The Digital Record: Finalized

by Atsora Asayoma

The final battle has begun. Allies and enemies will clash. Friends will fall. Those in the shadows will reveal themselves bringing everything to light and the Digidestined will have to play their part. Will this lead to a future where Takeru and Hikari can be together or will they be sacrificed to save both worlds? Regardless, the legacy of the Digital Record will be determined.

32. Rei Kurenada

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon

So looking back at things I realized that the short story is actually in a way a prologue to the three novels. What I am showing so far is that the short novella and the digital record: personified are probably the least popular. I assure you the content is relevant and worth it. But moving forward I am finally at last able to reveal to you the grand villain Rei Kurenada. I am sure looking back he will put most of the villains we have seen in the series to shame, but we will see won't we?

Chapter Thirty-Two: Rei Kurenada

Taichi watched on at one who could only be described as deity-like descended. His feet landed on the ground, but stood as if everyone was beneath him or made for his entertainment.A sardonic smile spread across his face.

"Greetings and Salutations," he said. "To the Digidestined, your respective Digimon, and to the forces of the Dark Ocean," he added. "Don't mind me being here. Go ahead and continue in your little battle. I'll just wait until your finished."

The moment he said that a powerful obsidian rent attack came at him, Rei instantly side stepping it, indifferent and not at all amused.

"How dare you?!" Terrormon barked. "Do you think this is some show for your amusement? I will see you in disgrace bound at my feet begging for mercy for this despicable comment!"

Rei sighed brushing his short hair back. "Such intensity is not becoming of a ruler. Instead of ruling with an iron fist you really should lay back. After all, those who are against you aren't really worth such effort are they?"

"I will make that determination!" he yelled. "You will not as so much insinuate a word of my dominance!"

With that he held up his hand in such a rage surprisingly summoning as many evil digimon as possible that were not used to make Baphemosmon.

"Slaughter him. I don't want to see even a speck of him remaining!" he proclaimed.

With that the digimon flew in rage at Rei; Rei just closing his eyes as all of the digimon that attacked instantly dissolved and were absorbed into him.

"What happened?!" Takeru asked.

"It's like that man just absorbed all of the data! And he did it without even lifting a finger!" Hikari replied.

"How can that be?" Koushiro questioned. "We're not talking about rookies. We're talking about mega level digimon!"

Homeostasis stared at him directly, her gaze meeting his eyes.

"Homeostasis!" he said. "It's been awhile hasn't it? Too long it seems."

"Not long enough," she replied. "I knew you were the one behind this," she said.

"Behind what?" Yamato asked.

"You knew all along but you neglected to tell the Digidestined this?" he smirked one upping her. "Clearly I'm still one step ahead of you. Just as I always have been."

"Stop this pointless back and forth!" Terrormon shouted. "How dare you do this in my presence!" he exclaimed. He lifted up his hand and the last of his army came forward merging themselves within him, Terrormon brimming with overwhelming strength.

"You will be added to my tapestry," he said. "As a warning for other fools who dare threaten my kingdom."

"Oh?" Rei said studying him. "Really Terrormon haven't you had enough of this foolhardiness? It's getting rather dull."

"What?!" Ken wondered.

"Uh, did he really just try to make the ultra super strong digimon king mad?" Daisuke asked.

"He's going to get himself killed!" Iori commented.

"Don't be so sure," Akama said. "Look at him. He's baiting him. This guy, Rei was it? He's not someone to be trifled with."

"Well, look out," Koushiro cautioned. "It's going to get hectic around here."

Terrormon grinned, holding up his new blade. "Behold, my ultimate blade, the Hell Stricken," he said. "It moans out from the agony of burning souls in the underworld and uses their burning corpses to fuel it's power. Now what say-"

"-How long are you just going to stand their and monologue?" Rei said in slight humor. "If you've got something to say, then show it. Only a foolish King says so many words. But that's not really a king then is it?" he laughed. "No, that's more like a jester!"

Terrormon roared in fury and came at Rei slashing wildly, obsidian renting, and moving all around, Rei gracefully dodging each attack as if he was an afterimage each time.

"How can you possess such speed?" Terrormon inquired. "Clearly you're conniving to best me, but I shall not fall for your tricks."

Rei appeared behind him slightly grinning. "So says every foolish king before their undoing."

"Those shall be your final words!" he cried turning around and slashing at Rei, Rei not even dodging and taking the attack. Instantly his body repaired itself with digital data much to the shock of everyone observing him.

"What the heck did he just do?!" Miyako asked. "That attack should have slashed him in half!"

"I don't know," Meiko said. "But...he can't be human. Maybe this is why the cult worshiped him. It's why they must have followed him!"

"It seems you have been bested," Rei said brushing his coat where he had been slashed, the stitching completely sewn back up as if it never happened. "Do you still wish to continue?"

Terrormon growled back at him, staring daggers.

"No need for that," he replied holding out his hand. "After all, why would we fight each other? You and I, We're on the same side."

"I would sooner perish," Terrormon in disgust. "Your trickery will not save you from destruction."

