Knights of the Digital World

This point will absolutely not waver.

However, Emu also adjusted his mindset after this battle.

He, Eimichi Hosho, is just a novice who is still figuring things out on his own.

He's still very weak!

He still needs more training!

He is not yet capable of being someone else's support!

But he will become stronger! He will grow into someone others can rely on! He will become a guardian of smiles!

This is his belief, that of Eimichi Hosho!

In her previous life, Emu smoothly passed the postgraduate entrance exam and never experienced the harsh realities of society.

In this life, I've been blessed with numerous advantages, and I haven't experienced many setbacks along the way.

The only time I felt helpless and powerless was when I was taken away by the Dark Beast.

That feeling of being controlled by others was unpleasant, and it was from that time that Emu began to crave power.

However, Emu continued to receive instruction from Darkmon. Perhaps because he was traveling with Emu and had someone to talk to, Darkmon became less erratic and his personality became more like his pre-Soldier Soul self—gentle and friendly.

This made Emu forget his initial helplessness. His battles with those Ultimate-level Digimon further caused him to miss his own true strength.

He is still pursuing power, but this is just a continuation of his past behavior.

Emu had actually become complacent.

He believed that his strength was already considerable, and that he could handle even battles against ultimate-level opponents.

So he would scold Parad, and he would try to hide himself as well. If there weren't too many Gizmon and Parad and the others couldn't handle them, Emu would have waited for the opponent's Ultimate-level power level to appear before making a move, just like Gallantmon and the others.

Then, with the help of the Gundam cartridge, he might be able to exchange a few blows with his opponent, and then wait for Gallantmon and Gyromon to overwhelm him, before indulging in the illusion that he is too strong.

Even now, all he can do is watch others fight, watch his partner get seriously injured, and wait helplessly.

Emu finally awoke from his blissful dream.

He began to reflect on himself, to face the facts, and to think about the future.

This setback was not a bad thing; it allowed Emu to begin her transformation and truly mature.

Misfortune comes with blessings, and blessings come with misfortunes.

Nothing could be more true than this.

…………

After treatment by the medics at the DATs base, Palad's condition stabilized.

Digimon have incredible regenerative abilities; as long as they aren't knocked back into their Digi-Eggs, most injuries can heal themselves in a short time.

With the help of targeted medication, Parad was able to recover in about six days, not ten.

Thanks to the Digimon's incredible regenerative abilities, the doctor didn't require Parad to stay in the medical room for observation. Instead, he explained some precautions to Emu and then let Emu take Parad back.

After thanking the doctor, Emu carried Palad towards her room.

After a day of fighting and a mental ordeal, Emu began a crucial transformation in her life. All of this left Emu feeling exhausted; even as she walked, her eyelids began to droop.

"Emu, am I really that useless?"

Parad, who had remained silent throughout the treatment, suddenly spoke.

"Huh? How could you have such a thought?"

"Look, everyone else is fine, but I'm the only one who's so badly injured..."

"Don't overthink it. You were ambushed by a Bio-Spinosaurus. That's an Ultimate-level Pokémon."

"Besides, weren't you helping Dai and the others all along? Dai, Toma, Shuno, Agumon, Gaomon, and Ralamon all said they were very grateful to you. If it weren't for you, they would definitely have been seriously injured."

Yongmeng felt that Palad was depressed because of his injury, and his sleepiness was driven away by her concern, so she quickly comforted Palad.

"But isn't it because I'm weak? If... if I had the power of Gallantmon and the others, how could I have been ambushed and seriously injured?"

Parad has his own ideas.

“Emu, I… don’t want to experience that helplessness anymore… that helplessness of life being on the verge of ending…”

"Furthermore, I yearn to fight like Gallantmon and the others. I don't want to be just a spectator the next time I face such a battle..."

"Toma and the others are also asking how the eight-legged horse-like beast can become stronger. They're probably not resigned to it either..."

Yongmeng stopped walking at some point, and Palad's voice echoed in the corridor.

"And you, Emu. You're not reconciled either, are you? We're partners, you know. I can't hide your thoughts from you."

"..."

“Yes, Parad. I’m not reconciled. I thought I was strong enough to be a part of the battle, but… I was wrong.”

"I am not strong enough. When it comes to the final battle, I can only watch from the sidelines and place my hopes on others."

