Chapter 140

Right now, don't worry about irrelevant things—your most important task is to defeat the Demon Shou.

Otherwise, more kind Digital Monsters will be controlled by the Demon Shou 's black gears; only you can save this world.

To the curious questions of the Chosen Children, Leohawk bluntly changed the subject—and didn't forget to throw in some psychological manipulation.

Why could Wen Shengzai revert to his Rookie form, Gunqiushou, even after evolving to the Adult stage? Even Leohawk wanted to know.

Theoretically, Digital Monsters in the Digital World, once evolved through their own power, should remain in their evolved form permanently.

The reason the Chosen Children's Digital Monsters de-evolve is because the power they used to evolve came from the Chosen Children themselves, not from their own training or data growth.

Simply put, a Digital Monster is a cluster of data; when its data reaches a certain limit, it manifests in a completely new form—that's what we call "evolution."

The data Tai's Agumon and the others needed for evolution came from the Chosen Children's power; once the battle ended, that power naturally returned to the Digi-Egg.

As for why Wen Shengzai, a native Digital Monster, could evolve and de-evolve freely, Leohawk truly didn't understand.

Logically, even if Wen Shengzai were one of the Chosen Children's Digital Monsters, he shouldn't possess such power at all.

In fact, Wen Shengzai's ability to evolve and de-evolve freely has a simple reason: in this world, his base data volume is that of a Rookie Gunqiushou.

But after sharing abilities with Wen Shengzai from other worlds, the extra power he gained became the data required for his evolution.

The more and stronger the power shared from other worlds' Wen Shengzai, the higher his evolution level becomes; when he chooses not to use that power, he reverts to Gunqiushou.

This isn't just for cuteness—it's the state that consumes the least energy for Wen Shengzai to maintain his daily life.

" Gunqiushou, will you come with us to fight the Demon Shou?"

Although Leohawk had just said only the Chosen Children could defeat the Demon Shou, the children had seen Wen Shengzai's strength firsthand.

Moreover, Wen Shengzai had just saved them, so Tai now looked at Wen Shengzai and warmly invited him.

How the Chosen Children returned to the real world—honestly, Wen Shengzai had already forgotten most of the plot, since this was just an anime from his childhood.

To reach the real world, one either had to ally with the Demon Shou or join the main group; Wen Shengzai had no interest in being someone's lackey, so naturally he'd follow the main group.

Wen Shengzai agreed to join, and the Chosen Children were thrilled—they now had an unexpected powerful ally, greatly increasing their chances of defeating the Demon Shou.

But Leohawk was deeply surprised: as a native Digital Monster, he knew that although Wen Shengzai didn't get along with the Demon Shou, he wouldn't risk his life for the Chosen Children.

Infinite Mountain was the Demon Shou 's stronghold; the Demon Shou, recognized by this world's darkness, possessed the power to create "Dark Gears."

Just as Wen Shengzai's group began ascending the mountain, before even encountering the boss Demon Shou, they first faced a group of Digital Monsters controlled by Dark Gears.

Facing numerous Adult-stage Digital Monsters, Leohawk drew his short sword and stepped forward to shield the children.

Then he turned to the children behind him: "Children, leave this to me and Gunqiushou —hurry and defeat the Demon Shou."

Yes, while volunteering to hold the rear, Leohawk also dragged Wen Shengzai into it.

The reason was simple: on one hand, the enemies controlled by Dark Gears were too numerous for him to handle alone.

On the other hand, Leohawk didn't trust Wen Shengzai—he feared Wen Shengzai's help for the Chosen Children had ulterior motives.

The Chosen Children were the world's hope, but they were still just children, too easily trusting.

Wen Shengzai wasn't evil like the Demon Shou, but he was certainly no righteous Digital Monster; to prevent the children from being harmed, Leohawk decided to keep a close eye on Wen Shengzai.

Watching Leohawk struggle against several Adult-stage Digital Monsters, Wen Shengzai evolved again into Tyrannomon—and with a body far larger than Tai's Tyrannomon, he punched each charging Digital Monster with one blow.

Though both were Adult-stage, the difference was obvious to anyone: even surrounded by multiple Adult-stage foes, Wen Shengzai treated them like children.

Even without using his ultimate techniques, he shattered the Dark Gears inside each Adult-stage Digital Monster with a single punch.

"Leohawk, you've been watching me, afraid I'll do something to those children, haven't you?"

"Yet you, who claim to be righteous, send those children alone to face the most dangerous Demon Shou —is that your code of conduct?"

Leohawk didn't deny it. As he used his short sword to push back one Digital Monster, he replied: "It's their destiny. If anyone can defeat the Demon Shou and restore peace to the Digital World, it's them."

"Destiny? What a pretentious excuse. Because they were chosen by this world, must those children risk their lives to save it?"

I don't care if you're the role assigned by Xuan Nei, a pawn of Yggdrasil to drive this world's progress, or acting on your own will.

But if you get in my way, I'll kill you too!"

"As you said yourself, I'm not evil like the Demon Shou, but I'm no righteous Digital Monster, and I'm not one of those gullible children.

No one can dictate my path—not even Yggdrasil. My script is mine alone to write!"

As Wen Shengzai finished speaking, more Digital Monsters controlled by Dark Gears surged toward him.

Facing the charging Digital Monsters, Wen Shengzai no longer held back—he unleashed a superheated torrent of flame.

The searing heat burned the air, turning a hundred-meter radius before him into scorched earth; the Digital Monsters that had blocked his path now fell from the sky as Yigege Digital Eggs.

Seeing this brutal display, Leohawk opened his mouth to speak—but suddenly, a vast dark mass engulfed the peak of Infinite Mountain.

The remaining Digital Monsters not yet defeated now expelled Dark Gears from within their bodies, all flying toward the summit of Infinite Mountain.

(End of Chapter)