The previous situation made one thing clear: this damned devil was so stubborn that it could even fake-resurrect itself after its DigiCore shattered.
Normally, that shouldn't even be possible. But considering it survived a bath in the Dark Ocean, fell from an angelic Digimon into its current state—this was practically the textbook definition of a cheater's template.
Add on its resentment lingering so deeply, it simply refused to pass peacefully, returning from death again and again.
For this kind of boss, there was only one thing Zero had to say—
—If you're willing to go with dignity, I'll let you have it. But if you won't leave gracefully, I'll force dignity upon you!
The Giga Destroyer began charging, and the opened structure of his Booster Wings erupted into colors blazing bright as a solar corona.
The fully evolved Zero now was nothing like his previous self, relying on just a cannon barrel swapped in by a Digimon card. Now completely armored, his strength surpassed his former state by unimaginable levels.
Both sides gathered energy to their absolute limits. With a furious roar from Zero, everything was unleashed—
"...Come on, return back to 'ZERO'!!!"
The Giga Destroyer burst forth, its blazing energy merging with streams of brilliant light erupting from his Booster Wings, forming into incandescent wings of destruction. A sky full of missiles and bullets erupted, drowning the gigantic devil entirely in overwhelming gunfire.
Then came the final touch—
—Zero pointed the Trident Revolver directly at the enormous devil, still thrashing desperately amidst explosions. Silently, he counted down in his heart:
One… Two… Fire!
Three dazzling beams of energy erupted from the barrel, shooting straight toward the devil—already battered half-dead by the volley of winged blasts and the Giga Destroyer, the gigantic devil helplessly watched as the final three crimson-gold lights detonated right before its eyes!
At that moment, it was as if a blazing sun erupted into the night sky, illuminating everything like daylight!
Brilliant solar radiance devoured the giant devil's body, gradually melting and crushing it into oblivion. Its unleashed power rivaled humanity's strongest conventional tactical weapons. Coupled with the supplemental firepower of the Giga Destroyer and Booster Wings' floating cannons, the destructive force reached even greater heights.
With this kind of power, the previous Zero would never have survived the blast zone himself; even if he took down the enemy, he would've been finished too.
But now, Zero was fully armored from head to toe. Even as the massive recoil washed over his body, his Booster Wings stabilized him effortlessly, suspending him unmoving in midair.
The enormous devil's body was already more than half dissolved. No matter how furiously it roared in defiance, nothing could change the inevitable ending.
This time, it really could rest in peace with true dignity…
"What is this?! Everything I've done until now, the meaning behind my very existence—it shouldn't end like this!!!"
Indeed, it shouldn't have ended this way. In the devil's imagination, it always dreamed of returning someday to the mighty existence it had encountered in the Dark Ocean, even confronting the very deity it once believed in, demanding answers.
Now, it would never receive those answers.
No matter how intensely it held onto its resentment, at this moment, beneath the dazzling brilliance akin to the blazing sun, all of it dissolved completely.
Its mouth opened, desperately attempting to speak one last word—but before even a single sound escaped, it vanished entirely into the blinding light, leaving only a shredded DigiCore which shattered immediately afterward.
This time, it was truly and utterly annihilated…
"That settles it then. Now, as for cleaning up this enormous mess—"
Just as Zero began thinking about what to do next, the spot where the gigantic devil had disappeared suddenly resonated strangely. Under the aftermath of Zero's ultimate attack, the massive data dispersed from Devimon's death unexpectedly began vibrating in "resonance."
At that instant, a scene flashed into Zero's mind clearly—the very scene from the original plot when Taichi Yagami returned alone to the Real World.
"Don't tell me—wait, right now—?!"
Before Zero could even react, all the scattered data swiftly gathered at that point, forming into an azure vortex that emitted irresistible suction power.
It felt exactly like the previous incident—when Hajime, possessed by Devimon and transformed into Kimeramon, attacked and caused a reaction with Rina's Digivice, forcibly ripping open a portal that transported the three of them into the Real World.
Barely half a day had passed since then, yet it felt like the world's corrective forces were already taking effect again. Zero clearly understood he still had too many unfinished tasks in the Digital World; returning was inevitable, sooner or later.
But no matter how he looked at it, it definitely shouldn't have been now…
"Rina! Hajime! Wait—stop!!!"
The azure light surged outward, instantly swallowing Zero's entire field of vision. He felt his body rapidly losing its sense of solidity, as though weightlessly flipping upside-down.
This was exactly the opposite sensation from when he'd first arrived in the Real World and inexplicably gained a physical sense. Now it was completely reversed.
He wasn't even given a moment's chance—not even a chance to confirm Rina's condition.
The blazing azure light filled the entire sky. Below, the injured Rina and Hajime both sensed something, raising their heads simultaneously.
"Zero!"
Her final call couldn't reach Zero's ears. The azure vortex vanished entirely, and in the sky…Zero's figure was gone.
It was as if that devastating battle just moments ago had been an illusion—yet the devastated remains of the banquet hall and the massive crater left by Devimon's crash landing were undeniable proof it had all been painfully real.
"Wait—where are you taking Zero?!"
Clutching the wound at her side, Rina desperately struggled to stand. Those around her immediately rushed forward, urging her to stay calm.
"Rina-san, please don't push yourself—you're injured!" Lillie's voice was anxious, while Yuuko spoke with calm authority.
"Rina, please settle down. I promise…you will definitely reunite with your partner."
Yuuko's tone was utterly serious, devoid of any hint of joking. Thinking back to Yuuko's previous lack of surprise when encountering Digimon, and her subtly meaningful remarks, Rina suddenly realized something:
"Yuuko…did you already know about them? About Digimon, and…the Digital World?"
In that moment, Yuuko silently nodded her head…
...
"Rina! Hajime!"
Zero opened his eyes once more—and immediately froze where he stood…
…Surrounding him were desolate ruins. Though somewhat different from when he'd last left, Zero recognized the place instantly.
These were the ruins of Devimon's castle…
…He'd returned…to the Digital World!
Zero stood there, stunned. At that very moment, an aged voice called out:
"It's been more than two months. It seems…you've encountered quite the extraordinary circumstances."
Accompanying the familiar voice, a white light rose slowly from within the rubble, forming into an old man's silhouette…
---
T/N: ooooh i see
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