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[thebirdofthechapel]

"A Kingdom of Time" 30k Words Blogging

My current project, A Kingdom of Time, published on May 4, 2026 has reached 30k words and is on its way for a 10th chapter! It's genuinely been the most fun I have had writing and the most consistent I've ever been on. Though it's only been less than a month, I wanted to write down my thoughts on the process, the characters, and upcoming plot points for the next part of the story.

A Kingdom of Time is a Digimon Beatbreak and Saiyuki crossover/fandom fusion, inspired by their shared legends of Journey to the West. It's primarily driven by my love for two of my favorite character, Tenma Asuka and Son Goku from their respective series, who are also the focus on the fic as a human and "Digimon" pair. There will be minor spoilers before (referencing events in the fic thus far) up to Chapter 9.

The big cast and the writing ultimatum

Another major reason for my writing of this fic is because I wanted more out of Digimon Beatbreak, an on-going Digimon series. I have a massive love for the series, and it has already become my favorite Digimon series since Tamers. My love for it and desire to have more written about them is from my love for a big cast. Writing for an on-going series like Beatbreak reminds me a lot of my experience with Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V, another series with a huge cast. For both times, I wanted to see every character shine, every dynamic to be explored, every thread to connect into a monstrous ball of unfinished and frayed knots called bonds.

I don't have a problem with writing about many characters, even with the ones I personally have no love for (which I eventually develop anyway during the process.) The problem has always been the planning stage for it. From what I experienced in Homelands (a Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V and A Song of Ice and Fire crossover), multiple POV's with a huge cast DEMANDS immense planning. It's fun, but it takes time and energy. Writing is difficult as it is, and already having a history of never finishing a story (all my fics are longfics), I didn't want to be crushed by another failure and disappointment. I didn't want to give up halfway because of how difficult it is.

I only recently got back to writing a year ago after a serious burn out and resentment toward it because of what happened in Room of Hyacinth (a mixture of IRL circumstances and overall disappointment with the lack of engagement). I knew I had to be more relaxed in my approach and get into the process of creating rather than perfecting.

So AKOT is sometimes left with...whatever I decided it'd be left with because I didn't want to tire myself over it. And unlike all my other works, AKOT is a confusing mix of POV's in one scene. There are scenes that focus entirely on one character, but most of the time, you'll see it suddenly change to another, or get a brief glimpse or a different character in the same POV.

I could have easily locked onto 4 POV's but that already itself can limit me when I write whatever I feel.

Character thoughts and focus

AKOT is largely focused on Asuka, Goku, Tomoro, and Gekkomon. Coming close would be Haruomi and Kyo, and their respective Digimon. Makoto and Reina don't have as much plot relevance but I INSIST they must be important.

This is especially so with Reina, who Beatbreak has failed. While writing, I would usually go, "Wait, where is Reina? What is Reina doing? Have I been ignoring Reina?" I have a self-check Reina in my head that in the very first part of the story, 12:31 (Chp 1-3), I completely neglected Makoto. He took on of a care-taking role as everyone else was too exhausted. This continues on as he and Chiropmon become focal points in the resolution of conflict between Asuka and Goku -- which, honestly, wasn't intentional.

Chapter 4, Looking Back, was an important transition from the intense 12:31 arc into the everyday life again, the impact of Cold-Hearted patients waking up, Asuka recovering, and now having an existence that's neither human nor Digimon in the form of Goku. I knew this chapter needed time to breath, so it focused on Tomoro, who was like a different person. Or more like, a person the Glowing Dawn has never met. The kid who lived with Asuka and could smile freely.

Haruomi's appearance here was actually unplanned; I needed a transition from them bounty hunting into introducing Asuka again, now out of the hospital. I am glad this chapter worked out by itself, as I don't think sitting and planning it into a draft would have been as easy.

This was a lot less focus on Tomoro, as it pivoted between Reina and Asuka -- again, this was my Reina self-check ringing. Another unplanned scene but I was like, I REALLY want to see these two together, and Tomoro will inevitably have more scenes in the near future. I've established that he's happy and feeling great. It doesn't have to be the focus right now. I'd like to put it on Reina and Makoto first. Give them the moments they deserve, the quirks and personalities that could be introduced and explored.

I had no idea how I was going to end it, but I somehow did, ending with a segue again to the situation at hand with Goku.

