Chapter 32
We press on, access new route town!
A few days later Laura turns on her computer after taking a little sabbatical from the game. She heads to the game desktop and checks her e-mail and opens a message from Osimaru (a.k.a Kana)-
Raishiuko where have you been lately?! Not much has gone down since we beat the third Omega beast, meet me in the new route town and I’ll give you the 411.
Osimaru
Laura: New route town?
She looks for more new messages and opens one from William Japlex, the founder of Digital Life-
Thank you for combating these forces of Lancor’s, he’s been
pretty quiet these days but we don’t know for how long. Please meet me at “
Sincerely William Japlex
Laura: What new route town, I got to find out.
She then notices an e-mail direct from Digital Interface, the company who backed up the Digital Life project-
We’re proud to announce a new route town has been added to the roster of the Digital Life world-
You can move your current cyber home here or start a new one, the choice is yours. Please come and visit.
“You can now access “
Laura: Great, I’m ready to go.
So with Hamtaro ever ready at her side they log in once again to the unknown that awaits them.
Once logged in Raishiuko and Hamtaro see a highly futuristic
world with some old world Sicilian charm, they way a little and just at the
crosswalk they meet up with Osimaru and
Osimaru: So William sent you an e-mail to meet him somewhere?
Raishiuko: Yeah *takes out red ticket* this is the ticket he gave me. He said to only bring me and Hamtaro and one other friend.
Then without warning
Osimaru:
Osimaru: All right then, I guess we’ll meet up with you later.
So as
Meanwhile in the outskirts of
(Thinking)
T.W: I must be ready for the next battle. I must be ready for anything.
Than he collapsed in exhaustion and could hardly get up, he was about to fall when someone caught him-
T.W: What? Who’s there?
He looked up to see it was Hakeru who gave him a coy and gentle smile-
Hakeru: Hey there, you’re going to be just fine.
Soon after they are found sat under a blanket beside the flowing river enjoying a little picnic-
T.W: This is great, and you’re saying you made it?
Hakeru: Yep and it’s my own recipe too.
There was a small silence there for a moment then T.W cleared his throat to speak.
T.W: I’m worried.
Hakeru: Huh?
T.W: I’m worried we won’t be ready for Lancor’s next trap, I’ve been training all I can but I’m not sure if it’s enough.
Then Hakeru suddenly let out a loud prosperous chuckle making T.W feel small and angered-
(Angry mark)
T.W: I’m pouring myself out to you and you find it funny?!
Hakeru: Oh no of course not it’s just… You sound a lot like Boss right now.
T.W: Why do you say that?
Hakeru: Well he told me the exact same thing just awhile ago, he’s training up in the mountains just north of here. It’ll be fine I told him and that’s just what I’m telling you.
T.W: I guess so, why don’t we go for a train ride?
Hakeru: A train ride, what brought this on?
T.W: Well if something’s new on the Lancor front, our friends will let us know and it’s been awhile since we kicked back in this game or the real world for that matter.
Hakeru: I guess that’s true. All right I’m game, let’s go.
Meanwhile at the town café
Pashmina: So what’s our next move?
Meanwhile the train has stopped at the destination where the party of three got off and quickly out of the station. They travel along checking the map every so often. They battled a few monsters and soon found themselves at an old looking office building.
Raishiuko: Well this is the place.
So they enter inside and all the lights of the building turned on.
Voice: Thank you for coming, meet me at the top floor.
Osimaru: William?
Raishiuko: Let’s hurry, I see an elevator.
So they enter inside and head up the floors until the reach the highest level. When the doors opened they saw a large and fancy room, there was even a hot tub. Looking over they see William sitting a circular desk.
William: Well I’m glad you could come, please sit down.
They all sit down in front of the desk wondering why they were called here.
William: Well you’ll be glad to know that for one we haven’t traced Lancor on the server for some time. Also I’d like to give you something.
He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver microphone.
William: This is a silver mike; this will increase a pop star’s power and provides an instant light show.
Hamtaro: Well T.W’s a pop star, so you want us to give to him?
William: Yes but also, many inhabitants of Digital life are worried that Lancor will cause more damage the next time he appears so I thought a concert is in order.
Raishiuko: So you want T.W to sing?
William: Yes and for everyone to hear him, go to the concert tower in Murasha town and perform on the stage, hopefully it will bring a little piece to the world.
Soon after, they left for the train station back when they saw T.W and Hakeru on the path, as they walk back to the station together Raishiuko explains to T.W of William’s request.
T.W: He wants me to sing for everyone in Digital life, why me?
Hamtaro: Why not, you have a great singing voice.
T.W: I just don’t think I could.
Raishiuko: Well I’m sure you can, just believe that you can and you will.
