Chapter Eleven: You Can Choose Between the Bat and the Little Raccoon

Not sure how to put it? Hearing Zhao Jie’s words, Li Ping paused for a moment. This was the first time he had heard such an explanation, but then again, the children before him had only just begun to learn about Digimon. They hadn’t yet formed their own worldview regarding Digimon, so not knowing how to answer was only natural.

“All right, I’ll leave the answer to this question for you to discover yourselves. Now, let’s talk about the most extraordinary aspect of being a Digimon Tamer: digital energy.”

Digital energy is a peculiar force that manifests in the human body after the fusion of the digital and human worlds. Only those who possess this energy can form a contract with a Digimon.

To date, however, research on digital energy has yielded little. What is known is that it originates in the human body, but the precise conditions for its emergence remain elusive.

The most significant finding so far is that, for most people, digital energy begins to manifest at age seventeen—some earlier, some later, but typically at seventeen. That’s why only third-year high school students can choose to become Digimon Tamers.

“Digital energy in the human body can resonate with Digimon. This resonance shortens the time it takes for a Digimon to evolve. That’s why Digimon choose to bond with humans who possess digital energy.”

“Now, I’ll teach you how to use this digital energy.”

...

Before Li Ping’s instruction, Zhao Jie could only sense this energy. No matter how he tried, it remained indifferent to his efforts. But now, having learned the method, Zhao Jie could finally control a tiny thread of it. Though it was just a sliver, it marked his first real mastery over digital energy. Given time, he would eventually be able to command it all.

“Teacher, how do you channel digital energy into your Digimon?” Zhao Jie sidled up next to Li Ping and asked.

“You’ve already learned to control digital energy?”

“I can control a bit of it now.”

Li Ping’s mouth twitched slightly as he looked at Zhao Jie. It had taken him a full week to learn to control digital energy, yet from the time he began explaining, barely half an hour had passed. Was the difference between people really this great?

“Since you’ve mastered it, I’ll tell you. The digital energy in our bodies isn’t like the internal energy in martial arts novels that enhances our own fighting abilities. You can think of it as a buff—a boon you bestow upon your Digimon.”

“Or, you might say, it’s like a program.”

A program? Zhao Jie froze at Li Ping’s words. He could grasp the idea of a buff—after all, hadn’t all boys once dreamed of being the carefree wind-walker?

“Yes, a program. When a Digimon forms a contract with a human, their rapid evolution relies heavily on the digital energy within us,” Li Ping said with a touch of emotion.

Even after years of research, digital energy remains shrouded in mystery.

“Focus first on mastering your digital energy. When your Koromon evolves, you’ll understand. By the way, have you decided whether your Koromon will evolve along the Agumon line or the ToyAgumon line?”

“Agumon.”

“Agumon is an excellent choice. Its evolutions hold great potential.”

The two chatted for a while, and Zhao Jie found that this seemingly imposing man was actually quite gentle, far removed from what he’d imagined.

According to Li Ping, until every student had learned to control digital energy, the training regimen wouldn’t change much. Zhao Jie could only continue strengthening his command over his digital energy.

A week passed in this way. Zhao Jie had come to control more than half of his digital energy, and finally, the last student succeeded in mastering it as well.

For two months, mornings were spent on academic lessons and afternoons on Digimon studies. During this time, Koromon steadily grew.

Thanks to his surplus points, Yang Dong had already gathered all the items needed for Koromon’s evolution into Agumon. Now, all that was needed was the final push.

“That’s odd, Koromon. Why do you seem a bit chubbier?” Zhao Jie said, holding Koromon in his arms with mild surprise.

Koromon: ⊙(・◇・)?

Compared to Koromon, Bukamon, who was lazily sprawled on Liu Cheng’s shoulder, opened his tiny eyes at Zhao Jie’s words and looked over at the Koromon in his arms.

By sheer coincidence, Koromon also glanced in Bukamon’s direction.

Their gazes met in the air, locking again and again until, finally, Bukamon gave in and looked away.

Forget it—I can’t win this.

“Let me see… It does look a little chubbier!” Liu Cheng studied Koromon for a moment, then nodded seriously in agreement with Zhao Jie.

Koromon: (•́へ•́╬).

Is this fat? No, this is robust!

“Maybe Elecmon has been giving them something good,” Liu Cheng speculated.

These past months, the Digimon had mostly been managed by Li Ping’s Elecmon. They could only retrieve their Digimon from Elecmon after school each day.

Mentioning Elecmon was enough to make Bukamon, perched on Liu Cheng’s shoulder, roll his eyes in exasperation—he’d been conned one too many times.

Bukamon still remembered clearly: one sunny afternoon, as one of the few sages among Digimon, he’d been nestled in the dirt contemplating life, when that wild, rude, and fearsome Elecmon appeared before him, accompanied by Koromon.

Elecmon: I’ll give you a choice—bring ten packs of Little Raccoon snacks tomorrow.

Bukamon: ??????

Elecmon: You can choose between a club and the Little Raccoon snacks.

Bukamon: This is extortion! This is blackmail! I’m going to report you.

He was indignant and furious. As a rare sage among Digimon, he refused to endure this humiliation. So, he instructed Liu Cheng to prepare twenty packs of Little Raccoon snacks for him.

Thanks to his relationship with Liu Cheng and Koromon’s tamer, Zhao Jie, Bukamon, the sage among Digimon, successfully joined the group, securing the third seat of honor and earning the envy of all the other Digimon.

“By the way, Bukamon, there’s a new flavor of Little Raccoon snacks. Do you want some?” Liu Cheng asked, stroking Bukamon on his shoulder.

It was strange—he’d noticed that many Digimon were carrying Little Raccoon snacks these days. He distinctly remembered that, not long ago, most Digimon couldn’t have cared less about those crispy noodles.

At these words, Bukamon felt a bright pair of eyes fixed upon him—the blazing gaze of Koromon.