Though the Digidestined, Tamers and Legendary Warriors had won a battle against Barbamon and his dark servants, defeating Boltboutamon through their teamwork and Zoe achieving the power of Fusion Evolution, the Demon Lord still had his second servant, GranDracmon, to carry out his bidding and destroy the foes that opposed the destiny of his Lord.
"Crystal Revolution!" GranDracmon called as he tried to eliminate the heroine and heroines that faced him in one shot, spewing forth a series of crystals from his maws.
But acting fast, Dominimon, GrandisKuwagamon, Beelzemon, MetalKabuterimon, Korikakumon and JagerLoweemon dodged the attacks, finding that the areas where they once stood were then encased in crystal.
"Everyone be careful. If any of GranDracmon's crystal sticks to you, it'll completely consume you." GrandisKuwagamon warned, having observed the effects of GranDracmon's crystals upon the land.
"How right you are, brat." GranDracmon said, a fairly impressed smirk appearing on his face at the Digimon of Sincerity's quick wit, only to then say. "And it'll make it that much easier to crush you all to pieces."
"Think again." Beelzemon called back, drawing his guns out. "If you think we'll just let you take us down without a fight, then you have no idea who you are dealing with."
"Beelzemon, we have be careful. Remember, GranDracmon is not like Ghoulmon, he's stronger now." JagerLoweemon said, looking at his friends with a combination of seriousness and concern.
Beelzemon nodded, knowing it would be foolish to rush in against a foe whose power was not yet completely known, before GranDracmon showed more of his dark power.
"Death Scream!" He called, causing the jaws fused to his waist to each let out a piercing howl, hitting Dominimon, GrandisKuwagamon, Beelzemon, MetalKabuterimon, Korikakumon and JagerLoweemon with a powerful sonic wave, before any had a chance to dodge itge the attack.
And with the heroes down, GranDracmon smirked wickedly, preparing to crush his foes.
"Crystal Revolution!" He called, once again causing the set of maws to spit out another wave of crystals at the wounded heroes.
But acting fast, whether it was for the good of the team or just recklessness, Beelzemon leapt at GranDracmon, taking the hit, where he was thrown to the ground, concerning the heroes to see sections of crystal start to spread and grow out of Beelzemon's form.
"Beelzemon!" GrandisKuwagamon called in concern, wanting to run over and help the biker Digimon, but knew if he too came into contact with GranDracmon's crystals, he too would be infected.
"That's one down." GranDracmon commented, smirking with a devilish grin as he stated. "Soon you will be nothing more than a useless pile of crystal, a shell of your former self, which I will crush to bits with my bare hands."
"I... I don't think so..." Beelzemon groaned, surprising GranDracmon to see beelzemon still able to move, but the Demon Lord was then left in great shock as Beelzemon grabbed one of the crystals protruding within his shoulder and ripped it out, making Beelzemon scream at the agonizing pain he felt, ripping out some of his own Data along the way, but continued to push past the pain as he ripped out every last crystal that had fused with his being, astonishing GranDracmon.
'I don't believe this. This is the first time a Digimon has survived my Crystal Revolution.' GranDracmon thought, looking at Beelzemon with awe, before smirking to see Beelzemon collapse to his hands and knees, thinking. 'But even if he survived my attack, it still has taken its toll on his body. It won't be long before Beelzemon is truly defeated and his pitiful friends follow.'
While GranDracmon both admired and revered Beelzemon at his actions, seeing Beelzemon fallen, his body in tatters, JagerLoweemon looked at Beelzemon and asked with concern. "Are you good to continue fighting?"
"I'll be fine... It'll take more than some cheap shots to get the better of me..." Beelzemon replied as he started getting up, ignoring the pain his body had sustained, where he then thought to himself. 'I to keep fighting... I can't let a few injuries keep me down... I have to win, not just for me, but for Ai, Mako and all my friends...'
From seeing Beelzemon down and the other heroes showing obvious fear toward him, GranDracmon started to laugh.
