Recaps

After waking on File Island, Zhou Zhu discovered he was linked to a newly hatched SmokeMon rather than being a DigiDestined. He convinced Elecmon to let him stay in the Village of Beginnings and learned SmokeMon could evolve into Flamemon and Candlemon.

• Zhou Zhu woke beside a Digi-Egg in the Village of Beginnings and realized he had arrived in the Digital World.
• Elecmon confronted Zhou Zhu, who persuaded him to stay and help care for the little Digimon.
• The Digi-Egg hatched into SmokeMon, which Zhou Zhu recognized as his partner.
• Zhou Zhu realized SmokeMon was an avatar of his consciousness and that he shared one soul across a human body and a Digimon body.
• Elecmon explained that SmokeMon evolved into Flamemon and then Candlemon, claiming Candlemon could become powerful enough to defeat him.

Zhou Zhu’s SmokeMon evolved into Flamemon, and Zhou Zhu discovered he could choose its evolution path and absorb energy from its evolution. He learned that Andromon was considered the strongest Digimon on File Island and began wondering about his future in the Digimon world.

• A week after SmokeMon’s birth, Zhou Zhu asked Elecmon why it had not evolved yet.
• SmokeMon radiated data energy and digivolved into Flamemon.
• Zhou Zhu realized he could direct Flamemon’s evolution path and absorb some of its data energy to strengthen his body.
• Flamemon spoke briefly, then jumped into Zhou Zhu’s arms, puzzling Elecmon with its unusual behavior.
• Zhou Zhu asked about the strongest Digimon nearby, and Elecmon named Andromon in the factory.
• Elecmon said it had taken five months to evolve from the Baby stage to Rookie and warned Zhou Zhu not to rush evolution.

Zhou Zhu trained Flamemon and prepared the Village of Beginnings for the threat of Devimon, who had arrived on File Island. He and Elecmon agreed to train together so they could defend the village until help arrived.

• Zhou Zhu trained Flamemon’s special attack and reflected on how data, skills, and equipment affected a Digimon’s combat strength.
• Elecmon warned Zhou Zhu that Devimon was causing trouble on File Island, and Zhou Zhu urged him to stock up on food and keep the village sheltered.
• Elecmon gathered supplies the next day, while Zhou Zhu thanked him for caring for the children.
• Elecmon asked to spar with Flamemon so they could prepare to hold off Devimon and seek help from Andromon.
• Zhou Zhu agreed, seeing Elecmon as a useful sparring partner for Flamemon’s practical combat training.

Zhou Zhu trained with Flamemon and learned to overcome Elecmon’s Rookie-level advantage through teamwork and tactical awareness. After three months, Flamemon could hold his own, and Zhou Zhu asked Elecmon whether other human children had appeared on the island as he prepared to leave the Village of Beginnings and seek a path to digivolution.

• Zhou Zhu had Flamemon challenge Elecmon, who defeated him with a single finishing move and left him needing to rest.
• Zhou Zhu concluded that Flamemon could not withstand stronger Digimon’s attacks and would need to dodge their finishing moves to fight above his level.
• Three months later, Flamemon and Zhou Zhu had improved their coordination enough to outmatch Elecmon by anticipating his attacks, though Flamemon had not digivolved.
• Elecmon judged Flamemon strong for a Rookie as Zhou Zhu asked whether any other human children had appeared on the island.
• Zhou Zhu decided he could not remain in the Village of Beginnings forever and focused on getting Flamemon to reach Rookie level before danger arrived.

Zhou Zhu planned to use the light of a DigiDestined's Digivice to speed up Flamemon's evolution, and decided to wait near Andromon's Factory for a chance to collect data. Elecmon agreed to take him there, but warned him that Andromon was far too powerful to challenge.

• Zhou Zhu concluded that Flamemon would evolve too slowly by normal means and planned to borrow data from the Digivice light that had empowered Leomon.
• Zhou Zhu asked Elecmon whether he knew about any human children on the island and where Andromon's Factory was.
• Elecmon said he knew the Factory's location and agreed to take Zhou Zhu there the next day.
• Zhou Zhu told Elecmon he might live at the Factory for a long time, and Elecmon warned that Andromon could defeat them with ease.

