"Is that so? Then thank you very much…"
Digi-Na arched a brow and turned to leave.
Thanks to Kiana, she didn't have to pay that huge compensation, saving her a lot of trouble.
Otherwise she might've been stuck working off the debt for who knows how long.
An upright Royal Knight would never dream of defaulting—absolutely not.
When the time came, the other Royal Knights would surely come help their captain.
They wouldn't refuse, right? (smiling while clenching her fist)
Once Digi-Na was completely gone, the group withdrew their gazes and resumed the earlier topic.
Mid-chat Kiana froze—she'd forgotten to warn Digi-Na to watch out for Lygus.
[Group Owner Na: @Digi-Na, if you meet a weird machine calling himself Lygus, show him your Complete Delete and say "our goals are the same."]
[Digi-Na: What's the point?]
[Group Owner Na: It'll keep trouble to a minimum wherever you're headed.]
[Digi-Na: Fine. You're all Kianas; I trust you won't screw me over…]
[Caeluslana: @Digi-Na, you're basically coming to my place…]
[Digi-Na: Great—fellow group member, should make things easier, right?]
[Caeluslana: May I ask why you're heading to Amphoreus?]
[Digi-Na: I sensed a new Digital Host—something like a world tree—being born, so I came to investigate. Never expected it to be in another universe…]
[Group Owner Na: …]
[Caeluslana: …]
[Other members: …]
Digi-Na's single sentence plunged the entire chat into silence.
Everyone knew Kiana had given the Digital world tree seed to Caeluslana.
They also knew Caeluslana had already planted it.
But no one expected someone who knew about that seed to chase after it across universes.
[Caeluslana: The world tree seed came from the Group Owner; I planted it in Amphoreus to oppose a certain being.]
[Digi-Na: …]
[Digi-Na: How did the Group Owner get a world tree core (seed)…?]
After a long pause, Digi-Na—already geared up to depart at Herta Space Station—froze in place.
The only place in this universe where a Digital World could sprout was where fellow member Caeluslana stood.
Everywhere else in this cosmos was devoid of any Digital World.
So where exactly had the Group Owner obtained a Digital World tree core?
[Group Owner Na: Right place, right time. Caeluslana needed it, so I handed the seed over. (shrug)]
[Digi-Na: You just… give something like that away…]
Digi-Na's mouth twitched; she stared at the Group Owner's avatar as if at a filthy-rich tycoon.
To give away a treasure like that—sure, it was to one of their own, but still outrageously lavish.
That item was basically a one-step ascension ticket for any Digimon.
Merge with that core and you'd jump straight to Host-tier power.
Sure, you'd still answer to the constant, but that was beside the point.
"Whatever… it's already planted…"
Digi-Na sighed softly.
The thing wouldn't boost her much anyway—her data strength already far exceeded Host levels.
Giving away something so precious also showed the Group Owner's character deserved recognition.
"Something wrong?"
Seeing Digi-Na suddenly stop, Asta tilted her head in puzzlement.
Digi-Na shook her head gently, then shifted into her Digimon form.
"I'm leaving—for that place."
Omnimon's blue eyes turned toward the screen where an infinite-symbol flow of light danced.
Though her goal was clear, she still had to witness the birth of a new Host with her own eyes.
And do her best to keep it hidden from the constant.
That thing was obsessed with maintaining the world's light-dark balance, no matter the cost.
Completely nuts; she figured a final showdown with the constant was inevitable one day.
A newborn Digital World so far away couldn't be allowed to suffer that lunatic's interference.
Plus, ever since joining, the group kept saying Caeluslana's world had issues.
Coupled with the planted seed, Omnimon guessed Amphoreus must house something that only a world tree could counterbalance.
So she resolved to investigate.
If any colossal crisis threatened the new Host or the real world, she'd act.
"Mm… safe travels."
Asta placed a small hand over her heart and solemnly wished her well.
Though they hadn't known each other long, she'd grown fond of this girl who shared Kiana's face and name.
"Mm…"
As Omnimon prepared to enter the screen she paused, glancing back at Asta.
Under Asta's puzzled gaze, Omnimon placed a hand over her chest.
A sphere of data-light blossomed in her palm and drifted gently toward Asta.
"While I'm gone, my two partners are yours to pet—small compensation for the damages…"
What human girl could resist adorable Gatomon?
So Omnimon reasoned.
"Partners…?"
Asta eyed the light sphere, still puzzled.
The glow soon dispersed, revealing two identical cats with clawed gloves—one white, one black.
"Gatomon, BlackGatomon, I've got an errand; you two keep Asta company…"
Omnimon looked away, faintly guilty.
She hadn't dared tell her partners she'd loaned them out as compensation.
Otherwise they'd jogress on the spot and pummel her with a combo.
Sure enough, Asta's cheeks flushed at the sight of the cute kitties, eyes sparkling.
"So cute…"
Asta stepped forward and stroked the fluffy heads of both cats.
Gatomon didn't mind, but BlackGatomon irritably shook off her hand.
Undeterred, Asta freed one hand and ordered the finest cat food in the universe.
"Nana, don't you need our help?"
The pampered Gatomon looked up at Omnimon, head tilted.
Though she knew Nana was powerful, separation still worried her.
"Idiot—apart from the constant, nothing can hurt her,"
BlackGatomon folded her arms, rolling her eyes.
Gatomon nodded.
True; she'd worried for nothing. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon."
Omnimon gave a final glance at Asta petting the cats, then turned into a stream of data and vanished into the screen.
With her departure, the brilliant infinite-symbol light on the screen quietly faded.
In the Interstice of the Paths, Nous turned its gaze toward Amphoreus.
-------------------------------
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