Italics = thoughts
"Quotes" = dialogue
underlined = reading something that is written
Bold= words and thoughts of "The Mistress"
Disclaimer: I do not own digimon or any of its characters. I do however claim ownership of any original characters introduced.
Chapter 37: Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner
Henry trudges into Mojyamon's cave, Terriermon sitting comfortably up on his head as Mojyamon crosses to the far side and sits abruptly, causing the cave to shake a little. "Come, come. Sit. It will be awhile before the snowfall slows."
"Time we may not have," Henry says in apologetic tone. "You're sure there is no way out of this area other then by data stream?"
"It's the only way I am aware of," Mojyamon grumbles out. "I've been here alone for quite some time, ever since…"
"Do you tend to see a lot of data streams in a particular area maybe?" Henry asks. "Anything that could speed up our search for one?"
"I'm afraid not. It's hard enough to avoid the ones that randomly roam. I would not want to go near any such area where data streams cluster."
Henry lets out a defeated sigh and Terriermon messes with his hair. "Momentai Henry. You'll figure something out."
A beep rings out from his pocket and he pulls out the comm device to find there is a message waiting. He pulls out the stylus and clicks into it.
Henry-
Have you had any luck in finding the others by chance? We have been able to scan the Digital World and have managed to isolate what we believe to be your d-arks' signatures and found that many signals are on the same level of the Digital World. We really need an update from you regarding whether or not you have managed to meet up with any of the others as well as any whereabouts you may know of the others. We'll be awaiting your message.
-Riley
Henry glances over the message again and again, biting his lip as he reads the words. "What's wrong, Henry?" Terriermon asks, trying to look at the screen.
"They want to know what I know about the others…"
"So tell em!"
"Even about Suzie?"
Terriermon flips off his head and gives him a sympathetic look. "Momentai, Henry. They're gonna find out sooner or later."
"Terriermon, when my dad reads it…"
"Momentai!"
"I can't momentai right now!" Terriermon flinches in surprise from his tamer's tone.
"But Henry…" The boy lets out another dejected sigh. "I'm sorry, Terriermon. I'm just a little on edge with all of this…" He looks up at the dog rabbit, who is giving him a knowing grin. Sighing once more, he asks, "Momentai?"
"Momentai!" Terriermon shouts out, jumping up to his shoulder. Henry slides down to a sitting position against the wall and says, "Well, here I go…" before beginning to write a reply.
"Welcome back, Legendary Tamer," Huanglongmon states as the boy rises to a sitting position.
"Where am I? What happened?" he asks, while putting a hand up to his pounding head.
"You were defeated in battle by the dark god, Millenniummon," Huanglongmon states monotonously. "Fear not. Your fellow tamers were able to destroy him."
So, did I…die?"
"No, you did not die," Huanglongmon replies amidst a low throated growl. "You were trapped in a temporal loop by Millenniummon and I have released you."
"Millenniummon…" he says, while blinking his eyes rapidly to clear his head.
"Yes. The circumstances of his defeat are actually why I have retrieved you. We need you to save the Digital World once more."
The Legendary Tamer looks up at the golden dragon with a confused look. "What's wrong now?"
"Come with me. I will show you what you must know." He turns and walks off as Ryo turns to his partner and tries to shake him awake. "Monodramon, wake up. Come on: something's wrong and the others could be in trouble!" The little purple dragon stirs and rolls, moaning in both exhaustion and discomfort.
"Ryo… I'm still sleepy…"
"Later, buddy. Come on. We have to get moving!"
"Are you coming, Legendary Tamer? The voice of Huanglongmon echoes. Ryo gets to his feet and follows cautiously after the large golden dragon, his partner half walking, half dragging himself behind him.
Light fills their eyes, blinding them temporarily, and they suddenly find themselves standing in a grassy clearing surrounded by mountains. Azulongmon floats above one of the peaks and Ebonwumon and Baihumon sit below him. Zhuqiaomon rests on a large rock across from them and they all turn as Huanglongmon enters, Azulongmon leaving his place atop the mountains and coming to float between his three compatriots.
