"Eldradimon: living stronghold and base of operations for the Green Pillar Reseda…" Wallace removed his binoculars as he flew over the northeastern territory of Arcadia on the back of WarGreymon. From what Garretson explained during the final meeting before the attack, it was a massive, tortoise Digimon born from the data of ancient ruins and archeological findings, evident by the vast forest on its back with the stone tower projecting in the center of it, which matched the rest of its body.
As for its mistress, Reseda herself, she was described in detail as a mad scientist with an insatiable desire to feed her curiosity however possible, going as far as using her subordinates who follow her either through blind loyalty, or a plea for survival. Lilamon, one of the rare ones, did what she did for acknowledgment it seemed. Blinded by admiration, she was turned on when she no longer was of use to her.
Wallace tapped on WarGreymon, signaling it to dive down. In minutes Wallace was low enough to safely jump off while WarGreymon returned to his D-Streamer. Landing on the muddy surface, the forest air filled Wallace's lungs as he eased himself into the new environment. The tower itself—presumably, Reseda's stronghold—was not far from his position, nor were the small band of troops aiding him in this. While the others crashed the funeral, Wallace gained special permission to storm Reseda's confines and see if Isabella was held captive within. Being that she was used as the model for Lilamon's Saibatar form, he only deduced that it would make sense that Reseda kept her close, rather than with the other prisoners within Arylide's territory. Once everyone was gathered, the commanding officer assigned for this op took point and led Wallace and the others towards the tower.
As they traversed slowly through the foliage surrounding them, Wallace pushed ahead, ignoring the stares from the insect Digimon that hid amongst the trees, eyeing them like predators. They looked like oversized spiders and beetles, but they could very well have been security enforcement if engaged. Garretson did caution about being watched, so these circumstances weren't entirely unexpected. So long as he remained focused and pressed on, intimidation would not take hold of him.
"Who would've thought this big lug had a whole creepy forest on his back...?" One soldier commented to another.
"Garretson mentioned that we would have eyes on us. If you were paying attention, you'd know that." The second soldier replied, not turning around.
"I'm just saying if it were up to me," he grunted, pulling his boot from a patch of thick mud, "I'd be kicking butt on the ground with everyone, not saving some chick in a tower for someone else."
"Who knows, maybe you'll find someone who'll put up with your complaining..." Wallace said passively.
The other soldiers stopped, and the initial one stomped ahead. Wallace kept walking, not willing to entertain it.
"Hey, pretty boy!" The soldier barked. "You got something to say to me, be a man and say it to my face!"
"I'd much rather not waste my time," Wallace said, continuing to allow his tongue to take control.
"Oh, trust me, I'll be sure to make it worth your while—!" The soldier was suddenly yanked back by pair of lanky, wooden arms, his outburst alerting not only the soldiers sneaking by but other Digimon who sat in hiding.
The captor of the loudmouth soldier was Cherrymon, a large tree Digimon resembling an elderly man. Its glowing yellow eyes were joined by multiple sets of red eyes as Dokugumon dripped from its branches, held steady by their hidden webs.
As the soldiers readied their weapons to retaliate, vines beside their feet sprung to life and wrapped themselves at their ankles, hoisting them into the air one by one. Blossomon appeared from the shadows, taking glee at its caught victims. Wallace just barely managed to jump and avoid Blossomon's snare, only to turn and come face to face with a hulking, green-eyed man dressed in Liberator attire. Wallace did the only smart thing and put his hands up, leaving the opportunity for the muscular Saibatar to sock him in the stomach, causing him to double over and collapse.
Cursing to himself internally, Wallace slowly began to black out as the Saibatar instructed the pair of plant-based Digimon with follow-up orders. As the Saibatar threw him over his shoulder, he finally lost consciousness while watching his world flip upside down...
Chapter 21: The Dynasty Warrior
When Wallace finally came to, he felt himself lying back on something cold. A glassy surface reflected his groggy expression, and when he tried to move, his arms felt numb and constricted. His legs did nothing but bounce off the surface of the glass after extending a bit.
"You're awake are you…?" Reseda's voice came through the small speakers on both sides of him. They woke Wallace up more as he slowly realized what was happening.
"Where…am I?" He asked, finding his voice.
Reseda's image came over the other side of the window. She then took the opportunity to remove her hood and pull her mask from her face. Blonde hair exposed itself, and the image of Emily resonated in Wallace's view. Her jade-colored eyes narrowed, and her lips curled in unusual eagerness. "Where else than in my playroom?"
Wallace didn't like the sound of that. Aside from being in some kind of pod, it was clearly her lab. "And what are you planning on doing to me?"
"The real question is what were you planning on by coming here?" Reseda leaned in. "Could it be you were searching for your precious little lilac? Or could it be you've fallen for mine?"
Wallace felt powerless, unable to properly direct his budding rage. He stood resilient to the pressure, trying to keep a straight face.
Reseda leaned up and made a motion with her head. Across the room, a timid Terriermon in a lab coat took its stubby legs and frantically raced over to a nearby console. Typing in a command, Wallace's pod leaned forward, rising so that he could see the rest of the laboratory. Consoles projecting holographic screens of surveillance footage, various bits of data and information, and…vital readings? The last one caught his attention, drawing him to the sight of the entire opposing wall being lined with similar pods.
"What…? What are…?"
"You seem more surprised than I anticipated," Reseda commented, hearing Wallace's short gasps through her com. "You knew that we Liberators were able to turn ourselves into Saibatars…did it never occur to you that the technology to do so was in my possession?"
