Chapter 36

Vampire Heart

A massive pillar of fire spread out around the Chronodata, bathing the entire landscape in an orange glow. The Ghoulmon visibly recoiled from the light, but stood their ground.

'He's doing it!' Tai exclaimed. 'Let's take these guys out and help him with Barbamon!'

The digimon returned their attention to the BlackGhoulmon, but many of them remained distracted as they gazed up at SacredGreymon's towering figure, since most of them hadn't seen him before. Gallantmon eyed him somewhat jealously, along with feelings of shame for himself.

Why couldn't Megidramon have been like that?

Bokomon and Neemon stared open-mouthed as the figure emerged. Neemon immediately pointed at him fearfully.

'M-m-m-monster!'

Renamon scoffed in annoyance. 'We're all monsters. That one's just bigger than most, is all.'

'Is it - dangerous?' Bokomon asked uncertainly. 'If memory serves... such a powerful form would have drawbacks, one probably being that he can't control it properly.'

Yolei quickly shook her head. 'No, he can control it fine. He has a - different drawback...'

'Fascinating!' Bokomon pulled out his magnifying glass to get a better look. 'Such a remarkable creature! And he seems - familiar, like I've seen a digimon like him before. Hmm... Ancient...Greymon...'

Neemon abruptly stop pointing fearfully and his expression brightened. 'That does look like AncientGreymon, doesn't it? I wonder if he's friendly?'

Bokomon frowned doubtfully. 'We only saw AncientGreymon rise to battle an Ornismon. I don't think their purpose is to mingle with their enemies, Neemon.'

Aquilamon studied SacredGreymon before making a comment of his own. 'He certainly doesn't look friendly to me; given the way he's growling like that.'

Everyone quickly noticed the low, but extremely deafening, growl that emanated from SacredGreymon before opening his jaws and letting loose a gigantic blue fireball down towards Barbamon.

'Soulfire Blast!'

Barbamon simply raised his staff in front of him. SacredGreymon almost snorted in amusement, thinking that the demon lord couldn't resist his attack, but the fireball split into two before igniting the ground behind Barbamon. The demon lord only smirked at his appalled reaction.

'Surprised?' He pointed his staff downwards so SacredGreymon could see the tip of it easily against the light he was projecting. The large orb had changed colour; two colours, red, and white with a tinge of cyan, formed a yin-yang pattern within the orb. SacredGreymon didn't have long to look at it; the Ghoulmon army quickly resumed its attack on him as well as the others. He glanced over his shoulder to see his friends still surrounded, and swiped his tail with a pulse of fire shield covering it and cleared the area between him and the rest of the Digidestined.

Glancing back towards Barbamon, he saw the largest dark portal he had ever seen, so large that he would have taken most of it for part of the dark ground. Ghoulmon continued to pour out of it; and he was surprised as he saw Devitamamon come out as well. Barbamon glanced at the new arrivals with slight uncertainty, then chuckled shortly.

'It seems you Digidestined are even more tenacious than I had thought - to have pushed the limits of the Dark Area to this degree; and here I thought I would only need the Ghoulmon for myself.'

SacredGreymon wanted nothing more than to destroy Barbamon right there, but he knew helping his friends was more important to him, and he also needed their help to figure out Barbamon's weakness. He still couldn't believe his attack was brushed aside so easily.

Somehow, since his chronovolution, the Ghoulmon numbers had swelled, but he guessed that was only due to the fact he could see so much more. He proceeded to crush them under his massive claws, keeping them off his closest flank. Imperialdramon was also making good progress on his side, cleaving through the enemies repeatedly. Despite the hundreds of losses, the Ghoulmon continued to pour out of the crater's portal, with occasional Devitamamon accompanying them.

SacredGreymon couldn't help but feel sympathy for the creatures. Every single time he swung his claw coated in fire, a pang of regret flashed through him as multitudes of the Ghoulmon were destroyed before his eyes. It only fuelled the anger he felt towards Barbamon; if he could be defeated, they might not need to destroy any more of them. The problem was finding a way to do that, compounded with the danger of even using his power. The longer Barbamon held them back, the more likely he would die or degenerate, and after that - he had no idea how they would beat him.

'The way's clear!' Ken yelled out as he spotted the Ghoulmon line in front of them thin out. 'We need to get to SacredGreymon - he can't seem to defeat Barbamon!'

'What!?' Davis exclaimed incredulously. 'Barbamon should have been obliterated in an instant! What's going on?'

'We'll soon find out... why is it never simple?' Tai stated lowly as they continued to project their beams at the Ghoulmon, steadily moving forward towards SacredGreymon as they continued to cut the Ghoulmon aside when they tried to block their passage. As they neared one of his back towers of a leg, he called out warningly to the others. 'Get alongside him, but don't get too close. We don't wanna get trampled or anything.'

Keeping just in range of SacredGreymon's limbs and massively long tail, they edged their way around him, and he kept his flailing to a minimum as he saw them, instead breathing a steady stream of red flames over the army at medium range, and raking the ground when they got too close, spreading the black dirt up into the air in large clouds before falling back to the ground.

Myotismon glanced fearfully in Barbamon's direction, knowing of his possible powers over him. Noticing this, MagnaAngemon spoke up as they continued fighting together.

'Is there any way for you to escape?' He asked as he knew what Myotismon was thinking about.

Myotismon glanced around briefly, and shook his head. 'There's nowhere for me to go.'

TK studied him sympathetically, before deciding to contact Yolei about the battle, switching off his digibeam.

'Yolei? Myotismon wants to leave before things get too dangerous. I know Aquilamon can't carry him; so can we get out if we fight in any particular direction?'

