The bolt of energy sliced through the air like a blade, blowing all the floating debris from its path. Piximon was stunned by the power of the attack. A mere instant before the blast would tear him apart, Piximon snapped back to reality and lunged out of its path of destruction, chucking his spear at Metaldracomon as he did so. Though the attack didn't hit him directly, the full force of the heat blast and the shock wave struck Piximon head-on. Piximon was slammed back into the wall with singes covering his whole body. He slumped to the ground. Meanwhile, Metaldracomon failed to dodge Piximon's last-ditch effort. The tiny spear pierced his chest plate and lodged itself in his abdomen. The spearhead had punctured all the way through Metaldracomon's body, with the blade jutting from his back and the blunt end still resting in front of his gut. Sparks of electricity swirled around the wound as Metaldracomon stared down in utter shock. Slowly, he collapsed to one leg before completely losing it. Metaldracomon fell facedown. His left eye closed as the robotic right one faded into blackness.
"I'm sorry," grunted Piximon. "I wish it didn't have to be like this, but I had no choice."
Piximon rose to his feet and slowly walked over to Metaldracomon's body, dragging his left foot limply. He grabbed the tip of his spear and pulled it from Metaldracomon's body cavity. This apparently ruptured something in the body, sending a spurt of blood and oil out and coating Piximon in it. Piximon took little notice of this before proceeding on, deeper into the base.
Elsewhere, Wizardmon, along with Meramon, Ogremon, Joe, Izzy, Yolei, Cody, TK, Kari, Mimi, Sora, Davis, Willis, Michael, and their digimon were all moving swiftly down the halls.
"Are you sure we're headed the right way?" asked TK.
"Positive," said Davis, who was at the head of the group. "Would you just trust me for once?"
No sooner had Davis said this than they turned one last corner and found themselves facing a dead-end.
"Well that's just excellent," said TK unenthusiastically.
"Way to go, Davis," said Yolei.
"Hmm…" Davis mused. "Maybe that first turn should've been a right… Or maybe…"
"I believe our most logical course of action would be to search for a computer terminal," said Izzy. "If we can access the system, I believe I should be able to call up a map of the base."
"Nonsense," said Ogremon. "I'll just smash a path through this wall and we can just keep going until we find what we're looking for."
"That won't work, bone-brain!" scolded Wizardmon. "We have to think of a strategy here!"
"Hungry!" shouted Kurisarimon. "Need find enemies right NOW!"
"Well that's a brilliant suggestion," said Terriermon. "While we're at it, why don't we go play in a microwave?!"
"Quiet bunny!" grumbled Kurisarimon. "Maybe I eat YOU next!"
"SHUT UP!!!" yelled Kari at the top of her lungs.
Everyone did as they were told immediately. Kari almost never got really angry, but when she did it was obviously a good idea to listen to what she had to say. She looked like she was trying to concentrate. Her eyes were shut tight and her muscles were all tensed up. Her eyebrow twitched a couple times.
"What is it?" asked TK softly.
"It's… here…" said Kari.
Slowly, she reopened her eyes. One by one, a cluster of tiny, golden points of light appeared a few feet in front of the group, just floating there. Then, more of the tiny clusters appeared all around them, slowly moving towards the primary one.
"Whoa…" gasped TK.
"How peculiar," said Izzy, examining one of the nearby clumps of light.
"Are these things… alive?" asked Joe.
"I have no idea," said Ogremon. "I've never seen anything like these."
"Well they seem to like me," said Davis as one of the points of light sat on the end of his nose.
"How odd," said Cody.
Cody reached out and gave one of the clusters a slight touch. The points of light shone brighter for an instant before calming down again.
"Kari, are you doing this?" asked TK.
Kari didn't answer. She just continued staring at the main cluster, which was continuing to grow in size.
"I see…" Wizardmon mused. "So it's happened."
"What has?" asked Gatomon.
"Kari's unusual power…" said Wizardmon. "It has been reawakened."
"Her power?" asked TK. "You mean all the weird stuff that happened years ago? I thought that was gone for good."
"I believe it was merely sleeping," said Wizardmon. "Her power must have gone into hibernation when it was no longer needed. Something must have caused it to suddenly wake up, and now it seems even stronger than before."
"I think I get it," said Patamon. "When we found Kari, she was hooked up to that weird machine. Could that cause this?"
