Luna had proven herself to be a truly exceptional combat species in the past few days. Among the group, her raw talent and efficiency set her apart. While others, like Tesla, needed to evolve to reach their potential, Luna was already a polished warrior, equipped with natural skill and discipline that outshone the rest.
She stood clad in her silver armor, her body radiating confidence as she faced the enemy. Her sharp, golden eyes locked onto the Violet Elecmon. With no hesitation, Luna drew on her inner energy, enhancing her speed and strength, and layered the battlefield with an illusion. This illusion, crafted from pheromones, gave her the edge of unpredictability.
The Elecmon, meanwhile, wasn't new to battles. It had met tamers before, even weak ones, and knew the value of humans. Eating a tamer along with their digivice was a shortcut to evolution—a secret every wild Digimon knew. To him, this encounter seemed like a golden opportunity. But he didn't know the arena was a controlled space, and Luna wasn't just any Renamon.
As Elecmon released electricity in a defensive stance, Luna didn't waste any time. She vanished from her position in a blur, faster than his eyes could track. In an instant, she reappeared mid-air, shurikens flying from her hands. Unlike ordinary Renamon, who relied on leaves for their attacks, Luna wielded actual weapons imbued with her energy.
The storm of shurikens, glowing faintly with power, rained down like petals in a Diamond Storm, creating a spectacle of deceptive beauty. Elecmon snarled, unsure whether to trust his eyes, but the metallic scent in the air told him these were no illusions. He rolled to the side, firing lightning darts to cover his escape.
Luna responded with unmatched precision, using the grappler on her arm to swing to safety. She retaliated by throwing a kunai infused with her ghostly energy. Elecmon yelped as it struck him squarely in the rear. The pain sent him into a frenzy, and he began to scream and beg for mercy, his violent and cruel nature exposed for the cowardice beneath it.
But Luna was unrelenting. Neither she nor Rika was swayed by the pitiful cries. Both were accustomed to such scenes—Rika from her family's rigorous training, and Luna from her own combat instincts. Mercy had no place in a battle like this.
With a burst of speed, Luna closed the distance. Her hand, shrouded in ethereal blue flames, struck Elecmon under the chin in an upward punch, launching him into the air. As he flailed, Luna's tail lashed out with deadly precision, piercing his neck in one swift motion.
Before the Elecmon could even hit the ground, Luna followed up with her short sword, driving it straight through his chest and pinning him to the earth. The battle ended as quickly as it had begun. Elecmon had been formidable in his own right, but against Luna's efficiency and skill, he was little more than an annoyance.
With the enemy defeated, Luna absorbed the data from his disintegrating body. Her expression remained as calm and detached as ever.
"I am done, Master. Was it satisfactory?" Luna asked, turning toward Rika as if the battle had been nothing more than a chore. Her voice was steady, and her steps graceful as she approached.
"It was good enough, but next time, don't waste time on weaklings like that. Kick them from the start and go straight for the Power Paw. It took more steps than necessary because you used Diamond Storm in response to his defense instead of finishing him outright," Rika said as she got up from her seated position. Her tone was calm but firm, and a small smile tugged at her lips. Despite her fondness for Luna, she was a strict tamer, quick to point out faults whenever she saw them.
Luna nodded in understanding, her expression calm and unbothered by the critique. This was the dynamic she was used to; Rika's straightforward, disciplined nature perfectly complemented Luna's own personality.
"Understood, Master. I will do better next time," Luna replied with a bow of her head, her voice devoid of emotion but resolute.
"Good." Rika pushed her shades up, spinning them once before clipping them to her shirt. "Let's move. We'll probably need to check on the boys. I doubt they've come out of this unscathed." A smirk played across her face as she imagined the aftermath of the tests.
"Why would they be crying?" Luna asked, her tone as neutral as ever as she followed behind Rika.
"Because they're soft-hearted. They'll associate the targets with something familiar—friends, family, whatever—and it'll mess with their heads. That's just how they are."
