Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon

Chapter Eight

Trackdown

"So we aren't gods?" Tai asked in a deflated voice, and Izzy rolled his eyes.

"No Tai, we have traits that the gods embodied that's all." He said, as his mother bustled around serving them all snacks.

"Be rather fun if it was true though, I would be like Alcemene, the mother who adopted the son of a god, Izzy could be Hercules." She said mildly and Izzy looked at her incredulously while the others laughed.

"More like Archimedes." Sam said with a grin.

"So now we know a bit more about all this...but what happened with the Sovereigns?" Ken asked, as the first thing out of an extremely irate Izzy's mouth when he had appeared was what the Sovereigns had been saying about them, well specifically Azulongmon.

"Well we told them that from now on, they're straight with us, and we also only work with Zhquiamon and Baihumon, it's obvious to me that Azulongmon is only concerned about power and the other two are only apathetic to us, they don't care about us. So that's how it is from now, and they play us false again, we stop working with them all together." He said stubbornly, and Tai looked around incredulously.

"Excuse me, what the hell is going on here?" he demanded, and Sora looked at him in confusion.

"What do you mean?" she asked and he scowled.

"I'm the leader! I've got the goggles, the ones I took off Davis' head, rather skilfully I might add," he said musingly.

"Yeah, only because Davis uses so much gel he couldn't tell he had taken them." Yolei whispered into Ken's ear and he stuck his hand in his mouth to stop himself giggling.

"and put them back on my head! That makes me the leader! Davis has square ones and Rana has oval ones, but the circle ones are the leaders!" he shouted petulantly, and TK looked at him, bemused.

"No one is disputing that Tai. We know you're our leader." He said, and Tai turned to him.

"Then how come all these decisions are being made without me?" he asked, and Kari rolled her eyes.

"Bro, we had no choice! We did what we did with Hawong before he packed us all off to invade China which wouldn't do any of us any good, we had to act quickly, and besides, you weren't here and we didn't have time to wait for you to reply. And as for Izzy if he didn't do something then there's a good chance the Sovereigns would have kept pushing us around and being bloody useless, he did the right thing." She said irritably and Tai sighed.

"I know, and I know you all did the right thing it's just, I miss the days when we did everything as a team." He lamented, and Joe looked at him sympathetically.

"We still are a team Tai. None of us were trying to step on your toes. You are still our leader, and we are still a team. Problem is we've gotten a lot bigger and with threats popping up everywhere, we can't all be in two places at once. That's all." He said, and Izzy's mother nodded.

"Besides Tai, now that war has started," she said worriedly, and Izzy squeezed her hand slightly, "you're now going to have to be responsible for all of their safety all the time. It's going to get harder, so if someone takes a bit of the strain off of you, I would take it. Because frankly, you all look totally exhausted, you could all use a break." She said kindly.

"Yeah, we are all tired, and now we're at war, I don't see that improving any time soon. And considering we have a permanent encampment outside," Matt said, opening the blinds to see the people outside with signs crying 'Out! Out! Out!' or 'Go home Digimon' with angry expressions on their faces, "our lives are only going to get more difficult."

"Do you reckon Kanalaka was right when he said Hawong wouldn't let us address the public?" Mimi asked, and Tai nodded.

"Yeah. And considering he has declared emergency powers and the Diet jumped for it, something makes me think censorship will show up sooner rather than later anyway, he wouldn't let us talk to them. Besides Mimi, you saw that lot earlier, they wanted our blood, despite saving their asses on numerous occasions." He scowled.

"We're getting the blame for World War Three, you can hardly blame people for being angry with us, even if it isn't our fault." Cody said miserably.

"So we can't even tell them it isn't our fault?" Mara asked, and Joe shook his head.

"No. Not that they would listen to anyway. You should have seen the trouble I had to save lives earlier, they were all more interested in ranting and blaming me for the war than they were about surviving. It did improve though." He said, waving his hand in mock cheer.

"Yay for us. Alright, so we just deal with it. We leave the Digimon when we go out places." Michael said, and Betamon shook his head sharply.

"No way José." He said, and Michael looked at his partner curiously.

"Are you mad? Let you walk around, unprotected when not only Daemon wants your head on a platter, but the Chinese and all their allies and the public do too? You're not going anywhere without backup." Lopmon said scoldingly, and Gatomon nodded.

"She's right. You need us with you, it's too dangerous, I had to digivolve to get the crowd to back off earlier and the war will only get worse, and then the people will want to blame you even more. You're going nowhere without protection." She said, and Michael looked to Tai, who reluctantly nodded.

"She's right mate, annoying though it is. The last thing we need is for one of us to be lynched by a pissed off crowd. So they stick with us. And we deal with the public if and when we need to." He said nervously.

"This is going to get ugly." Ken warned, as eggs splattered their windows, and Izzy's mother went out to yell at them all, followed by an anxious Tentomon.

"Tell me about it. What do you reckon Kanalaka wants?" Sam asked, and Sora frowned.

"I don't know. He did kind of save us, but that might have been more to do with the big angry pink dragon than him." She admitted lamely.

"Either way, be careful of him." Izzy's mother warned as she came back inside, looking angry, while Sam's father went outside to tell them all God was judging their every move.

"He seems such a nice guy in the press." Mimi said, and Mara scoffed.

"Not in America he doesn't, he sounds like a bit of an idiot. Hawong seemed nicer back home." She said, and Koromon sniffed.

"And we all know he isn't." He said, and the others nodded, before Davis looked to Tai.

"Alright, so the public want our heads. You reckon Kanalaka can help?" he asked, and Tai shrugged.

"I don't know. We'll see what happens. Which leaves us with what we should do now." He said, and Matt nodded.

"Yeah, if we sit around doing nothing, Hawong will be after our blood even more than usual." He said, to numerous nods.

"Right, without proof otherwise, I think we should assume that Daemon is dead. And even if he isn't, he's not here at the moment and is licking his wounds, and because Kari and the others took out so many of her goons, LadyDevimon is too, which means we have a bit of a break Digimon wise. And since they've launched two attacks both of which were repelled by the Digimon, we should hopefully have a breather from invasion as well. God knows we could use the rest." Sora said, and Tai nodded.

"She's right. With Daemon and LadyDevimon out of the way like they are, we have some leg room. Now, Matt, Sora, Mimi, Joe, Ken, Yolei, Rana and I all have our Relics, which means we all have the capacity to reach Super level if we need to."

"So it makes sense then that the rest of us go to the Digital world to get our Relics. We get them, then we come back and help you guys with whatever." Izzy said, and Michael looked at them worriedly.

"Yeah, but Betamon and Lopmon haven't reached Mega yet." He said, and Sam nodded.

"Yeah, that is a point, and we kind of need more field experience, if Rana, me, Michael, Mara and our two mystery guests are the final group we could do with a bit of experience in the field." Sam reasoned, and Candlemon nodded.

"Yeah, compared to you guys we're still too new." He lamented.

"Don't worry about it. Rana will be here with Tsukimon and she has been with us the longest so that'll be fine until you guys are up to speed. The rest can get a bit of experience with us in the digital world." Tentomon said cheerfully.

"Alright, so it's settled. Izzy, you lead the other group to go and find their Relics. But just in case Daemon isn't dead, as soon as you find any, send them back." Tai said, and Davis frowned.

"What if Sam, Michael and Mara find theirs first?" he asked, and Tai frowned.

"We hope they don't frankly, that'll just confuse things. While you guys do that, we will hold the fort here against the enemy and Daemon if he comes back." He said, and Biyomon looked at him worriedly.

"But Tai, if he is still alive, what do we do then? We needed Imperialdramon to catch up with him last time and if Davis is in the digital world, we can't do as much." She reasoned, and he had to admit, she had a point.

Tsunomon frowned.

"You might be right Biyomon. But if we didn't kill Daemon, there's a pretty good chance he will be here in Japan to recover. We ought to be fine, provided they hurry." He said, and Mimi nodded.

"Yeah. So that's settled. We split up again." She said sadly, and the original eight looked at each other sadly.

"What's the big deal?" Sam asked in confusion.

"Bad things tend to happen when we get split apart. You try gelling your hair when you're flying through the air at seventy miles an hour holding onto a bed in your underwear." Matt grumbled, and the newer ones all looked at him curiously.

"I had a dream that happened to me once. I was on the bed and it became a train...then it crashed and I became a butterfly." Mara said, earning her even more strange looks from the others.

"That's what goes on in your head?" Michael asked in surprise, and Lopmon nodded.

"You should hear her when she has a naughty dream." She said, and Mara shot her a scornful look and shoved her off her knee in retaliation.

"And while you lot do that the rest of us need to take a break and recharge out batteries, or otherwise this war is going to drain us very quickly. Especially if we're going to have to digivolve to even go shopping." Ken said darkly and Mimi looked at him in alarm.

"I won't even be able to go shopping? Really?" she asked hysterically, making Yuramon giggle.

"It might be a possibility with the public after us the way they are. Alright guys, go, be careful, and hurry back." Tai said, exchanging a concerned look with Kari as Matt did one with TK.

"At least some of you are getting out of harm's way. Be home soon sweetheart." Izzy's mother said to him, fussing over him, making the others grin.

"Aww mom, I'm trying to make a cool exit." He protested halfheartedly, and in retaliation she kissed his cheek.

He gave her a final hug before using his digivice to open the port and the other eight vanished to the digital world.

"Thanks Mrs Izumi." Tai said, and she smiled, though looked outside worriedly.

"You're welcome dears. Be careful, this is going to get bad very quickly. Just stay safe." She said, biting her lip.

"Don't worry, we will." Tai assured her as they left her apartment.

But as they went outside and the jeering got louder, the people started trying to push towards them, and things started getting thrown towards them, he began to consider that maybe being safe wasn't going to be enough.

XX

He smirked as he saw the eight Digidestined children entering the digital world. So, they had split up once more. His master would be most interested to know this information. He sent his master a report, then blended into the shadows in order to follow them. Now all he had to do was wait for the perfect moment to strike.

XX

"You should not allow their insolence." Azulongmon grumbled, and Fanglongmon rolled his eyes.

"Stop your griping Azulongmon, it is done and there is nothing we can do about it. Now, Gennai, how goes your operation?" he asked and Gennai frowned.

"It is coming on apace, and the fact that we actually have the other two crests to work off of is helpful, but it will still take quite some time to complete. I have all my copies working on it, but it will be very little use in the general scheme of things."

"It will still be a help my friend. Don't worry about that." Baihumon assured him, but to tell the truth he was a lot more interested in their joint venture, the one Gennai had proposed to them after the defeat of the Covenant rather than the plan they had acted upon following the Digidestined's battle with the Triad. Either way, Gennai was responsible for it. The only problem was, Gennai's plan was under defended, despite their best efforts, and their joint venture was over defended and as a result some of their most powerful allies were trapped in one location, even if they were fairly safe.

"If you lot are quite finished arguing, we have worse problems to contend with." Ebonwumon said from his usual perch at the scrying post.

"Such as? More Digidestined not cooperating?" Azulongmon said sniffily and Zhquiamon screeched at him to shut him up.

"What is it?" he asked while he and Azulongmon glared at each other.

"Daemon. He isn't dead." He said worriedly, and as one they cursed.

"Where is he now?" Fanglongmon asked, and Ebonwumon frowned.

"It seems like he's going back to hunting down other Digidestined, he's already on the move. And with Davis here to look for his Relic, they don't have access to Imperialdramon." He said, his voice concerned.

"He's right. And besides, with the outbreak of hostilities in their world, it would be difficult for them to traverse the world without further exacerbating the situation." Gennai said, and Zhquiamon nodded.

"He's right, and Daemon has killed too many children as it is. We must act to stop him." He said, and Fanglongmon nodded.

"You're right. The Digidestined are right about one thing, we are far too willing to let them do their fighting for us and never help ourselves. It's time we took a more active role in the fight." He said, and Azulongmon nodded.

"Correct. I propose we create a MegaDigiCore, all five of us combine our powers and create a powerful weapon that will allow normal Digidestined to reach higher levels than Champion. That will at least make Daemon think twice. We cannot directly help, giving the situation in the real world, but we can help the other Digidestined as the Eighteen are no longer in a position to do so." He said, to nods from the others.

"That will help narrow the odds on us a little bit. And it will also help the Eighteen, and perhaps help them to locate the final two members. I fear we have no choice in the matter. Here." Fanglongmon said, casting the first DigiCore into the centre.

"They are right about one thing, we rely on them to fight our battles, and we do little to help them. It's time we fought ourselves. If we wish to save our world, we must fight ourselves." Baihumon said, doubling the core in size.

"The Eighteen have enough problems without taking on ours as well. If the other Digidestined can help them fight, then it is time for them to do so." Ebonwumon added as the core doubled in size once again.

"And with the outbreak of war, we have a duty to protect the young ones entrusted to help protect our world. Daemon presents a threat, and we cannot tolerate that. We must protect the children." Azulongmon agreed, once more increasing the DigiCore.

"It is time we take a stand against the darkness. It increases every day, and the death of any Digidestined will only increase the darkness around us all. Whatever we can do to protect the light of existence must be done. We have no choice." Zhquiamon concluded, and the massive MegaCore was finally complete.

"Now what?" Gennai asked, looking at the massive core and wondering how the hell they were going to move it.

"Now, we ask the kids to distribute it. Problem is, only Azulongmon is fast enough to get to them in time." Zhquiamon said, as he looked in the scrying orb.

"They don't want to work with me." Azulongmon said, and Fanglongmon snarled.

"Regardless Azulongmon, you are the quicker flyer of you and Zhquiamon. Take the core to them. Izzy was not unreasonable. He said that you may contact them in an emergency and Daemon's return certainly qualifies. Hurry." He urged, and the dragon nodded, picked up the core and shot out of the throne room to find the Digidestined, while the others watched as Daemon got closer to killing another child and their Digimon partner.

XX

The theory that the Chinese were temporarily removed was correct, and they hadn't attacked in days much as LadyDevimon hadn't. However, now that the war had totally exploded, they were far from being left alone. The Russians and Mexicans had both been pounding Japan relentlessly, and the kids were exhausted. However, so far, none of them had been hurt, and they had been given new armoured flight suits by the military for when they were in battle which eased their frantic parent's worries.

Tai was showing his natural leadership abilities, and was also delegating a fair bit of control to Matt as the two of them led the defence of the nation, not that anyone cared, they were all too busy blaming them for the start of the war in the first place, which was considerably wearing. Vandalism, hate crimes, and threatening violence was now common around their homes, their parents were frightened, and in the last three days Joe had been forced to resort to his fourth pair of glasses as they kept attacking him. Mimi had been ambushed, and Palmon had had to digivolve to Togemon to ward the people off before they seriously hurt her. Another mob had blocked Sora from getting into her apartment and had been pushing and hassling her before a loud roar from SaberGarurumon and the arrival of a seriously angry Matt had sent them scurrying off into the woodwork. Ken's house was besieged by reporters, despite his parents best efforts, and Yolei's shop had boards up to cover the windows and her father had been forced to get a grille installed in order to protect his business.

