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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.
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.
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
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.”
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”
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
“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.
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
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.”
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?
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
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!
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.
ChuuChuumon, puppet, child, virus type.
It rides on the back of metallic poo-shaped Digimon. It carries a tonfa and chases after the pink rat.
Damemon, mutation, adult, virus type.
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!
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
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!”
I’ll be rewriting the novel to fix some of the awkwardness of the translation. My version comes out the Monday after the official release, but make sure you always check out the original. If you’ve been enjoying this project, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
The Sons of Chaos is an organization full of the strongest code cracking teams, but have come together with the worst intentions. Rumors has it that the Sons of Chaos are planning something big. Something that could shift the balance between the Digital World and humanity. Intelligence agencies and police units from all over are investigating the organization, but Ryusenji has no faith they’ll find anything. Instead of dealing with the tiresome channels of bureaucracy the selfishness of global politics, Ryusenji recruits Eiji to protect the Digital World, and the Digimon who inhabit it.
The job pays very well, but the passion that the professor fosters for the Digital world is what moves Eiji to action. If Tartarus and the Sons of Chaos are allowed to cause havoc in the Digital world, the international community will view Code Crackers and Digimon as dangerous.
“The lives of Digimon will be at stake. People are afraid of what they don’t understand, and if this gets out of hand, it could mean the end of everything. Digimon are alive and we can’t let such a group to be their extinction.” The professors words continue to ring in his head.
Eiji sits on the futon in his cramped apartment. “So I’m supposed to be a spy,” Eiji says to himself. He looks down and finds Loogamon asleep across from him. It rest comfortable on the bed with its belly exposed. Occasionally, the hologram will flicker, but it it emits a steady blue glue into the apartment. “We’ll be dealing with really bad dudes Loogamon,” Eiji says to the unresponsive pup. “They’re hardcore code crackers who are into some really scary stuff. My Tyrannomon don’t stand a chance against them, but you might be alright.”
Eiji stretches out his hand in a feeble attempt to pet the wolf. Loogamon lets out a low growl as it flashes its teeth viscously at the encroaching hand. “I thought you were asleep?”
An alarm goes off. Eiji raises his wrist to shut it off. “It’s time to go to work. Let’s go Loogamon.” Loogamon disappears into the Digimon Linker screen. Eiji puts on his headset. Leaning against the back wall, he scrolls through the different menus in a virtual terminal projected from the watch.
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
Eiji logs into GriMM. Joining the Sons of Chaos isn’t a difficult. Once you obtain the invitation code from their recruitment page, you join the official channel and apply like any other job. Eiji had already submitted his application and was logging in for his first interview.
A heavily modified voice comes through his headset. “The Sons of Chaos deal with government agencies, corporations… important people with high-level security. We need highly skilled code crackers who aren’t afraid of anything. This is a risky job. It’s easy to apply, but it’s hard to get into the Sons of Chaos. Do you think you have what it takes, newbie?”
“It’s Fang”
“Code Cracker Fang, huh? Are you ready to earn that name?” Eiji looked at the hologram of a generic avatar staring back at him. His username reads “interviewer. His voice was gravelly and sweet, like a cartoonish old man’s.
“Will I get to meet Tartarus?” Eiji asks without wasting a minute on pleasantries.
“You’re interested in our leader?” the voice asks suspiciously.
“Who wouldn’t be?! He’s the legendary Code Cracker Tartarus! He’s my idol.” Eiji feigns excitement.
The interviewer laughs “How old are you kid?”
“That doesn’t matter. Will I meet him or not?”
The voice on the other end remains silent for a moment. “Tartarus is a mystery even to us. Most of us have never seen him. If you are as much of a genius as you say you are, one of the executives will reach out to you. If you get invited into one of their chats, you might be able to talk to Tartarus.”
Eiji smiles. He will take advantage of the organization’s meritocracy and climb up the organization. “So this job, is it a test?”
“That’s one way of looking at it. It’s a semi-A ranked mission…I’ve shared the details on GriMM. I’ve also opened a dedicated channel for the mission. Use it for future comunications.” Eiji begins to read over the mission details. “What do you want to call the mission?” the voice asks.
Eiji thinks for a moment. “How about, Operation Wolf?”
The interviewer goes silent as the name of the channel changes to Operation Wolf. “This isn’t going to be easy,” the interviewer explains. “A Ranked missions aren’t for noobs. You are going to lose some Digimon. We don’t insure Digimon or provide compensation for any losses. Is that understood?”