Rei shook his head as if pitying him in a mocking way. "Terrormon, you don't seem to understand. You're no Digimon King. You're my will manifested as a digimon. My will stayed in the dark ocean for so long it manifested a conscience of it's own. You were just the vessel that held it. What you believe is your right as the Dark King of the Dark Ocean is just my will manifested to dominate over all others."

"That's utter rubbish!" Terrormon denied. "I would never let myself be used in such a manner! I am not a manifestation of anything! I am my own! An ultimate mega digimon without peer!"

"Then why," Homeostasis intervened, "Why Rei did you return back now? You ended up saving the digidestined," she said. "I don't know your reasons, but you should have still been in the dark ocean never able to return. So how have you been able to come back?"

"How indeed?" Rei snickered. "Shall I explain it to you? Would you seek enlightenment?"

Homeostasis stared away as if not wanting to give him any satisfaction.

"Even gods know when they've met your match," he grinned. "Ok, fine. That digimon that Terrormon created called 'Baphemosmon', was it?' Yes, that one," he said as if talking to himself. "Baphemosmon supposedly was the summation of most of the dark ocean digimon, but that in truth was only so far as I allowed. The Dark Ocean is deeper than you think," he smiled. "It manipulates and lies even to those in the darkness. And you Terrormon were no different."

"That's a lie. I am the King of the Dark Ocean," Terrormon proclaimed. "No one can manipulate or control me."

"How can you say that when you are in the palm of my hand?" Rei mocked. "Even you summoning Baphemosmon was all a part of my plan. I knew the digidestined would destroy it. And, when that particular code was destroyed, that released me from the darker depths of the dark ocean, and some of my power with it," he chuckled. "You were doing my bidding, and you didn't even know it."

Terrormon gritted his teeth and pointed his blade at him. "My pride will not allow me to show you any deference." He furiously engulfed himself in his own power and swung his blade at him releasing screaming piercing slashing demonic entities at him. "Be undone!" he shouted, the blades hitting Rei, but then utterly dissolving.

"What?!" Terrormon exclaimed.

Rei calmly walked towards him, Terrormon completely vulnerable as Rei placed his hand on his body.

"I will not be defeated!" he shouted panicking. "I will not be-

-Within moments Terrormon had been completely dissolved, his data absorbed into Rei, the Digidestined at a loss of words unable to fathom the mystery and the power, and the cunning evil being that was Rei Kurenada.

"You weren't defeated Terrormon," he grinned placing his hand over his heart. "You're only returning where you belong."

Taichi stared on at the man, the mysterious figure, not quite sure if he was staring at a human or something more. The others seemed uneasy the way despite how difficult it had been just to survive against Terrormon, Rei Kurenada had dispatched him almost effortlessly. What's more, his interference had saved their lives.

The eyes of Rei Kurenada scanned over them as if just by them looking at him they had fallen under a mischievous spell.

"Digidestined," he said with one hand in his pocket. "At last we meet. This back and forth between us has gone on for quite awhile. But you have completed the tasks that I have set out for you. For that you have my praise," he said as if he was above them.

"And you Homeostasis, I have not seen you in a human form since your ancestors were mangled in the jaws of the primordial dark ones," he said. "I never thought you would ever get one again. I for sure thought you would only be able to possess the digidestined."

"The feeling is not mutual," Homeostasis replied solemnly. "Don't speak so friendly with me when you have been the one who started all of this mess."

He only smiled back cheerfully.

"You look just like Hisashi," Meiko said. "You have the same demeaning stare like you're looking down at us," she said.

"Hisashi?" he wondered placing his hand to his chin. "Ah? Yes, him. My passed on descendant. He was a good little marionette; ably to be easily strung along for vain glory. The fool. But he did have my good looks," he said. "And he fulfilled his purpose. As will all of you."

"We will not be your play things," Meiko said drawing her digital incisors. "How could you smugly treat other people like this! Digimon and people!"

"Oh my," he said walking closer to her, Meiko shuddering as he walked towards her, Meiko's hand shaking holding the digital incisors. "You seem to be misunderstanding something," he said placing his hand on her shoulder. "You don't have any choice. Whether you want to or don't want to does not matter to me. I will use you how I see fit."

Meiko shuddered all throughout her body, the blades shaking in her hands.

"N-no!" she exclaimed surprising thrusting one of the blades through his heart.

Everyone looked on shocked what she did, the digital incisor barely in her hand.

"Hmm?" he said staring down unfazed by it. Dark digital data danced around the spot where he was supposedly injured.

He grabbed her hand and pulled it back.

"I-I don't understand," Meiko said, her mind racing unsure why he was unaffected. "Why? Why isn't the data vanishing?!"

"It's quite simple," he smirked. "I made those little toys of yours. While you acted out your part as a hero you honestly thought you could defeat me with those. But I had Hisashi insert the data that made those digital incisors in a convenient folder for your father to find. He fashioned them to sever dark ocean digital code, but against myself they are powerless. Just like you."

