Extra Chapter for 800 powerstones last week
Let's reach 250 Power Stones for an extra chapter
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Days pass in a haze of training, planning, and enough takeout to make Olivia raise an eyebrow even further. I figure I can't just sit around waiting for the next supervillain to pop up; I need to get stronger, smarter, and generally less likely to get my butt kicked.
Right now, that means sparring. Good thing the Digi-Home keeps leveling up. This arena I got from one of the supply boxes is clutch. I can simulate any environment in here, which makes training way more fun. I've got Gatomon and BlackGatomon over there offering 'helpful' advice, Gabumon trying to be supportive, and Cutemon… well, Cutemon is just being Cutemon, which is adorable enough.
Today's arena setting: urban sprawl. Concrete canyons, graffiti-splattered walls, rusted fire escapes clinging to brick buildings—the whole nine yards. Adds a little spice to the fight, right?
And my sparring partner? None other than Greymon himself.
"Alright, Greymon," I shout, electricity crackling around my Beetlemon armor. "Let's see if you've been paying attention."
Greymon roars, a plume of smoke puffing from his nostrils. "You're on, Ethan! I'm ready to test my strength."
I grin under my helmet. "That's what I like to hear."
I take a stance, channeling the Human Spirit of Thunder. Electricity courses through my veins, making my armor hum. I'm still getting used to the feel of this form, the weight of the armor, the surge of power with every movement.
"Don't hold back!" Greymon yells, charging forward.
I smirk and spread my hands, channeling my electricity. Greymon opens his mouth. "Nova Blast!"
I clap my hands. "Thunder Fist!"
The arena is alight with Greymon's flames and my electricity. His attack dissipates in the face of my electricity and I charge.
We meet in the middle of the arena, a clash of thunder and fire. Greymon swings a tail at me. I leap to the side, barely avoiding the blow as the tail slams into the wall behind me. Concrete shatters. He charges again. I duck under a clumsy claw, and deliver an uppercut to his jaw. He stumbles back.
"Not bad, not bad!" I taunt, electricity shimmering on my horn. "But can you handle this?"
I channel more electricity into my fists. "Thor Hammer!"
I launch myself into the air, arcing over Greymon, and slam down with both fists, aiming for the top of his skull. He roars, and barely manages to raise his arms in time to block, but it still throws him to the ground.
He roars again. "Great Horns Attack!"
Greymon lowers his head and charges, his skull crest aimed straight at me. I brace myself, digging my heels into the cracked pavement, electricity building.
Just before impact, I sidestep and grab hold of his crest. I jump, using his own momentum to propel me upward, landing on his back.
"Mjölnir Thunder!" I yell, slamming my fists down on his skull.
Lightning erupts, bathing the arena in white light. Greymon howls, staggering, but he refuses to fall. He bucks and twists, trying to throw me off, but I hold on tight.
"Give up yet?" I shout over the din of the storm I've created.
"Never!" Greymon roars, finally managing to shake me loose. I tumble through the air, landing on my feet with a roll. I stand and dust myself off as I look to Greymon.
He shakes his head to clear it. "I can keep going all day!"
"Yeah, well, I can't," I tell him. "I'm starving. And I think we both proved our points. I'm definitely getting better at this Beetlemon thing, and you're still a force to be reckoned with."
I clench my fist, and I revert to Ethan, leaving my armor. The Digi-Home reverts to its normal, serene state.
Gatomon saunters over, a smug look on her face. "Show off."
BlackGatomon grins. "Yeah, but he's our show off."
Before I can make a witty retort, a glow envelopes Greymon. He shrinks down until he's just Agumon again, panting slightly.
"That was an awesome fight, Ethan!" Agumon says, grinning up at me. "I almost had you there at the end!"
"Almost," I concede with a grin. "But 'almost' only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, buddy."
Gabumon approaches and says, "That was a really good job, Ethan. You're getting better at that armor thing."
"You too, Agumon," Cutemon chimes in, bouncing up and down. "You were super brave, chu~!"
I laugh and ruffle Agumon's head. "Thanks, guys. I couldn't do it without my trusty training partners. Now, who's up for those burgers I promised?"
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out to see a text from Gwen.
Hey, Ethan! What's up? Wanna hang out later?
A smile tugs at my lips. I've been neglecting my social life a little too much lately, what with all the Digimon shenanigans and superhero battles. Spending time with Gwen always brings me back to earth a little bit.
I reply, Sure, sounds good. What did you have in mind?
I stick my phone back in my pocket. I look to Agumon, Gatomon, BlackGatomon, Gabumon, and Cutemon and I ask them if they want to go out later. They all say they want to.
"Alright, guys," I say, clapping my hands together. "Burgers, then a little R&R, then we hit the town. But first, I need to take a shower. Remind me to buy a new bottle of soap. I'm almost out."
In the bowels of New York, far from the bustling streets and towering skyscrapers, an abandoned subway line lay in perpetual darkness. Rust coated the tracks, and graffiti adorned the walls, silent testaments to a forgotten era. The air hung heavy with the musty scent of decay, undisturbed for decades.
Suddenly, a ripple distorted the air, as if the very fabric of reality had momentarily glitched. From this anomaly, a creature emerged, solidifying into existence with a soft thud.
It resembled a gigantic mole, stout and powerful, built for subterranean life. Thick, coarse fur covered its body, interspersed with plates of rugged armor that protected its joints. Its most striking feature was the massive steel drill that extended from its snout, gleaming dully in the faint light that filtered from the city above. Smaller drills served as claws on its hands and feet, tools perfectly adapted for digging and burrowing. Its eyes were small and deeply inset, more suited for navigating the dark tunnels than for seeing the world above.
Without pause, the beast turned its drill-like snout toward the nearest wall. The steel bit into the concrete with a screech, sending sparks flying. The creature pushed forward, its powerful body effortlessly grinding through the earth and stone.
Deeper and deeper it bored, leaving behind a tunnel that was a testament to its raw power. The abandoned subway lines became its highway, a labyrinth it navigated with instinctive ease. The tremors it created went unnoticed by the city above, lost amidst the constant vibrations of traffic and construction. The creature burrowed on, driven by purposes unknown, its journey a silent invasion of the city's underbelly.
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