Chapter 24

Battle for Wizardmon: Part 1

Everyone made their way cautiously into the large room, which a few recognised from the year before, and in Gatomon's case, tried to ignore any painful recollections. As they entered and stopped in the middle of the room, they looked around uncertainly.

'Wizardmon?' Gatomon called out. 'Wizardmon! I'm here! I... need to talk to you...'

After a minute, they saw a shape come through the window, and Wizardmon's shape manifested. Many of the digimon seemed rather spooked by his presence.

'That's... Wizardmon?' Agumon asked. 'It's... terrible, that he's still trapped here.'

Wizardmon gazed down at Gatomon, with the same look of anguish on his face the year before.

'Gatomon?' His voice echoed, seemingly from no discernible source. 'Why are you here? I know it causes you great pain... to see me like this...'

Gatomon lowered her eyes. 'I know. But... I wanted to try and help you, Wizardmon, if there's a way...'

'If only there were, Gatomon...'

Wizardmon sounded so hopeless that a tear welled in Gatomon's eye as she looked at him. 'But we think there is! Izzy has a plan...'

'That's right, Wizardmon.' Izzy stepped forward. 'I believe I can help you. I can generate a link to the digital world, to allow your data to travel back there.'

Wizardmon gazed past them in wonder. 'The Digital World... it seems like forever since I last saw it. I can't even remember what it was like... when we were there, Gatomon.'

Gatomon looked at him worriedly. 'You don't sound very convinced.'

'As sound as your plan may be, I just... I've been here too long, Gatomon. I don't think things can go back to the way they were.'

Gatomon shook her head. 'I still want to try, even if there's the slightest chance... I want to help.'

Agumon spoke up. 'We all do.'

Gabumon nodded. 'You did a lot for us in your time, Wizardmon. Without you, we wouldn't have the eighth digidestined, nor could we have defeated Myotismon as easily, if at all.'

Gratitude entered Wizardmon's eyes. 'Yes... thank you, all of you. I'm tired of being trapped here, with no aim or purpose. Do what you can, Izzy. You've given me more hope than I've had... in a long time. Is there... anything I need to do?'

Izzy approached the nearby terminal and connected his laptop and digivice. 'You only need remain near this terminal, and be ready to enter the portal when I've finished uploading the code. I won't be able to keep it stable for long.'

'Are you aware of the danger of this portal?' Wizardmon asked.

Tai nodded. 'We do. Most likely the portal will let some other digimon out.'

Wizardmon nodded. 'I am aware of their presence. And I can tell they are powerful digimon. There may be a few of them as well...'

'How do you know?' Tai asked.

'I can hear their voices, constantly whispering. The things they speak of... they are terrible. Yet another reason I wish to leave this place.'

Izzy nodded. 'You should remain hidden when we open the portal, and only reappear when it's safe, or when the portal's about to close.'

Wizardmon nodded, and his ghostly form retreated back through the window. 'I'll be waiting... thank you.'

Everyone looked towards Izzy nervously. 'Alright, I'll get started... this may take a while.'

After a few tense minutes, Izzy finally finished. 'Prodigious! I've got a stable link. Now to start the upload... get ready everyone. You too, Tentomon.'

Everyone tensed in anticipation for a portal to open. After a few moments, one indeed slowly manifested itself. The data that pulsed looked different from before, however, as if the data was corrupted, and small dark shapes streamed from it.

Suddenly, a deep hiss sounded from within the portal, and it echoed out into the room, sending shivers down everyone's spine.

'I've got a bad feeling about this...' TK said.

The hissing continued, and another source sounded.

'Calumon,' Patamon began, 'you should hide. It won't be safe for you.'

'They're coming!' Calumon pointed at the portal before flying through the door they just came in.

Two large shapes emerged as the portal expanded. They were two hulking, stooped creatures with extra long arms, an enormous gaping jaw with many eyes, and an odd egg shell for a body.

Gatomon almost screamed at the sight of them. 'What are those things!?'

Instead of answering, the two creatures stared at Gatomon with dozens of beaded eyes. They also glanced at Agumon.

Kari stood back slightly. 'Why are they just... standing there? Wait...' she peered at them closer. 'That egg body looks kind of familiar.'

