DISCLAIMER - I only own the story, not Digimon, more's the pity.
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Author's Notes: Hey there, faithful readers! Sorry I haven't written in so long, but I've been preoccupied organising "The First Annual Digi-Awards," a cross-Net Digimon fan poll, and writing up the awards ceremony, for the folks over at the Alt.Fan.Digimon newsgroup. You can read the ceremony for yourself here at FF.N, as I've posted it in four parts. See what's hot and what's not in the Digimon universe, as the DigiDestined, and Digimon of all kinds present the awards, in my usual "witty" style. Sh'yeah, right. *ahem* Anyway, enough self-promotion - when we left the DigiDestined, they were about to go up against Alexander Reitman, who had successfully opened the portal to the DigiWorld, and used the energies released to transform himself into the omnipotent Nexusmon! I'm aware that the picture of Nexusmon I posted with the last part did not work for some people, so here it is again at a different address:
http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/digipedia/images/nexusmon.jpg
Now that that's sorted, let's see how the kids fare, shall we? ^_^
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Ascension
Chapter Seven - "Industrial Evolution"
By Chris McFeely
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DIGITAL THUNDER! the being which had been Alexander Reitman screamed, jerking his body forward, as, with a whirr, the clear visor which made up the front of his metallic, domed head slid back, and a force beam of energy tore through the air, to smash into MagnaAngemon, hurling the holy warrior backward into a steel-panelled wall. The black energy, decorated with contorting green binary code formations, spiralled into the air, and flowed back into the dark void housed inside Reitman's head-dome.
The angel grunted in pain, and staggered to his feet, clumsily charging at the human-Digimon hybrid. His wrist-mounted energy blade flashed with power, as he swiftly delivered three slashes, gouging a series of charred gashes in the being's metal chest.
Reitman' laughed. VIRAL CLAW!
Reitman's peculiar, segmented right arm - almost tentacle-like - lashed out, bludgeoning MagnaAngemon upside his head, the razor-sharp talons scoring his face, leaving bloody streaks in their wake. While the physical pain was, in it's own right, very potent, it would not have been enough to phase MagnaAngemon - would that it were the only level on which the attack worked. MagnaAngemon yowled in agony as viral energy from the claw invaded his body, burning him up from the inside, attacking mind and soul. Through blood and tears, he looked up at his opponent, to see him reaching down with his left arm. The three, stubby metal panels which made up the digits of that hand flexed, and spread wide.
BINARY WAVE!
An energy wave that MagnaAngemon couldn't see ripped into him, ravaging his weak form, lifting him from his crouched position, and sending him sailing through the energy-heated air, to land, with a sickening crunch, in front of Takeru and the others.
Takeru cried, immediately dropping to his knees beside his friend. The weakened Digimon coughed and spat blood, then, with a brief flicker of whitish-yellow light, de-digivolved back into Patamon. Takeru picked up the small animal in his arms.
S...s... sorry, TK... Patamon choked out.
It's okay, Patamon, Takeru said, holding him tightly. It's okay...
Less of the mush, kids, the electronically-distorted voice that the kids were growing accustomed to rang out. I want a REAL opponent to test out my new skills.
What do you WANT, Reitman? Tai demanded, pointing accusingly at the villain.
Silence, boy! Reitman' barked. You'll only open that damned mouth of yours when I tell you, or I'll break every goddamned bone in your scrawny little body! And I told you - Reitman is no more! I am NEXUSMON now!
Whoever you are, Matt entered the exchange, and whatever you're planning, you'll have to go through all of us, first!
You don't think I WANT to, you little punk? Nexusmon mocked. Give we what you've got! I'll tear you all down!
Nexusmon's Viral Claw attack whirled out again, the tentacled portion of his arm catching Matt in the stomach, winding him, and knocking him from his feet. The claws never touched him, and they would not have worked on a flesh and blood being in any case, but it was enough to hurt the boy intensely.
Gabumon cried.
Behind Nexusmon, the portal to the DigiWorld surged once, the energy corona surrounding it pulsing briefly.
At the back of the group, Izzy hastily tapped away at his laptop. Nexusmon... Nexusmon...! Izzy repeated, slamming his fingers into the keys with surprising force. There's... no entry!
What are you doing, boy? Nexusmon inquired menacingly. His segmented arm lashed through the air, extending as it went, seizing Izzy's laptop and dragging it back for Nexusmon to inspect. he mused, as he studied the screen. Some kind of encyclopedia? Of the digital monsters?
Izzy could do nothing but nod fearfully.
Oh, and were you looking for an entry on me? Nexusmon's tone was one of levity, but it failed to deduct from the venom in his words. Sorry, kid, but I'm one-of-a kind! The perfect fusion of organics and digital matter! You little punks were the first case we have on record of the conversion process from organic to digital - but you gained nothing! I, on the other hand, have gained - EVERYTHING! Izzy's laptop exploded in Nexusmon's hand, hurling fragments of plastic and metal everywhere. A piece of shrapnel winged Tai's gut, causing him to wince in pain.
Are you okay, Tai? Agumon asked, reaching to his friend. The portal throbbed again.
But... why? Sora asked. Why do this to yourself?
