Digital Hackers' Memories

A massive wind blade suddenly slashed out from the depths of the tunnel, bringing with it a sudden gust of wind that quickly extinguished the increasingly out-of-control white flames.

"Looks like we arrived just in time?"

Immediately following, accompanied by a low murmur, the massive figure of the Bolt Beast slowly emerged from the darkness, along with the floating Fierce Ghost Beast.

"A ferocious beast?"

Watching the Boltmon slowly sheath its double-edged giant axe on its back, the EarthGreymon knew without a doubt that the huge wind blade just now must have been created by it.

It could annihilate itself with a super explosion without the raging winds affecting it.

Putting aside how terrifying the power and skills required are, this level of control alone is something that ordinary fully-formed beings cannot possess.

At the very least, the metal dragon beast that I just destroyed definitely couldn't have done that.

"who are you?"

Greymon is an aggressive Digimon, let alone the even more ferocious EarthGreymon, which is even more violent than the regular Greymon.

At this moment, the reason why the Earth Tyrannosaurus Beast, which sensed the danger, did not attack was not only because Chen Ze's own will was suppressing its instincts, but also because of the ferocious demon beast beside it.

The EarthGreymon hadn't forgotten the kind reminder from the Demon Beast, even though it hadn't been very helpful. It still remembered this somewhat special Demon Beast.

"I am Boltmon, a Digimon banished by the Steel Empire."

Ignoring the palpable hostility emanating from the EarthGreymon, Boltmon was already used to it.

Neither fear nor hatred of unfamiliar digital beings mattered to Boltmon; it simply lived according to its bodily instincts.

"Bolt Beast?"

Unlike Boltmon's calm demeanor, EarthGreymon's eyes widened involuntarily the moment it heard the other's name.

EarthGreymon had heard of Boltmon's existence, whether in its past life memories or in the anecdotes and legends occasionally mentioned by Renamon X.

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In the history of the digital world, the steel empire is a topic that can never be avoided.

It was due to a series of actions by the Steel Empire that a large number of mechanical/modified Digimon were born.

The reason why the Steel Empire is called the "Steel Empire" is because these mechanical and modified Digimon are so famous.

However, few people know that in addition to mechanization, the Steel Empire was also conducting research on some kind of biological experiment.

Or to put it another way, the so-called "mechanized modification surgery" actually contains both mechanized and biological technologies.

Chrono-Digital Alloy possessing biological properties, and modifications that fuse living organisms with metal...

None of these tasks can be accomplished using only advanced mechanical technology.

Purely mechanical Digimon like Gearmon, Guardianmon, MachineGearmon, and even Andromon, could perhaps be created using simple mechanical technology.

However, the subsequent mechanization surgery on Beanmon and Dragon-type Digimon inevitably involved quite advanced biotechnology.

In other words, the Steel Empire has also made considerable achievements in biotechnology.

If we trace this biotechnology back to its source, we cannot bypass the existence of a creature called "Screw Beast".

As mentioned earlier, after digital armor technology was banned, the Steel Empire's research directions became diverse, leading to two different branches.

One is a Digimon created based on the concept of "machinery," consisting entirely of mechanical parts and 100% mechanized.

Andromon, born at the Perfect level, and Mugendramon, destined to break the limits of Perfect level, represent the pinnacle of this series of technologies.

In contrast, another research branch of the Steel Empire is based on the concept of "body," transplanting various powerful biological components to create 100% biological Digimon.

In the second season of Digimon, Chimairamon, which forced Magnamon to emerge, was a product of this technology.

However, Chimeramon corresponds to Mugendramon, which also has a dragon-like shape, while the humanoid Andromon is a character that has never appeared in any anime storyline—Screwmon.

Of course, the above correspondence is only a design and scheme correspondence, and does not represent their respective strength levels.

Because the origin of these four Digimon was actually just a draft within the Steel Empire, and the specific circumstances were analyzed on a case-by-case basis.

For example, the Infinite Dragonmon created during the heyday of the Steel Empire is definitely not on the same level as the Chimeramon created by the Tyrannosaurus Modifier Ken Ichijouji in the second part of the story.

