Chapter 11: Black and White
Eric walked into his room coffee mug in hand. He sat with his laptop as he saw the darkness settling in. While people would see night time as a time of rest and serenity, Eric knew of the shadows roaming free amidst this time. Digimon would be more active right now.
Especially that one.
He began tapping away. His Digivice was connected to his laptop.
"Well this is weird…" Eric muttered having met with an obstacle. He had been hard at work trying to unlock Astralmon's ultimate form. From unlocking his partner Digimon's champion form, he had taken note of a few things. All of the evolutionary forms had separate data. The data for the Champion forms were stored in the Digivice. But…
"I can't find the data for the Ultimate or Mega forms…" Eric mused. He had started work on unlocking Astralmon's Ultimate form but he had yet to locate where the data was stored. Breaking the security codes was another story in its entirety.
"Got any leads?" Eric asked Astralmon who was enjoying the digital comfort of his partner's laptop.
"If it's not in the Digivice, then there's probably only one place where it could be…." The text appeared on the screen. Surrounding it were various other windows- minimized and maximized alike. Eric was used to multitasking as he was used to working for long stretches of times. As much as he hated to admit it, he was quite restless and his hands didn't feel comfortable when they weren't tapping away at a keyboard.
"Yggdrasil…." The teen took a sip of his coffee.
Yggdrasil was the God of the Digital World and the one who had sent the Digimon on their task. Being a God of the world created from data, Eric had likened Yggdrasil to that of a supercomputer. It was a logical assumption on his part. What he had heard about said God came all from Astralmon, but Astralmon knew very less on the subject as none of the partner Digimon were made privy to information regarding the being in question. All they were made to know were details regarding their mission.
If Eric's assumption held true, the data for the Ultimate and Mega forms were held by Yggdrasil in the Digital World. While he now knew in which plane of dimension that the data existed in, he now knew that his task had grown difficult. He let loose an exasperated sigh. His eyes shifted to his Digivice.
"Is Yggdrasil aware of our movements through those things?" Eric asked.
"There is a possibility…" Astralmon replied.
"Can we trace the signal back?"
"Your desire for power is impressive" the virus Digimon noted.
"You don't have to sugarcoat it" Eric replied. "I don't want to take any chances. I'm hella unlucky."
"Do you think that you can't count on the others?"
"It's not that I can't count on them" Eric looked up towards the ceiling, "I just don't want to. The last thing I want to be is helpless. I believe that fights are won before they are fought."
"Can you say with a certainty that all battles will be won in the long run?" Astralmon asked.
It was a fool's errand to try and win every battle. Eric knew of the fact that the more fights he would partake in the greater the chances were of losing.
The fight against Devimon in particular was painful to remember. While Eric had expected it to be a tough fight he did not expect to be on the losing end. After his victory against Keramon, the teen had believed that he could have taken care of the threat. Sorely, however that was not the case leading to his present dilemma.
"That thing screwed us up badly" Eric admitted.
"I was the one who got ripped in half" Astralmon noted.
"Still there was something different about him" the teen loaded up a video of the fight he had recorded with Astralmon's help.
"He was much smarter. He could control other Digimon" Astralmon recalled what he saw before he had engaged the demon. There were very few with the ability to control other Digimon and it was not a natural ability. Although demonic Digimon like Devimon had strange and mystical powers, he doubted that a Champion like Devimon had enough power to subdue a ferocious beast such as Wendigomon.
"It's not natural" the Virus Digimon concluded.
Eric brought up a window on his laptop showing a map of London. His eyes shifted towards a red blinking dot.
"Should I intercept?" Astralmon suggested.
"The result would be the same" Eric reached for his phone and dialed a number.
"Yo, Hiran. Get your lazy ass to work. We got a Digimon in town."
On the other side Hiran was whining. It wasn't surprising. While Eric did not doubt Hiran and Aurochmon's strength and resilience, the teen still had a lot to improve on.
"I mean why do I have to go and take care of it? I took care of the giant bug" Hiran told Eric over the phone.
"Cause you're the one closest to it. Plus, Aurochmon is pretty powerful and should be able to handle it well enough." Eric smiled. Sometimes the right words would get you everywhere.