At first, Yolei only expressed surprise of Myotismon's wish, but answered quickly. 'I'm sorry, TK. Those monsters are crawling all over the place. It seems that you've gotten close enough that Barbamon doesn't want you to escape.'

The three of them froze as Barbamon's knowing voice echoed over the landscape.

'Escape? I'm afraid I can't let you slip away now, Myotismon. Especially since you've gone and delivered the Digidestined to my doorstep... I have to insist upon your reward.'

'Shut up!' SacredGreymon roared and immediately aimed another fireball at Barbamon, but it was simply deflected again.

TK gaped at Myotismon briefly, before Myotismon shook his head in denial, shutting his eyes. 'No... I refuse... I don't want anything you could possibly offer. I won't be taken in by greed anymore, Barbamon!'

MagnaAngemon gasped in concern as Myotismon suddenly yelled out in pain and collapsed to his knees, with Barbamon aiming his staff towards him, and keeping it held firm. Izzy quickly noticed that the orb in his staff had changed colour from when he had blocked SacredGreymon's attack, shifting to a dark purple that consumed the entire orb. As similar-coloured tendrils seemed to flow between Barbamon and Myotismon, MagnaAngemon moved in front of Myotismon to attempt to stop it, but it made no difference. Barbamon studied MagnaAngemon with amusement.

'The Digidestined truly are entertaining. To think that one of your kind would protect him... it seems the Sovereigns do have a sense of humour. However, I was one of the few who rejected their rules... and made my own! And now, Myotismon, you will join me - willing or not! Death Lure!'

Myotismon's cries of pain seemed to distort and grow lower, and were gradually replaced by demonic droning as he became shrouded in the purple tendrils.

'Myotismon!' TK yelled out in distress as he disappeared.

The purple tendrils crept outward as the purple shroud grew around Myotismon. As it grew to an enormous size over twenty stories high, forcing everyone to back away towards SacredGreymon, who was also observing the shroud in shock.

'How are we supposed to help him?' Cody exclaimed anxiously. 'If MagnaAngemon does any sort of attack, it could kill him! Why do so many digimon have to die just for fighting us?'

Killing Myotismon... who was a friend and ally... now our enemy? Tai grinded his teeth in frustration as he glared at Barbamon. This guy...

The purple shroud eventually shrunk to reveal the menacing, towering figure of VenomMyotismon. He had a bestial lower body, massive legs running down to end in massive pawed feet with claws. His unnaturally long arms extended down towards his feet, with disproportionately large claws. As they looked into his face, dread clutched their stomach as his white eyes scanned them without recognition. He stared down at them as he dwarfed most except SacredGreymon and Imperialdramon. Imperialdramon bared his sword reluctantly.

'I have to end this...'

'No!'

Imperialdramon turned his head towards TK in surprise. 'What else can we do? Despite his appearance, he isn't very strong, from what you guys told us before.'

'Exactly!' MagnaAngemon retorted. 'We have to subdue him without killing him!'

Imperialdramon groaned with impatience. 'Well, while you're figuring it out, we still have thousands of cyclops' snapping at our heels.' And with that, he continued to hold off the army alongside SacredGreymon.

TK hung his head as he tried to think of how to stop Myotismon, but nothing came to him. 'What are we going to do?' He wondered out loud.

He quickly raised his head when Bokomon's voice sounded through Tai's digivice, who immediately answered it eagerly.

'Guys? Any idea of what to do about VenomMyotismon?' Tai asked hopefully.

Bokomon voice quickly projected loudly. 'There is a way to stop him without killing him! If you limit your damage to him, eventually he'll become too exhausted to maintain his form, and his data will be exposed. If you absorb this data, it'll purify him of Barbamon's influence. But...'

Tai frowned edgily. 'What? What's wrong?'

'He'll most likely revert to a Digi-egg if you do. But it's the only way to stop him without outright killing him.'

TK stared at MagnaAngemon as they exchanged glances. 'I'll do it.' He stated astutely as he spread his wings. 'Only the light can banish the evil Barbamon's spread through him.'

'But...' TK protested uncertainly. 'It could destroy Myotismon, too... and he's too strong!'

MagnaAngemon shook his head confidently. 'The light won't destroy anything I don't will it to. You have my word, TK. I promise, I'll save him.'

TK examined his own digivice and crest, gripping it tightly. 'I'm coming, too.' He glanced at the others who, with Matt especially, were giving him a proud smile. 'I've got to help him... he definitely doesn't deserve to die. I owe it to him...we owe it to him.'

MagnaAngemon lowered himself onto one knee to allow TK to climb up onto his shoulder, and the two of them took off up towards Myotismon. SacredGreymon glanced at them uncertainly out of the corner of his eye.

Does he really mean it? He's willing to go with MagnaAngemon to save him? If he really does... I guess I misjudged him. If so... good luck, you two.

TK stared up at VenomMyotismon's transformed face with regret, and couldn't help but remember all the things he had ever done to Myotismon, second guessing his every motivation, slighting his very presence... he couldn't imagine someone else doing the same to him, but it felt horrible to think about.

I can't let him die like this... especially all that he's done for us... and all that I've done to him. We were supposed to protect all digimon, including him, and all those that died to Barbamon. But I shunned him simply for being different, for looking like an enemy. I would be ashamed to call myself a Digidestined, but... if I can save him, I hope he'll come to forgive me. I just... have to hope he can still be saved. I have to hope...

An inner light spread within him as he clutched his digivice, focusing on that hope that he persisted in maintaining. It had always served him well when he needed it most in their previous adventures already, and firmly believed he could use it to help save Myotismon.