"Good, you're all here," Huanglongmon states. "I have retrieved your Legendary Tamer for you. Now, set him out to deal with our menace."
"Lord Huanglongmon, with all due respect, our devas are already on the mission…" Baihumon responds.
"The Mistress believes the devas shall be insufficient for the task. You were the ones to summon this human to the Digital World, and now both she and I demand you charge him with this mission."
"If I might interrupt," Ryo says with caution, "what exactly is going on? Why is the Digital World in danger? If Millenniummon is gone…"
"Though the dark god is gone, the one who brought about his end is now an issue, at least as described by our Mistress," Azulongmon explains.
"Aye. The Hazard now poses a very real threat to the existence of our world and yours, laddy," Ebonwumon adds. "But we do believe the devas shall be able to neutralize the threat."
"The Mistress disagrees," Huanglongmon practically growls. "And as it happens, I do too."
"Respectfully, can anyone please just tell me what this mission is?" Ryo asks.
"Why should we entrust a human to this task?" Zhuqiaomon grumbles. "How can we trust that he would be willing to fight his fellow humans on our behalf?"
"Wait… what?" Ryo asks, eyes widening. Azulongmon releases a sigh before explaining. "Amongst the group of humans you came here with is an enemy of our Mistress which must be dealt with before he can do more harm to our world or yours. We refer to it as the Digital Hazard…"
"I've heard that before…" Ryo mutters, interrupting.
"Yes," Ebonwumon joins. "We believe Millenniummon had been seeking the power of the Hazard to use against us…and now…"
"Wait…" Ryo interrupts. "I remember now… The Hazard is how Atticus and the demon lords referred to Takato's partner, Guilmon."
"Not quite," Baihumon states solemnly. "The Hazard is a virus of unknown origin with a high capacity for data destruction. That's what makes it such a threat. Though Guilmon wields the power of the Hazard and must also be dealt with, it is his tamer whom is infected and whom the Mistress has declared the enemy."
"Takato? He's harmless. Yea, he trips his over his own feet sometimes and accidentally causes trouble here or there, but he's not malicious and definitely not a threat."
"You do not know what we know, human," Zhuqiaomon squawks as he flaps his wings in agitation. Huanglongmon slams his tail on the ground, kicking up dust, which sparkles like data before forming a sort of mock viewing screen.
"Behold, the true terror of the Digital Hazard!" The image of a large winged red dragon with dripping fangs and a lashing tail appears. The familiar image of three triangles interlocked at the tips of a fourth and encircled pulses upon his chest and he spews flames upon the form of XeedMillenniummon.
"That can't be…Guilmon, can it?"
"It is and you shall see for yourself why he is no ally to be had." Huanglongmon growls back. The dragon begins almost immediately to attack the tamers, spraying fire all over and slapping some aside with his tail. Ryo looks around the image wildly as digimon and tamers alike are tossed about. He soon sees Suzie, running towards something before she is suddenly forced back by the monster's tail and into a pit. Ryo closes his eyes at what happens next, still hearing the screams of the girl as the fire consumes her.
"You see, Legendary Tamer. The Hazard does not distinguish between friend or foe," Huanglongmon states.
"Why? Why did he do it? It has to be an accident or…"
"Accident or not, it has happened and the point remains he is dangerous," Huanglongmon continues.
"What did you want from me then?" Ryo asks looking up at the golden dragon. "Do you expect me to betray all my friends?"
"No, I brought you back so that we may spare some lives this day," Huanglongmon states. "I wish for you to go forth and convince the other humans of the necessity for the Hazard's destruction."
"I… I don't think I can…" Ryo states, hanging his head while Monodramon tries to comfort him for the first time.
"We don't need him to," Azulongmon bellows out. "The devas will do their job."
"Legendary Tamer," Huanglongmon states, still growling, "I shall give you time to consider doing the right thing and in the mean time watch the devas in their attempts to complete the task. Should they show continued signs of failure, I shall call on you again. Azulongmon, keep an eye on him…" In another flash of light, Ryo suddenly finds himself back in the chamber he had been before, this time with Azulongmon floating above him.
