Chapter 161: Just Say Whether You're a Knight or Not
"The second Royal Knight..."
WarGreymon X landed heavily beside Belle, his massive claws scraping against the ruined earth. His draconic eyes darted over her form, rapidly assessing her condition. Only after confirming she was relatively unharmed did he shift his attention back to the tense standoff ahead.
Gallantmon stood firmly between them and Omnimon. Though WarGreymon X could only see the crimson knight's back, the sheer, unrestrained power radiating from that tattered white cape was suffocating.
A Royal Knight choosing to stand on their side?
WarGreymon X still harbored doubts about Gallantmon's true motives, but the fact remained: the knight was currently shielding them from execution. That realization alone lifted a mountain of pressure from his armored shoulders. In a desolate world where ninety-eight percent of all Digimon had already been erased, the only ally in WarGreymon X's memory possessing true Ultimate-level combat strength was the MetalGarurumon X resting below.
Across the blasted landscape, Omnimon finally broke the heavy silence.
"Gallantmon... I am deeply saddened."
The fusion warrior's voice was cold, echoing with an almost mechanical sorrow. "I can understand your reluctance to strike down your fellow Digimon. However, I cannot accept you straying from the absolute path."
As he spoke, Omnimon drifted slowly forward. The air warped around him, his aura rising in a terrifying, continuous surge of holy energy.
"Since you have resolved to protect these anomalies from another world, I have no choice but to enforce the will of Yggdrasil—"
'Not good!'
WarGreymon X's core flared. He and Belle instantly dropped into defensive stances, bracing for the inevitable clash.
But just as the tension reached its breaking point, a voice shattered the heavy atmosphere. It wasn't Belle. It wasn't WarGreymon X. Even Omnimon halted his advance, the glowing energy around his blades dimming slightly.
"Gallantmon, do you have any final words?" Omnimon asked, his tone flat.
"I have nothing to say! Make your move quickly—Pah!"
Gallantmon barked out the defiant words, only to suddenly choke on them with a violent cough. A flash of sheer panic and distress crossed the crimson knight's visor as he looked at Omnimon. Yet, in the blink of an eye, Gallantmon forced his posture straight, completely regaining his initial aura of unfathomable mystery.
"My dear friend," Gallantmon began, his voice smooth and entirely too casual for a battlefield. "Yggdrasil once traveled to the Human World with me. Our Digital World has not always been entirely severed from theirs."
Omnimon's stoic expression cracked, a flicker of genuine astonishment breaking through his cold demeanor. He quickly suppressed it, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Gallantmon, what exactly are you trying to say? What connection could possibly exist between the two?"
"Humans possess the unique potential to shatter the absolute predicament currently strangling our Digital World."
"What—!"
Under Omnimon's stunned gaze, Gallantmon continued at a leisurely, almost theatrical pace. "However, humans are inherently fragile creatures. Yggdrasil completely severed the connection between our two worlds for a singular purpose: to prevent them from being destroyed by our internal conflicts."
"...Are you deceiving me?" Omnimon's voice dropped an octave, heavy with suspicion.
"I swear on the name of a knight!" Gallantmon declared, striking his chest with a gauntlet. "If you do not believe me, you are free to return and ask Yggdrasil directly!"
Seeing Gallantmon's solemn, unyielding posture, Omnimon fell into a deep silence.
Memories of their past battles, of the centuries spent fighting side by side, surfaced in his mind. Omnimon knew Gallantmon's character intimately. The crimson knight was not the type of Digimon to spin malicious lies., he had just sworn on the sacred title of a Royal Knight.
Could it be true? Could these fragile humans truly hold the key to their world's salvation?
Omnimon shifted his gaze, his piercing eyes locking onto Mizuki in the distance. From the very moment this human had appeared, Omnimon had been quietly observing him. He had to admit a startling truth: the energy radiating from this boy felt remarkably similar to Yggdrasil's own divine presence, yet somehow... stronger. More expansive.
Was this the legendary Power of Miracles that supposedly birthed hope?
Making his decision, Omnimon looked back at his old comrade. Since this concerned the ultimate fate of their entire world, he would temporarily suspend Yggdrasil's execution order.
"I will return to Yggdrasil to verify your claims," Omnimon stated coldly. "In exchange, Gallantmon, you will remain exactly here and wait for my return."
"Understood. I swear on the name of a knight," Gallantmon repeated, his tone grave.
Omnimon gave a curt nod. Taking one final, lingering look at Mizuki's position, the white knight bent his knees and launched himself into the sky, transforming into a brilliant shooting star that vanished into the distant horizon.
Gallantmon stood perfectly still, watching the sky. Only after confirming that Omnimon's energy signature had completely faded did he finally turn around to face Belle and WarGreymon X.
"...Gallantmon."
While Belle remained silent, still trying to process the sheer absurdity of the situation, WarGreymon X stepped forward, his tone respectful. "Thank you for stepping in to help us."
"Save the trivial pleasantries for when we actually have our lives intact," Gallantmon interrupted, shaking his head briskly. "What we need to do right now is run."
WarGreymon X froze, his draconic eyes blinking in confusion. "R...un?"
"Precisely," Gallantmon said, his voice entirely devoid of its previous majestic weight. "After all, I have absolutely zero confidence in my ability to protect all of you if my dear friend decides to launch a full-scale assault., we must factor in the very high probability of other Royal Knights arriving as reinforcements."
Belle stared at the crimson knight, her jaw practically hitting the dirt. "Eh? Does that mean you just lied to his face?!"
"But didn't you just swear a sacred oath on your own name?" she demanded.
Gallantmon fell dead silent.
For a long, agonizing moment, only the wind howled across the wasteland. Then, the Royal Knight clicked his tongue in deep annoyance, casting a deeply gloomy glare in Belle's direction.
"You child, why must you be so incredibly tactless?" Gallantmon sighed, crossing his arms. "I did indeed say, 'I swear on the name of a knight.'But does the word'knight' strictly have to mean Gallantmon? Couldn't I have been swearing on Crusadermon's name?"
Belle was rendered entirely speechless. "Ah, well..."
"Enough, don't just stand there looking dazed," Gallantmon snapped, waving a hand dismissively. "Quickly grab your human companion and follow me out of here at once!"
Without waiting for a response, Gallantmon turned his back on the dumbfounded duo and flew directly toward Mizuki's position.
Belle and WarGreymon X stood frozen in place, watching the Royal Knight's retreating figure. The evening breeze caught that tattered red cape, making it flutter heroically in the fading light.
How should one describe it... Just minutes ago, the sight of Gallantmon's back had radiated an aura of absolute justice, coolness, and unwavering chivalry.
But now...
"..."
WarGreymon X cleared his throat awkwardly, the sound metallic and hollow. "BeelStarmon, let us go."
"Regardless of his... methods, at least his willingness to aid us is a positive development."
Belle let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Yes... I suppose that is true."
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