Chapter 86: This Feeling Isn't Unpleasant at All
"Hmm? What happened?"
MetalGreymon (Blue) had just finished purging the last lingering traces of the dark network. His massive, cybernetic claws hit the ground with heavy thuds as he returned to the main group. The first sight that greeted his organic eye was LadyDevimon, standing with her head bowed, receiving a stern lecture from Mizuki.
Confused, the virus-attribute cyborg turned his attention away from the cheering Agumon gathered around his feet.
"Did LadyDevimon do something to make Mizuki angry again?" he asked, his deep voice rumbling in his metal chest.
"Uh... actually, it's like this—"
Before anyone else could answer, another massive shadow fell over the group. The vaccine-attribute MetalGreymon stepped up beside his blue counterpart, his orange scales gleaming under the digital sky as he thoughtfully provided a rundown of the situation.
Listening to his comrade's explanation, MetalGreymon (Blue)'s jaw shifted, his metallic mouth visibly twitching.
"As expected..."
"Actually, I really don't understand why King Mizuki dislikes LadyDevimon doing this," the orange MetalGreymon muttered, scratching his helmeted head with a giant claw. "As a king, shouldn't he theoretically love it when his subordinates worship him?"
Hearing this inadvertent complaint, MetalGreymon (Blue) fell silent. He pondered for a moment, the gears in his mechanical arm whirring softly, before he spoke in a slow, measured tone.
"Regarding that, it's probably exactly as Mizuki himself said." He looked toward the human boy. "He has never treated us as subordinates. He sees us as companions fighting side by side."
He paused, letting the words sink in. "Because of this, he refuses to be treated as an object of propaganda and blind worship."
"Companions, huh..."
Repeating the word, the orange MetalGreymon let out a long, heavy sigh, a puff of steam escaping his metallic nostrils. The realization seemed to settle deep within his data core.
"King Mizuki... is truly a unique existence."
MetalGreymon (Blue) raised a scaly eyebrow. "So, you don't like it?"
The orange cyborg's eyes widened in panic. "I'd be stupid not to like it!" he shot back quickly, his tail thrashing against the dirt. "I just... I just feel a bit sorry for King Mizuki. Or rather, I feel like it's not fair to him."
He lowered his massive head. "He deserves to be treated this way by us, but we don't deserve to be treated this way by him."
"That's exactly what it means."
A chilling, hollow voice echoed from the side. Heavy, bone-crushing footsteps announced the arrival of SkullGreymon.
These three Greymon brothers had finally reunited after all of them had achieved their Ultimate forms.
"It's you, SkullGreymon..." MetalGreymon (Blue) turned toward the towering skeletal dragon, a rare hint of warmth softening his usually stern gaze. "I didn't expect that after reaching the Ultimate level, you'd actually grow bigger than both of us."
The skeletal behemoth rattled his ribs, puffing out his non-existent chest. "What? Are you jealous?"
"...MetalGreymon, what should I do if I want to hit this guy?" the orange MetalGreymon grumbled, his teeth grinding together with an audible crunch as he glared at SkullGreymon's smug demeanor.
MetalGreymon (Blue) just sighed, a helpless sound escaping his metal jaw.
"Alright, you two can mess around as much as you like. Just don't hurt our little ones." He gently shooed away the Rookie-level Agumon still excitedly swarming around his ankles. "I still need to report the battlefield results to Mizuki, so I won't be joining your brawl."
"Eh? Are you leaving already? You're a bit too serious, aren't you?"
Watching the blue cyborg's retreating back, the orange MetalGreymon clicked his tongue, feeling a pang of pity that he couldn't drag his serious brother into punishing the smug skeletal dragon.
SkullGreymon watched the blue variant walk away, tilting his massive skull. "Speaking of which, isn't King Mizuki a king? Why did he become just 'Mizuki' in that guy's mouth?"
"Isn't this good? Calling him by his name... It sounds much more intimate, yet somehow more noble than 'King' no matter how you hear it."
SkullGreymon rolled his hollow eye sockets at his orange brother, assuming the skeletal Digimon actually possessed the physical ability to do so.
"It's decided! From today onwards, I will also change how I address King Mizuki! I'll just call him Mizuki!" The undead dragon declared, his bony tail whipping through the air. "Mizuki saved my life. Is he not also my god?"
Leaving those dramatic words hanging in the air, SkullGreymon turned. He signaled to his four Monodramon subordinates, leading the small squad toward where Mizuki was standing.
The orange MetalGreymon stood frozen, his jaw slightly slack as he processed the sudden shift in attitude.
He remained there until two of his own Megadramon subordinates floated over to his side.
"Forget it, Boss MetalGreymon," the first Megadramon drawled, its serpentine body coiling lazily in the air. "You're not really suited for deep thinking."
"Compared to that, everyone else has gone over to Mizuki, so let's go too," the second Megadramon chimed in, already drifting away.
"Hey! You two—"
Watching his own subordinates mock him before scurrying off toward the human boy, MetalGreymon pouted, crossing his massive arms unhappily.