"It seems like a safe assumption," said Wizardmon. "But no matter how it happened, her mysterious power has returned. We must utilize it if we hope to win the day."
"But how do we do that?" asked TK.
"Shh…" Kari hushed. "It's almost done."
The last of the points of light joined into the ball in front of them. They all suddenly glowed much brighter and began to take on a form. Kari extended her hands, and the glowing entity quickly alighted on them. It was most definitely a curious sight. The creature stood no more than eighteen inches tall, and its entire body radiated a strange golden light. It had small arms and legs, big, black eyes, and comparatively huge ears. It also had some kind of odd, curling antennae, but most fascinating was the glowing red design on its forehead.
"What is it?" asked Michael, apparently in awe of the creature.
"Incredible," said Meramon. "It's a digignome."
"What's a digignome?" asked Willis. "Is it some kind of digimon?"
"No, not digimon," said Wizardmon, getting a closer look at the creature. "They are far older than any digimon, including Protomon. No one is entirely sure as to the true nature of these creatures."
"But why would it be out here?" asked Ogremon. "I thought those things were supposed to hang around the great axis."
"They are," said Wizardmon in a worried tone. "But even more troubling is the fact that this one exists at all. From what I heard, the digignomes all disappeared months ago when they aided in the shining digivolution. Yet this one is still very much alive."
"Okay, hold it," said Izzy. "Digignomes? Great axis? Shining digivolution? What are you guys talking about?!"
"That's something we'd all like to know," said Yolei.
"Start explaining," said Cody.
"Alright, I guess we owe you that," said Wizardmon. "First of all, the digignomes are, as I said, much more ancient than digimon. Most of what I can tell you is just hearsay. They've reportedly worked closely with the Sovereigns and the Guardians, but rumors persist that they've also been seen in the presence of evil digimon, including the Dark Masters. However, there has never been any case of any force receiving any actual assistance from the digignomes. Well actually, they did assist fairly recently, but that's another story. They're very tight-lipped. In fact, they don't talk at all. There's no telling what they know. Some say that they have no more brains than a digi-fish, but I think otherwise. I think that they have more knowledge than any human or digimon could hope to amass in a dozen lifetimes. Only they have the clarity of mind to see the whole picture of the digital world."
"Wow," said TK. "That's pretty amazing."
"So what about the great axis?" asked Davis.
"Well, you all know of Azulongmon," said Wizardmon. "Well he is the Sovereign of the eastern quadrant of the digital world. There are three other quadrants. The north is ruled by Ebonwumon, Baihumon rules the east, and Zuqiaomon rules the south. Below the surface of the digital world exist a number of smaller worlds, such as the dark ocean. However, at the very center of the four quadrants exists a great chasm, which touches all of the smaller realms. It is that place that is known as the great axis. Few ever go there, since it means passing through one of the four Sovereign gates. I've never been there myself, so there is little I can tell you."
"And the shining digivolution?" asked Gomamon.
"I won't go into all the details," said Wizardmon. "The story is a long and tragic one. I'll just say that it was necessary to stop a very powerful enemy known as the D-Reaper. The digignomes, along with a digimon that had been used to protect an ancient and very powerful catalyst, activated the full strength of the catalyst. The release of energy was spread throughout the digital world, causing all of the digimon here to digivolve to their Mega forms. The digignomes supposedly sacrificed themselves to accomplish that incredible task."
"D-Reaper…" said Patamon. "Geno said that name. What was it?"
"A very ancient evil," said Wizardmon. "It nearly wiped out all life in the digital world. It was eventually stopped, but at a very high price."
"Why didn't we hear anything about this?" asked Yolei. "Why weren't we called upon for help?"
"It was Azulongmon's choice," said Wizardmon. "If you want to know, he'd be the one to tell you. Unfortunately, he's not around any more."
"Right…" said Meramon sullenly. "He and the other Sovereigns fused together to become Protomon."
"I know which way to go," announced Kari. "The digignome will guide us."
Everyone turned and looked at the glowing creature, which happily nodded and smiled. The digignome then took to the air again and began to float down the hallway. The group followed closely behind.
Elsewhere, Geno and the Emperor stood in one of the most guarded labs in the base. The Emperor was looking over some monitors while Geno took a good, long look at the two tanks filled with a phosphorescent, light green fluid. The one on the left held an unconscious Koromon and the one on the right held and unconscious Tsunomon.
