Chapter 165: The Human Extinction Project

Even the Royal Knights under Yggdrasil's command stopped it?!
Unbelievable... Aren't they all enemies?
Qin Fei looked at the two familiar figures obstructing Yggdrasil high above in the sky, shook his head, and suddenly said to the astonished crowd beside him, "Not all Royal Knights are willing to tolerate Yggdrasil's attempt to destroy the world."
So, are they here to help us?
Joy appeared in Daimon Masaru's eyes.
Masaru...
At that moment, BanchoLeomon, having settled his physical body, returned, also gazing with a solemn expression at the three figures confronting each other in the sky.
Da... Dad?
Recovering his wits slightly and regaining a bit of rationality, Daimon Masaru looked at the BanchoLeomon before him, speaking with a sudden, unaccustomed hesitation.
Although he knew his father's soul resided within that body, visually, it was hard to imagine that the BanchoLeomon who had once tutored him—and whom he had even challenged to a duel—was his own father.
...
Yggdrasil is too powerful right now; two Royal Knights aren't enough to stop it... Masaru, let's go help too.
BanchoLeomon perceived the awkwardness in Masaru's voice, but he paid it no mind at the moment, well aware of how strange his current form must appear in his son's eyes.
Everything else was trivial; the immediate crisis demanded the utmost attention.
I understand, Dad. Leave it to me!
Daimon Masaru closed his eyes, then instantly and resolutely opened them again, banishing his previous anger toward Yggdrasil and regaining his composure.
Let's go aid those two Royal Knights! Let's go, ShineGreymon!
No problem, Big Brother!
Charge... Digisoul Burst Mode!
With a swipe of his hand across the Digivice, ShineGreymon, wielding a flaming sword and shield with a blaze of fire at his back, charged straight toward Yggdrasil.
MirageGaogamon!
Yes, master!
Charge... Digisoul Burst Mode!
MirageGaogamon, gripping his hammer-blade, followed closely behind.
Watching ShineGreymon and MirageGaogamon transform into Burst Mode, Yoshino suddenly recalled Qin Fei's earlier words. Though she did not know if he was merely comforting her, they still brought a faint warmth to her heart.
Whether she could successfully evolve into Burst Mode no longer mattered to Yoshino; her sole purpose now was to prevent Yggdrasil from entering the human world.
Rosemon! Let's go too.
Understood, leave it to me, Yoshino!
As she watched Rosemon rush toward the battlefield, Yoshino did not notice that the Digisoul enveloping her seemed to grow increasingly dense.
...
Qin Fei, let's go help out as well!
Right, be careful in everything...
Qin Fei nodded. He gazed at the slender backs of BlackLopmon and VenusMone, hesitated for a moment, and put away Lolo's Third-Generation Ark-Digivice.

