A few hours had passed since their battle with DarkVenusmon and her allies before the Montiamon with the heroes sat down as his face turned on, getting the feed from his comrade that was accompanying Lilithmon.
Their allied Demon Lord seemed to have managed to sneak into Barbamon's throne room, and was now hiding in the shadows, masking her appearance and that of her companion's, while allowing the heroes to at least see, but not hear, what was going on.
From the Monitamon, the Digi-heroes saw a pair of LadyDevimon, alongside DarkVenusmon, standing off to the side, while near them, the clear image of Barbamon seemed to be standing before a mirror, and having a rather animated conversation with it.
However, upon closer examination, instead of seeing Barbamon's reflection in the mirror, the Digi-heroes saw...
"What the fuck is that?!" Kazu yelled as he, and most of the group moved back in shock and horror, freaked out by the image in the mirror, some feeling nauseous, while Kari felt like she was on the verge of passing out from the dark energy she sensed just from looking at this... thing.
Looking upon the image set within the mirror, the group had no idea what they were looking at, less to even describe it, finding themselves looking at a warped and twisted form spiraling with tendrils that made up a somewhat human based figure.
Taking in its appearance, Kari and the others noticed the tendrils forming down its form, forming an upper body, even giving the twisted creature somewhat of a head, though it lacked any facial features, a set of arms, but its legs just split apart, turning to a massive stream of flowing tendrils.
"Ok, seriously, what is that thing?!" JP then asked with matching panic to the rest of his friends, looking around at anyone to give him an answer, only for no one to reply, just as freaked out as he was.
Davis, however, keeping his cool, looked around, before he noticed that Gennai had walked away from them, sat down on a rock, and put his head in his hands with a horrified look on his face, one Davis noticed as a different shock from the others.
"Gennai? You know what that thing is, don't you?" The Digidestined of Miracles asked the Digital being, causing the others to look over at Gennai, who let out a sigh of resignation.
"Get Lilithmon and Monitramon out of there, then I'll explain." Gennai said in reply, getting a nod from Davis, where Nene had the Monitramon contact his comrade, where the group watched the feed turn off, before they all walked over to Gennai for an explanation.
"As you know, despite how old and... unique, the Digital World is, its origins began with humans creating the first internet." Gennai started off, getting nods from most of the group, before he continued. "Before Digimon first appeared, other beings, other creatures of Data, formed first, helping to lay the foundations of what would become the Digital World."
"However, some of these beings were... different, seeking to corrupt and destroy, rather than create, and tried to destroy the blossoming Digital World in order to remake it in their twisted image." Gennai then said, causing a few to widen their eyes as they caught on to what he meant.
"The first viruses." Thomas said aloud, with the rest finally catching on as Gennai nodded his head in confirmation.
"A major battle followed, and the last of the original programs, Homeostasis and King Drasil, managed to defeat these early viruses by containing them in a prison, deep within the newly formed Digital World, where they hoped they would remain, forgotten for all time. I don't know how Barbamon learnt of them, but it seems freeing them is his goal." Gennai finished as everyone processed what he said.
"That kind of makes sense, I guess." Kazu said, surprising everyone as they looked at him, where he added. "I mean, our Digital World has other Digital lifeforms in it, not just the Digimon, like the DigiGnomes or... well yeah, the D-Reaper as well. So it makes sense that this world would have them too."
"Good point, I just wished it wasn't a D-Reaper like thing, however." Takato replied as the haunting memories of the D-Reaper battle returned to him, Guilmon, Rika and Renamon, remembering the devastation that the D-Reaper caused and what it took for them to stop such a threat in their world.
"They brought DarkVenusmon back." Davis stated, his words causing the others to realize the source of DarkVenusmon's destructive new power, and how things seemed to be deleted the moment she touched them with those dark tendrils, which, now that they thought of it, resembled the ones that made the creature they saw.
"Is Barbamon really that crazy? Why would he want to free something like that? It'll probably kill him as well!" Tagiru yelled, more than a little freaked out by all this new information.
"From what we've seen and heard of Barbamon, he's probably arrogant enough to think he can control it somehow." Thomas replied, where Gennai then added. "More than likely, they are manipulating him."
Hearing the words 'they', Davis gave Gennai a weary look as he asked with some concern. "Gennai, how many of them are there locked away?"
"They are viruses, and viruses can multiply." Gennai stated first, before adding. "Give the time that has passed since their imprisonment... I can only estimate their numbers range somewhere in the millions."
This caused all the heroes and Digimon to pale.
Imprisoned somewhere deep in the Digital World, millions of ancient, powerful viruses were waiting to be set loose, most likely fueled by rage, with power to challenge Digital entities like Homeostasis and King Drail, ready to tear the Digital World and countless others apart.
