I don't own Digimon and this is a work from a fan to other fans.

The story is set after Knowledge Wisdom Truth.

Chapter 1: Rise of the wicked

There was a citadel in the North of the Server Continent. It was surrounded by a great wall whose top touched the clouds. Outsiders weren't welcomed there and only a few Digimon knew the name of the place. One day, however, the gates of the citadel were opened and an army composed of various vaccine and data types Digimon marched to the outside world. As the warriors reached the first village, located in a forest, they asked the leader of the village to gather every virus type Digimon in the vicinity. Given the difference in power, the leader, a Jureimon, did as he was asked.

The virus type Digimon were confused and inquired why they were brought there. Without an explanation, the army attacked and murdered them mercilessly, including Jureimon. The reminiscent Digimon were in shock.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" A Floramon questioned in horror as the leader of the village was being set on fire. The commander of the army, a male angel Digimon wrapped in pink fabric, responded:

"We are purifying this village."

"Piddomon-sama!" a Knightmon addressed the Commander. "We are done with this village. We should move."

"Yes." Piddomon replied. Floramon wouldn't let them go that easily.

"WHO ARE YOU? WHY DID YOU ATTACK MY FRIENDS?!"

"Be careful." The angel advised. "Befriending viruses is a grave sin. You don't want to be an enemy of the Sacred Society."

"Sin is what you are doing!" Floramon accused. The angel swung his staff and attacked the female Digimon, making her fly several meters before hitting the ground with violence. Piddomon turned to his subordinates and ordered:

"This village is clearly full of traitors. Kill every single Digimon in this place."

Floramon could hear the screams of her comrades being massacred. In impotence, she cried profusely under the shade of a tree. When the screams stopped and she heard several steps in the distance, Floramon knew everything was over. The flower Digimon could feel her life force slipping away.

It was with great surprise that she saw a figure appear and sit next to her. Floramon's sight was dizzy, but she could tell that whoever was in front of her wore a white mask without any holes for the eyes or to breathe.

"What happened?" The voice of that individual was masculine and deep.

"They killed everybody. That angel and his army… all my friends are dead…" Floramon's voice cracked.

"Angel?" The stranger inquired in a dark tone.

"Piddomon… he was from a Sacred Society… and is off to kill virus Digimon and those who befriend them…" Floramon was feeling weaker. "Please, avenge my village. You are a warrior, right?"

"I was called that a long time ago. Nowadays I am simply a Merchant." The figure replied. Floramon died right after hearing those words. The Merchant stood up and wiped the dirt from his black robe. It has begun, he thought.

Meanwhile, in the Real World, a boy was standing in front of an apartment building in Odaiba. He wore a white jacket over a black shirt along with large brown pants and black snickers. His hair was black and curly, his eyes were light brown. His height was average for a person who should be around 15 years old. The boy stared at the building with eyes full of pain and sadness. Absorbed in that action, he didn't realize when a red-haired boy left the said building in a hurry and bumped into him. They both fell to the ground.

"I-I am so deeply sorry!" The redhead apologized humbly, offering his right hand to help the other boy to stand up. "I should have looked to where I was going but I am in an emergency and had to go to a place the fastest I could… a-are you alright?"

The polite boy asked the other when he noticed big tears falling from those brown eyes.

"Did I hurt you? I am so sorry!" Worry was spread in the red-haired boy's face.

"I'm great. Fantastic!" The one with black hair replied quickly, grabbing the other's hand more fiercely than necessary and standing up. His eyes were irradiating in that instant deep happiness and his lips trembled as they formed a big smile. The redhead felt a little uncomfortable, unable to understand why the other was looking at him like that.

"Say… do you have any idea who I am?" The stranger questioned, wiping his tears with the back of his left hand (the other was still holding the red-haired boy's hand). There was a mixture of fear and hope in his brown eyes.

"I am sorry, I don't remember you." The other replied, noticing the heart-breaking expression the inquirer had after he heard those words. "Perhaps you are mistaking me for someone else. My name is Izumi Koushiro."

"I am glad to meet you." He replied almost inaudibly.

Koushiro suddenly remembered that he had to hurry to Taichi's place. He let go of the boy's hand and began to walk. "I am so sorry, I really need to go. I hope we see each other again soon…"

"I attend by Katsura Shinsuke."

"I hope we meet again, Katsura-san!" Koushiro waved his hand as he ran. Shinsuke looked at the hand that had been grabbing Koushiro's. His hand was so warm.

When Koushiro arrived at the Yagami residence, he found Taichi, Hikari, Myako, Daisuke, Takeru, Iori and Ken there, along with their partners (minus Agumon).

"What happened in the Digital World?" The computer genius asked.

"Agumon sent us a S.O.S!" Taichi answered; the concern towards his partner was clear in his tone of voice. "Villages are being attacked in the Digital World. Virus type Digimon are being killed by an army leaded by an angel."

"Angel?" Koushiro asked astonished.

"We couldn't believe it either." Hikari sighed in sadness. "Why would someone do such a horrible thing?"

"We have a new enemy already, better start moving." Myako said. Ken was looking at Wormmon with worried eyes.

"What's the problem, Ken-chan?" The green monster asked.

"You are a virus type, right? It's going to be dangerous for you."

"You don't need to worry about me, Ken-chan. As long as I'm with you, everything will be okay." Wormmon had a confident and cheerful tone that made Ken smile and calm down a little.

"We won't let anything bad happen to Wormon, don't worry." Daisuke assured Ken.

"I know." Ken's smile was now bigger. Of course he didn't have reasons to worry. Wormmon could count on him and the others, and the boy wouldn't let anything bad happen to his precious partner. Ken couldn't avoid to be constantly haunted by the memories of his days as the Kaiser. Just by remembering what he had done to Wormmon, who had always been loyally by his side despite his actions, made Ken feel disgusted at himself. No matter how much he had changed or how big was the support he had received, the guilt would never completely vanish from his heart. Myako noticed Ken's distress and wished to help him somehow. She held her digivice in front of the computer screen and said her characteristic encouraging line "Digital Gate: open! Chosen children, let's roll!" The gate in the computer of the house was opened and they were all transported to the Digital World.

Note: Kaito Lune warned me about Chibimon's attribute, so I modified the story slightly. :)