Holy War [PG-16] (Digimon)

[Griff4815]

(Continued from the previous post)

-

“Where are they…?” a deep, monotone voice questioned. Although the tone was stoic, there was a lingering silence at the end of his sentence that subtly revealed his seething annoyance.

Chaosdramon paced behind the D-Brigade, marching from one end of the lines to the other.

In front of him were the several thousand D-Brigade soldiers, organised precisely in units and teams. Their total military stretched for a kilometer in length, from the hill they controlled to the south, to a small stream to the north. Even with Chaosdramon’s heavy footsteps sending tremors through the ground, not a single D-Brigade soldier moved a muscle out of turn. They were completely organised and disciplined.

The units at the sides of their formation were the rapid attack troops like Tankdramon, MetalGarurumon, LoaderLiomon, and Assaultmon. Making up the base of their army were heavy duty ground troops like Tankmon, Guardromon, Andromon, HiAndromon, MetalTyrannomon, Tankdramon, Mechanorimon, MetalGreymon, and various other machine and cyborg types. The aerial units waited near the ground in front of the thousands of ground troops. These included Megadramon, Gigadramon, Pteranomon, MagnaGarurumon, Rapidmon, Tekkamon, Thunderballmon, Elephamon, Waspmon, Crossmon, WarGreymon X-Antibody, and RizeGreymon. Also, behind the D-Brigade military, as well as covering the hill to the south of them, were the D-Brigade’s heavy bombardment units. These consisted of powerful Digimon like Mugendramon, Deckerdramon, SaintGalgomon, BlackSaintGalgomon, Cannondramon, ZekeGreymon, MetalGarurumon X, and RustTyrannomon. Due to the sheer power of these Ultimate-level Digimon, many of them were also officers of the D-Brigade. There were other D-Brigade officers such as Darkdramon, Justimon, HiAndromon, WarGreymon, and UltimateBrachimon who were difficult to contend with as well. Finally, the D-Brigade was known largely for their covert operations, so there were many teams of Sealsdramon, Commandramon, Tuwarmon, Chamelemon and other Digimon trained for stealth getting into hidden positions across the battlefield.

Chaosdramon turned around and began walking back the way he came, crushing the thoroughly trampled grass underfoot. He glared down at Raijinmon, who stood beside him.

“Where are they, Raijinmon?” he demanded.

“I have no idea, Emperor,” Raijinmon assured the giant, cyborg dragon.

Chaosdramon expelled steam from the vents on his back, physically displaying his dissatisfaction. “How do you not know?” he asked him.

“I know as much as you do, Chaosdramon,” Raijinmon explained. “I was with my division the whole time. I haven’t seen Suijinmon or Fujinmon since we began our march yesterday afternoon.”

The emperor stopped and narrowed his blood red eyes, which matched the hue of his red digizoid plating. “Both disappearing ahead of the decisive battle… when we require them most… It is… suspicious…” he breathed. Chaosdramon glanced at Raijinmon. “Wouldn’t you say, Commander…?”

Raijinmon steeled his will in response to the implication. “We mustn’t jump to conclusions, Your Majesty. Both Suijinmon and Fujinmon are extremely loyal. You know this… I know they wouldn’t abandon their responsibilities. Not without a good reason…” he rationally stated.

Chaosdramon turned away from Raijinmon, gazing down at the D-Brigade before lifting his head and leering across the battlefield to the allied armies. “You had better be correct, Raijinmon,” Chaosdramon spoke. “The dereliction of duty is a capital offence, even for the Storm Commanders of the D-Brigade. If they abandon their positions, the entire command structure will crumble and it will be anarchy. That is not permitted.”

“That will not happen, Emperor Chaosdramon,” Raijinmon assured him, folding his hands behind his back. Internally, he worried about Fujinmon and Suijinmon. This wasn’t like them at all, especially not Suijinmon. Their absence was highly suspicious.

Chaosdramon was silent in response. He emanated an atmosphere of cold steel that restrained an inferno.

Raijinmon shifted in place and irritably flicked his long, yellow, wiry tail. He glanced at Chaosdramon. “How much longer should we wait, Emperor?” he asked him. “The enemy has already gotten into their formations. If we wait much longer, they will be the ones who make the first move.”

“We wouldn’t be in this situation had our head tactician not gone missing,” Chaosdramon spoke angrily. “We wait another fifteen minutes precisely. If they do not show up, we will commence saturation bombardment.”

“Yes, Emperor…” Raijinmon responded.

“Find me their second-in-commands,” Chaosdramon added. “Perhaps they know where they went. Tell them to be ready to lead their divisions.”

Raijinmon turned and was about to respond, but he stopped. The Thunderclap Commander sighed with relief as he stared past Chaosdramon, into the sky behind him. “That may not be necessary, Emperor. There is Fujinmon,” he stated. “Suijinmon is probably right behind him.”

Chaosdramon turned his head in the direction that Raijinmon was looking. He could see the unmistakeable green figure of Fujinmon soaring through the sky. “Good. I am interested in hearing their explanations pertaining to where they went,” he stated, leering at the Hurricane Commander.

Raijinmon nodded, watching as Fujinmon skimmed through the grey sky. Once he was close enough to see him, Raijinmon waved one of his Blitz Arms and hailed him down.

Fujinmon spotted Raijinmon standing beside the far more noticeable Chaosdramon. He released a calming breath and flew down towards them. He knew that he would have to be convincing.

Lightly floating on the breeze, Fujinmon swooped down and stopped in front of them. He gently touched down on the grass before Chaosdramon and bowed deeply. “Chaosdramon, I am deeply sorry,” he stated submissively.

Chaosdramon narrowed his eyes and looked down at Fujinmon. “Where were you? You were missing all of last night. You were not around for the march or the battle preparations, and you nearly missed the battle itself. This is unacceptable, Commander. What is your excuse?” he demanded.

“I am truly sorry, Your Majesty,” Fujinmon insisted, wincing. “It’s Suijinmon…”

“Suijinmon?” Chaosdramon questioned.

Raijinmon frowned at this. “Is something wrong? Did something happen?” he asked him concernedly.

“Yes, well…” Fujinmon paused and looked away. “I… I did my best to stop him… but…”

Chaosdramon’s stare hardened. “Stop him…? Stop him from what? Explain yourself. Now.”

“I tried to convince him otherwise, but I couldn’t… I spent all night trying, but he was determined…” Fujinmon explained remorsefully. He forced himself to look up at Chaosdramon. “Suijinmon said that he wanted no part in this battle.”

Chaosdramon stared down at Fujinmon incredulously. He was silent.

Raijinmon, meanwhile, shot Fujinmon a suspicious gaze, but likewise remained quiet.

“…What?” Chaosdramon finally spoke, his voice brimming with rage. “Explain…”

“He refused to come… He said he didn’t want any part in this battle. He said that he didn’t agree with the direction you are taking, Emperor Chaosdramon,” Fujinmon explained.

“The direction that I am taking…? That is not for him to decide…” Chaosdramon spoke, simmering beneath his metal. The vectors on his scales seemed to glow a brighter red. “He is just a lowly commander.”

Fujinmon gave Raijinmon a look at Chaosdramon’s choice of words. The wording didn’t go unnoticed by Raijinmon, who frowned with deep thought.

“He didn’t like the aggression of the Metal Empire or the way you are taking charge on the battlefield,” Fujinmon continued on. “He said that, although he couldn’t condone what we were doing and refused to take any part in it, he wouldn’t stand in our way.”

“That is unacceptable,” Chaosdramon declared, his monotone voice becoming biting. “Suijinmon thinks that he can so easily spit in the face of everything that I am doing? That is… treacherous…” His burning red eyes narrowed, fixing onto Fujinmon. “And what do you think, Fujinmon? What is your opinion?” He then glanced at Raijinmon. “What of you, Raijinmon?”

“Pardon?” Raijinmon asked, surprised. The gold cyborg Digimon stood up straighter and looked up at Chaosdramon. “I knew nothing about this, Your Majesty. I came here with the intention of following through with the battle. I am sure that Fujinmon did the same.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Fujinmon insisted, bowing deeply. “If I didn’t, I never would have come back here. I did my best to convince Suijinmon, but you know how intransigent he can be when he gets set into a certain way of thinking.”

Chaosdramon released a hiss that sounded like he was expelling more steam. “That stupid, stubborn, treasonous fool… Abandoning me when I require his tactics the most. He is a useless lump of scrap metal who needs to be dealt with…”

Raijinmon gazed at Fujinmon. There was a lot that he wanted to say, but not in front of Chaosdramon.

Chaosdramon breathed and turned away from the yellow and green cyborg Digimon. “I will deal with his insubordination after we achieve victory in this battle. We will proceed without Suijinmon. We will manage accordingly,” Chaosdramon stated firmly. He glanced over his shoulder at the two D-Brigade commanders. “Get his second-in-command: Darkdramon. Fill him in on what he needs to do, but DO NOT tell him what Suijinmon has done. They may side with their precious Waterfall Commander. I bet Suijinmon has been preparing for a moment like this… Keep an eye on his divisions. They may share similar sentiments. They could desert during battle.”

“Yes, Your Majesty…” Fujinmon answered.

“Of course,” Raijinmon agreed, glancing at his slender, green friend.

Chaosdramon began walking away from them, heading towards the rest of the D-Brigade. “We start in exactly ten minutes,” he added.

“Yes, Emperor…” Raijinmon answered, watching as Chaosdramon walked away from them. He waited until Chaosdramon began making his way to the front of the army, far out of their earshot.

Once he was gone, Raijinmon turned to Fujinmon. “…What the hell are you doing, Fujinmon?” he asked him.

Fujinmon looked at Raijinmon innocently. “Pardon?” he questioned.

“Don’t play dumb, Fujinmon. You and I both know that Suijinmon would never do that. He would never defy Chaosdramon. He would certainly never betray him,” Raijinmon explained, folding his arms. “So… Where is he? And what’s going on?”

The Hurricane Commander hooked Raijinmon’s arm with his Critical Arm and pulled him further away so that nobody could hear them. “Suijinmon is fine. He is just temporarily incapacitated…” Fujinmon explained, leaning in close to Raijinmon.

Raijinmon narrowed his eyes. “So that he would miss the battle? …Do you have any idea what danger you’re putting him in? You are making it seem like he’s betraying Chaosdramon. Chaosdramon may very well execute him,” Raijinmon explained angrily.

“Not if we win,” Fujinmon calmly explained. “Not if Chaosdramon is gone…”

“Gone…?” Raijinmon looked at Fujinmon incredulously. “You don’t honestly mean…”

Fujinmon nodded. “Yes. It is time, Raijinmon,” he told him. “This is our only chance. We need to eliminate Chaosdramon once and for all. If we miss this opportunity, everything will fall apart.”

“’Our’? ‘We’?” Raijinmon asked him. “I never agreed to treason, Fujinmon. You are talking madness…”

“Don’t pretend that you haven’t been thinking about what I’ve said, Raijinmon… Chaosdramon doesn’t trust us. Did you see how quick he was to turn on Suijinmon? You could tell that I was lying about Suijinmon, but Chaosdramon couldn’t because he was ready to believe that he betrayed him,” Fujinmon explained calmly. “If we don’t do something about him, he will do something about us.”

“Because of what you are doing,” Raijinmon countered.

Fujinmon shook his head, causing his long, green hair to sway behind him. “I merely revealed Chaosdramon’s true feelings. He is suspicious of all of us, Raijinmon. You saw how he reacted back there… It is only a matter of time before he takes control of the D-Brigade and turns against us,” Fujinmon explained, trying to appeal to rationality.

Raijinmon narrowed his eyes pensively. He didn’t respond, and it was clear that he wasn’t completely convinced.

“It is as you said, Suijinmon will be in trouble if we don’t act now,” Fujinmon pointed out.

“We will all be in trouble if we do turn against him,” Raijinmon argued. “This is an incredibly dangerous game you are playing, Fujinmon.”

“It is not a game, Raijinmon. It is our lives and our freedom. Our dreams and desires… They are stifled under Chaosdramon’s iron fist,” Fujinmon spoke, narrowing his eyes passionately at Raijinmon.

Raijinmon matched his gaze. “It is incredibly risky… If you… if we fail, our lives will be over.”

“And if we succeed, we will be heroes,” Fujinmon spoke, attempting to play to Raijinmon’s own desires.

Raijinmon frowned. “Heroes…? How do you figure that…?” he asked him.

“If we win, we will be the ones who turned on our evil dictator and helped the Royal Knights defeat Chaosdramon,” Fujinmon explained. “We will be lauded for our heroism. The Storm Commanders will become known as pillars of strength, skill, and liberty, not as accessories to oppression. As we are now, we are subordinates under Chaosdramon’s shadow, but here, during this battle, we will be able to break away from Chaosdramon and make our mark. We can take down a tyrant and restore the Metal Empire to glory…”

Raijinmon thought about his words long and hard. His yellow eyes darted back and forth pensively as he considered Fujinmon’s argument. “…You make some compelling points, Fujinmon, but there is still a matter of practicality. You want to turn against him in the middle of a battle against the Royal Knights? How do you plan to pull that off?”

“We will have to play along with Chaosdramon at the beginning, but I have a plan for how to turn the battle against him. We just need to make our intentions clear to the Royal Knights…” Fujinmon explained.

“The Royal Knights…” he mused, obviously biting at the chance. “…And the D-Brigade?” Raijinmon asked. “They may largely be loyal to us, but there is no guarantee that they will help us commit treason against the Emperor. Loyalty has been hammered into them all through their D-Brigade training. They will be highly conflicted between their loyalty to us and their loyalty to him.” Raijinmon frowned. “And there is still the matter of Suijinmon’s troops.”

“There is another reason why Suijinmon is incapacitated, Raijinmon,” Fujinmon explained mysteriously. “Leave Suijinmon’s forces to me. Just go speak to your subordinates.”

Raijinmon was hesitant, but he nodded. “…Very well,” he agreed. He shot Fujinmon a deep stare. “…I am putting my faith in you, Fujinmon. I’m pinning everything on this… I hope you know what you are doing. If we fail…”

“We won’t fail…” Fujinmon assured him. “I will not let you down…”

Raijinmon nodded again and turned away. He stopped when he saw sub-commander Darkdramon, Suijinmon’s subordinate, walking towards them. “Now is your chance,” he muttered to the green cyborg.

Raijinmon walked away from Fujinmon as Darkdramon drew near. Darkdramon stepped up to Fujinmon, looking around the area nervously. “Uh, Commander?” he asked Fujinmon.

Fujinmon looked at Darkdramon. “Darkdramon… I was going to find you next,” he stated ominously.

“Find me…? Is this about Commander Suijinmon?” Darkdramon asked him.

“I’m afraid so…” Fujinmon responded, glancing away.

The Darkdramon officer narrowed his eyes angrily and looked at Fujinmon with a pleading look. “…What happened, Sir? Please, tell me…” he beseeched him.

Fujinmon made a point of looking around to make sure nobody was listening. He then leaned in towards Darkdramon. “It was as I feared… Chaosdramon had Suijinmon arrested for sedition and high treason…”

Darkdramon’s eyes widened. “What?!” he demanded. “But that’s… Suijinmon would never! He would never do that! The Emperor is… he is…” Darkdramon trailed off, not wanting to say anything treasonous.

“I completely agree with you, Darkdramon. Chaosdramon is becoming power-hungry and paranoid. He needs to be stopped,” Fujinmon put forward. “Don’t you agree?”

Darkdramon looked up at Fujinmon with a wide, shocked look. “I… I…” he stammered hesitantly.

Fujinmon locked his gaze with Darkdramon. “I have been thinking about how to save Suijinmon since yesterday. Taking out Chaosdramon is the only way. You know Suijinmon well, Darkdramon. He would never think of betraying Chaosdramon. This is how far the extent of Chaosdramon’s suspicions have come,” he explained to him. “You do want to save Suijinmon, don’t you? I certainly do.”

“O-Of course, Commander!” Darkdramon exclaimed, although obviously with misgivings. “It’s just…”

“I understand, sub-commander. I do not take this decision lightly, but it is the only way,” Fujinmon responded. “I should tell you this for your own safety, but Chaosdramon also suspects Raijinmon and I.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Darkdramon exclaimed, clenching his fists.

“You agree that he must be brought to justice, don’t you? Otherwise, the rest of us will suffer under his arbitrary oppression. He needs to be stopped,” Fujinmon continued.

Darkdramon narrowed his eyes, his face darkening as he considered his points. “Yes… I agree…”

Fujinmon nodded. “Good… Since Suijinmon is under arrest, that means that you are in charge of his forces,” he explained. “Tell them what Chaosdramon has done. We will make our move during the battle. Get your troops on board as the battle begins. When the battle begins, just carry out the regular battle plan, so as not to arouse suspicion. Wait for my signal before we attack him.”

“Yes, Commander. And your troops?” Darkdramon asked him.

“My direct subordinates know what the plan is. The rest will obey,” the Hurricane Commander stated.

“Yes, sir. I understand. Secrecy will be kept from Chaosdramon,” Darkdramon assured him.

“Good. Thank you,” Fujinmon replied, smiling.

They were interrupted by the sound of Chaosdramon’s footsteps. They turned and watched as Chaosdramon walked through the D-Brigade formations, heading over to them.

“Get into your positions!” Chaosdramon ordered them, obviously unaware of what they had been discussing. “We are beginning now!”

“Yes, Emperor!” Fujinmon stated, saluting before flying off to his D-Brigade soldiers.

Darkdramon wordlessly saluted and did the same, flying to where Suijinmon’s troops were located.

Chaosdramon got to the back of the lines with the rest of the bombardment Digimon. “Prepare to fire!” he shouted, his deep voice booming across the field.

He turned around and angled his body down. The sounds of rounds clicking into their chambers and the hiss of energy swelling could he heard. The two massive cannons connected to Chaosdramon’s giant, metal backpack suddenly began moving from their resting, downwards position. They curved upwards until the two cannons rested on his broad, muscular shoulders. They aimed over the D-Brigade, pointing across the battlefield at the Royal Knights’ and Saversburg’s army.

Chaosdramon’s blood-hued eyes glowed as he began building up energy within the two cannons. The cannons howled as energy began to swell and gather inside them, pouring into them from Chaosdramon’s backpack. As he sent dark energy spilling into his cannons, the lines of his body glowed with a bright red. Dark, burning energy and steam expelled from the vents at the backs of the cannons, helping to cool and diffuse them as they prepared to fire.

Beneath Chaosdramon’s heavy, clawed boots, dark cracks began to emerge in the ground, sending dark energy wafting up from deep below the earth.

Chaosdramon narrowed his eyes and bent forwards, taking careful aim at the Royal Knights.

“Commence bombardment…” he spoke, just loud enough for the D-Brigade to hear his deep, bellowing voice. “Hyper Mugen Cannon!”

Intense, dark beams exploded from his cannons and surged across the battlefield, prompting the D-Brigade to start unleashing their munitions.

The battle had begun.

 

[Griff4815]

Chapter 22: Blood and Iron​

“Commence bombardment… Hyper Mugen Cannon!”

Chaosdramon’s deep, guttural voice thundered across the D-Brigade’s lines. Streams of dark energy tore from the muzzles of his cannons and swept across the field towards the Saversburg-Order army, particularly the middle where the Royal Knights and most of the Saversburg soldiers were.

No later than two seconds after Chaosdramon began his attack, the rest of the D-Brigade bombardment troops fired in unison. There was a deafening crack of cannons, the shrill whistle of launching missiles, and the deep howl of beams being fired. They all opened fire at once, creating a thunderous symphony of mechanical destruction.

The allied army watched as the attacks began to pour out of the D-Brigade’s lines. Hundreds of missiles soared through the air like rain. They prepared themselves with nervous anticipation and adrenaline.

Craniamon narrowed his eyes, staring across the field as one of Chaosdramon’s two beams came barreling towards him. Even though the beams flew several meters above the ground, they were still powerful enough to burn up the grass and send shallow trenches ripping through the dirt.

“Here they come,” Gankoomon spoke, narrowing his eyes and digging his heels in.

Omegamon eyed the two dark beams that surged towards them. He offhandedly noticed something ominous about them, but at the moment, he was more concerned about their immediate destructive capabilities. “Incoming!” he announced, his light, dual voice resounding.

“Behind me,” Craniamon told them. He jumped into the path of one of the gigantic beams and raised the Avalon shield in front of him. He dug his boots into the ground and braced for the impact.

“I’ve got you, Craniamon!” Dynasmon shouted, flying up behind the violet Royal Knight and pressing his hands on Craniamon’s back in order to help brace him for the impact.

“I’ll get the other one,” Omegamon stated, flying into the path of the other approaching beam. He angled the left side of his body forwards and got a good footing. The orange Brave Shield Omega on his left shoulder suddenly enlarged to cover half of Omegamon’s body.

Like Dynasmon, Gankoomon ran over and got behind Omegamon, holding him firmly to help support him in blocking the attack. “Hold steady!” he shouted with fiery determination

“God Bless!” Craniamon shouted, right before the titanic beam was about to hit him and Dynasmon. He purposefully left it until the last moment in order to have more time. The shield released an omnidirectional barrier that surrounded himself and Dynasmon, also serving to protect the Digimon behind them. The blast slammed into the transparent screen and roared as it tried to get through. The barrier held steady against the attack, causing the beam to part around them. Dark tendrils of energy shot out around the barrier and tore into the ground and fizzled in the air.

After three seconds, the barrier faded, and the remnants of the beam slammed into the Avalon shield, forcing Craniamon to rely on his strength in order to block it. His and Dynasmon’s feet dug deep into the ground under the intense pressure of the beam blast. Their arms and legs strained as they held against the stream of dark energy. The blast pushed them back a meter, tearing against the metal, digizoid face of the Avalon.

The result was the same with Omegamon and Gankoomon. Having weaker defences than Craniamon, they only barely managed to block the powerful beam and remain standing. Omegamon and Gankoomon were pushed back further, and it was through sheer force of effort that they held firm against the devastating beam.

Omegamon’s bright, sky blue eyes narrowed with effort, but also with pensive thought, as he felt the pressure of the beam against him. “Why does this feel so familiar…?” he couldn’t help but wonder at the back of his mind.

After several sustained seconds, the pressure of the beams weakened and they started to subside. The beams thinned as the tails of the dark plasma impacted the two Royal Knights’ shields. The pressure faded, allowing the Royal Knights to finally slacken. Both the Avalon and the Brave Shield Omega were superheated from the powerful beams. Smoke drifted up from around them and the metal glowed, scorching to the touch.

“Damn, that packed a hell of a punch,” Gankoomon observed, gritting his teeth. “Chaosdramon’s a powerhouse.”

Omegamon frowned and stood up straight. “Something didn’t feel right…” he mused.

Gankoomon looked at Omegamon, arching an eyebrow behind his visor. “Huh? What do you mean, Omegamon?” he asked.

“Forget it right now!” Craniamon reminded them firmly. He pointed his spear towards the sky, from where missiles were descending. The explosive munitions fell like rain pellets from the grey clouds. Meanwhile, beams, blasts, and shells were streaking across the battlefield and plummeting on their ranks. “We’ve got more incoming!”

Omegamon glared and nodded. He soared up into the sky and swept his left arm out, causing the massive Grey Sword to eject from the orange Grey Arm’s mouth. He looked over his shoulder at the allied Digimon army behind them. “Everyone, begin countermeasures. Leave the first volley to me,” he spoke, his voice echoing and a flash shining in his blue eyes.

Omegamon flew through the air, towards the screeching missiles as they descended towards him. He narrowed his eyes and pivoted his body to the left to rear his Grey Arm back. The massive blade suddenly erupted with a swell of fire. “Grey Sword!” he shouted, his dual voice resounding as he spoke. He swept the Grey Sword outwards and unleashed a massive arc of flaming energy from the blade. The arcing fire blast carved into the air and slammed into the hundreds of missiles as they swooped down towards him and his comrades.

The flames ignited the missiles and crushed them upon impact. A chain of dozens of explosions began tearing through the sky. Multiple, blinding flashes erupted in the air like fireworks, sending fire, smoke, and molten shrapnel shooting out above the center of the battlefield.

However, not all of the missiles were destroyed, and many continued to shoot through the smoke. This prompted Omegamon to extend the Garuru Cannon from his right arm and begin aiming at the stray missiles. He tracked their movements carefully as he built up freezing energy in his giant cannon.

“Garuru Cannon!” Omegamon spoke, unleashing a powerful blast from the Garuru Cannon. The bluish-white blast pulsed from the muzzle and soared through the sky towards a cluster of descending missiles. The orb of energy consumed four missiles in one pass, freezing them and causing them to break and detonate. Omegamon then turned and fired another blast at two more falling missiles.

Dynasmon followed Omegamon’s example and flew up to his side. “Dragon’s Roar!” he shouted. He raised his claws and started shooting blasts of elemental energy from the gems on his palms. Blasts of fire, light, electricity, and ice burst from his claws and pierced through individual missiles, detonating them before they could meet their mark.

Below, ranged attacks began hitting in front of or inside the spread out ranks of the Order-Saversburg center. The Saversburg shield troops did well to protect the army behind them from the front, but several of the attacks got through or sailed in from overhead. Explosions erupted within the dispersed lines, causing a handful of Digimon to be deleted by the powerful blasts.

Tactimon scowled as the bombardment by the D-Brigade continued. He raised his hand, lifting his sheathed sword over his head. “Destroy, neutralize, or block those attacks!” he shouted to the Strike Forces and the Saversburg military. “Minimize the damage as much as possible!”

Blastmon unleashed a rolling yell and careened into the air, directly towards an oncoming missile. “RrururuRAAAGH! JUNJOU EMERALD CHOP!” he shouted animatedly. He unleashed a powerful swipe of his giant arm and sent his hand chopping right into the missile. The munition exploded at point blank range, but did no more than throw Blastmon back to the ground with hardly a scratch on his crystalline body.

Upon landing, he turned around and folded his arms at the thousands of soldiers spread behind him. “Just like Tac-chan says!” he announced, completely ignoring a second missile that flew down and impacted his broad back. The fiery blast singed his cape and caused his body to tremble, but he was otherwise unaffected. “Reduce these puny, little party poppers to data!”

“We’ll take the big ones!” Gankoomon announced, dashing forward. He stopped firmly on the ground and slammed his foot down. “Chabudai Gaeshi!” he shouted, stomping his foot down into the ground hard enough to send a giant slab of rock shooting up from beneath the grass. Gankoomon then spun around and drove his foot into the thick stone block, sending it shooting into the air. The giant hunk of rock sailed into the sky, right in front of two colossal missiles launched by a MetalGreymon’s Giga Destroyer attack. The stone crashed into the missiles, causing them to explode violently above the ground. The detonations tore a crater into the ground below and completely obliterated the stone strata, sending bits of rock shooting everywhere.

Although those two organic missiles were dealt with, a Mugendramon proceeded to launch a pair of beams from his Mugen Cannons. The giant, glowing lasers howled as they tore across the battlefield towards their forces.

“Gankoomon, heads up!” Craniamon called out, jumping in the path of one of the beams to block it with his sturdy Avalon shield.

Without missing a beat, Gankoomon turned towards the oncoming beam, preparing to face it head on. “You D-Brigade are too scared to fight with your fists, huh?!” he asked aloud. He gritted his teeth. “Well, bring it on! I’ll show you how a man fights! Jishin! Kaminari! Kaji! Oyaji!”

Hinukamui expanded from Gankoomon’s back, his yellow energy swelling as he rose up into the air. The majestic aura dragon released a roar as he spotted the oncoming beam.

“Let’s do it! Hinukamui!” Gankoomon bellowed, dashing forwards stubbornly.

Hinukamui growled with agreement and flew above Gankoomon, shooting towards the rolling beam that threatened to consume many of the Digimon behind them. Just as the beam was about to slam into them, Hinukamui rushed forwards and placed his giant, aura claws in front of the beam, pushing against it. Hinukamui growled with effort as he strained to hold the beam in place, the positrons branching and splaying off around his claws.

Gankoomon sneered and dug his feet into the ground, pouring his reserves of energy into Hinukamui as he helped him hold the beam back with his flaming fists. “Damn it…! Don’t give up, Hinukamui…!” he roared with effort, pushing hard against the Mugen Cannon’s beam. “We’re not… gonna take a single step backwards…!”

Hinukamui released a strained rumble as he tried to hold the beam back. They momentarily ceded ground before digging in deeper and pushing back against the immense blast. With a final roar, they pushed forwards against the beam, fracturing the energy and causing it to part around them. The beam burst into tendrils around them and ripped up the surrounding grass before fading.

Craniamon watched from behind his shield, holding off the other beam with his God Bless ability. He was inwardly impressed that Gankoomon was able to block the beam that way.

When the beam faded, Gankoomon and Hinukamui relaxed and sighed. The red-haired Royal Knight raised a hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Damn… That was close…” he muttered, taking a moment to breathe.

Craniamon lowered his shield and turned to Gankoomon. “Stopping a beam with your hands? That’s stupid, even for you,” he teased him.

“Shut it, Pigtails,” Gankoomon responded with a smirk. “We can’t all hide behind a shield like you.”

“Tch,” Craniamon scoffed. “Just focus on the battle. We’ll see who does a better job.”

Gankoomon grinned and cracked his knuckles. “Yeah, we will. Won’t we, Hinu?” he asked, looking up at the yellow energy dragon above him. Hinukamui responded with an affirmative grunt.

The last of the missiles and shells landed with explosions in the grass as the salvo began to fade. The Saversburg army and the Strike Forces took some casualties from the first salvo of the D-Brigade’s attack, but the bombardment was finally over for the moment.

Behind the four Royal Knights, Tactimon noticed the lull in the bombardment. He stepped out in front and turned around. “Duftmon, are the flanks in position?” he called to the tactician at the rear, speaking into the LRAC around his wrist. Using this, the two tacticians would be able to communicate easily.

“Yes, they are advancing nicely,” Duftmon responded. He was flying in the air, at the rear of center so that he could oversee the battlefield.

“The first salvo of the bombardment has stopped. I want to begin the advance before they get a chance to launch another,” Tactimon spoke.

Duftmon looked at the left flank, which was led by Sleipmon, Examon, OuRyuumon. They and the Aerial Strike Forces were approaching the base of the hill where much of the D-Brigade artillery troops were stationed upon. The tactician then looked at the right flank. Alphamon, Dukemon, and RhodoKnightmon led the Defence Forces along the northern river, guarding Gaioumon and the Republic of Node’s military as they advanced. They were about a quarter of the way across the open field and they were just beginning to face D-Brigade resistance.

“Very well. Commence the advance, Tactimon,” Duftmon said to him. “The flanks are progressing nicely. Now would be the best time to move forward.”

“Agreed,” Tactimon answered. “Keep me updated.”

“Affirmative. Out,” Duftmon replied, lowering the LRAC around his wrist.

Tactimon turned around to face Blastmon, who was busy brushing dirt off of his crystal coating. “General Blastmon. Now. If you please,” he calmly said to the hulking Digimon.

“About time, General Tac-chan!” Blastmon replied enthusiastically. He spun around to face the Strike Forces and the Saversburg military. “Okay, everyone! Advance! Move out and give the D-Brigade hell!” Blastmon shouted, his voice booming. “Artillery troops, cover us with a bombardment!”

Tactimon nodded and turned forwards towards the four Royal Knights. “Are all of you okay with this?” he asked them.

Omegamon nodded calmly. “We defer to your and Duftmon’s tactical knowledge,” he assured him.

Gankoomon grinned excitedly. “We’re more than okay,” he added.

Craniamon nodded quietly and turned forwards, leering at the distant D-Brigade excitedly. “I’ll lead the way…” he spoke.

Dynasmon let out an adrenalized laugh. “Time for a little payback!” he shouted.

The four Royal Knights began flying and dashing across the field, heading straight for the rows of D-Brigade soldiers a kilometer away.

Tactimon raised the Jatetsufujin-maru and pointed after the Royal Knights. “Advance! Begin the bombardment!”

-

As the symphonic din of attacks erupted from the center of the battlefield, the Royal Knights’ left flank continued soaring towards the southern hill as planned.

Sleipmon led the way courageously. He galloped across the grass towards the base of the hill. Flying above him were Examon and OuRyuumon, who flew at the front of the right echelon formation of the Aerial Strike Forces. They glided through the air with their weapons in hand, not taking their eyes off of the D-Brigade-controlled hill in front of them. Some of the Aerial Guards flew at the front of the formation to protect the Aerial Strike Forces’ advance, and several Shield Guards followed behind Sleipmon on the ground.

They were just about at the hill. As they approached, Examon narrowed his eyes and scanned their adversaries. From that distance, he could clearly see that the apex of the long hill was covered with heavy duty D-Brigade Digimon. He could see a Deckerdramon, a Mugendramon, the DigiXros version of a MetalGreymon, several Tankdramon and MetalTyrannomon, and a handful of other Digimon who had bombardment and defensive capabilities.

“It’s heavily fortified,” Examon said to OuRyuumon.

“No kidding,” OuRyuumon responded, eyeing the Deckerdramon in particular. He looked down at Sleipmon, who continued running below them. “Sleipmon! That Deckerdramon is gonna chew us to pieces! Can you deal with him?!” he called out.

“Leave it to me!” Sleipmon responded, galloping forwards in front of the rest of the formation. He made it to the base of the grassy hill and began charging up the incline.

“Here they come,” the Mugendramon spoke stoically. “Formation Type: Delta. Prepare to defend this point. Sub-Captain Deckerdramon, prepare to commence an extensive anti-air barrage. Group B, target Sleipmon. Fire.”

A MetalGarurumon X-Antibody, a BlackRapidmon, two MetalTyrannomon, and an Assaultmon stepped out in front of the formation of D-Brigade Digimon. They looked down the slope of the hill and aimed at Sleipmon, who was charging up it towards the top.

Sleipmon narrowed his eyes as he saw the five Digimon target him with their weapons. He raised the Niflheimr shield and prepared himself, not slowing down his gallop in the slightest. He increased his charging speed, really tearing his way up the hill. He knew that Examon, OuRyuumon and the others were counting on him to stop Deckerdramon. He didn’t have time to deal with these soldiers.

The D-Brigade soldiers called out their attacks and began unleashing their devastating bombardment. The MetalGarurumon X-Antibody’s and Assaultmon’s Gatling gun arms began unleashing a storm of bullets that ripped up the ground around Sleipmon. The BlackRapidmon and two MetalTyrannomon all fired missiles from their hands, which rocketed through the air towards the Royal Knight.

Sleipmon blocked the hail of bullets with the Niflheimr. The red digizoid of the shield easily deflected the storm of bullets, but they kept Sleipmon suppressed. The equine Royal Knight was forced to slow his charge in response to the heavy fire directed at him, but he pressed on stubbornly despite the pressure against him. There was a constant battering sound of metal on metal, ricocheting bullets, and cascading sparks.

When Sleipmon heard the whistling of missiles closing in on him, he knew that it was time to make his move. The red digizoid armoured knight suddenly broke away, dashing off to the side at high speeds, gliding with his hooves just above the grass. The missiles landed where he had been standing, causing a giant explosion on the face of the hill.

As Sleipmon avoided the attacks, he began speeding up the hill diagonally, moving in a zigzag pattern to avoid the attacks directed at him. As he moved, he kept his shield up to block the bullets and missiles shooting towards him. He angled his Muspellsheimr crossbow around his shield and took careful aim.

“Bifröst!” Sleipmon spoke, firing a bolt of incandescent light from his crossbow. The bolt shot up the hill and pierced through the missile pod mounted on the MetalGarurumon X-Antibody’s shoulder. The missiles inside the pod detonated, blowing the shoulder mount up and throwing the cyborg Digimon to the ground. The chrome digizoid plating protected the D-Brigade Ultimate Digimon from most of the damage, but he still hit the ground hard. Despite this, the MetalGarurumon X-Antibody angled the linear cannon on his opposite shoulder and fired a beam from it towards Sleipmon. The beam tore up the ground diagonally in front of Sleipmon, showering him with clumps of grass and dirt.

Seeing that Sleipmon was under fire, and aware of the essence of speed, OuRyuumon looked over his shoulder. “Okay, Strikes! Fire a barrage at the top of that hill to cover Sleipmon! Don’t fry him in the process!” the Strike Forces Captain ordered.

The layered echelon of Aerial Strike Forces began launching their attacks towards the apex of the hill. Examon flew up and watched as the multi-coloured attacks flooded through the air and impacted the hill’s crest, straight into the D-Brigade’s forces. Explosions erupted upon impact, blasting the D-Brigade Digimon and covering Sleipmon’s advance.

Examon watched as the single chain of explosions bloomed and faded, leaving smoke and dust in their wake. Sleipmon continued racing up the hill. Examon could see that he was nearly at the top, but he noticed D-Brigade soldiers moving around through the clearing smoke.

The Assaultmon burst out of the veil of smoke and aimed all of his machine guns at Sleipmon. Examon quickly aimed the Ambrosius at the Assaultmon. He fired a shell from the lance’s muzzle, which shot towards the attacker. The shell burst open in mid-air and released a net that fell onto the Assaultmon and stabbed into the ground with weighted, metal pegs, which pinned the soldier to the hillside.

Sleipmon glanced out of the corner of his eye at Examon appreciatively. He then bashed away an incoming missile with his shield, and continued dashing to the top of the hill, where the flashes of attacks and muzzle fire could be seen within the smoke. He made it to the crest of the hill and galloped into the smoke.

The Mugendramon commander grunted and swept his giant booster claw out, blowing the smoke away with the mighty swing. He quickly took stock of the situation, seeing where the Royal Knights’ attack force was relative to their position. He turned his head to the Deckerdramon. “Hurry up. Fire,” he ordered.

“Sir!” the Deckerdramon complied as he finished aiming the Deckerdra-launchers on his back. Dozens of missiles clicked in unison as they locked into place, and the metal covers of the missile ports opened up.

Sleipmon saw this and narrowed his eyes. He had to hurry. He dashed across the level crest of the hill, completely ignoring the D-Brigade Digimon around him, even the ones who turned to attack him.

Mugendramon turned and was surprised to see Sleipmon penetrating their ranks on his own. The rest of the Shield Guards were still climbing the hill. The colossal machine dragon gave a mechanical grunt and prepared to dispose of the Royal Knight. He aimed his giant, left claw at him. “Booster Claw.”

The hulking, metal claw suddenly shot out of his arm with high speed, pneumatic force, connected by a sturdy wire. Sleipmon saw the giant claw propel towards him, intent on skewering him. He acted quickly, putting all of his might into his six legs. He then pushed off of the ground and performed an impressive jump. The claw, which was about as large as his body, stabbed into the ground beneath him, sending a wave of dirt shooting up from the heavy impact.

Sleipmon landed on the ground and continued his charge. He swiftly galloped around Mugendramon and made a direct course for the Deckerdramon, who was on the verge of firing. The Royal Knight narrowed his violet eyes with determination and raised the Niflheimr shield in front of him.

“Odin’s Breath!” he shouted, unleashing a flurry of freezing blizzard from his shield. The icy cold air swept across the hill top and engulfed the titanic, metal crocodile in front of him. Ice began to form over the Deckerdramon’s legs and back, quickly growing thicker with every second. A heavy layer of ice froze over the Deckerdramon’s missile ports, sealing the insides of the missile tubes and freezing over their exterior as well.

The Deckerdramon’s eyes widened with shock. There was no way that he could fire without detonating his own cannons. He tried swatting Sleipmon with his massive, steel tail, but the appendages metal joints also became caked with thick ice, stifling its range of movement. “S-S-Sir!” the cyborg reptile called out to the Mugendramon, his teeth chattering from the cold.

“What?” Mugendramon demanded, lumbering around to face Deckerdramon and Sleipmon.

With the Deckerdramon’s missiles disabled, Sleipmon turned and waved his arm to OuRyuumon and Examon. He wasted no more than a second before once again focusing on the battle around him. He spun around and fired a burning bolt from his crossbow straight into the loading cylinder of a RizeGreymon’s Trident Revolver, damaging the weapon from the inside and causing it to jam.

OuRyuumon saw Sleipmon’s signal and held his sword up. “Now! Attack!” he called to his Aerial Strike Forces.

“Paildramon, take wings one through four and attack from the left! The rest of you, with the Captain and me!” Leftenant HippoGriffomon ordered.

“Sir!” Oversergeant Paildramon obeyed, shooting off to the left with dozens of winged Digimon. As she flew, she strafed the left part of the hill with her hip cannons, damaging and suppressing several D-Brigade soldiers at a time with beam bullets.

Examon watched as the Aerial Strike Forces and Aerial Guards began flooding towards the apex of the hill in formation. “I’ll provide precision cover,” Examon said, looking at OuRyuumon.

“Don’t be afraid to get your claws dirty if we get bogged down,” OuRyuumon replied, looking over his shoulder at Examon with a teasing smirk. “You know, like how a real Dramon fights.”

Examon smiled a bit at his words. “If I need to…” he responded. “Good luck, OuRyuumon. Don’t get hurt.”

OuRyuumon looked forwards seriously. “…You too, Exadork,” he said to him amiably. With those words, OuRyuumon shot forwards, his long, serpentine body swaying as soared. He flew to the front of the formation and began diving towards the D-Brigade-controlled hill.

“Eiseiryuoujin!” OuRyuumon swiped his swords down and unleashed, bright, burning blasts from his dual scimitars. The blasts tore into a black MetalGreymon and destroyed him in an explosive burst of energy. He then swooped down onto the hill and swept his swords forward as he flew. He cleaved through a HiAndromon on one side and a Tankmon on the other.

As the Order soldiers swarmed the hill and began unleashing their attacks, Examon flapped his wings and flew into the sky. “Pendragon’s Glory,” he spoke, firing a highly concentrated laser from his lance. The bright beam cut through the air and pierced into the missile launcher mounted on a BlackMetalGarurumon’s shoulder. The metal melted and the missiles detonated in a flurry of sparks and shrapnel, sending the cyborg wolf skidding across the ground. The force of the blast was enough knock the Digimon unconscious.

Meanwhile, Mugendramon turned his attention towards the attacking Aerial Strike Forces. He angled the two Mugen Cannons on his back towards them. “Targets acquired… Mugen Cannon,” he spoke. Energy poured into the shoulder-mounted cannons before flooding out in a pair of massive beams. The pillar of energy swooped towards the Order Digimon and annihilated three Order Digimon who weren’t able to escape them.

Sleipmon winced and turned towards the Mugendramon. He knew that a Digimon who was that destructive had to be taken down quickly. Sleipmon raised his crossbow arm and aimed the Muspellsheimr at him while simultaneously blocking a flurry of bullets directed at him. “Bifröst!” he called out, unleashing a bolt of light from his crossbow.

The arrow cut through the large, metal tube that connected Mugendramon’s cannon to his backpack, causing sparks and energy to come shooting out. Sleipmon was about to aim for the other one as well, but Mugendramon turned around and blocked his shot using his full metal body.

Mugendramon stared at Sleipmon. “You…” he growled, annoyed at having his cannon circuit cut. He charged Sleipmon and tried to grab Sleipmon with the large, metal vice that made up his right hand.

Sleipmon blocked the claw with his shield. The claw began to try to crush the shield, but it was unable to even bend the sturdy red digizoid. Mugendramon changed tactics, retracting his right arm and then stepping back so that he could aim his larger left claw at Sleipmon.

“Booster Claw!”

The claw shot out of Mugendramon’s hand and slammed into Sleipmon’s shield. The immense force of the attack nearly broke Sleipmon’s guard, and he was sent skidding back across the grass, his hooves staggering to keep himself from falling. Sleipmon’s arm ached and he was forced to lower his shield as he caught himself.

He looked up and saw Mugendramon aiming his right shoulder cannon down at him. Sleipmon’s eyes widened – he was going to fire at this close of a range?

“Mugen Cann—“

A beam sliced through the air from above and seared through the wire connecting Mugendramon’s other cannon to his backpack. The light inside the cannon faded before it could be launched at Sleipmon.

“What?” Mugendramon demanded angrily, turning his head and looking into the sky where the shot had come from.

Sleipmon blinked and looked up as well. To his surprise, he saw Examon in the air, his lance aimed at Mugendramon.

Examon fired another shot at the giant cyborg Digimon. A shell burst from the lance and sailed down. The metal cylinder flew into the space between Mugendramon’s collar and his long, metal neck. There was a flash of light from inside Mugendramon, causing him to hiss with pain. He arched his back and writhed as electricity surged through his body.

Mugendramon threw his right arm out and fired a beam from his palm back at Examon. The dragon Royal Knight quickly furled his wings in front of himself in order to block the laser blast. The beam impacted Examon’s chrome digizoid wings, which shielded him from the powerful blast. Meanwhile, Mugendramon launched his Booster Claw at Sleipmon once again.

Sleipmon narrowed his eyes when he saw the massive Booster Claw ejecting towards him. This time, instead of dodging it, Sleipmon stood in place. Right as the giant claw was about to connect with him, the Royal Knight moved a meter to the right. The Booster Claw whizzed by him. One of the sharp claws cut along the armour of his flank, before embedding itself in the ground. Sleipmon used the opportunity; he grabbed hold of the Booster Claw and dug his hooves into the ground, making sure that Mugendramon would have trouble retracting the claw. The Royal Knight raised the Niflheimr shield and began pouring freezing energy onto Mugendramon. “Odin’s Breath!” he shouted.

The Booster Claw began to become coated with ice, which proceeded to crawl up the long metal cord connecting the claw to Mugendramon’s arm. The thick ice covered the claw and began to creep up Mugendramon’s whole arm.

“What?!” Mugendramon demanded, attempting to retract the Booster Claw. The ice caused the cord to become too stiff and too thick to fit into the aperture. Realizing that this wasn’t working, Mugendramon attempted to wrench his arm away.

Sleipmon held firm and continued until the ice began to cover Mugendramon’s chest and neck. He then released the frozen set of claws and aimed his crossbow. “Bifröst!” he spoke, shooting a bolt from the Muspellsheimr. The holy arrow cut through the frozen cord connecting the Booster Arm to Mugendramon. The bolt shattered the ice and broke the brittle metal, completely severing the cord.

Mugendramon recoiled and released a low, mechanical growl, angry at his arm being rendered useless. He briefly looked around the hilltop to take stock of the situation. His supercomputer mind worked quickly. The D-Brigade flank seemed to be holding their own against the Aerial Strike Forces, but they were losing ground. This fact was cemented when the encircling Order flank led by Paildramon swooped in and broke through their lines.

The D-Brigade officer briefly turned his head and glanced over the battlefield from the vantage point. The D-Brigade center was advancing to meet the charge of the Royal Knights’ Strike Forces and the Saversburg army. Attacks from both sides were lighting up the battlefield as the forces grew closer. In the far distance, on the northern flank, the D-Brigade was starting to fight with the Royal Knights’ Defence Forces and the Republic of Node’s forces.

The D-Brigade officer released a grunt. “Fall back, soldiers. This point has been overrun. We need to consolidate and strengthen the center’s flank so that they are not outmanoeuvred,” Mugendramon ordered. “Execute an organized, firing retreat.”

For emphasis, Mugendramon fired a shot from the one functioning cannon on his right hand. The beam tore through the sky and consumed a Pteranomon from the Aerial Strike Forces. After the smoke cleared from his palm, Mugendramon began to back down the hill, towards the right side of the D-Brigade’s center.

Sleipmon narrowed his eyes and aimed his crossbow at the giant D-Brigade officer. “Bifröst!” he shouted as another incandescent arrow let loose from the Muspellsheimr. The blast slammed into the Mugendramon, tearing through his elbow, burning through metal and severing wires. The right arm hung limply at Mugendramon’s side as he backed down the hill.

“Just wait until I receive field repairs, Royal Knight,” the Mugendramon warned Sleipmon with what amounted to a glare in his black, empty eyes.

Sleipmon ignored the threat and dashed towards him, firing bolts from the Muspellsheimr off to his left as he charged. The arrows pierced through a Megadramon’s wings, sending him crashing to the ground. Once Sleipmon was close enough, he jumped into the air towards Mugendramon. “Tactic Smear!” he shouted, driving his hooves into Mugendramon’s face with enough force to make the full metal titan lose his balance.

Mugendramon fell backwards and crashed to the ground with a mighty, resounding tremor that sent shockwaves through the ground. He slid down the face of the hill towards the battlefield. When he reached the bottom, he had an extreme amount of trouble getting up again.

“Sir!” Deckerdramon spoke, before being interrupted by Examon. One of Examon’s beams pierced into the missile launchers on his back, melting the metal and causing it to explode. The Deckerdramon winced and began rolling into reverse, driving down the hill after Mugendramon.

Sleipmon landed on the hillside and circled around, dashing back to the top of the hill. He could see that the D-Brigade forces that were holding the hill were beginning to retreat down to the base of the hill, closer to the rest of the D-Brigade. He didn’t impede their withdrawal, as it was their objective to capture the hill.

As Sleipmon galloped to the top, he saw Examon fire a beam from the Ambrosius at a Tankdramon who was firing at the Order soldiers as he retreated down the hill. The laser burned through one of the Tankdramon’s machine guns, disabling it. Examon then fired a shell at the Tankdramon, which exploded on contact with the hull of the tank. The capsule released data particles onto the Tankdramon’s body, which soon began to have an effect on him. Suddenly, he slumped forwards and his weapons stopped firing. The Tankdramon just rolled down the hill passively, the rest of his body unable to move.

Sleipmon couldn’t help but be surprised by this. It wasn’t the first time that Examon had done that during this battle. “Examon!” Sleipmon called out while rushing over to protect a wounded Order soldier from a missile, blocking the explosion with the red digizoid Niflheimr.

Examon fired a Pendragon’s Glory beam into the retreating Deckerdramon’s other shoulder cannon, disabling that one as well. As the beam dissipated from the Ambrosius’ muzzle, he lowered his lance and looked down at Sleipmon. Now that most of the D-Brigade flank had retreated to the base of the hill, they could momentarily relax. “Sleipmon?” he asked, flapping his wings and flying down towards him.

“One second,” Sleipmon told him, turning and looking around the hilltop. He saw OuRyuumon withdrawing his scimitars from a large cloud of data that used to be a RustTyrannomon. “OuRyuumon!”

OuRyuumon spun around to face Sleipmon, panting and wearing an adrenalized grin. “Yeah?!” he shouted back.

“We’ve captured the hill!” Sleipmon informed him. “We need to go on the defensive for now and take control of this position.”

OuRyuumon looked around the area swiftly. The hilltop was completely under their control and the last of the D-Brigade flank was retreating down to the base of the hill. “Yeah, okay,” he agreed, flying down and landing on the ground.

“Can you get the attention of one of our scouts? We need to tell Duftmon the situation,” Sleipmon asked him. “We also need stretchers for the wounded.”

“Yeah, I’ll get somebody on that,” OuRyuumon responded. He turned and started flying away. “Hey, Silphymon! I’ve got a job for you!”

As OuRyuumon flew off and started giving orders, Examon landed nearby and walked over to Sleipmon. Examon smiled at him. “I see you’ve got your confidence back,” he observed.

Sleipmon blushed and smiled sheepishly. “I’m just doing my job, Examon,” he responded dismissively. “We need to be leaders in situations like this.”

Examon nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. We didn’t take that leadership training for nothing,” he added with a small grin.

The centaur knight smiled at Examon. “…Examon, I…” He paused and thought about if he wanted to continue. After a moment’s deliberation, he decided that he did. “…I noticed that you haven’t been deleting any D-Brigade Digimon. You’ve been going for incapacitating shots…”

Examon rested the Ambrosius on his shoulder and rubbed the back of his horned head. “Well… Yes, I have…” he admitted sheepishly. “Should I not be?”

Sleipmon shook his head. “I don’t mind at all; I’m just… surprised,” he explained. “You never hesitated to take a certain kill before.”

Examon glanced away from Sleipmon. “…I didn’t want to upset you… I know you have a problem with it, and since we’re working together here…” He trailed off, feeling abashed.

Initially, Sleipmon was shocked. After all of their disagreements about the issue, Sleipmon never expected Examon to take this step. He was surprised he did so for his sake. After a few moments, Sleipmon smiled warmly at Examon. “Examon… Thank you…” he responded appreciatively. “But… you don’t have to do this for me. I don’t want to dictate what other Royal Knights should and shouldn’t do. It’s… my own personal choice not to kill, and it would be selfish for me to make others act differently,” he explained.

Despite his words, Sleipmon had misgivings about he was saying. He would prefer it if others didn’t kill Digimon, and he felt a bit hypocritical for saying otherwise. However, what happened with UlforceVeedramon made him realise that taking that extra step was sometimes necessary, especially in a heated battle like this one. They had already lost several soldiers, and the D-Brigade clearly wasn’t holding back. He didn’t want to put Examon or any of his other comrades in danger.

Examon frowned at Sleipmon’s words. “Are you sure, Sleipmon? You’ve always been so against it before.”

Sleipmon sighed and looked around the battlefield. The hilltop was smoking and strewn with craters. From the vantage point, Sleipmon could see the center, where the majority of the fighting as. Explosions and beams ripped through both the D-Brigade and the Saversburg-Order army.

“…This is a battle,” Sleipmon said with a heavy heart. “Just… use your best judgment, Examon.”

Examon nodded. “Understood…” he replied, although he had doubts about how much Sleipmon meant it.

Sleipmon turned back to Examon with a small smile. “Let’s get the Shield Guards and Aerial Guards and start fortifying this hill. Then we can support the attack on the center.”

Examon nodded again and smiled. “Affirmative, Sleipmon.”

-

(Continued in the next post)

 

[Griff4815]

(Continued from the previous post)

-

Meanwhile, at the north of the battlefield, the Royal Knights’ right flank has been facing constant resistance. Alphamon, Dukemon, RhodoKnightmon were leading the Shield Guards and the Aerial Guards on a flanking run to try and encircle the D-Brigade’s center. With them was Gaioumon, who was leading the Republic of Node’s military group. Along the way, they had been constantly harassed by D-Brigade infiltrators, who used camouflage, attacked them when they weren’t looking, and then tried to escape. These attackers were mostly Commandramon, Sealsdramon, Tuwarmon, Chamelemon, and a few Darkdramon.

“Death Behind!” a Sealsdramon shouted, suddenly appearing out of nowhere at the edge of the charging flank. He plunged his combat dagger into a Fladramon’s back, causing the armor Digimon to disperse into data particles. The Sealsdramon then began speeding away, skidding across the grassy plain using the motorized wheels on the soles of his boots.

Alphamon glanced over his shoulder, flying at the front of the flank and leading the charge towards the D-Brigade’s left flank. He saw the data of one of their allies separating, as well as the D-Brigade commando making his swift escape. “Damn it. Another?” he grunted. “Keep on your guard, everyone! The D-Brigade specializes in covert assassinations.”

Above Alphamon, Dukemon flew on top of Zero ARMS: Grani. They both looked around the battlefield carefully, eyeing the D-Brigade forces a couple hundred meters in front of them. The Aerial Guards followed behind him and Grani. It was a matter of minutes before they would be engaging them head on. Below Alphamon, RhodoKnightmon dashed across the field. Behind him were Captain Knightmon and the Shield Guards.

To their right was the Republic of Node’s military battalion. Acting as their vanguard was the Greymon Five, the anti-Dramon shock team.

WarGreymon of the Greymon Five dashed along the ground, glaring fierily at the Sealsdramon who had deleted one of their soldiers. “I’ll get the bastard!” he exclaimed, brandishing his Dramon Killer claws.

“Don’t, WarGreymon!” KaiserGreymon, the leader of the Greymon Five, told him. “He might be trying to draw us out into a trap!”

“Yeah, genius. Use your brain for a change,” ShineGreymon teased him with a grin.

“We need to be careful… There could be more,” VictoryGreymon added, looking around with a frown as he held his Dramon Breaker in his hands.

“Sergeant KaiserGreymon is right,” Gaioumon stated as he ran along with the troops under his command. “Stay in formation. You know what our role is. Stick to the plan.”

“Yes, sir,” WarGreymon grumbled, slowing down his sprint so that he ran beside VictoryGreymon and BlackWarGreymon.

RhodoKnightmon glanced over at Gaioumon and the Republic of Node’s battalion. “Be prepared. Even when we engage them, those covert teams may try to attack us from behind,” he pointed out.

Gaioumon nodded. “I know. I’ve already told our rear guard,” he responded.

Alphamon looked ahead at the D-Brigade troops in front of them. He spotted Commander Raijinmon standing at the front of their flank, as if awaiting their arrival. The Aloof Hermit glanced over his shoulder. “It’s time!” he ordered. “Shield Guards, Aerial Guards, speed up and prepare to defend and counter! Gaioumon, you know what to do!”

Gaioumon nodded and raised one of his Kikurin swords as he ran. “Break off,” he spoke, loud enough for his subordinates to hear. “Greymon Five, break through their lines from the right. Everyone else, follow them and attack. Do not move too far away from the Royal Knights’ forces or else you will be exposed.”

Alphamon narrowed his eyes as he looked ahead of him. “They’re preparing to fire. Shield Guards, protect the Republic soldiers as they flank!”

Dukemon grinned a bit and looked at Alphamon. “This is it, Alphamon,” he stated.

Alphamon nodded. “Good luck, Dukemon. You too, RhodoKnightmon, Grani,” he responded.

“Don’t hold back, now,” RhodoKnightmon spoke, dashing across the ground.

A hundred meters away, Raijinmon watched as the Royal Knights closed in. He took a soft breath before readying himself. He pointed forwards at the charging enemy. “Fire!” he shouted. His own shoulder batteries sparked and glowed with electric energy. “Elekugel!”

Four beams surged from the metal cylinders resting on his shoulders and above his head. The pillars of electricity surged through the air towards Alphamon, Dukemon, and the Aerial Guards behind them.

The Royal Knights watched as the brilliant beams shot towards them. “Grani,” Dukemon spoke, urging the Zero ARMS to fly forwards. Grani did so, and Dukemon raised the Aegis in front of him. Two of the beams slammed into Dukemon’s shield, sending electricity dancing along the shield and parting around it violently. The pressure was immense, and it took all of Grani and Dukemon’s combined strength to hold steady against it.

Meanwhile, Alphamon stopped in the air, spreading his wings and raising a hand in front of himself. A glowing, magical circle appeared in front of his palm. He reached into the circle and pulled out a glowing sword of light, which shone radiantly as he grasped the hilt in his hands and poised it back. As he gripped the sword, his gold eyes burned crimson.

Alphamon held firm as one of the remaining two beams soared towards him. He plunged the Seiken Gradalpha forwards, right into the tip of the beam. The blade pierced deep into the beam, parting it down the middle and causing the strands of electricity to part around the sword. Several of the tendrils of energy burned across Alphamon’s black and gold armour, but he was able to hold against the beam. He couldn’t help but notice that the attack wasn’t as powerful as it was the last time he fought Raijinmon.

Meanwhile, the fourth beam slammed into the Aerial Guard’s ranks. A red AtlurKabuterimon flew forwards and spun around so that the attack hit his thick, dome-like carapace. He managed to spare his comrades from getting hit, but the beam was still powerful enough to drain his energy and cause him to revert back to a Mochimon. A Gigadramon from the Aerial Guards caught him before he could fall to the ground.

As Raijinmon’s initial salvo died down, several D-Brigade soldiers began bombarding their enemies as well. The most notable of these was a SaintGalgomon, who was one of Raijinmon’s junior officers.

“Burst Shot!” the SaintGalgomon spoke, raising his arms and opening the missile ports on his shoulders. A ferocious barrage of missiles came pouring out of his body. The missiles began descending on and tearing through the Order’s defence forces and the Republic’s military. Explosions burst through the ranks, forcing many Digimon to raise their shields to protect themselves.

“Digitalize of Soul!” Alphamon shouted. He raised his left hand and began firing several strong, bright green lasers from his palm. The beams swept through four missiles and caused them to explode before they could cause further damage. Alphamon glanced over his shoulder. “Hold firm! Spread out but maintain a rigid formation!” he ordered the Shield Guards and Aerial Guards. “Shield Guards, block those attacks! Aerial Guards, return fire! Rhodo, Dukemon, follow me!”

With those commands, Alphamon swooped down and began skimming through the air towards Raijinmon. The barrage of Aerial Guards’ attacks shot over his head and exploded into the D-Brigade’s dispersed ranks.

Raijinmon locked eyes with Alphamon and raised his two Blitz Arms in front of him. “Blitz Arm!” he shouted, unleashing a barrage of electric bursts towards Alphamon.

The black Royal Knight flew deftly through the air to avoid many of the bursts, but several slammed into his armoured body. Pushed back by the powerful blasts but undeterred, Alphamon pushed forward and closed in on Raijinmon. He brought the Seiken Gradalpha over his head and then slashed it down powerfully.

Raijinmon caught the sword in the palm of his left Blitz Arm, using the energy it emitted as a buffer. He then drove his right Blitz Arm into Alphamon’s face, throwing the Royal Knight back. Alphamon winced and retaliated by firing a Digitalize of Soul blast from his hand, but Raijinmon dodged the powerful laser, which proceeded to blast straight through the Mechanorimon behind him.

The Thunderclap Commander sneered and lunged into the air, flying above Alphamon. He angled his body down so that the four batteries pointed at Alphamon. “Elekugel!” he shouted, pouring a salvo of beams down on Alphamon.

Alphamon saw the danger coming from above and immediately flew in reverse to avoid the blast. The four pillars of energy slammed into the ground in front of him and exploded in a massive detonation of power and lightning. Alphamon grunted as the force from the impact blasted into his body, knocking him back. Alphamon collected himself and shot vertically into the air, soaring upwards. He flew forwards again, shooting towards Raijinmon.

“Digitalize of Soul!”

“Blitz Arm!”

Both the black knight and the Thunderclap Commander unleashed concentrated energy from their hands towards each other. Alphamon’s emerald beam slammed into the condensed blast of electrical energy that Raijinmon had fired. They collided with a might crack and sent a mixture of energy shooting out in every direction.

Alphamon continued shooting towards Raijinmon, and once in striking distance, he swiped the Seiken Gradalpha down on the D-Brigade commander.

Raijinmon crossed his arms over his head and grunted as he struggled to block the mighty blow. Despite his struggle, there was a pleased look in Raijinmon’s eyes. “Alphamon… It is such an honour to fight with you in a battle of this scale. I couldn’t have asked for a better scenario…” he explained to his opponent.

At this, Alphamon’s gold eyes turned a passionate red and narrowed tightly. He pulled back from Raijinmon suddenly. “This isn’t a game, Raijinmon…” he scolded him, slashing the Seiken Gradalpha down diagonally. “Lives are being lost in this battle!”

Raijinmon winced with pain as the tip of the beam sword sliced down his armoured body. A glowing, orange streak of molten metal appeared down his chest armour from the successful hit. Although he felt great pain, Raijinmon’s professional demeanour didn’t falter. The only change was that his look of subdued pleasure morphed into a deadly serious expression.

“…I know that, Alphamon. I know that better than anybody else at the moment…” he responded ominously.

Alphamon frowned at Raijinmon’s heavily spoken words in spite of the slash he landed on Raijinmon’s chest. “What?” he asked curiously.

Raijinmon locked eyes with Alphamon before raising his hand and firing at Alphamon repeatedly at point blank range. The explosions blasted between their bodies, throwing them both back several meters. Alphamon glowered and flew back through the air, his armoured chest dented and smoking from the impact. Likewise, Raijinmon flew back in the air. Lightning flashed in the thick, grey clouds above him. He continued staring at Alphamon, his gold body illuminated by the cloudburst.

“It isn’t a game, and yet, I must continue to perform my part for awhile longer... In the meantime, blood and data will continue to be spilled. Your soldiers, and my soldiers. That is the nature of war. Our sides have to do our best to destroy the other for the time being. It is sad, but it is necessary…” Raijinmon explained with a heavy heart, raising a metal hand to the deep gash on his chest.

“What are you talking about, Raijinmon?” Alphamon demanded, glaring back at him. “If you have doubts, then stop this!”

Raijinmon shook his head. “It is still too soon,” he responded. “…Besides, I relish the idea of fighting you one-on-one. What better way to prove my skills than by fighting against one of the greatest warriors of the Digital World?”

Raijinmon pulled his Blitz Arm away from his chest and aimed it towards Alphamon. “Allow me this one courtesy, Sir Alphamon, the Aloof Hermit,” he politely beseeched him. “Whatever happens during this battle today, this will likely be the last chance that I will ever get to fight you. At the very least, I would like to enjoy this duel with you.”

Alphamon narrowed his eyes at Raijinmon, trying to understand what he was thinking. After a moment, he gripped the Seiken Gradalpha tightly. “So be it,” he answered, surging towards Raijinmon.

“Blitz Arm!”

“Digitalize of Soul!”

-

Chaosdramon stood near the back of the D-Brigade, overseeing the battle. His two, shoulder mounted cannon were pointed forwards, their muzzles smoking.

No Digimon stood near him, all of the D-Brigade soldiers were either on the front lines of the battle, or spaced apart at the back to lay down bombardment. He stood alone in the field - the grass around him was burnt and decayed. There were cracks throughout the ground around him, thin but deep fissures that made it look like the ground was fractured.

His crimson eyes scanned the battlefield, inspecting the situation from the southern hill to the northern flank. He took it upon himself to direct the tactics in Suijinmon’s absence. He didn’t trust anybody else.

“Your Majesty!” a HiAndromon spoke, running over and saluting Emperor Chaosdramon. “Our position on the hill has been overrun. Mugendramon’s Formation I has been forced to retreat to Position Sigma.”

“I can see that,” Chaosdramon snarled irritably, casting an angry glare towards the officer.

“Of course, Emperor. What are your orders?” HiAndromon asked him.

Chaosdramon could see that the Royal Knights had captured the strategic hill. They now had the high ground from which they could launch attacks on their flank. In the center, the Royal Knights and the Saversburg army closed in on the D-Brigade, led by Fujinmon. Both sides were firing attacks and about to crash into each other. The aerial troops of both sides were trading fire and strafing the enemy ground troops. The D-Brigade’s left flank was battling the force led by Alphamon and Gaioumon. Raijinmon had to hold strong against them to make sure that they weren’t outmanoeuvred. In between the center and the flanks were empty lanes in the field in which the fast attack troops and the aerial troops were trying to wreak havoc on the centers.

His mind worked like a supercomputer, swiftly coming up with possible solutions to the problem. He looked at HiAndromon firmly. “Tell everybody to attack. We won’t win by holding our positions; they will outflank us. We need to push forward and crush them underfoot,” he explained. “Get on the transceiver and tell Raijinmon, Fujinmon, and Darkdramon what their new objectives are.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” HiAndromon replied.

Chaosdramon turned his head and looked at the nearby Mugendramon. “Mugendramon! We will also begin a mass bombardment of the enemy. Obliterate the entire field.”

Just as HiAndromon was turning around to relay the message, he suddenly stopped. “Heavy bombardment, Emperor?” he asked sceptically. “When they are so close to our own troops?”

Chaosdramon shot HiAndromon a glare. “Yes… Is that a problem?” he asked forebodingly.

“No, Your Majesty. I just worry about collateral damage,” he meekly explained.

“The solution is simple: aim accurately. There should be no collateral damage. The bombardment troops are well trained by Suijinmon for precision strikes, I assume. They should be trained enough to be able to hit a pin point on this field,” Chaosdramon spoke firmly.

“Yes, you’re right, Emperor,” HiAndromon spoke, swiftly saluting and walking off to relay Chaosdramon’s orders.

Chaosdramon turned his head and looked over at the nearby Mugendramon. “Formation K, prepare for mass bombardment. Mugendramon, relay the coordinates. Cover the entire battlefield.”

“Yes, Emperor,” Mugendramon replied, scanning the battlefield and angling his own Mugen Cannons.

The crimson cyborg narrowed his blood red eyes and aimed his massive shoulder cannons precisely. Once he was sure of their angle, he began to gather energy inside of them. However the energy didn’t just pour into his cannons from the giant, metal backpack. Dark energy began to rise up from the ground and go into the vents of Chaosdramon’s storage backpack. The dark data seeped out of the cracks in the ground around Chaosdramon.

He released a calm breath as he built up dark power inside his cannons. The energy flowed into them from the tubes connecting the cannons to his back. The cannonry began to fill with raging, chaotic energy.

Chaosdramon continued drawing more of the black aura from the ground to fill his energy needs. The more dark energy that he siphoned from the ground, the larger and longer the cracks in the terrain around him got.

A hollow, mechanical grunt escaped his mouth as he stopped pouring energy into his cannons. He was ready to fire.

Chaosdramon turned his head and looked over at the Mugendramon. “Fire on my command,” he ordered him.

“Affirmative,” Mugendramon obeyed before relaying the command to the rest of Formation K.

The Emperor of the Metal Empire glared across the battlefield. He could see Omegamon tearing into the D-Brigade. He released a hiss of steam and readjusted his cannons by less than a millimeter. The tempestuous swell of blackish-violet energy could seen within the chrome digizoid barrels.

“Foolish Royal Knights… You will interfere for the last time. I will personally see to that,” Chaosdramon thought to himself. He extended his right hand and closed his metal pincer-like claws.

“Hyper Mugen Cannon.”

The dark beams pulsed from his high calibre shoulder cannons and tore through the sky. While steam spewed out of the cannons’ vents, the cracks around Chaosdramon’s feet grew larger and darker.

-

“Garuru Cannon!” Omegamon’s double voice echoed through the air.

Omegamon rushed forwards and angled his right arm as he ran. A bright, azure blast fired from the Garuru Cannon and tore through the D-Brigade’s ranks in front of him. Along with Dynasmon, Gankoomon, and Craniamon, he was at the vanguard of the attack. The rest of the ground Strike Forces were right behind them, along with the Saversburg army. They were now fighting with the D-Brigade head-on.

The D-Brigade was maintaining a rigid formation despite the severity of the Royal Knights’ attacks. The holes were quickly sealed up and they maintained a constant base of fire.

Omegamon grunted as a Tankmon’s shell exploded against the Brave Shield Omega on his shoulder. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Hinukamui slamming into the D-Brigade’s ranks, deleting soldiers and sending others flying. On his opposite side, he saw Wyvern crash into the D-Brigade lines as well, having a similarly destructive effect.

However, the D-Brigade would not be taken lightly. They responded with a barrage of attacks, shells, and other explosives that tore into the advancing army. The well-aimed shots exploded on contact and deleted Saversburg and Order Digimon alike.

Omegamon narrowed his eyes and focused solely on the battle before him. Just as he was about to rush forward, his LRAC activated and momentarily drew his attention.

“Omegamon, do you read me?” Tactimon spoke from further back in the center’s lines.

“Yes, but please make it quick,” Omegamon urged him. “I don’t have much time.”

“Understood. Duftmon says that the D-Brigade’s flanks are receding. He wants for you and the Strike Forces to advance into the D-Brigade’s lines in a wedge formation. Split them down the middle if you can,” Tactimon spoke. “We will support your attack. Blastmon is on his way now.”

As if on cue, a boisterous yell resounded behind Omegamon. “KENRAN CRYSTAL VOLCAAAAAANO!” the deep voice bellowed.

Blastmon sailed straight past Omegamon - fast enough to cause the knight’s cape to bluster - and slammed into the D-Brigade in a full body tackle. The sturdy crystals on his head crushed the Tankdramon that he impacted, and he continued through the data straight into a DarkVolumon. Upon landing, Blastmon proceeded to pick up a Mechanorimon, shake the Commandramon pilot out of the cockpit, and swing the robot Digimon into the nearby D-Brigade soldiers like a mace. He released the Mechanorimon and sent it flying into the Megadramon flying overhead.

Blastmon turned around and waved at Omegamon with a flashy smile. “Don’t worry, Mega-Mega, I’m here to help!” he reassured the Royal Knight.

Omegamon blinked momentarily but brushed the nickname aside and focused. He glanced around the immediate area. He saw Craniamon locking blades with Fujinmon. He also saw Dynasmon and Gankoomon in the thick of the D-Brigade’s lines, pummeling their way deeper and deeper. “Strike Forces, advance in a wedge formation! Break through their lines!” he ordered.