"We need to hit them... soon. Disrupt the dig site, even if we don't stop Barbamon, we need to keep him from letting them out!" Rika stated, trying to sound calm, but even those who didn't know her so well could sense the fear and panic in her voice.
Before anyone could contribute, the screen on the Digidex, which was out on the side, began to flicker, catching everyone's attention, before Davis, Kari, Sora and the chosen Digimon's eyes widened to hear familiar voices coming in and out.
"Can anyone hear me? Izzy... is this thing working?" The sound of Tai's voice said through the device, causing Davis to pick it up, the group circling him as the voice of the Digidestined of Knowledge was heard snapping back. "Hold on... adjusting signal..."
After a few more seconds, the image became clearer, now showing Izzy, with Tai looking over his shoulder, both gaining bright smiles as the rest of the Digidestined, including Mimi, came into view.
"Kari, Davis, Sora, guys, you all right?!" The Digidestined of Courage asked, before looking at the other humans and saying. "It's good to see you guys too, but what's going on there?!"
Letting out a sigh, though glad to see their friends, Davis looked at the screen and started by saying. "Well, it's a long story but..."
-Meanwhile-
"And I can assure you, we are right on schedule. Those human pests don't even know what is going on, let alone how close we are to freeing you." Barbamon finished explaining to his virus allies, while NeoDevimon and AxeKnightmon had entered the chamber, the LadyDevimon moving near their male counterpart, while AxeKnightmon stood by DarkVenusmon.
"And... yet... you... failed... to... notice... the... spy... that... just... left... a... moment... ago..." The virus said in reply, causing Barbamon's eyes to widen as he looked around frantically, trying to find out how someone could have snuck into his throne room without him noticing.
"A... counterpart... to... your... female... companion... Lilithmon... she... is... allied... with... the... humans... they... are... aware... of... us... now..." The virus then added, causing Barbamon's rage to skyrocket, where he looked at the demon trio of NeoDevimon and the two LadyDevimon with rage in his eyes.
"After them! Kill them, kill them all!" Barbamon yelled, not wanting to let all his planning and patience go to waste, only for NeoDevimon and his allies to look at one another with uncertainty.
"M... my Lord, they have taken down some of your greatest champions, how could we stand up to them?" NeoDevimon asked with concern, even though he was afraid of Barbamon's response.
However, before Barbamon could react in rage, the virus looked at the trio, where its body began to glow with a dark purple light.
The next moment, much to Barbamon, DarkVenusmon and AxeKnightmon's shock, NeoDevimon and the two LadyDevimon burst apart into data particles, which circled through the air.
However, instead of dissipating, the Data began to swirl close together, taking on a new, larger form, which began to laugh insanely, bringing a smirk to Barbamon's face.
"Should... it... fail... a... gift... to... aid... you..." The virus then said to Barbamon as two, dark purple orbs flew out of the mirror towards him and AxeKnightmon, who each examined them as they landed in their hands.
Looking at the items now in their possession, Barbamon and AxeKnightmon found themselves holding a fragment of the sealed virus, the dark purple mists sealed within a small sphere, while taking an interest in the dark blue cross pattern and the seven red orbs within.
"This... power... will... make... you... unstoppable... use... it... when... the... time... comes..." The Virus told its allies, causing Barbamon to smirk as he watched the thing that was NeoDevimon and the LadyDevimon head out to crush the heroes and their pets, smirking at finally having the power, or at least a fragment of it, literally in his hands.
'And soon, all that power will be mine!' Barbamon thought with a sinister laugh and growing wickedness.
-Later-
"... so let me get this straight, Daemon's brother, this Barbamon guy, put a barrier that closed the Digi-Gate, unleashed an army to capture Digimon, which he's forced to dig to free some old viruses that will apparently destroy the Digital World and everything in it?" Tai asked as he and the other Digidestined processed everything Davis and the others had told them, to which the others nodded in reply.
"Damn it, is there anything we can do to help?" Matt then asked, not liking that the Digital World was in danger, and he and the others were practically sidelined.
"Unfortunately, until we stop Barbamon, that barrier is going to stay up. We're going to hit the Dig site soon, though, at the very least buy us some time and stop their progress." Davis started to explain, before he noticed Kari tense up, the familiar sign of a dark presence nearby, before loud screams were heard from outside the cave.
"We'll get back to you." Thomas then said to the Digidestined, putting the Digidex down as the heroes all ran towards the entrance, ignoring Tai and his group calling for them and asking what was happening.
Arriving at the entrance, the heroes, Gennai and the Digimon saw Lilithmon and the Monitramon in her arms come flying out of the trees with a look of sheer panic on their faces, with the Demon Lord flying behind Davis and the group as she cried out with a growing fearfulness. "It started chasing us just as we left!"