What's happened in the time I've been gone? The sovereigns have never gone after a human before. There has to be another way. They can't seriously be considering deleting someone like Takato… If only I could speak to the others…
Guilmon trudges along, heading towards the bridge in the distance as Calumon rides atop his back. Guilmon sniffs at the air and frowns, hanging his head low. "I can't find anybody… Oh Takato, where are you?"
"If only that silly pink beam didn't take us away, we'd be with Locomon finding the others right now…" Calumon adds with a sad moan.
"Yea… I hope Locomon is ok…."
"You think he beat that scary snake monster?" Calumon asks innocently.
"I don't know, Calumon, but I hope so."
The two continue until they reach the bridge, which crosses a great chasm to a waterfall on the other side. "Where are we?" Calumon asks, hopping off Guilmon's back. Guilmon sniffs and scans around the area. It seems wrecked: the ground is cracked and pieces jut out. "I'm not sure, but I do know I've been here before…"
"Because you're at the South Gate, as you were two years ago…" Guilmon crouches low and begins to growl, his eyes constricting as he turns to see a large black bunny-like creature hovering before them, giving an almost evil smirk.
"Who is that?" Calumon asks nervously, ducking behind Guilmon, who continues to snarl.
"Don't you remember me?" the creature taunts. "I've been looking all over for you…" The creature lands lightly, allowing its large feet to support its weight and its long arms to dangle at its side. "No? Let me refresh your memory… Cheer up: I'll protect Suzie with my life."
Guilmon's eyes dilate and he cocks his head in confusion. "Lopmon? You look different. Smell different too. Are you sick?"
"Yes, Guilmon. I am sick. Heartsick at the loss of my partner. Heartsick because you took her from me!" Guilmon's eyes constrict once more and he begins to growl again. "I've finally found you. Now, I can mete out justice for what you did!"
"What are you talking about?" Calumon asks in frightened tone. "Where is Suzie?"
"Gone, Calumon," The rabbit deva responds gruffly. "Destroyed and absorbed by the Hazard standing next to you."
"But why would Guilmon hurt Suzie? Weren't we just playing a…"
"Not everything is a game, Catalyst…" the rabbit deva responds as Guilmon continues to snarl. "I was forced to watch her die. I regret only that he will not be able to watch as we strike down his tamer to protect the Digital World from their reckless, destructive nature!"
Guilmon's growling intensifies and he shouts, "Don't threaten Takato!"
"Or what?" the rabbit taunts. "Will you become Megidramon again? Was not Suzie's death enough? Will you persist until all of our friends are nothing but scrap data!?"
Guilmon's growling ceases and he adopts an extremely saddened face. "I wouldn't hurt our friends…"
"Yet you already have, Hazard. And I will not wait for it to happen again!"
"Why are you being so mean?" Calumon asks, burying his large eyes in his paws. "Please, make it stop! Let's all be friends again!"
"I can never fight alongside this one again," the rabbit deva states calmly while pointing in an accusatory manner at Guilmon. "I now have my old family back…"
"And with us is where she belongs," an authoritative voice rings out as a cloaked purple armored dog-like creature steps out from behind her. The clouds in the sky swirl and the form of a red, winged, serpentine dragon emerges and comes to rest on the rabbit deva's other side. "In the name of all the sovereign, we hereby sentence thee to death," the dragon remarks in a voice like that of an old man. "Good bye, Hazard…" All three take a step forward and Guilmon immediately crouches low.
"Pyrosphere!" The fireball is effortlessly swatted away by the rabbit's large arms.
"Lightning Spear!" A bolt of lightning strikes the ground in front of Guilmon, knocking him backward. Calumon scrambles to his side as he regains his footing, snarling all the more.
"Avalon's Mace!" Guilmon has no time to react and is bashed aside as the dog deva swiftly transforms his tail into a mallet and clobbers him, causing him to slide closer to the edge of the cliff side. He once again clambers back to his feet and snarls as Calumon flits about frantically.
"Pyrosphere!" Guilmon's attack finds it's mark, slamming into the dog deva, but laughter is the only response as the dog's armor seems to completely absorb the attack.
