Author's Notes: So this chapter I think is the longest, and it's a bit sloppy... Mainly it's because of how it's set up... I could have split it into two or three chapters but it seemed like a waste since that would mean a filler chapter for only one red case. That said, "Yuuko and Yuugo" will be in the middle of this chapter. It's also a bit messy too because you're able to sequence break sort of... I chose the order which should make the most sense... At least... I think it makes the most sense... I don't know. Maybe we should have started with Shibuya first... Well, I'll think about editing it in the future, but it won't really change what happens much.

"Hmm… I see," Kyoko brought a hand up to her mouth as she took in Takumi's detailed summary of what happened during her absence. "So that happened as well. It must have been very rough."

Takumi stared at her in concern. "Kyoko-san… I'm glad you're alright," he softly smiled. "I was really worried…

"At least Kyoko-san came back," Pete happily jumped. "I'm so glad! It's just not the Kuremi Detective Agency without her!"

"It isn't," the teenager agreed. "But just what were you doing?" he asked the detective. "I know I shouldn't have been jumping to conclusions since I lacked information, but I was beginning to get scared you wouldn't return…"

Kyoko's expression softened as she noticed the strange hint of fear and loneliness on her assistant's gentle face. "Oh… I'm sorry I couldn't answer when you called," she apologized to him. "I've been tracking the Royal Knights as they appeared aboveground. It was harder than I'd expected." She paused for a moment to give Takumi time to let that sink in. After a few seconds, she smiled as the boy visibly relaxed as he lifted his gaze from the ground.

"Were you able to find them?" Takumi asked, although judging from his smile, it seemed he already knew the answer.

"After all the hard work," she smirked, "I was able to roughly pinpoint their positions. There are Royal Knights signals in four locations: Odaiba, Shibuya, Ueno, and EDEN. The clearest such signal is coming from Odaiba. Examon is there," she crossed her arms. "Examon has the most destructive power of all the Royal Knights, but he has been hindered due to being predated on and eroded by Eaters. The Defense Forces have Examon surrounded. I suggest we leave this to them for a little bit."

"Alright," Takumi nodded.

"The remaining signal in Shibuya is Magnamon. Gankoomon is in Ueno… and the one I detected in Eden is Sleipmon. Those are the only ones signaling right now. The rest are likely jamming their signals," she concluded. "Okay, then. You know what you have to do next?"

"Of course," Takumi nodded with a smile. "I'll recruit them like Omegamon suggested."

"Hmm…" Kyoko smiled at his answer. "What we need to do is to disrupt the Royal Knights' influence to the best of our ability."

"Right," Takumi nodded.

"Where possible, gain new friends, and…" she paused as she noticed there was something strange about her assistant.

"Right," the boy nodded again.

"What's the matter?" she asked. "You look a little spaced out. Are you okay?"

"Of course I am," Takumi nodded. "I'm just eager to get started."

"Hmm. That's fine," Kyoko smirked, "but turning chicken won't work."

"I know," he nodded before raising his fist to his chest.

"Okay, get some caffeine in you before you go," she told him. "I need to whip something up for myself anyway." Takumi watched as she worked her magic with the coffee maker. "Apologies for taking so long…" she said as she poured him a cup. "It's been a while, so go slowly."

"Cheers," Takumi stated as he raised his cup. They clinked their glasses before the boy managed to down the concoction without trouble. He gave his boss a grin and cheerfully laughed at his successful endeavor. "No problem."

"Have your taste buds developed since we met last?" Kyoko asked in surprise. "You're an adult if you can appreciate this coffee."

"Thanks, Kyoko-san," the redhead chuckled.

"Okay, it's time for work. No time for reunions; go talk to the Royal Knights," she nodded to him. "Make as many Royal Knights our allies as possible! I'm looking forward to seeing what you've learned," she smirked at her ever-improving assistant.

"Understood!" Takumi nodded before taking off. Once outside, he groaned at the stomachache that was beginning to settle in his abdomen. As I thought… The practice coffee Pete and I brewed was no match at all to Kyoko-san's genuine blends. He quickly searched for a garbage can to vomit into.

"Hey, are you okay?" a passerby man asked before letting out a disgusted groan. "Wh-what's that smell!?"

A woman screamed. "Some strange liquid is coming from your mouth!"

Kyoko chuckled at the commotion going on outside the agency. "We can't start properly without a little back-and-forth like this!" She smiled as she took a sip of coffee. "So?" she asked Pete as he finished lapping at his cup. "How was it?"

Pete chuckled as he savored the strange coffee's aroma. "It's a bit weird, but I like it!"

"No, I meant Takumi's health," the detective shook her head. "In his report, he mentioned his body is beginning to deconstruct but he didn't put down any details of what is exactly happening."

"Ah…" the Wanyamon frowned at her. "I don't think he's fully aware of his symptoms, but I think I can explain them to you."

"Please do, Pete," Kyoko nodded as she settled into her seat.

"Oh, boy… Where do I begin?" the worried Digimon sighed.

"If you can, start by telling me his eating habits and sleep pattern as well as abnormal changes to his personality. I suspect those will be the most obvious aspects about him affected," she said as she pensively took another sip. "I have to identify which of the changes were brought about by my absence and which are due to the growing instability of his mental data."

"You really do understand and care about Takumi," Pete smiled. "It's no wonder he trusts you so much. Alright, I want to help him, too! Here goes nothing…!"

Takumi looked around EDEN's free area as he sensed a powerful Digimon nearby. He suddenly turned when he noticed something red blur past him. He quickly tried to keep up with speeding mass before it suddenly charged straight towards him. His eyes widened when he identified the Digimon as a six-legged centaur-like creature. The Digimon didn't even give him the chance to speak as he pointed the bow on its left arm at the boy. "Bifröst!"

The Cyber Sleuth let out a surprised cry as his Digimon suddenly appeared to push him out of the way. Takumi gasped as the arrow fired at him just barely missed. If his Digimon had emerged even a millisecond later, the boy would have been skewered. Takumi looked up at the Royal Knight as his team tried to catch and subdue it, but even they could not keep up with the speedy Ultimate. "So this is Sleipmon's power," Takumi frowned as he tried to come up with a way to counter the Digimon's speed.

Rapidmon turned his head as he tried to use his radar to locate the enemy. "Homing Missile!" His revolver released multiple missiles, but failed to catch up to Sleipmon.

WereGarurumon (Black) tried to catch the Royal Knight and ride it but each attempt he made failed. Lilimon rose into the air too and tried to take aim with her Flower Cannon only to have Sleipmon appear before her and kick her down. "Lilimon!" Takumi tried to get to her but Sleipmon landed before him, rearing up on his hind legs to intimidate the boy. "Ah!" Takumi fell backwards and stared up at the Royal Knight towering over him.

"Weakling!" Sleipmon declared. "So slow! You'll never catch me!" he boastfully laughed. He jumped up as Takumi's Digimon tried to attack him from behind before galloping away.

"Everyone, that's enough!" Takumi called his team back. "I'll never get him to listen to me like this. What should I do?" His Digivice began to ring and the detective's assistant quickly answered. "Kyoko-san, I'm having a bit of a problem here with Sleipmon running around. Do you have any suggestions for me?"

"If this keeps up," Kyoko frowned, "Sleipmon won't listen at all. Come back to the agency," she told him. "Omegamon should have some ideas as to what to do."

"Understood," he nodded.

"I see…" Omegamon frowned and lowered his head on the call screen. "Sleipmon, a formidable foe. We can only try to match Sleipmon's speed with our own. The optimal choice would have to be UlforceV-dramon, with his incredible swiftness."

"Hmm…" Kyoko brought her hand up to her mouth. "Of course it would have to be UlforceV-dramon."

"UlforceV-dramon?" Takumi tilted his head to the side as he was unfamiliar with such a Digimon.

"Actually, UlforceV-dramon is the only one whose signal I haven't been able to detect anywhere," Kyoko stated.

"I can find no trace of him either," Omegamon shook his head. "It's likely the Dimensional Door closed as he was crossing between dimensions. He may be gone. It's unfortunate," he sighed. "He surely would have been an ally."

"Really?" Takumi sighed.

"It might be too early to give up on him," Kyoko said with a smile.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Takumi quickly straightened up.

"Have you heard of the theory of multidimensional space? Or, to put it in more plain terms, the idea of parallel worlds?" the detective asked him.

"Parallel… world?" the boy blinked.

She chuckled at his cluelessness. "The basic idea is that there are countless worlds overlapping one another, one for every different possibility." Takumi tilted his head to the side as he listened. "And so every time something happens in one world, a new reality branches off, containing the other possibility. Parallel worlds are independent from one another. It's not possible to interfere with them. Or so it's believed. There is a similar structure we know quite well."

"You mean your 'real' world and our Digital World?" Omegamon asked.

"Indeed!" Kyoko nodded. "They didn't intersect before, but now they do. It no longer seems to be the rule that the various worlds can't come into contact with each other."

"So then UlforceV-dramon could be brought over from a different parallel world," Omegamon mused. "Is that what you're saying?"

"Precisely," Kyoko crossed her arms. "Normally we'd never do this, but it's worth a try. I know someone who knows a thing or two. Her name is Mikagura Mirei. Fortunately, she also lives here in Nakano. Even so," she frowned, "If we verify this, the possibility arises that Eaters could come here from another world. From a parallel world."

"Eh?" Takumi blankly stared at her.

"No, it's just conjecture," Kyoko shook her head at him. "There are other, more important, things to do now. Go and talk to Mikagura Mirei. She should know something."

"Huh? What am I…?" Her assistant quickly shook his head as he quickly caught up to what was going on around him. "S-sorry. Um… Right. I understand," he nodded before leaving the agency.

Kyoko frowned as she watched him leave. She glanced at her screen to check the results of her Digivice's latest scan. "As I thought…" her frown deepened. "His data is showing signs of corrosion."

"What!?" Omegamon blinked at her in alarm. "If that's the case, perhaps Nokia should take his place—"

The detective shook her head. "Shiramine Nokia has her own role to fulfill. Besides, Takumi would never allow anyone to perform his duties and he's doing everything he can to keep this a secret from his friends. For this reason, I have to ask you withhold this from Nokia. Bringing this up will only distract us from what we have to do."

The white Royal Knight frowned to himself as he reluctantly agreed with the woman. "I see… But if his condition worsens, what will you do?"

"The same as I've always done," Kyoko crossed her arms and smirked. "I don't intend to lose my dear assistant so easily."

"You're late," Mirei smiled at the Cyber Sleuth as he entered the DigiLab. "I've been expecting you. If you're here, that means there's a problem."

"Well, there's actually a lot that's going on," Takumi seriously frowned. "This is just one of many problems."

"I shall divine what it is you seek. That's why you came, is it not?" Mirei asked.

"Kyoko-san said you'd be able to help us," the boy nodded.

Mirei pushed her glasses back and closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, she gave the teen a serious frown. "Worlds existing infinitely and in parallel. With something lost here appearing elsewhere. Yes… What you seek is in a different world," she nodded. "But as you know, it is no easy feat to cross the dimensions of time and space. You will need extraordinary skills. A Digimon must be born with special skills, the likes of which have never been seen before. Harmonious Will and Steel Will," she stated. "Using these two skills will surely create a Digimon who can go to parallel worlds."

"Really?" Takumi asked, his eyes widening.

The woman chuckled at him. "It's up to you whether you believe me or not."

"Where can I find the Harmonious Will and Steel Will then?"

"I'm sure you can find those on your own," Mirei knowingly smirked at the teen.

"I can…?" Takumi knit his eyebrows together in confusion.

"Of course you're worried…" Mirei frowned at him. "But for now, why not meet with the Royal Knights in Ueno and the Shibuya underground?" she suggested.

"Hmm?" the Cyber Sleuth paused. "Alright," he nodded. "I'll get going then."

Takumi stared at the station entrance and frowned when he sensed the expansive labyrinth beyond it. He was about to head towards it but he was immediately stopped by armored soldiers. "This area is restricted to Defense Force personnel," a man sternly told him. "Please, hurry home."

