I enjoy a good visual novel every now and again. I love to see the unique ways they approach narrative and enjoy the change of pace they allow. The first game I was ever sent to review was a Visual Novel, and I always look back on it fondly. Since then, I keep an eye on what is happening in the genre for my collection. When I saw the announcement for Death Trick: Double Blind, I knew I needed to play it. The art is beautiful, and I am always in the market for a good mystery.
A great magician has been murdered, and it is up to players to piece together clues to solve his murder before the circus leaves town. The game allows players to switch between two playable characters: the detective investigating the case and the magician’s replacement. Players can explore the circus grounds, interview suspects, and collect clues. Can you piece it all together before time runs out?
I love the aesthetic of this game. The colors, character design, and the world make something I want to explore. The developers promise a mystery that won’t soft lock if you solve the mystery early and a different interaction every time you talk to an NPC. If you enjoy the genre and need a new game to add to your collection, check out Death Trick: Double Blind today!
Death Trick: Double Blind releases on Steam later this year, but you can Wishlist the game and sign up for the playtest today. Don’t forget to follow the Noen Doctorine on their socials for all the news: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Discord!
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 1-16
If you’ve been keeping up with the story on the official website, it’s become clear that Bandai isn’t putting much effort into the English translation for Digimon Seekers. I have taken it upon myself to fix the Google translation we get stuck with every week. I’ll be keeping the core story the same, but I will hopefully fix some of its mechanical awkwardness. I will be posting my version the Monday after the official release, but make sure you always read the original chapter. If you enjoy what I do, make sure you like and subscribe, and don’t forget to start on chapter 1-1!
Numemon lands with a loud thud, kicking up dust around it. The large slug was the size of a small truck. On its head, a rotating police light shines splashes of red and blue light around the Digimon. It turns its attention to Logamon and Eiji who stand meters away, ready for a fight.
Satsuki smiles as she suddenly appears on Numemon’s back. Her hologram shimmers in the same translucent blue Eiji does. “You’ve done it now code cracker. You and forehead don’t stand a chance against my Numemon!”
“Don’t call me Forehead!” Loogamon snarls. Its fur stands angrily down its back.
Eiji watches as the Cargodramon hovers over them, the blinding white light of the spotlight washing over them. Eiji can make out its cannons still fixed on Loogamon. Eiji watches as the Commandramon continue to move into position around them. He feels the muzzles of countless guns pointing in their direction. And Eiji watches the curious pair in charge of it all. Eiji tries to calm himself with a breath, but his heart continues to race.
Satsuki lifts the watch to her mouth and lets out a devilish smile. “All units, on my command…”
“My name is Eiji Nagasumi” he blurts desperately “What’s your name?” His voice shakes as he waits for an answer.
“Not that it matters, but I am deputy squad leader Satsuki Tamahime of the Metropolitan Police, Cybercrime division and..”
“That’s a pretty name. What kanji do you use for your name, Stasuki?”
Satsuki thinks for a moment. “It’s ‘tama’ from shogi, ‘hime’ from princess, and… stop trying to distract me! I know you’re an ‘A’ level code cracker…”
Eiji smiles as he cuts her off again. “You hear that Loogamon. I’m an elite-level code cracker! Satsuki approved.” Satsuki becomes more annoyed with each interruption. Eiji can’t help but enjoy messing with the officer.
“Your days living a normal life are over Eiji Nagasumi..”
“Call me Fang”
“You have been placed on the departments blacklist. There is nowhere you can hide Nagasumi. Come quietly or things are going to get… icky” she lets out a giggle.
“Nume!” the slug cries out as if on command. Eiji can see the slug clearly now. Its shiny skin shines under the flashing lights as slime sweats down its body.
“You got this Loogamon,” Eiji says unconvincingly, trying to reassure his partner.
“I hate slimy foods!” Loogamon growls as it begins to tense up a reaction.
Blap-blap-blap-blap!
Numemon rapidly fires bullets of poo toward the pair. Eiji and Loogamon jump to dodge the fire, narrowly missing the attack. Satsuki laughs loudly.
“What a disgusting attack,” Loogamon snaps as it lands. “Fitting for a trash Digimon and its loudmouth companion.”
Eiji had been looking himself over for traces of poo. “Um Loogamon?” he begins as a bead of sweat makes its way down his forehead, “she can hear you”
But it was too late. Satsuki stops laughing. Her expression becomes stern. “You Mangy mutt! Don’t talk about Numemon like that!” Numemon launches a large blast of sewage toward Loogamon. Loogamon swiftly jumps out of the way as the sewage explodes against the wall behind it. The explosion catches Eiji, covering him in a disgusting sludge.
“Loogamon!”
Loogamon smirks at the site. “You’re lucky it was only a richochet”
Unfortunately, being Mindlinked made the sensation too real. Eiji could smell the foul stench as it stuck to his skin and feel the gross slimy warmth as it settled around him. Eiji retches as he tries to regain his composure.
Numemon and Satsuki burst out laughing. Eiji struggles to find the will to fight. Eiji can hear the snickers of the Commandramon far off in the shadows. Even the Cargodramon lets out an involuntary snicker as it continues to hover.
Eiji tries to wipe away the gunk, but the act only seems to smear deeper into his skin. “Hey, Satsuki?” Eiji says as he scrapes a clump of poo from his hair, “Why’d you pick Numemon?”
Satsuki thinks for a moment before cuddling against the Numemon. “Because it’s so cute! It’s slimy, shiny, and it’s got a ferocity that I find…Fascinating.” The Numemon smiles as it nuzzles against Satsuki. Suddenly, she sits up straight and turns to Eiji. “Hey, Eiji?” She says in a serious tone.
“Yeah?” Eiji replies, scraping off another chunk of poo from his arm, and dropping it to the ground.
