Digimon: I really didn't want to be the Digimon Emperor!

Finally, before they were completely exhausted, they climbed to the edge of the crater of the dead volcano.

This is the pinnacle of the world of death.

Beneath their feet lay a bottomless, enormous volcanic crater, churning with a thick, deathly black mist like lava, resembling the gaping maw of hell.

Endless black mist surged forth from it, shooting straight upwards towards the other black clouds, which were also obscured by the dark clouds.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of sulfur mixed with decaying data, making it hard to breathe.

The blue arcs of electricity, like dancing venomous snakes, flickered and leaped silently in the thick fog, each flash reflecting a bizarre outline rolling in the black mist.

Guan Yan's condition worsened; her arm showed signs of slight fragmentation, and she was somewhat delirious, leaning weakly against Cheng Yuan. The little dog was in a semi-conscious state on his shoulder.

Conversely, Cheng Yuan, in his Dark Beast form, was unaffected by the Dark Data, as if he were even darker and more chaotic than the data itself.

Just then—

Boom!

An unusually thick, twisted blue lightning bolt, like a giant sword tearing through the sky, suddenly exploded in the thick fog at the center of the crater!

A blinding blue light instantly illuminated the churning black fog! In that fleeting moment of light, an enormous white shadow vanished into the depths of the fog!

The colossal shadow, as bloated as a mountain, exuded a terrifying pressure that chilled the soul even from a fleeting glimpse of its outline! Behind it, it seemed as if a pair of enormous bat wings, capable of blotting out the sky, stretched out! An aura originating from the primordial era, far surpassing the four fully-formed creatures at the foot of the mountain, swept across the edge of the crater in an instant like an invisible tsunami!

"Hiss..." Cheng Yuan gasped, his heart almost stopping! Just a fleeting glimpse of the oppressive aura made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave!

This being, dwelling at the very core of the dead volcano... could it be a monster comparable to an ancient mythical creature like ElderGreymon?! Why isn't it attacking?

Especially the enormous eye in the white figure reminded him of a legendary Digimon: Deathmon!

【Death Beast】

[Data Type? Demon King Type]

Ultimate Form

[Skills: Death Arrow (fired from the evil eyes in both hands), Explosive Eye (fires a deep red destructive beam from the single eye on the head)]

[Introduction: Formerly a High Angel type Digimon, sharing the High Angel type with Demonmon, it later fell to the Dark Sector and became a Demon Lord type. Although a Demon Lord type, unlike other Fallen Angel and Demon types, it does not intentionally commit evil, but rather guards the world in a neutral stance. Legend has it that when the final battle arrives, its white form will turn pitch black, transforming into a Destroyer, a fearsome being in the Digimon world.]

Before Cheng Yuan could think further, the thick blue arc of electricity flashed wildly a few times and then suddenly went out! Thick fog billowed up, and the suffocatingly large white shadow vanished without a trace, as if it had never appeared at all.

All that remained was the churning fog and the flickering, darker, more ominous black arcs of electricity within it.

"Let's go!" Cheng Yuan carried Guan Yan, with the little dog beast on his shoulder and the silent Baron beast in tow, and stepped into the churning, thick black fog of the volcano's crater, which seemed capable of swallowing everything.

Thick fog instantly enveloped them, stripping them of their vision, leaving only pure darkness and a suffocating sense of oppression.

The light of the sacred realm struggled to stay afloat in the thick fog, like a candle flickering in the wind.

I don't know how long I walked in the darkness; perhaps it was just a moment, or perhaps several centuries had passed.

The thick fog ahead seemed to be... thinning out? A different kind of stench, unlike the decaying air of a dead volcano, filled my nostrils; this air felt more ancient and desolate.

The sensation underfoot was no longer hard volcanic rock, but... stone slabs?

The Huizhou species disappeared as quickly as the tide receded.

Cheng Yuan suddenly stopped and looked around in surprise and uncertainty.

Where are the rolling black fog and dead volcanoes now?

This is a vast, empty, and desolate ruin!

The towering stone pillars, covered in cracks and vines, resemble the ribs of a giant, supporting the already collapsed dome above, revealing the gray sky.

The massive, broken stone statue remains are half-buried in the yellow sand, and its strange, neither-human-nor-beast face can still be vaguely discerned.

The ground was paved with huge stone slabs engraved with undecipherable runes. Many slabs were broken and shifted, and strange, faintly glowing moss stubbornly burrowed out from the cracks.

In the distance, the outline of the collapsed palace was submerged in deeper shadows.

“This is…” Cheng Yuan was stunned and subconsciously let go of Guan Yan’s arms.

Guan Yan's legs gave way and she almost fell, but Baron Beast caught her in time.

She breathed weakly, looking around blankly. When she saw the familiar patterns on the huge stone pillars and slabs, patterns belonging to the ancient civilization of the digital world, her eyes suddenly burst with disbelief!

“Sacred Ruins…this is…Sacred Ruins Digital Space!” Her voice trembled with excitement and weakness. “We…we escaped! We left the Underworld! Qilin! It was you! It’s all thanks to you! Without you, I couldn’t have survived, let alone brought back the research results that my mentor risked his life for!” She looked at Cheng Yuan, her eyes filled with gratitude for surviving the ordeal.

