Gemmanigirl: I figured you would get a kick, er, whack, out of Jijimon. Expect to see more crazy characters as this story progresses.
Cyrus Arcanum: Sorry, no can do! Now that his role in the story is complete, he's out of people to pester. Guess you'll have to do…
goldsilver-dragoness: Okay, okay, I suppose I can tell you a little about the Knight of Darkness. This Knight will be male, and he'll most likely make his appearance sometime after the Chosen find their Dragon spirits. Will this satisfy your cravings?
Digi fan: Yes, Messerschmimon and Fockemon had no idea what they were getting themselves into. And who said that the spirits can be controlled right away? Whoops, getting ahead of myself…
Kara: Well, you'll at least see what one of the Dark Knights will do. And gee whiz? Where has Dataratomon gone off to? Truthfully, I couldn't find a way to fit him in until now. To make you nice and happy, he has a good-sized minor role in this chapter…
RequiemKei: Look straight ahead, for here's the next installment!
Chaos: Thanks for your encouragement.
ENOUGH! On to the next action-packed chapter!
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Digimon: Frontier Legacy
Chapter XIII: Lightning Strikes Twice! Raydenmon's Fight for Survival!
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We take you back to a place we've been to, before. The action is situated in a Roman-style coliseum in the middle of an old-ways city. Brave warriors have come here, including the likes of the Chosen, to test their might against everything the opposition could throw at them. Many triumphed, while others fell by the waist side. And for what - to please the masses who come to see slaughtering?
No.
The fighters who come to fight could care less for those who wish to see 'entertainment.' They come here for glitz, for glory, and for their names to go down in arena history.
An armor-clad Digimon leans against the wall of one of the coliseum's many inner chambers, waiting for his chance to shine once more. He's been here, before. He remembers his past experience all too well. He remembers how a being with power over fire faced him in a match that would determine the winner of the tournament. He thought he had it won. He thought that there was no way his adversary could beat him - until he gained a new source of strength and forced him into submission.
Since then, he had been in state of inner obsession and rage, wanting to face him again and exact the victory he felt he deserved. He had the chance, and he almost exacted his revenge; but a stronger force, his master, forced him to end his crusade, or his own life would be on the line. He vowed to himself, and to his master, that he would never go out in search of the fire-bearer again. His chance would only come if the two met in a circumstantial situation, which he doubted would be any time soon.
For now, he would fight smaller battles, ones that would never satisfy him.
The Digimon lifted his head when he heard something land in the open window. The being that stood on the sill was about the size of a soccer ball. It had pale blue skin, black fur, short bat-like wings, and a dark blue mask covering his face. His big yellow eyes showed signs of urgency. "Aceromon, I need to speak with you," it said in a high-pitched voice.
"Speak, Demidevimon," Aceromon replied, getting to his feet.
"I have urgent news. The other spirits have awakened."
"The Dragons?"
"Bingo! Our associate at Point Adler saw it himself. One of those humans somehow got their hands on one of the spirits and turned into this weird metal dragon Digimon. He single-handedly took out two of the Point's best bounty hunters while he was at it!"
"Gods, this doesn't sound good at all," the Knight of Steel said to himself. "Have you notified the others, yet?"
Demidevimon shook his head. "Not yet. You're the first I've told."
"In that case, when you find them, tell them to be on their guard, and to keep their eyes open for their own spirits. The balance of power cannot shift too far in their favor, understand?"
"You got it!" With that, Demidevimon flipped around and flew off.
Aceromon went back to the wall and leaned against it again. "We must hold the fort before things get too out of hand…"
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The white portal appeared on the outskirts of the city, and the Chosen cautiously stepped onto open ground. They gasped when they realized where they were, the terrible, lasting memories hitting them like a sledgehammer.
"Oh no…" Aaron groaned.
"It can't be…" Asuka said, sudden fright in her voice.
"This can't be where it is…" Leo said.
"Unfortunately," Archivamon said, checking his scanners, "it is. These calculations are correct."
"We'll just have to face the facts, and our fears," Snow commented. "Otherwise we're never going to find that spirit."
Ryan said nothing. His memories of the city may not have been as severe as those of Asuka, but they most certainly were in his mind. As if powered by his memories, a sudden, sharp pain struck him. The pain wasn't real, but his mind made him think it was. He instinctively gripped his hand, remembering when a steel-clad Digimon came close to crushing every bone in it. He also remembered that his life was spared that day by the same individual, who preferred to wait until the appropriate time. He forgot what was said, exactly, but he was told that he could face him again when he became stronger. Ryan was angered, loathing the fact that this act of mercy proved to him how weak he was. Since then, he had done his hardest to prepare for his next bout with the Digimon. However, the odds that he would get his chance were slim to none.
"Ryan? Ryan, did you hear me?"
The boy had been in such deep thought that he had temporarily lost touch with reality. The direct questions quickly brought him back. "Huh? What?"
"I said that we have to go into the city," Leo repeated, though it was the first time Ryan heard it.
"So, how are we going to do this?" Aaron asked. "Should we split up or stick together?"
"While there is safety in numbers," Archivamon said, "we may have greater success if we break off and search different parts of the city."
