Let's reach 250 Power Stones for an extra chapter
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The world dissolves into lines of code, the gritty reality of the warehouse replaced by the sterile, electric hum of cyberspace. The Oscorp system is a mess, a digital graveyard of fragmented files and corrupted data. It's like trying to navigate a demolition site after an earthquake.
But I press on, my digital senses heightened, sifting through the rubble of information. I need to know what Datamon and the Goblin are up to. What was so important that they'd risk exposure to save a corrupted data-goblin?
Navigating the ruined PC isn't easy. Firewalls are down, security protocols are glitched, and digital debris floats everywhere. Still, I can tell this is a research terminal. A lab. Not just a lab, but the lab.
I dive deeper, focusing on files related to Osborn and his… extracurricular activities. Bingo. I find fragments of data pertaining to something labeled "Project Oz." It's scattered, incomplete, but it's enough to confirm my suspicions: the Goblin Serum.
The files are a jumbled mess of chemical formulas, genetic sequences, and unstable data strings. This is clearly the genesis of Norman's transformation, the twisted science that turned him into that green monstrosity. I copy every last scrap, storing it in the Digivice's memory.
A thought sparks in my mind. Maybe I can use this. Maybe I can synthesize a cure, find a way to reverse the effects of the serum and save Norman from himself. It's a long shot, I know, but I can't just stand by and watch him destroy everything.
The problem is, I'm no biochemist. I'm a sarcastic light novel writer with a penchant for strategy games, not a lab coat wearing scientist. I need help, someone who knows their way around genetic codes and chemical compounds.
Peter.
It hits me like a ton of bricks. Peter is brilliant, a natural scientist, even more than he knows himself. He's probably got a knack for all this stuff. If anyone can help me reconstruct the serum and develop an antidote, it's him. Plus, this could give him a purpose.
I mark the Goblin Serum research and keep digging. I'm hoping for something to give me a lead.
Suddenly, a file catches my eye: "Project Shadowfall."
The name alone sends a shiver down my spine. It sounds ominous, foreboding, like something ripped straight from a doomsday scenario in a comic book.
But when I try to access the file, the system throws up a wall of error messages. The data is corrupted, fragmented beyond repair. All I get is the name, a tantalizing glimpse into something potentially cataclysmic, with no way to know what it entails.
Project Shadowfall.
I store the name in the back of my mind. It's a loose thread, but it's all I have. With no other useful data to salvage from the wreckage, I decide to disconnect. There's nothing else for me to do here.
The digital world fades, replaced by the grimy reality of the warehouse. As I step back into the physical realm, my Digivice rings.
I recognize the number instantly. It's Gwen.
I answer, a knot of apprehension tightening in my stomach. "Gwen? What's wrong?"
Her voice is panicked, barely a whisper. "Ethan, you need to come here. Now."
"What happened? Are you okay?" I ask, my heart rate spiking.
"It's Peter," she says, her voice trembling. "A monster calling himself the Green Goblin attacked. Peter's hurt. And Renamon… she saved me and is also hurt."
"Hurt how? Is it serious?" I demand, my mind racing.
"I don't know," she says, choked with emotion. "I can't take him to a hospital, not with… everything. I don't know what to do, Ethan. Please, you're the only one I can think of who can help."
"I'm on my way," I say, my voice firm, masking the fear that's clawing at my insides. "Tell me where you are."
"We're at my place," she says, her voice barely audible. "Please, hurry."
"I'm leaving now," I tell her. "Hang in there, Gwen. I'll be there as soon as I can."
My sense of responsibility kicks into overdrive. Peter and Gwen are my friends, my people. And Renamon… I'm surprised she appeared. What was she doing there? Either way, I can't let them down.
I end the call and quickly send Ballistamon, Gatomon, and BlackGatomon back into the Digivice.
"Behemoth!"
Behemoth bursts through a wall and stops in front of me.
I mount Behemoth, the cursed motorcycle roaring to life beneath me. The engine vibrates, a living thing eager to unleash its power. I grip the handlebars, my knuckles white, and twist the throttle.
The motorcycle lunges forward, spitting fire and tearing through the streets. The city blurs around me, the neon lights streaking into vibrant lines as I accelerate.
Fueled by a mix of urgency and fear, I speed towards Gwen's location.
The tires screech as I pull up to Gwen's building, barely killing the engine before leaping off Behemoth. I ditch the bike on the sidewalk, knowing it's a hazard, but right now, every second counts.
Gwen is waiting for me at the door, her face pale and etched with worry. I can see the remnants of tears in her eyes.
"Ethan," she breathes, relief flooding her features. "Thank God you're here."
"How are they?" I ask, my voice low and urgent.
She shakes her head, her gaze darting around nervously. "It's… not good. I don't know what to do."
"Did your parents see anything?" I ask.
"They're not home right now, thankfully," she says, quickly ushering me inside. "I don't know what I would have told them if they were."
I follow her through the apartment, my senses on high alert. The air is thick with a strange, almost electrical energy.
Gwen leads me to her bedroom, where the scene that unfolds before me nearly stops my heart. Peter is lying on her bed, his face pale and bruised, his chest rising and falling shallowly. Next to him, Renamon is sprawled on the floor, her golden fur matted with grime, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Both were injured. But thankfully, their lives were not in danger.
"Cutemon, get out here!" I command, my voice echoing in the small room.
A burst of pink light, and Cutemon materializes beside me, her large ears twitching with concern. "What's wrong, Ethan, chu~?"
"They need your help, Cutemon," I say, gesturing towards Peter and Renamon. "Can you heal them?"
Cutemon nods solemnly, her expression turning serious. She approaches Peter first, extending her tiny paws and emitting a soft, pink glow. The light envelops him, and I watch as the color returns to his face. Then, she turns her attention to Renamon, repeating the process.
As the light fades, both Peter and Renamon stir. Their complexions eased, showing their pain has been soothed. Peter's eyes flutter open, and he groans softly. Renamon sits up, shaking her head, her gaze sharpening.
Gwen rushes to Peter's side, her face radiant with relief. "Oh, Peter," she says, her voice thick with emotion. "I was so worried."
"Thank you, Ethan," she says, turning to me, her eyes shining with gratitude. "And thank you, Cutemon. I don't know what I would have done without you two."
"They're going to be okay, chu," Cutemon chirps, breaking the silence. "Just let them rest for a little while longer, chu. They'll both be waking up fully soon, chu~."
Gwen nods, her shoulders visibly relaxing. The weight of worry seemed to lift, if only a little. It's clear she's still on edge, but Cutemon's words bring a small spark of hope into the room. Now, to figure out what the hell happened tonight. And what Renamon's role in all of this is.
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