With the Astral Express and Caelus
"Arlan!" March exclaims as she rushes towards the young boy, who perks up before wincing in pain. "What happened to you? How did you get injured so badly?"
"Just...being reckless..." Arlan grins before wincing in pain.
"That's a complete understatement," One of the scientists sighs in exasperation. "He charges towards a Trampler to distract it from attacking us, without anyone helping him."
"Not even consider requesting any backup." Another scientist adds, causing Arlan to flush a bit as March and Dan Heng stare at him dryly.
"If Asta sees you like this and learns about your reckless stunt, she will lecture you for hours about safety," March says. Meanwhile, Caelus stares at the group while scratching his head awkwardly. He had no idea who either of them was, so all he could do was watch them in silence.
But, noticing that they might talk for a while, Caelus decided to distract himself by trying to talk with Theo. Something about that short reptile feels familiar to him, and it's been nagging him since he woke up. Not remembering a single thing about his past didn't help either.
At first, Caelus believed he might have something to do with his past, but Theo immediately denied it. He wants to believe it, but the nagging feeling he has keeps leading him back to the blue reptile.
Caelus turns around and wants to start a conversation, but he is greeted with an empty space, causing Caelus to blink owlishly. He glances left and right, trying to find that lizard, but he can't find him. Strange, he shouldn't be that good at hiding, especially with how bright his scale is.
"Um, excuse me?" Caelus turns to his left and sees one of the scientists. "I was wondering, is that blue creature with you?"
"Yes," Caelus nods.
"Um...I don't know if you would believe me, but it just disappeared into thin air," Caelus tilts his head in confusion. What does this scientist mean by that? No one could do that.
Unless Theo's species has that kind of ability. He and his new friends? Companion? Ally? They didn't seem to know much about him other than that he's from a different world.
Out of nowhere, the nearby monitor starts beeping, causing everyone to glance at it. The scientists and Arlan see what's displayed on it and widen their eyes in shock.
"W-wait, Nous has gazed onto this Space Station? I'm pretty sure Madam Herta was away and didn't try anything to contact THEM!" Arlan exclaimed in surprise.
"Nous!?" March and Dan Heng exclaim in shock. Why does the Aeon of Erudition gaze on the station when the Antimatter Legion is under attack? Something like this should've attracted Nanook, the Aeon of Destruction, since THEIR legions had launched an attack, so why did Nous do it instead?
"Nous?" Caelus asks in confusion, causing everyone to look at him in disbelief.
"Kid, have you been living under a rock?" One of the scientists asks in disbelief.
"Hey, don't be rude. Caelus here has lost his memory and doesn't remember anything except his name," March exclaims, causing the scientist to look away in guilt. "Speaking of which, does any one of you know him?"
Caelus can't help but sigh in disappointment upon seeing everyone shaking their head.
"So, who's this Nous?" Caelus asks in confusion.
"You can think of him as the God of Knowledge," March simplifies, causing Caelus to blink owlishly while everyone sweatdrops.
"That's a huge oversimplification," One of the scientists mutters. "But it is a perfect description."
"THEY are the Aeon, a cosmic entity representing the path of Erudition," Another scientist explains. "It's a path that revolves around curiosity and desire for knowledge."
"So, it's weird for the Aeon of Erudition gazes upon this space station, especially since the Antimatter Legion is everywhere," Arlan adds as Caelus hums.
'...is it possible THEY're here for Theo?' Caelus thought.
"This could be good news," One of the scientists comments offhandedly.
"How?" March asks in confusion.
"Madam Herta would be...very interested knowing Nous is gazing upon her space station, which could get her here faster than any message we sent," The scientist says, causing everyone to sweatdrop.
"Still, what has caught Nous' attention?"
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Back with Theo
"AAAAAAHHHH!!!" Theo continues shouting until he loses his strength and collapses backward.
"---Curious---," Theo raises his head while furrowing his eyebrow weirdly.
"What are you curious about?" Theo asks as the red light flickers for a moment.
"---Capable of communication, even though they are not a creature with high intellect---" Theo feels his veins throb before he gets up.
"Oi, if you're just gonna insult me after dragging my ass over here, then just send me back to the Space Station," Theo exclaims as the red light flickers once again.
"---There was no fluke, this creature truly understands my language,---" Nous speaks as Theo groans.
