Chapter 187: Changes in the Real World
Passing through the gate between worlds, the roaring torrent of digital space swept past them, a kaleidoscope of fractured data and blinding light. When their feet finally touched solid ground again, the jarring shift in gravity sent a familiar, heavy sensation welling up inside their chests.
"We... are we back?"
A sudden breeze brushed against their faces. It carried the unique, gritty metallic scent of a sprawling city, mixed with the faint exhaust of distant traffic. It lacked the pristine, ozone-crisp freshness of the Digital World, yet it evoked an overwhelming, almost suffocating wave of nostalgia.
Even though barely a month or two had passed in real time, to the children who had fought for their lives, it felt like years had slipped through their fingers.
"It seems we really are back." Gazing at the distant, hazy skyline of the city, Izzy nodded, his voice quiet as he responded to Sora's uncertain murmur.
"So this is the Human World? It doesn't look like much."
A familiar, haughty voice drifted from behind them, dripping with casual disdain.
Izzy and the others spun around. LadyDevimon floated a few inches off the ground, her dark wings twitching as she surveyed the concrete surroundings. Behind her stood a disciplined escort of BlackGatomon and hulking Tyrannomon, their feral eyes scanning the alien environment.
"So, brats," LadyDevimon drawled, crossing her arms. "Can you tell me exactly where Lord Mizuki is?"
"About that... I'm sorry."
At the mention of Mizuki's name, the children exchanged guilty glances. A collective, apologetic expression washed over their faces.
"We only met Mizuki after we arrived in the Digital World," Taichi explained, rubbing the back of his neck. "Other than that, all we really know is that he's from East Asia."
"Is that so..."
Hearing this, LadyDevimon's crimson eyes narrowed, a sharp frown creasing her pale face.
These ungrateful little whelps really do not care much about Lord Mizuki, do they? she thought, her claws flexing slightly. Even after Lord Mizuki went out of his way to look after them.
She clicked her tongue. Her favorability toward the Chosen Children plummeted.
However, LadyDevimon's harsh judgment was slightly misplaced. The children actually wanted to learn more about Mizuki. Yet, their reserved natures and ingrained politeness kept them from prying into his history. Especially after catching glimpses of the tragedy that forged him, they were terrified of reopening old wounds. Add to that Mizuki's own habit of deflecting personal questions with a mischievous smirk, and it was no surprise they remained in the dark.
Back in the present, LadyDevimon let out a soft huff. Although she had not extracted much useful intelligence from the kids, knowing Mizuki's general region was better than wandering blind.
Having made her decision, she slowly rose higher into the air, the dark leather of her outfit snapping in the wind.
Seeing her ascend, Taichi stepped forward instinctively. "LadyDevimon, are you heading to East Asia right now?"
"What else would I be doing?" she retorted, looking down her nose at him. "Since Lord Mizuki's hometown is somewhere over there, I will begin my investigation from that region."
"But East Asia is massive, and you don't know our world's layout at all. Is it really safe to just rush in blindly?"
Joe pushed his glasses up his nose and stepped up beside Taichi. "LadyDevimon, we can help you search."
"You guys..."
LadyDevimon paused, her gaze sweeping over the battered but determined group of children. She weighed the pros and cons in silence for a long moment, then shook her head dismissively.
"You have your own messes to clean up, don't you? Finish your business first. I will contact you when I actually need you."
As she spoke, she raised a hand. A wisp of dark energy shot forward, sinking directly into Izzy's laptop. A small, shadowy icon materialized on the screen.
"I will reach out through this shadow program when the time comes," she instructed. "Of course, if you find yourselves in over your heads, you can contact me through it as well. I haven't forgotten my promise to protect you."
"That is it. Try not to die."
With those final parting words, LadyDevimon's figure shot into the sky like a dark comet, rapidly shrinking until she vanished entirely beyond the horizon.
The children stared at the empty sky for a moment before exchanging bewildered looks. Slowly, they turned their attention to the BlackGatomon and Tyrannomon squad left behind.
"Um, since LadyDevimon has left, are you all—"
"LadyDevimon said we are supposed to cooperate with you chumps for the upcoming operations."
Before the larger Digimon could grunt a response, Impmon popped out from behind a BlackGatomon, a cocky grin plastered on his face.
"First things first, we need to figure out exactly where that Myotismon creep is hiding."
"No problem. I will do my best to track him," Izzy nodded, his fingers already hovering over his keyboard.
According to LadyDevimon's earlier intel, Myotismon had already infiltrated the Human World. While his ultimate endgame remained a mystery, moving an entire army of Digimon across dimensions could not possibly be done without leaving a massive digital footprint. By tapping into the global network, Izzy was highly confident he could pinpoint the vampire's lair.
