Chapter 7: What Determines Power is Never One's Birth
"Since I cannot stop your digivolution, I might as well give you a little push!"
Devimon's voice dripped with malice. "What exactly happens when the core of a Holy-species Digimon is injected with a massive dosage of Dark-type virus data all at once? I am looking forward to finding out."
The moment the words left his mouth, the pure white light enveloping Salamon began to rot. Sickly black veins of code crawled across the brilliant pillar of digivolution, staining it with the color of an oily abyss. The violent rejection of the conflicting data was so intense that it began to devour Devimon's outstretched arm, stripping the digital flesh away to reveal jagged wireframes.
Devimon did not even flinch.
As long as his digicore remained intact and he possessed enough data, sacrificing a mere limb meant nothing. Here on File Island, as the absolute embodiment of darkness, data was the one resource he possessed in infinite supply.
"Damn you, Devimon!"
Mizuki's furious shout tore through the heavy air. The boy lunged forward, his fist swinging in a desperate arc toward the demon's face.
Devimon merely sneered. He glided backward, his feet hovering inches above the ground, effortlessly widening the distance between them.
"Boy, you look very angry."
"...Bastard." Mizuki's jaw locked. He cast a quick, anxious glance over his shoulder at the writhing cocoon of corrupted light he was trying to protect, his fists clenching so hard his knuckles turned white.
Devimon laughed, a rich, arrogant sound that echoed across the desolate terrain. "Do not look at me like that. After all, I am the supreme representative of Dark-type Digimon. It is only natural for me to employ a little trickery, is it not?"
Mizuki ground his teeth. He could not refute the logic. Devimon was notorious for his cunning and vicious nature, possessing an intellect far sharper than the mindless beasts they had faced before. Yet, Mizuki had not anticipated that a foe with such overwhelming, crushing strength would still stoop to such underhanded, petty maneuvers. The sheer shamelessness of it was staggering.
Under Mizuki's burning glare, Devimon casually drew upon the ambient dark data of the island. Shadows swirled around his ruined shoulder, knitting together muscle and claw until his arm was completely restored. He showed no urgency to press the attack. Instead, he tilted his head, studying the shifting, unstable digivolution with morbid curiosity.
"This aura... Champion level? No, reaching the Ultimate level is entirely possible..." Devimon mused, licking his lips. "Truly worthy of a talented Holy-species. I am very much looking forward to seeing what kind of wretched existence you will become after falling from grace, nurtured by this twisted miracle."
The blinding light, now thoroughly suffocated by darkness, began to recede.
Salamon was gone.
In her place stood a tall, striking silhouette. A woman with a beautiful, mature physique clad in tight black leather belts and dark crimson fabrics. Her skin was deathly pale, contrasting sharply with her flowing white hair. A pair of tattered, asymmetrical demonic wings stretched from her back, and a sinister half-mask obscured the upper portion of her face, leaving only a cold, crimson eye visible.
LadyDevimon.
A noble, Fallen Angel-type Digimon. Legends spoke of her immense, terrifying power, fueled by high-purity dark energy. The chances of a Holy-species surviving such a forced corruption and stabilizing in this form were practically zero. Yet, here she stood.
Her signature technique, [Darkness Wave], could release a swarm of pitch-black, bat-like familiars capable of burning opponents to ash. Her other deadly skill, [Poison], allowed her to convert her enemy's own strength into dark energy, destroying them from the inside out. The stronger the opponent, the more devastating the counterattack.
Sensing the suffocating, heavy energy radiating from her newly formed body, Devimon threw his head back and erupted into manic laughter.
"What blasphemy! What delicious irony!" he roared. "A naturally born Holy-species has actually fallen and become an evil Fallen Angel! This truly is a masterpiece!"
Beneath his boisterous laughter, Devimon's mind raced with cold calculations. This newly born Digimon possessed an absurdly high concentration of raw talent. If he could strike now and devour her digicore, the surge in power would elevate him to entirely new, unmatched heights.