Glancing past BlackDorugamon, Qin Fei looked at the solitary Digivice remaining in his palm, still harboring a trace of hesitation.
Since Lolo was unwilling to evolve into Dracmon, he wanted to try once more to see if BlackDorugamon could successfully evolve to the Ultimate level.
Clutching the Digivice tightly, Qin Fei took a deep breath and slowly channeled his Digisoul into it.
Eh?!
To his surprise, although the Digisoul successfully entered the Digivice, the predatory suction force seemed to vanish entirely, failing to repeat the bizarre, relentless drainage from before.
BlackDorugamon...
Qin Fei murmured a quiet plea and began to increase the flow of his Digisoul.
Yet, like a bottomless pit, no matter how much Digisoul Qin Fei poured in, the Digivice emitted only a faint glow, falling far short of the requirements for evolution.
Qin Fei!
Suddenly, BlackDorugamon's voice came through, sounding somewhat puzzled.
Qin Fei's expression lit up with eager anticipation as he watched BlackDorugamon's form. He noticed that with the infusion of his Digisoul, BlackDorugamon's body was also emitting a faint white radiance, bearing a striking resemblance to the light of evolution.
BlackDorugamon, do not resist your own power!
I understand, Qin Fei...
Enduring the intense sensation within its body, BlackDorugamon continuously launched attacks against Yggdrasil.
Yet, even Qin Fei had not anticipated that Yggdrasil would abandon the Ultimate-level Digimon hindering it and suddenly lock its unwavering gaze onto BlackDorugamon.
There is a deeply dangerous aura about you. Therefore, I believe it is best to eliminate you first.
Consequently, ignoring the attacks of the far more threatening Burst Mode Digimon and Royal Knights, Yggdrasil condensed an even more colossal crystal arrow and fired it directly at BlackDorugamon.
BlackDorugamon! Get out of the way!
Qin Fei's heart tightened. He knew that BlackDorugamon, merely in its Perfect level, stood no chance of withstanding an attack from Yggdrasil that rivaled the full-powered strike of a Royal Knight.
Queen's Spike!
Seeing their companion in mortal danger, BlackLopmon and Venusmon abruptly halted their assaults on Yggdrasil.
The red whip in BlackLopmon's hand transformed into a hundred-meter-long piercing blade, striking the crystal with a harsh, metallic screech.
However, although BlackLopmon carved a distinct gouge into it, halting the crystal's velocity proved exceedingly difficult.
Countless white birds formed a vast curtain, and blue-green shells wove together into a sturdy barrier of defense around BlackDorugamon, yet against the immense power of the crystal arrow, they proved as fragile as paper.
Nevertheless, thanks to the interference of BlackLopmon and Venusmon, BlackDorugamon narrowly managed to dodge the fatal blow.
Come back, BlackDorugamon...
Startled by the close call, Qin Fei had involuntarily ceased channeling his Digisoul, and the strange sensation fading from BlackDorugamon's body gradually dissipated.
Qin Fei, I...
BlackDorugamon looked dejected, feeling as though it had become a liability in the recent clash.
It's fine, you performed wonderfully.
Qin Fei sighed, offered a word of comfort, and turned his gaze back to the battlefield.
Yggdrasil's shuttle-shaped body was now battered and riddled with damage, looking precarious... as if it had deliberately abandoned defending against the other Digimon solely to hunt down BlackDorugamon.

Yet, Yggdrasil showed no awareness of being severely wounded. Seeing the unscathed BlackDorugamon, its red V-shaped optics even flickered with a hint of regret.
I never expected you all to be so troublesome.
The vine-whips trailing behind Yggdrasil condensed into a thick shield, instantly blocking the sudden pincer attack from Omegamon and Dukemon.
Yet its tone remained full of disdain. But in the presence of a god, all your efforts are in vain...
As Yggdrasil spoke, the fractures and tears that had been shattered across its body miraculously healed in the blink of an eye, returning to pristine condition.
Damn it, it can self-repair?!
Yoshino and Thoma both wore expressions of bitter frustration; after fighting for so long and finally driving the enemy to the brink, it had recovered its perfection in the span of a breath.
Indeed, gods cannot die.
Yggdrasil's arrogant tone remained unchanged, tinged with a trace of smugness.
My consciousness is indestructible, and I can resurrect infinitely.
Witnessing Yggdrasil's complete regeneration, Dukemon and Omegamon likewise wore solemn expressions.
Qin Fei knew Yggdrasil was not lying. As the host computer of the Digital World, it indeed possessed this capability, and until the very end of the original story, it never truly vanished.
At this moment, Yggdrasil was invincible.
Beneath its countless vines, even the combined might of Omegamon and Dukemon had to temporarily yield.
I have a question for you, Yggdrasil...
At that moment, Omegamon stepped forward a pace, gazing solemnly at the Digital God before it.
...
What is a god?
What?
Taken aback by Omegamon's inexplicable question, Yggdrasil paused before replying in a cold tone: The commands of a god are absolute! None may disobey, no matter who they are!
Wrong!
Dukemon stepped up beside Omegamon, looking sternly at Yggdrasil's form as he spoke: Your actions have made me realize that a god is not absolute; it, too, can make mistakes.
Yggdrasil, place your trust in humanity just this once.
At that instant, Craniummon also appeared before Yggdrasil, pleading softly: I have witnessed these youths' devotion to both worlds. I believe they possess the potential to bring peace to both realms...
The yearning for life is the same for both humans and Digimon.
Dukemon continued his plea, looking up at Yggdrasil: Yggdrasil, if you style yourself a god, then grant our petition.
...
Is this your reason for betraying me?
Yet Yggdrasil seemed to have lost its reason entirely. Gazing at the three former subordinates before it, its optics flashed continuously with dangerous red light.
Very well, then perish alongside humanity!
(To be continued)