Chapter 72: Hmm? Something Seems Off!
The desert sun hung at its zenith, a merciless fireball dominating the bleached sky. Its fierce, unforgiving light hammered down onto the endless expanse of yellow sand, distorting the horizon into a shimmering mirage of rolling heat waves. Traveling across such a desolate wasteland inevitably left one's throat feeling like cracked parchment.
Perhaps acutely aware of this harsh reality, BlackGatomon, who was nimbly leading the way, kept pausing to cast worried glances over her shoulder.
"King Mizuki, we will soon reach that obnoxious fellow Etemon's main base," she announced. Her usually aloof, feline features were pinched with a genuine concern that contrasted sharply with her typically dark and mischievous nature. In BlackGatomon's eyes, no matter how extraordinary Mizuki was, he was ultimately still human. His physical constitution simply couldn't compare to the rugged endurance of a Digimon.
"How are you holding up?" she asked, her tail flicking anxiously. "If you are feeling fatigued, we can absolutely stop and take a break. I know of a hidden oasis nearby that is perfect for resting!"
"Thank you, BlackGatomon, but I am perfectly fine for now."
Mizuki offered his companion a gentle, reassuring smile, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. Even though BlackGatomon constantly humbled herself before him, addressing him with royal titles, Mizuki never once treated her as a mere subordinate to be ordered around. He meant what he had told them from the very beginning—rather than being their King, he preferred to be their friend.
"Besides," Mizuki added, patting the rough, scaly surface beneath him, "compared to me, the one who really deserves your concern right now is Greymon."
As he spoke, Mizuki shifted his gaze downward to the massive, dinosaur-like Digimon tirelessly carrying him across the dunes. This was Greymon, newly evolved from the Agumon who had once served as the proud village chief of the Koromon Village.
From the very beginning, the former village chief had harbored immense gratitude toward the human who had saved his precious children. The devastating attack by the Tyrannomon had been a brutal wake-up call. It made him realize that personal strength alone was not enough; he needed a truly powerful backer, a brilliant strategist, to ensure the absolute safety of his companions. Thus, after witnessing Mizuki's overwhelming capabilities firsthand, he had decisively led the entire Koromon tribe to join the young man's ranks.
Now, hearing Mizuki's thoughtful words, the former chief—perhaps better addressed now as Captain Greymon—felt a warm flicker of emotion swell in his broad chest. 'I definitely chose the right person to follow,' he sighed inwardly, his respect deepening. He opened his massive jaws to reply, "King Mizuki, I—"
"Oh, please!" BlackGatomon ruthlessly cut him off, waving a paw dismissively. "This big lug is as tough as nails, he will be absolutely fine. The only important thing right now is your well-being, King Mizuki!"
Greymon's heavy footsteps faltered for a fraction of a second. A flash of deep annoyance crossed his reptilian eyes as he glared up at the dark feline, who had brazenly claimed a spot on his armored head right next to Mizuki.
"BlackGatomon," Greymon rumbled, his deep voice vibrating through his skull. "I was speaking directly to Lord Mizuki. Is it really your place to interrupt?"
"What? Are you implying that you actually are tired?" Seeing the large Digimon's displeasure, BlackGatomon merely rolled her eyes, a sly, mocking smile curving her lips. "If you are truly that exhausted, I am sure King Mizuki, being as benevolent as he is, would graciously allow you to take a nap."
"I am not tired!" Greymon snapped, a puff of hot smoke escaping his nostrils. "Wait a minute—"
He suddenly realized the cunning cat was effortlessly seizing control of the conversation's tempo. Shaking his heavy head to clear his thoughts, he quickly steered the topic back.
"Don't try to change the subject so quickly! What I meant was, I was in the middle of speaking to King Mizuki. By interrupting like that, are you intentionally trying to show disrespect to His Majesty?"
"Tsk..."
BlackGatomon clicked her tongue. Seeing Greymon seize the opening to launch a verbal counterattack, a fleeting trace of genuine displeasure marred her cute features. She had actually handed this overgrown lizard a piece of use. She had assumed he was still as simple-minded as he was during his Agumon days.
'When did he get so sharp?'she wondered, her eyes narrowing.'Could it be a side effect of his digivolution? But look at him... that big, clumsy, muscle-bound frame does not exactly scream intellectual.'