LadyDevimon stood completely motionless, her head bowed. She was clearly paralyzed, her internal systems struggling to process and assimilate the massive influx of dark virus data violently injected into her core.
It was the perfect opening.
Devimon gathered dark energy into his claws, preparing to launch a fatal strike at the paralyzed Fallen Angel.
Before he could move, a small, battered figure stepped into his path.
Mizuki.
The boy said nothing. He simply dropped into a low fighting stance. His clothes were torn, his skin bruised and bleeding, and he had technically failed to protect the very partner who needed him most. Yet, he still chose to plant his feet firmly between the towering demon and the fallen angel.
Devimon's crimson eyes narrowed in genuine annoyance. "Brat, are you still trying to stop me? The Nyaromon you knew is dead. She is LadyDevimon now. A naturally evil, Dark-type Digimon. She belongs to my domain."
"No." Mizuki's voice was quiet, but it carried a weight that cut through the oppressive atmosphere. "What kind of Digimon she becomes is not for a piece of trash like you to decide."
Mizuki regulated his breathing, forcing the pain in his ribs to the back of his mind. His senses sharpened, locking onto every micro-movement Devimon made.
"So what if it is darkness?" Mizuki challenged, taking a slow, deliberate step forward. "The power of darkness does not just hold the cruelty to devour everything. It also holds the quiet gentleness to embrace all things. Devimon, your understanding of darkness is pathetic and narrow!"
He took another step, his eyes burning with absolute conviction.
"Ultimately, how power is used depends entirely on the individual wielding it. Just like our own hands. Clenched into fists, they can be used to bludgeon and harm... or they can be used to shield and protect." Mizuki raised his own bruised fists. "What determines the nature of power is the heart!"
Behind him, the silent, statuesque LadyDevimon twitched. Her pale fingers curled inward.
Devimon, entirely focused on the insolent human, noticed nothing. He scoffed, a harsh, grating sound.
"I am narrow-minded? You dare lecture me, the absolute ruler of Dark-type Digimon, on the nature of darkness?" Devimon sneered, his muscles coiling like springs. "Ridiculous. You are just an arrogant brat who knows nothing. Do not think you can stand before me just because you borrowed a fraction of strength!"
Devimon lunged. The distance vanished in an instant as he thrust his massive, razor-sharp claws forward, aiming to skewer the boy where he stood.
"It seems fighting my empty phantom earlier gave you a false sense of confidence," Devimon hissed, the air around his hand warping with concentrated malice. "Things are different now. Witness the true power of Devimon!"
[Death Claw!]
An endless tide of crushing darkness swept forward, the massive spectral claws of death descending to rip Mizuki apart.
Suddenly, a blinding streak of crimson sliced through the gloom.
The heavy, suffocating darkness was cleaved cleanly in half, scattering into harmless wisps of data.
Devimon skidded to a halt, his smug expression shattering into pure shock. He stared at the figure now standing in front of Mizuki.
"You... LadyDevimon... How is this possible?" Devimon stammered, his eyes wide. "You should still be paralyzed, fighting the virus data inside your core!"
LadyDevimon slowly lowered her right arm. The limb, which had morphed into a jagged, crimson-edged demonic blade to parry the attack, smoothly retracted, shifting back into her pale hand.
Devimon was right about one thing. Her current state was highly unstable. The dark data violently swirling around her form flickered and glitched. Yet, despite the instability, the overwhelming, crushing pressure of an Ultimate level Digimon was unmistakably present.
"...Mizuki... said it best."
Her voice was entirely different now. It was cool, mature, and edged with a dangerous rasp. But beneath that cold exterior, the absolute devotion remained untouched. She was still the little Nyaromon, the brave Salamon, who had resolved to take a step forward.
"Actually, I do not understand all that complicated philosophy..." LadyDevimon murmured, her single visible crimson eye locking onto Devimon with lethal intent. "I only know one thing. I will never allow you to harm... Mizuki!"
The moment the words left her lips, her wings flared open. A massive surge of dark energy erupted from her silhouette, condensing into a screeching swarm of pitch-black, spectral bats that blotted out the sky.