"Sorry…" Takumi quickly retreated back and studied the barricade of soldiers lined up. "Uh-oh, I don't want to get caught," he muttered to himself. "I guess I can't just walk on through… or can I?" he smirked before quickly activating his Stealth Hide.

The Cyber Sleuth watched as his body quickly became invisible and he silently slipped past the barricade. Once he was in the labyrinth he deactivated his cloaking shield before heading deeper into the half-digital subway station. He eventually reached a dead end before noticing he could step onto the tracks. With a gulp, he jumped down and started for the powerful mass of data that lay before him.

Takumi carefully slowed his pace as he approached the Digimon clad in golden armor. "Are you Magnamon?" the boy asked. "On behalf of Omegamon, I'd like to ask you for help in defending this world against Duftmon."

Magnamon turned to face the boy. "So you want me to help protect this world? I'm sorry, but I can't answer you just now," he shook his head.

"Why not?"

"In all honesty, I am still of two minds," the Digimon replied. "The destruction the Eaters unleashed on our world was caused by the cyberspace that humans created. Many Digimon believe that the reason such hideous things were born lies in the human heart. If that's true, humans are a threat to all worlds. Duftmon's course of action would therefore be correct. I then came here and found Digimon being used as tools by evil humans. But then there are those like you," Magnamon stared at Takumi's determined expression, "working to undo this situation. I really don't understand you humans," the golden warrior shook his head in confusion. "Which side truly embodies what humanity is about?"

Takumi lowered his gaze and stared at his body. "It's true there are selfish humans only working for their own gains, but I believe humans can overcome their weaknesses and right their wrongs! That's what it means to be human!"

"I had some companions, as well," Magnamon frowned. "When the two worlds were joined, I brought my tiny companions here to save them from the Eaters. Unfortunately, we were separated amongst all of the ensuing chaos. They are still young and frail," the Royal Knight worriedly stated. "They might have been captured by evil humans. If something happened to them, I will not forgive the human race. I will determine my position towards humanity based on their fate."

"You'll bet your decision on their fate…?" Takumi frowned at the Digimon's logic. "What if they really are in trouble!? You can't just—"

"Hang on! Time out!" a voice called out from behind the Cyber Sleuth.

"Eh?" the redhead turned around. "Nokia!?"

"Hang on, hang on, hang on!" the girl cried as she ran towards them. "WAIT!"

"What are you doing here?" Takumi asked her.

"Great! Just in the nick of time!" she smiled. "I went to the agency. Kyoko-san told me to come here!" She looked up at the golden-armored Digimon and approached him. "You're Magnamon, right? Boy, have I been looking for you!"

"You have?" the Digimon blinked at her.

"Look, guys!" she turned around and called out to the group of Digimon following her. "We finally found him!"

Lopmon happily jumped towards the Royal Knight. "Magnamon!" the bunny happily cried out.

Magnamon's eyes widened as he spotted Lopmon and Tokomon. "You're all here? And you're all right!?"

"Magnamon!" Lopmon cheerfully hugged him. "These humans—Nokia and the others—saved us!"

"Saved you?" Magnamon looked between Nokia and Takumi. "Humans did?"

Nokia let out a relieved sigh. "We finally found you! Way to go, Kyoko-san! Now we know where most of the Royal Knights are! We're all together now! Right, Omegamon?" she looked up at her partner.

"Omegamon!?" Magnamon looked up towards his comrade as the mantle-wearing Digimon arrived. "Omegamon? Are you working with the humans?"

"I am," Omegamon nodded. "Magnamon, you should understand why. It is an error to eliminate them as dangerous."

"But they caused the devastation of our world…"

"Nokia and the others know that now and they wish to help resolve the situation," Omegamon explained. "It is the humans who will give their all in the fight to save both Digimon and the human race. Duftmon believes that their destruction may well save all Digimon. Still, is it right to rush to this conclusion and wipe out those we might come to an understanding with? I do not agree," he shook his head.

"Magnamon!" Lopmon looked up at his hero. "We love Nokia! We were so happy that we could be with her!"

"While I had my head in the sand with worry, you all acted to save my companions," Magnamon lowered his gaze.

"When you act, 'Everything will work out'," Omegamon nodded. "A human taught me that… A human named Nokia."

"Omegamon, enough," Magnamon nodded in understanding. "The clouds of my confusion have parted. Even if it sullies the name of the Royal Knights, I must repay this debt I owe the humans! Nokia-san," he bowed, "let humans and Digimon join together. I will do whatever I can to help."

"Yeah!" Nokia nodded to him. "Thanks, Magnamon!"

"Do not be deceived!" a voice cried out.

Nokia screamed as the white draconic Royal Knight from before suddenly landed in front of her. Omegamon protectively shielded her from Dynasmon. "Nokia!"

"Failed to sense my approach, Omegamon?" Dynasmon frowned at the powerful Royal Knight. "Hmph! You fool."

"Dynasmon!" Magnamon frowned.

"Magnamon, lend not your ear to their sweet words!" Dynasmon turned to him. "Have you forgotten our clash with the Eaters attacking our world? Or the cries of our fallen comrades as the Eaters devoured them? Any chance of our joining hands with human beings faded the instant they created their cyberspace. You should stand with us!" Dynasmon declared. "In fealty to the will of Yggdrasil, as a Royal Knight!"

"If it's Yggdrasil's will that I should harm these youngsters, then…" Magnamon studied Nokia and Takumi, "I shall not act in fealty! I cannot ignore the debt I owe to those who saved my companions!" he cried out.

"I fail to comprehend this," Dynasmon shook his head. "Why would you side with these foolish humans?"

"There may indeed be fools among them," Magnamon stated, "but not all of them are like that! I would rather gamble on their brightness, for they saved my companions from their dilemma."

Takumi quickly pulled Nokia back as Dynasmon began charging with energy. "Nokia, get back!"

"Breath of Wyvern!" Dynasmon roared as he unleashed the energy in the form of a great wyvern towards them.

"Miracle Glitter!" Magnamon countered the attack by emitting a ray of burning light from his armor.

"Omegamon, protect Nokia and the Digimon!" Takumi called out to the Royal Knight. "Rapidmon, switch out! WereGarurumon (Black), Lilimon! Help Magnamon!"

"Full Moon Kick!" the dark werewolf howled.

"Flower Cannon!"

Magnamon swiftly backed away before forming multiple spheres of glowing plasma around him. "Plasma Shoot!" he cried before launching them at Dynasmon.

Dynasmon dodged a few of the orbs but winced as he couldn't avoid all of them. The palms of his hands glowed before he unleashed another attack. "Dragon's Roar!" Shots of energy flew out of his palms but his targets nimbly evaded them.

"Garuru Kick!" WereGarurumon (Black) quickly closed the distance between himself and the Royal Knight before knocking the sturdy Digimon back a bit.

Dynasmon swiped his arm at the werewolf, but his opponent suddenly leapt back. The Royal Knight's eyes widened when he saw Takumi's third Digimon ready. The Cyber Sleuth quickly signaled his team to attack. "Xros Combo!"

"Full Moon Kick!"

"Flower Cannon!"

MetalGreymon (Virus) roared as his chest plate opened. "Giga Destroyer!"

Magnamon's body glowed in a brilliant light as he joined them. "Extreme Jihad!"

Dynasmon collapsed to the ground but glared at Magnamon as he slowly got back up. "Hah! I stand at a disadvantage now! But I will return this debt to you without fail!"

"As you wish," Magnamon frowned, "My mind is made up on this matter."

Dynasmon shook his head before quickly taking off. Takumi frowned as he watched the Royal Knight disappear but Nokia gratefully rushed up to Magnamon. "Thanks, Magnamon!" she cried. "I can't tell you how happy I am to have a friend I can count on as much as you!"

"It is I who should thank you," Magnamon nodded to her. "You gave me the opportunity and I will always be your ally. Call me whenever you need me. Ah yes," he nodded. "As a sign of my cooperation, I shall offer you this."

Takumi blinked as he received a strange glowing crystal. "Huh…? This is…!" He smirked at the Harmonious Will he now carried. "Thanks, Magnamon!" He looked towards Nokia and nodded. "Magnamon, one of the Royal Knights, is now an ally. I'd better go report this to the office."

"I see," Kyoko nodded. "Magnamon has become an ally. He is a leader among the Knights. We have made a powerful friend."

"That's good," Takumi smiled. He paused for a moment before tilting his head to the side in confusion. "Ah… Kyoko-san… I've been meaning to ask…"

"Huh?" the detective smirked at what was probably on his mind. "How come I know so much about the Royal Knights?"

"Yeah," he nodded.

"Think about it," she told him. "I'm a detective. Of course I've investigated them."

"Eh?" Takumi blinked at her.

"Hmm," Kyoko brought her hand up to her mouth. "You want to know how? Well, that's…" she shook her head at him, "going to have to be a company secret for now." She chuckled at his unsatisfied frown. "I'm sure your questions will be answered."

"Will they?" Takumi crossed his arms and closed his eyes. He paused when he sensed something strange about Kyoko. He quickly opened his eyes to look at her but his vision blurred. "Ah…" he held out his arm to catch himself on her desk before he fell.

"Takumi?" Kyoko frowned at him.

"Sorry," he smiled. "I just lost my balance, that's all." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Just the detective's reassuring presence was enough to make him feel better so he nodded before opening his eyes again. "Alright, I'm off to Ueno now."

"Have a safe trip," the detective crossed her arms as she watched him leave. "So even his senses have been dampened…" she frowned to herself.

Takumi blinked when he saw a tough-looking Digimon wearing a white jacket as a cape yelling at a four-legged Digimon with a trailing red hooded cape. "This is no good! Keep it up and the Royal Knights may as well be nothing more than a dream!"

"Uh…" the training Digimon nodded. "Yes, master!"

"Put more oomph into it! Yeahhh! Tighten up!" his master shouted. "You'll never follow in my footsteps that way!"

"I will!" the smaller Digimon cried. "I'll get stronger… be a Royal Knight… Follow in Gankoomon's… my master's footsteps!" He panted as he tried to replicate his master's attack before collapsing to the ground.

"You seem concerned about something, Hackmon," Gankoomon noticed. "Are you distracted?"

"I am uneasy," Hackmon frowned. "Is this really working for me?" He looked down at his body. "No matter how much I train, I feel like I'm missing… well, something."

"Oh-ho…" Gankoomon chuckled. "Whatever could that be? That 'something'?"

"I don't know," his apprentice shook his head. "I just get that feeling! I'm sure I'm lacking something…"

"Hackmon…" Gankoomon frowned at the Digimon before lifting his gaze towards the red-haired boy who had been watching them for a while now. "And who might you be?"

"Aiba Takumi," the Cyber Sleuth introduced himself with a polite bow. "I'm here on Omegamon's behalf to ask you, a Royal Knight, to help us defend this world."

"I see…" Gankoomon nodded. "You want my help to protect this world? You are out to convince as many Royal Knights as you can to stop Duftmon from ending this world."

"That's right," Takumi nodded.

"You show admirable confidence!" Gankoomon suddenly exclaimed. "Some humans do indeed have a fighting spirit!"

"Eh?" Takumi blinked at him in confusion before smiling at the Royal Knight. "Does that mean you'll join us?"

"And yet, I must decline!" the Digimon yelled.

"Eh!?" the redhead frowned. "Why not!?"

"I have no interest in your quarrel with Digimon," Gankoomon looked away from the boy. "My only thought is on how to quickly build Hackmon from a disciple into a proper Royal Knight," he said, nodding to his apprentice. "I don't care who's in charge, humans or Digimon!"

"Is that so?" Takumi sighed.

"And yet…" Gankoomon studied the Cyber Sleuth intently. "I will help you if you will accede to my request."

"What is it?"

"Join me in training my disciple, Hackmon."

"What!?" Hackmon's eyes widened. "You want to have a human train me!? I've never trained with anyone but you, master!" Gankoomon crossed his arms. "Master…" the small Digimon frowned. "Why are you handing me over to a human? Is it that I'm so weak? Have I betrayed your expectations of me?" When his master didn't reply, Hackmon shook his head. "Really!? Master… Master! Master!"

