The Server Continent, Iron City.
More than a year had passed since Aomori brought the entire Server Continent under his control. As his most vital strategic stronghold, Iron City had expanded to more than five times its original size.
Mechanical factories now spanned across the landscape, making the city a true metropolis of steel.
Beyond the original production lines for Mekanorimon, Aomori had engineered three new types of mechanical Digimon. He named them "Purdramon," "Golimon," and "Blaglemon," corresponding to the sea, land, and air forces respectively. [1]
Each possessed a frame roughly the size of a Greymon, with individual combat prowess sitting squarely between the Champion and Ultimate levels.
Due to their complex structural requirements, the annual output was limited to around 200 units. However, as more production lines were established, the yield was expected to gradually increase.
Additionally, Aomori had personally handcrafted three specialized units based on these designs, scaled to three times the size: "Great Purdramon," "Great Golimon," and "Great Blaglemon."
Not only did they possess the strength of Ultimate-level Digimon, but they could also transform and combine into the "Heavendramon." By sacrificing movement speed, this behemoth gained an absurd amount of firepower. Its destructive capacity was staggering, far surpassing the DeviEtemon Aomori had faced previously.
These were Aomori's gains in external military might. As for himself, while his strength hadn't made a sudden explosive leap, it had grown steadily and surely. At his current level, he believed he could defeat a DeviEtemon in a hard-fought battle without relying on any external assistance.
Furthermore, there was one crucial development: Aomori could finally fly!
During his previous battle with Myotismon, he had suffered due to a lack of aerial combat capability, nearly allowing the vampire to escape. This experience had sparked a fierce resolve. Through relentless daily practice, he could now soar freely through the air using psychokinesis, much like Tatsumaki.
Back in the Pokémon world, Aomori could now confidently stand before Groudon!
...
"I hope so."
Iron City, Control Center.
Aomori concluded his conversation with Devimon and closed the remote video feed to consider his next move.
The DigiDestined had arrived in the Digital World. He had already arranged for Devimon, Gatomon, and the BlueGreymon to manage affairs on that side, ensuring those children experienced the "warm hospitality" of the Digital World to help them grow as quickly as possible.
Intriguingly, the Digivice that originally belonged to Kari Kamiya had not flown to the human world to seek her out like the others.
Instead, it remained motionless in Aomori's hand, as if the device had acknowledged him as its rightful owner.
Pah! As if anyone would believe that.
Homeostasis, who acted like an old charlatan, was obsessed with "destiny." How could it possibly hand over something intended for Kari to an adult human who lacked "infinite possibilities"?
But to be fair, with his System, Aomori's potential was far more "infinite" than that of Tai and the others.
Unfortunately, Homeostasis could not perceive the System's existence. Otherwise, why bother dragging eight children from the human world when someone as ready-made as Aomori was right here?
In any case, Aomori remained wary of Homeostasis. He remained vigilant against the possibility of it "burning the bridge after crossing" or "discarding the tool once the job is done."
Likewise, he was exceptionally cautious regarding Apocalymon, the entity pulling strings behind the scenes.
As the final boss, Apocalymon was a collection of residual data and the grudges of Digimon who failed to evolve, essentially a cosmic recycle bin. It resided on the other side of the Firewall and shouldn't have been able to influence the Digital World.
However, as more Digimon died, Apocalymon's power grew, allowing it to seep through the Firewall and project its evil influence.
The sudden growth of Devimon and the miraculous fusion that created DeviEtemon were undoubtedly its handiwork.
Of course, its most famous "employees" were the Dark Masters: Piedmon, Machinedramon, MetalSeadramon, and Puppetmon.
Currently, they were busy sealing the Four Digimon Sovereigns. Once they finished, they would surely turn their attention to Aomori and the DigiDestined.
Though Aomori had been mass-producing troops, the probability of defeating four Mega-level Digimon was not high.
Wait for Tai and the others to grow? Aomori never placed the key to victory in the hands of others.
Sitting idly while the Dark Masters comfortably sealed the Four Digimon Sovereigns was not his style. He decided to leave the Server Continent to find their battlefield and act as the situation dictated.
In any case, he had already completed the main quest. As long as he remained out of combat for one minute, he could leave the dungeon. If the Dark Masters proved to be "buffed" beyond reason, he would simply exit, develop his strength further, and return for revenge later.
The Digital World would eventually be his Digital World!
Having made up his mind, Aomori summoned his companions. He handed the Digivice and the Crests to Akihiko Kayaba for safekeeping, instructing him to manage Iron City while conducting his research.
He wouldn't bring Gatomon or BlueGreymon as their strength wasn't sufficient yet. Aomori intended to go in light, making it easier to maneuver should a tactical retreat be necessary.
With everything arranged, Aomori bade farewell to Kayaba, mounted Pidgeot, and set off to find the battlefield of the Dark Masters and the Four Digimon Sovereigns.
He had no memory of the specific coordinates, but Pidgeot had previously scouted the Digital World and never encountered them.
This suggested the battlefield likely existed outside the conventional Digital World.
Since Homeostasis could only speak when possessing Kari, he would have to find that old geezer, Gennai.
Under the tireless search of the Hell Legion, Gennai's hiding spot had already been localized.
"Let's go, Pidgeot."
"Piijo!"
Pidgeot spread its wings and took flight, covering hundreds of miles in an instant.
...
Somewhere at the bottom of a lake on the Server Continent.
Gennai, the elderly operative for Homeostasis, was once a handsome young man until Piedmon ambushed him and planted a dark seed in his body, resulting in his current aged appearance.
During that battle, he had barely managed to escape with the Holy Devices and the Digi-Eggs of Agumon and the others. He had lost Gatomon's egg and Holy Device along the way.
Later, he arranged for Agumon and the others to be sent to File Island while he returned to the Server Continent. Using his resources, he transformed this location into an underwater palace, hiding away to wait for the DigiDestined to arrive.
Despite having eyes and ears everywhere, his "aging hardware" was susceptible to dark energy interference, making incoming information hazy.
Only after Aomori defeated Myotismon and Devimon did the situation improve. Still, unsure whether Aomori was good or evil, he remained holed up at home, observing.
On this day, as he was sipping tea and "peeping" on Tai and the others, a knock came at the door.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Hello? Is this the Gennai residence? This is the Hell Legion. We're here to check your water meter!"
"Pffft!"
Gennai spat out a mouthful of tea. He looked at the monitor at the entrance to see a face even more handsome than his own young self had been, and his confusion began to flow like a mountain spring.
————
[1] Purdramon, Golimon and Blaglemon are basically shortened forms of Purple Dragon, Golden Lion, and Black Eagle respectively. Heavendramon is also shortened form of Heavenly Dragon.
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to my p-atre-on: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]