Chapter 1804: with translation of chapter title

NO. 419: A mutually beneficial relationship where each gets what they need.

Just as the Belstarter Beast can achieve gigantification through data decompression, enjoying the treatment of an old Lipiya acquaintance and becoming a mobile 18X, standing on the earth by pure mass alone, the Light Beast. Fallen Form, though not an Ultimate Form, still possesses the accumulated data volume over the years to achieve the same 'second-stage transformation'.

Rather, it is precisely that which counts as their kind of comprehensive strength surpassing ordinary Ultimate Forms, and they still have reserve power from the full strength accumulated over many years!

Just as in a person's lifetime, what they strive for is not only current power and status, but also savings accumulated over the years; likewise, the Digital World has its own emphasis on 'foundation'.

If the Light Beast. Fallen Form truly exerted that full strength, Aomo would have no way to forcefully break through relying on the traits and power of the Maga Serpent and King Ghidorah. Or if it could muster the normal speed it once used to unleash this move, instead of lazily lobbing the ball, the demon's pressure could be increased by several levels.

But there are not so many 'ifs', 'ors', or 'even ifs'.

The sin of pride, engraved in the Light Beast's data core from the very beginning, over its long life became a natural habit, a logically consistent mindset, and finally an taken-for-granted personality, long having become an essential part of its existence.

So… how could you possibly assume that its behavior, aside from casting aside pride, would be…?

In the present, where there is no room for hypotheses, Star-Eater Zero won the other's astonishment and anger with facts.

But the followers here who have been paying attention all along are themselves an intangible proof of his bombastic remarks at this moment.

—Yes, just as the Light Beast. Fallen Form said at the outset, there is no evidence to prove that Star-Eater Zero is not a sacrifice pushed into place.

He was already in an awkward position within the sect, and the bishops' and priests' tacit approval was more like making use of waste, waiting for something to happen so they could immediately cut ties and kick him out.

But that bunch is overly cautious, overly restrained.

Each of them, appearing as if they truly entrusted him with responsibility in a conservative attitude, is actually an opportunity for Aomo.

An opportunity to use a tiger's skin as a banner.

Especially since they seem to rely on the fact that followers are watching everywhere in the temporary base, and they haven't specially sent someone else to monitor and stop themselves.

It's as if they think their initial meek compliance will last the whole way—do you really believe that a guy with an initial monster card who is a Maga Serpent will remain meekly compliant all along?

Even a shut-in demon king locked away who knows how many years in the Hei'an region can see at a glance the layers of the persona he's playing; Aomo naturally doesn't believe they're all blind, but perhaps the sin of pride has some contagious effect, giving these people a dash of gambling courage.

Is it a gamble that Star-Eater Zero, even if it relaxes and reveals its true nature, would cause no harm?

Then Aomo could only say they weren't exactly losing the bet.

Even if Puppet MKII launches a lesson under the banner of 'admonition', the current Light Beast. Fallen Form has not erupted.

He merely gave a cold snort, turned away with an unsmiling grimace, and said, 'I really misjudged you—do you know how many guys like you there are in the sect?'

"I don't know that." Star-Eater Zero replied.

Although I'd like to know, I've intentionally been gathering information on this front and feel the progress is not bad, already somewhat close to the truth, but under these circumstances it's clearly still appropriate to prioritize the persona—to remain ignorant when ignorance is called for.

"Then…" he threw a pleased glance, and the Pride Demon King, whose mind was somewhat small, even tinged his tone with a hint of pleasure: "And do you know how many stronger Digimon your sect could produce compared to you?"

"I don't know either… Hmm, are you trying to say…"

"I've already answered that."

Clearly, not having just acted out equals backing down, which is already a concession hard to exist for the Crown of Pride, yet this Light Beast. Fallen Form still acts high and mighty, as if treating the earlier conversation as a reward or charity.

"But if you do anything extra or say anything extra, I'll only see it as you provoking me."

You learned fast—are you using my incantation against me?

Aomo was momentarily speechless, but he didn't mind, after all this was completely nonsense.

"What are 'extra things' and 'extra words'?"

This is obviously a standard known only to the parties involved.

This Lucifer, acting high and mighty, won't explain each point; even though he adopts a hedgehog attitude of 'touch me and I'll really kill you', the demon is well aware of such people's psychology—those in high positions who are proud will indeed explode at the slightest provocation, and the power they wield often lets them disregard consequences, but what you should do is not to provoke them.

Rather, praise it—not its authority, but its very self.

Rather, belittle it—not its enemies, but those peers who dare to stand alongside it, namely the other demon kings.

Exactly, you must not let it think you believe it can't handle its enemies; you must make it know that you firmly believe its power could sweep away everything, only regretting that it is forced to stand shoulder to shoulder with those people.

Whether it puts on a dissatisfied look to make you shut up, puts on a helpless look to make you not think that way, or simply goes along with your words and speaks up, Aomo can adapt accordingly.

So that demon king indeed uttered a piece of nonsense, or rather a meaningless platitude, whose sole purpose was to give itself a slight save of face.

Then…

Then only its effect on Aomo remained.

As an argument and anchor, making it easier for him to grasp the other's mindset— for Aomo, communication works like that. Every extra sentence he says lets him further pin down the other's personality and state of mind.

It's not that he never misspeaks; it's just that when those around him don't immediately rebut or stop him from gaining the other's 'representative right' and 'speaking right' in their eyes, he has a safety net, a room to maneuver.

After all, his most decisive discovery regarding the Light Beast. Fallen Form here is that when he himself counter-questions it, the other does not encounter a more furious counterattack.

It actually suppressed its anger!

This is unreasonable.

Because 'pride' as one of the seven deadly sins in the Divine Blessing Gospel teachings is not only always paired with failure, but also often coupled with 'anger'.

That is its flaw.

What pairs naturally with strength is pride—pride can be an advantage, arrogance can be a charm, but pride as the extreme expression of arrogance, from its very foundation, can only be a flaw, an uncontrollable negative emotion; and the Light Beast. Fallen Form, bearing this 'Crown of Great Sin', ought to be utterly unforgiving toward anyone who offends it!

But it actually held back.

This is just as astonishing as the Bar Beast. X that once appeared in a video call between Aomo and Bi Ze, wearing an enka outfit—enough to give Aomo a sufficient shock while making him realize the significance behind it.

What can make an extreme existence make a slight concession is not years of attempts; it should be a crushing defeat that jeopardizes everything it has.

At that time he wasn't sure whether the other side was facing one or the other, or both, but now, half an hour later, he is firmly convinced that the other has made the decision in the latter case.

In other words—it greatly needs the help of the Beast Sect, which seems able to turn around the future that would make it lose everything.

This makes the premise of posing as a big-tailed wolf all the more important and useful.

At the same time, he also has sufficient reason to believe in this process—that these sect folks are also not entirely sincere.

They are willing to bet that Star-Eater Zero, even if it reveals its true nature, won't cause major destruction, which amounts to them indeed intending to give the Light Beast. Fallen Form some intimidation.

Now Aomo's wild talk is no longer baseless.

At least those followers who initially focused on this were indeed, in their astonishment, making a preliminary move to stop it, yet then dissipated without cause—like achieving persuasion through some secret communication resembling telepathy.

He indeed became the sect's representative, or rather was being used as a gun.

——Perhaps it won't be long before it is cut, letting that demon king take it to vent anger, further strengthening their relationship.

But that also doesn't matter; after all, Aomo also didn't really hope for a more distant future, nor was Aomo very willing to let these people have a future.

?? Will take a day off the day after tomorrow to adjust my condition a bit.

? (End of chapter)