Hazard of Hatred

by SorrowfulReincarnation

Picks up towards the end of "Runaway Locomon". Takato is forced to make a sacrifice, and is separated from his friends and family. Upon trying to return to the real world, he ends up in the eastern quadrant. And it slowly begins to seem like someone set this all up for a greater purpose...! And what has it all do to with the Digital Hazard? Season02xTamers Crossover. Rukato.

4. The Digital Hazard

Ahum. This is probably a bit too late, but... Welcome to the next chapter of Hazard of Hatred!

I am aware that I'm way too late for this update. I know I promised a monthly update of this story and said at the very beginning that I had lots of free time, but due to a lot of work that I had to do for school, I was not able to concentrate on HoH. To make up for it, I wanted to focus on HoH rather than NBP for the month may, but had even more work to do for school, and was unable to concentrate on either story once again. Knowing that I shouldn't make promises I can't keep, I'm not going to promise that I'll make two updates next month to make up for the missing one... But, rather than that, I'll be starting with monthly updates (and probably more once we reached the middle of this story) next month for real.

Now then, I don't think there is anything left to say. Thanks for all the positive reviews and once again sorry for the long wait.

---

Hazard of Hatred

ARC 2 - ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE

Chapter 2: The Digital Hazard

As I woke up that morning, it didn't take me forever to remember what situation I was in. I woke up and immediately knew I wasn't at home, but another world, one that I had believed to be nothing but a TV Show.

My headache from the day before was gone and I felt more lively and energetic, so I shook the remaining drowsiness off and returned to the things at hand with my old strength. And the next thing at hand related to the task that Azulongmon had given me was the arrival of my tutor, the one that would teach me about the Digital Hazard for the time being.

I sat up and still found myself where I had dozed off: On the living room couch. I cast a short glance into the direction of the computer and silently wondered to myself who my tutor would be, and how and when he'd arrive.

Not many would know about the Digital Hazard and it's ways to begin with... In fact, only a handful of Digimon would know, those who bore the seal themselves. And only a very few Digimon did, actually.

So as I finally rose from the couch, I let out a deep sigh and stretched my tired, aching limbs.

"Geez, I should've just gone to bed!" I groaned to myself, "Sleeping on a couch really doesn't help your body or anything!"

I cast a short glance towards the clock on the far side of the room. It was nearly 11 AM, meaning I had slept a little longer than I had wanted to. However, since it was a Saturday, there was nothing I could've gotten late for... So sleeping in once in a while was alright.

Hearing my stomach growl, mainly because I hadn't really eaten anything the day before, I made my way over to the kitchen to prepare some breakfast. Since I had yet to go and buy some groceries, I had to eat the only thing that Azulongmon had left me... Or whoever else had prepared this flat for me.

Instant Ramen.

With a bowl of it in hand, I returned to the living room and flopped down into the chair in front of the computer. I turned it on, waited for it to boot up while I began to eat. Eventually, I was greeted by the blue desktop and the only symbol on it: Quadrantroom EXE.

Since my tutor had yet to arrive, I figured that it wouldn't hurt to have a short look as to who was currently active in the Quadrant Room, and thus clicked on the symbol. Once more, the black window opened up. And, to my surprise, I wasn't even alone... He was there.

Falldown.

I nearly spat my food across the desk when I saw his name, mainly because I hadn't expected him to show up so soon again. But then again, hadn't he told me to think about something until today... He had asked me to think about what could've been if things had gone different back then during the Megidramon Incident.

Takato Matsuki.

I glanced towards the webcam, only to find it inactive this time. He wasn't observing me like the day before. And yet, I felt observed, uneasy. This guy was giving me the creeps...

I have awaited you.

As this message popped up, the webcam came alive, a green light indicating that it was currently in use.

"I guess so..." I muttered, a little creeped out as the webcam turned a little to face me.

You seem uneasy. Is everything alright?

Was this guy seriously asking that? How could he have not figured out that his weird behavior was making me uncomfortable?

Ah, I see. It is because you cannot see me, correct? You humans are silly beings. You do not want me to see you as long you are unable to see me... Interesting. This could lead to the first step into the right direction...

"What do you mean? I don't think this is interesting at all..." I replied, still staring at the webcam as if it was an eyeball that kept looking at me.

Then do something about it. Stop me. Prevent me from taking control of your webcam.

Was this some kind of joke? What did he want me to do?

I glanced around, wondered if anything would come to my help. Spotting a small tablecloth, barely bigger than my hand, on a shelf next to me, I leaned over to it and picked it up, then merely threw it over the webcam to cover it. I don't know why, but that seemed to be the only logical solution I could come up with... And well, it did work just fine.

At least until the webcam, which had the shape of a white orb, moved, rolled backwards, and thus pushed the tablecloth off it. And once it had fallen behind the desk, the webcam turned back to face me.

Nice try, Takato. But I was referring to something else. Use the Digital Hazard to stop me.

At that, I frowned at the screen and wondered if 'Falldown' was kidding around or if he was serious... He began to sound more and more like a lunatic.

"How?" I asked him, glaring cautiously at the webcam.

What are you asking me for? I don't have control over it. You are the bearer of the Hazard sign... But for beginners, you might try to point your right palm at it.

With a huge frown, I gently lifted my right hand and pointed it's palm at the webcam. How was this even supposed to work? I guess he indeed was a lunatic.

"What now?"

Megidramon.

The moment that I read the single name, three things happened.

First: I cringed madly, bad memories resurfacing in an instant. The entire Megidramon Incident repeated itself in a flash before my eyes. I could once more, just like in my nightmares, only watch as Leomon died by Beelzemon's hands, and how Guilmon turned into Megidramon, only to eventually nearly die.

Second: Just for the fragment of a second, just the blink of an eye, something red flashed on the back of my right hand... Some kind of symbol or insignia. And the same thing flashed on the white of the webcam.

Third: The webcam let out a mechanical roar, just before it exploded violently; the orb flying past my head, leaving me flabbergasted.

Had I just done that?!

In shock, I stared at the smoking remains of what had once been the webcam. And I only averted my gaze as a new message appeared on the screen.

Oh my. I didn't expect such a violent reaction. You were supposed to render it useless... But I guess breaking it did it as well.

"What did just happen?!" I gasped as words finally were making sense again. For some reason, I was panting, and yet was not exhausted. Only one word could describe what I felt that very moment.

Fear.

Of course, if I had been able to think things through, I would've remembered the fact that 'Falldown' would now not be able to see or hear me anymore... But in the panic that I was, I continued to stare at the screen.

Well, the next messages of 'Falldown' didn't exactly help it. Especially not how fast they popped up.

So that is the power of the Digital Hazard...

And it is only a little bit of it! You didn't even use it conscious!

This power is incredible!

I am coming to get it now, before anyone else gets his hand on it!

I'M COMING FOR YOU TAKATO MATSUKI.

I pushed myself away from the computer. Too fast, as it turned out, as the chair fell over. I nearly screamed when it pulled me with it, hissed as I rolled once and eventually crawled further away from the computer, not once averting my gaze from it. Ending up with my back against the wall, I continued to watch the thing that now seemed to be a threat.

I'll be there in a moment.

No... No, stay away!

I see you, Takato!

He can see me?! I glanced left, glanced right, awaited some kind of madman to appear from behind the couch, behind the window (good thing it was closed!), the doors... He could see me! He could see me!

I sent a last glance towards the screen. And froze up in horror.

I am here.

'Falldown' signed off.

And then, it was silent. It was just me, cowering on the ground in a bright, nice and comfy room. And yet it felt like a dark cabin in the middle of the woods, felt like right out of a horror movie to me.

I would've never guessed that I'd have my personal stalker one day. And that, despite still being so young...

But... It remained silent. Nothing happened. Not a single thing.

For the next few minutes, I just sat there, back resting against the wall. But no madman showed up, not even a Digimon. The only thing I could hear was the soft ticking of the clock on the wall above me. Nothing else.

At least until I heard the doorbell, just as I finally rose.

Immediately thrown into panic again, I stumbled away from the open door to the corridor, from where the noises had come. Someone was at the door. Someone was at the door to my flat! It was 'Falldown', wasn't it?! It was that crazy madman!

And yet... Yet, despite my panic, something in me wanted to check who it was. And, after all, if this 'Falldown' really was going after me, he would get me one or the other way... Especially if he was a powerful Digimon. I didn't have Guilmon at my side, and it wasn't like I could just run up to the DigiDestined and ask them to save me from some crazy Digimon...

Okay, so maybe I could, but the problem was how to reach them now... I was effectively cornered in my own flat, with no way to get out of here. I couldn't just use the window, I was several stories above the ground... Sure, I had my cellphone here, but I didn't know a single cellphone number to begin with...

He had me.

So I did what I guess... Well, it wasn't exactly the most sane thing to do, but better than just cowering in the corner. I was Gallantmon, after all, a knight... Not a coward! Davis or Tai would've probably done the same thing... And, after all, I was kind of referring to myself as 'the carrier of the crest of courage in the third generation'... At least that was what I liked to call myself sometimes, especially back then when we went to the Digital World to find Calumon... It had always given me the necessary strength to be brave, to fight...

