(Author's Notes: As promised, here's the second half of Chapter 64! Enjoy and let me know your thoughts!)
Chapter 64: To Be a Hero (Part II)
The twelve Royal Knights, plus Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode and minus Gankoomon, stood around in the great hall.
Jesmon's induction ceremony had concluded, as did their plans for the campaign that they were set to launch in two hours. However, right as the ceremony had started winding down, they had been alerted by one of the guards that there were visitors who wished to see them.
The Royal Knights wondered if it was an official visit. If it was, it was at a very bad time, since they were preparing to leave within a couple hours.
"Guests?" Alphamon asked the Knightmon guard for confirmation.
"Yes, Sir. One of the sentries on duty at the castle entrance tells me that there are guests here who wish to enter," the Knightmon guard confirmed.
Alphamon raised his eye brow with curiosity. "We really don't have time… It would have to be very quick." The black knight turned and looked at Jesmon. "Is it alright with you? It is your ceremony after all."
Jesmon pointed at himself questioningly. The Royal Knights asking for his opinion was something that would take some time for him to get used to. He really still viewed himself as very much their subordinate, rather than their equal. "Oh, uh… Of course. I don't mind at all," he assured him. "It's more or less over anyways."
Alphamon nodded and turned back to the guard. "Who is it that wishes to speak with us?" he asked before committing to receiving the guest.
The Knightmon guard frowned and glanced back at the Rinkmon on the other side of the door. "The one who asked was somebody by the name of Rapidmon. He said that he wanted to speak to Sir Magnamon," he replied.
"His armour was gold rather than green, Sir," the Rinkmon guard added.
Magnamon's ears perked at the mention the name. He turned towards them, his eye brow rising with a blend of interest and confusion. "Did you say Rapidmon?" he asked, beginning to walk towards the doors.
"Mention that Magnamon knows me!" a high, exuberant voice called out from behind the partially opened doors.
Magnamon blinked for a second, and then a look of excited surprise flashed across his eyes. "Rapidmon?!" he exclaimed, beginning to jog towards the door.
Alphamon saw Magnamon's reaction and nodded at the pair of guards, giving them permission to open the doors and let the guest inside.
As the two doors parted, a large, bipedal rabbit appeared in the archway. He hovered in place, his golden boots hovering several centimeters above the stone floor. His lapin body was covered in milky, white fur. Most of this fur was covered by dazzling, golden armour, which protected his pelvic region, his upper body, his forearms, and his ears. With his floating body basked in a glorious backlight that came from behind him, his armour shimmered brilliantly enough to rival Magnamon's on a sunny day.
The rabbit Digimon began flying into the great hall, and his big, expansive ears perked up excitedly upon setting eyes on Magnamon. Rapidmon's bright, blue eyes lit up and a huge grin appeared on his face. He raised one of his arms and began waving his cannon hand vigorously.
"Heeeey! Magnamon!" he called to him, soaring over.
"Rapidmon!" Magnamon reacted enthusiastically, jogging over to meet him.
Examon arched his scaly brow as he watched the two golden warriors approach each other alongside the rest of the Royal Knights. "Who is that?" he wondered curiously.
"Oh, that's just Rapidmon," UlforceVeedramon responded with a casual shrug. "He's Magnamon's childhood friend. He's kind of a bigmouth."
"Not to mention a show-off," Craniamon added, folding his arms
"Oh, don't listen to them. The rabbit's fun, and he's a pretty good fighter too. He and Craniamon always spar whenever he comes around," Dynasmon contended, shooting a grin in their direction. "He likes to challenge Ulforce to races too."
Jesmon blinked with shock. "Do you mean that Rapidmon? The Golden Comet?" he questioned. "The hero who works under the tutelage of the Saviour of Brighthelm, the Glacial Hero of the Armagemon Crisis?"
Dukemon eyed Jesmon with an amused smirk. "You're sure well-read, aren't you…?"
The golden Rapidmon grinned as he stopped in front of Magnamon, standing just slightly taller than him, not counting his large ears. "Yo, Magnamon!" he greeted energetically.
As he stopped, Rapidmon looked past Magnamon at the eleven other Royal Knights. "Sheesh. Is it just me or are there more of you since the last time I visited?"
"We actually just finished inducting our thirteenth Royal Knight: Jesmon," Magnamon explained. "And you just missed Gankoomon." The gold-plated dragon man looked at Rapidmon with confusion. "But never mind that; what are you doing here?"
Rapidmon grinned and casually placed his cannon arms behind his head. "Oh, just thought I'd come for a visit…" he answered innocently.
Magnamon frowned a little. There was something in the way that Rapidmon smiled, the slight curve at the corner of his mouth, that made it seem like there was something he wasn't mentioning.
"Really? Just out of the blue?"
"Well, sorta…?" Rapidmon responded, rubbing the back of his head and plainly avoiding eye contact.
Magnamon sighed with exasperation. "Well, you didn't pick a very good time for an impromptu visit," he informed him. "We're leaving on our campaign in a few hours, so you might have wasted a trip…"
"Oh, really?" Rapidmon asked, blinking with surprise. "Looks like I just caught you in time. I'd heard that the Demon Lords were on the move."
"Yeah… That's why we have to travel north to stop them," Magnamon explained. He frowned, feeling a little bit guilty for leaving his close friend after he had travelled all this way. "But I'm more or less prepared already, so I suppose I have some time to catch up," he decided. "So, what have you been up to?"
"Oh, you know, just being awesome – training, winning races, beating up bad guys, signing autographs," the gold Rapidmon smugly replied. "The usual hero stuff."
Magnamon smiled at his predictable response. "So, not much different," he responded. After a moment, he paused and glanced down a little. "…How's Father?" he wondered, looking back up at his friend.
"He's… good," Rapidmon laconically answered, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"What about you, Magna?" Rapidmon wondered, quickly shifting the attention back to the Royal Knight. "I mean, apart from the whole war with the Demon Lords thing." It was then that Rapidmon looked down at Magnamon's armour and noticed some of the dents that were still visible. "Whoa, what happened to you? Did you wrestle a Mugendramon?"
Magnamon glanced away self-consciously. "Oh, uh… This is nothing. I'm feeling perfectly fine" he insisted. "As I've said, we've been at war with the Demon Lords, so we've been busy fighting hard-fought battles."
"Yeah, it sure looks like it," Rapidmon mused, poking Magnamon's shoulder armour with one of his cannon arms. "We heard all about the siege of New Terminal, and now the Demon Lords are apparently making another move up north, huh?"
