I watched Gatomon and BlackGatomon herd the last few dazed civilians away from the danger zone. Peter, still in his Spider-Man suit but with his mask pulled up to his nose, was quickly webbing them up into neat, temporary cocoons. Gwen and Renamon moved among them, speaking softly, trying to calm the lingering weirdness that hung in the air.
It felt like a dream, or maybe a bad trip, seeing people wander around like zombies. My Digivice had identified a "digital mind control signature," which was about as unsettling as it sounded. This wasn't just some random Digimon rampaging. No, this was… coordinated.
My gut twisted a little. I mean, Gyuukimon was tough, sure, but it felt more like a brute than a puppet master. This whole situation, it just screamed "Jokermon" to me.
Peter swung down from a fire escape, landing lightly next to us. He pulled his mask completely off, his face etched with a mixture of confusion and frustration.
"I don't get it," Peter said, shaking his head. "One minute, that… ox-spider thing is tearing up the alley, the next it just vanishes. How does something that big just disappear?"
I checked my Digivice again, swiping at the screen. Nothing. Just static where Gyuukimon's signal should have been. It was like it never existed, except for the torn-up alley and the dazed civilians. My tech… it failed me.
"Yeah, I'm getting nothing too," I muttered, tapping the screen a few more times, just in case. Come on, Digivice, don't let me down now. It was supposed to track them, not just shrug. This was exactly why I hated relying on systems.
"It's like it dissolved or something," Peter added, running a hand through his hair. "I mean, I've seen some weird things, but a giant spider-ox just blinking out of existence? That's new."
He was right, of course. My internal monologue was screaming the same thing. This wasn't normal Digimon behavior, not for something that size. Usually, they leave a digital trail, a signal. But this… it was too clean. Too planned.
"Unless it didn't just 'blink out,'" Gwen interjected, her voice thoughtful. Renamon stood beside her, looking equally serious. "What if it has a way to escape quickly? Or… what if it was never meant to be caught in the first place?"
I looked at Gwen, a jolt running through me. That was it. That was the thought I'd been circling. She always had a knack for cutting right to the core of things.
"You mean… a distraction?" Peter asked, his head tilting. He was still trying to process it through his Spider-Man rules, I could tell. My mind was already three steps ahead, connecting the dots.
"Exactly," I said, my voice picking up speed. "Think about it. The digital disruptions all over the city. The weird behavior. Impmon's pranks, which suddenly don't seem so random anymore. And now, mind-controlled people creating a shield for an Ultimate-level Digimon."
This was no rogue Digimon just causing trouble. This was strategy. This was… chess.
"Gyuukimon wasn't just a random threat," I continued. "It was bait. Or a diversion. Someone's pulling the strings, orchestrating all of this. Someone who knows what they're doing."
Peter's eyes widened a fraction. He glanced at Gwen, then back at me. His spider-sense, which had been a low thrum since the energy spike, seemed to vibrate a little harder now. I could almost hear it.
"An unseen mastermind?" Peter said slowly, the concept clearly unsettling him. He usually dealt with bad guys who announced themselves with cackles and monologues. "Someone controlling Digimon… and people?"
"It's a scary thought, isn't it?" I said, nodding. Yeah, it was a scary thought. I had a feeling I knew who it was, too. Jokermon. He always had a way of finding the worst in people, and giving them just enough power to cause trouble. This felt like his brand of chaos.
"So, what do we do?" Peter asked, looking at me. He was clearly out of his depth on this one. I didn't blame him. This was Digimon stuff, not everyday villainy.
"I need to find Gyuukimon," I declared, my voice firm. "And more importantly, I need to find the source of that mind control. The real mastermind behind all this."
My resolve solidified. This wasn't just about punching a monster until it turned into an egg. This was about shutting down a network of digital manipulation. And I was the guy for that.
"Okay, so you track the big bad," Peter said, already thinking. "I can handle the street-level stuff. With all these people acting… weird… the city's going to be a mess. The NYPD is going to be swamped. I can help them get things under control, contain the chaos."
I nodded, a small smile playing on my lips. Peter was good at that. He knew the city, he knew how to move, and he was reliable. I appreciated not having to ask him. It saved me the embarrassment of admitting I couldn't do it all myself.
"And Renamon and I can help too!" Gwen added, stepping forward. Her Digivice was clutched in her hand, her eyes bright with determination. "We can help you track the Digimon, Ethan. Or we can help Peter with the civilians."
I looked at her, then at Renamon. They had come a long way. Gwen was getting stronger, more confident. But Gyuukimon was an Ultimate. It had shrugged off our combined attacks without breaking a sweat.
"Gwen, I appreciate the offer, really," I said, trying to soften the blow. It was dangerous, I knew that. "But Gyuukimon is an Ultimate-level Digimon. It's too strong for you and Renamon right now."
I just… I couldn't put her in that kind of danger. Not against something that could swat Peter away like a fly. It was one thing to fight a Champion-level, another entirely to go up against an Ultimate, especially one that seemed to be part of a bigger plot.
Gwen's shoulders slumped a little. She didn't say anything, just looked down at Renamon, who nudged her hand with her head. I felt a pang of guilt, but my decision felt right. Better safe than sorry, right?
"Peter, you focus on getting the civilians contained and calming things down on the streets," I said, my attention shifting back to my Digivice, even though the signal was dead. "Coordinate with the authorities, keep everyone safe, and let me know if anything else… weird… pops up."
"Gwen, you and Renamon stick with Peter for now. Keep an eye out. And for the love of all that's digital, be careful." I knew she was disappointed, but this wasn't a game. Not anymore. Not if there was a real mastermind pulling the strings, turning people into puppets. I needed to find out who, or what, was behind this, and fast.
***
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