With that, I left the living room. I cautiously walked closer to the door, from which the doorbell still echoed through the room. On the way to it, I picked up the next best thing to use it as a weapon... Well, not that a vase would suffice for a real weapon, but oh well. At least it gave me the feeling that I wasn't completely helpless...

Finally, I reached the door. My hand enclosed the cold doorknob. I held my breath, blinked for a last time and swallowed the knot that had formed in my throat. And then, yanked the door open. Coming face-to-face with the madman.

Or would have, if anybody would've been there. But there was nobody.

Furrowing my eyebrows in confusion, I dared to make a single step out of my apartment. I glanced left, then right. There was nobody.

This had just been a sick joke.

Somewhat relaxing, I took two hasty steps back into my apartment, closed the door and lowered my 'weapon', then placed it down onto the cupboard I had taken it from. And with that done, I let out a huff of irritation and returned to the living room.

Coming back into the room, I finally relaxed. This had been a joke. Just a joke. That damn guy had just played with my mind again... He was probably just laughing to himself like an eight-year old that had just successfully pulled off a prank. Like Kazu, he was doing that too. Geez, I felt so stupid now...

Oh well. I guess I should close the window and then return to wait for my tutor to ar...

I froze up, remained where I stood.

The window.

It had not been open when I had left the room.

"My... my... my... How unthoughtful of you. You left your back uncovered, Takato Matsuki. Would I have been in your stead, I would've just used the Digital Hazard to increase my awareness." chuckled a sinister voice to my left, "But I guess I cannot blame you. You are unaware of what great powers you possess. Powers beyond that of a human."

I twirled on the spot, took two steps backwards at the same time, and ended up with my back pushed against the wall next to the door to the kitchen. And finally came face to face with 'the madman' that leaned against the wall there, aside the door to the corridor... Came face to face with 'Falldown'.

With nobody else but Lucemon.

The Digimon that looked so much like a young angel was staring at me, great amusement visible in it's blue eyes, along with mischievousness and a spark of evil that should just not be in the eyes of a child. His appearance deceived, his childish body lying about his true power. Despite him being only a Rookie, Lucemon was very well able to take on even stronger Mega Digimon. And that was on his Rookie level... If he actually went as far as digivolving to his Ultimate, Lucemon Falldown Mode, then...

Falldown.

Lucemon Falldown Mode. He was really Falldown.

I should've noticed earlier! Dang it, I could've known that he was the one I was talking to!

"Lucemon..." I dared to whisper, unsure what else to say. My own voice sounded far away, scared and intimidated... And yet, had some kind of awe to it. Was I in awe to see such a Digimon? A Digimon of legends?

The Fallen Angel Digimon let out an almost melodic laugh as he pushed himself off the wall and gently floated into the room... While being covered in data for a second, only to walk out of it as Lucemon Falldown Mode, the adult man with clothes half-white and half-black. As Lucemon Falldown Mode, his Ultimate.

"Takato Matsuki... How nice to finally meet you in person." chuckled the Digimon in a now way huskier voice. My Tamer senses kicked in and I reached for my D-Power. In the back of my mind, I knew that Guilmon wasn't with me, and yet the mere sight of such a powerful Digimon made me believe I was in another fight... That I was up against Beelzemon again.

"Oh, such hostility..." added the Demon Lord. It merely took him the simple wave of a hand, nothing more despite the large distance between us, to knock my D-Power out of my hand and across the room. He waved his hand again, which seemed to give an invisible hand a command, as my D-Power suddenly flew in midair. And then, over to Lucemon.

He caught it with his right hand, then admired it for a few seconds, only to then turn back to me, showing me the golden D-Power in his hand, waving it almost mockingly at me.

"You're not going to do anything about this? You're just allowing me to take it, one of the two parts of your connection to your partner, Megidramon? This is the sane part of your connection... The Digital Hazard is the other part of your connection to him, the insane part." asked the fallen angel with the movement of an eyebrow.

I unwillingly let out a growl, stared at the device that rested within his white-gloved hand. How was I supposed to get it back? Lucemon was an Ultimate Level Digimon, and I didn't have Guilmon with me! My D-Power was precious to me, not just because of being part of my connection like Lucemon had just said... It was also my only reminder of my home and my adventure back then, aside my goggles, that was.

"I see... Guess I was expecting too much then." huffed the Digimon after a few minutes of silence. To my surprise, he threw my D-Power back to me as he said this. Clumsy as I was, I barely caught it, but eventually held it back in my hands... This time with a strong grip, not willing to lose it again.

I watched with great caution as Lucemon strolled through my living room almost casually, walked over to the window and looked outside.

"In case you have not figured it out yet, Takato Matsuki, and I believe you have, I am the one you have known as 'Falldown' in the Quadrant Room. What you have apparently not figured out yet is that I am not the enemy. I was merely trying to give you a feeling of discomfort, wanted you in a state of panic and caution... All in hope that you'd use your Digital Hazard once cornered." huffed the Demon Lord.

"I guess that didn't work too well, though. Your mind must have unconsciously created a barrier... A barrier to prevent you from accidentally using the powers of the Digital Hazard like back then... Beelzemon did his job only too well. Leomon's death in combination with the creation of Megidramon must have truly traumatized you... Not only has it created that barrier, but also sends you into some kind of panic whenever Megidramon's name falls. It did cause that violent reaction, after all..." he added.

I still couldn't relax, even as he turned to me and began to smirk.

"Why would you want to do that? Why would you want me to use that thing?" I asked, spat the word 'thing'.

"You still don't get it, do you?" inquired Lucemon in return, then began to laugh, "I am the one you waited for. I am the one who will teach you... I am your tutor and will teach you how to use the Digital Hazard, as asked by Azulongmon."

Now that caught me off guard. With wide eyes, I stared at the Demon Lord, stared as he smirked to himself in an utterly pleased way. Was he telling the truth? Was he going to be my tutor? I guess it made sense, Lucemon was a powerful Digimon, the leader of the Demon Lords... But why would he know about the Digital Hazard? How would he be able to teach me how to use it? Why him, of all people?

I can't imagine that Azulongmon would choose him of all people if he had an alternative...

"You don't seem to believe me. Perhaps I should give you proof as for why I am best to tell you more about that which you know as Digital Hazard..." spoke the Demon Lord as he saw how unsure I was about all of this.

To be honest, I didn't really dare to say anything while being alone in the presence of such a powerful being. The last thing I needed was a new enemy. And, even though Lucemon had said that he was not an enemy, I still couldn't help but feel... intimidated.

Lucemon regarded me with a single glance, then rose his right hand and showed it to me. His hand burst apart into data as he did so, data that took the shape of glowing rings of all kinds of letters I had never seen before. These two rings moved apart, and thus revealed Lucemon's hand again... That of his Rookie shape.

He gently turned the pale, childish hand around to show me the back of it. And on the back of his hand, drawn in some kind of blue ink or something like that, like the other symbols on his body were, was the Digital Hazard sign.

"I am to bring order and harmony in the Digital World. I did so long ago... With the power of holy rings, as well as with the power of the Hazard. I combine light and dark, command both the divine and the diabolic... And it just happens that the holy rings are the divine, and the Digital Hazard..."

"...is the diabolic side." I finished for him, my eyes glued to his hand, even as it turned back into that of his current shape, that of the Ultimate Lucemon Falldown Mode.

"Do you believe me now? I do not intend any harm to the Digital World. In fact, I am here to prevent exactly that." revealed Lucemon and leaned against the wall just next to a window, his gaze now on something outside that I couldn't see.

"I do... Azulongmon sent you to train me in the ways of the Digital Hazard. But I still don't understand... Why me? And what is the Digital Hazard? What can I do with it?" I whispered, still in awe and yet confusion.

"A lot of questions at once... But I am here to answer all your questions. As good as I can, at least. Even I don't know why the Digital Hazard chose you to be reborn in... I don't think anyone will ever know." sighed the fallen angel.

"W-wait?! What do you mean with 'chose to be reborn in me'?!" I shouted the moment that I processed what he had just said, "And why did you call Megidramon my partner earlier? Guilmon is my partner, not Megidramon!"

At that, Lucemon turned his gaze to me and frowned, apparently confused at what I had just shouted.

"I see... You really do not know a single thing then. Then I shall reveal some things to you now, carrier of the crest of hatred." spoke Lucemon in a mysterious tone, then softly pushed himself off the wall and began to pace through the room.

"Long ago, when the Digital World had just come to be, the only things controlling it were two elements... You could call them light and darkness, but since we are talking about data, I shall call them by what they were... vaccine and virus. Vaccine was pure, uncorrupted data and eventually what all digital life was born from. Virus, on the other hand, was... Well, unstable data, easy to corrupt. It created the world that we live in, the Digital World." began Lucemon and closed his eyes.

