The Remains Of Heaven
By Ryan Bodle
Chapter Eight: The Remains Of What Once Was
A/N: Many Thanks to all who had reviewed before, and certainly thanks to Miyo86 and Tareei for their recent reviews, I'll get this chapter out just for you guys as you encouraged me so. Hopefully some more people will be interested in leaving a review.
~*~
By sun down, Kari and Joe had followed this stranger into the valleys and it had turned dark and cold quickly. Kari had absently watched the barren lands drift into hills baring patches of grasses and plant life, clutching on for dear life to the soil beneath. Their sihlouettes looked weak and they wouldn't hold for long, it was as if everything was giving up hope around them.
Soon it didn't matter, as everything turned into the same shadow, and the dark engulfed everything. Even the hopeful spirit of the young digi-destined diminished with it. They carried on without questioning this stranger. He seemed to travel on, unaffected by the chill that had now started. Until without warning he halted and gently lay down Matt's body.
"We will need to stop and rest here," he told them. Joe took notice of the surroundings. It was almost impossible to see his hand in front of his face, but he could tell they were amongst dense foliage. The half dead branches of bushes had scratched at him.
"Do we have to stay in these bushes? Can't we find somewhere a bit more open to lie down?"
"Not without being seen," the stranger replied bluntly. He laid out a blanket and moved Matt ontop of it. "Lay here and sleep as much you can, I will watch over you for the night."
Kari had lay next to Matt and tried to look at his face but couldn't see. Only hear the murmurs of him struggling. She could only guess what struggle. Gabumon had fitted himself in between the two, refusing to be away from Matt's side for a single second. He cast off his fur and lay it over his partner and in a silent cry lay down next to him until sleep took over him.
In this time, the digidestined group had placed themselves on the ground and another layer covered them. The stranger had cast his cloak over them. Kari looked over the edges to talk to him.
"Who are you and why are you helping us?" There was silence for a long time before he answered.
"My name is Ark, and for a long time I have battled the shadow that attacked this world, it is why I help any in need in this world now."
"Thank you, Ark." With that she turned her head and closed her eyes for the night.
It seemed as if Kari had closed her eyes only seconds ago, when she opened them, sunlight was there. She used her hands to push herself to a sitting position. Ark stood over the party, shaking Joe awake and the digimon around them.
"Where's Gatomon?" Kari asked, wiping sleep from her eyes.
"She has gone to look for food, a useless effort, but she inisisted," Ark answered. He held his arm as he walked by them.
"What happened to your arm?"
"We were discovered in the night by a scout, it surprised me and I was careless, we must begin to move quickly before a larger party comes looking for it." He stepped over a body.
A black entity lay, slashed through the centre. It had been no bigger than a rookie digimon itself, although it had a cursed appearance. It's round shape was defind by the blackness of its body against the red soil. Two yellow eyes looked ever onwards, empty and pale.
The next thing she was aware of was Matt convulsing. He twitched and startled her.
"Matt!" Gabumon whimpered, holding him as still as possible. "Can't you help him?" The digimon stared helplessly at Ark.
"I don't have the knowledge or power to do so. Our best chance is to get to Primary Village where he can be treated." He stopped to look in the boy's eyes. "He has been pierced by shadow and darkness is slowly eating away at him, turning him to their side. I am not an expert in these things, but I would say he hasn't much longer before he is beyond help, we can't stop just now. Pick yourselves up, we must go now."
At that point a defeated Gatomon returned to the party. "There's not a living thing in sight, we'll starve out here."
"I have only bread to offer you to eat, I am afraid this is all I have until we get to our stronghold, there we can eat and rest properly," Ark informed as he handed a small and disgruntled loaf to Kari. "We should be there within a few hours if we press on. Come"
Again with tired heart and body the young group got to their feet, Ark took Matt again and began to march on. He led them through the valley and further towards Primary Village, and as was easily perceived, not a direct route.
Ark led them to the base of a cliff, which ended the valley they travelled through and then into a cave which served as a tunnel. They ventured up hill through the earth of the world, stopping only once to rest.
