Let's reach 500 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
Digmon doesn't waste a moment. He slams his drill-covered hands into the ground, unleashing his signature move: Big Crack. The earth beneath us fissures, creating a chasm that threatens to swallow us whole. Gwen and I scramble back, barely avoiding falling into the abyss.
"Gatomon, BlackGatomon, watch out!" I shout, but it's too late. They are already launching themselves at Digmon, their claws extended, ready to strike. But Digmon is too fast. He spins his nose drill at an insane speed, creating a whirlwind of energy that deflects their attacks.
"Gold Rush!" Digmon shouts, unleashing a barrage of drill missiles from his snout and hands. The projectiles fly towards Gatomon and BlackGatomon, forcing them to retreat.
Greymon and Garurumon charge forward, determined to take down the armored Digimon. Greymon unleashes a Nova Blast, while Garurumon breathes out a stream of Fox Fire. The combined attacks engulf Digmon in a fiery inferno, but when the flames dissipate, he's still standing, his golden armor unscathed.
"Is that all you've got?" Digmon taunts, his voice distorted by the metallic armor.
He spins his nose drill again and charges at Greymon, unleashing his special move: Titan Drill. The drill connects with Greymon's chest, sending the dinosaur Digimon crashing back.
"Greymon!" I shout, my heart pounding in my chest.
Garurumon leaps forward, attempting to flank Digmon. The Armor-level Digimon spins around, slamming his drill-covered hands into Garurumon's face. Garurumon goes down, stunned by the attack.
This is not good. Digmon is too formidable. We need a new plan, and fast.
My mind races, trying to come up with something, anything, that can turn the tide. Okay, maybe if Gatomon and BlackGatomon use their agility to distract him, Greymon and Garurumon can come in for a coordinated attack. No, Digmon is too fast, they'll get swatted away like flies. Maybe I use the Digi-Modify card to boost Garurumon's ice attacks? Nah, that armor looks too tough for ice.
"Ethan, what do we do?" Gwen asks, her voice filled with worry.
I consider my options. I could evolve into Beetlemon. I have the Human Spirit of Thunder. I could take the fight to Digmon directly. But that would leave Gwen unprotected.
"Wait, I have an idea," Gwen says, her eyes lighting up. "I've been watching Digmon. He's powerful, but he relies on his drills. He likes to be underground, right? But what if we take away the ground?"
I stare at her, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"The subway tunnel! It's supported by metal beams, right?" Gwen explains, pointing to a series of rusted beams holding up the cavern ceiling. "If we can collapse the support structure, Digmon will have nothing to stand on! He'll be at our mercy!"
I consider her plan. It's crazy, but it just might work. Digmon relies on being grounded. If we take that away, he loses his advantage.
"Okay, here's what we do," I say, laying out the plan. "Gatomon and BlackGatomon, you two are the fastest. I need you to hit the supports to weaken them. Greymon and Garurumon, once the support beams are weakened, bring the whole thing down!"
Gatomon and BlackGatomon nod, their eyes gleaming with determination. Greymon and Garurumon rise to their feet, ready for action.
"Let's do this!" I shout.
Gatomon and BlackGatomon launch themselves at the metal support beams, their claws glowing with energy. They strike the beams with precise strikes, weakening the metal. Sparks fly as the beams groan under the assault.
Digmon, realizing what's happening, tries to intervene, spinning his drills and charging towards the feline Digimon.
"Greymon, now!" I shout.
Greymon unleashes a Nova Blast at the support beams, while Garurumon follows with a Fox Fire attack. The combined force of the attacks causes the beams to buckle and bend. The cavern ceiling begins to tremble.
"Everyone, get clear!" I yell, grabbing Gwen's hand and pulling her towards the edge of the cavern.
With a deafening roar, the support beams give way. The cavern ceiling collapses, sending tons of rock and debris crashing down on Digmon. The Armor-level Digimon is engulfed in the falling debris, unable to escape the sudden destruction.