Zhou Zhu traveled with Elecmon and Flamemon to Andromon's factory, hoping to stay somewhere safe while Andromon remained immobilized. After they entered and received no answer to their calls, Elecmon left Zhou Zhu inside to return to the Village of Beginnings.

• Zhou Zhu explained that he had chosen Andromon's factory because its territory seemed like a safe place to stay, and Elecmon warned him that Andromon was far stronger than Devimon.
• Elecmon, Zhou Zhu, and Flamemon set out for the factory after Elecmon arranged food for the babies at the Village of Beginnings.
• Elecmon reassured Zhou Zhu that the route was safe because the surrounding Digimon knew and respected him.
• At the factory, Zhou Zhu entered despite Elecmon's unease, and the two called out to Andromon without receiving a response.
• Zhou Zhu decided they should stay put rather than explore, and he reminded Elecmon to return to feed the babies.
• Elecmon left Zhou Zhu and Flamemon at the factory, advising Zhou Zhu to say he was a Village of Beginnings guard if Andromon found him.

Zhou Zhu waited at Andromon's Factory, where Flamemon evolved into Candlemon and slowly became stronger. Tai and the other children eventually arrived, and Zhou Zhu met Tai, Sora, Koushiro, and Yamato while concealing what he knew about their journey.

• Zhou Zhu chose Candlemon as Flamemon's Rookie evolution and gained a partner capable of fighting back against stronger Digimon.
• Zhou Zhu spent the following days practicing Candlemon's Bonfire attack and fighting nearby Rookie Digimon while Elecmon visited occasionally.
• Tai, Sora, Koushiro, and Yamato arrived at Andromon's Factory looking for someone who could help them return to the human world.
• Zhou Zhu introduced himself and Candlemon, said he had arrived in the Village of Beginnings after a flash of light, and avoided revealing what he knew about the children's fate.
• Tai introduced Agumon and Sora, while Sora, Koushiro, and Yamato introduced their partners Biyomon, Tentomon, and Gabumon.

Zhou Zhu introduced himself to the group and described the clues he had found in the factory, including a trapped Digimon and a hidden room that controlled the machinery. The others pressed him about leaving the Digimon trapped, then discovered he had no Digivice.

• T.K. Takaishi, Joe Kido, and Mimi Tachikawa introduced themselves and their partners to Zhou Zhu.
• Mimi asked Zhou Zhu about hot pot, but Matt interrupted their conversation and urged everyone to search the factory.
• Tai and Joe criticized Matt for being rude, and Matt stubbornly said he would search alone.
• Zhou Zhu revealed that a Digimon was trapped beneath a machine and that drawings in a hidden room stopped and restarted the factory.
• Tai and Mimi reproached Zhou Zhu for leaving the Digimon, but Tai realized Zhou Zhu had no Digivice.

Zhou Zhu led Tai and the others through the Factory to its power room while considering how to prepare Izzy’s Tentomon for the coming fight with Andromon. Izzy restored the Factory’s power after accidentally erasing a pattern, then stayed behind to study the symbols and charge his laptop as the others prepared to find the trapped Digimon.

• Zhou Zhu led Tai and the others toward the power room, planning to help Tentomon digivolve before they encountered Andromon.
• Tai asked how Candlemon had digivolved without a Digivice, and Zhou Zhu pretended not to know; Izzy observed that ordinary Digimon seemed able to digivolve without one.
• Zhou Zhu warned Mimi not to erase the power-room patterns, explaining that they would have to be restored exactly for the Factory to work again.
• Izzy accidentally erased a pattern and shut down the Factory, then restored the power by filling it back in with his marker.
• Matt urged the group to find the trapped Digimon, while Izzy stayed in the power room to study the patterns and charge his laptop.

Zhou Zhu stayed with Izzy and the others while Tai and his group went to free the trapped Digimon, Andromon. As Andromon attacked, Tentomon digivolved into Kabuterimon, who joined the fight.

• Zhou Zhu refused to join Matt and Tai, and gave them directions to the trapped Digimon; Joe, T.K., Mimi, and Palmon stayed behind.
• Zhou Zhu warned Mimi not to touch the power-room equipment while Izzy studied his computer and considered whether Tentomon could digivolve.
• A crash sounded, and Tai and the others ran back as Greymon and Garurumon fought Andromon’s Super Missile attack.
• Tentomon began smoking, and Izzy’s fully charged Digivice glowed as Tentomon digivolved into Kabuterimon.
• Izzy sent Kabuterimon to help Tai and the others, and Kabuterimon attacked Andromon with Mega Blaster.

