vivillion10: Yeah I thought the big guy (And the other angels in general honestly) deserved some spotlight :D

Shuriken16: Yes yes so many plot threads heheheheh As for exposition well... Not this chapter, but the next one will finally bring some much needed answers XD And since you mentioned it, I think I'll clarify because I tried to hint at it with the "Burning wings" but Megidramon is... Already in his X form.

Anyways, another long one here with lots of action! And well, a scene that actually made me emotional writing it, so enjoy :D

. . .

Cody

. . .

"Why the hell am I here?"

"Because you drew the short straw."

"Yeah but like... Do you really need me for this press conference?"

"Yes," Grayson said as he finished tightening up his tie, "People are scared, a lots happened recently and they want answers, something to reassure them that they don't have anything to be afraid of."

"And you can't do that?" Cody asked, tugging the collar of this damn suit they made him wear.

"I'm not the one with a Digimon." Grayson shrugged, "And they won't trust what a Government official says at face value," Before turning towards the door, "Trust me, I'd rather have Thomas here for this... But we can't afford to remain silent any longer."

Cody sighed heavily, looking to Shamanmon. "You ready to show yourself to the world?"

He nodded, fist pumping, "I was born ready!"

Grayson took a deep breath, placing one hand on the door. "I'll pick out the questions you'll answer from the crowd, try not say anything that scares people."

"Yeah, guess I'll do my best." Cody replied, approaching the door as well. His frown made it clear he wasn't so sure about this.

Grayson noticed, and while he wasn't exactly on the best terms with the young man, he needed him to be strong right now. "Have some confidence in yourself," He said suddenly. "I've watched you kids get through worse."

Taking Cody by surprise, but before he could question further the double doors were pushed open. They were lead out and down a hallway towards the stage, the sounds of voices growing louder and louder. Until they reached the curtains, and orders were given for everyone to quiet down outside, before they stepped through. Walking out onto a stage where they were instantly bombarded with flashing lights, voices raising as questions rang out, most of them revolving around Shamanmon who walked closely beside Cody. While both the young man and Grayson kept their eyes forward to the podiums waiting for them, the goblin digimon was casually grinning and waving at the crowd.

Upon reaching his mic, Grayson spoke up. "Alright everyone calm down, my name is Arthur Grayson," His voice causing them to quiet down quickly. "I'm the acting head of the Cyber Space Global Operations." Before looking to Cody, silently signaling him.

"Uh, right," He stepped up to the mic, turning his eyes to the crowd. "And I'm Cody Rhodes, this is my partner Shamanmon."

"Hello!" He waved one of his big arms, grinning and maybe showing a little too much of his teeth.

Grayson continued, taking their stunned silence as a chance to lay the groundwork. "The purpose of this conference is to offer peace of mind and shed some light on recent events that have since been de-classified." Or blown so far out of control that they had no chance of hiding them, "Regarding the appearance of various otherworldly creatures over the last few months." Hands were in the air immediately, Grayson pointed to one of them. "You, go ahead."

"Katie Bonne from UBSC News," The red haired woman said as she stood up. "When you say otherworldly, do you mean to imply that these creatures are Aliens?"

"In a sense, yes." Grayson answered, "But they don't come from outer space, their world is more like a different dimension from ours, they come in different shapes and sizes but all refer to themselves as Digimon."

"And how exactly did these creatures come to our world?" She added quickly.

"Their bodies are made up of data the same way ours are made up of Cells," Grayson explained, using some of the notes Thomas had left him. "They are capable of moving through networks the same way you send a File, we only came into contact with them through Cyber Core, next question?"

A cacophany of voices barked back at him demanding answers while hands raised, Cody was already sweating. "Man this is... A lot."

"You, blondie." Grayson pointed out to another reporter.

The blondie in question was a young man, who stood up with a notepad in hand. "Adam Hughes from XMS News, my question is for the young man and his uh... Digimon?"

Cody swallowed nervously, "O-Okay?"

"Are you a member of CS;GO?" He questioned. "And if so, what is your relation to that creature next to you?"

Grayson watched the young man carefully, "Come on Cody, don't say anything stupid."

"No, I'm not a member of CS;GO." Cody answered, "We just kinda work together sometimes, as for Shamanmon, we're partners." He shrugged.

The Reporter sweatdropped, "Yeah you said that already-"

Cody's kneejerk response coming in the form of, "So why are you asking?"

