Chapter 227: The So-Called Resolve Is Not a Belief in Death
"Eaters... I certainly didn't expect those abominations to push things this far."
Taking in the chaotic expanse of the distant battlefield without missing a single detail, LordKnightmon flexed his newly transformed body. Having just completed his X-Evolution, he tested the unfamiliar weight of his armor, a quiet sigh escaping him as he lamented the sheer persistence of their enemies.
"To think they could so easily control a warrior like Omnimon..."
Beside him, Gallantmon X cast a brief glance at his colleague, who had successfully completed his own transformation through the X-Program. Without breaking his gaze, Gallantmon X thrust his holy lance outward in a casual, sweeping strike, instantly obliterating an Eater that had slithered too close to the children.
"...To be precise, it is because he is Omnimon that they are currently only able to 'control' him," LordKnightmon corrected, his tone sharp but highlighted with a heavy melancholy. "If it were any other, weaker Digimon, their consciousness would have been completely devoured and assimilated by now."
He paused, his visor gleaming in the dim light. "In other words... that stubborn fool is actively seeking death, isn't he?"
LordKnightmon sighed, a rare flicker of raw emotion bleeding through his usually haughty demeanor.
Putting himself in Omnimon's shoes, if he had blindly chosen that same path back then, he feared he wouldn't have the sheer willpower—or the face—to continue living after discovering the horrifying truth. Yet, even with that realization, a suffocating wave of shame washed over him. For years, he had failed to detect the glaring anomalies festering within Yggdrasil. His grip tightened.
LordKnightmon... or rather, the newly reborn LordKnightmon X.
The miraculous power of the X-Antibody had triggered a qualitative evolution within him. His original weapon, the Pile Bunker, had undergone a magnificent transformation, reshaping into an exquisitely designed, crimson-hued thrusting sword—the [Rose Rapier]., the metallic sword belts that once adorned his armor had multiplied, converging behind his back to form a pair of stunning, razor-sharp golden wings that caught the ambient light.
Beyond the raw, explosive surge in his combat power, his innate aptitude as a commander of the Royal Knights had been amplified to a terrifying degree. The crimson crystal embedded within his visor continuously processed immense streams of data, analyzing the chaotic battlefield and calculating optimal strategies to forcefully steer the tide of war in their favor.
This near-perfect domination of the battlefield flowed with the elegant precision of a maestro conducting a symphony. It instilled a deep, primal awe in those who witnessed it, cementing his absolute authority.
He was, in every sense of the title, the true "King of Knights."
"You lot, fall back!" LordKnightmon X commanded, his voice slicing through the din of combat.
As a Royal Knight, he already stood at the absolute pinnacle of the Digital World. Now, blessed with the X-Antibody, his strength had crossed into the world of the unfathomable.
In a single, blindingly fast encounter, he carved through the vast majority of the Eaters swarming the allied Digimon. With effortless grace, he seized the struggling Mega-level Digimon and unceremoniously tossed them back toward Gallantmon X's defensive perimeter.
"Go! Master your new powers before you even think about stepping back into this fray," he ordered sharply.
"Until then—" LordKnightmon X drew the exquisite rapier from his waist.
Even in this ruined world, completely stripped of sunlight and choked by despair, the brilliant crystal radiance of his blade shimmered beautifully, blooming like a deadly, metallic rose in the darkness.
"I shall handle these pests!"
"[Rose Velvet]!"
"[Spiral Masquerade]!"
He moved as a blur of gold and crimson, unleashing a devastating flurry of slashes that tore through the Eaters' ranks with surgical precision.
"Whether it is the shame of our past blindness, or the fighting spirit burning in our chests right now... we share the exact same burden."
A deep, resonant voice echoed through the chaos. Under LordKnightmon X's sharp gaze, a towering figure stepped forward, slowly unfurling massive, draconic wings to reveal a suit of terrifying, demonic-looking armor.
"LordKnightmon X, you are not alone in this fight."
"...Tsk. Meddlesome as always," LordKnightmon X scoffed, turning his head slightly.
Though a deep sense of relief and excitement surged through his heart at the arrival of his closest comrade, his fiercely proud and awkward nature forced him to maintain a haughty, unbothered facade.
Seeing this familiar display of stubbornness, what more could his best friend say?
Dynasmon—or rather, the newly evolved Dynasmon X—simply let out a low, knowing chuckle.
"X-Evolution... X-Evolution... Incredible. Every single one of them has achieved it."
The howling winds of the chaotic battlefield whipped relentlessly around them. Standing amidst the carnage, the dark-haired girl, who had just finished playing a deadly waltz with the twin handguns in her grasp, watched the Royal Knights' overwhelming display of power from start to finish.
