. . . Kai Sarata . . .

Kai was awoken before the sun had the chance to rise, turning over on his rough bed as he was nudged by none other than Gladimon. "Hmm?" He blinked the sleep from his eyes as he sat up. "What is it? Did something happen?"

Gladimon shook his head, "No, but Knightmon is ready for you."

Kai nodded, slowly swinging his legs over the side of the bed as he stood up. Feeling surprisingly well rested despite the rigidness of his bed. But as he looked around the room, he didn't see Kotemon anywhere. "Where'd he run off too?"

Gladimon shrugged, "I think he went on ahead, just too excited to speak with Knightmon." Before waving for him to follow, "Come, we shouldn't keep him waiting."

Kai nodded, following behind the diminutive champion level digimon as they departed from the barracks. The town was just waking up, various digimon sleepily beginning their days with cooking or tending to their meat crops. Kai saw no sign of Kotemon, as they made their way behind the villages outer wall, taking a path opposite the one he arrived from just the day before. It continued a short ways out of town before the path began to rise, climbing up into hills that would soon turn to rocky terrain.

"Why does Knightmon want to speak all the way out here?" Kai questioned curiously, as they entered into a small mountain pass.

"He wanted to speak somewhere privately," Gladimon replied, "We're going to his meditation chamber, hidden beneath the mountain in a sacred site." He explained, almost sounding excited. "It's where he trains too, and keeps the weapons he forges."

Something about this felt strange, as they continued along the path. He could see footprints in the ground, heavy ones left by Knightmon's metal plate boots, but the ground was soft here. "If Kotemon had really come this way, I'd see his footprints, wouldn't I?"

Just what was Gladimon up to?

It wasn't long before the pass began to open, they crossed through a great stone archway, large enough for Knightmon himself to enter without needing to duck. And inside the room was lined with various weapons, blades and axes of all sizes, while at the far end of the room stood the Lord himself. He was kneeling down before some kind of mural, a massive stone tablet with a strange symbol etched into its surface. It looked like a four pointed star, with a small diamond in between each of its arms.

And beside him was- "Kotemon," Kai said out loud, blinking in surprise. "You're here."

"Yeah," Gladimon quirked an eyebrow, "I told you he went on ahead."

"Right..." Kai shifted nervously as they began walking forward. "Maybe I was just overthinking things."

As they approached, Kotemon turned towards them, breaking his own meditation as he waved. "About time you caught up!" He called out, standing up fully and running over to meet them. "Maybe now that you're here, Knightmon will finally start talking."

Kai quirked an eyebrow, looking to the Lord of Steel. "He hasn't told you anything yet?"

His partner shaking his head, "Nope, just been sitting there quietly."

"Tell me," Knightmon broke his own silence finally, lifting his head to look at the tablet. "What does this symbol mean to you?"

Kai approached slowly alongside his partner while Gladimon remained by the entrance. His eyes scanned over the symbol, trying to discern any meaning or etymology from it as he came to a stop beside Knightmon. "No... I've never seen this symbol before." But... There was something, like a faint sense of nostalgia.

"Indeed." He replied simply, "This is one of the Sacred Crests, said to be empower those chosen to protect the Digital World, though its name has been lost to time." Before he turned his head partway to look at both Kai and his partner, "And it was found on the shell of Kotemon's Digi-Egg."

"On his egg?" Kai repeated in surprise, "But what does that mean? Kotemon is special somehow?"

Knightmon took a deep breath and sighed, "Do you know how I came to be in this land, Kotemon?"

The small armored digimon shook his head, "I guess I just assumed you were always here, and digivolved from one of the locals..."

"The structure of the Digital World is not so simple as the human one," The great knight began. "There are many different realms of the Digital World, each separated from one another and each containing entirely different worlds and Digimon." He explained calmly, looking between them. "Long ago, I served a master of the highest of Knightly Orders, alongside many other Knightmon." Before he lowered his head somberly, "Myself and many of my comrades were sent to this lower Sphere, when the presence of a great evil was felt."

