"Survival of the fittest—it's the law of the Digital World. Back then, I learned to rely on no one, but now..."

TeslaJellymon's voice softens, her fingers tracing the edge of her blue jellyfish mask concealing her eyes. Her lips curl into a playful smirk.

"Your heart restored my once-lost form, my little protagonist. Now, let me make a path for you~!"

As one, we sprint toward Andromon. Our tentacles flutter like flowing ribbons, charged with electricity.

"Don't get cocky! You're only a Level 4!"

Gan scoffs, his fingers racing across his holographic keyboard.

"Spiral Sword!"

Andromon's right arm morphs into a drill, swinging down with a piercing blue trail.

The unstoppable slash rushes toward us, but we dance past it, the energy blade narrowly missing us. It carves the road apart with an ear-splitting burst.

"Too sloppy~!" TeslaJellymon taunts, twirling gracefully.

"Physalist!"

Our black-gloved palm crackles with golden sparks, striking Andromon's exposed right leg. The powerful current surges through his frame, forcing the cyborg to drop to one knee.

"What's wrong, Andromon? You're a Level 5! Get up!" Gan shouts, his frustration growing.

"Megaton Punch!"

The cyborg stands again, unleashing a series of destructive punches.

I can tell—a single hit would be fatal.

"TeslaJellymon-senpai! Incoming!" I shout, but a grin spreads across my face.

"Heh, so you're getting the hang of it, huh~?" she grins, gliding effortlessly between the blows.

I feel her movements—her every step, every spin, every nimble dodge mirrored in my senses.

She leaps onto Andromon's head, balancing on one hand.

"Where are you even hitting? I'm right here~!"

With a flip, she kicks the back of Andromon's skull-shaped helmet, sending him crashing face-first to the ground with a clank.

"So this is the power of our fusion," I say, nodding in understanding.

"Fusion? Nah, you're just in my DigiCore," TeslaJellymon explains with an exaggerated sigh. "Basically, your voice is constantly ringing inside my head."

"Hey! Are you implying that's a bad thing?"

"I didn't imply anything~," she whistles nonchalantly, shrugging.

"...!"

I try to ignore her teasing, shifting my attention to Gan. His trembling hands hover over his keyboard.

"Why?!" he exclaims. "Why can't Andromon hit you?!"

TeslaJellymon plants her hands on her hips, confidently standing before Andromon.

"Are you really that stupid?" she asks, pointing at Gan.

"Andromon is the ultimate cyborg—a Digimon who transcended the law of evolution. But when controlled by an amateur like you, it can't even use half of its true power!"

The realization hits me like a lightning strike.

"So it's just like playing Tekken with a meta character but still losing because your skills suck?"

"Tekken?" TeslaJellymon tilts her head.

"Um, never mind."

I cringe at the memory of my ten consecutive losses to Blanc.

"Don't mock me! Andromon!" Gan roars, slamming his fingers onto his keyboard.

Andromon rises again under his command, his chest plate opening to reveal two organic missile tips.

"Gatling Missile!"

The missile tips split like jaws, unleashing a barrage of bullets at us.

"Oh? So the truth really stings~!"

TeslaJellymon darts through the junkyard, skillfully dodging the bullets.

"Tsk, if that's how it is..." Gan mutters, swiping across his keyboard.

One of Andromon's missiles arcs away from us.

Not at us? Then why?

I catch its trajectory out of the corner of my eye.

"Wait! The cages?!"

"That coward!" TeslaJellymon snarls, her lightning-clad boots screeching against the metallic road as she rushes toward the cages.

The trembling forms of the captured Digimon come into view. Huddled together, their tear-filled eyes reflect the missile's menacing approach.

[Special Move Disc—Activate]

"Protect Wave!"

Just before the missile hits, a radiant barrier erupts from the ground, shielding the Digimon behind a dazzling curtain.

"Is that... Blanc? She looks... taller."

She stands firm, Cross Barbée planted in the ground. Her klobuk-cape has split into six pink wings, swishing in the air. A luminous flower-shaped crest blooms on her forehead, casting a serene light over the mask concealing her upper face.

"Guardromon gave everything to protect others!" her words resonate through the junkyard.

"We won't let that be in vain!" Miss Lily's voice echoes through Blanc's lips.

"Wait, you two are also MindLinked?"

[Name: Blanc (Sistermon Blanc)]

[DP: 6000]

[Level: 3]

[Form: Awakened]

[Attribute: Vaccine]

"That's the form you used back in Dark Web!" Labramon growls, his eyes narrowing. "Why didn't you use it from the start?"

"Uh... let's focus on the fight in hand first?" Miss Lily quickly replies.

Wait, they already had this power? And is she seriously trying to change the subject?

"You're exactly where I want you!"

Gan smirks as a second missile flies from Andromon's chest hatch, this time aimed straight at us.

[Attack Plugin S]

"Shining Laser!"

A beam of brilliant light bursts from Cross Barbée, striking the missile mid-air with pinpoint accuracy in a blinding explosion.

"Ina! Jellymon! Don't worry!" Miss Lily shouts.

