Ch4

Netto's stomach felt like a cage of butterflies had been released in it as he approached the N1 Grand Prix stadium "Wow this place is amazing," he said as he looked around at the crowds of people.

"Come on lets go find everyone," he said as he walked through the crowds of people. He and Slur were already registered as contestants but he was more nervous about all the different people he would be fighting against.

I want to fight against a bunch of strong opponents. He smiled as he made his way to the stands. I'll show everyone what me and Slur can do.

He eventually saw his friends together seated among the crowds. "Netto-kun!" Meiru called out.

"Meiru-chan!" he waved back at her and his friends as he made his way through the crows. As soon as he was with them Meiru gave him a big hug. "H-Hey guys," he said feeling his face turn red.

"Dude you were almost late," Dekao said frowning at him and Meiru.

"Sorry," he said as he sat down next to Meiru. "So are you guys all ready?"

All of his friends nodded with determined looks in their faces. "Yeah we'll do our best to win too," Tohru said.

"Well then lets do our best then," he said with a smile. It will be weird if I have to fight them but still I'm glad they can compete with me.

"Hey it looks like the tournament is going to start," Yaito said.

He sat in his seat and watched the announcer Kero Midorikawa greeted everyone. He had seen the announcer on the local news station and knew she was the operator of the navi Toadman.

"Hello everyone and welcome to the N1 Grand Prix!" Kero said as the crowd erupted into cheers. "Net battlers from all over have come to partake in this tournament. Now then I hope everyone can put on a good show for the world to see."

We'll do this. He scanned the crowd, his heart racing in his chest. We can win this I know it. He stared at the screen, his heart pounding in his chest in anticipation. Around him his friends were also in a similar state of excitement.

Kero then cleared her throat. "Now then we will have the first round of battles soon. Contestants please go to your assigned area once you see your first opponents."

His heart beat in anticipation as he saw the screen light up. His face appeared on the screen next to a familiar face. "Miyuu," he said. His opponent will be Miyuu and Skullman. He saw her as a friend but he knew she was stronger than she let on.

"Good luck Netto-kun," Meiru said as she hugged him.

"Thanks," he said feeling more awkward. "Guys good luck to you all too. Lets advance to the next round together."

His friends all nodded in agreement. "Alright contestants please get ready for your first match!" Kero said.

"Come on Slur lets go," he said as he got up and left the stand.

"Lets do this Netto-kun," Slur said from the PET.


Slur avoided Skullman's arms with ease. "Water Tower slot in!" Netto said.

She quickly summoned a tower of water to block a torrent of fire Skullman shot at her. Not bad. Skullman was definitely smarter than some of the other navis she fought but this wasn't anything she couldn't handle. Still these navis are nothing compared to me.

"Area Steal!" Netto said just as two skeletal arms were thrown at her. "Sword slot in!"

She teleported to Skullman's side and lunged at him with the sword in her hand. Skullman shot a blast of fire from his mouth at her but she easily avoided the attack and swung her blade at him.

However, Skullman easily blocked it with his one hand. "Sword slot in," Miyuu said.

A sword appeared on Skullman's hand and he swung it at her. "Wide Sword slot in!" Netto said.

Another sword appeared on her other hand as she parried Skullman's attacks. You definitely are stronger than I thought you would be but I won't let some Earth navi get the best of me. This may be just a chance to win for her operator but to her the reputation of her creators and Lord Duo were on the line. I'll prove my strength and worth here. She blocked another one of Skullman's attack before leaping back to create distance between them yet Skullman was quick and quickly closed the distance between them.

She could've easily defeated this navi but she knew how much her operator wanted to win and a part of victory was the path to get there. Skullman's attacks increased their pace yet she continued to effortlessly block them.

Not bad but I'm quicker. A smile spread across her face, she lunged at the navi and attempted to get his head but Skullman jumped back.

"Long Sword slot int!" Netto said.

She charged at Skullman yet noticed that the swords on her hand were acting weird. They glowed a bit and a bright light spread throughout the area surprising everyone before it dissipated and the long sword was on her hand.

"What was that?" Netto asked in surprise while Miyuu and Skullman stared at them in shock.

"Skullman take her down now!" Miyuu ordered her voice sounding urgent.

"Yes mam," Skullman said as he charged at her.

"Slur lets do this!" Netto said.

"Roger Netto-kun," She said as she blocked a skeletal boomerang that was thrown at her.

More skeletal joints were thrown at her. Using her sword she blocked and dodged them when a stream of fire came at her.

"Barrier slot in!" Netto said.