This did get a little difficult because when there are a lot of things going on, you would need more scenes or chapters or it'd be confusing. I managed to squeeze important details as flashbacks instead of having to write them their own scene all together. And I felt really proud focusing on Makoto and Reina instead, putting both Asuka and Kyo as flashbacks-esque because those two are kind of plot devices at times and don't always need to be aura farming (looking at you, Kyo!)

Makoto and Chiropmon's involvement was inspired by the episode that aired at that time. I found a whole new appreciation for their characters. Makoto in particular is too humble, I feel. I think he's honestly even more main character than Tomoro -- which is not a diss or anything. As I think Beatbreak didn't want to write Tomoro like the previous MC's that feel a bit more blank slates. I just think being this young genius who's the heir to a rich company and has a twin brother and a special Digimon and believes heavily on the power of friendship and seeks freedom, fighting to the very last end for it, is quite the main character vibes!

Besides the Glowing Dawn, focus had been put on Haruomi and his Digimon. Which, again, not on purpose, honestly. I knew I had to introduce Haruomi at some point. I didn't actually know yet how involved he was going to be with the cast because he really didn't have much to do with them anymore. That was the point of his character. To escape the fighting and live peacefully. But he managed to worm his way into the first part of the story, showing up consistently, even more so than Kyo, I think.

Haruomi and Tomoro is a dynamic I very much enjoy, and that is most definitely a key part of what drove me to settle into a Haruomi/Asuka fic instead of the Kyo/Asuka I had in mind. It's what I guess would be a "slow burn" but I really don't know how romance works. I'm just going to write what I think is romantic as an aroace.

In all of these Beatbreak writing, I unfortunately neglected Goku. It was a hard balance. Since he was new to the characters and the only non-BB main character, I think I felt the need of easing him in first. I do feel like I cut out too many things in fear of the pacing getting stuck or slow.

But his moment is definitely sure to come since I've been focusing on everyone else, especially as the curtains for the first part ends.

Upcoming arcs and plot points

The antagonists have been quiet in the first part, with the last part of it alluding to an unexpected enemy within their circle of allies -- though this is yet to be seen. The last arc, Roots That Don't Die, hints on the Ministry's upcoming aggressive activities, the reveal of the World Union allies -- the Administrators in the Palace (If That's What You Want, Chp 5-6), and Kanada Genjo's and Gokuwmon's unknown intentions since their first and last appearance in Chapter 1.

But there's another -- GIFT will finally debut in the fic too, and they are going to be a LOT more active than the anime already. They will be different from the anime obviously, but you'll find out exactly how once they show up.

As for non-villains, there's a certain baby Digimon in Nirinso that Asuka had noticed being timid around him. *wink wink*

Goku's origin would be revealed in the next part, although the full backstory would still be unknown.

Kutsuna Kaito and Souda Raito will both have more active roles. If not in the next part (depends on how it goes), it might be in the next one after.

Action and Digimon fights would return in full, though depending on the pacing, that could, again, be pushed into the next one after.

Thank you for reading!

Whether you just like snippets or headcanons from the fic, I greatly appreciate the show of support and enjoyment!

[thebirdofthechapel]

Statistics of the Last Decade

Looking back, I was surprised by the number of engagement I actually got. I mostly have negative memories working on most of my fics, feeling like no one likes or actually reads them, and then promptly burning myself out trying to please a crowd I created in my imagination. Even when this one person who had always commented (and quickly too) on my passion fic, Room of Hyacinth, could barely fight the negativity I felt...which sucks! Because that is such a blessed this for an author to have - a dedicated reader and I just get too shy sometimes to reply LMAO. It's totally my fault, but the phase was unfortunately just something that probably needed time for me to get over with (especially since the circumstances at that time weren't normal for me either.) Now I am in even the tiniest amount of engagement, and I'm just happy to get hits!

I can understand Homelands still getting clicks since that was in the TVtropes page of Arc-V but Hero and Humanity and World Instrument are at LEAST getting a kudo every half a year, and I don't know how those fics are being found. World Instrument already has a continuation planned. I also know what to do with What It Means, Means Nothing, so those two are prime for actually getting updated. The Promise - series too... I just actually hit a roadblock on what I actually want to do, haha!

