Agumon who wants to become Omegamon

Meanwhile, Makino Ruki, who had been on high alert ahead, noticed the Candle Beasts' movements and immediately took out her card to read the data. The Rei-Fox Beast, who had an amazing tacit understanding with Makino Ruki, also used its acquired skill to counterattack. In an instant, it broke through the attacking "campfire" and, under the white jet of water, the Candle Beasts were directly turned into several seemingly solid ice sculptures. After losing their ability to float, they crashed to the ground and shattered completely.

However, the spilled data was not absorbed by the fox spirit, because she discovered that they were now surrounded by ghost beasts and monsters coming up from the first floor.

"It seems the residents of this town aren't very friendly!"

Leomon picked up the somewhat panicked Kato Juri with one hand. Looking at these ghosts who attacked them right away, clearly full of hostility and impossible to communicate with, the ferocity of the king of beasts was finally revealed in his eyes.

“But this number is too much.” Makino Ruki frowned.

"Not only that, their numbers may be more than you imagine..." Before anyone knew it, Witchmon had mounted her broom and was floating above the ceiling she had broken, her forehead beaded with cold sweat as she surveyed the surrounding panorama: "Digitals from other houses are coming over too."

The people below immediately understood. If there were enough ghosts surrounding them in just one house, how many more would join the encirclement if the entire town were filled with these ghost-type Digimon?

【Beast King Fist (Juu ou ken)】

Upon hearing this, Leomon abandoned all hope and unleashed his ultimate attack with a single punch at the group of monsters that were about to attack.

The surging flames transformed into a roaring lion's head, rushing straight at the surrounding monsters. Taking advantage of this opening, the Lion Beast forcefully tossed Kato Juri into the air and shouted the name of the Witch Beast.

His meaning was obvious.

Meanwhile, Renamon, who shared the same idea as Leomon, also took advantage of the opportunity created by Leomon to send Makino Ruki up as well.

The difference is that Kato Juri had no reaction and needed to be caught by the Witchmon, while Makino Ruki had a chance to react and exchange cards before being caught by the Witchmon, allowing Renamon to evolve into Nine-Tailed Foxmon.

It wasn't until she sat atop the witch beast's broom, viewing the entire town from above, that Makino Ruki realized just how many mature ghost beasts and monsters there were. This seemingly abandoned town was practically—

"...A paradise for ghost-type Digimon!"

Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Ruler of the Ghost Market

Why did you attack us!?

Seemingly clinging to a last shred of hope, and also wanting to avoid a violent conflict with this massive group of ghosts, Leomon roared a question.

"Jiejiejie~~~"

A dark and eerie laugh echoed wildly, as if mocking Leomon for asking such a foolish question.

However, one Digimon actually answered Leomon's question.

"We... need flesh and blood~~" A ghost beast grinned, seemingly extremely greedy for something.

"I've been waiting for so long, I haven't had any fresh, flesh and blood data."

"Outsiders are rarely seen; if you do see them, you eat them."

Amidst the fragmented conversation, Leomon and the others finally learned the origins of this abandoned town.

Long ago, before this town was dominated by Ghost Digimon, it was a market connecting the nearby Digimon tribes, where every Digimon could get what it wanted.

But one day, the market's manager failed to evolve and ended up as a Ghost Digimon. He didn't go berserk and kill the market he created, but he used some unknown method to turn all the Digimon in the market into Ghost Digimon.

Once a renowned market connecting various tribes, it eventually became a ghost market that struck fear into the hearts of many.

"We can help you." Seemingly out of sympathy for the plight of these former normal residents, Kato Juri said to the surrounding monsters.

However, she was met with a ferocious attack from a monster.

【Hell's Claw】

The transparent black claws reached straight for Kato Juri, but the Witchmon easily dodged the attack. Moreover, passively taking hits was not her style, so the Witchmon countered with a 'Gale' attack, sending the monster flying and scattering the monsters that surrounded her.

“Useless Juri, perhaps they were forced into becoming ghost-type Digimon by that administrator…” Makino Ruki comforted Kato Juri. Looking at the greedy eyes of the surrounding ghosts, she knew these ghosts were eyeing their flesh and blood. Although they weren't Digimon and couldn't have their data absorbed, who knew what these flesh-craving, crazed ghosts might do?

Makino Ruki casually pointed: "But these are all genuine Ghost-type digital beasts now, not to be underestimated!"

“I understand…” Kato Juri was a little downcast, after all, her good intentions had been betrayed.

Both sides knew there was no possibility of communication between them; one side needed data in flesh and blood, while the other naturally wouldn't give up their own life.

