The Competition Begins

The school auditorium buzzed with excitement. Students gathered in clusters, checking their PETs, swapping last-minute strategies, and sizing up the competition. A massive holographic screen loomed above the stage, ready to broadcast the Cyberworld battles that would unfold throughout the day.

At the front of the room stood Dr. Light, flanked by Misaki Tanaka, president of the Coding Club, and Hiroshi Sakamoto, the Student Council President. Hiroshi was a tall third-year with neatly combed hair, an air of authority, and a gold-trimmed armband that shimmered under the lights. He stepped forward, tapping the mic at the podium.

His voice rang clear and confident across the auditorium.

“Welcome to the first-ever Dentech Academy Versatile Navi Competition.”

A ripple of applause echoed through the room. Hiroshi’s sharp eyes swept over the gathered crowd.

“Today, we’re not just testing who can fight the hardest. This is about adaptability, intelligence, and teamwork. The best NetOps don’t just react—they think ahead.”

Beside him, Misaki smirked and stepped forward. “Exactly. This competition will challenge you in three distinct ways. You’ll need to be more than just flashy on the battlefield.”

The screen behind them shimmered as it displayed the competition phases:

Phase 1: The Navi Maze
Each Navi will begin in a separate sector of a sprawling digital maze. The objective: reach the center. No BattleChips will be allowed—Navis must rely solely on their built-in abilities and one designated Special Attack. Obstacles and hostile programs will populate the maze, and encounters with enemy Navis are logged as simulated combat, not true deletion. Navis that are overpowered will be logged out and removed from the competition, but not deleted.

Phase 2: The Coding Challenge
The remaining Navis must pass through a series of security barriers. This is a test of the NetOp’s coding ability and the Navi’s capacity to interpret and execute those commands. No BattleChips are allowed. The first four NetTeams to successfully navigate the digital firewalls will advance to the final round.

Phase 3: Final Four Free-for-All
The last four NetTeams will face off in a one-on-one-on-one-on-one NetBattle. NetOps will be given a randomized set of five digital BattleChips. No substitutions, no backups. Adaptation and strategy will decide the victor.

Lan leaned toward Maylu, eyes wide. “Randomized chips? No backups?”

She crossed her arms. “Guess they really want to test how well we improvise.”

Rock folded his arms. “This isn’t just about power… it’s about control.”

Roll nodded in agreement. “And quick thinking. We’re in for a real challenge.”

Lan cracked a confident grin. “Good. I’m ready.”

Maylu shot him a look. “Let’s just make it through the maze first, hero.”

Nearby, several other students murmured excitedly. Some were preparing to enter the competition, while others simply came to watch.

Dr. Light raised his hand, quieting the auditorium.

“This competition was created to push boundaries—to reward creativity and execution, not just brute strength. Win or lose, every participant today will walk away sharper.

“The school is equipped with jacking ports at each seat, allowing you to connect directly without leaving your spot. Just look for the glowing port indicators beneath your tabletop screens. Good luck—and may your Navis bring your best selves to the Cyberworld. You have ten minutes to talk with your Navi, strategize, and register.”

As Dr. Light stepped away from the podium, a large timer flashed on the holo screen behind him.

---

Lan held his PET at eye level. “You ready, Rock?”

Rock gave a thumbs-up. “Just finished registering. Wanted to discuss strategy before it starts. I mean, we don’t have any BattleChips—and even if we did, we’re not allowed to use them.”

“Right. I think maze-wise, we should just stay ready and aware. Keep moving. Go left every time you think you can. I think that’s what I remember… but who knows how this maze works. With obstacles and battling, you could get turned around easily. Just be ready and move fast. This’ll give us a great idea of your stats and what we should adjust.”

Lan turned to Maylu. “Ready?”

“Ready,” she said.

Then, they said in unison, “Let’s Jack in and rock ‘n’ roll!”

Both Navis digitized and materialized on opposite sides of the maze. The maze was well-lit with white walls made from iridescent cyber steel. The sleek hall seemed to vibrate with the unknown of the competition. A timer was counting down—2 minutes and 58 seconds until the challenge began.

Rock reached out and touched the barrier in front of him. A red X formed under his palm and pulsed at him. He pulled his hand away quickly.

Lan’s image beside Rock looked at his hand. “Did it shock you?”

“No, but I could tell it was coming,” Rock said. “It does that to prevent Navis from overriding the security.”

He then touched the wall. “Whoa, these are no joke. Even with a BattleChip, these walls would take hours to get through—and there’s a firewall in the wall too.”

“Can you get any read on it? Or where you’re supposed to go in relation to the end?”

“Yes. The middle of the maze is directly ahead, but knowing the direction ‘as the crow flies’ isn’t exactly useful without a map. Any Navi will be able to sense the end relative to their location—like a beacon.”

“Makes sense.”

The clock ticked closer to zero.

“Alright,” Lan said as the final ten seconds flashed. “Here we go.”