Magnamon frowned for a moment at Rapidmon's unexpectedly insightful words. "That's right… How did you know?" he wondered.
Rapidmon's body tightened a little and a bead sweat dripped down the back of his head. "Oh, uh… You know, rumours and gossip…"
The golden Royal Knight folded his arms and gazed at Rapidmon with penetrative eyes. "…You're still working for Father, right?" he asked him. Magnamon eyed Rapidmon curiously, starting to feel like more and more things weren't adding up. "He just let you take time off from your duties to visit?"
"Heh heh…" Rapidmon chuckled, smiling innocently as he began to sweat more. "Well…"
"…Where is Father? Does he know you're here?" Magnamon questioned, starting to pick up the scent as he realised that there might be more to this visit than he expected. He watched as Rapidmon began to squirm more. His friend was never a very good liar; he was bluntly honest to a fault.
"…Rapidmon…" Magnamon spoke, his tone lowering to a serious pitch. "…Why are you here?"
The golden rabbit swallowed and sheepishly rubbed behind his head with his cannon. "Uh… Don't get mad, okay? It wasn't my idea…" he responded.
"…What isn't?" Magnamon demanded, his muscle starting to tense up and his feet starting to feel skittish. "Rapidmon? What's going on…?"
"Well… I didn't just come here to catch up," the Armour Level Rapidmon admitted.
"Then… what's the other reason?" the golden knight asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
"The thing is…" Rapidmon nervously prefaced. However, when he realised there was no easy way to tell his friend, and feeling the pressure of Magnamon's piercing gaze, he figured he should just come out and tell him.
"…Your dad's here," Rapidmon bluntly informed him with a wincing smile.
The words hit Magnamon like a tonne of ice. The overwhelming sense of dread was immediate, like a noxious gas seeping through his scales into his body. He reflexively took a step backwards and his muscles clenched. Not wanting to believe it, he gaped at Rapidmon with widening eyes, really hoping that this was one of his friend's stupid jokes.
"W-W-What? Father… He's… He's here? Right now? At the castle?!" Magnamon demanded, the pitch of his voice raising half an octave in sheer panic. By now, his eye was twitching with incredulity and his breathing had sped up.
"Sorry, Magna; he decided to come on a whim and he asked me to come with him. The best I could do was come in ahead of him to warn you," Rapidmon explained. "I told him that I was going in as his envoy to arrange for the meeting.
"This can't be happening…" Magnamon whispered with a grimace. He raised his hand to his face and placed it over the crack in his helmet. His stomach churned and he braved a glance over his shoulder towards the Royal Knights. He saw that all of them were looking at him with confusion, obviously wondering why he was reacting the way he was. Suddenly feeling even more uncomfortable in his armour, Magnamon looked back at Rapidmon with eyes that demanded a response. "What's he doing here?"
"He wants to talk with the Royal Knights," Rapidmon answered, shrugging his shoulders.
"Tell him that we can't see him!" Magnamon insisted in a forceful whisper.
Alphamon, seeing the animated discussion between Magnamon and Rapidmon, decided to walk over. "Is there a problem, Magnamon?" he wondered, his brow arched with curiosity.
Magnamon winced and considered lying, but he doubted that Rapidmon would play along. He glanced up at the tall, black knight. "My father is here, hoping to speak with us," Magnamon explained, hoping to convince Alphamon. "But we're about to leave, so we really don't have time, right?"
"Well…" Alphamon deliberated. "It's true that we don't have much time, but we do still have two hours. It would be rude to turn him away after he travelled all this way, so I suppose we can make a short allowance."
Magnamon's gaze flattened and he tried to signal Alphamon a beseeching gaze.
Alphamon didn't notice and he nodded to Rapidmon. "You may bring him in."
Before Rapidmon could even open his mouth to reply, the pair of heavy, great hall doors suddenly swung open as if they were as light as a feather. As soon as the doors swept open, a gust of chilled air poured into the vast hall. At first, everybody thought it was just a cool breeze from outside, but the persisting frigidity in the air and the way it encompassed the whole of the expansive hall made it clear that it was something a bit larger than a breeze.
With a twitching eye, Magnamon watched as a figure emerged within the towering doorframe.
A tall, bipedal shape cut a striking silhouette as it stood against a backdrop of light, which seemed to cause its very outline to sparkle like diamonds. Without waiting, the figure began marching into the great hall with large, pronounced footsteps.
He had the appearance of a knight, donning sapphire-blue plate armour from head to toe, which rattled stiffly with every step. He cut a fine figure, with a tall, broad-shouldered, muscular body that one might traditionally expect of a hero. His whole body was gleaming and pronounced, as if dominating the attention and authority of everybody around without needing to say even a single word. He held himself with an assertive and commanding disposition, almost imperiously so.
As he entered the room, the source of the cold air became apparent; his body was made of ice. His fingers, his toes, and the ample, segmented wings on his back that gave him such a striking appearance, were all in the form of crystalline icicles. The cool, blue colours of his icy form shimmered with light, giving his silhouette a clear glint whenever the light reflected off his body.
The armoured knight waltzed forwards boldly, looking around with keen interest. As he turned his head, the spiky, rigid locks of his long, snowy hair trembled. A red breech cloth and a matching cape that hung from his hips flowed majestically with his every step, serving to further accentuate his noble and imposing disposition. His icy, draconic wings were like brilliant, finely cut crystals of aquamarine. They seemed to radiate a gentle, frosty mist from the sheer cold of their surface interacting with the warm air of the castle.
He turned his gleaming, crimson eyes, which lay between a pair of icy horns just above his face visor. They set their focus onto Alphamon and Magnamon. The contrasting ruby orbs lit up upon seeing the two, and his grip tightened around the long, notched, spear of ice that rested in his right hand. The knight of ice marched towards them with unrelenting daring and confidence.
"Alphamon!" the knight boldly greeted him. He made a beeline towards the leader of the Royal Knights, marching right past Magnamon and Rapidmon as he did.
Magnamon watched with disbelief as the dragon knight walked straight past him and stepped right up with Alphamon.
"It's been some time since I've last been in the famous great hall of the of the Royal Knights' castle!" the azure armoured warrior exclaimed, looking around at the tall pillars that led to the high, arching ceiling, and the vast hall in all its splendor. "…Hm, it seems smaller than I remember!"
Examon leaned down so that his snout was beside Dukemon's ear. "Who is that?" he whispered to the caped knight.
"That's Magnamon's father," Dukemon responded.
