"Sedna!"
"Holy Light!"
Several energy shells shot out from WezenGammamon's horn cannons, clashing against the brilliant rays released from Cross Barbée, the glowing ocean currents distorting before shattering into a glittering fog.
The green triceratops bursts through the fog, its horns slamming into our golden trident. Pushing forward, it sends us hurtling into a massive fragment that orbits an island.
"Blanc won't lose to a big green dino!"
Supporting herself with Cross Barbée, she headbutts WezenGammamon, forcing it back with a loud bang.
Headbutting? Really, Blanc? Well, whatever works!
"Blanc, now's the chance!"
"Tokotoko Dive!"
Her playful tackle unleashed a shockwave throughout the digital water, but WezenGammamon only grinned, its snout horn gleaming. "Oh, that was a good hit!"
An alert appears on the [Digimon Dock] screen before my eyes. "No, Blanc—get away!"
"Boom!"
Blanc dives back just in time, the blast missing her by a hair's breadth before erupting in a blinding flash.
"Schwarz Strahl!"
Emerging from behind floating debris, Dobermon shoots the jet-black beam at the triceratops.
It lifted its left foot, and in the next moment, the darkness was ripped apart by a volley of bullets.
"Tsk, even sneak attacks aren't enough..." The hound lands next to us.
Right, Dobermon can freely move now after taking off the [Chrome Rope Y], yet we still couldn't make it budge.
"Such power... Is this guy really just Level 4?"
I can feel Dobermon giving me a look of "You're the one to talk," but I chose to ignore it.
"Heh..." Its voice brimming with joy. "Hahahaha! Finally! Finally, I can let loose!"
This guy... It's enjoying this too much...
"So the rumors were true..." Dobermon's crimson eyes narrow. "WezenGammamon—a walking artillery with explosive tendencies. Once it's fired up, it'll blow everything up..."
Fired up? Does that mean this thing could get even more dangerous?!
"Now, let's continue~!" It steps forward, digging its feet into the cracked earth.
"Another attack? Blanc!"
"Protect—"
[FACTION FACTION it's so unclear Mysterious, abstract. FACTION LIFE FACTION LIFE Strange and odd here comes an enigma how mysterious...]
Just as we prepare ourselves, a jarring melody blares.
Wait... isn't that the theme song of that new kid's anime?
"Oh, wait a second." WezenGammamon stops mid-attack. "Yo~ Mira!"
Mira? Is it a human?
"This incoming data..." Dobermon snarls. "This guy... it's on a call..."
"On a call?!"
As I focus my senses from Blanc's [DigiCore], the conversation appears on the [Digimon Dock] screen.
"WezenGammamon, where are you?" A female voice rings out, young, like a girl next door. "Did you sneak out again?"
"Um..." The triceratops' eyes darted around.
"I'll take that as a yes~?" The voice is sweet, yet there's a hint of fury.
"No, no! I'm not playing around! I swear!" Its tail wags nervously.
That girl... is she its Tamer?
"Well, you see... it was boring back there! So I thought maybe I'll help out by patrolling..."
"I see, just 'helping' out, huh~?"
WezenGammamon starts to shiver.
Wow, it must be really scared of her.
"Since you're so busy 'helping,' you won't need any chocolates this week, right~?"
A stunned silence fell for a moment.
"Noooo! Not my Champions!"
Well... if it's busy chatting...
"Blanc, Dobermon, let's escape."
But just as we step back—
"Ra-ta-ta-ta!"
Several gunshots rang out.
From the cockpit of the Mechanorimon, two blue reptiles in military gear emerge, each wielding M16 assault rifles with cold accuracy, like seasoned soldiers.
[Name: Commandramon]
[Level: 3]
[Attribute: Virus]
"Of course, Mechanorimon aren't alone—they've got pilots." Dobermon narrows its eyes.
"Pilots? Does that mean we have more enemies now?"
But, WezenGammamon is still in shock, we can break through it...