There was barely any light to see by in these caves. Joe was vaguely aware that the surface he leant his back against was smooth and not a ragged, tormented rock he expected it to be. It was also very moist, he would have moved but he didn't care for this discomfort. He cherished the feeling of heat rising from the soles of his feet. He couldn't remember the last time walking had become such a task.
In this time he came to think about the world he was now in. It was the digital world but wasn't, as Ark put it. A former shadow of what once was. This had all happened in the few hours that they had spent outside of the digital world. Joe knew passed at a quicker rate than the real world, but he felt that this had passed to quickly.
"Ark? How did all this happen?"
"The shadow came and engulfed the world in darkness, few reamin to with stand it, but we grow weaker everyday."
"I mean can you tell us what happened in full?" Ark paused before replying.
"I will tell you as we walk, we need to start moving again," his voice alwasy seemed vacant as if he was looking to a far off spot and concentrating on it, whilst at the same time, speaking absently mindedly. Stiil it was a stern voice and seemingly commanding.
Joe heard him pick Matt back up and was reluctant to follow but hauled his weight to stand up right and once again a sorrowful company marched onwards and ever upwards as it would seem.
"It had all happened so suddenly and without remorse. Shadow had found its way out of its own wretched world and into this one, instantly claiming it as its own."
"When did this happen?" Ark had to recall that before responding.
"It is now a decade and two since shadow first came."
"Twelve years!?" Kari gasped. "How could the digital world spin twelve years ahead whilst we were out for no longer than eight hours?"
"Easy Kari," Joe answered. "It's hard to tell what time scale the digital works on, when Tai first came from the digital world, it was if he'd been away for fifteen minutes, but we there for weeks."
"It seems that way," Ark added. "The beginning of the end happened swiftly. Quite fittingly, it rose from where everything begins, the end of this world would rise from the creator of life." Joe was about to ask when Ark stopped him. "Primary Village. Having gathered enough energy to cross into this world, it broke down all boundaries and took everything from its world with it.
Darkness poured from the epicentre of digimon birth and flooded this world with its stain, what seemed like a viscous liquid soon began to move of its own accord and from its essence, creatures were born. Creatures of the darkness, they attacked with no remorse. They slaughtered all baby digimon in Primary Village and continued to spread, taking what they could.
Eventually shadow came to contact with those who could defend themselves. Champion, Ultimate alike would join forces to fight the black menace and for a time pushed them back. During in this time the digimon became organised and united against this common foe. They were held back and even faltered under the defenses that come against them."
"Where do you come in?"
"I have been a traveller of this world for many a year, and I became trapped here when shadow came."
"How could you be a traveller, I thought-"
"What of Gennai? He was never digidestined." Joe stopped there. Gennai wasn't digidestined yet he was a wandrer of the digital world.
"What happened to Gennai?" Ark sighed heavily. Joe didn't like that.
"Myself, Gennai and two other humans rallied the digimon troops that had organised and led them against the shadow. The other two were a man named Io and a woman named Faith, they wandered the digital world much the same as I.
And so we led a campaign to banish the shadow. It was a futile attempt. The Shadow Master was far stronger than we ever imagined and smote a large portion of our army. It seemed all was lost, we retreated the mountains and what was left of the forests, awaiting our doom to come from their fortress where Primary Village once was."
"If that's where thei fortress is, why are we headed there?"
"Again not soon after that, something else happened we neve expected. A digimon called Daemon emerged from the shadow world and challenged the shadow lord to likes of which he had never met. There was a chaotic battle in the skies and as they clashed, lightning lit the sky, causing fear amon all.
~Flashback~
He sat in a huddle against the rock. Ark cowered his head. This nightmare would never endand it seemed nobody would come to help. His cloak almost hid from the world, for now he was happy to let it go by in his moment of remorse. A broad sword lay on him, the tip digging into the ground and the hilt laying against his shoulder. He had his knees drawn to his body, a his bulky figure almost concealing it.
