"Me? Afraid?"

　When Dalphomon responded to Yuuki, there was a strange, unexpected resonance in the deity's voice—tinged with a new emotion. Not exactly anger, nor surprise, nor even simple grief.
　No one knew what Dalphomon would do next.
　Impmon shifted warily, preparing to leap to Yuuki's defense no matter what this god decided to unleash.
　Cool Boy clenched his teeth, frustrated by his own helplessness, eyes shut as if in prayer.
　But Yuuki never wavered, staring straight into the god's eyes, refusing to break the connection.

"Yes... I suppose I am."

　A droplet tapped softly on the ground, soon joined by another, then another, until they became a continuous murmur.

　It felt like a quiet, melancholy drizzle deep within the ancient forest. Yuuki, Impmon, Cool Boy, even Winr and the others further away intuitively understood what this sound meant.

"Is Dalphomon...crying?"

　Yuuki murmured quietly. Everyone grasped that these droplets were the embodiment of Dalphomon's sadness—the very world weeping. The god's sorrow had manifested as gentle rain, dampening every inch of Cross Connectia.

"I was afraid...terrified, even. Yes... I finally realize it now."

"Hey, Yuuki. How'd you figure out what Dalphomon was feeling?"

　Impmon whispered urgently, tugging on Yuuki's sleeve as it eyed the god's tears with confusion. But she just shook her head, clearly bewildered herself.

"Huh? I mean, I didn't really know..."
"But..."

　Impmon tilted its head doubtfully.

"It was just a hunch. I started thinking, what if everyone in Cross Connectia asked Dalphomon for help, and it felt forced into saying yes when it really wanted to say no? That didn't sit right with me."
"But where did that 'afraid' come from?"
"It just sort of occurred to me! I mean, if coming to Lacuna felt worse than disappearing entirely, it must be either really scared or really hates something there, right?"
"...Both."

　Dalphomon replied quietly, picking up the thread of Yuuki's words.

"I was indeed terrified. But also contemptuous. Disgusted, furious even at my counterpart machina, who was born from the same data yet walked the opposite path to me."
"Your ‘other half'..." Cool Boy murmured, realization dawning.

　As if affirming Cool Boy's quiet realization, a cold, damp wind brushed gently against his cheek.

"I have never known the right words to repudiate that being whom I loathe so. Fear, hatred, anger—these were all meaningless, unnecessary feelings for the deity...for the system, that I have long served as."

　In place of its usual serene authority, Dalphomon's voice was now tinged with a gentle, verdant hue, like a peaceful breeze rustling through ancient leaves.

"Yet... I truly was afraid. Terrified of encountering my other half again—repulsed, nauseated even, by the idea of that child of the void, Unchained, forcing us back into a single being."

　Mistymon and Panjyamon exchanged uncertain glances. To the Digimon of Cross Connectia, Dalphomon was always simply a god, an immutable system. Their eyes betrayed the shock they felt at seeing their god openly express raw emotion.

"But then, does that mean we've been..."
"I guess you must have been struggling with this all this time, Dalphomon. We saw you as our god, but never as a fellow Digimon, with feelings of your own."
"You bear no blame for that. That's exactly as it should have been. That's what this world itself wanted, and what I wanted myself, too."

　Before anyone realized, the rain had stopped. Dalphomon was no longer crying, and now it turned its gaze to the girl who had first dared to see it simply as another Digimon.

"Young adventurer... Your name is Yuuki, correct? You have my gratitude."
"Gratitude?!"
"I had become distant from my original nature as a single Digimon, but you reminded me of that. Whether this will benefit our world or not, I cannot say. But in any case, I believe I owe you my heartfelt thanks."
"Oh... Gosh, you're gonna make me blush."

　Yuuki scratched her cheek shyly, before her determination surged up again, illuminating her eyes.

"But, if that's the case, then I feel like I can ask you this now."

　She took a deep breath, looked directly up at the deity, and spoke:

"Dalphomon, please—come to Lacuna with us."

　At those words, Dalphomon shook its head slowly.

"You understand, don't you? My fear, my revulsion, my hatred—you realized those feelings are within me. Yet how can you still ask this of me?"
"Because I want to protect Lacuna. And I want to protect this world too. I want to be friends with every Digimon I meet."
"And you'd sacrifice me for that? Demand I merge with my other half—let myself fall under the child of the void's control?"