“Yes, Sir!” Leftenant Grademon complied, dashing forwards with his swords in hand. “Attack, Strike Forces!”

Omegamon rushed forwards towards the D-Brigade, ignoring the bullets deflecting off of his white armour. “Grey Sword!” he shouted, swiping the Grey Sword horizontally.

A fiery arc swept out from the blade and cut into the D-Brigade’s lines, crushing Digimon under its blazing power. Missiles, shells, and beams fired back at him through the smoke, exploding against his armour and burning through parts of his cape. Omegamon grunted and tore into the smoke. He thrust his left arm forwards and embedded his Grey Sword into a MetalTyrannomon’s chest.

When the cyborg dinosaur broke into data particles, Omegamon shot upwards into the sky. He slashed the Grey Sword straight through a Waspmon and then spun around to aim the Garuru Cannon down. He began unleashing three blasts of energy into the D-Brigade forces below.

“Omegamon!” a voice shouted out from the Royal Knight’s side.

Omegamon turned and saw Fujinmon shooting through the sky towards him, having broken away from Craniamon. Omegamon raised the Grey Sword just in time to block the long, burning, energy blade of Fujinmon’s Critical Arm.

“Cease fire at once!” Fujinmon demanded, narrowing his red eyes and staring into Omegamon’s blue ones. “I need those soldiers!”

“What?” Omegamon asked, although he raised his Garuru Cannon and pointed it at Fujinmon’s chest.

He fired at nearly point blank range, but Fujinmon evaded him through a mixture of agility and air manipulation. Fujinmon swerved and spun around and slashed his Critical Arms down on Omegamon, striking the white knight’s armoured shoulders.

Omegamon winced at the intense blades burning against him. He raised his arms up the middle and used his Grey Sword and Garuru Cannon to bash Fujinmon’s arms outwards. He then drove his foot into the Hurricane Commander’s chest, pushing him away.

Fujinmon sneered in pain and recoiled through the air. In a seamless transition, the slender, green commander spun around and began whipping up concentrated pockets of wind around him. “Marut Cyclone!” he shouted, unleashing the blasts of wind towards Omegamon.

Omegamon tried to raise his arms to brace himself, but the highly condensed wind slammed into him, buffeting his armour hard enough to form a slim crack in the chrome digizoid. Omegamon released a sharp grunt as he was thrown back.

The Hurricane Commander watched as Omegamon caught himself. “Enough, Omegamon,” he spoke. “You are not my true enemy.”

As Omegamon collected himself, he frowned at Fujinmon’s curious words. “What…? Then who is?” Omegamon asked, training his Garuru Cannon onto Fujinmon.

Fujinmon smiled lightly and held his Critical Arms out disarmingly. “I have a proposition for you…” he offered enigmatically.

However, before Omegamon could ask what this proposition was, a deep voice rumbled in the distance.

“Hyper Mugen Cannon,” Chaosdramon spoke, his deep voice echoing across the D-Brigade’s lines.

Omegamon’s eyes widened when he saw Chaosdramon unleash a torrent of dark energy from his cannons, straight towards him and his allies. As soon as Chaosdramon fired, several other beams and missiles began launching from the rear of the D-Brigade’s lines. “Tch,” he grunted in a mixture of anger and worry. Omegamon looked over his shoulder. “Incoming!” he warned.

Fujinmon looked over his shoulder and watched incredulously as Chaosdramon fired. “What?!” he demanded, quickly flying out of the way.

As the beams swept towards them, Omegamon shot through the sky, getting in the path of one of the two beams. He angled the left side of his body forwards and elongated the Brave Shield Omega on his shoulder. He hoped that he could block this attack like he did before.

One of the beams slammed into the large, orange shield, while the other passed by him. The beam swept through an unsuspecting D-Brigade RizeGreymon before vaporizing several Saversburg aerial troops. The beam then descended and exploded into the ranks of the Saversburg army and the Strike Forces. A devastating explosion detonated in the field, sending a dark mushroom cloud blossoming into the air, and leaving a smoking crater in its wake.

Omegamon released a snarl of effort as he tried to hold against the second beam. Tendrils of dark power parted around the Brave Shield Omega, licking at his body. The black and violet void parted around his white body like a funnel. The sensation of unease and familiarity began to tie knots in Omegamon’s stomach. He wondered why he felt this way while blocking this attack once again. He began to feel sick to his stomach, and a sense of fear and trepidation began to grow inside of him. He wasn’t sure why that was; he never felt his courage weaken in a fight. The Royal Knight didn’t know where this sense of foreboding came from.

The sheer power of the Hyper Mugen Cannon was immense, even for him. It took all of Omegamon’s focus just to keep himself from getting swept up in the attack. Unfortunately, these deep feelings within him caused him to lose his concentration. Omegamon’s stance buckled and the beam consumed him.

Omegamon unleashed a yell of pain as his body was consumed in the folds of the destructive energy. As he was tossed through the air, Omegamon’s eyes shut tightly. Through the pain, nostalgia washed over him. Omegamon remembered a particular event…

He had been captured by DarkKnightmon, and DarkKnightmon was holding him over a dark rift. It was that feeling. The feeling of being consumed by darkness. The feeling of the Dark Area. It sent chills down his pain-wracked form.

The Royal Knight was thrown into the empty crater where the first beam had landed. A smaller explosion erupted within it, crushing Omegamon into the ground. The blast tore up the earth and grass, with a concussion hard enough to throw flying Digimon out of the air.

Omegamon winced with pain as the energy dissipated. He found himself lying on the ground, his body aching. Despite taking the devastating attack, Omegamon already began to move. He couldn’t allow himself to stay down for long; the others needed him. His body smoked and there were cracks in his armour. Despite this, Omegamon began to push himself up on his elbows, refusing to submit.

He was about to sit up fully when something caught his eye to his left, in the depth of the crater. Omegamon turned his head and froze.

Two meters away from him was a long fissure in the ground at the bottom of the crater. A wispy, black, cloud of data drifted out of the deep crack.

It was a dark rift.

Omegamon’s eyes widened and his chest tightened with fear. The memory of being engulfed by dark data and turning into Omegamon Zwart swept into his mind again. He sat up abruptly and shot up to his feet. He quickly backed away from the dark rift.

“This is… But… how? It can’t be…” Omegamon whispered, staring down at the crack in the ground with wide eyes.

Acting quickly, Omegamon brought the LRAC on his forearm up to his face. “Duftmon!” he spoke urgently into it. “Do you read me?!”

“Omegamon? Yes, I read you. What is it?” Duftmon asked.

“It’s… There is a dark rift in the middle of the battlefield,” Omegamon explained, obviously flustered.

A weighty silence ensued. After several moments of quiet, Duftmon responded. “…What?” he demanded.

“A dark rift… At the bottom of this crater,” Omegamon told him, frowning deeply. “I think it’s…”

“Hyper Mugen Cannon!” Chaosdramon spoke unleashing another salvo. This time, the beams slammed into the southern hill, tearing the hillside to pieces and blasting Examon, Sleipmon, and the Aerial Strike Forces back from the mighty explosion.

The explosion rumbled through the battlefield. Omegamon watched with horror as the dark rift grew wider and thicker before him, causing more and more dark data to seep out.

Omegamon took a step away from it. “Duftmon… It’s getting bigger…” His blue eyes hardened. “It’s… Chaosdramon…” he explained.

“What? Chaosdramon?” Duftmon spoke, the irritation brought on by this unwelcome development clear in his voice. “What do you mean?”

“He’s causing it… I’m sure of it…” Omegamon spoke, remembering the feeling of Chaosdramon’s beams against him. “He’s drawing power from the Dark Area for his attacks.”

“It… cannot be,” the tactician responded.

“There’s no question about it, Duftmon…” Omegamon explained. He grimaced and flew up into the air. He turned and glared across the field at Chaosdramon, who turned the direction of his cannons back towards the center. “He must be stopped…”

-

Meanwhile, over on the northern flank, Alphamon, Dukemon, RhodoKnightmon, and their forces were in the thick of the fighting.

Alphamon was busy trading blows and beams with Raijinmon. RhodoKnightmon unleashed a might blast from his Pile Bunker, which pounded through the D-Brigade’s lines in an explosion of dirt and torn metal. Gaioumon and the Greymon Five tore deep into the D-Brigade’s ranks with the Republic of Node’s military right behind them.

However, the D-Brigade was fighting back just as hard, unleashing well coordinated attacks and barrages into the Republic’s troops as well as the Defence Forces. Explosions ripped through both sides.

Dukemon flew overhead, still standing atop Grani. He soared through the air at high speeds, bashing a Gigadramon away with his shield as he circled around. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see explosions erupting across the battlefield. He inwardly hoped that the others were alright.

His sight was set on a Darkdramon who he had been dueling against. Grani soared towards the Darkdramon, who was accelerating back towards him and Dukemon. The crimson Royal Knight levelled the Gram lance with the Darkdramon. The Darkdramon poised his Giga Stick Lance and aimed it with Dukemon.

They made a beeline for one another, fully intent on jousting with the other. As the two dragon men closed in, they thrust their lances towards the other. The Darkdramon’s lance scraped across Dukemon’s side and cut through the fabric between Dukemon’s two belts. The Giga Stick Lance grazed his hip and drew a trickle of blood from his side. Meanwhile, Dukemon’s Gram pierced through the Darkdramon’s shoulder, cutting through wires and flesh. The Darkdramon howled with pain, and Dukemon quickly threw him off of his lance, allowing the wounded Digimon to fall to the ground.

Grani glanced up at Dukemon. “Are you alright, Dukemon?” the Zero ARMS asked his passenger.

“Just a scratch,” Dukemon responded dismissively. “That was close though.”

The Royal Knight looked around the northern flank. He set his eyes on RhodoKnightmon, who was flinging a Crossmon away with his flexible sashes. “Hey, Rhodo! How are you doing?!” Dukemon called out to him.

RhodoKnightmon glanced over his shoulder at Dukemon and performed a flexible back kick that sent an Andromon flying. “I am doing quite fine, Dukemon!” he chimed back. “Thank you for asking!”

Dukemon turned to Alphamon and watched him dodge torrent of electricity that Raijinmon fired at him from his batteries. Grani was about to fly forwards, but a green laser cut across his path, causing him to turn sharply. “Incoming!” Grani warned Dukemon, shooting downwards.

The Royal Knight rebalanced himself quickly to stay on Grani’s back. He saw ten lasers shooting towards them, slicing through the air in an attempt to hit them. Grani narrowed his eyes and flew deftly, making sharp, erratic turns in order to fly around the burning beams. Although Dukemon was experienced at flying on Grani, these sudden, trick aerial manoeuvres made it hard for even him to remain balanced. Dukemon knelt down on Grani’s back. He ducked just in time to avoid a beam that skimmed by his head and burned off a single strand of hair.

A bead of sweat dripped down his head and he turned to look at their attacker. It was the SaintGalgomon officer who had been bombarding them when they first started attacking. He was standing at the back of the flank in order to provide ranged support. He was firing the beams from his fingers, but finally, they began to die down and dissipate. Grani pulled up sharply and then circled around so that they could have a momentary reprieve.

“Dukemon,” Grani spoke, glancing up at him.

“I’m fine. Nice flying, Grani,” Dukemon responded with a breath. He looked over at the SaintGalgomon. “Looks like we’ve got the big guy!”

Grani nodded. “Let’s go,” he concurred, curving in the air and shooting towards the giant, cyborg, rabbit Digimon.

The SaintGalgomon raised his arms towards Dukemon and Grani. His various missile ports began to open as he aimed. “Burst Shot!” he shouted unleashing a flurry of small missiles from his wrists and shoulders.

Dukemon and Grani watched as the barrage of missiles streaked towards them. The Royal Knight readied himself as Grani flew up sharply. The missiles flew beneath them, some just barely missing hitting Grani’s wings. A few of the missiles were homing, so they began to curve upwards and follow after Grani and Dukemon.

Dukemon looked over his shoulder and aimed the Gram lance behind him. Energy swirled around the shaft of the lance before gathering at the tip. “Royal Saber!” he shouted, firing a small beam into the air to detonate the missiles before they could hit them.

“Ready?” Grani asked, suddenly corkscrewing in the air to avoid five beams fired from the SaintGalgomon’s finger cannons.

“Ready…” Dukemon answered, readying the Aegis shield. The markings on the shield began to light up as Grani closed in on the SaintGalgomon. After a few seconds, the Aegis brimmed with holy power. “…Final Elysion!”

A large, white beam pulsed from Dukemon’s shield and slammed into the SaintGalgomon’s armoured chest. The D-Brigade officer grunted with pain as the pillar of light parted around his chest and forced the giant Digimon off of his feet.

The SaintGalgomon crashed to the grassy ground with a massive quake.

Little did Dukemon know, he accidentally knocked him onto a dark rift that had recently opened up behind him.

Dukemon admired his handiwork as he stood on Grani, who circled around again. “The bigger they are, the harder they fall,” Dukemon said with a grin.

Suddenly, the LRAC around Dukemon’s wrist activated, and Duftmon’s voice sounded out over the communicator.

“Royal Knights, do you read me?” Duftmon asked, linking in to everybody with an LRAC.

“Most of us are a little busy right now, Duftmon,” Dukemon pointed out, speaking into the LRAC. “But if you talk, we should be able to hear you. What’s up?”

“Omegamon has brought it to my attention that there are dark rifts appearing throughout the battlefield. Exercise extreme caution,” the tactician explained. “If you spot any, tell a soldier to stand guard so that there are no accidental corruptions.”

“What?!” Dukemon demanded, his eyes widening.

Alphamon slammed his fist into Raijinmon’s face and sent him reeling backwards. Using the moment of reprieve, Alphamon flew into the air, away from Raijinmon, so that he could speak. “Dark rifts? But how?” he asked angrily.

“We hypothesize that Chaosdramon is the cause. He has tapped into the power of the Dark Area for his Hyper Mugen Cannon attacks,” Duftmon explained.

“That idiot! Does he have any idea what he’s doing?!” Dukemon shouted furiously. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see something, but he was too focused on Duftmon’s words to give it any thought.

Grani, however, was not. The Zero ARMS’ eyes widened as the SaintGalgomon began thrashing on the ground, trying and failing to get up. He seemed to be in pain. It was then that Grani could see tendrils of dark energy shooting up from beneath him, wrapping around his arms, legs, and waist. “…Dukemon…” Grani spoke gravely, stopping in the air.

“Hold on, Grani,” Dukemon responded, turning to the LRAC. “How bad are the dark rifts? Is he doing this on purpose?!”

“We cannot confirm that at this point,” Duftmon responded. “It is clear that he must be stopped.”

Meanwhile, Grani watched as the dark tendrils began to consume more and more of the SaintGalgomon’s giant, green body. Pretty soon, the dark data covered his entire form.

“Dukemon…!” Grani urged with more force in his otherwise calm voice.

“Not now, Grani, I’m trying to—“

“Dukemon!” Grani sharply said, grabbing the Royal Knight’s attention.

“Wha--…” Dukemon turned his head and saw what Grani was referring to. He froze and watched as the dark data engulfed SaintGalgomon’s body. “Oh… shit…”

A muffled howl escaped from the SaintGalgomon’s covered mouth as he tried to resist the devouring, corrupting data.

However, he suddenly stopped resisting. The dark data faded around his large body. When it did, Dukemon was shocked to see that his armour was no longer green, but black. The BlackSaintGalgomon slowly stood to his feet with a new, baleful look in his eyes. All of his missile ports suddenly snapped open and the munitions locked into place.

Dukemon slowly raised the LRAC to his mouth, unable to pull his eyes away from the corrupted, walking arsenal. “Uh… Guys… I think we have a problem…”

 

[Griff4815]

Chapter 23: Chaos​

As the battle raged on, Suijinmon was stuck in the locked hanger outside of the Haganemame City. He lay in the dark, using only the slim rays of light that shone into the warehouse as a light source. Suijinmon grunted and struggled against the chains around his arms and legs, trying his best to wiggle out of them or break them. He had been trying all morning, but he wasn’t having much luck.

The longer he took, the more desperate he became. Suijinmon knew that the battle was progressing without him. He wondered how the D-Brigade was doing. He wondered if Fujinmon had made his move yet. He wondered if he was too late. The thought of it caused fear to grip his insides. He hated that he had no control over what was going on in the battle. He had no control over what would happen to his friends or his soldiers. It only fueled his anger and worry.

His lack of progress in escaping caused him frustration, and this feeling was only compounded by his worries. He just wanted to get to the battlefield as quickly as possible.

However, the chains binding his Accel Arms and his legs held firm. They didn’t seem like they were going to break no matter what he did. As his desperation grew, he began to imagine the worst. He began to picture Fujinmon and Raijinmon being crushed between the deadly might of the Royal Knights and Chaosdramon.

This ignited the anger that had been building up inside of him for the past few hours. It manifested in a shout of anger. Suijinmon slammed his tail against the floor and jerked his Accel Arms that were folded behind his back. He sharply and violently pulled against the chains. To his surprise, he heard the sound of a metallic crack.

Suijinmon suddenly stopped and panted. As he lay on the floor, he lifted his head and tried to look behind him. At first, he thought he damaged one of his arms from the sudden movement. However, his mechanical arms still seemed functional, even if he couldn’t activate their powers. He was still able to move his fingers. This told him that he managed to break one of the chain links.

He was unable to break free. He had only succeeded in breaking one of the chain links in half.

Suijinmon released a calming sigh. “Enough, Suijinmon… Calm down. Becoming agitated and panicked won’t solve your problem. Think about this logically…” he told himself. The Waterfall Commander tried to remain calm and put his brain to use to think of a way out of his predicament. He closed his red eyes and concentrated.

After a few moments of thought, he decided to move his tail towards his back and start rubbing the tip along the chain links. He used the tail to explore the chains until he found the broken chain link. After a minute, the end of his tail pressed against the sharp edge of a broken chain link near the wrist of his left hand. “Put pressure on the weak link. It is simple structural physics, he thought to himself.

He wrapped the end of his tail around the chain and began to concentrate his immense strength on his left wrist, arching his arm as much as possible to try and bend that one broken link. He slowly put more and more strength into the bending action, grunting as he did so. The chain link began to bend down the middle as both of its ends were stretched down in response to the pressure coming from the other links attached to it.

Suijinmon grunted and used his tail to pull the metal further. “Just a little… more…!” With a growl, he put one final push into his arm.

Finally, the links slipped off of the fractured one and came shooting out as the tension was released from the bonds. Suijinmon exhaled when he felt the pressure around his arms begin to loosen. He began to get to work untying the chains from his forearms.

After a minute, Suijinmon freed his forearms and pulled them from behind his back. He then ripped off the chains around his upper body before reaching down to break the chains around his ankles.

Once free, Suijinmon slowly stood to his four feet. His legs were still wobbly from the sedative and from lying around, but he remained steady. He walked towards the hanger doors with determination.

As he walked, he examined his Accel Arms. It seemed as though Fujinmon had tampered with their wiring to keep him from using their shockwave abilities. Nevertheless, as he approached the door, he raised his arms and slammed them down. The swing hammered the door and shattered the lock on the other side. He pushed the doors open mightily and squinted as the light of the grey morning greeted his sensitive eyes.

Fujinmon didn’t seem to leave any guards behind. Justimon must have gone with him. This was fortunate for the Waterfall Commander. Suijinmon walked out of the D-Brigade hanger and began to head towards Haganemame City, which was just down the road.

“I’m free… Now I just have to get my Accel Arms fixed as swiftly as possible. Then I can head to the battle…” he thought to himself, beginning to head down the road.

“I just hope I’m not too late…”

-

Back on the battlefield, the battle was still raging on.

Duftmon hovered in the air, his narrowed, green eyes scanning the battlefield and taking stock of the situation.

On the Royal Knights’ left flank, Sleipmon and Examon began sniping D-Brigade soldiers from the hill that they had captured. The Aerial Strike Forces consolidated their position on the southern hill and they now traded fire with the D-Brigade’s strengthened right flank. Meanwhile, in the center, Omegamon, Gankoomon, Dynasmon, and Craniamon led the Ground Strike Forces and the Saversburg army against the D-Brigade center. This was where the most intense fighting was focused. Over on the Royal Knights’ right flank, Alphamon, Dukemon, and RhodoKnightmon led the Defence Forces and the Republic of Node’s battalion. They contended with the D-Brigade’s left flank, doing their best to outflank them.

However, things were no longer that simple. Thanks to Chaosdramon’s heavy bombardment of the battlefield, dark rifts were beginning to open all over the place. The negative effects of which were already beginning to have an effect.

Duftmon stared over to the northern part of the battlefield with narrowed eyes. He watched as the SaintGalgomon D-Brigade officer rose to his feet, corrupted into a BlackSaintGalgomon by the dark data of the rifts.

The tactician’s grip around the Shoumetsu no Tsurugi’s hilt tightened. He did not need this kind of chaos adding a whole new dimension to what was already a difficult battle. He closed his eyes and released a scoff, remembering Alphamon’s words to him.

“’Variables’, hmm…?” he thought to himself. “I guess it is my duty to deal with this chaotic situation regardless. I am the Royal Knights’ strategist, after all…”

“Duftmon,” a familiar voice spoke with a serious tone.

Duftmon opened his eyes. He turned his blond head to see Magnamon and UlforceVeedramon hovering in front of him. He quickly noticed the looks of determination on their faces. “...Yes?” he asked them, although he already knew what they wanted to say.

“It’s time that we’ve made our move,” Magnamon explained, nodding over his shoulder towards the battlefield.

“Yeah. We can’t wait in the wings any longer. Things are getting out of hand and the others need us,” UlforceVeedramon agreed, frowning with resolve.

Duftmon looked at the two Royal Knights, thinking carefully. “Very well,” he replied, nodding to himself. “Although I have a feeling that you weren’t asking for permission…”

UlforceVeedramon glanced at Magnamon and smiled. “We weren’t,” he admitted.

Magnamon looked at Duftmon with passionate, crimson eyes. “Where do you want us?” he asked the Royal Knights’ tactician.

“Magnamon, you reinforce the right flank. There will be trouble there, now that the BlackSaintGalgomon has been corrupted,” Duftmon stated. The leopard tactician turned to UlforceVeedramon next and stared at him with a serious, profession gaze. “UlforceVeedramon, you take Grani’s Reconnaissance Forces and begin supporting the center using hit-and-run tactics. We are taking casualties there. We need to make sure that we can break through their center line in order to get to Chaosdramon and his bombardment group.”

“Roger that,” UlforceVeedramon responded light-heartedly, casually flashing the V-sign.

Duftmon sighed and shook his head at his unprofessional demeanour. “Go. And hurry,” he told them. “Time is of the essence. I may even be forced to join in at this rate.”

“Keep in contact,” Magnamon said to him urgently. The turbines in dragon man’s shoulder armour spun rapidly and emitted a faint, golden energy. As Magnamon flew higher into the air, he nodded at Duftmon and UlforceVeedramon before turning around and shooting off towards Alphamon and the right flank.

UlforceVeedramon looked at Duftmon. “Watch our backs, Duftmon. We’re counting on you,” he said to him with a gaze of camaraderie.

“Of course. I will not fail,” Duftmon answered back with cool professionalism.

UlforceVeedramon shot Duftmon a twinkling grin. The cobalt knight then turned towards the battlefield. When he did, the playful look in his bright, red eyes faded and became replaced with a hardened, serious glare. “Time to end this,” UlforceVeedramon breathed, clenching his fists and activating the beam sabres from his V Bracelets.

All it took was a blink from Duftmon and the dragon knight had disappeared in a flash. An azure afterimage was left in the wake of his lightning fast flight. UlforceVeedramon flew off to collect the Recon Forces and lead them into the thick of the action.

Duftmon looked across the battlefield. He was tempted to follow UlforceVeedramon and Magnamon’s examples and go to fight directly. However, he knew that he had a duty to oversee the flow of the battle from the rear and command the various parts accordingly. He had to keep his own emotions out of it. Duftmon was a little surprised that he felt so tempted to give into his impulses.

The Royal Knight released a calming breath and looked over to the right flank. He eyed the BlackSaintGalgomon and hoped that the corrupted Digimon wouldn’t pose too much of a problem for them.

-

Meanwhile, Dukemon watched as the BlackSaintGalgomon in question rose to his feet and prepared to fire his ridiculous amount of ordnance. The black cyborg towered over most of the Digimon around the area. His eyes were dark and absent of any emotion except for empty anger.

BlackSaintGalgomon turned his vacant glare towards Dukemon.

Dukemon narrowed his gaze and gripped the Gram and Aegis a bit more tightly. He adjusted his footing on Grani’s back in order to prepare for swift, evasive movements. “Be ready, Grani,” Dukemon said to the crimson Zero ARMS.

“Affirmative,” Zero ARMS: Grani responded cautiously, floating backwards.

BlackSaintGalgomon took a step towards them and raised his right arm, aiming his hand. The cannons on the tips of his fingers pointed at Dukemon.

“Easy there, big guy…” Dukemon urged him. “Try to think clearly. You’ve been taken over by dark data.”

“Burst Shot,” BlackSaintGalgomon spoke, not heeding his words. Five, green laser shot out of the fingers of his right hand, aiming erratically towards Dukemon and Grani.

Grani veered to the left as a laser skimmed by him. One laser cut through the ranks of the Shield Guards and the Republic’s army. Another slammed into Dukemon’s shield, burning across the face of the Aegis. Dukemon grimaced as he held against the powerful laser; he felt the metal of the Aegis heating up considerably. As the beam strained against his defence, he positioned the Gram around the shield and aimed it at the giant cyborg Digimon.

“Royal Sabre!” he yelled out, sending a beam surging from the Gram into the BlackSaintGalgomon’s chest.

There was an explosion of light against the black metal, which sent the corrupted D-Brigade officer staggering back a couple steps. He stopped firing lasers from his hand and suddenly lowered his arm. BlackSaintGalgomon began to slowly turn when something caught his eye. He looked over at Raijinmon, who was trading beams with Alphamon in the sky.

“Commander…” BlackSaintGalgomon spoke, his voice strained and haggard, as it trying to fight the darkness corrupting him. “Must… follow Commander’s orders… Must… commence… Plan Theta… Commander…!”

To Dukemon’s surprise, BlackSaintGalgomon turned away from him completely. Instead, the giant Digimon turned his back to the Royal Knights’ forces and pivoted towards the D-Brigade.

BlackSaintGalgomon’s red eyes gazed into the distance, staring at Chaosdramon. The Metal Empire’s ruler stood with his bombardments troops behind the D-Brigade’s center. His cannons were cooling down after unleashing a dark beam through the Saversburg aerial troops.

Raijinmon fired a burst of beams at Alphamon, who dodged them with skill. Raijinmon took the opportunity to pull away from the black knight, putting some space between them. He used the moment to look towards Suijinmon’s junior officer after having been addressed by him. To the Thunderclap Commander’s shock, SaintGalgomon was not his usual green colour. Instead, he was pitch-black. He wondered if he performed some sort of mode change. Before he could think about it much longer, he was shocked to see BlackSaintGalgomon facing away from the enemy forces. Instead, he was looking straight at Emperor Chaosdramon.

It didn’t look good. Fujinmon hadn’t given the signal yet. He was sure of it.

“Junior Commander! SaintGalgomon! What are you doing?!” Raijinmon called out to him urgently.

Alphamon glanced at the BlackSaintGalgomon and then back at Raijinmon. “He’s been corrupted, Raijinmon,” Alphamon warned the golden commander. “That was a dark evolution!”

Raijinmon frowned at this. “What?” he asked, half-dismissively. He turned away from Alphamon. “SaintGalgomon! Keep attacking the Royal Knights! It’s not time! What are you doing?!”

BlackSaintGalgomon remained still, as if Raijinmon’s words were going in one ear and out the other. “…Following your orders, Sir,” he replied. “Must… commence Plan Theta… Commander needs me to… kill. …Commencing… operation…” The giant arms platform began aiming his shoulder cannons towards the D-Brigade center. “Preparing bombardment.”

Raijinmon’s heart dropped at his words. He wasn’t listening to him at all. It was too soon.

The golden Thunderclap Commander shot through the air towards him, with lightning snapping at his feet as he flew. “Junior Commander SaintGalgomon, stop it immediately!” Raijinmon ordered him. He bolted through the sky and came to a sudden stop in his line of sight. He halted directly in the air in front of BlackSaintGalgomon. “Stop it right now. That is a direct order! It’s not time yet!”

“Raijinmon, don’t!” Alphamon warned him, flying after him.

BlackSaintGalgomon gazed at Raijinmon, unfazed. “…Must commence Plan Theta for Commander Suijinmon…” he responded. His eyes hardened with subdued rage as he stared at Raijinmon. “Commander… is betraying the plan? …Commander is the enemy… Commencing Plan Theta.”

“Giant Missile.”

Raijinmon’s calm eyes widened when the two massive shoulder missiles began hissing with steam as they launched from the ports on BlackSaintGalgomon’s shoulders. The two missiles soared towards Raijinmon, threatening to blow him out of the sky if he didn’t move.

“What…?” Raijinmon spoke, stunned that the officer would even consider firing at him.

“Look out!” Alphamon shouted. He performed a full body tackle right into Raijinmon, slamming him out of the way right as the missiles streamed towards him.

They flew to the side and the massive missiles continued shooting towards their intended target: Chaosdramon.

“It’s too soon… Why did he fire at me?” Raijinmon asked, bewildered.

“He’s been corrupted by the dark data seeping from those dark rifts,” Alphamon explained, releasing Raijinmon and pointing at the grass where SaintGalgomon had fallen. “He isn’t himself anymore. He’s been consumed with hatred.”

“Dark rifts…?” Raijinmon questioned, looking over at the black fissure in the grass. “There wasn’t anything like that when he scouted this place prior to the battle.”

“That’s because Chaosdramon is creating them with every attack that he makes,” Alphamon responded. He looked at Raijinmon questioningly. “You have no idea about this, do you?”

Raijinmon shook his head. “Why would Chaosdramon be doing that?” he wondered.

“I don’t know. He may be consciously doing it, but it may also be happening unconsciously. I don’t know. What I do know is that these dark rifts will cause problems not only for both of our armies, but the entire Digital World. It has to stop,” Alphamon insisted.

“…It seems that our goals are one and the same, Alphamon,” Raijinmon spoke, hovering in the air beside Alphamon as the battle raged around them.

Alphamon shot Raijinmon a suspicious look. “What is going on, Raijinmon? Tell me,” he urged the Thunderclap Commander.

It was these words that brought Raijinmon back down to earth. He remembered the missiles that BlackSaintGalgomon had fired. He initiated Plan Theta too early: the plan to turn on Chaosdramon.

Raijinmon swung around and watched with wide eyes as the massive missiles soared over the D-Brigade’s lines and descended towards Chaosdramon.

“There’s no going back now…” Raijinmon murmured. He turned towards Alphamon with a beseeching gaze. “…I need your help, Alphamon.”

-

“Hyper Mugen Cannon.”

Chaosdramon fired a pair of crushing beams from his shoulder-mounted cannons. The glowing, dark energy roared like a tempestuous storm as it hurdled through the air towards the coalition army. The beams slammed into the ranks of the center, sweeping through the aerial Digimon and leaving smoke and data in their wake.

As the beams surged from his cannons, the dark fissures around Chaosdramon opened wider and elongated. Little did he know, there were foot-wide chasms opening up a dozen meters behind him. When the thick pillars of energy faded, his cannons breathed out smoke, steam, and plasma vapour.

Chaosdramon stood up straighter from his hunched firing position. He turned his head towards his Mugendramon subordinate to his left. “Mugendramon. Shift your fire over towards the left—“ Chaosdramon trailed off as soon as he turned his head.

To his shock, he saw BlackSaintGalgomon in the distance. Two giant missiles steamed from his shoulder cannons and flew directly towards them. At first, he thought it was a mistake, but upon a few more milliseconds of processing, he determined that what he was seeing was exactly what it looked like.

“What…?” he whispered incredulously.

The missiles were nearly as large as Chaosdramon’s head. They sailed through the air, streaking towards him at high speeds. The ordnance screeched and whistled ominously as they closed in on him. After a few seconds, they began to reach their mark.

One of the missiles veered to the right and descended onto the Mugendramon officer to Chaosdramon’s left. The missile slammed into the Mugendramon’s chest and exploded. The blast tore through his metal body and obliterated him in a massive explosion that sent heat and chunks of metal washing over Chaosdramon’s form.

Chaosdramon narrowed his eyes as the second missile flew towards him on a collision course. The emperor quickly raised his right hand and opened up his vice-like fingers, aiming the cannon port on his palm. “Destroyed Hook!” he shouted, unleashing an organic missile from his hand.

The missile flew forwards and collided with the large missile that BlackSaintGalgomon fired. They both detonated in front of Chaosdramon, unleashing a swell of flames that engulfed the front of his body. Luckily for the cyborg, he wore the highly durable red digizoid plating over most of his body. This red digizoid was more than enough to protect him from the massive explosion.

When the flames faded, Chaosdramon’s body smoked with residual embers and melting shrapnel. There was an enraged look in his cold, red eyes. He glared across the battlefield to BlackSaintGalgomon who had been so bold and treasonous as to shoot at him.

“That SaintGalgomon…” he murmured, anger welling in his hollow, mechanical voice. “He is Suijinmon’s subordinate…”

He tightened the smoking vice of his right hand with immense pressure. “Suijinmon’s subordinate attacked me…” he spoke in a whispered echo. “…They were against me all along… Suijinmon has not only abandoned me, but he turned his soldiers against me… He is a traitor… They are all traitors. It’s a conspiracy. They seek to turn against me…”

Chaosdramon turned towards the left flank where the BlackSaintGalgomon had fired at him from. He adjusted the trajectory of his cannons and began pouring dark energy into his backpack, straight from the Dark Area. He slowly angled his cannons towards BlackSaintGalgomon and the troops under Raijinmon’s command. “Treason… Treason… TREASON!”

The Emperor snarled as his cannons filled with dark energy. He jerked his head to the side, looking past the crater where Mugendramon once stood, and glared at a RustTyrannomon. “RustTyrannomon! You are in command of the bombardment troops now! Take over for Mugendramon!” he shouted. After a moment, he reigned in his anger and took on his usual methodical, stoic demeanour. “…Your new objective is to exterminate that BlackSaintGalgomon and Suijinmon’s supporters.”

RustTyrannomon stared at Chaosdramon in stunned silence. “But… Emperor…!” he protested, unable to believe the order that he was hearing.

Chaosdramon turned his head to face him directly. His blood red eyes were vacant of all emotion. “Have you turned against me as well…?” he questioned in an eerie, soulless drone.

“No, Emperor! But—“

“Suijinmon is a traitor. His troops have turned against me. They are enemies of the Metal Empire,” Chaosdramon explained methodically. “Fire. That is an order from your Emperor.”

“Y… Yes, Your Majesty…” the RustTyrannomon reluctantly complied. He turned his head and nodded at the MetalGarurumon X-Antibody, Cannondramon, and Deckerdramon nearby.

“Fire at will… Hyper Mugen Cannon.”

The dark rifts across the battlefield expanded as Chaosdramon sent dark energy pouring out of his cannons, straight towards the corrupted BlackSaintGalgomon and his own troops.

-

Fujinmon watched incredulously as BlackSaintGalgomon’s missiles streamed through the air towards Chaosdramon. The green Hurricane Commander hovered in the air and looked on with an irate expression as the missile barrage exploded ineffectually around Chaosdramon. He knew that it didn’t do any real damage to him. The foolish act infuriated him.

He wasn’t ready to turn on Chaosdramon this early in the battlefield, but now his hand was forced.

About twenty meters away, Darkdramon, Suijinmon’s sub-commander, plunged his Gigastick Lance through a Garudamon and then flew back. He glanced over his shoulder and saw the aftermath of the explosions around “Commander Fujinmon!” he called out, flying over to the emerald cyborg Digimon.

Fujinmon grunted and unleashed a blast of wind through the ranks of the Strike Forces, blowing several of the attacking Digimon back in one fell swoop. He briefly looked at Darkdramon. “It’s begun,” he told him.

“I didn’t see you give the signal,” Darkdramon responded, stopping beside Fujinmon.

“I didn’t. Your subordinate jumped the gun,” Fujinmon spoke, nodding over to BlackSaintGalgomon, who had been leading a bunch of Suijinmon’s bombardment troops to aid Raijinmon’s flank before he was corrupted.

Darkdramon looked over and stared with disbelief. “What?! What happened to him? He’s black!” he exclaimed. He gritted his teeth and looked at Fujinmon. “What do we do?”

“There is nothing else we can do; we have to turn against Chaosdramon now,” Fujinmon replied. “I wanted to get the Royal Knights on our side first, but we’ll just have to do that at the same time.”

“Do you think we can under the circ—“

Darkdramon trailed off when Chaosdramon fired his Hyper Mugen Cannon attack. Both he and Fujinmon turned and watched as the two beams streamed across the battlefield towards the northern edge of the plain. They were stunned when they saw what happened next.

Chaosdramon’s two beam attacks swept towards BlackSaintGalgomon. The corrupted cyborg unleashed a storm of missiles from the various ports on his body in response. However, as the beams closed in, they enveloped most of the missiles and detonated them within their folds. The BlackSaintGalgomon brought his arms up to brace himself, but the two beams slammed into him and caused his armour to crumple under their immense pressure. The energy swallowed BlackSaintGalgomon completely. A massive explosion followed with him at the epicenter, and he was obliterated. The explosion then swept out and engulfed friend and foe alike in a devastating blast.

“What…? The Emperor killed him… Just like that,” Darkdramon spoke, his jaw hanging open with incredulous shock. “He hit D-Brigade soldiers too. Without even thinking about it. I don’t believe it…”

Fujinmon’s stunned and horrified expression soon morphed into a soft smirk. This was just the excuse that he needed.

-

Over on the north of the battlefield, Alphamon looked at Raijinmon questioningly. “You need my help…?” he asked, unable to help but feel a little suspicious. “Explain yourself, Raijinmon.”

Raijinmon lowered his Blitz Arms and nodded. “It’s Chaosdramon…” he spoke. “There is a plan in place…” He stared at Alphamon meaningfully. “Fujinmon and I are going to turn on him in this battle.”

Alphamon’s eyes widened with disbelief. “What?” he demanded.

Just as Raijinmon was about to say more, there was a deep, roaring sound nearby that was growing louder. Both he and Alphamon turned to see Chaosdramon firing two beams towards the BlackSaintGalgomon and anybody else who was in the way.

“Alphamon, look out!” a voice called out.

Magnamon shot through the sky and veered towards him. Right when the beams impacted and enveloped the BlackSaintGalgomon, Magnamon tackled Alphamon through the air to get him out of the blast radius.

Alphamon acted on instinct and reached out to grab Raijinmon’s wrist, pulling him along with them. The beams annihilated the BlackSaintGalgomon and the resulting explosion was powerful enough to sweep through the ranks of both sides. Dozens of Digimon were obliterated instantly within the dark explosion of Chaosdramon’s energy attack.

Raijinmon watched on, stunned, as several of his own soldiers were killed in the explosion.

Magnamon flew them away from the blast, but they were still struck by the shockwave. They were far away enough to be out of any danger, but it was still strong enough to slam into their backs and send them soaring faster in the air. After a few moments, Magnamon caught himself and spun them around. He increased the output of the turbine engines underneath his shoulder armour, effectively slowing them to a stop.

Once they halted in the air, Magnamon flew back a meter and looked between Alphamon and Raijinmon curiously. “Alphamon… What’s going on?” he asked his friend with a confused, inquisitive expression.

“Alphamon!” Dukemon shouted, flying over while atop Grani. He flew down beside the three and glanced briefly at Raijinmon. “It was Chaosdramon who fired those beams.”

Alphamon looked at Raijinmon, who was staring at the smoking crater where the BlackSaintGalgomon and several other D-Brigade Digimon had stood. “…You were telling me something, weren’t you?” he spoke, looking at Raijinmon meaningfully.

Raijinmon snapped back to attention. He released a calming breath and nodded. His gaze hardened and he turned back towards Alphamon. “Yes, he did… It is unforgiveable…” he spoke with a new found determination in his voice. “It is time to get rid of him. Before he does any more damage.”

Magnamon’s blinked in shock. “Get rid of him?” he questioned, his bewilderment clear in his voice.

Dukemon’s eyes widened. “You don’t seriously mean… You want to overthrow Chaosdramon?” he asked incredulously.

Raijinmon nodded affirmatively. “Yes… That is what Fujinmon and I have planned. And we require your help, Royal Knights…”

-

Meanwhile, the Royal Knights in the center were making a heavy push forward.

“Tekken Seisai!” Gankoomon shouted. He dashed forwards and lashed out with a punch strong enough to lift a Tankdramon off of his treads. When the armoured Digimon was sent crashing into the soldiers behind him, Gankoomon looked around for his next target.

Craniamon jumped through the air and landed beside Gankoomon. He spun around and slashed the Claiohm Solais through a Boltmon. Within the spreading cloud of data, the violet Royal Knight raised the Avalon shield and blocked a missile that came streaming towards himself and Gankoomon. The munition exploded, but the Avalon was sturdy enough to withstand the concussive blast.

Craniamon turned towards Gankoomon with a smirk. He panted with exertion, and there was a look of both adrenaline and satisfaction in his red eyes. “You’re welcome,” he stated smugly.

“I didn’t need you to do that, for the record,” Gankoomon insisted, grinning at his comrade.

“What were you going to do? Punch it?” Craniamon flatly asked. He was about to turn, but the explosion on the northern edge of the battlefield caught his attention. Craniamon narrowed his eyes at the image of mass destruction. “Damn… That Chaosdramon just roasted a lot of his own troops…” he explained with a cold edge to his voice.

Gankoomon growled and spun around to see the smoky cloud that erupted in the blast’s aftermath. They were both greeted by a blast of wind from the explosion. “Unbelievable…! Who the hell is this guy?!” Gankoomon demanded, clenching his fists as his jacket rippled from the gust of air. He turned his head and looked into the distance, glaring through his visor at the giant, crimson, cyborg dragon.

“He needs to be stopped,” Craniamon spoke, gripping his spear tightly.

“You are exactly right, Craniamon,” a voice spoke from nearby.

Craniamon and Gankoomon whirled around to see Fujinmon gently floating on the breeze towards them. They both narrowed their eyes and took on fighting stances.

“Fujinmon!” a voice called out from behind them.

Omegamon soared forwards alongside Dynasmon. Both Omegamon and Dynasmon stopped beside Craniamon and Gankoomon, flying in place in front of Fujinmon. Their defensive guards remained up, not willing to trust Fujinmon as he approached.

Fujinmon nodded calmly and politely. “Good, Omegamon, Dynasmon. I’ve been meaning to speak with you all,” he explained.

“Do you have a screw loose?” Dynasmon demanded, glaring at the Hurricane Commander suspiciously. “What game are you playing?!”

The slender, green commander shook his head. “I have a proposition for you all. For your whole Order and your allies…” Fujinmon explained.

“What is this proposition, Fujinmon?” Omegamon asked him, remembering that he said something similar to him earlier.

“Quite bluntly… Chaosdramon is a mad tyrant who needs to be stopped,” Fujinmon explained. “This is the one time that he is vulnerable. Raijinmon, other top D-Brigade officers who are loyal to us, and myself plan to defeat Chaosdramon in this battle. We wish to join forces with your armies and turn our focus away from each other and towards Chaosdramon.”

“What?! Is this a joke?!” Gankoomon demanded. “You expect us to believe that after you’ve been killing our troops for the past hours?!”

“It is the truth,” Fujinmon assured them, his demeanour completely calm and collected. “We had to play along with the battle or else Chaosdramon would become suspicious. Furthermore, not all of the D-Brigade soldiers are privy to this information – only the trusted ones who are loyal to the Storm Commanders. There are divided loyalties among the D-Brigade, so we couldn’t risk an information leak. Raijinmon and I are putting ourselves in immense danger right now, so we have had to be careful. We have no reason to lie to you about this.”

Craniamon wasn’t convinced. “And where’s that Suijinmon guy?” he asked suspiciously.

“He is sitting out of the battle. The loyal Digimon that he is, what we are doing goes against his conscience,” Fujinmon explained, bending the truth. “However, he agrees that we are doing the right thing. Surely you just witnessed Chaosdramon destroying D-Brigade soldiers… He is a menace to the Metal Empire and to the Digital World. The only reason that we followed him was out of fear.”

“Can we really believe that?” Dynasmon asked. “Maybe you’re just an opportunist who’ll be worse than Chaosdramon once he’s overthrown.”

Fujinmon closed his eyes and shook his head. “…Not at all, Royal Knights,” he answered. “We are reformists… We hate what Chaosdramon has done to the Metal Empire. We hate the oppression, the fear… I have had to play along as his loyal commander for all of these years since the Rust Purge. However, I have always been loyal to JumboGamemon, a Digimon who ruled with his heart instead of just cold pragmatism and security. The day has come to bring light into the Metal Empire once again. …However, we can’t do it alone. We need your help. We can’t fight both the Royal Knights and Chaosdramon at the same time.”

Omegamon frowned and looked at the three Royal Knights around him. “What do you think?” he asked them.

Gankoomon leered at Fujinmon carefully, as if reading into his soul. “…I believe him. He’s speaking with his heart. He means what he says,” Gankoomon stated.

“You think so, huh?” Dynasmon asked, glancing at Gankoomon. “Well…” He turned back to Fujinmon. “If you and the Digimon like you really are a subversive group in the Metal Empire, then it’s our duty to help you.”

Craniamon grunted and folded his arms. “…I guess our interests are the same…” he pointed out. “Chaosdramon is damaging the barrier to the Dark Area. We need to stop him, and it’ll be easier if the D-Brigade helps.”

Omegamon nodded. “I agree…” he spoke. He looked at Fujinmon directly. “We are trusting you, Fujinmon. Do not betray that trust.”

Fujinmon smiled and nodded. “I won’t… Thank you,” he responded gratefully.

“If you pull a fast one on us, you’ll have us to answer to,” Craniamon made sure to warn him.

Omegamon raised his arm, bringing the LRAC on his forearm up to his face. “I will have to contact Alphamon and the others,” he explained. “We cannot act unless we agree, but if what you are saying is true…”

Fujinmon nodded. “Raijinmon should be telling the same thing to your friends,” he stated. He flew back in the air. “I have to go sort out the troops. I will try to get them to stop attacking your forces, but there will be chaos. It is unavoidable. Please bear with us.”

“I understand…” Omegamon complied.

Dynasmon looked at Gankoomon. “Let’s get ready to tell our troops,” he stated. He turned and looked at Omegamon. “Make sure that Tactimon and Gaioumon know too.”

Omegamon nodded and prepared to contact Alphamon’s LRAC. “Alphamon, do you read me? It’s Omegamon. There is something you need to know…” he spoke.

-

A minute passed. Alphamon listened to what Omegamon was saying, nodding and replying into the long range communicator above the black and gold ring on his wrist.

“Omegamon, yes, I understand. Raijinmon has told us the same thing,” Alphamon explained to the white Royal Knight. “Yes, you have permission; we have come to the same conclusion. I will tell Duftmon, Gaioumon, and the others.”

Dukemon, Magnamon, and RhodoKnightmon watched as the Aloof Hermit agreed to the plan.

“It is a risky move, trusting them,” RhodoKnightmon observed, eyeing him with folded arms.

“I don’t think they’re trying to lull us into a false sense of security,” Dukemon responded. “This could be our best chance to take down Chaosdramon once and for all.”

Magnamon nodded and gazed around the battlefield. “We need to finish this battle fast. Just look at the dark rifts…” he pointed out, observing the dozens of slender cracks that were emerging in the grass.

“I suppose…” RhodoKnightmon agreed, floating in place. He turned his head and looked over at Raijinmon, who was quickly talking with his sub-commanders in preparation for the move.

Raijinmon spoke with a MagnaGarurumon and a MailBirdramon. “You saw what Chaosdramon did to our soldiers,” he spoke firmly. “It’s time to stop him before he does it again. I’ll address the soldiers personally. It’s your job to enforce my orders.”

“Yes, Sir,” his direct subordinates agreed.

Raijinmon turned and gave Alphamon and the Royal Knights a nod. He flew up in the air and sent lightning shooting out of his form, attracting attention to himself.

“Listen up, loyal soldiers of the D-Brigade!” Raijinmon boomed like thunder, his voice gathering the attention of the D-Brigade soldiers, dishevelled and confused after the Chaosdramon’s attack on them.

He floated high in the air and folded his Blitz Arms behind his back. He was the picture of authority, and his deep, firm voice resonated in the hearts of the D-Brigade. He gazed down at the expectant eyes looking up at him.

“The Emperor’s attack on us just now was no accident…”

-

(Continued in the next post)

 

[Griff4815]

(Continued from the previous post)

-

As Raijinmon began to rouse the troops, Fujinmon began to do the same. He soared through the air and stopped over the lines of the D-Brigade center. The ground troops and aerial troops were launching attacks into the Order-Saversburg coalition’s lines. Fujinmon elongated the beam blades of his Critical Arms and waved over to his two sub-commanders, Justimon and WarGreymon X-Antibody.

The cyborg and the dragon warrior flew over with swift obedience and stopped beside Fujinmon. “Commander,” they both greeted.

Fujinmon nodded at them. “It’s time. It’s time to turn the D-Brigade against Chaosdramon,” he explained to them, the severity of the situation reflected in his narrow, red eyes. “WarGreymon, go and tell Darkdramon to work on Suijinmon’s troops. Justimon, we’ll focus on our troops.”

The WarGreymon X-Antibody saluted and shot off, knowing that time was of the essence.

Fujinmon took a deep breath and turned around, looking across the ranks of the D-Brigade. “…Formations A, B, C, F, and G! Cease fire at once! Stop attacking!” he shouted out.

The patter of bullets, the screech of missiles and the deep resonance of cannon blasts began to fade. The attacks began to become more intermittent, but there were many looks of confusion across the D-Brigade Digimon.

“Commander?” a Tankdramon called out questioningly. “What are your orders?”

As the D-Brigade attacks stalled, the blasts from the Royal Knights’ side began to lessen as well, as Dynasmon and Gankoomon explained the situation to Generals Tactimon and Blastmon, and Leftenant Grademon of the Strike Forces.

The lull in the attacks at the center drew Chaosdramon’s attention. He turned his red eyes away from the northern flank and towards the center. He was confused and suspicious when he saw Fujinmon floating in the air, addressing the troops. “What is going on there…?” he whispered distrustfully.

“Your orders are to stop attacking the Royal Knights and their allies! They are not our enemy! Our true enemy is none other than the bloodstained tyrant, Chaosdramon!” Fujinmon announced, sweeping his Critical Arm outwards dramatically.

Despite the din of battle still happening on the flanks, a stunned silence swept across the middle of the battlefield.

“S-…Sir?!” a confused soldier asked in disbelief.

“Emperor Chaosdramon?!” another chimed in for confirmation.

Fujinmon spun around and pointed his beam sword towards the northern flank, where BlackSaintGalgomon and many other D-Brigade soldiers had been destroyed. “Chaosdramon has attacked us! He has destroyed your comrades for no reason other than his own suspicions! You have just witnessed his brutality for yourselves!” Fujinmon announced passionately. He looked down across the different Formations. “I witnessed with my own eyes his arbitrary tyranny! He arrested Commander Suijinmon for treason, and he intends to execute him!”

Gasps and stunned murmurs began to echo across the D-Brigade’s ranks.

Following up on this, Fujinmon turned towards Suijinmon’s stunned troops. “Yes, that’s right! Commander Suijinmon – my closest and most loyal friend – has been arrested last night without charge. Chaosdramon states that Suijinmon was plotting against him, but Suijinmon is too loyal and kind-hearted to ever do something so devious! Isn’t that right?!”

“Yeah, the Commander would never do that!” one of Suijinmon’s soldiers shouted, his rage overcoming his professionalism.

“What is Chaosdramon thinking?! How dare he do that to Commander Suijinmon!” another spoke up, emboldened by the first.

Fujinmon smirked and nodded. “All of you know as well as I do know that Suijinmon wouldn’t do that, and yet he is being treated like a common criminal! This shows the extent of Chaosdramon’s unhinged paranoia and arbitrary tyranny! If he can do that to Suijinmon – your caring and faithful commander – who could he do it to next?! The truth of the matter is that he wanted Suijinmon out of the way in order to control all of you! I, for one, am not about to let Suijinmon suffer such a dishonorable and unwarranted fate! Are you?!”

“No, we have to do something!” one of Fujinmon’s loyal soldiers in the D-Brigade – a Cyberdramon - spoke up to help whip Suijinmon’s troops into a frenzy of indignation. “Chaosdramon has to be stopped!”

“Yeah, we need to rescue Suijinmon! He’s a better commander than Chaosdramon could ever be! We can’t stand by and let him rust away in a cell or worse!” one of Suijinmon’s soldiers spoke up in agreement.

“Yes, I agree! We are with you, Commander Fujinmon!” another yelled in support.

However, not all of the D-Brigade soldiers were convinced. There were many Chaosdramon loyalists, and there were even more D-Brigade soldiers who were conflicted on what to do. They were being torn between their commanders and their emperor. Normally, the D-Brigade acted in unison. It was easy to be loyal to the empire, as they just had to do what their emperor and commanders told them to do. But now, they were being forced to make a choice – a choice of loyalty and morality. Most D-Brigade soldiers weren’t used to this. Somebody usually chose for them – an officer, a commander, somebody of higher rank. However, now their loyalty was being tested. Their own personal free will was being tested. They had to decide if they were more loyal to their commanders or to their emperor.

“B-But, he’s our emperor!” one Digimon spoke up.

“All of this talk is crazy! We can’t betray Emperor Chaosdramon!” another soldier protested.

Fujinmon pivoted in the air and outstretched his arm towards the rear of the D-Brigade’s lines, directly at Chaosdramon. “He has already attacked us! He[i/] has betrayed us! He has oppressed us for decades! It is finally time to stand up and tell him ‘no’! No longer will our courage give way to fear! The time has come to remove Chaosdramon’s iron fist! Let us remove these shackles! No longer will we be restrained, marginalized, or threatened into blind obedience! This is our time! The time of tyranny is over!”

Chaosdramon narrowed his eyes at Fujinmon. His suspicions and paranoia were going into overdrive now. “Fujinmon… What are you thinking…?” he murmured, once again beginning to draw power from the Dark Area. “You treacherous cog…”

As Fujinmon passionately spoke – something previously unheard of from the calm and disciplined commander 0 there was an array of cheers from the ranks of the D-Brigade. They clamoured in support of Fujinmon, and, particularly, Suijinmon. The echoing of the soldiers supporting him – of the soldiers standing up for themselves – brought a surge of warmth to Fujinmon’s heart.

“The Commander is right! The Emperor has to go!”

“He won’t get away with deleting our comrades!”

However, amidst the cheers, there was also still a lot of uneasy silence. There was even several boos and those expressing vocal protest among the D-Brigade.

“Turning against Chaosdramon is treason!” one Chaosdramon loyalist shouted ardently.

“How can we expect to defeat Chaosdramon?!” another sceptical and fearful soldier called out. “He’ll kill us!”

“Raijinmon and the formations under his command are with us as well. I have also spoken with the Royal Knights and they have agreed to aid us in taking down Chaosdramon,” Fujinmon explained. “We will join forces and take down Chaosdramon once and for all!”

“The Royal Knights?! We’ve been fighting them all this time!” a Sealsdramon protested.

“The Royal Knights? So it was Fujinmon who is betraying the Metal Empire!” a Tankmon loyal to Chaodramon declared suspiciously. “Somebody has to tell Chaosdramon!”

“Don’t you dare!” a Gigadramon spoke, aiming his arm cannon down at him threateningly. “Fujinmon isn’t the monster here! It’s Chaosdramon!”

Darkdramon flew forwards in the air, making his presence known. “We are doing this for the good of Suijinmon and the Metal Empire. All junior officers are expected to respect the chain of command and follow my orders! Those who refuse will be dismissed on the spot!” Suijinmon’s sub-commander stated firmly.

Many D-Brigade soldiers who were on the fence felt themselves instinctively drifting back towards the familiar. They would follow the military chain of command under their Commanders and superior officers, even if it meant turning against their emperor. They had chain of command beaten into them since joining the D-Brigade, so it was easy to just revert to following it rather than having to make a difficult morality choice on their own.

“We’re with you, Commander!”

“We have to save the Commander!”

“The Emperor has to be removed if the D-Brigade is to survive!”

Fujinmon smiled and nodded at these calls of support. “Thank you…” he answered gratefully. He glanced towards the north and saw that Raijinmon was addressing his soldiers as well. It seemed to be going similar to how he was going. Despite most of the soldiers agreeing, there were still many hold-outs. It would be difficult, but they needed to make their move now, no matter the consequences. Those who wouldn’t support them would be swept aside. It was necessary in order to achieve their goals.

Fujinmon extended his sword towards Chaosdramon. “Attack! Advance in a scattered formation! Do not attack our new allies! The Royal Knights are vital to our effort!” the Hurricane Commander ordered.

Chaosdramon’s eyes widened with rage as he saw Fujinmon lock eyes with him. He watched as many of the D-Brigade soldiers turned around, away from the enemy and towards him and his cadre. “I knew it… The Storm Commanders were in on the conspiracy together… They plan to betray me…”

“We won’t let you betray the Emperor!” one D-Brigade Tankdramon shouted from within the D-Brigade’s ranks. He aimed his cannons towards Fujinmon and aimed his chain guns at his fellow soldiers. “Striver Cannon!” he shouted, firing two shells towards Fujinmon.

Other D-Brigade soldiers who were firmly loyal to Chaosdramon followed suit and began opening fire and unleashing attacks on their fellow soldiers.

Fujinmon saw this and narrowed his eyes. “Disable those who oppose us! Attack Chaosdramon! Marut Cyclone!” he shouted, sweeping the shells away in a gust of wind and hurling them back in Chaosdramon’s direction.

Chaosdramon angled his shoulder-mounted cannons towards Fujinmon and the rebellious soldiers. The cannons brimmed with dark, otherworldly power. “Hyper Mugen Cannon!” he growled

Fujinmon flew up into the sky as he saw the two beams launch from Chaosdramon’s cannons. They hurdled towards the soldiers on the ground. He rarely ever saw Chaosdramon in action, but he could tell the sheer destructive capabilities of the emperor. He knew that getting hit by those beams was a quick passage to deletion. The Hurricane Commander flew up and out of their path, and quickly looked down at his troops.

“Aerial Formations, pitch: vertical, yaw: ninety degrees outwards! Ground formations, get into column formation C! Hurry!” Fujinmon ordered, hoping to minimize the damage of the incoming beams.

Despite his orders and the disciplined manoeuvres of the D-Brigade, not all of the Digimon were able to get out of the way of the beams. The dual pillars of dark energy ripped across the ground and swept through the D-Brigade’s ranks. Fifteen D-Brigade soldiers were annihilated in an instant. The beams proceeded to slam into the twenty meter gap between the D-Brigade and the Order-Saversburg army, creating a massive explosion between them.

Fujinmon sneered and looked down at the damage. There were two, smoking trenches across the field. Too many of his soldiers had been deleted by the attack. He needed every one possible in order to defeat Chaosdramon. “See, everyone?!” he called out to the soldiers. “He has no qualms about killing us, and we didn’t even attack him once! Now, aerial formations, suppress Chaosdramon by laying down a heavy bombardment! Ground formations, advance!”

For emphasis, Fujinmon began shooting through the air, leading the charge towards Chaosdramon.

Chaosdramon glared at Fujinmon as he speeded towards him. “Fujinmon… I always knew you were a traitor… When I overthrew JumboGamemon, I could have killed you… You were nothing… I made you something. I kept you close to co-opt JumboGamemon’s supporters. I saw your worth…” he growled, raising his right arm towards the Hurricane Commander. “But I was mistaken. You are nothing but a treacherous fool… Now, perish… Destroyed Hook.”

Fujinmon skimmed through the sky towards Chaosdramon. He swerved to the side as the giant cyborg unleashed a massive, organic missile towards him. The ordnance brushed by his lithe, metal body and exploded in the air behind the commander. Meanwhile, missiles from his own soldiers streaked over Fujinmon’s head as they descended on Chaosdramon.

Explosions erupted around Chaosdramon, sending dirt blasting upwards and buffeting his sturdy, metal body with fire, energy, shrapnel, and pressure. However, the red digizoid served him well, protecting his body from the explosions. He swept his left claw out, sweeping the flames of the explosions away in one broad stroke.

Through the flames, his crimson eyes glared at Fujinmon. “Fujinmon… You insect…” he spoke as he aimed his claw at the Hurricane Commander.

Fujinmon narrowed his eyes as he cut through the sky towards his foe, a strong gale following him as he flew. “Chaosdramon…!”

-

“Spread out!” Raijinmon ordered as he unleashed an arc of electricity from his hands. The bolts of lightning pierced through the air, detonating a storm of missiles that rained down on the combined forces of Raijinmon’s and a large division of Suijinmon’s soldiers. The missiles that he was able to hit exploded in a chain of mid-air explosions, but many still flew down and bombarded the landscape.

RhodoKnightmon flew beside Alphamon, Magnamon, and Dukemon, watching as the D-Brigade troops of the left flank turned around and began to advance towards Chaosdramon and the soldiers still loyal to him.

The rose Royal Knight looked at Alphamon questioningly. “Are you sure about this, Alphamon?” he asked him. “We were just fighting them a few minutes ago, and now we are fighting alongside them? This is highly unconventional. Can we trust them?”

“I’m sure, RhodoKnightmon,” Alphamon replied. “We have the same objectives. In war, ‘yesterday’s enemy is today’s ally’. I believe that we need to keep an open mind and react accordingly from there.”

“Very well. I trust you,” RhodoKnightmon responded. He looked across the battlefield to the center. “It appears that Omegamon and the others have already begun their new attack anyways.”

As they spoke, Magnamon was talking to Duftmon over the LRAC on his wrist. “I see, so that’s the situation at the center,” he said in response to Duftmon.

“Yes. If Dukemon is with you, have him and Grani head over to the center to help Omegamon and Fujinmon break through to Mugendramon,” Duftmon responded. “I need you all to meet up with Raijinmon and Gaioumon in order to coordinate the right flank.”

“Got it,” Magnamon spoke. “Dukemon? Alphamon?”

“Yeah, I heard him,” Dukemon answered. He looked down at Grani, whose back he continued to stand on. “Are you ready, Grani?”

“Whenever you are,” Grani replied.

Alphamon nodded at the crimson Royal Knight. “Good luck, Dukemon.”

“You too, guys,” Dukemon answered, nodding. “Let’s finish this and finally put a stop to Chaosdramon.”

Dukemon and Grani broke off from the Royal Knights and began heading south, towards the center of the battlefield.

As they flew away, Alphamon, Magnamon, and RhodoKnightmon flew through the air and ducked under a powerful beam that soared overhead and slammed into the river in a steamy, watery explosion. They evaded the various attacks thrown towards the northern flank from Chaosdramon and his soldiers.

“He’s attacking them so readily,” Magnamon spoke with a frown as they flew across the Defence Force’s lines, over to where the Republic of Node’s army was positioned. “Chaosdramon is ruthless…”

“Not only that, but now he’s a threat to the security of the whole Digital World,” Alphamon agreed, spreading his golden wings and making a beeline to where he saw Raijinmon and Gaioumon. “He has to be stopped before it’s too late.” The Aloof Hermit raised his wrist to his face and spoke into the audio communicator. “Duftmon, I need you to send a messenger into Saversburg. Tell Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode what’s going on out here.”

“Roger that,” Duftmon answered.

The three Royal Knights landed on a patch of burnt grass near the riverbank. Raijinmon and Gaioumon were talking, quickly going over their tactics.

Raijinmon looked over when the three Royal Knights approached. “Good, Alphamon,” he spoke.

“What’s the situation?” Alphamon asked them.

“We are planning our attack on Chaosdramon’s rear lines,” Gaioumon explained.

Raijinmon nodded. “I was able to speak with Fujinmon over the hidden frequency on our transceiver. All of the D-Brigade soldiers here on the northern flank will obey me, probably thanks to the fact that Chaosdramon has been hammering us for the past ten minutes. About seventy percent of the remaining D-Brigade troops located in the center are loyal to us. They are advancing on Chaosdramon with the support of Omegamon and his forces. However, the remaining thirty percent are either loyal to Chaosdramon or are in a state of panic. Also loyal to Chaosdramon are the troops gathered near the hill on the southern flank, and Chaosdramon’s rear guard – his bodyguards and his bombardment troops. They are among the strongest, so we still have our work cut out for us,” Raijinmon explained.

Gaioumon nodded. “We would like the Defence Forces to provide cover for our flank, as you have been doing before,” he explained. “Now, just consider the D-Brigade soldiers with us as allies.”

“My troops are highly disciplined,” Raijinmon added. “They will follow any command, and they shouldn’t have qualms about working beside you.”

“Very well,” Alphamon agreed. “How does that sound to you, Duftmon?”

“Acceptable,” was the tactician’s response. “Do not heavily concentrate your forces – spread out. I will tell Sleipmon, Examon, and the Aerial Strike Forces to keep pressure on Chaosdramon’s formations to the south.”

“Understood, Sir Duftmon,” Raijinmon answered, loud enough for Alphamon’s LRAC to pick it up. “And do not worry; I will help to ensure Alphamon’s safety for you as well.”

“…Very well…?” Duftmon replied, arching an eyebrow curiously.

Alphamon exchanged confused looks with Magnamon and RhodoKnightmon. “Thank you, but that isn’t necessary, Raijinmon.”

Raijinmon looked at Alphamon and nodded. “Of course,” he spoke before turning away. “Now, if you will excuse me, I must go lead my soldiers. I will have them flag the dark rifts in order to avoid further corruptions.”

“Thank you. We will lead the attack,” Alphamon told him.

“I look forward to it,” Raijinmon replied. He jumped into the air and began flying through the sky to the head of his army.

Alphamon nodded at Magnamon and RhodoKnightmon, and the three flew off to link of with the Defence Forces to tell them the plan.

-

Meanwhile, Dukemon flew south from atop Grani. He made his way from the northern flank towards the center, where the heaviest fighting was going on. He could see Chaosdramon and his supporters launching attacks at the coalition forces. Beams streaked through the air, and missiles and shells seemed to fly towards anything that moved.

This included Dukemon and Grani. The pair dipped suddenly in the sky as a ZekeGreymon released a high-powered Hyper Launcher laser towards them. The bright, burning beam cut overhead, just narrowly missing them.

Dukemon narrowed his eyes and tried to keep balanced on Grani. He looked over to watch out for more attacks headed their way. “It’s madness,” he said to Grani. “A coup in the middle of a battle… Dark rifts everywhere… It’s chaotic.”

“All the more reason why we have to stay sharp,” Grani advised as they made it to the center of the battlefield.

“Yeah…” Dukemon muttered. His golden eyes gazed across the chaotic battle and observed Chaosdramon. He watched as Chaosdramon poured two beams out of his cannons, which washed over the D-Brigade lines and annihilated every Digimon that they enveloped. Dukemon grimaced and clenched the Gram and Aegis. “We have to stop him, Grani…”

Grani nodded and glanced over as well. He was about to reply, but his eyes widened. “Dukemon, look out!” he shouted.

Dukemon blinked and looked above them. He could see a dozen missiles raining down on them from the sky. “Damn!” Dukemon shouted, raising the Aegis over his head.

Grani began accelerating and swerving to the side erratically in a hasty attempt to evade them. Three missiles whizzed by his body, narrowly missing them. However, the fourth and fifth missiles didn’t miss. They slammed down on Dukemon’s shield and exploded violently.

Dukemon began to fell backwards, losing his balance from the blast in conjunction with Grani’s aerial manoeuvres. As he waved his arms out to try and regain balance, a sixth missile came sailing down and exploded against Dukemon’s armoured chest. The Royal Knight let out a winded grunt as the explosion blew him off of Grani’s back.

“Dukemon!” Grani shouted, feeling Dukemon get thrown off of his back by the blast. He began to nosedive in an attempt to circle around and catch Dukemon, but he wasn’t sure if he could make a sharp enough turn.

Dukemon dropped like a brick towards the ground. Still shaken by the blast and the sudden plummet, he was unable to right himself in the air in time. He could see the Strike Forces and Saversburg’s army advancing below him. He hoped he didn’t fall on them, but he didn’t think there was anything he could do to prevent it. He tried to pitch his body forwards to try and catch himself, but he couldn’t manage to keep himself afloat. It was hard for him to fly when he was in a sudden freefall. The ground became ever closer as he plummeted. Dukemon shut his eyes and prepared for what he knew would be a painful landing.

“Oof!” Dukemon grunted, feeling himself finally make contact with something solid. To his surprise, he had impacted faster than he thought, and it wasn’t nearly as painful as he expected, although he still felt twinges of numb pain in his back and legs.

It then dawned on Dukemon that he was actually being suspended in the air. He opened his eyes to see what he had hit.

To his surprise, he found Omegamon looking down at him, holding Dukemon in his outstretched arms. Dukemon blinked and looked around; it seemed like Omegamon has caught him in mid-air. His Grey Arm supported Dukemon’s back and his Garuru Arm supported the knight’s knees, and they floated several dozen feet above the ground.

Dukemon put his lance-bearing arm over Omegamon’s shoulder to keep himself steady. He grinned up at him with a relieved smile. “Hey, nice catch, Omegamon. You’re a lot softer than the ground,” Dukemon said with a relieved, teasing tone. “Thanks for the save.”

Omegamon blushed and looked away sheepishly, kind of wishing that he had caught Dukemon in a less embarrassing way. “Y-You’re welcome, Dukemon…” he mumbled in response, his dual voice belying sheepishness.

Grani circled around and flew over to them. “Dukemon… Thank goodness,” he said, sighing with relief.

“I’m fine, Grani,” Dukemon said to him, waving at him with the Aegis shield. “This is my stop anyways.”

“What?” Grani asked. “Are you sure?”

Dukemon nodded. “Yeah, I’ll fight on the land,” he told the Zero ARMS. He nodded over towards the south, where he could see UlforceVeedramon flying through the sky with the Order’s scouts. “You should go lead your scouts.”

“Very well,” Grani agreed. “Be careful. Look after him, Omegamon.”

Omegamon’s cheeks turned a deeper shade but he nodded. “I will, Grani,” he responded with resolve.

“Hey, hey! I don’t need looking after!” Dukemon protested. After a moment, he then realised his current situation and looked up at Omegamon with an awkward grin. “…Hey, do you mind putting me down, Omegamon? This is kind of embarrassing.”

“O-Of course,” Omegamon stammered, quickly flying down to the ground with Dukemon still in his arms.

Grani chuckled and then zoomed off towards the south to meet up with UlforceVeedramon and his scouts, who were linking up with Examon, Sleipmon, and the Aerial Strike Forces.

Once they were on the ground, Dukemon jumped down from Omegamon’s arms and adjusted the Gram and Aegis over his arms. He looked across the battlefield towards Chaosdramon and then stared at Omegamon with a look of determination in his golden eyes. “Shall we, Omegamon?” he asked him.

Omegamon nodded and ejected the Grey Sword and the Garuru Cannon from his arms. The two Royal Knights dashed forwards side-by-side, shooting across the ground towards their enemy. They flew over the ranks of the Strike Forces, who pushed forwards along the flank of Fujinmon’s forces.

They could see Craniamon, Dynasmon, and Gankoomon near the front of the fighting. Omegamon’s insides stiffened as he flew forwards; he could see multiple dark rifts surrounding Chaosdramon. However, he steeled his resolve and pressed forward, aiming his cannon arm towards the crimson tyrant.

He narrowed his sky blue eyes and took careful aim at Chaosdramon. The cannon’s bore glowed with blue energy. “…Garuru Cannon!”

-

Chaosdramon watched as Omegamon’s attack soared towards him. He quickly raised up his massive, left arm and blocked the frozen blast with the outer, red digizoid plating. Frost and ice traced the surface of the metal, but the blast was unable to break through the durable metal.