“I’m bored now. I’m done with this”
“Dammit!” Loogamon snaps “Eiji, end the hologram!”
Eiji freezes for a moment, unsure what to do. He ends the hologram and Eiji and Loogamon become one.
Eiji finds himself suspended in an empty virtual space, surrounded by monitors. At the center, Eiji has a clear view of the battlefield through Loogamon’s eyes. The surrounding screens were filled with stats, menus, and programs.
“Commandramon! Fire!” Satsuki commands gleefully.
DCD BOMB!
The Commandramon start tossing bombs towards the space Loogamon stood. Before the bombs get a chance to explore, Loogamon is in the air above an unsuspecting group of Commandramon.
“Howling Fire!”
A wall of fire rains down over the Commandramon, leaving them blackened and unconscious.
Satsuki and Numemon are unphased by the sudden burst of flames.
“Let’s see how you handle my flame!” Loogamon roars as he lets out a burst of flame towards the advancing slug. The flames engulf the pair, but the fire has no effect. The attack doesn’t break the slug’s stride as it slowly closes the gap between them.
Eiji watches the battlefield helplessly from his void. Numemon was a Champion-level Digimon. Even if it is just a slug, the difference in power level is clear. Loogamon needed to be stronger to stand a chance. But what could he do from in here?
“Calm down Eiji!” Loogamon’s voice comes from within Eiji’s head.
Eiji tries to calm himself. “If we don’t give it our all, we’re toast”
There is a brief silence before Loogamon answers, “Ever since we arrived in the Wall Slum, I’ve been feeling this strange surge of power growing within me. I can feel it about to overflow, and I think it’s because of you. Can you feel it too?”
Eiji tries to calm himself further as he tries to concentrate. At first, he is hit with the overwhelming senses of the world around him. His nose fills with the burnt scent of gunpowder mixed with the foul order of sewage. He can hear the sound of the rotors slicing through the air and the sound of the remaining Comandramon moving their injured comrades. And he can feel the stinging pain of the bullet wounds on Loogamon’s flesh. Beneath all of this, Eiji feels a strange sensation. A power shared between the too ready to overflow.
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
System Shock is Back!
System Shock has gotten a remaster, and it looks sick. The classic FPS has officially come to modern PCs with better graphics, updated controls, a new UI, and some much-needed quality-of-life changes. If you’ve played the original, you aren’t getting the same game you played way back when. The reboot promises never before seen enemies, a revamped hacking system, and new ways to combat enemies, like a brutal dismemberment system. While a few changes have been made, the developers have worked closely with members of the original team to make sure they keep the spirit of the original the same in this reboot.
As the Hacker, players must fight through armies of mutated creatures controlled by the evil ai, SHODAN. Players will avoid traps, solve puzzles, and hack their way through Citadel Station. What secrets will you uncover on your journey?
I never had the means to play the original System Shock growing up. I played a bit in college and would watch my friends play it here and there, but I never had the opportunity to get deep enough exposure to it. I love that these older games are getting a second chance for new and old audiences, especially those like me who missed the train entirely. I am still working on getting a review code for this, so fingers crossed I get one soon.
System Shock is available on PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games for 39.99. A demo is available on Steam and Epic Games if you want to try it out first. Console editions of System Shock are planned for the future, but no details are available yet.
If you enjoy my content and want to help me out, make sure you like and subscribe. It helps me know where I should focusing my time and energy.
Planet of Lana: The Beautiful Puzzle Game You Should Be Playing!
I was sent Planet of Lana as a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but I will keep my review honest.
Planet of Lana is a beautiful puzzle game with an incredible story and a fantastic soundtrack available now for PC and Xbox.
Aliens have invaded Lana’s planet and have abducted her sister. As the only remaining survivor, Lana must go out and find her sister. Along the way, Lana meets Mui, her cute cat-like companion that will help her on her journey. The pair must now brace an unforgiving landscape, explore the mysteries of the past, and save her people. Can they do it?
I got to play the demo during my time at GDC and loved it. I was very excited when I finally received my copy, and I am happy to report that the title did not disappoint. I love this game! The puzzles are fun and creative, the score is fantastic, and the story is well done.
The puzzles in this game are challenging enough to keep players engaged, but I never felt they were hard enough to require a guide. The puzzles are designed with enough clues that players should have no trouble getting through them. The puzzles help tell a story that I believe is worth experiencing once.
Planet of Lana tells an incredibly moving story full of adventure, friendship, and danger. It is a breathtaking collection of art and music that come together to create such a wholesome experience. The amount of attention to detail put into this game needs more recognition. I spent way too long trying to piece together all the clues and appreciating the vibrant and lively backdrop. It is remarkable how much this game accomplishes in the space it is given.
But this game isn’t just pretty, it is also fun. You control Lana and command Mui to solve puzzles. As you get deeper into the story, you find forgotten technology that gives you new ways to interact with the world. The puzzles get creative without losing the chill vibe it mostly carries throughout. This game gets tense when it has to, with moments that will leave most players sweating profusely.
I love this game and recommend it to anyone looking for a new game. This is a cute, fun, beautiful puzzle experience that anyone can enjoy. If you like games like Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, this game should already be in your library. But if you need further convincing, try the free demo for PC. The demo gives potential players a fantastic preview of what they have in store. You need to buy this game.
You can buy Planet of Lana for the Xbox and PC via Steam for $19.99, which is worth it for what you’re getting. You can also play it free with Game Pass.
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 1-15
While we wait for Sunday’s chapter, I’ve decided to revise the Seekers story to fix some of the story’s awkwardness. I will keep the story the same but will try to make it sound nicer. This isn’t my story, so please make sure you check out the original chapter. Let me know if this is something worth continuing. Make sure you start at chapter 1-1
Cargodramon hovers over Eiji and Loogamon. Its harsh spotlight rains over the pair as the sounds of the rotors drown out most sounds. Several squads of Commandramon slowly surround them.
