Chapter Ninety-Two: Failure to Infuse

"Eh? It's Dai!"
Just as they arrived at their destination, Shuna spotted a familiar figure dashing toward the transformer station.
With a sharp screech, Shuna hastily stopped the car, opened the door, and called out loudly toward Dai at the gate, "Dai, why haven't you answered any calls? What on earth have you been doing?!"
But Dai paid no mind to Shuna's angry shouting, speaking urgently instead, "Shuna, and... Qin Fei, I saw a Digimon run inside here!"
"We already know that..."
Shuna replied as she walked toward Dai.
"According to the rules, you don't have a partner, so you have to wait outside."
Dai instantly grew furious, as if Shuna had touched a nerve. He gritted his teeth and said, "Even without Agumon, I can handle this alone..."
He hadn't even finished his sentence before he ignored Shuna's protest and leapt into the station.
"What's going on?"
At that moment, Thomas and Gaomon arrived, noticing Dai climbing over the gate and asking Shuna.
But before Shuna could explain, the transformer towers inside suddenly erupted in dazzling flashes of electricity, drawing everyone's attention.
"Dammit, that guy..."
Squinting at the blinding light atop the tower, everyone felt a sense of foreboding.
"Hehehe..."
Sure enough, after a sinister chuckle, a red figure burst from the light, landing near Dai with an exuberant expression, as if it had just indulged in a feast atop the tower.
Suddenly, Elecmon crackled with electricity, its entire body glowing like a two-hundred-watt bulb, radiating a blinding light.
Dai's instincts screamed at him; subconsciously, he sensed danger and immediately sprang aside.
Two arcs of deadly lightning flashed past, striking the spot where Dai had just stood.
"Impressive—no wonder he's the protagonist. His awareness of danger is so keen; it's no surprise he's undefeated after two hundred fights, even beating fourteen opponents single-handedly."
Qin Fei's eyes shone with admiration. At just fourteen, Dai was truly gifted.
Just then, Elecmon's light grew even brighter. Everyone could sense something was about to happen.
"It's about to evolve."
Lorelta stepped forward, her body trembling with excitement, clearly eager to join the fray.
"Lolo, restrain yourself. You're human now, even if you're pretending. Someone is definitely watching."
Qin Fei, sensing her intent, gently held Lorelta's trembling hand, as if to soothe her.
At the very least, Lorelta's identity couldn't be exposed in front of Shuna and the others.
"It's evolving!?"
Dai realized this too, his expression darkening.
It was already tough to handle in its current form, let alone after evolving into something stronger.

Yet, recalling the bold promises he had made to Agumon, Dai clenched his teeth, refusing to retreat.
The energy surging through Elecmon seemed to reach a critical threshold; its once petite frame suddenly swelled, transforming into a familiar beastly form.
"Is it because it absorbed the current?"
Dai eyed the now ferocious, gigantic Digimon warily.
"Is that... Garurumon?"
Lolo exclaimed, recognizing the form.
For Elecmon's evolved shape closely resembled Yamato's Garurumon, though its blue fur was replaced by black, and its size was several times larger, making it even more frightening.
"Isn't Garurumon the evolution of Gabumon? Why..."
Lolo was puzzled, confused by the Digimon evolution relationships.
"Digimon can evolve in many ways; it's not fixed."
Qin Fei glanced at Lolo, feeling she wasn't living up to her role as a Digimon—her knowledge was less than his, a mere human.
Still, given their unique circumstances, he could understand.
"So I could evolve into other forms too?"
At her question, Qin Fei's eyes flickered, recalling the alluring half-human, half-spider form...
Seeing Qin Fei nod, Lorelta felt his gaze was strange, almost nostalgic.
"..."
"Damn it..."
Shuna also sensed the dangerous aura emanating from the black Garurumon before them.
"That bastard..."
Dai even stepped closer to the black Garurumon, refusing to admit defeat.
"Step back, Dai!"
Seeing Dai truly intent on fighting the monstrous black Garurumon with his own flesh and blood, Shuna shouted in alarm.
Thomas spoke seriously to Dai, "You can't do this without a Digimon partner. It's too dangerous for a human!"
"Tch!"
Dai, who was nearly calm, was provoked again by Thomas's warning, his gaze growing resentful.
"Digisoul, charge!"
With a snap of his fingers, Thomas infused his blue Digisoul into his Digivice.
"Gaomon, evolve... MachGaomon!"
Shuna didn't hesitate either, injecting her pink Digisoul into her Digivice.
"Lalamon, evolve... Sunflowmon!"
A giant blue canine and a tailed sunflower appeared before everyone, facing the black Garurumon.
"Quick, step back, Dai!"
"Leave this to us Digimon."

"..."
"Get out of my way!"
With a furious shout, Dai's pent-up frustration finally burst forth, rage overwhelming his reason.
"You're the ones who need to step back! I can handle this guy myself!"
"You're being reckless!"
Shuna's expression changed at Dai's unreasonable words, worried he'd do something dangerous.
"Salamon, go help them too."
Qin Fei took out his Digivice, watching the black Garurumon poised to attack.
"Sunflowmon, stop Dai!"
"MachGaomon, you too!"
Seeing Dai charge alone at the black Garurumon, Shuna grew even more anxious.
But the black Garurumon seemed to ignore the frail human rushing toward it, leaping straight at MachGaomon and the others.
"Urgh!"
Caught off guard, MachGaomon was instantly knocked to the ground by black Garurumon.
Then, with a backward swipe, it knocked Sunflowmon aside with the sharp blades on its forelegs.
But just as it lunged at Salamon, she dodged deftly.
"Cat Punch!"
Salamon landed a heavy blow on black Garurumon's nose, staggering it.
"Bastard! Your opponent is me!"
Having been ignored by black Garurumon, Dai grew even angrier, leaping onto its back to try and restrain it.
Black Garurumon sensed something clutching its fur and began to shake violently, trying to throw Dai off.
"You won't shake me off so easily!"
Though Dai struggled, he stubbornly refused to admit defeat.
MachGaomon and Sunflowmon hesitated, wary of hurting the human figure clinging to black Garurumon's back.
Salamon, small and agile, tangled with black Garurumon fearlessly.
"Failed..."
Qin Fei shook his head, gazing at the Digisoul in his hand, now ashen gray.
He had tried to charge his Digivice with it like Shuna and Thomas, but failed—Salamon showed no reaction.
"Maybe Salamon is already at the mature stage. My Digisoul isn't strong enough for her to evolve to the ultimate form."
Qin Fei gave up, deciding not to try evolving Salamon for now.
But just then, apparently frustrated by Salamon's attacks, black Garurumon let out a low growl and suddenly leapt onto the transformer tower, escaping.
And Dai, clinging to its back, was carried away to an unknown destination.