"I say we pair up," Leo suggested. "We'll be able to cover more ground, and we'll be prepared in case someone decides to jump us." He turned his head slightly to look at Asuka, who was still staring out towards the city. I don't want to see what happened before happen again, he thought to himself.
"Okay," Snow said, "so who's going with who?"
The group was silent for a few moments, as if everyone was trying to mentally make a very difficult decision.
The silence lasted until Asuka spoke up. "I'll go with Leo," she said. "That is, if that's alright with everyone."
"No complaints, here," Aaron replied.
"Or here," Snow added. I guess she wants to confront him, she thought to herself. "How about you, Aaron? We make quite a good team, don't you think?"
"If you're asking if you can go with me," Aaron replied, smirking, "then I don't see why not."
"Ryan," Leo asked, "are you going to be okay with going with Archivamon?"
"Uh…why wouldn't I be?"
"Alright then," Archivamon said. "Let's go. The sooner we find the spirit, the sooner we can leave with our sanities still intact."
Without question, the Chosen brought out their devices and evolved to the Knight forms. They wordlessly moved on, preparing to enter the place they wished they would never have to again…
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Some time had passed, and the Chosen had long since split up. At the moment, Wufeimon and Archivamon were headed in the direction of the city's coliseum. The Machine Digimon had his sensors at maximum, trying his best to locate any unusual energy signatures.
Wufeimon, on the other hand, was paying no attention to anything around him, rather had his eyes dead-set on the colossal structure ahead of him. He didn't know if the Knight of Steel was here, but he could at least give it a try. Several ideas were passing through his mind; after all, if he was going to enter the day's tournament, he would need to break away from Archivamon, and that would not be an easy task…or would it?
As the two reached the base of the coliseum, Wufeimon began to walk at a slower pace, unbeknownst to his mechanical companion. He began to focus his energy and pictured himself in a mirror. As if out of thin air, an exact replica of the Knight of Thunder appeared before him. The static duplicate continued to walk on, acting as if the real Wufeimon would. When the copy came into being, Wufeimon immediately took cover behind the registration booth, hoping that no one would notice him. He sighed as everyone else was going about their business. He waited for a minute until Archivamon and his double were well away, then got up.
"Well well, if it ain't little Sparky!" The Nanimon laughed as he fixed his sunglasses. "Welcome back, kid!"
"Thanks, I guess," Wufeimon replied. "So, what kind of tournament is there, today?"
"Let me see here…okay…got it! Today we have a Class P-40 tournament! Rules of battling are the same as you're used to, except that there are only eight combatants. Same rules apply for the tournament winner, also."
"Do you have a list of the other fighters?" The Knight of Thunder's heart began to race.
"Uh…I'm not really supposed to reveal the order of fighting. It's against our policies."
"Could you at least tell me if Aceromon is in this one?"
"Now that I can tell you." Nanimon checked the listing. "No…no…no…here we are! Yes, Aceromon is one of the combatants-"
"Sign me up, then," Wufeimon said immediately.
The Invader Digimon gasped at this sudden outburst. "You sure about this, kid? You remember that he beat you, last time."
"That was last time," Wufeimon replied with determination in his voice. "This time, things are going to turn out differently."
Nanimon sighed and hesitated before giving his response. "Alrighty. It's your funeral, kid." He brought out a pen and wrote Wufeimon's name on the list. "You know where to go, right?" He looked up from the list, only to find that the Knight of Thunder had already made his way into the coliseum. He shrugged his shoulders, then yelled out "NEXT!"
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"This isn't doing us any good," Archivamon sighed. Even with his advanced sensors, he couldn't find a trace of the spirit anywhere. What was worse was that Wufeimon wasn't helping at all - just walking on like there was nothing happening. "Come on, Ryan, at least help me search." He got no reply. "Ryan, are you listening to me?" Still no reply. Archivamon's oil began to boil as he rushed toward the Knight of Thunder. "Listen to me, dang it all!"
He got the shock of his life when he tried touching Wufeimon's back, literally. The Machine Digimon was electrocuted by the hanging static energy, and the light show made quite a scene for everyone else around. As a smoking Archivamon collapsed on the ground, what was left of the electricity disappeared into the air, leaving no trace of the duplicate.
"Oh my…" Archivamon said as he realized that the Wufeimon he was with was no more than a fake. "Oh dear, where did he run off to? This isn't good, at all." He was reluctant to do what he was about to do, next, but he had no choice.
He opened up his rear compartment, and instantly a little mechanical Mouse Digimon popped out.
"Whee! About time you let me out of there!" Dataratomon ranted. "I felt like I was in solitary confinement!"
"It was for your own good, and you know it," Archivamon replied. "Now listen up. Wufeimon has gone off somewhere, and I've lost track of him."
"Can't you just use that energy tracker of yours, lug nut?"
"That won't do jack in a place like this. There are too many other Digimon around."
"Figures," Dataratomon sighed. "Guess that means you need my help to find him. Typical."
"Enough with the insults!" Archivamon yelled, acting extremely annoyed. "Now you go search in that direction," he indicated with his extended arm. "I'll go this way. Meet me back here in an hour, understand?"
