Chapter 81: The Enigmatic Figure

The relentless buzzing outside the cave sounded like the wings of countless insects magnified to a deafening roar, casting a shadow over Gatomon's heart.

"That's the sound of Dragonflymon flying," Gatomon said, quickly identifying the source, having lived in this world since birth. "And there’s more than one—I heard different sounds just now."

Loretta stretched her limbs, showing none of Gatomon's tension. In fact, she seemed almost excited, as if eager to prove herself. After days spent in the cave with Qin Fei, recovering from injuries, she felt her body was growing stiff from inactivity.

"Be careful, Loretta. This Digital World isn’t simple," Qin Fei warned, standing up as well, apparently intent on seeing what kind of enemies awaited outside.

"I will," Loretta replied, nodding, and walked toward the cave entrance, anticipation flickering in her eyes.

Gatomon, uneasy about letting Loretta face danger alone, hesitated briefly before following, determined to assist her.

But just as they reached the cave mouth, disaster struck.

With a thunderous crash, a massive stone plummeted from above, aimed squarely at the entrance.

"Watch out!" Gatomon cried in alarm.

At the very instant Loretta set foot outside, the boulder materialized midair as though it had been waiting for this moment, intent on crushing the first to emerge.

"Crimson Shatter!"

But Loretta had anticipated this. Without panic, she gripped her sharp bone axe and swung with all her might.

With a resounding crack, the falling rock exploded, sending shards flying in all directions, sweeping away everything and every Digimon nearby.

A pained, incredulous cry echoed amidst the chaos of shattering stone—clearly, the Digimon who had attacked with the boulder had also been struck by the fragments.

Yet soon after, the buzzing of insect wings rose again from the tangled underbrush, not as bold but tinged with fear. Though they seemed mostly unharmed, the Dragonflymon were clearly unnerved by the strength of their opponents and now hesitated to approach the cave.

Qin Fei emerged then as well, his gaze searching for the foes hidden by the sheltering darkness.

"So, I heard it was a human—how can you use Digimon attacks?!" an angry, embarrassed voice shouted from atop one of the Dragonflymon.

Qin Fei narrowed his eyes, growing accustomed to the dim light, and studied the small, vague silhouette riding the creature. The figure’s outline was strangely familiar.

"Are you the attacker?" Loretta sneered after glancing at the positions of the Dragonflymon, gesturing to Qin Fei for a proper weapon.

"Wait, this child is my friend, not a dangerous human," Gatomon interjected, leaping between the two sides just as Qin Fei reached for his Digivice, clearly intent on averting conflict.

"Get out of the way, traitor! You’re a Digimon, yet you shield a human! Have you forgotten what humans have done to us?" the Digimon atop Dragonflymon shouted, drawing nearer, hatred etched into its words—then smirking, as if recalling something.

At that moment, Qin Fei recognized the rider: it was a Minemon, one he’d encountered before, though from a different Digital World. The one from the continent where Candlemon lived had been timid and friendly to humans; this one, however, was cunning and malicious.

"This human is different..." Gatomon tried to explain, but Minemon had no patience for such pleas.

"Yu Ren! Are you here? The human who killed your mother is right here!"

With that shout, Qin Fei sensed two swift presences approaching from the distance, brimming with murderous intent.

"Yu Ren?" Qin Fei frowned. Wasn’t that the human child raised by Digimon, the one who’d developed a deep hatred for humans after his Snowmon mother was killed by them?

This realization filled Qin Fei with foreboding.

"Hahaha, it’s amusing to see you humans turn on each other," Minemon sneered, clearly disliking even his supposed ally—so long as they were human, he despised them all.

"Qin Fei?" Loretta glanced at him, confused by his hesitation.

"Loretta, defeat him but don’t hurt the child," Qin Fei instructed quietly.

"I’ll try..." Loretta replied with uncertainty, now suspecting her Tamer knew these enemies.

"Human... must be eliminated..."

At last, a boy leaped onto a high branch nearby—a child with a single braid at his temple, symmetrical triangular face markings, and an age matching Qin Fei's body, looking every bit like a little Native American warrior.

His eyes—filled with confusion, hatred, and coldness—stared straight at Qin Fei. Beside him perched a Digimon resembling an owl, also gazing at Qin Fei with wary curiosity.

"Yu Ren, he seems to be just a human child," said NightOwlmon, reluctant to fight.

"I will never forgive humans!"

Enraged, the boy hurled a boomerang at Qin Fei, intent on killing him.

"Qin Fei, watch out!"

Loretta reacted instantly, her axe cleaving the dangerous weapon from the air.

With battle joined, NightOwlmon, worried for his partner, charged in as well.

"You humans are our enemies!" the boy declared, his words halting but his hatred for Qin Fei unmistakable.

"Hahaha, that's it! Yu Ren, NightOwlmon, finish them!" Minemon cheered from above, now thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

"Card swap! Seadramon, Seadramon's Ice Arrow!"

Seeing the fierce pair charging toward him, Qin Fei had no choice but to draw his Digivice.

Loretta swept her folding fan, conjuring a wave of ice that blocked Yu Ren’s attack and even nipped at his clothing. Yet Yu Ren dodged with remarkable agility, springing several meters up into the branches to avoid the advancing frost.

"Amazing—can an eleven-year-old really move like that?" Qin Fei marveled, even feeling a twinge of envy. With skills like Yu Ren’s, even the Chosen Children like Tai would be no match for him.

Regardless of their speed and agility, however, Loretta was able to hold her own against both Yu Ren and NightOwlmon, even gaining the upper hand—all while restraining herself at Qin Fei's request.

"Any Digimon who helps a human is a traitor!"

Frustrated by his lack of progress, Yu Ren abandoned Loretta and charged straight at Qin Fei, intent on finishing him off first.

"Damn!"

Seeing Qin Fei in danger, Loretta kicked NightOwlmon aside and sprang after Yu Ren.

Qin Fei’s heart clenched—he had no chance against someone as nimble as Yu Ren with only his own feeble skills.

"Metal Cannon!"

At that moment, BlackDorulumon, who had been waiting nearby, finally joined the fray.