Chapter 57: Departure! Heading to the Server Continent!
"So, have you really made up your minds?"
The coastal breeze of File Island carried the salty scent of the ocean, tugging at the clothes of the gathered children. Aegiochusmon stood at the shoreline, his imposing figure contrasting with the deep reluctance in his eyes. He looked down at the innocent faces looking back at him, a heavy knot forming in his chest.
After all, they were just children.
In his eyes, they were no different from the fragile infants resting in the Village of Beginnings. They were at an age where they should be sheltered, nurtured, and kept far away from the scent of blood and data.
Yet, the weight of an entire world had been unceremoniously dropped onto their narrow shoulders.
Aegiochusmon opened his mouth, the urge to persuade them to stay rising in his throat. Before the words could form, Mizuki stepped forward. His dark eyes were calm, carrying a quiet understanding that seemed to read the Digimon's very thoughts.
"Aegiochusmon, Taiichi and the others do not belong here after all," Mizuki said, his voice smooth and steady over the crashing waves. "In the human world, they have their friends. They have their families waiting for them."
He paused, glancing at the vast expanse of the sea. "Even if we ignore this inexplicable mission forced upon us, they must eventually find their way home. This is just the first step."
As Mizuki finished speaking, Taiichi walked up to stand beside him. He held Kari's small hand firmly in his own, with Agumon standing loyally at his feet.
"Mizuki is right, Aegiochusmon," Taiichi nodded, his goggles catching the sunlight. "We are incredibly grateful for everything you have done for us, for all your care. But we truly must leave now."
"..."
Aegiochusmon looked at the unwavering determination etched into the children's expressions. He let out a long, defeated sigh, finally accepting the reality of their departure.
"Alright. Since your minds are completely made up, I will not say anything more to stop you."
He reached behind him and brought forward a large, tightly bound package, holding it out to them. "This is food and supplies we all gathered for you. It should be enough to sustain you during your sea voyage."
He then produced a rolled-up parchment. "In addition to the provisions, I have included a sea chart. While it is not perfectly accurate, it will certainly guide you to the Server Continent without too much trouble."
At that moment, the powerful Digimon sounded exactly like an anxious parent sending their children off on a long, perilous journey, carefully going over every detail.
"The Server Continent is not as peaceful as File Island," Aegiochusmon warned, his tone growing stern. "The competition among Digimon there is fierce, and the laws of survival are brutal. The challenges you face will be far greater than anything you have encountered here."
His gaze softened as he looked at each of them one by one. "In short, I hope you remember one thing, no matter what happens. File Island is not just our home. It is your home in this world, too."
"If you ever feel wronged, or if you simply become too tired and exhausted to take another step, you can always come back here to rest. Do you understand?"
Listening to the earnest, caring instructions, the children exchanged warm smiles. The anxiety of the unknown journey melted away, replaced by a deep sense of gratitude.
"We know! Thank you, Aegiochusmon!" they chorused, their voices ringing out clear and bright.
"Very good! You sound energetic," Aegiochusmon laughed, a hearty sound that rumbled in his chest. "Well then, I will not waste any more time with unnecessary words."
He took a step back, raising a hand in a final salute. "I wish you a smooth journey, fair winds, and that you find your way back to your true home soon."
"Goodbye, DigiDestined."
Under the watchful, lingering gazes of Aegiochusmon and the other Digimon of File Island, the children boarded the small fishing boat. The anchor was raised, the sails caught the wind, and their new journey began.
"So, we left just like that."
Taiichi sat cross-legged on the wooden deck of the fishing boat, resting his chin in his hands. He stared out at the shrinking silhouette of File Island, a melancholic shadow crossing his usually vibrant face. "I just feel like something is missing."
"Right? Right? I told you."
Mizuki, leaning casually against the wooden railing nearby, did not miss a beat. "I told you this boat should have been painted pink."
"Who was talking about that!" Taiichi snapped out of his wistful mood instantly, shooting Mizuki a fierce glare. "Green is obviously the best color! It represents nature!"
"Tsk. You just do not understand the tactical benefits of pink," Mizuki replied, his tone dripping with deep, mock-seriousness. He pushed himself off the railing and looked down at Taiichi. "First of all, this is not the human world. Sailing out here on the open sea, there is a very high probability that we will be attacked by hostile Digimon, correct?"
"So... so what?" Taiichi stammered, momentarily thrown off balance by Mizuki's sudden shift into strategist mode.