"Vaccine and virus began to merge at one point, only to notice that they were too different to be one. Nonetheless did they know that they could not exist alongside one another, as the fact that they both existed at the same time threw the Digital World into chaos... Thus, vaccine eventually let itself be absorbed by virus. And at this point, virus took a more recognizable shape... That of the Digital Hazard." he continued, then opened his eyes to look at me.

"Before you ask now and interrupt me, Takato... Yes, the very thing that is to your command is the merged being of vaccine and virus. You command the very element of the Digital World."

Lucemon didn't give me time to process this, and merely continued once he had turned away again.

"The Digital Hazard combines several aspects of both vaccine and virus. It is easily corrupted, just like virus, and able to manipulate Digital Terrain, including the Digital World itself... That is the limit of it's virus side. That is why Megidramon nearly destroyed the entire Digital World when you called upon him unknowingly. You corrupted the Digital Hazard, fed it with hatred... Of course, the moment that you realized your fault and stopped giving Megidramon your hate was also the moment that he lost his entire strength and was defeated by Beelzemon." continued the Demon Lord.

"Wait a moment! This is all a bit too much!" I exclaimed, but Lucemon merely regarded this with a single glare and a shake of his head. He bowed down to pick up the remains of the webcam, the white orb, and began to play with it; threw it into the air and then caught it again.

"The vaccine aspect of the Digital Hazard is what allows it to be efficient against any kind of Digimon or technical device... This is why I asked you earlier to destroy my control of the webcam, as well as taking the D-Power back from me. Once I have properly trained you, you will be able to use this part of the Digital Hazard to properly manipulate and destroy and kind of technical device in this world, as well as fighting against Digimon up to Ultimate without the help of your partner." added Lucemon to his earlier words as if I hadn't interrupted him at all.

"But there is more... This is just what I know about the Digital Hazard's powers, I who I have not been chosen by it and yet used it. You, on the other hand, are it's wielder... It chose your body to be returned to life in. It wanted to be part of you. Thus, it will allow you far greater things... It has already begun to affect you. It has started to corrupt you. You will soon notice changes,Takato, changes in your abilities... You'll notice that your stamina will increase. You will be able to move at greater speeds... Changes like these. They have begun after the Megidramon Incident, and will soon grow stronger once we have started your training."

"Wait, please... This is quite a lot, but... Why do you keep referring to the Digital Hazard like it's... some kind of being?" I muttered, kind of happy that he had stopped to listen to me.

"Because it is... It is something that thinks and acts on it's own. I, who I am a Digimon, would refer to it as some kind of god. That is the only description that I see fitting for it because of what it has once done and it's abilities." replied Lucemon, "Once you have properly tamed it, you will have nearly god-like powers... In a sense. It all comes at a price."

"What price are you referring to...?" I asked carefully, and Lucemon nodded.

"To create power, you need power. And the kind of power that the Digital Hazard feeds on, the wicked thing that it is, is the emotion of hatred. This does not sound like some kind of high price yet, but trust me... It will be. The angrier you will get, the more powerful will you grow. However, the Digital Hazard is greedy, gluttonous. It will absorb everything you give it... Hatred, but also your strength."

Lucemon stopped for a few seconds, then caught the white orb and, instead of throwing it into the air again, just held it within his hand.

"It will absorb everything you have until you are too exhausted to even continue existing." explained the fallen angel before he narrowed his eyes at me, "And that aside... The more power you will allow it, the more will you lose yourself..." It became silent after these words, their meaning only too aware to me. I had felt something like that when I had created Megidramon back then... Some kind of pull at the back of my head... Some kind of pull at the back of my mind, pulling me deeper into the darkness... Into the insanity.

"That aside, possessing the Digital Hazard will not make you immortal or invincible. You are still very mortal... A bullet will still kill you. You will still die of age. You are just as mortal as before... You are still a fragile little human. Do not ever forget that. It could not only cost you your life, but also the existence of the Digital World... The Digital Hazard would lose control once you no longer contain it within your body." snorted the Digimon as it turned away.

"Wait... You keep on saying that! Isn't it in Guilmon? It is on his chest, not on mine! And that aside... You still haven't answered my question! Why did you call Guilmon Megidramon? Why did you say that Megidramon was my partner?!" I growled, clenching my fists. Great, first he didn't say anything and now he says too much...!

"Because it is no other way than that. You may view Guilmon as your partner... Once I taught you to control the Hazard, you will understand why I say that Megidramon is. Megidramon is the other half of the Digital Hazard. Guilmon merely possesses the link to it, though... You carry the true Hazard. Within your very soul." revealed Lucemon.

It became silent after that. I remained where I was, stared at him. And he stared right back... Before he finally began to play with the orb again; threw it into the air once more and then caught it; while turning away from me.

"I am aware that this is a lot to process, especially for the mere human being that you are. All you have to know, for now, is that the Digital Hazard is a pretty moody thing... One that affects you. One that will change you... If you don't change it first. You and the Digital Hazard are one, a symbiosis from which the two of you take benefit from. You have access to it's powers, and it has a body to live in. It can exist." continued Lucemon in a more casual tone.

"Since it is such a moody thing, however, you will need to tame it. You will need to make it listen to your every command. That will take it's sweet time... I estimate at least six months. Do not worry... If your time here in this quadrant is up, we will continue your training in your own quadrant. Also, do not expect to learn the abilities to manipulate things just now. For now, only violent emotions may trigger your abilities. Like earlier."

"I see..." I murmured in return, still trying to process everything.

"Do not try to understand everything just now. Today is merely the first day of your training... Today, I am merely going to tell you things about the Digital Hazard. You will understand things once we have started your training properly... Once you start using your abilities." retorted Lucemon, "Today, I have something else planned for you."

"And what would that be?" I asked, now growing cautious again.

"We will go somewhere. You do now know of the Digital Hazard's origin and you do know what you will eventually be able to do with it... In the far future, that is. For now, we should remain with the theoretical stuff. We begin your training next time." replied the Demon Lord and a small smirk made it's way onto his lips. With this smirk, he made his way over to the computer and gently placed a finger against the screen.

Immediately, the Quadrant Room closed. Instead, another window opened up. One I was awfully familiar with. I had seen this window countless times when I had watched the series... It was the gate to the Digital World. The picture of the place it would take one to was that of a dark, forlorn area, dark stones reaching high into the heavens.

Why would we want to go there? Why would anyone want to go there?

The Demon Lord did not say a single thing about that, however, and merely placed the white orb he had played with on top of the other half of the webcam. For a second, the Digital Hazard glowed in violet on the back of his gloved hand, right before he pulled that hand back... And revealed to me that the webcam was perfectly fine.

"How did you do that?!" I gasped in awe, turning his attention to me again.

"That is what you will be able to do as well. I tamed the Digital Hazard... Tamed it as good as I could, at least. I was using the vaccine part of it, the part I have told you of... The part that can manipulate technical devices." replied the Demon Lord and nodded into the direction of the webcam.

"How can you use the Digital Hazard if I am supposed to have it?" I asked him, this new question leaving my mouth quicker than I had thought about it. Lucemon didn't even frown in return, he merely laughed.

"I am like Guilmon, Takato Matsuki... I, too, possess a link to the original Digital Hazard. Unlike Guilmon, though, I can merely force it to follow my command. I cannot use it's powers to the full extent, but a weaker version of them. Still strong enough to do things you could only dream of. Like opening gates to the Digital World, like you just saw. That is part of the virus side of the Digital Hazard... The stronger one of the two sides.", he explained, before he pointed at the screen.

"Let's go. I believe you complained about not knowing why you would need to control the Digital Hazard... Now you shall learn why. I don't think Azulongmon would want you to know this soon, but I see no fault in giving you the necessary information. It could save us a lot of trouble if you know why we need the power of the Digital Hazard now." spoke Lucemon, his gaze upon me again. He was looking down on me, quite literally, due to our difference in height.

"What do you mean? Where are we going?" I asked him cautiously. I didn't like this at all... Something seemed awfully wrong, but I just couldn't understand what... Then again, it could be because of what I had just learned about the thing I had come to hate, the day I had come to hate... And about myself. But there was still something that I needed to ask him.

"You see when we'll arrive there. For now, please come over here and extend your D-Arc towards the screen. Like the D3, your D-Arc has the ability to open such gates... Only your D-Arc can do this. You should have noticed already that it is special in it's own way, different from the other D-Arcs, the D-Arcs of your friends." spoke the Demon Lord before I could ask my question... And created more questions in addition to the one that I had been about to ask him that way.

"D-Arc? We call it D-Power..." I told him as I approached him and the screen.

"It has many names... Digivice, D-Power, D-Arc... We never really decided for one. The Demon Lords, however, call it the D-Arc, as that is the name that has been used long ago for your kind of Digivice." replied Lucemon with an almost too casual shrug, right before he nodded into the direction of the screen.

"Please wait. I need to ask more before we leave..." I intervened, stopping the Demon Lord once more. He frowned at me, and I merely stared at him with shaking hands, balled to fists.

