Let's reach 600 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
I don't wait for Seadramon to recover. This thing needs to learn who's boss. Even if it is an aquatic animal, I am here to make it feel some pain.
I launch myself forward, electricity crackling across my fists. Each step I take is deliberate. Each punch is powerful.
"Thunder Fist!"
My fist connects with Seadramon's face, and I feel the satisfying crunch of bone and scale. The electrical surge courses through the serpent's body, and it convulses violently. Blue sparks dance across its skin, and a pained screech fills the air. I love this. The power is amazing!
I follow up with another blow, a brutal uppercut that sends Seadramon reeling back. Lightning arcs from my fist. The smell of ozone fills the air. The power of Beetlemon is insane.
Seadramon thrashes in the water. The waves crash against the hull of the ship. The sound of lightning fills the air. It is as though Thor has descended from the heavens, except it's just me, and I'm awesome.
It's time for another one.
"Thor Hammer!"
I leap into the air. It is not as graceful as MailBirdramon, but I manage to hover for a moment. I am gathering power, and I bring both fists down on Seadramon.
Seadramon is fast and uses its tail to knock me away. I fly back, and crash against the deck of the ship. I groan, and sit up. I can feel the icy touch of the water, seeping through my armor. I need to finish this soon.
Before I can react, Seadramon unleashes another Ice Blast. I manage to roll out of the way, and the beam slams into the ship, freezing the metal. I hear a groan of metal, and I worry the ship is going to sink.
I stumble to my feet, and I am just in time to see MailBirdramon dive towards me. I leap onto its back.
"Thanks, buddy!"
MailBirdramon screeches and banks sharply, and we circle the Seadramon. I look down at the serpent, its eyes burning with rage. I see the power and I know I can win.
This is it. It's time to finish this.
MailBirdramon carries me higher and higher, above the clouds, above the storm. The wind whips around us, but I barely notice it. My focus is on the Digimon below. It writhes in the ocean. It is desperate, but I have the power to stop it.
"Mjölnir Thunder!"
I raise my hands to the sky, channeling the energy of thunder. Lightning flashes, and the sky turns dark. A vortex of power forms above us, and a blinding beam of light descends, striking Seadramon with incredible force.
Seadramon screams, its body convulsing as it is bombarded with lightning. The ocean boils around it. It cannot take the power.
It begins to disintegrate, and the creature becomes nothing more than data. The light subsides, the storm fades, and the ocean calms. A single DigiEgg remains, floating peacefully on the surface of the water.
"Alright, MailBirdramon, let's grab that egg!"
MailBirdramon dives down, and I extend my hand, grabbing the DigiEgg. It feels warm and smooth in my grasp, and I can feel the raw power contained within. Time to add it to the collection.
I tap the Digivice, and a beam of light shoots out, engulfing the DigiEgg. The egg disappears.
"Gotcha!"
The System chimes in, congratulating me on completing the mission.
[Mission Complete]
[Reward: 30x Supply Boxes]
Decent. I mean, thirty Supply Boxes is alright, I guess. It's not like it guarantees me anything actually useful. Knowing my luck, it'll all be Digi-Coins and more useless Digi-Memories. Whatever. I push the thought aside.
I glance over at the SHIELD vessel. It isn't looking too hot. The thing is listing badly, smoke billowing from the breached hull. From my vantage point, I can see that most of the crew managed to bail, piling into lifeboats. There's Coulson, looking as composed as ever, even as the ocean starts lapping at his ankles.
"Alright, MailBirdramon, I think we are done here."
I turn to leave, but Coulson's voice carries over the waves.
"Cipher! Wait!"
MailBirdramon pauses, hovering in place. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I figured that would happen.
"What do you want, Coulson?"
"We could use a little help getting to shore," he says.
I suppress a snort. Seriously? These are supposed to be elite agents, the best of the best. They can handle a little swim.
"You guys are elite agents, right? I'm sure you can manage to paddle yourselves to shore."
I can practically feel the glare Coulson is sending my way, but I ignore it. He made his choice, and I made mine. This time, there is no playing hero.
I kick MailBirdramon's side.
"Let's go, buddy. I'm getting too cold here."
MailBirdramon squawks in agreement, and we bank sharply, soaring away from the sinking ship and the stranded SHIELD agents. I wonder how long it'll take them to get picked up. Probably not long. Still, I can't help but feel a tiny bit of satisfaction as we leave them to their fate.
…
MailBirdramon banks sharply as we approach my apartment. Flying from the Pacific to New York in a few hours is pretty sweet. I guess I should thank that sea serpent for helping me level up.
I materialize in the alley behind my building. It feels good to be back on solid ground. Or, at least, as solid as the grimy concrete of a New York alley can be.
"Thanks for the lift, buddy. I'll see you later."
MailBirdramon nods, then dematerializes, returning to the cozy confines of the Digivice. I check myself out, and I look okay. I smooth out my clothes and head into the building, ready for a shower and a nap.
As I reach my floor, Olivia's door opens. She pops her head out.
"Ethan! You're back. How was your little trip?"
I resist the urge to tell her the whole story: fighting the Hulk, messing with SHIELD, and then transforming into Beetlemon to take down a sea monster. She'd probably think I'd finally lost it.
"It was...eventful," I say with a shrug. "You know, the usual."
She raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but doesn't press the issue. "Well, I'm glad you're back. A girl named Gwen came by looking for you earlier."
Gwen? What's she want?
"Did she say what she wanted?" I ask.
Olivia's expression turns somber. She sighs and leans against the doorframe.
"She said... Jessica got into an accident."
My blood runs cold. Jessica? What happened?
"What kind of accident?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Olivia's face is full of sadness. I'm not liking where this is going.
"She's in the hospital, Ethan. It's… pretty serious."
"What?!"
***
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