Matt gave a small gasp. 'It looks like the body of a Digitamamon!'

Kari cupped her mouth in slight horror. 'I hope one wasn't that one we knew from before... oh, that would be horrible...'

Guilmon frowned at them. 'Well, are you two going to attack us, or what?'

Two dozen eyes swung to Guilmon. Unnerved, Guilmon gulped. Suddenly, a loud, deep voice emanated from the portal.

'Target the small red haired human, Devitamamon. Once captured, he will be unable to close the portal again, giving us free rein in the human world...'

Izzy blanched slightly as he backed away from the terminal. He ended up backing up into Tai.

'Don't worry, Izzy.' Tai eyed the Devitamamon determinedly. 'We'll protect you from these creatures. You're the one we need to help Wizardmon, so we'll defend you until the upload is complete.'

Everyone nodded to Tai as the Devitamamon advanced. Izzy, smiling in gratitude, returned to the terminal.

The voice from the portal chuckled. 'Amusing. Devitamamon, destroy any who get in your way.'

'Oh no you don't!' Matt grabbed his digivice.

Gabumon warp digivolve to... MetalGarurumon.

MetalGarurumon spear tackled the nearest Devitamamon and sent it flying through the window. However, it grabbed onto the edge and hauled itself right back up with unnatural ease.

Everyone else gathered around Izzy and the kids activated their digivices.

Tentomon digivolve to... Kabuterimon.

Kabuterimon digivolve to... MegaKabuterimon!

Veemon digivolve to... Veedramon.

Guilmon digivolve to... Growlmon.

Patamon digivolve to... Angemon.

Angemon digivolve to... MagnaAngemon!

Gatomon digivolve to... Angewomon.

Many looked up at Veedramon in surprise, but returned their attention to the second Devitamamon as it opened its mouth.

'Black Death Cloud.'

Dark gas emanated from its mouth. Izzy looked at it in alarm.

'Quickly! Destroy that gas before it gets to me.'

Angewomon focused her power into an orb above her head. 'Heaven's Charm!' She looked around at the others. 'Everyone pour your attacks into it!'

'Horn Buster!'

'V-Breath Arrow!'

'Pyro Blaster!'

'Spirit Fire!'

'Soul Banish!'

Instead of directing the halo into an arrow, Angewomon instead launched the orb towards Devitamamon. It clashed with the death cloud and after a few moments of burning light, the cloud was gone, but Devitamamon was unscathed.

Veedramon shook his head. 'Why is that thing so tough?'

'We're only ultimates and champions.' MegaKabuterimon grunted. 'That thing's a mega.'

MagnaAngemon circled to the back of Devitamamon. 'Excalibur!'

He struck it in the middle of its back, but the sword only seemed to bounce off.

'Lure it away!' he cried. 'Get it away from Izzy!'

Meanwhile, the rest of the kids retreated to where Calumon was hiding. Kari bent down next to him.

'Is there anything you can do, Calumon?'

Calumon looked up. 'Of course there is. But... there's not much I can do to make it happen. It just happens.'

Izzy suddenly came running. 'Izzy! Don't you need to remain with the computer?' Tai asked.

Izzy shook his head as he set down next to them. 'It doesn't need me to watch it upload. I've set it to emit a signal when it's done. Until then, I'm keeping clear.'

'All right.' Tai looked towards Agumon worriedly. 'I hope he was right about defeating Megadramon and Gigadramon... be careful pal.'

MetalGarurumon wasn't having much luck. It was only due to his speed that he could avoid Devitamamon's attacks.

'Dazzling Eye.'

In the same unnerving monotone, it continued focusing white beams from the dozen eyes. MetalGarurumon rolled to avoid it.

'Cocytus Breath!'

MetalGarurumon's freezing breath spewed from his mouth, but Devitamamon withdrew its body parts into its shell before the attack hit. When the mist cleared, it emerged, same as before, undamaged. MetalGarurumon growled. 'What now? I can't keep this up forever.'

Everyone circled around Devitamamon, but it remained oblivious. Angewomon armed an arrow.

'Celestial Arrow!'

'Soul Banish!' MagnaAngemon released a pure white beam.

