Ch2

Django looked around the living room as he waited for Netto to change. "An alien symbiote? I guess anything can happen." When he was younger, he was surprised to meet both Rockman and Netto and that there were multiple worlds out there along with other potential threats to his world. Their past adventures together often had them team up against various villains in each other's worlds with them teaming up to defeat Shademan and the Count.

His gaze drifted to the various electronics in the house, he knew this world was more technologically advanced than his and deep down he was curious about the whole thing. I wonder what else can he do?

"I'm here!"

He turned around to see Netto coming down the stairs, the brunette appeared to be struggling with his new found growth spurt as his new muscles pressed tightly against his white shirt. Well better than that symbiote outfit where he looked like an exhibitionist. Though he had to admit Netto did look good. The brunette still had his carefree smile and warm eyes and now that symbiote made him look as if he hit the gym regularly.

"So has anything suspicious been happening lately?" He asked as they sat across from each other. "I've been tracking the Count and there is a possibility he is in this world."

Netto sat across from and slowly nodded. "I mean there have been some suspicious disappearances and murders." The brunette paused as a shadow crossed his face. "Could they really be the result of this count?"

He slowly nodded. "Vampires started reappearing in my world and from what we just saw now we must assume that he is in this world."

"Great," Netto's face darkened. "The last times we fought together our enemies were in the cyber world." The brunette looked at his hand as the blue symbiote formed around his palm. "Well at least I'll have protection."

"Hey don't worry I know how to kill vampires," He said with a smirk. "We'll defeat these vampires before they cause more problems to our worlds."

Netto smiled and nodded. "Great!"

It was then the blue symbiote's head formed from the side of Netto's body. "Don't worry I can more than keep my host alive."

He had to fight the urge to bring his gun on that thing but so far Netto wasn't hurt. "So about you, how did you get here?"

"I don't know," The symbiote said. "I was flying through space and time and eventually landed here and found the first person available to be my host. When I fused with him I deemed him worthy of my strenght and power."

Netto's face reddened. "Th-Thanks. So uh can you defeat these vampires?"

Shadowbyte nodded. "I can, it won't be easy but rest assured that I will keep you safe. Though I must say you should train to use my powers."

"Thanks," Netto said as he looked at the symbiote curiously. "I wonder what else you can do?"

The symbiote chuckled. "Oh I can do many things."

"Well I could help too," he said cutting into the conversation. "I have a lot of combat experience and know how to kill vampires."

Netto grinned. "Thanks!" The brunette got up and stretched as the symbiote went back into his body. "Oh by the way you can use the guest room if you want, my parents won't mind."

He nodded and got up. "Thanks."

"Here let me show you to your room," Netto said as he guided him up the stairs. The room was at the end of the hall and was furnished with the bare necessities of living. "Let me know if you need anything!"

He nodded as he Netto left. As soon as the brunette closed the door he sat down on the bed and set his travel pack down on the ground. "Might as well settle in."

Otenko-san popped up from the ground. "Rest well for now. We don't know what else this world will throw at us."

"Yeah. Yeah." He sighed as he looked at the Gun del Sol at his side. "I've taken the lives of many vampires before. I'll continue to take their lives and protect the innocent so long as I live." Otenko-san looked at him with a bit of concern but said nothing as he settled into the room and got ready for the night.

As he fell asleep his mind flickered with the memories of his past. The darkness enveloped him, suffocating and eternal. He stood frozen, watching the village ablaze, its once vibrant streets slick with crimson. The stench of blood hung heavy in the air, an iron tang that clung to his throat with every panicked breath. Screams echoed, shrill and desperate, reverberating off the shattered walls of homes that once promised safety. They were voices he knew. Voices he loved.

No. No. No please stop!

In the distance, shadowed figures loomed, their eyes glowing a predatory red. They moved with unnatural speed and grace, cutting down everyone in their path. He couldn't move—his legs felt leaden, rooted to the ground. A boy nearby cried out, reaching for help. The blade came down before the child's voice could finish its plea. He tried to shout, to run, but his body betrayed him.

The largest vampire turned then, its face smeared with gore, and smiled at him. Fangs glistened in the firelight as it stepped closer, the corpse of someone he once called family crumpling at its feet.

"Run," it mocked, its voice like grinding glass. "Or join them."

