Tai Kamiya and the others, since they never encountered Myotismon, hadn't returned to the human world — instead, they continued wandering around the Digital World.
Fortunately, thanks to the time distortion in the Digital World, over ten years here was equivalent to only about two and a half days in the human world.
Even after experiencing more than a decade, their bodies remained those of elementary school kids.
However, while their bodies stayed young, their minds might not have.
Thus, Moss's first reaction was:
"Could they have gone dark?"
Not everyone could survive years stranded, like Nobita Poseidon from "that other series," and still remain pure-hearted upon returning.
Currently in her Holy Dragonmon form, Gatomon said:
"Demidevimon, you explain it."
Why Demidevimon?
Moss tilted her head, glancing at Wizardmon.
Wizardmon hesitated, realizing Moss was signaling him — but grumbled:
"Could you please take off that mask when you do that?!"
Don't signal people when your eyes are hidden behind a mask!
Moss smiled:
"The fact that you understood me makes me very happy. Since you get it, there's no need for me to remove the mask."
Wizardmon sighed in resignation and explained:
"A while back, we went to the human world, waited nearly two days, but you never showed. So we returned here — only to find that seven or eight years had already passed in the Digital World."
Moss nodded — she could already guess what happened.
Wizardmon continued:
"During that time, only Demidevimon stayed behind at the Dark Castle. Because he used to work for Myotismon, the new Dark Masters didn't treat him as an enemy. And since the Chosen Children saw he wasn't very strong, they didn't view him as a threat either."
In short, Demidevimon managed to get along with both sides.
All this, of course, was because of his undying loyalty to his beloved Myotismon.
Moss turned to Demidevimon and praised:
"As expected of Myotismon's most loyal subordinate. He would definitely be proud of you!"
It had been only three days for Moss, but over ten years had passed for Demidevimon — a lifetime for a creature like him.
Demidevimon puffed up proudly, wings perched on his round little body, delighted by the praise.
Moss smiled:
"Alright then, go ahead and tell us."
Demidevimon said:
"According to my intel, the Chosen Children first defeated Etemon, then Tai Kamiya disappeared for two months."
Moss turned to Kari Kamiya and said:
"That's when your brother brought Koromon home for a while."
Kari nodded.
Demidevimon continued:
"The six remaining kids split up. When Tai Kamiya returned, he gathered them back together."
In the original story, Demidevimon's meddling had ironically helped the kids awaken their potential and let their Digimon evolve.
In a way, Demidevimon was the top contributor to their evolution!
Moss asked:
"Were they able to evolve their Digimon to Ultimate Level at that point?"
Demidevimon shook his wings:
"Nope, not even close! Especially the ones holding the Crests of Friendship, Love, Sincerity, and Hope — their Crests couldn't even glow."
Indeed — without Demidevimon's 'help,' the kids' battle power had dropped by at least 30%.
Friendship, Love, and Sincerity Crests required meaningful interactions among people to activate, while the Crest of Hope needed a desperate situation.
Moss asked:
"What happened after that?"
Demidevimon replied:
"They tried sailing back to File Island but were attacked by a MetalSeadramon subordinate — a MegaSeadramon. That's when the kid with the Sincerity Crest awakened his power. Gomamon evolved into Zudomon and smashed the sea monster in one blow."
Moss asked:
"Why did MegaSeadramon attack them?"
Originally, MegaSeadramon had been Myotismon's ally. But not this time.
Demidevimon explained:
"This one belonged to MetalSeadramon's army."
Ah, that made sense.
"After defeating MegaSeadramon," Demidevimon said,
"the kids were summoned by a guy named Gennai. After some time, they didn't set out to sea again but headed inland, where they were ambushed by Cherrymon."
Moss commented:
"Oof, big trouble."
Cherrymon, a subordinate of Puppetmon.
In the original story, Cherrymon nearly caused division among the kids with his manipulative words.
Demidevimon continued:
"The Crest of Friendship lit up. Gabumon evolved into WereGarurumon and shredded Cherrymon to pieces. Brutal stuff!"
Luckily, Cherrymon had a wooden body — otherwise, the scene would've been far bloodier.
Demidevimon went on:
"Next, they entered a steel city and encountered WaruMonzaemon, who was enslaving the Numemon."
Moss asked:
"How did WaruMonzaemon die?"
Demidevimon answered:
"The kid with the Crest of Love was furious after seeing the suffering Numemon. Biyomon evolved into Garudamon and burned WaruMonzaemon to ashes."
But this victory triggered another problem.
"The Steel Empire's ground troops came after them," Demidevimon said.
