Digimon X and X Hunter

by Axel771

After failing the test to get back in NGL, a depressed Killua goes for a midnight walk until he is dragged to another world. Now he'll have to find a way home, while traveling with a bunch of kids with no previous training and a bunch of weird creatures known as Digimon

43. No X More X Running!

(As the music plays all the Digidestined started floating up into the sky through the rainbow portal in this order: Tai, Matt, Sora, Izzy, Mimi, Joe, T.K, Kari and Killua. All of them looking eager to reach to go to the Digital World again)

Gokigen na cho ni natte

Kirameku kaze ni notte

Ima sugu kimi ni ai no yukou.

(The kids all fly towards the Spiral Mountain with their partners and Wizardmon. Looming over the mountains are the silhouettes of the Dark Masters)

Yokei na koto nante

Wasureta hou ga mashi sa

Korei jou shareteru jikan wa nai.

(It shows the Digimon in Ultra Level all looking ready for fighting in the next order: Garudamon, Mega Kabuterimon, Lilymon, Zudomon, Magna Angemon, and Angewomon. And then it shows VictoryGreymon and ZeedGarurumon in the end facing different Digimon)

Naniga wow wow wow wow wow.

Kono sora ni todoku no darou

Naniga wow wow wow wow wow

Ashita no yotei mo wakaranai.

(All Eight Digivices illuminate the sky, dispersing the dark clouds above. A beam of light shone down and all of the allies of the Digidestined, members of the resistance, appear with Leomon as their leader.)

Mugendai na yume to ato no

(ZeedGarurumon and VictoryGreymon fight with MetalSeadramon on the sea region)

Nanimo nai yo no naka ja.

(Mega Kabuterimon and Garudamon fight with Machinedramon's troops)

Sou sa Itoshii

Omoi mo makesouNani naru kedo.

(Zudomon and Lilymon fight alongside Leomon and Ogremon against Metal Etemon)

Stay shigachi na.Imeeji dara kedo.

(Puppetmon starts shooting without discretion at any Digimon)

Tayorinai Tsubasa demo.

(Magna Angemon fights with Machinedramon and Angewomon with LadyDevimon)

Kitto to beru sa.

Oh my love.

(Killua and Piedmon face each other, the clown has his swords floating around him, while Killua is holding his something in his hand, he smiles and activates the Godspeed.)

(All of the eight Digimon launch their respective attacks at the camera in the next order: VictoryGreymon, ZeedGarurumon, Garudamon, Mega Kabuterimon, Lilymon, Zudomon, Magna Angemon and Angewomon. The camera then shows them on their Rookie forms turning to Champions, then the whole group with Killua on the front)

---

"Go for it, ZeedGarurumon!" Matt said to his partner, from the hill where he and the other Digidestined watched the fight.

"Once Piedmon is defeated, the fight will finally be over, VictoryGreymon!" Tai told his partner, pumping his fists with enthusiasm.

Killua just kept his eyes glued at Piedmon, he just knew that the clown looked way too calm to even be fazed by the numbers of the enemies. He must have something under his sleeves. 'Everyone, be careful...'

Piedmon chuckled at Matt and Tai's cheering. "I wonder about that... Do you really think yoi can beat me?"

ZeedGarurumon growled and charged at the jester. "Of course!" He dashed at max speed at the enemy as his Zeed Cannon charged a blast to eradicate him.

Piedmon brought his hands together and created a ring of fire between them that he launched at the fierce wolf. "Down boy!"

The ring wrapped itself around ZeedGarurumon. He growled in pain and his attack was cancelled, as he felt his metallic skin getting burn by the fire. He landed with a thud and continued to growl in pain.

Matt clenched his fist at seeing his partner in pain. "Hang in there, ZeedGarurumon!"

VictoryGreymon kneeled at the wolf side to try and help him out. "ZeedGarurumon!"

Piedmon brought his hands together and pointed it at VictoryGreymon's feet. "And this is for you!"

From the dragon warrior's feet a multicolored ball appeared, making him balance on it like he was some sort of clown on a circus. Then like a sick punchline, the ball exploded, sending the dragon warrior flying to the sky.

Tai gasped seeing his partner flying through the air. "VictoryGreymon!"

"VictoryGreymon!" Rosemon flew to him and catch him mid-flight. Struggling with the armored Digimon's weight. "Are you okay?"

VictoryGreymon managed a weak nod. "Yeah."

Puppetmon took his chance and charged with Phoenixmon at his side. He had his hammer on his left side, ready to slam him on the Dark Master's face. While Phoenixmon's body lightened in fire. "Here I go, Piedmon!"

Phoenixmon flew high above Piedmon and charged all of the fire on her beak. "Crimson Flare!" She fired the attack at the unmoving form of Piedmon.

The scorching heat of the attack was the only thing to faze Piedmon. He merely jumped out of the way of the attack. But Phoenixmon didn't stopped there, she started moving her flaming attack to follow the Dark Master.

Piedmon started running around the battlefield, escaping the blast of fire pursuing him. He wanted to laugh. This kids obtained the Mega Level a few days ago and now they thought they could match up to him. How cute. But he had to congratulate them, the previous Digidestined didn't even reached that power when they were about to beat them. So in that regard they were a more interesting cast.

His running was interrupted when Puppetmon appeared in front of him. "Forgot about me?!"

Piedmon smiled. "Oh, Puppetmon, even now you help me."

With ability he leaped over the former Dark Master, using the puppet as a springboard, to continue on his run.

This caused the red flames to hit Puppetmon by accident instead of the clown. "YAWWWWWWCH! HEY! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?!"

Phoenixmon lowered herself and gave the puppet an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Puppetmon."

Puppetmon just glared, his wood skin now a charcoal black, and put out a flame on his hat. "Whatever."

Piedmon laughed at the poor synchrony the Digimon had with his former associate and continues on his run. Until the two heavy hitters of this group appeared in front of him-- HerakleKabuterimon, and Vikemon. "Well, fatty and goldie~ What an honor~"

HerakleKabuterimon went to all fours and charged his attack in the top of his horn. "Mega Electroshock!" He fired the yellow lighting blast at the enemy in front of him.

Meanwhile, Vikemon took a deep breath and his chest puffed. The temperature dropping several degrees around them. "Artic Blizzard!" He puffed a giant storm of ice from his mouth.

Piedmon smirked and raised his hands into the shape of two pistols. "Final Spell!" The transparent blasts of dark energy were launched at the two attacks from the opposing Megas.

A explosion took place and a cloud of smoke was lifted, hiding the three combatants from the viewers.

Piedmon dashed out of it, his two opponets looking confused until they spot him running away. "Get back here!" Vikemon demanded.

Piedmon turned and waved at them. "Ciao!" He said, tauntingly.

"Celestial Arrow!"

From the sky an arrow was launched at the jester's back. He turned and used his sword to block it easily. Angewomon clicked her teeth when she saw her attack being so easily blocked.

Piedmon smiled, but then he tensed. He felt someone behind him and he jumped just in time as a purple sword was about to cleave him in half. "Excalibur!" Magna Angemon declared the name of the sword attached to his wrist.

Piedmon, for the first time since fight started, scowled. Magna Angemon was a dangerous one. Far more dangerous than any Mega. So he did the only thing he could think of. "Bye!" He threw a pebble to the ground, creating a bright light that blinded the angel for a moment.

"What?!" Magna Angemon gasped as the light took effect. When it died down, Piedmon was nowhere in sight. "Where is he?"

"There!" Angewomon pointed to one of the base of the Dark Masters.

Piedmon stood in the roof with his arms crossed. Looking down at them with a condescending smirk. As if they were ants and he was about to crush him on with his heel.

Rosemon settled VictoryGreymon down and floated up. "He's getting on my nerves! Rose Rapier!" The whip on her hand turned rigid and she charged at the clown.

Piedmon smirked and took out on of his Trump Swords and waited for the rose with dominatrix design to reach him.

Their swords clashed and a back and forth between the two started. A flurry of slashes where sparks flew everywhere. Rosemon did most of the attacking while Piedmon merely blocked or parried the attacks. This was proving to be fatal for the plant Digimon, who was starting to get angry at the smirk Piedmon had in every instance of the swordfight, while Piedmon kept his respiration even through it all, managing to save his energy and stamina.

Rosemon in the end managed to push Piedmon back when their swords locked against each other. Taking advantage of the small opening, she went for a thrust to his chest, but Piedmon twisted his body out of the way and lifted his hand to summon one of his attacks. "Dark Tornado!"

The cyclone clashed with the rose, sending her flying to one of the many mountains in the domain of the leader of the Dark Masters without any kind of effor. "Ugh!" Rosemon grunted in pain as her body was pinned to the mountain.

From the sidelines, Mimi gasped. "Rosemon!"

Killua growled and narrowed his eyes at scene before him. His suspicions from before becoming more of a reality when he saw Piedmon merely toying with his friends. The only time he seemed worried was with Magna Angemon and he even got a solution for that by throwing that pebble. 'Maybe if Magna Angemon uses the Gate of Destiny the fight could be over. But for what I understand of the technique it absorbes everything around, if he uses it while Piedmon is fighting with someone else they might get absorbes to.' He analyzed.

Piedmon smirked and snapped his fingers. All eight of his swords started floating around him. "Now, how about this? An improved version of my Trump Swords attack. Trump Sword Dance!" He launched the swords at the Digimon below him.