So the ghosts in the encirclement made their move first, because there were already enough Digimon attracted by the commotion, most of them Candlemon and Ghostmon, and a few Poncomon and Ghostmon.

The total number here is at least over a hundred. If there were more people, there wouldn't be enough data to go around.

The ghosts collectively used Death Charm, creating a loud noise that directly interfered with each other's movements. Then, the ghosts used Necro Magic to inflict debuffs on their opponents. The final attack was delivered by the candlemon's Bonfire, which assisted the raincoatmon's Blood Dance Maracas Version.

If an ordinary team were to be hit by the combined attack of these ghosts, they would probably lose their lives on the spot.

However, they encountered not ordinary people, but Digimon that had gained the ability to evolve alongside humans.

Faced with the group attack of the ghosts, Makino Ruki, the strongest member of the team, decided without hesitation to crush them by bombing the fish pond, and in a double version at that.

Nine-Tailed Foxmon - Evolve into Priestmon!

Witchmon evolves into LadyDevimon!

The two fully evolved forms instantly appeared within the encirclement, and the crisis they faced was instantly resolved.

The priest beast drew complex runes in front of him, then grabbed the talisman that appeared out of thin air with one hand.

—【Death Talisman】

Instantly, a Tai Chi diagram emerged from beneath the priest beast's feet, forming a semi-circular, semi-transparent barrier that protected the lion beast and the two girls who had been thrown down.

This is a move that Priestmon used in the original story to protect everyone from dying in the aftermath of the battle between Suzakumon and Seiryumon. Now, it is being used to defend against the combined attacks of the ghosts.

As it turns out, this move truly lives up to its reputation as a Perfect-level Priestmon's protective skill. Even when faced with the combined attacks of the ghosts, the transparent barrier didn't even falter.

After blocking this attack, it's LadyDevimon's turn to dominate, having abandoned the girls.

LadyDevimon revealed a sinister expression. As she was known as LadyDevimon, she was by no means a good person. The idea of ​​repaying evil with kindness was completely foreign to her. Although she was not injured when she was chased and beaten, it would not be in her nature not to fight back.

So

"【Darkness Wave】"

Countless dark flying creatures resembling bats were released. Like real bats, they scattered and precisely targeted the ghosts floating in the air, opening their bloody mouths and biting them directly.

Before the bitten Digimon can put up an effective resistance, it will be ignited by the blood-red flames and burn away along with the bat.

In a short time, the ghosts that had been surrounding each other were routed. The lucky ones managed to fly away, while the unlucky ones were reduced to ashes and scattered.

The number of entries exceeding one hundred disappeared almost instantly.

The monsters that were still rushing over from afar naturally saw this scene as well. So they wisely stopped flying. Although they did not immediately fly away in the opposite direction, they also did not intend to take another step forward.

"That was great." Only LadyDevimon was still chuckling, her gaze even fixed on the monsters in the distance, seemingly not yet satisfied, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, as if she still intended to continue the fight.

It was Makino Ruki who discovered LadyDevimon's intentions and stopped her in time: "Enough, LadyDevimon! Don't continue like this."

"Let's go, Priestmon. I have a bad feeling about staying any longer."

After saying that, Leomon nodded in agreement: "Continuing to fight against even more monsters, even if we win, will not be pleasant, and I suspect that there are even stronger Digimon behind these monsters."

"If these monsters are transformed from former residents, then the Digimon that once managed the market and turned it into a ghost market must have been even more powerful. It must have been at least an Ultimate level Digimon to command and suppress such a large number of Champion level Digimon."

"Okay, let's do it now..."

Before the priest beast could utter the word "go," it was interrupted by three powerful energy fluctuations.

In the center of the ghost market, a towering wooden European-style castle suddenly had its roof smashed open, and then three Digimon appeared silently in front of Priestmon like ghosts.

Without a doubt, these three Perfect-level Digimon were the former managers of the market and are now the rulers of the Ghost Market!

In an instant, Priestmon's gaze turned serious, and LadyDevimon also withdrew its playful expression, flying to Priestmon's side. The two of them faced off against the three Digimon at eye level.

The war is about to begin!

Chapter 58 Kato Juri Under Attack

"Oborogon, Ultimate level, Undead type, Virus species."

"The ultimate move is 'Thousands of Swords' and 'Rasenmon'."

"Phantom Beast, Ultimate Level, Ghost Type, Virus Species."

"The ultimate move is 'Soul Cutting'."

Makino Ruki looked at the data displayed on the arc light machine and spoke it out word by word.

"Metal Phantommon, Ultimate Level, Modified, Data Species."

