The entrance to Abadin Games gleams with polished glass and modern architecture, radiating the prestige of AE Corp. But as I step through the automatic door, I feel anything but composed.
The interior feels like stepping into a sci-fi realm. Marble floors gleam under ambient lights, and glowing panels showcase Daydream's lush forests, sprawling cities, and iconic Digimon.
At the center stand three holographic orbs, each representing one of the three Digimon attributes—Data, Vaccine, and Virus.
"So this is the scene of the crime, huh?" Ina says, holding her wand like a detective's magnifying glass.
I sigh, adjusting the strap of my bag.
"You didn't have to come, you know."
"And miss this chance? No way!" She grins. "Besides, what kind of friend would I be if I didn't back you up?"
"I don't think you'll be of any use," I murmur softly.
"Hey!"
Ignoring her puffed cheeks, I glance at Blanc and Labramon beside me.
This is it—the place holding the truth, and we're going to find it.
As we head to the main desk, a low grumble echoes next to me.
"Hey, Lily..." Labramon turns to me, wagging his tail nonchalantly.
Wait... I know what you're about to say...
"Is there any ramen—"
"There isn't! And didn't you eat a large bowl earlier?" I cut him off, exasperated.
"But we just fought Guilmon, and now I'm hungry."
"Oh, there's a cafeteria upstairs," Ina chimes in, scrolling through her phone with a grin. "They even have exclusive Digi-candies."
"Blanc knew there would be Digi-candies!" Blanc's silver eyes light up as she looks up at me.
My mind drifts to my wallet.
I can't give in... Stay strong, Lily.
"Big sis, can Blanc have some?" she asks, her wide eyes pleading.
No... Those eyes... I can't resist...
"Fine... I'll buy you some later." I sigh, defeated.
"Miss Lily's treat? Count me in!"
"Pay for your own!"
"Unfair!"
While reminiscing about my dwindling savings, I approach the counter.
A holographic girl stands there, wearing a yellow sleeveless dress with frilled edges and a blue hoodie that flutters lightly like a cape. Midnight-blue hair cascades in soft waves, and a white whale plushie sits on her left shoulder.
It's her—Eri, the A.I promo character for Digimon Daydream.
"Welcome to Abadin Games. How may I assist you~?" Her voice rings like a melody, reminiscent of girls in slice-of-life anime.
"We want to see someone from the dev team," I say.
"From the dev team?" She tilts her head. "Do you have a prior appointment?"
"Appointment... that's..."
"The dev team is busy with updates, so they only take appointments," she replies with a polite gesture.
"Miss Lily, didn't you make an appointment beforehand?" Ina asks beside me.
I figured this might happen, but it's not like I could schedule one overnight, can I?
I glance at Blanc, then back at Eri. There's no other way.
"Big sis?"
I tug Blanc's hand gently, pulling her closer.
"Okay, the reason we came here is... because of her."
"She's a Digimon," I blurt out. "A real-life Digimon! And we really need to talk to the devs about it!"
Eri's golden eyes glint for a moment, scanning over Blanc and Labramon as though analyzing them.
"I see... That's fine then."
"Yeah, I know this sounds crazy—huh?"
Wait, she believes us?
"Two Digimon, both at Level 3, Vaccine attributes," she says. Her lips curve into a faint smile. "Please wait a moment."
"Um... okay..."
That's it? She's just going to let us in?
Eri's holographic form flickers like a reflection on disturbed water. As I look around in confusion, she reappears behind the counter.
"Okay, follow me." Her serene smile remains unchanged.
Eri guides us through shimmering corridors, our silhouettes gliding across the polished floor. My eyes scan the walls, searching for hidden projectors.
What kind of technology lets her move so freely?
She stops before a sleek black door and turns to us with an endearing smile.
"Please wait here. Our dev team will contact you shortly."
"Oh, thanks..."
The interior of the room resembles a high-tech meeting hall more than a waiting room. A sleek table dominates the center, surrounded by neatly arranged chairs.
"Guess we just have to wait, huh?" I mutter, pulling out a chair.
