Digital Hackers' Memories

Furthermore, Chen Ze had never hidden his database from Priest Beast X, and she was even familiar with some of the hacking techniques that were still under development and whose completion was uncertain.

With such a thorough understanding of the situation, it was incredibly easy for the World Tree to shed its original body and take over this newly emerging form.

So much has happened in just a few days?

After reading about WarGreymon's actions over the past few days from Yggdrasil's records, Priestmon X was momentarily speechless.

In other words, I'm currently inside the 'World Tree System' created by Chen Ze?

Since the virtual system created by WarGreymon grows by absorbing data from the original World Tree, its architecture and underlying logic are not significantly different from the original World Tree core.

Perhaps the only difference is that the highest authority in this virtual system belongs to WarGreymon, and it is gradually replacing the original Yggdrasil core.

This is truly beyond insane.

It has no physical form, nor does it exist on any existing level...

After a brief silence, Priest Beast X, who existed merely as a form of "information," seemed to raise a faint smile on his face.

It's a reassuring smile that comes from knowing that no matter when or what happens, there's always someone silently supporting you.

But it's also thanks to his madness, otherwise I might not have been able to 'reborn'...

You're right, aren't you? The World Tree?

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The First Demon Fox Beast

As a backup of the World Tree and an avatar of the gods, Priest Beast X did not initially appear in the traditional human network world.

Eight years ago, when the human and digital worlds had just begun to intersect and the Invaders had just appeared, Priestmon X was born as an insignificant little foxmon in an ordinary founding village.

Like all young Digimon, Kokomon was unaware of the mission she carried or that her future was already predetermined.

Therefore, when the little fox was sent to the human world without warning, she felt only loneliness and panic.

Without a familiar environment or familiar partners, the traditional online world is nothing but chaotic information and endless boundaries.

It took the little fox beast a long time to adapt to that empty and desolate infinite space, and occasionally learned through some "windows" connecting to the outside world that there was a more prosperous and wonderful human world besides the traditional network where it was located.

It is a physical space completely different from the online world and the digital world, and the beings living there call themselves "humans".

Unlike Digimon that can continuously evolve and break through their limits, their lives seem to grow step by step along a predetermined trajectory.

But even such humans possess a wondrous thing called "technology".

Through technological means, humanity has built a vast world entirely composed of information, an infinite realm connected to the digital world.

And so, the little foxmon lived in that traditional online world until it evolved into the foxmon, who was proficient in information manipulation.

Feeling that it had developed a certain ability to protect itself, the fox-mon voluntarily left the traditional online world and tried to contact humans in another world through those "windows".

Unfortunately, most humans only see Youkomon as a hacker with a perverse sense of humor.

Upon realizing their computers had been hacked, their first reaction was to restart and unplug the network cable. The few humans who chose to communicate with Renamon (a banned word) didn't take what it said seriously.

Over time, the fox demon came to understand its current situation.

Humans in another world have no contact with Digimon, and do not even believe that there are any information life forms in the network.

Only Chen Ze, the human who was encountering hacking technology for the first time, did not seem to deny the possibility of life existing in the cyber world.

Of course, afterward, Youkomon realized that the reason the other party did not deny the possibility of life existing in the online world was simply because of the other party's chuunibyou (delusional) personality.

That human cub seemed different from the other humans; he insisted that there must be some kind of "magical" thing in this world.

For most people's children, this kind of immature or childish personality will gradually disappear as they grow older.

But Chen Ze is different. His chuunibyou (adolescent delusions of grandeur) doesn't seem to have disappeared with age. Instead, he's forging ahead in a way that the fox demon can't understand.

Especially after learning about the existence of EDEN technology, Chen Ze seemed to have clarified his pursuit and began to consciously adjust his learning direction to learn various technologies related to EDEN.

If Renamon hadn't clearly seen Chen Ze's growth trajectory, she would have even suspected that he might have seen a Digimon before, which was why he was so convinced that there were "magical" things in this world that humans couldn't understand.

So, driven by a certain curiosity, the fox spirit chose to "occupy" Chen Ze's computer, and then watched him gradually transform from an initial naiveté into a sophisticated hacker capable of independently intruding into the system.

This continued until Chen Ze purchased his first EDEN device through the "dark web".

