The Mastermind

"Everyone, search the surrounding area first. Maybe Joe just woke up early and went to look for food." Izzy looked around and saw no signs of a struggle, his inner tension easing just a fraction.

"Joe, he must have heard Tai say yesterday that he was going to that mountain to check out the surrounding terrain, so he went alone."

Right at that moment, a panicked Sora suddenly recalled the things Joe had said to her last night.

As the oldest among them, he had an obligation to protect everyone. Although she hadn't taken it seriously last night, judging by the current situation, Joe probably really thought that way.

"What? He went to that mountain?"

Damn it, she had managed with such difficulty to persuade Tai, yet she hadn't expected that usually well-behaved Joe would be this rebellious. At this rate, it would have been better if Tai had gone to check; at least Tai's Agumon could evolve into Greymon for self-defense.

Hearing Sora's guess, Matt's expression turned extremely grim.

"What's this? He tells me not to go, yet goes off on his own in secret." Tai was utterly speechless regarding Joe's actions. Thinking of Gomamon's inability to even walk fast, he truly had no idea where Joe had gotten the courage...

"No, we have to find Joe quickly. Gomamon and the others already said yesterday that there are very dangerous Digimon on that mountain." Looking at the distant peak, Tai could only hope Joe had good luck and hadn't run into any powerful, vicious Digimon yet.

"Tai is right, but Joe's been gone for so long that if we go after him now, we probably won't catch up to his pace. Biyomon, please evolve into Birdramon and carry us across." With that, Sora took out the Digivice she carried with her.

Whoosh-

"Biyomon~ evolve!

&...(bgm.Brave Heart)

Birdramon!"

Looking at the crimson Birdramon before her, Sora hurriedly stepped forward and hugged its right leg.

Tai also brought Agumon and claimed its left leg...

"We'll go ahead first; you guys hurry up and catch up."

Swish-swish-swish-

As Tai's words fell, Birdramon flapped its wings, carrying Sora and Tai as they rapidly set off toward the distant mountain.

"Alright, let's get moving quickly too." Watching Birdramon's figure grow further and further away, Matt unceremoniously took over the leadership authority.

At this, Zhou Zhu felt somewhat displeased, but he also understood that these things were secondary. Right now was the most critical moment, and he absolutely could not waste time with someone like Matt.

According to the plot in his memories, they would probably run into Devimon tonight. By then, Devimon-controlled Leomon would drive Tai to desperation, and at the critical moment, Tai's Digivice would emit an unusual light.

It was precisely this unusual light that purified Leomon, and it was also this unusual light that caused Leomon to act like it had taken drugs and evolve into the Ultimate Gold SwordLeomon in a short time.

One had to know that Leomon's evolution speed had already surpassed most of the protagonist group members who possessed Digivices. After all, even by the grand finale, only Tai and Matt among the protagonist group had Digimon that evolved into the Ultimate level.

Therefore, this sole opportunity of the time was one he had to seize. Tonight, he had to try his best not to get too far from Tai.

Hopefully everything would go smoothly...

Tramp-tramp-tramp-tramp-tramp-

By the time Zhou Zhu's group caught up with Tai, Joe, and the others, Joe's Ikkakumon had already concluded its battle with Unimon.

"Tai, what are you doing?"

Seeing Tai sitting off to the side, carefully studying the mountains and geography below the mountain, Matt curiously walked up.

"I'm drawing a map, after all, the purpose of us coming up here is to understand the surrounding terrain." Saying this, Tai lowered his head and continued to write and draw.

"A map? Just this thing in your hand?"

Looking at the extremely abstract art style, Matt speechlessly stated that even T.K. could draw better than Tai, right?

"Hehe, it's a map; as long as it's readable, that's fine." Catching the tone in Matt's words, Tai smiled with a hint of embarrassment.

Stomp-stomp-stomp-stomp!

Right at that moment, a heavy sound of footsteps came from the mountain hollow nearby.

"That is? Leomon?"

Gabumon looked at the Leomon walking toward them, feeling no great sense of vigilance in his heart.

After all, Leomon was a type of Digimon with a very strong sense of justice...

"Leomon? This guy looks really strong."

Joe had just experienced a battle, and his vigilance toward the suddenly appearing Leomon was instantly raised to the maximum.

"Don't worry, Leomon is a kind Digimon, you know." Sensing Joe's worry, Gomamon by his side soothingly comforted him.

"You've already said these words many times along the way, but every time turns out to be the exact opposite." Hearing Gomamon's words, the unease in Joe's heart grew increasingly severe.

"Beast King Fist!"

From a distance of several dozen meters away, Leomon unleashed a finishing move directly at Tai and the others.

"What is this? Didn't you say Leomon was a kind Digimon? Sure enough, these words are unreliable." Facing the sudden attack, Tai and the others had long since trained themselves to have skilled on-the-spot reactions.

"I don't know either! Leomon was clearly a Digimon with a very strong sense of justice..." While fleeing, Gomamon also felt completely baffled...

"Hehe-he-he, this road is blocked! Prepare yourselves, you bunch of brats!" Just as everyone was feeling puzzled, a Digimon that looked extremely like a Japanese goblin in disguise suddenly leaped out from the road ahead.

"Ah, is this guy also a kind Digimon?" Looking at this suddenly appearing Digimon, Joe looked back at Gomamon.

"No, Ogremon is an absolute, thorough bad guy." This time Gomamon didn't say anything about him being a kind Digimon, but running into this kind of fellow at a time like this...

"The road ahead is blocked too. There's nowhere left to go."

With wolves in front and tigers behind, the group of chosen children was directly blocked on the mountain path halfway up the peak by Ogremon and Leomon.

"Get ready to evolve, everyone!"

Seeing this situation before them, Tai also gave up the intention of continuing to run away.

"Okay~"

&...(bgm.Brave Heart)

Agumon--Evolve!

Greymon!

Gabumon--Evolve!

Garurumon!

Palmon--Evolve!

Cactuar!

Gomamon--Evolve!

Ikkakumon!

Tentomon--Evolve!

Kabuterimon!

Biyomon--Evolve!

Birdramon!

As the Digimon of the various children evolved one by one, the situation on the scene underwent a massive change.

The Champion-level Digimon turned into a six-to-one ratio, not counting Devimon lurking in the shadows... The advantage was with them!

"Everyone evolved!"

Why is it that only his own Patamon can't evolve~

No, Brother Zhou Zhu's Candlemon can't evolve either, so... never mind then~