"Lucy, we unlocked the possibility of evolving into Shakamon!"
Suppressing her excitement, Moss used telepathy to share the good news with Angewomon Lucy.
"Shakamon?!"
Angewomon Lucy didn't know much about Shakamon specifically, but she understood the meaning behind the name immediately — it had to be part of the same lineage as Sanzo Beast.
Moss explained,
"Judging by the name, its data template is based on the Buddha from Journey to the West."
In the Digital World, Shakamon was considered the entity closest to the World Tree — omniscient across the heavens and earth, able to trap challengers in an endless dream battle within the palm of its hand until they collapsed from exhaustion.
"This might be the peak of a single Digimon's evolution..."
Moss thought in awe.
Honestly, she hadn't expected that simply placing a Restriction Band on Final Millenniummon would allow her to unlock even the possibility of evolving into Shakamon.
She had used her "Soul Reception Magic" many times — absorbing Ultimate-level Digimon souls — but even absorbing Mastemon's soul had only granted her a dimensional gate ability, barely boosting her combat strength.
Venusmon's soul gave her supreme charm.
Ophanimon's soul gave her a new combat outfit.
Holy Dragon Beast's soul gave her fiery powers.
And so on.
After training in the Dragon Ball world and learning ki control, Moss's true power came mainly from ki techniques, then secondarily from Digisouls, followed by talisman magic and soul reception.
Each Digisoul mainly gave her new skill sets — like Ultraman Tiga's different forms — to adapt to different enemies and environments.
Switching forms helped her optimize in various situations, but didn't dramatically boost her raw power.
Shakamon, however —
Was different.
Since Shakamon was as close to a World Tree as any Digimon could be, acquiring its soul could, in a sense, make her a living embodiment of a World Tree.
"If I could fully obtain Shakamon's soul, maybe my strength could double!"
The thought made Moss even more excited.
All she had to do was plant one Restriction Band, and she had unlocked a path to such massive growth — what an unexpected reward!
After calming herself, Moss began seriously thinking about how to actually acquire Shakamon's soul.
A being so powerful wouldn't be easy to reach.
"Maybe if I plant ninety-nine more Restriction Bands?" she joked internally, amused by her own ridiculous idea.
Even Lilithmon's evolution route — the Demon Lord of Lust — wasn't just about gathering lustful energy; it required a true "Demon King's Will."
Clearly, throwing out Restriction Bands everywhere wasn't a practical method.
Moss pondered,
"Maybe if I complete a full cycle of eighty-one tribulations, like in Journey to the West, I could evolve into Shakamon?"
Compared to tossing out artifacts, this seemed more realistic — after all, Tang Sanzang became a Buddha only after enduring eighty-one hardships.
New problem:
"How exactly do I find eighty-one hardships to endure?"
As Moss was deep in thought, the chaotic changes caused by Millenniummon's appearance gradually faded with his departure.
Seeing this, Moss returned to herself, canceled her Soul Reception Magic, and reverted back to a normal Angewomon.
At the same time, the strange phenomena around them fully disappeared.
The DigiDestined and their partner Digimon were released from the time-space prisons, and their Digimon partners all de-evolved back to their Champion forms.
Except for Holy Dragon Beast, who reverted to Gatomon — that was because her training method was different.
The DigiDestined and their partners all looked at Moss with admiration — but just as they were about to thank her, something unexpected happened.
Beep beep beep!
Izzy Izumi's laptop chimed — a message from Gennai.
"Kids, bad news — the Dark Masters aren't your real enemy!"
Gennai's face appeared on-screen, looking grim.
According to his archaeological research, the real enemy came from beyond the Digital World's Firewall.
"In the face of this true enemy," Gennai said seriously, "the Dark Masters are nothing."
"…Oh."
The DigiDestined barely reacted.
"Huh?" Gennai blinked in surprise.
Why were they so calm?!
True, he might have exaggerated a little because he wasn't entirely sure of the enemy's full strength — but based on ancient texts calling it the "source of distortion," he thought his warning was justified.
Desperate to stress the point, Gennai urged,
"I'm serious! You mustn't underestimate the true enemy!"
The DigiDestined weren't dismissive out of arrogance — they had just already faced something far worse.
Izzy spoke up calmly,
"Mr. Gennai, we understand you're worried, but... by any chance, is the 'true enemy' you're referring to Millenniummon?"
If so, they had already dealt with it.
"Uh—"
Now it was Gennai's turn to be confused.
Millenniummon?
What was that?
Seeing Gennai's blank face, Izzy clarified,
"So it's not Millenniummon? Then... there's another enemy?"
Gennai quickly gathered his thoughts and replied:
"According to ancient prophecies, the real threat is an unknown life form that exists beyond the Firewall."
Seeing that the DigiDestined were finally paying attention, Gennai continued,
"Don't lose heart. Before you, there were other DigiDestined who defeated that enemy once. I believe you can do it too!"
Moss mused privately:
Those "prophecies" were left behind by Millenniummon himself, to ensure his eventual birth.
