15. The Unicorn Beast Joins the Team Temporarily
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Tai stood halfway up Infinite Mountain, studying the Leomon before him. The humanoid beast had the face of a lion and wore a pair of black leather trousers. His powerful, well-defined muscles were especially striking, while his thick mane swayed gently in the wind.
“So you’re Leomon.”
Tai’s eyes were filled with curiosity.
He seemed like the sort of character furries would really like.
“Huh? What’s a furry?”
Tai tilted his head. A moment ago, a strange piece of knowledge had suddenly appeared in his mind...
“Could it be... that you’re one of the Chosen Children?!” Leomon’s voice carried a hint of excitement.
Tai exchanged a glance with Zeromaru. At present, neither of them could say for certain whether he really was one.
“I’m A-Zero’s Tamer.”
Seeing the human Tai and the unfamiliar blue Digimon standing beside him, the astonishing wisdom hidden within Leomon awakened.
He gently moved Ogremon aside, covered him with leaves, and then rose to his feet.
“Thank you. I imagine it was the power of the Digivice that freed me from Devimon’s control.”
There was gratitude in Leomon’s voice.
Tai shook his head. “To be precise, Zeromaru and I accomplished it together with Unimon.”
As if to emphasize his words, Tai reached back and stroked Unimon, who was leaning behind him. Apparently unhappy at being ignored, Unimon merely snorted and turned his head away.
“I’m sorry. My mind still isn’t entirely clear.”
Leomon rubbed his thick mane and apologized to Unimon.
“Come on, don’t be so petty. Everyone has been troubled by the dark forces. You should all get along.”
Zeromaru went over to Unimon and began comforting him.
Tai then turned back to Leomon. “Could you tell me more about the Digivice you mentioned?”
Leomon nodded.
“According to the legends I know, whenever the Chosen Children arrive in the Digital World, they receive an artifact known as a Digivice. It possesses a sacred power capable of awakening even greater potential within Digimon. It is the key to saving the Digital World from the darkness that covers it.”
Awakening greater potential...
Tai blinked. “It sounds pretty useful.”
Leomon found his remark somewhat strange. “But surely you’ve already experienced its miraculous effects?”
Tai shook his head. “I haven’t.”
“What?” Leomon blinked repeatedly. “How is that possible?! Without the power of a Digivice supporting you, how did you make it all the way to Infinite Mountain—and even defeat me?”
Although Leomon had been defeated by Devimon in a single blow, his strength was actually among the very best of the Champion-level Digimon. Unfortunately, the Devimon on this island was exceptionally abnormal. Whether it was the Black Gears, which could even control Ultimate-level Digimon, or the darkness within Devimon himself, everything about him far surpassed that of ordinary individuals of the same kind.
Against ordinary Champion-level Digimon such as Monochromon or Kuwagamon, Leomon could take on three at once.
To prove his point, Tai deliberately spun around several times in front of Leomon, showing him the notebook, goggles, and other items he carried.
But he had no Digivice like the one Leomon had seen depicted in the ruins.
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“You really don’t have a Digivice. You children must have suffered terribly.”
Leomon sighed with emotion. Could the crisis now facing the entire Digital World have grown so severe that there was no longer enough strength to provide even Digivices?
Tai looked puzzled. “There’s only one child?”
Leomon froze. “You’re the only Chosen Child who came here?!”
“I don’t even know whether I count as a Chosen Child.”
Tai scratched his head before answering, “In any case, I’ve traveled through half of File Island and haven’t seen a second human besides myself.”
What in the world was this child?
Leomon felt as though his entire understanding of reality had been overturned.
So the child before him had come to the Digital World alone, without any companions, without the help of a Digivice, relying entirely on his own strength and that of his partner Digimon to fight his way through half of File Island—a land shrouded in Black Gears.
And according to Tai, they had even defeated Andromon at the mechanical factory.
Wait. How were you this strong?!
At first, Leomon’s mouth fell open as wide as Ogremon’s. Then he suddenly realized that Tai possessing such formidable power was actually a good thing.
“With combat ability at your level, perhaps we can defeat Devimon even without a Digivice!”
Tai’s eyes lit up. Devimon—just hearing the name was enough to tell him that this was no good creature.
“Is that guy the culprit behind the changes on File Island?”
Leomon nodded. “In any case, let’s head down the mountain first.”
The steep mountain path had become even more treacherous after Unimon’s recent attack. Earlier, a boulder five meters in diameter had even come rolling down the cliff.
Tai agreed. Now that Leomon had been rescued, it would be better to descend the mountain and find somewhere they could rest while talking.
As the one among them closest to Ogremon, Leomon naturally carried him down.
Only after they reached the foot of the mountain did Tai, who had hurried up earlier, discover that the base of Infinite Mountain contained a natural hot spring.
No... Calling it a hot spring was a little strange, considering its color.
Bubbling up from the spring was not the clear, faintly sulfurous water he had imagined, but some mysterious purple liquid that resembled an alchemical potion and gave off an ominous aura.
Tai clearly saw bubbles bursting across its surface and forming the shape of a skull.
There was no way anyone could soak in that!
By comparison, the unplugged refrigerator that was still running nearby seemed perfectly normal.
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Tai opened the refrigerator door. Inside, row upon row of eggs filled the entire appliance.
The sight of them finally made Tai’s empty stomach rumble. He had not eaten all day.
“Perfect. There’s a hot spring right beside us. Let’s talk while we make some hot-spring eggs.”
Tai divided the eggs into several batches. He placed some in the bamboo baskets that came with the refrigerator and lowered them into the suspicious hot spring, while he cracked the others directly onto a steaming stone slab nearby to roast them.
While they waited for the hot-spring eggs to finish, they found a shady place and sat down.
According to Leomon, Devimon was a Fallen Angel-type Digimon who lived in the temple at the summit of Infinite Mountain. He possessed dark power far beyond that of an ordinary individual of his species.
The Black Gears had been released by Devimon. His purpose was to control the powerful Digimon on File Island with those gears, use that force to secure a foothold on the distant continent, and eventually become the Dark King who ruled the entire Digital World.
Tai summed it up simply: Devimon was a very conventional villain.
Although the setup was clichéd, Tai had no intention of letting him off.
Leomon continued, “Before the decisive battle, we should first check on the other Digimon across the island.”
Otherwise, if several Black Gear-controlled Champion-level Digimon suddenly burst out halfway through their fight with Devimon and began causing trouble, things could become troublesome indeed.
“Perfect. I’d also like to see the snowfield and the ancient ruins.”
In the real world, even buying a ticket did not guarantee that one would ever get to see places like those.
Tai continued, “Leomon, go back and check on Meramon, Seadramon, and the others for me. We also need to make sure they haven’t been controlled by the Black Gears again.”
“Leave it to me,” Leomon replied.
At that moment, Unimon suddenly spoke.
“Tai, take me with you.”
When Tai and the others turned their gazes toward him, Unimon said, “Infinite Mountain is my home as well.”
“If I stay here, sooner or later Devimon will control me again... I have complete confidence in my mobility, and I’m certain I can help you. So until Devimon is defeated, let me join you!”
Tai saw no reason to refuse.
Besides, who would turn down a handsome white horse that could fly?
“Let’s work well together, Unimon!”
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