Chapter 7: The Heart Decides the Hand
"Since I cannot stop your evolution," Devimon's voice dripped with malevolent glee, "I might as well give you a little push!"
His claws, dripping with corrupted data, plunged into the sphere of light. "What happens when the digicore of a Holy-species is force-fed a massive viral load from a Dark Digimon? Oh, I am so very eager to find out."
The moment his words ended, the pure white light enveloping Salamon was instantly tainted, streaks of inky blackness bleeding through it like poison in water. The darkness spread with unnatural speed, consuming the light, and then began to crawl up Devimon's arm, devouring it whole.
Yet, Devimon paid it no mind. A mere limb was nothing. So long as his digicore remained intact and he had access to enough data, he could regenerate such a trivial loss an infinite number of times. And as the very embodiment of darkness on File Island, data was the one thing he would never lack.
"Damn you, Devimon!"
Mizuki's enraged roar finally reached him.
Devimon merely sneered at the boy's incoming fist, effortlessly gliding backward to create distance. He watched Mizuki with cold amusement, a predator playing with its food.
"My, you look very angry, boy."
"...You bastard." Mizuki's voice was a low growl. He glanced over his shoulder at the swirling vortex of light and shadow he had failed to protect, his hands clenching into fists so tight his knuckles turned white.
Devimon let out a proud, booming laugh. "Don't look at me like that. I am a representative of the Dark-types, after all. A little trickery is only to be expected, isn't it?"
"..."
Mizuki couldn't refute it. He grit his teeth in frustration. Devimon was known for his cunning and vicious nature, a creature of high intelligence and zero morality. But Mizuki had never imagined that an opponent with such overwhelming strength would still resort to such a petty, underhanded maneuver. It was a level of shamelessness that defied reason.
As Mizuki watched, Devimon's arm began to reform, dark data coalescing from the air to knit together new flesh and bone. He showed no urgency to attack, his attention fixed on the evolving Digimon, his eyes alight with morbid curiosity.
"This aura... Champion level? No, it's pushing past that... It could even be Ultimate..." he mused aloud. "Truly worthy of a Holy-species with such rare talent. I am so looking forward to seeing what kind of magnificent ruin you become after this fall from grace, nurtured by my little 'miracle'."
Under Devimon's expectant gaze and Mizuki's worried one, the light, now thoroughly stained by darkness, finally receded.
Where Salamon had been, there was nothing.
In her place stood a new figure. She was tall and exquisitely formed, her pale skin a stark contrast to the tight black leather that clung to her body. A pair of tattered, bat-like wings sprouted from her back, and a steel mask covered the right side of her face, leaving only a cold, crimson eye visible. Long, silver-white hair cascaded down her back.
LadyDevimon.
A noble, high-ranking Fallen Angel Digimon. It was said her power was immense, born from high-purity dark energy so potent that the chances of one being raised on a personal terminal were practically zero. Her signature move, Darkness Wave, unleashed a swarm of countless bat-like entities of pure darkness that could burn her enemies to ash. Her other technique, Poison, was a terrifying power that converted an opponent's own strength into destructive dark energy, rotting them from the inside out; the stronger the foe, the more complete their annihilation.
Seeing her standing there, sensing the formidable power radiating from her in waves, Devimon couldn't contain his delight. He threw his head back and laughed.
"What beautiful blasphemy! What perfect irony!" he declared. "A Digimon born of Holy light has fallen to become a creature of pure evil! This... this is a masterpiece!"
Even as he celebrated, his mind was already churning with schemes. This Digimon possessed talent beyond his expectations. If he could devour her, absorb her data... he might just be able to reach a level of power he had only dreamed of.
LadyDevimon remained motionless, her body rigid. It was clear she was struggling to process the massive influx of viral data warring within her digicore.
And that, Devimon realized, was his perfect opportunity.
He gathered his power, preparing to strike the unmoving Fallen Angel, but Mizuki's scarred and battered form once again blocked his path.
Mizuki said nothing. He simply settled into a fighting stance, his body a proof of his refusal to yield. Even though he was covered in wounds, even though he had failed to protect the one who meant everything to him, he still chose to stand as her shield.
Devimon's smile faltered, replaced by a deep frown. "Brat, are you still trying to stop me? The Nyaromon you knew is gone. That is LadyDevimon now! A creature of pure, natural evil."
"...No," Mizuki's voice was quiet, but firm as steel. "What kind of Digimon she becomes is not for a monster like you to decide."
He took a slow, steadying breath, his gaze locked on Devimon. His senses were stretched to their absolute limit, every nerve ending tingling, ready for the slightest movement.
"So what if she's darkness?" he challenged, his voice rising with conviction. "The power of darkness isn't just about the cruelty of devouring everything. It also holds the gentleness of embracing all things! Devimon, your understanding of darkness is far too narrow!"
Mizuki took a step forward, his footing sure.
