Notes:  Well, to say it's been awhile would be an understatement. It's amazing how easy it is to get caught up in things. Anyway, this chapter wraps up some loose ends, reveals a few secrets, and has Ryou getting thrashed and a brawl between Sakuyamon and Erinyemon. Not that anyone is really interested in seeing that… Anyway, enjoy the chapter and I bear no responsibility for any resulting headaches.

Chapter 5: Endless Struggle

It was a cornucopia of death that surrounded her. Mass destruction, partially devoured humans and crimson blood covered the area and feral screams and keening wails filled the air. But to Erinyemon, it meant nothing.

The Perfect flew over the rubble, a single mission ingrained within her tortured mind.

Surrender Matsuda Takato to LadyDevimon and intercept the Tamers.

The words had come to her so suddenly, causing her a horrific pain as they invaded her body and taken control. It would have been useless to fight; the will of Demon was firm as steel and just as unbreakable.

Erinyemon growled fiercely. She was little better than Lobomon, merely a menial puppet at the beck and call of Demon.

And Takato…Erinyemon's stomach clenched painfully. He was trapped with LadyDevimon, who was notorious in her sadistic treatment of prisoners and his partner had no means by which to aid him.

And it was all because of the Tamers.

The venomous thought surfaced when Erinyemon noticed a giant, emerald armor-clad robot Digimon, a humanoid one bearing a cybernetic arm and a large, nine-tailed Digimon with a familiar child riding on it. Makino Ruki, the mind of Erinyemon hissed, rousing new feelings of hatred and loathing.

Takato is with LadyDevimon because of the Tamers. Makino Ruki…I lost Takato because of her!

Erinyemon trembled with fury as she watched the Tamers engage in quick conversation, before Makino Ruki dismounted and in a glowing light, her partner de-evolved to her Child form.

She'll pay! Takato is gone and she'll pay!

With an insane screech, Erinyemon dove down from her position in the sky, her eyes blazing and claws extended to capture the unsuspecting Ruki and tear her apart…

 "Night of Fire!"

With remarkable ease and deadly speed, a small purple fireball was flung into an overturned garbage can. The fireball's wielder Impmon, a hotheaded Child Digimon of the demon variety, glowered angrily at the offending trashcan before raising his clawed hand to deliver another flaming attack.

"Night of Fire!" Impmon shouted, sending the fire-based attack crashing into its destination. The rusty trashcan rolled at the impact, but did little to cool Impmon's anger.

He'd seen the news, or what had been the news before the reporter met a grisly demise. After D-Reaper's plot to annihilate all of humanity and Digimon alike, the current situation might have seemed tame in comparison. But with Hypnos being destroyed and people getting eaten, Impmon knew just how bad things could become.

But what was really eating him was the fact that he couldn't do a single thing to stop it. While the Tamers and their partners were most likely in downtown Shinjuku doing all the heroics, he was stuck at home toasting trashcans.

The sound of a crash caused Impmon to grit his teeth in ever-increasing frustration. For the last half hour, Ai and Makoto's parents had been going crazy trying to gather their things together for a hasty departure. They had seen the news as well and with people actually dying, they weren't taking any chances.

Which left Impmon in a bad situation. No matter how badly he wanted the chance to send the invading Digimon to oblivion in the most painful way possible, Ai and Makoto were still children. Far too young to enter the fray of battle.

Even the Tamers are pushin' it, Impmon thought darkly. It was one thing to destroy a Digimon, since unless it was absorbed; its data disappeared almost instantly. But humans…even in death they had a nasty way of lingering.

Then there was Takato. The kid practically flipped when I killed Leomon, what's he gonna do when he sees some of his own species down for the count?

A sudden image of Megidramon, the acid-drooling Dragon of Purgatory made Impmon shudder involuntarily. The last they needed was an insane Ultimate tearing up things even worse than the enemy.

Besides, dat's what I'm there for, Impmon mused distractedly. He could almost hear the screams of pain and feel the power of his enemy flowing into him. Beelzebumon was a Demon Lord, after all. Death, carnage, cutting the enemy to pieces and cleaving the light were his duties, his purpose-

For the second time in five minutes, Impmon shuddered. After everything that had happened, Impmon didn't think like that anymore. He wasn't some power-mad lunatic whose only goal was destruction. He had reformed…changed.

So where had all the evil and sinister come from? Why did he feel just as ready to cause devastation as he did to prevent it?