A hand reached for it and took it from its cradle before laying it down by him. A pair of hands gingerly raised his cloak and cast it back, revealing a dirty face. His short brown hair still managed to accumulate dirt and his dirtied face barely moved. Brown eyes continued to gaze at the ground. His square jaw locked in a determined position. Determined to sulk where he was, after all he suffered he longed for a moment of self pity but it wasn't to be.
He felt her kiss his forehead softly and he hand come under his chin to raise it. He looked up to Faith and she smiled gently without saying anything. He tried to remain rigid but cracked.
"Damn you, I was quite content to feel pitiful."
"I know, but remember others look up to you for strength," she answered. At that point he caught digimon staring at them within his peripheral sight. He looked her in the eye, those deep purple eyes, they seemed to radiate something that invigorated him. He skin was clear as the sky he hadn't seen in years, he long light colored hair was kept in a bundle and she got up still looking at him. He figured out that message in her eyes.
'I'll always be behind you, all the way,' they told him. She cut her gaze off and walked away from him.
"Thank you Faith," he murmured as she walked away. Ark gathered himself and picked up his sword. It felt heavy in his grasp, he liked it like that, it wrought more destruction on his foe. With one hand he quite easily sheathed it. His broad shoulders and large muscular build suited a sword such as that.
Garbed in tattered robes he walked furthe into the dim day light and looked at the grey clouds. Grey for two years now and they had never changed. He saw various digimon gathered around the mountain paths and caves they sought refuge. He gazed down at the fort of the once village and glared at it, trying to intimidate the black and jagged edges, its every tooth, claw that the building bore on it walls. Then they shook, or so he thought those walls moved. He liked to think his mere look caused it to tremble but instinctively he grabbed his hilt.
Several digimon got up and looked to the castle. Ark expected scouts to come back to him now. He hoped they were as fast as they ever were at monitoring the enemy and reporting to them. As soon as he could order a response a flying digimon approached him from below. He looked stern to the winged demon looking digimon.
"Harpymon, what news?" Harpymon hovered and screeched.
"Something else has risen from the shadow world, it has challenged the Shadow Lord. It killed several of his servants and many are being called back to the castle to defend it."
Ark then acknowldged Faith's presence next to him. She looked over to the castle. A stunted Gennai was soon on his other side and Io paced up behind them. Io was shorter than Ark with hair kept just as short although it was a much lighter brown. His long overall garments held various scrolls of paper he had written notes down on and the inner pockets carried all sort of gadgets and useful tools he picked up on his travels. Gennai cleared his throat and spoke.
"It seems Daemon has found his way back to the digital world as well," he croaked watching two dreadful figures shoot towards the heavens, hands locked in combat. "If anybody is strong enough to defeat this shadow lord, it will be him."
"Close competetion?" Ark asked. Gennai nodded feintly. Ark spun on his heel. "This is probably the best time to strike." He told Io. The smaller man definately agreed with a determined look and short nod. Ark made his way through the crowd gathering at the path edge.
Faith called up to Harpymon, "tell everyone ahead of us, we march to Primary Viallge!" Haprymon nodded and several other scouts disembarked from the crowds to spread the news. Ark followed by Gennai and Io in tail began to lead the remaining armies of the free digital world down the mountains and to Primary Village.
Again with Io and Gennai on his flank, the digimon formed an army behind him, ready to march to battle. He drew his sword and held it in front of him, the metal glinting under what light there was. Io held a long and finely crafted staff, he played with, coming to gripps with its shape and weight, wielding it like a master. ennai, himself bore a sword and shield, the sheild wielded a device of digivolution. And then from above, Faith rode upon an Aquilamon, she too wielded sword and shield.
Death continued to clash above them, as Gods dueled for domination. Daemon and the Shadow Lord were still at grips with one another, each pushing strength and might into their grip and force, each trying to make the other yield.
It was as much a surprise that many looked up to see Daemon return, but what was more bewildering was the sight of the Shadow Lord. None had seen its shape or appearance and lived to tell the tale until now.
