Chapter 54: Cooperation?

Although they hadn’t obtained the Fire Salamander's card, finding a place to warm themselves by the fire and rest was enough to satisfy both Qin Fei and Loretta Beast. In addition to the Candlemon, two other figures had also gathered around the campfire—a Ore Beast and a Revolvermon. One Virus, one Vaccine, one Data; it was indeed rare for three Digimon of such different attributes to keep company together.

Except for Revolvermon, who remained wary, both Ore Beast and Candlemon appeared quite friendly. In fact, upon seeing Qin Fei and Loretta Beast’s appearance, they clearly regarded the pair as the weaker party unlikely to provoke combat. Their sympathy was even more apparent for the cuddly Dorymon, who was fast asleep in Qin Fei’s arms.

“Where do you come from?” Candlemon asked, settling by the fire, seemingly wishing to pass the long night with some conversation.

“We came from Fayilu Island, and only recently arrived on the Shaba Continent,” Qin Fei replied, seeing no reason to conceal such information.

“Fayilu Island?” Candlemon tilted its head in thought, but apparently had never heard of the place. After all, the Shaba Continent was vast, and its native Digimon would know little of some distant island overseas.

“Are you the so-called Chosen Children?” Suddenly, the burly form of Bearmon appeared behind Qin Fei, looming over him and Loretta Beast.

Qin Fei remained unruffled, calmly warming his cold hands by the fire as if ignoring the oppressive presence behind him.

“Hah!” Dorymon awoke with a start, issuing a warning to Bearmon. Loretta Beast, however, had already prepared for battle the instant Bearmon appeared. She was confident that, even if Bearmon was an Ultimate-level Digimon, she could suppress him as soon as she completed her evolution.

As for Ore Beast and Candlemon, upon spotting Bearmon, they hurriedly hid behind Revolvermon. Evidently, Revolvermon was the muscle of their trio. Yet Revolvermon, instead of abandoning his companions, only drew them closer behind him, determined to protect them.

“I mean no harm,” Bearmon declared, ignoring Revolvermon’s caution and sitting down beside Qin Fei, unceremoniously enjoying the warmth of Candlemon’s fire.

Seeing Bearmon’s lack of hostility, Candlemon and Ore Beast gradually returned to the fire, though they kept a safe distance.

“I’m not one of the Chosen Children,” Qin Fei replied, unzipping his backpack to take out some food he’d seized from other hostile Digimon. After giving some to Loretta Beast and Dorymon, he began to eat. “But I am indeed a human from the real world.”

“They say that when the world is shrouded in darkness, Chosen Children from another world will come to save the Digital World,” Bearmon mused, seemingly unconvinced by Qin Fei’s denial and determined to believe he was one of the chosen.

“I don’t know when this world fell under darkness... Apemon, Vampiremon, their dark forces are spreading, corrupting every corner of this land, yet...” Bearmon glanced at Qin Fei and Loretta Beast, seeing nothing in them that might vanquish such darkness. If anything, the pair seemed even weaker than he’d imagined. “Can you really defeat the darkness?” Bearmon seemed to be asking both them and himself.

Qin Fei glanced at Bearmon, then at the Digimon listening intently nearby. When Bearmon mentioned the Chosen Children, all the Digimon pricked up their ears to catch every word.

“Where did you first hear that legend?” Qin Fei asked. He knew it was a tale propagated by the Harmonious Ones, but he was curious about the Digimons’ own perspective.

“No one knows. It’s said to be passed down by word of mouth, but many Digimon believe it deeply.”

A sudden gunshot rang out. Revolvermon holstered his smoking pistol as the Gadgimon in the distance slowly collapsed. The little Digimon had been sneaking toward the edge of the ruins, clearly intent on informing some other Digimon—perhaps Apemon—of what he’d seen.

“In the darkness around us, there are many of Apemon’s spies. If I’m not mistaken, enemies will soon arrive,” Bearmon said gravely, and the remaining Digimon began to murmur anxiously. Yet, after seeing Revolvermon dispatch a Gadgimon with a single shot, the weaker Digimon dared not make any reckless moves.

“Apemon is probably on his way,” Bearmon muttered to Qin Fei.

Qin Fei simply smiled and remained silent.

“Aren’t you afraid?” Bearmon pressed, curious at Qin Fei’s indifference. Though Bearmon was himself an Ultimate-level Digimon, he knew there was a great gap between him and Apemon. Without external aid, he could never hope to defeat Apemon.

“So, you brought this up deliberately to lure Apemon here?” Qin Fei raised his eyes, seeing through Bearmon’s little scheme.

“We could work together. Fighting alone would be to our disadvantage,” Bearmon replied, his voice tinged with deep resentment whenever he spoke of Apemon. For some reason, he harbored an unexplainable hatred for Apemon.

Qin Fei shook his head and replied, “I already have companions, though they aren’t here right now. Besides, Apemon won’t be coming.”

Before Bearmon could retort, Qin Fei said again, with conviction, “Apemon will not come.”

Bearmon hesitated, swallowing his words and reorganizing his thoughts. “Apemon won’t come? Impossible! He’s been searching for the Chosen Children, desperate to eliminate you all.”

“It’s true, Apemon won’t come,” Qin Fei said, his gaze sincere.

“Hmph, are you trying to say Apemon is afraid of you?” Bearmon stood up, glaring at Qin Fei and Loretta Beast, suspecting the boy simply didn’t want to help. But as if remembering something, Bearmon snorted and sat back down. He didn’t believe that if Apemon truly appeared, the human child could just sit by and do nothing; after all, the Chosen Children were always Apemon’s targets—there would be no escape.

Qin Fei yawned, fighting off sleep to stay vigilant through the night. Loretta Beast leaned against his shoulder, sleeping soundly at his insistence, since her strength was far more vital than his own. Dorymon, still just a baby, also slept peacefully.

Time ticked by, the night growing ever deeper. The stars above seemed to fade away, leaving only the crackle of the campfire to break the silence. The other Digimon gradually drifted into sleep, all except Bearmon, who sat upright, eyes fixed on the darkness, waiting for Apemon’s attack.

“Why don’t you rest a while?” Revolvermon suddenly suggested, noticing Qin Fei’s exhaustion. “If Apemon really comes, and if you truly are a Chosen Child, you can’t face the battle half-awake. For us Revolvermon, only with sharp minds can we face our enemies—good spirits mean faster, more accurate shots.”

Qin Fei shook his head and thanked Revolvermon quietly, “A little vigilance is always wise.”

Revolvermon, seeing that Qin Fei wouldn’t trust him easily, nodded and said no more.

“Qin Fei!” Suddenly, Loretta Beast, who had been sleeping, snapped her eyes open and sprang from Qin Fei’s shoulder, fully alert, staring into the darkness behind them. In the faint gray light of dawn, a massive, shadowy figure seemed to be approaching swiftly.