"I heard that you were strong when you were one of the Demon Lords, but I can see all the time you spent with these weakings have made you soft." The half beast Digimon commented, which confused the team and made MetalKabuterimon question. "And what do you mean by that? Beelzemon was one of the Demon Lords?"
"If you want answers then you'll have to beat me first, if you can, but thanks to the darkness of Lord Ogudomon, I'm all powerful!" GranDracmon replied with a powerful bellow in his voice, resuming to strike down his enemies as he charged toward them, slamming his being into MetalKabuterimon, who skidded back, but managed to hold back the Demon Lord.
"Guys, attack him while I hold him back!" MetalKabuterimon shouted, trying his best to hold GranDracmon back.
Knowing they had no other choice, to risk harming their friend in order to damage their foe, the heroes all surrounded the duo and attacked.
"Grandis Scissors!" GrandisKuwagamon called, slashing his claws down in an x formation, releasing a slashing wind.
"Excalibur's Light!" Dominimon announced, releasing the energy from his blade.
"Double Impact!" Beelzemon yelled, putting what he could into his attack, releasing blast after blast from his guns, continuing to yell with each shot fired.
"Avalanche Axes!" Korikakumon called, throwing his axes at GranDracmon, finished as JagerLoweemon used his 'Dark Master' move, releasing a dark aura from his being alongside the Warrior of Ice.
And adding his own power, despite being at such a close range, MetalKabuterimon attacked.
"Electron Cannon!" He bellowed, blasting forth all the energy within the turret mounted to his head, where all the power devastated the area, throwing MetalKabuterimon back, damaging him greatly, but left him still standing.
"We did it... we beat…." MetalKabuterimon began to say through his panting, before stopping when all heard evil laughter coming from the smoke.
"Is that all you've got?" All heard GranDracmon ask, looking in awe to see the wicked figure stand in place as the smoke faded, revealing that the only damage inflicted to him was his cracked mask.
They were all shocked that their attack didn't even damage him, causing Beelzemon to question. "But how? Those were our best attacks and they barely scratched him."
"Pathetic. Just pathetic." GranDracmon then said, chuckling darkly as he told the heroes. "You tried to harm me, but you only sealed your fates."
Confused, Dominimon/span span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "asked. "What do you mean by that?"
Bringing his right arm upward, the confusion fell upon the other heroes as GranDracmon ripped off his mask, the remnants falling to the floor and dispersing into particles of Data, showing off the face of the Demon Lord, revealing that like Myotismon, he too had heterochromia, with his right eye being a dark gray, while the left had an almost sinister red glow within it.
"Now witness the true despair of a true Demon Lord! Gorgon's Eye!" The half beast Digimon called madly, just as his red eye lit up, shining intensely through the area and forcing the heroes facing GranDracmon to shield themselves as best they could, feeling a terrible darkness from the power of GranDracmon's attack.
But feeling the effects of GranDracmon's power soon were off, the heroes were left in great shock and confusion, finding themselves no longer within the Digital World, but an area of endless darkness, the only stability within was sections of a colosseum that each were scattered in.
Confused, Beelzemon asked. "Where are we? What is this place?"
"This is the core of the darkness each of you share." All heard GrandDracmon's voice call.
"Your fears, your anger, your hatred. The darkness you pretend to hide, but you can never truly run from." GranDracmon then said, appearing before Beelzemon, which angered him at the words he refused to believe were true.
"I'll show you! Double Impact!" Beelzemon snapped, drawing out both his shotguns and firing rapidly, enveloping GranDracmon's form in a blast of smoke, making Beelzemon smirk, thinking he had harmed the Demon Lord.
However, his smirk faded when the smoke began to clear, confusion filling Beelzemon at seeing the form of GranDracmon change, before turning to shock as the blast cleared away, showing the injured forms of his Tamers.
"Ai! Mako!" Beelzemon called with great concern, unsure how his Tamers had arrived in the area, but was more concerned for their wellbeing.
"How could you...?" Ai asked, her head slumped down as her tone lacked any emotion.
"How could you attack us?" She then questioned, continuing to look away from Beelzemon.