His face had taken the form of of an evil helm, it spiked and sharp edges seemed to form into a malicious glare. His body was broad and powerful, exceeding that of the greatest of digimon. His entire body glistened black as the huge muscles tensed against the force of Daemon. There was nothing to speak of his lower body, for it was nothing but a cloud of thick, black smoke.
The two broke their deadlock and seperated. Glaring at each other with eternal hatred. Daemon summoned his scythe and the Shadow Lord summoned lightning, instantly directing the bolts at his foe. Daemon reared his scythe expertly, spinning the staff of his waepon quickly, the whirlwind created seemed to absorb the blast.
At this moment, the mass of the digimon army passed under them, the Shadow Lord growled at them. "This is you doing!?" He summoned another blast to his fingertips and aimed straight down at them. Daemon, in quick reflex, moved to take the blow quite effortlessly. He laughed manically.
"Oh no Deneathor, they act of their own will," Daemon responded. "But far be it from me to stop them just yet, when they'll do me the favour of cleaning out your rats from my new castle." Deneathor, Th Shadow Lord snarled.
"You will not beat me today Daemon!" He lunged forward and swiped with his vicious claws. Daemon blocked the deadly claws with his scythe, but the force of the charge was too much to stand against and they both plummeted towards the ground.
~*~
A great shadow formed from above. As the digimon masses routed across the plains, several arched up to see the large shape of Daemon and Shadow Lord hurtle to the ground at terminal velocity. From above, they scattered like insects to avoid the impact zone. Most made it away but some were caught in the tremendous shockwave made by contact.
A large circle formed around the two fighting Dark Lords. Faith upon Aquilamon floated from above watching with a nervous look. Ark had come back to rally his troops when he found the two locked in mortal combat.
"You pathetic digimon and your pathetic army will not stand up to me in a million years!" Deneathor growled.
"I have waited long enough for my time to rise, I will take what is mine," Daemon answered. He turned to the digimon and Ark in particular. "Destroy the beings of the castle!"
"Why should we trust you?" Ark asked.
"You can't, I'm not promising anything expect Deneathor will be dealt with."
"Deneathor?" Ark asked, at that point the Shadow Lord lunged again. Daemon caught his forearm and redirected the momentum, sending him into the air.
"The Shaowed One, I will deal with him, take the fortress from those rats that follow him!" Daemon took to the sky. Ark growled, if Daemon would win then it would be an even more powerful foe to deal with. He snarled.
"We move! He ordered and turned on his heel to a dash for the front line. The mass of the digimon army followed with a war cry. Faith swooped low.
"Was that wise Ark?"
"No, but I see no choice. If we at least take the fortress, we'd have a defensive advantage once more. And if that Shadow Lord is gone then maybe these barriers of this world will lift and help will come." Faith nodded as she bit her lip and Aquilamon rose to the sky again. "Meramon! Blast their doors down!"
A charging Meramon reared his fist. "Fireball!" A large fireball shot forth towards the large doors of the blackened fortress and dented the surface, it seemed to made of skull much tougher than ever predicted.
"Fist of the Beast King!" Leomon followed up the attack, his blast pummeling the door to oblivion he drew his sword, Ark wielded his high as Shadow poured from the doors to defend their strong hold. Both armies clashed with such impact many were knocked from their feet by it. Data and dark matter exploded all over the place yet no sign of crimson blood.
Ark sliced through three beings in a mighty swipe and brought his balde back to parry a slash, his boot kicked the being, he drove the tip of his sword to the ground to finish it. Taking a breath he lunged forward and made a deadly swipe, felling more of the beasts, he made his way into the corridors of the castle.
Faith rode towrds the battlements of the fortress, leading the winged digimon to combat. She kept a steady course as the shadows hurled missiles at the oncoming attack. Without any war cry she drew back her blade. Here she knew, would be the last stand for all free digimon.
~*~
A/N: Ain't I a stinker? Well I left it there for two reasons. 1) With everything I planned to put in this chapter I thought it best to spread it out over two. 2) I didn't want to leave you waiting forever for this chapter. Tell me what you think of it won't you?
I promise to have the next chapter out before Christmas and will try before this month is out. Till then, see ya around.