The emperor’s eyes narrowed with frozen hatred. He pointed his left arm towards Omegamon, who flew to the front of the army. “Royal Knights…” he began murmuring. He launched his ejectable claws towards Omegamon, intending to skewer the Royal Knight through.

Omegamon came to a skidding stop when he saw the giant set of claws shooting towards him. He enlarged the Brave Shield Omega on his shoulder just in time to block the powerful impact. The claws screeched against the shield and hit him with enough brute force to send Omegamon flying off of his feet.

Omegamon flipped backwards in the air and caught himself, skidding along the ground and ignoring the immediate bruising in his shoulder. He poised the Grey Sword and dashed forwards to attack Chaosdramon again.

Chaosdramon retracted his claws back into his arm and then slashed them down on Omegamon with a mighty swipe, forcing Omegamon to raise his blade to block the attack.

Seeing an opportunity, Fujinmon shot towards Chaosdramon from the right, hoping to stab him while he was focused on Omegamon. “Critical Arm!”

While contending with Omegamon, Chaosdramon outstretched his right arm towards Fujinmon. His opportunism didn’t go unnoticed. “Fujinmon…” he growled. He fired an organic missile from his right hand, which soared towards Fujinmon and homed in on him.

Fujinmon sneered when he saw the giant missile shooting towards him, following his movement. “Marut Cyclone!” he shouted, crossing his dual beam swords in front of his body before swiping them outwards. A super-condensed blade of wind swept forward and slammed into the missile right as it closed in on him. The explosive detonated in front of Fujinmon, blasting him back through the air.

Chaosdramon then pulled his claws away from Omegamon and spun around, slamming his muscular tail into the white knight.

Omegamon was thrown through the air from the heavy blow, but he flew upwards and quickly corrected himself.

Chaosdramon turned to face the advancing D-Brigade, Saversburg, and Order soldiers. He gazed across the opposition to his authority, the D-Brigade forces who had betrayed him. His rage bubbled beneath his cold, calculating exterior.

The dark fissures in the field around him suddenly began to break open, causing torrents of dark energy to come pouring out. The earth quaked as the ground was split, and the rifts grew as wide as several meters. They vented out dark data and black Digitron, all of which began to waft into Chaosdramon’s backpack. His calm façade fractured and he aimed his shoulder mounted cannons and his right hand.

Omegamon’s blue eyes widened as he saw the dark rifts fracture and grow dangerously. He watched as the black clouds of data began to drift towards Chaosdramon. “No…!”

“You… All of you… Royal Knights… Fujinmon… Traitors…” he spoke, his mechanical voice brimming with fury. Suddenly, he unleashed a savage roar. “DISAPPEAR! HYPER MUGEN CANNON!”

Chaosdramon began unloading his cannons indiscriminately into the Digimon advancing on him. Beams streaked across the grass, swallowing Digimon up and crushing them into data. Explosions erupted into the sky like a hellish display of fireworks. He then fired again and again. Two more beams slammed into the D-Brigade’s soldiers, and he launched a missile into the aerial ranks of the Saversburg army, creating an explosion that corrupted the surrounding Digimon with a crippling virus. They fell to the ground and writhed in indescribable agony.

“Burn! Burn! Burn! Burn!” Chaosdramon shouted. He fired beams from his cannons into a crowd of Digimon and then fired the pair of cannons again. He took in dark data from the rifts around him at an excessive rate. This constant energy supply left him with an inexhaustible power source. It also completely eliminated the cool-down period between his blasts, allowing him to fire his Hyper Mugen Cannons again after only ten seconds.

“BURN! Hyper Mugen Cannon!” Chaosdramon roared.

His cannons unleashed blast after blast across the battlefield. Nowhere was spared. He blasted from the northern flank, to the field in front of him, to the southern hill. Explosions erupted all across the battlefield, annihilating Digimon indiscriminately.

Chaosdramon’s rage, paranoia, and power were fuelled by the dark data that he absorbed into his body. As the emperor slipped further towards madness, the battlefield burned.

-

The image of Chaosdramon firing beams haphazardly and continuously could be clearly seen. He launched dark blasts into the united armies. Opponents could only try to shield themselves from the blasts, or try to evade them.

The more that Chaosdramon fired his Hyper Mugen Cannon, the more energy that he needed from the Dark Area. It was an addictive source of power. As he drew more and more power from the Dark Area, the greater the dark rifts grew. The larger the rifts became, the weaker the barrier between the Digital World and the Dark Area. Chaosdramon unwittingly made this happen as he focused single-mindedly on destroying all those who opposed him.

All of these images of destruction flashed before a crimson eye.

Far removed from the battlefield, a single Digimon silently observed its progress.

The room was dark. There were no candles lit, and there were no windows for light to pour through from the outside. The only flicker of light inside the black interior was the glowing, red eye.

Suddenly, the sound of knocking interrupted the Digimon’s concentration. The Digimon looked up towards the door of the small, wooden hut.

“Enter,” a deep, male voice spoke.

The front door of the hut creaked open and the bright, midday light flooded in from the outside. In the doorway was the short silhouette of a cloaked humanoid Digimon, immediately recognizable by the wizard hat on his head.

Wizardmon wiped his boots on the entrance rug and walked into the dark, unlit hut. “Excuse me…” he spoke politely. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It is no problem at all,” the deep voice calmly answered with a hint of warmth to the low, male voice.

Suddenly, the Digimon waved his hand in the air and summoned an orb of light. The wisp of luminescence illuminated the interior of the small, humble hut. The inside of the dwelling could be seen, revealing a basic interior with minimal furniture. Along the walls were bookcases loaded with books, scrolls, and journals.

Sitting at a table, facing the front door was a Digimon whose form was half-revealed by the light that he created. It shone across the white, angelic, left side of his body, while his skeletal, demonic, right side was faintly obscured by his own shadow.

Bagramon raised his head from his deep thought. He gazed across the hut to Wizardmon, who bowed his head politely.

“How did the meeting with Black Pincer Company go?” Bagramon asked him curiously, turning his head so that his remaining eye could gaze at Wizardmon. In his hollow, right eye socket was a crimson ruby that glowed ominously. It seemed to glisten and sparkle as images of the distant battle raced across its flawless surface.

“It didn’t, I’m afraid…” Wizardmon sheepishly admitted. “The Royal Knights noticed me, so I couldn’t speak to them. However, I told them that I would meet them in Shroud in a couple days.”

Bagramon closed his left eye thoughtfully. “GrandisKuwagamon has been captured. Time will tell if Blitzmon and Bolgmon will continue on without him,” he explained in a sage-like voice. “I would prefer to continue to use them as agents for the coming days… but if not, then I suppose they have done their job well enough,” he explained matter-of-factly. Bagramon turned his head and stared into the floating aureole that lit up his hut. “They have successfully precipitated a war between the Metal Empire and the Royal Knights. I am impressed with their results despite being such a small mercenary group. …It proves that even the smallest bug has the ability to shift the course of the entire Digital World, if given the right circumstances…”

Wizardmon nodded quietly, mulling on the sage’s words. “…The battle that you wanted is going on right now, isn’t it?” the magician asked, looking over at Bagramon. “How is it progressing?”

“As I hoped,” Bagramon responded with a small smile. His red eye gleamed; the ruby contained his all-seeing Invisible Snake Eyes, which he used to watch the battle from his hut. He continued to observe Chaosdramon blasting away, drawing continuous power from the Dark Area as he fired. “Just as I thought, Emperor Chaosdramon can’t help himself… He is playing his role well. All I needed him to do was step onto the battlefield against a powerful foe and then let loose his powers. His strongest attack uses energy directly from the Dark Area, and now that he has gotten a taste for it, he will continue to use it until he is destroyed.”

Bagramon slowly stood to his feet and clenched his giant, wooden fist. “At this rate, the barrier to the Dark Area will be damaged enough for us to make our move,” he explained. “This is the critical moment… Once the barrier has large enough gaps to fit their data size, we will need to act quickly, Wizardmon. That is where I will need your expertise of the dark rifts most of all.”

Wizardmon frowned and nodded. “I understand…”

Bagramon walked around the table and approached the open door, staring out of the hut and into the sunlight. “…After decades of hiding in the shadows and all the years of preparation, the time has finally come…”

He smiled and tilted his head up, gazing towards the cloudy sky.

“When the Seven Great Demon Lords are free, I will finally be able to act...”

Bagramon closed his eye and turned around. He stepped away from the grey light of the sky and walked back into the darkness of his hut.

“The Digital World will finally know true justice…”

 

[Griff4815]

Chapter 24: Dance of the Machine God​

Chaosdramon continued to fire indiscriminately into his opponents. He launched two beams through the sky, obliterating a Gigadramon, an AeroVeedramon, and a Birdramon to data. The cyborg dragon then fired a missile from his right hand. The missile flew into the sky and exploded against a Waspmon who had been shooting him.

SaviorHackmon watched from a distance as he ran across the southern side of the battlefield towards the captured hill. He watched with angry, gold eyes as Chaosdramon devastated the coalition soldiers. He could vaguely make out the silhouettes of Omegamon, Dukemon, Dynasmon, Craniamon, and Gankoomon contending with him and his allies and bodyguards. He knew that Chaosdramon was immensely powerful. It wouldn’t be easy to take him down.

It was hard for SaviorHackmon to watch. As Chaosdramon released brutal attacks that swallowed entire Digimon, SaviorHackmon was forced to avert his eyes. He tried to suppress his feelings of helplessness. His friends and comrades were fighting for their lives against a brutal dictator who was annihilating anything in his path. All he was doing was delivering messages between the various forces of the battlefield. In order to become a Royal Knight, he felt as though he had to help fight in the war.

However, the bipedal dragon man forced himself to focus. He had an important job to do. His current job was vital as well, and he couldn’t afford to be selfish. Despite telling himself this, SaviorHackmon still felt conflicted. He hated not being able to help his friends.

But SaviorHackmon pressed on. He was ordered by Leftenant Holsmon to deliver a message from Duftmon to OuRyuumon. He knew that communication and adaptation was key on the battlefield.

It wouldn’t be that easy, though. As SaviorHackmon dashed across the southern part of the battlefield, he could see the battle raging on some distance ahead of him. The D-Brigade flank at the base of the hill was still loyal to Chaosdramon. They were currently fighting both OuRyuumon’s Aerial Strike Forces, who were trying to push down from the hill, and UlforceVeedramon and the Scouts, who were flying ahead of SaviorHackmon. They were firing attacks at the D-Brigade in a hit-and-run fashion, using their speed and aerial manoeuvrability to avoid the attacks launched at them.

SaviorHackmon could briefly see Imperialdramon Dragon Mode’s large body in the sky. He watched as Peri fired a laser from the cannon on his back towards a black MetalGreymon. The blue dinosaur dodged the vortex of positrons, and promptly fired two missiles from his chest back at SaviorHackmon. Peri flapped his wings strongly and dodged the missiles, which soared past him and exploded into the air some distance away.

SaviorHackmon winced and continued running, his bladed feet dashing across the grass. He hoped that his friend would be alright.

As he neared the combat area, he prepared the crimson blades on his wrist and tail, just in case. He double-checked the buff around his arm, which helped to identify him as a friendly combatant. All of the coalition troops had some sort of identifier in order to avoid friendly fire.

He ran beneath the scouts, who were flying overhead. SaviorHackmon’s heart raced, and adrenaline flowed through his body. A stray missile landed nearby and exploded. He was thrown off balance slightly but he quickly caught himself and continued running. His metal body was strong enough to withstand the blast. However, it brought home the fact that he was in the middle of a battle. His senses became extra alert and he focused solely on his immediate goal.

SaviorHackmon dashed over the field towards the hill ahead of him. He could see OuRyuumon flying over the hillside, launching energy blasts from his swords into the D-Brigade Digimon below. SaviorHackmon made it to the base of the hill and began to dash up the hillside.

“Captain!” an AeroVeedramon called out to OuRyuumon. “If some of the D-Brigade is on our side, how do we know who to attack?!”

“Simple! Attack the ones who’re attacking you!” OuRyuumon called back.

SaviorHackmon ran up the hillside. It was at this point that he began to be targeted by the D-Brigade. A shell impacted the face of the hill and an explosion erupted dangerously close to him. As SaviorHackmon grunted and carried on running, a Tankmon took aim at him and began unleashing a string of bullets from his arms. “Machinegun Arm!” he yelled, his voice drowned out by the rapid muzzle fire.

The dragon man sneered as the bullets began striking the ground around him, kicking up dirt and ricocheting off his metal body. Acting quickly, he jumped into the air and turned his head towards the Tankmon. “Meteor Flame!” he countered, unleashing a string of rapid-fire bursts of flames back at the Tankmon. The blasts impacted the ground in front of the Tankmon before hitting the Digimon himself, blasting him off of his treads.

“Captain OuRyuumon-sama!” SaviorHackmon called out, jumping into the air and flying up towards the gold dragon in question.

OuRyuumon launched a sickle-shaped blast of energy through a CannonBeemon, which resulted in a massive explosion. As the captain of the Strike Forces flew back to avoid the blast, he saw SaviorHackmon approaching. “SaviorHackmon?” he asked.

SaviorHackmon winced at the sight and heat of the explosion, but he flew up to OuRyuumon and saluted. “Sir,” he spoke. “I have a message from Duftmon-shishou.”

“Yeah? What does the kitty want?” OuRyuumon asked, wiping some sweat from his forehead.

“Sir Duftmon-shishou wants the Aerial Strike Forces to meet up with the scouts and launch a joint attack on this flank,” SaviorHackmon explained. “He wants you to break the flank in order to help support the attack in the center. UlforceVeedramon and the scouts are on the way to meet up with you.”

OuRyuumon looked past SaviorHackmon, spotting UlforceVeedramon and the scouts fighting their way over to them. “Yeah, I can see that. Got it,” the Strike Forces captain responded. “Anything else?”

SaviorHackmon frowned. “Is… there anything I can do to help, Sir?” he asked, wanting to be of use somehow.

“Nah. We’ve got enough medical teams moving the wounded already. Go back to Duftmon and see if he has any more jobs for you,” OuRyuumon told him.

“Sir…” SaviorHackmon complied, although he couldn’t help but feel uneasy about just leaving. Nevertheless, he saluted and obeyed.

As the dragon man turned around, he saw Sleipmon and Examon at the top of the hill, firing precise ranged attacks into the ranks of the enemy D-Brigade, disabling and wounding the aggressive Digimon. They seemed so determined and confident – something that SaviorHackmon didn’t feel that he was at the moment. He wondered if that’s what was separating him from the Royal Knights.

He began speeding away, heading back towards the rear of the battlefield where Duftmon and the bombardment troops were.

SaviorHackmon skimmed through the sky, his crimson cape rippling behind him. He focused on flying back towards Duftmon, but uncertainty began to cloud his thoughts. He couldn’t help but look around the crowded battlefield for Peri.

Around him, he saw destruction; pandemonium. Beams and missiles and attacks soared through the air and slammed into Digimon. Swords impacted armour, bullets perforated wings, and claws dragged against flesh. The battle was chaotic. The field was ripped asunder by explosions, and beams and missiles streaked overhead. It was all so intense. SaviorHackmon had been in fights before, but never in something of this scale. It was overwhelming.

SaviorHackmon tried to focus. His heart beat rapidly and his body was trembling with adrenaline. If he wanted to be a Royal Knight, he needed to get used to this. The din of battle… the constant danger to himself and others… the chaos around him… the killing…

A chill crept down his form. Despite this, he frowned and clenched his fists, trying to steel his soul. “Am I too weak for this?” he asked himself, grimacing. “…Is my spirit too weak? Am I lacking in power? In ability?”

A bomb landed nearby and exploded. The deafening explosion and the resulting shockwave pulled SaviorHackmon out of his thoughts. He dug his bladed feet into the grass and skidded along the ground, stretching his arms and tail out in order to keep himself standing. He winced and spun around. “Damn it, SaviorHackmon! Focus, you idiot! You’ll get killed if you start feeling sorry for yourself in the middle of a battle! Then you’ll never become a Royal Knight!”

As the smoke from the explosion cleared, SaviorHackmon was able to see into the embattled sky again. He watched as the Aerial Strike Forces and the Scouts linked up and began raining attacks down on the D-Brigade. UlforceVeedramon was visible leading the attack, cutting down a Mugendramon as he passed before spinning around and unleashing a beam from his chest into the enemy.

SaviorHackmon watched with bated breath as the D-Brigade returned fire, launching lasers and ordnance into the sky. The attacks swept through the tumultuous airspace. The Order forces did their best to maintain an orderly formation, but they were forced to evade when beams and missiles came barrelling towards them.

It was in that moment that SaviorHackmon saw Imperialdramon Dragon Mode. He watched as Peri pitched his body forward and angled the giant cannon on his back. “Positron Cannon!” Peri’s deep voice echoed as he launched a beam from the dorsal cannon. The spiralling beam strafed the ground before enveloping a LoaderLiomon.

Imperialdramon flew upwards and then observed the damage that he had caused. He panted heavily and remained fixated on the spot that he had fired at, staring at the smoking crater where the enemy LoaderLiomon had been. He gritted his jagged teeth, becoming distracted by his thoughts. Peri didn’t notice that a MetalGarurumon X-Antibody had sent a series of missiles streaking through the air towards him.

As the sound of whistling grew louder, Peri turned his head at the last second to see the salvo of missiles descending on him. “Crap!” he snarled with panic, trying to flap his wings to escape. The missiles were too close. The slammed into his armoured side and exploded.

SaviorHackmon’s gold eyes widened as the explosion enveloped Imperialdramon and knocked him out of the sky. He watched, stunned, as his friend plummeted out of the icy explosion and fell to the ground with a crash.

“…IMPERIALDRAMON!”

No later than the yell left his lips did SaviorHackmon act. He began dashing across the field towards Peri. In that moment, he completely forgot about his intentions to return to Duftmon. He was focused solely on getting to his friend.

SaviorHackmon sprinted across the field, ignoring the explosions erupting around him. He growled and veered to the side to avoid a beam that tore across the ground where he had been running. Undeterred, SaviorHackmon ran towards the large, wounded dragon Digimon that lay on the ground.

A D-Brigade Crossmon flapped his wings and began speeding towards Imperialdramon, attempting to take advantage of the scout’s injuries. The metal gryphon skimmed across the ground, planning to ram the dragon with his metal beak and talons.

Seeing this, SaviorHackmon growled and lunged high into the air. He extended his leg and aimed his bladed foot as he descended towards the Crossmon. “Rage Streit!” he shouted, unleashing a dive kick that connected with the Crossmon’s collar, hard enough to send the eagle skidding across the ground. The Crossmon shook his head and flapped his wings, instead, deciding to fly back and consolidate the loyalist’s lines.

SaviorHackmon landed and began running again. He finally made it over to Peri, who was lying on his side, wincing and groaning with pain. SaviorHackmon came to a skidding stop beside Imperialdramon. He rushed over to his side and kneeled down, looking at large dragon with wide, worried eyes. “Peri! Peri! Are you alright?!” he asked, panicked.

Imperialdramon’s face was tight with pain. He looked up at SaviorHackmon. “SaviorHackmon…?” he asked, his hoarse voice indicating pain. “Urgh… I’m fine… It’s just my wing…”

SaviorHackmon looked at Peri’s large, red wing. He could see several small holes in the wing from which blood trickled out of. Much of the leathery fabric was also numb and frozen with the ice from the MetalGarurumon X-Antibody’s missiles. “You can’t fly like this…” SaviorHackmon spoke, releasing a relieved breath that he had been holding. He was glad that the damage wasn’t worse. “We need to get you back to the rear.”

“N-No, I can still fight,” Peri insisted. “I can’t let everyone down.”

“You won’t be,” a calm voice spoke.

Both Peri and SaviorHackmon turned their heads to see Zero ARMS: Grani floating nearby. “C-Captain Grani, sir!” Imperialdramon spoke. He tried to salute with his forearm, but pain wracked his form.” Rrgh…”

“Go with SaviorHackmon, Imperialdramon. That is an order,” Grani stated. “You are no good to us if you cannot fly. You can best help us by getting to the rear lines where you can get patched up. Alright?”

Imperialdramon winced but nodded. “Yes, Sir,” he replied.

Grani nodded. With no time to waste, the Recon Captain shot off to meet up with the rest of the scouts.

“Come on,” SaviorHackmon spoke, lifting Peri to his feet with a grown of strained effort. “Can you walk?”

“Should be able to…” Imperialdramon murmured, standing on uneasy footing.

SaviorHackmon helped keep Peri steady and aided him as they began walking east to the rear of their lines. As he walked, he looked around the battlefield in order to make sure that they weren’t attacked from behind. He couldn’t help but observe the carnage around him.

As his gold eyes gazed across the battlefield, he began to take in the violence and brutality of battle. He looked into the distance and watched Chaosdramon stab his claws through a GrappLeomon that tried to attack him. The cyborg dragon then fired two beams from his shoulder cannons that obliterated three Digimon in an instant.

SaviorHackmon grimaced and looked away, but he soon found himself watching as a Cyberdramon tore his claws through a Megadramon. Explosions erupted across the battlefield, sometimes indiscriminately. Fire and positrons and lasers tore up the plain, sending dirt flying into the air. Digimon lay wounded on the ground, clutching their injuries. Every so often, SaviorHackmon could see a Digimon’s body disintegrate into data.

SaviorHackmon turned forwards bitterly and shut his eyes, deciding that he had seen enough. He quietly helped Imperialdramon walk towards the rear of the battlefield.

“…Is this really alright, Peri?” SaviorHackmon asked him.

Imperialdramon turned his head slightly and glanced at his friend. “Huh…? Is what alright…?” he inquired despite his pain.

SaviorHackmon looked down as he walked. “…War…” he responded. He glanced over his shoulder, eyeing the chaos behind him. He winced at what he saw. Fire, blood, and parting data. “So many Digimon are dying right now… Do we really have to kill each other?”

Peri grimaced and glanced off to the side. “…It’s war, SaviorHackmon…” he explained guiltily.

“Does that make it alright?” SaviorHackmon countered, glaring at the ground with every step. “Can we really justify all this death and destruction by just saying it’s war…?”

“What else can we do?” Peri asked him in response. “Let the Metal Empire take over Saversburg and turn all of these Digimon into their subjects?”

SaviorHackmon winced and shook his head. “I… I know you’re right about that, but…” He tightly clenched the fist that wasn’t holding onto Imperialdramon. “It’s just…” He paused and shut his eyes. “I… never thought about what a battle would really be like… I thought it would be good combat experience. Whenever I pictured a battle in my mind, I always thought it would just be the Royal Knights coming in to save the day. They would swoop in and defeat the bad guys… but… I guess it’s not that simple…”

SaviorHackmon opened his eyes and looked down sadly. “I never thought it would be like this…” he admitted bitterly. “I was naïve, I guess… War is a lot more brutal than I ever expected…”

Imperialdramon looked at SaviorHackmon carefully. “The Royal Knights have to do stuff like this… It isn’t always clean or glorious…” he explained, his voice heavy. “Knowing this… do you still want to be a Royal Knight?”

SaviorHackmon sighed and didn’t respond immediately. “…GrandisKuwagamon told me that my heart is too big… Am I too weak to become a Royal Knight? Is my spirit too soft? Do I not have the determination…?” he wondered aloud.

Peri smiled at his friend. “…If anybody has the determination to do the right thing, it’s you…” he assured him. “Besides, I’m sure most of the Royal Knights have the same ideals that you do. They want to protect Digimon and prevent them from getting hurt, just like you do. Sometimes, standing up for those beliefs means doing things like this.”

“I know…” SaviorHackmon said with a sigh. “I do still want to be a Royal Knight…” The dragon man looked up at the sky wistfully. “I just… wish there was another way. …I hate this…” He closed his eyes and just listened to the sound of the battle. The explosions, the yells, and the cacophony could still be heard, even if he closed his eyes to it.

“…I hate war.”

Imperialdramon gazed at SaviorHackmon, hearing the pain and sincerity in his words. He sighed and nodded. “…So do I.”

“How can all of this suffering be a good thing?” SaviorHackmon asked, more to himself than to Peri. “I need to do something to stop it…”

“To stop it…?” Imperialdramon asked him sceptically. “What can you do? Don’t be reckless, SaviorHackmon…”

“I won’t,” SaviorHackmon assured him. Despite his words, a frown of determination formed on his face. “I just need to do something to help… I can’t let all of these Digimon suffer… I’ll find a way to help…”

Peri frowned reluctantly as they began to reach the rear lines of the battlefield. The sizeable dragon watched as physicians quickly made their way over to them. “…Be careful, SaviorHackmon.”

SaviorHackmon gently released Imperialdramon and smiled at him. “I will, Peri…” he insisted.

The dragon man turned around and faced the battlefield. His crimson cape fluttered in the breeze. SaviorHackmon took a deep breath to help calm himself.

“I… I have to do something to stop this… If I can just help a little… If I can somehow make a difference for the better…”

SaviorHackmon hardened his eyes and took off in a sprint. He dashed towards the fray, fully intent on making good on those words.

“I have to help…”

-

“Hyper Mugen Cannon!”

Chaosdramon unleashed blasts of energy from his shoulder cannons towards the rebelling D-Brigade soldiers.

Seeing this, Craniamon lunged in front of the two beams and raised his shield in order to protect them. “God Bless!” he spoke forcefully. The Avalon shield pulsed with energy and released a thick, transparent barrier in front of himself, right as the beams descended on him and the Digimon behind him. The blasts slammed into the barrier and deflected off, ripping deep into the ground in front of the Royal Knight.

When the energy faded, Craniamon dropped the shield and glanced over his shoulder at the D-Brigade Digimon that he just saved. “Never thought I’d be doing that…” he muttered to himself. Craniamon quickly turned and looked over at Leftenant Grade of the Ground Strike Forces, who was pushing forward alongside the allied D-Brigade. “Grademon! Move over to the north and attack there! Help cover Alphamon and the others as they approach!”

“Yes, Sir!” Grademon complied. He looked over his shoulder and pointed his sword. “This way, everyone!” he announced. Leading the charge, he dashed across the ground, straight towards a MetalTyrannomon who was unleashing beam blasts from his palms.

Craniamon looked forward, trying to spot the rest of the Royal Knights. He saw Gankoomon slugging a Darkdramon bodyguard in the face and subsequently dodging a counter-stab from his lance. Dynasmon was busy fighting a ZekeGreymon, dodging the beams that the giant, gold digizoid clad dinosaur fired at him. He responded by unleashing blasts from his hands towards the ZekeGreymon, but had trouble getting through the Digimon’s armour.

Meanwhile, he saw Dukemon and Omegamon both fighting with Chaosdramon. Dukemon tried to lunge forward and stab Chaosdramon in the stomach with his Gram lance, but Chaosdramon lashed out with the vice-like claws of his right hand. Dukemon brought up the Aegis to block the blow and was sent flying back. As that happened, Omegamon unleashed beam blasts from his Garuru Cannon while performing a sideways aerial flip. After the first barrage flew towards Chaosdramon, he hovered in the air upside down and then pumped another volley out of the cannon.

The blasts flew towards Chaosdramon and pummeled his thick, metal body. Explosions erupted against the colossus’ side, and smoke wafted around his form. Omegamon narrowed his eyes and grunted. He seemed only barely damaged from the attacks.

“Dukemon! Cover me!” Omegamon called out.

“Got it!” Dukemon responded, raising his lance towards Chaosdramon. “Royal Saber!”

Power gathered at the tip of the Gram before a ray of holy energy poured out and burned into Chaosdramon’s side, prompting the emperor to turn towards Dukemon.

Omegamon used the opportunity to speed forwards and close in on Chaosdramon. He swerved in front of Chaosdramon’s face and coiled his left arm back. He then thrust forwards, aiming to stab his Grey Sword right into the end of Chaosdramon’s snout. As soon as the tip of the blade struck the red digizoid, it stopped cold and slid along the face of the metal, unable to pierce through the sturdy alloy. Omegamon sneered and recoiled, instead aiming his Garuru Cannon. He unleashed two, point-blank blasts from his cannon into Chaosdramon’s mouth, which tore a garbled roar of anger and pain from the reptilian cyborg Digimon.

Chaosdramon reached up and grabbed Omegamon’s arm with his claws. With a powerful heave, Chaosdramon threw Omegamon towards Dukemon, sending the white knight crashing into him.

Dukemon grunted as they fell to the ground. The crimson knight quickly helped Omegamon stand back up. “Are you okay?” he asked Omegamon.

“I’ll be fine, thanks,” Omegamon responded. “But…” The white Royal Knight frowned. Even his most concentrated attacks were having trouble getting through Chaosdramon’s red digizoid armour. Against such a durable metal, even chrome digizoid weapons were at a disadvantage.

Craniamon began to run over to help, but a HiAndromon stepped in his way and began to activate the turbines on his shoulders. The Royal Knight watched as the HiAndromon prepared to fire a beam at him. “So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh?” he asked, flipping the Claiohm Solais in his hand and taking a battle stance. “Fine.”

Craniamon looked into the sky. “Fujinmon! Help Omegamon and Dukemon!” he told the Hurricane Commander.

Fujinmon nodded. “Right!” he responded. He turned in the air and looked at his own D-Brigade soldiers. “Formations A and B, direct your focus south and deteriorate that flank! Formation C, lay down a suppressive barrage but check your fire!”

When Fujinmon was finished issuing orders, the Hurricane Commander turned and started soaring down towards Chaosdramon. “Emperor…!”

Chaosdramon swept his arm out and bashed Fujinmon back, right as Fujinmon plunged his Critical Arms into his claws. The metal became superheated, but Chaosdramon ignored it and fired a missile towards Fujinmon. The Hurricane Commander agilely flew to the side and unleashed a super-compressed blast of wind into the missile detonating it.

“Your Majesty!” ZekeGreymon shouted as he got pushed backwards along the ground by Dynasmon. “What are… your orders!?”

“Exterminate everybody!” Chaosdramon shouted in response, firing two beam blasts into Formation C of Fujinmon’s D-Brigade.

“B-But Emperor, Raijinmon and Alphamon’s northern flank is closing in on us!” ZekeGreymon protested, grunting as he fired a linear plasma shot from his cannon towards Dynasmon. “We won’t be able to hold them off like this!”

“I said to exterminate everybody!” Chaosdramon yelled, his logical mind becoming increasingly mindless as the battle deteriorated and he began using more and more of the Dark Area’s power. “Level the entire battlefield! Fire all ordnance until there’s nothing left! Destroy the traitors and our enemies all at the same time!”

“S-Sir!” ZekeGreymon shouted obediently despite his uncertainty. “Plasma Railgun!”

Chaosdramon snarled mechanically and angled his smoking cannons forwards. “All opposition will be exterminated…” The cracks around him swelled as dark vapour aggregated into his metal backpack. The dark energy swirled inside his cannons as they prepared to fire once again.

-

Suijinmon ran along the grassy plain as the battle raged on. He moved as fast as his large, crimson body could carry him. He tried to get to the battlefield as quickly as possible. The Waterfall Commander just hoped that he wasn’t too late.

Once he had crossed the Champion River that separated the Mamemon Kingdom from Saversburg’s territory, it wasn’t hard to find the battle. All he had to do was follow the flashes of light in the sky, the smoke, and the sounds of explosions in the distance.

Suijinmon grunted as he ran towards a large hill. It was all that was left that stood between him and the battlefield. He knew the battle was going on at the other side, judging from the volume of the combat and the rumble of explosions in the ground beneath him.

He finally reached the base of the hill and began slogging up the incline. He carried the weight of his heavy, metal body with purpose and resolve. The hill prevented him from seeing what was happening on the battlefield, so he needed to get to the hill’s crest in order to take stock of the situation. As Suijinmon approached the hilltop, he began to feel a sense of unease and worry inside of him. He hoped that Fujinmon and Raijinmon were alright.

The Waterfall Commander reached the top of the hill and panted. As he caught his breath, he used the opportunity to look across the battlefield. He was stunned at what he saw.

The formations were not what they should have been at all. The majority of the D-Brigade were not facing off against the allied coalition of the Royal Knights, Saversburg, and the Republic of Node. Instead, they were standing side by side with them against Chaosdramon and the rest of the D-Brigade. These tactical formations were not what they should be. Suijinmon knew that there was no way that their formations could go into such disarray without a good reason. It didn’t take him long to understand what was going on. There was only one logical explanation.

It was as he feared. Fujinmon must have switched sides during the battle, along with his troops. Suijinmon grimaced and dug his metal fingers into the grass of the hill. He looked around the battlefield swiftly, trying to take stock of the whole situation.

To the south, he saw the D-Brigade’s southern flank surrounded on each side by the Order’s army and Formations A and B of the D-Brigade respectively. To the north, he could see Raijinmon’s flank attacking the D-Brigade’s rear lines along with Alphamon, Magnamon, RhodoKnightmon, the Order’s Defence Forces, and the Republic of Node’s military. In the center, he could see his direct subordinate, Darkdramon, leading Suijinmon’s troops in an attack on Chaosdramon.

There was no longer any doubt in his mind: a civil war within the D-Brigade was taking place. Suijinmon shut his eyes. The dirt and grass within the palms of his Accel Arms was crushed into data. He cursed himself for not getting here sooner. A feeling of dread, loss, and helplessness washed over him. He had been unable to stop Fujinmon and Raijinmon from turning on Chaosdramon. Now, he was caught in the middle. Did he have to choose a side? Did he have to choose between his friends and his Emperor? Could he just sit on the sidelines and watch as they destroyed each other? His own, loyal soldiers were attacking the Emperor. Suijinmon didn’t know what to do, and it manifested in frustration.

Suijinmon opened his furious, red eyes and stared down from the hill at Chaosdramon. He saw that the emperor was fighting hard against the Royal Knights and the D-Brigade. He noticed that he saw surrounded by deep, swelling, black fissures.

Before he could think about it further, Suijinmon saw Fujinmon soaring through the air, circling around Chaosdramon from behind. Fujinmon unleashed two blasts of wind that sailed down and slammed into Chaosdramon’s red-digizoid covered back. Seeing Fujinmon, the Digimon who had caused this, caused Suijinmon’s bubbling anger, sorrow, and frustration to amplify. The green Hurricane Commander became the object of Suijinmon’s woes.

“FUJINMOOOOOON!” Suijinmon bellowed, grabbing a large clump of grass and soil from the hill. He swung his Accel Arm forward and hurled the giant mound of dirt towards him.

Hearing the bellow and sensing a presence behind him, Fujinmon swung around to see the cluster of earth flying towards him. He swept his Critical Arm out and cut through the mass. It spared him the impact but sprayed dirt across his body. Fujinmon summoned a small gust of wind to blow the dirt off of him. The Hurricane Commander flew forwards to see who had attacked him. He was stunned to see Suijinmon on top of the hill, glaring at him deeply.

“S-Suijinmon…” Fujinmon whispered.

-

(Continued in the next post)

 

[Griff4815]

(Continued from the previous post)

-

At first, he was stunned to see him. But soon, a sense of dread washed over him. Suijinmon could ruin everything if he wanted. He could tell his troops that Fujinmon had been lying about Chaosdramon arresting him. He could turn them against him. In the worst case scenario, he might have to fight against Suijinmon. However, the situation was still salvageable. He just needed to earn back Suijinmon’s trust and show him what is going on.

Fujinmon swooped downwards, withdrawing the beam blades of his Critical Arms as a show of good faith. He landed on the crest of the hill and turned towards Suijinmon. “Suijinmon… You escaped…” he remarked.

Suijinmon sneered and lashed out with his Accel Arm. He grabbed hold of Fujinmon’s collar and upper body, and lifted him off of the ground. “Yes, I did,” Suijinmon told him bitterly, glaring at Fujinmon at eye level.

Fujinmon winced at the tight grab, but didn’t resist. “I’m sorry about that, but it was for the best,” he insisted, his legs dangling in the air as Suijinmon held him up.

“You fool! Can you really say that this is for the best?!” Suijinmon demanded, looking out across the battlefield. He turned his Accel Arm and made Fujinmon look out at the chaos and carnage, showing him the battlefield as the D-Brigade fought each other. “I warned you not to do this… but no… you know best, don’t you? Fujinmon always knows best…”

Fujinmon took in a breath and looked at Suijinmon calmly. “Yes, this was my plan… but we didn’t make the first move…” Fujinmon explained. He extended one of his metal arms out and pointed down at Chaosdramon. “You see those black fissures down there? A single soldier was apparently corrupted by the data coming from it. He turned around and attacked Chaosdramon, and that was all that it took for Chaosdramon to start decimating Raijinmon’s flank. He turned on us in an instant. You see? That was how this all started.”

Suijinmon looked at Fujinmon sceptically. “What?” he asked him firmly. “What do you take me for…? How many times have you lied for your ambitions? How many times have you lied to your friends? I trusted you, Fujinmon…”

Fujinmon sighed. He realised that it would be hard to make Suijinmon trust him again, even if what he was saying was technically true. “I’m telling the truth… I admit that I fueled the fires in order to make the soldiers more pliable to turning on Chaosdramon… but even if I didn’t, Chaosdramon would still be obliterating them.” Fujinmon pointed at Chaosdramon as he prepared to fire another pair of beams from his shoulders. “Look, Suijinmon. Look at what he’s doing to his own D-Brigade! Those are your soldiers there!”

Suijinmon turned to look at Chaosdramon and the soldiers facing him. He definitely recognised his soldiers. He could identify each one. Every single one. They were launching attacks at Chaosdramon from both the ground and the air.

“Hyper Mugen Cannon,” Chaosdramon spoke. Two beams tore from his shoulder cannons and swept across Suijinmon’s soldiers, enveloping the ground and leaving nothing in their wake.

Suijinmon’s eyes widened when he saw a dozen of his soldiers be deleted in an instant. He dropped Fujinmon to the ground and utter shock. The Waterfall Commander slowly turned on the hill, facing Chaosdramon fully. His limbs tensed up and he dug his metal claws deep into the ground, gripping hard enough to cause the earth to tremble.

He continued to watch Chaosdramon fighting against his troops. Suijinmon was stunned when he saw Chaosdramon fire a missile into the ranks of his Formation C. His crimson eyes narrowed tightly with emotion as he watched an explosion tear through a Tankdramon and a Z’dGarurumon.

Suijinmon’s junior officer, a MetalGarurumon X-Antibody, sneered and unleashed a barrage of missiles from his body towards Chaosdramon. “Concentrate your fire, everyone! This is for Commander Suijinmon!” he shouted “Grace Cross Freezer!”

The missiles, blasts, and lasers pounded against Chaosdramon’s metal body, sending explosions ripping against his thick, red digizoid armour. Smoke wafted around his giant body, and the metal began to bend under the immense pressure.

Chaosdramon growled and aimed his cannons through the cloud of smoke. “Perish, you traitors.”

Suijinmon watched as two beams pierced through the smoke and engulfed his junior officer. MetalGarurumon X-Antibody’s chrome digizoid armour melted under Chaosdramon’s power, and he was reduced to data. The resulting explosion swallowed up both D-Brigade and coalition soldiers.

Fujinmon winced at the sight and turned to Suijinmon. Although Suijinmon looked calm, his body was tense and the fingers of his Accel Arms trembled as they dug into the earth. He could tell that rage and sorrow were brimming just below the surface.

“…Suijinmon… Your soldiers are fighting for you…” Fujinmon explained sadly. “Chaosdramon said that he wanted you arrested for treason, so your soldiers stood up for you. And now look what Chaosdramon is doing. Look at the lengths that your soldiers are going to for you. They are even fighting alongside our enemy. The loyalty they hold to you transcends even the deeply ingrained sense of loyalty that they have to the emperor.”

Suijinmon bowed his head and his thoughts began to fuse with his emotions.

“Nobody…” he murmured.

Suijinmon looked up with a furious look in his blood red eyes. The Waterfall Commander glared daggers at Chaosdramon. It was a look that he never would have dared to make before.

“NOBODY DOES THAT TO MY SOLDIERS!” he roared.

Suijinmon began tearing down the face of the hill. He ran like a charging rhinoceros, his heavy footsteps digging into the soil of the hill as he made his way to the bottom. Once he reached the bottom of the mound, he skidded to a stop and began to adjust the trajectory of his four cannons. The four Mugen Cannons mounted on Suijinmon’s shoulders aimed directly at Chaosdramon.

“CHAOSDRAMON!” Suijinmon’s deep voice bellowed across the battlefield. “STOP IT IMMEDIATELY!”

Darkdramon stopped in the air and was stunned to see Suijinmon on the battlefield. “Commander!”

Omegamon and Dukemon looked over at the new arrival. “It’s Suijinmon,” Omegamon observed.

Dukemon frowned. “Is he with us too?” he wondered

Chaosdramon heard the booming voice behind him. He backhanded Darkdramon away and turned his saurian head to look over his shoulder. Upon seeing Suijinmon there, pointing his cannons at him, the emperor’s eyes narrowed. “Suijinmon… So, the traitor finally shows his face…”

“I have never betrayed you, Your Majesty…” Suijinmon responded, glaring at him with a furious gaze. “Not once…”

“No, you are too much of a coward, so you ordered your subordinates to do it for you,” Chaosdramon responded with a derisive sneer.

After a moment, Suijinmon growled. “…Those are my loyal subordinates that you are killing, Emperor…” he warned him. “If you do not surrender now…”

“Silence, you mindless follower! Fujinmon put an idea in your head and you don’t have enough of a backbone to decline an order,” Chaosdramon interrupted bitingly. “All who oppose me shall be eliminated from existence. You and your soldiers included.”

Suijinmon balled the hands of his Accel Arms into fists. He took a deep, calming breath before straightening his body with resolve. “…Soldiers! Chaosdramon is an enemy of the Metal Empire! Help me defeat him!” Suijinmon called out to his soldiers.

“Yes, Commander!” Darkdramon called out, beginning a chorus from Suijinmon’s loyal soldiers.

Fujinmon released the bated breath that he had been holding. He smiled with relief and soared down the hill. “With all of the Storm Commanders and the majority of the D-Brigade against you, what legitimacy do you have?” Fujinmon asked Chaosdramon.

“My strength is my legitimacy!” Chaosdramon snarled, turning around to try to face them.

Suijinmon angled his Mugen Cannons at Chaosdramon. “Your strength is hollow, Your Majesty,” he told him. “Mugen Cannon!”

Four beams ripped from Suijinmon’s cannons towards Chaosdramon. The cyborg dinosaur turned around and raised his arms in front of himself. The thick, pillars of energy slammed into his body and tore against his thick defences, exacerbating the cracks in the metal. Chaosdramon growled and dug his metal feet into the ground in order to stop himself from being pushed back.

Craniamon stabbed his Claiohm Solais through the torso of the HiAndromon that he was duelling. He then spun around and threw the skewered android into the beams. He grunted and watched as Chaosdramon withstood the attack. “How is he still living after that?” he asked himself as the beam began to fade.

Chaosdramon’s body smoked from the beam blasts. He was damaged, but still in one piece. The emperor raised his claws towards Suijinmon. “Destroyed Hook!”

Fujinmon sneered. “Suijinmon, get to your soldiers. You’re no good over there. And watch out for those dark rifts,” he advised him, flying through the sky and forming gusts of wind around his Critical Arms. “Marut Cyclone!”

A blade of wind cut through the missile as the bomb flew towards Suijinmon. The missile exploded over the ground and tore up the earth above a rift, further widening the fissure. “Affirmative,” Suijinmon responded, running in a semi-circle around Chaosdramon in order to bypass the dark rifts that scattered the grass behind him.

Chaosdramon grunted and turned forwards. His throughput ran at maximum speeds in order keep track of all of his surroundings. Due to the high amount of enemies attacking him, he needed to be constantly thinking and reacting. When Dukemon jumped up and tried to stab Chaosdramon from behind, he lashed his tail out and slammed it into Dukemon’s gut.

Dukemon choked out a grunt and slid across the grass. As he skidded, he jerked back into a backwards somersault to get himself back on his feet. “Ngh! …Damn… All that bulk isn’t just for show,” Dukemon muttered. He looked into the air for assistance. “Dynasmon! We could use your muscle over here!

Dynasmon grunted and swerved through the air. A beam, fired from the ZekeGreymon that he was facing, streaked by him, nearly singing his wing. “I’m a little busy, Dukemon!” he shouted, flapping his wings and swooping down when the ZekeGreymon started spewing flames at him.

“Leave it to me!” Gankoomon shouted passionately, dashing forwards and levelling a punch to Chaosdramon’s snout hard enough to send him recoiling a pace. Gankoomon then landed on the ground and clenched his fists. “Jishin! Kaminari! Kaji! Oyaji!” he shouted, summoning Hinukamui around his body.

Hinukamui roared and swept out from Gankoomon’s form. He levelled a punch towards Chaosdramon, who caught the aura fist in his claw. Hinukamui then lashed out with his other arm, swiping his claws across Chaosdramon’s face. Chaosdramon growled and fired a missile from his right claws, causing it to detonate within Hinukamui’s body. The detonation extinguished the energy dragon enough to make him return back to Gankoomon’s body.

Meanwhile, the nearby ZekeGreymon aimed his cannon arm at Dynasmon. “Plasma Railgun!” he spoke, launching a linear beam from his cannon towards the wyvern knight.

Dynasmon twisted his body in the air as the beam cut through the air towards him. The bright, golden beam grazed his shoulder armour. The chrome digizoid was strong enough to resist the beam, but a stray strand of the plasma burned across his bicep, cutting into his pale, violet scales.

The Royal Knight hissed with pain and adrenaline surged through his body. His red eyes narrowed with primal combat instinct and his body began to be surrounded by a bright, blue aura.

“Breath of Wyvern!” Dynasmon roared as Wyvern surged out of his body. The giant, aura drake roared as it tore towards the ZekeGreymon.

The giant, golden dinosaur tried firing blast after blast from his cannon towards the raging beast, but the shots just shot through his body. Wyvern descended upon the ZekeGreymon and crushed him under his immense, draconic pressure.

“Emperor!” the ZekeGreymon shouted as his gold digizoid armour fractured under the overwhelming force and he was reduced to a massive cloud of data.

As the blue explosion erupted in front of him, Dynasmon’s muscles slackened and he panted heavily. A single Breath of Wyvern attack required a cooldown time in which Dynasmon needed to recover his energy. That attack was a particularly powerful one, as he poured an excessive amount of energy into that attack, so he was momentarily drained. This left him vulnerable.

He turned his head and his eyes widened. Chaosdramon took advantage of the opportunity to attack him. The giant dinosaur reached out with his right hand and grabbed Dynasmon within his crushing claws. Dynasmon winced and resisted against Chaosdramon, trying to break free from his grip. However, despite having the strongest physical strength of the Royal Knights, Dynasmon was lacking the energy required to free himself.

Chaosdramon squeezed tightly and held Dynasmon up into the air. “You are the first of a dozen Royal Knights that I will kill today,” Chaosdramon said to him, beginning to turn his shoulder cannons towards Dynasmon.

“Dynasmon!” Dukemon yelled. He rushed forwards and stabbed the Gram lance into the thick scales of Chaosdramon’s upper leg.

“Marut Cyclone!” Fujinmon called out, unleashing concentrated blasts of wind into the arm holding Dynasmon.

“Garuru Cannon!” Omegamon also shouted, swiftly launching blasts from his cannon into Chaosdramon’s side.

Chaosdramon appeared to be unaffected, or at least unperturbed, by these attacks. Rather than being unharmed, dark energy flooded through his body, numbing his pain. He was monomaniacally focused on destruction. He lowered his head and levelled a deep glare at Dynasmon with his red eyes. Even as blood dripped out of his mouth, he aimed his cannons at the Royal Knight in his grasp and prepared to fire.

Dynasmon’s eyes widened as he stared down the barrels of Chaosdramon’s double Hyper Mugen Cannons, watching as the dark energy swirled within the thick metal. He struggled desperately to push himself out of Chaosdramon’s tight claws. He managed to open Chaosdramon’s grip by several inches, but it wasn’t enough for him to escape. He sneered and shut his eyes as the cannons prepared to fire at him, leaving him no opportunity to escape. “Dukemon… help!”

“Hahah! I’m here to save the day!” a deep voice bellowed excitedly. “Omega Burst!”

Dynasmon opened his eyes with confusion, recognizing the familiar, accented voice.

Suddenly, a giant fireball exploded against Chaosdramon and engulfed his entire body, turning him into an inferno. Then, a giant, red body smashed into Chaosdramon’s in a full-body tackle. Chaosdramon snarled and released Dynasmon. He was knocked off of his feet and crashed to the ground, firing his two cannons randomly into the air as he teetered over.

The Royal Knights looked up and saw a giant dragon flapping in the air above them. He was clad in red plate armour and swept his large, fiery wings out. Over his head, he wore a white helmet and a pair of blue goggles.

AncientGreymon turned and flashed a broad grin at Dynasmon. “You’ll have to do better than that, Dynasmon!” he playfully rebuked the Royal Knight.

Dynasmon laughed and folded his arms, breathing a sigh of relief as he began to feel his draconic energy return to his body. “AncientGreymon!” he greeted with a wide smirk. “You just can’t help yourself, can you? Always have to make a big, flashy entrance!”

“What can I say? I have a flare for the dramatic!” AncientGreymon announced with a grin. “Anyways, the Warrior Ten are finally here. You don’t have to worry!”

A humanoid wolf Digimon clad in white armour rolled his eyes and jumped down from a giant beetle Digimon, who was flying overhead. AncientGarurumon landed nearby with his two, giant, golden swords in his hands. He turned and looked at the black rifts across the battlefield with a bitter grimace.

AncientGreymon looked over. “AncientGarurumon, you deal with the small fry. AncientBeatmon, you cover us from the air!” he spoke.

“You got it, Grey!” AncientBeatmon called back, summoning bolts of lightning from the clouds that struck a Mugendramon and began shooting through his metal body and frying his circuits.

Dynasmon looked across the battlefield. He could see the rest of the Warrior Ten on their way as well. He could see the big, woolly form of AncientMegatheriummon supporting Raijinmon and Alphamon’s flank. With him was the rocky body of AncientVolcamon, the mystical, mirror-shaped figure of AncientWisemon, and the wooden, cannon-laden form of AncientTroiamon. They had joined in with the northern flank and were helping them breach through Chaosdramon’s lines.

Meanwhile, AncientMermaimon sent pillars of water shooting out of the nearby river and onto enemy D-Brigade Digimon, crushing them into the dirt. The black, feline body of AncientSphinxmon soared through the air alongside AncientIrismon. Her humanoid body flew over to AncientGreymon along with AncientSphinxmon.

AncientSphinxmon looked down around Chaosdramon. His eyes narrowed when he saw all of the dark rifts. “The Dark Area’s barrier…” he spoke.

“This is bad,” AncientIrismon agreed, calmly holding her rapier.

The grin disappeared from AncientGreymon’s face. “Yeah… I’m supposed to tap into the Dragon’s Veins, but this is going to be even harder than we thought now,” he mused, remembering the job he had to do with Imperialdramon Paladin Mode.

“We’ve got more pressing issues right now,” Dynasmon reminded them, nodding over at Chaosdramon, who stood to his feet.

“We need to begin to focus on the Dark Area,” Duftmon’s voice rung out over Dynasmon’s LRAC. “The tide of battle has shifted against Chaosdramon. Finish up with him quickly so that we can focus on the more pressing issue. Also, I am coming to the front lines, Duftmon out.”

Chaosdramon growled and pointed his Hyper Mugen Cannons at the Royal Knights and the Warrior Ten. “Do not disregard me… This battle isn’t over until you are all crushed under my feet!” he warned them. His eyes flashed and he continued to absorb dark energy from the Dark Area.

AncientGarurumon snarled when he saw this. “He’s the one causing this?”

Omegamon narrowed his eyes and flew into the air, looking at Chaosdramon. “You have done enough damage, Chaosdramon. Surrender peacefully. You should be able to tell that this battle is over…” Omegamon explained to him. He pointed his Grey Sword to the north.

The northern flank was breaking through Chaosdramon’s lines. Alphamon flew through the sky and fired an emerald beam from his hand that tore through an UltimateBrachimon’s head. The saurian dinosaur collapsed to the ground with a quake-like tremor before his body burst into a haze of data. Nearby, Raijinmon caused a bolt of lightning to rip from the clouds and send a paralysing shock through the body of a BlackSaintGalgomon. He then angled the batteries on his back towards the massive bombardment Digimon and unleashed four torrents of electrons clear through his body.

RhodoKnightmon jumped out of the crowd and drove his Pile Bunker into a lunging BlackMetalGarurumon’s chest, which tore through him and detonated the munitions within. The rose knight jumped back to evade the explosion and landed gracefully on the grass. Meanwhile, Magnamon unleashed a barrage of missiles from his armour. The missiles steamed through the air and soared towards Chaosdramon. The giant cyborg Digimon lashed his left arm out and bashed the missiles in mid-air. They exploded on contact with his arm and ripped chunks of the fractured metal off of his wrist, revealing circuits and scales underneath.

Chaosdramon gritted his teeth. His northern defences were falling and he was going to be outflanked from the left. He then watched as Omegamon pointed to the south. He quickly glanced towards the southern hill to take stock of the situation.

The Aerial Strike Forces and the D-Brigade rebels were pushing Chaosdramon’s D-Brigade loyalists back towards Chaosdramon’s position. Sleipmon and Examon fired from the hillside into the D-Brigade while slowly moving forwards. Sleipmon took precise aim at the Digimons’ non-vital parts. He incapacitated Digimon by shooting their legs, hands, and weapons, while also occasionally freezing them from the neck down. Examon, meanwhile, became more liberal with his sniping. He infected many Digimon with incapacitating viruses or special shells, but he also unleashed deadly shots. He fired a beam from the Ambrosius that bore through a MetalSeadramon’s snout cannon.

As this happened, UlforceVeedramon cut through the sky and spun around, swiping his Ulforce Sabre down the chest of a Crossmon. Sparks poured from the metallic eagle and he plummeted to the ground. UlforceVeedramon then puffed his chest out and sent a V-shaped beam surging from his chest. The golden ray burned across the ground and enveloped several D-Brigade Digimon. As smoke wafted up from his chest, UlforceVeedramon looked down and saw that the Chaosdramon-loyal D-Brigade Digimon were being pushed back towards Chaosdramon and his remaining soldiers.

UlforceVeedramon looked over at Sleipmon and Examon. “Come on, guys! We’re pushing them back! Let’s move up and keep the pressure on them!” he called out to them.

“Blockade!” a deep, firm voice called out. A brown blur cut along a Tankmon, a Mechanorimon, and an Andromon, causing them to burst into data. Duftmon: Leopard Mode skidded to a stop and turned around, looking up at UlforceVeedramon, Sleipmon and Examon. “Yes, move up and encircle Chaosdramon in a pincer. Outflank him completely,” Duftmon commanded.

“Okay,” Sleipmon stated, jumping off of the hill and extending his gold wings so that he soared into the sky.

“Affirmative,” Examon agreed, flapping his Caledfwlch wings and shooting into the D-Brigade as he ascended.

Duftmon: Leopard Mode nodded and flew into the air as well. “Move up, OuRyuumon. Work together with those D-Brigade formations. You should all be capable of tactical interoperability,” he ordered.

“Yeah, okay,” OuRyuumon dismissively said as his body glowed with a golden aura and he launched himself into a Cannondramon right as the cyborg unleashed a barrage of a cannons from his back.

Chaosdramon snarled as the Cannondramon buckled and was crushed into the ground. The southern flank was collapsing as well. He could feel the enemy surrounding him, fueling his paranoia and desperation.

Omegamon leered at Chaosdramon. “This battle is over, Chaosdramon. Surrender peacefully while you still can. End the meaningless loss of life,” he beseeched him, “or face the consequences.”

Alphamon stabbed his Seiken Gradalpha through the chest of a black MetalGreymon and then kicked him off. He flapped his wings and flew over to Omegamon’s side, standing in solidarity with his friend’s suggestion. “Yes, Chaosdramon. Give up.”

Raijinmon stalked over, aiming his Blitz Arms at Chaosdramon threateningly. “Do as they say. You will be treated fairly…”

“Give up? Treat me fairly?” Chaosdramon asked with dull incredulity. “Do you have any idea who you are talking to?” He pointed his claws to Fujinmon and Suijinmon. “You expect me to watch as everything that I built is destroyed by a bunch of a worthless usurpers?”

Chaosdramon took a threatening step forwards, stomping his foot down on top of a wounded Sealsdramon. As the Digimon burst into data under his foot, Chaosdramon began to angle his cannons to fire again. “Meaningless loss of life? This loss of life will have meaning when all of you are utterly destroyed! If you think you have the power to kill me, do it! As it stands now, none of you can raise a hand to me and my perfect order! Anybody who stands in the way of progress shall be eliminated! The Metal Empire is a shining beacon of technology, security and order within a chaotic, worthless Digital World! You think that you can have peace with democracy and cooperation?! You are only artificing your own destruction by trying to stand in my way!” Chaosdramon ranted.

Dukemon stared up at him incredulously. “He’s completely lost it!” he exclaimed. “He’s gone off the deep end.”

Alphamon nodded and aimed his palm at Chaosdramon. “That makes him more dangerous than ever. He won’t listen to reason.”

Omegamon winced and gazed at the dark data that continued to funnel into Chaosdramon’s internal engines. “It’s the dark data… It’s bringing out the worst in him. He must be thoroughly corrupted by now…” he bitterly explained.

“He was corrupt and ruthless long before today,” Fujinmon stated, floating in the air.

“He must be stopped,” Suijinmon agreed.

“Once and for all,” Raijinmon added, walking up beside his two comrades.

Chaosdramon angled his cannons down at them. “Then try it! I will be the last one standing! I will not be thwarted by a bunch of a scrapmetal Commanders whom I allowed to live! Hyper Mugen Cannon!” he shouted.

The cannons spewed out a torrent of dark energy towards the three Storm Commanders and the nearby Royal Knights.

“Scatter!” Suijinmon shouted, aiming his own cannons towards Chaosdramon. “Mugen Cannon!”

Suijinmon fired his four Mugen Cannons so that his four beams slammed into Chaosdramon’s two. What Suijinmon had in quantity, Chaosdramon had in quality. The two beams howled and collided against each other. The white stands of energy fused and split against the dark power that contended with it. Tendrils of power branched out in a dangerous burst of energy.

“Suijinmon!” Raijinmon called out. The gold plated commander ran over and raised his Blitz Arms towards the sky. “Bark Storm!”

The dark grey clouds overhead ignited with electricity. Lightning bolts came piercing down and struck Chaosdramon’s body repeatedly, causing his red body to tense up and writhe. The beams fired from his cannons died down and fizzled out.

However, even as electricity danced along the metal of his body, Chaosdramon ran forwards and raised his right arm over his head. He swung it down onto Raijinmon and crushed him into the ground. Then, when Raijinmon was under his palm, he fired a missile into him at point blank range. Smoke and flames erupted underneath Chaosdramon’s claws, engulfing Raijinmon within.

“No!” Suijinmon shouted with worry. He sneered furiously and dashed towards Chaosdramon, preparing to attack him with his Accel Arms.

Chaosdramon looked at him and then raised his left arm towards Suijinmon. He ejected his claws towards the red Digimon. They stabbed into the Waterfall Commander’s chest and shoulder, digging into his body and splitting one of his cannons down the middle. Suijinmon’s legs buckled and his body went numb.

“Suijinmon! Raijinmon!” Fujinmon shouted angrily. He ripped through the air and swooped down on Chaosdramon. “Damn you! Critical Arm!”

He plunged his laser blades into Chaosdramon’s neck. Blood and oil came spilling out, but Chaosdramon was unfazed. The emperor slapped Fujinmon out of the sky with his thick, muscular tail and sent him slamming into the ground.

Chaosdramon then raised his foot and drove it down on top of Fujinmon. He stomped down on Fujinmon repeatedly, putting all of his weight into his foot. Fujinmon cried out with pain as he was pressed into the ground again and again.

Alphamon watched as Chaosdramon pummelled his subordinates. His eyes flashed red with intensity, and he gripped the Seiken Gradalpha tightly. “Royal Knights, take him down!” he commanded, pointing forward at Chaosdramon. He opened up his extended hand and particles of green energy began to be sucked into the gem of his palm. “Digitalize of Soul!”

The beam discharged out of his hand and tore through Chaosdramon’s elbow. Chaosdramon hissed with pain and pulled his right arm back, releasing Raijinmon’s smoking, fractured body from under his claws.

“We’ll cover you!” AncientGreymon announced, flying into the air and spewing flames into a nearby Mugendramon.

A phosphorescent arrow pierced through the Mugendramon’s shoulder cannon, causing it to explode. Gaioumon lowered the bow that he created by combining his Kikurin swords together. “I have your back, AncientGreymon,” he stated calmly, eyeing the large dragon Digimon above him.

AncientGreymon looked down at Gaioumon with a fiery glare that revealed a long-seated history. “Tch,” he scoffed, turning his head away. “Not bloody likely.” Without another word to him, he swooped down and tackled the Mugendramon into the ground.

“Garuru Cannon!” Omegamon called out, releasing four rapid fire blasts of energy onto Chaosdramon’s body. The concentrated energy blasts exploded against him, tearing fragments of red digizoid off of his body. After the intense, continuous pummelling, the red digizoid was finally beginning to show signs of wear and tear. The sturdy metal was bent and warped in some places, and hairline fractures were beginning to form in Chaosdramon’s body.

“Final Elysion!” Dukemon shouted fierily. He aimed the glowing face of the Aegis shield at the left side of Chaosdramon’s form. A giant column of energy surged from the shield and slammed into Chaosdramon.

Chaosdramon growled as the burning, holy power raged against his durable body. The energy tore against him, sending fractures up his left arm. It superheated the metal covering him and burned the exposed parts of his scales. He snarled with pain as he drove his feet into the ground, still crushing Fujinmon beneath him. He stubbornly held against the crushing energy that railed against him.

When the beam faded, Chaosdramon’s body was left smoking and weakened. He was forced to withdraw his claws from Suijinmon’s body. Suijinmon grunted with pain and lurched forwards onto his Accel Arms.

“You honestly think that you can stand against me?” Chaosdramon’s gravelly, mechanical voice hissed. Steam ejected from his crimson backpack and he aimed his massive artillery cannons at the Royal Knights. “Hyper Mugen Cannon!”

The howitzers breathed out destructive energy that gushed towards the Royal Knights, threatening to consume them.

“Leave it to me!” Craniamon shouted, dashing out in front of the beams. He skidded to a stop and planted his boots firmly against the burnt ground. He pulled the Avalon shield up, which pulsed with holy energy. “God Bless!”

The dark, crushing emissions slammed into Craniamon’s shield, but they were unable get past him. The beams impacted the impenetrable barrier and funneled outwards. Craniamon counted the seconds in his head as the dual beams raged against his shield, causing the omnidirectional barrier to flicker. After the third second, the beams began to die down, and he was able to block the residual energy with the Avalon.

Once the attack faded, Craniamon suddenly rushed forwards. He lunged into the air, rearing the Claiohm Solais over his head. In one swift, fluid action, He slashed the Claiohm Solais down Chaosdramon’s face. The then spun the spear around in one fluid motion, and thrust the tip right into Chaosdramon’s eye. Chaosdramon howled with pain and recoiled on reflex. He clutched his face and backed up, removing his foot from Fujinmon’s body. Craniamon then stabbed the thick head of the spear into one of the fractures in Chaosdramon’s red digizoid armour, wrenching it open more.

“Chaos Crusher!” Chaosdramon lashed out with his claws ripping up the ground in front of him. Craniamon raised his shield to protect himself and was thrown back violently by the attack, but remained largely unharmed.

“An opening!” Dynasmon stated, raising his claws up. “Dragon’s Roar!”

Gankoomon ran forwards and unleashed Hinukamui from his body. “Let’s let him have it! Jishin! Kaminari! Kaji! Oyaji!” he shouted, causing the golden dragon to surge forwards.

The beams that Dynasmon fired flanked Hinukamui as they closed in on Chaosdramon. The two attacks slammed into Chaosdramon’s armoured chest and exploded in a devastating blast. The detonation engulfed the front of Chaosdramon’s body and tore open the fractures in his armour.

Chaosdramon snarled and recoiled another step. He continued harnessing the power of the Dark Area, further exacerbating the rifts around him. He raised his right arm to fire a missile from his claws at the Royal Knights. “Destroyed Hook!” he hissed, launching the missile.

“Bifröst!”

As the missile exited Chaosdramon’s palm, an arrow pierced through the organic explosive’s side. The missile detonated directly in front of Chaosdramon, catching him in the resulting explosion.

Sleipmon galloped over and came to a stop. He raised his shield in front of himself and narrowed his eyes. “Odin’s Breath!” he called out, unleashing a concentrated blizzard from his shield. The frozen energy swept across Chaosdramon’s body, and ice began to crawl up Chaosdramon’s feet and legs, holding him in place.

As Chaosdramon was occupied, Examon soared over Sleipmon and charged towards Chaosdramon. He coiled the Ambrosius back before thrusting it forwards powerfully. “Avalon’s Gate!” he shouted, stabbing his lance into Chaosdramon’s side before ejecting a shell into him. The shell exploded against Chaosdramon’s scales and unleashed viral data into his body. The virus affected his arms and began to corrupt their functions.

Chaosdramon punched Examon away with his claws and pointed his hand cannon at him. “Damn you. Destroyed Hook!” he shouted, expecting to fire a missile at Examon. Much to his surprise, the missile didn’t fire. “What…?!”

Using the opportunity, RhodoKnightmon dashed across the grass and vaulted towards Chaosdramon. He poised his fist back as he lunged at Chaosdramon’s face. “Urgent Fear!” he spoke as he drove his Pile Bunker forward.

The golden Pile Bunker slammed into the side of Chaosdramon’s snout before exploding with compressed power. The concentrated force tore chunks of metal off of his red digizoid helmet, revealing the flesh underneath.

“Eroberung!” Duftmon: Leopard Mode spoke, pouncing over and swiping his tail outwards when he gracefully landed.

As Chaosdramon recoiled several steps in response to the immense force, he unwittingly backed up into a series of energy mines that Duftmon has released from his tail. The strategically placed mines erupted around Chaosdramon, catching his body in a series of explosions.

“Hey, save some for us!” UlforceVeedramon stated, flying over and stopping in the air. He turned and looked over at Magnamon. “Shall we, Magna-chan?”

“Don’t call me that in the middle of a battle!” Magnamon complained, although allowing the missile ports on his gold digizoid armour to snap open. “Let’s do it. Plasma Shoot!”

“Shining V Force!” UlforceVeedramon shouted, sending a golden beam shooting from his chest.

The beam slammed into Chaosdramon’s chest, burning through the red digizoid. Magnamon’s golden missiles sailed down and converged into the same part of Chaosdramon’s body. All eight missiles detonated at once and tore apart what was left of the red digizoid armour.

Chaosdramon lurched forwards. Pieces of his Metal Body fell to the ground and blood seeped out of his mouth and eye. Smoke drifted up from his beaten and ravaged body. He stood on uneasy footing. The Royal Knights began to relax.

However, he lifted his head and gave the Royal Knights a baleful glare. He began taking in enormous amounts of dark data from the ground for one final, defiant attempt at victory. “I will not… be defeated…” he breathed, his cold, hollow voice sounding haggard. “You all… will kneel before me…” He angled his cannons down at the Royal Knights. “Hyper Mugen Cannon!”

Beams tore out of his shoulder cannons and strafed across the ground, trying to eat up as much area as possible. They washed across the twelve Royal Knights and crushed them into the devastated ground. A massive explosion erupted and plumed into the sky.

Alphamon grimaced with pain as the beam slammed against their bodies. Once the enormous, crushing pressure faded, he slowly pushed himself up on his elbows. “How can he still be standing…?” he asked, panting from the devastating assault.

Omegamon winced and pushed himself onto his hands and knees. “He’s using the dark data to push himself beyond his limits…” he spoke.

Dukemon planted his lance into the ground to help steady himself as he stood to his feet. “Do we have to keep attacking him piece by piece until he’s finally deleted?” he asked, sneering at Chaosdramon.

“Leave it to us,” a voice spoke.

As the Royal Knights rose, they turned towards the voice.

It was Raijinmon, who pulled his cracked and battered golden body to his feet. He dusted himself up and turned to look at Suijinmon. “I think that we should be the ones who finish this…” he stated. “Suijinmon? Fujinmon?”

Suijinmon released a deep, stirring murmur. Despite the oil seeping out of his red, metal body, he dipped into his reserves of energy and stood upright. “Yes… Raijinmon…” he agreed.

Fujinmon grimaced and slowly flew up. Chunks of green armour fell from his fractured body as he floated unevenly in the air. Nevertheless, there was a look of determination in his eyes. The Hurricane Commander turned and looked at Suijinmon guiltily. “Suijinmon… I apologise for what I did…” he said to him sincerely. He looked into his eyes. “Are you with us?”

Suijinmon turned and looked at Fujinmon with a loyal, resolute gaze. “Always…”

Raijinmon smiled and walked forwards, carrying himself with dignity despite his damaged and fractured form. “It is time for the Storm Commanders to take center stage… Behold, Royal Knights. And trust us in the same way that we trust each other,” Raijinmon stated, looking over his shoulder at Alphamon.

Raijinmon clasped his Blitz Arms behind his back and straightened his posture. His golden body began to glow with a bright, refulgent light. “Raijinmon…”

Fujinmon floated forwards calmly. He pulled his legs together, bowed his head, and extended his Critical Arms outwards. His slender body became engulfed in a radiance that lit up the dark clouds. “Fujinmon…”

Suijinmon took a few steps forwards and planted his massive Accel Arms firmly against the ground. He closed his eyes with thought as his giant body gleamed with the resplendence of evolution. “Suijinmon…”

“Jogress Shinka!”

The three bodies of the Storm Commanders combined into one as their hearts merged. Their size grew exponentially as they fused and evolved.

“…Raidenmon!”

A massive machine Digimon emerged from the light, painted in green camouflage. It was a colossal tank with two giant feet with treads on its soles. They connected to a bulky body that was made up of thick, durable metal. On the front of the body was metal covering from which a calm, red eye that stared out from a dark slit. Above what was effectively Raidenmon’s ‘head’ was a dangerous looking cannon. Connected to his metal body were two large arms. The right arm consisted solely of a giant railgun, while the left arm was made up of a bulky set of steel claws. It was clear that the Digimon was heavily armed. Resting on top of his body were two, giant batteries that read ‘VD’ on their golden cathodes. Finally, he had a long, green tail which had a double-barrelled cannon mounted on its tip.

Raidenmon rolled forwards, his size was great enough to rival that of Chaosdramon. He locked eyes with the crimson emperor, and electricity began to spark across the batteries mounted on his back.

“Your reign of terror is over, Your Majesty…” Raidenmon calmly spoke to him, the Storm Commanders’ three voices echoing deeply at once.

Chaosdramon glared at Raidenmon with cold contempt and derision. “I will take you with me, traitors,” he retorted. He pointed his two cannons at Raidenmon and prepared to fire.

Alphamon grunted and raised his hand forwards. “Dynasmon! Gankoomon! Let’s help them!” he commanded. He summoned a massive, glowing circle full of digicode and mystical glyphs in front of him. The magical circle burned resplendently as Alphamon’s red eyes flashed. “Digitalize of Soul!”

A giant, glowing, draconic beast suddenly tore from the summoning portal and soared towards Chaosdramon.

“You got it, Alphamon!” Dynasmon agreed, beginning to pour draconic energy from his body. Wyvern’s flamed danced along his body before suddenly rushing outwards. “Breath of Wyvern!”

“Let’s teach this guy a lesson, Hinu!” Gankoomon shouted energetically. At his words, Hinukamui swelled up from Gankoomon’s jacket and roared. “Jishin! Kaminari! Kaji! Oyaji!”

