"No, it was a success, but not a complete one."
The Sukamon looked strange. Its eyes were blood-red, as if it had lost all reason. Without a word, it launched a "poop" attack at the nearest person, Kayaba.
A flash of purple light followed. Aomori sheathed Ryuko, and the Sukamon had already been sliced into several pieces, reverting to data fragments.
Without waiting for Aomori to speak, Kayaba collected the data fragments himself.
This small experiment confirmed Aomori's theory: in the first three seasons of the story, generally only Virus-type Digimon would devour the data of those they defeated. But in the fourth season, even Data and Vaccine types could absorb data. So, it wasn't that they couldn't absorb it, but that the fragments had to be converted into a stable "data band" format first.
However, this data might still carry the lingering grudges of the previous Digimon, making it easy to lose one's sanity if absorbed directly.
"Kayaba, can you clear the impurities from the data?"
"Impurities?" Kayaba shook his head. "I didn't find any impurities on it."
"I see. Give the data to me." Aomori decided to use the versatile Holy Light.
He placed the data cluster in his palm and channeled Holy Light energy. Suddenly, a brilliant radiance burst forth. Light-sensitive Digimon like Numemon and Bakemon retreated in fear.
Amidst Salamon's comfortable purring, wisps of black smoke rose from the data cluster, vanishing with a faint wail.
"It actually works. Truly, the Holy Light grants me victory."
The process was now clear: Aomori would harvest enemy Digimon, gather their data fragments, purify them with Holy Light, and finally hand them over to Kayaba. Kayaba would then distribute the data to their subordinate Digimon or store it as strategic material.
From now on, he would use war to sustain war, gradually taking over the territories of Myotismon and Etemon on Server Continent as his own foundation.
But before that, he had two more small experiments.
Leaving the data cluster with Kayaba, Aomori took two Poké Balls from his system inventory. The second experiment was to see if Poké Balls could catch Digimon.
In the Pokémon world, Pokémon can be transferred from one ball to another through machines across vast distances. Aomori felt this was likely done by converting Pokémon into data. Furthermore, "Trade Evolution" served as supporting evidence for this theory.
Therefore, it was highly probable that Poké Balls could work on Digimon.
Aomori selected a Bakemon and a Vegiemon from the prisoners. After beating them half to death, he threw two Poké Balls in succession.
The balls struck their heads precisely and popped open. A red light emerged, enveloping the two Digimon and pulling them inside. The balls rolled on the ground twice before clicking shut.
Capture successful!
Aomori smiled with joy. He picked up the balls and released the Bakemon and Vegiemon. They looked dazed, unsure of what had happened, but their awe of Aomori had deepened significantly.
"Now, for the third experiment."
He pulled another item from the dungeon inventory—the magic card Polymerization, which he had pulled a long time ago but never used. Now, the conditions for its use were finally met.
Aiming at the Bakemon and Vegiemon before him, Aomori channeled energy into the Polymerization card held between his fingers.
A sudden gale swept through the area. The card transformed into two spirals of light that wrapped around the two Digimon, turning them into white light that merged in mid-air.
The light faded and the wind died down. Standing in their place was a Digimon even Aomori had never seen. It was humanoid, wrapped in a large yellow cloth that revealed only its eyes, and wore a hat with three feathers. It didn't look particularly powerful.
"So the Polymerization card has to remain inside the fused Digimon as a core. That means I can only maintain one fusion at a time."
Fortunately, it could be canceled at any time. Aomori found this fused Digimon too ugly, so he withdrew the Polymerization card. The Bakemon and Vegiemon returned to their original forms, seemingly unaffected.
Looking around at the weak and bizarre-looking Digimon, he lost interest in further testing.
After interrogating them for the location of Myotismon's base and information on his powerful subordinates, he released the Bakemon and Vegiemon from their Poké Balls.
In consideration of their cooperation in the experiment, he spared their lives and sent them away.
Before they left, Aomori told them, "Go back and tell your Lord Myotismon: HellKnightmon will visit his castle in ten days. I hope he is prepared. Don't let me find the castle empty; that would be a disappointment."
The two Digimon fled for their lives, carrying Aomori's greeting to Myotismon.
However, Myotismon's other subordinates were not so lucky. They were all turned into data fragments. After purification, most were given to Kayaba for safekeeping, while Aomori kept a small portion for himself to see if they would turn into a Digi-Egg.
Watching a group of Digimon perish at once, Salamon's expression was off. She was clearly a bit frightened.
Noticing this, Aomori knelt in front of her, stroked her head, and spoke in a gentle voice: "They were bad Digimon. As agents of justice, we cannot be soft-hearted. Those who deserve to die must be killed. Otherwise, letting the tiger back to the mountain only invites more harm to other Digimon in the future. Do you understand?"
"Mm-hmm." Salamon nodded slowly, burying her entire body in Aomori's warm embrace.
Aomori couldn't help but smile again.
Children really should be taught from a young age; it's much easier to mold them.
…
Aomori didn't bother hiding the execution of the evil Digimon, so the Gotsumon worked even harder.
In less than three hours, before nightfall, they had reconstructed the stone castle. The supplies left by SkullMeramon included food, weapons, and a large shipment of mined Chrome Digizoid that hadn't been sent to Myotismon's headquarters yet.
Under the ecstatic gazes of the Gotsumon, Aomori distributed a portion of the food to them and took some for himself and his Pokémon to enjoy. These ingredients looked similar to those in the human world; he wasn't sure where they had come from.
It was Salamon's first time eating such a lavish dinner. She ate until her belly was round.
Ore Town entered a rare moment of total celebration.
It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that the Digimon finished their revelry and fell asleep.
In the castle's large bedroom, Absol, Pidgeot, and Ditto were huddled together. Darkrai had returned to the system inventory. Aomori, having hidden his armor, leaned against Absol with Salamon in his arms. He closed his eyes and entered a meditative state.
In his hand, the data band slowly pulsed.