By Ryan Bodle
Chapter Eight: The Remains Of What Once Was
A/N: Many Thanks to all who had reviewed before, and certainly thanks to Miyo86 and Tareei for their recent reviews, I'll get this chapter out just for you guys as you encouraged me so. Hopefully some more people will be interested in leaving a review.
~*~
By sun down, Kari and Joe had followed this stranger into the valleys and it had turned dark and cold quickly. Kari had absently watched the barren lands drift into hills baring patches of grasses and plant life, clutching on for dear life to the soil beneath. Their sihlouettes looked weak and they wouldn't hold for long, it was as if everything was giving up hope around them.
Soon it didn't matter, as everything turned into the same shadow, and the dark engulfed everything. Even the hopeful spirit of the young digi-destined diminished with it. They carried on without questioning this stranger. He seemed to travel on, unaffected by the chill that had now started. Until without warning he halted and gently lay down Matt's body.
"We will need to stop and rest here," he told them. Joe took notice of the surroundings. It was almost impossible to see his hand in front of his face, but he could tell they were amongst dense foliage. The half dead branches of bushes had scratched at him.
"Do we have to stay in these bushes? Can't we find somewhere a bit more open to lie down?"
"Not without being seen," the stranger replied bluntly. He laid out a blanket and moved Matt ontop of it. "Lay here and sleep as much you can, I will watch over you for the night."
Kari had lay next to Matt and tried to look at his face but couldn't see. Only hear the murmurs of him struggling. She could only guess what struggle. Gabumon had fitted himself in between the two, refusing to be away from Matt's side for a single second. He cast off his fur and lay it over his partner and in a silent cry lay down next to him until sleep took over him.
In this time, the digidestined group had placed themselves on the ground and another layer covered them. The stranger had cast his cloak over them. Kari looked over the edges to talk to him.
"Who are you and why are you helping us?" There was silence for a long time before he answered.
"My name is Ark, and for a long time I have battled the shadow that attacked this world, it is why I help any in need in this world now."
"Thank you, Ark." With that she turned her head and closed her eyes for the night.
It seemed as if Kari had closed her eyes only seconds ago, when she opened them, sunlight was there. She used her hands to push herself to a sitting position. Ark stood over the party, shaking Joe awake and the digimon around them.
"Where's Gatomon?" Kari asked, wiping sleep from her eyes.
"She has gone to look for food, a useless effort, but she inisisted," Ark answered. He held his arm as he walked by them.
"What happened to your arm?"
"We were discovered in the night by a scout, it surprised me and I was careless, we must begin to move quickly before a larger party comes looking for it." He stepped over a body.
A black entity lay, slashed through the centre. It had been no bigger than a rookie digimon itself, although it had a cursed appearance. It's round shape was defind by the blackness of its body against the red soil. Two yellow eyes looked ever onwards, empty and pale.
The next thing she was aware of was Matt convulsing. He twitched and startled her.
"Matt!" Gabumon whimpered, holding him as still as possible. "Can't you help him?" The digimon stared helplessly at Ark.
"I don't have the knowledge or power to do so. Our best chance is to get to Primary Village where he can be treated." He stopped to look in the boy's eyes. "He has been pierced by shadow and darkness is slowly eating away at him, turning him to their side. I am not an expert in these things, but I would say he hasn't much longer before he is beyond help, we can't stop just now. Pick yourselves up, we must go now."
At that point a defeated Gatomon returned to the party. "There's not a living thing in sight, we'll starve out here."
"I have only bread to offer you to eat, I am afraid this is all I have until we get to our stronghold, there we can eat and rest properly," Ark informed as he handed a small and disgruntled loaf to Kari. "We should be there within a few hours if we press on. Come"
Again with tired heart and body the young group got to their feet, Ark took Matt again and began to march on. He led them through the valley and further towards Primary Village, and as was easily perceived, not a direct route.
Ark led them to the base of a cliff, which ended the valley they travelled through and then into a cave which served as a tunnel. They ventured up hill through the earth of the world, stopping only once to rest.
