Chapter 54: I Really Want to Become a Butterfly~
Taichi... my best friend.
Mizuki... my benefactor.
I will show you my growth!
The young man's eyes burned with newfound resolve. Purple electricity coiled violently around Izzy's arm, responding to his surging spirits. The crackling energy emitted bursts of piercing, high-frequency snaps that tore through the air.
"Mega Blaster... Izzy Version..." He gritted his teeth, thrusting his arm forward. "Fire!"
Boom!!!
Two miniature, fist-sized spheres of highly concentrated purple plasma shot across the clearing, hurtling directly toward Taichi and Mizuki.
Perhaps entirely unprepared for Izzy to unleash a Digimon's signature move with his bare hands, Taichi froze. His eyes widened, his body a crucial beat too slow to react to the incoming threat.
Mizuki, however, made no such mistake.
The moment the static charge had begun gathering around Izzy's body, Mizuki had already let out a crisp, commanding call toward the shade of a nearby tree.
"Sword—ah, no, parasol, come!"
Whoosh—!
Guided by Mizuki's sheer willpower, the closed parasol resting beside his bag shot into the air, spinning like a javelin as it flew directly into his waiting grip. Just a fraction of a second before Izzy's electric sphere could make contact, Mizuki snapped the canopy open. The reinforced fabric flared out, effortlessly absorbing and deflecting the blast.
As for Taichi... he took Izzy's attack straight to the face.
"Taichi, do you feel it? This is my growth!" Izzy yelled, his chest heaving. "I can keep up with you guys too!"
"I-I-I-I-I-I know, c-c-c-c-can you not do it t-t-t-this way next time, ah-ah-ah-ah~"
Hit point-blank by the electric sphere, Taichi's voice vibrated with a heavy, synthesized static. His iconic wild hair was now standing completely on end, rigid from the voltage, making him look utterly ridiculous.
Smoke drifting from his charred collar, Taichi turned a betrayed glare toward his friend. "Mizuki, why didn't you help me? You're completely disloyal!"
Mizuki merely rolled his eyes, casually collapsing his parasol with a soft click. "Is it my fault your reaction time is terrible~?"
"Hey~ you guy—"
Thud.
A heavy sound interrupted their bickering. Mizuki and Taichi snapped their attention back, only to see Izzy collapsed face-first in the dirt.
Sensing their alarmed gazes, Izzy managed to lift his head slightly, his voice strained and breathless. "Don't worry... I'm just a little over-exhausted..." He let his head drop back down. "It seems that in my current state, channeling even a weakened Champion-level special move is still incredibly taxing on a human body..."
Listening to Izzy's exhausted, slightly regretful tone, Taichi's mouth twitched uncontrollably. "N-n-no, there's absolutely nothing to be disappointed about here, right?! You are literally the first among us to fire off a Digimon's special move with your own two hands!"
"Ah, haha~"
Just as Izzy was about to force a laugh, a delicate, sweet scent drifted past his nose. It was the fresh, innocent fragrance of blooming flowers. The scent immediately brought a specific person to mind.
"Honestly, how did you get yourself into this state again, Izzy?"
"M-Mimi?!"
Izzy blinked in stunned silence as the girl knelt gracefully beside him, gently supporting his shoulders to help him sit up. A faint flush crept across his cheeks. He suddenly remembered that back when he had been defeated by Devimon, it had been Mimi who stayed by his side to care for him then, too.
Noticing his flustered expression, Mimi couldn't help but let out a soft giggle. "Pfft~ Izzy, what kind of face is that? You look so strange~"
It was exactly as Izzy felt. Although Mimi could be willful and prone to complaining, her heart was undeniably pure. Her flawless, sincere kindness was like the natural fragrance of flowers—it brought an immediate sense of comfort to anyone near her.
She wasn't helping him out of any complex sense of duty or strategy. She simply saw someone struggling, felt she couldn't leave them be, and acted.
"Thank you, Mimi," Izzy muttered, looking away shyly.
"Hehe~ It's nothing." Mimi smiled brightly, adjusting her grip to make sure he was comfortable. "More, Izzy, you're amazing! You can actually use a Digimon's attack!"
"This... this is nothing much."
Compared to the cheerful, radiant girl beside him, Izzy felt hopelessly dull. He wasn't used to interacting with someone so openly affectionate, but a small part of him had to admit he liked it. Oh no... will Mimi think I'm rude for not talking enough? he panicked internally, completely unaware that his quiet, intellectual demeanor was actually quite endearing to her.
