Chapter 48: That Guy... He's Just Bored.
The crystal that had descended from the heavens shattered upon the ground, its fragments dissolving like the remnants of a dream-like bubble. As if on cue, the flickering firelight that had danced in the gentle evening breeze concluded its mission, winking out of existence.
Everything was over. Just like that.
There were no triumphant cheers, no agonized wails, no lingering resentment. Only the quiet whisper of the wind carried a wisp of beautiful, golden light through the silent night.
After successfully handling the trial of fate with Mizuki, Belphemon had been ready to unleash her full power, to make a grand debut that would serve as the ultimate proof of the fruit of their bond. But the enemy who could have once unmade her with a single glance… had just been effortlessly obliterated by her in a single move?
The sheer disparity left Belphemon momentarily dazed.
"Mizu… did we… win?"
"What's wrong? Did you think you couldn't, Bei?"
Mizuki looked up at the Digimon holding him. She possessed the heroic, dashing appearance of a mature warrior, yet her expression was now as cute and innocent as a young girl's. He couldn't help but flash a teasing smile.
"You were so incredibly cool just now."
"Eh!? I—I didn't mean that!" Belphemon grew flustered, her composure cracking under the gaze of the young man nestled in her arms. "Of course, I was confident I could defeat that Grand Dracmon! What I mean is… the contrast between then and now is just a little too much…"
"Hehe~" Mizuki chuckled softly. He raised a hand and gently stroked her head, his teasing expression melting away, replaced by his usual warmth. "I understand how you're feeling right now, Bei. After all, your strength has ascended to an almost unimaginable level."
He paused, his eyes thoughtful. "However, what you're thinking is only partially correct."
"?"
Meeting Belphemon's curious gaze, Mizuki slowly explained, "We did indeed deal with Grand Dracmon just now. But that eye was merely a temporary vessel he created to manifest in this world. His true body is still safe within his castle, deep in the Dark Area."
"So that's how it is…" Belphemon's expression shifted to one of understanding, as if a missing puzzle piece had just clicked into place. It made sense. An enemy capable of resurrecting the dead, of granting Devimon the power to evolve into Daemon, of possessing that bug-like immortality… he wasn't the kind of foe she could truly defeat in a single, fleeting instant.
Of course, this realization did nothing to diminish her confidence.
'Because this power, born from the bond between Mizu and me, is the strongest!' Belphemon declared silently in her heart, her eyes shining with unwavering conviction.
Belfast Beast: Final End Mode
Stage: Mega Level → Super Ultimate Level
Type: Demon Man → Unknown
Attribute: Virus → Unknown
"Even if we are destined for a future of destruction, I will face it with you."
—By fully embracing Mizuki's feelings and her own fervent emotions, Belphemon threw herself into the crucible of fate like a moth to a flame and crossed the finish line. This form is a miracle born from the unique bond she shares with Mizuki, a power that belongs to them and them alone!
Abilities: ∞
This form has no fixed moves. Originating from Mizuki's guidance on the fundamental principles of "0 and 1," Belphemon can now, in the instant she witnesses an enemy's attack or even their very authority, completely analyze, deconstruct, and master it for herself.
It is a true finality that transcends the power of all other Digimon!
"Belfast Beast: Final End Mode?"
In his castle deep within the Dark Area, Grand Dracmon's true form gazed across the barriers of time and space. His eyes fell upon Belphemon and Mizuki in that distant world, and he couldn't stop a low, rumbling laugh from escaping his lips.
"In all the countless Digimon parallel worlds, only the legendary Zeromaru and his partner Taichi have ever reached this stage!" he mused aloud. "But that Taichi and his Zeromaru never showed much interest in me, which was quite frustrating."
His lips curled into a wide, eager grin. "But that doesn't matter. Now, I have you."
"I truly look forward to it. What kind of storm will you bring to the myriad parallel worlds?"
As his words faded, the vision before him, which had been as clear as a mirror, suddenly fractured and shattered into a million pieces.
"Mizu, did you feel that?"
"Yeah. It's Grand Dracmon." Mizuki nodded, confirming the suspicion in his partner's wary tone. "That guy is peeping at us again? He really has a twisted sense of humor…"
"It doesn't matter. I've already cut off his line of sight," Belphemon said, a hint of disdain on her face. "He talks so casually, but in reality, he's just bitter and wants revenge, doesn't he? Just you wait, Grand Dracmon. I will find you one day!"
"Ahem, about that… I actually have a different opinion," Mizuki said suddenly.
Belphemon immediately turned to him, her expression full of curiosity. "Hmm? What is it?"
