Chapter 9: Ashrah Attacks! The Warrior of Thunder's Envy.
Last time on Digi-Kombat: Sektor's enhanced powers nearly killed the rogue ninja, Sub-Zero. But his determination to save his friends from Sektor's hold overpowered the Crest of Pride. In an attempt to exceed Sub-Zero's strength, Sektor absorbed too much of the evil Crest's power, overloading his cybernetics. The battle was won, but Ermac was still confused by Zoe's effect on his brutal personality. He confronted Zoe and questioned her, thinking she had tampered with his mind on purpose, and was interrupted by Ashrah, an assassin from the Netherrealm. After summoning an Orochi Hellbeast to keep Ermac occupied, Ashrah attacked Zoe, inciting an intense battle. Can Zoe defeat the demon and escape before Ermac disposes of the beast? Find out… now.
In each of us there burns the soul of a warrior.
In every generation a few are chosen to prove it.
Not long ago in a world comprised of pure data, that fate befell 4 groups of teenagers.
The Digi-Destined, chosen by Azulongmon;
The defeaters of a malignant program, The Tamers;
Elemental defenders of the digital world, the Legendary Warriors;
And a group of enforcers, the Digimon Data Squad,
Who have to defend our world and its digital counterpart against the forces of Outworld.
By fighting for their lives,
By fighting for their realm,
In a tournament called…
Mortal Kombat.
"Persiamon!" roared the titanic figure, "I'm thirsty, where's my A Positive?" A woman with catlike limbs wearing a revealing outfit and a veil entered pulling a large plastic tank filled with a red liquid. GranDracmon extended his massive arms and brought it to his lips, sinking two large incisors into the tank.
The demonic beast was sitting on a massive sofa, his four bestial legs sitting catlike while his enormous humanoid upper body rested against its back.
"Barbamon," he said conjuring an image of the Demon Lord of Greed, "Report."
"We've collected two souls so far, Master," said Barbamon, "And with Quan Chi's aid we will acquire a third soon."
"Only two?" said GranDracmon, "Don't tell me Lillithmon and Lucemon are pulling all the weight."
"There have been limited opportunities, sir," he said, "Besides, Lillithmon hasn't done anything but ogle Lucemon like a horny schoolgirl. She's a spoiled brat."
"Mind your attitude, Barbamon," he said, "The only way this is going to work is if you and your siblings play nice. If you start bickering those children will destroy us all."
"I understand, sir," he said, "Leviamon is already moving to claim the third soul. You shall be free soon enough, Father."
Meanwhile in the Netherrealm, a molten fist narrowly missed Ermac. He used his telekinetic powers to upset the Orochi Hellbeast's stance and dealt a powerful combo attack, which only seemed to anger the beast.
"You are stronger than we anticipated," said Ermac, "We must remember to add your soul to our collective once we have killed you." He mentally lifted the beast off the molten ground and flung him into a nearby pillar of bones and brimstone. The Hellbeast gave a roar of outrage and leapt back onto the platform, knocking Ermac over with the force of its weight.
"This will take longer than we originally thought," he said.
Zephyrmon, in the mean time, had her own assassin to deal with. The woman seemed only slightly fazed by her attacks as each time she sustained minimal damage and began lunging swiftly at the Beast Warrior of Wind with her daggers.
"Has not Spirit Evolving for so long really made me weak?" she thought. No, that wasn't it, this chick was obviously just way tougher than she looked. Zephyrmon ducked under a swipe from Ashrah's knife and knocked her on her back with an uppercut, kicking her in the face when she tried to rise.
"Plasma Pods!" she yelled as energy condensed around her hands and she slammed them into the demon. Ashrah's resistance seemed to have finally worn down. Ashrah smirked and then sent a large dark energy ball at Zephyrmon and slammed her elbow into her side, chopped her neck, and followed up with an axe kick to the head. When she tried to get up, Ashrah stomped on her back.
"Sorry, little girl," said Ashrah, "But you're a threat to my master, so I guess you have to go."
She raised her arm and prepared to administer the killing blow, but was interrupted by a cry of, "Pyro Barrage!" Ashrah was knocked away by a volley of fireballs as BurningGreymon and MetalKabuterimon came charging in.
"Where did you guys come from?" said Zephyrmon.
"Some digimon started playing tricks and laughing at us," said MetalKabuterimon, "We followed him here and saw the fight and we thought you could use a hand."
"Damn you!" yelled Ashrah, "I'll show you what happens when you disrespect the Netherrealm's finest! Die!" She dashed towards BurningGreymon, but he struck her down with his massive claws.
