Thick fog envelops the narrow alley, bathing the world in an eerie, dreamy pink. The black dragon dashes through the haze, its large claws dragging against the road as it barrels toward the silver-haired girl.

"Ina! Stay back!"

Blanc's voice pierces the fog. Her golden, triple-pronged lance blocks the dragon's claws.

Sparks fly as the concrete beneath her feet shatters, and I tremble from the impact.

"Wait! Holograms shouldn't be able to destroy roads!" I yell at the man standing behind the dragon. "Tuxedo Man, what's happening?"

"Hahaha! I was expecting to face another hacker, but just a clueless civilian? This will be too easy." The man laughs out, adjusting his high-tech goggles. "A wild Digimon in the Real World... It'll be a perfect trophy to prove my worth to NSoC."

"Hacker? Like in those spy movies?" I stammer, trying to wrap my head around it.

"So you really don't know? Fine..." His voice filled with amusement. "Listen carefully."

The dragon's growls echo across the empty alleyway as its claws grind against Blanc's weapon, the screech rippling through the cold fog.

"I'm not like those movie hackers playing with IDs and passwords, but a pioneer of true freedom. In the Network and the Real World—a Code-Cracker!"

Blanc takes another step back before the dragon's relentless assaults, the light from the resulting sparks reflecting on the man's goggles.

"Code-Cracker 'Mask'—that's what my clients call me."

"Freedom? What does that have to do with summoning a monster and attacking us?"

"This?" He smirks at the black dragon. "It's a tool to realize our goals, a weapon against all who stand against us."

His words felt like a villain's monologue straight out of an anime, one who believes his extreme ideals will change the world.

My heart thumped in my chest as I glanced at Blanc, her knees buckled under the weight of the dragon's claws.

Could she...truly be a real-life magical girl?

"Enough chit-chat." He points his phone at the dragon as its yellow eyes glow like bonfires in darkness. "Guilmon! Finish this!"

The dragon—Guilmon, as Mask calls it—parts its jaws, its claws forcing Blanc back with a deafening clank.

"Virus Breath!"

I stand frozen, watching dark, deep gas spewing out of its gaped maw, surging towards us like a raging tide.

My body... won't move?

"Ina!"

Blanc leaps in front of me, her pink cape spreading wide, shielding me like a warm blanket.

"Ngh!"

Before my eyes, inky black tendrils crawl across Blanc's delicate frame, consuming her in twisting vines of shadow. The vibrant pink color of her cape dimmed into dull black, the winged tips curling. Her lance slipped from her grip as she collapsed to her knees.

"Blanc!"

I scream instinctively, but my limbs refuse to budge.

"Ina...are you okay?" A soft murmur escapes her lips.

"I am! But what about you?"

"That's... good..." The pain in her face turns into a relieved smile.

I felt something break within me.

Is this what it's like to stand behind a hero?

But... heroes aren't supposed to fall like this, are they?

"Virus Breath contains a potent computer virus, designed to corrupt data." The man called Mask steps forward, pointing the rose between his fingers at Blanc. "A child like you can never resist it."

"A...computer virus?"

I snap out of my daze.

Others may call me naive, but even I can see Blanc is suffering, and that black gas, the virus is to blame.

"This is boring. Claim the prize, Guilmon!"

Mask's voice was almost dismissive as he snapped his fingers, and in response, Guilmon stepped forward, its tail slamming over the ground, cracking the concrete.

"Ina...run..." Gripping her lance with her trembling hands, Blanc tries to rise, her silver eyes dim.

"Run? But what about you?"

"Blanc will stop Guilmon from chasing..." Black streaks spread across her body. "Go..."

"That's your reasoning?" I couldn't help but shout to her. "You can't even stand properly!"

"Blanc lost everything once..." Her hold tightened on her weapon. "You're Blanc's first friend in this world… Blanc can't lose someone precious again—not this time!"

I feel like being punched in the gut.

You called me your friend... and now you want me to leave you behind? What kind of friend does that?

Am I really that unreliable?

Just like everyone's always said—at school, at home... every single time.

["Ina, are you still watching those childish anime? Grow up already."]

Yeah, be an adult, be mature. I tried to convince myself of that—I really did. But I'm so sick of it!

["Did you hear? Watanabe was exclaiming about those video games again. She's still such a kid."]

None of them understand. Watching those characters chase their dreams against all odds gives us hope—hope that we can also shine just as brightly.

["Becoming a manga artist? Miss Watanabe, stop obsessing over such things and think about your future seriously."]

But, this isn't just about me. That's because…those heroes never abandon anyone.

My eyes dart to Blanc—her trembling, darkened frame standing between me and Guilmon.

Staying behind, all by yourself...this is too meta.

My hands reach for the replica of Sailor Dawn's iconic wand in my skirt pocket.

Yes, there is only one thing a protagonist would've done in a time like this. Tear that death flag down!

The black tendrils snake along Blanc's body, her steps faltering under its weight.

With my heart pounding, I rushed to her side and hoisted her light, fragile form onto my back.

"Ina...? Blanc told you to run..." She mutters in tired breaths.

"Run away? Don't even think about it!" Sweat trickles down my face, but I force a grin. "I promised Miss Lily I'll keep you safe, didn't I? So quit pushing me away!"

Guilmon advanced like a predator seizing its prey, its eyes, like blazing orbs, locking onto us.

"Let's go!"

In the next moment, my legs have already started sprinting.

Guilmon's claws dig into the ground, ready to pursue us.

"Guilmon, stop." Mask's cold voice cuts in.

He's letting us go? Well, lucky us.

I ran, carrying Blanc on my back, refusing to stop.

...Was this alley really this long?

"SOMEONE! A MONSTER IS AFTER US! HELP!"