The three energy dragons flew forwards, side-by-side, and descended upon Chaosdramon’s massive body. They slammed into him and began restraining the metal tyrant. Wyvern grabbed hold of Chaosdramon’s left arm, while Hinukamui locked his arms around Chaosdramon’s right arm. Meanwhile, Alphamon’s giant dragon summon yanked Chaosdramon’s Hyper Mugen Cannons back so that they pointed towards the sky, while his other arm locked around Chaosdramon’s neck to hold him in place.

“Thank you,” Raidenmon told the Royal Knights as he prepared to attack. “…Farewell, Emperor. Discharge Bomb!”

Electricity began surging out of Raidenmon’s batteries, snapping and hissing actively as it took shape. The electrical energy aggregated in a massive beam of white, crackling power. The torrent of electricity swept towards Chaosdramon, who struggled violently against the dragons holding him.

“No…! My empire…!” Chaosdramon shouted, his blood-hued eye widening as the energy closed in on him.

The beam of concentrated electricity engulfed Chaosdramon. He released a roar of pain and fired two, final beams from his Hyper Mugen Cannons. They streaked harmlessly into the air before the Chaosdramon’s cannons and backpack exploded. As the explosions tore through Chaosdramon’s back, there was a large backflow of dark energy that caused the dark rifts to intensify for a moment. The torrent of electric power ripped through what was left of Chaosdramon’s armour and swallowed him completely. The beam caused his body to melt and fracture before finally being obliterated in the folds of energy. Chaosdramon’s body was atomized into trillions of fragments of data.

Raidenmon watched and lowered his arms as Chaosdramon’s body dispersed into a massive haze of dispersing data.

“The king is dead…” Raidenmon spoke solemnly. “Long live the Metal Empire.”

“Long live the Metal Empire!” the D-Brigade shouted.

The Royal Knights slackened and looked around. They felt that they were able to finally relax.

Now that Chaosdramon was dead, the remaining D-Brigade loyalists who had still been holding out proceeded to surrender. They had no reason to resist further, and they reluctantly accepted the outcome of the battle.

It was a long, hard-fought battle on both sides. The grassy plain had been devastated by attacks. There were craters, burnt trenches, and smoldering grass all over. Countless Digimon had been deleted, and even more were wounded. Even though the battle was over, they were nowhere near done working.

Raidenmon suddenly glowed and split into his three, composite parts. Raijinmon, Fujinmon, and Suijinmon emerged, exhausted and heavily wounded.

Alphamon walked forwards and extinguished his sword. He placed his hands on Raijinmon to help him stand. “Raijinmon, are you alright?” he asked him.

“I’m fine, thank you…” Raijinmon assured him. “I will be, now…”

Dukemon walked over to the three Storm Commanders, eyeing them sceptically. “I need to know that we didn’t just create a new problem by helping you get rid of Chaosdramon. Can we trust you?” he asked them.

Fujinmon nodded. “I assure you that you can… We all chafed under Chaosdramon’s oppressive rule. We didn’t have the strength to act against him, so we had to let him have his way,” Fujinmon explained. “Things will be different now… The Metal Empire that started this war is not the Metal Empire that I want.”

Suijinmon grimaced and bowed his head. “I was blindly loyal to the wrong Digimon… I guess it took Fujinmon and Raijinmon’s courage to open my eyes to the way that Chaosdramon really was…” he spoke in a bitter, remorseful voice.

Dynasmon grinned and walked over to him. “Anybody can make that mistake, just as long as you don’t let it happen again in the future,” he explained knowingly.

Alphamon nodded. “We’re trusting you three to fill the vacuum that will be left by Chaosdramon’s death,” he said to the Storm Commanders. “I hope you will lead the Metal Empire down a better path. We will be watching.”

Raijinmon nodded in response. “We will, Alphamon. As a show of good faith, we can draw up a peace treaty that assures status quo ante bellum. We will restore autonomy to the Dual Chess Monarchy, the Mamemon Kingdom, and the Free City of Saversburg, and we will withdraw our soldiers back to our own territory,” he assured him. He offered his Blitz Arm to Alphamon. “You can depend on us, Alphamon.”

Alphamon smiled a bit and took Raijinmon’s hand, shaking it firmly. “I hope so.”

“Alphamon…” Omegamon spoke. His voice was troubled.

Alphamon and the Royal Knights turned to look at him. Omegamon stared across the grassy plains. Despite the fact that Chaosdramon had been deleted, the dark rifts remained the same.

The deep, black fissures were still present throughout the battlefield. They continued to emit dark data into the air.

“The dark rifts…” Alphamon spoke, frowning deeply. “They’re still here…”

Duftmon: Leopard Mode shifted back into his regular Duftmon form. He walked up beside Alphamon and stared at one of the large dark rifts in front of them. “I suppose this proves that Chaosdramon was passively tapping into the Dark Area. If he was doing so actively, the rifts would have closed when he was deleted. This is a worse scenario in actuality… What Chaosdramon did was exacerbate the weaknesses in the Dark Area. Unlike with Dorbickmon, the holes didn’t close after he finished using them. Now the situation is even direr than it was before…”

Omegamon winced. “No…” he whispered.

“Looks like we have a lot of work to do,” a firm, serious voice spoke from behind them.

The Royal Knights turned around and saw Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode soar towards them. The white armoured, dragon man flapped his broad, silver wings and gently touched down, clutching his Omega Blade in his hands.

“Imperialdramon…” Alphamon spoke.

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode walked over to them and rested the massive blade against his shoulder. “Sorry, I’m late everyone…” he apologised. “When we heard about the dark rifts, the meeting took an unexpected turn.”

Imperialdramon looked around at all the wounded and the multitude of dark rifts. “…It looks like we still have a lot of work to do,” he stated, his tone serious. However, despite the magnitude of the situation, he managed a small, light-hearted grin.

“Well, Royal Knights… Let’s get to work.”

 

[Griff4815]

Chapter 25: Hard Reset​

The aftermath of the battle was a sort of organised chaos. Digimon were moving around every which way, scurrying around like bugs. From the outside, the grassy battlefield looked hectic and messy. However, there was a sort of internal logic to the chaos. Most of the Digimon moved around with clear orders and objectives in mind. After such a sweeping, disordered battle, there was a lot that needed to be done in the aftermath.

The Royal Knights’ Order worked together not only with the Saversburg and Republic militaries, but also with the D-Brigade. This is where the logistics sections of the Order’s Reconnaissance Forces and the D-Brigade came into full use. Divisions of soldiers needed to be moved around the grassy plain, wounded soldiers needed to be carefully moved and treated, medical supplies had to be transported and distributed, and the loyalist D-Brigade soldiers who had been taken prisoner needed to be rounded up and moved. While doing all this, they needed to avoid and flag the various dark rifts that had emerged.

The various forces worked together well. The D-Brigade was nothing if not disciplined and professional. Even following the unrest that saw them turn against their emperor and their fellow soldiers, they were still able to follow orders dutifully and methodically. They acted as a cohesive unit, going to help across the battlefield wherever they were needed.

However, their numbers had been greatly reduced by the battle. All participants – the Order, Saversburg, the Republic of Node, and the D-Brigade – had taken substantial casualties. Their numbers were thinner and there was a lingering sense of loss across the battlefield. In addition, there was tension, distrust, and resentment between the coalition forces and the D-Brigade. They knew they needed to work together, but not everybody had to like it.

The battlefield itself was a mess, even without the emergence of the dark rifts. What had once been a beautiful, grassy field was now a burnt, torn, and eviscerated landscape. Smoking impact craters peppered the field. There were deep furrows caused by beams carved into the expanse. The grass had been burnt by attacks and crushed by feet and tank treads. The pungent aroma of smoke, plasma, burnt matter, electricity, and blood wafted in the breeze.

The war was over, but there were still many challenges to overcome…

-

SaviorHackmon wandered across the battlefield, looking a bit lost. The bipedal dragon man walked along the grass, gazing around at his surroundings.

During the battle, he had tried to help as much as he could. He helped the wounded to safety, and even fought the D-Brigade at points. He had a few scuffs along his armoured body with bruises forming underneath, but he was more or less unharmed.

He was more concerned with what was around him. He walked forwards, moving past a deep, smouldering crater. It was just one of the many signs of how destructive this battle had been.

SaviorHackmon quietly and bitterly took in his surroundings. He observed the devastated battlefield. He saw the burnt grass, the drifting smoke and ashes that floated across the battlefield, and the destruction and ruin caused by the war. There was even a large chunk of the hill missing after getting struck by a powerful beam.

SaviorHackmon’s snout curled at the choking, metallic and smoky scent on the breeze. He watched as Digimon ran across the battlefield, trying to bring aid to the wounded and to establish order. He knew that he needed to do the same. That was what he set out to do. However, in this moment, now that his adrenaline had died down, he began to take in the devastation caused by conflict.

The white dragon man walked deeper into the battlefield. He could see a lot of wounded lying ahead of him. Digimon were running over with medical supplies and stretchers. It was a grisly scene. There were a many Digimon with bad, bloody wounds. Yells of immense pain rang out from wounded soldiers. SaviorHackmon winced grimly. The scenes of devastation around him began to make him feel sick to his stomach.

However, he shook his head and hardened his resolve. He told himself to focus. He needed to help, despite his misgivings. SaviorHackmon clenched his fists and ran forwards.

He dashed forwards, his crimson cape flapping behind him as his bladed feet dug into the unearthed dirt below. SaviorHackmon ran over to a Cyberdramon, who was lying on his back, clutching his leg. There was a bloody, seeping hole in the rubber armour covering his thigh.

SaviorHackmon winced and kneeled down, looking at the Cyberdramon. He could tell from the band around his bicep that he was with the Aerial Strike Forces. “Are you alright?” he asked him with concern.

“I’ve been better, but it’s nothing serious,” the Cyberdramon said with a pained grunt. “Worry about someone more badly hurt.”

SaviorHackmon shook his head. “I’m here now. Let me help you,” he insisted, going and taking the Cyberdramon’s arm and slinging it over his shoulders. SaviorHackmon straightened his bent legs and stood up with a grunt of effort, helping the Cyberdramon stand with him.

“Fine…” the Cyberdramon reluctantly muttered.

The metal-clad dragon man walked with the Cyberdramon for a minute until he saw two Digimon carrying a stretcher. “Over here!” SaviorHackmon called out to them. “This guy needs medical attention!”

After the two ran over, SaviorHackmon handed the soldier off to them and helped him onto the stretcher. He then turned around and ran off to find someone else to help. Over the course of several minutes, SaviorHackmon helped two more Digimon. After seeing the destruction that war caused first hand, he felt that he needed to do this.

SaviorHackmon watched as the Ogremon that he just helped was hauled off in a stretcher. He then turned and began running off to find another wounded Digimon to aid.

The next Digimon that he came across was a MetalTyrannomon. He wandered over to the large cyborg dinosaur and looked at him. He had a large, bloody gash along his leg, and several of his wires had been severed. SaviorHackmon also noticed that he had the D-Brigade insignia on him.

SaviorHackmon offered his hand. “Here… Can you stand up?” he asked the MetalTyrannomon.

The MetalTyrannomon looked up at him sceptically. “…I can’t move a muscle,” he explained.

“Then I’ll help you,” SaviorHackmon stated, walking closer and taking hold of his arm.

The MetalTyrannomon grunted. “I’m with the D-Brigade, you know,” he felt the need to inform him.

SaviorHackmon paused for a moment in response. “…That doesn’t matter to me,” he responded, shaking his head. “You’re hurt; that’s all that’s important.”

The large, white dinosaur released a haggard breath and looked away. “I’m too heavy.”

“I’ve carried heavier,” SaviorHackmon insisted stubbornly.

He placed his claws under the MetalTyrannomon and lifted his heavy body up. With a snarl of determination and effort, he hoisted the dinosaur that was over twice his size onto his back. SaviorHackmon winced with pain as he held onto the large, semi-metal arms that were slung over his shoulders. He had to basically drag the MetalTyrannomon with him as he walked, which was a pretty difficult feat.

“You sure you don’t mind helping the enemy?” the MetalTyrannomon asked him, letting himself be carried on the smaller Digimon’s back.

SaviorHackmon grunted as sweat dripped down his face and body. “You’re… not the enemy… anymore…” he insisted between strained breaths.

The MetalTyrannomon grunted with amusement at the Digimon’s idealism. He looked forward and saw a D-Brigade Tankdramon ahead of them, who was also looking for wounded. “Take me over to him.”

SaviorHackmon nodded and carried the large, half-metal dinosaur over to the Tankdramon. Once he reached the mechanised Digimon, he carefully transported the MetalTyrannomon onto the large tank Digimon’s body. Once he was successfully unloaded onto the MetalTyrannomon’s comrade, SaviorHackmon breathed a sigh of relief.

The MetalTyrannomon held onto the Tankdramon and glanced at SaviorHackmon. “…Thanks,” he mumbled. “If you don’t mind helping D-Brigade soldiers, there’s a few more around here that could use your help.”

“Okay. Take care of that leg,” SaviorHackmon replied. He waved him off as the Tankdramon rolled away with the wounded MetalTyrannomon. Once they began to head towards the D-Brigade’s makeshift camp, SaviorHackmon turned away and began to walk around the battlefield again.

As he wandered, he couldn’t help but be drawn into his thoughts. He was surprised at how much he changed over the course of a day. Before the battle, he was filled with excitement. He wanted to fight against the D-Brigade, who he thought were a bunch of evil tyrants. He thought that that was what it meant to be a Royal Knight; fighting against evil, aggressive kingdoms and Digimon who wanted to oppress and destroy others.

However, the thought of war and battle no longer excited him. After having seen its effects first hand, anything that was romantic about it was gone for him. The brutality of war had affected him deeply. He felt naïve.

SaviorHackmon looked at his hand as he walked. He realised that he no longer wanted to use these hands simply to fight for the sake of fighting. He wanted to use them to help Digimon. He surprised himself when he realised that he even wanted to help D-Brigade soldiers. They weren’t these heartless enemies to him. He was sure that they were regular Digimon just like anybody else.

His thoughts were interrupted by a long, pained groan that sounded out from nearby. SaviorHackmon stopped and looked around for its source.

To his shock, he saw the body of a Sealsdramon lying nearby. He was collapsed on his back beside a smouldering rut in the ground. SaviorHackmon suddenly ran over to him. He felt a stab of worry and nausea in his stomach as he looked down at the wounded D-Brigade soldier. There was a deep gash through the Sealsdramon’s chest, and blood soaked the grass around him. Although SaviorHackmon didn’t look closely, he was able to see the soldier’s damaged digicore in his chest.

SaviorHackmon grimaced with nauseous disgust at the sight. Despite the numb feeling that emerged in his face, he dropped to his knees beside the Sealsdramon. “D-Don’t worry. You’re going to be alright. I’ll get you some help,” SaviorHackmon insisted to the Sealsdramon. He looked at the soldier’s wound and took a deep breath, trying to summon his courage. He fortified himself before leaning forwards and pressing his hands on the Sealsdramon’s wound to try and staunch the bleeding.

The Sealsdramon looked up at him with a look of weakness and pain. The lens of his scouter monoeye was shattered, and his armour was fractured in several places. “…Don’t bother…” he weakly responded. “Forget about me…”

SaviorHackmon narrowed his eyes with determination. “Not a chance… You need medical help. I’m not going to leave you,” he maintained adamantly. He couldn’t help but wince at the warm, crimson liquid that he felt against his palms, but he refused to release the pressure that he was putting on the Sealsdramon’s wounded chest.

The Sealsdramon released a pained breath. “W…Why…?” he asked.

“Because I’m not going to turn my back on a Digimon who needs my help!” SaviorHackmon shouted stubbornly. “Just hang on!”

“Focus on… someone you can actually help…” the Sealsdramon insisted, releasing a hoarse cough behind his half-broken face mask. SaviorHackmon was able to see the corner of his mouth, from which a trickle of blood leaked out of.

“I can help you…” SaviorHackmon assured him vehemently. He proceeded to look around the area desperately. He knew that the Sealsdramon needed more than his hands to make it through this. To his relief, he saw one of Saversburg’s medical team a few dozen meters away. “Help me! I need some help over here! This soldier’s badly wounded! I need bandages!” he shouted out to them.

To SaviorHackmon’s relief, he saw the physicians notice him. Two of them started running over with medical supplies. SaviorHackmon sighed and looked down at the Sealsdramon. “They’re coming now. You’re going to be okay,” he said with a relieved smile.

“…Thank… you…” the Sealsdramon breathed haggardly.

“It’s nothing. You’re not out of the woods yet,” SaviorHackmon insisted, smiling warmly at him with relief. “They still need to patch you up.”

The Sealsdramon weakly shook his head. “No…” he spoke, his voice at ease.

The bloodied corner of the Sealsdramon’s mouth curved up into a faint smile. “Thank you… for being with me…” he said, looking up at SaviorHackmon. He weakly raised his hand and took hold of SaviorHackmon’s hand, pulling it off of his wounded chest. He squeezed SaviorHackmon’s hand tightly. “I didn’t want to… be alone…”

The grip around SaviorHackmon’s hand weakened and then the soldier’s hand separated into data particles. SaviorHackmon’s heart sunk when he saw Sealsdramon’s body fade into floating specks of data. His eyes widened with horror when he saw the Sealsdramon’s data break apart and float up around him. Within seconds, SaviorHackmon found himself alone, kneeling over nothing.

SaviorHackmon stared at the place where the Sealsdramon had been lying. His incredulous eyes didn’t move from the place where the Digimon he had been trying to help had been seconds earlier.

“No…” he whispered, a pained, shaky breath exiting his mouth. “No…”

SaviorHackmon’s stunned expression suddenly fractured and broke. His wide, gold eyes began filling with tears. He clenched his fists tightly, still feeling the Sealsdramon’s blood on them, and bent forwards. He slammed his fist against the ground and shut his eyes tightly as tears began spilling down his face.

“NO!” he yelled, falling onto his arms and knees. SaviorHackmon released a choked sob and stabbed his wrist blade into the grass. “They were… They were going to fix you… D-Damn it…!”

SaviorHackmon remained there, trying to repress his tears and sobs, but failing. His body trembled with emotion, and he felt his spirit wracked with sorrow. As tears trickled down to his chin, he cursed his own helplessness and his inability to save the Sealsdramon.

After a few moments, he felt a warm hand on his caped back. SaviorHackmon opened his stinging, irritated, gold eyes and looked up. Gankoomon was standing beside him, gently rubbing his back with a stoic expression on his face.

“S-Sensei…” SaviorHackmon murmured, looking away from his master. “I… I couldn’t save him…”

Gankoomon took a step forwards and placed his hand on the back of SaviorHackmon’s head. “I know…” he said to him, his voice soft with understanding. “You can’t save everybody, SaviorHackmon…”

SaviorHackmon shut his eyes and bowed his head, trying to stifle his tears before his Sensei.

“Don’t look away, Hackmon,” Gankoomon said to him firmly. “…Cry all you want, but don’t look away... Don’t turn away from these tragic scenes. Let them engrave themselves in your heart so you can learn from them and become stronger…”

SaviorHackmon sniffed and opened up his teary eyes, raising his head and looking forwards. Through his blurred vision, he gazed across the battle. The scenes of destructions and pain were etched in his memory, carved in his heart by his strong emotions. “S-Sensei… I h-hate war…” he said, his voice strained and quivering. “What’s the point…? What’s the point of all this sadness and destruction?”

“I dunno…” Gankoomon responded, sighing and rubbing SaviorHackmon’s head. “But there will always be Digimon who want to fight each other…”

“I… want to stop it…” SaviorHackmon explained, narrowing his wet eyes. “I want to stop wars and conflicts from happening before more Digimon can lose their lives…”

Gankoomon smiled a little bit. “You sound like you have the will to follow through with that…” he observed. “Do you?”

“Yes… I do, Gankoomon-sensei,” SaviorHackmon answered. His voice brimmed with resolve and determination.

“Then follow your heart,” Gankoomon told him. “But you realise that the Royal Knights have to fight like this when the need arises. They have to fight in order to protect. You can’t be a Royal Knight if you want to be a pacifist… Even Sleipmon fights.”

SaviorHackmon wiped his tear-stained face with his arm and shook his head. “I don’t want to be a pacifist… I’ll fight in order to protect…” he explained. He glared with a newfound strength of mind. “If I become a Royal Knight, I’ll fight in order to stop pain and suffering. But… fighting isn’t always the answer, Sensei… That’s what I believe… I know you might not agree…”

Gankoomon chuckled a little bit and lifted SaviorHackmon to his feet. “It doesn’t matter what I believe! If you made that decision with your heart, then that’s all that matters!” Gankoomon explained. “You have to carve your own path in life and make your own decisions.” He placed his hands on his hips. “If you want to be a Royal Knight, you can’t go around asking my permission all the time… Right, SaviorHackmon?”

SaviorHackmon smiled weakly at Gankoomon. He was grateful that Gankoomon was starting to have more faith in him. “Right… Thank you, Sensei…” he replied, straightening himself up. His smile faded as he looked down at the blood on his palms. His gaze hardened and he clenched his fists. “Then I’ve decided… I need to become a Royal Knight more than ever… I need to do my part in the Strike Forces…”

“Good…” Gankoomon said, placing his hand on SaviorHackmon’s shoulder. “…But this doesn’t mean that I won’t beat your *** if you step out of line.”

The dragon man chuckled a bit. “…I know, Sensei,” he responded, starting to gain a fraction of his energy back. He looked at Gankoomon questioningly. “Shouldn’t you be helping the other Royal Knights?”

Gankoomon shrugged dismissively. “Eh… Alphamon, Imperialdramon and them are dealing with the Dark Area stuff,” he explained. “The rest of us who don’t know much about that stuff are just helping organise everyone.”

SaviorHackmon nodded. “You should go do that, then… Don’t worry about me,” he insisted, although his voice was obviously sombre.

“Okay,” Gankoomon replied. “You should report to Grademon and see if he needs you to do anything.”

“Right, Sensei,” SaviorHackmon agreed. He took a lingering glance at the place where Sealsdramon had been lying, and then turned around and dashed off to find Leftenant Grademon.

Gankoomon smiled with pride as he watched SaviorHackmon run off. “…You’re turning into a fine Digimon, Hackmon. With a heart as strong as yours, you’ll make an excellent Royal Knight one day. Just make sure that you have the inner strength necessary to keep up with your heart. I’ll be watching, my promising student!”

-

Meanwhile, several of the leading Digimon stood at the far west part of the battlefield. They stood some distance in front of the dark rifts that had been created around Chaosdramon. Among these were Imperialdramon, a handful of the Royal Knights, some of the Warrior Ten, and some of the military commanders from the various forces.

“I can’t believe it,” Dukemon said, folding his arms. “We take care of one problem and now a new one appears as a direct result.”

“We can’t seem to catch a break,” Magnamon stated, sighing.

“Just how dangerous are these dark rifts?” Raijinmon questioned, looking over at the Royal Knights.

Alphamon turned and looked at the Thunderclap Commander. “You saw for yourself what they can do to a Digimon that gets consumed by that dark data,” he explained. “Beyond that immediate threat, the deterioration of the Dark Area’s barrier is a danger to the entire Digital World. There are many powerful prisoners within the Dark Area who could escape and wreak havoc.“

“On the other hand, this could be a miraculous opportunity to study the Dark Area!” AncientWisemon exclaimed with a youthful glee. He began wringing his hands together excitedly and the eyes of his concealed face lit up. “There are countless tests that I have dreamed of running! In fact, if I may just sample a smidgen of that dark data for testing purposes…!”

As AncientWisemon summoned a vial in his purple, feathery hands, he began swiftly floating towards one of the dark rifts with a thirst for science. Before he could get make it past a meter, AncientGreymon grabbed hold of him with his foreleg. “Oh, no you don’t, geezer,” AncientGreymon stated, sighing with exasperation.

“Unhand me, you vile rogue! Release me from your grubby clutches, AncientBlackmon!” AncientWisemon protested, wriggling around in the dragon’s grip.

AncientGarurumon grunted and tapped his foot impatiently. “More importantly, what are we going to do about it?” he asked, his irritation clear in his voice.

Imperialdramon Paladin Mode stepped forwards and rested the gigantic Omega Blade on his shoulder. “Several experts on the Dark Area have come up with a plan over the past few days,” he explained. “We’re going to have to implement it.”

“Ah, yes!” AncientWisemon spoke up, suddenly ceasing his resistance as he became distracted by the new topic. “My plan! It is pertinent that we implement that plan post-haste!”

Gaioumon walked over, his Kikurin katanas sheathed in his belt. “Do you know of your role in the plan, AncientGreymon?” he asked, looking up at the large dragon.

AncientGreymon looked away from him with annoyance. “Tch. Yes, I do. Not that it’s any of your business,” he grunted. He cast a withering, sideways leer towards his rival. “I don’t know why we even let you be a part of this conversation. You can’t be trusted.”

“Gaioumon did help quite a bit during the discussion,” Tactimon pointed out diplomatically.

Gaioumon calmly nodded. “We need to work together. Nobody stands to benefit from Dark Area prisoners being released and running amok.”

“I’m sure you’d find a way somehow,” AncientGreymon grumbled.

“So, what is the plan?” Magnamon wondered.

“The plan is for AncientGreymon to tap into the Dragon’s Veins and freeze the flow of energy using his powers. As he harnesses that data, I will access the Dark Area while simultaneously tapping into the data that AncientGreymon is harnessing,” Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode explained. “Ideally, once I did that, I could fix the whole barrier, but I think the barrier is far too damaged at this point. I’m going to have to reset the entire barrier and reconfigure its data from scratch. It’s not going to be easy.”

Omegamon frowned and looked at Imperialdramon. “Is it going to be dangerous?” he asked him.

Imperialdramon Paladin Mode smiled, shrugged, and rubbed the back of his neck, already giving Omegamon his answer. “Maybe a little?” he suggested.

AncientGarurumon looked at AncientGreymon. “Don’t get yourself killed, lizard,” he told him tersely.

AncientGreymon grinned. “As if we would, but it’s nice to know you’re worried about me, mutt.”

“I’m not,” AncientGarurumon grunted, glaring at him.

Duftmon folded his arms and thought carefully. “If you are planning to tap into the ley lines, then perhaps you should choose a spot where they intersect so that there is a greater well of power to draw from,” he suggested.

Alphamon nodded. “Like the World Tree, perhaps?” he suggested. “That’s where the ley lines originate from.”

“That’s a good idea,” Imperialdramon agreed. “But we should probably get the permission of the Four Holy Beasts. This is something that they will want to know about.”

“I will send somebody to speak with Xuanwumon,” Alphamon stated. “He should still be around Saversburg, correct?”

AncientWisemon floated over and looked at the Royal Knights. “I should inform you that, thanks to that brute Chaosdramon, this will assuredly take longer than we initially expected,” he explained.

Imperialdramon Paladin Mode sighed and nodded, running his fingers through his blond hair. “Yeah… I originally thought that we might be able to fix the barrier within six hours, but now…”

Dukemon frowned. “How long?”

“…Resetting the barrier might take us several hours, but if I’m rebuilding the whole barrier from scratch…” Imperialdramon spoke, his words sticking in his mouth. “…It’ll take AncientGreymon and I around two days to complete. That means the barrier will be vulnerable for two whole days…”

Alphamon stared at him incredulously. “If that’s how long it takes, it can’t be helped… But two days of pouring your energies into that…? Can your bodies handle it?” he asked with concern.

“They’ll have to,” AncientGreymon insisted stubbornly.

Imperialdramon Paladin Mode nodded in agreement. “Yeah. We don’t have a choice,” he concurred. He smiled lightheartedly. “…We’ll be fine. We’ve got more than enough energy between us. We both have bounties of it.”

Before anybody could voice their objections, Imperialdramon looked up at the sky to check where the sun was. “We’d better get going now. The sooner we start, the better,” he announced. “Are you guys going to be okay here?”

“Hold on a minute,” Omegamon said firmly. “I’m coming with you.”

“What?” Imperialdramon asked, blinking and looking at his friend. “But—“

Omegamon shook his head and stepped forwards. “You need somebody there to keep an eye on you. You always overdo it. I am definitely coming.”

Imperialdramon Paladin Mode couldn’t help but smile. “I guess there’s no point in arguing…” he conceded.

“I’ll come too,” Alphamon stated. “I would like to see how it goes. If need be, I can step in and take over.”

“I’m going as well,” AncientGarurumon spoke, eyeing the large dragon nearby. “Somebody has to keep AncientGreymon from being his usual, reckless self.”

Imperialdramon Paladin Mode nodded. “In that case, I’d also like AncientWisemon and AncientSphinxmon to come so that they can help us keep an eye on our progress.”

“But of course! It was my brilliant plan, after all!” AncientWisemon declared, folding his arms.

AncientSphinxmon nodded quietly, indicating his willingness.

“Don’t worry about the rest of us. We’ll help organise everything here,” Magnamon assured them.

“Thanks,” Alphamon said. He turned to Raijinmon. “And the D-Brigade? Will you all be okay?”

Raijinmon nodded. “We will be fine. We’ll begin our demobilization efforts. The D-Brigade is nothing if not disciplined and well-organised,” he told Alphamon. “Do what you need to do. It will take several days to hash out peace talks and exit our occupied territories anyways.”

“Very well. I trust you,” Alphamon responded.

Imperialdramon flapped his wings and lifted himself off of the ground. “Let’s get a move on. The longer we take, the more dangerous it is,” he stated.

“Right. Let’s move out,” AncientGreymon agreed, doing the same after allowing AncientGarurumon and AncientWisemon to hop onto his back.

“Good luck, guys,” Dukemon told them. “Do your best.”

Imperialdramon Paladin Mode looked over his shoulder and grinned. “You can count on us,” he responded. He flapped his broad wings and shot into the sky. Alphamon, Omegamon, AncientGreymon, and AncientSphinxmon all flew after him.

Dukemon turned to Magnamon and Duftmon as they flew away. “Guess it’s our job to do our best here.”

Magnamon nodded. “It’s all we can do for now,” he stated. “I just hope they’ll be alright.”

-

(Continued in the next post)

 

[Griff4815]

(Continued from the previous post)

-

Meanwhile, Bagramon resided in his hut on Yggdrasil’s Mount, a peak of the Argent Mountains that overlooked New Terminal. The hermit’s modest hut was dark. It was lit only by several candles, which had been placed on the floor.

The interior was different from usual; the furniture was moved to the side in order to make space in the middle of the living room. In the center of the room, Bagramon sat in a chair, staring passively at a glowing pentagram painted in the middle of the floor. Sigils and digi-letters had been drawn around the glyph. Its purpose was to help channel Bagramon’s energy more precisely.

Bagramon stretched the fingers of his long, wooden, skeletal arm as he watched and waited. The large ruby in his dark, hollow eye gleamed brightly. The image of Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode and Alphamon passed through the prism of the refractive corundum. After a few more moments of watching Imperialdramon’s group as they began to head off to the World Tree, the glow of his eye dulled.

“Two days… Apparently I have a window of two days to extract the Seven Great Demon Lords from the Dark Area,” Bagramon stated, looking over at Wizardmon.

Wizardmon sat at the table that was pushed up against one of the walls. There was a large map of the continent opened up across the table, which Wizardmon studiously studied. There were six pins sticking into the map and the table beneath it. After carefully sticking in a seventh pin, the mage turned and looked at Bagramon. “Do you think you have enough time?” he wondered.

“You’re the expert in dark rifts and the Dark Area, Wizardmon. I should be asking you,” Bagramon replied with a slight smile. “But, to answer your question, yes, I think it can be done.”

“Even with the internal barriers of the Dark Area?” Wizardmon questioned.

Bagramon closed his eye. “It won’t be easy, I admit…” he pondered aloud. “The Dark Area is divided into nine purgatorial levels. The largest one is the outer level, where the data of deleted Digimon goes before it is reformatted. After that is a buffer zone between the graveyard of data and the inner levels. Beyond that are the seven prison levels. There is one Demon Lord on each of the inner purgatorial levels, not to mention other powerful convicts and simple, deleted Digimon whose data was judged as evil by either Anubismon or Plutomon. They are consigned there as well. Depending on the internal politics of the Dark Area, the Demon Lords may even have their own armies.”

“If that’s true, were you planning to extract them too?” the mage Digimon asked. “Because that would be impossible in only two days…”

“No, not at this stage,” Bagramon responded. “Only the Seven. They will be difficult enough… I have to release them one at a time. The outer most layers should be simple enough, but with every extra layer, it will be more difficult and more time consuming to navigate the internal barriers. Imperialdramon needs to rewrite the barrier, so two days should be plenty of time, but, even then, it is not a guarantee.”

Wizardmon nodded and turned back to the map, readjusting the seventh pin by less than a millimeter. A silence overtook the hut, leaving only the soft flicker of candle flames and the gentle hum of the magical circle on the floor.

As the silence lingered, Bagramon thought quietly to himself. “Little brother… I wonder if your data was judged as good or evil…” he contemplated. A soft breath escaped his nostrils. “…Is it really that simple…?”

“There. I’m finished,” Wizardmon spoke up. He stood up from the table and stepped away from the map before turning to Bagramon. “I have pinpointed all of the largest breaches in the barrier.”

“Good,” Bagramon answered. He stood up from his seat and walked over to Wizardmon in order to look at the map.

“Do you think that you can spot them all with your Invisible Snake-eyes?” Wizardmon asked him. “I should warn you that one of the rifts is at the bottom of the Net Ocean. Right here.” Wizardmon pointed to the part of the ocean off the eastern coast of the continent. “Will that be a problem?”

“It will be harder to locate, but I think I can manage, just as long as I know the general area,” Bagramon assured him. “Thank you for your hard work.”

Wizardmon shook his head. “You are the one who is funding my research,” he responded sheepishly. “The least I can do is help you with your plans.”

Bagramon nodded and looked over the map carefully. After several moments, Bagramon walked away from the table and stood in front of the glowing pentagram in the floor. “We can finally begin the next stage…” Bagramon spoke, gazing down at the glowing sigil. His artificial right eye suddenly flashed red. “Invisible Snake-eyes.”

His vision was no longer focused on the floor of his hut. Instead, he found himself staring at a secluded, barren wasteland. The dry, cracked plain was littered with giant weapons that were stuck in the ground. Twenty foot swords, pole arms, and battleaxes towered over the flat expanse. The tips of the blades were embedded in the earth so, the weapons pointed either straight upwards or diagonally. Bagramon looked around the area carefully, taking ten minutes to find a large, gaping, dark rift in the middle of the plain. The deep, wide fissure spewed dark data from out of the Dark Area.

“I’ve found it,” Bagramon spoke as he stretched his massive, right arm out and placed it over the glowing circle.

“Is there anything else that you need me to do?” Wizardmon asked him.

“Go and meet Black Pincer Company in Shroud. Bring them back here,” Bagramon told him. “I will be fine here for now.”

Wizardmon nodded obediently. “Good luck,” he told him, heading for the door.

Upon hearing Wizardmon exit the hut, Bagramon focused on the magical circle below. “I suppose I should begin…” he spoke.

His long, wooden arm began to grow swathed in violet energy. The glowing circle on the ground began to react. Dark shadows emerged inside of the circle. They began to swirl around the floor, though never leaving the confines of the circle. The shadows hissed and the ground seemed to open up beneath them.

Bagramon’s eye flashed and his arm began to grow bigger and longer. “Astral Snatcher,” he whispered. His thick, skeletal arm reached into the shadows, stretching way beyond the floor. The arm tore a hole in the dimensional space and extended through it.

A swirling cloud of dark violet shadows formed in the sky above the plain of weapons. Bagramon’s massive arm emerged out of the dimensional rift within the clouds. The Astral Snatcher reached down and carefully infiltrated the dark rift that scarred the grass. Upon entering, the constantly growing arm reached deeper and deeper into the pocket dimension. Bagramon’s arm appeared unaffected by the dark data pushing against it.

Bagramon concentrated intensely, avoiding all external stimuli and focusing intensely on his task at hand. He carefully navigated the interior of the Dark Area, slowly but steadily stretching deeper. Bagramon kept his other hand free, as he would need to use it once he penetrated the first of the internal barriers.

He just needed to get into the first of the purgatorial prison levels. Then the first would be released.

-

A couple hours passed until Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode and the others reached the World Tree. The group flew over the Great Forest of the Neutral Zone, towards the center. They headed for the massive landmark in the center, which was visible for kilometers.

The World Tree reached into the sky, passing through the clouds so that only the lower boughs of the canopy could be seen. The colossal yew tree stood majestically. The trunk was thick and sturdy, reaching a couple hundred meters in order to support its great height and weight. Its leaves were a bright, verdant green, and the trunk was a healthy, dark brown hue. The World Tree had fully recovered from DarkKnightmon’s attack and the Battle of the World Tree a year earlier.

As they reached the massive, expansive clearing surrounding the World Tree, Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode flew forwards and hailed the World Tree’s guards. Recognising them, the Moosemon and other guards were satisfied that they didn’t have any ill will, so they lowered their watch.

As the group touched down on the grass in the clearing, a colossal bird Digimon swept down through the clouds. The white, radiant form of Valdurmon swooped down, his body backed by a glory of light. The primary guardian of the World Tree flapped his wings powerfully and stopped in front of Imperialdramon, the two Royal Knights and the four Warrior Ten.

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode smiled and looked up at Valdurmon. “Hello, Valdurmon,” he greeted.

“Imperialdramon…” Valdurmon spoke, his deep voice resonating. He turned his avian head and looked around at the Digimon with him. “Alphamon… AncientGreymon… What are all of you doing here?” he asked with tentative concern.

“As you can probably guess, this isn’t a social call…” Imperialdramon explained, his voice growing serious. “Something big is happening. The security of the Digital World is at stake.”

Alphamon nodded and stepped forwards. “The barrier between the Digital World and the Dark Area has deteriorated rapidly over the past day thanks to Chaosdramon. If we don’t act, the barrier could collapse and the prisoners held there might escape.”

Valdurmon narrowed his eyes at their words. “I see… That is troubling…” he spoke. He arched an eye and gave the group a scrutinizing look. “And what do you need from me?”

“We want your permission to tap into the ley lines beneath the World Tree,” Imperialdramon Paladin Mode explained in a beseeching voice.

“We need to use the great power of this area if we have any hope of rewriting the barrier before it’s too late,” Alphamon added. “Please, Valdurmon. Xuanwumon knows of this plan.”

Valdurmon sighed and closed his eyes. “…Will there be any risk to the World Tree?” he asked.

“Not a chance,” AncientGreymon stated firmly. “Imperialdramon and I know what we’re doing.”

“…Very well,” Valdurmon conceded. “Please, be careful.”

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode nodded. “We will. Don’t worry,” he reassured the World Tree’s guardian.

“Right then. Let’s get to work,” AncientGreymon stated, turning around. The large, armour-clad dragon closed his eyes and began sensing the ley lines in the area. He could sense a tremendous well of power beneath the ground. Given that this area was the origin for all of the Dragon’s Veins in the Digital World, it makes sense that this was the spot with the most concentrated power.

AncientGreymon began walking around the area until he found the spot with the greatest concentration of energy. He wandered around the clearing for a few moments until deciding on the best spot. The Warrior of Flame stopped in the grass and tapped the ground with his foot. “Over here! This is the spot,” AncientGreymon declared.

“Okay, good,” Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode spoke, walking over to AncientGreymon. “How much space do you need.”

“Ten meters should do,” AncientGreymon spoke, standing firmly on his four legs. He bent his body down and closed his eyes. “I’ll start now. Stand back.”

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode nodded and gripped the Omega Blade in his hands, getting ready himself. Likewise, AncientSphinxmon walked over to Imperialdramon’s side, preparing for when the dragon knight tapped into the Dark Area.

“What should we do?” Omegamon asked, watching as the three prepared.

“Let’s just stay out of their way and watch for now,” Alphamon replied.

AncientWisemon floated beside them and cupped his hands to his face. “AncientLynxmon! Be sure to check the data structure of the Dark Area’s data!” he called out to AncientSphinxmon, once again accidentally butchering their names. “AncientGaymon! Make sure to coordinate your timing with Unbearabledramon! It is imperative that you both work together to ensure to consistency of the barrier!”

“What did you call me?! It’s ‘AncientGreymon’! AN-CIENT-GREY-MON!” AncientGreymon heatedly shouted at AncientWisemon. “Get it right for once, you mad nutter!”

“That is exactly what I just uttered!” AncientWisemon blithely responded.

AncientGarurumon shot the Warrior of Steel a look. “Don’t get him riled up, AncientWisemon. He needs to focus,” he told him.

“Why, I was merely offering counsel!” AncientWisemon huffily responded.

Imperialdramon smiled and looked at AncientGreymon. “Ready?” he asked him.

AncientGreymon nodded firmly. “Leave it to me… Gaia Tornado!” he spoke, his deep voice resonating and seeming to cause the ground to rumble.

Imperialdramon gave the large dragon Digimon some space. He watched as the ground in front of AncientGreymon began to fracture and split open. Several cracks opened up around AncientGreymon like a spider’s web. However, instead of a tornado of terrestrial energy forming, the deep cracks simply formed

The cracks suddenly shone brightly with a bright light. AncientGreymon’s blue eyes suddenly burned with the hue of fire. AncientGreymon tapped into the ley lines and he felt a surge of energy sweep into his giant body. Flames ignited around his form and swelled across his wings and back. The Warrior of Flame unleashed an energised laugh as adrenaline and power swept through his body. His form trembled as he harnessed the rich well of power that was difficult for him to control. “Ha-hah!” he yelled excitedly. “Here we go! Get ready, Imperialdramon! I’m trying to take control of this power!”

Imperialdramon nodded and gripped the Omega Blade in his hands, pointing the tip of the blade towards the ground. “Just say when…”

AncientGreymon snarled as his entire form crawled with flames. He concentrated as he used his own immense power to wrestle with the powerful source of the Dragon’s Veins beneath them. He began to sweat heavily as the strain of such an effort got to him. However, he knew that, although this would be the most difficult part, there was still a long way to go. He would need every ounce of energy that he could muster.

The Warrior of Flame dug deep. He unleashed a sudden surge of dominating energy that sent further cracks in the ground around him. The fire wreathing his body burst outwards in a sudden flash, the embers extinguishing in the air. AncientGreymon released a strained roar of determination and effort as he finally harnessed the full extent of the Dragon’s Veins.

“NOW!” AncientGreymon roared, his body straining and trembling with energy.

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode’s red eyes hardened and he plunged the Omega Blade deep into the ground. “Omega Blade!” he shouted as the sword shone with holy light.

The yellow light shining from the cracks in the ground suddenly turned a bright white colour. Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode’s eyes glowed as he accessed the Dark Area’s porous external barrier. He grunted with effort as he tapped into the Dark Area in conjunction with AncientGreymon controlling the ley lines. With the Omega Blade as a conduit, he could sense the Dark Area’s barrier that he helped to create.

AncientSphinxmon acted next. His red eyes flashed as he, too, accessed the Dark Area. The ground beneath him became swathed in shadows, and a small, black portal opened up in front of him. He silently analysed the Dark Area, the domain that he and Plutomon watched over.

For several minutes, Imperialdramon and the Warrior of Darkness probed the Dark Area, taking in the full extent of the damage. Suddenly, a glare formed on Imperialdramon’s face, and the corners of AncientSphinxmon’s mouth curled into a sneer.

“Something’s wrong…” Imperialdramon spoke, gripping the Omega Blade tightly, the blade trembling in the ground.

“This is…” AncientSphinxmon murmured seriously.

Alphamon frowned and took a step forwards. “What’s wrong?” he asked them.

“…Somebody else is infiltrating the Dark Area,” AncientSphinxmon spoke. “And it isn’t Plutomon…”

“What?” AncientGarurumon demanded, clenching his fists tightly.

“It’s definitely a foreign body…” Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode spoke with a wince. “This isn’t good…”

AncientSphinxmon sneered softly. “I’m going in,” he spoke, about to step into the portal.

“You cannot! Cease at once!” AncientWisemon protested. “Do not forget what the purpose of this is; our priority is to rewrite and mend the Dark Area’s barrier! If we abandon our plan solely to fixate on stopping a single entity then we risk the entire barrier collapsing and all of the rogues held there absconding! We must focus on the bigger picture.”

AncientGarurumon turned and looked at the Digimon beside him. He sneered and clenched his fists tighter. “But…” he wanted to protest, but he also knew the truth in AncientWisemon’s words. He growled with frustration.

“He’s right, AncientGarurumon,” Alphamon told him. “I don’t know who’s doing this, what their goals are, or how they knew about the weakness of the barrier so quickly, but we must minimise the damage as much as possible.”

AncientSphinxmon nodded quietly and backed away from the portal. “Yes, you are correct…” he agreed.

AncientGarurumon grunted and sighed. “Very well…” he conceded. He had a vested interest in preventing a break out of the Dark Area.

“Right, carry on, AncientSphinxmon,” AncientGreymon said with a growl as he concentrated on halting the flow of the energy in the ley lines. It took a tremendous amount of effort. “Imperialdramon… Don’t lose focus…”

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode nodded and he concentrated on altering the barrier with his sword. As much as it concerned him about another Digimon entering the Dark Area, he knew he had to focus on the task at hand. He began to pour his power into the ley lines that AncientGreymon was harnessing, as well as the barrier of the Dark Area itself. The two were intertwined at this point, so it was necessary to access both.

“AncientSpheremon!” AncientWisemon called out. “What is the dark data like?!”

Omegamon watched with trepidation as the darkness flowed around AncientSphinxmon’s body. “Is that safe…?” he asked. “Being in that evil data?”

AncientSphinxmon glanced over at the group as they watched. “The darkness is neither moral nor immoral…” he said to Omegamon. “The darkness of the outer level of the Dark Area is generally natural.” He narrowed his eyes. “However… the darkness is becoming corrupted. Dark data from deeper in the prison levels is seeping out through the holes in the internal barrier and is corrupting the data of the outer level.”

“Fascinating!” AncientWisemon exclaimed. “Worrisome, but fascinating! I hypothesize that the liquid substance known as Black Digitron is native to the Dark Area, and that has some effect on the corruption of data.”

Omegamon felt a chill down his spine. “…Then it is absolutely necessary that we get this right…” he spoke.

AncientWisemon folded his arms and nodded confidently. “Especially before the processes involved in the regeneration of digi-eggs become corrupted!” he stated in a carefree voice.

A dour silence washed over the clearing as a result.

“…So, no pressure!” Imperialdramon called over.

“Tch, really, AncientWisemon…! Don’t say that in such a carefree way!” AncientGreymon grunted.

AncientSphinxmon closed his eyes and concentrated. “…Imperialdramon… Do you feel that?” he questioned as his body was half-submerged in shadows. There was a subtle tension in his words.

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode sneered. “Yeah… Whatever it is, is trying to penetrate into the outer prison level…” he spoke as he continued to pour energy into his sword, which accessed the Dark Area.

“That’s what I feared…” Alphamon spoke, narrowing his eyes. “Keep track of it, but focus on resetting the barrier.”

“Yeah…” Imperialdramon spoke, grunting with effort. He turned his head and glanced up at AncientGreymon. “I’m getting ready to reset the configuration data of the barrier. Then I’m going to start rebuilding it from scratch…”

“Are you sure this is the best way?” AncientGarurumon asked, looking over at the three Digimon.

Imperialdramon winced. “I don’t feel great about it with this with this foreign entity accessing the Dark Area, since it will leave the Dark Area more vulnerable. However… I’m accessing all of the barriers right now, and I can feel that the internal barriers are badly deteriorated. Even if we don’t do anything, the Digimon will still be able to do whatever they plan to do. At least this way, we’ll be able to repair and strengthen the barrier before too much irreparable damage is done. This is the best way…”

“We trust you, Imperialdramon,” Omegamon reassured him.

Alphamon nodded in agreement. “Do whatever you need to do.”

Imperialdramon grunted and nodded, grunting the Omega Blade tightly. “Okay… AncientGreymon? AncientSphinxmon…?” he spoke, the effort and strain clear in his voice. “On the count of five, I’m deleting the configuration data…”

AncientSphinxmon nodded quietly.

“Right… I’ve got you covered…” AncientGreymon assured him.

Imperialdramon closed his red eyes tightly. “Five…”

He gripped the Omega Blade tightly. “Four…”

AncientSphinxmon sneered. “The first prison level has been penetrated…”

“Three…”

The Omega Blade began to brim with a blinding, white energy. The cracks around the blade widened and caused earth to pour into the holes.

“Two…”

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode’s eyes snapped open and he glared fervently.

“One!” he yelled, his voice trembling as he sent power surging into the Omega Blade.

“Initialize!”

-

A few hours passed since the process begun. Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode had reset the barrier in order to create a new one. He was working hard in the process of configuring a new barrier for the Dark Area.

Meanwhile, Bagramon was nearly done extracting the first prisoner. After hours of struggling against the barriers and the abyss of the Dark Area, Bagramon had successfully contacted who he had been looking for. He was now in the process of extracting him.

Dark, grey clouds gathered above the field of swords. The thick vapour grew denser and darker, creating a caliginous, foreboding shade overhead that rivalled that of Shroud. Bagramon’s Astral Snatcher continued to reach down from the dimensional portal in the sky into the Dark Area. The long, skeletal arm now was in the process of retracting from the Dark Area.

As the arm continued to pull out, there was an outpouring of dark data from the dark rift that it was invading. The wrist of the wooden arm was beyond halfway through the outer level of the Dark Area. The closer it got to the dark rift, the thicker and darker the clouds became. In fact, as the hand grew nearer and nearer to the surface, the clouds themselves began to change.

A deep, crimson glow began to ignite in the sky. On the underside of the murky clouds, a giant, red circle suddenly formed. Within the large circle was a second, smaller circle. At the center of this circle was an obscure sigil which wasn’t a Digi-letter. The crest was shaped like a red, three-pronged trident that pointed upwards. On the bottom of the longest, middle, vertical line was a small ring. Below this, there was writing that read, ‘CAUTION! PURGATORY LEVEL 1’. Above the crest was another symbol, which was a small ring with a dot in the center of it. Between the outer and inner circles of the sigil was more writing. These words read the following: ‘LEVEL: 666’ ‘SYSTEM: LUCIFER’ ‘CODE: PRIDE’

The crest shone brightly and prominently. The closer that Bagramon was to extracting the prisoner, the more luminous the crest glowed.

Finally, Bagramon extracted his arm, which was clutching a Digimon in his massive, skeletal hand. Once past the dark rift, Bagramon released the Digimon onto the ground before pulling his arm back, further into the air. When the Digimon touched down on the Digital World’s soil, the crest overhead shone with a deep red colour.

A humanoid Digimon landed gracefully on the ground, touching the grass lightly with his white boots. Over his body, he wore a pristine, white suit. Layered over this bodysuit was a black jacket that covered only his arms, shoulders, and back. Matching this were black leggings which reached from his thighs down to his knee-high, white boots. All of this was garnished with a splendorous gold lining that gave off an elegant, showy appearance. To match this, beneath the humanoid Digimon’s neck was a large, golden broach in the shape of the sun.

He had a human face with fair skin and shoulder-length, blond hair. The Digimon’s face wore an expression of subdued curiosity as he looked around his surroundings. He had pale, blue eyes which stared across the weapon-strewn landscape with a look of aloof superiority.

The Digimon in question was dichotomous. His appearance made him seem like a half-angel, half-demon. The right side of his body was angelic, while the left side of his body was demonic, opposite to that of Bagramon. Five immaculate, white, feathery wings protruded from the right side of his back. Meanwhile, five black, bat-like, demonic wings extended from the left side of his back. This incongruity extended to his face as well, as an angel and demon wing were placed on each side of his head, with a pair of black, feathery wings directly below them. Stricken down the left side of the demon Digimon’s face was a pair of jagged, red scars, which were even given through battle or through some sort of punishment. It was more likely the latter, given the demonic nature of that side of his body. Matching the shape of the scars was a long, red brand down the sleeve of his left arm. The angel-demon theme continued down the rest of his body, with ornamental angel and demon wings adorning the golden bracelets of his knees and ankles.

This demon Digimon was Lucemon: Falldown Mode, the first Digimon to rebel against the Heavenly Choir and their God. He was the one who initiated the bloody civil war known as the Heavenly War.

Lucemon took a few tentative steps on the ground of the Digital World. He stopped and raised his hand, brushing his blond hair back as he looked up into the sky.

“My, it has been awhile…” he spoke, his voice calm, refined, and confident. He looked up towards the large, skeletal arm that extended from the abyssal hole in the blackened clouds. “It seems that I am finally free of that wretched prison… And who do I have to thank for that?”

“An old comrade of yours, Lucemon…” Bagramon’s deep voice echoed through the dimensional portal. “From our rebellion, way back then...”

Lucemon blinked with dull surprise. “Bagramon… You actually survived?” he questioned with curious incredulity.

“Only barely… They destroyed half of my body after you seven were defeated and locked away. It was all I could do to survive…” Bagramon explained.

“Ah, yes… Our righteous rebellion… thwarted by pathetic heretics and heathens,” Lucemon spoke, folding his arms. “So, tell me, Bagramon… Why release me?”

A soft laugh echoed through the clouds. “Because I have been mulling over our defeat for the past few decades… The plans that we had… The righteous and virtuous plans that we had for the Heavenly Choir and the Digital World when we began our struggle against those stubborn and close-minded fools up in the Sky Colonies…” Bagramon spoke. “I don’t know about you, but just because we were defeated, that doesn’t mean that my goals have changed. I have chafed under the dominance of the Sky Colonies ever since. I have had to live secluded in the mountains. I am not content to leave things as they are. Are you, Lucemon?”

“Obviously not, Bagramon,” Lucemon responded with a dismissive shake of his head. “I have been locked away in the hellscape that is the Dark Area. I was forced to contend with others for dominance of a pathetic prison dimension. You think you have suffered, but you know not of what I had to go through. A high-ranking angel reduced to consorting with the likes of common criminals…” The demon man narrowed his eyes and looked up at Bagramon. “No, I agree with you completely, Bagramon… I thank you for releasing me. We must continue our rebellion somehow. This glorious Digital World deserves nothing less.”

“I agree, Lucemon,” Bagramon spoke. “But for now, we must wait patiently. We must consolidate our forces and plan carefully we want to have any hope of success. We are still in the early stages of our plan.”

“That is a logical conclusion. You must fill me in, Bagramon,” Lucemon stated.

“I will. However, first, I must release the other six,” Bagramon informed him. “For the time being, please remain hidden and unknown. I cannot keep my actions a secret indefinitely, but we can attempt to keep our opponents guessing for as long as possible.”

“Naturally,” Lucemon spoke, nodding in agreement. “Very well. I will stay out of sight for now. I must regain some of my strength anyways. Contact me when you wish to meet.”

“Of course,” Bagramon responded.

Without another word, Bagramon pulled his hand back into the dimensional portal. As soon as it disappeared in the void, the dimensional rift closed, leaving only dark clouds and the fading Crest of Pride in the sky. Bagramon immediately went to work on freeing the next Demon Lord.

When Bagramon was gone, Lucemon smirked smugly and gazed across the field of swords.

“Fear not, Digital World, for I have finally returned...”

 

[Griff4815]

Interlude: Act II​

It was after the battle. The pungent scent of smoke continued to drift on the air. The late day was turning into the evening; the sun hung low in the sky, descending towards the horizon. However, clouds covered the expanse of the sky around Saversburg, causing the sunlight to be blocked. The landscape was dim and murky as a result.

The fields to the west of Saversburg were bleak and battle-scarred. Craters and trenches littered the landscape. This was to say nothing of the dark rifts that had split open during the battle. They continued to cover the landscape as Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode attempted to reconfigure the Dark Area.

As for the aftermath of the battle, all sides were now completely organised. The wounded had been completely moved to medical tents, and the seriously wounded had been transferred to the hospital in Saversburg. The Royal Knights and the Order soldiers were grouped at the southern part of the battlefield near the hill, the Saversburg army was congregated near the walls of the city, and Republic of Mode’s military was camped at the north part of the battlefield. Meanwhile, the D-Brigade was camped further away, over to the west. They intended on beginning their long march home to Facture on the following day. Only a small formation would stay behind to wait for the wounded that were being treated in Saversburg.

Magnamon walked along the battlefield, looking around at the damage quietly. He reflected on the day’s bitter struggle. He could see the Royal Knights all gathered at the edge of the Order’s camp. The Knight of Miracles made his way over to them.

All of the Royal Knights were present except for Alphamon, Omegamon, and Dukemon. Alphamon and Omegamon had both gone with Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode, while Dukemon had went off with Grani and Fujinmon when PrinceMamemon arrived unexpectedly in the aftermath of the battle.

Most of the Royal Knights had some injury of some kind. None of their wounds were too serious; they mostly consisted of cuts, bruises, and minor burns. Their bodies definitely seemed tired from the long, intense fight. Their armour was scuffed up and even cracked in some places. Even Duftmon, who was directing tactics for the majority of the battle, has a frazzled look to him from when he helped attack Chaosdramon.

Dynasmon had taken his chest armour off and Gankoomon had removed the top half of his body suit so that bandages could be placed over their muscular chests. Those two probably had the most amount of minor injuries, while the other Royal Knights had only two or three. Magnamon himself sported a few welts from some bullets that had hit him, and fist-sized bruise on the small of his back and a shallow cut on his tail.

Magnamon walked up to the Royal Knights and waved. “Hey. How are you all doing?” he asked them.

“Could be worse,” Dynasmon answered, wincing a bit as he prodded the bandages wrapped around his brawny chest with one of his claws. “Chaosdramon caused a lot of destruction.”

“Yeah, he did,” UlforceVeedramon said with a sigh as he looked across the battlefield. He had some bandages patched over the back of his right wing, as well as around his abdominal muscles and bicep. “Lots of casualties.”

Sleipmon winced as he clutched his sore right arm. “Do we know how many we lost yet…?” he asked, although not really wanting to know the answer.

Duftmon frowned deeply and folded his arms. “The Captains and Leftenants are doing a count right now, but we expect that we lost a couple dozen, at least…” he responded bitterly. “A large portion of that is down to Chaosdramon’s relentless bombardment...”

“****!” Gankoomon swore loudly. He punched his palm with his fist in anger and frustration. “We should have killed that bastard earlier!”

“That’s an easy thing to say, but a harder thing to do, Gankoomon,” Craniamon murmured, folding his arms across his dented chest and narrowing his eyes. “We did the best we could.”

“The appearance of those dark rifts certainly didn’t help matters,” RhodoKnightmon pointed out, gazing across the field to the crevices that were flagged for safety.

“Now we have those to worry about instead,” Craniamon grunted.

UlforceVeedramon looked at the Royal Knights, forcing a grin onto his face. “Hey, now’s not the time to get dark and melancholic. We just beat Chaosdramon, the guy who was oppressing his own citizens for ages! Not only that, but the Storm Commanders seem pretty reliable. I don’t know about you guys, but I call that a victory,” he stated, trying to make them look on the bright side.

Magnamon couldn’t help but smile at UlforceVeedramon’s usual cheery demeanour. “Yes, you’re right, Ulforce. All of this wasn’t for nothing,” he agreed.

“That is very true…” Duftmon concurred. “However, I cannot help but be concerned. If somebody were to escape the Dark Area, we would be at a less than optimal capacity. Our battle strength has been dented, and I am sure that morale will suffer in the immediate aftermath as well.”

“One thing at a time, Duftmon. Maybe Imperialdramon can fix the Dark Area before anybody gets the chance to escape,” Dynasmon suggested, frowning uncertainly.

“I sure hope so… It was bad enough when DarkKnightmon escaped,” Examon mused, the corners of his mouth curving downwards as he remembered the event.

“…We should hold a memorial when we get back to the headquarters,” Sleipmon stated, a heavy expression on his face. “Alphamon always knows the right thing to say.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea, Sleipmon…” Magnamon agreed. “Battles like these are always hard.”

“Even so, our soldiers knew what they were signing up for when they joined the Order,” Duftmon reasoned. “They are prepared for hardship.”

“That doesn’t always make it easier,” Magnamon explained, a sombre tinge to his soft voice. “But they will be okay, with time.”

Examon frowned. “I hope so…” he spoke thoughtfully.

Craniamon sighed and placed his hands on his hips. “So, what’s the plan?” he questioned, his glowing eyes turning to the Royal Knights.

“Everyone’s too tired to travel right now,” Dynasmon stated. “We’ll stay in our camp overnight. That will give everyone some time to rest and for the wounded to recuperate.”

Duftmon nodded with agreement. “During that time, we can sort out transportation, rations, and supplies. There will be some wounded who are unable to walk who will required assisted transport.”

“Yeah, sounds good to me,” UlforceVeedramon agreed. He turned around and stretched his stiff body and wings with a grunt. “…Okay. I’m going to go visit some of the wounded,” he explained.

“I might come with you,” Magnamon added, walking over to the tall, blue knight.

“Me too. I want to thank them for their hard work,” Sleipmon concurred, trotting over as well.

“I think I’ll help Duftmon with the organisational stuff,” Examon offered.

Duftmon closed his eyes and nodded pensively. “Very well. UlforceVeedramon, when you are finished, I need you to go speak to GigaSeadramon and his Deep Savers about mass transport back to our headquarters.”

“I need to go speak with the mayor of Saversburg,” Dynasmon said, still scratching at his bandaged chest.

“Then you might want to put your armour back on,” UlforceVeedramon suggested with a laugh.

“Feel free not to,” RhodoKnightmon chimed, ogling Dynasmon’s buff, half-naked, bandaged body shamelessly. He then pulled his gaze away and looked at Craniamon. “I suppose we should go to the Locomon rail station in the city and arrange for further transport for tomorrow.”

Craniamon nodded. “Sure,” he complied.

Gankoomon pulled his body suit up over his arms and shoulders before zipping it up firmly. Once it fitted over his chest, he picked up his jacket and placed it over his shoulders. “In that case, I’ll go—“

“Shishou?” a voice asked.

Gankoomon turned around and saw SaviorHackmon apprehensively approaching the group. “SaviorHackmon…” he said, watching as the bipedal dragon man approached. “What are you doing?”

SaviorHackmon saluted and bowed softly before the Royal Knights. “Actually… I was wondering if there was anything that I could do to help…” he suggested.

“Aren’t you tired from running around all day?” Gankoomon asked him, eyeing him sceptically.

SaviorHackmon stood up straight in an effort to show that he still had a lot of energy and determination. “There’s still a lot that needs to get done! I’m not going to take it easy while others do all the hard work,” he answered insistently.

A smirk formed on Gankoomon’s face. “Hah! That’s the spirit!” he exclaimed. “I’m sure we can find something for you to do.”

Sleipmon turned and looked at SaviorHackmon with a warm smile. He admired his determination and spirit. “Do you mind helping me with the wounded?” he asked. “They’re a bit short-staffed right now, so apparently the extra hands would be appreciated.”

“Of course I’ll help, Sleipmon-shishou,” SaviorHackmon stated, smiling widely. “You can count on me.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Shall we, SaviorHackmon?” the centaur knight asked him.

SaviorHackmon nodded avidly and allowed Sleipmon to lead the way. As Sleipmon began walking towards the field hospital, SaviorHackmon followed him dutifully.

Dynasmon pulled his chest armour on and then looked at Gankoomon with a smile. “Your apprentice sure is eager to please,” he lightheartedly observed.

“Yeah, he is. He’s putting his whole heart into it. I can tell,” Gankoomon responded, watching as SaviorHackmon walked off. He smiled slightly with a hint of warmth in his gaze. He remembered seeing the emotion of SaviorHackmon’s heart earlier in the day. “…He’s serious about helping Digimon.”

“I can respect that,” Magnamon stated, smiling at Gankoomon. “It’s admirable work you’ve done with him, Gankoomon.”

Gankoomon shook his head. “It’s not because of me…” he answered.

Dynasmon laughed and patted Gankoomon’s back, prompting the red-haired Royal Knight to wince as Dynasmon accidentally struck one of his injuries. “What the hell is this? Gankoomon being humble? Did you take a hit to the head or something?”

Gankoomon grunted and gave Dynasmon a sharp elbow to his hip, causing the wyvern knight to shout with pain. “I’m being honest! …That’s just the way SaviorHackmon is. He always gives it his all, even with his confidence issues. That’s part of the reason I took him on as my apprentice. I saw a lot of potential in him, even though he looked weak.”

“You’re really just a big softy underneath all of that bravado and bluster, aren’t you?” UlforceVeedramon teased him affectionately.

“It is positively adorable!” RhodoKnightmon chimed in agreement. “Such love between master and student!”

“Honestly, you guys are asking for it…” Gankoomon warned them, a vein twitching in his forehead.

Craniamon grabbed RhodoKnightmon and began pulling him by one of his ribbons. “Come on, Rhodo. Let’s get a move on,” he said to him.

“Oh, very well,” RhodoKnightmon complied, being dragged off by Craniamon.

“I’d better get moving too,” Dynasmon stated, starting to walk.

“One second,” Examon stated, looking at Dynasmon. “Where exactly did Dukemon go? I haven’t seen him since PrinceMamemon showed up.”

“They went to deal with the Mamemon Kingdom now that the Metal Empire agreed to give it back,” Dynasmon responded as he walked off. “He’ll be gone for at least a few hours, if not until tomorrow.”

Examon nodded as the rest of the Royal Knights began walking away to see to their own responsibilities. “I see…” He turned to Duftmon. “Duftmon? What’s next?”

“We should start telling our soldiers to head back to the encampment for rest. We will need a few scouting groups, as well as some guards to patrol overnight. I can say with reasonable certainty that the D-Brigade is no longer a threat, but it would be well-advised to keep an eye on those dark rifts in order to avoid further dark evolutions,” Duftmon informed him.

“Got it,” Examon complied. A pensive expression grew on Examon’s face as he looked across the grey field at one of the leaking dark rifts. “Do you think that Imperialdramon and the others will be able to fix the barrier before anything bad happens?”

Duftmon frowned in response. “He did say that it would take approximately two days to complete the reconfiguration. That is a large window of opportunity, but only if Digimon are paying attention…” he deliberated. After a few moments, Duftmon released a soft sigh.

“…At this point, Examon, we can only hope for the best…”

-

Mercuremon sat on his throne in the throne room of PrinceMamemon’s old palace. In the week or so since PrinceMamemon had been overthrown, he had been incredibly busy in his new role as the king of the Mamemon Kingdom. There was always much to be done after a change in power… particularly after an armed one.

Mercuremon decided to fill the palace with D-Brigade bodyguards rather than PrinceMamemon’s old bodyguards, who he wasn’t sure he could trust. He relied upon the D-Brigade for security until he could secure his position as king. He knew that there were rumblings against him. Despite PrinceMamemon’s incompetence, he was well-loved by the citizens of the Mamemon Kingdom.

The ascended aristocrat had his old desk moved up to the throne room, so that he could work while sitting. He was currently creating a list of prominent Digimon who were loyal to PrinceMamemon who needed to be purged. The sooner he could finish that, the sooner he could feel safe enough to make other changes.

A Hagurumon floated behind Mercuremon’s throne, looking over his shoulder as the mirror Digimon worked. He was the Metal Empire envoy to the Mamemon Kingdom, who consulted with Mercuremon regularly since PrinceMamemon was overthrown. Standing outside the doors of the throne room were a MachGaogamon and an Andromon who acted as guards.

“What about the army general?” Hagurumon asked, wondering if he was going to be added to the list.

“No, PlatinumNumemon is spineless,” Mercuremon responded. “He will do what I say. Besides, it would be a bad idea to provoke the army, even with the D-Brigade occupying the city.”

“Very well,” the Hagurumon stated.

“I think I’d like to exile these Digimon rather than arrest them. I wouldn’t want to send the wrong message,” Mercuremon decided. He smirked. “…It’s so freeing to finally make my own decisions without having to drip them into PrinceMamemon’s ear.”

“It must be,” the gear-shaped Digimon concurred.

Mercuremon stopped writing and put down the over-designed, mechanical pen that he was using. He looked over his shoulder at Hagurumon. “The evening is upon us. Is there any news from Emperor Chaosdramon and the D-Brigade army about the battle at Saversburg?”

“None yet, I’m afraid,” Hagurumon responded. “It must be a long battle.”

“Too long…” Mercuremon murmured uncertainly. “But the D-Brigade will prove victorious. They are cold, efficient, methodical, intelligent, and unstoppable. That is a winning combination.”

“I agree, Your Majesty,” Hagurumon spoke.

Mercuremon nodded and continued to quietly and diligently work. He continued gliding the pen across the smooth paper as he wrote finely stylized digi-letters.

After a few minutes, the new king stopped. He was distracted by the sounds of several pairs of footsteps in the hallway beyond the closed doors of the throne room. The pen stalled on the piece of paper as he heard voices talking with the guards. Because the door was closed, the voices were muffled and Mercuremon was unable to hear what they were saying.

Mercuremon’s lips curved into a frown. “Guards?” he called out loudly. “Do I have visitors?”

The voices stalled for a moment. They then continued in murmurs. Finally, one of the guards replied. “Yes, King Mercuremon!” the guard called back. “Your presence is requested!”

“Let them in!” Mercuremon called to them. He put his pen down and stood to his feet.

The doors opened and PrinceMamemon flounced into the throne room with an angry, determined expression. Walking calmly at his side were Dukemon and Fujinmon. Behind them were the MachGaogamon and Andromon guards.

Mercuremon’s lips opened with stunned shock before swiftly morphing into a sneer. He glared at PrinceMamemon and took a step backwards. “W-What is going on here?” he demanded, looking particularly at Commander Fujinmon.

“Emperor Chaosdramon is dead,” Fujinmon explained calmly. “The D-Brigade has surrendered to the Royal Knights’ forces. We are relinquishing our control of the Mamemon Kingdom, effective immediately.”

PrinceMamemon marched up to the desk and slammed his hands down on the surface. “Mercuremon, you are under arrest for treason!” the monarch declared.

As this happened, Hagurumon slowly floated away from Mercuremon, slinking over to Fujinmon’s side.

“…Treason? Treason?!” Mercuremon scoffed incredulously, his calm demeanour disappearing. “If it weren’t for me, our whole army would have been decimated by the D-Brigade!”

“You sold out the people of this kingdom so that you could become king!” PrinceMamemon protested, glaring heavily at Mercuremon with a determination that had been absent before.

“I saved them from an incompetent buffoon!” the green mirror Digimon fired back.

PrinceMamemon sneered. His eyes then trailed down to the desk that he was propping himself up on. He noticed the list of familiar Digimon on top of the desk and quickly grabbed the list before Mercuremon could. Mercuremon tried to snatch it, but PrinceMamemon stepped back and held it out of his reach by giving the piece of paper to Dukemon.

Dukemon frowned and took the piece of paper. He read the list carefully. “…A blacklist?” he asked, raising an eyebrow as he realized what the list was.

“Likely to purge supporters of PrinceMamemon,” Fujinmon stated. “That is Chaosdramon’s model of ensuring loyalty. I should know.”

“That is the proof that we need!” PrinceMamemon declared, pointing his finger at the aristocrat. “Mercuremon, you are to be placed under arrest.”

“What?!” Mercuremon demanded, scowling. He looked at Fujinmon for help. “We made a deal, Commander!”

Fujinmon locked eyes with Mercuremon’s mirror face, causing him to see his own reflection in it. “Now that Chaosdramon is gone, the Storm Commanders are taking the Metal Empire in a different direction. I apologise for the unfortunate turn of events,” he politely explained to the distraught steel humanoid. “I will petition PrinceMamemon for a comfortable imprisonment befitting an aristocrat.”

At this, Mercuremon’s sneer turned deeper. “You… I gave you this city!”

Fujinmon calmly nodded his V-shaped head. “And now we are giving it back,” he dryly answered.

“You betrayed me!” Mercuremon shouted angrily.

“I have betrayed many Digimon recently,” Fujinmon nonchalantly explained to the agitated Digimon. “You shall be the last one. Guards, if you please?”

Mercuremon sneered and took another step back as the guards began to approach him. He leaned back and gripped the lavish throne behind him. The guards closed in on him and grabbed hold of his arms, quickly unfastening the Shields of Irony. As the shields dropped to the ground and his arms were held firmly, Mercuremon glowered and directed his anger towards PrinceMamemon.

