Chapter 75: BlackGatomon's Recruitment Operation
The scorching desert winds howled around the towering geometry of the Dark Network's pyramid, kicking up thick clouds of yellow dust.
"Stop right there! Who exactly are you people?!"
A booming voice echoed across the dunes. As BlackGatomon, Greymon, and their entourage of newly evolved Digimon approached the perimeter, the guards stationed around the pyramid immediately closed in, their heavy footsteps vibrating through the sandstone.
BlackGatomon's slit-like pupils narrowed as she quickly assessed the threat. Three Tyrannomon and five Monochromon. She silently nodded to herself, her sleek tail flicking with calculated amusement.
Etemon's usual garrison of Champion-level enforcers far exceeded this paltry number. The only reason the defenses were so thin was that the so-called King was currently out scouring the desert for the DigiDestined, having taken the bulk of his army with him.
'This is the perfect opportunity,' BlackGatomon thought, a sly smirk tugging at her muzzle.
Withdrawing her gaze from the pyramid, she stepped forward with feline grace and locked eyes with the lead Tyrannomon.
"Tyrannomon," she purred, her voice dripping with familiar mockery. "Don't you remember me? It is me. Gazimon."
"Gazimon?"
The massive red dinosaur blinked, his heavy brow furrowing in confusion. He leaned down, his large, reptilian eyes carefully scrutinizing the dark feline standing fearlessly before him. Digimon possessed their own innate instincts for identifying one another's data signatures; even across different evolutionary lines, the core essence remained. Recognition suddenly flared in Tyrannomon's eyes.
"It is you! But... how did you evolve?!"
Facing the dinosaur's bewildered inquiry, BlackGatomon's smirk widened into a proud smile. "Of course, it is all thanks to the great King Mizuki. And that is exactly why we have returned."
She gestured elegantly with a black-gloved paw to the formidable group standing behind her.
"Tyrannomon, I will be blunt with you. Etemon is not worthy of our allegiance. We have all been deceived by him! He is no true King of Digimon at all; he is nothing but an arrogant, tone-deaf fool! And as of right now, he has lost to the DigiDestined. He has been completely defeated."
"What?! King Etemon lost?!"
Disbelief washed over Tyrannomon's scarred face. He took a heavy step forward, the ground trembling beneath his claws. "Is what you are saying true?"
"If it were not true, why on earth do you think I would come back here?" BlackGatomon countered smoothly. "Even with my new Champion-level strength, I am well aware that I would be no match for an Ultimate-level like Etemon. It is precisely because I know he has fallen that I led this team back here—to help King Mizuki take over this territory."
"King Mizuki? What kind of Digimon is a 'Mizuki'?"
BlackGatomon's ears flattened in sheer annoyance. She stomped her paw hard against the sandstone. "Not 'what kind of Digimon', you idiot! It is King Mizuki! You will show absolute respect when speaking his name! He is an existence far beyond your comprehension, not only possessing overwhelming power but proving himself to be a far greater and wiser King than Etemon could ever dream of being."
Tyrannomon swallowed hard, intimidated by the fierce loyalty radiating from the smaller Digimon. "Understood... so this King Mizuki is the one you are loyal to now?"
"That is right."
BlackGatomon nodded, her tone softening as she extended a metaphorical olive branch to the bewildered Tyrannomon and the armored Monochromon listening in. "So, do you want to join us? To serve King Mizuki together? He is not a crude, reckless tyrant like Etemon. By joining King Mizuki's ranks, you will not only be bathed in his glory, but you will also be granted the chance to evolve."
She gestured once more toward the ranks behind her. "Look closely. You have seen it, haven't you? The Agumon and Gazimon standing here? They used to be mere Koromon and Pagumon. And this Greymon beside me..." She pointed to the towering, battle-scarred dinosaur whose presence radiated immense heat. "...he was previously the Agumon who served as the chief of the Koromon village."
The Tyrannomon and the Monochromon gasped in realization. "So it was you."
Before his digivolution, that particular Agumon had fiercely defended the Koromon village from countless hostile Digimon. Even on the harsh peripheral edges of the Server Continent, his tenacity had proven his strength, earning him quite a reputation among the local Digimon.
As the guards recalled the chief's past achievements, BlackGatomon's voice cut through their awe.
"We all evolved with the direct help of King Mizuki," she declared, her voice ringing with absolute conviction. "And it was a pure digivolution—without any danger, without any dark side effects. You all know exactly what that means, don't you?"
A stunned silence fell over the guards, followed instantly by an uproar. The commotion among the Tyrannomon and Monochromon was even more intense than when they first learned of Etemon's defeat.
The lead Tyrannomon stomped directly up to Greymon, looking up at the larger Champion's imposing horned skull. "Hey, Chief... is what she is saying really true?"
"It is true. King Mizuki is a truly benevolent and powerful King, and that is exactly why I chose to lead my entire Koromon village to join his ranks."
Compared to the sharp-tongued and eloquent BlackGatomon, Greymon's demeanor was stoic, serious, and deeply grounded. Yet, he took the time to explain the reality to the guards in front of him. "As you can see with your own eyes, it wasn't just me. Even my Koromon brethren have safely evolved into Agumon."
Greymon's eyes narrowed slightly, his deep voice rumbling with absolute reverence. "also, the Champion level is by no means the limit of King Mizuki's power. You should know... there is an existence by King Mizuki's side that even I fear. Although her true terror might not be obvious from her appearance alone, the aura she inadvertently releases has confirmed it for me. That is undeniably an existence far above the Champion level. It is highly likely she is an Ultimate level!"
"Not just likely—it is an absolute certainty!"
BlackGatomon interjected, smoothly picking up where Greymon left off. "Boss Salamon had already demonstrated her Champion-level BlackGatomon form to us before. Now, she has undoubtedly evolved once more into a true Ultimate level!"
After she finished speaking, BlackGatomon's slit eyes gleamed with a dangerous, intoxicating temptation as she swept her gaze over the hesitating guards.
"You all know what this means. As long as you swear loyalty to King Mizuki, securing your Champion forms will be trivial. Reaching the Ultimate level, just like Etemon, is entirely within your grasp!"
She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in, before a sharp, ambitious glint flashed in her eyes. "Perhaps... even going a step further is possible."
Upon hearing those words, the defending Digimon felt as though an invisible hand had tightly gripped their Digicores. Their breathing grew ragged, heavy with sudden, desperate hope.
"BlackGatomon... you don't mean—"
Mega level.
Though the words were left unspoken, the concept exploded like thunder within their minds. In the current era of the Digital World, Mega-level Digimon were nothing short of mythological deities. They were legendary existences that countless Digimon spent their entire lifespans fruitlessly chasing.
As the Tyrannomon and Monochromon stood paralyzed by shock and awe, BlackGatomon recognized the perfect moment to strike. Her tail flicked playfully.
"Alright then~ It is time to make your choice, isn't it?" Her voice dropped, losing its playful edge and becoming deadly serious. "Will you continue to live out your days in the dirt, blindly following a defeated tyrant like ordinary, expendable data? Or will you join King Mizuki's ranks, and seize a glorious future for yourselves and your species?"
Facing BlackGatomon's ultimatum, the three Tyrannomon and five Monochromon exchanged long, silent glances. The decision was already made.
In perfect unison, they reached up and violently tore off the dark network collars that Etemon had used to bind them. The heavy metal clattered uselessly against the sandstone.
"Does that even need to be said?" the lead Tyrannomon growled, a new fire burning in his eyes.
"Of course not! We swear our absolute allegiance to the great King Mizuki!!!" the eight Digimon roared together, their voices echoing across the desert.
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