13. What is the Divine Plan?

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Bearmon glanced at Taiichi, who was quietly lost in thought.
“I heard from Leomon that the chosen children possess a device called the Sacred Plan. It can emit the power of light, dispelling the darkness that threatens to destroy the Digital World.”
“Relying on the power of the Sacred Plan, we can definitely save Leomon!”
Bearmon looked at Taiichi with eyes full of hope and curiosity about the power of the Digital World’s savior.
Taiichi scratched his head. “What’s the Sacred Plan?”
Zeromaru also looked at Taiichi. “Taiichi, you’ve been hiding such an amazing power all this time?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Huh, really?”
Taiichi and Zeromaru’s reactions were completely unexpected to Bearmon.
A bead of sweat appeared on Bearmon’s forehead. “Could it be that you don’t have the Sacred Plan?”
“We’ve never even heard of it.”
Sweat soaked Bearmon’s fur suit.
What was going on?
Was Leomon’s information false?
Or perhaps Taiichi and Zeromaru weren’t really the chosen children?
No, no, no… that’s impossible!
With such overwhelming battle power, the deep friendship Taiichi showed toward Zeromaru, and the kindness he displayed toward the timid Snivelmon… Bearmon had already seen two virtues in Taiichi after such a short time together.
Strength and character—no matter how you looked at it, Taiichi was the perfect candidate for the chosen child. If even he and Zeromaru weren’t qualified to be the saviors of the Digital World, then no one in this world was!
“Maybe there was some kind of procedural error,” Bearmon said after clearing his throat, convincing himself. “If that’s the case, we have no choice but to seek out Centarumon.”
“Centarumon again?” Taiichi had lost count of how many times he had heard that name.
Bearmon explained, “Centarumon guards the ancient ruins on Faraway Isle and understands the dark forces better than any of us. If anyone can help Leomon, it’s probably him.”
Taiichi frowned. “That may be true, but those ancient ruins are still far from here, aren’t they?”
Bearmon estimated, “On foot, it would take at least two days.”

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“Too long,” Taiichi shook his head.
In two days, who knows how many times Leomon would wake up. We can’t keep knocking him out every time he’s about to regain consciousness.
What if one time Zeromaru’s strike isn’t gentle enough and accidentally sends Leomon away forever?
Taiichi always felt that Leomon’s life as a Digimon was fragile.
“There might be a shortcut,” Bearmon pointed to the mountain in the center of the island. “There’s a unicorn Digimon halfway up Infinite Mountain. He has the ability to fly.”
“If you can get his help, you could reach the ancient ruins in about half a day.”
Half a day…
Taiichi glanced at the sky. By the time he finished everything, it would probably be dawn.
“Alright, let’s find that unicorn Digimon,” Taiichi said, unable to hide his impatience. He was eager to find out if he truly was a chosen child, where the Sacred Angel City was, and whether he could return to the human world.
Though after so many thrilling adventures and battles with countless Digimon on Faraway Isle, Taiichi had grown somewhat enchanted with this mysterious world and wasn’t so desperate to go back to the human world just yet.
But wanting to stay or not didn’t conflict with knowing how to return.
“Safe travels,” Bearmon said.
There was no time to waste. Leomon could wake up at any moment. Without another word, Taiichi lifted his leg to leave.
A faint force tugged at his pants.
Turning around, he saw Snivelmon.
“Taiichi,” Snivelmon looked up at him with determination. “I might never become as strong as Zeromaru.”
“Don’t be so pessimistic…” Taiichi was about to comfort him, but Snivelmon’s gaze was unwavering.
“But one day, I will become useful. I will be able to help you and Zeromaru.”
“When that day comes, please take me on your adventures!”
“That kid…” Bearmon was surprised to see such resolve in Snivelmon.
Taiichi paused for a moment, then smiled at Snivelmon. “Alright.”
—
And so, Taiichi and Zeromaru set off, carrying Leomon toward the direction of the unicorn Digimon.

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Suddenly, a green figure dashed out from the nearby forest.
He had long white hair, green skin, two enormous horns, a fierce face with a wide-open mouth, and wielded a bone club.
Zeromaru said, “That’s Ogremon, in his mature form.”
As soon as he appeared, Ogremon pointed his bone club at Taiichi. “Hey, kid over there, what’s going on with Leomon?”
“Take a good look and tell me who looks more like a ghost—me or you?” Taiichi retorted, then paused slightly—
This was the first time he had met a mature Digimon who didn’t demand a fight before talking.
Ogremon and Leomon were like sworn rivals, much like Vegeta and Goku. Whenever Ogremon saw Leomon, he’d want to challenge him without question. There was no reason; Ogremon simply disliked how Leomon always looked so righteous.
Leomon, in turn, thought Ogremon was unreasonable. Proud and fearless, he never backed down from a challenge. Gradually, their relationship became one of constant brawling whenever they met.
Recently, however, Leomon had been busy with something and kept dashing unpredictably across Faraway Isle. Ogremon was frustrated and restless, so he set out to find that annoying Leomon again.
He never expected to see Leomon dragged along the ground like a broken tire.
“You’re friends with Leomon, huh?” Taiichi thought. Bearmon had said Leomon was a very just Digimon, and if this Ogremon was his friend, then he must be a kind-hearted Digimon despite his rough looks.
“I’m nobody’s friend with this annoying guy!” Ogremon snapped. How rude was this human kid?
“Calm down, I’m not here to hurt Leomon,” Taiichi waved his hand, assuming Ogremon was just upset seeing his friend hurt.
“Leomon was being controlled by dark forces and attacking wildly. Zeromaru knocked him out in self-defense. We’re looking for a way to save him now.”
Taiichi explained patiently, but to his surprise, Ogremon grew even angrier.
“What did you say?!” Ogremon’s expression perfectly illustrated the phrase “furious to the point of hair standing on end.”
“That Leomon was defeated by someone like him?!”
At that, Ogremon swung his bone club and charged at Zeromaru.
Zeromaru landed a heavy punch, and Ogremon collapsed beside Leomon.
“Taiichi, what do we do now?”
Taiichi sighed, realizing Leomon’s friend had quite a fiery temper.
“Forget it, let’s take him along.”