Disclaimer: DIGIMON, DIGITAL MONSTERS and all related logos, names, and distinctive likeness thereof are the property of BANDAI and TOEI ANIMATION. Used under the licenses in North America by SABAN ENTERTAINMENT, BANDAI AMERICA, and FOX KIDS. The writer does not own Digimon, thus all characters and names are used without permission.

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Factorial Town, the machine city of the DigiWorld. Within the dome in the desert there stood a city that ran in machine perfection. The buildings were monuments of metal and the citizens were all champion level machine type Digimon. However, there was only one ultimate in the city. That Digimon was Andromon, ally to the DigiDestined. From his computer room in the tallest tower, he monitored the work of the citizens and kept the gears of the city oiled and turning.

"All seems to be in working order." The android said in his mechanized voice. He shut off the monitors and stood up in his chair. "I think I'll go into a rest cycle..." Before he could shut himself down there came sounds of thunderous explosions.

"What was that?!" The ultimate rushed to the nearest window.

"WARNING LASER!"

The Guardromon held up their wrist firing full blast at the black and white blur in a vain attempt to stop its advances. In an instance, the blur cut through the champion Digimon, slashing them down with precision. The shadowed figure kneeled, surrounding himself in the swirl of their deleted pixels.

"Stop right there!" Two Mekanorimon rushed forward. The figure smiled rushing full force at the champion Digimon, separating their upper bodies from their waists.

Andromon stepped back in horror bumping into a figure behind him. Turning slowly, he was jacked into the air by the throat. Grabbing on to the slender arm the android choked, trying to wrestle his way free. Gasping for air, Andromon caught a glimpse at his attacker.

"It's...you!"

The figure's lipstick covered lips formed a twisted smile. "For your allegiances, killing you would just be letting you off easy. No, I plan to use you as bait..." The figure laughed placing a glowing gem to the ultimate's forehead. "And as a tool."
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Digimon: Digital Monsters
In The Demon's Hand
A Fan-Fic written by: Thomas Conner (TommyPR5@aol.com)
Chapter Four: "Enter the Chaos Masters"
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"We can't waste time in utilizing the DigiPort." Tai addressed the DigiDestined and Digimon in Izzy's room.

"Agreed." Matt placed his ring hand against his lip. "We have to get in and find out what sent those Digimon through the gate."

Tai nodded to Matt. He could rarely look him in the eye without thinking about Sora and how he pawned her off into his arms.

"Before we all jump in clueless, we need to assemble a small group to trend the area and investigate first." Joe noted.

Koushiro rubbed his temples trying to focus in on the monitor when all of a sudden it switched to a black-and-white grid pattern. "What's this...?" He eyed the screen closely noticing a flashing red beckon. "A distress signal." He announced pulling the room's attention to him.

"What is it Izzy?" Sora leaned on the side of the desktop next to Izzy.

"It's from Factorial Town..." He pulled up a picture map to match the grid patterns.

"That must mean Andromon is in danger..." Kari held a hand to her mouth.

"That settles it. That's our test point." Matt placed his finger on the grid mark representing Factorial Town.

"I'm with you Matt." T.K. smiled to his brother.

"Me too." Sora placed a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder.

Tai turned away, facing the window.

"Count me in as well!" Joe added to the group.

"Joe!" Gomamon cried, looking up from stuffing his face. "I'm proud of you, jumping head first into danger, into who knows what in a city we haven't been to in years!"

"...On second thought..."

"Oh no, you're going!" Matt walked over patting him on the back.

"I'll go." Cody mouthed softly. "I want to know first-hand what's going on."

"Then it's settled." Tai turned to face the group, taking his role as leader again. "You guys go into the DigiPort and find out what's going on, first in Factorial Town, then the DigiWorld period."

"It's always some megalomaniac." Gabumon stood next to Matt.

"And we always stomp his butt good!" Gomamon crawled up Joe's back landing on his head. "No offensive to Ken..."

"Good luck everyone." Gatomon said from the top of Izzy's bookcase.

T.K. waited a moment for the group to assemble behind him before raising his digivice to the monitor. "Let's do it! DIGIPORT OPEN!"

The monitor beeped illuminating in a brilliant blast of white light. The light scanned over the humans and Digimon before shirking them down into bits of data. As they shrunk, they were brought into the monitor, through cyberspace, and off to the pocket dimension known as the Digital World.