Grayson facepalmed, "Here we go."

"Eh-" The reporter seemed taken back a bit by the snappy response, "I-I suppose I'm looking for you to elaborate on that."

"Hmm? Oh, alright," Cody shrugged, reaching into his pocket and fishing out his Digivice. "A few months ago, he just kind of appeared and I got this thing." He explained bluntly while holding it up, "We've been working together ever since."

"Working together to do what exactly?" The reporter pressed.

Cody quirked an eyebrow, "Uh, fight bad digimon, I guess."

"Were you present when that enormous monster appeared on the coast?"

"Yeah," Cody nodded, "That was Dragomon, we helped fight off his invasion with our other friends."

"And where are these other friends now?"

"Busy," Grayson cut in, "Next question." Searching through the crowd before pointing out another journalist. "You."

Without wasting time on introductions, the woman asked. "You use words like 'bad digimon' and 'invasion'," Her focus on Cody again. "Are you saying these Digimon want to harm us?"

Cody blinked, "Some of them, yeah. "

"So Digimon are a threat to humanity?"

Grayson tensed up, "Oh come on are we already doing this?"

"Huh?" Cody noticed a rise in the tone of her voice. "Look lady, they are people just like us." He scoffed, "They aren't perfect, and they aren't all evil monsters, some are nice and some are jerks." Before crossing his arms, "So you can stop trying to fish for a headline."

Grayson blinked in surprise, "Wait... He saw right through her?" Shooting Cody a sideways glance, "Maybe I underestimated him..."

"Next question." Cody said suddenly, before the woman could respond. Pointing to someone up front who'd be significantly less vocal, "You, short stuff, whatcha got?"

"M-Me?" He stammered, seeming a bit more green than the others. "W-Well uh... You said you and your friends fight bad Digimon, and are also partnered with digimon, how does that work?"

Cody shrugged, "I'm not really sure how or why, but four of us were 'chosen' and partnered with a Digimon," Holding up his Digivice again, "I'm assuming everyone here saw the fight that happened over the internet, we can make our partners grow stronger using these devices."

"And where did you get that device?"

"When Shamanmon showed up my phone just kinda turned into it," He said simply. Scanning across the crowd, "Next question?"

"Damage done during Dragomon's invasion and the subsequent attack in Japan was tantamount to disasters," It was that woman again, rising out of her seat to shout her question as the others quieted down. "And from the broadcast online, we saw that even the 'good' digimon are capable of terrifying levels of destruction, are you seriously trying to tell us that we shouldn't be afraid of these otherworldly monsters?"

Cody blinked, "Did I ever say that?" He questioned back at her. "You're really focusing on these words that you are putting in my mouth."

But she didn't relent, "Answer the question, should we be afraid of these creatures?"

Grayson attempted to intervene, "Alright can we please remove-" Before a buzzing in his pocket interrupted him, causing him to look to his phone.

"I'm not answering that." Cody said sharply, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Because you can't?" She pressed.

"No, because you fearmongering jackasses won't be satisfied unless I say yes!" He barked back sending a series of gasps through the crowd, "If you rile everyone up and scare them we're bound to see more catastrophes happen, and put good digimon in harms way."

"And what exactly do you mean by that?" Another reporter chimed in amidst the silence.

Cody pinched the bridge of his nose, "Take Diaboromon- er, Kuram- I mean the digimon we fought on the broadcast," He began, "We went in half-cocked because we saw it as a threat, even though it was just trying to protect it's friend, a human girl named Annika that was being experimented on by evil humans." He explained, "And because we went in and pissed it off, what started off as a tiny threat almost turned into a disaster." He scoffed, shaking his head. "And yeah, I've seen digimon that shoot lasers and could blow up buildings or whatever... But I've also seen them laugh, and cry, and make breakfast with my grandma every morning..." He paused briefly, before continuing. "You want to classify them as either evil, or good, and its not that simple." Before he took a deep breath, "I know its not the answer any of you wanted... And truth be told we've only been dealing with them for a few months now so there is a lot we don't understand..." The uncertainty among the reporters faces made him think he wasn't doing a very good job assuring them or the public of their safety, so... He took a leap of faith. "But the only thing I can say for certain is that as long as my friends and I are here we'll keep the world safe from any bad Digimon, just like we did with Dragomon, just like we did in Japan, and just like we did on the net."

