(Author's Notes: Just a few more chapters to go... Enjoy!)
Chapter 27: Initialize
A day had passed since the attack on the World Tree. The Royal Knights' reinforcements had arrived and they had taken over the Neutral Zone for the time being. The Strike Forces, scouts, and spies were scouring the Neutral Zone and the areas outside of it. As a result, DarkKnightmon and his allies had to remain clandestine. They had to both evade their pursuers and search for Imperialdramon Paladin Mode at the same time. It was a difficult balancing act.
They stood beneath the thick canopies of three trees, the branches concealing them from above and casting a large shadow over the ground. The large, flat, blue leaves shuddered in the wind as they stood against the dark grey sky.
Dorbickmon released a tied up Butterflymon from his grasp and allowed his short, golden form to crash unceremoniously to the ground. The insect Digimon's short arms and flat, white and blue wings were bound together by ropes. He fell on his back with a wince and looked up at his captors with defiant eyes.
Standing before him was SkullKnightmon and DeadlyAxemon, who looked at him with contrasting degrees of intimidation. Dorbickmon walked away from the group and leaned against one of the trees, folding his arms and watching the scene from a short distance. MirageGaogamon stood on one of the higher tree branches, standing on look out and watching the skies for more scouts or soldiers. Omegamon Zwart did the same from the ground, further in the forest.
"So…" SkullKnightmon began, his voice unthreatening even as he approached the Butterflymon's bound body. "You are part of the Royal Knights' Reconnaissance Squadron, I take it…"
The Butterflymon glared at him and looked away with an angry scoff, making his feelings clear.
"Hey now," DeadlyAxemon said with a grin, prodding the scout's carapace with his bladed foot. "It's rude not to talk when in a conversation. You might make me mad."
"Don't be like that, DeadlyAxemon," SkullKnightmon told him, looking at the Butterflymon. "It's entirely understandable why he isn't happy about this."
"You're DarkKnightmon," Butterflymon said, glaring at SkullKnightmon.
"What am I? Chopped liver?" DeadlyAxemon spoke up, nudging him a little harder this time. "It takes more than one to digixros."
"DeadlyAxemon," SkullKnightmon chastised, extended his spear arm and placing it between DeadlyAxemon and their prisoner. "Yes, I am. However, I don't wish to hurt you."
"If you're planning to use me as leverage, it's not going to work," he told them with an angry leer.
"I simply want to ask you something. As soon as you tell us, we'll leave you in peace," SkullKnightmon assured him.
"And if you don't, we'll leave you in pieces," DeadlyAxemon warned him.
"Ignore my foul-tempered friend," the short knight spoke. "I won't let anything like that happen. Trust me…"
"Like Alphamon trusted you?" Butterflymon asked him bitterly. SkullKnightmon just stared at him patiently. The bug frowned. "So, what's the question?"
"Where is Imperialdramon Paladin Mode?"
Butterflymon looked up at his captor with surprise. "Imperialdramon Paladin Mode…?" he asked. He then glared. "I have no idea."
"You better remember. Fast," DeadlyAxemon warned him.
Butterflymon grimaced. "I. Don't. Know."
"Are you absolutely sure about that?" SkullKnightmon pressed.
"If you honestly think I'd tell you anything, you must be crazy!" Butterflymon exclaimed. "I won't betray the Royal Knights!"
"Wrong answer," DeadlyAxemon spoke, opening his mouth up to reveal the light of an aqueous solution building up inside his jagged maw.
Butterflymon tensed up with fear. Sweat trickled down his exoskeleton and he looked at SkullKnightmon worriedly. "I'm just a scout!" he told with quickly. "I don't have access to that kind of information! I barely know anything about Imperialdramon Paladin Mode!"
"Then what do you know?" SkullKnightmon asked calmly. "Tell me and we'll let you go."
Butterflymon stalled. He wondered if he had any other alternative. He didn't even really know all that much, so he wondered if there would be any point. However, DeadlyAxemon then crawled on top of his tied up form and got face to face with the insect Digimon, his mouth now brimming with an attack. "Spill or I will."
Butterflymon shut his eyes tightly. "I-I think I saw him once! But I don't even know if it was him!" he insisted desperately.
"Where?" SkullKnightmon asked.
"I was on patrol out west when I thought I saw him talking to Sinduramon! The Rooster Deva – Baihumon's servant, I think! L-Like I said, I'm not positive it was him, though! And it was a month ago!"
"Is that everything?" the short knight asked, his eyes leering at the scout from behind his visor.
"Yes! Honest!" Butterflymon shouted, leaning his head back, fearing DeadlyAxemon's impending attack.
DeadlyAxemon looked over his shoulder at SkullKnightmon, who nodded. He jumped off of the bug Digimon and circled around back to his brother in arms at a wide angle. The scout breathed a sigh of relief.
SkullKnightmon turned his back to them and frowned. "Why would he speak to Sinduramon…?" he wondered pensively. "Was he requesting an audience with Baihumon? Or perhaps the Four Holy Beasts as a whole? …It would make sense. While Imperialdramon seemed happy in taking a passive role while Alphamon lead the Royal Knights, I can't imagine that he would just retire and live as a hermit. No, I know Imperialdramon. He would need to be involved with world affairs somehow."
SkullKnightmon continued deliberating with himself, piecing together the bits of information that he had. "I wonder if he holds council with the Four Holy Beasts… and perhaps other deific or leader figures throughout the Digital World. Perhaps he is more involved in the Royal Knights' affairs than we give him credit for… though Alphamon has been an able diplomat in his own right…" he mused. He looked up the trunk of the tree in front of him, his eyes resting on the swaying branches of blue leaves. "If my theory is correct, then certainly Imperialdramon would be talking with the Four Holy Beasts about our attack on the World Tree, perhaps to smooth things over… No, I'm certain he would step in. And that will be my chance. All we need is the location."
The knight spun around on his heel and looked at DeadlyAxemon, who returned the gaze. "DigiXros!" With that, the two Digimon became engulfed in a bright, grey-tinged light as their forms fused into one another's. DarkKnightmon became whole once again.
Butterflymon looked up with trepidation at the menace that the Order had feared so much recently.
"What's the plan?" Dorbickmon asked, looking over at DarkKnightmon.
DarkKnightmon glanced at the Butterflymon scout and made sure that he was out of earshot before replying. "We will meet up with our mercenaries again. I have a job for them," he replied.
"What's that?" Dorbickmon asked him, arching his eyebrow.
"I need them to locate and bring me Sinduramon," DarkKnightmon plainly answered.
"That could take some time," Dorbickmon reminded him. "And time isn't something that we have much of."
"It will be fine," DarkKnightmon insisted. "We can evade them for another day or so. I will emphasize that they search quickly. It shouldn't be too hard, really; the Valancers have a good information network, and Sinduramon is a loud, boisterous, magnet for attention, from what I remember of him."
"And you think Sinduramon will know where Imperialdramon Paladin Mode is?" the crimson mercenary asked.