"We have him now! Sacred Typhoon!" The dragon flaps his numerous wings, generating fierce crosswinds. Guilmon struggles to maintain footing but ultimately fails and is lifted off his feet and into the air, Calumon blowing about along with him. "All yours, Cherubimon," the dragon states with a smirk.
"Storm of Judgment!" Clouds form and crackle with lightning before bolts shoot out, striking both Calumon and Guilmon and causing them to holler in pain. Their data distorts, close to the brink of total destabilization and they fall back towards the ground. A stray bolt explodes on the ground beneath them, causing data to shoot out and rocks to fall. A chink of the land drops into the chasm and Guilmon and Calumon fall with it, their unconscious and distorting bodies soon leaving the sight of the devas. "And so ends the Hazard digimon…" Cherubimon states looking out over the chasm.
"Good riddance," the dog deva adds with a smirk. "Now, we find the tamer…"
Henry replaces the stylus inside the comm device and returns it to his pocket upon completing his message. "Well, it's away. Now we just focus on figuring out how to reunite with the others."
"Great!" Terriermon cheers. "How do we do that?" Henry puts a hand to his chin.
"Only way out of this area is by data stream," Mojyamon interjects. "You'll need to head out and hope that luck is on your side."
"Well it worked for Alice and Kai…" Terriermon adds with a shrug.
"Yea, but who knows how long…" Henry stops as the echo of footsteps enter the cavern. Mojyamon jumps to his feet and readies his club as the canine form of Dobermon limps into the cave.
"Whoa, Dobermon!" Henry shouts as he rushes to the dog's side just before he collapses. "What happened?"
"He was… too much for me…"
"Who?" Terriermon asks.
"Why me, of course…" They look over to the cave entrance to see a silver furred monkey wearing an orange gi and purple armor with a sword at his side and an ornate hat on his head.
"Who are you?" Mojyamon asks, holding his club at the ready.
"I am Mohulumon, deva of the sovereign." Henry pulls out his d-ark and scans him. He's not lying. Mohulumon, exalted beast digimon. He's a mega level virus type who uses his Monkey Mojo, Thousand Orbs, and Primate Pierce attacks to decimate all his enemies.
"Perhaps you would like to be more useful then this mongrel at your feet…ma-kaw! I am looking for the Hazard. Tell me where he is and you might be allowed to leave with your lives intact…" he states with a mischievous grin and laugh."
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Henry shouts, pulling a card from his pocket and turning it blue.
"Useless as always. Very well. You have chosen your fate: Thousand…"
"Bone Boomerang!" Mojyamon tosses his club, interrupting Mohulumon's attack. "Get outside the cave! It will be easier to fight him there!" Before Henry can object, Dobermon pushes himself to his feet with what little energy he has and snatches Henry by the hem of the pants, half carrying, half pulling him out towards the entrance.
Mohulumon draws the sword at his side and a purplish-white hemispherical shield appears in his other hand. "Primate Pierce!" He lunges toward Dobermon but Mojyamon moves to intercept.
"Ice Blow!" He blows with all his might, sending a large icicle flying towards the monkey deva, whom merely bats it aside and bashes Mojyamon with his shield.
Dobermon, Henry, and Terriermon reach the mouth of the cave and exit into the heavily falling snow, Mohulumon trudging slowly out behind them.
"You'll need to biomerge…" Dobermon says with a growl. Henry shakes his head. "MegaGargomon is too big and he is too fast. Ultimate would be a better idea. Digi-Modify! Matrix Digivolution activate!"
Matrix Digivolution…
Terriermon digivolve to… Gargomon!
Gargomon digivolve to… Rapidmon!
"Not so tough now! Rapid Fire!" The missiles fly towards a cackling Mohulumon and explode on contact. When the dust clears, Mohulumon stands completely unscathed inside an orb.
"Nice try, but that won't nearly be enough. Monkey Mojo!" Mohulumon glows with a green aura before opening his mouth and shouting, "Rapid Fire!" The missiles fly out from his mouth and slam into Rapidmon, sending him tumbling into the snow.
