After staying overnight at Gennai's residence, Koushiro received his laptop back the next morning.
Gennai had modified the laptop, installing an additional data slot. Now, by inserting the Holy Plan into it, Koushiro could directly access related data and execute corresponding programs.
This was Gennai's gift to Koushiro. With this feature, Koushiro could better analyze enemy data and also connect to Gennai at any time for essential "outside assistance."
Because it utilized an exclusive communication channel, it was less prone to interference from the Dark Masters, allowing for more sustained transmissions.
"Well then, I've contacted Whamon-san. He'll carry you to Gekomon's island. After that...the rest is up to you."
Hearing Whamon's name, Taichi, Hikari, and Zero were delighted. After all, Whamon was a friend who'd helped them greatly before.
Back in the underwater cavern, they'd relied on him a lot. Naturally, they'd trouble him again now.
After two days of travel, the group successfully reunited with Whamon and headed toward Gekomon's island in the far east of the Ocean Domain.
"Long time no see, Whamon-san!"
The Yagami siblings eagerly greeted Whamon upon reunion, and Whamon's voice carried happiness at seeing old friends again.
"Indeed, it's been too long. I never imagined you'd soon confront the Dark Army head-on. It's an honor to help."
"Don't mention it," Zero quickly replied, "We're just doing what we can—what needs to be done. There's no way we could ignore what the Dark Army is doing. By the way, this Ocean Domain…"
Zero looked around. True to its name, the Ocean Domain was indeed endless, nothing but a vast expanse of blue without a single patch of land in sight.
Without Whamon...they'd definitely get hopelessly lost in this featureless sea.
Fortunately, Whamon was a Digimon native to the ocean, naturally gifted at navigation. Having such an experienced guide saved them a great deal of effort.
After a brief silence, Zero asked about the Dark Army.
"So, this is the Dark Army's territory. Seems surprisingly peaceful—not what I imagined."
Whamon chuckled.
"MetalSeadramon's Ocean Domain is mostly concentrated in the deep sea below the surface. Naturally, you won't see much up here. On the occupied islands, you'll find clearer signs of their presence."
He provided an example.
"Near Gekomon's island, there's a large deep-sea oil field. MetalSeadramon conquered the island, built an extraction facility, and forced the local Gekomon to work there."
Given the Gekomon's own technology level, they'd probably never need that deep-sea oil in a thousand lifetimes. But MetalSeadramon, descended from the Metal Empire, certainly wouldn't ignore a strategic resource like oil.
Additionally, the Ocean Domain produced many other valuable resources, all similarly occupied by MetalSeadramon.
By comparison, Zero's group had only managed to hold onto a single mine captured from Etemon. Myotismon's former territories contained many promising resources too, but with the Resistance's limited manpower, most had already been taken over by the Digimon Kaiser.
"We really do have too few people…" Zero sighed quietly. Even now, the Resistance was barely established, hardly comparable to the Dark Army. But perhaps this mission would allow them to liberate more Digimon and form alliances to bolster their ranks.
As he was thinking this, Gatomon—who'd been quietly gazing at the ocean from Whamon's back—suddenly pointed into the distance.
"Something's approaching…"
Whamon quickly glanced over and immediately reacted.
"Oh no...it's MetalSeadramon's Divermon Legion!"
Unlike the relatively neutral and friendly Gekomon, Divermon were extremely dangerous sea creatures.
Although the two species had similar ecological niches, their habits were entirely different. While Gekomon looked like human-sized frogs carrying trumpets, Divermon resembled deep-sea fishmen—and their lineage even included Dragomon. Clearly inspired by Cthulhu mythology, they were essentially Digital World's equivalent of Deep Ones.
Gekomon loved music, always gathering to sing and throw parties. Divermon, however, were equipped with harpoons, oxygen tanks, and diving fins—fully professional aquatic combatants.
In MetalSeadramon's ranks, Divermon served as reconnaissance and harassment units, specialized troops tasked with sabotage operations. In direct combat, however, they weren't particularly troublesome.
At least, not to Zero's current team.
