Chapter Thirty: The Mountain Peak

"Qin Fei, Mimi, I knew I'd find you here!"

Suna's delighted voice suddenly rang out from above. The two of them looked up at the same time to see a massive bird, seemingly composed of flames, swooping down from mid-air.

It was the Baldora Beast with Suna on its back, and with them were Tai and Agumon.

"Phew! Why did you two sneak off without a word? You really had everyone worried," Suna said, jumping down from the Baldora Beast's claws with Tai, her face a mixture of worry and exasperation as she scolded them.

"Sorry, Suna," Mimi replied, her cheeks flushing as she ran forward to hug Suna, apologizing as the two began to playfully tussle.

"It's fine as long as you're safe. Don't be so stern, Suna. After all, they had their reasons for doing this for all of us. But since we're here now, why don't we climb to the summit and take a look?" Tai patted Qin Fei's shoulder, giving him a knowing look.

Qin Fei caught on immediately and said to Suna with sincere earnestness, "I'm sorry. I didn't think things through and made you all worry."

Now that his aim was achieved, a single apology meant little to Qin Fei.

"So, where is everyone else? Why are only you and Tai here?" Mimi asked, releasing Suna and looking puzzled. However, watching the Baldora Beast gradually devolve into Biyomon, she soon understood.

Flying Digimon certainly made things easier.

"Everyone is still at the bottom of the mountain. After some discussion, we decided we could use our Digimon's abilities to come up here," Suna explained. She glanced at Qin Fei and Mimi, teasing, "I never realized you two were so close."

To her surprise, Mimi only shook her head, apparently unwilling to discuss it.

Qin Fei merely shrugged, likewise indicating things were not as they seemed.

"What? Did you two have a fight?" Suna asked, her keen instincts sensing something amiss as an invisible barrier seemed to spring up between Mimi and Qin Fei.

"Don't overthink it. Let's go," Tai said, his usual obliviousness undiminished as he ran off toward the summit with Agumon, full of excitement.

"Let's see who can reach the top first!"

Suna could only follow helplessly after the boisterous Tai and Agumon.

Mimi, however, kept her head down as she brushed past Qin Fei without a word.

...

"This... what is this?"

When Tai, Suna, and the others finally reached the summit of Infinity Mountain and gazed out over the landscape of File Island, a sense of crushing defeat rose in every heart.

They truly were stranded on an island, surrounded by endless sea with no way out.

No sign of humans, no distant continents across the water, no ships.

"How could this happen..." Mimi slumped to the ground as if all strength had left her, her vacant eyes fixed on the vast and unfamiliar blue ocean.

"Mimi, hang in there," Palmon ran up behind her, trying to support her frail body.

"So we're really not in Sakura anymore—maybe not even on Earth," Tai murmured dreamily, even his usual energy dampened by despair.

"What will we do now?" Suna whispered, lost in uncertainty for the future.

Only Qin Fei seemed to have the leisure to quietly admire the island's fantastical scenery.

Soon, the other children arrived at the summit one after another. Seeing the utter isolation of the island, their faces reflected the same despondency as Tai and the others.

"Don't lose hope, everyone. There might still be another way. We can't give up here," Tai said, quickly regaining his composure as the protagonist, encouraging his dejected companions.

"But we're trapped on this island—what else can we do?"

"There are no seagulls or any birds, no traces of boats, and the sea doesn't reveal any other islands like this one. It's too strange," Izzy said, soon perking up as curiosity and a longing to explore began to sparkle in his eyes. He had never encountered such a bizarre place—an island where all four seasons coexisted. It was truly incredible.

"Are we destined to spend the rest of our lives stranded here?" Joe muttered, supporting himself weakly on the ground, haunted by the thought.

"Why did it have to be this way? Dad, Mom, I don't want this... I don't want it, I don't want it..." Joe's words struck another heavy blow to Mimi's spirit.

"Qin Fei, why don't you seem disappointed at all?" Izzy asked, noting Qin Fei's calm demeanor with curiosity.

"Because there's something I can't figure out. It doesn't add up... Do you remember the scene right when we arrived?"

"Yes, after we were swept away by that strange wave, we ended up here," Izzy recalled, a glimmer of realization dawning.

"It's just too much of a coincidence. Each of us has a strange device, and as soon as we arrived on File Island, there was a Digimon waiting for each of us... Clearly, our coming here wasn't an accident but something carefully orchestrated by some entity."

"So?" Matt asked, stepping over to hear Qin Fei's thoughts.

"So, there must be something we've yet to discover, or something we haven't done," Qin Fei said with a sudden smile. "And this island is vast. There are so many places we've never set foot in. Maybe the answer we're seeking is hidden somewhere out there."

At these words, everyone's spirits lifted.

Indeed, File Island was so large, it was entirely possible a way home lay hidden somewhere unknown to them.

"Then it's decided," Tai announced, his energy instantly restored. "We'll explore every inch of this island!"

"Yes, we'll check every corner. We have to get home," T.K. echoed enthusiastically, his youthful voice trying to bolster his companions' courage.

Looking at the others, all equally lost and stranded, each child felt their spirits revive just a little. At least, they weren't alone in this struggle.

They had each other, companions to lean on.

It seemed that Qin Fei's words and Tai's encouragement had rekindled the group's determination.

Without further delay, they all began to regroup, preparing to face whatever unknown dangers and challenges awaited them.

"Tai, let me handle this," Qin Fei said, exasperated as he watched Tai's crude attempt at mapmaking. If a map had to be rough, there were limits—soon enough, Tai himself probably wouldn't be able to make out what he'd drawn.

Rumble—!

"What was that?"

Just as the children were about to descend the mountain, the sound of crumbling rocks came from the path they had taken up.

Exchanging glances, several of them rushed back, alarmed.

But Qin Fei's eyes narrowed. Instead of following, he quietly took out the cards he had obtained not long ago.

He knew the way down had collapsed, and that the Leomon and Ogremon under Devimon's control were waiting for them.

And Devimon himself was lurking high on Infinity Mountain, watching.

"Unimon. Champion level. Vaccine type. Special attack: Holy Shot."

Reading the card, Qin Fei quickly swiped it through his Digivice.

"Card change: Divine Shooting... Holy Shot!"

"I hope Devimon isn't already too powerful," Qin Fei murmured gravely, glancing at his Digimon—Loretta.

In her hands, she now held a flintlock rifle, with a red stock and gold trimmings.