Chapter 133: Sudden Changes, Looming Crisis

Under the gray, overcast sky, Zhao Jie and his companions moved forward alongside their Digimon. Hovering at a low altitude, a Seagullmon continuously scouted the surrounding environment.

Occasionally, some Rookie or Champion level Digimon would appear in their vicinity, but Zhao Jie and the others simply drove them away. Their true adversaries were the rampaging Digimon, not these common stragglers.

"We are two hours away from the Western Third District. Everyone, keep a sharp lookout," Captain Wengong reminded his team.

"Relax, Captain. With Xiao Zhi’s Seagullmon on patrol, nothing will go wrong," Fu Yue, one of the team members, replied with a playful grin.

"Don't be reckless! Stay alert!" Wengong’s face darkened as he glared at her. This was a matter of life and death; it was no time for such frivolity.

"Understood," Fu Yue muttered, her spirits dampened.

Had it been earlier in their mission, she wouldn't have felt so lax. But they had been running supply missions for half a month straight. The most dangerous encounter had been a pack of Centarumon; although they were only Champion level, their overwhelming numbers had caused the team significant trouble. It was during that battle that the team truly witnessed Zhao Jie’s strength: his MetalGreymon’s Giga Blaster, combined with Medusamon’s Petrifying Eye, had unleashed a perfect area-of-effect assault. Since then, the squad no longer looked down on Zhao Jie, the student.

"I know everyone is exhausted after half a month of non-stop missions. Let’s do this: once we finish this delivery, we’ll take a three-day break," Wengong said with a warm smile.

To his awkward surprise, no one in the team responded.

"Captain, do you watch TV dramas?" Fu Yue asked, staring at her old captain with a hollow gaze.

"I do, why?" Wengong looked at the young people, feeling a bit confused. Was he already out of touch with the current trends?

"The characters who say exactly what you just said are always the ones who end up getting killed," she replied.

Wengong: "..."

It seemed, perhaps, she was right?

Two hours slowly ticked by. As they neared their destination, the tension in the group began to dissipate. Once this batch of supplies was delivered, their return journey would be much faster, and they expected no further issues.

"We're here!"

Before them sat a small hill housing a forward outpost—their destination.

"Please bring the supplies inside the outpost," a pale-faced man appeared before them. He scanned the Digimon with his eyes before smiling at Wengong, who stood at the front of the group.

"Where are the others from your base?" Wengong asked, smiling but remaining rooted to the spot.

"They went further ahead to scout. I’m the only one left to guard the base; otherwise, you wouldn't have needed to bring these supplies all the way here."

Hearing this, Wengong signaled for the team to follow. They entered the outpost and found, as the man had claimed, that he was indeed alone.

"Thanks for your hard work. By the way, how is Old Wang doing? I had a drink with him just last time!" Wengong asked casually after the supplies were unloaded.

"He's doing well. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone out to track those rampaging Digimon," the pale man replied, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"That's good to hear," Wengong nodded. He signaled for the team to gather around him and said to the man, "Our task is complete, so we’ll be heading out now. We have another supply point to reach."

"Thank you for your service."

"Your hand is very sweaty!" the pale man remarked casually as he shook Wengong’s hand.

"I've always been like this. Farewell!" Wengong laughed, pulling his hand away without a second thought.

Under the man's gaze, Zhao Jie and his companions mounted their Digimon and vanished over the horizon. Once they were out of sight, Wengong’s expression shifted instantly.

"Run! This forward base has been compromised! Full speed ahead, return to the main base!" Wengong commanded. "Shi Zhi, your Seagullmon is the fastest, take the lead! Xiao Yue, put away Medusamon and ride with Xiao Liang on Garurumon. Xiao Jie, take me!"

The team moved instantly, trusting his judgment without question.

Garurumon and Greymon sprinted across the ground, while Seagullmon soared through the sky with its rider.

"What’s going on?" Wang Liang asked. Everything had been fine moments ago; why the sudden change?

"There is no one named Wang at that outpost. I was testing him, and the fact that he agreed confirms that the base has been taken over!" Wengong, sitting behind Zhao Jie, explained.

Why were his palms sweaty before? It was out of pure terror. Now, he only hoped they could reach the main base quickly to report the news. This wasn't just a problem with one outpost; the entire western defensive line could be compromised!

*Wooooo...*

Before they had traveled far, a suppressed, thunderous roar echoed from the sky in all directions.

*Whoosh!*

A flock of Harpymon suddenly appeared in the sky, diving rapidly toward Shi Zhi on his Seagullmon.

"No!" Wengong and the others cried out. Before they could even sound a warning, the Harpymon tore the Seagullmon to shreds.

"Xiao Zhi!" Wengong roared in agony, forced to watch helplessly. With the Seagullmon destroyed, Shi Zhi stood no chance; he died instantly, not even having time to let out a scream.

"Heh, you were quite alert, but you still have to die," a weak, raspy voice echoed from behind them. Zhao Jie glanced back instinctively. The pale man he had met earlier was sitting on the shoulder of a Datamon, looking at them with a cold, mocking smile.

"Who are you people?!"

Greymon and Garurumon were forced to halt as the Harpymon descended, encircling them. Wengong shouted at the pale figure behind them.