Chapter 124: Sonic Gaogamon

“Wretched humans who should have been cursed...”

Seeing that one human had slipped through the net, MetalPhantomon immediately abandoned Raging Tiger Holy Maidenmon and charged toward Qin Fei, who was riding BlackDorugamon.

Clearly, MetalPhantomon was extremely disgusted by the humans’ arrival.

“Your opponent is me! Beast God Claw!”

Three crimson streaks of energy flashed before MetalPhantomon’s eyes, stopping it some distance away.

Looking back at the enemy behind it, MetalPhantomon hesitated for a moment. Then it stopped paying attention to Qin Fei, turned around, and once again engaged Raging Tiger Holy Maidenmon in battle.

“Card Slash! Clone Technique!”

Watching the two figures battling in the distance, seemingly evenly matched, Qin Fei took out his Digivice.

“What?”

In an instant, Raging Tiger Holy Maidenmon split into five identical figures before MetalPhantomon’s eyes. A terrible premonition rose in its heart.

The five figures spread apart and attacked from every direction.

With an ugly expression, MetalPhantomon swung the energy scythe in its hand, repeatedly slashing at the enemies before it. Yet every strike passed through empty air.

Suddenly, the sound of cloth being torn rang out. Pain erupted in MetalPhantomon’s back, and its black cloak was instantly ripped into shreds, as though it had been cut apart by some razor-sharp weapon.

Even its metal-hard spine bore three deep gashes.

“Damnable human! I curse you!”

“...”

Listening to MetalPhantomon’s seemingly dying voice, Qin Fei knew that its defeat was only a matter of time. He temporarily shifted his attention to the three people nearby, whose faces were twisted in pain.

Their eyes were tightly shut, their brows deeply furrowed. Clearly, they had fallen into nightmares.

He simply did not know whether Toma’s Gaomon could successfully evolve to the Perfect level after enduring such a nightmare.

“...”

“Argh!”

A scream suddenly escaped Toma’s lips. The nightmare had clearly caused him immense suffering.

Plop.

A drop of water struck the ground. Toma had begun to cry.

Looking at Toma’s tear-streaked face and the increasingly violent Digisoul surging through his body, Qin Fei’s eyes flickered. Although his interference had changed Masaru’s chance to reach the Perfect level, Toma had succeeded.

“What?”

Nearby, MetalPhantomon, covered in wounds, stared at Toma as he broke free from the nightmare in astonishment. It had never imagined that anyone could escape the nightmare it had imposed.

“Master!”

Hearing his partner’s scream, Gaomon also grew anxious and struggled even harder against the web restraining him.

The bindings around Toma’s body dissolved into particles of data and disappeared. His body fell, leaving him half-crouched on the ground.

“...”

“The one who forced me to relive the painful memories of my mother and me...”

After swaying twice, Toma straightened himself. Yet his voice held boundless sorrow.

Blue Digisoul surged forth, instantly enveloping his entire body.

“Absolutely unforgivable! You who toy with people’s hearts—face your punishment!”

Toma took out his Digivice and glared murderously at MetalPhantomon, which was fighting Raging Tiger Holy Maidenmon.

“Digisoul—fully charged!”

Without any of his usual flourishes, Toma slammed his palm against the Digivice and desperately poured his Digisoul into it.

“Gaomon, evolve... MachGaogamon!”

Gaomon’s body expanded in an instant, transforming into a towering, half-human, half-wolf Digimon with wings for flight.

Nearby, Agumon stared blankly at MachGaogamon, who had evolved to the Perfect level. Only after a long while did he say, “I’m so jealous. Gaomon has evolved even further, while I’m still... But he sure looks cool.”

“Gao Cannon—”

However, just as MachGaogamon was preparing to join the battle, Raging Tiger Holy Maidenmon’s claws finally pierced through MetalPhantomon’s skull, reducing it to data and a Digi-Egg.

“This...”

MachGaogamon had only just assumed an attacking stance and had not even had the chance to strike before the battle ended.

Toma and his partner could do nothing but exchange an awkward glance.

Still, when they realized that his partner had finally evolved another step, Toma and MachGaogamon quickly forgot their embarrassment and smiled in relief.

“MachGaogamon, clear out the PoisonSpiderdramon around us. We’re heading up!”

“Yes, Master.”

With MetalPhantomon returned to a Digi-Egg, the remaining PoisonSpiderdramon were no longer a threat.

Under MachGaogamon’s swift assault, they were dealt with in no time.

Riding on MachGaogamon, the group watched the top of the canyon draw closer and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Masaru, however, kept staring at MachGaogamon’s new form. Thinking of his own partner, Agumon, and Qin Fei’s powerful Digimon, he gradually began to feel dissatisfied.

“Agumon, we have to work even harder!”

“That’s right, Big Brother!”

“...”

After reaching the other side of the rift, the group looked out at the faintly visible verdant landscape before them, and their spirits lifted considerably.

“Let’s find a place ahead to make camp. We’ll rest for the night and continue traveling tomorrow,” Toma said.

No one objected.

After finding a concealed cave in a new stretch of woodland, everyone began attending to their own tasks.

“Why do you keep looking at me?”

Having sensed Qin Fei’s intermittent gaze for some time, Yoshino finally could not take it anymore. She walked directly in front of him and questioned him from above with an imposing air.

“...”

Could this little fellow have just discovered his feelings and fallen for me?

But when Yoshino considered that possibility, her previously fierce gaze became somewhat bashful.

What should I do? We’re eight years apart, and Qin Fei’s identity is so mysterious. Could this really work between us? Perhaps I should reject him outright and nip his intentions in the bud?

Seeing Yoshino’s expression shift from aggressive to somewhat bashful, Qin Fei found several question marks rising in his mind.

Even so, he wanted to confirm something. After all, according to the original story...

“Yoshino, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Or is there anything that feels wrong?”

“Ah... what?”

The question caught Yoshino completely off guard.

She had thought the little boy in front of her was going to ask whether she had a boyfriend.

But judging from Qin Fei’s tone, was he worried that she might be ill?

“I’m fine. Nothing feels wrong. What... are you trying to do?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to ask.”

Yoshino: “...”

It was merely a small interlude. After seeing that Qin Fei truly had nothing else to say, Yoshino walked away in confusion.

“It seems some things have still changed. Agumon did not evolve to the Perfect level, Yoshino did not fall ill, and Ikuto and Falcomon will not launch an attack because of her illness. That means we will not go to Wanderer’s Cape, and we will never see the traces left behind by those who came before us in the Digital World.”

Although the uncertainty caused by changing the story was immense, Qin Fei had long since prepared himself for any outcome.

There would always be a few things that could no longer proceed along their original course.

“Still, I can’t afford to let my guard down. I wonder whether Baromon will come looking for us.”

Qin Fei lay on the grass, gazing at the distinctive patterns spread across the night sky of the Digital World.

Gradually, everyone fell asleep. Keeping watch, Qin Fei stretched lazily as he stared into the campfire before him.

The crackling of the burning wood rang clearly through the silent night.

“Qin Fei.”

Lolo had appeared behind him at some point.

“Is it a Digimon?”

“Yes.”

“As expected... Baromon.”

“...”

The trees and bushes before them seemed to stir, as though they had suddenly been given life.

In Lolo’s eyes, several conspicuous vines were creeping forward like venomous snakes, believing themselves to be well hidden.