As Blanc sits beside me, my attention shifts to Ina, who's scanning the room wide-eyed.
"Mhm, something's definitely fishy here," she says, leaning back in a chair with her arms crossed.
"Drop it already—your cosplay isn't even a detective," I sigh softly.
"Tsk, tsk." She wags her wand. "Miss Lily, you've got to be more imaginative if you want to solve this case~!"
Solve the case? What does she think she is, a Cyber Sleuth?
"Big sis, what's a detective?" Blanc asks curiously.
"Well, that's—"
"ZAP!"
A jolt of electricity interrupts me, followed by a blinding flash of yellow erupting from the doorway.
"A lightning strike?" Ina gasps, stumbling backward.
No, that's impossible. We're indoors.
"Not lightning—it's a Digimon!" Labramon exclaims, his fur bristling.
"Oh, you noticed?"
An electric fairy—no, a yellow-striped hedgehog—stands in the middle of the table, sporting white-black clawed shoes. A lightning-styled tuft of fur sways over its forehead, its emerald eyes studying us curiously.
"Unlike these ones here~," it says with a smirk.
Another Digimon? And why is it being so smug?
Noticing my gaze, it blurs and appears before me instantly.
"Hello there, pretty lady~!"
Wait, is it... flirting?
"Big sis... can Blanc teach it a lesson?" Blanc asks with an angelic smile.
Why does it feel like a chilling aura is emanating from her?
"Don't bother," Labramon says, narrowing his purple eyes. "It's way out of your league."
I glance at the yellow Digimon.
This little guy? Stronger than Blanc?
"Well, it seems someone here knows their place. How cute." The Digimon grins smugly.
Labramon growls softly, swallowing his pride before speaking. "Pulsemon... is the self-righteous Lightning Bolt here to punish us?"
"What if I am?" Pulsemon replies mockingly, tilting its head.
"You... don't think we'll go down without a fight!" Labramon's tail stiffens, his claws scraping against the floor.
"Blanc won't let you hurt big sis!" Blanc takes a stance, Cross Barbée forward.
"Miss Lily," Ina whispers beside me, "are we really going to have a boss battle here?"
This isn't how it's supposed to go! Why is a fight breaking out in Abadin Games of all places?
"Oh? Are your claws sharp enough?" Sparks of electricity crackle around Pulsemon. "Show me what you've got~!"
Seems like we have no choice.
I clutch the Digivice X. "Let's go, Blanc!"
Just as the inevitable battle is about to begin, a male voice cuts through the tension.
"Cut it out, Pulsemon."
A young man in a black jacket steps into the room, his hair shimmering like a golden sunrise over the clouds. The faint hum of his yellow headphones matches the cool confidence in his sharp gaze.
"Come on, I was just playing a little, Leon," Pulsemon whines, darting toward him with a mischievous smirk.
"You always say that," the man replies, flashing a helpless smile.
His gaze shifts to Blanc and Labramon, still in battle-ready stances.
"So, you must be the Digimon Eri mentioned. And as for your companions..."
He strides to the center chair, sitting cross-legged as if he owns the place, and turns to me and Ina.
"Welcome. I'm Leon Alexander—the lead developer of Digimon Daydream," he pauses, an enigmatic smile forming on his lips, "but to these Digimon—I'm Judge, a Hacker."
After calming Blanc and Labramon, I glance at Leon, who's still chatting with Pulsemon.
"Weren't you supposed to get along with others?" he asks, narrowing his eyes.
"I would've if they hadn't picked on me," Pulsemon says playfully, twitching its lightning-shaped tail.
"Miss Lily, about the case..." Ina nudges me, her skeptical gaze fixed on Leon.
Right—the reason we came here.
I face the blond man. "Um, Mister Leon, about the Digimon..."
"Okay, Pulsemon, we can't keep them waiting too long." He turns to me, his tone professional. "Miss Lily Lee, let me apologize to you on behalf of AE Games."
"Oh, it's not a problem—wait." I nearly jump out of my chair. "I never told my name at the reception!"
