(Author's Notes: And now for the exciting conclusion of Chapter 25...)
Chapter 25: The World Tree (Part II)
Beams streaked through the air, dragging through the earth and cutting down trees explosively.
DarkKnightmon and his team had reached their destination. As soon as they made their intentions clear, the guardians of the World Tree attacked them in defence of the sacred site. Many guardians descended to clash with them, but many were beaten down by their strength.
DarkKnightmon levelled his Twin Spear with a plethora of different Digimon, largely Ultimate level, and fired a torrent of dark energy from the tip. The pillar of darkness soared across a large clearing in the forest, swallowing several of the defenders and blasting them away.
The clearing itself was massive. It was nearly two kilometers in diameter, though it had to be, given what was in the center of it. Colourful, vibrant flowers littered most of the clearing, but several of them were dying under the weight and oppression of the sudden attacks.
In the exact middle of the clearing was the titan of all trees. The World Tree. The tree was the biggest in the whole continent - perhaps in the whole of the Digital World. It could be seen from kilometers around. It was magnificent to behold. The tree was a massive yew tree that bloomed a beautiful, vibrant green colour year round. It put to shame all of the other trees around it. There were countless branches, big and small, extending from the main trunk of the tree. Some of the branches were long and thick enough to support even massive Digimon.
DarkKnightmon and his team couldn't even see the top of the tree, as it reached all the way up into the clouds, the highest boughs of the tree extending into the stratosphere. This was a cause of concern for them, as they were unable to spot Valdurmon through the clouds.
Not only was the World Tree tall, but it was extremely thick as well. The cross section of the tree trunk was a few hundred meters. This grandness extended to the tree's roots as well. The World Tree's three roots were massive. They were one hundred meters thick at their thickest. One of the three roots protruded from the ground in the clearing and reached all the way up to the clouds in a serpentine way. The other two roots were mostly underground, with one leading into a huge, misty lake from which many rivers flowed, located in the far north of the continent, and the other one leading south, with the root piercing from one side of the Chasm of Creation to the other.
However, the landscape was now littered with the unconscious and wounded bodies of the defenders of the World Tree. DarkKnightmon and his team fought wave after wave of defenders
Four Moosemon were the next to jump down from the thick branches of the World Tree. "Begone, blasphemers!" one of them yelled, lunging towards Dorbickmon. "Horn Blade!"
Dorbickmon watched as the Moosemon's antlers glowed and become razor sharp. He swapped sword hands, swept the Tyrant Collbrande to the side, and coiled his right fist back. As the Moosemon slashed at him, Dorbickmon side stepped and cracked his fist painfully across the Moosemon's jaw, punching him out of the air. When the Moosemon crashed into the ground and flailed in an attempt to get back up, Dorbickmon stabbed his sword into the ground. "Burning the Dragon!"
The sword seemed to tremble in the ground from the sheer power it tapped into before pulsing with an inferno of flames. In less than a second, a block of earth burst from the ground below the Moosemon, shooting up with unbelievable speed and power. The Moosemon was propelled forty feet into the air and disappeared behind the canopies of the trees surrounding the wide clearing.
"Oh, shit!" Dorbickmon explained with both surprise and exhilaration at the unexpected surge of power in his attack. "I must have tapped into a well of dragon veins!"
"It's thought that the source of the dragon veins is beneath this tree," DarkKnightmon remarked as he struck his spear across one of the attacking Moosemon. "The place from… where the leylines cross together and originate. No… wonder your attack is amplified."
"Hahah!" Dorbickmon laughed with adrenaline. "I can feel its power pumping through me! This is going to be fun! Almost makes me wonder if Fanglongmon really is sealed underneath this big plant!"
MirageGaogamon narrowed his eyes and flew speedily yet carefully around the World Tree, looping back around and slamming his plated shoulder into the side of the Moosemon that had attacked him, sending the mammal Digimon skidding across the ground and gasping for breath. The wolf warrior turned around to watch Omegamon Zwart slash his Grey Sword out, slicing it across the final Moosemon's chest and causing the defender to cry out and collapse in a heap.
He thought to himself quietly before flying over and landing next to DarkKnightmon. Omegamon Zwart walked over as well, cool steam still flowing from the muzzle of his arm cannon. For the first time since they arrived there, there was silence apart from the groans and moans of the wounded defenders.
"It's all quiet now…" MirageGaogamon observed. "Have we defeated them all?"
"Valdurmon has not appeared yet," Omegamon Zwart pointed out, his steely, crimson eyes scanning the clouds and branches carefully.
"I doubt he's up there all the time," Dorbickmon said.
DarkKnightmon quietly thought to himself while looking around the area. A soft breeze blew through the trees, causing the branches and leaves to rustle. On the undercurrent of the gentle sound, there was a trace of rumbling echoes in the distance.
MirageGaogamon, having the best hearing of the four, turned around and looked up. "DarkKnigh—"
"Aurora Undulation!" the voice thundered from above.
Before the voice even finished, a surge of light beamed down and seared into Omegamon Zwart's armour before he had any time to react, crushing him into the ground. The light swept out from around the fallen knight and scorched the area around him.
"What?!" Dorbickmon growled with surprise, keeping his blade embedded in the ground.
"It was so fast…" MirageGaogamon spoke, raising his gauntlets up and opening the wolf-like mouth on his breastplate. "I barely saw it coming…"
DarkKnightmon narrowed his eyes and looked up. "It must be…"
A giant, majestic, white bird burst through the clouds, diving down towards them at incredible speeds. He poised his six wings behind him as he descended from the heavens, honing in on the ones who would invade and desecrate the holy tree.