At that moment Meiko sank to her knees, practically paralyzed. "If it wasn't for you," he said bending down whispering as if poison into her ear, "I would not have been able to obtain the key to return. How fitting it is that the last member of the watchers of the periphery turned out to be it's undoing. You and Hisashi, The Watchers of the Periphery and even Apotheoseia, you all completed your purpose. That little dopamine thrill of success all of you share thinking you've accomplished something meaningful, your reward. Like Pavlov's dogs," he slyly insulted.

Meiko buried her face in her hands and wept bitterly, the other digidestined looking on, upset by him.

"Just who do you think you are?!" Yamato shouted.

"What gives you the right to treat people like that?" Sora added.

His candid eyes looked up at her, Taichi unnerved just looking at him.

"Who do I think I am?" he asked. "Who even is asking this question? I hear chatter, but it's nothing more than the squirming of maggots," he said, his tone dropping in disgust.

"You seem to think you're beyond humanity," Koushiro said. "And you very well may be. But you aren't a god or anything like that. And you are causing unparalleled levels of destruction. And all for what? What is your goal?"

He only smirked, all of the digidestined looking at him angrily, even the digimon.

"Taichi," Omegamon said, "I don't know what it is, but I want to fight him."

"You can't," he said grabbing his claw. "He's still human Omegamon. You're not able to."

"But frankly," Taichi said, "I want to punch him myself."

"Me to!" Daisuke said. "I'm sick of sickos like this guy looking down at us!"

"No matter how attractive you are, it's still not right!" Miyako exclaimed.

"You should be ashamed of yourself!" Iori said.

Taichi noticed Takeru and Hikari look on understanding, but almost as if they understood both sides. It was a wonder they were not standing with the others.

"Don't let me hold your digimon back on my account," he said. "Go ahead. Let them fight. See what happens."

They all looked at him nervously as if they wanted to, but were hesitant.

"Oh you have no need to worry. All of your digimon don't have a single trace of dark ocean code. I can't absorb them into myself even if I wanted to."

"Good enough for me," Ken said. "Daisuke. You ready?'

"Better believe it," he said. "Go Imperialdramon fighter mode!"

With that his digimon got up and came at Rei Kurenada.

"You leave me no choice," Imperialdramon said. "You're a threat to all worlds. You must be destroyed for the sake of the future! Pulsatron laser!"

The attack came at Kurenada, but instantly the attack deflected away into data bits, but not absorbing into him.

"Huh?!"Daisuke exclaimed.

"What just happened?!" shouted Ken.

"And how were we able to attack him?" Iori asked.

"This is seriously bad news guys," Miyako said slightly afraid.

"You don't get it," Takeru said walking towards him, Rei turning to him as if amused.

"Ah, the digital record holder. And in his shadow the emissary of light. You two are most fascinating," he said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Takeru grinned slightly. "Rei Kurenada, was it? I thought I recognized you."

"You recognized me?" he said. "Even though we've never met?"

"The digital record holds all the records of the battles the digital world has faced," he said. "And like a signature your data, your code appears on all of them. I only know now because I see you face to face and match it. You've caused us to go through quite a lot," he said. "But, even so, you still haven't been able to defeat us. Even after all you tried. Especially trying to take out Hikari with Myotismon, or me with Devimon. You tried and failed. It's not going to be any different."

Rei chuckled a bit. "Doesn't that make you wonder?" he asked. "How your digimon can attack me? How even in their code they are able to surpass it?"

"That kind of makes sense," Hikari said. "But how exactly can that be?"

"Why don't you ask your progenitor?" he asked looking onward at Homeostasis. "I'm sure now that she has no choice she will explain it to you."

Hikari walked forward to her and grasped her hand. "What is he saying?" she asked.

All the digidestined looked at her confused, but expecting.

"The simple truth digidestined is that every source of digital code follows a certain algorithm and cannot break it. This algorithm or 'law' is set by the one who created the digital data."

"The one who created the digital data?" Koushiro said. "Fascinating. Do you mean the creator of the internet?"

"No," she replied. "What I'm about to say is going to shock you," she said. "But you must understand. The Digital World is the Digital World as you see it, but it's not what you think it is."

"Please, tell us," Koushiro said.

"The Digital World is another world. It is digital, but not based off of human constructs. What you see as computers, or cell phones or lines that look like they hold this digital data is only an interface. Those are gateways into the digital world. And the link that promoted interaction between these two worlds was given by the creator of the digital world. The god of the digital world. He set the laws on digimon to fight against virus dark ocean coded types. So it makes sense why you can attack Rei Kurenada."

"So this digital god," Taichi said. "How can we get ahold of it?"

"Is it like the four sovereign?" Koushiro asked.

She shook her head. "Each digimon carries a part of the creator. It is written in their code, but the creator itself is not a digimon."

"Then how can we get ahold of him?" Joe asked. "Things are really looking really bad. I'd say we're due for some kind of divine intervention right now."

Homeostasis nodded her head and placed her hand over her heart. "Unfortunately, for the longest time I've not been able to sense the creator's presence. But his will has lived on in the laws in place," she said. "Such as the contracts binding digimon and humans. And he is alive in spirit with the crests of the digidestined," she said.