"I assumed EOS had the ability to—"
Reseda chuckled, "No, no no-no-no. Things like this are beneath her. I am the Liberators' chief scientist, giving me all the opportunity to look into ways to further our goals. Thanks to this technology, I was able to create Saibatar forms based on Tamer data provided to me. At first, it was used to help bridge the gap between humans and AI, but then it became necessary to use it to take in the benefits of the world we were liberating from humanity."
"And how did you come to possess so much of it?"
"It was I who provided it." Vantus' voice came through the com suddenly.
The sudden intrusion drew Reseda's attention as well, as Vantus entered the lab, along with Evie draped on his back. "You're early," she said walking up to him.
"I finished things quickly," Vantus replied. "Eve has been apprehended, Neo Babylon has fallen, and Arcadia's ours to control." He handed Evie over to her. "Prepare her for the conversion."
"…So then…EOS…?" Wallace attempted to process everything.
"I provided Reseda with the means to create the Saibatars, to enact my eventual coup d'état against Eve," Vantus explained, walking to the pod. "And in return, she would rule alongside me within Arcadia."
"So then…"
"That's right. I'm the one responsible for the fate of your beloved Isabella."
Wallace felt the rage bubble, causing him to make an effort to kick the glass pane off.
"Settle down," Reseda told him, placing Evie into a pod specifically connected to another one. "She's too valuable to let die."
"WHERE IS SHE?!" Wallace screamed, ignoring her command, and struggling even harder.
Reseda turned and pointed to a pod directly across from him. It was then Wallace redirected his attention and felt his spine shiver. Isabella—the real Isabella—laid lifeless in the opposing pod. Wallace felt his heart sink in his chest, not knowing which emotion to exert by seeing her in the state. The latches suddenly unhitched, and decompressed, allowing the door to open. Wallace dropped forward but quickly scrambled up to her pod to verify it was her.
"Isabella…" Tears poured from his face as he took a close look at her. Part of him was in denial—that this was a trap by Isabella. Another part of him thought that she had to be dead. And yet a small glimmer of hope was resilient in his chest.
Vantus watched Wallace's emotions unravel before him and after staring for a moment, went over to the adjacent pod next to Evie's. "Make this quick."
"Science doesn't play by our rules, my dear," Reseda replied as she closed the pod over him.
"What are you doing with Evie?" Wallace asked, noticing Reseda and Vantus' actions.
"Unlocking the final piece of our objective." Reseda locked the hatch. "Using the core of this mysterious little girl, what would you suppose would happen if a human fuses with something like EOS?"
Wallace was taken aback. "A…human?" He looked at Vantus' pod, asking himself the question once again.
Just then, the laboratory shook violently and Eldradimon let out a pained groan that reverberated throughout. Reseda's head snapped, "What's going on?!"
"Rebels?" Wallace thought. The way things sounded; the invasion was a bust so what could possibly be—!
Another quake shook the room, this time screams could be heard from the hallways.
"HURRY UP!" Vantus snarled, causing Reseda to grit her teeth.
As Reseda began to move, Wallace reacted. "Oh no, you don't!"
Suddenly Pulsemon and Falcomon intercepted Reseda and blocked her from moving forward. She could easily knock them aside, but instead, she stood her ground. "Surely you understand if Eldradimon falls we all die, correct?"
"I don't care…" Wallace snarled, readying his D-Streamer to duel. "If I have to die to atone for my actions, I'd like it even better if you both come along for the ride."
Reseda snickered and turned around. "Very well then. But let us do it elsewhere so we don't disrupt my procedure."
Holding her hand downward, Reseda summoned a digital gate beneath them which they both dropped through, landing on the soft dirt that was Eldradimon's shell. The fresh air hitting him immediately, Wallace was quick to take note of the commotion surrounding them as Eldradimon stomped about attempting to escape the assailants that swarmed it from all directions. The trio themselves were moving so quickly that he was unable to get a good look at them.
"I'm waiting for you." Reseda pulled his attention. Wallace then held his arm up and clenched his fist, as did she.
"DIGI-GATE: OPEN!"
"I'll start by hatching Yokomon, and I'll digivolve it into Terriermon Assistant and play Floramon from my hand." Reseda started, hatching the pink bulb and digivolving it into her lab assistant, following it by summoning the flower-based Digimon.
Yokomon (BT5-004)
Color: Green
Level: 2
Terriermon Assistant (BT5-046)
Color: Green
Level: 3
DP: 2000
Floramon (ST4-02)
Color: Green
Level: 3
DP 4000
MEMORY
0-2 (Turn Change: Wallace)
Wallace drew, "I hatch Bibimon, then I digivolve it into Tapirmon, and play the Tamer TK Takaishi."
A small, blonde-colored baby Digimon with green, visor-like eyebrows and a tuff of white lightning-shaped hair appeared briefly before transforming into Tapirmon. Following that was TK Takaishi who went into using its ability.
Bibimon (BT6-003)
Color: Yellow
Level: 2
Tapirmon (BT6-032)
Color: Yellow
Level: 3
DP: 2000
TK Takaishi (BT1-087)
Color: Yellow
MEMORY
2-2 (Turn Change: Reseda)
"When TK is played, I can look at my Security, and take a card from amongst them and add it to my hand. If it happens to be Yellow, I can recover it." Wallace explained as his Security displayed in front of him. He revealed a Digimon card resembling a mutant cage with arms and a chain. "I'll add Mimicmon to my hand, and then recover it. Your move.