*** *** ***

"Tokyo..." A tall figure parted his wings, towering above the city on a low building. "Such a wonderful place..." His lips curled into a twisted smile. "I shall enjoy making it my own."

He leapt downward in the park, hidden by the brush. Letting a low laugh escape his lips, he held his hands outward.

"ZERO FREEZE!"

In a gust of cold winds, he shot forth packets of snow and ice from his claws. The complied packets of snow and ice began to turn the warm sunny park, into a frozen winter nightmare.

*** *** ***
"Whoa, check this out..." Yolei said pulling away from Izzy's window.

"What is it?" Izzy rolled his chair over to the window. "HOLY SMOKES!" His face twisted upon seeing a portion of the city frozen in ice.

"Oh my..." Hawkmon leaned up to the window.

"This does not look good..." Tentomon peered out of the window.

"Kari." Tai looked to his sister.

"Right. Come on, Yolei." Kari announced with a hand to the door. "We'll investigate it."

"Izzy, contact the others in New York." Tai looked next to the computer expert.

"Right," Izzy rolled back to his computer. "I'll e-mail Davis and Ken and tell them to hurry back."

"Roger." Yolei, with Hawkmon close behind, followed Kari and Gatomon.

Tai finally lost his leader image, and fell back first onto Izzy's bed. "Oh boy..." He knew he could not keep this image up.

"Tai, are you okay?" Izzy turned to him. "You've been looking flushed as of late."

"I don't know, Izzy...Just..." He closed his eyes. "I thought MaloMyotismon would be the last of the evil Digimon...I thought it was over..." It was not the thought of fighting evil that had Tai down. It was the thought of doing it while watching his best friend and a girl he cares for doing it hand-in-hand.

"Darkness will never be truly conquered." Izzy lightly slammed his fist into his hand. "Where ever there is light a darkness will always fall. But, if we remember what we are fighting for, evil will be kept at bay. --"

"If the light is bright enough," Agumon began

"Darkness dear not trend." Tentomon finished on the side of Izzy's desk.

"Precisely." Izzy smiled to his partner."

"Can we handle these constant threats and expect to continue to lead normal lives..."

Izzy was taken in shock. The once headfirst adventurer, Tai, had just basically said he could not handle danger and live happily. "If we couldn't, we would have never been chosen to be the DigiDestined."

In an afterthought, Tai managed a real smile; something he had not done in months. "You're right. Izzy, you're right. Bring on the nasty, whoever it is. And we'll beat him and the one after him."

*** *** ***
Daemon eerily hovered silently up the spirals of the stairs that led to the top floor of his castle on the shores of the Dark Ocean. The mega smiled under his darken hood to the plans he had set in motion. "The pins are falling according to how I set them up..." He flight in front of a metal door. "And I have only just begun to plot my vengeance!" He entered the damp room confidently. The occupants of the room all frozen, each one trembling as Daemon glided on air into the room.

"Process." He announced as if to no one yet everyone at once. Two guard Divermon shot glances at one another, taking deep breaths. In all their existence, they thought that they would never actually *see* Daemon in the flesh.

A nervous Baronmon stepped forward slowly from a group, fighting on the idea of standing in front of the mega or just speaking from his spot across the room. "The BlackWarGreymon's seal... is taking longer to open than anticipated."

The seal he spoke of was the one created by the ultimate anti-hero BlackWarGreymon. Created by darkness, his goal was to kill the DigiDestined and ultimately destroy the DigiWorld. However, he rejected that life and fought for his own purposes: to discover if he had a soul or not. In his quest, he destroyed the legendry Destiny Stones and went off on a journey to find the ultimate challenger to face him in battle. His journeys led him to the real world where he encountered the creator of his creators and laid down his life to protect the DigiDestined and seal a Digital Gateway over Tokyo. In the wake of his sacrifice, he discovered what he was looking for all along, friends and a heart to love them with.

Daemon's cobalt eyes formed into a grimace. "Nevertheless. I have managed to slip one of my agents through a backdoor. He's an aspiring Daemon Corp trainee, and should keep the DigiDestined left in the real world occupied." Daemon placed his hands behind his back. He sensed when the DigiPort opened and the human entities entered the DigiWorld.

"Not to uh...get in your business Mr. Daemon, sir." A Divermon waved from his post at a window "...but why not just send all of us through this 'backdoor.'" He pushed two fingers together bashfully.

