Chapter 118: They Definitely Have Bad Intentions!
Leomon of File Island had once been a proud guardian. Entrusted by Elecmon to protect the Village of Beginnings, he had instead been twisted into a puppet. The memory of Devimon's Black Gears sinking into his flesh, forcing him to hunt the very children he was sworn to protect, still burned like acid in his veins.
Although Mizuki and the DigiDestined had ultimately averted a total catastrophe, Leomon could not simply forgive himself. The stain on his honor demanded action. As soon as he confirmed File Island was secure, he left his homeland behind. He crossed the digital ocean to the Server Continent with a singular, burning purpose: to forge himself into an unbreakable shield. He would never be manipulated again.
The stagnant, oppressive air of Myotismon's castle clung to Leomon's fur, making his muscles twitch with instinctual unease. Shadows stretched unnaturally long against the cold stone walls.
Since arriving on the Server Continent, Leomon had tempered his raw bravery with something new—cunning. His brutal defeat at Devimon's hands had taught him that righteous fury was useless without strategy. When he discovered the sprawling dark empire of Myotismon, he knew his Champion Level strength was entirely insufficient to challenge an Ultimate Level tyrant in open combat.
Instead, he chose the path of the unseen blade. He infiltrated the castle's lower ranks, biding his time, searching for a fatal weakness in the vampire's armor. After weeks of careful observation, he had engineered an opportunity to make contact with one of Myotismon's most enigmatic lieutenants, eventually securing a place among her subordinates.
Leomon shifted his weight in the dim corridor, his sharp feline eyes locking onto the small, white figure of Gatomon resting on a nearby stone balustrade.
He had chosen her for two very specific reasons.
First, Gatomon was an anomaly within the castle's bloodthirsty hierarchy. She wore a mask of cold, calculating cruelty, yet Leomon had watched her carefully. When she chased weak, trembling Digimon out of her territory, her claws never quite found their mark. Her harsh words were a calculated camouflage, designed to drive the innocent far away from Myotismon's predatory grasp. A Digimon who went to such lengths to protect the weak had no true loyalty to a monster.
Second, his gaze drifted to the golden band secured around her tail. A Holy Ring.
The sacred data radiating off that small ring hummed with a frequency Leomon recognized instantly. It carried the exact same warmth as the sacred devices wielded by the DigiDestined. Approaching her was a massive gamble, but in this fortress of nightmares, she was his only viable target.
Hopefully, the light buried deep within her heart has not been entirely snuffed out, Leomon thought, stepping out of the shadows and approaching the stone balustrade.
"Gatomon, is something the matter?" he asked, keeping his voice low and deferential.
Gatomon did not look at him immediately. Her blue eyes remained fixed on the far end of the gloomy corridor. "Leomon, I want to ask you a question."
Wizardmon's earlier warnings echoed in her mind. She thought about Leomon, about the feral Ogremon trailing behind him, and she couldn't help but test the waters.
"In your eyes," Gatomon continued, her tone dangerously flat, "are those Rookie Level Digimon over there truly just Rookies?"
Leomon followed the line of her gaze. Huddled in the distant shadows were three small figures: BlackAgumon and his companions.
Leomon's eyes narrowed. The easygoing facade melted away for a fraction of a second, replaced by the sharp, calculating glare of a seasoned warrior.
Gatomon caught the micro-expression instantly. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. Just as I thought.
"What are you whispering about?!"
A shrill, grating voice shattered the quiet tension. Impmon, who had been lurking behind a nearby pillar trying to eavesdrop, suddenly realized he had been spotted. He jumped back, his purple tail puffing up in alarm. He pointed a trembling finger at them, puffing out his chest. "W-What! I'm telling you right now, I'm not afraid of you!"
Gatomon slowly dragged her hand down her face, exhaling a long, exhausted breath. "That is exactly why I call you an idiot."
"Huh?! Who are you calling an idiot, you overgrown housecat!"
All fear evaporated, replaced by explosive indignation. Impmon bared his fangs and stomped toward Gatomon, entirely forgetting the massive power gap between them.
Gatomon didn't even dignify him with a glance. She casually waved a paw, swatting Impmon's forehead and sending him tumbling backward onto his rear. She kept her eyes locked on the dark corner where BlackAgumon's group was hiding.
"I have to ask," Gatomon called out, her voice echoing clearly down the stone hall. "Is there really a need for you to keep up this pathetic charade? Clearly, you are Champion Level powerhouses. Disguising yourselves as weaklings to skulk around... how utterly despicable."
In the shadows, BlackAgumon exchanged a heavy look with his two companions.
"Were we found out?" Agumon whispered, blinking his large eyes.
"Obviously," BlackAgumon muttered.
