Chapter 28: Agumon's Assassin! Fastest in the Digital World
Nero and Alphaman were thrown by the sandstorm quite a distance from where they had been during their encounter with Beelzemon. While Nero landed on his knees, causing them to become quite red, Alphamon landed headfirst into the sand. It took several seconds for Alphamon to get a firm enough grip on the sand to pull his head out, sand dripping from his armor to the ground in the form of a small waterfall.
"What the hell was that for, Lord Yggdrasil?" Alphamon wondered, acting more like Dorumon now. "I could've deflected those shots easily!"
"It's not the shots he fired that caused me to do that, Alphamon," replied Nero, slowing getting to his feet. Every inch he moved resulted in a wince of pain, his legs and knees screaming in pain from the way he landed.
"Then why did you stop me from fighting him?" asked the Mega-level Digimon. Alphamon kindly held out his arm and offered help his partner to his feet, his hand quite a bit large than Nero's. Nero grabbed hold of the hand and was finally fully standing. His legs were incredibly red from his landing earlier.
"Think about it, Alphamon," Nero responded while he brushed himself off. "This whole time we've been relying on the anti-virus program to deal with every threat the virus has thrown our way. However, while it's true that Beelzemon is of the Virus attribute, he hasn't been infected by the same power that infected you earlier, therefore making the program useless."
"What are you trying to say? Are you saying that I'm not strong enough to defeat him?" Alphamon sounded as if he was appalled that his own partner was demeaning his strength.
"No, you are strong enough, you are fast enough," Nero told him. "But that's all. Tell me, Alphamon, how much of your energy did you use digivolving to your current level and activating the program?"
Alphamon looked down at Nero, meeting his eyes. Nero was glaring at him much like he did when he was deep in thought. The difference this time was that Nero was truly glaring. Alphamon looked down further, his silence an answer enough.
"As I thought… Listen, Alphamon, if you're going to defeat Beelzemon, you're going to need to get a lot more experienced in fighting in that form. At your current level, there's no way you'd last more than five minutes against him!"
Alphamon nodded his head, figuring that knew that he was talking about.
"To start things off, I want you to stay in that form until you absolutely cannot hold it anymore. In addition, let's take on any wild Digimon we come across. That should help you get used to amount of energy you use."
"Yes, Lord Yggdrasil," Alphamon said.
Nero took a deep breath before exhaling, wondering how things got as far as they had. Beelzemon's appearance was unexpected, and Nero knew he wasn't the type to give up so easily. He would chase them down.
Nero took out his Digivic and fiddled around with the menu. After checking on the location of everyone, he opened a private messaging system that could be used with those he had already come in contact with. "With these directions, so long as they don't run into Beelzemon, they should be fine. They're pretty strong and resourceful, so I think they would know better than to take on anything they couldn't handle."
In another section of the desert, consisting what seemed to be a forest of oddly shaped cacti, Alex could be seen walking around with Veemon. Veemon had both of his hands positioned behind his head, glancing over at Alex.
"Awwww! But I'm hungry!" a familiar voice whined, drawing the attention of Alex and Veemon.
"I know, Agumon, but we don't have any," Aimi replied in an equally whiney voice, seemingly just as hungry.
"Well, I have a bit stored," Ana's voice added to the conversation, suggesting that Guilmon was there too. "I think we should save it for an emergency though. Nero has the rest of it."
While Guilmon also complained about wanting some food as well, Veemon ran over and greeted the other Digimon, waving his right arm. "Hey, Agu! Guilmon!"
The two Digimon instantly returned the greeting, both happy to see one of their friends after being separated from each other. The three humans all greeted one another in a similar manner, and Alex expressed her surprise in that all three of them wound up in the area. Ana admitted that when they took of their shades back in the sandstorm, she had grabbed hold of Aimi in fear of leaving her alone. Therefore, they stayed together after being thrown halfway across the desert.
While the group continued their discussion, the three Digivices began to produce a loud beeping sound at the same exact time in a synchronized fashion. All three humans immediately reached at their sides and pulled out their Digivices, scrolling through the message Nero had sent them.
"What's up?" Veemon questioned.
"It's Nero," Alex answered him. "He wants a reply telling him who is in which group, and he wants us to meet him at the town. According to the coordinates he gave us, we appear to be the farthest from it."
"Huh?" Agumon gasped, is mouth hanging wide open as looked almost teary-eyed. "But I'm so hungry!"
"Well then, I suggest we keep on moving so we can get there sooner then," Ana suggested.