Blanc raises Cross Barbée.

"Big Sis and Blanc won't let them hurt anyone!"

"You two..." I murmur, smiling faintly.

"Guess I was wrong about them~," TeslaJellymon smirks, flashing a quick thumbs-up.

"It doesn't make sense! Andromon is at a higher level! I won't accept this!" Gan screams, desperation dripping from his voice. "Crush them, Andromon!"

"Spiral Sword! Spiral Sword!"

The cyborg clumsily swings his drill arm, hurling blades of energy with each slash.

Each strike cuts through the junkyard like a hurricane, metal towers collapsing like dominos. We weave through the falling debris while avoiding the energy blades.

"Hold strong, Cross Barbée!"

"Even with the buff... Blanc, we can't let any attacks get through!"

Blanc's barrier shakes violently under the relentless onslaught.

"Little protagonist, I know we have to save that guy, but..." TeslaJellymon's playful voice hardens. "At this rate, this entire place will be destroyed first."

"Even then... a hero never gives up! We'll fulfill Guardromon's last wish!"

But how can we free Andromon?

Another pile of junk crashes toward us.

"Vorsprite!"

An aura of crackling lightning envelops TeslaJellymon as she twirls, smashing through the debris and slamming into Andromon'd left side.

The cyborg falters, and the sudden motion makes me feel dizzy.

"Ugh, TeslaJellymon-senpai... I might puke..."

"Don't you dare in my DigiCore!" TeslaJellymon snaps. "Or else, you're in for a zap!"

"But I can't help it!"

Hold on... zap?!

An idea strikes me.

"Hey, TeslaJellymon-senpai, where are we right now?"

"Huh? Did the dizziness fry your memory?"

"Just answer me!"

"Fine fine~! Nu Metal Empire~!"

"Right! Metal...cyborg...zap—electricity!"

"Oh?"

TeslaJellymon dodges another slash, her voice curious. "Is my little protagonist plotting something~?"

"Hehe... Didn't you tell me to have a plan?"

I quickly relay my idea to her.

"Okay, let's go with that!" she quickly replies.

"Wait, you're on board with this?"

"It was your request, little protagonist. So I'm leaving it to you~!"

"TeslaJellymon-senpai..."

"Hey, save the emotional stuff for later!"

"Okay... Let's go!"

We charge at Andromon. The cyborg swings his blade, but we dive between his legs. Halting behind him, our band-like tentacles coil around his frame.

"Now, little protagonist!" TeslaJellymon-senpai shouts. "Show me the power of your heart!"

I focus on the pulse in my chest.

"My heart...wants to save Andromon!" I cry out, and TeslaJellymon-senpai's grin widens.

[Synchronised!]

[Critical Point - 200%]

I feel her heartbeat—our hearts syncing in the same rhythm.

"Punischöne!"

Golden electricity erupts from our tentacles, surging into Andromon's frame. The high-voltage current snakes through his armor, roaring like thunder.

When the lightning subsides, Andromon turns slowly, smoke rising from his armor, yet its shine remains untarnished.

"Hahaha! Of course! Andromon will never fall from a low-level attack!" Gan cackles. "It's over for you!"

The cyborg readies his drill arm, but a sudden clank halts his steps.

A giant piece of machinery flies in from behind, attaching itself to his back.

"What?!"

Gan gasps as scrap metal, broken gears, and rusted machinery fly toward Andromon, clinging onto his body one by one.

"So your plan really worked, huh?" TeslaJellymon-senpai comments.

"Mhm, it's the common properties of metal characters," I confirm proudly. "Your electricity is still flowing inside his armor. That means—he's now a walking electromagnet!"

"Electromagnet? No... You controlled the current flow?!" Gan's eyes widen under his goggles. "But here in the middle of this junk—"

"Game over~!" TeslaJellymon-senpai smirks triumphantly, making a peace sign.

Andromon's movement starts to grow sluggish as plies of metal cling to his frame like chains. With a deafening thud, the cyborg collapses, buried beneath the mountain of junk.

"Labramon!"

I call out, and the white pup bolts forward.

"Andromon is too high-level! Lily!"

[Special Move Disc—Activate]

"Now go!" Miss Lily shouts.

"Cure Liquor!"

Labramon howls, his body glowing with a vibrant emerald aura. The radiant binary particles surge like waves, covering Andromon in their warm luminance.

The cyborg's once-expressionless eyes flicker back to life, blinking softly.

"I... am free?" Andromon's voice trembles in surprise.

"It worked!"

I knew Labramon could do it.

"No..." Gan stumbles back. "My perfect business! You've ruined it all!"

"Next, it's your turn~!" TeslaJellymon-senpai turns to him, giving a smug thumbs-down.

"This isn't over—I'll just restart everything," Gan declares, his hands shaking in panic. "I'll crush you next time!"

His fingers move toward his holographic keyboard.

[Starting ReDigitize...]

"He's about to log out!" Miss Lily yells.

Log out? So, even after all this, he'll just escape?

Gan swipes frantically through the menu, but his expression twists in shock.

"Why... why can't I log out?!"