Just as he was racking his brain for something clever to say, Izzy noticed a sudden warmth spreading through his limbs. His drained stamina was rapidly replenishing.
Realizing what was happening, he looked at Mimi. She was staring down at her own hands in sheer wonder. A brilliant, vibrant emerald light was emanating from her skin, condensing into the shape of a beautiful, blooming leaf. Just like the changes that had occurred with Taichi and the others, this was the physical manifestation of Mimi's innate quality!
"W-what's happening to me?!" Mimi gasped.
"Don't be nervous, Mimi. Do you remember what Mizuki explained earlier?" Forgetting his shyness entirely, Izzy leaned forward, his analytical mind taking over. "This should be the light of your heart. Your innate quality."
"My light of the heart?" Mimi relaxed slightly, her curiosity piqued. "But what does it do?"
Before Izzy could answer, the emerald light surged outward, enveloping the small plant Digimon beside them.
Palmon Digivolve to—!
Togemon!
"Togemon!?" Mimi blinked her large eyes, looking up at the towering, boxing-glove-wearing cactus that had just materialized without warning.
Izzy adjusted his posture, his eyes gleaming with understanding. "Besides allowing Palmon to evolve, your power seems to possess a nature similar to Kari's. I can feel my exhausted body recovering rapidly under your light. However, compared to Kari's pure healing, your power leans more toward... 'purification'."
Purity... Izzy nodded to himself. It made perfect sense.
Hearing this, Mimi jumped up, clapping her hands together. "Really? That's wonderful~ This way, I can help everyone too!" She spun around to face her newly evolved partner. "Palmon—oh, wait, Togemon! We have to work harder from now on!"
"Yes! Mimi!" Togemon nodded enthusiastically, punching her massive green gloves together before immediately turning and charging headlong into the chaotic battlefield ahead.
"Ah!? Wait, I didn't tell you to go fight!" Mimi stood frozen for a second before stomping her foot in absolute frustration. "Honestly! She's a girl! Why does she have to act like Taichi's Agumon and the others~? If Togemon keeps this up, will she really evolve into some big, clumsy brawler who only loves to fight?!"
While Mimi fretted over her partner's future aesthetics, Taichi was experiencing his own miraculous recovery.
"Thank you, Kari."
Bathed in the gentle, soothing light of his little sister's power, Taichi rolled his shoulders. The lingering soreness and the static shock completely vanished. He grinned, punching his palm. "That's a huge help. Now I'm in perfect shape to go beat up Mizuki!"
"..."
Taichi took a step forward, only to realize Kari hadn't let go of his hand. He looked down.
Kari simply smiled up at him. A perfectly sweet, entirely unreadable smile.
"Um... Kari?"
"..."
Ignoring her brother's sudden nervousness, Kari pursed her pink lips. She slowly turned her gaze toward Mizuki, who was standing a short distance away.
"Brother Mizuki," Kari called out sweetly. "Can you give me Onii-chan?"
Taichi: "?"
Before Mizuki could even process the request, a pair of pristine white wings wrapped around his shoulders. Angewomon had materialized silently behind him, wrapping her arms securely around his chest.
"No problem," Angewomon declared smoothly. "Taichi is yours. Mizuki is mine."
Mizuki: "?"
"Ah~ In that case, that's a big help." Kari's smile widened into a delighted arc. "Thank you, Angewomon."
"You're welcome, Kari."
Mizuki & Taichi: "???"
Just like that, Mizuki was effortlessly abducted by his own partner, carried a safe distance away. Taichi was left entirely alone with his smiling little sister.
"Kari... you're not trying to fight me, are you?" Taichi asked, taking a slow step back. When Kari gave a cheerful little nod, his face contorted into sheer panic. "How could I?! How could I possibly attack you, Kari?!"
"Brother, do you not trust Kari?" she asked, tilting her head innocently.
"I... I don't not trust you!" Taichi scrambled for an excuse, sweating profusely. "It's just that... Kari, you haven't even found your partner yet, have you? It wouldn't be fair!"
But the moment the words left his mouth, the shadows behind Kari elongated. Three familiar, ghostly figures floated up from the darkness, striking dramatic poses in mid-air.