"The legendary Hexeblaumon," Jesmon said from nearby, his eyes widening with shock. "The Glacial Hero. He's a famous adventurer who has accomplished many great things, but he's most noted for saving the city of Brighthelm during the Armagemon Crisis back during the Late Second Cycle. Apparently, he single-handedly took down thirty Diablomon…"
"Actually, it was closer to thirty five," Hexeblaumon corrected, flashing Jesmon a wink.
Although slightly surprised by his unannounced entrance, Alphamon smiled politely. "Hello, Hexeblaumon," he greeted the older warrior.
Hexeblaumon grinned and stopped in front of the black knight, resting his ice spear demonstratively on his shoulder. "If it isn't the leader of the Royal Knights. Salutations, Alphamon," he acknowledged him with a nod. After doing so, Hexeblaumon looked past Alphamon and looked at the rest of the gathered Royal Knights. "Well, well. It seems your little band of adventurers has grown in size in over the years. Well done! I always knew you could do it."
Alphamon sheepishly scratched his cheek with his index finger. "Er… Actually, we have just finished formally inducting our thirteenth Royal Knight into our ranks," he explained. His focus drifted past Hexeblaumon and towards Magnamon, who was standing behind the magical knight.
"Oh, really? Who's the lucky fledgling?" Hexeblaumon asked, looking at the ten other Royal Knights as well as Imperialdramon, who were watching them from further down the great hall. He raised his icy finger and pointed at UlforceVeedramon. "Oh, it must be you."
UlforceVeedramon blinked and pointed at himself. "Uh, I've actually been here for over half a century, sir…" he understatedly corrected. Despite his words, he was unable to help but feel disappointed that his childhood hero didn't recognise him.
"Oh. My mistake." Hexeblaumon's finger strayed to the side and signalled Craniamon next. "…Is it you?" he innocently wondered.
Craniamon's eyes glowed and one of them began to twitch as an insulted glare formed on his face. "So have I!" he indignantly informed him.
As Magnamon rubbed his masked face with embarrassment, Dukemon stepped forwards and placed his hand on Jesmon's shoulder. "Actually, the newest Royal Knight is Jesmon here," he explained to spare them any further awkwardness.
Jesmon stood up straight and bowed his head a little. "It's an honour to meet you, Sir," he greeted him in a measured voice. "I've read all about your heroic feats. What you did during the Armagemon Crisis was nothing short of amazing."
HexeBlaumon proudly placed his hands on his hips. "Why, thank you, Jessmon, was it?"
As Jesmon was about to reply, he sensed somebody approach from behind him. He turned and saw Duftmon step up beside him, opposite to Dukemon, and lean in towards him.
"Jesmon, I am aware that this was not strictly in the oath, but as a point of conduct, the Royal Knights bow to nobody but Yggdrasil, our founder, and one another," Duftmon informed him in a whisper.
"Oh. Sorry," Jesmon sheepishly whispered in response, glancing back at Hexeblaumon, who he still considered a hero.
Hexeblaumon grinned and looked around at the gathered Royal Knights with mild interest. "I'm impressed that you've all managed to make it this far. I hear you are all doing some fairly impressive things. First, the Metal Empire… now the Demon Lords again. Not too bad for heroes of the Third Cycle…"
Rapidmon awkwardly rubbed the back of his head and cast an uneasy look over at Magnamon.
Magnamon took a step forward from behind Hexeblaumon, looking up at him with a serious gaze. "Ahem. Father?" he spoke up in an attempt to draw his attention.
Hexeblaumon turned around and looked down at Magnamon. Standing across from one another, he towered over Magnamon, standing at twice the Royal Knight's size. The blue-armoured knight raised his brow as he looked down at his son.
"Oh!" Hexeblaumon chuckled. "Hello there, son. I almost didn't notice you there!"
Magnamon's brows flattened a little. "Father…"
Hexeblaumon placed his hand on Magnamon's head and ruffled his helmet. "How are you doing, kiddo?" he playfully asked, looking down at the comparatively shorter dragon knight. "Huh, I was half expecting you to have grown bigger from the last time we've seen each other. I guess you still haven't hit your growth spurt even after all this time, eh, son? Haha!"
Magnamon winced and pulled his head away from his father's hand. "Dad!" he complained, feeling his face heating up underneath his helmet.
"Well… no matter! There's no shame in being short!" Hexeblaumon declared, looking down at the golden Royal Knight with a broad smile. "After all, there's no rulebook saying that you have to have a tall and barrel-chested physique like I do in order to be a hero. These days, pretty much anybody could be a hero if they wanted to," he explained, gesturing his hand over at Jesmon for emphasis.
Jesmon blinked, a little uncertain whether he was being complimented or insulted.
Magnamon's eye twitched. His father's 'encouragement' was plucking exactly the wrong strings inside of him. "I'm already a hero, Father. I've been doing this since before the beginning of the Third Cycle…" he slowly and deliberately reminded him.
"Of course you have, Magnamon. And I'm sure you're doing a fine job at it too!" Hexeblaumon indulged him with a supportive smile on his face. Though, as the dragon man of ice took a closer look at his son, a curious frown formed on his face. Hexeblaumon finally noticed all of the dents and cracks in Magnamon's armour. "By the World Tree's boughs! Magnamon, your armour is mangled! It looks like you bought it second-hand from a third-rate blacksmith's. What in the world happened?"
Magnamon grimaced and subconsciously placed a hand over his breastplate. He broke eye contact and inadvertently clenched his teeth hard enough to cause mild pain to his tender jaw.
"I… It was damaged during an intense battle with the Demon Lords. I went toe-to-toe with Demon, actually," Magnamon insisted, glancing off to the side. He purposely decided to leave out the ultimate result of his battle with Demon.
Hexeblaumon raised his brow and inspected the damage carefully, able to tell that most of the armour had already been briefly treated by a blacksmith. "Battle damage like that… Hah. Well! It looks like you bit off a little more than you could chew!" he remarked, able to tell just from looking at him that the battle hadn't gone in his favour. "Don't let it get you down, Magnamon. Demon may have beaten you up this time, but I'm sure you'll get him next time!"
His cheeks flushing red behind his helmet, Magnamon's eyes narrowed a little more. "Fath—"
"In fact, most heroes fail sometimes," Hexeblaumon continued, cutting him off. "So, don't feel too ashamed – it could happen to anyone. Take it as a chance to learn from your mistakes. That's what a true hero would do."