"I didn't mean to... I thought... I thought you were GranDracmon... I... I was trying..." Beelzemon tried to say, trying to defend himself, but was cut off as Mako spoke.
"Trying to what? Trying to pretend to be our friend, to pretend that you aren't the same selfish Digimon that hated everyone around him?" Mako asked, wrapping his arms around Ai.
"You haven't changed a bit. Once a monster always a monster." Ai stated, making Beelzemon shake his head in denial.
"No. I'm not a monster... I'm your friend..." He said, but could feel himself starting to doubt himself, hating the truth but knew he had done such terrible things in the past that could never be undone, failing to notice he had reverted back to his Rookie form.
While in his despair, the Digidestined and Legendary Warriors fell into similar predicaments where each experienced their own doubts and fears confronting them.
-With Ken and Wormmon-
With GrandisKuwagamon, he found he had broken his fusion, returning to Ken and Stingmon, but Ken was horrified at his clothing, finding he was back in his Digimon Emperor outfit, even having the same hairstyle and glasses.
"What is happening? Why am I dressed like this?" Ken panicked, feelings Wormmon empathised with his partner.
"It's because that is who you really are." Both heard a cold voice tell them, turning around to see Davis and Veemon, only both had expressions that matched the coldness of their tones.
"Davis, Veemon?" Wormmon asked, wondering how they arrived in the dark realm, before asking. "What are you talking about?"
"Ken doesn't deserve the Digi-Egg of Kindness, he doesn't even deserve to be our friend." Davis said, continuing to lack any warmth in his voice.
"And because you sided with him, that makes you just as bad. You made us look like idiots when everyone else said Ken couldn't be trusted. Think about it, all the enemies we had to face were because of you two."
"And if Ken wasn't such a jealous jerk then Myotismon would never have come back." Ken and Wormmon heard Kari say, looking to their side and saw the Digidestined and Digimon of Light walking over, though both lacked any light within their expressions.
"I bet all nine lives, neither of you are wanted by anyone and that things would be better for everyone if you just left us alone." Gatomon then said, glaring at the two, who let the words sink in and stab them like daggers.
-Around the sametime with Cody and Armadillomon-
Continuing in the despair, Cody and Armadillomon found they had broken from their fused form and were circled by the expressionless forms of his Digidestined team, finding TK and Patamon, Davis and Veemon, Kari and Gatomon, as well as Yolei and Hawkmon were tormenting the younger Digidestined and his partner.
"Look at you, Cody. Look at how helpless you are." Patamon said as he rested upon TK's head, glaring down at the duo. "Without Armadillomon, you can't do anything."
"And even with Armadillomon, you both are just as useless. Not only does he have that pathetic form, Submarimon, a Digimon that can't even fight on dry land, but what strength he does have, he needs us to make him that more powerful." TK said coldly.
"Face the facts, you two are nothing more than leeches. You just take from us, you use our power and pretend you are part of our team." Yolei said, continuing to add to the coldness and negativity each of the Digidestined were giving off, with Veemon adding. "You are a coward, you are weak and you just get in the way."
"Hey, come now and leave Cody alone." Armadillomon said defensively, standing up for his partner. "We're all supposed to be on the same side here."
"We are on the same side, we all agree that we don't need you guys." Davis replied.
"And out of all us Digimon, you are the weakest. Digmon, Submarimon, Ankylomon, all your forms are practically useless in most combat situations. The only time we do need you is when Angemon needs to DNA Digivolve." Hawkmon then added, causing the Digimon of Knowledge and Reliability to also fall into his depression and doubts as the memories of him failing to fight as Digmon, Ankylomon and Sakkakumon came to his head.
-Lastly, with Koichi, JP and Tommy-
The Warriors of Thunder, Darkness and Ice found themselves in a group, looking at Koichi, who was in shock, finding he was no longer in his Beast Spirit, nor was he human, but was instead trapped in a terrible dark form he thought he had long purified.
