The Excalibur energy sword of Lord Seraphor the Seraphimon clashed hard against the Omni Sword as Seraphor and Imego dueled in the inner layers of the Celestial Sphere. The Seraphimon showed admirable strength and skill; he had fought Imego to a standstill.
"Why have you come here, black-hearted Imego?" Seraphor demanded. "Why have you invaded this place of the most high?"
"I'm here for the glory of the Empire," Imego snarled. "To demonstrate my power to all Digimon in the Digital World; even those of the Celestial Sphere."
"And you would take thousands of lives to do this?" Seraphor demanded. "Just to show your superiority?"
"The will of the Three Great Dramon is absolute," Imego stated. "They decreed that the Digital World belongs to them, and so shall it be!"
Seraphor frowned behind his shining helm and declared boldly, "Then by the will of the Sovereign, the true masters of the Digital World, you shall not succeed!"
The two warriors clashed again and their swords sent out sparks as they struck. Seraphor dug deep into his well of strength and pushed Imego's weapon away. He then raced towards him with power gathering between his hands.
"Seven Heavens!" Seraphor called out. His attack--seven orbs of holy light--slammed into Imego from point-blank range and sent him flying. Seraphor drew the Excalibur energy sword once again and charged Imego.
But just as he moved into striking range, Imego unleashed his Giga Crusher. The attack hit Seraphor from point-blank and completely engulfed him in burning energy. The great angel was hurled through the air and crashed into one of the holy energy barriers.
"Omni Sword!" Imego roared. He charged forward with his sword drawn back. Energies poured into the blade. Seraphor raised the Excalibur to defend himself, but the resulting backlash of energies washed over and overwhelmed the angel.
Imego raised his sword and moved in for the killing strike.
"Lightning Spear!" A great bolt of lightning sliced through the air and struck Imego. Seraphor used this delay to escape from Imego's range. Two Digimon crashed through the walls of the Celestial Sphere and landed beside Seraphor. They were Ophania the Ophanimon and Cherubei the Cherubimon.
"Be on your guard," Seraphor advised. "He's extremely powerful..."
=====
Ajax and the whole of the Avengers confronted the murderous Daehak. Onaga had moved to Ragna's side and slung Ragna's arm over his shoulder to help him to his feet. Ajax deactivated the Gram beam-lance and faced the Aegis shield towards Daehak.
"Shield of the Just!" Ajax unleashed his attack and the great beam of energy struck Daehak's face and knocked the dragon on his back.
Daehak struggled to his feet, groaining in pain all the while. He was silent with disbelief. How could this small band of rebel fighters overcome him and his army? It shouldn't have been possible: they weren't so scary powerful that they could overcome the entire Dramon Army on their own. What made them capable of humbling him so?
"Retreat!" Daehak called out. The cry went up throughout his army and the Dramon turned and fled. Three Machinedramon covered Daehak's flank as he fled from the Avengers.
"We should go after him; finish him off," Onaga suggested.
"We don't want the Dramon Army to start fighting again," said Ajax. "Going after them will just incite them to resume their attack. Let them live with this defeat; we humbled Daehak like never before. We won't be seeing him for some time."
As the last stragglers of the Dramon Army fled, a cheer went up through the ranks of the Royal Hive soldiers. Ajax turned to them and raised his shield in triumph and another roar echoed across the ranks. The great master of the Hive, the TyrantKabuterimon Terminus Kruun emerged from the hive and flew down to meet with his commanders and the Avengers.
"You are from the Rebellion, aren't you?" the great leader asked.
"We are, Your Highness," Ajax answered. "We are the rebel unit known as the Avengers. Lord Apollo and Lady Artemis ordered us here to aid in the defense of your kingdom."
"Would this mean that you 'Avengers' would not have come to our aid if not ordered?" Terminus asked.
"That's irrelevant," Ajax answered. "We were ordered here because you were being attacked. Were you not, we would have respected your autonomy as a nation."
"I see," said Terminus. He remained silent for a few moments before continuing. "It would appear that I cannot allow my kingdom to remain uninvolved in this conflict any longer, just as Apollo and Artemis said."
"The world is dividing," said Valkur. "Soon those that don't stand with the Empire will have no choice but to stand against it or be destroyed."
"I understand this now," said Terminus. "Tell your Lords that they will have the full support of the Royal Hive from now on."
Ajax nodded his head in thanks. "Avengers, let's head back. Job well done..."
=====
Imego's Hyper Prominence attack struck all three of the great angel and knocked them into the kernel of the Celestial Sphere. They hit the floor hard and cried out in pain. Seraphor was the first to rise to shaky feet, but quickly collapsed to his knees. The three angels, while powerful, were unable to overcome Imego's incomparable might.