Off to the side, Craniamon watched with a cool stare as Hexeblaumon replied. As the other Royal Knights began to feel increasingly awkward at the exchange, Craniamon's gaze shifted from Magnamon's father to Magnamon himself. He could see the embarrassment and the diminishing self-worth in the Royal Knight's eyes.
Rapidmon smiled nervously and placed his cannon arms on Magnamon's shoulders to keep him calm. "A-Anyways, Sir…" he spoke up, attempting to redirect his master's focus back to the reason that they came.
Magnamon clenched his clawed fists a little bit, but he forced himself to release the tension of his body. He closed his eyes and took a deep, calming breath. "Father…" he methodically spoke, trying to keep himself centered and in control. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, right," Hexeblaumon responded, remembering his purpose for being there. The older knight looked around at the gathered Royal Knights. "I have heard that you're all having trouble with the Demon Lords: that lot of devils who escaped from the Dark Area."
"Well, I wouldn't exactly put it like that…" Alphamon responded with an uncomfortable smile. "We were able to beat them back from New Terminal. However, with that said, the war is far from over…"
"Therefore, I have decided to offer you my services," Hexeblaumon proudly declared. "Oh, and those of my apprentice, Rapidmon, as well."
Magnamon nearly balked at the announcement. "W-What?!" he exclaimed, unable to believe the audacity of what he had just heard.
Alphamon blinked and briefly glanced over to the other Royal Knights, all of whom also expressed varying degrees of surprise. "Er… Pardon me?" he inquired, looking back at the knight of ice.
"It is as I said," Hexeblaumon explained with unwavering confidence. "I have come here to help you deal with the Demon Lord menace."
"Father, that isn't necessary," Magnamon insisted, stepping forwards emphatically. "With all due respect, we're the Royal Knights; we have the situation under control."
"Do you?" Hexeblaumon contended, his words like needles that lodged underneath Magnamon's scales. "I heard what they did to the great city of New Terminal. Despite your valiant efforts in rebuffing them, much of the city was still destroyed, with many lives lost. From what I understand, the Demon Lords will only grow in power, and, as of now, they are very far from subdued. Can you afford to turn down the aid of powerful allies?"
"Well, no," Alphamon diplomatically reasoned. "Of course we are looking for any allies who are willing, however… respectfully, but we have a certain way of doing things."
"We won't get in the way or anything," Rapidmon spoke up, looking over at Magnamon. "I mean, Hexeblaumon needs no introduction, and, as for my abilities, well, they call me the Golden Comet for a reason. You know my skills are no joke."
Magnamon sighed, realizing that his friend wasn't exactly an unwilling participant in this either. "That's not the point, Rapidmon…" he pointed out to his friend. He turned back to his father. "Besides, aren't you supposed to be in retirement from hero work? What happened to focusing on teaching your skills to the next generation? Does Mom know about this?"
"Your mother understands that I am an adventurer at heart and if I simply stay in one place for too long, I grow restless. She knows I like to travel with my eager apprentice and teach my skills where I can," Hexeblaumon informed him. "As for my retirement, that is no obstacle. On my pride as a hero, I cannot simply stand aside and do nothing while the Demon Lords wreak havoc across the world. I have a duty to step up in a time of crisis."
"These are the Seven Great Demon Lords we're talking about, Father," Magnamon insisted. "They're incredibly strong. Possibly stronger than any foe we've ever faced."
Hexeblaumon stared into his eyes before glancing down at Magnamon's flawed and dented armour. "…Perhaps they were too strong for you, my son, but I was the bulwark against the unending tide of Diablomon," he calmly reminded him. "They call me the Glacial Hero for a reason. Not even a horde of Ultimate-levels can move me!"
The words drew a wince from the Knight of Miracles. "Even so…" Magnamon murmured weakly in response, fidgeting with his arm bracers.
"Unless you think that your father doesn't have what it takes any more. Fear not! I can assure you that I won't embarrass you in front of your friends, Magnamon!" Hexeblaumon declared boisterously. "Remember, I am still one of the finest warriors in the land. I train from morning until dusk. I have even trained in the harsh climate of another dimension! I'm willing to bet that I could still give each of you a run for your money, not to mention those Demon Lords."
"We'll see," Craniamon muttered under his breath. He leered at the Glacial Hero standoffishly, beginning to slowly simmer at his words and behaviour.
"Nobody doubts that, Sir," UlforceVeedramon spoke with a slight smile. "I'm positive that your skills and mastery of ice are still peerless. That's not really the problem…"
"Oh? Then what is?" Hexeblaumon wondered, scratching his mane of sharp, snowy hair curiously.
"We are a professional military order," Duftmon sternly and succinctly explained, folding his arms as he spoke. "We cannot simply invite mercenaries to fight with us without any prior understanding of our military composition or our tactics. We have a certain way of doing things, and we do not have time to waste bringing you up to speed."
Alphamon smiles sheepishly at Duftmon's blunt and dismissive response. "What Duftmon means is that we are leaving in only a few hours, and we would be unable to satisfactorily ingratiate you into our strategy and command structure."
"Yes, thank you, Alphamon, that is precisely what I just said," Duftmon dryly responded.
"Is it really that much of a problem?" Hexeblaumon contended with an unsatisfied frown. "We are more than capable of fighting with teams. I have done so countless times during my adventures in the Second Cycle."
"I am afraid so," Alphamon diplomatically responded.
"Bah!" Hexeblaumon complained. "Everything in the Third Cycle is far too structured! The militaries are so formal, everybody is living in states or in big cities – everything's so stagnant! It's nothing like the Second Cycle where everything was much more loose and dynamic. You could travel all over and link up with friends from continent to continent. That was the Golden Age of Adventuring! There were no formal armies against the Armagemon and Diablomon, as some of you well know. It was simply the best teaming up from day-to-day to fight the best."
"More is the pity," Duftmon muttered. "Structure and order are an immeasurable improvement from those chaotic and desultory times."
"Be that as it may," Magnamon spoke, folding his arms. "I'm afraid we can't take you with us, Father."
"Hmph," Hexeblaumon grunted, folding his arms in the exact same way. "Well… I certainly wouldn't want to upstage you. Very well! Rapidmon and I will have to seek our fortunes elsewhere, I suppose!"
Magnamon sighed and glanced away, though he was relieved that his father wouldn't be joining them, at least. "Thank you, Father…" he mumbled in response.
"What have I told you about mumbling, son? If you have something to say, you have to say it loud and proud!" Hexeblaumon tactlessly exclaimed with his usual effervescence. He placed his hand on his son's head from his towering vantage point. "You have to command the room, like Rapidmon and I do!"