“You…” he spoke in an icy, vindictive tone. “PrinceMamemon… You don’t even realise it, but I have been propping you up this whole time. They were my policies that made the Mamemon Kingdom into what it is. I simply let you take all the credit. The honest truth is that you’re a bumbling oaf! You can’t tie your own shoes without me helping you.”

PrinceMamemon’s gaze hardened in response, but his lip began to quiver at the hurtful words of someone who he once considered a friend.

Mercuremon glared at PrinceMamemon furiously. “You’re a sham of a king! You are an inept, ridiculous, rotund half-wit! The sad part is that you actually believe that you’re royalty! KingEtemon made you believe that obvious lie as a part of a practical joke, and you fell for it completely!” he shouted, venting his years of built up frustration against the monarch. “You are a walking punch line who embarrasses himself and our state on a regular basis! You make fools of all of us by your irrational belief that the Royal Knights are actually your subordinates! It’s pathetic!”

PrinceMamemon’s large, yellow cheeks were puffed out and his eyes were welling up with tears. He glanced over at Dukemon, who was looking sheepish. The Royal Knight wanted to speak up in his defence, but he also couldn’t deny that the Royal Knights weren’t his subordinates.

PrinceMamemon sniffed, but he hardened his resolve. “I… I’m aware that I am not perfect…” he stated, looking directly at Mercuremon with wet but determined eyes. “H-However! …Though he may not necessarily be my subordinate… Alphamon has taught me a very valuable lesson. He taught me the meaning of being a good leader! He said that it is my duty to look out for the interests of the Digimon that I am responsible for. And that means looking after the citizens of the Mamemon Kingdom,” PrinceMamemon stated with newfound resolve. “I may not know all of the answers, and I may be a flighty oaf, but I care about my citizens. I want to try to be a good leader!”

“You will never be able to hold the Mamemon Kingdom together without me helping you,” Mercuremon stated.

“I… I guess I will have to take that chance,” PrinceMamemon replied, looking away. A guilty look formed on his face. “I owe it to everybody to try, after all of the mistakes that I have made…”

“You—“ Mercuremon began to speak up again, but he was cut off.

“Okay, that’s about enough,” Dukemon interrupted firmly. “Get him out of here.”

Fujinmon nodded at the D-Brigade guards, who began to haul Mercuremon out of the throne room.

As they exited the large room, Dukemon walked up to PrinceMamemon and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Are you alright?” he asked him, unable to help but feel bad for him after the verbal undressing he received.

PrinceMamemon released a shaky sigh. “Y-Yes…” he admitted. “I think so…” After a moment, he stared down at his boots. “I trusted Mercuremon so much… What should I do now?”

“Find your own footing,” Dukemon said with a reassuring smile. “Your citizens love you. With their support and some measured confidence, you’ll be fine.”

PrinceMamemon smiled. “I do hope so… I… I apologise for being such a burden,” he said to the Royal Knight guiltily.

“All you can do now is to do your best,” Dukemon answered.

PrinceMamemon nodded and looked up at the throne before him. His cheery smile grew wider.

“…Then that is what I will do.”

-

A day passed since the battle of Saversburg. The majority of the D-Brigade had returned to their headquarters in Facture. Only a couple formations temporarily remained in Saversburg, Haganemame City, and the Dual Chess Monarchy for logistical reasons. They would be completely out of non-Metal Empire territory within a couple days.

The D-Brigade organised in D-Central as they demobilized from warfare. They dutifully followed their Storm Commanders’ orders.

Raijinmon walked beside Suijinmon quietly. He strode at a relaxed pace that allowed Suijinmon to keep up with him. They walked away from the large military base of D-Central. They headed down a metal road that led towards a bridge spanning the Rust River. Before they could reach the sturdy bridge, the two commanders turned down a street that ran parallel to the river.

After a few minutes of walking, they stopped at the riverside. The two stood in silence as they looked over the city from their riverside view.

The sun shone over the city of Facture. The metallic buildings and roads all shone radiantly as the sun’s rays rebounded off of the lustrous metals. The tranquil, flowing water of the Rust River shimmered as well. A calm air hovered over the normally busy, industrial city. The whole of Facture seemed to have a sunny glow to it.

Raijinmon serenely folded his Blitz Arms behind his back as he stood beside Suijinmon and enjoyed the view. He stood there, allowing himself to appreciate the beauty of the urban scenery. After a moment, he turned his calm gold eyes towards Suijinmon.

“Facture seems different today, doesn’t it?” he mused to his friend.

Suijinmon stared out across the water of the river, enjoying the calming flow of the liquid as it channelled through the city towards the Delta Ocean. He closed his eyes thoughtfully. “Yes, it does. Somehow,” he concurred, although he felt a little uneasy. “I cannot quite place why that is…”

“It is because Facture is finally free…” a soft voice spoke.

Raijinmon and Suijinmon both turned their bodies towards the voice. They watched as Fujinmon descended from the sky and lightly touched down beside them. Upon landing, Fujinmon turned towards the other two Strom Commanders with an easy gaze.

“Fujinmon, you’re back,” Raijinmon acknowledged. “How did everything go in the Mamemon Kingdom?”

“It went well. PrinceMamemon is back in power, but he has been thoroughly humbled by the experience. We are conceding control over the kingdom back to them. The D-Brigade stationed there is preparing to exfiltrate,” Fujinmon explained.

“Good,” Raijinmon responded.

Suijinmon quietly turned his gaze away from Fujinmon, going back to staring at the river. The slender, green cyborg picked up on Suijinmon’s silence.

“Err… Suijinmon…” Fujinmon tentatively spoke with guilt accentuating his voice.

“Yes, Fujinmon?” Suijinmon stoically responded, not turning to look at him.

Fujinmon released a sigh and took a step towards him. “I am sorry for some of the things that I have done. I didn’t want to betray your trust…” he offered diplomatically.

Suijinmon didn’t respond at first. He was intent on keeping up his icy demeanour. However, his resolve weakened and he glanced towards Fujinmon. “No… I understand…” he admitted. “I was hurt at first, but I…” Suijinmon winced. “I understand that getting rid of Chaosdramon was the right thing to do…”

“I’m a little surprised to hear you say that, Suijinmon…” Fujinmon calmly responded.

“I blinded myself to his true nature… I chose to look the other way…” Suijinmon answered. “It was easier to follow him loyally than it was to form my own, difficult opinions. …However… when I saw what he was doing to my soldiers – our soldiers… - I couldn’t hide myself from the truth any longer…” the Waterfall Commander admitted. “I suppose I am afraid of the concept of change. I like order and I like being loyal. Being loyal meant being safe…” he explained with a faint softness to his usual, stoic voice. Suijinmon looked at Fujinmon meaningfully. “…More than change, I am afraid of losing the people I care about. That was why I resisted at first, but that was also why I felt compelled to act ultimately.”

“We are glad that you joined us, Suijinmon,” Fujinmon said to him, going and placing his Blitz Arm on Suijinmon’s shoulder. To his relief, Suijinmon allowed him to touch him without any complaint.

“I am glad that I joined you as well…” Suijinmon rumbled deeply. He frowned and turned his gaze down to the river. “However, I am nervous… Chaosdramon is gone. There is nobody to tell us what to do. The decisions rest on our shoulders alone…”

“I find that something of a relief, personally,” Raijinmon stated, turning and looking at Fujinmon.

“As do I,” Fujinmon concurred.

“Even so…” Suijinmon spoke. “What do we do now?”

“Well, it is up to us to decide,” Raijinmon stated, placing his metal hands on his hips proudly. “We are the Storm Triumvirate, after all.”

Fujinmon released a laugh. “You named us already?” he asked his golden comrade with a relaxed, light-hearted glint in his red eyes. “Have you been saving that one up?”

“No…” Raijinmon murmured, glancing away sheepishly.

“I like it,” Suijinmon softly replied. “Now… Onto practical matters…”

Raijinmon nodded. He gazed across the river to Chaosdramon’s massive, riverside palace. “First of all, that palace has to go… It is a symbol of Chaosdramon’s reign, and that space could be put to more practical use,” he suggested.

“It would be a waste of money to demolish it completely…” Fujinmon stated.

“Perhaps we could make it into a public administration building?” Suijinmon suggested tentatively.

“I can agree with that,” Raijinmon said, nodding optimistically.

“So can I,” Fujinmon stated. “May I also suggest that we free all of the political prisoners and remove the curfew?”

“That is a good idea as well,” Raijinmon concurred. “We should also begin to liberate free speech and scale back the D-Brigade’s Special Task Force.”

“Very well,” Suijinmon agreed, his mind working quickly to keep up with all of the proposed new ideas. “But we can’t just throw these ideas out there. We can’t move too quickly. Too many reforms at once would be destabilizing. I believe that we should make these reforms in moderation based off priority and pragmatism. We also need to formalize them in writing,” he complained. “These proposals need a thorough going over if they are to be effective in practice.”

Raijinmon chuckled softly. “You’re so fastidious, Suijinmon,” he stated light-heartedly. “We will, I promise. We’re just brainstorming at this point.”

“Even so…” Suijinmon responded.

“It is to be expected of the Thunderclap Commander,” Fujinmon joked.

The three Storm Commanders continued to talk animatedly about their plans for the Metal Empire. There was a relaxed atmosphere around them as they were finally free to speak their minds. It was as if a massive lodestone had been removed from them.

Although the future was uncertain, the three friends were at ease. Optimism began to creep into their cool, metal bodies once again. The future was theirs to make of it what they will. Most of all, the three Storm Commanders agreed that it needed to be much different from Chaosdramon’s vision. The status quo was no longer acceptable; the fear, the oppression, and the suspicion of Chaosdramon’s regime were to be relics of the past. With the spectre of Chaosdramon fading away, it was a new day in the Metal Empire.

Indeed, it was a sunny day in Facture.

 

[Griff4815]

Chapter 26: Seven​

The day turned into night as both the Royal Knights and Bagramon worked to counteract the other, although the Royal Knights had no idea that he, specifically, was involved.

Off the eastern coast of the continent, the waves of the Net Ocean crashed turbulently. The dark water rose and sank with every giant wave. The night sky contained large, intermittent clouds that drifted over the area. The bright moons shone reflected light down onto the sea, giving the waves a shimmering hue to the dark, foreboding liquid. Every so often, the clouds would pass over the moons, causing the rays of light to wane and disappear.

Bagramon’s Astral Snatcher reached deep into the depths of the Net Ocean, no further than a couple kilometers from the coast. The long, sturdy arm pushed deep against the pressure of the water and extended far into a deep, underwater trench. At the bottom of that abyss was a massive, gaping dark rift that poured dark data into the water.

Bagramon’s arm stretched into dark rift, infiltrating deeper into the Dark Area. He could feel Imperialdramon trying to configure new barriers within the pocket dimension. The demon Digimon knew that he still had plenty of time, but he also needed to work as quickly as possible. The process would become progressively more difficult and time-consuming as Imperialdramon reconfigured the barriers, which would be much stronger than their previous weakened and deteriorated states.

He retracted his arm from the Dark Area, pulling up despite the crushing pressure of the deep sea around it. As Bagramon heaved the tremendous weight up into the depths of the Net Ocean, another crest began to form in the night sky.

The black sky, infused with both drifting clouds and glimmering stars began to glow a cloudy, bluish teal hue. A set of two circles appeared directly above the place where Bagramon was reaching. The crest, similar in shape but different in substance to the Crest of Pride, took shape. The seal in the middle was a blue triangle connected to an inverted trapezoid. Above it was a parallelogram with a circle inside of it. The symbol above the seal was a circle with a cross connected to the bottom and horns protruding from the top. The text within the circle became clearly visible.

‘CAUTION! PURGATORY LEVEL 2’

‘LEVEL: 666’ ‘SYSTEM: LEVIATHAN’ ‘CODE: ENVY’

With a strained heave, Bagramon pulled up a final time before letting go suddenly. He quickly withdrew his arm from the ocean and pulled it back towards the dimensional hole that he created, as if trying to move a creature that might bite him.

For a few transient moments, the waves settled and the ocean grew calm. This wasn’t to last for long, however. Pockets of air bubbled up from the Cimmerian depths. Giant oxygen bubbles rose to the surface before popping tumultuously. Then, the thousands of gallons of seawater seemed to rise up suddenly, as if something was pushing it from below.

A massive, crimson body suddenly became visible in the black of the abyss, its details obscured by the rippling water. The body then rose to the surface and burst out of the water, sending massive waves crashing out in every direction. The giant body - larger than all but the biggest Digimon - emerged from the violent depths and floated on top of the turbulent surface. Waves battered against the mass of flesh, muscle, and bone, but could do nothing to move it.

Water washed down the thick, rough, crimson scales of his body, causing them to shimmer in the moonlight. The dim light revealed the body of a colossal crocodile, covered in millions of those red scales. The reptile had a giant snout that was as long as his body. Lining the top of his snout was a thick, metal hide that extended along the length of his snout and stopping just behind his head. The metal was thick in depth and dull in lustre.

The crocodile Digimon lifted his head from the water slightly, revealing his fearsome mouth. Within his maw were rows of a thousands of jagged teeth connected to two powerful crushing jaws. He looked around with his sharp, narrow eyes, which contained golden irises and narrow, reptilian pupils. He gently pushed against the water with his four comparatively short legs. Attached to these muscular legs were blue fins, and a set of five, sharp claws on each foot. Running down the length of his back were two sky blue dorsal fins. They were jagged and uneven in appearance, and they extended all the way from his head to his ends of his long, twin tails.

The aquatic reptile released a sharp grunt which caused rainbow-coloured steam to escape from his nostrils. Leviamon stared up at the Crest of Envy in the sky. With suspicious eyes, he set his sights of the arm that freed him.

“What the hell is going on?” he demanded.

-

Meanwhile, back at the World Tree, the team there continued to work to create the barrier before too much damage was done.

It was night out and an air of uncertainty loomed over the area. The mighty boughs of the World Tree obfuscated the moons from view, but strands of dim light still managed to seep through gaps between the branches.

In the shadow of the World Tree, Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode gripped the Omega Blade tightly. The digi-letters on the face of the blade glowed brightly as he continued to pour his energy into the sword in order to configure the barrier. He was about a quarter of the way done now. Given what he knew was happening right now, he fully intended to work straight through the night.

Beside him, AncientGreymon’s body flickered with embers as he poured his own energy into stopping the flow of the ley lines. In addition to configuring new barriers, he and Imperialdramon also had to disentangle the Dark Area from the ley lines so that one could no longer have a negative effect on the other.

Both their bodies were showing signs of strain. Beads of sweat rolled down their scales, and, every so often, they would betray signs of weariness when their muscles would reflexively quiver. The amount of energy that it took to do what they were doing was enormous.

Alphamon, Omegamon, AncientGarurumon, and AncientWisemon watched from the sidelines. The former three watched quietly, trying to remain patient as their comrades worked. AncientWisemon, however, grew bored and began talking animatedly with Valdurmon about the science of the World Tree.

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode grunted and leaned against his sword a bit, his eyes shut tightly. He glanced over at AncientGreymon. “How are you faring?” he asked the Warrior of Flame.

“Hah!” AncientGreymon released a confident, nonchalant laugh. “This is nothing! I’m doing fine!” he insisted despite the sweat rolling down his body. “You?”

“I’ll be fine…” Imperialdramon assured him. “But…” He looked over to his other side, giving a meaningful look to AncientSphinxmon.

AncientSphinxmon frowned lightly. His body was wreathed in shadows as he studied the Dark Area and Imperialdramon’s progress. “…A second prisoner has been released. The infiltrator is now going in for a third…”

“I sense it too,” Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode said with a mild wince.

“Right. Brilliant. That’s all we need,” AncientGreymon grunted sarcastically. “So, no pressure, then.”

“No more than usual, anyways,” Imperialdramon joked.

Omegamon turned and gave Alphamon a bland look. “I sometimes wish he would be more serious…”

“We both know that might be asking a bit much,” Alphamon replied with a bit of humour of his own.

Imperialdramon looked over at them. “Shouldn’t you two go and help the rest of the Royal Knights? The Order needs you more than we do,” he suggested.

Alphamon shook his head. “They can handle it for now… I need to see how this turns out,” he responded. “I need to know what we’re dealing with.”

“Besides, Alphamon can help you if need be,” Omegamon spoke. “And I’m not going anywhere…”

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode sighed resignedly but nodded with a smile. “If you’re sure…” he answered, turning his attention back to the task at hand.

Alphamon turned and looked at AncientSphinxmon with a frown. “Do you know who escaped?” he asked him.

“Not as of yet, but I will attempt to find out,” the Warrior of Darkness responded.

“Please do…” Alphamon said, stifling a concerned sigh. As much as he didn’t want to think about more powerful Digimon escaping the Dark Area like DarkKnightmon did, it was becoming a reality whether he liked it or not.

He just hoped they would be able to stop it.

-

Several more hours passed and it was now the middle of the night.

Bagramon accessed a dark rift in an entirely new landscape now. This time, the destination was the Volcanic Meadows: a plain of black, igneous rock. Molten lava flowed along the crevices and ravines of the rock as it flowed from a constantly flowing lava fountain. The burning orange-red liquid cast a fiery glow across the dark landscape.

Within this landscape was a large fissure that expelled dark data while also taking in drops of lava that flowed down into the chasm. Bagramon’s arm was reaching deep into the chasm in his goal to extract the third of seven Demon Lords.

Like the two before, there was a third crest emblazoned in the night sky. This one was orange in colour and contained a seal with a long L-shape with vertical prongs on each end. Above it was a sigil that seemed to be a combination of both the numbers 2 and 4.

This crest displayed the following warnings: ‘CAUTION! PURGATORY LEVEL 3’ ‘LEVEL: 666’ ‘SYSTEM: SATAN’ ‘CODE: WRATH’.

The Crest of Wrath burned brightly as the third prisoner was released after minutes of struggle and effort.

Bagramon released the bipedal demon Digimon, allowing him to drop to the ground. The demon Digimon dropped onto the black, rocky terrain, landing beside a bubbling lava flow. The orange liquid illuminated his demonic, beast-like body with hellish highlights. His legs and arms were covered in a dense, maroon fur. His well-developed pectoral muscles were bare except for a tuft of orange fur between them. His hands and legs were also exposed, revealing his greyish-purple skin and long, red claws. The lava shone against the left half of the demon’s body. His left arm was asymmetrical to his right one; it was longer and the claws were bigger and sharper. He also had a pentacle engraved in his left shoulder to symbolize his demonic nature.

The Digimon rolled his head to crack the bones in his neck. The demon was intimidating on appearance alone. He had a fearsome, monstrous face and a pair of long, white horns. He has a pair of glossy violet-blue eyes that contrasted with the glow of the lava. There was a similarly-coloured gem embedded in his forehead, just below a thick mess of black hair that covered his head. The ebony of his hair matched the black feathers protruding from his shoulders, as well as the black wings that extended from his back. The leathery wings had a violet underside, as well as red claws at their uppermost tips.

Demon took a step forwards, causing the chains that decorated his arms and waist to rattle. He gazed up at the Digimon who freed him.

“Bagramon… That’s you, isn’t it?” he asked in a deep, demonic husk.

“Indeed it is, Demon,” Bagramon responded.

“What is this about?” Demon demanded, his eyes narrowed.

“Nothing that you won’t appreciate,” Bagramon responded hurriedly. “I will tell you more, but I am pressed for time at the moment. Please keep yourself hidden while I free the rest of your comrades.”

Demon grunted. “…Fine,” he answered, raising a hand and snapping his claws.

Clothing suddenly appeared over his demonic body, concealing it almost completely. He wore a long, deep red, robe that covered from his shoulders to his feet. Only his horns and wings were exposed. The red cloth, which seemed to be a kind of liturgical garment, also concealed all of his head except for his blue eyes, which gazed out through a slit in the fabric. The cloth, occultist hood had a soft conical shape between his horns, and yellow pentagram was displayed on the fabric over his forehead. The extremities of the robe were lined with a black stripe and a gold chain pattern. Hanging from his neck was a long, triangular vestment that was black with gold lining. Down the face of the vestment was a green occult symbol that matched the design of his robe’s lining before it ended in a pentagram. Resting above this piece of fabric was a rosary chain with a circular, gold pendant.

Now disguised in semi-religious garb, Demon folded his - now symmetrical – arms and nodded. “Just don’t take too long. Please,” he spoke, his deep voice much more refined now that his demonic side was hidden.

“I will try not to. Enjoy your freedom,” Bagramon told him, closing the dimensional rift in the sky.

Demon gazed across the hellish landscape with a calm, restrained gaze. The glow of the lava seemed to blaze behind his placid, indigo eyes.

“…I shall…”

-

As the hours passed, the night began to turn into dawn. Before the sun could rise, the night turned dark as dawn set in. Cathode Tundra, which was directly adjacent to Anode Desert in the north of the continent, had a black atmosphere except for the occasional patch of unmelted snow.

Despite the darkness, a fourth crest appeared in the sky. This crest shone a deep blue colour that could be seen stricken across the night sky, despite the darkness of twilight. The seal consisted of three, interconnected brackets that faced vertically. The symbol above it was a circle with an arrow pointing out of the upper right edge. The inner edge of the crest warned, ‘CAUTION! PURGATORY LEVEL 4’. The crest also detailed the demon that was about to be released: ‘LEVEL: 666’ ‘SYSTEM: BELPHEGOR’ ‘CODE: SLOTH’.

Wasting no time, Bagramon released the fourth of the Seven Great Demon Lords. This one, however, was a struggle to release. This wasn’t just because of the growing complexity of navigating the Dark Area as Imperialdramon created new barriers. Much of the struggle was due to the fact that pulling this Demon Lord was like pulling dead weight.

With a mighty heave, Bagramon pulled the giant Digimon out of the seeping dark rift. A massive, fuzzy creature emerged out of the chasm and hovered idly in front of the rift.

The creature was round and chubby in appearance. His body was covered with brown fur, and he had the vague appearance of a goat-like demon; there were two curved horns protruding from the back of his head. The demon’s head was bigger than his actual body, giving him a cute appearance. There were two rows of five, short, bony protrusions jutting out of his skull. Between them, on his forehead, were two tufts of red fur, and in the center of them were three red scars that looked like scratch marks. On his face was a deceptively cute, cat-like smile.

His body was small (compared to his head) and pudgy, with short, stubby legs. Wrapped around his body were thick chains that seemed to give off an eerie, grey aura. The chains connected to a white alarm clock that had two hands slowly ticking around the face of the clock. The demon has two stubby, bat-like wings that protruded from his back.

The demon Digimon breathed lightly and his eyes were closed. He seemed to be in a deep slumber.

Bagramon watched through his ruby eye as Belphemon just hovered in place. “Belphemon?” he questioned. There was no reply. “Belphemon, can you hear me?”

Belphemon just continued to snooze, making no indication that he even knew he was out of the Dark Area. The only noise that he made aside from soft breaths was the unnerving sound of ticking.

“Hmm… He appears to be in Sleep Mode,” Bagramon observed. “The Royal Knights and Angels must have sealed his powers before putting him in the Dark Area.”

Bagramon thought to himself for a moment, taking these few minutes to catch his breath after the immense effort. “But… maybe this is for the best, at this stage in time,” he mused, remembering what Belphemon was like when he was angry.

The fallen angel Digimon observed Belphemon: Sleep Mode for a few moments. It didn’t seem like the slumbering Digimon would be going anywhere any time soon. Moreover, the Cathode Tundra had a very sparse population of Digimon. He figured that it would be safe to leave Belphemon unattended while he freed the rest of the Demon Lords.

Bagramon knew that he had to strike while the iron was hot. Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode was working as fast as he could to repair the barrier. He needed to free the others before he was sealed off from the Dark Area for good.

He retracted his arm back through the dimensional portal and sealed it shut. Bagramon then started to work on opening a new portal to the location of the next dark rift.

-

Six hours passed and it became late morning. The sun shone between the intermittent clouds, casting a yellow light down across the landscape. A warm glow reflected off of the dewy, emerald glades, which stretched for miles. The shadows of the clouds drifted across the idyllic, grassy landscape.

On closer inspection, the beautiful environment wasn’t all that it seemed. The picturesque view of the verdant grasslands and the warm, sunny, celestial sky was tainted by a massive crater.

A monumental crater was embedded in the expansive field. It was over a hundred meters deep, and the crater was as large as a city.

More specifically, the crater was a city. A destroyed one.

At the bottom of the crater were vast ruins of white and gold. Old, polished stone and glistening marble was scattered across the nadir of the expansive hole. There were half-destroyed buildings littering the ground. Fractured and compressed roads and sidewalks were embedded in the bottom of the crater.

The architecture was obviously once beautiful. They were made up of white, Corinthian columns, and polished, golden stone and metal that seemed to glow. There were verdant gardens that seemed to grow despite the fact that nobody was tending to them. Due to abnormalities in the city’s data, clouds drifted across the ground of the broken streets. However, these clouds were the city’s only inhabitants. The whole of the ruined city was abandoned.

This ruined city was the remains of Sky Colony: Empyrea. This was the Sky Colony of the Heavenly Choir that the Seven Great Demon Lords ravaged and tried to drop on the Digital World during the Night of Falling Stars. The Royal Knights and the Warrior Ten were forced to break the remains of the Sky Colony up in order to prevent a cataclysm as it fell to the Digital World. This was the largest piece of the Sky Colony that fell to the Digital World, and when it did, it caused widespread damage across the landscape. Due to the sheer size of this piece of Empyrea, its data structure remained intact despite the crash. This caused its tarnished ruins to remain at the bottom of the crater.

Since that day, the Heavenly Choir didn’t dare touch the remains of their city. This was both out of respect and mourning for those who died, but also due to the fact that they believed that the Sky Colony had been poisoned by the influence of the Demon Lords. This caused them to dub the remains as the Unhallowed Debris.

These once sacred buildings were further corrupted by the large, purple crest in the sky above them. It contained a long, complicated seal that was shaped like a pronged podium. Above it was a sigil that was shaped like a curved letter ‘h’. The crest indicated the following: ‘CAUTION! PURGATORY LEVEL 5’ ‘LEVEL: 666’ ‘SYSTEM: MAMMON’ ‘CODE: GREED’.

At the edge of the crater was a large, dark rift. It was one of the seven largest rifts that Bagramon needed to access the Dark Area.

With each purgatorial level that passed, it took longer for him to navigate the Dark Area. The internal barriers were being reconfigured faster than he thought, creating more and more obstacles for him to navigate as reached into the dark abyss. He wasn’t positive that he could reach his objective, but he wasn’t about to give up.

Bagramon heaved his arm out of the pressurised dark rift. He released the fifth Demon Lord from his grasp and allowed him to fall to the grass beside the edge of the deep crater.

The demon Digimon landed on his hands and knees. He had a gaunt, slender, humanoid body with pasty grey skin. Hanging from his head were long, grey hair and beard, both of which reached down to his knees. His face was garish. He has a wide, toothy mouth, and he wore a gold mask over his face, which had a long, pointed nose. He looked around with his spurious, crimson eyes.

He rose to his feet and brushed himself off with a sneer. Covering his slender body were green leggings and pointed, red boots. He wore a long, black poncho over his upper body, which was intricately designed. The fabric had a red triangle pattern as well as purple lining. Over top the poncho were a series of expensive, red gems and gold prongs that made up a large, ornamental collar that rested on his shoulders. In fact, he wore jewellery over most of his body. He had gold earrings on his pointed ears and a multitude of precious rings and bracelets around his clawed, bony fingers and wrists.

As Barbamon stood upright, he stretched the six demonic, red wings on his back, and summoned a long staff in his hand. The staff was as tall as he was and contained a large, red gem resting inside of a metal, ornamental skull which acted as the stave’s globe.

“Hmph,” Barbamon scoffed, pressing the end of his staff against the dirt. He turned and looked up towards the arm of the Digimon who saved him. “It took you long enough, Bagramon. Do you know how long we were rotting away in there?” he said in a sharp, hoarse voice.

“This plan was many years in the making, Barbamon,” Bagramon responded. “By sheer coincidence, one of the dark rifts that I needed to free you ended up here.”

Barbamon turned his head and gazed into the crater at the ruined Sky Colony of Empyrea. He stared into it thoughtfully. “Empyrea… My handiwork,” he mused at the memory. “That rebellion seems like it was cycles ago…” He cocked his head to the side and looked at the city with cold interest. “Shame. I bet it’s been picked clean of its treasures by now. Filthy scavengers.”

The Demon Lord of Greed turned his attention away from the destroyed Sky Colony and gazed up at Bagramon. “So, Bagramon… What are you planning…?”

“Justice, Barbamon,” Bagramon stated plainly. “Please remain clandestine for now. I still have two more of your comrades to free, and it will likely take me deep into the night.”

Barbamon released a resigned sigh. “Oh, very well…” he reluctantly stated, an irritated edge to his gravelly voice. “Perhaps I will look around the city for any valuables that looters may have missed. Now that I am free from the Dark Area, my castle and all of my belongings are stuck in there. I have to start from scratch now, you see… It is rather irritating.”

“As you wish…” Bagramon responded.

The demon man retracted his large, artificial hand once again so that he could continue his work. He was unaware that other Digimon had begun to take notice of what was happening.

-

An angel Digimon stood at the edge of a balcony, overlooking the pure blue sky and the beautiful rolling clouds below. The balcony was a railing of white stone and columns, and it was rose up from the ground on a raised platform. A ramp led from the back of the balcony down to vast, beautiful gardens. The expansive gardens were full of vibrant, colourful flowers, plants, and trees. At the opposite ends of the gardens was a large, domed building. The sizeable building was made of white stone, and its architecture was in an ostentatious Renaissance design, complete with columns, porticos, and arcades. In the dome of the building was a giant oculus from which light could shine in.

The Digimon in question was a humanoid angel. He was clad in head-to-toe with shimmering, silver plate armour. The warm sunlight reflected off the silver as well as the pristine blue metal that covered his shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles, and head. His face was covered completely by a metal helmet with a golden cross emblazoned across it. There wasn’t even a slit for his eyes. In fact, the only part of his body that was uncovered was his shoulder length blond hair that hung from the back of his head and slipped underneath the thick, metal collar of his body armour. Across his resplendent armour was golden trimming and ornamentation, with decorations such as wings and the fleur-de-lis.

A pair of small, silver wings protruded from his head and ankles. However, these were tiny compared to the five pairs of radiant yellow wings that protruded from his back. Matching their colour was a long, golden breechcloth that flowed between the angel Digimon’s legs, with Digi-letters that read “All shall be one with me.”

Seraphimon was one of the Three Great Angels, the leaders of the Heavenly Choir and the Religion of Light.

He stood at one of the highest points in Sky Colony: Lambent.

The Sky Colonies were massive cities built atop the clouds of the Digital World. The giant cloud’s data was held together by energy strong enough to support the cities, which drifted in the sky as if they were as light as air. Sky Colony: Lambent was the largest of the colonies, of which there were two smaller ones that tailed behind Lambent wherever it floated.

Sky Colony: Lambent consisted of a sizeable city on top of a massive, circular platform that spanned the length of the giant cloud. The platforms were filled with white, sky blue, and gold colours. The ground consisted of pristine, glossy marble and stone. The edges were cordoned off by gold railings to prevent any accidents. The city of Lambent was known as the Golden City. True to its name, it was as if the whole of Lambent was bathed in holy luminescence. Beautiful architecture filled the Sky Colony. The city was filled with columns both big and small, golden pavilions, and statuettes of angels, holy aspects, and abstract, angelic art. Tranquil founts ran throughout the city, sparkling in the light as they gently flowed.

The Golden City consisted of three different levels: a higher level, a middle level, and a lower level. The city was organised like a dais, with the highest level (known as the First Sphere) being the smallest and concentrated near the center, the middle level (the Second Sphere), which was more expansive and hovered below the First Sphere, and the lowest level (the Third Sphere), which was by far the largest, and was the place where the majority of the Golden City was. Each level was supported by the lower level using beautiful, sturdy columns and concentrated cloud data. The First Sphere was the religious and political center of the city, where the Three Great Angels resided. The Second Sphere was the administrative and military center of Lambent. Finally, the Third Sphere consisted of residential areas, markets, libraries, and rolling parks, which surrounded the city. Swirling right above the First Sphere was a beautiful vortex of puffy, white, silver, and dark grey clouds. Coming from within the majestic, ethereal tunnel of layered clouds was warm, glowing light that shone down on the Sky Colony. This light cast shadows across the clouds and caused them to have their eerie hue that ranged from a bright white to a dark grey that bordered on black.

The design of the Sky Colony was emblematic of the Heavenly Choir’s society. The Heavenly Choir was theocracy with a hierarchical structure. The angel and fairy Digimon were highly disciplined, and they knew their place and purpose in society. The society was extremely community-oriented with only some room for individual freedom. The highest order could not survive without the lower two orders, the lowest order could not survive without the higher two orders, and the middle order required both orders above and below it. The angel Digimon supported each other and all had a strong sense of discipline.

Seraphimon was one of the Three Great Angels, alongside his partners Ophanimon and Cherubimon. They made up the triumvirate that ruled over the Heavenly Choir. They are the ones who are said to be closest to God, and therefore, they set both political and religious policy for the Heavenly Choir. They each governed different aspects of God. Seraphimon was the executor of God’s law and justice. Ophanimon governed over love and mercy. Cherubimon governed over wisdom, and served as the guardian of God.

They were the Council of the Three Angels, and they would meet in the Supernal Sanctum for discussion on important political and religious matters. The Supernal Sanctum was the council hall that was located on the First Sphere of Sky Colony: Lambent. It was a large, circular building made of white and gold stone. It was constantly guarded by angel warriors on both the ground and in the sky. The building was made with magnificent designs in its architecture, crafted by some of the finest sculptors. The edges were etched with stone angels wings and swords, and it was surrounded by glimmering spires and columns.

The First Sphere contained some of the most precious landmarks of the Sky Colonies. The vast Celestial Gardens, which stretched for over a kilometers, was a massive biome of beautiful flowers and flora. It contained all sorts of different kinds of plants and flowers, and it was a large, open space that allowed for contemplation. There was the Library of Wisdom, one of the largest libraries in the Digital World. It contained millions of scrolls, scripture, chronicles, historical accounts, records, annals, and books, all preserving the vast, collective knowledge of the Heavenly Choir and the Digital World. Circling around the grounds First Sphere were the Spires of Hope – massive, sky-reaching columns made of pure, glistening, white stone that seemed to be surrounded by a faint aureole. At the edge of the First Sphere were the Astral Pools. These were tranquil pools that were as still as the calmest of water. Their shimmering waters seemed to reflect the purest of holy light and the distant stars. Angel Digimon could come here for reflection, prayer, and introspection, as the waters seemed to allow for a deep interaction with one’s thoughts and emotions. Another of the famous landmarks was the Eternal Chapel, the largest cathedral in the whole of the Digital World. It was made of pale, grey stone, and was complete with ornate spires, a massive dome, an oculus that allowed light to flow in, and beautiful ornamentation that etched the edges of the building. One of the other notable parts of the First Sphere was the Forum of Judgment, a large colosseum where criminals, heretics, lawbreakers and demons were brought for divine punishment.

Below them, on the Second Sphere, are the Dominions, the Virtues, and the Powers. The Dominions are the administration and bureaucracy that run the Heavenly Choir and make sure that everything runs smoothly. They regulate the duties of the angels of the Third Sphere, as well as set policy about expanding society. The main building of administration was known as the Hall of Dominion. The Dominions are run by Archangel Dominimon, one of the three Celestial Commanders.

The Virtues are the religious wing of the Second Sphere, and they also act as bodyguards of the First Sphere. They serve to protect the Being of Goodness while also teaching others in the betterment of morals. They operated out of the Hallowed Sanctorum, the Virtues’ headquarters where they carried out orders and divine edicts. The Virtues are commanded by Archangel ClavisAngemon, the second of the Celestial Commanders.

Finally, the Powers are the military arm of the Heavenly Choir. Their purpose is to eliminate threats to the Heavenly Choir, both outside and inside. The Powers are run by the final Celestial Commander, Archangel SlashAngemon. The Powers had three different headquarters, perhaps revealing the military nature of the Heavenly Choir. They contained the Court of Truth, where legal matters and inquisitions took place, the Hall of Justice, where punishment and reprieve was issued, and the Hall of Valiance, the military headquarters of the Powers. Right beside the Hall of Valiance, was the military base where angel Digimon would train. Despite the military nature of the Powers, measured reason, spiritual reflection, and honouring the fallen were still very much an important part of their culture. Although the internal affairs part of the Heavenly Choir was under the Powers’ jurisdiction, all three Celestial Commanders collaborated where matters of justice are concerned.

Within society, there are several other high-ranking specialized angel Digimon, who govern things like the arts, worship, law, death, medicine, and other such aspects.

Seraphimon stared out into the beautiful, heavenly sky. A soft wind blew against his winged body as the city drifted in the sky. However, despite the picturesque scenery, a sense of foreboding nipped at his mind. In the archangel Digimon’s heart, something was deeply troubling him, but he wasn’t sure what it was. It was a sense of dread that ate at the corners of his senses, causing him great unease.

“Perhaps I should consult Ophanimon and Cherubimon. Maybe they sense it as well…” he thought to himself.

As he straightened his humanoid body and prepared to turn and walk back into the Celestial Gardens, a bright pink blur caught his eye.

A tiny fairy Digimon about the size of Seraphimon’s head flew before him and then stopped in the air. The pink sphere with eyes bowed, flapping his wings to keep himself in place. He kept his spear lowered as he looked up at Seraphimon. “Your Holiness!” the Piccolomon spoke urgently. “I bring urgent news!”

Seraphimon looked at the messenger, his sense of concern growing. “Yes, Piccolomon? What is it?” he asked him.

“One of our patrols has spotted something terrible above the Unhallowed Ruins!” the Piccolomon explained nervously. “Lord Seraphimon… They say they spotted the Crest of Greed!”

“What?!” Seraphimon uttered incredulously. He clenched his fists as his unease morphed into fear and concern. “The Crest of Greed… It cannot be…”

The Piccolomon messenger winced and bowed his head apologetically. “I am sorry that I have to give you this news, Your Holiness.”

“Has Barbamon escaped the Dark Area?” Seraphimon asked him, his tone deeply serious.

“The patrols are investigating, but Celestial Commander SlashAngemon fears it to be so,” the Piccolomon explained.

“And the other six?” Seraphimon questioned.

“We cannot confirm that at this time…” the small, pink Digimon answered remorsefully.

Seraphimon sighed and nodded understandingly. “It pains me to say it, Piccolomon… but Barbamon was on the fifth level of the Dark Area. If he has been freed, then it is highly likely that the others have been released as well,” he answered, attempting to remain calm despite his inner worries.

“What are your orders, Lord Seraphimon?” Piccolomon asked the seraph Digimon.

“Please go and tell Ophanimon and Cherubimon. They need to know about this,” he requested. “Then, go to SlashAngemon and tell him to put all of the patrols on high alert.”

“Yes, Sir,” the Piccolomon obeyed. He bowed before shooting off across the gardens.

Seraphimon watched as the pixie Digimon raced to tell his two comrades about what had happened. When he was gone, Seraphimon looked forwards and placed his hands on the stone railing of the balcony, gripping it tightly.

“It’s as I feared… I was worried that this day would come one day. Have the Seven really escaped from their inescapable prison?” Seraphimon wondered. With his mind’s eye, he stared into the distance, towards the sky above the Unhallowed Ruins. He could see the faint glow of the Crest of Greed in the sky. Seraphimon’s broad shoulders stiffened as he beheld the seal.

Seraphimon turned away bitterly. He walked down the ramp of the balcony to the gardens. He thought to himself as he walked towards the Palace of the First Sphere, where the Three Great Angels resided. A dark cloud hung over Seraphimon as he walked through the gardens, his mind and soul heavy from the terrible news.

“Right above the ruins of Empyrea… Is this a sign?” the seraph brooded. “Is our past coming back to haunt us…?”

-

(Continued in the next post)

 

[Griff4815]

(Continued from the previous post)

-

A long afternoon passed and the sun began to set in the distance. The race continued between Bagramon and Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode.

Bagramon could feel his time running out, and his body was wracked with exhaustion. Sweat ran down the left side of his body and his eye had a dark, tired look to it. He was beginning to grow as tired as Imperialdramon and AncientGreymon. They started to put up more resistance, and they were gaining traction as more of the Dark Area’s barriers were reconfigured. This caused Bagramon to have to work more slowly. It took him another six hours to get to the point he was currently at.

Despite his struggle, the sixth Demon Lord was nearly free. A large, golden-yellow circle shone in the sky, matching the hue of the sun. Within it was a rectangle with an indent, from which four prongs pointed inwards. The symbol above it was a circle with a cross pointing out of the bottom side. The seal’s text read ‘CAUTION! PURGATORY LEVEL 6’, ‘LEVEL: 666’, ‘SYMBOL: BEELZEBUB’, and ‘CODE: GLUTTONY’

The demon man sneered with effort as he pulled yet another demon lord from the depths of the Dark Area. He released the Digimon from his Astral Snatcher arm, the giant, bony appendage tracing shadows and dark data as it emerged from the ground. The arm trembled with exhaustion, but it continued to pull back towards the dimensional storm that Bagramon was reaching through.

As it did, the Demon Lord dropped to the ground, landing gracefully on his feet. Upon landing, his black, spiked combat boots dug into the sand below.

The demon Digimon was humanoid in appearance. Strikingly, his lean body was clad in leather from head-to-toe. He wore tight leather pants and a leather bodysuit over his toned, athletic chest. On top of that was an unzipped leather jacket with a furry frill. Over his wrists and hands was a metal padding for protection. His body was further accessorized with metal knee and shoulder pads, a couple belts around his waist, a red bandana tied around his left bicep, and four cords that extended curiously from his back.

The humanoid demon squinted his three eyes in response to the intense sunlight. He had two eyes in their standard position on his pale, grey-skinned face, as well as a third one that was flipped sideways and positioned on his forehead. Protecting the top half of his face was a violet mask with a spiked frill, which extended over the front of his head. Short, messy, blond hair covered the unconcealed back of his head.

A toothy sneer emerged on Beelzebumon’s face, and he flicked his demonic tail irritably. He looked around the vicinity suspiciously. He held one of his Berenjena shotguns in his clawed hand, while the other one rested in the large, metal, ankle holster strapped around his left leg.

Beelzebumon was in the Claw Desert, located near the southern edge of the continent. For the most part, it was the Mesozoic Kingdom’s domain. He stood in the golden sands of the desert. There were rolling dunes for as far as the eye can see. The desert was the biggest in the entire Digital World.

Directly in front of the demon was an expansive plain of cracked, white, minerals. It was a plain of salt flats. The white minerals glowed brightly against the sunlight, causing Beelzebumon’s sensitive trio of eyes to squint in stinging tenderness. He released a swear of pain and rose his hand to block the sunlight. In the distance, the salt flats dipped down, and a large, shallow pool of water shimmered brilliantly. The water was clear and calm enough that the setting sun was reflected perfectly in the brackish liquid.

The Demon Lord of Gluttony then turned his attention towards the sky. “Who the hell are you?” he demanded.

“Bagramon,” the demon man said, his tone indicating that he was in a rush.

“Ah, the Angel of Death…” Beelzebumon noted. He smirked and cocked his head with amusement. “****. I thought the angels would’ve killed you.”

“They nearly did,” Bagramon replied matter-of-factly. “Now, I’m in a bit of a hurry. I need you to listen to me.”

“Oh, you do, do ya?” Beelzebumon responded, his voice adversarial. “Look, buddy. I’m real pleased that you busted me outta the Dark Area an’ all, but don’t get the wrong idea. Just because you did that, I ain’t gonna do whatever the hell you want.”

“I know, Beelzebumon. I did not expect you to,” Bagramon responded diplomatically. “However, I have already broken five of your comrades out of the Dark Area, and I still have one to go. We are currently at a disadvantage. All of you are separated and the Royal Knights and Warrior Ten are going to be on their guard. We need to stay hidden and gather. Unless you want to end up right back in the Dark Area, I request that you to listen to my advice.”

“Psh, they weren’t so tough. I gave ‘em as good as I got during the rebellion,” Beelzebumon responded with a dismissive shrug.

“We lost. And there are twelve Royal Knights now,” Bagramon pointed out. “They are much stronger than they were when we fought them last.”

Beelzebumon glared up at the swirling, black dimensional storm. “Tch… Then that just means that I need to get stronger too…”

“Very well, but will you please head to the hideout that I have prepared?” Bagramon beseeched. “Go to the Abyssal Caves and please try to not draw attention to yourself.”

“Hold up. Not without my bike,” Beelzebumon protested. He raised a hand and snapped his clawed fingers. “Behemoth!”

The revving of an engine howled from the gaping dark rift that Beelzebumon had emerged from. The sounds of wheels screeching and a motor running grew closer.

Suddenly, a motorcycle burst out of the dark rift, shooting straight up into the air. The heavy vehicle fell to the ground and sent sand shooting up around it. The motorcycle was big and black, with a red seat and windshield. The massive wheels rolled swiftly as the bike drove on its own, circling from the sand and onto the salt flats.

“That’s more like it. I finally get to ride this baby in the Digital World!” Beelzebumon said with an excited laugh. He jumped through the air and landed on the motorcycle.

Beelzebumon then gripped the handles and changed gears with his foot. With a dark, adrenalized smirk, he accelerated the bike and began tearing across the salt flats. “Let’s go, Behemoth!” he yelled, grinning as he rode north.

The demon lord drove across the shallow water on the far side of the salt plains, causing the pristine reflection of the sky to warp and ripple.

Bagramon watched as the Demon Lord of Gluttony drove off. He absconded from the area and went to free the last of the seven demons. He just hoped he could do it in time.

-

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode snarled with anger and exertion as he clutched the Omega Blade. He was lurched forward, over the hilt of the giant broadsword. He leaned on the blade in order to keep himself standing. His muscular, blue tail was poised as a counterbalance, and his muscles were flexed with bulging veins as he put all of his energy into rewriting the Dark Area’s barrier. His blue scales were shimmering wetly and his blond hair was matted with sweat. He panted and heaved with effort as he worked on sealing the barrier as thoroughly as possible, while also trying to build the barriers swiftly.

AncientGreymon was in similar shape. His claws were several inches into the cracked ground, and his body trembled with passion and effort as he kept holding back the flow of the Dragon’s Veins so that Imperialdramon could work. His armour and hair clung to his black scales due to the sweat coating his body. His thick muscles quivered with effort as the immense power and energy that he poured into the act. His sharp teeth were clenched and a low snarl rolled in his throat.

AncientSphinxmon’s job was less intensive, but it was clear that he was totally fixated on scanning the Dark Area. He both checked Imperialdramon’s progress, and also that of the intruder. His crimson eyes stared intently into the abyss of shadows around him.

Meanwhile, AncientWisemon was fast asleep, with a large snot bubble expanding and shrinking from his hidden face. AncientGarurumon sat cross-legged nearby, silently watching as the three worked.

Alphamon and Omegamon stood beside one another, staring intently and apprehensively.

Omegamon watched his friend with concern. “Imperialdramon…” he spoke softly.

Alphamon frowned and took a step forwards, seeing the toll it was taking on Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode. “Imperialdramon, let me take over. It’s been over two days. You’re exhausted.”

“No,” Imperialdramon said succinctly and stubbornly. “Can one artist finish another’s masterpiece for him…? You wouldn’t know where to pick up where I left off. I have to finish what I started…”

Alphamon was reluctant, but he nodded and took a step backwards.

“Imperialdramon…” AncientSphinxmon spoke. “You felt that a minute ago, didn’t you?”

“Yeah…” Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode replied with a grimace.

“Felt – rgh… - what?” AncientGreymon grunted in question.

“A sixth one has been released,” AncientSphinxmon calmly informed them.

AncientGarurumon’s red eyes narrowed with frustration at the news.

Alphamon winced faintly but looked at AncientSphinxmon with calm eyes. “Six…” he mused with a heavy undertone to his words. “…AncientSphinxmon, do you have a clear idea of who the escapees are now?”

“Yes,” AncientSphinxmon responded. “I can say with one hundred percent certainty that the Seven Great Demon Lords are the targets.”

“The Seven Great Demon Lords…” Alphamon spoke weightily, clenching his fists.

“The intruder has gone through each of the prison levels. Only one Digimon was extracted from each level. The Demon Lords have been extracted, but none of the other Digimon on those levels have,” AncientSphinxmon explained.

“That seems like a logical assumption,” Alphamon replied.

“This is bad…” Omegamon spoke forebodingly.

“We’re in the final stretch. Just a few hours to go,” Imperialdramon said with a strained grunt. “I’ll try to have the barriers configured before the final one is released… No promises, though… I want to be thorough, not quick…”

“Do what you need to do, Imperialdramon,” Alphamon assured him.

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode nodded and gripped the glowing Omega Blade tightly. “Just hope I can…” he muttered under a strained, shaky breath.

-

After a few hours, the sun set in the sky completely. Dual crescent moons rose into the starry, night sky. Behind the clouds, the stars twinkled and the moons beamed faint rays of light down onto the grassy landscape.

It was midnight at the city of Shroud. The constant data storm that raged overhead blocked out the night sky. Blackish violet clouds swirled and wafted restlessly.

In the sky outside of the city, within the thick clouds, an eerie green glow illuminated the veil of vapour. The seventh and final seal was emblazoned in the clouds. It consisted of a rectangle with four prongs sticking out of the top. At the end of each of the prongs, as well as at the bottom right edge of the polygon, were five circles. Above the seal was a crescent moon and a small star. On the inner edges of the two circles was the similar yet different text that accompanies all of the seals. ‘CAUTION! PURGATORY LEVEL 7’, ‘LEVEL: 666’, ‘SYSTEM: ASMODEUS’, ‘CODE: LUST’. The Crest of Lust was the final seal, indicating that Bagramon was nearly finished.

Inside of the data storm was a dimensional storm that caused the sky to become even more chaotic. Lightning snapped through the sky and the clouds churned tumultuously. Reaching down from the chaotic sky was Bagramon’s long, thick arm.

For the past seven hours, Bagramon had been infiltrating the Dark Area. It was now extremely difficult for him; the pressure against his arm was immense, and he could feel the walls closing in around him. Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode was nearly complete the reconfiguration of the barrier. The paladin was about 95% done. If Bagramon didn’t finish soon, his arm would be chopped off by the closing barriers.

Fortunately for him, he had made contact with the final Demon Lord and was in the process of pulling her out. As he did, he could feel the internal firewalls closing the holes around him. He barely retrieved the Demon Lord before the barrier of the seventh prison level snapped shut imperviously. Bagramon was retracting the Astral Snatcher as swiftly as he possibly could. Any finesse he had was now gone; the past couple days were taking their toll on his body. It took all of his concentration and willpower just to remain standing.

After several minutes, Bagramon pulled past the external barrier of the first prison level. He pulled the Demon Lord up through the outer level of the Dark Area. Then, with a sharp and mighty heave, he retracted his arm from the Dark Area completely. Right as he did, the dark rift snapped shut. The earth around the chasm filled it in and sealed up the crevice as if it had never been there.

Bagramon released the seventh Demon Lord to the grass and pulled his right arm back inside the dimensional rift that he had created.

A Digimon in the form of a beautiful humanoid woman landed gracefully on the grass. She had smooth, fair skin, over which she wore a black body suit that covered from her ample breasts all the way down to her ankles. The suit in question had gold lining and had golden ornamentation on her knees and chest. Loosely covering her sleeves and waist was a long, purple fabric that loosely draped from her slender body.

Four black, bat-like wings protruded from her back. Also extending from her form were long, black, opposable sashes that connected to the broach on her chest. They were bladed and deadly, as were the several long, gold, arrow-headed wires that jutted from her form. The demoness had a humanoid face with purple eye shadow, long eyelashes, and a bat tattoo on her forehead. She also had pointed ears, icy, aloof eyes, and short, raven hair. Two gold horns protruded from her hair, which also contained jeweled hairpins and a gold, coronet hair comb.

Over her right hand was a slender, gold gauntlet, which had ornate etchings along the gold metal. The gauntlet’s fingers narrowed into sharp, deadly claws. In contrast, her left hand was exposed, containing only a gold bracelet that covered her wrist and the back of her hand, and long, polished, violet fingernails.

Lilithmon looked at her surroundings and brushed her hand through her hair. “My my. This certainly isn’t the Dark Area…” she mused with a calm smile. She turned her gaze upwards towards the dimensional storm that Bagramon’s arm had retreated into. “And to who do I owe the pleasure…?”

“It is I… Bagramon…” the demon Digimon responded between tired breaths.

“Oh, Bagramon… I absolutely must find some way to repay you…” Lilithmon seductively suggested. A sultry grin formed on her violet, lipstick-covered lips. “I’m sure that I can think of something…”

“No repayment is necessary,” Bagramon answered. “Please, stay undercover for a day or two. Try to make your way to the Abyssal Caves to the northwest.

“Oh, alright…” she responded in a blasé tone of voice. “I take it that you have freed the others as well?”

“All of them…” Bagramon responded, sounding out of breath. “I will meet you in a few days.”

“Very well. I look forward to it, Bagramon. You always were a dashing fellow,” the Demon Lord of Lust replied, beginning to saunter over to the road leading into Shroud.

“I fear I may not have the looks that I once had,” Bagramon dryly answered. “Farewell, Lilithmon.”

With those words, the dimensional storm that Bagramon created suddenly shut and vanished.

Back in his hut, Bagramon panted and fell to his hands and knees inside of his hut. Sweat rolled off of his body and soaked his clothing. His hair was dishevelled and his eyes were tired. He clasped his left hand over his hollow eye and winced with pain as he finally ceased using his Invisible Snake Eyes.

“B-Bagramon!” Wizardmon spoke, walking over to the fallen angel Digimon with some concern.

“I’m fine, Wizardmon,” Bagramon spoke, although breathing heavily. “It’s done…”

“You should relax now…” Wizardmon advised him. “The pressure on your body must have been immense.”

“I will. Soon. There are still a few things that must be done,” Bagramon responded. He looked over his shoulder at Wizardmon. “Black Pincer Company?”

“They are staying in an inn in New Terminal,” Wizardmon explained.

“Have them come here tomorrow morning,” Bagramon said to him.

“Yes, Bagramon,” Wizardmon responded. “The dark rifts?”

“Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode is nearly finished sealing the barriers. This is fine. I didn’t want any of the others escaping,” Bagramon informed him. “I hope you did enough field work on the fissures while you had the chance.”

“I have. To my satisfaction,” Wizardmon answered. “Although I wouldn’t mind hearing first-hand accounts of the Dark Area.”

“I will see what I can do. For now, you should retire to your room in the inn,” the demon lord Digimon suggested.

Wizardmon nodded and bowed politely. “Thank you, Bagramon,” he responded. He turned around and began to walk towards the door, but he stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “Do you need any help?”

“No. Thank you,” Bagramon responded, still catching his breath while on his hands and knees. “Those past two days have just taken a lot out of me…”

“That’s understandable… Well, goodbye. I will see you tomorrow morning,” Wizardmon responded. He walked out of the hut and closed the door behind him.

Once Wizardmon was gone, Bagramon released a strained sigh. All he wanted to do now was rest. His mind and body were exhausted from the ordeal. Despite his tired state, Bagramon smiled.

“It was close… but I managed to do it,” he murmured. “All is going according to plan…”

-

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode released a strained snarl between his gritted teeth. He emptied his energy into one final push to close and secure the barriers. He was 99% finished. He just needed to close that final one percent.

“Damn it…!” he growled as he felt the intruder releasing the final Demon Lord. “I almost… damn it!”

Alphamon and Omegamon watched with concern. “Are you alright, Imperialdramon?” Omegamon asked him, stepping forwards.

“F-Fine… Just… a little more…!” the dragon man said with a determined snarl. “AncientGreymon…! On my count…!”

“R-Right… Let’s do it!” AncientGreymon shouted.

“Five!”

AncientGreymon snarled and his body erupted in a swath of flames.

“Four!”

Imperialdramon hissed with effort as the last of the gaps in the internal and external barriers sealed up.

“Three!”

The Omega Blade shone brightly. Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode channelled deep into his energy reserves to put the finishing touches on the sealed Dark Area.

“Two! AncientSphinxmon!”

AncientSphinxmon nodded. He helped Imperialdramon run the finishing analyses on the Dark Area. The Warrior of Darkness finished scanning and he looked at the white paladin. “Secure.”

Imperialdramon grunted. “One!”

“Let’s go!” AncientGreymon shouted.

“Initialize!”

The Omega Blade suddenly flashed with a bright light that lit up the darkness. The cracks in the ground shone with light energy as the Dark Area’s barriers were formatted. Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode gripped the Omega Blade tightly and then pulled it from the ground.

“Now!”

As Imperialdramon shouted, AncientGreymon’s fiery body hunched down and his blue eyes flashed orange. He released the pressure of the ley lines and allowed the subterranean data to finally flow freely. As the Dragon’s Veins were restored to activity, there was a rush of energy. The cracks in the ground suddenly sealed up and returned the grassy plain to its natural state.

“Bwah!” AncientWisemon shouted, jumping to his feet with a start. “What is this cacophony? I was sleep—OOH! You are concluding already?! Why in the name of the Spirits did you decline to awake me from my slumber?! How did the disentanglement progress?!”

AncientSphinxmon scanned the Dark Area. “Success,” he spoke.

AncientGreymon’s fires died down and he panted with exhaustion. “On my end too…” he spoke, his deep, accented voice haggard.

“Job… well done…” Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode said tiredly, giving a weak thumbs up. He then dropped the Omega Blade and collapsed from exhaustion.

AncientGreymon’s legs buckled as well, and both of their bodies glowed with light. The two Digimon fell to the ground. Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode reverted all the way back to his Paildramon form. Meanwhile, AncientGreymon reverted back down to his Vritramon form. Both dragon men hit the ground, barely conscious.

“Imperialdramon!” Omegamon exclaimed, rushing over with Alphamon by his side.

AncientGarurumon sneered and muttered something about stubborn dragons under his breath. He then jogged over as well.

Omegamon kneeled down and removed his gauntlets so that he could help his friend. The exhausted Paildramon looked up at him with a weak grin. “Finally done…” he murmured, closing his crimson eyes. “Sorry. I couldn’t stop the seven…”

“It’s fine, Imperialdramon,” Alphamon ensured him, putting a hand on Paildramon’s shoulder. “You’ve done more than your share. It’s our turn now.”

Omegamon nodded. “We can worry about them later. For now, you need to focus on resting,” he advised. Although it was a suggestion, Paildramon knew that he didn’t have a choice.

Paildramon quickly fell into unconsciousness.

Meanwhile, AncientGarurumon was checking on the Warrior of Flame. He kneeled beside Vritramon, who was stubbornly struggling and failing to hold onto consciousness.

“One problem is solved,” AncientSphinxmon spoke.

“But now we have a new problem,” Alphamon responded. “The Seven Great Demon Lords…”

“Digimon of their power… they are extremely dangerous…” Omegamon said, his blue eyes narrowing. “Enough to rival us…”

Alphamon nodded grimly. “I sense that things will be extremely different from here on out…” he predicted. “With Digimon like the Seven Great Demon Lords on the loose, the entire Digital World is at stake.”

“We have to stop them,” Omegamon added with determination in his voice and gaze.

“Agreed,” AncientGarurumon muttered from nearby.

Alphamon nodded firmly. He turned and gazed up towards the World Tree. “I feel that the era of petty politics, states, and factions is over… I think that we are facing a turning point in the Digital World. We very well may be up against another existential threat,” he mused profoundly.

Alphamon’s soft, gold eyes hardened and began to burn red. “This is one of those times where we need to put politics and bureaucracy aside. All of that becomes trivial at times like this. I fear that we will soon be fighting for the safety of the entire Digital World…”

 

[Griff4815]

Chapter 27: Confession​

It was a new month. A few days had passed since the battle for Saversburg and the subsequent release of the Seven Great Demon Lords.

The respective armies had all returned home. The D-Brigade had completely removed themselves from the Mamemon Kingdom and the Dual Chess Monarchy in order to return to Facture. The Saversburg army had returned to their city, the Republic’s military divisions had returned to New Terminal, and the Warrior Ten had returned to their headquarters at Elemental Peak.

It was a rainy day over Splendor’s Reach. The Order’s military forces had returned to Castle Albion. They were exhausted and weathered, but they were a determined bunch. Battles like that, although rare, were what they trained for. A memorial service had been held the day previous for those deleted in the battle. The Royal Knights also gave the soldiers double pay and time off as a reward for their hard work.

It was the early morning, a few hours past sunrise. Dukemon lay in his large, soft bed, underneath a thick, crimson duvet with gold lining. Normally, he was up before the sun rose over the horizon, but there wasn’t much of a sunrise to watch that morning. Instead, he stayed in bed for awhile, staring up at the stone ceiling and listening to the rain pattering against the windows of his bedroom.

Dukemon lay in bed, but he wasn’t relaxing; he was deep in thought. He had begun thinking about the battle, and then about the dark rifts. Alphamon, Omegamon, and Imperialdramon had only just returned yesterday, but the day had been so busy and they were so exhausted that the meeting had been postponed until today. Uncertain as to what was going to happen, Dukemon started to think about what they would do now that Chaosdramon had been defeated. If Imperialdramon sealed the dark rifts without any problem, they would be able to relax.

This got Dukemon thinking about his promise to Grani. He had promised that after the Metal Empire problem had been dealt with, he would tell the Royal Knights about the time that his Digital Hazard activated. It wasn’t a pleasant memory for him, even just thinking about it while alone. While he treasured meeting Grani, the circumstances around the meeting were something that Dukemon preferred to pretend never happened.

The thought of telling the other Royal Knights about the incident caused him worry. He had misgivings about even talking about the Digital Hazard in front of them. How could he tell them about the time that he almost caused a Digital World-wide calamity? He was supposed to be a guardian of the Digital World. It was hard for him to talk about the time that he almost destroyed it.

He had doubts about how they would react. He knew that he had already told Examon, who had reacted as if it wasn’t a big deal. However, Examon was one of the least judgmental Digimon that he knew. How would less understanding Digimon such as Duftmon react? How would his understanding friends even react? And there was also the possibility that Examon was hiding his true feelings because he didn’t want to offend Dukemon. Would his other friends hide their true feelings as well? What did they really think about him when his back was turned? He knew they sometimes talked…

These thoughts niggled at Dukemon’s mind as he lay in bed. He idly rubbed the smooth scales of his chest, his fingers running across the small, black Digital Hazard emblem on the center of his ribs.

“Should I really tell them…?”

The more he thought about it, the worse he felt. He was just going to end up convincing himself to not go through with it again, at this rate.

Dukemon sighed and steeled his determination. He sat up in bed and pulled down the blankets. Underneath, he only wore a pair of black boxer briefs, so his thick muscles and the red scales of his draconic body could be seen as he pulled the blankets down. He slid out of bed and stood to his feet so that he could prepare for the day.

As Dukemon began to head over to his cabinet, he noticed a familiar form touch down on the balcony that extended from his room. He saw Grani perched on the balcony railing, looking into the room. Dukemon turned and walked towards the glass door leading out to the balcony. He opened the wide door and looked at the large Zero ARMS, who had rainwater dripping off of his metal body.

“Grani?” Dukemon asked curiously. “What are you doing?”

“Getting out of the rain, if you don’t mind,” Grani responded, floating forwards. He then stopped and looked up and down Dukemon’s almost-naked body. “…I haven’t caught you at a private moment, have I? It wouldn’t be the first time…”

Dukemon smiled a little and moved out of the way. “No. Come in already. Just don’t soak my floor,” he stated, walking to grab a towel from his wardrobe.

“I can only transcend the limits of gravity so much, I’m afraid,” Grani dryly answered as water dripped off of his beak and wing tips.

“Here,” he playfully said, tossing a towel onto Grani’s head.

Grani used his stubby arms to pull the towel off of his head. He levelled a deadpan look at Dukemon. “Why, thank you…”

“My pleasure,” Dukemon answered, turning around and looking through his drawers to decide what clothes he was going to wear that morning.

Grani dried what he could of his body before looking at Dukemon. “How are you feeling this morning?” he asked him inquisitively.

“I’m alright. Missed the sunrise today,” Dukemon said with a dismissive shrug.

The Zero ARMS gazed at Dukemon with studious blue eyes. “…You seem troubled,” he noted. “Your shoulders are tense, your back is rigid, and your gluteal muscles are clenched.”

Dukemon slowly looked over his shoulder with his own deadpan stare. He then glanced back at the buttocks in question. “…Do you really have to look at my *** when trying to decipher my mood?” he asked him playfully.

“Body language is telling,” Grani matter-of-factly answered.

“Well, my butt never lies,” Dukemon admitted with a grin.

Grani rolled his eyes. “Don’t change the subject, Dukemon,” he pressed. “…Are you concerned about our deal?”

“Which one?” Dukemon innocently responded as he bent down to pull out some skinny, black pants from his wooden dresser.

“You know which one…” Grani said with a sigh. “You promised to tell the Royal Knights about the Digital Hazard event.”

“’Event’… You make it sound like a festival,” Dukemon murmured. He turned around and slung his pants over his shoulder. “I haven’t forgotten, Grani,” he said with exasperation. “And I’m not going to back out of our promise, either. I’m just not looking forward to it.”

“I understand that you have cold feet, but you are overreacting,” Grani explained to him. “Examon didn’t mind at all. The others will be the same way.”

“Do you think so?” Dukemon asked, not as confident as Grani was about the idea.

“It’s unlike you to be so negative, Dukemon. Where is that easygoing confidence of yours?” the crimson dragon asked him.

“How can I be positive about being a walking time bomb?” Dukemon thought to himself. He sighed took a white shirt from his dresser. “It’s still there, Grani. I’ll tell them. I promise.”

“When, precisely?” Grani asked him.

Dukemon looked steadily at Grani. “I’ll tell them after the meeting this afternoon,” he informed him, deciding that he’d rather get it over with. After a moment, he glanced away, hiding his uncertainty. “…You’re coming, right?”

Grani smiled as much as his beak would allow. “Of course I am,” he reassured him.

“Thanks, Grani…” he whispered. The Royal Knight then began heading for the door of his room. “I’m going to have a shower and get dressed. I’ll see you downstairs for breakfast?”

“Most likely,” Grani responded.

Dukemon nodded and walked out of his room. He strode down the hallway towards the large bathroom at the end of the hallway in order to prepare for the day.

Grani watched as he left and thought quietly to himself. “I know that you worry about the Digital Hazard, Dukemon, but hopefully this will make you see that it isn’t a big deal to your friends. Perhaps it will help you to put things into perspective…”

-

The Argent Mountains overlooked the sprawling city of New Terminal, standing sentinel over the Republic of Node’s capital. Clouds floated around Yggdrasil’s Mount, concealing the peak of the tallest mountain and the top of the World Tree’s root that extended out from the rock and reached towards the sky . Mist clouded the base of the mountain as waterfalls cascaded from the rocky cliffs and pooled into the Fountain River.

On a rocky plateau, high up on the craggy peaks of Yggdrasil’s Mount, was a hut surrounded by grass and flowers. Bagramon’s hut rested on the side of the peak overlooking New Terminal. It was a remote, hermetic location that took a bit of travelling through unbeaten terrain to access.

This made it difficult for Digimon like Bolgmon, who had to carefully navigate the rocks and crags of the mountain. Bolgmon followed behind Blitzmon as they made their way up a rural mountain pass, removed from the beaten pilgrimage trails awhile back. Leading them up the path was Wizardmon, who carefully roved along the path. The path was wide enough, but he felt uneasy about heights, so he stayed near the trees opposite to the cliff edge.

“We’re almost there,” Wizardmon stated, looking over his shoulder as he used his staff as a walking stick.

“The guy who’s been hiring us seriously lives up here?” Bolgmon asked, grunting as he rolled over a melon-sized stone. The rock burst into fragments under his great weight, crushed underneath his treads.

“That’s right. He prefers to live away from other Digimon,” Wizardmon responded, walking forwards. They were nearly at the end of the inclined path, which started to level off and widen into a spacious plateau that rested against the mountainside. To their right was a beautiful, scenic view of the vast city of New Terminal.

Bolgmon perked up upon seeing the plateau at the end of the climb. “Finally! Some level terrain. My treads are killin’ me,” he complained.

“Please try not to crush any of the flowers,” Wizardmon beseeched, not turning around to look at them.

Blitzmon looked at Bolgmon. “I think that was directed at you,” he informed him with a slight grin.

Bolgmon rolled his green eyes and drove up to the plateau. Upon reaching the even ground, he looked across the plateau. He was surprised to see only a small hut in the centre. “…This is it?” he asked, looking at Wizardmon.

“This is where he lives,” Wizardmon confirmed as he walked down the footpath towards the hut.

“Is this some kind of joke?” Bolgmon asked incredulously. “That’s the place? Does he actually live there?”

Wizardmon looked over his shoulder and nodded.

“It’s a good place to live if you want to stay obscure,” Blitzmon supposed, following after their mage guide.

“I was expecting something… y’know, fancier,” Bolgmon muttered, rolling down the path after them.

Wizardmon walked up to the hut and knocked on the door. “It’s me,” he said aloud.

“Enter,” a deep voice spoke.

The magician opened the door and walked inside, leaving it open for Blitzmon and Bolgmon to follow.

The two insect mercenaries glanced at each other before making their way inside the modest hut. Blitzmon walked in first and looked around. Given the exotic ingredients, books, and materia medica, it definitely looked like a seer’s hut or some sort of apothecary. The aromatic, sometimes pungent, smell of herbs and alchemy hit the two mercenaries like a brick wall as they entered the small hovel.

Bolgmon followed him in and eyed the interior with incredulity and suspicion. He noticed a Bagramon sitting at a table, writing down notes in a notebook. He spied Bagramon’s half-devastated and artificial body with amusement. He leaned over to Blitzmon and whispered. “****, he’s uglier than Grandis.”

“Shut up,” Blitzmon whispered back harshly, not wanting to offend their client.

Bagramon noticed the two bug Digimon enter, prompting him to stand up. “Hello. You must be Blitzmon and Bolgmon,” he stated politely.

Wizardmon looked at Bagramon and then turned towards Black Pincer Company. “Black Pincer Company? This is Bagramon. He is the one who has been hiring our services all this time,” he explained.

Blitzmon silently sized up Bagramon for a few, pensive moments. He noted that he had been smote in some way, considering the state of half of his body and the demonic features on his form. Despite this, Blitzmon calmly stepped forwards and offered his right hand across the table unflinchingly.

Bagramon smiled with amusement and looked down at Blitzmon’s extended hand. “You’re a brave one,” he noted. “Most Digimon offer their left hand to me.”

He reached his large, skeletal arm forwards and took Blitzmon’s smaller hand within his large palm, shaking it gently.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Blitzmon responded, returning the shake firmly.

“Yeah, same…” Bolgmon stated, looking around the hut curiously.

Bagramon retracted his hand and placed it on top of the table. He looked between the two mercenaries with a wry smile. “I can’t help but notice that your third member is missing…” he noted.

“Yeah… We got separated when the Royal Knights found us out in Saversburg. We don’t know what happened to him,” Bolgmon informed him, although it didn’t sound as though he cared all that much. “They probably deleted him.”

“It is unfortunate…” Blitzmon responded, although he actually sounded faintly remorseful. “However, it will not affect our ability as a mercenary team. Bolgmon and I are more than capable with just the two of us.”

“I see…” Bagramon answered. He brought his hand to his chin and stroked his raven beard. “Actually… you may be relieved to hear that GrandisKuwagamon isn’t dead. He has been captured by the Royal Knights and has been taken to their dungeon.”

Bolgmon frowned at this news. The demon man sounded pretty sure of himself. “What?” he questioned. “So, he’s locked up?”

Blitzmon eyed Bagramon. “How do you know this?” he asked him, leering suspiciously. “…In fact, you have known a lot about what has been going on. You knew exactly where those blueprints you wanted stolen were. You knew about that exiled MetallifeKuwagamon guy who you wanted us to blast. You knew when our hideout was taken by the Royal Knights. You also knew that the Metal Empire was invading Saversburg. You must have really good intel… Are you hiring Digimon other than us?”

