By Taro M.D
Chapter 26 - The Mountains of Ice Part 1
(Taro) I've been preoccupied with Super Robot Wars X that I actually ignored this for the longest time... and it was hard at the time to come up with new stuff but since I got that over with, I can finally go back to this and I figured it's time we got Desmond onto the path to the last Digiegg of the Western Digital World.
Oh and in context, Frozen Ridge is a location on the Mountains of Ice... it is not the name of the actual mountain itself.
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon... it's the property of Toei Animation and Saban.
"Word" Speaking 'Word' Thought
The Digital World Western Continent Elephantmon Territory
"I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER FAILURE FROM YOUR ELEMENT LORDS ELEPHANTMON!"
"I'm sorry my lord! I wasn't expecting WaruSeadramon to be vanquished so easily as SkullMeramon!"
"YOU AND YOUR REMAINING ELEMENT LORDS HAVE TO STOP THE DIGIDESTINED FROM CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN OF ICE! IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE STOP HIM HERE OR OTHERWISE HE'LL HAVE EVERYTHING HE'LL GET!"
"The Mountain is the territory of MetalGarudamon my lord! He and his Sky Warriors will stop that human in his tracks."
"For your sake Elephantmon, I hope he does or otherwise he'll defeat you like he did to Kongoumon and Peacockmon..."
Magnamon then disappeared as he snarled before turning to the remaining Element Lords.
"RIGHT YOU TWO! YOU HEARD OUR LORD, WE WILL STOP HIM AT THE MOUNTAIN! THIS IS YOUR TERRITORY METALGARUDAMON!"
"Don't worry Lord Elephantmon! I, MetalGarudamon and the Sky Batallion will slow him down and stop his efforts."
In the throne room, six pairs of eyes were blinking red and then laughing, ready to show their eagerness to serving the Sky Lord.
The Digital World Western Continent Elephantmon Territory
A few days were spent relaxing and getting their strength back, Desmond and the Digimon had arrived at the other side of the lake but fatigue in crossing the lake resulted in the Digidestined telling them that they will relaxing for the next few days... especially since Penguinmon achieved her Ultimate digivolution and was still Bukamon as well as DemiMeramon, DemiVeemon, Minomon, Pijomon and Poromon.
"We have been fighting constantly that literally we may collaspe at any given time."
"I agree Deshmond, let's put off finding Frozen Rihdge for a few days."
"I can agree to that, what about you guys?"
Loads of murmurings and agreements followed, it was an easy decision to make and now that they all were rested up and mentally prepared themselves for the task of getting to Frozen Ridge.
"Alright then everyone, let's go!"
And so the walk began from the lakeshore and thus they proceeded to find a path and eventually they found the road that they were looking for, however a couple of hours later... Desmond and the crew felt the temperature drop.
"Hey Deshmond are you feeling a bit chilly?"
"I am actually... this might be a sign that we may actually be close to Frozen Ridge."
"Uh... Deshmond we might have a problem."
"Why's that?"
"Take a look."
Desmond finally got an understanding of what Veemon meant as he saw the problem in hand, he saw an impressive mountain range in the distance... however there was a lot of locations that could be the Frozen Ridge.
"Clearly the task is a lot complex than I first thought... where in the hell are we going to locate the Ridge if it's amongst those mountains."
"Perhaps I can be of assistance."
The group turned to see a normal size Digimon that looked like a yeti who was not affected by the chill.
"Veemon? Who is he?"
"Don't mind me stranger, I am Mojyamon a resident of the Mountains of Ice.
"Mountains of Ice?"
"The range that you see before you... various snow covered areas that are dangerous to trek through for a normal digimon however there is a major road in this region between here and the Smooth Plains."
"Smooth Plains?"
"It's the kingdom area of the Terra Lord and also houses the capital of the region, the Golden Plateau."
"I see... anyway I am looking for an area known as the Frozen Ridge, there is something I seek there."
"You wouldn't happened to be this Digidestined creature that the Batallion is after?"
"Correct."
"Bad idea to go onto the road then, the Batallion are trying to prevent you from getting up on this mountain however you will get lost if you don't have a specific direction."
"Hmmm that's bad then?"
"Aye Frozen Ridge is the most dangerous of all the snowy areas, unexplained blizzards that can literally freeze a digimon to their digicore without explanation."
"I need to get to Frozen Ridge though."
"I know you do, that is why I will come with you to Frozen Ridge."
"Thank you Mojyamon."