Magnamon's face heated up as, once again, he felt like he was being treated like a child in front of the other Royal Knights. "Thank you, Father," he responded with strength and emphasis, his eyes narrowing.
"That's more like it," the azure armoured knight responded with an acceptably proud nod.
Alphamon rubbed the back of his head. "Hexeblaumon, may I suggest you try offering your services to the Saversburg military instead? I believe they may be more accepting of volunteers, especially given the fact that Saversburg may be one of the next objectives of the Demon Lords."
"Why, that is not a terrible idea, Alphamon," Hexeblaumon declared. "Perhaps that will be our next destination, if you all are absolutely sure that you will not have us. You could really use the firepower or, should I say, the icepower."
Magnamon rubbed his face with his hand.
"Thank you for your kind offer, but I think we will be able to manage," Alphamon insisted with a smile. "Saversburg needs your assistance more than we do."
"Very well. If you are sure," Hexeblaumon conceded.
"Looks like we'll catch up with you later, Magnamon," Rapidmon said to him with a grin.
"Looks like it…" Magnamon answered, his words coming out a little stiff.
"Well, I suppose we shouldn't keep you too much longer, then," Hexeblaumon said, looking over at Alphamon. He turned his attention beyond the Royal Knight to the white armoured dragon behind him. "And Imperialdramon! You owe me another sparring match."
Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode chuckled a little. "Very well. Maybe when this is all over," he offered.
Hexeblaumon tapped his ever-cold icicle spear against his shoulder. "Well, then. Rapidmon? I suppose we should be leaving, as these fine knights have preparations to see to," he remarked, looking at his golden-plated apprentice.
"Yeah, okay," Rapidmon agreed, turning and looking at Magnamon. "Kick some ass for me, at least until I show up."
Magnamon managed a tiny smile at his friend's usual cocky enthusiasm. "I'll make sure," he promised him.
Then, the Royal Knight of Miracles turned and faced his father. He made sure his posture was straight and that he was standing as tall as possible. He stood with dignity and composure, wanting to emphasize the traits and professionalism of a Royal Knight. He wanted to remind his father that he was just as much a hero as he was.
"Father," Magnamon rigidly spoke, raising his head and looking Hexeblaumon in the eyes with calm, ardent resolve.
Hexeblaumon turned and looked down at him, his red eyes soft like sunsets. "Magnamon…" he spoke seriously. After a moment, Hexeblaumon suddenly marched forwards, his eyes lightening up. "Haha! Come here and give your old man a hug!"
"What-?!"
Before Magnamon could protest, Hexeblaumon suddenly bent down, wrapped his arms around him, pulled him off of his feet in a large and frosty hug. "Hah, I can still lift you up just like when you were a child!" the elder knight exclaimed. "Maybe after you fight the Demon Lords, you'll have filled out a little more!"
"F-Father!" Magnamon complained, filled with total mortification. By this point, his outward show of discipline had shattered. Blood was coursing through his cheeks, his eye was twitching, and he had to suppress an irate growl. His father's frigid body was secondary to those feelings of humiliation. "Please put… me down…!"
Most of the gathered Royal Knights looked away with second-hand embarrassment, politely pretending not to see. UlforceVeedramon and Dynasmon swallowed their laughs, while Examon and Jesmon didn't particularly see the problem. Craniamon, however, watched on with an icy gaze.
The shield-bearing knight stared at Hexeblaumon, his eyes burning like coruscating blood rubies. The leathery fabric of his violet gloves creaked as his fingers tightened into balls. Despite the subtle hardening of his posture and demeanour, Craniamon didn't say anything. He simply watched.
After a few moments of fatherly hugging, Hexeblaumon chuckled and put Magnamon down, patting his head diminutively. "Well, Royal Knights, good luck on your campaign – I fear you'll need it," he told them with a smile. He looked down at his son, who began to readjust his semi-tarnished digizoid armour. "I wish you good luck especially, Magnamon."
These words of encouragement caused Magnamon's shoulders to tighten. He slowly lowered his gaze, his wincing eyes darkening as he glared down at the marble floor. Within the reflection of the glossy, pristine tiles, he could see his hardened face. Directly above his head was the towering body of his father, looming over him.
Hexeblaumon smiled as he looked down on his son. "And don't worry about your previous defeat at the Demon's hands, Magnamon. Just remember how I trained you, and I'm sure you'll be victorious this time," he advised him.
Magnamon's claws tightened and pressed against the insides of his palms. His muscles contracted and his eyes narrowed into bitter, red slits.
Hexeblaumon reached his hand down and placed it on Magnamon's dented shoulder pauldron. "After all, you may be small, but you have a big heart that pumps with the blood of a lineage of heroes," he assured him, not sensing the mounting aura of anger that was emanating from Magnamon's body. He removed his hand and gazed down at his son. "Just do your best to defeat the Demon Lords. I'm sure your friends will be there to help you achieve victory. This is your chance to step up and be a leader. After all, heroes need to be bold."
Finally, Magnamon had had enough. The constant undermining and the needling, judgmental comments had burrowed deep enough under his scales for him reach his limit. Radiating an aura as sharp as a freshly honed blade, Magnamon brusquely pulled away. He raised his head and looked up with a momentary look of grimacing anger and frustration.
"Believe it or not, Father, but I can succeed without your advice," he snapped, not raising his voice, but his words sharp like a blade. "I've been a Royal Knight for many decades now. I'm already a hero."
Hexeblaumon blinked and retracted his hand, a little taken aback.
"You may not think much of me or the Royal Knights, but I do. The Royal Knights are a powerful organization working for Yggdrasil Itself. We're making a difference," Magnamon emphatically told him.
Hexeblaumon looked down at Magnamon with surprise and confusion at his seemingly sudden outburst. After a few moments, an awkward silence began to set in between them, filling the vast space of the great hall.
Magnamon grimaced and looked off to the side, beginning to feel sheepish and embarrassed over his lack of control. "…Apologies," he murmured formally, glancing up at the ice dragon. "Don't worry, Father, I won't bring any further shame upon you. …Excuse me. I should prepare for our departure."
"Magnamon," Hexeblaumon spoke, beginning to reach his hand towards him. However, Magnamon had already passed him and was briskly walking towards the exit at the far end of the great hall.
"Hey, Magna, wait up," Rapidmon said, turning and watching as he walked away.
Wincing, Magnamon gritted his teeth behind his helmet and strode out to the foyer with as much remaining dignity as he could muster.