"I think so… I won't say that I'm certain, but we don't have the luxury of certainties, at the moment," DarkKnightmon responded. "We need to take whatever information we can get, and do our best to make sure that we can tip the scales in our favour. Normally, I won't take risks if I can help it, but at the same time, they are often decisive moments."
"Sure," Dorbickmon muttered. "Well, it's your call, boss."
DarkKnightmon nodded. "Let's retrieve the others and get out of here," he told him.
"Hey! What about me?!" Butterflymon asked, struggling on the ground.
DarkKnightmon glanced over at their prisoner. The very look from the knight's standard, unreadable, gold eyes caused him to immediately regret his words. However, DarkKnightmon merely turned his back to him. "Don't worry. One of your fellow scouts will find you sooner or later," he told him, beginning to walk away along with Dorbickmon.
Butterflymon winced and continued struggling. "Hey!" he called out. "Let me go!"
"You'll be fine," Dorbickmon insisted with an offhanded wave, not bothering to look over his shoulder as he spoke.
With that, DarkKnightmon and Dorbickmon walked away to collect the others and move out. And then they would begin the next stage of their plan.
The patter and rumble of footsteps, the deep flapping of wings, the rattling of armour, the shouts from one group to another… The World Tree was bustling. What was once a sacred spot of wonder, peace, and introspection, was now a military staging ground for the Royal Knights.
"Aerial Guards, Second Wing! Spread out above the tree line!"
"Third Scout Wing, move north in a Victory formation."
"First Strike Group, fan out around the east face of the tree! Seventh Strike Group, take over the Fifth's patrol to the north west!"
Alphamon watched as the Royal Knights and the Captains called out orders to their troops. A defensive perimeter was set up around the World Tree to protect it from a counterattack. However, it wasn't nearly as thick as it was when the two waves of reinforcements first arrived. As more time passed, emphasis was moving from the defence of the World Tree over to scouting and patrolling, in the hopes of finding DarkKnightmon and his allies. As much as they didn't want the World Tree to be attacked again, they also didn't want to lose DarkKnightmon and allow him to recover enough to launch another offensive elsewhere, so the search effort was increasingly ardent and energetic.
"Rhinomon! Move over there! You're too exposed," Dukemon told a gold armoured rhinoceros Digimon, pointing off to the side. The crimson knight then turned around and walked over to Alphamon.
"Dukemon?" Alphamon asked. "Has Grani reported any findings from his scouts?"
"He and a team are following up a lead over to the west," Dukemon replied. "Also, one scout who was supposed to be back awhile ago hasn't returned yet, so they're investigating that too."
Alphamon turned and looked at his friend directly. "Who was this?"
"Butterflymon," Dukemon replied.
"He was patrolling to the southwest, wasn't he?" Alphamon asked.
"Yeah… Do you want to check it out?" the red knight questioned. "The other Knights are out patrolling, and Duftmon can probably handle things here."
Alphamon nodded. "Yes… I think I do. I'm feeling a bit edgy with all this waiting. It would be good to put my mind to something else," he answered. "Plus, I would feel better knowing that Butterflymon is safe. He's usually very diligent."
"I'll come with you," Dukemon said with a slight grin. "Unless you think I'll cramp your style."
Alphamon managed a smirk. "You? Of course not. Go ahead," he replied, beginning to walk across the colourful, flowery field, through the crowds of Digimon. "Duftmon!" he hailed.
Duftmon, who was busy talking to OuRyuumon and Knightmon, looked over. "Yes? What is it?" he wondered.
"Dukemon and I are going to investigate something. Can you manage here for several hours?" Alphamon asked.
"Of course," Duftmon assured him before turning back to the Captains. OuRyuumon cast a glance over at Alphamon but soon turned back to Duftmon, listening to his tactical opinion.
Alphamon gave him a slight nod before looking forwards and heading to the edge of the clearing with Dukemon. The two knights stepped into the forest, leaving their forces to continue their defence of the World Tree.
Evening set across the continent and it was nearing on night. The sun was setting and there was an orange-pink hue over a fifth of the sky. The rest of it was a dark blue colour, which got deeper and darker as it went east. A night breeze drifted through the wide streets of a small town. From the town, the World Tree could still be seen, towering into the sky like a great, natural pillar.
The light of lanterns could be seen flickering inside the stained windows of a large pub. As the town was generally for larger Digimon, the buildings were designed accordingly. There were voices and raucous banter coming from inside. However, the tavern was officially closed to 'VIPs only'. It had been for the past few days, much to the annoyance of some of the locals.
Inside the pub was the Valancer mercenary company, who had bribed the owner and the proprietor of the pub into letting them stay there and keeping silent about the arrangement. The Valancers sat in the pub, talking and drinking as they waited. Off at a side table reserved for smaller patrons sat DarkKnightmon, MirageGaogamon, Dorbickmon, Omegamon Zwart, and Vikemon, the Valancer's leader.
The Vikemon knocked back a pint of ale and released a relieved sigh. "So…" He looked at his employers.
"How long do you suspect it will take?" DarkKnightmon asked him. "I am rather in a hurry."
"The chicken's in the next town over," Vikemon explained. "He arrived recently and it didn't take him long to make himself known. Apparently he instigated a huge bar fight." The white, furry mercenary leader laughed. "As for how long, well, that depends on how well he stands up against a team of twenty."
DarkKnightmon frowned.
"You look like you want to go yourself, Sir," MirageGaogamon observed after a sip of his water.
"The Valancers can handle it," Vikemon assured him, glugging down a gulp of beer. "You didn't hire us for nothing. Besides, you guys have been doing so much that we've been getting fidgety."
"Don't worry. There will be plenty for you all to do tomorrow," DarkKnightmon replied. He closed his eyes. "Also, I know. It is just that these next few steps are the pivotal moments. Everything hinges on finding and taking down Imperialdramon quickly."
"From what I've heard, Sinduramon has the biggest mouth of all the Devas, so I doubt it'll be too hard to get what you want out of him," Vikemon explained.
"As long as your mercenaries don't cock up capturing him," MirageGaogamon said to the mammalian mercenary with a pointed leer.
Dorbickmon gave a short chuckle. "'Cock'. Was that a joke, MirageGaogamon?"
"No."
The dragon rolled his eyes. "Of course not…"
A fierce knocking suddenly sounded out from the front door of the tavern. It was done in a deliberate pattern as a signal to the Valancers.
Vikemon stood up and turned towards the door. "They're back. Let them in."
One of the mercenaries went and opened the giant door. DarkKnightmon watched with anticipation… The door swung open and several figures poured in. Although initially alerted at the speed at which they entered, everyone relaxed upon seeing that it was the Valancer team that had left a few hours ago. A few mercenaries walked in first, followed by a Knightmon and a Cyberdramon.