While the kids all felt bad about the entire thing, being blamed for the war and the hassle it was causing to their lives, their friends, their Digimon and their parents, their parents themselves had taken up roles, figuring Hawong would eventually make them do it anyway so they may as well do something to help.

Tai's mother and Izzy's had joined with Cody's and Sam's and had begun to cook for the people displaced by the war, acting out of town halls or churches (though Tai was convinced her cooking would get his mother accused of being an enemy agent). Matt and TK's mother, along with Sora's and Ken's had all volunteered to work part time in the orphanages, while Matt and TK's father, with Ken's, Cody's grandfather and Michael and Mara's were now working as air raid wardens. Other parents were helping out in their own way, distributing safety or propaganda leaflets across the cities while the entire population became accustomed to the war.

While the Digidestined and their families found their lives made ten times more difficult by the self righteous mobs outside their homes, especially Tai's as his and Rana's were in the building opposite Kari's there was always a small army of protestors and detractors floating around outside their buildings, but usually they kept relatively quiet with the appearance of either MetalGreymon or Teradramon.

However, Hawong had less problems. With the announcement of Russia and America entering the war, and the announcement that all of Europe had also now entered their own brand of the war, there was no denying that the world had now erupted into a massive war, with strange alliances that were always shifting, the atmosphere was tense and panicky. The Diet had called an emergency sessions and had happily voted Hawong emergency powers, much to the dismay of Kanalaka, the opposition and of course the Digidestined. However, he now had complete control of the situation as the war spiralled out of control at an impossible rate.

Europe was now a battlefield. France, leading the call to join forces with Russia, had galvanised countries such as the Ukraine and Belarus into allying with Russia, and countries such as Latvia and Lithuania, initially pro-Japan, quickly turned Russian when Devimon got his hands (literally in some cases) on them and changed their opinions for them. Switzerland proclaimed its traditional neutrality, being joined by Norway, Sweden and Finland, and then recruiting the central European states of Hungary and the Czech Republic to their neutral stance. Iceland, Belgium and the Netherlands also proclaimed neutrality, however the rest of Europe was just as gung ho for war as the rest. Multiple tensions, including the budget problems and what was perceived as the French and eastern European betrayal galvanised Britain, Germany and Spain, forcing them into conflict. Austria soon joined in, as did Greece, Italy and the Balkan states. With Europe now a battlefield, with Germany and Britain already making plans to invade France, the situation there was already dire as the first reports of war atrocities started to filter in from the Romanian border.

The US and Canada had joined forces with the Japanese allies, but despite their best efforts, while they retained some of the smaller islands, Cuba and its allies had all joined the Chinese side of the war. Places such as the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean states all avoided entering the war all together, several islands in and around Cuba all rallied to their local leader, keeping the Americans very tense as Cuba began to arm itself for war.

Africa however, was massively divided. South Africa itself had joined the allied side, as had Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Egypt. Libya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Somalia however had all joined the enemy side. Despite the inflamed tensions, Liberia had issued a statement of neutrality, and had led several other countries in either neutrality or professional disinterest in the war. However, enemy Digimon had other ideas, and they continued to shoot around the world and while most of Western Africa remained neutral, tensions had been provoked in the east, sending them into civil war in order to keep them occupied. Now, with most of Africa at war and the others battening down the hatches, the Ultimate Evil's plan was in full swing.

South America was also highly contested. Brazil was one of the first countries to declare allegiance with Japan following the actual official outbreak of World War Three. Following their lead, Peru and Ecuador had also announced their allegiance to their side, and were soon joined by Chile. Argentina on the other hand had different ideas, and had declared support for China's side in the conflict, as had Bolivia, Venezuela and the French Guiana. Panama and Costa Rica, seeing the advantages of being neutral, had led all of their local states in declaring neutrality, aiming to stay out of the war and come out better as a result. Other countries began to batten down the hatches, however, a Digimon supported coup in Columbia had failed, and the entire country was now wrapped in civil war, which suited the ends of the Ultimate Evil just as well as the coup would have.

The Middle East was sharply divided. While the southern states of the region, such as Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the U.A.E all declared neutrality, the rest of the region wasn't nearly as conservative in their choices. Turkey, to everyone's great surprise, joined forces with Japan's allies, as did Iraq. Iran however, joined China, as did Syria. Also, enemy Digimon provoked further tensions in Israel and Palestine, plunging the area into bloody war with itself. With the entire area up in arms, people hoped that Asia wouldn't devolve into war, and the same hope was had for Oceania, but the hopes were in vain, as whether by politicians desires, the will of the people or the machinations of agents of the Ultimate Evil, nearly every region in the world was consumed by war.

Oceania was quite bizarre as no one expected it to erupt as quickly or as violently as it did, if at all. However, it certainly did erupt (mostly due to the influence of agents of the Ultimate Evil) and Indonesia and the Philippines attacked the north of Australia in a brutal attack. Shocked, Australia and New Zealand had sided with Japan, while Indonesia and its allies had sided with China, joining Malaysia. Brunei declared neutrality, as did Laos and Cambodia, while Vietnam joined Japan with surprisingly enough, Afghanistan.

The entire world was at war, with those trying to stay out of it always in danger of being dragged in or caught in the crossfire. The allied forces were marshalling, troops, ships and planes were heading off to battle, while on the other side, the enemy was doing the exact same thing. Tensions were incredibly high, and academics, theorists, retired politicians, and members of the UN were all wondering how on earth the world could have degenerated into full scale war in the better part of a couple of months, especially when it only started off as a small brush conflict between China and Japan.

And now, at long last, the eternal night had begun. The real world had been plunged into war, the digital world was growing slightly darker day by day, the power of the Digidestined was beginning to wane and the power of the Ultimate Evil was beginning to increase. Darkness was beginning to slowly encroach upon the land, poisoning it, slowly spreading throughout the worlds, and in the darkness, the power of the Ultimate Evil was growing. It would be a long, gradual process until the worlds would fall completely to darkness, but small things had already begun, and most important of all, the war was going exactly according to plan.

The Ultimate Evil would soon be ready. Its plan was in full swing and nothing could stop it now. Even if the Eighteen managed to destroy Daemon, it would be too little too late to stop the war. And after all, the Ultimate Evil had others waiting within the wings.

All was going according to plan.

XX

"We're exhausted." Gomamon said as he curled up on Mimi's lap and promptly dozed off.

"Yeah, so much for our theory that we could get something of a break. And what's worse, Mimi and I can't even do a bit of retail therapy as we come close to getting lynched every time we go out the front door." Rana said with a scowl as Tsukimon, dozing on Agumon's head, gave a small snore.

"Why doesn't Hawong do something about it?" Sora asked, as she put out a plate of cookies she and Biyomon had made in the lull in the fighting.

The others had been gone for three days, looking through the Digital world, and while they had seen old friends such as Meramon, who unlike them could go shopping without risk of being attacked (at least in theory), they had seen nothing to indicate any enemy Digimon were after them, which Tai and Matt agreed was both comforting and worrying. Now that World War Three had officially begun, and with a massive battle raging on the border of Pakistan and India and a massive naval battle raging in the Bering Sea between Russia, China, America and Canada, anything that kept as many of them as possible out of the road of the war was alright by them. Matt was sorely tempted to try and send Sora to keep an eye on TK and the others (nothing to do with him wanting to make her slightly more protected in the digital world), but he knew he would be fighting a losing battle if she suggested it.

"Obviously he's waiting for us to slip up. Kanalaka isn't doing that much to help us either." Joe scowled, with yet another pair of repaired glasses.

Tai frowned. Today's battle had gone as well as could be expected he supposed. The Philippines had sent a destroyer to raid the harbour, which had coincided by a similar action from Russia, a small force of frigates not part of the massive naval battle being waged in the north. Between a tired WarlordGreymon and WarPlesiomon they had easily scuttled the ships, earning the admiral's gratitude as every time they did so they took the crews prisoner and converted the ships to their own use, but Hawong had warned, grudgingly, that while they as far as they knew still hadn't killed an enemy soldier, they couldn't keep capturing enemy soldiers as they would soon run out of room to put them. That aside they were still exhausted, with days of fighting with virtually no let up.

But they still had the public to deal with, even though they were out there risking their lives to protect the country every day there were still people threatening them. Ken had to be restrained from attacking someone who had spat on Yolei two days ago, and Tai had had to chase off people who were giving Rana a hard time to get her into the building.

"What do you mean?" Yolei asked, as Ken stroked her hair.

"Well what better way to convince the people that we're dangerous than by having one of the Digimon attack someone? The way the public keep making for us, it makes them antsy. Gatomon had to warp digivolve to get us away from the government building, and that was only to intimidate the people. What happens if things get out of hand and one of the Digimon attacks to protect one of us? I'll bet you anything that's what he's after." He scowled, and Tai and Matt exchanged dark looks.

"And what is Kanalaka's deal anyway?" Gabumon asked, and Sora shrugged.

"That's the thing, we don't know. But either way he's avoiding us whatever he wants, probably a case of he'll call us, not the other way around." She said tiredly sitting beside Matt.

"So we're on our own." Rana commented miserably, and then Ken suddenly sat up straight.

"Yeah, we are on our own, and we shouldn't be. Where the hell are Arukenimon, Mummymon and Wizardmon?" he demanded, and the entire room looked at each other nervously.

What with everything that had been going on, with the outbreak of war and Daemon, they hadn't actually noticed that their three resident Digimon weren't actually here. Feeling slightly guilty that they hadn't noticed before now, and slightly worried as any long absence couldn't be good, they all looked at each other for an explanation, and no one had any to give.

"How could we have forgotten them?" Palmon asked in shock.

"Well they haven't been here, we haven't seen them since...when was the last time we saw them?" Matt asked nervously.

"Arukenimon isn't answering the phone, and you know how much she loves to talk." Wormmon stated, his voice edgy as he put Sora's phone back in the cradle.

"Let's not panic...maybe they're in the Digital world." Yolei suggested.

Hawkmon nodded.

"That would make sense, after all, they are Digimon." He said, but Tai was less sanguine. After all, with the entire country if not the entire world in an anti-Digimon frenzy, three Digimon who people with more than ten brain cells could easily guess didn't belong here, would be prime targets for some sort of hate crime.

"What if something happened to them? And we didn't know about it because we had were so worried about everything else?" Biyomon asked worriedly.

"We're meant to keep an eye on them, not let them vanish from under our noses, what are we going to do? Should we send out search parties? Send emails? Alert the police?" Joe asked, just as someone knocked at the door.

"We're busy!" Sora yelled, vowing to set Garudamon on them if it was some idiot coming to blame her for the war.

She threw it open and sighed in relief as the three aforementioned Digimon stood on the doormat, looking impatient.

"Finally, we've been looking everywhere for one of you lot, where the hell have you been?" Arukenimon asked grouchily as she led the way in.

"Funny, we were about to ask you the same question. Where the hell have you been?" Tai snapped, as Ken, to her great surprise, hugged Arukenimon in relief.

As she spider Digimon patted his back nervously, Wizardmon looked around.

"If you're looking for Kari, she's in the digital world." Yolei explained.

"We know, we're checking for something else. Thunder Spell." He said, and suddenly the entire apartment became filled with static, much to the girls great disgust as their hair went on end. Arukenimon sighed and glared at him, before helping herself to a cup of coffee and a cookie.

"Where have you been? We've been worried." Mimi scolded, and Arukenimon looked at them.

"How long did it take you to notice we weren't around?" she asked, and they all looked at each other sheepishly.

"Um...we only just noticed." Ken admitted lamely, and to their surprise, the three of them sighed.

"Good, should mean we got away with it then." Mummymon said, and they looked at him in confusion.

"Um Wizardmon? Not that I don't appreciate it, but why the hell have you made my apartment filled with static? You've made my flowers into soldiers." Sora scolded, looking at the now completely upright flowers that Matt had given her while trying to flatten her hair.

"In case we're being dropped eaves upon." He said, and Rana looked at him sceptically.

"What you think we're being listened to?" she asked disbelievingly, and Wizardmon nodded.

"It's a possibility, either from agents of the Ultimate Evil or from your government." He explained, and Tai, who's bushy mane had also gone ramrod straight to his great disapproval and was determinedly ignoring Matt's attempts not to laugh as he tried to tame it again (the git's gel protected his hair from Wizardmon's attack), looked at Wizardmon in confusion.

"One, why would they be listening to us and two why is it so important that they don't know what we're saying?" he asked, and Wizardmon gave a last look around, before nodding to Arukenimon and Mummymon, who then shut the blinds.

"You guys have cracked." Wormmon said, trying not to laugh himself as he watched Ken also try and sort his hair.

"No we haven't. Actually while you've been dealing with the war effort, we've been making preparations." Wizardmon explained, and Matt looked at him curiously.

"Is that why we haven't seen you in ages?" he asked, and Mummymon nodded.

"You remember where we were hiding out when we were here with MaloMyotismon?" he asked Ken and Yolei, both of whom nodded.

"Yeah, a house outside of the city wasn't it?" Ken asked, and Arukenimon nodded.

"Exactly. That's where we've been." She said, and Biyomon looked at them, unimpressed.

"You mean we've been busting our asses and you've been lounging around doing sweet f.a?" she demanded angrily, and Tai turned to the little pink bird in shock.

"Where did you learn language like that?" he asked incredulously, and she winked.

"Let's just say Sora's rants are very educational." She said, while Sora determinedly looked out of the window.

"Hardly. We've been busy, renovating it, making it fit for human use again." Wizardmon said, and Gomamon looked at them in confusion.

"What for though? You guys have your own apartment." He said, and Arukenimon frowned.

"Haven't you lot seen the news today?" she asked, and Agumon shook his head.

"No, it tends to depress us, it's filled with people getting shot at." He said.

"Or football which is just as depressing." Palmon added, earning her a glare from Tai and Ken.

Mummymon picked up Sora's remote, and put it onto the news channel.

"And we are hearing reports that France, in response to its allies anti-Digidestined campaign, made a very controversial move and is now arresting any child found in possession of a Digimon. More on this story as it comes in." The reporter said, and the kids and Digimon all looked at each other.

"They can't do that, it's against their human rights to imprison a child." Rana said angrily, but Wizardmon shook his head.

"Nope. Ever since the war began and France's new government came in, all Digidestined were branded enemies of the state due to their relations with the Digimon. They reckon Digimon are what have caused this war, and are going after them in retaliation. True, it was more Daemon than anything else but as they can't get to him, or the ones they really want which is you lot, they are more than content to vent against their own Digidestined. Any child who is a Digidestined or has a digivice is an enemy of the state in France." He explained, and Tai looked at the TV screen.

"They can't do that, they're just kids!"

"Kids who are being blamed for the outbreak of World War Three. And now France has cast the first stone, it won't be long before other countries start doing what they are now doing and going after perfectly innocent children."