“This is the DigiPolice. Give up code cracker. We have you surrounded!” The warning repeats over the megaphone.
“Dammit!” Eiji shouts. For a code cracker, there is no police force in Japan scarier than the Digipolice. But despite his fear, Eiji couldn’t help but feel excited. “This is so cool! I’ve never seen the DigiPolice before. Loogamon, take a picture of the Cargodramon.”
Loogamon is tense, its fur standing on edge. “My eyes aren’t cameras,” it snaps. Loogamon glares at the hovering Cargodramon.
Cargodramon has its attention on Loogamon. Its sensors scan the blue wolf.
Mindlink active, a robotic voice announces as the scan completes. Satsuki Tamahime sits at her command station inside the Commandramon. She shifts her attention between the many monitors surrounding her. She watches as the Commandramon move into position. She watches the two criminals frozen at the base of the cul-de-sac, She reads over the scan data as it comes in.
Satsuki doesn’t look like the typical DigiPolice agent. She wears the standard DigiPolice uniform but has styled it to fit her aesthetic. Her black shoulder-length hair falls from under a baseball cap. She’s dyed the inner layer a bright green. She wears a loose-fitting jacket that now hangs around her shoulder. Her thick combat boots are kicked up on the console. She smiles as she brings the mic to her mouth.
“You guys are with that Sons of Chaos group aren’t you? I got it right, didn’t I?”
“Got it right? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Loogamon replies.
“Don’t play dumb forehead. I know you and lame brain are Mindlinked. I need you to come quietly and answer some questions”
“Lame brain?”
“Forehead?”
Eiji and Loogamon look at each other. The interaction felt a bit too informal than they expected from the DigiPolice.
“Cooperate with us and I’ll make sure you won’t get into… too much trouble,” Satsuki says in a singsongy tone.
“Nah, I’m good,” Eiji replies as he starts to walk away.
Satsuki giggles “Oh?! Don’t say I didn’t warn you! M16 Assult!”
RATATATATATA
Bullets explode into the ground around Eiji and Loogamon as the Commandramon move into position.
“Hey! They’re really firing at us!” Eiji shouts as he feels the wind from a stray bullet pass over his head.
“Relax! Those were just warning shots.”
“You must have the wrong definition of warning,” Eiji mutters, looking at the nearby bullet holes.
Suddenly, the doors of the Cargodramon open. A long rope falls to a space in front of them. Satsuki slides down the rope, landing with a light thud. She dusts off her jacket and turns her attention to Eiji.
“Hey…You’re kind of cute”
Wind from the Cargodramon kicks up dust around them. The sounds of the Cammadramon’s boots continue to move in closer. Eiji doesn’t take his eyes off the policewoman.
“What do you want?”
“Ok, straight to business then,” Satskuki says as she moves closer to Eiji and Loogamon.
She’s cute, Eiji thinks before quickly shaking the thought. He needs to focus.
“So what are you doing for the Sons of Chaos code cracker? Are you poaching Digitama? We’re going to find out, so its better you just fess up now.”
Eiji can see squads of Commandramon pointing their weapons toward their location. Loogamon stands in a tense stance. Satsuki smiles sweetly at Eiji as she waits for a response.
“Hey, Loogamon… What would happen if you got shot?”
Loogamon lets out a fanged smile. “Let’s find out.”
RATATATATATATATA
This time, the explosions were much louder. Loogamon’s run was cut short as the ground in front of it explodes with a hail of 30 mm bullet fire. The railgun on the Cargodramon continues to spin as it fixes its aim on Loogamon.
The smell of gunpowder lingers in the air. Eiji finds himself crippled with the pain from a couple of lucky bullets that managed to hit.
“I get it now,” Eiji says, trying to fight through the pain. “If you get hit by a bullet, it hurts.”
Satsuki looks irritated. “I told ya code cracker, there’s no escape. Your only choice is to cooperate. You don’t want to die in Mindlink, do ya?”
Eiji shakes his head. He knew better than to mess with someone with such a short fuse.
“Good, now tell me what you’re doing here.”
“I was…I was just walking. Mapping the area for..research. I am researching the Digital World!”
“You’re what? Cargodramon!”
A voice in Satsuki’s earpiece replies, “I see no signs of Digitama Ma’am.”
“In other words….?”
“Looks like they were just taking a walk, just as they claim.”
“Ugggg” Satsuki looks visibly frustrated. There is a hint of disappointment in her tone. Even if Eiji were a Sons of Chaos Member, there isn’t enough evidence for an arrest. Satsuki shakes her head and smiles devilishly. “Well you must be up to something. No one just takes a stroll down Ninth Avenue. I know you’re up to something suspicious, and you’re going to tell me what it is!”
“This lady is crazy,” Eiji checks the virtual monitor. He looks at the Cargodramon floating above him, the Commandramon surrounding him, and Satsuki’s bloodthirsty stare. “It’s no use Loogamon, we have to get out of here…Loogamon?” Eiji turns to Loogamon, but he was already gone.
SPIRAL FANG
Two markers disappear from the map as sharp fangs rip through body armor. Before Eiji has a chance to react, two more markers disappear. Loogamon rips through a whole squad of Commandramon before appearing in front of the crimson mausoleum.
“This is my home!” Loogamon howls. Its fur stands down its back, its fangs clench in a snarl as it lets out a menacing grown.
‘Th-thi-this is obstruction of justice! You’re in trouble now!” Satsuki shouts.
“Woah! Loogamon, you took out those Commandramon so easily.” Eiji is impressed by his partner’s sudden show of strength before a sudden realization overcomes him. “You can’t attack the DigiPolice!”