The Promise - was a comeback that I needed. Saiyuki series brought me a lot of joy after the ADHD burnout + IRL + getting AI-genned I experienced with Room of Hyacinth. It's been a struggle getting back, and I'm focused on just putting the effort than making things perfect. Happy where I am now with my current project, A Kingdom of Time.

[thebirdofthechapel]

20 Chapters + Part 2 Complete Blogging

Thought and changes I actually made while writing Part 2, A Nameless Fate. Spoilers for A Kingdom of Time up to Chapter 20. And a lil bit of hint of what to expect in Part 3.

This was really supposed to be the start of GIFT Arc

The trajectory of the fic changed when I decided it was Hazel, a third-party who was revealed to be connecting to Karawazaki, who would serve as the antagonist driving the mid-conflict of the part.

The one I originally had in mine was the ex-Kuonji employer with the intent of elaborating more on his character as a member of GIFT. It was supposed to be related to Zero Reverse (the name of the incident of Cold Hearted patients waking up in World Union Hospital). But I felt like it was forced and the drama...wasn't sufficient as it's supposed to lead to Goku and Asuka's bond getting stronger. Goku was still going to be put in a life-or-death situation though haha!

Hazel just felt more like an appropriate villain, and so GIFT was pushed back to the next arc with...a whole other mess on top of it.

Aegiochusmon was not supposed to return

The Digimon trio in Cougarmon's flashback, Darcmon, Ginryuumon and Aegiomon did not have any relevance when they first showed up. But after some mulling with very FAR arcs (like, near end-game), I decided Aegiomon was actually important for it for reasons I obviously cannot explain right now. So I built up their backstory before writing the chapter, which ends with them being a catalyst for a whole new stage that involve Sharak and the unexplained existence of Digimon forces from South Asia.

Aegiochusmon has an even bigger connection to someone in the story... But with Aegiochusmon deleted, who knows how that would tie in now? (Me, I know.)

The final battle was supposed to actually include ALL of Five (Four) Stars

I do think it was a bit disappointing that "Asuka" or the Seiten Taisei form he had with Goku did not get to fight at all. But I was starting to feel like the situation was spiraling too far out of control, and the original events I had planned would reveal too much of the main mysteries of the story. The current story isn't ready for that yet, and fortunately, I do think there is a legitimate reason for World Union to be a lil slow with their reaction (the Zero Reverse, GIFT, Chairman Wong have everyone busy, and now Aegiochusmon). Genjo had also been quite good at covering things up for reasons we don't know yet, and how excatly...but we'll get back to him soon in this arc.

I'm very happy to focus on Gokuwmon instead. So while it sucks that fight was cut short - well, honestly, I did not expect talk-no-jutsu to work too well on Asuka. And I think that's appropriate. He had just lost control of his emotions, got stuck in his own thoughts and lonely world. His faith in his brother is a lot stronger than he thought.

I was still able to move the main mystery behind Goku, too, and the reveals here were enough to get Glowing Dawn toward something.

What's next

GIFT/Miharu will be a bigger plot point than the anime and of course, they have their own purpose in the bigger story of the fic. Even though it was a plot that was pushed, there are bits in Part 2 building up to them, in particular with how Glowing Dawn are being challenged with the co-existence of humans and Digimon. GIFT is another group like World Union and even the upcoming Digimon forces from South Asia that challenge that.

Not just GIFT too - Brilliant Thorn will be more like Team Seven except, well, you'll see!

Speaking of Team Seven...

It was initially just Raito I mentioned would show up but since he's been pushed to Part 3, the whole T7 would be showing up in this part now, too, though I don't know yet how much they'd shine as I do want to give this to Brilliant Thorn first. There'd be hints at most, and MAYBE the thing with Raito will finally happen in this part

More fluff and humor to return

Part 2 was incredibly angst-driven with the story moving nonstop. Expect more normalcy to return, but I think the angst will also be levelling up.

Perfect forms for Reina and Makoto

I'll be covering their backstories and PF in greater detail than the anime. Reina will be taking center stage for Part 3, including a backstory reveal and her situation with Goku after witnessing him go on a rampage.

Hitomi, Chihiro and Algomon

Hitomi will be woven in the plot due to the Zero Reverse Incident, and Chihiro and Algomon incident will be adapted into greater length and involvement in the bigger mystery of the fic.

