The terrifying mushroom cloud bloomed over the New York's suburbs.
The superheated wave covering hundreds of kilometers even raised the temperature in downtown New York, making it the most powerful explosion in peacetime history.
AM Television reporters were on the scene immediately.
[According to the latest intelligence, the thirty-seven unidentified monsters surrounding the suburbs have been destroyed by high-yield nuclear weapons. Currently, life detection equipment shows no signs of life. Please rest assured, citizens, the United States will ensure the safety of every individual.]
The blonde, blue-eyed reporter spoke earnestly into the camera.
However, at that moment...
"You..." The cameraman, a sturdy man, stared in terror at something behind the reporter.
"What is it? Did I miss a line?" The reporter looked confused, checking her script but finding no errors.
'Then what was...'
"Behind you!"
The cameraman screamed in fear, dropping his expensive equipment with a crash as he scrambled away.
Seeing his panicked reaction, the reporter's eyes widened. Her body began to tremble uncontrollably. A massive, advancing shadow fell over her, engulfing her completely.
She turned her stiff neck slowly. Reflected in her green eyes was a monstrous beast so vast it blotted out the sky.
"...Is this the end of the world?" The reporter collapsed weakly to the ground, looking up at the sky in despair.
Tens of meters? Hundreds of meters?
No!
A crimson terror of unimaginable size, so tall the clouds seemed to kneel at its feet, slowly rose. Its powerful limbs were like mountain ranges, complex and intertwined. With a single step, it crushed the ground into a crater dozens of meters deep, the shockwave felt for five hundred miles.
Most terrifying was the massive jaw extending from its neck, blotting out the sun, spanning over a thousand meters. The reporter had no doubt that a single bite from those jaws could swallow an entire city.
This monster was not on the same level as the ones that had appeared in various cities, or even the black armored dragon on the Statue of Liberty.
This was a nightmare, an apocalypse. From the moment of its birth, it was destined to unleash unimaginable horror!
Squish.
The reporter's despairing expression froze forever. The envy-born Leviamon took a single step forward, its colossal foot covering her entirely, crushing her into paste like an ant.
...
"89.29%."
"According to analytical modeling, this Leviamon has absorbed the negative emotions from thirty-seven subordinate Digimon and all 852 personnel at the Nuclear Forces Division. Its total power is approximately fifty times greater than the Leviamon Joe controlled."
Over the Pacific, Koshiro analyzed as data streams flashed before his eyes.
A Leviamon with fifty times power of Joe's had reached nation-destroying levels. Short of intervention by the legendary Royal Knights, it was virtually invincible in the real world.
"Furthermore, by parsing the 'Superior Envy' emotion from the United States, I have decoded the other half of the Crest of Envy's power. Combining both halves will allow Taichi to mass-produce even more powerful Leviamon offspring." Countless data models floated around Koshiro as he spoke rationally.
All these preparations were for the birth of the ultimate Leviamon that would consume all its offspring. Such an entity would be a true member of the Seven Great Demon Lords, an apocalyptic threat to Yggdrasil itself.
"However, I truly cannot understand why Taichi is doing this. Creating such a powerful Leviamon, for BlackWarGreymon..."
Thinking of Taichi's words, Koshiro sighed softly, perplexed.
BlackWarGreymon had spent his life seeking battle. Taichi clearly wanted to recruit him, yet he specifically created an entity representing the very peak of combat power for him to face.
After all, according to the data models...
BlackWarGreymon's chance of victory is only 0.012%.
…
Atop the Statue of Liberty, BlackWarGreymon stood alone in the cold wind, arms crossed, eyes closed in meditation.
He had come to the real world to find a worthy opponent, to prove the meaning of his existence.
He had set foot in Japan, nearly causing Mt. Fuji to erupt and the islands to sink.
He had come to the United States.
Although this self-proclaimed strongest human nation had not presented him with a true warrior...
...the monstrous beast appearing miles away, radiating a terrifying aura, had elevated BlackWarGreymon's combat instincts to their peak. Every cell in his body trembled.
'Powerful.'
'Too powerful!'
This monster possessed the most immense power BlackWarGreymon had ever felt since his creation.
'Defeat it. Overcome it!'
The thought echoed incessantly in BlackWarGreymon's mind.
He had drifted through life, not knowing his origin or his destination. The only thing he could do was fight relentlessly until death.
"Agumon, I promise you." BlackWarGreymon placed his right hand over his chest, murmuring to himself, "If I can defeat this Digimon, it will prove that god still has a purpose for my existence."
"At that time, the entire meaning of my existence will be for Taichi, for you and his ambition to rule. I will go through fire and water."
"However... if I fall in battle against it..." A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched BlackWarGreymon's lips, "...thank you for staying by my side all these ten years."
Crinkle…
Flakes of black powder fell from his body, drifting down from the great height of the statue to land lightly on the ground.
The wind howled.
BlackWarGreymon, born for battle, had decided to die by battle!
In the Digital World, Taichi watched BlackWarGreymon's departing figure for a long time in silence. Finally, he turned to Agumon beside him and asked softly, "You... don't blame me for this, do you?"
Taichi knew the bond between Agumon and BlackWarGreymon. Ten years of companionship had made them indispensable partners.
Agumon's eyes shimmered, a tumult of emotions swirling within them. But in the end, he shook his head firmly.
"No."
"I understand BlackWarGreymon. Better than anyone."
"His birth was the result of a conspiracy, a mistake. Although we fought with all our might to resolve the mastermind behind it, BlackWarGreymon has always been lost regarding the meaning of his existence."
"He is a being created from the Dark Towers, a 'greater error' piled upon erroneous data. He is a weapon from head to toe. He doesn't even know how to smile."
"Battle is his only choice. His final choice."
Agumon forced a smile. A glint of tears flashed in his bright eyes for an instant.
"To have such a powerful opponent provide a magnificent final salute for the last moment of his life... Taichi, thank you for all of this."
"Mm." Taichi nodded, yet a meaningful, subtle curve played on his lips.
The outcome of this battle... no one would know until the very end!