The Root of Evil

The Root of Evil

By: Theodore 'Blitz' Leung

Theoleung@sprint.ca

Disclaimer: All Digimon and their characters (except for those introduced in this fic/series) do NOT belong to me. I do not have permission to use their characters, but it's a FanFic, so, who cares? =) This story line belongs to me and me alone. Please ask for permission if you wish to use it. Thanks. Now let's get onto reading!

Five Infinity Crests...Five Infinity Digimon...

The set is complete. Now all we need to do is find each other, then find the root of this evil, and rip it out so it can't hurt the Digital World or Real World anymore.

Let's hope we find it before it finds us...

~Diary of Tao 'Blitz' Lee, the lost Destined

* * * * * *

"What does the e-mail say?" Shastina inquired, looking over Tao's shoulder, now healed, at the Digivice in his hands. The group of Digi-Destined and Digimon decided a short break was in order after about two hours worth of walking. They stopped beside a small river, where their Digimon sipped the untainted fresh water supply. Tao scrolled back up at the e-mail, reading the contents out loud.

Well, it's nice to know your both safe. I guess it's time to fill you in on the details.

If you haven't noticed yet, going back to the Real World isn't really an option. As aforementioned, if you haven't noticed, time seems to have stopped in the Real World. Actually, it's just going really slowly in comparison to Digital World Time.

Second, Devimon is back, and he's not very happy. Gennai filled us in with quite a few details. Devimon apparently merged with another Infinity Digimon, though he hasn't been released from the seal as of yet. Or maybe he has, but just hasn't revealed himself to us. Either way, we know what's going on, and I'm sure you both know who this Devimon is. You know how deadly he can be if left alone to gain power. As you may be able to tell from this, we know who we have to beat to stop this Digimon from destroying both worlds.

Given these facts, Gennai and his group erected a powerful force field around the island. This is to prevent any Infinity level Digimon from escaping the island until either we stop the threat or until the shield is shattered. Right now, between the three of us here, we've destroyed three Infinity Digimon. Hope you guys get to smash some too, becuase Gennai suspects the best way to contain the threat is to destroy it. He also believes that many of the Infinity Digimon deleted each other while in stasis behind the seal, thus making our mission a lot simpler.

Just keep your eyes peeled, alright? We never know when we might get pounced on by Devimon...or whatever he is right now...

We're hanging out in a cave at the base of Infinity Mountain. Join us when you can, we'll keep our eyes open around there and mail if anything drastic happens.

~Marc 'Toe' Durron

P.S.

If you do have your Infinity Crests now, don't try to Warp Digivolve to the Infinity level. Your Digimon might not be able to handle the strain of the energy, maybe even killing them in the process. Don't take that chance.

"Well, in total, that'd make four Infinity Digimon deleted," Tao spoke to Shastina, composing a response for the other three of the group. "And by the angle all of us fell from that ledge on Infinity Mountain, we probably fell facing the same side," he assessed, still typing.

"So, if we just keep going towards the mountain, we'll hit that cave?" Shastina inquired. Tao nodded, satisfied with the e-mail and closing his Digivice.

"In theory, yeah," Tao responded, pocketing the item. "Let's take another five minutes as our break, then we'll go."

* * * * * *

Given that, we've disposed of one Infinity level Digimon, and at the same time retrieved our two Infinity Crests. That completes the set then.

Keep an eye for us, we're heading over to Infinity Mountain now, unless another Infinity Digimon wants to kill us.

Like you said, if anything happens, we'll mail.

~Tao 'Blitz' Lee

Marc closed his Digivice after reading the contents aloud to his companions. The trio and their Digimon stood outside, keeping an eye out for their other friends now.

"They're coming? We should roll out the red carpet," K.H. joked, standing up and stretching. "Are we just going to wait here for their arrival then?"

"It seems most appropriate," Tiberius answered. "If we move out now, we may cross paths with them, or we may take separate paths and end up missing each other completely."

"Well, not moving is generally the best idea un-" Marc spoke, until he was very rudely interrupted with the rumbling ground. The rumbling eventually grew into a tremor that nearly knocked the Digi-Destined over.

"What was that?!" Kinoumon exclaimed, regaining his balance. In response, in the forest nearby, a massive pillar of light erupted from the ground, splitting lush vegetation. The beam smashed against the shield, releasing shock wave after shock wave of energy. The barrier around File Island flickered, trying its best to hold its form. Eventually, the beam stopped, the shield fluctuating one more time, then reverting ot its normal state.

