Chapter 284: Data Dairy Cow

Deep in the cave imprisoning the RolyPoly Digimon, Tai Yi found his Digimental of Courage, yet not one of the Chosen Children rejoiced, for a Digimon had sacrificed itself to save them.

They did not know the Fairy Digimon at all, not even its name, learning it only from the illustrated book data displayed on Koushiro Izumi's computer.

But undeniably, when their group was in dire straits, it struck out to save Gabumon and Takeru Takaishi, buying them time to escape.

"Such a powerful enemy—do we really have a chance of winning?"

Mimi Tachikawa harbored some doubt; the scene of LadyDevimon effortlessly beating down their side's Digimon alone, that immense gap in strength, left the girl confused about the future.

"Big brother, I want to go home."

Takeru Takaishi was the one nearly killed, and being the youngest child, now that they had broken free from peril, he was deeply moved, hugging Gabumon as he burst into tears.

"Takeru……"

Yamato Matt did not know how to comfort his younger brother, only able to embrace him and say he would definitely protect him.

But just now he had already tried to protect his brother, only to be easily blown away by LadyDevimon, while Gabumon had its power taken by the Data Absorption Collar, lying helplessly at the side.

If not for the Fairy Digimon appearing, the team might have lost a member—oh no, two.

"Everyone, cheer up, we will definitely return home safely, back to our original world."

Tai Yi tried to encourage his companions, but to little effect.

The tempering the Fairy Digimon spoke of, judging by the current situation, was merely a heavy blow to the Chosen Children's morale.

"I've already obtained the Digimental of Courage; I believe that when we meet LadyDevimon again, Agumon will definitely digivolve to Ultimate and protect everyone."

The old man of Xuannei said that after obtaining the crest, one's partner Digimon could digivolve upward again; Tai Yi believed—or rather, had to believe—that tonight's disadvantage was only because LadyDevimon was an Ultimate.

And as long as they could also digivolve an Ultimate Digimon on their side, they definitely wouldn't be helpless against LadyDevimon like just now.

"But, Tai Yi, do you know how to make Agumon digivolve into an Ultimate?"

Koushiro Izumi asked.

"This—perhaps we can digivolve when we encounter danger?"

Tai Yi was not too sure.

"Gabumon didn't digivolve into Angemon just now."

Takeru Takaishi said in a small voice.

"I'm sorry."

Gabumon was injured again, feeling wronged, but unable to retort.

"Everyone, now is not the time to be dejected; LadyDevimon could catch up at any moment, we must leave here as soon as possible and find a hidden place to hide."

Sora Takenouchi realized Tai Yi's encouragement was useless, immediately stood up to act as a support, reminding everyone not to forget LadyDevimon's threat.

Reminded by Sora Takenouchi of LadyDevimon's presence, the crowd barely roused their spirits, following the RolyPoly Digimon tribe to a hidden spot near the cave exit to hide.

A group of Chosen Children thought evil Digimon were chasing them from behind, but in fact there were none.

The true tracking had long been laid by the Fairy Digimon upon them; as long as they did not directly break free from the Fairy Digimon's perception range, then no matter where Tai Yi and the other Chosen Children hid, the villain actor Digimon on Broly's side could easily catch up.

However, tempering also requires proper balance; this night the Chosen Children were not disturbed, and even by the next day, the Fairy Digimon was allowed to go over there first to show its face, letting the Chosen Children regain some hope and confidence.

"Hey, Fairy Digimon, you're actually still alive?"

Parting with the RolyPoly Digimon and setting out on the journey to find the crests, upon meeting the Fairy Digimon again, the Chosen Children's first reaction was this; Tai Yi spoke quickly and directly, voicing everyone's surprise.

"What do you mean 'actually still alive'—would it be better if I were dead?"

The Fairy Digimon had a black face and directly struck Tai Yi's head with its staff.

"Ouch~"

Tai Yi held his head and hurriedly apologized, saying that was not what he meant.

"Well, I actually escaped from LadyDevimon by sheer luck."

The Fairy Digimon forgave Tai Yi's rudeness, but did not explain how it escaped.

