Part Three: The Digital World

Duel

Plane of the Devas

Monday, June 4th, 2018

11:00 A.M.

"But you have to let us in!" Mimi whimpered.

"I have to do no such thing!" Majiramon barked back. "You will not interrupt the trial, that I can guarantee."

"But we have to get moving now!" Mimi protested. "Makuramon found out where Willis is, and we need to go!"

"I told you this yesterday, and I'll tell you again," Majiramon growled, dropping down to eye level with Mimi, "Once begun, the Trial of the Four Great Dragons cannot be interrupted! If you tamper with their bodies, even in the slightest, it could do irreparable harm to their psyches!"

"Well how long is it supposed to take?" Mimi growled, hands on her hips.

"It will take as long as necessary!" Majiramon snapped. "As long as the Great Dragons deem necessary to evaluate whether or not Dinoster and Takuya are worthy of their power!"

"Ugh!" Mimi stormed away from the dragon Deva, who sat coiled in front of the entrance to his home. She returned to Palmon and Makuramon, who were standing near Hookmon's ship. Makuramon had discerned Asuramon's last known location earlier that morning, and now Mimi was anxious to keep moving.

"Majiramon," Makuramon spoke, "Surely there must be something we can do to send these children on their way? Their mission is time-sensitive, after all."

"I'm sorry, Makuramon," Majiramon shook his head, "But interfering with the ritual in any way risks tampering with their very lives. I cannot allow anyone passage until they are done." The dragon crossed his arms.

"Very well." Makuramon nodded. "I will respect your decision."

"But what about Willis?" Mimi whined.

"Come," Makuramon waved them towards the stairs, "We will speak with Gankoomon and Gallantmon about alternative strategies." He started up the stairs, and Mimi begrudgingly followed him.

"Sorry Impmon," Palmon turned to the rookie before following her partner, "It looks like we're going to be stuck here for a little while longer." She then scrambled off after them.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll just be patiently waiting." The rookie grumbled from his seat on the ship. Palmon followed Makuramon and her partner up to Antylamon's library, where they found Alice and Lopmon standing with Gallantmon and Gankoomon, within the shade of the entryway.

"I told them what you asked me to say." Alice reported to the monkey Deva.

"The boy has been taken to the fifth plane?" Gankoomon asked.

"Unfortunately, yes." Makuramon answered. "I analyzed all pathways surrounding his arrival, and found no instances where either Asuramon or a human child exited. The boy is still there."

"The Royal Knights wouldn't… kill him, would they?" Palmon inquired.

"It's doubtful," Gallantmon answered, "Although I'm unaware of what Yggdrasil would have them do in that situation. Still, it's most likely that he's being held prisoner, although the citadel has no dungeon, so I couldn't tell you where."

"We should be moving post-haste." Gankoomon said. "We'll not have long to penetrate the Royal Knight's defenses, so we need to move quickly."

"We can't," Mimi growled, "Because Majiramon won't let us wake up Takuya and Dinoster from their stupid ritual."

"They're still taking the trial?" Gallantmon inquired. "I did not think it would last this long. Did he offer any time frame concerning how long it would take?"

"His exact words were: as long as it takes." Mimi scoffed.

"Majiramon assures us that the ritual cannot be interrupted, and that it if we did it would put the two at risk." Makuramon explained.

"Still, we should find out the average time the ritual takes." Gankoomon reasoned. "He's witnessed them before, has he not?"

"Let me try again." Mimi started walking towards the stairs. "I'll see if I can get some answers out of that stupid lizard."

"Mimi, wait up!" Palmon protested, running after her.

"That girl is quite agitated." Makuramon observed.

"She, Takuya and Willis are really close, from what she's told me." Alice explained. "They all went to school together before the invasion."

"She's correct though." Gankoomon added. "We are short on time. The boy has been their captive for over a month, and Majiramon's unwillingness to provide a time frame leaves us in the dark as to when we can move."

"We will move when we are ready, not a moment sooner." Lopmon said. "We must be at peak strength if we are going to the citadel of the Royal Knights." Gallantmon leaped over her as she spoke, landing in front of the group, his shield held up against his chest.

