Chapter 133: Stay Behind

"It won't work... Don't forget what we just saw; the D-Reaper has anti-air capabilities! If we get shot down halfway through, we'll truly have no chance of survival!" Feng Xue stared solemnly at the red foam before them. Although the D-Reaper had not yet evolved into combat avatars like Digimon, the mere threat of its foam splatter was lethal to anyone in the Digital World.

"Forget it. Ruki, take Impmon and get on the Ark. I will escort you all back from the outside!" Feng Xue suddenly turned, leaving his back to the others.

"But what about you?"

"It doesn't matter; I'm a Demon Lord! A Demon Lord has his own path to walk!" With his back to Ruki, Feng Xue gave a thumbs-up while beginning to draw data from the world to forge arrows. He even doubted if he would have enough time to condense them later.

"In that case, I'm staying too!" Ruki suddenly stepped down from the Ark and spoke to her companions inside. "When you get back, please tell my mother and grandmother that I'm just covering the rear and will be back soon!"

"But..."

"No 'buts.' Feng Xue is my partner!" Ruki stared at the group inside the Ark with a stern expression, her resolve burning like fire in her eyes.

"Alright, I understand." Ryo Akiyama, the oldest among them, sighed and then offered a smile. "You must come back, okay? There are people waiting for you in the Real World, right?"

"That goes without saying!"

Although Ryo's words were pleasant, Feng Xue couldn't shake an uneasy feeling. Besides, Ryo wasn't even a stereotypical rival character, was he?

"Have you made up your mind?" Feng Xue looked down into Ruki's eyes. "It's very likely we won't be able to return..."

"..." Ruki fell silent. Her trembling hands betrayed her inner turmoil, though it was impossible to know what thoughts drove her to make such a suicidal decision.

"If you can't commit, there's still time," Feng Xue pointed toward the not-yet-closed Ark, but Ruki slapped his hand away.

"I've already decided! You are my partner! As a Tamer, how could I leave my partner behind and run away?"

"Is that so? Then I'll be counting on you from now on!" Feng Xue extended his right hand with a grin.

"Obviously!" Ruki smiled back and slapped her hand against his. In that instant, their Digivices erupted with light...

***

"What the hell is this? I'm already in Gale Mode, right? There's no room for further evolution!" This was the only thought in Feng Xue's mind. Yet, the light of evolution ignored all logic. Amidst a strange sensation, Feng Xue and Ruki merged into one...

"Beelzemon... Evolve... Beelstarmon!"

"Are you kidding me? These mounds? What is this!" When Feng Xue regained his senses, he felt a pair of things on his chest. Well... how to put it? They were quite heavy!

"I should be the one asking! What exactly is going on!" Ruki’s voice echoed