Instantly, the ambient data in the corridor spiked. The dim lighting flickered wildly as three massive rings of digital code erupted from the shadows. The sheer volume of expanding data forced the surrounding dark fog to scatter.
In a matter of seconds, the three small Rookies vanished, replaced by towering behemoths.
Greymon Blue slammed his heavy, dark-scaled foot against the stone floor, his blue-striped skull gleaming menacingly.
Monochromon let out a low, rumbling growl, his thick armored carapace scraping against the narrow walls.
DarkTyrannomon loomed in the center, his feral, crimson eyes burning like hot coals in the gloom, a suffocating aura of violence rolling off his massive frame.
The moment the three Dinosaur-type Digimon revealed their true forms, the atmospheric pressure in the corridor plummeted. The sheer weight of their combined Champion Level auras threatened to crack the stone pillars around them.
Gatomon stood her ground, her tail flicking with calm approval. "Indeed. Champion Level."
DarkTyrannomon cleared his throat with a deep, rumbling cough. He crossed his massive arms, tilting his head away to stare at the ceiling, attempting to project an aura of deep, untouchable mystery.
Gatomon stared at him deadpan. The massive black dinosaur was trying so hard to look intelligent that he completely exposed the fact that there was absolutely nothing going on behind those glowing red eyes.
What a massive dummy, Gatomon concluded internally. She dismissed the posturing dinosaurs and turned her attention to BlackGatomon, who had just stepped out from behind Greymon Blue. Dealing with the muscle was pointless; she needed to speak with the brains of this operation.
While the two feline Digimon engaged in a quiet, tense exchange of information, Leomon took the opportunity to act.
The three massive dinosaurs had already shrunk back down into their Rookie forms to conserve energy. Leomon adjusted his cloak, plastered a warm, welcoming smile onto his face, and walked right up to them.
"Hello there. Did you all just arrive at the castle today?" Leomon asked, his voice entirely devoid of hostility. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Leomon. And this charming fellow behind me is Ogremon."
"What do you mean 'this guy'?!" Ogremon snarled, shoving past Leomon and brandishing his bone club. His wild eyes locked onto BlackAgumon. "I am the great and terrifying Ogremon! Burn that name into your skulls!"
Leomon didn't even blink. He knew exactly what was happening. Ogremon had felt the crushing pressure of their Champion forms and his battle-crazed brain was practically vibrating with the urge to start a brawl.
Without breaking his friendly smile, Leomon raised his right fist and brought it down like a sledgehammer directly onto the top of Ogremon's skull.
A loud, hollow crack echoed through the hall.
"Ogremon," Leomon said pleasantly, though his grip on his sword hilt tightened. "If you wish to spar, wait until we are properly acquainted. For now, restrain your idiocy."
"Curse you, Leomon, you self-righteous bastard!" Ogremon roared, clutching his head. He drew his arm back for a wild haymaker, but froze mid-swing. He glanced at Leomon's calm, unblinking stare, then clicked his tongue in deep annoyance, slowly lowering his fist. "Fine. I'll listen to you. Just this once."
Satisfied that his partner wouldn't cause an international incident, Leomon turned his attention back to the three Rookies.
BlackAgumon had been watching the entire exchange with quiet intensity. He stepped forward, taking the role of leader. "Hello. I am BlackAgumon. The one with the hard head is Monodramon, and the orange one is Agumon. As you can see, we only just arrived here today."
"I see," Leomon nodded sympathetically. He reached into the deep folds of his cloak and pulled out three vibrant, glowing fruits. He held them out in his massive palm. "As fellow newcomers trying to survive in this dark place, we should look out for one another."
Before BlackAgumon could politely decline the suspicious offering, Agumon shoved past him, his eyes wide with pure joy.
"Wow! Is that actual Digi-fruit?!" Agumon gasped, practically vibrating with excitement. "This kind of fruit is super rare out here! Are you really sure it's okay to just give it away?"
Leomon stared at the bright, honest face of the orange reptile. For a brief, disorienting second, his brain completely failed to connect this cheerful, simple-minded creature with the terrifying DarkTyrannomon from a moment ago.
Recovering his composure, Leomon gently placed the fruit into Agumon's claws. "It is perfectly fine. Consider it a gesture of friendship."
"Agumon, you absolute—" BlackAgumon started, his voice strained.
"Thank you so much, Leomon! You're a really good person!" Agumon beamed, immediately snapping the fruit in half and shoving pieces toward his two companions. "Monodramon, BlackAgumon, you gotta try this! It looks super delicious!"
"Really? Let me get a bite of that," Monodramon said, instantly dropping his guard and snatching a piece.
BlackAgumon stood frozen in place. He stared at his two companions, who were now happily munching on food handed to them by a complete stranger in an enemy stronghold. He slowly raised a claw and dragged it down his face, letting out a long, hollow sigh.