The swords appeared and disappeared from sight. They were taunting the Digidestined, making feints to attack them to disappear mere moments later.

Vikemon cursed as he saw the swords just vanishing and reappearing. "Damnit if you are going to attack just do it!"

ZeedGarurumon looked around him. Using his machine part to its maximum he turned to VictoryGreymon. "I got them, VictoryGreymon, attack at thirty degrees to your left! Puppetmon you to forty degrees to your right!"

"Fine!" Puppetmon growled and turned around, just in time as two of the swords appeared. "Puppet Mallet!" He fired his balls of energy, destroying the annoying swords of his former leader.

VictoryGreymon also turned and charged fire in his sword, just as three swords appeared. "Trident Gaia!" The fire blast vaporized the swords in a moment.

ZeedGarurumon turned once again and pointed his laser-tail at the three remaining ones. "I got this ones!" He fired a thin blue line of energy, strong enough to cut the swords clean in half.

Piedmon growled as he saw his precious swords destroyed. But he inwardly smirked, everything was going according to his plan. His eyes trailed to Magna Angemon, now all he needed was to draw the angel close enough to capture him and the two leaders as well.

Puppetmon turned and started spanking his butt to mock Piedmon. "Nyehnyehnyeh! You don't have your swords!"

VictoryGreymon jumped in the air and charged a second blast from his sword again, aiming directly at Piedmon. "Trident Gaia!"

The clown didn't do anything to move, he just stood there in the roof of his base as the fire blast was sent straight to him. And explosion took place and he was sent flying back, the base of operations of the Dark Masters was surprisingly unharmed after the attack, the same could not be said for Piedmon. "Aaaagh!"

He flipped mid air and landed on one knee, with grace. He looked around and ran to a small mountain, a few meters away from where the Digidestined, the Anomaly and Andromon were watching the fight.

Tai pumped his fists. "This is going perfectly. Now all of them have to attack together, he won't stand a chance!"

Killua narrowed his eyes. 'This is too easy. He loses his swords and then he lets himself get attacked? When he proved that he can go on toe with them without only relaying on his technique?' He mused. 'But Tai is right, and All-out attack will finish him off.'

Then Piedmon smirked and prepared his next trick. He took a paper tissue with one hand and with his other he pointed in the direction where the Digidestined were, with the motion of a gun. "Final Spell!"

He fired the transparent blast in the direction where the Digidestined were, surprising all of the Megas and Ultras fighting with him. Magna Angemon reacted fast and put himself between the blast and them, and drew a circle in the air. "Gate of Destiny!"

The golden door opened and absorved the blast, a bright light bathed the battle field ad the attack was absorbed, blinding everyone momentarily. It closed instantly to prevent anything inside of it from escaping. The gate vanished and the angel gasped.

A large, white blanket was right in front of him and before he could react it wrapped around his form and black arcs of lighting emerged from it. The form of Magna Angemon immediately disappearing and the blanket just fell to the ground, as if no one was under it.

T.K gasped as he saw his partner's disappearance. "Magna Angemon!" He wanted to run to him but a hand stopped him.

"Don't! We can't get too close to the fight!" Killua told him restraining the kid.

"But-" T.K wanted to argue, but noticed the way Killua was gritting his teeth and sweating hard as he watched the scene.

Piedmon walked to the blanket and lifted it. Revealing that there wasn't anything under it. "Ta-da!"

The Megas and Ultras watching the fight gasped when they that the angel was not under the piece of cloth, with Angewomon gasping, "Magna Angemon is gone!"

ZeedGarurumon growled and charged at the clown. "You bastard! What did you do to him?!"

"ZeedGarurumon, wait!" VictoryGreymon called after his friend. Running to stop him from attacking the Dark Master.

Piedmon spun the same cloth on his finger and chuckled. "So simple..." He launched it at the dragon warrior and the ultimate tank wolf.

The result was the same. They were covered by it and they struggled for a moment, but when the arcs of black lightning started to appear around them the struggles stopped and the white blanket slumped down. The forms of the original Megas of the team disappearing.

"Not again!" Rosemon gasped when she saw her friends disappearing.

"VictoryGreymon!" Tai broke into a reckless sprint to his partner, despair clear on his face as he saw his partner just vanishing in thin air.

"ZeedGarurumon!" Matt did the same. Not willing to lost his friend after he helped him go through all of his demons.

"No! Idiots!" Killua wanted to run after him. But getting so close to Piedmon just make his legs froze in fear, and the voice of his brother to resonate inside of him.

Piedmon turned to the kids and produced another blanket and throw it at the two. "Imbeciles." He laughed as he watched his ultimate technique do its job. He picked the two blankets to reveal nothing within them. "Once again, Ta-chan!"

"Tai!" Kari called from her brother with disbelief, as she saw the twisted magic trick of the evil Digimon.

"What did you do to them?!" Izzy demanded to the clown.

Piedmon chuckled. "They are all now under my power, see?" He produced five keychains with the shape of the victims of that technique. "Don't worry they are alive and really conscious. They'll watch as all of you share the same fate, and then you'll all watch as I destroy the remaining of this world to move onto the Human World! Hahahahahahahaha!" He laughed maniacally at his own plans, like a good megalomaniac.

Puppetmon growled at his laughter. Tired of hearing his former boss just disregarding his presence in the fight and only focusing on the Digidestined. "Grrrr! Piedmon! I'll finish you up!" He said while charging at him with his hammer.

Piedmon turned to his former subordinate with a bored glared. He put the white tissue on his pocket and created a new Trump Sword. "Puppetmon, you're annoying as ever."

Puppetmon raised his hammer over his head and brought it down to Piedmon, who blocked it with his sword and pushed the puppet back. Puppetmon started spinning with his hammer outstretched to slam the Dark Master, but Piedmon just jumped out of the way each time the spinning Digimon got closer.

He jumped a few meters away from the Dark Master and lifted his hand with a smirk. "Dark Tornado!"

The cyclone impacted with the twisting Puppetmon, throwing him back and breaking his attack. "Ugh!" He grunted as he landed on the floor, but quickly regained his footing. "Puppet Mallet!" He fired his rounds of energy from his mallet.

Piedmon smirked and just used his sword to deflect or block the balls of energy thrown his way without even breaking a sweat.

The other Megas got ready to act. "Puppetmon get down, Crimson Flare-"

"No! This is my fight with Piedmon! I'll prove this big jerk that I am stronger than him!" Puppetmon said.

Andromon looked around and saw a way to put the Digidestined to safety. "The base of the Dark Masters is open for us! Let's get inside while Puppetmon fights!"

Killua nodded to the android. "Is the best option, best to try and hide and regroup. We'll try and find a way to beat him, that way Tai and the others will go back to normal!"

Reluctantly, the group nodded and made a run for it while the former allies fought to show who had the superiority of their strength.

Puppetmon tried slamming his hammer to the left side, but Piedmon blocked it with his palm. "Idiot. You are so predictable, Puppetmon."

Puppetmon tried to move his hammer to use it again to continue the fight, but it didn't budged. No matter how strong he tried to pry it away from the clown. "Let. Go. You. Mean. Bastard!"

Piedmon shook his head and raised his sword, a cruel smirk on his face as he eyed the hammer he was holding. "This weapon of yours is so pathetic, Puppetmon! Let me help you get rid of it!'

He raised his sword over his head and Puppetmon's eyes shrunk to the size of pinpricks. He realized what was going to happen and in his panic he didn't thought og just letting go of his hammer, just to try and get it out of Piedmon's grasp. It didn't brought any results, but it brough consequences.

Piedmon let his sword fall over the hands gripping the hammer. And with a crunching sound, coming from Puppetmon's wooden skin, he let go. Puppetmon fell to his butt staring at his arms, or rather, at what used to be his arms. Now all that stood were two splintered stumps.

Everyone stopped their running when they weard the crunch and watched horrified at a crippled Puppetmon in the ground and Piedmon towering over him with his sword in hand.

Killua's eyes glazed as he saw the arms dangling on the hammer that was now laying on the ground, flashes of a human arm sailing through his head--ripped by a monster as terrifying as Piedmon, if not worst.

So in his worry and flashbacks, worry, genuine worry, surged towards the former Dark Master. "PUPPETMON! RUN!"

Puppetmon just sat there, completly terrified as he gaze up at Piedmon. Who just smiled cruelly at the treacherous Dark Master. He raised his sword and with a chuckle he told Puppetmon two simple words. "Bye, Puppetmon."

And then he swung his sword down, to stab the head of the defenseless and crippled Digimon.

---

A Mechanorimon stood in a cave with four holes that spit fire, watching with intensity, or rather the person inside of the mechanized Digimon was.

The pod at the top of his head opened and Gennai took a better look at the cave, a worried expression crossing his old face and sweat with the size of bullets fell of his face. "T-this... This is..."

"So you were here after all, mister Gennai," A voice called from behind him.

He turned around in surprise and saw Centauromon, guardian of the ruins in File Island, and Babamon entering the cave--The old Digimon riding the centaurus' back.

"Centauromon, Babamon! What a nice surprise," He waved, trying to mask his worry.

Babamon cackled from the back. "Blessed the eyes that see you!" She joked. "Where've you been ever since this catastrophe started?"

Gennai looked back at the fire and answered, "Searched for this..."

Centauromon's eye widened at seeing the fire inside of the cave, recognizing it somewhat. "This is-"

Babamon's eyes also widened to the size of dinner plates beneath her bangs. "Oh dear..."