"Grand Dracmon may be the uncrowned king of the Dark Area, but unlike the other Seven Great Demon Lords, he rarely causes trouble. He prefers to stay cooped up in his castle. While some theories suggest he's brewing some grand conspiracy, I think the truth is simpler. Over the long eons, Grand Dracmon has simply discerned the essence of most things in the world."
Mizuki spoke slowly, a complex light dawning in his bright eyes. "Things like ruling the world, or becoming the strongest… in his eyes, they're probably all just fleeting vanities. He possesses an almost… no, a completely bug-like immortality, which destines him to stand at the pinnacle of all Digimon. So, for him, gaining more power or authority probably isn't as fulfilling as finding something interesting—even if it's something utterly insignificant."
"In other words, Grand Dracmon—"
"—he's just bored with everything in this world."
At the very instant Mizuki spoke those words, Grand Dracmon, on the other side of a distant rift in time and space, seemed to sense it, and spoke the exact same phrase aloud.
'Honestly, look at those other Seven Great Demon Lords, causing trouble every single day,'he thought to himself.'What's the point? It's much better to set up a small table and sit down for a nice game of mahjong.''But what if I don't have any partners to play with?'A wicked idea sparked in his mind.'Hmm~ Why don't I go find a few Holy-type Digimon and convince them to fall? Then they can play mahjong with me.'
"Is… that so?"
Unaware of the impending suffering of several unfortunate Digimon, Belphemon stood on File Island, listening to Mizuki's explanation with a stunned expression.
"Why do I get the feeling you're not describing a Demon Lord, Mizu, but a lonely old man guarding an empty house?"
"Uh… you're not entirely wrong," Mizuki admitted, his mouth twitching slightly. He had to concede, Belphemon had a point.
Guarding a massive mansion (his castle) with no companions, forced to find programs to watch on TV (the parallel worlds) all by himself… wasn't that the very definition of a lonely old man?!
Viewed through that lens, many of his actions suddenly made perfect sense.
'Wait a minute…'Belphemon thought, biting her lip with a dawning sense of indignation. After analyzing and mastering Grand Dracmon's Crystal Revolution through her Final End Mode, she truly understood just how powerful that seemingly half-hearted attack actually was. In other words, he had been holding back, deliberately pushing her and Mizu to take that final step—'Hold on!'
If that was true, didn't it mean a third party had been involved in the sacred bond between her and Mizu?
The thought was so outrageous, a strange, unfamiliar word surfaced in her mind—one she didn't fully comprehend but instinctively knew was an insult of the highest order. It felt like their purest connection had been meddled with, intruded upon.
This realization was all it took. The innocent Belphemon was once again filled with a burning, murderous intent for Grand Dracmon.
'Grand Dracmon, is it?'she fumed internally.'You just wait!'
At that same moment, in the Dark Area, Grand Dracmon—holding two furious Holy-type Digimon, one in each hand—let out a sudden, unexpected sneeze.
"???"
He tilted his head, a flicker of confusion on his face.
Just then, the furious voice of one of his captives rang out. "Grand Dracmon! If you want to kill us, then kill us! But if you think you can make us fall to darkness, you can forget it!"
"That's right!" the other Holy-type Digimon echoed defiantly.
Looking at the two unyielding angels, Grand Dracmon scratched his head in annoyance before setting them down. "Um, you don't have to be so tense," he said placatingly. "I just called you over to be my mahjong partners."
"Mahjong?" The two Holy-types looked at each other, completely bewildered.
"That's right." A sly smile curled at the corner of Grand Dracmon's mouth. "While I admire your will to resist the darkness, your strength is, frankly, no match for mine. Since that's the case, why not look at it from a different perspective? Defeating me at the card table… isn't that also a way to defeat darkness?"
He leaned in, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Of course, if you can actually win against me, I can promise to seal myself away for a period of time. Or are you, as dignified Holy-type Digimon at the very pinnacle of the Angel lineage, lacking even that much courage?"
His words struck home. The two Holy-types were enraged.
You could insult their strength, but you could never insult their will!
Although they had no idea what "mahjong" was, nor what evil scheme Grand Dracmon was plotting, powerful Holy-type Digimon feared no challenge! And so, they immediately agreed to his request.
'Plan complete~' Grand Dracmon chuckled to himself. He quickly appeased his new recruits. "Don't rush, don't rush. We're still missing one last player for our little table. On that note, do you have any good recommendations for a fourth?"
"?"
In the silence that followed, the two Holy-type Digimon exchanged a long, meaningful look. Then, with tones filled with righteous and impressive conviction, they spoke in perfect unison—
"Cherubimon!!!"
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