"But before we do any of that, we need to go home," Taichi interjected, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We have to let our families know we are alive."
"Tsk... such troublesome brats," Impmon grumbled, crossing his arms and kicking at a loose pebble. Though visibly annoyed, he knew better than to push the issue.
Izzy's voice broke the brief silence. "During our transit, I will distribute a cloaking program to hide your digital signatures from ordinary electronics. You can also use this chance to get familiar with our world's layout."
His fingers flew across the keys. Dozens of soft, glowing beams of light erupted from the laptop's screen, arcing through the air and landing on each Digimon present, wrapping them in a faint, shimmering veil.
Feeling an inexplicable familiarity in the code washing over her, Lilimon fluttered down to hover beside Mimi. She tilted her head, her leafy wings buzzing. "Izzy, is this program..."
"Yes. I drew heavy inspiration from your personal cloaking method, Lilimon." Izzy paused, looking up with a slightly sheepish expression. "When I was trying to locate you earlier, I had to analyze your data structure. If reverse-engineering your ability makes you uncomfortable, I sincerely apologize."
"Oh, it is fine! I am not that petty." Lilimon giggled, waving off his concern. Though a tiny bit pouted that her ultimate hiding trick had been cracked by a human boy with a box, her inherently kind nature won out. She was just happy to keep everyone safe. She playfully stuck her tongue out at him, letting the matter drop completely.
"Since our next steps are locked in, let's head out."
Glancing back at his companions, Taichi took his usual place at the front of the pack, his goggles glinting in the afternoon sun.
"Going home..."
"Yay! I finally get to see Mom and Dad again!"
"I bet they are worried sick..."
The children chattered excitedly among themselves. Having finally escaped the harsh, life-or-death grind of the Digital World, the natural youthfulness and vitality unique to their age began to bleed back into their voices. Even the harsh sunlight overhead seemed to soften into a welcoming glow.
However, this relaxed, hopeful atmosphere shattered the moment they reached the edge of the overpass and looked down.
"What in the..."
"What is going on down there?"
Taichi and the others gripped the metal railing, their faces draining of color.
It was still the same steel forest of towering buildings they remembered. The streets were laid out exactly as they had left them. But the familiar city was now crawling with things that absolutely did not belong.
"Are those... Digimon?!"
Down in the streets and parks below, various Digimon were actively clashing, unleashing low-level attacks against each other. But the truly chilling part was the humans standing behind them, shouting commands like trainers in a blood sport.
Izzy's eyes darkened with gravity as he tracked the skirmishes. "Is this Myotismon's doing? He actually distributed Digimon to ordinary citizens."
"And look at the crowds," Sora whispered, pointing to the bystanders. "They look curious, maybe a bit excited, but there isn't any mass panic."
"Which means this situation hasn't just started. It has been going on in Japan for a while," Izzy concluded, his knuckles white as he gripped his laptop. "What exactly is Myotismon trying to achieve?"
His mind raced, piecing together fragments of lore. He remembered a crucial conversation with Mizuki. Mizuki had explained that while humans lacked the raw, destructive power of Digimon, they possessed a unique, infinite potential that digital lifeforms fundamentally lacked.
"The Light of the Heart," Izzy muttered aloud. "The emotional energy belonging to humans can grant Digimon the power to evolve. Myotismon handing out Digimon to the public... he must be using them to force the digivolution of his own army."
"So... he is using our city as a training ground to breed troops?" Taichi's jaw locked, a vein pulsing at his temple.
"It is highly probable." Izzy's expression was grim. "And to achieve this level of widespread promotion and public acceptance without the military stepping in, he inevitably had to make a deal with the upper echelons of the government."
"Oh no..."
Hearing Izzy's deduction, a raw, visceral panic flashed across Joe's face.
"Senior Joe, what is wrong? Why do you look like that?" Mimi asked, her innocent eyes wide with sudden fear.
Sora placed a gentle hand on Mimi's shoulder, her own voice trembling slightly. "If the higher-ups are colluding with Myotismon, then all of our personal records, our addresses, our families... Myotismon has access to all of it."
"Knowing how Myotismon operates, he won't just let our families go," Taichi finished, his voice dropping to a dangerous, icy register. "They might already be captured as hostages to force our surrender."
The sheer terror of that thought struck the children like a physical blow.
"No! We have to get back right now!"
They had originally planned to take the subway or a bus to avoid drawing attention, but stealth was no longer an option. They could not afford to waste a single second.
Moving as one, Taichi and the others turned their desperate gazes toward their respective partners.
"Everyone!"
"Evolve!"
"Yeah!"
A blinding cascade of evolutionary light erupted on the overpass. In the blink of an eye, the small, cute Digimon vanished, replaced by towering figures radiating immense, oppressive auras that warped the air around them.