"The Sacred Ruins Digital Space?" Cheng Yuan frowned, bent down to pick up the still weak little dog beast from his shoulder, and scanned the huge and mysterious ruins.

“Yes,” Guan Yan said, her voice tinged with seriousness as Baronmon helped her stand up straight. “This place is located deep within the Central Plains region of the real world, and it is one of the most complex and uniquely governed digital spaces. Moreover, it is a large digital space… It is home to many powerful Digimon clans, and even… there are Perfect Digimon.”

"The Central Plains region?!" Cheng Yuan and the little dog beast looked at each other. They had traveled from the Penguin Stadium in Pengcheng to the digital space of the Central Plains region...

How long will it take to get back to Pengcheng?

There are 6 hours left until the college entrance examination.

Chapter 150 The Soundbird Beast

Within the Sacred Ruins digital space, a massive shadow is cast upon the shattered dome of the ruins.

Guan Yan leaned against Baron's strong arm, her voice weak but clear, "This ruin... before we strayed into the Underworld, my mentor and I conducted a preliminary survey. Deep within it, there may very well be the secret to the disappearance and shattering of the Digital World!"

She paused, took a deep breath, as if absorbing her mentor's unfinished will, "Although my mentor is gone, I must continue. His research cannot be interrupted."

“That’s right.” Baron responded in a deep voice, “My knowledge tells me that this place is of extraordinary value. Lost technology, forgotten rules… perhaps they are buried beneath these ruins. Now, I am capable of protecting Guan Yan as she completes her exploration.”

Its lion dance mask turned slightly, its gaze fixed on the deeper darkness within the ruins.

Cheng Yuan said solemnly, "Moreover, there might be a passage connecting to the Underworld here. Those scavengers... still have hope. But..." Its voice became grave as it recalled the giant white shadow on the Death Volcano, "A terrifying being lurks at the entrance of the Death Volcano... We must warn the Beast Tamer Association not to act rashly!"

Guan Yan nodded, and the little dog lay weakly on Cheng Yuan's shoulder armor, its ears twitching slightly.

suddenly!

"Woof! Watch out!" the little dog beast cried out in a sharp, urgent warning!

Almost at the same moment, Cheng Yuan suddenly turned around!

In his evolved weapon state, he had already sensed a group of energy fluctuations belonging to the growth stage, rapidly approaching from the shadow of a huge broken stone pillar on the side!

Whoosh—!

A piercing noise, like metal scraping against glass, rang out!

More than twenty bird-shaped Digimon, resembling a hybrid of giant bats and mechanical birds, suddenly leaped out of the shadows!

【Soundbird Beast】

[Virus species? Bird type]

[Growth Period]

[Skills: Giga Howl (a powerful roar that delivers a shockwave attack), Final Sound (emits ultrasonic waves that immobilize enemies), Sonic Hypnosis]

[Description: Covered in feathers with sound wave patterns, its enormous single eye, set in the center of its forehead, is quite striking—this eye is not an ordinary visual organ; it can detect subtle sound waves in its surroundings, "seeing" the trajectory of sound transmission. It dwells high in the Cyber ​​Forest, communicating with its companions by emitting various sounds, and can also control other Digimon through sound waves.]

At this moment, the vocal dinosaurs were unleashing a gigantic roar, attempting to attack the strange "person" who had suddenly appeared in their new nest.

"Shut up!" A fierce glint flashed in Cheng Yuan's eyes, and the blood-red light of the demonic sword "Blood Evolution" appeared on his gauntlet. Now, these gregarious, growing Digimon were like small fish in his eyes, and a single AoE skill, "Conquer the Storm," would be enough to crush them.

However, in the instant his murderous intent surged—

A muffled, hoarse voice came from its mind; the noisy voice from the Dark Flower reappeared, but this time it didn't chuckle evilly; instead, it actually spoke:

"Dark Beast...Soundbird Beast...Absorb Soundbird Beast."

Cheng Yuan instantly understood the "suggestion" whispered from the Dark Flower.

"Mo, I know it's your voice. Stop playing tricks and just say what you want to say!"

Dark Flower: "..."

There was no response.

But Cheng Yuan changed his mind and used the Conquer the Storm to sweep over the flock of birds and beasts, knocking them unconscious.

It approached the group of one-eyed birds and beasts that were emitting mosquito coil-like patterns, and the seven blood-red eyes on its armor glowed with a crimson light.

Cheng Yuan could sense the armor's devouring intent towards these soundbird beasts. It seemed that these soundbird beasts had a certain origin relationship with the dark beasts and greatly benefited the power of the dark beasts.

With Cheng Yuan's consent, seven viscous, deep, dark red beams of light, seemingly capable of devouring all light, shot out from the seven blood-red eyes, precisely targeting the birds and beasts!

In just a few seconds, the seven soundbirds and beasts completely disappeared, absorbed into the blood-red eyes.