"You said my D-Power... D-Arc was special. In what way?" I inquired. Lucemon merely rose an eyebrow at me, continued to frown at at me for a moment, only to eventually close his eyes.

"You should know that better than I do... Your first one broke, shattered as you infused it with the Digital Hazard's power to create Megidramon. You got a new one after merging with Guilmon into Gallantmon... It is an improved version of the D-Arc as you may know it, created by your new, stronger bond to Guilmon. That alone is quite impressive." explained Lucemon.

"I see... Then there is one last thing I need to know..." I began, "Yesterday, you... mentioned something that unsettles me. You said that... If I wouldn't have stopped my rage back then during the Megidramon Incident..."

"Yes, I did say that. And it is true." sighed the Demon Lord of Pride, "What I was trying to tell you was that the Digital Hazard feeds on hatred. Thus, Megidramon also feeds on it. If your rage, your hatred towards Beelzemon, would not have stopped that very moment that it did... You would have given Megidramon enough power to kill Beelzemon. That is all you should know about that for now."

"But what would I have done... What would have happened if...?"

"You will figure that out on your own... You'll find out during your training eventually..." muttered Lucemon in a way too mysterious way, before he gestured me to finally point my D-Arc/D-Power at the screen, "Come on now... Or else, we're going to be late."

I agreed to this with a single, short nod, despite not knowing what we would be late for, then rose the D-Power with the golden parts to point it at the screen like they had always done in the TV Show.

"Digiport open." I whispered... And true enough, the moment that my D-Power was pointing at the screen, the gate to the Digital World opened up and swallowed me and Lucemon...

---

I was falling through the digiport again and thus felt the very weird feeling moving through my body again. It was hot and tingling, moved down my spine as I continued to fall through this white nothingness between the two worlds. It was like a wave moving over my skin, a warm wave.

And as it died down, so did the white nothingness around me.

I was now standing in a deserted area, a part of the Digital World that I had never seen before. Wasn't exactly inviting to begin with, so it was probably better that I had avoided this area until now. It was dark and pretty lonely, made of nothing more than dark, almost black rocks that created small islands, mountains and arches above a sea of boiling lava. The air was hot, heavy and smelt of smoke, breathing wasn't exactly easy at all.

Just where was I? I don't think that any Digimon would truly enjoy living here... Meramon, maybe, but even they would probably rather avoid this area.

What immediately caught my eye, though, was a structure not too far from us, built in what appeared to be the middle of this sea of lava. Built on the largest of the dark islands was a large, circular structure that could be described as some kind of Stonehenge... Fourteen pillars of gray stone reached up into the heaven, always in pairs of two, with some room in between them, room of about three meters, while there were about twelve meters in between the pairs.

What would we want here?

"We are here." announced Lucemon the moment that he appeared in behind me. I turned around to face him after nearly getting a heart attack due to forgetting about him for a second, only to find him frowning at me.

"Nice change of clothes." he chuckled, crossing his arms and tilting his head. I found myself frowning back at him, only to then look down on me to find out what he was talking about. And found exactly what he was talking about.

I wasn't wearing my blue hoodie anymore, as well as my long gray shorts... Heck, I wasn't even wearing my yellow wristbands anymore or my sneakers!

Panic shot through me as I examined my new clothes, then quickly reached for the top of my head and pulled my goggles off to look at them... And relaxed. They were still the same.

"What has happened to me...?" I whispered and clenched my hands around the goggles, "I believe the same has happened to Davis before... His clothes did change as well when he first went to the Digital World. But I've been here before..."

"But did you ever enter the Digital World through the human world of this quadrant? Or did you ever use a Digiport to enter the Digital World? I believe not." suggested the Demon Lord as he rose one hand to rest his chin on it.

"No... This was the first time. But still... Why does it happen to me, but not Tai and the other DigiDestined? The original ones? It happens only to Davis, Yolei and Cody..." I countered. And Lucemon just shrugged.

"Hey, I don't care why... And you shouldn't as well. Besides, I think this pretty much suits you. Black and red really suits you, carrier of the crest of hatred." sniggered Lucemon, placed a hand on my shoulder, and then passed me to approach the circle of pillars.

He was right. Even though I found this change of clothes pretty weird, it did somehow look interesting... It was a small change. And, in the end, I was still wearing almost the same clothes as before... Only did they not look like mine at all.

My hoodie, formerly blue in color, was now midnight-black on the outside, and a bright crimson on the inside. On it's chest was, being displayed in an almost proud way, the sign that I had come to hate so much. The Digital Hazard, in all it's red glory.

My yellow wristbands had changed their color as well, had turned crimson with a small, black Digital Hazards on each of them. The shorts I had worn were the only thing that had changed completely. Rather than the gray shorts, I was now wearing long, dark blue jeans. My hands weren't bare anymore as well, now surrounded by fingerless gloves of a black color. And finally, my sneakers had changed from green and gray to crimson and gray.

Crimson and black... The colors of the Digital Hazard. Black when inactive, flashing crimson when active... That had been the way when Megidramon was created.

"Hey, Lucemon..." I called out, well knowing that he was still behind me, "I still have questions."

Hearing a sigh from behind me, I closed my eyes for a few seconds and finally turned around myself to face him once more.

"You foolish humans and your questions..." sighed the Demon Lord as he rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Go on. I cannot have you completely clueless for this."

"True to his sin... He's looking down on others..." shot through my head as he said this, but left it at that, not wanting to cause any problems. I was slowly beginning to trust him... It didn't feel as intimidated as before around him. It felt easier to talk around him. He didn't seem to be such a bad person as I had thought him to be...

"Well... I was wondering about the thing that happened earlier... About that webcam..." I began, fidgeting a little due to still feeling uneasy, "Why did I destroy it like that? It... It never happened before. I never got such a violent reaction when... Megidramon's name was used. I never got any reaction from the Digital Hazard before since that day..."

The Demon Lord rose an eyebrow at me, then huffed and closed his eyes.

"You were thinking about using the Digital Hazard because I had told you. I had told you to use the Digital Hazard on the webcam, so you focused on the webcam and using the Digital Hazard somehow. So when Megidramon's name fell and caused that traumatic event to resurface in you again, you felt a spike of hatred... A spike of hatred for yourself. You do hate yourself for what happened to Leomon and Guilmon, do you not? You wish you could've prevented either event... The death of Leomon, and the transformation of Guilmon into Megidramon..." replied Lucemon.

"Well... I guess there is no sense in denying it, right? I wish I could've prevented both things... And I guess I do hate myself for that day..." I sighed in defeat as I slumped my shoulders, "So the Digital Hazard was semi-active and only waited for any command from my side?"

"Correct. The spike in your hatred released the destructive power that the Digital Hazard has... You didn't contain it correctly. It was contained, in a sense, because you didn't want the webcam to explode... On the other hand, it exploded exactly because you didn't use it conscious. During your training, we will have to make sure that you decide what shall happen to the thing you want to manipulate... You decide the fate, not the Digital Hazard. Keep that in mind when you're going to use it's powers. You decide, and nobody else but you!" explained the Demon Lord of Pride.

"Thanks. I feel like I understand it better now... I think that will help me control the Hazard." I muttered, then quickly bowed. Better not disrespect a powerful Digimon!

"You think so? Well, I guess it will help you..." muttered Lucemon casually and turned to the structure he had been about to head to, "You were using the plural of question. Does this mean there is more than one question?"

"I still have one." I replied quickly.

"Alright. What's it?"

"About... What you were calling me earlier... You keep on calling me the 'bearer of the crest of hatred'... Why?" I asked him. And Lucemon snorted.

"I figured you'd rather be called bearer of the crest of courage, like the two leaders of the DigiDestined of this quadrant... Davis Motomiya and Taichi Yagami. Sadly, I have to inform you that I do not see you fitting for this position... It is true that you have shown great courage so far. Merely staying around that redhead at the very beginning of your friendship seems like quite a danger to me, and yet you were brave enough to remain around her." snickered Lucemon, barely able to contain his amusement.

I cringed a little upon realizing that he was talking about Rika... Sure enough, she had been quite a hazard back then, both for me and Henry, as well as our Digimon. Good thing that had changed...

"However, if I were to give you a title like that, I'd have to call you the bearer of the crest of hatred... The Digital Hazard, Takato, is nothing else but your crest. And since the emotion that it is based upon is hatred, it makes you the bearer of the crest of hatred... It's unique, as it is a crest with a negative emotion applied to it, rather than something positive like courage or friendship, for example." smiled Lucemon with a nasty smirk.

"Are you sure...? Are you sure that you don't make a mistake and it..."

"I don't make mistakes, human! Your crest is the Digital Hazard itself, it has taken such a spot for you! Like the crest of courage reacts to brave actions, the Digital Hazard reacts to hatred, to blood lust! Megidramon is the very creation of your blood lust and hatred!" roared Lucemon all of sudden, causing me to back up a bit.

For a few seconds, it remained silent... Before Lucemon eventually whirled around and huffed as loud as he could.

"Come now. All questions have been answered for now!" hissed the Demon Lord before he stalked off to the large structure nearby, leaving me to stare after him.

