Chapter 31 – Despair
Matt, like his friends, was speechless by the news. He had to swallow heavily and looked at Hackmon again. He had informed everyone in Izzy's study of Omnimon's abduction. Also, the four-footed dragon announced that he was supposed to be Meiko's partner, but could not be through Meicoomon. Wanyamon himself growled furiously.
"Great… This is just great," the in-training digimon raved: "Now we have also lost the best fighting power and our trump card against King Drasil and his Royal Knights... What's next?!"
"Wanyamon..." Sera said depressed.
"What is it?!"
"You don't help us," Shin replied tensely.
"We know what happened. Don't you think we're making accusations?!" Matt yelled at him.
Wanyamon remained silent and looked away. Why did he have to be here? He would much rather continue his search for Akira.
"Okay, okay... Don't shout at me because your partner has been kidnapped," Wanyamon growled.
"What are we doing now?" asked Sora uncertainly.
"I don't know," Mimi sighed.
"We need to find out where Agumon, Gabumon and Akira are right now," Tentomon said, starting to think.
"And where should we look for them? We have no idea where they are," Joe said depressed.
"Probably in the digital world," Gomamon replied.
"What makes you so sure, Gomamon?" was Armadillomon's question.
"It is most likely." T.K. replied.
"Exactly!" Patamon agreed.
"And where exactly?" asked Ken.
"We don't know," Kari said, depressed.
"But we will find them," Gatomon encouraged the DigiDestined.
"But there's still a problem," Veemon said thoughtfully.
"And this problem is?" asked Davis.
"We would have to fight Alphamon and the enemy Royal Knights," Hackmon said.
"How many are there?" was Meiko's question.
"In addition to Alphamon, we would have... Crusadermon, UlforceVeedramon, Craniamon and Gankoomon... I don't know if Examon or Duftmon are with them..." the four-footed dragon sighed.
"So at least five Royal Knights," Tai said depressed.
He wanted to free Omnimon and Akira from King Drasil's clutches as soon as possible. But he couldn't do anything.
"When it comes up... seven," Yolei replied, swallowing heavily.
"But on our side we still have Gallantmon and Sleipmon..." said Cody optimistically.
Wanyamon looked at the boy angrily.
"And Dynasmon..." the youngest among them added.
"Just three," Wormmon sighed.
"But we don't know if Examon and Duftmon are on King Drasil's side," Biyomon said.
"Despite this... Knowing that we are dealing with five Royal Knights scares me," Palmon nervously looked at her partner, who was rather pale in her face.
"So the question is how many ultimate-level Digimon we need to defeat a Royal Knight," Hawkmon flapped with his wings.
"I guess at least four," Izzy said, closing his eyes.
"Three to five... depending on who you are dealing with. For example, if we want to defeat Craniamon, we would need Digimon that have strong attacks. Craniamon himself is focused on defence," Hackmon said.
"And what about the others?" asked Tai.
"UlforceVeedramon is very fast. Gankoomon can destroy a rock with a single blow. Crusadermon always attacks from blind spots. And Alphamon can travel back in time..." the four-footed dragon continued.
"What about Examon and Duftmon?" was Yolei's question before biting her lower lip.
"Examon has a tremendous destructive power." Wanyamon said: "Everything he wants to destroy, he can destroy... Duftmon's strategies almost never fail..."
"If the two are on King Drasil's side, then we really have a problem," Joe said thoughtfully.
"To what extent?" asked Gomamon.
"Because then more than half of the Royal Knights are on King Drasil's side," Shin sighed, gently stroking Sera over her right upper arm, noting that she was getting more and more tense.
Akira's older sister looked at Mr. Kawa tacitly before leaning on him.
"I'm worried about Akira," Sera whispered depressed.
"I know... But how can we..." he broke off and looked to the ground.
"We can at least be glad that Gallantmon and Sleipmon are on our side," Tentomon said.
"Definitely!" Palmon agreed.
"But we only have three Royal Knights right now... against what, seven?" said Kari.
"That's what it looks like," Cody said.
"And six ultimate-level Digimon and four perfect-level Digimon," Wormmon added.
"So our chances are not that bad!" cried Armadillomon.
"Our chances are bad," Matt said, contradicting: "How strong are these Royal Knights? Should I remind you that Alphamon had defeated all but Omnimon in the fight against Raguelmon?!"
