Chapter 168: Farewell After the Battle

Alphamon W slowly raised her hand, and beneath the golden radiance, she drew a massive halberd with a golden rim and a red blade out of subspace.

In appearance, the halberd looked more like a combination of Titamon's halberd and the Sword of Ruin.

With a single swing of the broad halberd, Alphamon W's entire demeanor transformed drastically. Countless golden rays converged within it, manifesting even more intricate and beautiful golden patterns.

At this moment, she seemed to have transformed into a powerful female god of war descended to the mortal realm.

A formidable aura surged outward, instantly overpowering the oppressive Yggdrasill before her.

"Alphamon in the Sword of Ruin state? No, that's not the Sword of Ruin... That is a weapon born from the gathering of everyone and all Digimon."

Looking at the unfamiliar yet mighty Alphamon W, Qin Fei felt an irrepressible sense of anticipation well up within his heart. Like a flash in the pan, this was likely the peak of her power, one that would be difficult to ever replicate.

"Uncomprehending... Uncomprehending."

Yggdrasill sensed the immense power of the golden and resplendent Alphamon W before it, and the defense mechanisms deep within its body clamored incessantly.

"I heard the voices of the Digimon encouraging me, and I felt everyone's convictions..."

Aiming the golden halberd directly at Yggdrasill, Alphamon W spoke solemnly, as if passing judgment on the digital host that fancied itself a god.

"Why do you stand in my way?"

Yggdrasill looked somewhat stiffly at Alphamon W before it, continually repeating its uncomprehending refrain.

"You will never truly understand. Indeed, humans and Digimon have experienced many conflicts and held mutual resentments. In your eyes, that might be the result of erroneous evolution, but despite that, we can still understand one another and evolve to become even stronger!"

Daimon Masaru looked up at Yggdrasill, shouting out his most heartfelt conviction.

"Therefore, we can definitely turn the impossible into the possible!"

A Digi-Soul as scorching as the sun erupted from his body, soaring upward until it, like the others and their Digimon, poured entirely into Alphamon W.

"Qin Fei's Digimon partner, though I do not know your name, you must carry our feelings forward on behalf of all of us! Teach Yggdrasill a lesson!"

An orange-red glow enveloped Alphamon W's weapon, acting as if Daimon Masaru's Digi-Soul were the most potent catalyst, instantly concentrating all of Alpha's power into a single point.

"Feel the conviction shared by Digimon and humans, Yggdrasill!"

Observing the protective barrier stacking higher and higher in front of Yggdrasill due to a mounting sense of crisis, Alphamon W hesitated no longer. She gripped the immensely enlarged halberd with both hands and swung it down heavily.

"Clang!"

A massive beam of golden light, as if slicing through the firmament, flashed across the sky. Along with Yggdrasill's spindle-shaped body, it cut the sky itself in twain.

"Impossible... Impossible..."

Seeing its own body split into two, Yggdrasill's voice finally regained a hint of emotion, losing its icy stiffness.

Yet, the strongest emotion remaining was utter disbelief and terror: "Impossible... The probability of you defeating me was..."

Before it could finish speaking, a crystal-like humanoid figure suddenly burst forth from Yggdrasill's severed spindle body, attempting to flee far away into the sky.

That was Yggdrasill's true core.

"Alphamon W!!!"

Hearing Qin Fei's reminder, the weapon in Alphamon W's hand shifted once more, striking the fleeing stream of light.

Yggdrasill's core shattered, and a blinding flash of explosion instantly engulfed everyone.

Qin Fei's vision turned completely white, his consciousness seemingly stolen away in an instant by the dazzling blast. None of them had anticipated that the power contained within Yggdrasill's core would be so immense.

"..."

"I have witnessed it... your strength."

Amidst the haze, Qin Fei seemed to hear a soft, astonished voice.

"It is indeed a power far exceeding my expectations."

Struggling to open his eyes, he saw a crystal pulsating with a red light floating right before him.

"Ygg... drasill."

Qin Fei knew that Yggdrasill wouldn't be so easily destroyed after all.

However, in its current state, it would likely have to fall into a deep slumber once more.

Aside from himself, Qin Fei suddenly noticed two other figures nearby... Daimon Masaru and Agumon.