“Yes and no,” Bagramon answered enigmatically. “I get all of my information through this.” He turned his head and angled the maimed right side of his face towards them. He allowed the ruby within his hollow eye to flash emphatically. “Using Invisible Snake-Eyes, I am able to see anything within the Digital World.”

Bolgmon cocked his head to the side and eyed Bagramon. “So, you can see anything at all? You’re… ominous?” he asked.

“Omniscient,” Blitzmon corrected.

“Yeah, that. You could’ve made our lives a lot easier if you can see everything, y’know,” the tank Digimon stated standoffishly. “Like, you could’ve warned us when the Royal Knights were gonna attack us those times.”

Bagramon shook his head. “It’s true that I can see anything. However, there is a difference between being able to see anything and being able to see everything,” he explained emphatically. “I can only focus on one place in the Digital World at a time, and, even then, I would need to know where to look first. I cannot pinpoint a single Digimon in the Digital World, only locations that I am aware of. For example, I could only find GrandisKuwagamon because I looked at the Royal Knights’ dungeon. My power is limited in that way.”

“I see…” Blitzmon responded, thinking to himself.

“I have you at a disadvantage. For safety reasons, I have had to remain anonymous until this point, so I know more about you than you do about me,” Bagramon stated. “I’m sure you both must have many questions for me. That’s why I invited you here.”

Bolgmon waved his cannon arm. “I’ve got a question,” he spoke up. “What’s with this flimsy shack? I expected you to be in a stinking rich mansion with the amount of cash you were shelling out to us… Are you even rich?”

“I use the money that I have for either subsistence or my plan,” Bagramon responded. “I have a decent amount of reserves remaining, should I need it.”

“And you make all that selling… herbs and potions?” Bolgmon sceptically questioned, gesturing to one of the shelves.

“I am primarily a seer… Some Digimon come to me to predict their future.” Bagramon responded. He smiled a little. “Rather, I tell what already is, and offer advice on how to best make Digimon achieve their goals. I am quite good at it…” He tapped his finger near his right eye. “There are some wealthy Digimon who will pay a lot of money for the use of my Invisible Snake-Eyes. Clairvoyance is an extremely useful ability to have. I will use it if a Digimon asks, for a price.”

“You sound like a savvy businessmon,” Blitzmon stated.

“As are you, Blitzmon,” Bagramon responded intentionally. “I hope that we can renew our business arrangement.”

Blitzmon closed his eyes, thinking for a moment. “That depends…” he answered. “I’d like to know more about you and what your aims are before I commit to anything.” Blitzmon looked at Bagramon carefully. “We are definitely interested since, as you know, we need the money… but I’d like to know what we’re getting into.”

“That’s perfectly reasonable,” Bagramon responded. “Can I offer you something to drink first? Tea?”

“Have any beer?” Bolgmon asked him.

“I don’t drink, I’m afraid,” Bagramon responded. “Old habit from the Heavenly Choir. It clouds the mind.”

“I think that’s the idea,” Bolgmon muttered, suddenly finding the demon very stuck up.

“We’re fine,” Blitzmon assured him. “Please, go on. You were from the Heavenly Choir?”

“I was. Until the Heavenly War,” Bagramon answered honestly, but sparing the details. “Do either of you remember that?”

“Yes… We started our mercenary company only a few years before that. We were doing some nothing-job during the night that the demons tried to drop the Sky Colony on the Digital World,” Blitzmon recollected. “I still remember seeing it coming down in the distance.”

“Well, I was on the side of those demons… We were fighting against the Three Great Angels and their dogmatic belief in God,” Bagramon explained. As he spoke, his eye looked downwards and he became absorbed in reminiscence. His expression showed traces of darkness. “It was a necessary gambit, I suppose.”

“Whatever gets the job done,” Blitzmon agreed. The cobalt beetle man eyed Bagramon inquisitively. “…So, you were on the losing end of all that, huh?”

“I was… Half of my body was destroyed as punishment for rebelling against God and killing the faithful. I suppose that this was their version of mercy, as I was once a high-ranking angel,” Bagramon ironically explained, gesturing to the artificial right half of his body. “The Seven Great Demon Lords, however, were defeated and banished to the Dark Area for eternity.”

“Damn. That can’t have been fun,” Bolgmon lightheartedly mused.

Blitzmon folded his arms. “So… What do you want from us? Why did you hire us to do all those things? Attacking both the Royal Knights and the Metal Empire like that…” he questioned.

“I needed a war,” Bagramon answered matter-of-factly.

“A war? Why?” Blitzmon asked with scrutinizing green eyes.

“You see… A year ago, when DarkKnightmon escaped from the Dark Area, the barrier between our world and the Dark Area was weakened. Gaps in the barrier were cropping up all over the place. However… the rifts were small - too small for the data size of whole Digimon to be able to pass through. At most, only small amounts of dark data could escape at a time…” Bagramon informed the two mercenaries.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Bolgmon asked, his voice laced with boredom and disinterest.

“Quiet, Bolgmon,” Blitzmon scolded, elbowing his large cannon arm. “I’m sure he’s getting there.”

“Indeed… I needed to make the rifts larger. The only way that I could do that was by amplifying the flow of dark data from the Dark Area to the Digital World. This would exacerbate and ultimately degrade the barrier,” Bagramon explained to them. “Due to the strength of the Dark Area’s barrier, the danger and volatility with dealing with both dark data and the Dark Area, and the precarious nature of my own position, this was not an easy task.”

“That’s where we came in,” Bolgmon guessed, idly scratching his orange body suit with one of his smaller, auxiliary arms. “Though I still don’t get how…”

“A war helped you how?” Blitzmon asked. “And why did it have to be between the Metal Empire and the Royal Knights. I know you were playing them off each other.”

“I needed a war with the Metal Empire, specifically,” Bagramon enlightened him. “However, the D-Brigade is one of the finest armies around. I needed a large enough threat for the D-Brigade. That’s where the Royal Knights came in…” Bagramon raised his left hand and brushed his long, white hair back over his winged back. He looked steadily at the two mercenaries. “I needed the Royal Knights to ensure that Chaosdramon would set foot on the battlefield. Only they would be strong enough and provocative enough to draw him out personally. And, I admit, I have some history with the Royal Knights…”

“Okay, that explains what you needed us for,” Bolgmon said nonchalantly. “But why’d you need the big, red, piece of scrap metal?”

“Chaosdramon has the ability to tap into the Dark Area and draw out dark energy from within it,” Bagramon answered calmly. He turned and looked over at Wizardmon, giving him a soft nod. When Wizardmon walked into the tiny kitchen area of the hut, Bagramon turned back to the two mercenaries. “I needed him to use his attacks, which harnessed the dark data of the Dark Area. He successfully weakened the barrier of the Dark Area through his mindless onslaught. He just needed a little push…”

Bolgmon had an amused glint in his bright, green eyes. “I like it…”

“To what end?” Blitzmon asked the white-garbed demon lord.

“To release the Seven Great Demon Lords who were imprisoned in the Dark Area,” Bagramon answered. “All seven of them are now free.”

Blitzmon blinked with surprise. “You wanted to free the Seven Great Demon Lords?” he asked him, frowning suspiciously.

Bagramon nodded with a disarming smile. “Yes… They were my comrades once. They are also as powerful as the Royal Knights…” he explained. “I will need them for what is to come.”

“And what is that?” Blitzmon prodded. “What’s next?”

“…I have many plans, Blitzmon,” Bagramon answered soberly. His deep voice lingered with his words as he spoke. “I have been planning since that night… Since I crawled through the mud, pulling my mutilated, half-dead body across the Digital World… No, since before that, even…”

Bagramon closed his eye with thought. After a few, pensive moments, he opened it and looked at the two insect Digimon. “There is so much injustice in the Digital World… It is an imperfect place,” Bagramon mused. “All I want is to bring a bit of justice back into this world of ours. The status quo… The way God allows things to continue… it is unacceptable.”

As Bagramon spoke, he gently clenched the fist of his left hand. “I will be the one who repairs these imperfections, both in the Heavenly Choir and in the Digital World as a whole…”

Bolgmon and Blitzmon exchanged looks of uncertainty. “That sounds pretty ambitious,” Bolgmon noted, making his scepticism clear. He folded his smaller pair of arms across his chest and squinted at Bagramon. “You aren’t nuts, are ya?”

At this, Bagramon let out a deep, amused laugh. “…No… I am not insane. And, yes, it is ambitious,” he responded. “However, I have already released the Seven Great Demon Lords. With their power, anything is possible.”

“Will they follow you?” Blitzmon wondered. “I always thought it was that Lucemon guy who led the revolt.”

“He was. However, like back then, we have mutual goals and commonalities,” Bagramon explained. “It will be in our interests to work together. Lucemon is smart enough to know this. The rest will follow us.”

“Okay… Well, thanks for bringing us in the picture,” Blitzmon answered, placing his hands on his hips. “Better late than never.”

Bagramon nodded. “Now, I have a question for the two of you,” he put forward. The demon lord Digimon eyed the pair carefully. “Will you two continue to work for me?”

Blitzmon turned his horned head and glanced at Bolgmon. After gauging his friend’s expression, he looked back at Bagramon. “Is the pay still the same?” he asked him

“I’m afraid I can’t be as generous with the pay as I was before, but, rest assured, you will be able to make back what you have lost in a reasonable amount of time,” Bagramon assured them. “Also… if you choose to help me, you will be recompensed greatly in the future.”

Blitzmon frowned with scepticism and uncertainty. “We have a policy not to accept prospective money – I.O.U’s. It’s bad business. It usually results in us having to break the guy’s fingers or claws when he doesn’t want to pay up,” the blue insect explained matter-of-factly.

Bagramon chuckled. “Don’t worry. I fully intend to pay you for every job that you do,” he explained. “Think of it as an investment… Once we are in power, you will be rewarded handsomely. Money, resources for Black Pincer Company, even estates – your own little kingdom perhaps…” Bagramon suggested with a twinkle in his eye.

Blitzmon’s eyes seemed to light up with an emerald gleam at the prospect. “I see…” he mused, never one to show his hand. “And do you think it’s possible? There’s the Royal Knights to consider.”

“The Royal Knights are an obstacle that we would have to face eventually,” Bagramon admitted. “I would be lying if I said that it would be easy, but I am confident that we can neutralize them. However, that is some distance in the future. Right now, I am focusing on consolidating our strength.” The demon lord gazed at Blitzmon and Bolgmon intently. “So… Blitzmon, Bolgmon… Will you stake your bet on me? Will you help me in my quest to tear down the scourge of God and his blind followers? Will you help me bring justice to the Digital World?”

The humanoid beetle man thought about his words for a few moments. “…If I can be blunt, we don’t care about your ideals, Bagramon. ‘God’… ‘Yggdrasil’… ‘justice’… they’re just empty words to us,” he responded dismissively. “All that matters to me is money. We’ll help you, as long as you repay us.”

“And as long as we get to fry some suckers,” Bolgmon added with a sharp chuckle.

“I am good to my word,” Bagramon assured them. He extended his left hand towards Blitzmon. “Do we have a deal then?”

Blitzmon glanced at Bolgmon. “You good with this?” he asked the large tank Digimon.

“I’m good,” Bolgmon agreed, looking back at him with smirking eyes. “Sounds like it could be fun.”

“And a good opportunity,” Blitzmon pondered. He looked at Bagramon’s outstretched hand and took it. “You have a deal, but what exactly do you need us for?”

“There will be covert, low-key operations that I will need you for. Things that the Demon Lords simply cannot do,” the fallen angel Digimon explained as he shook Blitzmon’s hand. “I’m glad to have you two on board.”

“Pleasure doing business with you,” the bug Digimon answered. Blitzmon then paused. “Where are the Seven Demon Lords now?”

“They are travelling to a meeting place. I am heading there myself in a couple of days,” Bagramon responded.

After a moment, Wizardmon walked out of the kitchen. He carried a tray with three cups of fragrant tea. “The tea is ready.”

“Thank you,” Bagramon said to him. He took one of the cups from the tray and gently blew on the steaming hot liquid. He then raised the cup up as Blitzmon and Bolgmon took theirs. “To a continuing partnership,” he stated.

Blitzmon raised his cup as well. “To a continuing partnership...” he agreed. Blitzmon’s green eyes narrowed. “Whatever you need us to do, we’ll do it...”

-

(Continued in the next post)

 

[Griff4815]

(Continued from the previous post)

-

The early afternoon had set in over the Free Area. In Castle Albion, the Royal Knights had gathered to discuss the recent events and what to do about them.

The twelve Royal Knights and four captains were gathered in the council room, around the circular table of white stone. A tense silence hung over the austere room, punctuated only by the pattering of raindrops on the stained glass windows.

The news of what had happened lingered heavily, putting anxiety into the hearts of the Royal Knights. Alphamon, Omegamon, and Imperialdramon had informed the other Royal Knights about what they discovered while at the World Tree. So soon after one crisis had been solved, another, much greater one had emerged in its place.

Quiet continued to dominate the meeting until the silence became unbearable. Dukemon was the first one to speak up, unable to keep his feelings silent any longer. “The Seven Great Demon Lords are really free?” he asked in a voice brimming with frustration.

“How could this have happened?” Duftmon questioned, frowning deeply in response to the news.

“I’m sorry, guys,” Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode apologised, wincing from his place next to Alphamon and Omegamon’s seats. “I tried to reconfigure the barrier as quickly as I could, but it wasn’t fast enough… Somebody freed all seven of them.”

“It’s not your fault, Imperialdramon,” Omegamon assured him, looking up at the azure dragon man.

“We’re just thankful that you fixed the Dark Area’s barrier before all of the prisoners could escape,” Examon added.

“That may be,” Duftmon spoke up. “But this brings up some interesting questions. First of all, who was the one who freed the Demon Lords?”

“Probably some loyal underling,” Magnamon suggested. “A survivor from the Heavenly War, maybe? Maybe they were able to communicate with them somehow.”

“But how did they know to free them at that very moment?” Duftmon pondered, squinting as he tried to construe a response to his own question.

Alphamon frowned with thought, reflecting on Duftmon’s query. “Duftmon makes a good point. This all happened way too neatly…” he deliberated, pensively stroking his chin. “No more than a few hours after Chaosdramon was defeated did somebody infiltrate the Dark Area to free Lucemon. There is no way that they could have known that the barrier was so weak at that moment.”

“Could there have been a leak?” RhodoKnightmon suggested. “Perhaps somebody from the group of intellectuals that we gathered in Saversburg?”

“That is highly unlikely,” Duftmon answered confidently. “All of them were well aware of the dangers that the dark rifts posed. None of them would have any reason to do such a thing.”

Dynasmon frowned. “Somebody found out, somehow,” he stated firmly. He looked across the table at Craniamon. “We didn’t miss a Phantomon in the Iron Forest, did we?”

“Can’t have. I’m sure we got all of them,” Craniamon answered, confidently leaning back in his seat and folding his arms.

“I don’t think that’s the problem,” Alphamon said, his gold eyes contemplative as he looked down at the smooth, polished surface of the table. “There is something that has been bothering me for awhile…”

Dukemon looked over at the black armoured knight. “What’s that, Alphamon?”

“The Digimon who has been hiring Black Pincer Company…” the dark Royal Knight clarified. “They have been playing us off against the Metal Empire all this time. I could never figure out what they had to gain. But now… Could this have been their goal all along?”

“What…?” Gankoomon asked, gritting his pearly teeth together.

Alphamon’s gaze softened remorsefully. “I can’t help but feel like we’ve played right into their hand…” he mused.

“How could we have known that this would happen?” UlforceVeedramon defended, frowning as he clenched his fists on the table’s surface. “The Metal Empire was a threat.”

Duftmon narrowed his eyes, his piercing greens showing his discontent at the situation. “You could very well be right, Alphamon. This mystery Digimon predicted our response. He played us for fools…”

Magnamon sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “There is no sense blaming ourselves for something that we couldn’t have known,” he stated to try to add a bit of perspective. “We may have made a mistake, but we need to focus on the present, don’t we?”

Alphamon nodded. “Yes. You’re absolutely right, Magnamon. There is no sense dwelling on the past and what might have been if we did something different,” he agreed.

“You’re right about that…” Omegamon stated, looking at Alphamon meaningfully.

“So, what do we do now?” UlforceVeedramon asked aloud, putting forward the question that everybody was considering.

“If Alphamon’s theory is true, then I think we need to find out the identity of the Digimon hiring Black Pincer Company,” Examon put forward, sitting with his large wings tilted back so that they didn’t get in anybody’s way.

Karatenmon stepped forwards, his talons resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword. “I’m on it,” he assured the Royal Knights. “Maybe I can see if our guest knows anything.”

“You mean GrandisKuwagamon?” Gankoomon asked, turning his head towards the humanoid crow demon.

Karatenmon nodded his black, beaked head. “I’ll see what he knows. Even if he doesn’t know the identity of his client, there may be other information that could be useful to us.”

“You’ll be gentle, right?” Sleipmon asked him with a bit of concern.

“Don’t worry. I may be a ninja, but I remember the knight’s code. I won’t lay a finger on the bug,” Karatenmon assured them with a relaxed grin. “Besides, I’m pretty good at reading Digimon.”

“May I come with you?” Alphamon inquired the raven ninja. “I would like to ask him a few questions as well.”

“By all means,” Karatenmon agreed.

Dukemon leaned forwards on the table, tapping his finger. He was agitated and on edge, not just because of the news about the Demon Lords, but also because of his confession. He began to wonder if it was appropriate, after this dire news, but he wouldn’t let himself be a coward. He reluctantly tried to hold true to his plan once the meeting was done.

“There’s still the Seven Demons to deal with,” Dukemon pointed out. “What do we do about them?”

Alphamon nodded and looked at Dukemon. “Obviously we have to act. The Seven Great Demon Lords must be dealt with,” he stated firmly.

Sleipmon turned his gaze to Alphamon. There was a touch of uncertainty in his violet eyes. “Sorry if I seem ignorant, but I wasn’t a Royal Knight when you fought the Seven Great Demon Lords. Do they need to be dealt with? Is there any chance that they will just live a peaceful life now that they have escaped? I just need to be sure…”

“That’s extremely unlikely, I’m afraid,” Alphamon responded to Sleipmon. “Their hearts became evil when they rebelled. They committed horrific crimes… That was why we sided with the Three Great Angels ultimately. It’s true that the angels were, at times, heavy-handed, but as the fighting went on, the sides became more clearly marked between good and evil. The demons were willing to cross lines that the angels weren’t. The Seven Great Demon Lords didn’t go down easily when we fought them during the Night of Falling Stars.”

Dukemon nodded, a sharp, golden glare forming in his eyes as he remembered the fight. “These are the guys who massacred most of a Sky Colony and tried to drop it on the Digital World, remember…” he stated bitterly.

“I suppose you have a point,” Sleipmon said with a sigh.

UlforceVeedramon folded his arms across his broad chest. “They most likely want revenge after being holed up in the Dark Area for all those years,” he guessed. “They have unfinished business with the Heavenly Choir.”

“Not just the Heavenly Choir,” Omegamon spoke up with a serious frown. “Perhaps us as well. Or maybe something else entirely. Who knows what plans they have?”

Alphamon nodded. “The Seven Great Demon Lords pose a significant threat to the Digital World and Net Security as a whole. As the Royal Knights, it is our duty to Yggdrasil and our fellow Digimon to stop them,” he stated resolutely, his gold eyes flashing red as his emotions and resolve were stirred. “I suggest that we work to stop them before they can cause any further damage. They were destructive enough before they were sealed away; we cannot give them the opportunity to wreak havoc again.” Alphamon looked around at the other Royal Knights. He examined the faces of the eleven others sitting at the table. “…What do you all say?”

“I agree,” Omegamon answered without pause or doubt.

“Yeah, same,” Dukemon agreed, fixing a gaze of resolve at Alphamon.

The rest of the Royal Knights all expressed their unanimous support.

“That was the easy part,” Magnamon pointed out. “Now we have to decide what to do.”

“First of all, we should figure out the Demon Lords’ locations,” Sleipmon suggested.

Alphamon nodded in agreement. “I’ll ask MetallifeKuwagamon if the DADAR picked up anything.”

“And when we find them?” UlforceVeedramon wondered.

“I advise isolating them from each other, as well as from the populated areas of the Digital World. We should subjugate them individually before they are able to congregate and consolidate their strength,” Duftmon proposed.

“That’s a pretty solid idea,” Dynasmon agreed. “But what if we can’t get to them before they meet up?”

Duftmon closed his eyes and thought about it. “Should that occur, we will have to judge our circumstances and acclimatize to the situation accordingly,” he responded.

“Which is a fancy way of saying you don’t know yet,” Gankoomon observed with a smirk.

“I will not deal in hypotheticals,” Duftmon answered huffily, folding his arms. “I only acknowledge reality. The first priority is reconnaissance.”

“We’ll defeat them, whatever the case,” Dukemon insisted resolutely.

Karatenmon turned and looked at Grani with a smile gracing the corners of his mouth. “Looks like we’re going to be busy, huh, Grani?”

Grani sighed with exasperation. “I wish you wouldn’t say that in such a carefree way…” he answered.

“Don’t worry. I’ll do my job,” Karatenmon assured him, his smile fading and his expression becoming serious.

“We all will,” Alphamon said. “However, we’ll be relying on the Reconnaissance and Stealth Forces for the moment. I need you to have eyes all over the continent.”

OuRyuumon frowned. His arms were folded across his serpentine body and he was drumming his claws against his brown arm scales. “What about us?” he asked, gesturing with his head to himself and Knightmon.

“The Strike Forces and Defence Forces still need to recover after that battle. Everyone needs a rest,” Alphamon said to him. “Focus on the soldiers’ wounds and morale; we may need them again in the future.”

OuRyuumon sighed. “Yeah… Okay,” he agreed.

“Yes, Sir Alphamon,” Knightmon obeyed dutifully. “We will focus on recovering our strength.”

“In order to do that, we’re also reopening enlistment and asking the Republic of Node to loan us more troops,” Alphamon stated. “I think they will be willing once they hear that the Seven Great Demon Lords have escaped.”

“I would hope so,” RhodoKnightmon spoke, leaning forwards and resting his chin on his palm. “This is no matter to scoff at.”

“We should also send a messenger to the Heavenly Choir,” Imperialdramon suggested. “You guys might want to have a chat with the Three Great Angels.”

“Yes, we probably should…” Magnamon agreed.

“I guess the rest of us should get training,” Craniamon put forward. He turned his helmet-covered head towards Alphamon with a questioning gaze. “Are we done here, Alphamon?”

Alphamon nodded. “I think we’ve established our goals for now. I suggest that we all look over the profiles of the Seven Demon Lords tomorrow so that the newer knights are caught up with the rest of us,” he said, standing to his feet. “Karatenmon? Grani? Please begin recon as soon as possible.”

As Alphamon stood up, signifying that he was ready to end the meeting, Grani looked at Dukemon to observe his response. Dukemon seemed to be deep in thought, obviously contemplating whether to follow through on his confession or not. Grani tentatively opened up his beak to speak if Dukemon wasn’t going to, but he didn’t want to have to force Dukemon into it.

“Well, if there’s nothing else…” Alphamon spoke, looking around the table. “We should call this meeting to an end—“

“Hold on, Alphamon,” a voice said, half-sighing as it spoke. It was Dukemon.

Grani smiled proudly as he watched the red dragon knight rise to his feet. He hovered in place nearby Dukemon, preparing to offer him moral support.

Alphamon turned and looked at Dukemon curiously. “Yes, Dukemon?” he asked his friend.

Dukemon rubbed the back of his neck uncertainly as he glanced around at the Royal Knights, all of whom turned their attention to him. He began to have second thoughts. He wanted to let Alphamon end the meeting as planned. However, Dukemon summoned his courage and steeled his resolve. He told himself that it wasn’t as big of a deal as he made it out to be.

“…There’s something that I want to say,” Dukemon said, forcing the words off of his tongue. He sighed and smiled sheepishly behind his visor. “Now, this is going to seem irrelevant and off the subject, but I made a promise to myself that I would tell all of you. The truth is, I’ve been keeping something from all of you… and I feel that you all have a right to know.”

At these words, Alphamon respectfully sat back down in his seat and allowed Dukemon to continue. There were confused glances between some of the Royal Knights.

RhodoKnightmon sat up straight in his seat. “Could it be that you have a secret boyfriend too?!” he asked excitedly. OuRyuumon and Alphamon exchanged embarrassed looks.

Dukemon smiled nervously and scratched his cheek with his index finger. “…Actually, it has to do with the Digital Hazard…”

His words sent a silent, serious atmosphere across the council room. Dukemon felt his stomach tighten up as he sensed the trepidation that began to loom over the room.

Examon looked at Dukemon carefully. He tried to wordlessly offer him his support, as he felt like he knew what it was that Dukemon wanted to tell them.

Gankoomon frowned and leaned forward on the table. “…That’s that… thing inside of you right? That program or whatever…” Gankoomon asked, although not judgmentally. “You said it was dangerous?”

Dukemon fingered at the metal collar of his plate armour. He could feel sweat beginning to form under the body suit that he wore underneath his armour. “Yeah, that’s the one…” he said in a voice that tried to play it off casually. “It’s not active or anything; don’t worry,” he was quick to clarify. “There’s just something I want to tell you about my past…”

Omegamon looked up at Dukemon with curious, sky blue eyes. “Go on, Dukemon…” he said, his light, flanging voice encouraging him.

“Well, it’s about how I met Grani,” Dukemon stated, beginning to readjust the focus of his message.

Duftmon looked across at Dukemon with an aloof gaze. Although he was curious about the Digital Hazard, he wasn’t sure how important this actually was at the moment. “Pardon me, Dukemon, but if this isn’t urgent, then is this really appropriate?” he asked, making it known that he really had no time for such trivialities.

A few of the Royal Knights gave Duftmon disapproving looks. Duftmon noticed their expressions and thought for a few moments. He then took his small pocket book out and began flipping through the pages beneath the table.

“I know this isn’t the right time to talk about this, with the Demon Lords and everything, but if I don’t say this now, I never will. I just want to get it off my chest after all this time, Duftmon…” Dukemon responded, oddly diplomatic towards the opinionated strategist.

Duftmon turned the pages of his self-help book to a bookmark. He then began to read the opened page. “’Always listen to what others have to say. Listening is the first step towards good communication and understanding,’” Duftmon murmured under his breath as he read. He then looked back up at Dukemon. “Very well. You may continue if it is important to you. I value your opinions, feelings, and personal experiences, after all,” Duftmon said rather woodenly.

Dukemon couldn’t help but blink at the slender, brown knight’s odd wording and uncharacteristic response. “Uh… Okay. Thanks, Duftmon…” he responded uncertainly.

“You were saying, Dukemon?” Alphamon asked, eyeing the red caped knight curiously.

Dukemon nodded. His golden eyes turned downwards and he gazed at the Digital Hazard marking on his armour. He released a calming breath and closed his eyes. “…Some of you might know that my hometown was destroyed by a band of raiders a long time ago. I was the only survivor…” he said, gazing around the table at the Royal Knights.

Dukemon stared across the table at all of the Royal Knight, and he saw their eyes gazing at him expectantly and empathetically. He began to remember that these were his closest friends. He shouldn’t have to be nervous around them. He trusted each and every one of them with his life. Surely, they trusted him as much as he trusted them, didn’t they? As he stared into each of their familiar eyes, he began to feel his confidence grow.

Dynasmon looked over to his side, gazing at Dukemon. The wyvern knight remembered when Dukemon had told the founding knights about that. Their shared loss of their hometowns was one of the things that Dynasmon and Dukemon bonded over.

“Yes, I remember you mentioned that…” Sleipmon said, frowning sympathetically at Dukemon. “It must have been terrible…”

Dukemon nodded. “I… don’t actually remember much about the attack. It was all a blur…” The crimson knight’s gaze softened as he reminisced about the events. “The thing is, I evolved during the attack. It must have been the emotions and the adrenaline… Anyways, that was when I first evolved to Dukemon and defeated the marauders.”

“There is evidence that Digimon have a heightened tendency to undergo evolution during times of intense emotional strain and peril,” Duftmon observed.

“I guess so…” Dukemon acknowledged, although he became more and more immersed in his memories. “Anyways, after I evolved, well… something started to happen. I could feel something changing inside me. It was… well, it was the Digital Hazard.” Dukemon subconsciously placed a hand over the marking on his chest as he looked out at the Royal Knights. As much as possible, he wanted to read their expressions. “When I became a Dukemon, the Digital Hazard activated.”

None of the Royal Knights spoke. A stunned silence pervaded throughout the room, causing the sound of raindrops hitting the windows to become more noticeable. None of the Royal Knights really knew how to react to this news. It was a hard statement to reply to. It was a surprise to hear that the program that Dukemon had admitted to having had activated once before. They weren’t entirely sure what that it meant or what had happened. They also didn’t want to accidentally offend Dukemon. A few of the Royal Knights exchanged quick glances of uncertainty, as they wondered how or if the others would react.

Dukemon sensed the tension. He could hear the silence. He noticed the uncomfortable looks. His confidence began to recede, but he knew that he had to explain further, half-hoping that that would satiate his friends’ discomfort. He glanced at Grani and Examon who both gave him reassuring gazes. Dukemon felt a small bit of comfort there. He took a breath and continued. “…I could feel myself losing control. The pain was unbearable… It was like it was taking over. Something inside of me was taking over and I could feel my sense of self slipping away,” he explained, wincing lightly. “I noticed that the sky was changing… Storm clouds appeared out of nowhere and became a thick purple. Lightning was shooting everywhere. It was like the Digital World was ending and it was all my fault…”

“But… obviously the world didn’t end,” Craniamon noted, leering at Dukemon with his unreadable crimson eyes. “What happened?”

“Grani happened,” Dukemon stated, smiling a bit as he looked at the Zero ARMS beside him. “Grani appeared in front of me and told me not to give in to the Digital Hazard. He… He told me that I was stronger than I thought I was. He gave me the confidence to fight against the Digital Hazard. I was able to seal the Digital Hazard within me…”

“That was all your doing, Dukemon,” Grani assured him. “The strength was inside of you all along.”

Dukemon half-smiled and glanced back at his fellow Royal Knights. He wasn’t sure if they were judging him or not. They were still quiet and cautious. He wondered if he did the right thing by telling them.

“…So that’s how you met Grani,” Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode spoke up with an easygoing smile, breaking the ice for everybody. “I always wondered why you two were so close.”

Alphamon rose to his feet and walked over to Dukemon, placing his hand on the knight’s shoulder. “Thank you for telling us that, Dukemon… I’m honoured that you can trust us with that information. You really could have told us that before, though. We wouldn’t have judged you…” Alphamon assured him.

Omegamon nodded and stood up as well, gazing at Dukemon warmly. “It isn’t a big deal that it activated,” he quickly spoke up. “You stopped the Digital Hazard before anything bad could happen.”

“Omegamon has a point,” Examon stated, looking at Dukemon meaningfully.

Dukemon smiled a bit and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “Yeah, I guess…” he answered. He felt partially relieved, despite his uncertainty.

“Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” Dynasmon questioned, trying not to feel too annoyed at Dukemon not telling them earlier, as he knew it must have been difficult.

Dukemon sighed a bit. “I was kind of ashamed of it,” he admitted. “Besides, it’s not exactly something that’s easy to bring up in casual conversation, is it?”

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of, Dukemon,” Magnamon assured him warmly.

“Yeah, really. It’s fine,” UlforceVeedramon added, shooting Dukemon a smile.

“No big deal,” Craniamon dismissively said as well.

“We’re just happy you’re alright,” Sleipmon explained with a soft smile.

Duftmon looked down at his book again. “Yes, thank you for sharing that intimate, personal information with us.” he answered, sounding like he was reading off of a script.

“Thanks, guys…” Dukemon said, putting on a small smile in response. At the back of his mind, he wondered if they really meant what they were saying or if they were just trying to make him feel better. Dukemon chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sure I’m making a big deal over nothing.”

“You often do,” RhodoKnightmon teased.

Duftmon gazed at Dukemon curiously. “Pardon me, but there haven’t been any incidents since when you first evolved to Dukemon, have there?” he wondered.

“I think we probably would have known if there were, Duftmon,” UlforceVeedramon responded with a grin. “Calamities are kind of hard to avoid.”

“Yeah… I haven’t sensed any activity in the Digital Hazard since that one time. I have it under control now, so no worries,” Dukemon explained, rubbing his fingers against the nape of his neck. “It’s sealed.”

“I can’t think of a Digimon who I could trust with it more,” Alphamon said to him with a small grin.

Dukemon laughed a bit. “Wow. You’re going to make me blush, Alphamon,” he answered good-naturedly.

“But you’re so cute when you blush,” Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode teased. He winked at his fellow white knight good-humouredly. “Right, Omegamon?”

Omegamon gave his friend an icy look but didn’t rise to the bait.

Dukemon cleared his throat. “…So… Anyways, yeah… I guess that’s it,” he said with a sheepish chuckle. “Sorry for the drama. I just needed to get that off of my chest. Grani would have nagged me within an inch of my life otherwise.”

Karatenmon released a lighthearted chuckle. “I can believe that…”

“Don’t you feel so much better now?” Grani asked him, closing his eyes indignantly as he ignored the comments.

“Mm…” Dukemon answered simply. “Anyways. I’m sure I’ve bored all of you now, so let’s call the meeting adjourned.”

Alphamon nodded. “Let’s…” he agreed. “Meeting adjourned.”

The Royal Knights rose to their feet and began to head out of the room along with the captains.

As soon as he was out of the council room, Dukemon suddenly turned right and headed towards one of the doors in the side wall of the great hall. Zero ARMS: Grani floated after him as he walked from the great hall to one of the parallel corridors.

Grani flew up beside his friend. “I’m proud of you, Dukemon,” he said to the Royal Knight.

“Yeah… thanks,” Dukemon answered softly.

Grani couldn’t help but notice that Dukemon’s usual enthusiasm seemed somewhat deflated. “Are you alright?” he wondered.

Dukemon looked over at Grani and smiled a bit. “Yeah. I’m just tired. I’m going to head to my room.”

“Very well,” Grani spoke, slowing down and allowing Dukemon to walk ahead. He gazed thoughtfully at Dukemon as the Royal Knight made his way to the stairs.

“Dukemon, I do hope that this helped to assuage your concerns…” Grani thought as he watched his friend grow further from him. “You aren’t the monster that you think you are…”

-

The Royal Knights and captains all left the council room and began heading down the long, splendorous great hall.

Alphamon, Omegamon, and Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode were the last ones to leave the council room. Omegamon and Imperialdramon lingered behind as they waited for Alphamon to gather up the papers on top of the table.

“What do you think brought all that on? With Dukemon, I mean,” Imperialdramon wondered.

“I wonder if something happened in the battle…” Omegamon suggested, thinking to himself.

“Perhaps he has been meaning to tell us for awhile but couldn’t find the words,” Alphamon responded as he tidied up a small stack of papers. He glanced up at Omegamon sheepishly. “I have been in that situation myself…”

Omegamon gave him a small but warm smile, reassuring him. “I understand. It’s sometimes difficult to admit such sensitive topics…” He nodded pensively. “…Do you think the others will worry about it?” he inquired.

Alphamon shook his head. “I think they all trust Dukemon enough to know that he can be trusted with the Digital Hazard,” he stated confidently. “Even if he is hotheaded, I trust him.”

“Me too…” Omegamon agreed. He turned his white head and glanced out of the council room’s doors, into the great hall. He couldn’t spot Dukemon among the Royal Knights. “Perhaps I should speak to him.”

Alphamon looked up at the two white-armoured Digimon. “Can I put something to you both first?” he asked them.

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode turned and placed his blue hands on his hips. “Anything, Alphamon,” he answered, swishing his long, blue tail.

“It’s about the Royal Knights…” Alphamon explained. “There are twelve of us. An even number.”

“Twelve?” Omegamon asked, looking curiously at Alphamon. After a moment, he frowned with realisation. “Ah. I see…”

Alphamon nodded. “As the Knight of the Empty Seat, it is my duty to arbitrate disputes within the Royal Knights and serve as a balancer,” he explained. “We developed the idea after DarkKnightmon rebelled. I didn’t want to be seen as the leader, but we also needed a mechanism to avoid an even split down the middle. If half of the Royal Knights are on one side of an issue, and the other half of the Royal Knights are on another side of the same issue, then it is my duty to split the tie. However, I can’t do that when there’s an even number of knights. I do need to vote on issues as well, after all.”

“Yeah… I have been thinking about this too,” Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode mused, leaning forwards on one of the chairs.

“If there are six knights on one side the debate, and six knights, myself included, are on another side of the debate, then we are at a deadlock. I won’t allow my vote to be worth more than that of any other Royal Knight’s in order to break the impasse,” Alphamon explained, frowning. “Even numbers don’t work… My role as a balance for the Royal Knights is put into question. I like to think that we are cohesive, but there will always be times that we will have differences of opinions. I don’t want anybody to feel alienated like DarkKnightmon was. We all know how that turned out…”

Omegamon gave him a nod of understanding. “So…”

“We need a thirteenth Royal Knight…” Alphamon spoke.

“It seems that way,” Omegamon concurred.

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode folded his arms and nodded. “Yeah…” he agreed. The dragon man then noticed Alphamon and Omegamon both turn their heads towards him intently. Imperialdramon took a step back and held his hands up in front of him. “Hey, hey! Don’t look at me!”

“It would be convenient, Imperialdramon,” Alphamon persuaded. “You’re strong, knowledgeable, trustworthy, experienced…”

“You’re already a close friend of ours…” Omegamon added.

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode grinned and rubbed the back of his neck, his blue fingers running through his blond hair. “Good try, guys, but sorry. If I wanted to be in the Royal Knights, then I would have joined when we first made the Order.”

Omegamon sighed. “You really are stubborn, aren’t you?” he stated with exasperation.

“I’m afraid so,” Imperialdramon answered, flashing him a smile. “Anyways… I have to be outside of the Order. That was the reason why I didn’t join to begin with. You need an external supporter. I’m already busy with the Dark Area, the Four Holy Beasts, and keeping an eye on network security, among other things... I can’t do all that if I’m busy doing paperwork and missions.”

“I suppose not,” Alphamon conceded. “You are already quite helpful.”

“What about OuRyuumon?” Imperialdramon suggested, looking at Alphamon. “He’s been itching to get in since we started this thing, and he’s gotten a lot more mature recently, hasn’t he?”

“He has,” Alphamon admitted. “But… to be completely honest, I think he’s content with not being a Royal Knight now… He has the strength and leadership qualities for a Royal Knight, to be sure. However… he’s a lot more useful to me as the Captain of the Strike Forces. The Digimon of the Strike Forces trust him, and he knows how to deal with them. He has a knack for battle and I want somebody I can trust leading the Strike Forces. I honestly think that he’s best suited where he is.”

“Do you have any other ideas?” Omegamon asked Alphamon.

“Not at the moment…” Alphamon responded. “This is a priority, but this isn’t anywhere close to our greatest priority at the moment: namely, the Demon Lords. That’s why I didn’t tell the other Royal Knights. I don’t want to distract them. For now, I’ll think about potential candidates, but our focus has to be on the Seven Great Demon Lords.”

“I understand, Alphamon,” Omegamon agreed, nodding his head. “If you ever need somebody to discuss the ideas with…”

Alphamon smiled. “I know, Omegamon. You were my first thought.”

“I’ll keep watch for potential candidates too,” Imperialdramon told them. He then nodded towards the great hall. “Shall we?”

Alphamon nodded in agreement and began walking out of the council room along with Imperialdramon and Omegamon.

The three friends made their way down the giant, gold-hued hall towards the castle foyer on the other end. They strolled down the great hall with their metal boots clamouring against the marble floor. As they walked, Omegamon thought quietly to himself about everything that Dukemon had said in the meeting.

Omegamon felt the need to talk to him about it. There were things that he wanted to say to Dukemon. He felt a bit guilty. He thought that he might have inadvertently pressured Dukemon into making that confession after he had previously asked him about how he had met Grani. His clear, blue eyes gazed pensively in front of him as he walked down the great hall.

Once the three reached the opened doors leading into the octagonal foyer, Omegamon turned to the other two holy knight Digimon. “I am going to go speak with Dukemon, if you don’t mind.”

Alphamon looked at Omegamon curiously. “Alright. Go ahead,” he responded. “I’ll check with him later on, but I have several things that I need to do right now.”

“I’m sure he’ll appreciate that, Omegamon,” Imperialdramon said with a smile.

Omegamon nodded and turned away from them. “I’ll see you both later,” he told them as he made his way over to the right set of stairs.

Alphamon and Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode watched as Omegamon disappeared into the staircase.

“He cares about Dukemon a lot,” Alphamon mused once Omegamon had vanished into the upper levels of the castle.

Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode looked at Alphamon. “He cares about all of his friends. You included,” the white armoured dragon man explained with a knowing smile.

Alphamon nodded softly. “I’m glad that we were able to mend things after the stupid mistakes that I made in the past,” he tenderly reflected.

“He is too. I think that’s why he wants to check on Dukemon,” Imperialdramon reasoned.

“I see…” Alphamon pondered. “Anyways, we should get to work.”

“Lead the way, oh Lord of the Empty Seat,” the sapphire dragon paladin teased.

“’Knight’,” Alphamon corrected him, smirking a bit. “Can I offer you some of my special brews while we’re at it?”

Imperialdramon’s sly smile faded. “I’m on a full stomach, Alphamon…”

-

Dukemon lay on the crimson blanket of his large bed. He stared up at the ceiling and thought about what he had just confessed to everybody.

He felt as though a massive weight had been lifted off of him. Dukemon had never been good at lying or keeping secrets. However, he frequently had to lie by omission or swiftly change the subject whenever his and Grani’s meeting came up. He always felt guilty for not telling his friends the truth, but he always worried about how they would react.

Dukemon remembered when he first told the Royal Knights, as well as the subsequent new members, about the Digital Hazard. Dukemon didn’t like doing it. He didn’t do it for the sympathy either. If it were up to him, it would have forever remained his dirty little secret. However, he felt that they had a right to know, and he felt too guilty whenever he didn’t tell them.

Each time he confessed about the devastating side of him, he sensed the apprehension and uncertainty among the Royal Knights. The wordless frowns… The little glances… The awkward fidgeting… Each was like a pin prick to his heart. They piled onto his insecurity, even when the Royal Knights assured them that it was fine. None of the Royal Knights ever talked about the Digital Hazard to his face. It seemed like they wanted to pretend that it didn’t exist. Dukemon didn’t blame them; honestly, he would have liked to do the same, but it was always there, niggling at the back of his mind.

These uncertainties remained, but, at the very least, Dukemon felt relieved that it was finally out in the open. Did the other Royal Knights think less of him now? Maybe. However, he didn’t have to lie to them anymore. He felt tired, now that the adrenaline was subsiding.

Suddenly, he was roused by the sound of his door being knocked on. Dukemon sat upwards on his bed and looked at the closed door of his room. “Yeah?” he asked.

“It’s Omegamon,” a familiar fused voice responded from the other side of the door.

“Come in,” Dukemon said, standing to his feet to greet him.

Omegamon opened the door and walked inside tentatively. “Hello, Dukemon,” he said to him. “How are you doing?”

“Me? I’m fine,” Dukemon responded, smiling a little at the white knight.

“Are you sure? I know that must have been hard for you to say in front of everybody…” Omegamon said sympathetically.

Dukemon’s gold eyes darted away. “I guess,” he answered noncommittally. He looked back at Omegamon insistently, not wanting Omegamon to see his doubts. “I’m fine, though. Really… I’m just glad to get that off my chest finally.”

Omegamon’s gaze softened. “I hope that you didn’t do that just because I pressed you about it a few weeks ago…” he mentioned, his voice sheepish.

At Omegamon’s concerned words, Dukemon smiled. “No, it wasn’t because of you… To be honest, I’ve been meaning to for awhile now, but I’ve been too much of a coward,” he admitted, rubbing his neck with embarrassment.

Omegamon shook his head in response. “You’re not a coward, Dukemon. You’re one of the bravest Digimon that I know,” he insisted. He locked his sky blue eyes with Dukemon’s golden ones, giving him a somewhat embarrassed look. “I know how hard it is to admit something personal like that.”

“You mean when you told me you were worried about the dark data turning you into Omegamon Zwart again…?” Dukemon spoke, remembering their conversation.

Omegamon nodded and looked into Dukemon’s eyes with a deep, knowing gaze. “…You asked me if I could feel myself losing control - my sense of self slipping away…” he mentioned softly. “I remember that feeling when DarkKnightmon pressed me onto that rift.”

Dukemon’s gaze tightened and he glanced off to the side, looking out the window and into the rain. “Yeah…”

“You felt that when the Digital Hazard activated,” Omegamon noted, remembering what Dukemon had said.

Dukemon sighed and forced himself to look back at Omegamon. “…Yeah… I did…” he admitted. “I’ll never forget that sinking feeling of helplessness…”

“Neither will I…” Omegamon mumbled. “Although, I know it isn’t fair to compare my situation with yours. I don’t want to assume I know how you feel…”

A warm smile formed on Dukemon’s face. He looked at his friend and placed his hand on Omegamon’s caped shoulder. “That’s so like you, Omegamon…” he said graciously, a soft laugh not far from his lips. “But… yeah. It… was terrible feeling, wasn’t it?” Dukemon’s smile vanished and he became serious again. “I never want to feel that again.”

Omegamon nodded quietly, understanding his worries. “I know, Dukemon. Neither do I…” he responded.

Both Royal Knights grew silent. It wasn’t an easy thing to talk about for either of them. They were Royal Knights. They were rarely vulnerable.

More than that, none of them liked to show their vulnerabilities to others. When in battle, the Royal Knights needed to be strong for one another and the Digimon that they were protecting. They tended to resist showing their vulnerabilities in front of either their allies or their enemies. They couldn’t afford weakness.

Despite this, Omegamon summoned his courage and spoke up. “…Dukemon…” he spoke, drawing the red and silver knight’s attention. Omegamon took a soft breath as he gazed at his fellow Royal Knight. “…I have three fears. One, is losing my friends. Two, is being in front of crowds. And, the third… the third is losing myself.”

Dukemon looked at Omegamon with a surprised look in his eyes. “…Losing yourself?” he asked him.

Omegamon sheepishly nodded. “I don’t need to tell you this, Dukemon, but… I am a fused Digimon. I evolved permanently from my composite parts: WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon… I contain traits from both of them. This body… aspects of their personality… their memories… Their pasts are my past…” he explained. Omegamon looked down. “However… I am also distinct from them. My body is my own - my personality is my own… They each had parents, but I do not. They may be me, but I am not them…”

Dukemon frowned at his confusing wording, but nodded. “I think I get it…?”

“Mm… I used to struggle with my identity,” Omegamon admitted. “Meeting my only living parents – MetalGarurumon’s parents – it was difficult. MetalGarurumon is a part of me, but I am not their son. WarGreymon is not their son. It was difficult to know where exactly I fit in…” Omegamon smiled as he reminisced. “Fortunately, my best friend was a jogress Digimon. Imperialdramon. It was easier with somebody else to relate to.”

“I never thought about that, Omegamon… I can’t even begin to imagine what that must have been like,” Dukemon stated.

“It was unusual… I questioned my own identity,” Omegamon explained. “Was I my own Digimon? Or was I simply my component parts? …Was the sum of the parts greater than the whole? That was what I thought at first. It bothered me… but I eventually realised that I was my own Digimon.”

Omegamon closed his eyes. “However… when I became Omegamon Zwart, I lost my identity completely. Everything about me that was ‘me’… it was consumed by darkness and corrupted beyond recognition. I became another Digimon.” Omegamon opened his eyes slightly and looked down grimly. “Or were those just the darkest parts of me?”

“That wasn’t you, Omegamon. You’ve seen what that dark data does to Digimon,” Dukemon urged him.

“Then I did lose my sense of self to that corruption… Neither option is better than the other, as far as I’m concerned,” Omegamon explained bitterly. “I fear that the dark data will manifest again, and that I could become Omegamon Zwart again. I worry that I’ll lose whatever is left of me and do horrible things to my friends again.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Dukemon said fervently, placing both of his hands on Omegamon’s shoulders and gripping them firmly. “…You’re you, Omegamon. You’re just regular, shy, caring, stubborn Omegamon to me,” Dukemon reassured him, giving him a warm, comforting smile.

“I… Thank you, Dukemon…” Omegamon responded, giving him an appreciative gaze despite his obvious embarrassment. He turned his face away sheepishly. “I know that now…”

Dukemon nodded and removed his hands from Omegamon’s shoulders. “I know what it’s like to be afraid of losing your identity,” Dukemon told him. “Just like you have Omegamon Zwart, I have the Digital Hazard… I’m worried that, by losing control of the Digital Hazard, I’ll lose my identity too.” Dukemon sighed. “I could feel it happen back when I first evolved… If I hadn’t stopped it…” He trailed off, not wanting to speculate on the consequences.

“But you did stop it,” Omegamon assured him. “We both went through similar ordeals and came out the same Digimon that we were before, didn’t we? Stronger, even…”

Dukemon smiled and looked at Omegamon. “Yeah, I guess we did…” he responded. He felt a sense of ease at hearing Omegamon’s words. “…Sorry, I didn’t tell you before.”

“Don’t be… I understand, Dukemon,” Omegamon answered sincerely.

“I’m glad you do, Omegamon…” Dukemon said with a sigh of relief lacing his words. He gave Omegamon a grateful grin. “Thanks.”

Omegamon shook his head. “You’re my precious friend, Dukemon,” he insisted.

At this, Dukemon couldn’t help but chuckle and place his arm around Omegamon’s shoulders. “Yggdrasil, Omegamon. Did you really just say that? You can be really sappy, you know,” he teased him. He raised his hand and placed his finger on the combined crests of courage and friendship engraved on Omegamon’s white armour. “It must be this crest of friendship.”

Omegamon blushed and looked away with embarrassment. “D-Don’t laugh. I was being honest,” he insisted self-consciously.

Dukemon laughed. “That’s what’s so great about you,” he answered. The crimson knight gave an easy smile and looked at Omegamon. “And, for what it’s worth, you’re mine too.”

Omegamon nodded. “Good…” he stated in a subdued voice, although he was inwardly glad to hear those words. He looked back at Dukemon. “Don’t worry about the Digital Hazard, Dukemon. We all trust you with it.”

Dukemon removed his arm from Omegamon. “…Yeah, I won’t. Thanks, Omegamon,” the dragon knight assured him.

“Anytime, Dukemon,” Omegamon responded. He looked towards the door. “I should get to work now.”

“Me too,” Dukemon said. “You go ahead.”

Omegamon nodded and walked out of Dukemon’s room. He turned and disappeared down the stone corridor.

Once he was gone, Dukemon smiled and looked down at the Digital Hazard symbol on his armour. He turned and gazed out into the cascading showers outside of the window. He felt relaxed and more at ease with himself than he did before. Dukemon walked over to the window and leaned against the stone sill. He gazed up at the grey clouds and thought to himself.

“…Maybe Grani was right after all. Maybe I was over-thinking it. I doubted them too much. …I should really have more faith in all of them…”

Dukemon stood up right and turned around, heading for the door of his room. Just like the rest of the Royal Knights, he had work to do.

 

[Griff4815]

(Really? I have to post this in three posts? Alright...)

Chapter 28: The Prisoner of the Black Mist​

Rain continued to pour down across the Royal Knights’ territory of Splendour’s Reach. The water ran down the walls of the stone buildings, giving them a wet, slippery sheen. Rivulets of the cloudy, mineral-rich liquid drifted between the gaps in the stone streets. The accumulating rainwater drained out of the castle courtyard through small gutters that led through the base of the wall and into the castle’s moat. The rain poured for the past day or so, causing the nearby river to rise slightly and the surrounding grasslands to temporarily grow wet and muddy.

In the headquarters itself, there was a meeting going on in the war room. The twelve Royal Knights, four captains, and Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode were gathered around inside the room. They stood in a loose circle, staring at the 3D map table near the far wall. The table showed a three dimensional map of grid lines with rudimentary textures that revealed the entire continent. Notably, there were seven glowing points at various, random places on the map.

Behind the table were holograms that projected the appearances and details of each of the Seven Great Demon Lords onto the wall.

The seventeen elites of the Order stood around the table, looking down at the seven points on the continent. There were three in the north of the continent, two around the middle, and two in the south.

“So, these are the spikes of data that Metallife picked up on the DADAR, huh?” Gankoomon deliberated, looking through his visor at the seven points on the map. “These are the rifts where the Demon Lords escaped from?”

“Due to the massive amounts of data shown on the DADAR readings, these aberrations could only be explained by the release of the Seven Great Demon Lords,” Duftmon explained methodically. “All evidence suggests that they realised in these locations.”

Alphamon nodded. “The time stamps on the data scan match up with the time that they were each released from the Dark Area, as well,” he noted, remembering the days and nights that Imperialdramon spent sealing the barrier and updating them on the prisoners that escaped.

“We should be able to tell which Demon Lord emerged where, if we assume that they were released in order, from the first level to the seventh level,” Omegamon stated, folding his arms and thumbing the back of his thin bicep.

Alphamon stepped towards the map and placed his hand on the edge of the table. “Duftmon, switch to chronological sequence mode,” he told the tactician as he gazed down at the topographical display.

The blond haired Royal Knight nodded and delicately pressed a few buttons on the control panel of the table. The seven different three dimensional flags on the map disappeared. The points then began to slowly appear on the map, one after another, with an exponentially increasing between each one.

The first point appeared in the northern part of the Autonomous Expanse. The second point that emerged was several kilometers off of the eastern coast of the giant continent, in the Net Ocean.

“That one must be Leviamon,” UlforceVeedramon deduced, placing his hands on his hips as he stared at the second point that appeared on the map. “He’s the only one who could have come up through a rift at the bottom of the Net Ocean.”

Magnamon nodded with agreement. “They must have been released in order.”

“They were,” Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode confirmed from beside Alphamon. “As I was reconfiguring the barrier, I could sense the unknown Digimon reaching deeper into the Dark Area each time. The penetration of each level set off an alert. …I still don’t know how they were able to do that, not only practically, but physically…”

“More importantly, we need to stop them to make sure they can’t do it again,” Craniamon determined, his tough voice firm and succinct.

Dukemon eyed the map table with a steady, pensive gaze. He pointed to the pin in the Autonomous Expanse – the first one that had appeared. “Then this must be where Lucemon realised,” he suggested.

“I have sent out my scouts to these coordinates,” Grani explained, his sapphire eyes scanning the map studiously. “Given that the Seven Demon Lords are of the highest threat level, the scout teams have been ordered to survey at the longest possible distances with strict instructions not to engage.”

Karatenmon nodded. “And I have my web of spies across the Digital World keeping their eyes and ears open in those areas,” he added.

“Good,” Alphamon answered before he turned and looked at Grani. “Grani, can you have a messenger contact the Deep Savers? If Leviamon is in the Net Ocean, then they may be in danger. We would also benefit from them keeping vigilant patrol of the waters.”

“Affirmative, Alphamon,” Grani obeyed.

“I can fly over there and check it out,” UlforceVeedramon suggested eagerly. “The place where Leviamon realised is the closest one to the castle.”

“That happened a few days ago, Ulforce,” Examon pointed out. “It’s unlikely that he’s still there.”

“We shouldn’t be engaging the Demon Lords one-on-one either,” Alphamon stated, looking at UlforceVeedramon emphatically. “Not if we can help it, at least.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Craniamon said, folding his arms indignantly. He didn’t make much of an effort to keep it a secret that he would love to duel one of the Demon Lords.

UlforceVeedramon looked back at Alphamon with insistent, ember-red eyes. “I think I could take him. He’s probably weak, coming out of the Dark Area,” he responded confidently.

“We don’t know that, Ulforce,” Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode answered seriously. There was clear warning and uneasiness in his strong voice. “There’s a chance that they could be even stronger than when you last fought them. There was an unintended consequence when we created the prison levels within the Dark Area. The prisoners started fighting with each other with their own armies of followers, gathered from inside the Dark Area. The Demon Lords were separated, but due to the degradation of the Dark Area’s internal barriers, there was some bleeding over into different levels. There was factional warfare as the prisoners vied for control of the Dark Area, and this might be the reason why DarkKnightmon was so strong when he escaped. The Demon Lords might be stronger too.”

“Hmm, you have a point…” Dukemon admitted, his face growing sour at the thought that they might be even stronger.

“Still, we’ve gotten stronger from when we last fought the Demon Lords too,” UlforceVeedramon pointed out optimistically.

“First, let’s just find out what we’re dealing with,” Magnamon suggested even-headedly. “That’s what the scouts and spies are for.”

“I agree. We shouldn’t be reckless,” Sleipmon agreed.

“The longer we wait, the more chance we give them to cause trouble, though,” Gankoomon impatiently pointed out.

“We won’t be sitting on our hands, Gankoomon,” Alphamon assured him.

Gankoomon released an irate grunt, folded his arms, and leaned back against the wall. “We better not,” he indignantly mentioned. “Because if those Seven Demon-whatever’s start wreaking havoc, I’m not waiting around and playing politics. That’s a promise.”

“I can agree with that,” Craniamon stated straightforwardly, making his own feelings clear as well.

“We won’t be playing politics,” Alphamon responded, raising a hand to dissuade them. “To be honest, I don’t think there will be much of that in the near future. When threats like these emerge, politics and bureaucracy start to go out the window.”

Gankoomon grinned a bit and placed his hands behind his flame-haired head. “That suits me just fine. I hate politics,” he stated proudly. “It’s all just talking endlessly over little trivial details instead of taking action.”

Duftmon shot him a sharp, disdainful look that only Duftmon was capable of. “Politics are important. Order is necessary, especially in times of crisis,” he contended, obviously disapproving of Gankoomon’s cavalier stance.

“Not when it gets in the way of doing the right thing,” Gankoomon argued.

“Your view is simple-minded, ignorant and prejudicial, masked in a fallacious veil of being ‘down-to-earth’,” Duftmon contended argumentatively. “In fact—“

“Either way,” Alphamon interrupted, not wanting the two to start another debate and get off topic. “We all know what to do.” He looked around at all of the Royal Knights and captains. “Data on the Seven Great Demon Lords has been sent to your personal computers. Familiarise yourselves with them, and keep up your training while we wait for the recon reports.”

“Obviously,” Craniamon answered, cracking his knuckles. “I’ll be in top shape for them.”

Alphamon smiled a bit. “Let’s call this meeting adjourned,” he suggested.

Dukemon nodded. “Sounds good to me,” he said, turning around and beginning to head out of the war room. He looked at Grani with traces of concern. He tried not to show it outwardly, but he couldn’t help but worry with such dangerous enemies around. “If you go out scouting, be careful.”

“I always am,” Grani replied, with a faint touch of levity to his calm voice. “I’ve learned from you exactly how not to act.”

Magnamon chuckled and walked up alongside Dukemon. “He’s got you there, Dukemon,” he teased the crimson Royal Knight.

“Maybe you should take a page out of Grani’s book more often,” Examon added with a playful smile, walking behind the two dragon men.

Dukemon smiled a bit in response to their words. “Yeah, yeah… I’ll keep that in mind, guys,” he chuckled a bit.

The Royal Knights all walked out of war room and went their own ways. They all had different tasks that they needed to complete. As the group split apart, Dukemon, Magnamon, and Examon continued heading in the same direction.

Examon poised his wings backwards as he followed the two down the left corridor. Due to his height and his giant wingspan, he didn’t want to block anybody who wanted to pass him. The large dragon looked down at the pair of the Royal Knights in front of him. “So… You both fought the Seven Demon Lords, right?” he asked them quizzically. “How was it?”

“Yeah, we did. It was pretty tough, to be honest,” Dukemon admitted, frowning as he remembered their clash. “They were powerful, even by our standards…”

Magnamon nodded, folding his arms and frowning as he walked. “I hate to say it, but it wasn’t a sure thing that we could beat them. I nearly lost my arm… Luckily, they were relatively weakened by that point and the tide was moving against them. They were at a disadvantage.”

Examon looked at the two with concern. “So… We have our work cut out for us,” he said, his emerald eyes narrowing into a squinty frown at the thought.

“Yeah, we will,” Dukemon answered definitely. His voice was terse and his movements were rigid as he thought about their new enemies.

Quietly, Magnamon noticed the anxiety of the two Royal Knights. He preferred not to be negative and he didn’t want to see his friends worry. “We’ve beaten them before. We can do it again,” Magnamon added with a smile behind his golden helmet.

Examon couldn’t help but grin at Magnamon. “You’re as optimistic as ever,” he noted.

“Am I?” Magnamon asked, looking over his shoulder. “I don’t think that’s a bad thing. How can we expect to defeat them unless we believe that we can defeat them?” he reasoned.

“…Yeah. You have a point, Magnamon,” Dukemon agreed, pondering his words. “There’s no sense in doubting ourselves and assuming the worst.”

“I’m glad you think so, Dukemon,” Examon said to him with a soft, meaningful smile. “I don’t think you would have said that a few weeks ago.”

Feeling sheepish, Dukemon chuckled a bit and rubbed the back of his head in response to Examon’s comment. “Yeah, well… I like to think the best in Digimon too,” he insisted.

Examon nodded. “I guess there’s no point in being pessimistic,” he agreed. “Although, we should still be prepared. I don’t want to underestimate the Demon Lords if they’re as powerful as you say.”

“That’s true too,” Magnamon conceded. “It’s important to be prepared as well.”

“So, why don’t we go spar in the training grounds?” Dukemon suggested. “All three of us. Training programs and all.”

“Okay,” Magnamon agreed readily. “Maybe we can invite Craniamon and have a two-on-two fight.”

“He’d probably insist on taking on all three of us single-handedly,” Examon pointed out with a chuckle.

Dukemon laughed. “Probably,” he couldn’t help but concur.

As the three Royal Knights turned a corner, they saw Dorbickmon standing further down the corridor. The crimson mercenary leaned against a wall, tapping his foot impatiently. The dragon man perked up when he saw the three Royal Knights walking towards him. He stood up straight and turned to face them.

“Dorbickmon?” Examon asked curiously as they approached. “What are you doing?”

“Waiting for you guys to finish another one of your many endless meetings,” Dorbickmon answered sardonically, his arms remaining folded across his burly chest.

Dukemon walked up to him with Magnamon and Examon. “Any particular reason?” he wondered.

Dorbickmon nodded sharply, glaring at them with purpose. “You got the bug locked in your dungeon, right?” he asked them in a blunt, no-nonsense voice.

Dukemon tilted his head quizzically. “GrandisKuwagamon?” he asked. The crimson knight then levelled a sceptical gaze at Dorbickmon. “Yeah... Why?”

“I just want to see him, but the damn guards won’t let me in without permission,” Dorbickmon complained with an irate growl rolling off his words.

“Looking for a little payback?” Dukemon inquired, his flat voice and arched eyebrow making his scepticism clear.

Examon shot a disapproving look at Dorbickmon. “Dorbickmon… Revenge doesn’t solve anything,” he reminded him.

At this, Dorbickmon rolled his eyes. “I just want to talk with the pest,” the muscular dragon Digimon insisted as diplomatically as he could. “I need to find out some things. Besides, it’s not like I could touch him in a prison cell.”

“Not for a lack of trying,” Dukemon pointed out. He could sense Dorbickmon’s thinly veiled aggression in his rough movements and acidic words. “You’d wring his neck if you could.”

“Besides, it goes against security protocol,” Magnamon added. “The others would kill us, especially if something happened.”

“Ugh. Seriously? All these rules and crap are really getting up my ***,” Dorbickmon complained.

Examon sighed and rubbed his temples with his claws. “What if I went with him?” he suggested, hoping to compromise the two sides. “I’ll be with him the whole time and I’ll make sure that he doesn’t step out of line. If anything goes wrong, I’ll accept full responsibility.”

Dorbickmon turned his head slowly and delivered a flat, exasperated stare to Examon. “How come I’m the one who sounds like the prisoner here?” he asked with annoyance.

“I’ve been on the receiving end of that temper,” Examon pointed out with a grin. “I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.”

“Hell. Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Dorbickmon muttered acrimoniously. He turned around and began heading down the corridor. “Come on, move your thirty-foot ***, Examon,” he said with recalcitrance, not turning around to address the dragon.

Clouded with exasperation, Examon sighed and straightened out his long tail in question. “I’ll catch up with you two in a bit,” he told Dukemon and Magnamon before following after Dorbickmon. “We can have that spar afterwards.”

As the two red dragons walked off down the corridor, Magnamon smiled and looked up at Dukemon. “They’re really getting along now,” he noted. “I’m impressed at how well they’ve been able to put the bad blood behind them.”

Dukemon smiled. “I’m glad they have. It’s good to have friends you can trust with your life…” he stated thoughtfully.

“That’s for sure,” Magnamon agreed, eyeing Dukemon with his warm, red eyes. “…I’m glad you can trust us, Dukemon.”

Dukemon turned to look at the shorter golden knight. He knew he was referring to Dukemon telling them about the Digital Hazard. After a moment, he flashed Magnamon a grin. “Yeah… Me too,” he answered sincerely. “Now don’t get all soppy, Magnamon. It’s not good for our image.”

Magnamon chuckled. “I guess you’re right,” he agreed, walking along beside Dukemon.

The two Royal Knights continued chatting as they made their way down the stone corridor. The pair went to look for MetallifeKuwagamon, intent on getting fitted with the training program so that they could begin their spar.

-

The Royal Knights’ dungeons were located deep underground, in the furthest part of the subterranean basement of the headquarters. They were at the end of a long, well-lit hallway. The entrance was very secure; there was a pair of chrome digizoid doors with electronic, magnetized, and manual locks for maximum security. They were modelled after the ones that were used in Havelock Prison. Castle Guards were constantly on duty whenever the dungeon was occupied. There were guards on lookout both inside and outside of the dungeon. However, most prisoners were transferred to Havelock Prison after temporarily residing in the castle dungeons, so they were typically empty.

That was not the case right now.

The dungeons were dark and lit mainly with torches at the ends of the hallways, although each cell had its own personal, little light. There were about thirty cells in total. The prison cells had differing sizes, large and small, in order accommodate different sizes of Digimon. Each secure unit was complete with vertical, fortified chrome digizoid-alloy bars, which had no more than a few inches between each bar. The bars also seemed to emit a faint, transparent barrier that prevented penetration, even from ghost and incorporeal Digimon.

Currently, there was only one cell that was occupied. It was outfitted with a bed, a toilet, and a night stand with a few books on it.

GrandisKuwagamon, the sole prisoner, sat cross-legged in the center of the cell. His red, compound eye was narrowed as it stared emptily beyond the chrome digizoid bars. The black, humanoid insect breathed softly and his long pincers were at ease. He was in a state of meditation. His mind was empty and his body was relaxed and controlled. He was almost in a deep state of passive concentration and tranquility.

As all of the Royal Knights’ prisoners did, GrandisKuwagamon had a power-inhibiting virus implanted into his body. This virus kept him from evolving or devolving. Additionally, it kept him from using his abilities. His Gran Killer gauntlets had been confiscated, and the muscles of his long, scissor-like pincers were numb, preventing him from moving them with any effectiveness. He had been rendered subdued.

GrandisKuwagamon released a breath as he tried to focus on his inner strength.

Emphasis on “tried”.

He was doing his best to concentrate, but there was an annoying bug that kept buzzing incessantly and breaking his focus. That bug came in the form of the guard standing outside of his cell. The guard had been trying to make pleasant conversation with him for the past ten minutes. GrandisKuwagamon had tried ignoring him, but he didn’t seem to be taking the hint.

The guard in question was a large, muscular, dragon man Digimon. His light orange scales matched the glow of the flames that cast across his body. Resting over his buff, brawny chest was well-polished, gold and silver plate armour that went all the way up to his thick neck. The armour plates over his neck and chin were black in colour, matching the thick, black band around his hips that held his long loin guard in place and connected to his breast plate. Also connected to the dragon man’s chest armour were the spiked, golden spaulders that covered his shoulders.

The Greymon-type Digimon also wore a pair of silver and red greaves over his shins. They were strapped to the backs of his calves with red cords, and over the tops of his large, clawed, draconic feet, further fastened by a black, rubber strap that went around the soles of his feet. In addition to this, around the dragon’s forearms were thick wrists guards. These wrist guards each had a slot for a long object to attach into. Just above these vambraces were black belts that were wrapped around his thick, well-developed forearms.

He wore a helmet and face mask over his head. At the tip of his draconic snout was a nose horn that had the shape of a crimson blade. Further decorating his helmet was a gold, V-shape crest that went from the top of his mouth and over his eyes before protruding out from the back of his helmet. The VictoryGreymon had striking emerald eyes, which conveyed a sense of warmth, excitement, and optimism. His neck-length red hair contrasted with the green of his eyes. Finally, protruding from the armour of his back were two thick slabs of triangular metal that gave off the appearance of wings. These pieces of metal could be detached from his back and connected together to form a shield.

The VictoryGreymon held a massive broadsword with a single arm, letting it rest against his shoulder. The sword was taller than he was, and the blade was actually made up of three individual blades to form one single one. The width of the sword was as thick as the dragon man’s torso. The giant sword, called the Dramon Breaker, had a V-shaped crossguard that was big and heavy enough to warrant handles on the two sides. The Dramon Breaker had a long hilt for both of his large hands. The fact that he could wield such a heavy sword with relative ease was a testament to the Greymon’s impressive muscles. His armour only covered parts of his body, so his thick biceps and his tree trunk-like thighs were fully visible.

VictoryGreymon’s muscular tail swayed back and forth as he talked animatedly to GrandisKuwagamon. Between his sculpted muscles, the sheen of his scales, his handsome face and approachable expression, he was considered quite an attractive Digimon by many Digimons’ standards. Despite this, he didn’t consider himself especially attractive and he would get embarrassed just being complimented.

His excitement caused the pitch of his deep, gentle voice to rise slightly as he talked about his favourite subject: the Royal Knights.

“-and they actually spoke to us new recruits in person!” VictoryGreymon exclaimed enthusiastically. “Dukemon actually said to me, ‘Nice to meet you. We’re happy to have you on board, VictoryGreymon. You look like you can handle yourself.’ The dragon man’s eyes were bright as he spoke about him, and he was smiling from ear to ear. “Can you believe that?! He actually said my name! It was so amazing! I nearly melted right then and there. Gee, I wish I coulda got a recording of that.”

GrandisKuwagamon hunched forward, his four wings twitching agitatedly. He tried his best to ignore the irritating Greymon, but he began to get the feeling that this was a topic that he could go on for hours about.

“It was so amazing seeing them all up close. I mean, I know I’ve seen them a few times before, but that was only for a few seconds,” the VictoryGreymon continued on animatedly. “Their armour is so cool, and they look so heroic in their capes and helmets. All twelve of them are so awesome, and I actually get to be a part of the Order! This is everything I could have imagined! It’s a dream come true!”

Finally, GrandisKuwagamon had enough. He looked up at VictoryGreymon with a withering gaze. “Cripes…” he said aloud in an obviously annoyed voice. “I know you’ve got a raging stiffy for the Royal Knights and everything, but would you shut up about them for one ****ing second? It feels like it’s been an hour…”

VictoryGreymon blinked and looked at GrandisKuwagamon. He immediately quieted down and sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “Oh… Sorry…” he said in a deflated voice. “I guess I got carried away talking about them… They’re kinda my heroes, so I’m one of their biggest fans. I could talk about them for days,” he explained, brightening up with a goofy grin.

“Really. I wouldn’t have guessed,” GrandisKuwagamon sarcastically muttered, sighing tiredly.

VictoryGreymon’s smile faded and he suddenly frowned. “Sorry! How rude of me! I didn’t introduce myself!” he suddenly stated with guilt lacing his words. “My name’s VictoryGreymon. I’m from New Terminal. Well, actually, me and my friends were from a smaller town in the Republic of Node, but then we moved there. But anyways. What about you…?”