The timer hit zero, and the barrier dissolved. Rock shot forward, racing down the corridor. He grabbed the wall and banked left. He passed other corridors and glimpsed Navis already battling. Rounding another corner, he saw a boxy, robotic-looking Navi getting pummeled by repeated blaster fire from a turret mounted on the wall.

Rock’s arm transformed into his Buster. A blue cannon emerged from his wrist. He sprinted forward, staying behind the struggling Navi, then leapt into the air. Keeping his Buster aimed, he kicked off the other Navi’s shoulder and fired a blast that scorched the wall. The turret digitized.

Rock didn’t stop. He heard the Navi sigh in relief but kept running. Moments later, he hit his first dead end—and first trap. A web of sticky, glue-like string wrapped around him. He struggled to free himself, but as he bent over, his shoulder stuck to the wall. Then his foot.

“Rock! Stop moving!” Lan yelled. “You’ll never free yourself like that!”

Rock froze. The way he came was behind him. He listened—and heard footsteps… then
 
“Retro-static!” a robotic voice cried.

A wave of electricity hit Rock, but instead of hurting him, the bindings digitized and fell away.

They turned to see the boxy Navi from before. A small old-school TV with an antenna sat on his head. His face was a digital screen.

“Hello. I am Retroid. Thank you for saving me from the turret.”

“And thank you for cutting me free,” Rock said, extending a hand. “I’m Rock. Nice to meet you.”

Suddenly, Retroid began to spark. A voice chimed: Retroid logging out. His body pixelated and vanished.

In his place stood a haggard-looking Navi with armored, Gundam-like features. He walked toward Rock with hands raised. A bowl-like dish formed from his palm.

Rock reacted fast, raising his Buster and firing. The shot glanced off the Navi’s armor. The enemy returned fire with a blast of sound waves. Rock stumbled back, slammed into the wall, and was pinned by the force.

He fired again, hitting the sonic dish. A small explosion sent the Gundam-like Navi to his knees. Rock fell free from the wave’s pressure.

“Lan… I don’t think I can make it through this. His armor’s too tough.”

Lan frantically searched the PET. There—under Rock’s skill list: Speed, Movement, Hacking… and Buster. It had a dropdown arrow. Lan tapped it.

“Rock, engage your Charged Shot!”

“My what?”

“Hold your Buster shot before firing!”

Rock dodged another blast, which clipped his left shoulder. “Ah! Okay, here goes!”

He supported his arm and held down the Buster’s trigger. It began pulsating pink—then shifted to an iridescent yellow. Rock felt the energy vibrate through him.

“CHARGED SHOT!”

The recoil hit hard. Rock was launched back into the wall. But his blast made contact—and exploded in a brilliant shower of sparks. The enemy Navi slammed into the opposite wall and pixelated.

Jets logging out.

Rock panted. “That… packs a punch.”

Lan nodded. “But that also decreases your movement and energy levels. You’re pretty low right now.”

“True. I’m not using that as a regular move… but that can save my neck in dire situations.”

He shook off the daze and took off running—slower now. But his speed stat and HP began gradually regenerating. Navis, like humans, recovered over time—but at a much faster rate.

Rock encountered two more traps. One was a glue trap sprung by another Navi. Rock tried to free him but failed—accidentally knocking him down and getting him more stuck. He moved on.

The second was a spiked wall trap. Rock’s shots bounced off uselessly. The stunned Navi inside stood frozen. Rock dove in, knocking the Navi out of harm’s way. The Navi stared in shock as he logged out.

“Wow… he was terrified,” Rock muttered. “I’ve got his Navi code. I’ll send him a message later—check in on him.”

“That’s a great idea,” Lan said.

Rock pressed on. Two more turrets appeared, but the rest of the journey was smooth.

“I think we’re close to the end,” Lan said.

Rock rounded one more corner and stumbled into a room through a glowing barrier. His abilities felt restricted. Two Navis were already there.

Roll—her pink armor looked remarkably clean—stood beneath a glowing gold number 1. The other was a sleek, dog-headed Navi with a humanoid body—almost like Anubis. A silver number 2 floated above him.

Rock glanced up. A bronze number 3 orbited over his head.

He walked over. Roll greeted him with a smile. “Took you long enough,” she teased.

“We ran into… things.”

She pointed to a nearby station. “You look rough. Go get cleaned up.”

Rock entered the refresher pod. Scorch marks and scratches vanished. Lan’s image popped up.

“This is crazy. Your stats and HP are rising fast. In a few minutes, you’ll be back to full. Maybe you’ll have to fight your way back through the maze.”

Rock chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. “Once was plenty.”

As he exited, a line of Navis had formed for the refresher. The highest number he saw was 13. He wondered how many more would show up.

He found Roll again, now standing beside a board that tracked arrival order. A Navi marked with 14 dashed in.

“How many are left?” Rock asked.

“About three more,” Roll said. “Close to it. Over four hundred Navis have already dropped out.”

Rock checked the timer. Five minutes remained.

He glanced at the display. The closest Navi was stuck in a trap labeled “Spiked Hole.” Rock shuddered.