Hexeblaumon blinked, watching as his son disappeared from sight behind the closing doors. He sheepishly scratched the back of his head and turned to look at the Royal Knights, some of whom were sporting judgmental gazes. "…Was it something I said?" he wondered innocuously.
"I fear Magnamon may have taken offence," Alphamon pointed out, glancing towards the doors.
"Hm, well… He has always been on the sensitive side," Hexeblaumon responded, still running his fingers through his hair.
Craniamon murmured something sarcastic under his breath
UlforceVeedramon sighed and rubbed the spot behind his horns. "I'll go after him," he told the others, beginning to make his way down the great hall.
Rapidmon turned his head and cast a competitive leer in UlforceVeedramon's direction. "No, I'll do it!" he insisted adamantly.
"I'm already going!" UlforceVeedramon responded with a rivalrous glare.
"I'm his best friend," the golden Rapidmon proudly declared, placing his cannon hands on his hips ostentatiously.
"Just because you were first…" the azure knight argued. "I know him better than you do!"
"Feh!" Rapidmon dismissively scoffed. "How about we race for it? The first one to reach Magnamon gets to comfort him!"
UlforceVeedramon smirked competitively. "You don't know who you're messing with, Usagi-chan!" he confidently boasted.
Rapidmon smirked back with boldness and pride. He hunched down and prepared to take off. The two were starting to be more focused on beating one another than actually checking on Magnamon. "Oh, please. I'm messing with a lizard who thinks he can pull off spandex. Prepare to eat my golden dust!"
"Rapidmon," Hexeblaumon spoke, interrupting him. "We should be going now."
The golden armoured rabbit blinked and stood up straight. "Oh. Uh… What about Magnamon?" he asked with uncertainty.
"He will be fine. At the very least, I'm sure that UlforceVeedramon can check on him on his own well enough," Hexeblaumon stated, looking over at the blue knight.
"Of course, sir," UlforceVeedramon confirmed with a half smile. He turned his head and shot Rapidmon the smug look of victory.
"Then we shall leave the matter to you and be on our way," Hexeblaumon explained, idly twirling his icicle spear around his fingers. "I know you are all very busy, and we must be off to Saversburg."
Alphamon nodded. "Very well… We do appreciate your offer of assistance, and we hope to be working alongside you in the future. Your legendary skills will be a notable boon to any battle," he suavely assured him.
"Yes, well… be sure not to perish before then," Hexeblaumon told them. He stopped spinning the spear and gripped its shaft tightly, his usual boisterousness morphing into a demeanour that was much more serious and frigid. He turned and looked Alphamon in the eyes. "Take care, Royal Knights, for the Demon Lords are a grievous threat. And make sure that you look after Magnamon."
Alphamon smiled a little bit. "We will, although he is more than capable of looking after himself," he pointed out.
"Against the Seven Great Demon Lords?" Hexeblaumon asked sceptically. "Well… I very much hope so."
Without waiting for a response, Hexeblaumon spun around, his ruby, patterned cape rippling behind him. "Come, Rapidmon!" he exclaimed, his boisterousness returning to his voice. He took off, striding back down the hall. "We are off to find greater glory!"
"Coming!" Rapidmon called after him. He glanced towards UlforceVeedramon and shot a competitive leer in his direction. "We'll finish this next time, blue boy."
"I'll finish it, you mean," UlforceVeedramon corrected, smirking as he walked ahead to look for Magnamon.
"We'll see who's laughing when you're sucking my vapour trails," Rapidmon fired back, determined to have the last word.
The two speedy Digimon continued to trade barbs as they walked to the end of the great hall and proceeded into the foyer.
The rest of the Royal Knights watched as Hexeblaumon disappeared from view, making his way out of the foyer and down through the entrance hall towards the exit. There was a collective sigh of relief.
RhodoKnightmon placed his hands on his hips. "Well, then…" he announced, breaking the ensuing silence. "I think I am beginning to understand why our dear Magnamon is a bit sensitive when it comes to his father."
Sleipmon nodded a little. "So, I'm not the only one who thought Hexeblaumon was a bit…" He paused to try to think of the right word.
"Patronizing?" Dukemon suggested.
Examon cocked his head slightly. "He seemed nice enough to me."
"While he may be a hero of some repute, the notion that we require his help is ludicrous," Duftmon haughtily declared.
"He's alright," Dynasmon insisted. "I've fought with him a couple times. I won't say he doesn't have an ego, but when you get statues built of you for your accomplishments, it's hard not to get an inflated opinion of yourself."
"I'm not really sure that that is the problem, Dynasmon…" Omegamon debated.
"The greater the statue, the longer the shadow it casts," Alphamon mused with a sagely nod.
"Still, I can't help but understand Magnamon's feelings of frustration," Sleipmon mused with an empathetic frown.
Dynasmon sighed and rubbed the back of his horned head. "Yeah… I guess you have a point."
"Magnamon-senpai doesn't have anything to feel bad about though…" Jesmon said with confusion. "I saw how hard he fought for myself."
Craniamon's eyes narrowed as he continued to stare towards the exit. He squeezed his fists for a moment before relaxing his grip completely.
"We shouldn't talk about it. Magnamon probably feels embarrassed enough without us dredging over it behind his back," the violet knight declared.
Suddenly, Craniamon began walking away from the group. He stalked down the great hall with a determined gait, moving in the direction in which the others had left.
"Where are you going, Craniamon?" Omegamon wondered, watching as the taciturn Royal Knight made his way further away from them.
"I have something that I need to do," Craniamon answered, his baritone voice low and serious. "I'll see you guys at the staging grounds."
"Hm…" Alphamon mused, watching as the violet knight strode tenaciously towards the exit. When he saw Craniamon disappear into the entrance hall, Alphamon turned back to look at Imperialdramon and the rest of the Royal Knights. "Well, then, the rest of us should finish whatever final preparations we need to see to as well. It is going to be a long trip."
Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode sword up high over his head, radiating with heroic enthusiasm. "And when we all get home from this, we'll have a surf and turf banquet – on me!"
"Yes!" Jesmon exclaimed, raising his hand over his head in camaraderie. He looked around and his metallic cheeks tinted red when he saw that none of the other Royal Knights were taking part in what he thought was a group cheer.
Dynasmon laughed. "Well, if it's on you, it sounds good to me. But only if Rhodo's cooking."
Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode grinned excitedly. "Oh, RhodoKnightmon, can you cook me some beef Stroganov as well?" he requested the culinary knight.
