AN: Hello! In this chapter, we pick up where we left off last week, with Netto being upset by Yaito's disappearance, even though I know all of you are happy inside. But well, it's another way to traumatize our favorite baby. And yes, Netto, every time you want to save someone, someone else you love will get hurt! On Discord, many people started theorizing about Cache's arrival, which was quite funny, indeed. Enjoy!

Chapter 24: The Masked man's return

Netto walked with heavy steps, clutching the PET against his chest. His face was an emotionless canvas, betraying the inner tension consuming him. He felt ready to explode as he approached his Navi, who was silently waiting outside the town. Glyde's last words echoed endlessly in his young mind. The burden weighed heavily on his shoulders, a load he couldn't bear. He didn't even know exactly where he was heading, but his only hope was to find Rockman as soon as possible and leave without delay. He was exhausted, a piercing pain passing through his being, and a choking lump tightened his throat, ready to be released.

He spotted a figure waiting in the distance, a figure he immediately recognized, but he kept his head down and approached slowly. Although the child should have been happy to see his PET repaired, learning that his friend had disappeared had annihilated any sense of joy within him. Netto felt like collapsing on the ground. Rockman also stepped forward, but he kept his distance, observing the child with his head down.

"Oh Rockman..." he began, his voice choked, his lips twisted. He finally let out a sigh. "I'm ruining everything..."

The Navi tilted his head, expressing his surprise.

"It's all my fault..." he murmured, shaking his head, so desperate that he leaned forward. "I should have..."

Netto straightened up completely, revealing tear-filled eyes, the salty liquid streaming down his cheeks.

"I... Yaito-chan..." he managed to say between sobs, releasing all his tears and cries. "I shouldn't have left her alone! I just wanted to save Aquaman! Why does it always happen...?" A flash of Meiru lying on the ground resurfaced, and he froze, letting his tears continue to flow before shaking his head. "I'm pathetic..."

Netto stopped talking, his voice turning into incessant sobs, interrupted by sniffles. His moans repeated as if he had become a broken record, and his breath almost stopped. Unnoticed by the boy, Rockman approached him. With a calm but hesitant gesture, he placed his hand on the child's head, gently caressing him, which caused Netto to freeze in place.

Netto gasped as he felt Rockman's hand. Though he was initially tempted to pull away in fear of his Navi, he was relieved to feel something. He remained still, clutching his PET against him. He hesitated to approach Rockman but felt paralyzed, unable to make any move.

"T-thank you..." he replied in a trembling voice.

Rockman stopped and withdrew his hand. The child sniffled one last time, then lowered his head, gazing at his PET. He blinked to clear away the tears and wiped his face as best as he could. Even though he was still overwhelmed by what had happened to Yaito, he had forgotten to show Rockman his repaired PET. He forced a smile and raised both hands, presenting his brand new device.

"Look, Rockman!" he attempted to express with enthusiasm. "Your PET... It's fixed!"

Rockman first looked at the blank screen with his head tilted, then pointed one of his claws at it, but nothing lit up. Netto observed him, realizing that the screen was indeed black. He pressed a button to turn on the PET and looked at his Navi with a faint smile despite the grief tormenting him.

"We'll see what we can do for you, if it can make you feel better," expressed Netto as the device powered up.

However, Rockman looked at him with half-closed eyes, almost like a predator. Once the boot-up loading was complete, Netto attempted to navigate the menu...until the PET was quickly snatched from his hands. He looked up and saw Rockman moving away, holding the PET tightly.

"Hey!" cried Netto, running after Rockman. "Rockman! Give me back the PET!"

But the Navi didn't listen. The closer Netto got to him, the more Rockman leaped in opposite directions, skillfully evading the boy's attempts to catch up. The child was about to shout, but he resigned himself to sighing, exhausted by this exercise. Why was his Navi behaving like this? Eventually, Rockman found himself perched on a tree branch, out of the boy's reach. Netto glanced at the PET, trying to figure out what might be happening. His eyes widened as he realized what Rockman seemed to want to do.

"No, Rockman! Don't touch it like that!" he exclaimed.

Rockman ignored him. He tried to manipulate the machine with his clawed finger, attempting to go somewhere, but the touch screen didn't respond to his touch. Netto raised an eyebrow, but he continued to reach out, pleading with the Navi to give him back the PET.

"Rockman, give it back! I need to know what has changed!" he continued to shout.

Rockman glanced down at Netto, observing the child clearly concerned about his device. He jumped down from the tree, landing a few steps away. With his back turned, the young boy approached slowly, hoping to retrieve the PET even though his eyes trembled with fear. Slowly, he raised his hand, imploring Rockman to return the device.

"Rockman... Please..." he pleaded with a soft and fragile voice.

Rockman turned around slowly, bringing the device closer to him. Then suddenly, something shot out from the thicket, attacking the hand of the wild Navi, and the PET flew a bit further away under the shocked eyes of the child. Rockman turned his head, teeth gritting with anger, fixing his gaze on the direction where the attack came from.