"It can't be. How is this happening?" He questioned in a gruff voice, looking at his black armoured arm, where a twisted red blade then extended from the front, allowing him to see his face and question with fearfulness. "How can I be Duskmon again?"
"You are Duskmon because you never escaped from the darkness, you only hid and ran away from it." The three heard Koji's voice tell them, causing the Warriors of Darkness, Ice and Thunder to look up and saw their Takuya, Zoe and Koji upon a ledge, staring down at them.
Confused, JP asked. "What are you talking about? Koichi admitted to his wrongs and made up for it by helping us save the Digital World, doesn't that count for anything?"
"Oh just shut it!" Zoe snapped, her yell making JP flinch.
"Stop trying to defend Koichi when you and Tommy are just as much to blame." The Warrior of Wind then said, before continuing to verbally bombard the trio. "Out of all of us, you guys are the weak links. You cannot Fusion Evolve, you allow your fears and emotions get in the way of our victories."
"And maybe if you spent less time hitting on my girl, then you would actually be useful." Takuya finished, his words continuing to sting Tommy and Koichi, but now were namely harmful toward JP.
"Hold on." Tommy said, defending his friends. "Ophanimon chose us specifically to be the Legendary Warriors. She put her trust in us because she believed we would be the best chance to save the Digital World."
"Well even Digimon as smart as her can make foolish choices." Takuya replied.
"She could have picked anyone in the world to be the wielders of Ice, Thunder and Darkness. It was probably just easy for her to pick three random losers who lived close by than spend her precious time on finding actual heroes." Koji said, glaring at Koichi, JP and Tommy.
"I'm glad our parents got divorced." The Warrior of Light then said with a continued coldness. "It meant I didn't have to be with you, but somehow you tracked me down. Do me a favour and leave me alone."
Koichi was shocked at what Koji had said to him, causing him to fall to his knees and start to cry, feeling nothing but an empty void within his heart, feelings JP and Tommy shared, but were not as shattering.
"And why not do us a favour and leave us all alone." Takuya then called, surrounding his form in flame, causing JP and Toomy to shield themselves, while Koichi continued to stare blankly at the ground, watching as Takuya changed form to Aldamon, who stared at his so called friends with a continued cold expression, just before a great wind and near blinding light filled the area, revealing Koji and Zoe to achieve their Fusion forms, BeoWolfmon and JetSilphymon.
"You could never gain the power we worked so hard to gain." JetSilphymon stated, drawing out her pinwheel.
"But allow us to share a taste of it." She then called, slashing her pinwheel to the side and causing a powerful wind to circle around the forms of Koichi, JP and Tommy, just before Aldamon and BeoWolfmon joined in, causing flames to surround the trio, while Koji's light only aggravated the inferno, forcing the Warriors of Ice and Thunder to also fall, partly from the intensity of the attack, but also from the mental distress they were feeling.
As all remained in their respective realms of despair and darkness, none were aware that GranDracmon was hanging from a section of broken roof, watching all the heroes and smirking wickedly.
'It is easy to defeat your enemies, but it is so much more fun to have them destroy themselves.' He thought, continuing to watch and take in the sites of the heroes feeling as though they had let down and betrayed their friends.
Continuing to allow the negative feelings consume them, the Warriors of Darkness, Ice and Thunder remained in their respective feelings of doubt and worthlessness, allowing the darkness each held to continue to grow inside of them.
'Maybe I really did just hide my darkness.' Koichi thought, feeling the darkness of his Duskmon form filling his heart, while JP and Tommy felt similar emotions, feeling as though they were the weakest of their so called team, that was until a small light began to emit from each of them, causing the Duskmon form to look at his skeletal hand once again, only his D-Tector slowly slid from it, showing it was giving off a faint light, while Tommy and JP withdrew their respective D-Tectors from their pockets.
"Do not despair... Remember all you have worked for..." The three heard the voice of Ophanimon tell them, but could tell the signal was faint.
"I can sense you are in doubt, but there is no need... You three are just as brave, just as heroic as Takuya, Koji and Zoe... You just need to find that final power within each of you to unlock your true potential..."