Just as BlackGatomon was busy formulating a sharp retort to put the dinosaur back in his place, Mizuki's calm voice washed over them.
"Alright, that is enough, BlackGatomon, Greymon. You are companions now, so let's keep the infighting to a minimum."
His tone was as gentle as ever. Even in the midst of this scorching, oppressive desert, his presence somehow managed to evoke the sensation of a refreshing breeze, as comforting as bathing in crisp spring air.
"While I deeply appreciate your concern for me, BlackGatomon, you really shouldn't bully Greymon so much," Mizuki chided lightly, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "And Greymon, she was only speaking out of worry. I don't enforce strict royal protocols or rigid hierarchies here, so there is no need to be so deadly serious about who speaks when."
Soothed by Mizuki's effortless mediation, Greymon and BlackGatomon exchanged a brief, begrudging glance, silently agreeing to a temporary ceasefire.
"Hmph. I will let you off the hook this time, but only for King Mizuki's sake," Greymon huffed, his pride slightly mollified.
"Ha!" BlackGatomon scoffed, crossing her arms. "A mere defeated opponent dares to speak to me with such bravado!"
"Oh?" A dangerous, sharp glint flashed in Greymon's eyes. He tilted his head slightly to glare up at the smug feline. "Are you saying you want to spar with me right now and settle this?"
Catching the shift in his tone and realizing she might have pushed slightly too far, BlackGatomon quickly pivoted. "Hmph! I would never do something so crude that it would distress King Mizuki!" she declared, lifting her chin haughtily.
'Tch.'
Greymon clicked his tongue. He had genuinely hoped she would take the bait. Seeing her expertly dodge the challenge, he felt a mixture of disdain and a lingering touch of regret.
He had every reason to be confident in a physical confrontation. As the former village chief, his strength had been formidable even back during his Agumon days, his combat power having skirted the very edges of the Champion Level.
If he hadn't possessed such strength, how else could a vulnerable group of In-Training Koromon have ever managed to establish and maintain a stable village in a ruthless, dog-eat-dog place like the Server Continent?
If he hadn't been cowardly ambushed that fateful day by three massive Tyrannomon and a coordinated swarm of over thirty Tapirmon—not to mention stumbling blindly into more than ten consecutive, carefully laid traps—he absolutely wouldn't have lost!
Even now, proudly serving in Mizuki's ranks, Greymon burned with the desire to find an opportunity to wash away the bitter shame of that defeat.
Unfortunately, BlackGatomon was far too cunning, slippery as an eel, and refused to give him a single opening. His minor conversational victory just now had only worked because she had underestimated him, still viewing him as that clumsy, straightforward Agumon. After this little exchange, however, tricking her again would be next to impossible.
Resigning himself to this reality, Greymon simply snorted and continued his low-stakes verbal sparring with the dark cat as they marched onward.
On the other side, tuning out the rhythmic bickering above and below him, Mizuki gradually withdrew his attention from their squabble.
True to his word, he had no interest in imposing harsh rules or suffocating restrictions on his team. As long as they didn't escalate into a genuine, blood-drawing brawl, he was more than happy to let them vent their energy.
With a soft sigh, Mizuki lowered his gaze to the partner resting comfortably in his arms. A cascade of brilliant, spun-gold hair caught the harsh desert sunlight, shimmering just as beautifully as he remembered.
That is right, this was BeelStarmon.
Anticipating that Mizuki might soon cross paths with the dangerous remnants of Etemon's forces, Nyaromon had once again triggered her Data Rewrite, undergoing digivolution straight into her formidable BeelStarmon form.
What was truly fascinating, however, was her current state. Despite wearing her signature, enigmatic mask and sporting that daring, form-fitting black leather outfit, she exhibited an appearance completely, utterly different from her usual imposing self.
"Hmm? Mizu, what is it?"
Perhaps sensing Mizuki's lingering gaze, BeelStarmon tilted her head and looked up at him. A devastatingly cute smile blossomed across her soft, tender face.
That is right... tender.
This was BeelStarmon's brand-new, highly customized form!
In a blatant, logic-defying display of priority, just so she could be held more comfortably in Mizuki's arms during the journey, the normally cool, dangerously mature woman had deliberately compressed her data—transforming herself into a pint-sized, ridiculously cute loli!!!!
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