As the helicopter landed at Blazewood Manor, They rushed inside, hearts heavy with concern and longing.
They bombarded him with questions, each one a thread in the fabric of their desperation to reconnect with their son.
Their voices trembled with a mix of hope and fear as they searched his eyes for recognition.
But the boy before them felt like a stranger, looking lost and confused.
In their eyes, he transformed into a child once more.
With each passing moment, their demeanor softened, turning gentle and protective.
They spoke to him with an unusual tenderness, wanting to shield him from the harsh reality of his lost memories.
...
As the emotional reunion faded, Kris found himself sitting in a chair in his room, a sanctuary that felt foreign to him.
The walls were adorned with photographs of a life that wasn't his but belonged to the boy he now embodied—Kris Blazewood.
His fingers hovered over the screen of his phone, the glow illuminating his contemplative expression.
Kris Valentine, a name he cherished from his previous life, he was a special forces marine, graduated at the top of his class.
Before that he was an orphan abandoned by his mother at the tender age of three, he had navigated through adversity, battling the odds to complete his education for a better life.
His status as an orphan gave him less opportunities for him to reach his dreams.
Driven by the need for a purpose, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, eager to serve and protect.
But during a high-stakes mission, he met his untimely end, only to awaken in a realm vastly different from his own, inhabiting the body of Kris Blazewood.
Confusion engulfed him as he grappled with the reality that this world was a distorted reflection of his own.
Artists and celebrities filled the screens, yet their faces were unfamiliar; the culture felt modern, but it had a strange vibe reminiscent of the 1990s.
This world's technologies were much more advanced than those on his Earth, yet the overall feel seemed stuck in a modern time that echoed the past.
The most unsettling thing about this world was the Data Beasts, dangerous creatures capable of toppling cities and even countries.
The thought alone sent a chill through him.
Kris felt the weight of this world growing, grappling with the unsettling notion that, despite the confusion and unfamiliar body, he was an imposter in a life that wasn't truly his.
Cillian knocked lightly on the door before stepping in, his expression shifting as he noticed Kris lost in thought.
"Young Master, you called?"
Kris blinked, snapping out of his trance.
He glanced up, put down his phone, and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small card.
"Cillian, can you explain more about this card? How do I use it?"
Cillian's heart sank as memories of the old Kris surfaced—the one who never asked for help and always dismissed him.
Now, seeing Kris in this state, asking for guidance, felt bittersweet. He took a deep breath.
"Of course, Young Master."
Clearing his throat, Cillian adopted a more instructive tone.
"The card you're holding, that's what we call a Data Beast Card. It's like a scanned version of a Data Beast. If you look closely, there's a picture of the creature on it—just like my card here."
He pulled out his own card and showed it to Kris. "This one is called Flycon, a flaming bird. The card also shows all its details: its potential, element, rank, and even its attacks and stats."
Kris cut off Cillian, his curiosity piqued. "So it's like a Tokemon card?"
Cillian raised his eyebrows, puzzled. "A tuki what?"
Kris replied, "You know, Token Monster? Camichu? It's a trading card game, and it even has a video game!"
Cillian looked confused but nodded slowly. "I might have to check on that later. To continue from what I said, Tokemo—uh, I mean Data Beasts are creatures that roam our world."
"There are different types of Data Beasts. Some are assimilated with our real animals. For example, my Flycon has a falcon as its origin. But because of the Pulse, the data from the Beast Kings game merged with the real data in our world."
He paused, gauging Kris's reaction before continuing. "There are also Data Beasts inspired by myths, like dragons and unicorns. Some are prehistoric, resembling creatures like dinosaurs, but most of them are really rare maybe we won't get to see them in our lifetime."
Kris rubbed his temples, feeling a headache from all the new information.
"Then how do we use this card? Do I have to tear it?" He gestured as if to rip the card in half.
"That's not how you use that card, Young Master," Cillian said, shaking his head.
"Even if you tear it, it won't work. We don't know what material these cards are made from, but they're usually indestructible in human hands. To use a Data Beast Card, you need this."
He gestured to a device on his wrist.
"This is a Data Device, or 'Datavice' as people call it nowadays. You just swipe the card on the device, and it releases the Data Beast inside. Let me demonstrate."
Cillian raised his Datavice dramatically above his head.
"Flycon, heed my call!" He swiped the card, and a burst of light filled the room, revealing the silhouette of a flaming bird.
Sqwakk! The bird soared around the room before settling on Cillian's shoulder, its wings outstretched.
It resembled a falcon, but with striking differences—its sleek body was covered in glowing red and orange feathers, giving the impression of embers flickering in the wind.
Flames danced along its tail, but they didn't burn; instead, they shimmered like controlled fire, casting a warm glow throughout the room. Its sharp, golden eyes locked onto Kris, giving the bird a majestic yet slightly intimidating presence.
Cillian struck a silly pose, looking quite proud of himself.
"Do we really have to do that?" Kris asked, staring at Cillian with his mouth agape, as if he were witnessing something absurd.
"Uh, no, but because of that series you used to watch, The Data Beast Adventures of Lily and Dally," Cillian pointed at the figurines and posters of a boy and girl in Kris's room,
"some people adopted that style of summoning. It became quite a trend. So, what do you think? Were you speechless by my choreography?" He smirked, as if he had just performed a grand feat.
"Uh... sure... as long as you're happy, Cillian." Kris didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He stared at Flycon, puzzled. "Doesn't it burn you?"
"Of course not! Data Beasts can control their elements like it's second nature," Cillian replied, gently stroking Flycon's feathers. The bird fluffed up happily, nuzzling against Cillian's hand in response.
"Flycon, why don't you introduce yourself again to our Young Master?" Cillian encouraged, watching with a smile.
Flycon, with a quick leap, hopped from Cillian's shoulder towards Kris, its wings fluttering lightly as it landed gracefully beside him.
The bird nuzzled its fiery head against Kris's arm, a gesture of familiarity and warmth.
"By the way, Flycon was the one who spotted you that day, and because of him, we got to rescue you sooner." Flycon flapped its wings majestically, as if proudly asserting its role.
"Thank you, Flycon. Without you, I wouldn't be here," Kris said, smiling at the bird.
Flycon squawked and nodded, as if to say it was just doing its job.
"Anyways, Young Master, why don't you let out your Data Beast? What does its card say?" Cillian asked, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Uh, sure. So, its name is Pyro Cub. It seems like it was just born a while ago," Kris said, peering closely at the card.
"And it's ranked 1 with a potential of Platinum. It's also a Fire element, which is pretty obvious from its name."
As Kris read off the details of his Data Beast, Cillian's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. His jaw nearly dropped.
"Young Master, this is unbelievable!"
he burst out, his excitement barely contained.
"A Platinum potential Data Beast? That's super rare! I've never seen one before. I don't know how you managed to get your hands on it, but that's seriously amazing!" His voice brimmed with pride, thrilled at the unexpected discovery.