Digital Hackers' Memories

The black-robed agent also did not expect that MetalGreymon's "hostility" towards Andromon was so strong, so strong that it would rather perish with the entire city than let Andromon die.

Even so, the black-robed agent believed that the current situation was acceptable.

If I can create a Digimon that symbolizes the concept of "the strongest", then I will definitely be able to rebuild an even more prosperous Steel Empire than it is now.

"You've really gone completely insane."

His eyes had changed from indignation to indifference. Gennai knew that in the eyes of this companion who did not regard life as "life," there was nothing that could not be sacrificed.

Whether it's the past glories of the agents or the Digimon that perished in this explosion...

In the eyes of the black-robed agents, it was all just a number, a measurable price, completely forgetting that behind those glories and lives were the efforts and cries of countless vibrant lives.

"Crazy? In my opinion, you've become a coward."

They were once such like-minded partners, they even co-founded the so-called "Evolutionist School"...

But after suffering a "blow," he turned into the cowardly man he is today, having lost his will to fight.

In the eyes of the black-robed agent, Xuan Nei was the "culprit" who betrayed him and caused the Steel Empire to become what it is today.

"We have ended up in this state because we did not know how to have a sense of awe for life and the world!"

Gennai stared coldly at the black-robed agent, but he no longer had the same thought as before about persuading the other party to return to the right path.

As the saying goes, "Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together." Gennai was well aware of the black-robed agent's will and ability, and that he had no chance of swaying the other party's mind.

"Since things have come to this, there's nothing more we can say."

With a barely perceptible sigh, the black-robed agent seemed to realize Xuan's determination and summoned a still-functioning mechanical armored beast from the ruined factory.

"Yes, we've long since run out of things to say."

Unlike the black-running agent, Gennei did not seize control of the mechanical armored beast. Instead, he directly extracted the surrounding free data and materialized a cannon in his own hands.

Even without the almost superhuman data adaptability of Digimon, agents of data lifeforms can still manipulate data to a certain extent, just like the hackers active in the EDEN network.

............................................................................................................

Just as the decisive battle between Xuan Nei and the black-robed agent was about to break out, inside a large factory in the core area.

This is one of the largest Digimon manufacturing plants in the entire Steel Empire, and also one of the final "convergence points" of the previous series of assembly line operations.

Even amidst the cataclysmic nuclear explosion of MetalGreymon, the factory stubbornly maintained its previous operating procedures, diligently piecing together the delivered parts.

Of course, this is not because the factory has particularly comprehensive protective measures.

In fact, in order to deliberately mislead Xuan Nei and the others, the black-robed agent did not set up high-level defenses for the factory.

Compared to laboratories and factories with higher defense levels, this factory's specifications are not even as high as the research institute that replicates MetalGreymon.

Yet this factory, which seemed unremarkable from any angle, miraculously survived the nuclear explosion.

Moreover, the factory has even preserved the complete design and assembly lines, enabling the structure to assemble itself under extreme conditions.

One coincidence can be considered a coincidence, but so many coincidences added together are naturally no longer a coincidence.

"Crisis resolved... Resume assembly process..."

At the very heart of the factory, a colossal structure, twenty meters tall, was being constructed and assembled.

A faint barrier emanated from its core, barely protecting the not-so-large factory and preventing it from being destroyed by MetalGreymon's nuclear explosion.

Although the exact form of this colossal creature is not yet apparent, its sheer size and structure are enough to make any living being aware of its immense power.

The outermost layer, consisting of a metal structure that is neither clearly armor nor bone, is connected and wrapped around the head, creating a pure mechanical aesthetic.

In the parts that are not covered up, you can see huge steel axles and components rotating, which can be interpreted as muscle tissue.

In addition, beneath those massive steel shafts and gears, a pitch-black "artificial digital core," as black as a black hole, was calmly operating and beating, just like a real heart.

This is the "core program" created by the Black Robe Agent over hundreds of years, bringing together the most cutting-edge technology of the Steel Empire.

It is under the protection of this "core program" that the factory has been able to be preserved intact and continue to operate under the various instructions issued by the "core program".

clack clack...