T.W: Well all right then, where do I have to go again?
Raishiuko: At the concert tower in Murasha town, so you sure you want to go?
T.W: Yeah if he’s that sure it’ll help everyone then fine.
Soon everyone had gathered at the concert tower in Murasha town, while Osimaru was working on the server hookup while Raishiuko and T.W chatted with William on the videophone in the dressing room.
William: Thank you for doing this, I’m sure this will cheer everyone up.
T.W: I hope so as well.
Osimaru then came in-
Osimaru: We’re all hooked up, and everyone’s waiting.
T.W: All right then.
Outside the tower the crowd was buzzing as T.W stood atop the platform that was the very top of the tall tower. With a clear throat and microphone in paw, he was as ready as ever.
(Thinking)
T.W: Well here goes nothing.
Just then there was a loud rumbling and the whole town shook.
Raishiuko: What’s going on!
Then in a flash a monstrous bird appeared from deep under the earth, everyone’s MSU’s went wild-
MSU
Name: Cardergan
Level: 285
Type: Omega
T.W: Another omega beast, here, now?
Hakeru: What are we going to do? If we fight it here, innocent people and players will get hurt.
Osimaru: But there’s no time to evacuate anyone, or lure it away.
Fi: We have no choice, we’ll have to fight it here.
Osimaru: But Fi…
Fi: We can use T.W’s pop star abilities to attack it mid air, without endangering the others.
Osimaru, I see, we better tell that to him and fast.
Hamtaro: I don’t think we need to, look-
Everyone looked to see T.W prepared for battle by Fi’s plan.
T.W: Ok mini jukebox, play “
The jukebox lit up and for a moment the music was soft, little strands of blue energy latched onto Cardergan rendering it unable to move. Then the drum solo kicked in and started to feel real damage. From there T.W sang-
(Beams of light came down from the sky and greatly injuring the monster bird)
Kisetsu wa odayaka ni
owari o tsugeta ne
Iro do rareta kioku ni
yosete
Sayonara Ai o kureta ano hito wa
Kono hitomi ni
yurameiteita
During in the instrumental-
Osimaru: Come on Fi, we’ve go to help him!
(She jumps on Fi)
Fi: Right.
Hamtaro: Wait for us, we’re coming too!
Hamtaro, Raishiuko, and Hakeru hopped on to join Fi in the air. The crowd watched in awe as the battle of the fourth omega
beast begins.
(Petals of white flowers fall on Cardergan causing major damage, Fi gets in range and attacks with a fireball)
Togire nai kimochi
nante
Hajimekara shinjite na
katta
Utsuriyuku machi nami
ni tori nokosareta mama
Yuki kawau ano hito
bito ge imawa
Touku ni kanji rarede
Zawamekisae usurete wa
Tameiki ni kiete
shimau
Hakeru then sent an e-mail to Boss and the others to hurry onto the scene-
Kuuseki ni
mitsumerareta
Taikutsu na kyuujitsu
ni wa
(A heart flutters above T.W and fires a red hot laser at the monster bird infliction more damage)
Owaru koto naku anate
ga nagare tsuzuketeiru
Wakatteitemo kizukanai
furishite
Oborete itayo itsudemo
(T.W then jumps high off the tower)
Dare ka no koto
omotteru
(His microphone turns into a sword thought still singing and gives three swipes-
Yokogao demo suteki
(First slash)
Dat-
(Second slash
Ta-
(Third slash)
Kara-
The sword changed back into the microphone-
(He fell and Fi got to him just in time landing on his head)
Kisetsu wa odayaka ni
owari o tsugeta ne
Iro do rareta kioku ni
yosete
Sayonara Ai o kureta ano hito wa
Kono hitomi ni
yurameiteita
After a quick drum
solo the music went to a guitar solo-
Ato. . . Dore kurai
darou?
Soba ni. . . Itekureru
no wa
Sou. . . Omoi na gara
toki o kizande itayo
During the instrumental…
By thus time, Boss and the other’s arrived after receiving Hakeru’s message. Boss, Haruki, and the other hams rode on AD-
Boss: Hey, we’re here you guys!
Hakeru: All right, good timing.
T.W looked up to notice Boss and the others, he then got even more ready to finish this.
(Boss, the other hams, Raishiuko, and AD all attacked Cardergan together as T.W sung)
Yosete wa kaeshiteku.
. .
(A twinkling of light, appeared above the beast)
Oh nami no you ni
Kono kokoro
(T.W moved his left paw down)
Sarawarete
(A powerful beam of light and energy came down and completely weakened and blinded the Cardergan finally beating him)
Kyo mo machi wa ai mo
kawarazu omoi megurase
Sore zore ni egaite
yuku. . .