　The sheer intensity of Dalphomon's presence surged toward Yuuki. Having rediscovered its nature as a Digimon, it wielded divine fury against her plea. Its raw feelings were palpable: fear, disgust, revulsion, and conviction that it would rather watch the world end than return to that place.
　Every life form in the forest stirred restlessly, channeling Dalphomon's anguish into a chaotic roar that hammered Yuuki's ears.
　She staggered backward under the pressure, nearly losing her footing. Just then, she felt Impmon clinging fiercely to her legs, steadying her.

"Impmon?"
"Just say it already, Yuuki. Say what you really wanna say."
"I was hesitating to."

　Yuuki bit her lip, but kept looking at Dalphomon.

"I don't question that your feelings are legit, Dalphomon. But I don't know how else to respond to that other than telling you my own selfish wish."
"Then that's enough!"

　Impmon shouted fiercely. At that instant, Yuuki's D-Storage erupted with dazzling light, and the cacophony around them was split by a fierce, distorted guitar riff.

"Who cares if you got the right or not?! Just say what you gotta say, Yuuki! Anyone gets in your way, I'll blow 'em clear into next week!"
"HeavyMetaldramon..."

　For a brief second she lowered her gaze, then lifted her head again, eyes bright with newfound belief.

"Yeah... Yeah! I can do this!"
"Are you truly going to say it? If you do, then I... I will..."

　In that moment, the deity standing before them became nothing less than a force of nature. With a furious roar from Dalphomon's own mouth, thick, razor-sharp vines burst forth from every corner of the forest, surging toward Yuuki like giant grasping limbs, intent on piercing her through.
　Just as they closed in, three brilliant lights flashed behind her.

"Right on cue, QueenBeemon."
"Leave it to me! Royal Throne, deploy—Accel Stinger!"

　Giving a command, the queen of the golden legion unfurled her gleaming fan. Beneath her feet materialized a grand throne, the Royal Throne. Its massive arm shot outward to impale one of the writhing vines.
　The initial damage looked insufficient to stop the vine's relentless advance. Just then, QueenBeemon conjured up poison to surge through the vine, rapidly withering it away.

"Dinomon, protect Yuuki no matter what!"
"I will. Burning End!"

　The mighty king of dinosaurs caught another vine with its colossal hand. The impact was tremendous, jolting its massive pure red frame—but only for an instant. Blazing scarlet flames erupted from its gauntlets, incinerating the vine into ashes.

"Skadimon, we can't mess this up."
"I don't intend to! I'll use Snow Swatter and Snowman's Dance!"

　The goddess of the icy realm raised its staff high, instantly freezing the forest's moisture into a massive arm of ice that surged to intercept another incoming vine. Though it wasn't sturdy enough to fully halt the vine like Dynomon had, it bought a precious moment. In a dazzling display, countless snowman-shaped missiles rained down, blasting the vine into oblivion.

"Looks like you're already prepared, Invisimon."
"You know it! Invisible Cutter!"

　It looked as though nothing stood between Yuuki and the fourth vine. But then, with a ripple in the air, a massive unseen presence splintered the vine into ribbons—a clean strike from the colossal boomerang of Invisimon.

"Yuuki."
"Yuuki!"
"Yuuki!"
"Yuuki!"

　Hearing her friends' calls, Yuuki nodded firmly, drawing in a deep breath.

　At first, Yuuki thought Digimon were a lot like aliens—mysterious beings from some impossibly distant world, creatures far beyond human understanding.
　She'd believed that if she could become friends with beings so different, if they recognized and accepted her, then she might finally silence that nagging voice inside asking, "Do I even belong here?"
　But after meeting countless Digimon, Yuuki realized something surprising. They weren't that different from humans after all. They had personalities—some you clicked with, others you didn't. They had good days and bad days, complicated feelings, moods that shifted without warning. Connecting with them wasn't always easy.
　Having formed deep bonds with Impmon and all the Digimon she'd met on her journey, Yuuki no longer looked to the skies for answers to that once-haunting question. She now knew the answer was right here. The friends who stood by her side, the partners who fought alongside her.
　Yet even with everything she'd come to understand, Yuuki's wish had never changed. Logic and reason didn't matter—beyond any argument, beyond common sense, her heart still called out for the same simple thing.