"Ultimately, how power is used depends entirely on the one who wields it!" he declared, his voice ringing with absolute certainty. "It's like our hands. Clenched into a fist, they can be used to harm, or they can be used to protect. What determines the outcome... is the heart!"
As his final word echoed in the tense silence, the motionless LadyDevimon seemed to stir. Her fingers, tipped with sharpened claws, twitched almost imperceptibly.
Devimon, who hadn't noticed the small movement, scoffed at Mizuki's speech. "I'm narrow-minded? You, a human, are telling me, a being of darkness, that my understanding is narrow?" he sneered. "Ridiculous. You're just a brat who knows nothing. Don't think you can lecture me just because you scraped together a little power!"
With a roar, Devimon lunged, his claws extended and crackling with dark energy. "It seems fighting my empty shell earlier gave you a false sense of confidence. Things are different now! Witness the true power of Devimon!"
"Death Claw!"
A wave of absolute darkness, led by the five points of his lethal claws, surged toward Mizuki. But just as it was about to connect, an unexpected streak of crimson light flashed through the air, slicing the encroaching darkness clean in two.
Devimon froze, his smug expression melting into pure shock.
"You... LadyDevimon... How is this possible!?" he stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You should still be fighting the viral data inside your body!"
"..."
Under Devimon's stunned gaze, LadyDevimon slowly retracted her right hand, which had elongated into a razor-sharp blade, letting it return to its normal shape. Just as Devimon had said, her state was clearly unstable; a faint tremor ran through her body. Yet, even so, the obvious pressure of an Ultimate-level Digimon was real and suffocating.
"...Mizuki... he said," her voice was a low, cold whisper, a stark departure from her usual warmth, but it was her voice still. "What determines power... is not its origin... but the heart..."
Though her tone had changed, she was, without a doubt, still herself. The same soul who, as Nyaromon and Salamon, had resolved to take that first brave step forward.
"Honestly, I don't really understand all that complicated stuff..." she continued, her crimson eye fixing on Devimon. "I only know one thing. I won't let you harm... Mizuki!"
As her voice fell, a storm of dark energy erupted from her body. Countless shadows, shaped like bats, swirled into a vortex and shot toward Devimon.
"Darkness Wave!"
While Devimon was forced to defend against the onslaught, LadyDevimon moved. Her clawed hand once again transformed into a demonic blade of gleaming black metal, and she struck, aiming directly for Devimon's core.
"Damn you! So what if you reached the Ultimate level? I am a Dark-type, too!" Devimon roared, struggling against the endless swarm of bats. He began to gather his own power, preparing a counterattack, when a blur of motion suddenly burst into the battlefield.
It was Mizuki!
Taking advantage of Devimon's distraction, he slammed a Digi-Soul-empowered fist directly into the side of Devimon's face, staggering him and disrupting his concentration.
In that single moment of opportunity, the demonic blade became a flash of cold light, moving so fast it seemed to slice through time itself.
It all happened in an instant. By the time Devimon recovered from the blow to his head, the blade had already pierced straight through his chest.
"What—How is this possible!"
"It ends... now!"
Though her body screamed with exhaustion and pain, LadyDevimon gritted her teeth, pouring the last of her strength into a final, violent motion, and hurled Devimon's impaled body away.
She stumbled, her legs giving out, but Mizuki was there in a second, catching her and easing her to the ground.
"LadyDevimon—"
"Mizuki..."
Sensing the familiar, reassuring presence beside her, LadyDevimon, half-kneeling on the ground, instinctively leaned against him.
"Thank you."
Mizuki shook his head, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "No. I should be the one thanking you." He paused, a small, proud smile touching his lips. "And... you did great. You're really the best partner anyone could ask for."
"...Hehe, it's not like I enjoy fighting," she murmured.
Though her body was that of a mature, powerful woman, her essence was still that of the young Digimon he knew. Her tone retained its usual softness, creating a strange but endearing contrast with her seductive, dangerous appearance.
'It's not that I hated fighting before,'she thought,'I was just... confused. I couldn't find a reason to fight. That feeling hasn't really changed... but if it's for you—'
She secretly glanced at Mizuki's determined profile from the corner of her eye, and a small, sweet smile graced her lips.
But before either of them could catch their breath, an immense and terrifying power suddenly erupted from where Devimon had fallen.
"Devimon?!" Mizuki exclaimed, instinctively moving to shield LadyDevimon. "Damn it, is this guy a cockroach?"
"..."
Watching the boy who always, always protected her, LadyDevimon took a deep breath. Pushing through the pain, she forced herself back to her feet and moved to stand at his side.
"I won't be like I was before..." she said, her voice gaining strength. "Now, it's my turn to protect you."
Mizuki glanced at her, saw the unshakeable resolve in her eye, and abandoned any thought of telling her to stand back.
"To be precise," he corrected with a grin, "we fight side-by-side."
The human and the Digimon turned as one, adopting their fighting stances. Together, they faced the malevolent darkness ahead, a swirling malice as deep and as hungry as the abyss itself.
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