Digital Hazard

Digital Hazard (デジタルハザード Dejitaru Hazādo) is a term that refers to multiple concepts that revolve around highly dangerous threats, ranging from disastrous events that threaten the Digital World, to a power that certain Digimon species bear. It is also the name of a mark that warns of these threats.

=Overview=

Event
Events which have been termed "Digital Hazards" are extreme disasters that threatens the very existence of the Digital World. For example, in the X-Antibody backstory related in Digimon Chronicle, the Digital World is threatened by a Digital Hazard on the scale of the universe that contains it due to the risk of data overload.

The very existence of Megidramon is a Digital Hazard, although some sort of force has sealed away its powers. Chaos Dukemon, who is said to be an alternative manifestation of Megidramon, is also said to be nothing more than a Digital Hazard that brings calamity to the Digital World. As the level of dark energy measured in the simulation of the evolution into Arcturusmon was by far the highest among Digimon that have currently been discovered, it is conjectured that when it manifests, it will generate a Digital Hazard that drastically alters the environment of the Digital World.

Power
The term "Digital Hazard" also sometimes describes a dangerous power innate to certain species of Digimon, primarily those of the Guilmon family. This Digital Hazard is sealed within Dukemon: Crimson Mode's Digicore.

When Guilmon or Growmon undergoes X-Evolution into, respectively, Guilmon (X-Antibody) or Growmon (X-Antibody), it accepts and contains the power of the Digital Hazard within its body, so its Digital Hazard mark disappears. In Growmon (X-Antibody)'s case, the Digital Hazard increases its power, but in this state further increases its aggressive instincts as a Virus-species, so it exhibits ferocity such that it is incapable of controlling its overflowing power. Megalo Growmon (X-Antibody) is able to use the Digital Hazard-class power contained in its body as energy shots that it fires from the attack units all over its body.

Mark
The Digital Hazard mark is a warning symbol. It is inscribed on species of Digimon which have the potential to cause critical damage to computer data, like Guilmon and its evolutions. However, it does not mean that those species of Digimon are inherently sinister, as they still have the potential to use their powers constructively and even become protectors of the Digital World.

The mark alludes to the real-life warning symbols for s and, which similarly warn of serious threats to the lives and health of living organisms and are trefoil in design.

=Appearances=

Matsuda Takato's partner Digimon, Guilmon, bears the Digital Hazard mark on his body, as do all of his evolved forms. However, Takato's original concept sketches of Guilmon did not include the mark at all.

When Takato forces Guilmon (as Megalo Growmon) to Dark Evolve into Megidramon to fight Beelzebumon, a Digital Hazard event is triggered. The Digital Hazard mark on Megalo Growmon's chest armor begins flashing red before he evolves. Other symptoms of the Digital Hazard in progress include lightning in the sky near Megalo Growmon/Megidramon, the appearance of red pillars of light both around the Digital World, and in Tokyo in the Real World, and the fissuring of the terrain all around Megidramon.

Hypnos's computer systems detect the Digital Hazard, diagnose it as an abnormal data expansion in the deepest layer of the network, and forecast that it will also impact the Real World. Onodera Megumi describes the Digital Hazard as "the worst they have had". Both Hypnos's system screens and Lee Jiang-yu's computer screen display the Digital Hazard mark, prompting Jiang-yu to rush to Hypnos headquarters. By this point, according to Yamaki Mitsuo, the situation has been identified as an "enormous power" appearing in the deepest layer, causing the layer itself to shake.

Independently of this, Lee Jianliang notices the Digital Hazard mark on Megidramon's chest continuing to flash as he fights Beelzebumon, and concludes that the mere fact of Megidramon's evolution has put the Digital World in peril.

When Beelzebumon overpowers and subdues Megidramon, the Digital Hazard ends. Hypnos detects this as the anomaly in the deepest layer subsiding. The Digital Hazard mark on Megidramon's chest also ceases flashing.

Digital Monster X-evolution is set in the aftermath of Project Ark and the creation of the New Digital World. Dukemon mentions that a Digital Hazard had begun.

The implementation of Project Ark is a response from Yggdrasill to an imminent Digital Hazard. The data volumes of Digimon increasing to a degree beyond Yggdrasill's forecasts precipicates a Digital Hazard that would cause the entire universe in which the Digital World is located to explode. To prevent the Digital Hazard, Project Ark culls the Digimon population of the Digital World significantly using Program X and establishes the New Digital World, to which Yggdrasill's chosen survivors of Project Ark are moved.

Inui Yuu's first hat bears the Digital Hazard mark.

Several days after the defeat of Ogudomon X-Antibody, Yggdrasill accepts the will of the winner of the Battle Royale and inmplements an update to the Digital World that removes the barriers between the old and New Digital Worlds and unifies them. Although this raises some concerns of a repeat of the same Digital Hazard that made Project Ark necessary in the first place, Doumoto Kouta and Musha Yuuji promise to attempt to expand the Digital World's data capacity from the Real World to prevent it from occurring again.

When Belphemon opens the path to the Dark Area, a Digital Hazard mark appears on the ground.

The Digital Hazard is an item that can be used to evolve Chaos Dukemon into Megidramon.

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Video Games
=Additional Information=