"Dalphomon!"

　If she could become friends with every Digimon in existence, wouldn't that be the most badass thing ever?

"I don't know that much about you yet. But I do know one thing: you love all the Digimon in this world. I can feel it!"

　And it was true. If Dalphomon didn't deeply love this world and the life thriving within it, it wouldn't have remained here as a god. It wouldn't be staring so directly at Yuuki, even as it unleashed the storm of attacks.

"Your fear, your disgust... I get that you have those feelings. But your feelings of love are just as real! That's what I want to protect!"

"That's right, Yuuki, now shout it loud! Black Sabbath!"

　HeavyMetaldramon's roar shattered the incoming vines, clearing the way forward. Feeling that fierce strength at her back, Yuuki took a deep breath, and shouted with everything she had.

"Please, Dalphomon! We'll stay by your side. And I swear we won't lose. So please—"

　It was an impossibly reckless promise. But it was also completely sincere.

"Fight alongside us!"

"...!"

　Dalphomon released a tremendous roar in response. Its resonance formed a gust of emerald wind that surged across the doomed land.

　In the heart of the forest, now ravaged beyond recognition, Cool Boy slowly opened his eyes.
　Scattered all around him were Yuuki and the rest of the debugging team, along with their Digimon partners. They'd all apparently lost consciousness in the earlier shockwave. To Cool Boy's relief, no one looked injured.

"Ah, so you've awakened, Herald."

　Dalphomon's voice resounded clearly, deep and steady as an ancient forest itself, yet without any of the oppressive solemness from before.

"Dalphomon... She, we are..."
"You've already proven your resolve and strength. You endured my assault, and spoke honestly to me—not as a god, but simply as a Digimon."

　Now assuming the role of a regular Digimon, Dalphomon conveyed gratitude with the way that it spoke.

"I've been completely defeated."
"So then..."
"Yes. I've chosen to fight at your side. I trust you to protect my beloved children, even in the new world. You have the strength necessary to face the child of the void."
"You know that Yuuki and the others' determination and strength will have little bearing on our confrontation with Unchained. Even knowing that, you'd still choose to..."
"Yes. Even so, I believe you—no, we—will triumph."

　Dalphomon spoke gently, its twin gazes gently resting on Cool Boy.

"I can tell you have steeled yourself as well, Herald."
"..."
"You never saw me and Cross Connectia as mere pieces on your board. You were never willing to be so ruthless."

　Cool Boy nodded, unable to disagree.

"You're right. All I ever did was talk about protecting Digimon, but I never had the resolve to fight alongside them. I wasn't willing to face the same dangers, share the same risks. Somehow, I'd lost sight of what everyone else had understood from the start."
"And now?"
"Now I've remembered. Thanks to Yuuki and the others."

　He clenched a fist, summoning his courage, and met Dalphomon's gaze head-on.

"Once we leap to Lacuna, we'll have to face Unchained immediately. I'd have a fifty-fifty chance at best. No, to be realistic, they probably have the advantage."
"I'd estimate your chances are closer to 20%."
"Ouch, harsh."

　Cool Boy chuckled softly. But even as he smiled wryly, the eyes behind the sunglasses remained fixed resolutely on the future ahead.

"If I lose, Unchained will absorb you and fuse you back together with your other half in that world, gaining enough power to annihilate Lacuna."
"Yes, that is the catastrophic scenario I envisioned myself. Even imagining it fills me with unbearable shame. So tell me, Herald, how exactly do you intend to avoid such a fate?"
"We won't."

　Dalphomon's eyes widened in shock.

"Until a moment ago, I believed that scenario was the absolute worst-case outcome. But if it's something we can foresee, then it's not truly the worst. We can make plans."
"Plans?"
"Dalphomon, you'll need to endure the humiliation you dread so deeply."

　Cool Boy slowly took off his sunglasses and smiled wryly.

"Will you be our Trojan Horse?"
"And if I agree, what are our odds?"
"Substantial. Unchained won't see it coming; They believe I'm too soft to ever consider a trick like this."
"And in return...?"
"A new world for you and your children."