After all, that simply never happened; making up stories is also taxing.

The Fairy Digimon entered the self-introduction process, explaining its identity as the Chosen Children Guide, like a navigation NPC for a new map, introducing Tai Yi and the others to the background story of the Server Continent, this new server continent's dungeon-clearing game.

And in this story background, LadyDevimon is the biggest villain, aiming to sustainably plunder the digivolution data on the Chosen Children's Digimon.

Once a Chosen Child is caught, they will be imprisoned in the cage LadyDevimon prepared for them, from then on becoming tool persons and tool Digimon producing digivolution data, just like humans raising dairy cows to make cows produce milk.

Hearing this, the group of Chosen Children felt anxious, and Mimi Tachikawa even wailed, saying she did not want to become a data dairy cow.

"Fairy Digimon, I've already obtained the Digimental of Courage; do you know how I should make Agumon digivolve into an Ultimate Digimon?"

Feeling pressure, Tai Yi felt that as the first person to obtain a digivolution crest, he had a responsibility to protect the other companions around him, so he asked the Fairy Digimon this question.

"That's something you have to ask yourselves."

"Ask ourselves?"

"Yes, the reason you can become Chosen Children is because you possess some special qualities within you.

For example, you, Tai Yi, possess the quality of courage.

So, when your heart is filled with courage, you should be able to guide the power existing within the Digimental of Courage, thereby helping your Digimon partner complete digivolution to Ultimate."

The Chosen Children were actually people in the Real World who saw Digimon appear in the Real World four years ago.

Back then, Tai Yi, in order to save his younger sister, stepped forward with courage before a ferocious Champion Digimon, triggering a RolyPoly Digimon's transcendent digivolution.

This kind of digivolution was discovered by those troubled by the constancy of the problem gradually closing in between the two worlds, and thus the so-called Holy Plan came into being.

Four years in the Real World, over five thousand seven hundred years in the Digital World; the Holy Plan spanned a long stretch of time before being developed and activated.

And the key among them is the emotional power that triggers digivolution; between each chosen Chosen Child and their partner Digimon prepared by the constancy, the most important connection is that strange emotional power linked together through the Digivice and the crest as medium.

Courage to protect others, responsibility to guard others, love to care for those around—yet judging whether one possesses these emotions is subtle, rising to the level of self-awareness; for mere children like Tai Yi and the others, it is entirely something intangible and mystical.

"Well, don't be anxious; being able to become a Chosen Child and obtain the Digimental of Courage shows you possess such a quality; as long as you find back the feeling you once had when filled with courage, you should be able to meet the conditions for Ultimate digivolution."

Seeing Tai Yi's confusion, the Fairy Digimon comforted him with a sentence, then proposed that Tai Yi and the others temporarily follow it to cultivate.

As for this, Tai Yi and the others, having no better place to go, hesitated for a moment, then agreed.

And in the days that followed, the Fairy Beast trained the wills of these Chosen Children like a teacher, while secretly pulling all sorts of shenanigans to notify villain Actor Digimon to show up and make an appearance.

Deliberately separating Tai Yi and the others to search for Badges, giving villain Actor Digimon the chance to attack isolated Chosen Children.

Of course, every attack was deliberately arranged, like a series of live-action tabletop RPG sessions; crises seemed incessant, but in reality the Chosen Children and their Partner Digimon would always land safely.

The Chosen Children grew through these thrilling attacks, while the Actor Digimon attacking them could also plunder Evolution Data through the Data Absorption Collars after defeating the Chosen Children's Digimon.

The usual script: Actor Digimon defeated some of the Chosen Children's Digimon, absorbed their Digimon's data, then were driven off by other Chosen Children who arrived; and the Chosen Children who drove off the Actor Digimon also dared not pursue the Actor Digimon fleeing with Evolution Data, because of the existence setting of the Witch Beast.

Whenever the Actor Digimon side faced danger, Tyrannomon would instantly evolve into Witch Beast to appear and break the deadlock.

Likewise, if the Chosen Children couldn't break the deadlock, helpful Digimon (also Actors) would appear to save the day, or the Fairy Beast would come out to save them.