"It seems like just a routine patrol unit. But since they've spotted us, we can't let them escape…"
If allowed to escape, they'd surely return with reinforcements, so it was imperative they prevented the Divermon from reporting back.
Apparently, the Divermon had realized this as well. After observing from afar, they immediately turned tail to flee.
"You think you can run? Not so fast!"
The group instantly prepared for battle. Amidst bursts of bright light, Angewomon, Kimeramon, and RizeGreymon simultaneously appeared. Wizardmon stayed behind to guard everyone else.
With these three winged heavy-hitters, the enemy had no chance to escape. Even the Divermon seemed to understand they couldn't easily flee.
In desperation, they launched a fierce counterattack. More than a dozen harpoons pierced through the water with a roaring sound, accompanied by currents that formed a torpedo-like shape.
Zero twitched slightly at the sight—how were these even harpoons anymore? Fired underwater at such speed and power, they might as well have been living submarines firing torpedoes.
But this level of assault was hardly troublesome for Zero's team. Angewomon opened with Holy Light, a massive binding attack—a golden glow forming a giant halo, instantly trapping the Divermon in place.
Immediately afterward, Hajime breathed out, vaporizing the incoming harpoons, and Zero plunged through the resulting explosions, unleashing a triple-shot Trident Revolver.
In mere moments, over half the Divermon unit was wiped out. Unable to run or fight, the remaining few were swiftly dispatched.
Whamon, who had watched the battle unfold, couldn't help but exclaim.
"Impressive as always! You defeated MetalSeadramon's subordinates so effortlessly."
In today's Ocean Domain, MetalSeadramon's forces ran rampant. No Digimon dared defy its rule.
Whamon, also an inhabitant of the Ocean Domain, had suffered under their dominance. Fortunately, Whamon's species were few, and the ocean vast enough for them to temporarily avoid detection by staying in distant waters.
But soon, even that wouldn't last. The Dark Masters' influence kept expanding, and MetalSeadramon's forces grew ever larger. It was only a matter of time before they took over the entire Ocean Domain.
However, the recent failed assault on cyberspace left the Ocean Legion with a heavy defeat, seriously injuring MetalSeadramon. Their advance had temporarily stalled.
"Hehe, is that right~?"
As the source of that defeat, Zero naturally felt a sense of satisfaction—it hadn't been a meaningless fight, after all.
"Afterward, MetalSeadramon went quiet for some time, apparently recuperating in the Undersea City. But I've heard some rumors that after being wounded, MetalSeadramon first went somewhere else to recover before returning home."
"?"
This was news they'd never heard before. Wizardmon immediately questioned further.
"Went somewhere else? Where exactly?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but it seems connected to one of the other three Dark Masters…"
"…"
Probably not Puppetmon—they weren't on good terms anyway. So between Piedmon and Machinedramon…
…Could it have visited the Metal Empire ruled by Machinedramon?
Right now, the Metal Empire's legacy was essentially split into several parts. The largest portion naturally belonged to Machinedramon, the former Empire's ultimate weapon.
Then there was Datamon, Andromon, and various scattered remnants elsewhere.
Who truly held the Empire's legitimate inheritance was unclear—post-collapse legitimacy disputes always got complicated. But publicly, Machinedramon had inherited the most, including an entire industrial system.
MetalSeadramon itself was a product of cooperation between the Metal Empire and the dragon tribes—just like MetalGreymon. Those were among the most pivotal alliances in Metal Empire history…
So, if MetalSeadramon and Machinedramon had joined forces again, granting MetalSeadramon new capabilities, it wasn't difficult to imagine.
"I see… Thanks for the valuable information."
Armed with this intel, their odds against MetalSeadramon improved greatly.
Anyway, no matter how much it was modified, MetalSeadramon still couldn't escape the Dramon Killers' anti-dragon specialty. With prior experience, Zero would chop it vertically this time…
…Let's see you regenerate after that!
As he thought this, Whamon's voice interrupted again.
"Everyone, we've arrived… Ahead of us is Gekomon's island."
Zero halted his thoughts and looked in the direction Whamon indicated. Before them, a long chain of islands slowly rose into view above the ocean's surface…
---
T/N: i gofgot to show the fat frog the shogungecko guysfisha
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