Chapter 52: High Purity
Outside the temple, many of the Digimon wee cheering as Blaze, Willis and their 'prisoners' walked past to an open area. 'What exactly is coming?' Steph inquired. 'That' Blaze answered and pointed to a bright speck. It was approaching at incredible speed. 'What the hell is that?' Dom wondered. The speck got closer, revealing a black, heavily armoured jet. In mere seconds, it grew larger to reveal a familiar face. 'Drakath?!' they cried. It was Drakath, but he looked much bigger in size, a brilliant white flame was following him until he was almost directly above them. He landed softly with a clunk from each nail. 'Word travels fast. It is nice that my nephew was able to get a message out so fast' Drakath mused. 'Your nephew?' Demi inquired. 'Yes, Blaze of course' Drakath replied oddly. 'Wow, the extent of your family tree is simply staggering' Dom said sarcastically. 'More than you know. Now, I am here to take you to the Island of Purity. So all aboard' Drakath chanted. All of them were enclosed in a bright white light issuing from the cannon on his back. They were drawn into an odd room. No doors, but many windows. 'You are all in my cannon, now prepare for transit' Drakath warned. The room rumbled as Drakath rose from the ground and took off. A small dark stream was following from a distance.
Another ruined city, but this was different. Digimon were littered about the area. None of them was able to move, they were bound by thick crimson mist. In the centre of the ruin, was Oblivimon. His misty form was more diminished, as it snaked throughout the city. In his hand was a Monzaemon, which he regarded curiously. 'Man, please don't hurt me' it begged. Oblivimon tossed it onto its stomach, revealing the zip on the back. From his hand, the mist seeped into a crack in the zip. The Monzaemon flailed helplessly, but then stilled. The mist retreated, with it a glowing sphere. Oblivimon looked at it, before the core was dissolved into the mist. The Monzaemon was dropped to the ground, but it began to get up. Its eyes glew red; and it was coated with the same red aura. 'Bring more my Core Snatcher' Oblivimon intoned. The Monzaemon sluggishly stumbled about, until it got its paws on a Garbagemon. The creature wriggled as Monzaemon opened its mouth, connecting it with the Garbagemon's. It too stopped moving as a small pink sphere was drawn from it, before it dropped into the blanket of mist and was dissolved. The Garbagemon too took on the red glowing eyes, and it went to search for a victim.
The trip was short lived as Drakath landed on rough rocky ground. A similar beam of light issued forth and the passengers were released. Before them stood a monolithic mound. It was a large mountain, seemingly tunneled out as many windows were seen cut into the rock. A tremendous stone door guarded the way. The symbol on it was a heart enclosed by two wings. 'At my present size I cannot join you as I am, give me a moment' Drakath stated. He glew brightly and his shape compacted and changed, dimming to reveal Fighter Mode. 'I always hated this form' Drakath said with disdain. 'Whatever the case, we have a job to do' Steph reminded. 'Indeed, we must move with haste' Blaze commanded.
They began to run towards the door, which opened at will, allowing them passage down a deserted hallway; it was carpeted in clean white with golden symbols. At similar points on the length, there was a statue of a warrior similar to Drakath, except with a tremendous sword. 'This used to be a part of the original server tree of Yggdrasil, before its destruction a long time ago. To represent the purity of the world, it was left floating above what is now the Central Pillar, the very heart of the world' Blaze explained as the run became a steady walk. Jason looked in awe at each statue as they passed. 'Who is the Digimon with the sword? It looks like you Drakath' he stated. 'That is Drakath I, the very first of the Drakath's of Dramonia, and the founder of the Royal Knights' Drakath stated. 'Who are the Royal Knights? I've heard their name, but who were they?' Aban inquired. 'That is a long tale. The Royal Knights were sworn guardians of Yggdrasil, and therefore the world. However, there was a betrayal as two of the knights left the order, spreading dissent between the other knights. It was at this time that Alphamon appeared. He was forced to make a bone wrenching decision; he dissolved the knights, causing them to go their separate ways. You have met Examon already. He protects the city of Dramonia. The Royal Knight Magnamon became the guardian of the Islands of DEeleven, a tradition my nephew continues. Omnimon himself vanished without a trace, no one is aware of where he is now. The knights are rarely seen, despite glimpses when they defend their territory. The Demon Lords themselves dissolved, as were the Olympus Twelve. All the organizations of the Digital World crumpled over time as Digimon grew independent of their guardians and rulers' Drakath explained as they crossed the long hall. 'Who were the betrayers?' Keras inquired. 'No one knows. Their names have been erased from any tome pertaining to the knights, and I doubt pictures of them remain. The Royal Knights at some times can be extremely vindictive' Blaze replied.
