Battle of the Dragons

Dawn was just breaking-the perfect time to be sound asleep.

On the park's running track, Impmon and Mo Yan had already begun their morning run.

Inhale every three steps, exhale every five.

Align the body with the mind, and the mind with the flow of energy.

At Mo Yan's insistence, Impmon kept concentrating on the changes in the data within his body and the circulation of his magic power.

Ultimately, through movement and stillness, he was to sense the presence of his DigiCore.

It was a strange requirement, beyond Impmon's understanding.

This was the third day since Impmon had been forced to accept Mo Yan as his mentor.

It was also Impmon's third day of enduring all these mystical theories.

If he could, Impmon really wanted to shout, Do you have any idea what I've been through these past three days?

Impmon also wanted to grab Mo Yan by the collar and roar, Are you sure this is magic instruction?

Have you ever seen a wizard's apprentice start a ten-kilometer morning run before sunrise?!

Have you ever seen a wizard's apprentice do ten sets each of sit-ups, push-ups, squats, crunches, and a whole series of other full-body exercises every morning, noon, and night?!

Have you ever seen a wizard's apprentice get taught grappling, armed combat, fighting techniques, and a whole series of other close-combat skills every single day?!

Now, Impmon could slap his increasingly defined muscles and tell you that he had not only seen one-he was still living it.

As for the promised magic, Impmon had yet to see a single spell. His close-combat ability, however, kept improving.

As a newborn fiend and future demon, Impmon felt that if not for his powerful recovery and abundant magic power, he would probably have become scattered data long ago.

In truth, when Mo Yan first began teaching Impmon, he had already told him that growing stronger came at a price.

Some Digimon became someone else's puppets to grow stronger.

Some Digimon resorted to any means necessary to grow stronger.

Some Digimon even gave up their freedom to grow stronger.

Some...

For the rebellious Impmon, growing stronger was merely a means of gaining the respect he deserved.

And of no longer having to fear that something like that would happen again.

Impmon had worked up the courage to ask why Mo Yan kept teaching him close-combat knowledge and techniques.

In response, Mo Yan simply took out a book titled A Detailed Introduction to Wizardry, handed it to Impmon, and gestured for him to read it.

As it turned out, no matter what Impmon tried, he could not open A Detailed Introduction to Wizardry.

Just as Impmon began to think Mo Yan was messing with him, Mo Yan spoke:

"Magic is known in the Digital World as an Advanced Programming Language.

And books containing this Advanced Programming Language have certain requirements for their readers.

Either you already possess permission to read them.

Or you have enough strength to read them.

Clearly, you do not have an innate permission to read this book.

So you need to improve your strength.

To read this sort of Advanced Programming Language, you need a robust body—in other words, a certain degree of data stability.

Otherwise, your data will be assimilated by this Advanced Programming Language.

Likewise, you also need a resilient mind. It is essential for learning it, remembering it, and breaking free of its influence.

Because if you cannot control yourself properly.

Then you will remain enthralled by this advanced knowledge until your data finally disintegrates.

So before you come into contact with knowledge of this kind, you need to undergo a certain amount of training to avoid unnecessary trouble."

Even after hearing Mo Yan's explanation, Impmon still found it unbelievable.

It's just magic. What Demon Man Type Digimon doesn't know a spell or two?

How could it possibly be that serious?

Mo Yan said little more in response to Impmon's confusion.

He was acting as a mentor, not a schoolteacher, nor some obliging soul who answered every question.

Teaching Impmon was a way to fulfill one of the conditions for evolving to a higher level and gain more evolution options.

And, by combining various conditions, to seek a stronger evolution.

It was not about genuinely becoming a teacher.

After briefly answering the question, Mo Yan resumed urging Impmon to exercise.

Of course, Mo Yan was training too.

After all, Mo Yan's other Digicores needed the data and records from this training.

With the Twelve Digicores in his possession, Mo Yan needed to work even harder.

Otherwise, Mo Yan had no idea when he would be able to realize the conjecture he and SageMon had developed.

"Wizardmon, do you have a way to turn Growlmon back into Guilmon?"

Just as Mo Yan and Impmon finished a round of training, Takato Matsuki came to find Mo Yan with Growlmon in tow.

"So he's evolved to Champion. That really is quite a ferocious form."

At the sight of Growlmon, Mo Yan could not help voicing his admiration.

Anyone who saw this enormous, savage, crimson dinosaur brimming with wild power would feel at least a little awed.

He certainly lived up to his title of the Crimson Demon Dragon. This form, built for combat and destruction, truly deserved the name.

"Takato, why do you want Growlmon to turn back into Guilmon?"

Mo Yan withdrew his gaze and looked at the slightly anxious Takato Matsuki.

"Growlmon is too big now. If he appears in our world, he'll cause panic and chaos.

So I want Growlmon to change back."

As though he had grown up a little overnight, Takato Matsuki had begun thinking things through for himself.

For him to develop his own ideas so quickly spoke volumes about the DigiDestined's capacity for growth.

"For a Digimon, evolving to a higher level is precious, empowering, and difficult.

Do you think it's right to have Growlmon revert to Guilmon?"

Takato Matsuki's words stirred some emotion in Mo Yan, but he still asked whether the boy had truly made up his mind.

"I believe that if Guilmon could evolve once, he can evolve a second time and a third!"

Takato Matsuki took out his red D-Ark and spoke with unwavering eyes.

Looking at Takato Matsuki's boundless confidence, Mo Yan was somewhat speechless.

What can I say? That's the protagonist of the third series for you.

Once he found his resolve, he could unleash astonishing abilities beyond imagination.

"All right, since you've made your decision.

Then I won't hold back. As it happens, I need a dragon battle myself."

As he spoke, Mo Yan took out the Holy Scripture and began chanting a mysterious incantation.

With his chanting, an intricate, magnificent magic circle unfolded above everyone's heads.

As the magic circle spread and took effect, it created a domain cut off from the real world, forming a space of its own.

Once the domain had formed, Mo Yan took out a DigiCore brimming with wild power.

Wizardmon!

Transfer Evolution!

Coredramon!

[Coredramon, Champion, Vaccine, dragon-type Digimon.

Any Digimon bearing the name "dramon" must possess dragon-factor data within its DigiCore. The higher the proportion of dragon-factor data, the more closely its body resembles a dragon. Coredramon's dragon-factor data, however, constitutes 100%, making him a true pureblood dragon-type Digimon.

The blue-bodied Coredramon is said to be the form attained when Dracomon evolves after consuming large quantities of the rare gemstone known as Blue Diamond, mined in mountainous regions at extremely high altitudes.

He developed powerful wings to survive among precipitous mountains and can fly at high speeds.

Like Dracomon, he has a "reverse scale." If it is touched, he loses himself to rage. After the horns on his head glow intensely, he indiscriminately releases scattering beams from his mouth: "Hypermental Cannon II."

His special moves are "Blue Flame Breath," which releases a scorching dragon's breath that shines blue, and "Assault Blast," which delivers a devastating blow to his opponent with his powerful tail.]

As the light faded, a ferocious, blue-bodied dragon appeared in its place.

Enormous wings, a fearsome dragon's head, sapphire-like scales, and a powerful physique.

Every aspect of his ferocious form proclaimed his place in the food chain.

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

As though each had found his territory invaded, the two enormous dragons let out earth-shaking roars at one another.

The Dragon Battle had begun.