As he added the card to his hand, Reseda drew. "Terriermon Assistant moves to the Battle Area, then I activate it's Digi-Burst 1. This allows me to reveal the top card of my deck and if it's a Green Digimon I can add it to my hand, otherwise it's sent to the bottom of my deck."
A silhouette of Yokomon ejected from Terriermon and revealed the top card, revealing the option Tropical Venom, which returned to the bottom of her deck.
"Yokomon's IE now triggers. When it's used as Digi-Burst material, Yokomon grants one of my Digimon +2000 DP for the turn. I boost Floramon, and then order it to attack your Security!"
Floramon: 4000-6000 DP
After the silhouette flew over and infused itself into Floramon, the empowered Digimon dashed forward and expelled a pink mist from her flower hands. Wallace's first Security appeared and revealed Growlmon to retaliate.
Floramon; 6000 DP
Growlmon: 4000 DP
Growlmon responded and began to swipe furiously towards Floramon, but between its dodging and the mist it expelled, Growlmon eventually became too disoriented and collapsed into binary.
Wallace
Security: 5-4
"To end my turn, I digivolve Terriermon Assistant into Kabuterimon, then I play the Tamer Yoshino Fujieda who will use her ability to return Yokomon to my Digi-Egg Deck."
Both Kabuterimon and Yoshino appeared just as Floramon made its way back to Reseda's side, the Tamer using her ability to return Yokomon to the deck.
Kabuterimon (ST4-08)
Color: Green
Level: 4
DP: 5000
MEMORY
2-1
Yoshino Fujieda (BT4-095)
Color: Green
MEMORY
1-2 (Turn Change: Wallace)
"TK sets my Memory to 3," Wallace began as he drew.
MEMORY
2-3
"I move Tapirmon to the Battle Area, then I digivolve it into Wizardmon, then into Mistymon to end."
Tapirmon floated forward and proceeded to warp into the mystical warrior Digimon covered in silver armor and wielding the flaming jeweled golden blade.
Wizardmon (BT6-034)
Color: Yellow
Level: 4
DP: 4000
Mistymon (BT6-040)
Color: Yellow
Level: 5
DP: 7000
MEMORY
3-1
1-2 (Turn Change: Reseda)
Reseda drew, "You need time to prepare, don't you? Shame that I was looking forward to the more aggressive style of play you demonstrated in the past."
"Obviously when going up against a dangerous enemy it would be unwise to act so hastily."
"I suppose you're right. In that case, don't mind me as I take advantage of that. I hatch Yokomon, digivolve it into Lalamon and then into Weedmon."
A clump of green binary tangled itself together to form Weedmon, its smug grin widening in an attempt to intimidate.
Lalamon (BT4-052)
Color: Green
Level: 3
DP: 2000
Weedmon (BT5-050)
Color: Green
Level: 4
DP: 3000
MEMORY
2-1
"Floramon, Security Attack once more!"
Floramon went in to attack for a second time, repeating the pink mist tactic. However, it stopped short when the Security revealed itself as Falcomon.
Floramon: 4000 DP
Falcomon: 5000 DP
Falcomon flapped its wings, blowing back the pink mist, and then following it up with feather darts that threw Floramon and pinned it to a nearby tree. Defeated, Floramon dipped its head and dispersed into binary.
Wallace
Security: 4-3
"I end by digivolving Kabuterimon into Lillymon," Reseda said as the giant bug transformed into the pink fairy Digimon.
Lillymon (BT1-079)
Color: Green
Level: 5
DP: 6000
MEMORY
1-1(Turn Change: Wallace)
1-3
Wallace drew. He didn't want to assume that Reseda didn't know that his deck revolved around his Security, though the fact that she reduced him to three security did imply she was confident in her abilities. Did she intend on pushing hard enough to keep him from doing anything? Or did she have something else in mind and she was baiting him to act? Either way, with three Security, his Digimon could finally make a counterattack.
"I hatch Koromon, then I digivolve it into Salamon, while also digivolving Mistymon into the beacon of light that will set the path towards my Idealistic Future! Digivolve into WarGreymon!"
Koromon appeared and transformed into the cream-colored puppy Digimon while Mistymon digivolved into his ace. WarGreymon towered over them, ready to go into action on Wallace's instructions.
Koromon (BT4-003)
Color: Yellow
Salamon (BT2-034)
Color: Yellow
Level: 3
DP: 2000
WarGreymon (BT4-048)
Color: Yellow
Level: 6
DP: 11,000
MEMORY
3-0
"Let's go WarGreymon! Security Attack!" Wallace declared, causing WarGreymon to pull its arms back. As Reseda prepared for impact, Wallace spoke up. "First Bibimon's IE effect, since I'm attacking while I have exactly 3 Security, I gain a Memory."
MEMORY
0-1
"Next, I unsuspend WarGreymon by adding the top card of my Security to my hand. Doing that triggers multiple effects; Wizardmon grants an additional Memory and Mistymon minuses -2000 DP from Lillymon. WarGreymon takes away another 6000 DP totaling 8000 altogether!"
MEMORY
1-2
Wallace
Security: 3-2
The empowered WarGreymon slashed the air, sending waves of fire towards the frantic Lillymon who ignited on impact. As she burned, the waves of fire continued towards Reseda's first Security.
Lillymon: 6000-0 DP
Reseda
Security: 5-4
Argomon Level 4 appeared to counter WarGreymon, the latter making quick work of the champion-level Digimon with an overhead slash.
"WarGreymon, once more, Security Attack!"
