Chapter Sixty-Six: Hesitation

"Ha! Watch me!"
Black Dorulu Beast nodded and strode toward the Ancient Garurumon, but quickly halted a short distance in front of it.
A sharp metallic glow gathered in the mouth of Black Dorulu Beast, radiating formidable power.
It seemed to be charging up a powerful move, its fur shimmering with a metallic luster.
Nearby, after regaining its balance, Ancient Garurumon’s wings beat furiously again, fixated on attacking from the air.
This time, with no interference, the forceful insect wings carried Ancient Garurumon high into the sky, resembling a mighty warplane.
"Ka!"
Black Dorulu Beast, unmoving, became its perfect “prey.”
Qin Fei could tell this Ancient Garurumon was far stronger than the one on Fa Yilu Island. The harsh environment of the Saba Continent and the constant clashes between Digimon made it incomparable to Fa Yilu Island.
Watching Ancient Garurumon swoop down again, Qin Fei felt a surge of anxiety for Black Dorulu Beast.
Gradually, the metallic data aura around Black Dorulu Beast thickened, making it look like a newly unsheathed sword, exuding an unstoppable momentum.
"Metal Charge!"
Just as Ancient Garurumon neared the ground, Black Dorulu Beast, having charged up for so long, sprang forward with both legs.
It became a streak of darkness, striking Ancient Garurumon at a speed beyond its reaction.
A heavy sound, like an old bell, reverberated through the desert.
Only after Ancient Garurumon was sent flying in a straight line did the collision point erupt in a delayed gust, smoothing the ripples on the sand.
"Impressive, truly a Dorulu Beast," Qin Fei remarked, wondering if it was influenced by Loretta Beast’s data. Dorulu Beast’s strength now far surpassed what was expected of its growth stage.
"Incredible!"
Candlemon was left speechless by Black Dorulu Beast’s display, especially after hearing it was as young and at the same stage as itself. The sense of inadequacy grew stronger.
Loretta Beast nodded with satisfaction. "As expected of my companion."
"Ka, ka-ka."
"Black Dorulu Beast, be careful!" Qin Fei frowned, hearing unusual sounds from afar, and shouted toward the front.
Unexpectedly, Ancient Garurumon was not dead. In the blink of an eye, it soared out of the collapsed sand pit and launched another attack at Black Dorulu Beast.
"Don’t worry, Qin Fei. I can win!"
But Black Dorulu Beast remained unfazed, its fighting spirit burning even brighter. It was, after all, a combative Digimon.

With a sharp movement, Black Dorulu Beast deftly dodged Ancient Garurumon’s attack and launched a metallic projectile from its mouth, hitting its opponent precisely.
Roars echoed through the desert as the two Digimon clashed fiercely, locked in a battle with no clear victor.
Yet, gradually, Qin Fei noticed Black Dorulu Beast gaining the upper hand.
Perhaps the earlier blow from Loretta Beast and Black Dorulu Beast’s charged attack had compounded the injuries, slowing the once ferocious Ancient Garurumon.
Another heavy metal ball struck Ancient Garurumon’s leg joint, forcing it to kneel involuntarily.
"Now’s the chance!"
Seeing the dent in Ancient Garurumon’s chest caused by the previous impact, Dorulu Beast’s eyes lit up. It lunged with all its strength, knocking Ancient Garurumon completely to the ground.
Without giving it a chance to shake it off, Dorulu Beast bit down hard on the wounded spot…
"Metal Cannon!"
A loud bang followed.
Ancient Garurumon let out a final, anguished howl before its entire body shattered into digital data, streaming into Black Dorulu Beast.
"We did it!"
Qin Fei shouted in excitement, and Loretta Beast cried out happily, like a parent seeing their child finally grown.
"As expected of a chosen child. I wonder when I’ll have such power," Candlemon said with joy but also a hint of disappointment.
"Alright, let’s go. There shouldn’t be any Digimon left here," Qin Fei said, regaining composure and urging them onward.
"Where do we go next?"
Loretta Beast patted Black Dorulu Beast, who had returned to its side, and asked Qin Fei.
"Let’s find someplace to spend the night. The day is almost over," Qin Fei replied, glancing at the fading sunset. Candlemon and the others felt exhaustion welling up within them.
Today had been overwhelming for Candlemon—so much had happened, it felt almost dreamlike. Its original companions were gone, and now it had joined the chosen child, becoming his companion in ways it could hardly believe.
"All around is endless yellow sand. Sleeping anywhere is dangerous."
Loretta Beast surveyed the surroundings with a serious expression. "And there might be dark cables underground. The Ape said they could find us."

"What about the other chosen children?" Candlemon asked timidly, then grew curious. "Weren’t you together?"
"We split up for a bit, but you’ve reminded me—we should head to Piximon’s place and wait for the others," Qin Fei answered. After all, the next plans and the goal of returning to the real world required the chosen children.
Night gradually fell. Yet tonight’s sky, shining with brilliant stars, was clearer than previous nights, with every grain of sand visible on the ground.
Direction was still easy to discern.
After traveling a long distance, Qin Fei and his companions arrived at an unusual stretch of desert and finally encountered a barrier-like presence.
"Is it in here? But how do we get inside?"
Candlemon tapped the invisible boundary, puzzled.
"We’re not going in," Qin Fei shook his head, meaning something else entirely.
"Then what?"
"Let’s look for any wells nearby. If you find one, don’t approach—just tell me."
Qin Fei glanced at Candlemon, who was now the perfect scout.
The black cables might react to the Holy Program Digivice, exposing their location to the Ape, so Qin Fei, who carried the device, couldn’t wander freely.
But Candlemon, unrelated to the Holy Program, had no such worries.
…
Candlemon went off to search for dry wells as Qin Fei had instructed.
Qin Fei leaned against the barrier in the moonlight, gazing at the digital world’s starry sky and pondering his next steps.
If he truly returned to the real world, what would the future hold for Loretta Beast and Black Dorulu Beast? Qin Fei had no certainty.
The digital world was dangerous and harsh, but offered countless ways for Digimon to evolve and grow stronger. The real world, however, lacked such resources.
As seen in the second season, although many children around the world had Holy Program Digivices, Digimon living in the real world were raised less ideally.
Most only reached the mature stage, and very few evolved to the ultimate stage. Their combat abilities were far inferior to those honed in the digital world.
Such is the trade-off—the comfort of Earth is ill-suited for Digimon’s growth, while the peril of the digital world drives Agumon and others to ever greater strength.
Thinking again of Loretta Beast and Black Dorulu Beast, Qin Fei hesitated.
He wanted to return to Earth, to leave this perilous world, but he couldn’t accept Loretta Beast and Black Dorulu Beast’s evolution ending here.
He thought of his painstakingly crafted Digimon designs, of Loretta Beast’s final form he had created. Qin Fei longed to see it, to touch that marvelous body brought to life from his design.
"So, what should I do?"