"Guess he is really into his sin... I shouldn't have talked him down like that. If he is sure that he makes no mistakes, I shouldn't question that... For my own safety." I thought uneasily. Seeing that Lucemon wasn't going to calm down and come back, I quickly pushed myself off the ground and dashed after the highest Demon Lord.

I caught up to him just as we entered the structure through a space in between two of the pairs of pillars. Thus, I was finally able to see what I had formerly missed: The seven huge signs on the ground, one in front of each pair of pillars. And even though I had barely ever seen them, since the cards that they were on were pretty rare (I bet Rika has at least one of them, though!), I knew exactly what meaning those signs held.

It were the signs of the seven deadly sins. Each of them was present. Pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony and lust... They were all there. And that wasn't the only thing. Above each pair of pillars, attached to the arcs that connected the pillars, was a head made of stone, each looking like some kind of demon.

And as Lucemon stepped past me, I found him smirking again, his bad mood gone in the blink of an eye. The second that his right foot touched the paved ground in between the pillars, the symbol of pride began to glow in the same color that the Hazard had shone on his back earlier; a deep violet.

Lucemon gestured me to follow him as he approached the sign of pride, the crest of pride. I followed him until the Demon Lord gestured me to stop, at which point he was standing on the crest of pride. He turned to face me and the middle of this circular area.

"Move behind me. This is not going to be pretty for you if you remain to stand where you are." commanded the Demon Lord in a harsh tone, one that invoked an entirely new panic in me. I dashed past him and quickly moved to the pair of pillars behind him.

"It shall begin." announced the Demon Lord of Pride, to which a loud groan from above me sent a shiver down my spine. Looking up, I found that the mouth of the demon head had opened, releasing a liquid that had the same color as the seal of pride. This liquid poured into a runnel, which parted into several more runnels, surrounding the crest of pride and flowing towards the middle of the circular area, where it flew into a basin.

I was just about to ask what he was talking about when the earth shook and a loud noise echoed through the air, it's origin to my left. I dared to glance into that direction, past the pillars that I stood aside and over to the second pair of pillars, the ones behind the crest of envy.

It didn't take forever to reveal the true origin of the earthquakes... The red and dark blue muzzle appeared within seconds of the first earthquake, followed by the rest of the body. It was a good thing that the cliff behind the pillars was fairly large. Otherwise, the Digimon that crawled over the edge there would've never fit.

The crest of envy began to glow green as the Digimon stuck it's muzzle in between the two pillars behind it... And well, I could barely trust my own eyes. That was Leviamon, the large Demon Lord of envy said to rest deep within the Net Ocean. And, just like with Lucemon before, the demon head above the crest of envy opened up and released a green liquid, which poured into the runnels and finally the basin as well.

"Lucemon." greeted the enormous Digimon shortly, it's dangerous, red eyes resting on me and the Demon Lord of Pride, "It's been a while, and yet too early."

"Just because we both have our territories in the north doesn't mean that we will pay each other friendly visits, Leviamon. And it is true... It is too early. But desperate times call for desperate measures... Even such things as meetings of the Seven Great Demon Lords." spoke Lucemon in a calm and relaxed tone, closing his eyes in the process.

"Is Daemon released yet? I gave part of my precious powers to you in order for you to release him from the Dark Ocean, after all..." snorted the Demon Lord of Pride.

"Am I released yet?" chuckled a sinister voice, a voice I had once heard in the TV Show of Digimon in my quadrant, a voice that sent shivers down my spine.

The crest of wrath began to glow red on it's own, the demon head above it opened and red liquid poured down into the runnels. And as it did, a dark shadow laid upon the crest of wrath, a darkness from which a single being emerged, a cloaked shape.

That of Daemon, the Demon Lord of Wrath.

It didn't remain long like that, though, as the cloak immediately burst apart and revealed the beastly shape of Daemon's true form.

"Of course I've been released yet! And just look at me! I feel like I've been reborn! After years of my powers being drained, I finally have them all back once more! I'm powerful again! I can destroy anything I want again!" roared the Digimon in mad laughter, sending cold shivers down my spine.

"We have not gathered to wreck chaos. In fact, we are trying to do the opposite." scolded Lucemon, only earning more mad giggles from the Demon Lord of Wrath.

"Well, one could easily be deceived... After all, is it not the bearer of the crest of hatred behind you, the one that controls the most destructive power of them all?" snickered the Demon Lord of Wrath sinisterly. Hearing that he was addressing me, I cringed madly and moved a little further behind Lucemon. For some reason, I felt like I could trust the Demon Lord of Pride the most out of all of them so far... This must be what they call the Stockholm Syndrome, the psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy and sympathy and have positive feelings toward their captors...

Not that I was a hostage. I think, at least. One thing for sure: I didn't trust Daemon one single bit. Which seemed ironic in it's own sense, since hatred and wrath, our respective crests, came hand in hand...

"Matsuki is our guest today. No harm shall befall him, Daemon... At least if you do not want to be harmed. You put it quite well... He is quite destructive. Harm him, and he may blow you into pieces. Accidentally, of course." snorted the Demon Lord aside me, challenge in his voice.

Their little fight never got further, as the earth shook again, this time as another huge beast emerged from behind the edge of the cliff. This one was even taller than Leviamon, and would easily tower over the bakery my parents owned. The crest of Sloth began to glow in light blue as this beast, it's lower body still submerged in the lava beneath the island that we stood on, leaned onto the island and stared over the arc of the pair of pillars before him. Belphemon, the Demon Lord of Sloth, was now present as well.

At the same time, a rip in space opened up just one pair of pillars further and what looked like an old man with demon wings fell out of it, landed on the crest of greed, which immediately lit up in yellow. Barbamon, the Demon Lord of Greed, had arrived.

Their respective demon heads opened up and poured out liquid in the color of their respective crest. By now, the basin in the middle of the area had almost completely filled, now a mix of five colors.

"What is important enough to wake me from my slumber?" bellowed the Demon Lord of Sloth, his loud voice booming through the area. I nearly had to cover my ears, the volume of his deep, growling voice making my ears ache.

"You know pretty well why we have come together today. And as far as I can see, you do not seem to hate being released from your shackles." snorted Barbamon with his old, cracking voice as he sent a glare into the direction of the tallest of them all.

"I have never stated that I hate being released from my shackles. I do enjoy my sleep, but I do also enjoy my freedom... I cannot say that I do know what we have gathered for today, but it must be something big if the Sovereigns themselves free me from the shackles that keep me asleep." snarled Belphemon in his feral voice.

"The Sovereigns...?" I muttered in surprise, shocked that the Sovereigns would go as far as releasing one of the most destructive Digimon from it's sleep. Of course, not silent enough for the Demon Lords to hear.

"Ah, Takato Matsuki, the one that holds the Digital Hazard! What an honor to meet you! Muahaha!" growled Belphemon in a feral way, amusement and taunt clear in his voice.

"The bearer of hatred himself? Know that you have become quite famous in the Southern Quadrant since the creation of Megidramon... Going as far as the news reaching even the other quadrants. Almost everyone knows about the return of the Digital Hazard into a living being..." began Barbamon and I turned my attention to him.

"Of course, the casual Digimon believe that your partner carries it, due to the sign on his chest... We, who we are the Demon Lords; as well as the Four Great Dragons and the Sovereigns, of course know that it lies within you rather than the one you call Guilmon... And of course, the master computer Yggdrasil and his Royal Knights do know as well that you possess it." he continued and narrowed his eyes at me, showing his cruel personality and strengthening the fact that he was known to be the foremost and most cunning schemer of the Seven Great Demon Lords in the card game.

"Quiet. Don't try to manipulate him, neither of you!" growled Lucemon loudly, "I want no one but myself and Beelzemon to speak to him directly. Takato will be in my care from now on, and I will not allow anyone to influence him for as long as he will learn how to control the Digital Hazard... The last thing I'll need is someone messing with his sense of what is right and what wrong."

The Demon Lords of Sloth and Greed shared a glance that could have been an entire own conversation on it's own, but it ended with the two of them nodding towards Lucemon. In the end, he really seemed to be their leader... They had great respect for him, maybe were even fearing him... I would. And did, a little. After all, he had yet not given me a true reason to fear him...

"Why Beelzemon?" asked Leviamon with a loud huff through his nostrils, "What makes him better than me?"

Lucemon turned his head a little to glance at the huge Digimon. He didn't reply at first, merely let a huge, self-pleased smirk grace his lips.

"You'll see in a moment." chuckled the Demon Lord of Pride, then turned his head towards the last two empty spots... Just as a purring noise began to echo around. Or maybe it had been there before and I only noticed it now... Because it had become quite loud now.

And for some reason, I knew that purr... And it was coming from behind me.

Something hit the arc above my head, bounced off it. A black shadow flew over my head, caught me off guard. The purr was now in front of me, seemed to be coming from this black shadow... A shadow that I recognized the instant that I spotted it, now that it wasn't moving anymore.

