The Digital World.
A mysterious world inhabited by strange creatures known as Digimon.
Right now, the evil Nightmare Soldiers, under the command of the Revelation Beast, Ogudamon; is in the process of conquering it along with the Human World.
Hachiro Ryuu, along with his partner Dracomon, have thrown themselves into the struggle to save both the Digimon and the humans.
This is the story of their final friendships and adventures.
Digimon D-Tamer
D-37
The Holy War, Part III
The Road to Digivolution
"Is everyone alright?"
The Digimon D-Tamers had regrouped and were in Ryuu's old tree house. They were defeated in their first confrontation against Ogudamon and they would have been killed, had it not been for the timely arrival of Agumon Hakase in his backup Digivolved form of WarGreymon.
"How can we stand up to someone so powerful?" Keiko asked. She looked at her Digivice and saw that Falcomon was asleep, and his DP was really low. Ryuu looked back at Dracomon, who was staring into the sky. He could tell that his Digimon partner was worried about WarGreymon.
"We'll need a new plan if we're going to defeat Ogudamon," Vichiro said. "It looks like our Digimon weren't powerful enough to defeat them…even at the Ultimate Level."
"Chronomon said to use the Burst Mode to defeat the darkness…" Keiko mentioned, and they all looked at Ryuu and Dracomon.
"Of course, it would involve you two." Kenji sighed. "Just don't screw up."
"We don't even know what we're doing yet!" Ryuu argued back. He calmed down after looking at his Digivice. "Besides, we didn't do so hot last time…"
"Burst Stream of Destruction!"
The point-range shot knocked Slayerdramon back into Ryuu, and the two both tumbled onto the ground. The smoke began to slowly fade, and Lucemon emerged, once again bearing spheres of light and darkness.
"He survived?" Ryuu gasped.
"Dead…or…Alive…"
Both spheres combined into a ginger shaded orb, which projected images of a clock ticking, and it surrounded both Slayerdramon and Ryuu, and the other D-Tamers could only watch as the two screamed in horror of the pain that they were forced to endure.
"It seems you can't take the full force of my attack." Lucemon laughed. He snapped his fingers, and the Dead or Alive orb broke up into pieces of data, and Ryuu and Dracomon were lying on the ground, barely conscious.
"…and that was only against Lucemon." Ryuu finished. "Ogudamon has five times his power and size!" The group remained silent as their hope for victory became fragile.
"Ryuu, look!" Dracomon shouted. Everyone looked in the direction that Dracomon was pointing at and they gasped at the sight of WarGreymon flying towards them. As he came closer and closer to them, the D-Tamers noticed that his armor was severely damaged, blood was firing out of his body, and the Brave Shield perched on his back was no more. The kids shifted to make room for the Ultimate Digimon, and he poked his head through the window before his body was filled with light. It started shrinking until the light faded, and in WarGreymon's place was a weakened Agumon Hakase. His coat was ripped in several places and his hat was gone.
"Agumon Hakase, what happened?" Vani asked.
"Ogudamon-gya…" Agumon Hakase whispered. "H-He was able to overpower me…I couldn't take it-gya…"
"If even WarGreymon fell against Ogudamon," Kenji began. "What hope is there for us?"
"Y-You mustn't give up yet-gya," Agumon Hakase coughed. "There is hope that lies in the untold powers of Digivolution-gya."
"Digivolution?" everyone repeated, and Agumon Hakase repeated.
"We already unlocked the power of the Burst Mode, if that's what you're talking about." Ryuu mentioned, but the wise Digimon shook his head.
"This is about the legendary Jogress Evolution-gya." Agumon Hakase revealed. "I trust you have heard of it before-gya." Everyone nodded, harkening back to the legend that Chronomon told them. "You will need it to defeat Ogudamon, for this time he's sending three generals to lead the army that's invading both the Digital World and the Human World-gya." Everyone gasped at Agumon Hakase's revelation.
"Oh no…" Vani shrieked. "Ogudamon's rising up an army to invade both worlds...what a terrible thing to happen!"
"That's it…" Ryuu sighed. "We're done for…" The D-Tamers all put on a sad expression on each of their faces, giving into the despair that they thought would inevitably come.
"Tail Smash!"
Dracomon's tail swept across Ryuu's face in a swift motion, leaving a bruise on his cheek.
"Ow!" Ryuu cried. "What was that for?"
"Snap out of it!" Dracomon roared. "A strong will is stronger than steel! If you think we can defeat Ogudamon, then we will! But if you don't, we're pretty much doomed." All of the Digivices in the room began to shine and the Digimon partners realized. "We can do this. You have to have faith, otherwise we're nothing."
