Chapter 16: This Looks Delicious

Zhao Jie lay exhausted on the ground, rough breaths rasping from his throat as his heart pounded uncontrollably. His mind had gone utterly blank.

"Zhao Jie."

Agumon hung its head low, eyes filled with worry as it watched Zhao Jie gasp for air.

Boom—boom—boom...

A series of sonic booms erupted behind them, jolting Zhao Jie upright in an instant. His eyes darted warily back toward the place they'd just passed.

Could it be that Garurumon has caught up?

"Roar!"

A furious beast's cry split the air, and with it a burst of blue-white flame shot skyward. Reaching its zenith, the fire exploded noisily, scattering like dazzling fireworks across the sky.

"Is that... Foxfire?"

Zhao Jie narrowed his eyes, uncertain if he'd really seen Garurumon's signature move.

"I'll go take a look," Agumon volunteered, having recovered much of its strength. Sensing the disturbance behind them, it stepped forward eagerly.

"Alright, but be careful. If you sense danger, come back immediately." After a moment's thought, Zhao Jie agreed. Agumon was, after all, a Digimon in its growth stage—so long as it was cautious, there shouldn't be any real danger.

Nodding firmly, Agumon quickly disappeared in the direction they had retreated from.

The grass whispered under Agumon's careful steps. It was almost at the spot where they had previously encountered Garurumon, eyes alert as it scanned the surroundings.

Roar! Roar!

Two massive figures appeared before Agumon's eyes—one was the Garurumon they'd seen before, and the other was a Kyubimon, its nine tails billowing behind it.

Hiss.

A sinister flame flickered around Kyubimon as it unleashed its special move: Will-o'-the-Wisp.

Whoosh—whoosh!

Flames erupted from Kyubimon, streaking toward Garurumon.

Garurumon was unfazed, its beastly eyes blazing with anger at the intruder.

Foxfire!

As the ghostly flames approached, Garurumon countered with its own, intercepting Kyubimon's attack. At the same time, it darted through the smoke, sharp claws and fangs aimed at Kyubimon.

Crash—

The two clashed again, both Digimon in their mature stages, neither able to gain the upper hand.

"What's that?" After watching the fierce battle for a moment, Agumon turned to leave, but something caught its eye—the same fruit tree over a meter high that Zhao Jie had noticed earlier.

Three fruits hung from the tree. Two were fully ripe, while the third was still green, though it was steadily turning red—ripeness was just a matter of time.

Gurgle.

Agumon rubbed its stomach and glanced at the battling Digimon. An audacious idea took root in its mind.

Those fruits look delicious!

Carefully creeping forward, Agumon edged its way beneath the tree. Looking up, it saw the three fruits, the aroma from the two ripe ones wafting down.

Both Garurumon and Kyubimon had deliberately avoided fighting near the tree—their true objective was the fruit. Yet neither could have imagined that a mere growth-stage Digimon would dare meddle, let alone snatch their prize while they fought.

Click.

As the two mature Digimon battled fiercely, Agumon leapt up and quietly plucked the two ripe fruits, then tiptoed back the way it had come.

After a few steps, Agumon glanced back at the solitary, still-green fruit and hesitated. If taking two is stealing, taking all three is no worse—why leave one behind?

The thought tempted Agumon relentlessly. Stealing a look at the distant fight—Garurumon and Kyubimon locked in heated combat—Agumon made up its mind.

Only children make choices—I, Agumon, want them all.

Very soon, the last green fruit was picked as well. Clutching all three, each the size of a fist, Agumon slipped away unnoticed.

"Zhao Jie! Zhao Jie! I found something delicious!"

Agumon hurried over, holding the three fruits, and called out excitedly as soon as it saw Zhao Jie.

Something delicious?

Zhao Jie's brow furrowed in confusion. They hadn't even had time to bring any food before being swept into this digital labyrinth—where could Agumon have found something to eat?

"Look, tasty fruit!"

Agumon trotted up and stretched out its hands, proudly displaying the three fruits.

"Wait... these—"

Zhao Jie stared in disbelief. Could these be the very fruits guarded by Garurumon? How had Agumon managed to snatch them under Garurumon's watch?

His mind was flooded with questions.

"Garurumon is fighting a nine-tailed one. I saw no one guarding the tree, so I picked all three."

Picked all three?

Zhao Jie's lips twitched. There were only three fruits in total—you took every last one and say you 'just picked three.' As if I wouldn't know!

Still, he was moved that greedy Agumon had brought all three back without eating any along the way.

"Are these safe to eat?"

Zhao Jie picked up one of the fruits, uncertainty clouding his face. Though these were treasures even mature Digimon fought over, would it be dangerous for them to eat? Sometimes, nourishment too rich could also cause trouble.

"Agumon, don't eat yet. Let's get out of here."

He quickly took the other two fruits from Agumon, stowing all three in his clothes, then grabbed Agumon's hand and began to run.

There was no other way—if those two Digimon realized what had happened, they would be hunted down by not one but two mature Digimon. Facing even one was already nerve-wracking; the thought of facing both sent chills through his body.