　A tense silence crackled through the air, but only for a moment, before Dalphomon chuckled softly.

"Then, for the sake of my beloved children, I too will fight."
"...Thank you."
"But first, it seems we have another pressing problem."

　As if responding to Dalphomon's words, a monitor unfolded before them, revealing the fortress where Yuuki's group had been just earlier. Around it swarmed countless humanoid figures glowing ominously, red—rogue NPCs, numbering easily over a hundred. Dalphomon sighed deeply at the sight.

"It seems they learned my location and gathered. If I'm taken by them now, your entire plan collapses. Only your group has the strength to defeat them, but there are so many..."
"No problem. Altea!"

　At Cool Boy's call, the supposedly unconscious AI lying nearby sat up with effortless ease.

"You know, technically I was knocked out too."
"Oh please, that's not even possible for an AI."
"Well, I was just reading the room. What do you need?"
"For you to run some calculations. We'll be activating the administrator protocols of the D-Storage."
"Ah, so you're looking to engage multiple opponents simultaneously? Using AI support to battle them all at once?"
"I'll handle the fighting myself, mostly. I won't bother you too much."
"...And exactly how many opponents shall I set it to?"
"We don't have time to play around."

　Cool Boy looked at Altea and smiled mischievously.

"One against one hundred."

"Yuuki! Wake up already!"
"Mm... Just five more minutes..."
"Wake UP!"
"Huh... Wha? WHAAAT?!"

　An endless expanse of a clear blue sky filled her vision.
　She was soaring high above the ground, nestled securely in HeavyMetaldramon's giant hand.

"Whoa, whoa, wait. What's going on here?!"
"That's my line! Who sleeps like a baby at a time like this?!"

　Right beside her were Winr and FunBeemon, while the dragon's other massive hand gently held Ryutaro and Suzune. Their larger partners, Tyrannomon and Frigimon, had presumably returned to D-Storage for convenience.
　Nearby, Altea hovered heroically in midair, arms stretched out like some sort of comic-book hero. It was painfully obvious he was merely being carried along by an invisible Invisimon.

"Teacher! What the heck's going on here?!"
"Can't you figure it out?"

　Winr rolled his eyes in exasperation, then simply pointed upward. Yuuki followed his gesture, eyes widening in astonishment as she gasped aloud.

"Wait, is that...?"

　Soaring above them was the majestic, massive form of Dalphomon, its golden fur resplendent in the sunlight.
　Sweeping its wings mightily, it lit up many dots on the earth below. Then, the dots rose up. They were spheres containing the world's Digimon, and they orbited around their deity.
　Floramon, Dinohyumon, Panjyamon, Impmon, Hagurumon, Kapurimon, Mistymon, Betsumon, Rebellimon, Turbomon, Maneuvermon.

"Dalphomon made up its mind and decided to fight with us."
"We're all heading back to Lacuna together!"
"Woah... For real?"
"Obviously! What kind of question is that?"
"Oh... I'm so glad."

　Deeply relieved, Yuuki slumped in HeavyMetaldramon's palm. Her partner let out an exasperated sigh.
　Just then, a streak of blinding light flashed on the ground below, followed by a bang. Startled, Yuuki peered anxiously downward.

"What was that?!"
"It's Cool Boy."
"Must've just taken down the last of the rogue NPCs."
"All on his own?!"

　Winr and FunBeemon nodded in unison, leaving Yuuki shaking her head in amazement.

"Then...that means all the Digimon captured by those NPCs can come back to Lacuna with us, right?"
"Yep. Better get yourself together, 'cause we'll be fighting as soon as we're back."
"Well, duh! You already know I'm raring to go!"
"Hey, calm it down while I'm carrying ya, would ya?"

　Rising up in the dragon's palm, Yuuki stretched out and pointed toward a single spot in the sky.
　She was dying to know how different the familiar sights of their world would look now after everything they'd experienced.

"Thank you, Cross Connectia. And, Lacuna, here we come!"

　The sky split open as Yuuki's voice echoed, crossing the endless blue toward the world that awaited them.

To be continued.

...Yes, full dive!