Gennai nodded somberly. "The Firewall, that kept that being at bay, has weakened due to the influence of the Dark Masters. Just like all those ages ago."

"I only read about it in prophecy," Centauromon said in shock. "But if it weakened... It means..."

Babamon gripped her staff and said what the other two in the cave where thinking. "The apocalypse is coming..."

---

Puppetmon was gaping in fear all the while Piedmon brought his sword down at him to kill him. Unable to process the fact that he didn't have his forearms anymore and that his hammer was unusable for him at this point.

He continued to gape even when a rapier made of roses blocked the Dark Master's sword and saved his life.

"Get up Puppetmon! Run!" Rosemon grunted as she pushed Piedmon away with her rapier.

"Uh...wha...?" He mumbled

She stood in front of him, getting in Piedmon's way to kill him. "Didn't you heard me, run!"

Phoenixmon grabbed the puppet's shoulders with her talons and flew off. "Think of this as repaying the favor for protecting Sora and Kari back in Machinedramon's city." She said, while flying to where the Digidestined were.

She dropped him at Killua's feet and the boy took out the control, grabbing Puppetmon by the shoulders. "Snap out!" He pressed the button on level three and a small discharge coursed through their bodies.

It seems to have made the job, as Puppetmon blinked and looked around wildly. "Uh? Ah? Where? AH! MY ARMS!" He screeched as he finally saw his cut limbs. Then he turned to glared at Piedmon, who was busy fighting Rosemon. "GIVE THEM BACK, PRICK!"

"LATER!" Killua said, while dragging the puppet inside of the Dark Master's base. "C'mon!"

All the kids, plus Angewomon and Phoenixmon, entered the base to escape the Dark Master. Sora, the last one to enter, turned around to see that the rest of her friends' partners weren't entering, and neither was Andromon. "Guys, c'mon!"

Vikemon and HerakleKabuterimon stood in front of the entrance to the base with determined expressions. "You guys go, we'll hold him off!" Vikemon said

"If we just run then we'll never beat him! And we can't left Rosemon alone!" HerakleKabuterimon said.

Andromon nodded with determination. "I might not be a Mega, but I'll do anything in my power to protect you, Digidestined! Go!"

"Keep Joe safe for me!" Vikemon said while charging at the battle.

"And Izzy!" HerakleKabuterimon added as he followed his comrades.

Andromon didn't made any petition and followed the destined Digimon into the fray. To try and put an end to the Dark Master.

Sora bit her lower lip as she watched them go. She blinked back tears in frustration, feeling a heavy ball of guilt in her stomach at being unable to stop them or doing anything to even try it and ran inside of the building belonging to her enemies.

Piedmon and Rosemon once more were trapped in a swordfight. With the rose using her more versatile movements in the air to move back when Piedmon slashed or thrusts at her. Piedmon for his part twisted his body with great flexibility, like he was in the middle of a dance, he was enjoying himself in this cat and mouse game and was going to savor each moment of it to its last drop.

Rosemon thrusts her rapier forward, but Piedmon leaned back ninety degrees, like in some sort of sci-fi movie, the rapier being parallel to his body, much to Rosemon's surprise. He smirked and slashed his sword up in an arc, cutting the rapier in two.

Rosemon gasped and floated back in disbelief after seeing her weapon destroyed by the enemy like it was nothing. Piedmon straightened while chuckling, and took the white tissue to use it on her and add a new keychain to his collection. "Hehehehe."

"Artic Blizzard!"

"Mega Electroshock!"

"Light Sword!"

Four three attacks were launched at him from behind. He jumped up and avoided them. They impacted and created a small explosion in the place where he had been standing a few seconds ago. As he was in the air, he watched the three Digimon that attacked him and smirked. "So they want to play, huh?"

He landed behind them, and they all turned with determined faces to him. Vikemon took out his flails and charged forward with a war cry. "RAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Piedmon held two of his swords and ran forward to meet him. The weapons clashed, causing a shockwave around the area due to the sheer power the two Megas were releasing. Vikemon raised his weapons and brought them down over and over to try and smash the clown with them. Piedmon blocked each strike with his swords, not flinching under the massive Digimon's brute force. He was enjoying himself in this show. That what all of this was for him: A show! And he was the director and main actor, the Dark Masters the secondary characters, the Digidestined the antagonist, those insignificant Digimon that tried to fight back were side-characters-- tertiary at best, and the Anomaly...

The Anomaly was supposed to be the great finally, but he was just a disappointment. Never once he faced a Dark Master head on, only attacking Machinedramon after the death of those disgusting Numemon. So, at the least he'll hunt him down last... To teach him a lesson.

While Vikemon and Piedmon continued with their fight, HerakleKabuterimon flew past them and positioned behind the clown in all fours to blast him while he was distracted with the furry viking. "Mega Electroshock!"

'Too easy!' Piedmon chuckled inwardly as he heard the beetle prepare his attack, already expecting a tactic like this from his opponets.

Vikemon brought his weapons down on him and he blocked it again, this time with much more force. Piedmon grunted a bit as he noticed that the viking was trying to keep him in place so the attack from the bug would impact. But that wasn't going to stop him.

HerakleKabuterimon launched the yellow lighting and Piedmon acted. He dismissed his swords and jumped to the left to avoid the attack, Vikemon lost his balance when he did so. The electric blast impacted the viking and paralyzed him.

HerakleKabuterimon gasped. "Vikemon, forgive me!"

Piedmon laughed and produced the two blankets and launched them at the two Digimon. "Mine~!" He sang as he did his magic trick.

With HerakleKabuterimon panicked after the attack against his friend and Vikemon paralyzed in place, the blankets fell on them and they shared the same destiny as their comrades before them. Piedmon picked the blankets and took the two keychains with a smile. "That was hilarious." He said, referring to the missed attack.

"Missiles Go!"

He turned to see a couple of missiles coming at him. He raised his hands and they vaporized to nothing. Andromon and Rosemon glared at the clown after they saw what he did to their friends. "What's wrong? Coming for them?" He taunted.

Rosemon made a second whip grow and turned it into a new rapier, scowling at the mad clown in front of them. "Let's go together!"

"Affirmative!" Andromon said, while his hands started spinning to commence the attack.

They charged at the clown while he summoned a new pair of swords to fight against the two. Rosemon attacked from the left with her sword, while Andromon attacked from the right with his drill-lile hands.

Weapons impacted against each other and sparks flew all around the area, Rosemon and Andromon tried to push the Dark Master, but Piedmon wasn't budging if anything he was pushing them back without any kind of effort. Even when they decided a more aggressive front by starting a relentless attack with thrusts and slashes from both flanks, Piedmon kept the upperhand. He blocked, parried and avoided each thrust or slash in his direction, and countered with his own attacks, never losing the smirk on his face.

He decided to stop the swordplay and jumped back away from his two opponets while dismissing his Trump Swords. He brought both hands up and used the same technique he used against ZeedGarurumon; A ring made of fire. "For you, my little rose!" He said mockingly, launching the ring at her.

It wrapped around Rosemon's torso, causing her to scream in pain. Specially since her body was mostly made of plants, so they were burning easily, bringing immense pain to the female Mega. "AAAAAAHHHH!"

Andromon turned to her. "Rosemon!"

Piedmon raised his hand, with a cruel smirk on his face. "And this, my little extra, is for you! Dark Tornado!"

The cyclone impacted against Andromon sending him flying through the air. Piedmon brought out the tissues and they expanded to the blankets and threw them at his two most recent victims with a sick smile of victory on his face.

There was no struggling this time, with Andromon mid-air and Rosemon on the floor trapped in the ring, things went smoothly and now he had four new keychains were added to his collection.

He smiled merely as he turned to his base, where the Digidestined were trying to escape from him. "Now then... Who's next?"

---

The group that was running away from the Dark Master entered the dark halls of the base of operations belonging to the enemy. Climbing stairs in the castle to go up through the floors. Phoenixmon and Angewomon were on the rearguard, in case Piedmon appeared again to chase them, in that case they could face him and win the kids more time. But that caused a paradox, if they fall against Piedmon, then who was going to defend the children? Now that Puppetmon was crippled, they were the last line of defense.

Killua meanwhile was cursing everything about the situation. Everything. From them having to run, to leaving their friends behind, to Piedmon's unmeasurable power, to the situation one of their aces had at the moment because of the jester. Everything had gone south when they seemed to be ready to put an end to things. Now it seems to be the end, but not in the way they would've liked. They had no way.

"You have one," Illumi told him. "Leave them and run to find the door that will take you home. Run away, Kil."

He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes as the voice of his brother once again came back to torment him. He already let his best friend down twice, he was not going to do it with the Digidestined, he was already forced to leave some of them behind so they could regroup and fight again. He tried to believe that, as long as they had Angewomon and Phoenixmon on their side they could win.

They reached what appeared to be the last floor and ran through a dark, long hallway. Darkness surrounding them, and Phoenixmon's bright feathers being the only thing illuminating them.

"Look! There's light at the end!" Sora said, pointing down the corridor.

They emerged from the hallway and stopped, gasping in shock at what they saw. There was a huge pit in the middle of the room and hanging on the ceiling were two trapezes, everything resembling the interior of some sick and twisted circus.

"We can't carry everyone," Angewomon said, hosting T.K and Kari on her. "Some will have to use the trapezes."

Phoenixmon lowered and let Sora and Puppetmon climb on his back. "We'll wait on the other side."