"Matt... Calm down... There's no point in getting upset," Sora said.
"She's right, Matt... You have to calm down," Ken said, breathing deeply: "If you don't calm down, you can't have a clear thought."
"I think there's someone who's won chess a lot," Davis smiled, pulling him up.
"We're not up for jokes right now, Davis," Patamon said dryly.
"Thank you, Patamon..." replied T.K.: "That's what I wanted to say."
"Are we not going to take a sly turn now?" asked Mimi.
"Yes," Hawkmon replied.
"So... Summarized. Too many Royal Knights are working for King Drasil, we still don't know where Omnimon and Akira are... and there would be another problem." Gatomon said to Veemon.
"He can't digivolve normally anymore," Biyomon sighed.
"Why? I keep wondering!" Veemon exclaimed angrily, growling softly: "Why can I only do armour-digivolution. They are, by the way, weaker than an adult-level Digimon!"
"Hm... Maybe you're collecting energy... for a warp digivolution to the ultimate-level.", Izzy suspected: "That should be the reason why you can no longer digivolve normally."
"Are you sure?" the blue dragon said uncertainly.
"It's just a guess," the redhead pondered.
"Is... it's my fault?" asked Meiko suddenly.
"What?!" Tai said, terrified.
"Is it my fault because of the crisis?"
"Meiko!" Hackmon exclaimed angrily: "What did you tell me?! I shouldn't blame myself too much! But you're doing exactly the same thing right now!"
"Don't think about it," her boyfriend admonished her.
"Sorry..." she replied, "I think it's because of me that we're in such a situation..."
"Veemon can't digivolve normally," Davis said depressed, "And we're even more useless than you..."
"Davis!" Tai stood up and stood in front of him: "That doesn't help!"
His figure seemed somehow threatening.
"Right. The situation is also very close to me..." the red-brown-haired man raved: "Sorry, Meiko."
"It's okay... I just always tend to blame myself," the black-haired woman replied.
"Stop it, you two!" growled Veemon.
"I... I just hope Omnimon and Akira are doing well," Meiko said.
"Everyone here hopes so," Hackmon said.
The DigiDestined and their partner talked for a while until they all separated. Tai, Meiko, Hackmon, Kari and Gatomon went together to the Yagamis' apartment. As the group crossed a street, the cat-digimon's gaze fell on Kari, who quietly walked behind her brother and Meiko. Kari watched the two of them laughing slightly. She bit her lower lip and pointed her eyes to the ground.
"Kari?" asked Gatomon, who had noticed something was wrong with her.
"Why?" her gaze turned to the cat digimon.
"Are you doing well?"
"I don't understand... Why do Tai and Meiko talk so relaxed with each other when he said we should kill Meicoomon. I don't understand how Meiko could forgive him."
"I think Meiko has long forgiven him."
"What makes you so safe?"
"She knew that Meicoomon was only suffering... That is why she wished to be redeemed from her suffering. She didn't care how it happened."
"Maybe you're right."
"I'm right," Gatomon smiled.
"But why does she forgive Hackmon or Jesmon? He was the one who used this attack." she said thoughtfully as her eyes moved back to Tai.
She sighed and closed her eyes.
"And something else," said Tai's younger sister: "I don't understand why they fell in love."
"I can't explain that... But they look very happy."
"But how could they fall in love with each other?"
"As I said, I don't know, Kari."
Hackmon took a quick look at the two before immersing in his thoughts. He wondered if he could have prevented Omnimon's abduction if he had been able to digivolve to his ultimate-level. However, there was this virus which he hadn't told anyone about it. He didn't want the others to worry about this and put them needlessly under more pressure.
"Hackmon?" asked Meiko.
"Huh?" his gaze wandered to the black-haired woman.
"Tai asked you something."
"Sorry. I was immersed in my thoughts."
"It's okay," she smiled.
"So Tai, what did you ask?"
"Why did Alphamon kidnap Omnimon?" was Tai's question.
"I... I suspect he did this to harm us," Hackmon said.
"How exactly?" asked Gatomon, who looked interested at Meiko's partner digimon.
"Omnimon is very strong. I suspect that Alphamon will soon launch an attack on us. The only ones who would have Alphamon's fighting strength would be," the four-footed dragon began, but was interrupted.