RhodoKnightmon folded his arms. "Now, Imperialdramon, you know I adore you, but we are about to embark on a very important crusade. Work comes before play, and beef Stroganov is for victors," he informed him with a waggle of his finger. "Before you get ahead of yourself fantasizing about your favourite dishes, we must first see how our campaign goes."
"I know, I know…" Imperialdramon sheepishly replied.
Omegamon sighed with some exasperation, but also a small smile at his friend's typical, unconventional behaviour. He walked up beside Jesmon and gave him a warm nod. "Come on, Jesmon. I'll show you what kinds of things you should bring for our journey," he offered the junior Royal Knight.
"Alright, Senpai," Jesmon replied with a grateful smile, inwardly happy that Omegamon was going out of his way to help. "Thank you."
The Royal Knights began making their way out of great hall after Craniamon left. As he started walking, Jesmon released a sigh of relief. He was overjoyed by the ceremony, but now he was feeling emotionally tired from all the excitement. The nervousness mixed with the rush of being knighted made his heart feel like it had been through the wringer.
Still, he knew that he still had a big day before him, so he had to fortify himself. After all, travelling to be judged by Yggdrasil was no small feat. He was feeling daunted just thinking about it. He really hoped that the god of the Digital World would approve of him.
Jesmon released a calming breath and chose not to think about it right now, for the good of his emotional wellbeing. Instead, he looked over at Omegamon. The gallant, white knight strode beside him with calm and purpose, his cape rippling majestically. Jesmon still wasn't quite able to believe that he was walking beside the Royal Knight, rather than behind him.
"So, Jesmon," Omegamon said. "Finally having met Imperialdramon, what do you think of our Founder?"
Jesmon glanced over his shoulder at the alabaster-armoured dragon knight. Imperialdramon was talking animatedly with Dynasmon and Dukemon, strolling behind them at a relaxed gait.
"He's… not how I expected him to be," Jesmon admitted, sheepishly tugging at his collar.
Omegamon chuckled gently. "Don't worry; I hear that a lot…" he informed him. "You were expecting somebody more solemn and embodying an air of gravitas, weren't you?"
"Well…" Jesmon awkwardly replied, not wanting to sound insulting. "I suppose, a little… I like him though. He seems very friendly and approachable."
"That, he is," the fused knight confirmed. "Believe it or not, but he does have the capacity to be serious too. He just prefers to relax when around friends."
Jesmon nodded and continued walking towards the exit. "I hope that taking me to see Yggdrasil isn't keeping you from the Demon Lords," he said, glancing at Omegamon uncertainly.
Omegamon shook his head. "My duty is to follow Yggdrasil's every command," he contently explained. "If It requests my presence, then I am more than willing to oblige. That is my personal code, as well as my duty as a Royal Knight."
Jesmon smiled a little. "You're much more professional than Sensei," he noted. Though, as he mentioned his teacher, his smile faded a little bit. He couldn't help but wonder why Gankoomon insisted on staying…
Omegamon, noticing Jesmon's change of expression, looked forwards. "I wouldn't worry about Gankoomon. He follows his heart. So, to him, his every action has a purpose. Despite his heedless exterior, I'm sure it isn't a decision he has taken lightly… He and Imperialdramon are similar in that way."
"Yeah… You're right, Omegamon-senpai," Jesmon agreed after a little thought, though he had to force himself not to use 'Sir' or 'shishou'.
"Anyways… Let's get ready to go," Omegamon suggested as they walked into the foyer. "It is going to be a long journey. It won't be as simple as travelling by Locomon."
Jesmon nodded and followed Omegamon with determination. "Yes, senpai!"
All of the Royal Knights separated to attend to whatever remaining business was left before they began their long journey back towards Saversburg.
Following his hero, Jesmon had decided that there was no room to second-guess himself anymore. He couldn't worry about his Sensei, and he knew that Gankoomon wouldn't want him to. He just had to trust in his resolve now. For now, that meant letting the others go to battle, while he went to face his god.
Jesmon walked forwards with determination, fully intending on doing just that.
After all, now he was a Royal Knight… at long last…
Outside of the castle, everything was busy. The Strike Forces and the Defence Forces made their way down the road, away from their respective barracks and towards the assembly grounds. The long trek north was going to begin soon, so everybody was getting organised.
Hexeblaumon and Rapidmon stood in the middle of the main road, right in front of the castle entrance, between the beginning of the rows of shops and the gatehouse. With the morning sun and a few lazy clouds drifting overhead, they gazed down the main road. The pair watched as hundreds of Order soldiers walked around the other side of the castle, disappearing from their view around the corner in a steady stream.
"It sure is busy for such a little place," Hexeblaumon mused, watching as the soldiers funneled down the other end of the road.
"Well, they are about to leave on a big campaign…" Rapidmon responded. His ears twitched and he looked around the castle grounds. "Hey, boss, are you sure you want to leave without checking on Magnamon?"
"Magnamon will be fine," Hexeblaumon insisted with a dismissive wave of his hand. "As sensitive as he is, he never lets things get him down for long. I'm sure he'll be fine soon enough. After all, he has a campaign to focus on."
"Yeah, I guess so…" Rapidmon conceded, knowing that Magnamon was the optimistic sort. He supposed that his friend would probably be fine. After all, they both knew what his dad was like.
"Well, we should be off now," the ice dragon declared. "We should be able to make it to Gold Keep in time to catch the noon Locomon."
"Okay, boss," Rapidmon agreed, supposing that they would probably just get in the way if they stayed around any longer.
Rapidmon began to turn on the balls of his golden clogs, but as he did, his sensitive, radar ear perked up and twisted. He heard a pair of footsteps approaching them from the direction of the castle. He briefly wondered if it was Magnamon, but then he decided that the footsteps were too heavy and strident.
"Hey! You!" a deep, authoritative voice called out to them.
Hexeblaumon and Rapidmon both turned around to identify the caller. They both saw a broad-bodied knight in dark, thick, violet armour marching towards them. In his black, ruby eyes was a steady and serious glimmer. The knight emblazoned with skeletal ornamentation strode towards them with purpose.
"Oh! It's you," Hexeblaumon proclaimed, blinking as he set his eyes on the approaching Royal Knight. "You're…" Hexeblaumon paused for a few moments, as if needing to think about it. "…Nope! Sorry. What did you say your name was?"
Craniamon's gleaming eyes narrowed slightly at the offhanded slight. "It's 'Craniamon'. Sir Craniamon," he emphatically informed him, making sure to say it in a way to make him remember.