Netto also looked and his mouth opened in terror when he saw Tenguman standing proudly before them, his buster arm ready for action. Before he could say anything, Rockman yelled and rushed towards the enemy. The child took a step back, realizing that the Navi with the Tengu mask hadn't uttered a word, merely evading the attacks of the wild Navi. He bit his lip and turned to retrieve the PET, but was stopped by a quick strike to his legs. Collapsing to his knees, he quickly noticed a small man approaching him, holding a staff. Netto frowned, glaring angrily at the man before him.

"Futenroshi, why are you here?!" he shouted.

The old man tilted his head, almost burying his staff in the ground, fixing the child with an emotionless gaze.

"Happy to see you too, little fledgling... It took a long time to find you," he began in an unexpectedly calm tone.

Netto grimaced, shooting an angry look at the man in front of him.

"I don't know what you want, but I want you to leave us alone! We just want to go home!" Netto replied with a much louder voice.

Futenroshi made a guttural noise, as if clearing his throat, and started moving to the side, attempting to encircle the child like a defenseless lamb.

"We won't harm you, all we want is your Navi... Rockman, isn't it?" he asked, still in a calm tone that furrowed Netto's brow even more. "He has the ability to unleash the Zoanoroids, you know?"

But the child shook his head.

"I refuse to let you have him! You don't care about him as a living being!" Netto cried, full of anger.

"My child... I know that both of you had nothing to do with Variety's wrongdoings, nor with the factions. But your presence here disrupts everything. Your Navi has the ability to save other Navis," the man replied in a chilling tone, making Netto shudder.

Netto clenched his fists, knowing he was right, but he slowly shook his head. He could help them, but people treating Rockman like a mere potential monster made him want to scream... It only revived the flashbacks of that evening when his Navi brutally killed that woman. He pinched his lips and lowered his eyes to the ground, then to the PET. The device remained intact, and he could feel it calling out to him. He turned his eyes to see Rockman standing up to his opponent, more brutal than ever. There was only one person who could truly resolve the situation, and it was him with his PET. The child looked at Futenroshi with his head lowered, brows furrowed, and eyes half-closed; trying to be as intimidating as possible.

"Rockman is not an object, and he's not a lab specimen either! He's my Navi, and I know he can be more human than any human I've encountered here!" Netto shouted, recalling moments when Rockman was in his normal form, to moments with Meiru and the children where—even in his beast-like form—he had shown tenderness. "And I'm going to prove it to you!"

Netto rushed forward to bypass Futenroshi, but he received a staff blow to his stomach that made him stagger backward, a throbbing pain radiating through his abdomen. He winced slightly, feeling the pain as he placed a hand on his stomach, but he continued to stare hatefully at the man. He had realized that gentleness wasn't in this old man's repertoire, even if he appeared as small as a child. He struggled to get up and tried once again to bypass the old man on the side, but he could sense another strike about to hit him. He managed to dodge it, but was struck at the foot, causing him to fall forward with a cry of pain.

This drew Rockman's attention, who widened his eyes seeing his operator on the ground. Despite his efforts to fend off Tenguman, the masked Navi kept him in a tight restraint. He saw Netto getting up with the intention to bypass the old man and likely reach the PET, which was not far away. Rockman began to regain confidence and finally decided to break free from Tenguman's grip to rush towards the object Netto desperately sought. Realizing that his opponent had switched targets, the Navi with the Tengu mask launched a tornado attack that propelled Rockman away, distancing him from the PET.

Netto widened his eyes in response to this situation. He continued to struggle with the old man to retrieve his device, but once again, he failed. Tenguman rushed towards Rockman, who was also trying to catch up. Futenroshi's attention eventually returned to the PET and headed for it as well.

Netto had tried to stop him, but the old man leaped with impressive speed to get closer before being stopped by the buster arm attack from Rockman. The wild Navi kicked Tenguman in the face, managing to get away and reclaim his property. He raised his head and let out a roar, then with all his strength, he threw the PET in a certain direction. Futenroshi was almost shocked to see the object flying; he tried to catch it, but it was too high and too fast for him. Finally, the device fell into the hands of the child, who had a triumphant smile on his face.

The old man growled, a rather rare sight from him. Netto didn't stop smiling; he stared at his adversary defiantly, holding a Battle Chip in his right hand.

"Battle Chip! Long Sword, slot in!" he shouted as he inserted the chip into his PET.

A shiver ran down Netto's spine. It had been so long since he had uttered those words. A long sword appeared on Rockman's arm and he swiftly charged towards his adversary, who struggled to stop it. Futenroshi had no choice but to bring out his own PET and retaliate with another attack, also inserting a Battle Chip.

Tenguman, armed with his new weapon, also headed towards the Navi. Netto grimaced, wanting to use another chip, but Futenroshi quickly closed in, attempting to strike him violently in the stomach again. Sensing the impending attack, the child managed to evade it with a heavy breath. However, he received a powerful blow to the hand, almost dropping the PET.