"For one reason you incompetent idiot." Daemon turned to face the ultimate. "If Dragomon wanted his forces in Tokyo, he would want his entire army in Tokyo. Not a few brush fires that could easily be extinguished."

Satisfied with the answer, the Divermon backed away.

Daemon turned his attentions back to the Baronmon. "Wizards." He folded his arms into the shelves of his cloak. "Do not fail me." Daemon knew he did not need them to open the DigiPort, but he could not risk using and draining his own powers for the upcoming struggle. "Understood?"

The Baronmon nodded 'yes.'

The mega tossed an orb to the nearest wizard. "Continue to work on the seal. If needed, I will reach into hell and snap that accursed anti-hero's neck myself to break his hold."


*** *** ***

"We've found it!" T.K. announced to the group as Pegasusmon made another swoop to the walking group.

"That's great, because my blisters have blisters." Armadillomon groaned.

"Something about this doesn't sit right with me." Matt looked back to the distance the group had to walk.

"Tell me about it," Joe added as he climbed a sand dune. "First there's those attackers, then a distress signal from Andromon, and we land miles away from where it originated."

"You really know how to see the roses in every situation." Gomamon said sarcastically.

"All our questions are about to be answered." Sora said as she turned to help Cody over the dune.

Cody let out a hard pant as he rested. Even in all his adventuring, the DigiWorld's landscapes and beauty would always be amazing in his eye. "Let's get going guys..." He said solemnly as the group marched towards the city in a dome.

*** *** ***
"This is spooky..." Yolei rested a hand against a tree frozen perfectly in ice. The tree was completely outlined in clear ice.

"Digimon?" Kari asked.

"Without a doubt." Hawkmon answered.

"Not just any Digimon..."

A voice spoke out seeming to come from every direction at once.

"I am the Digimon that will finally rule Tokyo." The voice cried, several trees either cracked or explodes in a dazzling effect of ice crystals.

Kari and Yolei cried out in sudden shock, trying to the shield themselves from the sharp projectiles. The white angelic figure leapt from a tree, kneeling before the group. "Do you like my Iceland?" The figure's red eyes flared. "It will be your home for some time..."

"It's IceDevimon, the Fallen Angel Digimon." Gatomon leapt back in a defensive pose. "He's a silent demon of ice! He coldheartly attacks using his 'Zero Freeze' and 'Frost Claw' techniques!"

"He's just a champion." Kari held out her Digivice to her partner.

"So you know what the means." Yolei glanced to IceDevimon as his wings fell neatly over his body.

"DIGIARMOR ENERGIZE!" called out Kari. Her D-Terminal shot a pink beam forward from its antennae as a grid-like egg appeared on its screen. The beam intercepted her D-3, and the DigiEgg of Light materialized from the Digivice.

"Gatomon armor digivolve to..." Gatomon and the DigiEgg of Light spun amid a spiraling pattern of digicode and English. Behind both, the Crest of Light spun silently. Gatomon and her armor egg slowly came together, and a series of golden rings enveloped both. There was a flash of her ultimate, Angewomon, as the light swarmed around her; changing her into an elongated cat-like figure. Angelic wings ripped forth from her back and her face took on an oddly human metal-cast mask. She was now,
"NEFERTIMON! The Angel of Light!"

"DIGIARMOR ENERGIZE!" called out Yolei. Her D-Terminal shot a red beam forward from its antennae as a grid-like egg appeared on its screen. The beam intercepted her D-3, and the Digiegg of Love materialized.

"Hawkmon armor digivolve to..." Hawkmon and the DigiEgg of Love spun amid a spiraling pattern of DigiCode and English. Behind both, the Crest of Love spun silently. Hawkmon and his armor egg slowly came together, and rings of air surrounded both. There came flashes of Biyomon, Birdramon, and Garudamon before the change occurred. Two metallic wings exploded from a helmet as his body extended, becoming longer and larger. He took to the skies performing a loop completing the transformation into the incarnation of the Egyptian god, Horus,
"HALSEMON! The Wings of Love!"

Both of the armor Digimon took to the air, hovering upon the icy demon.

"Make your move." IceDevimon chuckled.

"Gladly!" Halsemon spoke in a rougher, deeper voice than Hawkmon. His eyes flared crimson before he announced "EAGLE EYE!" Shooting out a spiraling hypnotizing ring from his eyes.

"CAT'S EYE BEAM!" Nefertimon's 'snake' head on her mask glowed firing off tiny arrow shaped lasers.

