Chapter 78: The Unconscious Agumon

"You are Agumon's attending physician. Please, tell me—how is Agumon?"
Zhao Jie gently clasped the hand of the middle-aged doctor before him, his gaze intense and unwavering as he asked the question.
At first, he hadn't given it much thought, but after being prevented from visiting Agumon time and again, even the most oblivious person would sense something was amiss.
"Xiaochuan, you can go on with your duties now."
The doctor, Wang Zhongguang, gestured to the young woman standing beside Zhao Jie, indicating she should leave.
"Yes, Chief."
She nodded obediently, cast a reproachful glance at Zhao Jie, then made her way downstairs.
"Come with me," Wang Zhongguang said, and without another word, led Zhao Jie to his office.
"Have a seat," he said, pointing to the chair opposite his own.
He settled into the other seat himself.
"Agumon's condition is rather unusual. We haven't deceived you—Agumon truly is still undergoing treatment."
Once Zhao Jie was seated, Wang Zhongguang pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and gazed at him, a hint of regret in his voice.
Agumon's vital signs were all normal, but for reasons unknown, it simply could not awaken.
They had tried countless methods to rouse it these past days, but none had succeeded.
"Are Agumon's injuries severe?"
Zhao Jie frowned, anxiety creasing his brow as he looked at Wang Zhongguang.
Back when Greymon was relentlessly battered by Dark Sun Wukongmon, the wounds had indeed been grave. In the end, it was only through sheer willpower that they managed to shatter the black collar around Dark Sun Wukongmon's neck.
If that were the case, he could understand, but surely there was no reason to prevent him from seeing Agumon?
"The injuries were indeed serious, but with our current technology, we managed to heal them as of two days ago."
Wang Zhongguang spoke with a hint of pride—this was an achievement worth boasting about.
Worldwide, when it came to treating and rescuing Digimon, the Hua Nation was at the forefront.
"Then why not let me see Agumon?"
Zhao Jie looked at Agumon's attending physician in confusion.
If the injuries had healed, there should be no reason to keep him from Agumon.
"Because Agumon has other issues."
Wang Zhongguang spoke calmly, pulling out a report on Agumon's physical condition from his drawer and handing it to Zhao Jie.

"Agumon's body is perfectly healthy, but for reasons unknown, it remains in a comatose state. This is a case we've never encountered before."
"We didn't allow you to see Agumon out of concern for your own health. As far as I know, your recovery hasn't been ideal either. If you learned about Agumon's situation, we feared it might overwhelm you and cause a setback."
"But rest assured, we will do everything in our power to treat Agumon..."
As Wang Zhongguang spoke, Zhao Jie felt his limbs grow cold, chills racing up to his head.
The doctor's words buzzed in his ears like flies, and he hardly heard anything after the initial explanation.
"Take me to see Agumon."
A stabbing headache returned, prompting Zhao Jie to rub his brow in an attempt to ease the pain.
But this method was clearly ineffective.
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
"Are you alright?"
Wang Zhongguang looked at Zhao Jie with concern, noticing him constantly massaging his brow—a sure sign of lingering aftereffects.
"I'm fine. Please, let me see Agumon."
Zhao Jie pleaded, never expecting that Agumon would fall into a coma; the blow was almost more than he could bear.
"Very well."
Wang Zhongguang hesitated, but eventually agreed.
He saw determination in Zhao Jie's eyes. He couldn't truly understand the bond between Digimon Tamers and their partners, not being a Tamer himself, but years in this profession had shown him many such people.
Zhao Jie was not the first, nor would he be the last.
The room was not spacious—its lack of space due to the many unfamiliar instruments scattered about.
"Agumon!"
Upon entering, Zhao Jie's eyes immediately fell upon Agumon lying on the bed.
Its eyes were tightly shut; gone was the lively creature that used to clamor for food each day.
"Chief!"
Only after Zhao Jie spoke did the others in the room react, but as they moved to stop him, Wang Zhongguang waved them off.
Kneeling at the bedside, Zhao Jie gently stroked Agumon's cheek.
Tears welled in his eyes, finally spilling like raindrops.
A man's tears are not easily shed—unless his heart is truly broken.

If not for him, if he hadn't insisted on joining that battle, Agumon would not be in this state.
But did he regret it?
Even if he could choose again, he would make the same decision.
"Rest assured, we will do everything possible to save Agumon. As I've told you, its vital signs are normal—the only potential problem lies with its consciousness."
Wang Zhongguang came forward, patting Zhao Jie on the shoulder, speaking softly.
Just like the mysteries of the human brain, a Digimon's consciousness was equally enigmatic.
The academic consensus held that Digimon consciousness was closely tied to their core digital genes.
Many experts in the country specialized in this field.
If they could not cure Agumon, only a transfer to higher-level specialists remained.
"Consciousness?"
Zhao Jie paused at this.
Yes, if the issue lay with consciousness, then Digi-Fusion should be able to awaken Agumon.
During Digi-Fusion, their minds would synchronize.
A faint hum...
Digital energy began to radiate from Zhao Jie's brow.
"No! Stop him!"
A man operating one of the instruments shouted, sensing digital energy surging from Zhao Jie's body.
For someone already severely wounded to use digital energy again was reckless.
But it was too late.
The small amount of digital energy Zhao Jie had regained was drawn forth and merged with Agumon before him.
"Ah!"
Before he could fully experience Agumon's inner world, a searing pain exploded in his mind, a hundred times more intense than before.
In an instant,
he collapsed powerless beside the bed.