"Yes, yes. Well, what can I do for you Craniummon?" Hexeblaumon wondered cavalierly.
Craniamon's eye twitched and he stalked closer to Hexeblaumon until they were only a meter apart. "…I have something I need to say to you," he told him, his words as stalwart and heavy as his armour.
Hexeblaumon turned to look at the Royal Knight. As he cast a perfunctory glance towards Craniamon's eyes, he was surprised to see a glare of icy passion staring back at him, piercing deep into his soul. It was enough for his glib exterior to vanish and for Hexeblaumon to stare back at him with an expression that suddenly took the Royal Knight seriously.
"…What is it, boy?" Hexeblaumon asked him, his voice becoming deep, frigid, and a little standoffish as he sensed Craniamon's hostility.
"I am no boy," Craniamon icily informed him, standing his ground against the domineering knight. "…And neither is Magnamon."
Hexeblaumon frowned and eyed him curiously. "What?"
Craniamon gazed steadily into his eyes. "…You are an exceptional warrior. There is no doubt about that," he admitted, although the words seemed to stick in his mouth. "But… the way you act towards Magnamon pisses me off."
Hexeblaumon narrowed his eyes defensively and looked at him with confusion. "The way I act towards Magnamon?" he asked.
Craniamon clenched his fists but he kept his emotions completely calm and under control. "…Whatever you think of his capabilities or how he compares to you, Magnamon is a Royal Knight. That's no small feat…" he informed him.
The dark Royal Knight slowly relaxed his fingers, his gaze softening imperceptibly as he stared Hexeblaumon in the eyes. "In fact… Magnamon is one of the best warriors that I know. It's about time that you recognised that…"
Craniamon broke his unyielding gaze and began to turn. "You shouldn't look down on him. If anything, you should be proud of him… of everything that he's accomplished," he spoke, his words lingering as they left his visor. "After all, you're his father…"
Hexeblaumon didn't get angry or fire back at him. He merely stared at Craniamon with surprise, both at his words and the fact that he was so bold as to stand up to him. Hexeblaumon blinked and rubbed the back of his neck, a little unsure of how to reply.
Rapidmon awkwardly looked between Craniamon and his master, unsure of what he should say. Part of him felt inclined to speak up in his master's defence, but he was also well aware that Craniamon had a point and that the Royal Knight was merely voicing the strong words that he wanted to say. He always tried to stick up for his best friend, but as his student, he couldn't be as forceful as he otherwise would be.
As the awkward silence dragged on, Craniamon winced faintly and turned away. "…That's all," he noted. "Sorry, but I had to say something…"
Craniamon turned his back to them and began to walk away. He made his way up the stone road, heading towards the path that led towards the castle keep.
"Does…" Hexeblaumon tentatively spoke up, looking at the violet knight as he walked away. "Does Magnamon think that I am ashamed of him?"
Craniamon stopped upon hearing his words. He slowly turned his helmeted head and glanced over his shoulder at the more experienced knight. "…I don't know. He hasn't said anything about it. But his reaction today was not from nothing."
"I see," Hexeblaumon responded with a deep, pensive frown. He thought to himself for a few, solid seconds, before glancing back up. "…I respect your forthrightness, Craniamon," he told him.
Craniamon nodded a little and turned his head forwards. "Just… think about it," he answered. "Magnamon will surprise you… We all will."
"Very well…" Hexeblaumon spoke firmly. "I look forward to seeing what else you Royal Knights can do."
Without another word, Craniamon continued walking. He walked up to the castle entrance and pushed the doors open, his large, violet body disappearing back inside.
"You know… I think he has a point, boss," Rapidmon spoke up, glancing up at Hexeblaumon with a bold expression.
Hexeblaumon watched as the Royal Knight disappeared, and he thought to himself for awhile longer, taking in the words that were given to him. "…Perhaps," he replied. "I guess we will see."
Hexeblaumon spun around, walking past Rapidmon with his majestic cape flowing behind him in the breezy, sun-laced air.
"Come, Rapidmon… Let's leave the Royal Knights to their campaign," he told his apprentice.
Hexeblaumon marched down the road that led to the opened gate. As Rapidmon followed after him, the knight of ice began making his way past the Royal Knights' guarded threshold and out into the open plain. He frowned gently and looked over his shoulder, looking back up at the castle. For a second, he thought he saw a golden glimmer on one of the castle roofs. However, like a flickering trace of light, it disappeared from view.
Frowning, the hero marched forwards and took to the air, flying up the road away from the castle.
"Hurry now, Rapidmon… We have our own battle to deal with."
An hour passed.
Everybody was organized and ready to leave. The Strike Forces marched out of the castle, with their aerial branch flying overhead. Marching directly behind them were the Defence Forces, who, likewise, walked beneath their own aerial division. A few patrols of the Recon Squadron flew on ahead to the guide the way. Meanwhile, a few teams of Rooks began making their own way to Gold Keep, separate from the main army so as not to attract attention.
Behind the scouts, but at the front of their army, were the Royal Knights. All of the Royal Knights except for Gankoomon and Dukemon made their way at the vanguard, leading the army up the road that led towards Knights' Cross, and eventually to Gold Keep. Dukemon and Gankoomon remained behind to guard the castle, watching from the walls as the army marched off to battle.
The rest of the Royal Knights made their way forwards with calm resolve. Though, there was one knight who flew ahead of the others, perhaps lacking in calmness, but carrying plenty of resolve.
Magnamon soared forwards alone, a little ways in front of the rest of the Royal Knights. His red eyes were hard, with a serious frown engraved on his face, just as the wound he received had been.
As he flew ahead of the other ten knights, he had time to think.
"You're weak…" Demon's voice echoed in his mind. "You really think that you can stop righteous fury with this pathetic show of willpower? You are nothing, Royal Knight."
"Well! It looks like you bit off a little more than you could chew!" Hexeblaumon's voice resonated.
Magnamon grimaced and tightened his fists. He remembered Demon's fire and fury, being thrown around like he was nothing. His failure was still fresh, like a seeping wound.
"Demon…" Magnamon thought to himself, his crimson eyes growing sharp with anger. "Just you wait… I'll defeat you this time… I'll be the one to bring the Demon Lords down…"
Magnamon's sharp, draconic teeth tightened behind his mask and the tender wound in his cheek throbbed with pain. He strengthened his resolve and soared forward, like a shining comet under the sun's radiant light.
"I'll make sure of it…"