"We need to take the trip up now though, the mountain is home to the Sky Lord and his Sky Warriors and there have been increased patrols as of late..."
"Alrighty Mojyamon you lead the way for us."
Thus Mojyamon lead Desmond and the crew up the main path of the nearest Mountain of Ice... not knowing that all paths are being watched by the clever sky eyes of the Sky Lord
The Digital World Western Continent Elephantmon Territory
"MY LORD! We have confirmation of the Digidestined human and his Digimon entering entrance 14!"
"Entrance 14? That's a little out of the normal path... keep an eye on him."
"Yes my lord!"
So he's now in my mountain... fitting that this harsh cold enviroment will be his tomb.
MetalGarudamon who is the Sky Lord whose thoughts can function easily in the cold because of his full metallic body that functions best in the harsh enviroment... his servants are mostly machines and creatures that can fly but he knew that he had the right idea, if he was to monitor the entire region then he can plot how to counter-attack.
"Tell me oh servant, what's beyond Entrance 14?
"That I believe my lord to be the territory of the Hyogamon."
"Ah perfect, message them and tell them to find the Digidestined and take him out, tell their leader he can have double the bounty if he brings me his Digivice!"
"Right away mighty Sky Lord!"
A few hours later, Desmond and the Digimon were now heading up a slope being led by Mojyamon who was telling him about what happens on this mountain.
"So this area is survival of the fittest?"
"Yes... the snow peaks are the only area in this territory that the Sky Lord keeps constant guard but there are areas that he doesn't watch and that is where bandit groups like to thrive... they tend to prey on the weak and the defenseless that go through, which is why many digimon tend to avoid these uncharted areas."
"I see... then how do you know this path?"
"Because it's one of the closest entrances to the Frozen Ridge but it's also where I live... as you are all about to see now."
Seeing an entrance in the mountainside, Desmond realised that it was Mojyamon's home as he suddenly felt the wind picked up and the temperature rapidly falling.
"You must all head inside, I can feel another blizzard coming and it's a strong one... I already have a fire going."
Desmond managed to get into the cave alongside everyone else before the blizzard descended in and really made it hard to see, inside the spacious cave... a fire was actually going as Mojyamon said and all the Rookies slowly made their way towards it and settled down, only Veemon stayed close to Desmond just in case.
"You ever wondered why the Mountain is so fierce Mojyamon?"
"Not really... it's been around since I was little and my father always told me of stories about how the great guardian was always vigilant and watched it's gaze upon the field... protecting the mountain from all types of evil but in recent times the guardian has fallen silent and the Sky Lord came in with his soldiers and effectively took the mountain over."
"So it seems..."
"Hey Mojyamon, is this guardian protecting the Frozen Ridge as well?"
"The Big Mountain of Ice is a sacred place for us mountain ice dwellers, there are a lot of digimon that revered the Frozen Ridge as a sanctuary for many of us which is why we've been trying to keep this knowledge away from the Sky Lord and his forces."
"Why would they be doing that?"
"Normally they would ignore finding the mountain but in the last few weeks or so, I have seen a renewed effort to find the Big Mountain and most of us have been mystified why... but then we heard the stories of this being known as the Digidestined whose been crushing through the region and killing the Flame Lord and the Aqua Lord."
"They weren't easy battles though."
"Yeah... it's been alright now and again to fight but we got to keep moving because technically we're wanted fugitives on a whole, the Armor Batallion wants us all dead for something I didn't do."
"The armors are scared Digidestined... it had been a long time since a digimon called them and a human with exceptional powers is hard to explain, now we'll wait for this blizzard to stop and then I will lead you to the mountain."
"Thanks Mojyamon."
Just as Desmond was able to finally take a rest, some distance away at a mount of snow... we find some Ogremon like creatures but having cold blue skin and marked with icicle shoulders and a large horn from it's forehead, observing the cave and watching.
"Big Leader say Digidestined resting in Mojyamon cave."
"We ought to tell Big Leader."
"Right."
The Ogremon-likes made their way past the mount of snow and into the harsh blizzard before disappearing.
The Digital World Western Continent Elephantmon Territory
A few hours later, the blizzard had successfully stopped itself as the skies cleared up as Mojyamon was then spotted leading Desmond and crew through the snow covered terrain which was literally up to the human's mid calf so it was pretty high.
'I really should of brought my snow boots... it's starting to become a struggle.'
He thought as they reached a higher plateau but also realising that from here that there's quite a long way to go before finding the mountain.
"How long before we reach the mountain Mojyamon?"
