"Oh, okay then!" Clara replied, relaxing a bit.
We discussed techniques, our strengths, and strategies. We also helped Clara understand what she could do to help Tsubumon digivolve. Just as we were about to leave, Tsubumon started to glow and digivolved into Upamon. Its happy-go-lucky face was so cute that we couldn't resist pinching its cheeks!
After that day, we trained hard, fine-tuning our tactics to give us an edge in the tournament. When the day finally came, the two other schools introduced themselves. The game required three-person groups, totaling about 90 students, and forming 30 groups. Each group would explore the designated area, tracking their progress with devices provided by the tournament organizers. To gain progress from other groups, we had to defeat all their Digimon, which would disqualify them.
The venue was Destroyed Mountain City, home to city and wild Digimon. We could collect resources, but there were limitations on how much we could gather. For example, if we wanted to collect a tree, we could only take three. Assassination was also allowed, making caution essential. The Digimon stage limit was Child stage, which frustrated some students with weaker, Baby stage I Digimon.
Our teacher emphasized the importance of teamwork and precaution, reminding us of the dangers we would face. The tournament would start in three days, so we decided to train a bit more in the broken building, simulating potential dangers by playing hide-and-seek with paintball guns.
As the tournament day approached, we were teleported outside the mountain. We had to decide whether to venture into the city—"Dangerous but rewarding"—or stay in the safer outskirts with less rare Digimon.
"I'd rather experience a little bit here and see if we could get something," Clara suggested.
"Yeah, bro, let's see how we fare here," Carl agreed.
"Okay then, let's stay here and loot or do something to get us some points," I concluded.
We looted some dirt and fruits and even found a group of intelligent Digimon that we defeated. Capturing or convincing intelligent Digimon to join as partners was common practice. Our journey had just begun, and with our combined strengths and new tactics, we were prepared to face any challenge that came our way in the Digital Exploration Tournament.
---
After dealing with several groups of Digimon, we accumulated a modest sum of points—not remarkable, but enough to keep us in the game. We decided to continue our exploration for two more days. Early in the morning, we geared up, aiming to move closer to the center of the area. Rumors suggested the presence of a Normal Class Item, which we thought might be useful. However, it became clear that this was a ruse to lure competitors into traps, evident from the grinning faces of those spreading the rumor.
Choosing to avoid the trap, we headed in a different direction, hoping to find resources that we could collect and submit for points. Although we wanted high-tier items, we preferred to avoid tight spots and traps. Moving closer to the center also meant encountering stronger opponents, who could yield higher points. We had already fought Baby Stage II Digimon, which were relatively stronger in groups. Larger groups meant more points, but also more challenging battles, often turning into 4v1 matches. Fortunately, we didn't encounter groups with attributes opposite to ours, which would have made fights even tougher.
We hunted at least two Medium Class Groups, each with six members, and a few smaller groups. We also collected various mission items, which were rare but valuable for points. Without a guide, finding these items was a stroke of luck. I managed to gather at least three rare items and a bunch of grass, thanks to a random job Carl and I took, where grass cutting earned money. I collected various random items, hoping they might contribute to our victory.
After defeating numerous Digimon babies, we encountered a Child Stage Digimon with a few of its goons. They seemed to be scouting the area. We took this opportunity to discuss our next move, recognizing the danger of fighting without preparation and rest.
"A Hagurumon?" Clara pointed out, while her digital partner drank an energy drink beside her.
"Are we fighting its group?" Carl asked, for some reason kneeling in front of me.
"Yeah, we're bound to get good points for defeating it. And stop kneeling in front of me—I look like someone who has a servant," I replied.
"Our progress is going well, and because of your plans, we're at a point where we can relax and rest," Carl said.
"Tsk, just stop kneeling in front of me. If you're going to kneel, face Clara instead," I said, ignoring Clara's pained 'Hey' from the back.
We set a trap for the approaching Digimon, weakening them, and knocking out some Baby Stages. After a grueling fight involving tactics and distractions, we defeated the Hagurumon. Surprisingly, we found a pointer (like a mouse pointer) among the loot. We also obtained a basic piece of a Metal Oak Sapling, needing three more pieces to complete it. It was generally decided that if we didn't find the remaining pieces, we would turn it in for points.
Everything we collected in the tournament would be converted to points. If we wanted to keep a particular item, we could, but it wouldn't be converted to points. After resting, we decided to follow the pointer while staying vigilant.
---
As we moved through the terrain, the pointer led us towards a promising area. We tried to make the journey fun, despite the constant vigilance. At one point, Carl slipped on a mossy rock, landing in a heap on the ground.
"Ow! Why is this rock so slippery?" Carl groaned, rubbing his back.
"Maybe because it's covered in moss?" I replied, trying not to laugh. Clara couldn't hold it in and burst out giggling.
"Don't laugh! It could have happened to anyone!" Carl protested, but his indignant face only made Clara laugh harder.
"Okay, okay, let's focus," I said, still chuckling. "We need to stay alert. Who knows what might be around the corner."
As we continued, we came across a peculiar sight: a small group of Baby Stage Digimon trying to stack themselves into a pyramid. They wobbled precariously, and just as we approached, the pyramid toppled over, sending Digimon tumbling in all directions. Clara and Carl burst out laughing at the sight.
"Did you see that? They looked like they were trying to form a cheerleading squad!" Carl said between laughs.
"Too bad they didn't stick the landing," Clara added, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
We decided to leave the little Digimon be and moved on, following the pointer. Suddenly, the pointer started to glow brighter, indicating we were getting closer to something. We approached cautiously, ready for anything.
"There it is," Clara whispered, pointing to a clearing ahead. In the center, surrounded by a few weaker Digimon, was a glowing item.
"That must be the Normal Class Item," I said, feeling a surge of excitement. "Let's get it."
We sprang into action, our Digimon partners launching into battle. Carl's Missimon zipped around, distracting the enemies, while Clara's Upamon used its bubble attacks to great effect. My Algomon, with its love for flames, unleashed a fiery assault that quickly overwhelmed the opposing Digimon.
As the dust settled, we retrieved the glowing item. It was a powerful data chip, the kind that could significantly boost our Digimon's abilities.
"This is amazing!" Clara exclaimed, holding up the chip. "With this, we're definitely going to score big points."
"Great job, team," I said, feeling a sense of pride. "Let's keep moving and see what else we can find."
With renewed energy and camaraderie, we continued our exploration, confident that we were on our way to victory in the tournament.
"I feel like we're being watched," I murmured, staring at the graveyard in front of us. The eerie silence seemed to confirm my suspicions.