Finished speaking, the Warriors of Darkness, Ice and Thunder rose.
"She's right." Tommy said, looking at JP and at Duskmon with a small smile.
"We might not be able to Fusion Evolve, but neither could Takuya, Koji or Zoe. They learnt to do it by finding their strength, and that's what we need to do now." JP added, feeling his trust in his friends and in himself start to return.
"We can be strong solo, but as a team, there is nothing we cannot do." Koichi told his friends, extending out his arms, gestures of his continued friendship, which both accepted, taking hold of each of Duskmon's arms, continuing to back each other up, which awoke something inside each of them, causing the lights of their D-Tectors to each glow with a great light, this time forcing Aldamon, BeoWolfmon and JetSilphymon to shield their eyes.
Confused, JetSilphymon questioned. "What's going on?"
"We know you're not real because our real friends believe in us and we won't let the darkness defeat us!" JP, Tommy and Koichi shouted, further increasing the light, to the point that it consumed the forms of the three Warriors, finding themselves no longer within the twisted dark world, but a world of pure light.
Floating around the endless void of light, the Warriors of Darkness, Ice and Thunder were puzzled.
"Where are we now?" Tommy asked, looking at JP and at Koichi, seeing the boy no longer trapped in his Duskmon form, but had an expression of equal curiosity and puzzlement.
But getting an answer of sorts, all felt a light energy building up in their pockets, where each drew their D-Tectors and saw their Human and Beast Spirits displayed and glowing brightly, producing an energy they had never experienced before.
"I'm not sure where we are, but I think we just reached the next level in our evolution." JP replied with a confident smile, grasping his D-Tector tightly, where it glowed with a bright yellow light.
And following in his stead, Tommy and Koichi took their D-Tectors and held them tightly, setting off respective lights of light blue and dark purple, changing all three Legendary Warriors both physically and mentally.
-Back within GranDracmon's dark realm-
The Warriors of Flame, Wind and Light were forced to cease their attacks as the newly formed lights shone through the area.
"Seriously!" JetSilphymon called. "What is going on?"
"What's going on is we aren't going to listen to your lies anymore."Koichi said back from within the lights.
"You called us weak and mocked us for not being able to Fusion Evolve, but not anymore!" Tommy stated.
"Execute! Fusion Evolution!" The Warriors of Darkness, Ice and Thunder called, causing the lights to burst, dispersing their energies around the area and revealing three new Digimon forms.
Replacing Duskmon was a new warrior of darkness coated in deep brown armour that had golden patterns on the shoulder plates, wrists and legs adorned his body, while a powerful spear materialized in his right hand.
Golden wings emerged from his back.
And while his face was covered by a black lion-like helmet, behind the mask showed a pair of crimson eyes, full of power and determination, where the Digimon of Darkness called. "Rhihimon!"
Following in the line of new Digimon, standing behind Rhihimon was a gargantuan sized Digimon that towered over all the Legendary Warriors, looking down at them with matching determination as the Warrior of Darkness.
Though the Digimon looked like a giant penguin with popsicles in his flippers, all could tell he meant serious business and was not to be taken lightly.
"Daipenmon!" He bellowed, his voice a mighty call of the Warrior of Ice.
Lastly, combining his Human and Beast Spirits created a massive insect Digimon that was covered in purple coloured armour, while lemon yellow claws adorned his feet and a massive horn emerged from the Digimon's head, letting off powerful bolts of lightning as he appeared.
"RhinoKabuterimon!" JP's new Digimon form exclaimed, continuing to release its power as his thunder surged through the area, shocking not only Aldamon, BeoWolfmon and JetSilphymon, but also GranDracmon.
'How can this be? They all were in the deepest of their darkness just seconds ago, but now they have evolved?' He questioned, taken completely by surprise at the unexpected changed to the appearance and mood of the Legendary Warriors.
Shaking his head, GranDracmon then grit his teeth as he then thought. 'No. I can still destroy them. They are still weak.'
