The After-School Coding Club
The Dentech Academy’s computer lab hummed with quiet conversation as students filtered in, settling at rows of glowing monitors. The after-school Coding Club was one of the school’s busiest, a hub where students pushed the limits of NetNavi development—whether through coding, AI refinement, or NetBattle strategies.
At the front of the room, Misaki Tanaka, the club president, clapped her hands together.
“Alright, everyone, listen up! Welcome back to another session of the Coding Club.”
The chatter died down as students turned toward her.
“First things first—announcements,” she continued. “The Cyber Security Competition is in three weeks, so if you’re participating, finalize your teams. Second, we have a guest speaker from SciLab next month—details will be posted soon. Lastly, we’ve got some new projects to debut today.”
She scanned the room, then her eyes settled on Lan and Maylu.
“I heard you two have something interesting. Want to show us what you’ve got?”
Lan and Maylu exchanged glances. This was it.
“Yeah,” Lan said, standing up. “We’ve been working on a linked Navi system—two Navis that don’t just fight, but learn and evolve together.”
Maylu smirked. “We call them Rock and Roll.”
Misaki raised an eyebrow. “Linked Navis, huh? Sounds ambitious. Alright, let’s see them in action.”
She gestured toward the central terminal, where the large display screen came to life. The other club members leaned in, curious.
Lan and Maylu took their places, gripping their PETs.
The Debut of Rock and Roll
Lan raised his PET.
“Jack in, Rock! Power up!”
Maylu followed immediately after:
“Jack in, Roll! Power up!”
A pulse of energy surged across the display, and in a flash, two figures materialized in the Cyberworld.
Rock stood firm as he materialized in the Cyberworld, his sleek cobalt-blue armor gleamed under the neon lights of the battlefield. His design was both powerful and refined, a blend of raw strength and advanced adaptability. His helmet featured a streamlined crest, extending into two sharp, angular fins that framed his visor—a bright cyan slit that flickered with sharp awareness. His chest plate housed a glowing core, pulsating with digital energy, and his gauntlets were reinforced Digisteel, with one arm capable of shifting into his signature Rock Buster.
On his left shoulder plate, the Hikari family crest stood boldly—a red circle bisected by a jagged black line, surrounded by a thin yellow border. More than just a symbol, the emblem carried his legacy. When Rock prepared to fire, the crest subtly pulsed with energy, a reminder of the Hikari family’s deep ties to the Net and the responsibility he carried into every battle.
Beside him, Roll landed gracefully, her lithe frame exuding agility and precision. Her sleek pink and red armor contrasted sharply against Rock’s bulkier design, her boots designed for speed, her movements effortless. On her left gauntlet, just above the wrist, was the crest of the Sakurai family—a pink circle with a yellow triangle, the same emblem Maylu wore in her hair. Her signature energy ribbon hovered behind her, an extension of her abilities, able to transform into both a weapon and a shield. She smirked, adjusting her gloves with a confident flick of her wrist.
“Finally! I was starting to think you forgot about us,” Rock said, rolling his shoulders.
“Not even five seconds in, and you’re already whining? Classic,” Roll teased, hands on her hips.
Rock scoffed. “I prefer ‘battle-ready.’”
Lan chuckled. “Alright, alright, we didn’t bring you online to argue.”
Maylu grinned. “They really do sound like us, huh?”
One of the club members muttered, “They’ve got actual personalities? That’s next-level coding.”
Dr. Light, who had been quietly observing from the back, finally spoke. “Personality synchronization? Impressive. But let’s see how they handle a real test.”
The First Test – Rock & Roll in Action
A training Navi spawned into the Cyberworld—a generic AI opponent meant to test movement, defense, and combat efficiency.
“Let’s start with defense,” Misaki instructed.
Lan nodded. “Rock, hold your ground!”
“Got it!” Rock planted his feet, summoning a hexagonal energy shield around himself. The training Navi opened fire, launching a volley of energy blasts. Each shot collided against the shield and fizzled out, unable to break through.
