Chapter 9: Just Like a Fairy Tale, My Foot!
Everything unfolded just like a storybook adventure.
The children, castaways on a journey into the unknown, had found new partners and, with their help, successfully repelled the monstrous enemy that had attacked them.
After a final, desperate volley of attacks, the giant insectoid Digimon, Kuwagamon, let out a mournful shriek and crashed into the dense woods behind it. A wave of cheers erupted from the small group. The children rushed forward, hugging their respective partners in a tangle of relief and celebration.
But their victory was short-lived. Just as the echoes of their joy began to fade, the defeated Kuwagamon stirred, its massive form rising once more from the crushed foliage.
Seeing the enraged beast about to charge, Taichi Yagami instinctively grabbed his partner, Agumon, and scrambled backward. At that critical juncture, an unexpected figure descended from the sky, a streak of black and white that ended in a solid kick delivered straight to Kuwagamon's head.
Bang!
Accompanied by a dull, sickening thud, Kuwagamon cried out in pain and collapsed back into the bushes it had just emerged from.
The children, stunned into silence, finally got a clear look at their rescuer.
The newcomer was a young man with striking white hair. He wore a simple black shirt and white shorts, layered with a small white vest and a flowing, shawl-like jacket. Combined with his handsome, almost delicate features, his every gesture seemed to exude a gentle, calming demeanor.
Of course, that was only if one completely ignored the fact that he had just drop-kicked a monster several times his size out of the air.
"You are—"
While the others were still processing the impossible sight, Taichi was the first to find his voice, stepping forward to address the stranger.
Before he could finish his question, however, the young man shook his head. "It's not time to relax yet."
"Eh!?"
"Kuwagamon hasn't been defeated."
As if on cue, confirming his words with a terrifying rustle of leaves and snapping branches, Kuwagamon's massive figure crawled out of the bushes once again. Its complex eyes burned with a furious red light. Being repeatedly knocked down by what it considered 'small fries' had clearly pushed its rage to the boiling point.
Seeing this, Taichi shot a panicked look at his companions. "Damn it, it's still not down?"
"Agumon!"
"Right, Taichi!"
At Taichi's command, Agumon summoned a gout of flame in his mouth and launched another Pepper Breath at the advancing Kuwagamon.
But the beast had learned its lesson. This time, it consciously angled the tough carapace on its head, deflecting the fiery projectiles that had previously struck its weaker spots. Even if this particular Kuwagamon wasn't the strongest among Champion-level Digimon, it was still far beyond what a group of Rookies could handle.
Realizing the attack was useless, Taichi quickly grabbed Agumon and began to retreat again. In a flash of righteous instinct, he also reached out and snatched the white-haired stranger's hand. He couldn't just stand by and watch someone else get hurt, especially someone who had just helped them.
A jolt of surprise shot through him.
He couldn't pull the stranger along. The young man, who looked so slender and frail, was rooted to the spot like a mountain.
Mizuki felt the tug on his arm and couldn't help a small, helpless sigh, though he appreciated the gesture.
'As expected of Taichi Yagami,'he thought.'The classic hero.'Still, he had just kicked Kuwagamon across the clearing. Did he really look like someone who needed protecting?'Well, whatever,'Mizuki mused.'That's just who he is.'
Turning his head slightly, he spoke in a calm voice, "How are you feeling, BlackGatomon? Is your body stable?"
Taichi blinked, confused. "BlackGatomon? I'm not BlackGatomon, I'm Taichi Yagami!"
Mizuki paused. "..."
'Is it possible,'he wondered, a metaphorical shadow crossing his face,'that I wasn't talking to you?'
Before the awkward silence could stretch, a soft, melodic voice cut through the tension.
"Mizu, you were right!"
A new figure appeared, seemingly from nowhere, standing beside them.
"I can balance the data inside my body now!"
Only then did the children notice the new Digimon. She was a bipedal cat with sleek black fur, sharp green eyes, and a Holy Ring on her tail.