As if following a command of the Demon Lord, Aldamon, BeoWolfmon and JetSilphymon attacked, releasing a stream of flame, blast of light and a torrent of wind, only for Daipenmon, Rhihimon and RhinoKabuterimon to stand in place, where they were bombarded by the attacks, but didn't flinch.
Shocked, Aldamon asked with fear in his voice. "How... how did you survive...?"
"Like your words, as long as we ignore them, you cannot harm us anymore." Rhihimon replied as a dark energy began to circle his form, where he then said. "But the same can't be said about you."
"Darkness Bluster!" The Warrior of Darkness called powerfully, releasing the darkness from his being and striking down BeoWolfmon, causing the Warrior of Light to cry out and suddenly fade away in wisps of darkness.
And seeing that their friends were indeed fakes, Daipenmon and RhinoKabuterimon knew they didn't need to hold back their newfound power.
"Storm Hammer Breaker!" Daipenmon then announced, slamming both his popsicles down and crushing Aldamon, causing the Warrior of Flame to reveal his falseness and fade away as a collection of dark wisps himself.
"C'mon JP, be a gentleman for once in your life." JetSilphymon begged, before asking. "You wouldn't hit a girl, would you?"
"I would never hit a girl, but I will zap them. Thunder Laser!" RhinoKabuterimon called in retaliation, releasing a great surge of thunder from his horn, electrocuting JetSilphymon, making her cry out until she was unable to hold herself together and dispersed away in the darkness, removing the final doubts and darknesses the Warriors of Darkness, Ice and Thunder once shared.
And with RhinoKabuterimon, Daipenmon and Rhihimon free from their fears, it was time their friends also were relieved from their self doubts and darkness, causing the new forms of the Legendary Warriors to turn and saw Impmon, his broken form on hands and knees, listening to the words of his Tamers.
"Look at you, Impmon. You became a monster by cheating your way to power, and now you have Ogudomon's power inside of you. How long until you harness that power and betray us again?" Mako asked, continuing to put Impmon down, who felt the words starting to affect his head, making him think he was indeed a monster.
But just as Impmon was about to accept defeat, a voice he had almost forgotten spoke up.
"Do not let these lies damage your heart/spirit."
"Who... who said that...?" Impmon asked, thinking he was losing his mind, before looking over his shoulder, unsure how to react, for he saw past his Tamers the spirit form of Leomon.
Stunned, Impmon asked. "Leomon, but didn't I defeat you?"
"You did, but my Data you absorbed still lies within you." Leomon replied.
Worried, Impmon asked. "So did you come here to join in on the taunts and harsh words?"
"I came because you are in crisis, and to remind you of who you really are, not what GranDracmon says you are." Leomon's spirit informed.
Still puzzled, Impmon asked. "What do ya mean?"
"You might have gone down the wrong path for power in the past, but you have changed your ways and used that power for the greater good, not only defeating the D-Reaper, but also protecting Jeri, something I will always be grateful for." Leomon's spirit form said as he put his spirit hand on Impmon shoulder.
"Most important your Tamers remember that day, how happy they were to see you again. Thanks to them they gave you the true power you held to protect everyone" Leomon said as Impmon started to remember that day, remembering the first time he had achieved the Blast Mode.
"You're right..." Impmon said, pulling himself up. "I'm not some Demon Lord's puppet, I'm not a monster. I am Impmon, now hear me roar!"
With that bellow, Impmon felt his power returning, much to the shock of the fake Ai and Mako.
"You preyed on my weaknesses. You used the images of those I cared about to get in my head." Impmon began to say, his form radiating with pure purple energy as he changed form.
"And for that, I will take you out!" He yelled, just as the energy around his form faded, revealing not only had Impmon Digivolved, but he was back in his Blast Mode, his Blaster locked and loaded, ready to destroy the doubts in his mind.
And as Beelzemon shone with a new light, a similar occurrence was happening back in Shinjuku.