"Nooooo!" Gankoomon roared at his pupil before punching the small Digimon away. As he was launched into a lamppost, Hackmon let out a painful cry. "Hackmon, the 'something' you spoke of may well be found with this person. Do not return to me until you find it!"

Hackmon picked himself up from the ground. "Oh… Master…"

"Train well!" Gankoomon nodded to him. "Together, the two of you must defeat BanchoLeomon! In doing so, you may as well find your 'something' that you seek."

"But… with my power…" Hackmon frowned. "I could never beat BanchoLeomon!"

"Very well," his master looked away from him. "Then you shall remain weak." Without another word, Gankoomon turned around and ran from the small Digimon.

"Master…" Hackmon made to chase after him but stopped before looking down at himself. "I'll always be weak. I've disappointed my master."

Takumi sympathetically smiled as he approached Hackmon. He reached out his hand for the Digimon. "Hey, it's going to be—"

"There's no way I'll ask you for your help!" Hackmon glared at him as he jumped away from the human. "I'll take down BanchoLeomon on my own! And then my master will believe in me again! So don't you dare follow me!"

"Ah! Hackmon!" Takumi watched as the small Digimon took off without him. The blue-eyed boy seriously frowned to himself. "I should follow him for the time being." He kept his distance and spotted Hackmon running into a museum undergoing a Digital Shift. "I made a promise to Gankoomon," Takumi stated, bringing his hand up to his mouth. "That means I should follow him, right?" He started up the ramp leading inside, but a police officer quickly barred his way.

"This is no place for you!" the adult snapped. "The whole area's restricted. Go on, get!"

"S-sorry!" Takumi quickly retreated before hiding behind a bush. He frowned as he quickly activated his Stealth Hide. He carefully snuck past the guard and entered the building before taking a look around. "Hackmon's not around here," Takumi noted. He frowned as he couldn't really get a good reading on where the Digimon disappeared to. "I'll head further in and see if he's there."

Takumi's eyes widened as he spotted Hackmon get knocked back by a powerful lion-man Digimon. "Hackmon!"

Hackmon struggled to rise but fell. "I knew I couldn't win," he muttered to himself. "Not yet. I'm so sorry, master."

"What's this?" BanchoLeomon frowned at the Digimon's defeatist attitude. "Is that the limit of your power? Have you lost the will to stand up again, too?"

"I knew there was no way I could ever become a Royal Knight," Hackmon frowned.

"You've grown reckless in your quest for strength," BanchoLeomon lectured him. "That is no mistake, but you'll never become a real man that way. A real man needs real preparedness. Do you have it?"

"Preparedness…" Hackmon pondered it for a moment. "I don't know," he shook his head.

"Then you battle ends here. I shall bring your training to a conclusion!" BanchoLeomon let out a roar before charging in for the kill, but a sudden rush of three Digimon blocked him from doing so. He looked up at the boy who had suddenly jumped in front of Hackmon, protecting him. "Who the hell are you!?"

"I'm Aiba Takumi and I'm here to help Hackmon!" Takumi unflinchingly stated to the larger Digimon.

"You…" Hackmon frowned at the boy. "I told you not to follow me, didn't I? There's nothing more to do. It's over," he stated, hanging his head.

"Not yet!" Takumi shook his head. "What makes you think it is?"

"Why?" the small Digimon looked up at Takumi. "Because my master said so. There's no need for any of this!"

"Hackmon…" BanchoLeomon frowned at the Child Digimon. "Looking at Takumi's back, do you still not understand?"

"Back?" Hackmon stared at the yellow 'X' on the back of Takumi's shirt as the boy protectively stood between the two Digimon. "To protect one's… back…"

Hackmon closed his eyes as he remembered Gankoomon saying something to him once. "Hackmon… The Royal Knights appellation is not granted to you by someone. You are first called a 'Royal Knight' when you protect the world. Become a protector, Hackmon," his master had told him, "Of the world, of the Digital World, of your friends! That will of steel will lead you to the path of Royal Knighthood!"

The Digimon's eyes snapped open as he got to his feet. "I see… I was only training to become stronger. But that was wrong!" he realized. "The meaning behind fighting… The important thing… That's what it was! I will fight! To protect the person who supports me!" He quickly rushed forward to stand at Takumi's side.

"Oh-ho," BanchoLeomon smirked at the sudden change within the small Digimon. "You appear to have shaped up somewhat. I'll see how prepared you are now! Come at me with everything you've got!"

"Let's go, Takumi!" Hackmon nodded to the human.

"Right!" Takumi cried out as he sent his team forward.

"Show me your strength!" BanchoLeomon roared as he charged towards them. "Lion King Advance!" He brought his short sword up to slash at his opponents, but Knightmon lifted his own blade up to block it.

Hackmon climbed up the large knight's stature and pounced on BanchoLeomon with his sharp claws out. "Fif Slash!"

Knightmon quickly pushed himself away from BanchoLeomon as Rapidmon and Lilimon circled the bancho. Rapidmon grabbed Hackmon for a tactical retreat before aiming his arm at the lion man. "Rapid Fire!"

"Flower Cannon!"

"Baby Flame!" Hackmon spewed fire from his mouth to support the other two Digimon.

"It's hot!" BanchoLeomon cried out as he charged his fist with energy. He suddenly released it with a powerful punch, aiming it at Rapidmon and Hackmon. "Flash Bancho Punch!"

"Knightmon!" Takumi quickly called out to the sturdy Digimon to block the attack with his shield. BanchoLeomon smirked as the Digimon surrounded him. "Xros Combo!"

"Berserk Sword!"

"Flower Cannon!"

"Golden Triangle!"

Hackmon's tail began to rotate before he thrust it into the powerful Ultimate Digimon. "Teen Ram!"

BanchoLeomon let out a dramatic cry as he fell onto his back. He flashed Takumi and Hackmon a proud smirk. "Your preparedness was excellent… I'll give that a passing grade…" he gasped as he tried to rise, before slamming back down to the ground, falling unconscious.

"I beat… BanchoLeomon?" Hackmon blinked in disbelief. "Me!?"

"This is because you've become a protector," a tough-sounding voice told him from behind.

Takumi and Hackmon turned around to see Gankoomon approaching them. The ecstatic Small Dragon Digimon ran towards him. "M-master!"

"You have become stronger by training with me," Gankoomon nodded, "But that alone is not enough to be a Royal Knight. Only when one has both the power and volition to protect what is dear does the path to true Royal Knighthood open. There is nothing more you can gain by simply training with me."

"And that is why you have placed me in this person's care, yes, master?" Hackmon asked, gratefully smiling to Takumi.

"Indeed," Gankoomon nodded in approval. "Well worth the time."

Hackmon nodded at that but his body began to glow in a bright light. He looked down at his body in confusion but soon his shape began to change. What used to be a small dragon became a skeletal warrior with blades extending from each limb. "Wh-what's this?" the new Digimon asked. "My body is…"

"Tis the birth of a new Royal Knight," Gankoomon declared, "Jesmon! Follow in my footsteps, in your new form."

"Yes!" Jesmon nodded. "I shall try!"

"Do or do not, Jesmon," his former master told him. "There is no try."

"Yes! Thank you very much, my master!"

"You deserve much of the credit as well," Gankoomon told Takumi. "Take this, along with my thanks." He handed Takumi a strange glowing crystal before studying Jesmon's new form. "From here on, my disciple's power shall be yours. He'll be a truer friend than I, perhaps."

"I'm at your service, Takumi!" Jesmon nodded.

Takumi blinked as the Digimon suddenly loaded himself into his Digivice. "Jesmon!" he smiled at the new addition to his team, "a new Royal Knight and a great ally! I'd better go to the agency and report to Kyoko-san." The Cyber Sleuth quickly took off.

"They're gone," Gankoomon stated before turning to face the fallen BanchoLeomon. "Thank you very much, my friend."

BanchoLeomon chuckled as he got back up to his feet. "I came that close to being annihilated!"

"I am grateful for your assistance," Gankoomon nodded to him. "Let me thank you once more."

"Don't sound so reserved!" BanchoLeomon smirked at him. "I'm happy because Hackmon was able to start a new life as a real man! He really did get stronger, didn't he?"

"He will get even stronger still," the proud Royal Knight nodded. "He has to. He is my disciple, after all."

"Then I should sign up for training with you!" the lion man considered. "I'd like to get even stronger still!"

Gankoomon laughed at his proposal. "As you wish!" The two nodded to each other before in understanding before beginning their sparring match.

"I see," Kyoko brought her hand up to hide her smile. "So a new Royal Knight has been born."

"Is that strange?" Takumi asked her.

"No, I'm not surprised," the detective shook her head and smirked at him. "The world constantly sees these sorts of updates happening again and again. It's true in the real world and the Digital World. You, too, may someday surpass me. I look forward to that day."

"Can I really?" Takumi smiled at her.

"I believe you can," the woman honestly told him with a nod. "No one else can come close, so don't recklessly overdo it if you can help it, understand?"

The Cyber Sleuth paused as he noticed an edge of seriousness and concern in her tone. "Kyoko-san…?" She said nothing as she continued to stare at him with a small smirk on her face. Takumi wryly smiled back and nodded to her in response. "I understand."

"You got it?" Mirei curiously looked up as Takumi returned with both the Harmonious Will and Steel Will. The Cyber Sleuth nodded to her as he handed both crystals over. "Summoning the special Digimon will take some time. Why not head back to the office?" she suggested. "It's been a while, so I'm sure there are cases waiting."

"Alright," Takumi nodded. He turned to leave but stopped when the woman stood from her seat. "Is there something else?" he asked.

"I've been asked to develop a patch for you," she told him. "It would be a shame if you were to be lost before your destined time comes, so hold still for a moment."

"Huh? Kyoko-san asked…?" Takumi blinked as his entire body began to tingle as it normally did whenever Mirei was altering his data. He frowned to himself as he should have expected the detective to come up with a request like this for him. "She's always saving me, and yet… all I do is make her worry. How does she even know what parts of my data is damaged when I don't?"

"How lucky for you that your fates are intertwined with each other," Mirei told him. "For her to know you so well is a part of destiny, but there are still parts to you that even she cannot predict. That is what makes you an irreplaceable irregular to her. Perhaps it was your existence that called her here too," the woman chuckled. "You have done well thus far honing your power to responding to the calls of others and connecting to them. Soon, I'm sure you'll be able to call to others to your side whenever you need them."

Takumi nodded as Mirei finished applying the patch. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, noticing his focus was a bit better than before. "Thanks, Mirei-san."

"Don't thank me, but rather the detective who is able to answer your calls," Mirei told him. "There is much you still need to do, so get to it, Cyber Sleuth."

"Oh! Takumi!" Ryota smiled as he spotted his red-haired friend returning to the agency. He blinked at the raven-haired girl walking down the hall and playfully elbowed the Cyber Sleuth. "Who was that? Were you on a date?"

"Lunch break," Takumi smiled. "Yuuko wanted to show me a good Italian takoyaki place," he said, patting his full stomach. "It was truly delicious…"

"You and your stomach…" Ryota frowned at him.

Takumi laughed at that. "So how are things going with Sakura? She told me about what happened after she was discharged."

"What did she actually say?" his friend nervously asked.

"Nothing much," Takumi blinked at him. "You handed her a bouquet of roses, shouted something like 'These are my feelings!', and ran away. She had no idea what it was you were trying to convey though."

The brunet tensed up at that. "Man…" he crossed his arms and frowned to himself. "Even after all that, she doesn't get how I feel… But with all this crazy stuff happening outside… I don't really know what's going on, but you better believe I'll protect Sakura!" Ryota stated with a determined nod.

"Good for you," Takumi smiled at him. "By the way, what are you doing outside the agency, Ryota?"

"I heard there have been more sightings of the 'Pale Boy'!" his eyes glowed. "If that's true, it could be a good chance to take a few photos!"

"Don't tell me you submitted another case for me to help you," Takumi crookedly chuckled.

"Nah," the brunet shook his head. "I just wanted to ask Kyoko-san of the common locations around Cron where the Pale Boy might show up. Well, I'm off to get more photos!"