“Why not?” Loogamon remains in his tense stance. The Digipolice begins recovering their felled comrades.
“Now you’ve done it!” Satsuki shouts back, “You’re under arrest for messing with the DigiPolice!”
“You have no authority here,” Loogamon smirks. “The only law in the Wall Slums is eat, or be eaten!”
“This was supposed to be easy,” Eiji mutters to himself as he scratches his head nervously. He logs into Grimm to talk to the Interviewer, but he isn’t online. “Not good!”
“You’re going to pay for this!” Satsuki says as she rolls up her sleeve. Eiji notices a smartwatch device on her wrist. It is a Digidock the same as his but a different color. Suddenly, the police lights turn.
“Loogamon, this lady can Mindlink too!”
Loogamon returns to Eiji’s side as they brace for a new attack. Eiji looks at the chaos surrounding them.
“Her Digimon partner must be…over there!” Loogamon looks up at the Cargodramon as it moves to the space above them. A loud boom sounds as the cargo hatch opens up, revealing a mysterious figure waiting behind it.
“What the hell is that?”
A hideous blob inches towards the edge.
Nucha…Nucho, nucho…
The Digimon shoves itself out of the edge and lands with a heavy thud.
“NUMEEEEEEEEEE” a huge slug shouts.
“Its a Numemon!”
Game Review: Volcano Princess
I was sent Volcano Princess as a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity but won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Volcano Princess is a visual novel life sim for PC. You play as a single father who must raise a daughter in a fantasy world where demons and man are at war. You make the choices that will foster her growth into a functioning adult. How you choose to raise her is up to you, but the choices you make affect her future.
The gameplay loop is simple. Each day you are given a limited amount of action points to spend where you do activities with your daughter that increase her stats. What you choose to do is up to you, but the limits affect your relationship with her and what she grows up being. The game slowly introduces more mechanics as your daughter ages and choices become harder. When she is old enough, there will be a lite dating sim where she can choose from 18 romantic partners and a mini turn-based rpg game. The pacing is fantastic, and the different game mechanics give the game much-needed diversity. Your first playthrough will take about eight hours, but there are more than 50 endings to work toward.
This game is surprisingly addicting. I stressed over my choices because I needed to be a great father the first time around. I think I was successful, but I already have some ideas for future runs. The amount of choices available is what makes this game so much fun. Eventually, you be forced to think tactically about how you spend time with your daughter. Do you help her through a difficult time at the cost of some important attributes? Do you let her date? Become a writer? An actor? A warrior? It is all up to you, and it is such a wholesome good time.
My biggest tip for new players is to go in as blind as possible. I recommend not looking up a guide unless you want to collect every ending. Even then, I recommend you get some of your own endings first. The story is a little cheesy, but it is a good kind of cheesy worth experiencing at least once.
I love this game and would buy it if I hadn’t gotten it already. The art is cute, the story is wholesome, and the mechanics are relaxing and fun. That said, it isn’t for everyone. This game is great for players who love life sims and don’t mind visual novels. This game involves a lot of reading and waiting for timers. The timers aren’t long, but it doesn’t make for the most exciting gameplay. The story is fine, but there are noticeable grammatical errors. I didn’t mind the grammatical errors and loved the gameplay, but it is something to think about before you make the purchase.
Volcano Princess is $10.99 on Steam, and it is totally worth it for what you are getting.
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 1-13
While we wait for Sunday’s chapter, I’ve decided to revise the Seekers story to fix some of the story’s awkwardness. I will keep the story the same but will try to make it sound nicer. This isn’t my story, so please make sure you check out the original chapter. Let me know if this is something worth continuing. Make sure you start at chapter 1-1
The cloaked Digimon watches as Eiji and Loogamon make their way toward Ninth Avenue.
“I wasn’t told they’d be Mindlinked,” the Digimon says suddenly to nobody.
“I wasn’t told either. I didn’t know they were going to show up with a limit unlock,” replies the interviewer.
“I wonder if that dog…Loogamon noticed. I wonder if it noticed our Mindlink?”
“Who knows?”
“Fang and the Demon Wolf of the Castle of the Nine Wolves…Won’t mapping Ninth Avenue be too easy for them?”
“Normally, yes” the interviewer replies,”but I’ve made a few…adjustments.”
Once on the ground, Loogamon begins weaving through the streets. Eiji follows closely. A tunnel takes the pair underground until they are standing at the edge of a platform. The platform is eerily empty. Eiji looks over and sees train tracks that seem to disappear into tunnels neatly dug on either side. Eiji watches as the stones that surround the tracks start to vibrate and jump to the rhythmic echoes of an approaching train. Out of the shadows, a familiar sight surprises Eiji. The train screeches to a stop and its doors open. The Wall Slum train.
Eiji watches as the world blurs past his window. He clutches unto a strap nervously.
“So this is the Slum Circle subway…” he finally says, breaking his silence.
The interior of the train looks like those he rode in Tokyo, but the riders here were Digimon. The train is also a Digimon. There were signs and electronic displays, but the information is written in the language Eiji had never seen before.
“Is this the Digimon lanugage? What does it say?” Eiji asks, pointing at one of the signs.
“It’s against the rules to cause trouble on this subway,” Loogamon answers standoffishly.
“So…no fighting?”
“This is a public place. Just mind your manners,” Loogamon says as it curls up, taking three seats.
The train passes through a station every couple of minutes. Eiji is fidgety and restless. He doesn’t know where they are going, nor can he read the signs for clues. He finally turns to Loogamon and says, “I’ve been thinking about this Mindlink stuff. Is that how ChuuChuumon and Damemon work?”