"Leave me...alone!" Netto yelled loudly, stepping back further and further.

"Your Navi could save Windman, don't you understand?!" retorted Futenroshi with an even more powerful voice, capable of almost staggering Netto.

The child grimaced and almost widened his eyes upon hearing Futenroshi's words, but he was quickly taken aback by Rockman, who was roaring in his direction while pushing Tenguman away. He made insistent gestures, signaling that Netto had to leave. Netto bit his lower lip, while Futenroshi tried to charge at him again, eager to reclaim the PET. The young boy clenched his lips and turned away, barely avoiding another strike from the old man.

Running without saying a word, Netto managed to insert a new chip into his device, giving a cannon to his Navi as support. However, he grimaced, wondering how he could truly help Rockman if he wasn't by his side to operate him.

Taking advantage of the cannon Netto had just given him, Rockman struck Tenguman with all his might. But a shiver ran down his spine when he saw the sun setting on the horizon. Cautiously, Netto observed the situation and saw Rockman deliver a final blow to Tenguman's face before making his escape.

"Tenguman! Don't let him get away!" Futenroshi shouted.

The two pursuers engaged in a new chase against the two younger ones. Rockman skillfully jumped from tree to tree, desperately seeking a hiding place to avoid revealing his transformation. On his part, Netto ran as fast as he could. The surrounding darkness made things increasingly difficult to discern. Finally, he found a large rock and quickly slipped underneath, hiding himself under his cape to blend into the surroundings.

Catching his breath, he glanced at his PET to check if anything had changed. At first glance, the device seemed unchanged, and its interface was still the same, except for the absence of his Navi inside. Netto wondered if he could now hide Rockman inside the PET, which would greatly simplify things. He furrowed his brow, noticing the symbol of Gregar still present, rotating in one corner of the screen as if he had activated a Soul Unison. He felt tempted to press it, but strangely, the PET displayed a connection loss message and shut down.

A lump formed in the child's throat, and he began to panic internally. He frantically pressed all the buttons, including the power button, hoping to turn the PET back on, but nothing happened. He almost burst into tears as he desperately shook his PET, praying for it to come back to life...but in vain. Darn it, Netto had almost succeeded in bringing Rockman's PET back to normal, and now it shut down for probably some stupid reason like a drained battery. He pulled his legs close to him and rested his head on his arms, overwhelmed by despair.

Saito lifted his head, coming out of the bush where he had hidden. He noticed they hadn't spotted him, which was a good thing for him. He could pass unnoticed without a problem. However, he first had to find Netto. He began to run as fast as possible, searching for the child. He heard crying in the distance. He headed towards a rock and discovered Netto hiding under his cape, his head buried in his arms.

"Netto!" he called in a low voice, bending his knees.

The child quickly raised his head, eyes wide open.

"S-Saito!" he exclaimed, crawling closer and grabbing Saito's leg, visibly panicked. "There's someone chasing us! Rockman! Rockman is in danger!"

"Don't worry about him, he managed to shake off his pursuers!" Saito declared confidently.

Netto breathed heavily through his mouth and made a sound of despair. He lowered his head, lips trembling.

"Saito..." he began with a voice filled with sadness.

However, at some point, Saito sensed something. He instinctively reacted and rushed towards the child, placing a hand over his mouth, and they both hid completely under the rock. They remained still, listening attentively to the surrounding sounds. The older boy furrowed his brow, being cautious. Unconsciously, he held his breath, trying not to make a sound.

The footsteps grew more distant, and finally, Saito let out a sigh of relief and removed his hand from the young boy's mouth. Hearing a rumble in the sky, the former Navi lowered his head to look at Netto and gently placed his hand on his head.

"Netto, come on, we can't stay here," he said, trying to get up.

He firmly took hold of Netto's wrist, and the two hurried to find a safe place. Saito was determined to find shelter to protect Netto, not wanting him to fall sick again. They ran, and the child started to complain about the speed they were going. Finally, they arrived at a bustling inn. The older boy let Netto go ahead of him while keeping a firm hold on his shoulders, determined to keep him safe for the night.

They entered the inn, which was indeed lively. The duo hoped they wouldn't find the old man among the crowd, and they headed towards the counter. Saito quickly asked for a room for the night while Netto handed him the necessary money, even though it seemed like a high price. They had no other choice. Once they had the keys in hand, they quickly went up to their room, and Saito locked the door.

Netto put down his bag and leaned against the desk, watching Saito approach the window to close the curtains.

"Tomorrow, we'll have to get up early. I'm afraid that guy knows you're here and might be waiting for you," Saito began, focused on his task.

"Will... Will you come with us?" Netto asked with a glimmer of hope.

"I'll accompany you until we find Rockman, and then I'll leave you both," he announced, observing the child's sad expression. He moved slightly closer to him, looking at the floor. "We better get some sleep."

"We should eat first... I haven't had anything since this morning," Netto replied weakly, sitting on the desk and placing a hand on his stomach.