"Yeah yeah, whatever," the Mouse Digimon replied. Archivamon gave him a warning look, then headed off. When he was well away, Dataratomon snickered. "Screw that! Time to watch the fights!" He was off like a shot, headed straight towards the coliseum.
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As Wufeimon entered the waiting area, he felt like he was home, again. He checked the match-ups and found that he wouldn't be fighting until the third round. He looked around and saw a different group of Digimon than before, this bunch appearing to be even fiercer than the last. He didn't see Aceromon anywhere, until he heard the roars and cheers of the crowd. Then he heard the announcement.
"Golemon has been eliminated by rule of knockout! Aceromon advances to the next round!"
Wufeimon looked out the open window to see the Knight of Steel making his way back to the waiting area. His opponent, on the other hand, was in no shape to go anywhere; no shape as in his yellow stone body had fallen to pieces. Thankfully for his race, this was natural. Unthankfully, being unconscious, he was unable to pull himself back together. Several members of the medical staff came out with at least thirty stretchers to carry off the rocks that made up Golemon's body.
Aceromon was in for a surprise when he reentered the waiting area, though he didn't show his astonishment to anyone. "If it isn't the short-fused thunder-bearer," he said openly. He slowly walked towards Wufeimon, who went into a defensive posture. "Don't appear so threatened. When in the arena, I fight only for myself and not for my master's cause. Should we meet later on, we will fight on different terms than what you may be used to." He place his left hand on Wufeimon's shoulder. "I trust that you have improved yourself since the last time we met."
"You're right about that," Wufeimon replied, knocking Aceromon's arm off his shoulder . "I haven't forgotten how you spared me before, or your promise for a rematch. And I can promise you that we will have that rematch today."
Aceromon chuckled. "You're going to have to make it to the final round if you want your golden opportunity," he said. "I'll see you then…maybe." He gave a quick salute before leaving. As the Knight of Steel walked off, Wufeimon continued to look on, softly growling and clenching his fists.
It was then that he heard a feminine voice behind him. "It looks like you have a vendetta against him." Wufeimon turned around to see who was talking to him. She was a six-foot-tall humanoid fox. She had yellow fur, although the fur on her chest, stomach, and paws was white. She had on a pair of purple gloves with the Tao symbols of harmony on them. Purple designs similar to the ones on the gloves could be seen on her thighs. She was looking at the Knight with dark blue eyes.
Wufeimon turned away. "Yeah, what do you know," he said.
"I'm only telling you what I observe," the Fox Digimon replied. "Besides, your actions and tone of voice give it away."
The Knight of Thunder huffed and crossed his arms. "Well, it isn't any of your business. Who are you, anyway?"
"You may call me Renamon. And you are Wufeimon, if I'm not mistaken?"
"How do you know my name?"
"I was in the crowd when you fought in your last tournament. I can understand the frustration you're going through over that other Digimon."
"How could someone like you understand the pain I went through?"
"Perhaps I can't, but you should at least know that you aren't alone. Everyone experiences those kind of emotions from time to time. What matters is that you take each defeat and come back better and stronger than ever. Aggression has no part in this. If you fight with a clouded mind, you have no hope of ever winning."
Wufeimon gave a defeated look. "Gee, never knew I'd be taking a lesson from a Digimon I hardly even know."
"Well, we've been talking like we know each other, haven't we?" She elbowed Wufeimon in the stomach. "Come on, lighten up. As long as you do your best today, I think you're going to get your chance to face him again."
Wufeimon grinned. "Thanks. I'll give it my all."
"Will the participants in the second round please proceed to the arena?" An announcer called.
Renamon looked up. "That's me," she said. "Wish me luck." She dashed off before the Knight of Thunder could even say "good luck."
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"I don't get it," Dragoonmon said. He and Devonmon had been combing the streets for what seemed like hours, but, as usual, nothing was turning up. "Why do we even bother searching if we know that it won't come out until it's needed?"
"Can't really help it, now can we?" The Knight of Ice replied. "Who knows, there might be at least one spirit out there that wants to be found."
Dragoonmon shrugged. "And what are the odds of that?"
"Come on, stop complaining so much."
"Who says I'm complaining?"
Devonmon sighed. "You're hopeless, preacher," she muttered to herself.
"What'd you say?"
"Oh, nothing, I was just thinking, that's all."
"That's a miracle," Dragoonmon said under his breath. He jumped when he heard the extension of a set of claws by his throat. "KIDDING!" He said out loud.
Devonmon retracted her Ice Blades and sighed again. "I rest my case."
"Uh…by the way," Dragoonmon said, attempting to change the subject, "have you noticed anything strange going on?"
"What kind of things?" Devonmon asked, not sounding that interested.
"I mean, the way everyone's been acting lately. Like, Leo's becoming more and more like a leader by the day, you and Asuka beginning to open up more, and Ryan…"
"What about Ryan?"
"Well, he's been shutting himself off from us, recently. Did you see him earlier? It was as if he was in a completely different world or something."
"Yeah, you got a point there. You think something is wrong with him?"