"He's got a point…" Leormon said.
"We can do it if we just believe!" Falcomon shrieked.
"If we all work together, we can awaken a true miracle of Digivolution." Salamon explained. Both Commandramon and Renamon nodded in agreement to the other Digimon.
"You guys are right," Ryuu said as he stood up. "We can make a difference!" The other D-Tamers nodded their heads happily, and Agumon Hakase joined him.
"What's the plan, Agumon Hakase?" Kenji asked.
"Don't ask me-gya," Agumon Hakase said, pointing his torn hat at Ryuu and Dracomon.
"Hmmn…we need a strategy," Ryuu processed out loud. After getting an idea, the goggle-head pulled out both his Digivice and his D-Disk. "Everyone, pull out your Digivices and your D-Disks." Everyone did so, and their D-Disks all began to shine. Ryuu seemed to be the only person not surprised by this, and the holy weapons wielded by the D-Tamers took the place of the D-Disks.
"What are you planning?" Luciana asked her brother. Ryuu remained silent, looking from one Digimon to the next. It was as if he were trying to find the two puzzle pieces that created Jogress Evolution.
"Spit it out," Keiko snapped impatiently. "What's going on?"
"Alright, I know what to do…" Ryuu said as he opened his eyes. "We'll need to divide and conquer. Agumon Hakase, I want you to go help the Digimon in the Digital World who are fighting. The Old Masters need you."
"Understood-gya," Agumon Hakase nodded. He was surprised when Ryuu handed him the Dramon Breaker.
"You'll be needed this," the goggle-head said. "Dracomon might not be able to digivolve past his Adult form, but we'll be able to manage." Ryuu turned his eyes to the girls of the group. "You three should go to the Dark Castle of Pride. Halt the production of Nightmare Soldiers and Dark Area warriors as much as you can."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Vani smiled.
"Where do you suggest we go?" Vichiro asked, but Ryuu shook his head.
"You'll have to trust me on this…" Ryuu began. "I want you two to confront Ogudamon."
"That's suicide!" Kenji yelled. "He couldn't even stand up to the six Ultimates we have! What difference will two make?"
"Trust your leader-gya," Agumon Hakase nodded. "This fight will be like a game of checkers, so think strategically-gya."
"Understood." Vichiro and Commandramon both said. Leormon nodded and Kenji sill was confused.
"Where are you two going?" Kenji wondered. Ryuu and Dracomon looked at each other, smiled in agreement, turned back to face the others.
"We have a mission of our own to attend to." Ryuu said. "Ogudamon will be tough, so be careful."
"I guess this is where we part from each other," Vichiro commented. "Good luck, everyone." As they all climbed out of the tree house, a coat of light began to encompass Agumon Hakase's body. The D-Tamers and partners watched in awe as the illuminated body grew until it was about Renamon's height, and the light faded to reveal VictoryGreymon, armed once again with his Dramon Breaker.
"VictoryGreymon-sama…" Dracomon smiled. "Welcome back." VictoryGreymon held his blade into the air.
"Let's go fight!"
"There he is!"
Kenji and Vichiro arrived in the city on their Ultimate-level Digimon. The sight was horrendous. The city was torn apart, flames burning the rubble and people fleeing the destruction.
"What has he done?" Kenji said. BantyoLeomon and Darkdramon looked up into the sky and gasped as the sky began to darken.
"What's going on?" Vichiro wondered. Two lightning bolts struck before them and the massive form of Ogudamon appeared. Immediately upon seeing him, BantyoLeomon's fists began to blaze and Darkdramon's mouth began to produce dark energy.
"I see you have returned for more," Ogudamon cackled. "However, I must admit myself disappointed. I thought I would be able to kill all of you at once."
"You won't be killing anyone ever again!" Kenji cried, and both BantyoLeomon and Darkdramon leapt into the sky towards their foe.
"Burn Bantyo Punch!"
"Gigastick Lance!"
"Insects…" Ogudamon said calmly. The seven swords that were implanted in each of his knees suddenly pulled themselves out and blasted off towards the encroaching Digimon.
"Defensive maneuver!" Vichiro called. Darkdramon nodded, and he summoned his Dark Roar technique and used it as a shield to block the blades from hitting.
"Full speed ahead!" Kenji cried. Alas, both Ultimate Digimon were smacked by one of Ogudamon's legs and were sent hurling into the sky.
"This is not going so well…" Vichiro said as they both watched their partners crash into the ground next to them.