"You fought valiantly," Imego said as he stalked over to them with the Omni Sword prepared for a killing stroke. "But you fought a losing battle. You cannot defeat me: my power is that of the whole Dramon Empire." He stood over the three and raised his sword high. "Now die!"
Imego swung the Omni Sword with all his might, fully intent on cutting all three angels down with a single stroke. But the Omni Sword struck a powerful barrier of energy and was stopped mere inches away from the angels.
A blindingly bright light appeared as the great Varodurumon emerged from the final core of the Celestial Sphere. The great exalted bird glowed with a holy light that scattered from its feathers all colors of the rainbow. The six-winged bird slowly descended to hover just above and in front of the three great angels that served him.
"Valdor," Imego growled.
"Imego," Valdor said. His voice was powerful: it washed over the entire kernel, echoing from the walls. "I demand that you and your soldiers leave the Celestial Sphere at once or."
Imego just smirked. "No. Hyper Prominence!" A great burst of energy erupted from Imego's entire body and streaked towards Valdor with merciless intent. But the attack stopped short of reaching Valdor. Instead it struck his powerful energy barrier and dissipated.
"Then suffer the consequences," Valdor said solemnly. "Aurora Undulation!" Holy light pulsed forward from Valdor's wings and slammed into Imego. For the first time since acquiring his new Paladin Mode, Imego felt true pain as he was hurled through the air and slammed into the ground.
But Imego refused to leave. Instead, he rose to his feet and let loose with another Giga Crusher. This attack surged towards Valdor and once again failed to bypass his seemingly impenetrable barrier created by his Purge Shine technique.
"Your attacks cannot penetrate my Purge Shine," Valdor explained. "No attack that carries evil intent can." Valdor attacked again; his Aurora Undulation streaked towards Imego, who just barely managed to raise the Omni Sword in an attempt to block it. The great white paladin struggled against the titanic onslaught of holy energies. He refused to give in. All seemed hopeless for Imego, and the entire Digital World seemed to take a hold its breath.
But suddenly, the digicode engraved on the Omni Sword began to glow, and the true power of the weapon came forth. Acting on instinct alone, Imego harnessed the "Initialize" power of the blade and with but a thought turned the Aurora Undulation back on Valdor. Because the attack carried none of Imego's intent, it was able to penetrate Valdor's barrier.
The great ruler of the Celestial Sphere cried out in pain.
Imego took the initiative. He sprung forward and swung the Omni Sword with all his might. But once again, the Purge Shine protected Valdor and repelled Imego's attack. Valdor rose to the air once again.
"You will not take this place," he vowed. "Aurora Undulation!" His attack flew towards Imego, but the paladin called upon the "Initialize" power once again and turned the attack back on its user. Valdor took the attack head on and was hurled to the ground.
The great paladin, the Lord Protector of the Dramon Empire, stood over the four holy beings. "This is Lord Protector Imego," he said, sending a message to his forces. "All Dramon Empire soldiers are to fall back from the Celestial Sphere. Our mission has been accomplished."
"I don't understand," Seraphor cried. "Why do this? Why attack if you do not intend on seeing the attack through to the end."
"So that you all know just how easily I can come back and do it again," Imego answered. "I did this so that you come to the understanding that the Dramon Empire could destroy you at any time. You exist only by the grace and will of the Three Great Dramon."
Imego spread his great white wings and tore through the walls of the Celestial Sphere. He emerged on the outside and led the Dramon Air Force from the heavenly city. They appeared as a great flock of black, pouring from the burning city of white.
"Alert all inhabitants of the Celestial Sphere," said Valdor. "We shall retreat to the Jericho Nexus and remain there for the foreseeable future."
"Retreat?" Seraphor demanded. "Lord Valdor, what madness is this? We must stay and fight! The Dramon Empire is destroying the world!"
"And I will not allow my people to suffer for it," Valdor stated.
"Then I will stay and fight alongside the Rebels of the Harmonious Republic," declared Seraphor. Ophania and Cherubei stood beside him as if to show solidarity in the decision.
"No," ordered Valdor. "I will not allow it. You are to accompany me and your people to the Jericho Nexus as per my orders."
"Allow me one last act," Seraphor asked. "Allow me to offer one last bit of aid to the Rebellion as payback for what Imego has done to us here. I swear I will not involve myself directly in any conflict."
"So be it," said Valdor. "Ophania, accompany Seraphimon. You two are then to return here immediately. Cherubei, you and I will make preparations for the exodus." Seraphor and Ophania bowed their heads in respect before taking off into the air.
