Hello,
This chapter will be a short one again.
Guest IG: Thank you for your reviews as always. I wish I could go into more detail about the Demon Lords and everything else you recently wrote about, but I can't. It'll spoil too much of the story. You'll just have to sit back and enjoy the ride. Or read.
Angewomon-Gatomon: Thank you for commenting!
Without further ado, here's the next chapter of the story: Also, Happy New Year's Everyone!
Takuya opened his eyes and breathed. He looked around and found that he was back at the empty soba noodle restaurant. The boy then looked at his Digivice deeply. What he saw previously was most likely a recent memory of Agunimon. It took him a minute to process everything.
The others were silent too. They must've experienced the same thing. If what everyone just witnessed was true, then the Digital World was in more danger than they thought.
Lucemon was problematic enough. Now, there were 6 other Demon Lords with similar strength. It was no wonder the Legendary Warriors and Celestial Digimon couldn't beat them.
"Did spirits finish showing you?" Bokomon asked. He was still communicating with them through the Digivices. "Me and Neemon witnessed everything from afar. It was… difficult to watch."
"Bokomon, I'm so sorry," Izumi said. Watching your children go down like that must've been heartbreaking for him.
"My children did what they had to do to save the Digital World. I'm nothing but proud of them," Bokomon's voice quavered, but it was stronger than before. "All of your spirits' powers together have created a fractal field allowing me to communicate with you all again. They made the right judgment."
Everyone nodded. Without their spirits, who knows what would have happened to them? And now the Digi-destined knew how their enemies and spirits came to the Real World.
"Alright, we can't let the 3 Celestial Angel Digimon's sacrifices be in vain," Takuya said, getting up. "We got our spirits back. Let's head back to the Digital World and beat those Demon Lords!"
"Whoa, slow down there buddy," Kouji said, stopping the energetic boy. "I'm all for saving the Digital World again, but aren't you forgetting something."
"What?" Takuya asked. "What could I forget? Last time, we didn't bring much to the Digital World. I technically didn't even have a train ticket at the time."
"Our beast spirits," Kouji held up his device to Takuya. Only the picture of Lobomon showed on the screen. "They came with the other spirits when entering our world, but they haven't shown up yet."
"Oh, that. Well, they'll just meet us on the way to the Digital World. The other spirits came to us. The beast spirits will too. It'll work out."
"But Takuya. If the beast spirits came to us, wouldn't they've shown up already? In our visions, the human spirits flew to us quickly. It only took them a matter of minutes to get to or find us. The beast spirits have been in this world for hours, they should've met with us by now."
Takuya was stumped. As much as Kouji peeved him sometimes, his logic was sound. Where were their beast spirits?
"What do you mean the beast spirits aren't with you?" Bokomon asked. "They weren't with your other spirits?"
Kouji briefly told Bokomon about the spirits' trip to the Real World. Although the little Digimon witnessed them leaving, he didn't know what happened during the trip.
"I see," When Kouji finished, Bokomon contemplated for a moment before answering. "In the Digital World, the human spirits had a way to communicate and guide the beast spirits. Now that they've been separated, the beast spirits are following their primal instincts. Instead of going to you guys like your human spirits, they may have flown into a specific area in your world to reside in."
"Do you mean that we're going to have to look for them?" Junpei asked.
"I'm afraid so," Bokomon confirmed. "And you won't be able to go to the Digital World without them either. Their strength is needed to save it."
"But how?" Tomoki asked. "The Real World is just as big as the Digital World. It would be like finding a needle in a haystack."
"Hang on," Bokomon said. Sounds of tapping could be heard from him. "This should help."
Soon, each screen of the Digivices shot out a ray of light. They all converged at the center of the table forming a rectangular screen. It showed a landscape with 6 different color symbols. Everyone's eyes went wide. This was a map of Japan with the locations of their beast spirits.
"Well, this is convenient," Junpei said, looking closely at the map. "I didn't know our Digivices could do this."
"They didn't use to be," Bokomon replied. "When Ophanimon transferred all of Seraphimon, Cherubimon, and her power to the spirits, she didn't just use it to transport them. She left them the power to change and upgrade your Digivices when they made contact with you all."
"This power gave me the means to communicate with you all again even though I'm in the Digital World. There are also new features and functions other than the spirit GPS that are still unknown even to me," A beep came from all of the Digivice like a text message. "I just sent the details of the known active functions I've found so far."
"Hmm," Koichi said as he opened the text message. The screen from his Digivice lit up forming a 3D square touchscreen, and the boy scrolled down the message reading the description. "These are some pretty interesting new functions."
"Our new enemies are not to be underestimated. Ophanimon and the others felt like you guys needed all the advantages you could get."
"The new features will be helpful," Kouji said. "But it doesn't answer another question. What about the other eight spirits? I don't see them anywhere."
Kouji looked closely at the map. He could see where his and the other beast spirits' locations, but he couldn't find the human or beast spirits of steel, water, wood, and earth anywhere. If they wanted to return to the Digital World, the other eight spirits were needed.
"Unfortunately, the GPS in your Digivices are only programmed to locate your specific spirit," Bokomon explained. "The only reason why they are shown together is because you all are gathered in one place. I can only surmise that the other spirits are roaming your world finding their own human partners."