"Wanyamon or Dynasmon, Gallantmon and Sleipmon," Kari said quietly.
"Two of them act independently of us," the brown-haired man continued.
"That's why we need to be extra careful now," Hackmon raved: "Especially Davis and his friends. Their partner can't digivolve to the ultimate-level, which is why they're an ideal target."
"And what are we doing now?" asked Meiko.
"I don't know, Meiko," the four-footed dragon quipped.
"We should kill Alphamon," Tai's sister suddenly replied.
Tai was terrified. Normally, his sister would never say or even think anything like that. She loved life above all else.
"Kari?!" the brown-haired man said, terrified.
"Alphamon is to blame for everything, isn't he?" Kari clenched her hands to fists.
"What?" the black-haired woman approached her and wanted to put her hand on her shoulder.
But she backed down. Gatomon looked at her with concern.
"Alphamon is Gennai. After the reboot he had driven Meicoomon mad, he had kidnapped Davis, Cody, Yolei and Ken, he was the one who had restarted King Drasil up again, he-"
"Kari!" the cat digimon exclaimed: "Stop. You're going crazy."
"What's it then?!" she yelled, "Am I crazy now, Gatomon?!"
"Kari!" Tai admonished her: "Why are you so aggressive?"
"Because... I don't understand how Meiko could fall in love with you." she explained quietly.
"That..." he looked at her with his eyes wide open.
"I forgave him for killing Meicoomon. It had been salvation for her," said Meiko: "She only suffered and was very grateful when she was freed from her suffering. For Meicoomon... there was no other way than death. That is why I forgive you."
Kari remained silent and looked to the ground as she bit her lower lip.
"Meicoomon..." Tai's younger sister sighed and turned her gaze back to the black-haired woman: "Now I understand why you fell in love with my brother. He gives you support."
"I-I wouldn't... say it… that way," Meiko replied hesitantly.
"Watch out for him," Kari smiled, walking past her brother, Hackmon, and the black-haired woman at a rapid pace, before standing a few feet away: "However, I will never forgive you, Tai, for killing Meicoomon."
Tai's sister rushed away.
"Kari!" shouted Gatomon, following her.
The brown-haired man sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes.
"She never forgives you, doesn't she?" said Meiko.
"Probably..." sighed Tai.
"Don't worry about it. Your sister likes you and at some point she will forgive you," Hackmon said.
"I hope so," the brown-haired man replied.
"Hope not, believe." the four-footed dragon jumped on a stone: "That was always said by my master. Don't hope you become a Royal Knight, believe you'll be one."
Tai smiled slightly before looking into the sky. He thought of Omnimon, who was somewhere in the digital world. Kidnapped, in an unknown place. There was a crushing silence. Only the birds could be heard, which chirped cheerfully in the branches.
"You're worried about Omnimon, aren't you?" suggested Meiko, breaking the silence.
"Yes... He's my partner, after all," the brown-haired man replied, closing his eyes.
"He won't be subdued," Hackmon said, "he'll never work with King Drasil."
"I know."
"Tai.", Meiko took his hands in her: "We will make it. We will defeat King Drasil, Alphamon and his Royal Knights and free Omnimon and Akira."
Tai smiled at her and put his hand on her head. Then he gently stroked over it.
Akira opened her eyes as she heard something approaching. Probably it was Crusadermon again who liked to taunt her… But the footsteps sounded heavier, so it couldn't be the pink knight. Eventually, the Digimon was revealed. It was Alphamon who pulled another Digimon behind him. Akira's eyes widened. The Digimon was none other than Omnimon. She quickly noticed that he was unconscious.
"What did you do with him?!" she demanded an answer.
The black knight looked up at her briefly before throwing the fused Digimon to the ground in front of him. Alphamon knelt down and touched the ground before a similarly transparent bubble formed around Omnimon.
"I implemented a virus for him that prevents him from defusing himself... It will make quite an effort to preserve his form. At some point, the effort will be so great that he will die. However, he has a way to escape from the situation... If he joins King Drasil, I will rid him of the virus," the black knight said.
"Do you really think he's going to do that?!" she yelled at him.
Alphamon flew up to her and grabbed her with his hand before pulling her out of the bubble.
"You know exactly where your place is," he threatened, "I'd love to squeeze you."