Both mercenaries walked side by side. In their arms, they each clutched a wing with a tight, vice-like grip. Between them was a dangling body encased in spherical, violet armour, which appeared to be cracked in several places. From the top of the armour was the yellow head of a rooster whose eyes matched the red of his cockscomb, as well as the blood that trickled down his head. His eyes darted around the bar with agitation and he kept his beak tensed. From the lower ports of his armour were two, yellowed, avian legs with sharp talons. To keep him from thrashing the talons at the mercenaries, his legs had been tied together with the red kerchief that was normally tied around his neck. Just behind them was a long, vibrant, rainbow-coloured tail that dragged along the floor limply.
A Mistymon walked in behind him, carrying a giant, golden, double-headed club, officially known as a 'Treasure Pestle' or Bao Chu, which belonged to Sinduramon.
"Great! You got him!" Vikemon announced, grinning and stalking over. "Way t- wait a second." He suddenly frowned when he noticed only two more mercenaries walk in after the Mistymon, one of them closing the door behind them. "What about the others? I sent twenty of you! Where're the other eleven?!"
"All dead," the Mistymon replied angrily. He glared at Sinduramon. "He deleted them during the fight."
"Eleven of them?!" Vikemon snarled.
"It wasn't very difficult either!" Sinduramon made a point to say with a self-satisfied smirk gracing the corners of his beak.
Vikemon sneered and walked up to the rooster Deva, glaring at him. "Well, we still got you, didn't we?" he asked him lowly.
"Only through sheer dumb luck," Sinduramon taunted, looking up at him. "I had been drinking at the time. …It must be embarrassing to know that your elite team almost lost to a drunken rooster."
The Cyberdramon mercenary glanced at the Knightmon beside him. "Told you we should've used his scarf as a gag instead."
"Yeah, well, he didn't scratch you," the Knightmon replied as they both handed the prisoner to Vikemon.
Vikemon grabbed Sinduramon by the wings and carried him over to DarkKnightmon's table. As he approached, he slammed the rooster Deva down on top of it, his back impacting the wood tremulously.
Dorbickmon watched as his glass of beer fell over and spilled all over the table and Sinduramon's wing. "I was drinking that."
"Just grab his wings. You want something out of him, don't you?" Vikemon said.
Dorbickmon and Omegamon Zwart both grabbed Sinduramon's wings and pinned him against the table, while Vikemon held down his feet.
"I don't like where this is going!" Sinduramon said aloud, his eye twitching.
DarkKnightmon stood up and looked down at Sinduramon. "I just want to ask you some questions," he said to him.
"Somehow, I don't think you'd send a team of mercenaries after a Deva just to ask him about current affairs or the weather," the avian Digimon replied, leering suspiciously at DarkKnightmon. "Get to the point, tin man. What the hell do you want?"
"Very well, then," DarkKnightmon answered. "You're straightforward. I won't beat around the bush. I want to know where Imperialdramon Paladin Mode is."
Sinduramon closed his eyes and tilted his head up proudly. "I'm a Deva. Why would I know anything about that?" he said uncooperatively.
"It's precisely because you're a Deva," the dark knight spoke. "I know that Imperialdramon Paladin Mode is meeting with your master and the other three Holy Beasts."
"How do you know that?" Sinduramon challenged contentiously. DarkKnightmon smirked behind his visor upon hearing that he had been proved right. Sinduramon noticed his mistake too late and swore under his breath at the fact that his mouth had gotten ahead of his brain again. With a grimace, he added, "Hypothetically speaking."
"You just told him," Dorbickmon said dryly.
"You can't prove that!" the rooster Deva explained, struggling in an attempt to free his wings.
"Where are they?" DarkKnightmon asked in a calm, diplomatic voice.
"You must be as dumb as you look if you think I would betray Lord Baihumon!" Sinduramon trilled in retort. "I am his trusted and loyal servant!"
"Oh… I see now…" DarkKnightmon replied slyly. "I made a mistake to come to you."
Sinduramon nodded victoriously. "Now you're getting it, dumb- wait... Why?" he demanded, opening his eyes and leering at DarkKnightmon suspiciously.
"I apologize… It's obvious to me now. …He didn't tell you, did he?" DarkKnightmon said, looking down at Sinduramon.
"What are you talking about? Of course he told me! I'm just not going to tell you about it!" Sinduramon insisted.
"No, you don't have to explain. I understand why you don't know; I heard you have a reputation as a gossip," the black knight mused purposefully. "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you by bringing up the fact that Baihumon doesn't trust you."
Sinduramon glared at him fiercely. "What are you playing at? Of course he trusts me, you mountain of scrap metal! You really don't think I know where they are?!" he protested argumentatively, too worked up by the provocations to realize the implications of the words leaving his beak.
"No, I don't believe you do."
"Then you really are a dimwitted noble! Behind all of those sleek, refined words and posturing, you're nothing but an empty suit of armour with an even emptier helmet!" Sinduramon remarked sharply. "Please. To think that Lord Baihumon thinks I'm a gossip."
"That's only your opinion," DarkKnightmon countered. "You're just trying to defend your pride."
Narrowing his eyes, Sinduramon scoffed with anger masked by haughtiness. "Tch! Then what if I told you they were meeting in the airspace ten kilometers south of Bakhu Mountain?! I dare you to call me a liar n-" The rooster Deva's eyes widened with horror when his mind quickly caught up with his mouth. "-ow…"
DarkKnightmon smirked and took a step back. If the avian Digimon's wings were free, he would have brought one over his face in utter mortification and self-loathing. He suddenly felt like retreating into his cracked armour out of humiliation. However, his shock and distress soon morphed into rage. Sinduramon fixed a piercing, furious glare on DarkKnightmon's calm, satisfied face. "You tricked me, you deceitful son of a bitch!"
"You're sharp," DarkKnightmon told him. "But, fortunately for me, your tongue is sharper."
Sinduramon clenched his beak with frustration. However, he regained his composure and flipped his cockscomb back. "Fine. Go there if you want," he told them, hastily backtracking in an attempt to make it seem like he was lying about the location. "The Four Holy Beasts and Imperialdramon Paladin Mode can strike you and your cheap cronies down without losing a hair. That is, if they're even there."
"That's a chance I will have to take," DarkKnightmon responded, turning his back to the captive Deva and calling his bluff. "Thank you, Sinduramon. You live up to your reputation, you'll be happy to hear."
Sinduramon sneered at him bitterly. "I'll be the first to dance on your memorial."
"I'll remember that in a month's time," DarkKnightmon responded. He turned to Vikemon. "Bind him and put him in the pub cellar. If we let him go now, he'll only warn them. I'll free him after this business with the Royal Knights is done with."
Vikemon nodded and kept hold of the Deva's legs while whistling for his subordinates to come over. "Sure you don't want some back up? The chicken's right when he says that they'll be pretty tough… The five of them are as strong as the Royal Knights, if not stronger. We'll back you up for the right price."
Sinduramon started struggling combatively as DarkKnightmon's companions moved out of the way so that four of the Valancers could descend on him. "Guh! Let go of me, you filthy mongrels!" he protested energetically. "If you think I'll let you attack my master…!"
"Don't worry. I have no interest in the Four Holy Beasts," DarkKnightmon told him, heading towards the exit of the tavern.