The two flew over the pit and to the other side safely, while Killua, Izzy, Mimi, Chuumon, Puppetmon and Joe stood behind.

Killua stretched his legs and arms and nodded. "Okay, I'll go first, then you guys will grab onto me so we can cross it." He told the others. Then he turned to Puppetmon. "You, you're coming with me."

The puppet gave him a blank stare and slowly he raised his hands... Or what was left of them anyway. Took a deep breath, to try to calm himself, opened his mouth "HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO CLING TO YOU?!" And demanded an answe, while flailing his destroyed arms around.

Killua rolled his eyes and answered. "Wrap your legs, idiot."

Puppetmon grumbled and did so, wrapping himself awkwardly in an uncomfortable piggyback ride. "If I fall, I'll kill you!"

"That won't be on me, idiot!" Killua said.

He took a deep breath and ran forward to start the daring plan to continue on their escape. He took a great leap to reach the handle of one of the trapezes. Puppetmon had tears of fear falling comically from his eyes as his body bent backwards due to the momentum. Luckily Killua reached the handle and started maneuvering to reach the next one.

Just like before he did so smoothly and landed, placing a shaken Puppetmon down. "Get going! I'll go for the others!" Killua said.

"But-" Kari tried to argue, but the words died on her tongue when Killua turned back and jumped through the trapezes. "Killua!"

Angewomon took her hand. "Kari, he's right! Everyone outside is fighting so we can escape, let's go!"

Reluctantly, she followed her partner as she, Sora, T.K, Puppetmon and Phoenixmon continued her escape.

On the other side, it was decided that Izzy would go next since he was the younger one of the three, they took advantage that the trapeze reached their side after Killua's usage so the redhead boy could use it as a swing of sorts. Mimi nodded at him. "Good luck, Izzy."

Izzy nodded and gulped his fears staring ahead as his friends gave him a slight push forward to the waiting hands of Killua, who was hanging from his feet on the trapeze on the other side. Izzy jumped off and Killua grabbed him and they swinged back to the other side.

When they landed Killua just gave Izzy one simple order. "Go!" Almost in a growl

"But-" Izzy wanted to discuss as well, but was silenced by a glare from the white haired boy that told him not to discuss with him at the moment. Izzy gritted his teeth and ran through the next hallway to escape the Dark Master chasing them.

While Killua was getting ready to start his maneuvers again, on the other side Mimi and Chuumon were the next ones to use the trapezes. "Okay, ready?" Joe asked.

Mimi looked at the pit and shivered in fear. "I-I..."

Chuumon hold to Mimi's hair out of pure fear at seeing the apparent endless pit of darkness below them, no doubt leading to the Dark Zone. "I'm not sure this is safe."

At that moment a dark chuckle resonated from the hallway behind them, turning their bodies into icicles out of fear. With dread they turned to see Piedmon walking towards them, holding his new keychains for them to see. "See something familiar? Fufufu."

Both children gasped when they saw their partners amongst the four keychains on the evil Digimon's hands. Horror clear on their faces. "Rosemon!" Mimi cried.

"Vikemon!" Joe called in despair, seeing his partner reduced to that state.

Killua saw the Dark Master coming from the other side and cursed. "Damnit!" He jumped and grabbed the trapezes on the other side, hoping that he was going to make it in time. "Mimi, Chuumon, Joe!"

Joe helped Mimi get on the trapeze like Izzy did and pushed her forward, even if it meant that he was staying behind. "Go!" Was the last thing he said, before he was trapped by the blanket and shared the same fate as his partner and friends.

Mimi looked over her shoulder at all of that, tears falling from her eyes after seeing Joe getting captured and reduced to a mere toy. A toy that apparently was still conscious. "JOE!"

Killua, upside down and with his hand stretched, called out for her in pure despair. "MIMI! GRAB MY HANS!" He yelled, frantically.

Mimi turned and was about to do so.

But in the last second, in the last moment, when their hands were mere inches of touching, the blanket fell on both her and Chuumon.

Killua's jaw dropped and his eyes shrunk to the size of pinpricks as he was balanced back to the other side. "MIMI!"

Puppetmon willed the blanket to come back to him with a dark smirk on his face. He unveiled and chuckled even harder. "Fufufufufu! This girl's toy is still crying!" He said, lifting Mimi's transformed figure to his face. "And the little mouse on her is part of the figurine."

Killua landed and glanced back at the Dark Master with hate filled in his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to go and smash his face open, but two things stopped him: One, that he had to reunite with the rest of his friends... And two... "Run away..." ... That.

He gritted his teeth and ran into the tunnel ahead of him, while Piedmon watched.

The Dark Master chuckled as he watched the Anomaly running away with his tail between his legs, he could capture him now or even kill him with his Trump Swords, but where would the fun be on that?

He jumped and maneuvered across the pit with the trapezes, landing perfectly on the other side with an impeccable stance. He strode calmly into the hallway, ready to continue with the play.

They all held their breaths, afraid that they would cause even the smallest of sounds. The room where they entered now was a spacious, with a floor completly made of wood, completly different to anything they've seen up until now.

When they entered they realized they were an easy target in that room, even if they continued on the way to reach the next room, so they came up with a plan: The children and Puppetmon will hide under the floor, taking advantage of the hollow space beneath the wood boards, while the two Digimon capable of fighting waited for their enemy by the door to the next room to attack him.

But they couldn't afford being discovered, so they even halted their breaths, Killua even using Zetsu though it won't help to hide his friends' presence.

They heard footsteps, the wood making cracking sounds due to the pressure. It wasn't someone heavy, but still they felt his oppressing aura crushing the room, his killing intent.

Piedmon looked around the room with a confused expression on his bicolor face, both swords on his hands. "It's useless to run away from me in my own home," He said. "So why do you insist on hiding?"

Everyone was shaking in place as the footsteps echoed above their heads. Dread and anticipation filtering through their bodies, just wanting the demon above them to disappear.

Puppetmon was the one in worst shape, he seemed like he wanted to get out, but couldn't because of the condition of his arms.

Piedmon knocked on some walls with an analytic expression. "How strange," He murmured. "Did they hide inside the walls?"

There was silence for a minute. A whole minute where they didn't heard anything above them. All of the presents beneath the floor were tempted to climb out and try to confirm their suspicions.

Izzy gulped. "Is he go-AH!"

Just as he asked that a sword stabbed through the floor, barely missing Izzy's head.

Piedmon laughed. "There you are! Now how about you come on out!"

The group started to crawl around, with Sora and Izzy protecting Kari while Killua and Puppetmon protected T.K as best as they could. The girl in the helmet had the fire to answer back to the pierrot. "How about no?!"

Piedmon laughed again as he stabbed sword after sword in the floor, not stopping until he sees a drop of blood coming from them. "How about yes?!"

From the next room, the two Digimon waiting for the clown decided to act. "Celestial Arrow!"

An arrow of light took one sword out of Piedmon's hand. He turned around to glare at Angewomon and Phoenixmon, who entered the wooden room to defend their partners. Piedmon wasn't thrilled to see them but he shrugged, at least he could take care of them now.

Angewomon prepared another arrow to try and put down the mad clown once and for all. "Run, Kari!"

"Sora, run!" Phoenixmon said as well, her body turning into flames to attack the monster in front of them.

Kari and Sora perked up at hearing their respective partners' voice, they couldn't help the smiles on their faces. "Phoenixmon/Angewomon!"

Killua wasn't so optimistic when he heard the two female Digimon's voices. If they failed there was nothing in Piedmon's way to reach them and put an end to them. He shook his head and pointed to an opening where they could crawl to the next room. "C'mon!" He urged.

Above them, Phoenixmon attacked. "Crimson Flare!" She opened her beak and launched a great blast of fire at the clown.

Piedmon only turned away to prevent himself from getting blind, but otherwise was unfazed by the attack. He just jumped out of the way and let the attack lifted a cloud of dust.

When it cleared Phoenixmon charged at Piedmon with her talons, just as the children and Puppetmon managed their escape from below. Once again her attack missed the spot and her claw just broke through the wood, unwillingly trapping herself. And that wasn't a chance Piedmon was going to miss. He took the mortal tissue from his pocket and expanded to a giant size blanket to cover her. Phoenixmon tried to lit her body on fire to burn it, but it was useless. "Ugh..."

Angewomon's body covered in light and she created an arc of light. "Celestial Atmosphere!" She launched the beam at the clown, hoping her most powerful attack will finish this madness and protect her partner and her friends.

To her and this world's dismay, Piedmon just raised two swords in front of himself and blocked the attack as if it was nothing. Angewomon flinched and charged her more versatile move. "Celestial Arrow!"

She fired the arrows over and over again to try and tire out the clown, or hopefully even pierce his head open and finish the fight. But no such luck. Every arrow was deflected by the swords in his hands, not a single one even grazing his skin.

Eventually Piedmon ran out of patience and threw the swords at her with a maniac laugh. Angewomon gasped and yelled in pain as the swords stabbed her wings and pinned her to the wall. "AH!"

And then the blanket fell on her head.

---

In the zone of Primary Village the fight continued too. With SaberLeomon at the head, all of the Digimon present kept the Vilemon at bay and even erased some of them.

That is not to say that there weren't loses on their side of the fight. Many good Digimon fell at the little fiend's relentless assault.

But they counted with something the Vilemon didn't have that managed to balance things with their lesser numbers. That was a white mage, or to be more accurate a blue mage with blonde hair.