“Come on,” Roll said. “Let’s talk over here.”

She led him to a table. Another Navi sat nearby, looking worse than Rock had on arrival.

As they sat, Roll pointed toward the refresher line. “Some of these poor Navis got wrecked.”

Then she began to recount her story…

[Flashback begins]

“Alright, Roll,” Maylu said. “It’s time to show the school what we’re made of.”

“Let’s do it!” Roll replied.

The bell sounded, and Roll tore down the corridor. She followed the curved wall until she reached a five-way fork.

“What should I do, Maylu?”

“Let’s see if a Roll Blast trips any of the traps.”

“That’s a great idea. Roll Blast!”

Roll touched her lips with her right index finger. Pink hearts appeared. She caught one and hurled it down the hall. It split into five hearts, each trailing a glowing pink ribbon, spreading left to right. Each struck a different corridor—triggering traps: an electrified barrier, a falling spike trap, and revealing one clear path.

Maylu and Roll stared, wide-eyed.

“That thing’s a bit intense,” Maylu muttered, still watching the spike trap retract back into the ceiling.

“If I’m being honest, I think that’s the way to go,” Roll said.

Maylu looked puzzled. “Why? The trap will reset. How do you plan on getting past it?”

“By going over it. Roll Blast!”

She launched another volley of hearts down the second hallway. The hearts streamed forward. A loud snap echoed, and the spike trap slammed to the floor again.

Roll took a running start and leapt. She cleared the platform just as it reset.

“That was incredible! Way to go, Roll—you’re amazing!” Maylu cheered.

Out of nowhere, a turret popped out of the wall and fired a jet of flames.

Before Roll could do more than blink, she was engulfed in white-hot fire.

For the third time in as many minutes, Roll summoned her Special Attack. Two hearts burned up instantly from the heat. One more was knocked off course and clipped the turret. The last two smashed into it.

As the fire dissipated, Maylu could finally see her Navi.

Roll’s skin was red like a tomato. Her neatly plaited hair was scorched and stuck out at odd angles. Her pink armor was charred and covered in soot.

“Roll, are you okay?”

Roll coughed and touched her arms. “I think so. That was intense.”

“Your stats are blinking red—they’re really low,” Maylu said, frowning.

“Let’s take it easy… but also move quickly.”

Roll moved forward—confidently, but now cautiously. After a few quiet turns, she spotted two Navis up ahead, shuffling through the corridor. One looked like a part-dog, clad in silver armor. The other was a sleek, black, boxer-themed Navi.

They were locked in battle.

Roll decided to make her move. She ran forward and leapt over them—but stumbled on the landing. She caught herself, barely staying upright.

The dog-headed Navi tried to chase her, but the boxer Navi punched him in the back of the head.

Roll limped down the next hallway and stumbled into the end room. She felt her Roll Blast get suppressed and looked around, confused.

Then she heard: McIntosh logging out.

She turned to see the dog-headed Navi entering the room behind her. They locked eyes in silence.

Without a word, he pointed at the refresher station and walked to an open table.

Roll entered the station and got cleaned up. The soot and burns vanished. Her energy returned.

She was just looking around the room when Rock arrived.

[*Flashback ends*] 

Roll smiled faintly as she recalled the chaos. 

Rock raised an eyebrow. “You had a harder time than I did?”

Roll smirked. “You think?”

“What did you go through?”

As Rock recounted his run-ins with the other Navis, he noticed Roll’s expression grow more and more incredulous with each one. When he finally got to the last encounter, he leaned back and grinned.

“Problem?” he asked.

Roll shook her head, half amused, half exasperated. “It’s just… this is a competition, Rock.”

“Yeah,” Maylu chimed in, arms crossed. “You two might’ve gotten here faster if you ignored the other Navis.”

“Not true,” Lan cut in. “Rock was trapped. If Retroid hadn’t been able—or willing—to free him, he would’ve been a sitting duck for Jet… or any other Navi.”

“I guess,” Maylu said, shrugging, “but still… it doesn’t seem like you were trying.”

“Trust me—we were,” Rock replied. “And we learned my new move: the Charged Shot.”

Roll tilted her head. “I wonder if I have a special move.”

Maylu was already ahead of her. “You do. It’s called Roll Storm. I’m not exactly sure what it’ll look like yet… but we’ll find out soon enough.”

Just then, the door shimmered again, and another Navi stumbled through the barrier. He was tall and thin, with a cloak-like mantle over one shoulder and wires dangling from his forearms. The number 25 hovered above his head. His eyes scanned the room warily before he shuffled toward the refresher station.

“Looks like he barely made it,” Roll whispered.

Before anyone could say more, the holo screen in the center of the room flared to life. Misaki Tanaka appeared, her expression calm but focused.

“Congratulations to the first twenty-five NetTeams,” she said. “You’ve completed Phase One of the Versatile Navi Competition.”

A soft chime rang out, and the air shimmered around each Navi in the room.

