Digital Hackers' Memories

"Is it enough for me to just forgive Xin?"

Should I tell you everything?

"If I do this... will I avoid being abandoned by everyone?"

As memories of the past flashed through Mijima Ryuji's mind, his tone became increasingly grief-stricken and indignant.

However, the increasingly cynical Ryuji Mishima failed to notice the complex and unfathomable expression on the face of the Cyber ​​Dragon behind him.

As a fully evolved form raised by Ryuji Mishima, Cyberdramon is arguably the one who understands him best.

Whether it's Ryuji's willingness to act as Rie Kishibe's lackey in order to cure his sister's illness...

Or perhaps it's the scene of Ryuji carrying the butterfly and everyone silently shedding tears of sadness—Cyberdramon knows it all perfectly well.

However, it was precisely because Cyberdramon knew Ryuji Mishima's character that it knew that the current Ryuji was not normal.

Such self-pity and despair should never appear in this man who has always been strong and stoic.

Especially with Chitose's mental data being devoured by the Corruptor, and Erika and Keisuke needing Ryuji the most, such a cowardly situation would absolutely not happen to this man.

"Ryuji..."

Just as the electronic dragon beast behind Ryuji Mishima was about to say something, a crisp sound suddenly came from the eight-sided rhomboid structure in front of them.

Rumble…

The next second, the entire core area trembled as if an earthquake had struck, and the ground beneath Ryuji and the mecha dragon beast began to crack.

"What...what happened?"

Startled awake by the sudden tremor, Ryuji instinctively looked up at the eight-sided rhomboid structure in front of him and was shocked to find that it had split open in the middle.

That was the true core of the Valhalla server that YUGO was willing to use all the hackers in EDEN to crack and conquer, the legendary Under Zero, which was said to be the "ideal land" of the hackers.

However, contrary to YUGO's imagination, this so-called "ideal land" did not contain the new order and new hope she had envisioned. Instead, it hid a demon that could devour people's hearts.

"connect……"

As the "ideal world" opened, a crimson, evil light gradually spread from another world.

It was a terrifying light capable of devouring hearts and destroying the world.

Under the shimmering light, Ryuji Mishima's already clouded mind began to sink into an even darker abyss.

"Connecting...the world..."

"The time for liberation has come..."

The muffled, intermittent sounds continued to echo, and the crimson, evil light continued to spread.

"My name is... Arkadimon!"

"All things perish, but I shall return!"

So, as the intermittent sound became clearer, the scarlet light had already condensed into a deep, solid entity, enticing Ryuji Mishima to approach him little by little.

"..."

In this situation, CyberDragon decisively leaped forward and blocked Ryuji Mishima's path.

Although there were no words spoken, the resolute and sincere gaze of Cyberdramon still moved Ryuji Mishima. For a moment, he seemed to have transformed back into that strong and patient man.

Unfortunately, this illusion lasted for less than a second.

Giggle...

Just like it was devouring its prey, the constantly rotating octagonal rhomboid structure paused and then suddenly enveloped the electronic dragon beast that was blocking the two.

The data was instantly broken down and devoured; the Ultimate-level Cyberdramon didn't even have time to react before it became nourishment for the birth of Arkadimon.

tumultuous!

After obtaining all the data of Cyberdramon, the crimson entity symbolizing Arkadimon suddenly expanded, radiating even greater power.

Then, under the influence of this renewed power, Ryuji Mishima finally succumbed completely.

"That's right, if only we had done it this way from the beginning."

Ignoring the Cyberdramon that sacrificed itself for him, Ryuji Mishima stared blankly at the crimson entity, his memories, which had once held some color, turning completely gray at that moment.

Since parting is an inevitable fate, why meet in the first place?

JUDE, parents, Erika, Chitose, Keisuke...

Since these people will leave me sooner or later, why should I invest so much emotion in them in the first place?

If they were all like those strangers, even if they left me, I certainly wouldn't be in so much pain now, right?

"Yes, if it were a stranger, I definitely wouldn't be in so much pain."

A familiar crimson glint flashed in his eyes as Mishima Ryuji straightened up and chose to accept the power of Arkadimon.

"But before that, I must first take my revenge."

YUGO, Zaxom, the Invader, and even that MetalGreymon...

It's all because of these lousy guys that I've suffered so much pain.

To end their suffering, those guys must all die!

[I will exchange the destruction of all things for my rebirth!]

Go forth and wreak havoc, Ryuji Mishima!

Chapter Twenty-One: The Eight Extremes Fist of the Mecha Dragon Beast

"Invaders and Digimon deserve to die!"

The voice didn't fluctuate much in volume, but the mecha dragon beast seemed to hear a deep-seated hatred in Mijima Ryuji's words.

Before the Armored Dragonmon could react, a crimson light suddenly surged from Ryuji Mishima's body, and then, to his astonishment, transformed into a Rookie Digimon with hands like scythes and a flesh-colored body.

"Arkadimon?!"

No further words are needed to describe it; the moment this Digimon appeared, MetalGreymon felt its hair stand on end.

Because he knew this Digimon, or rather, anyone who knew anything about Digimon lore understood the special status of this Digimon in the entire Digital World.

For Digimon, different evolutionary stages have different names, which is proof that they are constantly evolving upwards.

However, there was one exception in the entire evolutionary history of the digital world.

Whether in its infancy or near-ultimate form, the Digimon that evolved from the malignant virus has only one name—Arkadimon.

Throughout the history of the Digital World's development and setting, Arkadimon is the only Digimon whose name has remained unchanged from its Baby form to its Ultimate form.

