Within Lacuna's Emerald Coast, the Invasive Forest City, there is small space, nestled away. A unique, dreamlike place that emerged at an intersection between areas, with cherry blossoms in full bloom.

　It can't be visited under normal circumstances, and if not for the game behaving unusually, as if bugged, it might have been years before anyone had found it and "fixed" it.

　Its very existence seemed coincidental, but that goes even more so for its visitors.

　The first was Jesmon, a knight of salvation who came to Lacuna from another world by accident. Realizing that the space was safe from Lacuna's poison and the eyes of the administrators, Jesmon established it as a sanctuary for Digimon with nowhere else to go.

　The second was a player who triggered a "bug" purely by chance. But it wasn't just any player—she was a debugger, a member of a team who helps keep Lacuna safe and secure. Jesmon's resentment of humans led to a battle, which she won, and the two of them ended up becoming friends.

　Now that Digimon Liberator's administrative authority has since been rewritten and Lacuna is in the hands of the debugging team's special consultant, Unchained, the sanctuary serves as the debuggers' base of operations while they strive to set things right.

　It's hard to shake off the feeling that too many pieces fell into the right place here. It can't have been a coincidence—was it somehow inevitable? Perhaps there is an unseeable, unyielding force of justice that caused that debugger to come across the sanctuary that day.

　That was what was going through the mind of Huckmon, a steely white Mini Dragon. It shook its head—it didn't feel right to ascribe such things to fate. The reason it accepted the girl and her partner was because they acted in a way that really was true to themselves. But if things had panned out even just a little differently, the debugging team couldn't have come here, and it'd have been curtains for Digimon Liberator.

　And so...

"Thanks a ton Huckmon! Seriously!"

Yuuki expressed her gratitude with a hug, flustering Huckmon. "Hey, back off! There are limits to friendliness," it thought to itself, just as Impmon was looking peeved and perhaps jealous of the object of its partner's affection.

Huckmon couldn't help but smile at how blithe they all seemed, acting casually while having the fate of Lacuna in their hands.

"Hey! What are you smiling at, goody-goody?"

"Oh, nothing."

Perhaps the word that best describes this turn of events isn't "coincidence" or "inevitable," but "miracle," thought Huckmon, as it weighed up the burden of destiny they now bore.

"Is it really okay, though?"

　Yuuki tilts her head. When she came to report what was unfolding in Lacuna, it was Huckmon who offered the sanctuary as a base of operations. This took Yuuki completely by surprise, as she knew of Huckmon's reservations about Cool Boy, who appeared to have abandoned the world it came from.

　But Huckmon gave its head a light shake and waved away the question.

"Don't make me say it twice. It's what we decided, all of us. The little ones want to help too, having seen the effort you're putting in."

　Huckmon looked back, and saw the debugging team's Digimon playing with the sanctuary's In-Training and Rookie Digimon. Some of them were still a little awkward around humans, but they're genuinely curious about them and happy to interact.

"Moreover, the debugging team showed what it's capable of in the battle against the Emperor Dragon of Calamity. I still have things to say to Cool Boy, but I understand that you truly intend to defend this world. And to abandon those fighting for such a cause would be to dishonor knighthood itself."

"Alright! This is gonna be massive for us!"

"Great. So can we stop talking about this? We need to get down to the real business!"

　As Impmon speaks, it pokes the smiling, reassured-looking Yuuki in the side. The Little Devil always seems a bit grumpy while at the sanctuary, perhaps due to not being a big fan of Huckmon's composed and righteous personality.

"That's true. There's something we'd like to ask you, Huckmon."

"There is?"

　Yuuki nods.

"Yeah. It's about the world you came from."

"Cross Connectia..."

　Huckmon slowly mutters the name of the game Yuuki indicated, looking up at the sky as if focused on something far off.

"That is what Cool Boy called that world. I'm sure of it. That's where I was before I came to Lacuna."

"I thought as much."

"So Cool Boy is trapped in that world?"

"That's what Yao said, and she's a pretty high-up member of the team."

　When Yao told Yuuki that there was an MMORPG predecessor to Digimon Liberator, the first thing that came to her mind was Huckmon.

"...But then that's a good thing! Cross Connectia ended up never being released as a game, but that was because Lacuna was discovered. Yao said that the plan was to remove the poison in Lacuna and make it a habitable environment for Digimon. Then, Digimon from Cross Connectia could come!"

"Ah, well, I guess that makes sense."

　Cool Boy hadn't abandoned Cross Connectia, as Huckmon had worried. Yuuki did feel like they should have let Huckmon know, but maybe they just didn't want to get hopes up.

"Well it is true, Cross Connectia isn't that big of a world. It makes sense that he'd prioritize Lacuna's maintenance, in order to be able to help more Digimon. I'm not going to say that I have no grievances whatsoever here, but for the time being I'll put my suspicions to rest."

　Hearing that, Yuuki breathed a sigh of relief. However, Huckmon then continued on.

"But what was that Digimon that attacked us?"

"...Oh."

　Surprise escaped Yuuki's lips. After Cool Boy stopped visiting Cross Connectia, it was attacked by a mysterious Digimon. Huckmon, evolved into Jesmon, just about succeeded in driving it away, but ended up being sent to Lacuna as a result.

"It was a mechanical Digimon. One that you'd never seen..."