"Mizuki, the front lines have finally stabilized," Belle noted, lowering her smoking weapons.
"Yeah, I can see that..."
Mizuki narrowed his eyes, observing the vanguard led by the newly empowered LordKnightmon X and Dynasmon X. After a brief moment of calculation, the tension in his shoulders finally eased.
"Since they have things under control, I suppose I can afford to take a short breather..."
Seeing Mizuki voluntarily extinguish the brilliant Digi-Soul radiating from his hands, Belle's crimson eyes immediately brightened with sheer joy.
Without wasting a single second, as if terrified he might suddenly change his mind and charge back into the fray, she scooped him up in her arms and bolted toward the safety of the rear lines.
"Mizuki, you are staying right here and resting," she declared, gently depositing him behind a large piece of rubble.
Mizuki rolled his eyes helplessly at his partner's overprotective fussing, but a fond smile tugged at his lips. However, as he settled in, he felt an intense, burning gaze boring into the side of his head. He turned to look.
"Lord Mizuki!"
"Ah, it's you two. Dorumon... and Tokomon X."
Looking at the two small, familiar figures staring up at him with desperate determination, a complex glimmer flashed in Mizuki's eyes. Before they could even voice their request, he gently shook his head.
"I know exactly what you're thinking," Mizuki said softly. "However, my answer is no. I will not undo the seals on you."
He paused, his gaze hardening just a fraction. "At least, not right now."
Dorumon and Tokomon X, who had approached him specifically to beg for their restrictions to be lifted, widened their eyes in shock.
Refusing to accept this, they scrambled closer, their small claws gripping the edge of the rubble.
"Is it because you think we're too weak?!" Dorumon pleaded, his voice trembling with urgency. "But we already possess the power of the Ultimate level! Even if we can't compare to the Mega-level seniors out there, with the X-Antibody coursing through us, we have the strength of top-tier Ultimates!"
"No, it has nothing to do with your power," Mizuki replied, his voice calm and steady.
To him, power was the easiest thing in this world to acquire. Whether through a gentle heart, the radiant spark of a miracle, or the sheer momentum of fate, any Digimon could grasp immense strength if the conditions were right.
The real reason he was refusing these two children ran much deeper.
"Let me ask you a question," Mizuki said, leaning forward slightly.
Though they had no idea what he was getting at, their deep respect for him—and their desperate need for his help—prompted Dorumon and Tokomon X to exchange a quick glance before nodding in unison.
"If you were to face an enemy you absolutely could not defeat—an impossible threat—what choice would you make?"
"An enemy we can't contend with..."
Dorumon and Tokomon X fell silent, their minds immediately flashing back to the terrifying, overwhelming might of the Royal Knights they had faced previously.
Dorumon gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with fierce resolve. "Even if it's an enemy we can't possibly beat, we would bet absolutely everything to fight them!"
"Exactly!" Tokomon X chimed in. "Even if it means paying with our very lives—"
"And that," Mizuki interrupted, his voice slicing through their declarations like a cold blade, "is exactly why I am refusing you."
Dorumon's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. "What is wrong with wanting to protect the things that matter?!" he demanded, his voice cracking with emotion. "Is it wrong to stand up against an impossible enemy to protect what is important to your heart, even if it means betting your life on it?!"
Beside him, Tokomon X remained silent, but the defiant, wounded expression on her face made it clear she shared Dorumon's exact sentiments.
Mizuki looked at them with a deep sadness, slowly shaking his head. "You've had it completely wrong from the very beginning."
He reached out, resting a gentle hand on Dorumon's head. "Wanting to protect what is important, standing up to a terrifying enemy, and being willing to risk your life... those are noble things. But the core premise of all that cannot be built on a foundation of blind self-sacrifice. It must be built on the absolute, unyielding desire to live on."
Mizuki's gaze hardened, his Digi-Soul faintly connecting with the conviction in his words. "True resolve is not some suicidal belief in blindly rushing toward your own death! Resolve is having the strength to carve out a bright, living path toward the future, even when you are trapped in a pitch-black wilderness."
"..."
"..."
Mizuki's words struck Dorumon and Tokomon X like a physical blow, exploding in their ears like a clap of thunder.
As the ringing in their heads faded, the deep truth of his statement began to sink in. Hadn't they been operating on exactly that flawed logic? Because they had spent so long being shielded by others, and because they had witnessed far too many horrific sacrifices, they had subconsciously stopped valuing their own lives. They viewed themselves as expendable tools to be thrown at the enemy.
If they didn't even care about their own survival, how could they possibly claim to wield true strength to protect others?
This is why Lord Mizuki refuses to trust us with that power, Dorumon realized, a wave of shame washing over him.
They had put everything in the completely wrong order.
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