Inside the underground base, alarm after alarm rang urgently. Taichi initially thought their infiltration had been discovered, but it quickly became clear that something unexpected had occurred outside instead.
The biggest event outside, naturally, was Zero's battle with Etemon. Earlier, Zero, in MetalGreymon form, had been clashing fiercely against Etemon and the pyramid fortress.
Feeling that fighting two-against-one was too much hassle, Zero decisively brought out his strongest form.
Evolving into RizeGreymon, Zero unleashed overwhelming firepower. Even with the fortress's support, Etemon was quickly suppressed and left nearly helpless.
Charging his Trident Revolver, Zero fired off three powerful shots simultaneously. A massive explosion erupted, unleashing a fierce shockwave directly at the pyramid fortress.
Etemon swiftly gathered a sphere of dark energy, but instead of targeting Zero, he hurled the Dark Spirits attack toward one of the pyramid's surrounding signal towers.
When the dark sphere touched the tower, it transformed into a pitch-black vortex, instantly twisting and swallowing the upper half of the structure into darkness.
Zero couldn't understand why Etemon would dismantle his own base—but as the metal outer layer peeled away, a pitch-black obelisk emerged from within the tower!
Zero was momentarily stunned—Damn, why does this thing look so familiar?!
At the same instant, accompanied by simultaneous explosions, the remaining three signal towers also shed their metallic exteriors, revealing identical black obelisks inside...
Four black obelisks now encircled the pyramid base, their tips simultaneously shooting forth streams of black energy, intertwining in midair above the pyramid.
A spiral beam descended from the sky, linking the obelisks to the pyramid base, as though forming an enormous, twisted tower structure.
In that moment, a critical name flashed vividly into Zero's mind—
—Spiral Mountain!
The infamous program created by the Dark Masters, designed to disrupt the functions of the Village of Beginnings and distort the Digital World's very data!
And this program was originally crafted by a black-tech genius, Nanomon, who'd been forced at gunpoint by the Dark Masters to design it.
Though Nanomon developed the Spiral Mountain system, his own abilities weren't sufficient to maintain such a massive program. Only beings at the Dark Masters' level could ever control Spiral Mountain.
Fearing execution after finishing the design, Nanomon had seized a chance and escaped…
Having obtained the program, the Dark Masters no longer cared about Nanomon's survival.
Now it seemed Nanomon had fled only to run straight into Etemon, who'd forcibly enlisted him to build this very stronghold. Naturally, Etemon had also insisted Nanomon incorporate the Spiral Mountain's design into this base…
However, a complete version of Spiral Mountain was something even the Dark Masters had to spend significant effort constructing. Etemon obviously lacked the resources and strength to replicate it.
He could only settle for a severely degraded imitation…
After extensive downgrades and repeated debugging, he finally produced this inferior counterfeit.
If the original was the true "Spiral Mountain," this pitifully degraded version was barely fit to be called a tower at best.
…A Dark Tower.
In Digimon Adventure 02, the "Digimon Emperor," Ken Ichijouji, constructed Dark Towers across the Digital World to prevent Digimon from Digivolving.
Due to these towers, the original Chosen Children lost their ability to Digivolve normally, forcing the new generation to rely on armor evolutions to fight.
Originally intended as a plot device to limit the original eight's overwhelming power, it left fans of the first series frustrated by the artificial weakening of their favorite heroes to push the new generation. This mishandling led directly to 02's controversial reception.
But setting aside that debate, the Dark Towers were specifically created to restrict Digivolutions—
Thus, as soon as these four Dark Towers formed this ultra-degraded Spiral Mountain, Zero immediately felt his internal power heavily suppressed, making it impossible to sustain his Ultimate form.
A bright light flashed as Zero forcibly devolved into GeoGreymon.
"Oh, seriously? It works like that too?"
Zero couldn't help exclaiming aloud. Etemon, meanwhile, gleefully flipped onto one hand, clapping triumphantly with his feet mid-air.
"HAHAHA! How's that?! Without your Ultimate power, what can you do against me now—UURGH?!"
