"I talked to Satsuma about you and heard you escaped from Kurata. Kurata created beings called 'bio-Digimon,' and with the Digisoul you released, I thought you might be one of them."
Suguru Daimon explained why he had asked Mo Si to throw a punch. "Although I don't understand why you can release Digisoul, I can now confirm that you aren't a bio-Digimon."
"So?" Mo Si asked.
"You want to use Digisoul to achieve Ultimate Evolution, right?" Suguru Daimon said. "I can tell you how."
"Please do." Mo Si waited eagerly.
Suguru Daimon said solemnly, "Ultimate Evolution requires you to push your Digisoul beyond its limit. Different people have different ways of doing that."
That's as good as saying nothing.
Mo Si grumbled inwardly.
Suguru Daimon continued, "But I do know one simple method that works for everyone."
"What is it?" Mo Si asked.
Suguru Daimon raised his right fist. "Throw punches!"
"Throw punches?" Mo Si asked, puzzled.
Suguru Daimon nodded. "That's right. Keep throwing punches!
"Don't stop even when you're tired. Physical exhaustion will suppress your distracting thoughts and let you clearly sense your 'limit.' Then concentrate your Digisoul and break through that limit!
"Remember what it feels like to go beyond your limit. That's 'Ultimate Evolution'!"
After hearing this, Mo Si pondered for a moment, then sighed. "It certainly is simple, but it definitely isn't easy."
The method was simple, but putting it into practice was difficult.
It was like the three steps for putting an elephant in a refrigerator. Explaining it took only a few words, but actually doing it...
Suguru Daimon and BanchoLeomon left to search for Kurata in the vast Digital World.
Meanwhile, Mo Si, Captain Satsuma, Kudamon, and Digimon such as Etemon, Goblimon, and Mushroomon returned to the spot where they had arrived in the Digital World the day before.
Once DATS headquarters opened the passage, they rode the "light" back to the Command Room at DATS headquarters.
DATS headquarters had a small gymnasium for its members to exercise in.
It even had a dedicated boxing ring, since Thomas H. Norstein was a world boxing champion.
"..."
Mo Si surveyed the exercise facilities around her. To anyone else, she looked as though she was deciding what to do, but her gaze was actually unfocused.
She was simply spacing out!
Angewomon's five senses were linked to Mo Si's. Through Mo Si's gaze, she could sense her unease. "Are you thinking about which exercise will push your body to its limit?"
Mo Si remained silent for quite a while before answering quietly, "No. I'm wondering whether I should push my body to its limit at all."
"Why are you considering that?" Angewomon asked, puzzled. "Reaching your limit and going beyond it will grant you the power of Ultimate Evolution. That's exactly what we're seeking."
Mo Si sighed softly. "That's true, but... pushing my body to its limit through exhaustion will also leave it extremely weak."
Hearing Mo Si repeatedly offer reasons, Angewomon could tell she simply didn't want to become vulnerable. "Why?"
Mo Si pressed her lips together. "It's not really a question of whether I can do it, but whether I dare to."
Angewomon asked again, "Why?"
After considering her words for a moment, Mo Si said, "For someone who lacks a sense of security, willingly becoming vulnerable is no different from taking off their clothes in the freezing snow."
A lack of security?
So this is how Mo Si truly feels! Angewomon thought.
Mo Si had shared the existence of the panel with Angewomon, but she had never mentioned her past. Thus, Angewomon didn't know where Mo Si came from or what kind of person she had once been.
Perhaps she's always been alone. That's why she feels so uneasy.
At that thought, tenderness welled up in Angewomon's heart. She said gently, "I'll stay with you. We'll never be apart."
"Mm. Thank you."
Mo Si felt warmth in her heart, and she grew much calmer.
After a while, Angewomon added, "I understand now. Your perverted personality is actually a protective disguise you use to hide your insecurity."
"Oh, no, that isn't it."
"..."
"Now, let's start heading toward the limit."