"God I hope not. I know I'm should be acting like a big brother to him, but this kind of thing is way out of my understanding."
"A child's mind can be a complicated thing, sometimes. We should at least keep an eye on him, or else things might get worse."
"Right. Alright, now where the hell could that spirit be at?" With that, the two Knights continued on their seemingly impossible quest of finding the next spirit.
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"Can you believe it, folks?" The Wizardmon announcer said. "In less than three minutes, Renamon has completely overpowered Knightmon! Not bad for a Rookie Digimon, eh?" The crowd cheered its approval for the Fox Digimon as she headed back to the waiting area. Her opponent, a tall knight in silver and gold armor, was carefully being carried off by the medical staff.
Up in the rafters, Dataratomon was whistling like crazy. "You go, dame!" He shouted in between whistles. Around him were dozens of gold coins he had won through betting on the matches. Things were turning out surprisingly well for the Mouse Digimon, for he only came in with a few gold pieces he, er, borrowed, from Archivamon's personal account.
"Ah, it's not like he's going to miss them. Let's see now…who's fighting next…here we go…Shurimon versus…WHAT THE HELL?" Dataratomon's eyes popped out on springs when he saw Wufeimon's name on the card. "Wow, who knew that the kid was such a great fighter? I sure didn't! Wait a sec…that big lug nut sent me out to find the kid…I better tell him I found the kid before something bad happens…"
"Will the participants in the third round please proceed to the arena?"
"Oops…too late! Time to place my bet!" Dataratomon grabbed stack of coins with his tail and went straight to the betting booth.
Wufeimon entered the arena to familiar surroundings. The crowd cheered loudly, many within it remembering the Knight of Thunder. He waved to them and summoned his swallow into existence, flipping it around in extraordinary patterns and giving the audience a good show. He was interrupted by a sudden buzzing noise from behind him, and he turned to see what was causing it.
The source was an assassin Digimon clad in a white gi and a green leaf-like cloak. His hood and veil covered his face, except for his bright yellow eyes. Instead of arms and legs, he had green vine-like coils with giant three-bladed throwing stars at the ends. The stars on his arms were spinning like saws. He bowed slowly and introduced himself. "I am Shurimon, Samurai of the Autumn Wind. I do hope that you will give me a good challenge, today."
Wufeimon grinned as he brought his staff to bear. "I'll give it my best shot," he replied.
"Are the two of you ready?" Wizardmon asked. The two combatants nodded. "Then let the third match BEGIN!"
Shurimon wasted no time attacking. His throwing star arms began to spin, giving the sounds of a buzz saw. He shot his left arm forward, the coils stretching out like a bungee cord. Wufeimon ducked to avoid the strike, then leapt into the air, firing electricity from his swallow. Shurimon dodged the attack and retracted his left arm, sending out his right arm. Wufeimon blocked it with his staff as he dropped to the ground close to his opponent. He twirled the swallow around and attempted to slash Shurimon to bits. The mysterious samurai evaded the strikes and countered with his own, swinging his blades left and right. Wufeimon blocked a slash here, dodged another there, countered with his own attacks with little success. He suddenly had to jump back when the star that made up Shurimon's right leg went into action. The three blades came charging forward like a meat processor ready to grind up anything. Wufeimon resolved to running as fast as possible along the arena wall, stopping for a split second, ducking, or jumping to avoid the spinning blades that tried to cut him to ribbons.
I can't keep running forever, Wufeimon thought to himself while still evading another strike. I have to find a way to stop his attacks before it's too late. He gasped when a blade came within an inch of splitting his head open, then did a double take when he noticed that the blade was stuck in the wall. Shurimon was trying his best to retract his arm while also attacking with his free one. That's it! I've got an idea, the Knight of Thunder thought. He charged up energy in his staff and slashed vertically, slicing off the part of Shurimon's arm that held the throwing star. Shurimon shouted out in sudden pain and surprise as the rest of his arm came back to him. Anger took the surprise's place as he did a handstand, unleashing the blades on his legs. Wufeimon fell on his back to evade the double star attack, then held his swallow up to the arms while they were still extending. Electricity shot through them, and the arms instinctively dropped their throwing stars as they went stiff. Wufeimon got back to his feet as he saw his adversary collapsing from the paralysis. The Knight of Thunder aimed his staff and prepared for his ultimate attack. "Thunder Cannon!" He yelled, firing off an orb of electric energy. It collided with Shurimon and created a good-sized explosion. When the smoke cleared, the Samurai of the Autumn Wind was on the ground unconscious.
"Shurimon is eliminated by rule of knockout! Wufeimon advances to the next round!"
Up in the rafters, Dataratomon whistled his mechanical heart out. "YES! YES! YES! THE KID WON! I'M GONNA BE RICH!"
Down in the arena, Wufeimon bowed solemnly to his fallen adversary before heading back to the waiting area. Renamon was there waiting for him.
"You put on quite a performance," she said. "I never knew you had it in you."
"Neither did I," Wufeimon replied. "But what matters is that I'm in the semifinals."
"It's not going to be easy for either of us, I'm afraid. I have my match against Aceromon, and something tells me that you're going to be fighting Andromon in the next round."