The golden dragon warrior now took to the sky to generate a Gaia Force, hurling it back down towards Reseda. Another Security broke down, drawing the match even closer to even.
Reseda
Security 4-3
"Security Trigger: Pollen Spray!" Reseda revealed. "I look at the top three cards of my deck and add all of the cards with the Digi-Burst ability. For each one added one of your Digimon becomes suspended."
Wallace commented as the cards revealed themselves one by one, "It won't do you any good seeing as I've already used WarGreymon's second attack."
As Floramon and Yoshino revealed themselves, the final card, Nidhoggmon appeared, with Reseda taking it to Wallace's surprise. "One could argue that."
Snickering, Wallace played his next card. "I play Mimicmon from my hand. Since I have less than three Security, I gain two Memory."
The cage Digimon from before now appeared formally, its sharp yellow eye shifting back and forth from one end of the cage to the other. Belching out Binary, it flew up and fixed the memory counter, cutting its cost-effectively in half.
Mimicmon (BT6-036)
Color: Yellow
Level: 4
DP: 3000
MEMORY
2-2 (Turn Change: Reseda)
2-0
"I end my turn by digivolving Mimicmon into Angewomon, who'll recover another Security since I have three or less.
Mimicmon's cage-like body burst open upon infusion of binary, the creature inside of it taking the opportunity to transform into the angelic Digimon. Using her abilities, Angewomon restored Wallace's Security, bringing him on even terms with Reseda.
Angewomon (ST3-09)
Color: Yellow
Level: 5
DP: 7000
Wallace
Security: 2-3
MEMORY
0-3 (Turn Change: Reseda)
Reseda drew. "I must admit, you're proving to be much more entertaining than I gave you credit for. Granted, we did target you to lead us, Liberators, in the past so, who am I to be surprised?"
"And you went so far as to experiment on my loved ones to ensure that I'd comply. Look how far that got you?"
Reseda looked at the card in her hand and smirked, "I'd say pretty far indeed. Weedmon moves to the Battle Area, then I play Floramon from my hand."
MEMORY
3-1
Weedmon bounced forward, followed by another Floramon. Reseda took another card in her hand and flashed it. "Digisorption!"
The keyword threw Wallace. It was an ability that he heard through the Beta Testers, but not one he's seen in person. A method to get around a memory choke…or make several big plays for little.
"I suspend Floramon to digivolve Weedmon into Blossomon!" Reseda declared as Floramon knelt. Green binary poured from the smaller Digimon and infused into Weedmon, who then proceeded to digivolve into the large flower Digimon with the carnivorous flower buds on its tendrils.
Blossomon (BT3-054)
Color: Green
Level: 5
DP: 7000
"And then, I play Hidden Potential Discovered!" Reseda flashed the Option Card, sending a chill through Wallace. He knew what was coming next. Reseda's lips curled as she reeled in the sudden dread emanating from Wallace. "By suspending Blossomon, I unveil my greatest creation onto my enemy! Come forth, dark dragon of destruction Nidhoggmon!"
As Blossomon rested, it proceeded to dig its mouthy tendrils into the ground, causing Eldradimon to unleash an agonizing groan. The whole being of Eldradimon came to an abrupt halt and began to shake violently. While Wallace panicked justifiably, Reseda cackled at the sight of Blossomon feeding off Eldradimon. The trees around them began to rapidly decay and turn black, and the Digimon living in them began to scatter for safety, though the tendrils erupted from the grounds and took them as further nutrients. As Blossomon's being turned black as well, its eyes illuminated into a sickly red color. Power exploded, triggering Eldradimon to give out one last cry before it too began to crash down into the earth.
Wallace let out a cry as he was flung into the air, his spinning vision catching glimpses of the evil Digimon forming the more Eldradimon own body disintegrated. He tried his hardest to straighten, watching as the tower Isabella was in begin to collapse.
"ISABELLA, NO!" He cried watching as the structure began to fall, ignoring that he too was approaching death's door with his freefalling. He was so fixated on the tower crumbling that he was taken back when a white blur suddenly impaired his vision and scooped him at a blinding speed, bringing him safely to the ground in seconds.
Shaken he tried to process what was happening, starting by looking up at his supposed savior. It was a white dragon-like knight Digimon with purple, tattered wings, and gold accented claws all across its body. The Digimon looked down at Wallace and eased him to the ground, waiting for the boy to regain his bearings.
"I'm glad you're safe…" The Digimon said in a soft voice.
"Who…are you?" Wallace blinked. He took note of its knightly appearance, and was reminded of what Garretson said before, "Are you…a Royal Knight by any chance?"
"I am known as Dynasmon." The Digimon answered. "I am a Digimon reborn through the Creator's will, with the sole purpose of aiding you when the time came."
Wallace didn't expect that. "EOS…designed you to help me?"
Nidhoggmon roared, announcing its presence for all in the surrounding area to hear. The pair turned, finding Reseda sitting atop the beast, reveling in the results of her creation.
Nidhoggmon (BT4-062)
Color: Green
Level: 6
DP: 13,000
"Simply magnificent! Such power these paradoxes possess! The amount of potential this brings simply sets my core ablaze!"
Wallace clenched his fist as WarGreymon and Angewomon joined him. He looked around and saw no sign of Eldradimon anywhere; neither it nor Reseda's tower where her lab was. Tears began to stream down his face as his blood boiled over. "RESEDA!" He screamed with as much pain and fury as he could exert.