"I see. That is an illogical choice," Luna stated matter-of-factly, her steps precise and graceful as she trailed after Rika.
As they walked, the battle they'd left behind played out exactly as Yeong had expected. She hadn't chosen a stronger opponent for Rika and Luna because this wasn't really about testing their combat ability—it was a character test.
Rika and Luna passed without a hitch, as Yeong had anticipated. Their performance solidified their position as Adventurers, their mental fortitude and ruthless efficiency proving they could handle the demands of the job.
Takato, on the other hand, was placed on hold. His combat abilities weren't in question, but his emotional state was fragile after his encounter. Yeong wanted to observe him further to ensure he could adapt and recover.
Naruto was approved without issue. His natural resilience and the speed at which his partner returned to normal reassured Yeong of his readiness.
Finally, Henry was also placed on hold, though not because of himself. The hesitation and inexperience of his partner, Tesla, raised questions about their preparedness.
Henry and Tesla stepped onto the battlefield with calm, steady expressions, masking the nerves they both felt. Henry had initially offered to carry Tesla, but the small Digimon refused. Despite his unevolved state, Tesla had his pride and didn't want to be carried like a child, especially not in the middle of a battlefield.
As they crossed the threshold, an intense chill hit them, catching both of them off guard. The sudden drop in temperature, paired with the harsh wind, caused an involuntary shiver to run through their bodies before their armor automatically kicked in to regulate their temperature.
They had entered one of the Digital World's cold regions, an unforgiving terrain of solid ice hidden beneath layers of snow. The air was sharp, biting at their faces as gusts of wind flung snow into their eyes. The temperature plummeted to a brutal -70°C, an environment that could kill most creatures unprepared for such extremes.
Henry took a deep breath and surveyed the area. There were no visible landmarks, making it impossible to determine if this was a real region or just a simulation crafted by Yeong. Either way, it didn't matter. The task remained the same.
The ice beneath their feet was slick and treacherous, and the snowdrifts obscured their vision. Walking became a struggle, and they were forced to proceed carefully to avoid slipping. The howling wind didn't make things any easier, constantly throwing snow into their path.
Henry activated his Digivice, switching it to heat vision. The stark contrast between the icy environment and the heat signatures allowed him to navigate better. Tesla followed suit, using his own abilities to scan their surroundings.
"This place is dangerous," Henry muttered, his voice muffled by the biting wind. He couldn't help but curse Yeong silently for placing them in such harsh conditions, but at the same time, he understood the purpose.
Tesla nodded. "We never trained in anything like this. This is my fault for not preparing us."
"It's no one's fault. The Digital World is unpredictable. Even areas known for their mild weather can change in an instant because of battles or glitches in the system." Henry's voice was steady, reassuring. He didn't want Tesla to blame himself.
Both of them trudged forward, their eyes scanning the white void ahead. Then, amidst the relentless snowstorm, their heat vision picked up movement. A figure stood in the distance, its body radiating warmth against the frozen backdrop.
Their opponent had appeared.
It was a Frigimon, a Champion-level Digimon known for its gentle nature in most circumstances. However, this one seemed different. Its glowing red eyes and the ominous aura it exuded suggested a corruption in its data. This wasn't the usual friendly Frigimon that helped travelers in cold regions.
The massive snowman-like Digimon stood tall, its white body blending perfectly with the snowy surroundings except for its darkened, cracked patches of ice that hinted at its corrupted state. It raised a hand, forming an icy projectile that shimmered dangerously in the light.
Henry tightened his grip on the Digivice, and Tesla stepped forward, his expression serious.
"This isn't going to be easy," Henry said, his breath visible in the frigid air.
Tesla glanced back at him, determination blazing in his eyes. "We'll handle it together."
The battle was about to begin, and both tamer and Digimon knew they would need to adapt quickly to survive this unforgiving environment and their powerful foe.