“Phase Two begins now—the Coding Challenge,” Misaki continued. “Each Navi will be transferred into a locked digital chamber. The only way out is through a secure barrier system that your NetOp must bypass using code.”

She looked directly into the screen, as if addressing each student one-on-one.

“You’ll have ten minutes to solve your way out. No BattleChips. No abilities. Just your mind and your link to your Navi. If you succeed, you advance to the finals. If not… your run ends here.”

Lan adjusted his PET. “Alright, Rock. Let’s show them what we can do.”

Maylu gave Roll a nod. “We’ve got this.”

One by one, the Navis were lifted in shimmering beams of light and sent into Phase Two.

The screen surged—then locked in place.

Lan’s eyes widened as the static vanished. The connection to Rock was back—solid, seamless. The congested, laggy fog in his mind lifted in an instant.

Rock’s voice blasted through the PET like a war cry.

“YEAHHH! I’M BACK, BUDDY!! LET’S ROCK!!”

“Rock!” Lan shouted, grinning ear to ear.

On screen, Rock was already charging down a newly-formed corridor, the shattered core still dissolving behind him. The digital walls peeled open like layers of old paint, revealing a massive room with a single button at its center.

“Go, go, go!”

Rock hit it right at 16:00.

In a blink of light, he was gone—transported to a glowing pedestal with a floating 1 above his head.

“First!” Lan pumped his fist. “That’s what I’m talking about!”

He turned quickly to check on Maylu’s screen.

Roll was still swinging her tool, chunks of corrupted code flying as she clawed through the wall. Maylu’s hands worked furiously on her keyboard, but her coding was a little slower—less aggressive—than Lan’s.

“She’s almost through,” he said aloud.

Roll broke through the final layer just in time and dashed into the corridor. But she wasn’t alone.

Two other Navis were already ahead of her—a sleek Anubis-styled Navi, and a grotesque three-headed skeletal monkey, each skull chattering as it ran.

The Anubis Navi hit the button—second place.

The monkey Navi arrived right after—third.

Roll skidded into the room, her heels sparking against the floor. Behind her, six more Navis burst out of their corridors, sprinting at full speed.

“Roll, NOW!” Maylu shouted.

Roll lunged.

Her hand slapped the button—

FOURTH.

A blinding pulse of light rippled across the room.

Lan flinched.

On every other monitor, the remaining Navis who hadn’t made it froze in mid-step, then pixelated into fading light. One by one, they were yanked back into their PETs—disqualified.

The second event was over.

The arena cleared.

Rock stood tall on his pedestal with the glowing 1 still above him. Roll blinked in next, breathless, now standing on her own fourth place podium.

Maylu let out a shaky sigh of relief.

“She made it,” she whispered, eyes wide.

Lan nodded, watching Rock scan the platforms, then light up when he saw Roll.

“Yeah,” Lan murmured. “She really did.”

The screen surged—then locked in place.

Lan’s eyes widened as the static vanished. The connection to Rock was back—solid, seamless. The congested, laggy fog in his mind lifted in an instant.

Rock’s voice blasted through the PET like a war cry.

“YEAHHH! I’M BACK, BUDDY!! LET’S ROCK!!”

“Rock!” Lan shouted, grinning ear to ear.

On screen, Rock was already charging down a newly-formed corridor, the shattered core still dissolving behind him. The digital walls peeled open like layers of old paint, revealing a massive room with a single button at its center.

“Go, go, go!”

Rock hit it right at 16:00.

In a blink of light, he was gone—transported to a glowing pedestal with a floating 1 above his head.

“First!” Lan pumped his fist. “That’s what I’m talking about!”

He turned quickly to check on Maylu’s screen.

Roll was still swinging her tool, chunks of corrupted code flying as she clawed through the wall. Maylu’s hands worked furiously on her keyboard, but her coding was a little slower—less aggressive—than Lan’s.

“She’s almost through,” he said aloud.

Roll broke through the final layer just in time and dashed into the corridor. But she wasn’t alone.

Two other Navis were already ahead of her—a sleek Anubis-styled Navi, and a grotesque three-headed skeletal monkey, each skull chattering as it ran.

The Anubis Navi hit the button—second place.

The monkey Navi arrived right after—third.

Roll skidded into the room, her heels sparking against the floor. Behind her, six more Navis burst out of their corridors, sprinting at full speed.

“Roll, NOW!” Maylu shouted.

Roll lunged.

Her hand slapped the button—

FOURTH.

A blinding pulse of light rippled across the room.

Lan flinched.

On every other monitor, the remaining Navis who hadn’t made it froze in mid-step, then pixelated into fading light. One by one, they were yanked back into their PETs—disqualified.

The second event was over.

The arena cleared.

Rock stood tall on his pedestal with the glowing 1 still above him. Roll blinked in next, breathless, now standing on her own fourth place podium.

Maylu let out a shaky sigh of relief.

“She made it,” she whispered, eyes wide.

Lan nodded, watching Rock scan the platforms, then light up when he saw Roll.

“Yeah,” Lan murmured. “She really did.”