And that's all! Thank you, readers C:

[thebirdofthechapel]

Pre-Chapter 16 Relationship Musings

In A Kingdom of Time, the next chapter, Chapter 16: Cold-Hearted Asuka, will serve as the first landmark for the story's progression! It only took 16 chapters to get to the part of the story that inspired me to do it in the first place. This would also be the start of "Asuka's arc," focusing entirely on his character (coming after Sin of Weakness, which focused on Goku.) As celebration (and because I've reached 50k too!) I am going to ramble on the relationships that developed or stood out in the series thus far.

Major spoilers for up until Chapter 15.

1. Goku and Cougarmon

I know from the very first time I wrote Chapter 1 that Cougarmon would be an important figure to Goku, just because Murasamemon was strong and muscular (Goku is fascinated with getting bulkier.) Yet throughout the first part, they actually don't seem to interact much. While this is partially because I had to smoothen things out with the other characters first, it was intentional as Goku was going through a "list" of thanking those that have helped him. Even though Cougarmon was one of the first who interacted with him, and got hurt to protect him Goku intentionally put him in the last, something Cougarmon noticed but did not talk about.

The situation from 12:31 storyline culminated in the Sin of Weakness storyline, a big whooping ten chapters later, where I finally got to focus on Goku and provide context through Cougarmon on what exactly he had been doing.

One thing I didn't expect was how emotional they (and me!) get with each other, and Cougarmon recognizes it's because Goku was actually a lot like Kyo when he was younger. Kyo himself thought, as seen in the anime, that Tomoro, after losing Asuka, was like Kyo, especially since both of them have powerful e-Pulses that had also been warped by negative emotions. Both of them certainly have similarities, but Kyo probably ended up projecting onto Tomoro more than he realized. (We don't know Kyo's full backstory yet, although it is increasingly creeping up.)

And Goku himself feels closest to Cougarmon. Closer to them than with Asuka, which I will ramble on down below. I do feel like Sin of Weakness and If There Were A God nicely wrapped up their reconciliation, even if they never used words to directly talked about their feelings. Which is fine, as that was why they ended up scuffling anyway. Goku, like who Kyo was in the past, wasn't good with words and feelings. That's why Cougarmon knew what Goku actually needed, even if it seemed violent and nonsense to Asuka.

2. Reina and Asuka

Reina and Asuka shared a bonding scene early on, and they honestly spend time together as often as Asuka does with Tomoro. I think it is quite sweet at how it came together, as Reina was the pivotal person to de-escalate the situation with MarineChimairamon in 12:31 storyline, all for the sake of Tomoro, who wanted to keep Asuka safe. And in the context of the fic, this came after the GIFT episode, where the hospital where Asuka was at was bombed and under a terrorist attack. Reina kept Asuka safe. To her, he was already part of her family.

Not much had been written about them together but it will come back soon! For now, know that they spent a lot of time together just jogging and talking (since Asuka has a lot of free time but couldn't risk leaving where cameras are at yet because of the Ministry looking into Cold-Hearted patients that woke up). Goku is way too active for both of them, and both Tomoro and Makoto are introverted. Reina feels a bit pressured talking to Kyo since they're also close colleagues, so with Asuka, she really gets to just talk freely. Asuka has also lived as a non-Cleaner for most of his life, which gives Reina a lot of insight of life in society that she finds interesting.

She's 100% told him of Haruomi "scouting" for rivals in hopes of getting Asuka to talk about his love life. Asuka was surprisingly honest but he was definitely hiding something still (huhuh i really want to write about them again soon!)

She's ridden on Asuka's hoverboard and wants one herself, too. It would fit her, for sure, especially with the recent episode!

3. Tomoro and Haruomi

Definitely the inspiration to ship Asuka and Haruomi in the first place. I love ragebaiter Haruomi, and Tomoro just referring to him as "that guy." Their dynamic is just so fun but also, went into a surprising wholesome turn, and it happened right at the beginning in Looking Back.

Maybe I didn't get to emphasize much. At that time, Tomoro was flying in happiness having his brother back. Everyone's noticed how different he was -- or maybe that this was who Tomoro was in the first place. Someone cheerful and chatty, open to making friends and work hard. Haruomi saw this, and was taken aback by how Tomoro opened up to him just like that. Maybe because their relationship had been "acquaintance" and in odd circumstances, Haruomi ended up doing something unlike him too, and cheered Tomoro up.

