Chapter 481: Strength Cannot Be Underestimated

"They're Digimon controlled by dark forces!" Li An's face became grave; he knew a fierce battle was coming. These Digimon were no trivial force, and they were numerous—they had to proceed with caution.

"What do we do?" Guo Yao's voice carried a hint of despair; facing such a powerful enemy, she felt fear unlike any she had ever known.

"First, find a place to hide, then think of a way to counterattack," Li An said, pulling Guo Yao swiftly behind a large tree. His eyes locked onto the dark-corrupted Digimon, his mind racing as he searched for a strategy.

The dark Digimon drew nearer, their roars deafening, the air around them seemingly crushed by their aura. Li An took a deep breath, preparing to strike. He believed that with his strength and wit, he could find their weakness.

Yet when he actually clashed with these Digimon, he realized the situation was far more complex than he'd imagined. Their attack patterns were bizarrely erratic, completely immune to conventional weaknesses. Li An's strikes were effortlessly deflected each time, and a sense of frustration welled up within him.

"How could this happen?" Li An gritted his teeth, filled with confusion. He had never encountered such a formidable foe—these Digimon seemed controlled by some mysterious force, far beyond his understanding.

Just as everyone fell into a predicament, Guo Yao suddenly noticed that among the dark-corrupted Digimon, one smaller Digimon appeared different. Its eyes revealed a flicker of struggle, as if fighting to resist the dark force's control.

Guo Yao's heart stirred. Ignoring Li An's protests, she stepped boldly out from hiding. "Wait, Guo Yao!" Li An cried in alarm, reaching for her—but it was too late.

Guo Yao slowly approached the Digimon, her gaze filled with gentleness and kindness. "Don't be afraid—I won't hurt you," she whispered, her voice carrying a calming power.

The Digimon seemed moved by her words; its body trembled slightly, the struggle in its eyes intensifying. Guo Yao moved closer, gently extending her hand to touch the Digimon's forehead.

At that moment, something miraculous happened. The black mist clinging to the Digimon gradually faded, its eyes regaining a clear, luminous glow. It looked at Guo Yao, filled with gratitude and trust.

"It worked!" Guo Yao cried out in excitement, her face beaming with joy.

Li An stared in astonishment—he never imagined Guo Yao possessed such ability. A surge of delight and pride filled him; he looked at her with newfound admiration.

"Guo Yao, you're amazing!" Li An ran over and hugged her tightly. His eyes brimmed with affection and reverence—her kindness and courage filled him with deep pride.

The purified Digimon turned and let out a roar toward the other dark-corrupted Digimon. Its voice rang with power, as if awakening the buried awareness within them.

Under its influence, several Digimon's dark aura began to weaken, their eyes slowly clearing. Yet most Digimon remained firmly under the dark force's control, continuing their assault on Li An and Guo Yao.

"Looks like there's still a lot to do," Li An said, swiftly adjusting his strategy, coordinating with Guo Yao and the purified Digimon to fight the dark Digimon together.