Kabuterimon helped the DigiDestined free Andromon from a Black Gear, and the group then entered the Sewer, where Izzy failed to make Patamon digivolve. As Sukamon approached, Zhou Zhu hurried to the front with Candlemon.

• Izzy spotted the Black Gear in Andromon's right leg and directed Kabuterimon to attack it, freeing Andromon from its control.
• Andromon apologized and guided the DigiDestined to the Sewer Pipe, but he had no information about returning to the real world.
• T.K. asked Izzy to make Patamon digivolve, but Izzy's computer method did not work.
• The group walked through the Sewer, and Sora's distress over the dripping sewage lowered everyone's spirits.
• Gabumon identified approaching Sukamon, and Zhou Zhu carried Candlemon from the back of the group to the front.

Zhou Zhu led the group through a sewer escape from the poop-throwing Sukamon, then clashed with Matt after Matt blamed him for not explaining the danger more clearly. The chapter ended with Zhou Zhu punching Matt before Matt's fist could connect.

• Zhou Zhu warned the group to run from the Sukamon and pulled Mimi ahead while the others stayed behind to question him.
• The Sukamon attacked Tai and the others with their special move, forcing them to flee after Agumon identified the Digimon.
• Zhou Zhu led Mimi and the others through a branching tunnel to the sunlit exit, where the Sukamon retreated.
• Mimi and Palmon thanked Zhou Zhu, while Matt angrily accused him of giving an unclear warning.
• Tai tried to stop Matt from attacking Zhou Zhu, but Matt shoved him aside and swung at Zhou Zhu.
• Zhou Zhu struck Matt in the face before Matt's fist could land.

Zhou Zhu fought off Matt after Matt attacked him, then left with Mimi as Tai tried to calm the others. The group found suspicious vending machines, and one opened to reveal a Sukamon hiding inside.

• Matt charged at Zhou Zhu, who caught his fist, kicked him to his knees, and handed him over to Tai.
• Sora criticized Zhou Zhu while Izzy and Mimi defended him, and Tai stopped Matt from involving Garurumon.
• Zhou Zhu and Mimi walked ahead, where Mimi spotted vending machines and ran toward them despite Zhou Zhu’s warning.
• T.K. rushed toward the machines too, but Matt held him back, suspecting a trap.
• Mimi inserted a coin, and the vending machine opened to reveal a Sukamon that Palmon recognized.

Zhou Zhu and Mimi escaped a horde of Sukamon while the group split up, but Mimi and Palmon ran into Monzaemon in Toy Town. Though Monzaemon welcomed them as a kind Digimon, it attacked them, leaving them fleeing for their lives.

• Sukamon attacked Mimi and Palmon after a cloud blocked the sunlight, and Zhou Zhu used Candlemon’s Melt Wax to hold back the pursuing horde.
• Mimi warned Tai and the others about the Sukamon, and the group split up to escape them.
• Mimi led Palmon into the forest, where their pursuers fled when Monzaemon appeared.
• Monzaemon invited Mimi and Palmon to Toy Town, and Palmon explained that the powerful Digimon was its mayor.
• Monzaemon suddenly attacked Mimi and Palmon with Lovely Attack, forcing them to dodge and flee.

Mimi and Palmon escaped Monzaemon’s attack with help from Sukamon, then entered Toy Town and found their friends acting unnaturally under the influence of toys. They discovered Agumon and the others trapped in a box, where the Digimon explained that Monzaemon had captured them.

• Monzaemon attacked Mimi and Palmon, who hid in Sukamon’s shelter until he wandered away; Sukamon again asked Mimi on a date, and she refused before leaving with Palmon.
• Mimi and Palmon walked toward Toy Town, while Zhou Zhu followed at a distance and chose not to intervene.
• In the empty Toy Town, Mimi and Palmon saw Tai, Sora, Izzy, Matt, Joe, and T.K. being chased by toys and repeating cheerful phrases without seeming happy.
• Mimi and Palmon heard a box rattling in a nearby house and found Agumon, Biyomon, and the others trapped inside.
• Agumon and Biyomon told Mimi and Palmon that Monzaemon had captured them after they encountered him.

