Chapter 85: Lending a Hand

In the real world, inside the headquarters of the Digital Accident Tactics Squad...

Several figures moved swiftly, urgently handling streams of information on their computer screens.

“Interference elimination… eighty-nine percent complete…”

“Monitor restoration in progress… beginning to generate images now.”

…

A tall man stood before the main screen, his face grave as he watched the regenerated images. His eyes, hidden behind dark sunglasses, betrayed no emotion. It seemed he was the highest-ranking officer here.

Suddenly, the thing around his neck, which looked almost like a scarf, began to stir. Its fox-like head lifted slightly, scrutinizing the information on the screen alongside him.

“Thank goodness, everyone’s safe!”

At last, seeing the new data that flashed onto the screen, a short-haired woman in a maroon uniform cheered delightedly.

“Wait a second!”

But her joy was abruptly cut short by a heavy, uncertain voice.

Beep beep beep——

All around the high-tech hall, red warning lights began to blink urgently, signaling an emergency. Even the tall, usually unflappable man’s expression changed dramatically.

“What’s going on?”

The fox-like creature on his neck raised its head even higher, as if equally puzzled by these developments.

“It’s a Digimon signal, and it’s growing fast!”

A female operator rapidly tapped at her keyboard while reporting the latest findings.

“It’s Digimon other than Greymon and Gaomon!”

Another voice, panicked, came from across the room—clearly, something unexpected was unfolding.

As the Digimon readings on the screen grew ever more intense, everyone’s tension mounted.

“This signal…”

The man stared at the screen unblinking, as if he’d anticipated this.

“It’s an evolution signal…”

The fox on his neck added.

“No, wait! There are more Digimon signals! One… two… three… my god, three new Digimon have appeared!”

“What! They’re in danger!”

“No, it’s four—no, it’s a human signal!”

“How could that be?!”

...

Elsewhere, the once-cowering Drimogemon was now surging with digital energy, as if a new power was awakening within it.

“What’s… what’s happening?”

The ponytailed boy and the blond boy stared in astonishment at the Digimon, whose form was rapidly changing.

The blond boy quickly pulled out his handheld device, scanning the transformed Digimon for information.

“That’s Digdramon—it has far greater attack power and mobility than Drimogemon… don’t let your guard down.”

He relayed the data to his companion, issuing a warning.

“Hah, this is getting more and more interesting!”

But the ponytailed boy, seemingly unfazed by the warning, charged straight at Digdramon, as if intent on taking it on with nothing but his own strength.

“Such courage—he might be even more reckless than Tai!”

Qin Fei and his companions, just entering the arena, arrived in time to witness a boy daring to face a Digimon head-on. They couldn’t help but gasp in awe.

“He has the spirit of a Digimon protecting him; he’ll be fine.”

Catching sight of Lorita’s surprise, Qin Fei also focused his gaze on the ponytailed boy.

Sure enough, although Digdramon knocked him back using the sharp drill on its arm, the ponytailed boy was virtually unharmed and was already trying to stand up again.

“Mega Flame!”

Greymon’s signature attack struck Digdramon, engulfing it in blazing fire.

“Did we get it?” the ponytailed boy exclaimed hopefully.

But as the flames dissipated, Digdramon still stood there, completely unscathed.

“It’s not even scratched?!”

Without waiting for the boy’s astonishment to subside, Gaomon—blue as a great wolf—charged in as well. “Spiral Blow!”

A tornado spiraled toward Digdramon, but it dodged with agility. Five drills shot down from above, striking Gaomon and eliciting a cry of pain.

“Mega Flame!” Greymon attacked again, trying to knock Digdramon down from its vantage above.

But Digdramon’s nimble body darted left and right along the crystalline wall, evading every attack, even managing to knock Greymon to the ground.

“Damn, that thing’s too agile,” the ponytailed boy grumbled. If they couldn’t land a hit, defeating it was out of the question.

“Hey, maybe we could—”

“Sea Dragon Ice Arrow!”

Before the blond boy could suggest a strategy, a sharp ice arrow shot out, nearly hitting Digdramon’s claw. Although it only grazed by, a thin layer of frost clung to its foot.

“Who was that?!”

Both boys turned warily toward the direction from which the arrow had come.

It was the human child they’d seen outside the arena, who had now entered as well.

“You!”

“Who are you? How did you get into the Digital World?”

The blond boy seemed especially wary; it was unthinkable for an ordinary person to just stroll into the Digital World, let alone with three unfamiliar Digimon in tow.

“Relax, I just saw you two getting into trouble and thought I’d lend a hand,” Qin Fei said, waving off their concerns.

“Are you with DATS? I don’t remember seeing you before.”

Hearing that he was here to help, the ponytailed boy immediately relaxed.

“Support? No, I haven’t seen your information in the Sakuramoto National Division’s roster, unless you’re from another country?” The blond boy pressed.

Qin Fei hesitated, then shook his head. The risk of pretending to be a member of another country’s Digital Accident Tactics Squad was too great; international digital research teams were all in contact, and Japan was just a branch. Reporting his name would expose him in no time. “No, I’m just an unlucky guy who ended up in the Digital World by accident.”

“I see…”

The blond boy fell silent, but the ponytailed boy believed him at once. The blond, however, still harbored doubts.

“Well, do you need my help?” Qin Fei offered.

“No thanks. This is a DATS matter. Outsiders should keep their distance to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.”

Before the ponytailed boy could accept, the blond had already refused on their behalf.

“Fair enough. I can handle this anyway.” Qin Fei shrugged, folding his arms and stepping aside to watch the two passionate youths in action.

“Remember our last battle?” the blond boy suddenly said.

“The last one?”

“That time when Greymon and Gaomon’s attacks collided and canceled each other out…”

The ponytailed boy’s eyes flickered with realization.

“But what if we tried it the other way around?”

The blond boy hinted.

“What would happen?”

“I don’t know, but it’s worth a try!”

As they discussed their plan, Digdramon moved again. Unlike in the original animated series, it didn’t wait for their attack. Perhaps that idle child leaning against the crystal wall, along with his three Digimon, made it feel threatened.

It was trying to escape…

“Damn, it’s on the move. It’ll be even harder to hit it now.”

Their original plan was disrupted by Digdramon’s sudden agitation; they’d have to improvise to stop it.

“Watch out!” the blond boy suddenly shouted, turning toward the boy behind them.

Digdramon suddenly darted toward the exit—and Qin Fei was standing right there, seemingly oblivious.

Both boys’ hearts leaped into their throats.

“Dorimon, digivolve!”

Suddenly, a black Digimon, part fox, part dragon, leapt from behind Qin Fei to intercept Digdramon.

“DoruGreymon!”

“It digivolved?!”

Seeing the black dragon with a white belly, the two boys were stunned.

“Cannonball!”

DoruGreymon shot toward Digdramon like a missile, a metal energy orb forming between its fanged jaws.

BOOM!!!

A thunderous crash echoed—the attack had landed squarely on Digdramon, who’d been caught off guard and unable to dodge in time.