"Which is strange given my role as guardian of our entire world. Anyway, if it wasn't sent by Cool Boy, then what caused its attack?"

"Is there any reason to think it was anything other than one of Unchained's Digimon?"

"You might be right, considering Unchained's deviousness. Still, what could have been the objective?"

"How would I know?"

　Impmon rapidly rebuffs the question, and Yuuki gasps.

"So let me get this straight, Huckmon. There was a certain Digimon you were protecting in Cross Connectia, right? And that was also a Digimon you'd never seen before."

"Yup. A beast Digimon, wasn't it? Seems plausible that it could've been the attackers' target."

"Well, I suppose I should tell you. That Digimon is essentially the god of Cross Connectia."

"God?"

"That's right."

　Huckmon looked Yuuki straight in the eyes as it spoke.

"Its name is Dalphomon."

　Dalphomon. A god residing in Cross Connectia. Huckmon and the others were originally from the Digital World, and they had never seen that kind of beast Digimon before.

"An extremely powerful, yet totally gentle Digimon. And as it was clear that its presence was what was maintaining the world's balance, I took it upon myself to protect it."

"Then it really is that powerful?"

"It is. And now that Unchained has taken control of Lacuna, they might target Dalphomon again."

"That's legit scary! We gotta help!"

　Yuuki unconsciously rises to her feet. Seeing this makes Impmon let out a sigh.

"Hey! HEY! Our mission is to rescue Cool Boy and Zenith, or did you forget? We don't have time for this, or anything else!"

"That may be so, but if you ask me, we should help with this too!"

"I'm not surprised to hear you say that, Yuuki..."

　Huckmon softly says this with a happy look on its face. It smiles at Impmon and continues:

"And I would deeply appreciate it if you could check on Dalphomon. However, I have some words of warning."

"Oh?"

"When I fought to protect Dalphomon last time, I didn't do it alone. I had help."

"Naturally, given your teamwork skills."

"My allies were reliable, but to be frank they're the stubborn type. I imagine they believe even more firmly than I did that humans betrayed us, and are even more resentful."

"Wait, if that's the case..."

　Huckmon nodded to Impmon, whose eyes widened.

"Right, it's possible that Cool Boy and your allies now in Cross Connectia are at an increased risk. They went about half an hour ago, yes?"

"Yeah, they went ahead. Our plan is to meet at the spawn point—"

"Time doesn't pass the same way in Cross Connectia as here. Very differently in fact—that 30 minutes has been perhaps a half a day there."

"Wait... WHAT?! No one told me this! How have I not heard of this?!"

Out from behind the flabbergasted Yuuki came the familiar voice of Yao Qinglan:

　"Oh, uh, yeah. Sorry about that. I was just about to tell you myself."

"But they're all super tough. They're sure to be fine, right?"

"Well in any case, let's join back up with my teacher and the others!"

　After getting Yao up to speed about Huckmon and the sanctuary, as she was leaving, Yuuki thrust her finger up towards the sky.

　Before Winr's group entered Cross Connectia, Yao had let them know that time passes more slowly there. However, amid a series of urgent events, Yao had forgotten to inform Yuuki. But, as Yuuki considered it now with more composure, she realized it wasn't necessarily bad news. It means there is effectively more time to search for Cool Boy.

　She's anxious about the Digimon protecting Dalphomon, but Winr's group are all highly capable. It's not likely that they'll be defeated easily.

"...Still, something feels kinda ominous about this. Eh, we'll probably be alright."

"Don't be so relaxed, Yuuki. If we mess this mission up, it could be the end of Lacuna. You do realize that, right?"

"Of course I do! This is an all-important mission, and failure is not an option!"

"Then why do you look like you're enjoying this?!"

　Facing Impmon and its look of dissatisfaction, Yuuki lets out a laugh.

"Yuuki! I'm serious! It's a new world, with Digimon we haven't seen before, and we have no idea how this is all going to play out!"

"You're totally right... And that's exactly why it's gonna be so much fun!"

"I can't even... I just can't."

　Impmon shrugs its shoulders at Yuuki as if astounded by her response, but also seems to inwardly agree with the sentiment.

　That floating-like sensation you always get when you log in to Digimon Liberator. It's as if "Yuuki" the mind has been separated from "Yuuki" the physical body.

　"It kinda feels the same as always, but also a little different," she thinks to herself, eyes closed.

　At that moment, a green-colored wind—different to the quiet winds of the Emerald Coast—gently brushes her cheeks. A wind full of the breath of life. Suddenly her eyelids flicker and she takes a deep breath. It's as if she's trying to make sure she takes in every last bit of the wind.

Opening her eyes, she exclaims, "Cross Connectia! Nice to meet you!"

　Finding herself at the top of a cliff, she looks down at the green ground before her as her hair sways. She's never seen anywhere in Lacuna that looks like this.

"Yapping again already..."

　Hearing the voice coming from below, she looks down. All set. Can't set out on a new adventure without your trusty partner, can you? She remembered someone saying that.

　Everything's perfect: the wind is lovely, my partner is by my side, and I just look so freaking cute today!

"Impmon! Time to get things started!"

"Yuuki! This is a cliff! This isn't safe!"

　And so, breathing together as if one body and mind, they set out on this new adventure in a strange land.

To be continued.