Chapter 62: So, What Are We Going to Do With These Guys?
"I told you, don't call me 'big sister leader'... Seriously."
BlackGatomon did not even spare a glance at the Gazimon leader she had just knocked out cold with a single, casual punch. She calmly adjusted her purple gloves, smoothing the fabric over her sharp claws as she spoke.
"So~ shouldn't we get back to the main topic now?" She tilted her head, her bright eyes locking onto the trembling group before her. "What are you guys doing gathered out here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"
"Uh... well..."
The remaining two Gazimon and the cluster of Pagumon exchanged nervous glances. They shifted on their feet, entirely unsure of how to respond to the dangerous feline blocking their path.
However, as if BlackGatomon had plucked the thoughts right out of their heads, she offered a perfectly timed olive branch.
"Don't worry. We might not belong to the exact same faction, but we are all Digimon of the dark alignment."
"Is that true?" one of the Gazimon asked, eyeing her warily.
"I am as genuine as they come." BlackGatomon pointed a gloved thumb at herself, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Have you ever seen a 'good' Digimon with a coat as dark as mine? I practically radiate dark energy~"
"Hmm... I guess that makes sense."
Seeing the Gazimon lowering their guard, BlackGatomon struck while the iron was hot. "There is an old human saying that goes, 'Rely on family at home, rely on friends when traveling.' When you are out and about, whether for work or just trying to survive, having one more friend always means having one more path to walk. Don't you agree?"
She took a slow, deliberate step forward. "Maybe if you tell me what you plan to do, I might find it interesting enough to lend you a hand. After all—"
BlackGatomon paused, her gaze sweeping over the two Gazimon with a critical, almost pitying look. "With your Rookie level strength, plus this group of little guys, achieving any real success might be a bit difficult. Wouldn't you say?"
"Guh—"
That sentence struck the two Gazimon right where it hurt the most.
What was wrong with being a Rookie? Did being a Rookie mean they were useless? Did they steal her food or something? Do not assume that just because we are Rookies, we are weak!
The Gazimon roared internally, their pride stinging. Yet, just as they opened their mouths to voice their outrage, they saw BlackGatomon raise her paw. The sharp glint of her claws caught the moonlight, accompanied by a terrifyingly gentle smile.
The words died in their throats.
After a brief round of frantic eye contact, the two Gazimon decisively chose to follow their survival instincts.
Fine, we really are weak...
Just as the two Gazimon swallowed their pride and prepared to reveal the secret mission King Etemon had assigned them, they were completely caught off guard. BlackGatomon suddenly turned her back on them.
"Big Sister BlackGatomon— wait, BlackGatomon!"
"What are you doing!?"
"What does it look like? Leaving, of course." BlackGatomon glanced back over her shoulder at the stunned Gazimon, her tone entirely matter-of-fact. "You weren't planning on making friends with me anyway, were you? If that is the case, there is no need for us to keep wasting breath. Ultimately, I was just looking for some fun."
Seeing the powerful Champion level Digimon actually walking away, panic set in. The two Gazimon and the entire swarm of Pagumon scrambled forward, desperately blocking her path.
"We are sorry! Big Sister BlackGatomon, we were wrong!"
"Hehehe~ We just wanted to be careful, that's all~"
"We really need you! We desperately need a powerful friend like you!"
"Please, give us little ones a chance!"
"Oh~?"
Looking down at the Gazimon and Pagumon who had willingly thrown themselves at her feet, BlackGatomon maintained a mask of cool indifference. Inwardly, however, she was rolling on the floor laughing.
Whether it was the initial 'we are family'approach or the subsequent'playing hard to get' routine, she had copied every single trick directly from Mizuki. Now, seeing it applied to these simple-minded, local Digimon... the effectiveness was absolutely staggering.
After finalizing their sudden alliance with BlackGatomon, the two Gazimon and the Pagumon were buzzing with excitement. King Etemon commanded a massive army of Gazimon, and the internal competition for his favor was fierce. Having a Champion level fighter on their side would undoubtedly elevate their status and grant them better opportunities.
They quickly woke their unconscious leader. After instructing him to escort BlackGatomon directly to King Etemon to report the discovery of the human children, the Pagumon set off on the return path, flanked by the remaining two Gazimon.
"You guys, be smart about this later, understand?" one of the Gazimon ordered, glaring down at the bouncing Pagumon. "Remember, you must stall those children. Keep them distracted until King Etemon arrives!"
The Pagumon chimed in, their voices overlapping in a chaotic chorus.
"We know~"
"We got it~"
"No problem!"
"Right!"
But the moment the last cheer faded into the night air, a calm, familiar voice drifted out from the shadows of the trees.
"Oh~ so that is what is happening. You want to catch us all in one net?"
"What!"
The Gazimon shrieked, jumping back as several human children slowly emerged from the dense foliage ahead.
It was Taichi and the rest of the group.
Seeing their targets standing right in front of them, the Pagumon huddled together, their ears drooping as panic set in.
