Chapter 28: The Ancient Species and the Power of Rewrite
The Dark Gear… Mizuki's mind sifted through his memories of the original story. It was a gear-shaped object created by Devimon, a sinister piece of code designed to embed itself into a Digimon's body and enslave their will. With these gears, Devimon had intended to seize control of the entirety of File Island.
To some extent, the method was unnervingly similar to how Devimon had first injected his dark energy into Nyaromon. However, it was clear now that Devimon's technique had been immature back then. Or perhaps, Mizuki mused, his partner's own innate talent was simply too formidable. Whatever the reason, Devimon had ultimately failed to control her after she evolved to the Ultimate Level.
It was precisely this history that had made Mizuki so wary of the Dark Gears. He had made a point to warn the guardians of the Village of Beginnings, including Elecmon and Leomon, about the threat they posed.
But perhaps the sudden appearance of an Ultimate Level LadyDevimon had taught Devimon a crucial lesson: true power comes from within. Now, in a stark deviation from the original timeline, Devimon seemed to have abandoned his plan of mass control. Instead, he was strengthening himself by defeating other Digimon and absorbing their data. The emergence of his NeoDevimon form was the terrifying result of that new strategy.
As for Andromon…
Mizuki's thoughts returned to the present. He watched the massive android Digimon slowly push himself up from the cratered ground, his metallic joints groaning in protest. 'So, NeoDevimon wasn't confident he could defeat Andromon completely,'Mizuki deduced.'Is that why he fell back on his old trick of using a Dark Gear?'
Just as the thought crossed his mind, Andromon, whose consciousness was now fully restored, turned his glowing optical sensors toward Mizuki and LadyDevimon.
"It seems… you successfully stopped my rampage," the android's synthesized voice rumbled, heavy with gratitude. "As expected of the DigiDestined."
"The DigiDestined? Me?" Mizuki pointed a thumb at his own chest before shaking his head with a small, wry smile. "I'm sorry, Andromon, but I'm not one of them. I'm just an ordinary person who happened to drift into this world by chance." He gestured to the imposing figure beside him. "This is LadyDevimon. She's my partner, and she's more important to me than anything."
Andromon's head tilted slightly, his internal mechanisms whirring. "I know you are not one of the DigiDestined," he stated, his tone unwavering. "But you are indeed a chosen existence."
"Huh? Me?" Mizuki let a look of surprise wash over his face, but inwardly, his mind was racing, a cold seriousness taking hold.
'So it's true. My arrival here was no accident… Is it Homeostasis? The one they call The Constant?'he thought, a familiar, unsettling feeling creeping in.'Instead of targeting Kari, has it set its sights on me?'Though the entity known as Homeostasis had yet to make any overt moves against him, the sensation of being a piece on some unseen player's board was deeply uncomfortable. But then, just as quickly as the paranoia surfaced, Mizuki's thoughts shifted, and his usual optimism broke through the clouds of doubt.'Forget it. There's nothing I can do to stop it now anyway,'he reasoned with a mental shrug.'I might as well just go with the flow. The worst that can happen is I'll have to fight my way through whatever comes. I'll meet every challenge as it arrives.'
The years of his past life, spent bedridden and fighting a losing battle against illness, had taught Mizuki one obvious truth: to truly live, you must never, ever let your spirit grow weary. The exhaustion of the soul was a far more lethal poison than any sickness of the body.
As Mizuki reaffirmed his resolve, Andromon continued, "My words are not without basis. The Ancient Species standing next to you is all the proof your unique identity requires."
"Ancient Species?" LadyDevimon's brow furrowed. She had heard the term before, from Mizuki's own explanations. They were supposedly a rare and powerful type of Digimon, capable of fighting opponents far above their own level, yet they found the process of evolution incredibly difficult.
But as she reflected on her own journey, none of it seemed to fit.
'Fighting above my level?'she mused. Aside from that one time as a Salamon, when her holy attributes gave her a slight edge against Devimon, she couldn't recall ever displaying such overwhelming power.'Difficult evolution?' That was even more absurd. She was fairly certain that no other Digimon on File Island had evolved as rapidly as she had.
A flicker of suspicion entered her crimson eyes as she stared at the towering android. "You say I am an Ancient Species? Andromon, are you certain you aren't mistaken? I don't believe any of my actions align with that description."
"Indeed," Andromon conceded, his voice a low hum. "Your evolutionary line thus far does not fit the typical profile of an Ancient Species. However, LadyDevimon, have you never felt it?"
