Chapter 358: NO.121: It's just not very suited to be stable

Baal Beast X and Aomo Lindun stared at each other.

Both had faces that were hard to read emotionally, but in terms of tone, the latter indeed carried a hint of a smile.

Even though he should have been the least able to laugh.

After all, three pitch-black gun muzzles were pressed against the back of the demon's head.

The woman holding that weapon, with three scarlet eyes beneath her mask, naturally harbored a hostile anger.

This situation——

At first glance, it seemed as if Baal Beast X and the Belstarr Beast had reached an agreement, jointly threatening that demon.

Even the atmosphere was genuinely perilous, enough to make one breathless.

All three remained utterly still, as if time itself had frozen here.

Is it stupidity?

No, it's waiting.

In this deathly still wait.

Baal Beast X let out a barely audible sigh.

"Aomo Lindun."

"Please speak."

"Is this what you calculated?"

"Not exactly."

""

Staring deeply at the white point surrounded by black flames, Baal Beast X raised his arms.

Compared to ordinary humans, his arms were excessively long, yet when raised they were just like a normal person's, a weak signal of relinquishing threat.

"I will not demand non-aggression as a basis for cooperation."

"You heard that, partner."

After the words fell, Aomo indeed felt the gun barrel at the back of his head retract.

In fact, even if the Belstarr Beast really fired, it would be hard to injure Aomo.

Although the Ultimate is conventionally regarded as the Digimon's peak combat power, and the Belstarr Beast is certainly no stepping stone among Ultimates, Aomo's posture, though deliberately shrunk to human size, is still second only to the Triple Fusion Garatron King in strength.

He could block the opponent's fly pellet with his palm, and the scaly‑covered back of his head surely isn't more fragile than his palm.

Mefilas, who can fight the First Generation Ultraman without losing ground.

The giant beast created by God, bearing the earth, Behemoth.

Moreover, Aomo's thick‑scaled armor clearly shows a specialization in offense and defense, the visage of a demon.

The form resulting from their fusion is this—though like a mage with a two‑page skill list, it is absolutely a tank‑mage in the vein of Agumon.

But the point is not this; it is an expression of attitude.

To open fire means to break ties.

For a witch‑cowboy wielding double guns, full of vigor, life is a carefree, efficient style, the result of getting exactly what one wants.

In fact, as a member of the Ultimates, the Belstarr Beast enjoys considerable popularity among humanity's Digimon enthusiasts.

This is due not only to her power and appearance, but also to her accommodating personality.

They usually have many like‑minded companions; if they get along, they count as brothers and sisters—but how does one determine if they get along?

As long as they look pleasing to the eye, that's enough.

But conversely.

If they don't look pleasing, then they should just open fire.

His somewhat warm friendship with the Belstarr Beast might end with just his own words.

Regarding this, Aomo is not oblivious; rather, he clearly knows things will come to this point.

After all, although he lacks information on Baal Beast X, he is quite familiar with the Belstarr Beast and the Witch Beast.

So when Aomo uttered those words, Baal Beast X faced not only the other's offer, but also a hint laced with a touch of madness.

Aomo demonstrated the irreconcilability of their positions in the most direct, seemingly hasty way, yet even so he expressed his willingness to give the other a chance to achieve their goal.

Treading on the line that is about to snap between loyalty and betrayal.

Foolish?

Baal Beast X would not make such a judgment, for he is convinced the other no longer needs his probing, which is why he came here to make contact.

But to set aside foolishness as an explanation for the other's actions, he felt pressure.

Within that pressure, there was no lack of killing intent.

That demon casually blocked the Belstarr Beast's skill; this action was hardly anything but a threatening display of force.

If my answer fails to satisfy, I might very well be left here.

And if I choose to let the other have their way, I could easily claim I didn't think much of it—it was just offhand, not a threat.

Precisely for this reason, Baal Beast X bears the pressure, and it is the sole pressure.

Then came the aforementioned words.

"This is what you said!"

Compared to Aomo's notice, the Belstarr Beast was already aiming at Baal Beast X's form, exaggerated by cloak and wings into an illusion.

Thinking about where to blast a hole first.

"If you intend to attack me right now, cooperation will be difficult," Baal Beast X said calmly.

"Tsk."

The Belstarr Beast clicked its tongue, gave the unimposing Baal Beast X a displeased once‑over, then slapped Aomo's waist with a palm: "I'll go keep watch on the side—call if anything happens!"

Although he had seen the opponent slap down his own bullet, Beerstata Beast still considered himself a protector.

A very stereotypical human–Digimon relationship perception. JPG

That earlier extreme threat also seemed as if it had never happened.