Whether it's because other Digimon can't follow this evolution path, or because Arkadimon is the "only" Arkadimon in the Digital World, it's enough to show its special nature.

However, what truly left a lasting impression on the Mechdramon was not this aspect, but rather its terrifying strength and unique design.

In the previous life's encyclopedia setting, Arkadimon was not only one of the few Digimon in the early stages that was officially recognized as being able to become a Super Ultimate level Digimon.

Furthermore, during its growth stage, it demonstrated the malicious nature of Arkadimon, which could devour and destroy networks, thus determining its future evolutionary direction.

It's important to know that typical Digimon encyclopedias, before the Ultimate level, usually only contain some biological descriptions and characteristics, rarely touching on the higher-level network and data-related fundamental settings.

Even among the thirteen Royal Knights who stand at the pinnacle of the Digital World, only two revealed their "attribute settings" during their growth stage.

One is Gallantmon, the counterpart of Apocalymon, which bears the "Digital Crisis" mark and is prophesied to destroy the world.

The other is Alphamon, the "Holder of the Void" appointed by Yggdrasil. Its original design was as an "experimental prototype Digimon".

In other words, any Digimon whose "attribute settings" are directly stated in the setting encyclopedia, rather than some vague biological description, are all powerful beings who have not yet grown up.

Obviously, Arkadimon, which possesses all of the above characteristics, is a top-tier boss that surpasses all Virus-type Digimon.

Even though it is still in its growth stage, given its established strength and battle record, dealing with ordinary complete forms is as easy as cutting melons and vegetables.

tumultuous!

The mecha dragon beast clearly realized this as well. Feeling the hairs on its body standing on end, it did not hesitate for a moment and decisively raised the two biological cannons at its waist to begin charging.

"Kill it!"

Seeing this, Ryuji Mishima, who had already become a puppet of the Arkadi Beast, gave the order without hesitation.

Tear!

In an instant, Arkadimon became a blur, its arms, sharper than any blade, tearing through the air as it slashed fiercely down at the Armored Dragonmon.

"call!"

Following its own combat instincts, the Mech Dragon Beast stopped forcing the biological cannon to charge up and instead used an almost unbelievable combat technique to make its blood surge and boil.

Silence!

His muscles suddenly bulged, and his powerful arms transformed from claws into fists!

The fist pierced the air with a sharp sonic boom, and the vicious elbow strike was like thunder and a tiger's roar...

When such continuous attacks also turned into afterimages, what came into Mijima Ryuji's eyes was a scene of fist winds gathering and storms taking shape.

boom! boom! boom!

Supported by a vitality that surpasses the limits of human imagination, this combat technique, derived from ancient human martial arts, displays terrifying lethality.

Spikes, fists, elbows, knees, calves, tail, and even those two tiny wings...

At this moment, every part of the Armored Dragon Beast seemed to have transformed into the most ferocious weapon, attacking Arkadimon with incredible speed and rhythm.

Every punch, every kick, every knee strike, every elbow strike was incredibly fluid, carrying an aura of dominance and brutality, precisely targeting Arkadimon's potentially vital areas.

Knees, groin, solar plexus, throat, forehead...

Each attack, each punch, created a tangible storm, causing everything around it to spin and fly.

This punch is the Fist of the Storm!

This fist technique is the Bajiquan style!

boom! boom! boom!

Under the onslaught of the storm, Arkadimon, which had launched the first attack, was knocked off the ground by Metaldramon and completely lost its ability to control the battlefield.

This exaggerated scene not only exceeded Ryuji Mishima's imagination, but even the Mechadramon itself did not expect it.

Bajiquan is a martial art where humans train their joints to become weapons for combat.

The mecha dragon beast had only a slight understanding of the outline and combat philosophy of this fist technique before, and had never actually practiced it.

However, despite the powerful physique of the Armored Dragonmon and the fighting instincts of the Asuramon, he displayed a "Bajiquan" that was completely different from that of humans, based only on a few words circulating on the Internet.

This is not the Bajiquan as understood by ordinary people, but a killing technique of the mecha dragon beast that maximizes the lethality of every part of its body under the guidance of the outline and combat philosophy of Bajiquan.

"call!"

The muscles in his body rippled and surged, and all the blood and energy rushed into his body...

After once again sending Arkadimon flying into the air, the Armored Dragonmon exhaled a breath of turbid air, drawing in the surrounding air currents to create a towering storm.

boom!

This time, nothing could stop the biological cannon from charging up.

The surging white light beams instantly pierced through the entire storm, completely engulfing the Arkadi Beast in mid-air.

—Death Rocket Launcher!!!

Beneath that surging white light, matter was broken down into its most basic particles.

Even in this completely data-driven space, few creatures can withstand a shockwave of this magnitude; those struck by the beam of light are either killed or maimed.

Because this was not originally designed to deal with living beings, but rather a strategic biological beam cannon derived from the data inherited by the Iron Empire from the Mech Dragon Beast.

Theoretically speaking, even a Digimon of the same Ultimate level could not withstand this light cannon head-on without being injured, let alone Arkadimon, which is two levels lower.

Well, at least that's what the Armored Dragon Beast thinks.

If it weren't for the opponent's exaggerated battle record and settings, MetalGreymon would never have been able to unleash such combat power beyond its own physical limits when facing a Rookie-level Digimon.

************************

PS: I originally planned to write about daily life in this volume, but judging from the subscriptions, it seems that everyone prefers a storyline with a main plot.

Therefore, these two chapters will introduce the main storyline, which will focus on Ryuji's corruption and establish the main theme of this volume—the relationship between humans and Digimon!

Yes, your favorite Erika should also make her official appearance in this storyline.