"I don't know, but I bet it's got something to do with that!" Lepumon exclaimed, glancing back at Tiberius.

"Let's check it out!" Tiberius shouted, making a quick e-mail to his friends.

* * * * * *

Tao glanced up quickly, his left hand curling up into a fist. Shastina was by his left side, noticing the sudden move, and was about to inquire. Tao's eyes went wide, sensing the presence of an evil...the same evil wanting to taint him all this time.

"GET DOWN!" he screamed out, knocking Shastina aside. On cue, the ground ripped open from where they stood, as did a large chunk of it. A split second later, a pillar of light tore through the sky before them, smashing against the shield. The shield cried in pain as it barely held off the assault. Harriermon and Tigramon were up ahead, quickly returning back upon seeing the light.

"Harrier, Digivolve!" Tao shouted out, pointing his Digivice towards his partner. If his senses were true, they'll need firepower...and a lot of it...

"Harriermon...Warp Digivolve to...Hikaglemon!"

The Digivolve was complete, as was the beam of energy that smashed against the shield. Tao quickly flipped open his Digivice, about to write an e-mail, until he received one.

If you two didn't see that, I don't want to know what you were doing.

We're going to investigate. Care to join us?

~Tiberius 'GTK' Hartz

"We're there..." Tao muttered, quickly writing a response then getting up. He helped Shastina up, then gripped his blade tightly. "Hikaglemon, one more level please," Tao spoke, raising his Digivice once more.

"Hikaglemon...Infinity Digivolve to...Eternamon!"

A loud and hellish laugh from the large crater that was created startled everyone but Tao.

* * * * * *

Join you? We were right beside the damn thing!

Get here fast, we're going to need a lot of firepower...and I mean a lot...

~Tao 'Blitz' Lee

"That's not cool!" Marc exclaimed, his brisk walk turning into a sprint. "If Tao's hunch is right, we better not loiter around anymore! Xemon, Digivolve up! Marc's Digivice sprang to life.

"Xemon...Digivolve to...Vormon!"

"And one more!" Marc told his Digimon, loading up the Crest of Hope.

"Vormon...Digivolve to...Millenimon!"

"Alright, now we're talking!" Marc cheer, climbing aboard the dragon Digimon. The others followed suit, clambering onto the much larger holy dragon.

* * * * * *

"I was disappointed when that attack didn't penetrate the shield, but it doesn't matter," the voice spoke from the crater. "I'm free now."

"Devimon..." Tao muttered, readying his blade. "The evil that infected me all this time came from you..."

"Tigramon...better Digivolve," Shastina whispered, a bit of a way back from Tao and Eternamon. The Digimon nodded, Shastina's Digivice charging with power.

"Tigramon...Warp Digivolve to...Kenokomon!"

"Kenokomon...Infinity Digivolve to...Psychemon!"

"I'm impressed you were able to sense that attack of mine before I actually performed it," Devimon spoke, his voice echoing below. "I guess my influence upon you has made you stronger then I expected, though it was all towards the wrong goal."

"Then that's just your bad luck," Tao growled, unwilling to step down. The daemon that made him what he is now, the one that made him hate and bloodthirsty for those he cared. The thing that made him part evil. Tao couldn't step down, he wouldn't step down, he'd rather die then to let this...thing control him.

"Yes, just my bad luck," the daemon agreed, not emerging from the crater. "Oh well, it can easily be rectified by ending your feeble existence."

"Go ahead and try it," Tao hissed, not afraid to face the enemy. In all essence, he should be scared out of his wits. But the way he was tormented by this Digimon, he could never forgive Devimon.

In response, the daemon reeled his ugly head to the Digi-Destined and the Digimon. The twelve-foot tall form of Devimon leaped out of the crater in an instant. He retained the tall and thin bony like form from his battle against the second generation Digi-Destined, however, his main body was clad in thick dark armour. Around his thin arms was a large pair of gauntlets, just as thick as his armour. On each of the gauntlets was a large axe head, the blade arcing towards his elbow, nearly touching his shoulder. At the tip of each gauntlet was a sharp three-pronged claw. He had a quad set of wings, all pitch black as the night sky. His face was hidden behind the shield of a knights helmet, also clad completely in black.