"In other words," Rei said. "god has abandoned the digital world. Only some previous laws have been kept. So, the position is vacant, ripe for the taking," he said looking at his hand.

"Not if we have anything to say about it!" Yamato said. "Taichi!" he said looking at him, Taichi nodding his head.

"We're not going to let you just do whatever you want!" he exclaimed. "Omegamon! We have to take him down!"

Omegamon's eyes burned with intensity and he faced his opponent, his supreme cannon sticking towards him.

"We're not going to let this happen either!" Akama said. "It will be disastrous for all. For honor Noblemon!"

"For honor!" he replied coming at him.

"Don't leave us behind!" Mimi exclaimed as Rosemon joined the fray.

"We're all in this together!" Joe added, Vikemon rumbling over.

"Even still doing this guys I still don't like the odds!" Koushiro protested as HerculesKabuterimon zinged over.

"But we don't have any other choice!" Sora retorted as the golden feathered Phoenixmon flew over. "If we don't give it our all right now their will be nothing left!"

"Not just now, but for any generations to come. Rasielmon, you know what you must do," Meiko ordered, Rasielmon nodding and heading over his way.

"We're not going down either mega digimon or not!" Miyako shouted.

"We're going to fight to the end just like others!" Iori echoed her.

Takeru and Hikari looked at Homeostasis and looked over at the battle.

"We have to defeat him Hikari," he said determined.

"Mhm," she replied hesitantly. "But is it really so simple?"

"We have to try," he said putting a hand on her shoulder and looking her in the eye. "We can't back down. With Hallowedmon here maybe it can finally put an end to this darkness once and for all."

Homeostasis closed her eyes as if hesitant to give the order.

"Why do you hesitate so?" Rei Kurenada asked laughing slightly. "Could it be you know what will happen? Are you so scared to let your pawns go? They are made for sacrifice after all."

Homeostasis steeled herself and pointed her staff at him. "Digidestined, see the truth for yourselves," she said. "Put away this blight if you can."

With that the digidestined and their digimon ran over to Rei Kurenada to strike him down.

"Supreme Cannon!" Omegamon shouted unleashing it at him, Rei simply standing still, a huge chunk taken out of his chest.

The other digimon followed up with their own attacks, masses of black digital data appearing where Rei had been injured.

Even the Hammer tail of Ankylomon and blast rings of Aquilamon which blasted him and embedded his form in the ground did damage.

They stood looking over him, Rei having been completely obliterated.

"Did we really get him?" Taichi asked.

"Is it over?" Ken inquired.

In an instant as if out of nowhere black digital data returned to him and instantly piecing together his body, Rei not even being fazed like he had been attacked or even felt pain. The last of it stitched his cheek, Rei smiling at their horrified expressions.

No one could even say anything they were so overwhelmed.

"Are you beginning to understand now?" Homeostasis inquired. "Rei is not a digimon. He has become a law, a sort of deity figure of dark digital data. No digimon that currently exists can destroy him."

"Then shouldn't we have focused on him instead of Terrormon?" Koushiro asked. "He is a much bigger threat!"

"I was hoping Terrormon would have been eliminated first," she said. "I did not expect Rei Kurenada to come back after all the effort had been made to seal him away. I knew that he could be contained at least, but the expressions of his power, the dark digital data could be deleted by you Digidestined."

Rei smiled cheerfully towards her. "Homeostasis, you are being too kind to your pawns," he said. "I certainly would have berated them for failure and destroyed them by now."

Taichi hesitated walking over to him and fell to his knees powerless in front of him, despondent as if their was nothing he could do. "Just what is it you want?" he asked.

"Hmm?" Rei contemplated. He walked over to him and put his boot over his head.

"To survive," he said coldly. "To ensure my existence will never end."

"And that's what you used us for?" he asked.

"It's only fitting," Rei replied. "The pawns Homeostasis was going to use to destroy me, I used all for my benefit. Just like the rag dolls you are," he snickered. "You all danced like good little marionettes doing my bidding and didn't even know it. You are truly pathetic."

"We're not pathetic," Taichi replied getting up pushing his boot off of him. "None of us are. The only pathetic one," he said growing angrier, "Is you! You're just projecting you're insecurities with humanity!" he exclaimed.

"Oh really?" Rei said walking closer to him.

"Just look at you," he said. "Mr. Crest of Courage huh? You think walking flesh bags of meat so easily manipulated have any right to exist?" he questioned touching his chest squeezing it, Taichi wincing.

"Taichi!" Yamato shouted.

"No!" Meiko shouted rushing over to him.

"Hands off my friend!" Yamato shouted rushing over and punching Rei in the face, Rei not even disturbed by him.

"Every single one of you," he said barely touching Meiko with his finger sending her flying and then lifting up Yamato by the scruff of his shirt. "You have outlived your purpose. Now that I have returned I will grant you death."

"No you won't! Hikari shouted panicking, everyone looking at her. "Drop my brother right now!"

