A/N: Early again, but I figures I left the story on a cliffhanger so I'll put you out of your misery. That just leaves one last chapter to post on Wednesday then this story is done. As usual go to my profile to vote on what gets posted next, and just so you know, no votes = no story.
Here is the early chapter 36...
Digimon Tamers 2: The Rise of Zero
Chapter 36
"He's digivolving again? How?" Rika looked on in shock. Though others seemed similarly affected, no answer came to her question.
The sphere of data exploded out with colossal force, revealing a new, massive form.
Quadrapedal in stature, Zero resembled his Champion form now. Only much bigger and much more ferocious looking. The other main change was his tails. He now had nine.
"...Blood Kyuubikitsumon!"
A semi cross between both of his Champion forms, current and former, only bigger. Much bigger. He now stood at the same height as Megagargomon even on all four feet. Upright he would be even taller. A testament to sheer size and power, Zero flexed his muscles.
Turning his massive head towards the dark Sovereign he loosed a deep roar before charging towards it. Summoning his power, he opened with his first attack.
"Transfusion Strike!"
Crimson claws flashed forwards, cutting red glowing lines into the air in front of him before they sailed towards the Sovereign. They impacted hard, but not hard enough to give Zero the edge he needed. Dodging a black fireball he attacked again and again. They traded blows for a while, each trying to gain the upper hand. Alternating between dodging and attacking, Zero's strength began to fade ever so slowly. This length of fighting was taking its toll on him. He had to end this, he had to gain even a glimmer of an advantage. He had one last trick to pull.
Gathering more of his power he attacked again.
"Rain of Blood!"
Red droplets congregated around him, condensing into red crystal like objects. With an unspoken command, the thousands of crystals raced towards the dark Sovereign. Each one impaled itself in its body before exploding, each one yielded a bestial howl of pain from the fallen leader. It wasn't enough to finish it, but Zero had finally gained the advantage he needed.
He didn't have enough in him to use that attack again, but with the dark Sovereign now injured enough to yield a drop in his speed he didn't need much to finish this. For his son's sake he will finish this.
Charging in once more he attacked with his 'Transfusion Strike' again and again, slicing into the dark leader each time. Slowly he brought it down to it's knees, then onto all fours as his attacks struck vital points. He had obtained a few more injuries himself, but he could continue for just a bit longer. Finally, the moment was near.
Panting slightly, Zero stood over the weakened form of the dark Sovereign, sneering at its pathetic attempts to stand.
"You are finished." He struck the dark leader in its back. "You are weak." Another strike on the back of its neck. "I will end you." A third strike flipped it onto its back as his paw pinned it down. "This is for our world." A fourth strike it its gut. "This is for my friends." A fifth blow on its chest drove the wind from it. "This is for my son." Another strike to its jaw. "And this, this is for me!" One last blow right between the eyes began the disintegration of the last dark digimon in existence. Slowly the dark Sovereign fell apart, data wisping away on an unfelt breeze. Zero felt it to be wrong to absorb a Sovereign's data, corrupted or not.
He watched his opponent fade away as he sank to the ground, succumbing to his own injuries. Laying heavily on his stomach with his legs askew, he rested his head on the ground. He felt his life energy fade, it seemed as though the world became heavier. The others rushed to him, though Renamon held back as they got near him.
"Zero? Are you all right?" Rika asked, but she felt she knew the answer already. He wasn't expecting to come back from this alive anyway.
"Never better Rika. Thanks for asking." Zero coughed slightly before shifting weakly. "Looks like I got him good, huh? I guess he won't be causing anymore trouble now." He coughed again. "Rika. Stay strong for me please. You have people who look to you for support, including me. Your making me sad with that face you have."
"Shut up, you dumb fox." She tried to sound forceful, but it didn't work. She didn't want it to end like this.
"Do you really plan on giving up so easily, young one?"
They all turned to the sound of the new voice, only to behold the Sovereign of the east, Azulongmon.
"Azulongmon, what are you doing here?" Takato asked.
"Do you think mass deletion of dark digimon goes unnoticed, let alone the deletion of the dark Sovereign itself?"
"I suppose not, why are you here now though? With the termination of the dark Sovereign and its army there is no reason for you to be here."
"On the contrary, I am here to meet the reason for its destruction. And I assume that's you." Azulongmon stated looking at Zero.
"That it would, my Sovereign. But I fear any further words won't be heard by myself, I have paid my price to save these worlds and those who reside within them. I will gladly go."