"One more question," The woman questioned, "You aren't part of the CS;GO, so who is in charge of this group of yours?"

Cody blinked, "Who's in charge?"

"Yes," She reiterated, "Who is your leader."

"Uh..." Cody thought about it for a moment, "We don't really have one," He shrugged, "We just kinda work together, seems to be working out so far."

It was at this moment, Grayson moved over to Cody. Leaning in to whisper, "We've got something, might be big." He explained quietly, "A datamass moving through the network, it's head this way and it's blowing through our attempts to firewall it."

Cody tensed up, "You know we're a little short staffed right now."

"I know," Grayson replied quickly, while the crowd whispering began to intensify. "I'll handle things from here, you get out there and back-up that speech of yours."

Cody nodded, "Right." Looking down to Shamanmon, "Come on." Before they turned and rushed back out through the curtains, a chorus of protests following their departure. "Man I really hope this isn't a big one."

. . .

Kai and Thomas

. . .

Upon arriving at the site of the crash, the two humans and their digimon were... Confused. As inside the crater laid what appeared to be a human, she couldn't have been any larger than maybe six feet tall, a petite build but she was wearing some strange brass armor with a helmet that resembled a snakes head covering the top half of her face. She also had a round shield on her left wrist.

"Is... Is she dead?" Kokuwamon asked, leaning over the side.

"I'm... Not sure," Thomas replied, "She isn't moving..."

"HellooOOOOOO!" Kotemon called out loudly, "Are you alive down there?!"

"Kotemon stop it!" Kai scolded, "We don't know who that is, didn't your mother ever teach you not to talk to strangers?"

He shrugged, "I didn't have a mother."

"Oh! Oh!" Kokuwamon held up his hand. "Thomas' mom told me that!"

"Guys can we focus," Thomas cut in, pointing into the crater. "She's moving."

Sure enough, the strange woman slowly began to get up. She was moving on shaky legs for a moment, before she started looking around. "Hmm... Where is it?" Her voice was higher pitched, almost childish. "I know I was holding it when I- Oh! There it is!" She reached down, and grabbed the handle of something just barely sticking out of the dirt. "Up you go!" Before ripping an enormous sword from the dirt, the broad blade the size of her entire body! And as it was pulled out, the earth around them began to shake again. "Thought I dropped you on the way in! Jumping wasn't the best idea, but sure was fun!" She giggled, before jamming it down into the dirt, "Now... Where am I?"

The blade caused more tremors as it was stabbed into the earth, causing Kotemon to finally jump out from the craters edge. "Hey stop that! You're quaking the entire area!"

"Huh?" She turned and looked towards Kotemon, spotting Kai and Thomas looking over the edge as well. "Aaah, there you are!" She grinned excitedly. "You're the ones I'm looking for!"

Kai blinked, "What? Why?"

"Well," She tapped her chin with one finger. "Probably, orders were kinda vague... Either of you ever like make something super special happen like... Completely changing the course of Fate in a miraculous manner?"

All four of them looked between one another, confusion rampant among them, before they all looked back at her and replied. "What?"

She pouted at their response, "Well that sucks, but I was told the target would be with humans in this Sphere, and here you are so I suppose I'll just have to get some information out of you." Her lips spreading into a big grin, as she hefted her sword with ease using only one hand.

Kokuwamon clicked his pincers together nervously, "I think we've got a fight on our hands."

Kotemon held up his arms. "W-Wait! We don't even know who you are or what you're looking for! We don't have to fight, lets just talk!"

"My name is Minervamon," She answered simply, before leaping into the air. "And sorry, but they don't send me when its time for talking!" Before hurling her blade directly at them!

"Watch out!" Kai cried and tackled Thomas out of the way while the Digimon scattered, the blade struck the earth and caused it to crack open and send more shockwaves through the area, the crack opening up spreading almost a hundred yards in both directions. "Whether we understand what's going on or not, this Digimon could harm the village with this kind of destructive power!"

Thomas nodded, "Right, let's knock some sense into her!" Pulling out his Digivice, "Come on Kokuwamon!"

Kokuwamon nodded, rising to his feet "Right!"

Digivolution

"Kokuwamon Digivolve to!" His body expanding and armoring up into a heavier mech, the lights around his body disappearing as Thomas appeared within the cockpit, hands firmly gripping the controls. "Mekanorimon!"

