Chapter Fifty-Seven: For the Sake of Evolution

"Why are you still following us?" Before Qin Fei could speak, Loretta Beast was the first to voice its discontent, glancing back at the three little tails trailing behind them.

The endless yellow sand and the scorching sun overhead had left everyone in a foul mood.

"We... we have nowhere else to go. Please let us come with you," Candlemon pleaded. "We can help you find food, stand watch, carry your luggage—anything, as long as you let us meet the other chosen children. Please, we beg you."

Frowning, Qin Fei took in their travel-worn appearance; they didn’t look like Digimon with a settled home.

Still, he could more or less guess what was on their minds. They hadn’t given up on evolving. Qin Fei had refused them, but they were still clinging to hope, thinking they might find another way with the other chosen children—perhaps the others were different.

It was a futile hope, of course.

Qin Fei had nothing more to say. Since they were willing to follow, he would let them. He only hoped that, when they finally saw the other chosen children, the disappointment wouldn’t crush their faith in evolving.

"What about this guy?" Loretta Beast’s eyes flicked over to Bearmon lying nearby and asked Qin Fei.

Bearmon was now so weak it could barely move, its body flickering with countless data streams, as if it would dissolve into a cloud of digital particles at any moment.

"Bearmon is almost gone." Seeing the once-powerful Bearmon in such a state, Candlemon and the others couldn't help but sigh. The thought of themselves—not even able to evolve—made them even more melancholy.

"So... it seems I was wrong after all..." Bearmon's broken voice sounded beside Qin Fei. Even facing death, there was a hint of relief.

"You really did have the power to defeat Apemon. Ha... As expected of the chosen children."

"How are you feeling?" Qin Fei asked, unable to suppress his sympathy at Bearmon’s desperate, yet still wild-eyed state. "What did Apemon do to you?"

"That doesn’t matter anymore. As long as you’re strong enough, I’m satisfied." Bearmon didn’t answer the question, but used the last of its strength to look at Loretta Beast. "Take my power. I saw it... You can absorb Daigugamon’s data."

Qin Fei shook his head. "You can always start over as a DigiEgg. It’s like a cycle. I heard that after every Digimon dies, they return to Primary Village."

"But toys like us don’t get a second chance!" Bearmon’s sudden, hoarse roar made its data dissipate even faster.

"Then let this be my final wish. Absorb me. At least, watch over Apemon’s fate for me." Bearmon’s words were tinged with bitterness. Suddenly, its eyes hardened, and it raised a massive paw toward Loretta Beast, as if determined to drag her down with it.

But with a light step back, Loretta Beast dodged Bearmon’s attack easily.

"Why did you dodge? Why won’t you attack me? Just finish me!" Bearmon roared, but its voice was abruptly cut off. A crimson axe embedded itself in its broad forehead, extinguishing the last flicker of consciousness.

"Thank you..." Bearmon’s final gratitude halted the words of rebuke Qin Fei had been about to utter to Loretta Beast.

"So that’s what it really wished for, after all." A surge of data poured into Loretta Beast, and even Qin Fei and Black Dorymon received a share. With the data of two Ultimate-level Digimon in quick succession, Loretta Beast’s aura grew even more powerful.

"It’s hot—so hot, too hot!" Suddenly, Black Dorymon howled in discomfort, apparently overwhelmed by the influx of Ultimate-level data.

"Black Dorymon!" Qin Fei’s expression changed as he knelt to check on it.

Before he could speak, however, a surge of evolutionary light burst from his pocket—the Holy Digivice.

"What? It’s evolving!" Candlemon and Ore Beast stared in disbelief and envy as Dorymon’s body began to swell within the white glow.

When the light faded, a new Digimon appeared before them—one with tiny wings and a fluffy, bushy tail, looking like a cross between a little dinosaur and a fox. Its limbs, tail tip, and belly were white, while the rest was covered in black fur... It looked just like the Dorumon in Qin Fei’s memory, except its usual violet fur was now jet black.

"See? The chosen children really do have the power to make Digimon evolve!" Candlemon and Ore Beast’s eyes blazed with excitement as they gazed at Qin Fei.

"I evolved, Loretta Beast, Qin Fei!" Black Dorymon was clearly thrilled, its much larger body nuzzling up against Loretta Beast.

"Let’s go. No more delays," Qin Fei said, noting the burning look in Candlemon and Ore Beast’s eyes. Clearly, all his previous explanations had been futile.

"Is it called Black Dorymon?" Loretta Beast stroked the red scar above its head, appearing thoughtful.

"What is it? What are you planning?" Qin Fei asked as they walked, eyeing Loretta Beast suspiciously.

Ignoring Qin Fei’s questioning look, Loretta Beast patted Black Dorymon’s neck and said, "Black Dorymon, lower yourself a bit..."

Obedient as ever, Black Dorymon crouched down.

To Qin Fei’s surprise, Loretta Beast nimbly hopped up and mounted Black Dorymon, sitting astride its back.

"Hahaha, good job, Black Dorymon! Run! Giddy-up!" she cried.

"Hey, you two! Stop!" Qin Fei shouted, startled as the two Digimon vanished in a blur. He hurried after them, while Candlemon and the others, seeing the distance grow, scrambled anxiously after the group.

...

In the relentless heat of the desert, a strange caravan appeared: a human child leading the way, followed by a Digimon resembling a human girl, a Black Dorymon that looked like both a fox and a little dinosaur, a Candlemon, an Ore Beast, and a cold, stoic Revolvermon.

"How much farther?" Glancing at the sky, it seemed dusk was fast approaching.

"I think we’re almost to the Arena," Candlemon replied, sidling closer to Qin Fei in a show of eagerness.

"The Arena? The one guarded by a Guardromon?" Qin Fei asked, curiosity piqued.

"Yes, but even though only one Guardromon is stationed there, it’s still Apemon’s territory. No one dares make trouble there," Candlemon explained, seeing Qin Fei’s interest and growing uneasy. None of them wanted to attract Apemon’s attention.

"Alright, then we’ll go there tonight!" Qin Fei declared.

"What?!" Candlemon and Ore Beast hesitated at his firm decision—the Arena was as good as forbidden ground for them.

"Come or stay, it’s up to you." Honestly, Qin Fei wished he could ditch them. They pestered him about evolving, but he didn’t have the power. Still, they refused to listen to his explanations, and it was giving him a headache.

If not for their initial friendliness back at the ruins, he might have forced them away by now.

Yet, after much hesitation, they ended up following him after all.

"For the sake of evolution!" they even chanted, much to Qin Fei’s exasperation.