“I understand, just be ready for my welcome party.”
“Welcome party?”
“We’re celebrating the birth of the Sons of Chaos’ newest executive.” Eiji is confident that Loogamon and his raw ability as a Code Cracker were more than enough for anything the Sons of Chaos threw at him.
The interviewer laughs. “Please check the file for the mission details. Good luck, I’m praying for you.”
“Thanks!”
The interviewrer logs off, leaving Eiji alone in his small apartment. He lets out a sigh of release as he looks down at Loogamon. He remembers the Professor’s words. Digimon are alive!
Eiji scrolls through the watch’s menu. His finger hovers over the word “Minlink“
Eiji stares at the word for a moment and takes a deep breath.
I’ll be rewriting the novel to fix some of the awkwardness of the translation. My version comes out the Monday after the official release, but make sure you always check out the original. If you’ve been enjoying this project, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Code Crackers make up a community of anonymous individuals whose goals are to create a free Digital World, one not bound by the traditional social construct. Within this group exist multiple factions, each with unique beliefs of what a free Digital World should look like. Sometimes these beliefs clash, creating a healthy amount of infighting.
Code Crackers exist on the wrong side of the law, made up of misfits with nowhere to go. Whatever goal of dream they chase now, all crackers owe their roots to the original code cracking team.
“I’m a bit hazy on the details. I got into code cracking when I was a young kid in high school. One of the seniors talked me into it. Told me there was decent money in it, and it was at first. It definitely is a good side hustle for a high school kid, but I wanted to do something more serious. I want to use my skills to make a living.”
“You can do whatever you want” the professor replies, “But code cracking isn’t a stable profession. You’re always going to be breaking the law because the government doesn’t understand the Digital World yet.”
“Yeah. The DigiPolice make things…difficult” The DigiPolice is a secret organization only known to code crackers. They’ll stop at nothing to catch all code crackers, regardless of their intentions.
“Are you also trying to forge a free Digital World?” asks the professor
Eiji shakes his head “Shallow of me right? I just want a job so I can eat, and a clean record”
“And where will that lead you? What are your goals Eiji?”
Eiji thinks for a moment. “I…I want to win” he responds sincerely.
Ryusenji is taken aback by the response “Win? What are you trying to win?”
“It’s hard to explain. I can’t really do it in real life, but online….I’d like to be something so big that it changes reality. I want to make money, evolve Digimon, and become the best Code Cracker ever. I want to have a team of my own and be a boss”
“Do you have to be a code cracker to do that?”
“Yes!” Eiji startles himself with his sudden outburst. He composes himself before continuing. “For me, the Digital World is the only place where I can make a difference” Eiji pauses for a moment as he looks over the professor. “I want to be on your level professor. I want to be able to experience the Digital World with all five senses, not just through a monitor. That’s what I want to do.”
Eiji’s words make Ryusenji smile. “The Digital World can change a person”
Eiji thinks about his life. He pictures his small cramped apartment and about his empty fridge. He’s a high school drop out without a steady job. Eiji has nothing, and as he looks onto the world’s wealthiest man, he wants more. Eiji makes up his mind. He has no intention of being a lowly code cracker anymore. He was going to learn everything he could from Professor Ryusenji, and finish training Loogamon no matter what.
Ryusenji murmurs something unintelligible.
“Professor?”
“You passed the test.”
“Again?”
The professor nods his head. “I needed to make sure you had the right intentions. If you were some run-of-the-mill code cracker kid drunk on freedom and ideology, I wouldn’t have offered you the job”
A familiar symbol flashes on the screen. It is of a gear wraps around a skull creating a radioactive halo. Under the symbol the words read “Sons of Chaos”
Illustration illustration: PLEX
Eiji lets out an involuntary sigh.
“Do you know them?” Ryusenji asks
“Of course I do. They’re a pretty infamous group of code crackers”
“What is your honest impression of them?”
Eiji takes a moment before responding “They’re on another level. They’re the best at what they do.” Eiji admired their skill, but the Sons of Chaos were right-wing extremists. They were almost militant in their organization. If you wanted to live a good and carefree life, you stayed away from them.
“They’re a group of code crackers known for using Digimon for crime,” Eiji continies. “They’ve made a name for themselves through extortion, theft, and terrorism. They’re bad news.”
