Chapter 86: The Suddenly Appearing Protagonist

The bone-spiked club, charged with immense power, crashed down upon a barrier composed entirely of data particles, producing a series of crunching sounds. Though it barely held, it managed to withstand the assault. Feng Xue let out a sigh of relief as the barrier transformed once more into a cloak, settling behind her.

"This is the first time I've ever seen a wild Digimon evolve in battle!" Feng Xue stared in disbelief at the frenzied Kouga Beast, a sense of wonder washing over her. "Could this creature be some supporting character's future partner Digimon?"

Yet the thought was swiftly dismissed. After all, she had watched the third season; the details were fuzzy, but she was certain that none of the main or supporting characters had a Goblin Beast as their partner.

"So, it's just an unfortunate wild monster with great potential?" As Feng Xue executed her signature move—high-speed dodging attacks derived from her flying scythe kick—her mind raced through the relevant plotlines. "If the story has already begun, then the Evolution Light Ancient Music Beast should have entered the real world. In other words, Ancient Music Beast must be nearby!"

Despite this, Feng Xue had no intention of searching for the Ancient Music Beast. She didn't understand the principle behind its Evolution Light, but guessed it wasn't something as convenient as a simple illumination that triggered evolution. Rather than actively seeking it out, she preferred to let the plot progress naturally. As long as she stayed with Ruki, she was bound to encounter it eventually.

"Imp Beast! Are you done playing yet?" Ruki's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Feng Xue's train of thought.

"This is an adult stage Digimon! An adult, mind you! And not just any adult, but a mid- to upper-tier fiend type. I'm still in the growth stage, and the world's data volume is insufficient. If you don't swipe cards for me, how am I supposed to fight?" Feng Xue dodged Kouga Beast's ferocious attacks as if teleporting, complaining incessantly. "At the very least, a tamer should support their Digimon, you blockhead!"

Ruki's cheeks flushed red; she would never admit she simply forgot about it!

Now that she remembered, Ruki wasted no time. Without a second thought, she drew the card she wanted with a skill envied by all the legendary luck-masters of Duel Monsters—never once seen searching, always seeming to pull exactly what was needed.

"Card Exchange—Supplement Component Q!" The card arced through the scanner, and a surge of data streamed along an invisible bond toward Feng Xue.

"I feel your support!" As the influx of data filled her, a golden arrow appeared in Feng Xue's right hand.

"Take this! Divine Annihilation Arrow!" The bundled data transformed into a white rainbow, piercing through Kouga Beast with blinding speed.

"Ah!" With a single anguished cry, Ogre Beast disintegrated into a storm of data particles.

"Phew, lately there have been more and more wild Digimon appearing in the real world," Feng Xue said with a sigh, wiping away imaginary sweat.

"That's true, but it also provides you with more sources of data, doesn't it?" Ruki brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, leaving the scene of combat without hesitation.

"You're not wrong, but I can't help feeling that the connection between the Digital World and the real world has suddenly intensified. Could something be amiss?" Feng Xue followed behind Ruki, trying hard to recall the main plotline of the third season: fighting monsters to strengthen bonds early on, battling the Twelve Demon Emperors in the middle, traveling to the Digital World to find the Ancient Music Beast, and facing the Digimon Death God in the final act. That was about all she could remember; the specifics—what happened in which episode, which Digimon were defeated—eluded her, save for the occasional fleeting image.

"Does it matter?" Ruki tilted her head, expressionless yet somehow endearing.

"Good point." Feng Xue nodded. Most of her goals in this world were already accomplished; all that remained was to evolve her Digimon form—her own incarnation—to its highest stage and explore the powers it represented.

...

"Tell me, what made you suddenly want to take a walk in the park today?" Feng Xue trailed behind Ruki, exasperated. Makino Ruki was an independent, tomboyish girl, and most importantly, a shut-in. Yes, a shut-in: apart from attending school, participating in Digimon card tournaments, and buying cards, she spent most of her time at home devising strategies. Since acquiring her real partner Digimon, she rarely even attended card tournaments.

Yet today, the girl who never ventured outside except for Digimon emergencies was, for once, enthusiastically heading to the park. It was truly abnormal.

"Akihabara is releasing the Dark Region expansion card pack today. It's necessary to acquire some." Ruki nodded, as if affirming her own words.

"I see..." Feng Xue had little interest in the legendary otaku haven of Akihabara—not because he had outgrown his otaku phase, but because this world's timeline was still in 2000. Never mind whether he'd seen all the works; the so-called 'classic' art style, outdated by modern standards, was simply unacceptable to a future-dwelling otaku like him.

And games? Please, computers weren't even widespread yet. Even if he bought a game, there'd be nowhere to play it!

But the mention of Akihabara triggered a memory—a certain plot point: wasn't the Blue Card discovered in Akihabara? Which meant that the fruit obsessed with dreams was there as well?

Should he try to find him? Feng Xue pondered, but eventually abandoned the idea. Even setting aside whether that uncle—perpetually asleep or awake—would actually appear, the main problem was that Feng Xue had no clue what he looked like!

"Imp Beast, what are you doing? Get out of the way!" As Feng Xue drifted off in thought, Ruki's impatient voice suddenly rang out beside him.

"Damn it! Too careless!" His battle-hardened instincts saved him yet again. The moment he heard Ruki's voice, Feng Xue reacted reflexively, delivering a sideways kick that sent a red figure flying!

"What was that?" Feng Xue now had a chance to examine the creature he'd just kicked away.

It was a red dinosaur.

Wait—a dinosaur?

A strange feeling crept over Feng Xue.

"This damn thing is Guilmon, isn't it? Why is it attacking me?" Confusion flashed through Feng Xue's mind. "Anyway, let's subdue it first!"

Just as he made up his mind, a young boy's voice suddenly cried out: "Guilmon, what are you doing? Why are you attacking?"

Feng Xue turned to see a boy wearing swimming goggles and a blue jacket, frantically waving his arms.

It might seem odd that Feng Xue referred to Ruki as a young woman, yet called her peer Takato a boy; but Ruki was indeed more mature than her age (girls in the eleventh district matured earlier), while Takato radiated the unmistakable innocence of an elementary schooler.

But according to him, it was Guilmon who attacked first?