"If you can't even participate in the final battle, what right do you have to say you're strong?"

Emu confided his true feelings to Palad.

"...Emu, let's get stronger together!"

Parad stared intently at Emu, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"Ah, isn't that obvious?" Emu replied with a smile, and walked back towards the room.

Palad nestled in Yongmeng's arms and fell silent.

This experience was even more impactful for her than for Emu. After all, she had truly walked the line between life and death.

Originally, she liked clothes, bags, and cosmetics. Although she was very talented and grew into a Rookie Digimon capable of fighting against Champion-level Digimon in a short time after birth, she never focused on fighting and had no obsession with becoming stronger.

But this brush with death made her realize the law of the jungle.

Just as she told Emu, if she were as strong as Crimson Knightmon and the others, how could she have gotten hurt?

Ultimately, it's just not strong enough!

Moreover, besides this reason, she had another reason she didn't tell Emu.

That is for the expectation of eternal dreams.

In fact, Parad was lying; she didn't expect to fight like Gallantmon and the others.

The desire for power is still present, of course, but it's for survival.

If she could, she would be willing to remain a spectator and watch from the sidelines.

However, she could sense that her partner didn't think that way.

As Emu's partner Digimon, Parad's will has long been in harmony with his. They can vaguely sense each other's thoughts and feelings.

Parad could sense Yongmeng's resentment and his desire to participate.

After listening to Emu's heartfelt words, I completely understood Emu's thoughts.

Since Emu wants to become stronger and become a key figure in determining the course of battles, his partner, Parad, will also strive to achieve that goal.

Because she and Emu are one. If she becomes stronger, it means that Emu has become stronger.

"Don't worry, Emu. I will fulfill your dream!"

Palad buried his head in Eternal Dream's arms and made up his mind.

Parad would do anything for Eternal Dream!

This is Pallad's determination!

Chapter 21, Evolve into Ultimate Level! LadyDevimon!

Parad recovered faster than the doctors expected, and was fully recovered in just five days.

The group went to the base for a check-up the next day and were all found to be in good health.

After several busy days, Captain Samo finally cleaned up the mess.

The higher-ups were still very dissatisfied with not being able to obtain the information, and they also had some opinions about Captain Samo deliberately delaying the process.

However, Captain Satsuma also had something to say: Digimon battles are so dangerous, how could he just run over there? He was doing this for the safety of the soldiers!

Coupled with the former research institute site that looked like it had been bombarded by countless artillery shells, Captain Satsuma's words gained a lot of credibility.

The higher-ups can't exactly say things like, "The data is the most important thing; whether people die or not doesn't matter," can they?

In addition, Captain Satsuma has done a great job in dealing with Kurata this time, so it's not fair to be too harsh on him.

Previously, the higher-ups had agreed with the Digimon side that they would each rely on their own methods. Now that they are outmatched, they have no reason to protest to the Digimon side.

Are we going to protest that the Digimon's methods are too powerful?

That's truly shameful.

Therefore, the higher-ups had no choice but to accept it reluctantly.

Captain Samo was also sent back to DATs.

Captain Samo, who had originally made a great contribution, should have been rewarded. But now the higher-ups are annoyed by him, so he's been stripped of any reward and told to get out of there and stop hanging around.

Captain Samo is actually quite happy with this situation. Going back to base to make coffee and talk things out is much more comfortable than running around everywhere on his own.

In addition, Ikuto Noguchi has returned to his biological parents.

The Noguchi couple had already given up hope.

Ten years ago, in their search for their child, they were also members of the Digital Expedition Team and witnessed firsthand the power of Digimon.

How can a newborn baby survive in such a dangerous world?

Even if he isn't killed by a Digimon, without food and water, he'll die on his own in no time.

Unexpectedly, Yu Ren survived by encountering a kind-hearted snowman beast, who raised her and allowed her to reunite with her parents.

The Noguchi couple also cared deeply for their child, whom they had lost and found again, showing him warmth and concern every day.

While feeling out of place, Yuuto could also sense the care from the Noguchi couple. It was a parental love, like that of a snowman.

Blood is thicker than water. Besides, it wasn't the Noguchi couple who wanted to abandon him in the first place. After a few days of adjustment, Ikuto also accepted his parents.