There was barely any light to see by in these caves. Joe was vaguely aware that the surface he leant his back against was smooth and not a ragged, tormented rock he expected it to be. It was also very moist, he would have moved but he didn't care for this discomfort. He cherished the feeling of heat rising from the soles of his feet. He couldn't remember the last time walking had become such a task.
In this time he came to think about the world he was now in. It was the digital world but wasn't, as Ark put it. A former shadow of what once was. This had all happened in the few hours that they had spent outside of the digital world. Joe knew passed at a quicker rate than the real world, but he felt that this had passed to quickly.
"Ark? How did all this happen?"
"The shadow came and engulfed the world in darkness, few reamin to with stand it, but we grow weaker everyday."
"I mean can you tell us what happened in full?" Ark paused before replying.
"I will tell you as we walk, we need to start moving again," his voice alwasy seemed vacant as if he was looking to a far off spot and concentrating on it, whilst at the same time, speaking absently mindedly. Stiil it was a stern voice and seemingly commanding.
Joe heard him pick Matt back up and was reluctant to follow but hauled his weight to stand up right and once again a sorrowful company marched onwards and ever upwards as it would seem.
"It had all happened so suddenly and without remorse. Shadow had found its way out of its own wretched world and into this one, instantly claiming it as its own."
"When did this happen?" Ark had to recall that before responding.
"It is now a decade and two since shadow first came."
"Twelve years!?" Kari gasped. "How could the digital world spin twelve years ahead whilst we were out for no longer than eight hours?"
"Easy Kari," Joe answered. "It's hard to tell what time scale the digital works on, when Tai first came from the digital world, it was if he'd been away for fifteen minutes, but we there for weeks."
"It seems that way," Ark added. "The beginning of the end happened swiftly. Quite fittingly, it rose from where everything begins, the end of this world would rise from the creator of life." Joe was about to ask when Ark stopped him. "Primary Village. Having gathered enough energy to cross into this world, it broke down all boundaries and took everything from its world with it.
Darkness poured from the epicentre of digimon birth and flooded this world with its stain, what seemed like a viscous liquid soon began to move of its own accord and from its essence, creatures were born. Creatures of the darkness, they attacked with no remorse. They slaughtered all baby digimon in Primary Village and continued to spread, taking what they could.
Eventually shadow came to contact with those who could defend themselves. Champion, Ultimate alike would join forces to fight the black menace and for a time pushed them back. During in this time the digimon became organised and united against this common foe. They were held back and even faltered under the defenses that come against them."
"Where do you come in?"
"I have been a traveller of this world for many a year, and I became trapped here when shadow came."
"How could you be a traveller, I thought-"
"What of Gennai? He was never digidestined." Joe stopped there. Gennai wasn't digidestined yet he was a wandrer of the digital world.
"What happened to Gennai?" Ark sighed heavily. Joe didn't like that.
"Myself, Gennai and two other humans rallied the digimon troops that had organised and led them against the shadow. The other two were a man named Io and a woman named Faith, they wandered the digital world much the same as I.
And so we led a campaign to banish the shadow. It was a futile attempt. The Shadow Master was far stronger than we ever imagined and smote a large portion of our army. It seemed all was lost, we retreated the mountains and what was left of the forests, awaiting our doom to come from their fortress where Primary Village once was."
"If that's where thei fortress is, why are we headed there?"
"Again not soon after that, something else happened we neve expected. A digimon called Daemon emerged from the shadow world and challenged the shadow lord to likes of which he had never met. There was a chaotic battle in the skies and as they clashed, lightning lit the sky, causing fear amon all.
~Flashback~
He sat in a huddle against the rock. Ark cowered his head. This nightmare would never endand it seemed nobody would come to help. His cloak almost hid from the world, for now he was happy to let it go by in his moment of remorse. A broad sword lay on him, the tip digging into the ground and the hilt laying against his shoulder. He had his knees drawn to his body, a his bulky figure almost concealing it.