Causing Kotemon to swallow nervously, "B-But I've only ever seen you, sir..."

"Indeed," He grunted in response, "We came to this land, and attempted to launch an assault on the lands of darkness in the West, home to the Dark Lord Mephistomon." His body tensing up a bit, "But we were defeated, and I was the only survivor, the power he unleashed when pushed to the edge of death was terrifying, and absolute... What was left of my comrades, cores nearly lost to the darkness, was sent back to the Sphere I'd come from."

"That's... Terrible." Kai muttered, wondering just how strong this Mephistomon might be if he defeated a number of Digimon at the same level as Knightmon.

"I fled in shame to this land, hoping my Lord would send reinforcements once our defeat was obvious." He continued, shaking his head. "But help never came, so I took up guard of this land in hopes I might find some way to defeat Mephistomon... And that is when I learned of the Crests, and legends of Digimon partnered with humans wielding incredible power." Looking back at Kotemon, "So when your egg appeared, bearing one such Crest, I knew it was a sign of your destiny."

Kotemon blinked as he processed it all, "Why... Why didn't you ever tell me this?" He questioned confused.

"Because you were not ready," Knightmon grunted, looking away and shaking his head. "You are still not ready, but we have no time to stand on ceremony anymore." Without warning, he reached out and grabbed Kai with one of his mighty arms.

"Gah! HEY!" He struggled against the Lord's grip, but had no chance of breaking free.

"Sir, what are you doing!?" Kotemon demanded, "Let him go!"

"With each passing day the world grows closer to falling into darkness, rumor of destruction on the southern continent, Dragomon's attack on the human world, all the while Mephistomon has been attempting to Revive Demons in the East!" He answered, rising to his feet slowly. "You must awaken the crest within you!" With a swift motion, he threw Kai across the room. The teen hitting the ground hard and rolling to a stop in the dirt. "Even if I must force it to happen myself!"

"That's insane!" Kotemon barked back, getting between Knightmon and Kai. "I won't fight you just to get stronger!"

"Then you will be destroyed!" He pulled the massive sword from his back, the mighty claymore nearly the length of his entire body! "Digivolve!"

Kotemon looked back to Kai, his partner equally unsure of what to do here. Neither of them wanted to harm Knightmon, but if they did nothing they might very well be destroyed. They had no choice, nodding to one another as Kai pulled out his digivice. In a flash of light, Yasyamon stood between human and knight, blades at the ready.

"Yasyamon isn't good enough!" Knightmon declared, slamming his blade into the ground so hard it began to split the earth between them. Before he charged forward, moving with surprising speed for his size.

Yasyamon jumped into the air, evading an arcing swing from the massive knight, before he came down with both blades slashing them across Knightmon's back. But against his heavy plate armor they did next to nothing. The Steel knight returning the attack with a brutal backhand, striking Yasyamon's upper body and sending him tumbling through the dirt.

While Kai was on his feet and moving towards the edge of the room trying to give them some space. "This is insane, there is no meaning to this fight!" He thought as he watched Yasyamon spring back to his feet.

"I don't want to fight you!" The champion digimon argued, as Knightmon closed the distance between them with powerful strides. "Stop this, Knightmon!"

Yasyamon evaded a downward swing, Knightmon's blade hitting nothing but the wall and cutting clean through its stone surface. The Lord narrowing his eyes at the evasive champion digimon, "Then you leave me no choice, perhaps if your helpless human is in danger you'll find your mettle!" His eyes darting towards the entrance, "Gladimon!"

The small digimon stiffening as he was called out, before nodding. "Y-Yes my lord!" And drawing his straight swords, "I'm sorry Kotemon, but this is for the good of the world!"

Kai's eyes widened as the rotund knight digimon started charging towards him. "You can't be serious!"

"KAI!" Yasyamon tried to get to him, but Knightmon grabbed him from behind with one hand. Pulling him right off his feet before slamming Yasyamon down into the ground hard enough to crack the surface.

