Chapter 14: Devimon... Evolved?!
Mizuki's intuition, it had to be said, was frighteningly accurate.
At that very moment, in the heart of the Village of Beginnings, a fierce battle was already raging.
"Fist of the Beast King!"
A righteous roar, like that of a proud lion, echoed through the area. A Digimon with the noble head of a lion and the powerful body of a man unleashed his full might, launching a devastating attack into the bottomless darkness that coiled before him.
A roaring lion's head sculpted from golden-orange energy tore through the air, annihilating every obstacle in its path. Yet, when this powerful attack finally struck its target, it was snuffed out, dissolving into nothingness as if it had never existed.
Seeing his ultimate technique so easily nullified, the lion-headed Digimon tightened his grip on the blade he carried. His gaze was solemn, his entire being coiled with vigilance as he stared down his unseen enemy.
Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind him.
"Leomon, I'm here to help you!"
"Flashing Thunder Strike!"
A bolt of dazzling lightning, crackling with its owner's fury, shot forth. While its scale wasn't as grand as Leomon's Fist of the Beast King, its raw power was not far behind. It was clear that Elecmon, too, was on the very cusp of evolution.
However, against an enemy that could shrug off Leomon's signature move, Elecmon's attack met the same fate, vanishing into the oppressive shadows without a trace.
"Elecmon, what about the DigiDestined?" Leomon asked, not taking his eyes off the threat.
"Don't worry. I had the other Champion-level Digimon lead them to a safe hiding place," Elecmon replied, nodding to his comrade before turning his own glare back toward the enemy. "Devimon, you bastard! Have you finally decided to attack the Village of Beginnings directly?"
"Heh heh heh…"
A low, chilling sneer emanated from the darkness, a sound that mocked Elecmon's defiant posture.
"If we're talking about breaking promises, you were the ones who moved first, weren't you?" the voice purred. "After all, you were the ones who hid the Holy-type Digimon. Have you forgotten so soon?"
"Damn it…" Elecmon gritted his teeth.
Devimon had yet to fully reveal himself, but the terrifying, abyss-like aura pouring from the shadows was proof enough. His strength had grown far beyond what it was in their last encounter.
Ignoring Elecmon's murderous stare, Devimon's presence seemed to expand, sensing the environment around him.
"But I must say, the Village of Beginnings… it certainly is different now," he mused. "The power that once protected this place is gone. Which means, whatever I choose to do here… there's nothing to stop me, is there?"
"Don't even think about it!" Leomon's pupils contracted in fury. "As long as I, Leomon, draw breath, I will never allow you to lay a single claw on the Village of Beginnings!"
With a thunderous roar, Leomon charged, his body a blur of righteous fury aimed straight at the heart of the darkness. Seeing his opening, Elecmon immediately unleashed another attack, providing covering fire for his friend's assault.
Their strategy was sound. No matter how powerful Devimon had become, he was still a Champion. If Leomon, a master of close-quarters combat, could just get near him, even Devimon would be in for a world of hurt.
Elecmon's mind raced, already anticipating the sight of Leomon pummeling their foe. But just as that hopeful image formed, a single, razor-sharp claw lashed out from the shadows, cruelly shattering his every expectation.
One strike.
It was just a single, almost casual, swipe.
Leomon, a Digimon considered a powerhouse among Champions, was sent hurtling through the air like a broken doll. He couldn't even withstand the blow for a single second. The impact carved a deep trench in the earth where he finally crashed to a halt.
Elecmon's eyes widened in pure, unadulterated shock.
"Heh heh heh… Do you feel it now?" Devimon's voice dripped with sadistic glee. "This is the power I now command!"
"Leomon! Are you alright?"
Ignoring Devimon's taunts, Elecmon scrambled to Leomon's side. The pained grimace on the lion-man's face made it clear that the single attack had inflicted a grievous injury.
"Damn it…" Elecmon muttered, his voice trembling with a mixture of rage and despair. "If Mizuki and the others were here, you wouldn't be so arrogant—"
His words were cut short by Devimon's booming laughter. "Do you really think it's a coincidence that I chose to appear when they were away? I admit, that human boy and his LadyDevimon are troublesome. But if I take you two as hostages… even he will hesitate. And in that hesitation, I will find my victory."
As he spoke, a dark hand began to emerge from the shadows, reaching for the two wounded Digimon. But just as it was about to strike, a lifetime of battle honed his instincts, screaming a warning of imminent danger.
Devimon instantly abandoned his attack, twisting his body to evade. Even so, he wasn't fast enough. A blur of dark energy sliced past him, shearing off a shower of glittering data from his shoulder.
