Chapter 9: Everything Happened So Naturally—My Foot!
The events had unfolded exactly like the climax of a fairy tale.
The chosen children, having just began their perilous journey, stood alongside the strange, wondrous partners they had only just met. Together, they launched a desperate, combined volley of attacks.
Kuwagamon let out a piercing, agonizing shriek. Its massive crimson body crashed heavily into the dense foliage behind it, snapping thick branches like brittle twigs. Dust and crushed leaves plumed into the air, settling over the quiet woods.
The children erupted into cheers, throwing their arms around their respective Digimon in a joyous celebration of survival.
But the celebration died in their throats.
The brush rustled violently. The previously defeated Kuwagamon hauled its battered, jagged frame upright, its compound eyes locking onto the group with murderous intent.
Seeing the giant insect rear back to charge, Yagami Taichi grabbed his partner, Agumon, and scrambled backward in a panic.
Just at this critical juncture, a shadow eclipsed the forest canopy. An unexpected figure plummeted from the sky, dropping with terrifying precision to deliver a brutal, spinning kick straight into Kuwagamon's armored skull!
Bang!
A heavy, sickening thud echoed through the clearing. Kuwagamon shrieked once more, its momentum entirely shattered, and collapsed back into the crushed undergrowth.
The children froze, taking the opportunity to get a clear look at their sudden savior.
The newcomer was a young man with striking white hair. He wore a black shirt beneath a small white vest, paired with white shorts, and a flowing white jacket draped over his shoulders like a cape. His features were surprisingly soft, almost delicate, and his posture radiated a calm, gentle elegance.
It was a stark contrast to the sheer violence of the kick he had just delivered.
"You are—"
Still reeling from the shock of the sudden rescue, Taichi was the first to step forward, addressing Mizuki.
However, before he could finish his sentence, Mizuki shook his head, his gaze fixed intently on the treeline. "It's not time to relax yet."
"Eh!?"
"Kuwagamon hasn't been defeated."
A furious roar rattled the leaves, confirming Mizuki's warning. Kuwagamon dragged its massive bulk out of the bushes for the third time. Its mandibles snapped wildly. Being repeatedly swatted down by what it deemed insignificant pests had ignited a burning, frenzied fury within the beast.
Taichi gritted his teeth, quickly glancing at his companions. "Damn it, it still hasn't gone down?" He pointed forward. "Agumon!"
"Right, Taichi!"
Agumon inhaled deeply, a fiery glow illuminating his throat. He unleashed a stream of searing flames straight at the giant insect.
But Kuwagamon had learned its lesson. It shifted its stance, angling its thick, crimson carapace to deflect the fire away from its vulnerable joints. Even if this particular Kuwagamon wasn't considered a top-tier threat among Champion-level Digimon, the absolute gap in power between it and a Rookie-level could not be ignored.
Realizing the attack was completely ineffective, Taichi grabbed Agumon's claw, pulling him back to retreat.
Naturally, his inherent sense of justice flared. He couldn't just leave their savior standing in the line of fire. Taichi reached out, clamping his hand around Mizuki's wrist, and yanked hard.
A second later, a wave of utter bewilderment washed over Taichi's face.
He couldn't pull the boy along. Despite Mizuki looking so frail and delicate, his feet were planted like ancient roots. Taichi felt as though he were trying to uproot a mountain.
Sensing the boy's surprise, Mizuki felt a wave of helpless amusement, though he silently acknowledged the noble intention behind the action. As expected of Yagami Taichi, he mused.
Still, he had just punted a giant, armored bug into the dirt. Did he really look like someone who needed rescuing?
Pushing the thought aside, Mizuki let out a soft sigh and spoke to the empty air beside him. "How is it? BlackGatomon, how is your body?"
Taichi blinked, staring at him in utter confusion. "BlackGatomon? I'm not BlackGatomon, I'm Yagami Taichi!"
Mizuki stared back in deadpan silence.
Imaginary black lines slid down his forehead. Is there a possibility that I wasn't talking to you?
Before the awkwardness could settle, a soft, melodic voice interrupted the two.
"Mizu, you're right!"
"I can already balance the data inside my body now!"
Only then did the children notice the small, feline Digimon standing calmly beside Mizuki's leg.