Takumi watched his friend run off before bringing a hand up to his mouth. "It's been a while since I've visited EDEN myself… I wonder what the latest news amongst the hackers is…"

Takumi looked around Galacta Park before noticing a pair of hackers talking about Under Zero. "Hey, did you hear? Zaxon challenged Under Zero! It was pretty amazing! Capturing the Under Zero fortress was hard enough, but it seems that there was a battle with another team on top of that… The recently founded Rebellions and the veteran Judes appeared as well and it turned into a three-way brawl! From what I hear, Zaxon was driven to defeat but their leader Yuugo barely made it out alive. Some guy told me the other day that he saw him on Cron's first level," the boy crossed his arms. "There's a rumor going around that Yuugo is actually a ghost, like some kind of 'immortal hacker'. He just keeps coming back to life!"

The other hacker laughed at that. "But, I mean, come on," she smirked. "All this talk recently is stupid! It's an avatar! It can't be alive or dead! Yuugo is the one who introduced Digimon programs to hacking, so he's a kind of a living legend. There are lots of rumors about him."

"I thought Yuuko stopped using that avatar," Takumi muttered to himself. He absently brought his hand up to his Digivice when he sensed an incoming call. "Kyoko-san?"

"Are you okay now?" she asked, a bit surprised his response time was getting better. "What are you doing? Where are you?"

"I'm fine, Kyoko-san," Takumi nodded. "The patch Mirei-san designed seems to be working. Right now, I'm checking out Cron. There are a lot of rumors going on about Yuugo being a legendary ghost of a hacker."

"What?" she blinked at him, slightly intrigued. "A living legend? An immortal hacker raised from the dead? Hmm…" she smirked. "These rumors about Yuugo are really starting to get out of hand…" She crossed her arms. "Of course, I'm sure you're not foolish enough to believe any of them…"

"I'm still under the mindset that ghosts don't exist in cyberspace," Takumi shrugged. "But a cyber ghost case, huh?" he chuckled. "It's been a while since I've taken on one of those."

"Anyway," she chuckled, "we have a new case from the legendary man himself, so please come back to the office."

"Hmm?" Takumi blinked. "Yuuko just submitted a request? But we were just… Why didn't she…?" he shook his head. "Alright, I'm on my way."

Client: Kamishiro Yuuko

Place: Central Hospital

Details: I want to discuss the details in person. It's about Yuugo. I'll be waiting in my brother's hospital room.

Takumi held up the case request note to the nurse at the front counter. "Excuse me, but can you help me?"

"Hey, you're Yuuko's friend, right?" the nurse asked, looking up at the Cyber Sleuth.

The redhead nodded. "I'm here to visit Yuugo in the Special Ward per Yuuko's request."

"Huh? Yuugo's room?" the woman frowned. "We can't just let anyone go in there, you know."

"But Yuuko said…"

"Okay, tell you what," the nurse said, looking around the lobby carefully. "I didn't see you or anyone else, so just go ahead. It'll be our secret."

"Thank you," Takumi gratefully nodded to her.

Yuuko stood up from the stool as soon as Takumi came in. "Thank you for taking the case," she smiled at him.

"What's this about Yuugo?" Takumi asked her.

"To be honest…" she frowned, "I'm thinking of just deleting my 'Yuugo' avatar…"

"Eh!?" Takumi's eyes widened in surprise.

"If I do, Zaxon will fall apart and there won't be any such hacker as 'Yuugo' anymore…" she explained. "I've been thinking of doing this ever since the Under Zero incident happened…"

"Yuuko…" the Cyber Sleuth frowned.

"The Yuugo avatar is something I received from Rie-san… Yuugo is a special avatar. It allows you to pass through the system even if you have the wrong personal information. Rie-san told me…" Yuuko said with a nod, "whenever I was using the Yuugo avatar, I really and truly became 'Yuugo'… I was being subconsciously manipulated by using the Yuugo avatar. I just became a puppet that controlled the hackers whenever it was convenient for Rie-san. I was being controlled by Rie-san's wishes and was unable to defeat my enemies… so I have decided to destroy the avatar."

Takumi frowned and placed his hands on his hips before looking over at the real Yuugo asleep on the bed. "But if you do that… What about your brother? It's technically his account, isn't it?"

Yuuko lowered her gaze. "Yes, as you said, even though Rie-san has a connection to the avatar, it belongs to my older brother Yuugo… Deleting it will be heartbreaking. I would at least like someone to be there to witness it…"

"Huh…?" Takumi stared at the girl in surprise.

The raven-haired teen carefully looked into Takumi's blue eyes. "Could you please be there to witness the last moments of 'Yuugo of Zaxon'…? That's my case for you."

The Cyber Sleuth remained silent for a while as he considered his answer. Soon, he wore a wry smile. "Alright, Yuuko," he nodded. "I think it's good that you're trying to overcome yourself. It's time you stood up on your own, without relying on Yuugo's strength."

"Thank you," the girl gratefully smiled. She pulled up a monitor from her Digivice and began typing. When she was ready, she took a deep breath. "When I push this button, the avatar 'Yuugo' will be deleted…"

"Whenever you're ready," Takumi nodded to her.

Yuuko frowned as she lightly rested her hand over the button. "Good bye," she whispered before confirming her decision to delete the avatar. Her eyes widened in surprise when nothing happened. "What? The avatar can't be deleted!?" She quickly pulled up a monitor again to check what was wrong. "And why can't I delete the account while I'm logged in!?"

Takumi thought back to the rumors he had heard earlier. "While I was in Cron, I heard some people talking about how they had occasionally seen Yuugo in EDEN. I don't suppose that was you, was it?"

"Huh? There are people who saw Yuugo in EDEN…?" Yuuko asked. "I haven't been using the Yuugo avatar since the Under Zero incident…" She knit her eyebrows together and brought her hand up to her mouth as she wondered what was going on. "Has someone hacked the account? But there's no evidence of hacking!"

Takumi placed his hands on his hips as he sensed a strange wave from Yuuko's Digivice. He could actually sense Yuugo's avatar and the redhead felt it resonating with him. "Yuugo…?"

Yuuko closed her eyes as she contemplated what to do. She soon looked towards Takumi as he was blankly staring at her Digivice. "Takumi, I'm changing the goal of the case… We need to go find the one responsible for hacking the Yuugo account! To think that someone would steal my brother's account when we were going to delete it… it's just awful. Even now there is someone else walking around EDEN, pretending to be my brother!" She tried to temper her anger by taking a deep breath. "I have to stay calm and get it back… I can't allow this to go on! I don't care how much it costs or how long it takes…! It won't be easy, but in this case I guess I'll overlook any illegal acts you need to carry out…"

"Huh?" Takumi frowned at her. "Illegal…?"

"Go and have a look around in EDEN," Yuuko instructed him, "and bring me back the criminal who did this! I will of course search as well!" she nodded.

"You are!?" the Cyber Sleuth's blue eyes widened. "But you don't have Digimon! And Mugendramon is linked to Yuugo's account, isn't he?"

"Huh?" Yuuko blinked at his concern. "Isn't it dangerous to go without Digimon?" She glared at him. "Don't make fun of me! I've prepared the sub Digimon for my 'Kamishiro Yuuko' account. I don't have anyone quite at the level of a Perfect RizeGreymon or Ultimate Mugendramon, but I'll be okay." She shook her head at him before looking up the whereabouts of the currently active Yuugo account. "The eyewitness account said he was on Cron's first level, right? Let's split up and search!" She quickly pushed Takumi aside as she left her brother's hospital room. "I'll go on ahead."

Takumi watched her leave and frowned at her change in demeanor. He shook his head and brought his hand up to his chin. "It's not like her to be so agitated, but I guess this is technically her brother we're talking about." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "But… I felt it… Yuugo was calling out to me… Sort of…" He opened his eyes and shook his head. "Anyway, let's go to Cron's first level."

On his way down to the lobby, Takumi quickly answered an incoming call. "Yuuko has contacted me to tell me the case has changed," Kyoko stated. "First it's the rumors that got out of hand, now it's the avatar… I tried looking for it, but Yuugo's account has a thick firewall and I couldn't access it from the outside…" Kyoko brought a hand up to her mouth. "It looks like we'll have to search on foot… Please go and ask around about Yuugo's whereabouts in Cron," she directed her assistant.

"Just leave it to me, Kyoko-san," Takumi nodded. "I'll find him."

"Still…" the woman brought her index finger to her forehead, "I don't know who it is, but anyone capable of hacking into an account with a firewall that thick must be a genius hacker!"

"Something tells me this isn't a simple account hacking," he frowned as he tried to recall Yuugo's avatar signature. "I don't know how to explain it, but I feel a certain… kinship with his avatar…" He shook his head. "Anyway, I'm heading to Cron now. I'll let you know if anything else comes up," he told the detective before hanging up.

"Oho, you want to know about 'Yuugo', do you?" a dashing Zaxon hacker smirked at the Cyber Sleuth. "I've seen him, you know! With these two eyes! It was a long time ago, down on Cron's second level."

Takumi turned towards the lift leading to the next level. "Alright, thanks!"

"Actually," the hacker chuckled, "I feel like I might even see him again today. 'Cause today's just that lucky! 'A day you see Yuugo can't be beat!' That phrase is my lucky charm," he laughed.

Takumi simply ignored him as he started for the next area. He looked around Cron's second level before he spotted Yuuko frowning as she tried to approach a Zaxon hacker. The boy wearing the green hooded vest frowned at her. "What the hell!?" he asked. "Well… say something already! You're freaking me out here!" When Yuuko still remained silent, the boy ended up walking away.

"Yuuko!" Takumi caught up to her side and worriedly examined her. "Are you okay?"

"I know a hacker from Zaxon, so I went to talk to him, but…" she frowned as she looked down at herself. "I'm not used to this avatar yet… It's hard to speak properly… and I don't look right, which is weirding me out."

"But you were Yuugo, weren't you? It can't be that different," Takumi stated.

"Of course," she nodded. "Yuugo and I are… one and the same. Well…" she paused for a moment, "we are and we aren't."

"Is that so?" Takumi asked, bringing his hand up to his chin. "Well, talking to you is a bit different from talking to Yuugo. The resonance I have with Yuugo is… stronger somehow…"

Yuuko oddly frowned at him before her Digivice began to ring. She looked down at it and her eyes widened in surprise. "This…" She glared at the address. "It's an e-mail from 'Yuugo'! If this is from the person who hacked the account… what do you think he's planning?"

Takumi doubtfully frowned at the notion someone was using Yuugo's account for nefarious ends but didn't voice his thoughts as he still didn't have enough information to work with. "What does the message say?"

"Let's see… 'I am waiting for you in the place I was born'. An Avalon Server URL is attached to the message," Yuuko blinked in surprise.

"Where he was born…?" Takumi asked as he placed his hands on his hips.

"Avalon Server?" Yuuko brought her hand up to her mouth. "That's where Rie-san asked me to be the leader of Zaxon… That's when I first became 'Yuugo'. It's the place where Yuugo was 'born'. But… the only ones who know that are myself and Rie-san…" She seriously looked towards the Cyber Sleuth as he was beginning to stare at her Digivice again. "Takumi, this is probably a trap. We should go together."

"Sure," Takumi nodded with a smile on his face.

"Thank you," Yuuko gratefully smiled back as she realized she was always asking him to help her with something and he always said yes. She quickly shook her head to clear such thoughts though. "Anyway, let's go!"

"We finally found you," Yuuko glared at the back of the familiar avatar. "Who are you?" she demanded to know.

Yuugo turned around and frowned at her, as though he were disappointed she didn't know who he was. "I am 'Yuugo', leader of Zaxon," he simply replied. His eyes darted towards Takumi as the Cyber Sleuth tilted his head to the side in understanding of what was going on. The avatar gave him a small smile, but quickly returned his gaze on the raven-haired girl glaring at him.

"Stop kidding around!" Yuuko shouted. "You give that avatar back right this minute!"

"Is this avatar important to you, Yuuko?" the light-haired boy asked.

"You… you know my name?" Yuuko stared at him in surprise.

"Of course, I am 'Yuugo'," he nodded as he noticed Takumi had brought his hand up to his chin. "Isn't this the avatar you have been using in EDEN for so many years? It seems that you think this account has been hacked but… that's not true. No one is logged in as me."

