"What I tell you now, is the story of Dracul Samhain, the GranDracmon, and his rise and fall," said Amenhotep. "It was Dracul Samhain that first corrupted the Seven Demon Lords alongside Ogudomon. But the Black King was too ambitious. He sought to rule by himself and betrayed Ogudomon. However, Samhain was slain. We believed this to be the end. We now know differently."
"If he was killed, how was he sent to the Black Level?" asked Theron.
"The circumstances of his sealing are beyond my knowledge," said Amenhotep. "But there is one who knows, the being who sealed Dracul Samhain in the first place. Anubis Teth-Adam, Lord of the Realm Between Life and Death, Judge of the Dead. It was he who sealed Dracul Samhain. It is he who can reveal to you the truth."
"Pointless," Ajax growled. "We can't even reach Anubis."
Amenhotep stood suddenly and raised a hand. At once, the treasures in the room lifted into the air and began to swirl around the Avengers, obscuring Amenhotep from view. The treasures swirled faster and faster until all around them was nothing but a rush of gold. Then the rush began to slow, and sand once again drifted across them. They found themselves high on the tip of a pyramid. All around, golden sands swirled, hiding the rest of the pyramid and the world below in a sandy mist. A figure faded into sight.
Anubis Teth-Adam.
He was enormous. He took up the entire sky, rising from the swirling sands.
"Avengers," he said. "You seek the truth of the resurrection of Dracul Samhain the Black King. I, Anubis Teth-Adam, Lord of the Realm Between Life and Death, Judge of the Dead, will tell you this truth."
"It's about time we got some answers," Ajax muttered.
"I, Anubis Teth-Adam, Lord of the Realm Between Life and Death, Judge of the Dead, judged Dracul Samhain the Black King after his death," the god said. "But he had learned the secrets of power and life beyond death. He fought back with a power even I, Anubis Teth-Adam, Lord of the Realm Between Life and Death, Judge of the Dead, could not overcome, and I, Anubis Teth-Adam, Lord of the Realm Between Life and Death, Judge of the Dead, was forced to seal him away in the Black Level."
"How did he get free?" Ajax demanded.
"This I, Anubis Teth-Adam, Lord of the Realm Between Life and Death, Judge of the Dead, am not able to reveal," said the god. "However, once Dracul Samhain the Black King was freed, he set to punish the one who had killed him. He defeated the Seven Demon Lords and took the power of the Seven Deadly Crests to weaken and defeat Ogudomon."
"So the only one who ever beat Dracul Samhain is gone," Theron mused. "Not good."
"This is why I, Anubis Teth-Adam, Lord of the Realm Between Life and Death, Judge of the Dead, revived the ones known as Rai of Destiny and Karasu Ravemon," said the god. They, like the Dracul Samhain the Black King, are now beyond judgment. It is the one thing that can allow you to defeat Dracul Samhain the Black King."
"Is that so?" said a terrible voice. It seemed to surprise even Anubis Teth-Adam, and for a moment, everyone searched for the voice. They found the source standing on a floating rock, high in the air.
Dracul Samhain...the Black King.
GranDracmon.
"Do you, Teth-Adam, Lord of the Realm Between Life and Death, Judge of the Dead, truly think these mortals can defeat me?" Dracul Samhain mocked.
Ajax spun the Dunas and prepared to attack.
"Stop," said Anubis Teth-Adam. " He is only a data projection of his physical self. He can neither harm you nor be harmed by you."
"Oh, that is where you're wrong, Anubis Teth-Adam, Lord of the Realm Between Life and Death, Judge of the Dead," said Dracul Samhain with a smirk. "I have learned many things while I was away. I must thank you for opening my eyes."
"What do you--?"
Samhain extended his right hand over Anubis and the Avengers. "Tell me, Anubis Teth-Adam, Lord of the Realm Between Life and Death, Judge of the Dead, how many souls have you judged? How many dark and terrible Digimon have you sent to damnation? Let's find out, shall we?" His hand began to crack with energy as he spoke. "The blackest night falls from the skies. The darkness grows as all light dies. I crave your hearts and your demise. By my black hand the dead shall rise."
Shadows suddenly began to emerge from the sands around the pyramid. They were the living dead, the evil Digimon judged by Anubis Teth-Adam throughout the eons. They had been brought back by Dracul Samhain and let loose on he who judged them. They smothered him, clawed at his eyes, crawled down his nose and mouth. Anubis Teth-Adam fought back. He let loose torrents of primordial energy, but the dead kept coming.
And the Avengers were at a loss of what to do.
"Go!" roared Anubis. He surrounded the Avengers with a great sphere and hurled them through his realm. "You must end this terror. Seek knowledge of the beginning. Seek the prophecy. And beware the Blackest Night!"
The Avengers sped through time and space as the golden sands swirled around them, and they found themselves inside the pyramid once again, in Amenhotep's throne room. Only this time, the treasure crumbled to sand, dust, and ash. And Amenhotep was little but an ashen statue. With his purpose served, he and his belongings had crumbled away...