I feel like I'm floating through a dark tunnel as countless noises fly past me. One second, two seconds... or was it more?

After what feels like an eternity, a light appears at the end of the path, like a flickering ray of hope shining in a dark world. Instinctively, I extend my hands toward it as it grows brighter and brighter, blinding my vision before everything turns pure white.

I slowly open my eyes, feeling a gentle breeze tickle my skin. My fingers dig into the soft, moist ground beneath me as I look up at the unfamiliar blue sky.

"Wait, this is... Daydream never had any sensory feedback!"

I hurriedly sit up, glancing around the area. The damp smell of the muddy ground fills my lungs, the warmth of the sunlight on my skin—I can feel them clearly. But maybe that's not the only thing I should worry about right now.

A massive forest stretches out before me, unlike anything I've seen on Earth or on any game map. Towering trees rise toward the heavens. Various colorful plants playfully brush against my legs, their leaves soft like feathers against my skin, but none of them seem familiar. Throughout all my time in Daydream, I don't recall seeing any of them.

"Okay, focus!" I slap both my cheeks to jolt myself awake. Ouch, that hurts.

I glance down at my body—the same familiar in-game avatar. A small girl in her teenage years, with soft, creamy skin and golden eyes that sparkle like gemstones, a pretty face with long, silky black hair tied into a cute ponytail. But then—why can I feel all of this?

"Did they add hyper-realism to the game? But a feature this big should've been in the patch notes..."

My hand slips into my pocket, retrieving the [Digimon Dock]—a small white box-like device with three buttons and a bold blue "X" stamped on it. The screen flickers before displaying a familiar menu with several options, as my slender fingers swiftly swipe through them—a touch feature not available in the physical version.

[Dock Model: Digital Monster X]

[Partner] [Quests] [Inventory]

[Digipedia] [Digivillage]

[Profile] [Notice]

[Mail] [Chat] [Settings]

Quests, Digipedia, Profile, Digivillage... Everything seems normal at first glance... But wait—Mail, Chat, Settings, and even Partner are all grayed out?

My eyes immediately dart to the bottom of the screen. Something important... something that should always be there is now missing.

"What happened to the log-out option?!"

I can tell that something is very wrong...

"Is this the plot of a popular anime where players are trapped in a game until they beat the final boss?!"

I stand up, clenching my fists.

"Okay, calm down, Lily. Abadin Games is known for instant bug fixes in their games. If this is just a glitch, the admins should notice it soon. Until then, I should look for a checkpoint."

Checkpoints are specific zones within the Infinity Tower that transport a player back to the entrance when they step on them. They also save your progress so you can start from where you left off.

"If this is still within the Infinity Tower, there should be several checkpoints scattered around."

With this newfound goal, I walk toward the ancient woods stretching before me.

"Rustle, rustle."

"Thump."

I halt my steps and glance at the clock displayed on the [Digimon Dock] screen.

It's been over an hour since I started walking, and yet... no checkpoints, no players... only these tall trees and strange plants everywhere.

I take a deep breath. "IS SOMEONE HERE?!" Come on, anyone...

"Thud, thud."

Wait, are those footsteps? Maybe a player?

I quickly turn my head toward the sound. It's jet-black, like a shadow emerging from the darkness, its crimson eyes locking onto mine.

"GRRRR..."

Okay, even I can tell that this isn't a player.

[Wild Digimon Encountered: Dobermon]

"Uh... Good dog?"

"Clang!"

The loud clash of metal jolts me back to my senses.

Focus, Lily! This isn't the time for flashbacks—there's a big dog out for your life.

"Stay away from Blanc's big sis, you dumb mutt!"

The silver-haired girl points her golden trident at the demon beast standing before us.

The beast steps forward, its claws twitching as it slowly parts its jaws again.

Another special move? This is bad—Blanc can't defend against a Level 4 in her current state.

"Unacceptable!"

It... spoke? But that's impossible—wild Digimon aren't supposed to talk.

"Defending a human? Did that sheltered fake space break your pride as a Digimon?"

"Big sis is big sis! And Blanc will fight alongside her!" the girl protests.

"Big words for a child who abandoned her freedom to live in that artificial world!"

Some event scenario? But there wasn't any news about this. I guess I can't think of it as just a game anymore.

"Shoosh!"

Dobermon's blades extend again as it glares at Blanc.

"You should know it. Everyone in the Network does—the reason we can never return home... it's all because of humans like her!"

"That's not true! Blanc's big sis isn't a bad person!"

I feel like I'm the only one out of the loop here. What are they talking about?

"Grrr..."

Dobermon locks its crimson eyes on Blanc.

"Contact with humankind only brings us misfortune. You know it too, don't you? The raid at the gateway three years ago."

"Blanc... has heard of it..."

Three years ago? Didn't Daydream launch only one year ago? But this tone... I know it too well...

"Using our longing for home... only to be betrayed. There's only one thing humans deserve—death!"

This isn't scripted. I can feel the pain in his words. This guy... he's deeply hurt.

"Uh, Dobermon, right? I know you're angry, but maybe we can just talk this out?"

