"Damn it... is there really no way to stop Myotismon?"
Taichi slammed his fist into the ground as he watched the gate slowly close.
"Taichi, it's our fault. We're way too weak compared to him!"
Agumon said in frustration.
"What do we do now? Lillymon is still in Myotismon's hands, and the gate to the other world just closed. How can we save her?"
Mimi sobbed, her voice trembling with worry for her mature, elegant partner.
"And it's not just that—if a whole army of Digimon shows up in Tokyo, it'll cause total chaos."
Sora added, concern etched on her face.
"For now, the only thing we can do is go ask Elder Gennai. Maybe he knows how to reopen the gate... or how to defeat Myotismon."
Koushiro suggested.
Matt and Joe's eyes lit up. With no other options, that was their only path.
"Then let's get out of Dark City first. Gennai's messages can't reach us here!"
Calming down, Taichi led the other six out of the city.
As soon as they stepped outside, Gennai's holographic image appeared before them.
"From your expressions, it looks like the mission failed. What a pity."
As one of the most mysterious figures in the Digital World, no one knew if he was human or Digimon. All that was certain was that he, along with the Sovereigns, protected this world.
"Elder Gennai, 'pity' doesn't help! If this continues, the eighth source and Lillymon will be in serious danger!"
Matt urged anxiously.
"Is there really no way to open the gate again?"
Koushiro asked.
"There is a method, but it requires an explanation with the proper tools. Come to my home."
Gennai's image vanished, and a beam of light appeared in the distant sky.
"Follow that beam—it will lead you to my house."
Gennai's voice echoed again. Taichi and the others hurried after the light, arriving beneath the river at Gennai's hidden residence.
"To open that gate, you need these!"
Gennai laid out ten cards printed with Digimon images on the table.
"The gate has nine slots. Nine of these cards must be placed in the correct corresponding order. If you get it wrong, you'll have to find new cards."
"But there are ten cards here—one extra. How do we know which corresponds to which slot?"
Koushiro asked.
"Hmm... even I don't know that part. Just take them for now. Whatever you do, don't place them randomly—sending you to the wrong world would be a disaster."
Gennai scratched his bald head casually.
"But... Myotismon is so powerful. Our seven Perfect Digimon were taken down in one move. I want to ask—can our Digimon evolve beyond Perfect?"
Agumon asked.
"Yes, some Digimon can evolve one more time beyond Perfect... but only a very small number meet the conditions!"
Gennai thought for a moment before sharing the information. He didn't know what impact it would have, but giving them hope couldn't hurt.
"Really?! Then how can our Digimon evolve again?"
Taichi grabbed Gennai's hands excitedly.
"I told you—only a rare few can. Unfortunately, I don't know if yours qualify. But I have one thing to say. Remember it carefully: When the angel appears, they will shoot their arrow toward the one they protect and the one they love most. A miracle will appear at that moment..."
Gennai said solemnly.
"If gathering the power of the eighth source still isn't enough to defeat the enemy, think back to what I just said."
The seven nodded seriously.
Meanwhile, after passing through the layers of mist in the gate, Daniel's carriage finally rolled onto solid, flat concrete.
"Myotismon-sama, look at those buildings—they're so tall!"
DemiDevimon, standing on the carriage roof, shouted excitedly at the surrounding sights.
Daniel stepped out and looked at the familiar roads and towering skyscrapers, feeling a wave of nostalgia. For a moment, everything from the Digital World felt like a dream.
"So this is the other world... I wonder if my mother and sister are here somewhere."
Daniel sighed. "Let's go—find a place to stay first!"
Without shelter, daylight would be a problem. Though his power only dropped by a quarter under the sun, the burning discomfort was unbearable. Sometimes he cursed Myotismon's body—a lowly vampire baron afraid of light.
"Yes, Myotismon-sama!"
Under the dark night sky, SkullBaluchimon drove the dark dragon carriage swiftly through the city streets. Fortunately, it was late—no one around to witness the monsters, or they'd have been terrified.
At that moment, a stunningly beautiful young woman in her early twenties stepped out from a street corner and stood directly in the carriage's path. SkullBaluchimon was forced to stop.
"Master, a human woman is blocking the way. Should we eliminate her?"
Gatomon leaped down from the roof and opened the carriage door!
"A mere human? Let me handle it!"
DemiDevimon cackled.
The woman stared in terror at the monstrous figures, collapsing to the ground in fear, unable to move.
"Wait—don't act on your own!"
Daniel stepped out and looked at the woman. As expected in this world—even a random passerby was breathtakingly beautiful, with mature curves and a captivating presence.
He approached slowly. The woman gazed up at him in a daze, captivated by his noble, devilish charm—like a dark prince from a fairy tale.
Daniel drew close, leaning in as if to kiss her. But instead of her lips, his fangs gently sank into her neck.
For some reason, arriving in this world had brought a sudden, intense hunger—one he hadn't felt in the Digital World.
A dreamlike, intoxicating rush spread from her neck through her body. She felt herself floating away. But as Daniel tasted her blood, he immediately spat it out.
"Ptooey... this one's blood is tainted—reeks of impurity!"
Daniel gripped her neck tightly, glaring viciously. He'd planned to feed and then dual cultivate with her for a power boost, but he could tell instantly—this mature woman was far from pure!
"Dark dragon—swallow her!"
Daniel tossed her forward. She screamed in terror, but the dragon's jaws opened wide and devoured her whole.
"As expected from this place... finding a truly suitable partner here won't be easy. Dual cultivating for power might take more effort than I thought!"
Daniel sighed, suppressing the hunger. He'd wait until he found the eighth source.
"Let's move. We have work to do."