Chapter 155: Houhoumon and Megadramon

"Ah!"

Screams continuously echoed from Agumon's mouth.

Although it had already reverted to its Agumon form, its left arm still consisted of bare, exposed white bones, looking utterly terrifying.

The corrupted data continued to erode its body from the left arm, while the energy formed by the Solar Stone gradually depleted.

If this continued, there was no guarantee it wouldn't transform back into SkullGreymon.

Seeing this scene, Angewomon picked up the ribbon-like Holy Ring that had fallen from SkullGreymon.

With a solemn expression, she looked at the Agumon before her.

"Holy Ring!"

The Holy Ring, which had turned into a ribbon, shifted once more, returning to its circular shape.

"Seal."

The ring slipped onto Agumon's left arm, and an explosion of holy power isolated the endlessly spreading corrupted data, ultimately gathering all of it into Agumon's left arm.

"Phew..."

"That exhausted me!"

Clutching its bone-like left arm, Agumon sat down flat on the ground with a thump, its expressive, bright eyes turning to look at Zhao Jie, who was standing not far away.

"That's wonderful!"

Zhao Jie's voice had grown hoarse. Although Agumon still didn't seem fully recovered, it had finally escaped the brink of complete destruction.

"Did it turn into a demonic arm?"

Walking over to Agumon's side, Zhao Jie thought with a somewhat peculiar expression. The entire arm beneath the Holy Ring had turned to bone, and coupled with Angewomon's Holy Ring, it really did bear a striking resemblance to a cursed demonic arm.

"I'm already fine!"

Meeting Zhao Jie's gaze, Agumon raised its intact right arm and said with a smile.

"As long as you're fine, as long as you're fine. From now on, you must consult with me before making any decisions, understand? And BlackAgumon, the same goes for you."

Sitting beside Agumon, Zhao Jie wearily rubbed the bridge of his nose.

He hadn't had a single good night's sleep in days, but now he finally had a relatively perfect outcome.

As his mind relaxed, a wave of profound exhaustion welled up from deep within his heart.

"I'm going to rest for a little while."

Greeting Angewomon, Zhao Jie quickly drifted off into a deep sleep.

"Thank you this time, Angewomon."

Agumon climbed up from the ground, glanced down at its left arm a few times, and said gratefully to Angewomon standing beside it.

"Hmph!"

"The great Angewomon would never abandon any of her comrades."

Hearing Agumon's words, Angewomon gave it a haughty glance and said, pretending to be utterly indifferent.

Hours passed, and the Digital World once again welcomed the night.

"Chirp—!"

A piercing, high-pitched cry burst from the sky like a peal of thunder.

"This is..."

Aroused from his deep slumber, Zhao Jie walked out of the cave and looked up at the sky in the distance.

A fiery-red phoenix stood majestically in the night sky, its brilliant scarlet wings beating continuously, blazing like a miniature sun that illuminated the surrounding expanse.

Its radiant light dissolved the deep night, turning the surroundings as bright as day.

"Phoenixmon?"

This Digimon in the night sky was not hard to recognize; it was none other than the Ultimate-level Digimon, the legendary King of Birds, Phoenixmon.

Just as Zhao Jie was wondering what this Phoenixmon intended to do, it spoke out loud from the heavens.

"Megalodramon, you must give me an explanation today!"

A deep, resonant voice boomed from Phoenixmon's beak, carrying the weight of royal decree as it rolled outward through the air, while searing fire-type energy surged from its body into the firmament.

"An explanation? When has I, Megalodramon, ever needed to explain myself to anyone?"

Shortly after Phoenixmon issued its challenge, an overbearing voice erupted from the horizon. A reptilian Digimon, its entire body covered in heavy armor forged from Digizoid alloy, came hurtling through the sky toward the scene.

Though merely a Perfect-level, the aura it radiated was scarcely weaker than that of the Phoenixmon before it.

Thud!

Thud!

The ground shook violently as an Ultimate-level MetalEtemon sprinted rapidly toward them across the terrain, finally landing heavily upon a protruding ridge.

It raised its head to gaze up at Phoenixmon in the sky, making no effort to conceal its frantic killing intent.

"Good, very good! Even MetalEtemon has come. You planned all this to deal with me from the very start, didn't you? Launching a full-scale war against humans was your own arbitrary decision, yet I lent you my strength purely out of consideration for our past camaraderie!"

"And what was the result? The Solar Stone you promised me is nowhere to be found, and when I ask you for an accounting, you act this arrogant! When Lord Machinedramon returns, I will certainly report you!"

"Solar Stone?"

Hearing Phoenixmon's words, Zhao Jie, Angewomon, and Agumon exchanged a series of bewildered glances.

Surely... it couldn't be such a coincidence, could it?

...

"I told you the Solar Stone would be given to you. Did you really think I would renege on my word?"

Megalodramon had been thoroughly agitated these past few days. The decapitation strike promised by Piedmon had suffered endless delays, resulting in massive losses on their own side.

If retreating right now wouldn't risk squandering all their previous gains, it would have ordered a fallback long ago.

And today, Phoenixmon had kept nagging it relentlessly right to its face; after it snapped at the bird a couple of times, the creature had actually bolted out here.

It had indeed prepared the Solar Stone; perhaps the Tortamon hadn't delivered it yet. Wouldn't it arrive together next time? Was there any need to be so hot-headed?

"Said you'd give it to me? Three days after three days, and three days after three days—it has already been a full month! I haven't even caught a glimpse of the Solar Stone you promised! And you're still trying to deceive me now?"

Phoenixmon's voice grew sharp and shrill.

It felt like a fool for ever believing Megalodramon's words.

"Phoenixmon, how about you give me a chance here! There was some misunderstanding earlier, but this time I guarantee that within three days, the Solar Stone I promised will be delivered directly into your hands without a single fragment missing."

Megalodramon's tone remained as aggressive as ever. Although the words were meant for reconciliation, the arrogant and overbearing tone robbed them of sincerity.

It sounded thoroughly grating to Phoenixmon's ears.

"Give you a chance? Fine! Go explain yourself to Lord Machinedramon then! Let's see if it gives you a chance!"

Machinedramon, the supreme overlord of this region.

Megalodramon's heart quaked. Operating behind Machinedramon's back was dangerous enough; once discovered, it would likely be reduced to a mere experimental subject.

And most experimental subjects suffered a fate worse than death!

I refuse to become a test subject again!

"So, you're driving me to my death, then?"

Thinking of this, Megalodramon's gaze grew even more vicious!

Confronting that ferocious glare, Phoenixmon felt Megalodramon's killing intent, but as a powerful Ultimate-level warrior, it did not believe it would lose!

"I'm sorry, but I am Lord Machinedramon's subordinate."

Hearing Phoenixmon's declaration, the corners of Megalodramon's mouth widened in silence, and a cruel, cold laugh escaped its jaws.

"Who knows?"