Omegamon Zwart grunted with pain and annoyance, stabbing his Grey Sword into the ground and pushing himself up. "Valdurmon," he spoke, glaring up at the holy bird Digimon.
As Valdurmon grew closer, the four were able to see his form more clearly. His beautiful feathers of white and pale purple, blue, yellow and green, almost like that of an opal, shone and sparkled in the afternoon sun. The wings were emitting what looked like a holy light, in fact. His yellow beak and four-toed claws tensed up with anger and his grey eyes narrowed. Valdurmon swooped down the side of the tree. His majestic form was backed by a glory – a beautiful, rainbow-like halo that resonated around his body.
"It's beautiful…" MirageGaogamon said with awe.
"Don't be distracted," Omegamon Zwart told him, narrowing his eyes at the bright light approaching him. He aimed his cannon at Valdurmon and waited for a good shot.
"Who are you?!" Valdurmon demanded with a boom. He glared and flapped his wings strongly to slow his descent. The giant, holy bird stopped and hovered high above them, observing the four attackers. His light, grey eyes widened upon seeing DarkKnightmon. "DarkKnightmon?! But… What is going on here?! This is a neutral area! The World Tree is a holy site!"
"We are well aware of that, Valdurmon," DarkKnightmon replied matter-of-factly.
"Then leave at once! This is a place of peace and unity!"
"Our work here is unavoidable, I'm afraid," DarkKnightmon explained, gazing up at him. "It would be easier for everybody involved if you just flew off and allowed us to do what we need to do."
"Just who do you think you're talking to, DarkKnightmon?!" Valdurmon thundered scathingly, as if he had been insulted. "I don't know what it is you plan to do here, but I can sense your malicious intent. It is my sworn duty to protect this tree from harm! If you plan to harm it, then you will have to go through me!"
DarkKnightmon sighed. "Of course…" he spoke, shaking his head. The knight looked up and aimed one end of his Twin Spear at Valdurmon. "I respect your commitment, Valdurmon. It's commendable. Unfortunately, I am determined as well." He looked at Omegamon Zwart, MirageGaogamon and Dorbickmon, and nodded.
"Burning the Dragon!"
"Garuru Cannon!"
"Full Moon Blaster!"
DarkKnightmon watched as spears and chunks of rock burst from the ground and flew towards Valdurmon, flanked by a large, whirling sphere of freezing energy and a long, incandescent beam. DarkKnightmon added to the volley of attacks with a dark violet beam of his own, launching the shadows from his Twin Spear.
The four attacks ascended towards Valdurmon as he looked on with a scowl. Until…
"Purge Shine!" Valdurmon swept his six wings out in front of him. His feathers radiated a heavy, luminous aura and the glory around him intensified. The four attacks slammed into his body and exploded in a massive burst of shadows, ice, and debris.
The cloud then cleared with a mighty flap of Valdurmon's wings, sending trails of the shimmering vapour out with each flap. He was completely untouched by the attacks.
"What?" DarkKnightmon asked with genuine surprise.
"What the hell?! There's no way he just shrugged that off when my attack is supercharged!" Dorbickmon protested with wide eyes.
"That's right…" Omegamon Zwart said to himself, lowering his cannon and narrowing his blood red eyes with thought. "Valdurmon's ability… I remember it…"
Valdurmon looked at Omegamon with surprise and then a scowl. "Omegamon… Is that…? Did you…?" The holy bird closed his eyes. "I will show you no solace."
"Purge Shine. His aura creates a barrier that nullifies any attack performed with evil intent," Omegamon Zwart explained, recalling his memories privy to that of a Royal Knight.
"Evil intent…" DarkKnightmon said to himself with a frown.
"Is that what that was?" MirageGaogamon asked with a grimace, looking down at his hands.
"Any attack you make against this tree can only be made with evil intent," Valdurmon warned them. "Leave here at once and never return. Otherwise, I will be forced to crush you where you stand."
"Fuck this!" Dorbickmon snarled, gripping the Tyrant Collbrande tightly. He tapped into the well of dragon veins beneath him and forced the blazing sword to thicken and elongate to massive proportions, to the extent that Dorbickmon had to put all of his might into pulling it from the ground and keeping it steady. "Hragh!" he shouted with effort, hoisting the Tyrant Collbrande over his head. The sword stood at nearly a hundred meters tall. The flowers around him wilted and died from the sheer heat. "We don't have to defeat him! We only have to get past him!"
Dorbickmon released a throaty snarl and slashed the Tyrant Collbrande down towards the World Tree.
"It's too soon!" DarkKnightmon called out in protest, but the momentum was already too great.
The sword fell towards the tree. However, Valdurmon was quick to act. He soared in front of the descending blade, getting between it and the tree, and unleashed more of the same aura from his form.
"Purge Shine!" Valdurmon called out.
The blade of purple fire hacked across Valdurmon's body, but the flames were snuffed out as soon as they touched his aura. The massive Tyrant Collbrande simply went passed him, but continued its swing down to the ground. At the base of the tree, the flames continued on, burning into the thick bark where the tree was too low for Valdurmon's aura to reach.
Valdurmon's eyes widened with rage when he saw the fire cut into the wood. Although it could have been much worse had Valdurmon not intervened, the minimal damage caused was a symbolic blow to the World Tree's avian defender. "You will pay for that, scum!" he shouted furiously. "Aurora Undulation!"
