As beings made of data, you wouldn’t think that we as humans shared any similarities toDigimonaside from our sentience. However, evolution is integral to both of our respective lives. This isn’t to say that humans undergo a process comparable toa Digimon’s digivolution, but we do evolve. Our bodies can adapt to resist certain viruses or illnesses and Digimon do this too, the most prevalent example coming from the development of the X-Antibody.
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The X-Antibody was first introduced in the early 2000s, with the release of Digimon: X-Evolution. Since then, it hasmade several appearances in Digimon gamesand manga, but its origins and purpose have only been explained in sparse segments that most haven’t come across. As such, this article will explain the origins and purpose of the X-Antibody.
Creation And Purpose
Theories regarding the origins of the Digital World and its inhabitants aside,Digimon are, at their core, programs. No matter how sentient they are, they’re made up entirely of data. They were designed to be the way they are. Granted, they evolved, but they were still designed. This is important, becausethe X-Antibody wasn’t designed.
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While the timeline and canon of the Digital World vary with each iteration, the origins of the X-Antibody remain the same. There came a point in the Digital World’s history whereoverpopulation threatened its stability. To combat this, King Drasil, the supercomputer that oversees the Digital World, initiated theX-Program, a program that would wipe out 98% of all Digimon. The survivors would then be moved to a new server while the old one would be destroyed. This plan, known asProject Arc, however, wouldn’t be as simple as King Drasil first envisioned.
Unbeknownst to King Drasil, some Digimon that survived the purge developed a mutation in their coding. A mutation that,much like how an antibody reacts towards a foreign entity, counteracted the X-Program and spared those lucky enough to develop it from King Drasil’s purge. This mutation was fittingly deemed the X-Antibody.
King Drasil’s Reaction
While this mutation seemed like a godsend for a small percentage of the Digimon not chosen to be moved to the new server, it angered King Drasil. To him,the X-Antibody was the gravest of insultsand a hindrance to his plan of destroying the original server. As such, it was only natural that King Drasil would send his personal forces,the Royal Knights, to wipe out this apparent blight.
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As shown in Digimon X-Evolution, the Royal Knights were sent out to exterminate these surviving Digimon. A fierce battle erupted between the X-Antibody holders and the Royal Knights, and it only ended when Alphamon,a Royal Knight with the X-Antibody, intervened to stop Death X, the living embodiment of the X-Program.
Additional Benefits
Aside from being a ‘cure’ for the X-Program, the X-Antibody had a few other effects on the Digimon who carry it. For one,those who obtain the X-Antibody rather than develop it naturally, go through a transformation. For some Digimon, like Tokomon and Betamon, the change is very minimal, but for the majority of these Digimon, the change is far more prevalent.
In terms of design, these types of Digimon have analmost primal appearance in comparisonto their counterparts. Where a good number of Digimon, at least at the Rookie level, have cute or sleek designs,those with X-Antibody are more intense. They have an edge to them, something that makes them seem more dangerous or wild. Even some of their entries state that these X-Antibody holders are more prone to fight than they would be without the mutation.
Another change is thatthose who gain the X-Antibody become stronger than their original species. Not only did their new bodies grant them new ways to fight, but they were stronger as a whole. They could achieve feats that others of their species could never accomplish and, in some cases, their power was comparable to Digimon a level above them.
Natural Carriers Vs Other Carriers
As previously stated, there are Digimon that are born with the X-Antibody. These Digimon aren’t necessarily stronger than non-carriers of the same level, butmost are noted to have a higher ‘combat instinct’. This doesn’t mean that they’re more prone to start fights, just that they’re more competent when it comes to battle.
Related:Digimon That Are More Dangerous Than They AppearBecause the X-Antibody stems from a Digimon’s DigiCore, which is essentially the soul or heart of a Digimon, this mutation can’t be developed later in life. Theonly way to obtain this mutation is for a carrier to willingly relinquish their DigiCoreor for it to be forcibly taken. Either method results in the death of the original carrier, and the birth of a new Digimon in its place.
This is the reason thatnon-natural carriers of the X-Antibody are stronger than others of the same species. Their bodies now hold the souls and power of two Digimon instead of one. That carrier’s strength now belongs to the recipient. In addition,Digimon who acquire the X-Antibody in this manner must continuously absorb more of the antibody or die. Digimon who have been given the X-Antibody receive an ‘X’ at the end of their name to furthercement their new level of power.
Horrible Until Useful
As previously stated, the Royal Knights, under the direction of King Drasil, attempted to wipe out those with the X-Antibody. Despite this apparent hatred for the X-Antibody, in the manga series Digimon Chronicles, King Drasil gifted several of his knights this very same mutation. This was toallow the knights to survive in the Old Digital World, but it’s hypocritical, to say the least.
In addition, Digimon Chronicles had a short sequel in Digmon Chronicles X wherethe Seven Great Demon Lordswere running amok within the Old Digital World.As they had remained hidden within the Dark Area, a place where the X-Program couldn’t reach, they were able to emerge into a Digital World without the Royal Knights.
Fearing what these Digimon could do, King Drasil dispatched the Royal Knights, once more granting them the hated mutation to combat the Demon Lords.
Next:Digimon Survive Vs. Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Which Is Better?
