Chapter 12
"TK, who is Daemon?" Kari's question broke the peaceful silence that had reigned during most of their trip back through the jungle. Angemon and Angewoman were airborne, scouting out ahead as TK and Kari hiked along underneath the cool shade of the jungle.
"He's sort of the High Priest of the Devil," TK replied, taking a sip of water. "He's a mega-level digimon with tremendous power and he commands thousands of followers. I don't know what he looks like, because he usually wears a robe to hide his features, but he's got a giant pair of bat wings coming out of his back."
"The Devil?"
"Yep. Well, a dark God would probably be a better term. The creation myth of the digital world goes something like this. In the beginning, there was nothingness, only the four great dragons. Azulongmon, Magna Dramon, Goddramon, and Megidramon. The four were lonely, having only themselves as company, and created the world. They then began to argue over who would have command of the world, and it's inhabitants. MagnaDramon and Goddramon wished to have no part of ruling, wishing only to revel in their love. Azulongmon wished to rule from afar, allowing their children to grow as they would with little guidance. Megidramon didn't trust their children and he wanted to rule them sternly. The four argued over the matter for many years, ironically allowing Azulongmon to win through inaction.
"However, Megidramon had been right, as he had seen that some of their children would seek to rise above their creators. One of these was a horrible digimon named Ghoulmon. He raised an army to his side and assaulted the Citadel where the Dragons argued. The Dragons fought off the invasion, but Ghoulmon had become powerful during their inattention. He fought MagnaDramon in single combat and felled her. This so enraged her lover that Goddramon attacked Ghoulmon in a total rage, killing them both. Megidramon had greatly loved his brother and flew into a rage at his death. The remains of Ghoulmon's army were annihilated, but it wasn't enough to sate Megidramon's blood lust. In the end, Azulongmon and Megidramon fought and Megidramon was destroyed. Azulongmon then used the last of his power to ensure the birth of Four who would watch over the digital world and then died, only to be reborn moments later with Baihumon, Ebonwumon, and Zhuqaimon.
"And so, the Four Guardians lead the digimon back from the brink of destruction and helped them rebuild. But there were those left who had prospered under Ghoulmon, and sought to once more to bring about his rise. Top most among those was a digimon known as Creepymon, a terrible, savage demon digimon. However, one century after the death of Ghoulmon, Creepymon was overcome by euphoria, and he covered his horrific form with robes of silk and spoke no longer in grunts and howls, but with a voice of inspiration. He raised a sect dedicated to a prophesy that foretold the rebirth of Ghoulmon and the death of the world."
"Wow," Kari breathed.
"Yeah, he's not to be trifled with," TK replied, climbing over a fallen tree trunk and offering Kari a helping hand. "Hs power is enormous, even for a mega. "I've…only ever seen him once, and it wasn't pleasant."
"So, what happened to the other three dragons?"
"Huh?"
"MagnaDramon, Goddramon, and Megidramon. All digimon are reborn, right? Where they ever reborn, or what?"
"The, ah, myth doesn't say," TK replied, his eyes not meeting hers. "It all takes place before Primary Village was built, so I'd assume that they weren't reborn. Besides, I'd assume that Megidramon would still be insane, and he's have the power of a God. I'm not sure that I'd want him around."
"Yeah, I guess that's true." The pair continued to walk along in silence, until they came upon a clearing in the jungle.
"This looks like a good place to rest," Kari smiled and started forward.
TK suddenly leapt forward, grabbed her arm and dove back into the jungle overgrowth.
"TK! What's the big…" TK clamped a hand down over her mouth and shushed her.
"We aren't alone out here," he whispered. "There was movement on the far side of that clearing, and it seemed familiar. Besides, Angemon hasn't checked in yet."
"Maybe he just lost track of us for a second, while he and Angewoman were flying," Kari replied, instinctively keeping her voice as soft as TK's.
"No way. Angemon always checks in with me every thirty minutes, no matter what. At the least, he'd have contacted me telepathically and checked up on me."
"You can talk to Angemon telepathically?"
"We can all communicate with our partners that way. It's how we used to fight battles. I just figured it out sooner than the rest of you."
"So what do you think is keeping them?"
"Nothing," Angemon replied, quietly from behind them. Neither TK or Kari made a sound at his sudden appearance.
"What's over there?"
"I don't know. I can't sense them, but that doesn't mean too much." TK nodded in agreement.
"Can you think of anyway to draw them out?"
"None," Angewoman replied from beside Angemon. "They have the advantage right now, and I doubt that they're going to give themselves away with such a nice ambush planed."
"I'm sure they're flyers with the group," Angemon added.
"They've got us totally cut off, then," TK mussed. "If we go back, they can circle around behind us and kill us; if we go forward, we go right into their ambush; and if we try and fly, they come at us from underneath."
"So what do we do?" Kari asked. TK felt a moment of pride that there wasn't the slightest hint of panic in her voice. Apparently, the old battle instincts were still ingrained in her.
"Leomon's fifth rule of combat," TK grinned. "If you don't like the rules, make new ones." He pulled out his cell phone and quickly dialed a number. "Ryo? Kari and I are trapped in the Cybrosis Jungle, maybe three miles due west of the temple. Is everyone there? Then come on in." TK grinned as he snapped the phone shut and leaned back against a tree. "We're fine," he smiled.
"I'm afraid I don't get it," Kari confessed. "What did you do?"
"Angewoman's right," TK replied. "They aren't going to break their cover now, whoever they are. We're simply going to wait them out. If they know we're here, they might not wait as long, but if they're still in position in one hour, they're as good as dead."
"One hour?"
"That's about as long as it will take Ryo and the others to get here. If our friends out there are still in place, Ryo and the others will come at them from behind, and we'll come at them from this end and we'll all grind them into powder."