"You stay here and you'll get even hungrier," Guilmon warned, his own stomach churning and producing a small grumble.
"I guess," the little orange dinosaur-like Digimon whimpered, closing his eyes and grimacing at the thought of travelling all that way. Despite his hunger, Agumon definitely possessed the ability to go a few days without eating, though he'd probably die from lack of air due to his constant whining about wanting food. Taking in a deep breath and swallowing a large amount of air, Agumon began to press on in the front of the group, walking like a general leading an army platoon would.
"Give him a purpose involving food and he's a whole 'nother Digimon," Veemon observed.
After approximately five minutes, Nero's Digivice began beeping, signaling a response from the others.
"It looks like Ana, Aimi, and Alex all wound up together. Andrew and Zaki, are also together, while Hikaru and Ryudamon seem to be by alone like us," Nero pointed to his Digivice, showing Alphamon where everyone was. He took a minute to comprehend the situation, noting that the only other single red dot, Hikaru, was the closest to the town. The largest group of dots, which Nero guessed was the girls, was the farthest away from the town, and still in an area of the desert where Beelzemon could be roaming about. "This could be very bad!"
"Should we go?" Alphamon picked up Nero, already knowing the answer to the question he had just asked. He immediately flew off in the direction of the town. Due to how Nero and Alphamon had been thrown by the sandstorm, they actually landed on the other side of the desert and would have to pass by the town to reach them.
Elsewhere, Nero's assessment of the situation involving Hikaru and Ryudamon turned out to be correct. The two had arrived at the town within 20 minutes and were now wandering around the town.
"Looks like we're the first ones here," Hikaru observed, looking at his Digivice. Most of the red dots blinking on the screen were moving at a steady pace towards their location, and one of them was moving particularly fast.
"Hikaru-sama!" called Ryudamon, "Don't you think it would be a good idea to look for the other humans and their partners who are said to be here already?"
"I'm one step ahead of you," replied the human. "According to this, they should be fairly close."
Out in the desert, Agumon still marched in front of the other group, a gap of at least ten feet between them. The others all slumped behind him. Aimi was so tired that she was riding on Guilmon's back, though he didn't seem to mind it too muchm even if he was panting from exhaustion.
"How can he be so perky in this heat?" wondered Ana.
"The guy really wants his food," Veemon crossed his arms and nodded his head, acting as if he knew more than the others.
Alex sighed, feeling completely dehydrated in the intense desert heat. She wasn't the only one; everyone was feeling the effects of the high temperature.
"Ana, do you think we could have some of the water you have stored?" Aimi looked up from Guilmon's back. "I'm really…really thirsty!"
Ana wasn't one to complain at the moment and dug into the menu on her Digivice, finding ten bottles of water from the Digital World inside. "We only have four left after this," she announced. "So I suggest you ration the water in the bottle you receive." Once she clicked on the item, six bottles of water poffed before them from out of thin air, with the ten count reducing to four.
"Hey, Agu!" yelled Veemon, grabbing his attention and holding up two bottles of water. "Come and get some water!"
Agumon didn't need to be told twice; he quickly retreated and began running towards the group, his arms both straightened out behind him as he ran. Veemon chucked one of the bottles at Agumon as he drank from his own. Agumon reached out his right arm and attempted to grab hold of the bottle, but before he could, it suddenly disappeared into thin air.
"Huh?" Agumon gasped. "What was that?"
"What's wrong, Agumon?" Aimi questioned, drinking from her own bottle of water and now standing beside Guilmon and Ana. Guilmon could be seen happily drinking from his own bottle, holding it with both hands like a baby would a bottle.
"The bottle…" Agumon answered. "It just disappeared!"
"The heat must be getting to you," Alex chuckled. "That's impossible!"
"Bottles don't just disappear," Veemon added with a sigh. "Are you sure it just land in the sand?"
"I'm tellin' ya, it disappeared!" the little orange dinosaur-like Digimon whined and stopped his feet on the ground.
The sound of water trickling onto the sand below soon caught the attention of everyone. The first thing they saw when they turned their heads was water weakly flowing down the external ribcage of SkullSatamon, and then they saw him. Agumon spotted the bottle of water that Veemon had tossed him in the skeleton-like Digimon's hand. The bottle had been depleted of all water, and SkullSatamon lowered his arm and wiped the water dripping from his chin before tossing the bottle away.
"Thanks, you guys!" he cackled. "I needed that!"
"Hey, that was mine!" Agumon complained.
Guilmon took one look at the Digimon and took a more feral stance, growling menacingly with a decreased size in his pupils. Ana took out her Digivice and read the information on him.