Saito let out a soft sigh as he observed Netto. He had also forgotten about the meal. The more he looked at him, the more he noticed how much he had changed, not just because of his child body, but also his health. Even though they had spent a week with Meiru and he had eaten better during that time, he could clearly see that he had lost weight, and it was starting to show. He might have even lost muscle mass. If this continued, he could end up malnourished. Saito sighed lightly.

"Yes, let's start with eating," he confirmed.

He wondered if his body had truly changed as well and if it could impact his Navi body once he returned to his original form. Perhaps his original body would still be there, as his father had programmed it that way, after all.

Saito observed the child as he placed the order for their meal, requesting a curry to lift his spirits. He hoped it would arrive quickly. Meanwhile, the young boy took out a device from his bag. Saito quickly identified it as "his" PET, which he had taken earlier to avoid arousing suspicion about his own secret. After quickly examining it in its Navi form, there was nothing abnormal to report. A smile formed on Saito's face as he pretended to be surprised.

"So, your PET is fixed!" he exclaimed, approaching.

Netto didn't look up and held the PET against his chest, causing Saito to raise an eyebrow.

"I feel like it's useless after all," he said softly.

The older boy observed the young boy closely. As Rockman, the PET seemed to be functioning normally. However, his efforts to examine the device closely were hindered by the fact that he still held it against his chest, making the child suspicious.

"Netto?" Saito gently tried. "Won't you tell me what's wrong?"

The child bit his lip, showing some reluctance to reveal the machine, but Saito leaned in closer, waiting for an answer. Worry grew inside him. What problem could the PET have that would affect him so much? Reluctantly, Netto showed the front of his PET, and the other boy could see that the screen was...off.

"My PET ran out of battery," he announced without looking at Saito.

Saito found it strange. How could that be possible? How could the PET have been turned on in the first place? Was it really thanks to the last of the device's battery power?

"When did your PET turn off?" Saito suddenly asked.

Netto thought for a moment, tilting his head. "I think it was when night began to fall."

A revelation struck Saito like a lightning bolt—the PET was off because he was human, and it no longer needed him while his virtual alter ego was asleep. It made sense. He tried to force a smile, eager to reassure the child.

"Don't worry, I'm sure the PET is still intact... We just need to find a power source, that's probably the solution," Saito declared, searching for a way out.

"But... What if we can't find one? My PET doesn't exist in this world, and there must not be a power cable either!" the child exclaimed, panicked.

Saito simply grimaced, he had no solution to this problem, but he wanted to believe as he looked at his PET.

Futenroshi entered the large inn, scanning every face in search of the child. Now that he possessed a PET, it was highly likely that his Navi was hiding inside. He observed his surroundings carefully, remaining silent, before approaching the front desk where a young girl was handling the rooms.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for a little boy wearing a blue cape. I'm responsible for looking after him, but he got away from me... You know how kids can be," he began, trying to be as convincing as possible.

The young woman seemed to recall something at first, then furrowed her brow slightly, her doubts evident on her face.

"All right, but...wasn't there a second one?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"A...second one?" repeated Futenroshi, confused.

The young woman didn't answer immediately. She didn't like men searching for children, aware of the sects that sometimes preyed on them. She started to suspect this man. Why would this child be accompanied by another boy without showing any signs of trouble, while this man seemed unaware of the second child?

"We probably need to talk about something else. I'm sorry, but I can't help you," she stated, wishing he would leave.

"But wait... What do you mean by 'a second one'?" he insisted.

She shook her head. "I don't know, it must be a misunderstanding. Unless you want a room, I must kindly ask you to leave, sir."

Futenroshi didn't reply and walked away.

Back in the room, Saito continued examining the PET, but a chilling shiver ran down his spine. Slowly, he turned his head towards the window, filled with apprehension. In one breath, he quickly grabbed the child and pressed him against the wall near the window, under the table. Netto widened his eyes but didn't have time to respond as his elder quickly covered his mouth. They could hear thunder rumbling, then a lightning flash illuminated the room, revealing a massive and imposing shadowy figure in front of them through the window.

The two boys were frozen in terror, Netto burying his head against his elder's chest. The tall silhouette of Tenguman remained motionless, enhanced by the lightning that lit up the room. Saito clenched his jaw, feeling boiling anger rising inside him as he held the child firmly against him, almost to the point of digging his fingers into his skin.

Another flash of lightning, and the silhouette of Tenguman had vanished. Netto finally managed to breathe, having held his breath out of fear, but Saito didn't let go, still on high alert. The child wanted to say something, but the preadolescent was too focused on watching ahead, waiting.

Suddenly, a noise of a door knock echoed, startling both boys, to the point that Saito could have had a heart attack. A female voice called out to them from behind the door.

"Room service, I'm here to deliver your order."

A sigh of relief escaped Saito's lips as he released Netto. The child got up and headed towards the door to accept the food delivery. The rest of the evening passed peacefully, with Netto eating eagerly while Saito took his time, lost in thoughts about the Navi.