And this repeated tug-of-war, viewed from a God's-eye perspective, was quite draggy and boring, but to the Chosen Children kept in the dark, it was thrilling and exciting.

Each time, leaving the Sage Mountain Barrier to go outside and search for their own Badge counted as a grand adventure for the children who needed to find Badges.

As for the children who had already found their Badges, they usually cultivated their minds and nurtured their natures on Sage Mountain, seeking to reach a state of returning to simplicity on a spiritual level, while also serving as Firefighters — when children searching for Badges encountered danger, the Fairy Beast would bring them out to rescue their companions. Of course, the Fairy Beast would also dispatch them to resolve conflicts between Digimon in various places on Server Continent; among these were Forest Camp Actors, and also genuine wild Digimon used as Tool Digimon to appear.

As days passed one by one, the Chosen Children grew up, and Badges were found one by one, but regarding Perfect-level Super Evolution, there was still no success.

"Perhaps, it's because every time they encounter danger they turn misfortune into fortune, that Tai Yi and the others haven't been able to unleash their potential."

When training reached a deadlock and the Fairy Beast came over to discuss how to train next so the Chosen Children could grow further, Broly voiced his opinion.

"Gluttony Beast, you mean we stop acting and play for real once, really let the Chosen Children face danger?"

"Not stop acting, but extend that turn-misfortune-into-fortune training script further, and make further arrangements for their training based on the Badge types Tai Yi and the others possess."

"How do you want to arrange it?"

The Fairy Beast asked.

"Nanomon has already built a Data Absorption Factory; we can capture some Chosen Children and their Digimon who aren't likely to achieve Super Evolution and use them as Data Cows.

And deliberately leave outside the Chosen Children and their Digimon who are more likely to achieve Super Evolution, letting them play a game of bravely storming the villain headquarters to save their companions."

"What's the difference between this and the previous repeated tug-of-war?"

"Of course there's a difference; the difference is they previously faced only Adult-level Actor Digimon, while next they'll face Witch Beast, this Perfect-level Big Boss existence.

Hmm, for the Chosen Children left outside, choose the holders of the Courage and Friendship Badges; those two are the types more likely to achieve Super Evolution.

As for you, Fairy Beast, you need to retire for a bit, let them step out from under your protective wings and face the fear Witch Beast brings them alone."

Human courage is the act of facing fear yet still daring to confront it directly, and Friendship also needs to be embodied in adversity.

During the process of cooperating with the Fairy Beast to train the Chosen Children, strange information would always surface in Broly's mind.

Stuff like the Courage Anthem and so on...

Now he can actually use it, and the already-trained Chosen Children also won't be so easily defeated by the likes of them, the Fake Dark Forces.

The Fairy Beast agreed to this plan, and so the location of Sage Mountain was discovered by the evil Witch Beast Faction.

When Tai Yi and Yamato Ishida, taking their Partner Digimon, went outside to train and seek Super Evolution methods, Witch Beast led a group of Adult-level Digimon to raid Sage Mountain.

The Fairy Beast was defeated in battle, the remaining five Chosen Children resisted desperately, but the result was still failure.

They who had obtained Badges — not a single one managed to make their own Digimon achieve Super Evolution.

Those Partner Digimon were fitted with Data Absorption Collars, had their data absorbed, and reverted to Child-level state.

And this time, because Patamon could already evolve into Angemon, Witch Beast didn't lay a hand on it; taking a group of captured Chosen Children and their Digimon, she returned to a Data Absorption Factory remodeled from an ancient castle.

By the time Tai Yi and Yamato Ishida returned from outside in the evening, they discovered Sage Mountain this side was a complete mess.

While the two were anxious, not knowing what had happened, the Fairy Beast timely dispelled its disguise camouflage, appearing before the two in a wretched state as if it could barely hold on, and told them about Witch Beast's attack.

"No way, Fairy Beast, isn't your power able to deal with Witch Beast? Why did you let Takeru Takaishi get captured by Witch Beast this time?"

Yamato Ishida, learning the situation, was very agitated, even grabbing the Fairy Beast on the ground and interrogating it.