She remained silent and closed her eyes. She had no choice. When she reopened her eyelids, she asked:
"Why is Omnimon in the same room as me?!"
"Because of company. It's boring to be alone, isn't it? Moreover, King Drasil had ordered me to do so.", the black knight put Akira back in the bubble and disappeared.
Sera's younger sister pulled her legs on her body and began to doze in front of her. After just over an hour, she heard slightly snarling noises. Akira looked down and realized that Omnimon was awake. He moaned several times. His entire body felt like it was made of concrete. The fused Digimon could say that he was not doing well. Omnimon straightened up and sat down. At least he wanted that. But his body did not want to obey him.
"Are you alright?" Akira asked him.
"My body... it feels... so... heavy...", he quipped.
"This must be this virus... Alphamon has implemented it in you," she explained.
"What does... this virus...?"
"It prevents you from defusing..."
The white knight remained silent and growled several times.
"Say... How is... Wanyamon?" was her question.
"As far as I... know... he is... well..."
"And my sister? How is she?"
"That... I don't... know."
"I'm just worried about her..."
"Understandable... I am... also... worried about... Tai... and... Matt..." he closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
It was a strange feeling. His body didn't really hurt him, but he felt incredibly exhausted. Suddenly, footsteps could be heard again. Akira has since been able to distinguish between Alphamon and Crusadermon. This time, however, it was someone else. UlforceVeedramon appeared within a short time, looking briefly at Omnimon.
"Can you tell me how strong your friends are?" he asked.
"Why do you want to know?!" she quipped at him.
"I don't want to fight against you guys... But I have to."
"You..." the white knight panted.
"So... How strong are your friends?"
"You think I'll tell you this!" Akira exclaimed angrily: "You have nerves!"
"I don't want all of this," said the blue knight, looking to the ground: "How can I prove to you that I don't want this?"
"Why exactly... do you want to... to fight against... King Drasil...?" asked Omnimon.
"Because I can't take it more. Fight against my comrades... Why? Aren't we all Royal Knights? Shouldn't we all protect the digital world?" was UlforceVeedramon's question.
"There are... differences... " the fused Digimon said.
"I see..." he closed his eyes: "What should I do now?"
"I don't know!" Akira raved.
"UlforceVeedramon!" thundered a voice.
The blue knight startled. Behind him was Alphamon. UlforceVeedramon looked at him briefly before walking past the black knight and rushing away. Alphamon followed him with his eyes. His suspicions had therefore been confirmed. UlforceVeedramon did not want to work with King Drasil. But he didn't care.
"How are you, Omnimon?" the black knight asked him.
"My body... feels... heavy…" began the fused Digimon.
"That's normal. The virus makes you feel that way. Can you move?"
"No..."
"Very good," Alphamon touched Omnimon's bubble with his hand.
It disappeared instantly. The white knight looked at his black counterpart in amazement before feeling a strong pain on his stomach. Alphamon had kicked him.
"Omnimon!" cried Akira.
"Argh..." moaned the fused Digimon.
He opened the Grey head to exit the blade. But the black knight stomped onto it with his foot, so that it closed again. He then bent down to Omnimon and grabbed him by the collar before lifting him off the ground. Alphamon looked with his pale yellow eyes into the trapped Digimon.
"You know, Omnimon. You can escape your suffering," said the black knight.
"What...?" the fused Digimon said in amazement.
"Just join King Drasil."
"Never..."
Alphamon narrowed his eyes and punched his fist in Omnimon's stomach. He coughed and closed his eyelids.
"Think well, Omnimon. The virus is spreading. It will weaken you more and more. Soon you will feel pain. And in two days they will be so bad that you wish for your death," Alphamon raved: "After five days, you can no longer have a clear thought because of the pain. After another three days you will die and your data will be sent to King Drasil. He will then renew it, so that you will only remember that you had served King Drasil faithfully. You'll forget your partners and friends completely. Almost like after the reboot, only this time the memories remain gone forever. So think about it well. You can side with King Drasil at any time... Ultimately, you're going to do that anyway, Omnimon."
"I can... already... tell you that... in this life... I will never... help King Drasil. I am... ready for... the... pain. But... I will... never... betray my... friends..."
The black knight let go of the collar, so the fused Digimon crashed to the floor.