He observed his friend, who despite eating quickly, still had a sad look, the same since the fire. Saito had realized earlier that Netto was still haunted by the failure he had experienced with the girl named Yaito. He had no idea that the child blamed himself for any misfortune that could befall his friends. As for Saito, he was in some sort of mental block. Even the mere memory of Meiru made him nauseous. He struggled to manage his own emotions, especially anger when he thought about her or the children.

A sniffle escaped Saito. Why was he thinking about it? He knew it would cause him pain and once he transformed into Rockman, he could go insane. That's why now, he had to focus his thoughts solely on Netto. He rested his head in his hands, and the child noticed, surprised.

Netto timidly opened his mouth; rarely did he see his elder in a vulnerable state. He had several questions and tilted his head.

"Saito?" he said softly.

The older boy raised his head, looking at his young companion with a certain concern.

"We'll shake those guys off..." he tried to say with a slight reassuring smile, eager not to let the child ask questions.

Netto lowered his head, although that wasn't what he was thinking about. Saito didn't want to talk about Meiru. It wasn't that serious, after all. The older boy placed a comforting hand on the child's back, still in that soothing tone.

"We'll go back home, don't worry," Saito added.

Netto nodded in agreement.

"Don't worry about the PET," Saito repeated, concerned not to let Netto's spirits plummet.

However, the child shook his head slowly.

"It's not about the PET this time..." he announced, his voice filled with pain.

Saito slowly opened his mouth, furrowing his eyebrows. He awaited an explanation he already dreaded. Netto's eyes, filled with sorrow, lifted to meet his.

"You know, Yaito-chan... The girl who let us stay at her place... She got kidnapped," he said slowly.

Saito wasn't surprised, as he was already aware of the situation, but upon hearing Netto's words, he looked down and sighed.

"Netto..." he began.

"I left her there... All alone! I thought what I was doing was right... But I abandoned her!" Netto interrupted, his voice becoming more and more trembling as he uttered these words.

"Netto... It wasn't your fault," Saito added, trying to calm him.

"It was! Just like it was my fault that Meiru-chan died!" Netto continued with a stronger and more frantic voice.

The topic he wanted to avoid was now on the table. Saito bit his lip, to the point that he might let out a growl.

"Netto, please..." he said, also starting to tremble.

Netto wanted to respond, but the look Saito gave him silenced him, and a wave of icy terror ran down his spine. He had never seen that look in his elder's eyes, and it reminded him of the evening when Saito had made him leave. Even though he had apologized for his behavior, it still left a bitter wound in his being.

"I never wanted this..." he murmured as if it were an excuse.

Saito calmed down and slowly raised his head.

"I know, but I've already told you, it wasn't your fault," he began in a voice he managed to keep calm. "You only wanted to do good..."

Netto lowered his head, pinching his lips. Saito stared at his plate without really thinking about it.

"If you hadn't gone with Rockman that day... I would've lost you too," he concluded with a slight muffled laugh. Just by uttering those words, he refused to imagine the terrible scenario that would have unfolded if Netto had stayed home that day.

Losing everything in a single day when it should have been the happiest day of their lives.

Netto kept his head down, realizing it. He gently placed his hand on his chest, breathing slowly.

"We should've just stayed home, we could've protected them as best as we could..." he began in a very weak voice. "And Rockman would've never been able to do something like that."

Netto's words startled Saito. Indeed, he remembered what he had done, filled with hatred at that moment, where the only thing driving him was the destruction of that woman. He hadn't realized at that time that he had deliberately taken someone's life. And he would do it again if it meant protecting the little boy beside him.

Even if it meant losing his humanity.

Saito let out a sigh and placed a hand on his chest, trying to control his breathing. His heart started beating so hard that he felt like he had run a marathon. It was like a terrible reminder of the time when he was still alive, when his heart was beating in its final moments. Thankfully, it didn't become too intense. He heard old memories trying to help him in the moment.

"Breathe... Breathe!"

He obeyed and managed to calm down gradually. Netto had been watching him all along, his face showing a shocked expression as he could also feel something in his own chest. He pursed his lips and reached for Saito's sleeve, gripping it firmly. The older boy looked at him, but no words were exchanged. Netto simply clung to him as if trying to hold onto a lifeline.

Saito quickly got up from his bed, his habit of waking up early showing once again. He approached the bed where Netto was sleeping and gently shook him to wake him up. Netto slowly opened his eyes, being usually a late riser, and took his time getting up completely.

"Saito..." he began in a still sleepy voice.

"We have to leave early, we need to avoid that guy," said Saito, moving away to prepare their belongings in the bag. "We'll find Rockman as quickly as possible."

The mention of his Navi's name instantly spurred Netto into action. He got out of bed and got dressed, putting on his boots and bandana. Then he joined Saito, who was waiting for him at the door, and nodded to show that he was ready to go. The two boys left the room without leaving a trace, went downstairs, returned the keys at the reception, and then left the inn.

