MK25: I feel like crap today…
Grady: I would too, if I only got about 2 hours of sleep.
MK25: More like 15 minutes! Ugh!
Grady: Ouch…I surprised you have any energy…
MK25: apparently, two mountain dews and 8 peanut butter Ritz sandwiches go a long way.
Grady: maybe if you didn't feel thirsty at FOUR IN THE MORNIN'
MK25: Don't you…dare…-
MK25 passes out
Grady: Oh boy, you people read, I'll wake him up

Chapter 11: The Test

Grady stood firm against his enemy, sword raised above his head, and his other arm outstretched in front of him. His enemy was form he had back at the mansion; Beastmon.

Grady flickered his fingers in a "bring it on" motion, and that begun the fight. They lunged at each other only to have their blades meet in the air. Each of them somersaulted back to the ground and went on the offensive. They slashed and sliced, only to have each blow meet with the opposite sword. Grady jumped back and switched to reverse-grip. Since the sword was relatively light, he could keep it that way for a prolonged amount of time. Grady then jumped forward, slashing with unearthly speed. For an amateur swordsman, he was holding himself against the enemy, as if the instinct came naturally. In fact, Beastmon was having trouble deflecting the blows. He switched it back to normal grip and made a straight slash. But, like all the other blows, it was blocked. This was expected by Grady, and gave him an opening. Keeping the slash on Beastmon's blade, Grady elbowed him in the face, and took a slash at the knees while he was dazed.

"That was a cheap shot!" Beastmon shouted.
"And like you fight fair?" Grady retaliated.
"No…" and with that, made an attack for the knees, as well. But, it was a futile attack, and immediately deflected. With one final sword slash, Grady sent Beastmon's blade flying into the bark of a tree. Grady held his blade and Beastmon's throat.
"Your finished, accept it," He said coldly to the digimon.
"I cannot believe I was bested by a child in a swordfight," Beastmon muttered. "Very well, but this isn't over.

Thing's were still for a short moment, and Beastmon launched a counteroffensive with his fists. Grady tried his best to deflect the blows, but this type of fighting wasn't his strong suit, and he only had one hand free! Beastmon managed to get a knee in to Grady's stomach, which sent him flying to the same tree with Beastmon's bastard sword. He immediately grabbed it with his free hand and stood to fight.
"Let's see if you're as good with two swords as you are with one." Beastmon then reached for his back where he pulled out a hidden long sword.

They continued the swordfight, neither one giving way. The fight seemed to be going to Grady's side a first, but then Beastmon got the advantage, and then flipped back to Grady. It was like a game of Tug of War. Eventually, both were worn out and panting. 'This is never going to end like this, what am I supposed to do?' Grady thought
'Use the sword…'
'You speak riddles, give me a straight answer.'
'This is not my fight…I am sorry'
'Wait, the sword…' He then turned his attention to the hilt and saw the seven crystals. 'Of course…'
"Have you finally given up, or are you paralyzed in fear?" Grady was snapped back to reality by Beastmon's voice.
Grady had a smug look on his face, not looking away for the hilt. "You wish." He dropped the bastard sword and gripped the gladius with both hands above his head. "DIVINE SWORD, LEND THINE POWER TO ME!"

A storm then appeared over the clearing, but not a drop rained on the land. Instead, lightning bolts struck the land several times around Grady. Eventually, a few connected with Grady, but it on fed his soon-to-be new form. The purple crystal glowed and fed the newly gained power to Grady.
What stood in his place was a cloaked figure draped in black. When the figure removed the hood, Beastmon realized what had happened. A Leomon stood in front of him, but instead of the usual colors, his fur was a light violet and very puffy, like he was electrocuted. The sword that was once in the figure's hand had shrunk and multiplied into two daggers the shape of lightning bolts. Beastmon was not faltered by the new form and stood his ground.
"You think this'll change the outcome?" Beastmon boasted.
"Pity," The Leomon said, a much deeper, mature voice than the previous one. He continued as he approached, "You don't even realize you're defeated."
"I show you who's defeated." He lunged at the Leomon. The Leomon simply stabbed him in the chest with one of the daggers when he was about to attack. His eyes glazed over when he was hit and kneeled on the ground. The Leomon then offered his hand to his defeated opponent. Beastmon saw this in amazement.

"You are willing to show me kindness, even after what has occurred?" Beastmon questioned his judgment.
"If you join me, I can save you, protect you," He said defiantly. "But you must be willing to, for I cannot force you."
Seeing such kindness may have put a change in his heart, or maybe he just couldn't admit defeat, but he said these final words before accepting the offer. "You fight in a way I've never seen before. This must be a great power flowing through you. I'd like to see where this power takes you."

When he accepted the hand, he disappeared in a flash of light. That flash of light also reverted Grady to his original form. When Beastmon disappeared, Grady looked at the sword hilt. Two stones shone their own light. One was light violet, one dark violet. Before heading out, He looked back at the stone that had once carried the sword. It shone a great light from it towards his free hand. When the beam subdued, the light ball in his hand morphed into a sheath for his newly acquired blade. He then muttered two words before walking off.
"I…passed."

Grady: At least I managed to get you up.
MK25: …Still feel like crap
Grady: Oh, shut up!