Chapter 85: The Light of Evolution

“Is this the place? The recently developed real estate project?” Ryuji dashed ahead into the thick fog, while Feng Xue, intrigued, glanced at the alternative-looking couple on the road, who hardly seemed respectable. But come to think of it, this scene felt oddly familiar, as if he’d stepped into a story’s plot.

Time, however, had long since blurred the details from memory. For side plots of little importance like this, the mere shadow of an impression lingering in Feng Xue’s mind was already a feat. To recall the precise events would be a tall order indeed.

When Feng Xue caught up with Ryuji in the mist, he found the girl already stamping her feet impatiently.

“You’re too slow!” she shot him a glare of irritation, then pulled up the information page on her Arc Light Device.

“Goblinmon,” she read. “(A quick aside about the Chinese translation: just because it looks like a wild man, they called it ‘Wildmanmon’—what a bizarre choice. The strangest part is that even Baidu Baike uses this translation. But Goblinmon, from its Japanese pronunciation, English name, even its skill names, has nothing to do with ‘wild men.’ It’s as absurd as translating Susanoomon as ‘King Kong Warrior Beast.’ At least Machinedramon being called ‘Mechanical Evil Dragon’ and Lucemon as ‘Six-winged Beast’ are a bit closer!) Anyway, Goblinmon—Rookie level, Oni-type, Virus attribute. Lacks courage but is cunning. Special attack: Goblin Strike.”

“None of that matters! Rookie level... I’ll just have it as dessert after dinner!” Feng Xue, quite unaware that he was echoing a famous flag from the original story—when Beelzemon, fighting a Cocoonmon, said, “A Champion-level, I’ll eat it as a snack,” only to nearly get killed by said Cocoonmon—cracked his knuckles and swung a punch.

But this Goblinmon was not normal— or perhaps, too normal. Unlike other Digimon who, after descending into the real world, behaved mindlessly, this one moved with unusual intelligence. Was this the advantage of being humanoid?

Feng Xue’s heavy blow was deftly dodged, and Goblinmon immediately countered with its spiked club. Its every movement belied its foolish looks, radiating shrewdness and guile.

“This talent... Could it be another Digimon that focuses on Factor?” Feng Xue dropped any trace of contempt, and the cape behind him began to dissolve into data, flowing into his veins. Until he had a better sense of his opponent, it was best to activate the Static Blood Gear for defense.

Yet, this time Feng Xue had miscalculated. This Wildmanmon seemed to possess significant combat experience, never once attempting any of its more cumbersome signature moves, instead persistently attacking with its spiked club. Although only a Rookie, its strength rivaled that of Beast-type Digimon.

“This thing isn’t weak!” A sudden anger rose in Feng Xue. To think a mere Rookie was pressing him!

Brilliant white Holy Factor drifted from his meridians, flooding into his arteries. At once, crimson lines like circuit traces appeared on his body beneath the white priestly garb: Dynamic Blood Gear, activated!

Dynamic Blood Gear granted Feng Xue tremendous strength and speed, and, paired with the ripple breathing technique to accelerate circulation, his speed tripled in an instant.

“Mastery Technique: Heaven-Piercing Cannon!” This was no ordinary punch—whether a move is considered a ‘killer technique’ in the Digital World depends not on its lethality, but on official recognition. If unacknowledged, even a fatal blow is just a regular attack; if acknowledged, even a headbutt might be named ‘Grand Horn’ and gain power. This move, however, was recognized by the Digital World as a true skill, the fruit of Feng Xue’s relentless Baji Quan training.

Guided by skill energy, Feng Xue moved with seamless flow: stamping, exhaling, twisting his waist, channeling force, and striking. Waist and horse in unison, his entire strength twisted into one. In that instant, white light flared on his right fist—a sign of true skill.

As his fist, laden with earth-shattering might, crashed forward, Goblinmon instinctively raised its spiked club in defense.

But it was futile. The club began to shatter the moment it met Feng Xue’s force. His fist tore through the splintered wood and struck Goblinmon squarely.

“Got him!” Feng Xue relished the solid impact. In the Digital World, such a punch might only gravely wound a Digimon, but here, where Digimon possessed real organs, the internal injuries alone would be fatal.

Yet an unexpected twist occurred.

As Goblinmon was sent flying, countless red sparks gathered toward it, and before Feng Xue could react, its body had doubled in size.

“Goblinmon, digivolve! Fugamon!” Though Feng Xue had no idea why Goblinmon, usually inarticulate, could shout this phrase, the fact was undeniable—it had evolved into one of Ogremon’s variants: Fugamon.

“Tsk tsk—if you’d evolved into Ogremon, I might have some reason to fear you. But Fugamon...” Feng Xue clicked his tongue, a look of disdain crossing his face.

Like Ogremon, Fugamon was a Virus-type Digimon infamous for its explosive temper, but unlike Ogremon, who embodied brute strength and the concept of the demon, Fugamon represented the calamity of winds, yet without any definition as wind god or wind demon, nor any status as a Digimon Hunter. In terms of battle power, it was far inferior to Ogremon. (In Digimon battles, conceptual strength matters a great deal. Trashmon might be rubbish, but its concept of ‘recycling’ could potentially take down even Ultimates. Leomon’s ‘hero of justice’ concept allows it to overcome even Perfect-level Orochimon, but as a hero, it is fated to die for justice—hence, Leomon’s tragic fate in every Digimon series.)

As a hot-tempered Oni-type, Fugamon could not bear such contempt. With a mighty swing, it brought down its club toward Feng Xue’s head.

Feeling the immense wind pressure generated by the attack, Feng Xue realized he was in trouble. Champion-level techniques truly could not be underestimated!

In a flash, his cape fully dissolved, merging with the data already circulating through his veins from activating the Blood Gear, and formed a seemingly fragile but indestructible barrier in front of him.

This was Feng Xue’s self-created third skill: by using the principle of an AT Field, he condensed data into a wall that blocked everything. After countless adjustments, this move was finally recognized by the Digital World, becoming a special technique akin to Cocoonmon’s “Connection Failed,” which could sever all data-based attacks—a trump card called “Connection Interrupted.”