Cheng Yuan originally intended to destroy it directly, but at this moment, the Dark Flower suddenly trembled. A mysterious voice told him that the seven blood-red eyes of the Dark Beast Armor could absorb and devour seven Singing Bird Beasts, which would greatly help the Dark Beast's strength.

Cheng Yuan stood still, sensing the changes in the armor.

The seven blood-red eyes, having devoured the data of the same origin, seemed to have a more restrained and profound light. A new dark power flowed through their limbs and bones before entering the seven blood-red eyes.

It could sense that the hypnotic control effect of "Dark Twilight" activated through the Blood Eye was even stronger, and it seemed that each eye had gained a new ability, capable of being separated and becoming a new Soundbird Beast that could be commanded by the Dark Beast.

Darkmon, Deathmon, and Soundbirdmon—these Digimon with their large eyes, could they possibly have some connection that wasn't mentioned in the anime?

Countless questions flooded my mind instantly. But now is not the time to explore them!

“We must return to reality immediately!” Cheng Yuan looked at Guan Yan with a solemn expression. “Your physical condition requires treatment, your mentor’s funeral arrangements need to be handled, and… the things Dr. Zhao instructed us to hand over as soon as possible.”

The main reason is that the college entrance examination will start in a few hours. Although it is daytime in the Holy Ruins digital space, it should be around midnight in the real world.

Guan Yan immediately understood Cheng Yuan's urgency. She mustered her strength, quickly pulled out her Dracula phone, and brought up the explored map of this digital space.

“Found it! About twenty kilometers southeast of the ruins is the outpost of the Holy Ruins Digital World. That was our official base when we entered the Holy Ruins Digital Space, and it has a stable passage to the real world!” Guan Yan pointed to an inconspicuous triangle symbol on the map.

"Twenty kilometers... Let's go... Full speed ahead, we must make it!" Cheng Yuan's eyes flashed as he suddenly picked up Guan Yan and carried her on his back, startling her into a scream. At the same time, he put the little dog on his shoulder.

"Baron Beast, keep up!"

“Alright!” Baron Beast replied in a deep voice.

Three figures, like arrows released from a bow, instantly rushed out of the desolate ruins and disappeared into the denser, yet more sinister, ancient forest outside the Sacred Ruins.

Perhaps it was the lingering aura of the dead volcano on their bodies that prevented them from encountering any powerful Digimon along the way. Only some weak, baby Digimon that sensed the danger fled in panic into the depths of the bushes.

At full speed, in less than two hours, a magnificent outpost surrounded by tall barbed wire and alloy fortifications appeared on the edge of the forest.

In the center of the wall stands a fortress-like building constructed of metal modules, with a familiar flag fluttering atop it.

We've arrived at the Sacred Ruins Outpost!

In the bushes hundreds of meters from the outpost, Cheng Yuan disarmed himself.

He and Guan Yan tidied their disheveled clothes and hair, trying to make themselves look less like refugees who had crawled back from hell, before leading Baron and Little Dog Beast toward the camp gate with composure.

After presenting their tamer identification and undergoing a simple identity verification and energy scan, they successfully entered the fortress.

Tamers, Digimon, businesses, and all sorts of advanced tamer and Digimon service facilities—the Sacred Ruins outpost is several times more prosperous than the Savage Valley outpost. Cheng Yuan, who has just emerged from the Dead Ruins and the Dead Volcano, feels as if he has been transported to another world.

Cheng Yuan rushed to the public charging area inside the fortress immediately. He took out his phone, which had been worn out in the Underworld and whose casing was somewhat deformed, and replaced the battery with a spare one with trembling hands.

The screen lit up! The signal bars flickered a few times with difficulty, but finally stabilized!

Without hesitation, he immediately dialed his home phone.

After a brief pause, my mother's familiar voice came through.

Cheng Yuan felt a pang of sadness, but he forced back his surging emotions and reported in the calmest voice that he was safe: "Mom, it's me! I'm alright! The signal was bad, I just came out of a special area..."

"Huh? You're back from special training? What kind of special training? Is it until the college entrance exam? You need to be careful during your special training, okay? Don't exhaust Dalemon!" Cheng's mother's words were filled with longing for her son, but even more so with doubt.

Cheng Yuan: "..."

It's clear that the Beast Tamer Association has already worked with Cheng Yuan's parents. Professional beast tamers have a special profession, often carrying out mysterious missions, and they have obviously accepted their son's background, so they are not too worried.

Although he had worried for nothing, fearing that his parents would be overly concerned about his sudden disappearance, Cheng Yuan felt that things were going quite well for now.

After hanging up the phone, he immediately checked the time—there were only three hours left until the start of the college entrance examination! Even taking the fastest maglev train, it would be absolutely too late to get from the Sacred Ruins outpost to Pengcheng where he was!

You have to buy tickets and wait in advance for the plane! Even then, you'll be too late!

How to do?

Cheng Yuan's gaze swept across the contact list, finally settling on a name—Xu Xin!

Chapter 151 I'm Back

Meanwhile, in Pengcheng, a thousand miles away.

The Penguin Sports Arena, which once hosted grand Digimon battles, has had its once bustling stadium stands demolished and replaced by towering alloy observation towers and rapidly expanding heavy alloy walls.