Takaishi Takeru. The chosen one among the Chosen Children, the boy seemingly blessed by fate itself.
When they first entered the Digital World, he was the youngest, timid and weak. He could do little more than cry and cling to Yamato's side.
Yet even so, during the adventures on File Island, he still stood out as the most remarkable.
That powerful, magnificent, holy and pure Angemon… why did it have to partner with Takeru, that seemingly useless Takeru!
Why?
"I don't envy Taichi, because I admit I lack his courage. Facing those powerful enemies, my legs would go weak, I'd be scared, I'd curl up in a corner."
"I don't envy Koshiro, because his intellect surpasses ordinary people. Without his help, we'd never have reached the final destination, and we'd have died halfway there."
"Sora, Mimi, Yamato... although they might not have extraordinary talents, they at least put in the effort to evolve their Digimon to their final forms."
But you...
Joe looked at the photo of Takeru on his phone, his expression twisting.
"You got the best Digimon without having to do anything. You experienced none of the pain, just watched us get beaten by evil Digimon, and then your partner evolved into the strongest Champion-level."
"I can't accept it. I will never accept it."
This was the truest thought hidden deep in Joe's heart.
'Kill him. Destroy him.'
'Then pluck the feathers, skin the holy and pure Angemon, grind it into dust.'
"This is my resolve. The bloody trial necessary on the path to becoming the Deep Sea Demon King!" Joe muttered to himself.
He had arrived.
The azure blue sea surface ahead gradually gave way to a gray, hazy horizon.
Thick fog, like volcanic ash spewed forth before Mount Fuji's eruption, hung heavy in the air.
It suited his purposes perfectly.
Dagomon's current strength wasn't yet great enough to ignore the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
Using the cover of the gray, murky fog, he would find Takeru's home.
And torture both him and Angemon to death.
'This way, the final step to evolve to the Mega level should be achievable, right?'
Joe chuckled darkly.
The dark aura swirling around him thickened yet again.
Ding-dong.
Yamato and Takeru's parents divorced early on, and the young Takeru lived with his mother.
This heavily secured, classically styled apartment building was their home.
"Who is it? The situation is special right now, we're not receiving outsiders." A boy's voice, cracking with puberty, came from behind the door.
"It's me, Joe." Outside the door, Joe forced an utterly innocent-looking smile onto his face, feigning kindness.
"Joe?" Takeru frowned slightly, only remembering who it was after glancing at the group photo of the Chosen Children on the table.
'That inconspicuous, glasses-wearing bookworm. What was he doing here at a time like this?'
"Oh, it's Joe. Come on in, have a seat." Although Takeru had little impression of this unremarkable guy with glasses, he still showed a smile and welcomed Joe inside.
After all, the situation was unusual. He couldn't be sure if the disasters happening outside were connected to the Digital World.
If they were, then they, the Chosen Children from back then, might have to save the world again.
After some small talk, the corner of Takeru's mouth unconsciously lifted slightly, his attitude becoming a tad more arrogant.
"I see, so the disasters outside are from the Digital World again. Well, I guess I have no choice but to step in then."
'Just as I thought.' A smug curve formed on Takeru's lips.
Whenever disasters from the Digital World occurred, he was the most indispensable among the Chosen Children.
Ten years ago, everyone went to such great lengths to find him, wasn't it precisely because he and Angemon were the key to saving the world?
Takeru's face was animated with excitement, his youthful features couldn't hide his thoughts.
Unlike his older brother Yamato, who understood the dangers of the world, Takeru was at an age steeped in the delusions of early adolescence… the 'Chuunibyo' phase. Saving the world, being worshipped as a hero, was the ultimate achievement craved by boys his age.
And now, this opportunity had come to him once more.
Why had Joe come to him first, and not the others? Wasn't it precisely because he, Takaishi Takeru, was the indispensable core figure?
What did Yagami Taichi matter? What did his brother Yamato matter? They were just slightly more prominent supporting actors in the early stages, there to set off the protagonist… him.
As long as he and Angemon took action...
"Don't worry, this time, we'll definitely save the world again." Takeru patted Joe's shoulder, speaking with the condescending air of a leader.
"Is that so?" At that moment, the dark aura behind Joe erupted violently.
It coalesced into a nearly solid giant hand, clutching Takeru's neck tightly.
"Guh... You... Joe!" Takeru's pupils contracted sharply, his face turning red from suffocation, an expression of utter disbelief on his features.
'How could this be?'
'That most honest, most unnoticeable, utterly insignificant Joe... dared to attack me? How dare he harm me?'
'What a joke! I am the protagonist!'
"Still with that attitude, that face like the whole world revolves around you," Joe licked his lips, a disgusted and sinister expression on his face.
"From the moment you let me in, that subtly emanating, superior aura of yours pissed me off."
"I originally wanted to chat a bit more, let you die more comfortably, consider it honoring our past adventure together."
"But your level of repulsiveness far exceeded my imagination."
Joe laughed coldly, a scornful curl to his lip.
"What 'the world will be saved by us'. What 'I guess I have no choice but to step in'."
'Who did he think he was?'
'Did he think the world couldn't be saved without him?'
"I'll make you see how fragile your so-called abilities, your Digimon, your high-and-mighty status and identity truly are."
"Dagomon, show yourself!"
With Joe's loud shout, a menacing Dagomon slowly materialized within the dense fog.
Joe's D-Terminal mark could temporarily store a Digimon inside for no more than fifteen minutes.
Perfect timing… just as the storage time was about to expire, Dagomon appeared, ready to utterly eliminate Takeru.
"I'll break your limbs, drag you before that big moth, pluck its feathers, skin it alive, and make you watch with your own eyes just how weak the Digimon you rely on really is!" Joe laughed maniacally, venting all the resentment and frustration he had buried in his heart for so many years.
However, he had forgotten one thing.
How many villains had fallen because they talked too much?
Whoosh!
A dazzling light suddenly burst forth from the boundless dark aura.
Countless data streams sketched a mysterious Digital Gate in the void.
Golden light surged, and a powerful holy energy erupted, pressing down so hard that both Dagomon and Joe could barely lift their heads.
'The so-called Chosen One...'
'Was he about to stage a last-minute reversal at the final moment?'