"The darkness that protects the light!"
"Bringing salvation to the world!"
"We are—"
"The Three Bakemon Brothers!" × 3
"..." Taichi's jaw dropped. He gritted his teeth, staring at the three white sheets floating above his sister. Why did I get so carried away and let these three troublemakers live back then?!
Kari, thoroughly enjoying her older brother's distress, giggled. "Brother, how about it? Do you still think I don't have partners?"
"Partners?"
Hearing the word, the three Bakemon froze. They floated down, looking at Kari in disbelief. "Lady Kari... are you talking about us?"
"Yes, I am." Kari nodded firmly. She looked at the three ghost Digimon, her eyes clear and completely devoid of prejudice. "Don't call me 'Lady' anymore. I've never treated you as subordinates. You are my partners, fighting alongside everyone else."
"Lady Kari..." × 3
Looking at the small, sincere girl standing before them, the three Bakemon felt as though a piercing light had shattered the eternal darkness of their existence. But this light didn't burn. Even as Dark-type Digimon destined to skulk in the shadows, they felt only deep warmth and absolute acceptance.
Tears began streaming down their ghostly faces.
Bakemon Big White: "Okay! To respond to Lady Kari—no, Kari's expectations!"
Bakemon Second White: "We, the Three Bakemon Brothers, will now challenge the shadows of our past!"
Bakemon Little White: "Let's turn the tide!"
"What do you mean 'shadows of the past'?! You guys literally look like the villains here!" Taichi grumbled, pointing an accusing finger at the crying ghosts. Still, he raised his fists, a competitive grin breaking through his panic. "Forget it! If you guys want to fight, then I'll fight you to the end! You're just a bunch of defeated opponents anyway!"
As Taichi hyped himself up, a cunning glint flashed in Kari's eyes. Who would have thought that the very representative of Light would possess such a mischievous dark streak? Her desire to playfully torment her brother connected deeply with her inner power.
"Onii-chan, I advise you not to underestimate Big White and the others." Kari warned softly. "Because—"
Before Taichi could process the threat, a blinding light erupted from the three Bakemon.
"Wait, is this—?!" Taichi shielded his eyes, utterly baffled. "That's impossible! Bakemon aren't even Kari's true partners!"
But Taichi didn't have time to question the mechanics of the universe. Right before his eyes, the brilliant light enveloping the ghosts rapidly inverted, turning into an abyss of ink-like darkness.
From within that suffocating dark aura, three terrifying silhouettes emerged.
Bakemon Digivolve to—! × 3
Phantomon!
MetalPhantomon!
Jokermon!
Go go go go go go go go~~~~
As three fully realized Ultimate-level Digimon descended from the darkness, the atmospheric pressure around Taichi plummeted. The playful tension instantly morphed into genuine danger.
Watching from the sidelines in Angewomon's arms, Mizuki let out a low whistle. "Oh my goodness~ Three Dark-type Digimon, and they're all Ultimate level. The sheer gold content of Kari's light is absolutely absurd."
He chuckled softly, resting his chin on his hand. I wonder how Gatomon is going to feel in the future when she finally meets Kari, only to find her flanked by three Ultimate-level Dark Digimon~ ♪
Although the Bakemon brothers had only temporarily evolved through Kari's overwhelming power, an Ultimate was still an Ultimate. Champion-level Digimon simply couldn't compare to that raw output. Mizuki could already foresee the brutal beating Taichi was about to endure.
Well, who told him to neglect his sister? Mizuki shrugged mentally, tuning out Taichi's incoming screams.
Thanks to his earlier guidance, almost all the children had successfully awakened their innate qualities without relying on their physical Crests. Now, only two remained: the brothers, Matt and Takeru.
Mizuki shifted his gaze. A short distance away, Takeru was glaring stubbornly up at his older brother.
"Matt, why are you stopping Patamon and me again?!" Takeru demanded, his small fists clenched.
"Takeru, you wanted to repay those Digimon's kindness earlier, and I didn't stop you. But this is different!" Matt argued, his voice tight with anxiety. "Patamon hasn't even evolved to Champion level yet! What can he possibly do out there?!"
Matt tried to sound authoritative, but beneath the surface, his eyes betrayed a deep, swirling storm of confusion and self-doubt.
In the past, the old Takeru might have lowered his head and accepted his brother's protection. But after everything they had survived, Takeru was no longer the fragile child Matt thought he was. He refused to back down.