"Well, good luck to the both of us, I guess," Wufeimon said, holding out his hand.
"Yes, good luck," Renamon replied, shaking the Knight of Thunder's hand.
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In another part of town, the Knights of Fire and Light were having just as much success as their companions. Then again, it wasn't like they weren't trying. Samuraimon was trying his best to keep his mind focused on the task at hand, but Halomon was acting like a scared child out in the open. She was beginning to lag behind, also.
The Knight of Fire finally noticed his friend falling behind. "Hey, Asuka, let's keep moving."
"Yeah, I know," Halomon replied. "It's…just that…" She gave a weak huff as she ducked down an alley.
Samuraimon was quick to follow. "Hey, what's the matter?" He didn't get a reply. "Come on, Asuka, talk to me. This isn't going to do us any good."
Halomon finally got the courage to speak. "Well, you remember being told about what happened here last time, right?" She leaned against the side of the building. "I just don't want to be here. I want to get out before something happens to me, again."
"Who says something else is going to happen? Hey, last time we were strangers to this place, but we know better, this time around." He put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Remember, we're all here pulling for you. We'll make sure that nothing bad happens."
Halomon gave a weak smile. "Thanks."
"No problem." Samuraimon replied. "Now will there be anything else, milady?" He asked, apparently trying to imitate Archivamon.
Halomon giggled at this show of impersonation, and in an instant her heart began beating a little faster. "Well, there is one other thing I wanted to talk to you about."
"Okay, shoot."
The Knight of Fire suddenly winced when something hit him in the back. He reached behind him and pulled out a jagged black feather, its tip covered in his blood.
Halomon stared at it in horror before she heard something else headed straight for them. "LOOK OUT!" She screamed as she brought up her shield.
A barrage of black feathers bounced off of the shield before six black shapes freefell from the roof above, cawing during the drop, and landed around the two Knights.
"Well well, look what we got here," one of the Digimon said in an Aussie accent.
"A cute little couple trying to work out their personal issues," another replied.
"You'll have to save it for a better time," a third said.
"Because we have business to attend to," a fourth added, drawing a pair of golden swords.
"No…" Halomon said, trembling. "Karatenmon…"
"You have got to be kidding me," Samuraimon said in disbelief. "These are the same bastards from before?"
"Not exactly," a fifth Karatenmon replied. "We're part of the same group who had a damn good bunch wiped out by the angel's friend."
"Your lot killed off our leader and some of our best members," the sixth added, "and we're here looking for payback."
Samuraimon drew his sword and held it out in front of him "How about I decapitate you 'lot' and put you bastards on the grill?" He threatened.
"Pretty big words for someone who's completely outnumbered," the first Karatenmon said. "Last time, that ice-bitch friend of yours had the element of surprise, but he have that advantage, today."
"Prepare to get exactly what you deserve!" The second said.
"And you, Sheila," the third warned, "should prepare to contribute to our noble cause!"
Halomon continued to step back, shaking all the while.
"Don't move," Samuraimon said to Halomon. The Knight of Light didn't want to, but she obeyed, stopping in her tracks. "I told you I was going to grill you sons-of-bitches, and that's exactly what I'm going to do!"
The Knight of Fire twisted his sword around and jabbed it into the sand. The Karatenmon charged in with their swords drawn, but were suddenly engulfed in their own separate columns of fire. The Crow Digimon cawed their cries of agony as they were roasted alive. Suddenly, the screams were cut off along with the flames. When the columns disappeared, there was nothing left of the gang but Fractal Code.
"They're…they're gone…" Halomon was staring off in terror as she sat on the ground.
Samuraimon absorbed the Fractal Code with his device, then turned to his friend. "Are you alright?" He asked. He got no reply "Damn it," he swore to himself. "That's it. Come on." He helped Halomon to her feet and gently led her back to the street. He began to type a few buttons on his device, preparing to make contact with the others. "We're getting the hell out of this place, spirit or no spirit."
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"Will the participants in the first semifinal match please proceed to the arena?"
Moments after the announcement, Renamon and Aceromon arrived. The Fox Digimon was determined to make it to the final match, but she was still a little nervous. She knew what her opponent was capable of. If she wanted to win, she would have to fight smartly and give it everything she had. Aceromon, on the other hand, had no such idle thoughts running through his mind. He was confident that he could bring down anything Renamon could throw at him. To him, this match would be like an open-shut case. The two stood their ground and waited for the battle to be called.
"Let the semifinal match BEGIN!"
Aceromon followed his normal strategy, firing the mace on his right arm as soon as the battle started. Renamon, with her lightning-fast reflexes, avoided the attack by leaping into the air. She held out her arms and shouted "Diamond Storm!" In an instant, hundreds of arrowhead-like energy structures appeared and were shot at Aceromon. The Knight of Steel retracted his mace and held it up in front of him. The Diamond Storm attack hit its mark, but it merely bounced off Aceromon's armor. The Steel Spaniard countered by firing his mace at the expected spot of descent. Renamon appeared to have been hit by the attack, but in reality she had grabbed the iron ball before it made contact with her body. In a swift movement, she gracefully landed, kneed the mace into the air, and leapt towards Aceromon. She proceeded to deliver blow after blow with her fists, then spun around and kicked him in the side. A side kick to the chest sent him to the ground.