At the end of the hall was a spiral staircase, which led them up to the next hall. Along the length of this hall were statues of a tall and streamlined knight, the carpet was black with golden symbols. 'This is Alphamon, known as the Lord of the Empty Seat'. He is destined to rule the knights, but only in times of peril. Omnimon took the mantle whilst Alphamon was away' Drakath explained as they moved through the hall to the second spiral staircase. They ascended it to the next long hallway, which possessed statues of a tall Digimon with a dragon's head and a wolf's head as hands. The carpet was white with helixes of blue and red. 'That is Omnimon, a DNA Digimon of the noble warrior WarGreymon and the noble machine MetalGarurumon. He is a powerful Digimon, but sadly not powerful enough to combat Oblivimon' Drakath said sadly. They made it to the next spiral staircase. 'This might take a while' Kev stated with hints of sarcasm.
Oblivimon was observing the army he had created. Rows of Digimon stood at attention; each with glowing red eyes. 'I feel somehow disgusted by this, but at the same time possess incredible amounts of pride' Oblivimon noted as he observed his work. 'It must be Dystopia. Oh dear, old habits do die hard don't they Dystopia? You birthed me into the world to destroy it. Then you assumed you could absorb my energy to do it all over again next week; how naïve' Oblivimon smugly soliloquized. Streams of crimson mist began pouring in from one of the directions, trapped within it was a wriggling Digimon, it was a Gazimon. 'Hmmm, it appears that you managed to escape my soldiers and my mist, even for a short while. I'd congratulate you by letting you live, but there is no time for such fallacies' he added smugly before extracting the creature's core and tossing it to the ground. He looked over the mentally dead army. Unease was swirling within him, he could feel something. 'Purity, at the Central Pillar' he recited and turned his head to that direction. If he had a mouth, he would smile. 'Conquer the surrounding areas and steal any cores you can' he ordered and vanished.
They had made it to the thirteenth floor. The carpet in this hall was torn up and badly damaged. Every statue that was there had been smashed beyond recognition. The group uneasily passed the rubble. Some has basic shape, but not enough to be definite. The spiral staircase was well met. The fourteenth floor held the same appeared of utter desolation. This hall seemed a lot more damaged than the one before. There were even large scratches in the stone wall. 'What was that about the knights being vindictive?' Demi inquired uncertainly. Finally, the final spiral staircase was met at the end. Everyone but Drakath, Blaze, Willis, Demi and BK were crawling up the stairs. 'Damn, how did those knights do it? They must've had calf muscles like a Hungarian shot putter' Naomi moaned as they climbed. 'That is a pretty accurate assumption' Willis said nonchalantly.