"Is this how you treat every guest you bring here? Analyzing every speck of their atoms, insulting and ignoring them at the same time?" Theo asks.
"---An unfamiliar creature landed in this universe, one that not even I have ever found.---" Nous says. "---I ask: Where are you from?---"
"...The Digital World," Theo responds as Nous flickers once again.
"---I have never heard of such a place, nor has anyone ever discovered it. I ask: What is Digital World?---" Nous asks as Theo sighs.
"A world made of data, replicating any world it connects to. You can say the internet is an attempt of humans trying to access the Digital World through a machine, albeit limited." Theo says, and to his surprise, the red light on Nous's side flickers multiple times.
"---Impossible. That doesn't make sense,---" Nous says, and Theo notices from Nous' monotonous voice that he can hear a hint of disbelief from the machine god.
"Hey, I have no reason to lie to you, especially given how you could do anything to me with your UNLIMITED COSMIC POWER...." Theo says the last part dramatically, imitating another blue-skinned creature.
"---You are my first contact with a creature from another world beyond the Imaginary Tree, I would not do anything until I learn more about you---" Nous explains, but it doesn't reassure Theo at all.
"Look, I would love to talk with you more, but can you send me back to my friends? You can summon me back anytime to talk, but I need to go back," Theo speaks before his mind reboots for a moment and screams internally.
Why does he talk with Nous like he's talking to a friend!?
"---Need more data---" Nous responded monotonously, causing Theo to grimace. He should've expected that.
"You could just observe me while I'm with the other humans. I mean, you could find more info about me by seeing me dealing with anything from this world." Theo says unconvincingly, while Nous goes silent for a moment, not even a flicker from the light like usual.
"---Very well,---" Nous responds after a moment, causing Theo to blink. Did he just get 25+ Charisma before getting isekai'd, because no way that was enough to convince the droid head. "---Then, I shall provide a way to communicate or a warning before summoning you back,---"
Suddenly, an unknown energy gathers right in front of Theo, forming into a light ball before it takes the shape of a phone. Theo blankly stares at the floating phone before he tries to reach it.
Much to both Theo's and Nous's surprise, another light burst into the phone as it started taking a completely different shape, one that was familiar to Theo. It takes the form of a yellow egg with a flat underside and a bee stinger at the top, with a purple symbol resembling a pair of spectacles under it.
Theo immediately knows this is the Digi-Mental of Knowledge.
"---......What did you do?---" Nous asks accussingly.
"I swear to Yggdrassil, I had no idea what's going on," Theo says honestly as Nous goes silent.
"---Large quantity of Path energy flows into the device more than I intended, yet the functions remain the same with some...modifications---" Nous says as Theo ponders a bit. That modification could be Digi-Egg Digivolution, but given the egg is from Nous of all creatures, it might work under a different rule.
One of them happens to be communication.
"So...you're going to let me go, right?" Without a warning, Theo feels something pushing him away from Nous before he crashes into the Space Station floor headfirst.
"Ouch!" Theo yelps in pain before he starts to rub his forehead, not noticing that he had accidentally attracted several Voidrangers nearby. "You could at least be a bit gentle, Nous..."
Theo turns around and freezes upon noticing the Voidrangers preparing to lunge at him, before his expression turns deadpan.
"A cosmic entity embodies the path of seeking knowledge, and their greatest idea is to send their test subjects near enemies," Theo says dryly before picking up the Digi-Mental and running away as Voidrangers start charging at him.
"How do I use this thing again!!?" Theo exclaims in panic as he looks at the Digi-Mental. "Um, the phrase...what was it again? Digi-Mental Up!?!"
Upon saying those words, a bright light emits from the egg as it blinds every Voidranger nearby. As the light dissipates, the Voidrangers turn towards where Theo was, but to their surprise, he disappears.
Before they could do anything, a yellow blur passed by, too fast to be seen by the Voidrangers. Then, they feel something is wrong, like part of their body feels empty. They look down and see a huge hole torn through their torso, and before each of them shattered into pieces one by one.
As they shatter, a figure in golden armor with 2 pairs of wings, resembling a mix of a knight and a bee, flies down as the figure lifts up its metal visor, revealing a blue-skinned face.
Theo has Armor Digivolved to Honeybeemon.
To be Continued