Early the next morning, Aomori was the first to wake. He immediately noticed that the data band in his hand had transformed into a Digi-Egg.
Staring at the multi-colored Digi-Egg, he couldn't help but remark, "Truly fascinating."
He wondered what kind of Digimon would hatch from it.
"The last time something came out of an egg, it was Absol, and he's already this big."
He turned to look at Absol, just as the Pokémon opened his bleary eyes.
"Good morning, Absol."
"Sol~"
...
After breakfast, everyone entered a state of fervent activity.
The Gotsumon went to the mines, while the rest of the Digimon, led by Yujiro-Ditto-Hanma, underwent physical conditioning and combat training.
Salamon was unwilling to consume "experience medicine" to level up. Fearing a Dark Digivolution or some other error, Aomori didn't force her, allowing her to join the training ranks instead.
The Digi-Egg was left in Absol's care.
Meanwhile, led by the Gotsumon Leader, Aomori and Akihiko Kayaba headed to the temporary warehouse to inspect the captured Digizoid.
"These are the refined metal ingots. Those over there are the raw Digizoid ores that haven't been processed yet."
Digizoid, full name Chrome Digizoid, is a silver, super-hard metal.
In the original series, MetalEtemon's entire metallic coating, Zudomon's hammer, and Machinedramon's entire body were made of Chrome Digizoid. Its hardness allowed them to tank the finishing moves of ordinary Ultimate-level Digimon without taking damage.
As far as Aomori knew, Chrome Digizoid could be forged into various Chrome Digizoid alloys. Different colors possessed different properties, but they all shared a common trait: the hardness of the metal combined with the flexibility of a living organism. Not only could they be used for weapons and armor, but they could also become "living metal" for parts of Cyborg and Machine-type Digimon.
Common examples included Gallantmon, Magnamon, and JagerLoweemon.
With metal this impressive, it was no wonder Myotismon wanted to seize it.
Although Aomori had seemingly killed the Ultimate-level SkullMeramon with ease earlier, he had sensed a genuine threat from those blue flames, which was why he opted for that specific method of defeat.
In other words, many Ultimate-level Digimon possessed the power to threaten his life. Looking ahead to the Dark Masters, Aomori estimated he might only be able to beat Puppetmon—he feared "glass cannons" the least.
Therefore, reigning over the Digital World was a long and difficult path. He needed to utilize every advantage available, and Digizoid was one of them.
Currently, the refined Digizoid in the warehouse was only about the size of a fist. Aomori picked it up and weighed it in his hand. Feeling it was insufficient, he asked, "Is this all?"
Facing the "cold-blooded killer" Aomori, the elected Gotsumon Leader was extremely nervous. His voice trembled as he spoke: "Because the mineral content in the raw ore is so scarce, this is all we've managed to mine in nine months. The rest has already been taken away."
"How much was taken to Myotismon?"
"It should be about the size of a head." The Gotsumon Leader used his small hands to gesture a circle.
"What can be forged with that amount?"
"I don't know... I'm just a miner," the Gotsumon Leader whispered.
"Do you know any Digimon capable of smithing?"
"I don't know that either... I'm just a miner." His voice grew even fainter.
"..." Aomori was speechless. His lack of talent was a real problem. He waved his hand. "Go back to your mining."
"Yes, sir!" The Gotsumon Leader felt as if he had been granted a divine reprieve and quickly scurried away. My life is saved! I must mine harder to calm my nerves.
Aomori turned his hopeful gaze toward his top subordinate, Akihiko Kayaba.
"Let me take a look." Kayaba took the Digizoid. His fingers moved rapidly and, gradually, the hard metal began to shift its shape. It transformed from an irregular lump into a sharp, geometric cube.
Kayaba let out a long breath, looking a bit exhausted. Holding up the cubical Digizoid, he said, "I can change its shape, but the more complex the form, the more physical strength and time it requires."
"I see." Aomori thought for a moment and replied, "Then I'll have to trouble you to plate this sword with it."
Aomori handed him Ryuko. Kayaba took it and nodded. "It will take about a week."
"That's fine. Thank you for your hard work."
After assigning him a room in the stone castle to work in, Aomori headed to the clearing on the mountain behind the town.
Ditto was diligently teaching the Digimon. They were performing the "bald-style" training inherited from Aomori. With Darkrai supervising, no Digimon dared to slack off.
Even Salamon looked very serious. Being able to work alongside so many partners who accepted her was likely the happiest thing for her.
Aomori didn't disturb them. Instead, he summoned Pidgeot via telepathy. He couldn't stay idle; he planned to conduct a field survey of the surrounding area to see which factions were worth taking over based on the intel he gathered yesterday.
He mounted Pidgeot and headed for the first location.
...
Business Town. The most bustling town on Server Continent. A massive number of Digimon gathered here to buy and sell goods from all over the continent.
They maintained a neutral stance and believed in equivalent exchange. Here, money was more effective than strength.
The wealthiest and most powerful group among them was the Superstar Chamber of Commerce. Their leader was the Ultimate-level SuperStarmon, and he had two purchased Andromon serving under him.
Andromon was also an Ultimate-level. With a lineup of three Ultimates, even Myotismon and Etemon hesitated to start a war with them.
"What? You say SkullMeramon has been eliminated?" Inside a magnificent building, the glittering, luxuriously dressed SuperStarmon jumped up from his soft sofa, looking at his subordinate, Deputymon, in shock.
"Yes. I have confirmed it through many channels," Deputymon said, kneeling on one knee with a poised demeanor.
"What kind of Digimon did it? Could it be that Etemon wants to start a war with Myotismon?" SuperStarmon speculated.
"No. I heard it was an outsider called HellKnightmon. I haven't been able to discover his specific details yet."
"Assign more personnel. I want his files as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir!"
After Deputymon retreated, SuperStarmon paced irritably around the room.
Finally, with a dark expression, he went to his private secret chamber alone.
There, a ten-meter-tall, rocket-styled metal cylinder stood upright in the center. There was a large hole broken into one part, through which cables could be faintly seen.
SuperStarmon walked slowly to the metal cylinder, staring at the gap. He muttered to himself, "Just a little more... just a little more Digizoid, and I can go home. Thirty years... I've digivolved from Starmon to SuperStarmon. How many thirty-year periods does a Digimon have?"
He had originally recruited enough subordinates to plan a heist to steal the Digizoid from SkullMeramon. He hadn't expected an unknown Digimon to appear out of nowhere.
"No matter who it is, I must get my hands on that Digizoid!"
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