Minvermon grinned, "OooOoOoOoh Shiny!" Before kicking off the air itself, launching herself at her own sword. Landing on the hit in a split second between them, bringing with her a gust of wind that sent Kai and Kotemon rolling away across the dirt.

"Power to the main gun," Thomas said as he flipped a few switches, "If she can take this we bump it up!"

"Right!" Mekanorimon locked onto her, his lenses charging up and glowing bright. "Tri-Beam Laser!" The mighty beam unleashing and racing towards her.

Minervamon ripped her blade from the earth, seeing the blast as she planted her feet firmly. "Oh is that all?" Raising her left arm, bringing up her shield to guard against the attack. Upon making contact with her rounded shield, the beam was split in all directions creating nothing but a light show as it cut through the ground at her feet and nothing else.

Thomas' eyes widened, "She didn't even flinch!" Before he started activating his crest, "Alright we'll evolve further!"

Minveramon lowered her shield as the attack ended, "Tch, really? That was it?" She questioned, "Oh well, my turn~" Smirking before launching herself at them.

"Ngh! Here she comes!" Mekanorimon raised his arms to guard against it.

But she was faster than his guard could stop, her small frame slipping right through his arms before she cocked back her left arm. "HAAAH!" Slamming her shield into Mekorimon's chest.

Kai looked on in horror, as the metal casing was shattered instantly. Sparks and scrap fell to the ground as Mekanorimon was sent flying, smashing and crashing across the ground before rolling to a stop. "THOMAS!" Fearing for the boy in the pilots seat, and when Mekanorimon didn't move following the strike, his fears only doubled. Clenching his fists tightly, Kai looked back to his partner. "Kotemon, lets go all out."

He nodded, eyes narrowed with his own anger at the sight of Mekanorimon's damaged body. "You read my mind!"

Warp Digivolution

"Kotemon Warp Digivolve to!" His small body exploding from it's armor, before growing larger in size before armor began to form over every inch of him. The wicked armor, dark with shades of black, bronze and crimson. A horned helm rested on his head, and a great white mane sprouted from behind, while the twin blades in his hands were twisted into wicked curved swords. "Gaioumon!"

"Ooooh!" Minveramon looked back at him with a smirk, "Maybe this won't be a complete waste of time after all!" Jumping into the air, flipping head over heels towards him, her weapon spinning with her.

Gaioumon was unfazed, narrowing his eyes as he braced himself. "Go make sure Thomas is alright."

Kai nodded, "Right." Before taking off running, attempting to give them a wide berth.

Which was a smart move, as the moment Minveramon's blade met with Gaioumon's crossguard the earth was rattled once more as the dirt beneath his feet began to cave inward. But while the earth itself shuddered beneath her strike, Gaioumon refused to budge. Minveramon seemed pleased with the results, "Finally someone worth talking to, so tell me where the Miracle is!"

Gaioumon pushed against the sword, causing her to backflip away. "I told we don't know what you're talking about, even if I did know I'd never tell you after you started this!" Leveling his blade at her as it ignited with blue fire. "Now I'll finish it!"

As they engaged one another again, Minervamon using her small size and agility to dance around his his sweeping strikes, Kai reached Thomas and Mekanorimon. Making his way around to the canopy that was cracked open, "Come on..." Searching for any sign of life, before Mekanorimon shrunk back down into Kokuwamon, passed out with Thomas laying on the ground as well. "Dammit, hold on!" Using his Crest, he placed a hand on each of them to heal their battered bodies.

"Sit still!" Gaioumon demanded as he continued attempting to strike the small Digimon, but her movements were graceful and precise, "She acts childish, but she's got serious combat experience." He noted, bringing down one of his curved blades to try and make her retreat. "But I think I've still got an edge in raw pow-"

His thoughts hitched as she raised her blade and blocked his own. The ground beneath her feet cracking, as she held back his blow with a single hand. "Hmm, maybe I overestimated you." She mused, grinning up at him, "That's okay," Before lunging forward and striking with her shield arm. "You can always learn from failure~"

"Gah!" Gaioumon choked out as the wind was forced from his lungs, the blow to his ribs sent cracks through his armor and made him slide back on his heels. He tried to breathe in but his lungs refused to take oxygen. He looked up towards her, cringing in pain as he tried to understand how she could have this much power in that small body. "Just... What is she!?" Before his eyes darted back to Kai beside Thomas and Kokuwamon, "No... I can't let her get away with this!" Bringing both blades together, they roared to life with fire. "You're the only one that's going to fail here!"