"Don't lie to me!" Yuuko snapped back. "Nobody has logged in!"

"Indeed, it's just as you say," the boy nodded. "But this is an account that was created by Kishibe Rie with its own AI, in order to manipulate you," he told Yuuko. "Yuugo, the 'ideal hacker' who was designed to unify all the hackers of EDEN… That is who I am."

Yuuko blinked at him in disbelief. "You… you're an AI… that was built into my avatar? You're a program?"

"It's as I thought," Takumi finally spoke up. "You're your own personality, Yuugo," the Cyber Sleuth softly smiled.

"Exactly," Yuugo nodded, placing a hand on his hip. "Even though you're a quiet and reserved person, you were able to be Yuugo. I am the reason that was possible… Do you understand now?" he asked Yuuko.

"But…" Yuuko frowned.

"You and I have been partners all these years… And yet…" Yuugo sadly frowned at her, "why would you try to erase me?" Yuuko averted her gaze as she couldn't really bring herself to answer him. "Anyway, without me you can never be Yuugo, right? Yet you still want to delete me? You became me in order to protect EDEN, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did," Yuuko answered as she looked down at the floor. "I was alone and powerless. I didn't think I could protect EDEN, so I accepted Rie-san's invitation. My brother, who I respected more than anyone, protects the EDEN our father created. The avatar looks just like my brother, so it has always felt just like we were together…"

"I see…" Yuugo nodded. "Okay, from now on, let's protect EDEN together!" He held out his hand towards her, in the hopes she would accept it.

Yuuko stared at his outstretched arm and shook her head. "I have nothing but contempt for Rie-san." The boy knit his eyebrows together in confusion. "You are without question the best brother anyone could ask for," Yuuko stated. "It's for that very reason that I felt comfortable, terrible as I am. Because of that, I was manipulated by Rie-san and in the end, I threw my father's EDEN into chaos. I won't allow myself to depend on you anymore!" she declared. "Today… I will delete you!"

"You can't delete me!" Yuugo exclaimed. "I was created to protect EDEN!" A sad expression washed over his face as he looked around them. "EDEN is the only place I can exist," he stated.

"I thought so too, but…" Yuuko looked back at the Cyber Sleuth standing at her side, "there are certainly places outside of EDEN where we can live!"

"Maybe that's true for you, but…" Yuugo brought a hand up to his forehead, "I am a program," he reminded her. "I cannot live anywhere else." Yuuko said nothing as she gazed at him with a determined frown. "But I understand now…" the boy sighed. "You and I… we're different people." He straightened up as he summoned a Digimon behind him.

"Mu… Mugendramon…!" Yuuko gasped in surprise. "Why? You're my Digimon!"

"Mugendramon and I fight together," Yuugo nodded to his loyal Digimon. "It seems he still sees me as 'Yuugo'. RizeGreymon…" he frowned as the Perfect sided with Yuuko. "It seems he's chosen you. But, can you beat me, I wonder?" he asked bringing a hand up to his mouth. "Without me, you can't talk to your companions…" Yuuko tensed up as she remembered how she couldn't even speak with the earlier Zaxon hacker. "Please, don't misunderstand," Yuugo softly said. "I don't want to hurt you, but… I just don't want to be deleted."

"Wait!" Takumi quickly pulled Yuuko behind him as Mugendramon prepared to fight.

"Takumi!" Yuuko was surprised by the Cyber Sleuth's actions.

Takumi sadly frowned at them both. "I know how you feel, Yuugo… I have this body, after all… I don't want to fight you under these circumstances," he shook his head, "but please understand me when I say I believe in Yuuko's strength. I'll see to it that she surpasses you, Yuugo."

"I see…" Yuugo studied the blue-eyed boy's determined expression. He nodded as he understood Takumi's position. "So you've made your choice, despite the resonance we share."

"I'm sorry…" the Cyber Sleuth wryly smiled, "but this is all I can do to help the both of you…"

"The both of us? You never change…" Yuugo sighed at Takumi's soft-heartedness before returning his attention to Yuuko. "How we think, where we live, our Digimon, our friends… We are completely different. The only way to decide this is with a battle," he concluded, placing his hand on his hip. "We are proud hackers of EDEN, are we not?" he asked both humans.

Yuuko nodded. "That's what I want!" she stated. "I… I've decided to split myself in two!"

"Yuuko?" Takumi stared at her in surprise as that wasn't really what he had been trying to convey, but before he could stop her, Mugendramon charged up his cannons.

"Now… let's begin," Yuugo nodded as Mugendramon fired at them.

Yuuko didn't flinch as RizeGreymon took the attack. "RizeGreymon! Trident Revolver!" The cyborg dinosaur lifted his revolver and fired three shots in quick succession at Mugendramon.

Takumi quickly backed away from the battle as his Digimon rushed forward to help. "Lilimon, switch out! Rapidmon, Andromon! Keep your distance!"

"Mugendramon, logon to RizeGreymon," Yuugo coolly ordered.

"Mugen Cannon!" the robotic dragon roared.

"Golden Triangle!" Rapidmon's beam managed to divert Mugendramon just enough so its attack wasn't a direct hit on the flying RizeGreymon.

"Spiral Sword!" Andromon swung his spinning hand in an arc to shoot a blade of energy at the Ultimate.

"Booster Claw!" Mugendramon violently slashed at both of Takumi's Digimon, knocking them aside. The powerful Ultimate quickly turned to face RizeGreymon as the two former comrades exchanged fire with each other.

Takumi frowned as he quickly dug through his bag for recovery items. He shook his head though when Monzaemon finished loading. "Quick! Use your Hug of Love!" The large bear wrapped his arms around Andromon and Rapidmon, healing them before the three Vaccines returned to the battle.

Yuuko frowned as she was struggling to keep up with Yuugo's attacks. "Use your Solid Strike attack!" RizeGreymon roared as he slammed his revolver against Mugendramon's head.

"Rising Destroyer!" RizeGreymon's gun ports on his chest opened before beams fired from them and his wings.

Yuugo kept his calm as he had Mugendramon target Yuuko's Digimon again. "Logon," he nodded. "And begin charging your Catastrophe D." Mugendramon's eyes lit up as he obeyed his hacker.

Yuuko tensed up as she knew how devastating that attack could be. "RizeGreymon! Do whatever it takes to defeat Mugendramon!"

"Yuuko!" Takumi frowned at her reckless order. He shook his head before turning to his team. "Go help her, but be sure to guard against the missiles!"

"RizeGreymon!" the raven-haired teen called out to her Digimon to not let up on his assault.

"Catastrophe D!" Mugendramon roared as he unleashed all of his missiles.

"Rising Destroyer!" RizeGreymon tried to counter the attack as the two of them were engulfed by the resulting explosion.

When the smoke cleared, Yuuko gasped as her Digimon collapsed to a knee. "RizeGreymon!"

Yuugo shook his head at her. "It looks like you won't be able to separate yourself of me after all." He motioned for Mugendramon to take aim again.

"Of course not!" Takumi cried out as Rapidmon and Andromon suddenly rammed into the Ultimate.

"Takumi!" Both Yuuko and Yuugo flinched as the Mugen Cannon just barely missed the Cyber Sleuth.

Yuuko paused as she stared at Yuugo in confusion. The light-haired hacker brought a hand up to his forehead as he seemed relieved Takumi was actually safe. Yuugo shook his head as he addressed the reckless detective. "Why must you always stand in my way?"

"Like I said," the redhead smirked, "this is the only way I know how to help you both…"

"How is this helping me?" Yuugo asked.

"Takumi…?" Yuuko knit her eyebrows together as she stared at her friend's back. "Just what are you doing…?"

The Cyber Sleuth brought his right fist to his heart while levelly staring at his opponent. "Haven't you both noticed it yet? The connection you both have to each other? It's not a matter of one surpassing the other…"

Yuuko's eyes widened as she realized what it was Takumi was getting at. "It's about rising above your past self with your own strength…!" She quickly called out to her Digimon. "Get up, RizeGreymon!"

Yuugo narrowed his eyes on her as he sensed there was something different in her resolve. "Yuuko…" Glancing over towards Takumi, he noticed the Cyber Sleuth had already recalled his team. The legendary hacker frowned as he understood the battle's victor had already been decided.

RizeGreymon charged up his arm cannon and fired three times. "Trident Revolver!"

Mugendramon collapsed under the barrage of shots and Yuugo let out a heavy sigh at the thought of having to be deleted. "I see… I suppose I have to disappear then."

Yuuko quickly shook her head. "No, I won't delete you." The light-haired boy stared at her in confusion so she continued. "The real me is still in here… Takumi's right in that I have to surpass you, but in order for me to do that, I have to accept that you and I were the same."

Yuugo stared at her with wide eyes before glancing over towards Takumi. The Cyber Sleuth only gave him a knowing smile and the legendary hacker chuckled at the turn of events. "I see," Yuugo nodded. "In that case…" he gave Takumi a grateful smile.

"Huh?" Takumi blinked as his Digivice beeped a few times. "Mugendramon?" He stared at the Zaxon hacker with wide blue eyes. "Yuugo…!"

"You truly are an irregular hacker… I never thought you'd be able to surpass me so easily, Takumi. I don't mind disappearing now that I know a proud hacker like you is more than capable of protecting EDEN in my place." The light-haired boy smiled at the redhead who only nodded in response.

"Eh…?" Yuuko's eyes widened in surprise at the avatar's words.

The boy who resembled her older brother looked back towards her and gave her a gentle smile. "Even if I'm deleted, I won't really be gone," he told her. "A part of me will always be with you. Isn't it time you hatched from your egg, Yuuko?"

"Yuugo…" Yuuko frowned at him. Yuugo simply smiled at her before his avatar dissipated into data. Yuuko's Digivice let out a ping as the data that used to be Yuugo loaded into her device. Yuuko walked towards the place Yuugo had been standing and closed her eyes. Takumi frowned and placed his hands at his hips as they stood in silence. Eventually, Yuuko opened her eyes and turned to frown at Takumi's concerned expression. "What?" she asked him. "Stop staring at me! I'm not going to cry, you know!"

The red-haired boy managed to put on a wry smile at that. "Even if you won't, Mugendramon and I might," he chuckled. He looked up at the Digimon standing behind her. "It looks like RizeGreymon might too," he noticed.

Yuuko turned to face the cyborg dinosaur that had fought by her side. "RizeGreymon, I'm no longer 'Yuugo', but will you stay with me?" RizeGreymon roared as his body became enveloped with light. The Digimon was soon replaced by a Dragon Man Digimon clad in dark samurai armor. "Well…" Yuuko stared at her Digimon in surprise before smiling at him. "Thanks," she nodded. She lowered her gaze as she considered her Digimon's evolution. "You evolved and you have a different body than before. I'm happy for you, but… I miss your old form a little bit…"

"Even so, his evolution is a mark of his resolve," Takumi simply stated. "He'll remain at your side, from now until the end." He gently smiled at his friend. "In a sense, you also evolved too, didn't you, Yuuko?" The girl lifted her gaze towards the Cyber Sleuth in mild surprise. "Into a stronger, braver you?"

Yuuko nodded to him. "The case is closed. Thank you," she gratefully smiled at the kind boy. She fell silent again and averted her gaze. "By the way… I'm in the middle of doing a round of the cake shops in Nakano…" she blushed. "Shall we go?"

"Are you sure you're alright?" Takumi asked in concern.

"No, no, don't worry," she frowned. "It's not like I'm gonna go binge eat or anything like that… I… I just need to get over it. That's all." She shook her head and glared at him. "Are you coming or not?" she sharply asked.

"Eh!?" Takumi was a bit taken aback by her outburst but he quickly smiled at her and nodded. "Of course! If there's food involved, you know I can't say no!" he exclaimed as a crooked grin appeared on his face. "Let's get cake! Lots and lots of cake!"

"Indeed," Kyoko brought her hand up to her mouth to hide her smirk as Takumi finished recounting his latest food adventure with his friend. "Yuuko thought the cakes were so delicious she just kept eating and eating, until the manager ended up crying."

"Yup," Takumi nodded. "I had wanted to sample each cake too but there wasn't enough so I missed out on some amazing flavors," he disappointedly sighed. He quickly became serious though. "Well, that's fine, considering you called me back early. Did you need me for something?" he asked.