"From here... I say it'll take several hours, we better get moving otherwise we'll get stuck in another blizzard."
"Right..."
Unknownst to the group, the Ogremons had found their trail and since they were bandits on the orders of the Sky Lord and because they were ready for a fight... the order was given.
"ATTACK!"
Everything acted quickly as a large group of 15 Ogremons suddenly burst through the snow and surrounded them.
"Damnit! Where did they come from!?"
"We are Hyogamon! We come for your destruction!"
"Either these are the bandits you mentioned Mojyamon or we encountered a bunch of hired goons that work for this Sky Lord?"
"YOU DIE NOW DIGIDESTINED!"
Suddenly all of them drew their fists back and fired blasts of ice from all directions to which the Digimon dodged with relative ease... apart from Floramon and Lalamon who were struck by the attack and froze solid.
"Damnit! Why did they have to be Ice Digimon... anyway who are these guys, let's find out."
Desmond managed to scan the lead Ogremon and it's entry came up.
'Hyogamon... Icy Snow Type of the Virus Attribute at Champion level, a relative of the Ogremon line alongside Fugamon, this is a Digimon that has a very strong territorial consciousness and will attack those that enter his territory without mercy, the ice that grows in his shoulders is often used as clubs, special attacks are Ice Cudgel, Snow Wall and it's signature Throwing Ice.'
He then spots Mojyamon glaring at one of the Hyogamon and quickly decided to scan him before it got to attack.
'Mojyamon... Rare Animal Type of the Vaccine Attribute at Champion level, an easy nature with a free spirit...
he doesn't pardon those that devasate his lands which he considers to be his adobe and sanctuary, special attacks are Ice Cloud, Bone Boomerang and it's signature Ice Shot.'
"Alright Deshmond what do we do?"
"What else... we fight back against these Ice Ogremons... Kotemon, Falcomon, Hyokomon, Otamamon I need you four to take Floramon and Lalamon to the side and get them unfrozen, use fire if you need to."
"Right Desmond you can count of us!"
The four rookie Digimon took their frozen comrades and took them away from the battlefield... however this left 10 Rookies ready to fight.
"I don't suppose I need to tell you all by now... let's kick their asses team!"
"RIGHT!"
VEEMON DIGIVOLVE TO... VEEDRAMON!
HAWKMON DIGIVOLVE TO... AQUILAMON!
ARMADILLOMON DIGIVOLVE TO... ANKYLOMON!
WORMMON DIGIVOLVE TO... STINGMON!
ELECMON DIGIVOLVE TO... LEOMON!
BEARMON DIGIVOLVE TO... GRIZZLYMON!
CANDLEMON DIGIVOLVE TO... MERAMON!
PENGUINMON DIGIVOLVE TO... DOLPHMON!
PIDGEMON DIGIVOLVE TO... AERODRAMON!
GOTSUMON DIGIVOLVE TO... MONOCHROMON!
The Champions freshly digivolve could only glare at the Hyogamons before they began their attacks... however it seemed that the snow was a new terrain for Desmond to add to the list and some of the land based ones were having difficulty adapting.
"Desmond we are having trouble getting ourselves known to snow."
"So I gathered... then again Meramon doesn't have any problems."
"That's because most of the snow around my feet has melted."
"How about we just melt the snow away?"
"Nah not yet... keep that in mind for now."
"Let's go then Blue Ogre!"
"ICE CUDGEL!"
Three of the Hyogamon decided to attack with their icicles pulled out of their shoulders as Ankylomon made the effort to defend.
"OH NO YOU DON'T! MEGATON PRESS!"
Ankylomon's large bulk jumped high into the air and slammed on the snowy terrain creating an earthquake that caused the three Hyogamon to fall down the created hole, just as the next two decided to make their attacks known.
"SNOW WALL!"
The two slammed their fists to the ground creating a very powerful wall of ice that looked threatening but an ice wall can be scary for most of the time... except to Monochromon.
"GRAND FIRE!"
Monochromon's Grand Fire literally melted through the ice wall and striking down the two Hyogamon but before they can attack... out came through the wall as Leomon, Grizzlymon and Stingmon leapt through the rising steam.
"FIST OF THE BEAST KING!"
"SPIKING STRIKE!"
"MAUL ATTACK!"
The three signature attacks connected as the large energy lion engulfed one Hyogamon into data whilst the Maul Attack dissected another one into large data bits with the last one getting impaled through the head with Spiking Strike turning it's data out.
On the other side of the field... Aerodramon and Aquilamon were observing the skies and avoiding some attacks when they saw something coming towards the fight.