"You're better than I thought," Aceromon said out loud, jumping back to his feet. He called upon his Iron Blade and charged in. He swung the sword diagonally, but Renamon was smarter than to take the delayed blow. She dodged to her right and grabbed Aceromon's arm, preparing to flip him over. However, she underestimated the weight of her opponent's armor, or the secrets that lay within. A compartment opened on the shoulder armor, and a single missile shot out, striking Renamon in the shoulder. The Fox Digimon jumped back, gripping her injured shoulder while doing so.
"It's time to skin you," Aceromon said, sending out his mace again. As Renamon jumped into the air, all of the remaining compartments on his shoulders opened up. "Muerto de Trueno!" He yelled, and a barrage of missiles launched simultaneously.
"Diamond Storm!" Renamon called out in retaliation. The white energy bolts were fired to counter the onslaught. Energy arrowheads met missiles, causing a good-sized explosion. Unfortunately, not all of the missiles were destroyed. The ones that remained came into contact with the Fox Digimon. A second explosion appeared alongside the first.
"RENAMON!" Wufeimon called out. His words were left unanswered, as Aceromon's opponent fell back to the sand face-first. Her body was badly burned and bruised, and it looked like she wouldn't be getting up any time soon.
Wizardmon rushed over to check the condition of Renamon, then stood up again. "Renamon is eliminated by rule of knockout! Aceromon advances to the finals!"
The crowds cheered for the Knight of Steel's victory. He didn't even give Renamon a second glance as he headed back to the waiting area.
Wufeimon came running out, rushing past Aceromon as he went to help his new friend. He knelt down besides Renamon's unmoving form. "Renamon, speak to me!" He cried, but he got no answer. Then, there was a stir as one of Renamon's hands made a fist, collecting sand. The Fox Digimon tried to get onto her back, but without success. "Are you okay?" Wufeimon asked.
"Not really," Renamon replied weakly. "That last attack took a lot out of me." She winced as a jolt of pain shot through her body.
"Don't try to move," Wufeimon said. He looked up to see a pair of medical staff members standing above him. "You've got to help her," he said to them.
"Relax, kid," One of the meds replied. "We'll take good care of her."
"She'll be back on her feet before you know it," the other added. The two helped Renamon onto the stretcher before picking it up and carrying her off.
"There will be time for pity, later," a robotic voice said. "Right now we have our match." Wufeimon turned to see a ten-foot-tall Machine Digimon with an unusual build. His silver armor made him look mechanical, but his limbs appeared to be that of pink and black flesh and bone. The top half of his head was covered by a silver mask, though his deep red eyes were clearly visible.
Wufeimon stood up, his head down and his hands in tight fists. "Stay…out…of…my…way," he said through clenched teeth. "I have a rematch with Aceromon, and I won't let anything stop me, especially not a hunk of junk like you."
The Andromon frowned. "You will pay for your insults with your life," he decreed, his right arm changing into a spiraled sword. Wufeimon brought out his swallow and immediately began charging up electrical energy. His rage took over as he conjured up enough power to do the deed he needed to do.
Wizardmon called the match. "Let the semifinal match BEGIN!"
"Gattling Missile!" Andromon yelled, his chest compartment opening up, a pair of missiles firing from within.
"THUNDER CANNON!" Wufeimon roared, a bigger-than-normal blast of electricity firing from his swallow. It met the missiles in mid-flight, causing them to explode. The attack continued it's incredibly fast streak and hit Andromon full-force. The Android Digimon screamed as he was hit by hundreds of thousands of volts of electricity, the attack shutting down many of his functions. He fell to the sand, unable to move anything.
Wizardmon sweat dropped. "Uh…Andromon is eliminated by rule of knockout! Wufeimon advances to the finals!"
Up in the rafters, Dataratomon was laughing his head off. He was surrounded by stacks upon stacks of gold. All of his betting was paying off. "Well, time to make my final bet!" He said. He was somehow able to gather up all of his winnings and carry it off to the betting booth; he was determined to double his winnings on one final bet…
As Andromon was carried off the battleground, Wufeimon shouted his challenge. "ACEROMON!" Electricity rose into the air like streams of light. "YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE! COME OUT HERE AND FACE ME LIKE A MAN! I WANT TO END THIS RIGHT NOW!" The crowds received this show of anger with mixed emotions, then cheered when Aceromon came out again.
The Knight of Steel was inwardly grinning at Wufeimon's determination. "You want your rematch so soon? As you wish. Prepare to experience a power you would never even dream of!"
Wizardmon stared at each Knight, then made a decision. "Alright, if you two want to fight right now, then let the final match BEGIN!"
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Back in town, Samuraimon and Halomon had met up with Dragoonmon and Devonmon. They were waiting for Archivamon and Wufeimon to come back.
"Where are they?" Samuraimon asked. "It shouldn't take them this long to get here, should it?"
"Why in such a rush?" Dragoonmon asked. "It's not like we're in a hurry or anything to leave, are we?"