Under Taiichi's gaze, which was now a messy blend of doubt and genuine curiosity, Mizuki raised a hand and lightly snapped his fingers.
"That is the entire point," Mizuki said, a faint, mischievous smirk playing on his lips. "Paint this boat a bright, obnoxious pink. When other Digimon see us, they will immediately assume we are weak, foolish, and easy targets."
He leaned in slightly. "That way, we draw them in, catch them completely off guard, and give them a very big, very painful surprise."
Taiichi: "..."
The rhythmic splashing of the waves against the hull suddenly seemed very loud. Not only Taiichi, but the other children who had been eavesdropping on the conversation froze in place, staring at Mizuki in utter disbelief.
Feeling the weight of their collective scrutiny, Mizuki raised an eyebrow. "What? What kind of look is that?"
He gestured vaguely at the ocean. "Just tell me, is this plan effective or not?"
He looked down at the small, cat-like Digimon resting comfortably in his arms. "Little Bei, what do you say? Is it effective?"
Without a single second of hesitation, Nyaromon looked up, her eyes shining with absolute loyalty. "Mizu is completely right!"
"...So, is that why you keep BeelStarmon in her Nyaromon form?" Taiichi muttered, watching the effortless interaction between the two. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Why did I never realize you were so cunning, Mizuki?"
"Please call this wisdom. Thank you," Mizuki corrected smoothly, shooting Taiichi a look of pure disdain. He then turned his attention to the red-haired boy sitting a few feet away. "Wouldn't you agree, Izzy?"
"Ahaha... well..." Izzy chuckled nervously, a drop of sweat sliding down his temple. He could feel Mimi's sharp, curious gaze boring into the side of his head, and his brain scrambled for a safe answer.
"Izzy," Mimi leaned closer, her voice dripping with suspicion. "Is this what you call wisdom?"
"Uh... Mimi... I... I am not really sure either..."
Ignoring Izzy's desperate attempts to hedge his bets with Mimi, Taiichi withdrew his gaze and looked back out toward the endless horizon.
"Mizuki, you almost made me lose track of the topic," Taiichi sighed, his tone sobering up. "When I said something was missing, I meant Leomon and Ogremon."
He frowned slightly, the sea breeze ruffling his wild hair. "Thinking about it, we have not seen either of them since we defeated Devimon."
At the mention of those two names, the rest of the children turned their attention back to Taiichi. He was not the only one; they had all been quietly searching for the two rival Digimon before leaving. Unfortunately, neither Aegiochusmon nor any of the other island residents seemed to know where they had gone.
"Huh? Did I not tell you?"
Seeing Taiichi's genuine confusion, Mizuki blinked, looking mildly surprised. "Leomon and Ogremon set out on their journey earlier than we did."
Taiichi's eyes widened. "Eh?! What do you mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like," Mizuki replied, his fingers gently stroking the soft fur on Nyaromon's back. "Because he was so easily manipulated and controlled by Devimon, Leomon realized his own lack of power."
Mizuki's gaze drifted toward the distant clouds. "In order to protect the children in the Village of Beginnings and ensure that such a tragedy never happens again, Leomon chose to cross over to the Server Continent. He went to seek an opportunity to grow stronger."
"As for Ogremon," Mizuki added, a faint smile touching his lips, "he simply wanted to fight Leomon. So, he followed right behind him."
"So that is what happened..."
A collective breath of understanding swept through the children. Taiichi nodded slowly, the tension leaving his shoulders.
"But how did you know all this, Mizuki?" Taiichi asked.
"Because I happened to run into them right as they were leaving the island. I asked them briefly about their plans," Mizuki answered casually.
"Alright."
Though a small part of him was disappointed that Leomon and Ogremon had left without a proper goodbye, Taiichi felt a deep sense of relief knowing they were safe and. Since their destination was also the Server Continent, the chances of their paths crossing again were high.
When that time came, would Leomon and Ogremon have reached the Ultimate level too?
The thought sent a jolt of pure adrenaline through Taiichi's veins. His previous melancholy vanished entirely, replaced by a burning excitement for the battles and adventures that lay ahead.
"Alright then!"
Taiichi suddenly sprang to his feet, his sudden movement causing Mizuki to instinctively take a step back to avoid getting hit.
"Mizuki, we still have a long way to go until we reach our destination," Taiichi declared, his eyes practically sparkling with competitive fire. "Should we have some kind of competition to pass the time?"