"Everyone get back." Gallantmon said calmly. Gankoomon and Makuramon complied, the Deva pulling Alice and Lopmon into the safety of the library.

"What's going on?" Alice asked, but Gankoomon shushed her.

"Gallantmon…" A Digimon landed on the platform, covered in white armor. Four Digimon flanked him: a pink armored knight, a woman in a kabuki mask, and two Digimon who Alice recognized.

"Dynasmon and Rapidmon…" Alice's eyes widened. "These are…"

"The Royal Knights." Makuramon confirmed.

"What are you doing here?" The Digimon at the front of the group inquired. "Why are you conspiring with the humans?"

"Omega," Gallantmon shook his head, "Do you even hear yourself?"

"Omnimon," Makuramon walked up to Gallantmon's side, "I'm sorry, but you are not welcome here. I need you to leave."

"Why are you harboring the humans, Makuramon?" Omega inquired. "Why did you not report their arrival to us immediately?"

"Isn't it obvious, Omega?" Dynas walked up to the front of the line. "The Devas have betrayed us: Antylamon's actions alone prove this."

"Omega, open your eyes!" Gallantmon barked. "These children are Digidestined. They're trying to save our world."

"Makuramon is the one who calls forth Digidestined, doesn't he?" Omega asked rhetorically. "I'm sorry, but I can't let differences in ideology affect my decisions. Yggdrasil has commanded that we secure the humans. Hand them over, they will not be harmed."

"Yggdrasil has twisted your mind, brother." Gallantmon shook his head.

"You cannot seriously think that I can allow humans to run amok in the digital world while our worlds are at war?" Omega replied.

"Do you seriously believe your own rhetoric?" Gallantmon yelled. "Omega, what if it were our partners here, right now?"

"It's not." Omega frowned. "But Yggdrasil is our god, and I will follow his commands, to bring peace to the digital world. Stand aside."

"I will not." Gallantmon materialized a lance over his right arm.

"Don't make me ask again." A sword shot out from Omnimon's golden gauntlet.

"If you want the Digidestined, you'll have to go through me." Gallantmon growled.

"Secure the humans!" Omega cried, and swung his sword up to Gallantmon, who knocked it away with his shield. Gallantmon then bashed him with it, throwing Omega backwards. Gallantmon chased after him, lance drawn, and stabbed at air as Omega swept to the side.

"Do not!" Gankoomon leaped at Dynasmon, unleashing a flurry of blows as the Digimon tried to move forward. Dynasmon blocked them expertly as the two moved away from the library.

"Antylamon: run!" Makuramon ordered, but the Deva had sprung into action. Lopmon had digivolved into her ultimate form, grabbed Alice, and jumped over the remaining Royal Knights, hopping with wide steps towards the edge of the platform.

"We need to stop them!" The pink-armored warrior commanded, rushing after them.

"Hiya!" Makuramon jumped in front of the woman in the kabuki mask as she turned after the knight.

"Rapidmon, go aid Crusader!" The woman ordered. Rapidmon looked hesitant, but continued after her.

"Saka, please hear me." Makuramon pleaded as he circled the knight. "All this fighting is senseless. We need to work together."

"I agree," Saka replied, "But Yggdrasil's word is law. You must yield to our demands."

"I cannot." Makuramon shook his head. "I know you believe yourselves to be in the right, but you are going about it the wrong way. You are in the wrong here, Saka."

"If that is what you truly believe, then there is nothing more to discuss." The Digimon sighed.

"Aye, that is true." Makuramon nodded. Saka prepared to attack, but was blindsided as a centaurian bull rammed into her from the side, throwing her across the platform. The red-armored Digimon drew his sword, joining Makuramon's side.

"Thank you for the assist, Vajramon." Makuramon looked to his fellow Deva.

"So the time has come then?" The bull inquired. "We must fight the Royal Knights?"

"In defense of humans, no less." Makuramon smiled. "Do you appreciate the irony?"

"It's a pity." Vajramon shook his head, and then stampeded forwards, swinging his sword towards Sakuyamon. The knight was already on her feet, however, and pulled out a long staff, tipped with a bundle of fabric, which she used to knock away Vajramon's sword. She then shot her staff towards the Digimon's chest, but an arrow smacked into the wood, throwing her shot off to the side. Vajramon jumped away as centaurian ram, coated in white fur, with long, purple horns, appeared at his side.

