"The hell is a 'Digimon System'?" I blurt out, my voice echoing in the dingy room. This has to be some kind of prank, right? Or maybe I'm just losing it, the stress of being reborn in a comic book world finally pushing me over the edge.
But as I stare at the screen, a surge of adrenaline courses through me. This… this could be it. My cheat code. My way to survive, maybe even thrive, in this crazy world.
"Digimon…" I mutter to myself, a grin spreading across my face. "Please tell me this is what I think it is."
Digimon, short for "Digital Monsters," are beings born from Earth's digital data, living in the parallel Digital World. Unlike Pokémon, who exist as part of nature, Digimon are living data with free will, personalities, and speech. They hatch from Digi-Eggs and grow through "digivolution," which is often temporary and can radically alter their power and form. Because they are made of data, Digimon can interact with technology in ways Pokémon cannot: they can travel through computers, manipulate networks, consume data to grow stronger, and even control electronics.
"No way…" I whisper, a goofy smile plastered on my face. "This is too good to be true."
I grew up watching Digimon Adventure on TV, the old dubbed version and everything. I always thought they were way cooler than Pokémon. Sorry, Pikachu, but a Greymon could stomp you any day. It's not even a competition. Digimon never got as big, but their fanbase is solid. Plus, their evolutions are insane, exponentially stronger than Pokémon's kinda linear growth. If I'm gonna be stuck in the Marvel Universe, having a few Digimon around could be a huge game-changer.
I stare at the blue screen, excitement bubbling inside me. "Okay, system," I say, my voice a little shaky. "What is the Digimon System, exactly?"
The screen flickers, then words appear in bright green text. [The Digimon System is a comprehensive interface designed to assist you in obtaining, raising, and training Digimon in this new reality. It provides various functions to enhance your abilities and strengthen your bond with your digital partners.]
"Okay, sounds promising," I murmur, rubbing my hands together. "So, how does it work?"
[The System includes a leveling system. As you complete missions and defeat enemies, you will gain experience points, which will allow you to level up. Each level grants you attribute points to distribute as you see fit. This allows you to customize your stats to fit your playstyle.]
"Stats?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. "Like, strength and stuff?"
[Affirmative. The attributes are as follows: STR (Strength), VIT (Vitality), DEX (Dexterity), AGI (Agility), INT (Intelligence), WIS (Wisdom), and CHA (Charisma).]
"Alright, that's… actually pretty standard," I say, a smile creeping across my face. "So, classic RPG stuff. Level up, get stronger, collect monsters. I can dig it. So, where do I get these Digimon?"
The screen displays: [Digimon Acquisition function is currently locked. Please complete the initial tutorial to unlock.]
"What?!" I exclaim, throwing my hands up in frustration. "Seriously? If I don't have a Digimon, what is even the point of this system?!" I can't believe it, this is the worst! All this talk about levels and stats, and I can't even use any of it.
[Solution Located. A Newbie Package has been prepared for you.]
My eyes widen, all thoughts of frustration flying out the window. "A newbie package? For me?" I ask, barely able to contain my excitement. "Does it have a Digimon in it?!"
[Would you like to open the Newbie Package?]
"Are you kidding me?" I shout, practically vibrating with anticipation. "Yes! Yes, I would like to open it! Open it right now!"
The screen glows, and two items materialize in the air in front of me. They float gently, bathed in a soft light. First, there's a pair of white and orange goggles, the kind you see in every Digimon anime ever. Next to it is a sleek, white smartphone with glowing orange LEDs. It looks pretty slick, not gonna lie.
"What are these?" I ask, my eyes darting between the two objects.
The system helpfully provides descriptions.
[Digi-Goggles]
[A pair of goggles that allows the user to view Cyberspace and scan Digimon information.]
(You are not a Digimon Protagonist if you don't have goggles)
[Digivice]
[A modern Digivice in the form of a smartphone. A device that serves as the link between a human and their Digimon partner. Besides functioning as a regular smartphone, the Digivice can trigger Digivolutions to partner Digimon, detect Digimon, store Digimon, and access system functions.]
(Proof that you are a Digimon Tamer)
I snatch the goggles and Digivice out of the air. I knew it! You can't be a Digimon protagonist without the goggles. It's, like, a law or something. I immediately put them on. The system speaks in my mind, "The Digivice looks pretty high tech, but how do I summon my partners?"
[To summon your Digimon, point the Digivice at a compatible device and activate the 'Summon' function. A nearby computer has been detected as a suitable terminal.]
"Alright, let's do this!" I whip around, spotting the ancient PC sitting on a rickety table in the corner. That thing looks like it came straight out of a tech museum. I mean, seriously, who still uses a tower PC?
I stride over to the computer, Digivice in hand. The thing looks like it was pieced together from spare parts found in a dumpster. But hey, if the system says it works, I'm not gonna argue. I point the Digivice at the monitor and tap around on the screen until I find the "Summon" function.
"Here goes nothing," I mutter, tapping the icon.
The computer sputters to life, the screen glowing with an otherworldly light. Data streams cascade across the display, forming swirling patterns and strange symbols. The light intensifies, becoming almost blinding, and then two figures leap out of the screen.
One is a small, feline creature with sleek white fur and large purple gloves. The other is its opposite, sporting equally sleek black fur and sinister-looking dark purple gloves. Both land gracefully on their feet before launching themselves at me, giggling.
Before I can react, they crash into me, knocking me backward onto the floor. They were purring with happiness, rubbing their faces against my cheek.
"Ethan!"
***
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