Chapter 1764: NO.379: Now is the true test

NO. 379: Now is the true test.

In the dark region of the digital world, Digimon themselves have drawn out four regional maps from long ago:

Demon King's Hall, the ruling core of the Seven Demon Lords;

Data Forge, an important production line for dark energy circulation;

Well of Atonement, a consciousness-devouring trap and the Seven Trials Ground;

Skeleton Wasteland, the spawning ground for Ghost- and Undead-type Digimon;

With the development of the human world's network, the Digital Main World greatly expanded, and the dark region, as the dark side of the main world, also greatly expanded in sync, causing the territories of these four maps to expand proportionally to now be roughly twenty-something times the original——

The Wall of Sighs standing at the border of the Well of Atonement likewise expanded to twenty-something times its volume, becoming a magnificent spectacle comparable to the Great Wall in Dongyan history.

But because its form is coiling black mist, even as a marvelous structure, no one would come to visit it—yet countless Digimon gather here, looking forward.

Even if one is inside the Well of Atonement, constantly in the chaotic data field of devouring consciousness, drawing near the Wall of Sighs means facing the Seven Trials of consciousness-test, which are even more difficult and profound……

They still want to challenge that lofty black wall, because it is the only option they can choose.

Yes, although to outsiders Digimon have many choices to leave the dark region—whether clinging to capable humans who have reached here, serving as scouts for the Demon King's army, or growing strong enough to tear open the dark region's borders, or simply relying on luck—the dark region also has some areas that randomly become unstable, which is what the so-called 'crossing treatment' refers to.

But for most Digimon who have fallen into the dark region, these options are actually an unattainable luxury.

Even if you abandon your dignity, capable humans may not appreciate you, the Demon King's army has countless scouts, exploration may not give you a share, becoming strong enough to tear the borders is a distant future promise, and relying on luck is even less worthwhile—in the end, everyone still challenges the Wall of Sighs known to all.

Although it is a creation of the data world, it follows the idealist law of the Wonderworld style. One must break through the Seven Trials to set foot there, a place where dark data condenses at high concentration.

Digimon wandering the dark region mostly arrive here, and they come at least twice.

The first time is like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, insisting on charging into this deadly ground to prove the 'special' quality they believe in. Afterwards, most often they die, becoming part of the dark region's world.

If alive, perhaps they have already left, or perhaps they are struggling to survive, feeling hopeless and no longer challenging; then when they truly have nothing left to live for— they will come to challenge that second round, which is like seeking death.

Perhaps they will succeed.

But more often they become the destination of those seeking death, adding a hint of resentment from the unfulfilled to that dark, oppressive massive structure.

Although Belstarmon. X is certainly not such a failure, that challenge in her beast-life also indeed ended in failure.

After all, at that time she was still a Female Demon Beast/Enchantress Beast.

She was ignorant of the heights and depths, and her strength was also lacking.

Such she once struggled hard in the trial of the Seven Sins, barely surviving with damaged data; later the damage was repaired, and after countless battles honed her, she achieved Ultimate form, stepped into X Evolution, and that was another long stretch of time.

Even if time is long enough to blur most memories and feelings, a Digimon's beast-life, like human memory, always has a few fragments that remain especially vivid and clear.

Especially Digimon of the dark region.

In their deepest memories, there is often a place for the Wall of Sighs.

Although some Digimon rely on a data-protection mechanism identical to humans' to forcibly seal overly shocking memories, the Female Demon Beast of those days did not suffer that much either.

So in the memory of this Witch Beast now, the oppressive feeling of that magnificent black wall remains vivid.

It contains the negative and dark matter condensed over countless ages, the dreadful intent that should be present when constructing such a high wall.

In a sense, this is a vicious cycle created by countless survivors themselves.

Breaking the Wall of Sighs does not reduce its data capacity, but dying beneath it further contributes to its construction. Thus all Digimon who die before the Wall of Sighs are effectively raising the threshold for later challengers, and the Wall's own scale climbs both vertically and horizontally, lest it fall into the predicament of boiling a frog in hot water.

But lukewarm water isn't any better, right?

After all, boiling water can make people instantly keep their distance out of awe, while lukewarm water makes countless Digimon think 'I can do it, I am capable, I am a special existence, not like those losers!' and then rush forward one after another in a deadly plot.

Nowadays, this is already considered common knowledge in the dark region. Digimon who still have reason can use it to warn themselves and others, but it does not prevent rows of Digimon from gathering before the Wall of Sighs to undergo sin-purification.

Either they have fallen here, longing for their homeland.

Or they are tired of the dark region's environment, dreaming of the legendary Digital Main World.

Or, as described above, they are fearless and have given up.

Because it has always been driven by desire and led by sin, this natural cycle is not cut off by the accumulation of information, and can appear in its purest, most direct form before the eyes of the puppet Majabasa.

"Indeed, they have a very similar temperament."

Claws tapped the end of the Witch Beast's broom handle, and it together with the Witch Beast gazed afar at the black mist wall that would unsettle the mind of an ordinary Digimon at a glance.

Although the area they stood in was already enough to trigger hallucinations extending in the direction of the Seven Deadly Sins, they both remained calm as usual.

"Should we get closer? I wouldn't advise it."

"Will it trigger the Seven Trials?"

"Not that fast, but each step closer increases the mental load, and the Wall of Sighs' aura will entangle living things. You should know that most Digimon who approach the Wall of Sighs go mad, and the closer they get, the deeper the oppressive feeling of that black wall."

"How is the burden on you?"

"Not bad; although I'm at the Adult level, if we're talking about mental strength, I should still be in the Ultimate Body. X form, so even direct contact should be fine."

"Then let's make direct contact; I want to confirm that my analysis of it matches the feeling I had before with Jierbalis."

"? Can this monster's body help filter mental oppression?"

"Usually it can, just like the exemption granted to Exempt Lilith Beast. X," Majabasa said coldly, "but to confirm the analysis, I have completely attached my spirit to Majabasa."

"Huh?"

That remark made the Witch Beast halt its momentum of flying closer to the Wall of Sighs.

"No problem?"

"No problem, actually it's quite friendly—don't dawdle, it's almost evening!"

"Just hurry up if it's almost evening," the Witch Beast said speechlessly, "What's the rush? Haven't you already passed the most troublesome threshold by sneaking in over there?"

This elicited the boy's soft-spoken, murmuring words:

"But the most troublesome threshold on this side of the main body has just begun—have you considered that?"

(End of Chapter)