Level five: Living Game Pieces
When MurderousShadow finally caught up with everyone, he was beyond pissed. Even Daisuke had ditched him after he accepted the Gatekeeper Challenge!! This was not his day…
"Yo, MurderousShadow! What took ya so long?" yelled Daisuke. Standing next to him were three creatures; Virus, Vaccine, and Data Digimon. Among them was the same purple creature Kisuke didn't want.
"So you're the only one to reject the Challenge?" said the creature.
"Whatever gave you that idea, you little Imp!!"
"How'd ya know my name?!" exclaimed the imp.
"His name's Impmon. The rabbit with the really long ears is Terriermon and the guy in white is Sorcerermon. They joined my team after I took the challenge, which I gotta say, wasn't that hard," said Daisuke.
"Yeah, really. Right guys (and girls)?" said PhantomLoki cheerfully.
"He is correct, MurderousShadow. Are you the gamer or the character?" said Renamon.
"He's a character; and believe it or not, his temper is 100 times worse than Impmon." Kisuke joked.
"Why haven't you lot moved on to the next level? Is this stage really so hard?!"
"Nope."
"It's just that…we can't go through the stage without all players present!" said Wormmon, who for some reason was riding on Kisuke's shoulder.
"Eh?!"
Level five will begin in three minutes. You may use this time however you wish, so long as you obey the rules of the game!
They spent the time introducing each other with the exception of MurderousShadow.
"I guess we might as well tell them why we're here…" said PhantomLoki.
"Okay, it's like this…" started Kisuke.
Two and a half minutes later…
"So basically, it's a battle to for your freedom?" said Wizardmon.
"That 'bout sums it up."
"So how did we…?" started Renamon.
"How did your world mix with ours?"
"Hai…"
"It was a bizarre coincidence that I stumbled onto the Digital World. That's why I named this game 'DigiWorld'. I hope you guys don't mind that I established a link…" said Kisuke.
"Um, is the link the arena where we…" said Daisuke.
"Yup. The arena is the spot where I established a permanent link. That's why I also made it an illegal area. It's for serious gamers only. If they can't handle the pressure for making such decisions, then they're kicked out of the game itself. There is no exception to this rule."
"So you're the one who created that place…" said Sorcerermon.
"Uh-oh…"
"What's wrong Kisuke-san?" asked Wormmon.
"I just remembered what level five is…"
"What is it?" said Daisuke.
"It's the one that I forgot to adjust…it's a bunch of mini games and we're the game pieces!!"
"NANI?!" exclaimed everyone in one voice.
"Gomen…I added this level when I was bored and didn't have anything better to do," said Kisuke when he felt the death glare of the others… "But there is something we can do to bypass the level altogether…although you won't like it MurderousShadow…"
"Hehehe…you're being evil to him aren't you, Night!" laughed Dark.
"More like the game is going to be evil to him…"
"Eh? What's that supposed to mean, Kisuke-san?" asked Terriermon.
"You'll see…"
"By the way, has anyone noticed something odd?" asked Wizardmon.
"Define odd with this bunch…" muttered Impmon.
"So I wasn't the only one who noticed…" said Sorcerermon.
"Could someone tell me what it is they're talking about?"
"The three minutes have already passed, yet the voice hasn't made the announcement. Doesn't that seem a little odd to you?"
"I was wondering whether anyone would notice that…" said Kisuke suddenly.
"Kisuke, did you do something and failed to tell us?!"
"In a manner of speaking yes…you do remember who created this game don't you?"
"Uh-oh…so that's what he meant by the 'game' is going to be evil to him…" said Renamon.
"Would you like to know why you didn't hear the voice?"
"That would be reassuring…"
"It's because the level has already started."
"When did it start?"
"The same moment I remembered what happens in this level. I can control this world, but not the Player Characters or NPC's such as Renamon and Wizardmon. They have their free will and as such, they can move freely across levels. Same thing for the "Wiz Pet", though how he managed to get in I'll never understand…" said Night.
"Why? Why didn't you tell us that sooner, Night?!" cried PhantomLoki.
"Because of the fact that I couldn't remember it. I created the game, so it's only reasonable for me to have a high amount of control over it."
"How much of the game can you control?" asked Daisuke.
"I can control anything that doesn't have a mind of it's own. In other words, so long as you have free will, I have no effect on you. Now the levels on the other hand…"
Night switched the level on everyone before they could react. Then he turned and faced Kosuke.
"Sorry, Kosuke. The job of being Referee is one you no longer have to bear. Since I already control this world, staying with PhantomLoki and the others would be an unfair advantage. Since that is the case, instead of indirectly influencing the gamers, I'll directly influence them. I will become the Boss Monster they have to defeat. By the way, as a parting gift, I'll do away with the conformation screen. Bye-bye," called out Night as he advanced to the last level and took over the main Boss of the game.
"Night…" said PhantomLoki before he decided to keep moving. His group went with him, and Daisuke went in a different direction. The game was still on.