"MetalGreymon!"
"MegaKabuterimon!"
"Biyomon!"
"Garurumon!"
"Angemon!"
"Seadramon!"
"Wait... Seadramon?"
Looking up at the massive, serpentine sea dragon thrashing awkwardly on the concrete beside him, Joe suddenly realized his fatal error. His face turned a sickly shade of pale.
"How could I forget that Seadramon has absolutely terrible mobility on dry land?!" Joe groaned, burying his face in his hands.
"Uh... Sorry about that, Joe," Seadramon rumbled apologetically, its massive tail scraping against the asphalt.
"No, no, I am not blaming you. It is my fault for panicking."
Seeing Joe looking utterly defeated, Taichi took a breath, preparing to step forward and offer a spot on MetalGreymon. But an unexpected figure beat him to it.
"If your partner can't move well here, then recall him and ride with me on Garurumon."
"Matt?!"
Both Taichi and Joe stared in stunned silence.
Ishida Matt. The boy who usually kept to himself, who maintained a prickly, reclusive wall between himself and the rest of the group, was actively stepping up to help.
Sensing their shocked stares, Matt's brow twitched. He stubbornly turned his face away, refusing to meet their eyes.
"Don't misunderstand. I just hate owing people favors," Matt muttered, his tone defensive. "You were the one who stepped up and convinced LadyDevimon to protect our world. Consider us even."
"Matt... thank you." Joe's eyes shimmered with genuine gratitude. But a second later, his anxiety flared again. "But wait, Matt, what about your family? If you are taking me—"
"I will let Takeru handle it."
Matt's hands clenched into tight fists at his sides, trembling for a fraction of a second before he forced his fingers to relax.
Hearing his own name, Takeru blinked, momentarily frozen. Then, a massive, uncontrollable surge of excitement and pride swelled in his chest.
"Brother..."
Matt honestly did not fully understand why he was doing this. In the past, he would have rather died than utter the words, I leave it to you, Takeru. In his mind, Takeru wasn't just a fragile younger brother who needed constant protection; protecting Takeru was the very foundation of Matt's own self-worth.
But watching Takeru survive and thrive in the Digital World had chipped away at that mindset. Or perhaps, a certain someone's harsh but true words had finally taken root in his stubborn heart. Whatever the reason, the current Matt was desperately trying to change.
"Takeru," Matt said, finally looking his brother in the eye. "Since you keep saying you have grown up, then Mom and Dad's safety... I am leaving it to you."
"Yeah! Leave it to me and Angemon!"
Thrilled beyond words by his brother's trust, Takeru nodded vigorously. He leaped into Angemon's waiting arms, and the angelic Digimon immediately shot into the sky, a streak of white and gold racing toward their home.
Meanwhile, Matt commanded Garurumon to lower its massive head. The wolf scooped up Joe and the recently de-digivolved Gomamon by the scruffs of their shirts, tossing them unceremoniously onto its broad, furry back.
"Hold on tight, Matt!" Joe yelped, scrambling for purchase.
"Yeah, yeah, just don't fall off!"
The next second, Garurumon's muscles coiled, and the beast launched forward, speeding down the highway like a bolt of blue lightning.
"That guy, Matt..." Taichi watched the fading dust trail, shaking his head with a helpless chuckle. But beneath the amusement, his eyes shone with deep relief.
He turned and patted the thick, cybernetic armor of his own partner. "MetalGreymon, I am counting on you to carry the heavy load."
"No problem, Taichi."
With a low, rumbling growl from MetalGreymon, the surrounding squad of Tyrannomon and BlackGatomon quickly scaled the cyborg dinosaur's massive frame, finding footholds among the armor plating.
As they boarded, Taichi's sharp eyes caught something odd. Mixed within the group of grunts were three figures draped in heavy, tattered cloaks. Their builds were entirely different from the feline and dinosaur Digimon. But considering they had arrived under LadyDevimon's direct command, they had to be trustworthy. Taichi decided not to press the issue.
However, as one of the cloaked figures leaped past him, it tilted its head, casting an intentional, lingering glance at Taichi from beneath its hood.
The brief flash of those eyes sent a bizarre jolt of familiarity shooting through Taichi's nerves.
Before he could fully process the feeling, a voice called out, breaking his concentration.
"Mimi, Lilimon isn't exactly built for carrying passengers, is she?"
Izzy stood beside his towering insectoid partner. Seeing the conflicted pout on Mimi's face, he hesitated for a second before extending a hand toward her. "If you don't mind the ride, MegaKabuterimon can carry you both."
"Izzy!? Really?" Mimi's face lit up instantly.