Dr. Light adjusted his glasses. “That’s a sturdy defense matrix. But what about offense?”
The training Navi charged forward for a melee strike.
“Rock Buster, go!” Lan commanded.
Rock’s arm transformed into a cannon, and he fired a rapid burst of energy shots. The blasts slammed into the approaching Navi, halting its advance and sending it staggering backward.
The club members murmured in approval. “That’s some serious firepower.” “Yeah, but can they hit a moving target?”
The training Navi split into multiple copies, surrounding Rock and Roll.
“Rock, disrupt them!” Lan ordered.
Rock slammed his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave through the terrain. The false copies flickered and disappeared, leaving only the real training Navi standing.
Before it could react, Roll rushed forward, using the momentum from Rock’s attack to close the gap.
“Roll Blast, now!” Maylu called.
Roll gathered energy into her palms, then unleashed a spinning beam attack that struck the opponent head-on, sending it skidding across the battlefield.
The training Navi flickered, struggling to stand—then vanished.
“Test Navi, logging out.” declared a digital voice.
A brief silence filled the room before the club erupted into applause.
The Challenge
Misaki crossed her arms, nodding. “Not bad. The synergy between them is impressive. Definitely not your standard NetNavis.”
Lan smirked. “Told you.”
Maylu grinned. “And they’re just getting started.”
The club was still buzzing about the test when Dr. Light, who had been watching carefully, finally spoke again.
“That was an excellent demonstration,” he said. “But I have one question—how do Rock and Roll fare in an actual NetBattle?”
The room went silent.
Students exchanged glances. Dr. Light issuing a challenge? That never happened.
Lan hesitated for only a second before grinning.
“I can’t wait, Dr. Light. We’re up for the challenge.”
Maylu nodded, eyes shining with excitement.
“Let’s Rock and Roll!”
After-School Coding Club – The First NetBattle
The Coding Club buzzed with anticipation as Dr. Light stepped forward, setting his P.E.T. on the main terminal. The screen flickered, and a sleek, no-frills Navi materialized—a design focused purely on efficiency. No extra armor, no unnecessary accessories. Just pure function.
Dr. Light adjusted his glasses.
“Good. But remember, this isn’t about winning. It’s about understanding your NetNavi’s strengths and weaknesses.”
Lan and Maylu exchanged a glance before gripping their PETs.
“Jack in, Rock! Power up!” Lan shouted!
“Jack in, Roll! Power up!” Maylu shouted!
A pulse of energy surged across the display, and in a flash, two figures materialized in the Cyberworld.
Rock landed with a heavy stomp, standing firm as a yellow visor slid down over his eyes. A mouth guard extended over his lower face, locking into place.
“Alright, let’s see what you’ve got, old man.”
Roll landed lightly beside him, adjusting her gloves with a smirk.
“Rock, maybe don’t trash-talk the guy who literally made the battlefield.”
Dr. Light’s Navi stood motionless for a moment before its eyes flickered, scanning its opponents. Then—without warning—it launched a barrage of precise energy blasts straight at Rock.
The Battle Begins
Lan reacted immediately.
“Rock, shield up!”
Rock’s energy barrier expanded, absorbing the first wave of shots. But Dr. Light’s Navi was fast—too fast. A second attack came from an unexpected angle, bypassing Rock’s defense and striking his side.
Lan gritted his teeth. “That thing’s smart.”
Maylu’s voice was sharp. “Roll, go wide!”
Roll darted across the field, weaving between Dr. Light’s Navi’s precision shots. The opponent adjusted, tracking her movements, then fired a net of laser beams, forcing her into a corner.
“They’re cutting off her escape!” Lan realized.
Roll jumped, twisting midair, but the lasers shifted, boxing her in.
“Rock, help her out!”
Rock fired his Rock Buster, the powerful blasts striking the battlefield and sending chunks of digital rubble flying. Roll used the debris as cover, flipping behind one of the broken data structures to regroup.
And this battle was just heating up.
DrawingRobbie 