A hand reached for it and took it from its cradle before laying it down by him. A pair of hands gingerly raised his cloak and cast it back, revealing a dirty face. His short brown hair still managed to accumulate dirt and his dirtied face barely moved. Brown eyes continued to gaze at the ground. His square jaw locked in a determined position. Determined to sulk where he was, after all he suffered he longed for a moment of self pity but it wasn't to be.
He felt her kiss his forehead softly and he hand come under his chin to raise it. He looked up to Faith and she smiled gently without saying anything. He tried to remain rigid but cracked.
"Damn you, I was quite content to feel pitiful."
"I know, but remember others look up to you for strength," she answered. At that point he caught digimon staring at them within his peripheral sight. He looked her in the eye, those deep purple eyes, they seemed to radiate something that invigorated him. He skin was clear as the sky he hadn't seen in years, he long light colored hair was kept in a bundle and she got up still looking at him. He figured out that message in her eyes.
'I'll always be behind you, all the way,' they told him. She cut her gaze off and walked away from him.
"Thank you Faith," he murmured as she walked away. Ark gathered himself and picked up his sword. It felt heavy in his grasp, he liked it like that, it wrought more destruction on his foe. With one hand he quite easily sheathed it. His broad shoulders and large muscular build suited a sword such as that.
Garbed in tattered robes he walked furthe into the dim day light and looked at the grey clouds. Grey for two years now and they had never changed. He saw various digimon gathered around the mountain paths and caves they sought refuge. He gazed down at the fort of the once village and glared at it, trying to intimidate the black and jagged edges, its every tooth, claw that the building bore on it walls. Then they shook, or so he thought those walls moved. He liked to think his mere look caused it to tremble but instinctively he grabbed his hilt.
Several digimon got up and looked to the castle. Ark expected scouts to come back to him now. He hoped they were as fast as they ever were at monitoring the enemy and reporting to them. As soon as he could order a response a flying digimon approached him from below. He looked stern to the winged demon looking digimon.
"Harpymon, what news?" Harpymon hovered and screeched.
"Something else has risen from the shadow world, it has challenged the Shadow Lord. It killed several of his servants and many are being called back to the castle to defend it."
Ark then acknowldged Faith's presence next to him. She looked over to the castle. A stunted Gennai was soon on his other side and Io paced up behind them. Io was shorter than Ark with hair kept just as short although it was a much lighter brown. His long overall garments held various scrolls of paper he had written notes down on and the inner pockets carried all sort of gadgets and useful tools he picked up on his travels. Gennai cleared his throat and spoke.
"It seems Daemon has found his way back to the digital world as well," he croaked watching two dreadful figures shoot towards the heavens, hands locked in combat. "If anybody is strong enough to defeat this shadow lord, it will be him."
"Close competetion?" Ark asked. Gennai nodded feintly. Ark spun on his heel. "This is probably the best time to strike." He told Io. The smaller man definately agreed with a determined look and short nod. Ark made his way through the crowd gathering at the path edge.
Faith called up to Harpymon, "tell everyone ahead of us, we march to Primary Viallge!" Haprymon nodded and several other scouts disembarked from the crowds to spread the news. Ark followed by Gennai and Io in tail began to lead the remaining armies of the free digital world down the mountains and to Primary Village.
Again with Io and Gennai on his flank, the digimon formed an army behind him, ready to march to battle. He drew his sword and held it in front of him, the metal glinting under what light there was. Io held a long and finely crafted staff, he played with, coming to gripps with its shape and weight, wielding it like a master. ennai, himself bore a sword and shield, the sheild wielded a device of digivolution. And then from above, Faith rode upon an Aquilamon, she too wielded sword and shield.
Death continued to clash above them, as Gods dueled for domination. Daemon and the Shadow Lord were still at grips with one another, each pushing strength and might into their grip and force, each trying to make the other yield.
It was as much a surprise that many looked up to see Daemon return, but what was more bewildering was the sight of the Shadow Lord. None had seen its shape or appearance and lived to tell the tale until now.