"She was late contacting me, so I was worried, and then that was what she had to say in the end…" Kyoko sighed at both teens' voracious appetites. "I know we normally work a case to the end and provide the client with support afterwards, but… Maybe we should pass on it this time…"

"You pulled me away from cake!" Takumi frowned at her. "And I don't mind hanging out with Yuuko! Especially when there's food involved!" The detective seriously frowned at him and crossed her arms. "Um… Sorry," he cleared his throat. "There is something else you wanted to go over, right?"

"I've seen many instances of accounts being stolen by Digimon," she began. "For a human-like AI to start stealing accounts like that… When it comes to programming, an AI and a Digimon are basically the same… It seems that more and more strange things are happening in cyberspace."

Takumi smiled and crossed his arms at the thought. "Uh-huh," he nodded as he closed his eyes.

"You nod and say 'Uh-huh' just like everyone else, but… even you could be referred to as 'strange', don't you think?" Kyoko chuckled.

"Well, of course," Takumi sheepishly scratched his cheek.

"But anyway, nice work," Kyoko praised him for another job well done. "It looks like your cases are going well…" she nodded as she threw the folder for Yuuko's case onto the growing stack of files on her desk. "Oh yeah, shouldn't Mirei be just about done with her preparations at this point? Now that we've managed to stabilize your body, it's time for us to act. I'm counting on you to get it done."

"Understood," Takumi nodded before taking off again.

"My apologies for the wait," Mirei nodded to Takumi as he arrived. "Let's get started, shall we?" Takumi nodded as Mirei got up from her seat. She held up both crystals as her two cats stood at her side. Takumi watched as the Harmonious Will and Steel Will lit up before each choosing to merge with a cat.

Takumi's blue eyes widened as the white cat suddenly turned into an Angewomon while the black cat became LadyDevimon. The two Digimon combined together into a new Digimon, taking on the dual traits of both polar Digimon. The Cyber Sleuth stared, a bit awestruck by the Jogressed Digimon's overwhelming power. "Whoa…"

"Now, Mastemon," Mirei addressed her new Digimon. "Show me your power." Mastemon spun and waved her arm, opening up a strange portal in the DigiLab. "I opened an entrance to a parallel world with Mastemon's power," the woman addressed Takumi. "You can use it to leap across the dimensions. You should find what you seek there," she smiled.

"Alright," Takumi nodded before jumping in. "I'm off!"

A girl with green hair and a black hooded jacket shook with energy as she stared at her Digivice. "Draaaaaaattt!" she exploded. "Just as Veevee had this amazing evolution! That stupid bearded Digimonnnnnn!"

A V-mon popped up on her screen and shook his head at her. "It's all right, Rina. We're going to train some more and challenge him!"

"Fine, whatever," Rina frowned. "Wait, no!" she shook her head. "Not fine! If you're gonna do it, go do it on your own! I want to watch TV and read some manga…"

"What are you talking about?" Veevee sternly frowned at her. "I should just let my stolen power go!?"

"Power!?" Rina brought a hand up to her mouth. "Th-that would be a problem… Ohhh! What do we do?" She looked up as something weird was happening in front of her. "Ah? Hey!"

A strange hole opened up above the street and suddenly a boy with red hair, dressed in a black t-shirt and yellow pants jumped out of it. Takumi carefully landed onto a knee. "Hm?" he blinked at his surroundings. "Is this Shinjuku?"

"Wh-whoa!" Rina's eyes widened before she ran up to the boy. "You! You just… appeared out of nowhere! Like with a p-p-p-pop!"

"Huh?" Takumi got up and frowned at her.

"Whoa, whoa, hey!" Rina circled him. "Is this magic? A hidden camera!? Where's the camera!? How do I look on the video? Hey! Hey, you! Come on. Say something, will ya? What's going on!? Hey, hey, hey, hey!"

"Um…" the Cyber Sleuth shook his head. "Hold on… I'm a bit lost myself…" He paused when Mirei's voice spoke to him from the open portal behind him.

"It looks like you've managed to cross between the dimensions without incident," the woman stated.

"Mirei-san?" Takumi turned around. "Will you be joining me too?"

"I can't go there myself, but I can see you very clearly," she told him. "The boisterous girl is Shinomiya Rina. Ask her about what you seek. She will surely lead you to it."

"Alright," he nodded before facing Rina. Takumi looked around and noticed he was standing in the middle of the road. "So, Rina-san, allow me to explain," he said as he safely started for the sidewalk. "I'm Aiba Takumi and I come from a parallel world. I'm here to find UlforceV-dramon and recruit his help to fight against the Royal Knighst threatening to destroy my world."

Rina laughed. "What is that!? Parasol worlds!? Cool, cool! Fascinating, even!" She studied Takumi with wide red eyes. "So you came from sorta somewhere by a sorta somehow method, right? Yeah, I get it! Not really, but okay!" she exclaimed. "Anyway, you want to meet UlforceV-dramon, right?"

"That's right," Takumi nodded. He smiled as it seemed as though she got the gist of it.

"And you're a Tamer too, right?"

"I actually consider myself more of a Cyber Sleuth," the boy smirked. "But yeah, I guess so."

"Wow, wowsers!" she jumped. "Nice timing, perfect timing! You're very good and I'm very cute. You'll make a great helper! We're off to beat up Barbar! With a helper here, nobody needs to retrain all over again from the beginning!"

"Eh?" Takumi blinked at her in confusion.

"It's settled, then! Let's go, let's go!" she cried, pulling on the boy's arm.

"Wait, what's going on?" Takumi asked. "Where are you taking me?"

"What? To where? Duh, it's obvious!" Rina smiled. "To that sorta wavy-wavy kinda place!To where? Duh, it's obvious!" Rina smiled. "To that sorta wavy-wavy kinda place! Barbar is hiding out all sneaky-like in there! We get in and then you pound the pulp outta him!"

"Eh!?" Takumi frowned as he freed his arm from her surprisingly strong grip. "Can you at least explain it a bit better? Why am I…?"

"I'm sorry," Veevee revealed himself to the Cyber Sleuth. "Rina's always like this. To translate… Up ahead is a place where space is warped. Barbamon is there. We're going there to defeat him."

"Barbamon?" the redhead tilted his head to the side.

"Barbamon is one of the Seven Great Demon Lords," Veevee nodded. "He's an Ultimate Digimon. Rina and I defeated Barbamon once before, but… the revived Barbamon then stole all the power I had accumulated up to that point."

"So we'll pound Barbar and restore Veevee's power!" Rina exclaimed. "But it'll mostly be you doing the pounding! So, helper from a caramel world…" she nodded to Takumi. "Join us in our battle for revenge!" She paused and brought a hand up to her mouth as she laughed. "Yow, I… I just told you I liked you!"

Takumi blankly stared at her. "Something tells me you're not going to let me go off on my own…" He sighed and shook his head. "I guess I'll help out then. In return, you'll take me to UlforceV-dramon, right?"

"Sure, sure, whatever!" Rina nodded as she grabbed his arm again. "Let's go, helper!"

Takumi looked around the Shinjuku labyrinth. "I didn't expect there to be a labyrinth in this world too…" He looked towards Rina and noticed a V-mon emerging from her Digivice.

"Hey there," the Digimon smiled at him. "I'm Veevee, Rina's partner. At your service!"

"Okay," Rina nodded, "So Veevee has showed up and our supporters from the Parallel World are here too. We're goin' for it! I'm gonna smack you silly, Bumblemon! Just you wait and see!" she threateningly chuckled.

"Rina…" Veevee sighed. "That makes you sound like the bad guy."

"We'd better get going," Takumi suggested as he started to head deeper into the station.

Rina ran ahead to Takumi as they neared the Demon Lord. "I finally found you!" she cried. "How dare you, you punk!? Okay, let's make short work of this creep!"

"Return my power to me, Barbamon!" Veevee prepared for battle.

"So you're back, even though I let you go," the bearded Digimon sneered at the small Child. "With the power I stole from you, I will conquer this world as a Super-Duper Extra Deadly Digimon! Well, what about it?" he asked the pair of teenagers and their Digimon. "If you work for me, a quarter of the world will—"

Rina's red eyes sparked as a wide smirk appeared on her face. "Ooh! This is my chance!"

"Eh?" Takumi looked towards her as she suddenly ran forward and somersaulted through the air. "Eh!?" His blue eyes widened as she was heading straight for the Ultimate Digimon.

Barbamon laughed as he raised his staff. "Take this! Huh!?" He lifted his gaze up towards the somersaulting girl. "What!?" Before the Digimon knew it, Rina kicked him in the face. He fell flat on his back as Rina jumped back to a safe distance.

The girl bounced on her feet, ready for another strike. "Vanguard victory!" she exclaimed. "Ultra-courage! On my mark, everybody! Attaaaaack!"

"Hmph!" Barbamon scrambled to get up. "Surprise attacks are hardly fair!" He took off away from the girl as she began charging him.

"Rina, you're just…" Veevee shook his head. "Aw, dag nabbit!" He sighed as he joined his tamer in the battle.

Takumi scratched his cheek. "Um… Okay… I guess it's time for us to help," he crookedly smirked. "Let's go, everyone!" he nodded to his team.

"V-mon Head!" Veevee rammed his head into Barbamon before jumping back.

"Golden Triangle!"

"Spiral Sword!"

"Lovely Attack!"

"Hell's Flame!" Barbamon raised his staff as fire began spewing from it. The attacking Digimon retreated for a moment, giving the Demon Lord a chance to charge his power. "Magic Binge!"

Takumi frowned as his Digivice sensed a dramatic reduction in their opponent's attack, defense, and speed. "Everyone! Give it all you got!"

"Rapid Fire!"

"Gatling Missile!"

"Boom Boom Punch!" Monzaemon managed to land a few punches on the Demon Lord before backing up.

Veevee spat out small shots of energy from his mouth. "V-shot!"

Takumi called for a retreat when he sensed Barbamon's energy spike beginning to plateau. "Everyone! Watch out!"

"Pandemonium Lost!" The Demon Lord charged up a sphere of dark energy before unleashing it upon his opponents.

Veevee let out a cry as he flew back but he quickly rose back up. "Hopping Kick!" He jumped forward and kicked Barbamon with as much strength as he could muster.

The Ultimate Digimon laughed though as he whacked the Child with his Death Lure. "Magic Binge!" he cried as he began charging his power again.

Takumi frowned as he quickly applied a recovery spray on his team. "Let's try this again! Monzaemon, use Lovely Charm the next time he attacks!"

"V-mon Head!" Veevee headbutted their opponent again.

"Let's go, Veevee!" Rina cheered her partner on. "Pummel him to the ground!"

Barbamon growled as he tried to use Pandemonium Lost again, but Takumi quickly called out to his team. "Now! Xros Combo!"

"Lovely Charm!"

"Spiral Sword!"

"Rapid Fire!"

"V-mon Head Drop!" Veevee jumped into the air before diving headfirst into Barbamon's face, knocking the Demon Lord onto his back before he could attack.

"Nghhh! My power…!?" Barbamon tried to get back up. "My power!"

"Aaaaargh! My power, my power!" Rina mimicked him with a laugh. "That power is me and Veevee's blood, sweat, and tears!" she exclaimed before turning towards her partner. "Yeah, Veevee! C'mon, go for it!"

"All right!" Veevee nodded. "I'll get my power back!" He quickly loaded the energy Barbamon lost and evolved, much to the Demon Lord's great dismay.

"N-no…!"

Takumi's eyes widened as he performed a scan on the Dragon Man donned in blue armor. "You…!"

"I am UlforceV-dramon!" Veevee nodded to him with a chuckle. "Surprised?"

"Veevee!" Rina stood at the Royal Knight's side. "I'm going in for the finisher!"

"Okay, Rina!" the UlforceV-dramon nodded. The two stood together before crying out his final attack. "Shining V Force!"

"Oyster V Sauce!" the girl called out instead.

"Rina!" Veevee looked at her. "That doesn't even make sense!"

Barbamon let out a cry of despair. "To be done in by such… such triteness! Nooooo!"