Rei seemed to let down his guard, as if intrigued by her.

He dropped both of them walking over to her, Takeru holding up one arm to protect her, but he swatted him out of the way, to the side, Takeru struggling to even move.

"Takeru!" she exclaimed.

"Well," he said. "It seems out of the rest of this garbage you still have a purpose," he said staring into her eyes.

He smiled, adoring it. "How wonderful," he said. "Like a fragile light about to break," he said, his sinister hand grasping around her neck just holding her.

"You get your hands off of her right now!" Taichi growled holding his throat.

"That goes double for me!" Daisuke roared.

"Someone check to see if Takeru is ok," Yamato said concerned.

"I'm on it," Iori said rubbing his back. "Takeru!" he called out. "Take-"

-At that moment Takeru stood up, his eyes brimming with a light, which threw off all of them.

"I haven't forgotten," he said, his crest glowing violently over his heart. At that moment, he grasped his fist, the fist coursing with digital energy.

"Takeru, what are you doing?!" Homeostasis exclaimed. "You aren't the digital record anymore! You released it all! You can't use this power!"

He seemed to ignore her, turning and rushing towards Rei Kurenada. "Hands off!" he exclaimed, throwing his fist, a silhouette of angemon's hand of fate attack coursing through his arm against Rei Kurenada, the energy completely severing off the arm that held onto Hikari.

She quickly went over to his side, shaking.

"How unpleasant," Rei Kurenada said scratching his throat. "You were able to manipulate digital data based off of your memories weren't you?" he said. "I should have expected no less from Homeostasis's hopeful knight. You make me want to tear out my own throat," he said scratching it annoyed, black digital data quickly mending heavy tearing slashes to it.

He looked at his arm expecting his data to restore him, but it lingered ever slightly.

"I suppose," he said, "I will have to forgive you Takeru," he mused. "You just redeemed yourself. It seems you also have a purpose now."

"What is he talking about? He's talking to himself a lot!" Mimi said.

"Well, you're one to talk Mimi especially when it comes to making decisions," Koushiro replied.

I don't think this is an appropriate time for sarcasm," Joe quipped. "It's not like anyone could end up dead or anything."

They watched Rei study them, all of them anxious wondering what his plans were for them.

"Well then," he said. "I suppose since surprisingly one of you were able to injure me I should throw you a bone. A dog does bite it's master every now and then," he said manifesting a bone out of digital data and throwing it to them as if insulting them. "So I will give you something to chew on. You know how Homeostasis told you the Digital World follows certain laws of nature. And also does this world, such as gravity."

"Yes," Koushiro said. "Both worlds follow certain laws, but only the digital world operates based off of digital code. Each law has a certain algorithm and the data has to follow it."

"Correct," he said with malice and contempt, "But what do you think would happen if I took a law in the digital world and applied it to the real world?"

That's madness! Taichi exclaimed. "You could literally destroy the world!"

"Oh, but so many problems will be solved if all the worlds follow the same laws. Just think about it. Think about all the suffering the worlds have suffered because of the anomalies. Remember what Ordinemon did? Recall all the problems the world has experienced because of Digimon. The world still views them as monsters, even though they are common, but they are nuisances. If Digimon were no longer nuisances and we were all under one god, one law, wouldn't that solve all of these problems?"

"That's a lie!" Homeostasis growled. "You're the one that caused all of these problems in the first place!"

. "Sure enough," Rei Chuckled. "But the cure to most problems are made by creating a few more in the short run. What I have done is no different."

"Turning everyone into a digimon is not the answer," Joe said. "What you're doing is ethnic cleansing. You hate humanity so much you are trying to rid this world of them."

"And not only that," Mimi added, "But you're changing them into those horrible creatures. Have you seen the walking corpses of those souls that went to the dark ocean? How can you call anything like that solving a problem?!"

"Let's just say," he smirked, "That surgery is not pretty."

"This is insane!" Daisuke shouted. "We're not going to let you take our world! We're not going to let mankind become monsters! We'll save this world!"

He laughed a bit holding out his hands. "Take a look around you," he said. "With all the problems mankind has been facing how many of those weak walking bags of flesh are left? I can feel every soul that is added to the dark ocean. It's in the hundreds of millions he said. This world is facing it's judgment day and only the hand of god can save this world."

"You can't be serious!" Iori said frustrated. "Why do you hate humanity so much? What did we ever do to you to make you do all of this?"

"I simply loathe all of you," he said staring at them as if he was looking through them all. The hearts that beat within you. The way you think. The way you act. The way you profit. I hate all of it. But that's all. I don't hate any one of you personally. I hate all of you equally. Which is why I am not showing anger. I am far beyond such petty destructive emotion."

"You're a monster!" Miyako exclaimed. "Just a demon!"

"That's good," he smiled. "You vilifying me as a villain is probably for the best. But now that's enough of all of this banter. The worlds yearn to follow the same law merging into the same entity. I will not wait any longer."

He then snapped his fingers as a huge gateway manifested in front of them.

"What is that?" Ken asked.

"The Door to the Dark Ocean."