"What about the parents?" Mimi asked, and Arukenimon shrugged.

"Nothing much they can do about it. I have a friend who has a Dokugumon over there, I met her over the Diginet, she's made a run for it, trying to get to Switzerland. Anyway, from what she told me, their anti-Digidestined campaign has been going for a while, since around the time Hawong press ganged you lot. This was just the final step. Apparently over the last few months they had to register themselves as Digidestined, then they were appointed for all intents and purposes social workers, then a law was passed meaning none of them could be left unsupervised, so they were stuck in school until they were collected, some of their Digimon were taken away from them, then they had to wear badges identifying themselves as Digidestined and hence had to put up with a public turning increasingly against them, people were encouraged to rat out on anyone they knew or suspected of being Digidestined...from what she said, some kids were sold out by parents who didn't understand what was going on. Bet they regret it now. Their kids will have been taken away, their digivices taken from them and their Digimon have been separated from them. It isn't pretty what's going on in France. A few kids did manage to make a run for it, they're heading to other countries, but if they head to any of their allied countries, they'll be arrested on sight. Most of them are headed to countries on our side." She explained darkly, and everyone in the room looked at each other, fear, worry and disgust displayed on their faces.

"So how does that explain where you've been?" Gabumon asked.

"As you can imagine we aren't exactly the public's biggest fans at the moment and thanks to Hawong, the public are turning against you. This could get very ugly, and do so very fast, as France is now proof of. So rather than be caught by surprise, we decided that just in case of a worst case scenario we should have somewhere to go to, somewhere safe." Mummymon explained, and Agumon looked at them curiously.

"A bolt hole?" he asked, and he nodded.

"Yes. Since Hawong subjugated you, we've been worried about what could happen if he decides to turn on us, so we've made plans. So, the three of us got together and decided to do up the old house. We have enough room for eighteen of you lot and their Digimon, the three of us and a few guests if need be. We've put up digital barriers, so you lot will need to go there to see it, and its well removed enough that we ought to be fine from the human point of view. But there's no guarantees." Arukenimon said worriedly, but Tai shook his head.

"Don't worry, even partial protection will be good. It's a good idea. Do you need any help?" he asked, and she nodded.

"Well it would be helpful if we could make it a bit more homely for a start, and we'll need bedding and things, I was hoping Mimi and Joe could help, we need to stock up on first aid supplies as well." She said, and Tai nodded.

"Yeah, sounds like a good idea. Why didn't you tell us?" he asked, and Wizardmon frowned.

"Like she said, we might be being watched. You have many enemies now Tai, and they are increasing by the day. And they aren't just enemy Digimon, or the Ultimate Evil." He warned, and they all looked at each other nervously.

"Yeah, we know. It's getting worse out there." Palmon said, and Mummymon nodded grimly.

"And we're afraid it will only get worse. Beware. Don't trust anyone, even us if you're wise." He encouraged, and Arukenimon leaned towards him.

"Oi, you digital dodo, remember, they have a history of trying to kill us, don't give them reasons to return to form!" she snapped, and he looked at her in embarrassment.

"He is right though. The Diet will use any excuse to come after us, I trust Hawong as far as I can throw him, Kanalaka is messing us around so I don't see how he could be much better, the public want our blood, and of course we have two major problems, you know, Daemon and of course China and all its allies." Rana grumbled.

"Yeah, most of the world seems to be our enemies at the moment, and the rest seem to be the sorts of friends who make you prefer your enemies." Tsukimon agreed, and then saw the glare the three Digimon come interior designers were giving him.

"Present company excepted of course." He said hastily.

"You guys are geniuses." Agumon said, to the other's nods.

"Yeah, we never would have thought of it." Joe said, and the three Digimon smiled.

"Yes, we rather are aren't we? Right, we need to get back and stock up on supplies. Oh, and if I were you, I would pick out some clothes to send there too, just to be safe. After all, the originals amongst you never changed your clothes once in your entire first trip to the digital world, perhaps you ought to consider doing that every once in a while." Wizardmon advised, but hastily looked away as Tai, Matt, Sora, Mimi and Joe glared at him.

"In our defence, we were plucked rather unceremoniously from summer camp, we didn't have time to pack a bag. And it was a nightmare let me tell you." Mimi said to Rana, who giggled.

"Alright. Blatant cheek though he has, he is kind of right. Alright folks, this is what we're going to do. Each of us will have two sets of clothes, extra underwear in case of emergencies and give them to Arukenimon. Ken and I will go and get some tinned food for emergencies, while Mimi goes and gets householdy stuff and Joe gets medical stuff. Right Tai?" Yolei asked, and he nodded.

"Yeah, good idea. Alright, let's go. Guys, thanks for this." He said and they nodded.

"Can we get satellite?" Mummymon asked excitedly, and Arukenimon rolled her eyes.

"Secret bolt hole Mummymon, secret!" she intoned as she and the others headed out of the flat.

"Leave the door open...try and get rid of some of the static." Sora mumbled as Gabumon and Biyomon giggled as she was still trying to fix her flowers.

"Should we be worried?" Matt asked and Tai frowned.

"I don't know, but considering what's happened in France now, who can tell? They're right, be better to be prepared. Let's go partner." He said to Agumon and as one the remainder of the kids left, and Sora turned to Matt sadly.

"You think it'll come to it?" she asked nervously, and he bit his lip.

"I don't know. I hope not, but like Rana said, we can't trust anyone, even the ones apparently on our side." He said, and seeing how worried she looked he got up and pulled her to him gently, allowing her to rest her head on his chest.

"We'll be alright won't we?" she whispered, and he stroked her hair gently.

"Yeah, we will." He said, kissing the top of her head.

"And if not, we'll kick their asses." Gabumon said cheerfully, and two grinned before Sora grinned up at Sora.

"Want to help me choose what clothes I should send to the bolthole?" she asked, and he grinned and followed her from the room.

Biyomon sighed in relief.

"I thought they'd never leave. Now I can watch my cartoons!" she said excitedly, sitting down and flicking on the TV.

"You reckon we're right to be so worried?" Gabumon asked as he sat down beside her.

"Better to be safe than sorry. Now, what do you want to watch, Looney Tunes or Pokemon?" she asked, flicking the channels.

"Looney Tunes. Pokemon is so unrealistic, little monsters with special powers everywhere, where'd they get the idea for that?" he asked, and sat back to watch Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck arguing about what season it was with Elmer Fudd.

Biyomon looked at her friend incredulously, decided discretion was the better part of valour, and wisely kept her mouth shut while she settled in to watch her shows.

XX

"Why would they build a temple in a sewer?" Gatomon asked, hissing at the gunk that was now stuck on her paws.

"They didn't. Problem is, the Relics temples will have been boxed in by years of development, this was probably a little stream or something long before-" Michael explained, and Gatomon looked at him, bemused.

"You know far too much about this sort of thing." She said, and he grinned ruefully.

"Yeah, I like archaeology." He admitted, and Cody grinned.

"Going to follow in your dad's footsteps and become the next Indiana Jones?" he asked, and Michael shook his head.

"Don't think so, they would probably want to cast Betamon as a villain." He said, watching as his Digimon sniffed at the sewer water.

"Why am I the only water Digimon here?" he asked, and Patamon smirked.

"It's a thing we don't have a lot of actually. We've never had a primarily amphibious Digimon before, Gomamon can go on land and water, and Armadillomon only digivolves to a water Digimon. Usually we're just happy to be able to fly." He said from his perch on TK's head, flattening his short spiky hair.

"Any luck Davis?" Izzy asked, watching as he and Mara tried to figure out how to get into the temple.

"No. I say we blow it open." He said, but Mara shook her head.

"That wouldn't be wise, we could release any sorts of traps and get ourselves skewered." Candlemon pointed out, then frowned and rapped on the door, and to their great surprise, it slid open slowly.

"We would have thought of that eventually." Davis protested feebly, as the others edged into the temple slowly, careful of any traps like Tai and the others had encountered.

Armadillomon suddenly stopped and looked behind them.

"What is it Armadillomon?" Veemon asked, and the Digimon narrowed his eyes.

"I'm not sure, but I feel like we're being watched." He said, and Tentomon shrugged.

"Down here, it's probably a Numemon or two. We should be fine, there's too many of us and the area's too narrow, and they know who we are." He assured his friend, but Armadillomon looked at Gatomon questioningly.

"Do you hear anything?" he asked, and she closed her eyes to hear better, then shook her head.

"Nothing that I can hear, but it doesn't mean it isn't there." She said kindly as they entered the temple.

The group entered the large chamber that was the centre of the temple, and Kari smiled as she saw the shield like mark on the back of the temple.

"Looks like this is yours Davis." She said happily, because she was happy to get out of thousand year old structures that could attack them any moment.

"Awesome, where is it?" he asked, but Izzy, wielding a small torch, held his hand to stay him.

"Look, this is written in digicode." He said, and Sam looked at him curiously.

"What is? And what is digicode?" she asked as she joined him, and he pointed to the tablet he was reading that had been inscribed on the wall.

"Prodigious. This is the same information we've seen before." Izzy said in awe, unintentionally ignoring his girlfriend, who rolled her eyes at Mara in quiet amusement.

"Oh dear he's in full on computer dork mode, this will take a while." She said, and Mara sniggered.

"Wait, you reckon this is the same stuff that you found in Andromon's factory, and in the sphinx where we fought Etemon?" TK, who now Izzy thought about it was probably the only present who would know what he was talking about, asked, and Izzy nodded.

"Exactly right. I reckon these gods, and whoever worshipped them, must have had some hand in creating the Digital alphabet." He theorised, but Lopmon looked at him in confusion.

"Cool theory, but we can't understand it, it looks like gibberish to us too, right?" she asked, and the other Digimon nodded in agreement.

"So this is a dead language...give me a nanogear." He said, whipping out his laptop.

"I would but I don't have any to spare." Lopmon said, and TK grinned up at Patamon.

"It's been a while since we've seen him in full fledged computer dork mode isn't it?"

Patamon nodded cheerfully.

"Yeah, just like the good old days." He said happily, as Sam sighed and leaned in to whisper to him.

"You guys may think its sweet, and in some ways it is, but when he would rather play with a modem all night when I'm there, computer geek though I may be, it does kind of get you down." She grumbled, and TK looked at her in shock.

"Is that a euphemism?" he asked, and she gave him a withering glare.

"Can you translate it?" Tentomon asked, and he nodded.

"Yep, right, here goes. 'The King of the Gods, despite his power and having the most beautiful of the goddesses as a bride, did not always get on well with one of the generals. Though he was close to them all, he had a rivalry with the other, one which had the potential to rip apart the gods. However, the two learned to move on and accept what was, and though their bond was tested many times, the two remained firm allies. Despite this, they never forgot their rivalry, just as the generals didn't forget theirs. It is due to this that the general's temple is opposite that of the king's, and the temple of the wisest of all, as he is the mediator, is in between.'" He explained, and Cody's eyes widened.

"So, we can assume that both mine and TK's Relics are in much the same place, only in different locations in the island? Why am I in the middle?" he asked petulantly, and Kari grinned.

"Because you're the wisest and were often the voice of reason when the two of them argued." She pointed out.

"And probably because you're the least likely to act like a doofus." Gatomon said cheerfully, and Cody grinned while TK and Davis glared at her.

"I'll remember that next time Kari and I go shopping, and I will just stroll right past the fishmonger." TK said playfully, poking Gatomon who immediately purred and started slinking around his legs.

"So, you reckon they're along the same line of latitude?" Michael asked, and Izzy nodded.

"Definitely, but in what direction? I'm so excited, it's sad really." He said, typing away with a big grin on his face.

"Aww bless him." Armadillomon said, and then turned back to the doorway, certain he heard something.

"You ok?" Betamon asked, as Davis moved to take his Relic.

"Something is watching us." He said worriedly, and then Mara turned, thinking she too had seen something.

"He's right." She said nervously, and Michael took a step in front of her, just as Davis reached for his Relic.

"Hmm, well, we can rule out two the north i think, because I doubt they would be in the sea, so we should be safe, I reckon the pantheon was based here, at the birthplace of the digital world in File Island, but...Davis no!" Izzy said, just as Davis moved the Relic.

A large block of stone then swung down, headed right for Davis, who had no chance of getting out the way in time.

"We need Digimon Armadillomon! Digi-Armour Energise!" Cody cried as his partner leapt into action.

"Armadillomon armour digivolve to...Digmon, the Drill of Knowledge!"

Digmon leapt over the room, landing in front of a petrified Davis.

"Rock Cracking!" he cried as the block swung into his drills, and it crumbled an instant later, making Davis sigh in relief.

"Thanks. How did you know the place was Indiana Jonesed?" he asked Izzy, who pointed to the perch the Relic had been on.

"Pressure pad." He explained, as he had seen it move a little when Davis had laid his glove on it.

"Damn it, I thought we were meant to get these, not the other way around." Michael said, and Izzy was about to respond when a black and red armour clad Digimon appeared behind them, making them all turn.

"Black Statue!" he cried, and the kids ducked, but Digmon, currently bigger than the rest, couldn't, and was trapped in the statue.

"Digmon!" Cody cried in alarm as he saw his now trapped partner.

"Um, guys? Who is the scary looking dude?" Mara asked worriedly, and Betamon glowered.

Phelesmon: An Ultimate level Digimon with a hell of a lot of power so much so he can handle Mega Digimon. A Fallen Angel, he is a powerful foe for any Digimon, and follows only the darkest of masters.

"So, Daemon is who you work for?" Cody demanded angrily as he glared at the evil Digimon, who laughed.

"No my little friend, I serve one darker than even he. But so much more potent. Now then, boy, why don't you just hand over that nice little Relic you have there?" he asked, and Davis glowered.

"I don't think so pal. So you're the one who has Matt, Cody and Joe always looking over their shoulder. Well I'm so done with that. Veemon!" Davis cried, and Izzy quickly put his laptop away, cursing their luck. There wasn't enough room to manoeuvre in here, let alone digivolve, and he didn't particularly want to destroy the temple, not when he could study it.

"You know this guy?" Michael asked, and Cody nodded.

"Yeah, he nearly got us when we fought the Triad, but he didn't work for them either. But now it makes sense, they must have worked for Daemon, but who does Phelesmon work for?" he asked, and Phelesmon laughed.

"You will never know, because all of you are about to die." He promised, and Patamon flew off TK's head and snarled at him.

"You're awfully confident for someone who's outnumbered, why don't we settle this?" he asked, and Izzy's brain clicked into gear.

"Mega digivolve you guys, the two of you can get him out of here and then we can all fight." He muttered, and Patamon and Gatomon nodded.

"Good plan, it could work, if allowed." Phelesmon said, and pounced.

"Patamon mega digivolve to...Dominimon!"

"Gatomon mega digivolve to...Ophanimon!"

Fortunately, the two of them grasped the situation perfectly and flew forward, Dominimon crashing into Phelesmon's stomach and forcing him from the temple, with Ophanimon in hot pursuit.