He wanted to scream, to lunge, to fight back. But when he finally moved, it wasn't forward. It was backward, stumbling over debris, his small hands scraping against jagged wood as he clawed for escape. The last thing he saw was the vampire's maw descending on him.

He woke with a gasp, body jolting as though torn from the jaws of death. The room was pitch black, save for a faint glow from a nearby monitor. The stillness was a stark contrast to the chaos of his dream, yet the phantom sensations lingered. His heart pounded against his ribcage, a relentless drumbeat of fear and adrenaline. Sweat clung to his skin, slicking his bare chest and back, and he could feel the tension in his muscles as if they'd been wound too tight.

"It was just a dream," he muttered as he placed his hand over his rapidly beating heart as he lay in his bed.

He exhaled shakily and dragged a trembling hand over his face, wiping away the beads of sweat on his forehead. The bed beneath him creaked softly as he shifted, sitting up with his legs dangling off the edge. The cool air of the room kissed his damp skin, a small mercy against the heat that radiated from his body. His chest heaved as he struggled to regulate his breathing, his mind replaying the dream like a broken reel.

I won't let anyone else get hurt.

The faces of those he'd lost flashed behind his eyes, their voices seemed to echo in his ears, their deaths a cacophony of guilt and rage that never truly faded. He clenched his fists until his knuckles whitened, his nails digging into his palms.

And yet, as the storm within him began to wane, another set of faces surfaced in his thoughts—familiar and new. Netto-kun unfortunately vampires have decided to feast upon your world. They had no idea what true monsters were like. He would make sure they never had to learn.

He ran a hand over his chest, fingers tracing the scars etched into his skin like a map of past battles. His muscles were lean and taut, hardened from years of relentless pursuit and survival. Each scar told a story, a reminder of the countless nights spent hunting those who preyed on the innocent. Don't worry I won't let them get away with terrorizing your world.

His breathing slowed, the erratic thrum of his heart settling into a steady rhythm. The nightmare's grip on him loosened, though it never truly disappeared. It never would. He lay back down, staring at the ceiling as his thoughts churned. His eyes narrowed with resolve.

I know you are strong Netto and that you and Rockman have fought many enemies. I'll make sure you are strong enough to defend your world.

And as sleep crept back into the corners of his consciousness, his lips moved, barely a whisper in the dark. "Taiyoh..." He called out to the sun as he fell back asleep.

The next morning Netto woke up and noticed Shandowbyte's symbiotic tendrils moved around his room organizing a few things. You know I think I can get used to this symbiotic partnership. He quickly got dressed through he made a mental note to try and find larger clothes since his newfound muscles pressed tightly against the clothes he owned.

"Netto-kun how are you feeling?" Rockman asked from the PET.

He shrugged. "Good so far. Me and Django are going to train a bit."

Rockman nodded. "Be careful."

The sky hung low, a curtain of gray clouds blotting out the sun. The overcast morning matched the tension in the air as he stepped onto the empty lot behind his house as a cold wind brushed through the area. Shadowbyte pulsed faintly along his arms as the symbiote reverberated throughout his body.

"Ready kid?" Shadowbyte asked.

He nodded as he felt the symbiote's power reverberate throughout his body. "I am." Lets see what this symbiote can do. Deep down he was excited at the prospect of Shadowbyte and he wanted to know the symbiote's full potential was.

Across from him Django stood still his sword drawn and gleaming, seemed to hum with an unseen energy, as if it too were eager for the fight. There was no smile, no hint of amusement on his face. Only cold determination.

He flexed his hands, willing the symbiote to take form. Tendrils snaked outward, twisting and reshaping themselves into a jagged, black blade that extended from his arm. Nice.

"Ready?" Django asked his gaze burning with the intensity of two suns.

He nodded, lowering into a stance. Before he could second-guess himself, the hunter was already on him, closing the distance with terrifying speed. Steel clashed against the symbiotic blade, sending vibrations up his arm. He barely blocked the first strike before another came, relentless and precise.

Damn he's tough. Each strike of Django's blade reverberated throughout the symbiote. Each swing forced him back. His feet slid against the dirt, his muscles burning as he struggled to keep up. The symbiote reacted faster than he could think, reshaping itself to parry blows that should have landed. But for every block, the hunter had an answer.