“Don’t compare me to that….thing” Loogamon snaps, clearly offended. “It’s nothing like that. Think about what’s happening with your body right now.”
“My body?” Eiji thinks about it for a moment. Only his mind was linked to Loogamon’s Digicore. Eiji’s body leans against the wall of his loft, unconscious.
“Your body is asleep back home. It won’t wake up unless you break the Mindlink. ChuuChuumon and Damemon are both here…Do you understand Eiji?”
“yeah…sure…By the way..”
Loogamon lets out a sigh. “What?!”
“Do you mind if I pet you now?” Eiji is already reaching for Loogamon. Loogamon lies comfortably on the seats, looking like a puppy.
The wolf tenses up and flashes its teeth. “No!” it growls.
Eiji quits his attempt. “The dog I used to have didn’t let me pet it either.”
“I’m not a dog!” Loogamon replies, growing more annoyed. “I’ve had enough of your dog stories…”
A few passengers get off at the next station. Those who board the train are surprised to see a human sitting amongst the remaining Digimon.
“Hey Loogamon…the Digimon are staring…”
“There aren’t many humans walking around the Wall Slums”
“Right,” Eiji replies as he examines the rest of the train. The train is crowded with strange-looking Digimon. “These Digimon look injured like their data has been corrupted or something.”
“Most of the Digimon the live in the Wall Slums have been used by humans for whatever humans do with Digimon,” Loogamon explains bitterly.
“Used by humans?” Eiji responds as he looks at the Digimon more closely. They looked abused, damaged, sickly, and incomplete.
“These Digimon were discarded after they were no longer useful.”
“Discarded…Digimon…” Eiji repeats slowly. Digimon are used as tools by humans. All the top tech companies, military groups, and government agencies use Digimon for security. For code crackers and hackers, Digimon are the tools of the trade. Like most tools, Digimon wear out and break eventually. Eiji knew this truth well, but seeing the faces of the discarded Digimon made it heartbreaking.
“Digimon that die become Digitama,” Loogamon continues his explanation. “Those who survive end up here where they have built cities and villages on the outer wall. The abandoned Digimon thrive here, in the slums they’ve created.”
It was an admirable type of resilience.
“This slum has become a paradise for the abandoned. An escape from the cruelty of humanity or the troubles of the Digital World beyond the wall. There are even Digimon who are born and raised on these streets..” Loogamon’s explanation is cut off by the train’s loud screeching.
The subway breaches the surface. Its metal wheels splash through puddles of contaminated brackish water. The air fills with toxic putrid fumes. Mounds of trash and junk data make large messy mounds on either side of the trains. Chuumon, mutant Daimon, and other strange Digimon watch the train pass. Eiji watches as a couple of Chuumon fight over food.
“Do the Digimon here not get along?”
“The Digimon that live in the slums are poor. They don’t have enough food and have to fight to survive. This is a city riddled with conflict. If Digimon aren’t fighting each other for food, they are fighting each other for territory. The only place there is no fighting is on the train and in the center of town.”
Eiji looks out the window and searches for the center, but his view is obscured by a river that flows upwards. “What’s so special about that place?”
“That’s the gateway to the inside,” Loogamon replies, referring to a Digital World untouched by humans.
The train crosses a polluted river before returning underground. The train grows dark. Eiji watches as sparks jump against the walls before the lights turn back on. Eiji stays silent for a moment as he processes the information. “Does the gate also keep out humans?” he finally asks.
“Not just humans, Digimon too.”
“All of the Digimon here?” Eiji is saddened by the realization that none of the Digimon here could return to the Digital World.
“Digimon in the Wall Slum have been contaminated by real world data. Once a Digimon is contaminated, it can’t return to the Digital World. The gate won’t let them.”
“And who decided that?”
“It’s always been like that. The Digital World’s systems were programed long before the first Digimon drew breath. For a Digimon in the Wall Slum, bellow the wall is their long lost home.”
Eiji watches the darkness outside the window. “Hey Loogamon? Do you know what’s on the other side of the wall?”
“We’re getting off here” Loogamon gets off its seat and walks towards the exit. The train continues to move. Eiji begins to form another question but is interrupted by the intercom. “Next stop, Ninth Avenue.”
Eiji gets up and starts to follow Loogamon. He would ask another day. First, he needed to pass his test.
“What kind of place is Ninth Avenue?”
“I’ll know when I get there.”
“You seem to know a lot about this place, have you been here before?” Loogamon had spent most of his life in the Digimon Linker, and Eiji had never thought about asking it anything personal. He didn’t know Digimon had pasts.
“I don’t remember…”
“What do you mean?”
“My memory is hazy. It comes back in fragments. I remember being a kid growing up in the slums, but I don’t remember much after that….”
“Maybe you have amnesia? Maybe we have to jog your memory.” Eiji suggests. “That Chuumon seems to remember you, maybe we can ask it”
Loogamon continues to walk in front of Eiji in silence. “When I try to remember,” Loogamon says suddenly “It comes back foggy. I can’t really make sense of much of it. But since I’ve come to the Wall Slums with you, I think I am beginning to remember. I get the sense that there is something Ninth Avenue that I need to see. Something that’s important to me.”
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 1-12
While we wait for Sunday’s chapter, I’ve decided to revise the Seekers story to fix some of the story’s awkwardness. I will keep the story the same but will try to make it sound nicer. This isn’t my story, so please make sure you check out the original chapter. Let me know if this is something worth continuing. Make sure you start at chapter 1-1
Eiji looks over the ledge and is left breathless by the exotic skyline. The sky fills with a collection of vibrant neon colors as networks and data swim across it, creating brilliant dancing auroras. Large dirty buildings are densely jammed against this small patch of land, surrounded on all sides by an arid emptiness. Some buildings stand tall and greet the world with cracked, dirty, or broken windows, while others have already begun to crumble under the weight of neglect. This might have been a bustling metropolis at some point, but now it sits here as a seemingly abandoned slum.