The others ran out after them as Ophanimon crashed Phelesmon through the wall, out into Factory Town, allowing them to fly up into the air.

"Great, now we can fight, it's our turn! Where's Cody?" Davis asked distractedly.

"With Digmon. Let's go partner!" Veemon said excitedly.

"Veemon digivolve to...ExVeemon!"

"Betamon digivolve to...Seadramon!"

"Lopmon digivolve to... Turuiemon!"

"Tentomon digivolve to...Kabuterimon!"

"Candlemon digivolve to...Meramon!"

Phelesmon gave a low laugh as the two Guardians, those of Hope and Light, plummeted to the ground in order to do battle, and also to give the others enough time to digivolve again.

"You are no match for me." Phelesmon vowed.

"ExVeemon digivolve to...SkullVeemon!"

"Seadramon digivolve to...MegaSeadramon!"

"Turuiemon digivolve to...Antylamon!"

"Kabuterimon digivolve to...MegaKabuterimon!"

"Meramon digivolve to...SkullMeramon!"

Phelesmon gave a small smile, one that neither Dominimon and Ophanimon didn't like one little bit.

"Don't wait for him to make the first move, strike now while we have the chance! Final Excalibur!" Dominimon yelled, shooting towards Phelesmon, who easily moved out of the way, slammed his fist into Dominimon's back and crashed him into the ground.

"Ow." Dominimon groaned, as the others moved into battle.

"Serifot Crystals!" Ophanimon cried, sending a bejewelled crest of Light firing at him, but the devil was much too quick.

"Thunder Javelin!"

"Metal Fireball!"

MegaSeadramon and SkullMeramon let loose with their attacks, trying to blast him as he moved, but he was much too quick for their attacks, both attacks passing harmlessly over him as he twirled out of the way, before turning his attention to them.

"Demon Shout!"

A large ball of energy erupted from his mouth and expanded as it travelled, slamming into the two of them and sending them reeling into the factory behind them. As they recovered from the attack, Antylomon sprang towards him angrily.

"Bunny Blades!" she yelled, making her arms into lethal weapons and cleaving towards him.

Phelesmon yelled in pain as her attack slammed into his shoulders, but he then let loose another Demon Shout and sent her crashing away, as Dominimon stirred.

"She is known to have a cutting sense of humour." He commented, and Ophanimon was torn between relief that he was alright and exhaustion at yet another bad pun.

"Huh?" Mara asked in confusion, and Kari shook her head, suppressing a smile.

"Yeah, he does that, it's his mission in life to drive Gatomon mad every time he digivolves I think." She said, and Mara nodded in reluctant comprehension.

"Holy Purge!" the two angels yelled, letting loose with their joint attack, but Phelesmon glared up at them.

"Black Statue!" he yelled, and to their great surprise, his attack cut right through theirs, and as they had been caught offguard, they too were clamped inside the statue.

"NO!" TK and Kari yelled together, as their two Digimon clunked to the ground.

"That isn't good. Alright, Horn Buster!" MegaKabuterimon growled, flinging the attack at Phelesmon.

Phelesmon was about to fight him off when SkullVeemon descended from on high, landing right behind him.

"Skull Laser!" he roared and caught between the two attacks, he couldn't avoid them and was blasted, his body aflame, into the wall of a building.

"Bullseye, great work guys!" Sam encouraged, but the devil then sprang from the wreckage and snarled.

"You know, my master is looking forward to facing you, but I'm sure he won't begrudge me half of you!" he snarled and prepared to attack again.

And then thunder rumbled above them. They all looked up to see a massive storm cloud, complete with thunder, rain and lightning, roiling above them, and Phelesmon, despite his threat, started to make his way for the sewers.

"Aurora Force!" a voice boomed and jagged bolts of lightning ripped down from the air and blasted Phelesmon right in the chest, sending him spiralling away from the city with a scream, his body burning as he was thrown miles away by the attack.

Davis looked up to see Azulongmon descending from the clouds, and suppressed a groan, this was going to make matters with the Sovereigns a lot worse.

"Well timed Azulongmon." Antylamon complimented as she got back to her feet.

"You're welcome my dear. Now, how do I do this again? Ah yes, bibbidy, bobbidy, boo!" he said, flicking his tail and the two angels returned to normal, much to their partners relief.

"Guys!" Cody yelled as he and an annoyed looking Digmon appeared from the sewers.

"Thank god. Now what? He did save us, but considering we aren't getting on...?" Sam asked, and Izzy quietened her with a look as he looked up at Azulongmon.

"Thanks for the help, but what are you doing here?" Izzy asked as the Digimon went back to normal, aside from Betamon and Lopmon who reverted to their in-training forms.

The dragon looked at them nervously, then sighed.

"I am here to ask for your help." He said, and Sam glared up at him.

"I thought we had agreed to talk less to each other?" she asked, and he glared down at her.

"I just saved your ungrateful hide girl. Mind your tongue." He growled, and Izzy glared at the two of them.

"Alright, enough. What's the problem?" he asked, and Azulongmon scowled.

"We need you to deliver something." He said, sending the MegaCore down into his waiting hands.

"A DigiCore?" Tentomon asked, and the large dragon nodded.

"Yes. We fear Daemon isn't dead, and is even now heading to kill yet more Digidestined, and frankly we have lost enough people recently. We don't know what he is planning, but if he is alive it is imperative we stop him, as you lot can't seem to." He said snootily, and this time Izzy's eyes flashed.

"Well maybe if we got more support from the Sovereigns rather than them letting us flounder about in the wind we might get somewhere. And we have tried, and we seem to have succeeded. If he's still alive, it isn't our fault. And if you want your world saved, I suggest you keep that tone out of your voice." He snapped.

Azulongmon growled, but Kari cut over him.

"Enough. We are busting our asses fighting Daemon and a freaking war, and all you lot and Hawong can do is snipe and moan at us. We're doing the best we can, and unless you want us to sit back and let you all die a fiery painful death shut your mouth!" she snapped, and everyone looked at her in surprise.

"You show great insolence." Azulongmon snarled, and TK came to her aid and glared at him as well.

"And you show a great need for a smack in the teeth. We've been protecting your world for years while you've been moving us around like pieces on a board, and we're pissed off with it. We aren't kids anymore, and we're fighting two wars, one of which we shouldn't be fighting because you lot are too lazy and useless to do it yourselves, while the other we're fighting because we didn't know enough about Daemon. So, shut your mouth. We'll deliver your core to the other Digidestined around the world and help protect them. But you start showing us some respect, or you'll have us to deal with." He snapped, like Kari he too was fed up of politicians having a go at them when they were doing the best they could, risking their lives every day to protect them and all they did was complain.

Azulongmon roared angrily, but then saw the dangerous looks on the faces of the other kids and thought better of losing his temper. And a small, niggling part of him did know they had a point, it was them on the front line, them fighting Daemon while they tried to find the other members of the Eighteen, while dealing with a hostile government and a war of their own.

"Very well. Then earn it. Make sure no more children die...because of your incompetence." He said, and swirled off into the clouds, leaving the Digidestined seething behind him.

"You know, if they keep doing this, the Ultimate Evil won't need to kill them, we will!" Kari shouted angrily, and Mara looked at them in shock.

"Fair enough I get it from Hawong, he is kind of justified, after all, Digimon keep attacking his country and he doesn't know what to do about it, so blames you. But with an attitude like that, while the hell are you working with them?" she asked incredulously, and Izzy glowered at where Azulongmon had vanished.

"It escapes me at the moment. But, we know stuff he doesn't, about time we kept things from him like he does with us. Bloody Sovereigns." He grumbled, and TK shot the sky a dirty look.

"We gave up the ability to digivolve to Ultimate for them?" he asked in disapproval, and Patamon sighed.

"I know you're angry TK, I am too. The problem is, you're all grown up now, and they can't boss you around, they can't control you, and you don't like doing something for nothing anymore." He said wisely, and Cody looked at him curiously.

"What do you mean something for nothing?" he asked, and Patamon smiled humourlessly.

"Why do you think only kids can be Digidestined?" he asked, and they all looked at him curiously.

"I don't know, I never really thought about it." Sam admitted.

"Because children are innocent, and will do the right thing, whereas an adult will only do it if there is something in it for them." He explained, and they had to admit, it made a bit of sense.

"We're not like that." TK protested, and his partner smiled.

"I know you're not. The thing is, you keep saving this world and your own, and you get nothing but grief for it, so you wonder why you ought to, and that worries them. It's because you keep saving both worlds and don't see its getting you anywhere, and it bothers them that you might stop." He explained, and Candlemon glowered.

"Well they ought not to get on our nerves and be so ungrateful if they expect us to keep doing it." He grumbled, and Sam nodded.

"He's right. Ticking us off is going to make us less likely to help them, not more." She said, and Izzy scowled.

"The problem is they rule this world, and they fear our power. They're used to speaking and being obeyed, but because we're becoming stronger, a load of Digimon are listening more to us than them. Their power is waning and its getting to them." He explained, and they all sighed before Davis sighed and looked at Izzy expectantly.

"What do we do now?" he asked, and Izzy pondered this while activating his laptop once again.

"I don't know. Ideally I would like to continue to study the ruins, but I suppose we don't have time. And we need to deal with Phelesmon, he was only removed, not destroyed." He said, not noticing the slightly unhappy look on Cody's face.

"So what do we do? Do we leave and distribute the core, or what?" Veemon asked, and Izzy frowned.

"Alright, this is what we'll do. I'll stay here with the vast majority of you. Davis, you go home, and meet up with Ken and begin to distribute the core to the other Digidestined. When we find TK and Cody's Relics, we'll send them to join you. Sound alright?" he asked, and Davis nodded.

"Seems fine to me. But won't we need to replace someone back home though? If I take Ken with me so we can get Imperialdramon, we'll need to shore up their defences, or something could get through." He said, and TK shook his head.

"I don't think so, I reckon we ought to be fine on both sides, they have the Supers on their side, the only one who can't go to Super who's in the real world is Biyomon, all the others can." He theorised, and Michael nodded.

"Yeah, not to mention the fact that all the ones we've seen so far have been incredibly tough. They should be fine. But a Super here wouldn't go amiss, right?" he asked uncertainly, and Kari frowned in thought.

"He might be right. Phelesmon is incredibly powerful, we could barely stop him with all of our Ultimate forms, and TK and I's alternate Mega forms." She said worriedly, but Cody shook his head.

"He ambushed us Kari. Next time we'll be ready for him, and if need be we can warp digivolve." He said, and she nodded, though looked unsure.

"Alright, so Davis, take the Core and go, we'll send you Cody and TK once we find their Relics. And warn the others that Phelesmon is back." Izzy ordered, and Davis nodded reluctantly.

"Oh and tell Matt not to worry, otherwise he'll show up to help us kill Phelesmon, that guy frightens him for some reason." TK said, and he nodded.

"Alright. I'm heading home." He said, and he flashed home with his digivice.

"And while he does that, we need to find the other two temples. Now, let me think..." Izzy said, sitting down and beginning to type away at his computer.

"Oh this will take a while." Tentomon sighed and they all sat down, Kari sitting close to TK.

"We'll get him honey." He whispered into her ear as she leaned against him.

"I know, I'm just worried. Something is going on, and now we could have the Sovereigns gunning for us as well." She said, and TK snorted.

"You kidding me? That lot couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat." He said derisively, and while she smiled, she couldn't help but shake the fact that things were only going to get worse from here on out.

XX

"Phelesmon? Are you sure?" Fanglongmon asked, his brow furrowed.

"Yes, that was who was attacking them. Not that they appreciate my saving them." He grumbled, and Zhquiamon rolled his eyes.

"Well perhaps if you could manage to be civil with them it might not be so bad. Regardless, the presence once more of Phelesmon raises an important question: who the hell is he working for?" Ebonwumon asked, and Baihumon frowned.

"Before, we could easily assume he worked for Daemon, but as the Triad technically worked for Daemon, it seemed odd that he was splitting hairs. But that means there is someone much more powerful waiting in the wings." He said worriedly, looking out of the window to the north.

"Could he be working directly for the Ultimate Evil?" Gennai asked, and Zhquiamon shook his head.

"I don't think so. Doesn't seem as if they would use an Ultimate, no matter how powerful, to carry out their plans. No, he is working for someone else." Azulongmon concluded.

"Well we had best find out who it is, and fast. Because as Daemon has shown, our enemies are getting more and more powerful. We must be ready! How goes the plan?" Fanglongmon asked Gennai, and he nodded.

"Both are continuing. But all of this depends on secrecy, if they find out about the Super Weapon we will lose what is to come." Gennai said, and the large dragon nodded.

"We must make sure that doesn't happen. Continue with your efforts Gennai. Time is of the essence. Now, let us see what we can't divine of the future." He said, as they gathered around their seeing orb.

XX

"Are you sure you're up to this master?" LadyDevimon fretted as Daemon stretched his wings.

"Yes my dear. I have lingered here long enough. Now it is time to act. I will further our aims through whatever means possible, and nothing will stop me. I will alert Devimon en route." He said, and she looked at him nervously, and he narrowed his eyes.

"You don't need to do anything child, all you need to do is sit tight. My knights have arrived and will help us when the time comes. But for now, I must continue with my plans, to distract them. When the time is right, we will strike them and bring them to their knees." He promised her, and she nodded.

"Very well. However, our agent reports that the brats believe you are still alive, as soon as you make a move they will be on you." She warned, and he chuckled darkly.

"My dear, I want them to come after me." He said with relish, and her eyes widened as she realised what he intended to have them do.

"Isn't that risky?" she asked nervously, and he shook his head.

"Not when I know what I'm doing. Do not worry my dear. Stay here and prepare yourself and our forces for our victory. Oh and while you're at it, try and find out is going on, something was trying to stop my knights from coming through, and that frankly isn't on. Someone is up to something, and we cannot allow anything to interfere with our plans, not now. Too much has happened, the avalanche has begun and nothing can be allowed to break the tide." He said, and she nodded.

"I was going to look into it anyway, as other Digimon have entered Japan and have vanished, and I want to know what's going on. Never fear master, I will investigate." She assured him, and he smiled.

"I knew I could count on you child. Devimon!" he called, and the skeletal Digimon appeared from nowhere.

"You rang?" he asked, and Daemon smiled.

"It is time we finish what we begun." He said, and Devimon smiled, and Daemon clicked his fingers, turning his companion invisible.

"Hey, what's the big idea?" Devimon demanded, and Daemon smiled.

"I want them to know I'm back in business and I would prefer they didn't know about you. Now come, we have work to do." He said, unravelling his wings and jetting skywards, as Devimon followed, leaving LadyDevimon standing with rubble falling on her head from the hole Daemon had just made.

"It would have taken you a minute more to use the door." She grumbled, flicking her hand and fixing the damage.

Daemon, in his true, demon form at least, laughed as he headed for the skies, laughing darkly as he flew into the air.