Just then, in the real world, Hiroshi Sakamoto, the Student Council President, stepped up to the podium at the front of the arena.

The crowd hushed.

“That brings us,” Hiroshi said with a proud smile, “to the third and final event…”

A beat.

“…but first—LUNCH!”

The audience exploded with cheers.

Behind him, the giant screen came to life. It zoomed in on the four victorious Navis:

·       Rock, standing tall on his pedestal, cracked his knuckles with a smirk.

·       Anubyte, the jackal-headed Navi with golden accents and shifting sands, stood still as a statue.

·       Skelekey, the three-headed skeletal monkey, chattered and clicked in all directions.

·       And Roll, tired but triumphant, stood proud with her hands on her hips.

Lan leaned forward as the names appeared beneath each of them.

“Anubyte, huh?” he muttered. “Creepy cool.”

“Skelekey…?” He squinted. “That thing gave me nightmares and I didn’t even fight it.”

He looked over at Maylu. She was locked on the screen, still catching her breath.

“Fourth place,” Lan said, nudging her gently. “You crushed it.”

Maylu gave a shaky nod, then smiled. “Yeah… so did you.”

Above them, the screen pulsed again. A bold timer ticked down:

60:00 – Final Event Approaching

Lunch was on the clock.

The cafeteria was loud. Students swarmed every corner, trading theories and snacks in equal measure. The excitement of the upcoming final round was electric.

Lan dropped his tray next to Maylu’s with a clatter. “I still can’t believe Rock broke through that firewall. That drill bit melting? That was nuts.”

Maylu gave a half-smile, poking at her food. “Yeah, well… Roll kind of tried the same thing. Just—slower. And messier.”

Lan paused mid-bite. “She didn’t have the adapter, huh?”

Maylu shook her head. “I tried building one. Too late. Roll was hacking manually for the first half. No tools. Just pure grit.”

Lan winced. “Brutal.”

“She didn’t panic, though,” Maylu said, with a little pride. “She kept trying different code lines, cycling brute force, even rewrote her own patch mid-run.”

Lan gave a low whistle. “That’s impressive.”

“Except for the part where she almost fried her system looping too many commands. I had to pull half of them before she locked up.”

They both laughed lightly, exhaustion catching up with them.

“She still beat six others,” Lan said. “And she hit that button just ahead of the pack. I saw it—barely a second.”

Maylu nodded, smiling a little more sincerely now. “Yeah… Roll’s tougher than she looks.”

“Roll’s awesome,” Lan said. “You both are.”

Maylu gave him a sidelong glance. “So… final round. Think Rock’s ready?”

Lan grinned. “Always.”

Then, quieter, he added, “I just hope I am.”


The cafeteria buzzed with noise, but the table Lan and Maylu sat at felt like its own little bubble. Trays of mostly ignored food sat in front of them as they replayed the last round in their minds.

Rock’s voice chimed through Lan’s PET, cheerful and steady. “That was wild. I thought we were cooked after the drill snapped.”

Lan grinned. “You pulled it off, though. Got us a clean connection just in time.”

Maylu poked at her lunch, clearly still chewing on the outcome. “Roll tried everything I threw at her. It just… wasn’t enough. Not fast enough.”

Roll’s voice floated out of Maylu’s PET, quieter than usual. “It was like swimming through tar. Every time I made progress, the code shifted.”

“You were in a bad setup from the start,” Rock said gently. “I had an adapter, you didn’t. That’s not on you.”

“Exactly,” Lan added. “You made it out. You beat six other Navis to that button. I saw it—barely a second of difference.”

Roll’s silence hung for a moment, then she said, “It still felt like I messed up. Like I let us fall behind.”

“You didn’t,” Rock said firmly. “You adapted. You held it together under pressure. You powered through bad tools and worse luck.”

“Yeah,” Lan echoed. “A weaker team would’ve cracked. You didn’t.”

Maylu met Lan’s eyes. “You mean that?”

Lan nodded. “You and Roll fought tooth and nail to earn that spot. You belong here.”

There was a pause—then Roll’s voice sparked with a little more fire. “You know what? You’re right. We did make it. We’re still in this.”

“Yeah we are,” Rock said. “Final event’s coming. We’ve already proven we can hold our own.”

Roll’s tone rose. “No more playing catch-up. Next round, we’re ahead from the start.”

Maylu sat up straighter. “Let’s win this thing.”

Rock laughed. “That’s what I like to hear.”

Lan smiled as he watched his friends’ confidence ignite. “Then let’s finish lunch and get ready. One more event. Let’s rock.”

Roll’s tone rose. “No more playing catch-up. Next round, we’re ahead from the start.”

Maylu sat up straighter, fists clenched with new resolve. “Let’s win this thing.”

Rock laughed. “That’s what I like to hear.”

Lan smiled. “Then let’s finish lunch and get ready. One more event. Let’s rock.”

Maylu grinned and added with a playful fire, “And Roll!”

Everyone at the table laughed, the tension melting away as their spirits lifted—together, as a team.