But... how should he put it?
In the past, under the rule of the dark network, this kind of relaxed, carefree feeling would have been absolutely impossible. Death and fear were the only constants.
Regarding the current atmosphere in their ragtag army, MetalGreymon felt a strange lightness in his chest. Yet, surprisingly, he didn't dislike it at all.
'Indeed, King Mizuki... no, Mizuki is a very unique existence.'
With that thought settling warmly in his mind, he uncrossed his arms and took slow, leisurely steps, his heavy footfalls following the path his brothers had taken toward the center of the camp.
— — — —
— — — —
"Mizuki, the remaining dark network has been completely cleared."
MetalGreymon (Blue) stood at attention. "However, it is regrettable that the Pyramid has sustained severe structural damage. It probably cannot continue to be used as a stronghold."
"Is that so..."
Mizuki stood with his hands tucked into his pockets, his gaze sweeping over the dilapidated, smoking ruins of the Pyramid in the distance. After listening to the report, his expression remained perfectly calm. Not a single trace of dissatisfaction crossed his face.
"It's alright. We can just find another stronghold." He turned back to the massive blue cyborg, a gentle smile touching his lips. "Compared to a building, everyone being alive and well is the most important thing."
Mizuki gestured for the towering Digimon to come a little closer. He pulled his hands from his pockets and extended them, placing one palm against MetalGreymon (Blue)'s cold metallic armor, and the other against LadyDevimon's dark leather attire.
LadyDevimon blinked, her crimson eyes widening. "?"
MetalGreymon (Blue) tilted his head, equally confused. "?"
"Don't be nervous. Just relax," Mizuki said softly.
As he spoke, a brilliant, warm light bloomed from his palms. The Digi-Soul flared, wrapping around the two Ultimate-level Digimon in a soothing embrace.
"Unlike your other companions, you two completed your digivolution by directly absorbing dark network data," Mizuki explained, his eyes scanning the flow of digital energy beneath their skin and armor. "Although you successfully survived the erosion, I'm still a bit worried."
He focused the light, letting it penetrate deeper into their data cores. "Considering that the dark network might be a product created by some higher entity, I want to prevent him from leaving any hidden contingencies or backdoors within you. I'll just give your bodies a thorough check-up first."
MetalGreymon (Blue) relaxed his posture, the tension draining from his massive frame. "Is that so..."
Compared to the steady and stoic blue cyborg, LadyDevimon's reaction was vastly more intense.
"What!? A physical check-up? That's wonderful!"
A heavy flush spread across her pale cheeks. She twisted her body, leaning aggressively into Mizuki's touch. "Please, feel free to examine every inch of my body, Mizuki! Don't hold anything back!"
She let out a breathless, dramatic gasp. "Deeper! Go a little deeper—Ouch!"
Just as LadyDevimon's hands moved to eagerly peel off her tight leather outfit, a small, furious blur launched through the air.
Smack!
Belle, absolutely unable to stand the display a second longer, landed a solid, resounding punch directly on the top of the fallen angel's head.
"That is enough!" Belle snapped, crossing her arms as she landed gracefully beside them. "If you're a pervert, keep it to yourself! Don't you dare corrupt Mizu!"
LadyDevimon clutched her head, tears pricking the corners of her eyes as she looked down at the smaller Digimon. "Wuwuwu... Big Sister Belle, can't you feel my overflowing, passionate loyalty to Mizuki?"
"Heh." Belle just sneered, completely unmoved by the crocodile tears.
A short distance away, a group of BlackGatomon sat in a neat row, their tails twitching in unison as they witnessed the entire exchange. A collective shiver ran down their dark fur.
Originally, they had been curious, and even a little jealous. They couldn't understand why Belle, such a small and seemingly unassuming Digimon, could hold such a special, untouchable position right beside Mizuki.
But now... they completely understood.
To be able to physically suppress the terrifying, Ultimate-level LadyDevimon to this extent with a single punch?
Belle... no, Big Sister Belle, was terrifyingly powerful.
At that exact moment, the BlackGatomon collectively gasped in awe, their synchronized intake of breath contributing a tiny share to the warming of the Digital World's climate.
"..."
MetalGreymon (Blue) stood silently, having watched the entire chaotic process unfold from the very beginning.
After a long moment of quiet contemplation, the blue cyborg gave his most direct, honest evaluation of his dark colleague and these newly joined companions.
'A bunch of idiots...'he thought, watching LadyDevimon rub her bruised head.'LadyDevimon too. She's already an Ultimate level, yet her data is still so ridiculously unstable.'
A heavy sigh escaped his metallic jaws.
...However.
He felt the radiant warmth of Mizuki's Digi-Soul flowing through his massive cybernetic body. The gentle light washed over his data core, gradually soothing away the phantom aches and physical pains left over from the brutal battle.
Without realizing it, MetalGreymon (Blue) slowly closed his organic eye, leaning slightly into the human boy's touch.
This chaotic, noisy, yet undeniably safe atmosphere... he really didn't dislike it.
'Mizuki... is so warm.'
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