Confused at first, even surprised by Lilithmon showing such a frightened side to her, the heroes then first heard the sound of trees crashing down, before looking to actually see the falling, where something massive emerged from the trees and into the air before them, the sight of which causing the Digi-heroes to look shocked and appalled.
Landing ahead of the group was a dark and menacing figure, which stared back at the group with a set of chilling yellow eyes and menacing smile, expressing not only its razor sharp teeth but its protruding tongue, which hung from its mouth.
The Digimon had a terrible darkness to its form, looking quite demonic, having elongated horns, pitch black skin, as well as the Mark of Evil imprinted upon its chest.
From the being's back, a set of bat-like wings spread out, acting almost like a cloak for the creature, only spreading out from the shoulders was a dark mist that was taking on a physical appearance as a set of dark claws.
Despite this new and freakish Digimon, looking like something out of a nightmare, the dark chill it continued to provide with its appearance left no mistake as to who or what this Digimon really was.
Though she had never encountered Devimon herself, from what Tai , TK and the others had told her about their experience, it was like fighting pure evil, where Kari managed to finally let out. "Dev... Devimon..."
Speaking his name with a shaky voice, Kari backed away due to the growing fear building within her, as well as the darkness literally radiating off of the Digimon, a feeling Patamon shared as he landed on her shoulder.
"Worse." Gennai cut in as he looked at the creatures from behind the group, where he then informed them. "This is DoneDevimon, a violent and dangerous Mega form of Devimon."
As if to prove his point, the demon Digimon then let out a rather insane and unnerving laugh as it looked down at the groups, moving down so that he was on all fours as he began to crawl in their direction, his movements creeping a handful of the humans and Digimon out.
Meanwhile, Davis and Thomas looked as one of the miasma claws pressed itself against a tree, where it began to wither and rot away, causing Davis to say with clear concern. "Whatever that stuff is, it's dangerous. We can't let it touch us or we're good as gone."
Though he too was afraid, Davis was more scared to lose those close to him and those he had come to call his friends, leading him to a more battle ready stance.
"Ready, Vee?" The Digidestined of Miracles then asked as he looked down at his partner, who gave him a confident nod as Davis took out his D-3, his sense of determinations filling the others, where a blinding light filled the area, causing DoneDevimon to stop for a moment and let out a feral cry at the light, watching it die down to reveal UlforceVeedramon, Ophanimon, Gallantmon, Sakuyamon, HiAndromon, Phoenixmon, JetSilphymon, RhinoKabuterimon, MirageGaogamon, Rosemon, Arresterdramon, JetMervamon and Cho Hakkaimon, already to take him on.
"Victory Blade!" UlforceVeedramon called out as he rushed at DoneDevimon, who retaliated as he launched his miasma fueled hands at the knight Digimon, but found his foe's speed to be that much quicker than his own, where UlforceVeedramon dodged each arm, using his blade to cut through the miasma and disperse them, before going to strike DoneDevimon himself.
However, much to Davis and Veemon's surprise, DoneDevimon appeared to be more agile than they thought, easily moving his body to dodge each strike, giving off an insane laugh as he opened his mouth, where UlforceVeedramon saw a red flame begin to form within it.
Reacting to the attack, UlforceVeedramon moved out of the way as a burst of flame shot out, incinerating part of the treeline behind them.
"Damn!" Veemon let out through his Biomerged form as he saw the destruction left from just one of DoneDevimon's blasts, before turning his attention back to DoneDevimon as not only did the miasma hands reform, but so did several dozen others, which all began to try and strike not only the knight Digimon, but his allies as well as they moved about, trying not to get hit by the onslaught as the fists slammed into trees, rocks and the ground, corroding everything they touched, before slamming into the ground at the same time, sending out a powerful shockwave that sent everyone flying back in various directions with a cry.
And all the while, DoneDevimon continued to laugh like a madman, especially when he turned towards Thomas, Sora, Yoshi, Taigru, Nene, Airu, Gennai and the unevolved Digimon.
"Ew, keep it away! It's so creepy!" Airu cried out as she moved behind Tagiru for safety as DoneDevimon looked their way, keeping the wicked smile on his face as he stared at the humans and Digimon down.
Laughing insanely, DoneDevimon moved in to strike at the humans, his mouth opened and ready to strike.
"Phantom Pain!" A familiar voice called out, just as a blast of dark purple energy shot past the humans and towards DoneDevimon's face, the attack causing him to real back with a cry, where he glared at Lilithmon as she flew before the humans.
"You might look tough, but I won't let you hurt my friends!" Lilithmon declared as she prepared to join the others in battle, her words bringing a smile to the others, especially Nene, at seeing that this Demon Lord was definitely not a being like the Lilithmon she had faced in the past, but a new Digimon all together.
"The Ray of Victory!"
"Sefirot Crystal!"
"Crimson Flame!"
"Lightning Joust!"
"Spirit Strike!"
"Atomic Ray!"