The dust settles, revealing a massive pile of rubble. No sign of Digmon.
"Did we get him?" Gwen asks, her voice trembling.
Suddenly, a faint glow emanates from the rubble. With a final burst of light, a DigiEgg appears, resting on top of the pile.
"We did it," I say, relief washing over me.
We defeated Digmon. He's not causing any more trouble. But how many more Digimon are out there? I need to get stronger.
I walk over to the DigiEgg, point my Digivice at it, and send it back to the Digital World.
[Mission Complete]
[Reward: 10x Supply Boxes]
[Level Up!]
[Level 10 -> 11]
"Is it over?" Gwen asks, her voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and disbelief.
"Yeah," I say, a grin spreading across my face. "It's over."
A wave of relief washes over me as Greymon and Garurumon shrink back down to their Rookie forms, Agumon and Gabumon. They look tired but victorious, covered in dust and grime. I feel pride welling up inside me. They're getting stronger, and so am I.
I turn to Gwen, my gratitude overflowing. "That was amazing, Gwen. I don't know what we would have done without your strategy."
"It's no problem, Ethan," she says, smiling. "I'm glad I could help."
"Alright, let's get out of this death trap," I say, gesturing towards the tunnel that leads back to the surface. "I think we've had enough subterranean adventures for one day."
…
We finally make it back to the surface, crawling out of the mangled subway tunnel into the blessed fresh air. The scene above is nuts. Search and Rescue personnel swarm the area, directing traffic and tending to the injured. Sirens wail in the distance, a constant reminder of the near-disaster we just survived.
Gwen squints in the sunlight, brushing the dust off her clothes. "Wow," she says, taking in the chaos. "I can't believe that just happened."
"Tell me about it," I reply, already thinking about the ten Supply Boxes waiting for me. Agumon and Gabumon are safely tucked away in the Digivice.
Suddenly, a figure breaks through the crowd, his face etched with worry. It's a cop, and he's beelining straight for us. As he gets closer, I realize it's Gwen's dad, George Stacy.
"Gwen!" he shouts, his voice thick with relief. He practically tackles her in a hug, squeezing her tight. "Gwen, honey, are you okay? I heard about the explosion…"
"Dad, I'm fine," Gwen says, hugging him back. "I'm okay, thanks to Ethan."
George pulls back, his eyes scanning Gwen from head to toe. "Are you hurt? Anything broken?"
"I'm perfectly fine, Dad. Really," Gwen reassures him, then gestures towards me. "Dad, this is Ethan Kepler. Ethan, this is my dad, George Stacy."
George turns his attention to me, his gaze intense. I've heard a lot about this guy from Gwen. The honest cop, the loving father, the man with the ridiculously strong moral compass. This is our first meeting, and I already feel like I'm under a microscope.
"Ethan Kepler," he says, extending a hand. His grip is firm, calloused. "Gwen has told me a lot about you. I wanted to thank you for protecting my daughter. I can't imagine what could have happened if you weren't there."
"It was nothing, sir," I say, shaking his hand. "We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Friends stick together, right?"
His eyes soften a bit, and I think I see a flicker of a smile. "That's good to hear, Ethan. Friends are important. And Gwen is my world."
He turns back to his daughter. "Alright, Gwen, I think it's time I got you home. You've been through enough for one day."
"But, Dad—" Gwen starts, giving me a pointed look. "I wanted to talk to Ethan a little more about, you know…"
"The…explosion?" George finishes for her, raising an eyebrow.
I cut in before she can spill the beans. "We can talk about it later, Gwen. You should go home and get some rest. We can grab burgers tomorrow."
Her expression is a mix of disappointment and suspicion. She's definitely not letting this go. I can see the gears turning in her head.
"Okay," she says, her voice a little too sweet. "Tomorrow it is." She gives me a look that says, This isn't over, then lets George steer her toward his cruiser.
As they drive off, I let out a huge breath I didn't know I was holding. Disaster averted. For now, at least. Time to head back and sleep.
***
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