"You won't be able to save him unless you digivolve!" Knightmon exclaimed, raising one foot and attempting to bring it down on Kai's partner. "You must awaken your Crest!"

His boot striking nothing but earth as Yasyamon rolled out of the way. On his feet in a split second trying to race towards Kai, "Gladimon DON'T!" His charge stopped as Knightmon slammed him back into the ground with the flat end of his blade.

Kai grit his teeth as he watched, fists clenching tightly as he turned his focus back to Gladimon who was nearly upon him. He took on step back and felt himself bump against the various racks of weapons along the wall of the room, his eyes widening as an idea came to mind. "Alright fine, you think I'm helpless huh?" He wrapped his fingers around the handle of a longsword.

This surprised Gladimon, making the squire hesitate in his advance. "Uh... Knightmon, sir?"

The steel warrior turned his eyes off the beaten down Yasyamon to them, spotting Kai holding the weapon. "You would try to fight a digimon?" He scoffed, "Pointless, you think yourself special because you were partnered with Kotemon? You're nothing but an accessory to his destiny- Hm?" He felt something pushing back against his weapon, as Yasyamon started to force himself up from beneath the heavy blade.

"Hnngh! Y-You're... Wrong!" Gritting his teeth beneath a cracked mask.

Kai wasn't going to back down, gripping the handle tighter, "If you really think I'm so weak then why hesitate!?" He demanded, shouting at Gladimon before pointing his blade at him. "Yasyamon! Leave Gladimon to me, you focus on Knightmon!"

Yasyamon looked at him from beneath Knightmon's sword like he was crazy, "B-But Gladimon is a champion lev-"

"Being partners is a two way street!" Kai cut him off sharply, charging forward at Gladimon. The diminutive champion level stumbling back as Kai cut and slashed with unexpected ferocity, sparks flying from their blades. "I put my trust in you before, but just like you, I made a promise to someone!"

"He's got a big heart, and I'm afraid it's going to get him into trouble."

"So believe in me the same way I believe in you!"

Yasyamon dug his nails into the dirt, having lost his blades amidst the beating he was taking, but the fire in his heart was a raging inferno! "I do! I believe in you Kai!" Using all his might, he forced himself out from beneath the blade, slipping away from Knightmon's oppressive strength before pivoting on his feet. "I believe we can beat this jerk TOGETHER!"

He jumped at Knightmon, using all the strength he had left in his legs. The Ultimate level raising his blade to guard, "You don't even have a weapon anymore! In your current state you can't-"

"SHUT UP!" Yasyamon cried out, grabbing ahold of Knightmon's greatsword as he crossed the distance, not caring that the edges cut his fingers. He used the Lords own blade to gain leverage as he jumped at his face with one fist cocked back. "You taught me about honor!" Cracking Knightmon across the faceguard of his plate helm, taking him by surprise. "You trained me to fight with Dignity!" A second swing, causing Knightmon to stumble back, while cracks spread through Yasyamon's wooden gauntlets.

While Kai narrowly evaded a swing from Gladimon, the champion digimon fighting with halfhearted strength in his actions. Kai could tell, he didn't want to do this. But questioning his master- "You can choose to stop this Gladimon!" He barked at him, wincing as the edge of the squire's blade cut across his cheek, drawing a trickle of blood. "You don't have to listen to Knightmon!"

Seeing the blood trickling down Kai's face, it gave him pause. He'd never seen a human injury before, even serving here as Knightmon's faithful squire he'd never taken a life before. "I-I don't-" His words interrupted by a gasp, as he saw Knightmon on the defensive.

"You're the Lord of this land because of your strength of Will! And Faith you have in your ideals!" Spinning mid air, he delivered a brutal roundhouse to Knightmon's face, causing him to crumple against the large tablet at the far side of the room, dropping his mighty blade. "But you'd throw it all away because you're desperate? Scared?!"