Outside, the older boy urged Netto to follow him more quickly. The sky was gray, and the sun could rise at any moment. It was a technique he was starting to use: once he felt the transformation coming, he would leave Netto, making him believe that Rockman was waiting for him so that he could change into his alternate form.

They could have continued their way peacefully, but they were suddenly attacked by a tornado coming from behind them. Both of them were thrown forward, but instinctively, Saito managed to grab Netto and held him close. He grimaced as he got up to see the large imposing Navi wearing a Tengu mask who had swept them away with his feathered fan. His little operator got off his shoulder and took a few steps forward.

"I wouldn't have waited in vain," he said softly as he saw them stand up, both angry to see him. Futenroshi was initially surprised to see the taller one.

"Who are you? Are you the kid who escaped from the rebels' base without saying a word?" he asked.

Saito didn't answer, but he was relieved that this man didn't recognize him. He stood up completely, fists clenched. "I'm tasked with taking care of Netto, and I won't let you take him!" His voice was strong and carried a certain threat.

Futenroshi carefully observed the two boys and noticed a resemblance between them, giving him an idea of what they could be. He sensed something emanating from them.

"You're like this child too," he declared, surprising Saito with his words. He shook his head slightly. "I don't really have time for this anyway." The old man approached a few more steps and reached out his hand. "Give me the PET, I suppose Rockman is inside."

Netto shook his head, teeth clenched. "I refuse!" he cried. "I'll never let you take Rockman!"

The old man sighed but was undeterred, raising his arm to signal Tenguman to rush towards Netto. Wide-eyed, Saito grabbed Netto and threw him as far as possible, shouting at him to run. Then, positioning himself in front of the imposing Navi, he tried to stop him, but he received a violent blow that sent him flying to the side. Tenguman continued his pursuit, chasing the young boy who was fleeing.

Getting up with consuming rage, Saito began to feel tingling sensations. He sensed the presence of Futenroshi's staff nearby, as the old man looked at him as if he were a puzzle to be solved.

"What are you supposed to be?" Futenroshi asked, quite intrigued.

Trying to contain his burgeoning beastly instinct, Saito forcefully pushed the old man away and quickly started searching for Netto. His senses were becoming sharper and he felt the emblem on his chest activate, enveloping him in the armor he usually wore during the day.

Netto could feel the giant Navi getting closer and closer. His breath was becoming shorter, the stress of the chase combined with the fatigue in his legs were slowing him down. He was losing hope when suddenly, he felt a force grabbing him by the cape, then by the backpack hidden underneath. He was lifted off the ground, struggling and shouting repeatedly. When he turned around, he found himself facing the terrifying Tengu mask, its eyes fixed on the terrified little prey. Yet, despite his imposing and intriguing appearance, the Navi reached out towards Netto, asking him for something.

"The PET, little one," he said in a deep but nonthreatening voice.

Netto took a few seconds to react, then vigorously shook his head in all directions.

"Please."

Netto grimaced and did his best not to let all the anger he felt towards this Navi show, even though it was boiling inside him.

"Rockman is not a thing! He is a sentient being! I don't want you to use him as an experiment!" he pleaded, desperate.

Strangely, Tenguman lowered the arm that was holding Netto and tilted his head. He tightened the fingers of his other hand, but remained silent. The young child furrowed his brows and continued to express himself.

"You're a Navi! You should understand that! Would you agree to have Navis used as mere tools?!" he asked with a hint of defiance.

Tenguman simply made a sound without providing a clear answer. Netto looked at him with a glimmer of hope, hoping that he might agree, but the Navi lowered his head.

"We are Navis...and our purpose is to help our operators live decently," he declared, raising the arm that was holding Netto's body, surprising the child. "If humans believe that Rockman can be beneficial for our future, then I think it might be true. The fact that he can heal Zoanoroids is evidence of that."

Netto widened his eyes and clenched his lips.

"For a young human like you, I know it may seem strange, but we are on the right path for the world to change for the better," he added.

The child whistled softly and gritted his teeth, looking at Tenguman with anger.

"I've seen how you treated Rockman! Do you really think I can trust you?!" he cried out again.

Tenguman made a thoughtful sound, lowered his arm, and looked down at the child.

"Even if we may not see eye to eye, I'm glad to see that a human like you can love his Navi so much," he stated in a neutral tone.

Netto opened his mouth but didn't know how to react. On the one hand, he could feel a slight blush rising to his cheeks, but on the other hand, he wondered if this would lower Tenguman's guard.

Things could have remained calm if a frightening roar hadn't echoed through the air. A wild Navi emerged from the trees and charged towards the Tengu-masked Navi, forcing him to release the little boy he had been holding all along. Netto breathed a sigh of relief as he found himself back on the ground and regained his senses, seeing the two Navis engaged in combat. He bit his lip as he witnessed the violence of Rockman. Even though they were enemies, he didn't want his Navi to be capable of destroying his opponent.

"Rockman, wait!" he exclaimed, trying to calm down.