Yolei and the small group on Aquilamon all had their eyes follow MagnaAngemon as he began to shine brightly in the sky, and they covered their eyes as it almost blinded them. Gatomon's eyes widened in recognition, for she had felt the same blinding light appearing now. She smiled with approval as MagnaAngemon's body became enveloped in swirling white.

MagnaAngemon digivolve to... Seraphimon!

Imperialdramon had been fighting the ghoul army for a while before SacredGreymon contacted the others about Barbamon.

'We have to find a way to stop him!' He growled deafeningly. 'Whenever I try to blast him, he simply deflects it away.'

ZeedGarurumon turned to study Barbamon as well. 'He has to have a weakness of some sort...'

'ZeedGarurumon!' Izzy suddenly called out. 'I have an idea! Attack Barbamon with your weakest attack.'

ZeedGarurumon raised a plated eyebrow briefly before complying.

'Blowback Breath!'

The attack was fast enough for Barbamon not to dodge it, and he simply swiped his staff down diagonally and deflected it back at them, causing ZeedGarurumon to block his own attack.

'As I thought!' Izzy exclaimed, beaming with pride.

'Care to tell us what's going on?' Tai asked with slight annoyance, but also relief.

'That orb! It changes colour based on the element of the attack we use on him! That attack that ZeedGarurumon was steel, I think... the colour was a lustrous grey colour.'

SacredGreymon nodded in agreement. 'That orb was two colours when I used Soulfire Blast - it was red, and a bluish white.'

Izzy gripped his chin thoughtfully. 'That sounds like fire, obviously... and perhaps - holy damage as well? I think we should combine as many elements as possible!'

Tai nodded heartily. 'Let's give it a try guys!'

SacredGreymon, ZeedGarurumon, Gryphonmon, Imperialdramon, MegaKabuterimon and Lillymon prepared to launch ranged attacks together, all aiming at Barbamon, who was still hovering indifferently before them.

'Soulfire Blast!'

'Zeed Cannon!'

'Solo Roar!'

'Positron Laser!'

'Horn Buster!'

'Flower Cannon!'

Everyone's breath held in their stomachs as the massive, multi-coloured fireball sped towards Barbamon, awaiting his long awaited destruction in a matter of seconds.

As Barbamon didn't immediately react, everyone knew something was wrong. He seemed to frown in concentration just before the projectile landed, and they lost sight of him as the fireball exploded, releasing the energy of every one of their attacks, and the felt the shockwave as they staggered backwards.

They stared intently for a second to where Barbamon was, but the digimon quickly had to stop to defend themselves from the army that continued to attack them. Tai frowned, troubled.

'If Barbamon's destroyed...' He mused with rejection at his realisation. 'The army shouldn't be attacking anymore! What's going on?'

Fear clutched everyone as Barbamon's cackled sounded through the smoke from the fireball, and he hovered forward, apparently unscathed. Izzy stared at his staff with a mixture of dread and awe; the orb contained red, steel, turquoise, cyan white, blue and green, all divided into separate swirl patterns around the orb.

'You cannot defeat me, Digidestined. Not as you are now.'

He aimed his staff towards MegaKabuterimon and Zudomon, the staff drawing in demonic power.

'Crimson Flame!'

SacredGreymon immediately leapt forward in right in front of Barbamon and absorbed the blast before it could hit anyone else. He swiped his claw at Barbamon as he did, only for it to glance off the staff as it turned colour into brown. Barbamon scrutinised SacredGreymon in contempt.

'Since I cannot defeat you, and you cannot defeat me... this will come down to who can last the longest before we succumb to our fates. Since I have the army, and you have your...' He sneered as he gave a fleeting glance at SacredGreymon. '...disability, it is clear who will triumph in the end. You see, I had planned for every eventuality for when you Digidestined eventually came for me.'

Joe turned his attention to Barbamon for a moment with distress and, strangely, curiosity, especially for how they could all have been fooled so easily. Tai felt the same, but concentrated on holding the Ghoulmon back more than finding out what Barbamon was talking about.

'What do you mean!?' Joe cried out. 'Every time you or your army tried to stop us, we always managed to resist your attempts, and kept going! We've defeated so many like you - why should this be any different!?'

Barbamon continued to speak as Joe resumed using his digibeam, adopting an arrogantly mocking tone.

'You humans... always so sure of yourself, believing the way you live is the only way for all. It leaves you rather blind, really. I was one of the few humans to discover the digital world, you know. And what a world it was! So much raw power contained in even the smallest of the creatures... but I soon grew tired of examining them. Some of them even expressed interest in becoming my...' He wrinkled his face in disgust. '... friend. I have no use for such worthless relationships. "Friends" only attempt to exploit your own possessions to have a share for themselves, and continually trying to take something or other from me without giving anything back. After discovering the digital world, I remained there for longer and longer periods of time, eventually leaving the human world behind altogether.'

His voice gradually become more and more manic, revealing an underlying level of madness within him.

'I've never regretted it! Never regretted seeking the darkness, listening to its voice, allowing it to take me over, because it gave me what was most important to me: power! And that hunger has never been cured for all this time... but now, when you all finally succumb to your inevitable deaths, I can seize all that powerful data contained within the digimon, and perhaps my hunger for power will finally be satisfied!'

The Digidestined tried to ignore his monologue, but became increasingly desperate when they realised he was right about one thing: the army would last longer than they would, and once SacredGreymon and Imperialdramon became too exhausted to maintain their forms, they knew they would soon be overrun.