"That should not be able to be here!" Homeostasis shouted.

He chuckled slightly as if enjoying himself.

"When you continually insert anomalies into another world that follows different laws, the more anomalies are inserted, the greater the chance of manipulating those laws. Because of Terrormon and the interference between both worlds, the code of transcription between this world, the digital world, and the dark ocean are now complementary. Once I unleash the flood gates, the dark ocean will flood this world and bring the remaining ones to the dark ocean changing them into dark digimon whether they like it or not," he said casually glancing at them all.

The Digidestined looked at him abrasively eager to resist him.

"My only obstacle is all of you," he said. "You the digidestined. But once you have been subdued, their will be no one to resist."

"Want to make a bet?" Taichi exclaimed. "You aren't just fighting the chosen digidestined. You're fighting all of us!" he said.

From out of every single direction digimon and their digimon partners showed up determined to battle. Many familiar. Others foreign. It was as if the entire city had become populated by digidestined and had gathered together to stop him and the end of the world.

Rei only grinned. "So the whole flock has gathered together? Perfect, I don't need to bore myself with hunting you down," he said.

He held up one hand to the flood gate, everyone watching him in horror as if he would open it.

"Are you mad?! You're going to drown us all!" Hikari exclaimed.

"We've got to stop him!" Takeru shouted.

The other digidestined nodded their heads agreeing with him, each of them determined.

With that all their digimon unleashed there most destructive attack at him, but he continued moving unfazed by any attack.

"Takeru!" Taichi shouted. "I don't know how, but you were the only who could hurt him!" Taichi shouted. "Can you do it again?"

He could not help but notice the worry in his sister's eyes for Takeru, Taichi hesitant to let him answer.

"I will stop him," Takeru said, his eyes lighting up as if the digital record had started being activated again. "We don't have any other choice."

With that his eyes looked like they were processing information at a rapid pace as if his brain could barely keep up with him. He started motioning forward, his fist ready to attack just like before with the 'hand of fate' attack somehow he had processed from digital data of his memories with Angemon.

At that moment he was about to unleash it Homeostasis walked up behind him and whacked him in the back of his head, Takeru falling to the ground, panting heavily

"That is extremely risky," Homeostasis said. "You are flesh Takeru and the digital record is data. If you try to combine the power of both you risk their being complicated factors."

"Complicated factors?" Hikari said concerned bending down to him. "Like how?"

"Their is a chance the data could overcome his mind if it is not able to keep up. That means he could start convulsing or worse yet suffer a brain aneurysm. It could even be fatal."

"No!" Hikari said shaking Takeru's shoulders desperately. "Takeru you can't use that!" she pleaded. "Even if the world does become enveloped by the dark ocean I don't want to lose you!"

"No one does," Homeostasis agreed. "And if one of you are lost, neither of you will not be able to destroy the darkness. The world will not survive another day if that happens."

Takeru listened to all of their words struggling to move himself. He felt as if his body had just ran an exhausting marathon and he had exhausted all his energy reservoirs.

"Is that all you have?" Rei Kurenada inquired casually, a look of disappointment on his face. "Don't tell me it was a desperation move? Where is the thrill in that? For an instant life had gotten a touch exciting."

"We're not your play things!" Hikari said angrily confronting him. "You can't just do whatever you want with us!"

He looked at her strangely. "What a strange girl you are," he said stroking her cheek with two of his fingers. "You are on the brink of tears and when you break down you will collapse into an abyss pulling the light with you into the darkness," he said as if she was mesmerizing. "Yes, that will be your purpose," he said grabbing her by her forearm.

"Let go of her!" Takeru panted trying his best to get up. "Hi...kari!" he yelled out exasperated.

"You have no need to worry about her," he said holding her up like a prize he had just caught. "After all, she will always be with you won't she? Where there is light there is hope, or, heh, some other nonsense like that," he snickered. "Anyways we've got to go!"

"You're not going anywhere!" Taichi said running up to him along with the others. "We'll stop you!"

Rei shook his head smiling not even bothering to open them.

"Digidestined," he said. "I pity you. Used and then discarded like dirty rags," he said trying to conceal laughter. "Like shellfish caught and swept away with the tide," he said holding out his hand and snapping his fingers.

At that instant the doors of the dark ocean burst and a flood of dark ocean digital code flooded in as if trying to sweep them all away.

The waters ravaged them, Taichi lifting up Takeru trying his best to keep them all together.

"Everyone get on top of me!" HerculesKabuterimon exclaimed. "I can handle this!" he shouted as the waves rushed towards them.

Taichi passed Takeru to Yamato and everyone climbed up on his back as the waters started to flow across everything pounding against Hercules Kabuterimon.

"What about the other digidestined?!" Daisuke shouted. "There's no room up here for them!"

"We're on it!" Ankylomon said, as the other digimon rescued the champion level and other digidestined, although not all of them could be saved. Helplessly about a 1/6th of them got completely swept away to who knows where.

They looked on at the devastation hardly able to recognize their city they lived in.