"Pajiramon." Saka observed the new arrival.

"That's not all." The Deva shook her head. A blast of energy shot towards Saka's face. The Digimon jumped to the side, ducking as she felt a gush of wind swinging towards her. A long, hoofed arm appeared slightly over her head, and the Digimon rolled to safety. A quaking sounded the arrival of Indramon, the horse Deva, a massive purple-skinned creature with a large, golden horn strapped to his back, who landed behind her. To Saka's side, Kumbhiramon, the rat, the smallest of the Devas, stood with his three-pronged weapon facing her. The Deva stood shorter than the humans, with golden armor covering his torso, and short, golden wings extending from his back.

"I never thought I'd see the day when I had to fight you three." Saka sighed, readying her weapon.

"It's been a long time, Saka." Indramon sighed. "Must we really do this?"

"If you insist on keeping the humans from us, then yes we must." She replied.

12:00 P.M.

Antylamon landed on the platform with the large pyramid, stopping to catch her breath. She let Alice down, and the girl stumbled to safety, wobbling onto the ground.

"Antylamon, what do we do?" Alice inquired. "We can't fight them head on like this."

"We have to run," She replied as she caught her breath, "It's the only option."

"You're not going anywhere." The two looked up in fear as Crusader descended from above, accompanied by Rapidmon.

"Oh no!" Alice whimpered.

"Come on!" Antylamon rolled away as Crusader descended upon them, swinging her shield where the Deva once stood. The rabbit snatched Alice off the ground once again and hopped towards the edge of the platform.

"You cannot be allowed to escape!" The knight cried, rushing after them. Suddenly the ground began to shake, and before Crusadermon could respond, a massive Digimon had bashed into her with its skull, throwing her off the platform. The massive Digimon towered over Antylamon, the boar's tusks swinging through the air to keep Rapidmon at bay.

"Vikaralamon!" Antylamon cried with relief.

"I believe you have a job to do." The Deva urged her on. Antylamon nodded gratefully and then took off towards the stairs.

"I cannot let her leave." Rapidmon warned. "Please, step away."

"You know I can't do that, Rapidmon." Vikaralamon replied.

"Then let's get this over with." Rapidmon readied his weapons.

"Agreed: let's." Vikaralamon let Rapidmon come for him, but the Digimon never made contact. A yellow tail whipped through the air, knocking him sideways. A striped tiger landed next to Vikaralamon, with large, striped wings. Mihiramon, the tiger Deva, had joined him in battle.

"Thanks for the assist." Vikaralamon nodded to the Digimon as Rapidmon stood up. Around the Royal Knight, three more Digimon appeared: Sandiramon, the snake Deva, with a white body and a large, purple fan on his neck, as well as the golden rooster Deva, Sinduramon, and the blue-armored dog Deva, Caturamon. "Hold him off!" Vikaralamon commanded. "Give the humans time to escape!"

Antylamon quickly darted over the side of the platform, lunging downwards to Majiramon's isle. She landed with a loud thud, to the surprise of everyone there. Hookmon and Impmon jumped back, and Palmon and Mimi, who had just made it down the stairs, fell over in surprise.

"Get the ship ready!" Alice commanded as Antylamon released her. "The Royal Knights are here!"

"You heard her lads!" Hookmon bellowed. "Get 'er off the ground!" Hookmon swung his body onto the ship, where Impmon and his crew had scrambled to work.

"The knights are here: you're sure?" Mimi inquired.

"Yes, we need to move quickly." Antlamon ordered. "Get onto the ship."

"What about Dinoster and Takuya?" Palmon whined.

"Majiramon-!" Antylamon ran up to the Deva, but the dragon held out his palm.

"I cannot let you pass." He shook his head.

"Didn't you hear me: The Royal Knights are here!"

"Their lives will be put in danger if you move them!" Majiramon yelled once more.

"Their lives are in danger now!" Antylamon roared.

"Quite…" A calm voice spoke from up high. Antylamon and Majiramon looked up nervously: Crusadermon stood atop the hill, staring down at them with crossed arms.

