Beta! Go!''

Beta nodded and ran as fast as he could past an infuriated Pyroman. He reached the warp unmolested and stepped into it. It brought him to a new area. It looked just like the one before, but there was a silver sphere floating in the air. It looked not unlike a disco ball.

'' That must be the CPU's core.'' Vick said to his navi. Before Beta could reply though, a swarm of viri appeared, just like Pyroman had said.

'' Oh dear...''

'' Energy Rain!'' Dash cried, using the same technique that he had used on the Dreamvirus. Pyroman was a bit more agile then the virus though, and he managed to dodge most of the beams.

'' Rockbuster!'' Rockman shouted, firing off a shot. Pyroman ducked it, then held out his hand. '' Combustion Flare!''

A powerful blast of flame flew from his palm, scorching the floor. Zero and Tyria hit the dirt to avoid it, while Rockman and Dash sidestepped. Crushman was already out of range.

Slate selected a new chip. '' Aquablade, slot in.''

Zero's left hand morphed into a curved blue blade. He dashed up to Pyroman and slashed him with both the blade and his saber.

Pyroman staggered backward, reeling from the blows. ''Fireblade...'' he grumbled, morphing his right hand into a curved red blade. He leapt towards Rockman.

Saito selected a chip and dragged it over. '' Samurai Sword, slot in!''

Rockman's buster morphed into a thin, curved blade which he used to parry Pyroman's attack.

Saito had learned the ropes of operating fast. The previous evening, Butch and Karla had spent three hours drilling Saito with a training program, and he had done really well towards the end. He must have of inherited his father's skill after all.

Rockman ducked another swing, then threw a punch at Pyroman's stomach, but it was a feint, for he brought the sword down for another attack. Pyroman barely managed to block this, then he retaliated with a kick that caught the smaller navi under the chin, knocking him painfully to the ground.

Saito selected a new chip. '' Fumikomizan!''

Rockman vanished from the floor, then cut through Pyroman with a Widesword-like sword, leaving a slice down Pyroman's side.

'' This isn't working Pyroman.'' Ace said, speaking to his PET. '' Instead of taking them all on, only focus on one at a time. He inserted a chip. '' Areasteal, slot in.''

Pyroman warped away, and reappeared behind Crushman. He slashed him twice with his Fireblade, then pressed his hand against the larger navi's back. '' Combustion Flare!''

A blast of fire blew through poor Crushman's chest. As soon as the flames died, his data dissolved into deletion.

'' CRUSHMAN!'' Butch cried as the word delete appeared on his PET screen.

'' You have a backup, right?'' Karla asked him.

'' Of course I do, but not here. It's back at HQ.''

'' At least you have one.''

Ace smiled. '' Good work. Activate Full Energy Subchip.''

Pyroman briefly glowed, and when it faded, he was back at full health.

'' Now plug out.'' Ace said. '' It is time.''

'' Time for what?'' Zero demanded.

'' Hee hee. I'll be seeing you soon. Heh heh.'' Pyroman sneered as he plugged out.

'' It is time...'' Ace said as he pulled something out of his pocket. '' For all of you to die!''

He inserted the thing into his PET.

'' DIMENSIONAL CHIP, SLOT IN! ''

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Bleh, this chapter could've been done better. Anyway, I think that it's rather

obvious as to what's going to happen in the next chapter.