"Truly this has to be the end of days," Ken concluded. "All of this destruction, this havoc, and the loss of life. This world will never be the same."

Iori nodded his head. "Yes, that's if it lasts that long. I hope my grandpa's ok out there."

"I'm sure we're all worried about our family's," Miyako agreed. "I can't believe though those others just got swept away like that."

"They are probably dead," Akama admitted. "They should never have come here. At their level, what would they have hoped to accomplish?"

"Nothing," Yamato said, "but they still came believing they could do something. They would not just let this world be taken over without a fight."

"Hikari," Takeru winced, Yamato giving him his shoulder for support as he managed to stay standing. "Where is she?"

"Look over there!" Mimi shouted, everyone noticing Rei Kurenada walk on the digital ocean code back in front of the door.

"You bastard!" Taichi shouted. "Rei where is my sister?!"

"Getting ready to fulfill her purpose," he said. "But, it seems she's not ready. She's going to go get prepared," he said holding out both hands. "The ocean has already taken her to her destination. It's time I go make sure the rehearsal is going smoothly," he said turning around about to enter through the doorway.

"Not if we stop you first!" Daisuke shouted. "You're not going anywhere!"

As if it irked him Rei turned around, a look of irritation on his face. "Honestly, you're trying too hard to make me want to kill you," he leered. "But if that's what you want then who am I to deny you your wish?"

He snapped his fingers once more and immediately out of the dark ocean gates four streams of darkness appeared taking on phanton-like forms of the like they had ever seen.

"What are all those digimon?!" Miyako shouted. "Koushiro!" she shouted.

"I'm looking!" he snapped. "I've been going through the history of the digital world that I have, but I am not seeing anything in the records!"

"Of course you wouldn't," Takeru said managing to steady himself. "They are not a part of the digital record. They are not even in my recollection of the digital record."

"So what does that mean?" Taichi asked.

"That could only mean that they exist completely apart from the digital world," Takeru replied.

Koushiro mulled his answers over to himself and then slammed his hands down. "Wait a minute then that means that-"

"-Correct," Rei Kurenada said clapping his hands. "These are living embodiments of dark ocean digital data, the Primordial Darkness," he declared. "They should be be more than enough to exterminate the rest of you."

"They look really strong guys," Joe said. "Don't we have insurance for something like this? We pay the premium with our lives nearly every day!"

"I'm not even quite sure what level they are," Koushiro said sweating, "But I can say with no doubt that they are as strong as a mega level, if not an ultimate mega level."

"Then that means that only Omegamon has a chance against it!" Taichi realized. "But against four of them?! How can we defeat something like that?"

Takeru stared over at the digimon and then at Rei Kurenada grinning over to them. "Oh? Don't be so surprised," he said. "After all, I do want to give you a chance."

With that he scooped up a chunk of digital data from the waters and flung it over towards Koushiro the data entering his computer.

"A little parting gift for you," he said. "The information you want to know. Not that it's going to do you any good."

"What did he give you Koushiro?" Taichi asked putting his hand over his shoulder.

"The information about all of those digimon," he swallowed. "And, by the looks of them I was exactly right. The Primordial Darkness are nearly as strong as the digimon sovereign!"

"Then how can we ever defeat it?!" Yamato said angrily. "There's got to be a way!"

"There is," Takeru said unusually serious staring at Rei Kurenada, Rei locking eyes with him. "I have a feeling about all of this. And if I am right then we can win and get Hikari back," he said walking over to Koushiro's computer.

"Hey Takeru, did you need something?" Koushiro questioned.

Takeru smiled, no one able to read him. He placed his hand against his computer his hand vibrating as if a surge of energy or information flooded into him.

"Takeru what are you doing?" he asked. "If you fry the computer then any information we can use to win the battle will be gone!"

"That's not what I'm doing," he said passing by him and walking to the edge.

"Um, Yamato, has your brother lost it?" Sora asked.

"No idea," he said. "But Takeru's got a look in his eye. Something tells me he's got this."

With that Takeru turned back towards them and smiled. "I'll be back soon," he said jumping down and to everyone's surprise landing on top of the dark ocean current.

"Oh?" Rei said curiously.

Takeru boldly made strides over to him, the others exclaiming in the background how he could walk on the currents, but he paid them no mind. He kept moving determined to face Rei until they were standing next to each other.

"Interesting," Rei Kurenada said crossing his arms, his blue green eyes sharp and studying him. "You took the information I gave to Koushiro and somehow translated it into the knowledge of the digital record. Then recognizing that newfound knowledge you found patches of it from the dark ocean coded data and are now standing before me."

Takeru merely nodded his head not taking his eyes off of him.

"That's quite a glare you have there," he said. "You must absolutely loathe me like I loathe all of you. But it can't be helped. I did after all take the light away from you."

"And I'm going to take her back," he said, the monstrous forms of the Primordial Darkness bearing down on him. "And you won't stop me."

"Oh, I have no intention to," he admitted holding up both hands as if pretending to be powerless. "However, I can't say the same about them," he said looking towards the others floating on the dark ocean currents, HerculesKabuterimon like an island.

