If you’ve been following my blog since the beginning or have seen the recent state of my blog, it is no secret that I love card games. I’ve spent way too much money on trading cards and am always looking for a new deck builder to add to my collection. The latest to catch my eye is a little game called Krzyżacy – The Knights of the Cross, coming to Steam on July 20, 2023.
Play as a knight who must help his people defeat the Teutonic Knights. The game is based on an award-winning story of the same name that covers the conflict between the Polish-Lithuanian people and the Teutonic Knights in the 15th century. I haven’t read the book, but I hope that means the story is good. I also hope the game is an accurate adaptation because I love learning about history.
As the knight, you travel the real collecting companions to fight with you and cards to make your deck stronger. There are 30 characters you can collect and level, and the freedom to build a deck that fits your playstyle. The combat looks like a strait forward deck builder but with a story and some RPG elements that might help it stand out against the genre. The game has seven chapters, 200 side quests, and a roguelite mode for hours of gameplay. That probably means this game is going to take me forever to complete.
What excites me most about this game is the art style. I love pixel art, and the design for Krzyżacy – The Knights of the Cross is amazing! The sprites are cute, the characters are cool, and the animation looks fun. There is a bit of fan service, but I don’t mind it. I’ve seen a lot worse, and the characters are too cool for it to matter.
I just received my review code for this game, and am super excited to try it out. I haven’t started the game, but I am also under embargo so I won’t be able to share my thoughts on the game just yet. I’ll get my review out as soon as I am able, so make sure you’re subscribed. Until then, make sure you add Krzyżacy – The Knights of the Cross to your wishlist.
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 2-3: Marvin’s Room
Make sure to check out the official release. If you’ve been enjoying this project, make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. See you next week!
Only eight members of the Sons of Chaos attend the Operation Infinity briefing. Eiji stares nervously at the seven other avatars around him. He only recognizes Marvin. The rest are strangers who occasionally share idle chatter, but the room is mostly silent.
A large screen suddenly flashes above them and fills with maps, pictures, and charts.
“Our Target is the Nation of X,” Marvin begins. His voice is more stern and serious than it was the day before. “They are a small nation with an almost negligible GDP, but they are one of the world’s biggest sponsors of terrorism. Bombings, kidnappings, genocide, you name it, they’ve done it. Recently, they’ve moved their operations into digital world.” Marvin flips through the slides filled with related news clippings. “A large number of cyber-attacks originate Nation X. Their latest exploit? The digital exchange where they made off with billions of dollars in crypto…”
“That was them?” Eiji involuntarily blurts out, interrupting Marvin’s flow.
Marvin nods. “Yep, it is state sponsored Digimon crime, and it has to stop. Attacks like these will destabilize the market, but more importantly, it goes against the fundamental beliefs we were built on. Nation X threatens freedom in Digital World.”
Eiji takes a hard swallow as the scale of the operation hits him. This was bigger than any freelance job he had ever taken. His hands tremble slightly as Marvin continues his explanation. Most of it goes over his head. Eiji understands bits and pieces, but his nerves become a distraction. Eiji takes a deep breath and tries to remember why he’s there. His breath echos throughout the small dark apartment as he tries to calm himself and focus on Marvin’s words.
“Nation X is using a Machindramon to commit their crimes and pinning it on us.” Marvin throws an image of the metallic dinosaur on the screen. “I don’t think I need to explain why we can’t let that continue.” There aren’t many forces that can take down a Mega Digimon. This wasn’t mission wasn’t going to be easy.
Marvin finishes his explanation. The room remains silent as they look over one another.
“Good, we’re all here,” a mysterious voice says suddenly. “Since there are some fresh faces, allow me to introduce myself. I am Tartarus, and I’ll personally be running this operation.”
Tartarus is here?! Eiji thinks to himself. He tries to recover from the shock an stay professional. He wasn’t expecting to get this close to Tartarus so soon.
“This is a simple mission. We crash their servers and capture the Machinedramon.”
Eiji studies the image of Machinedramon. This Digimon has the power to penetrate the toughest national security. Such a tool has already proven catastrophic in the hands of a small country, Eiji couldn’t imagine what a group of skilled Code Crackers could do with it.
“It’s time we show this dictator his place,” Tartarus continues. “This is a fight for the freedom of the network.”
“For the freedom of the network!” Marvin echoes enthusiastically.
“For the Freedom of the network!” The others repeat loudly.
“No team of code crackers are as unified or powerful as the Sons of Chaos. Soon the world will see that we are a force to be reckoned with. They will see that we are a team that can topple nations!” Tartarus continues charismatically. His voice commanded respect, and those who gathered around him were ready to give it.
