Chapter 51: Greymon Pays His Respects (Please Vote for Recommendations)

"Swish!" Agumon's body dissolved into data, vanishing within the light of evolution. Its consciousness wandered through its genetic data, with clusters of evolutionary gene sequences appearing before its eyes.

Each cluster represented a possible path for its evolution.

"Tyrannosaurus, Tyrannosaurus..." Agumon didn't quite understand what the power of courage meant. It only knew it didn't want to disappoint Zhao Jie. Its gaze swept ceaselessly across the clusters, searching for the sequence that would allow it to evolve into Tyrannosaurus.

A soft humming echoed as the evolutionary gene sequences radiated light, inviting Agumon forward. One cluster, sensing its intention, grew blazing hot, its brilliance outshining all the others combined.

This was the power it needed for evolution.

Approach it, then merge with it!

Agumon directed its consciousness to fuse with this particular gene sequence. Under the influence of the light of evolution, the sequence expanded rapidly, streams of zeros and ones flickering within the illuminating glow.

Tearing, its soul was being ripped apart bit by bit—an inevitable step in evolution. As the soul was torn, new power surged into it, both destruction and rebirth.

Normally, evolutionary tools would ease this pain for digital monsters, but Agumon had no such aid. Now, it could only endure.

Survive, and it would be reborn. Fail, and evolution would end in defeat.

"I must become stronger," Agumon thought, bathed in the light of evolution.

A sudden rush of water echoed from the arena—it was not the sound of a real stream, but the noise from Agumon's body restructuring itself.

As the sound surged, Elfmon instinctively retreated a few steps, tense and alert, eyes locked onto the evolving light radiating from Agumon.

A roar resounded from within the light, and with it, a primitive aura spread across the arena.

The light of evolution gradually faded, revealing to everyone a giant beast over two meters tall and more than three meters long. This beast bore orange-red skin, patterned with pale blue markings, and above its neck was a metal helmet that protected its entire head.

"Roar!" With evolution complete, Tyrannosaurus stood tall on the stage, raising its head to look toward Zhao Jie at the commander's position.

We have succeeded!

Its eyes shone with joy, its body now possessed strength tenfold greater than before.

This is my power!

Tyrannosaurus, reporting!

...

"Tyrannosaurus!" From the commentary booth, Feng Xiaosong saw the giant beast appearing in the arena and let out a long breath, though a complicated expression soon crossed his heart.

The successful evolution was worth celebrating.

But Tyrannosaurus...

He was the one who had published the thesis abolishing the Tyrannosaurus evolutionary path. Tyrannosaurus, at the mature stage, was merely average and carried a significant flaw.

Its ultimate evolution was the most difficult among all known digital monsters—not because the requirements were stringent, but because it would inevitably stray into erroneous evolution.

"What a pity," Master Feng sighed. To achieve digital fusion in such a short time, this youth was a genius. Yet the digital monster had evolved into Tyrannosaurus.

A single misstep, and this genius could become an idiot from the backlash of erroneous evolution.

"It actually evolved into Tyrannosaurus," Hua Mantian watched the creature on the stage, a flicker of fear in his eyes, but soon regained his calm.

Five years ago, he had encountered a digital handler in the secret realm with a Tyrannosaurus as their partner.

The scene of that Tyrannosaurus's evolution still made him break out in a cold sweat.

Yet it was thanks to that failed evolution.

Otherwise, he would have died during that mission.

Looking at Zhao Jie, he felt regret. Of all possible evolutions, why Tyrannosaurus?

"Is that our Agumon?" Zhao's father and mother stared, mouths agape enough to fit a fist, bewildered as they gazed at Tyrannosaurus on the arena.

They knew digital monsters could evolve, but never imagined it would turn into a dinosaur.

"Honey, we're doomed."

"What do you mean, doomed?"

"Agumon's become this big; I don't think we can afford to keep it!"

Considering Agumon's previous appetite, it seemed, perhaps, probably, truly unaffordable.

Zhao's mother said, "It's fine, we'll just halve Xiao Jie's meal allowance."

Quickly, she came up with a solution.

"That makes sense." Zhao's father nodded in full agreement.

"Roar!" Tyrannosaurus, newly evolved, turned to face Elfmon on the other side of the arena.

Weak and helpless.

Elfmon gazed at the immense creature before it, utterly lost.

How am I supposed to fight this?

"Do you wish to continue?" Zhao Jie suppressed his joy, looking over at Hua Feihua.

He truly hadn't expected Agumon to evolve into Tyrannosaurus; he had prepared himself for another evolutionary branch.

It seemed fate was still kind to him.

The thunderous cheering that had erupted at Tyrannosaurus's appearance faded instantly.

A look of bewilderment crossed Hua Feihua's face.

How could this be fought?

Agumon had already evolved to the mature stage; wasn't this just bullying?

Unless Elfmon also evolved to maturity!

But she had a careful plan for Elfmon's evolution, and evolving directly carried too much risk.

"Elfmon, give it your best!" Hua Feihua didn't concede defeat outright. Through digital fusion, her thoughts were transmitted straight to Elfmon.

There could be a defeated Hua Feihua, but never a surrendered one.

Earth spear.

Elfmon summoned an earth spear and thrust it at Tyrannosaurus.

Bang!

This attack didn't even prompt Tyrannosaurus to dodge; it simply let the spear strike its body.

What had once posed great danger to Agumon was now utterly insignificant to Tyrannosaurus.

"How can this be fought?" Many spectators watched as Elfmon’s most powerful attack failed to even scratch Tyrannosaurus’s defense. Mature-stage digital monsters were vastly stronger than their growth-stage counterparts.

"Earth wall." Elfmon didn’t give up. Seeing Tyrannosaurus approach, it raised an earth wall before itself.

Smash!

A massive claw effortlessly shattered the wall, as Tyrannosaurus swatted Elfmon aside, sending it tumbling to the arena's edge.

"Do you wish to fight to the end?" Zhao Jie sensed Hua Feihua's determination. He admired it, but without evolution, Elfmon could never defeat a mature-stage Tyrannosaurus, not even in a hundred years.

After all, Elfmon was not Hackmon.

Tyrannosaurus easily swept Elfmon off the arena.

Throughout the ordeal, Elfmon was utterly dazed.

Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?

Step, step.

Having finished, Tyrannosaurus turned and approached Zhao Jie, lowering its head, its bright eyes gazing at his pale face.

"Are we together?" Zhao Jie stroked Tyrannosaurus, understanding its meaning.

"Yes, we are together!" Zhao Jie stepped out from the commander's seat, standing beside Tyrannosaurus.

Tyrannosaurus moved to the center of the arena, a youth seated on its neck.

"Roar!" A long howl burst forth, drawing every eye in the stadium to Tyrannosaurus and Zhao Jie.

One human, one beast.

They had become the stars of the entire scene.

PS: Tyrannosaurus debuts! Chosen children, Tyrannosaurus would really love your sacred recommendation votes.