"Get to the ship." Antylamon spoke to the two humans behind her.

"Stop this, I beg you." Crusader jumped down off the mouth of the cave, Majiramon and Antylamon backing away slowly. "This isn't a battle you can win. And we have no desire to harm the children, we simply must contain them until the situation has been resolved. They cannot be allowed to run free in the digital world."

"These children are Digidestined." Majiramon snaked back around Crusader, causing her to stand sideways so she could see both Devas. "They are here by the call of the digital core. If you are truly protectors of the digital world, you would see that."

"I don't answer to the digital core." Crusader shook her head. "I answer to Lord Yggdrasil. Now step aside. I will retrieve the child myself."

"I cannot allow you to interfere with him." Majiramon slithered into a defensive stance. "He is currently in the Trial of the Four Great Dragons. Any outside interference could nullify the ritual, and cause irreparable damage to its participants."

"My orders supersede some ancient ritual." Crusader glared. "Move."

"I will not!" Majiramon hissed.

"Then I will move you!" Crusader swung her shield at the dragon, who slithered around her arm, wrapping his tail around her elbow. He pulled the Digimon back, attempting to throw her away, but the knight snatched at his forearm and swung him over her body, slinging him into the ground. Majiramon howled in pain as Crusader stepped into his chest.

"Get off of him!" Antylamon kicked into the Digimon's cheek, but Crusadermon easily ducked, releasing Majiramon and turning her attention back to the rabbit Deva. She unleashed a flurry of punches with her shielded arm, and Antylamon swiftly dodged them. The ultimate then flipped over her opponent, driving her heel toward the Digimon's neck, but Crusader had already swung around to meet her, driving her shield into the Digimon's back. Antylamon cried out in agony as she was thrown into Majiramon.

"I warned you." Crusader shook her head. "Now please, move before there is any more harm done."

"We… will… not." Antylamon struggled to her feet. Crusader punted the rabbit away, who crumpled to the ground a few meters from the entrance to the cave.

"No!" Alice cried as Mimi held her back, trying to back both of them towards the ship.

"I warned you that this was a battle you could not-ugh!" Crusader flew backwards, the blow to her face sending her skidding across the surface of the island. A golden blur zoomed after her, slashing a golden sword down as it arrived at the knight's location. Crusadermon barely had time to pull up her shield before the blow connected, driving her into the ground. She quickly jumped away before the next slash connected, flying to safety as the sword slashed harmlessly against the ground. The Digimon jumped after her, flying into the air to meet her gaze.

"A new challenger has appeared." She crossed her arms as she sized up her new opponent. "Who in Yggdrasil's name might you be?" The Digimon was clearly draconic, but humanoid in form, golden-white armor covering him head to toe. Golden talons extended from his feet, while his hands were human-like, his skull that of a dragon, with a horn protruding from his snout, two from his brow, and two from the back of his head. A green cloak waved in the wind from his back, and he held a segmented, golden sword in his hand. The Digimon didn't answer, instead disappearing into thin air. Crusader followed the Digimon's movements, spinning around to block with her shield, but didn't expect the strength behind the attack. The Digimon slammed into her shield with his sword, throwing her into the ground. The knight landed with a thud, breaking the tiling underneath her.

"I'm Slayerdramon." He said sternly. He dropped down to the ground, slowly walking towards her.

"You're strong, I'll give you that." Crusadermon wobbled out of the crater her body had made. "You're a mega-level, aren't you?"

"Take a guess." Slayerdramon dashed towards her, swinging his sword in one hand. Crusadermon jumped away, holding her shield to her chest. The dramon continued his pursuit, jabbing incessantly at the knight, who kept on the defensive, jumping away from each blow.

"You're not a Deva: that's for sure." Crusadermon thought aloud. "Majiramon is the dragon Deva, and he's out of this battle." Her eyes darted over to the ultimate to ensure that her statement was correct. Sure enough, he still lay in front of the entrance to the cave. Slayerdramon took advantage of the distraction, pouncing towards her with greater speed than before. Crusadermon swerved to avoid the strike, continuing to dodge each blow.

