As the sun sank, three moons of different colors took turns rising in the sky.
Night fell, and the dark clouds grew bolder, gradually creeping over the valley and weighing heavily on the hearts of every Digimon.
Aomori had nothing to do and intended to find his acquaintance, Tentomon, to catch up. To his surprise, his targets came to him.
"Tentomon, Garurumon, and Sphinxmon."
Garurumon, silver-white with a wolf's head, was the Warrior of Light.
Sphinxmon, dark-bodied with a human face, was the Warrior of Darkness.
The three Digimon stood at the entrance of Aomori's hut, making the cramped space feel even smaller.
"Aomori, AncientWisemon has prophesied that you will save the Digital World in the future. He has sent the three of us to lend you our strength."
AncientWisemon was the Warrior of Steel, the legendary first sage who knew all things past and present and could foresee the future.
Save the Digital World? That part isn't wrong.
Aomori nodded in understanding. He wondered why Sphinxmon was here since he didn't possess dark power, but before he could ask, Garurumon spoke: "No more talk. Feel our power directly."
Then, light appeared before Aomori's eyes.
Infinite, boundless light filled his vision, demonstrating the mysteries of the element.
Purity, purification, exclusion, healing, destruction, heat, cold...
All sorts of light with different attributes appeared. Aomori seized the chance, studying them desperately, becoming lost in the experience.
After an unknown amount of time, the light faded, replaced by thunder.
After the thunder came the darkness.
"Human, light and darkness are two sides of the same coin. Where there is light, darkness must exist. If you wish to perceive the light, you cannot bypass the dark. Feel the power of darkness; it will serve you well in the future."
The voice of AncientSphinxmon echoed through the void. Aomori nodded slowly.
One can never have too many skills. Regardless of the source, he would master it first.
Aomori closed his eyes and immersed himself once more.
...
Time passed. When the darkness finally receded, Aomori slowly opened his eyes. Streaks of white, purple, and black flashed across his pupils.
"Aomori?"
He looked up to see the Three Great Angels, Ophanimon and the others, staring at him in shock. "Why are you all here?"
"Lord Garurumon asked us to watch over you," Seraphimon explained.
"Aomori, I feel like you've changed," Cherubimon said, tilting its head. Ophanimon and Seraphimon nodded in agreement.
"I have."
Aomori checked the System. His Lightning Affinity and Light Affinity had both jumped two levels to LV6, and he had gained a new skill: Dark Affinity (LV3).
Furthermore, his Thunder-Light Duality Fist was now unlocked. He felt he could combine the two elements into a single, seamless strike where lightning and light complemented each other perfectly.
The harvest was far greater than he had imagined.
I owe them one.
Looking at Ophanimon, Aomori asked, "What time is it? Has the war started?"
"The ten Lords have already departed to duel Lucemon. We must leave immediately to deal with Lucemon's minions."
"I've delayed us. No time to lose. Let's prepare for battle."
"Right!"
Aomori and the Three Great Angels led the way, guiding a multitude of Digimon out of the valley toward the battlefield.
On the horizon, ten spheres of different colored light frequently collided with a black-and-white sun, creating energy storms capable of leveling continents.
Aomori saw at a glance that this was not a fight he could participate in yet; it was the highest-scale battle he had ever witnessed.
Lucemon in his Rookie form already had the power of a strong Mega. Now, he had likely transformed into Lucemon Chaos Mode. His strength was enough to one-shot a Machinedramon, and Aomori.
Only the Ten Legendary Warriors, embodiments of the Digital World's elemental sources, could rival him.
"What a pity."
Unable to change the fate of the Ten Legendary Warriors, Aomori turned his attention to Lucemon's minions gathered ahead.
Among them, he recognized IceDevimon and SkullMammothmon. There were no immediate threats that seemed insurmountable.
"By the way, I heard there are Royal Knights among Lucemon's subordinates?" Before starting the slaughter, Aomori asked Ophanimon just to be safe. He recalled that in later history, Dynasmon and Crusadermon appeared to help Lucemon.