'Pyro Blaster!'

'V-Breath Arrow!'

'Spirit Fire!'

'Electro Shocker!'

As their attacks came from all directions, Devitamamon withdrew into its shell, and seemed unaffected as it emerged again.

Angewomon examined it. 'It must have a weakness somewhere.'

'The only thing I can think of,' Growlmon began, 'is its mouth or its eyes. It doesn't need the rest, really.'

Angewomon frowned. 'But we don't have an attack powerful enough to destroy the death cloud and get through to its mouth.'

MagnaAngemon thought for a moment, then brandished his sword. 'Get clear everyone!'

Agumon ran over to the computer to hold it down. 'And hold onto something!'

'Gate of Destiny!'

MagnaAngemon circled back around and attempted to force Devitamamon into the portal. Before he could, Devitamamon crawled slightly forward and grabbed Veedramon and Growlmon's tails.

'Aagh! Close the portal! Close it!' Veedramon cried frantically as he felt himself and Growlmon being dragged across the floor. MagnaAngemon quickly traced the portal with Excalibur in reverse before Devitamamon entered it, closing it.

Veedramon and Growlmon struggled to get free from Devitamamon. Before they could, Devitamamon's eye's burned white.

'Spirit Fire!'

The blue flames struck Devitamamon in the eyes, causing it to recoil, hissing, and Veedramon and Growlmon wrested themselves free.

'Just die, ugly egg face!' Growlmon yelled at it.

Devitamamon struck wildly towards the noise and hit Growlmon across the face, knocking him to the side, landing close to where everyone else was hiding. Calumon glided to him, worried.

'Growlmon! You OK?'

'Ugh...' Growlmon felt the scratches on his face. 'That egg face's nails are sharp.'

Calumon's ears shrunk. 'I wish I could help you...'

'You can!' Growlmon stood up. 'Don't you remember? You helped me digivolve to WarGrowlmon!'

Calumon's expression brightened. 'That's right! But how did I do it?'

Growlmon bent down. 'Just try to remember what happened, what you felt. I'm certain you'll be able to make me digivolve if you just remember.'

Calumon scrounged his face and closed his eyes, and struggled to focus. After a few moments, the Zero Unit on his forehead began glowing.

'That's it Calumon!' Growlmon turned around.

Growlmon digivolve to... WarGrowlmon!

WarGrowlmon brandished his metal claws. 'Now you'll get it!'

Izzy shook his head meekly. 'You're still only ultimate.'

'Don't discourage him, Izzy.' Tai reminded. 'We'll need all the help we can get.'

The party was able to keep the two Devitamamon at bay thanks to WarGrowlmon, but they were slightly wearied by now, and the kids were waiting desperately for Izzy's computer to signal. They trembled when they heard an annoyed growl from the portal.

'You are still alive? Persistent little pests, aren't you.' The voice gave a satisfied sigh. 'Fine. Allow me to introduce myself...'

The portal expanded further, and massive centaur like creature emerged. His lower half looked like a heavily built horse's body, with thick purple fur and had yellow patches underneath. His four powerful legs were indigo with dark blue claws, with yellow patterns wrapping around the and his two arms on his top half. His small head had a disturbingly large mouth, and he stared at them with manic yellow eyes. Two large brown leathery wings and black horns protruded just from behind his torso out to the sides.

He began prowling slowly towards the party. He scanned the group with arrogant apathy, and Izzy gasped as he identified the creature.

'A Gulfmon... this is bad...'

Gulfmon spoke in a condescending, forceful tone. 'I see you know what I am. It's hard to believe you have survived this long. Not many digimon, no matter how many, have survived being caught by us. And for those that do not survive...' He chuckled slightly. 'Ah, the hunt is always as thrilling as the kill.'

Agumon frowned up at Gulfmon. 'What do you mean? You hunt digimon?'

'Indeed. Those foolish enough to wander the dark places of the world eventually find themselves wandering areas that seemingly have no end... and it drives them mad in their aimless wandering. Then they despair... and that is what I feed upon. Their despair... and their suffering as I devour them.'

Agumon grinded his teeth. 'Why do you hunt them... make them suffer? For your own pleasure?'