As Sinduramon was restrained by the mercenaries, Dorbickmon, MirageGaogamon, and Omegamon Zwart followed DarkKnightmon out of the pub.
The four stepped out into the night and strode down the wide street. While walking away from the dimly lit public house, MirageGaogamon turned to DarkKnightmon. "So, Sir… What's the plan? How are we going to take down Imperialdramon Paladin Mode?"
"Imperialdramon…" Omegamon Zwart thought to himself with a frown. "Is he an enemy as well? …Yes, he is. I remember now."
"Actually," DarkKnightmon spoke. "I would like to deal with him alone."
"But sir!" MirageGaogamon protested.
"Is that wise?" Omegamon Zwart asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Sounds oddly reckless for you," Dorbickmon added nonchalantly.
"I realize that," DarkKnightmon answered. "I don't have any qualms about fighting him while he's outnumbered, but… this is something that I must do. I need to bring him down with my own hands if I'm to feel the rightful leader of the new Royal Knights. It sounds petty, I know, but… it is a personal thing for me."
"If that's what you want," Dorbickmon indifferently replied, beginning to walk up a north, outbound road. "I guess you won't mind if I sit this one out and hit up another bar."
MirageGaogamon gave Dorbickmon a leer of disapproval. "…Just be careful, Sir. We're so close... to our goal. I don't want you endangering yourself unnecessarily."
DarkKnightmon nodded and looked forwards into the scrolling night sky. "I will keep that in mind, Captain."
Alphamon and Dukemon walked through the forest, veiled in the dark of the night. The trees were darkened with shadows, making it hard to see. However, because the trees were fairly spread out, they were able to see the stars in the night sky, as well as one of the moons. In addition to this, Alphamon walked in front, wielding the Seiken Gradalpha like a torch, using the sword of light as illumination in the night.
They both looked around the forest keenly, trying to see any trace of the missing scout. However, they hadn't had much luck.
Dukemon sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "It's getting dark. Think we should head back now? Maybe he returned already…"
"Maybe…" Alphamon conceded, although he wasn't sure whether he wanted to give up their search just yet.
"We're not going to be able to see very much," Dukemon suggested. "Besides, shouldn't we be back around the tree when it's so dark?"
"I suppose you're right. Although the night is when DarkKnightmon is most likely to move…" Alphamon replied, turning around.
As they were about to begin walking, a noise sounded out in the distance behind them.
"Heeeelllp!" a faint voice seemed to call out.
Alphamon and Dukemon both turned around and proceeded to look at each other. "Did you hear that?"
"Yeah," Dukemon responded.
"Is someone there?!" the voice called out.
Alphamon and Dukemon both jogged towards the voice. They hopped over a few roots and ran past several trees before finding them at the edge of a small clearing beneath a few blue-leaved trees. A Butterflymon lay in the center of the clearing, tied up with rope.
"Butterflymon!" Alphamon reacted with shock at seeing the scout in such a state. He and Dukemon rushed over the bound insect Digimon.
"S-Sir Dukemon?! Sir Alphamon?!" Butterflymon said in a mixture of relief and embarrassment. "Thank Yggdrasil you're here…"
"Hold very still," Alphamon told him. He slashed the Seiken Gradalpha out in a single, precise stroke. Each coil of rope split and parted around Butterflymon while leaving his body untouched.
As the rope fell around him, Butterflymon sighed with relief and stood up. "Th-Thank you, Sir Alphamon. I was starting to worry nobody would find me in time," he said to them, rubbing one of his arms. "Sorry that I was caught…"
"Don't worry," Alphamon told him. "Who did that to you?"
"…It was DarkKnightmon and his team," Butterflymon said with a grimace. "I was patrolling around here, and I thought I saw something, but they ambushed me and tied me up. He questioned me for information…" He looked up at the two knights with worry. "It… it isn't good news."
"What…? What is it?" Dukemon asked, frowning with concern at his words.
"He wanted to know where Imperialdramon Paladin Mode was…"
The expressions of the Royal Knights filled with alarm, followed by dire anger. Alphamon glared hard and balled up his fists tightly. "No… Imperialdramon… I should have seen it…" he whispered grievously.
"I… I'm sorry, Sir," Butterflymon said, bowing his head with shut eyes.
"It's not your fault… You couldn't help it…" Dukemon assured him, although evidently furious at the news as well.
"No, it's not that…" Butterflymon answered with guilt filling his voice. "I might have given him a hint to where Sir Imperialdramon Paladin Mode is."
Dukemon looked at him with surprise. "What? You don't know, do you?" he asked.
"N-No… but I mentioned that I thought I saw him a few months ago, talking to Sinduramon," the insect scout explained. "Then he went all quiet and left."
Alphamon frowned. "Sinduramon… The Four Holy Beasts…" he muttered. "Are they connected to Imperialdramon…? Could it be…?"
Dukemon turned and looked at Alphamon with a raised eyebrow. "…You think that they're having talks over our heads."
"It's… a possibility," Alphamon replied, pensive concern in his voice. "It seems like something Imperialdramon might do, doesn't it…?"
"Yeah…" Dukemon admitted.
"And in light of the attack on the World Tree…" Alphamon began, frowning harder.
"They might be having another one. Nearby, maybe…" Dukemon replied. "And DarkKnightmon wants him."
"What would he want with Sir Imperialdramon Paladin Mode?" Butterflymon couldn't help but ask.
"To use him to destroy us," Alphamon said gravely. "In one way or another."
"None of which are good…" Dukemon added, wincing.
Alphamon turned to Butterflymon. "Can you fly?"
The scout nodded.
"Then come with us," he told him. "We need to return to the others. Quickly. We have to intensify our search efforts. We can't let him find Imperialdramon."
"I agree… but Imperialdramon's pretty tough. Tough enough to beat DarkKnightmon if he had to," Dukemon told him.
"Yes, but we can't underestimate DarkKnightmon. If he sees weakness, he'll exploit it. He could use any sort of trick to get the better of Imperialdramon," Alphamon countered.
"You mean like his good heart?" Dukemon asked with a wince.
Alphamon nodded. "His morals… their friendship… Omegamon… I wouldn't put anything past DarkKnightmon anymore."
Dukemon sighed and made to move.
The Lord of the Empty Seat frowned deeply and began to fly into the sky, still using his sword as a beacon for the others to follow. "Come on! We have to hurry. We need to get as many of the Royal Knights on this as possible…"
Alphamon flew through the air and lowered his gaze. "Before it's too late…"
DarkKnightmon, MirageGaogamon, and Omegamon Zwart flew through the night sky. They soared over earthy, rocky terrain, full of crags and outcroppings. Most of the land around the Bakhu Mountain range was like that, as the ground was stony and not very fertile.
They continued flying northwards, towards their destination. Dorbickmon followed through on his intention of staying out of the way and going to a bar. DarkKnightmon didn't mind, as Dorbickmon couldn't fly anyways.
