Chapter Forty-Seven: Ambush

"Qin... Qin Fei..."
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Meimei suddenly pull him aside, her face flushed from drink, her expression mysterious, Qin Fei was utterly bewildered.
"I can't stand it anymore—I really want to take a bath. But I'm worried about those Bakku Beasts."
Hearing Meimei's hesitant tone, Qin Fei understood at once, but was also rather surprised. "You can just go with Suna. Don't tell me you want me to bathe with you!"
"Idiot! You pervert!"
Meimei cursed him, embarrassed and annoyed, then lowered her voice further: "I've already invited Suna to join me at the bathhouse, but I'm worried something might happen outside. So, I want to ask you to keep watch for us with Suna outside the bathhouse."
So that's it. Qin Fei immediately understood.
"Alright, you two can go first. We guys probably need a bath too—honestly, we all stink."
Qin Fei nodded, then called over Loretta Beast. "Loretta Beast, you'll bathe with them too, and you can protect them at the same time."
"That's wonderful!"
Meimei was delighted. After all, Loretta Beast's impressive strength was obvious to everyone, and besides, as long as you ignored her sharp fangs, pointed ears, and the way her silver hair fluttered without wind, she looked just like an adorable little girl. Bathing together wouldn’t be awkward at all.
"What a pity. I was hoping to bathe with my Tamer."
Catching the teasing look in Loretta Beast's eyes, Qin Fei rarely blushed, turning his head away as if he hadn't heard her joke.
...
Night finally fell. After everyone finished washing up, they exchanged careful glances, gathered together, and pretended to be utterly exhausted, all lying down to sleep.
Though they were indeed very tired, for the sake of safety, everyone forced themselves to stay awake, not daring to truly fall asleep.
As night deepened, a heavy tension, like the calm before a storm, filled the silence.
Just as a few began to lose the battle against sleep, several gray Bakku Beasts slipped inside under the moonlight.
All the children held their composure, making not a sound; the Digimon cooperated in perfect silence.
The Bakku Beasts crept stealthily toward Badamon, who was pretending to sleep near the entrance.
"Mmm!"
Before it could cry out, Badamon was muzzled and whisked away with lightning speed.
The night grew darker. After confirming the children showed no sign of waking, the Bakku Beasts departed with satisfied grins.
"..."
"Let's follow them!"
Qin Fei and Loretta Beast suddenly opened their eyes, silently rising to their feet.
Qin Fei slipped the still-sleeping Black Dodomon into his backpack, then quietly exited the tent.
Tai and Agumon followed at once. At last, everyone believed in the Bakku Beasts' cunning and malicious nature.
Night concealed them perfectly.
Watching the Bakku Beasts drag Badamon into a distant patch of woods, Qin Fei and the others crept slowly after, moving lightly, Digimon and children alike, careful not to alert their quarry.
"Why are you doing this?"
It was Badamon's voice.
Peering through the brush, Qin Fei and the others saw the Bakku Beasts poking Badamon with sticks, laughing with cruel delight.
"Aren't you supposed to be good Digimon?"
Badamon shouted angrily.
"We're just putting on a show! Hahaha, only fools like you would fall for it so easily."
The Bakku Beasts laughed even more smugly.
"Bada... Mmm!"
Seeing Badamon mistreated, Takeru nearly rushed out, but Qin Fei, quick as lightning, clamped a hand over his mouth and pulled him back.
"Don’t act rashly—wait and see!"
Although everyone was furious at how Badamon was being treated, they gritted their teeth and obeyed Qin Fei's command to stay calm.
"What do you think you’re doing?"
Just as the Bakku Beasts were about to continue their torment, a haughty voice rang out from atop a rocky ledge.
Three Kaji Beasts had appeared at some unknown point, watching the spectacle below with relish.
"Ah, Kaji Beasts!"
At the sight of them, the Bakku Beasts recoiled in fear, exposing the surrounded Badamon.
"What’s with that Badamon?"
The lead Kaji Beast questioned coldly.
"It came with the humans," the Bakku Beasts answered obediently.
"Did you say humans?!"
The Kaji Beasts exchanged looks of disbelief, their expressions changing instantly.
"Could it be that the Chosen Children have arrived here? That's not where Lord Monkeemon predicted they’d appear..."
"I'll go report to Lord Monkeemon. I leave the rest to you."
One of the Kaji Beasts hurriedly instructed its companions and dashed off.
The remaining two Kaji Beasts glared menacingly at the Bakku Beasts below, their tone vicious: "Don’t let those children escape! If you do, none of you will live to tell the tale!"
"Yes!"
The Bakku Beasts replied, trembling with fear.
Having seen enough, Qin Fei, hidden nearby, said, "I'll go after the one that left—we can't let Monkeemon learn we've arrived. You take care of these two and the Bakku Beasts, and find out where the Rolling Beasts are being held."
"I'll go with you. My Biyomon can evolve into Birdramon and pursue that Kaji Beast from the air."
Suna volunteered.
Qin Fei nodded in agreement—Suna’s Birdramon would be far more effective than following on foot.
"We’ll handle things here!"
Tai grinned confidently, raising his Digivice.
The children shifted into battle formations, silently fanning out to encircle the Kaji and Bakku Beasts.
"Agumon digivolve! Greymon!"
"Biyomon digivolve! Birdramon!"
"What... What is that?"
"It's an ambush!"
As the dazzling light of evolution flared and the mighty forms of Greymon and Birdramon appeared, the remaining Kaji and Bakku Beasts panicked, desperately trying to flee.
"Kabuterimon digivolve! MegaKabuterimon!"
"Palmon digivolve! Togemon!"
"Gabumon digivolve! Garurumon!"
"Gomamon digivolve! Ikkakumon!"
But it was already too late—every escape route was blocked by the children's Digimon.
"Patamon digivolve! Angemon!"
At last, Patamon broke free of its bindings, evolving into Angemon and utterly crushing the enemies’ will to resist.
"Let’s go, Suna!"
Qin Fei and Loretta Beast leapt onto Birdramon's talons, soaring with Suna after the Kaji Beast racing to alert Monkeemon.
Fortunately, the Kaji Beast hadn't gone far—and with Birdramon's help, in this vast, mountainous Sabba Continent, they caught up quickly.
"Kaji Beast, surrender now!"
Before they even landed, Qin Fei called out to the fleeing Kaji Beast below.
As expected, the Kaji Beast glanced up at the fiery Birdramon soaring overhead, its face changing as it tried to run even faster.
"Card Slash! Holy Shot!"
"Holy Bullet!"
A single gunshot rang out, and the Kaji Beast, who had been running for its life, collapsed to the ground, dissolving into data that was promptly absorbed by Loretta Beast.
"Mission accomplished!"
Dealing with a mere Champion-level, virus-type Kaji Beast required no special effort from Qin Fei and Loretta Beast.
Birdramon landed with Qin Fei and Suna, reverting into Biyomon.
"Let’s go back and see if everyone’s rescued the Rolling Beasts."
Pocketing the Kaji Beast card, Qin Fei spoke to Suna.
Suna nodded, glancing curiously at the card in Qin Fei’s hand as it vanished, but asking nothing more.