For some reason, Netto grabbed his PET, hoping maybe he could restart it. To his great surprise, once in his hands, he saw it light up, ready to be used and displaying all of Rockman's information. A broad smile illuminated the child's face, and he watched the battle confidently. Then, taking out a battle chip from his pouch, he examined it carefully.

"Now, let's do it my way," he murmured without drawing attention.

He quickly inserted a battle chip into his PET, which was the Area Steal, allowing Rockman to teleport to a more distant location. Then, he took another battle chip in his hand.

"Battle Chip! Sword, slot in!" he shouted, inserting the chip into his PET.

With his sword in hand, Rockman confronted the adversary Navi with agility, using his instincts as a swordsman, which calmed down his beastly rage. Netto smiled as he saw it had a positive effect. Tenguman, despite his imposing size and strength, seemed to be slower than the wild Navi. Taking advantage of an opening, Rockman leaped over his opponent, and the child took the opportunity to insert a new chip.

"Battle Chip! Shotgun, slot in!" he shouted again.

Armed with his shotgun, Rockman repeatedly struck the Tengu-masked Navi, causing smoke explosions. Once the smoke cleared, the wild Navi landed and assessed the damage, his shotgun disappearing from his arm. Netto started celebrating this small victory, but he was suddenly struck violently in the back, causing him to drop his PET. Next to him, he saw Futenroshi approaching the PET as he got up to rush towards the device. He jumped on it, using his whole body as a shield to protect the device.

Hearing a noise, Rockman turned to see what had happened to his operator. Futenroshi approached him as Netto quickly got up and moved away as fast as possible.

"Tenguman," he pronounced.

Reappearing after the smoke, Tenguman charged, hitting the other Navi in the back before rushing towards the child again. Netto managed to avoid the attack by jumping away, while Tenguman stopped too far away due to his speed. The young boy almost fell and saw the imposing Navi once again charging towards him like a racing car. Thinking that this time he would be captured, something incredibly fast passed just in front of the masked Navi and picked Netto up in its arms. Rockman found himself on all fours on the ground, one arm wrapped around his young operator as he roared like a wild beast to intimidate his enemy.

Tenguman stopped, observing the Navi in front of him growling like a tiger, showing his fangs through his mouth. Under his mask, his eyes scrutinized the strange bond that existed between these two, much more than just friendship. Futenroshi advanced, ignoring the scene, and fixed on his ally.

"The PET," he simply reminded.

Without saying a word, Tenguman rushed towards them again, and Rockman let go of the child, also charging at the Navi like a wild beast defending its territory. The violence emanating from Rockman was different; he no longer seemed to think as he did when using his battle chips, instead, letting his animal instinct take over.

Netto watched with chilling terror as the wild Navi bestowed an unwavering mastery on the masked Navi. The monster was merciless, unleashing unprecedented violence. Finally, Rockman sank his fangs into the opponent's shoulder, causing a scream of horror. Futenroshi, who was approaching the child, observed the scene before looking at his own PET, revealing the considerable damage to his shoulder. Despite his stone-hard face, a glimmer of concern crossed his eyes.

Rockman bit again with increased brutality, making Tenguman scream once more, as data fragments scattered in all directions. If given the chance, Rockman could erase him by breaking him like a matchstick. This unbearable scene prompted Netto to lunge forward, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Stop, Rockman! Please, stop!" he cried out, tears streaking his cheeks.

With his distorted eyes, Rockman intensely stared at the child while holding part of the Navi's body between his fangs. Finally, he released his grip and rushed towards the child, who didn't have time to catch his breath before fleeing as far as he could.

Futenroshi remained frozen, shocked by what he had just witnessed. Both had disappeared. Approaching his companion Navi, he assessed the damage with a sigh.

"This child..." Tenguman began despite the pain. "He knows the difference between right and wrong."

Futenroshi slightly furrowed his brow, then pressed a button on his PET, causing the Navi to vanish inside. He contemplated the screen, seeing his ally in a kind of rest.

"Rest, my friend... We must not yield to the enemy."

Netto screamed as he was trapped in the arms of his Navi, eventually falling heavily to the ground. Towering over him like a skyscraper, Rockman loomed, and the child recoiled on the ground, terrified. Although overwhelmed by fear with flashbacks of the traumatic events that had occurred a few days earlier going through his mind, his terror turned into seething anger.

"Why did you do that?!" he shouted, struggling to get up. "You almost erased him, and even though they're our enemies, they're not all bad!"

But Rockman paid no attention and roared powerfully, causing Netto to fall back. Clenching his teeth, he stared intensely at the Navi, his heart pounding so hard that fear threatened to paralyze him. He took a deep breath.

"I've had enough of all this! I'm your operator, and you must obey my orders!" he said with a voice full of distress. He didn't like using those words because Rockman was his friend, not just an ordinary animal, but he saw no other solution.

The Navi growled again, getting on all fours on the ground, hands clenched on the earth. The child got up and pointed his PET at Rockman in front of him, his finger ready to press a specific button.