"You didn't go through what Asuka had to go through," the Knight of Fire replied. He indicated to Halomon, who was sitting at the fountain, looking at her reflection in the water.
"This place really is too dangerous," Devonmon said, "but we can't exactly leave without the spirit, can we?"
Samuraimon sighed. "I don't know." He then saw Archivamon headed towards him. "Where's Ryan?"
"I have no idea," Archivamon replied with worry in his voice. "We got separated, and Dataratomon and I split up to try and find him. But now I can't find either of them."
"Why the hell would Ryan go off on his own?" Dragoonmon asked. The group's chain of thought was interrupted by the sound of thunder. They turned to see bolts of lightning shooting up into the air. "Good God…"
Archivamon checked his scanners and confirmed Ryan's energy signature. "It's him, alright. And according to this, he's at…the coliseum…"
"He didn't…" Devonmon started to say.
"Damn it all…" Samuraimon said. "Let's move!" The Knights made a dash towards the coliseum, Archivamon close behind.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The match had only gone on for a minute, but both Knights were going at it. Wufeimon, having learned his lesson from last time, had decided to take a paced approach to battling Aceromon. Instead of going all-out, he was using methodical moves, switching between attacking with his staff or firing shots of electricity from it. Aceromon was taking the same approach as before, saving his best moves for last while against his other nemesis.
The Steel Spaniard got the upper hand when Wufeimon lost his balance on the sand. He slammed his mace into Wufeimon's gut, then brought his arm back and slapped the Knight away. As Wufeimon hit the dirt, he quickly rolled to the side to avoid getting chopped in half by Aceromon's sword. He fired another electric shot from his staff as he got back to his feet. He then began to twirl his staff around, charging towards Aceromon in the process. The Knight of Steel fired his mace at Wufeimon, and he was in for a shock when the Knight of Thunder exploded, electrical power coursing through his body. He heard a battle cry from above and looked up in time to see the real Wufeimon freefalling, still twirling his swallow. His strike managed to cut the chain the mace was attached to and also knock away Aceromon's sword. Wufeimon hit the ground and leaped up again, kicking the Knight of Steel with both of his feet. Aceromon stumbled backwards, but remained on his feet.
"You have certainly improved yourself," Aceromon said, "but in the end, it won't be enough to stop me." His shoulder compartments opened up as he shouted "Muerto de Trueno!" Missiles fired, aimed at Wufeimon.
Wufeimon was already in the process of charging up electricity through his staff. "THUNDER CANNON!" He yelled as he used his ultimate attack again. Energy met missiles, creating an explosion and filling the arena with smoke and sand. Wufeimon was unable to see a thing, so he was not expecting Aceromon to come straight at him. He was grabbed by the throat by a mechanical hand, and he was raised above the ground. Wufeimon cocked back his right hand and tried to punch Aceromon, but the fist was grabbed by the Steel Spaniard's free hand. Wufeimon's memories came back to haunt him as he heard a familiar cracking noise.
"It's hopeless," Aceromon said, preparing to completely crush Wufeimon's hand and windpipe. "You've lost. You have not acquired the power necessary to progress. You have never beaten me, and you never will. You will die in shame, never being able to protect the ones you hold dear. And worst of all…you will die a weakling."
Aceromon's words struck Wufeimon's final nerve. Thoughts and memories of his friends, his sister, and his goals flashed through his mind in an instant. He lost focus of reality, his inner rage finally taking complete control. "I…AM…NOT…A…WEAKLING!" He roared, his eyes turning a deep crimson. An explosion of electrical energy shot outward, forcing Aceromon to release his grips.
Suddenly, an orb of light emerged from the sand and floated in front of Wufeimon, who was still hovering in midair. It hit his pant's pocket and entered his device. The Thunder kanji returned as Wufeimon was surrounded by Fractal Code once again.
"EXECUTE! DRAGON SPIRIT EVOLUTION! RAYDENMON!"
By this time, the smoke had cleared, and the crowd gasped and screamed at the being that now flew above their heads. In the air was a thirty-foot-long white dragon. It had black armor on its head and on its short limbs. The beast had a large head with blood-red eyes and an impressive set of teeth. A long row of spikes went all the way down his back. The air around him crackled with electricity.
Aceromon could only look on in disbelief at the dreaded monster he had helped to create.
The rest of the Chosen had just arrived at the coliseum and had reached the rafters. They shared the same expressions as everyone else.
"Is that Ryan?" Halomon managed to ask.
"It is," Archivamon said, confirming it with his energy scans. "He has found his Dragon spirit."
"Look," Samuraimon said, pointing at the ground. "That's Aceromon."
"He's in a match with him?" Devonmon asked.
"Oh God…" Dragoonmon said. "I think I've got it, now. Ever since we left here, last time, that battle he had with Aceromon must have been on his mind. He must have been inwardly screaming for a rematch with him."
"His deepest desires must have unlocked the Dragon spirit from its slumber," Archivamon thought. "He now has more than enough power to get what he wants."
"Then why does he look so ferocious?" Halomon asked. "He's never looked that way, before."
