Chapter Fifty: A Crushing Defeat

“Hahaha, you won’t get your way! Beam of Love!”

Clang!

Clearly, the commotion from Agumon and the others’ evolution had already drawn the attention of the Simianmon. With a sweep of its guitar, the black electric net enveloping the village once again flickered with dangerous red light.

“Oh hoho, hahaha!” Amidst the mocking and arrogant laughter of Simianmon, the children’s Digimon all at once seemed to lose their strength, devolving back into their rookie forms.

“What’s happening to you all?!” Seeing Agumon and the others looking exhausted, Tai’s expression instantly grew alarmed.

“I can’t use my power...” Agumon replied, wearing a bitter, helpless look.

“Simianmon’s Beam of Love has stripped us of our fighting power,” Kabuterimon explained to the children.

“How could this happen?”
“Is there no way to counter it?” Izzy racked his brain for a solution, anxiety rising. They had already been discovered by Simianmon inside this cavern, and outside, his abilities covered everything—dragging things out would only lead to disaster.

“There’s no way to defeat Simianmon now, unless we can evolve even further,” Kabuterimon said, expressing his helplessness.

Sora glanced nervously at the crackling electric light outside. “But Gennai said we need both the Evolution Key and a Crest.”

“Then let’s hurry into the cave! Isn’t there supposed to be an escape route?” Joe reminded everyone.

“But what about the Rollermon outside?” Seeing their trembling forms in the underbrush, Tai was once again ready to risk his life for them.

“I’ll rescue them. Tai, your Crest is inside, so you have to go in. Once you get it, we’ll have a chance to defeat Simianmon.” Qin Fei had no choice but to restrain Tai once more, then dashed out with Black Dorumon and Loretta.

If they all stayed here, there was a real risk of complete annihilation.

“Qin Fei, don’t! It’s too dangerous!” Ignoring the shouts behind him, Qin Fei sprinted toward the bushes where the Rollermon were hiding. Luckily, they were not far from the waterfall—if he was quick enough...

That was the plan, but suddenly, a bolt of black and red lightning crashed from the sky, striking the top of the cavern.

“No!” Qin Fei had just reached the hiding spot of the Rollermon when he saw a cascade of rocks come crashing down, sealing off the cave entrance behind the waterfall.

“A cave-in? Of course! That’s exactly what happened before.” Staring at the buried path, Qin Fei’s memory stirred. In the original story, it was after the cave-in that the children were forced to venture deeper, which was how Tai obtained the Crest of Courage.

Simianmon, arrogantly convinced the children were wiped out by his attack, did not pursue them further.

Remembering this belatedly, Qin Fei was filled with regret. He remembered the main plot of the first series, but the finer details had long since faded. Had he not rushed out, or had he been a little later, the cave-in would have blocked the entrance anyway, forcing Tai and the others to go deeper—he wouldn’t now be in this awkward and perilous predicament.

“Qin Fei, be careful—Simianmon has noticed us,” Loretta’s vigilant voice came from nearby as Qin Fei stood uncertain.

“Hahaha! The other chosen children are nothing but ashes now. You’re the only one left, aren’t you? How pitiful.” The gigantic spectral image of Simianmon faded from the sky, and the rumble of an electric tram, dragged by some beast, drew closer.

“You should escape first. We’ll hold off Simianmon,” Qin Fei said to the still-shaking Rollermon beside him. He had no wish to see those he’d just saved snatched away again.

As the Rollermon hurried away, a cylindrical automobile, emblazoned with the words “Celestial Gate” and pulled by a Triceramon, gradually rolled into view.

Even the Black Dorumon in Qin Fei’s arms let out a warning growl at the bizarre vehicle.

“Let’s see who this lucky survivor is!” The car door opened in a blaze of colorful lights. Out stepped a figure not especially tall, dressed as if in an orange monkey costume, wearing strange sunglasses—a Digimon.

Qin Fei’s pupils contracted, his muscles instinctively tensing. Simianmon’s form might not be especially terrifying, but the dangerous aura he exuded was far more intense than the Demon Lord Digimon Qin Fei remembered.

Loretta stepped forward, her petite figure seemingly fragile, yet she unhesitatingly shielded Qin Fei behind her.

“Qin Fei, it seems we’ll have to fight together,” she declared, drawing her bone-cleaver axe, her eyes shining with death-defying resolve.

“Hohoho, how interesting!” Simianmon’s gaze overflowed with arrogance as he looked upon Loretta’s small frame and the frail human child behind her.

“Card Swap! Holy Shot!” As Qin Fei swiped his card, Loretta swiftly raised her flintlock and fired two shots at Simianmon. Then, with a deft movement, she grabbed Qin Fei and hurled him aside—hoping to keep her tamer away from the heart of this deadly battle.

“There’s no need,” Simianmon remarked, casually swatting away the two light bullets before leaping beside Loretta and kicking her, sending her crashing through stones and earth.

“So fast!” Gritting her teeth and clutching her aching waist, Loretta forced herself upright, shocked by Simianmon’s terrifying power and explosive speed.

“Heheheh, once I finish you off, that human child will soon join you.” Simianmon seemed to disdain using lowly tactics like kidnapping or threats; his overwhelming strength made him supremely arrogant, utterly convinced he could not lose to this seemingly fragile, human-like Digimon.

“Loretta!” Seeing her wounded and suffering, Qin Fei’s heart clenched with pain, as if it had been slashed to ribbons. He hurriedly pulled out his Digivice.

“Card Swap! Defense Module G!”

A protective shield instantly enveloped Loretta.

“Oh? Interesting! Dark Necro Orb!” Simianmon, intrigued by the light shield, conjured a dark energy orb that crashed into Loretta, shattering the shield and hurling her aside once more.

“Ah! Cough, cough—”

“Loretta! Run!” Qin Fei’s heart ached as he watched Loretta, her elegant features gone, struggling to stand despite her pain.

This was the true power of an Ultimate-level Digimon—not like the Bearmon or Anduramon on File Island. Loretta, whose strength was comparable to a Champion, stood no chance.

“Is this the kind of change that happens between chosen children and Digimon?” Grasping Loretta’s slender neck, Simianmon lifted her, studying her with interest.

Suddenly, the Black Dorumon in Qin Fei’s arms thrashed wildly, spitting a tiny iron pellet at Simianmon. Seeing Loretta in such a miserable state seemed to drive it into a frenzy.

Simianmon didn’t even look—he simply swatted the pellet away.

“Your little helpers don’t seem very useful,” Simianmon sneered. But just then, Black Dorumon’s body erupted with a brilliant light. Its previously round form grew larger, sprouting stubby limbs and a pointed tail.

“It really is a Dorymon!” Qin Fei’s eyes widened—his guess had been right.

With a growl, Black Dorymon lowered its head and charged Simianmon, spitting razor-sharp metallic drops. Yet Simianmon didn’t even bother dodging, letting the attack hit him without suffering the slightest injury.

“Hahaha, so weak!” With a kick, Simianmon sent Black Dorymon flying, and finally broke into laughter.

Gritting his teeth, Qin Fei drew two more cards.

“Card Swap: Devimon! Card Swap: Black Gear!”

A black gear emblem flew from Loretta’s paw, attaching itself to Simianmon’s hand that was gripping Loretta.

“Hm?” Simianmon found his hand loosening involuntarily.

“What an amusing little trick.” With a cold snort, Simianmon clenched his fist, instantly shattering the black gear’s shadow into fragments.

“But this is as far as you go! Hohoho!”