"I have no choice!" he said with a slightly trembling voice, filled with remorse. "I'm doing this for both of us, for our own good!"

He pressed the button and closed his eyes tightly. "Rockman! Plug out!"

Netto expected to hear the sound of disconnection, but nothing happened. He looked up at Rockman, completely lost in his confusion. He examined the screen and, frantically pressing the same button, saw the repetitive message: "Plug out impossible." Slowly, the child shook his head and then turned his gaze to Rockman, who stared at him like a predator, similar to a cat observing a bird.

"No... No, no!" he murmured, shaking the PET, tears flooding his eyes. "Why?"

Netto pressed his PET against his head, lips pursed. He bombarded it with a multitude of questions, hoping to get answers, but he was at a loss. After a few moments, he noticed Rockman approaching him, causing him to quickly back away, shaking his head slowly. The Navi stopped, growling before leaping onto a tree and disappearing into the distance.

Netto sighed, but his tears flowed without restraint. What good was a PET if he couldn't keep his Navi inside, a Navi that could kill him at any moment?

Futenroshi had taken refuge in an isolated location where no one could see him. Using his PET, he projected a holographic screen, showing that he was in communication with other people. Each of them stared at him, awaiting his response.

"I found the boy, but he slipped through my grasp. His Navi is far too violent; he managed to inflict severe injuries on Tenguman," he explained.

Some displayed shocked expressions, but the only one remaining impassive was Paxi, who observed Futenroshi from the screen.

"Is Netto-kun... Did he suffer any harm?" Saloma asked with a voice filled with concern. "Tell me you didn't hurt him!"

"He didn't suffer any harm," the old man replied calmly.

Saloma took a deep breath, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders.

"How violent was he?" Paxi inquired, her gaze still fixed on the screens in front of her.

"He was much more powerful than the first time," Futenroshi began, one eye open. "If the child is in danger, he can unleash all his power. The child is clearly the source of his strength."

Paxi lowered her head; this confirmed exactly what Slashman had revealed to her when they faced this Zoanoroid during the base attack.

"Furthermore..." Futenroshi added, "the boy operated his Navi with the PET; he seems to be a good strategist. It's something I never would have imagined."

Paxi looked away, lost in thought, while Saloma held her hands tightly against herself, relieved to know that the little boy she had helped was safe.

"So, either we face him with loyalty, and the boy will be a formidable opponent; or we capture the child, but that might unleash the monster's wrath..." she murmured, becoming aware of the complexity of the situation.

Futenroshi didn't respond immediately. He took a deep breath.

"There was this second boy with him...the one who fled the base, right?" he stated.

Paxi raised her head, furrowing her brow at his words. Saloma slowly opened her mouth to reply, "Saito?"

Paxi turned to Saloma, awaiting a clear answer. "Who is he exactly?"

Saloma stepped back, avoiding Paxi's gaze. "He...um..."

Everyone was eager for her explanation while Saloma held her hands against herself, nervously fidgeting. She felt trapped, unable to escape the truth surrounding the two boys.

"He's simply his brother...but Netto-kun doesn't know," she finally admitted.

Paxi raised an eyebrow, unsurprised by this revelation, while Futenroshi remained silent.

"It's not like it's apparent... But why doesn't the child know?" Paxi asked in a calm but curious tone.

"I... It's a very personal story that concerns only the two boys," Saloma confessed, not wishing to reveal any more.

Paxi sighed but refocused her attention on the screen, considering the situation paramount. She crossed her arms, mentally preparing herself.

"Futenroshi-san, the race against time is still ongoing," she announced.

"Is he..." he began without finishing his sentence.

"We're doing our best," Paxi replied, anticipating the question. "But I'm afraid you're too gentle with this child. If this Navi is nothing but violent, we'll have to respond with violence."

Saloma reacted immediately, her eyes widening as she placed her hands on her chest, filled with worry.

"What do you plan to do?" she asked in a trembling voice, tinged with fear.

Paxi approached the screen and a control panel, displaying a confident smile. "I have a close friend who won't succumb to pity for this boy. She'll bring him back without any problem with her Navi as sturdy as metal."

Even though Futenroshi showed no emotion on his face, he could sense that the young woman was underestimating him. "Do you doubt me, Paxi-san? Do you think I'd be incapable of bringing back the Navi?"

"I have no doubt in you, but we're running out of time," Paxi replied, pressing a button. "We need someone younger and faster in this equation."

On the screen, a woman appeared, proud, with blue hair tied in a ponytail. "Do you understand the mission, Tamako?" Paxi asked.

The young woman nodded, displaying a smile filled with pride.

To be Continued...

AN: Oh, things are getting interesting, aren't they? Wren will undoubtedly be thrilled with this teasing, lmao. Finally, Netto can use the PET! He won't just be there, not serving any purpose, and that'll be cool, right? Well, it'll just look like a Pokémon battle (but after all, isn't copied from Pokémon?) Anyway, remember never to touch the baby, or else the monster will attack!