Behind the metal gates is an empty, rectangular lobby, wide enough to fit hundreds of digimons. Beside the eastern and western walls are stairways going underground, and at the northern wall are four short corridors that all lead to a battle arena. Half the size of a football stadium and no roof, flights of bleachers packed with wildly cheering digimon's, surround a circular concrete at the middle. Lobomon heard a digimon call it "ring", and on that stands a digimon seemingly waiting for his opponent.

They are quite far from the ring and Lobomon can only see the back of that digimon, but finds his dark feature, almost like a shadow strange. "Who's that?" Lobomon asks Leomon, speaking loud.

"That's ShadowWereGarurumon, he's a dark digimon and the challenger," Leomon replies, glancing behind Lobomon.

"Dark digimon?"

"You know... digimon's tainted by something evil," Leomon explains. "Hmm? I've never seen you around. You new here?" he asks.

"I am. I'm Lobomon , and this here is Kumamon," Lobomon responds, speaking normally this time as the cheers slowly turn into chatters. Kumamon waves a hand.

Leomon beams, "Oh! Pleased to make your acquaintance!" he says then glance behind Lobomon again.

Kumamon notices Leomon's flickering gaze and asks, "What's the matter? Are you... looking for something?"

"Well, I've spoken to two humans earlier you see. They've come to watch but they suddenly disappeared. Perhaps you've seen them?"

Lobomon and Kumamon looks at each other as if agreeing to not saying a word to Leomon. "No... Maybe they've gone somewhere...?" says Kumamon.

"You think?"

"So.. if he's tainted by something evil, shouldn't the others be concerned?" Lobomon asks changing the subject.

Leomon shrugs, "So long as they don't become fallen, dark digimon's are welcome in this village. But I suppose that artifact protecting our town keeps them from becoming fallen."

Fallen Digimon? Bokomon had mentioned something about them being Creepymon's henchmen, Kouji recalls.

A wave of wilder cheers resound in the arena as another digimon heads to the ring. "That's the champion!" says Leomon with a hint of excitement, before Lobomon or Kumamon could ask. Kouji finds himself surprised with the champion being a female, but may justify her seemingly larger following. She looks fierce, Kouji observes. Not taking his eyes of the digimon as she steps up on the mounded ring and waves to the crowd, recognition dawns on his face. That light-blue hair that forms like bird wings, a pair of wings on her back, beautiful features... Lobomon leans down to Kumamon. "H-hey... isn't that..."

Kumamon nods, the look of disbelief evident on his pale face. "Y-yeah. I-it's Zephyrmon..."

Zephyrmon. Lobomon stands up straight to observe the female digimon again. Izumi...? But how'd she get here so fast? Could it be someone else? Lobomon scans the crowd just when the match is announced to start, hoping to find Junpei but soon feels overwhelmed by the large number of onlookers. ShadowWereGarurumon and Zephyrmon don't start launching their attacks on one another. They just stand facing each other and talking, like taunting the other. In a quick second, ShadowWereGarurumon charges at Zephyrmon who is quick to evade the dark digimon's deathly claws with a swift jump. Landing behind ShadowWereGarurumon, Zephyrmon counters with her Plasma Paws but the attack gets blocked. The dark digimon then goes for a swift kick and Zephyrmon nearly received full impact had she not moved back on time.

"She's impressive no?" Leomon comments. "So you're just here to watch or be challengers?"

Huh? "Well... Yeah," answers Lobomon sounding unsure. The dark digimon charges at Zephyrmon once more, but in a quick move of again, evade then counter, the wind digimon successfully lands a strong hit on her opponent.

"Then I suggest you head to that panel down there," Leomon points at the panel of three digimons seating in front of a table close to the bottom bleachers. One of them being Shamanmon. "All you have to do is tell them you're challengers and you will be one. You should go now, by sundown the tournament will be over."

Kumamon looks at the sun and realizes it's nearly sundown. He didn't think waiting on that long line would take a long time. He turns to Lobomon, "What do we do? Fight her?"

Lobomon thinks for a moment as the audience once again cheer for Zephyrmon who just knocked her opponent down using her technique: Wind of Pain. It'll be great if it's Izumi but... Lobomon scans the crowd once more but can't find Junpei. Still... the Digi Spirits are supposed to be unique to them right? "No." he finally answers.