Just as Dorbickmon began to shorten his blade to defend himself, a blaze of light from Valdurmon's wings already reached him and burned into him, moving at almost light speed. Dorbickmon cried out as his armour was seared and he staggered back with pain.
Two more bursts of light then surged from Valdurmon's body, engulfing DarkKnightmon, MirageGaogamon, and Omegamon Zwart before they could react either. They were crushed into the ground, sending a wave of dirt out around them.
MirageGaogamon groaned and rolled onto his back, his cape singed and smoking. "It's so fast… Even I can't avoid it once it's fired…"
Omegamon Zwart glared hard and pulled himself to his feet, looking over at DarkKnightmon, who did the same after a few moments of struggle.
DarkKnightmon narrowed his eyes. "Everybody!" he called to his comrades. "When you attack Valdurmon, don't think about the short term. Don't think about defeating him or attacking the World Tree when you attack. In other words, do not think about the little evil that we have to do in order to achieve greater good. When you attack him, think about our goal; think about what we want to achieve… how we wish to improve the Digital World for the better. When you strike him, strike him down with righteousness in your hearts."
Omegamon Zwart narrowed his eyes in what seemed like a grimace and brought his Garuru Arm up to his chest. "I… cannot," he replied simply.
DarkKnightmon turned and looked at Omegamon with a silent gaze. He slowly realized the extent of which Omegamon had been changed by the dark data and black digitron; he was incapable of acting out of goodness. After a moment of silence, he turned his head away from him. "…Very well."
"I don't care about your damn goal!" Dorbickmon snarled as pain and anger and frustration coursed through his body. He glared through the smoke that rose from his form, up at Valdurmon. "I'm not doing this for your frigging ideal world! In fact, I think you're just deluding yourselves that you can actually change things!"
DarkKnightmon narrowed his eyes and turned to stare at Dorbickmon. "Think what you like. You may have given up on the world, but I have not. All I know is that you cannot defeat Valdurmon with only revenge in your heart."
Dorbickmon snarled and angrily slashed the ground with his sword. "Tch. Revenge…" he growled to himself. He narrowed his violet eyes balefully and glared into the flames of the Tyrant Collbrande. "I don't even know anymore… Damn it… Damn you, Examon. Why did you have to talk to me…? Why couldn't I just kill you?"
An agitated glare formed on Valdurmon's face. "Enough of this," he said, his wings radiating with brilliant light. The glory began to intensify and expand, indicating that he was ready to attack.
"MirageGaogamon!" DarkKnightmon said to him with a strong, sincere voice. "Are you with me?!"
"I…" MirageGaogamon stalled for a few moments. However, his eyes met DarkKnightmon's yellow ones, and he was once again inspired by the zeal and ambition that had inspired him many years ago. MirageGaogamon's gaze hardened with resolve and trust in DarkKnightmon. "Always, Sir."
"Aurora Undulation!" Valdurmon spoke.
"Now!" DarkKnightmon called to MirageGaogamon.
MirageGaogamon flew towards Valdurmon, drawing the holy bird's attention as a target. The eagle Digimon turned to him and began to unleash a huge ray of light towards him. MirageGaogamon saw the attack discharge from Valdurmon's aura and his body suddenly blurred. The burning rays washed over his body and he completely disappeared within the folds of light.
Valdurmon watched as his attack streaked across the field in mere milliseconds, and, when brilliant light dissipated, MirageGaogamon was nowhere to be found. Satisfied that he had deleted one of the attackers, he then turned to DarkKnightmon threateningly. "I won't ask you again."
"Double Crescent Mirage!" a voice shouted out from his right side.
"What?!" Valdurmon explained, his eyes widening. "He actually dodged my light speed attack?!"
The eagle watched as two crescent moon-shaped shock waves flew towards him. He flapped his wings and spread his defensive aura, Purge Shine, out in front of himself.
To Valdurmon's utter shock, the crescents soared straight through his barrier and collided with his body, exploding on contact. The holy bird Digimon unleashed a winded squawk and fell backwards, his back colliding with the World Tree. He flapped his wings vigorously and tried to compose himself. "I- I don't understand," he stammered, panting and wincing with agony at the burning pain in his chest. "How did your attacks go through my Purge Shine?! You're a bunch of destroyers and blasphemers who want to attack the World Tree! How can your attacks be free from evil intent?!"
MirageGaogamon stared at him. "It's because I believe that DarkKnightmon can create a better world – a safer world. One where Digimon will be safe from suffering. That's what I'm fighting for."
"That is what I'm fighting for as well," DarkKnightmon spoke from behind Valdurmon, raising his Twin Spear and pointing it at his back. Coldly, he fired a beam of darkness from his spear, which also managed to break through the World Tree's protector's Purge Shine. The dark matter and shadows slammed into Valdurmon's back and battered him from behind. "But it isn't just me. To create a better world, I need the strength of my comrades. I need your strength, MirageGaogamon."
"You have it, Sir," MirageGaogamon assured him. The former Captain burst through the air and rend his claws down Valdurmon's chest, ripping through surface flesh and feathers.
Valdurmon released a deep trill of pain in response. With a twitching eye, he glared at the blue Digimon in front of him and he fought through the stinging pain in his chest. His body glowed intensely and he released an Aurora Undulation onto MirageGaogamon at point blank range. The light washed over the lupine warrior and sent him reeling into the ground with burns and fractures in his armour.