IceDevimon waited a split second before dashing left to avoid both attacks. The ice monster took to the skies in a blur and appeared behind the armors in a flash. Letting out a chuckle, he sent two precise chops to the back of their necks taking both out of the sky. The two beast Digimon let out yelps of pain crashing into the ground in masses of tangled parts.

Grunting and bearing his teeth, Halsemon shot straight back into the sky. His metallic wingtips illumined and he rammed into IceDevimon, metal beak first. The ice demon roared grabbing the sides of the hawk's helmet, not daring to touch the glowing wingtips, and began to struggle. The hawk struggled with the Devimon variant until he had the champion at the angle he wanted him.

"TEMPEST WING!"

Halsemon's glowing wingtips extended an arc of golden energy, slamming into the red bat on the white demon. Gripping his chest, IceDevimon snarled in pain as the force of the blast sent him gliding back.

"Got you!" Halsemon called out. "TEMPEST WING!" He yelled again, this time he began to spin at such an incredible speed that he literary turned into a tornado suspended in the air; managing to catch IceDevimon in the dead center.

*** *** ***
Matt brushed sweat off his forehead as he leaned against the side of a metal building.

Gabumon tugged and pulled at his fur, trying his best to find comfort. "Gee Matt...something about this doesn't seem right..."

"Now you notice." Matt crossed his arms over his chest. "The city...is empty..."

"But wasn't it empty the last time we came?" Biyomon flapped her wings, flying near Sora's head.

"Well," Joe pushed his glasses back on his nose. "when we were last here, we were in the sewers."

"Yeah." T.K. curled his hands into tight fists. "There's suppose to be Guardromon crawling all over his place..."

An eerie wind blew across the empty city.

"Something's not right..." Armadillomon breathlessly spoke out. "I...had this feeling...once before..."

Cody looked down to his partner seeing the fear in his eyes and the constant shivering. "When you were near the dark whirlpool..." He said as if something had just dawned on him.

"But why would you be feeling like that?" Matt glanced around.

"Because he senses evil in the air!" A figured from the top of the tallest, yet nearest, building.

"What in the..." Sora glanced up.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the show of the century!" The shadowed figure extended his hands. "Introducing our theatrical performance of, 'Death of a DigiDestined'! Our stars;"

Suddenly, the group was illumined in a bright spotlight.

"That voice..." T.K.'s eyes lit with fear.

"The DigiDestined!" The voice let out a thunderous laugh.

"It couldn't be..." Gomamon's eyes began to tighten as he trembled.

"Our co-stars." The figure snapped his fingers. "CHAOSSEADRAMON!"

As the figure roared the beast's name, it exploded from his hiding place with a building's exterior. Coiling down he looked to the chosen children and let out a suppressed chuckle. His appearance was that of a MetalSeadramon, put his coloring was off. He was an old makeup white and black.

"ChaosSeadramon, a mega level Digimon." The figure described the Digimon. "With his amazing cruising abilities he slides through the ocean floor, a steel god of the sea!"

"Not good..." Joe backed up slowly.

"And now, CHAOSWARGREYMON!"

Roaring, the white and black variation of WarGreymon ripped from the ground in the famous mega Digimon's tornado attack. His spinning slowed until he came to a stop facing the group.

"ChaosWarGreymon, another mega. Not one for talk, he pulverizes his enemies with his overwhelming power!" The figure announced.

"That voice..." Patamon's eyes filled with anger.

"And then there's me," As if rehearsed, all the spotlights rose above the buildings to highlight the announcer. "Piedmon." He said calmly, as paralleled to his raging battle cries. "Hello kiddies, I'm back." But he wasn't the normal Piedmon, he was a white and black variation; the same as the other two.

"That's THE Piedmon?" Cody looked to the veteran DigiDestined as they all scowled.

"Yeah...but...he's...modified himself somehow..." Joe grimaced, remembering being turned into a key chain.

"And together we make up the new Dark Masters; the CHAOS MASTERS!" ChaosSeadramon hissed.

"Not a very flashy name, but it fits what I was going with." ChaosPiedmon crossed his arms over his chest, letting out another maniacal chuckle.

"How," Matt pointed to the demon clown. "How did you come back!"

"And let me tell you, it was no easy feat." Piedmon performed a back flip off the building, landing neatly before the group on one knee. "As you know, during our last battle I was cast away into the Gate of Destiny...where, you thought I was deleted...I wasn't. The Gate led into a limbo...A dead zone. Time had no meaning and minutes virtually felt like years..."