"What is your plan, noble Seraphor?" Ophania asked.
"I will deliver to the rebels an instrument of great power to aid them in their struggle against Imego and his lot," he answered. "But they will need someone to instruct them in its use."
"The Valkyrimon Tala Rune has allied herself with the Rebellion," said Ophania. "She will know what to do."
"Good," said Seraphor. "Then let this be done..."
=====
Arahon waited in the observing room as teams of Andromon and HiAndromon worked tirelessly to restore Jager and Tharor to health. However, the medical teams were unable to make any headway towards healing them, and Arahon was beginning to lose hope.
"We simply can't do anything to save them," said the HiAndromon in charge. "Their two digicores are just too damaged. I'm afraid they'll die."
"Anubis Teth-Adam promised us three days," said Arahon.
"We could have a year, but we still won't be able to heal them," said HiAndromon.
"My Lord!" a Shurimon messenger appeared before Arahon. "Lord Seraphor of the Celestial Sphere has arrived.
Arahon quickly went to meet with Seraphor, who informed him of what transpired in the Celestial Sphere, and of Valdor's decision to evacuate the population to the Jericho Nexus. Then he revealed his final gift.
"I have very little time," said Seraphor. "And I wish I could give you more than what I have. I wish I could offer you legions of angels, but the word of Valdor is law. Instead I can only offer you this." Seraphor opened his hand to reveal an item that shone like the golden sun itself. "It is an elemental Digi-Egg," he explained. "As with all Digi-Eggs it is the embodiment of an element. This one is the golden element of Miracles."
"A Digi-Egg of Miracles," said Arahon. "It is certainly a powerful item, but it takes a great deal of study and knowledge to unlock its power."
"The Valkyrimon Tala Rune is well versed in the use of holy artifacts," said Seraphor. "And as she had joined your rebellion prior to Valdor's decree, she is not subject to it."
Tala Rune strode forward and Arahon gave her a nod. He had fought beside the swift warrior before and trusted her skills, especially if Seraphor vouched for her.
"I wish I could stay longer," Seraphor stated. "But I must return to the Celestial Sphere for the exodus. I wish you all the luck in the world, my good friend."
"Aye," said Arahon. "Perhaps we will meet again."
"I certainly hope so." With that, Seraphor lifted into the air and disappeared beyond the clouds in an instant. Arahon was left with a sense of loss and nostalgia; he would certainly miss his good friend.
He then turned his attention back to Tala Rune and the Digi-Egg of Miracles. "What could we do with this?" Arahon was suddenly struck with an idea. He called to Tala and the two raced down to the medical bay.
"Can we use this?" Arahon asked, presenting the Golden Digi-Egg to HiAndromon. "Can we use this to save Tharor and Jager?"
"We might be able to," said HiAndromon with a slight glimmer of hope. "We were trying to find a way to heal their damaged digi-cores, and someone suggested forcing a permanent DNA Digivolution that would combine the two damaged digi-cores and result in a permanent merger. We dismissed this since normally DNA Digivolution is powered by the Digimon involved, but Tharor and Jager have no power left to use for digivolving, and DNA Digivolving requires an enormous donation of power."
"Could the Digi-Egg of Miracles power the DNA Digivolution?" Arahon asked hurriedly.
"It could--and then some," said HiAndromon. "But without knowing how to activate it or hook it up to Tharor and Jager, we-"
"I'll handle that," said Tala Rune as she stepped forward. Drawing on her skills learned as an Angewomon under Ophania, Tala placed both hands on the Golden Digi-Egg and it floated into the air.
"Heaven's Charm," she whispered. Holy light pulsed from her hands into the Digi-Egg and its physical form began to fall away to reveal only the glowing core. "I've done it," she said. "With your machines, you should be able to access its energy, the 'energy of Miracles.'"
HiAndromon began connecting wires and power converters to the glowing core and then connecting the wires to the broken and beaten bodies of Jager and Tharor. Almost immediately, the power flowed into them and they began to glow. They then suddenly burst into tiny fragments of data before recombining into a large "digivolution egg."
"This will take some time," said HiAndromon. "The Digi-Egg of Miracles will continue to power the DNA Digivolution. All we can do is wait and hope for the best."
"Thank the Sovereign," Arahon whispered. He turned to walk away, but Tala stopped him.
"What happened to them?" she asked, glancing to the new Digimon forming. "What could have done such damage?"
Arahon remained silent for several moments, and Tala began to doubt that he'd even offer an answer. But the great black knight suddenly looked her in the eye and spoke a single name.
"Imego."