From the portable EDEN glasses, the fox spirit sensed data that was more suitable for its survival than the online world, and in her astonishment, she was exposed to Chen Ze without warning.

What Renamon never expected was that, despite his pursuit of the other side of this world, Chen Ze didn't seem to connect him with Digimon, but simply saw him as another hacker who had invaded his computer space.

Until Chen Ze officially activated the EDEN glasses, Renamon, who wanted to surprise him, was drawn into another world of Japan along with him and experienced the initial "Hikarugaoka Incident".

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

"Are these all the memory data of Renamon?"

As its virtual system became more complete and powerful, WarGreymon gradually pieced together Renamon's original form by devouring and assimilating the spilled data from the World Tree Core.

However, he didn't know if it was WarGreymon's imagination or just his imagination, but he always felt that as Renamon's memories became clearer, another huge and unknown data entity was gradually forming.

"world Tree?"

WarGreymon created this virtual system with the intention of seizing control of Yggdrasil and finding an opportunity to revive Renamon.

This approach is equivalent to using someone else's resources to create something new, going public through a shell company, or shedding one's skin like a cicada shedding its shell. It's how WarGreymon uses the existing data from the World Tree and the Invaders to reconstruct a World Tree system that belongs only to itself.

As the virtual system becomes more complete and powerful, the World Tree core, which acts as its "shell," will become weaker and weaker until it completely loses its value.

This is equivalent to a zero-sum game. When the internal virtual system completely occupies all the data resources of the World Tree, the "creator" in the outside world, which is composed of the World Tree and the invaders, will naturally collapse on its own.

During this process, the original World Tree data will be reorganized and reborn in the virtual system, just like how WarGreymon is now using its privileges to collect Renamon data.

The only difference is that, since this virtual system was constructed by WarGreymon, he is the owner of the highest authority in the entire virtual system.

Well, at least according to WarGreymon's own ideas, the underlying framework it designed shouldn't be so easily invaded and usurped by the original Yggdrasil.

"It seems that the situation has changed somewhat."

A tense expression unconsciously appeared on its face. WarGreymon didn't want anything unexpected to happen before it could reassemble Renamon's data.

"Has the World Tree been waiting for this opportunity to get rid of the invaders? How did it manage to infiltrate my system?"

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Only Beast-Type Holy Knight - Sleip Beast

At the foot of Mount Infinity in the Digital World.

Having witnessed Alphamon shatter the World Tree's rank with the King Dragon Sword, Skullmon simply looked up at the sky in silence, without any emotional fluctuation.

"Is that Alphamon?"

Standing behind the Skull Beast, the Jade Rabbit Beast, who had been led out of the Shattered Void Arena by the Beast at the last moment, asked this question.

Despite being a member of the Royal Knights, Alphamon's personality and abilities are completely different from those of the Royal Knights he knows.

"The paladin born against the will of the gods, that is indeed Alpha Beast."

Although Alphamon had never seen its true face, the King Dragon Sword in its hand was enough for Skullmon to confirm its identity.

However, the appearance of Alphamon also demonstrates the severity of this crisis.

However, what worries Skullmon even more than Alphamon's appearance is the current state of Yggdrasil.

"Are you ok?"

Looking at the skull beast that was barely able to stand up and seemed to want to return to the World Tree, the jade rabbit beast asked in a low voice with concern.

"My injuries are more serious than I thought."

With a slight sigh, the skull beast came to this conclusion after a brief examination of its own physical condition.

As the world's most loyal knight, even knowing that Alphamon's actions were the best option, it still couldn't allow the other party to commit such an insulting act against the gods.

“Showing off is not a good habit. Even royal knights need to know their limits.”

Just as the skull beast was about to forcibly return to the World Tree, a voice that felt very familiar to it suddenly came from behind it.

"Sleipmon?"

Turning its head in surprise, Skullmon realized that with the "fall of the World Tree," the firewall between the human world and the digital world seemed to have been weakened once again.

Meanwhile, Sleipmon (Eight-legged Horsemon), another Royal Knight, who had chosen a "neutral" stance at the beginning of the war, suddenly tore through the firewall and stood behind him.

"Long time no see, Skull Beast."

As the only beast-type Holy Knight among the Royal Knights, Sleipmon's main job is to guard the ancient ruins that lie dormant beneath the thick ice near the Arctic of the Digital World.