The DigiDestined began to move back as the other Chaos Masters rallied to their leader's side.

"There I floated in that no gravity hellhole. My hatred for you growing, driving me closer and closer to madness... I waited for the day I would have you all before me again. I awaited the day when I would snap your necks and rip the hearts from your very BODIES...until...a benefactor freed me." Piedmon turned his head to the side displaying a twisted smile.

"Benefactor? And who is that?" Matt stood in the front, attempting to be the leader in Tai's absence.

"Wouldn't you like to know." Piedmon held out a slender finger and pointed to a building. "Behold!"

The spotlights made a searchlight like blast, illuminating a metallic figure strapped to a cross on the roof.

"Andromon!" Biyomon cried looking to the bruised and bloody ultimate.

"I offered him power, a chance to join the group that would soon rule the Digital World. He refused." Piedmon scowled. "Delete them." He ordered the Chaos Masters. "Delete them all!"

"I don't think so, pal!" Gabumon said taking charge of the Digimon.

A model 01 Digivice shot beams of energy forward, which collected into a sphere of energy before exploding into pixels and falling down into the group of Digimon.

"Gabumon digivolve to..." He spun faster, until he was only a blur. Then there was a flash of light, and he came to a stop he was the legendary wolf,
"GARURUMON!"

"Biyomon digivolve to..." She spun faster, until she was merely a blur. Then, there was a flash of light, and she came to a stop she was the giant bird,
"BIRDRAMON!"

"Gomamon digivolve to..." He spun faster, until he was only a blur. Then there was a flash of light, and he came to a stop he was the aquatic beast,
"IKKAKUMON!"

"My turn?" Armadillomon raised his head to look to Cody, who nodded in agreement.

A white and orange D-3 shot beams of energy forward, which collected into a sphere of energy, which shot out golden sparks until they formed into an armored creature with spikes. This formation only lasted an instant before separating into its component pixels and changing into a data stream that flowed into the spinning golden-colored rookie.

"Armadillomon digivolve to..." He spun faster, until he was only a blur. Then there was a flash of light, and when he came to a stop he was the armored dragon,
"ANKYLOMON!"

"They're megas..." Sora looked to the champion Digimon.

"She's right, this isn't going to cut it..." Matt agreed with what Sora would not say aloud. "Go another step guys!"

From Matt's 01 Digivice, Azulongmon's power surged forming the symbol for the Crest of Friendship for just a moment. Then it exploded forming into a stream of data that rocketed down into a spinning white wolf.

"Garurumon digivolve to..." He howled with clear blue energy circling him, until it forced him to stand on his hind legs. His arms pulled outward becoming longer and his hands became bigger. His face stretched longer as a deep scar etched over his right eye. Pairs of earrings pierced his ears and dog tags rested around his neck. A leather belt with a shoulder pad crossed over his chest then formed a blue jean shelve on his left arm. He looked down to his left fist and a brass knuckle appeared. Ripped jeans with a skull head design and kneepads, one spiked, formed over his bare legs. Boxing outward with his right hand, another brass knuckle appeared. Spinning around, he performed a series of roundhouse kicks trailed by blue flames. The Beast Man Digimon threw his head back howling with power to the moon,
"WEREGARURUMON...AH-WOOOOO!!!"

From Sora's 01 Digivice, Azulongmon's power surged forming the symbol for the Crest of Love for just a moment. Then it exploded forming into a stream of data that rocketed down into the spinning great bird.

"Birdramon digivolve to..." Letting out a bird cry, spiraling blasts of fire surrounded the phoenix bird as the changes began to occur. Thick, patterned wings ripped from the flames putting them out with a flap. She had now become more human-like with a muscular build. Her beak had smoothed out and she wore a patterned mask with a lone, white feather at the top. Long, blonde ponytail stretched down her back and two smaller ponytail-bangs rested neatly to her front. She gained two arms with three-talon hands and huge raptor like feet. Tossing her wings up, blue light shown displaying the ultimate Digimon. She was now the protector of the skies,
"GARUDAMON!"

From Joe's 01 Digivice, Azulongmon's power surged forming the Crest of Reliability for just a moment. Before exploding into a stream of data that rocketed down into the spinning walrus.

