Chapter 54: Little Troubles (Please Recommend)

The night stretched on endlessly, but Zhao Jie found it difficult to fall asleep. Part of the reason was that Agumon at his side was still tirelessly ordering takeout. After several lessons, Agumon had finally mastered this new skill of ordering food online.

The other factor wasn’t about money—well, that would be a lie, but it wasn’t entirely about money. Agumon had evolved into Greymon, and next would be the stage of super evolution. However, from the paper he’d read before, it seemed that super evolution for Greymon was extremely dangerous, the risk stemming from the possibility of a faulty evolution.

How to resolve this issue now had to become a priority.

“Should I buy that paper?” He swiped through his phone, and the article about digital creatures caught his eye once more. Before Agumon evolved, the paper would have been invaluable—he could have researched the evolution path for Greymon, or at least learned why it was abolished. Now, since Agumon could already evolve into Greymon, the value of the paper had greatly diminished.

“Better not buy it.” Amid the sound of Agumon chewing, Zhao Jie finally dismissed the idea.

After evolving into Greymon, Agumon’s signature move, Baby Flame, had upgraded into Mega Flame. Just the name alone suggested it was far more powerful. After all, “Mega” was a world apart from “Baby.”

As for how strong it truly was, that would require further testing.

Aside from Mega Flame, Greymon had also mastered two close-combat physical techniques. One was Hurricane Tail, a powerful spin of his tail that struck enemies in a full 360-degree sweep. The other was Horn Charge, an assault skill that used his head to lunge at or retreat from enemies effectively.

Both skills were extremely practical, especially Horn Charge, which could boost Greymon’s speed and make him seem less cumbersome.

“All you do is eat. Just wait until we’re back in Wuling, and I’ll show you the true meaning of hell.”

Suddenly, Agumon shivered as if a chill had run down his spine. He tightened the blanket around himself and looked up, just in time to catch the calm, unfathomable look in Zhao Jie’s eyes.

“Do you want some?” Agumon asked, holding up a chicken drumstick with a cute, hopeful look at Zhao Jie lying on the bed.

“No more takeout. Finish what you have and go to sleep.” Zhao Jie warned, then continued browsing the digital store on his phone, searching for items suitable for Greymon.

Blazing Fruit. Effect: increases the power of a Digimon’s flames. Price: 500 points.

This was even rarer than the Fire Spirit Fruit he’d obtained before, but Zhao Jie could only look at it; he couldn’t afford such a fruit now.

Besides these enhancement fruits, there were also those that boosted basic attributes.

Endurance Fruit. Effect: increases a Digimon’s stamina. Price: 50 points.

Agility Fruit. Effect: increases a Digimon’s agility. Price: 50 points.

These fruits were indeed practical, but for Greymon at this stage, they would be wasteful, as his potential hadn’t yet been fully tapped. The best time to use them would be when Greymon reached his limit, to maximize the benefit.

“Healing potion?” Reluctantly leaving the fruit section, Zhao Jie browsed the potions. His eyes quickly settled on the healing potion.

Healing Potion (Mature). Effect: instantly restores half the digital energy of a mature-stage Digimon. Price: 50 points (only available to Tamers with a mature-stage Digimon).

Wasn’t this just a mana potion? Still, it didn’t serve much purpose for Greymon—not at this time, at least.

“Forget it. Let’s look at food.” The food options were much more abundant, not only cheaper but also more useful.

Zhao Jie bought a hundred points’ worth of digital food in one go. Although Agumon didn’t crave digital food, it expanded a Digimon’s maximum capacity for digital energy. Though the process was slow, the cumulative effect over time was significant. He’d bought digital food before, but nothing on the market compared to what was offered here.

For instance, he’d bought Agumon a box of Spicy Digital Biscuits. After training, eating one not only sped up recovery of digital energy but also brought a delightful taste experience. Each box contained twenty biscuits and cost forty points, making each biscuit just two points. For just two points, a Digimon’s recovery rate could be increased—an absolute bargain.

Zhao Jie bought Agumon two boxes of these, and spent the remaining twenty points on Digital Milk, which humans could consume.

Evolving a Digimon to the mature stage was taxing for Tamers as well. Once digital fusion began, the energy drain was like water pouring down a drain.

To ensure he could better train Agumon, buying some milk to restore his own digital energy wasn’t too much to ask, was it?

“Okay, done!” After placing the order, Zhao Jie’s shopping for Agumon was complete for today. He would save the remaining hundred points to buy Agility and Endurance Fruits for Greymon after he reached his limit.

Perfect.

The long night wore on. Zhao Jie wrestled with his own little worries and couldn’t sleep, but in the same city, Teacher Zhao Zhe was also wide awake.

After Zhao Jie’s championship win, Zhao Zhe’s Weibo was blown up. Under every post, there was only one comment: “Teacher Zhao, when will you perform a handstand and diarrhea trick?”

Perform? He would never perform—that would never happen in his life.

The moment that massive Greymon appeared in the arena, he knew it was over. His sharp mind had yet to come up with any solution.

Hire a PR team? Even if he hired them, at this point, not even a whole army of shills could salvage his reputation.

Who would have thought that the best commentator would slip up because of a rookie tournament? Words failed him.

Knock! Knock! There was a knock at the door. It was already past 1 a.m.—who could it be at this hour?

“Who’s there?” Zhao Zhe called out, puzzled.

Knock! Knock! No one replied, only the persistent knocking continued.

A strange chill crept into Zhao Zhe’s heart. He held his breath and cautiously moved to the door, peering out through the peephole.

Only darkness. Deep, impenetrable darkness.

“Do you hate Digimon?” a voice, neither male nor female, sounded behind Zhao Zhe.

It was as if the devil himself had spoken, igniting the envy and jealousy Zhao Zhe harbored deep within.

“Hate—I hate Digimon. I hate that Greymon. I hate everything to do with Digimon!” he screamed, his voice hoarse, as if his very soul were being torn apart. If only that Agumon hadn’t kept winning, would he be in such a mess now?

Bloodshot veins spread through his eyes as fury surged from his heart, filling his vision in an instant.

“Good. Come with me.”

“Where?”

“To a place where you can gain the power for revenge.”

Clatter! The phone crashed to the floor, and Zhao Zhe himself mysteriously vanished.

PS: Second chapter done, please vote for me!