"Thanks for the ride!" declared a female Digimon in a seductive giggle as she hopped off the dark motorcycle she had sat on in a very feminine pose. The moment that her feet touched the ground aside the motorcycle, the crest of lust began to glow in dark blue and the demon head above it opened and released a liquid of the same color.

"Lilithmon." I whispered under my breath as I watched how the female moved past the driver of the motorcycle, her normal hand sliding up his neck and to his chin in a seductive motion. The driver of the bike let out a low chuckle as he followed the female that moved to her spot with his eyes.

"Anytime, toots." snickered the driver of the motorcycle, before he accelerated again and drove over to the crest of gluttony. He hit the brakes just before he reached it, pulled the motorcycle around and stopped it just in behind the crest of gluttony, only to then place one foot onto it. As he did, the sign began to glow in a bright orange and the demon head above it opened up to release the liquid of orange color.

Beelzemon stood there. A Beelzemon, at least. This couldn't be the same Beelzemon I knew... This couldn't be the same one. Then again, he was riding Behemoth, the motorcycle... But would Beelzemon really have been able to hide such a huge thing as this form us? Would he have been able to hide being the same Beelzemon that was the sixth Demon Lord?

I didn't have much time to think about that, though.

Finally, all seals were opened. All the crests were glowing, and all the liquids met in the basin. And as they did, the earth began to shake, threw me into a state of panic again. In my panic, I observed as the ground opened up in between the spots of Lilithmon and Lucemon, between the seventh and the first, between the last and the first. And from there, a gigantic door emerged, a gate that was engraved with the seals of the seven deadly sins.

Before I got the chance to ask what the gate was for, Beelzemon let out a loud gasp and attracted my attention that way.

"No way! T-Ta... Gogglehead?!" gasped the sixth Demon Lord, staring with wide eyes at me. And I stared back just as surprised. So it was indeed him?!

"Beelzemon..." I muttered in return, earning nothing but an amused snort from Lucemon, who still stood aside me.

"So tha's where ya ended up! Lucemon took ya in!" exclaimed Beelzemon and rose to his full height, yet did not climb off his motorcycle.

"I did not. He was taken to the Eastern Quadrant, where Azulongmon watched over him. He's been perfectly fine, Beelzemon." stated Lucemon for me. At this, Beelzemon let out a huff that was both one of relief and one of amusement.

"Good ta hear then. Tha' means ya can come with me right after this meetin'... I was going ta head back ta Ai 'n Mako into ya world." smirked Beelzemon and began to pat the motorcycle he sat on, "I'll promise... I'll be more careful with this baby here this time."

"I fear that will not be possible, Beelzemon, and you'll soon know why. For now, all you need to know is that Takato agreed to help Azulongmon in the Easter Quadrant, and will thus not return to the Southern Quadrant in the next months... In a moment, you will know why." interfered Lucemon, leaving Beelzemon to frown in surprise.

"He's right, Beelzemon..." I chuckled uneasily and rubbed the back of my head, "I'm not going to return home soon. But please give everyone my best regards... Tell them that they won't have to worry about me, okay?"

But Beelzemon shook his head.

"No way. I promised myself tha' I wouldn't return home without ya sorry ass. So if ya want ta or not, I'm goin' ta stay away from home until ya come with me." grumbled Beelzemon in return.

"You don't have to... I mean, I'm fine and all..." I replied, but he shook his head again.

"I told'cha. I'll not return without ya!" insisted the Demon Lord, leaving me to sigh.

"Where will you go then?" I asked him, and he shrugged.

"Don't know. Might as well take it easy somewhere... Might as well stay with my fellow Demon Lords. Or I might as well stay close ta ya ta make sure ya don't get'cha sorry ass handed ta ya without pineapple head and all. Either way, it's fine... Ai and Mako know that I'll be fine... They trust me." snorted Beelzemon and leaned onto his motorcycle in a lazy fashion.

"How about we spend some time together, hunk? We have a lot to catch up, you know?" giggled Lilithmon, sweet temptation dripping from her words. But Beelzemon merely snorted.

"So that ya can have ya way with me? Nah, thanks. I give good-lookin' girls a lift when they need it, but don't stay for tha' night." snorted Beelzemon in return to Lilithmon's offer. But somehow, I don't think he was that much against it... He gave her a smirk right after finishing his words.

Lilithmon regarded that with a huff, nothing more, and then returned to glance towards their leader. Seeing that the others had turned their attention to him as well, the matter of my presence and where Beelzemon would stay now dropped, Lucemon nodded as well and returned to the matters at hand.

"We shall continue then... It is official. The gate of deadly sin has risen, the Demon Lords have gathered." exclaimed Lucemon and clapped his hands together. The gate swung open as he did so, opened up and revealed a large, white nothingness behind it... A nothingness, with only one thing inside it. A crystal-like shape that seemed to resemble a human.

"King Drasil... Yggdrasil. The Demon Lords have gathered to discuss the matter of the recent threat. The human known as Takato Matsuki, vessel to the Digital Hazard, is with us. We have opened the gate to your territory so that you shall hear our words, thoughts and opinions about this matter." announced Lucemon, but didn't seem to expect an answer from the being, the being that I found myself staring at.

So this was the true form of Yggdrasil, the master computer that controlled the Digital World...

Seeing that Yggdrasil would give on answer, Lucemon nodded as if this was the only confirmation he needed and turned back to the other Demon Lords.

"It must have reached everyone's ears... Save for those of you, Takato... That the Digital World is currently facing a threat it has... seen before." began Lucemon, causing me to cringe when he addressed me directly in between.

"No news here, blondie. I just wish that bastard would stay dead for a change." huffed Beelzemon and leaned onto Behemoth again, this time slumping his entire body in irritation.

Of course, this caused me to frown, seeing as I had no idea of who they were talking about.

"I see you are confused, Takato... I didn't intend to cause it this early, but Beelzemon here just had to start with the complicated subjects." huffed the Demon Lord of Pride, "I think you have heard too much already to process in one day... But please try to follow our conversation as good as possible, okay? All will make sense in due time..."

"I'll try..." I muttered right back, "But what enemy are you talking about?"

"A virus." exclaimed Belphemon and his massive voice shook the area, "It is a virus not too different from your Digital Hazard in terms of strength."

"Enough!" roared Lucemon, as he, to my shock, extended his hand into the direction of Belphemon and released two orbs, one of white and one of black color.

The orbs shot into Belphemon's chest and threw the massive Demon Lord off balance, knocked him over. He slithered backwards through the sea of fire he was standing in, only to hit a small mountain and break into it.

Amazed and equally shocked at Lucemon's brute strength, strength that allowed him to knock even the powerful and massive Belphemon around, I swore to myself not to make enemies with the Demon Lords. That would be the last thing I really needed.

"I told you! No one but me and Beelzemon is allowed to address Takato directly!" bellowed the blonde Demon Lord as he lowered his hand, white and black lightning still sizzling within it. He suddenly twirled around and glared down at me, causing me to cringe yet again.

"This is weird.. I thought that the Demon Lords would have some kind of order or professionality... Don't get me wrong, they have some level of professionality, or at least it has to show yet, but... I guess, in the end, they are just seven incredibly different Digimon that have randomly been thrown together to create the Seven Great Demon Lords... They don't even seem to trust each other fully..." shot through my head as I watched how Belphemon freed himself from the mountain he had smashed into.

"But he was right. The reason that we meet today, out of the ordinary fifty year cycle, is a threat that the Digital World has seen before... And defeated before. But merely defeated... Not destroyed, as it could not be destroyed at that time. The threat, a virus that has gained powers beyond those that even powerful Digimon can handle, is the reason that the Digital World is currently in such disorder... The reason that three of the Digital World's most powerful groups meet now." grumbled Lucemon.

"Yeah... I'm sure now. The Seven Great Demon Lords just exist to prevent them from fighting each other. They must have created this group not only because they each represent a deadly sin, but also to create something that resembles a group of seven ridiculously strong Digimon that have agreed upon truce and have chosen their own territories in different parts of the four quadrants..." I mused, picking up the line of thought from before.

"What kind of threat is this? I mean, are we talking about another D-Reaper?" I asked aloud... Looking back, I must have still been too deep in thoughts to realize who I was talking with. Confused glances were passed from Demon Lord to Demon Lord, and finally to Lucemon and Beelzemon... No one dared to say a thing to me after what had happened to Belphemon.

"Well... Not exactly, Gogglehead. I think ya could view the enemy as such, but it is different from D-Reaper... It's learnin', and that faster than we had ever expected it ta do. Unlike D-Reaper, who was unable ta process most things concernin' humans, the virus we are talkin' about has already come ta accept this and learns ta adapt ta any changes. Ya could say it is by far more intellectual than D-Reaper." spoke Beelzemon after a while, his gaze upon Lucemon all the time as if to ask for permission... Or perhaps to reassure him that he didn't say anything wrong?

Were they, too, keeping something from me? Well, at least they were more cooperative than Azulongmon so far...