"Well yeah. You do have a point about Aurochmon being strong." Flattery would get you everywhere it seems with certain people.
"I'll leave it you then. Just remember don't Digivolve until you know you can't handle it. We want to keep the damage to a minimum." Eric put the phone down.
"He's not the brightest is he?" Astralmon asked.
"Nope" Eric replied casually, "but he's a good guy."
"Can he handle Devimon though?" Astralmon asked causing Eric to go silent. He was thinking.
"Unlike Cybermon, Aurochmon won't be overpowered but there's more to Devimon. All these Digimon; they've been escaping into our world from whatever's causing the two worlds to come together. All their movements had been completely random. Except for Devimon."
"Their species are known to be crafty but that doesn't explain Devimon's power to control other Digimon like that" Astralmon noted.
"If it's not natural, then it's probably a mutation in the digital code" Eric checked his Digivice. In his mind he thought of the possibility that whatever is causing the two worlds to collide could also be responsible for something like this. It was not out of the question. What were they up against?"
"The Digivice couldn't decipher some of the codes…" This had proved Eric's assumption about the mutation in the Digital Code. "Yggdrasil, didn't explain anything about what we're up against?"
"No" was the answer from Astralmon.
"Jeez…" Eric had to accept that he was at a massive disadvantage. He didn't like it when he was short on information. He checked the map once more. He noted two green dots. One was heading towards a blue dot. The other one was in close vicinity to Devimon.
"Qingmon is taking on Devimon" Eric noted. Qingmon had the ability to create duplicates of himself so that would have explained the two dots.
"Bokhramon…" Astralmon noted what the blue dot meant.
Eric reclined upon his chair. "Noel…."
-xxxx—
The sound of crumbling concrete and destructive blows could not reach Noel as he cradled the white creature. He glanced upon the wounded body of his friend, gravely scarred and marred by the demon's claws. His back was turned to the fight as the street came apart from the clashing of blows. He held his friend closer believing that some magic would work and bring him back to life. Like the tears that blurred his vision, the pain in his heart distorted his reasoning.
"Not again…." He muttered.
Aurochmon endured another strike by Devimon as he retaliated with a strong punch to the demon's face sending it reeling back. Rage consumed the Digimon as it impaired his ability to talk normally as now his only means of communication was throaty growls and bellows.
Devimon lifted his head. The last blow had horribly mutilated the left side of his head as it was smashed in like dented metal. Yet that did little to deter it as the jet black demon leapt once more at Aurochmon.
"Why?" Noel wondered whether he existed just to suffer. He wondered whether he would live just to see everyone close to him disappear. He wanted nothing to do with this. He had chosen to fight and now he result lay in his arms.
"It's my fault…." The boy held his friend tighter. "I'm sorry….Bokhramon."
Aurochmon withstood another strike as the force sent him crashing into the ground. He wasted no time getting back up and backhanded the relentless creature. Devimon, whilst recovering from the attack was soon bombarded by multiple Qingmon.
Kyrie stood besides Noel. She was speechless. She never expected something like this to happen. She had never wanted someone to sacrifice themselves trying to help solve her problem. Her heart was heavy with guilt. If she could, she would have traded places with the fallen Digimon.
"Aurochmon! Get outta there!" Hiran's words fell on deaf ears as his partner continued his assault. It was obvious that Aurochmon wouldn't last too long at this rate and yet his rage had blinded him so much that the bull Digimon was immune to the pain brought by his wounds.
Although Aria knew of the danger that Qingmon was in from fighting Devimon, she couldn't help but stare at the blonde haired boy. She didn't know him and neither did she know the other guy whose partner was locked in a deadly battle. Yet perhaps, she didn't need to know them. They were Chosen Children like her and for all she knew Qingmon could have also suffered the same fate as that white goat Digimon. That act of selflessness had made her wonder how much that Digimon cares for him.
"I'm sorry…" He felt the deathly cold. The chill that beckons you to come closer, leading you to despair and sadness. It was the same cold that one associated with death.