Wizardmon launched lightning bolts at the Vilemon to fry them, while at the same time keeping an eye on his allies to cast a healing spell on them so they could continue on the fight. It was proving to take a toll on him, and he felt like he was going to collapse at any moment, but he endured.

SaberLeomon finished another pack of Vilemon and jumped back to check on him. "How are you?"

"I-I... I think I can keep going," The wizard panted. "I have to!" He said gripping his staff.

His best friend, Gatomon, was fighting with the Digidestined to try and save this world. He was sure she was fighting with everything she has and while she didn't gave up, he wasn't going to do it either!

SaberLeomon gave a curt nod and turned back to the horde of fiends coming on their way. They've been fighting for the great majority of the day, but thanks to the wizard his allies were still ready to continue. "Very well then, let's continue!"

"Aye!" Wizardmon summoned lighting and launched a powerful blast at a cloud of the bat Digimon. "Magic Lighting!"

"Infinite Arrows!" SaberLeomon launched the needles from his mane to the army that wanted to subdue them.

---

Breaking a rock tile in the other room, the Digidestined, Killua and Puppetmon emerged. They looked back to the door leading to the room where the last of their partners' were fighting and gasped as they heard Angewomon's gasp of pain. Kari's pupils shrinking in horror at the realization. "Angewomon!"

Sora chewed her lower lip as she gazed at the group. Everyone was scared, and the hopes had been almost completely crashed after the defeat of their partners. She focused her eyes on Killua and Puppetmon, even if the latter was crippled, they were their last hope. But protecting all of them was going to be risky. She had to make a choice.

She straightened up and grasped Killua by the shoulder, much to his surprise. "Sora?"

"Killua, take Kari and T.K with you and run with Puppetmon!" She told him.

"What?!" He gasped in surprise. "And what about you?! Do you expect me to leave you behind?! No chance in hell!"

"Listen please!" Sora begged. "You and your Nen powers are the only thing capable of stopping Piedmon at the moment! Garudamon and Angewomon are toys by this point, as much as I hate to say it, I'll buy you time do you can run!"

Killua gripped her wrist hard, as hard as he did when they met and she hid him from the Kuwagamon pursuing them at the time. He gave her a glare to try and make her think of her decision, but she didn't flinched. "I won't leave you!"

"If not for me then for Tai!" Sora said. "Rememer when you went to our world with us?! You promised Tai as his friend that you'll protect Kari! Even if Myotismon is gone now you have to protect her from Piedmon!"

Killua gnashed his teeth and looked away. Coincidentally locking eyes with T.K and Kari and their frightened expressions. He clenched his fists and drew blood but came to a decision.

He shook Sora's arms off him and scooped the younger kids on his arms and ran away. "Puppetmon, let's go!"

"W-wha- Wait!" The puppet called after them as he pursue them.

Kari and T.K were in shock as Killua ran away with the two of them in arms, leaving Sora behind like that. "Killua, please, turn back!" Kari begged.

"Sora is going to need our help!" T.K added, trying to convince the boy.

Killua just gritted his teeth and continued running, his bangs covering his eyes as he steeled himself to adhere to his decision. Yet a part of him knew that he did it again, he choose the life of a friend over the other. He choose to leave a friend behind to save another. Bitterly, he thought, 'I haven't changed at all!'

Sora watched them go, her whole body trembling in fear, and she looked at Izzy, who stood rooted in place with a determined look on his features. "Izzy, go with them too!"

"No." The tech wiz said simply. "I'll stay to buy time too!"

"Don't be stubborn!" The girl snapped. "If they catch you then the sacrifice of our friends will be in vain!"

Izzy turned and glared back at her, fear and resolution mixing in his stare. "The same goes for you! How do you expect to face Piyomon and Tai if you get captured willingly like that!"

They were so engrossed on their discussion that their time had ran out. The wall behind them exploded and Piedmon appeared, holding the newest additions to his collection of keychains. "You didn't even tried to hide? You insult me, now you don't have anywhere to run!" He declared throwing the blanket at the two children.

Unlike the other times they didn't even put of a fight. Their plan to gain time for their friends backfiring because of their pointless discussion. Now Piedmon had two new keychains. Four more and his collection will be complete. He turned in the direction where his preys escaped, he knew they were going to a dead end. So why not give them some headstart? They don't have nowhere to go.

---

Meanwhile, the four remaining members of the group against Piedmon, ran through a hallway until they reached a big door of metal. Killua set the younger kids down and pushed hard, the door being nothing compared to the door to his home in his world.

They passed it and reached a balcony. The group soon realized what it was: A dead end. T.K and Kari looked over the edge of the balcony. "What do we do now?" She asked.

Killua and Puppetmon did the same and they both reached the same conclusion. "Climb down."

"But how?!" T.K asked, scared of how tall they were.

Instead of answering, Killua walked to Kari and picked her up. "Puppetmon and I can handle the fall, worst comes to worse I use my claws to hang to the wall on the outside part of this place. Puppetmon, you'll carry T.K on a piggyback."

Puppetmon shrugged. "As if I had a choice," He kneeled and gave his back to the kid. "Get on..." T.K was hesitant at first, but relented and got on the former Dark Master's back. "Okay, we jump, then what?" Puppetmon asked.

Killua didn't answered and instead let his Nen flow and used Ryu to focus his Gyo on his feet, that way he'll cushion his fall with Kari on his arms. "Ready."

Puppetmon noticed he didn't answered and sighed. "Ready..."

"R-Ready!" T.K said, obvious scared of the plan.

"Ready..." Kari said, her voice dejected.

And so they leaped out of the balcony and onto the ground below. Killua pumped all of his Nen around his legs so that way they won't break, he couldn't afford to do it. The plan was reckless but they didn't have any other choice. He needed to keep T.K and Kari safe!

And so they landed, Killua's form created a big crater in the place where he landed due to the force of his Nen, he shielded Kari from the debris as he sighed in relief. His legs and the rest of his body were one piece.

Puppetmon landed in a superhero style. Then he let out a whimper. "Owwwww that's bad for the knees..." He straightened. "Now what? In case you forgot, Piedmon is still chasing us!"

Killua looked up at the base, knowing that Piedmon was right. The clown wasn't going to stop anytime soon. He had to be stopped.

His stare went to the two kids, Kari in his arms and T.K on Puppetmon's back. They were the priority, to keep them safe. So he sighed and came to a decision. "Puppetmon, give me T.K. I have a plan."

The puppet gave him a stare and shrugged, turning around so he could pick the boy by himself. Killua readjusted himself so he was carrying Kari in one arm and T.K one the other. Puppetmon stared at him. "Now what?"

"Wait here, I'll come back I promise," Killua said as electricity started to spark around him, the Godspeed aura spiking his hair as well as Kari's and T.K's.

Puppetmon blinked. "What do you mean-" With a thunderclap, he was alone. "-by that...? YOU DAMN BETTER COME BACK HERE!"

As he ran away from the base, Killua's thoughts were racing. Different scenarios running through his mind about the fight with the last Dark Master. None of them proving anything good. He wasn't sure he could beat him, and with Puppetmon crippled much less. But he had to try! He had to protect these kids! He had to! He had...

Kari gave him a look. "Killua where are we going?"

"Are we abandoning Puppetmon?" T.K asked, even if he was previously the enemy, T.K didn't see him as a bad guy anymore. After all he helped fighting against Piedmon.

"I'm not abandoning him," Killua answered with steel on his voice. "But I have to do something first."

He looked back and saw he was a bit away from the base and halted to a stop. He placed the two boys down and started digging at a high speed with his sharpened nails, until a sizeable hole was made. He nodded and turned to the two children, who were watching him with worry. "Hide in here, I'll go face him with Puppetmon."

"You shouldn't."

"You can't!" Kari cried. "He's too strong! You can't fight him alone!"

"There must be a way to return my brother and the others to normal," T.K said. "Then we can try and fight him together."

"I doubt there is one beyond killing him," Killua said. "Listen, as long as your Digivices work there might be a silver lining of hope for the Digital World. But until then, I have to take care of you... Otherwise your brothers would kill me," He tried to joke. Noticing their still unsure looks, he kneeled. "Listen. The two of you are strong, strong enough to survive this. T.K, you've grown a lot since this adventure started. And Kari, you have the ability to bring the best of everyone around you, like you did with the Numemon. With those traits, you'll get out of this. But for now, trust me and get in the hole."

Most of what he said was a lie. While he believed the things he said about Kari and T.K, he also thought that there was almost no chance of surviving this. But he didn't have the stomach to tell that to little kids. So he tried to play it all off with a cheesey motivational speech.

The two kids nodded reluctantly and got in the hole. Killua picked a big rock to cover it, but before that he told them, "If I don't come back in two hours... Run."

Teary eyed, they nodded, and Killua placed the rock in place. With small openings so they won't suffocate.

He sighed and swallowed his nerves, turning back to go with Puppetmon and face Piedmon again.

"Run."

"No... I won't."

And he went back with the former Dark Master.

---

As Killua ran to hid the two remaining Digidestined, Puppetmon was left behind, sulking, if he still had his arms complete he would have crossed them while pouting. "Hmmm, leaving me all alone, he better returns, damnit!"

A dark chuckle filled the air and Puppetmon's core froze in utter fright. He looked up and sae Piedmon smiling at him from the balcony. "Yo." He waved.

