The boy's card split open with a violent crackle of red-black light.
The air warped.
The shadows twisted.
Sakura's heart pounded so loudly she heard it in her ears.
Riv leapt onto her shoulder.
"Sakura! That card is reacting to his emotions! He's unstable—transform NOW!"
Sakura clutched her Sakuyamon card, hands trembling.
"O-Okay! But I've never done this in a real fight!"
"That's what training is for! Which you don't have! So improvise!"
"THAT DOESN'T HELP!"
But there was no time to argue.
The boy's body convulsed as the transformation consumed him—muscles swelling, skin darkening, claws growing. He screamed in fury and pain, his voice distorting into something inhuman.
Sakura raised her card.
"Sakuyamon—Spirit Merge!"
Light exploded around her, golden and warm, washing away the darkness for a split second.
But when the light faded, she stood as Sakuyamon—taller, stronger, armored, and glowing with divine data energy.
Her doubts faded under the mask's calm presence.
"Riv," Sakura said, voice echoing like a priestess, "what… what did he turn into?"
Riv swallowed hard.
"A corrupted Digimon variant. Something between a Devimon and a Wendigo. A monster born from negative intent."
The creature—once a boy—now towered over them, drooling black saliva.
Its eyes were voids.
Its breath reeked of rot and hatred.
It roared, the sound ripping through the alley.
Sakura flinched.
"Oh no. Oh no no no. I'm not ready for this…"
"You are Sakuyamon," Riv said firmly, "and you MUST act."
---
The monster lunged.
Sakura jumped back instinctively, her movements guided by Sakuyamon's warrior instincts. But even with the new strength, the shockwave from the creature's landing rattled her bones.
"That thing is fast!" she gasped.
"He's fueled by all his anger," Riv warned. "His transformation is stronger than normal. You must end this quickly!"
Sakura raised her golden staff, focusing the energy she felt swirling inside her.
"Right… sakuyamon attacks… sakuyamon attacks…"
Her mind blanked.
"OH COME ON! Why didn't I memorize her moves?!"
"Sakura!" Riv barked. "Just follow your instincts!"
The monster swung its massive claw.
Sakura blocked with her staff—
but the force sent her sliding backward across the concrete.
"Okay—ouch—bad idea—he hits like a truck!"
"You must purify him!"
"I don't know HOW to do that!"
"You do," Riv insisted. "Sakuyamon's power is harmonization. Trust it!"
---
The monster roared and charged again.
Sakura closed her eyes.
She reached deeper into the transformation…
deeper into Sakuyamon's spirit.
And something clicked.
Her body moved on its own.
She spun, forming a glowing mandala shield that blossomed in front of her like a sacred flower. The creature slammed into it—and the barrier rippled with blue-gold light, knocking him back.
Sakura gasped.
"I… did that?"
"Yes!" Riv cheered. "Your instincts are synchronizing!"
"But I don't know if I can do it again!"
"You don't need to know. You just need to FEEL!"
---
The creature let out another guttural shriek and lunged.
Sakura raised her staff, both hands gripping it tightly.
"Please work, please work, PLEASE WORK—!"
A ring of golden talismans burst into existence around her, swirling like orbiting moons.
Her staff ignited in sacred flame.
"Kongou Shingon…
PURITY BREAK!"
The staff slammed into the monster's chest, releasing a shockwave of cleansing light. The corrupted energy around him cracked like glass.
The creature staggered, light enveloping his body—
—and the monstrous form shattered.
The boy collapsed unconscious onto the alley floor.
Sakura fell to her knees, exhausted.
"I… I actually won…"
Riv landed beside her.
"You did more than win," he said softly. "You saved him. If you hadn't purified that corruption, his body would've collapsed completely."
Sakura looked at her hands—still trembling.
"I thought I was going to die…"
"But you didn't."
She de-transformed, collapsing backward, breathing hard.
"That was my FIRST battle and it was already that scary?!" she shouted.
Riv nodded.
"It will only become harder from here."
Sakura groaned into her hands.
"Oh great. Fantastic. Wonderful. I'm doomed."
Riv flicked her forehead.
"No. You're chosen."
She looked up at him.
"…I don't know if that makes me feel better."
"It shouldn't. But it means you're not alone."
---
Before Sakura could respond, Riv's fur puffed up.
"Sakura… someone else is coming."
"What? Another monster?!"
"No. Something worse…"
Footsteps echoed from the end of the alley.
A woman in a black coat approached, her presence cold and controlled. In her hand, she held a glowing briefcase.
Her eyes locked onto Sakura.
"So," the woman said calmly,
"the Chosen Collector is real."
Riv hissed under his breath.
"Hunter-class operative… Sakura, stay behind me."
The woman smiled slightly.
"Don't worry. I'm not here to fight."
She lifted the briefcase.
"I'm here to make you an offer."
Sakura's heart sped up again.
"…Oh no. I hate this already."