"Why can't I fight like that?" thought Zephyrmon, "Was I always so weak?"
In the meantime, Ermac seemed to have finally gotten the creature to slow down a little, but he could feel the infernal realm taking its toll on his body. He was so weak he couldn't lift the Orochi Hellbeast with his telekinesis. The beast took another swing at him and when he jumped out of the way it tried to engulf him with a stream of fire from its mouth. That was when Ermac noticed a suspended bridge high above the river of lava.
"Come and follow us, if you can," he said as he levitated himself up to the platform. That was all he had left in him, his psychic powers would be of no more use to him. The beast continued its pursuit of the ninja and jumped up several platforms to the bridge. It made another swipe at him, lodging its claws in the woodwork. That was just what he had been hoping for.
"Farewell," he said as he jumped back onto a stone platform. Picking up a sword, still in the clutches of its long dead owner, Ermac sliced the ropes holding the structure in place. The beast went tumbling into the molten river below, its body forever lost among the volcanic liquid.
"I can't believe I've been reduced to a damsel in distress," thought Zephyrmon as Ashrah repeatedly tried, and failed miserably, to land a blow on BurningGreymon, "Who am I kidding, that's what I've been since I first Spirit Evolved. Takuya took out an ultimate and I couldn't even beat a tree with a bad attitude on my own. Sure, I beat Ranamon, but maybe she was just weaker than the others."
"So, what you're saying is," said a new voice, "You wanna be strong."
"Who said that?" she thought, "Who's there."
"I can sympathize," said the voice as if it hadn't heard her, "I used to be weak, I wanted to be strong too. You've got potential, kid, you just need a little push."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you've got a problem and I've got a solution."
"What are you talking about? Why won't you give me a straight answer?"
"I'm pressed for time right now, I'll explain everything tomorrow. Get away from your friends, find some excuse, then come see me."
Meanwhile, Ashrah received a message from Quan Chi.
"What did you say?" she thought.
"I said, 'Stand down, your mission is complete,' let it look like the dragon-looking one finished you off," he said in reply.
"You're going down!" said BurningGreymon, "Wildfire Tsunami!" Flames engulfed his figure and then launched themselves at Ashrah, who disappeared into a portal seconds before the impact, from where the three warriors stood, it looked like she had been incinerated.
"Are you okay?" said Takuya, the three of them having returned to their human forms.
"Just a little disappointed in myself," said Zoe, "You'd think I'd be able to take down a common assassin on my own."
"You can't call yourself weak just because you come across a few tough opponents, Zoe," said Takuya, as he came closer, "Besides, if I had taken her head on without you wearing her down and distracting her first, I'd probably have gotten my butt kicked too."
"Thanks for trying, Takuya," she said, "But I know it's just that you're stronger than me. You've always been better than me. I've needed someone to step in and save me since the first time I Spirit Evolved."
"What's happened to you?" he almost shouted, grabbing her shoulders as he spoke, "The Zoe I know would never put herself down so much! What happened to the Zoe who wouldn't take no for an answer, who was always on top of everything?"
"Thanks," she said, blushing a little at his touch, "I needed that… you can let go of me now."
"Oh, r-right," he stammered, laughing nervously. He had started to blush too. Something that didn't go unnoticed by Zoe.
"Why's his face so red?" she thought, "He's… probably just getting hot, right? Unless…"
"Hey," he interrupted her thoughts, "Where's J.P.?"
Meanwhile, Ermac was nearing exhaustion, soon he'd be trapped in the Netherrealm.
"Master," said a woman his dulled senses didn't hear, "I've found Ermac, what are your orders?"
"Send him back to Shao Kahn," Quan Chi's voice rang out in her head, "He may still have a part to play."
"I should've expected as much," said J.P. as he trudged away on his own, "She takes one look into Mr. Hero's eyes and I don't exist. What makes him so special? He shouldn't be the one who's always getting the best of everything, I should."
"I quite agree," said a deep voice. J.P. turned to see a gigantic green eye looking at him sympathetically.
"I know what it's like to be the one who's forgotten when it comes time to divide the spoils," it said, "You've nothing to fear, boy, it's my purpose in life to help poor souls who don't get recognition they deserve. You're right, why should he get first pick? Didn't you do just as much? I'll give you the power you need to finally be recognized as the hero. Hm, hm, hm, hm."
Who is this strange creature and what does he want with the Warrior of Thunder? And what was the true nature of Ashrah's mission? Are the Demon Lords out for another soul? Find out, next Digi-Kombat.