"Big Brother Gazimon, what should we do?"
"We are surrounded!"
"Idiots, we surrounded them!" the lead Gazimon snapped, smacking the nearest Pagumon on the head.
He quickly did the math. Although the human children had seven Digimon with them, all of them were mere Rookies, just like the Gazimon. The difference was simple: the Gazimon had an entire swarm of Pagumon backing them up.
"You are the DigiDestined, right?"
Filled with a sudden surge of confidence, the two Gazimon puffed out their chests. "We originally planned to let you have one comfortable day before making our move. But since you have discovered us, we have no choice but to take you down right now!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Mizuki stepped forward, raising an eyebrow. The sheer, unearned arrogance radiating from the Gazimon felt incredibly nostalgic. "You certainly are confident."
"Of course we are!" One of the Gazimon planted his hands on his hips, grinning wickedly. "You only have seven Digimon, and they are all just Rookies. Sure, we only have two Rookie Digimon on our side, but we also have over thirty Pagumon! Thirty-plus against seven! The absolute advantage is ours!"
Feeling particularly generous, the other Gazimon waved a claw dismissively. "Don't go calling us despicable, okay? After all, you are the famous DigiDestined~ You should be able to handle a little challenge!"
What deeply confused the Gazimon was the reaction they received. Instead of trembling in fear or backing away, the human children were exchanging strange looks. Their shoulders shook slightly. Their lips twitched.
They looked... like they were desperately trying to hold back laughter.
Finally, Mizuki shook his head, a quiet chuckle escaping his lips. "Don't worry. We won't call you despicable. After all, we are the DigiDestined~"
At those words, Taichi shot Agumon a knowing look.
Understanding the signal instantly, Agumon raised his large claws. A massive, chaotic rustling erupted from the surrounding jungle. The bushes shook violently, and the sound of dozens of bouncing bodies echoed through the clearing.
The smug grins vanished from the faces of the Gazimon and the Pagumon, replaced by sheer, unadulterated horror.
"This... How is this possible?!"
"It's the Koromon!"
"How did you find them!?"
It was true. The group of round, pink, aggressively adorable creatures pouring out of the tree line and surrounding them were none other than the original, rightful owners of the village—the Koromon.
"You hateful Pagumon! You actually called the Gazimon to deal with us!"
"Bad Digimon!"
"Today we are going to teach you a serious lesson!"
The Koromon, their eyes burning with righteous fury, shouted all at once. They formed a tight, inescapable ring around the terrified Gazimon and Pagumon.
Meanwhile, a soft, eerie giggling echoed from above. Three white, cloth-like figures floated gently down from the canopy, landing gracefully beside Kari.
"Kari, we succeeded~"
"How was it? How did we do?"
"Wasn't that amazing?"
The three Bakemon spoke over each other, their hollow eyes crinkling in delight. Looking at their adorably spooky appearance, Kari smiled warmly, entirely unfazed by their ghostly nature.
"Thank you, Bakemon. You guys were very impressive~"
"Eh hehe~"
Listening to Kari's gentle praise, the three Bakemon let out bursts of pure, joyful laughter. They lacked entirely the terrifying, soul-chilling ferocity they were supposed to possess as Ghost-type Digimon.
The reality of the situation finally crashed down upon the two Gazimon. Their supposed 'advantage' had evaporated into thin air. Not only was the massive swarm of Koromon more than enough to fight the Pagumon to a standstill, but the three Bakemon hovering near the little girl were completely beyond their ability to handle.
Do not be fooled by their compact size or cheerful demeanor; those Bakemon, much like the BlackGatomon they had encountered earlier, were Champion level powerhouses.
So, should they surrender?
The two Gazimon exchanged a long, desperate look. If they surrendered, would these humans actually let them go? And even if they did, King Etemon did not tolerate failure. If the King found out their unit had been captured and spilled his secrets, the punishment waiting for them and the Pagumon would be a fate worse than deletion.
A sudden, sharp glint of determination flashed in the eyes of the two Gazimon.
"Pagumon," the leader whispered, his voice tight. "We will create an opening for you in a second. Watch for the right moment, and run. Do not look back. Understand?"
"Woo~ Big Brother Gazimon~"
A few of the Pagumon teared up, wanting to protest, but the Gazimon glared fiercely at them, baring his fangs. "Just listen to me!"
"...Yes!"
Seeing that the Gazimon had made up their minds to sacrifice themselves, the Pagumon swallowed their sadness, their small bodies trembling as they prepared to bolt.
Watching this quiet exchange from a few paces away, Taichi and the others felt a sudden shift in their hearts.
"These guys... even though they are working for the enemy, they aren't as bad as we thought," Taichi murmured, his grip on his Digivice loosening slightly.
"Yeah. Compared to Devimon, they are worlds apart," Matt agreed, his usual scowl softening.
The three Bakemon bobbed their heads in solemn agreement. They still carried the heavy memories of their own comrades, who had been ruthlessly betrayed and sacrificed by Devimon without a second thought. As leaders, the protective attitude these Gazimon showed toward their weaker subordinates was entirely different.