'I do not need to answer to one such as you. What I want, I make my own - and none can stop me, for I live in the deep recesses of the Dark Area, and it is impossible for any digimon to find me. Intentionally, of course...'

'It's bad enough that you kill so many...' Agumon glared intensely. 'But to make them suffer for no reason other than your own selfish pleasure just... just...'

'Just what?' Gulfmon bent down with a mocking grin. 'Makes you angry? You are insolent for one so small. I'll tell you what; just for you, after I've eaten you, I'll make your little friends suffer as they watch each other be devoured, one by one. How does that sound? You can't do - '

Agumon yelled with rage and charged right at Gulfmon. Everyone yelled out separate warnings as Agumon ran past the Devitamamon.

'Agumon! You crazy!?' Veedramon cried.

'Don't do it!' Tai yelled.

'It won't do any good!' Angewomon called after him, and tried to catch him.

Agumon ignored their protests in his fury. Gulfmon gave a wide grin.

'Black Requiem.'

Gulfmon released dark energy from his mouth, but Agumon made no move to avoid it. Instead, he brandished his claw and lighted it as if preparing for an attack, but instead cut through the dark energy as he charged, causing to pass harmlessly alongside him.

'Impossible!' Gulfmon exclaimed in brief disbelief, but braced himself as Agumon approached.

He went to stab Gulfmon in the leg, but Gulfmon raised it back and kicked him with his massive foot, but not before Agumon was able to block in a similar manner, leaving a large burn on the front of Gulfmon's foot.

Agumon landed sprawling next to MetalGarurumon, but got up immediately and went to charge again. MetalGarurumon stepped in front of him.

'Easy, Agumon. Don't go charging off again...'

Agumon ignored him at first, to the point where MetalGarurumon held his tail down with his metal paw. 'Put a lid on it, Agumon, and listen to me.'

'Let me go! I'll tear that monster apart! I'll-'

'Gulfmon's more powerful than those Devitamamon. We need a plan.'

Agumon glared at Gulfmon, who was staring at his leg in slight shock, and wounded pride. MetalGarurumon gave a slight, satisfied chuckle as he eyed Gulfmon's burn.

'How'd you do that, Agumon?'

Agumon raised an eyeridge quizzically. 'What? You mean, that burn?'

MetalGarurumon nodded. 'And before that, when you blocked his Black Requiem. That was amazing.'

Agumon thought for a moment. 'I dunno. I guess it was like using Dramon Claw, except I was channelling the fire into a kind of... shield, in front of me.'

'That might be useful.'

Agumon grinned and raised his claws to examine them. 'You're right - I should get some more practice with it.'

As the others began battling the Devitamamon again, MetalGarurumon let Agumon up. Glancing at him, he jerked his head upwards. 'You'll be more effective if you ride on my back.'

Agumon looked up at him uncertainly. 'You sure?'

'Yes. You'll be safer, too.'

MetalGarurumon crouched down to allow Agumon to climb up onto his neck ridge. 'Grab onto my ears. I'll need to be fast to dodge their attacks.'

A hiss behind their backs caught their attention. MetalGarurumon growled. 'I'd like to get one out of the way...'

'They're only weak point is the open mouth.' Agumon began. 'You'll need to wait until it uses Black Death Cloud.'

Devitamamon swiped at them. MetalGarurumon leapt back, but Devitamamon quickly lit its eyes up.

'Dazzling - '

'Spirit Fire!'

Agumon had unleashed the attack while MetalGarurumon was moving, and he hit its eyes as they lit up, causing it to claw at its eyes in pain.

'If we can blind it,' Agumon said in a low voice, 'it'll have little choice but to use Black Death Cloud.'

They proceeded to attack its eyes at every opportunity, and were progressively wearing it down. Gulfmon caught on, however, and started focusing on stopping MetalGarurumon and Agumon.

'Black Requiem!'

MetalGarurumon retreated further from Devitamamon with every one of Gulfmon's dark blasts from his mouth, and let out a frustrated growl.

'At this range, we won't be able to do much damage. And it might even recover...'

Agumon looked towards the others and the other Devitamamon. 'We may be able to help them, if only - '

'Dead Scream!'

