Chapter Seventy-Six: The Strange Silhouette

"That's it!"

"It's the power of the Crest."

With the appearance of the colossal MetalGreymon, all eyes instinctively focused on its imposing form. In contrast, the evolution of BlackDorugamon seemed insignificant. The two Digimon were not even in the same league in terms of size—the children's vision was filled by the majestic, overwhelming silhouette of MetalGreymon. Its half-organic, half-mechanical body, crowned by a massive, menacing claw, made it appear even more formidable and terrifying than Greymon itself.

"They've all evolved..."

Watching as every Digimon in the children's hands successfully evolved, Candlemon's eyes widened in a daze—astonishment, envy, frustration, longing—all these emotions blended within its gaze.

"So this is Greymon's true evolution?" Taichi stared, transfixed, at the towering MetalGreymon before him, a surge of pride welling up in his heart. Inspired by the courage within him, even the Holy Digivice in his hand began to tremble, as if some greater power was about to burst forth.

"Three against one, is it?" Gazing at the newly evolved MetalGreymon, SaberLeomon, and BlackDorugamon, Etemon sneered with disdain. "Such meager evolution won't be enough to defeat me..."

Etemon could clearly sense a powerful energy steadily flowing into his body from the dark cables beneath him. It seemed only a matter of time before he touched the threshold of yet another evolution. The pride and arrogance born of this strength slowly spread through his heart, filling him with an overwhelming sense of superiority. Even when facing his old foe SaberLeomon and the equally ultimate MetalGreymon, Etemon could not help but look down on them.

"Dark Spirit Ball!"

A dark green sphere of energy shot again toward MetalGreymon's massive figure. But with a single, heavy swing of its mechanical arm, MetalGreymon shattered the energy ball instantly, rendering it completely ineffective.

"How is this possible..." Etemon's eyes widened in shock. What he thought was a sure-fire move was so easily neutralized.

Qin Fei looked up at MetalGreymon striding toward Etemon, sensing a familiar aura growing ever clearer around it.

"Lunar Flash!"

Seizing Etemon's momentary distraction, SaberLeomon gathered a jet-black orb between her jaws.

"Power Metal Shot!"

BlackDorugamon followed up without hesitation.

Their special attacks slammed into the twisted sphere beneath Etemon, forcing even the mighty adversary to involuntarily retreat a small distance. MetalGreymon seized the opportunity and rammed the sphere with all his might, driving it—and the now flickering form of Etemon—even further away.

It seemed the unstable dark cables had been activated by these attacks. That abyss-like force grew ever stronger, devouring everything nearby. Even the children at a considerable distance had to throw themselves to the ground to resist the dangerous pull. Yet Taichi and Qin Fei, who were much closer to Etemon, stubbornly struggled to remain standing, as if cheering on their Digimon with all their might. Though their bodies were being dragged by the force, not a trace of fear showed on their faces.

"I'll crush you to smithereens!"

Etemon, regaining his balance atop the twisted sphere, charged at MetalGreymon again. He didn't believe these three newly evolved Digimon could defeat him, empowered as he was by the forces of darkness.

MetalGreymon, undaunted by Etemon's aggression, braced himself to meet the attack with everything he had.

At last, Qin Fei could clearly sense the mysterious power coursing through MetalGreymon—the power of the Holy Digivice... the manifestation of the children's inner strength in their Digimon. The force continued to grow within him.

"Look, MetalGreymon is glowing!"

"It's the power of light!... It's holy power." Mimi stared in wonder at MetalGreymon, whose frame now shone with a gentle, radiant glow.

"It's coming!" Qin Fei, noticing the dazzling light, warned SaberLeomon and BlackDorugamon, his entire body tense in anticipation.

"Qin Fei, Lolo, climb onto my back!" BlackDorugamon suddenly called out.

"Giga Destroyer!"

With a mighty roar, MetalGreymon's chest hatch sprang open, and two fish-shaped missiles, their jaws lined with jagged fangs, launched straight at the twisted sphere beneath Etemon.

A deafening explosion shook the air, unleashing an unimaginable wave of energy. The already unstable cable sphere erupted in a torrent of dark power. The two forces clashed, and not only was the sphere beneath Etemon torn apart, but even the space surrounding him was ripped open by that terrible energy.

Heaven and earth themselves seemed to change color.

"Impossible!"

"I don't want to disappear! I'm a superstar! Why is this happening to me?!"

Assailed by the irresistible force, Etemon, at the very center of the storm, found himself unable to break free no matter how he struggled, and could only roar in furious despair—until he vanished from everyone's sight.

"Qin Fei, Lolo, hold on tight!" SaberLeomon had already reverted to Leomon, but there was no time to care about BlackDorugamon's mode of address. Together with Qin Fei, she clung tightly to BlackDorugamon's fur.

"Ahhh!"

A terrified cry rang out—it was Taichi. The force twisting the space grew ever stronger. Even with his athletic build, Taichi could not withstand the dreadful pull.

"Taichi!"

MetalGreymon instantly reached out his massive mechanical claw, catching Taichi as he slid backward. But soon, even MetalGreymon's heavy form was unable to resist, and he too was swallowed up by the distorting sky, vanishing without a trace.

"We'll follow after Taichi and MetalGreymon..." Qin Fei shouted to BlackDorugamon beneath him.

Without hesitation, BlackDorugamon spread his wings wide, struggling to maintain balance as he let the irresistible force gradually draw all three of them in.

At last, only the calm blue sky remained, along with the bewildered, chosen children left behind.

"Taichi... Qin Fei..."

Staring up at the empty sky, the children could hardly believe that two of their friends had disappeared so suddenly, their fates unknown...

...

Within the twisted space, there was no sense of up or down, no front or back, no high or low. The tearing forces from all directions gnawed relentlessly at Qin Fei's sanity. One false move and he would surely fall unconscious. He could only clutch BlackDorugamon's fur with all his might, afraid to let go.

"As long as we follow Taichi, as long as we follow Taichi, we can get home." Qin Fei roared inwardly, clinging to this one hope, which alone allowed him to maintain his grip on reality.

Far ahead, Taichi and Motimon might already have lost consciousness. But Qin Fei dared not relax. He must follow them closely, never letting up for an instant.

"Almost there!"

As Taichi drew closer, Qin Fei felt his consciousness grow heavier and heavier.

"Dimension Divider!"

A harsh, rasping voice suddenly rang out by Qin Fei's ear. In the next instant, a mysterious chimera-like Digimon flashed before his eyes, and the entire space shuddered violently.

It seemed to be battling something.

"That was... Millenniummon?!"

As the fleeting figure vanished, Qin Fei's last shred of consciousness finally faded away.