One by one, the SOC higher-ups start bringing out their Digimon. Most of them were Cyborg types. Eiji mutes his mic and looks down at his Digimon Linker. “This is it Loogamon. You Ready?” Eiji takes a deep breath as he looks down at his pixel art companion, “Here we go!”
Marvin’s room empties as one by one the members blink out of existence. Eiji scrolls through the options on his linker, stopping on the mindlink option. There was no going back now. Eiji is overwhelmed by a warm dizzying sensation that was growing more familiar.
They were now mindlinked. In the void of Loogamon’s Digicore, Eiji’s heart races. He goes over the mission directives in his head, repeating them like a mantra to calm himself.
Disable the servers, steal the Machinedramon, Eiji repeats to himself. This should be easy right? He takes a small breath to sooth his nerves.
“Loogamon, this is your conscious. You should let Eiji pet you,” Eiji manages in a playfully spooky voice.
“Shut up!” Loogamon retorts smugly. “Get serious Eiji.”
“I’m just trying to lighten up the mood. This can be our pregame ritual.” Eiji says, each word finding a more confident purchase.
“Pregame?”
“It’s something we do to pump ourselves up. Something to do before a big mission like this for good luck.”
“This isn’t a game. I need you to be serious for a moment and watch this.” Loogamon’s tone is stern as he pulls up a video on one of the screens.
Eiji stares at a man strapped to a reclining chair. Wires run neatly from the man and connect to nearby monitors and machines. A neat overlay over the video records his vitals.
“Who is that?”
“He was a hacker that used to work at the DDL. He was one of the institutes most promising subjects. He’s logged more mindlink hours than anyone else, and I think his record still stands. Keep watching, you need to see this.”
The video speeds up. The time stamp makes its quick climb, and Eiji watches the man’s vitals closely. Before he could ask what he was supposed to look for, the man starts convulsing wildly. The man fights against the restraints holding him to the chair, but they keep him from falling to the ground. The medical staff rushes to the man. Eiji watches as their silent screams carry useless instructions. He watches as they attempt to hold the man down in their wasted efforts. After a few moments, the man stops moving. The video cuts as the staff begins unplugging him from the machine.
Eiji swallows hard. “What happened?”
“Their Digimon ran into trouble. We believe the encounter overloaded the mindlink.”
“Overloaded? How?”
“There are limits to mindlink. Those limits depend on the skill of the code cracker, their compatibility with their partner Digimon, and the level of their Digimon. The higher the disparity between these factors are, the shorter the window becomes. If you go above this limit, your consciousness becomes melded to the Digital World. You’ll become trapped here.”
“What do you mean by melded?”
“I don’t have an answer for that. Worst case, your consciousness is destroyed. Best case, you’ll float aimlessly through the vast networks, forever lost in the endless stream of data.
A shiver runs down Eiji’s spine. The answer disturbs him. The cold reality of the assignment hits him like a bullet train. He tries to find his nerve again.
“So what happens to the body?” Eiji asks, knowing the answer.
“It becomes an empty husk.”
For the first time since he took the assignment, Eiji thinks about the stakes involved. He thinks about his body sitting alone in his tiny apartment. How long would it take for someone to find his body? His rent was set up for automatic payments. It would be a few months before his account drained. Would his neighbors complain about the smell? Eiji imagines his corps, rotting away on his bed. Another computer junkie dead from too much gaming.
Eiji shakes off the dark thoughts. It’s too late to think about that. I just have to make sure I don’t pass the limit. Easy Peasy. The speach does little to settle his nerves.
“For your safety, I’ve set another limit to make sure you return to the real world,” Loogamon replies as if reading his mind.
“Aw! You do care!” Eiji teases in an attempt to find his nerve.
“Can’t risk having you melded to my Digicore,” Loogamon says snidely. “I can’t spend the rest of my life with your voice in my head. I’d rather be deleted.”
Eiji lets out a nervous laugh. “Come on, Loogamon. Get serious. Their waiting for us”
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 2-2
Since Bandai isn’t going to give us a good translation of this story, I’ve taken it upon myself to give it a proper revision. Make sure you always check out the original release, but come check out my version the following Monday. If you’ve been enjoying this project, don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends.
The GriMM network was home to a myriad of chatrooms and message boards. You can find just about anything on GriMM if you dig deep enough.
The Sons of Chaos host a special channel on Grimm for current, new, and prospective members. Their front page is dedicated to the recruitment of new members. The page is full of propaganda and information about the Digital world designed to attract prominent code crackers to their ranks. It also hosts an active marketplace for all kinds of Digimon tools.