Feeling angry and more than a little confused, Impmon growled. Something weird is goin' on. And whatever it is, it ain't good.

It took everything Jenrya had not to panic. The scene set before him, a nightmare among nightmares, was a terrible as they came. But it was the fact of Takato's disappearance, combined with the absences of Juri, Hirokazu and Kenta and the height of the stakes that were putting Jenrya on edge. Even when separated and facing D-Reaper, the Tamers still had maintained united morale. Now it felt as though they were going in to face the enemy half -blind.

"If we're going to do something, it better be now." Ruki commented coolly. "Otherwise there won't be anyone left worth saving."

Her words snapped Jenrya from his doubts. "Right," SaintGalgomon responded quickly. "We'll act as a brace against the building, hopefully giving the rest of you time to get past those things and rescue the people inside."

"Then let's go!" Justimon shouted, charging forward. Standing and waiting around had obviously been more than the fusion of the Legendary Tamer and battle-thirsty Cyberdramon could stand.

Her mouth set in a grim line, Ruki then dismounted from Kyuubimon. The light of de-evolution surrounded the vulpine Digimon, fading when a tense Renamon appeared in her place.

"For once, I agree with Ryou." Ruki said, her voice nearly emotionless. "It's time to go. Renamon-"

"I'm ready." Her partner replied with a similar inflection.

"Matrix Evolution!" Ruki shouted, raising her D-Arc.

MATRIX EVOLUTION_ The device's computerized voice echoed as the words scrawled across the screen of the device.

"Renamon, Matrix Evolve!"

A cerulean light surrounded Ruki's form, before it became data and merged with Renamon's body. Then amidst cherry blossoms and the full moon's light, the Child Digimon's body changed, becoming the almost regal, armor-clad humanoid and wielding her staff with ease.

"Sakuyamon!" The Ultimate Digimon announced, the dual voices of Ruki and Renamon filled with an underlying anger.

With nary another word, Sakuyamon moved, as if to follow Justimon's chosen path. But before SaintGalgomon could shout a warning, a Digimon with avian wings and clad all in black, descended downward.

When the air was filled with a ghastly screech, Sakuyamon looked up, her face etched with annoyance. She cried out when the Digimon's lengthy claws roughly dug into the golden armor covering her shoulders.

"Let her go!" SaintGalgomon yelled, threateningly aiming his large missiles Sakuyamon's assailant.

The unknown Digimon turned to hiss at him furiously, releasing her hold on Sakuyamon and raising one of her hands above her head.

"Dark Telepathy!" She yelled, causing a bubble charged with purple energy to materialize around SaintGalgomon.

"Hey!" SaintGalgomon shouted in Terriemon's voice. "What do we look like, a toy surprise or something?"

The Digimon smirked as she watched the massive Ultimate struggle against the barrier around him, which sent a blast of electricity charging through him with every move.

"SaintGalgomon!" Sakuyamon shouted, trying to break the iron grip on her shoulder.

Pinning Sakuyamon's arms at her sides and ignoring her struggles, the Digimon gave a final horrendous shriek, before dragging Sakuyamon high into the sky…

To say Hirokazu was uncomfortable would be an understatement. Sitting on one of the shoulders of his bronze, robotic partner Guardromon and flying through the air was something that would take more getting used to.

The greater amount of empty automobiles served as an indication that they were getting closer to the destination, but for Hirokazu, they weren't close enough.

"I can't believe this." Kenta, Hirokazu's best friend and partner-in-crime muttered despondently from atop Guardromon's other shoulder. "By the time we get there, Takato and the others will probably have everything all wrapped up."

"No way." Hirokazu argued. "You saw the news, it'll take more than just Dukemon, Sakuyamon and SaintGalgomon to beat those things."

Kenta pushed his glasses, which had slipped slowly down his face due to the force of the wind, back onto his nose and frowned. "Maybe. But did we have wait so long before we did something?"

Hirokazu sighed loudly. "It's not like I wanted to wait. But have you ever tried sneaking a big, metal robot out of the house without your Mom noticing? I'll tell you one thing, it's not easy."

Kenta sweatdropped. "Oh yeah. I guess not." Feeling slightly embarrassed, he patted the pocket of his pants gently. Luckily, Marine Angemon could not only strengthen those that were weakened, but he also came in a small travel size when necessary.

"But what are we going to do when we get there?" Kenta inquired worriedly. "You saw how messed up everything was. Takato, Ruki and Jenrya are probably already there, but where does that leave us?"