Minervamon blinked in surprise at his passionate declaration, before bracing herself as she stuck her tongue out. "Alright then bring it on tough guy! Show me what you've got!" Raising up her shield.

"Rinkageki!" With a single sweeping motion, he unleashed a raging torrent of blue fire that swept across the field towards Minervamon.

"Whoa that's big!" Minervamon's eyes widened beneath her helm, but despite her clear shock she didn't make any move to evade the attack. Instead letting it splash against her shield, the tongues of fire that made it around lashed at her body leaving burns across anything not protected by armor. "Hnngh! N-Now we're getting somewhere!" She beamed as the flames faded, lowering her shield. "What else you- Huh?" Gaioumon was gone, "Don't tell me you ran away!?" Her answer came as a shadow loomed over her from above, her eyes darting to the sky just in time to see his armored form descending fast! "He used the fire as cover and jumped when I couldn't see him!?"

"You won't escape this time!" Gaioumon roared, and he was absolutely right. At this range, at the speed he was falling, she'd have no chance to evade or even get her shield up. Landing feet first, he smashed her into the earth crushing the smaller Digimon beneath his clawed reptilian feet, burying her in the ground as she dropped her blade from the impact.

"Nice!" Kai exclaimed as he watched.

But Gaioumon wasn't finished, while Minervamon was still trapped beneath him he raised his blades into the air. They started to glow red hot, and the very air around them began to grow dense, pressurized, steaming. Before he slammed the blades downward, igniting the very atmosphere surrounding them both.

"GAIA BREAKER!"

A thunderous explosion rocked the area, creating a plume of fire and smoke that would no doubt be seen by the village. Both Gaioumon and Minervamon were consumed while dirt and dust in the aftermath blocked all from vision.

Kai was forced to shield his eyes, as well as Kokuwamon and Thomas until the shaking stopped. Raising his head only when he was sure it was safe to look, "Whoa..."

The smoke began to clear, and in the midst of the blast radius two figures could be seen standing. Gaioumon was panting heavily, his armor in tatters as he glared daggers across the field to his foe. "Impossible... That was my most powerful attack!"

While Minervamon was indeed still standing, she hadn't escaped unscathed. Her shield cracked, body covered in burns and scrapes, while she leaned on her enormous sword for support. "Whew... Damn..." She breathed out heavily, "I really thought you were gonna destroy me!" She said with a small laugh, "Well, I think we can call it here," She added, shrugging her shoulders. "But this was fun! If neither of my other companions have found the Miracle by now I'll probably be back!" Before she jumped suddenly, launching herself into the sky with ease despite her injuries.

Gaioumon looked up searching for her as the dust cleared, expecting another attack. Before he spotted a white, winged serpentine digimon flying overhead. Minervamon had landed on it's back, and they were now flying off into the heavens. As she disappeared, he collapsed to his knees rasping for breath.

Kai approached him slowly, now that Kokuwamon and Thomas were healed but still unconscious. "Did we just win?" Honestly unsure.

"No," He answered with a grunt, "I think it's more accurate to say that she let us go." Before narrowing his eyes at the clouds. "And it sounds like the others might be in danger as well."

. . .

Madison

. . .

The angel descended to the ground in the center of the ramshackle village, turning his head as if he were surveying the area. Though considering his helm covered the top half of his face, Maddie wasn't quite sure how much he could actually see.

"We should get out of here," Tsukaimon urged, gripping Madison's head tightly. "I'm getting bad vibes from this guy..."

"Well... If you're sure." Madison wasn't quite okay with leaving this guy here just roaming around, but the moment she took a step back-

"Now now," He spoke suddenly, voice deep and carrying a sound like reverb, as he turned his head back towards them. "Don't think I've forgotten about you, human, I am simply breathing in the tainted air."

"Tainted?" Madison repeated, swallowing nervously. "What do you want with us? And who are you?"

"ClavisAngemon," He answered simply, "I came in search of a tool against Evil, but instead I found the remnants of Evil itself." Before he spun that key-blade around in his hand. "Demon."

Tsukaimon tightened her grip on Maddie, whispering. "This guy is strong Maddie, I... I don't know how I know, but I feel like I know him from somewhere..."

