Cut off from the Legendary Warriors, Shoutmon X3 and AncientVolcanomon continued to fight, while Cutemon and Mikey watched on.
"Big Bang Boom!" AncientVolcanomon yelled, firing blast of concentrated lava from the volcano on his back that struck Shoutmon X3 into the wall.
"Shoutmon X3!" Mikey called out in concern.
"Don't worry Mikey. We're tougher then the first time we took on this hothead." Shoutmon X3 reassured as he resumed to fight AncientVolcanomon, who suddenly asked curiously. "If I may ask, your majesty, why do you keep fighting when you can join the Light?"
"It's because I'd never join forces with someone who just intends to enslave us with his evil!" Shoutmon X3 stated in reply, never wanting to see the Digital World he worked so hard to make peaceful turned into a white nightmare.
"You have it all backwards. Master Sartorius has brought the Light to the Magma Zone." AncientVolcanomon replied, holding out another White Spiral, before saying. "And through you, we can spread it across the entire Digital World."
"Keep your Spirals to yourself!" Shoutmon X3 called back, throwing one of the rocks from the wall of debris and knocking the White Spiral out of AncientVolcanomon's hand. "The way I see it, Sartorius is just like Bagramon. Another evil that wants to enslave us."
"Master Sartorius is different. He's a great leader and a genius." AncientVolcanomon replied, before chuckling as he then explained. "In fact while you all have been busy against us, he's secretly has plans for some kid named Naruto."
"Naruto?" Mikey questioned, hearing of the blond before his departure.
"Oops. Think I might've said too much." AncientVolcanomon replied, slightly embarrassed, before stating. "Doesn't matter though. Since you cannot see the error of your ways, I'll just destroy you all!"
"Big Bang Boom!" AncientVolcanomon yelled, firing another blast of lava at Shoutmon X3, Mikey and Cutemon.
"Varooma-Boomerang!" Shoutmon X3 shouted as he unleashed a beam from the 'V' shaped crest on his chest that collided with AncientVolcanomon's lava, before he exclaimed as his power intensified. "When you mess with my friends, you mess with me!"
AncientVolcanomon watched on in shock as Shoutmon X3's energy increased in power and size, blasting right through his lava, before the energy struck AncientVolcanomon down, knocking him back, to which he groaned out and then noticed the White Spiral beside him.
"Time to finish this." Shoutmon X3 stated as he charged at AncientVolcanomon, before he jumped into the air, pulled his right arm back and exclaimed. "High Atmospheric Pressure!"
As Shoutmon X3 shot down, AncientVolcanomon brought his arms out to his chest, as if to defend himself, before he and Shoutmon X3 were consumed in a massive explosion of dust upon collision.
"Alright! Way to go Shoutmon X3!" Mikey called out, glad to see the Fusion Fighters had won.
With the dust fading, Mikey could see AncientVolcanomon, lying on his back, while the White Spiral was slowly cracking.
However, there was something wrong with Shoutmon X3.
Shoutmon X3 dropped to his left knee and began groaning out in distress, causing Mikey to call out to him in concern, before he was interrupted when AncientVolcanomon said weakly. "I may've failed you Master... But not before sharing the Light with the Digimon King..."
As AncientVolcanomon's White Spiral shattered, Mikey was confused by what he had said, that was until Shoutmon X3 groaned out again, clenching his head in pain and revealing AncientVolcanomon managed to place the White Spiral on Shoutmon X3's right arm.
"Shoutmon X3!" Mikey yelled in concern as Shoutmon X3 continued to write and cry out, feeling the impurities of the Light force itself within his body, mind and Data, before his body was consumed by light and he reverted back to Shoutmon, Ballistamon and Dorulumon, who all fell to the ground and looked pretty injured.
"Guys, are you alright?" Mikey asked in concern, in which Ballistamon and Dorulumon managed to get to their feet, before Dorulumon said. "Barely. But now we have a bigger problem. Shoutmon's infected."
"What!?" Mikey questioned, before looking upon Shoutmon, whose head was down, but an unpleasant smile appeared on the Digimon King's face, while the same White Spiral that had been forced upon Shoutmon X3 had shrunk and was now fastened around Shoutmon's arm.
"Shoutmon!" Mikey called out in concern, "It's no use trying to reach him. When we were combined, we all felt the Light corrupting us. Shoutmon knew that if we remained as one, we'd all wind up as Sartorius' pawns.
