To my utter lack of shock, this chapter took a while to edit and streamline. It's hard to fit these kinds of chapters under 800 words sometimes. There's a lot that happens here, as you'll soon see.

Case 7: Heart

Takumi felt less present and less human each day. He refrained from absorbing data, but even that wasn't enough. How long until he decayed, like Kowloon Park had once again? Maybe that was why he liked to linger here, even well past 4:00 am. Or maybe it was because this was the closest point to the Digital World.

But Takumi's day had come. The Vanguard's Angewomon had found him. She drew her bow but didn't fire, waiting for him to transform. This wasn't vengeance, just responsibility.

Though most spirits feared them, Takumi occasionally worked with the Vanguard. Sometimes he wasn't strong enough to take down a rampaging spirit himself. He also knew the only reason they hadn't exorcised him yet was because they had bigger threats to deal with. Something they always let Takumi know.

But now, there were no distractions. And that...was fine. Perfect, even.

Takumi didn't say anything either, digivolving to Unimon. At first he didn't know if he was strong enough, but he was. Good. This could be a proper final battle then.

A Champion Digimon would never be a match against an Ultimate, but Takumi held nothing back. He flitted through the air as Celestial Arrows zipped past him, firing Holy Shots from his mouth in return. Light versus light, protector versus protector...yes, Angewomon was a fitting final opponent. If only his friends were here to see it. If only he could say goodbye...

But one too many Celestial Arrows struck him, and he de-digivolved and plummeted. Angewomon hovered above, already preparing another Celestial Arrow for his heart...or rather, his DigiCore.

"Farewell, honorable spirit," said Angewomon. "Best wishes for your next li-"

But something invisible landed on Angewomon, snatched her light arrow, and then stabbed her with it. With a shout more shocked than hurt, she released out a blast of light from her whole body. The invisible attacker yelled as he got sent flying, slamming into the giant panda tube slide. The invisibility shimmered off, revealing Arata, his glare furious and unapologetic.

What was Arata doing here? It was 4:44 in the morning.

"Stand aside, Arata," said Angewomon, as she healed the unexpected arrow wound. "This is a spirit, a unfortunate tangle of human memory and Digimon data. Whoever this spirit used to be is no more, and it's only fated to devolve and corrupt further. That is why it must be put to rest."

"Like hell you are!" spat Arata. With amazing speed he snatched up Takumi, running for the Kowloon exit portal. Those unnaturally fast steps...he was using some kind of speed hack.

"Arata..." said Takumi, his body flickering a little. "...She's right, I'm not..."

"Shut up Takumi," Arata snarled. "I already lost you once..."

"Do you need closure then, Arata?" Angewomon glided after them effortlessly. She drew her bow back once more.

Arata growled, before activating his Cloak Hide hack to make himself and Takumi vanish.

Good idea, thought Takumi. She can't aim if she can't-

"Celestial Arrow!"

Takumi and Arata screamed as the arrow of light skewered both of them through the heart. Arata stumbled wildly, before falling forward.

"Arata!" Takumi yelled, his voice crackling with static. How did Angewomon hit us so cleanly?

All he heard from Arata were hisses and gasps. His body bled data around the arrow.

And...And she attacked Arata! Without a second thought! Anger mixed with Takumi's horror.

"I know that is not your real body, Arata. It matters little if I destroy it," said Angewomon, her eyes...right, her eyes were always behind a helmet. Cloak Hide did nothing against someone who didn't use mortal sight. "So if you want to sacrifice it to protect the spirit of your friend, I will honor that decision. May it give you closure, knowing you did everything possible."

"...Everything possible, huh?" Arata only held Takumi tighter.

Angewomon loaded another Celestial Arrow.

A new panic flashed through Takumi. Panic and...power? Where was this power...

...Arata. The data from Arata's arrow wound was bleeding into his own. And not just his avatar data, but his mental data as well. Arata's fury, sorrow, and, above all, terror.

All this frothed Takumi's own feelings into an uncontrollable, protective madness. He wouldn't let Angewomon hurt Arata anymore! Because suddenly, Takumi knew in his heart-

Takumi digivolved in a blast of light, throwing Arata off him. But Takumi was only Unimon for a moment, before going straight into Ultimate form. Now he was Hippogriffmon, with the head of an eagle, the body of a lion, and the wings and color of an angel.

He flew to Arata, who was still dazed, and pulled out the Celestial Arrow in him. Then he turned to Angewomon, the arrow snapping in his beak, before screeching with enough rage to rend the heavens.

And so here is where the plot really starts, though this is still a slower-paced fic overall. Let me know what you guys think of the latest development!