While the town seemed quiet, showing no signs of Ogudomon or his dark Digimon, Jeri was at Henry's home, playing alongside Suzie, Lopmon and Calumon with the Digimon children, Nyaromon, ChibiRuilmon and DemiGenamon, making the four smile as they had set up the couch cushions for them to make a small fort to play in, finding the sight of their joyful innocence heartwarming.
But Jeri was broken from the moment of playtime when she felt Calumon tugging at her dress.
"Hey, Jeri. Leomon's Digi-Egg is all shiny." Calumon informed, causing the brunette, Suzie and Lopmon to look over and see the Digi-Egg glowing brightly, which made Jeri pick up the Digi-Egg and think with all her hope. 'Could it be...?'
Clutching the Digi-Egg close to her chest and closing her eyes, feeling the life within it growing stronger and stronger, Jeri opened her eyes when she felt the soft surface of the Digi-Egg replaced by a warm and soft feeling of fur, looking down and tearing up at seeing the Digi-Egg had indeed hatched and within her arms was Leomon's In-Training form, a small cat-like Digimon that had a frill around its neck, golden fur and small tail connected to its petite body, better known as Frimon.
"Oh, Leomon..." Jeri said, continuing to tear up as she held Frimon in her arms. "I missed you so much."
"And I miss you, Jeri." Frimon replied with a caring smile and cute voice, sounding much younger and less mature than he had when he was Leomon, but Jeri knew that in time, she would have the old Leomon back.
But for the time being, she could play and enjoy her reborn partner, who purred as he nuzzled Jeri's cheek, showing nothing but love and affection.
Back within GranDracmon's realm, Beelzemon BM glared at the false forms of his Tamers.
"This is it, the moment I face my darkness." Beelzemon said, aiming his Blaster at the forms of Ai and Mako, who didn't accept Beelzemon's revelation and tried to destroy him before he could rid them, twisting and warping into one and turning into the horrid form of Megidramon, which lunged at Beelzemon.
However, he refused to back down.
"I might be unable to escape my past, but I can accept what I have done and use my strength for the greater good, staring by destroying what holds me back. Corona Blaster!" He then yelled, releasing his energy, causing the form of Megidramon to roar in great agony as it was struck by Beelzemon's attack, unable to withstand the power and broke apart into countless particles of Data, finally freeing Beelzemon from his dark past.
"Great job, pal." RhinoKabuterimon said, causing Beelzemon to face his allies, seeing they too had overcome their darknesses, making him smile but also inform. "Thanks. But we still have work to do."
From Beelzemon's words, the Legendary Warriors nodded, looking over to see Ken, Wormmon, Cody and Armadillomon still unable to fight the doubts that filled their minds, for the harsh words continued to fill the Digidestined and Digimon with doubts if they didn't belong or if they were still the same empty cowards their friends believed them to be.
But stepping in, looking out for his friends, Beelzemon lunged at the mocking form of TK.
"Darkness Claw!" He yelled, slashing through their figure, but saw his attack only scar the false Digidestined/Digimon.
Groaning a little from the attack, TK glared at Beelzemon and asked. "What are you doing? Why are you defending these losers?"
"Because we are a team. They might not believe it, but they are part of the Digidestined team. They have helped stop evil after evil from ruining the Digital World, they just need a reminder to remember that their real friends would always stand by them." Beelzemon told TK and the other dark forms that had shaped themselves as the Digidestined.
"Cody, Ken, listen to us when we say they are not your friends, they aren't even real. They are just the darkness each of you hold deep in your hearts. But all you need to do is combat the darkness within you and GranDracmon no longer has the dark power he used to manipulate you." Rhihimon informed.
"Ken, you are not the Digimon Emperor anymore. Sure you used to be the bad guy, but you made up for your mistakes. You and Wormmon did everything you could to show you had changed, and your ability to successfully DNA Digivolve with Davis and Veemon is proof of that strength and that friendship."
"And Cody, I too know how it feels to be the youngest in the team, but that doesn't mean you are weak." Daipenmon said, before telling the Digidestined and Digimon of Knowledge and Reliability. "You and Armadillomon have nothing but potential, all you need to do is believe in yourselves, to remember that the real friends you made would always support you and do everything they can to see that you are meant to be a Digidestined, to be a hero."
