Arthur locked himself in the temporary apartment, the afternoon light filtering through the window, illuminating his intense focus.
He sat cross-legged, the Zodiac and Silver keys lent by Lucy placed before him, but his mind was on a concept far grander: the power of his Reality Blending combined with his vast magicule.
He wasn't trying to forge metal; he was trying to forge conceptual law.
He used his power to weave a tether, defining a physical object that would act as a stable, permanent gateway to an entirely new dimensional law—a world outside the confines of the Tower Dungeon.
He felt a massive surge of power—not consumed, but successfully channeled—and then a new object materialized in his palm.
He had succeeded.
He had successfully created a key to summon something from another dimension.
"Alright, let's see if it is truly a success,"
Arthur murmured, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of apprehension and excitement.
Arthur used the key, focusing his intent on summoning a friendly, powerful entity from a world he cherished.
Then, he heard a distinct, familiar electronic melody: the sound of his childhood days.
A triumphant, synthesized "bweep-bwoop" that instantly transported his mind decades away.
The key he had just created slowly began to transform.
It wasn't just a tool for connection anymore; the physical key itself was merely a placeholder, adapting to the law of the newly accessed dimension.
It became a device familiar to every kid who grew up in the digital age: a small, portable, brightly colored computer with a monochrome screen and a set of controls. It became a Digivice!
"!!!!"
Arthur exclaimed, genuine, unadulterated nostalgia washing over him.
The connection was far stronger and more personalized than he had anticipated.
The newly formed Digivice shot out a pillar of vibrant, swirling light onto the floor.
As the light subsided, an egg sat there—smooth, white, and marked with distinctive digital patterns.
Arthur instantly tried to scan it with his Super Focus, but the digital nature of the entity resisted the Tower's analysis.
Yet, by appearance alone, he knew right away what kind of egg it was.
"That… That is the egg of Botamon!"
Arthur breathed.
Botamon—the beginning stage of the classic partner that would eventually evolve into Koromon and then the powerful Agumon!
Great Red, the existence known as the True Dragon God, who resided in Arthur's Lifestream, suddenly stirred.
[Arthur, I can feel the power of a dragon inside that egg. What is it? You seem to know about it,]
Great Red's beautiful and majestic, internal voice resonated in his mind.
[It is an entirely new conceptual law.]
"This is the egg of a Digital Monster, Great Red. They call their world the Digital World. They are beings of pure data and emotion,"
He explained, giving a quick, concise rundown of the concept of Digimon.
Great Red was, predictably, curious.
[If it is digital. Is it alive or not?]
Arthur smiled gently, looking down at the egg.
"They are completely alive, Great Red. They are complex conceptual life forms. And if not, I will make sure to make them alive with my own power."
As he watched, a tiny crack appeared in the egg, the fracturing sound a soft tink.
The crack spread quickly, and then, just as he expected, a small, black puffball of a creature emerged.
It had tiny, red eyes and small ears—the fresh, adorable form of Botamon.
The digital monster stumbled slightly, its instincts immediately guiding it toward the overwhelming, friendly presence that summoned it.
Botamon ran across the floor and snuggled right against Arthur's leg, letting out a soft, digital-sounding coo.
He was its partner, its lifelong partner, now and forever.
The Sixth Floor just got a lot more interesting.