In the distance, they could see the outlines of the mountain range, though only the silhouettes, thanks to one of the moons behind them. It was too dark to see much else, especially at such a distance. They would soon see if Sinduramon was telling the truth, although DarkKnightmon was fairly certain that he had been.
However, after another kilometer, MirageGaogamon suddenly stopped. "DarkKnightmon," he said in a quiet but serious voice.
DarkKnightmon and Omegamon Zwart flew to a stop behind him. "Have you picked up something?" DarkKnightmon asked him.
"The scent of ashes…" MirageGaogamon replied, sniffing.
The three of them looked ahead of them keenly. They weren't able to see Imperialdramon Paladin Mode, but they definitely spotted a large, orange glow in the sky, backed by the stars and mountain peaks.
"There," Omegamon Zwart spoke, pointing to the fiery flicker in the distance.
"Let's move closer. Fly low," DarkKnightmon told them, moving ahead and flying down.
The others followed after him, gliding close to the ground. Their dark forms provided camouflage for them as they soared. After a few minutes, DarkKnightmon landed behind a long, ridge-like outcropping that hid them from view from above. MirageGaogamon and Omegamon Zwart landed nearby and stepped behind the cover.
DarkKnightmon peered around the stony apex of the outcropping and stared into the sky. There, he saw the unmistakeable form of Zhuqiaomon, seeming to fly in place. He was speaking with somebody, but they were too far to hear the words, only the vibrations from Zhuqiaomon's deep voice.
"It's Zhuqiaomon," DarkKnightmon whispered.
"Is there anybody else?" MirageGaogamon asked quietly.
The black knight looked around the land and sky carefully. "The other three Holy Beasts aren't there. However…" DarkKnightmon looked up to see who and what Zhuqiaomon was talking to. There was somebody in front of the holy phoenix. It was too small to make out very well, but a glint of the moonlight upon something metallic on the Digimon's form was all the proof that DarkKnightmon needed. "Imperialdramon's there."
He kept hidden but continued to watch the two in the sky. By Zhuqiaomon's body language and the tone in his echoes, it seemed like they were finishing up their conversation.
Zhuqiaomon nodded at Imperialdramon Paladin Mode and flapped his eight wings, flying above him and circling around. He gave the founder of the Royal Knights a final word and then began to shoot off in the night sky, his fiery form lighting it up like a massive torch.
As the phoenix Digimon passed over them, DarkKnightmon was forced to move back behind the outcropping so that he wasn't illuminated. When Zhuqiaomon had passed, DarkKnightmon looked out again and got ready to act.
"Be careful, Sir," MirageGaogamon told him.
Omegamon Zwart looked out silently.
DarkKnightmon nodded, able to see a white form against the sky more clearly now that the luminous Zhuqiaomon was gone. It was definitely Imperialdramon Paladin Mode. The black knight stepped out from around the stone and took off, into the air.
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode flapped his white wings, beginning to fly through the night sky, initially unaware of the approaching presence.
DarkKnightmon narrowed his eyes and gripped the Twin Spear in his hand as he ascended to attack Imperialdramon.
Imperialdramon sensed a presence from behind him and began to slow down in his flight. As DarkKnightmon closed in on him, Imperialdramon Paladin Mode spun around and whipped his sword downwards. The Omega Blade, a huge, gold and white broadsword as long as his body, swung through the air towards DarkKnightmon. It sung as it descended, but DarkKnightmon raised the Twin Spear in time. As the two weapons clashed in a burst of sparks, the two Digimon pushed hard against the other
They were both forced back in the air. Imperialdramon Paladin Mode took the opportunity to look at his assailant. After a brief look of surprise, Imperialdramon's eyes narrowed. "DarkKnightmon…" he spoke.
"Imperialdramon…" DarkKnightmon responded, looking at the white knight.
"Have you been following me?" the Paladin Mode asked.
"Searching for you," the black knight said, raising his double-headed spear in front of him.
Imperialdramon gritted his teeth. He didn't need to ask why DarkKnightmon was looking for him. "You just won't let it go, will you? This blood-soaked dream of yours…"
"My dream… " DarkKnightmon mused. "Dreams are meaningless if they're not pursued," he countered. "What good are dreams that are suffixed by the words 'maybe one day…'? Without action, they're just pleasant words."
"You're going about this the wrong way!" Imperialdramon Paladin Mode told him. "If you weren't so damn obstinate, all of this could have been avoided! But no, it had to be your way – on your terms…"
"Nobody else listened to me. The other Royal Knights were too blinded by Alphamon and his title to think for themselves. They didn't know what was in the best interest for the Digital World," the dark knight Digimon responded.
"And kidnapping, extortion, and attacking the World Tree is in the best interest of the Digital World?" Imperialdramon challenged.
"A means to an end. Just like this is," DarkKnightmon responded. He prepared himself to fight.
"What happened to you, DarkKnightmon…?" Imperialdramon Paladin Mode muttered. His red eyes hardened with resolve and he gripped the Omega Blade with both hands. "I have a duty to stop you. Don't think you can defeat me just because I haven't been with the others. And don't expect me to go easy on you either."
DarkKnightmon smirked. "This is the turning point, Imperialdramon. For the both of us. For the world."
"Enough," Imperialdramon spoke commandingly. His white, draconic form was backed by the distant moon as he flapped his broad, draconic wings to hover in place. He poised his sword back, narrowed his eyes, and charged.
The Twin Spear began to pulsate with dark energy as DarkKnightmon aimed one tip at Imperialdramon Paladin Mode. "Very well," he said. After those words, a huge column of shadows surged from his spear towards Imperialdramon.
Even though they were harder to see at night, Imperialdramon Paladin Mode could still make out the torrent of dark matter flooding towards him. With mighty flaps of his wings, he suddenly flew upwards, above the rush of darkness, just skimming the edges of the attack seamlessly as it passed under him. Imperialdramon held the Omega Blade behind him in one hand as he rushed towards DarkKnightmon.
As Imperialdramon closed in on him, DarkKnightmon ceased his attack and allowed the shadows to fizzle out. He flipped the Twin Spear around in his hand and prepared to block the incoming attack. Imperialdramon Paladin Mode began to swing his sword forwards, prompting DarkKnightmon to raise his spear in an anticipated defence. However, Imperialdramon stopped the slash during mid swing, and suddenly lashed forwards with his left hand, catching DarkKnightmon off guard.
"Splendor Blade!" Imperialdramon shouted in tandem with his punch. The golden claws of his gauntlets lit up in the dark, dazzling DarkKnightmon's vision, before the jagged talons connected with DarkKnightmon's helmet.
DarkKnightmon grunted with pain as his head jerked back sharply and awkwardly. He was thrown violently backwards in the air, but not before lashing his pole arm out in a horizontal swing. The Twin Spear sliced across Imperialdramon's torso, cutting neatly along the soft, leathery fabric covering the scales of his abdomen. The tip of the spear drew a few drops of blood, but the cut wasn't very deep.