"Does he have a name?" I asked, now curious. Immediately, nervous glances were cast among the Demon Lords. But in the end, it was eventually Lucemon that replied, his arms crossed in front of his chest with his hands upon his elbows and his eyes closed.

"It has, but we are not referring to it by any name but 'the virus' or 'the enemy'." replied Lucemon, each word chosen wisely.

They were keeping something from me... Possibly to protect me from something. Call me naive, but there had to be something good even in them... There had to be a reason that wasn't just for my harm.

"But that does not matter now, bearer of the crest of hatred. What really matters is that this is your task... This is what Azulongmon wants your help for: The assassination of the virus, the destruction and deletion of it. For this, a power equal to that of the virus is needed... Which would be your Digital Hazard. Your very insignia." added the leader of the Demon Lords as he opened his eyes and glared down at me.

"Azulongmon wants me to teach you in the ways of the Digital Hazard so that you gain enough power to stop the virus from deleting everything in it's path. Furthermore, he wants you to observe the DigiDestined of the Eastern Quadrant because they could become targets for the virus due to the threat they are to it... And of course, so that you will eventually guide them to the right path if the time arises. You may not believe me, but you offer the same ability to lead a group that Davis Motomiya and Taichi Yagami do. With the Digital Hazard, your's may be even greater." continued Lucemon before turning back to the other Digimon.

"Back to topic." grunted the Demon Lord then, "As I was saying... We know our enemy, it has appeared many times before and has been defeated many times. However, recently, it's appearances have become more frequent... It's reincarnations have become more frequent."

"Which means that it has learned once again." added Barbamon, then threw a glance to Belphemon as the massive Demon Lord spoke up again.

"Must be from it's last reincarnations. It has shown to be able to perfectly regenerate from nothing before." roared the voice of the large beast.

"Incorrect. Though it has done so, I believe it merely copies other Digimon. It takes their data and constructs perfect copies of their bodies for it to inhabit." countered Leviamon, turning it's muzzle a little to glare towards Belphemon, who immediately glared back.

"Neither of you are right, nor wrong." interrupted Daemon before the two large Demon Lords could begin a fight, "And I believe Lilithmon and Lucemon are more than eager to agree with me. The enemy may have shown to be able to regenerate from nothing before, but also has shown to copy other Digimon... But rather than that, the reality of the current situation is different, rather a combination of both than either of them."

Both Leviamon and Belphemon turned to the Demon Lord in between them, each of them showing doubt and confusion in their eyes.

"Daemon is right, you know? It is worse than either of you anticipates... I myself have seen it. Our enemy, the virus, is able to corrupt other Digimon." growled Lilithmon... And was met by silence in return. Neither of the other Demon Lords said anything, those aside Beelzemon and Lucemon shocked and surprised.

"Ya told me ya theory on the way here... But hearin' it again is it sound just as bad as the first time." commented Beelzemon after a few seconds of silence, then turned to me and Lucemon, "She's right, isn't she? Tha' virus can corrupt other Digimon..."

"Yeah. I, too, have seen it myself. Other than regenerating from nothing, and copying other Digimon, our enemy has found another method of survival: Corrupting Digimon, possessing them and turning them into a host for it's parasitic nature." snarled Lucemon as he closed his eyes.

"Corrupting other Digimon?" I muttered, a feeling of familiarity striking me, and immediately had all eyes upon me again.

"Is something wrong?" asked Lilithmon with a questioning frown... And, to my surprise, was not attacked by Lucemon, despite addressing me directly. Instead, all she got was a nasty glare from him...

"I'm not sure... It just... Sounds like something I've heard or have seen before..." I muttered, "And I don't mean Parasimon... I mean, he was able to corrupt both Locomon and Rika by controlling them, but..."

"Don't think about it, Takato. You will figure it out once the time has come." interrupted me Lucemon all of sudden, a mysterious hint to it's voice.

"I guess..." I sighed, slumping my shoulders. To say that I felt disappointed by my memory was an understatement. I mean... It felt like I was forgetting something important. Like I had heard it before, like it was another piece of this puzzle that was slowly coming together...

"Back to topic, once again." growled Lucemon, louder than before, "As I was saying, the enemy has shown to be able to corrupt Digimon, possessing and controlling them. However, in each and every case, much to our... 'advantage'... the Digimon has turned into a darker variation of itself. Until now, this has only happened in two other occasions: The dark digivolution caused by negative emotions or the Dark Rings and the Dark Spirals respectively..."

He suddenly turned his head to glance at me.

"...and by the Digital Hazard, which is able to corrupt nearly any Digimon with it's power, forcing them to digivolve into any of their next forms, including their dark digivolutions."

I cringed at the mention of the Digital Hazard and it's ability to force a Digimon to digivolve... I had done that to Guilmon...

"Do not think about that for now, Takato. I do not know how you managed to force Guilmon to digivolve into Megidramon with the abilities of the Digital Hazard... Forceful Digivolutions are one of the most powerful and manipulative abilities of the Digital Hazard, nothing that you could've pulled off without further knowledge of how to use it." commented Lucemon.

"Then how...?" I began, only for Lucemon to shake his head.

"I don't know. It could be that the Digital Hazard was controlling you through your hatred, even though that means that it has become well more powerful that we thought... The only other possibility that I can come up with, and think of as most likely, is that you were able to use this ability on Guilmon exactly because he is Guilmon... He is part of the Digital Hazard and connected to it, after all." responded the Demon Lord, even though he seemed to ponder about his own words.

"It sounds logical..." I commented silently, now pondering myself.

"What is this?!" bellowed Barbamon suddenly, "Is this about the Digital Hazard or the virus, after all?!"

Lucemon snapped his head around and glared daggers at the Demon Lord of Greed, as did most of the other Demon Lords.

"Shut up! You know very well that the Digital Hazard is important for the destruction of that virus!" snarled Lucemon and pointed an accusing finger at the other Demon Lord.

"Lucemon is right, Barbamon. It is quite an advantage for us to have our hands on the Digital Hazard like this! Only the Digital Hazard is able to destroy that thing!" added Daemon in his ferocious way, scaring me to death when his creepy eyes were suddenly upon me, "Even if it is sealed and in no state to win a fight. But that can be changed... That is what you will be doing, right, Lucemon?"

"I will train him, that is correct. I won't change him, he is to develop his own personality, though. Neither I, nor Beelzemon or the Sovereigns, will interfere with his development. He will have to create an own way to handle the enormous powers that he soon will have. Also, Daemon, do not think of Takato as a tool... He may not be as powerful as us. Not now. It may sound weird since it is coming from me, but I fear the Digital Hazard... And the one who possesses it." retorted Lucemon.

We exchanged a short glance at this... And I found, to my shock, really a hint of fear in Lucemon's deep crimson eyes.

Before either of us got the chance to continue the conversation, even though I really would've liked to ask so many questions now about my task, the Digital Hazard and that enemy, that virus... Everything stopped in a single event.

A swirl of darkness appeared in front of Lilithmon and attracted our attention that way, especially as a single Digimon fell out of that darkness. I had never seen that Digimon before, not in the card game and not in my time as a Tamer, but I immediately knew and felt that it was one of Lilithmon's subordinates. How I did? I have no clue... Call it the intuition of a Tamer.

"Lotosmon?" asked Lilithmon, puzzled. The tall Digimon with the appearance of a purple-skinned woman with a flower of a darker shade of purple for the top of her head nodded furiously as Lilithmon spoke her name, then quickly rose from her hasty bow.

"Lady Lilithmon!" she cried out in an admittedly cute and heavenly voice, "Your estate! It is under attack!"

Nearly everyone cringed at this information, and Lilithmon's relaxed face quickly changed into a serious frown.

"Under attack? Who dares to attack my estate during my absence!" shouted Lilithmon and took a step forward, her Nazar Nail, her claw hand, tightened into a fist, "Answer me!"

"I do not know this Digimon, Lady Lilithmon! It has the appearance of a Snimon, but it is black in color and has six instead of two scythes!" replied Lotosmon quickly. And it became silent as all of the Demon Lords suddenly narrowed their eyes on the Lotosmon.

"It is him. The virus." muttered Leviamon, his gaze trailing over to Lucemon.

"Without a doubt. And at such an unfortunate time!" added Daemon slowly, his gaze, too, trailing over to the leader of the group.

But instead of him, I spoke up, my decision made in the fragment of a second.

"Let's go."

Everyone's eyes were suddenly upon me, confused or shocked. But I just clenched my fists even tighter and shook my head.

"We cannot abandon such a chance, can we? If it is really the Digital Hazard that can destroy him, and he knows about it, then we shouldn't waste any time... If we don't go after him, he might come after me and the Digital Hazard to get rid of us." I added.

"No way. Are you that dense, boy?" snorted Daemon in reply, shattering my high spirits in an instant.

"Even though I told him not to address you directly..." snarled Lucemon and sent a sinister glare into the direction of the Demon Lord of Wrath, "He is right, Takato. Even though your words make sense, I cannot allow you to go after the virus just now. You have no control over the Digital Hazard, you will be without any kind of weapon against it!"