"She is strong," Leomon comments while Zephyrmon is declared winner. "Maximizing that speed combined with some wicked attacks, even I decided just now to no longer be a challenger," the digimon shrugs.

Lobomon forces a smile. He couldn't clearly remember how Izumi used to fight in her digi beast form, but indeed, she is strong. Zephyrmon has one more challenger whom she successfully defeats by sundown. When Zephyrmon leaves the ring, both Lobomon and Kumamon also move. Leomon had told them that the building has only one exit, and so Lobomon and Kumamon heads back to the entrance to wait for Zephyrmon.

Takuya tries to make contact with Kouji and Tomoki with his digivice but he's getting no response since awhile ago. What on earth? The sun is about to set but the two of them are not yet in their supposed meeting place. Bokomon and Neemon are beginning to get concerned too. Seriously what are those two doing? Takuya kicks a stone on the dusty ground. He set his eyes on that building where Shamanmon used to live and is reminded of what Sepikmon had said earlier on.

I advice you to return to the human world or wherever you came from while you can. If you don't want to end up doomed like those three!
Their fates can no longer be changed. It's that attitude of yours that will link your fate with theirs and lead you to your own misfortune...

When Sepikmon said those words, an eerie feeling crept in Takuya— so eerie it sent shivers down his spine. Why'd he feel that way? That fortune isn't something new— a little different maybe but just a tad bit. He had faced many opponents and dangers too in the past, and he with his friends came out triumphant no matter how difficult things had been. He'd returned to the human world stronger and fearless, like he can overcome anything. But why does that fortune suddenly bother him? They haven't even faced any enemies or real danger yet, it makes very little sense. He slowly shifts his gaze to one of the remaining open stalls, it's shopkeeper happily talking to a customer.

Ah! the poor guy must believe that fortuneteller. Takuya stares long and hard. Huh? A human? he rubs his eyes thinking he's imaging things. He looks again, this time surprised at what he is seeing, who he is seeing. J-Junpei? He's been expecting to see him but not so soon.

"Junpei!" he calls out, scanning the streets at the same time for Izumi. Bokomon and Neemon goes to Takuya's side to have a look, while Junpei looks around for the voice that called him. It doesn't take long before he gets the surprise of seeing Takuya, Bokomon and Neemon.

"Ta-Takuya! Bokomon! Neemon!" Junpei exclaims and goes to them. It has already been a year since Takuya's seen Junpei, and Junpei has lost just a little more weight than the last. He's also taller now, but still sports a black short sleeve jumpsuit. Bokomon and Neemon are happy to see him again.

"I didn't think I'd see you here!" Junpei exclaims.

"Man, that's my line!" Takuya claims. "Is Izumi with you?" he asks right away, wanting to save the 'how are you's' for later.

"She was. But I'm actually on my way to meet her now."

"Where?" Bokomon asks.

Junpei points at Shamanmon's old home. "Over there. Come on!"

"So, where are Kouji and Tomoki?" Junpei asks as they go on their way. Unknown to them, a digimon watches on a roof. A joker in a colorful outfit. He grins and his sharp eyes set on them like targets, following their every move.

In an old underground corridor of the arena, Shamanmon hands Zephyrmon a small box likened to that of a pirate treasure chest. It's the reward for staying victorious above all others after an entire day of fighting. She opens the box, surprised yet a little awed at the same time at what's inside.

"This is... what protected this village for years?"

"That... was a lie to attract more participants," Shamanmon reveals.

"More participants? Why?"

"The 'participants' I've wanted to call out are outsiders like you. No... I've been waiting for you to come." Shamanmon answers. "That stone you hold on your hand has brought forth misfortune to my people. It was never mine to keep but for someone who can keep it from the hands of the fallen."

The fallen. She thinks of ShadowWereGarurumon and the possibility of him turning into a fallen... She stares at her prize once again, it isn't exactly what she's looking for but she can't help but be mesmerized by the crimson light that shines beautifully. She then wonders, How can something so beautiful, bring misfortune?

Erm, Until next time! :)