Beelzemon then said as he called to his allies. "And remember your real friends believe in you all the way."
From the words of the Tamer Digimon and the Legendary Warriors, a small (spark/flicker) of light rekindled within the four.
"Cody... They're right... These here slick talkers may look like our friends, but they sure as Sam hill don't act like 'em." Armadillomon said, shaking his head clear, trying to focus on his own thoughts and not those forced into him.
"And Ken..." Wormmon spoke up, feeling his confidence return. "You are no longer the Digimon Emperor, your friends saw to that. Remember you are now the Digidestined of Kindness and a true friend."
From the combined support of their Digimon and the more positive memories that began to come to them, saving the Digital World as a team, uniting their strength to DNA Digivolve, even witnessing the birth of Imperialdramon Paladin Mode and slaying Armageddemon, Ken and Cody started to remember that their real friends were always they proud of them and always believed in them.
"You're right." Cody and Ken said simultaneously to Armadillomon and Wormmon, before the four looked back at the fake Digidestined, seeing through the deception and regaining their confidence, while inside, the darkness began to fade and was replaced with light.
"So what?" The fake form of Davis asked, before stating. "You might think you're safe, but you're still no match for us."
"That's what you think." Cody replied, looking at Ken, who nodded, before both Digidestined withdrew their D-3s, which glowed with the same light building up in their beings, before both Digidestined unleashed the inner light, shocking the dark forms of their friends, as well as GranDracmon when Ken and Cody combined their renewed power with their Digimon, causing Dominion and GrandisKuwagamon to once again take the place of the Digidestined and Digimon of Knowledge and Reliability, as well as the Digimon of Kindness.
At seeing the angelic Digimon and the giant bug, the forms of the Digidestined backed in fear, yolei questioning. "But how can this be happening? How can you gain so much power?"
"We listened to what our real friends had to say, not to what you phonies tried to lie to us about." Dominimon replied, his tone full of confidence and seriousness.
"And now it's time we should have done at the start, extinguish the darkness within us." GrandisKuwagamon added, gathering his energy as a powerful wind began to circulate around his four wings.
"Grandis Whirlwind!" The Digimon of Kindness called, releasing the wind from his wings, tearing through the area and striking down the copied forms of Davis, Veemon, TK, Patamon, Kari, Gatomon, Yolei and Hawkmon causing the dark copies to break apart and fade into nothingness.
"Shining Nova!" Dominimon followed up, creating an astral projection of his form that shot forward, destroying the last of the darkness and filling the area with a great and powerful light, the final attack needed to destroy the last of the darkness and break GranDracmon's illusion, where the Digidestined, Beelzemon and Legendary Warriors found themselves back in the Digital World, facing the form of GranDracmon, seeing him panting and sweating, while covering his illusive eye, groaning at the intense strain he had been through.
Confused, GranDracmon demanded. "Who did you do it? How did you trick your way out of the darkness!?"
"It was no trick. We realized that we are never alone so long as we have each other." Daipenmon replied, causing Rhihimon to stand beside his friends and add. "And by confronting the darkness, there is no reason to be afraid by it."
"But now it's time for you to be afraid because we are gonna take you down!" Beelzemon yelled as he attacked, releasing a great and powerful blast of energy from his Blaster, followed closely by the Digidestined and Legendary Warriors as each cast off their best attacks, bombaring the Demon Lord, who cried out at feeling the pain and the power of light and friendship.
As the attack continued to damage GranDracmon, his gaze fell upon Beelzemon, the Digidestined and the Legendary Warriors with a sinister smirk.
"It doesn't matter if you beat me, your friends are doomed... Lord Barbamon is one of the seven Demon Lords who answers to Ogudomon... His power will be your downfall...!" GranDracmon called madly as his being broke into particles of black Data, leaving no traces of the half beast Digimon.
But with the second of Barbamon's servants no more, Beelzemon and the others knew they didn't have time to relax, they still had one final Demon Lord to slay