The Sons of Chaos are run by the legendary Code Cracker Tartarus. No one knows Tartarus’ true identity, but he’s extremely popular on GriMM. Over the years, Tartarus has built a following of crackers who have adopted his ideology and created havoc in its name.
Ryusenji looks at Eiji “The Sons of Chaos are breaking the delicate balance between the Digital World and humanity. They are abusing Digimon and their ecosystem for personal gain and interfering with my research.” Ryusenji takes a moment to compose himself “It would be a shame if the Digital World and ours became isolated because of the misdeeds of a few punks. Wouldn’t you agree Eiji”
Eiji shrugs. “Can’t you just ask the government to help”
Rysenji shakes his head, “they don’t understand enough about Digimon yet. The Prime Minister only wants to use government resources to study them, and the police are too focused on stopping Code Crackers to care about one individual…There isn’t enough being done!” Ryusenji’s voice is filled with anger and frustration.
“Is that why you hired me?”
The professor calms down and nods his head. “You can say no. I know I’m asking for a lot”
“No, it’s not that at all. I’m here to help, whatever it takes!” The offer is too exciting to pass up. Eiji has been searching for meaning in his life. He knew he was meant for something more than simply collecting Digitama and training Digimon. This was his chance to do something real. To start winning.
“Good!” Ryusenji exclaims as he clasps his hands to gather loudly. “For this job, I want you to infiltrate the Sons of Chaos and find out what Tartaros is up to.” The professor walks over and gently places his hand on Eiji’s shoulder “This isn’t just another job Eiji off the message board. The stakes are real, and much bigger than both of us in this room. This is for the sake of all Digimon. This is for the sake of the Digital World”
‘ll be rewriting the novel to fix some of the awkwardness of the translation. My version comes out the Monday after the official release, but make sure you always check out the original. If you’ve been enjoying this project, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Eiji barges into Ryusenji’s lab in a huff. “Professor! Professor Ryusenji”
The professor looks up from his work nonchalantly. People suddenly barging into his lab was no novelty. “Good morning, Eiji.” It was already afternoon, but the professor often loses all sense of time when he’s at work.
“Good morning” Eiji responds with a quick bow, remembering his manners. “What’s with this Digimon?!? It’s not moving.” Eiji rushes to the professor’s side to show him the small blue pixelated wolf on his Digimon Linker. Loogamon naps soundly.
Ryusenji pulls Eiji’s arm close and examines the sleeping Digimon. A smile forms on the professor’s face. “He’s just having a little nap. You’re doing a great job Eiji, he’s a healthy happy boy. I can’t wait to see what he evolves into. If you can get him to his ultimate form, we’ll give you a nice… incentive.”
“An incentive? Like more money?”
Ryusenji nods his head. “You’ll get a very generous payout. I’m curious to see the type of Digimon Loogamon turns into. You guys will probably look super cool together!” The professor can’t hide his excitement as he starts theorizing about all the possibilities.
“I’ll do my best” Eiji replies. He was beginning to warm up to the eccentric old man. “Oh. Did you see yesterday’s training report? I sent it to your email.”
“Oh?!” the professor responds as he opens up his email client. “I get hundreds of emails a day. I hardly ever open them. I don’t have the time to look through every single…here it is in your own little folder. I keep all your emails separate so they don’t get lost”
Eiji hugs himself and gives the professor a warm smile. “That makes me feel important”
“You’re a very important business partner of mine, Eiji”
The professor sounded sincere, and Eiji was slowly learning to trust him. Eiji felt strange having someone so important put so much worth onto him, but he was determined to make him proud. Here in this lab, Eiji wasn’t just another Code Cracker punk, he was a partner of the world renowned scientist, Professor Ryusenji. This made Eiji feel good.
Ryusenji plays that video from Eiji’s report.
Loogamon, child, dark beast, virus type
Loogamon sits in front of four bowls of food, but eats from one of them. Three Tyrannomon wait patiently across from the small wolf as it devours the food. Ryusenji’s face inches towards the monitor as he observes the behavior.
“Loogamon is already stronger than three Tyrannomon.” Eiji explains to an unmoving professor.
“Interesting…” Ryusenji’s eyes remain glued to the screen. “Loogamon seems to have become the alpha. See how the Tyrannomon are behaving? It’s like they respect him as their leader. This is truly fascinating. Putting them in the same cage has created this…dynamic…”His voice trails as he continues his observations. His face is full of excitement.
“That must be why they don’t bother him, even when he eats their food. He even tried eating this guy,” Eiji says, pointing to one of the Tyrannomon.
