As someone who once served as a technical advisor under the Dark Masters, Nanomon naturally understood very well how human emotions influenced Digivolution.
And naturally, the single greatest research subject within the Digital World was Digivolution itself. As a technician, Nanomon's interest in this subject was, of course, immeasurable.
Yet humans themselves were exceedingly rare within the Digital World, making them extraordinarily precious research specimens—ones Nanomon desperately desired yet had never acquired.
Who would've thought that, this time, the heavens would truly grant what he sought? Not only did this battle yield a wealth of invaluable combat data, but two human test subjects had also willingly delivered themselves into his hands.
That undisguised gaze filled with a mad scientist's fervor was undoubtedly too much stimulation for two ordinary elementary school students with normal morals. Taichi instinctively moved to shield Hikari behind him.
"Don't even think about laying a finger on Hikari!"
Yet Nanomon paid Taichi no mind at all. Instead, he laughed softly.
"Hahaha, as weak as you are, just what do you think you can protect? Forget Etemon, Myostismon, or those other monsters—even I…"
Nanomon raised one hand, his mechanical fingers swiftly splitting apart, revealing tiny bullets shooting out from their tips—
"…Even I could kill you effortlessly!"
As he spoke, the projectiles whistled through the air. But just then, an elegant figure danced forward, swiftly intercepting every bullet without missing a single beat.
Gatomon gracefully moved, claws flashing, effortlessly blocking all incoming shots before landing lightly, protectively positioning herself in front of Taichi and Hikari.
"Gatomon!"
"Don't worry—I'm here."
Gatomon glanced back over her shoulder, offering Hikari a reassuring smile, before turning toward Nanomon again, her expression instantly hardening into icy seriousness.
"Oh?"
Nanomon raised his tone slightly, as if noticing something intriguing in Gatomon's eyes.
"That expression, that look in your eyes… You must have survived quite a terrifying hell yourself!"
"…"
As someone who'd worked with the Dark Masters, managing technical affairs and middle-level operations within the Dark Army, Nanomon had indeed seen quite a lot.
The look in Gatomon's eyes at this moment was all too familiar to him—it reminded him vividly of his days spent inside the Dark Army.
In that nightmarish place, everyone fought with backstabbing ruthlessness, killing without hesitation to claw their way upward.
Only those who crossed that hellish battlefield could emerge with combat prowess far beyond ordinary Digimon.
Gatomon didn't bother replying. She dashed forward swiftly, striking first.
Though Gatomon was merely Champion-level against Nanomon's Ultimate-level, Nanomon was currently injured, not built for combat to begin with, and utterly disadvantaged due to Gatomon's holy Vaccine attribute directly countering his Virus attribute. She was confident she could defeat him.
But if Gatomon knew this, Nanomon was naturally even clearer about it—
After all, this was a secret underground base he'd personally built, not a public restroom anyone could stroll into or out of as they pleased!
"Since you're here, you might as well stay!"
His mechanical arms quickly danced across the control panel. Instantly, floor panels flipped open on either side, revealing two rapidly rising Gatling turrets. Without even needing to aim, the barrels spun furiously, roaring to life—the two Gatlings instantly wove a practically airtight curtain of bullets!
Faced with this heavy artillery barrage, no matter how agile or graceful one's movements, anyone would be torn into a sieve by these guns.
As the Metal Empire's saying went:
Caliber is justice. Firepower is truth. Fairness and honor exist only within range.
"Tch!"
Gatomon leaped, running swiftly along the wall, bullets chasing her and leaving behind trails of flying sparks and pitted scars.
Though she narrowly evaded that wave, Nanomon calmly input another set of commands. Instantly, two more Gatling guns descended from the ceiling…
"…"
If it weren't for her carefully cultivated elegance, Gatomon would've cursed aloud.
Four Gatlings from above and below now formed an inescapable net of suppressive fire.
But in that instant of crisis, Gatomon saw a fleeting opening and decisively launched herself straight into the brief gap between the intersecting streams of fire—
—I've got you!
Having successfully slipped through the bullet-storm, Gatomon inwardly congratulated herself on her petite figure. Had she been as huge as Zero's evolved forms, she would've been reduced to a moving target.