"I've made up my mind!" The triceratops wipes its tears, its cannons locking onto us. "I'll catch both of you, then Mira will believe I'm serious!"
Okay... Never mind.
"Dobermon, can you handle those two?"
"Anything is better than facing that monster." The hound dashes towards the Commandramon, extending its blades.
"Blanc, let's go! This guy must have a blind spot!"
"Here goes, big sis! Blanc full speed!"
Taking a stance, we sprint towards the triceratops.
"Sedna!"
The explosive energy shells aim toward us.
Blanc leaps up, expertly hopping over the floating fragments, the incoming blasts shattering them, debris falling everywhere.
"Blanc, behind it!"
"Shining Laser!"
The dazzling beam trails towards WezenGammamon.
It lifts its legs, the rapid bullets effortlessly deflecting the incoming laser.
Nothing's working—does this damn thing even have a weakness?
WezenGammamon's snout cannon roars. In the next moment, the fragment under us shatters with a loud boom.
"So strong!"
"Blanc got this, big sis!"
She twirls, ready to land over floating debris, but—
"I'll leave your [DigiCore] intact, can't guarantee the rest of you..."
The triceratops mutters, digging its tail into the ground, a jolting energy gathers between its horns, the entire abyss falling silent.
No... that technique...
"Blanc, we have to move!"
"Albion!"
The sea trembles as the unstoppable anti-matter beam unleashes once more, obliterating everything in its path without a trace.
We can't dodge—Protect Wave? No... My instincts tell me it won't work. Then—the skill that allows enduring a killing blow.
"Safety Guard!"
Instantly, a radiant glow envelopes Blanc as she braces herself before the absolute force.
"BOOM!"
"Aaaaah!"
Searing, unrelenting pain flooded my body, almost as if each of my nerves were set ablaze.
Ah.. I should have known... if I'm sharing all her senses—it'll also include her pain.
The [Digimon Dock] screen is blinking red—Blanc's [HP] is critically low... Her tattered body lay over the scorched earth.
"Oh, you survived?" Smoke emitting from WezenGammamon's horns. "Mechanorimon! Capture the white rabbit!"
Mechanorimon? But they were sealed.
My hopes shatter as a Mechanorimon hover into view—the debuff is gone…
My body is going numb, everything blurring... The rustling of metallic arms drawing closer—Blanc...
"Big sis is hurt..."
The fallen girl slowly stood up, her tiny legs shaking.
"Blanc's family is going to disappear... Blanc will be alone again..."
No, Blanc... we'll return together... so... please run...
"Those who threaten big sis... will be CRUSHED!"
Wait... Crushed?
Blanc clenches her small fist, slamming it down.
Simultaneously, a catastrophic tremor shakes the Net Ocean, the fragments beneath us shattering into countless pieces.
"Danger! Twinkle—"
"CRACK!"
Before Mechanorimon could respond, Blanc's tiny fist smashes its torso. The giant machine collapses with a jerking thud, glow fading from its eyes.
I can hardly think... a surge of emotions began to flow into me. Blanc—she's furious.
"M16 Assassin!"
Perhaps sensing the intense bloodlust, the two Commandramon, who were engaging Dobermon with hit-and-run tactics, immediately unleashed a lethal barrage, closing in around Blanc.
"Protect... big sis..." The silver-haired girl sways her right hand, a tremendous shockwave blowing away the duo like light feathers.
I feel bruises fading from her body, the pain starting to alleviate... How?
Through my foggy senses, I glance at the [Digimon Dock] screen flashing red...
[WARNING!]
[Forced DigiCore information extraction]
[Combat Program] unstable ]
[Source: X-Data]
[DP: 7000… 8000… 9000]
Wait... Her [DP] was supposed to be 6000—it's spiking?!
"Sedna!"
High-powered energy shells shot out, in response, Blanc swung Cross Barbée in swift precision, and each shell was cut down like falling leaves.