"Ultra Turbulence!"
"Thunder Laser!"
"Full Moon Blaster!"
"Forbidden Temptation!"
"Prism!"
"Heartbreak Shot!"
The array of attacks came at DoneDevimon from all directions, who either flexed his body in a light panic to dodge each attack, or used his wings or miasma to block the attacks, where the demon Digimon let out and insane cry as the heroes began circling him, ready to strike him down as Cho Hakkaimon and MirageGaogamon moved in for close range combat.
"Hard-Swung Homerun!" Cho Hakkaimon let out with her usual burning enthusiasm, bringing her hammer and as she prepared to slam it into DoneDevimon's face.
"Gale Claw!" MirageGaogamon followed up, raking his claws as he charged at DoneDevimon, ready to cut into him with his blades.
However, DoneDevimon moved his body in a way that neither weapons struck him, before slamming his left claw backhanded into MirageGaogamon, sending the beast knight Digimon flying back, while grabbing Cho Hakkaimon with his right claw and slamming her into the ground, causing her to cry out in pain.
"Cho Hakkaimon!" Airu cried out as she watched her partner bounce up a little from the ground, before a blast of flame from DoneDevimon's mouth slammed her back down, only furthering Cho Hakkaimon's suffering.
When the dust cleared, the hurt and unconscious form of Opossumon lay on the ground as DoneDevimon laughed madly at his work, before bringing his right fist up as he prepared to slam it into the unconscious Digimon and end her.
However, before he could strike, something grabbed his arm, causing the demon Digimon to look and see UlforceVeedramon grabbing his arm as he said in anger. "That's not nice, freak!"
DoneDevimon let out a more pain filled roar as UlforceVeedramon twisted the demon Digimon around and threw him off to the side, allowing JetMervamon to pick up Opossumon and bring her to safety.
"Thank you." Airu said with clear gratitude, holding Opossumon close to her, hoping that though she was out of the fight for the time being, their friends could pull through.
Meanwhile, Gallantmon was getting rather annoyed and angry at DoneDevimon's actions, hating the sight of the demon Digimon, knowing that the foul creature was enjoying making those around him suffer, where he began to walk towards the demon Digimon with growing determination, while his body unknowingly began to glow with a familiar light, one Sakuyamon and HiAndromon recognized.
"Wait... Granni's not here, so how can...?" Kazu began to ask through his Biomerged form, only for a flash of crimson light to get everyone's attention, including DoneDevimon's, who looked as the light faded, revealing Gallantmon: Crimson Mode, where he unfurled his pure white wings, his weapons appearing in his hands, as he prepared to fight.
"Your evil ends here... we won't let you harm anyone else!" Gallantmon: CM declared, keeping a noble stance and his blade drawn, while UlforceVeedramon and the other megas joined him, ready to fight the demon Digimon.
Upon seeing Gallantmon in a new form, DoneDevimon gave a feral laugh, believing Gallantmon: CM to be another Digimon he could crush and torment.
Tapping into his dark power, the miasma expelled from DoneDevimon's back surging on as a series of seemingly endless claws that shot towards the heroes, ready to destroy them once and for all.
"Final Justice!" Gallantmon: CM cried out in retaliation as his sword glowed with energy, before he and the other Digimon seemed to turn into light energy as they surged forwards, cutting through and destroying the miasma, almost reaching DoneDevimon, ready to finish him off for good.
However, as they were about to strike at the demon Digimon, his body seemed to glitch out, where the heroes passed through him, much to their surprise, and ended up on the other side as they turned to look at DoneDevimon, who cried out in pain for some other reason.
Before they could try and strike at him again, the heroes watched as DoneDevimon let out a cry, before his body turned into pure darkness, which then shot to the sky, before heading back towards Barbamon's castle.
"What just happened?!" RhinoKabuterimon asked with clear and understandable confusion, where Sakuyamon guessed. "Barbamon or the Viruses must have called him back. They must be close to finishing the dig."
Each of the Digimon then landed close to their allies as they De-Digivolved, some reverting back to their human forms, where Kazu, after disengaging his Biomerge, then said. "Then we have no time to lose."
"We're not all ready to face them just yet." Davis replied as he looked over at Opossumon, who was still unconscious and resting in Airu's arms.
As much as Davis wanted to take on the dark forces against them, feelings Veemon and the others shared, the maroon haired Digidestined believed they needed all the help they could use come their next battle.
"Let's rest for a little while, then we'll hit them with everything we got." Davis then said with a growing confidence, getting agreeing nods from the other, before he looked at Lilithmon and asked. "Please keep watch while we rest."
"You can count on me." Lilithmon replied with her own smile, expressing sincerity and trust in her expression, to which the heroes nodded as they all went to rest, none aware of how things would change quickly for them in the next few hours with the ideas now going on in Lilithmon's mind.