"Hahahahaha, ma-kaw! You know what they say…monkey see, monkey can do…"
Rapidmon returns to his feet and prepares to reengage. "I'm not done yet! Tri-Beam!"
"Thousand Orbs!" Innumerable purplish white orbs fly out from his shield and slam into Rapidmon, causing him to dedigivolve on contact and collapse back down into the snow. Still more orbs fly toward Henry and Dobermon places himself in front of the tamer, effectively shielding him. As the orbs dissipate, he falls into the snow, data shifting and destabilizing.
"Looks like you lose, human, but I'll give you another chance to tell me what I want to know."
"I don't even know what you are talking about!" Henry shouts back.
"We want the goggled one and his pet," Mohulumon responds simply. "And we will have him, even if me must destroy all of you to get to him!"
"Bone Boomerang!"
"Ma-kaw!" the monkey deva shouts in surprise as the boomerang hits his head and sends him, head-first, into the snow drift at his feet.
"Grab your partner and run!" Mojyamon shouts to him. Henry looks between Terriermon and Dobermon before looking back at Mojyamon. "I can't carry them both!"
Mohulumon frees himself from the snow and turns to look at Mojyamon. "You will regret interfering!"
Henry dashes forward and grabs Terriermon from the snow before racing back and using all his strength to try to pull Dobermon with him by the legs.
"Ice Blow!" An icicle materializes in Mojyamon's hand and he jabs forward with it.
"Primate Pierce!" Mohulumon swipes the icicle from his opponent's hand with a quick flick of the wrist before stabbing forward and gutting the champion. He cries in pain before dissolving into data and being absorbed by Mohulumon. "Such is the fate of all who defy the sovereign!" He turns to Henry, who is still struggling to pull Dobermon along.
"Give up, human. There is no escape from me…Ma-kaw!" he shouts with surprise.
Henry turns just in time to see a data stream wash over him as Mohulumon dives forward, missing by mere inches to follow them through.
"Not fair! Ma-kaw! Ma-kaw!" he shouts while stomping around in the snow.
Atticus, Takato, and Sealsdramon push through the jungle level with newfound energy. "So all because we ignored him when he first appeared, he ended up getting more powerful and our digimon had to fight him anyway. Then we had to ride the bus while our digimon chased him to the power plant. We almost lost, but when Gargomon and Growlmon worked together, they were able to outmatch and overpower him and they sent that big chicken right into the water where he short circuited and exploded into data," Takato finishes his story.
"Wow, what a story. Glad it all worked out in the end," Atticus says giving a half smile before turning away to let it melt to a frown.
"Is something wrong?" Takato asks. Atticus only shakes his head and quickens his pace. "Hey, come on. We're friends, remember?" Atticus lets out a sigh and stops. "Sealsdramon, can you scout ahead? See if you find a potential way out of this region?" The champion looks between Takato and him before nodding and dashing off.
"It's great that you won your battle," Atticus begins. "I only wish…" Takato looks at him with some confusion before his eyes widen and he interrupts, "I'm sorry. I just realized what I had said…" Atticus makes a placating gesture.
"It's all right. It really is a good story. Shows how teamwork can pay off, particularly in dire situations. It's not wrong that when we make mistakes we should look to our friends for help. It's just…"
"You know, even if it is your fault as you keep saying, I'd forgive you," Takato says with a warm smile.
Atticus nods. "I am grateful for that, but forgiveness doesn't change what I did…what I can never undo…"
Takato frowns and slumps down next to a tree as Atticus looks up in alarm. "Now I've been inconsiderate… I'm very sorry…"
"No, you're right. I can be sorry as much as I want for what happened, but I can't change that it happened…"
"I'm sure the others will forgive you… I'm even sure she would…" Takato shrugs and sighs. Atticus takes a seat next him. "We have to wait until Sealsdramon comes back. Got anymore good stories from your taming days?"
"Do you?" Takato asks, looking over to him.
"Nothing particularly good. As I've previously said, most of my life and afterlife has been fleeing the sovereigns and planning for the day when I might correct my mistakes."
"Well, can you tell me anything about Ren?" Atticus frowns and thinks for a bit before giving a nod. "The one thing that gave me hope in Ren, before it was dashed away, was when I…messed up…and he forgave me, even when the others wouldn't." Takato signals for him to continue.