"What a cute kitty!" Mimi gasped, her eyes sparkling. The sheer innocence of the sight made her momentarily forget the giant, murderous insect looming just yards away.
BlackGatomon, however, had absolutely no intention of paying attention to the children. Her slit pupils locked onto the charging Kuwagamon.
"Mizu, I'm ready!" she declared, her voice dropping an octave. "Now, please watch! My—digivolution!"
Endless, pitch-black darkness erupted from the ground beneath her paws. The shadows spiraled upward, weaving together into a massive, pulsing egg of dark energy that completely swallowed her small frame.
A heartbeat later, a razor-sharp crimson claw sliced through the void. The cocoon shattered, and the explosive shockwave of compressed data transformed into a blinding swarm of spectral bats that shrieked as they tore through the air toward Kuwagamon!
"Darkness Wave!"
The data within her core had finally stabilized. The exhaustion that had plagued her was gone, replaced by overwhelming, terrifying power. LadyDevimon's attack slammed into Kuwagamon, ripping through its armored shell with devastating force.
The giant insect let out one final, agonizing screech before its body dissolved entirely, shattering into glowing fragments of data that scattered into the wind.
LadyDevimon didn't even spare a glance at her defeated foe. She stepped gracefully out of the fading shadows, her tall, imposing figure immediately lunging forward. She wrapped her arms around Mizuki in a crushing, desperate embrace.
"Mizu~ Did you see? I succeeded!" she cried out, nuzzling against him. "I have successfully stabilized my own data! Now I can help you! I can finally, truly protect you!"
"LadyDevimon—Wait..."
Mizuki's voice was muffled against her chest. He struggled weakly against her overwhelming strength. Looking at her joyful, almost childlike expression, it was clear that her mindset hadn't fully caught up to her mature, gothic form.
He sighed internally. She was his partner. No matter how suffocating the hug was, he could only indulge her.
A few paces away, the Digidestined watched the spectacle, their tense shoulders finally dropping as they confirmed their safety. They exchanged bewildered glances before turning their attention back to the boy and his terrifyingly powerful, yet oddly affectionate, dark angel.
Taichi rubbed the back of his neck and stepped forward again.
"Um—hello?" he began cautiously. "Thank you for helping us. My name is Yagami Taichi. This is Agumon, and these are all my companions. May I ask who you are?"
Hearing the interruption, LadyDevimon paused. Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly, but she loosened her grip.
Mizuki gasped for air, finally escaping her broad embrace. He straightened his jacket and offered a calm, reassuring smile.
"I know you all have many questions right now," Mizuki said, his voice smooth and steady. "But this isn't a safe place. If you trust me, I can take you to a secure location. As for everything else, we can talk on the way. How do you feel about that?"
Silence fell over the group. The children shifted uneasily. LadyDevimon's towering figure radiated a heavy, oppressive dark aura that made their instincts scream in warning. They couldn't formulate a response.
In the end, Taichi stepped up, taking the lead just as he always did.
"Everyone, if he really wanted to do something to us, given his strength, he probably wouldn't need to beat around the bush," Taichi reasoned, looking back at his friends. "So, I've decided to trust him. What do you guys think?"
Seeing Taichi's resolve, Izzy adjusted his laptop strap and nodded. "Since you've already decided, Taichi, then I'll go too."
Before anyone else could speak, a small, soft voice chimed in from behind Taichi, agreeing even faster than Izzy.
"I trust big brother."
Mizuki's breath hitched. He blinked, his gaze snapping toward the small girl stepping out from behind Taichi's shadow.
Wait—what did I just see?
Kari? Yagami Hikari?!
His mind raced, a sudden chill prickling the back of his neck. This isn't right. Was she supposed to appear at this time? She wasn't at the summer camp!
A heavy realization settled in his chest. The timeline had fractured. Things had already spiraled far beyond his expectations. The plot changing had likely occurred the very moment he arrived in this world.
But the panic only lasted a second. He let out a slow breath, his signature optimism washing away the shock. Years of being trapped in a hospital bed in his past life hadn't broken his spirit; it had forged an unshakable resilience.
If soldiers attack, send generals to repel them. If the floodwaters rise, build a dam of earth. Let's worry about the future when the future gets here.
A faint, almost mischievous smile tugged at his lips. Besides, changes weren't necessarily a bad thing. If everything went exactly by the script, could it really be called an adventure?
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