"Let's call it a company secret," he replies with a practiced smile.
Company secret, my foot! This is a blatant invasion of privacy!
I take a deep breath, calming myself before speaking. "So, what exactly are you apologizing for?"
Leon leans forward, his eyes gleaming with a mysterious light. "It's about yesterday. We never expected a space-time Vortex to appear in the Infinity Tower. We're truly sorry for the danger you faced."
"A Vortex?!"
Labramon's ears snap upright, his voice cutting through the room like a whip. "Aren't those supposed to appear only at the Security Wall?"
"Security Wall? What's that?" I ask, confused.
"Well..."
Leon sighs, his gaze scanning the room, seemingly gauging us. "Perhaps I should explain from the beginning."
"Oh, so it's backstory time?" Ina nods knowingly, keeping her detective persona intact.
What do you mean by backstory? This isn't an anime!
Leon walks toward a giant display screen hanging on the wall. He exchanges a glance with Pulsemon, who leans nonchalantly against the wall, then turns back to us.
"First, let me ask you this. What do you know about the Network—or rather, the Internet?"
As I try to formulate an answer, Ina raises her hand like she's in a pop quiz.
"I know! It's what connects devices from all over the world, right?"
She grins, nodding as if she just aced an exam.
How long is she planning to keep up this act?
"Correct," Leon says, waving a remote at the display. "But do you know who created it?"
Ina tilts her head, puzzled. "Huh? Isn't that us humans?"
She barely finishes the question before Labramon steps forward, his growl cutting through her confusion.
"Network? Created by humans? You must be joking," he snarls, twitching his tail in irritation.
"Wait, it isn't?" I blink, turning to Blanc, who shakes her head furiously like a little bunny.
Adorable, but not helpful.
"I get it—you don't know either," I mutter.
"Well, Labramon is right," Leon says, clicking the remote.
The screen lights up, revealing a deep blue ocean dotted with islands floating in transparent bubbles. Each glimmers like a star caught beneath the waves.
"The Net Ocean...?" The words slip out instinctively.
"Everyone thinks the Internet is humanity's creation," Leon continues, "but what if it existed long before us?"
"Wait—you're saying we just stumbled into it?" I ask, incredulous.
A globe-like structure appears beneath the ocean, encased in a shimmering barrier. Its locations don't match any known geography.
"You're catching on," Leon explains, gesturing to the screen. "What we discovered was a door. There's another world on the other side, inhabited by A.I lifeforms called Digimon. And a Security Wall isolates it from the rest of the Internet."
"The Digital World, right?" Ina chimes in, nodding sagely. "I heard about it from that Mask guy."
I shoot her a look.
Why didn't she mention this earlier?
"But that's not the whole story, is it?" Labramon's gaze sharpens, fixed on Leon. "You humans tried to imitate it—a mockery of home."
"It's not a mere imitation, but a near replica," Leon says without faltering, meeting Labramon's hostile gaze.
"Impossible!" Labramon shouts, baring his fangs. "Humans shouldn't be able to replicate the limitless Digital World!"
"We also believed that," Leon admits, "but that was until a certain Digimon offered to help."
"A Digimon?" I gulp. "Who?"
"One that possesses the records of the entire Digital World."
As Leon speaks, the lights dim. The screen shifts to display a blue butterfly—a symbol both ethereal and mesmerizing.
"We created Evelia—a Virtual Eden within the Network—as a projection of her inner world. It's a daydream born from her DigiCore, her soul."
Leon's words feel like they've been ripped from a sci-fi movie—too surreal to be true. Yet, Blanc and Labramon are sitting right beside me in this reality. Can I truly deny any of this?
His eyes gleam as he continues, his voice resonating in the room.
"That Digimon is the heart of Digimon Daydream... Hudiemon."
AN:
Episode 13 has always been a pivotal one in Digimon history, from Angemon's evolution in Adventure to GulusGammamon's debut in Ghost Game. For this reason, the author felt Chapter 13 was the perfect moment to introduce Leon. On another note, some readers might have already guessed the inspiration behind Eri's design.