"All of our digimon had reached the champion level except for his. It was just difficult for him to get Ryudamon to digivolve and none of us really knew why. The others mocked him for it, but I wanted to help. At night, I would tamper with his digivice and one day it finally happened…"
"He digivolved?" Takato asks. Atticus nods.
"We were under attack. Bakemon were everywhere. Two went for Ren and Ryudamon digivolved to save him…only, it didn't go as planned… At the time, we didn't know what it was because we had no data on it, but he digivolved to DexDorugamon, a virus type. I had inadvertently destroyed Ryudamon's vaccine program when tampering with Ren's digivice and so he became this menacing metallic wretch with a hunger for battle. He destroyed all of the Bakemon: the first time we had ever killed digimon instead of incapacitating them. Ren was distraught and when the others learned that it was my doing, they cast me out…"
Atticus lets out a sigh before continuing, "But Ren forgave me. He acknowledged that I had only been trying to help. Imagine it: you permanently damage the data of another's digimon partner and the tamer forgives you…just like that…"
"When did you learn that he was…?" Takato begins to ask.
"DexDorugamon? We ran into a man named Gennai, the same man who would set us to defeat Apocalymon later. He explained to us what I had done and what the result truly was: a virus without a digicore. He said that my spirit of darkness: the base from which my crest had been tempered, had corrupted Ryudamon and given him a new evolutionary line. Ren never retracted his forgiveness, even when new and more terrifying information came in… I really thought that he was my friend, up till the very end…"
Takato reaches out a hand to place on his shoulder but stops when Sealsdramon suddenly appears again. "I found something!" he shouts excitedly. "I think it might be one of those temples that transports you to other regions of the Digital World via a box."
Atticus pushes himself to his feet. "That's good. Our chance to finally get out…"
"Ba-gock!" rings out over the jungle canopy and Atticus and Takato cringe at the earsplitting sound. Sealsdramon scans about, somewhat noticeably startled.
"I thought you said this level was devoid of digital life…" Atticus asks warily.
"…it is…"
"That doesn't sound devoid…" Takato remarks, also beginning to scan around. "It sounded big and angry…" The sounds of tree branches snapping and trunks tumbling suddenly reaches their ears, causing Takato and Atticus to back away and move behind Sealsdramon. A galliforme head peaks out between the trunks of the trees and uses its body to shove them aside and push itself into the clearing. The creature is entirely metallic and nearly as tall as the trees and has a slender, yet broad, as opposed to spherical, body. An electrode pestle-like contraption rests lengthwise on his back and forms the end of his tail. His eyes are a robotic red and his wings have jagged edges as opposed to feathers.
"What is that?" Sealsdramon asks, also backing away. Atticus pulls out his d-ark. "…No data…not good."
The digimon locks his sights on Takato and squawks loudly. "Drill Peck!" His beak begins to spin like a drill and he lunges forward. Atticus and Sealsdramon dive to one side, Takato to the other, and the large metallic digimon's drill jabs right into a tree, tearing straight through it. Takato's d-ark bounces on the ground as he dives and the screen lights up with their opponent's data.
Grabbing it, Takato quickly reads it aloud. Zhendalumon, exalted beast digimon. Mega level, data type. He's a lean, mean, fighting machine, who uses his Drill Peck, Electron Oscillation, and Rooster Rumble attacks to fry, skewer, and batter his enemies. Takato looks up with alarm and shouts out. "Exalted beast type! He's a deva!"
"Not just any deva…" Atticus grumbles while pulling himself back to his feet. "That chicken you mentioned… And here we are without our partners…"
"Then I guess it's up to me!" Sealsdramon roars. "Death Behind!" He leaps up to the rooster's back and jabs his knife downward. It clinks on the metal of his back, failing to penetrate it. The deva squawks in annoyance and charges his attack, "Electron Oscillation!" The electrode on his back spins rapidly and shoots off sparks. Sealsdramon finds himself unable to hold on and rolls off his opponent's back, still twitching from the static discharge.