The battle chip protected her from the attack and gave her enough time to parry the boomerangs thrown at her. "Netto-kun I say we secure our victory," she said as she stood up and stared at Skullman with a confident grin.

"Lets do it Slur," Netto said.

"Do you have an Area Steal?" She asked as Skullman spewed more fire at her. She easily dodged the attack and blocked another skeletal arm that was flung at her.

"Got it," Netto said as he put the chip in the PET.

She was quickly teleported to Skullman's right. The enemy navi threw his arms at her but she summoned her cords to restrain them. "Lets see how well you can fight without these," she said as she summoned a light sword from her hand.

"Lets go Slur!" Netto said as cables came from the ground and incapacitated Skullman. The navi's eyes went wide as she dealt him a fatal blow.

"Skullman logging out," a program said.

Cheering erupted from the crowd as her face along with her operator's appeared on a holographic screen above them. "Hikari Netto and Slur are the winners!" The announcer declared.

Not a bad warm up. Still no navi from this planet can match me. Her pride would not tolerate losing face let alone a match. She watched at the crowd cheered. Her operator's friends had also moved on to the next round along with that boy Enzan.

"Slur we did it!" Netto exclaimed once they were out of the stadium.

She nodded. "Skullman was an interesting opponent. But I figured it wouldn't have been wise to go all out on our first match."

Netto nodded. "I understand. We will be facing many strong opponents, it wouldn't do us any good to go all out right now."

Her operator then went to meet up with his friends who all advanced to the next round. Not a bad tournament but still if I went all out I could sweep all of these navis.

It may have been the pride in her, she was made to protect and destroy. Her creators used the best technology to make her. These Earth navis were nothing in comparison to her.

Calm down I shouldn't be arrogant. It was a strange thought that came to her mind. She had never had a challenge before. So far all the fights she had been in were nothing.

Still even a worm will turn when stepped on. My opponents so far have been the navis of children and wannabe terrorists. There will be more challenges in the future that may be harder than they appear.

Looking at the contestants who made it to the next round she frowned at the picture of the navi Blues. His operator is an official net battler who helps the net police. The memory of the skirmish she had with the red navi was still fresh in her head.

He definitely will be an interesting opponent. Just from what she gathered about his operator Ijuin Enzan she could tell he was quite different from Netto. Calm, collected, and ruthless. We shouldn't have a problem with them but from what I gathered he will most likely be watching the videos of us fighting. I have to use my skills wisely.

"Slur are you alright?" Netto asked.

She looked up at her operator and nodded. "Of course I am Netto-kun. Just making some plans in my head."

"Cool. What kind of plans?" Netto asked.

She smiled at him. "The ones that will lead us to victory."

"That's the spirit," Netto said smiling at her. "It looks like we will face a lot of tough opponents."

"We will," she said. "Those WWW people are participating we should keep an eye out for them."

"Don't' worry we handled them once we can do it again," Netto said. "I won't let them hurt anyone."

She nodded. "Also that navi Blues and his operator Enzan may pose a threat."

"Yeah I've heard of them," Netto said scratching his hair. "We will have to prepare well for them."

"I think I am capable of defeating him but he may be trickier than I anticipated," She said.

Netto smiled at her. "Don't worry with my skills and your strength we can take anyone down."

"I'm looking forward to winning with you," she said with a smile. It took her a moment to realize what she said, it sort of just came out of her mouth. A warm sensation spread throughout her body. She was taken aback by the sensation. Looking at her operator she was glad to see happiness in his eyes. The joy in them tugged at something inside of her.

Why do I feel this way? Am I actually beginning to care about him? It was her mission to protect and serve him of course she cared if he was injured or something. Yet deep down she felt a strange sensation when looking at her operator. It was feeling she didn't know she could have felt for a human. For once, a tiny part of her cared about someone besides herself.


Dr. Hikari was drinking some coffee on his break. The scientist was having a busy day and during his break, he decided to read some emails from his family.

Something isn't right. He frowned as he read an email from his son who was talking about how he liked his net navi.

He frowned as he looked up at the results of the first round of the N1 Grand Prix. His saw his son's face along with his navi.

"That isn't the navi I sent him," he said staring at the female navi by his son's side. Who is that navi?

His mind raced through the various possibilities. Did Rockman's disk get lost in the mail? No, he was programmed to be Netto's navi and would've found him.

"Something isn't right," he said folding his arm. He rubbed his head debating what to do. He does seem happy with her.

Shaking his head he looked at the picture of the navi. How did he get this navi? A part of him was intrigued, it could have been a mix up or something random coincidence.

Taking a sip of coffee he sighed as he looked at the picture of his son and navi. I'll deal with this later.