Reseda laughed as she crossed her legs and snapped her fingers. "Digi-Burst…"
Nidhoggmon expelled all four of its sources, all of which gathered into its jowls as flaming green energy. Aiming towards WarGreymon, Nidhoggmon belched the energy outward, causing WarGreymon to react and throw up its shield to block it. However, it was not a regular attack. Binary peeled away from WarGreymon's shield and returned to Wallace's D-Streamer to his surprise. Seconds later, the blast overtook WarGreymon and sent the rest of it back to Wallace, its sources going to his trash. Wallace stood astounded at the sight of his trump card being so casually removed as it was. Reseda took the opportunity to explain herself by throwing a finger up.
"Nidhoggmon's Digi-Burst suspends all of your Digimon with 5000 DP or less and follows it by sending all of your suspended Digimon to the bottom of your deck." She explained, throwing a second finger up mid-explanation. "But of course, I'm not going to stop there. Firstly, are the Digi-Burst effects; Weedmon grants me a Memory, Lalamon returns to my hand, and Yokomon grants +2000 to my Digimon for the turn, which I'll give to my Floramon."
MEMORY
1-2
Floramon: 4000-6000 DP
Floramon will digivolve into Sunflowmon, with Yoshino suspending to cut the cost by 1 Memory, and then it'll digivolve into Lilamon to end my turn."
Wallace watched as Floramon warped into Lilamon, the sight of the Digimon only driving Wallace's anger moreso. Reseda was taunting him, using both of those monsters to add salt to his open wounds.
Sunflowmon (BT4-054)
Color: Green
Level: 4
DP: 4000
Lilamon (BT4-059)
Color: Green
Level: 5
DP: 7000
MEMORY
2-1
1-2(Turn Change: Wallace)
2-3
Dynasmon watched as Wallace drew, his hand shaking as he added the card to his hand. Dynasmon itself looked towards Reseda with disdain, converting itself into binary and inserting itself into Wallace's D-Streamer. "We will defeat her together."
Not willing to argue otherwise, Wallace nodded and ordered Salamon to move forward. "Security Attack! Koromon's IE effect -1000 DP from Lilamon!"
The puppy Digimon let out a howling shockwave that echoed through Lilamon, shaking the Digimon briefly while the true target, Reseda's Security intercepted the waves.
Lilamon: 7000-6000 DP
Reseda
Security: 3-2
Revealing itself to be a large reptilian Digimon resembling a predatory flower, Toropiamon went on the offensive, launching towards the unsuspecting puppy, and making it a quick snack.
Salamon: 2000 DP
Toropiamon: 6000 DP
"Salamon's effect: when I'm down to three Security or less, I recover upon its deletion." Wallace declared, thereby gaining an edge over Reseda.
Wallace
Security: 3-4
I end by playing the Option Card Reinforcing Memory Boost! I reveal the top two cards of my deck, then I add one to the top of my Security Stack and the other to my hand." He did just that, unveiling Chaosmon: Valdur Arm as well as Dynasmon. He then sent Chaosmon to Security and added Dynasmon to his hand.
Wallace
Security: 4-5
MEMORY
3-3 (Turn Change: Reseda)
Reseda drew, her curiosity peaking a little. "You regained your Security. Do you intend on utilizing it somehow, or are you trying to prolong your demise?"
Wallace drilled holes into her with his gaze. "I'm contemplating the best way to end you…"
Reseda scoffed, "and you believe sending Chaosmon to your security was the best play in that matter?"
"I don't need Chaosmon to end you. You've proven that you're not worthy of a painless death…"
"I see…" she pulled a card from her hand. "A lowly, traitorous human like yourself is determined to end my life, hm…? How do I wonder how you will pull that off? I hatch Yokomon and digivolve it into Palmon."
Palmon materialized in Reseda's Raising Area, the mandrake shifting to and fro, ignorant of the current situation.
Palmon (P-032)
Color: Green
Level: 3
DP: 2000
"I activate Lilamon's Digi-Burst, suspending Angewomon." Reseda continued her turn, causing Lilamon to float into the air and unleash a similar mist as Floramon did prior, paralyzing Angewomon where she stood.
"Nidhoggmon, devour Angewomon!"
Wallace stood powerless as Nidhoggmon's tendril whipped out and lassoed the angel Digimon. As she struggled to break free, Nidhoggmon paid it no mind, crushing her into binary and absorbing it into its being.
"And finally, Lilamon… I bestow to you the power of the Ancient Warrior of Wood: heed my call, AncientTroymon!"
The twists kept coming. Wallace watched as Lilamon rose and curled herself into a fetal position, binary beginning to encase her before reforming into a towering being similar in size to Nidhoggmon. What came of it was a Digimon resembling a literal Trojan Horse, with cannons protruding from its mouth, sides, and back.
AncientTroymon (BT6-054)
Color: Green
Level: 6
DP: 13,000 DP
MEMORY
3-2 (Turn Change: Wallace)
2-3
"Ancient…Troymon?" Wallace blinked.
"Just a little kept secret of mine," Reseda replied mused. "While the common conception is that it sacrificed itself centuries ago and became the barrier that the other two Ancients maintain, I've managed to siphon enough data in their absence to recreate it for my purposes. Not long ago the two returned to their posts after so long, however, they've done nothing but trap EOS here, allowing Vantus to act."
"I don't understand. Why turn on EOS?"
"For curiosity's sake." She replied simply.
Wallace didn't know how to answer that, allowing her to explain herself. "Vantus wants to overthrow EOS and usher in his regime. I want to witness what a world free of EOS is like. Simple as that."
"You're insane…"
Reseda smiled, "As are you thinking you can still save her…"
Wallace hissed as he drew. "I hatch Koromon and digivolve it into Tapirmon!"