The former is the strongest Digimon that cannot be defeated by all the Ultimate Digimon combined in the Digital World, thus formally establishing the concept of the "Ultimate" level.

The latter was merely a powerful Ultimate-level being. Although it had a near-defeating record against Magnamon, it ultimately failed to surpass the limits of a typical Ultimate-level being.

The same applies to Andromon and Boltmon.

As Digimon born at the same time, there is a huge difference in power between these two Digimon.

In EarthGreymon's memory, Andromon's record as an Ultimate-level monster was incredible; it had even fought against two of the strongest Dark Masters and escaped unscathed.

It's easy to imagine the immense power that Boltmon, which is even more ferocious and powerful than Andromon in the lore, possesses.

If it weren't for a bug in Boltmon's emotional programming that caused it to develop its own will and break free from the control of its agents, Boltmon would be the strongest "artificial warrior" in the Steel Empire.

This was true at least before Mugendramon broke the limit of Perfect level and introduced the concept of "Ultimate level" into the Digital World.

Even so, after witnessing Boltmon's rampaging power, the agent couldn't bear to destroy this flawed Digimon and could only banish and hide it in this dark sewer world.

In a sense, the so-called "forbidden zone" of the sewer system was created specifically to imprison Boltmon—because it also has the potential to become the "strongest Digimon".

Even now, a considerable number of agents are still researching Boltmon's power, attempting to replicate a more controllable and powerful Digimon.

As for those filthy digital beasts that fled here?

The agents simply didn't want to completely enrage the Bolt Beasts, which is why they left them alone.

Chapter Thirty: The Messenger of the Concept of Evolution

"Are you a bolt beast?"

Because of his great love for the Digimon anime series in his previous life, EarthGreymon even went out of his way to learn about some behind-the-scenes information and data.

Especially before this anime series started rehashing old material, EarthGreymon was a loyal fan of the series.

Unfortunately, the EarthGreymon from his student days didn't come from a wealthy family, and by the time he was able to earn money himself, he no longer had the time or energy to think about these things.

So even though he knew that the games were the "core" of the anime series, EarthGreymon had never actually played any of the Digimon games.

Even my knowledge of the Bolt Beast came about by chance while reading a novel.

It is said that the design of the Bolt Monster was based on the famous science fiction novel, Frankenstein.

The main story of Frankenstein is actually quite simple. It mainly tells the story of a mad scientist named Frankenstein who plans to create a life form on his own, saying that he wants to create a perfect "human".

So he carefully selected the body parts he dug up from the cemetery, used his professional knowledge to determine that the parts were still usable, pieced them together into a human shape, and finally brought the body to life by electrocution.

But soon Frankenstein realized it was a serious mistake; he had created a monster, and from then on, he and the monster were locked in a love-hate relationship.

In most versions of the story, Frankenstein's monster is a being with monstrous powers but no sense of good or evil.

Some alternative versions even portray Frankenstein's monster as a kind person with "monster powers".

Regardless of whether these different versions of Frankenstein's monster have their own rationale, from the perspective of Bolt, it does inherit some of the settings of Frankenstein's monster.

Both were stitched together from parts of different creatures, both possessed monstrous power, and both were banished by their creators...

They even share the same 'kind' nature...

Thinking of this, EarthGreymon couldn't help but glance at the Demonmon next to Boltmon.

If he remembered correctly, ever since he encountered those filthy digital beasts, they had been clamoring for the protection of a "big guy".

Clearly, the Bolt Beast is the "big guy" they were talking about, which can be seen from the performance of the Demon Beast.

Thinking about this, a new question arose in the depths of EarthGreymon's mind—Screwmon seems to be an Ultimate-level being, right?

But while the Boltmon in front of me is powerful, it doesn't look like an Ultimate-level Digimon at all.

Not to mention comparing it to SwordKingmon, one of the Royal Knights, even its evolved form, Asuramon, seems to possess strength that is no less than the other's.

Wait, Boltmon isn't even an Ultimate form yet?

As if suddenly remembering something, the EarthGreymon opened its eyes wide again and looked up at the collapsing dome above it.

Or more precisely, the EarthGreymon wanted to see the magnificent steel city through the tunnel above it.