Tai suddenly felt the desire to call for help, but he knew there was no one else in the area to help them. All but a few of the digimon inhabiting the area were already dead.

Is there nothing we can do? He wondered helplessly. I shouldn't have rushed in like this, taken everyone with me, but... we needed everyone, because we knew only what Bokomon had told us. What did I do wrong? I 'm supposed to be responsible for them, and I can't leave so much of a burden to Davis, who has already gone through a lot in this dark place. Azulongmon? Baihumon? Can't the Sovereigns help us? Can anyone?

He fought back tears as he looked around frantically, everyone with similar desperate looks as they fought back despair, which actually weakened their beams further, already fading from overuse. The army pushed them further and further back under SacredGreymon, whose movements were becoming sluggish as the Chronodata took its toll. Imperialdramon was also slowing down, being hit more and more by the beams, undoubtedly due to Veemon's mental and physical exhaustion from before, along with his near-death experience. Tai shook his head in disbelief.

It can't just end like this! The world is counting on us... and we failed...

SacredGreymon also fought the desire to call for help, and almost submitted to despair when he saw a winged dark shape in the sky overhead, cutting through the purple tendrils, which was the only thing giving it away, as he couldn't hear any of its sounds over the battle. A mixture of hope and fear briefly flashed through him along with anticipation, not knowing whether the new arrival bode good or ill for them.

Seraphimon dashed through the air repeatedly as he approached VenomMyotismon, avoiding his massive arms swinging around in a swatting motion. Seraphimon let off small weak beams of light with his palms in order to test his power, as he had only used this form briefly, years ago.

'Nightmare Claw!'

TK yelped slightly as Seraphimon dropped to avoid the claw, before staring up at his face sadly.

'Myotismon! Don't you remember us!?' He yelled pleadingly. 'We're... we're your friends, remember?'

VenomMyotismon didn't react, instead adopting a disturbing monotone as he spoke.

'I exist for the master, and only for the master. I must have data. I must have food!'

As VenomMyotismon swiped his claw again, Seraphimon quickly gathered a swirling light orb in his palms.

'Hallowed Knuckle!'

He launched it straight into VenomMyotismon's palm, causing him to howl in pain and retract his claw. VenomMyotismon glared down at them in a thoughtless frenzy and opened his mouth wide.

'Chaos Flame!'

The wide field of dark fire sped towards them at astonishing speed. TK stared at it fearfully, but Seraphimon quickly erected a barrier with arms overhead, but seemed to falter as he blocked the attack. He found he was still weary from before.

'Are you all right, Seraphimon?' TK asked with concern, to which Seraphimon shook his head.

'It took a lot of my energy to heal Veemon... not to mention the battle beforehand. I have to be careful about this as well... every one of my attacks causes a lot of damage.'

TK frowned thoughtfully. 'That Hallowed knuckle... just keep using it on his more fortified parts. He should be almost as exhausted as you from the battle... it shouldn't be too long before his data shows, like Bokomon said.'

He groaned anxiously as two BlackGhoulmon climbed over Myotismon's shoulders and began firing down at them. TK frowned with frustration.

'We don't have time for them! We've got to take them out, quickly.'

Seraphimon raised his arms as if calling down power from the sky.

'Hallowed Ascension!'

Two light columns appeared deep from within the dark sky and sped downwards towards the two BlackGhoulmon, but before it struck they leapt away just in time towards VenomMyotismon's neck, instead the bolts burst into large orbs of golden light and VenomMyotismon staggered backwards, his howls deafening the landscape.

'No!' TK whispered forcefully. 'Those BlackGhoulmon...'

VenomMyotismon took a while to stand himself upright again, but moved slower, and TK swore he saw a part of his frame distort like the data was fragmenting.

'Nearly there... Seraphimon...'

They continued to try and whittle VenomMyotismon down, but every time they took their aim at a protected area the BlackGhoulmon had already climbed towards and it and blocked it with their bodies, and easily deflected his low-power attack.

'How can we deal with these creatures without risking fatal damage to him?' Seraphimon wondered out loud, and continued to dodge their erratic laser beams. TK exhaled and forced himself to think, closing his eyes briefly. After a moment, his eyes snapped open, and he turned back to bellow towards the others.

'Imperialdramon! We need your help! Let SacredGreymon handle them for just a moment!'

SacredGreymon quickly nodded his approval and Imperialdramon sped toward them. TK addressed him just as he arrived.

'Imperialdramon! I need you to ram VenomMyotismon to knock those damn BlackGhoulmon off of him! And try and destroy them if you can!'

Imperialdramon immediately proceeded to shoulder-charge VenomMyotismon in the torso with great speed, but kept his sword behind him to stop any fatal damage. As soon as he did so, he readied his sword as the BlackGhoulmon tumbled towards the ground.

'Omni Sword!'

The shining blade immediately cut through the two, and Imperialdramon immediately sped back towards the others.

'Good luck...' He called back to them as he weaved his sword through the army, while continuing to avoid Barbamon's shots which got past SacredGreymon.

The two of them eyed him thankfully before examining VenomMyotismon, who was very still, his form continuing to fizzle out more frequently. TK decided to try and use his digivice to finish the job.

He groaned in distress as he spotted several more Ghoulmon approaching, who began firing up at them, deliberately preventing them from staying near Myotismon. The two of them desperately dodged the beams and TK simultaneously tried to project his beam at Myotismon but couldn't keep it focused. TK grimaced in disbelief and frustration as he glared down at the Ghoulmon angrily.

'If we stop for too long to take them out... VenomMyotismon will recover again... what should we do?'

