The charging Monochromon only felt its vision blur—before it could understand what had happened, a towering figure nearly three stories tall appeared right in front of it!
Zero, who had warp-digivolved straight from Koromon into GeoGreymon, stepped forward without hesitation. His solid claws clamped down on Monochromon's massive nose-horn, forcibly halting its charge.
The heavy recoil from Monochromon's full-speed rush pushed Zero back two steps.
But Zero immediately stomped down. Gravel and dust burst upward, and with a crisp crack of an imprint forming beneath his feet, he stabilized.
In pure physical strength, very few Champions could overpower GeoGreymon. After all, he was a "combat-specialized type"—from skull to tail-tip, his entire body existed as a weapon evolved purely for battle.
Monochromon had no intention of being restrained so easily. Its thick limbs dug fiercely into the ground, trying to break free with brute force.
Zero didn't give it the chance. With a full-bodied heave, he lifted and flipped Monochromon straight over.
That tank‑like armored body crashed into the forest with a thunderous boom, scattering dust and splintered branches everywhere.
From behind, Rina, gripping the glowing Digivice in one hand, threw her other fist into the air.
"So cool! It's just like a giant monster tokusatsu scene—I love this!"
Zero didn't have time to reply. As he turned, another form dove down toward him.
"Rina, watch out!"
But before Zero even finished the warning, Rina had already leapt into the air, kicking off a nearby tree trunk. With two quick steps against the bark, she sprang upward into a clean, fluid aerial somersault.
The descending Kuwagamon's scissor-like mandibles flashed with crimson light and closed sharply, slicing through several trees at once. It lunged straight toward Rina—
But her elegant flip carried her cleanly over its head. As her jump's momentum faded and her body began to drop, she extended one foot—
Landing squarely on Kuwagamon's back!
Using that as a springboard, she soared upward again like a nimble bird, flipping over the insect's body and landing safely beyond it.
Kuwagamon, having missed completely, tried to wheel around and give chase—when a burst of blue fire struck its side.
Hajime had arrived just in time, firing a Blue Blaster to break its pursuit. While the fireball barely hurt Kuwagamon, it was enough to halt its movement.
Zero seized the opening, unleashing three basin-sized fireballs from his jaws.
This triple fireball was the signature technique of the Greymon line—three spiraling fire spheres arranged in a triangular formation, roaring forward at high speed…
Kuwagamon, still recovering from Hajime's attack, looked up just in time to see the three fireballs grow larger and larger in its pupils.
"…"
At this range, dodging was impossible. It cleaved the first fireball with its Scissor Hands, but the remaining two hit dead-on. Explosive flame swallowed half its body, and with a shriek of pain, it crashed to the ground.
Zero barely had time to breathe before Monochromon—already back on its feet—fired a deep crimson magma ball.
Zero whipped his tail like a steel lash, batting the molten projectile aside, then returned fire with a Mega Flame shot.
Monochromon lowered its horn and charged, smashing through the fireball and continuing forward. The tip of its horn shimmered with dangerous light.
That horn was as hard as diamond—taking a direct hit would be no joke.
At the same time, Kuwagamon had recovered. With a furious screech, it took to the sky again and dove toward Zero.
"Zero-kun!"
Rina gasped.
Boom! Boom!
Zero stomped once, bracing himself, and raised both claws—left blocking Monochromon's horn, right halting Kuwagamon's Scissor Hands.
But fighting two Champions at once was obviously no easy feat. And now that both enemies were locked against his claws, they began gathering strength again, preparing to crush Zero between them.
At the last instant, Zero suddenly released both claws—shooting backward out of the clash in a burst of speed.
Who wants to brute-force you two? Go ahead and hit each other~
Because Zero had let go, neither enemy could stop their own fully committed attacks in time. Momentum alone sent them crashing straight into one another.
Monochromon's horn and Kuwagamon's mandibles collided with full force—sending both Digimon flying apart in a messy tumble.
"…Rina, scan them with the Digivice!"
Zero had already guessed why these Champions had gone berserk. Throughout the fight, both had attacked wildly and without any technique.
In an era without the Light of Evolution, evolution was incredibly difficult. Especially on File Island, where only Digimon who had survived countless battles could reach Champion level.
No matter what, Champions should not fight without rhythm or control. And combined with their unnaturally bloodshot eyes… plus Zero's knowledge of canon—
The answer was obvious.
Rina didn't question Zero. She immediately pointed the Digivice toward the collapsed Digimon—then froze.
"Eh? How do you do the scanning thing again?"
While she was puzzling over this, the Digivice suddenly reacted on its own. Brilliant white light radiated outward, bathing both Digimon in its glow.
Under that light, both froze for a moment.
And then—from each of their bodies, a black gear flew out, shattering into dust within the radiance.
"How is it? Are you two alright now?"
Zero asked the two Champions. Monochromon's gaze cleared. Shaking its head once as if understanding the situation, it nodded toward Zero, then turned and calmly left.
It had never been a violent Digimon—its rampage had been entirely caused by the Black Gear's influence.
Kuwagamon, however, even stripped of its Black Gear, screeched and pounced toward Zero again.
Its violent, battle-hungry nature was innate. Even without external influence, it refused to give up a fight so easily.
Facing its renewed assault, Zero could only sigh.
"…Fine. Come on, then."
...
A one-on-one left no suspense. After sending Kuwagamon off to the Village of Beginnings for a respawn countdown, Zero absorbed its data as well.
He devolved back into Koromon, then looked up at the towering mountain in the center of File Island, a faint headache forming.
…Looks like the plot is about to begin.