V-Monsters Re:Alive

The metallic body of the Rhinobee lay motionless on the ruin's floor. The silence after the battle was suffocating, a stark contrast to the deafening sounds of the fight.

Aiko could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her chest as Pulsebun shook off the lingering static from his silver fur.

And then, it happened.

The Rhinobee began to dissolve.

Small, glowing cubes—luminous and ethereal—separated from the V-Monster's body, floating like dust particles bathed in light. They pulsed in shades of blue and gold, breaking apart in the air before slowly converging again, forming something at the center of the hall.

Kenji watched in fascination.

"I've read about this... but I've never seen it with my own eyes."

Aiko held her breath. She knew what was coming next.

And then, the egg appeared.

The light faded, revealing an emerald-green shell. It pulsed softly, radiating a rhythmic glow, like a heartbeat.

Pulsebun let out a sigh and crossed his arms.

"Yep. The cycle continues."

Aiko blinked, feeling a strange chill run down her spine.

"The cycle?"

Pulsebun gave her a look, as if it was obvious.

"Everyone knows this! When a V-Monster dies, its body disappears, and an egg is left behind. That's how our species survives."

Kenji adjusted his glasses, carefully analyzing the egg's structure.

"But this is the first time I've ever seen a rebirth happen right in front of me."

Aiko nodded. She had always known this was how things worked, but she had never actually witnessed a V-Monster dissolving like that.

What really unsettled her, though, was the Rhinobee itself.

It wasn't supposed to be there.

And now... a new one was about to be born.

Kenji carefully picked up the egg, feeling its soft warmth pulse against his hands.

"We need to take this to the Guild."

Pulsebun frowned.

"The Guild? No way! This egg is a relic! I need to study it!"

Aiko glanced between them, feeling the tension rise.

"You two… can you explain this to me first?"

Kenji took a deep breath and turned to her.

"The Explorer's Guild regulates everything related to ancient discoveries, especially if they're tied to the Old World. The library itself belongs to the Guild and serves as their local base. Whenever we find ruins, lost technology, or anything similar, we have to report it to them."

Pulsebun scoffed.

"And that means if we hand this egg over to the Guild, they might lock it away in some lab, never letting anyone see it again."

Kenji clenched his jaw.

"But it also means it will be safe. We don't know what that Rhinobee was or why it was here. If there are more, the Guild needs to know."

Pulsebun crossed his arms.

"But what if the Guild just wants to hide it? What if I can learn more than they ever could?"

Aiko sighed, rubbing her temples.

"Can we just deal with this when we get back?"

Kenji exhaled slowly, gripping the egg a little tighter.

"Yeah… But I'm reporting this. It's the right thing to do."

Pulsebun rolled his eyes but didn't argue.

The decision wouldn't be made here.

The walk back was quiet. The sky had turned orange by the time they finally left the forest and reached the stone road leading to the village.

The crisp village air was comforting, but Aiko couldn't shake the unease growing inside her.

Something felt… wrong.

For a brief moment, the world flickered.

She blinked.

For an instant, it felt like she wasn't really there. The ground seemed to vanish beneath her, as if the universe had unraveled and rebuilt itself all at once. Everything blurred, distorted—like a cracked window just before shattering.

And then… it was normal again.

She stumbled for a second.

"Hey." Pulsebun turned to her, concerned. "You okay?"

Aiko forced a smile, trying to ignore the cold shiver down her spine.

"Yeah. Just… tired."

But Pulsebun didn't seem convinced.

By the time they reached Kyoten's main square, the village was already illuminated by lanterns and torches.

Kenji sighed.

"I'm heading straight to the library. I need to start the reports."

He glanced at the egg one more time, then at Aiko.

"I'll see you both tomorrow."

Aiko nodded, and Kenji disappeared down the cobbled street, carefully cradling the egg in his arms.

Pulsebun yawned.

"Alright, I'm going with you, Aiko."

She smirked.

"Hungry, huh?"

"Always."

The two of them started walking toward Aiko's house. The scent of fresh bread lingered in the air, but she couldn't relax.

Her chest still felt heavy.

"Pulsebun…"

The V-Monster twitched his ears, glancing at her from the side.

"Hm?"

Aiko hesitated for a moment. She knew something was wrong. She felt something strange. But saying it out loud would make it real.

"...Nothing."

Pulsebun narrowed his eyes.

"Don't lie. You're scared."

Aiko remained silent.

He was right.

Pulsebun then leaped onto the stone wall of a nearby house, looking down at her with a confident grin.

"Relax, Aiko. As long as I'm here, no one's gonna lay a finger on you."

A small warmth filled her chest.

She knew Pulsebun meant it.

And for now, that was enough.