Aurochmon fell to the ground with a thud. He saw more than red now as the pain surged through him. He eyed his arm that lay a distance away from him. Tiredness soon overtook his body.
Hiran felt a sickening feeling in his gut. "Don't you dare close your eyes" the words were stuck in his throat. Qingmon laid helplessly, his body marred by those remorseless claws.
"Hold him" Noel gave Bokhramon to Kyrie and began to run towards Devimon's direction. "You stinking ass" Kyrie muttered once the realization hit her.
Devimon turned his eyes towards the boy. "The hell are you doing?" Hiran yelled thinking Noel had lost it.
The demon leapt at him. Noel hit the street as Devimon barely flew over him.
Barely.
Noel grunted in pain. He saw the sleeve of his shirt torn as the blood was flowing out profusely. While Devimon attacked like a savage beast he still had a good deal of precision in his strikes.
The demon turned once more as he launched another claw strike intending to skewer Noel. The boy barely rolled out of the way as the blades destroyed the ground he was on a few minutes ago.
"What happened to that brain of yours?" Kyrie muttered as he helped Noel up. Devimon took his claws out of the ground which Kyrie very well knew what it meant as she and Noel picked up their pace.
The demon reared its claws.
"We won't make it" Noel thought- no knew.
The claws came down upon them as Noel closed his eyes.
It was a horrible sound of shattered glass. Yet somehow, they were alive. Noel opened his eyes as he saw his savior.
"Bokhramon…." He managed to give form to the word stuck in his throat. Kyrie was almost brought to tears.
The goat Digimon had covered his wounds with ice as he struggled to stand up. "I won't let you hurt them…" It seemed to have taken all his strength to say that. Devimon seemed to have smiled at that.
"Get out of here!" Noel screamed, "You don't stand a chance."
The Digimon stood his ground undeterred.
"You'll get hurt!" The blonde boy was brought to tears.
"So be it!" Bokhramon replied. "If I get hurt protecting my friend, then I'll gladly get hurt."
Noel and Kyrie both moved out of the way as Devimon attacked once more. Noel had lost track of his digital partner amidst the dust.
Bokhramon was there were he feared the most.
The black beast swung its head back widely as energy swirled around its twisted mouth.
"No" Noel cried weakly. Before he knew it the girl was no longer by his side. He saw her running towards death himself.
"I don't want to lose them."
Primary Digital Matrix Set
"I don't want to lose them."
Accessing Evolutionary Code
Noel took hold of his Digivice.
Designation: Capricomon
He wouldn't lose them.
Digital Evolution Process… INITIATE
The two flashes of light collided as the resulting explosion illuminated the vicinity. For a moment night had turned to day.
For dawn had arrived…
The spectators stood awed by the giant ice crystals that became visible as the dust settled.
Soft cracks pierced the nightly silence and ice fell apart. Noel saw Kyrie holding on to the snow white limb of a beast. As the chunks of ice reduced themselves to mere shards the regal beast unraveled himself.
Capricomon, while still resembling a goat, was wildly different from his rookie form. He had a proud gait and his eyes were not the same warm blue eyes anymore but were cold sharp sapphires. Bokhramon's small horns had grown in size and were encrusted with ice. There were ridges of ice along Capricomon's body where the fur had grown even thicker as if to protect himself from his own powerful ice.
For a moment Noel had not recognized his partner. It wasn't until the Champion Digimon reared his head back to look at him did Noel see it.
A faint hint of a smile.
"Be careful" those were the only words that Noel could mutter.
Capricomon nodded and moved his head towards Kyrie. The girl could only watch in amazement as the gigantic goat leapt with a terrible tremor as he collided against the demon. Devimon grabbed a hold of those menacing horns.
A devilish smile escaped its face- almost as if the reaper enjoyed this new challenge. With a grunt he threw Capricomon into the ground.
With a mighty roar the Champion rose from the ground and leapt onto Devimon, both of them crashing into the pavement. Devimon swiped wildly with Capricomon jumping back in response. The reaper took flight and latched himself onto a building, his landing causing the glasses to shatter and the walls to cave in. The creature regurgitated a dark purple sphere of energy.