The Fairy Beast was stunned by the grab, but still put on an even weaker appearance, giving the reply: "I expended too much power training you all; when Witch Beast attacked this time, it was precisely my period of weakness."

"Then why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Enough, A He, let go of the Fairy Beast, this isn't its fault."

The holder of the Friendship Badge speaks of Friendship, but during the training of the Chosen Children, the Fairy Beast had already discovered.

The only one Yamato Ishida cares about seems to be his own younger brother, that child called Takeru Takaishi; as for the others, how to put it, it feels like plastic friendship.

Others were also captured by Witch Beast, yet this person only asks about his own brother; in contrast, Tai Yi can still stay calm, persuading the other to let go of his weak self.

Fortunately, its weakness was just acting; if it were real, it might've been shaken apart into data and returned to Original Village directly.

The Fairy Beast, put down, rolled its eyes inwardly, and said to Tai Yi: "Witch Beast's target is Evolution Data; she won't kill the other Chosen Children who can produce Evolution Data; you still have a chance to save your companions..."

The Fairy Beast told the two the specific address of the Data Factory, then put on an act of being already done for, letting the two go save their captured companions themselves.

Yamato Ishida was impulsive; that very night he wanted to ride Garurumon and go to the Data Factory side to save his brother regardless of consequences, but Tai Yi stopped him.

The two therefore argued, their Digimon also fought, but in the end Greymon still suppressed Garurumon, and Tai Yi also knocked Yamato Ishida down with a single punch.

"Why, why stop me from saving Takeru Takaishi?"

"I didn't want to stop you, just you're too reckless; not thinking of anything, just preparing to rashly run over there to save someone."

"Takeru Takaishi was captured, I want to save him, what's wrong with that?"

"That's Witch Beast's headquarters, and we can't even make Agumon Super Evolve; barging in like you would, what's the difference from delivering yourself to be a Data Cow?"

"Then what do you say we should do?"

Yamato Ishida cried, and only when beaten down on the ground could this stubborn guy understand reason.

"Strength isn't enough, we can only outsmart them..."

Just as Tai Yi formulated the plan to infiltrate the Data Absorption Factory, the Chosen Children who originally thought they would suffer torture, discovered the actual encounter wasn't like that at all.

"The Crest of Knowledge requires knowledge, so just read books here in this library."

Koushiro Izumi, face full of bewilderment, was thrown into a library full of books.

Inside were books of the Digital World meticulously prepared by Nanomon.

"You're the holder of the Chun Zhen Zhang, rest easy and stay here; you won't be treated harshly, except for having no freedom and needing to produce Evolution Data here, we won't place too many restrictions on your life."

"Hmph, who would believe you bad guys!"

"Believe it or not, you'll find out afterwards."

Palmon put down the somewhat powerless Palmon and asked the girl in the room: "Haven't eaten dinner yet, what would you like to eat?"

"If I say steak, you'll give me steak?"

"Wait."

When a Numemon actually brought a plate of exquisite steak into the room, Mimi widened her eyes.

"What does 1 plus 1 equal, answer me honestly."

"Equals 2."

Hikari Yagami felt somewhat helpless, truly didn't expect that after being captured here by LadyDevimon, she would be asked such a simple math question by a Flymon.

"Possessor of the Crest of Love, presumably you possess love, there's a pile of Baby I Digimon here needing care, handing them over to you."

"Ah, no..."

Not giving Sora Takenouchi a chance to speak, she and Biyomon were locked into the nursery.

"When Beauty Frog is forced by Strong Frog to do things unwillingly, hope Frog appeared..."

As for Takeru Takaishi, he was forcefully arranged to watch the stage play performed by Gomamon, it was the cliched plot of Hero Frog Saves Beauty Frog, completely childish acting, but the little boy watched with relish, and in his heart he put himself in Hope Frog's perspective, justice heart, hope and such, were blazing fiercely in his heart.

After waiting for Gomamon to finish performing, Takeru Takaishi and Patamon finally reacted.

Wait, they seem to have been captured by that super bad guy LadyDevimon.

(Chapter End)