Only because of her small hitbox could she pull off these daring maneuvers. Zero typically didn't even need dodging—he was usually the one bombing enemies into oblivion with nukes. Four Gatlings would be mere toys before him.
Yet, just as Gatomon broke through and prepared to deliver the fatal strike, Nanomon's cold voice echoed once more:
"Exactly as calculated."
"What—?!"
As his words fell, Gatomon's vision suddenly darkened. An invisible wall of bluish-white electricity instantly materialized, passing directly through her body.
"AAAAHHHHH!!!"
A scream tore from her throat as she realized the supposed gap she'd found had deliberately been left open by Nanomon.
She'd walked right into his trap.
Surrounding Nanomon was an invisible barrier—a tightly woven electric net, its principles far beyond Gatomon's comprehension.
As a high-voltage shock tore through her, Gatomon's small figure flew backward in an arc. Before she even hit the ground, the four Gatlings unleashed another barrage—
"GATOMON!"
Hikari cried out in panic as countless bullets pierced Gatomon's body, sending blood spraying into the air…
Fortunately, Gatomon was incredibly tough from her long brutal training, and though nearly reduced to a bloody sieve, she hadn't died on the spot. She collapsed limply to the floor like a ragdoll, barely breathing.
"Heh, how disappointing…"
Nanomon's voice betrayed no emotion. Everything had gone exactly as calculated, eliminating the intruder just as planned. And now, it was time to collect the two humans.
Just as Hikari cried out, crackling electric nets swiftly appeared around them, isolating and trapping both Hikari and Taichi separately.
"Hikari!"
Taichi's heart sank, knowing well the electric barrier's strength after what he'd just witnessed. But seeing Gatomon collapse under heavy fire made his legs suddenly refuse to move.
How could this happen?!
"No need to be afraid," Nanomon said emotionlessly. "You're precious test subjects, after all. I promise no harm as long as you don't struggle. Human bodies are terribly fragile—believe me, I'm quite aware."
"Damn you…"
Taichi gritted his teeth, clenching his fists so tightly his nails dug painfully into his palms.
Yet despite his fury, his legs wouldn't budge.
The fear of death—facing it directly—would freeze even adults in terror, let alone a mere elementary school student.
He'd always been well protected by Zero and Gatomon, with the only truly dangerous moment being that brief incident in the underwater cave—and even that had passed too quickly to fully grasp its horror.
Yes, death needed only a fleeting instant to occur. Life…was truly so fragile.
Looking at Gatomon collapsed, and the screen showing the desperate fight between Zero and Etemon...
What can I even do?!
The thought surged bitterly in his heart.
Yet at that very moment, Hikari—trapped within her own electric cage—stepped forward without hesitation.
"Gatomon!"
Bluish-white sparks crackled violently, yet a soft white glow emerged around Hikari, forming a barrier against the electrical storm as if trying to break free through sheer willpower.
"Oh?"
This sudden change immediately caught Nanomon's attention.
"Fascinating… Is this the power of humans? Perhaps not quite. But I can't have you causing trouble now—why don't you take a nap?"
As he spoke, Nanomon raised his hand toward Hikari, mechanical fingers splitting apart again…
"NO!"
This time, Taichi finally moved. Control returned to his body in a flash as he hurled himself straight into the electric barrier—
Pain exploded through him instantly, nearly robbing him of consciousness.
Nanomon had carefully calibrated the barrier—it hurt, but wouldn't kill. After all, he absolutely couldn't risk losing such precious research subjects.
Yet despite searing pain that nearly blinded him, Taichi refused to retreat.
Time slowed; Zero's voice echoed in his mind clearly:
Do you know the difference between recklessness and courage?
Recklessness comes from ignorance—charging blindly because you don't understand the consequences.
But courage is fully understanding the worst possible outcome, yet willingly accepting responsibility for it without regret.
That instant, one of the eight chip-like Crests sealed inside the reinforced glass display case began radiating a brilliant, fiery glow—
"—HIKARI!!!"
With Taichi's roar, the glowing Crest shattered its glass prison, flying straight toward him!
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T/N: NANOMON