DarkKnightmon saw an opening, as it took Valdurmon time to recharge after each attack. He began to spin the Twin Spear around in his hands. Valdurmon felt the presence looming behind him and he flapped his wings, moving sluggishly from his wounds, to turn around and counterattack. However, he wasn't fast enough. The tendrils of shadows were already working up into a cyclone from DarkKnightmon's weapon.
"Treason Vortex," DarkKnightmon spoke, spinning the Twin Spear rapidly in his nimble hands. A tornado of darkness shot from the pole arm towards Valdurmon, beginning to swallow up his giant form.
"Rgh. Purge Shine!" Valdurmon shouted defiantly.
The shadows around Valdurmon collided with his aura, which expanded around him to try and break free from the consuming darkness. The light and darkness contended with each other for control but the darkness soon broke through and enveloped Valdurmon completely.
The holy bird Digimon unleashed a deep howl as his body was pounded and slashed from all sides. The shadows tore at his wings, back, legs, and chest as the black and violet vortex grew stronger and more intense, even beginning to rip at the bark and branches of the World Tree.
DarkKnightmon finally slowed the spinning of his spear and the Treason Vortex began to fade, revealing the lacerated and badly beaten form of Valdurmon. The holy bird promptly crashed to the ground in a heap.
The dark knight flew to the ground and looked over at where MirageGaogamon had landed. "Are you alright, Captain?"
"F-Fine…" MirageGaogamon responded, trying his best to sit up.
Dorbickmon frowned and walked over to the unconscious bird, lightly kicking at his giant form. "Glad that's done. He was a real pain in the ass to deal with."
"Only if you have a selfish heart," MirageGaogamon spoke, getting to his knees and looking up at Dorbickmon with heavy implications.
"If you've got something to say, say it, puppy," Dorbickmon told him, sneering at him.
"Don't start," DarkKnightmon said to them. "This fight has only just begun. I'm counting on the Royal Knights showing up, so we need to stand-"
"DarkKnightmon!" a voice resounded commandingly from behind them.
"…united," DarkKnightmon finished, slowly turning around.
The other three turned to look as well.
They saw Alphamon, descending from the sky. He summoned the glowing Seiken Gradalpha in his right hand as he flew towards the ground. Right behind him were Magnamon, Dynasmon, and Dukemon and RhodoKnightmon, who stood atop Grani.
"Impeccable timing," Dorbickmon growled. "DarkKnightmon?"
"Not just yet…" DarkKnightmon replied. He turned and nodded over at the giant World Tree behind him.
Dorbickmon nodded and stabbed his sword into the ground again, drawing draconic power from the leylines. The Tyrant Collbrande pulsed and trembled, the blade of fire growing larger and larger as Dorbickmon drew it from the earth. He then held the sword at a horizontal angle, placing the sword dangerously close to the side of the World Tree, seeming to use it as a hostage.
At this, the Royal Knights glared. RhodoKnightmon jumped to the ground. Dynasmon landed as well, cracking his large knuckles. Magnamon, Dukemon, and Grani remained in the air.
Alphamon's gaze lingered on Omegamon Zwart for several seconds before he pulled his gaze away to stare at DarkKnightmon. "DarkKnightmon… What is this?" he asked him.
"Alphamon… You're earlier than I expected," DarkKnightmon said to the Lord of the Empty Seat.
"So this was to draw us out?" Alphamon asked him with a hard leer.
"Not in it of itself, no," the dark knight responded. "I merely knew that it was inevitable that you all would show up when this tree was threatened."
"That 'tree' is the World Tree," Dynasmon told him with a growl to his words.
"Whatever you're trying to do here, DarkKnightmon, stop it. It's pointless," Magnamon added.
"On the contrary, Magnamon," DarkKnightmon assured him, aiming his Twin Spear at the group, prompting Omegamon Zwart and MirageGaogamon to ready themselves as well. Dorbickmon held his burning sword closer to the tree trunk.
"Stop this at once, DarkKnightmon!" Alphamon warned him.
"Disgusting. Using the World Tree as a hostage… Is there any part of your oath that you didn't break?" Dynasmon asked him with bitter rage.
"Yes," DarkKnightmon responded matter-of-factly. "'I pledge my blood, my data, my heart, and my soul to the betterment of the Digital World and those who reside in it.' The most important part, in my opinion."
"You're still on about that?" Dynasmon asked him angrily. He extended his arm and gestured to the unconscious bodies of Digimon littering the clearing. "What about them? What about the World Tree: the place that so many people look to with wonder and hope?"
"My faith isn't what it used to be, Dynasmon. I am much more pragmatic now," the dark knight calmly explained.
Alphamon shook his head. "You're different, alright… You aren't the DarkKnightmon that I was proud to call my brother."
"That's something that I'll have to live with, Alphamon," DarkKnightmon said to him. He raised his free hand and signalled to the others. "Attack."
"Garuru Cannon!" Omegamon Zwart immediately called out, firing a blast of freezing energy from his cannon at Alphamon.
"Full Moon Blaster!" MirageGaogamon howled, unleashing a stream of power from the mouth on his chest. The shimmering jet ripped across the ground towards RhodoKnightmon, who nimbly dodged it.
Dorbickmon dug his blade into the edge of the tree before swinging the massive flames outwards, sweeping it through the air at Dukemon, Grani, and Magnamon. Magnamon dove down while Grani ascended, both narrowly missing being torched by the attack.