Just then, a few classmates wandered over with their trays. Ryan gave Lan a proud thump on the shoulder. “That was awesome! You and Rock busted through like a wrecking ball!”

Toru, holding a fancy bento box, nodded to Maylu. “Roll was incredible under pressure. That wall was no joke.”

Mick added with a grin, “Glad you’re all still in it. Most of the crowd thought that wall challenge was the end for half of you.”

Lan rubbed the back of his head. “Honestly, we thought so too… for a minute.”

Maylu gave a small laugh, her confidence growing. “But we pushed through. Next event? We’re ready.”

“Count on it,” Roll said, giving a digital thumbs-up from Maylu’s PET screen.

Lan looked around at their small circle of friends and smiled. “Win or lose, we’re going all-out.”

“And we’re cheering you on,” Ryan said. “No pressure!”

Everyone laughed again, and with that, the last few moments of lunch passed with full stomachs and full spirits. The final event was coming—and they were ready.

Just as laughter died down around their lunch table, the school PA system crackled to life:

“Would Mr. Lan Hikari, Ms. Rose Mitsuri, Mr. Jeffery Johannson, and Ms. Maylu Sakurai please report to the auditorium?”

Lan and Maylu exchanged glances.

Across the room, a girl with bubble gum pink hair jumped to her feet. “Woo!” she cheered, spinning in a little twirl as she skipped out of the cafeteria with unshakable pep.

Near the far tables, a tall red-haired boy stood up from a huge group of classmates. Despite the crowd, he seemed more like a loner—tall, slouching, and quiet. The whole group clapped and cheered for him anyway. He gave a small, awkward smile, adjusted his thick glasses, and offered a respectful bow before making his way out with a hunched shuffle.

Lan stood and gave his friends a quick wave. “Wish us luck!”

“Knock ’em dead!” Ryan called.

“Don’t actually knock anyone dead!” Toru added.

Maylu laughed and waved goodbye to the others. “See you after the third event!”

The two made their way toward the auditorium doors, side by side, hearts steady, minds sharp, and spirits burning brighter than ever.

Lan and Maylu stepped into the auditorium, the doors closing softly behind them. It was nearly empty—most of the student body still at lunch. Only Dr. Light, Hiroshi Sakamoto, and Misaki were present.

Dr. Light stood off to the side with a tablet in hand, while Hiroshi paced calmly near the center of the stage. Misaki sat casually in the front row, legs crossed, eyes sharp.

“You four made it,” Hiroshi said with a nod as the group approached. “Welcome to the final challenge.”

A large digital screen powered on behind him with a flash of color, revealing a sleek digital lotto machine, glowing and humming softly.

“This is a four-way NetBattle,” Hiroshi explained. “One-on-one-on-one-on-one. No teams. No folders. Each of you will be assigned five random BattleChips. What you draw is what you use.”

“No trades?” Rose asked with a raised brow.

“No trades,” Hiroshi confirmed. “No second chances.”

Dr. Light tapped his tablet, and a terminal with four jack-in ports slid up from the floor with a mechanical click.

Hiroshi gestured. “Please connect and jack in your Navis.”

One by one, they plugged in the PET cords and called out:

“Jack-in! Skelekey.EXE! Power up!”
“Jack-in! Anubyte.EXE! Power up!”
“Jack-in! Roll.EXE! Power up!”
“Jack-in! Rock.EXE! Power up!”

The cords pulsed with light as data surged into the terminal. On the screen above, four Navis materialized in glowing panels of cyberspace:

—Skelekey.EXE, Jeff’s three-headed skeletal monkey Navi, rattled his bones as each skull rotated and clicked in eerie unison.
—Anubyte.EXE, Rose’s jackal-headed Navi, stepped forward in silent poise, golden armor reflecting digital light.
—Roll.EXE, standing proud, gave a small confident nod.
—Rock.EXE slammed a fist into his open palm. “Let’s get to it.”

The lotto machine began to spin, lights flashing as BattleChips spun through randomized data streams.

“Let the draw begin,” Hiroshi announced.

Hiroshi gestured to the screen. “Maylu Sakurai, you’re up.”

Maylu took a breath and stepped forward. Roll.EXE appeared on the display with her arms crossed, watching with anticipation.

The digital lotto machine began to whirl, its glowing reels spinning rapidly with the names and icons of countless BattleChips. One by one, they clunked into place with a chime:

1. Ice Tower – A tall spike of freezing crystal that bursts from the ground.
2. Bamboo Sword – A swift, slashing attack with nature’s edge.
3. Recovery80 – Restores a chunk of a Navi’s health mid-battle.
4. Fan – Pulls enemies closer and disrupts positioning.
5. Guard – A defensive shield that reflects single attacks.

“Hmm…” Maylu bit her lip. “Not a bad mix.”

Roll’s eyes lit up. “Heh, guess I’ll have to get creative.”

“Strategic loadout,” Dr. Light murmured with a nod. “Roll has always done well when she controls the pace.”