"A competition? Compete in what?" Mizuki asked, mildly amused.
Before he could say anything else, Nyaromon, who had been pretending to nap in his arms, cracked one eye open.
She had been quietly annoyed for the past ten minutes. This loud boy with the goggles kept talking to her Mizu. They had finally found some rare, peaceful private time together, and before she could properly enjoy the warmth of his embrace, Taiichi had to come and ruin it.
Consequently, Nyaromon's tone was low and dripping with feline sass.
"You cannot beat Mizu anyway, so stop bothering him."
She shifted in Mizuki's arms, giving Taiichi a side-eye. "Instead of constantly clinging to Mizu, I think it would be much better if you focused on improving yourself a little first... nanodesu~"
Hearing the blatant sarcasm from the small, round Digimon, Taiichi raised an eyebrow. His gaze shifted between Nyaromon and Mizuki, becoming subtly complex.
"So, Nyaromon," Taiichi drawled, a teasing grin spreading across his face. "Do you think I am trying to steal your Mizuki away from you?"
"Wha—"
Nyaromon stiffened. A bright, furious blush rapidly spread across her cheeks. "No way! I was not thinking that at all, nanodesu!"
She buried her face into Mizuki's shirt. "Do not misunderstand—nanodesu!"
"Alright, alright, Little Bei," Mizuki chuckled softly. Seeing his partner so flustered and defensive, he gently patted her head, his touch instantly soothing her spiked nerves.
Only after her breathing leveled out did he look back up at Taiichi. "Taiichi, do not bully Little Bei too much."
"Yes, yes, I was just joking around. I did not realize she was so easily embarrassed," Taiichi laughed, scratching his cheek awkwardly.
It was genuinely hard for his brain to process. The terrifying, impressive image of BeelStarmon tearing through their enemies had left a permanent brand on his memory. Reconciling that god-like entity with the soft, pouting Nyaromon currently hiding in Mizuki's shirt was giving him whiplash.
But speaking of which...
Taiichi glanced over at the edge of the boat, where Agumon was currently sitting beside Gabumon, staring blankly at a fishing line dangling in the water.
How should he put it? Agumon's current dull, vacant expression did not exactly match the mechanical, terrifying coolness of MetalGreymon either.
Digimon truly were amazing creatures.
"Right, Taiichi. You mentioned wanting to compete earlier," Mizuki said, drawing his attention back. Perhaps sitting around watching the water really was getting boring, because Mizuki's eyes now held a glint of genuine interest. "What exactly did you want to compete in?"
"A word of warning: this boat cannot handle the two of you messing around."
A gentle, yet dangerously calm voice floated over from behind them.
Taiichi and Mizuki turned their heads simultaneously. Sora had walked over without either of them noticing, her arms crossed over her chest.
It was not just Sora. The rising tension between the two strongest fighters had drawn the attention of the entire deck. After all, Mizuki and Taiichi possessed the most outrageous, destructive combat power among the group. If those two actually started throwing hands, let alone this fragile little fishing boat, a fleet of ten warships probably would not survive the crossfire.
"I know, Sora. Do you really think I am that reckless?" Taiichi groaned, his shoulders slumping under Sora's motherly, exasperated aura.
In response, Sora simply rolled her eyes. She did not say a word, merely pointing a finger toward the corner of the deck.
There, Kari was sitting cross-legged, happily playing a rhythmic clapping game with Phantomon.
Kari paused her game, looking up at her older brother with a perfectly serene, innocent smile.
Kari: "..."
Kari: "Be good, big brother."
Taiichi: "Ugh—! Why you too, Kari—"
Clutching his chest as if he had just taken a fatal arrow to the heart, Taiichi feigned an expression of absolute agony.
Watching the dramatic display, Mizuki simply shrugged. He adjusted his hold on Nyaromon and turned to walk away.
"Mizuki, where are you going?" Taiichi called out, instantly dropping the act.
"Back to the cabin to rest. I have had enough sun exposure for one day," Mizuki replied, not bothering to look back.
"But didn't we just agree to compete in something?!" Taiichi took a step forward, feeling a sudden surge of unwillingness to let the moment go.
Honestly, the more time they spent surviving together, the more Taiichi found himself drawn to this friend from another world. There was a strange kinship between them, an unspoken understanding forged in battle that always made Taiichi want to bridge the gap between their personalities.