Puppetmon took a step back in fear, while Piedmon dropped from the balcony and stared at him with a smirk. "I'll be honest, I thought you guys would fall for the trick rope I put on the nest up there," he said. "Oh well. Tell me, Puppetmon, where are the Anomaly and the children?"

"A-a-a-as if I'd tell you, jerk!" Puppetmon said trying to pull on a brave front. Friends looked out for each other! That's what Killua told him when they were looking medicine for Kari.

The smirk on Piedmon's face dropped. "I'm heavily disappointed, Puppetmon. All the power you were given the moment you were created and you wasted it all by going to play with the Digidestined. And that pathetic electroshock collar isn't the problem, it's just that you lost the game that put it on in the first place. I bet you could rip it off when you wanted."

Puppetmon flinched, being called out like that. It was true... He could have just ripped the collapse in different occasions when Killua wasn't looking. Like when he was left alone with Sora and Kari, or when he fell to the underground with Tai and Izzy. But he didn't... Because he was having fun with them... And he wanted to take the chance to fight the biggest jerks of the group: Machinedramon and Piedmon.

Piedmon continued, while cracking his knuckles. "This childish game is over, Puppetmon. I'll kill you, and then I'll go for the Digidestined and the Anomaly."

He didn't have time to react, in an instant Piedmon was upon him and gave him a powerful uppercut that lifted him from the ground, followed by a kick in the stomach that sent him flying to a nearby rock. He grunted in pain and was about to collapse, but a hand grabbed his throat and stopped his fall.

Piedmon stared at him with cold eyes. The fact that they were comrades for centuries was meaningless. He always disliked how Puppetmon tried to play around his plans. He took care of everything carefully and yet this buffoon wanted to do everything his way, like a child trying to emulate an adult.

He slammed Puppetmon hard against the rock where he was previously launched, causing the puppet to gasp in pain. Then he reared his fist back and started punching his face, on the right side, over and over again. Small cracks started to appear on the Digimon's skin, his hat fell off, and the metallic nose was detached from his skull.

He continued. He continued even as splinters flew off in the air around him and crumbled on the floor and dissipated like data. He only stopped, he was only satisfied, when he saw the full damage to Puppetmon's face. The left side of his face was gone, only a hollow hole remained, his jaw hanging open completly. The fact that he hasn't exploded in data surprised him.

"What's wrong, Puppetmon?" He asked. "Don't you have anything better to do?" He asked throwing the broken puppet away.

Puppetmon bounced on the floor, once and twice, until landing at the feet of someone else.

Killua stood there, his Godspeed aura gone, and staring in terror at the remaining Dark Master. He just saw the awful beating he gave Puppetmon, without being able to move an inch; a single voice kept telling him what to do.

"Run away. Run away. Run away."

Piedmon scowled when he saw him. "Oh, it's you... The cowardly Anomaly," He said, spitting venom as he spoke. "What? Couldn't move a muscle as your friend was brutalized? Pathetic."

Killua just stood there, his feet glued in place. 'He took out Puppetmon like that. Even if he was crippled, he showed that he could do it. He took down six Megas, and three Ultras. What chances do I have?!'

"Run away. Run away. Run away. Run away."

Piedmon sighed. "Your predecessor had a bigger fighting spirit. He always was itching for a good show, like me. Always getting in the way to have a good fight with me or Machinedramon. But you? You didn't took out MetalSeadramon, just guided the kids to do so. You took Puppetmon, but neither him or you did something useful. I saw how your friends took out that monkey that attacked the resistance without your help. And when you faced Machinedramon? You didn't do anything to face his two minions, Megadramon and Gigadramon, or to face him, until those disgusting Numemon died. Throughout all of the events since you came back to this world, you've been nothing but a disappointment." Piedmon finished his speech with a sigh.

Killua wasn't hearing anything about what Piedmon said. Instead he was trying to think. To think of a way to go on top of the menace in front of him. 'Kari... T.K... I have to do something, to protect them!'

"Run away. Run away. Run away. Run away. Run away."

Piedmon raised his hand and Killua flinched. The clown pointed his fingers in a gun position at the boy, scowling at the reaction it the motion drew from the boy. He sighed and focused his attack. "Die," He ordered. "Final Spell!"

The transparent attack was launched at Killua, who just stood in place, frozen. But not out of complete fear, but frozen in conflict. Conflict on his thoughts against the voice of his brother. A conflict to try and fight the clown and running away to the world below to find a way back to his world, to safety. But as he came back to reality and saw the transparent sphere of energy coming to him he realized that... This was the end.

But not for him.

From his feet, someone rose and took the attack for him. Splinters flying all over the place as the Final Spell destroyed the wooden cross on the back of a puppet without strings.

Killua gaped, as he watched Puppetmon facing him--His arms spread wide and his back used as a shield to protect him from the attack from the jester.

Piedmon scowled. "Tch, again getting in the way, Puppetmon?" Inwardly he thought, 'You'll be more useful dead than alive.'

Puppetmon slumped forward and Killua caught him, the Digimon's body slowly turning to data. Killua's head was leaning on his shoulder--and Puppetmon was leaning on his--And he saw the giant hole that was on the puppet's back. "P-Puppetmon... Why? Why did you do that?!"

Puppetmon was silent for a moment, the gears on his chest stopping. Then he smiled, the part of his face that remained intact smiled, and answered. "Friends look out for each other... You told me that..." He rasped out before turning to data.

The collar that had Puppetmon trapped with them fell to the floor, and the zone of the forest in the Spiral Mountain... went back to normal.

Killua just stood there numbly. Puppetmon, a Dark Master, just gave his life for him. No. PUPPETMON, his friend. just gave his life to live them. To him, T.K and Kari. He went against his former leader and sacrificed his life to protect them.

Killua's teeth clenched and tears fell from his eyes. He kneeked and picked the collar up and pressed it to his chest as his body trembled. He jerked his head up and let out an anguished scream. "PUPPETMOOOOON!"

Piedmon for his part wasn't even moved or concerned that he killed his former comrade. He just shrugged and started to walk forward. "I'll go find the Children of Light and Hope. You, Anomaly, I'll deal with you after I'm done with them."

Killua's eyes snapped to him and he glared with all of his hate and the monster in front of him. Piedmon stopped when he saw the stare the boy was giving him and let out a humming noise. "Hmm? What? Are you finally ready to fight me?"

Killua was trembling, a variety of emotions twisting inside of him as he glared at the last member of the Dark Masters. He stuffed the collar safely on his jacket while growling. "I... I won't forgive you for this! And I won't let you touch Kari and T.K!" His aura exploded with Ren and he took a fighting stance.

"Run away."

A piercing pain went through his head as Illumi's voice ordered him again what to do.

"If you're not certain you can't beat the enemy, run away. If you don't know anything about your opponent, run away. If it isn't a certain victory, run away. I teached you that, Kil"

Killua's eyes had shrunken to the size of pinpricks. His teeth her grinding against each other and sweat was produced in masses around his body. Illumi continued to torment him even now, but he wasn't going to back out. Not after Puppetmon gave his life for him. 'I'll protect them... I will!'

Piedmon sighed and walked to him while cracking his knuckles. "I've been far too patient for you Anomaly. But it's over. I'm not even going to add you to my collection, you aren't good enough, I'll break you so you can save me the problem of finding the last two Digidestined."

"If you don't know the strength of your opponent, then run."

'I have to...'

"If you are not sure you can win-"

'... protect Kari and T.K!'

"-Then run away."

'No matter what!' Killua let out a scream, a wild roar without any reasonable motive behind it more than to psyche himself up to try and bring himself to attack.

But Piedmon didn't cared for any of that and punched the boy square in the face and sent him flying. Killua's aura took most of the punch, but Killua wasn't free from damage. The boy bounced on the floor and crashed against a rock.

He staggered as he got back to his feet. His teeth about to crack from how hard he was pressing them together. He continued to glare at the jester, as his body and his mind didn't allowed him to do anything else.

Piedmon dashed to him and slammed his foot on his solar plexus. The aura, again, reduced the impact, but Killua was sent flying, breaking through the rock were he crashed a moment ago. He sailed through the air longer than the first time around, he didn't screamed in pain but he did grunted, he wasn't going to give his enemy the satisfaction of hearing him scream. He bounced on the floor again and rolled as his momentum slowed down.

Pirdmon strode calmly to where he was. His face a mask of cold fury and boredom. He loomed over the boy, who was doubled over in pain. Piedmon narrowed his eyes and stomped the boy's back. "I could end your suffering right now, Anomaly. You only have to tell me where those children are."

Killua didn't answered, instead, from the corner of his eyes, he glared at the clown. His will wasn't wavering in the slightest through this physical torture. He just growled and gritted his teeth with every stomp on his back.

Piedmon's eyes narrowed even further and he sighed. "I supposed that was the case. I could also kill you and just look around for those children without any kind of trouble, but..." He took his leg of the boy's back and kicked him in the stomach, sending him further back. "THIS IS STARTING TO BE FUN!"

"Guh!" Killua gasped as that kick had more power in it than the others and once again he was sent crashing across the floor.

He layed on the floor, grunting and wincing in pain as he felt bruises starting to form across his torso. He pushed himself to get up, his body begging him to stop and to just lay down and rest, or die, but he wasn't done yet. As long as he kept breathing, he was going to protect his friends.

Piedmon dashed to him the moment he saw him getting up and started pummeling him with his fist. He was cackling as he did so, enjoying the chance to let loose a barrage of punches on the defenseless boy. He enjoyed chasing the other Digidestined, but this? This was cathartic. So fun!