For some reason, they too had been pulled into this realm by Yggdrasill.

And they seemed to have awakened much earlier than he had.

Presumably, it was because the intense radiance of their Digi-Soul had won Yggdrasill's affirmation.

Daimon Masaru and Agumon were chatting with Yggdrasill about something—likely the sort of passionate rhetoric shonen protagonists excel at, such as boasting that humans and Digimon could achieve mutual understanding.

Qin Fei couldn't be bothered to listen in. Feeling his body and mind relax within this floating space, he just wanted to have a good sleep.

As for whether that future could be realized, that was no longer his concern.

"..."

"Then I shall sink back into slumber and watch over you. Whether a world where Digimon and humans can live together can be realized is entirely up to your own abilities."

Yggdrasill seemed to have opened its heart as well, or perhaps, having exhausted its energy, it had no choice but to accept Daimon Masaru and Agumon's proposal.

As for why it didn't discuss such matters with Qin Fei, it likely sensed Qin Fei's underlying intention to leave.

He had never truly belonged to this world.

Yet, at this moment, indescribable emotions stirred within Qin Fei's heart.

With a flash of white light, Qin Fei realized he had drifted off to sleep once more.

"Qin Fei..."

At a familiar call, Qin Fei jerked awake.

The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes, however, was that he was resting in the palm of a massive, sturdy hand.

Lollo and Tailmon were also by his sides, looking at him with worry until they saw him wake up, whereupon they visibly breathed sighs of relief.

"Alphamon W?"

Yet, looking at Alphamon W, who still maintained that transformed state, Qin Fei felt a trace of bewilderment.

"You're finally awake. If you waited any longer, Alpha W would have reverted back to Dorumon."

Lollo's voice grumbled beside him.

"What are you guys... preparing to do?"

Looking at Alphamon W, whose digital data was flickering, Qin Fei's groggy brain struggled to catch up.

"We're going home, of course."

Lollo rolled her eyes at Qin Fei, then pointed at Alphamon W and said, "Alphamon W said that with the blessing of the Digi-Souls of all the Digimon in this world, she has managed to locate the resonance of our original world."

"Hurry up, I can't hold this much longer."

Alphamon W said with visible strain, opening her other palm to reveal a digital rift through which stray data constantly flowed.

"I opened this at the very last moment by borrowing the Digi-Souls from across the entire digital world. The conditions for its formation are extremely harsh; it will be nearly impossible for me to gather everyone's Digi-Souls to achieve this again. We only have one chance!"

Alphamon's body flickered unsteadily, as if she truly could not maintain this form for much longer.

"..."

Standing up from Alphamon W's palm, Qin Fei looked down at the companions waving up at him. Bit by bit, the experiences of their time together began to replay in his mind.

To say he felt no reluctance at all would be a lie, but he remained a traveler passing through. Deep down, his subconscious still strongly yearned to return to his own world.

"..."

"Hey, Thoma, Gaomon, Yoshino, Lalamon, and you too, Daimon Masaru and Agumon!"

Cupping his hands around his mouth, Qin Fei shouted down to his former companions, "I'm sorry! Please give my apologies to Commander Satsuma, as well as Megumi and Miki. I broke my promise—and goodbye until we meet again!!!"

With that, Qin Fei turned his gaze to Tailmon.

Before Qin Fei could even ask, Tailmon immediately spoke up, "We're partners, of course I'm coming with you... You can't leave me behind."

Qin Fei rubbed Tailmon's cheek and smiled.

"You... Qin Fei, why?! Can't you stay? Don't you want to see how we make harmony between Digimon and humans a reality? Why... why are you in such a rush to leave!"

"Qin Fei, you bastard, the next time we meet I'm going to punch you... if there's ever a chance!"

"..."

Unable to bear watching the indignant expressions of Daimon Masaru and the others any longer, Qin Fei stored Tailmon inside his Digivice and stepped alongside Lollo into the rift.

Alphamon W transformed into a streak of light, reverting into Dorumon and nestling into Qin Fei's arms.

A lace umbrella suddenly flickered past just as the rift was vanishing.

"You jerk!!! What about the date you promised me?!"

That was the last voice of Nanami that Qin Fei heard as the digital rift closed entirely.