Hydroumon was becoming impatient. He waited and waited for the Gates of the Dragon to return, but he hasn't heard from them, not a single word. He didn't like this and as time continued to move on, he grew more impatient.

"Where are they? They are aware of the consequences, aren't they?" Hydroumon complained and heard someone walk up behind them.

"Master, would you like me to track them down and finish the mission?"

"Not yet. They should consider it lucky I'm in a good mood. Let's give them more time." Hydroumon said.

"As you wish." The servant said and he left Hydroumon to his thoughts.

"However, for their sake, they better hurry. I rather not send him out there, but they are late and I don't like to be kept waiting." Hydroumon said.

…

Ken

Ken and Stingmon were exhausted and injured as they continued to fight against Ravenhoodmon, but didn't know that he digivolved into Zamielmon. Zamielmon took his aim and fired. Stingmon was feeling dreary. His body swayed to the side and that allowed him to sense the arrow coming and pushed Ken down as it missed, but grazed the side of Stingmon's face.

"Are you alright?" Stingmon said.

"I don't know if I can hold out for much longer." Ken said.

"It does look like you both are at the end of your ropes." They looked up to see Zamielmon staring them down.

"Did he digivolve?" Stingmon said.

"I'm afraid so and we had a hard enough time as it was." Ken said.

"For starters my new name is Zamielmon. I told you that you never had a chance against me."

"Arrow Blizzard."

Zamielmon fired a barrage of arrows at them. Ken and Stingmon got up and tried to run or find some cover.

"It's no use in trying to run!" Zamielmon said. All the arrows hit their mark as Ken and Stingmon were struck in the back as they both collapsed to the ground. Zamielmon just stood there and saw that neither of them were moving. "I guess that's it. Just like all flies, they got squash." He was shocked to see that both of them were still table to move. They reached out and removed the arrows from their backs.

"This is not looking good for us." Ken said and coughed up blood.

"I don't know how we're going to beat this guy." Stingmon said.

"I never knew you could feel this weak, tired, and helpless." Ken said as his vision started to grow cloudy.

"I'm amazed you two can even move after that." Zamielmon said as they both looked up, but it was difficult since they could barely move. "I guess I'm going to have to go for the kill with an arrow for each of you through you heads."

'Is this really it? Are Stingmon and I going to die here?' Ken thought as he looked back into his life. He was beginning to have flashbacks of his friends and family. 'I guess I'll be seeing Sam sooner than I thought. I can never thank Davis and the others enough for what they have done. Wait a minute, what am I saying. One of my best friends is falling into darkness.' He tried to stand back up.

"Ken?" Stingmon said.

"You can still stand? That's admirable, or pitiful." Zamielmon said. "Most people would have been struck with this moment." Ken looked over at Stingmon and smiled. Stingmon was the one he could not thank enough for everything and it was in that smile that he was trying to say that they will make it out of this. "However, the only striking I do is with my arrows."

"Give it your best shot." Ken said.

"You've asked for it." Zamielmon said shot more arrows. Ken found the strength and pushed Stingmon out of the way. "He still has strength? How can humans be this stubborn?"

"I can't die just yet." Ken said. "I have a dear, close friend that needs my help. He's the one that showed me kindness and I have yet to return the favor."

"You never will. You are going to die and you can't change that." Zamielmon said.

"You heard him, right?" Stingmon said as they both managed to get up and they both started running.

"Are you running to this so called friend?" Zamielmon said. "I'm starting to get annoyed. It's time to end this." He tied a small rope around an arrow and placed it under his foot. "This attack is usually a trick shot, but with this rope, I can steer it around. There's no way I can miss."

"Foot Shot."

He launched the arrow from his foot. It weaved around and it bounced off against the trees. Ken and Stingmon tried to fight through the pain they have endured, but saw the arrow coming. Ken's back bumped into a tree and Stingmon turned to face this arrow. It pierced through his right side and went through him. It even struck Ken in the same spot.

"Now it's over." Zamielmon said.

"Not yet. Davis showed me kindness and now I'll show you." Ken whispered and grabbed a hold of the thread. The power of his crest traveled through it. It passed through Stingmon and kept going. Zamielmon didn't know what it was, but when it reached him it struck like lightning and knocked him off.

"This ends now!" Stingmon said. He cut the rope and flew at Zamielmon with new found strength.

"Spiking Strike."

The stinger glowed even brighter as light spiraled around it. Stingmon struck Zamielmon through the chest like a laser. Stingmon turned back into Wormmon and finally blacked out as they both hit the ground. Ken wobbled over with the little strength he had left and lifted Wormmon.

"What was that? What did you do?" Zamielmon said.

"That was the power of my crest, which was kindness." Ken said. "Davis reminded me what kindness is like and I have yet to return it. I am going to do that when we rescue him. I wish I was the one to save him from the darkness, but there's someone else that is going to do it."

"It's no use. Whoever you're talking about can't save him…" "He will." Ken interrupted.

"He understands the powers of darkness and fights it with all of his strength. He also made a promise and he is going to keep it." Ken said. Zamielmon didn't say another word as he dispersed into data. Ken tried to walk, but he ended up collapsing. Ken looked down at Wormmon for he was the one that showed him kindness. Ken's eyes felt heavy and drifted off and just rested their.

…

Hydroumon

Hydroumon's patience has run thin and he wasn't going to wait a moment longer. It was also as if he knew that Madleomon and Ravenhoodmon have fallen and he wasn't going to leave anything to chance.

"That's it. I can tell that two of them are gone and they've taken far too long." Hydroumon said to his servant that was with him. "I want you to go after them and finish what they started."

"As you wish."

"Those who crossed me will suffer dearly. The gates are my powerful warriors. However, there is no comparison when he enters the field. He'll destroy all of them without even bating and eye." Hydroumon said.

…

Gates of the Dragon

The remaining two continued to move through the forest with Reapmon carrying the coffin. Grademon was getting annoyed even more for he thought Ravenhoodmon would have finished them off and caught up by now.

"Where is he? What could be taking that slowpoke so long?" Grademon said.

"Don't worry about it. We're late enough as it is. We don't have time to wait around for those two to catch up." Reapmon said.

"Fine." Grademon said.

"Look at it this way. If Madleomon and Ravenhoodmon actually manage to make it back to the base, they're going to get the worst punishment because they took too long and we were the ones that succeeded." Reapmon said.

"Now that actually makes me feel better." Grademon said. Meanwhile, the digidestine were catching up to them.

"We better hurry. They're almost at that mountain Izzy told us about." Tai said.

"Shouldn't have Ken and Cody caught up by now?" T.K. said.

"We can't worry about that. If we lose them at the mountain, our mission is a failure." Matt said.

"It would be a good idea to for us to kick it up. Let's not waste any more time. I have a plan." Tai said. The remaining three were getting ready, but what they didn't know was something else was coming their way. Something much worse.