Liza, meanwhile, is loading data into Elecmon with her own Digivice. She grins as she completes the process and raises the dock to the sky. Light surrounds her partner as well. Your allies are finding the tools they need to get stronger. If you had hit up the archives earlier, you might have found different forms for Bella and Liza. Luckily, the latter has the gift from Wind.

“Elecmon, DIGIVOLVE!”

”Elecmon, Digivolve to… LEOMON!”

His Digivolution is as splendid as the insect was savage. The partition slows down by another degree, as yet another Champion-level Digimon is added to it.

Leomon is a towering beast, with a flowing golden mane and a bare chest rippling with muscle. He clenches a fist, looking down at his new body. Then he throws his head back and roars, striking fear into the hearts of the lesser creatures in the chamber. Many of them are repelled outright by his sheer aura, fleeing between the legs of larger foes and exiting the partition.

“How do you feel, Elecmon?”

”My name is Leomon now, Liza. And… I feel strong. So strong. It’s just-“

You purse your lips as you observe him. He’s unmistakably powerful, but it feels like there’s something missing. He’s lacking the sort of pride that a king of beasts ought to have. Liza has Digivolved her partner flippantly, with the first piece of appropriate Champion Data that Wind passed her. You don’t know how well this form can fulfill the wishes Elecmon shared with her just several minutes earlier.

You shrug. He’s still strong, and he can still fight. Several more Champions have made their way into the room. The first is a big purple mole with a drill on its face. The next is a stout green plant with a wicked face, a spiny crest, and several writhing vines.

“Leomon?”

”It’s nothing, let us proceed.”

“Yeah! You’re the best, pard! Go get them.”

Despite his misgivings, a small smile cross his leonine features, and he thrusts himself into combat with the veggie. Kabuterimon is caught off guard by Kaus Gammamon rocketing back into the fray with an Urda Impulse, while the Digimon by the entrance are repelled by Porcupamon. Your team’s power has multiplied rapidly.

Wind is done with the download. He pulls the data into his backpack and yells in triumph. For a foolish moment, you allow yourself to believe you’re fully in the clear.

All of you assemble and get ready to break out, huddling into a spearhead formation and eyeing the door. That’s when the partition freezes for a moment, rooting everybody’s feet to the ground and filling you all with distinct dread.

A colossal shape loads into the room. Even with the lack of ceiling, you feel like its ashen form is occupying the whole space at once. Two savage claws spear into the ground, carving deep furrows as it sidesteps your pitfall traps and carves webs apart.

“What is…”

“He’s back?!” You hiss.