It takes a moment for the initial shock to fade and for Eiji to regain his composure. “So this is the Digital World,” he remarks, not hiding his amazement. “It’s like something out of Cyberpunk!”
“What does that mean?” Loogamon poses, not understanding the reference.
“I thought the Digital World would be more wild, but this…” Eiji trails off, remembering the images of the Digital World he saw back at the DDL. He remembered forests, mountains, and deserts, but he never imagined there’d be cities with modern buildings.
“It’s called the Wall Slum” Loogamon interrupts, sounding a tinge offended. “It is a city of security walls that protects the Digital World from the flow of junk data. Just outside those walls is where all the junk data collects,” it says as it turns their attention to the northern walls. “If you look carefully, this city sits on a rounded surface.”
Eiji examines the skyline carefully and sees how the horizon separates the sea of networks in the sky from the shelled city below in a clear dividing line.
“Ah….”Eiji explains ” I see it now. It’s like a city built on the inside of an eggshell.”
“if you try to go from the human world to the Digital World, you will be blocked by the security wall”
“Wait…Then how can code crackers control Digimon from the real world? I thought we were connecting to digital world?”
Loogamon chuckles, “It was just the Wall Slum. Those Digimon code crackers grab are just those you see running around the Wall Slum. Most code crackers don’t Mindlink, so they’ll never know the difference.”
Eiji is left speechless by the explanation. Eji thinks about the time his Tyrannomon hunted down the Modoki Betamon. Were they just running around this place? “Has anyone gone beyond the security wall? Has anyone seen the Digital World?”
“No human has ever set foot in the Digital World, at least not beyond the Wall Slums”
“Beyond the wall is the “deep” Digital World,” Loogamon continues his explanation.
Everything Eiji thought he knew about the Digital World crumbles as he borrows Loogamon’s vision to see the bottom of the network. Eiji finally understood why the Digital World wasn’t mankind’s secret. Digimon are alive, and Eiji was standing at the tip of their world. Eiji continues to admire the alien landscape.
“Well…” Loogamon says as it begins filling the heads-up display with tabs of information. The virtual monitor appears in front of Eiji’s conscious mind. It looks like something out of Gundam or Iron Man. “Do you remember why we came here Eiji?”
Eiji is stunned by the sudden jolt to reality.
“Right, I forgot you’re a pathetic code cracker,” Loogamon snips as it pulls up a window with the words “Operation Wolf” scrawled across it.
“Right,” Eiji replies, remembering the Sons of Chaos Job. He begins reading over the details.
According to this, I’m supposed to be briefed by a local member of the Sons of Chaos somewhere around here.
Eiji rushes to the designated location. He arrives at what seems to be a deserted rooftop. A cloaked Digimon stares down at the pair from the top of the building’s antenna. The Digimon is roughly the same size as Loogamon, but its identity is hidden by the tattered cloak. Eiji tries to search for the Digimon’s data, but the search yields nothing.
“You’re late…” An annoyed voice comes from the cloaked figure. “Tartaros likes our people to be punctual.”
“We had some trouble. Maybe we can get a pass this time?” Loogamon replies.
“Hey Loogamon?” Eiji interjects.
“What? Oh?!!” Loogamon turns to find Eiji suddenly standing next to it.
Eiji, wearing his usual street clothes, looks down at his palms as he tries to move his arms and legs. “Well look at that!”
“Where did you come from?” Loogamon asks in its confusion.
“I don’t know,” Eiji begins “A lot of the functions in Mindlink work by thinking about them. The Digimon Linker has a hololize function. I thought maybe it would work the same in the Digital World, so I gave it a try and it worked!”
Loogamon is silent for a moment. “I can’t tell if that was impressive or just lucky,” it snarks.
Eiji chuckles as he extends his hands to pet Loogamon’s forehead. The metal brace feels cool to his touch, and the blue fur feels soft.
The wolf tenses as it growls in response.
“Did you just growl at me?”
“Don’t touch my forehead!” Loogamon snaps, bearing its fangs at Eiji.
Eiji quickly retracts his hand. “Sorry, I didn’t know I could touch you.”
In the real world, hololized Digimon were just a projection of data. You can’t actually touch them. But here….
“In case you’re wondering,” Loogamon interrupts “You can’t exist too far from me, so stay close!”
Eiji nods as he turns his attention back to the cloaked Digimon again.
“The name is Fang”
“…I thought it was Eiji?” the Digimon rebukes impatiently.
“No need to focus on the details. So what’s the job? The interviewer said I was supposed to ask you for details.”
“I’m sure the interviewer also told you this would be a test. You’ve already been deducted two points for being late.” A screen suddenly appears above the cloaked Digimon’s head, displaying a rough map of the Wall Slum. The city is shaped like a large circle, divided into districts. At the center is a volcanic crater. Sixth Avenue, Eiji remembers ChuuChuumon mentioned it earlier.
“I need you to survey and map the area painted in this color. As you know, the Wall Slum is undergoing a lot of redevelopment.”
With the constant flow of data from the real world that moves through the city, nothing ever stays the same.
“So you want me to make a map? Simple enough.”
“The Wall Slum is very important to the Sons of Chaos. We like to keep our map data up to date.” The Digimon tosses Eiji a memory card.
Eiji accepts it as a mapping tool that appears on his virtual monitor.
“All you have to do is walk around the area while running the tool and it will do the mapping for you. We want you to investigate Ninth Avenue…”
Loogamon turns before the Digimon finishes its sentence and laughs. “Perfect!”
Eiji hurries after Loogamon. “…What do you mean?”