The UlforceV-dramon charged up the V-shaped emblem on his chest before firing a ray of energy from it. When Barbamon was completely defeated, Veevee returned to his master and sternly frowned at her. "Rina! At least remember the names of the moves! You're always so random!"

"Really?" the girl blinked at him. "Well, whatever! We won," she smiled.

"Remember me…" Barbamon tried rising again. "I'll be back again and again… AGAIN AND AGA—" he let out a gasp before finally collapsing to the ground.

Takumi nervously chuckled at how strange this situation was. "Should I be worried about our future?" he asked his Digimon. They only shrugged to him in response.

"Thanks!" Rina nodded to Takumi as they emerged from the labyrinth. "You really helped a lot! And so yeah, like, here's who you wanted to meet. UlforceV-dramon, also known as Veevee!" she proudly exclaimed.

"Rina," the Digimon shook his head at her as he appeared on her Digivice's display screen, "there's not a serious bone in your body. And you?" he looked over towards Takumi. "What business do you have with me?"

"I came here from my world to ask for your help to protect it," Takumi seriously told him.

"I see," Veevee nodded. "Your world is in terrible danger. I understand! Now it is my turn to help you!" Rina frowned at that. "Rina, I…" the Digimon looked at his tamer in concern.

"Yeah, I know," Rina managed to give her partner a smile. "Have a safe trip, Veevee. I'll always have your back," she told him. "Even when you're in a distant world, okay?"

"Rina…" the UlforceV-dramon seemed to be on the verge of tears.

The girl turned away from him. "Jeez! Hurry up and go already!" she told him. "We're not good with tears, you and I!"

Takumi frowned at the sad separation. "Don't worry, Rina," he nodded to the tamer. "I'll bring Veevee back before you know it."

"Did you fulfill your objective, Takumi?" a voice called out to the Cyber Sleuth.

"Mirei-san?" Takumi looked up. "Ah… Yeah, I did. I have UlforceV-dramon now."

"I'll open the entrance then," she stated. "Come on back."

Takumi and Veevee shared a nod before the Digimon transferred into the redhead's Digivice. The Cyber Sleuth took a deep breath before starting for the middle of the street where the portal was to appear. Veevee called back out to his tamer. "Rina… I swear I'll come back! I will be back!"

"Veevee!" Rina yelled back at her Digimon. "I know for sure I'll see you again!" she nodded.

"Rina…" Veevee closed his eyes as the portal opened up. "Rinaaa!"

Takumi landed safely back in the DigiLab with the UlforceV-dramon behind him. The boy rose to his feet and nodded to Mirei in greeting. "I'm home," he smiled.

"Welcome home," Mirei smirked back at him. "You now have the power to oppose Sleipmon. We should thank Shinomiya Rina."

Takumi crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "Yeah…" he nodded.

He paused as someone behind him tried to mimic his voice. "Hmm… I have to thank the pretty girl… As a thank you, I'll give her… all my money!"

"Eh?" the boy opened his blue eyes in confusion. "Why would I do that?"

"What? Honey?" Rina crossed her arms. "Man, honeydew melon would sure hit the spot. Anything sweet would do…" she slurped.

"Eh!?" the Cyber Sleuth turned around to face her.

Even Veevee seemed surprised to see her there. "Rina!?"

"I kinda came with you," Rina giggled.

"What do you mean 'kinda came with me'!?" the UlforceV-dramon asked. "What about that emotional farewell!? My tears!? All meaningless now!" he cried.

"Where Veevee goes, I go!" Rina declared. "I mean, bring on the parallel! It's cool!"

Mirei sighed and placed a hand on her hip. "I see. She really took it to the extreme. To throw one's body into a crack in space-time…"

"That works? Or is there a problem?" Rina asked her.

"Whether it's a problem or not depends on how you take this," Mirei frowned at her. "One of the rules of traversing dimensional space-time is 'no bodies'. Which is why you've been forcibly split away from your body and now exist as a cyber entity."

"Huh… Hmph… A cyber entity…" Rina smiled and placed her hands on her hips. "Well, then, there's no problem I can see!"

Mirei sighed and closed her eyes. Veevee shook his head as he tried to explain it to his tamer. "Rina, I say this because you likely don't get it. 'Cyber entity' means having an existence akin to that of a Digimon. A digital existence."

"What, really!?" Rina's eyes widened. "I'm a Digimon now!? What about my cute body!? My pretty body!?"

"Unfortunately, your body is safe," Mirei told her with a smirk. "It remains back on your world. If you want to return, just let me know. I'll send you back."

"I see! Well, then that's perfect!" the green-haired girl nodded. "Bwuh!?" she blinked at Mirei. "Wait, why'd you just say 'unfortunately'!?"

"Did I?" Mirei frowned. "I don't remember. It may have been one of the mes from a parallel world. Worlds where I did and didn't say 'unfortunately'," she teasingly smirked. "Worlds where I might have said and didn't say it. Infinitely branching worlds with infinite mes."

"Huh? Uh, oh… But really?" Rina blinked at her a few more times before thinking something over. "You're Mirei-chan, right? If this is a parallel world, why are you…?"

Takumi tilted his head to the side, equally as confused as the tamer. "Mirei-san… I just noticed something… Do you actually know Rina-san and Veevee? Are you perhaps also…?" he looked down at his body before studying the woman he trusts with managing his Digimon. "H-huh…?" He blinked as he only just noticed how similar Mirei's Digital Wave signature was to his own.

"Do I know these two, you ask? I do," she nodded. "Casual acquaintances, you could say. From another world. Anyway," she looked towards Rina, "the risks in moving across dimensional space-time are high and not to be taken lightly. You should stay as composed as possible. I realize I'm talking to a brick wall, however," she sighed as Rina blinked at her with a wide clueless grin on her face.

Rina giggled as it all went over her head, but her Digimon nodded in understanding. "Yes, it is certainly impossible to ask Rina to be composed. She can stand still for about three seconds at absolute maximum. But!" he happily smiled at his tamer. "I'm still really glad she's here!" He returned to Rina's side and looked towards the Cyber Sleuth needing his help. "Well, Takumi! Let's go stop that rampaging beast! When it comes to speed, I won't be beaten!"

"Alright!" Takumi nodded to his new allies. "We should be able to catch Sleipmon now! Let's head to the EDEN Free Area again."

"Kyoko-san, I just got back from the parallel world," Takumi spoke into his Digivice.

"Parallel worlds, eh?" Kyoko smirked at him. "Intriguing," she mused. "This time, everything should go smoothly. Head out to where Sleipmon is," she directed him.

"Already on it," her assistant nodded as he landed in EDEN's free area. "I'll call you again with the results as soon as I have them." Takumi looked up as he saw Sleipmon charging towards him again. "Sleipmon! I've returned to challenge you!"

"Worthless human…" Sleipmon frowned at the boy. "You bothered coming back!?"

"That's enough!" Veevee cut in. "Now I'm here, too!"

Sleipmon chuckled at the sight of the UlforceV-dramon. "So you're the helper? Very well! It only makes you more worthy of destruction!"

"You!" Rina placed her hands on her hips as she studied Sleipmon. "I've heard about you! Going on a crazy rampage and stuff! What's up with that!?"

"You're asking why?" the Royal Knight asked her. "It is my impulse! I simply want to break things! The overwhelming ill will of humanity in cyberspace has eaten away at me directly! It triggers my impulse! Break, destroy, shatter!" He let out a fierce cry.

"There's something wrong with him, Rina!" Veevee tensed up.

"I want to break things!" the other Digimon continued. "This impulse is all the humans' fault! The nature of humans is to act as they desire! I understand! And so I obey my impulse! And as in cyberspace, so too in the real world! Foolish humans! Your destruction is all I seek!"

"Huh? What?" Rina frowned. "You're saying it's our fault? If it's your destructive impulses, then YOU do something! You have to take responsibility for your actions! Even I know that!" she stated. "Which means that you know less than me, okay?"

"What did you just say?" Sleipmon narrowed his gaze on her.

"You don't understand the first thing about us!" Rina shrugged. "So a little beating and a lot of talking, okay!?" she smirked before bouncing on her feet again. She lightly threw a few jabs at the air, prepared for a battle.

"You obnoxious little brat," the Royal Knight glared at her. "If you think you can stop me, go ahead and try!" He took off into the air, ready to gallop away.

"Veevee!" Rina quickly turned to her partner. "C'mon, go for it! Paaarrrt TWO!"

"All right!" Veevee nodded. "Here I go, Takumi!" He offered the boy a ride on his back and Takumi climbed aboard.

"Let's go, everyone!" Takumi nodded as he called out his team. He tightly held onto Veevee as the UlforceV-dramon suddenly took off into the air. "Lilimon!" the boy called out to the fairy flying at his right. "Bind him with Temptation! Rapidmon, Jesmon! Full assault!"

Sleipmon slowed down as leaves began to surround his body. He winced as Rapidmon began firing missiles at him and Jesmon rushed in to pierce him with his swords. "Furrow-sword Judgement!" the young Royal Knight cried out.

The six-legged Royal Knight let out a growl as he raised his holy bow towards Takumi and Veevee. "Bifröst!"

The UlforceV-dramon easily evaded it as Takumi called out a new string of orders. "Jesmon! Use your OS Generics to increase you speed even further! Rapidmon, Lilimon! Keep attacking!"

"Golden Triangle!"

"Dual Hand Flower Paddle Bomb!" Both of Lilimon's hands became flower petal guns and she quickly began firing at Sleipmon.

Sleipmon lifted the shield on his right arm up and tried attacking the Digimon with it. "Odin's Breath!" A flurry of ice blew towards Takumi's Digimon and the Royal Knight intended to freeze them in place before taking them out with his Muspellheimr. He smiled as Lilimon made the perfect first target. "Bifröst!" He fired an arrow towards the Data fairy, but didn't expect Jesmon to suddenly intervene.

"Schwertgeist!" he called out before countering the arrow alongside the three fire spirits always accompanying him. They slashed at Sleipmon with their nine swords and knocked him back.

"Now's our chance!" Takumi nodded to Veevee.

"Ulforce Saber!" The UlforceV-dramon generated a beam sword from the V Bracelet on his right wrist and charged towards Sleipmon. He swung his weapon at the other Royal Knight but the six-legged warrior quickly blocked the attack with his Niflheimr. Veevee pushed against him and managed to force Sleipmon to the ground.

"Xros Combo!"

"Shining V Force!"

"Flower Cannon!"

"Homing Missile!"

"Furrow-sword Judgement!"

"All right! Victory is ours!" Rina cheered as Veevee landed behind her. "We did it, Takumi!" she smiled at the Cyber Sleuth as he slid off her Digimon.

"Yeah, we did!" Takumi smiled back with a nod. "Good work, everyone!"

"So," Rina walked up to Sleipmon and blinked at him. "How do you feel now? Cooler heads reigning?"

"Impossible!" Sleipmon shook his head as he looked between Rina, Takumi, and their Digimon. "To be able to keep up with my speed…" He let out a frustrated growl. "Go on, then! Do it quickly! Finish me off."

"Finish you?" Rina blinked at him in confusion. "What do you mean? No one's finishing anyone."

"You… intend to show mercy?"

The girl shook her head. "Listen, you've got it all wrong! Didn't I tell ya? We've got some loooooong talking to do, so…" she smiled at the Digimon. "Come travel with me for a little while," she told him. "Veevee and I will be staying in this world for a little while longer."

"Go somewhere with a human? Me!?" Sleipmon was taken aback. "What rubbish!"

"Well, it seems like you've only seen the bad side of humans," Rina stated. "You can't think we're all like that? So a little time with us will clear up your little misunderstanding."

"If indeed it is a misunderstanding, that is," Sleipmon frowned.

Rina thought about something for a moment. "And if there's no good to be found here on this world, then come to ours! We'd welcome you!"

Sleipmon laughed at the girl's simple-mindedness. "You're thinking I'd go along with THAT plan?"

"Yup!" Rina cheerfully smiled as she placed her hands on her hips.

"Hmph… All right," the Royal Knight nodded. "I'll go along for the sake of your optimism. And if should we find no good among humans, then…"

"Okay! Let's do some sightseeing!" Rina cut him off. "Where to begin? Anything good to eat?"