"You're a naive idiot, Omnimon... Friends... Do you think they will save you? We are in an intermediate dimension that no one but the Royal Knights and those brought here can enter. The place is in a gap between time and space, untraceable for those who are looking for the place," Alphamon explained.
"Alphamon... Why..."
"Why am I doing this? King Drasil is the will of the digital world. To rebel against him is a heavy crime."
"No... I wanted... to ask you... something… else"
"What then? What did you want to ask me?"
"Why... did you... tell me... that I... should kill... you..."
"What are you talking about? I never told you that...?" the black knight turned slightly and pondered.
Didn't he really say that to Omnimon? Alphamon looked down at his white counterpart. Why didn't he doubt it? Deep inside, he heard a soft voice. The black knight did not understand the words and he did not want to understand them. Alphamon snapped his fingers and a bubble formed around the fused digimon. Then the black knight flew up to Akira. She backtracked a little.
"Did you like the food?" he asked.
"I've eaten better," she said and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"You should be more grateful, human."
"Hey," she said, "No one call me that. My name is Akira. A-K-I-R-A!"
"I don't care, Akira. If you want to be called Akira, then so be it..."
"How long... How long will I stay here?" she asked hesitantly.
Her courage was gone again.
"You mean how long until Crusadermon takes you hostage to pull Dynasmon on our side?" was his question.
She could only nod. Her neck was dry like some days-old bread.
"In about two days you will get out of here. So you're going to die like your sister's friend soon."
"A friend of my sister?" she repeated.
"Daigo Nishijima. He had protected Tai a year ago and suffered serious injuries that ultimately cost him his life," he paused for a moment: "Are you afraid of death?"
"Do you really want to know? Yes... I don't want to die," she pulled her legs to her chest.
"Everyone has the will to live. That is only natural. But sometimes others determine life. In your case, it's Crusadermon... But one thing I want to know... Why did Dynasmon fight against King Drasil? He had always been very loyal to him and did not even doubt him."
"Why are you asking me that, Alphamon?"
"I'm not going to visit you anymore."
"Dynasmon said that he never wants a reboot again... But... I think it's because we're friends..." she explained quietly.
"I see... The power of friendship is truly extraordinary... Your friends had defeated Apocalymon, Diaboromon, MaloMyotismon and Ordinemon..." the black knight left Akira and disappeared.
"A truly... stupid... situation..." panted Omnimon.
"Yes... We're both going to die," Akira said.
"Do you want... sleep...?" asked the fused Digimon.
"Yes... I have no choice but to do anything else... I sleep almost all day or revel in memories... That calms me down... I wait and wait and wait... Always with the fear that Crusadermon will come and take me away from here. I don't want to die, I just don't want to," she began to cry bitterly.
"Akira..." Omnimon didn't know how to cheer her up.
After all, he himself was in a stupid situation. The virus will inflict more and more pain on him and he couldn't do anything about it except to wait and endure the pain until he died.
Both remained silent. Only Akira's whimpering could be heard and the curses of the merged Digimons, who tried to move.
Both did not know how much time had passed. Only the room became darker and darker until it had been shrouded in complete blackness. Akira had fallen asleep by now and was dreaming something. The white knight, on the other hand, was immersed in his thoughts and somehow tried to endure his inevitable fate. So he didn't notice that footsteps were coming. It wasn't until Omnimon felt a hand on his neck that he was terrified.
"Sht... Be quiet... Otherwise, the Royal Knights notice something..." the stranger spoke softly.
The voice sounded calm and composed, yet pleasantly friendly.
"Who-", the white knight wanted to ask further.
"I will remove the virus... You should then go to Primary Village... Duftmon and Examon will be able to protect you."
"What is... with Akira...?" asked Omnimon quietly.
"I... can save only one of you... and I don't have much time... So please do what I tell you..."
"Okay..." the fused Digimon felt the virus being pulled from his body.
Then he straightened up and sighed with relief. He was able to move his body again. Omnimon wanted to turn around and thank his saviour, but he took several steps back, so the darkness swallowed him.
"I have a request," the voice said.
"And that would be?"
"Kill Alphamon. It's the best and only way.'
"But-"
"Please. Do it," the stranger asked.
"Okay.", Omnimon pulled the Grey blade out of the protector and created a distortion.
Then he stepped through them and left his saviour and Akira, who was asleep.