"What a cute kitty!" exclaimed Mimi, her fear momentarily forgotten in the face of such an adorable creature.
BlackGatomon, however, paid them no mind. Her gaze was fixed intently on the charging Kuwagamon.
"Mizu, I'm ready!" she declared, her voice ringing with newfound power. "Now, please watch! My—Evolution!"
As her voice fell, an endless darkness erupted from beneath her paws, swirling upward to form a giant, obsidian egg that completely enveloped her. A second later, a razor-sharp claw tore through the shell of darkness. The energy that poured out from within transformed into a swarm of countless bats, which surged forward and slammed into Kuwagamon!
"Darkness Wave!"
The effect was instantaneous. With her internal data completely stabilized, LadyDevimon was no longer the fatigued Digimon she had been moments before. Her true, overwhelming power crushed Kuwagamon in a single blow.
Without a second glance at the monster as it dissolved into motes of data with a final, mournful cry, LadyDevimon stepped free from the remnants of her dark cocoon. She immediately closed the distance to Mizuki, leaping forward and wrapping him in a tight hug.
"Mizu~ Did you see? I did it!" she chirped, her voice filled with pure joy. "I've successfully stabilized my own data! Now I can help you! I can finally, truly protect you!"
"LadyDevimon—wait..."
Before Mizuki could get a word out, he was completely engulfed in the tall, powerful Ultimate's embrace. Seeing the triumphant, almost childish delight on her face, it was clear her mindset hadn't quite caught up with her new form. He felt a familiar sense of helplessness, but she was his partner. No matter how exasperating she could be, he could only indulge her.
Across the clearing, the children, finally certain that the danger had passed, let out a collective sigh of relief. After a brief, bewildered exchange, their gazes all turned toward Mizuki and the imposing dark angel clinging to him.
Ultimately, it was Taichi who took the lead, stepping forward to bridge the gap.
"Um—hello?" he began, a little hesitantly. "Thank you for helping us."
"My name is Taichi Yagami, this is Agumon, and these are my companions. May I ask who you are?"
At the sound of Taichi's voice, LadyDevimon, who was still clinging to Mizuki, finally loosened her grip. Mizuki, finally able to breathe again, gently extricated himself from her "broad embrace."
"I know you all have a lot of questions right now," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "But this isn't a safe place. If you trust me, I can take you somewhere secure. We can talk on the way." He offered a small, disarming smile. "How does that sound?"
The children exchanged uncertain glances. Perhaps it was shyness, or perhaps it was the intimidating, dark aura radiating from the beautiful but terrifying LadyDevimon. For a moment, no one spoke.
In the end, Taichi, as always, stepped up.
"Everyone," he said, turning to his friends. "If this guy really wanted to hurt us, with his strength, he wouldn't need to beat around the bush. So, I've decided to trust him. What do you guys think?"
Seeing that Taichi had made his choice, Koushiro immediately pushed up his glasses and nodded. "Since you've decided, Taichi, then I'll go too."
At the same time, another voice chimed in, agreeing even faster than Koushiro.
"I trust big brother."
Mizuki's eyes widened as he saw the small girl who had spoken. He felt a genuine shock, a rare crack in his composed facade.
'Wait—what did I just see? Kari? Yagami Hikari?!'His mind raced.'That's not right, is it? She's not supposed to be here at this time.'
For the first time since arriving in this world, a feeling that things had spiraled far beyond his expectations took root in his heart.
But then... the plot probably started changing the very moment he arrived.
After a brief moment of reflection, Mizuki mentally shrugged and dismissed the troubling thoughts. The years he had spent hospitalized in his past life hadn't broken his will; on the contrary, they had forged a deeply optimistic personality.
'If soldiers come, use generals to block them. If water comes, use earth to cover it,'he thought with a wry internal smile.'Let's worry about the future when it gets here.'
Besides, change wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
After all, an adventure isn't truly interesting until it's filled with the unknown, right?
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