“Oh?! That’s interesting”
“Loogamon eats so much food though.” Eiji begins to complain.
“That’s normal.”
Eiji pulls up another report. “Here’s the data for a benchmark I conducted. Loogamon is showing an above-average growth score”
“Interesting.” the professor strokes his chin as he reads over the data.
“Oh!” Eiji blurts out suddenly. He points to the jeweled mask on its forehead “What’s this thing on Loogamon’s forehead?” Eiji pauses the video and zooms in so that the face plate is fully visible. “That jewel even glows sometimes.”
Ryusenji moves closely so that his forehead is almost touching the screen “I am not sure, but that’s very perceptive of you Eiji.” The professor then turns to Eiji “How do you like Loogamon? Have you been using it for anything exciting?”
“I’ve been having trouble evaluating its performance as an AI tool”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s not that the command tools don’t work, it’s more like Loogamon won’t do what I tell it. It won’t work or walk either. It is a very stubborn dog”
“So you don’t think you can raise it?” Ryusenji asks
Eiji panics. “No! I mean yes. I didn’t mean it like that. Raising it is my job and I take all my jobs seriously. I was just pointing out how…different it is from other Digimon I’ve raised.”
Ryusnji smiles back at the frantic Eiji “Try summoning Loogamon’s hologram.”
Eiji scrolls through his Digimon Linker before choosing the command. Loogamon appears in the room, sound asleep. It is about the size of an adult husky with soft-looking grey-blue fur. As it wakes, he blinks indifferent red eyes at the two men looking down at it. It wakes slowly, throwing slow indifferent blinks at the two men who now crowd him. It lets out a loud yawn.
“Fascinating!” Rysenji suddenly shouts as he continues looking over the data “Look at these numbers!” The professor points excitedly at the evaluation report on the screen.
Eiji attempts to understand the information. “DS value…? I’m not sure what that means,” Eiji admits reluctantly.
“It’s an indicator I designed to calculate the compatibility between a Digimon and its partner. In other words, you and Loogamon are extremely compatible!” Rysenji doesn’t hide his excitement.
“Seriously?!” Eiji looks down at Loogamon who has since gone back to napping on the floor.
“I knew I chose the right person for the job,” the professor claps.
“So…Does that mean that Loogamon can evolve right away?”
“I can’t say for sure”
“Why not?”
“The DS value doesn’t measure potential, only the user’s compatibility with a Digimon.”
“So it is possible to train,” Eiji whispers to himself. He had only ever used Tyrannomon, and a few other Digimon common in the code cracker circles. The more common the Digimon, the easier it was to train. Loogamon was unique, and would require more work to train.
“Where have you been getting your Digimon up until now? GriMM?”
“Yeah. Since it’s illegal in Japan, I have to get them from other countries. There are no borders in the Digital World.”
Ryusenji almost chuckles, “Do you know who you’re quoting?”
Eiji shakes his head no. It was a meme everyone repeated. “Do you?”
Ryusenji shrugs his shoulder as an involuntary smile escapes him. “What do you do again Eiji,” the professor asks, changing the subject.
“I’m a Code Cracker”
“Then you are familiar with the famous code cracking team?”
If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do, please consider buying me a coffee
Today I got some fantastic news about one of my favorite animated series. I can’t express how overjoyed I am to know that Final Space is finally getting a proper ending. The series follows a quirky and delightful astronaut as he and his friends try to save the universe. If you haven’t seen the series, you need to. It is an epic story full of humor, friendship, and heroism. Make sure you check out my full review of the series.
Unfortunately, the series got canceled before it could end because TBS wanted to write it off for tax reasons. The creator, Olan Rogers, was rightfully devastated because he didn’t own the rights to finish a series he created. For two years, Rogers has continued his fight to finish his story. Five days ago, Rogers announced that Final Space will end in a self-published graphic novel. This makes me incredibly happy because Rogers deserves this. The announcement is up on his official YouTube channel. I recommend you watch it so that you can appreciate the passion and love this man has for his story.
You can pre-order the graphic novel on the Final Space Ends official website. Over 16,000 copies of the graphic novel have sold since the announcement, and the number continues to climb. Keep checking the site if it sells out. I got my copy before it sold out, but more have been available since. The book is $125 plus shipping and is expected to release sometime in 2024. Make sure you follow Olen Rogers on YouTube to stay on top of future announcements.