"He does make a good a good point, Hirokazu." Guardromon intoned. "How are we to know where to begin searching for the others?"

Feeling slightly stumped, Hirokazu glanced around distractedly. It was only when he saw something familiar that a grin crossed his face.

"Easy." Hirokazu replied with renewed confidence. "We follow the big, brown rabbit."

"Huh?" Kenta replied, frowning.

Rolling his eyes, Hirokazu indicated the far-off form of Antiramon, who was carefully making his way through buildings and over streets.

Kenta's eyes widened and he nodded. "If they have Antiramon going to fight, then things must be really serious."

"Unfortunately, we have no knowledge of just how serious they may be ." Guardromon remarked solemnly.

"Pipi!" Marine Angemon added, sounding more than a little muffled.

Hirokazu adjusted his visor and shrugged. "So what? C'mon, don't forget all the stuff that's happened to us before. We were almost eaten by a crazy computer virus, killed by a psycho biker Digimon and frozen like human Popsicles. As long as all us Tamers end up together, there's no way this thing can beat us!"

"I hope you're right." Kenta replied worriedly.

"Of course I am." Hirokazu replied assuredly. "But we still have to catch up to Antiramon. For a Digimon that big, he sure moves fast."

Guardromon blinked. "Are you insinuating that I don't?"

"No way! You're a lot faster than my can opener."

Kenta listened to Hirokazu and Guardromon banter back and forth and sighed. It was a good distraction. But once they reached Hypnos, how long would they be able to keep laughing?

Lobomon had been watching the Reapers engage in the glorious slaughter of the panicked humans with mild boredom. The killing he had had engaged in had served as a mild diversion at best, yet the lust for blood surged within in him.

He was seeking a challenge, something more than the simplistic maiming and rending of frail humans. Lobomon paced through the gore-strewn area impatiently, his ire for Veliomon growing every moment.

The recently created Digimon had been rendered a near-statue due to Demon's actions and several strong chains that bound him. Serving as the anchor for the Reaper's collective mind left him a vulnerable target, one Lobomon was to protect at all costs, despite how greatly the lifeless Digimon infuriated him.

Since the siege and carnage upon the building had begun, the human Tamers had made no appearances. It was unusual behavior, given their predictable affinity for risking their lives to save a wasted species.

Lobomon might have chucked with dark amusement, had his ears perked not abruptly and his heckles rose. The sounds of attack calls and the scent of a foreign Digimon soon filled his senses, causing him to smile viciously.

Finally, the worthy quarry has come, Lobomon thought smugly.

Casting a singular snide glance at Veliomon, he dropped to four legs and quickly loped behind a deposit of debris that had fallen from the rapidly deteriorating building.

Crouching beside a large chunk of rubble, Lobomon's tail all but twitched in anticipation as he watched a cybernetic Digimon break through the Reaper's menial defenses. He hesitated a moment before preparing to deliver what the Perfect perceived to be a killing blow.    

A pity I must disappoint him...

These things are everywhere! Ryou thought irately. Everywhere he turned, multicolored creatures that resembled oversized Agumon surrounded him. Their sheer number was almost overwhelming, as was the fact that no matter how hard he hit them, they re-formed and attacked more ferociously than before.

"Accel Arm!" Justimon shouted, slamming his cybernetic arm to the ground and creating powerful shockwaves. Several of his attackers shrieked as parts of their bodies were deleted, only to have the same part return seconds later.

We can't keep this up! Ryou shouted when one of the creatures sank its teeth into Justimon's arm. Fueled by frustration and anger, Justimon used his other arm to roughly rip his assailant away.

When we find the leader, we will end this. Cyberdramon replied fiercely.

From within his sphere of data, Ryou tried to remember their previous directive. They had caught sight of a large Digimon among the massacre and had rushed without hesitation to find him. Perhaps it had been a measure of Cyberdramon's bloodlust that had caused their hasty departure, but even Ryou couldn't stand to wait around while people were being murdered.

They had expected some of the creatures to come at them once they arrived. Yet all of them had ceased their previous activities and attacked in an immense swarm. And without Sakuyamon or SaintGalgomon around to offer some type of backup, the situation was becoming desperate.

Justimon tried to leap from the fray, but his efforts were thwarted and he found himself being dragged downward. He broke away from the grip of the creatures, only to find a greater number of them ready to jump on him.