"D-D-D-Devimon...?" Shastina stammered, looking up at the figure twice her size. Devimon and Psychemon went toe to toe in height.

"No, not Devimon!" the daemon shouted out. It was a wonderment how those bony legs of his could support such a heavy form. "Kakonmon!"

"Kakon...?" Shastina muttered, referring back to her little Japanese knowledge. "The root of evil?"

"WAKE OF DESTRUCTION!"

Tao eyes went wide as he dived out of the way, the other two Digimon around him leaping aside. The ground the three stood over ripped open like before, also releasing a large pillar of light that could possibly toast a Digimon, and would definitely roast a Human alive. The beam was nothing in comparison to the first one that Kakonmon used to try to break the shield.

Just as quickly as the retreated, the two Digimon leaped at their adversary, weapons baring down to slice their foe to ribbons. Eternamon slashed with his eight foot long broad sword, while Psychemon dived in with her holy energy sabres in hand. Kakonmon just raised both his arms up, the large axe like blades on his arms easily blocking the sword attacks from both sides. Tao, trying to catch the daemon off guard, lunged forward, his sword ready to pierce the armour.

"So pitiful," Kakonmon told them. He forced the two Digimon around him away by using his strength and pushing the two Digimon away. At the last second, the brought his three pronged claws together in front of Tao's blade. The weapon couldn't wave past the web of steel Kakonmon made with those sharp arms of his. "You think you can beat me like that," Kakonmon hissed, clearly disappointed now.

"Shut up!" Tao shouted hatefully, pulling back and slashing with a strong cross cut. The attack, however, was easily deflected by Kakonmon's left axe blade. Another quick follow up with an overhead slash from Tao was only stopped by the claw on Kakonmon's right arm.

"Hateful, aren't we?" Kakonmon joked dryly. Tao stepped back, sword clutched tightly in his right hand, his left fist curled up tightly.

"EARTH SOUL!"

Kakonmon quickly glanced right, Psychemon slamming her gigantic fist into the ground.

"WAKE OF DESTRUCTION!"

The two attacks met at the centre, a massive beam of light ripping through the ground as mud and ground was tossed up and away, as a result from the collision of shock waves.

"ETERNUS ANGELUS!"

Kakonmon quickly glanced up, seeing Eternamon overhead, his cannon drawn. The daemon quickly leaped out of the way as holy energy beams punched holes into the ground. In the air, Kakonmon spread out his quad wings, diving forward at Eternamon. The daemon's claw was only stopped by the cannon that Eternamon raised as a shield against the sharp item. Kakonmon quickly pulled away, Eternamon tossing away the weapon. The cannon evaporated in the air, returning to the dimension it came from and awaiting summon again. Eternamon drew his eight good long broad sword.

"NEXUS SHATTER!"

Kakonmon raised his left arm, the three-pronged claw shooting out. Eternamon dodged one spike, blocked the other, but the third drove into his left arm. Thankfully, the metal plating on the bionic left arm absorbed some of the force, though it was still enough to stun him. The three claws reformed on the hand in a surge of energy.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!" Psychemon screamed out in a war cry, jamming her blade straight into Kakonmon's back. She was about to jam her other blade in, but Kakonmon swung his right arm back, the large axe blade cutting through air. Psychemon was forced to block the blow instead of attack or force losing her head to the massive weapon. The impact of the weapons force Psychemon back, pulling the weapon away from the armoured body. Following up on the swing, Kakonmon rotated a hundred and eighty degrees, thrusting his right claw towards Psychemon's midsection. Once more, Psychemon blocked, using her partially bloodied blade.

"NEXUS SHATTER!"

Psychemon was in the air for a quite, due to her powerful jump as well as the fact Kakonmon's attack were forcing the non-aerial Digimon to stay in the air. The blocked claw from Kakonmon quickly shot out, three spikes thrusting into Psychemon's midsection. She cried in pain, finally beginning a decent back down to the ground, though with a lot less control then she'd like. Her body hit ground with bone crunching force, and if she were anything but a Digimon, she would have probably died from that. A short groan escaped her lips however.

Kakonmon then turned his attention to the Digi-Destined with the sword. Tao still was angry, and refused to run from the battle, even with the odds stacked against him. He raised the blade slowly, an emerald glow surrounding the weapon.