As if in answer, several of the Ghoulmon's beams ceased abruptly, and they turned around to face something within them. TK gasped as he spotted ghostly figures in amongst the Ghoulmon, trying to fight them. The Ghoulmon seemed completely distracted; they couldn't affect the spectres with any of their attacks, and neither could the spirits harm them. For some reason, the Ghoulmon's eyes were transfixed on them, some even frozen at their presence.

'What's happening? Why are the Ghoulmon...?'

Several figures became visible to them, and TK recognised a few. There were four of them, all significantly smaller than the large Ghoulmon around them. Vilemon, Digitamamon, and a Dracmon. Vilemon looked like a rabid grey imp with large teeth sticking out of his open mouth. Two pairs of small grey wings came out of his back. Digitamamon simply looked like an egg with two large clawed feet and a crack where his face would have been, with two yellow eyes peering out of the darkness of his shell. Dracmon was an undead digimon with small claws and feet with multicoloured eyes, coloured blue and black. The spectres had shades of blue and were translucent, their edges softened against the background.

The last spectre was another digimon Myotismon hadn't mentioned, along with Dracmon. It was a LadyDevimon, and instead of an evil, amused smirk on her face, she simply looked around sadly at the entire scene, as she fought to distract the Ghoulmon.

'They were Myotismon's companions.' Seraphimon stated sombrely. 'They must be trying to help Myotismon.'

The Ghoulmon continued to scuffle amongst themselves, throwing themselves at the spectres. Dracmon glanced up at them impatiently. 'Well? Aren't you gonna do something?'

Digitamamon elaborated as TK studied them. 'We'll distract the Ghoulmon. We managed to escape from Barbamon's portal, thanks to your efforts. Please, save Myotismon if you can.'

Seraphimon looked slightly troubled as he studied Myotismon. 'I want to... but aren't you afraid I'll destroy him? Being an archangel and all?'

LadyDevimon shook her head earnestly. 'We don't care that you're an archangel; we can tell you care about him. Please, save my beloved. Even with me gone, there's still so much for him to see in the world.'

Beloved... TK repeatedly to himself, as Seraphimon flew back towards Myotismon.

Seraphimon soon approached VenomMyotismon's contorted face, and as they approached, it seemed like he recognised them for an instant. TK grimaced sympathetically, before aiming his digivice at Myotismon's face, and projected the light beam into his head. VenomMyotismon made no indication of pain, and calmly let the beam into him.

As the beam stood fast, and VenomMyotismon's data was about to be purified, the four spectres quickly flew up to hover beside Seraphimon on both sides, looking up at VenomMyotismon warmly, but sadly. VenomMyotismon seemed to be gazing back at them. They all closed their eyes, and TK guessed they were saying their farewells to each other.

As they opened them a few moments later, they each smiled, or tried to in Vilemon's case, at Seraphimon with gratitude. TK couldn't help but smile back as their spirits began to fade, the data flowing away into the distance.

VenomMyotismon's form gradually faded until data began to stream from his head into TK's digivice. TK held it there until all the data finally entered his digivice, and VenomMyotismon disappeared.

Seraphimon looked around frantically for a digi-egg, but the ground where VenomMyotismon had been was quickly overrun by more creatures from Barbamon's army. TK shook his head desperately as he searched as well, but could not see anything.

'Myotismon, where are you!?'

After scanning the area repeatedly, the two resigned themselves to the fact the digi-egg could not be found until the army was gone. Tears in his eyes, TK turned away from the scene as they went back to help the others.

Barbamon became increasingly anxious and troubled, despite his steady stream of minions towards the Digidestined. He could no longer hear their thoughts as loudly as the battle continued; any thoughts they had were becoming more based on survival rather than greed, and he could not comprehend that they had lasted this long.

'Why?' He wondered out loud quietly, then raised his voice. 'Why!? Why won't you just surrender, and become my slaves? Why do you resist?'

Tai eyed him angrily as he bellowed back. 'We won't ever submit to evil like you! It's our job... our destiny... to protect this world from you. And we... we would gladly die trying! We will fight to the end!'

Matt nodded fervently in agreement. 'We've all gotten even stronger thanks to the challenge you presented... and that strength doesn't come easily.'

Hope began to adorn everyone's faces at Tai and Matt's announcements, despite the dire situation. Their digibeams became focused again, and the digimon fought back with renewed vigour. Gryphonmon and ZeedGarurumon attacked with such ferocity that Barbamon had to dodge their attacks to conserve his own energy, and were still able to destroy many Ghoulmon at the same time. Barbamon stared at them in disbelief, unable to comprehend their will.

Those two... they had managed to resist my manipulation. Not many digimon do... what makes them so strong? Their loyalty to their partners? To their fellow digimon? What... is it...

Eventually, he put the thoughts out of his head, and pushed his minions harder than ever to battle them. He raised his staff frantically and attacked them in a frenzy, even though SacredGreymon continued to block them.

'None of it matters! Your strength... determination... nobility... honour... none of it makes a difference in the end! For you, all of you, will die here, and your very essence will serve me until the end of time itself!'

He raised his head and cackled one last time, conveying every shred of insanity within himself into it and released it for the whole continent to hear. It was fuelled even further when the Digidestined simply ignored him and fought back harder.

He froze as a deafening low voice sounded above the scene.

'I don't think so, old man.'

Barbamon and the Digidestined's heads shot up as a column of black fire sped downwards towards him, and he only just strafed out of the way before the fire obliterated the large group of creatures travelling below.

SacredGreymon's eyes glinted expectantly as AbyssGreymon flew overhead and began clearing out the enemies surrounding Barbamon, and landed directly opposite of them on the other side of Barbamon. He glared at the demon lord with burning yellow eyes.