Imperialdramon winced fleetingly and, this time, followed through with a slash from his sword. He raced after DarkKnightmon and lashed the Omega Blade down diagonally, which impacted his breastplate with incredible weight, managing to leave a large, narrow dent and a small gash within it. The impact was strong enough to bash DarkKnightmon downwards He pulled the sword along the armour neatly, drawing a few sparks and a shrill scraping noise as he withdrew the broadsword. Imperialdramon reared his wings back as he looped the blade around, diving down for another vertical slash.
This time, however, DarkKnightmon was ready for the aggressive, powerful attack. He just managed to dart to the right so that the swing missed him completely. He lashed out as Imperialdramon passed him and slashed the Twin Spear across Imperialdramon Paladin Mode's left wing before ramming into him with the crescent shoulder blade on his left arm.
Imperialdramon growled as the concave body slammed into his form and pushed him back through the air. He got ready to counterattack, but DarkKnightmon swung his arm out and forced the founder of the Royal Knights to the side. DarkKnightmon passed by him and turned around, having reversed the positions they had started the fight in.
The white knight swung around quickly, opening up the dragon head on his chest, which started to brim with energy. "So you're making me face the moon so the light makes you harder to see…" Imperialdramon Paladin Mode said to him.
"Very astute," DarkKnightmon told him, spinning the Twin Spear around in his hand. He didn't make the pain from the gash in his armour evident. "I much prefer having you as an ally than an enemy."
"Same to you…" Imperialdramon said bitterly. He rushed forwards with his sword, closing the distance on DarkKnightmon. The opened port within his chest armour suddenly began to surge and bristle with black lightning. "Hyper Prominence!"
A thick, crackling stream of the dark electricity tore through the air and descended on DarkKnightmon. The black knight tried to avoid it, but the blast was too wide, and the lightning coursed through his armoured form.
DarkKnightmon released a restrained shout of pain as his muscles trembled and contracted. Despite the agony of the attack, he managed to raise his Twin Spear and fire a shot off from it.
Imperialdramon narrowed his eyes at the oncoming rush of darkness and reared his sword over his head. He slashed down right as the blast approached him, cutting the beam of shadows down the middle. The holy knight snarled as he held against the attack, but managed to completely part it after five seconds.
When the shadows faded, Imperialdramon Paladin Mode looked up again. To his surprise, DarkKnightmon was nowhere to be found.
He sneered to himself and looked around warily, doing his best to cover every axis. He gripped the Omega Blade readily, and prepared his claws and cannon just in case.
Suddenly, a cut opened up on the dragon knight's muscular tail, spurting out a bit of blood and sending an intense stinging pain shooting up the appendage.
"Air Slicer!" a voice echoed from nearby.
Imperialdramon grunted in pain and swung around, slashing his blade. However, there was nobody behind him and he only succeeded in cleaving the night air. As he did that, another slice cut across the backs of his wings agonizingly.
"Grah!" Imperialdramon Paladin Mode shouted out, spinning around and firing another strong Hyper Prominence blast from his chest, sending black lightning shooting through the sky.
"Spear Needle!" a voice said from below.
A short figure lunged through the air with amazing speed and planted the two lances on his arms into Imperialdramon's covered back before jumping off with a kick.
The white armoured dragon arched his back with pain but managed to retaliate with anger. He garbled out the attack name 'Splendor Blade' and cuffed his claws down SkullKnightmon's lower body, tearing the armour of his leg.
"So he split into his component parts," he thought to himself with a pained wince. "That's why it seems like he's everywhere at once. Their teamwork is-!"
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode whirled around upon seeing something out of the corner of his eye, above him and to his side.
"Aqua Rage!" DeadlyAxemon roared, descending towards him and releasing a flood of a brightly coloured liquid from his mouth.
As the downpour of liquid fell towards him Imperialdramon lashed out his sword and darted to the left, slashing the attack away. He successfully avoided the attack, but some of the liquid that landed on his sword attempted to eat away at the durable metal with an audible hiss.
He made a lunge for the speedy DeadlyAxemon, knowing he had trouble turning sharply and would be forced to fall near the dragon knight. Imperialdramon watch the dark blur approach and he coiled his sword back and made ready to cleave him out of the air. However, he hesitated when he felt a presence behind him.
"Breast-eye Wink!" SkullKnightmon spoke, shooting up from the ground towards Imperialdramon. The two red eyes on the armour of his chest suddenly launched crimson beams, which burned into Paladin Mode's back.
Despite his smoking back, Imperialdramon spun around and drove the Omega Blade into SkullKnightmon's side, bashing him aside violently. He then continued spinning at for a full rotation, hoping to catch DeadlyAxemon with his sword as well.
However, DeadlyAxemon closed in on him too quickly. "Aqua Rage!" he announced again, swiftly spewing the corrosive liquid onto Imperialdramon Paladin Mode's chest. The dragon snarled as the solution burned and stung his form, causing him to writhe a bit and recoil.
"Aqua Regia!" DeadlyAxemon followed up. DeadlyAxemon's body suddenly morphed into a liquid in mid air. His aqueous form splattered onto Imperialdramon's body in a sticky, viscous state, causing the dragon knight to have trouble moving. It was difficult to get DeadlyAxemon off of him.
"Rrgh. Damn it," Imperialdramon Paladin Mode swore with annoyance as he tried to remove the thick, consuming liquid from himself.
SkullKnightmon landed on the ground, panting from pain from the last attack. He felt a massive bruise forming under his armour, and perhaps the warm trickle of blood. However, he wasn't going to waste this opportunity. He bounded off the ground again and made a direct path towards Imperialdramon.
"Breast-eye Wink!" SkullKnightmon said, releasing another set of twin beams from his armour.
Imperialdramon hissed as the beams exploded against his legs while he was occupied. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that SkullKnightmon was still coming. Deciding that he had had enough, Imperialdramon Paladin Mode focused his energies on his chest cannon: one of the parts that DeadlyAxemon was covering with his liquefied self.
"Hyper Prominence!" Imperialdramon Paladin Mode announced. The cannon roared with power and unleashed a violent stream of dark electricity into DeadlyAxemon at point blank range.
With a screech of agony, DeadlyAxemon pulled his liquid state away from Imperialdramon and morphed back into his body. He fell to the ground with a crash. His form shuddered and writhed on the ground and his data flickered dangerously.
"DeadlyAxemon!" SkullKnightmon called out with concern. He narrowed his eyes and continued his speedy charge.
However, Imperialdramon Paladin Mode was ready for him. He whirled his body around, through the smoke that cloaked him, and reared his foot back. "Imperial Kick!" he shouted, whipping his leg around and cracking his boot across SkullKnightmon's face with incredible strength.
SkullKnightmon gasped and fell to the rocky ground like a meteor. His body hit the ground in a burst of dirt.
Imperialdramon panted a bit and took the moment of reprieve to recover and decide his next move.
As he did that, SkullKnightmon pulled himself to his feet and staggered over to his partner, who was in rough shape.
"Are you alright?" SkullKnightmon asked, looking down at DeadlyAxemon, who lay on the ground and groaned.
"I'll live…" he answered, his voice hoarse. His data continued to flicker.
