Chapter 45: Victory (Seeking Recommendations)

“Victory.”

As the flames of phosphorus burned on Agumon's body, the entire arena fell silent. Even the viewers watching through online platforms were hushed. This was the so-called 'lucky Agumon' Zhao Zhe had mentioned—look at the fire burning on its body, look at its upright posture. What kind of training must it have endured to withstand such pain?

Previously, they had treated the competition as mere entertainment, but that notion was gone now. This was disrespectful to Agumon.

“I remember this Agumon is from Wuling City in Xiang Province, right? That's not exactly a developed city.”

“Exactly. To make it all the way from the preliminaries to the final four with an Agumon, and there are still people saying it's just luck. So people from small cities can't achieve good results?”

“I’m moved to tears. This time, I think Teacher Zhao is wrong. He needs to apologize to Agumon.”

“Yes, he needs to apologize to Agumon.”

“He owes Agumon an apology.”

“An apology, he owes Agumon an apology.”

“……”

There may have been doubts about Agumon before, but now, seeing it engulfed in flames, no one could voice those doubts anymore.

Those who strive will be seen; digital monsters who strive are no different.

Its current achievement is well-deserved.

Fortunately, Little Demon Beast had fainted. If it hadn’t, upon hearing all these thoughts, it might have been so angry as to faint again.

Well-deserved? It deserves it too?

“Let us congratulate Zhao Jie from Wuling City and his partner Agumon for advancing to the semifinals.”

Zhao Zhe felt his throat dry. They’d won—again. From the top thirty-two to the final four, this Agumon kept proving him wrong, time and again.

He suddenly felt anxious. What if this Agumon really won the championship? Would he really have to do that ridiculous handstand?

After the referee announced the end of the match, the medical teams entered the arena. One group went to Little Demon Beast, while another headed towards Agumon.

Fire extinguishers capable of suppressing digital energy sprayed over Agumon, helping to put out the burning phosphorus flames, and then escorted Agumon to the medical ward.

“Agumon!”

Zhao Jie followed closely, his face anxious. Since the start of the tournament, Agumon had never been injured so seriously.

“Don’t worry, Agumon will be fine. Please trust our medical expertise,” a doctor gently stopped Zhao Jie.

“Thank you, thank you.” Hearing this, Zhao Jie’s anxiety eased considerably.

Meanwhile, back in Wuling City, Zhao Jie’s mother and father watched the match, their hearts clenched as they saw Agumon engulfed in flames.

They had watched Agumon grow up. Not long ago, it had greeted them affectionately. How could they bear such a shock?

Previously, when digital monsters got hurt, they hadn’t thought much of it. But now that it was Agumon, the feeling was entirely different.

“No, I can’t rest easy. I have to go to Shashi City,” Zhao Jie’s mother murmured, clutching her husband’s hand as she stared at the TV screen.

“Let’s go. We’ll leave immediately,” Zhao Jie’s father declared firmly.

At the Digital Center of Wuling City, Li Ping watched Agumon on the screen and sighed.

“They actually made it to the final four.”

He had originally thought Zhao Jie reaching the top thirty-two would be enough. He didn’t expect them to make it all the way to the semifinals. This was the best result Wuling City had achieved in years.

As for Agumon’s injuries, he didn’t worry at all. It was just a competition between digital monsters in their growth stage; no one would die.

When they face true missions, the challenges will be far more severe. At that time, there won’t be medical teams to provide treatment—there will only be their digital partners.

……

Outside the medical ward, Zhao Jie paced nervously in the corridor, while Hu Lin, Little Demon Beast’s partner, sat quietly on a nearby bench.

“Hey, aren’t you tired? Why do you keep pacing?” Hu Lin grumbled, watching Zhao Jie.

He truly hadn’t expected to lose. He still couldn’t understand why Little Demon Beast had rushed in so impulsively, especially after they’d discussed strategies the night before.

“They’re in the medical ward now. Agumon’s in the medical ward. Your Little Demon Beast is in there too. Aren’t you worried?”

Hearing Hu Lin’s words, Zhao Jie stopped pacing, wide-eyed, and looked at Hu Lin.

“No need to worry. Didn’t the doctor just say it clearly? It’s fine.” Hu Lin glanced at Zhao Jie, unconcerned.

It was just a competition between digital monsters in their growth stage. As long as they didn’t die on the spot, the medical team could save them. The official medical standards were excellent.

Besides, Little Demon Beast’s phosphorus flames weren’t strong enough to burn a digital monster of the same level to death.

“You’re making a fuss over nothing,” Hu Lin scoffed at Zhao Jie, though he felt a bit dejected remembering that Zhao Jie had beaten him.

Soon, the medical ward door opened, and a doctor in white walked out.

“Zhao Jie—who is Zhao Jie?”

“I am! I am!” Zhao Jie hurried forward, worry etched on his face.

“Agumon is fine now. Please follow me for registration, then you may leave.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jie finally relaxed.

“Thank you,” he said, following the doctor, repeating his gratitude.

After Zhao Jie finished the paperwork and left with Agumon, Hu Lin was no longer there, but Zhao Jie didn’t mind—he wasn’t familiar with Hu Lin anyway.

“Agumon, I have good news for you. Tonight, we’re having a feast!”

“Yay, a feast! A feast!”

There’s nothing a good meal can’t soothe.

PS: Two updates for the digital beast are now stable. Please recommend this story, kind readers. If we get enough recommendations, it’s time to evolve into a three-update beast.