"Then how are we going to find them then?" Izumi asked.
"The spirits of the Legendary Warriors are always connected, and by looking at the readings from my end, each spirit contains a portion of the 3 Celestial Digimon's power," Bokomon said. "Once you gather more of your spirits, I expect the link will only grow stronger, strengthening the functions on your Digivices. Once it's strong enough, locating the other Legendary Warriors will be easier."
"For now, let's focus on getting back our beast spirits," Takuya said. "With them, we can all individually fight to our fullest extent."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Worrying about the other spirits was pointless. If they could reunite with their beast spirits again, their strength would go up by another level. Finding the other Legendary Warriors would come after. Who knows? Maybe they've already chosen their human partner.
"One more thing," Bokomon said. His voice was serious. "Takuya. Kouji. After you attain your beast spirits again, whatever you do, DO NOT. And I repeat. DO NOT fusion spirit evolve. That also includes unified spirit evolution for everyone as well."
"Why?" Takuya and Kouji questioned at the same time.
"Although your world has created fractal fields to prevent Digimon from wrecking too much havoc, it only applies to champions and ultimates," Bokomon explained. "Mega-level Digimon like your fusion evolutions would make the fractal field collapse causing you to return back to your world."
"What would happen if we did?" Takuya asked, curiously.
"Think of it like this," Bokomon tried to illustrate through the Digivices. "It would be like two opposing energies colliding around you. They would warp and bend your body and surroundings until one is annihilated. You wouldn't just die. You would feel unimaginable pain and torture. Once it's done, not even your body would be left for us to pick up."
"Okay," Takuya and Kouji both shuddered. "Don't fusion spirit evolve. Got it."
There's more," Bokomon continued. "Although fractal fields can contain ultimates, their energies are powerful enough to leak out to your world causing butterfly effects. When you approach your beast spirits or other Digimon, you guys might experience this phenomenon before entering the fractal fields."
"Now that Bokomon mentions it," Koichi said. "There have been irregular weather patterns and strange sightings happening recently across Japan. Digimon invading our world would explain the root cause of it."
Everyone in the restaurant looked at Koichi questionably. How did he know that? They knew he saw people's negative emotions. Could he now see the world's natural disasters across the distance?
"It's from the news," Koichi answered their looks and pulled out a newspaper. "I work part-time delivering newspapers every day in the morning, remember? I take an extra and read it from time to time."
"Ohhhh," Everyone said in realization, and Koichi just smiled. His friends thought really highly of him. Just because he had these powers did not make him omnipotent. "Bokomon, we haven't encountered any ultimates yet, but should we worry about them destroying the Real World like Megas?"
"For the short-term, no," Bokomon answered. "But the longer they stay in the fractal field, the stronger the butterfly effect will be. Irregular weather patterns could turn into natural disasters if left alone, so it's best to defeat your foes before the worst happens dispersing the butterfly effect. With the barrier between our worlds also getting weaker, stronger enemies will be coming for all of you."
"Koichi, the Archangels, and the Demon Lords all mentioned this barrier," Kouji said. "What is it?"
"The barrier is the formless wall that blocks the entryway between our worlds," Bokomon explained and then elaborated more.
Although the Real and Digital World's compositions were completely different, they were always connected. One could not exist without the other and what both worlds wanted was balance. If many of their inhabitants attempt to go to and from both worlds continuously with the natural laws, it would put a big strain on both worlds, so the barrier was created to prevent traveling.
The only way to open or break the barrier was to cause imbalance. If one world was suffering, the other would come in and assist resulting in the barrier being opened. It was how Ophanimon was able to send her message to all the children around the Shibuya area, and how the Digi-Destined were able to enter the Digital World back then. The Real World allowed the children to enter the Digital World in an attempt to save it.
The barrier wouldn't just open for any reason either. Battles like the War between Human & Beast Digimon or the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki meant little to the Real and Digital World even though they were major events in history. To make the natural laws intervene and make the barrier open or break, one of the worlds had to experience massive environmental catastrophes.
When the Digi-Destined entered first the Digital World, Cherubimon and his underlings were already taking data of the land away. Half of the Digital World was gone at the time causing the barrier to open. Although the natural laws couldn't directly intervene with its inhabitants, they could allow others to enter and try to push them in the right direction.
"If what you describe is true and the barrier is breaking," Kouji said. "The Demon Lords must be causing a lot of devastation."
"More than you know," Bokomon replied sadly. "We still don't even know what their endgame is."
"Will you guys be alright?" Izumi asked, worriedly. They still had to find the other spirits. If too much time has passed, the Digital World would be destroyed. "I'm worried that we might not make it in time."
"Don't worry," Bokomon assured. "The Demon Lords are strong, but we're not completely defenseless either. We'll hold on as much as we can until you guys get here. We believe in you all, right Neemon?"
A sound of a bubble popping was heard, and Neemon woke up. "Huh! I'm sorry. Did you say something?"
"Were you just sleeping?" Bokomon asked angrily. "Don't you know we were in a serious conversation! How could you fall asleep at a time like this!?"
