Chapter 91: Well, That's How It Is Now
"There are actually quite a few evolutionary paths a Drimogemon can take..." Mizuki murmured, his gaze fixed on the blinding pillar of light erupting before him. He rubbed his chin, analyzing the swirling data streams. "While Digimon inherently possess a web-like evolutionary structure, each branching path still has its own specific threshold."
He watched the glowing silhouette shift and expand within the data storm. "For a species like Drimogemon, the data requirements to branch out into entirely different families are surprisingly lower than most other Champion-level Digimon."
Which meant its potential for radical mutation was exceptionally high.
Just as that thought settled in his mind, the intense glow began to recede. The silhouette within the data storm expanded, shifting from a stout, grounded beast into something massive and airborne. The light shattered like glass, revealing a brand-new form.
Drimogemon, Super digivolution—
Gigadramon!
Mizuki nodded in satisfaction as he watched the colossal, cybernetic dragon circle the sky above them, its metallic wings cutting through the air with a heavy, mechanical hum. Based on the complex data structuring knowledge he had extracted from Datamon, guiding the digivolution toward Gigadramon was undoubtedly the most efficient route available to him right now.
After all, between his past encounters and recent battles, he had accumulated a wealth of hands-on experience manipulating the data of Dragon-type and Cyborg-type Digimon.
"How does it feel, Drimogemon?" Mizuki called out, shielding his eyes from the dust kicked up by the dragon's thrusters. "Or rather, I suppose I should call you Gigadramon now."
"I—Is this what Ultimate-level digivolution feels like? This sensation... it's absolutely incredible!" Gigadramon roared, the sound vibrating with a metallic resonance. He banked sharply through the clouds, reveling in the sheer, explosive power surging through his newly upgraded cybernetic core. "If I ran into that Devimon creep right now, I bet I could pin him to the dirt and use him as a mop!"
He paused, hovering in place as he inspected his massive, clawed mechanical hands. "Though, if there's one downside to this... digging tunnels is going to be a lot harder."
"If you want to dig, you can revert to your Drimogemon form whenever you like." Mizuki's voice drifted up from the ground, carrying a distinct tone of amusement. "I factored in your personal preferences when I rewrote your code. I left specific sub-routines in your data core. Not only can you slide back into your Champion form at will, but you can also actively scale down your physical size while remaining a Gigadramon. That way, you won't get stuck if you ever need to maneuver through those narrow underground tunnels you love so much."
Gigadramon's mechanical eyes widened. Trusting Mizuki's words, he focused inward, mobilizing the newly structured data within his core.
Almost instantly, a familiar shroud of light enveloped his massive frame. The colossal dragon shrank rapidly, the metallic plating dissolving back into organic data until he landed softly on the dirt—back in his stout, drill-nosed Drimogemon form.
"It seems you've adapted to the new power perfectly," Mizuki said, a genuine smile touching his lips. "I'm relieved."
Giving Drimogemon a final, approving nod, Mizuki turned and waved a hand toward the towering MetalGreymon standing nearby. "Well then. I suppose this is where we part ways."
"Eh?!" Drimogemon froze, his claws hovering awkwardly in the air. He had fully expected the human to recruit him after granting him such an unbelievable gift. The sudden farewell left him completely stunned. "Wait a minute... Lord Mizuki, you're just... letting me leave? Just like that?"
"What else would I do?" Mizuki paused, looking back over his shoulder with a slow blink. "We only met by chance. Besides, it's obvious enough. All you really want is a quiet, peaceful life, isn't it, Drimogemon? So, we'll say our goodbyes here."
Mizuki offered a small, reassuring wave. "Just be careful out there next time. Try not to be so reckless. I hope you get to enjoy that easy, peaceful life you're looking for."
Leaving behind those gentle words of advice, Mizuki turned his back and walked away, his companions falling into step behind him. He didn't look back.
Drimogemon remained rooted to the spot, utterly dumbfounded. He stared at the human's retreating back. Mizuki's gentle smile, the casual way he had offered such a miraculous gift, and the complete lack of demands—it all replayed in his mind.
"...Yes. A peaceful life. That's all I want," Drimogemon muttered to himself, staring at his claws. "After all, I'm just an ordinary Drimogemon at heart. Even if I possess the power of an Ultimate-level now, that fundamental truth hasn't changed."
He looked up again, the group now just silhouettes in the distance. "Lord Mizuki... he's so gentle. It felt incredibly comfortable just being near him. But..." He shook his head slowly. "The path they walk is destined to be bathed in conflict. There won't be any peace where they're going. So... parting ways here really is the best outcome for me."
...The best outcome.
Was it?