[Darkness Wave!]
The bats descended upon Devimon like a plague, tearing at his flesh and burning his data. Devimon roared in pain and fury, crossing his arms to shield his digicore from the searing dark flames.
While Devimon was blinded by the swarm, LadyDevimon closed the distance in a blur of motion. Her right hand shifted once more, transforming into a lethal, elongated spike of dark energy. She thrust it directly toward his throat.
[Demon Sword!]
"Damn you! So what if you reached the Ultimate level? I am a Dark-type too!" Devimon bellowed.
Ignoring the tearing pain of the bats, Devimon forcibly gathered the ambient darkness of the island, his muscles bulging as he prepared to unleash a devastating counterattack at point-blank range.
Before he could release the built-up energy, a shadow burst into the fray from his blind spot.
Mizuki.
Using the chaotic crossfire as cover, the boy vaulted off a jagged rock and drove his fist squarely into Devimon's jaw. The physical impact was not enough to kill, but the sudden, jarring strike perfectly disrupted Devimon's concentration, shattering his gathering energy.
That split-second opening was all LadyDevimon needed.
The crimson blade became a cold flash of light, moving so fast it seemed to sever the very fabric of the air.
By the time Devimon recovered from the punch and snapped his head back, he looked down to see LadyDevimon's arm buried deep inside his chest.
"What... How is this possible..." Devimon choked out, black data leaking from his mouth. "It ends... like this...?"
Every alarm in LadyDevimon's unstable body was screaming. Her digicore burned with exhaustion and agonizing pain. Gritting her teeth, she endured the backlash, violently ripping her arm free and kicking Devimon's massive frame away.
The moment the demon hit the ground, LadyDevimon's strength vanished. Her knees buckled.
Before she could hit the dirt, Mizuki was there, catching her by the shoulders and easing her down.
"LadyDevimon..."
"Mizuki..."
Sensing the familiar, reassuring warmth radiating from the boy beside her, the fearsome Fallen Angel subconsciously leaned her weight against his chest, half-kneeling in the dust.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Mizuki shook his head, his hands gently supporting her back. "No. I should be the one saying that to you." He offered her a tired, genuine smile. "You did great. You really are the best."
"...Hehe. It is not like I actually enjoy fighting, you know."
Despite possessing the body of a mature, dangerous woman, her tone carried the soft, innocent cadence of the child she had been just moments ago. The stark contrast between her seductive, terrifying appearance and her gentle demeanor created a strangely endearing charm.
'In the past, rather than hating combat, I was just confused,'she thought, her crimson eye softening as she secretly studied Mizuki's bruised profile.'I could never find a reason to fight. That feeling has not really changed... but if it is for your sake...'
LadyDevimon pursed her dark lips into a sweet, quiet smile.
The tender moment was violently shattered.
A monstrous, suffocating pressure suddenly erupted from the crater where Devimon had fallen. The air grew freezing cold, heavy with malicious intent.
"Is it Devimon?!"
Mizuki instinctively shifted his body, placing himself between LadyDevimon and the swirling vortex of darkness ahead. "Damn it. Is this guy a cockroach?"
LadyDevimon watched the boy's back. Even now, battered and exhausted, his first instinct was to shield her.
Taking a deep, shuddering breath, she forced her trembling legs to straighten. She pushed past the pain, standing tall and stepping out from behind him to take her place at his side.
"I will not be like I was in the past anymore," LadyDevimon said, her voice steady and resolute. "Now, it is my turn to protect you." She glanced down at him, a fierce light in her eye. "Or rather... we fight side by side."
Mizuki looked at the towering Fallen Angel beside him. Seeing the unyielding determination etched into her features, he swallowed the words of protest he had prepared. He simply nodded.
Together, the human and the Digimon dropped into their fighting stances.
Side by side, they faced the writhing, malicious darkness ahead—a darkness that felt as deep and endless as the abyss itself.
[Akarin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/AkarinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/AkarinTL
🔗 All My Links: linktr[.]ee/AkarinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]