'As pathetic and naive as the Digidestined are...' He roared condescendingly. 'There's no way they could lose to such a cowardly abomination such as you. You, who need an entire army just to fight. If it wasn't for that, you would continue to run away from them, just as you have always done.'

'AbyssGreymon!' SacredGreymon rumbled with relief, but AbyssGreymon ignored him.

Barbamon stared at the colossal black dragon in shock. 'Where did you come from!? I detected no more presences approaching... how could I not hear your thoughts?'

AbyssGreymon snorted, blowing away some more Ghoulmon with red flames. 'What I seek is not for you to comprehend, Avarice. I only seek death - something which you are so afraid of. As for physically seeing me? How do you think to see black against darkness?'

Barbamon backed off slightly, raising his staff towards AbyssGreymon desperately.

'I can't be beaten here! Not after all I've had to go through!'

AbyssGreymon narrowed his eyes as the wide red blast sped towards him, before opening his jaw wide in response.

'Darkfire Lance!'

The cloud of black fire prevailed over Barbamon's blast and absorbed it, before hitting Barbamon directly. The demon lord screamed in pain even though he had raised his staff with the orb absorbing the blast.

Izzy eyed the orb closely, and exclaimed in surprise. 'It's only got red in it! That means he's being affected by another element... is it... darkness?'

AbyssGreymon gave a single nod. 'As I thought. Avarice, in your own arrogance, you overlooked something which you had never contended with before... seeing as you have Death Lure, you've never needed to study darkness as an element... until now.'

He launched another flame spear and Barbamon hastily dodged it. AbyssGreymon immediately leapt to his left, at right angles to SacredGreymon, before turning his head expectantly to the massive red.

'You! We must attack him, together. He has no knowledge of darkness - neither has he of the power of light in combination.'

SacredGreymon studied him briefly, then nodded, and both dragons turned their heads towards Barbamon, who could only look on helplessly as they opened their massive jaws.

'Darkfire Lance!'

'Soulfire Blast!'

The demon lord raised his staff in front of him, and visibly cringed. As the two vast clouds of blue and black fire enveloped him, SacredGreymon felt a moment of sympathy for the demon lord, but only when he thought of what he once was, and what he could have been. But that quickly evaporated from his mind when he remembered that he chose power willingly, along with the slaughter of so many innocent digimon.

The Digidestined watched as Barbamon's orb changed into red and cyan white, but the third section only filled with emptiness, and the orb slowly collapsed in on itself and shattered. Barbamon screamed in agony as his body slowly burned away, leaving only echoes of his cries. One final exclamation, however, reached their ears.

'You may have defeated me here, Digidestined... however, you can never defeat that which is most base, deep within yourself. Farewell... Digidestined... the demon lords, the Seven Deadly Sins... send their regards.'

The army surrounding immediately ceased their attack. For a long pause, they simply stood still, no longer hearing the commanding voice of Barbamon in their heads. Suddenly, a low rumble sounded and the massive dark portal began to shrink at an alarming fast rate; so fast the ground left behind crumbled as it went.

'What's going on!?' Davis yelled as they ground beneath shifted beneath their feet.

Izzy raised his voice as he attempted to explain. 'Without Barbamon here to maintain a physical link to the Dark Area, it cannot maintain itself. We've gotta get out of here!'

SacredGreymon stared at AbyssGreymon as he immediately turned to leave when Barbamon was gone. 'Why did you help us?'

'I didn't help you.' AbyssGreymon stated flatly. 'You shouldn't even be here. Alphamon was aware of Barbamon's rising power for a while, but knew he had defence against every element except darkness... and most dark digimon would easily succumb to his power. He sent me to destroy him, no more, no less. I have no quarrel with you here... let's keep it that way.'

'Wait!'

AbyssGreymon simply spread his wings and took off, his face contorted angrily, remembering how he suffered at Alphamon's hands after the siege of Digital City, due to his failure, and Agumon's failure to kill him when he could have.

Does he enjoy making me suffer like this? Why can he not see that I cannot be saved? Death is the only path to my release. I pray that he does the right thing... next time we meet...

He stopped in midair when he remembered something, and something compelled him to turn around, and his voice boomed deeply, enough for the Digidestined to hear him over the destruction of the landscape. 'You will need to get out of here quickly. Once you do, head east. You will know what I'm talking about... it is not far, even for walking. You will find it when the ground becomes metal.'

SacredGreymon managed to crack a small smile of gratitude as the colossal black flew away, leaving them and the thousands of creatures to try and escape the collapsing portal.

The Ghoulmon, BlackGhoulmon and few Devitamamon began to scramble back into the portal. Cody watched them briefly; they almost looked like animals trying to escape a tsunami or earthquake, and felt a fleeting sensation of sympathy for them. He quickly shook his head out of it; they had to escape themselves before they were sucked into the portal, and into the Dark Area.

SacredGreymon looked around, and knew that Aquilamon should have fled by now, and was unable to take any more of them. He glanced down between his arms at the humans and digimon sheltered under him.

'Guys! Get your partners and get on top of me!'

He let them out from under him before laying his body as flat on the ground as possible.

ZeedGarurumon, MegaKabuterimon and Zudomon degenerated as their forms were too bulky, and joined the humans as they approached the other digimon. Imperialdramon, Gallantmon, Gryphonmon, Lillymon and Seraphimon grabbed several humans each, Imperialdramon carrying the most, and they all flew up onto SacredGreymon's flank except Gallantmon, who leapt up his right arm and settled on the flank with the others. As the rest of them degenerated, they each found a large scale to hold onto and sat down, and as Tai checked that everyone was accounted for, he grinned in slight amusement as the scene reminded him of a roller coaster. As Imperialdramon degenerated, however, Davis had to help Veemon, his limbs lacking their usual strength from exhaustion.