I know this seems like a lot, but the book is going to be huge and epic. I have faith that this final chapter is going to be the epic conclusion we have all been waiting for.
I wanted to share this announcement because I believe it deserves attention, but also because of the timing. I have been feeling a bit of burnout lately and have debated quitting WordPress. This morning I was on the verge of deleting my blog until I saw this announcement. I was happy that my favorite show was getting its ending, but Roger’s perseverance and passion inspired me to keep going. In his video, he tells his viewers not to give up on their passions, even when things seem hopeless.
“You have to dare to dare to fail”
You don’t understand how badly I needed to hear those words when I did. I know that the algorithm played a huge part in showing me the announcement, but I am superstitious enough to believe in fate. I’ve been consistently on YouTube since it was published, but it was only recommended when I needed it most. As silly as it sounds, too many events in my life have lined up so perfectly that I have to believe that fate exists. I am taking his words to heart and will continue pursuing my passions.
With that, I’ll sign off. I have a backlog of games I’ve sent to review, the Digimon Seekers project I need to finish, and some movie reviews to sprinkle in between. Until then, go watch Final Space, go pre-order the graphic novel, and if you are still reading, thank you for your support. Love you all!
I’ll be rewriting the novel to fix some of the awkwardness of the translation. My version comes out the Monday after the official release, but make sure you always check out the original. If you enjoy this project, please leave me a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!
“Digimon are alive!” The words linger in dead air.
Eiji breaks the silence with an involuntary chuckle “It be cool if Digimon were alive. Lots of people have Digimon. Some folks keep them as pets and others collect them. Digimon are pretty useful tools.” Eiji thinks of his Tyrannomon. Tyrannomon are popular with code crackers because they were common and easily caught. Most Digimon exists as code traded, bought, and sold between people on GriMM.
“Hmm,” Ryusenjji responds, somewhat lost in thought.
“So, when will Digimon Land be ready? Where are you going to build it?”
Ryusenji snaps out of his thought as a look of disappointment fills his face. He begins to shake his head “We had to stop development on Digimon Land…Permanently”
“Seriously?”
“The park presented many challenges, some of which were…. impossible to overcome. There’s a reason why the digital world has to be kept a secret. People aren’t ready.”
Eiji thinks about the plane crash. He can still hear the screams and the terrible sound of the plane slicing through the air as it fell
“There are bad people out there Eiji. People who will misuse Digimon. Digimon Crimes started small. A game server would crash or a website would get overloaded, but they were brushed off as pranks. Soon, the news started trickling in about identity theft and random acts of terrorism. You saw what happened to that plane. There are already people committing Digimon crime at a concerning scale, but the world leaders and international organizations are covering it up!”
Ryusenji takes a moment to compose himself. His hands shake from the anger but slowly still. “Can you imagine what would happen if a criminal used one of the park’s mascots for an act of cyber-terrorism? Can you imagine the scandal? Publicizing the Digital world means publicizing Digimon Crimes, and the world just isn’t ready. Imagine the panic that would cause.”
Eiji nods his head as he listens.
“I can hear the news outlets fear-mongering headlines,” the professor continues. “Digimon are coming for your freedom, more on this at 11,” Ryunsenji looks flustered as his rant grows angry. “It is shortsighted to assume all Digimon are evil…People just aren’t ready to understand.” The professor’s words trail off, turning into an incoherent rant.
“Professor?” Eiji asks, attempting to bring him back.
The professor wakes from his trance and remembers where he is. “There is another world beyond the network where Digimon are alive. The real world and the digital world both coexist. Do you want to see it?”
“Yes of course” Eiji replies with a hint of skepticism clinging to his words. He’d only known the digital world through the black and white screen of the palm-sized device he made from salvaged parts.
“Do you know why what I am telling you is top secret?”
“Because its real?”
Ryusenji smiles as he nods, “Yes. That was real footage from the digital world.”
Eiji looks at the Modoki Betamon on the screen. It’s alive! He thinks of the Tyrannomon he’s been using. They’re alive too. They’re all alive.
“That is why I have devoted my life to studying Digimon. To D4.” The transfer of Modoki Betamon is complete. The professor unhooks Eiji’s handmade device and looks over it once more.
Eiji moves forward with his arm extended “Thank yo..”
SNAP
Ryusenji tosses Eiji’s Digimon dock to a nearby bin.