"Well we can't just leave him here," She replied, tensing up a bit. "He might put the entire village in danger..." Before she refocused on the Angel. "Tsukaimon isn't a demon anymore, she's fought to Protect the Digital World and the human one." She tried to reason, "So forget about the past, you said you came here searching for something maybe we can help you-"

"Accept aid from a former Demon Lord?" ClavisAngemon scoffed, shaking his head. "No I think not, the Miracle can wait, as an Angel of the Alliance it is my duty to purge all that remain of old Enemy."

Tsukaimon swallowed nervously, "He's going to attack!"

Sure enough, ClavisAngemon took off towards them with a flex of his wings, flying straight at them with his blade drawn. "Back to the Shadow with you!"

But Madison had been ready for this, gripping her Digivice as her hair lit up pink and her Crest Activated. "Yeah no thanks." A doorway opened behind her, and she hopped through before it slammed shut.

They appeared in the middle of old ruins, far away from the small town. Tsukaimon looked around, faintly recognizing this place. "Mephistmon's palace?"

"I needed somewhere close by to jump to," Maddie explained, "I'll need a minute to focus if we want to jump farther, maybe I can open a door to Kai and-"

"He's coming for us!" Tsukaimon cried as she spotted his opulent white form in the sky above already racing towards him. "What does he have a darkness tracker or something!?"

"Crap," Madison swallowed nervously, "I don't think we have a choice, if he's not going to stop we have to defend ourselves!" Lifting her Digivice. "Are you ready?" It was now or never, he wouldn't give them a chance if they waited too long.

And Tsukaimon understood, leaping forward. "Let's do it!"

Warp Crest Digivolution

"Tsukaimon Warp Digivolve to!" Her little body becoming enveloped in a swirling cocoon of pink and purple lights. Before out of it stepped the leather clad demoness. Spreading her corvid wings with a gun already pulled from it's holster. "BelleStarmon!"

ClavisAngemon had nearly reached them, seeing her evolution as he scoffed. "A new skin? I thought I found Lust but it seems Gluttony makes an appearance!"

"Oh shut the hell up with your biblical garbage," BelleStarmon replied sharply, aiming her weapon at him. "Fly Bullet!" Firing off two shots that spiraled and raced towards him with a mind of their own moving erratically.

"Hmph," Coming to a halt in the air, the angelic warrior lashed out and attempted to cut away the bullets. But they weaved around his blade taking him by surprise before exploding against his body. Engulfing him in purple smoke, but when it faded he appeared unfazed. "Petty tricks." Before raising his keyblade high into the air, "I'll show you divine retribution!" Before lights erupted from the blade, spreading out and forming dozens of golden stars in the sky. "Heavenly Arrows!"

BelleStarmon's eyes widened as the golden bolts rained down from above, they were spread out in such a way they'd cover a wide area. "Oh you've got to be kidding me!" Rather than flying backwards however, she charged forward and took flight! Spreading her wings and flying low to the ground, forcing ClavisAngemon to aim at her to keep the fighting away from Maddie.

Rolling mid flight so she was facing upwards, she aimed twin revolves straight up at the angel Digimon. "Fly Bullet!" Firing off more shots.

He was more prepared for the Agility of her bullets this time, sweeping most aside with his blade while a few pierced his defenses and exploded against his armored form leaving little more than scuff marks. "You'll need more fire power than that to breach my Divine Defenses!" Before spinning his blade and angling into a steep dive towards her!

BelleStarmon growled in annoyance, "How about I just take that fancy key of yours," Spinning and kicking off a piece of rubble to change her flight path, racing towards him with her Golden Claw ready to strike. "And SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS!"

Madison sweatdropped as she watched, "Boy she is mad today..."

Sparks flashed between them as her Razor Nails clashed against the Golden Keyblade, ClavisAngemon pushing her back with his superior physical strength. Shrugging off her attempts to wound him with the deadly weapons while also matching her speed with incredible precision, "It seems you are indeed a shadow of your former self." He remarked, parrying another attempted slash before aiming his glowing palm at her chest, unleashing a burst of Holy Light at point blank that burned into BelleStarmon and sent her flying back through the air.

"Gnngh!" She hissed in pain, the Holy power burning her in a way she'd not felt in a long time. "L-Lucky for you..." She grumbled out in response to his comments.

