"Regarding that, please don't worry—this old man will naturally prepare an appropriate method."
Now that both sides had reached an agreement, it was only proper for their partner to show sincerity. That, at least, wasn't something Zero needed to fret about.
Although the Dark Masters' forces were at their peak, Gennai still had a group of quite powerful Digimon secretly fighting against them.
"However, it will take some time to prepare. Before then, please take the opportunity to rest on File Island. I'll contact you once the arrangements are complete."
After these words, Gennai's communication immediately cut off. After all, with the Dark Masters still active, File Island was essentially a remote region outside their surveillance—but prolonged contact risked drawing their attention.
Zero certainly lacked the strength to challenge the Dark Masters now. He had to stabilize first and focus on development.
"Well then, just as Gennai-san suggested, we'll wait patiently until he's ready. But before that…"
Zero turned his gaze; Hajime and Rina immediately understood his meaning. Yet, when they looked around, that figure was already gone.
During the fight with Devimon, Ogremon's sudden Pummel Whack had drawn Devimon's attention away at a critical moment, paving the way for their ultimate victory.
Though Ogremon's punch hadn't caused any real damage, it had undeniably helped distract Devimon, playing a meaningful role.
After that, Zero and Hajime's attention had remained firmly on the battlefield. Back then, a horde of Digimon was busy beating down Devimon, creating such an overwhelming scene that there'd been no spare energy to worry about Ogremon's whereabouts.
Only now, after the fight ended, did they notice Ogremon had quietly disappeared.
Even if it had survived, it probably wouldn't resolve its grudge against Zero. Ogremon's tsundere pride would likely have kicked in, leading it to silently slip away.
If Ogremon wanted to leave, Zero naturally wouldn't stop it. Let it be. After all, Ogremon was a companion who only reluctantly joined their group very late in the story—better to let things flow naturally.
And then, there was Leomon…
…During the battle against Devimon, Leomon had been swept away by a collapsing mountainside into a torrent of rocks and earth. His fate was currently unknown, but death wasn't necessarily guaranteed in that chaos.
"In any case, since we have some time, let's try searching for him. Maybe Leomon's still alive and waiting for us to save him!"
Rina made this suggestion, and Zero and Hajime naturally had no objections. They had plenty of time anyway…
Devimon's castle—indeed, the entire mountain—had collapsed into ruins after the fierce battle. Zero's final shot had shaken File Island so violently it nearly warped out of shape. Fortunately, the net of intersecting lights from the four Crests had trapped Devimon, indirectly limiting the explosion's spread.
Otherwise, given that double Crest boost plus idealistic eruption plus suicidal attack… a shot like that, without restraint, would've probably wiped out more than half of File Island with just its aftershock.
Under such circumstances, truthfully, Leomon's chances of survival were slim. But they should at least try—what if there really was a miracle?
However, they searched from sunrise until sunset. Even then, they found no sign of Leomon within the vast stretch of ruins.
It seemed Leomon was likely doomed after all.
Although saddening, this was simply how the Digital World operated. Similar events happened everywhere, all the time—every second, countless Digimon were dying and being reborn.
After grieving, one could only look forward.
For now, collecting the Digivices and Crests while defeating Myotismon and controlling the Real World portal in his castle remained their primary goals.
Night fell slowly, and although Zero had lost the Trident Revolver, after absorbing Devimon's data, he and Hajime were now essentially unrivaled on File Island.
As the key figures who'd defeated Devimon, the Digimon of File Island clearly understood they were no match for these two, and the weaker Digimon naturally felt gratitude towards those who'd eliminated their oppressor.
Both in terms of pure strength and reputation, Zero, Hajime, and Rina had undoubtedly reached their peak on File Island.
Thus, for once, they could finally sleep peacefully, without worry of danger or attack. After lighting a bonfire and having dinner, the three settled down as usual—Rina holding Zero, leaning gently against Hajime—as they fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Such rare peaceful sleep quickly pulled Zero into a long-awaited dream…
Everything was dim, hazy darkness… sky and earth blending indistinctly together. Zero, standing amidst the vague gloom, suddenly jolted awake within his dream.
Wait a second…where is this?
He hurriedly raised his head, glancing around quickly—and immediately felt his heart sink.
…Stretching endlessly before him was a vast, boundless, black ocean!
The black water appeared perfectly calm, without even a single ripple, looking deceptively like an ordinary sea.
But Zero instantly broke out into a cold sweat.
…Holy shit—within the Digital World, the only place that matched this description… wasn't it that mysterious place, the Dark Ocean?!
Deep within that cursed ocean, it was rumored a terrifying being lay dormant—one of the Seven Great Demon Lords, the embodiment of envy, Leviamon, slept beneath the waves. Should it awaken, disaster would befall the Digital World.
Each member of the Seven Great Demon Lords possessed individual power far beyond even the Dark Masters who currently shook the Digital World's foundations. Not every demon-type Digimon qualified—only those bearing the unique "Crest of Deadly Sin" could be truly called one of the Seven.
Right now, if Zero encountered any of the Dark Masters, he'd die instantly without question. And Leviamon, standing even higher on the ladder—encountering its true body would be a one-way ticket to oblivion.
Forget direct combat—just the aftershocks from Leviamon's enormous jaws or massive tail would be fatal to anything below Mega-level.
I just went to sleep, and now suddenly I'm dreaming myself into a death zone?
Currently, the Digital World's most dangerous areas—apart from the Firewall and the Dark Area ruled by the Dark Masters—had to include this very place.
In some ways, the Dark Ocean might even surpass the other two in sheer peril.
Just as Zero began nervously considering how to handle this situation, a flash of light streaked across the black sky over the Dark Ocean, quickly followed by a series of violent explosions.
"…!"
Someone's fighting?
Battling right above the Dark Ocean? Holy hell, who's that suicidal?!
As confusion filled his mind, Zero's viewpoint suddenly zoomed straight toward the battlefield. He immediately saw the combatants clearly: a group of angel-type Digimon surrounding and attacking a single shadowy figure, its entire body shrouded in darkness and impossible to see clearly.
Am I… dreaming?
Zero suddenly understood this was likely just a dream—but why he'd fallen into such a strange one, he had no idea.
The battle ended swiftly. Although the shadow was vastly outnumbered by angels, its strength obviously overwhelmed them.
Effortlessly, it slaughtered every single angelic Digimon.
Finally, only one severely injured angel remained alive—but rather than killing it outright, the shadow simply chuckled playfully.
"I suddenly feel like playing a game… How about it, will you help entertain me for a bit~?"
Watching all its companions brutally slain, the angel smiled bitterly and prepared to attack in desperate fury—only to be casually deflected by the shadow, then violently struck down towards the black ocean below.
"You proudly call yourselves 'messengers of God.' Well, I'm curious… let's see if you can maintain that holy purity within this sea of death and despair~"
Screaming in agony, the angel plunged into the Dark Ocean. Instantly, the formerly calm waters erupted into a swirling whirlpool, seizing and binding the fallen angel in an unbreakable grip…
---
T/N: Devimons memories
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