The Avengers were assembled before the leaders of the Rebellion: Apollo and Artemis. Arahon and Braon stood beside the rebel leaders as the Avengers prepared for their next mission. The sense of urgency was not altogether lost, but it had lessened in the wake of Imego's defeat. The Rebellion had the opportunity now to recover lost ground: to make contact with the smaller pockets of resistance. Now counted among the Avenger's ranks once again was Hyperion Omega, the soldier that stood in silence. Since his rebirth as Omnimon, Hyperion lacked purpose: he didn't know where he stood in the world. But now that his enemies were laid out before him, his vision was clear.
He would destroy his enemies, and all those who stood in the way of justice and peace. He embodied the most ironic of concepts: peace through total destruction.
"You're all to be commended on your efforts in defending the Paleozoic Sovereignty," said Apollo. "Gapsar and Strom, we could not have done without your actions in rallying the Sovereignty's forces. Rai, Valkur, and Onaga, you led our own forces bravely; we would not have won without you. You, Ajax, will forever have the gratitude of the Harmonious Republic for standing against the overwhelming odds of Imego's power. And last, but certainly not least, Karasu...you deserve our utmost thanks and appreciation for dealing the blow that took Imego down."
"Nevertheless," Artemis began. "There is still much work to do. The Empire's recent defeat will only buy us so much time. With the Royal Hive and the Paleozoic Sovereignty now standing with us, our forces are bolstered considerably. But we will need to unite all the kingdoms of the Digital World if we want to overcome the power of the Three Great Dramon and their armies."
"We're sending you to meet with the Leomon Tribe," said Arahon. "Their leader, a Regulumon named Boagrius, was Goliath's father. I'm confident that he will lend his tribe to our cause, especially once he learns of his son's death."
"Chances of Dramon attacking?" Onaga asked cautiously.
"Slim," said Braon. "But no one can really say how long Imego will stay down, even after that death-blow from Karasu."
"We've still got Ajax," said Valkur. "Worst comes to worst he Crimson Evolves, and the lot of us go after Imego together."
"I don't think so," said Ajax. "The fight took a lot out of me. I don't I'll be able to X-Evolve, never mind Crimson Evolve, for a while."
"Then Onaga and I will deal with Imego next time," Valkur announced.
"How?" Ajax asked.
"Leave that to us," answered Onaga.
"I'm afraid things aren't so simple," said Arahon. "While we fought Imego, I had a moment to analyze the energies of his Paladin Mode, and I came to a disturbing conclusion: the power that sustains his mode change is the power of Azulongmon himself."
"Are you sure?" Ajax asked.
"Absolutely," Arahon answered. "Imego is backed by the power of a Sovereign."
"No wonder he was able to beat me," Ajax muttered.
"Like I said," Onaga said. "Leave Imego to Valkur and I. We, too, have a legendary power within us."
"It isn't a plan I like," said Arahon. "But it'll have to do until I return."
"Where are you going?" asked Ajax.
"To find the only one who can defy the powers of the Sovereign," said Arahon.
"I don't understand."
"Imego's evolution is backed by the power of the four Sovereign," Arahon explained. "I will go to the one being whose will supersedes that of the four Sovereign...the fifth, the Infinite One...Fanglongmon."
All dropped their jaws in shock.
"Ouroboros himself," Apollo muttered.
"But no one has seen or heard from Ouroboros in eons," Artemis pointed out. "What chance do you have?"
"My mastery of the Alpha-Gain Force will allow me audience with Ouroboros," said Arahon. "I'm sure of this."
"Then we'll keep a vigil eye until your return," Ajax declared. "Avengers, let's get ready. We head out as soon as we're able to."
Hyperion merely looked on in silence. Here was a chance for him to further define who was enemy and who wasn't, to define the borders of justice and peace even more clearly...
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The Three Great Dramon looked on Imego's fallen and battered form in confusion. They knew what had happened; their commanders had reported that much. What the Three Great Dramon wondered was if they should step in and help Imego.
"He has certainly proved his power and usefulness to the Empire," Krateamut the Megidramon pointed out.
"Nonetheless, his appetite for power is insatiable," said Tiamut the Magnadramon. "What if he were to decide that we three were in his way?"
"What if our people learn that we were unwilling to save the life of our greatest champion?" Bahamut the Goldramon questioned. He was often the mediation voice between the other two. "How could we, the Three Great Dramon, the masters of the Dramon Empire be unwilling to save the Lord Protector Imego? If we do not, the citizens of the Empire will lose faith in us. As it is now, Imego has become a symbol that instills pride and hope in our people, and fear in our enemies. Were that symbol to die, the blow to morale would be devastating."
"Then it is decided," said Krateamut. "Imego will live."
The three mighty dragon masters began to focus their power around Imego's barely-living form. Energies lanced down from the heavens and skewered the great paladin with light infused by the distinctive power of the Three Great Dramon themselves...