Mentioning that "children once defeated Apocalymon" was meant to give hope — a spark of belief — necessary for victory.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a loud rumble shook the sky.
Dark clouds flashed with thunder.
A black distortion ripped open the sky — and from it fell a meteor-like object.
Tai Kamiya stared up and murmured,
"Is that... the real enemy?"
Moss almost laughed.
No — Apocalymon was still busy fighting Daemon somewhere else. He wouldn't come here yet.
That meteor... was probably something much less impressive.
Still, the DigiDestined immediately rushed to investigate.
At the crash site, they found nothing but an empty crater.
"Where's the enemy?"
They looked around warily.
"Awoo—!"
Suddenly, wild howls echoed.
A figure flipped through the air — spinning a full 720 degrees — and landed gracefully before them.
It was a massive ape covered in metallic plating!
Steel-gray muscles gleamed under the sunlight, sunglasses perched on its head, a thick gold chain around its neck, and a teddy bear toy strapped at its hip.
Across its chest, two bold words were stamped: "STRONGEST."
It was—
MetalEtemon!
(Virus attribute, Ultimate level, Cyborg type)
MetalEtemon grinned widely, showing off his shining gold teeth:
"Long time no see, DigiDestined!
The King of Monkeys is back!"
Ten years ago — in this Digital World's timeline — MetalEtemon had fallen into a time distortion during battle with MetalGreymon.
After a decade of suffering, he had returned stronger than ever, seeking revenge.
"I hated you all!
I endured endless torment!
And now — I've been reborn!"
MetalEtemon struck bodybuilder poses, flexing every sculpted muscle on his gleaming body.
"..."
The DigiDestined and their Digimon exchanged awkward glances.
Tai Kamiya scratched his head and laughed nervously:
"Is this the real enemy?"
Izzy analyzed,
"MetalEtemon was the first enemy we fought when we arrived on Server Continent. The first enemy... and now the last."
"Ah, I see!"
Everyone nodded, finally understanding.
Moss gazed up at the bright blue sky silently:
"..."
Well, whatever. Might as well deal with him too.
The partner Digimon all evolved again:
"WarGreymon!"
"MetalGarurumon!"
"Phoenixmon!"
"HerculesKabuterimon!"
"Rosemon!"
"Vikemon!"
"MagnaAngemon!"
"Holy Dragon Beast!"
Eight Ultimate-level Digimon surrounded MetalEtemon, their massive shadows blotting out the sun.
Though they were tired from fighting the Dark Masters, dealing with a single MetalEtemon was almost too easy.
MetalEtemon's confident grin froze.
Sweat beaded on his forehead as he backed away, hands raised in surrender:
"Uh... can I surrender?"
He wasn't foolish enough to think he could take on eight Ultimates at once.
Even MetalEtemon's massive ego couldn't cover that!
"This... isn't fair," he thought bitterly.
It was like being a poor man returning to a village — and finding out the whole town had become billionaires.
Tai Kamiya glared and said,
"Still thinking about tricks?"
"Ah! Look over there!"
MetalEtemon shouted, pointing behind the DigiDestined.
In reality, there was nothing.
The seasoned DigiDestined hesitated — they were used to enemies pulling cheap tricks — but instinct still made some of them glance back.
Moss didn't move. She kept her gaze locked on MetalEtemon.
Seizing the distraction, MetalEtemon turned and bolted, running a hundred meters in seconds.
BOOM!
He was suddenly blasted backward.
"Who?!"
MetalEtemon roared angrily.
Standing before him was—
Gold SaberLeomon!
(Data attribute, Ultimate level, Ancient Beast type)
Moss blinked in surprise:
"Oh — so SaberLeomon survived after all."
It seemed this Digital World had shown some mercy after all.
"Take him down!"
The DigiDestined immediately ordered their partners to attack.
Panicked, MetalEtemon dodged skillfully, using his agility to evade the onslaught — and spotted Moss standing alone.
No Ultimate Digimon was nearby.
Perfect hostage material!
Laughing wildly, MetalEtemon charged at her.
"..."
Everyone else stared, wide-eyed, as if watching a sheep leap into a lion's jaws.
Honestly — if he had fought them properly, he might have had a slim chance.
But now?
He had jumped straight into hell mode.
As MetalEtemon lunged, Moss calmly lifted her right leg.
Her white, whip-like leg struck out — her high-heeled shoe slamming into MetalEtemon's face with a deafening CLANG!
CRACK—
Fragments flew.
MetalEtemon stumbled back, clutching his face.
When he pulled his hands away, he found shattered metal plating — and a missing gold tooth.
"Impossible!" he cried.
"My coating is made from Time-Digi-Alloy, the hardest material there is!"
Had that high-heeled shoe been made from the same!?
No way — who would forge a high-heeled shoe out of Time-Digi-Alloy?!
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Each 25 Powerstones? (1 Bonus Chapters)
BONUS (were at 45 powerstones)
10 Advance Chapters: patreon.com/milezen