Knightmon grimaced as he adjusted his helm, slowly pushing himself back up. "The hardest decisions require the strongest Wills, and mine is a will of steel!" He declared, pulling a shortsword from his belt, and unslinging the shield from his back. "This is what I trained you for Kotemon, I taught you everything you know!" Narrowing his eyes at Kai across the room, "It is clear to me now that your partner has made you dependent on him, pathetic, he is nothing but a tool for your own ascension!"

"You're wrong, humans are more than just tools or accessories to us!" Yasyamon held his ground, even with no weapon in hand. "You may have taught me to fight, but it wasn't until I met Kai, and Cody, and Madison that I learned conviction!"

Knightmon lunged for him, attempting a thrusting strike with his shortsword, "Then show me the strength of this conviction! Prove you do not need this Crest!"

Yasyamon jumped over the swing but before he could counter attack, Knightmon delivered a brutal shield bash to his face and upper body. The blow sending him tumbling across the room. The champion was on his feet quickly, panting for breath as his cracked mask threatened to give way completely.

"I'll... I'll prove more than that." He assured.

Though it was clear to Kai that he was running out of steam. And without a proper weapon to fight, this was going to be even harder than it already was. Despite the blows he'd landed so far, Kai could tell Knightmon hadn't taken much damage. Now that Gladimon seemed reluctant to fight, this might be his only chance to help and he was going to take it.

Without warning, he began to run towards Knightmon. Circling partway around the room, gripping his blade tightly, "I just need to give him an opening!" He locked eyes with Yasyamon as he went, giving him a firm nod and hoping he'd understand. "His attacks didn't work because the armor is too thick, but if we can strike him in the joints where the armor is thinnest..."

Yasyamon wasn't quite sure what his partner was about to do, but set his doubts aside and went on the attack as well. "Come on!" Trying to goad Knightmon, charging the Ultimate level, "I'm still standing!"

"It seems your time with the humans has also made you arrogant!" Knightmon sneered, stepping forward as well, drawing back his blade to stab at Yasyamon.

"This is it!" Kai was nearly at his target, "He's put all his weight forward, once he's off balance-" Gripping his blade tighter, taking aim at the back of Knightmon's heel. There was a joint in the armor, an opening between boot and greave! "HE'LL FALL!"

"GAH!" Knightmon gasped, feeling the bite of cold steel in the back of his ankle. It threw off his momentum and undercut his support, making him stagger forward onto his knees and giving Yasyamon the opening he needed.

"HYAAAGH!" He slammed his foot down on Knightmon's wrist, forcing him to release his shortsword. Before grabbing it in both hands and leaping for Knightmon's head, driving both knees into his chest knocking back the Knightly Lord, Kai just barely rolling clear as Knightmon fell.

When the dust settled, Yasyamon was on Knightmon's chest, blade pressed against the Ultimate Level's throat. Kai stood beside them, panting for breath after his sprint, "It's... It's over."

"Yield!" Yasyamon ordered, narrowing his eyes. "You've lost."

Knightmon was still trying to process his defeat, shooting Kai a sideways glance before releasing the grip on his shield. "I yield..." Grimacing as Yasyamon stepped down from his chest, sitting up slowly. His head hanging in shame from such a loss, "And here I thought I'd made it clear how cut and dry battling evil will be." He grunted, shaking his head. "It's foolish to show mercy to those who do not deserve it."

Kai had thought about his partner's reluctance to fight, his merciful nature. Even during the fight with Musyamon a clearly evil digimon he tried to resolve it without violence. And Kai was starting to understand why, "And who decides who does and doesn't deserve it?" He questioned. "Taking a life so casually is wrong."

Knightmon scoffed at the reasoning. "Lives in your world are short, but Digimon are reborn in death, Kotemon knows this... Even in death they are given a chance to be born better."