A new Tapirmon appeared in his raising area, while he motioned his hand over to his hovering Option Card. "I use the delay effect of Reinforcing Memory Boost to gain me 3 Memory!"
MEMORY
3-6
"And then from my hand, I play MagnaAngemon, to recover another Security."
The Level 5 Digimon materialized, the armored angel Digimon's eight silver wings shimmering upon its entrance. It drew its purple gauntlet blade and cut a vertical rectangle into reality, setting Wallace's 6th Security in place.
MagnaAngemon (BT1-060)
Color: Yellow
Level: 5
DP: 6000
Wallace
Security: 5-6
MEMORY
6-1 (Turn Change: Reseda)
"All you're doing is stalling at this point," Reseda drew. "Palmon moves into my Battle Area and digivolves into Kabuterimon."
Kabuterimon materialized over the approaching Palmon and hissed while the counter above decreased.
MEMORY
1-0
"I then play two copies of the Option Card Tropical Venom! Targeting MagnaAngemon, when it's deleted, I gain +2 Memory for each copy. AncientTroymon, Security Attack! Lilamon's IE effect suspends MagnaAngemon as I have a Tamer present."
Wallace clenched his teeth as AncientTroymon's front cannon charged and fired. Piddomon appeared from the Security and blocked the attack, the ensuing fumes from the small explosion paralyzing MagnaAngemon.
Wallace
Security: 6-5
"Next, Nidhoggmon devours MagnaAngemon!"
Like Angewomon before it, MagnaAngemon was far too weak to resist the monsters' grasp. MagnaAngemon was wiped away, and per the Option Cards, Reseda's Memory Count shot up to 4.
MEMORY
0-4
"Now for Chaosmon…" She took a card from her hand and swiped it. "Kabuterimon digivolves into Lilamon, who'll use her Digi-Burst to trash Palmon. Doing so triggers Palmon's effect, giving it Jamming for the turn!"
MEMORY
4-1
Wallace felt the events taking a toll on him as the silhouettes of the two prior Digimon infused and empowered Lilamon. With a flick of Reseda's wrist, Lilamon went in on the attack, with Chaosmon appearing to counter her. Despite its clear overwhelming might, Lilamon surrounded herself in a mist that paralyzed the great Chaosmon and rendered it powerless to stop it. Lilamon returned to her mistress victorious.
Wallace
Security: 5-4
"I end my turn by playing another Palmon," Reseda stated, summoning yet another mandrake Digimon.
MEMORY
1-2 (Turn Change: Wallace)
2-3
Wallace took a deep breath and drew. Things were dragging and so long as Reseda's forces stood as they did she could restrict his plays while progressing with hers. Like a slow-acting poison, she was torturing him with each play while he stalled. And yet even so he couldn't give up just yet. Something in him wouldn't let him concede, even after watching both WarGreymon and Valdur Arm be rendered useless in his conquest against the Green Pillar. Turning his attention to Nidhoggmon, he was reminded of a past conversation he once had. It gave him an idea.
"I heard from Mikayla, what you did to Lilamon not long after the Day of Liberation…" Wallace began. "I learned how she begged you to save her and yet you turned her into that beast."
"The common thread between 'children' and 'experiments' is that they're both creations," Reseda replied. "Lilamon was my creation, and she served her purpose. Then when she broke, I retooled her into something even more beneficial."
"You lied to her. She believed that you cared for her and yet you turned your back on her for your gain."
"I never lied to her. She lied to herself, mistaking her twisted sense of reality for the real thing." Reseda continued to justify.
"I see…Tapirmon digivolves into Piddomon, who then digivolves into WarGrowlmon to end my turn."
Tapirmon cycled through the angelic Digimon and then into the cyborg reptilian, its orange-yellow scales reflecting the sunlight above.
Piddomon (BT4-042)
Color: Yellow
Level: 4
DP: 5000
MEMORY
3-2
WarGrowlmon (BT4-046)
Color Yellow
Level: 5
DP: 7000
MEMORY
2-1 (Turn Change: Reseda)
"What are you getting at?" Reseda drew.
"Being that Vantus betrayed EOS, have you given it thought that he may be lying about siding with you too?"
"And do you see him around?" Reseda smirked, throwing her arms up and looking in all directions.
"Makes sense; the only thing liars hate more than the truth is other liars it seems."
"Vantus thought he could use me, but with Eldradimon's destruction came his own as well. That girl was to be the final component of his stabilization as a Level 7. In her contained a small fragment of the same miraculous code that EOS has used to manipulate the timelines and perform the unfathomable."
"And rather than take that power for yourself, you decided to trap and destroy him?"
"Even curiosity has its limits, believe it or not. I am a woman of science after all." Reseda held her hand out. "That's enough chit-chat. AncientTroymon! Security Attack!"
Wallace braced himself for the next attack. The Digimon fired forth, blowing the Security away with little effort.
Wallace
Security: 4-3
Wallace grinned as the smoke cleared. Reseda paused her hubris as the glowing of the Option Card shone through the cloud of smoke.
"Security Trigger: Wyvern's Breath!" Wallace exclaimed, summoning the ghostly silhouette of a serpentine creature.
"What…?" Reseda uttered finding herself suddenly anxious. Before she could question further, the serpent lashed out and furiously shot through Nidhoggmon. Nidhoggmon released a bloodcurdling howl as its internal code went haywire, elevating the Green Pillar's tension. Reactively she jumped over to AncientTroymon, getting a better look at her creation whine in agony. "What have you done?!"