"You have to be quick kid," Shadobyte said in his head.

"Got it." While he was used to fighting while crossfused with Rockman fighting real people was different.

A sweeping arc of the sword aimed for his ribs. He twisted, the black tendrils shifting into a shield that absorbed the impact with a deafening clang. He countered, lashing out with his own blade. The hunter sidestepped effortlessly, spinning his weapon in a calculated flourish before slamming the hilt into his shoulder. Pain shot through him as he stumbled, the ground rushing up to meet him.

He hit the dirt hard, the wind knocked from his lungs. Shadowbyte coiled protectively around him, hissing in frustration as if it could sense his humiliation. Above him, the hunter loomed, his sword pointed downward but not striking.

"Get up!" Django pointed his sword at him. "Do you think your enemies will wait for you to catch your breath?"

He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet. He's right but I won't give up this easily. His legs trembled, his chest heaved, but there was no time to rest. Another strike came, faster than before. He dodged this time, the blade missing by inches. He swung his arm, the symbiotic sword cutting through the air in a wide arc. Django blocked it easily, the sound of their weapons clashing echoing across the empty lot.

"You hesitate, too much" Django growled, pushing him back with a powerful strike. "You second-guess. That's what will kill you."

He staggered, his footing slipping, but he didn't fall. His mind raced, trying to focus, to anticipate. The hunter wasn't just testing his strength—he was teaching him something far more brutal. Every strike, every counter, was designed to force him to think faster, to adapt.

Another swing. He blocked, the symbiote responding quicker this time. His muscles screamed in protest as he pushed back, forcing the hunter to take a step back. A small victory, but fleeting. The next moment, the flat of the blade struck his side, sending him sprawling to the ground again.

Django stood over him, his expression as unreadable as ever. "If you hesitate, you'll die. And if you die, the people you care about will follow. Vampires won't stop. They don't care about your fear or your doubt. They'll kill everyone you love and laugh while they do it."

His words hit harder than any blow. He felt his chest tighten, the weight of what he was hearing sinking in. The hunter wasn't being cruel—he was speaking from experience. Memories of those glowing red eyes flashed in his mind, and for the first time, he understood the seriousness in his voice.

He nodded slowly, wiping the dirt from his face as he stood. "I get it," he said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion. "Let's go again." I fought tough enemies before. I won't let these vampires run freely in my world.

For a moment, Django's lips twitched, almost imperceptibly, as if he approved. Then he raised his sword again. The training resumed, the sound of clashing metal and tendrils cutting through the cold air.

By the time they stopped, his muscles felt like lead, his body covered in dirt and sweat. The hunter rested his sword on his shoulder, nodding once. "You're not bad. But you've got a long way to go."

He sighed as he felt the symbiote retreat into his body. "Yeah I know."

Django sheathed his sword. "But I have to admit you work well with this symbiote."

"Well I figured I could use him the same way I do with Rockman when we are cross fused," he said.

"Cross fused?" Django scratched his head. "What's that?"

"Oh it's when an operator and navi fuse in a dimensional area," he said.

Django looked at him as if he were trying to process what he had said. "Uh ok."

It was then that an idea came to his mind. "You know now that you are here do you want a netnavi?"

Django did a double take. "Like Rockman?"

A grin spread across his face. "Yeah! I actually am helping my dad with a devise that will make a navi based off a person's inner self." It was a theory he and his father had made at one time and with Django here he might as well go and test it out.

"Well I guess it won't hurt," Django said.

"Great! Come on follow me!"

The vampire hunter followed him into his house. When they got to his room he took out the hand scanner and hooked it up to his computer. "Alright place your palm on the scanner," he said as he booted up the program.

Django nodded and placed his palm on the scanner. The machine flashed as it read Django's palm. "Alright sounds good," he said as he began to type away. "Rockman make sure the data is well organized, we'll make Django a super strong navi."

Rockman nodded. "Yes Netto-kun."

Django looked at the screen as he removed his palm. "How long will it take?"

"A while," he admitted as he stood up. "I'll get you a new PET later." He got up and stretched as he let Rockman continue monitoring the creation of the net navi. "Anyway want to chill out in the city?"

Django looked at him and smirked. "Sure why not."

This will definitely be a fun partnership.