Digivice

[Ancient traces detected... beginning exploration...]

[Exploring...]

In Qingliu's field of vision, blue light rapidly spread outward from him, enveloping the entire fourth floor.

This surprised Qingliu.

He had always remembered that the panel's secondary function was an advanced Pokédex, while its main function was to recharge by exploring things with a long history, allowing him to summon things. After all, that was how Agumon had arrived.

But apart from the Solaceon Ruins, Qingliu hadn't encountered anything that met the requirement of having a "long history" lately, not even the Lost Tower he was currently in.

Yet now, it had suddenly activated.

That meant something that hadn't been here before had appeared, triggering a change in the panel.

Could it be...

At the same time, lines of small blue text rapidly appeared on the panel.

[Target locked on. Exploring...]

[Ancient Odd Keystone detected... exploring...]

[108 ancient souls detected... exploring...]

[Exploration progress: 0%... 3%... 8%... 21%...]

"Just as I thought!"

Watching the exploration progress bar continue to climb, Qingliu turned his gaze to the Spiritomb opposite him.

The only possible variable in this tower so far was the Spiritomb before him, whose condition seemed a little off.

Qingliu didn't know where it had come from, why its status was "frenzied," or how it felt about him and Agumon, but at that moment, anticipation stirred within him.

He looked forward to seeing what the panel could summon after it finished exploring Spiritomb.

The first time, the fixed option had been a "Pokémon"-Agumon.

Then what would it be this time...?

Qingliu didn't know, but he had to wait for the panel to finish exploring. If he fled now, there was no telling whether he would encounter this Spiritomb the next time he came.

"Agumon, stay alert. If it attacks, focus on keeping it occupied. We just need to buy a little more time."

"Okay."

Knowing all it needed to do was follow through, Agumon's expression grew focused.

Although it had little stamina left, and its opponent's presence and aura both seemed extraordinary, buying a little time wouldn't be a problem.

As for what would happen once it ran out of stamina afterward, Agumon didn't know, but Qingliu would surely have a solution.

It firmly believed that.

Unexpectedly, however, the seemingly frenzied Spiritomb remained perfectly still, looking very quiet. None of the imposing presence it had displayed while charging down from the fifth floor remained.

Even when Agumon adopted a battle-ready stance, it showed no reaction.

Qingliu didn't understand, but this was good news nonetheless.

A little over ten seconds quickly passed, and the progress bar shot upward amid the eerie silence.

[Exploration progress: 97%... 98%... 99%... 100%]

[Exploration complete. Summoning available.]

[Summoning target-random]

[Yes/No]

"Yes."

After Qingliu made his choice, the summoning target field began cycling rapidly, like a fruit machine in an arcade.

Only instead of different fruits, it cycled through text and pictures.

There were tools and items from the Pokémon world, tools and items from the Digital World, and even Digimon like Agumon.

However, very few of the latter appeared, and they were skipped almost instantly.

Qingliu watched quietly, involuntarily holding his breath.

Item after item flashed before his eyes, and the cycling gradually slowed until finally... it stopped completely.

[Summoning target: Digivice]

[Summoning in progress]

The two lines of small blue text flashed past, and the panel began to rotate. As it spun, it dissolved into tiny blue particles, opening a hollow passage that seemed to lead into the void.

A moment later, an object resembling a small alarm clock, with a black antenna at the upper left and three buttons in the middle of its screen, passed through the opening formed by the panel and landed in Qingliu's hand.

Qingliu immediately recognized the object, which had always appeared alongside Digimon in his memories.

The Digivice-the first-generation model.

He had been wondering earlier whether this thing might appear now that Agumon had. He hadn't expected his guess to actually come true.

"But what use is this thing?"

Qingliu looked the Digivice over and murmured to himself.

He was currently in the Pokémon world, and Agumon had already adapted to it and acquired levels. Naturally, its evolution should follow the normal Pokémon system.

"So does that mean it isn't much use to me right now?"

Qingliu stared at the Digivice in his hand, quickly turning the question over in his mind.

Suddenly, white light shone from the screen in the middle of the Digivice.

Then the Digivice melted into a puddle in his palm.

But rather than dripping through the gaps in his hand onto the floor, the liquefied Digivice seemed to possess a will of its own. Before Qingliu could react, it had burrowed entirely into his palm.

"..."

For a moment, Qingliu was dumbfounded.

Was this really a Digivice, or some holy venom disguised as one?

When he saw a mark identical to the Digivice appear in his palm, he was even more bewildered.

What a... completely unprecedented trick.

Qingliu carefully touched the mark with his other hand. After confirming that he felt no discomfort beyond having an extra mark, he was left even more speechless.

"What exactly is going on here...?"

As Qingliu puzzled over it, the panel, which had scattered into tiny points of light, returned to normal.

That was when Qingliu noticed the change on the panel.

[Species] Agumon

[Category] Reptile Pokémon

[Type] Dragon

[Ability] Tough Claws (Its sharp claws increase the power of attacks made with them)

[Level] 20

[Exclusive moves] Pepper Breath (Fire-type-power 60)

Razor Claw (Fire-type-power 40)

Small Explosion (Agumon gathers all its strength to launch a devastating fire attack, but it consumes a great deal of stamina at its current stage. Fire-type-power 75)

[Known moves] None

[Base stats] 360 (HP 50, Attack 72, Defense 55, Special Attack 72, Special Defense 50, Speed 61)

[Friendship] 70 (Most important friend)

[Status] Exhausted (Recovering)

[Information summary] XXXXXX...

[Digivice] One evolution requirement has been met (Level 20/Level 40/Level 60/Level 70). Begin evolution?-(Yes/No)

Note: Evolution is irreversible

Evolution?

As he read this, Qingliu's expression gradually grew serious.

Agumon had reached level 20 after defeating the three Pokémon guarding the fourth floor when they first arrived. That meant it had fulfilled the evolution requirement listed above, yet it hadn't shown any signs of evolving.

There had been no dazzling light like when a Pokémon evolved, nor any unusual reaction. Agumon looked no different from usual.

Yet after the Digivice appeared, the panel suddenly indicated that the evolution requirement had been met.

"So even if a summoned Digimon reaches the required level, it still needs a Digivice to help it evolve?"

After carefully considering this very likely possibility, Qingliu set the matter aside.

After all, Agumon's level was already high enough, and the Digivice seemed to have fused with him. As the "Digivice's human host," he himself was the light that would allow Digimon to evolve.

And now that evolution was an option, even though Agumon wasn't in good condition, Qingliu no longer had to worry about their safety against the clearly extraordinary Spiritomb before them.

"Heh heh heh!!!"

The previously quiet Spiritomb suddenly let out a low roar. Even on its gaseous face, its anger was plain to see, along with a trace of lurking savagery, like a demon on the verge of losing its mind.

The next instant, energy erupted from Spiritomb and rushed straight toward Qingliu and Agumon.

Qingliu was already prepared to have Agumon evolve.

Suddenly, a clear, pleasant, yet commanding female voice rang out beside him.

"Spiritomb, stop!"