In just a short while, hundreds of Gear Beasts restored their previous order and then, following the instructions given by the core, diligently installed various digital alloy components onto the behemoth.

"Insufficient materials detected... Initiating automatic evolution program..."

Accompanied by the faint mechanical sound from before, a beam of light suddenly shone from the "core program" onto the nearest gear beast.

The next moment, the Gear Beast's body began to change, and it quickly evolved into a mature Guardian Beast.

clack clack...

Without the slightest hesitation, the newly born guardian beast quickly left the factory and headed towards the city, which had been reduced to ruins.

Chapter Thirty-Two: Steel Ruins

"This...is the Steel Empire?"

When the EarthGreymon, led by Boltmon, finally emerged from the dark underwater world, the first thing it saw was endless ruins.

This EarthGreymon's vision of a steel city is completely different; it's more like a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

However, when he thought about the energy shock that was comparable to the explosion of a nuclear bomb, the EarthGreymon felt that he could understand it a little.

The only thing that puzzled EarthGreymon was that even in this near-apocalyptic scene, the surviving machine-type Digimon were still fighting each other.

"This is the true steel empire."

Unlike the habitually silent Boltmon, Ghostmon, looking at the ruined skyscrapers and the Digimon still fighting, showed a rare expression of hatred.

It hates those cold, emotionless machines, just as it hates those who don't treat Digimon as agents of life.

The monster even felt that, compared to this magnificent industrial city, the filthy digital beasts living in the sewers were more like living beings.

"So what should you do next?"

With a helpless shrug, EarthGreymon remained noncommittal to Demonmon.

Following the historical trend of the digital world, the emergence of the Steel Empire was inevitable; the only difference was when it would appear.

"Stop my creators from destroying this world..."

Just then, the bolt beast, which had been silent all along, spoke.

"They are encroaching on the realm of God; the excessive accumulation of data will only accelerate the collapse of this world."

Raising an eyebrow slightly, EarthGreymon disliked this "sense of mission," especially after Boltmon called itself the "messenger of homeostasis."

However, he could also understand the bolt beast's concerns.

If the agents are indeed creating Digimon that symbolize the concept of "the strongest," as the other party claims, then this would indeed be a crisis for the Digital World.

In EarthGreymon's understanding, the so-called Digital World is actually a server running various different programs and codes.

The so-called World Tree and constancy refer to the host, system, or other similar entities of this server.

For beings of this caliber, the prosperity of the Digital World is their prosperity, and the power of the Digital World is their power.

Therefore, when a certain type of program or program in the digital world becomes too powerful and consumes a lot of resources, they will inevitably intervene and regulate it.

So, this is why homeostasis summoned me? To act as a deletion procedure?

Thinking about it, EarthGreymon felt that if he wasn't mistaken, the "crisis" that was taking up a lot of resources in the Digital World might be much more serious than Boltmon had imagined.

The prototype of the first Ultimate-level Digimon in the Digital World, and the origin of all mechanically modified Digimon...

If Homeostasis's summoning of him this time was truly to deal with the yet-to-be-born MetalGreymon, then EarthGreymon felt he could already start thinking about how to escape.

After all, not long ago, EarthGreymon was almost killed by SwordGreymon with a single sword strike, so it naturally knew what level of existence an Ultimate level being was.

That is a god walking among mortals, an ultimate power that all fully-powered beings combined cannot match...

In particular, it broke the shackles of Digimon evolution, forcibly creating a new level above the Ultimate level, namely Mugendramon.

From any perspective, the Steel Dragon that could force the Digital World to acknowledge the concept of "Ultimate" could not possibly be an Ultimate in the ordinary sense.

............................................................................................................

clack clack...

Just as the EarthGreymon, Boltmon, and Demonmon were all deep in thought, a mechanical scraping sound suddenly came from not far in front of them.

Looking in the direction of the sound, one could see that the Digimon that had just been fighting had suddenly collapsed to the ground.

Immediately afterwards, a stiff and sluggish guardian beast slowly emerged from the rubble, dragging a Thunder Beast whose fate was unknown.