Active members of the Sons of Chaos have access to a special virtual lounge where their avatars can hang out and chat. The room is rather plain-looking, especially if you compare it to modern VR Chat games, but it serves its purpose. It’s a small room with a dirty cyberpunk aesthetic. It looks like a factor city with rows of pipes that wrap around the room in different directions, rusted metal plates, and vents that occasionally let off steam.
Eiji logs into the room for the first time.
YO! Eiji’s here!
That’s the dude who took out the squad of DigiPolice!
What a legend.
The chat quickly filled with voice memos. Soon, the whole room is talking about Eiji and his bout with the DigiPolice. Eiji walks through the chatroom with every set of eyes looking over him. The sudden popularity shocks him, but if he is going to get close to Tartarus, it is a necessary evil. Eiji needed to raise the ranks quickly. He needed to own his popularity.
Eiji sits in his room looking down at the virtual monitor transmitting from his Digimon Linker. His eyes move over the virtual chatroom as he studies the details. The voice chat bounces off the walls of his small loft. Next to Eiji’s avatar, Loogamon sits and scans the lounge for danger.
“Looks like you’re a popular guy Eiji,” Loogamon says flatly.
“That’s the plan,” Eiji responds cooly. Eiji and Loogamon are in a private chat room. No one else can hear them speak.
“It’s a little offensive that they think you beat the DigiPolice all on your own. They think you’re some kind of hotshot code cracker.”
“Well,” Eiji says, getting cocky, ” I kind of am. Only top-rated code can use mindlink.”
Mindlink is inaccessible to most code crackers. Mind Link requires special equipment like Eiji’s DigiLinker and compatibility with a Digimon. Most code crackers lacked the skill and resources to even attempt such a procedure. In this way, Eiji wasn’t lying.
Loogamon scoffs at the response. The pair continue their stroll through their lounge as strangers watch them closely.
Loogamon starts sniffing at the air. The fur down its back begins to lift. “Someone’s running a search on me,” it whispers. “We’re being watched.”
Eiji keeps walking, doing his best to look inconspicuous. “Should we be worried?” Eiji whispers back.
Loogamon shakes his head. “I don’t like it.” He turns his gaze towards a Digimon with large ripped wings, a dragon skull for a head, and a snake’s body.
Below the Airdroman stands an avatar with thick long dreds. It walks towards Eiji and Loogamon. “My name is Marvin. It’s a pleasure to meet you Eiji,” it says with a warm and friendly tone.
In the heat of the moment, Eiji forgot to use an alias. Eiji is a common enough name that shouldn’t be a problem, but it was jarring to hear his real name used on GriMM.
“The pleasure is all mine Marvin. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“So, you’ve read my messages then?”
“Yep! And this is my partner, Loogamon.”
Loogamon appears to say something to Marvin, but his chat is muted. Airdramon lets out a sharp cry.
“Your partner? Ok. I see how it is.” Marvin responds, looking impressed.
“So? What’s up?” Eiji asks.
“According to my records, you applied to join the Sons of Chaos only a couple of days ago.”
“That’s right.”
“Have you ever applied under a different name or belonged to another code cracking team?”
“Nope. I freelance a bit, but nothing serious like this.”
“You sure about that?”
“Are you always this suspicious of people?”
“Only under certain circumstances. A rookie joining the ranks after beating the DigiPolice single-handedly is a bit sus. It’s either a lie, or there’s more to it.” Marvin goes quiet for a moment.
Eiji’s heart pounds against his chest. He keeps quiet. Maybe Marvin’s suspicion was standard procedure.
“I uh..” Eiji starts to stutter. He feels compelled to break the silence.
“But a code cracker who can mind link can’t be that stupid. Follow me, we need to talk somewhere more private.
As they walk away from the crowd, Eiji gets an invite to Marvin’s private room. Eiji finds himself in a smaller version of the lounge he was just in.
“This is my place,” Marvin says as he sits on a chair.
“So you’re a big deal in the SoC?” Eiji asks.
“I’ve got a few extra permissions in the channel, but I’m no more important than anyone else here.”
“I’ve heard you’re the guy who built GriMM. Is that true?”
“I was one of the first core members of the project, but it was a pretty big team. I did a bit of the code and suddenly everyone thinks I’m the creator,” Marvin says with a smirk.
“So you make all the Digimon tools then?”
“I do. Let me know what you need. First one’s free”
Eiji glances at the Airdramon above them. It curls its tail around a catwalk. Loogamon sits near Eiji, sniffing at the air.