Alphamon flew upwards and slashed down with his sword to propel Omegamon Zwart's attack into the ground. Out of the corners of his eyes, he saw a pillar of shadows already flooding towards them, prompting him to shoot to the side. He winced when the stream of darkness clipped his wing, but he was spared a serious blow. He spun around and aimed his palm at DarkKnightmon, but saw that the World Tree was directly behind his opponent, prompting him to think twice. It wasn't safe for him to use the massive variant of his Digitalize of Soul attack here, nor could Dynasmon use his Breath of Wyvern attack, as it was. There was too much risk to the World Tree and the wounded defenders.
"Don't let them set the tone of the fight! Pick your targets and attack! And watch your aim!" Alphamon called out to the other Royal Knights.
"I have the doggie!" RhodoKnightmon responded, clutching one of his ribbon swords and clashing it with MirageGaogamon's claw gauntlet. His other ribbon shot out and wrapped around MirageGaogamon's free wrist, preventing him from stabbing him with the other one.
Alphamon turned towards Omegamon Zwart. He knew that he had to do this. He had to get through to Omegamon somehow. However, he knew that it wouldn't be easy. "Omegamon!" he called out, dashing towards him with his sword in his hand.
Omegamon Zwart narrowed his eyes and raised his Grey Sword to counter him. "Alphamon…" He levelled his cannon with the charging knight and fired.
"Digitalize of Soul!" Alphamon retaliated, launching a large beam from his left hand. The pillar of emerald power collided with the blast of ice and exploded in a flash of light blue mist and green strands. Alphamon burst through the residue of the blasts and continued charging Omegamon Zwart.
DarkKnightmon, seeing this, began to run to intercept him, but a powerful helix of energy swept in front of him, blocking his path. He narrowed his eyes and turned to see Dynasmon glaring at him, his palms smoking with elemental power.
"Magnamon, with me!" Dynasmon called out to the gold knight, dashing towards DarkKnightmon. "It's time for round two!"
"I have you covered!" Magnamon replied, taking a powerful stance in the air. "Plasma Shoot!"
Missiles launched from Magnamon's shoulders and steamed through the air, arcing downwards and landing in front of DarkKnightmon. The missiles exploded with small, contained bursts, sending detonations of gold and dirt flying up in DarkKnightmon's face. The black knight recoiled with pain and disorientation.
To his surprise, the next thing he saw was Dynasmon burst through the smoke and drive his fist into DarkKnightmon's face. He was sent crashing onto his back, but he wasted no time in unleashing a beam of darkness from his lance. Although he made to dodge it, the shadows grazed across Dynasmon's leg, eliciting a wince of pain from the knight.
Snarling, Dynasmon landed and charged at DarkKnightmon. "You stubborn ass!" he growled, driving his claws towards his former friend.
DarkKnightmon narrowed his eyes and swung his Twin Spear around in his hand before stabbing it at the oncoming dragon man. Dynasmon caught the shaft of the spear in his hand and squeezed it tightly. With his other hand, he grabbed DarkKnightmon's face and squeezed it as well.
Grimacing, DarkKnightmon released a muffled grunt and unleashed dark matter from his spear, coating Dynasmon's claws before slamming into the Royal Knight himself.
"Magnum Punch!" Magnamon shouted from behind DarkKnightmon. His fist was coated with the golden light of Miracles as it pounded into DarkKnightmon's back with tonnes of pressure. DarkKnightmon released a winded gasp and arched his back with agony.
Magnamon narrowed his red eyes and used the momentum to spin around, raising his foot next. "Magnum Kick!"
Acting quickly through the pain, DarkKnightmon moved his spear behind him and blocked the powerful roundhouse kick with his blade.
Meanwhile, Grani swerved left and right with impressive aerial manoeuvres to avoid the boulders that ripped from the ground and flew at them at daunting speeds. Dukemon stood on Grani's back, keeping balanced as Dorbickmon kept up his Burning the Dragon attack, using his sword to hurl chunks of rock at them from the ground.
"Final Elysion!" Dukemon shouted, the sigils on his Aegis lighting up before unleashing a thick column of power down towards Dorbickmon.
Dorbickmon grunted and lunged away, getting thrown mid flight by the resulting explosion. The dragon landed on a roll and positioned himself at the base of the World Tree, right next to Valdurmon's unconscious body. "Want to try that again, bucket head?!" Dorbickmon called up to him. He raised the Tyrant Collbrande over his head and extended the blade.
Grani veered to the left suddenly as Dorbickmon tried to hit them out of the sky with the blade. Dukemon aimed his lance at Dorbickmon but faltered. "He's using them as shields. I can't attack him like this. Can you try to circle around, Grani?" he asked his ride.
"It's no good, Dukemon," Grani responded. "You'll have to go down there and close in on him."
"Looks like it," Dukemon conceded. "But first… Dragon Driver!"
Grani complied and suddenly swooped down into a speedy nose dive. The Zero ARMS watched as the giant Tyrant Collbrande swung towards them again. He angled his body to the side, trying to avoid the attack with as little movement as possible. The pillar of purple fire swept along Grani's side, catching the tip of his right wing.
The Zero ARMS grunted in pain and faltered in his flight a bit. Grani quickly caught himself, keeping himself from spinning out of control, and he pulled up as they neared the ground.