Yasyamon sighed heavily, shaking his head slowly before looking up at his former master. "Digimon may be reborn after they're destroyed," Thinking back to Musyamon, "But they'll never really be the same will they?" Looking back towards Gladimon, giving him a nod before the small squire started to approach. "We all get one chance, one shot at life in this world we share, to be who we are right now..." Before looking back to Knightmon, "What right do I have to take that away from someone?"

Knightmon didn't seem as convinced, though he did hesitate from chastising that way of thinking again. "You know not all will accept your kindness, you take a great risk by choosing to place such trust in others."

But Kai was ready to continue, "Well that's our choice to make," He said simply, before nodding to Yasyamon. "And I trust my partner."

Before more could be said however, the Crest bearing Tablet thrummed to life with a soft red glow. A beam of light shot out of it, striking Kai in the center of the chest as the digimon gasped out. His Digivice starting to glow, before a new light engulfed Yasyamon!

Crest Digivolution

His mask shattering away, along with the rest of armor and clothes covering his body. Before he was surrounded in that red light, armor forming over him piece of piece. A great cape unfurling down his back as the lights faded, revealing his new golden armor with crimson pauldrons and twin blades resting in sheaths on his waist. Standing nearly a few feet taller than before, as he looked down at his newly armored hands.

"Whoa," Kai muttered, staring up at him. "That's quite an upgrade... What do I call you now?"

The proud new knight was staring back at Kai strangely, "Grademon, and you're one to talk."

"What?" Kai blinked, before looking down to realize his own body was glowing! "Wh-What is this!?" He exclaimed, looking into his shirt to see that same symbol from the tablet now glowing on his chest, as if it were engraved on his skin. He looked in the reflection of Knightmon's shield, and saw that his eye color had changed as well! To a deep shade of red, his hair a glimmering fiery crimson!

"Looks like we both Digivolved." Grademon chuckled in his new deeper voice.

"I have misjudged you, human, it was you who awakened the Crest." Knightmon admitted, bowing his head to Kai. "I am both a failure as a Knight and as a teacher, as your partner said," He looked to Grademon, "I have forgotten myself in my desperation to see the darkness in this world be destroyed, for that I am sorry."

But Kai shook his head, "Don't apologize, just promise to do better in the future." He said, thinking back to that man in the alley. "You're better than this." In that moment, something came over Kai. A feeling, an urge to reach out to Knightmon. He followed this instinct, placing a hand on his armor. A surge of that same red light flowed through his fingers and across Knightmon's body!

In a matter of moments, his armor began to repair itself. The wound on the back of his ankle closing up, as if he'd never been harmed.

This was the power granted by the Crest long forgotten by the inhabitants of this land, often forgotten in times of fear and conflict.

The Crest of Integrity.

Granting its wielder the power to give someone a second chance when they need it most.

Knightmon was surprised by his response, even more so by his newly achieved power, and lowered his head once more. "Then twice I am humbled, both by my former student and by his new, superior teacher... You honor me, Kai Sarata."

Grademon offered him a hand to help him stand, "Rise again, Knightmon, a better Lord than you were before."

Taking his hand, Knightmon returned to his feet, nodding his head. "Indeed, I will never forget what has transpired here today, and what I almost did... Should you have need of my strength then know you will have it."

Kai offered a firm nod in return, "Thank you, but we've lingered here too long." He said, looking to his partner. "We need to find the others."

Knightmon brought one hand to his chin, rubbing the faceplate as he thought for a moment. "I've heard rumors, legends of an old hermit digimon that lives along in the great mountain further inland." He explained, "I'm afraid to say I have not much knowledge beyond the great dangers outside these lands, but perhaps he could point you in the right direction?"

Grademon shrugged casually, "It's a good a place to start as any." Before he noted Gladimon, watching with arms crossed and an annoyed look on his face. "Uh... You okay buddy?"

He huffed, tapping his foot. "I just don't get it, it's not fair!" He grumbled, "You just... Keep getting TALLER!"

A moment of levity, one they'd need to enjoy while they had the chance.

For their journey was far from over, and they weren't the only ones in danger in this world...