Zhendalumon fires a barrage of electricity towards Takato, who once again dives to avoid injury. Zhendalumon prepares to attack again but is interrupted by rocks bouncing off his metal face.
"That's right, over here you oversized happy meal!" Atticus shouts. "Takato, move it!" Zhendalumon squawks in annoyance as another rock clangs harmlessly off his chest and he shouts, "Rooster Rumble!"
He emits an earsplitting sound and the soundwave knocks all three of his victims onto their backs. He squawks once more in delight and turns towards a staggering Takato, advancing towards him.
Atticus pushes himself to his feet and moves forward as quickly as he can. This thing is after him and that can only mean one thing: Whoever brought these guys back knows about him and is trying to get rid of him!
"Electron Oscillation!" The pestle on his back spins, generating sparks of electricity which dance about, as if excited to be released. The sparks jump forward in bolts and Atticus dives just in time to shove Takato out of the way, taking the attack himself. He rolls as he reaches the ground and convulses from the high voltage, data distorting like that of a digimon.
"Death Behind!" Sealsdramon tries once again to pierce Zhendalumon's metallic hide but it proves to be in vain as Zhendalumon easily swats him aside with his jagged wings. Takato pulls Atticus' arm over his shoulder, trying to brace and lift him so as to move him. "Drill Peck!" Takato ducks, pulling Atticus down with him as Zhendalumon's beak stabs into the tree mere inches over their heads.
Sealsdramon stands once more, glowing with the darkest of auras. "Get back over here. I'm not finished with you…" Zhendalumon withdraws his beak and turns to face his glowing opponent. "You wanna play rough?" he asks in a voice unlike his own. "I'll show you rough…"
Sealsdramon digivolve to… Tankdramon!
"Whoa, he digivolved!" Takato shouts in surprise as Atticus groans and tries to crane his head up. No, Commandramon. You can't use the spore…
"Now where were we?" Tankdramon growls in the voice unlike his own. "Blast Gatling!" Tankdramon unleashes a barrage of bullets upon Zhendalumon who seems to stagger back slightly as they relentlessly slam his metallic breast, though they produce no other effect.
"Electron Oscillation!" The pestle spins and soon the sparks fly and slam into Tankdramon, forcing him further backward. He easily recovers, his aura growing darker and his guns seemingly twitching, as if overloading with power.
"Try this! Striver Cannon!" He launches the projectile and it explodes in an intense flash of light.
"Tankdramon! No!" Atticus shouts at the top of his lungs. "Don't use the Dark…" He never finishes, as a data stream suddenly washes over him and Takato, pulling them away.
Zhendalumon drops to a knee, visibly charred by the attack as Tankdramon continues to surge with dark power. "Goodbye, deva. Striver Cannon!" Zhendalumon squawks but once before the explosion consumes him, causing his data to dissolve only to be absorbed greedily by Tankdramon. The power… I love it… I shall have more…!
"You'll never get home. Not as long as he continues to survive. Even if you all made it home, you would just be lonely again so long as he was there…"
Jeri sobs and cries as the ADR-01 gloats over her. "You know that he must be deleted, as all digital life must!"
"I know... I know… But I don't want to!" Jeri cries out.
"You have no choice. It will be you or him. Give in to me. Let me solve this problem for you. I only exist to find your happiness…"
"No!" Jeri says, grabbing her head. "You tricked me last time. I won't let you in again!"
"Eventually, I will win. You cannot resist forever. Logic dictates that I am right; that Dr. Hisawa is right; that you have been right! He took everything from you. Now you can return the favor!"
"Return…the favor…" Jeri repeats.
"Yes. We can destroy him together. We can protect your friends together. You can be happy again. Just trust in me. You can always trust me to do what is…logical…"
"I can always trust you to do what is logical…"
"He must be deleted…"
"He…must be…deleted…"
"He must be deleted…" Jeri mutters as her eyes flicker open. She peers around the clearing of the darkened forest. Upon seeing that she had not disturbed either Kazu, Kenta, or their partners, she turns over and clenches her eyes shut once more. When it's time…I'll make them understand. D-Reaper is right. He must be deleted…