"They'll be fine," Takeru said. "I believe in them. But I will rescue Hikari. I've rescued her time and time again," he said. "I won't fail."

Akama snickered walking up to him, placed his hand on his shoulder and whispered into his ear.

"You've failed from the start."

"You don't know that," he replied not even bothering to flinch.

"Well then," he said, 'Prove me wrong hopeful knight Takeru Takaishi."

With that Rei pointed his finger towards the others and the dark ocean current elevated like a wave and went over to the digidestined on HerculesKabuterimon.

"Digidestined," he declared. "See your obstacle before you, the Primordial Dark Ones. They will see to your demise while I complete the destruction of your world. Your only hope is this young man you see standing here, however, I don't want you to get hopeful. Because I tell you now," he said, "Even this is all a part of my plan. You will all play your part and then be torn asunder like scraps of meat being feasted on by hounds."

"Just what are you going to do?!" Taichi shouted. "What does Hikari have to do with all of this? Why does the darkness always want her?!"

"For one simple reason," he calmly replied. "Once she is stripped of her light, she will attract all those that remain towards the darkness with a dark light, and their any stragglers will be changed to dark ocean code."

"I won't let that happen," Takeru said solemnly. "And I'm not going to go along with what you say. I'll save her Rei Kurenada. You'll see."

"We will won't we?" he teased. "Struggle and writhe," he said with contempt. Turning towards all of the digidestined he held his arms wide open. Rei Kurenada grinned ever so slightly above their petty efforts. "Should you reach where she is," he said, "I will be waiting for you. Only you can give her the ultimate despair necessary for my machinations. Be worthy of that achievement," he challenged. With that he kept his eyes open as he fell forward into the dark ocean vanishing from sight.

Takeru stared down where he left knowing that he would surely have to follow him. The others looked up towards him, determination in their eyes.

"You swear you'll bring her back?" Daisuke said. "Because if you don't I'll beat you so hard you'll wish you were still in the dark ocean!"

"Hey, that's going too far," Iori warned.

"No it's not," Takeru replied smiling. "And Daisuke, Taichi, I'm not coming back without her. There's no way I would spare myself and sacrifice her," he said. "I'm not like that," he declared, the feeling making him sick just thinking about it.

"I hear you bro," Yamato said. "No one blames you for what happened."

"What are you talking about Yamato?"

"We know you blame yourself for what happened when the dark ocean record had possessed you," Sora said. "But don't worry. We are here supporting you. All of us are."

"You guys," Takeru said turning towards them shyly looking away. "Thank you," he said, his back turned towards the dark ocean. "Thank you for trusting me."

"On that note," Taichi said, "Takeru, Hikari trusts you more than anyone in the world. And I'm going to too. I know you can do it. I know you can make it through the dark ocean to reach her."

Takeru nodded his head. "The thing is," he said, "I don't know if my crest will be enough to reach her," he said. "Their is….a lot of dark digital code to get through," he said. "So I'm not sure if I will make it through in one piece," he said optimistically cautious. He walked over towards the others on the currents and leaping onto Hercule's Kabuterimon's back standing in front of the others. He smiled as if it was the only way he could reassure them.

Taichi placed one hand stretching out to his shoulder. "Hey," he said firmly, "Remember in the battle with Apocalymon all those years ago? Our crests carried the strengths of everyone. But it's going to be different this time," he said.

"Different how?" he asked.

"Because," he said, "You are taking us this time! Through our crests!" he shouted, the other digidestined kind of in wonder about his words.

"So here," he said holding out his digivice towards him. "Take my courage!" he commanded.

"And my friendship bro!" Yamato demanded.

"And my love for all of us!" Sora suggested

"And the knowledge to have a strategy!" Koushiro informed him.

"And the sincerity to be forthright and unwavering!" Mimi encouraged.

"You can also have the forgiveness to not hold back from doubt or remorse!" Meiko recommended.

"And you will need to maintain yourself in your position. Be courteous! But be victorious!" Akama ordered.

"And you can't forget about us!" Daisuke yelled. "We don't got the crests, but we got spirit!" he yelled.

"Except me," Ken said, "but I've never utilized the crest of kindness myself. Just be yourself Takeru," he suggested. "Be kind."

"And don't forget Hikari's counting on you to!" Miyako cheered.

"We're all counting on you!" Iori yelled. "Go get her back!"

Takeru nodded facing the waters.

Suddenly to the left and right of him he felt digital paws and hooves hold his hand.

"We're going to!" Tailmon declared. "You can't change my mind. I love her just as much as you do!"

"And we've been through so many adventures together Takeru," Patamon smiled. "Don't even think of leaving me behind. You know I know where you keep all your snacks!"

Takeru could not help but smile, encouraged by everyone.

"Okay," he said leaning over the edge. "Here we go, guys. Their is no turning back. You ready?'

"Yeah!" Tailmon and Patamon both said.

"Ok then," he said closing his eyes. "We're going...for Hikari," he stated falling forward, closing his eyes, splashing into the dark depths.