"This is... A Class V?!" WezenGammamon's cheerful demeanor quavers. "Emergency request! Mira! Evolution!"
Evolution? If a Digimon like WezenGammamon evolves, how powerful will it be?
The triceratops prepares to strike—then goes quiet, Mira's stern voice cutting in "Not happening! You know Deputy Chief's orders."
"Come on! Just evolve me and I'll end this in a kaboom!"
"Oh really? Just like last time~?"
"That was..." WezenGammamon starts to sweat.
"You hurt big sis..." Blanc steps forward, her rage evident in her voice.
"MIRAAA! I'm totally serious this time!"
"Tokotoko Dive!"
The impact hits like a meteor, the waves rippling violently, flinging the green Digimon over the horizon, its voice lingering behind. "I got kaboomed!"
Wow... He really blasted off...
"All of them... must be destroyed."
The girl's feet began to lift off the ground, Cross Barbée raised high above, a vast amount of holy energy condensing into an enormous sphere, crackling, glitching the water particles.
"Divine Pierce—" The ocean's rhythm ceased, a terrifying pressure befalls the world.
This is... Divine Pierce? It's completely different than before! Albion? It won't even compare.
A chill surges through me as my eyes shift to the fallen Digipolice units.
Commandramon, Mechanorimon... No... They can speak! I can tell from this pain... These Digimon—they're alive!
"Go..." The girl whispers under her breath, lowering her trident, the monstrous vortex descending to bring certain ruin.
We aren't in a scripted quest in Digimon Daydream. There is no respawn—they'll die!
"Blanc! Wait! I'm fine now! So... please stop!"
"Erase them..."
The gentle smile of the young girl flashes in my mind—is this really my partner from a moment ago?
"BLANC!"
Her grip loosens for a moment, my call reaching her through the haze. "Big... sis?"
"BANG!"
The thunderous energy misses its targets, exploding with an ear-splitting roar. Several cracks ran down the empty space, and beyond that—a void. It's like reality itself has fallen apart akin to broken glass.
"Did... they survived...?"
I feel an immense drowsiness taking over me... It's hard to stay awake.
"Even the Dimension Wall... Hey kid, you alright?"
Just as sleep pulled me under, I heard Dobermon's faint voice. The next thing I remember—black.
I slowly open my eyes, a familiar ceiling comes into view.
"Wait! Blanc?!"
I sit up in a panic, looking around.
The same old apartment, dim lights coming from the window, an empty can sitting near the bed.
A dream? But it felt so real... Did I fall asleep while playing?
I glance at the VR headset lying over the pillow, beeping with an odd pattern.
"Is it still on?"
As I was about to reach it, the cheap digital clock hanging from the wall caught my vision.
[12:45 AM]
"Past midnight?! How long have I been asleep?"
I slowly get off the bed, the cracked floor is rough against my skin as I head towards the sink.
"Gulp! Gulp!"
The cold water is refreshing, as if the earlier pain was just an illusion.
"Was it just a bad dream?"
The face of a doll-like girl comes to mind, her joyful voice still ringing in my memory as my hand covers my face.
Okay, maybe it wasn't a bad one.
"Ahh! Lily! You can't stay absorbed in every dream!"
Yes, dreams are simply subconscious thoughts. No reason to keep thinking about them!
"Groan..."
As I was pondering, my tummy rumbled.
Oh... I forgot to have dinner.
"Welp... Guess it'll be only instant noodles today."
I turn around to reach the bedside shelf, but then—stunned.
Someone was there... Someone who shouldn't exist in this world.
Her silver hair glimmers like liquid metal under the moonlight, her pink klobuk fallen on the bed. She turns, her curious silver eyes meeting mine.
A pup, covered in white fur, sitting next to her, its purple tail swaying cutely, yet there's a hint of frustration on its face.
"Are you... big sis?"
"You sure took your time, human—Lily, was it?"
I stood there, dazed, a low mutter escaping my lips.
"That... wasn't a dream..."