“I’ve got some business to attend to.” Loogamon smiles, bearing its fangs as it continues its stride.
“Do you think we should listen to the rest of the explanation?” Eiji asks, but Loogamon doesn’t answer.
The cloaked Digimon watches the pair hurry off toward Ninth Avenue.
“I wish you well Eiji. I hope for Tartarus’ sake, you pass.”
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 1-11
While we wait for Sunday’s chapter, I’ve decided to revise the Seekers story to fix some of the story’s awkwardness. I will keep the story the same but will try to make it sound nicer. This isn’t my story, so please make sure you check out the original chapter. Let me know if this is something worth continuing. Make sure you start at chapter 1-1
“Loogamon?” Eiji repeats as he begins to piece the mystery together. “You’re the voice aren’t you?” There is no response. “Can you explain what’s going on?”
This time the gruff voice replies, “Explain what exactly?”
“For starters, what is this place? Why can the Digimon talk? How did I get here?” Eiji is bursting with questions.
Loogamon scoffs. “Didn’t you listen to Ryusenji?”
“Ryusenji? The professor?” Eiji is surprised by how informally Loogamon referred to the professor.
“Yes the professor,” Loogamon replies with a hint of judgment. “Didn’t you listen to his Mindlink explanation?”
Eiji remembers the professor talking about jailbreaking the Digimon Linker. In order to infiltrate the Sons of Chaos, some of the watch’s functions needed to be deactivated. Ryusenji worked on a hack that not only made the Digimon Linker more inconspicuous, it also boosted the user’s hacking affinity.
“Do you mean the function that turns me into an elite hacker?”
“Ugh…” Loogamon can’t hide its disappointment.
“I didn’t really understand his explanation…” Eiji was becoming uncomfortable with Loogamon. He isn’t making a good impression on Loogamon. Loogamon starts moving without responding. “Careful! There’s broken glass everywhere..” Eiji notices the reflection of one of the pieces of glass. It’s Loogamon.
Wait…Eiji thinks as he stares at the wolf’s reflection. Am I not here? Am I seeing through Loogamon’s eyes?
Suddenly, a pink rat rushes up to Logamon and bows. then with its
“Master!” It squeaks in a respectful tone. There is a slight trembling fear in its voice. “You’ve returned at last! All hail the Demon Wolf of the Castle of Nine! I…a lowly Chuumon, am at your service.”
Eiji watches the groveling pink Digimon and recognizes it as the Chuumon they rescued.
Eiji doesn’t have an answer.
“Where did you go? Rumor has it you were turned into a Digitama and captured by a human…”
“Who do you think you’re talking to?” Loogamon growls.
“Squeak! So..Sorry!” The Chuumon bows, desperate to apologize.
“Do you believe me so weak to be caught so easily?!”
A bead of sweat starts to make its way down Chuumon’s trembling face. “P-p-p-please, forgive me, master.”
Loogamon takes a deep breath and raises its head, absorbing its surroundings. “I remember now,” it finally remarks, “The Dust Kingdom. You Chuumon served Sukamon, ruler of the Fifth Avenue Trash Heap.”
“Yes! That’s it!! You remember!”
Loogamon looks over the nervous-looking Chuumon who is on the verge of tears. “You serve me now and in return, I’ll look out for you.”
Chuumon is overjoyed by the news. “Thank you! Thank You! Thank you! You won’t regret it!”
“The Demon Wolf…Huh? It’s got a familiar ring to it,” Loogamon whispers.
“So Chuumon”
“Yes?”
“Everyone thinks I was captured by a human?”
“It’s only a rumor. You’ve been gone for so long. A lot has changed in your absence. Ninth Avenue is a shadow of what it used to be. It’s mostly deserted now.”
Loogamon looks over the dirty cracking concrete walls. Things have changed. It turns its attention to an eagerly waiting Chuumon.
“Here,” Loogamon says as it tosses Chuumon some meat. “Take it.”
Chuumon stares at the piece of meat. It doesn’t know how to react. “Is this…is this real-world meat?” Chuumon gives it a deep sniff “Of course it is, a Digimon of your stature would only eat the best!” Chuumon bows its head respectfully. “Thank you, master. Until next time!” Chuumon gathers the meat and cheese and quickly scurries away.
“Are..are you done talking?” Eiji asks timidly.
Loogamon sighs, “You wanted an explanation?”
“Yes, please!”
Loogamon thinks for a moment. “What is it you humans say, seeing is believing?” Before Eiji can answer, Loogamon leaps out a broken window. Eiji finds himself in free fall as he watches concrete towers shoot up past him. Loogamon lands the four-story drop without issue. The pair find themselves in a valley of skyscrapers.
Loogamon begins its trot. Its claws dig into the dark asphalt. Eiji studies the deserted city as it blurs past the racing Loogamon. Suddenly, Loogamon begins his stride up one of the buildings.
Eiji feels the wind blow over him as Loogamon runs. He feels every step Loogamon takes. His senses are overloaded with new sensations. Sounds came more clearly, colors were more vivid, and smells were more pungent. It was like he and Loogamon shared senses.
So this is Professor Ryusenji’s work? This is D4’s most confidential technology. Eiji remembers the professor’s explanation.
The Digital world isn’t like ours. People can’t see it normally without special tools, and even then, it is never the full picture.
But what if there was a tool that would give us the ability to experience the Digital World with all five senses? What if there was a tool that would let us explore it? Experience it like we experience this world?
After years of research, I finally found a solution. We can take a person’s mental data and convert it to Digicore, sort of like data. We then take this Digicore and inject it into a living Digimon where both consciousnesses can exist simultaneously. This is the essence of Mindlink.
It all makes sense now.