“Alright,” Hiroshi said, nodding toward the next. “Jeffrey Johansson, you’re up.”

Jeff adjusted his thick glasses and stepped forward. Skelekey.EXE flickered to life on the screen—tall and wiry, with his three skeletal monkey heads snapping and chittering independently.

“Jack-in! Skelekey! Power up!”

The corded line lit up as the digital lotto machine spun again.

Clunk.
Clunk.
Clunk.
Clunk.
Clunk.

1. Triple Bomb – Three arcing explosives that detonate in sequence.
2. Shadow Shoes – Makes the user untargetable for a brief time.
3. LongBlade – A vicious, sweeping sword attack.
4. Yo-Yo1 – Launches a spinning Yo-Yo that cuts through enemies multiple times.
5. Risky Honey – Summons a wall of bees that attack if the user is hit.

Jeff chuckled softly. “Guess we’re going full chaos mode.”

Skelekey cracked his bony knuckles. “Bring it.”

“Unpredictable, but deadly,” Misaki muttered, scribbling something on her clipboard.

“Rose Mitsuri,” Hiroshi called, “you’re up.”

Clunk.
Clunk.
Clunk.
Clunk.
Clunk.

The digital lottery machine chimed after each pull as Rose’s five chips appeared on the auditorium’s big screen, displayed for all to see.

1. Fire Buster – A ranged flame shot with quick cooldown.
2. Barrier – A single-use shield that blocks one attack.
3. Metal Tower – Launches a heavy, vertical column forward to pin and deal heavy damage.
4. Miniboomer – A small homing explosive, weaker but hard to dodge.
5. Cube – Places a static block in the field, which can act as cover or an obstacle.

Anubyte looked over the chip list with a quiet, measured hum. “Unusual tools… but tools nonetheless.”

Rose nodded. “Guess we’ll make it work. I don’t need flashy. I just need to win.”

Lan stepped forward, locking eyes with the screen.
“Alright, let’s do this.”

He plugged his PET into the port.
“Jack-in! Rock, Power Up!”

The digital lotto machine spun rapidly. One by one, the chips dropped into the slot:

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.

Lan Hikari’s BattleChip Draw:

1. Step Sword – A sudden dash followed by a precise sword slash. Fast and hard to dodge.
2. Bamboo Buster – Fires a straight, high-speed piercing shot made of sharpened digital code.
3. Barrier – Generates a shield that absorbs one hit before vanishing.
4. Guard Panel – Temporarily shifts the battlefield under Rock’s feet into reinforced code, reducing incoming damage while stationary.
5. Air Grab – A quick dash movement that allows Rock to reposition or evade instantly.

Rock formed in the digital battlefield, fists clenched, visor lit.

Lan gave a nod. “Looks like we’ve got options.”

The four NetOps made their way to the stage, where four sleek terminals waited—each with a corded PET slot, monitor, and basic control keys.
Maylu, Rose, Jeff, and Lan took their seats in a rough arc, facing the massive screen at the back of the stage. The lights dimmed a little, drawing focus to the digital field overhead.

Lan plugged in his PET and leaned in close to the screen.
Rock appeared in a small preview window, arms crossed, visor glowing.
“Okay,” Lan muttered, flipping through the unfamiliar interface. “So I’ve got Step Sword, Bamboo Buster, Barrier, Guard Panel, and Air Grab…”

“Never used chips before,” Rock said calmly, folding his arms. “I mean—I get the concept. But… I don’t really know how to use any of them.”

“Same,” Lan whispered back. “I watched some NetBattles, but that’s it.”

Rock tilted his head. “Do I click on them? Do you shout them? How does this work?”

“I guess we’ll find out.”

A low rumble of movement echoed behind them as the auditorium doors opened and the rest of the student body began filing in. Hundreds of seats began to fill. Chatter rose. Chips clacked in their trays. Several teachers and observers took their places near the back, and students pointed excitedly toward the stage.

On the main platform, Hiroshi Sakamoto stepped forward again, voice amplified over the speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen—thank you for returning! This is it. Round three. The final event before our championship contenders are decided!”

A swell of applause burst from the crowd. Lights danced off the big screen as the digital battlefield began to form, glitching slightly before resolving into a shining arena of glassy panels and rotating platforms.

Hiroshi raised a hand dramatically.

“Our contestants for this free-for-all are: Rose Mitsuri and Anubyte! Jeff Johannson and Skelekey! Maylu Sakurai and Roll! And Lan Hikari and Rock!”

Each name drew louder applause than the last. Lan caught a few cheers from the back row—Dex, Yai, Tory, and the rest of their friends waving with wide grins.

“NetOps!” Hiroshi called. “Prepare for combat!”

The screen split into four windows. One by one, the contestants plugged in.

“Jack-in! Anubyte! Power Up!”
“Jack-in! Skelekey! Power Up!”
“Jack-in! Roll! Power Up!”
“Jack-in! Rock! Power Up!”

Streams of digital light erupted from each terminal as the Navis entered the fray.