"Hidden emotions can do crazy stuff to you," Samuraimon replied. "I guess Ryan's just happens to be rage."
The new Dragon Digimon, whom had announced himself as Raydenmon, roared out loud, shaking the coliseum. "PLASMA STRIKE!" He called, energy forming around the long jagged horn on his helmet.
The blast was tremendous, and there was no way Aceromon could avoid being hit. The attack hit its mark, and Aceromon was sent crashing into the arena wall, instantly knocking him unconscious.
Wizardmon saw the move as clear as day. "Uh…Aceromon is eliminated by rule of knockout! Wufeimon…" He was cut off when another Plasma Strike struck the ground near him. "HOLY CHALUPAS!" He yelled. "I don't get paid enough for this! I'M OUTTA HERE!" He made a mad dash to the nearest exit and managed to escape another Plasma Strike.
"WHAT?" Dataratomon yelled. "If he didn't announce the winner, then I don't get my double winnings! NOOOOO!"
He would have shed oil tears, had a shot of electricity not struck the seats above him. "EEK! TIME TO GO!" He spied Archivamon and shot towards him. "LET ME IN!" He cried, opening the rear compartment and ducking inside. The Machine Digimon was about to ask what was going on, but there was no time for that.
The coliseum was in a state of panic as Raydenmon went ballistic, firing off attacks in every direction. The Digimon in the crowds were screaming their heads off as they tried desperately to escape the building without getting incinerated.
"He's gone out of control!" Halomon screamed.
"He's lost control over his spirit!" Archivamon cried.
"We've got to stop him!" Samuraimon said, running down towards the arena. "Come on!" The other Knights followed in unison.
"How can we stop him without hurting him?" Devonmon asked, extending her Ice Blades.
"We can't!" Dragoonmon replied. "Dragon Fist!" He punched upward and unleashed an energy dragon. It struck Raydenmon in the belly, but all it did was get his attention. The Dragon Digimon stared down at the ones who had attacked him.
"Ryan!" Samuraimon called out. "It's us, your friends! Come down here and let's talk!"
Raydenmon roared in defiance and fired off another Plasma Strike. A clear shield appeared before the Knights and blocked the attack. Halomon stood with her arms extended in front of her, but she looked fatigued, as if deflecting such a tremendous force took a lot out of her.
"Stop it, Ryan!" Devonmon yelled. "We don't want to hurt you!"
"Listen to her," Dragoonmon said. "We only want to help you!"
"Regain control over yourself!" Samuraimon said. "It's the only way to stop this madness!"
The only answer they received was yet another Plasma Strike. This time, the shield shattered when the attack hit. In an instant, all of the Knights were engulfed by the blast of electricity. The four collapsed on the ground, but they were still conscious.
"OH NO!" Archivamon yelled. "GET UP!"
Raydenmon roared as he charged up another Plasma Strike, preparing to end it once and for all.
"Wufeimon!" A voice called. Raydenmon turned his head to see Renamon, parts of her body wrapped in bandages and her right arm in a sling. The Dragon Digimon roared again, firing his charged up Plasma Strike. Renamon jumped to avoid the attack, and landed, although painfully.
"Listen to me!" She said. "Have you forgotten what I had told you? You have given in to your inner rage, and it has blinded you from reality. You must regain control, or you will never truly get what you desire! Remember what I said!"
Raydenmon stared back in confusion. He looked down, searching his recent memories, trying to find the answer to the situation…
"…What matters is that you take each defeat and come back better and stronger than ever. Aggression has no part in this. If you fight with a clouded mind, you have no hope of ever winning."
"I…I…REMEMBER…" Raydenmon managed to say. Suddenly, a sharp pain hit him, and he gripped his head with his front limbs, roaring in agony. The Dragon Digimon hit the ground with incredible force, and the sand was kicked up as Fractal Code appeared.
When the Fractal Code vanished, Ryan was on his hands and knees, panting like crazy. Renamon slowly made her way towards him and knelt beside him. The Knights managed to get back up and walked over to their friend. "What…have I done?" Ryan asked weakly, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"You have discovered what you need to do," Renamon replied.
A distance away, Archivamon was headed towards the scene. He tapped a few buttons on his wrists and activated his communicator. "We have it," he said. "Get us out of here."
A moment later, a white portal appeared behind the group.
"Let's get out of here," Dragoonmon said. He, Devonmon and Halomon turned and headed for the portal.
Samuraimon helped Ryan to his feet. "Come on, Ryan," he said, "let's go." Ryan was still looking down, a shamed look on his face. "You going to be alright?"
Ryan gave no reply, instead turning to face Renamon, a solemn look in her eyes. "Thank you," he said, "for helping me through this."
Renamon nodded. At Ryan's lead, he and Samuraimon joined Archivamon in entering the portal. As soon as they went through, the portal of light vanished, leaving a Fox Digimon with her thoughts and her hopes for another battle…
To be continued…
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
One disaster leads to another as the Knight of Water makes her next move against the Chosen. Deep feelings will be revealed, and seeds of hatred will take root. In the end, a horrific burst of fury will bloom. Will anyone survive this experience?
Next time: Passion and Rage Burn! Enfermon's Hellfire!