"Is there anything we can do?" Kenji wondered. It was hurting him inside to watch BantyoLeomon and Darkdramon suffer so much, and Ogudamon was just getting started.
"I can answer that for you…" Ogudamon cackled as he towered over the four. The Demon Lord Crown sparkled atop of his head and he prepared to launch his next attack.
"W-We have to protect them…" BantyoLeomon coughed, struggling to pick himself up. Darkdramon pulled himself to his feet with the Gigastick Lance.
"Cathedral!"
A massive shockwave erupted from Ogudamon's lower body, and the power behind it was more than enough to send Kenji, Vichiro, and their Digimon flying through the air.
"NO!" Both BantyoLeomon and Darkdramon cried.
"Back here again, eh?" Luciana sighed. She, Vani, and Keiko had just arrived through a DigiPort outside of the Dark Castle of Pride, the scene where Ryuu and Dracomon had their final battle with Lilithmon. The sky of the Digital World had been darkened like the wings of many bats, and dark clouds were hovering around the dark castle. An ominous wind rushed across the faces of the D-Tamers, Vani especially. Having been here in another life was presenting an eerie feeling.
"'fraid so…" Keiko sighed. "This place hasn't changed much."
"I don't like being here," Vani shook her head.
"I can imagine," Luciana said. "The last time we were here was an interesting day."
"Well, what matters is that we have you back with us!" Keiko smiled. "Together, we're going to defeat that Ogudamon and restore balance to both worlds!" Vani couldn't help but smile. She then looked on towards the castle. Everyone had their own task at hand. Kenji and Vichiro were protecting the city. Agumon Hakase was fighting with the Ultimate Alliance. Ryuu didn't say where he was going, but she was sure that it was something that would benefit them all. It was their job to destroy the Dark Castle of Pride, the capital of darkness in the Digital World.
"Inside the castle," Vani suggested, and the others nodded. As they began to make their way towards the castle, a wave of darkness struck the ground in front of them, alerting them to the presence of a presence in front of them.
"Hello, ladies…"
A LadyDevimon, along with a large army of Witchmon, appeared in between the girls and the castle.
"LadyDevimon!" Keiko shouted, and turned to Vani. "That's what you became under the influence!"
"I see my reputation as a general precedes me…" LadyDevimon cackled, the Witchmon beginning to take aim. "It is rather unfortunate that you won't be able to see the fate of both worlds after Ogudamon-sama's will is achieved." Vani stepped forward, to everyone's surprise, and raised her fist towards the encroaching army.
"You, who dare poison not only our world but the Digital World as well," she cried. "Know that we are going to end your reign right here and now!" With that, Vani pulled out her Digivice and Salamon charged from within into battle.
"Holy Ring, Burst Charge!"
"Salamon double warp digivolve to…"
"…Ophanimon!"
"An Ultimate Level Digimon?" LadyDevimon let it show that she underestimated the abilities of the D-Tamers as Ophanimon sprung from where Salamon stood and engaged the Witchmon.
"Aquary Pressure!"
The Witchmon all fired high-pressured streams of water from the palms of their hands.
"Defend!" Vani shouted, and Ophanimon summoned her javelin.
"Eden's Javelin!"
By rapidly spinning her javelin in a cyclonic formation, Ophanimon was able to nullify the Witchmon's attacks. LadyDevimon could only watch as Ophanimon fought this one-sided battle against her army.
"Damn…" she whispered, reaching under her wing.
"LadyDevimon!" LadyDevimon whipped around to see Keiko, Luciana, Valdorumon and Sakuyamon soaring towards her.
"Hyper Tornado!"
"Spirit Strike!"
The four kuda-gitsunes, carried faster through Valdorumon's power, dashed through LadyDevimon's body. They returned to Sakuyamon's body as the Fallen Angel Digimon fell to the ground, weakened from the singe attack.
"You can't reject our power!" Luciana cheered. Struggling to get up, LadyDevimon looked up towards the castle and noticed a light shining from the top. A smug grin started to form on her face.
"What's so funny?" Keiko demanded. Lightning began to shoot out from the top of the castle in several directions. "What's going on up there?"
"I'll tell you what's going on…" LadyDevimon began as she stood up and rose into the sky. "More and more Nightmare Soldiers are being created! Soon we will envelop this sorry world and create a new, darker one!"
"No way!" Sakuyamon shouted.
"We will stop you!" Valdorumon cawed.
"Not at this current power…" LadyDevimon sneered. "Witchmon, now!" The Witchmon who were battling Ophanimon instantly stopped and disappeared. Seconds later, they reappeared in the sky and encircled LadyDevimon. "Now, I shall absorb your powers and become unstoppable!" The girls gasped as the Witchmon's bodies all degenerated into data and was absorbed into LadyDevimon's body, and she began to undergo a startling transformation.