"The kids had to protect the Numemon while fleeing and ran completely out of strength."
Everyone listening grew tense.
Moss calmly said:
"It must've been time for the Hope Crest to awaken."
Demidevimon nodded:
"Exactly! Just when all seemed lost, the kid with the Crest of Hope activated it. Patamon evolved into HolyAngemon and opened the 'Gate of Destiny,' banishing the enemy into another dimension."
HolyAngemon's Gate of Destiny was an absolute banishment move — but not suitable for crossing worlds, only for sealing enemies away.
Demidevimon continued:
"They tried sailing to File Island with the Numemon, but were ambushed by Blossomon back in the jungle."
Puppetmon's forces again.
And —
"The second wave of the Steel Empire also arrived to flank them."
Moss muttered:
"A pincer attack... not good."
Demidevimon added:
"The kids were exhausted, but just when it seemed they were doomed, a savior appeared — SaberLeomon!"
"SaberLeomon?"
"Yep! He helped the kids fend off Blossomon and the Steel Empire's second wave. But SaberLeomon was already weak — he soon reverted to Leomon and was seriously wounded."
Everyone sighed in relief — at least he wasn't dead (yet).
Demidevimon said:
"He told the kids about the existence of Mega Evolution and that they needed Holy Power to achieve it — namely, through the Crest energies."
"Then what happened?" Kari asked anxiously.
Demidevimon said:
"The third wave attacked — this time including aerial forces like Gigadramon and Megadramon."
Kari worried:
"Were they able to rest before that?"
Demidevimon shook his head:
"Nope, not even close."
"Then...?"
Demidevimon replied:
"Leomon forced himself to evolve back into SaberLeomon and sacrificed himself buying time for the kids to escape."
Moss asked softly:
"So... he died?"
Demidevimon said:
"I never saw him again after that."
Which... probably meant yes.
Demidevimon continued:
"Then the fourth wave arrived — Puppetmon and Machinedramon's armies combined forces!"
Moss asked:
"Why didn't Puppetmon and Machinedramon act personally?"
Demidevimon explained:
"They were still recovering from sealing away the Four Holy Beasts."
Kari anxiously asked:
"What about my brother?"
Demidevimon said:
"Tai Kamiya and Matt Ishida decided to stay behind and fight while the others escaped with the Numemon."
Moss could feel the tragic bravery in their choice.
"Later," Demidevimon said,
"I heard that their Digimon partners managed to Mega Evolve."
That was a relief.
Holy Dragonmon — Gatomon's form — reassured Kari:
"If they met again later, it means they survived."
Kari smiled, visibly relieved.
Moss asked Demidevimon:
"And the others?"
Demidevimon said:
"They made it to a ship stranded in the desert, pushed it to the sea, and tried sailing back. But halfway there, they were attacked by aquatic forces."
Gigadramon variants again — Seadramon types.
"The kids could barely fight at sea," Demidevimon said,
"so Zudomon had to hold the line. But then the kid with the Sincerity Crest awakened again. Zudomon evolved into Vikingmon and defeated them."
With a Mega-level Digimon finally at their side, they safely escorted the Numemon.
But danger struck again soon after.
"While sailing back to the Server Continent," Demidevimon said,
"they were attacked by MetalSeadramon himself!"
Kari asked, nervous:
"What happened?!"
Demidevimon said:
"Vikingmon fought him, but he wasn't strong enough. Their ship was destroyed, and the kids were scattered again."
Such hardship after hardship…
Moss didn't expect that just sealing away Myotismon would change the story this drastically.
Demidevimon added:
"After that, the kids, with the help of Whamon, Piximon, Andromon, and Ogremon, kept resisting the Dark Masters, learning how to master Mega Evolutions along the way."
It made sense — after so much, their experience far surpassed any normal fighters.
At that moment—
BOOM—
A tremendous battle fluctuation erupted far away, shaking the entire Digital World.
Demidevimon said:
"I heard they're challenging the Dark Masters at the Ancient Colosseum now!"
Moss asked:
"Aren't you going to watch?"
Demidevimon said:
"If I get caught in the crossfire, who will save Lord Myotismon? I'll just hear about it afterward."
Reasonable enough.
Moss chuckled:
"Watching a battle like that, it would be worth dying for!"
Demidevimon stared blankly.
Moss turned to everyone and said:
"Everyone — let's go!"
"Yeah!"
"Roar!"
Holy Dragonmon took to the skies with a mighty cry, carrying Moss, Kari, and all the others soaring toward the battlefield.
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Each 25 Powerstones? (1 Bonus Chapters)
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