Mimi and Palmon set out to rescue Tai and the others from Monzaemon, who had trapped the Digimon in a box and turned the children into toys. When Monzaemon attacked them, the Sukamon intervened, giving Palmon an opening to strike as the chapter ended.

• Mimi learned that Monzaemon had taken the children’s emotions and trapped Agumon, Gabumon, and the others in a box.
• Mimi and Palmon left to find Tai and the others, while Agumon urged them to save everyone.
• Mimi and Palmon encountered T.K. running through Toy Town with a Toy Helicopter and then Mimi stomped on a noisy Toy Figure.
• Monzaemon appeared and attacked Mimi and Palmon with Lovely Attack after Mimi demanded that he return her friends’ emotions.
• A crowd of Sukamon attacked Monzaemon to protect Mimi and Palmon, but he knocked many of them away.
• Palmon charged at Monzaemon through the opening the Sukamon had created, and Mimi warned her to watch out.

Mimi and Palmon faced Monzaemon in Toy Town, where Palmon digivolved into Cactuar and drove the Black Gear from him. With Monzaemon freed and peace restored, he apologized and shared a harmless Love Serenade with the children.

• Palmon’s Poison Ivy failed against Monzaemon, and Sukamon shielded Mimi and Palmon from his Love Serenade.
• Moved by the Sukamon’s sacrifice, Palmon digivolved into Cactuar and defeated Monzaemon with Needle Spray, forcing out the Black Gear.
• Cactuar reverted to Palmon, and Mimi celebrated her partner’s victory.
• Freed from the Black Gear, Monzaemon explained his desire to raise the status of toys, and the children realized the gear had made him act viciously.
• Monzaemon thanked Palmon and used his real Love Serenade to make the children happy, while a Sukamon asked Mimi for a kiss and was turned down.

Zhou Zhu rejoined the children as they traveled toward File Island’s highest point, and Candlemon’s warmth helped them endure the cold. They found a steaming hot spring that was too hot to bathe in, then discovered a refrigerator standing alone in the mountain wilderness.

• Zhou Zhu appeared after Monzaemon used Love Serenade, and he reunited with Tai and Mimi.
• The next day, Zhou Zhu joined the children as they continued toward the highest point on File Island.
• As the group entered colder terrain, Mimi carried Candlemon to warm herself, and the others asked to take turns holding him.
• Agumon and the others caught a smell and spotted steam, leading the group to a boiling hot spring.
• T.K. pointed out a refrigerator in the wilderness, leaving Joe baffled and Tai excited.

The DigiDestined found eggs in a refrigerator, cooked them, and argued over whether to explore a nearby mountain. Joe secretly left at night with Gomamon to climb it, and the next morning the group discovered they were missing.

• Tai and the others opened the refrigerator and found eggs, which they cooked with help from their fire-using Digimon.
• Joe reminded everyone that they had been in the Digital World for four days, dampening their spirits.
• Tai proposed climbing a mountain to survey the area, but Matt and the Digimon warned that it was dangerous.
• After everyone fell asleep, Joe secretly set off toward the mountain with Gomamon while Zhou Zhu watched and let them go.
• The next morning, Tai and Sora woke everyone after discovering that Joe and Gomamon were missing.

The group discovered Joe had gone to the dangerous mountain and hurried after him, where they found him after his Ikkakumon battled Unimon. Leomon and Ogremon then trapped the children on the mountain path, leaving the group to face them with their Digimon evolved.

• Sora recalled Joe’s plan to explore the mountain, and she and Tai flew ahead on Birdramon while Matt led the others after them.
• Zhou Zhu worried that he needed to stay near Tai to witness the coming encounter with Devimon and Leomon.
• The group caught up with Tai and Joe, and Tai explained that he was making a map of the terrain.
• Leomon attacked the children, and Ogremon blocked their escape route.
• Tai called for everyone to evolve, and six Digimon reached Champion level, while Patamon and Candlemon could not evolve.

The DigiDestined escaped Devimon’s rockslide, found a mountain castle, and fell asleep there, unaware that it was an illusion set as a trap. Devimon and his allies prepared to attack, but Tai and Agumon came out of their room before the ambush began.

