61. The Boy with Gabumon

According to Tailmon, Tai had learned that the Daemon of this world had encountered the seven Chosen Children, and captured them along with their partner Digimon into Daemon's army.

Tai asked, "In that case, did you escape from Daemon's army?"

However, Tailmon’s previous display of effortless wealth did not look at all like that of a fugitive being hunted by the most powerful and evil force in the world.

Tailmon shook her head: "My partner hasn't come to the Digital World yet, which is why I was able to narrowly escape this disaster."

Right from the start, Tailmon never intended to disguise herself as the partner of one of the seven children. After all, circumstances were unpredictable; what if Tai truly tracked down the seven children in the future, only to find that each of them already had a Digimon by their side? In that scenario, Tailmon's identity would become rather awkward.

Therefore, the persona Myotismon gave to Tailmon was that of the Eighth Chosen Children—the partner of the child who was still in the human world!

That way, in the Digital World, no one could verify Tailmon's identity. Even if she went to the human world in the future, Tai could never pick out the true eighth child from among the countless children in the human world to verify Tailmon's identity.

Unless Tai knew from the very beginning who that child was and where they lived.

But that was impossible!

Even a Tamer from a parallel world could not possibly possess information about the eighth child!

*'I see, Tailmon is Kari's partner.'*

Tai thought to himself.

For a moment, the look Tai gave Tailmon softened considerably.

This was his younger sister's future partner!

Feeling the sudden wave of overwhelming goodwill radiating from the other party, Tailmon blinked to suppress the astonishment in her heart.

*'They believed it just like that?'* Tailmon felt that this pair of Tamer and partner were perhaps a bit too gullible.

In reality, the reason Tai believed Tailmon was because her words completely matched the information provided by Davis, the person from the future.

A Holy Digimon, permanently stuck in the Adult stage, whose human partner had not yet arrived in this Digital World.

With so many elements pointing in the same direction, didn't it lead straight to Kari?

Consequently, Tai no longer doubted the information Tailmon shared.

"In that case, let's go defeat Daemon right now!"

Zeromaru clenched his fists, full of fighting spirit. Even though the enemy this time was Daemon, it failed to instill any fear in him.

"So what if he's a Demon Lord type? What if he's a Mega stage!?" Zero and I are bound to win!"

Tai also nodded and said to Tailmon, "That's right, Tailmon. In the parallel world where Zeromaru and I come from, there is also a Daemon disrupting the world. If we can clash with the Daemon of this world first, I'm sure we'll gain plenty of experience and valuable intel!"

Tailmon stared blankly at Tai.

What on earth was going on? How could these two guys feel absolutely no fear after learning they were about to become enemies with the most powerful and evil Daemon army in this world?

Didn't he know that Daemon was one of the strongest Digimon in this world? Didn't he know how terrifying the power of darkness was?!

Could it be that ignorance is bliss...

No, that wasn't it!

Tailmon shook her head frantically.

Tai truly did not know just how strong Daemon was, but he certainly did not view Daemon as a weak enemy. It was just that, compared to the enemy's strength, Tai had an even stronger conviction that his and Zeromaru's power would only surpass it.

From the gazes of Tai and Zeromaru, Tailmon could feel an intense sense of confidence. Between this Tamer and his partner, there was absolute trust in one another. They both believed that as long as the other half was by their side, an endless stream of power would well up within them.

How wonderful...

Tailmon felt a deep sense of envy. When would she ever meet a partner who could make her shine just as brightly?

At this thought, Tailmon momentarily lost in her thoughts, then raised her paw and slapped herself on the face.

What is wrong with me... Am I getting too deep into the act, actually treating myself as a Chosen Child's partner?

Tailmon smiled self-deprecatingly. How could someone who couldn't even protect her own past memories dare to dream of shining brightly like them one day?

At this point, she should just focus on completing Myotismon's mission.

Just at that moment, the Digivice on Tai's wrist suddenly began to pulse violently. Shifting his gaze to the screen, he found six red dots appearing simultaneously, excluding his own.

Tai recalled LadyDevimon, who had appeared alongside the red dots back then: "In that case, the locations of these red dots must be where the enemies are."

Tailmon leaped onto Tai's shoulder. Seeing these red dots, she immediately guessed that Myotismon had scattered the captured children in order to buy as much time as possible against Tai.

However, scattering their forces like this wouldn't it just give Tai the opportunity to pick off the enemies one by one?

Suddenly, Tai noticed one of the red dots on the screen moving toward him at high speed.

At the same time, Zeromaru twitched his snout, and Tai directed his gaze toward the sky in the distance.

A robed figure was standing on the back of a Airdramon, rapidly approaching them.

At their feet was a much smaller figure, also concealed beneath the robe. Judging by its size, it should be a Rookie-stage Digimon.

The Airdramon drew closer and closer to Tai. Once it reached an altitude not far from the ground, the two figures on its back leaped straight down.

Looking at Tai not far away, the taller figure sighed with emotion, "They really... look exactly the same."

This person did not intentionally lower their voice, and with Tai's keen hearing, he caught every single word clearly.

However, before he could ask what the other person meant, the two of them directly threw off their cloaks.

The appearance of the figures beneath the hoods was something Tai never could have anticipated.

Staring at the human boy of the same age across from him, Tai widened his eyes in shock.

The Digimon at the boy's feet also revealed its black-and-white fur and a sharp single horn on its forehead.

It turned out to be a very rare Virus-species BlackGabumon.

"Could it be that you are a Chosen Child?" Tai's first reaction was that this human boy had escaped from Daemon's army.

Yet, when he saw the boy's dead, lifeless eyes—as if his mind had been broken—along with the D-3 Digivice in his hand emitting a dark aura, Tai became certain.

He was an enemy.

An enemy of darkness.

Staring at that familiar face, Yamato Ishida did not answer Tai's question, but instead said in a completely emotionless voice, "Gabumon, go."

A deep, thick wave of dark power surged out from the D-3 Digivice. This power was intensely contagious, carrying the sound of crashing ocean tides, making Tai feel as though he were looking at an exaggeratedly giant red crocodile capable of swallowing the entire world in a single bite.

The dark energy transformed into a gigantic Digi-Egg that enveloped Gabumon, and immediately afterward, an intense chill burst the Digi-Egg open from within.

A werewolf wielding a crescent-shaped glaive, clad in golden armor, and standing on two legs appeared before Tai and Zeromaru.