"Hear this Digidestined! You cannot stop us, evil will triumph, and nothing you can do will stop me! And if you try to stop me, I will unleash the powers of darkness, and conquer you! Mwuahahahahaha!"

XX

"I reckon we're on partner." Davis said darkly, holding the Core as they heard Daemon leaving.

"Figures he isn't dead, that would be too easy." Ken grumbled, and Veemon grinned at him.

"Don't worry, this time, we'll sort him for good." He vowed, and Wormmon nodded.

"He's right, this time we'll stop him once and for all." He agreed, and the Digidestined smiled.

"alright, go, chase him down and distribute the core. We'll man the fort here. Want one of us to go with you?" Tai asked, and Davis shook his head.

"Better not, otherwise you might not be able to help the others or deal with LadyDevimon if she starts her nonsense. We'll be fine Tai." He assured him, and he nodded.

"Alright, fine. Good luck." He said, and Yolei then shoved past him to kiss Ken.

"Don't worry, I won't kiss you." Tai assured Davis, who looked rather surprised.

"Wow, thanks." Ken said, and kissed Yolei on the cheek.

"Do try to come back in one piece, I can't stand it when she mopes." Hawkmon encouraged and Ken grinned.

"I'll try. Let's go guys." He said, as the others stood back from the park where they had been congregating, relatively unnoticed to their relief.

"Veemon digivolve to...ExVeemon!"

"Wormmon digivolve to...Stingmon!"

"ExVeemon, Stingmon, DNA digivolve to...Paildramon!"

"Paildramon mega digivolve to...Imperialdramon!"

The large Digimon then sucked his partners up, and with a blast, he shot into the air after their foe, leaving the others standing in the park, unaware that even there the tide was beginning to turn against them.

XX

"You sure this is where it is meant to be Izzy?" Cody asked as Digmon drilled away at the bottom levels of Mount Panorama.

"According to my calculations of latitude and longitude based on what we found in the other temple, then yes. Either that or it's in the bottom part of Freezeland and we're miles out." He admitted lamely.

"Ouch!" Digmon yelped, pulling his blunted nose drill from the rocks.

"I reckon he's found it." Michael said with a small grin, as the armour Digimon pulled the earth away to reveal the door to another set of ruins.

"Am I good or what?" Izzy said in excitement and Sam and Tentomon rolled their eyes at each other.

"There'll be no living with him now." She grumbled, and he sniffed.

"At least you can escape, I actually do live with him." He said, and the others grinned.

Digmon finished moving the dirt and shoved at the door, revealing the ruins with the crest of Wisdom emblazoned on the back wall.

"Bingo." Cody said, as they began to check for traps.

This time, Gatomon and Betamon were sitting in the doorway, worried about the possibility of Phelesmon appearing.

"Are you sure it's wise breaking off with the Sovereigns?" Betamon asked, and she sniffed as she washed behind her ears.

"It's not as if they do much. Every time I see them and see how petty and controlling they are all I can think about is how defenceless we were against Ken because we gave up our ability to digivolve for them." She growled.

Betamon wasn't so sure, and he knew Michael and Mara weren't either. He knew Michael trusted Mimi, but the others seemed so angry and impulsive, so determined to go their own way, he wasn't sure how they would react. And the fact that as soon as they had found out about Michael and Mara they had been given orders didn't sit well with either of them.

As Betamon pondered these problems, within the temple Cody seized his Relic, breathing a sigh of relief when nothing happened.

"Good work Izzy." He congratulated, hanging it around his neck.

"So what now, does Cody go and help Davis and Ken?" Sam asked, and Kari's D-Terminal pinged.

"Do you ever not get mail?" Patamon asked and she smiled a little, then frowned as she read it, before swearing.

"What?" TK asked, and she looked miserably up at them all.

"It's Daemon. He's still alive. Ken and Davis are chasing after him now." She reported, and Tentomon cursed.

"Well that messes things up. So what now, do we send Cody home to help?" he asked, and Izzy bit his lip, but Sam answered for him.

"Not yet. If they only just left, they'll be travelling and even with Imperialdramon Cody won't be able to catch up with them until they come to a stop. Besides, we don't know where Daemon is going to stop. We could be sending Cody into potentially hostile territory. It'll be safer if we wait until TK has his, then the two of them will be together." She reasoned, and Izzy had to agree.

"Seems fair to me. Right, so if my calculations are correct, TK's Relic ought to be in Tropical Jungle, but where? Let's see what the walls say." He said, getting back to work, and Cody looked at Armadillomon worriedly.

If Daemon was still alive, they were all in deadly danger, even still. And add that to problems with Phelesmon and the war, it would be a miracle if they survived all of this. Things were only going to get worse. And as their hope and light waned, the darkness grew stronger, and he knew that soon, the showdown with the Ultimate Evil would come, and he wasn't convinced that they would win.

XX

While the others were in the Digital world and Tai and the others kept out of the public view, other things were beginning to stir. While many of the Digidestined's parents now found it difficult to go about their day to day lives, such as Yolei's parents, even with volunteering to help in the war effort, their lives were still being disrupted by unruly protestors and disgruntled families, all of whom were blaming their children for the outbreak of the war and claiming that it was the Digidestined's fault that their lives and families were now in danger.

However, while no parent of the Digidestined felt they had anything to do with the outbreak of the war, others were not so lenient about the Digimon.

There was a rising belief that the Digimon were vicious monsters, that had ingratiated themselves into the kid's lives and were now warping them against their homes and their families. These people believed that Digimon were the true enemy, that these creatures wouldn't stop until this world had fallen to their sinister designs. Many of them saw them either as abominations or the ones who were trying to take their children away from them, things that were taking their innocent children, warping them and splitting them from their families.

Downtown, where Sam's father Isaac preached in a church, he had now moved on from his usual religious sermons, and was now denouncing the Digimon. And was getting quite the following from it too.

"These monsters came into our world, and look at what they have done! We didn't want these filthy, dangerous beasts here, and now because of them the world has been plunged into war! And yet the government refuses to take action!" Isaac yelled, to cheers from the people present within the church.

"Why should we put up with these monsters? We cannot get into their world, why should they get into ours scot free? And you know what they do when they get here don't you? They leech off of us! And of course, it isn't us they deal with, but our children." He said nastily, to approving nods.

"They have stolen my children from me! All they want to do now is play and talk about Digimon!" someone cried desperately, and Isaac nodded.

"These things are monsters, digital monsters!" someone wailed hysterically.

"And the Prime Minister has these things 'protecting' us? Have you seen them? Monsters with massive teeth and claws and he thinks they can be tamed!" one man yelled impressively, to general scattered applause.

"They are stealing our children from us, destroying our world in their wars, we should force them out!" someone yelled, and they were immediately cheered.

At the front, Isaac smiled, seeing so many people agreeing with him. These monsters were abominations, and they were giving children like his own delusions of grandeur, making them believe that they were some sort of predestined heroes. It did worry him to see his daughter believing such nonsense, after all he thought he had raised Sam better than that. Her mother always had been too much of a soft touch.

"That Palmon keeps trying to keep my Mimi from me, she keeps taking her from me, and because of them, we're now involved in a war! We need to get rid of them, force them out, it's the only way our children will be safe!" Mimi's mother Satoe screamed, to widespread approval.

"Here, today, we set down this creed, we shall not rest until the Digimon are forced out and split from our children! Who's with me?" Isaac called, and the entire place erupted in widespread cheers and applause.

It would be a work in progress but they would get rid of these monsters. He would see to it. And then, with that blasted abomination gone from his home, his daughter would finally do what was best for her.

XX

"See, I told you I'd find it." Izzy said grouchily, making the others roll their eyes.

"My feet are killing me. Lopmon, why can't you fly?" Mara moaned, and Lopmon smiled and leapt off her head, expanding her ears to glide softly to the ground, and Mara glared at her.

"I meant so you could give me a lift." She grumbled, profoundly jealous of TK and Kari who had been acting as lookouts from the backs of Pegasusmon and Nefertimon, though she was beginning to believe they just volunteered so they wouldn't have to traipse through the jungle like the rest.

"You find it?" Kari called, and Michael looked up.

"Yeah, come on down. And for god's sakes, don't mention Mara's hair." He mumbled, and Betamon laughed, as his girlfriend currently resembled a poodle, as the humidity had turned her red and blonde hair very bushy.

"We can't see anything, but mind you Phelesmon snuck up on us before...oh my." TK said as he beheld Mara, and she rolled her eyes.

"It's the humidity!" she snapped, as Kari tried not to giggle.

"See, I came from the savannah, at least you wouldn't get bushy hair visiting me at home." Lopmon said brightly, and Mara glared at her.

"Well we're where your tropical cousins would live and its driving me crazy." She grumbled, and Michael rolled his eyes.

"She's a delight." TK whispered and he smirked.

"Yeah, traipsing all over the island, then through yards of trees while you two fly, and added to the fact that she looks like a badly cared for poodle, she's kind of entitled to be a little grumpy." He said, as Izzy pulled back some vines to reveal a temple, which certainly seemed bigger than the others, in a small, densely covered clearing.

"Bingo." He said in satisfaction.

"I knew you'd find it." Sam said, and saw a very faded crest of Hope glittering above the entrance.

"You know, considering Hope was the king of the gods, you would think the temple would be a little more upmarket wouldn't you?" Betamon asked, and they had to give him that. Even for a ramshackle ruin, it had clearly not been the prettiest of places even before it had vanished into obscurity.

"Maybe they weren't sophisticated." Sam theorised.

"That fits, because neither are you." A voice growled and they whirled around to see Phelesmon materialise out of the shadows.

"Where did he come from?" Kari demanded, and Lopmon shot her a dirty look.

"Some lookout you are!" she scolded, making Kari glare.

"Well I didn't know!" she protested as Phelesmon advanced upon them, his eyes narrowed dangerously.

"You little brats are sticking your noses in where they do not belong. The fact that you have found so many of the Relics is something of a considerable nuisance, and my master will be less than pleased. However, he is far away, and as it was me who was blasted by your dragon friend last time, you will find that it is me who is less than pleased, and I repay my debts!" he snarled, and prepared to attack.

"TK, go! Find your Relic, we'll hold him off!" Izzy barked, as the Digimon leapt into action.

"Tentomon digivolve to...Kabuterimon!"

"Armadillomon digivolve to...Ankylomon!"

"Candlemon digivolve to...Meramon!"

"Betamon digivolve to...Seadramon!"

"Lopmon digivolve to...Turuiemon!"

"Kabuterimon digivolve to...MegaKabuterimon!"

"Gatomon digivolve to...Angewomon!"

"Ankylomon digivolve to...MetalAnkylomon!"

"Meramon digivolve to...SkullMeramon!"

"Seadramon digivolve to...MegaSeadramon!"

"Turuiemon digivolve to...Antylamon!"

"Demon Shout!" Phelesmon yelled, blasting MegaSeadramon with dark energy.

As the massive serpent reared backwards, TK ran into the temple, leaving the others to fight Phelesmon.

"Celestial Arrow!"

"Horn Buster!"

"Metal Fireball!"

The three attacks shot right for the devil like Digimon, and while he avoided the first two, the second caught him in the gut and knocked him back into the trees. As the trees caught fire, Kari turned to the temple which TK was now proceeding through alone.

"You foolish Digidestined. Don't you see how your power is waning? The lot of you together cannot defeat me!" Phelesmon boasted as he burst out of the trees, sharp claws raking across Antylamon's body and knocking her off her feet.

"Antylamon!" Mara cried running for her partner, but Phelesmon wasn't done yet.

"Mara, no!" Antylamon yelled, leaping towards her partner.

"Black Statue!" Phelesmon, blazing past all of the others with his incredible speed, yelled, and both human and Digimon were trapped inside a statue.

"Mara! Get him MegaSeadramon!"

"It will be my pleasure. Thunder Javelin!" he growled, as the others finally tracked down Phelesmon.

"Metal Earthquake!"

"Heaven's Charm!"

"Horn Buster!"

"Metal Fireball!"

Phelesmon danced through the air, avoiding all of the attacks, and Izzy swore. He was simply too fast for them, and what was more, they were now in added danger. They were a team down and what was more, SkullMeramon was burning up everything he touched, and very soon the entire area would be in flames.

"Dear, I hate to say it, but your Digimon is kind of messing up the place." Izzy said, wincing as Phelesmon raked his sharp claws down MegaKabuterimon, making him roar in pain, before knocking MegaSeadramon off course.

"Well it isn't his fault he's a big dude made of fire. SkullMeramon, you need to tone it down, or better yet, wipe him out!" she encouraged.

Michael frowned. His own partner was at a disadvantage, the fire was for lack of a better term drying him up, and he couldn't manoeuvre properly, a fact that Phelesmon had picked up on. Phelesmon then seized MegaSeadramon by the nose and crashed him into the fire, making him scream in pain, and with a rapid succession of three Demon Shouts, he reverted to Betamon.

"Just one problem, he's too fast for us." He grumbled, as Phelesmon again vanished from view.

"He's right. We're not going to get anywhere fighting like this, and the entire forest could go up if we're not careful." MetalAnkylomon said, flicking his tail in the off chance he would hit Phelesmon.

"Alright, I'll deal with Mara and Antylamon. You three, get ready." Angewomon advised as she flew down to where the other two were imprisoned in statues.

"Angewomon!" Kari cried, as Phelesmon leapt out of nowhere.

"Demon Shout!" he yelled, and blew Angewomon's screaming form into the burning trees.

"Angewomon!" Kari yelled, rushing to her partner, but Phelesmon was now located, and their partners were going in.

"Horn Buster!"

"Metal Earthquake!"

"Metal Fireball!"

Phelesmon smiled darkly, flitting through the three attacks, and he seized a hold of MetalAnkylomon's tail.

"MetalAnkylomon!" Cody called, as Phelesmon flipped his partner into the air, making his partner cry out in protest.

"We can't hit him without risking hitting MetalAnkylomon!" SkullMeramon said in a panic.

Phelesmon then slammed MetalAnkylomon into the roof of the temple, bringing it all tumbling down, destroying the front of the temple.

"TK, no!" Kari cried, helping a burnt Angewomon out of the burning trees, as she was limping badly.

Phelesmon was laughing maliciously, watching as a wounded MetalAnkylomon stirred and tried to get back onto his feet.

"This is getting old. Ready partner?" MegaKabuterimon asked, and SkullMeramon nodded and leapt onto the back of his friend, and he flew up into the air, before spinning in midair and plunging back down towards the earth.

"Horn Buster!"

"Metal Fireball!"

The two attacks impacted the centre of the clearing, but Phelesmon was no longer there, and the ones left standing were then blown off their feet, sending Kari and Angewomon back into the flames, sending Izzy and Sam into the jungle, and Cody and Michael into the ruined tempe, while the statue of Mara stayed where it was.