"What's going on?" Vani cried.
"Huh…what?"
Drops of water woke Kenji up, and he looked around and scanned his surroundings. It was raining. The sky was dark and gray, save for the occasional flashes of lightning. Kenji found himself to be inside an abandoned convenience store, which lost half of its entirety to the attack of Ogudamon. Struggling, he picked himself up and began to walk towards the outside and could not believe what was going on. People were in panic, desperately trying to find shelter from the grotesque Ogudamon. To make matters worse, he saw one of the three generals, who Kenji's Digivice classified him as SkullKnightmon, and he had released the army of NeoDevimon onto the city. From the looks of it, SkullKnightmon simply ordered them to show no mercy. The desire to fight burned within Kenji, but first he had one thing to take care of. He just realized that he was alone.
"Leormon?" He called out. "Leormon?"
"K-Kenji…"
Kenji turned over to see a battered BantyoLeomon walk towards him. His slightly torn gakuran was all that was covering his blood and bruises. With him were Vichiro and Darkdramon, also weakened and bleeding from the last battle. Vichiro's clothes were ripped and Darkdramon's wings were pierced while his Gigastick Lance was destroyed. Kenji helped them inside and they hid on both sides of the destroyed entrance to protect themselves from being discovered.
"You know what sucks?" Vichiro coughed, and Kenji looked at him with a blank expression. "We have to go back out there."
"I know…" Kenji said, wiping the blood off his forehead. He poked his head out to see the NeoDevimon army marching down the streets. Kenji knew that they were looking for the Digimon D-Tamers. "With Ryuu gone…VictoryGreymon fighting the war…and the girls at the Dark Castle…we're all that's' left here…"
"That's right." BantyoLeomon nodded. "Despite our wounds, we are ready to keep on going."
"That's right." Vichiro said, and Darkdramon nodded. Kenji took out his Digivice and summoned his Leo Claws. "Kenji?"
"That's not enough…" Kenji said. "I want to rid our world of evil. Ogudamon will pay for infecting the Earth with darkness, and I want to give it to him personally." Vichiro's eyes met with Kenji's, and a further connection was made between their emotions. Vichiro began to understand Kenji's feelings and Kenji felt Vichiro's determination.
"They're coming," Darkdramon growled. Everyone devoted their attention to the outside, and they saw a portion of the army, led by SkullKnightmon, coming towards the store that they were hiding in.
"Ready for this?" Vichiro asked, raising his fist. "This could be our final battle."
"Understood." Kenji nodded, raising his Leo Claws. "One…two…"
"…THREE!"
Both Kenji and Vichiro leapt up through the open ceiling to the front of the encroaching NeoDevimon army and began dashing towards them.
"Chosen Children!" SkullKnightmon shouted. "Capture for Ogudamon-sama!"
"Fat chance!" Kenji shouted, diving down under many of the NeoDevimon, getting himself in the middle of the group. "We have to get up to Ogudamon!" As the NeoDevimon came towards them, Kenji started driving them back with punches and kicks.
"Leo Claw!" Kenji shouted, and he leaped into the air as the two Leo Claws began to shine.
"Blazing Otokogi!"
Kenji's attack managed to blow back the NeoDevimon that were attacking him, and he then combined both LeoClaws into one punching glove-esque weapon on his right fist.
"I'm not through yet!" he cried.
"Muscle Lariat!"
Kenji's supercharged fist was able to destroy a number of the NeoDevimon with a fiery punch.
On Vichiro's end, the NeoDevimon followed him up a staircase, but Vichiro leapt backwards and landed behind them. He then jumped and kicked one in the face and continued to fight the rest.
"Don't make me laugh," Vichiro chuckled, as more NeoDevimon soldiers began to come for him. "Without the Gigastick Lance, I can still fight!" Vichiro clenched his fist and dark matter began to form.
"Shoot him down!" The NeoDevimon roared, and they encircled him.
"Stun Claw!"
"Here is…" Vichiro leapt into the air and began spinning his body, dodging all the electrified attacks of the NeoDevimon. "…my Digimon's power!"
"Dark Roar!"
Vichiro released Darkdramon's attack from the palm of his hand and it shot down to the NeoDevimon and crashed into them. An explosion followed as Vichiro landed on the ground.
"Don't forget about us!" Darkdramon ran his fist through another one of the NeoDevimon and stood side-by-side with his human partner.