"Yeah. Besides, I live very close to Taichi's neighborhood, so we are heading the same way." As he spoke, Izzy shot a quick glance at Taichi.
Taichi grinned broadly and flashed him a thumbs-up. "Go for it, Izzy!"
After all, companions were supposed to cover each other's blind spots.
Seeing the bright, encouraging smile on Taichi's face, Izzy felt a surge of warmth in his chest. He nodded firmly. "Alright then, let's go!"
"Let's move out! Remember to keep your communicators on!" Taichi shouted over the rising wind.
With their plans set, the remaining children launched into the air, racing toward their respective homes.
Biyomon flapped her massive wings, carrying Sora securely in her talons.
MegaKabuterimon buzzed into the sky, carrying Izzy, Mimi, and a very amused Lilimon on his armored carapace.
MetalGreymon thundered down the streets, carrying Taichi and the dark army vanguard.
And trailing slightly behind, Angewomon soared gracefully through the air, holding Kari safely in one arm.
In her other hand, however, she was currently dangling a very irate Impmon by the scruff of his neck.
"What the hell!? You are telling me you are actually a Gatomon!?" Impmon shrieked, thrashing wildly in her grip. "Damn it! You naturally evil furball, you actually dare to show your face in front of me again?! It is all because of your backstabbing betrayal that I almost got permanently deleted by Myotismon!"
"Shut your mouth, you little gremlin!" Angewomon snapped back, her holy aura flaring with distinct un-angelic annoyance. "What do you mean betrayal? I was undercover! I am the sacred partner of a Chosen Child!"
"I don't care what you are! Hurry up and put me down—ahhh! Stop shaking me!"
Watching her beautiful, angelic partner bicker like a street thug with the tiny demon, Kari rested her head against Angewomon's shoulder and let out a faint, helpless giggle. Her partner really did have an unexpectedly mischievous streak.
Just as the children returned to the Real World, bracing themselves to face a terrifying new reality, Mizuki and Belle, stranded in an entirely different dimension, were about to confront a monumental trial of their own.
But before the storm could break—
"Awake? How do you feel?"
Seeing MetalGarurumon X suddenly stir and push himself up from the scorched earth, Mizuki immediately stepped forward, resting a reassuring hand on the cyborg wolf's cold, metallic shoulder.
"Don't be nervous. Take a deep breath and just let your core relax."
"Mizuki... Your Majesty..."
Grounded by Mizuki's calm, steadying voice, the frantic whirring of MetalGarurumon X's internal engines gradually slowed. His optical sensors stabilized. However, his memory banks were a chaotic mess, abruptly cutting off at the exact moment of his suicidal final clash with WarGreymon X.
"What... what happened to me?" The wolf's voice synthesized through his vocal processors, laced with confusion. "And that guy, WarGreymon X—"
"You are perfectly fine. And WarGreymon X is alive as well." Mizuki smiled, his tone light but carrying an unmistakable weight. "Though, compared to you, it seems he is going to need a bit more time to reboot..."
Following the subtle nod of Mizuki's head, MetalGarurumon X turned his optics toward the distance. There, half-buried in the shattered landscape, lay the unconscious, battered form of the dragon warrior.
"Then our battle..."
Under MetalGarurumon X's bewildered gaze, Mizuki's smile widened into an expression of absolute certainty. "You won, MetalGarurumon X."
"I... won?"
Staring at the young man standing before him, MetalGarurumon X froze. His combat algorithms had calculated a zero percent chance of survival. He had fully prepared himself for deletion, throwing everything into one final, desperate strike.
To hear that the outcome had completely shattered his own logic was impossible to process.
"I won?!" MetalGarurumon X murmured, the words tumbling from his jaws in a tone of sheer, incredulous shock.
Just then, the heavy, rhythmic thud of armored footsteps approached. A familiar, imposing figure stepped into his field of vision.
Crimson and white holy armor gleaming in the ambient light, a majestic red cape billowing behind him like a banner of war. Without a doubt, the newcomer was the Royal Knight, Gallantmon.
"That is right. You won, and you won beautifully," Gallantmon stated, his deep voice ringing with absolute conviction. As he looked down at MetalGarurumon X, his visor concealed his eyes, but his posture radiated not only deep admiration but also a sharp, calculating scrutiny.
"also," Gallantmon continued, his lance resting casually against his shoulder, "it seems you have managed to master an absolutely incredible ability in the process."
"An incredible ability?" MetalGarurumon X echoed, his metallic ears twitching.
"The Omega inForce. That is the true name of the power you awakened in those final seconds."
Mizuki stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and sharp intelligence as he laid bare the truth of the wolf's digivolution.
"It is one of the two ultimate, supreme powers that can only be awakened when Omnimon fully unleashes its absolute potential under the miraculous influence of the X-Antibody."
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