Gulfmon began wailing in a deep, horrible drone that made everyone cover their ears in pain. As they were momentarily paralysed, Devitamamon swiped at MetalGarurumon and knocked him down, and Agumon fell off without the use of his claws, and landed on the ground heavily.

Gulfmon ceased wailing after a few seconds. As they looked around, they saw that the others had all been paralysed, too, trying to shake the pain off.

Gulfmon continued to impede the group until the Devitamamon had them against the wall, near to where the kids were hiding.

'They're too strong...' Izzy desperately began speaking into his digivice. 'Anyone there!? We need immediate assistance... the TV tower has been compromised by three mega level digimon!'

'Izzy?' Sora answered, along with Joe and Mimi. 'What's going on over there?'

'Sora! Get over to the TV tower quick!'

Gulfmon then began wailing again, causing Izzy to drop his digivice to cover his ears, and the party's digimon to be pushed back even further. The Devitamamon rarely attacked, but rather shielded Gulfmon from any attacks and blocked their advance.

'Damnit!' Agumon growled. 'They know their weakness. They won't use that attack...'

MagnaAngemon looked down at his sword. 'Why can't we defeat them?'

As the Devitamamon loomed in front of them, ever closer, Wizardmon appeared, eyes wide.

'Angewomon!'

Angewomon looked towards Wizardmon helplessly. 'I'm sorry, Wizardmon...'

The two continued to converse as everyone else continued to hold off Gulfmon.

'Run! Forget about me! Save yourselves, while you are still alive!'

Angewomon shied away. 'I couldn't live with myself if I just left you... again...'

Wizardmon shook his head. 'I died defending you, because I saw that you were precious, and that your life was worth many times more than mine.'

Angewomon looked back to Wizardmon, shocked. 'What!? But... you were my friend... I would do the same for you.'

Wizardmon smiled down at her. 'Don't you realise who you are? What you've accomplished? You are the eight digidestined, and together with other 7 you defeated Myotismon, the dark masters, and done a good job of protecting the digital world since I've been gone. I know that my sacrifice was worth it.' He then looked down slowly. 'Don't throw it all away on my account.'

Angewomon stared at his silhouette for a while. 'Maybe... if you truly think it's the right choice...'

She began to feel her energy ebb, and began to degenerate. Everyone else looked on in disbelief.

'Gatomon!?' Kari gasped, running over to her. 'Are you all right?'

Gatomon opened her eyes, brimming with tears. 'I'm sorry, Kari, Wizardmon... I'm not strong enough.'

'Gatomon!' Agumon cried.

Gatomon looked over towards his voice and was shocked to see him standing there in front of the two Devitamamon. 'Agumon!?'

He grunted as he strained to block the Devitamamon's repeated swipes. MetalGarurumon quickly rushed to cover him, only to begin taking the beating himself.

Agumon looked back towards Gatomon. 'Don't give up, Gatomon. Think about how important he was to you! And how important you are to him... to make him stand up for you, and to die for you...'

MetalGarurumon grunted in acknowledgement. 'We're all here... to help... Wizardmon... and you, because you are our friends. You are... important to us.'

MegaKabuterimon, MagnaAngemon, Veedramon and WarGrowlmon looked at each other, and nodded. They moved to surround the kids in a protective wall. 'We won't go down without a fight, either!'

Gatomon stared at the wall of digimon, of her friends. It really is great... to have such friends - just like Wizardmon...

Calumon stared at the living wall. 'These digimon... so brave... so awesome.'

'You're strong, Gatomon!' Veedramon called. 'Stronger than you know!'

Agumon nodded. 'Don't give up now. We will stand by your side till the end.'

Gatomon slowly got up, and began walking towards Agumon. He's right... I have felt... we can all be stronger than we are now. Biyomon did it... It's time I did too. For Wizardmon, Kari, Tai, and all my friends...

Calumon's Zero Unit began glowing again, but he strained as it began glowing brighter and brighter.

I will save my friends, and I won't abandon Wizardmon.

Kari's digivice, tag and inner crest began glowing in resonance with Calumon, and their combined light enveloped Gatomon. Agumon smiled at her as she lit up in a blinding, pink light.

Gatomon warp digivolve to... Ophanimon!