However, when their eyes met, the three‑eyed one's instinctive avoidance still revealed that this big sister was not truly guilt‑free.

"I'll be fine, go on." The reply, carrying a hint of a smile, was the only thing that truly seemed unaffected.

But this instead made the other party even more embarrassed.

Beerstata Beast hurried away, his hasty steps enough to reveal the cowgirl's inner unrest.

Witnessing this scene, and only when the other had gone far enough not to hear this side's conversation, Baalmo X spoke lightly: "You are indeed different from me; you can get along with her easily, and even found a way to control her."

"Using the word 'control' is somewhat rude," Aomo said, smiling while slightly shaking the index finger formed by interlocking two layers of fingers, "I prefer to regard Digimon as people."

In fact, the curvature of the front of his ferocious faceplate really does resemble a smile.

It's just that it ought to be called a grim smile.

Baalmo X was not at all frightened by that visual effect, and his response remained calm:

"Even if they are bound by their own settings?"

"People are also often bound by their past," the demon said frankly, "their past constructs their 'settings'."

"That's a very convincing argument; it makes me feel you aren't as young as you claim."

"Could it be that I'm just quoting others, no matter how old that is—" Aomo shrugged.

"In fact, only elders who have constantly endured hardships have that irritable temperament; these days most elders live smoothly, so the amiable ones are more common."

"In other words, you're full of lies?"

"That understanding is a bit over the top; I just speak to people in their own language."

"So I ask you, was Beerstata Beast's reaction within your expectations?"

"Yes."

"Are you planning to just resort to force if we can't agree, leaving me here?"

"That approach is pretty common, right?"

"Right, but you said earlier this wasn't your calculation." Baalmo X stared at the demon opposite, not relaxing for a moment.

He realized the biggest difference between himself and the one opposite.

He is Baalmo, bearing the title of chief among the seventy‑two demons, once the chief god of Canaanite religion, called the Noble King in the Digital World, and a learned scholar versed in all knowledge.

But the one opposite is Mephisto/Mefilas, the silver‑tongued seducer from Faust, whose name in Hebrew means "Destroyer‑Liar," and whose character and image are quite complex.

Everyone's abilities may be similar.

But,

Perhaps only the abilities are similar.

"Of course not; I didn't expect Beerstata Beast to delay firing—I thought she'd be more decisive."

"After all, the cowboys I know from the Old West should act even more decisively when faced with possible betrayal."

By contrast, Beerstata Beast's waiting in response to their mutual gaze was unexpectedly patient.

It's hard to say whether this is due to the Witchmon's ever‑present intellect or because her deep sense of loyalty outweighs any resentment over possible betrayal.

Aomo isn't entirely sure, but the way she averted her gaze just now was rather cute.

Although this is probably not the main point.

"Perhaps she trusts you? After all, you aren't planning to betray him, are you?"

Baalmo proposed an unlikely possibility.

Although there is the saying "When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back," when I come to understand the nature of Witchmon↔Beerstata Beast, I wonder whether the other side also turns around to ascertain me……

That possibility is really rather low.

Nor do I mean to look down on the other's intelligence.

Witchmon's information‑organizing ability is enough to prove her capability.

But observing and analyzing others is a long‑term accumulation process; the accumulation isn't just watching the target, but constant observation in everyday life.

This skill cannot be quickly acquired through study; one must take an unconventional path—on the tech side one can insert crystal cores and add logic algorithms, while on the energy side one can conduct memory transfer and add personality‑thought loops and such.

Witchmon had better not bother with that.

Moreover, even evolving to an ultimate form can affect ability and thought patterns to some extent.

Even if she achieves artificial evolution by smoothing her dark data, the minimal impact is unavoidable.

However, that is usually not regarded as a flaw,

after all, the power and skill gap between leaping from maturity to ultimate is likewise a result of this "Digimon setting influence" taking effect.

And Beerstata Beast's setting correction will make her……less intellectual. jpg

Expecting this cowgirl to analyze and summarize her own personality model is largely a vain hope.

However, Baalmo X obviously wasn't seriously bringing up that possibility, for the instant after he spoke those words, his tone shifted:

"It's clear I'd be a better partner for her than she is; you have no need to accommodate that guy's reckless charge."

The topic eventually turned to self‑promotion, which also matches Aomo's assessment of him.

Baalmo X is seeking a collaborator better than the symbol of the Moon‑charging Elephant.

This "better" does not refer to personality, but to what he hopes to achieve.

When he took the initiative to approach me, Aomo knew he was looking to switch jobs.

"That's another difference between us."

The demon's voice finally lost its smile, becoming as cold as Baalmo X's.

"Compared to so‑called freedom, I prefer stability."