'Hold on!' SacredGreymon called as he carefully began to fly up and forward.

Each beat of his wings made their stomachs drop like a stone against his flank. A couple of them let out exhilarated yells with each beat, while others kept their mouths shut, dead quiet in fear.

Gomamon grinned at Joe next to him. 'Isn't this fun, Joe? I don't think we've ever done something like this before! Riding a giant dragon?'

Joe had to refrain from covering his mouth, his face looking sickly green, and a bead of sweat adorned his brow. He kept his face against SacredGreymon's hide, not wanting to look around. 'Please be over soon...' He pleaded to himself. 'Ugh... I don't have any food in my stomach to vomit, but I feel... something coming up...'

SacredGreymon stopped and hovered in place when they were well above the portal. The Digidestined raised their heads as they watched the enormous portal shrink like water down a drain, and eventually disappeared, but there were still at least a thousand creatures left. When the portal disappeared completely, many of them fell into the seemingly bottomless pit left behind. The rest of the creatures' bodies contorted bizarrely, the Ghoulmon's eyes wide as they stared at the sky, before their bodies began to dissipate and the dark data flowed in long thin streams, gathering into one and flying away, where all leftover data disappeared to.

'SacredGreymon!' TK yelled out desperately. 'Myotismon's egg... it's down there somewhere! We have to find him!'

Several of the Digidestined yelped loudly as SacredGreymon abruptly dove down towards the ground, and they held on to his scales for dear life, but he hovered before landing on the ground carefully. As he did, his legs suddenly gave way as he tried to stand and collapsed onto the ground.

'SacredGreymon?' Tai called out uncertainly, and quickly guessed what was about to happen. 'Everyone, brace yourselves... he needs to degenerate. It's been too long for him...'

SacredGreymon's flank glowed slightly before shrinking at a rapid pace. The Digidestined jumped off onto the ground just before his form got too small for them all to fit on.

Biyomon and Tai quickly examined Agumon in concern as he stood up, groaning slightly. 'Ugh... my head...oh well.' He stated sheepishly, causing them both to sigh with relief. 'At least I'm not in a coma this time...' They all raised their heads as they heard TK's distressed cries, and they all followed him and tried to help, looking through the rubble as they searched. Aquilamon, Yolei, and the rest riding dismounted and Aquilamon degenerated when they knew the threat had passed. Izzy quickly enlightened them about the situation.

'Myotismon! Myotismon!?' TK thrust aside pieces of black rock, hoping desperately that the egg was still intact and not crushed under a rock, or worse, sucked into the Dark Area, where Myotismon may never escape.

I promised myself I would save you... but if you had been sucked down there, it really would be a fate worse than death... I don't know if I could live with myself if you became trapped...

The longer they searched, the more distraught he became, tears flowing harder and faster, until after half an hour, he collapsed onto his knees helplessly.

'No...' He sobbed. 'Why? I... I had always assumed he was somehow to blame for my misery... the fact that our enemies were not within my reach caused me to shift it onto you, just because you looked like him... just like Devimon, who nearly took Patamon away from me, and Myotismon, who killed Wizardmon and hurt Gatomon and Kari terribly... but only now do I realise that no matter what you might have done, no digimon deserves to be trapped for eternity, suffering throughout all that. Even Devimon and that Myotismon shouldn't have been made to suffer unnecessarily, even if they had deserved it. Least of all, you, who only helped us and stood by our side through this. And... I might have just sent you to such a terrible fate... and for what?' He pressed his head against the cold rock. 'For being different... that's it. What a ridiculous reason. How could I be capable of such pathetic excuses...'

'TK!'

He gasped as his head shot up to see Patamon flying towards him, and relief spread through him when he saw the small purple egg in his paws, so much so that he couldn't speak, and only crack a smile and slump on his knees as Patamon brought the egg for him to fold into his arms. Patamon hovered next to him and landed to stand next to him, eyeing the egg warmly. Everyone else soon gathered around, relief on their faces.

'I'm glad.' Cody finally spoke up. 'I'm glad we were able to protect someone... even if it is just one of them.'

There was a long pause, before Agumon approached them uneasily. 'TK?'

TK took a moment to answer in a subdued voice. 'Yes, Agumon?'

'I'm... I'm sorry. I was wrong about you. You went so far to save him... when the rest of us didn't.'

TK smiled self-consciously. 'I should be thanking you, Agumon. You were the first to make me challenge that part of myself... that prejudiced part who couldn't let go of the past. I was able to overcome it, not just because of you, but also Patamon... Myotismon... and all of us fighting together.'

Tai nodded heartily in agreement. 'You know what the strange thing is? It's only because of AbyssGreymon that we're alive to talk about all this.'

Suddenly, his stomach rumbled loudly, and he glanced downwards in surprise. As if prompted, one by one, everyone else's stomachs rumbled, some louder than others. Agumon visibly cringed in slight pain when it was his turn, Guilmon having a similar reaction.

They all laughed shortly before Tai continued. 'We've got to get out of here, now. I hope what AbyssGreymon said is true... so, east we go. There's nowhere else.'

'All right, let's go!' Agumon called out enthusiastically. 'The sooner we leave the sooner we - '

His body seemed to freeze as he faltered, keeled over forward until his body hit the ground.

'Agumon!'