"Digidestined fools, you are no amtch for me!" Phelesmon boasted as he fired Black Statue into MegaKabuterimon, making the insect plummet like a stone.

SkullMeramon then whirled a blazing chain through the air, wrapping it around Phelesmon and send him twirling off into the trees once more, but now he was the only one standing, as a badly burnt Angewomon had returned to Gatomon.

"MetalAnkylomon, help!" he yelled, as Phelesmon burst from the trees and raked his claws across SkullMeramon's body.

SkullMeramon roared as he did so, and despite clearly struggling, he lost the battle and reverted to Candlemon, and now they were in serious trouble as Phelesmon had landed beside a blistered Kari.

"And with your death, comes the death of them all!" he purred, and Kari, in pain from her burns, gasped, and protected Gatomon with her body.

"Hand of Fate!"

Angemon's attack blasted Phelesmon into the burning trees, and he looked up at TK and Angemon, both of them looking worse for wear and covered with dust, who were glaring at him from the mound of rubble they had just emerged from, TK's Relic hanging from his neck.

"Get away from my girl." TK spat.

Angemon then used his staff to shove MetalAnkylomon off his back and back onto his feet, and the two Digimon then launched themselves at Phelesmon, who had recovered and was laughing mockingly.

"Mara..." Michael moaned as he clambered out of his own pile of rubble, everything hurting as he did so.

"She'll be fine, it's the rest of us I'm worried about. Wait, MetalAnkylomon, don't attack!" Cody yelled, and his partner looked back at him as if he were mad, this small guy clambering over the piles of rubble that had once been the temple.

"Why not?" he demanded as TK skidded to a stop beside Kari and Gatomon, gingerly lifting them from the burning trees and pulling them to safety.

"You can't use Metal Earthquake, you might hit Mara and Antylamon!" he cried, and his partner gulped, just as Phelesmon kicked him in the chin and again knocked him onto his back.

"Oh for the love of pete." MetalAnkylomon grumbled, his spikes preventing him from getting off his back.

"Angemon, digivolve!" TK yelled, and Angemon nodded.

"Angemon digivolve to...MagnaAngemon!"

"Demon Shout!" Phelesmon roared, as the other kids piucked up their weakened Digimon.

"Strange though it sounds, I really wish Davis was here right now." TK said to Kari, and Gatomon stirred slightly.

"I need to fight, I need to digivolve." She mewed weakly, and Kari shook her head vigorously.

"No, you can't, you'll be destroyed."

MagnaAngemon was knocked into the ruins, though on the plus side, he had bounced off of MetalAnkylomon and had put him back on all four legs, and now the large Digimon was tackling Phelesmon from the air, smashing him to the ground.

"MagnaAngemon, help me finish him!" MetalAnkylomon yelled, as Phelesmon struggled beneath the large beast.

"We need to do something." Betamon moaned, and Candlemon nodded.

"Yes, he's too powerful for us for some reason, what is he?" he asked weakly, and Izzy bit his lip, looking at the two Ultimates who were currently trapped as statues and the other two who were about to finish off Phelesmon.

Or so they thought.

"Demon Shout!" Phelesmon roared, blasting both Digimon with the attack, allowing him to dart out from under MetalAnkylomon while he and MagnaAngemon were blown into the air with the force of the attack.

"Relax, there's nothing to shout about." MagnaAngemon said, and MetalAnkylomon rolled his eyes.

Phelesmon then shot into the air, glaring at the two of them.

"I grow weary of this Digidestined, it is time to end this. Black Statue!"

"Gate of Destiny!"

Phelesmon's attack flew right at the two of them, but the gate of in the way, and to their great surprise, that too was encased in stone.

"Hmm, that's never happened before. How odd." MagnaAngemon said as he surveyed the frozen gate.

"Yeah, you'll win a Nobel prize, help!" MetalAnkylomon yelped as Phelesmon plunged right at them, claws preparing to slash them both open.

"Gate of Destiny!" MagnaAngemon yelled, putting it right into Phelesmon's path, and the demonic Digimon gasped in surprise and just managed to avoid flying into it, before he flew over and smacked MagnaAngemon hurtling towards it.

"MagnaAngemon!" TK yelled desperately, as his partner was dangling inside the gate, and one wrong move would mean losing him forever.

"MetalAnkylomon, help him!" Cody urged, as Phelesmon laughed and seized his partner's tail.

"No!" Cody and TK cried in unison as Phelesmon flung MetalAnkylomon towards the gate and a struggling MagnaAngemon.

"We need to help!" Gatomon said, but she was still too weak to do anything.

"MagnaAngemon!" TK cried.

"MetalAnkylomon!" Cody yelled as the two of them headed into the gate, and MetalAnkylomon crashed into MagnaAngemon, dislodging his grip and sending them both into the gate.

"NO!" they cried in unison, and TK's Relic abruptly glowed slightly, and fired bolt of energy right into Cody, who's Relic then blazed to life, just as MetalAnkylomon hooked his front legs on the edge of the gate.

"Digivolve!" Cody pleaded.

"MetalAnkylomon super digivolve to...Genghismon!"

The new Digimon then leapt from the gate, MagnaAngemon hanging onto the horse section of his body for dear life, and Cody looked up to see the newest form Armadillomon had achieved.

He was now a massive centaur, the horse part of his body flanked in shining gold armour etched with white crests of Wisdom. His hooves were solid iron, and various ropes and pelts were hanging from the back. The rest of the body looked liked a leaner, nastier version of Vikemon. His shield was attached to his left arm, a bigger version marked with Cody's crest, with the crests of his Digi-eggs running around the now golden rim. His armour was now pitch black, with gold edgings, with a large golden crest of Wisdom on his chest. The tail hammer he had had as Ankylomon was now a large club like hammer, jagged and spiky at the bulbous top, a mighty weapon in his hands. His head was much the same as Vikemon's, however his fur was now black, his fangs longer, and his two horns were now growing out of his silver helmet which had two white feathers, like Tsubomon's headfin, attached to it.

Genghismon: This mighty warrior Digimon is capable of destroying entire Empires, or forging them. He wields the mighty Khan Hammer attack, but his true power lies in the Steppe Destroyer attack, which unleashes the powers of the wilderness against any foe who crosses him.

"You can let go now MagnaAngemon." Genghismon said in a deep, powerful booming voice, and MagnaAngemon gave a weak noise and fell from the horse section of his friend.

"A Super level, that wasn't part of the plan!" Phelesmon hissed and flew upwards.

"You are going nowhere Phelesmon! Now Cody, watch how a warrior works!" Genghismon boasted, and suddenly fire erupted from his hooves, catapulting him into the air, easily outpacing the fleeing Phelesmon.

"Khan Hammer!"

Genghismon swung his mighty hammer, slamming it down onto Phelesmon's head and sending him crashing back down to the earth, his body fluttering as it tried to keep itself together.

"Why...why didn't you kill me?" he growled, trying to move, but he knew his time was at an end, and Genghismon grinned.

"Because then I wouldn't be able to show off my other attack! Steppe Destroyer!" he yelled, pointing his hammer down at Phelesmon's flickering form.

The hammer glowed, and suddenly rocks, shards of ice, heavy snow and cold winds flew from the end of his hammer in a tight beam, tumbling straight towards Phelesmon, who gave a final scream before the weight of it all crushed him beyond recognition, and his body exploded.

Genghismon then directed his attack, smothering the fires, then thudded back to the ground as Cody inspected him in approval.

"Good work pal." He said, his eyes narrowed at the pile of debris that Genghismon had thrown at Phelesmon.

"You're welcome." He said cheerfully as TK ran to MagnaAngemon and hugged his leg.

"I was afraid I had lost you again." He said, hugging him tightly and trying to deny the tears that were in his eyes.

"I wasn't particularly confident myself. Nothing worse than being impaled upon your own sword, and that was too close. I'm alright TK." He assured him, hugging his partner.

"If you two are quite finished with your love in, we've got a few people here who could use some TLC." Gatomon said, and MagnaAngemon waved at her impatiently.

"Patience. No need to get catty. He he." He chuckled weakly and TK grinned.

"On second thought, let me die. It might let me escape your jokes." Gatomon said as Kari, in considerable pain, also tried to hide her own smile.

"That's no fun though. Magna Antidote!" he said cheerfully, and as expected, the statues all broke, freeing the ones inside and the other's wounds all healed.

"Where is he, I'll pound him!" MegaKabuterimon said eagerly, and Izzy, his hair full of twigs and leaves, smiled ruefully.

"He's gone, Genghismon there took care him." He told him, and MegaKabuterimon surveyed Genghismon with professional interest.

"Most fancy, come on give us a twirl!" he encouraged.

"As you wish. Hang on, not used to having four legs but only having two attached." He said musingly, as he tried to work out how to get his body to turn in a circle.

"Very nice." Mara complimented and he grinned, before he shrunk, all the way back to Tsubomon.

"Aww, it's been so long since I saw you like this." Cody said, hugging his partner, who made a happy noise as the others returned to their normal forms.

"That was too close." Michael said, hugging Mara and kissing her forehead in relief.

"Yeah, even with all our Ultimate forms, we still struggled to stop him. Next time, no messing about, we go right to Mega." Sam said, as she picked leaves from her hair while attempting to clean her glasses.

"So you got your Relic?" Izzy asked, and TK nodded.

"Yeah, I had just put it on when he crashed MetalAnkylomon through the roof." He said, and Kari, fully healed, made a small noise and leaned against him, clutching his hand, and he kissed her cheek.

"I don't get how Tsubomon digivolved though." Betamon, who was approving of remaining his Rookie form rather than his in-training even if he didn't appreciate how he had come to this position, said, looking at Cody and Tsubomon.

"What's up?" Michael asked, and he looked at TK.

"I was watching you, your Relic sort of glowed for a second, but it seemed to fire into Cody, and the next thing we know, his Relic was blazing and we had Genghismon. What gives?" he asked, and Izzy frowned.

"Maybe it's because Hope was meant to be the king, he could order all the others, so, as MagnaAngemon was in such a mess, he probably made it so that Armadillomon could digivolve. I reckon he kind of helped kick start the process, and that made Armadillomon super digivolve."

"And TK and I are DNA partners, at least at Champion level, so that could be something to do with it too." Cody theorised.

"We'll need to study it." Sam said, and Izzy's face broke into one of excitement and anticipation, making the others shake their heads.

"Alright, so what now?" Michael asked, and TK looked to Cody.

"We find out where Davis is and we go and lend him a hand. The rest of you stay here and find the last Relics." He said.

"I might be able to help with that." A voice said, and they turned to see Cannondramon stomping through the damaged forest.

"Cannondramon, it's good to see you." Tentomon said, and the old dinosaur smiled.

"And you lot too. God this place is a nuisance to get to. I saw you lot fighting but I couldn't figure out where you were, otherwise I would have been here sooner. Are you all alright?" she asked, and they nodded.

"Yeah, we just had issues with Phelesmon. How can you help?" Sam asked, and she smiled.

"I have found a rather large temple on Beetle Land. I didn't study it properly, because I was too interested in finding you lot, but it seems large enough to hold several Relics with a bit of luck." She said cheerfully, and Izzy grinned.

"Prodigious. Alright, we'll go with Cannondramon, you two go and meet up with Davis." He told TK, who was checking his D-terminal.

"They've chased him to Stirling in Scotland. Can you get us there?" he asked, and Izzy nodded.

"Yep. Is he definitely there?" he asked, and TK nodded.

"According to Davis he is, he's currently terrorising a small town beside it. They're just about to fight him." He said, and Izzy did the necessary with his laptop.

"Be careful." Kari said, and kissed TK passionately.

"I always am." He promised her, kissing her cheek.

"Alright, let's go." Cody said, and Cannondramon put her tail in front of them.

"Hang on, you could both do with these if you're about to confront Daemon." She said, and made an embarrassed noise as she unintentionally pulled a tree from the ground.

"Heh...whoops. Here." She said, dropping the tree beside them, revealing it to be thick with growing orange bananas.

"Thanks!" Candlemon said in excitement as the Digimon all got stuck in.

"That's better." Patamon said happily, and Izzy frowned.

"Guys, there's reports coming in, of two other Digidestined in Britain fighting Daemon already. Hurry." He urged, and TK nodded, as Patamon, pull to the brim with bananas landed on his head.

"Don't bolt that banana, you'll get wind." Cody said, as Tsubomon ate about three at once.

TK then opened the port, and with a last loving glance at Kari, he and Cody were gone.

"Will they be alright?" Mara asked, and Kari held herself tightly.

"They will be." She said with false promise.

"Ah I don't believe we've been properly introduced. You two must be the new members of the Eighteen, I am Cannondramon. Oh my...why is one of them a poodle?" Cannondramon asked Tentomon and Mara stood there fuming as the others laughed.

XX

Davis and Ken had blazed a trail across the world, siphoning off energy from the MegaCore as they went, reinforcing Digidestined in France, Spain, Turkey and Pakistan. However, it hadn't been a pleasant experience. Trying to deliver energy to the Digidestined within enemy held countries was incredibly dangerous, and the Pakistan Air Force had been on them as soon as they had crossed India's border. They had landed and had distributed to the core, however even that had not been easy. While they had met several of the local Digidestined, and had given them their power to digivolve to Mega, it was clear that they were about as welcome as dry rot. The locals had blamed them for the start of the war, and one of them had taken great delight in setting loose his Flareizamon against Veemon and Wormmon, just as army troops appeared, and considering none of the local Digidestined had seemed that surprised, they rightly figured that they had been sold out, and the two of them had barely gotten away with their lives.

Either, it was getting dangerous. It was bad enough in countries held by the allies but in ones held by the enemy it was even worse, and the associated risks of betrayal made it a rather dangerous proposition. Even the countries on their side, very few were particularly pleased to see them. While some, like Catherine in France, were happy to see them (indeed, she had tried very hard to hint that she liked Davis, but for some reason Davis hadn't jumped at the chance, which Ken had to admit puzzled him) others blamed them for the war just as much as those in enemy countries, with many of insinuating it was their fault that their lives were threatened at all, that they failed to destroy Daemon, that they had instigated the war for Hawong. Most of them hadn't even bothered to thank them for giving them the power to save their skins.

However, now they were in Britain, Margaret had apparently told the British they were coming and hence weren't trying to shoot them down, and they were now bound for the city of Stirling, where Daemon was apparently trying to track down three Digidestined.

However, those three Digidestined, who had been relying on rumours of the Demon Lord to track his whereabouts, had been alerted, and were waiting to ambush him.

"Things better be better here, I don't want to feel as welcome as a fart in a spacesuit again." Davis grumbled and Ken looked at him sadly.

"You can't really blame them." He soothed, and Davis glowered.

"Yeah, I can. Most of them act like we wanted this war, or we didn't work hard enough to try and stop it, they're blaming us for their lives going down the toilet, it isn't our fault. And while we were trying to stop Daemon, where were they? Sitting at home waiting for him to kill them, and yet they reckon they can judge us?" he demanded.