“Anyways,” Marvin starts. “Down to business. The Sons of Chaos are planning something big, but we don’t have the numbers to pull it off.”
“Don’t have the numbers? Aren’t there a ton of people in the SoC?” Eiji starts to pry for information.
“Oh, we have more members than we need, but not enough skilled code crackers who can mindlink. Not many of them can hold their own against the DigiPolice.” Marvin smiles at Eiji. “But then here you are.”
“I’m in,” Eiji says bluntly.
Marven is taken aback. “That was quick. This is going to be dangerous, I hope you know that.”
Marvin takes a breath. An uncomfortable silence hangs in the air. All Eiji can think about is completing his mission. He needs to get close to Tartarus.
“It can’t be more dangerous than facing off against the DigiPolice,” Eiji says, breaking the silence.
Marvin snickers. “Look I get it, you beat a bunch of Commandramon and the deputy squad leader, but now you’ve got a huge target on your back. If you get caught, their locking you up.”
“And?”
Marvin relaxes a bit. “As long as you know the risks. I mean you’re good Eiji, we wouldn’t be having this conversation if you couldn’t hold your own. I just want you to understand what’s at stake.”
Eiji nods. “So what’s the mission? Is Tartarus involved?”
“You want to know about Tartarus?”
“Well.. Yeah? He’s a legend! Right Loogamon?”
“Woof!” Loogamon wags its tail excitedly.
Marvin looks down at Loogamon. “You’ve got a good dog here.”
“He’s a wolf,” Eiji responds.
Marvin bends over to pet Loogamon. It happily accepts the affection. “It sure acts like a dog.”
Eiji is at a loss. “He’s never done that kind of stuff with me!” Eiji can’t help but feel a bit jealous.
Marvin stands up and turns to Eiji. “Tartarus seldom comes around. The higher-ups don’t know much about him either. We just have the orders they give us.” Marvin sends Eiji an invitation to the private channel: Mission Infinity.
“That’s where we discuss the mission. I’ll share the files with you. It’s going down tomorrow at…” Marvin catches himself. “You’ll get the rest of the details once we’re all assembled here. You’ll need to mindlinked obviously. I’ll get you money for whatever you need.”
“Cool, I’ll see you then.” Eiji starts to log out.
“Wait, there’s one more thing,” Marvin’s words stop Eiji and Loogamon in their tracks. They stare at Marvin nervously. “You know anything about Black Agumon?”
“All I know is people are looking for it.”
“We’re looking for it,” Marvin corrects Eiji.
“You’re the ones offering the Million DC reward?!” The news stuns Eiji.
Marvin nods his head. “Tartarus wants this Agumon. It’s become his obsession…”
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 2-1
I apologize for the late upload, work has been busy, and this one needed a bit more attention. Looks like they’ve started a new chapter, but it’s still a poor translation. I’ve taken it upon myself to fix the translation to make it more readable. My version comes out the Monday after a new issue, but make sure you always support the original. And if you’ve been enjoying this project, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this with your friends!
The circumstances behind the crash of WWW Airline Flight 626 remain a mystery. Plane crashes usually go unnoticed, lost in the constant stream of bad news. They may populate news sights for a few hours, but people have become desensitized to tragedy.
But Flight 626 was different. There were a few other plane crashes over the years, but none were as big or under such strange circumstances. The plane inexplicitly veered off course and crashed into the ocean, killing everyone on board. All the public has are the rumors that still linger since the crash. Some say it was engine failure. Others say it was a pilot error. No one knows for sure because the flight computer went missing in the crash.
At least that is what the public is told. The official report has never been released. Only a select few government officials know the truth and the well-connected few work in the shadows. It wasn’t engine failure or pilot error that brought down Flight 626, but a code cracker and his Digimon.
The official verdict is that people aren’t ready for the truth that the Digital World exists and that Digimon is real. There are no systems in place to deal with the panic and fear-mongering that would surface because people aren’t ready to understand. This is why Flight 626 has outlived most tragedies. Why it still lingers in the modern vernacular.
Leon Alexander wakes suddenly with a jolt. Sweat drips down his forehead as he shakes the familiar nightmare. His breathing is heavy. He hunches over in an attempt to calm himself. Sweat drips off his nose and lands on his bed sheet, leaving a dark spot in its place. A warm glow washes over him as Pulsemon rushes to his side.
“Are you okay Leon? I heard you scream?” Pulsemon asks. It is a hologram, but its look of concern is real. Its body crackles with electricity and gives off a warm yellow glow. Occasionally, a random spark will shoot out from him.