Tai quickly knelt next to him to turn him over, and Biyomon examined him closely. His eyes were shut tight, and seemed to be groaning slightly. He opened his eyes slightly up at them.

'He's that exhausted...' Biyomon stated lowly, worry adorning her expression.

Veemon managed a scoff, despite Davis letting him lean on him in a similar condition. 'I guess it was too much to expect you to go on a dangerous journey without getting some sort of health problem.'

Agumon groaned in slight annoyance. 'I was the one who had to help heal you, remember? Talk about ungrateful.'

Tai quickly came to a decision as he examined Agumon, and turned around with his arms outstretched towards him. 'Come on, buddy. Up.'

Agumon smiled gratefully before wrapping his arms around Tai's neck. Tai's face contorted with effort as he struggled to stand up, his legs wobbling as he strained.

'Sorry.' Agumon apologised awkwardly. 'For being... heavy.'

Gatomon flashed a bright smile. 'You did! You finally admitted it!'

Agumon's right eye twitched. 'Shut up. I thought you had given up...'

'You know her.' Veemon joked. 'She will always find a way to bring it up.'

Gatomon's expression softened as she glanced over at him, and he glanced back at her. They held their gaze briefly before blushing and turning away.

Biyomon fiddled with her wing feathers shyly. 'But... I don't think it has much to do with fat, Gatomon...'

Agumon flushed and smiled at her appreciatively.

TK carried Myotismon's egg as everyone began to walk east, with Bokomon making sure they were going in the right direction. Tai was having trouble carrying Agumon, and therefore didn't notice it immediately, but everyone else stared ahead as they saw the faintest hint of orange light pouring over the horizon. It stopped before it adorned the entire sky, but even that small amount of light was enough to cast the entire landscape differently. The ground no longer looked black or grey, and the trees actually contained some traces of colour and life. Agumon smiled at it, a familiar warmth washing through him.

It looks like even the Continent of Darkness is changing for the better...

Gabumon and Guilmon had let Tai off and allowed Agumon lean on them instead, though Biyomon offered the first time but was too exhausted and he had ended up falling on top of her. Gabumon and Guilmon had lifted him off of her, Agumon and her faces very red, and put one arm around each of their shoulders. Thankfully, it wasn't long before they encountered their exit from the Continent of Darkness, which turned out to be a Trailmon terminal. The entrance was rather obscure, but they quickly spotted the small entrance when the light reflected off of the metal path in front of them.

It was dark inside when they entered, as it seemed to be underground as they filed down into it. Since Agumon was too exhausted, they had no source of light except the reflections from the sun above.

Bokomon and Neemon yelped when a large red orb suddenly glowed in front of them.

'Don't tell me it's another enemy!?' Mimi half-shrieked, but Agumon quickly shook his head.

'I don't believe AbyssGreymon would send us here just to die...'

Several more red orbs began to appear in regular intervals down to their right, and as some dim lights turned on overhead, a long, dark Trailmon was revealed. He began to speak to them slowly in a low, relatively emotionless voice.

'Well. And here I thought I would never see another human again. Am I fortunate or unfortunate, now that you are here?'

Davis scratched his head in slight confusion. 'I would think it would be fortunate! Wasn't Barbamon a threat to you, too?'

DarkTrailmon paused briefly, not caring how much time he wasted. 'Not many find their way down here. Perhaps it has something to do with you being human... all my visitors here have either been humans, or digimon who were closely affiliated with them.'

Tai waited for him to continue, before speaking up. 'A... friend of ours told us we should come here to get home. Is that you?'

'Indeed... the human world. I take it you all need to get back there?'

Bokomon and Neemon grimaced nervously. 'We've never been to the human world before... but I guess we have no choice.'

'What are you talking about?' Izzy asked incredulously. 'I thought you wanted to go to the human world?'

Bokomon sighed meekly. 'I know, but... I didn't think it would be this soon.'

Trailmon was silent before speaking again. 'You may argue and decide amongst yourselves for as long as you want. I'm under no obligation to do anything, but I will help you. Travelling to the human world is the only worthwhile thing I am capable of.' Tai could have sworn an orb was looking at him. 'It is not everyday light comes to the Continent of Darkness, and for that, I am grateful.'

Tai and Davis exchanged glances before nodding. 'Thank you, dark... Trailmon.' Tai managed to say. 'I'm... really looking forward to things getting back to normal.'

Matt smirked. 'At least for a while.'

They filed onto the first carriage, and one by one, quickly fell asleep on the long seats lining the edges as DarkTrailmon departed from the platform. A brief smile adorned Bokomon's face as he glanced to the entrance, seeing the sunlight creeping into the station.

Perhaps... one day... I'll give this land a new name. Or perhaps that right will be left to a Sovereign? Or perhaps... a digimon of great importance...

He glanced around at the other digimon, studying them with warmly. I truly believe... that digimon is among them...

He yawned widely, but suddenly got an idea he needed to note. He flicked through his book to the point where he had started notes for the digidestined, and carefully wrote a clear heading at the top of the page.

The Virus Contingency - how light came to the Continent of Darkness.

Bokomon wore a content smile as he closed the book, finally falling asleep with it in his lap.

DarkTrailmon's horn sounded when they left the station, leaving the restored Continent behind.

A/N: Well, that ends that arc. Kudos to everyone who read this far, and even more for those who gave their input to improve my writing. For now, I'll go back and read over all my previous chapters again, especially since I've got to address all the problems Crazyeight's presented to me so far. If you have any thoughts how I could improve my writing, or how my story could be better in any way, please don't hesitate to say so! I appreciate any review that isn't trolling or flaming, so go for it!