"Desmond! We are in trouble, a half dozen Airdramons are coming this way!"
"Damn it of all the things to happen... ok you two take care of them whilst we take care of the Hyogamons."
"Right! BLAST RINGS!"
"TORNADO PULSE!"
The two attacks intercepted the Airdramon group as they split off but countering back with Spinning Needle which made the air battle begin just as back on the ground, the lead Hyogamon was going head to head with Mojyamon.
"ENEMY MOJYAMON SIDING WITH THE DIGIDESTINED! YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT WITH YOUR LIFE!"
"So says a filthy Hyogamon! ICE CLOUD!"
Mojyamon spat out a mist of freezing cold air at the lead Hyogamon's face causing him to go blind really quickly to which the yeti launched another attack.
"ICE SHOT!"
Jumping into the air to gather up enough moisture to form a large icicle to which he then threw at the lead Hyogamon but a nearby Hyogamon quickly ran up to his leader and took the blow instead which caused it to fall down onto the ground to then be taken apart by data to which the leader then regained it's sight.
"YOU! WILL PAY!"
Meanwhile Veedramon was having a showdown with another group of Hyogamon ranging from five of them... and they all prepared their strong attacks.
"THROWING ICE!"
Five very large iceballs were then gathered and fired upon Veedramon who then had some help.
"PULSE BLAST!"
"HEAT KNUCKLE!"
"TAIL HAMMER!"
The Pulse Blast shattered one iceball into pieces to which then Meramon punched an ice ball away with his Heat Knuckle before two more were taken out by Tail Hammer shattering them into pieces but now that left with Veedramon with the last one.
"HAMMER PUNCH!"
Veedramon disintegrated the last one with his fist before approaching Desmond.
"Desmond, we need to end this battle immediately!"
"I know! Let's see... there's around 5 of them left including the leader... oh god Mojyamon! I forgot about him!"
"No worries Desmond I can check on Mojyamon for you but I need a boost."
"Oh that I can do Meramon, go for it!"
MERAMON CRIMSN DIGIVOLVE TO... BLUEMERAMON!
BlueMeramon then floated his way over to where the head Hyogamon was winning his battle against Mojyamon and was about to prepare to do the finishing blow.
"DIE! ICE CUDGEL!"
Before Hyogamon was able to make the motion, he felt his arm not move and tried again but it still didn't move.
"HOW COME I CAN'T MOVE MY ARM!"
"Because I'm holding onto it..."
Hyogamon felt a very strong blow to it's jaw as he went a few feet into the air before landing on the floor then looked up from his attacker... a different colour Meramon.
"Huh? Meramon gone Blue? What's this?"
"It's called being an Ultimate and it's time for you to call what's left of your men off!"
"Never! The glory of being the Sky Lord's prefered henchmen is all I want!"
"Then you are a fool!"
"SILENCE! SNOW PUNCH!"
Hyogamon then punched BlueMeramon hard in the face with it's power but felt something alarming race through it's system... the feeling of being burnt.
"OWWWWW! YOU AREN'T SUPPOSE TO BE BURNING!"
"Correct but I am! FROST KNUCKLE!"
BlueMeramon quickly punched Hyogamon so hard in the face that it broke the horn on it's forehead and sent it really flying some distance... the ogre was trying to get up but it was struggling.
"Time to end this farce! COLD FLAME!"
BlueMeramon gathered up the powers of fire and ice into his hands and produced a very bright blue flame that was then launched at the Hyogamon to powerful effects as the creature was not only severely frozen but also severely burnt before he literally burst into digital data which then fragmented to the winds causing what was left of the Hyogamon group to literally run for their lives.
Everyone was able to return back to normal with DemiMeramon now taking place... as Aquilamon and Aerodramon landed back down and de-digivolve back to Pidgemon and Hawkmon.
"What happened to the Airdramon?"
"After we took out a couple of them, they just literally broke off and retreated."
"Hmmm... obviously they may be working for the Sky Lord which means he knows we're here..."
"Which is why I need to get you all to the Frozen Ridge immediately."
"How long before we get there?"
"Several more hours but luckily I know the route."
"Alright Mojyamon lead the way!"
The march towards Frozen Ridge continues.
TO BE CONTINUED!
(Taro) So yeah I got a lot preoccupied with SRW X that I overlooked this and wanted to get this over with... also the final digiegg will be solved in the next two parts or so and then we may get the Sky Lord fight as well during those two episodes or perhaps a third one.
Who knows I haven't decided yet.