"Sorry, I started to doze off when you said 'there's a lot to explain'. I can't help it. Your boring voice and lecture is a great lullab-," Neemon didn't get to finish his sentence before Bokomon gave him a waistband snap. "Ouch!"
Everyone laughed. If Bokomon and Neemon can still act like this then Digital World hasn't been completely taken over just yet.
Suddenly, the screens on their Digivices started fizzing out and sounds of static were heard.
"Bokomon, what's going on?" Takuya asked. "You're breaking up."
"It looks like the Demon Lords found our communication and are interfering with it." Bokomon answered through the static. "Listen, it won't long before our connection will be completely cut off. When you all gather the spirits, come back here to your current location. The spirits will open the way to the Digital World."
Takuya looked at the others, and they all nodded with determination. "We will, Bokomon. Neemon. I promise you. We will all gather the rest of the spirits and meet you both again."
"I look forward to it," Bokomon felt his heart swell. "But be careful. Our intel says that Demon Lords know that you all defeated their minions. They will send stronger Digimon to fight you all and retrieve the spirits."
"Remember: Trust each other and the spirits," Those were Bokomon's last words before the connection got cut. The digital map at the center of the table dispersed and entered the Digivices. Fractal code appeared and covered the restaurant. When it disappeared, customers and waiters returned and resumed their activities.
"Your check, sir," A waiter stood near the table presenting a check to the group. "Will you be paying with cash or card?"
Each of the Digi-Destined took out yen* to pay for their share of the food and remunerated on what they had just learned. It was a lot of information to process.
"Let's gather the rest of the spirits," Kouji said, looking at the map on his phone. "Like Takuya said, we should start with our beast spirits and then worry about the rest later. We should split up into teams of two."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Although Bokomon said there was still time to just focus on their spirits, the Digital World was still in a crisis. The longer they stay in the Real World, the more destruction the Digital World will be in, especially with the time acceleration. Time was still of the essence.
Being in teams of two was the most optimal method. If one of the Legendary Warriors was in danger, the other would be able to assist and support them. Using the map and locations of the beast spirits, everyone calculated the trajectory and decided the teams. The pairs were Takuya/Tomoki, Kouji/Izumi & Junpei/Koichi.
Junpei got jealous when they figured out the teams. Kouji was going to be spending a lot of alone time with Izumi. It made him extremely envious, and he wasn't the only one.
Takuya felt his gut twist but shook his head snapping out of it. What was he thinking? This was the best and fastest way to retrieve their beast spirits. What was there to be annoyed about?
"Guys, we have another problem," Koichi said, getting everyone's attention. "How are we going to get to these locations?"
Everyone looked more closely at the map and understood Koichi's question. Although all their beast spirits were in Japan, they were located in different regions. Some of them were even on islands.
"It doesn't look that bad," Takuya pointed out.
"Easy for you to say," Kouji said. "Yours is only a few hours away from us. Mine located down in the southern part of Japan devoid of people."
"It looks like we're gonna need transportation to get to our spirits," Tomoki said. "Does anyone have money for airplane tickets? Izumi?"
"Don't look at me," Izumi replied. "I may be a reader model, but it's only part-time, and I don't get paid much. There's no way I can afford last-minute plane tickets even if they are local. Koichi?"
"Sorry," Koichi said. "All the money I make goes straight into my college funds. I can't take any of it out without my mom asking questions."
"Does anyone else have any money to use?" Takuya asked, looking around hopefully. Unfortunately, everyone shook their heads.
"Great," Takuya lightly banged his head on the table. They had to save the Digital World, but they couldn't even get to their beast spirits due to money issues. They were just high schoolers and a college student with only pocket change. Their parents couldn't help either without them asking any questions. "Does no one have any ideas?"
"Ugh," Junpei groaned and everyone looked at him. That wasn't a 'we're doomed' groan. It was more of an 'I have a solution, but I'm gonna hate it' groan.
"Junpei, do you have a way to get us to our beast spirits?" Takuya asked.
"Yes," Junpei answered, looking extremely annoyed. "But I really don't want to use it. It's going to cause me endless headaches."
"Junpei, it's an emergency." Izumi looked at the boy with pleading eyes. "If you know a way, we need to take it."
"You're right," Junpei scrolled down the contacts of his phone. He could never say no to Izumi and hit the call button. "Here goes nothing,"
The phone rang a few times before a female voice answered. "Junpei? Well, this is a surprise. You never take the initiative to call me."
"Yeah, I know, but I have a big situation and need your help."
The phone was silent for a moment before the girl answered again. "Where are you right now?"
"The soba noodle restaurant inside the Shibuya Station," Junpei replied skeptically. "Why?"
"Give me 1-2 hours."
"For what? I haven't even said anything else yet," Junpei wanted to say, but the girl already hung up. "Hello? Hello? Dang it! Sorry, everyone. It looks like we're going to have to wait."
*yen-It is what Japan uses as their monetary unit or money.
Looks like the Legendary Warriors have a little bit of a money issue, but Junpei has a solution. Who did he call to help with their financial circumstances? Find out on the next Digimon Frontier 2: Fractal Fusion.