Eiji moves quickly and catches the dock before crashing into the trash can and stumbling to the floor. Eiji spent a lot of time building it. Even though it was made from mostly junked parts, it cost him a lot of money. “What are you doing?” His face still recovering from the sting.
“There was an error in the memory”
“Seriously?!” Eiji couldn’t believe it. The memory had never been an issue.
Ryusenji was a Digimon Collector, and like most collectors, he was precocious about his collection. “My research requires Digimon data to be perfect, or else its worthless. That Modoko Betamon data was nearly destroyed.”
“That doesn’t mean you need to throw it away. It may be worthless to you, but this stuff is expensive. I don’t have the funding of a huge corporation or access to expensive equipment” Eiji snaps as he looks over his device for signs of damage.
Ryusenji ignores Eiji’s outburst. He seems preoccupied on a new thought.
“…Hello?” Eiji waves, trying to regain his attention. The man may be a genius, but he had no right.
“Sorry about that,” the professor replies suddenly. “You just gave me an idea. Let me see you left arm”
“My..arm?” Eiji studies the professor suspiciously. Ryusenji stands over him, flashing an eager smile. Eiji offers his arm up cautiously. Rysenji attaches something to Eiji’s wrist.
Eiji looks down and finds a stylish smart watch wrapped around his wrist. The sight of the gift makes him tear up. It’s been a while since he’s gotten a present. He fights back the tears. He wants to be professional.
“It’s Abadin Electronics’ latest Digimon Dock. Make sure you take care of it Eiji”
Eiji studies his gift. AE products were top of the line and highly sought after by Code Cracker. Eiji could only dream of owning AE parts, but here he stands with the latest model strapped to his wrist.
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
“Now this is just a prototype I’ve been working on so there might be some bugs.”
Eiji manages to rip his gaze from the watch. “This is amazing professor, thank you!”
The watch starts cycles through the startup process. “It has a biometric vital sonsor. Only you will be able to use it,” the professor explains.
“Just for me?!?!” Eiji can’t hide his excitement.
The professor nods “It can record your pulse, blood pressure, and other medical data. Most importantly, it supports Digimon hololization. Digimon hololization is only allowed in at the DDL and a few other facilities, but this…is a special exception”
Eiji is too excited to hear the explanation. He continues to turn over the watch to appreciate it from every angle.
“But here’s the thing” the professor begins. Eiji’s heart sinks. Of course there’s a catch. He knew better than to think there wouldn’t be a catch, but he also wasn’t ready to depart with his new watch. “I want to see what the famous Cracker Fang can do with it the next time I ask him for a favor”
“You got it chief!”
“That was fast. Good. I like that about you.” Ryusenji takes Eiji’s arm and presses the switch on the side of the Digimon Linker. The screen begins to glow a faint green. A mysterious flame flickers across the screen before vanishing into black. Words scroll past the watch reading: Loogamon, child, dark beast, virus type
Eiji looks at the strange Digimon occupying his screen. A small blue…
“It’s a..Dog?” Eiji asks stary-eyed.
Eiji passes through the security gate alone. The professor’s words echo in his head. Digimon are alive. The digital world is real.
Eiji passes the reception desk.
“Oh, good evening!” This time Hatsune speaks to him first.
Eiji turns away from his watch “Do I return the pass here?”
“Yes please. Put it here. Thank you very much.” She says, pointing at a small basket in front of her.
As Eiji returns the bass, he notices Hatsune eyeing his watch curiously. “The professor gave it to me. It’s a Digimon Dock.”
Eiji shows off his watch. Hatsune scurries around the desk. She grabs his hand to get a closer look and whispers “Isn’t that the newest model? I thought those were top secret?”
Eiji is surprised by how well-informed Hatsune is. “It’s just a prototype. The professor asked me to test it for him.”
“Wow, that’s impressive.” Hatsune says, reexamining Eiji. “The professor must really trust you.”
“You think so?”
“Absolutly” Hatsune lowers her voice “The professor is so…strange. He wouldn’t give this to just anyone.”
“He is peculiar isn’t he?” Eiji blurts out. Eiji is surprised by Hatsune’s sudden change in attitude. She is a lot nicer towards him now. “I’ll see you later?”
“Sure Nagasumi.”
“You can call me Eiji”
“Likewise…eh..you can call me Hatsune or whatever. Oh, this is your admission record. I noticed you left your occupation blank. If you don’t mind, what should I put down?”
“My occupation?” Eiji thinks for a bit before declaring proudly “I’m a Code Cracker!”