"You always say that to me!" Takeru shouted, his voice cracking with emotion. "Kids, kids, kids! So what if I'm a kid?! If Taichi and the others can fight, I can definitely do it too! No matter what you say, I won't give up! I believe Patamon can evolve! We won't give up hope!"
Shoving past Matt's outstretched arm, Takeru sprinted toward the chaotic battlefield, Patamon flying desperately beside him.
"Patamon! We can definitely do it!"
"Yes! Takeru!!!"
At that exact moment, two tender yet unbreakable wills collided, igniting into a brilliant, blinding gold. It streaked across the clearing like a shooting star, carving a path of absolute certainty through the darkness.
The light of Hope.
Patamon Digivolve to—!
As Takeru ran, six pure white, angelic wings unfurled from the blinding light. Patamon's small, round form elongated, transforming into a towering, sacred warrior clad in holy armor.
Angemon!
The instant Angemon materialized, a majestic, powerful aura of sanctity swept across the battlefield, forcing nearly every fighting Digimon to pause and stare.
"Patamon evolved... he's so amazing!" Takeru murmured, his clear eyes reflecting the golden glow. He pointed toward the sky. "Alright, Angemon, go! Show everyone our growth!"
"Yes, Takeru. Our hope will not lose to anyone!"
Enveloped in holy light, Angemon launched himself into the sky, diving straight into the aerial brawl.
"Hand of Fate!" Angemon roared, unleashing a beam of concentrated holy energy.
"What the— Angemon, you're really going all out?!" Birdramon squawked, dodging wildly. "Meteor Wing!"
"Everyone's a companion! Stop fighting so seriously~!" Kabuterimon yelled, immediately contradicting himself. "Mega Blaster!" × 3!
"You're the cruelest one here!" Birdramon and Angemon shouted in unison.
While the sky became a warzone of friendly fire, the ground was faring no better.
"Ikkakumon, catch this!" Togemon roared. "Lightspeed Jabbing!"
"No, Togemon, why are you hitting me?!" Ikkakumon wailed, sliding across the dirt. "We can't fly! We're companions! We're family!"
"Did you forget a very important Digimon?!" a deep voice echoed. "Trident Arm!"
"No! I can't take it anymore! I'm going to blow you all up!!!" Ikkakumon bellowed. "Harpoon Torpedo!" × 2!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Deafening explosions rocked the forest, kicking up massive clouds of dirt and vaporized data.
Watching the incredibly boisterous, chaotic scene unfold, Matt stood entirely still. His hands were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. Gabumon stood quietly by his side, shifting his weight, clearly wanting to say something but unsure of how to bridge the gap.
"If you want to go, then go."
Matt flinched. He turned his head to see Mizuki standing a few paces away.
Mizuki looked at the blonde boy, a complex glint in his eyes. Truthfully, Mizuki had never liked Matt's character. In the original story, Matt was aloof, unruly, prone to jealousy, and constantly fractured the team's unity. Because of that foreknowledge, Mizuki had deliberately kept his distance.
But seeing it play out in reality... was anyone truly born that way?
Mizuki didn't care for philosophical debates about human nature. He only knew that seeing Matt standing there, completely isolated while everyone else moved forward, left a bitter taste in his mouth. Before he had even realized it, he had asked Angewomon to drop him off.
"Matt... you don't mind me calling you that, do you?"
"..."
When Matt didn't answer, Mizuki shoved his hands into his pockets and continued. "Although I don't know what you truly experienced in your past," —a blatant lie— "you seem to place a terrifying amount of importance on proving your own worth."
Mizuki's eyes narrowed slightly, piercing right through the boy's defenses. The divorce of his parents. The desperate need to understand why his mother had left him behind. Was it because I wasn't good enough? Was I too lacking? Is that why I was abandoned?
Driven by that silent terror, Matt had built his entire identity around being reliable. Taking care of Takeru was his anchor—his proof that he was needed. But then he met Taichi. Taichi, who was brighter, stronger, and effortlessly drew people in. Realizing he couldn't surpass Taichi had bred a dark, suffocating jealousy in Matt's heart.
Matt glared at the ground, his jaw locked. "..."