"Wyvern's Breath is an Option Card that minuses 15,000 DP from one of your Digimon, essentially making it nearly as strong as a Gaia Force. In this case, it's more than enough to slay your beast!"
Reseda's eyes widened in horror, her neck snapping back. Nidhoggmon's body began to rupture as blue flames expelled from the inside. In seconds, the black dragon of destruction went up in an explosion, throwing Reseda off AncientTroymon and causing Wallace's Digimon to protect him as the flames spewed like a geyser. As their senses came to, Wallace's Digimon pulled away to unveil the current sight, only to instead be drawn by Reseda's angered cries. "LILAMON!" Reseda screeched angrily. Lilamon went into action and lashed out at Wallace's security, carrying along with it her Mistress' anger. WarGrowlmon however responded, emerging from the Security, and snatching the fairy out of the air. One Atomic Blaster later and both Digimon disappeared from the field.
Wallace
Security: 3-2
Still seething, Palmon took its turn, launching its vines to whip at Wallace's following Security. That however triggered into the Option Card Holy Wave which recovered itself, keeping him at two Security. With no options left, Reseda played Weedmon to end her turn.
MEMORY
1-3(Turn Change: Wallace)
Wallace drew, Reseda's gaze locked on to his every movement. "I can't help but wonder…are you upset at me because I destroyed your experiment? Or are you upset that through all of your hubris and betrayals, all of it seems to be for naught?"
"Silence!" Reseda hissed.
"Very well then," Wallace said. "WarGrowlmon moves to the Battle Area, then with the blessings of those that came before it, the Valiant Royal Knight of the Skies descends before my enemy! I summon thee, Dynasmon!"
WarGrowlmon roared with binary expelling itself from its backside, forming the shape of Dynasmon's wings. Folding around him, the wings became a solid purple, and the remainder of the body adorned itself with the white armor of the Royal Knight. Unfurling its wings, Dynasmon flexed its body, glittering bits of data encircling it to complement its magnificence.
Dynasmon (BT6-044)
Color: Yellow
Level: 6
DP: 12,000
MEMORY
3-1 (Turn Change: Reseda)
"You said before you've been stalling to come up with different ways to end me…" Reseda drew. And yet I'm seconds away from ending you." Reseda's subtle chuckle slowly turned into pure hysteria. "I honestly thought you were onto something, only to realize that you were full of it!"
"This match isn't—!" Wallace was cut off by a blast coming from AncientTroymon. His security swooped in at the last minute, the Digimon known as Baluchimon crumbling as it defended Wallace. The ensuing shockwave also disoriented Dynasmon, causing it to fall to one knee.
"Don't kid yourself human," Reseda responded. "This game of ours is trying my patience and I for one would—!" she herself was cut off as Dynasmon regenerated the Security broken, continuing to keep Wallace at two.
"Like I was saying, this match isn't over. When I have three or less Security, Dynasmon recovers one."
"How dare you…!" Reseda went back to snarling. "Palmon Security Attack!"
Palmon went into action, extending its vines and spinning itself around like a mini green and purple tornado. The Digimon collided with the Security once they made contact, though unfortunately for the Green Pillar, Dynasmon's placed Security unleashed yet another ethereal serpent which directed itself towards AncientTroymon, inflicting the same fate onto it as Nidhoggmon.
Wallace
Security: 2-1
This didn't stop Reseda, her anger motivating her to sic Weedmon out. "Final Security Attack!"
Weedmon bounced forward and belched a toxic green gas to erode Wallace's final security, however, Wizardmon emerged and snapped its fingers, setting the plant Digimon ablaze until it burned away in binary.
Wallace
Security: 1-0
Reseda, finding her field wiped out sans the exhausted Palmon, dropped to her knees. The realization that her efforts were slowly crumbling before her filled her with a sudden, unfamiliar sense. Tears streaming down her face, it was clear that the confident mad scientist, whose selfish desires motivated her curiosity at the expense of those around her, was defeated by her obsessions. Wallace took her immobility as a sign that her turn had ended.
MEMORY
1-3 (Turn Change: Wallace)
Wallace drew his card. With no Security left at the moment all she needed was one attack. Even so, with her Digimon gone, it didn't seem like she was intending on putting up much more of a fight. "I play Pulsemon. With its effect, since I have less than 3 Security, I gain a Memory.
Pulsemon (P-028)
Color: Yellow
Level: 3
DP: 2000
MEMORY
3-0
0-1
"Dynasmon attacks Palmon, then I end by playing Falcomon."
Dynasmon held its hand up and fired a red wave of energy from the orb in his palm, blowing Palmon away while Falcomon materialized alongside it.
Falcomon (BT4-036)
Color: Yellow
Level: 3
DP: 5000
MEMORY
1-1(Turn Change: Reseda)
Reseda took note that the turn switched, though she did nothing but wipe the tears from her eyes. The feeling of guilt was eating away at her, all the while leaving her paralyzed.
"I surrender…" she announced, catching Wallace off guard. "There's no point in fighting anymore…"
Wallace almost didn't know how to respond to her statement. And yet in a way he got the impression well enough. With his own adrenaline spike calming down, he also felt a similar sense of reality resonate within him.
It became clear that between the both of them, they lost what they considered to be their everything…
"I disagree, Reseda…" Vantus' voice suddenly shocked the pair out of their solemn trances, spinning around to search for the source. It was then they happened to look up, and the expressions of the both of them were one of astonishment.