In one lightning fast movement, Tao swung the blade, a green arc flying through the air towards the hovering daemon. Kakonmon grinned slightly, though it was covered behind his knight helmet. He swatted the attack away with his right axe blade like it was nothing. Tao gasped in surprise.

"You amuse me, boy," Kakonmon remarked, raising his left arm, sunlight reflecting off the steel-organic claws. "Of course I am afraid I have to end this game now." With those words, he dived down, left arm raised, claw directed towards the Digi-Destined.

"Tao, no!" Shastina screamed out, petrified on the spot with fear. Tao himself was also petrified, flabbergasted with his repelled attack.

Kakonmon's claw made contact, but not with his intended target. Eternamon flew into the way, the three claws driving right into his chest.

"Stupid Digimon," Kakonmon muttered, pulling his claw out. Blood dripped from the weapon, the daemon driving his other claw into the torso of Eternamon. The Digimon made no cry of pain, his body stiffened with pain. Retracting that claw as well, Kakonmon used his left hand in a backhand punch against Eternamon, slicing through his cheek with the axe blade and knocking the Digimon down. Still no cry, as though his tongue was ripped from his mouth. Kakonmon raised his left claw again, directing it towards Tao, but then stopped.

"It's time..." he muttered, the voice muffled against the helmet. "That stupid boy...that stupid angel...time for them both to die..."

"Stupid boy? Stupid angel?" Shastina questioned, wondering what the heck Kakonmon was muttering.

"Just what is he talking about?" Tao asked as well, softly. Suddenly, the truth dawned against him. "T.K. and Patamon!?" Tao exclaimed, hoping for an answer.

"You catch on quickly," Kakonmon remarked, a soft sapphire aura surrounding him. "Time to say good bye to Digital History."

"Digital History...?" Tao repeated, now confused.

"He's...going to erase and re-write history...?" Shastina wondered, watching with interest, though she was pretty sure she wouldn't like the answer to the puzzle.

"Wait..." Tao muttered aloud, an idea finally dawning on him. A certain ability that some Infinity level Digimon could posses. At this point in time, Infinity level Digimon could possibly do anything.

"Have you finally figured it out?" Kakonmon asked mockingly. He wasn't in a rush, being as it is, Tao couldn't hurt him, and the other two Infinity Digimon were beaten into submission.

"Being Infinity, a special type that you merged with," Tao started, surprised if Kakonmon can actually pull it off. "You have the ability to open rifts through time, and since you hold a personal grudge against T.K. and Patamon for defeating you so many years ago, you want to settle that score, and you know nothing the second generation Digi-Destined can do will stop you," he concluded. "Assuming you can open a rift," Tao added quickly, in a sort of mocking gesture. If Kakonmon could open a portal, Tao would do everything in his power to prevent him from going back.

"You underestimate me, Digi-Destined of Light and Darkness," Kakonmon commented, raising his left hand. The aura around him slowly grew brighter, and then, Tao realised all this time, the daemon was opening a portal. "Good bye, it's been nice knowing you," the daemon commented, turning his back and stepping away from the two Digi-Destined. His form began to flicker.

"NO!" Tao screamed out, tightening his grip over the blade and rushing forward. "I won't let you!" he exclaimed, driving the blade right through the armoured back of the Digimon. Tao's anger towards the Digimon made that brash decision.

"Tao, don't!" Shastina shouted out, stepping forward, but it was too late. Kakonmon and Tao already fazed out from existence, the portal taking them both into the past.

* * * * * *

Shastina watched over the campfire, eyes staring into the heart of the fire. Harriermon lay still nearby, his wounds healed thanks to one healing from Psychemon, though the Digimon was still knocked out. Tigramon was sleeping beside her partner. The other three Digi-Destined were sprawled around, all sleeping as well.

Midnight crept around quickly, though Shastina wasn't sleepy. She was too worried to be sleepy, worried about her close friend: Tao.

The other Digi-Destined arrived a few moments afterwards, barking out questions to determine the cause of what was going on. Eventually, Tigramon explained it all, Shastina too shocked with the turn of events to speak. She has been like that since that moment with Kakonmon and Tao.

"Please...Tao...please be alright..." Shastina prayed, clasping her hands together and closing her eyes. "Please..."

Fin

Completed: 05/19/01