Hopelight: Blah. I'm sad…wah!
PerniciousTrixie: What's the matter with you now?
Fauve: Besides being a complete maniac?
Hopelight: Well…*sniff* I'm *sniff* almost done the series. Maybe 5 more chapters. *wails* I DON'T WANNA BE DONE!!!!!
Fauve: Oh, lord…
PerniciousTrixie: I blame the Halloween candy for making her this way.
Hopelight: *perks up* You know, I still have a few chocolate bars from last year in my freezer…
PerniciousTrixie: EW! Get on with the fic already!
PredestinedChapter Sixteen: Enter the Beast
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" Lee screamed, falling over herself trying to avoid falling into the massive "grave" that had just been broken open.
"It's the Beast!" Lady Kazuma cackled with glee. "Arise from your grave, evil one! Destroy this cursed world, and their annoying protectors!"
The Beast climbed out of its grave and shook off ten thousand years' worth of dust and grime from its matted fur. It stretched, yawned a booming yawn, and from its mouth there issued a strong blast of putrid wind that nearly knocked everyone over. Finally, it reared up on its hind legs and let out a massive roar that shook the standing stones as well as the ground they stood upon.
"Finally," it rasped in a malevolent voice. "After ten thousand years, I am free! Free to work my evil again!"
Lee gagged. "Gawd, close your mouth!" she cried out, retching.
"Ever heard of toothpaste?" Cleo yelled up to it. "Get yourself to the dentist or something! That's just gross!"
The Beast was bigger than even the Fiannamon, who were easily 50 feet tall. It was perhaps 100 feet tall, large and extremely hairy, and extremely smelly as well. Stink floated off it in putrid waves that were reddening eyes and causing nausea already. Its three eyes were huge, red and glowing like coal embers. Its legs were twice as thick as giant redwood trees, ending in gigantic paws that were adorned with long, razor-sharp claws dripping with infection. Its teeth were long, rotten, jagged and pointed. They gleamed in the harsh light from the moons. Two of its canines extended down past its lower jaw, nearly touching the thick, matted ruff of black and yellow fur that was arranged in a greasy, disorderly fashion about his neck and chest. To top it all off, drool was flying in a thick white foam from its mouth, liberally dousing whomever had the misfortune of being directly in its path.
"That is the most disgusting thing I've ever seen," Jenna said in distaste. "We actually have to fight that?"
"It's now or never. Onward, troops!"
The Fiannamon sprung into action immediately, zooming at the Beast. "For the whole Digital World!" they chorused as they flew. Then, "Celtic Rage!"
Streamers of harsh green light crashed into the Beast. It was barely even moved by their massive attack, even though there were nearly a hundred of them. It sucked in a deep breath and screamed out, "Ancient Breath!"
In seconds, every single one of them was deleted.
The Beast stood there, grinning as their data drifted away into oblivion. It was bleeding slightly from one of its mangled ears, but other than that it was fine.
"What was that?" he roared. "That was like swatting flies! I need a challenge. Challenge me!"
"NO!" Lady Kazuma shrieked, her face bright red with fury. She ripped off her mask and ran in front of the Beast, her strange eyes flashing. "You're not supposed to do that! Listen, I was the one who orchestrated this whole thing. You must obey orders! Obey me! NOW! Kill those bratty kids!" she screamed up at it, shaking an angry fist.
The Beast seemed to consider her for a second. "Well, madam," it said finally, "you certainly have a point."
"See, I knew you would listen," she said smugly. "Now do as I say!"
"That's not what I meant," it continued, its eyes glinting. In one swift motion, it grabbed her between its two front paws and brought her to its mouth. She nearly passed out from the heavy, sick-sweet scent of its breath.
"What are you doing? Put me down!!!!"
"Perhaps you can help me, madam. Perhaps…you can feed me. I haven't eaten in ten thousand years, after all."
"NO! NOOOOOOO!!!!!" Lady Kazuma screamed, flailing wildly. "You can't do this to me! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"
Tina shielded her face. "Oh my gawd," she moaned to Holly.
"Tania, don't look!" Hikaru said harshly to her sister, clapping her hands over Tania's eyes.