• Devimon shattered the cliff above the group, but the Champion Digimon destroyed the falling boulders before they could hurt anyone.
• Joe noticed that Leomon and Ogremon had disappeared, and the group decided to descend the mountain while their partners were exhausted.
• Mimi spotted a castle, and the DigiDestined hurried there to spend the night as Zhou Zhu suspected it was one of Devimon’s illusions.
• Zhou Zhu pretended to eat the castle’s fake food and sleep while keeping Candlemon alert for Devimon’s attack.
• Devimon emerged from a painting at midnight and met Ogremon and the controlled Leomon, but Tai and Agumon came out of their room before the ambush began.

Tai and Agumon were ambushed by Ogremon, Leomon, and Devimon while using the bathroom, and Devimon revealed that the castle was an illusion. The children were thrown into the air as Devimon explained his plan to conquer the world, while Zhou Zhu stayed hidden and feared for his life.

• Ogremon burst out of the neighboring bathroom stall after Agumon's fart exposed him, and Tai and Agumon fled into the hallway.
• Leomon blocked Tai and Agumon's path, while Devimon appeared and restored the ruined castle by dispelling the illusion.
• Devimon sent the sleeping children and their beds flying, while Candlemon arrived to support Tai on Zhou Zhu's orders.
• Devimon told Tai that the Black Gears controlled File Island and that he planned to eliminate the chosen children before conquering the world beyond the sea.
• Devimon split apart File Island to reveal the Black Gears as Zhou Zhu remained hidden, worried that Ogremon could kill him.

Leomon attacked Tai under Devimon’s control, but the Digivice’s light freed him and filled Candlemon with data. Leomon stayed behind to fight Devimon and Ogremon while Tai, Agumon, and Candlemon escaped toward the sea, and Leomon was struck by Devimon’s Demon Claw.

• Leomon overpowered Agumon and seized Tai, while Devimon ordered him to kill the boy.
• Sora tossed Tai’s Digivice down, and its light freed Leomon and poured data into Candlemon, which Zhou Zhu transferred into himself.
• Devimon attacked Sora and the other children, but Leomon intervened and then faced Ogremon as well.
• Leomon shattered the rock beneath Tai, Agumon, and Candlemon, sending them down toward the sea; Zhou Zhu swam to Candlemon after jumping from a cliff.
• Leomon held off Ogremon and urged the children to escape, but Devimon attacked him from behind with his Demon Claw.

Zhou Zhu rescued Candlemon after they became separated from Tai and the others, and Candlemon digivolved into Wizardmon on the main section of File Island. Zhou Zhu discovered that Wizardmon had several powerful evolution paths and enough stored data to eventually reach Ultimate, while he remained stranded with him.

• Zhou Zhu struggled to catch up with Tai and the others, so Candlemon jumped into the water to help him.
• Zhou Zhu reached Candlemon and kept him afloat as they swam back to the main section of File Island.
• Candlemon digivolved into Wizardmon after they reached shore.
• Zhou Zhu sensed Wizardmon's evolution branches, including paths to Dunamons and Gankoomon, and found that he had accumulated enough data to reach Ultimate.
• Zhou Zhu estimated the data thresholds for successive evolution stages and considered how stored data explained the strength differences among Digimon.

Zhou Zhu considered how much more data Wizardmon needed to evolve and practiced with his avatar while planning to strengthen his own body. He concluded that powerful special moves were essential to combat and left himself focused on finding a way to gain fighting skills.

• Zhou Zhu calculated that he and Wizardmon held 130,000 units of data, enough for an ordinary Ultimate evolution, and considered gathering another wave to raise the total to 270,000.
• Zhou Zhu calmed himself and practiced special moves and finishing moves with his Wizardmon avatar inside Devimon’s lair.
• Zhou Zhu hoped Wizardmon would reach the Perfect stage before Tai and the others returned to fight Devimon, since Wisemon could overpower Devimon.
• Zhou Zhu decided his main body needed more fighting power, despite its Champion-level physical condition, because Wizardmon might not be able to protect him.
• Zhou Zhu reasoned that a Digimon’s special moves and data reserves determined its combat strength, and that powerful skills could let one attack overwhelm a stronger opponent.