"SkullSatamon's his name," she read. "He's a Ghost-type Digimon of the Virus attribute. His worst attack is his Bone Blaster, which unleashes a powerful lightning strike from his staff."
"My apologies," SkullSatamon said and stepped forward, his staff in hand. "Am I correct to assume that are Agumon?" He didn't need a response to that question, knowing full-well that he was. Agumon admitted his identity, and both Veemon and Guilmon prepared for a battle they expected to come. "I see…" the skeleton replied, twirling his staff about and pointing the orb end at Agumon. "Nothing personal, but I'm afraid you have to die."
A bolt of lightning shot from SkullSatamon's staff, only to be blocked by AeroVeedramon and WarGrowlmon, whom had used their bodies to protect him.
"I don't know what your problem is with Agu," roared AeroVeedramon, "but anyone who messes with my friend will answer to me!"
SkullSatamon heaved a deep sigh, and stood his staff upright. "Listen, I have no beef with you guys! Personally, I would prefer to not have to kill the two of you. But if I don't kill Agumon, the master and Lord Daemon will have my head! So, I'll ask you this just once: Would you please step aside?"
Both Digimon subsequently gave him the same answer, neither one of them willing to let anything happen to their friend. All three humans cheered at their decision.
"Very well then!" SkullSatamon pointed his staff at the Digimon, preparing to blast them with another bolt of lightning. Before he could unleash his attack, AeroVeedramon charged at him and knocked the staff off to the side, redirecting the blast to a nearby sand dune. AeroVeedramon produced an attempt to strike the skeleton-like Digimon, but he disappeared before his eyes. A rainfall of sand from the blasted dune showered over him as SkullSatamon kicked him from behind, sending him face first into the grains.
"Atomic Blaster!" shouted WarGrowlmon, firing two lasers from his chest plates at SkullSatamon.
The evil Digimon shifted his body a bit to the left, completely avoiding the attack. He lunged at WarGrowlmon, slamming his body into him and whacking him in the chin with his staff, knocking him to the ground. SkullSatamo laughed evilly and ignored AeroVeedramon as he stood up.
"Now then, Agumon, let's…" he grinned. His smile soon vanished from his face when he noticed that Agumon was not where had been a few moments earlier. "Huh? Where'd he run off to?"
"Looking for me?" a deeper Agumon-like voice responded. SkullSatamon looked up to find MetalGreymon coming down from above, swinging his metallic claw at him. "Metal Claw!"
The claw extended from his arm, striking the sandy terrain below. Sand shot up around his arm after it hit the ground, but it didn't take long for him to realize that SkullSatamon was not on the opposite end of his claw. His claw remained stuck in the ground, leaving the skeleton an opening to attack. He raised his staff high into the aira and hovered before MetalGreymon, cackling some more. Electricity shot out of his staff, hitting MetalGreymon dead on and causing him cry out in intense pain. His claw finally came lose, allowing him to fall back and break the electric field surrounding him. This probably saved his life.
"My, my…" SkullSatamon shook his head in disappointment. "You survived, that's no good. This just will not do!" The skeleton-like Digimon sighed and pointed his staff at MetalGreymon, whom was twitching in pain at the moment. "Guess I better correct my mistake."
"No you don't!" AeroVeedramon growled, ramming his own body into SkullSatamon, actually landing a hit on him this time.
AeroVeedramon wrapped his arms around SkullSatamon, determined to not let him go. He signaled for WarGrowlmon to come and get him. WarGrowlmon ran towards SkullSatamon, holding up his blade-covered arm as if to behead him. SkullSatamon did not appear to be worried and only smirked. Shortly following the smirk was a jolt of electricity that surged throughout AeroVeedramon's body, forcing him to let go.
SkullSatamon took the opportunity to knock AeroVeedramon away, using his incredible speed to appear underneath WarGrowlmon and slam an attack into chin once again.
"He's so fast…" AeroVeedramon grunted. "I don't think even Dorumon could catch him."
"Now why don't you two stay down for good this time," SkullSatamon snickered, approaching MetalGreymon, who had finally gotten to his feet. MetalGreymon was still far too weak to fight back against the evil Digimon, his metallic body parts acting as a powerful conductor. "As I've said already, this guy is my ONLY target." What SkullSatamon didn't reveal was that Beelzemon would kill him if he took out anyone. He did promise the Demon Lord that Agumon was the only one he would target, and Beelzemon was not someone to anger. "Sorry, but it's time to die! Bone Blaster!"