"Ikkakumon digivolve to..." Waves of water washed over the champion Digimon's feet, before sprouting into a gashing tower. Encasing the walrus, the water sprout went higher and higher until a green shell with three, jagged blades parted the waves. Lightning clashed and large, gray hand was held out took the metal hammer the lightning formed. Blue eyes looking to the hammer revealed an orange fur-covered face. The Ultimate raised his left hand that was covered in orange fur and held a heavy claw. Raising his hammer with his right, he was now the protector of the seas,
"ZUDOMON!"


"Isn't that a fine kettle of fish?" Ankylomon scowled.

WereGarurumon kicked off Zudomon's shell, sailing into the air towards ChaosWarGreymon. "I got my dancer partner!" He roared then called after Ankylomon, who shrugged and followed.

"I guess that means the snake is ours, huh?" Garudamon looked back to Zudomon.

"Bring 'em on!" Zudomon slammed his hammer into the ground.

"Go at it!" The partners of the Digimon called out.

The battle began in a flash as WereGarurumon met ChaosWarGreymon claw-to-claw. Ankylomon charged forward, only to be smacked away by the Greymon blocking a high kick from the wolf. WereGarurumon grimaced as his leg started to buckle under the pressure of the WarGreymon's arm shield.

Garudamon leapt to ChaosSeadramon only to get coiled in his metal grip. Zudomon roared in rage, bringing his hammer square into the top of the mega's head. The Seadramon's head jerked back quickly slamming into Zudomon, sending the marine Digimon crashing through several buildings.

The clown laughed at the battle that raged, turning his attention on the ones not engaged in the fight. "You..." ChaosPiedmon pointed to Patamon on T.K.'s head. "I have saved most of my hatred for you..."

T.K.'s eyes widen in fear as the clown slowly stepped forward.

"You, who locked me away in that damned Gate like a...like a...common weakling!" In 'you' the mega meant Patamon, or more to the point his ultimate form. The clown pulled a sword from the holster on his back.

"And I'd do it again!" Patamon said as T.K. stepped back. Patamon arched his back. "T.K.! Ready?!"

The mega continued to march forward. "They say revenge is a dish best served cold, and I have waited in a long line to taste this buffet!"

Fighting back his fear, Takeru held up his Digivice. "GO!"

A white and green D-3 shot energy forward, which collected into a sphere of energy, which shot out white, sparks until they formed into a tall angelic figure. This formation only lasted an instant before separating into its component pixels and changing into a data stream that flowed into the spinning Patamon.

"Patamon digivolve to..." He spun faster, until he was only a blur. Then there was a flash of light, and when he came to a stop he was the holy angel,
"ANGEMON!"

Azulongmon's power surged from T.K.'s white and green D-3 forming the symbol for the Crest of Hope for just a moment. Before exploding forming a stream of data that rocketed down into the spinning angelic champion.

"Angemon digivolve to..." Feathers flew from his six wings as he was encased in a sphere of light. Eight new wings were formed and spread as the energy started to fade away. His feet were encased in metal boots as golden ribbons, written with DigiCode up and down, wrapped around his body. Extending his newly armored right arm, a purple beam shield was formed over it. Holding left hand into the air a purple energy sword ignited from a holster resting on his wrist. As the Crest of Hope glowed on his forehead, a purple visor formed from a pass atop his head and stopped at above his mouth. Slashing his sword, he was now the angel of vengeance,
"MAGNAANGEMON!"

"LET'S GET IT ON!" Piedmon roared in rage upon seeing the figure that caused his destruction and exile.

"EXCALIBUR!" The ultimate angel held out his left arm, the purple blade igniting, to block Piedmon's charge. The two charged toward the other, each blade meeting the other. The moment the blades met there came a loud boom and crackle of electricity as the two tried to pull pass the other's defensives.

*** *** ***

"FROST CLAW!" IceDevimon called out, with a mixture of attack fury and a cry of victory. His clawed hands, a pair of ice-sculptured arms launched forward, the hands gripping around Halsemon and Nefertimon's necks.

"Oh no!" Yolei screeched in horror.

"We have to do something!" Kari gripped her D-3 tightly in her hand.

Visibly drained and sweating, IceDevimon's lips curled into a smile. "I...end...this now!" He commanded as the hands began to tighten around the armored Digimon's necks.

"Hang...in...there..." Halsemon closed an eye as the hands lifted them into the area, their legs dangling above the ground.