He takes a step back, his voice cracking. "I... I won't be defeated by pests like you!"

"Boom! Boom!"

Gunfire roars through the junkyard, bullets piercing the ground in front of Gan and halting his escape.

"Digipolice! Freeze or be kaboomed!"

Our gaze shifts towards the familiar playful voice. A green triceratops stands atop a heap of rusted machinery, its left leg aimed at Gan. Its yellow eyes glint like those of an expert marksman under the dim moonlight.

"WezenGammamon?!" Miss Lily exclaims.

The triceratops jumps down with a heavy thud, and an angry female voice rings out.

"Didn't I tell you to call me?"

"Miss Mira!"

After Miss Mira came with WezenGammamon, things finally calmed down.

It turns out they used some GM privileges to block Gan's logout attempt.

Gan did try to reason his way out.

["You can't arrest me! I'm just playing the game! Didn't Abadin Games promote absolute gaming freedom?"]

But Miss Mira's response was sharper.

["Gaming freedom? But that's not what you're doing, are you? There are real-world transactions on your GRiMM account. Exporting game resources for personal profit is a serious crime."]

The look on Gan's pale face, when he realized they had tracked his real-life identity, was priceless.

Of course, Labramon also cured all the blackened Digimon.

But unfortunately, we weren't let off easily. The scolding we got from Miss Mira sapped all my remaining energy.

Her chilling smile is definitely going to haunt me in my dreams tonight.

"Phew..."

"So, is my little protagonist tired after all this?" Jellymon-senpai floats beside me, eyeing me playfully.

"Of course I am," I sigh. "It's not fair, even after we've completed the mission, she's still mad."

"She's just worried about us," Miss Lily says.

"But still..."

I glance at the holographic display projecting from her Digimon Dock.

"What's this?" I ask.

"It's this area's environmental code," Miss Lily explains, tapping the screen. "Gan messed with the encounter parameters, and I can't find the problem no matter how hard I try. Even the guide isn't helping."

"Oh, the issue is in the fourth and thirteenth functions."

"Ah! Thanks—wait! Andromon?!"

As we look up, the gray cyborg is already standing next to us.

"You have stopped me from destroying the Empire I was supposed to protect. This is the least I can do," he says, his once-expressionless face now softened by a smile.

Guardromon was right, he really is a good Digimon.

As I study him, I notice a round object in his hands.

"An egg?"

"A Digitama?" Blanc scurries closer, her silver eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Andromon holds the egg carefully in his steel arms.

"It's Guardromon's Digitama," he replies.

"Guardromon's?!" My voice rises in surprise.

"We Digimon leave a Digitama after death—for rebirth," Labramon explains, his curly tail swishing lightly.

"That means... Guardromon will be reborn?!"

Labramon's tail freezes mid-sway. His purple eyes sharpen. "However, the reborn Digimon won't have the memories of its past life."

"Won't have memories...?" Miss Lily murmurs softly. "But isn't that like... a new being?"

"That's the life of a Digimon," Labramon says, his voice steady.

I notice Blanc lowering her Cross Barbée.

So... it's true after all.

Guardromon is really gone.

"Crack!"

The sound draws my attention back to Andromon. A tiny crack appears on the egg's shell. Two lightning-shaped metal antennas peek out, flapping playfully.

"It hatched!" Blanc exclaims, her klobuk-ears twitching with excitement.

I lean closer to see a tiny metal creature inside, resembling a computer mouse. Its red eyes flicker curiously.

[Name: Choromon]

[Level: 1]

[Attribute: None]

"What's lost can't be brought back," Andromon says, stroking Choromon's metallic head gently. "But we can appreciate the new life that's born."

"Yeah... That's right."

I smile, reaching out to pet the little Digimon.

"I see my little protagonist is growing up~," Jellymon-senpai says, floating smugly.

"Hey! I'm already an adult!"

"Whatever makes you feel better~," she rolls her eyes.

What's her problem?

"Appreciate the new life, huh...?"

"Miss Lily! It's time to go, or Miss Mira will get even madder!"

"Oh, coming!" Miss Lily hurries off, snapping out of a daze.

Did I imagine it, or did she seem sad for a moment?

I remove my T.A.L.E headset, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

Standing up, I glance at the wall clock.

[5:05 PM]

"Past my out time, huh?"

Well, they did say we'd get a bonus for completing the mission despite the unexpected danger.

I still remember Miss Lily's jaw dropping when she heard that.

Did she used to work for a black company before this?

I walk to the nearby shelf, grabbing my bag.

But... why does my head feel heavy?

I instinctively reach up and touch something... squishy.

"Don't tell me..."

I grab my mirror from the bag, only to find her sitting smugly on my head.

"I must say, my little protagonist looks a bit different in this world~," she says nonchalantly.

"Jellymon-senpai?! How?"

As if to answer my question, my smartphone beeps. A familiar term flashes on the notification screen.

"Did you... ReArise yourself...?"

AN:

This marks the end of the Nu Metal Empire arc. A new adventure on Earth will start in the next chapter! Especially when all the partners are now in the real world.