"So he put that burden upon himself." Cutemon asked, making Dorulumon nod in reply.
"I see I was wrong, Mikey." Shoutmon then said, gaining everyone's attention, as he lifted his head up, revealing his blue eyes had turned violet, before he then announced. "Master Sartorius shall bring the Light to the Digital World!"
"C'mon Shoutmon, snap out of it!" Mikey yelled out.
Hearing Mikey's plea failed to reach Shoutmon, as he replied. "You are in no position to boss me around Mikey. I am Shoutmon, the Digimon King. And with my power I will make you all see the Light!"
Mikey pulled out his Fusion Loader, ready to return Shoutmon, Ballistamon and Dorulumon in order to help them recover and remove the infectious grasp the Light had on Shoutmon.
But before he could, Dorulumon suddenly yelled out. "Mikey don't! If Shoutmon enters the Fusion Loader, he'll just infect the others."
"And I can still feel some of the Light in my circuitry." Ballistamon added, telling Mikey that they may accidently corrupt his Digimon inside his Fusion Loader and cause a revolution against the Red General.
"The only way we can save Shoutmon right now is to break that Spiral." Ballistamon said, both stepping forward as they were determined to save their friend.
Shoutmon only smirked at their actions, before saying in a harsh tone. "You actually think you can beat me? In case you forgot I'm the only one of you losers who can actually Digivolve."
"Too bad Mikey's the only one here who can use the Fusion Loader. So look's like you're out of luck." Cutemon replied, which caused Shoutmon to reply in a sly tone. "We'll see about that."
Suddenly, the Fusion Loader began to glow, as did Shoutmon, confusing and shocking Mikey, Cutemon, Ballistamon and Dorulumon as to what was happening.
"Mikey? Mikey can you hear me?" A familiar voice asked, in which Mikey held up his Fusion Loader to see Wisemon's face on the screen.
"Wisemon?" Mikey questioned.
"Mikey, listen you don't have much time. After so much access to your Fusion Loader, Shoutmon is now stealing its energy in order to give him enough power to Digivolve on his own." Wisemon replied in warning.
"No way!" Mikey replied in a shocked tone.
"I'm afraid way. And if he isn't stopped, you won't be able to Digifuse." Wisemon told Mikey.
With that said, Ballistamon and Dorulumon quickly jumped at Shoutmon's glowing form, hoping to stop him.
However, the energy that consumed Shoutmon's body erupted in a shockwave that pushed back Ballistamon and Dorulumon, while Shoutmon Digivolved into OmniShoutmon.
"Too late." OmniShoutmon said, as the corrupt king was ready to take down those he once saw as his friends.
"Not if we have anything to say about it." Ballistamon replied, before turning to Mikey and called out. "Mikey, quickly Digifuse us."
"But how can you without Shoutmon?" Mikey asked.
"Well you'll never know if you don't try." Cutemon said in reply, to which Mikey nodded as he then held up his Fusion Loader and yelled in determination. "Digifuse!"
"Ballistamon!"
"Dorulumon!"
Ballistamon and Dorulumon called out as they used their combined energy.
And thanks to their bonds and determination to save Shoutmon, they were able to maintain a single entity, to which he then exclaimed in Shoutmon's voice. "Shoutmon X3!"
"Impressive." OmniShoutmon commented upon seeing that the pair had successfully Digifused, before saying. "But let's see how you fare against me."
"Gladly. Varooma-Boomerang!" Shoutmon X3 yelled in reply as he then launched another beam form his 'V' shaped crest, hitting OmniShoutmon dead on and causing him to skid back several feet as he managed to maintain his stance, before Shoutmon X3 got in close and began to bombard the corrupted king with a series of punches.
However, OmniShoutmon showed no damage from the attacks and then countered as he dodged the oncoming punches and began to strike Shoutmon X3.
With punch after punch, OmniShoutmon continued attacking, while Shoutmon X3 tried his hardest to defend himself, but could feel his energy slowly being drained with each strike.
{I don't know how much longer I can hold out.} Ballistamon mentally told Dorulmon.
{Same here. Without Shoutmon, our power is greatly reduced and our form is unstable.} Dorulumon replied, before he stated. {But I won't give up on Shoutmon!}
{Same here.} Ballistamon replied, before saying in a determined tone through Shoutmon X3, in Shoutmon's voice. "Shoutmon, you saved me from my evils in the past, now it is time I repaid you by saving you from yours'!"