"Their ultimate skills are 'Soul Hunt' and 'Tomb Lament'," Kato Juri said, looking at the Arc Light Machine in her hand.

"Three?" Makino Ruki frowned and silently took out a card. If it were just one, she was confident she could move freely, and if it were two, she could hold her own. But with three, she should consider how to escape.

Neither Priestmon nor LadyDevimon are the kind of powerful Digimon that can take on multiple opponents at once, so Makino Ruki is well aware of the difficulty of fighting two against three, and that one of them will definitely be surrounded and attacked.

So Makino Ruki decided to let herself and Priestmon take the place of the one being attacked. After all, she was still a Beast Tamer and had the card exchange to help Priestmon. As for LadyDevimon, no matter how good her relationship was, she ultimately couldn't help her with the card support. Dealing with one of them alone was the best option.

As for Leomon in its Champion stage, its ability to carry Juri away without holding her back is its greatest help to her. After all, both Priestmon and LadyDevimon can fly; if they can't beat her, surely they can outrun her?

Unless she's carrying a teammate who can't fly, Makino Ruki is confident she can escape.

However, things often don't go as planned.

Faced with the three Ultimate-level monsters about to attack, LadyDevimon launched the first attack, ignoring the MetalPhantommon in the middle who was wielding a scythe and exuding a terrifying aura.

LadyDevimon's Dark Wave formed two groups of dark bats, which directly targeted Miragemon and Oboromon, clearly indicating that she intended to take care of these two Digimon.

Makino Ryuki didn't have time to blame LadyDevimon; instead, Priestmon and LadyDevimon had a higher level of understanding at this moment.

Those two are for you, and the strongest one is for me...

Thinking this way did not affect Priestmon's attack on MetalPhantommon at all.

Extend both arms and swing them suddenly.

Suddenly, a continuous stream of talismans with strange symbols appeared from under his cuffs.

——[Fox seal letter (Kofu usa tsu)]

However, this surprise attack did not achieve the desired effect; instead, it highlighted the enemy's formidable nature.

Miragemon and Oboros, who were attacked by LadyDevimon, simultaneously drew their weapons.

The Phantom Beast held its chain scythe horizontally, then spun until only a crescent moon-like afterimage remained, shattering all the attacking bats.

Meanwhile, Oborogon made the same arm-swinging motion as Omegamon, and a tattered katana that looked like it would break at the slightest touch grew out of the beast skull on its left arm.

Then, the Oboroguruma used the seemingly broken katana to slice the bats in half with a speed invisible to the naked eye.

Of course, the most terrifying of the three is the Metal Phantom Beast, the strongest among them.

Facing the Priestmon's explosive spell attack, Metal Phantommon simply raised its energy-shaped scythe and made a light slash.

Instantly, all the energy of the talismans seemed to be plundered, turning them directly into ordinary talisman paper, which floated down due to gravity.

The three men used different methods of defense, but all of them appeared relaxed and at ease.

This scene caused Priestmon and LadyDevimon's pupils to shrink, and their fear deepened.

Suddenly, the Metal Phantom Beast let out a strange laugh, which seemed to have a special meaning, and then a hoarse voice came out: "It's our turn."

As soon as he finished speaking, his entire figure vanished.

Instantly, the priestess beast felt a chill that pierced her to the bone. Suddenly, she pulled out her giant pen from her sleeve, turned around, raised the pen, and made a blocking motion.

The priest beast's premonition proved correct.

The semi-circular, translucent barrier crumbled as easily as paper, and the enlarged energy-shaped scythe cleaved down in response.

With a clang, it was blocked by the priest beast's giant brush.

"Not bad, you actually managed to block my attack." At this moment, the Metal Phantom Beast spoke in a hoarse voice, with an undisguised admiration in its words, "I thought this attack would take your life, but unfortunately it didn't succeed... Your combat experience is quite good."

The priest beast's expression remained unchanged, but he was secretly anxious. Although he had blocked the attack, the barrier protecting the two women had been shattered.

If Leomon hadn't reacted quickly enough to catch the two women, they probably would have fallen straight to the ground and become part of this ghost market.

Although anxious, the priestess could only suppress her anxiety and trust her partner wholeheartedly, because the slightest mistake could mean death!

Metal Phantom Beast is too strong!

On the body of Priestmon, one can vaguely see the shadows of Mavismon, Orochimon, and GoldRaymon.

All three share a common characteristic: they exist between complete vertical and horizontal entities.

Even if it's just a resemblance, even if it's just a shadow, it's enough to illustrate how terrifying the Metal Phantom Beast is.