BlackWarGreymon's thought process was simple.
Taichi had looked at this woman's photo with a sad, complicated expression. That must mean this woman had hurt Taichi, made him sad.
If that was the case, then he, having sworn loyalty to Taichi, naturally had to serve his lord in the final moments of his life.
"No! Don't act rashly!"
Meanwhile, back in the Digital World, Taichi, who was monitoring everything through Koshiro's All-Seeing Eye, shouted in alarm upon seeing this massive misunderstanding unfold.
BlackWarGreymon's soul-igniting battle, burning his life to defeat Leviamon... frankly, it was all within Taichi's calculations.
Given BlackWarGreymon's personality and hidden potential, he was destined to make such a choice. Taichi had even prepared a specific countermeasure for this, a plan to ensure a perfect conclusion.
However, the one thing he hadn't anticipated was Hikari seeking out BlackWarGreymon at this very moment.
And, as luck would have it, BlackWarGreymon seemed to have a deep misunderstanding about her.
In truth, his little sister hadn't betrayed him, and it was all a misunderstanding. After joining the Darkening Chat Group and speaking privately with the group owner, Hattori, he had already come to understand.
The reason he looked at Hikari's photo was just him feeling sentimental about not being able to see his sister for a while.
Who could have known BlackWarGreymon would interpret it so bizarrely?
"Taichi, don't be impulsive. If you intervene now, Homeostasis, which has vested its interest in Hikari, will definitely detect your presence!" Agumon held back a worried Taichi, quickly explaining, "Hikari carries the Crest of Light bestowed by Homeostasis. It's the most powerful and unique force among all the Chosen Children. Have you forgotten that ten years ago, Hikari was once possessed by Homeostasis?"
Agumon looked straight into Taichi's eyes, forcing him to calm down.
Hikari possessed a quality none of the other Chosen Children had, making her the most suitable vessel for Homeostasis's power.
Ten years ago, even as a mere child, she could be possessed by Homeostasis and gain immense power. Now, ten years later, this trait of hers had intensified many times over, making her Homeostasis's undisputed second choice after Takeru.
Taichi looked into Agumon's eyes, his rapid breathing gradually slowing, his gaze regaining its usual calm.
"I understand. I won't act recklessly unless Hikari's life is confirmed to be in danger." Taichi gently pushed Agumon away, his expression stern, "But if anything really happens to her, even at the risk of being discovered by Homeostasis, I will definitely go save her!"
Back in the real world.
BlackWarGreymon's icy steel claws shot towards Hikari without the slightest hesitation.
Ding!
A soft light, like a protective barrier, expanded around Hikari, instantly deflecting BlackWarGreymon's claw.
"Agumon?! Why are you attacking me?... Why is the Crest of Courage missing from your back?!" Hikari, startled by BlackWarGreymon's sudden attack, stumbled backward several steps. As she moved back, her gaze inadvertently swept across the shield on BlackWarGreymon's back, and her pupils contracted sharply.
A normal WarGreymon should have the symbol of the Crest of Courage on its back. It was the symbol of the bond between Agumon and Taichi, something that could absolutely never be erased.
"Crest of Courage? That's something Agumon gets after evolving... Cough... What does that have to do with me?" BlackWarGreymon said coldly. The black energy was flowing faster from the chasm in his chest… Clearly, he didn't have much time left.
He had to end this quickly.
"Dark Tornado!"
Not letting Hikari speak further, BlackWarGreymon transformed into a vortex of profound dark energy and charged at her.
Whoosh…
The dark energy crashed against the soft white light barrier, extinguishing instantly upon contact, like fire meeting water, failing to harm Hikari in the slightest.
Seeing this, the light in Hikari's eyes gradually dimmed. She knew this black WarGreymon before her was clearly not her Onii-chan's partner.
However, from its tone, she could tell it indeed knew Taichi and Agumon.
"Black WarGreymon, I mean you no harm. I am Yagami Taichi's little sister, Agumon's partner. Can you tell me where they are now?" Hikari stood within the white light barrier, calling out to BlackWarGreymon.
"Hmph, shameless woman. Planning to hurt them again?" A scornful, cold smile curled BlackWarGreymon's lip. Without further ado, his body once again became the Dark Tornado, charging at Hikari once more.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The violently fluctuating dark energy of the Dark Tornado assaulted the white light barrier from all 360 degrees. But it was clearly ineffective; the wisp of white light didn't show the slightest sign of dissipating.
Huff... Huff... Huff...
After half a minute, BlackWarGreymon finally stopped, panting heavily, his right hand pressed against the massive dark chasm in his chest, his gaze icy.
There's no time.
He had, at most, ten minutes before his life force completely drained away, vanishing from this world. In such a short time, he had no way to break through that protective barrier.
The Soul-Igniting Shot had already been used once. The Dark Gaia Force could no longer be manifested because he had lost his data core.
Now, the only thing he could do was…
"Woman, although I cannot kill you for Taichi's sake, the day will come when the Digital World's army descends. You will all be burned to ashes by the flames of revenge." BlackWarGreymon pointed his right hand directly at Hikari, his voice cold.
Hikari was stunned.
'Digital World's army? Onii-chan?'
'How are these two things connected?'
'And also, this Digimon before me seemed to have a very good relationship with Onii-chan, so why did it hold such hostility towards me? Just what had happened over this past month?!'
"Black WarGreymon, I truly mean you no ill will! I am Taichi's sister! Look, this is the good luck charm Onii-chan made for me! I've kept it close to my heart since I was little! It can prove my identity!" Hikari's gaze was pleading as she took out a crudely made little star from her chest, carefully presenting it to BlackWarGreymon.
This was the good luck charm Taichi had made for her thirteen years ago, before they ever went to the Digital World. Over thirteen years, the star's edges had been completely worn smooth. The colorful patterns had faded into faint, yellowish marks.
But its place in Hikari's heart was forever the highest. This star symbolized the bond between her and her brother… it was her most precious possession.
BlackWarGreymon stared coldly at Hikari, his eyes on the star.
'Hah. Hypocritical woman.'
'The deeper her past feelings for Taichi were, the deeper the hurt inflicted upon Taichi when she betrayed him.'
To avenge Taichi, to accomplish the one thing he could still do after pledging his loyalty, a savage light flashed in BlackWarGreymon's eyes. Dark energy shot from his right hand, violently knocking the star far away.
"I don't care who you were to Taichi. In the Digital World, he said he suffered endless betrayal, that you all broke his heart."
"Right now, the only one Taichi trusts is Agumon!"