"High Atmospheric Pressure!" Shoutmon X3 exclaimed as he ignored the blows delivered upon him and struck OmniShoutmon in the chest, before throwing him into the air, in which Shoutmon X3 then shouted loudly. "Varooma-Boomerang!"
Unable to escape the attack, OmniShoutmon was struck by the blast, causing a massive explosion to erupt in the air, making Mikey call out. "Nice shot, guys!"
However, as the smoke from the explosion cleared, it revealed OmniShoutmon didn't receive so much as a scratch, leaving the Fusion Fighters stunned and speechless.
"Now it's my turn to show you what real power looks like. Victorize Banking!" OmniShoutmon exclaimed, firing a V-shaped blast of energy from his forehead right at Shoutmon X3, who was unable to dodge the attack and cried out before he split back into Ballistamon and Dorulumon.
"Ballistamon! Dorulumon!" Mikey called out in concern for them, before OmniShoutmon took this chance and prepared to finish them off, seeing his former friends all lined up and at his mercy.
"Twin Fireball Strike!" OmniShoutmon exclaimed as he launched two fireballs from his hands right at Mikey, Cutemon, Ballistamon and Dorulumon.
But suddenly, the cave's roof burst open above them, followed by an energy blast that struck OmniShoutmon's fireballs, causing the attacks to collide in an explosion as they canceled each other out and saving Mikey and the others from oblivion.
And then a black feather fell from the sky as a friend to Mikey and the Fusion Fighters appeared, ready to aid them in saving Shoutmon from the Light's control.
"Beelzemon!" Mikey called out, happy to see his comrade once again.
"It's good to see you again, my friend." Beelzemon replied, before saying in a serious tone. "But we have no time to waste. Digifuse me so we can save Shoutmon from himself."
"You got it!" Mikey shouted in a determined reply as he then exclaimed. "Digifuse!"
"Ballistamon!"
"Dorulumon!"
"Starmon"
"Pickmons"
"Beelzemon!"
"Digifuse!" They all shouted simultaneously, filled with further determination to save the Digimon King, before Starmon and the Pickmons shared their power as they combined into the Star Sword, while Beelzemon increased their power further with his artillery, creating...
"Shoutmon X4B!"
"Doom Drillpress!" OmniShoutmon shouted, wasting no time, as he leapt at Shoutmon X4B, while his feet began to spin at an intense speed, in which OmniShoutmon planned to tear Shoutmon X4B to pieces.
But Shoutmon X4B managed to counter with his great speed and reflexes, bring up the Star Sword to defend himself, causing OmniShoutmon's blade-like feet to grind against the sword as Shoutmon X4B held his ground, before he slashed forward, causing OmniShoutmon to jump back and into the air.
"Heavy Metal Vulcan!" OmniShoutmon then roared out as he began to fire a hail of shots from his chest, while Shoutmon X4B fired a barrage of green coloured energy bullets from his side mounted Gatling guns that hit each of OmniShoutmon's shots and leaving him vulnerable to a counter attack.
"Chaos Flare Cannon!" Shoutmon X4B announced, firing a powerful blast of green energy from his chest cannon that hit OmniShoutmon and blasted him to the ground.
As OmniShoutmon began to get up, his body began to tremble, while he clenched his fists tightly.
"Enough of this!" OmniShoutmon snapped in a mixture of anger and annoyance as his body was surrounded by a sickly white aura that began to take form of a violet eyed Omnimon, to which he yelled. "Omega the Fusion!"
OmniShoutmon launched all of his power right at Shoutmon X4B, expecting his power to consume and rid him of his former friends.
But to his shock, Shoutmon X4B was able to stop the attack as he held up the Star Blade, which clashed then against Omnimon's and managed to hold him back.
"Chaos Flare Cannon!" Shoutmon X4B then exclaimed as he fired another blast that shot into the Omnimon shaped energy, creating an unstable and powerful force, before the attacks erupted and exploded, throwing Shoutmon X4B back as he split back to his Digimon components, while OmniShoutmon De-Digivolved as he too was thrown back from the sheer power of the blast.
Enraged, Shoutmon got to his feet and yelled in fury. "I... won't lose... I can't lose... The Light shall destroy you all!"