The final landing was pretty well kept. It was a temple like design, in a large circular shape. On the circular wall were large banners with images of each knight, minus two utterly torn ones. 'This is the hall of Purity. You see, each knight actually possessed the crests before they were born into the power of the Digi-eggs. Omnimon held Courage. UlforceVeedramon held Friendship. Crusadermon held Love, an odd choice because he was a flamboyant tool. Dynasmon held Sincerity. Knowledge was held by Duftmon. Reliability by Craniamon. Hope by Gallantmon. Light by Imperialdramon Paladin Mode. Examon held Kindness. Miracles by Magnamon. Destiny by Sleipmon. Alphamon held no crest, but it is assumed that Purity was his. It was said that the betrayers had an unknown crest, what it actually was no one knows. Sufficed to say that there are still thirteen crests in all, as the last one was unofficial' Drakath explained. 'I see, but we need Purity now, how do we call it?' Steph demanded. 'You must offer the power of the other crests to it. Stand within a circle and call the name of the crest you were granted' Drakath explained. 'More flashy uselessness' Vixen mumbled as the humans, plus Demi and BK assembled in a circle. Jason opposite Kevin, Charlie opposite Naomi, Aban opposite Dom, Drake opposite Steph, Demi opposite BK, but no one was opposite Lydia, leaving a gap. In their hands they held the Digi-eggs they were given. 'Begin' Drakath cried. 'Courage! Friendship!' Jason/Kev cried, raising their Digi-eggs. 'Love! Sincerity!' Charlie/Naomi added, also raising their Digi-eggs. 'Knowledge! Reliability!' Aban/Dom continued, repeating said raise. 'Hope! Kindness!' Steph/Drake continued as well. 'Light!' Lydia cried alone. 'Miracles! Destiny!' Demi/BK finished. Each eggs glew with their own colours and launched beams of light that connected in the middle. Something appeared to be forming, but it remained unfocused. 'There's something missing' Willis cried. 'The unknown crest' Blaze realized and looked at Drakath. 'Darkness' a cold voice cried from the doorway. A jet of blackness flew across the hall and connected opposite Lydia. There was a tremendous flash and where they had all connected was a glowing blue crystal. It was in the shape of an egg, and etched onto it was the symbol on the door, the Crest of Purity. They all turned to find who answered their call.
Alex was holding in his hand a sickly looking egg, slightly resembling a black cocoon. On the sphere was a symbol of a half closed eye. Shadow was standing by his side. Despite looking a bit pale, Alex seemed well. 'Alex' they all hissed. 'Chill dudes, I didn't come here for a fight' Alex cautioned. 'You don't expect one after all the crap you've put us through!?' Charlie hissed. 'Of course I do, but more important occurrences here are at large than petty hatreds. The Digi-egg of Purity has been summoned, but we must leave with it before Oblivimon comes' Alex ordered. 'Why should we believe you?' Gaomon snarled. 'Oblivimon can sense the egg a million miles away fool. He is coming as we speak to claim the prize' Shadow countered. 'What a clever boy you are' Oblivimon stated as he appeared in the room. Before him was the egg, which his crimson mists snaked towards. Demi reacted quickly, snatching the egg and running from the room down the stairs, with BK in hot pursuit. Oblivimon bellowed in rage, but was blocked off by Willis and Blaze. 'GO, WE'LL HOLD HIM OFF. MAGNA BLASTER!' Blaze cried, firing blasts of golden energy that cut through the mist, but pinged off the armour. 'RAPID FIRE!' Willis added, launching missiles that dissolved in the mist. 'GO!' Drakath cried and they ran down the stairs.
Demi and BK were well ahead of the group, already near the other end of the hall. There was a large explosion from above and from a window they could clearly see Blaze and Willis being blasted out of the room and falling fast. This only quickened their pace. One landing, two, three, five, seven, thirteen and finally fourteen. The doors were ruined as they ran out. Drakath began to transform into his Dragon Mode. Above, hideous streams of mist snaked out the opening and covering the tower. There was weak groaning as Blaze and Willis dragged themselves towards the group; they were badly damaged. 'Hurry' Steph cried to Drakath. 'Come on!' Drakath ordered after he changed and they were drawn into the cannon again. Drakath spared no effort in taking off as the whole island was consumed in the crimson mist. 'So it begins' Alex stated. 'What begins?' Lydia inquired. 'The Crimson Wars' Alex replied.
