Chapter 59: This Isn't a Question of Whether It's Possible, It's a Question of Whether I Have to Do It!
"Izzy, I need an explanation."
Sora's voice cut through the roaring wind, her eyes locked onto the red-haired boy. Her fists were clenched white at her sides. She was furious.
"I refuse to believe someone as smart as you couldn't see how dangerous that was. Yet you still let Takeru go inside that monster!"
"Jet Arrow!"
A massive geyser of high-pressure water erupted from the churning sea below. Whamon was not about to wait for them to finish their argument.
Kabuterimon's wings buzzed with deafening intensity as he banked hard to the left, narrowly avoiding the crushing blast of water. Izzy gripped the insectoid Digimon's carapace tightly to keep his balance.
"Sora!" Izzy called out over the rushing wind. "Before I answer that, I need you to answer a question for me first."
Sora's jaw tightened. "...Speak."
"What kind of person do you think Joe Kido is?"
"Mega Blaster!"
Boom!
A sphere of crackling blue electricity gathered between Kabuterimon's massive claws and shot downward, slamming into Whamon's thick hide.
"Joe Kido..." Sora muttered.
Her mind immediately went to the bespectacled senior. He was always panicking, always sweating, always expecting the worst. If she had to describe him in one word, it would be unreliable.
But the word caught in her throat. Was Joe really just a coward?
Sure, his blunt honesty and constant worrying often dragged down the group's morale. But when the chips were down, when things were at their absolute worst, Joe was always the one who stepped between the danger and the younger kids.
He was trustworthy.
"Meteor Wing!"
Flames illuminated the sky as Birdramon seized the opening created by Kabuterimon's attack, raining fiery meteors down upon the stunned leviathan.
Sora looked back at Izzy, her expression shifting. "Izzy, are you saying Joe thought of a plan, and that is why he made that reckless move?"
"The strongest fortress is often breached from within," Izzy replied, his hair whipping wildly in the turbulent air as Kabuterimon evaded another massive splash. "Joe realized this. That is why he chose to fight Whamon from the inside."
"But that is incredibly risky..." Sora's brows knitted together. "And what does that have to do with you stopping me from going after Takeru?"
"Sora, do you remember what Mizuki told us?"
Sora blinked, caught off guard.
Izzy's eyes gleamed with analytical sharpness. "Mizuki mentioned that Devimon created Black Gears to control other Digimon. Given the catastrophe on File Island, Devimon's strength wasn't the only factor. The Black Gears played a massive role."
He pointed down at the thrashing sea beast. "Gomamon also mentioned that Whamon usually stays in the deep ocean and rarely surfaces. So..."
Sora's eyes widened in realization. "You think this Whamon is being controlled by a Black Gear?"
"Exactly." Izzy nodded firmly. "And Takeru's Angemon is a holy Digimon of the light. He is far more sensitive to the presence of darkness than any of us. If anyone is suited to help Joe find the source of the problem, it is Takeru."
The rigid tension in Sora's shoulders finally began to loosen. Yet, a trace of worry lingered in her eyes. "Even so, sending a child as young as Takeru into that dark stomach..."
"He may be young, but Takeru is not weak." Izzy's voice was unwavering. "I believe in him. And I believe in Joe Kido!"
The absolute certainty in Izzy's tone made Sora freeze. For a fleeting second, she saw a familiar, reckless shadow overlapping with Izzy's logical demeanor. Tai.
"Hmm? What is it?" Izzy asked, noticing her stare.
"No... nothing." Sora shook her head, a small, relieved smile touching her lips. Knowing Izzy's reasoning completely washed away her previous anger.
"," Izzy added, his tone turning serious again, "there is another critical reason I stopped you. We need someone out here to keep Whamon distracted. If we do not hold its attention, it will target the fishing boat and everyone on it."
He gestured to the massive shadow circling beneath the waves. "Kabuterimon and I cannot deal enough damage to pierce that thick blubber and keep it focused on us. I need your strength, and Birdramon's."
Izzy pressed his lips into a thin line and briefly glanced toward the distant boat, where Mizuki stood. A fierce determination settled over his features.
"Mizuki is there to ensure nothing fatal happens. But we agreed not to rely on his power for everything. We need to overcome this trial with our own strength."
"...I understand." Sora's gaze softened into genuine admiration. "I am sorry, Izzy. I was wrong to snap at you without understanding the full picture."
"It is perfectly fine. You are a gentle person, Sora. Worrying about your friends is completely natural." Izzy shook his head, dismissing the apology.
Emotions often drove people to act impulsively out of care for their friends. That was exactly why his rational mind was needed to anchor them and guide their strength where it mattered most.
As Izzy solidified his resolve, a faint purple light began to pulse from his chest.
Meanwhile, in the suffocating, acidic darkness of Whamon's stomach, Joe and Ikkakumon were enduring absolute agony. The corrosive gastric acid hissed as it ate away at their surroundings, filling the air with a noxious, burning vapor.