This time SkullSatamon took careful time to charge up his attack, ensuring that it would rip through a defense MetalGreymon might put up. MetalGreymon did fight back, firing two missiles from his chest plate at him. The attack had no effect though, as an electric field surrounding SkullSatamon destroyed them before they could reach their designated target. The skeleton finally released his attack, a bolt of lightning heading straight towards MetalGreymon. Aimi cried out for her partner, worried for his safety.
A blinding flash of light later, MetalGreymon looked on in horror as AeroVeedramon was on one knee before him, making painful founds and covering his side. His skin smelled of burnt flesh where the attack hit, colored with a darkened brown.
"That was pretty quick work of you," cackled SkullSatamon. "But not quick enough it would seem. You should've listened to me."
"Aero… Why?" MetalGreymon gasped.
"Because we're friends," AeroVeedramon answered. "That's the only reason I need to protect you. Even with this wound on my side, even if it costs me my life… I swear I will not let anyone hurt you! Because… you are…" he coughed, "…my friend!"
AeroVeedramon cold feel his strength waning. He would soon revert to his Rookie-level stage, and one more attack would finish him off for good.
"Is that so?" SkullSatamon smirked. "Well then, I'll send the two of you to hell at the same time! Bone Blaster!"
SkullSatamon charged up his attack once again, and WarGrowlmon wasn't sure if he could make it in time to save his friends.
"MetalGreymon, nooooooooo!" cried Aimi.
"Don't give up, AeroVeedramon!" Alex yelled, her Digivice glowing.
With another flash, SkullSatamon unleashed another blast of electricity, this one just as powerful as the last. WarGrowlmon cut off the power of the jets on his back and stopped, calling out to his friends. SkullSatamon laughed maniacally. His laugh was short-lived though as a familiar voice shot through the blinding light.
"AeroVeedramon digivolve to…" AeroVeedramon announced with his body changing form. A thin, but incredibly sturdy blue and white armor, the same color as his skin, coated his upper body and arms. His head became more human-like, but was hidden behind a blue and white knight-like helmet. His claws became human-like hands, and white wristbands remained fastened around his wrists. The wristbands had a device connected to them that produced a small energy blade for him to wield. The red part of his wings turned pink, and a large golden "V" appeared across his chest. "UlForceVeedramon!"
When the light faded, UlForceVeedramon could be seen covering MetalGreymon from the front, a golden aura barrier surrounding them.
"That's impossible!" thought SkullSatamon. "How did he…?!"
"Whadda ya know," said Ana, holding up here Digivice, "it looks like AeroVeedramon digivolved. He's now UlForceVeedramon, an Exalted Knight-type Digimon. He uses his UlForce Sabers to attack his enemies before delivering their final judgment with his Ray of Victory."
"Whoa!" Alex's mouth hung open, awestruck by the sight. "Way to go, UlForceVeedramon! Kick his ass!"
SkullSatamon began to panic, not prepared to have to deal with a Mega-level Digimon. Using what he believed to be his superior speed, SkullSatamon disappeared before their very eyes. "We'll finish this some other time!"
He reappeared approximate 100 feet away from the group, but was shocked when UlForceVeedramon appeared behind him.
"Hello there!" he chuckled.
"What the…?!" SkullSatamon gasped.
Once again, the skeleton tried to flee, but everywhere he went, UlForceVeedramon followed.
"Damn it! Stay away!" the evil Digimon began turned around, trying to hit him with the blunt end of his staff.
UlForceVeedramon formed a small saber using the device above his right wrist, parrying the attack. SkullSatamon leaped into the air, hovering in place and gathering electricity in his staff.
"Bone Blast-"
His attack was quickly cut off by UlForceVeedramon, whom grabbed hold of the glowing orb at the end of the staff.
"Not this time!" he declared, crushing it in the palm of his hand. The orb's destruction caused a chain reaction, sending a jolt of electricity down the staff and into SkullSatamon's body. Before he could recover, UlForceVeedramon held his chest to his face. "This is for trying to kill my friend! Ray of Victory!"
The knight fired a laser beam from golden V-shaped crest on his chest, disintegrating SkullSatamon into bits of data, which gathered back up into an egg that fell to the sand below. The humans cheered loudly, congratulating the Digimon on his victory over the evil skeleton. UlForceVeedramon descended to the ground and glanced over at MetalGreymon and WarGrowlmon. He took a step towards them, but stopped moving when an evil presence filled the area.
"Well, well…" Beelzemon said with smile across his face. "What have we here? I came here expecting to find Alphamon; I never expected to receive such a show."