Capricomon retaliated by launching slabs of ice that collided mid air resulting a spectacular explosion and a shower of ice shards. The two eyed each other, waiting for a move.
Devimon couldn't bear the wait. The reaper launched himself like a corkscrew at the proud white beast. Capricomon jumped back again as the ground in front of him exploded. It was mere moments after that the blast of energy engulfed him.
Reeling back in pain, the white beast launched another barrage of crystals. Devimon leapt out of the way and launched himself upon Capricomon. The Champion Digimon caught the attacker between his horns and slammed Devimon into the cold hard ground. Capricomon went to the offensive as his mighty legs thundered down upon the fallen reaper.
Devimon caught the attack but couldn't stop the shower of crystals that Capricomon had summoned.
The ungodly scream was etched into the minds of all those present. Contorting madly, the beast tried to wriggle free of the crystals that pierced him.
With a violent twist Devimon loosened himself from Capricomon.
"This is the end of the line" the white beast announced. A majestic voice befitting the creature.
In violent response to that statement, Devimon roared and charged towards Capricomon grabbing his horns and lashing out violently.
Noel cried out for his partner who was struggling to find an answer to this sudden offense.
"Qingmon!" The Digimon responded to his name by climbing on to the back of Devimon.
"Now!" Qingmon shouted to Capricomon who prepared an attack. The white beast stomped the ground, releasing a gust of wind. Qingmon got down from Devimon, whose body started to freeze all over. The reaper struggled for not as his flesh became encrusted in ice.
Qingmon readied his claws. He took the role of the executioner.
The ice split apart and crumbled. The demon was no more.
Everyone stood in silence except for Noel. The boy walked towards Capricomon slowly.
Capricomon turned towards his partner as blue eyes met each other. Noel found himself standing in front of the majestic creature who lowered his head if he could read thoughts.
"Thank you" Noel hugged his partner. Capricomon started to nudge his partner. "Still the same guy" Noel smiled at the thought. A light enveloped the Digimon's body as Noel found himself hugging Bokhramon.
"Uh….Noel" Hiran spoke up. He didn't want to….
"Oh, Hiran" Noel had almost forgotten about him. "Sorry for missing your game."
Hiran was struggling with words. Until Noel had opened his mouth. Hiran could only face palm after that.
"What is wrong with you?" Kyrie sighed.
Noel reeled back in embarrassment. "Uh…. Mind if we talk about this later. I mean we almost got killed and well it's been a terrible night."
"Yeah….. Later, man" Hiran could only agree. Even if he knew that Noel was a Chosen Child, the night just took everything out of him.
Hiran and Aurochmon left. Noel was about to leave until he looked back at Kyrie.
"See you" he said,
"You too" the girl replied and soon Noel faded into the dark.
Kyrie then eyed her sister who was helping Qingmon with his injuries. Aria looked back.
"C'mon" Kyrie approached the Digimon and helped him up. "It's a long walk back home."
Aria nodded, too tired to say anything.
-xxxx-
Eric took a deep sigh of relief. While he was working his mind drifted to the ongoing battle. He couldn't work like that.
"They made it" he muttered, "thanks to Noel."
"Yes" came the reply from Astralmon.
Eric thought to himself how gravely he had underestimated the threat. "They could have died" he thought to himself.
He took out his Digivice.
"Planning on getting everyone together?" Astralmon asked from the comfort of Eric's laptop.
"We can't keep being so disorganized. If we planned out our tactics there shouldn't be anything to worry about."
Astralmon thought about those words. It was true…..to an extent. There was chaos in order and an over reliance on a system would inevitably cause trouble in the future. Yet Astralmon observed on. He found it amusing how he had found that a certain kinship had grown between him and Eric. When he was given his mission he didn't think of himself as much other than a means to save the Digital World. That was what he was created for.
Yet somewhere down the line, he doubted that. He enjoyed Eric's company far more than he did the presence of the other Digimon. He felt complete.
"Is it a glitch?" Astralmon thought. "Or is it something humans are capable of? Of changing?"
It was chance that brought them together and it could very well be chance that would dictate their future.
He was ready. He had Eric to rely on. Eric had him.