Both of them stared up at the fleshy, pulsating ceiling.
"Ikkakumon, are you ready?" Joe gasped, his voice ragged. "Let's turn this place upside down!"
"Roar! Leave it to me, Joe!"
The searing pain of the acid could not extinguish the fierce fighting spirit burning in Ikkakumon's eyes. In the suffocating gloom, the silver light radiating from Joe's Digivice cut through the darkness like a beacon.
"Harpoon Torpedo!"
"Harpoon Torpedo!"
"Harpoon Torpedo!!!"
Missile after missile erupted from Ikkakumon's thick fur, slamming into the fleshy walls of the stomach. The consecutive explosions sent violent shockwaves through the leviathan's body.
Outside, Whamon shrieked in agony, its massive body thrashing wildly against the ocean surface, churning the water into a white froth.
Seeing the beast writhe, Sora's face lit up. "It's Joe! His plan is working!"
But Izzy did not share her relief. His expression grew even more grim. "Now is not the time to celebrate. Whamon is feeling the pain, which means it will react violently. Joe is not just fighting the acid in there; he is rapidly running out of oxygen. This is a race against time."
Izzy's eyes narrowed, as if he could pierce through the thick layers of blubber and see the desperate struggle happening inside.
Inside the stomach, Joe was in a wretched state. The acidic fumes had blistered his skin, and his lungs burned with every shallow, toxic breath. His vision was swimming, his consciousness threatening to slip away into the dark.
"Joe... can you still hold on?" Ikkakumon's deep voice echoed in the cavernous space.
The giant beast tried to sound encouraging, but Joe could hear the heavy exhaustion and pain lacing his partner's words.
Joe gritted his teeth so hard his jaw ached. Hot tears mixed with sweat and grime, carving clean lines down his soot-stained cheeks.
"Damn it... damn it all..." Joe choked out, his voice trembling. "Why is this happening to me? I am just a kid. I have cram school. I have exams to study for. I have an entire future planned out. Why am I stuck in a monster's stomach?!"
Hearing the boy's desperate sobbing, Ikkakumon let out a heavy, sympathetic sigh. "I suppose this is what humans call the impermanence of life. Joe, if you really cannot take it anymore, we can try to break out..."
"No!"
Ikkakumon blinked in surprise.
Joe cut him off, his voice suddenly sharp and loud, echoing over the hissing acid. "I am not leaving!"
He wiped his face aggressively with the back of his sleeve, smearing the grime. "Yes, I am terrified! I am in so much pain I feel like I am going to throw up, and I am crying like a baby. But... even so, I am the oldest!"
Joe forced himself to his feet, his legs shaking but refusing to buckle. He stared into the dark abyss of the stomach, his eyes burning with a stubborn, unyielding light.
"If I run away here... if the oldest one of the group turns tail and hides, who are the younger kids supposed to rely on?! How can I ever look Mizuki or the others in the eye if I cannot even protect them?!"
He drew in a deep, burning breath, expanding his lungs to their absolute limit.
"This is not a question of whether I can do it! It is a question of whether I HAVE to do it!!!"
His hoarse, tearing shout echoed through the fleshy cavern, carrying the full weight of his resolve.
"Ikkakumon! Keep attacking!"
"Roar!!!"
Ignited by Joe's impassioned roar, the heavy fatigue vanished from Ikkakumon's body, replaced by a blazing aura of determination.
"Harpoon..."
"Harpoon..."
"Torpedo!!!"
Boom!!!!
A massive barrage of missiles, fueled by the unbreakable bond between the boy and his partner, detonated against the stomach lining. The sheer force of the blast tore through the beast's insides, inflicting catastrophic damage.
But the violent movement caused a massive wave of gastric acid to rain down from the ceiling, threatening to swallow them whole.
Just as the deadly liquid was about to strike, a brilliant, blinding pillar of golden light pierced through the darkness, forming a protective barrier that completely repelled the acid.
"Joe!"
A familiar, youthful voice called out from the radiance.
Joe blinked against the sudden brightness, his jaw dropping. "Ta... Takeru?!"
Descending gracefully from the upper digestive tract was Angemon, his six white wings glowing with holy energy. Cradled safely in his arms was the youngest member of their group.
Panic immediately replaced Joe's shock. "Takeru, what are you doing in a place like this?! Get out of here, it's too dangerous!"
"I know it is dangerous," Takeru replied, shaking his head. His small face was set in an expression of pure, stubborn bravery. "But we are companions, aren't we? You are getting hurt trying to protect everyone, Joe. I want to use my strength to protect everyone too!"
As Takeru finished speaking, the stoic angel gently set the boy down.
"Joe, Ikkakumon. You have fought well," Angemon spoke, his voice connecting with calm authority. "Thanks to your relentless assault, I have finally located the source of the darkness."
"What?" Joe stared blankly.
