Agumon who wants to become Omegamon

This shouldn't be the case. Even if Unicornzebramon's stats are flawed, they should still be enough for Betamon to evolve to Champion. Is Betamon suppressing its evolution because it doesn't intend to, or is Unicornzebramon's stats truly that bad?

Looks good but is useless?

"If you don't know, ask away." Looking at the Betamon that was absorbing the awakened creature, Huangfu Weilai hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

"Betamon, you must have reached the peak of your Rookie stage long ago."

"Yes, why ask that?"

"Then why didn't you evolve?"

"..."

Betamon fell silent upon hearing Huangfu Future's question.

The simplest way to determine if a Digimon has reached its peak is to check if its Digicore capacity has reached its limit.

Once a digital core reaches its peak capacity, it can attempt to break through the limits, which is called evolution.

Evolution is the best way to increase the capacity of digital cores, but it is not the only way.

Take Agumon as an example. When its Digicore capacity reaches its limit, in addition to evolving into the Champion stage, it can also evolve into Agumon X.

Agumon X is also in the Rookie stage, but it can rival the Champion stage. This is due to the expansion of its Digicore capacity, which is comparable to the Champion stage, thus defining its potential.

Those with outstanding talent and large digital core capacity can overcome their enemies; conversely, those with ordinary talent are like those in a class system, where the growth stage can never defeat the mature stage.

In addition, once the digital core reaches its limit, it still needs to be refined and its state adjusted before it can complete the sublimation of life—evolution.

Those creatures that break their limits to evolve during battle usually fail, becoming something like a snot-nosed beast. Do you really think evolving while fighting is the norm? That's just the protagonist's plot armor kicking in.

Taking the original Chosen Children as an example, their evolution only requires replenishing the children's spiritual energy. This is because their evolutionary path has already been fixed, and their data shells are already prepared; all they need to do is replenish their energy.

This is why children's Digimon only degenerate when they suffer a fatal injury, instead of dying. Because only the data shell is broken.

This is also what Huangfu Future is wondering about. Even if the digital core needs to be refined, there should be enough capacity to complete the evolution.

He also plans to evolve Betamon to Champion level to go to the location of the treasure map, and then spend the time with little effort, or even just by doing nothing.

"Is the unicorn zebra really that bad?" Huangfu Weilai pressed.

"Hoo—" Betamon was silent for a while, moved its mouth, took a deep breath, and finally decided to speak.

"I...I used that part of the data to heal my wounds."

Quiet

The entire stronghold suddenly fell silent.

It was as if a flock of crows were flying by, mocking something.

In the end, it was Huangfu Weilai who broke the atmosphere.

"You're badly injured?"

Betamon's mouth moved as it was about to speak when it was interrupted.

Huangfu Weilai, stroking her chin, said, "That's right, Agumon and Agumon S weren't injured, and I was just exhausted; I recovered overnight. Only you were seriously injured..."

Huangfu Weilai glanced at Betamon. He knew exactly what Betamon had been thinking when it tried to speak, but whatever its intentions, he'd already prepared an excuse for it. Did it admit it or not?

Betamon moved its mouth and replied, "Indeed."

Hmm, it seems they've accepted it.

Looking at Betamon, whose head was lowered and whose expression was unreadable, Huangfu Weilai secretly guessed that it was probably after the treasure on the treasure map.

The fact that Hawkmon, whose evolution path is roughly Agumon, can evolve into Alidramon is obvious; it's a power that changes the evolution path, which is the Digi-Armor that Huangfu Mirai already knew about.

Only a power that alters the evolutionary path could cause Betamon to suppress its own evolution. So, is it dissatisfied with its own evolutionary path?

Just like Huangfu's future evolution path is usually Greymon or Giratium, Betamon's evolution path is usually Seadramon. He must have some objection to Seadramon.

Huangfu Weilai squinted, pondering to himself.

"What? Then let's go take down some more Digimon and give them to Betamon," Agumon S said, his eyes fixed intently on Betamon. "I'm really looking forward to seeing Betamon's Champion form."

"This one……"

"Forget it, let's just go find the treasure map directly. I'm sure there will be plenty of battles along the way."

Huangfu Future interrupted Betamon and forcefully changed the subject.

Chapter Twenty-One: The Initial Beginning

"Sigh, that makes sense."

Agumon S was a little unhappy, but what he said made sense.

Huangfu Future ignored the somewhat emotional Agumon S, believing that he wouldn't be so petty... right?

Looking around at my companions, I could tell from their spirits that they had recovered.

Agumon S and Agumon clearly knew what to do next, and their eyes were all on Huangfu Mirai, waiting for something. Even Betamon was no exception.

Huangfu Weilai closed his eyes slightly, then suddenly opened them, revealing a vibrant green color.

"Let's go!"

Then, the group stormed out of the newly established stronghold. Those who knew them would say they had guts, while those who didn't thought... "They're going to kill someone again."

"Ah...where is this treasure?" Agumon S almost collapsed, clutching its head in its hands.

"It should be soon," Huangfu Weilai said, his tone filled with uncertainty.