It should be. Logically, it made perfect sense.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, a heavy, persistent dullness settled over Drimogemon's data core. He had lived his entire life as a solitary Digimon, perfectly content in his isolation. He had never felt this strange, hollow ache before.
Unable to process the complex emotion, Drimogemon let out a frustrated sigh and scratched his head with his small claws. Shaking off the feeling, he revved the massive drill on his snout. With a familiar, comforting whir, he dove headfirst into the dirt, burying himself deep underground, just as he always did.
Meanwhile, a fair distance away.
As they walked, MetalGreymon kept casting sideways glances at Mizuki, occasionally shifting his heavy gaze toward the unusually silent LadyDevimon floating nearby.
The quiet stretched on for a few minutes, broken only by the heavy thud of the cyborg dinosaur's footsteps. Finally, MetalGreymon couldn't hold it in anymore. "So... we really just said goodbye to the little fatty?"
"What's wrong, MetalGreymon?" Mizuki turned his head, a teasing glint in his eye. "Are you already missing him?"
However, the brutally honest MetalGreymon completely missed the sarcastic undertone. He simply nodded his massive, scarred head. "Yes, Lord Mizuki. It is incredibly rare for me to find someone I can actually hold a decent conversation with. Leaving him behind like that... it leaves a rather reluctant feeling in my chest."
"Rare to find someone you can talk to?" Mizuki stopped walking, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "The way you phrase that... MetalGreymon, didn't you get along perfectly fine with the Virus-type MetalGreymon and SkullGreymon? Not to mention, don't you have two Megadramon companions traveling with you?"
"Well, that is technically true..." MetalGreymon lifted a massive claw, awkwardly scratching at his metallic jawline. He let out a booming, hearty laugh. "But whenever I try talking to them, I often feel like my cognitive processors are completely incompatible with theirs. It's like talking to a brick wall that occasionally shoots missiles."
"Right. Well..." Mizuki stared at the towering, heavily armed cyborg dinosaur. Seeing the utterly simple-minded, earnest expression on MetalGreymon's face, Mizuki found himself temporarily at a loss for words.
Had he accidentally scrambled some of the guy's intelligence parameters during the digivolution process? No, that didn't make sense. The data structure had been flawless. The only logical conclusion was that this particular MetalGreymon was just naturally a bit... dense.
Hmm... Yeah, that has to be it, Mizuki thought, nodding to himself in silent agreement.
His internal musings were abruptly cut short by a cold, velvet voice from his left.
"Lord Mizuki. Was what we just did truly the right course of action?" LadyDevimon asked.
Mizuki glanced at her, his expression neutral. "Hmm? What exactly are you referring to?"
"The Drimogemon, of course," she replied, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly. She hesitated for a fraction of a second, the chains wrapped around her dark form clinking softly, before finally voicing the frustration she had been bottling up. "Lord Mizuki, I cannot help but feel that you were far too lenient—too kind—to that creature."
"What was that?!" MetalGreymon snapped, his casual demeanor vanishing in an instant. Though he usually acted like a simpleton, the moment anyone dared to question Mizuki's judgment, his combat protocols flared to life. He stepped forward, his massive frame casting a heavy shadow over the fallen angel, radiating a fierce, oppressive aura. "LadyDevimon, are you daring to question Lord Mizuki's decisions?!"
LadyDevimon didn't flinch. She met the cyborg dinosaur's glare with icy indifference, not showing a single sign of backing down. "I am not questioning Lord Mizuki's authority, you overgrown lizard," she retorted sharply. "I am simply concerned. I worry that Lord Mizuki's generosity will be taken for granted, or worse, betrayed by that Digimon. After all, you know exactly what Lord Mizuki's power represents to the Digimon of this world. It is a temptation few can resist."
The tension spiked. Seeing that MetalGreymon and LadyDevimon were seconds away from tearing into each other, Belle stepped forward, preparing to intervene and defuse the situation. But before she could speak, Mizuki gently raised a hand, stopping her in her tracks.
He offered Belle a subtle wink, silently signaling that he had the situation under control. Turning his attention back to the escalating argument, Mizuki spoke, his voice calm but carrying an obvious weight.
"MetalGreymon. Stand down and relax."
The cyborg dinosaur immediately halted, though he kept a suspicious eye on the dark angel.
Mizuki then shifted his gaze to his dark partner. "And LadyDevimon... I understand your concern. Truly, I do. But before we get into that, I need you to answer one simple question for me."
"A question?"
LadyDevimon blinked, momentarily stunned by the sudden pivot. She looked deep into Mizuki's dark, unreadable eyes, her initial defensiveness slowly melting into genuine confusion.
She bowed her head slightly, the chains on her arm rattling. "Of course, Lord Mizuki. Ask whatever you wish."
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