“Where you dreaming of the accident again? It’s been a while.” It asks softly
Leon looks over at his small companion and smiles weakly. “Yes, Pulsemon. It’s back.” He reaches over towards his nightstand for his water bottle. He drains it quickly.
“Do you need any medicine?”
“No thanks, I’m good.” Leon falls back and stares at the ceiling, letting out a loud frustrated sigh. “What a time to be awake!” The lights of the city trickle in and mix with Pulsemon’s glow.
“Don’t you have class today? You should try going back to sleep.” Pulsemon says, trying to be helpful.
Leon sits back up and considers the proposition. He looks out the window into the city. Dawn begins to trickle in behind the skyline. He sighs. “Nah, I’ll just get up now. It’s a boring class, but the professor is real strict about attendance.”
“Do you even need the class? I mean you’re basically work at Abadin Electronics.”
“I promised my father I would graduate and get a job. Besides, being a college student leaves me plenty of time for…other stuff.”
Pulsemon laughs impishly.
Leon gets out of bed “I’m gonna take a shower,” he says as he shuffles slowly towards the bathroom.
Eiji and Loogamon stand in front of the crimson Castle of the Nine Wolves. A few Digimon linger in the courtyard, but mind their business.
“Does this mean you have your memories back?” Eiji asks sincerely.
“It’s still a bit hazy. I remember being raised here, I remember this was my turf but…” Loogamon’s voice trails off as it attempts to remember more.
“Well,” Eiji replies sadly, “its a start. I’m sure you’ll get it back soon.” He gives Loogamon a reassuring smile.
“It doesn’t matter if I do.”
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“Do you remember everything from your past? Forever?”
Eiji thinks for a moment. “You got me there.”
“We tend to forget things that don’t matter.”
Eiji snorts “Look who’s all grown and tough now!”
Before Loogamon can respond, three Tyrannamon round the corner and surround the pair.
“Good work fellas” Eiji calls up to them. The Tyrannomon growl gingerly in response as they transmit the data they collected to Loogamon. They managed to map most of the district and collect a decent amount of data about its population.
“They’re actually usesful,” Loogamon says, impressed. Eiji tosses them a couple of pieces of meat as a reward.
“You know, you could join them,” Eiji sneers.
Loogamon scoffs. “And what? Have them outrank me?!” Eiji laughs.
“Send them to patrol the area periodically. I fear there will be those who are foolish enough to invade while I am away.”
Eiji nods as he begins typing into a virtual monitor. “I’ll set up a schedule now.” Eiji pets the Tyrannomon, “Good luck fellas!” They respond with low, affectionate growls. Eiji couldn’t talk to the Tyrranomon, but he was beginning to understand them in his own way.
Suddenly a loud, piercing siren sounds over the district. The Digimon lingering in the square scatter into hiding.
“What’s going on?” Eiji asks, trying to understand the danger.
“Eiji!” Loogamon shouts over the wailing. “Get the Tyrannomon and leave!”
“Why?” Eiji asks as he pulls up the virtual monitor, sending the Tyrannomon back to their dock. He doesn’t wait for an answer. He quits his holo form and returns to Loogamon’s Digicore.
Loogamon dashes up the side of the castle, its claws digging effortlessly into the red tile. It climbs to the watch tower overlooking the district and sits, turning its gaze out to the vast digital ocean above them. Eiji looks through Loogamon’s eyes and can hear the commotion unfolding around them.
“Vortex! Vortex!” He hears the panicked screams of Digimon below.
“Vortex?” Eiji repeats.
Loogamon shifts his gaze. “There.”
Eiji sees a large whirlpool digging away at the digital sea, sucking into it chunks of debris. It was a massive hole, the size of an entire district, slowly moving across the surface.
“The firewall that protects the Digital World isn’t perfect,” Loogamon begins, “It has cracks. Sometimes those cracks cause a vortex to form. Most of the time they are small and short lived, but every so often a large one forms. Usually they are contained to the area over the Dusk Kingdom, but no one knows why. On rare occasions, a vortex will threaten the Slums, erasing whole districts and their Digimon.”
“What happens to the Digimon that get sucked up?”
“No one knows. At least no Digimon have returned to tell us.”
The vortex grazes the outer shores of the slums before disappearing, leaving the Digital sea to return to its calm beautiful stream of data. The sirens go silent and Digimon begin to spill back into the square.
“Come on. We’re late.” Loogamon says suddenly.
“Late for what?”
“Seriously? You’re the one who set the reminder.”
“Oh shoot! My appointment with Professor Ryusenji!” Eiji severs the connection and returns to reality.