"Hey, don't interrupt," Sleipmon frowned at her. "That's rude."

"We're leaving!" the girl declared before running off.

"Ah!" Veevee tensed up. "Wait up, Rina!" He quickly turned to Takumi and gave him an apologetic bow. "Okay, if you need our power, call us whenever!" He and Sleipmon quickly took off after Rina, leaving Takumi blinking at whatever it was that just happened.

"What the…!?" the Cyber Sleuth frowned. "So then Sleipmon ISN'T our ally?" He shook his head and chuckled to himself. "Well, whatever… I'd better get back to the agency."

"I see…" Kyoko brought her hand up to her mouth. "Sleipmon must have been confused. He was just running around and wasn't causing any damage. Maybe he was trying to clear his head?"

"It looked like it," Takumi shrugged.

"But as for that Shinomiya Rina…" Kyoko frowned and shook her head as she decided not to go into the subject. "No… I have no questions to ask about her. In any event," she crossed her arms, "UlforceV-dramon has unparalleled fighting power. We must thank Mikagura Mirei." She paused to consider what would be an appropriate method to do so. "That's it! I'll develop a new blend for her," the detective smiled.

"Will she actually accept it?" Takumi nervously asked. He shook his head. "Maybe… you should come up with something else, Kyoko-san."

"Why are you looking so meh?" Kyoko asked him. "Are you thinking she won't 'get' my coffee? It's been a secret up until now but she understands my creative energies and in fact, she even helps me focus them."

"Eh!?" her assistant tensed up.

"One of my four masterpieces was her idea," the woman nodded her head, "the Bonito Broth and Balsamic Vinegar Blend. I made some just now, actually," she smiled.

"I had no idea!" Takumi was taken aback by this new information. "Mikagura Mirei-san… What a fearsome individual!" His eyes widened as he realized what was coming next. "Ah… I'm going to step out for a while, Kyoko-san…" he stammered as he backed away from her.

"Oh? But what about your coffee?" Kyoko smirked as she was already pouring out a cup for him. The red-haired boy whimpered as he stared at the sour-smelling coffee.

Kyoko nodded as she finished confirming the current whereabouts of each Royal Knight. "Our Royal Knight allies are coming along well," she noted to Takumi. "But Duftmon must be aware of our actions. Don't let your guard down," she warned him.

"Right," Takumi nodded. He blinked as the office phone began to ring.

Kyoko smirked as she noticed who it was from. "Oh-ho, how rare! A call from Inspector Date!" She quickly answered to see what it was about.

"Hey! Detective!" Date frowned at them. "One of those monsters has shown up in Asakusa! We don't have the men to deal with this. Go and check it out for me! Thanks!" Without waiting for them to accept the request, the inspector hung up.

"Hmm… Was that supposed to be a case request?" Kyoko asked, bringing a hand up to her chin. "It's like I'm the town handyman around here…"

"You?" Takumi frowned at his boss. "Aren't I the one being sent to handle it though?"

Kyoko ignored his complaint. "This makes it vague when it comes to the contract," she mused. "It's a problem but there's nothing to be done."

"I guess not," her assistant sighed. "Work is work…"

She chuckled to herself. "That monster… If an Eater has appeared, then maybe conditions have changed. Okay, it's your turn," she looked at the Cyber Sleuth. "The location is Asakusa. Head over there as soon as possible. Be careful… and when necessary, be bold," she advised him.

"Understood," Takumi nodded.

Takumi gasped when he saw a familiar teen wearing a white hooded jacket ahead of him. "Arata!"

"Takumi…" Arata scowled as he turned to face his friend. "What are you here for? I've got business with this one! Don't interfere!"

"W-what do you mean?" the Cyber Sleuth asked, noticing the strange glint in his friend's dark blue eyes. Takumi's eyes darted towards the humanoid Eater behind the older teen though. "N-never mind! Arata! Look out!"

Arata coolly stepped out of the way as the Eater tried to swipe its arm at him. "Infermon, take care of it."

"Hell's Grenade!" Infermon cackled.

"Jesmon! Rapidmon! Go on ahead while Mugendramon charges his cannon!" Takumi nodded to them.

"Oh?" Arata frowned when he noticed the familiar mechanical dragon with the Cyber Sleuth. "When did you get such a powerful Digimon? How did you take it from the fake Yuugo for that matter?"

"Even if he wasn't real, Yuugo entrusted EDEN and Mugendramon to me," Takumi frowned as he kept a careful eye on the Eater. "Jesmon! Use Schertgeist! Rapidmon! Golden Triangle!"

"Entrusted? To you?" Arata shook his head. "A soft-hearted guy like you should quit while you're ahead. It's because of that weakness you're already in over your head with that body of yours…" He clenched his fists and called out to Infermon. "Cocoon Guard!"

"Everyone, get down!" Takumi ducked behind Mugendramon as the great beast finally fired his fully charged Mugen Cannon. "I really don't get you, Arata," Takumi sighed. "You're always running around worrying over others yet you complain that you're not strong. Do you really think you're that weak?"

"What would you know about weakness?" the older boy asked. "You're always rushing straight into danger yourself without thinking about the consequences! Hell, you and Nokia are the same! Your weakness will get you killed one day, so that's why I have to cover your back!" Arata angrily cried. "I can't do that unless I have power!"

"But you've always covered us without fail before," Takumi sadly frowned. "What makes things different this time?"

"You wouldn't understand," Arata told him, "and I'd prefer if you didn't, Takumi. Knowing you and your soft-heartedness, you'd rush off ahead of me with no way for me to catch up… That's why… I have to do this!"

"Hell's Grenade!" Infermon fired another barrage of shots at the Eater.

"Arata…" the Cyber Sleuth lowered his gaze to the ground.

"Takumi!" Jesmon jumped back as he countered the Eater's arm. "It's almost down!"

"Rapid Fire!" Rapidmon fired his missiles to knock the monster back a little. The creature collapsed to the ground and Takumi spotted their chance to end things.

"Xros—"

"Stop right there!" Arata interrupted him as he reloaded Infermon back into his Digivice. "Watch from where you are," he told the younger teen. Arata held out his hand towards the Eater and screamed as his arm became wrapped in a distorted light.

Takumi gasped when the Eater became assimilated into his friend's body. He stared at Arata's right arm and studied its new monstrous form. "Huh!?"

"This is the sort of thing I'm capable of now," the older boy smirked as he lifted his new arm up. "This is the power Suedou gave me. I'm going to eat… More and more… I'll eat!" He maniacally laughed before turning towards his loyal Digimon.

"Arata…" Takumi knit his eyebrows together and noticed Arata's eyes had turned red.

"How wretched…" a voice spoke up.

Arata quickly turned to face who it was. "Who's that?"

"Dukemon!" Takumi's eyes widened as the Royal Knight landed in front of Arata.

"I came because I felt a strange presence…" Dukemon stated. "I wasn't expecting this horrifying form I see now," he frowned at the raven-haired hacker. "You are no longer a person!"

"And what of it?" Arata asked, shaking his head. "Being human wasn't enough. So I just went beyond humanity! It's not any different from Takumi's body."

"Arata!" Takumi frowned at him but he noticed Dukemon taking a step towards the older teen.

"I see," the Royal Knight readied his lance. "Then I must defeat you. I will at least try to be gentle!"

"Dukemon, no!" Takumi quickly stepped in between them.

"Don't interfere!" Dukemon snapped at the Cyber Sleuth. "Even if he was your friend, emotional involvement will only add to the confusion!"

"Ah!" the younger teen's blue eyes widened at that. Still, he shook his head. "Even so, I can't let you both fight!"

"Your actions only hasten his fall into darkness!" Dukemon argued, causing Takumi to hesitantly stare at the raven-haired hacker. "You should know that his death will be a mercy!"

"Quit yammering and come for me, if you're coming!" Arata challenged the powerful Digimon. "I haven't tried a Royal Knight… I want a taste!" he eagerly cried. "I want to see how strong I've become!"

"Arata! Dukemon! No!" Takumi was roughly shoved to the side by the Royal Knight as the great warrior charged towards Arata without reservation.

"Royal Saber!" Dukemon thrust his weapon forward but frowned as Arata swiftly evaded it. He swung Gram at the boy a few more times but to no avail. When he realized none of his attacks would connect, Dukemon jumped back before lifting his shield towards the monstrous boy. "Final Elysion!" Aegis released a purifying beam and Takumi had to cover his eyes to shield them from the bright light.

When the attack ended, Takumi looked around but couldn't find Arata. He tensed up those as he sensed his friend in the air. "Arata!"

The raven-haired boy laughed as he pointed his Eater arm towards Dukemon. "Incept Handler!" His fingers shot out in the same fashion the Eaters' tentacles usually do as they consumed data.

Dukemon protected himself with his shield, but the powerful blow had come as a shock to the powerful Royal Knight. "What manner of lunacy is this!? Where is he getting this power from?"

Arata laughed as he landed on the ground. "Incredible… It's incredible! This is my power!" He smirked at his new arm. "As long as I have this, this power…!"

"That's enough!" Takumi called out as he stood in between the two fighters again.

"We must stop him here!" Dukemon refused to back down. "The chaos will only worsen!"

"I understand…" Arata nodded as he continued to smile at his newfound power. "I understand it all. It's all so clear now." He sneered at Dukemon. "I'm not a match for you. Not yet," he shook his head. "I'll have to eat more and more… and then we can meet again." He giddily chuckled at the thought. "I'll see you around!" He quickly retreated before the other two could stop him.

"Arata!" Takumi turned towards the boy as he left.

"Don't let him get away!" Dukemon cried. "We can't just let him do as he pleases!" He quickly gave chase after the dangerous teen.

The Cyber Sleuth frowned as he debated whether or not he should go. On one hand, he had to stop Arata because Dukemon was right. On the other, he knew he couldn't fight against his friend. His decision was made for him though when his Digivice suddenly rang.

"Hey, Takumi!" Nokia smiled at him. "Where you at? Yuuko-chi wants to have a meeting. Come to Nakano." She paused when she noticed the strange expression the usually cheery boy's face. "Hey, wait, Takumi! You look a little pale. Something happen?"

"W-well…" Takumi's frown deepened as he wondered how he would break the news to Nokia.

"Anyway," she worriedly knit her eyebrows together, "meet us at the agency! You can tell us all about it there!"

"Y-yeah…" Takumi nodded before the call ended. He lowered his gaze to the ground and clenched his right hand. "Arata…" He thought back to how the older boy had said his alteration was no different from Takumi's half-cyber body. "Why would you throw yourself away like that?" he asked. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before deciding it was best to not keep Kyoko, Nokia, and Yuuko waiting.

Final Notes: So I gave Takumi Jesmon and Mugendramon... Namely because... I don't know what Jesmon would be doing otherwise... Gankoomon just chills around Ueno, not really caring about anything. Magnamon is hanging out with Nokia, I'm sure. Also... I'm not really sure, but I couldn't tell if Yuugo was really deleted or not in the game. I decided to delete him here because... well... I get a lot of Persona vibes here and it's like Yuuko accepted her shadow. So Yuugo is gone but his spirit lives on! Of course, just because the Zaxon legend is gone, I couldn't really delete his Digimon, so yay, Takumi getting Mugendramon! I never played Re:Digitize Decode but that's where Rina and Mirei are originally from. It's a weird crossover of sorts, but it's there. I really don't have much of an opinion on it. Starting next chapter, Takumi properly begins evolving his own team, so I'll list that out tomorrow. For now, he finally has a full team of 11 Digimon! Oh, something weird about the game's programming for those who don't really know. So on a New Game Plus, it rolls over a lot of your progress from the previous game so if you unlock the Great Challenges and Sayo quests and complete them, their progress is saved into the New Game Plus. BUT! If you don't do them at all, a New Game Plus still considers you as having complete them so even without starting those quests, it's completely possible to play through the game and completing your Digimon Encyclopedia without having to go through the hassle of fighting through the game's most difficult battles. The only weird thing is that you don't unlock Hackmon until this chapter still because the Steel Will is a necessary plot item. You can still devolve into him though...