As Mo Yan kneaded Impmon's body, the damage caused by the stimulation of his magic power gradually subsided.
"Ugh... big guy... hiss... what are you looking at... ah... got a death wish?... I'll definitely... load... your... data!!!
Aaaah!!!!"
But Guilmon had witnessed every moment of that humiliating display. Impmon glared at him with eyes that seemed ready to spit fire, his words dripping with threats.
"Looks like I've been too gentle. You still have the energy to threaten people."
As he spoke, Mo Yan pressed harder.
Impmon immediately let out a string of agonized screams.
"Guilmon, the breakfast Takato bought you is still in the hut. Go eat."
Seeing that Guilmon looked about to say something, Mo Yan hurriedly spoke first.
In his current condition, Impmon really couldn't afford another psychological blow.
"Oh, right! The bread Takato brought!"
At Mo Yan's reminder, Guilmon clapped his claws together, his thoughts turning entirely to bread.
He really was a simple-minded Digimon. It was so easy to distract him.
Still, perhaps it was precisely that childlike innocence that had allowed him to break free of the Wicked Demon Dragon's influence.
Takato Matsuki, who corrected his mistakes once he recognized them, had also played a crucial role.
With that, Guilmon hurried toward the hut.
He was going to feast!
Seeing Guilmon leave, Impmon breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed considerably.
By then, Mo Yan had finished the massage, too.
"Try slowly circulating your magic power. Remember, slowly. Don't rush."
Sitting cross-legged nearby, Mo Yan reminded Impmon, who seemed somewhat lost in thought.
At Mo Yan's words, Impmon glanced at him without speaking.
Still, he followed Mo Yan's instructions and began circulating his magic power.
The moment he did, Impmon discovered that the data within his body had become somewhat scattered, no longer as stable and tightly connected as before.
"What's happened to me?"
Lying on the ground, Impmon asked Mo Yan, his mouth dry.
"It's nothing serious. Just use your magic power to link your data back together."
Mo Yan took out one of his DigiCores, preparing to study it and work through his deductions. Hearing Impmon's question, he answered without even looking up.
Does he really think it's only serious if your DigiCore cracks?
Mo Yan's answer came as no surprise to Impmon.
But Impmon could only grumble inwardly. There was no way he would say it aloud again.
After all, he had no desire to experience a cracked DigiCore a second time.
That really could kill a Digimon!
"Mo Yan, Impmon, here's Takato's bread."
Guilmon's cheerful voice interrupted their exchange.
After getting the bread Takato had brought, Guilmon had come straight back, wanting to share it with Mo Yan and Impmon.
Faced with Guilmon's enthusiasm, Mo Yan didn't refuse. He casually accepted the bread Guilmon offered.
"Mmph... mmph..."
Impmon had just been about to say something when Mo Yan swiftly stuffed his mouth full of bread.
"Mo Yan, won't Impmon choke like that?"
Seeing Impmon's face turn red, Guilmon asked Mo Yan guilelessly.
"It's fine. He won't die. Digimon have very tenacious vitality."
Chewing slowly and savoring Takato's father's handiwork, Mo Yan casually uttered words that made Impmon seethe.
"But it still feels awful. Guilmon has choked before."
After taking a big bite of bread, Guilmon explained that he had experienced it himself, and it had been terribly uncomfortable.
"Smack!
See? He swallowed it."
Mo Yan reached out and gave Impmon a smack, making him immediately swallow the bread in his mouth. Then he spoke as though nothing had happened, leaving Guilmon dumbfounded.
"You jerk! That could kill a Digimon, you know?"
After being treated like that, Impmon sprang to his feet and angrily accused Mo Yan.
"All right, I'm full. Have you had enough, Guilmon?"
Lightly dusting off his hands, Mo Yan announced that he was full and asked whether Guilmon had eaten enough, completely ignoring Impmon's shouting.
"Yep, Guilmon's full, too."
Guilmon nodded and patted his belly to show that he had eaten his fill.
"Good. Let's start the next stage of training."
He snapped his fingers, and the scenery around them immediately changed.
A Multi-Function Shooting Range appeared before them.
"Hey, hey, hey! How can you treat the great me like this?"
Seeing Mo Yan move on without consulting him, Impmon began to panic.
"Here we go!"
Grabbing Impmon as he tried to flee, Mo Yan launched him with a textbook serve.
"I'll get you back for this sooner or later!"
Still airborne, Impmon brazenly declared that he would settle the score.
"Guilmon will go himself!"
Noticing Mo Yan's gaze turn toward him, Guilmon hurriedly spoke up.
A moment later, Guilmon ran toward the shooting range.
"Dark Night Flame!"
Aiming at the target on the Mechanical Dummy's head, Impmon unleashed his attack.
But the Mechanical Dummy sidestepped and dodged the flames.
"I was waiting for you to dodge!"
The next instant, Impmon leaped high and slammed a Flame Palm into the target on the Mechanical Dummy's head.
This was a combat trick Impmon had learned after taking countless hits and suffering countless setbacks.
Beside him, however, Guilmon was already mowing through his opponents with unstoppable ease.
"Guilmon Cannon!"
Guilmon bounded toward a Mechanical Dummy, spun into a tail strike, then followed up with a blast from his mouth. The wooden dummy promptly fell to the ground.
Terrifying combat instincts, an extraordinary rate of growth, and efficient killing methods.
Every single one of these things spurred Impmon on.
At one point, they even made Impmon feel as though he were utterly useless.
But I'm not giving up that easily!
Clenching his fists, Impmon refused to be discouraged. His fighting spirit only burned brighter.
Purple magic power rose along with Impmon's fighting spirit.
So this fighting spirit, this refusal to admit defeat, is why Impmon possesses demon lord power!?
Or does every Impmon actually have this potential, and this particular Impmon simply managed to awaken it?
Still, for Cerberumon to choose him and Zhuqiaomon to take an interest in him, there must be something special about him.
Could that Demon Lord be planning something?
Forget it. I'll focus on obtaining my mentor's data and completing my evolution to Ultimate as soon as possible.
With SageMon and Qinglongmon backing me, and my ties to the Realm of the Gods, even if that Demon Lord wants to do something, they'll have to think twice.
Watching the purple magic power rise from Impmon once more, Mo Yan kept turning the matter over in his mind.
Ultimately, lacking both clues and an understanding of that Demon Lord, Mo Yan could only deal with whatever came his way.
After all, Mo Yan wasn't alone.
Qinglongmon, one of the Four Holy Beasts as well as one of the Four Great Dragons, was Mo Yan's superior and direct boss.
SageMon, one of the Ten Warriors, a renowned sage of Witchelny, and a veteran Grand Mage, was Mo Yan's mentor.
Moreover, having formed a Holy Ring, he was bound to have come to the attention of the Three Great Angels.
If necessary, he could call upon the Angel Army for support.
Of course, Mo Yan would only seek their help when his life was at stake.
Otherwise, he would merely squander those bonds and stunt his own progress.
Before you continue