"Shall we proceed?" asked the Emperor.
"Naturally," said Geno.
"Please insert the crests," instructed the Emperor.
Geno dug into his pocket, pulling out two crests. He removed them from their tags and stepped up to the tanks. In front of each tank were slots where a crest could be inserted. In the right slot, he placed the green Crest of Solitude. In the left slot he placed the dark blue Crest of Cowardice.
"Loaded," Geno reported.
"Link forming…" said the Emperor as he typed away at a keyboard.
A moment later, the door opened and in stepped Metaldracomon. He had a gaping hole in his torso from which oozed a mixture of blood and oil. Despite this, he seemed perfectly fine.
"I take it you ran into some problems," said Geno, not even bothering to face Metaldracomon.
"They brought in Piximon," Metaldracomon explained. "He is a truly exceptional fighter. They say he's trained the strongest digimon for countless years."
"I am fully aware of his reputation," said Geno. "I don't care if he's stronger than the Sovereigns. You are an extension of myself, and failure is not something that I will accept, especially from you."
"This body's Ultimate form is insufficient," said Metaldracomon. "I must be allowed to proceed to the next stage."
"I will not permit it," said Geno. "If that body grows too strong, we may lose our hold on it. The creature could regain control, and then we would have a very powerful foe to contend with."
"I see," said Metaldracomon.
Geno turned and walked up to Metaldracomon. He glanced at his wounds carefully.
"Repair that," instructed Geno. "You're dripping on my floor."
Metaldracomon closed his eyes and held his breath. After a moment, his damaged body began to rapidly regenerate itself. The fluids were absorbed back into his body and the puncture wound resealed itself. With his body regenerated, Metaldracomon reopened his eyes.
"Better?" asked Metaldracomon.
"Much," said Geno. "Now is there any more to report?"
"I'm afraid so," said Metaldracomon. "The DigiDestined are… unaccounted for. The attack on our forces was obviously well planned and executed. Our troops remain in disarray, and the enemy force seems to be advancing towards our vaults."
"I am aware of the DigiDestined," said Geno confidently. "Emperor?"
"Yes, master?" asked Ken.
"I want you and Metaldracomon to take care of the main group," said Geno. "I believe you will find your prey en route to the primary vault. If you feel you can't handle it on your own, you have my permission to use Megadramon and Gigadramon as you deem fit."
"Understood," said Ken. "But if I may ask, where will you be?"
"Two DigiDestined have split off from the others," said Geno. "They… seek me. I think I'll let them find me, and when they do I'll have a little fun."
"But don't you want any bodyguards?!" asked Metaldracomon. "I insist that you let me remain at your side!"
"No need to worry," said Geno. "I have all the defense I need. For you see, they shall be the first to taste the power of my new, perfect body. They will be the first of many to fall before me. At last, the time of my ascension is at hand!"
"By your will," said Metaldracomon with a bow.
"Let's hurry," said Ken, punching the palm of his hand. "I can't wait to get back into the action."
Ken quickly headed out with Metaldracomon reluctantly in tow. Geno regarded the mechanical monster for a moment after he left. His hold on Metaldracomon was tenuous at best; allowing him to digivolve would almost certainly dissolve the last remnants of his influence. Still, Metaldracomon seemed to have a fierce loyalty to him, or at least the body he possessed. That and his great strength made him worth keeping around. Of course, that would come to an end soon enough. The Emperor and Metaldracomon only needed to hold off the DigiDestined for a short while. As long as the DigiDestined were prevented from acquiring the digiegg, Geno knew he would be unstoppable. As soon as his new form was ready, all of his servants would be rendered expendable, and would therefore be dealt with, beginning with Metaldracomon and the Emperor. Within the hour, his body would be ready for him, and a new age would begin.
"It has been a very good day," said Geno, placing his right palm up against the tank with the Koromon inside. "Though everything may not has gone as planned, I've still won. Four DigiDestined were so traumatized by my machines that they will be completely ineffective in fighting me. Another one has embraced my will, and now serves me unquestioningly. Yet another one will have to spread himself dangerously thin, trying to maintain control of his two digimon plus Keramon. And of course, we must not forget the one who has paid the price for what he did to me. He will never stand in my way again, and his body has already brought me to the brink of total dominion over this world. Life is good."
The Koromon just twitched and smiled devilishly. Geno sat down at the nearby console, waiting for the two DigiDestined to arrive.