"A mega-level Digimon on the plane of the Devas. Where did you come from?" Crusader ducked away as he slashed his sword. "The Trial of the Four Great Dragons, he called it…" She pushed off the ground as Slayerdramon slammed his sword down on her, which split the tiles where she once stood. The knight finally had the chance to go on the offensive, thrusting her shielded fist into the Digimon's cheek. Slayerdramon's body was thrown to the side, but he kept his footing and swung his sword in front of him, forcing Crusader to pull her shield into her chest to absorb the blow. She was sent flying once more, and as she tried to slow herself down, Slayerdramon appeared, his sword pulled around his body. Crusader quickly twisted around as he swung, her shield taking the full force of the blow. She was thrown back to the ground once more, her body crashing into the isle. Slayerdramon then pounced on her, smashing his sword into the dusty crater. His landing sent a wave of air cascading in all directions, which blew away the dust. Crusader knelt under him, blocking the tip of his sword with her shield.

"How can a mega-level be this strong?" Crusader grunted. "You're not a Royal Knight: there's no way you could match our power!"

"Think again." Slayerdramon picked up his foot and kicked her in the chest, throwing the Digimon onto her back. She picked up her shield, but Slayerdramon knocked her arm back down, standing over her in triumph. "Stand down." He ordered.

"This makes no sense." She glared. "But very well. For the moment, you are stronger than me. I will yield."

"Do not move." He left the warrior where she lay, and walked over to the fallen rabbit Deva, who now lay unconscious as Lopmon. "Lopmon," He shook the Digimon awake, "It's okay: I'm here now."

"Who…" The Digimon groaned as she awoke. "Dinoster?"

"Get to the ship." He helped her to her feet. "We're getting out of here." Lopmon happily rushed towards the Essex, where Alice grabbed her with open arms. Mimi then finally succeeded in pulling the girl up the boardwalk and onto the deck. "Ready the sails." He looked back to Hookmon, who did not hesitate in complying. The Digimon and his crew opened the sails, where the wind began to take hold. They pulled up the posts holding the ship upright, pulled in the boardwalk, opened the wings, and the ship began to glide away.

"Where do you think you can go, that we won't find you?" Crusader taunted as she sat in place, leaning against her knee. "It's hopeless. Surrender now and avoid further bloodshed." Slayerdramon watched carefully as he backed away from the knight, observing the battles at the higher platforms out of the corner of his eye.

"I'm sorry, Majiramon." He watched Crusader slowly stand higher, knowing she wouldn't stand down for long. Slayerdramon had to keep the ship safe. "Hiya!" He slammed his sword down into the isle, sending fissures across the surface. The ground underneath Crusader collapsed, and she plummeted into Majiramon's underground home. Slayerdramon then pivoted on a heel and shot towards the ship, grabbing the side of the hull and pushing it forward. The ship took off with tremendous speed, and the Digimon jumped up top as Hookmon dove the vessel down into the clouds. As they dived, energy swirled around them, and the passengers were consumed by a blinding light, and deafening screech. The flashing and screeching disappeared as quickly as they came, and the ship was now sailing through a brightly lit passage of flowing data.

"Ow, my head." Mimi groaned as she dropped to her knees.

"Aye, the data streams are high in energy." Hookmon explained. "Many cannot stay awake the first few times they travel through, and when you can finally stomach the pain, a killer headache be on ya."

"We left Gankoomon behind." Alice sighed as she stumbled up against railing. "We should have taken him with us."

"Gankoomon was helping to stall the Royal Knights so we could make our escape." Lopmon told her. "It was the only thing we could do, given the situation at the time."

"Wait," Mimi looked around the ship as panic overcame her face, "Where's Takuya?" She looked around in a panic; the boy was nowhere to be found.

"You didn't leave him, did you?" Palmon whimpered.

"No, I did not." Slayerdramon answered, somewhat shocked by their response.

"Then where is he?" Mimi cried.

"Dinoster, how could you leave your partner behind?" Lopmon cried.

"You don't understand." The golden warrior dropped to one knee, placing his hand on Mimi's shoulder as he looked over the four Digidestined. "No one got left behind." He pointed to his chest. "We're both right here."