"You still have so much to learn, young one." Azulongmon then lowered his snout towards Zero's form as a trail of white data streaked between the two. Zero shuddered and groaned in agony as the trail danced across his injuries, leaving behind unmarked pristine fur. After all his injuries seemed to vanish, the Sovereign of the east resumed his previous stance.
"Now we can speak without you dying on us."
"I am in your debt, my Sovereign."
"Wrong again, young one. It is us, the four Sovereigns who are in your debt. You have rid this world of a great threat and prevented that same threat from reaching the real world, a feat none of us could do ourselves despite our obvious power. For that, we have a proposition for you." As he finished, the other three Sovereigns appeared beside Azulongmon, each offering their thanks to the party but mainly to Zero.
Rika didn't hear much of their words, she was too glad that Azulongmon had saved Zero from his death. But she did catch their offer to him.
"Blood Kyuubikitsumon..."
"Zero, please. It's so much easier."
Azulongmon chuckled. "That it is. A digimon with a name, very interesting. Well then. Zero, with the power we each possess and for your actions here in stopping a great evil from conquering both worlds, we the four Sovereigns of the digital world and acting representatives of Fanglongmon himself, grant you Sovereignty over the real world, should you accept it."
Zero was speechless. Here he was, on the brink of death again as he thought he would be after this fight, being brought back to health by a Sovereign no less. And now, he was being offered Sovereignty over the real world? It was too much to take in. He had done this with no reward even in question. Just the knowledge that he had defeated an evil was reward enough, let alone this.
"Forgive me my Sovereigns, I don't know what to say. I never expected to even walk away from this, this is too much."
"We understand Zero, you fought this fight with your own survival taking a back seat. This is why we have offered you this. You have shown qualities of a true leader despite your past. And yes, we do know of your village and regret that there was nothing we could have done in time." Zhuqaimon stated, showing his regret visually by hanging his head.
"The past is done, I cannot change that. There is no point dwelling on what could have been."
"Wise words from someone so young. Our offer still stands should you choose to accept it." Azulongmon once more offering their proposal.
Zero looked at the four Sovereigns before him then back to his party. Addressing all present, he raised his head. "If I may have a moment alone, with Rika."
"Of course Zero. Take as long as you require." Zhuqaimon said as the four Sovereigns backed away. The remaining party members looked confused by Zero's desire to speak to Rika alone, but also backed off to give him the privacy he requested. Only Rika didn't move from where she stood as Zero turned to her.
"Rika. I would ask your opinion on this. You said you would like to join me after all this if I survived, so you have a say as well."
"Zero, I am honoured that you feel you need my permission to make this choice, but it isn't mine to make." Rika became saddened. "When I biomerged with Renamon, I felt how she was towards you. What you experience from her is only the surface of it, I am just glad you never have to receive the full force of it. I know hearing this isn't what you want, but I'm saying it because I will come with you no matter what choice you make, Sovereign on not. The choice is yours Zero, but you have my support and companionship either way."
"Thank you Rika." Zero said with a genuine smile. "Looks like we are in for a wild ride now."
Before Rika could ask what he meant, Zero called the others back.
"I have decided."
Azulongmon lifted his head to gaze down upon the black fox. "And what choice have you decided upon?"
"I accept your offer, as long as I am not bound to one world or another. I wish for free will to travel between as I see fit."
Zhuqaimon laughed. "That is part of being the Sovereign of the real world. You are required to have a presence in your domain as well as one here as we do. Us Sovereigns are not the pinnacle of authority amongst digimon, thus we are required to meet with Fanglongmon regularly to maintain balance and peace. Your domain will be the real world so you will be in both worlds. As long as you maintain your commitment towards Fanglongmon and your own domain, you are free to travel between worlds. Even we are not bound to our own domains, which reminds me. Azulongmon, you still own me for that match last night."
"Bah! You cheated me out it, I saw your spare card!"
"Enough, keep your trivial hobbies to other times. We have Sovereignty to bestow." Baihumon interrupted.
The others ignored the spat between the Sovereigns as a matter of respect, but all witnessed the discharge of power into Zero's body. He swelled greatly as his body changed slightly, growing more muscular and lengthening his tails in proportion to his body. Once he matched the Sovereigns' size he stopped growing, but his muscles continued to strengthen. A few more seconds passed before silver armour appeared covering his more vital areas and providing him with a powerful look. A red aura surrounded him as his four blood red eyes opened.
"Welcome to Sovereignty, Zero. Or shall we call you by your other name?"
"Zero will do fine, but for the record, I am Myobumon."