The Fusion Loader began to glow once again, only this time Mikey heard Wisemon groan out, causing him to ask in a worried tone. "Wisemon, what's wrong?"
"There's not enough energy left for Shoutmon to Digivolve so he's draining all our Data instead." Wisemon replied in a weakened tone of voice.
"What!?" Mikey questioned in shock and concern.
"If Shoutmon isn't stopped, he'll absorb all our Data... You must hurry Mikey..." Wisemon replied, his voice growing weaker.
"Try to hang on. I'll think of something." Mikey told Wisemon in reply, but thought to himself. 'But what can we do?'
Mikey was then brought out of his thought as Ballistamon said, getting back to his feet as he spoke. "Mikey, I think have an idea but you're not going to like it. Digifuse me with Shoutmon."
"What are you thinking?" Dorulumon asked, before saying. "If you do then you'll be infected too."
"He's right. It's too dangerous." Mikey said, concerned for Ballistamon.
But Ballistamon ignored the warnings and replied in a serious tone. "Mikey, I know the risks. I also know Shoutmon needs a friend. And I'll do whatever it takes to save him."
Knowing that Shoutmon and Ballistamon's bond as best friends was strong, Mikey then nodded in agreement, placing the fate of Shoutmon, the Fusion Fighters and the Digital World in Ballistamon's hands.
"Hey Shoutmon!" Mikey called out, getting Shoutmon's attention as he ceased draining more Data and watched as Mikey held the Fusion Loader towards him.
"If you want power then come and get it!" Mikey yelled as his Fusion loader lit up; with what energy it had left and fueled the Digimon pair.
"Shoutmon!"
"Ballistamon!"
"Digifuse!" Shoutmon and Ballistamon called out together as they combined as one, before Shoutmon announced. "Shoutmon X2!"
Upon seeing he had Digifused, Shoutmon X2 told Mikey. "This was your plan? Pathetic. Just like me, soon Ballistamon will see the error of his ways and will join the Light."
"Say goodbye Mikey." Shoutmon X2 said as electricity began to circulate before him, before he began to say. "With this attack, you will be..."
However, Shoutmon X2 suddenly stopped speaking as he felt an intensity of confliction build up inside his body, causing him to write and groan out.
-Meanwhile: With Ballistamon-
Ballistamon was floating in what seemed like an endless sea of white light, revealing he was now inside Shoutmon's warped mind.
"This place could really do with a paintjob." Ballistamon commented, before looking around for his Shoutmon.
Swimming through the light as he continued to search for his best friend and free him from the impure Light, Ballistamon was suddenly restrained as ropes of light shot out and wrapped around his arms, chest and legs.
"What is this?" Ballistamon questioned as he tried to break free, only for a voice full of evil to say. "This is your fate, Ballistamon."
Suddenly a large mass of light appeared before Ballistamon, revealing a pair of sinister red coloured eyes, a wicked mouth and, most shocking to Ballistamon, Shoutmon, whose arms and legs were bound to the light's body, while his eyes were glazed over.
"Shoutmon!" Ballistamon yelled in concern, only for the Light to laugh and reply. "There is no point in talking to him."
"What did you do to him?" Ballistamon questioned in demand.
"I have bound Shoutmon to my will. He is my puppet, to do with as I wish." The Light replied.
"Not if I can help it!" Ballistamon snapped back, trying to break free once again, to which the Light laughed and stated. "I already told you Ballistamon, this is your fate and you cannot escape it."
"Says who?" Ballistamon asked.
"I do, the Light of Destruction!" It replied, before the light binding Ballistamon began to tighten, causing him to groan out as he could feel it trying to invade and corrupt him.
"Soon you too shall become like Shoutmon and the many others who serve me. Another of my slaves, to use how I desire and to help me conquer both worlds." The Light stated in an arrogant tone, watching as Ballistamon's eyes turned violet, before laughing upon seeing the robot Digimon's suffering.
"No... I won't..." Ballistamon suddenly groaned out as his eyes returned to yellow.
"I will never join the side of evil again and more important I will save Shoutmon!" Ballistamon then exclaimed as he then unleashed all his might and broke free from his bindings.
"Impossible! It was your destiny to serve me!" The Light of Destruction yelled as the light binding Ballistamon dispersed.