Eiji and Loogamon enter the professor’s lab and find him busy combing through the most recent report.
“Good morning!” Professor Ryusenji says as he looks up from his computer. ” These are phenomenal results!”
“Thanks, Professor! We owe you for the Mindlink. It’s incredible!” Eiji can’t hold back his excitement. Loogamon’s hologram moves to the couch where he curls up for a nap.
The professor turns back to his data. “This is astounding! I mean I knew the two of you were compatible, but this is unexpected. You two share a special connection that doesn’t exist anywhere else.” The professor grins as he continues combing through the data.
“Still,” Eiji begins, “I feel sick when I wake up from the Mindlink.” The first time he woke from the Mindlink, he found himself leaning against the wall for support as the apartment spun around him. His stomach feels uneasy as he walks toward the professor.
The professor turns to Eiji. “I’ve been monitoring your vitals closely and haven’t noticed anything concerning. Nothing in previous tests suggests we should worry. It will go away with a bit of rest. You’ll get used to it in time,” the professor explains.
“That’s good to know,” Eiji says, sounding relieved. “Oh there’s one more thing!” He looks over at Loogamon who is sound asleep, or at least pretending to. “Loogamon can talk in the real world too.”
“That’s normal, once you are Mindlinked, you should be able to communicate easily.”
“Wait? Does that mean there are other talking Digimon at the DDL?”
“That’s classified.” Before Eiji can prod more, the professor continues “Right then, to business.”
“Right. I heard back from the interviewer. I passed the test,” Eiji says as he shows the message to the professor.
The professor reads over the message carefully. “What was the test?” He asks without looking up.
“I had to survey the 9th district.”
“Ooh scary. Not even the Digipolice like to go there.”
“It was no problem for me and Loogamon! It also helps Loogamon is from the 9th.” There is no response from the professor. “…But you already knew that, didn’t you?”
“Well, the DDL took..collected Loogamon from the Wall Slums years ago. To keep it safe.”
“Safe from what?”
“That’s classified.”
“D4 classified?”
The professor ignores the question. “So Loogamon got his memory back?” He pulls out a legal pad and pen and waits eagerly for the answer.
“It’s still hazy. He remembers bits and pieces, but there is still a lot missing. The smell triggered his first few memories, but I don’t think he even remembers evolving into Loogarmon.”
“We did notice that there are errors in Loogamon’s memory. It’s what we would call amnesia in humans. It is possible that, as he remembers more, he will suffer bouts of mental anguish. When that happens Eiji, I need you to be there with him to help him through it. I need you to promise me that.” It was clear from the professor’s gentle tone that he truly cared about Loogamon.
Eiji looks over at Loogamon, who is sound asleep on a nearby couch. “I promise,” he answers with a smile. He turns to the professor. “You know,” Eiji starts, trying to find the right words. “When we were linked in the Digital World, I think I started to understand Loogamon better. I was experiencing everything as him or through him.”
The professor seems overjoyed by Eiji’s observation. “Is that so? That’s fantastic! You are a very gifted code cracker Eiji, and I am very fortunate to have you helping me with this endeavor.”
“Really? I’m just happy to be here. So much has happened since I met you and Loogamon… I promise I’ll work hard to make the Digital World a better place.” Eiji can’t hide the joy of hearing the Professor’s words. It had been a while since he received any proper validation.
The Professor clasps his hands. “Well I guess that makes you partners!”
“Hell yeah, we are!” Eiji thinks about his time with Loogamon. In the short time they’ve been together, they’ve become a team. Inseparable. Eiji would do anything for Loogamon, and he hoped it felt the same.
“Oh, right!” Ryusenji exclaims suddenly. ” Here’s a little something extra for you. A reward for getting Loogamon to Digivolve to Champion.” The professor pulls out his phone and makes a few inputs.
Eiji receives a notification. He studies it for a moment in disbelief. “This is awesome! Thank you.” Eiji stares lovingly at the amount freshly transferred to his bank account. He remembers the struggle of living paycheck to paycheck, and a sense of relief washes over him. He could eat meat tonight. His hard work was finally paying off.
“I want you to continue your investigation into the Sons of Chaos,” the Professor interrupts.
Eiji puts his phone away and nods his head in agreement. “I’ve already been contacted by the higher-ups. I have a meeting with them later today.”
The professor raises his eyebrow, “You certainly work fast, don’t you?”
“It’s all thanks to Loogamon. And this,” Eiji says as he raises his wrist, flashing the Digimon Linker.
“Who are you meeting?”