This isn't good. We're running out of energy and I have a feeling the second we de-evolve, I'll end up becoming the prospective main course. Not that Cyberdramon will let that happen. And neither will I. Not without a fight!

Ignoring all feelings of weakness, Justimon stood.

I don't know where the others are, but we still have work to do. Ryou spoke firmly.

We cannot let these…things defeat us. Cyberdramon agreed.

"Justice Kick!" Justimon shouted, leaping and smashing several creatures out of his way and forming a thin path. Justimon then moved quickly, knocking any would-be attackers aside and not daring to glance at the assembly behind him. He hesitated once he reached the corpse-ridden entranceway to the building.

Standing, or rather chained to the ground was a being that bore a great resemblance to the ones that had been terrorizing the area. It had been the creature Justimon had noticed, though its expression was vacant, as though it failed to recognize the danger it was in.

"This is it!" Justimon shouted, preparing to form his cybernetic arm into the deadly glowing blade that would destroy the creature and bring the carnage and madness to an end.

Before he could act, an enormous hand closed over his metallic helmet tightly. Sharp claws cleaved its sides, causing both Ryou and Cyberdramon to cry out in pain.

"How fortunate," A guttural voice rasped, the stench of old blood on his breath. "More prey."

Terrified screams and gasps of pain filled the crowded, blood-strewn entranceway, making the terse situation seem all the more insane. Reika rubbed droplets of sweat from her forehead, distracted as she did her best to ignore the mêlée around her.

Unlike her fellow employees, she refused to give into hopeless panic. She didn't intend to die in the rubble of Hypnos and would do whatever was necessary to avoid that fate. Reika gazed out a window, where one of the homicidal creatures had done its best to break minutes before and gasped. Instead of a scene that looked like it had been ripped from dreams of Hell, the area was nearly empty.

However, it was not the lack of mayhem that shocked the technician, it was the sight of a wolf/robot hybrid Digimon trying to crush to helmeted skull of another, one who resembled a character from an old television show.

One of the Tamers' Digimon…but where are the others? Reika wondered frenetically. If someone doesn't help him soon, he's going to die. And this building is still coming down, It doesn't seem as though those things are around, but what if they're simply waiting for an opportunity to attack us once we're all gathered out in the open? If we stay here, we'll assuredly die. But if we go out there…should we take this chance?

Feeling a slight pressure on her left hand, Reika glanced in that direction. Megumi gave her a trembling smile and nodded. Great minds had a tendency to think alike, perhaps. But being observant is a gift unto itself.

Heaving a sigh of deep trepidation, Reika moved from her position against the window and towards the door. Multiple eyes followed her and several panicked workers made sounds of fear and protest.

Reika ignored them and with Megumi coming up behind her, slowly opened the door…

Piemon was cross. It was a usual occurrence, given his position and master. He had just killed a human whose use had ended and mortally wounded another, yet his good mood was swiftly souring under the glare of Demon.

Feeling as rebellious as ever, Piemon bowed and presented the device he had stolen from Fujitaka before Demon. Why the ailing Ultimate wanted it was beyond him. The device was incomplete and its purpose stemmed to that of deleting Digimon, not aiding them. But whatever his reasoning, Demon had what he wanted and Piemon could finally stop acting as a genial errand boy.

"The pieces are nearly together." Demon boomed triumphantly, his cerulean eyes glimmering. "The Maker, the Destroyer and finally…the Vessel."

Perplexed, Piemon was prepared to ask what he meant, before he caught sight of LadyDevimon. The Perfect wore a smirk that would have put a cat to shame and Piemon immediately noticed why. Held in her arms and sprawled at her feet were the unconscious forms of Matsuda Takato and his partner.

The Digimon that had not been sent to delay the Beasts' seven assassins cackled and crowed at the display, while Piemon found LadyDevimon all the more ravishing under the proverbial spotlight.

"I present to you, Lord Demon." LadyDevimon spoke with a grandiose air, "The Vessel Matsuda Takato, uninjured and ready to bow down to your will."

Demon smiled, his dark form revealing jagged fangs. "You've done well LadyDevimon. But we both know our little human is far from bowing to his new master. Despite my efforts to break him, he has proven to be all the more tenacious. And for that, he will pay."

Piemon listened halfheartedly. He had never expected Erinyemon to succeed in her task and felt betrayed that his beloved had done so in her place. His plan to eliminate Demon before he reached his former glory was falling apart and it made him all the furious.