Instead of answering directly, the android posed a question of his own. "During the heat of battle, as your emotions surge, have you ever felt your strength rapidly, inexplicably, increase?"
"I… have I?" Prompted by Andromon, LadyDevimon began to search her memories, a thoughtful frown creasing her features.
"Yes," Mizuki's voice chimed in, gentle but firm. "You have."
He caught her gaze. "LadyDevimon, do you remember when you saved me? You were still in your In-Training stage, yet you somehow managed to forcefully knock away a Champion Level Kuwagamon."
"," he continued, "right after you evolved from Nyaromon to Salamon, you successfully batted away Devimon's claw. A Champion's attack."
"But… I didn't feel like I became that powerful, did I?" LadyDevimon still looked slightly bewildered, tilting her head in a gesture of pure confusion.
Mizuki could only offer a helpless smile. "Ah, you're simply too close to see it clearly. It's like the old saying goes: the one in the game is blind to the moves the spectator sees."
"Exactly. That power," Andromon's voice took over the moment Mizuki finished speaking. "That is the proof that you are an Ancient Species Digimon. also, the power you possess is an exceedingly rare ability, even among them."
He paused, letting the weight of his next words settle in the quiet factory. "It is called 'Data Rewrite'."
"Data Rewrite?" LadyDevimon echoed.
Mizuki, however, remained silent. After a brief, sharp intake of breath, his expression grew deeply solemn.
Seeing the sudden gravity on his face, LadyDevimon couldn't help but ask, a hint of concern in her voice, "Mizu, why do you look so serious? Is this power… weak?"
"...Data Rewrite," Mizuki repeated the name, his voice low and contemplative. "Weak? No. It's the exact opposite. It's an unbelievably powerful ability."
He met her curious gaze. "A Digimon possessing this power can constantly rewrite its own data on a fundamental level. It allows their physical abilities to shatter their natural limits, to no longer be bound by the very laws of the Digital World." He took a steadying breath. "Based on the knowledge I have, only two Digimon in all of existence have ever possessed this power. One is UlforceVeedramon. The other is Jesmon."
"Shatter limits? Unbound by the laws?" Listening to Mizuki's explanation, LadyDevimon's face quickly lit up with excitement and joy. "Isn't that incredible? Then why did you look so serious, Mizu?"
"Because that power is not easily mastered," Mizuki said, his sudden intensity startling her. "Do you know why only UlforceVeedramon and Jesmon have mastered it? It's because the amplification brought on by the rewrite is like accelerated cell division in a human body. While it grants immense, world-breaking power, it inevitably leads to a rapid and catastrophic reduction in one's lifespan!"
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to an urgent whisper. "Only by successfully overcoming the fatal cost of that rewrite can a Digimon truly be said to have mastered this power."
Mizuki had expected his words to instill a healthy fear of this ability in her, to make her cautious. But to his astonishment, even after learning about the life-draining side effect, LadyDevimon's eyes were still shining, filled with an unshakeable anticipation.
"If that's the case, then I'll just have to overcome it," she declared, her voice ringing with absolute conviction. "For me, as long as I can help you, Mizu, I am willing to pay any price!"
"Because—" As she spoke, she moved with a fluid grace, kneeling before him on the cold factory floor. She took his hand in both of hers and gently, reverently, placed it over her heart, where the faint thrum of her DigiCore pulsed against his palm.
"You are the one who showed me the beauty of life," she said, her crimson eyes locked on his. "You gave me a reason to exist. Therefore, I want to fight for you. Not because of some confusing destiny or a special identity. It is simply for you—and nothing more."
"LadyDevimon…"
Looking down at his devoted partner, feeling the warmth radiating from his hand, Mizuki was silent for a long moment. He felt his lips press into a thin line as a wave of emotion washed over him. Then, gradually, the solemn mask on his face cracked, melting away to reveal a gentle, almost helpless smile.
"Honestly… I never stand a chance against you, do I?" he murmured, his voice thick with affection. "Alright. If that's what you've decided, then we'll face all of this together."
He squeezed her hands. "Whether it's 'Data Rewrite' or this beyond understanding destiny… we'll face it side by side."
"Mhm! Together!"
Seeing the familiar, warm smile return to the young man's face, LadyDevimon nodded, her heart soaring. She said nothing more, but her gaze never left his, as if she were trying to engrave every detail of his existence deep into the very core of her being.
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