Loogamon continues to run as Eiji takes in the beauty of this new world. This isn’t a pixelated image on a cheap LCD screen or a video on a virtual screen. This is real and vibrant. This is the Digital World.
“I can’t believe I’m a Digimon,” Eiji exclaims in excitement.
“This is your first Mindlink. You’ll get used to it soon enough.”
“How is it I can talk to you?”
“What do you mean? We Digimon have always been able to talk. You’re just getting to know is better”
Digimon are alive! Eiji repeats to himself. Loogamon, Tyrannomon, and all the rest…They’re alive!
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 1-10
While we wait for Sunday’s chapter, I’ve decided to revise the Seekers story to fix some of the story’s awkwardness. I will keep the story the same but will try to make it sound nicer. This isn’t my story, so please make sure you check out the original chapter. Let me know if this is something worth continuing. Make sure you start at chapter 1-1
Eiji loses his senses as the room melts away into darkness. He no longer has control of his limbs as the darkness consumes him. Eiji loses consciousness and wakes up in a world full of bright colors. The colors spin around him as he falls quickly into the unknown.
Suddenly, a memory from his childhood flashes before him.
Its summer. The day he and his family spent by the river. He remembers how refreshing the water felt on a hot day, the sound of the river crashing over the rocks, and the games he and his friends played.
“Eiji!” his friend Leon calls to him as he gets out of the water. Eiji turns his attention to Leon, but he’d unknowingly walked in too deep. His foot slips him into the deep part of the river. His feet search but find no ground. He tries to swim, but the force of the river is too strong. He can’t find the surface. The river bubbles around him as his limbs desperately search for air.
Eiji isn’t in the river, but his senses are overwhelmed by the familiar sensation. He tries to calm himself. The bubbles start to settle and quiet. A new world begins to unfold before Eiji. Eiji finds himself overwhelmed by the sudden rush of stimulation.
A bright light. It blinds him, but he can’t close his eyes.
What’s going on here?
Disoriented. Confused. Anxious.
Eiji tries to piece it together but can’t understand what he sees. His eyes continue to adjust, but he can’t seem to focus. Everything is a blur of color and light, zooming and changing as he attempts to make sense of it. His ears fill with a strange static buzzing in his ear, and the air fills with a putrid animal smell.
Is this a bad dream?
But it’s not a bad dream…
Over the static, Eiji can hear a voice speaking clearly to him.
Who…Who is it?
CRASH!
The sound of something being kicked over. Eiji hears someone running towards him.
Eiji’s eyes begin to adjust. He sees a small pink rat Digimon quickly scarring towards him. It clutches a piece of data in its hands as if it were cheese.
“Chuumon, child, beast, virus type,” his heads-up display reads.
Where am I?
Eiji’s eyes continue adjusting. He can see more clearly. He finds himself in an empty dirty room made of concrete.
Suddenly, another Digimon appears. Another rat, but this one is made of cloth like a puppet.
It rides on the back of metallic poo-shaped Digimon. It carries a tonfa and chases after the pink rat.
Eiji is confused by the scene unfolding before him. He is overwhelmed by the excitement of seeing real Digimon but takes the moment to compose himself. This isn’t a theme park he reminds himself.
“How brave of you to try to steal from my family,” Says Damemon in its metallic voice.
“Squeak! Don’t let him do this ChuuChuumon! I beg you! For the love of all rats!” Chumon pleads.
Chuumon stole Chuuchuumon’s food and is trying to escape.
“Not good, not good” Chuumon mutters to itself.
Damemon readies the tonfa for an attack.
“Is that a dog?” ChuuChuumon says suddenly, looking towards Eiji.
Huh, a dog? The Digimon is talking?
Damemon stops its attack. ChuuChuumon continues “I haven’t seen you around here before. The Wall Slum’s Sixth Street is our turf. You better turn tail and run if you know what’s good for you!”
“A rat picking a fight with a wolf? Don’t make me laugh?”
The strange familiar growls in his ear. Out in front! Eiji isn’t in control.
“This is my turf now”
“Do your worst!” ChuuChuumon yells, accepting the challenge. “Damemon! Gun Vulcan!”
Bam-Bam-Bam-Bam!
The Vulcan gun embedded in the tonfa erupts with fire. Bullets explode into the walls and floor. Chuumon zigzags, desperate to escape.
Whaaa?
Eiji is overwhelmed with nausea. A putrid smell fills his nostrils. The bullets Damemon fires aren’t particularly strong, but they release a foul odor, almost like a poisonous gas.
“Hahahaha! That attack must be torture for a dog. Digimon battles are all about exploiting weaknesses!” ChuuChuumon taunts.
“Not good, not good!” Eiji lets out.
“Shall we get rid of this stray Damemon? Finish it off with Boo-st Atta…”
But before ChuuChuumon could finish his sentence, strange energy begins to swirl around Eiji.
What is this feeling?
-Howling Fire!
A fireball erupts from Eiji’s snout and flies toward the enemy ChuuChuumon. Before Damemon has a chance to react, the flame engulfs the pair. The flame eats away at the room around them.
“HOT! HOT! HOT!”
The force of the impact knocks Damemon off balance.
“Just one shot?! But how?” Chuuchumon rolls out of the Damemon’s cockpit and onto the floor. The flames continue to smolder. ChuuChuumon begins to short-circuit. It stares up as the wolf looms over it. It begins to tremble “Lo…Loogamon?”
Loogamon? Eiji asks himself as he looks down at the cowering ChuuChuumon.
“So you’ve returned to the Wall Slums?”
ChuuChuumon’s tone suddenly becomes more respectful.
Eiji is at a loss.
“You’re looking good..”
Loogamon turns away for a moment. ChuuChuumon attempts to make its escape.
Eiji regains his composure. “Loogamon? Can you hear me? Loogamon!”