"Would you object to some reconnaissance information?" Angewoman suggested. As Gatomon, I can move around almost undetected, especially with an entire jungle to hide in."
"Alright, but be careful and quick," TK cautioned. Angewoman smiled briefly before digivolving down to Gatomon. Gatomon smiled slightly and then scurried into the underbrush and then vanished. Kari, TK and Angemon remained where they were for what seemed like hours, waiting for her to return. TK's watch indicated that it had been nearly twenty minutes before she returned.
"There are a lot of them," she reported, slightly winded. "There seemed to be another one in charge, but I couldn't get a look at him."
"What where they?" Kari asked.
"I've never seen them before," Gatomon confessed.
"Descriptions," TK spoke up, tersely.
"Only one kind of digimon, maybe thirty or forty of them," Gatomon reported. "They stood about five feet in height, maybe a little under that. They're wearing purple chest armor, along with arm and leg gauntlets, and helmets, with beaks on them. They each wield what looks to be a nineteen inch sai in each hand, and they have large black wings coming out of their backs."
"Karatenmon," TK breathed. "You said thirty to forty?"
"Yep. Can we take them?"
"Not a chance in hell," TK muttered. "Why are they waiting?"
"Ryo?" Kari wondered.
"The Karatenmon," TK corrected.
"Maybe they know who we are, and don't want to risk fighting us head on," Kari suggested.
"Thirty Karatenmon could probably beat Seraphimon," TK shook his head. "And Angewoman would be a joke for them. They're killers. Assassins, breed by Daemon for his army. Ultimate level wizard digimon. A swarm of that size could take us no problem. So what are they waiting for?"
Suddenly, the bushes at the far end of the clearing began to rustle, and TK dropped to a crouch, beckoning for Angemon to come closer.
"Get ready to bio-merge," TK breathed. "Kari, you and Angewoman make a run for it. Maybe we can distract them long enough for you to run for help." The bushes rustled another moment, and then a digimon stepped out that was not even close to what Gatomon had described.
It was enormous, nearly ten feet tall, with the body of a horse, or goat, and the torso of a human. Its head was surmounted by a pair of slightly curved horns, and it didn't have hands, so much as three claws that connected to the arm in a triangular shape, allowing them to open and close, and grasp things in them. On the back of the horses body was a large pair of feathered wings. It seemed not so much a digimon as their worst nightmare come to life. TK swore under his breath.
"What in God's name is that?" Gatomon demanded, while Kari tried to suppress a scream.
"The leader," TK replied, standing up and motioning for Angemon to come closer. "Let's bio-merge. It won't do much good, but at least he respects Seraphimon." Angemon nodded, and the pair bio-merged.
"Seraphimon, what is that thing?" Kari whispered as Seraphimon seemed to take a deep breath.
"It's name is Galfmon," Seraphimon replied, grimly. "It is a Mega level Demon Beast digimon. It is also Daemon's second in command."
"Dragon childe!" Galfmon roared. "We know that you are here! Come out, so that we may talk of affairs."
"It could be a trick," Seraphimon muttered under his breath.
"What do you mean?" Kari wondered.
"Talking of affairs is an ancient custom that immediately grants total neutrality to any area, for a certain length of time," the angel replied. "Galfmon's essentially offered a truce for the time being. Which would explain the Karatenmon, too. It's not like Galfmon needs any help; they've got to be here purely to convince me that they're serious about this."
"Are you going to trust him?" Angewoman wondered, her tone clearly indicating that she thought little of Galfmon's offer.
"It doesn't matter if I trust him, I trust Daemon," Seraphimon smiled. "Daemon is an ancient digimon and he was raised believing in the old ways. If he learns that Galfmon offered to talk of affairs with me and he attacked me, Galfmon wouldn't last an hour. Besides, Daemon doesn't let Galfmon out of his sight that often, and it's not like he could sneak out. Especially not with thirty Karatenmon. No, this has to come from Daemon, and I can understand him. Kari, Angewoman, stay here."
With a flap of his wings, Seraphimon shot out of the brush and then gently floated down to hover in front of the massive beast.
"Welcome, Childe of the Dragon," Galfmon rumbled as Seraphimon slowly descended from the sky and landed right in front of the massive beast.
"I have come in response to your offer," Seraphimon replied, crossing his arms across his chest. "What affairs do you wish to speak of?"
"My master has ordered me to pass on an invitation," Galfmon replied. "He entreats you to come to his temple in four days time to plan out the future of this world."
"What?" Seraphimon's arms dropped, and he stood, staring.
"There is another presence in the digital world, one whose power has begun to grow. Soon, if not checked, it will dwarf my master's, and you master's. Indeed, it will become so powerful that the Destroyer shall be unable to rebirth himself. And my master cannot allow that to pass."
"You're trying to tell me that Daemon is willing to put aside all hostilities until we defeat this new menace?"
"Until YOU defeat this old menace from the past," Galfmon retorted. "This new presence has its origins in your past battles. Thus, my master and I see no reason to involve ourselves."
"So you simply chose to sit on the sides, until we annihilate each other. Convenient," Seraphimon growled, flexing his hands.
"We have no intention of moving against you, Childe of the Dragon-God," Galfmon replied. "We simply wish for you to settle things with this old foe of yours, Hope Child."
"Who? Who is it that you fear so much?"
"Don't you know? It was your greatest foe." Galfmon grinned, a truly frightening sight, and whirled, letting out a bellowing roar. Thirty Karatenmon shot from the woods on the other side of the clearing, their black wings making a thunderous sound as they flew skyward, quickly followed by Galfmon. Within moments, they had all dwindled to small specks in the afternoon sky.