Just as the two began to loose consciousness, off in the distance a blade of electrical energy ripped through the air towards the group. The blade sliced the ice arms in two, shattering them into crystals and freeing the armored Digimon from the ice devil's grip.

"Who dares!?" IceDevimon's eyes filled with rage as he turned in the direction of the attack.

"Nice shot, Raidramon!" Davis leapt off his partner's back.

"Don't mention it." The Beast Digimon nodded.

"Sorry it took us so long." Ken, Wormmon in one hand, slid off Raidramon's back. "Mimi wanted to get to Info Central and learn of any developments."

"And we wanted a burgers!" Betamon held a claw into the air.

"Betamon!" Michael sweat-dropped.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's quit the exposition and bust this guy!" Phil pointed the white demon.

"If we must." Ken set Wormmon down as he pulled out his D-3.

A black and gray D-3 shot beams of energy forward, which collected into a sphere of energy, which shot out purple sparks until they formed into a humanoid insect. This formation only lasted an instant before separating into its component pixels and changing into a data stream that flowed into the spinning Wormmon.

"Wormmon digivolve to..." He spun faster, until he was only a blur. Then there was a flash of light, and when he came to a stop he was the humanoid insect,
"STINGMON!"

A model 01 Digivice shot beams of energy forward, which collected into a sphere of energy, which shot out green sparks until they formed into a long blue serpent. This formation only lasted an instant before separating into its component pixels and changing into a data stream that flowed into the spinning frog.

"Betamon digivolve to..." He spun faster, until he was merely a blur. Then, there was a flash of light, and he came to a stop, he was now the aquatic Digimon,
"SEADRAMON!"

"Flarerizamon, you have the best shot of taking this guy down." Phil looked to his partner.

"Flame on." The fire covered Digimon said calmly.

"Everyone else," Phil began.

"Keep ice boy's hands tied." Davis finished. "GO!"

"You heard them." Stingmon spread his wings.

"Game time!" Raidramon leapt at the fear stricken IceDevimon.

IceDevimon spread his wings fully, blinding the beast Digimon temporally. Taking it as a cue he leapt into the air, sailing side-by-side with Stingmon.

"Have a nice TRIP!" The insect warrior reeled back slamming his clawed fist into the icy demon's jaw.

IceDevimon let out a small cry of pain as he slammed into the ground, sliding through it, and into a tree.

"Hey! Frozen freak!" Flarerizamon stood above the downed demon. "FIRE TOWER!"

The ground under IceDevimon began to rumble, as a small ring of fire ignited under him. "What the…--?!" He cried as the small flames burst into a tower shaped, raging inferno. From the flames he screamed in pain as Seadramon coiled in front of him.

"Too hot for you? Try my, ICE WINDER!" Seadramon hissed coolly as a hard gust of wind, with ice chucks, flew from his mouth slamming into the chest of the champion Digimon.

IceDevimon's eyes widened in pain as he took several steps back, touching the ice shards in his chest. He glanced around as the Digimon surrounded him, cutting off every direction and possible escape route. He smiled as he chuckled, "That's why you are the DigiDestined." And he exploded in a blinding flash of pixels.

"What was all that about?" Phil wiped a little sweat from his head.

"That's it, I want some answers right now!" Yolei stomped. "What is just going on here!"

"Something that isn't good, I know that much." Davis stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Right Ken…Right?" He turned to look at the taller boy.

"...Kari..." Ken was frozen dead still. "Do you feel that?"

Kari nodded softly. "I do..."

"Feel what?" Davis rubbed the back of his head. "I don't feel anything..."

"You don't have to feel anything, LOOK!" Michael pointed out to the Tokyo bay area as lighthouses began to appear across the water, forming a barrier that blocked the edge of the city from the outward sea.

"What...what's going on?" Davis blinked as the lighthouses shot out black waves of light.

"...They're...from the...Dark Ocean..." Ken grimaced, trembling in fear.

"They can't be!" Kari yelled in horror.

"But they are..." Yolei added, remembering when T.K. had to rescue Kari from the dark world. "But...but...how?"

The waves of black light all converged on one point, focusing into one narrow beam. A beam that ripped through dimensional barriers opening a gateway into the Digital World from the human world. On the other side of the gateway, hordes of Digimon, loyal to Dragomon, awaited the moment the gateway would fully open. Awaited the moment they could descend upon the city and take it for their master.

To Be Continued...

Are the DigiDestined prepared for what comes next? Find out on the next, Digimon: Digital Monsters!