The Beast finished chewing and burped out the woman's black mask and implements of torture. "Hmmmm…" it said, grinning. "Tastes like chicken!"
"He's killed the Lady!" an angry cry rose up from the opposition. "Kill him!"
"I think not. Graveyard Crusher!"
Giant tombstones hailed from the sky, striking out at the DarkFiannamon and Flymon troops. In moments, the opposition was also completely totaled. The Beast just stood there, enjoying itself to see such suffering.
"We have to do something!" Tania cried. "Kina, where's Julian?"
Kinaka, who had just put down her brother to clean up his face quickly, whipped her head around. "I just put him down here!" she cried. "Where the hell is he?"
A high scream sounded from the direction of the grave. Everyone looked over and stood, shocked, as Julian suddenly ran to the edge of it.
"Perritomon!" he yelled. "Kina, he fell down there! He fell into the big hole! Oh, somebody do something!"
Without thinking, Jenna, who was closest, rushed for the grave and looked down. Julian's partner had not yet fallen down the grave. Instead, he had grabbed onto a root with his teeth and was hanging precariously over the massive black abyss.
"I'll get him. Just stay back!" she told Julian, who was busy wailing with fear. She reached down and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and hoisted him out. Shaking with fear, he ran straight to Julian, who swept him up and hugged him tightly.
Tania suddenly screamed. Shaking, she faced Jenna and yelled, "Get away from the grave! Get away from it! Get away!"
"Why?" Jenna yelled back, moving away from the edge. As she did so, the Beast reared up, roared and shot flames at her. She dove out of the way just in time.
"Fight me!" the Beast roared, stamping its massive feet. "Challenge me, you damned weaklings!"
Rachael's eyes glinted. "All right," she said, and pointed to the sky. "Nikaimon! Go for it!"
"Thunder Javelin!" Nikaimon yelled. From each of its horns, a javelin of electricity shot out and pierced the Beast's eyes. It yelled, more out of anger than agony, and raised a massive paw.
"Take that, you sniveling brats!" it boomed, smashing into both Rachael and Nikaimon. Both went flying into a huge standing stone with a sickening smack. Nikaimon de-digivolved to his Hatchling stage, Hisoimon.
"Rachie!" Deanna cried in dismay. "Kick his ass, Thungermon!"
Her partner leapt at the Beast's throat. "Reptilian Lava!" he began, but before he could begin his attack, the Beast roared and sent him flying. Deanna was pushed to the ground from the strong winds coming from his mouth.
Lee's hands clenched into fists. "This isn't how it was supposed to happen!" she said desperately. "Come on, guys, we have to hit him where it hurts! Just enter the Mega level already! Or Armor Mega, or Pure, I don't care, just do something!"
"Lee, we need a lot of energy to do that. And quite frankly, we don't have it," Sunamon reminded her quickly. "Isn't there some other way we can beat him?"
Lee looked from Rachael's crumpled form fifty feet away, to Deanna lying prone on the ground. "Look around you. Does it look like we're going to beat him in our present form? Already we've lost our guard, and they were the best fighters there ever was! We need a miracle!"
Tania heard this and swiftly sent to Kinaka, Should we give them a miracle?
Wait, dammit! It's not time. I'll tell you when it's time!
I've waited long enough.
Just wait a little longer, until the prophecy has been fulfilled. Then we strike.
"Lee, let's just get them in there. We need to fight back somehow," Holly said anxiously, wringing her hands.
Her sister seemed to consider this before saying, "Fine then. You heard her, ATTACK!!!!!"
Before anyone could even budge, the Beast roared again, his breath aflame. "Prepare for your doom!" it cackled. "This time, there will be nobody to help you. No mommy and daddy, no big brothers and sisters, no long-dead stepmothers. Wave of Evil!"
The blast that shook them in that instant felt like a thousand nuclear weapons exploding all at once. Everyone was thrown in all directions, like rag dolls being thrown back into the toy box. Each and every one of them had a painful landing, all being brutally knocked unconscious on the moment of impact.
All except little Julian, who stood up in defiance in front of the Beast. In his arms was Perritomon, who was wagging his tail.