Chapter 123: The Metallic Phantom Beast
Their journey did not grow any easier after Yu Ren’s departure.
In fact, another Digimon, equally resentful of humans, had been watching them all along.
It was the OreDigimon under Mercurimon’s command.
Having always resided in the Digital World, the OreDigimon was unaware of all that had transpired with Mercurimon in the human world.
All it knew was that the formidable Mercurimon had successfully brought back NightOwlmon.
“...”
“Lord Mercurimon... Lord Mercurimon...”
A voice of urgent distress echoed slowly through the cold, piercingly frigid palace, sounding exceptionally desperate.
An OreDigimon, its face marked with unease, hurried along a winding and steep path before kneeling before the towering figure of Mercurimon.
“Those humans... they’re coming this way... what should we do... what can we do?”
Gazing down at the OreDigimon, barely larger than his own toenail, Mercurimon slowly lifted his head and calmly looked into the distance.
“Let them come...”
“W-what...?!”
The OreDigimon was stunned, disbelief etched on its face as it stared at Mercurimon.
Why would Lord Mercurimon, who had always harbored hatred toward humans, suddenly disregard the intruding humans?
Ignoring the OreDigimon’s confusion, Mercurimon seemed to recall the words spoken by a boy around Yu Ren’s age.
“I still believe there must be a way for humans and Digimon to coexist... We will provide an explanation to the Digital World and uncover who is behind these deeds. Whether you believe it or not, I will give you an answer...”
“...”
“Will it be an answer? Or just a deception?”
Mercurimon murmured and gradually fell silent.
Seeing that the revered Lord Mercurimon remained inactive despite the news of the humans’ approach, the OreDigimon, unwilling to accept this, retreated.
“I’ll defeat those humans in my own way!”
Leaving Mercurimon’s palace, the OreDigimon’s eyes blazed with the fire of hatred, as visions of the Digimon who had died tragically at human hands flickered vividly before it.
...
Across a barren desert, a group of people trudged forward. Not a single plant nor even a sizable stone could be found along the way.
In contrast, the sky, adorned with neatly floating, multicolored stones, was far more spectacular than the sandy ground beneath their feet.
“Isn’t the Infinite Ice Wall supposed to be ahead?”
Breathing heavily, Shunao and Agumon spoke while gazing at the distant snow-capped mountains that seemed unchanged.
“How long do we still have to walk before we find that Infinite... whatever it’s called?”
DamenDa sighed deeply, growing impatient.
They had been traveling all day. Even with the blessing of the Digital Souls, walking nonstop for seven or eight hours would cause anyone to feel weary and drained.
Qin Fei wiped the sweat from his brow and estimated the remaining distance.
Having once watched it unfold in an anime, he hadn’t realized how far it really was until experiencing it firsthand.
“Stop complaining. Didn’t Qin Fei say that only inside Mercurimon’s palace in the Infinite Ice Wall is there a Digital Gate back home? If we want to return...”
Toma walked calmly, glancing at the others who continued their ceaseless chatter beside him.
“No, we’re not going there to return to the human world,” DamenDa immediately interrupted. “We’re going there to confront Mercurimon and uncover the truth!”
“...”
Toma smiled slightly, suddenly feeling that DamenDa understood the situation better than himself.
“Look!”
“What is it, Gaiaomon?”
Suddenly, responding to his partner’s alert, Toma looked ahead.
At some point, a valley had appeared before them, blocking their path.
“A valley?”
“Yes.”
“It looks pretty wide.”
Everyone examined the valley before them.
“Looks like this is where it ends.”
Qin Fei silently reflected on the familiar scene, then looked at DamenDa and the others, seemingly curious about how they would respond.
“What is this?”
They approached the edge of the bottomless valley and looked down.
They were instantly startled by the strange sight on both sides.
Countless skyscrapers stood horizontally, embedded along the steep cliffs of the valley, as if an inverted world existed there.
“This is a human city, right?”
Lalamon shuddered.
“It gives me the creeps.”
“Stop dawdling!”
Seeing the group hesitate, DamenDa led the way, leaping onto the nearest sideways building.
“Hey, DamenDa, be careful,” Shunao lamented his impulsive nature.
“Let’s go across too!”
“...”
Watching the others descend one after another, Qin Fei hesitated briefly before following.
Although they could have crossed using the Digimon’s flying abilities, DamenDa seemed reluctant to waste energy here, noticing their fatigue.
After all, evolution consumed a great deal of energy.
Qin Fei’s gaze lingered on the abyss deep within the valley, a meaningful smile curling his lips. He felt this data banquet presented to them must not be wasted.
“Lolo, and Dorumon, watch our backs.”
After quietly instructing them, Qin Fei leapt down.
Ropes, grappling hooks, climbing spikes—everyone was fully prepared. Gradually, the group reached a section where the buildings on either side of the cliffs were densely packed, seemingly close enough to touch each other.
“Swish!”
Suddenly, Lolo spun abruptly and hurled an axe toward a position behind them.
“Creak~”
A cry was abruptly cut off. Everyone turned instantly alert and saw a one-eyed octopus-like Digimon sliced into a Digi-Egg by Lolo’s axe.
“What’s that? Qin Fei, didn’t you say not to attack Digimon recklessly?”
DamenDa looked at the Digimon, oddly cute in appearance, now reduced to a Digi-Egg, and showed some puzzlement toward Qin Fei.
“If you want to keep being watched, I have nothing more to say.”
“What? That Digimon was spying on us?”
Hearing Qin Fei’s words, everyone fell silent.
“Shhh!”
At that moment, countless threads shot out from all directions toward Qin Fei and the others, as if attempting to ensnare them.
“Ah, what’s that?”
“It’s VenomSpidermon!”
“And there are so many of them!”
A shout rang out as Agumon, Lalamon, and the others were instantly wrapped in white spider silk, then, like prey, captured by the VenomSpidermon and dragged off the high platform.
Toma, DamenDa, and the rest were also caught off guard, ensnared by spider silk, and pulled into the abyss.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
“Qin Fei, there’s a bigger one down there, it’s dangerous!”
After shooting several VenomSpidermon trying to grab her, Lolo looked down into the bottomless valley.
“Hmm, that’s your prey, Lolo.”
Holding the VenomSpidermon’s card, Qin Fei nodded, obviously anticipating this.
“Haha, then I’ll take it!”
“Lorettamon evolves... to FierceTigerSaintessmon!”
Lolo instantly transformed into a winged Digimon with the body of a tiger and the face of a human, charging down with a fierce gale.
“...”
“Dorumon evolves... Dorugamon!”
Qin Fei took out the Holy Plan Tyrannomon, evolved Black Dorumon, and using Dorugamon’s flying ability, plunged into the deep valley.
Soon, a massive skeletal Digimon with a metallic sheen and a mane appeared before Qin Fei, locked in battle with FierceTigerSaintessmon.
“So it really is the Perfect form MetalPhantomon.”
Nearby, DamenDa and the others, unconscious from MetalPhantomon’s skill, hung suspended in midair.