Before Etemon could finish his gloating, Zero gracefully dodged the energy blasts fired by the pyramid, countering instantly with a Mega Shot, sending Etemon flying.
"Heh, fighting Ultimate-levels with a Champion? You think I haven't done that before? Don't think this gives you a win!"
Forget the battles back on File Island—Zero had repeatedly survived against stronger opponents even then. Now, he was unquestionably stronger than before.
Even stuck at Champion, Zero's combat experience and enhanced DigiCore processing had genuinely improved. Fighting at a disadvantage? So what? You think I'm afraid of you?
Etemon, thrown skyward by the horn attack, somersaulted and landed, pulling a grotesque face in annoyance.
"Tsk! Seems I underestimated you! Well then, let's see how long you can hold out—COME ON!"
Regardless, Zero had been pushed down a stage of evolution. Etemon refused to believe he'd still lose to him under these conditions; that'd be too humiliating!
Instantly, the two figures charged into battle again, against a background of countless energy shots fired from the fortress…
...
...Meanwhile, deep underground, in the control room beneath the pyramid base.
A circle of screens surrounded an extremely complex console. Just one glance at the dizzying array of controls would give anyone a headache.
Yet there was a diminutive figure here, busy manipulating multiple flexible mechanical arms, rapidly inputting streams of instructions.
This figure was precisely Nanomon—the tech genius imprisoned here and forced to work for Etemon.
Though technically coerced, Etemon had actually provided Nanomon significant assistance. And since Etemon himself was simple-minded and easy to manipulate, Nanomon effectively considered their relationship more of a half-willing cooperation.
At least working under Etemon was far freer and safer than serving the Dark Masters.
Thus, they maintained a delicate equilibrium, each taking what they needed…
So, when Etemon was attacked, Nanomon didn't take the opportunity to stab him in the back. Instead, he calmly controlled the base's defenses, fighting alongside Etemon.
After all, safely hidden in the control room, he didn't need to risk fighting directly, yet could still collect valuable combat data for future research. What was there not to like?
Watching the screens, Nanomon chuckled lightly.
"How remarkable. Even with the Dark Towers suppressing the Light of Evolution, you still maintain Champion-level power?"
Logically, the knockoff Spiral Mountain formed by four Dark Towers should've restricted Zero to merely Rookie form.
Yet Zero still maintained his Champion-level power. Though somewhat weakened, he could still match Etemon blow for blow.
Such prowess deeply fascinated Nanomon—or rather, as a researcher, Nanomon eagerly sought knowledge beyond his current understanding.
"This is truly a windfall! So much combat data… Those useless Digimon earlier, each beaten by Etemon in a single punch, were utterly worthless. But this…"
Nanomon's gaze shifted suddenly toward something else in the room…
…Under a reinforced glass dome stood a display platform, upon which rested eight neatly arranged Crest-shaped chips.
"Next…if I can just decode the encryption in these mysterious artifacts…my research can reach an entirely new level!"
His voice carried a feverish excitement—so intense that he failed to notice something critical:
The silent figure approaching from the shadows, suddenly lunging out for a sneak attack—
Just before the attacking claw touched Nanomon's body, a mesh of blue-white electric currents exploded from behind him. The attacker touched the electric web and was instantly repelled.
"Tch!"
The figure quickly retreated after the failed attack. Only then did Nanomon leisurely turn around.
"Did you really think I hadn't noticed your intrusion? Uninvited guests…"
The one who'd attempted the surprise attack, of course, was Gatomon—and similarly hidden nearby were Taichi and Hikari.
They'd finally found the base's control room and spotted Nanomon manipulating everything here.
Clearly, eliminating Nanomon would deprive Etemon of his strongest support. But just as Gatomon silently closed in for a surprise strike, she discovered Nanomon had long been aware of them.
"Ugh, I was careless…"
Gatomon appeared uninjured, yet failing at a sneak attack left her annoyed.
Ignoring Gatomon completely, Nanomon turned toward Taichi and Hikari instead.
"Ooh! Humans! Looks like today's my lucky day. I've wanted experimental subjects for so long—who'd have thought they'd deliver themselves right to my doorstep? Well then…I won't be polite!"