'Heh, I don't believe you for a second. You said the same thing a few hours ago.' Agumon S secretly scoffed.

This isn't the first time Agumon S has said this, nor is it the first time Huangfu Future has given this answer.

Everyone set off full of ambition, but now, let alone ambition, they might not even have the strength to lift a finger.

It's not that they, as Digimon, feel tired in this short period of time; it's mainly that they're mentally exhausted.

I kept circling around this forest, not only unable to find the entrance to the treasure map, but also getting myself lost.

The treasure map has been rotated among the guides, but unfortunately it hasn't been of much use, as everyone is still trapped here.

"Why don't we just burn this forest down?"

Agumon 'kindly' offered a suggestion.

Huangfu Weilai raised an eyebrow, somewhat tempted. But after glancing at the expressionless Betamon, she decided against it. An amphibious Betamon was fine on land, but if it were to withstand another wave of fire, it probably wouldn't be able to hold out.

Betamon is not as fire-resistant as Agumon, and even Agumon might not be able to survive an overwhelming amount of flammable material.

Huangfu Weilai politely declined Agumon's idea, stopped walking, and tried to think of a solution.

Seeing that Huangfu Weilai had stopped, everyone else stopped as well.

Even the usually noisy Agumon S shut up, after all, this place was a nightmare for him, and he really had no way to use his strength.

"Damn it, let's use the most primitive method and fight our way through."

Huangfu Weilai's expression hardened. Faced with this seemingly impossible situation, he was truly helpless. Now, all he wanted was to find the person who had set them up, and a beating would be the least of his worries.

Subsequently, Huangfu Weilai and his group transformed into a demolition team, cutting down every tree they encountered as they marched straight ahead.

Even in order to prevent the trees from being grafted back, and to force himself to do better, Huangfu Weilai still chose to burn down his escape route.

Perhaps the maze's owner had a change of heart, or perhaps he couldn't stand seeing Huangfu Weilai and the others continue burning it.

The group stumbled and struggled their way out of the maze-like forest and arrived at... a cliff.

Standing on the cliff and looking around, there is a lush green forest opposite, and a rushing torrent can be seen below. Most notably, there is a huge tree stump on the cliff.

This gives a glimpse into the sheer size of the tree stump. The roots alone resemble a coiled dragon.

"Hmm? This is..."

Betamon frowned; this place looked familiar.

"Do you think so too?" Huangfu Future asked Betamon.

The more Huangfu Weilai looked at this place, the more familiar it seemed, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

"Boss, look here! I know where this is now."

"oh?"

Huangfu Weilai expressed his surprise, and then walked to the place where Agumon was standing—the edge of the cliff.

Huangfu Weilai looked in the direction Agumon was pointing and immediately understood.

"So this is it."

"I never expected this!"

Betamon also realized where it was, and its tone was somewhat wistful.

"Hey, stop keeping me in suspense and tell me already."

"And Agumon? That's just a cliff face, what's so interesting about it?"

Agumon S shouted loudly.

"That's right, you were unconscious then." - Huangfu Weilai

"Drowning?" — Agumon

"It's drowning!" Betamon

"Hey, hey." Agumon S(▼皿▼#)~~

Seeing that things seemed to have changed, Huangfu Weilai quickly laughed it off and explained to Agumon S how he had come to this place. Of course, he also conveniently omitted the fact that he had used Agumon S as a stepping stone.

Agumon S calmed down and pointed to the burn marks on the steep cliff face.

"So, you did that?"

"To be precise, it was me and Betamon who did it."

Huangfu Weilai replied calmly.

"Looks like it's in this place... I never expected it!"

Betamon's voice was filled with exclamation and a hint of emotion that no one else could tell.

Huangfu Weilai smiled and took the lead, "Let's go!"

At the same time, looking at the shimmering treasure map in his hand, he secretly guessed that the treasure map was both a map and a key.

Guided by the treasure map, Huangfu Weilai and his group quickly arrived at a small path. Following it down, they found themselves at the foot of a cliff.

Even Huangfu Weilai fell silent as he gazed at the raging torrent so close at hand.

"Isn't it very close?!"

Agumon's eyes twitched as it opened its mouth.

This place is also very familiar; it's only a short distance away from where we first landed.

"Back to our very beginning...starting point?!"

Huangfu Weilai spoke somewhat indifferently, then a smile appeared on his lips.

"interesting!"

Da da~~

The Agumon and Betamon that were closest to Huangfu Future tacitly moved a step away, because Huangfu Future's current aura was somewhat strange.

"Phew..." Huangfu Weilai exhaled and looked at the two people far away from him. "I'm fine, just a little... emotionally unstable."

"Hehe, it's good that you're alright."

"I understand, I understand."

Agumon and Betamon quickly replied.

Then, ignoring them, Huangfu continued forward, and then... stopped.

Everyone looked at the massive stone wall blocking their way.

Huangfu Weilai suddenly held up the treasure map and placed it on the stone wall. The treasure map, in a very respectful manner, emitted a brilliant light.

Agumon and the others were unaware, but Huangfu Future, who was holding the treasure map, clearly felt the scorching heat emanating from it.