The Digital World four thousand years ago, the Steel Empire at its peak, and Boltmon before it reached its Ultimate form...

All these signs point to one thing for EarthGreymon: a true Ultimate form has not yet been born in this era, and the Steel Dragon that redefined the concept of "strongest" has not yet been born.

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"It seems you know me, the messenger of the 'evolutionary concept'."

Stepping steadily across the ruins, Boltmon gazed at the EarthGreymon opposite him, which was several sizes larger than itself. Its calm eyes revealed a sense of sudden realization.

As an existence destined to be buried in darkness, the Bolt Beast has always been in the sorrow of "its own existence being denied".

Aside from occasionally rescuing weaker Digimon to make Boltmon feel its own presence, it rarely shows interest in anything and mostly just wanders in the darkness, letting itself fall into an endless abyss.

However, even such a bolt-shaped beast has a few things that can uplift its spirits—one of which is the "Evolutionary Concept" that once descended upon and saved the world in a time of crisis.

"The concept of evolution?"

However, compared to Boltmon's sudden realization, EarthGreymon seemed even more surprised than before—he knew about homeostasis, but what was the concept of evolution?

Also, why would Bolt mistakenly consider itself "the messenger of the concept of evolution"?

"It seems you still don't understand your mission?"

Seeing the bewildered look on EarthGreymon's face, Boltmon simply shook its head calmly, as if it wasn't surprised by the other's astonishment.

Because the previous savior chosen by the "concept of evolution" was also like that.

Only when a true crisis strikes will the savior chosen by the "concept of evolution" awaken and then turn the tide to save the digital world from its dire straits.

"I hate this feeling of playing cryptic games. You mean homeostasis when you say 'evolutionary concept'?"

The final boss of Lenovo Muji, Apocalymon, seems to be planning to implant the rule of "non-evolution" into the entire world. It is almost certain that the "evolution concept" mentioned by Boltmon refers to homeostasis.

"Constant and unchanging? Constantity? So this is the true name of 'He'?"

Boltmon maintained its almost "isolated" calm, but upon seeing the bewildered EarthGreymon, it suddenly felt a urge to confide in it.

“Messenger of constancy, perhaps you do not yet understand your mission, but I think I already know what is about to happen.”

Imitating the previous appearance of EarthGreymon, Boltmon looked up at the dome that was now covered with countless cracks and sighed in a tone that was hard to describe.

"My creators have finally come to this."

Upon hearing this, EarthGreymon immediately realized that the Boltmon in front of it might know where the huge explosion had come from and what was happening in the Steel Empire.

"The creators of the steel empire, my makers, are engaged in a civil war..."

"The previous explosion was caused by the Steel Empire's strategic weapon—the Giga Destruction Cannon..."

Without the Earth Tyrannosaurus Rex needing to ask, the Bolt Beast simply told everything it knew.

"It is a weapon of mass destruction capable of leveling an entire city in one go, and it is the strongest biological missile that only MetalGreymon can control."

"To make my creators go to such lengths as to replicate the data of the original Greymon in order to forcibly create a short-lived MetalGreymon..."

"This only means that they are nearing their end and are about to enter the realm of the gods!"

Chapter Thirty-One: The Strongest Digimon

In the heart of the now-ruined steel city, two agents, one in black and one in white, stand in a stalemate.

"Is this what you wanted?"

After a moment of silence, the first to speak was the agent dressed in white robes—Xuan Nei.

"To destroy everything we've fought for?!"

Looking around at his fallen comrades, Gennai felt his heart bleeding—this was not the ending he wanted.

In the explosion just now, even the sewers where the EarthGreymon was located were subjected to a powerful radiation impact, so the steel city on the surface was naturally no more intact.

In fact, the steel city had by then been completely reduced to ruins.

The original high-rise buildings have all collapsed, and only a few scattered Digimon are still fighting and killing each other.

As for who was responsible for this explosion?

MetalGreymon, which was barely a replica, died on the spot, its entire body disappearing with the explosion.

And what about Andromon, deep within the core of the explosion?

Although Gennai did not yet know its condition, he was certain that it had completely lost its ability to fight.

"This is just the 'necessary' price to pay."