GrandisKuwagamon looked at VictoryGreymon with an expression that asked if he was serious. “…You know who I am; you’re on guard duty,” he stated emphatically.

“Yeah, but…” VictoryGreymon meekly responded.

GrandisKuwagamon rolled his eye and stood to his feet inside his cell. “Name’s GrandisKuwagamon. I’m from some place you’ve never heard of,” he answered offhandedly.

VictoryGreymon smiled and placed the Dramon Breaker sword down against the wall on the opposite side of the dungeon corridor. He then offered his hand towards the cell. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” VictoryGreymon stated, looking at the ebony bug expectantly.

GrandisKuwagamon glanced down at VictoryGreymon’s hand and then back up at his smiling face. “…You know, the bars—“ He suddenly caught himself and a mischievous smirk formed on his lips. “Actually, you know what? Sure. Slide me some scales,” he said, offering his black hand towards the bars.

VictoryGreymon reached his hand forwards to try and put them through the bars. As soon as his clawed fingers began to go between the chrome digizoid slabs, and impenetrable barrier suddenly materialized, physically blocking him from going any further. Then the barrier sparked with electricity, sending a weak but surprising jolt through VictoryGreymon’s hand.

He let out a sharp yelp of surprise and retracted his hand, shaking it rapidly. “Ow, ow, ow!” he exclaimed, dancing in place as he tried to get rid of the numb sensation in his hand.

GrandisKuwagamon snickered. “Oh, yeah. I forgot about that,” he remarked innocently.

“So did I…” VictoryGreymon said with an embarrassed smile. He didn’t seem to notice that the mercenary set him up for that to happen. The dragon guard looked at the bug Digimon with a friendly smile. “So, um, GrandisKuwagamon. …Can I call you Grandis?”

“No,” GrandisKuwagamon said swiftly and succinctly.

“But ‘GrandisKuwagamon’ is long and hard to remember…” VictoryGreymon mumbled, twiddling his fingers.

“Fine, whatever,” GrandisKuwagamon answered, just trying to get him off of his back.

“Great!” VictoryGreymon stated enthusiastically. “So, what do you think of the Royal Knights? Pretty cool, huh?”

“Yeah, amazing,” the black insect sarcastically answered, rolling his eye. “I’m a real fanboy. And their dungeon sure is comfy. I feel right at home here.”

“Oh, uh, yeah… Maybe that was a dumb question…” VictoryGreymon sheepishly suggested, realising that maybe GrandisKuwagamon didn’t exactly have the best predisposition towards his heroes.

An uncomfortable silence began to overtake the dungeon. VictoryGreymon shuffled in place, scuffing at the floor with his toe claws as the tension began to make him feel awkward.

“So…” he began, looking over at GrandisKuwagamon again, wanting to make conversation. “Hey, did I tell you? I’m part of the Greymon Five. Ever heard of us?” he stated proudly.

“Nope,” GrandisKuwagamon answered, not even bothering to hide his apathy.

“Yeah!” VictoryGreymon exclaimed, not picking up on the prisoner’s annoyance or disinterest at all. “We were part of the Republic of Node military until a few days ago. We even fought in that battle against the Metal Empire! After our higher ups found out what was going on, they made an agreement with the Royal Knights to get us transferred here to the Order. It’s great! We’re all big fans of the Royal Knights. I can’t tell you how amazing it is to be part of the Order. We’re part of the Strike Forces now. Oh! But you’re probably wondering why I’m guarding the dungeon.”

“Not really.”

“Well, I volunteered to help out since everybody’s really busy right now,” VictoryGreymon explained. “After that battle, there’s a lot of stuff going on.”

GrandisKuwagamon gave VictoryGreymon a sideways look. “You’re not very good at this guarding thing, are you?” he asked him pointedly. “You know, you’re making nice with the prisoners and everything...”

“Huh? There’s nothing wrong with being friendly,” VictoryGreymon responded, shrugging his broad shoulders.

GrandisKuwagamon grinned and shook his head. “****… I was kidding when I said that all of the Order Digimon are wide-eyed *******es like you, but I’m really startin’ to think that I was right all along,” he said cynically. “Then again, the Royal Knights probably have that as their job description.”

“Hey, the Royal Knights and the others aren’t dumb…” VictoryGreymon responded, more offended for the Royal Knights than for himself. “I know you must be upset, being in prison and all, but—“

“Don’t patronize me, lizard,” GrandisKuwagamon sharply told him. “You don’t know anything about me.”

VictoryGreymon frowned and folded his arms, thinking about the insect Digimon’s words. “Well… I guess I don’t…” he admitted, supposing that the mercenary had a point. He then smiled at him brightly. “I’d like to, though.”

GrandisKuwagamon stared at the bulky Greymon. “…Are you serious?” he asked him incredulously. “I don’t know how a naïve, empty-headed lug like you survived this long.”

“I’m just trying to be friendly…” the humanoid Greymon mumbled, looking down dejectedly.

“There’s your main problem,” GrandisKuwagamon muttered. “You’re soft-hearted and soft-headed.”

VictoryGreymon opened his mouth to reply, but he was interrupted by the sound of the metal door getting knocked on and a voice sounding out.

“We have authorised guests. Door one is open. Door two?” the voice asked.

The Mystimon guard who was standing by the inner door of the dungeon began unlocking the door. VictoryGreymon glanced at GrandisKuwagamon before walking over to help his fellow guard and return to his duties.

The pair unlocked the door and opened it to see Examon standing there with Dorbickmon.

“Thank you,” Examon said to them politely. “My friend and I wanted to speak with GrandisKuwagamon.”

“Right this way, Sir Examon, sir!” VictoryGreymon stammered excitedly, obviously awestruck at seeing the tall dragon Royal Knight up close. “Let me show you—“ As VictoryGreymon hurriedly spun around, his legs moved faster than his tail. He ended up stepping on the tip of his tail and then getting his other ankle tangled up in the long, flexible appendage. VictoryGreymon let out a sharp holler as he tripped over himself and crashed to the floor of the dungeon.

A bead of sweat dripped down Examon’s head as he stared at the fallen VictoryGreymon with surprise and concern. Meanwhile, Dorbickmon started laughing.

“Are you okay?” Examon asked him, bending down to help the dragon man stand up.

“Y-Yeah. Sorry,” VictoryGreymon apologised, blushing sheepishly as he stood up again. “I’ve got two left feet.” He straightened himself up and rubbed the back of his head with an embarrassed smile. “He’s in the fifth cell down, sir!”

“Thanks,” Examon responded before looking at Dorbickmon. “Well, come on.”

Dorbickmon smirked and strode forward down the dungeon hall. Examon walked after him to keep a close eye on him. The pair of red dragons passed by the empty cells until they reached the one occupied one. There was an initial twinge of anger upon seeing the black form of the insect mercenary, but he stifled the gut emotion. Dorbickmon stepped up to the bars and folded his arms, looking in at GrandisKuwagamon with a victorious grin.

GrandisKuwagamon turned to look at the visitors. Upon seeing Dorbickmon on the other side of the bars, an irritated scowl formed on his face. “Oh, great…” he muttered, realising how much Dorbickmon would enjoy seeing him in this position.

“Remember me?” Dorbickmon asked, smirking as he stared at the imprisoned mercenary.

“Hard to forget a face as ugly as yours,” GrandisKuwagamon deadpanned in response. “So, I guess you survived that little brawl in Shroud.”

“I always survive,” Dorbickmon countered, shooting an intense leer at the black insect.

“What a shame,” GrandisKuwagamon snarked in return. He cast a fearless grin at Dorbickmon. “But, it’s nice to know my instincts weren’t wrong. I was almost worried I dropped an innocent Digimon into deep ****, but here you are, hanging off the arm of a Royal Knight. I always knew you were working for them.”

Dorbickmon glanced at Examon and took a step away from him self-consciously. Despite their reconciliation, Dorbickmon didn’t want to be lumped in with the Royal Knights. “A job’s a job,” he told the mercenary defensively. “I only worked with them to take down you and your friends. It’s not like I work for the Order.”

Examon watched Dorbickmon quietly. He wanted to comment, but he let Dorbickmon have his say. He couldn’t help but be a little offended that Dorbickmon had to go out of his way to distance himself from them. Despite this, he understood that Dorbickmon was in a precarious situation at the moment, so he tried to let it slide.

“I dunno if everybody will see it that way,” GrandisKuwagamon responded, idly examining his black fingers. “Once you’ve been outed as working with the Royal Knights, you’ll be hard to trust again. Once a snake, always a snake…”

Despite bristling underneath, Dorbickmon smiled a dangerous, tooth-laden smile. “Yeah, well, you’re in there and I’m out here. I’m pretty sure I got the last laugh,” he pointed out to him.

“Whatever. Keep telling yourself that,” GrandisKuwagamon answered nonchalantly, not wanting to give Dorbickmon the satisfaction.

“I also heard that you got betrayed by your own teammates. You must really be unpopular,” Dorbickmon continued with a dark smirk. “Sucks to be you.”

GrandisKuwagamon folded his arms. “Not quite as unpopular as a Royal Knight informant in the world of mercenaries. I sure hope these tin cans pay well, because I doubt you’ll ever get a job again,” the insect Digimon countered calmly. “I’d stay away from Shroud and Dark Point if I were you. Unless you want to end up with something sharp between your ribs.”

A low growl rolled in Dorbickmon’s throat. “At least I’m not stuck in some dungeon, bound for a lengthy stay in Havelock, while my friends who betrayed me are walking free.” Dorbickmon laughed. “It must eat you up inside, bug.”

Examon glanced at Dorbickmon, unable to help but feel uncomfortable. He knew that Dorbickmon still had a darker side, but it made him uneasy to see it after they were getting along so well. He also knew that it wasn’t long ago that Dorbickmon blamed him for betraying him and he carried a grudge that festered for years. He began to think that he and GrandisKuwagamon had more in common than they thought.

GrandisKuwagamon’s eye narrowed slightly, but he caught himself before he rose to the bait. “You done, lizard? I’ve got a book I want to finish.”

Dorbickmon grunted and angled his head away, leering at him out of the corner of his gold and violet eye. “Yeah, whatever. Enjoy the prison cell, bug,” Dorbickmon taunted.

“Enjoy the Royal Knight ****, lizard,” GrandisKuwagamon snappily retorted.

“Why you--!” Dorbickmon snarled, stepping towards the bars, but he was stopped by Examon.

“Are you done here, Dorbickmon?” Examon calmly asked, keeping a tight hold on his arm to keep him from going any further.

“Not yet!” Dorbickmon protested, glaring at GrandisKuwagamon. “I heard your two so-called friends are laughing it up in Shroud by now. It must be shitty to be the sucker left carrying the can, isn’t it, Scissor-face?”

GrandisKuwagamon grunted and looked away. “This is getting pretty boring, lizard. Like I said, I’ve got books to read,” he pointed out with indifference. “So, why don’t you take your spikes and your nipple lasers somewhere else?”

“I’m not done with you yet,” Dorbickmon threatened, scowling intimidatingly.

“Dorbickmon, I think you’ve made your point,” Examon protested, grabbing his arm and pulling him.

“Fine. I’ll just go enjoy my freedom,” Dorbickmon said with an edge to his growling voice. “More than I can say for you, huh, Grandis?”

Examon sighed. “Okay, you got the last word now. Can we go?” he asked tiredly.

“Tch,” Dorbickmon grunted, conceding to Examon. He turned and started walking down the dungeon corridor towards the exit, not giving GrandisKuwagamon another look.

Examon eyed GrandisKuwagamon for a moment before following the dragon mercenary.

GrandisKuwagamon rolled his eye and went to sit down on his bed. He grabbed a book from the nearby table and opened it to where he left off.

While walking down the dungeon corridor, Examon looked ahead at Dorbickmon. “You couldn’t just take the high road, could you?” he asked him with subtle irritation.

“He had it coming and I had a score to settle with him,” Dorbickmon answered with an aloof shrug.

“You didn’t have to be so immature and petty,” Examon muttered.

“Petty!?” Dorbickmon sputtered, wheeling around to glare at Examon. “That guy outed me as working for you and sent an entire mob of mercs on me! They were ready to beat me to a pulp! They probably would have interrogated me and pulled my teeth out one by one! You tell me again that that’s petty!” he growled with an intense, draconic glare.

Examon stopped in front of him and stared at him coolly. “I know. He wronged you… So rise above it and be the better Digimon, if you’re capable,” he icily responded. “You’re not going to do yourself any good by dwelling on grudges and revenge.”

Dorbickmon stopped and blinked at his words incredulously. After a moment, Dorbickmon sharply exhaled in an offended scoff. “Oh, so that’s what this is about! I get it now…” he exclaimed with a sharp edge to his voice.

Examon frowned softly and looked away. “I don’t know what you mean…” he calmly answered.

Before either of them could continue, the muscular Greymon walked over to them. “Sir, the doors are ready,” VictoryGreymon explained, thumbing over to the pair of opened security doors.

“Thank you, VictoryGreymon,” Examon told him, walking past the volunteer guard and heading through the doors.

Dorbickmon stared after Examon with bitter, narrowed eyes. After a moment, he grunted and followed after the Royal Knight. As Examon and Dorbickmon headed towards the exit, they noticed a pair of Digimon on the opposite side of the threshold. Standing on the other side were SaviorHackmon and Gankoomon, who were talking to the exterior guards.

Examon raised an eyebrow upon seeing them there. “Gankoomon? Were you looking for me?” he asked him curiously.

“Nah,” Gankoomon responded with a shrug as the pair stopped in front of them. He nodded over SaviorHackmon. “He wanted to visit GrandisKuwagamon.”

SaviorHackmon bowed politely before Examon. “Hello, Examon-shishou,” he greeted formally, making his reverence clear.

“Hello, SaviorHackmon,” Examon said in response, offering a tiny smile to the younger dragon Digimon.

“Good luck,” Dorbickmon muttered to SaviorHackmon. “He may be locked up, but his sharp tongue can cut even that thick armour of yours. Don’t take him lightly.”

“Yeah, I know,” SaviorHackmon responded reminiscently. He could clearly remember how rough, brutally honest, and sarcastic GrandisKuwagamon was when Black Pincer Company was holding SaviorHackmon hostage. As much as he hated being in that situation and as terrifying as it was, he remembered part of it fondly. He liked getting to know this strange, enigmatic, cynical Digimon who seemed like he had more to him than he let on.

SaviorHackmon gazed down the hall towards the cells, as if hoping to be able to spot him from there. He looked at Examon and the guards. “May I see him?

“As long as you have Royal Knight permission,” Mystimon said, looking at both Examon and Gankoomon for their approval.

“If Gankoomon says it’s alright,” Examon agreed, turning to the humanoid Royal Knight.

“Yeah. He just needs to talk with him and get a few things off of his chest,” Gankoomon answered. The fire-haired Royal Knight folded his arms and looked at SaviorHackmon. “You can talk to him alone, right?”

“Of course, Sensei. I want to speak with him alone,” SaviorHackmon responded, nodding his white, horned head. Feeling a bit nervous, he fiddled with the goggle-clad collar that connected his long, red cape to his neck. “May I go in now?”

“Go ahead,” the Mystimon stated, stepping aside. “The cell is right down there.”

SaviorHackmon nodded, took in a light breath of the musty dungeon air, and walked through the threshold.

Gankoomon watched as his apprentice walked down the hall, away from him. He smiled slightly and folded his arms across his chest. He could sense the maturity in SaviorHackmon’s words and actions. His growth over these past few months had been clear to Gankoomon. No longer was he the young, dreamy Hackmon who saw everything in shades of black and white. SaviorHackmon was beginning to understand the shades of grey and the complex realities of the Digital World – and yet, his heart was strong enough that he held true to his passion and ideals despite it all. It was enough that Gankoomon trusted him alone with the mercenary. He was certain that witnessing that battle had something to do with his growth.

The Royal Knight turned and walked out of the dungeon, into the underground corridor along with Examon and Dorbickmon. As he did, he glanced at his fellow Royal Knight. “Hey, Examon,” he spoke, glancing up at the dragon curiously. “D’you think SaviorHackmon has matured over the last few months?”

Examon frowned and folded his arms with thought, as the dungeon doors were closed behind them. “Well… you would know better than I would…” he pointed out to his comrade. “But… yes, I do. He seems like he has a better understanding of what the Royal Knights are now. Ever since he became SaviorHackmon, he’s been more deliberate in his actions, and he doesn’t only talk about fighting. He’s curious about other aspects of the Order, like its organization, its history, the political and administrative sides…”

Gankoomon leaned against the stone wall behind him and nodded. “Yeah, I’ve thought so too. He’s definitely changing… even more over the past week,” he mused. “I wonder if that battle changed him so deeply…”

“His first battle… Something of that scale would have an effect on any Digimon,” Examon pointed out. “I still remember mine.”

“I even remember my first fight,” Dorbickmon added, his sour mood fading as he fondly remembered his first scrap. “I knocked the guy flat on his ***. Good times.”

Gankoomon sighed and scratched his head. “Yeah, I guess it would have something to do with that, wouldn’t it? Especially for someone with a heart like SaviorHackmon’s…”

“His heart?” Examon asked, looking at Gankoomon curiously.

The Royal Knight readjusted the white coat on his shoulders and nodded. “Yeah… He likes to put on an image of being tough, especially in front of you guys, but, deep down, he’s actually got a sensitive heart that cares a lot for other Digimon… That’s why he’s in there now, talking with GrandisKuwagamon.”

“Hmm…” Examon thought to himself. He glanced at Gankoomon with a knowing grin. “So, a bit like his Sensei, I guess.”

Gankoomon’s beige cheeks tinted and a toothy scowl formed on his lips. He looked away to hide his embarrassment. “Tch. Don’t test me, Examon. I’ve punched out bigger dragons than you,” he warned him.

Examon chuckled and sheepishly scratched his cheek. “It was a compliment…”

Dorbickmon quietly leered at Examon with hard eyes, but he remained silent and docile. He grunted softly and folded his arms, leaning against the wall as the two Royal Knights talked.

-

(Continued in the next post)

 

[Griff4815]

(Continued from the previous post)

-

Meanwhile, SaviorHackmon tentatively walked up to GrandisKuwagamon’s cell.

The dragon stopped just short of the cell, standing out of view. For a moment, he doubted himself. The last time he had seen GrandisKuwagamon, he had been his prisoner. He was still a big, dominant, fearsome Ultimate-level Digimon in his mind. Despite the chrome digizoid bars and the fact that they were nearly the same size, SaviorHackmon felt a bit of fear at the idea of standing face to face with him again.

SaviorHackmon exhaled and closed his eyes meditatively. He reminded himself that he wanted to talk to GrandisKuwagamon. There was something about the cynical mercenary that spoke to him. He felt as though he wasn’t as bad as his first impression of the criminal made him seem.

SaviorHackmon steeled himself and summoned his courage. He pulled his crimson hood up over his horned head so that his face was shaded over. He let his goggles rest against the fabric over his forehead, weighing the hood down against his head. Finally, he looked in to see the bug Digimon standing behind the bars. It was strange seeing him in such a vulnerable position.

GrandisKuwagamon eyed SaviorHackmon with a sideways leer. After a brief moment of surprised recognition, an irritated expression formed on his black, hardened face upon seeing the dragon man come into view. “Oh, great…” he muttered.

“…Hello,” SaviorHackmon spoke. It was clear from the uncertainty in his voice and his tense posture that he was feeling awkward. After a moment of tense silence, he rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the soft fabric of his mantle. “…It’s funny… Our roles are reversed. Now you’re the one who’s captured.”

GrandisKuwagamon levelled the flattest, driest, most acidic stare that he could muster at SaviorHackmon. “…Ahaha. Yeah. Side-splittingly hilarious,” he responded, his annoyed voice dripping with sarcasm. “If you could spare me the gloating, that’d be peachy. I got enough of it from the ******* that came before you.”

SaviorHackmon winced guiltily at how his words came out, realising how smug they must have sounded. “S-Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant—“

“I don’t care what you meant, kid,” the beetle mercenary responded dismissively, wishing to get this over with. “What do you want?”

“…I’m not a kid,” SaviorHackmon calmly responded, his voice deeper than before and mature enough to back up that claim. “I just came here to talk to you.”

“About what?” GrandisKuwagamon brusquely asked.

“I don’t know… I wanted to see how you were,” SaviorHackmon responded sheepishly.

“’To see how I am’?” GrandisKuwagamon rubbed the ridge above his eye with irritation. “You know what? I’d actually prefer the boasting to pity. Seriously, BaoHackmon – or whatever you’re callin’ yourself now – I can do without your smug sense of self-satisfaction.”

SaviorHackmon narrowed his golden eyes at this. He shot a familiar, defiant leer at GrandisKuwagamon. “Believe it or not, but I was actually worried about you, GrandisKuwagamon,” he told him firmly, refusing to let himself be scared off by his harsh words. “I didn’t come here to rub it in or pity you.”

“That’s very touching,” GrandisKuwagamon deadpanned. “It’s also incredibly stupid, worrying about the enemy.” He turned to face SaviorHackmon directly, gazing at him. “You may look older and talk different, but you’re still the same naïve *******.”

“I’m not naïve,” SaviorHackmon insisted emphatically as his heartfelt passion shone through his voice. “Is it naïve to care about people, GrandisKuwagamon? Is it naïve to trust people? Is it naïve to want to see the best in things? Is it naïve to have dreams?”

GrandisKuwagamon stared at him blankly. His single, compound eye revealed a cold, harsh, and disillusioned leer. “Yeah… It is…” the mercenary bluntly responded.

SaviorHackmon sneered sadly. “What made you so cynical…?” he asked him.

GrandisKuwagamon stared at SaviorHackmon darkly. “Living…” he answered.

“Yeah… well, I’m not like you,” SaviorHackmon insisted, staring back at GrandisKuwagamon with an intense gaze. “I don’t have to be like you. I don’t want to be bitter and cynical. When you’re surrounded by darkness, you can still choose to find the light! That’s what the Royal Knights are!”

The imprisoned mercenary released a condescending, empty laugh. “The Royal Knights… That’s what you cling onto for hope, huh? The hope that, one day, you’ll get to be just like them…” he pondered perceptively. “If that’s what you wanna do, I won’t stop you… I really don’t care. Just don’t expect to live very long. That’s how the world works.”

“I’ll take that chance, even if you think I’m stupid for doing so,” SaviorHackmon stated with firm resolution. “You must have ambitions too, GrandisKuwagamon. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have started a mercenary company! You wouldn’t have gone through all this!”

“Yeah, I did have ambitions,” GrandisKuwagamon admitted. “I had a lot of ambitions.” He gestured around at his cell. “They’re not much good to me now.”

SaviorHackmon winced and sighed regretfully at how the situation ended up for the mercenary. “…What kind of ambitions?” he tentatively asked.

“Number one was pretty basic. It was to get myself out of gutter that I was forced to grow up in. It was just me, Blitzmon, and Bolgmon, and all we had was each other and the determination not to die. When we started Black Pincer Company, we wanted to be something. We wanted to take the skills that we learned growing up and turn it into something that would make us a lot of money,” GrandisKuwagamon explained. “It wasn’t easy, but it worked. At least, it did…”

“Until all this happened and Blitzmon and Bolgmon turned on you…” SaviorHackmon mentioned sympathetically. He couldn’t help but feel guilty for the situation that GrandisKuwagamon ended up in.

GrandisKuwagamon turned his head and looked at SaviorHackmon. He looked under the shadow of SaviorHackmon’s hood and saw his concerned, yellow eyes. GrandisKuwagamon glared at him with bristling disdain. “Cripes… Don’t look at me with those big, sad eyes,” he growled. “You can’t help yourself, can you? I don’t want your pity. I fully expected something like that to happen eventually. In this business, you have to stab each other in the back to get ahead.”

“Even your friends?” SaviorHackmon pressed, frowning resistantly.

GrandisKuwagamon pivoted in his cell to face the visitor directly. “Even them,” he coldly answered. “No mercy.”

SaviorHackmon folded his arms and levelled an unconvinced expression at him. “I don’t buy it… You seem like a loyal guy to me.”

“’Seem loyal’? Assuming makes an *** of you and me… Particularly you,” GrandisKuwagamon chastised him. “Talk about naïve…”

“I’m not assuming. I just have a gut feeling,” SaviorHackmon insisted.

GrandisKuwagamon rolled his eye. “Tch. You mean, you’re assuming,” he corrected emphatically.

SaviorHackmon sighed. He could see that he wasn’t getting anywhere. “Fine…” he capitulated. However, as the topic ended, a tense silence began to fill the dungeon. “…Have you been convicted and sentenced yet?” he wondered.

“Not yet,” GrandisKuwagamon said with a shrug. “They want something out of me first. I can tell.”

“Like what?” the blade-adorned dragon man wondered.

“They probably want info on my client or Blitzmon and Bolgmon,” GrandisKuwagamon responded dismissively. “You can tell them that information doesn’t come free.”

SaviorHackmon nodded thoughtfully. He closed his pure, golden eyes and thought to himself for a few moments before looking back at GrandisKuwagamon. “Maybe if you tell them about your life, they’ll go easier on you,” he suggested.

GrandisKuwagamon smirked at this. “The sad thing is that you actually believe that…” he said flippantly. The smiled faded and he gazed at SaviorHackmon with his piercing, red eye. “What about my life, exactly? Some sob story? Which one, if you’re such an expert? What exactly do you know about my life, huh, SaviorHackmon?”


SaviorHackmon shifted in place, shame-facedly. He admitted that he didn’t actually know anything about GrandisKuwagamon. He just assumed based on some of the things that he said and what he could piece together. “I don’t know... I just thought, well… I have a gut feeling about you, so...”

“You don’t know me half as well as you think you do,” GrandisKuwagamon told him harshly. “Don’t act like you do.”

“Sorry…” SaviorHackmon bashfully responded. “I didn’t mean to assume anything.” However, after a moment, his eyes hardened defiantly and he leered back at the prisoner. “Even though you assume things about me… Like me being naïve and dumb.”

“Prove me wrong,” GrandisKuwagamon answered coolly.

“I will. You can’t just brand the whole Order as being full of idiots because they believe in Yggdrasil and actually want to help other Digimon,” SaviorHackmon argued. “Not everybody is self-interested, and being altruistic doesn’t make somebody stupid or naïve.”

GrandisKuwagamon rolled his eye. “Look, kid, I’m having a bad enough time as it is without your constant sympathy and idealism driving me up the wall. I’m getting tired of dropping hints that I’m not interested in what you’re selling.” He picked up his book from the bedside table and leaned his winged back against the wall. “Are we done? I want to finish these books in case I get hauled off to Havelock.”

“I guess so…” SaviorHackmon reluctantly confirmed. He began to walk away, but suddenly stopped and turned his head to look at the imprisoned insect Digimon. “Just one more thing...”

“Shoot,” the ebony mercenary replied, not looking up from his book.

“I still believe that you’re not such a bad guy,” SaviorHackmon said to him, looking at him meaningfully.

“Shows what you know,” GrandisKuwagamon answered dismissively.

SaviorHackmon sighed. He expected such a response. “Try to have a bit of hope, GrandisKuwagamon…”

With those words, SaviorHackmon continued walking down the dungeon hall, flanked by cells on both sides. As he made his way towards the exit, there was a deep frown on his draconic face.

VictoryGreymon turned towards SaviorHackmon as he approached. “Are you done, SaviorHackmon?” he asked his fellow bipedal dragon.

“Yeah. Thanks,” SaviorHackmon answered, his words a bit heavy and pensive. He found it hard trying to debate GrandisKuwagamon. The mercenary always had a comeback and he knew just what to say to needle Digimon.

“He wasn’t too hard on you, was he?” VictoryGreymon wondered, leaning forwards on his massive broadsword. “I know he’s a bit rough, but he’s probably just frustrated about the situation he’s in. Don’t let it get to you.”

“That, or he’s a total dick,” the Mystimon guard muttered under his breath.

Not hearing the Mystimon’s remark, SaviorHackmon smiled and nodded at the muscular Greymon. “Yeah, I know.”

VictoryGreymon smiled broadly. “By the way, I hear you’re a huge Royal Knight fan too, huh?” he asked SaviorHackmon with interest. “I am too! Me and my friends from the Greymon Five are having a Royal Knight trivia session later on when we’re off-duty. Want to come?”

SaviorHackmon brightened up at the idea. “That sounds great. I’d love to come. Thanks!” he confirmed excitedly.

VictoryGreymon chuckled and rubbed the back of his head. “No problem. Here, I’ll let you out,” he said, going to unlock the various different kinds of locks.

As the two guards prepared to let him out of the dungeon, SaviorHackmon couldn’t help but worry about GrandisKuwagamon. He knew he shouldn’t feel bad for him since he brought it upon himself, but he felt like there was more to the mercenary than just being a shady, underhanded criminal. He wanted to believe that he was right about GrandisKuwagamon.

-

“Good,” a contralto female voice said evenly. “Watch your angles of attack after you pull up from the dive.”

Over-sergeant Paildramon watched from the ground as the Aerial Strike Forces drilled in the training grounds. The multitude of aerial Digimon were organized into single rows in the air. One after another, they were diving towards the ground at a steep angle before pitching upwards a few meters before they could hit the grass. The winged Digimon pulled up at a sharp angle and glided over the grass before finally circling around and returning to their positions in a carefully choreographed training exercise.

The draconic over-sergeant gazed at the winged soldiers, watching as the last one finished his manoeuvres. “Alright. That’s enough for now,” she stated. “Group’s A and B, I want you to start working on evasive manoeuvres. Group C? Prepare the practice rounds and set up a fifty meter firing range. We’ll start with static evasion and then move onto tailed and frontal evasions. Clear?”

“Yes, over-sergeant!” the Aerial Strike Forces Digimon obeyed.

Paildramon nodded and pointed over to an open part of the training grounds that faced north, away from the castle. “Set up over there,” she said to them.

The humanoid dragon placed her gauntlet-covered hands on her hips as he watched several dozen aerial Digimon fly off. She flapped her two pairs of wings and was about to join them when she heard a pair of footsteps behind her. Paildramon looked over her shoulder to see UlforceVeedramon walking over.

“Sir UlforceVeedramon,” she greeted, turning around and saluting him formally.

“Don’t call me ‘Sir’ or else I’ll start calling you ‘Ma’am’, Paildramon,” he teased, walking up to her.

Paildramon grinned playfully and lowered her hand. “Duly noted,” she responded, her posture relaxing somewhat.

“How are the new recruits from New Terminal doing?” he asked, looking over at the Aerial Strike Forces Digimon under her command.

“Not bad,” she responded. “They’re professional, but they’re not quite up to the Order’s level of standards right now. That will change soon enough. I’ll give it three weeks.”

UlforceVeedramon smiled. “Good to hear it. Are you going to whip them into shape?” he asked her coyly.

“I’ll just be aiding Leftenant HippoGriffomon as he trains them,” she explained to the Royal Knight. “Since there are a lot of new recruits, I’m training groups A, B, and C today.”

“Got it,” UlforceVeedramon answered with a nod. “You seem to be doing a good job.”

“I’m trying. I know I’ve only been here for less than a year, but I hope to stay up to the Order’s standards as well,” she explained. She looked at him curiously. “Did you want me for something in particular, UlforceVeedramon?” Paildramon asked the muscular dragon knight.

“Not really. It’s just been awhile since we’ve last spoken, with the battle and everything that’s been going on” UlforceVeedramon responded with a smile. “How’s your brother doing?”

Paildramon smiled. “He’s good - driving my father mad,” she explained fondly.

UlforceVeedramon chuckled. “I was the same way,” he admitted good-naturedly. He looked at the dragon curiously. “Have you spoken with your father?” he wondered.

“Yes, but only after messengers from the Order went to New Terminal to tell the Council of Seven about the current situation,” she assured him, wanting the Royal Knight to know that her familial ties wouldn’t get in the way of her professional responsibility. After a moment, her expression grew serious. “So, it’s true about the Seven Great Demon Lords…”

“I’m afraid so,” the cobalt dragon responded, his own smile disappearing as well. “This is even more serious than the war with the Metal Empire. So much for catching a break, huh?” UlforceVeedramon sighed heavily and folded his arms. He then gazed at Paildramon with pensive, red eyes. “How much faith do you think we can put in the Council of Seven’s support?”

“Despite the fact that there has been tension between the Council and your Order in the past, I think that they respect the power and capabilities of the Royal Knights enough to support us on this,” Paildramon explained. “They know the dangers of the Seven Great Demon Lords. It’s possible that they’re hoping that the demons will target the Heavenly Choir and leave everything else, but I doubt that they would want to take that chance.”

“There’s also the fact that Councillor Angewomon has ties to the Heavenly Choir, so she’ll take a hard line,” UlforceVeedramon mused.

“I think that she is probably to thank for all the support the Order has been getting. She can be quite stubborn,” Paildramon explained with a knowing smile.

“You sound like you know her well,” UlforceVeedramon stated, looking at Paildramon with interest. “I guess it makes sense that you would, since Councillor Imperialdramon’s your father.”

Paildramon nodded. “I have known her since I was young, due to her connection with my father,” she confirmed.

“Did you look up to her? I imagine she was quite the role model,” UlforceVeedramon suggested with a smile.

Paildramon frowned. “Well… In a way, I suppose. To be honest, I admired her strength when I was younger. She was never afraid to stand up for her beliefs and what she thought was right. …However, I don’t really consider myself as having a role model. I never wanted to get into politics. I was more enamored with the military life. If anything, I looked up to courageous generals more than anything else,” she admitted, sounding a little sheepish about it. She rubbed the back of her neck and looked away from UlforceVeedramon with traces of shame behind her crimson helmet. “…I don’t make a habit of idolizing people or anything. I just respected that about her.”

UlforceVeedramon couldn’t help but chuckle. “You don’t need to be embarrassed. I’m a Royal Knight and I had people I looked up to when I was young,” he explained.

“Sorry. I know,” Paildramon responded. “It’s just that…” She frowned and glanced down at her draconic feet, thinking about what she wanted to say. “I’m my own Digimon. I didn’t go out of my way to model myself after the Digimon that I admire. I want to stand on my own accomplishments.”

UlforceVeedramon smiled a bit. “I wasn’t going to compare you,” he assured her. “I don’t like being compared to the others either, so I kind of know how you feel. We each have our own skills and flaws. It’s what makes us ‘us’.”

“That’s a good way to put it,” Paildramon answered with a relieved smile.

“It is? Oh, that’s a relief,” UlforceVeedramon laughed. “I was worried I just said something embarrassingly obvious.”

Paildramon grinned playfully. “On the contrary, it seems you’re more than just jokes after all. You can be quite complex and philosophical when you want. I’m impressed,” she stated good-humouredly.

The winged dragon knight chuckled with embarrassment and rubbed the back of his blue, helmeted head. “Hey, I guess I can… That’s not a side that often comes out,” he sheepishly responded. He decided to change the subject away from himself. “Ahem… So… Are you nervous about fighting the Seven Great Demon Lords?”

“Cautious? Yes. Nervous? No. Don’t worry; my resolve is unwavering,” Paildramon assured him, becoming serious again. “I know that that goes for the others as well. We can’t let those seven demons any more destruction after the Night of Falling Stars. We’ll fight them with everything we have.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” UlforceVeedramon agreed, encouraged by her tenacity. “Anyways, I should let you get back to your recruits. Maybe we can have a beer later?”

“Maybe, if we both have time,” she agreed calmly. She saluted UlforceVeedramon and turned away, beginning to head across the training grounds towards the Aerial Strike recruits. Paildramon stopped and glanced over her shoulder at her fellow Veemon-species Digimon. “So… who did you look up to when you were young?”

UlforceVeedramon blushed a bit and looked around their immediate vicinity to make sure nobody was nearby. He walked up to her conspiratorially. “Promise not to tell anybody? Especially not a certain gold-armoured Royal Knight about yay-high?” he asked, levelling his hand with his waist.

Paildramon nodded.

“…Magnamon’s dad,” UlforceVeedramon admitted, scratching his cheek with a finger. “You know, the warrior from Brighthelm who stopped all those Diablomon during the Armagemon Crisis?”

“And I guess Magna’s pretty cool too, once I met him…” the blue Royal Knight added with even more reluctance, his face flushing further at the admission. “…And, again, he can never find out that I said that. Ever.”

Paildramon laughed softly but smiled at him reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Your secret’s safe with me,” she told him. She nodded and turned back to the Aerial Strike Forces, who were prepared and ready to go now.

UlforceVeedramon smiled and watched as Paildramon walked off. “…I guess I should get training too. Can’t afford to get lazy at this point,” he thought to himself.

He flapped his broad, blue and pink wings, lifting himself into the air. “Maybe I’ll see if I can beat my record around Splendor’s Reach,” he mused with an energized grin.

With that, the speedy knight took off in an azure blur.

-

“Hurry it up, SaviorHackmon,” a rough voice ordered. “The longer you take, the less time we have to train.”

SaviorHackmon sighed and nodded. “Yes, Gankoomon-sensei…”

He walked down the main road of the castle, passing by the shops and the barracks buildings as he made his way towards the training grounds. His bladed feet clinked against the stone street as he followed behind Gankoomon, who strode ahead of him with his usual determined gait. Flanking SaviorHackmon on both sides were the Sistermons, with Noir on his right and Blanc on his left. Sistermon Noir idly spun her gun around her index finger, while Sistermon Black timidly held her trident while walking close to SaviorHackmon.

“S-So, um… How did your talk with GrandisKuwagamon go…?” Sistermon Blanc asked, looking up at the tall dragon man inquisitively.

“As well as I expected it to go,” SaviorHackmon admitted, reaching his hand up and readjusting the red collar of his cape. “He has a rough edge to him. He wasn’t exactly happy to see me.”

Sistermon Noir looked disinterestedly over her shoulder at him. “Then why bother?” she asked blandly.

SaviorHackmon’s golden eyes softened into a frown. “I needed to…” he responded. “I wanted to speak with him.”

“Seems pointless to me,” the darker of the two sisters said with a shrug.

“Sometimes there are things that a man’s gotta do,” Gankoomon stated firmly. He looked over his shoulder at the three. “I could tell from the way that SaviorHackmon asked that this was one of them.”

SaviorHackmon lifted his metallic, draconic head up and looked towards the sunny sky. “…Before I met him, I thought Black Pincer Company was just this evil group of criminals. I had this idea that there were good guys, like the Royal Knights, and bad guys, like Black Pincer Company and the Metal Empire. But, after talking with GrandisKuwagamon, I’m not sure that it’s that simple…” he explained. “It’s so easy to just categorise Digimon into ‘good’ and ‘evil’ because it’s convenient, but it’s not that black and white, is it? Even the soldiers from the Metal Empire weren’t evil, I don’t think. They were just following orders, even if those orders were wrong. …GrandisKuwagamon was right. I was naïve…”

“We all were at one point,” Gankoomon told him, looking forward as he walked. “What’s important is that you don’t close your eyes to the realities of the world. You face them head on, with your eyes wide open!” the Royal Knight declared passionately. “That’s what men do!”

SaviorHackmon smiled and nodded. “You’re right, Gankoomon-sensei!” he agreed. “That’s why… That’s why I don’t want to pre-judge Digimon before getting to know them. There’s more to Digimon than just categories and what’s on the outside. I know there’s more to GrandisKuwagamon than just how he acts…”

SaviorHackmon bowed his head, his honest, gold eyes gazing down on the stone cobbles before him. “Hell… If it weren’t for you, Sensei, maybe I would have turned out just like him…” he contemplated. He looked up at Gankoomon’s back. “After that night, I mean…”

Gankoomon silently continued walking, listening to his words. He stepped onto the grass of the training grounds and pressed onwards toward their destination.

The dragon man Digimon gazed at the back of Gankoomon’s head, his eyes fixated on his fiery red hair. “Sensei…” he said, his tenor voice heavy and serious. “The Seven Great Demon Lords were the ones that dropped the Sky Colony and destroyed my town, right? …Is it true that they’re free?”

“SaviorHackmon…” Sistermon Blanc said sadly, looking at him with sympathetic grey eyes.

Gankoomon stopped walking, prompting SaviorHackmon and the Sistermons to suddenly stop as well. Despite the fact that he stopped, Gankoomon didn’t turn around. He stood there, quiet for a few moments.

“…Yeah,” he responded bluntly.

SaviorHackmon frowned and looked down. He stared at his palm, deep in thought. He tentatively curled his claws to make a tight fist, but then relaxed them. “I see…”

Gankoomon finally turned around and looked at the tall dragon man directly through his visor. “…Do you want revenge?” he asked him.

“No… I don’t,” SaviorHackmon responded thoughtfully. “I don’t think revenge would make me feel better about anything. I want the Demon Lords defeated, but not because of what they did to my village. I just don’t want them to hurt any more Digimon.”

Gankoomon smiled at this. “Glad to hear it,” he said, folding his arms across his broad chest and grinning approvingly. “Revenge isn’t all it’s cut out to be.”

SaviorHackmon nodded quietly. “…What are we going to do about it, Sensei?” he asked him.

“Do what Royal Knights do best: kick their asses!” Gankoomon declared with a confident smirk.

SaviorHackmon couldn’t help but chuckle at his teacher’s words. He smiled wider, emboldened by Gankoomon’s straightforward confidence, and nodded. “Okay…!”

“Can we help?” Sistermon Noir asked Gankoomon. “I’m still pissed that we missed that big battle at Saversburg.”

“M-Maybe we should just focus on training SaviorHackmon and helping out around the castle…” Sistermon Blanc suggested, far less eager than her older sister.

“Wuss,” Sistermon Noir chastised.

“I-I’m not!” the white and pink Digimon protested poutily.

“You don’t want to fight, you don’t want to confess your feelings for Magnamon – you’re a total wuss!” Sistermon Noir taunted with a grin.

SaviorHackmon blinked and looked down at Sistermon Blanc with shock. “Y-You like Magnamon-shishou, Blanc-chan?!” he stammered, his eyes widening.

“Are you jealous, Hackie?” the black-garbed Sistermon teased him as well.

“I-It’s not like that!” SaviorHackmon protested ardently. “Magnamon-shishou is my hero!”

“Are you suuuure? I know how passionate you get over the Royal Knights. There’s no shame in—“

“Noir-chan!” SaviorHackmon protested, blushing heavily in his metallic cheeks. “Cut it out!”

“Noir, you’re so mean sometimes!” Sistermon Blanc huffed with angry embarrassment as well.

Gankoomon shook his head and rolled his eyes behind his helmet. “That’s enough, you three,” he told them, although grinning a bit. “We’ve got work to do!”

For emphasis, Gankoomon continued walking across the training grounds towards a wide open spot that wasn’t in use. “You can start with stretches, SaviorHackmon. Then you’re going to do three sets of fifty push ups.”

SaviorHackmon smiled and followed after him, along with the two Sistermons. “Yes, Sensei…”

-

(Continued in the next post)

 

[Griff4815]

(Continued from the previous post)

-

As early evening set in, GrandisKuwagamon continued to sit in his relatively comfy, yet hopelessly confining cell. It was all he could do, as a prisoner of the Royal Knights.

He sat cross-legged on his bed with a tray of food on his lap. On his plate were a fresh variety of vegetables and a large slab of succulent, medium-rare steak, plucked from some of the finest meat trees in the Free Area. It was drizzled in an apple-red wine reduction, creating a deliciously sweet and savoury aroma that filled the cell.

GrandisKuwagamon couldn’t deny that the food looked and tasted delicious. It was far better than the food that he usually ate. He certainly didn’t expect prisoners to be served food of this calibre. He wasn’t aware that RhodoKnightmon insisted that prisoners be served the same food as Order members, since the culinary Royal Knight didn’t prisoners saying that they were served sub-standard food.

Despite the ignition of his taste buds when he placed a piece of meat in his mouth, GrandisKuwagamon didn’t have much of an appetite. As calm and nonchalant as an appearance that he put on, he hated the situation that he got himself in.

It stuck in his ego that he lost to the Royal Knights. He prided himself in his fighting capabilities. He knew that the Royal Knights were supposed to be some of the top warriors in the Digital World, but he still hated that he lost to one. More than that, he was furious about the position he was in. He hated how helpless he was right now. He was at the mercy of the Royal Knights.

He wasn’t in control of his fate.

And it was all because of them.

GrandisKuwagamon lowered his head far enough for the light to cast a shadow over his face. He still remembered Blitzmon and Bolgmon’s exact words to him when they used him as a scapegoat in Saversburg.

“Hahaha!” Bolgmon cackled, turning and giving GrandisKuwagamon a large smirk. “Good luck, Grandis!”

Blitzmon shrugged at GrandisKuwagamon as he zipped through the air. “It’s nothing personal!” he called out.”

They didn’t have any problem with betraying him at all. A scowl formed on the insect man’s face as he thought about it harder. He began to grip the plastic fork in his hand tightly. No, they didn’t just use him as a scapegoat when the Royal Knights spotted them. It was a set up.

GrandisKuwagamon clearly remembered Bolgmon attacking the Royal Knights when they were supposed to be sneaking by them. He remembered the look on Bolgmon’s face. Bolgmon was never that good at hiding his emotions. Rather than fear or anger, he looked triumphant, like everything was going to plan. He even laughed about it.

”I think they saw us! Haha, oops!”

That was all the evidence that GrandisKuwagamon needed. He wasn’t just scapegoated by his two comrades; he had been set up from the start.

The ebony mercenary scowled bitterly. He stung him that two Digimon who he considered his friends would do this to him. He wasn’t unfamiliar with betrayal, so he constantly had his guard up. However, he let his guard down around Blitzmon and Bolgmon. Given everything that they had gone through together - given their relationship and their history all the way back to childhood – he never thought that there would be any reason for them to betray him. It wouldn’t have surprised him if they just ran off to save their own exoskeletons, but this was different. This was planned.

“Tch,” GrandisKuwagamon scoffed, angry at himself almost as much as he was at them. “I should have seen the signs… Their cozy little chats together while I was busy. When Bolgmon said he was going to edge me out of the company, I thought he was just spouting hot air like he usually does. But he’s been cagey around me for a few weeks now. Damn it! I’m such a *******. I should have picked up on all this!”

GrandisKuwagamon sneered and stabbed the steak with his fork, causing juice to ooze out onto the plate. “I was naïve. Never let your guard down. Everybody’s going to look out for themselves, so-called friendship or not. It all comes down to whether somebody benefits you or not. I guess Bolgmon saw me as a threat to his relationship with Blitzmon, or maybe they just wanted a larger share in the company, or maybe it was just petty payback for me nagging him. Who the **** knows?” He sighed and composed himself, starting to cut into the steak with his plastic knife with precision cuts. “I wonder how much Blitzmon was involved in it. He at least seemed to know what was going on when they turned on me. I was an idiot for fooling myself into thinking that all those years together meant anything when the chips were down.”

The insect mercenary wiped the meat along the dabs of delectable sauce and placed it in his mouth. Although it should have tasted delicious, his mood made the food seem bitter and empty. As he chewed, he made a decision. “Okay, Grandis. Enough feeling sorry for yourself. You’re not finished yet… You’ve still got options. And if Blitzmon and Bolgmon are only looking out for themselves, so can you…”

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hushed chatter among the dungeon guards.

“Do you really think the Seven Great Demon Lords were freed?” VictoryGreymon asked his Mystimon companion. “WarGreymon told me the rumour. I dunno what to think.”

“The forces have been training awfully hard after just coming out of a war. They wouldn’t be doing that if there wasn’t something going on,” Mystimon answered.

“Gee. I guess you’re right…” VictoryGreymon agreed, frowning as he thought about it.

“I heard it has something to do with those dark rifts that popped up all over the battlefield when Chaosdramon went nuts,” Mystimon suggested.

“Oh, yeah. Those weird things… I felt sick just being near one. It was kinda scary,” VictoryGreymon mused as he remembered the battle against the Metal Empire and the dark rifts that started popping up. “What do they have to do with the Demon Lords?”

“Those things are how DarkKnightmon escaped the Dark Area to begin with. The Demon Lords must have escaped through them too.”

GrandisKuwagamon stared out of the bars of his cell as he listened in on their conversation. He grunted upon hearing the news. “The Seven Great Demon Lords, huh?” he thought to himself.

Before he could think about it much more, he was distracted by the sound of the dungeon’s doors opening. There was some hushed chatter between the guards and the visitors.

Then, three sets of footsteps began echoing up the dungeon corridor. One gait was loud, metallic, confident, and dominant. The second pair was metallic as well, but the footsteps were soft and calculated, as if the Digimon was stalking after prey. Finally, the third set was light and barely audible, with the only sound being made was the soft tapping of talons or claws. If GrandisKuwagamon had been less perceptive, he wouldn’t have noticed the third pair at all.

GrandisKuwagamon placed his plate to the side and stood up. As the footsteps neared, he could see Alphamon, Reapermon, and Karatenmon, the latter of whom he didn’t recognise, walk into view. The three stopped in front of his cell and looked at him through the bars.

“GrandisKuwagamon?” Reapermon asked, his fearsome face glaring at the mercenary with empty, glowing eyes.

GrandisKuwagamon turned to face them fully. “Wow, I sure am popular today, aren’t I?” he sarcastically stated upon seeing his visitors.

“Hello, GrandisKuwagamon,” Alphamon greeted. “I apologise for not visiting until now, but I have been busy.”

GrandisKuwagamon folded his arms standoffishly. “I wasn’t exactly expecting a red carpet welcome,” he responded. “What do you want?”

“Simply to talk,” Alphamon responded, his gold eyes gazing at GrandisKuwagamon steadily.

“Oh, is the interrogation beginning already?” GrandisKuwagamon nonchalantly inquired. “I’m pretty stubborn, so you’ve got your work cut out for you. I don’t break easily.”

“We don’t use torture, if that’s what you are implying,” Alphamon responded reasonably.

“Even if the Digital World was on the line?” GrandisKuwagamon challenged. “You saying you wouldn’t do it then?”

Alphamon stared at GrandisKuwagamon calmly. “You seem to like challenging authority and attempting to point out the flaws and hypocrisies of others,” he noted, not rising to the bait. “However, I believe that you have the wrong idea about what the Royal Knights are and what we stand for.”

“I do, huh?” GrandisKuwagamon asked with an amused yet hollow chuckle. “If you say so, Sir Gallant. I think you’re the ones who’re deluding yourselves.”

Alphamon placed a hand on his hip and gazed through the bars at GrandisKuwagamon. “How so?” he curiously inquired.

GrandisKuwagamon walked right up to the bars of the cell and stared across into Alphamon’s eyes. “Where to start? You and your Royal Knights and your bunch of idiotic followers… You think you’re big heroes of the Digital World. You’re the champions of Yggdrasil, the guardians of Network Security, famous heroes and all that nice-sounding stuff. You go around fighting big, calamitous assholes every once in awhile, and you play politics and sit around the rest of the time. You’re so up your own asses that you don’t know what’s going on around you,” GrandisKuwagamon bluntly accused, unafraid to speak his mind even in the position that he’s in.

Alphamon brought his black and gold hand up to his chin, stroking it with the back side of his index finger as he deliberated on the prisoner’s words. “I beg to differ, GrandisKuwagamon. We aren’t living in some ivory tower here. Our Order is doing our best to protect the whole of the Digital World, as well as Network Security. We don’t just fight existential threats. As you well know, we also bring criminals to justice and we prevent crime, brigandage, and violence. We also provide disaster aid and relief to Digimon in need. We are trying to make the Digital World a peaceful place. That is why we must bring Digimon like yourself to justice,” Alphamon retorted in a measured, collected voice.

GrandisKuwagamon couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “’Digimon like me’… What you really mean is ‘virus attributes’,” the black insect Digimon responded with a standoffish half-grin.

Alphamon frowned at his accusation. “No… I meant mercenaries who break the law,” he answered.

“Come on, Alphamon. Are you really that delusional?” GrandisKuwagamon needled, shrugging his shoulders. “You know how many Digimon you arrest. Most of them are virus Digimon like me. Your Order is loaded with vaccine Digimon. Don’t try to deny it.”

“Even if it’s true that we have many vaccine Digimon in our Order, and we do apprehend a large amount of virus Digimon, we do not specifically target virus Digimon,” Alphamon defended. “Two of my closest friends – Dukemon and RhodoKnightmon – are virus Digimon. We have four data attributes among the twelve Royal Knights as well.”

“Really? ‘I have a virus attribute friend’?” GrandisKuwagamon deadpanned. “I’m sure you’ve got a few token virus Digimon on your team for the PR, but that doesn’t change anything.”

Alphamon closed his eyes at this. “GrandisKuwagamon, I do not appreciate you making baseless assumptions about me and my friends. Dukemon and RhodoKnightmon are extremely important friends of mine. Furthermore, not all of the criminals that we apprehend are virus attributes. I firmly believe that ‘vaccine’, ‘data’, and ‘virus’ are empty labels. They do not necessarily determine the morality of Digimon. We do not discriminate based on such petty things, and we accept all into our Order,” he calmly explained to the mercenary.

Reapermon stepped forwards and pointed his sickle at GrandisKuwagamon. “Stop playing the victim, bug,” Reapermon said with a scowl. “I’m a virus attribute too. Not only that, but I used to be a criminal like you – a bounty hunter. Alphamon and I fought on several occasions, but when he finally defeated me, he offered me a second chance. You shouldn’t talk about things you don’t know anything about.”

“Tch,” GrandisKuwagamon scoffed, leering at Reapermon. “I’ve heard all about you, Reapermon. Anyway, those aren’t my words. A lot of the virus Digimon I know feel that way about the Royal Knights.”

“Criminals, you mean,” Reapermon fired back.

“You saying we’re wrong?” GrandisKuwagamon asked him. “I mean, we virus attributes get a shitty rep. Most of the Digimon who do things like trying to destroy the Digital World are virus types. There’s a lot of Digimon who think that it’s in our programming to be evil. Those same Digimon think that vaccine attributes are programmed to be good. I’m not denying that a **** load of virus Digimon are criminals. In fact, we probably account for the majority of criminals… I’ve seen virus Digimon swindle buyers, steal, rough up civilians… even raze villages…” GrandisKuwagamon spoke, his eye darkening as he stared at one of the torches on the opposite side of the dungeon hall. He grunted and looked away, folding his arms. “Hell, I’ve gone my whole life receiving shitty looks. Maybe it’s because I’m a virus attribute, maybe because I’m an insect Digimon. Probably both. …Still, not all of us are like that. I’ve seen vaccine Digimon do despicable things too. Same goes for data Digimon.”

“So have I…” Alphamon responded, opening his gold eyes and staring at the imprisoned mercenary. “That’s why I know not to judge based on something like attribute. We only arrest criminals, GrandisKuwagamon.” The black Royal Knight folded his thick arms across his chest and he stared at GrandisKuwagamon with a mixture of firmness and empathy. “…To be perfectly honest, I hate labels. And I wish you wouldn’t label me and my friends with broad strokes,” the Aloof Hermit rebuked. “You accuse us of being deluded, idealistic, and discriminatory, but you know nothing about us. You are taking the moral high ground against us, and yet you are the one with the long list of crimes to your name. You are merely deflecting responsibility.”

At this, GrandisKuwagamon couldn’t help but smirk. He was quietly impressed by Alphamon’s charisma and his willingness to call him out. “Okay… You got me…” he replied nonchalantly.

Karatenmon raised his eyebrow. “What? So, you just made up all of that indignation?” he asked him quizzically.

“Nah… I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true,” GrandisKuwagamon responded, folding his arms. He grinned at Alphamon. “But I’m not playing the victim… In fact, I’m proud of being a virus attribute. I don’t give a **** if some vaccine Digimon looks at me like something he scraped off his boot. Like I said, I’m used to that. I just wanted to see if Alphamon here was all talk and no substance. Part of me thought that he’d just be a big, empty suit of armour.”

“And am I?” Alphamon questioned.

“…That’s still to be determined,” GrandisKuwagamon responded coyly. “Not a bad start though.”

Alphamon’s golden eyes furrowed behind his black helmet. “…I don’t know why I have to explain myself to you, GrandisKuwagamon. You are the one who has to answer for his crimes.”

“You came here for something; I just like to know what kind of Digimon that I’m working with before I deal with them,” GrandisKuwagamon replied. “If I were just a random criminal, you’d have shipped me off to Havelock Prison by now. You wouldn’t be coming down to meet somebody like me in person. Especially not with an entourage. So, that means you want something from me…”

“I like to think that I would have come here anyways,” Alphamon replied, although he was impressed by GrandisKuwagamon’s perceptiveness.

“The leader of the holy Order of the Royal Knights? Coming down to visit a roguish, dishonorable, admittedly attractive mercenary? Don’t kid yourself.”

Alphamon closed his eyes and shook his head. “I may be a Royal Knight, but I don’t look down on you or Digimon like you,” he explained diplomatically.

“No, you just arrest or delete Digimon like us,” the bug quipped, unconvinced. He placed a hand of his hip and gazed at Alphamon with standoffish defiance. “I have a hard time believing that you’re really that noble. I’ve been working against you from the start; I’m an amoral mercenary who takes any job as long as he gets paid, and I’m a virus insect to boot. Not to mention…” GrandisKuwagamon’s compound eye darkened. “I’m an X-Antibody Digimon…”

Stifling a slight wince, the heavily armoured and caped paladin frowned in response. “An X-Antibody Digimon…” he mused, thinking deeply and rubbing his chin pensively.

GrandisKuwagamon smirked bitterly and nodded. “Yeah. You know, that mutant vaccine that alters Digimons’ digicores? Makes them resistant to some viruses, makes them stronger and faster, and makes them look different in some cases.”

“That’s right… GrandisKuwagamon are quite rare, but they do have X-Antibodies. Blitzmon and Bolgmon don’t typically have X-Antibodies, but your friends seemed to for some reason,” the Royal Knight deliberated.

“Yup. Oh, and also, us X-Antibody Digimon - you know - apparently caused that Death-X Invasion way back when. A lot of Digimon are distrustful of X-Antibody Digimon because of that,” GrandisKuwagamon pointed out. “A bunch of them were even hunted down after, if I remember my history right.”

At this mention, Alphamon winced and looked away. “That… The Death-X Invasion wasn’t because of X-Antibody Digimon,” he insisted, a hint of emotion lingering on his words. He turned back to GrandisKuwagamon and stared him straight in the eye. “…To be honest, I am also an X-Antibody Digimon.”

“Huh, look at us,” GrandisKuwagamon said with an ironic smirk. “We’re at opposite ends of the spectrum. A paragon of virtue and a ruthless criminal.”

Alphamon frowned in response to the comment. “I don’t see it that way… And anyways, I am not defined by the X-Antibody. I used to think that I was… I used to think that that whole invasion was because…” Alphamon closed his eyes and shook his head. “I learned a lot about myself from that disaster. I learned that I am in no position to pass judgments on others. That includes you.”

“Well, isn’t that magnanimous of you…?” the insect mercenary sarcastically replied.

The Royal Knight opened an eye to look at him again. “…I get the feeling that you have a grudge against us and our Order,” Alphamon suggested. “I remember that you disparaged us for serving Yggdrasil.”

GrandisKuwagamon shot Alphamon a sharp leer for a brief moment before shrugging informally. “Tch… No grudge. I just can’t stand idiocy – serving a made up deity – and hypocrisy – claiming you’re serving the common Digimon when you’re really not…”

Alphamon sighed. “Yggdrasil is real, GrandisKuwagamon, although you don’t have to believe me,” he explained to him. “As for hypocrisy, we do our best to serve the Digimon of the Digital World. We aren’t always successful, but we do try our best… However, I think that to continue this debate would be pointless right now. We would just be talking in circles. Should we just get to the point?”

“Sounds good. All I’m saying is that there’s a lot of hypocrites out there. Like criminals who hunt criminals,” the black insect stated, looking intentionally at Reapermon.

Reapermon narrowed his glowing eyes at the mercenary. “Reformed criminal, but I can always make an exception,” he threatened with his cool, raspy voice.

Karatenmon grinned and placed his talon-clad hands on his hips. “Anyway, I’m impressed. You’ve done your homework,” he said, looking at GrandisKuwagamon. “Especially about Reapermon.”

“You need to know who’s who in my line of work,” GrandisKuwagamon responded dismissively.

“I’m sure you do. Knowledge is a valuable thing,” Alphamon mused, rubbing his chin with a finger.

Karatenmon nodded. “In fact, that’s why we want to talk to you. You might know something that could help us,” the raven man pointed out.

“And why would I help the Royal Knights?” GrandisKuwagamon asked.

“Consider the position you’re in, bug,” Reapermon scathingly spoke. “It would be in your best interests.”

“How? It’s not like I have to worry about you guys torturing me,” GrandisKuwagamon responded. He levelled a meaningful gaze at Alphamon. “Information doesn’t come cheap.”

“I am aware of that,” Alphamon calmly answered. “However, I don’t barter until I know what I’m buying. You may not even have any information that is valuable to us. After all, you know that we have Dorbickmon with us, and he has a good amount of information on the criminal underworld.”

“Maybe, but if he had the information you wanted, you wouldn’t be down here fishing for information,” GrandisKuwagamon argued. “So, let’s stop dancing around. What do you want? Information on Blitzmon and Bolgmon?”

“Is that an offer?” Alphamon asked him.

GrandisKuwagamon grunted. At the moment, he felt absolutely no loyalty towards Blitzmon and Bolgmon after what they did to him. However, his captors didn’t need to know that. He needed every bargaining chip that he could get, given his situation. “…I’m not about to grass up my two partners,” he responded stubbornly.

“Honour among thieves, huh?” Reapermon asked with an edge to his voice that showed his distaste.

As they spoke, Karatenmon was particularly quiet. He brought his hands together, creating a hand seal. The avian ninja stared directly at GrandisKuwagamon, studying him carefully.

“You could say that,” GrandisKuwagamon answered, not noticing the raven man’s movements.

Karatenmon’s eyes glowed dimly as he stared at GrandisKuwagamon. “That’s not entirely true. You are willing to sell them out for a price,” he noted perceptively.

GrandisKuwagamon leered at Karatenmon with defensive irritation. “What the hell are you talking about?” he demanded.

Karatenmon smiled calmly. “My Satori ability allows me to read your spirit and predict your intentions. You’re holding out your information until we offer you a favourable deal. In actuality, you are angry with your comrades and you would sell them out in a heartbeat, but you don’t want to lose your leverage in this discussion. In particular, you want us to drop your charges,” he explained.

GrandisKuwagamon scowled. Much of his control over the bargaining had just been flattened by this. He had considerably less to work with now. “Yeah, okay… You can read my spirit, but you can’t read my mind, can you?” he countered.

Karatenmon grinned, unable to refute that statement. “No, I can’t. I can only read the emotions of your heart and make short-term predictions based on that,” he explained. “The knowledge within your mind is something entirely different.”

“So, you still need me to give up what I know voluntarily,” GrandisKuwagamon pointed out, trying to salvage his position.

“That’s correct,” Alphamon replied. “And we are willing to make a deal with you, provided that you have information that can help us.”

“What do you want to know, exactly?” GrandisKuwagamon inquired. “You already trashed our headquarters.”

“You have another,” Karatenmon stated, although not needing to use his Satori to deduce that. “That cave was a hideout, not a fixed address where clients can contact you. My guess is that you have a hole-in-the-wall apartment in either Shroud or Dark Point.”

GrandisKuwagamon didn’t respond one way or another. He eyed Karatenmon, quietly impressed by his deductive abilities.

Alphamon stared at GrandisKuwagamon. “You currently have a long-running contract with a client, do you not?” he analyzed. “All of the strings of jobs you have taken recently have been related. From the theft of those blueprints in Facture to the attack on our castle and the attack on our patrol... They have all been cunning deceptions aimed at creating a war between us and the Metal Empire. All by a single client. You admitted it yourself in Saversburg, remember.”

“Yeah, well, it worked apparently,” GrandisKuwagamon mused with a smug grin. “We got you good.”

“You also dug a big hole for yourself when you admitted to all that,” Reapermon pointed out, tapping the floor with his scythe arm. “There’s no wiggling out of it with a confession like that.”

GrandisKuwagamon internally swore. He did remember admitting all of that stuff out of sheer anger when he was fighting the Royal Knights. “…And if I gave you the information you wanted?” he asked.

“If the information proves to be accurate and reliable, then we will reduce your prison sentence,” Alphamon stated.

“I want freedom,” GrandisKuwagamon countered.

“You have committed crimes that we cannot overlook. You have murdered several Digimon of the Order, not to mention a swath of other crimes,” Alphamon said firmly. “You haven’t shown any remorse for your actions, either. Freedom without punishment is out of the question.”

“I’m sure you could overlook them if you want my information badly enough,” GrandisKuwagamon responded, trying to maintain his cool. Upon seeing Alphamon’s unwavering, golden eyes, GrandisKuwagamon saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere. “What about a suspended sentence?” he offered, although reluctant to concede ground.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, GrandisKuwagamon,” Reapermon warned him. “This is only if you have vital information that’s worth something. If you lie to us, the deal’s off.”

The black Royal Knight nodded. “We aren’t bargaining on equal footing, GrandisKuwagamon,” Alphamon explained, folding his arms. “I assure you that we will be lenient towards you if you help us, but I suggest you take what you can get. Right now, you are looking at a very long stay in Havelock Prison. We will hash out the details only if and when you provide us with useful information.”

GrandisKuwagamon gritted his teeth. Part of him knew that this was the best that he could hope for. “…Fine,” he spat.

“We want to know who your client is,” Karatenmon spoke, folding his skinny, red arms. “Do you know who it is?”

“Yeah…” GrandisKuwagamon lied.

“Then who is it?” Alphamon followed up. “We want to know who is behind all of this.”

After a few moments of stalling. GrandisKuwagamon hissed through his teeth and looked away. “I don’t know…” he admitted bitterly.

The three Digimon on the other side of the bars sighed with disappointment.

GrandisKuwagamon frowned. “But, I was about to find out…” he added, realising that he still had a chance. This prompted Alphamon, Karatenmon, and Reapermon’s interest again. GrandisKuwagamon thought about it deeply. “Me, Blitzmon, and Bolgmon were going to meet him. As soon as we picked up our payment from the intermediary in Saversburg, he was going to take us to meet our client.”

Alphamon’s eyes furrowed behind his helmet. “Your intermediary… Wizardmon, correct?” he asked.

“Yeah, him. The client wanted to keep his identity a secret, so he used Wizardmon as a middle mon,” GrandisKuwagamon explained. “Anyways, that was the day that you showed up. Plans changed when you Royal Knights got to Saversburg. It wasn’t safe, so Wizardmon sent us a message telling us to meet him in our usual bar in Shroud in a couple of days. From there, he was going to take us to meet our client up close. Obviously, I never got the chance, but Bolgmon and Blitzmon escaped, yeah?”

“Correct. They escaped our grasp,” Alphamon confirmed.

“Then I’d bet my *** that they went to Shroud to meet Wizardmon,” GrandisKuwagamon explained. “I could find out where, no problem.”

“Hold on, beetle,” Reapermon spoke, walking towards the bars. “It’s awfully convenient, you saying this after being caught out not knowing who the client actually is.”

Karatenmon stared at GrandisKuwagamon with shimmering, tranquil eyes. He stared into GrandisKuwagamon’s heart, using a deep meditative state to harness his genriki and read his spirit. After a few moments, he relaxed. “Don’t be hasty, Reapermon,” the crow Digimon spoke. “He’s telling the truth.”

“What? Maybe he’s just tricking you, now that he knows what you can do,” Reapermon sceptically argued.

“He isn’t. There is no doubt, malevolence, or apprehension in his words,” Karatenmon explained.

“See? Even the crow thinks so,” GrandisKuwagamon responded. “If you let me, I can find out who’s hiring them. I still have ties to Black Pincer Company. I know how they work. I’ll find out whatever you guys need. Covert ops is what I’m best at, after all,” he insisted.

“You must be joking,” Reapermon spoke, glaring at GrandisKuwagamon. “You really think we’d just let you go wandering around the Digital World, hoping that you’d be a good bug and come back to us?”

Alphamon nodded in agreement. “I know you think we’re naïve, GrandisKuwagamon, but you’re the one who’s naïve if you think that you could do that unfettered,” he explained. “I’d prefer to leave this to somebody more trustworthy.” He glanced emphatically at Karatenmon.

“Hmm…” Karatenmon mused, looking back at the Royal Knight. He nodded his head to the side. “Alphamon, can we talk for a moment?” he asked.

Alphamon raised an eyebrow and nodded, walking down the dungeon corridor out of earshot.

Reapermon didn’t like the sound of it. “Mind if I join?” he asked sceptically.

“By all means,” Karatenmon agreed, walking as well.

GrandisKuwagamon watched as the three Digimon strode away from him and huddled up. He could hear Karatenmon whispering to them, but he couldn’t hear what. After a minute, Alphamon calmly whispered back, followed by Reapermon whispering fiercely. This continued for a couple minutes.

At that time, the three came back, with Reapermon looking miffed and doubtful. This gave GrandisKuwagamon a bit of hope, but he couldn’t help but still be cynical.

Karatenmon smiled out of the corner of his mouth as he looked at GrandisKuwagamon. “GrandisKuwagamon, we spoke about what you said,” he explained. “We think that your personal skills would be best suited to this task.”

Alphamon stepped forward and gazed firmly at GrandisKuwagamon through the bars. “However, you will be doing things our way,” he clarified in a way that left no room for argument.

GrandisKuwagamon locked eyes with Alphamon. He felt like he was a Digimon who would be true to his word. He was a bit apprehensive at the meaning behind his words, but he knew that this was his best chance. He knew he had to take what he could get, no matter the conditions.

“…I’m listening.”

 

[Griff4815]

(Character limits... No clean place for a post split, so I had to put it in the middle of a scene.)

Chapter 29: Daemonum et Angelorum​

Thousands of grains of sand swept across the Claw Desert. They were lifted by a strong gust of wind that rolled across the dunes. The loose granules blew off the wave-like dunes and cascaded across the desert in a golden breeze. Slowly drifting overhead was the hot sun, which beat down on the arid desert. The sands were scorching hot as they absorbed the thermal rays of the mid-morning sun. The scorching air rippled with heat, distorting the dunes on the distant horizon. Without water, the dry heat was oppressive, especially on a hot, desert day like today.

In the sands of the Claw Desert, the sound of a purring engine could be heard, gradually growing in volume as it approached. As the seconds passed, the intensity of the engine’s roar increased. Then - suddenly - a sharp impact rung out, followed by the chaotic revving of an engine going out of control. The mechanical noise suddenly died down following the impact of something heavy skidding along the sand.

Beelzebumon lay flat on his back on the sea of soft, searing sand. The heavy sun’s rays beamed down on his black leather jacket and pants; the sweltering heat on his body caused him to sweat profusely. As he lay in the granular sediment, he stared – dazed - up at the blue, cloudless sky. His face was numb with pain.

Looming over him was the hulking, orange body of a Spinomon. The sunlight reflected off the giant, deadly blades protruding from his back. The dinosaur’s predatory eyes were glaring down at the demon, and his jagged teeth were put on fearsome display. The Spinomon curled the long, scaly tail that he had just struck the demon with, throwing him off his motorcycle just moments before.

The majority of the dinosaur Digimon in the Mesozoic Kingdom lived in communities: either in Brutalis, the capital city of the Kingdom, located next to Rex Oasis, or in towns and villages scattered across the Claw Desert. However, not all Digimon lived in civilized societies. Some were more savage and more self-interested. Some Digimon preferred to be on their own and were highly territorial, staking out pieces of land for themselves that they would control and guard jealously. This often led to battles over turf, especially in the wild expanse of the Claw Desert. This Spinomon was one of those Digimon.

Beelzebumon gazed up at the sky, gathering his senses after being struck in the face by the mass of muscle, scales, and bone. As blood began to ooze out of a deep cut in his lip, his mouth morphed into a wild, bloodthirsty grin.

He sat up and extended his tongue from his mouth, licking up some of the blood that trickled down his jaw. Beelzebumon drew one of his shotguns from his ankle holster and stood to his feet. He raised one of his long arms and wiped the blood that dripped down his chin with the back of his hand. The demon man spied his Behemoth motorcycle lying in the sand several meters in front of him.