"You two..." BlackAgumon muttered, his spirit leaving his body. He looked up at Leomon, offering a stiff, apologetic bow. "Please excuse the embarrassment."
"It is nothing at all," Leomon chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. "Well then, I should return to Gatomon's side. Let us speak again when the opportunity arises."
Just as Leomon turned away, Gatomon and BlackGatomon finished their own quiet negotiation. Both sides offered brief, non-committal farewells before parting ways.
Because BlackAgumon and his group despised the suffocating, gothic atmosphere of the castle, they followed BlackGatomon out into the wasteland, returning to the massive, stranded Cruise Ship they used as a temporary base.
Once the heavy iron doors were sealed and they were absolutely certain no dark familiars were watching, the real meeting began.
BlackGatomon hopped onto a rusted shipping crate, her tail lashing. "Alright. What is our read on today's events?"
BlackAgumon crossed his arms, his expression grim. "Did you notice that Leomon? The one Gatomon brought in?"
"I did."
"I get the distinct feeling he is not simple at all," BlackAgumon said, his voice dropping an octave.
"I agree completely," BlackGatomon nodded, her eyes narrowing as she recalled her earlier conversation with Wizardmon. "They mentioned that Leomon and Ogremon are special cases, much like us. Do you think they are actually hiding Ultimate Level strength?"
"It is highly probable," BlackAgumon replied, pacing the metal floor. "Leomon plays the kind, wandering fool perfectly. But his stance, his micro-expressions, the way he shut down Ogremon's aggression without shifting his center of gravity... that is the behavior of a seasoned killer. He is flawless."
BlackAgumon stopped pacing, looking up at the ceiling. "Which begs the question: what is a Digimon with Ultimate Level combat experience doing playing the role of a lowly grunt in Myotismon's army?"
BlackGatomon's breath hitched. "BlackAgumon, are you suggesting—"
"Exactly," BlackAgumon said, his eyes flashing with sharp intelligence. "I do not believe for a second that Leomon just joined today. He has likely been one of Myotismon's deepest undercover operatives for a very long time. The only reason he approached us with such a friendly demeanor was because Myotismon ordered him to test our strength and loyalty."
"Ah? No way!" Agumon blurted out, swallowing a mouthful of the scavenged fruit. "I felt like Leomon was a really good guy! He gave us snacks!"
BlackGatomon whipped around, her claws extending with a sharp metallic snikt. "Shut your mouth, you colossal idiot!"
Agumon flinched, shrinking back against the wall.
"Do you think you are still safely tucked away by Mizuki's side?!" BlackGatomon hissed, her fur standing on end. "There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world! Unprovoked kindness in a place like this only means one thing: he is plotting to kill us!"
Agumon pulled his head down between his shoulders, thoroughly chastised.
BlackAgumon sighed, stepping between them to defuse the tension. "Agumon, Leomon might have a pleasant personality, but you must understand the reality of our situation. We are not on the same side., I will never trust a warrior who hides his true fangs behind a smile. He is far more dangerous than he appears."
Meanwhile, deep within the dark, winding corridors of the castle, Leomon stood before Gatomon and Wizardmon, delivering his own grave report.
"So, Leomon," Gatomon said, her arms crossed tight against her chest. "You are suggesting I should avoid making further contact with them?"
"Exactly, Gatomon," Leomon said, his face carved from stone. "They give me a deeply unsettling feeling. They are hiding something massive beneath that bumbling exterior."
Wizardmon stepped forward, his staff clinking against the floor. "I suspect they are assassins sent directly by Myotismon to test your loyalty."
Gatomon's eyes widened slightly.
"Think about it," Wizardmon continued, his voice hushed and urgent. "Myotismon is currently recovering from severe injuries. He is paranoid. He knows you have your own agenda. Those three disguised themselves as weaklings, yet they possess overwhelming Champion Level power. Gatomon, you must be extremely careful. One wrong word, and they will execute you on Myotismon's orders!"
Gatomon swallowed hard, the weight of the situation pressing down on her shoulders. She gave a slow, solemn nod. "I understand. I will treat them as hostile operatives."
Standing a few feet away, Ogremon scratched his messy green hair, looking back and forth between the three deadly serious Digimon.
"I gotta say, is all this really necessary?" Ogremon grunted, picking his teeth with a claw. "I actually think they might just be a bunch of regular guys looking for a place to crash. That orange one seemed pretty happy about a piece of fruit."
Leomon turned his head slowly. He looked at Ogremon's vacant, simple-minded expression. He opened his mouth to explain the complex layers of espionage, psychological warfare, and deception they were currently handling.
Instead, Leomon closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping slightly, and let out a long, exhausted sigh.
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