Dorbickmon gritted his teeth as Dukemon and Grani closed in on him. "Dragon Breath Tonic Fire!" A swath of inferno poured from Dorbickmon's mouth onto Dukemon and Grani as they shot towards him, but even the burning flames didn't stop them. The two burst through the flames and collided with Dorbickmon, Grani's face in Dorbickmon's chest and Dukemon's lance in Dorbickmon's shoulder armour. The dragon mercenary roared out as he was thrown clear over Valdurmon's body, hitting the ground and rolling across it unceremoniously.
"You okay, Grani?" Dukemon asked with a wince as they began to circle around.
"I will be fine. You should dismount now," Grani assured him. "I will provide combat reconnaissance from overhead."
Dukemon nodded and lunged off Grani's back, dropping to the ground and landing gracefully on his feet. As his cape settled against his back, the crimson knight began running towards Dorbickmon, who was standing up.
Dorbickmon ignored the blood trickling down his left arm and brought his sword over his head, slashing it down on Dukemon. Dukemon skidded to a stop and blocked the blade with his lance. As the fire burned above him, he glared at the mercenary. "I know you're Examon's friend, but I'm not going to just let you attack the Yggdrasil Tree!"
"He's not my friend!" Dorbickmon snarled, pushing hard against Dukemon's defence and breaking through it.
Dukemon darted to the side as the blade slammed into the ground heavily, sending up a geyser of dirt and embers, which he protected himself against using the Aegis. "Then what happened the other day?!" Dukemon challenged. Energy began to spiral around the Gram lance as Dukemon readied his next attack. "Royal Sabre!" The power gathered at the tip of the lance and Dukemon thrust it forwards.
"Grugh! Shut up!" Dorbickmon roared as he stabbed his sword deeper into the ground. "I don't need life coaching from some jumped up, do-gooder tin can! Burning the Dragon!"
A shard of jagged rock burst from the ground and pounded across Dukemon's helmet, jerking his head upwards and causing a few shards to get into his visor. A large tendril of rock then reached up from the ground and grabbed the Gram in its coils.
Dukemon sneered and quickly retracted the lance, using his Royal Saber attack to rip the rocks to pieces. He then plunged the Gram towards Dorbickmon again. The mercenary snarled and met his attack, and the two clashed.
The sounds of the fight echoed through the forest. The deep rumble of explosions, the screech of attacks, the sharp clanging of metal hitting metal… they all amounted to one thing: a battle in the Neutral Zone.
Gankoomon stared through the forest with an unreadable expression. Flickers of yellow energy rose from his jacket-covered shoulders, underscored by a deep snarl.
"Yeah… I sense it too, Hinukamui," Gankoomon muttered to the light. He raised his hand to his visor and adjusted it. He looked above the canopies of the trees and saw smoke rising up from the base of the World Tree. "…Okay. I'm going," he said with unwavering resolve.
The two Sistermons looked over at him. "If you're sure…" Sistermon Blanc said uncertainly.
"Can we come too?" Sistermon Noir asked with an upbeat grin. "I'm dying to shoot something."
"No. Stay here and keep an eye on Huckmon," Gankoomon told them.
"What?!" Huckmon protested. "But I want to see what's going on, Gankoomon!"
"Tough luck. I'll tell you when I get back," the red-haired warrior responded.
"I can take care of myself in a fight," Huckmon insisted.
"Not one of this magnitude. Now, shut it and stay here, Huckmon. That's an order," Gankoomon said in a voice that left no room for argument.
Huckmon grimaced and kicked a nearby rock with frustration.
Gankoomon turned his gaze back to the Sistermons. "Make sure he doesn't slip away to follow me."
"Gotcha," Sistermon Noir replied.
"Be careful, Gankoomon, sir," Sistermon Blanc told him.
Gankoomon gave a terse nod. He turned around and made to start running, but something bright in the distance caught his eyes. "Get down!" he shouted, turning around and tackling all three of them to the ground.
A stray beam of light cut through the forest, hacking through trees. The beam descended in its trajectory and began tearing up the ground right beside them. When the light faded, the uplifted dirt began to settle. Gankoomon turned and saw a long ditch left by the attack no more than three meters away from them.
"Eep. That was close," Sistermon Noir said matter-of-factly.
"Really… c-close," her sister said with contrastingly wide eyes.
Gankoomon growled with anger and stood to his feet. "You three, get to a safer distance. I'll find you when I'm done."
"But Gankoomon," Huckmon began to protest.
"GO!"
The three stood up and began to hurry in the opposite direction from the battle. Gankoomon stood around and glared in the direction of the World Tree. As he did, the form of a massive, yellow, semi-incorporeal dragon began to rise up from his shoulders. The aura dragon had long arms, a horned, draconic head, and small wings sprouting from his back. He looked down at Gankoomon and then forwards at the distant battle with a soft growl.
"Come on, Hinukamui," Gankoomon said to the dragon that glimmered above him. "Let's find out whose ass we need to kick."
The Seiken Gradalpha met with the Grey Sword and rebounded back. The two swords then met again in the peerless sword fight. Tendrils of light flared out from the holy sword as Alphamon held against Omegamon Zwart.
"Omegamon! It's me, Alphamon!" Alphamon told the black knight.
"I'm… aware," Omegamon Zwart responded, defending against Alphamon's strike.
"Then you know that I'm your friend!" the leader of the Royal Knights insisted, trying his very best to get through to him.
"No… Not my friend," the black Omegamon answered, digging his boots into the ground and raising his Garuru Cannon. He pressed the muzzle against Alphamon's chest and fired, causing ice to explode around the knight's armour and send him crashing back onto his wings.