His punches pushed the boy back a few inches and he took a moment so they both could take a breather. He didn't wanted to kill him, not yet. So he was going to give him the chance to recover.

Killua was hunched over, panting as his face and body was starting to form bruises over the spots where he was injured. He lifted his head and glared at the clow. "Grr..."

"Run away."

His eyes widened and his head pounded as he heard his brother's voice.

"Hurry."

Killua shook his head, to try and drown the voice out and to ignore his orders completly. 'No... I won't!' The pain increased as he made that declaration, so he brought a hand to his face to try and placate the pain.

With a powerful right hook, Piedmon threw the boy to the ground. Killua ignored tha pain as the images of his two friends projected on his mind. 'Kari... T.K...' He landed with a thud and quickly started pushing himself up with his arms, continuing to glare at his opponent. 'I... I Will...' Then he received a kick to the face that sent him flying over the ground until he crashed again. '... Protect you...'

Piedmon laughed and walked to him without showing any sign of even being tired. "Hahahaha! Dont go passing out on me, Anomaly!"

Killua struggled to get up. He placed his hands on the ground and started to bring himself upwards. While standing on one knee, he repeated his mantra. 'I will protect you!' He trembled as many emotions--Frustration, rage, sadness, fear, confusion--swirled on his mind. "Because... We're friends..." He said, while a new set of tears fell from his eyes.

Piedmon stopped as he saw that the boy has started crying again. Not out of some stupid sense of pity for him, but more out of confusion; why was the boy crying again? Hasn't he already gotten over Puppetmon's death?

Killua finally got up, shakily raising his fists to continue on this one-sided beating. "Because.. You are my precious friends... All of you are!" He said, thinking of all the Digidestined and how he wasn't able to help them, thinking of Piedmon who gave his life for him...

And thinking of Gon... Waiting for him at hom. After he let him down twice.

Piedmon tilted his head. "Have you gone mad with grief?" He asked. "Or just mad because you know this is a lost battle."

Killua just continued to stand there, shaking as his tears fell from his eyes. Hiccuping as he couldn't control the turmoil of multiple emotions crashing within him.

"Run away."

'Shut up!' He demanded, even when the headache intensified and the voice grew louder.

"Run away."

'I won't listen to you!' He declared, even when the headache increased and now he could see his brother's empty eyes, with chains swirling around them as if to prove his domain over his mind.

"Run away... Run away... Run away."

'SHUT UP!' He demanded, even when the headache increased and the eyes of his brother swirled around in his mind. The chains in them demanding their domain over his young mind.

Piedmon frowned and sighed. "You've lost your mind. It isn't fun this way... Better to kill you now." He said, taking out a single sword from its sheath.

"Run away."

He gripped his head harder, a hand covering his face as he felt the origin of the migraine. 'I... I don't want to lose any of them!'

The sword was launched like a missile straight to him, this time with no one to get in the way.

"Run away."

Killua ignored him completly. 'Everyone... All of them are...'

He remembered when they met in File Island and the first night where he played the coin game.

"Run away."

When they all declared themselves as frienss when he faced Andromon.

"Run away!"

He and T.K exploring Primary Village.

"Run away!"

The defeat of Devimon and the sacrifice of Angemon.

'They are...!'

Reaching the continent, fighting Etemon, getting the boat, him running away and coming back to beat Hookmon, him and Tai going to the Human World and him meeting Kari.

"Run away!"

Meeting again with the others, Mimi's confession, him coming off clean about his past, they going to the Human World, protecting Kari and fighting Myotismon.

"Run Away!"

And memories of Gon... Of the time they met on the exam, when they met again in his house, Heaven's Arena, York New, Greed Island.

Him, a being from the darkness, born to be a tool to kill, had so many people around them.

"RUN AWAY!"

Tai, Matt, Sora, Izzy, Mimi, Joe, T.K, Kari. Agumon, Gabumon, Piyomon, Palmon, Gomamon, Patamon, Gatomon.

And of course... Gon.

They were... Were.

'They're all... They're all,' He snapped his eyes open. "MY PRECIOUS FRIENDS!"

And with a mighty yell... He ripped it off.

The sword crashed and created a smoke of dust. Blinding Piedmon's vision for a moment, but when it settled down he gasped; there was nothing there. Not even a trace of a body. "W-where-?!" He looked around, bewildered.

Then he spotted him. He had dodged the attack and was a few meters away from where the sword had crashed, staring at something on his hand.

Killua's forehead was bleeding, drops of blood fell to the ground and his hair had a red spot around it. But he ignores it.

Because he found it.

The source of all of his problems, the source of all of his complexes, the source of his cowardice. A single, small needle that was imbedded on his forehead.

"Hehehehe... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Laughter resonated across the area. A relived, joyful laugh, full of happiness that nothing could even begin to compare with anything else. Killua stopped and looked down, smiling. "He got me... Illumi you bastard, you have a weird way of worrying for me. He put a needle with Nen..." He turned, smiling at Piedmon as if he wasn't his enemy, and pointed to his head. "... Right here; so I would follow his instructions if I was in a pinch."

Piedmon scowled at him, annoyed that the brat had addressed him in such a casual way. "What are you talking about? How did you dodged that?!" He narrowed his eyes. 'No, wait. I know what happened... Before my sword impacted, he dug his fingers on his head and pulled something out. The disappeared and reappeared there.'

As he did his analysis, Killua was cleaning the blood from his forehead with a smile, as if disregarding his presence completly. Piedmon's fist clenched. 'That's all that happened... That's all! ... So... Why do I have this feeling?!' He asked as hos fists shaked.

Killua sighed. "Man, I feel a whole lot better now. Now I can see things clearly, or better yet, I've been liberated."

Piedmon scowled and barked at him. "What are you rambling about, Anomaly?" Then his eyes widened, a ball of anxiety forming in his stomach as he noticed a shift in the atmosphere. 'W-what is this?'

Killua liberated all of his killing intent to suffocate the area. His smile widening to unnatural levels and his eyes losing the light they usually held. He looked at Piedmon and decided to explain. "I'm rambling this: Now, I know I can beat you."

At thay moment, Piedmon swears he saw a shadow over the boy. That of a beast, a beast ready to take his pray apart without any kind of reservation.

Piedmon scowled even further and gritted his teeth. "Stop joking around! You are just a side character on my play! The disappointing sequel of the previous Anomaly!" He took out his four swords and floated in the air. "And you'll die here! Trump Swords!"

He launched the swords at the boy, who didn't even bothered in trying to dodge them. He just stood there and saw them coming, hands on his pocket. He waited for the exact moment to take out his most lethal weapons and start his counter attack.

The swords make impact and a cloud of dust took place. Piedmon smirked with satisfaction as he landed. The Anomaly was a disappointment to the end. He didn't even dodged his swords, just like he didn't dodged his Final Spell. And now he was dead, and he could find the other two Digidestined without anyone interfering.

Or so he thought. Because as the smoke cleared, his eyes buldged. The boy stood there, unscratched. "H-how?!"

The he noticed. In the kid's hands were two objects, two very familiar objects. Piedmon wanted to scream in outrage as he sae the the scene before him. How he dared doing so.

Killua was holding two of the Trump Swords, while the other two were laying broken on the ground.

When Piedmon launched the attack, Killua brandished his claws and focused his Nen on his feet. He stomped the floor to make an impact and lifted the cloud of smoke, and destroyed the first two swords with quick swipes of his nails. And when the other two came, he twisted his body out of their way and grabbed them while they were still mid air. Thus giving the impression that he had been hit.

Piedmon growled and lifted his hands to make his swords to make them go back to him, his rightful owner. "You little pest! How dare you-!" But try as he might they didn't budged. "What?! How?!"

Killua smirked. 'Shu. I covered this swords with my Nen. And it seems to be blocking whatever Piedmon wants to do.' He stretched his foot and drew a line. "Piedmon! If I step out of this line... You die." It wasn't a promise... It was a fact.

Piedmon didn't get the memo. And he just summoned more swords around him. "You dare?! Die! Die you mongrel!"

The swords were launched like torpedoes at Killua, yet the boy remained calm. He used the two swords on his possession to block and deviate the incoming attacks away from him, he swipe them away or outright break them with the Nen-Infussed swords. Leaving only useless weapons on the ground.

Piedmon brought his hands together and created a ring of fire and launched it at him in the hopes of trapping him. Killua twisted his body in a way resembling a baseball bater and waited for the ring of fire to be close enough. Then he swung the swords forward and created a gust of wind the put the fire out. Killua smirked cockily and said, "Strike two." The first one being the multiple swords launched at him.

The clown was slack jawed as he saw the boh put out such an attack. He regained his bearings quickly and lifted just one of his hands. "Dark Tornado!"

The cyclone lifted many rocks in its way to the Anomaly and was big enough to sent a boy of his age flying. But Killua planted his feet firm on the ground and let the tornado hit him, the breeze lifting his hair upwards. And with gust of wind and all, he waved the swords through the rocks to break them and leave nothing thay could damage him. Killua continued to smile. "Strike three. Since I'm generous, I'll give you an extra, but don't waste it otherwise-"

"FINAL SPELL!" Piedmon was getting desperated. He threw three of his attacks at the boy and he just blocked it with HIS SWORDS! So he didn't let him finish and just launched his most powerful attack at him.