"Silence, human! Your kind only ever used us for their own goals! After all that, do you still think there's anything to discuss?"

Right, you're angry because you were used, only to be discarded. Just like I've been, many times in my life.

"That's wrong!"

Before I can respond, the silver-haired girl steps forward, facing the demon beast.

"Big sis would never abandon anyone!"

"You're saying that now, but when the time comes, she'll abandon you to save herself."

"Blanc knows what it's like to be alone! But that's why..." She lowers her trident for a moment.

"The slum was a dangerous and lonely place. Weak Digimon like Blanc had no choice but to leave for that space to survive."

A slum? But there aren't any slums in Daydream.

"Blanc thought it'd be scary. But everything changed when I met big sis."

The time I met you as my starting Digimon?

"Big sis treated Blanc with care. She never let Blanc feel alone. Whether it was going on adventures, playing, training, or fighting together, big sis was always there for Blanc!"

All my playtime in the game?

"Big sis told Blanc many stories. Even though they contained many strange things... to Blanc, those were warm, precious moments." A soft smile appears on the girl's doll-like face.

"And it's not just Blanc. Everyone back at the base—she gave them a place to belong, where they could smile again."

Wow. I don't know what to say. All my actions in the game—this child was watching everything.

"A place to belong? Don't make me laugh." A chilling growl vibrates through the air.

"Humans are all the same. They pretend to care for you, only to use you for their own gain."

"Big sis isn't a bad human! She's kind, gentle, and strong. Because of her, even someone like Blanc can stand up against you. That's what makes her worthy of a big sis!"

No, that's wrong, Blanc. The me you saw in the game isn't the real me. The only reason I seemed so confident and open with you is because I thought you were just an NPC who couldn't understand my words.

"In truth, I'm just a coward who's afraid of reaching out to real people..." I murmur under my breath.

"Dobermon, Blanc knows you're mad at humans, but blaming big sis isn't true justice!"

"You... You're just like them. Joining humans, betraying your own kind!"

"Big sis is Blanc's family, and Blanc will never abandon her!"

"Your family...?" This girl... All this time, I saw her as a savior, but she's...

A scene flashes before my eyes. A dark room with various toys scattered around. A little girl with messy black hair sits alone, holding a photo of a man and woman to her chest. Tears endlessly flow down her cheeks, hidden by the heavy rain pouring outside the window.

Without thinking, my legs move forward on their own. I stand beside the silver-haired girl, clenching my fists.

"Dobermon, maybe you're right. There are humans who use others for their own profit. There are humans who won't think twice before betraying their comrades."

"So you admit it..." It glances at me with blood-red eyes.

"But!" My legs tremble under its terrifying gaze, but I gather all my courage and look into its eyes.

"But that doesn't mean I'll just stand here and take the blame for all that. Betrayal? Some dark history? Those have nothing to do with me!" I turn to the small silver-haired girl.

"This child sees me as family and is fighting to protect me. If I give up on my life for such a stupid reason, despite that... what kind of big sister would I be?"

"Big sis!"

Hey, don't look at me with those sparkly eyes. Too bright.

"So that's your answer." Dobermon crouches down. "Then both of you can die together!"

It gazes up at the sky.

"Grau Lärm!"

A soul-crushing howl unlike any before resonates across the forest, followed by a massive shockwave.

The Digimon Dock in my hand flashes. "An added debuff—sealing! Blanc!"

The small girl steps forward, stabbing the butt-end of her trident into the earth, standing fearlessly against the incoming shockwave.

"Protect Wave!"

A bright luminance emits from the ground, splitting into beautiful threads of light. They dance around the girl before merging into a DNA-like spiral, forming a radiant curtain-like barrier.

"BOOM—"

The devastating shockwave crashes into the barrier, sending sparks of light flying across the forest.

"Crackle! Crackle!"

Cracks instantly spread across the curtain as the threads of light tremble, vanishing one by one.

"Damn it! Is it really hopeless against a Level 4?" Just as I'm about to sink into despair again...

"This is nothing! As long as big sis is with Blanc... Blanc can handle anything!"

Her voice snaps me back to my senses as I notice a glint shining in her pure silver eyes.

"That's right..." The violent gust from the cracks threatens to paralyze me, but I reach out to her small, warm back, supporting her with both hands.

"Blanc, you won't lose. We're going back together."

My hair flutters from the pressure around us. "Because your Tamer—your big sister—is with you!"

Blanc's cherry-colored lips curl into a smile.

"Yeah, as long as big sis is here, Blanc won't let her family disappear—not this time!"

"Wait, this time?"

As I ponder her words, the Digimon Dock flashes once again.

[Scan Complete...]

[Compatibility: 91%]

[Cancelling Digitization]

[Activating MindLink]

In the next moment, a gentle warmth engulfs my consciousness.

AN:

MindLink is finally here. As you may have guessed, this story indeed takes place 3 years after the event of Digimon Seekers. Also, some readers may have noticed Lily's doc model—the DMX white version v-pet, where Blanc is an obtainable Digimon.

But what did Blanc's words mean? The readers will just have to stay tuned to find out. (；w)