His face had taken the form of of an evil helm, it spiked and sharp edges seemed to form into a malicious glare. His body was broad and powerful, exceeding that of the greatest of digimon. His entire body glistened black as the huge muscles tensed against the force of Daemon. There was nothing to speak of his lower body, for it was nothing but a cloud of thick, black smoke.
The two broke their deadlock and seperated. Glaring at each other with eternal hatred. Daemon summoned his scythe and the Shadow Lord summoned lightning, instantly directing the bolts at his foe. Daemon reared his scythe expertly, spinning the staff of his waepon quickly, the whirlwind created seemed to absorb the blast.
At this moment, the mass of the digimon army passed under them, the Shadow Lord growled at them. "This is you doing!?" He summoned another blast to his fingertips and aimed straight down at them. Daemon, in quick reflex, moved to take the blow quite effortlessly. He laughed manically.
"Oh no Deneathor, they act of their own will," Daemon responded. "But far be it from me to stop them just yet, when they'll do me the favour of cleaning out your rats from my new castle." Deneathor, Th Shadow Lord snarled.
"You will not beat me today Daemon!" He lunged forward and swiped with his vicious claws. Daemon blocked the deadly claws with his scythe, but the force of the charge was too much to stand against and they both plummeted towards the ground.
~*~
A great shadow formed from above. As the digimon masses routed across the plains, several arched up to see the large shape of Daemon and Shadow Lord hurtle to the ground at terminal velocity. From above, they scattered like insects to avoid the impact zone. Most made it away but some were caught in the tremendous shockwave made by contact.
A large circle formed around the two fighting Dark Lords. Faith upon Aquilamon floated from above watching with a nervous look. Ark had come back to rally his troops when he found the two locked in mortal combat.
"You pathetic digimon and your pathetic army will not stand up to me in a million years!" Deneathor growled.
"I have waited long enough for my time to rise, I will take what is mine," Daemon answered. He turned to the digimon and Ark in particular. "Destroy the beings of the castle!"
"Why should we trust you?" Ark asked.
"You can't, I'm not promising anything expect Deneathor will be dealt with."
"Deneathor?" Ark asked, at that point the Shadow Lord lunged again. Daemon caught his forearm and redirected the momentum, sending him into the air.
"The Shaowed One, I will deal with him, take the fortress from those rats that follow him!" Daemon took to the sky. Ark growled, if Daemon would win then it would be an even more powerful foe to deal with. He snarled.
"We move! He ordered and turned on his heel to a dash for the front line. The mass of the digimon army followed with a war cry. Faith swooped low.
"Was that wise Ark?"
"No, but I see no choice. If we at least take the fortress, we'd have a defensive advantage once more. And if that Shadow Lord is gone then maybe these barriers of this world will lift and help will come." Faith nodded as she bit her lip and Aquilamon rose to the sky again. "Meramon! Blast their doors down!"
A charging Meramon reared his fist. "Fireball!" A large fireball shot forth towards the large doors of the blackened fortress and dented the surface, it seemed to made of skull much tougher than ever predicted.
"Fist of the Beast King!" Leomon followed up the attack, his blast pummeling the door to oblivion he drew his sword, Ark wielded his high as Shadow poured from the doors to defend their strong hold. Both armies clashed with such impact many were knocked from their feet by it. Data and dark matter exploded all over the place yet no sign of crimson blood.
Ark sliced through three beings in a mighty swipe and brought his balde back to parry a slash, his boot kicked the being, he drove the tip of his sword to the ground to finish it. Taking a breath he lunged forward and made a deadly swipe, felling more of the beasts, he made his way into the corridors of the castle.
Faith rode towrds the battlements of the fortress, leading the winged digimon to combat. She kept a steady course as the shadows hurled missiles at the oncoming attack. Without any war cry she drew back her blade. Here she knew, would be the last stand for all free digimon.
~*~
A/N: Ain't I a stinker? Well I left it there for two reasons. 1) With everything I planned to put in this chapter I thought it best to spread it out over two. 2) I didn't want to leave you waiting forever for this chapter. Tell me what you think of it won't you?
I promise to have the next chapter out before Christmas and will try before this month is out. Till then, see ya around.