And Killua just put the swords in an X position in front of him to block the attack. Not even leaving a scratch on the metal surface of the blades. Killua chuckled and lowered them and stepped out of the line. "-If you waste it... You're going to regret it."

And so he gave a step forward and Piedmon a step back.

The clown let out a whimper as he realized that this Anomaly was different from the one he faced ages ago. That one liked a goos show like him, that one wanted to have excited moments like him, all while wearing a mask of a good leader. This one? This one didn't wanted a show, or something grand. This one wanted to get over any problem as soon and efficiently as possible.

He stared at those blue eyes and fell like he was drowning on a cold bottomless ocean. The smile on his face had a shadow cast over it by the silver bangs on his face. And the two swords were at his side, dragging across the floor like an extension of himself, they were no longer Piedmon's, they were his.

"Stay away!" Piedmon demanded, giving a step back. "Step away!" He said again.

And then he dashed.

Killua ran forward, ready to tear the last of the Dark Masters apart. His smile broking into a feral scowl as he remembered all the damage he had brought to the world where many of his friends lived, as well as the damage he planned on giving the world where the rest of them had their families waiting.

"A-ANOMALYYYYYYYYY!" He threw the blanket at him to try and reduce him to a toy.

Killua grabbed the sword on his left hand and thrust it forward to stab the piece of cloth--leaving it completly useless. He saw the arcs of black lightning acting so he dropped the sword and contunued on his sprint towards the clown. Now with his hand free, Killua concentrated everything on his fist and reared it back.

"PIEDMOOOOOOOOOON!" He bellowed as he skids to a halt, right in front of the Dark Master. And with a scream of pure, raw anger he slammed the Kō right in the stomach of the clown. "HORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"Grk!" Piedmon was sent flying across the landscape. His solar plexus having now a cavity with the shape of a fist in all of its center.

Killua didn't stopped there, he took out a certain collar and put it on his own neck and then a control. He pressed the button and he received a large discharge of electricity. He grinned once he felt the energy throug his body and let his aura flare. "Godspeed!"

With a thunderclap, Killua disappeared from sight, leaving behind only arcs of blue lighting behind. Piedmon twisted his head around and saw with a growing horror as the Anomaly reappeared in the place where he was about to land, sword in hand and his body ready to take a swipe with it. He could only scream in rage and hate as his incoming doom was coming. "ZOLDYYYYYYYYYYYYCK!"

And with a fluid motion, Piedmon's body was severed in two. His legs crashing on the ground, uselessly, while his torso sailed the air for a few moments. But in the end it fell as well and started collapsing into data.

Killua dropped his sword and turned around to see his enemy disappear. "Ta-da~!" He mocked as he walked away from him.

Piedmon's eyes turned bloodshot and he let out a roar of primal fury. "ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!" Before the inevitable happened and he bursted into data.

In the place where his waist had landed, the toys he collected remained and they were all sprawled on the ground, slowly glowing and growing in form.

---

In the wasteland section, the resistance continued their standoff against the Vilemon. The numbers were now more even as the fiendish Digimon had all being reduced, while the resistance all conserved many of their members, much of that thanks to Wizardmon.

Then the ground started shaking and the battle stopped.

The world started shifting and rumbling and going downwards.

SaberLeomon's eyes widened. "They did it! Piedmon has been defeated!"

Wizardmon looked around and saw no traces of jungle around them. "The forest section isn't here either. Puppetmon must've died too."

The Vilemon all panicked. "Lord Piedmon?! Defeated?!"

"We have to run!"

"Where?!"

"Anywhere but here!"

And so with the tail between their legs, the Vilemon escaped.

SaberLeomon roared in triumph. "Brothers! We have won! And the Digidestined have saved our world!"

"WOOOOOOOOH!!!" Cheers erupted all acrosa them.

Wizardmon looked up at the sky and smiled. "Gatomon, Kari, everyone... You... Did... It..." And he collapse, out of tiredness for the battle and his healing spells.

SaberLeomon smiled at him. "Rest my friend, you've earned it." He also looked at the sky. 'Now you can rest easily, Ogremon.'

---

The rock above them was removed and they were blinded momentarily by the light. When their vision cleared, they broke into a smile when they recognized who came back. "Killua!" Both T.K and Kari smiled.

Killua, battered and bruised, smiled back and got the two of them out of the hole. "Yo," He said as a greeting. Once they were out, the children hugged the Hunter with joy. He retained a wince and hugged back. "It's over. It's all over!"

"So you beat him?" T.K asked. "You beat Piedmon?"

Killua nodded and gave the two a thumbs up. "Yup!"

The two children's smiled widened and hugged the boy tighter. "I'm glad you're okay!" Kari cried in relief, clinging to him.

Killua patted their backs. "Okay, okay. Enough hugging, someone else wants them."

T.K tilted his head. "Someone else?"

"T.K/Kari!"

Those voices called the kids attentions and they looked past Killua to see their respective brothers waving at them with smiles on their faces. "Matt/Tai!"

They broke apart from the boy and ran to meet up with their siblings, leaving Killua on the ground with a content smile on his face.

The two children were swooped up by their brothers in a hug, happy that the nightmare was finally over, happy to be reunited and that they could finally go home.

Killua dusted himself up and sighed, stretching his sore and bruised limbs, holding back winces of pain as he did so. Piedmon certainly did a number on him, but he will live. Some couldn't say the same...

After the Digidestined and their partners went back to normal. Killua stood apart for a moment to bury the electroshock collar that Puppetmon used to wear, as a way of a makeshift burial. He dropped his limbs and a sad expression formed on his face. 'I never truly treat him like one, but he thought of me as a friend. And in his last moments, in some way, I did so too. Thanks Puppetmon.'

He felt a shadow over him and saw Magna Angemon smiling at him. "Thanks for protecting T.K while I wasn't present," He said and his folded wings started shining with a rainbow color. Immediately all of Killua's injuries started healing.

He let out a sigh of content and smiled at the angel. "Thanks, and it was nothing." He said with a carefree smile.

Who knew having your mind free from so many dark thoughts and machinations could be so relaxing? Killua didn't know if to kick his brother in the balls next time he saw him... Or stab in the eye with the same needle next time he saw him. Decisions, decisions.

Meanwhile, Mimi, Sora, and their partners stood in the edge, along with Andromon, who was ready to climb down the mountain. Sora gave him a puzzle look. "Are you really leaving?"

Andromon nodded. "Yes, I want to see how the world has rebuilt below us."

Chuumon jumped off Mimi's shoulder and landed on Andromon's. "I'll go too!" He said with enthusiasm.

Mimi looked saddened at the prospect of her little pink friend living. "Chuumon?"

"Sorry Mimi," He said. "But I wanna see the world now that everything's back to normal. Arrange everything back home the way Sukamon and I had it... And then... Maybe," He gave her a cheesy grin, "You would go out on a date with me?"

Mimi and Palmon exchanged looks, smiled at each other and turned to Chuumon with big gentle smiles and answered. "No!"

The mouse snapped his fingers. "Worth a shot!"

Andromon smiled. "Thanks for everything, Digidestined."

And the two leaped off, Chuumon hanging tightly to Andromon's skull, and the android activated a pair of propellers on his boots to fly down to the restored Digital World while the girls all waved at them.

Izzy was sitting by a rock as he typed on his computer, checking the map of the Spiral Mountain with a frown. "How strange... Even though all of the sectors in the mountain are gone, this area and the divisions are still there."

That brought the attention of the group and they gathered around the computer wiz, except for Killua and Tai who just wandered around the wasteland. Before they could ask him what that was about, he received a mail from. "It's a mail from Mister Gennai!" Izzy exclaimed and in his computer was shown a miniature version of the Digiman with, holding a letter.

Tai crossed his arms over his head with a smug smile. "Maybe he wants to congratulate us for beating the Dark Masters!" He boasted.

"Our true enemy isn't the Dark Masters," Izzy quoted, with a dreadful tone.

"WHAT?!"

There was a thunderclap and VictoryGreymon barely had time to grab a livid Killua from attacking the computer. "Letmeathim! Letmeathim!" He kept saying as he tried to claw his way to the computer.

VictoryGreymon tried to calm the boy down. "Killua, it's just a message! He's not here!"

"IT SHALL DO!" He bellowed. Black ball or not, the old man was seriously telling them that all this time they've been fighting the wrong guys?!

VictoryGreymon seemed desparate as he held the boy down. "Killua, no!"

"Killua, yes!"

Izzy, eyeing Killua kind of fearfully, gulped and continued. "The true enemy has been around us all the time. The Dark Masters were Digimon born from the distortions this being created. It is the source of all the dimensional curvatures between the worlds since ancient times."

"WHY DIDN'T HOMEOSTASIS TOLD US OF THIS?!" Killua roared as now many other Megas joined on hold him down.

Tai looked at Izzy, ignoring the scuffle the white haired boy was having with their Digimon. "The who's the real enemy?!"

At that moment... It started.

The ground started shaking and many fissures were created. The Megas dropped Killua, who had enough sense in him to reign his temper in, and surrounded the kids.

A red beam was shot from the base of the Dark Masters and soon turned black, covering the sky completly.

The apocalypse has come.

---

(Next time on Digimon X and X Hunter)

The apocalypse. The end of all.

As the Digidestined celebrate their victory, the one and true responsible rises from the shadows, accompanied by the cries of missery from the past.

Next time on Digimon X and X Hunter: Last X Darkness X Digimon.

Don't miss it.