And like Tomoro, I think that is a glimpse of what Haruomi really is. Only Commandramon and Elizamon have really recognized who Haruomi was: someone kind, someone who would sacrifice himself like an idiot for others. Things the outward, lazy Haruomi would never do.

It's the small bits of Tomoro learning that Haruomi is actually into retro stuff like him (though he claims it was for practical purposes for his old job) and Asuka building a relationship with him (for helping him with Goku + tech stuff) that Tomoro ended up inadvertently opening up to Haruomi in Forgetful e-Pulse. And Haruomi, having warmed up to his increasing number of guests, and not wanting to reject this kid in need of a pair of listening ears, once more was uncharacteristically open to Tomoro.

And in culminated to Haruomi hinting something important about his past. But it wasn't something he was quite ready yet. Still, for their sake, Haruomi told them, though he still had to make it seem like he was pushing them away.

Haruomi has not been around but he'll come back...

4. Goku and Asuka

I wrote this fic because I wanted to write my two favorite sunshines getting along and....... they are getting along and yet, the distance is WIDE.

To be honest, I meant for them to already become close in If That's What You Want storyline. When Goku opened up to him at long last, it should be noted that it was Goku who took the courage to do this (pushing open the door after hesitating) while Asuka had to be nagged by Haruomi and Kyo. But Asuka... just kept pushing Goku away. And Goku definitely sensed that, which is why we see him blaming himself instead. Asuka realized this after Sin of Weakness. That Goku couldn't even recognize Asuka hurting him, so instead he thinks there's a problem with him, and Goku ends up spiraling to his insecurity of why he was abandoned.

Asuka is the damn problem. And that just seems so contradictory as Asuka is loving and already getting along with Reina. There's a lot of complicated things that's stopping Asuka, and it does have something to do with his past (in the fic), which may not seem major but it connects to his life after his parents were taken. I cannot say more as that is what would be explored in the upcoming later chapters.

I hope Asuka gets through it! Even though this "it" is me putting him through things... but he needs it. Otherwise, he and Goku would never grow together as partners who trust each other. Asuka has to face himself.

And honestly, this was definitely not something I exactly planned, especially since I planned for them to get close already much earlier on. Asuka had important involvement, yet...none of the scenes in the story so far was actually about him. So...there's that!

5. Makoto and Kyo

This is just a bonus to say that something big later would be about these two! Makoto, especially, has taken quite a backseat but don't worry, things will change. In fact, it's Makoto who decides that.

[thebirdofthechapel]

“Sin of Weakness” conclusion thoughts

Major spoilers for “A Kingdom of Time”, up to chapter 13.

Sin of Weakness storyline concluded with a lot of focus on Goku, and a surprise lore drop on Kyo and Cougarmon, Nirinso and the latest Saiyuki character, Sharak. While this closes on Goku’s trauma from the 12:31 storyline, it opens to Asuka’s trauma next, and explores the difficulty he and Goku are having from building a bond.

This was the storyline I was looking forward to writing the most. It’s essentially the closer for the first part, and the opener for the second. While the storyline is over, the arc itself is only halfway through.

Cougarmon was a character I knew would play a big role for Goku, who looked up to strong figures. I was happy I was able to finally tie together their previous interactions with him, and reveal their elaborate backstory of being Sharak’s Digimon, along with the Nirinso Temple, albeit only the surface of it. I’ll blab more on this as the whole backstory gets revealed.

The Tomoro and Goku interaction finally arrived and I didn’t get to explore more of what I wanted to happen due to plot/pacing. Like, why it took them so long. Because it was clearly needed for them, as Tomoro’s and Gekkomon’s experience resonated to what Goku had been insecure about.

The storyline touches a bit on Asuka’s insecurities and the next few chapters will tackle them head-on… Kind of. It’s complicated. But between him and Goku, something of a bond will culminate.

Besides those, the Digimon in the flashback were characters I loved to write. More will be known about them.

I highlighted the title a lot with the events that unfolded here - the many “sins” of being weak:

This was, overall, definitely the hardest chapters yet. Usually I don’t think much but with such heavy plot reveals, I had to mull and sleep on things more than usual. The next chapters will be even heavier. I have to tone down my excitement for writing it to make sure I still lock in on the writing.