Alphamon coughed and felt a cold numb pain in his chest. He began to sit back up, but he saw the glint of the Grey Sword as it swept through the air, descending on Alphamon. The black knight grunted and rolled to the side, causing Omegamon's blade to slam into the ground with an explosive burst.
After quickly getting to his feet, Alphamon spun around and slashed with his sword. The Seiken Gradalpha hummed and crackled as it swept down onto Omegamon Zwart's Grey Sword once again. "We are friends!" Alphamon passionately said. "You're one of the best friends that I've ever had!"
"You're a liar," Omegamon Zwart hissed. "You lie and you lie, and I intend to cut that silver tongue of yours out."
"I haven't lied to you!" Alphamon insisted.
Omegamon Zwart recoiled from the attack and began to charge up his cannon. "Another lie."
After a moment of introspection, Alphamon grimaced. "Alright. I did lie to you. I didn't know how to tell you about OuRyuumon and I. I was worried about how you would react!" he admitted.
"Because you didn't trust me," Omegamon Zwart said with cool, matter-of-factness.
"No!" Alphamon exclaimed. "I've always trusted you, Omegamon."
Omegamon scoffed and raised his Garuru Cannon, aiming it at Alphamon's face. Without giving the Royal Knight a chance to speak again, he fired.
This time, Alphamon was expecting the blast. He crouched down and tilted his head to the side, so that the orb of compressed power flew by him harmlessly and exploded into the trees on the other end of the clearing.
Alphamon dispersed his sword, rushed forwards and grabbed Omegamon's arms, holding them out so that he couldn't attack him. Omegamon Zwart glared at him with hateful red eyes and tried to free himself from Alphamon's grasp. "I'm sorry, Omegamon. I can't… tell you how sorry I am," Alphamon said to him between exerted breaths.
Omegamon Zwart narrowed his eyes. "You're far… too late…" The black and gold knight leaned back and brought his leg up, planting his boot firmly into Alphamon's gut. Alphamon's grunted as he was thrown away from his friend.
Alphamon grimaced and clutched his throbbing chest. "Omegamon… I will do anything… to get you back. If it means I have to defeat you in battle and take you as my prisoner… then so be it," he told him with his determination clear in his pained voice. His red eyes locked with Omegamon Zwart's. "And if I have to use my secret weapon to defeat you, then I'll do that too."
Alphamon forced himself to stand up straight. The Lord of the Empty Seat raised his right hand high into the sky, and energy began to form above his opened palm.
This caught DarkKnightmon's attention. As he tried to stave Dynasmon and Magnamon off with his spear, he looked across the battlefield. His eyes widened ever-so-slightly before he hardened his gaze and slammed his bladed shoulder into Dynasmon's chest.
A magic circle filled with meticulously designed shapes and digi letters formed over his head, spinning both clockwise and counter-clockwise at various levels in the circle. It was similar in shape to the one that Alphamon used when he jogress shinka'd with OuRyuumon, but the digi letters were different. Suddenly, Alphamon's eyes flashed green and light poured out of the circle onto him.
"Alpha inForce!"
"Damn it," DarkKnightmon muttered. "It's too soon…"
The light diminished and the Seiken Gradalpha was already in Alphamon's hand. He slashed the sword down towards Omegamon Zwart in a single, grand stroke. However, before the sword of light even finished the slash, there were already a multitudes of cuts and rends hacking through Omegamon Zwart's armour.
Omegamon Zwart let out a snarl of pain as new slash marks cut across this armour and through his cape, ripping and burning the thick metal. He slashed his Grey Sword out but it didn't help his defence much.
"What the hell?!" Dorbickmon demanded, bleeding from the mouth as he punched Dukemon away. "What did he do?!"
"He pulled out one of his trump cards," Dukemon informed him, already pouring energy into the Aegis before unleashing a Final Elysion attack into Dorbickmon, sending him skidding along the ground, his body smoldering.
DarkKnightmon cursed as Dorbickmon was struck down. While distracted, Dynasmon sent a Dragon's Roar blast into DarkKnightmon's chest, which sent him impacting the World Tree painfully. He slumped to the ground, but swiftly pulled himself back up and darted to the side before Magnamon could bring his fists down upon him.
Looking around again while still trying to keep focused on his two opponents, DarkKnightmon spotted MirageGaogamon. MirageGaogamon's arms were ensnared by RhodoKnightmon's sturdy ribbons, squeezing him tightly and keeping him from attacking. DarkKnightmon glowered. He realized that the tide of battle was turning against them. He knew that they had to act before they could be defeated.
DarkKnightmon levelled his Twin Spear at RhodoKnightmon and fired an intense blast of shadows from his weapon. The dark power howled as it ripped across the ground towards the pink knight.
RhodoKnightmon glanced over and saw the approaching column of darkness and was forced to release MirageGaogamon from his bonds so that he was able to jump away in time. The slender Royal Knight retracted his ribbons and took them as swords in his hands when he landed.
"It is time that we finished this up!" DarkKnightmon called to the others.
"I'll decide when this is finished!" Alphamon said to him, turning his attentions to DarkKnightmon briefly.
"Will you use your Alpha inForce on me, Alphamon?!" DarkKnightmon called to him. As he did this, he looked at Omegamon Zwart and gave him a subtle nod. "You know how much it drains you to use."
Pieces of Omegamon Zwart's armour fell from his form, and his body was wracked with pain, but nevertheless, he complied. While Alphamon was turned, he shot through the air, over to the World Tree.