"Is this truly a steel empire?"

Slowly lowering its body, the EarthGreymon sensed an inexplicable sense of danger from the guardian beast.

This is not normal, because although EarthGreymon and Guardianmon are both Champion-level Digimon, the difference in their strength is enormous.

EarthGreymon is a more aggressive subspecies than Greymon. Even ordinary EarthGreymon has the ability to challenge opponents of higher levels, let alone the EarthGreymon that Chen Ze evolved into.

In contrast, the Guardian Digimon, although also classified as Champion-level Digimon, are merely machine-type Digimon mass-produced by the Steel Empire, and are not even main combat members.

Most of the time, Guardian Beasts and Gear Beasts act as logistical support personnel, or simply as auxiliary roles.

Guardian Beasts are only deployed as second-line combatants when the opponent is too weak or when there is not enough time to produce Tank Beasts.

"It is not a member of the Steel Empire, at least not a member of the Steel Empire as I know it."

The simple-minded Boltmon didn't catch the sarcasm in EarthGreymon's words; it simply told the truth about everything it knew.

“All members of the Steel Empire are connected to the internal network, but I did not find any identification data for this guardian beast in the internal network.”

Before EarthGreymon could say anything, Demonmon spoke again.

“I take back what I just said. This is not the real Steel Empire.”

Sensing the same abnormality of the guardian beast, the Fierce Demon Beast cautiously hid behind the Bolt Beast.

Unlike Boltmon, Grimmon sensed the sarcasm in EarthGreymon's words, but it didn't take it to heart.

"Instead of worrying about what happened here, I think we should figure out how to escape now."

Before the ferocious beast finished speaking, another unusual guardian beast emerged from the ruins, and more guardian beasts followed one after another.

In the hands of these guardian beasts, more or less, they drag along a mechanical Digimon or its mechanical remains.

The Iron Mask Beast's iron shell, the Mine Beast's bombs, the Metal Bean Beast's cannons, the MetalGreymon's jaw, and even the mechanical arms of Megadramon and Gigadramon...

As far as the eye could see, those unusual guardian beasts were like scavengers in a post-apocalyptic world, picking up anything they thought might be useful.

Unfortunately, in their eyes, EarthGreymon, Boltmon, and Demonmon also seem to belong to the category of "recyclable waste".

Chapter Thirty-Three: You Need My Protection

"I don't think we can escape..."

"It seems I've rediscovered the joy of fighting and bickering with Renamon X," EarthGreymon instinctively retorted.

But then he realized that the creatures beside him were not Renamon X, but two unfamiliar Digimon.

Fortunately, neither Boltmon nor Ghostmon responded to EarthGreymon's comment.

The former is simply due to its personality; unless a necessary explanation is given, it has absolutely no desire to speak.

The latter, on the other hand, was simply cowardly and had no intention of refuting EarthGreymon's claims; he simply hid behind Boltmon with a look of fear on his face.

Of course, after witnessing the scene of the other party covering the retreat of the Dirty Digimon, EarthGreymon seriously doubted how much of this "fear" was real.

Perhaps, the Fear of the Demon Beast is only shown in front of the Bolt Beast?

Thinking of this, EarthGreymon glanced at Boltmon again out of the corner of its eye, wondering when this naturally dull-witted guy would notice Ghostmon's little scheme.

[They'll probably never realize it, right?]

It's no wonder that EarthGreymon thinks that way, because among the Digimon he's seen, the vast majority are simple-minded.

In contrast, Digimon with complex minds like Renamon X and Lilacmon are rare exceptions.

"Watch out, they're closing in!"

With the reminder from the Demon Beast, the EarthGreymon finally brought its scattered thoughts back to the unusual guardian beasts.

"These guys really have their eyes on us."

Although he had mentally prepared himself, when he actually saw this scene, EarthGreymon still couldn't help but sigh.

God knows what I've been through these past few days, the battles I've faced are more than I've fought in the first half of my life combined.

However, it was precisely because of these repeated encounters that EarthGreymon felt an unprecedented sense of excitement and exhilaration.