"Nice," Vichiro nodded and his Digimon nodded back. Some of the NeoDevimon resurfaced and shot their hands out towards the two.
"Stun Claw!"
"My turn!"
The gakuran of BantyoLeomon flew towards Vichiro and intercepted the blast. Vichiro looked over to Kenji, who was joined by his "naked" partner.
"Shishi Raouzan!"
A number of NeoDevimon were blown back by the impact of the Danzon, and the four united into one group.
"Impressive, most impressive." Kenji smiled, and BantyoLeomon simply put his gakuran back on.
"You haven't seen anything yet." BantyoLeomon said.
"Catedral!"
A large pulsing shockwave overcame the four and they all fell to the ground. Kenji and Vichiro were not, however, shocked to see Ogudamon towering over them with SkullKnightmon hovering next to him.
"You again…" Ogudamon scorned. "It turns out I was right in my assumptions that you did not die in the last attack. It simply puzzles me that you haven't escaped after having a chance to." Ogudamon's body began to emit a dark pulse of energy and he fired a beam of darkness behind the boys, and it hit several of the unconscious NeoDevimon. Everyone gasped as they regained their energy and stood more powerful than ever.
"Guilty Claw MAX!"
BantyoLeomon and Darkdramon both intercepted the attacks that were going to hit their Tamers and fell to the ground from the massive impact.
"Ugh," Darkdramon coughed. "T-They're stronger than before…"
"I won't let them win…" BantyoLeomon said. "That's not what a man does!" Both BantyoLeomon and Darkdramon fought on, leaving Kenji and Vichiro to confront Ogudamon.
"You are clearly outnumbered." Ogudamon said. "Why do you not surrender to the will of darkness?"
"No need to underestimate us!" Kenji shouted, raising his Digivice. "We choose to stay and fight!"
"What are you doing?" Vichiro asked.
"Vichiro, this is the start of the final journey. Back there when we were getting ready to strike, I felt something," Kenji said. "It was like a connection. Our hearts were burning with passion at the same time, I felt it! We need to work together if we're going to overcome this crisis, so lend me your power and I'll lend you mine!" Vichiro stared at him and glanced over to their Digimon, who continued to fight a losing battle against the NeoDevimon army.
"Our Digimon are fighting together…" Vichiro said, and suddenly something came back to him.
"This is about the legendary Jogress Evolution-gya." Agumon Hakase revealed. "I trust you have heard of it before-gya." Everyone nodded, harkening back to the legend that Chronomon told them. "You will need it to defeat Ogudamon,"
…
"Hmmn…we need a strategy," Ryuu processed out loud. After getting an idea, the goggle-head pulled out both his Digivice and his D-Disk. "Everyone, pull out your Digivices and your D-Disks." Everyone did so, and their D-Disks all began to shine. Ryuu seemed to be the only person not surprised by this, and the holy weapons wielded by the D-Tamers took the place of the D-Disks.
"What are you planning?" Luciana asked her brother. Ryuu remained silent, looking from one Digimon to the next. It was as if he were trying to find the two puzzle pieces that created Jogress Evolution.
…
"Where do you suggest we go?" Vichiro asked, but Ryuu shook his head.
"You'll have to trust me on this…" Ryuu began. "I want you two to confront Ogudamon."
…
"…ah-ha! It all makes sense now!" Vichiro heard a roar in pain and looked back to see both BantyoLeomon and Darkdramon getting overwhelmed by the NeoDevimon, and he looked back at Kenji. "We need to fight together…fight as one!" With that, Vichiro pulled out his Digivice and crossed his arm over Kenji's arm, and as the Digivices began to shine, a miracle happened!
I just hope Darkdramon can withstand it…
"Jogress Evolution!"
Both BantyoLeomon and Darkdramon's bodies began to shine and coalesce into one being.
"Darkdramon…"
"BantyoLeomon…"
"DNA digivolve to…"
"…Chaosmon!"
The newly-born Digimon, part Darkdramon and part BantyoLeomon, rose into the sky. A new battle was about to begin.
TO BE CONTINUED…
NEXT TIME ON DIGIMON D-TAMER…
"Chaosmon's doing it! The NeoDevimon army is falling!"
"Yes, but...how long will it last?"
"Ogudamon, you shall be punished for what you have done!"
"Both worlds shall be mine!"
"Wait…what's happening to him?"
"Press on! We will not lose this war!"
"Dracomon…this is it."
"Ryuu, where are we?"
"Dragonspiral Tower…"
COMING SOON…
DIGIMON D-TAMER
D-38
THE HOLY WAR, PART IV