"Alphamon!" Grani called out to him from above.
Alphamon sensed the movement and spun around, racing after Omegamon, but he was slowed when DarkKnightmon began firing beam after beam of dark power at him, forcing him to dodge the blasts. His eyes widened when he saw Omegamon Zwart point his Garuru Cannon at the World Tree, and he saw subzero beam energy brimming from the cannon's muzzle. "Omegamon! Don't do this!" he called to him.
Omegamon Zwart glanced over briefly, but merely began building more and more power into his cannon. He took aim at the massive tree in front of him.
"Omegamon!" Alphamon pleaded, reluctant to use his Alpha inForce to stop him, instead hoping that he could get through to Omegamon, who he knew was still in there, and make him want to stop. "Listen to me, Omegamon! This isn't you! You've been brainwashed by DarkKnightmon and the power of the Dark Area! Remember who you are! Remember the oaths you took!"
Omegamon Zwart's gaze hardened and he looked like he was prepared to fire at the World Tree.
"Remember, Omegamon! You pledged to defend Yggdrasil! We all did! I was there with you when we took the oath!" Alphamon told him.
Omegamon Zwart winced subtly and lowered his cannon by just a centimeter.
"Fire, Omegamon!" DarkKnightmon called out to him, bringing his Twin Spear down on Magnamon, who blocked the attack with his golden arm bracers.
"Don't listen to him! Listen to Alphamon! Your friend!" Dukemon called out, using his shield to block a stream of fire pouring from Dorbickmon's maw.
"Ignore the traitors! Fire, Omegamon Zwart!" DarkKnightmon insisted, jumping away from Dynasmon.
Omegamon Zwart didn't reply. He just hovered in the air, his cannon pointed at the magnificent tree. He didn't fire and he didn't pull away. He just stared at the tree in front of him, as if contemplating each and every word that entered his ears.
"Omegamon Zwart, fire!" DarkKnightmon shouted to him.
Omegamon Zwart grimaced. He didn't fire. He remained completely still.
"Damn it… MirageGaogamon! Dorbickmon!" DarkKnightmon yelled to them. "With me! Do it!"
MirageGaogamon winced at the order, but obeyed. "Yes, Sir!"
Dorbickmon, sporting multiple battle wounds, snarled with adrenaline and ripped past Dukemon, dragging the Tyrant Collbrande through the ground as he ran. "Leave it to me!" he shouted, ripping the massive, blazing sword from the ground and letting it tower above everyone as he lifted it into the air.
"I think not!" RhodoKnightmon exclaimed, running over to MirageGaogamon as he prepared to fire from his chest. He extended his ribbons and wrapped one tightly around MirageGaogamon's neck, yanking him back just as the wolf man fired the cannon in his chest. The Full Moon Blaster attack speared upwards, away from its intended destination, merely slicing through several of the World Tree's branches, which collapsed to the ground.
DarkKnightmon narrowed his eyes and aimed his own Twin Spear at the World Tree, prompting shock and outrage from Alphamon.
The Lord of the Empty Seat raced towards DarkKnightmon, gripping the Seiken Gradalpha tightly, and fully intent on using his Alpha inForce to stop him.
Magnamon glared and launched six missiles from his armour. "Plasma Shoot!"
Dynasmon let out a frustrated roar and followed suit, summoning Wyvern from his body. "BREATH OF WYVERN!"
The attacks shot forwards from the two Royal Knights, but they were too late. A huge pillar of shadows surged from the Twin Spear and tore through the sky towards the World Tree, just before Wyvern and the missiles collided with DarkKnightmon explosively. Despite the attacks detonating around DarkKnightmon, followed up by countless invisible strikes from Alphamon's Alpha inForce, DarkKnightmon's attack collided with the thick trunk of the World Tree, colliding with the wood and exploding, tearing into it.
The Royal Knights turned and watched with mortification as the side of the World Tree exploded, creating a huge hole in the side of the massive trunk.
DarkKnightmon grimaced and heaved with pain as fractures formed all over his armoured body, but he managed a faint smile when he saw that his attack as successful. He then turned to look at Dorbickmon through the smoke as the dragon slashed the elongated Tyrant Collbrande down.
The blazing sword collided with the trunk and branches of the World Tree and the inferno washed over the right side of the tree. The flames burned deep into the tree and multiple branches caught fire.
Dorbickmon then narrowed his eyes, watching as the flames spread from branch to branch, climbing up the tree, and added a double blast from his chest cannons into the side of the tree for good measure.
DarkKnightmon panted and felt blood drip from some of the cracks in his armour. "Retreat!" he called to the others.
The Royal Knights watched with horror and disbelief as the inferno took hold of the World Tree, only barely registering the DarkKnightmon had called for retreat.
"No…" Alphamon whispered, staring up at the blaze with wide eyes. His gaze hardened and he turned towards Omegamon Zwart, who was already flying away, with what seemed like a grim expression on his dark face. "Omegamon!"
Omegamon Zwart didn't respond.
MirageGaogamon hacked the ribbons away from him using a Double Crescent Mirage and he proceeded to retreat in a flash, not wanting to turn around and watch the burning of the World Tree.
In the chaos, DarkKnightmon and Dorbickmon made their escape before the Royal Knights were able turn their attentions away from the present disaster. For those bleak, painstaking moments, the Royal Knights could only look on helplessly as the World Tree continued to burn.