"Wanting your worth to be affirmed by others... there's nothing inherently wrong with that," Mizuki said softly. "However, before you obsess over the judgment of others, you need to look at yourself. If you don't even recognize your own worth, how can you possibly expect to accept it when someone else offers it?"
Matt's breath hitched. His brow furrowed deeply, his expression twisting in defensive anger. "What are you... talking about all by yourself? Standing there acting so high and mighty! What do you even understand about me?! Stop acting so self-important!"
Facing the boy's furious shout, Mizuki merely shook his head, his tone remaining perfectly calm. "You're right. I don't know your past." Another lie. "So, I'm not going to force you to do anything, and I'm not here to lecture you. I only came over to remind you of one thing."
Mizuki turned away, glancing over his shoulder. "Don't forget that someone has been standing by your side this entire time. Don't let him down."
With a subtle nod to Angewomon, Mizuki was swept back up into the sky, returning to the front lines.
Matt stood frozen. Slowly, subconsciously, he looked down at his side.
Just as Mizuki had said, someone—a Digimon—was standing right there.
"Gabumon..."
Looking into Gabumon's large, unwavering eyes, Matt felt a sudden, sharp ache in his chest. He recognized that look. When his parents had divorced, hadn't he looked at his mother with that exact same desperate, pleading gaze?
Before Matt could force a word out, Gabumon took a step closer.
"It's okay, Matt," Gabumon said, his voice rough but incredibly gentle. "No matter what decision you make, or what kind of person you become... I will be with you."
Matt's breath trembled. "...Why? Why would you treat me like this...?"
"Because I'm Matt's partner."
"..."
Partner.
Staring at the absolute, unconditional loyalty shining in Gabumon's eyes, Matt slowly sank to his knees. His hands shook violently as he reached out, pulling the furry Digimon into a desperate, crushing embrace.
"Matt?"
Matt didn't speak. He buried his face in Gabumon's shoulder, his shoulders trembling as the suffocating knot of anxiety in his chest finally began to unravel. Gabumon sensed the storm of emotion and simply hugged the boy back, offering silent, unyielding support.
For nearly a full minute, the only sound between them was the distant explosions of the battlefield. Finally, Matt slowly pulled back. He wiped his eyes, his expression hardening into something new. Something solid.
"Gabumon."
"?"
"Let's go."
"!"
Matt stood up, his eyes locked on the chaotic sky ahead. "We're already behind. We can't afford to fall any further back."
Watching Matt's back as he walked toward the fray, Gabumon stood stunned for a fraction of a second. Then, a fierce, impassioned light ignited in his eyes.
"Oh! Let's go! Matt—!"
Matt pressed one hand tightly over his chest, his other hand gripping his Digivice. He didn't have all the answers yet. But if there was one thing he was absolutely certain of right now... it was that he would never betray the faith of the partner who believed in him.
A brilliant, piercing blue glow erupted from Matt's heart, illuminating the forest.
Gabumon Digivolve to—!
Garurumon!
High above the explosive chaos, Angewomon hovered gently, holding Mizuki in her arms. She looked down at the blue light erupting from the forest.
"Belle, is this really okay?" she asked softly. "You... you don't actually like that guy very much, do you? So, is it really okay for you to help him so much?"
"Is it okay...?" Mizuki murmured, resting his head against her shoulder. He shook his head slowly. Recalling his past life, he knew he could never truly bring himself to like Ishida Matt. But... standing by and doing nothing simply felt wrong.
As he had told himself before, he wouldn't overthink things. He would just do what he felt was right in the moment.
Looking down at Matt, who was finally stepping forward to integrate with the group, Mizuki smiled faintly. "This is good."
Yes. This was good. It was his own personal way of paying respect to the story that had given him so many beautiful childhood memories.
Angewomon smiled, holding him a little tighter. "..."
"Belle, it's about time we went down too, isn't it?" Mizuki said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "After all, we're the ones who started this 'activity'. It wouldn't be fair to just watch from the sidelines."
"Uh... alright." Though she secretly wanted to keep him all to herself up here just a little longer, Angewomon knew he was right.
Folding her wings, she entered a steep dive, carrying Mizuki straight toward the heart of the battle. Feeling the rushing wind tear through his hair, Mizuki closed his eyes, a massive, uncontainable grin spreading across his face.
He took a deep breath, and let his voice ring out across the sky.
"I want to be a happy butterfly~ ♪"
"Riding on the sparkling wind—"
"I'll come to see you soon!"