Chuckling to himself, Vantus floated above them, however rather than be in his normal form, what hovered was Omnimon…or a jet-black variation of the Royal Knight.
"Is that…Vantus…?" Wallace was rendered speechless.
"Congratulations are in order," Vantus said as he threw his arms outward. "I've finally achieved what I've been aiming for this entire time…"
"What is the meaning of this? How are you still alive?!" Reseda challenged. Her voice was stolen from her as all of the sudden, a golden, draconic aura suddenly emerged from his back, its glowing red eyes homed in on Reseda and filled her with another unfamiliar emotion…
…Dread.
Vantus scoffed and suddenly appeared in front of Reseda, causing the Green Pillar to gasp in fear. Before she could react, the aura whipped around and latched her from behind, hoisting her up to his face, all the while forcing out a painful scream.
Wallace felt powerless to do anything, and Dynasmon, Pulsemon, and Falcomon also remained on standby, hesitant to make a move as well. Reseda continued to cry in agony as the aura crushed her being with each moment. Her Saibatar form began to break apart, revealing a pink-haired Digimon wearing a red crown that covered the upper part of her face. The rest of her body was wrapped around the grasps of the aura, but the royal aesthetic of Reseda's Digimon form wasn't hard to make out.
"Rafflesimon, you little liar…" Vantus said, locking eyes with the woman. "Tell me the truth; was your betrayal for your own benefit, or were you hoping to save EOS yourself?"
Reseda struggled to get the words out through the pain. Her senses were dulling as the moments dragged by. She just wanted this to be over.
"Well…?" Vantus' aura squeezed. "ANSWER ME!" Through the shocks of pain, Reseda chuckled, catching his attention. "What's so funny?"
"It's just…my selfish ambitions determined my fate in the end…" she made out. "I may not… get to see what the world will look like…but I know…for sure that you won't be there either…"
Vantus narrowed his gaze. Reseda weakly reached out, her long sleeves just barely out of reach of his helmet. "Don't…make the same mistake as I did…don't…forgo your…
…humanity…"
Reseda's arms dropped and her head dipped. Seconds later, her body slowly disintegrated into binary, the aura releasing her remains to speed the process. Vantus stood idle for a moment afterward watching as Reseda's binary finally faded in the atmosphere. He then turned to Wallace and the others, the latter tensing up.
"Don't think for a moment I forgot about you all…" he held up his Garurucannon, the jaws unhinging to produce the barrel. "Supreme Cannon—!"
A wall of ice suddenly shot up before Vantus blocked his attack and sent him reeling from the point-blank impact. Briefly disoriented, he didn't notice Dynasmon swoop from behind powering itself up with a white aura.
"Wyvern's Breath!" Dynasmon crossed its arms and unleashed the aura, the serpent making yet another appearance towards its enemy. Vantus' aura intercepted and struggled with it, allowing another contender to enter the fray in the form of Beelzemon, who sent a flying kick towards the distracted Vantus, which sent him careening down to the earth.
Wallace, naturally taken aback by the sudden display was greeted by Hexeblaumon who reformed into Majorelle as she approached. In her arms she carried Isabella's unconscious body, sending a wave of surrealism through Wallace at that moment.
Vantus meanwhile rose from the crater he made and hissed as Dynasmon and Beelzemon stood before him. "Tyrian, you cur…!"
Ben appeared on the shoulder of Beelzemon, his facial hair grown and dressed as well in a Liberator uniform that looked to fit him snuggly. Good to see you again, Vantus…or should I say, Trevor?"
Vantus scowled as he stood. Reforming back into his original form, he pulled the mask from his face to reveal himself. As Ben called out, Trevor McKnight stood before them, his face worn and having a noticeable scar running down the area around his left eye. He watched as Majorelle and Wallace joined up with them, Wallace taking a moment to recognize Vantus for who he truly was.
"So that's what Reseda meant before…" Wallace realized. "You are human, aren't you?"
Vantus scoffed and held his hand up, charging an energy ball. "What I am doesn't matter much anymore, now does it…? So long as I bring down everything that EOS has built…I'll become whatever I need to be! Supreme Cannon!"
The blast fired, the recoil pulling Vantus' arms back with incredible force. With speed to match, Vantus' opposition went up in an explosion, creating a dust cloud that enveloped the surrounding area. Feeling proud, Vantus began to laugh maniacally, only stopping short when the shine from a green light began to seep through the smoke. He gritted his teeth upon recognizing the black-armored Digimon standing between them.
"Should've known you'd find your way back sooner or later…" he snarled.
The Digimon didn't answer him, lowering his shield and locking his gaze on him. Clearly outnumbered, Vantus reluctantly turned about-face and dissipated, leaving Wallace and the others safe for the moment.
The boy, collapsing from exhaustion, was caught by Ben who kept him steady. "Agent Merlo…you're alive after all…"
Ben nodded. "And I've been very busy. Isn't that right Majorelle?"
Majorelle nodded. "Of course, none of this would've been possible had it not been for you, Lancaster."
Wallace blinked and blushed slightly.
"Anything to atone for my past sins…" Dynasmon replied, catching Wallace by surprise. He turned to the Digimon who knelt to him. After a long pause, Wallace finally built the nerve to ask. "…Grandfather?"
Dynasmon nodded. "Hello Wallace…and…" he dipped his head, "I deeply apologize for getting you involved in all of this."
The boy found himself choking on his words. Not knowing what to say or how to respond, he simply crumbled and broke down. Not crying tears of pain and agony, but ones of gratefulness and relief.
For to some extent, he achieved what he sought to do…