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

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

In this chapter the Digidestined keep fighting old people. It's kinda the whole wise old master thing, with the elderly Babamon and Jijimon passing on their knowledge to the young heroes, and it does help, though obviously Tyranterramon doesn't die anytime soon, since the book isn't even half over yet. Still, even though the powers that the heroes obtain here don't win them the day, the lessons that they learn eventually contribute to the climax.

Oh, and fun fact, it is canon that Babamon is the elderly form of Rosemon, as mentioned below, but Oberomon is my own creation. Internets to whoever gets the reference.

Chapter Seven

Trial of the Forest

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

 Now we begin a few of the less important duels, in that they don't involve a "main" character (mains being John, Karen, Sarah, and people like that), or an important story revelation or character building event. You could say that these duels are filler, and you'd be kind of right, but I don't think that it hurts to check up on all of the characters from time to time. And besides, Kris is really fun to write for.

Next duel, Jenna vs. Kirk Dixon, will also be only one chapter long, and then we'll get another big one. Before either of those, though, we have a chapter of Reaper where there is finally some action again! Yay!

Chapter Nineteen

Kris vs. Number Twelve