Blog Update

Not that anyone ever comes here (which I'm okay with, I write this stuff first and foremost for me), but in case there is someone who comes here and reads my stuff and, like, never comments, I wanted to say sorry for being so far behind in my Wednesday updates. I've been insanely busy, and where the Sunday updates have been pre-scheduled for weeks, my Wednesday updates are typed up and posted on a week by week basis. I just haven't had the time lately. I will catch them up, though. I'll have the time soon.

Update mode: deactivate.

Digimon Adventure ND Book Two: The Terror of Tyranterramon - Chapter Thirteen

This is another chapter that I made from what was once two too-short chapters, which is odd because I actually remember this being one chapter once and then splitting it up. I guess my standards have changed a bit since then. I think it had something to do with, at the time, thinking that number of chapters was more important than telling more cohesive stories. To be fair, when I posted this the first time, I was a lot younger, and somehow even more of an admittedly awesome fool. Anyway, enjoy the chapter. The heroes actually start to make progress in this one.

Chapter Thirteen

The Desert Guardian Reborn

Digimon Adventure ND Book Two: The Terror of Tyranterramon - Chapter Twelve

Fun fact: In the original version of this, posted on yugiohcardmaker.net, this was two chapters, both of which didn't even break three pages. So I streamlined them a bit, added some refined and improved details, and combined them together. We learn a lot in these two chapters, including the most likely meaning of the so-called Prophesy of Protectormon, and the fact that the Crests seem to hold secrets that the Digidestined still don't know about.

It is also my birthday today, so, ya know, happy birthday me! 

Chapter Twelve

Birth of the Courageous Soldier

Digimon Adventure ND Book Two: The Terror of Tyranterramon - Chapter Eleven

Just like with Manipulamon Reigns, everything in this book culminates at the Machine Citadel, and everything changes once it does. The final battle doesn't happen at the Citadel like in the last book, but the forces who face Tyranterramon in that battle originate here. From here on out the final battle is on. I'm condensing a few of these chapters down, so I don't know for sure how many there will be overall, but it will be something like eight or nine chapters of nothing but the final battle with Tyranterramon as he pushes toward the final Core. It was really ambitious for me at the time to write such a drawn out battle, and this shows a bit, but it holds up okay. I think readers will enjoy it.

Chapter Eleven

The Final Core; Machinedramon’s Underground Complex

Digimon Adventure ND Book Two: The Terror of Tyranterramon - Chapter Ten

Once again, the kids and the Digimon fight Tyranterramon, this time with the help of a reborn Five Regions' Guardian, who is not as de-powered as Jiji and Baba. This book is only about half over, so they don't beat him yet. They do gain new allies, though, and this chapter sets up an important detail for the climax of the book: the existence and nature of Legacy Codes, which are fractal codes (like the ones introduced in Digimon Frontier) which contain the lingering powers and memories of a Digimon who is about to reconfigure and wants to preserve something of who they are. When the characters refer to the power to control fire given from Phoenixmon to SkullMeramon, they are discussing the transfer of Phoenixmon's Legacy Code to SkullMeramon.

Chapter Ten

The Legacy of Phoenixmon

Yu-Gi-Oh! DF Book Seven: Their Most Dangerous Enemy - Chapter Twenty-One

The Card Professors have two insect users, one who is pushy and direct and confident, and one who is insecure, and relies more on tricks than brute force. The Duel Force has Duelists who use Fire and Ice. I couldn't help but make these two duos tag duel against each other. It also allowed me to connect what would have been two single-chapter duels together into one, and expand that one into two parts. Not to mention that we get to see something of Tucker and Frost's dynamic, and get a look at how well they work together.

Only one of either of these Card Professor characters' original cards were ever released in the actual card game, and that is Mendo Cino's ace monster (which doesn't show up until next chapter). It was heavily watered down from its manga version and ended up just not being a good monster. Needless to say I will be including something closer to the manga version of that monster in this duel.

No card of the day today, as not a whole lot of standout cards have been played so far. Maybe I'll do a double card of the day next time...

Chapter Twenty-One

Tucker and Frost vs. Number Seven and Number Eleven

Digimon Adventure ND Book Two: The Terror of Tyranterramon - Chapter Nine

Today the Digidestined learn the story behind Elder Gekomon's statement in the last chapter. All at once we learn that Tyranterramon was able to bypass the protection of the Azulong Crystal, put in place by the Protector himself, and that the Gekomon and Otamamon are refugees now, and not all of them survived. The group has one last hope. Babamon and Jijimon know of a potential ally who might be able to give them an edge against even this form of Tyranterramon, if the stories of his power are true, but it will again necessitate fighting near a Digital Core. I don't know what could possibly go wrong.

Also, hurray for cliffhanger chapter endings! 

Chapter Nine

The Mountain Core

Yu-Gi-Oh! DF Book Seven: Their Most Dangerous Enemy - Chapter Twenty

 I love writing for Jenna. She's probably my first truly original character (in that she isn't really based on anyone I know), and she truly has her own style, in and out of game. That's why her deck feels so random: she just kind of threw all of her favorite cards together. And yet it somehow works! Obviously her deck has a few original cards in it, but even without them, for a casual game, this deck isn't actually too bad.

Jenna is also tied to a few of my other characters. She knows most of the Duel Force members pretty well, is John's student, is probably Sarah's best friend at this point, and is just overall the closest thing I have to a second generation Duel Force member. It makes the team feel more like a living, changing thing. We'll get more of this in the next book, and in the upcoming sequel series.

Chapter Twenty

Jenna vs. Number Four

Digimon Adventure ND Book Two: The Terror of Tyranterramon - Chapter Eight

Finally we have a longer chapter. This chapter is a turning point for the group. They lose one chance to defeat Tyranterramon, but gain access to a knowledge resource which might help them get ahead of him, in the form of Babamon and Jijimon. They also technically have the power of Bio-Merge, though, as we learn today, that power isn't something to fall back on often.

 It is also a turning point because of the implications of the wham line at the very end of the chapter. It solidifies the truth that the rules have changed as of Tyranterramon's appearance, and the resources that the kids took for granted in Book One aren't going to do them any good anymore.

Chapter Eight

Unity Found, Unity Lost

Yu-Gi-Oh! Reaper - Chapter Twelve

This chapter is actually one of my shortest this book, but I hope it isn't noticeable. Sooo much happens this chapter. We finally find out why Thompson has checked out of his life, we finally get a confrontation between Max and El, and Thompson and James, and finally, finally, the heroes confront the mysterious killer. A new weakness is exposed in one of our heroes (to be expanded upon next chapter), and another of our heroes confronts the killer directly, and is soundly defeated.

Also notice that, near the end of this chapter, I quote, almost word for word, a passage from Chapter Two explaining the absolute truths regarding Max's powers, the things that he knows with absolute certainty are true. It also reiterates one of Max's key, defining beliefs. This is to remind readers of these things and make sure that the wham line spoken by the killer has the intended impact.

This is the final turning point for this book. Everything from this point forward is a straight shot toward the climax. Having seen magic first hand now, along with some pretty solid evidence that Max isn't the killer that they are after, will James and Thompson join forces with our heroes and help them bring this mystery man down, or will they rededicate themselves to bringing Max in, continuing to act as an obstacle? Find out next time, along with a bunch of other stuff, because next time is going to be a pretty exposition-heavy one. 

Chapter Twelve

Confrontation, Part Three