Mizuki stepped away from the group, crouching down beside one of the bouncing pink Digimon. "Koromon, may I ask you something?"
"Of course you can, benefactor!" The Koromon beamed, their gratitude toward the humans who had rescued them overflowing.
"I wanted to ask... have those Pagumon ever actually hurt or killed any of your comrades?"
"The Pagumon?"
Several Koromon looked at each other, their expressions turning thoughtful. They glanced across the clearing at the trembling dark Digimon before answering honestly. "No. They haven't done anything like that."
"Although we really dislike the Pagumon, we have to admit that they are ultimately just a bunch of annoying pranksters who like to play mean tricks. The only reason they managed to steal our village this time was because our leader, Agumon, was captured by those Gazimon!"
"Is that so..." Mizuki nodded slowly, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place.
Izzy adjusted his laptop strap, stepping up beside Mizuki. "What the Koromon are saying aligns with the evidence. If these Pagumon were truly heinous villains, they could have easily poisoned our food while we were resting."
"Poison? Why would we ever do something like that!"
Hearing Izzy's deduction, the Pagumon immediately voiced their loud protests, their fear momentarily replaced by indignation.
"We just enjoy playing tricks! If we poisoned our targets to death, we wouldn't have anyone left to prank!"
"See~" The Koromon sighed in unison, gesturing toward the self-righteous dark Digimon with extreme helplessness. "That is exactly why we call them a bunch of annoying pranksters."
Honestly, the Koromon just wanted to farm their land in peace, but the Pagumon constantly showed up to cause a ruckus.
Having confirmed the true nature of their enemies, Mizuki stood up, brushing the dirt from his knees. He turned his gaze toward the rest of the children. "So, that is the situation. What do you all think we should do?"
Taichi did not hesitate. "If they aren't truly unforgivable villains, then giving them a solid lesson should be enough. There is no need to actually destroy them."
"I think so too," Mimi chimed in, nodding vigorously. Earlier in the village, she had found a Botamon—the In-Training form of Koromon. The tiny creature had been perfectly healthy and in good spirits, proving that the Pagumon were not the kind of monsters who would harm babies.
"I have no objection," Matt said, crossing his arms.
"Me too!" Takeru quickly added, looking relieved.
"However, mischievous pranksters who enjoy playing tricks still need to be disciplined," Joe pointed out, adjusting his glasses nervously.
Sora smiled, placing a hand on her hip. "Agreed. They definitely need to learn a lesson."
"I will listen to Big Brother."
The final vote came from Kari. She was always like this. It was not a lack of personal opinion, but rather her absolute, unwavering trust in Taichi's judgment.
Feeling the warm, approving looks of his companions, Taichi nodded toward Mizuki. He took a deep breath and walked forward, Agumon matching his pace, until they stood directly in front of the tense Gazimon.
Watching the scene unfold from the sidelines, Mizuki could not help but smile, a deep sense of admiration warming his chest.
All he could say was, the first generation of DigiDestined truly were something special. They were kind, but not foolishly benevolent. They would strike down enemies who threatened their lives without hesitation, yet they never crossed the line into extremism or cruelty. Even Matt, who often carried the reputation of the group's lone wolf, possessed a strong moral compass.
Mizuki stifled a sigh, pushing down the lingering anime-induced headache that always flared up when he thought about the second generation. With the absolute gold standard set by these kids—especially Taichi and Izzy—the successors really left a lot to be desired.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Mizuki focused back on the present just as Taichi stopped in front of the enemy group.
"Gazimon... is that right?" Taichi asked, his voice steady.
"So what if it is?"
Although their situation was completely hopeless, the lead Gazimon braced his legs, bravely meeting Taichi's gaze. "We admit defeat! You caught us fair and square. Do whatever you want with us. Delete us, crush us, just get it over with!"
"No, I don't think we actually want to do any of that." Taichi scratched the back of his head, offering a helpless smile. "After discussing it, we decided to give you a chance."
The Gazimon blinked, stunned. "A... chance?"
"As long as you are willing to reveal the name of your mastermind, safely return the Koromon leader you captured, and accept a fair punishment for stealing the village... then we will spare your lives. What do you say?"
The two Gazimon stared at the human boy in absolute disbelief. They exchanged a long, conflicted look. Betraying King Etemon was a terrifying prospect, a guaranteed death sentence if they were ever caught. But looking back at the shivering group of Pagumon behind them, the Gazimon finally made their choice. They accepted Taichi's proposal.
"Fine! Since you want to know so badly, we will tell you!"
"Hehehe~ We just hope you don't wet yourselves from fear!"
The Gazimon puffed out their chests, their voices trembling slightly as they spoke the name that ruled their nightmares.
"Because the one you are about to face is the strongest, most terrifying being in the entire Digital World!"
"The one who holds the absolute title of 'King of Digimon'—"
"King Etemon!"
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