"Nothing is impossible when you have believe in yourself and your friends, something an oversized nightlight like you would never understand." Ballistamon replied in a determined tone, before he yelled in all his might. "Ultimate Speaker!"
Ballistamon then unleashed all his energy in the for of a sonic wave that struck the Light of Destruction, causing it to cry out agonizingly as it was unable to withstand Ballistamon's power and dispersed, freeing Shoutmon from its grasp.
-Outside of Shoutmon's mind-
Back in the cave Shoutmon X2 was groaning out intensely.
His eyes tightly shut as he grasped the White Spiral, before everyone watched in awe as Shoutmon X2 was consumed in by light.
And when the light down died, Mikey and the others were amazed to see Ballistamon, who was standing next to Shoutmon, who no longer had the White Spiral attached to his arm, while his eyes had returned to normal.
"Shoutmon!" Mikey called out happily, glad to see his Digimon partner was free from the Light's control, in which he was unable to help himself but to rush over to Shoutmon and hug him.
"It's good to have you back." Mikey told Shoutmon softly as he continued to embrace his friend, before turning to Ballistamon.
"Thank you." Mikey said in gratitude, to which Ballistamon replied, glad to have Shoutmon back to his old self too. "It was nothing."
"Mikey!" He and the others heard Zoe call out, making them turn to see the Legendary Warriors and Digimon Tamers running over to him.
"Henry, Rika? What are you guys doing here?" Mikey asked, before saying. "I thought we were going to meet you back outside."
"We bumped into each other after we beat our Gogglehead." Rika replied, as Takato was lying on Henry's back, unconscious, while Renamon was carrying Guilmon's prone form.
And lastly, Koji had Takuya to look after.
"After we found Shinya. And a little more than that." Zoe added, before Shinya stated proudly. "That's right. I'm a Legendary Warrior now!"
Though Mikey was glad to hear Shinya was now part of the Digimon hero team, the General of the Fusion Fighters replied in a serious tone. "That's great, but something's seriously wrong here."
"Mikey's right there's more to this than a simple attack. In fact, AncientVolcanomon told us himself." Beelzemon said, turning to the volcanic Digimon, who groaned as he got back up.
"My head feels all weird. What happened?" AncientVolcanomon asked himself, before noticing Mikey, Shoutmon and the others, causing him to kneel in respect to the Digimon King and ask. "Your majesty what are you doing here and what's with all the humans? Is it take a human to work day?"
"No." Shoutmon replied, before asking. "Are you alright?"
"I am now. Thank you, Shoutmon." AncientVolcanomon replied.
"Just doing my job." Shoutmon said in modesty, before AncientVolcanomon told the Digimon Tamers and the Legendary Warriors in a serious tone. "But listen, you lot have to get back to the Real World right now."
Curiously, Calumon asked. "Why? What's the rush?"
"It's Naruto, right?" Shoutmon guessed, in which AncientVolcanomon nodded and said. "I don't remember much but Sartorius wants the kid for his destructive power inside of him so he can control it and use it to destroy the Chosen Duelists, whatever that means."
As Shoutmon began to explain what had happened, Mikey tried to get in contact with Tagiru's team, but only picked up static.
"Yuu... Nene... Tagiru... Can any of you hear me...?" Mikey asked, hoping to hear a reply and not more static.
"Mikey?" Mikey then heard Yuu ask after waiting a while, making him ask back in reply. "Yuu? I'm glad to finally hear from you guys. What happened?"
"Long story." Yuu replied.
"Listen carefully, I don't know how longer I can stay in touch. But there's something you must know. This whole invasion was a set up." Mikey told Yuu, before he heard Tagiru question. "A set up?"
"It turned out Sartorius never intended to invade the Digital World or get Shoutmon under his control. His real target is someone named Naruto Uzumaki." Mikey replied.
"That doesn't make any sense. Why go through so much trouble just to get to some kid?" Mikey then heard Nene ask, in which he replied. "Naruto's no ordinary kid. He has power that would be seriously dangerous if Sartorius got his hands on it."
"Whatever Sartoius is planning must be stopped." Shoutmon stated after seeing the chaos he had caused to just one Zone, making Mikey nod in agreement, before saying to the others. "Meet us back at the castle. Mikey out."
With that done, Mikey got his Fusion Loader ready and called out 'Zone Transfer', creating another portal, which they entered to return to the Forest Zone and meet up with the Digidestined and the remainder of the Fusion Fighters.