Mo Si first transferred the magic power in her body into the Holy Ring around her left calf, lowering her physical strength a notch. Then she sent Etemon to fetch Marcus Damon, Thomas H. Norstein, Yoshino Fujieda, and the others.
They asked, "Angewomon, what did you need us for?"
"Spar with me," Mo Si said. "As the Digital World's diplomat, I won't take no for an answer."
The three exchanged looks.
"I don't know anything about some diplomat, but if it's a fight you want, I'll take you on to the end! I'm Marcus Damon, the fighting boss!" Marcus Damon was raring to go.
"Wait." Thomas H. Norstein raised an arm across Marcus Damon's path.
Marcus Damon frowned. "Thomas, what are you doing?"
"She may be a Digimon, but Angewomon is still a lady," Thomas H. Norstein said.
Marcus Damon froze for a moment. Although he had been through countless fights, he really had never fought a woman.
Mo Si planted her left hand on her hip and waved her right hand, smiling. "What a gentleman! But I don't mind."
Thomas H. Norstein smiled too, then turned to Yoshino Fujieda. "Yoshino, you go."
"Huh? Me?" Yoshino Fujieda was taken aback.
She glanced at Mo Si in the ring and reluctantly put on protective gear.
"You don't actually have to wear protective gear," Mo Si suggested. "Going fist to fist is better for strengthening your Digisoul."
At those words, Marcus Damon's eyes lit up, while Thomas H. Norstein looked thoughtful.
They hadn't been able to participate in the operation to surround and attack Kurata because their Digisoul was too weak. Even now, the two still found that frustrating.
Yoshino Fujieda, however... put on the protective gear anyway.
Although she also wanted to strengthen her Digisoul, she didn't want to get beaten up and injured.
"Go, Yoshino!" Lalamon, Yoshino Fujieda's Digimon partner, cheered her on from below the ring.
Yoshino Fujieda gave an awkward laugh.
Her opponent was Angewomon, an Ultimate-level Digimon. Although the data showed that Angewomon wasn't particularly skilled at close combat, Yoshino Fujieda still had little confidence.
"Go, boss!"
Mo Si had her own cheering section too. Goblimon was the first to shout.
Mushroomon, Otamamon, and Gekomon immediately joined in the cheering. Even Kunemon, who couldn't speak, enthusiastically waved those tiny claws.
Etemon cleared his throat. "Ready, begin!"
As soon as the words fell, the two figures in the boxing ring rushed toward each other.
Almost in the blink of an eye, Yoshino Fujieda was sent flying backward out of the ring and landed hard on her backside.
"Yeah!"
Goblimon, Mushroomon, Otamamon, Gekomon, and Kunemon cheered excitedly.
"Yoshino!"
Lalamon hurried over to help Yoshino Fujieda up.
Just as Yoshino Fujieda was about to cry out in pain, a rainbow-colored beam flew over and merged into her body. "Ow... huh? It doesn't hurt anymore."
That rainbow-colored beam was the Healing Light Mo Si had cast.
"Thank you," Yoshino Fujieda said to Mo Si.
Mo Si smiled. "I won't let you get hurt, so don't hold back with your punches."
Then she looked at Marcus Damon and Thomas H. Norstein with a faint smile. "Who's next?"
"I'll do it!"
Marcus Damon jumped into the ring. This time, Thomas H. Norstein didn't stop him.
He wasn't wearing protective gear, either.
"Go, boss!" Agumon shouted.
"Our boss is invincible!" Goblimon shouted.
Mushroomon, Otamamon, and Gekomon chimed in, "That's right! That's right!"
"What? My boss isn't going to lose!" Agumon said indignantly.
Goblimon, Mushroomon, Otamamon, Gekomon, and Kunemon stared hard at Agumon. Cold sweat broke out on Agumon's forehead under their stares, but he showed no intention of backing down and stared right back.
What are you looking at?
You. Got a problem with that?
Sparks seemed to clash in the air.
Before you continue