"Originally, there were several Royal Knights under Lucemon, but they had an awakening during our battles. Realizing their ideals differed from Lucemon's, they have left one after another. Their current whereabouts are unknown."
"Got it."
Internal strife was a traditional pastime for the Royal Knights, after all.
Since Dynasmon and Crusadermon weren't here, Aomori decided to strike first. "I'll go first! You guys follow!"
Before the words had even faded, he shot out like a rocket trailing lightning.
"Aomori, don't be reckless!" Ophanimon followed, worried for his safety, along with her two companions.
"All forces, charge!" Seraphimon commanded.
In the enemy camp, the leading IceDevimon saw Aomori rushing in alone and sneered, "A human? You have a death wish!"
It lunged at Aomori with demonic claws wreathed in frost. "Turn into an ice sculpture under my Frozen Claw!"
Aomori nimbly dodged the massive claw, countered with a punch to its abdomen, and then zipped past it toward other Digimon.
"Weak attack, though you're fast. Don't think you're getting away!" IceDevimon turned to pursue but felt something wrong in its gut.
Looking down, it saw two foreign energies swirling together, constantly devouring its frost energy to grow stronger. In just moments, the energy spread to its entire body.
"What kind of attack is this?!" IceDevimon watched as its body was ground away inch by inch. It breathed its last breath in frustration, turning into a Digi-Egg and returning to the sky.
"Lightning destroys the foe, Holy Light purges evil; the Duality cycles, endless and eternal. This is the first form of the Thunder-Light Duality Fist. Heavenly Destruction: All Things Wither and Bloom!"
Relying on this newly realized first form, Aomori was like a tiger in a flock of sheep, devastating everything in his path.
Feeling the clearing speed was still too slow, he released Absol and the others.
They, too, were not what they once were.
Absol leaped nimbly, dodging attacks as if with foresight, unleashing air blades and thunder with ease.
Pidgeot used its speed and steel-like wings to carve through the battlefield, using violent winds to disrupt the enemy's rhythm.
Darkrai was even simpler; one Dark Void and everything fell before it.
Ditto slipped behind enemy lines, having the time of its life stabbing backs.
Everyone showed off their unique skills!
By the time Ophanimon and the others caught up, Aomori and his team had already cleared nearly eighty percent of the battlefield.
"Incredible... Is he really human?" Lucemon's minions were battle-hardened Digimon; even Seraphimon wasn't confident he could survive being mobbed by them.
"I'm just glad he's on our side." With the Ten Warriors' endorsement, they trusted Aomori completely.
"Now, only the battle on Lucemon's side remains." Seeing that Aomori was safe, Ophanimon felt relieved and turned her gaze to the divine struggle in the heavens.
Aomori also looked toward that battlefield. He could feel both sides were in a deadlock; the fight could last for a very, very long time.
Thus, it was time for him to leave.
"I'm leaving now," Aomori said, bidding the Three Great Angels farewell.
"Aomori, where are you going?" Ophanimon asked.
"I've found a way back to the human world. I've been away so long, it's time to go home."
"I see. That is for the best."
"One last thing, let's take a commemorative photo."
"Eh?"
Click.
On the Portable Camcorder, Aomori stood with Ophanimon, Seraphimon, and Cherubimon, all wearing bright smiles.
"Truly a miraculous human," Seraphimon remarked, watching Aomori's receding back.
"Yes." Ophanimon nodded. In her hand, she clutched a piece of paper folded into a small square.