"He's caught on to our tactics. It's time we digixrosed to compose ourselves," SkullKnightmon advised him, though also knowing that DeadlyAxemon might not survive another attack like that last one, and wanting to prevent losing him.
DeadlyAxemon snarled and forced himself to stand to his feet. "Yeah… Let's go DarkKnightmon… Finish him with brute force."
SkullKnightmon nodded and began to glow with light, as did DeadlyAxemon. "DigiXros!"
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode turned to look at the sudden light illuminating the darkness from below. He watched as the two partners became DarkKnightmon again and knew that he had to act. As the port within the dragon head on his armour breathed residual strands of electricity, a massive cannon emerged from the opening. Imperialdramon gripped the huge cannon steadily and aimed it at DarkKnightmon.
DarkKnightmon looked up and saw that the cannon pointed at him was already building up a dark power within it. He narrowed his eyes and flew into the air, prompting Imperialdramon Paladin Mode to pivot and follow his movements with his aim. The dragon made sure not to lose him in the dark of the night.
DarkKnightmon sped up, causing the white knight to begin to lead him. The black knight flew at a curve, bending through the air.
Imperialdramon felt that his cannon was ready to fire a full blast. He gripped the handles in his hands and looked at DarkKnightmon with a fine gaze. "Giga De-"
"Wait!" DarkKnightmon beseeched him, suddenly stopping between Imperialdramon Paladin Mode and the mountain range.
Caught off guard by this, Imperialdramon halted his action temporarily, against his better judgment. He raised his eye ridge curiously but sceptically, eyeing DarkKnightmon.
"You don't want to do that, Imperialdramon…" DarkKnightmon advised.
Imperialdramon eyed him suspiciously. "What?"
"Bakhu Mountain is right behind me," the dark knight informed him. "If you fire that, you'll cause an avalanche, if not completely obliterate the mountain. The town of Bakhu that's built alongside the mountain will be crushed. You wouldn't want to be the cause of that."
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode glared at him. "Damn it. He's right… I can't fire at him while he's between me and that mountain, and he knows that," he thought to himself. He hesitated retracting the cannon, not wanting to show that he was backing down, but he decided that he had no choice. "I'll have to fight him hand-to-hand."
The founder of the Royal Knights flapped his sore wings and tore through the dark sky towards DarkKnightmon. DarkKnightmon saw this and smiled calmly. He began to spin the Twin Spear around in his hands tempestuously. Spirals of darkness began to shoot out from the rapid whirling of the lance. Soon, a full funnel of shadows had formed and it soared through the air towards Imperialdramon Paladin Mode. "Treason Vortex!"
"Hyper Prominence!" Imperialdramon countered, releasing a powerful surge of black lightning bolts towards the dark, violet cyclone.
The crackling, staggered strands of electricity slammed into the whirlwind en masse. The two forces pounded into each other with nearly equal force. Shadows and lightning exploded outwards in a giant explosion that ripped up rock and dust on the ground below.
Not letting DarkKnightmon use the cover of the explosion this time, Imperialdramon Paladin Mode raced forwards. He shot through the residual darkness of the blast and made a direct route for the former Royal Knight. DarkKnightmon saw Imperialdramon diving towards him. He narrowed his eyes coldly and charged him straight back.
"Twin Spear!" DarkKnightmon shouted, thrusting his lance towards Imperialdramon Paladin Mode as they closed in on one another.
"Omega Blade!" Imperialdramon Paladin Mode retorted, stabbing his broadsword forwards.
Both blades struck true, the tips of each weapon digging into the other's armour. The sharp end of the Twin Spear pierced into the cheek of the armoured dragon head of Imperialdramon's breastplate, sending fractures forming through the white metal as the pole arm dug deeper and perforated his outer scales. Meanwhile, Imperialdramon Paladin Mode's Omega Blade cut through DarkKnightmon's armour right between his armoured collar and the crest on his chest, slicing across his clavicle.
Both warriors grimaced with pain and swiftly retracted their blades from one another to counterattack, drawing blood from the wounds in the process.
"Don't think that you can beat a Mega III, DarkKnightmon! Splendor Blade!" Imperialdramon Paladin Mode called out, driving his left claws into DarkKnightmon's chest.
DarkKnightmon's back arched and the breath left his lungs, but he fought through the pain enough to strike back. He drove his spiked knee into Imperialdramon Paladin Mode's bleeding gut, exacerbating the fresh wound.
Imperialdramon let out a sharp gurgle of pain, but responded with a solid uppercut across DarkKnightmon's face.
Grunting and feeling blood spurt into the inside of his visor, DarkKnightmon responded to the brutal melee they found themselves in. "Shoulder Blade!" he whispered in an adrenaline-fueled state. He lashed his left arm out and slashed the crescent blade on his shoulder into Imperialdramon Paladin Mode's form. He then spun around, his cape flipping up and somewhat obstructing the dragon's vision as he whirled around and drove the thick, metal base of the Twin Spear across Imperialdramon's face.
Imperialdramon growled and fell to the side, although he flapped his wings vigorously to keep himself in the air. He spat out a mouthful of blood and snarled at his foe. "DarkKnightmon…" His crimson eyes gleamed with anger and he rushed DarkKnightmon, slashing his sword down. "You can't win!"
DarkKnightmon sneered and struggled to bring his pole arm up in time, just narrowly blocking the deadly strike. The sword rebounded off and DarkKnightmon lashed his arm outwards, swinging the Twin Spear at Imperialdramon at a wide, sweeping arc.
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode recovered quickly, blocking the spear with the flat side of his blade. He then cut downwards, ripping the tip of the holy blade through DarkKnightmon's golden crest and further down through the armour, cutting a gash through the left 'eye' of the skull motif.
Pain seared his chest as the tip of the sword cut through skin and sent fragments of metal flying out. However, it failed to strike deep thanks to his armour's thick protection. DarkKnightmon's arm had been forced down by the attack, but that was all. It provided him with an opportunity to strike back. He angled the Twin Spear and thrust it towards Imperialdramon's chest.
Imperialdramon gritted his teeth and grabbed the shaft of the Twin Spear with his left hand, halting the impending stab before it hit his armour. In his right hand, he continued to hold the Omega Blade, which was still embedded in DarkKnightmon's armour. He contemplated running DarkKnightmon through with his sword then and there.
However, a sly gleam flashed in DarkKnightmon's cold eyes. The Twin Spear surged with dark energy, which washed over Imperialdramon Paladin Mode's arm, wing, and half of his body. The dragon knight let out a pained cry as he was forced back through the air, spinning around slightly from the concussion of the blast. But even as the shadows burned at his form, he swung around and slapped his large, blue tail across DarkKnightmon's face, causing the dark knight's head to jerk to the side. He followed up by rearing his sword arm way back and then hurling it forwards at a horizontal axis.