"Tch, he dodged!" LadyDevimon clicked her tongue in frustration, her sneak attack having just missed its mark.
Mizuki, standing beside her, remained perfectly calm. "It's alright, LadyDevimon. We'll have another chance."
With that, he lifted his gaze to the shadowy figure hovering in the air.
Even Devimon felt an indescribable unease at Mizuki's silent, sudden appearance.
"To resort to such a despicable tactic as a sneak attack," Devimon sneered, his voice laced with contempt. "And you're the one who looks after a Holy-type Digimon." He then turned his mocking gaze to LadyDevimon. "And you, a supposed agent of light. Have you no shame, stooping to such dishonorable methods?"
In response, LadyDevimon merely brandished the dark spear in her hand and rolled her eyes.
"Devimon, are you blind?" she retorted, her voice dripping with disdain. "If you're not going to use your eyes, you might as well donate them to someone who will. In what world do I look like a Holy-type Digimon?"
"Ah, this…"
Staring at the fallen angel before him, whose dark aura was even purer and more potent than his own, Devimon was struck speechless. He had no comeback.
At that moment, Elecmon helped the slowly recovering Leomon to his feet and brought him over to Mizuki and LadyDevimon's side.
"Mizuki, it's great to see you. You're finally back," Elecmon said, relief washing over him. "But BlackGatomon… she—"
Mizuki offered him a reassuring look. "It's alright. With the data support from the DigiDestined, she can now perfectly balance the light and dark powers within her. To be precise, you should call her LadyDevimon now."
"Then why is she in this form…?"
"Ahaha," Mizuki chuckled, smoothly changing the subject. "Perhaps LadyDevimon just prefers this look."
He knew what Elecmon was getting at. What if her nature was inherently holy? To Mizuki, who held a philosophy ingrained in him from a past life, the concept of a predetermined fate was meaningless. He only believed in one thing: man proposes, God disposes. The path one walks is ultimately one's own choice. He would never force a friend to be something they didn't want to be.
Though she wasn't looking at him, LadyDevimon had been keenly aware of Mizuki's presence. Sensing his thoughts, an unmatched wave of joy and relief washed over her. It was the deep warmth of being truly understood and accepted for who she was.
On the other side, Elecmon didn't press the issue. He understood Mizuki's point. Compared to the abstract notion of what a Digimon should be, he cared far more about the safety of the children in the Village of Beginnings. His previous strictness with Nyaromon had stemmed from a desperate hope that she would gain the power to protect herself. As long as the children could survive and thrive, that was all that mattered.
With that settled, Elecmon turned to his wounded friend. "Leomon, how are you feeling?"
"Ugh… I've recovered a bit. I can still fight."
"Alright. On my signal, we'll combine your Fist of the Beast King and my Flashing Thunder Strike to create a diversion for Devimon," Elecmon instructed, his voice low and urgent. "We need to create an opening for LadyDevimon to attack!"
"Right!" Leomon nodded, steeling himself.
But just as the two were preparing to launch their coordinated assault, LadyDevimon's voice stopped them.
"About that… you two should probably focus on protecting yourselves for now."
"?" Leomon and Elecmon exchanged confused glances.
"Mizu, you've seen it too, haven't you?" Ignoring their bewilderment, LadyDevimon looked at Mizuki, her expression turning uncharacteristically serious.
"…Yeah." Staring intently at the shadow hovering in the sky, Mizuki was silent for a moment before nodding grimly. "If I'm not mistaken, the Devimon we're facing now…"
He paused, letting the weight of his words hang in the air.
"Has already Evolved to the Ultimate Level!"
"What?!"
"Ultimate Level?!"
Amidst Elecmon and Leomon's incredulous cries, the figure in the darkness finally shed its veil of shadow, revealing its true form.
"I had originally intended to toy with you a little longer," Devimon's voice echoed, now deeper and more resonant. "But I didn't expect you to see through my power so quickly. Since that's the case, there's no longer any need for me to hide."
As Devimon's new form came into full view, a flicker of surprise crossed Mizuki's eyes.
'Devimon's Ultimate Level… Wait, that's not right,'he thought, a cold knot forming in his stomach.'Why can he still maintain his sanity after evolving into that? Shouldn't he have lost his mind completely?'
Reflected in Mizuki's astonished gaze was Devimon's new, terrifying form.
Crimson, tattered wings. A pale, exposed upper torso covered in scars and stitches. And the highly recognizable metal mask covering six glowing, malevolent eyes.
An Ultimate Level Digimon!
NeoDevimon!
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