Sayonara Ai o kureta ano hito wa
Toui sora ni koi
kogarete
Kono hitomi ni
yurameiteita
(All that was left were a shower of flower petals)
Utsuriyuku machi nami
ni
(T.W caught one in his paw)
tameiki wa koboreta
With pling at the end of the song, T.W kissed the petal and the battle was over.
Though it was a battle for the world, the audience also saw it as a performance and clapped, cheered, and whistled. Some even demanded an encore. T.W and everyone took a bow and T.W left from the stage again, this time using his magic umbrella to return safely to the ground.
Much later, the hams, Raishiuko and the others went back to the access tower, where William and Jullianno had something to say. William: That was an excellent performance. And don't worry. No one suspects that it was a battle. Everyone thought it was part of the act. T.W rubs the back of his head in embarrassment. T.W: Gee thanks. It was fun. Jullianno: As a thank you, we'll let you keep your new silver mike, along with some valuable information on Lancor. The others are surprised. Raishiuko: More information? William: Yes. You see, Lancor wasn't always evil, as we might have said before. It was sometime ago during the production of the game... He explains as we see the digital world as cyber chips and working parts. "It was during the beta testing of the game. We hired players from Japan It then shows a dark, glowing piece on one of those chips. "Lancor was assigned to the task of studying the test players and what they do in the game. It was the only thing left since he lost his other positions in design and such. Even his ideas were turned down. But something happened one day...something that changed him..." Returns to normal- William: Something was added to the game. Someone, or something, hacked the game. Now it turns to a pedestal in some dark place, and a bracelet on it. "…Somehow that person was able to create the Armlet of Shadows, something that was thought to be legend in the real world. It's an item that is said to draw out the darkness in a person's heart, and give them amazing powers. Lancor somehow obtained this bracelet, and was affected by its evil powers." It turns dark- "The rage in his heart was strengthened, and he did the unthinkable." The game world itself explodes under the effects of the "Bomb" effect. "While players tested the game, Lancor snapped and issued a Bomb effect. Where as the game is reset, anyone affected will be deleted forever. Course, this one, can kill in the real world." Returns to normal- William: We lost one player due to the Bomb. Yet his data was still in the game. We were trying to bring it back, but we were unsuccessful. So now, his human body is locked up in a special room in the real world. Hopefully, we can bring him back. The others are silent. T.W felt tears streaming down his face. Raishiuko (thinking): This bracelet. If that's the reason for Lancor's evil then who is really responsible here? Who's really behind everything that's happened? William: We did know of one thing that can bring him back, but never found it, until now. Jullianno: And that's the Summon Spirit of Iris, Rai, the one that T.W possesses. He points to him. T.W: Me? William: Rai is special. He has the power to turn things into half of what it really is. Like how it is used to turn you half human, half hamster. Jullianno: But more importantly, he has the power to fuse souls with empty vessels. Everyone is shocked. William: Yes. But since we have no control over the Summoning Spirits, we weren’t able to find Rai, but we’ve found him at last. As well as the one he’s chosen, you. T.W: So you want me to bring back this player? William: Yes. Otherwise, this game will be shut down by the government. And then, all hope for his survival, and for the game’s people is lost. As well as saving Lancor. (Thinks)Hamtaro: We can't let that happen. Whoever this player is, we have to save him and Lancor too. William: But that's not the only thing we need Rai to do. He can also help in trying to bring Lancor back. Jullianno: Like I said, Rai can make things half of what they are. So we want Rai to make it so Lancor would appear as half evil, but half good. T.W: Two separate personalities? William: We don't know what may happen if used on him. But it would be for a short time. But we have developed a program that will permanently separate the two egos, and remove the evil from here. Jullianno: But to do that, we need to destroy all the Omega Beasts. It seems that their existence is protecting him. Defeat them, and we can bring him back. William: It won't be easy. We'll need all the help we can get. All of you need to find the remaining Summoning Spirits, so you can accomplish this task. Once then, we'll be able to free him. You understand all this? They all nod in agreement. William: Good. Hamtaro: Don't worry William! We'll do the job! We'll make everything right! *to his friends* let’s go! They all cheer, and they take off. Jullianno jumps on top of Williams shoulder. (Thinks):William But in order to truly do it, we need the power of Hamtaro's summoning spirit. Although it sleeps within him, only through the other spirits that he can awaken it. And yet, it would seem that one of the Spirits would be needed even more. (Thinking)Jullianno: Not just T.W and Hamtaro, bur there’s something about Raishiuko, Boss, and Fi that will prove to be important Lancor is seen walking through a forest. He hears something and stops. Lancor: Hmph, probably nothing. He continues walking on. Something shines of his right wrist. It is the Armlet of Shadows! As he walks on, two shiny white eyes watch him.