I look around. The deep pink fog covered every part of my vision, muffling every sound but my footsteps. The buildings on either side stand dull, devoid of life.

"...Where are we?" My steps halt as I try to make sense out of this.

"Fire Grenade!"

A loud roar shakes the fog, followed by a meteor shower raining down from the heavens.

A series of loud booms echoes, and I trip over my foot.

"Agh!" A twisted leg?! Now of all times?

The black-and-purple flames from the explosions form a jet-black firewall. It's smokeless, yet suffocating.

"The Digital Fog has already isolated this area, overlapping the Real World." Mask's chilling footsteps echo. "No one can interfere with us in this pseudo-virtual space~!"

His words hit me like a truck, and my breath hitched.

Guilmon at the front… those flames at the back...

No help is coming. We're trapped—there's no way out...

"No...big sis is coming..." As I was about to sink into despair, Blanc's dizzy murmur reached my ears. "Big sis is kind...and strong. She will surely come to save us..."

Even in this situation, you can say such things?

Even if she's a magical girl...she is still a kid, yet so brave. Then, how can I give up so easily?

I grit my teeth and stand up.

"Mask, was it? You call yourself a Code-Cracker, but what does that even mean?" My gaze meets his eyes hidden under those goggles. "Are you planning to take over the world?"

Mask chuckles before speaking. "Taking over the world?" He swishes his midnight cape dramatically. "Close, but not quite."

He raises his hand, signaling Guilmon to halt. "Let me tell you."

Bingo! As expected, typical villains like him always love to explain their plans. Blanc believes in Miss Lily, so I'll just buy time until then.

I stay quiet, holding Blanc tightly on my back.

"We're here to shatter the chains of this rotten world and rebuild it from scratch." Mask's face twists with crazed pride.

"Chains? Like the government?" I try to drag the conversation. "So, you're some kind of rebel?"

"Maybe you can say that." He walks closer, Guilmon following like an obedient pet.

"This world is rigged—where the privileged thrive while the rest suffer." His voice was filled with a deep-rooted fury. "It's very system is wrong!"

"...So you think you're a revolutionary? Is this monster your idea of freedom?"

"Revolutionary? That's what we believed at the start. Leaving reality behind, we aimed for a new world and its infinite possibilities which lies beyond the Net."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"A distant land that can change lives, where anyone can rewrite their destiny—The Digital World."

"The Digital World...? Is that a place?"

"Don't tell me you haven't realized?" His unseen gaze catches a glimpse of Blanc.

"That one you're carrying and this Guilmon. Both of them are beings not belonging to our world."

Wait... Blanc and this dragon are the same?

But isn't she Miss Lily's younger sister? What is he talking about?

"That's right. Digital Monsters—Digimon are nothing but AI tools to be used by the Code-Crackers! To reset this broken world!"

An unsettling madness fills the alleyway as thoughts swirl inside my head like a whirlwind.

Digimon... Isn't there a popular MMORPG of the same name? Don't tell me it's the niche trope of video game characters coming to life.

No, I can't let his words sway me, I have to keep this up.

"Code-Crackers, that's a fancy name. Do all of you wear goggles like that?" I gulped before asking.

"Well, aren't you awfully curious?" Mask sneered, tilting his head. "You're stalling for time, aren't you?"

My heart sinks into my chest.

Busted already?

"A captured princess, saved by a loyal knight at the last moment? Unfortunately for you, such miracles only exist in children's storybooks." Mask fidgets with his phone before turning to Guilmon. "Get them."

Guilmon's tail whips behind it, its steps shaking the earth, approaching like a predator seizing its prey.

Blanc's tiny fingers twitch weakly, her warmth is fading against my back.

You're saying she's not human...Not from Earth...

But what of it?

She's still a girl in pain. And most importantly—she's my friend!

Sailor Dawn saves people without hesitation, no matter how hopeless it seems. If she wouldn't give up, then neither will I!

I know it's stupid, but I raise my plastic wand anyway, clinging to it like a holy sword destined to defeat the demon king.

"I-I'm warning you! Leave us alone!" My voice cracks as tears blur my vision. My palms slick with sweat, but I force myself to stand firm. "Or else—In the name of the morning sun, Sailor Dawn will punish you!"

Damn it...I am no protagonist—just a girl with a toy wand and shaking knees. But a magical girl never gives up. If no one else will save us, then I will—even if it's the last thing I do!

"Oh, are you playing hero now?" A taunting grin hangs from Mask's face. "Guilmon!"

"Rock Crusher!"

Guilmon's claws, wreathed in shadowy flames like those of hell itself, slashed toward us.

My eyes shut in instinct.

Ah... Guess I'll never get those exclusive posters. Or finish those manga drafts I should've submitted.

Several faces flash in my mind.

Mom...Dad...

The crackling roar of hellfire surges closer, bearing down like a guillotine ready to strike.

Blanc...Miss Lily...

I'm sorry...

"Retriever Bark!"

As the inevitability closes in, the Digital Fog splits apart, and a piercing sonic wave cuts through the air, rippling the fog and forcing my eyes open. Guilmon stumbles, its attack halting mid-swing.

"What... just happened?"

The black wall of flames vanishes into silence, revealing a tiny silhouette streaking in this pink world like a light of hope—a white dog with purple ears.

Wait, that puppy is—

"Huff huff, Labramon... Wait up."

A familiar face caught my vision, panting heavily as she ran as if she'd collapse at any moment, yet a relief washed over me.

"Blanc! Ina!"

"Miss Lily!"

AN:

Guilmon Black still hasn't made it into the TCG as of this chapter's release. At least it got a cameo on the Gabumon Black card. Speaking of which, the Digital Fog is based on the pink fog in Tamers and Pseudo Digital Worlds from Ghost Game.