“Umm, let me see…” Eiji takes out his phone and begins scrolling through his messages.
“I’m meeting with a Code Cracker named Marvin.”
“The Songsmith? You’re certainly a big deal if you’re already meeting with him.”
“Is he famous or something?”
“He’s one of the lead developers for that app you use…GriMM. He’s one of the leading software engineers in the world.”
“Oh man, that’s huge! Maybe I’ll even get to meet Tartarus,” Eiji muses.
“Just remember why you’re there Eiji. You’re a spy, but you also have to be careful. I want you to have a long career.”
“I promise!”
“Good. Now there’s something I need to show you before you go. It’s important that you pay attention to this, it could mean your life.” The professor turns to his monitor and pulls up a file for Eiji to see.
D4 CLASSIFIED ML EXPERIMENT NO.■■■ DATE:■■■■, ■■SITE: DDL
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 1-17
While the story for Digimon Seekers isn’t bad, the mechanical translation is. In an effort to save the story, I have taken it upon myself to try to fix the story’s awkwardness. The spirit of the story will remain the same, but it will hopefully read a lot better. Make sure you always read the original, but I do hope you enjoy my version as well. I’ll be releasing my version the Monday after the official release. If you enjoy this project, make sure you like, subscribe, and share it where you can. Make sure you start at chapter 1-1!
Loogarmon stands on top of the crimson mausoleum. Its bloodthirsty gaze scanned over the fumbling DigiPolice. Flames lick from the sides of its iron muzzle. The ruby gem on its forehead glows with the light of the magical flame burning around it. Loogarmon sniffs the air as its claws stretch and dig into the red brick below. A sly smirk forms under its mask.
“No fair” Satsuki hisses as her expression sours at the site of the massive wolf. “This Digimon wasn’t…”
Her voice trails off as Loogarmon’s booming laugh echoes over the cul-de-sac. Flames crackle from the gaps in his maw. “I am the Demon Wolf, and this is my castle. Bow to me, or burn!” Its command carries comfortably over the domain.
Eiji watches from the void inside Loogarmon, admiring his partner’s new stage. Eiji can feel the sudden burst of strength and power as if it were his own. As the shock of this new power passes, Eiji begins to look over the data populating the screens around him. “Hey, Loogamon..I mean Loogarmon. Does this mean you got your memory back?” Eiji asks into the void. There is no response. Instead, Loogarmon’s gaze continues fixed on the wretched Numemon.
Satsuki stands frozen as she stares back at the massive wolf above her. She grinds her teeth in frustration. “This wasn’t supposed to happen…” she mutters to herself.
An intense flame starts to bleed from the gaps in Loogarmon’s muzzle. A smile forms, licking up loose embers into the air.
-Howling Burn!
Before anyone can react, Loogarmon shoots a ray of fire at Numemon. This time, its mucus does little to quell the flame. Numemon wriggles as it burns alive. Its squeals are muffled by the Satsuki’s piercing screams. “NOOOO!” She screams as she rushes toward the Numemon. “Not my poor Numemon!” The heat from the flame stops her from getting close enough to help. The flame grows as it burns. Angry tears fall from her eyes as she turns her glare to Loogarmon.
“Numemon is heavily damaged. A retreat has been ordered. Recover the wounded!” A panicked voice crackles over the radio.
The DigiPolice scramble at the command immediately. The Corgodramon swoops down to pick up the burning Numemon. Its rotors extinguish the flames. A squad Commandromon carry the unconscious Numemon aboard before the Corgodramon takes off in a swift retreat.
Inside the Cargodramon, Satsuki tends to the unconscious Numemon. She grits her teeth as she gently cleans her chared partner.
“How dare they do this to my Numemon.” Anger floods over her as she recalls images of Loogarmon and Eiji.
“Captain, you’re exceeding the safety thresholds. You must deactivate the Mindlink!”
“No!” she snaps, not breaking away from her work.
“But…”
“Look at what they did to my Numemon! That insolent Code Cracker and his dumb dog!”She slams her fists on a nearby table. “Next time I’ll make them pay…”
Cargodramon continues its accent unmolested. Satsuki walks over to a nearby window and watches the Wall Slim’s Ninth Avenue shrink below them. “I’ll get you for this Eiji Nagasumi. Just you wait…”
Loogarmon stands on top of the roof of the red mausoleum as the Cargodramon flies away. Eiji appears next to it, and they watch it disappear into the sea of networks.
Eiji turns to his partner and stares in admiration. It was the first time he lays eyes on Loogarmon. Standing over him like a giant Rhino, the wolf smirks. Its eyes lost in the sky.