Ikkakumon, however, immediately caught on. "Angemon, do you mean there is a reason Whamon went completely berserk?"
"Precisely." Angemon nodded, raising a golden staff to point toward a deeply shadowed, pulsating crevice near the upper stomach wall.
Following the staff's direction, Joe and Ikkakumon squinted through the gloom. There, embedded deep within the flesh and nearly camouflaged by the surrounding tissue, was a spinning, jagged black object.
"A Black Gear!" Joe gasped.
If Angemon had not pointed it out, they never would have spotted it in the chaotic darkness.
"It was using Whamon's own data to mask its dark signature," Angemon explained, his grip tightening on his staff. "If you two had not weakened Whamon from the inside, it would have taken me far longer to pinpoint its exact location."
A brilliant, purifying light began to gather around Angemon's right fist. The sheer intensity of his holy aura pushed back the oppressive darkness of the stomach, filling the space with a warm, empowering glow.
"Joe, Ikkakumon. Are you ready to finish this?" Angemon asked.
Hearing the angel's words, Joe and Ikkakumon exchanged a weary but triumphant glance. A matching grin spread across their faces.
"Do you even have to ask?!" they shouted in unison.
"Hand of Fate!!!"
"Harpoon Torpedo!!!"
A beam of concentrated holy energy and a massive, explosive missile launched simultaneously. The two devastating attacks intertwined, slamming directly into the hidden Black Gear.
The dark machinery shrieked as it shattered into a million pieces of dissolving data, completely destroying the sinister force that had driven the great leviathan mad.
The violent thrashing of the ocean finally ceased.
"I am so sorry, little ones. Please, accept my deepest apologies..."
With the Black Gear destroyed, Whamon regained its gentle, lucid nature. Despite the heavy burns and internal injuries it had sustained, the massive Digimon showed no anger toward the children. Instead, its massive eyes were filled with overwhelming guilt and gratitude.
"This is entirely my fault. If I had been stronger, you would not have had to endure such a terrifying ordeal..."
"Hehe, it is really okay..." Joe mumbled, waving a hand weakly.
Thanks to the combined first-aid efforts of Mimi and Kari, Joe and Gomamon were no longer covered in corrosive burns and soot. However, the sheer mental exhaustion of nearly dying in a pool of stomach acid weighed heavily on them.
Izzy had specifically advised Mimi not to use any restorative items to force them awake. Joe and Gomamon had pushed their bodies past their absolute limits; what they needed now was genuine, uninterrupted sleep.
After exchanging a few weak words of forgiveness with the giant whale, Joe hugged Gomamon tightly to his chest. Under the warm, admiring gazes of the rest of the group, his eyes slowly fluttered shut.
"See?" Gomamon murmured sleepily. "I told you Joe was tough enough to survive."
"Gomamon..." Joe slurred, his head drooping. "I do not have the energy to argue with you right now."
"Then... I guess I will see you in the next life?"
"It's just goodnight... you silly seal..." Joe's breathing evened out. "Zzzz..."
"...Zzz..." Gomamon snored softly in response, a small bubble forming at his nose.
The rest of the group watched the sleeping duo with fond, helpless smiles. They had certainly earned their rest.
With Joe and Gomamon safely settled on the deck of the fishing boat, Mimi and Sora walked over to the railing. Whamon floated alongside the vessel, happily chatting with Tai and the others, its deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.
Feeling incredibly indebted to the children for saving its life, Whamon had eagerly volunteered to escort their boat across the treacherous ocean.
Standing quietly near the stern, Mizuki watched the giant whale interact with Tai. A specific memory from the original plot surfaced in his mind.
If he remembered correctly, Whamon was the one who helped the chosen children find their Tags, the crucial items needed for their Digimon to reach the Ultimate level.
However, the timeline was already fractured. That cryptic old man, Gennai, had not yet made an appearance to explain the existence of the Tags and Crests to the group.
, Mizuki had already guided the children to awaken their Heart of Light through sheer willpower and emotional resonance. He honestly doubted they even needed the physical Tags as a crutch anymore.
But just as that thought crossed his mind, the ocean surface began to glow.
Seven brilliant pillars of light suddenly erupted from the dark depths of the seabed. The water parted, and to the absolute bewilderment of the children, and the utter astonishment of Mizuki, seven small, metallic objects shot out of the water like guided missiles.
The glowing pendants flew straight toward the deck, hovering perfectly in front of each of the seven children before dropping neatly into their open palms.
Tai blinked, holding the small metal Tag up to the sunlight. "Uh... what is this?"
Mizuki stared at the scene, utterly speechless. '...Seriously?'
It seemed that because the children had already awakened their Heart of Light, the Tags didn't even require a perilous underwater fetch quest. The ancient artifacts had simply sensed their rightful owners and delivered themselves via express shipping.
Watching the kids curiously inspect their new glowing trinkets, Mizuki let out a long sigh and simply shrugged.
Well, whatever. This works too.
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