Chapter 18: Our Memories (HM) 11 HM

Section

Main story

Area

Eater EDEN

Lines

65

ChitoseCommunications have been down for a while now. What's happening?

Ryuji...

Ryuji & Chitose...!

HudiemonIt's over. The Eater Legion is gone.

RyujiThat voice... Are you...Erika?!

HudiemonIt's not that simple. I am her, and yet I am not her.

HudiemonWormmon and Erika's mental data has become unified. I'm a new Erika, that the old Erika willed into being.

ChitoseA new Erika?! Are you a Digimon now?!

Ryuji...

Ryuji...

Chitose...

Player...

HudiemonHuh? Where is Player? I thought he was ejected from the memory server with me...

HudiemonWhat? What are you doing there? I didn't see you.

HudiemonAll right, then...

Player...

HudiemonWell! What do you think? The new me is pretty cool, huh?

ChitoseI dunno what to think. It's definitely Erika's voice, but somehow it reminds me of Wormmon.

ChitoseIs this even possible? What do you make of it?

Ryuji...Sorry. I need a little time.

ChitoseYeah! So would I if my sister had just turned into a Digimon! That's perfectly understandable!

Player...

PlayerI have to admit, I'm confused.

Hudiemon...

PlayerBut...I definitely get a sense of Erika.

Hudiemon...!

ChitoseWell...I have to say... It's not exactly how I envisioned it happening, but at least now Hudie is back together!

ChitoseI'm not too bothered about the details. The main thing is we've got you back! We were worried sick!

RyujiRight. Whatever you look like, you're still you.

RyujiWelcome back, Erika.

HudiemonThanks! Good to be back!

RyujiWhat the...?!

ChitoseThe Eaters are gathering at Erika's server?!

HudiemonLegion is gone, but EDEN is still being eroded. The effects of Erika's ghost have spread so far...

ChitoseWhat? Explain it in a way that we can understand!

HudiemonWhen the Eater Legion assimilated Erika's vast memory, it acquired a temporary "ghost."

HudiemonThat ghost then spread to the other Eaters in EDEN through the Eater network!

HudiemonErika's memory server was the core of that ghost. They've gathered there in an attempt to unify it. But there's no trace of Erika left on that server.

HudiemonSo now they're consuming each other in pursuit of an alternative to the core, and trying to evolve into something else!

RyujiSomething else?!

ChitoseThen I guess we should stop them, right?!

HudiemonIt's already too late!

Player...?!

RyujiWhat the...?!

HudiemonThe Eaters have evolved into a new entity with Erika's memory server as its shell and the temporary ghost as its core.

HudiemonIt's like a tree with roots spreading throughout EDEN... An "Eater EDEN!"

ChitoseEater EDEN?!

Player...!

ChitoseWhat's that sound?

HudiemonThe ghost inside is causing the Eater pain. Assimilating the whole of EDEN must have increased that pain.

HudiemonBecause EDEN has logged and accumulated vast amounts of human mental data, emotions and feelings...

HudiemonMore than anything, the Eater wants to return to where it used to be.

RyujiReturn?

HudiemonIt has two of my memories: Curiosity about the outside world and...homesickness.

HudiemonThey seem very different, but are actually the same.

HudiemonIt wants to escape this small world, see a whole new world and then go back to where it belongs.

HudiemonThat's how I felt, and now it wants the same.

Player...

HudiemonIt's another Erika, just like I evolved from her.

ChitoseDo we have to destroy it?

HudiemonI think that's best.

HudiemonBut not to get EDEN back. I want to send it back to where it belongs.

HudiemonEven if it is only my ghost.

HudiemonThe erosion has spread all through EDEN. We'll be up against cyberspace itself.

HudiemonEven so, are you willing to fight?

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