Fifty point seven badges returned to their places, unleashing a destructive jet of white light.

“Where exactly did you acquire this power, so different from ordinary evolution? Digital Machines shouldn’t possess such abilities!” Taichi frowned. “And how do you even know about Digital Machines?”

Something felt off. Digital Machines were sacred tools given by the Holy Angel Beast from a parallel world. In this world, no one should know of their existence.

Given the Molecular Beast’s joint evolution capabilities, Taichi sensed there was some hidden truth he was unaware of.

“I’m under no obligation to answer you!” The Molecular Beast clenched its teeth. Having emptied his own resources to barely evolve two complete forms, then with the help of the Digital Machine finally creating the Ultimate form, Taichi’s effortless evolution was simply inexplicable!

Taichi scoffed, “Tch, what a petty fellow. Can’t stand to see others succeed, huh?”

The Molecular Beast, bruised and battered by jealousy, sneered, “It doesn’t matter. As long as I defeat you and take your Digital Machine, I’ll uncover the secret behind your evolution.”

The Rust Dragon Beast displayed agility that sharply contrasted its massive frame. With a sudden charge, it broke the sound barrier, its metallic claws slashing toward Zeromaru.

Zeromaru flexed his muscles, meeting the terrifying attack head-on without dodging, throwing a punch in fierce resistance.

Zeromaru’s golden armor was no less sturdy than the Rust Dragon Beast’s metal exterior. Their clash was evenly matched.

The Rust Dragon Beast unleashed a deep crimson flame from its mouth—“Rust Breath”—which caused anything it touched to corrode.

Zeromaru countered with his V Gale Arrow.

Normally a transparent vacuum blade, the V Gale Arrow shimmered golden in Zeromaru’s golden form, its power magnified.

The golden flying slash cleaved the Rust Breath in two, maintaining full force as it struck at the Rust Dragon Beast.

The Molecular Beast seemed to anticipate Zeromaru’s move, continuously retreating to evade.

“Gotcha! I’ve analyzed your battle habits long ago—when you use certain moves in specific situations. I know you better than you know yourselves!”

The Rust Dragon Beast twisted its body, swinging its tail to smack Zeromaru away.

“Understand? The terrifying thing is my talent!”

“Interesting,” Taichi murmured, rubbing his face. Because of their mental link, injuries Zeromaru sustained reflected onto him, the searing pain on his face fueling his excitement.

“You’re pretty capable, aren’t you?”

***

Admittedly, among Ultimate forms, the Rust Dragon Beast, controlled by the Molecular Beast, posed far greater pressure on Taichi than the Interdimensional Beast did.

It seemed there were differences even among Ultimate forms.

But that was exactly what made it worthwhile—that was what made a true battle!

“Zero, unleash full firepower!” The glow of five badges bathed Zeromaru, further amplifying his combat strength in golden form, pushing him into full power mode.

“This is our limit, Zero. If you can analyze it, then try!”

“Oh no!” Without the combat analyzer, even a blind man could sense Zeromaru’s overwhelming aura. The Molecular Beast connected more black cables to the Rust Dragon Beast, boosting it like a Gorillamon, its body swelling larger once more.

Zeromaru stomped hard, carving a five-meter-wide crater in the ground, then transformed into a golden meteor, fiercely charging the Rust Dragon Beast.

The Rust Dragon Beast raised its claws defensively. Despite being over ten times taller than the two-meter Zeromaru, the massive beast was pushed back by the impact, leaving Gajimon dumbfounded.

The earth trembled violently under the clash of these fearsome forces. Black cables stretched behind the Rust Dragon Beast snapped one after another under the overload. The inverted pyramid structure beneath was crushed into rubble.

“Impossible! I fused with so many Digimon, I command endless dark power—how could I lose to you, brat?”

Taichi retorted, “Fusion isn’t about quantity! The bonds between Digimon, between humans and Digimon—only by blending these complex connections can true power be unleashed!”

“It’s nothing like your hollow fusion—just an empty facade!”

Driven mad, the Molecular Beast refused to hear reason. He was convinced the Rust Dragon Beast’s data was insufficient, that he hadn’t harnessed enough dark power.

That’s it! I haven’t used enough cables.

If I connect every black cable across the continent to the Rust Dragon Beast, victory is certain!

Though it seems I’ve exhausted my energy, in fact, I still have a full chance to win!

“Hm... what’s that?” Taichi’s sharp eyes caught two beams of light piercing through the ruins.

At the same time, black cables from the surrounding region converged on the battlefield’s center—not only those from the deepest desert territories under Gorillamon’s influence, but even cables from the farther reaches of the Sabba Continent were drawn under the Molecular Beast’s control into the Rust Dragon Beast.

Like a black tsunami blotting out the sky, the cables surged from every direction.

“It’s coming!” Just as the Rust Dragon Beast was about to falter, an immense surge of dark energy flooded its body—only an Ultimate form could fully absorb such power.

The rust-covered armor blazed with dazzling red light, and the beast’s body grew even larger.

With power greatly increased, the Rust Dragon Beast finally threw Zeromaru aside.

***

Bending slightly, it aimed its cannon at Zeromaru in midair. Driven by dark energy, the Horrifying Electromagnetic Cannon rapidly charged.

“Boom—!”

The recoil from the ultimate attack caused the ground beneath the Rust Dragon Beast to indent.

Zeromaru couldn’t fly, but he wouldn’t wait passively in the air. He countered with his fully powered V Arrow Breath.

Gajimon shouted, “No good! Zeromaru can’t gain footing in the air to use full strength, and the enemy has an endless supply of dark energy. At this rate, we’ll lose!”

“Taichi, think of something! ...Taichi?”

Gajimon suddenly realized Taichi had somehow moved beneath the Rust Dragon Beast’s feet.

What was he planning?

Taichi rummaged through the rubble, dangerously close to the electromagnetic cannon that could vaporize him instantly, yet he ignored it, focused on finding what he had seen earlier.

It had to be...

“Found it!”

Taichi raised his arm high, revealing the final two badges to Zeromaru.

Now all seven badges were finally assembled!

Each emitted a distinct color, further elevating Zeromaru’s power, his whole body radiating dazzling white light.

It was holy power.

“Disappear now! Darkness of the Sabba Continent!”

The V Arrow Breath transformed into white light, shattering the electromagnetic cannon in one strike and pushing the Rust Dragon Beast backward, driving it into the heart of the battlefield.

Forget about the missing eighth badge—everyone knew who it belonged to.