Beelzebumon gazed up at the Spinomon with an untamed, adrenalized smirk. “You picked a fight with the wrong demon, big guy…” he said with a dark chuckle. He reached over his head and pulled out his other Berenjena shotgun from the holster on his back.

The Spinomon scoffed and lifted his giant, clawed foot to stomp on him. He brought his foot down with the full weight of his body.

Beelzebumon grinned and jumped out of the way with impressive agility, causing the foot to miss him and slam into the sand where he had been standing. As a blast of sand burst out from the stomp, Beelzebumon aimed his shotguns at the Spinomon and fired them in mid air. “Double Impact!” he shouted, grinning maniacally as he fired the shotguns simultaneously.

Two shotgun shells burst from the double-barrelled guns. The shells burst on contact with the Spinomon’s thick chest scales, tearing across his hide and ripping at his data.

The Spinomon recoiled a step, putting a claw to his chest with pain and anger. Acting quickly, he spun his body and lashed his massive tail out horizontally. The long, muscular tail swept across the ground towards Beelzebumon.

Beelzebumon reacted swiftly, lunging upwards right as the tail whipped towards him. He performed an acrobatic flip into the air, allowing the tail to pass under him. As the Demon Lord flipped upside down, he aimed his left arm at the Spinomon and fired from his shotgun again. The shell burst open in mid air and sent a burst of pellets across the Spinomon’s hide, further enraging the dinosaur.

Beelzebumon flipped right side up and landed on his feet with his legs wide apart. He looked up with an amused grin. “Looks like I’ll have to use slugs for big game like you,” he said, raising his smoking shotgun in front of him.

The Spinomon snarled and reached behind him to pull one of the massive blades from his back. He took the blade firmly in his claws and stabbed it down towards Beelzebumon, hoping to bisect the demon man into two.

The lithe demon man dashed to the side as the blade came crashing down on him. The shave was so close that he could see his reflection in the side of the blade as it embedded itself in the sand.

Seeing that he missed, the Spinomon ripped the blade from the ground in a burst of sand and proceeded to slash diagonally towards Beelzebumon to catch him in the air.

Through the cloud of golden sand, Beelzebumon could see the blade slashing towards him. As the blade that was thicker than his body cut through the air in his direction, the Demon Lord performed an acrobatic, mid-air axel. The decreased surface area of his body and the angle of his jump allowed him to narrowly avoid the oversized blade. The blade slashed by him with a metallic whish.

Beelzebumon performed a backwards flip and landed in the sand with a competitive grin. “Hah! You’ve got good instincts for an over-sized pin cushion!” he declared, his claws twitching and his tail flicking excitedly. The Demon Lord smirked, holstered one of his shotguns on his back, and gazed at the Spinomon hungrily. “Y’know, I wouldn’t mind having a piece of that…”

The Spinomon snarled and flipped the blade in his hand to an overhand position. He swung the blade down towards Beelzebumon. The Demon Lord saw the vertical slash coming towards him and he used his superior agility to dodge, causing the blade to embed itself in the sand. The impacted parted the millions of grains in two, giant waves of sand. This time, when Beelzebumon escaped, the Spinomon was ready with a follow up. Sapphire plasma wafted out of his maw and white hot energy rippled in his throat. “Blue Prominence!” he roared, unleashing a torrent of azure flames towards Beelzebumon.

Upon landing, Beelzebumon immediately had to back flip over Spinomon’s blade to avoid getting swept up in the hellishly-hot, molten energy. He landed on the opposite side of the massive blade and watched as the 15 000 degree plasma turned the sand into a crater of molten glass. Even the ancillary blast of the attack sent unbearable temperatures across Beelzebumon’s body, if only for a moment.

Beelzebumon snarled with stimulation and turned his crooked smile towards Spinomon. The dinosaur was currently wrenching his blade out of the desert floor. This was his chance. “Okay, I think I’m done toying with you, big boy,” he taunted, licking his bloody lips.

The Demon Lord of Gluttony leapt forwards onto Spinomon’s wrist. He proceeded to start dashing up his scaly arm while dragging his left claws up his arm scales. The Spinomon reacted with pain and let go of the blade in order to try and throw him off. He reached his opposite arm towards Beelzebumon and attempted to grab him with his claws.

Beelzebumon smirked and fired a slug from his shotgun into the Spinomon’s palm. He then kicked off his elbow and jumped up to the dinosaur’s horned head. He slid down the theropod’s neck and landed on his spiked shoulder. As the demon was about to fire at him, the Spinomon suddenly lurched forwards onto all fours, prompting Beelzebumon to start to stagger backwards.

“Sonic Slash Rain!” the Spinomon shouted unleashing a continuous salvo of blades from his sail at forward diagonal angle.

Beelzebumon just barely managed to regain his footing as the foremost blade sliced inches away from his back. “Whoa, do not wanna go back there!” he declared, bending forwards, away from the salvo of blades that ejected from the dinosaur’s spine.

He pounced forwards and landed on the back of the Spinomon’s head like a cat. “Okay, dinobutt, give me all that tasty data!” he ordered with ravenous eyes and a wild grin. His claws suddenly elongated and became cloaked with dark energy. “Darkness Claw!”

Beelzebumon plunged his claws into the Spinomon’s head, piercing deep into his cranium. He then straightened his legs and lunged off his head, firing a slug from the Berenjena clear through the Spinomon’s head. The massive dinosaur released a weak snarl and then collapsed to the ground, a blast of sand shooting up around his fallen body.

The Spinomon’s data then fractured into rectangles, and millions to data particles began breaking apart. A gust of wind blew the data towards Beelzebumon, causing it to surround him.

Beelzebumon released an adrenalized laugh and arched his back, offering his chest up to the data. His arms were bent and rigid as the Spinomon’s data began to flood into Beelzebumon’s chest. He was absorbing his defeated opponent’s data.

“HAHAHAH!” he cackled as data poured into his body. “Yes! Give it to me!”

He continued laughing as he forced the data into him. The cackle became euphoric as he felt his power increase slightly. His senses became numb with ecstasy and his body trembled as the massive amount of data swept through his form. “Oh, ****, yes!”

When the last bit of data became a part of Beelzebumon’s form, he lurched forwards, still snickering, but panting heavily. His body quivered as it struggled to contain the immense amount of foreign data. “Heh…” he laughed, slowly raising his hand and wiping a bit of saliva from the corner of his mouth.

Beelzebumon then stood up straight like a shot, feeling completely energized. He grinned with exhilaration, his three, red eyes wide with delight. “****!” he exclaimed, laughing to himself and folding his arms. “Holy ****. That’s as good as marathon sex!”

The Demon Lord of Gluttony then turned around and looked over at his motorcycle, which lay in the sand several meters away.

“Huh, I guess I’d better get moving. I’m supposed to meet the others at the Abyssal Ruins,” he mused nonchalantly. He then grinned to himself. “Then again, it’s not a bad thing to be fashionably late!”

Beelzebumon then cracked the bones in his neck and placed his claws behind his head, beginning to walk with long, exaggerated steps. He followed the skid marks in the sand over to the Behemoth and stopped beside the fallen motorcycle.

Beelzebumon bent over and hauled the heavy bike to a standing position. “Did the big, ugly dinosaur hurt you?” he asked the motorcycle with feigned concern. “Nah, you’re fine! Now, come on, Behemoth! Let’s haul some ***!”

He grinned and hopped onto the back of the Behemoth, bending forwards and revving the engine with his boot.

“And maybe we can find some nice *** on the way there too!” he said with a laugh as the wheels of the Behemoth began kicking up sand.

With that, he began tearing across the Claw Desert on his bike. He continued his long trek to the northern part of Eniac, where he was supposed to meet the rest of the Seven Great Demon Lords.

With one of his appetites satiated, he wondered if he could satisfy his others on the way.

-

The afternoon sun began to set over the west of the continent of Eniac. At the southern edge of the Forest of Equilibrium, the orange rays cast over the monastery that resided there.

The angel Digimon and the converts of the monastery were hard at work as suppertime grew near. The underground refectory was being prepared with plates and utensils, and the monks who made up the kitchen staff were occupied preparing the meal for the forty-some inhabitants. However, not all of the Digimon of the temple were busy.

Silence hung over the nave of the chapel. It was early in the evening, so rays of golden light shone through the oculus in the ceiling, casting a warm glow across the white, reflective, marble floor. The chapel was completely empty except for one Digimon.

TigerVespamon sat cross-legged on the floor of the chapel, resting on a soft cushion. His hornet-like head was bowed and his compound eyes, like flawless rubies, were distant and dull, as if his eyes were closed. The insect man was meditating peacefully. Through meditation, he made a silent prayer to the Being of Goodness and concentrated deeply in a fused state of focus, tranquility, contemplation, and reflection.

Recently, his mind had been clouded with doubt, uncertainty, and chaos. Meditation helped him to relax and put his thoughts and feelings in perspective. It cleared his mind of tumultuous thoughts and concerns, and soothed his soul. He had done a lot of meditation as of late. He felt at ease now. He had come to a decision.

TigerVespamon was absorbed in his empty state of serene concentration. He breathed softly yet internally, deep in his chest, in order to maximize his tranquility and contemplation. At the back of his mind, he sensed a pair of familiar footsteps approaching the chapel from one of the side corridors before stopping.

After taking in a soft breath and exhaling, TigerVespamon broke his meditative state and looked up. “It is fine, Father Angemon,” he informed him, signalling that it was okay for him to interrupt. “I am finished now.”

The angelic leader of the monastic mission smiled and walked onto the chapel’s transept from the side corridor. He stepped out onto the large nave and made his way towards TigerVespamon. “Were you reflecting on your decision?” he asked him, walking up to the humanoid hornet Digimon.

“Yes,” TigerVespamon responded simply.

“And are you positive? Have you changed your mind?” Angemon wondered, looking at TigerVespamon through the helmet over the top half of his face.

“I am sorry, Father; this is something that I need to do…” TigerVespamon explained apologetically. He turned his head and gazed off to the side, feeling guilty. “However… if you don’t want me to go, I do not mind staying here. My feelings about joining the monastery have not changed, despite everything that has happened…”

Angemon smiled warmly and stepped forwards to lightly hug TigerVespamon. After a moment, the angel Digimon released him and stepped back. He placed his hand gently on TigerVespamon’s cheek and gave him a reassuring smile. “You are an adult; you are old enough to make your own decisions without needing to ask my permission. I will miss you, but if this is what you have set your heart on, then you have my blessing. All that I ask is that you think about it carefully.”

TigerVespamon nodded. “I feel that I have, Father. This is what I want to do. It is what I need to do,” he explained calmly.

“Then that is enough reason for me,” Angemon responded, lowering his hand and letting it rest at his side. “Still… I never would have expected that you would want to join the Order of the Royal Knights.”

“I realise that it is somewhat sudden… However, I have considered the choice carefully. In light of everything that has happened, I feel that I need to do this,” TigerVespamon informed him.

“When you say that, are you referring to the Seven Great Demon Lords? Or what happened in Vernal Springs?” the holy Digimon wondered sagely.

TigerVespamon sighed softly. “Both, if I am honest…” he admitted. “What happened in Vernal Springs with those Digimon… it shocked me deeply… To see those…” The hornet man trailed off and looked away. “It reopened old wounds…”

“I am sure that it did…” Angemon said sympathetically. “Now, I don’t know you to be a rash Digimon, TigerVespamon. You haven’t been impulsive since I took you in as a child. However, I hope that you aren’t doing this for the wrong reasons…”

TigerVespamon shook his head. “I promise you that I am not,” he serenely responded. “I refuse to dwell on the past. I am a different Digimon now, Father Angemon. I may have been bitter at first, but I will not let such feelings cloud my judgment. I have already moved on…”

Angemon gazed at TigerVespamon quietly. He softly nodded. “Very well…”

“I simply want to help the Royal Knights’ struggle against the Seven Great Demon Lords,” TigerVespamon explained. “I know that HolyAngemon said that I wouldn’t be able to join the Powers since I am…” The insect Digimon stalled slightly. “Well, since I am not a part of the Heavenly Choir. I am simply an insect Digimon who follows the Religion of Light,” he said with acquiescence. Before Angemon could offer him a word of reassurance, he spoke again. “Therefore, attempting to join the Order of the Royal Knights is the more realistic option. They will surely try to work against the Demon Lords, and, after that recent battle in Saversburg, they have opened up enlistment again.”

TigerVespamon tugged at the crimson scarf around his neck before standing with ease and serenity. “I realise that the enlistment process for new recruits is extremely competitive, and that only the best, the most talented, and the most virtuous are accepted into the Order,” he contemplated. “I know that I have to be realistic about my chances. However, I feel that I must try. I wish to do my best to join the Order. If I don’t try and give my best shot, then I will grow restless and end up regretting it.”

Angemon smiled warmly at his Ultimate level acolyte. “Do what you feel that you must do, TigerVespamon. No matter what decision you make or what outcome awaits you, I will always be behind you,” he assured him tenderly.

“Thank you, Father Angemon…” TigerVespamon answered, a hint of appreciation in his calm, neutral voice. “I do not want you to think that I feel that working here isn’t enough for me. It is… However, if I do not do this... Well, I cannot stand by while the Seven Great Demon Lords release more havoc onto the Digital World. I have already lost enough to wanton destruction… I cannot allow other Digimon to go through that same pain.”

“You do not have to explain yourself to me, TigerVespamon,” Angemon reassured him with a knowing smile. “To be honest, I have been expecting this… You have my blessing, my son. Do your very best. I know that you have the traits necessary to be a great warrior worthy of the Order. HolyAngemon has said so himself.”

TigerVespamon nodded gratefully. He looked at the angel Digimon warmly, despite his cool exterior. “Thank you, Father, for understanding - for believing in me… For all that you have done for me since you saved me…” He stepped forwards and gave Angemon a gentle hug.

Angemon smiled fondly and returned the platonic hug. “The pleasure was all mine,” he assured the comparatively younger bug. He pulled back and placed his hand in his pocket, searching for something. “You are leaving today, correct?” he asked for confirmation.

“Yes… The final chance for enlistment is in a week’s time, so I really should go to Splendour’s Reach as quickly as possible…” TigerVespamon responded, feeling a little guilty at having to leave so soon.

“Then may I give you a parting gift now?” Angemon asked, pulling something out of his pocket.

He opened his palm and offered his hand to TigerVespamon. Resting inside his fabric-covered palm was a necklace made of a durable type of fibres. Attached to the soft, sturdy string was a pendent. The pendent was a small, white, translucent crystal that shone brilliantly with light. “

TigerVespamon looked down at the resplendent gem with surprise. “A star crystal…” he mused, recognising the crystal. He looked up at Angemon with surprise. “But…”

“Now, now, it is rude to turn down a gift, you know,” Angemon reminded him with a soft, playful smile.

TigerVespamon felt a bit uneasy about accepting it. He knew that star crystals were expensive. They were considered good luck and rather fashionable in the Sky Colonies. He must have bought it from one of the few merchants on his last trip to Lambent. TigerVespamon felt guilty about taking something that he knew was so valuable. However, he didn’t want to be rude. “Thank you, Father Angemon…” he responded, taking the necklace in his hand and raising it to place it around his neck. He positioned the necklace underneath his red scarf, so that it hung just below the fabric. “It is beautiful. I will treasure it.”

Angemon smiled. “It suits you well,” he observed. “Now… are you packed?”

“I finished packing yesterday evening,” TigerVespamon calmly assured him. “I didn’t want to pack too heavily; there is a good chance that I will not even get in.”

The angel Digimon chuckled. “While it is good to be humble, you shouldn’t doubt yourself either.”

The hornet Digimon shook his head. “I won’t,” he explained. “I just want to have realistic expectations. I will approach the tests with a cool head and a logical disposition.”

“I know you will, TigerVespamon,” Angemon responded. The angel Digimon turned around, his winged back facing the insect Digimon. “You should get some rest before your journey. Pidmon said that he would cook you something special before you leave. Do you have time to eat?”

TigerVespamon smiled softly with his insectoid mouth. “Yes. I will likely leave for Vernal Springs in a couple hours. Then I will spend the night in an inn and leave first thing in the morning,” he explained.

Angemon nodded and smiled. “I bet you are thankful that I am not doing the cooking. At least you will not have to suffer through that any longer,” he joked self-deprecatingly as he began to walk down the nave towards the corridor he entered from.

“I enjoy your cooking,” TigerVespamon insisted with a smile.

“I appreciate the lie of kindness, but we both know that your and Pidmon’s cooking lessons just don’t seem to stick,” Angemon replied with a chuckle.

TigerVespamon let a single, soft chuckle and followed Angemon. Before he left the chapel, he stopped at the doorway and gazed over his shoulder, looking at the stunning yet familiar nave of the abbey a final time. He wasn’t sure how soon he’d see it again, so he wanted to be sure that he admired it now.

Once he was satisfied, TigerVespamon calmly strode into the passageway. He had a long journey ahead of him.

-

Paildramon strode up a stone corridor in the citadel of Castle Albion. It was early in the morning and the sun had only risen an hour ago. The cool, morning air nipped at her azure scales. It was refreshing to her, after having spent the night in her hot, stuffy, barracks room.

She had just finished getting ready for the day when a messenger came to the barracks telling her that she was being summoned by the Spymaster. It was unusual. She was the over-sergeant for the Aerial Strike Forces, so she couldn’t think of any reason why Captain Karatenmon, the leader of the Stealth Forces, would want to summon her. It was rather mysterious, which she supposed she should expect from a spymaster. Still, she obeyed the summons dutifully. It might turn out to be a good opportunity.

Paildramon passed by two more doors before stopping in front of the third door down the corridor, right at the corner of the hallway. She stopped in front of door and knocked on the door of Karatenmon’s office firmly.

“Come in,” Karatenmon’s voice sounded out.

Paildramon opened the door, expecting to see Karatenmon sitting behind his desk while cloaked in shadows. She was mildly surprised to see him sitting, instead, on top of his desk while leaning backwards on one of his hands in an informal manner. Standing near Captain Karatenmon was her superior, Captain OuRyuumon, and Reapermon.

She briefly glanced around the Karatenmon’s room. Directly opposite to her was a desk with several papers and books messily scattered across it. There was a personal computer on one side of the desk. On the other side was an open, bound book with a black feather quill beside it. One of the pages was blank, which meant that it was currently being worked on by Karatenmon. She had heard that he enjoyed writing fiction in his spare time. This was further evidenced by a large bookshelf against the wall that was full of fiction novels and poetry.

At the back of the room, behind Karatenmon’s desk was a wide open window with a wide, flat sill that could easily be mounted. It was awfully exposed for a ninja’s office – let alone a spymaster’s – but she supposed that it wasn’t too surprising, given what she knew about Karatenmon. He didn’t like to be cooped up, and he was untraditional and lax when it came to rules and regulations. Paildramon also noticed several healthy, potted plants around the office, which benefited from all of the sunlight that poured in through the large window.

Paildramon glanced to the side and saw a large, paper folding screen that acted as a divider between the office part of his room and the bedroom part. These shoji weren’t common in either the Free Area or New Terminal, but Karatenmon was a ninja from Yakumo, a ninja village deep within the secluded Enigmatic Forest in the north east. It was very much a part of their culture, so it probably reminded him of home to have it there.

The tengu spymaster gazed at Paildramon with a disarming smile. “Paildramon,” he greeted, hopping off of his desk and standing up.

Paildramon saluted the three Digimon. “You called for me, sir?” she asked.

“I’m not part of the regular Order military; you don’t have to call me ‘sir’,” he explained with a grin. “No need to be so formal.”

Paildramon nodded. “Sorry. May I ask what this is about?” she wondered, her deep red eyes frowning slightly.

Karatenmon smiled and leaned back, placing his taloned hands on the edge of his wooden desk. “I have an assignment for you…” he explained with an enigmatic grin.

The dragon woman Digimon looked at OuRyuumon questioningly. “Sir?” she asked. “Am I being reassigned?”

OuRyuumon folded his arms and shook his head. “No, Paildramon,” he told the over-sergeant. “Think of this as a special mission.”

“It’s an extremely important one too, so I hope you’re up to the task,” Reapermon added, leering at Paildramon and scrutinising her carefully.

Paildramon nodded calmly. “Of course,” she replied. “What is the assignment?”

“Recently, we have taken an important prisoner,” Reapermon explained. “His name is GrandisKuwagamon. He is the leader of the small but effective mercenary company known as ‘Black Pincer Company’. You’re aware of them, right?”

“Yes. I crossed paths with them during the BaoHackmon Rescue Operation,” she responded, remembering their exchange of fire in the Forest of Memories. “They have been causing problems for the Order for the past few months.”

Karatenmon nodded. “Specifically, they’ve been instrumental in setting up that war between us and the Metal Empire,” the spymaster explained. “The whole thing was orchestrated by their shadowy client. We think that there may be a link between that war and the escape of the Seven Great Demon Lords. If that’s true, then we need to find out who their client is.”

“That’s where you come in, Paildramon,” OuRyuumon explained to his subordinate.

Paildramon frowned with surprise and curiosity but nodded, continuing to listen.

“GrandisKuwagamon and his two comrades, Blitzmon and Bolgmon, were going to meet their client for the first time when we confronted them in Saversburg, before the battle. Although GrandisKuwagamon was captured, his two comrades have escaped. He is confident that they met their client by now, and he offered to help us find out who their enigmatic benefactor is,” Karatenmon explained.

“’Offered’?” she sceptically asked.

“For something in return, obviously. Namely, he wants a more lenient punishment if he helps us get what we want,” Karatenmon matter-of-factly informed her.

“Digimon like him don’t do anything out of the goodness of their hearts,” Reapermon added cynically. “Only if it benefits them.”

Paildramon nodded. “I didn’t think so…” she responded. “So…”

“So, we want you to take GrandisKuwagamon and find out who their client is,” OuRyuumon explained, placing his claws on his serpentine sides.

Paildramon raised an eyebrow curiously. “You want me to escort the prisoner?” she asked uncertainly, somewhat surprised by the idea.

“You’ll be heading a small team so it won’t just be you looking after him,” OuRyuumon informed her to dissuade her doubts.

Reapermon nodded curtly. “Single prisoner escort teams just don’t work. It’s better to have several eyes on GrandisKuwagamon at once. Have at least two other capable Digimon with you. He’s cunning, manipulative, dangerous, and ruthless. Don’t let your guard down for a moment.”

“I have a few recommendations if you don’t mind, but you’re free to pick yourself, Paildramon,” Karatenmon offered. “That is, if you’re up for the job.”

Paildramon thought about it for a few moments. It certainly did seem like an enticing challenge, and she was honoured to be considered for the part among all the other capable Order Digimon. She wanted to be able to help the Order, as well as prove her capabilities. This made it an easy decision. “Of course,” she responded. “However, why me?”

“OuRyuumon’s shown me your record and the recommendations from your superiors in the Republic’s military; they speak for themselves. Plus, I’ve seen your capabilities for myself. You’re calm, responsible, smart, practical, and independent. Those are the qualities that we need. You’re just the sort of Digimon I want leading this important mission,” Karatenmon explained with an encouraging smile.

Paildramon sheepishly rubbed her neck. “Thank you, Karatenmon. That means a lot,” she responded. “I will try not to disappoint you.”

“We trust you, but you need to be vigilant with GrandisKuwagamon at all times,” Reapermon warned her. “Give him a meter and he’ll take a kilometer. He won’t hesitate to kill you in your sleep if it means he could escape.”

Paildramon nodded. “I will keep him on a tight leash,” she assured him.

“About that…” Karatenmon added with a small smile. “He will be implanted with the standard power-inhibiting virus, but we plan to install another program that MetallifeKuwagamon developed, as well. A ‘leash’ might be a good way to think about it. A ‘proximal restraint system’, he called it. It should prevent him from running away.”

“If he’s as capable as you say he is, the extra security wouldn’t go amiss,” Paildramon agreed, folding her arms.

“I should let you know that the program will be linked to you, as well,” Karatenmon informed her. “It’s a painless process. The thing is that the system requires a focal point to work. Namely you.”

The dragon frowned uncertainly. “Me? I won’t be constrained by the same effects, will I?” she asked.

“No, but your distance to GrandisKuwagamon will affect him,” Karatenmon responded. “It may be a bit limiting, but it’s a necessary evil, I’m afraid.”

Paildramon nodded understandingly. “It’s fine. I don’t mind.” She looked at Karatenmon. “About your recommendations…”

Karatenmon’s corvid face smiled waywardly. “I think Dorbickmon would be a useful guy to have along,” he suggested with a hint of casual levity, knowing it would be an unconventional choice.

“Dorbickmon…?” Paildramon questioned, frowning.

“Really? Him?” OuRyuumon asked Karatenmon with lingering distaste. “He’s not even part of the Order.”

Karatenmon nodded. “He was our enemy in the past, yes, but I trust him now. He’s a capable mercenary with a lot of worldly experience and knowledge of mercs and the criminal underworld,” he explained. “Plus, he hates GrandisKuwagamon after being grassed up by him.”

“Wouldn’t that cause a lot of drama within the group?” Paildramon inquired. “It would be a hassle to break up fights between those two.”

“Probably, but at least you know that you can trust him,” Karatenmon explained pragmatically.

“I see your point…” she replied thoughtfully. “His animosity with GrandisKuwagamon would make his intentions predictable.”

“Is there anybody you want to have on your team?” Karatenmon asked her, softly tapping two of his talons against the wood.

“VictoryGreymon. I know him from the Republic’s military; he is a strong and loyal Digimon, and he’s good at following orders. It would be helpful to have a bit of muscle with us,” she responded.

“Isn’t he new to the Order?” OuRyuumon inquired dubiously. “Hmm… How long will this take, Karatenmon?”

“I’m aiming for a week,” the crow ninja replied. “It could go on for longer, though.”

“As long as that’s it. I don’t want him to miss out on his training,” OuRyuumon responded.

Paildramon nodded. “I won’t dawdle.”

“Is there anybody else you want to add?” Karatenmon asked her. “I suggest keeping the group as small as possible. The more of you there are, the more attention you’re likely to attract. You’re going to be headed into some rough territory, so you want to keep a low profile.”

“Four should be enough,” Paildramon agreed. “But if we’re going to the seedier parts of the Digital World, won’t that be a problem for Dorbickmon? Doesn’t he all but have a bounty on his head?”

Karatenmon smiled enigmatically at this. “No, I don’t think that’ll be a problem,” he answered with a carefree grin.

“If you’re positive…” Paildramon responded, although with a bit of underlying scepticism.

The avian ninja nodded and folded his arms. “This probably goes without saying, but try not to stand out. Listen to Dorbickmon and GrandisKuwagamon’s advice, but also be sceptical. Use your best judgment, Paildramon. You’ll do just fine,” he said with a confident smile.

“Yes, Sir,” Paildramon answered, saluting the corvid spymaster. “I won’t let you down.”

“Keep a close eye on GrandisKuwagamon, especially when it comes to Blitzmon and Bolgmon,” Reapermon added. “Karatenmon said he had a falling out with them, but I wouldn’t put anything past that bug.”

“I’ll be vigilant. When will everything be ready?” she asked.

Karatenmon scratched his feathery chin with his talons. “We’ll install the virus in him either today or tomorrow. Leave the day after that’s finished. Make whatever preparations you need in the meantime,” he said.

“We’ll let Dorbickmon and VictoryGreymon know,” OuRyuumon stated, folding his brown arms.

“Very well. Thank you very much for asking me. I will make sure that GrandisKuwagamon leads us to the truth,” Paildramon assured them.

“I’ll give you the details of what we know about Black Pincer Company later. Thanks, Paildramon. I’m done here,” Karatenmon informally explained.

“Yeah, you’re dismissed,” OuRyuumon added.

Paildramon nodded and turned around before walking out.

Reapermon turned and looked at Karatenmon. “Are you sure about this? It’s a bit unconventional.”

“Oh, I’ve never been one for convention,” Karatenmon responded, sitting down in his chair, leaning back and putting his taloned feet up on the desk. He grinned at Reapermon. “Besides, this might just be our chance to finally find out who this mystery Digimon is…”

-

-

“This is terrible news…”

A meeting of the Council of the Three Angels was currently in session. The three highest ranking angel Digimon in the Heavenly Choir sat around a golden rimmed, hexagonal table with a prismatic surface that caused it to glow like a miniature aurora. The Council was taking place in the Supernal Sanctum, the place where the Three Great Angels met to discuss official business.

The floor of the meeting hall was covered with smooth, white, marble tiles, adorned with ornate, golden patterns. The walls were also ivory and gold in colour, and they reached fifty meters high, all the way up to the ceiling. The ceiling had a dome shape and was decorated with a glowing, gold, floral finish. At the center was a large oculus that opened the room up to the sky, where they could see the spiral vortex of clouds that circled directly above the First Sphere. Guards dutifully kept sentry outside of the oculus as well as the doors to the chamber.

The owner of the voice was a female. She had an angelic, humanoid form with a feminine shape. As the light shone down from the hole in the ceiling, it caused her fine, turquoise, battle armour to glisten splendidly. The teal armour covered her upper body, particularly her curvy chest. Surrounding this were thinner plates of silver metal which covered her sides and collar which also glistened resplendently. The turquoise armour continued down her body from there. The shining plates covered her hips and lower torso before curling around much of her legs, all the way down to her knees. The armoured battledress was segmented to allow for easier leg movement, and the large plate that covered her thighs was emblazoned a large, golden cross with equal, studded arms. Underneath the armour was an immaculate, white dress that reached down to her angles. It stopped just above her feet, which wore a pair of turquoise, high heeled shoes. The turquoise armour also covered her slender forearms in the form of gauntlets. The right gauntlet was styled with a pair of small, ornamental wings, while the left gauntlet was outfitted with a diamond-shaped buckler that covered most of her left arm. The shield was teal with gold trimming that graced the feather-like protrusions extending from the shield’s sides. On the face of the shield was a large, equine face with a horn, like that of a unicorn. Segmented, silver armour covered the rest of her arms all the way up to her shoulders.

The angel Digimon’s shoulders were covered in more turquoise armour, except this armour was designed in the shape of large wheels. The wheels were that of chariot wheels, with spokes leading from her shoulder to the thick, studded rims that circled her shoulders. The ends of her shoulder blades were even that of large spikes that stuck out from the axles of the wheel shapes. Over her humanoid head was a bluish-turquoise helmet that covered the top half of her head. It covered her eyes and nose so that only the fair skin of her cheeks, chin, and mouth were visible. The helmet itself was designed with a cross-like shape on it, similar to that of Seraphimon’s, but on the top of the helmet, there was protruding ornamentation in the shape of an eagle head, a bull head, and a lion head from left to right respectively. Behind these ornamental animal heads was a long, orange plume that jutted out from the top of her helmet and hung down its back. Her long, golden blonde hair flowed out from under the helmet, with two ponytails tied together with bands hanging beside her face so that the free-flowing strands rested against her chest. The rest of her blonde hair hung down her back, all the way down past her waist. It hung in between four pairs of wings that extended from her back. Three of the pairs of rigid, blade-like wings glistened in the sunlight; this was because they were made of a golden-bronze metal. Meanwhile, the lowest pair of wings were true wings covered with soft, golden feathers. She had a final pair of wings at the top of her back. They were the smallest pair, and they were each attached to two golden rings that extended from the armour on her back.

Ophanimon sat at the table, looking over at Seraphimon, who sat nearby. He had told them that the Seven Great Demon Lords had been freed. A tense silence permeated the meeting hall.

“…Are you absolutely certain, Seraphimon?” a deep, bass voice asked. The voice sounded calm, deliberating, and intelligent, but it managed to betray a passionate edge to his careful words.

This deep, male voice belonged to a large Digimon who sat on the opposite side of the table from Seraphimon and Ophanimon. Sitting on a large, wide chair was a giant, rabbit-shaped, angel Digimon. His body was covered in soft, trim, pink fur which glowed sleekly in the rays of light. He loomed over the two angel Digimon, standing at twice their size with his much larger, thick and slightly pudgy body. The pink fur stopped at his underbelly, which was a rich white colour, separated from the pink fur by two thin streaks of gold on each side of his furry chest. Two, long, tail-like appendages hung from the rear of his muscular-yet-podgy lower body as it rested in the seat. His two powerful, rabbit-like legs hung off the chair comfortably so that his feet touched the marble floor.

His long, bulky, muscular arms rested on the crystalline surface of the table, ending in massive hands. The large hands had expansive palms and long, thick, clawed fingers that could easily wrap around a whole Digimon. Around the Digimon’s neck was a long, white and gold collar with pointed tips, which was a part of his body. The angel Digimon had a round, rabbit-like face with pink cheeks. Extending from the top of his head was a pair of long, angelic ears with feather-like tips that made them look like wings. Around the base of his ears were two thick, loose-fitting, golden rings that shimmered with his holiness. The center of his face was covered with white fur that reached past his forehead. At his forehead, there were three small horns jutted out in a triangular pattern, with the bottom horn being the largest in size. Thick streaks of gold fur extended up the cheeks of his face, over his eyes, and to the back of his head. He had a pair of large, black, beady eyes which shimmered expressively as he frowned. The corners of his mouth were curved downwards as he observed Seraphimon.

Seraphimon gazed at Cherubimon calmly. “I am completely certain, Cherubimon,” he said to the large, rabbit-like angel. “SlashAngemon’s scouts in the Powers have confirmed it.”

Cherubimon leaned forwards onto his arms, his brows furrowing deeply. “The Seven Great Demon Lords freed… This could be a calamity,” he spoke, his deep voice sounding troubled.

“How could this have happened?” Ophanimon questioned, rubbing her chin pensively.

“There must have been outside help,” Seraphimon mused bitterly. “Perhaps there is a pocket of crypto-heretics loyal to Lucemon and his ilk.”

“We cannot jump to that conclusion, Seraphimon,” Cherubimon stated, frowning at the blue and gold archangel. “I don’t want to start up another inquisition.”

“I didn’t say that, Cherubimon,” Seraphimon debated. “Neither do I, as it happens. However, we must consider the possibility that the threat comes from inside the Heavenly Choir.”

Cherubimon shook his head ardently. “Do we? The barrier of the Dark Area has been fractured ever since DarkKnightmon escaped. The Royal Knights have said as much. They could have very well escaped due to the barrier’s deterioration. What does it say about us if we suddenly start suspecting our own people? Do not stoke fears and reopen old wounds, my friend,” he debated.

“I am merely being realistic, Cherubimon. Do you think so little of me that I wish to suspect our loyal followers?” he asked, gazing at the tall, pink archangel.

“You know I don’t. However, I can’t—“

Ophanimon placed her hands on the table. “That’s enough, both of you,” she stated firmly yet empathetically. “This news is shocking to all of us. Now is not the time to be arguing with one another. We must focus on the future, not the past.”

The two male angels looked away sheepishly.

“You’re right, Ophanimon…” Cherubimon conceded with an embarrassed expression.

Seraphimon sighed and nodded. “Yes…” he agreed, looking over at Cherubimon. “I apologise, Cherubimon. I am just overwrought and tense about the situation.”

Cherubimon smiled and nodded. “I’m sorry, as well. I didn’t mean to question your intentions. We all want what’s best. This is just a troubling situation…”

“I think we are all in agreement there,” Ophanimon stated, smiling as she looked between the two. “So, let’s look at our courses of action.”

Cherubimon placed his elbows on the table and raised his large hands, clasping them together and resting his chin on top of them. He closed his eyes and nodded his head softly, causing his long ears to bob slightly. “Obviously, we should watch the situation closely. We need to find out where they are and monitor their movements,” the archangel suggested.

“And then we must strike,” Seraphimon stated resolutely.

Cherubimon cocked one of his black eyes open and looked at Seraphimon with measured scepticism. “If necessary,” he answered guardedly. “However, should that really be our first option?”

“Of course… The Seven Great Demon Lords – the heretics who destroyed one of our Sky Colonies and thousands of our brothers and sisters – are a threat that must be extinguished,” Seraphimon firmly said with a bit of incredulity in his tone.

“And if they wish to live a peaceful existence?” Cherubimon put forward in reply. “Should we not let them?”

Seraphimon shook his head emphatically. “That is simply out of the question… I can forgive a lot, Cherubimon, but I cannot forgive what they have done.”

“They have been punished enough. What if they intend to be peaceful, only for us to attack and provoke them?” Cherubimon suggested.

“I think that is uncharacteristically naïve of you, Cherubimon,” Seraphimon stated, looking at the rabbit Digimon.

“That does seem a bit far-fetched,” Ophanimon agreed. “It is likely that they escaped with a purpose in mind. Whether it is their own purpose or somebody else’s is another discussion. Surely, you must see that, Cherubimon.”

“I am merely trying to debate Seraphimon’s point, Ophanimon,” Cherubimon explained calmly. “We both know that he can hotheaded and prone to action before thinking.” He turned and looked at Seraphimon with a wry smirk. “Apologies, Seraphimon, but surely you must concede that, if I am to concede your point.”

Seraphimon leaned back in his seat and folded his arms. “Very well. Your point is well-taken,” he responded, although not without a note of indignation and huffiness in his voice.

“For somebody with such thick armour, you do have rather thin skin,” Cherubimon dryly teased, smiling warmly at his friend.

This elicited a small chuckle from Ophanimon. “Back to the topic at hand,” she followed up, growing serious again. “We cannot simply ignore the re-emergence of the Seven Great Demon Lords.” She looked at Seraphimon and then turned back to Cherubimon. “However, I agree that we shouldn’t rush into this. I suggest that we watch the Demon Lords carefully and prepare the Powers for battle in the meantime.”

“Very well. That seems like a logical course of action,” Cherubimon concurred.

“Yes, that is fine,” Seraphimon agreed.

-

(Continued in the next post)

 

[Griff4815]

(Continued from the previous post)

-

Ophanimon nodded. “Good. And what of the Royal Knights? Shall we ask for their help?” she suggested.

“They would be a useful ally,” Cherubimon stated. “We don’t have a large contingent of soldiers on the ground of the Digital World, so if we worked with them, we could cover more ground. Plus, my former apprentice, Sleipmon, is among their ranks now.”

“That is true… However, I don’t want us to be too dependent on them. They already helped us during the Heretics’ Rebellion, but we cannot necessarily expect to rely on them again. The Demon Lords are an internal matter when it comes down to it,” Seraphimon debated.

“I think they stopped being an internal matter when the Demons dropped Sky Colony: Empyrea onto the Digital World,” Cherubimon deadpanned, glancing over at Seraphimon as he rested his chin on his hands.

“I’m inclined to agree. The more allies that we have, the better,” Ophanimon concurred. “By turning our backs, we would only be making things easier for the Demon Lords, whatever their intentions may be.”

Seraphimon nodded softly. “Yes, you bring up good points… Very well, we will send an envoy to the Royal Knights,” he agreed. “If the Demon Lords are back, the very Digital World is in danger, not just our Sky Colonies.”

“I wonder how Bagramon will respond,” Cherubimon mused. “He has lived in peace and reclusiveness for all of these years. I wonder if he has put his incendiary days behind him, especially after the death of his brother.”

“Or perhaps he knows something. We cannot rule out the possibility,” Seraphimon suggested.

“He may have been a high-ranking angel who governed over death, but he was really more of a follower during the rebellion,” Ophanimon mused.

“If only he weren’t so stubborn,” Cherubimon said bitterly. “All he needed to do was repent.”

“It is a shame…” Seraphimon mused wistfully. “To think that I once called him my friend…”

“Anyways… We have more important things to deal with,” Cherubimon stated.

Seraphimon nodded. “We should consult with God for divine guidance,” he suggested.

Cherubimon stood to his feet, raising his large, pink body up. “I am going to the library. I want to do some research,” the great angel explained. “I will come by the Supernal Sanctum later.”

“Very well, Cherubimon,” Seraphimon responded. “Don’t get lost in mountains of books.”

Cherubimon raised an eyebrow and looked at the seraphim with an amused grin. “Was that a joke, Seraphimon? How very unlike you…” he teased right back.

“It was a fact. I know how you get lost, reading one book and then another,” Seraphimon stated seriously. “Before long, you have your nose buried in every page.”

Ophanimon smiled and turned to Cherubimon. “Well, you can’t deny that you are something of a bookworm, Cherubimon,” she said to him light-heartedly.

The cherubim Digimon chuckled with a warm and soft laugh. “I guess not… I promise I won’t be too long. I know there is much that we need to do together,” he assured his two friends.

With that, Cherubimon nodded at the two similar angel Digimon and walked out of the meeting hall of the Supernal Sanctum.

As Cherubimon walked out of the white and golden hall, Seraphimon gazed after him, quietly absorbed in his thoughts.

Ophanimon, perceptive as ever, noticed his lingering stare. “…Is there something on your mind, Seraphimon?” she asked him, standing up and walking over to the archangel Digimon.

“Cherubimon has a big heart…” Seraphimon mused broodingly.

Ophanimon smiled and nodded. “Yes, he does… That is one of his many qualities,” she responded tenderly.

“…Do you think I am being too harsh?” he asked, standing up and turning to Ophanimon.

“No, I don’t. This is a very serious threat and you are acting how you should be acting,” Ophanimon assured him.

Seraphimon turned his head and stared out the door that Cherubimon exited from. “I know he still feels guilty over the Heretic’s Rebellion. A lot of our brethren died. Do you think he will have misgivings about acting against the Demon Lords again?”

“No… Cherubimon knows what is right. Trust him, Seraphimon. Trust yourself. You don’t usually have doubts,” Ophanimon said to him, gently taking his hand.

“Yes, you are right, Ophanimon… This news has just left me somewhat shaken. I fear for the future,” he admitted, looking away. “I know that I must be calm in my heart and mind, but I cannot help but feel uncertain.”

Ophanimon smiled sweetly at him. “We all have doubts. All we can do is work together to ensure a bright future,” she assured her friend.

Seraphimon nodded softly. “Yes… You’re right. I think I have indulged my worries for long enough now. It is now time to look forwards,” he stated more confidently.

“Good…” Ophanimon said, pulling her hand away. “We should hold a meeting with the Three Commanders later. Shall I tell them?”

“Yes, good idea,” Seraphimon responded.

Seraphimon nodded at Ophanimon. He then flapped his ten wings and began rising towards the oculus in the ceiling, making his way out of the sanctum.

“There is much that needs to be done.”

-

To the northwest part of the continent, was a large region of darkness and ruin. It was a place that seemed to constantly have shadows cast over its landscape. It was known as the Gloaming Fields.

It was a stark and barren land with very few signs of life. There was thick, loamy dirt covering the ground as far as the eye could see. Dead, leafless trees were scattered across the landscape and their crooked, gnarled branches reached out at sharp angles like twisted bones. Despite the initially monotonous landscape, the Gloaming Fields was actually home to many diverse (and equally creepy) settings. There were the silent, rolling hills of the Desolate Moors. Also, there were the dark, verdant, unwelcoming woods of the Forgotten Forest. The landscape also contained cemeteries, abandoned churches, marshes, and haunted castles.

Due to the spooky nature of the setting, most Digimon preferred not to enter the area if possible. Despite it seeming mostly barren, the Gloaming Fields were actually home to a sizeable population of undead Digimon, as well as some demon Digimon and other virus types who preferred to be among similar company. The two main cities were the cities of Vespers and Sepulcrum, and the wealthy, aristocratic Digimon of the area often had their own castles. Although many of the Digimon were virus types who were stereotypically evil and there was often crime and mischief-making, not all of the Digimon inhabiting this area were necessarily evil.

However, beyond the traditional western and northern outskirts of the Gloaming Fields was the Deserted Wastes. Whereas the barrenness of the Gloaming Fields was a natural part of the Digital World, the desolation of the Deserted Wastes was unnatural. The region was once verdant and full of life. All of that changed during the Death-X Incident, where the mysterious, savage, undead Digimon - the dreaded ‘Death-X’ Digimon - went on a rampage, consuming other Digimons’ digicores and laying waste to the Digital World.

It was claimed to have started in the Gloaming Fields after an ambitious scientist was researching and experimenting with Digicores in order to better understand the newly discovered X-Antibody. Many Digimon had been evolving with the X-Antibody for decades previous to that. After the copied prototypes created in the experiment went horribly wrong, the Death-X Digimon multiplied and consumed, spreading out across the Digital World. Although nobody can confirm the validity of the story (which became a morality tale to keep Digimon from messing with the natural laws), since the scientist was said to have been to have been the first killed, the Death-X Incident was so bad that the strongest Digimon had to step up and stop them. This included the likes of Alphamon, Omegamon, Dukemon, and Magnamon. Although the mindless banquet of killing was stopped through the combined efforts of many Digimon, much of the Digital World was devastated. The area around the Gloaming Fields was thus turned into the Deserted Wastes that it is today.

The Deserted Wastes are still home to a few landmarks, such as the town of Lacuna and the Void Mountains. The mountains were so-named because they were thought to be cursed or tainted by the several destructive incidents that had taken place around them. There were also reports of spatial distortions around them, further adding to their name.

The Void Mountains were giant, sky-reaching monuments of black stone. They dominated the landscape with their towering, obsidian forms. They were imposing, even from a distance. Their occasionally crooked peaks stretched into the sky, brushing the undersides of some low-hanging clouds.

At the base of the Void Mountains were several caverns. The gaping mouths of rock led underneath the mountains into a large cave complex. They were known as the Abyssal Caves. Some of the caves were natural while some were dug by Digimon. The caves had served as a strategic outpost against the Death-X Swarm during the invasion, providing a pivotal sanctuary for the resistance, and a strategic chokepoint to defend from the undead swarm. That event was long in the past. Now, the caves have long been abandoned.

The caverns were extremely dark. Entering them was like walking into the Dark Area itself. Every so often, there were glowstones – a luminous type of rock that lit the way – but, for the most part, the caves were tenebrous. The walls were made up of the same sturdy, black stone that formed the mountain. The caves were labyrinthine and there were tunnels leading both up the mountain and below it. Some reached up to the cliffs and plateaus of the mountainside. Some went far down enough to reach a deep, subterranean river. The calm river flowed beneath the mountain and eventually filtered out into a bay connected to the Delta Ocean. This river caused several underground ponds to exist within the cave system. They were a warm cyan colour and the water was clear and tranquil. Below the river were deep, cavernous ravines that stretched as far as the ocean floor.

Although the Abyssal Caves were usually empty, one of the caverns was illuminated. It wasn’t lit up by glowstones, but, rather, two floating wisps of light. The phosphorescence cast a strong light across the tunnel. The light revealed a massive, descending tunnel that was about a few hundred meters down from the mouth of the cave. The cavern was wide and spacious, with large stalactites reaching down from the ceiling. The tunnel led down before stopping, and then it opened up wide into an expansive chamber of rock before meeting water at the tunnel’s end. The white glow cast across a spacious pond at the bottom of the chamber, causing the azure water to shimmer and reflect the rocky walls of the cave. The pond was big enough to fit a MetalSeadramon, and it was deep enough for one to swim around freely.

Five Digimon were revealed to be standing in the cave tunnel, near the edge of the subterranean pond. The five Digimon in question were Bagramon, Lucemon: Falldown Mode, Demon, Lilithmon, and Barbamon.

Bagramon and Lucemon both stood with a calm, patient aura about them. Demon, still in his cloaked form, gazed up the length of the tunnel impatiently. Lilithmon kneeled beside the placid pond and stared at her reflection in the calm water, idly curling a few strands of hair around her finger as she did. Meanwhile, Barbamon sat on a large rock, irritably tapping the butt of his staff against the stone floor.

“Where the hell is he?” Barbamon hissed as he scratched one of his claws against the stone, creating a grating noise that was as gravelly and shrill as his voice. “We’ve been waiting for hours! That damn lout has no sense of responsibility…”

“Patience, Barbamon,” Lucemon calmly told him, seeming not at all concerned by the absence of the others.

“Time is money, Lucemon,” Barbamon retorted irritably. “The sooner everyone’s here, the sooner we can begin our preparations and planning.”

Bagramon closed his eye and leaned against a stone outcropping that was jutting up from behind him. “It’s true that the Royal Knights and their allies will be searching for us, so the spectre of time will be ever-present. However, we mustn’t act hastily. I suggest that we take things slowly and carefully,” Bagramon proposed even-handedly.

“That has nothing to do with tardiness,” the slender demon man explained with a sneer. “This is a waste of my time!”

“Oh, pipe down, old man. Honestly…” Lilithmon said with an exasperated sigh as she glanced over her shoulder. She looked down at her reflection and cocked her head slightly. With nothing else to do but wait, she brushed her bangs aside with a finger and gazed at her fair complexion studiously. An annoyed expression formed on her face when the water suddenly began to ripple tumultuously, distorting the clear, liquid mirror that she was staring through.

Large, rolling waves began forming from the center of the underground pond. The water splashed against the rocky cave walls noisily and sent ripples of water towards the edge of the pool where Lilithmon was kneeling. A gigantic, crimson body could be seen under the waves, emerging from the depths. The first thing to emerge was the tip of a giant, red snout.

Leviamon swam up from the deep, aquatic passage below. He surfaced above the pond with water dripping from his scales and mouth. He floated on the tempestuous water and gazed at the other Demon Lords with gold, reptilian eyes. There was a large, translucent fish impaled on one of his jagged teeth, which he promptly snapped into his mouth and swallowed.

“I’m back,” he announced, gulping the fish down and licking his lips with a massive tongue.

Lilithmon sneered and hopped away from the pond as a large wave splashed up near where she had been kneeling. She cast an annoyed glare at the massive crocodile Digimon that emerged. “You idiot. You almost splashed me!” she scolded him.

“And wouldn’t that just be terrible?” Barbamon muttered under his breath, leering over at the two with aggravation.

“Forgive me for breathing,” Leviamon sarcastically replied, casting his gaze to Lilithmon.

“It’s hard to forgive breath as foul as yours, Leviamon,” Lilithmon was her riposte, answered with a blasé tone of voice as she brushed off dirt from the violet fabric hanging from her. She turned and looked over at Barbamon. “And did you say something, you old codger?”

“Nothing at all, my dear,” the lanky demon man snidely responded with a roll of his eyes.

Leviamon swum over to the edge of the underground pond so that the chin of his massive snout rested on the rock tunnel. “Beelzebumon still isn’t here?” he asked, glancing around the tunnel.

“Not yet,” Lucemon replied, closing his eyes.

“Tch. Let’s forget him and start already. I doubt he’ll even show up,” Leviamon suggested cynically, his deep, reptilian voice echoing down the tunnel.

“No. We will wait,” Lucemon answered simply and decisively, not even looking over at Leviamon.

Leviamon grunted distastefully. “He’s not exactly reliable. He does what he pleases, when he pleases. He was a wildcard throughout our stay in the Dark Area,” he argued. “No sense of loyalty.”

“Some could say that about you, Leviamon,” Barbamon stated pointedly as he leaned forwards on his staff. “You were an alliance to yourself.”

“For good reason,” Leviamon growled back. “It’s no secret that you were only out for yourself, Barbamon.”

“You should put all of that behind you,” Bagramon suggested diplomatically. “What happened in the Dark Area is one thing. If we all wish to survive, we need unity.”

“That is exactly what I was thinking, Bagramon,” Lucemon stated, placing his hands on his hips. “I will forgive any previous transgressions committed against me, you will all be glad to know. As of right now, we must look at the bigger picture, don’t you agree?”

“I suppose so…” Barbamon complied, although his voice purposefully reluctant.

“Tch,” Leviamon scoffed. “I don’t know where you get off being so holier-than-thou. It was your failed rebellion that got us into this situation in the first place,” the giant reptile reminded Lucemon bitterly.

“You were my willing follower,” Lucemon: Falldown Mode calmly reminded him, casting a superior gaze towards Leviamon. “Do you regret taking up arms against God and His imperfect world, Leviamon? You were such a loyal soldier to me during our rebellion.”

Leviamon gritted his teeth. “I wasn’t your soldier,” he spoke lowly, bubbles floating up in front of his snout as he mumbled. “No, I don’t regret the rebellion in principle, but it didn’t exactly work out well for us, did it?” he responded.

“We would have won if the Royal Knights and the Warrior Ten hadn’t stepped in…” Demon mentioned with a harsh and bitter edge to his words. His glowing, violet eyes narrowed within the black shadow of his concealed face.

Lilithmon made her way over to the group. She stopped beside Bagramon and Lucemon, placing her hands on her hips. “There is no point dwelling on the past,” she said with a sigh. “Lucemon is right. We have to put the past behind us and look forwards. If we have any intention of surviving in the Digital World, we will need to have a united front that cannot be broken. That requires us to look past our own egos and past rivalries from our wars in the Dark Area,” she informed them, letting one arm drop to her side. “We all wanted power when we created our new homes in the Dark Area. We gathered armies from the fellow ‘evil’ Digimon whose deleted data was prevented from being revived and was sent to the trash bin that was the inner circles of the Dark Area. We fought with each other and the other prisoners like GranDracmon for control and pre-eminence in the Dark Area. This is not the Dark Area. All too often will weak, petty Digimon with personal scores work against their best interests just to have a bit of revenge or to grab a tempting opportunity. We cannot have that. We have a second chance now that we’re free and we must make the best of it.”

Leviamon climbed halfway out of the water, the lower part of his body still submerged underneath the sloshing pond. “A second chance to do what?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.

“To finish what I started,” Lucemon explained decisively.

“To take my revenge,” Demon deeply muttered, slowly closing his fist.

“To profit from our gambit,” Barbamon stated, tapping his clawed fingers against his staff.

“To have the freedom to do what I please,” Lilithmon added with a designing smirk.

Leviamon sneered. “…Yeah. Fine. I’m in,” he conceded. “I hate the way Seraphimon, Ophanimon, and Cherubimon think they can just dictate whatever they want. They’re idiots blinded by their unwavering faith and self-righteousness…”

“Then we will have to show them the errors of their ways, won’t we?” Lucemon decided with a calm half-grin.

“Indeed,” Bagramon stated in concordance. “However, we are a long way from that point as it stands right now.”

“Which is why it’s important that we get started soon,” Barbamon complained insistently. “That—“

“Be quiet,” Demon spoke sharply, narrowing his eyes. “I hear something…”

The five quieted down in response to Demon’s words. There was a good chance that it might be a threat. If that was the case, then it would have to be eliminated. None of them were at full strength since leaving the Dark Area, but with the six of them there, they were a force to be reckoned with.

They listened intently.

At first, it was quiet. Only the hollow whistle of the wind blowing down the mouth of the cave could be heard. But after a few seconds, a distant whirring began to sound out. It was the mechanical hum of an engine.

The engine’s purr gradually amplified into an audible roar as it drew nearer. The engine’s excited drone echoed down the cave with an ominous wail. The Demon Lords stared up the tunnel to see a motorcycle tear up the floor of the cave and soar down the incline towards them.

Beelzebumon grinned as he drove towards them. Right when it seemed like he was going to slam into the Demon Lords, he hammered on the breaks. The rubber wheels screeched against the stone below as he angled the bike sideways and skidded to a sharp stop. The Behemoth halted with dust wafting out beneath it, the smell of burnt rubbed and exhaust thick choked the air.

After pushing the kickstand down, Beelzebumon hopped off his motorcycle and strolled over nonchalantly. “Hey, assholes,” he greeted.

“Hmph. You’re here,” Lucemon: Falldown Mode said, glancing at Beelzebumon with a cold leer.

“What took you so long?” Barbamon asked him, glancing at the demon man distastefully. “Did you stumble drunkenly into some poor fool’s bed again?”

“I had to ride here all the way from the ***-end of Eniac, is what took me so long!” Beelzebumon responded, sneering and folding his slender arms across his chest. “I came outta the Dark Area all’a way down in the Claw Desert, so get off my *** already. Cripes…”

“It doesn’t matter,” Bagramon said. “Everyone’s here now, so we can begin.”

“****, is that you, Bagramon? You got way uglier from when we last saw each other! When they tossed you outta the Sky Colonies, did you hit every branch of the World Tree on the way down?” Beelzebumon stated with a laugh. After a moment, his smile turned into a look of confusion as he looked around at all of the Demon Lords. “Wait a sec. The hell do you mean ‘everyone’s here’? We’re missing Belphemon! I mean, I know your eyesight isn’t that good, havin’ lost an eye an’ all, but come on! It’s hard to forget the giant wad of fluff.”

“Belphemon is unable to join us at the moment,” Bagramon calmly explained. “I have successfully released him, but he cannot physically be here. You may already know this, but when you were imprisoned in the Dark Area, Belphemon was far too dangerous and bloodthirsty to control. They placed him in an indefinite sleep state before sending him to the Dark Area. Since he is currently in Sleep Mode, I was unable to tell him to come here.”

“So, where the hell is the furball?” Beelzebumon asked, placing his hands on his hips. “Sleeping in a bed with a nightcap and a teddy?”

“Don’t say such stupid things, Beelzebumon,” Lucemon responded with a dismissive shake of his head.

“Belphemon is currently deep in the Cathode Tundra,” Bagramon explained. “It is an extremely remote and treacherous location filled with deep snow and thick blizzards, even at this time of year. He should be safe to leave alone in the short term, but we will need him eventually. We don’t want him to fall into the hands of the Royal Knights or the Heavenly Choir. I should mention that the Royal Knights have a sophisticated search system. They can detect large influxes of power and most dark rifts. We can assume that they will investigate the areas that you all resurfaced from.”

“Forget Belphemon,” Leviamon grunted disdainfully. “He was uncontrollable during the rebellion; he just caused as much destruction as he wanted. He’s more trouble than he’s worth.”

“I will be the judge of that,” Lucemon stated with confident poise. “He will serve us well as a powerful soldier.”

Leviamon released a sharp exhale from his nostrils, which caused rainbow steam to flow out of his nose. He locked eyes with Lucemon. “You honestly think you can control him?” the massive reptile questioned the blond fallen angel with obvious scepticism.

“Of course,” Lucemon: Falldown Mode answered, his voice smooth with calm certainty. “I am quite used to dealing with beasts,” he explained, not gracing Leviamon with a look until the final word.

Leviamon sneered a bit deeper. “Whatever… Bagramon? I want to hear what you think. You’re the one who got us all out,” he stated, turning his narrow, golden eyes towards the demon man.

“As unruly as Belphemon can be, I believe that we will need his unmatched strength and ferocity in the trials to come. We need every ally that we can get; we will need to be able to match the strength of the Royal Knights,” Bagramon explained. “Belphemon’s strength is a match for that of the Royal Knights.”

“Tch…” Leviamon scoffed bitterly. “…Very well. I trust your judgment, Bagramon. You haven’t been stuck in the Dark Area all this time, so you know what’s going on.”

“How very big of you, Leviamon,” Lilithmon teased him, smirking as she stroked her chin with a hand. “At least we have that settled.”

“And what of our armies in the Dark Area?” Barbamon asked, resting his staff against his body and folding his arms. “With the exception of some of us…” He cleared his throat and looked over at Beelzebumon. “…we all had our own loyal counts, barons, and soldiers. Have they escaped as well? We could certainly use an army.”

“I’m afraid I cannot be certain,” Bagramon explained in response, shaking his horned head. He raised up his giant, skeletal hand and gazed at its bony, wooden palm. “When I pulled you all from the Dark Area, I was concentrating on you seven alone. There were large rifts opened up all across the Digital World, not to mention the porous barriers between the levels of the Dark Area. It’s possible that some of your fellow demon Digimon escaped as well, but I can’t say how many. At any rate, the rifts are completely sealed now, thanks to Imperialdramon and the Royal Knights, so there is currently no chance for any more reinforcements.”

“Blast it. I have entire legions down there!” Barbamon complained. “If any of those miserable whelps try to take over my palace in my absence, I will personally skin them alive! Bah! All of my treasures are still in the Dark Area! You must be able to access the Dark Area again, Bagramon. We need to be able to pass in between there! We need the soldiers, the wealth, and the supply lines to wage a war!”

“That would be difficult, Barbamon,” Bagramon calmly answered in a sage-like tone. “Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode has done a complete rewrite of the Dark Area’s barrier. All of the holes have been sealed and it is as strong as it was when it was first created. I will try to look into the possibility, but I feel that it won’t be possible. Now that we have escaped, the Royal Knights will be sure to have sealed any vulnerabilities. It would be safe to assume that it is sealed for good. We should not expect them to be so careless.”

“Damn it… They are nothing but thorns in our sides,” Demon said with a soft tightening of his fist. “If only we could remove them from the equation.”

“Our job would be much easier if we had our armies,” Lilithmon mused. “Right now, we are at a clear numerical disadvantage.”

Barbamon glanced at the demon woman. “I’m sure we can live without your harem, Lilithmon,” he sarcastically said.

Lilithmon turned and cast him a dangerous leer towards him, her eyes glowing like murderous rubies. “Shall I rip that beard off, you ugly, old miser?” she asked in threatening retort. “I’ll have you know that I have the second largest army out of all of us, and my followers are far more loyal than any of yours will ever be.”

“That is debateable, Lilithmon,” Lucemon dismissively answered.

“Is it now?” she replied indignantly. “I actually know how to handle my followers. I know what they want, what they desire, and what they need. I can manipulate any Digimon to my wishes and they will think that they are doing themselves and me a favour. I reward their loyalty and foster their devotion, and they love me for it. They are not simply motivated by hatred, greed, and ambition like all of your followers. Their loyalties to you are built on shaky foundations, and now that we are isolated from the Dark Area, your armies will all succumb to factional in-fighting while my lovely followers will remain strong and chant ‘Empress Lilithmon’ to the end.”

Demon scoffed at this. “A foolish notion, ‘Empress’. Fear is a far stronger motivator than love,” he insisted. “My followers know who’s in charge and they know what happens when they fail. They are too afraid to move one foot out of turn. That’s why my armies are the most disciplined and effective. When you separate the wheat from the chaff, the cream rises to the top.”

“Your clumsy metaphor aside, I agree that self-interest as a motivator is far more effective than loyalty,” Barbamon responded. “When it comes down to it, Digimon only care about one thing: themselves. Rather than assume any foolish pretense of my follower’s loyalty to me, I look at the cold, hard truth that other Digimon are only seeking to further their own goals, not my own. I can control that by manipulating Digimons’ perceptions and telling them how working in my interests will best further their own interests. Every Digimon wants something. You just need to find out what that is and how to exploit it. They will fall in line as long as they know they are getting something out of it.”

“And that cynical way of thinking is precisely why your followers will turn on you and crumble now that there is a power vacuum in the Dark Area,” Lucemon responded, a smug grin gracing his lips. “I believe in a medium between Lilithmon’s and Demon’s approaches. Reward loyalty and success while brutally punishing treachery and failure. That keeps the demons in line… However, more important than that, is that I actually have a cause for Digimon to believe in. They are actually working towards an ideal future when they follow me. That is why my army was the largest out of all of you.”

“You can your causes, Lucemon,” Leviamon dismissively retaliated. “I remember your ‘cause’ that started one of the many Dark Area wars; it was so that you could unite the Dark Area under you as the ultimate overlord. So noble.”

“If that over-simplification of my goal was all that you were able to understand, then it is no wonder I sent you fleeing with your tails between your legs on more than one occasion,” Lucemon calmly taunted. “I was the only one who could lead the Dark Area out of the depths of vice and depravity that it found itself in after years of degradation. I provided a bastion of hope and success for the future. Is it any wonder that I was loved by the Digimon who had ambitions for something better.”

Leviamon rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say…” he sceptically responded. “My followers were good; better than all of yours, that’s for sure. I found like-minded individuals who hated the rest of you. I knew how to handle them. I could play on their insecurities that came from living in a shitty world that was filled with Digimon like all of you. They didn’t want to be dominated by your guys’ tyranny and ideals and ****. I actually got my soldiers and commanders. They trusted me; they knew I was just like them.”

“Hideous beasts with no sense of purpose or loyalty, you mean?” Barbamon deadpanned.

“If you want to talk about no sense of purpose, look at Belphemon and his faction. All they cared about was being neutral. They’d join whatever army seemed like the path of least resistance, goals or purpose be damned,” Leviamon complained bitterly. “At least I had goals and principles.”

Beelzebumon rolled his three eyes, becoming utterly bored of their debate. “Tch. You losers and your precious armies… Who needs ‘em?” Beelzebumon asked with a shrug. “I sure as hell don’t. I’m strong enough on my own. In the Dark Area, I could take on every one of you assholes and your piddly, little armies.”

“And you’re the biggest idiot of them all,” Leviamon growled. “You had Digimon begging for you to lead them. And what do you do? You turn them down and do your stupid lone wolf act. It’s just like the Heavenly Choir all over again, with you.”

“That was annoying,” Lilithmon agreed with an annoyed leer directed at the leather-clad demon. “You’re so easy to read, Beelzebumon. You only care about satisfying your own desires.”

“Look who’s talkin’,” Beelzebumon fired back.

Lilithmon leered dangerously at him. “I am measured and exacting when it comes to satisfying my appetites. You will jump at whatever’s offered to you.”

“Tch,” Beelzebumon argued. “********. I don’t fight weaklings. I don’t eat trash for food. And I don’t bed annoying people. Think whatever you want, Lili. I know myself best”

Lilithmon’s mascara-toned eye twitched and an incredulous grin formed on her face that was less a smile and more a ticking timebomb. “Beelze… What have I told you about calling me that…?” she warned him.

A cat-like grin curled onto Beelzebumon’s face and he shrugged innocently. “Dunno. Don’t?” he casually responded, completely unconcerned by her restrained-yet-threatening demeanour.

“Anyways… Do not assume that you can fight solo here like you have before,” Lucemon told Beelzebumon emphatically.

“Tch. I can take on the Royal Knights. They aren’t so tough, one-on-one,” Beelzebumon indignantly responded, casually shrugging his shoulders. He folded his arms and leaned back against the cave wall.

“Even so, it would be better if we had more numbers,” Lucemon responded. “We should try to find out if any of our armies managed to escape. We must recruit allies wherever and however we can.”

“I agree, Lucemon,” Bagramon stated, nodding his head. “Depending on how many other demon and undead Digimon escaped, they will either be in hiding in the likes of Shroud, Dark Point, and Sepulcrum, or, if their numbers are larger, they could even be raiding. We should try to find them and recruit them to our cause. However, we shouldn’t expect whole legions to have escaped. My guess would be a few hundred Digimon at the most.”

“What else do we have at our disposal?” Barbamon questioned.

“There are two powerful mercenaries who have been working with me: Blitzmon and Bolgmon,” Bagramon responded. “Additionally, I have been making contact with some possible allies. Like myself, not every angel who rebelled against the Heavenly Choir was deleted to the Dark Area. Some were merely exiled to the Digital World. I have been speaking with some of the fallen angels of the Desolate Moors who have been doing quite well for themselves. They have small, private armies of loyal demon and undead Digimon. Several have expressed a willingness to join us. However, others want nothing to do with us. Regardless, we should be able to get a good amount of support from there, now that all of you are released.”

“Good… So the cause hasn’t faded out completely,” Lucemon observed with a satisfied smile.

“As long as we have loyal followers, we can continue with our righteous ambitions,” Demon added in agreement. “We must ensure their support swiftly.”

“It seems as though we are on a decent footing with all of that,” Barbamon mused, stroking his beard with his clawed fingers. “Assuming we can capitalize on it.”

Leviamon grunted and nodded. “Okay, so we get support. What else?” he asked.

“We require a financial base, obviously,” Barbamon stated. “Perhaps we can take over a large bank or something. If we’re cut off from our castles in the Dark Area, we need money. If we have money, we can hire mercenaries and bribe others to join us, not to mention buy food, weapons, and supplies.”

“That may not be necessary,” Bagramon explained. “Some of the demon aristocrats who don’t want to help us directly have, instead, offered to be our benefactors. They are quite wealthy. If we can sort out a good deal, then we will have more than enough of a financial base for our future goals.”

“Even so, it couldn’t hurt to have more,” Barbamon responded leering at Bagramon.

“So, you expect us to rob a bank? I am no petty criminal,” Lucemon stated unwaveringly. He released a dismissive scoff and shook his blond head. “I am a messiah, not a common thief.”

“Too good to get your hands dirty?” Leviamon asked him with a critical leer.

Lucemon smirked. “Why should I bother? If you want to, then, by all means, go right ahead. I won’t object. Someone like you is far better suited for petty crime anyways.”

At this barb, Leviamon sneered antagonistically at the half-angel, half-demon.

“Well, I still think it’s a good idea,” Barbamon stated firmly. “We need all the money that we can get.”

“Tch. Honestly… You just want to horde the money for yourself,” Lilithmon deduced with a roll of her eyes. “You are as greedy as ever.”

Bagramon closed his remaining eye. “We can leave it as a possibility, but at this point, we don’t want to do anything that draws unwanted attention. If we require additional money after we meet with our supporters, we could entertain that as an option,” he suggested.

“So, I guess the Desolate Moors is our first stop. Wouldn’t be a bad place for us to hide for the time being either,” Leviamon stated, frowning deeply as he let his tails drift underwater. “What’s next?”

“We should access Belphemon soon afterwards,” Bagramon suggested. “Then, we should choose our subsequent courses of action according to our needs at the time.”

“Very well. That makes sense from a strategic standpoint,” Barbamon stated, nodding sagely. “There is no point focusing solely on the long game at this point.”

Lilithmon placed her hands on her hips. “What is the end goal here? The same as before?”

“The destruction of the Heavenly Choir as it currently is,” Lucemon: Falldown stated matter-of-factly. “As well as the culling of the other ‘gods’ and their supporters, such as the Royal Knights. They must be eliminated one way or another…”

Lucemon: Falldown Mode smiled darkly. “…Then a new world order can be established. One of perfection... One of harmony… I will achieve that with my own two hands, no matter who tries to stand in my way…” he said with calm composure and ambition.

“I believe that we all have mutual goals here,” Demon explained, turning towards Bagramon and the rest of the Seven Great Demon Lords. “We should work together as Bagramon says if we wish to put the Heavenly Choir and their pathetic allies in their places.”

“That would be the most prosperous course of action…” Barbamon dryly stated.

“Fine,” Leviamon uttered before sliding back into the large, underground pond, causing a big splash that sent waves crashing up against the rocks of the cave.

Lilithmon was about to speak when a wave splashed up and soaked the part of her dress that dragged along the ground. She turned to the massive crocodile with a scowl. “You are really testing my patience, lizard…” she warned him.

Leviamon rolled his eyes as he floated on the large pond. “Sorry, my lady,” he answered, his voice dripping with sarcasm as much as his body was dripping with water.

“Okay. Let’s do this, then,” Lilithmon spoke, a smirk growing on her face. “We don’t have many other options. This sounds like the most beneficial. It might even be fun.”

“That’s for damn sure,” Beelzebumon agreed with an excited grin. He spun his Berenjena shotgun up into the air and deftly allowed it to land back in its holster on his back. “Bring it on.”

Bagramon nodded calmly. “Good… Then we are all in agreement,” he mused.

Bagramon turned and gazed up the tunnel of the cave towards the distant exit. He could see light shining down, dimly illuminating the darkness of the tunnel. His ruby eye glowed dimly as a soft smile formed on his face.

“We will put right what went wrong all that time ago…” he explained. “Our rebellion – no – our holy war will continue from here on out.”

Bagramon’s red eye flashed menacingly. “But this time, nobody… not the Three Angels… not the Warrior Ten… not the Royal Knights… and not God Himself will stand in our way…”

The Demon Lord turned away from the six others, closing his eye.

“I will do what you couldn’t do, Brother… I will restore justice to this world…” Bagramon brooded. “New Justice… My Justice… Just as I always intended…”

 

[Solsabre]

I think I like your version of the three Holy Angel mon best than other interpretations in media or fan stories. They have likeable qualities despite having to be rigid and upright in their ruling. The conversation between the Demonlords was also amusing. I would be hard pressed to keep everyone straight in the back and forth dialogue.

Also, I love the maturing of Saviorhuckmon that you've been building the last several chapters. Though I will admit I am horribly biased when it comes to him and I can't wait till he takes to the battlefield as Jesmon and his three little lights. LOL.