V-Monsters Re:Alive

A strange heaviness weighed on Aiko's chest, as though something had shifted without anyone else noticing. The circle on the floor still pulsed faintly beneath her feet, but no one seemed to sense it but her.

"You okay?" Kenji asked.

"Yeah… I'm just…" Aiko hesitated, unsure how to explain what she had seen.

Meanwhile, Pulsebun crouched beside some kind of metallic terminal, apparently fascinated by something else.

"This metal… it conducts electricity in a really unusual way. If I can take a sample…"

Kenji huffed.

"Aiko nearly got herself killed by stepping here, and your first idea is to bring pieces of this ruin back home?"

"Exactly!" Pulsebun tapped his paw with a fist. "This could help me with my project!"

Before Aiko could comment, a loud crash echoed from the dark corridor to their right.

The three exchanged looks.

"That was just a weird noise… right?" Kenji muttered, helping Aiko up.

Another crash, louder this time. The ground shook.

A prickly chill ran up Aiko's spine as she stepped back. Then something emerged from the shadows. Two yellow lights flickered in the dark.

A Rhinobee burst through the entryway with a deafening impact, smashing a rusty column and sending dust everywhere.

Aiko held her breath at the sight of the blue metallic humanoid, covered in moss and corrosion.

Kenji swallowed hard.

"That's… a Rhinobee? I thought they were extinct…"

Pulsebun's eyes widened.

"Uh. That's a problem."

Rhinobee, a mechanical beetle-like V-Monster in humanoid form, shifted its metallic back legs and dragged its energy blade along the floor, sending sparks flying.

It turned toward them.

Then it attacked.

Aiko jumped back just in time, the slicing wind of the strike passing far too close. Rhinobee's energy blade slammed into the wall, cutting through the ancient metal like paper.

Kenji stumbled and fell backward.

"That thing is no ordinary V-Monster!"

"Oh, really?!" Aiko yelled, yanking Kenji out of the way before debris rained down on him.

Rhinobee straightened up, gearing up for another charge. Rusted segments of its armor rattled with an unsettling metallic screech.

Pulsebun stepped in front of Aiko and Kenji.

"Leave it to me!"

A crackle of blue electricity danced across Pulsebun's body.

"STATIC SHOCK!"

A bolt of lightning shot from Pulsebun, striking Rhinobee's metal plating. Sparks rippled across the monster's surface…

But it didn't stop.

With missile-like speed, Rhinobee charged.

Pulsebun tried to dodge, but Rhinobee was faster. It slammed him with the side of its body, sending him crashing into a wall.

"Pulsebun!" Aiko cried.

He hit the ground with a thud but quickly got to his feet, shaking off the dust and sparks from his silvery fur.

"You've gotta be kidding me! My shock didn't even make it flinch!"

Kenji scrambled away from the fight, tugging Aiko along.

"That shell of his is conductive! Your electricity is just running right through!"

Pulsebun clenched his teeth.

"Then how am I supposed to beat this thing?"

Rhinobee pounded its hands against the ground, preparing another rush. The metal of the ruin vibrated under its power.

Pulsebun scanned his surroundings.

"You know what? If I can't fry you…"

He focused on the rustiest parts of Rhinobee's frame.

"…then I'll do what I do best: improvise!"

Rhinobee lunged, its horn crackling with built-up static.

But Pulsebun didn't run away.

He charged straight at the monster, closing the gap in an instant.

Aiko gasped.

"What are you doing?!"

At the last second, Pulsebun dove low, sliding between Rhinobee's legs.

In a burst of speed, he leapt up behind it, lining up a focused strike.

Rhinobee tried to pivot, but Pulsebun was quicker.

"Take this!"

The floor lit up with a flash of blue as Pulsebun drove an energized punch directly into Rhinobee's most corroded segment.

A wave of static filled the room.

Rhinobee froze mid-attack.

Its yellow eyes flickered in confusion. Its body shuddered.

And then…

With a resounding metal clang, it collapsed, powered down.

Silence settled over the ruins.

Aiko helped Kenji to his feet. Both stared at Pulsebun, who still had sparks dancing across his fur.

The V-Monster exhaled, a smug grin on his face.

"Heh. That's how you handle a problem."

Aiko eyed the deactivated Rhinobee on the floor, her heart still pounding.

"You… actually took that thing down?"

Pulsebun brushed himself off, knocking away flakes of rust from his coat.

"It was already busted. Must've been dormant here forever. I just aimed for the spot that looked the most corroded."

Kenji pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

"I can't believe that actually worked…"

Pulsebun flashed a cocky smile.

"Hey, this is why I'm the genius around here."

Aiko was still shaking. Her gaze drifted back to Rhinobee's motionless body.

She knew she'd awakened something within this place.

But now wasn't the time to talk about it.