Perhaps sensing his lieutenant's spiteful thoughts, Demon gazed at Piemon intently.

"More of those impudent Tamers have decided to make their way to rescue their human associates. See that they do not get there. Amuse yourself Piemon, do not under any circumstances kill them."

Growling hatefully under his breath, Piemon bowed. "Yes my Lord." He murmured darkly. He glowered at LadyDevimon when she had the gall to blow him a kiss, before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

"So what's next?" LadyDevimon queried, dismissing Piemon's ugly look callously. "I'd be more than happy to wake up our guests."

Demon ignored her, his lust for the power his merger with Matsuda Takato would grant him was almost overwhelming. But he knew the time was not right. He extended a black tentacle and procured the metallic suitcase in which the device that would ensure his future was sealed. Soon, very soon…

Sakuyamon's patience was at an end. Instead of helping people that were in dire need, she was stuck with the psychotic Erinyemon, who had trapped SaintGalgomon and couldn't fly to save her life.

"Enough of this." Sakuyamon murmured as she swung her free leg and kicked Erinyemon in her mask-covered face. Erinyemon yelped, completely loosing her hold on Sakuyamon.

She dropped to ground, both Ruki and Renamon extremely grateful that they hadn't reached great heights. They had landed in front of numerous empty stores, packages and articles of clothing messily strewn from what looked to be a hasty escape.

Before Sakuyamon could move, a sphere of purple light exploded on the ground in front of her, sending her sprawling backwards. Erinyemon hovered in the air a few feet above the fissure, smiling wickedly.

She's obviously intent upon delaying us. Renamon stated darkly.

We don't have time for this! Ruki growled from within her sphere of data, her frustration at its pinnacle.

"Unless you want a one way ticket to being shredded into data, you'll get out of my way." Sakuyamon ordered sharply.

"I'm just so scared." Erinyemon crowed, extending her hands before her. "Blazing Rings!" She shouted, causing numerous golden rings to materialize around Sakuyamon.

The shaman Digimon struggled against her bonds to no avail. She gave a pained yell when the constricting bands turned red, nearly setting her aflame.

"Getting a little hot under the collar?" Erinyemon taunted cruelly. "You ain't seen nothing yet." Her eyes suddenly shone with a golden light and Sakuyamon, though resisting all the while, was painfully forced to the ground.

Erinyemon calmly moved closer to the captured Digimon, smiling brutally. "Now for the real fun. I was saving this especially for you foxy. And much as I would love to roast you slowly and painfully, I guess I'll have to settle for a quick flambé."

The Perfect Digimon then clasped her hands together tightly, smirking all the while. Her clasped fists began glowing with luminous scarlet flames while Sakuyamon moved her hands, trying to reach for her staff.

"Apollo's Arrow!" Erinyemon shouted, the flames on her hands taking the form of an enormous arrow and sailing towards the captive Ultimate.

An exultant laugh escaped Erinyemon's lips when the arrow collided with Sakuyamon, creating an explosion that shook the ground and filled the area with acrid smoke.

"Heh. One annoying shaman, extra crispy." Erinyemon murmured as she turned from the scene coolly.

"Not likely." Sakuyamon spoke confidently behind her, all evidence of the energy reducing bands gone and a pale pink shield surrounding her body. With a fluid motion, the shield dissipated and Sakuyamon raised her staff threateningly.

"Now it's my turn. Rice Cord!" Elemental spirits in the form of dragons leapt from her staff towards Erinyemon. The sadistic Perfect spun around quickly, preparing to use her Dark Telepathy to act as shield against the attack.

But her movements were too slow and Erinyemon shrieked as the spirit dragons tore into her, the force of their impact launching her backwards and shattering her Noh mask to pieces when she landed.

Not willing to allow her enemy the chance to obtain the upper hand, Sakuyamon moved towards Erinyemon, fully poised to deliver the final blow. The opposing Digimon lay huddled on the ground, her hair and clothing torn and scorched.

"You little witch!" Erinyemon snarled venomously, her body trembling in fury. "You destroyed my mask. My mask! I'm going to tear you into little pieces and devour them!"

From within Sakuyamon, Ruki's eyes narrowed at the threat. "You're the one who's going to end up in pieces."

Erinyemon grunted in pain as she struggled to stand. Once she did so, albeit shakily, she turned to face Sakuyamon. At the sight of her finally revealed face, the shaman Digimon took an uncomprehending step backwards.

