Chapter Seventy-Five: The Polyhorned Beast

A massive, twisted sphere formed from countless entangled black cables was slowly rising from the depths of the earth. The comparatively small body of the Simian Beast was parasitically attached to this eerie sphere.

"......"

"So you think you can defeat me like this?" The Simian Beast’s clear, mocking voice echoed in every child’s ear, like the terrifying murmurs of a nightmare.

"Sim... Simian Beast?!"

Staring at the grotesque form in the distance and sensing the overwhelming aura of darkness, the children’s faces were filled with disbelief and fear. None of them had expected the Simian Beast to transform into such a horrifying shape.

Clearly, the Simian Beast had noticed the children as well.

"The Molecular Beast has already reaped what it sowed; next... it’s your turn!"

Feeling the full malice in the Simian Beast’s gaze, the children trembled inside, as if confronted by an insurmountable foe. Yet, looking at their companions around them, they clenched their teeth and launched their attacks. Now was not the time to give up—if they abandoned the fight, everything would truly be lost.

"Agumon, digivolve! Greymon!"

"Mega Flame!"

"Meteor Wing!"

"Mega Cannon!"

The children’s Digimon sprang into action, unleashing their full force, each attack striking the twisted body. But not a ripple appeared on the Simian Beast; their efforts were completely ineffective.

"How... how can this be!"

The children stared wide-eyed in terror.

"Hahaha, just what I needed—a massage."

The Simian Beast laughed loudly, instantly gathering a dark green energy ball in its hand and flinging it toward Barodramon and Betamon in the distance.

"Here’s a little gift for you—Dark Death Sphere!"

"Barodramon, Betamon! Get out of the way!"

Seeing the terrifying energy ball launched by the Simian Beast, everyone sensed the danger and urgently warned the battling Digimon to dodge. Fortunately, they were far enough away, and Barodramon and Betamon were nimble enough to narrowly evade the Simian Beast’s deadly attack.

But other places weren’t so lucky—the distant mountains and the sphinx on the other side were instantly warped and destroyed by the Simian Beast’s move.

"The sphinx! There’s nowhere left to run..."

The children’s faces grew even more grim; that had been their only escape route.

"What a frightful attack!"

Even Loretta Beast’s voice trembled as she watched the dark green energy ball twist space itself.

"Can you defeat it if you evolve?" Qin Fei asked softly, gazing at the twisted sphere before him as a growing sense of crisis welled up in his heart.

"Will I really have to rely on this dreadful thing to return to the real world?"

He questioned himself, doubting whether his plan would succeed and even feeling tempted to abandon it altogether.

"No, at best I could die together with it, and even then, it’s not certain I could defeat it." Loretta Beast bit her lip and slowly spoke, "Unless I can evolve even further."

Qin Fei nodded, not intending to let Loretta Beast fight that dangerous foe. That was Tai and Greymon’s opponent.

"If this keeps up, the world will fall into utter chaos. What should we do?" Suna looked at the terrifying figure floating in the air, anxiety filling her heart. The Simian Beast’s terrifying attack moments ago had starkly revealed the yawning gap in power.

"But we simply can’t beat him," A Zhu stammered, casting a shadow of despair not only over himself but over everyone else.

Silence fell over all, except Qin Fei, who watched Tai—and the evolution key glowing faintly on his chest.

"No, there’s still one way."

Staring at the light on his chest, Tai lifted his head with resolve, gazing at the dreadful sphere made of endless cables and pipes in the distance. There was no fear, no hesitation, and none of the confusion from before. The spirit of courage filled his heart, empowering him to face this seemingly invincible enemy.

"Let’s go, Greymon!"

Tai turned to Greymon seriously, as if waiting for its answer. Seeing Tai’s determined and clear gaze, so different from the desperate attitude when he had evolved into SkullGreymon, Greymon nodded, ready and resolute.

"I understand, Tai."

Greymon, whose heart had wavered, gradually calmed.

One boy and one dragon strode toward the Simian Beast, moving forward without hesitation.

"Oh ho ho, still not giving up?"

Watching the two figures approach, the Simian Beast burst into a mocking laugh, regarding the children who still dared advance as nothing but fools.

"Let’s go too, Lolo and Black Dorudramon!"

Qin Fei’s eyes grew firm; whatever the outcome, he wanted to try.

"I’ll always follow you, wherever you go."

Loretta Beast smiled and nodded, stepping alongside Qin Fei.

"Me too!" Black Dorudramon opened his mouth wide in what seemed to be a grin.

"Qin Fei, you?"

Seeing Qin Fei close behind Tai, the other children looked on in surprise, and even Mimi couldn’t help but step forward a few paces, as if she wanted to catch up with Qin Fei. She had a feeling that after this, it might be a long time before she saw him again.

"......"

"Ga ga ga, a few more little brats with no fear of death?"

The Simian Beast glared at the figures behind Tai, letting out a ferocious laugh. "I remember you, brat. You made me search high and low! This time, you have nowhere left to run."

Qin Fei was startled—was the Simian Beast’s hatred directed at him? That didn’t seem right.

Tai and Greymon were your real opponents.

Nevertheless, Qin Fei pressed on, unable to worry about such things now.

"Lolo, Black Dorudramon, be careful."

Loretta Beast nodded, starting to emit a gentle light.

"Loretta Beast, digivolve! Holy Tiger Maiden Beast!"

The tall and graceful Holy Tiger Maiden Beast stepped in front of Qin Fei, shielding him from the Simian Beast’s malicious gaze.

Seeing Qin Fei catch up, Tai nodded, taking the glowing evolution key from his chest, raising it high, and shouting toward the terrifying form of the Simian Beast, "I won’t run, never!"

"Look, Tai’s crest!"

"It’s glowing—the crest is glowing!"

The children noticed the abnormality in Tai’s crest, and their despairing hearts rekindled a glimmer of hope.

"I told you—it’s useless."

The Simian Beast finally shifted its gaze from Qin Fei, seeming to sense something deeply unsettling from Tai. So, the energy ball originally aimed at Qin Fei was redirected, smashing fiercely toward Greymon.

Greymon had been on guard, and as the energy ball hurtled toward him, he quickly dodged, barely avoiding the Simian Beast’s attack.

"Greymon! We must never give up until the very end!"

Tai shouted to Greymon, who had fallen to the ground.

Sensing Tai’s resolve, the Holy Plan and Evolution Key finally shone together.

"Tai, I feel it."

Greymon’s massive form rose with determination. "I feel your courage—it fills me with strength."

Qin Fei’s heart stirred as he looked at the beam of light shooting skyward.

"Greymon’s ultimate evolution... MetalGreymon."

Qin Fei seemed to hear the long-lost sound of evolution, and a surge of exhilaration filled him.

"Qin Fei, I feel so warm," Black Dorudramon suddenly spoke in confusion.

Feeling movement in his pocket, Qin Fei quickly looked down, astonished—his Holy Plan was radiating gentle light.

"Impossible!"

"Dorudramon digivolve...!"

The unexpected happened. Just like Loretta Beast’s evolution, vast data surged from all directions.

A familiar Digimon, resembling Dorudramon but with much broader wings, appeared before his eyes.

"Doruga...mon?!"

Watching the black Dorugamon’s body suddenly swell in size, Qin Fei’s pupils widened...