12. The Loyal and Brave Lion Beast of the Entire Family

Page 1/3

Toy City lay at the heart of the forest, and with Taiichi and his companions’ endurance, they could easily arrive before the sun completely set.

At this moment, the sunset was at its most beautiful, casting an orange-red glow over the buildings of Toy City.

This place was entirely different from the raw natural environment of the Digital World, and of course, it was not the kind of modern city Taiichi was familiar with.

On either side of the road stood houses built entirely from building blocks, while nutcracker-shaped guardian toys patrolled the area.

From somewhere came the delicate sound of musical instruments, and balloons shaped like teddy beasts floated gently in the air, as if awakening the childlike wonder in every heart.

The feeling here was completely different from what Taiichi had gathered from the photos given by Andor Beast. Only by coming here himself could he truly sense an atmosphere that made him want to relax without restraint.

“What a wonderful place,” Taiichi said with an involuntary smile. “To build a city like this, you must have put in a tremendous amount of effort.”

“Not really, hehehe…” Teddy Beast replied modestly, though his face clearly bore a proud smile.

“Taiichi, come quick!” Zeromaru, who had begun exploring Toy City on his own, called out from a distance.

Taiichi approached and saw Zeromaru lying atop a carousel. The carousel was only half Zeromaru’s size, creaking under his weight. Seeing Taiichi, Zeromaru waved happily.

“You really are a childish one,” Taiichi thought with amusement. Perhaps because Zeromaru always fought with such strength and dominance, Taiichi often forgot that his psychological age was still that of a child.

Suddenly, the manhole cover of Toy City’s sewer was lifted, and a Snot Beast darted out.

“Help! Help!”

Taiichi, one foot already on the carousel, glanced back and his heart tightened.

The Snot Beast was still chasing me—damn it!

He immediately grabbed Zeromaru, ready to flee, but then realized something was off about the Snot Beast. It bore many wounds and had been crying and screaming as it emerged from the sewer, seeming more like the one being pursued.

Teddy Beast crouched down kindly and lifted the Snot Beast onto his shoulder. “What’s wrong, child? Why are you here alone?”

“The Lion Beast—Lion Beast! The Lion Beast is attacking us!” the Snot Beast began to recount his ordeal.

After giving up the chase of Taiichi, the Snot Beasts had planned to disperse, but on their way back, they encountered the Lion Beast.

Originally, the Snot Beasts didn’t care much. The Lion Beast’s sense of justice and kindness was well known on the Isle of Faurouis. Though the Snot Beasts envied the Lion Beast’s powerful strength and beloved status, they trusted he wouldn’t harm them.

But today, the Lion Beast seemed strange. His pupils were all white, and he kept muttering about defeating the chosen child. When he saw the Snot Beast, he attacked without hesitation.

Fortunately, the Snot Beast reacted quickly, escaping into the sewer after the attack. Many of his companions were not so lucky.

Having no other choice, the Snot Beast came here, hoping Teddy Beast could help.

Though Teddy Beast was not skilled in combat and might not stand a chance against the Lion Beast, the Snot Beast had no one else to rely on but this elder who had evolved from Snot Beast to a perfect form.

Taiichi and Zeromaru exchanged a glance.

Page 2/3

“This has to be the work of the Black Gear again,” Taiichi thought.

He immediately dropped his playful mood and approached the Snot Beast.

“Where is the Lion Beast now?”

“Is that you?” the Snot Beast recognized Taiichi. “Are you here to help me?”

He recalled the unintended scene he had witnessed—Taiichi and Zeromaru effortlessly defeating Teddy Beast as if he were nothing.

If Taiichi and Zeromaru were stronger than even a perfect form, they could surely stop the Lion Beast!

Taiichi tilted his head. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“But… why?” the Snot Beast asked, puzzled. Why would Taiichi want to help him? He was so powerful, while he was weak and ugly, never liked by anyone, like a rat twisted and crawling in the sewer.

Just recently, someone had even tried to throw dung at him.

Taiichi laughed softly. “It’s only normal to help when you can.”

“And besides, what happened before was partly our fault.”

He squeezed the Snot Beast’s slimy body, which felt slippery like slime.

“Escaping from an attack like that must’ve been tough.”

“Thank you for your effort!”

Zeromaru came over as well.

“Looking closely, the Snot Beast is actually kind of cute.”

“Right?” the Snot Beast looked at Taiichi in disbelief. Since evolving into a Snot Beast, he had never received such high praise.

Taiichi looked at Teddy Beast apologetically. “Sorry, we had planned to stay here overnight.”

Teddy Beast smiled broadly. “It’s alright—you’re doing what you should.”

At that moment, heavy footsteps sounded outside Toy City. Taiichi and Zeromaru exchanged a glance and walked forward under the watchful eyes of Teddy Beast and the Snot Beast.

Watching Taiichi stride forward slowly in the sunset, the Snot Beast suddenly felt they were truly impressive.

Soon, two battle roars echoed from afar—one from the battle-hardened King of Beasts, the other from an undefeated duo whose power had grown since their debut.

“Bang!”

A dull collision sounded.

Contrary to the Snot Beast’s imagined fierce and evenly matched battle, with just one punch, Zeromaru knocked the Lion Beast to his knees.

Page 3/3

When Teddy Beast carried the Snot Beast on his shoulder to the battle scene, he saw Taiichi and Zeromaru sitting awkwardly on the unconscious Lion Beast.

Teddy Beast’s first thought was: Did these two guys really kill the Lion Beast?

After a moment, he realized that if a Digimon died, it would turn directly into data and a Digi-Egg.

The Snot Beast jumped down from Teddy Beast’s shoulder, looking at Taiichi with immense admiration. “Amazing! You guys are incredible! You defeated the Lion Beast so quickly!”

Taiichi and Zeromaru exchanged smiles.

Teddy Beast, recalling the earlier oddness, asked, “What’s wrong? Did you run into trouble?”

“Ah…” Taiichi looked at the Lion Beast beneath them. “It seems that this guy doesn’t have any Black Gears inside.”

Having fought many enemies controlled by Black Gears, Taiichi had some experience.

Usually, when a Digimon controlled by a Black Gear receives enough damage and loses the ability to fight, the Black Gear would detach and shatter.

But after Taiichi knocked down the Lion Beast and kicked his body several times, there was still no sign of a Black Gear breaking free.

Instead, the Lion Beast fell into a deeper unconsciousness…

Examining the Lion Beast’s body again, there was no trace of a Black Gear.

What was going on? Had the mastermind upgraded their methods?

Teddy Beast rested his chin on his hand and pondered. “Perhaps the Lion Beast wasn’t possessed by a Black Gear but was controlled directly by some dark power.”

“Dark power?”

Teddy Beast nodded. “Actually, the Lion Beast had discovered the existence of the Black Gears a long time ago and investigated them. He even warned me to be cautious of such sinister things.”

At this, Teddy Beast looked a bit embarrassed. “But you know, I’m not good at fighting. Even if I tried to resist carefully…”

“But if it’s the Lion Beast, he definitely wouldn’t be controlled by mere Black Gears.”

“I see. Looks like he found something real.”

Taiichi understood. The Lion Beast must have uncovered clues during his investigation; perhaps he even found the mastermind behind the Black Gears. But in the confrontation, he was overpowered and controlled to cause trouble for Taiichi.

This complicated matters. Taiichi didn’t know how to remove the dark power controlling the Lion Beast…

He certainly couldn’t just kill him, could he?

…

He couldn’t, right?