DarkKnightmon's eyes widened as he saw the Omega Blade gleam in the moonlight as it sliced through the air towards him. He raised the blade on his left arm upwards to block the attack, only just nearly catching the sword inside the concave metal. However, the extreme might of the attack sent him hurdling through the air. He tried to strike out with the Twin Spear, but Imperialdramon Paladin Mode kicked it aside with a high, mid-air kick.
The Twin Spear nearly flew out of DarkKnightmon's grasp, but he was just able to hold onto it. However, his arm was forced away from his body, and he was completely exposed when Imperialdramon Paladin Mode lunged at him again.
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode flapped his pained wings strongly, flying so that his body was right over DarkKnightmon as they flew through the air. He flipped the Omega Blade over in his hands, preparing to stab it down in an overhand grip. At the same time, the chipped dragon head on his chest opened its maw up and began to brim with raging energy.
DarkKnightmon saw the two impending attacks before him. He was unable to do anything to defend himself from them.
Imperialdramon grunted and began to stab downwards while releasing the Hyper Prominence blast from his chest.
"Garuru Cannon!" a voice sounded out.
A bright, blue light suddenly illuminated the darkness to Imperialdramon's side. He halted his attack in response to the voice, the radiance, and the growing hissing sound to his right. He looked over just in time to see an orb of blue energy tear through the darkness and collide with him.
"Gragh!" Imperialdramon Paladin Mode sputtered as the sphere slammed into him and detonated in a massive burst of ice and power.
The blue explosion lit up the night sky and sent both Imperialdramon Paladin Mode and DarkKnightmon hurdling apart, although Imperialdramon took the brunt of the explosion.
As he was rocked by the blast, the Omega Blade slipped from his frigid fingers. Despite the freezing numbness in the right side he did his best to fly with just his left wing, attempting to fly after the sword and catch it in time.
However, he felt something round, cold, and metal press right against his back. His eyes narrowed with realisation.
"Garuru Cannon," the voice spoke from behind him.
The cannon exploded with power at point blank range. The glowing discharge of energy exploded against Imperialdramon Paladin Mode's back in a severe, dominating blast of power. The ice coated his back and the explosion sent him crashing to the rocky ground below. Imperialdramon hit the ground with his upper body, landing face down on the craggy terrain. The Omega Blade fell and clattered to the ground nearby.
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode grimaced and weakly lifted his head up. He got to his hands and knees, trying to push himself up. As he began to rise, he glanced over his shoulder, into the night sky. He saw a familiar, black armoured figure hovering above him.
"O…mega…mon…" he murmured.
Omegamon Zwart looked down at him with cold, unreadable, crimson eyes. He raised his Garuru Arm.
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode grimaced and reached his bloodied, partially frozen arm out, towards the Omega Blade. His fingers neared the sword's hilt…
"Garuru Cannon," Omegamon Zwart spoke again, launching a high powered shot from his cannon arm.
The burst of energy slammed into Imperialdramon Paladin Mode's back, crushing him into the ground decisively. The entire back side of his form was frozen by the attack.
Despite the numb, freezing pain throughout his body, Imperialdramon continued to resist. He flexed his bloodied, white wings and shattered the coating of ice that covered them. After a quick glance to the side, he saw that the Omega Blade was covered by many inches of ice and pinned to the ground. He snarled deeply and began to push himself up on trembling arms stubbornly.
He looked up and locked eyes with Omegamon Zwart. "Ome… Omegamon… It's… me…" he tried to reason, even with his rapidly declining strength.
Omegamon Zwart's red eyes gleamed with cold fury. "I know." He aimed the cannon at Imperialdramon Paladin Mode once again. Before he fired, he stared deeply into the dragon knight's eyes. "That's why…" he whispered.
His ebony features flashed with blue as he fired a new sphere of ice from his cannon.
Imperialdramon made a final, determined stand. Despite the layers of ice coating his body, he lunged for the Omega Blade and stabbed his glowing claws through the ice, shattering it. He managed to grab hold of the sword, which began to glow…
But then the attack impacted with his body and exploded. He was crushed into the ground, forming another deep crater beside the previous one.
However, Omegamon Zwart didn't let up. He fired another blast into Imperialdramon, and then another. Explosion after explosion hammered and crushed Imperialdramon Paladin Mode's body. Omegamon was originally a Mega II, but as Omegamon Zwart, augmented by the powers of darkness, his power almost reached that of Imperialdramon Paladin Mode's. Imperialdramon felt the full strength of this power in every agonizing blast. Each new explosion of power and ice drove him deeper and deeper. Each layer of ice over him shattered before forming anew with the next one.
Omegamon Zwart continued the merciless attack, blasting continuously for ten more seconds before finally lowering his cannon.
The frosty breath, dust, and smoke wafted up from the bottom of the ice-encrusted crater. Imperialdramon Paladin Mode lay at the bottom, unmoving.
Omegamon Zwart stared at him wordlessly for a few moments. He then descended and landed at the edge of the impact crater, peering into it to see if he needed to hit him with another attack. He didn't. Imperialdramon was unconscious and completely still.
DarkKnightmon flew over and landed beside Omegamon Zwart with an icy, stern gaze. "That was unnecessary, Omegamon Zwart."
"What's unnecessary is dueling him along when MirageGaogamon and I were here," Omegamon Zwart countered. "You were losing, so I hit him when he wasn't expecting it."
"That's arguable…" DarkKnightmon responded. He turned and stepped into the hole, dotted with tiny ice crystals. The dark knight stood over the body of Imperialdramon Paladin Mode and watched as the ice along his winged back began to melt and fracture. "However… I suppose I let my sentimentality get the better of me. The job is done, and that's what matters."
He bent down and picked Imperialdramon Paladin Mode's heavy form up, lugging him over the shoulder that wasn't wounded.
MirageGaogamon walked over. "DarkKnightmon… Are you alright?" he asked, noticing the various rends in his armour.
"Yes… None of the cuts are very deep. I can't let them slow me down," DarkKnightmon replied, holding Imperialdramon with one hand, and his Twin Spear with the other. He was downplaying the actual pain that he felt, as well as the severity of some of the wounds that he had received, but they weren't able to tell by the tone of his voice.
"You managed to beat Sir Imperialdramon…" MirageGaogamon said, frowning a little. "What now?"
"Now, I need you to go and fetch Dorbickmon along with the equipment that he has with him," the dark knight told him.
MirageGaogamon nodded dutifully.
"And also…" DarkKnightmon began ominously. "Gather our army of mercenaries."
"Sir…" MirageGaogamon responded.
"So… it's time," Omegamon Zwart spoke, his blood red eyes staring into DarkKnightmon's. After a moment, his eyes trailed over to Imperialdramon thoughtfully.
DarkKnightmon closed his eyes. "Yes…" he replied in dark repose. "We advance on the World Tree tonight. We'll attack at first light and subjugate through force whoever tries to resist. By this time tomorrow, the myth of the Royal Knights will be over and I will be free to start my own Order. And then… then finally… everything will change."
DarkKnightmon looked over his shoulder at the unconscious Imperialdramon Paladin Mode resting on it.
"Isn't that right, Imperialdramon?"