“I finally remember something after Digivolving,” Loogarmon says, finally breaking the silence. “I used to be the boss of Ninth Avenue.”
“Yeah I heard. The Demon Wolf of Ninth Avenue. Impressive” Eiji remarks sincerely.
Loogarmon turns to Eiji. “But there is still a lot I don’t remember. I mean, I must have lost my position at some point..right?”
Eiji thinks for a moment. “Maybe you just have to keep evolving. If its slowly coming to you, maybe you just need to get stronger.”
Eiji is at a loss. He only knows about Amnesia from what he’s seen in movies.
“Maybe you’re right” Loogarmon looks pensively over the empty cul-de-sac. “I’ll get it all back” He says finally. “My power, memories, everything!” His voice trails off.
A sudden rustling sound comes from somewhere in the shadows. A Digimon emerges slowly from a nearby alley. Other Digimon start pouring from the surrounding streets and begin filling the plaza below.
“What’s going on?” Eiji asks as the plaza begins to fill with unfamiliar Digimon. Eiji begins to feel defensive, but Loogarmon calmy overlooks the Digimon that gather below.
LOOGARMON!
The crowd begins to cheer and chant. Their voices fill the dormant castle, bringing it to life.
Loogarmon! Loogarmon! Loogarmon!
The gathered Digimon celebrate the return of their king. Away from the crowd, on top of a building overlooking Ninth Avenue, the cloaked Digimon watches unseen.
“So the Demon Wolf Returns,” the cloaked Digimon says.
“It’s impressive isn’t it?” the interviewer’s voice replies over voice chat.
“It was little overkill calling the cops like that, don’t you think?”
“I didn’t think they would send their own Mindlinker but never I knew they’d get out of it. Everything came out as expected. Loogarmon is a prototype Digimon.”
“What did you think of the Code Cracker?”
“I’m reserving judgement for now.”
“Looks like the mapping job was completed,” says the cloaked Digimon as it begins to receive the mapping tool’s data.
“Well of course he passed the entrance exam. I want as many Mindlinkers as I can get.”
“Do you think you can guide him? Eiji I mean. Can you take him to a new level?
“I have to.” Silence falls over the pair as they watch over the commotion below. The chants echo off the walls around them. “It’s going to be interesting, don’t you think…Dorumon?”
The cloaked Digimon takes off its cloak revealing a small fox-like dragon. Small dragon wings wriggle from the small of its back and a big bushy tail wags behind it. On its forehead, Dorumon has the same jeweled metal interface as Loogamon.
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
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!”
My Thoughts on Digimon Seekers so Far
I am finally caught up to the latest chapter of Bandai’s web novel, Digimon Seekers, and I have some opinions about how it is going. I am enjoying the web novel, but it has a few grammatical and formatting issues that I believe will hurt its adoption. I want this project to be successful, so I have taken it upon myself to revise the story to make it more readable. Make sure you read the original chapters first! New chapters of Digimon Seekers come out on Sunday’s 10 am PST. That said, I think it is fair to pump my stock and ask you to read my version after. I will have new chapters on my blog the very next day.
So what do I think of the story so far? I can see the potential, but the story is held back by its awkward translation. There is solid world-building, a likable protagonist, and some solid art, but there are parts that could use a bit more development. That said, it’s fine for a story made for kids to sell toys.
Digimon Seekers was designed to bring new fans into the Digital World. While there are elements that will appeal to older fans, there are a lot of useful explanations designed to help new fans understand how the Digital World works. As a result, the story can be a little slow, but it is perfect for someone who doesn’t know a thing about Digimon.
After revisiting the story for my revisions, I noticed some redundancies and plot holes. Whether it was a translation error or poor writing, I did my best to remove as much as possible without changing the story. The characters are fine, but the translation results in awkward dialogue. I also believe that the combat and action could be better developed, but hopefully, this improves the deeper we get into the story.
I like the different factions and how Eiji exists in the middle. I also like the conflict that drives the story. What I enjoy most about this project is how it forces different elements to interact. If you enjoy the story, there is a toy you can buy that forces you to have your own adventure. If you enjoy the game, you can play with people from around the world that share your fandom. Every chapter will have a video to help people visualize the events or get them hyped for what is to come. If you’re an artist, you can submit your fan art and have it featured on the official page. I love looking over the collection and am fascinated by how this story, as simple as it is, can inspire so many people.
Digimon Seekers has had a solid start. There is room for improvement, but I am looking forward to what is to come. Make sure you read the official version, and maybe check out mine if you have time. Either way, I am here for it!
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.”