"Davis, will you stop jumping up and down inside us? We know you're angry, and we are too, especially considering we were betrayed in at least three countries, but now we have a lead on Daemon, TK and Cody are on their way to help us fight Daemon, and the kids on the ground are already trying to battle Daemon. And we're nearly there, so buckle up!" Imperialdramon said as he streaked to where Daemon currently was, causing havoc at Stirling Uni.

XX

Three Digidestined from Britain were already present, but unfortunately, the rest where all dotted across the rest of the UK and an hour away at least, so it was the three of them on their own.

Sam had taken the lead. A tall guy, with light brown hair spiked at the front, he was pale skinned and clad in a shirt and jeans. Beside him was his little partner, Lunamon, a little pink and purple Digimon with four large ears, a crescent moon embossed on her forehead and a small purple feather also falling from her head.

Lunamon: This lunar little Digimon may look cute and girly, but she is a true fighter at heart, wielding the power of the moon. Her Lunar Claw attack is surprisingly vicious for one so small.

The second Digidestined was named Alex. Shorter than Sam, he had short blondish brown hair, neatly styled to the right, and was clad in a tshirt and jeans. Beside him was a furry little dragon Digimon known as Dorumon, who had a red emblem on his nose.

Dorumon: A Rookie level Digimon, this little fellow is difficult to train, and hardheaded along with it. However, once he has been tamed, he is a true and loyal Digimon, and his Dash Metal attack is just as hard as he is.

The third Digidestined was called Gavin. Slightly older than the other two, he was wearing a rugby shirt, wore glasses and his brown hair was styled into side swept spikes. Beside him was his curious little Digimon Hyokomon, a little chick Digimon, with a fiery plume on his head, who wore his egg shell around his legs and had a small sword on his back.

Hyokomon: This cute little Digimon may not look like much on first inspection, but there is more to him than meets the eye. His Cleaving Cut attack never fails to surprise an enemy.

"So nice of you to come out and greet me, all three of the Digidestined in Scotland, and you're all here at once. Makes my life so much easier." Daemon, in his true demonic form, purred from the end of the bridge that backed onto the residences, whereas the boys were at the end that backed onto the library and shops.

"We want nothing to do with you, so back off and leave us all alone!" Lunamon shouted and Daemon chuckled.

"And why would I do that? I can tell none of you are members of the Eighteen, however, you are still Digidestined, which are a plague that must be eradicated. So, Evil Inferno!" he yelled, and his attack blazed right up the bridge towards them.

"Lunamon digivolve to...Lekismon!"

"Dorumon digivolve to...Dorugamon!"

"Hyokomon digivolve to...Buraimon!"

In place of the three Rookie forms were now three Champions, and they leapt forward to intercept the attack.

First of the group was Lekismon. Now tripled in size from Lunamon, this form was built more like a warrior, with powerful legs, armour protecting her chest and face and elegant purple spirals wrapping around her arms.

Lekismon: A Champion level, her Moon Night Bomb will leave you sleepless!

However, the other Digimon to her left was a lot more ferocious. Still with the same build as Dorumon, his fur was now darker, marked with lethal zigzag markings. Long red claws emitted from both his hands and feet, his body was bigger and leaner and two wings now protruded from his back.

Dorugamon: One of the fiercest battlers in the Digital world, his Power Metal attack is enough to send even the most battle hardened Digimon running for cover.

The final one of the three was now much larger, clad in flowing red and yellow clothes, armed with two swords, had large wings coming from its back and its eagle like head was now covered in a wicker hat.

Buraimon: A warrior pilgrim of the Digital world, his Swallow Reverse attack will guarantee you choke on his deadly attack

However, while the three were now stronger, they were still no match for Daemon and his attack blasted into all three of them, knocking Buraimon and Dorugamon off the bridge and into the loch below, while Lekismon was blasted head on, and their partners ducked as she was blown into the atrium, crashing through the door, and taking a large part of the newsagent along with her.

"We're going to get the blame for that!" Alex grumbled as he stood back up, and considering all three of them went here, it was going to be hard to explain.

Daemon laughed darkly as he advanced, as their partners stirred and tried to come to their aid.

"Lekismon!" Sam yelled urgently, and she groaned as she tried to get back to her feet.

"The fewer of you pests there are the better." Daemon growled, just as there was a sonic boom and he looked up in time to see Imperialdramon shoot down from the air and tackle him into the loch below, making him yelp in surprise.

Imperialdramon then devolved back to his respective Rookie forms, while Davis and Ken ran to the Scottish Digidestined.

"Sorry to cut it so close, we couldn't find him. Are you alright?" Davis asked, and Alex nodded.

"Yeah, but our Digimon got blasted." He said worriedly, but then relaxed as Dorugamon flew back onto the bridge, roaring a challenge at a now dripping wet Daemon.

"I should have known you little fools would turn up to get on my nerves. Well, I've had enough of this playing around. At least I will get a couple Digidestined killed before dinner. Evil Inferno!" Daemon yelled, just as Buraimon and Lekismon leapt back to join the battle.

"Mind if we lend a hand?" Ken asked, and Sam shrugged, bemused.

"Veemon warp digivolve to...DinoVeemon!"

"Wormmon super digivolve to...Tarantulamon!"

"Impressive." Gavin complimented, and Davis and Ken grinned, at least this three didn't seem to want them dead or gone from the off.

"V Bone Boomerang!"

"Deadly Web!"

As the two more powerful Digimon let loose their powerful attacks and sent them towards their foe, the other three Digimon landed beside their partners.

"So, these are the ones everyone's blaming for the war?" Gavin whispered disbelievingly.

"Yep. Don't seem the sort do they. But guys, we're kind of attracting a crowd, and they're making us look bad. Time to fight, we can talk to them later, right?" Alex asked, and their partner Digimon nodded and leapt into the battle as well.

"Moon Night Bomb!" Lekismon cried, forming a purply starry ball and throwing it at Daemon.

"Power Metal!" Dorugamon hissed, forming a large metal ball in his mouth and firing it into the fray, while Buraimon took to the air and drew his two swords.

"Swallow Reverse!" he cried, pointing his blades backwards and he leapt down at Daemon, slashing his blades in a x shape.

Daemon grunted as the three Digimon launched their attacks. The five of them together couldn't hope to defeat him, and he wasn't in the mood to play games. He had killed enough Digidestined across the world now to set a precedent, and the war had truly begun. Now, he was humouring them. But his humour was running out.

"Evil Inferno!"

The attack blew Lekismon into the trees at the side of the loch, while Buraimon crashed into the bridge, taking a large chunk out of it. Dorugamon flapped his wings, but had been knocked back over the residences, but he didn't let that stop him as he gave a war cry and dove right for Daemon. DinoVeemon sprang at his opponent, followed by Tarantulamon, but Daemon clearly had run out of patience. He seized Dorugamon from the air and slammed him into the loch, sinking the Digimon.

"We're getting flattened." Alex said worriedly, as his partner spat a trickle of water out of his mouth.

"Extinction Attack!" DinoVeemon yelled, but Daemon flew up and over before seizing him and throwing him into the road, right into the path of an oncoming bus. DinoVeemon yelled in pain as the bus crashed into him, and Tarantulamon fired a web to stop the bus toppling over, but in doing so, he left himself open to attack and Daemon punched him high into the air, and sent him coursing into the crossover bridge, smashing the Super level right through it.

"Alright, this is getting boring, getting beat up all the time." He moaned as he tried to get himself out of the rubble.

The three Champions then sprang at Daemon, tackling him away from the bridge.

"You guys are no match for him, back away!" Sam implored, as Daemon sent Lekismon flying into one of the residence buildings.

"Davis, give them the Sovereigns power!" Ken yelled as Tarantulamon leapt over the top of the atrium to rejoin the fighting.

"Oh yeah!" he said in realisation, and revealed the MegaCore.

"Hold up your digivices." Davis said, and the three shrugged at each other and did so, and blue light coursed into Sam's, while orange went into Alex's and green went into Gavin's digivices. The digivices then blazed to life, as their Digimon leapt back away from Daemon as a bolt of energy passed right through them all.

"Lekismon warp digivolve to...Dianamon!"

"Buraimon warp digivolve to...Varodurumon!"

"Dorugamon warp digivolve to...Dorugoramon!"

"Wow, since when could they digivolve to Mega?" Sam asked in shock, looking at his digivice, which was now displaying a pie chart, marked with 99% on it.

"Since now, you guys now have Mega level partners." Davis explained and they grinned.

"Sam, I feel great!" Dianamon boasted.

Now in a fully human like form, and clad in white and purple armour, Dianamon was truly a sight to behold. With large crescent moons protecting her legs and shoulders, and wielding in her hands a large double ended scythe, she was now a fully fledged warrior Digimon.

Dianamon: This goddess like Digimon wields the mystical power of the moon in her battles. Armed with Crescent Hook and Artemis Arrow, her mysticism and prowess are nigh unbeatable.

Gavin however was more interested in his own partner. His little chicken Digimon was now a majestic eagle like creature, his ferocious beak and blue eyes framed by pure white feathers, along with six glowing golden wings.

Varodurumon: A very powerful Digimon of time and space, his Aurora Undulation attack packs the light and power of an exploding star.

Dorugoramon was now clad in shining silver armour, with massive and ferocious looking silver and purple wings, while an axe like tail twisted dangerously as the three Digimon surrounded Daemon.

Dorugoramon: An incredibly powerful and dangerous Digimon, his Brave Metal attack unleashes his body's full strength, turning him into a living weapon of deadly assaultive powers.

"That's cool." Alex whispered in awe as their three Digimon, along with Tarantulamon and DinoVeemon crowded around Daemon, who was floating over the lake.

"Well then, it seems as if the Sovereigns have been sticking their usually inactive noses in my business. They are trying to thwart me. How irritating of them. Never mind, It simply makes the game more interesting. Evil Inferno!" he roared, sending out dark fire at all of them.

"Enough of this. Bring him down guys!" Davis yelled.

"Shall we show off for these Japanese yahoos?" Dianamon asked, and Dorugoramon nodded.

"Let's show them how we do it over here." He agreed.

"After you." Varodurumon said, as the three of them shot at Daemon who laughed mockingly.

"Um, confused, aren't we meant to be the ones to show them how it's done?" Davis asked, and Ken shrugged.

"Dinosaur Fire!" DinoVeemon roared.

"Deadly Web!" Tarantulamon cried.

Dianamon shot into the clear blue air, and brought an arrow from her back.

"Artemis Arrow!" she cried, placing it in her staff and firing it.

Varodurumon screeched as he blazed towards Daemon.

"Aurora Undulation!" he cried, emitting a blazing white ball from his beak.

Dorugoramon then accelerated through the air, right towards Daemon.

"Brave Metal!" he yelled and slammed right into Daemon, who cursed in pain, as Dianamon's arrow ripped through him, and Varodurumon's attack caught him right in the chest, slamming him into the Pathfoot building with the force of the attack. Blazing fire from DinoVeemon's attack licked at him as he travelled, and the web Tarantulamon had fired at him was sticking to him and hurting him as he crashed into the top of the building, slamming down into the cafe.

"We got him!" Gavin exclaimed, punching the air in victory.

"Enough of this!" Daemon roared, shooting up into the air and burning off their attacks.

"Uh oh." Sam moaned.

"Yeah, didn't think that would kill him. DinoVeemon, digivolve, please!" Davis cried as Daemon accelerated towards them, utterly furious.

"Davis, Ken!" TK cried as he ran out of the ruined atrium with Cody at his side, who was carrying Tsubomon in his arms.

"Boy are we glad to see you guys, we could use some help." Ken said.

TK nodded, then smiled at the British Digidestined.

"Hi, nice to meet you, I'm TK, that's Patamon, that's Cody, and his partner, who is usually Armadillomon. Guys?" he asked, and the two new Digimon nodded.

"Patamon warp digivolve to...Seraphimon!"

Cody then looked down at Tsubomon who jumped out of his hands, and glared up at Daemon determinedly.

"Tsubomon digivolve to...Upamon!"

Seraphimon flew forward, as the other five Digimon also headed for Daemon.

"Upamon digivolve to...Armadillomon!"

Cody then nodded at his partner, who grinned.

"Armadillomon super digivolve to...Genghismon!"

Daemon swore as the two new Digimon entered the battle.

"Everyone, attack together! Seven Heavens!" Seraphimon yelled, firing bolts of energy down from the sky into Daemon.

"Khan Hammer!"

"Deadly Web!"

"Extinction Attack!"

"Brave Metal!"

"Aurora Undulation!"

"Crescent Hook!"

The attacks splashed Daemon into the loch, and they began to think he had been defeated before he reared up into the air, water rushing from his body, his face the definition of fury.

"Now it is time to end this!" he bellowed, wincing as he did so, and he threw several attacks at the Digimon, blasting them away from him.

However, as he did so, he continued to wince, holding his side, and TK spotted it, grinning as he did so.

"He isn't fully healed, he's still weak. He's got a weak spot." He said, and Alex looked at him curiously.

"Really?" he asked, and TK pointed up to where Seraphimon and Daemon were now going at it, while the others recovered.

"Yeah, look, his side is still weak. Davis, if we attack him there, with these guys help, we might have enough to stop him." He said, and Daemon then smacked Seraphimon from the air, crashing him right through the bridge and sending him plunging into the water.

"Seraphimon!" TK cried as the others came around for another attack.

"Guys, attack his right side, he's still weak there!" Sam ordered and as the Digimon moved to attack, Daemon sent a flurry of evil fire down onto Seraphimon.

"NO!" TK cried desperately.

He knew he shouldn't be worried, but he frankly didn't care. His friend was trapped in the water, and Daemon was going right for him, and was about to obliterate him, he would lose him again just as he had when he had fought Devimon.

TK looked to where the fire blasted into Seraphimon, who had just resurfaced, and he cried out in alarm as Seraphimon was drilled by Daemon's attack. Seraphimon was blown out of the lake, rolling up the bank, his body flickering, trying to hold together as Daemon raised his hand to finish him.

Daemon was one of their few enemies who was evil personified, like Devimon, Myotismon and Dragomon, someone who was trying to take one of the three people he cared about most in the entire world away from him. The forces of darkness were getting steadily stronger, and even weakened, Daemon was still more than their equal. And now darkness was trying to take his Digimon away again. He couldn't let darkness win, he couldn't, there had to be something he could do...

TK skidded down the hillside to his partner's side.

"TK!" Cody yelled as Daemon launched his attack.

His Relic then blazed to life, dissipating Daemon's attack, and the shining yellow light washed over Seraphimon, healing his wounds.

"TK, your desire, your hope that we can defeat evil has revitalised me. Now, let's see how he likes it." Seraphimon said, as TK's crest and digivice, activated by the power of the Relic, blazed into existence.

"Seraphimon digivolve to...MagnaSeraphimon!"