"But what if I just repeat the thing from earlier? What if I just try to use it and remember Megidramon?!" I countered.

"That is not going to happen. Beside the fact that it may not even work this time, you have no control of what you are doing... And besides, it will take much more than just the pure destructive abilities of the Digital Hazard. You need to destroy it from within! You need to corrupt it's corrupted core to destroy it!" huffed Lucemon.

"That doesn't matter! I won't just give up now, I..."

Lucemon suddenly twirled around before I even knew it. And before I knew it, I was hanging in the air with my back pressed against a pillar, Lucemon's gloved hand around my throat.

"Had I been the virus, you'd be dead by now. And the Digital World would have been as well." snarled the Demon Lord as I struggled against his grip, "As long as you can't even avoid me, let alone defeat me, you will not face the virus under any circumstances, is that clear?! You shall have your chance eventually, but you will have to grow quite a lot stronger before you can take on the virus! As long as you have no control over the Digital Hazard, you are defenseless, especially without your partner!"

As he yelled those words into my face, something broke inside me. His words and actions were shocking me... Something really broke inside me that moment, I guess... He shattered something with his action...

My foolishness.

He let go of me and allowed me to fall to the ground while holding my aching throat, air finally filling my lungs again. Lucemon regarded this by turning back to the Demon Lords.

"Lilithmon. Take Beelzemon and Daemon and go ahead. Belphemon, Barbamon, Leviamon... Return to your territories and instruct your followers to upgrade their security, then follow Lilithmon. Try to defeat the virus, but don't get defeated yourselves under any circumstances. We can't afford to lose any of you... It would thrown the Digital World out of balance." instructed the leader of the group before turning to me, "Takato, I'll send you home now."

Still coughing and wheezing, I rose to my feet and glared at him.. Why, I wasn't sure. But he turned away again, this time to the gate of seven sins.

"Yggdrasil. This meeting will be postponed to a later moment due to this event. I shall inform you of any changes." spoke Lucemon. For a few seconds, nothing happened, but then, the gate of seven sins began to close, to which Lucemon let out a silent sigh.

"He's mad..." he whispered to himself, before he watched the other Demon Lords leave. And finally, he turned to me. But instead of saying anything, he just waved his hand and created a white swirl of data in midair.

"Go in there. It will lead you back to your apartment. I will contact you once I find the time." he instructed. Of course, I wanted to object, but he gave me no chance to do so, a single glare from his shutting me up before I even began.

"You share some traits with Taichi Yagami and Davis Motomiya... The same, foolish, headstrong courage. Always rushing into battle without thinking about it first... Takato! Come to your senses! You are of no worth to anyone if you are dead, even less to yourself!" shouted the fallen angel all of sudden, then gestured me to enter the portal again without another word or allowing me to speak up.

With a last sigh of defeat, I moved over to the gate with slumped shoulders and stared into it. And that was when Lucemon spoke up again, saying something that confused me for many weeks.

"Dead, you are of no use to anyone, less to yourself... And of none to the redhead that you call Rika."

I turned to him in a quick movement, the question already upon my lips. He had mentioned her before in a similar way, confusing me... But instead of an answer, I merely got a push from the Demon Lord and stumbled into the white swirl.

Immediately, the same weird sensation as earlier passed through me again... And when it stopped, I was falling forwards with the same momentum I had falling into the gate. I stumbled through my apartment, tried to stop my fall... Only to end up tripping over the couch table and smashing into the couch with my head first, then somersault and slide down on the couch upside-down.

And there I was, defeated without even starting a fight. Defeated before I could fulfill my task... And completely puzzled as to what my task was. And not only about my task itself. I was still trying to figure out the greater picture, the puzzle that I was presented with.

It was like this puzzle was slowly coming together, pieces fitting into their right places. Sooner or later, this puzzle would be complete...

Whatever this puzzle was. I had so many pieces now, and yet couldn't quite make out the whole picture...

First, I get sucked into the Digital World without Guilmon, only to be pulled into an out of ordinary, orange data stream, which transported me into the Eastern Quadrant, which I until then believed to be nothing but a TV Show. Then, I have to find out that I have been signed for a year at school with the DigiDestined of this quadrant by no one but Azulongmon, who has put many things into motion for me to learn how to control the Digital Hazard while helping him in return.

And then, there's the Demon Lords and the Digital Hazard itself.

The Demon Lords are involved into this due to being one of the Digital Worlds strongest groups. Also, Lucemon has been assigned by Azulongmon to help me control the Hazard. Unlike Azulongmon, though, Lucemon is a lot more talkative and has revealed to me the origin and the true powers of the Digital Hazard, while also telling me why Azulongmon really wants me to learn all this: To defeat some kind of virus that threatens the Digital World.

...Just how does this all fit together? And what about the ability of the virus to corrupt Digimon? Why does that sound so... familiar to me?

...How can all of these pieces become a picture? How do I turn this puzzle into a single picture?

I somehow got the feeling that this isn't only Azulongmon's doing... No, no, there is something even greater involved, something that set up everything like this, including Azulongmon's steps. But what would that be? What was even greater than the sovereigns...?

Argh, it's hurting my poor head... I guess Rika was right when she told me that I shouldn't think so hard about things...

...Rika. And the others. How do they fit in? Why does Lucemon keep on bringing Rika up and my home... Apropos home, how can I get home? How and when?

I miss everybody. I want to see them again. I want them to help me with this, I want Guilmon to be at my side again and...

BEEP BEEP!

That noise pulled me out of my thoughts, coming from somewhere in the room. Still upside-down, I allowed myself to return to reality and glanced around the room, only to notice two things. First: It was late at night, which meant that time had been flowing differently in that part of the Digital World that I had been in... Had it been located in another Quadrant?

The second thing, however, was my cellphone on the desk, right aside the still active computer. With a heavy sigh, I rose and turned around, everything returning to it's rightful location, and growled the moment that I felt that I had a light headache. Well, that's what you get for trailing off into your thoughts while being upside-down... The blood rushes into your head.

With the very same growl, I rose from my spot and made my way through the room, the shallow light of the screens of cellphone and computer guiding me to the desk. Once there, I picked up the cellphone and sent a short glance to the clock in the upper right corner, confirming my suspicions... It was 2:57 AM on a Sunday. I had been somewhere with a different timeflow... I had been in another Quadrant... Had I?

Dismissing the clock, I turned to face the message that had caused the screen to light up and the cellphone to beep in the first place. It was a single message... Sender: Falldown.

With shaking hands, I opened up the message I had received from Lucemon and read through it carefully.

"I shall apologize for my behavior earlier. Please understand that the situation is quite irritating to me, especially because it has happened countless times before. I've grown tired of that thing, that virus, constantly appearing and damaging the Digital World greatly. But this time, we stand a chance, I feel it. This time, you are on our side, Takato. You and your Digital Hazard. It may have not looked like it, but I have great respect for you and the sign that you have created... Don't ask now, I shall explain once the time has come as to how you have created the Digital Hazard that has existed before."

Indeed, I had nearly been about to write a message back to ask about the small part about me creating the Digital Hazard, even though it has existed long before me, but decided against it as I continued to read. And I was glad that I did.

"You may think now that you know everything about the Digital Hazard, Takato Matsuki, but what you know is only a little fragment of the true extent. You have no idea how powerful the Digital Hazard is, how it works or how draining it is. Do not fret, for you will know soon enough. By the end of your training, you shall have full access to any power that the Digital Hazard is able to give you. Beware, though, for the way to that point is long and full of obstacles, each on it's own powerful enough to throw you off the road and into the deepest insanity."

I swallowed at that point, my throat suddenly dry. I scrolled down to read the rest of the message, only to frown at my screen as I read the words that should mean the beginning of a long and complicated road that indeed was full of obstacles... It was the beginning of the end, a kick into the face that should soon change the world as I saw it... My life got turned upside-down in a matter of days, but this message meant the beginning of a transformation I would've never expected.

"More instructions will follow as time passes. I will give them to you via text messages on your cellphone. We shall meet each Saturday at your apartment for direct training, but other than that, I shall not meddle with your path. I will watch over you and guide you from afar, without interrupting or doubting any of your decisions. This is your path, whether or not you trust and accept me as your guide is your choice, you decide your own fate. You write your own story, bearer of the crest of hatred."

"Let me tell you, though... I trust you with this, I will respect and accept any decision you make, no matter what cost it may have. Let us achieve together what one cannot. Let us awake what lays dormant. Let us awake your true self."

---

And so, the long postponed chapter ends as well.

Lots of plot is revealed this time... Trust me, that is merely a fragment of the full plot!

So... Many questions opened up this time, explanations are given but only create new questions... A lot more is to come, and I hope you'll be prepared for next month's chapter. Which will come for sure this time, as summer holidays start at the end of this month, giving me lotsa time to write!

Once again, sorry for the inconvenience... I don't think that this chapter could make up for it, but I hope it soothes your rage.

This is SorrowfulReincarnation, apologizing once more for all of the problems until now...

And until next time...

So long~