Chapter 162: Immortals caressed my crown, and with bound hair I attained longevity

That figure was none other than Abbadomon.

Abbadomon, a Magical Beast type Virus species, an Ultimate level Digimon, whose signature move is [Death Howl]. Originating from the abyss of the Dark Area, it is a dark magical beast type Digimon whose colossal body is as massive as mountain ranges. It possesses powerful limbs, and its lower body features a giant [mouth] capable of devouring everything.

Moreover, legend has it that this cavern connects directly to the abyss of the Dark Area; any Digi-core sucked in there would be pulverized completely, becoming unable to escape. Its power is so immense that it is said to be capable of destroying the world within seven days.

Abbadomon was an Ultimate level, and not just an ordinary Ultimate level at that. No one had expected that Mephismon's plan would actually succeed. He had truly evolved from the Perfect level to the Ultimate level.

Although Monitamon currently possessed the strength of the Ultimate level, his combat power fell far short of Abbadomon's. Not to mention, having fought for a long time, his condition was already poor, whereas Abbadomon had just appeared and was at its absolute peak.

If Monitamon were currently at the Ultimate level, he would not fear Abbadomon. If Monitamon were currently at the Perfect level, he would not fear Abbadomon. But as it happened, Monitamon was currently at the Adult level. Even as an Adult: Burst Mode, possessing power comparable to the Ultimate level, he was still inferior to Abbadomon.

If he could dodge this attack, perhaps he might still survive. Unfortunately, he could not dodge it. Barring any other miracles, he was doomed to die.

Thus, right before Monitamon's eyes, Abbadomon's attack hurtled toward him. Though he desperately wanted to do something, in the end, he could do nothing at all.

Yet, at that very moment, a flash of bright light suddenly crossed the Digivice on Monitamon's body. Paildramon, who had previously been stored inside the Digivice by Monitamon, suddenly rushed out from within, standing before Monitamon with his back to Abbadomon.

The moment Paildramon appeared, a look of resolute determination flashed in his eyes. The next instant, wisps of digital fire flickered across his body. This was Paildramon burning his own data in order to elevate his combat prowess.

This method of boosting one's combat power in a short span of time by burning one's own data was, in fact, quite similar to Ruin Mode. However, the combat power thus enhanced fell short of Ruin Mode. Moreover, in actual combat, few people would sit idly by and watch their enemy use this technique to attempt mutual destruction.

"Boom!" As Paildramon's defensive power reached a certain threshold, Abbadomon's attack landed on him. One could see that because of this blow, Paildramon's data was consuming away even faster.

"Master, run! Run away..." Disregarding his own dissolving data, Paildramon relentlessly urged Monitamon to flee quickly.

At this moment, Monitamon fell silent. He knew that from the very beginning, Paildramon had intended to use his own life to trade for a sliver of a chance of survival for Monitamon. Even though this sliver of survival was terribly bleak, Paildramon still paid with his life as the price.

"Running only leads to death." Looking at Paildramon, whose data was dissipating, Monitamon calmly retrieved the data of Zerimon, and said slowly, "I still have another way."

"Fusion!" Monitamon merged Zerimon's data with his Digivice. Instantly, streams of radiance emanated from within the Digivice. The next moment, cracks began to appear across the surface of the Digivice.

"Boom!" Monitamon's Digivice shattered, but simultaneously, wisps of light burst forth from the shattered device, enveloping Monitamon and forming a luminous cocoon. Moments later, a brilliantly shining figure appeared: Source-mon: Perfect level!

At the critical juncture, Monitamon utilized the power of the Digivice to temporarily fuse his data with Zerimon's, transforming into Source-mon. The sheer magnitude of this power also elevated Source-mon to the Perfect level.

The very nature of Source-mon predetermined his might. Even though he was merely at the Perfect level, a single glance locked with Abbadomon was enough to freeze Abbadomon's body in place, daring not to move an inch.

At this moment, Source-mon knew that a casual strike against Abbadomon would be absolute enough to annihilate him. But equally, Source-mon knew that due to Zerimon's incomplete data, his existence would be fleeting, and he possessed only a single opportunity to strike.

Under normal circumstances, a single opportunity to strike down Abbadomon would be a cause for great rejoicing. However, at this moment, Source-mon looked before him at Paildramon, whose dissolving data had been reduced to nothing more than a head, and he fell silent.

He knew that if he did not use this sole opportunity to save Paildramon, Paildramon would die. On the other hand, if he used his only chance to save Paildramon, whether he himself would be struck down and killed by Abbadomon was anyone's guess. Yet, presumably, the probability was quite high.

At this juncture, the vast majority of beings would know how to make their choice. However, that was a rational choice. As living creatures, sentient beings often make choices that are neither entirely rational nor necessarily the best.

Source-mon acted on impulse; he acted willfully. Instead of choosing to attack Abbadomon, he extended a hand and gently placed it upon Paildramon's remaining head.

[An immortal touches my crown, receiving eternal life through knotting hair!]

Beneath Source-mon's hand, Paildramon was bathed in the radiance of Source-mon, and his solitary remaining head began to emit wisps of light. That was the light of evolution.

With Source-mon's assistance, Paildramon's data, influenced by Source-mon's origin data, began to evolve. In the world of Digimon, regardless of the severity of injuries—even if one were reduced to nothing more than a single fingernail—as long as evolution could be achieved, one could recover to normality.

Of course, the vast majority of evolutions are intimately tied to the pre-evolutionary state. If one truly had only a single fingernail left and then evolved, achieving an post-evolutionary state that reached one hundred and twenty percent of the pre-evolutionary condition would be considered fortunate.

Regardless of the cost, no matter how whimsical Source-mon's choice seemed, he had ultimately done it. Having completed all this, Source-mon cast one last silent glance at Abbadomon, standing there and fixing a steady gaze upon him.

Source-mon knew that as long as he remained, Abbadomon would not dare to attack. Therefore, he had to buy a sliver of time for Paildramon's evolution. And all of this persisted until the moment Source-mon dissolved away...