I don't believe it! Ruki gasped, her shock apparent.

How can such a thing be possible? Renamon responded confoundedly.

The face was appeared almost human, with a jagged scar that ran from the hairline, past the left eye and down the cheek. But it was what, or rather whom the face resembled that caused Sakuyamon to stare at Erinyemon in horror.

Aside from the emerald eyes, including one in the middle of her forehead and sharp fangs, Erinyemon's face was an exact replicate of Katou Juri's. A malevolent, grimacing Katou Juri, but still her nonetheless.

"What's a matter foxy?" Erinyemon inquired with mock sympathy. "See something familiar?"

Sakuyamon frowned, yet refused to rise to the obvious bait.

"Twisted, isn't it? Fighting someone with the face of a friend, yet knowing it isn't really them." Erinyemon continued as began circling Sakuyamon. "I used to have my own face, and a magnificent one at that. Then Baihumon killed me and Lord Demon absorbed my data."

"Demon?" Sakuyamon repeated in Ruki's voice.

Erinyemon smirked, her green eyes once again taking on a golden glow. "Yes, Demon. I'm sure your little fleabag knows all about him, so I'll skip the introduction. Demon came back to the Digital World, used some leftover D-Reaper to sustain himself and combined it with the data he had absorbed. As you can see, it didn't too well. My so-called partner in crime Lobomon is a simpering doormat and I…well the last thing D-Reaper took into its collective were the thoughts and memories of the human Katou Juri and the Digimon Beelzebumon. Behold the results."

"If you expect me to feel sorry for you, you're crazier than you look."

"Do you know what it's like to have the memories, the feelings of Angst Girl and Bikermon running around inside your head?" Erinyemon queried coldly. "Aside from being damn annoying, it makes things all confusing. Hanging out in graveyards, trying not to say 'toots' when talking. Then there's all the suicidal, "Kill me now," inner monologues. Seems like the most useful thing these two did was try to kill themselves."

"You're lying!"

"Am I? It's too bad Juri and Beelzebumon aren't here to say otherwise. And since you caused me to lose Takato, perhaps I won't say any more either."

"Takato?" Sakuyamon repeated, suddenly feeling cold. "What have you done with him?"

"Who says I did anything?" Erinyemon replied innocently.

"Enough stalling." Sakuyamon coldly said. "Tell us where Takato is!"

Erinyemon gave a wily grin stepped backward. "Make me."

Sakuyamon's masked face contorted in a furious scowl. "Wrong answer." She hissed. "Vajra Mandala!"

Blasts of pink light reminiscent of cherry blossoms burst from her staff, slicing Erinyemon ruthlessly as she tried to make her escape. Erinyemon screamed and rushed forward, sending Sakuyamon and herself crashing through the building's window and into its interior.

As Sakuyamon struggled to clear her head, Erinyemon pinned her to the floor. The mad Digimon's clawed hands reached for her throat, intent upon throttling her. She didn't expect Sakuyamon to punch her in the chest, before shoving her violently into a nearby wall.

This is getting ridiculous. Renamon said.

You're right. Ruki responded. If she isn't going to tell us anything useful, there's no reason we should keep wasting our time knocking her around. Even if she deserves it.

Behind her, Erinyemon howled like an animal caged and lunged. Sakuyamon jumped out of her way and through the shattered window, intent upon leaving. Like an insidious shadow, Erinyemon followed her, drops of black blood or something like it trailing down her face.

"This isn't over!" She snarled, her hands taking on a familiar glow. "I'm going to tear you apart you little…" Erinyemon trailed off when she noticed Sakuyamon ignoring her. She frowned and followed Sakuyamon's gaze, curiosity and dread blooming within her.

"What the-?" Erinyemon muttered in astonishment.

The once cloudless, bleeding sky had become awash in brilliant, shimmering gold…

Preview:

Everyone, it's the moment you've been waiting for. It's battle upon in our next chapter, as Sakuyamon and Erinyemon continue their clash, Kenta, Marine Angemon, Guardromon and Hirokazu get a visit from a clown who's far from comical, while Ryou holds the key to the Hypnos workers' survival. But our most important and devastating battle between Matsuda Takato, the lone Tamer and Demon, the most horrific of evils, is yet to come. And what of the seven assassins dispatched by the Holy Beasts? How will they react when they discover a traitor in their midst? Find out all this and more next time!