TK looked up in awe at his partner's new form. MagnaSeraphimon was now bathing them all in a shining golden light as he faced Daemon. His eight small golden wings were now twelve shining golden wings, shimmering with a rainbow coloured radiance. His body remained much the same as it had as Seraphimon, though he had now doubled in size and there were other differences. A silver crest of Hope was now embossed upon his chest, and the rest of his armour was now shining white, covered in ancient runes and the symbols of all of the other crests lined his shoulder pads. His sash was marked with the words 'ultimate', 'super' 'archangel' and heavens, the writing now bright blue in contrast to the white sash. His armour had gotten sturdier, thicker. And now, his helmet was now pointed like MagnaAngemon's, a deep blue colour, with two metal Patamon ears erupting from the side of it, with another silver crest of Hope replacing the star that Seraphimon had had. Dark blond hair now hung down his back, tied in place by glowing silver chains that wrapped around his arms. The same silver chains were around his legs as well. And in his hands were two weapons. In his left was a mighty sceptre, topped with a three dimensional crest of Hope, with the other crests marking the shaft. And in his right was a blade of pure gold, tinted with platinum, inscribed with digicode for Digidestined and Chosen One, along with Holy Power, with a massive pink diamond set into the pommel, and a line of three other precious stones heading up to the hilt, one blue, one red and the other a light vivid green.

MagnaSeraphimon: The most powerful of all Archangel Digimon, MagnaSeraphimon serves as god's right hand. Armed with the Blade of Justice and the Sceptre of Truth, he commands the power of light, good and the heavens in his dealings with evil. His Golden Heavens attack and Righteous Blade attacks are extremely powerful, however his true power is the Infinity Radiance.

"MagnaSeraphimon? How quaint, another form for me to beat up." Daemon scoffed, and MagnaSeraphimon just lowered his head in contempt.

"You are powerful Daemon, and your powers have indeed grown. But then so have mine. I am ready to fight you and bring peace back to this world." MagnaSeraphimon boomed, and Daemon laughed.

"You have gotten arrogant, to believe you can defeat me. Don't you realise? Yours and Gatomon's power are beginning to wane. As the darkness grows, your power ebbs." He sneered, and MagnaSeraphimon nodded.

"You are correct. However, you are weakened, and outnumbered. I will destroy you and bring peace to the worlds." He boomed, and Daemon laughed.

"Try it." He invited smugly.

"MagnaSeraphimon, no!" TK yelled, fearing this would be like the confrontation with Devimon.

"Don't worry TK. Golden Heavens!" MagnaSeraphimon boomed, and Daemon flew backwards, only to realise too late that the new form hadn't been aiming at him, he had been aiming at the other Digidestined.

Six beams of golden light shot into them and their wounds healed, as the damage was repaired, and the Digimon all gave cries of delight as pure heavenly power shot into them.

"Davis, I'm digivolving!" DinoVeemon cried in ecstasy, on a sheer power high.

"DinoVeemon digivolve to...ColossusVeemon!"

Davis looked at his new form in shock. ColossusVeemon looked like a juggernaut. His body had tripled in size, and while it had the same basic build as ExVeemon, the similarities ended there. He was now clad in thick, solid bronze armour, his wings were like the SkullVeemon equivalent but wrapped in bronze. His blue and white face could still be seen, but it was now protected by a sturdy helmet and the horn was solid gold. His chest was marked with the crest of Loyalty, and even his hands were clad in lethal gauntlets of metal, with sharp spikes emitting from them and large thick pieces of metal lined his knuckles. It was clear that he was not going to be toppled by any random attack, he was virtually covered in sturdy, powerful armour, and his body was just as powerful to match.

ColossusVeemon: Originally a warrior created by the gods, ColossusVeemon is covered in the rarest metal in the Digital world, Oridigizoid, so much so that the entire Digital world's supply was used up in order to create him. ColossusVeemon uses his strength and his body as a source of power, and is able to use his sheer strength to crush his enemies into oblivion with his V-Crusher, but his Seismic Eruption attack shows his true power.

Around them, the other Digimon were revitalised, and Daemon then noticed the trouble he was in.

"I did warn you. Now, you face our true power. Behold Daemon!" MagnaSeraphimon boomed, as the Digimon sprung into action.

Dianamon shot up into the air, pulling all of her arrows from her quiver and loading them all into her weapon.

"Arrows of Artemis!" she yelled, shooting right for Daemon's weak spot.

Daemon howled as the arrows punctured his body, his hand protecting his weak spot. But as he did so, Varodurumon swooped down at him, opening his mouth as he did so.

"Aurora Undulation!" he screamed, the pure white beam of energy blasting Daemon slamming into the carpark. As Daemon tried to recover, Dorugoramon made his move.

"Brave Metal!" he yelled, and slammed Daemon several hundred feet into the ground. Daemon wailed in pain as the four Super levels approached, ready to finish him off.

"Deadly Web!" Tarantulamon hissed, snaring his foe and slinging him up into the air.

"Steppe Destroyer!" Genghismon roared, sending the cascade right into Daemon and blasting him right across the uni, sending him spiralling towards the hills behind it.

ColossusVeemon then leapt into the air, and pelted right for him.

"Colossus Strike!" he cried, and several holes opened in his armour and lethal missiles slammed into Daemon, sending him crashing into the hill elading down to the lake. ColossusVeemon then thudded to the ground beside him.

"Seismic Eruption!" he bellowed, and Daemon screamed as jagged chunks of rock, plumes of lava and lethal shards of metal blasted out from the ground, ripping Daemon to the shreds. ColossusVeemon then jumped into the air, his armoured hands glowing crimson as he did so.

"V-Crusher." He snarled, and grabbed Daemon and forced the evil Digimon's body in on itself, before flinging him away easily, sending him skipping across the lake before he came to a stop in the mud.

And now finally, it was MagnaSeraphimon's turn.

"I told you we would destroy you." He said, and Daemon snarled.

"You will do nothing of the sort!" he boasted, and raised his hand into the air, and MagnaSeraphimon quickly created a golden bubble as pure dark energy streamed from all over the university, beaming into Daemon, healing his wounds.

"What did he just do?" Cody asked the large angel, who he suspected was scowling beneath his helmet.

"He fed off all of the anger in the university, frustrations with flatmates, relationship troubles, money troubles, essay problems, a fertile ground for him. Just makes my job harder." He said as Daemon got back to his feet, and was no longer holding his side.

"Should have done that when I arrived." He said, as MagnaSeraphimon flew into the air.

"What do we do now?" Sam asked, and MagnaSeraphimon held up a finger.

"You do nothing." He said, and raised his hand, and golden light streamed from the other Digimon into him.

"Nice try MagnaSeraphimon. Evil Inferno!" Daemon spat, flinging his attack at MagnaSeraphimon and he cackled in delight as the attack hit. However, his laughter soon died as he saw that it hadn't fazed MagnaSeraphimon at all.

"I am ready to destroy you. Infinity Radiance!"

Beams of yellow light shot from all over the university, from all the kids present, as lightning bolts shot down from the sky and beams of sunlight punctured the clouds, and other beams of light then shot from the ground. The kids Relics and crests blazed to life, adding their own energy to the attack, as light streamed from their partners to join the attack, as MagnaSeraphimon coalesced the power in his hands.

He created a massive crackling ball of pure energy, with lightning crackling around the bright star in his hand, enough to blind anyone, and the crest on his chest then shot out a beam of energy, trapping the energy in a silvery ball, and with that, he threw the massive ball of light, electricity and energy right into Daemon.

Daemon screamed as the attack ripped through his chest, as bright beams of pure energy ripped through his body, lancing him with holes that cast light from each of them. Lightning then blazed out of every hole, white fire erupted in his mouth and eyes as more and more light punched right through him, and Daemon screamed as he began to expand. The world then went pitch black, and a crest of Hope shone on Daemon's chest, the only bright light, and a second later the world returned to normal and the crest exploded, a massive supernova that blasted Daemon apart from the inside out. The light was blinding as it blew outwards, a massive yellow and white ball of energy that ripped Daemon to tiny little bits, blowing him in all directions with a final agonised scream.

The radiant blast washed all over the uni, repairing all the damage, fixing anything that needed fixed, healing any injuries, cleaning the windows, bathing the uni in light and making everyone feel warm and happy inside, even replenishing the Digimon's reserves as the light dimmed.

"Wow." TK exclaimed in shock as the light dimmed and everything returned to normal.

Genghismon, Tarantulamon, Dianamon, Varodurumon and Dorugoramon then returned to their in-training forms, while ColossusVeemon returned to his baby form.

"MagnaSeraphimon?" TK asked timidly, and he nodded.

"Well that was a blast!" he said cheerfully, and TK groaned in grudging amusement.

"You going to be alright?" he asked, and his partner nodded.

"Don't worry, I didn't use up all my power. Doesn't mean I'm not going to return to Poyomon. Oh that sucks." He said, and suddenly reverted all the way back to his tiny baby form, who TK caught in his hands before hugging him happily.

"Poyo!" he chirped happily as TK held him close.

Sam smiled as he picked up his partner, Moonmon, a small lilac teardrop like Digimon.

"That was fun, can we do that again?" she asked, and he sniggered at her enthusiasm.

Alex picked up his partner, Dorimon, who was now a small fluffy version of what was basically Dorumon's head.

"I think I need a double cheeseburger." He said sleepily and Alex smiled.

Gavin picked up Chiccimon, his partner, who was basically a golden version of Poromon with a red plume coming from his head.

"Did you do your essay?" he asked and Gavin rolled his eyes as the others met them outside the restored entrance to the atrium.

"Thanks for the assist. That was pretty cool." Sam said, and TK grinned.

"Poyo!" Poyomon said happily.

Curious students and staff, those who had witnessed the fight and those who just wanted a break from studying were now beginning to gather, and Gavin motioned to them, and they quickly made their escape.

XX

"AGH!" the voice yelled in their lair as LadyDevimon read the paper.

"I'm fully healed you said. I'll be fine you said. Tell me, when did getting yourself blown to bits come under either heading?" she asked as she tried to figure out one across in the crossword.

"Remember, being blown to bits was the plan, I just underestimated how painful it would be." He grumbled in a disembodied voice, and she turned her head just in time to see a dark flash.

Daemon hadn't allowed himself to be destroyed for no reason. He had consumed the power of MagnaSeraphimon's attack, combining it with that of the negative emotions he had summoned in the battle, and now had more than enough power to spare for what he sought, something he had sought to do for a very long time indeed. This had been why he had wanted the Dark Spores, to harvest their power just as Myotismon had. Myotismon had done it to allow himself to return to his body. Daemon had sought them for a different purpose: so he could digivolve.

Every murder he had committed, every Digimon he had destroyed, every negative emotion he had been siphoning off, they had all been leading to this moment. He cursed. If not for those blasted Digidestined, he would have achieved this years ago. Killing the Digidestined, while furthering his masters plans, allowed him to drain the power, energy and strength from them, giving him the power he needed to at last take the final step.

And at long last, what with the last boost from MagnaSeraphimon's converted energy, he had what he wanted, the power to digivolve. He was the only one from his family who could, and he was going to use it.

And his first targets would be the Digidestined.

"Haven't you done it yet?" LadyDevimon asked impatiently, and he scoffed.

"This is a pivotal moment for me my dear, I've been waiting millennia for this. And I've been tripped at the final hurdle far too many times before. But this time it is for real. Now I will finally assume my birthright, my Super form.

And then this world will be mine." He vowed, and there was a dark explosion of energy as he called on everything he had, this was it. At long last he would be the greatest of them all, and would finally meet his destiny.

"Daemon digivolve to...CacoDaemon!"

LadyDevimon looked at her master's new form in reverence, and eagerly bowed before him. The greatest of all the Demon Lords, the only one able to digivolve, and after all these years, all her time of faithful service, of being scuppered by his jealous siblings and those interfering little brats, he had finally digivolved to his Super form, CacoDaemon.

He was now much taller and thinner, much more skeletal. His legs were now hard, cold metal, tipped with razor sharp talons, with rings of deadly spikes surrounding his knees and ankles. His black fur was much more streamlined, stretching from his knees up to his waist. His waist was surrounded by a metal collar, which was keeping a pulsing, pounding beam of deadly green energy locked inside it, so powerful it made the air shimmer. His chest seemed more skeletal, but more powerful, as the ribs that looked like they were exposed were in fact diamond hard armour, embossed in a rib cage pattern, with the code key of Wrath covering his sternum. His arms were longer and more powerful, with deadly spikes around his wrists while solid gauntlets and black fur covered the rest of them. His hands were now much larger, topped with nails of bone, deadly and strong. His wings had changed, and were now twice the size and length, tipped by bone with massive claws coming from the top of them. And the fact had also undergone a change, much more dangerous and evil, his horns twisted, his eyes blazing red.

Daemon was gone. After all these years he was finally gone.

Now he was the all powerful CacoDaemon.

The Digidestined wouldn't know what had hit them.

CacoDaemon then inspected himself in the mirror, and smiled, showing his bloodied, dripping venomous fangs.

"Yes. At last." He said in victory, and he raised his hands to the sky, with LadyDevimon watching in delight, as he reared back his head and let out an evil laugh unlike any the world had heard before.

Oh no, Daemon has digivolved to his Super Ultimate form! He actually wanted to be destroyed, and now he is in his true, final form, who can be seen on the wiki. Later I'll change the story picture to his newest form.

So, events are heating up. Relations with the Sovereigns remain tense, the power of the Digidestined is beginning to ebb as the darkness grows. Arukenimon and Mummymon are fearing for the future with their bolt hole. Will the kids need to use it, and if so, what could possibly drive them there?

What's more, the war is getting further out of control. As always no offence intended to anyone whos countries are on the opposing sides. Anyway, the war is spreading, and it seems as if people across the world are blaming our heroes. But, we are getting other heroes too, other Digidestined, who just trashed my university the buggers. But it is clear that the war is getting larger, and we see just how bad things are starting next chapter, as the plan of the Ultimate Evil is continuing apace! Will we see more foreign Digidestined? I should hope so as I've been planning them all for a while now.

But seeds are being sown. What game is Kanalaka playing? Will the kids need the bolt hole? Just what is Sam's father up to, inciting people against the Digimon? Will things get worse for our heroes as more and more people turn against them? Will their relationship with the Sovereigns continue to sour? And just what have the Sovereigns got up their sleeve? And most important of all, what does Daemon's digivolution mean?

All will be answered in time! Plans for Adventure 08 have been slipping in and out of my mind, I now know the villains, the heroes, the power plays, the surprises and a few twists and turns, along with the presence of some you probably didnt expect to see, but what could that mean? I can promise a few surprises, and one of my other stories ties into an event next story, but which one?

You'll need to wait a while to find out I'm afraid. However, we are only two chapters from the end of 07, so not long now, we'll hopefully be done before Christmas! Next time, we have a host of new Digivolutions, so who will be next to assume their super forms?

Only time will tell! Hope I didnt disappoint with this chapter or the new digivolutions, and until next time, please read and review!