Together, We Survive - Part Two
The packages jostled in the crate as Renamon ran down the street. Because Shinjuku was all but abandoned, they didn't need to worry about cars. Only those aligned with the Overlord were allowed cars these days, anyway. Rika scoffed to herself. What a joke. She hadn't even had time to get her driver's license before all this nonsense happened.
"Rika," Renamon said, skidding to a halt.
Rika pulled a quick stop, swinging her head over her shoulder. "What? What is it?"
Renamon silently stared up at something. Rika followed her gaze, eyes widening. A large digimon stood on the rooftop ahead of them. Combat armor shielded his metal reptilian body. A segmented tail swished out behind him, keeping his two-clawed feet in balance. He crouched down, a combat knife held in his claws. He stretched his neck, opening his maw with a gargling growl, saliva dripping from its sharp teeth and slender purple tongue. It looked similar to the Commandramon, and yet…
"Ugh! What's this guy's problem?" Rika demanded. "And what kind of digimon is he?"
"I'm not sure," Renamon confessed. She dropped the crate, which thudded at her feet, and fell into a battle stance. "But he looks strong."
Rika threw a frustrated look down at her hip, where her damaged D-Arc rested. "Not stronger than you," she insisted. "Right, Renamon?"
Renamon crossed her arms before her. "Right," she agreed lowly, leaping into the air. The lizard jumped after her, kicking off from the roof with powerful legs. "Diamond Storm!" Renamon unleashed a barrage of leaves. With one swipe of his knife, the lizard slashed through the attack. He closed in, slamming a fist over the top of Renamon's head, sending her crashing to the ground with a cry.
"Renamon!" Rika cried, running forward, peering desperately as the smoke cleared.
Renamon let out a groan, pushing herself up from the ground. She winced, forcing her eyes open to look up at the digimon standing before her. "Rika... Stay back," she warned. "He's… powerful…" She faltered and slumped over, eyes falling shut.
The lizard let out an amused laugh. He stood taller, lowering his knife to his side. "Humans aren't allowed outside the Zone," he said gruffly. He pointed to Rika, who stopped in her tracks.
"Yeah, well, we don't very much care for your stupid rules!" Rika spat. She clutched her D-Arc in her hand, knowing full well how useless it was. But she knew they had no chance of beating this guy without so much as a modify card. But with the camp so close, they couldn't just run... If only she could find some other way to make Renamon digivolve.
"Oh?" The lizard tilted his head to the side, a chuckle still rumbling in his chest. "But they're for your own good, little girl. What else would keep you humans from running around unsupervised?"
"Unsupervised is kind of the point," Rika argued, glancing down at Renamon. Dirt splotched her yellow and white fur. Her back swelled with each heavy breath. She wasn't in good condition, but they were out of options.
"Maybe that's how it used to be. But things are different now. If you humans didn't want to share with us digimon, then you shouldn't have merged our worlds in the first place!" the lizard bellowed. He stepped forward, his red monoeye glaring brightly.
"Yeah right! As if that's what happened!" Rika shouted. "Renamon, now!"
"What?" The lizard looked down, raising his blade.
"Power Paw!" Renamon leapt up with a cry, slashing her blue blazing claws across the lizard's belly and neck, connected beneath his chin and sending him flying back.
The lizard snarled, crashing into the streetlight, denting the iron pole with a heavy clang. "You sneaky little…!"
"Sit back and relax," Renamon taunted, lunging forward before the lizard could gather himself. She unleashed a wave of silver leaves, which struck the lizard, erupting in a cloud of smoke. Renamon burst through the smoke, fist pulled back to deliver a finishing strike.
The sound of the blow never came. The smoke cleared, and the lizard was standing, holding Renamon up in the air, clawed fingers clasped around her neck, digging into the collar of white fur. "Renamon!" Rika cried.
Renamon gritted her teeth. A blue eye slid back to her anxious tamer. "Rika… Run," she gasped. The lizard's hand tightened, cutting her off. She stilled, arms falling to her side, tail drooping. Rika froze, eyes wide, mouth agape.
"Hrr…" The lizard tossed Renamon aside like a rag doll. Her shoulder struck the side of a building, and she winced before falling to the ground. He walked towards Rika, head low, tail swishing. Rika took a step back, torn between fear of death and the loss of her friend. "You're right. The Zone is no place for sneaky tamers," the lizard decided. "Once I'm through with you, you're going to Devi's Prison…" He raised his knife. The moonlight slashed off the cruel, jagged blade. "That is, if you're still alive."