Post-Dungeon Stat Panel:
[Player Name: Aomori (Omohara Aomori)]
[Main World: One-Punch Man]
[Level: LV20]
[Title: A Small-Time Novice (Equipped): All Stats +1; Ultimate Hottie: Charm +5; Demon Scourge: Damage to man-eating evil lifeforms increased by 5%; Hero Association Founder: Increases combat power of professional heroes on the field by 5%]
[Attributes: Physique 44, Energy 45, Spirit 44 (Remaining Free Attribute Points: 0)]
[Points: 37,389]
[Talents]:
[Primal Body] (Able to adapt to any energy system) [Energy Manipulation (LV5)] (Able to effectively control own energy and convert it into other variant energies) [Lightning Affinity (LV6)] (Greatly increases conversion efficiency with lightning energy) [Light Affinity (LV6)] (Greatly increases conversion efficiency with light energy) [Body Control (LV4)] (Able to effectively control own body, with a degree of regenerative ability) [Dark Affinity (LV6)] (Slightly increases conversion efficiency with dark energy)
[Life Skills]: [Singing (LV7)], [Dancing (LV7)], [Cooking (LV6)], [Mechanical Mastery (LV7)], [Acting (LV6)]
[Combat Skills]: [Healing Spell (LV5)], [Three-Stage Breathing Style (Lightning) (LV6)], [Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist (LV5)], [Knight of Owner (LV4)], [Meditation (LV4)], [Ah Wei's 18 Forms (LV4)], [Ittou Shura (LV4)], [Mind's Eye (LV6)], [Swordsmanship (LV5)], [Three-Stage Breathing Style (Light) (LV6)], [100% Princess Carry (LV3)], [Exploding Heart Release Fist (LV6)], [Psychokinesis (LV5)], [Reflect (LV3)], [Hypnosis (LV6)], [Thunder-Light Duality Fist (LV1)]
[System Inventory]: [Training Gi Set (Blue)], [Polymerization (Blue)], [13 Totem Pole (Blue)], [Zero Score Test Paper (White)], [Stun-Gun Watch (White)], [Sanae's Homemade Bread (White)], [Make-Out Paradise (White)], [Novel Recommendation Ticket (White)], [Poké Ball (White) *5], [Potion (White)], [PP Up (Single Item)], [Skateboard Shoes (White)], [Tattered Tracksuit (White)], [Laptop (Blue)], [Computer Parts (White)], [Ryuko (Blue)], [Violet-Gold Knight Set (Blue)], [Motorcycle (White)], [Explosive Tag (Blue)], [A Toothpick (White)], [Diary (White)], [Ballpoint Pen (White)], [Silverback Alpha (Blue)], [Portable Camcorder (White)].
[Pet Slot 1]:
Species: Absol Individual Name: Absol Level: Lv41 Type: Dark Stats: Physique 29, Energy 39, Spirit 42 Friendship: Lv9 (Friendship Skill: Telepathy) Ability: Justified Skills: Leer (LV3), Tackle (LV4), Quick Attack (LV6), Taunt (LV3), Razor Wind (LV6), Thunderbolt (LV4), Bite (LV2), Swords Dance (LV2), Reflect (LV4), Rain Dance (LV4), Sunny Day (LV3), Protect (LV3).
[Pet Slot 2]:
Species: Pidgeot Individual Name: Pidgeot Level: Lv43 Type: Normal, Flying Stats: Physique 48, Energy 39, Spirit 30 Friendship: Lv8 (Friendship Skill: Telepathy) Ability: Keen Eye Skills: Gust (LV6), Tackle (LV4), Sand Attack (LV3), Quick Attack (LV5), Whirlwind (LV5), Wing Attack (LV5), Feather Dance (LV2), Steel Wing (LV3), Sky Attack (LV3), Substitute (LV2), Agility (LV4).
[Pet Slot 3]:
Species: Darkrai Individual Name: Darkrai Level: Lv40 Type: Dark Stats: Physique 40, Energy 58, Spirit 61 Friendship: Lv10 (Friendship Skill: Telepathy, Bond Evolution) Ability: Bad Dreams Skills: Ominous Wind (LV2), Night Shade (LV3), Disable (LV6), Quick Attack (LV2), Hypnosis (LV6), Double Team (LV5), Shadow Ball (LV4), Shadow Claw (LV2), Reflect (LV3), Hyper Beam (LV2), Substitute (LV2), Psychic (LV4), Dream Eater (LV3), Teleport (LV5), Meditation (LV4), Rest (LV3), Dark Void (LV2).
[Pet Slot 4]:
Species: Ditto Individual Name: Ditto Level: Lv38 Type: Normal Stats: Physique 29, Energy 25, Spirit 30 Friendship: Lv7 Ability: Imposter Skills: Transform (LV9)
————
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]