Therefore, even the Skull Beast, who has many friends among the Royal Knights, rarely gets to meet the other party.

"It has indeed been a long time. Didn't you decide not to interfere in this war?"

Although Skullmon didn't say it directly, Sleipmon still sensed the hidden rebuke in the other's words.

It's important to know that the original Sleipmon was a "destructionist" who stood on the same side as Emperormon, Aloemon, Skullmon, and Dynasmon.

Sleipmon, due to its incredible speed, is responsible for attracting the attention of the human world, creating opportunities for the other Royal Knights to open the Digital Gate.

However, with the help of UltimateVeedramon from a parallel world, Takumi and his friends successfully caught up with Sleipmon, which was speeding through the EDEN Network, and successfully persuaded it to take a "neutral" stance in this crisis.

To be honest, if it weren't for Sleipmon's sudden "defection," according to Aromon's original plan, the World Tree should have already appeared in the human world by the time the human world finally realized the crisis was coming.

"My belief has never changed, and I still do not support your decision to destroy humanity in exchange for the continuation of the digital world."

Answering Skullmon's question in a deep voice, Sleipmon's decision to appear at this moment indicated that he was already prepared to break with his friend.

"I believe in Takumi and his team. They will definitely be able to create a path that allows both worlds to continue."

Taking a deep breath, Skullmon had already discerned the subtext in Sleipmon's words.

"So, this time you've completely positioned yourself against us, and you're planning to stop me?"

With the same firm tone as before, Skullmon revealed Sleipmon's ultimate goal for this trip without holding back.

"No, I just don't want to see you sacrifice yourself in vain."

Sleipmon was telling the truth. If Skullmon were at its peak, it might be able to fulfill its duty as a knight and protect the current World Tree.

But the key issue now is that Skullmon has already been seriously injured in its battle with WarGreymon.

If Skullmon were to forcefully try to stop Alphamon and the others, it would only be completely wiped out by Alphamon, who had drawn the King Dragon Sword.

This is not impossible, because Alphamon itself is the suppressive force that restrains all paladins. Its gentle and easygoing nature is just a facade. Its true nature is still that of a rebel who dares to "kill gods".

Anyone who dares to stand in Alphamon's way will be mercilessly killed by its sword, even a god, let alone a royal knight like Skullmon.

"Choose to believe in them! Believe that they can save two worlds at the same time!"

Sleipmon's persuasion was met with only a long silence from Skullmon.

"..."

Infected by the oppressive silence, the Jade Rabbit, who was also seriously injured, looked at the two royal knights facing off with slight unease.

"No, it is my duty to be loyal to my monarch..."

Even knowing I would die, I could not abandon my duty!

The "perfect knight" is, to some extent, equivalent to a fanatic, even a wise man like the Skull Beast who has long seen through the entire situation is no exception.

"So that's why I'm here."

Sleipmon sighed softly. Although it had long known that it was impossible to persuade the other party, it still couldn't help but show a disappointed expression when it heard Skullmon's answer.

"The Royal Knights have already sacrificed too many members; I can't let you seek your own death any further."

Currently, the thirteen royal knights have been reduced to less than half, with some dead and others wounded.

If internal strife continues, even if we successfully overcome this digital crisis, we will certainly not have the strength to deal with the counterattacks of other Digimon with ulterior motives.

After all, the Royal Knights' reputation was built on the foundation of countless mortal enemies.

The seven sealed demon lords of the original sins, the twelve Olympian gods hidden throughout the Digital World, and the Great Draculamon peering at this world from the endless abyss...

The Digital World is teeming with madmen intent on overthrowing the existing order, and they will surely seize the power of the World Tree, which has already "fallen," while the Royal Knights are weakened.

"Then let's fight!"

Without any further hesitation, the skull beast forcefully propped itself up and spoke in a resolute and firm tone.

"Stop me with your strength!"

Chapter Thirty: The Final Battlefield

Just as Spremon appeared and stopped Skullmon from committing suicide.

Taking advantage of the moment the World Tree was cut down, Takumi and his group broke into the true core of the world.

The original infinite corridor has been transformed into a more complex three-dimensional maze due to the dimensional upgrade. Monsters, a mixture of invaders and Digimon, lurk in every corner of the three-dimensional maze, waiting to hunt their prey.