The battlefield was set. Four Navis. Four BattleChip draws. One victor.

Hiroshi turned, his voice firm.

“Begin!”

THE MATCH

As all four Navis materialized on the battlefield, the auditorium erupted in cheers.

Jeff was the first to act.
“Skelekey, let’s go!”

“Right!” the left and right heads of Skelekey cried out in unison.
“SPEAK NO EVIL!”

A horrendous shriek burst from the middle head—an unearthly, rumbling cry that shot out like a soundwave toward Roll. It struck her chest hard, and she screamed—her voice cutting off instantly.

“Roll! Are you okay?” Maylu shouted, panic in her voice.

Rock acted next. He raised his Rock Buster and fired. The shot missed the left head but clipped its shoulder, spinning Skelekey around and knocking him onto his back.

Rose stepped up smoothly and slotted in a chip.
“Triple Bomb—BattleChip, Load.”

Lan blinked. The callout was different—more measured than the rapid style he was used to.

Anubyte now held three bombs, one in each hand and one at his feet.

With a twist of his body, he kicked the first bomb at Skelekey and hurled the second at Roll.

Rock reacted fast, raising his buster to shoot down the bomb aimed at Skelekey. He managed to deflect it midair with a direct hit—BOOM!

Roll tried to do the same, but her Roll Blast wouldn’t activate—she couldn’t speak.
The bomb struck her full in the face and exploded, sending her crashing into a pile of digital rubble.

Anubyte turned sharply and hurled the third bomb at Rock.

“Whoa!” Lan gasped.

Rock dove aside, but the blast still caught him partially. The explosion scorched his shoulder, throwing him into a skid.

Skelekey, still getting up, was slammed again by the first bomb’s delayed detonation, sent tumbling once more.

Lan gritted his teeth. “Let’s do this! Bamboo Buster—BattleChip, Load!”

The PET flashed, displaying the wooden barrel attachment. Rock’s buster transformed with a clunk and hiss.

He raised it and fired—twice.

Two thick bamboo rounds rocketed forward, smashing into Anubyte’s chest and cracking his armor. The enemy Navi staggered backward, sparks bursting from his torso.

Maylu’s voice rang out, sharp and clear:
“Recovery80—BattleChip, Load!”

A rainbow glow burst from Roll’s corner. She coughed, sputtered—then her voice snapped back.

“Fan—BattleChip, Load!”

A massive ceiling fan materialized above the arena. When it roared to life, the wind swept up the other three Navis, hurling them into a chaotic cyclone.

This time, Roll didn’t hesitate.
“ROLL STORM!”

She launched a flurry of hearts into the whirlwind. Dozens of tiny projectiles slammed into the others, each impact exploding in a puff of soft pink smoke.

When the storm settled, all three Navis were sprawled on the field, motionless.

Then Rose shouted:
“Metal Tower—BattleChip, Load!”

Steel obelisks erupted from the ground, targeting Rock and Skelekey.

Lan reacted fast:
“Guard Panel!”

The panel beneath Rock reinforced just in time—but the spike redirected and skewered Skelekey.

“Skelekey—Logging out!” the system chimed.

Before Lan could react again, Maylu followed up:
“Ice Tower—BattleChip, Load!”

A pillar of ice burst from beneath Rock, launching him into the air with a flash of blue light.

“Rock—Logging out!”

The wave of cold spread fast. Annubyte didn’t even get up before the second tower struck.

“Annubyte—Logging out!”

Lan just stood there, staring at his PET, stunned.
It had all happened so fast.

_________________________________________________________________

Lan sat near the back of the auditorium, slouched low in his seat as the award ceremony droned on in the background

Rock sighed.
“We didn’t stand a chance.”

Lan rubbed the back of his neck.
“I didn’t even know what I was doing. I just… threw in a Guard Panel and hoped it’d help.”

“It did,” Rock offered.
“For about five seconds.”

They looked at each other—then both chuckled.

“Hey,” Lan said, “we jacked in. We tried. Not everyone gets to say that on their first day.”

“We’ll get better,” Rock nodded. “I mean, we’ve got good instincts. Just need practice. And maybe a strategy next time.”

“Or a plan at all,” Lan smirked.

Just then, Maylu came bounding off the stage, her prize—three shiny new BattleChips—in hand. Roll followed on her PET screen, looking proud and just a little smug.

“You guys did great!” Lan called out, standing.

“Seriously,” Rock added. “That was amazing teamwork.”

Maylu beamed. “Thanks! You two looked good out there too. A little rough, but brave. You’ll get the hang of it.”

Roll nodded. “It’s all about syncing up. Once you do, the rest flows.”

Lan and Rock exchanged a look.

“Practice?” Lan asked.

“Lots of it,” Rock grinned.

Maylu held up the BattleChips. “Let’s all train together. You can try these out.”

Lan lit up. “Really?”

“Just don’t break them,” Roll said flatly.

They laughed, all three heading toward the doors as the next round began.

They hadn’t won.
But they’d started.

And that was enough.