"Mizuki?!"
Hearing the sudden singing echoing from above, Taichi—who was currently sprinting for his life to dodge the combined siege of three Ultimate-level ghost Digimon—snapped his head up.
The next second, Mizuki dropped from the sky, landing perfectly in front of Taichi. With a flick of his wrist, his parasol snapped open, effortlessly deflecting a scythe strike from Phantomon!
Taichi: "!"
Kari: "..."
Meeting Taichi's utterly bewildered stare, Mizuki threw him a cheeky wink and continued belting out the lyrics at the top of his lungs.
"It's better to forget the unnecessary things,"
"There's no more time to fool around~ ♪"
Hearing the infectious melody drift across the battlefield, Izzy and Mimi exchanged a look. They slowly stood up, the exhaustion fading from their eyes.
"Sorry, Mimi. I might have to trouble you again," Izzy said, adjusting his laptop strap.
"Mhm! It's no trouble at all, because I want to test my limits too!" Mimi cheered, her hands glowing with vibrant green light as she pushed her energy into Izzy.
Purple lightning violently ignited around Izzy's fist once more. "Mega Blaster... Izzy Version— Fire!"
"What WOW WOW~ will reach this sky?"
"But WOW WOW~ we don't even know tomorrow's plans!"
Mizuki sang, spinning his parasol to parry the relentless assaults of the three Ultimate Digimon, while Taichi scrambled to coordinate counterattacks beside him.
Suddenly, two more figures burst through the treeline.
"Taichi! You're getting together with Mizuki again the second I look away!" Sora yelled, her face flushed with exertion.
"That's enough already! You guys are way too reckless!" Joe screamed, waving his arms frantically.
They threw themselves into the fray, clumsily trying to draw the enemies' aggro away from Taichi and Mizuki. But the very next second—
"GHOST!!!" Joe shrieked, coming face-to-face with Phantomon's skull.
Mizuki: "..."
Watching Joe run around in absolute, terrified circles, Mizuki paused just long enough to roll his eyes before throwing his head back, bringing the song to its absolute, blood-pumping climax.
"After an endless dream, in this world of nothingness!"
"It seems our beloved dreams will lose, but even with these unreliable wings..."
"Takeru! Leave these guys to me and Garurumon!!" Matt roared, sliding into the clearing.
"Brother— I can help you too!" Takeru yelled back.
"Oh! Then we do it together!"
"Mhm! Together!"
"...covered in images that tend to stay,"
"I'm sure we can fly—"
"On My Love~ ♪"
Taichi: "MetalGreymon!" / MetalGreymon: "Giga Blaster!"
Matt: "I won't lose to you!" / Garurumon: "Howling Blaster!"
Sora: "And me!" / Birdramon: "Meteor Wing!"
Izzy: "Seriously, everyone's completely lost their minds." / Kabuterimon: What does it matter~ "Mega Blaster!"
Mimi: "That's right, that's right~ As long as everyone's happy together, it's fine!" / Togemon: So happy, Mimi~ "Lightspeed Jabbing!"
Joe: "Seriously, I really don't understand you guys!!!" / Ikkakumon: Togemon, don't hit my butt! "Harpoon Torpedo!"
Takeru: "You can't forget me!" / Angemon: Let the sacred light purify... never mind, just take this! "Hand of Fate!"
Kari: "Onii-chan... Sigh~~" / Three Bakemon Brothers (Evolved to Ultimate): For Kari! × 3
Watching every single one of the children's partners unleash their absolute strongest special moves simultaneously, Mizuki finally stopped singing. He lowered his parasol and looked up at his own partner hovering above.
"Belle. Let's go too."
"Mhm!"
Angewomon Data Switch—
BeelStarmon!
The deep, suffocating darkness tore through the holy light. Leather boots hit the dirt as the stunning, blonde gunslinger materialized. BeelStarmon spun her twin handguns, Riz de Blanco, leveling the barrels directly at the mass of Digimon ahead.
"Hurricane Screw!!!"
BOOM!!!!
As a dozen devastating special moves collided in the exact same instant, a shockwave of apocalyptic proportions swept through the forest. The sheer force of the clashing energies created a towering pillar of brilliant, multicolored light.
It was a light that pierced the heavens—soaring upward, much like the continuously extending, limitless future of the children, reaching toward the distant, uncharted sky.
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