Reitman cried. Day after day, week after week, month after month, YEAR AFTER YEAR, watching as those scientific fools dilly-dallied about, analysing this, and theorising that! Always deeming it unsafe to penetrate the dimension, always wanting to learn more beforehand! But I could tell - I could tell from the creatures we captured during the invasion of Odaiba those years back - I could tell the creatures, and the world they came from, were pure, unadulterated POWER! And now... that power... is MINE!
You want to talk about power? Agumon asked, bravely taking a step forward. Well, I've got some of mine back now, thanks to your portal re-establishing our connection to the DigiWorld... and I think it's about time you picked on someone your own size!
Agumon, warp-digivolve to... WARGREYMON!
With a flare of light and a wave of heat, the towering form of WarGreymon replaced Agumon, standing at twice the height of Nexusmon. The evil creature looked up at him. I thought you said someone my OWN size, he said. This fight isn't even gonna be fair... you don't have a chance.
He's not fighting alone!
Gabumon, warp-digivolve to... METALGARURUMON!
A pulse of light, and this time, a chill wind, accompanied Gabumon's transformation into MetalGarurumon, who bared his fangs and snarled at Nexusmon.
Ohh, now THIS will be fun! Nexusmon laughed. DIGITAL THUNDER!
The floor exploded beneath the two Mega Digimon, who immediately took to the air, hovering and weaving around the malignant being.
Go GET him, WarGreymon! Tai cried. He and Matt looked on, as the others quickly helped their weakened Rookie companions to safety. Joe collapsed to one knee as he tried to lift Gomamon.
Mimi squealed, rushing to him. Are you okay?
Joe clutched his shoulder, where Reitman's bullet had grazed him earlier. I'll... be fine... he grunted. Let's... just get... to safety...
No need to worry, Joe! Gomamon quipped, as he slowly but surely hauled himself to his feet.
Gomamon? But how...?
It's the energy from the DigiWorld portal! Biyomon chirped from a few feet away, startling Sora as she stood up. It's re-energising us!
You guys can't fight again so soon! Kari said, holding Gatomon back. You need to rest!
Don't give me that! Gatomon snapped. I'm gonna kick this guy's shiny metal keister from here to...!
They're right! Patamon told her, interrupting. We can't.
Gatomon hissed, and then relented. I guess you're right, she growled, but I don't have to like it.
We need a plan, Tentomon said.
What can we possibly do to fight him? Palmon asked.
TERRA FORCE! WarGreymon screamed, hurling the energy ball at Nexusmon, who dodged left, only to be caught in the stomach by a Metal Wolf Claw attack from MetalGarurumon. The freezing cold beam gushed across his armour, and the air was filled with the sound of ice crystals forming as Nexusmon was frozen solid.
You need to chill out! MetalGarurumon smirked.
There was a chittering noise, as Nexusmon attempted to open his visor to fire his Digital Thunder attack, but even that was held fast by the frost.
Would you care to do the honours? MetalGarurumon asked.
It'd be my pleasure! WarGreymon replied. MEGA CLAW!
WarGreymon's massive fists smashed into Nexusmon's now-brittle body, rending it asunder, sending frozen chunks of metal crashing to the ground, where they shattered into even more minuscule pieces.
WarGreymon grunted. That was kinda easy.
There was silence for a moment, but then, a harsh, malefic laughter echoed in the room - instantly recognisable as Nexusmon. You think that finishes it? it cackled.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the DigiWorld portal, which began to pulse with power again... and began to grow. A spark leapt from the portal as it grew, and hit the ground, bouncing once, and then, it flashed once, and in it's place stood Nexusmon again, looking brand new.
You can't destroy me! he laughed. With this portal open, it's pure child's play to regenerate myself using the digital world's digital matter to build a new body in the blink of an eye! And, as I'm sure your little computer friend there can tell you - you can't destroy energy! And the mind... the soul... are merely differing forms of energy! I am INFINITE! IMMORTAL! UNSTOPPABLE!
As Nexusmon raged, the portal behind him showed no signs of stopping in its growth.
Oh, no, Izzy breathed, as horrific realisation began to creep over him.
What is it, Izzy? Takeru asked.
What's he doing? Tai demanded.
Oh, no need to ask him! Nexusmon said, and would have been grinning, had he a mouth. You fulfilled my wish, and gave me a challenge - so now, I'll do the same for you! The portal is growing because I wish it to. It will continue to grow - because you are incapable of stopping me. It will grow to cover the entire WORLD, linking it to the digital world - MERGING them together, creating a unified existence of organic life and digital matter... while I, as the ultimate, perfect combination of organic and digital - shall be king... ruler... MASTER OF ALL - NOW, AND FOREVERMORE!
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He goes on a bit, doesn't he, ol' Nexusmon? Well, how did we all like this part? If you're interested, there'll be about nine or maybe ten chapters, plus an epilogue to the story, so, not long left to go now! I'd like to hear some theories in the reviews for this part - what do you think's gonna happen? How are they going to beat Nexusmon? What will become of Earth and the DigiWorld? Why do so many people believe in Mimato, when there's no decent evidence for it? R&R, R&R, R&R!!!!!!!!!!
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