Truthfully, Mizuki felt the exact same way. From a purely objective standpoint, it was impossible to dislike Taiichi. He was loud and reckless, yes, but he was also fiercely generous, endlessly cheerful, and surprisingly thoughtful when it mattered most.
Hearing the disappointment in Taiichi's voice, Mizuki stopped. He turned around, offering a helpless smile.
"Although I would gladly accept your invitation, have you not failed to actually think of what we should compete in?" Mizuki pointed out reasonably. "Since we do not know what to do, I might as well go back inside and study Aegiochusmon's sea chart again."
"Damn it, can't I come up with anything?"
Staring at Mizuki's retreating back, Taiichi gritted his teeth. He clenched his fist and brought it down hard against the wooden railing.
Thud.
That single, dull impact seemed to act like a spark in a powder keg. A new, bizarre pathway suddenly illuminated within Taiichi's brain. His eyes widened, shining with absolute brilliance.
"Wait! Mizuki, I know exactly what we should do!"
Mizuki: "..."
Hmm?
Mizuki halted his steps. The ocean breeze, which had been blowing steadily against his face, suddenly shifted, blowing ominously from behind him.
The sheer atmospheric pressure of the moment forced Mizuki to slowly turn his head back toward Taiichi.
"Taiichi, are you saying—"
"Heh heh."
Taiichi did not answer with words. Instead, he stood up straight, his posture radiating an intense, unyielding aura as he began a slow, deliberate march toward Mizuki.
Go go go go go go go go~~~
For some inexplicable reason, as Taiichi closed the distance, Sora rubbed her eyes. She suddenly had the distinct, terrifying illusion that the very art style of the two boys was sharpening, their outlines becoming heavy, dramatic ink strokes.
Sora: "Hmm?"
Just as Sora was trying to process the sheer absurdity of the shifting atmosphere, Taiichi stopped directly in front of Mizuki.
The moment their eyes locked, the air crackled with tension. Taiichi slowly, solemnly announced the ultimate trial he had devised.
"Mizuki. Let's compete to see who can pee the farthest!"
Mizuki: "..."
Everyone: "..."
The entire boat plunged into a deathly, suffocating silence. Only the sound of the waves dared to break the quiet.
Sora slowly raised a hand, dragging it down her face in sheer exhaustion. "Taiichi," she whispered weakly, "are you an absolute idiot?"
She let out a long breath. "Anyone with eyes can tell that Mizuki would not possibly join you in such a—"
"Oh?"
Before Sora could finish her sentence, a sharp, dangerous gleam erupted within Mizuki's dark eyes.
"A challenge involving a man's dignity..." Mizuki murmured, his voice dropping an octave as a fierce, competitive smirk spread across his face. "It seems I have no choice but to compete!"
Sora: "???"
Taiichi: "Let's compete!"
Mizuki: "We must compete!"
Moving in perfect, terrifying synchronization, the two boys spun on their heels and began marching with absolute purpose toward the bow of the boat.
Watching the scene unfold, a vein pulsed violently at Sora's temple. The last shred of her patience snapped. She reached her absolute limit and completely exploded.
"You two, stop it right this instant!"
Thwack!
Thwack!
Two crisp, incredibly loud smacks echoed across the open water.
A moment later, Sora dusted off her hands and walked away, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of anger and deep embarrassment.
Left behind in her wake were the two strongest fighters on the ship, groaning as they lay sprawled face-down on the wooden deck, identical smoking lumps rising on the backs of their heads.
"Mizu! Mizu, are you okay?!" Nyaromon panicked, hopping around Mizuki's head. "Wake up!"
Hearing the violent commotion, Izzy swallowed hard. Cold beads of sweat rapidly multiplied on his forehead.
He did not dare move, because he could feel Mimi's gaze beside him. It had shifted from curious to incredibly, dangerously sharp.
"Izzy..." Mimi began, her voice deceptively sweet. "If I remember correctly, you and Taiichi are quite close, right?"
She leaned in, her eyes narrowing. "Does that mean you have also—"
"No!"
Izzy shouted, his response firing off with the speed of a machine gun.
"Absolutely not! I have never done that kind of thing!"
His voice cracked, echoing across the deck at a volume far higher than his usual quiet tone.
Mimi jumped back, completely startled by his outburst. She blinked at him, bewildered.
"If you haven't, then you haven't. Why are you so nervous?"
Izzy: "..."
'Why do you think?!'
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