Madison could see her partner was struggling, and gripped her Digivice tighter. "Come on... Think of something, some way to help her!"

"Indeed," He said simply, leveling his blade at her. "It will make eliminating you much easier." Before more of those star shaped lights began to form around him. "I will purge all that remains of your kind! Heavenly Arrows!"

BelleStarmon spread her wings, getting ready to move before the space in the air between them warped. A rift opening, lined with a familiar pink light! It created a perfect shield, sucking in the bolts of light as they were fired off! And the other side of the rift, the point where they'd be released?

"GAH!" ClavisAngemon gasped out in pain as those Holy Bolts struck him from behind, biting into his armor and wings before the attack was finally halted. The Angel wincing as he leaned forward, doubling over. "H-How in the world?"

Madison stood on the ground with her arms outstretched, panting heavily as her hair glowed. "It was kind of a rush job, but the short range made it a lot easier!"

"Ha!" BelleStarmon grinned, "Nice one Maddie!" Before raising her Golden Claws, "Now I'll finish it!" Dashing forward just as the rifts vanished.

"Hnngh..." ClavisAngemon clenched his fists tightly as he held his doubled over body, the Heavenly Arrows impaling his back and wings. "Finish it, indeed..." Before he stood straight back up, spreading his arms wide as the Key-Hole on his chest roared to life with Golden Light. "Zenith Gate!"

Unleashing a burning golden light, it ripped through the sky and right into the oncoming BelleStarmon. The speedy mega barely having enough time to dodge, pulling to the side but still getting grazed by the beam. It's raw holy power ripped through her left side, burning away her wing along with her entire left arm! Sending her into a spiral out of the sky.

"Tsu!" Madison cried, running immediately in a desperate attempt to catch her. Reaching out with her Crest, she created a short range gateway and dashed through. "Hang on!" Sliding to get beneath her, the young girl took the brunt of her partners falling body with a loud crash as they tumbled in the dirt. Madison winced in pain, holding her injured partner. "D-Don't worry," Trying to ignore her missing an entire arm. "I'll open a Gate to Knightmon's village, I'll get us out of here!" Closing her eyes tight, trying to focus.

BelleStarmon cringed in pain, body shaking. "I-I... I was too damn careless..." She muttered through clenched teeth. "I'm... Sorry!" Before her body was engulfed in light, and she shrunk down to the weak form of Tsukaimon once more, but at least her limbs were returned.

"You may leave," ClavisAngemon spoke, now hovering right above them. "As much as I feel you should be destroyed for simply associating with that monster, my orders demand no humans are harmed... But the demon dies."

"Whos orders!?" Madison demanded, trying to buy some time. "We still don't even know what you want from us!" Holding Tsukaimon tightly in her arms.

He scoffed in response, "You are entitled to nothing, I sense no Miracle here so it is clear I have no business beyond purging what darkness remains in this place." Before he raised the blade slowly overhead, "Release that wretch, so that I may rid this world of it."

But she shook her head, "No!" Shielding Tsukaimon with her body, "You'll have to kill me too!"

ClavisAngemon hesitated for only a moment, before simply shrugging. "Very well, accidents happen..." Sending a chill down her spine as he added, "No one will miss a single human..."

As the stroke would fall however, numerous shrieks would begin to ring out all around them. And from the sky above, a mighty swarm of bats descended upon the angel! Surrounding and swirling around his body, as well as Madison!

"Huh!?" ClavisAngemon exclaimed, swatting away the creatures. "What trickery is this!?"

"Crimson Shackles!" A familiar voice rang out, as the bats suddenly released strands of blood red light from their mouths, hundreds of them that leashed around the Angels arms, legs, as well as his neck! Tightening up and holding him in place while others swept off Madison and Tsu! Carrying them further away to safety.

"You will not bind me!" The Angel sneered, releasing a burst of holy energy from around his form that shredded the dark energy and burned away numerous bats.

"Hmph, well it was worth a shot."

Madison raised her head finally, blinking as she looked up at her savior, eyes widening at the sight of- "Myotismon!" In disbelief at the sight of this Vampiric Digimon. "You... You saved us?"

But he clicked his tongue, "Saved is subjective here, really..." Staring across the way as the Angel turned towards them. "I trust you can get us out of here?"

Madison rose to her feet slowly, "Yeah, I can make doorway but I need time to focus for one this far away!" Not to mention she'd only been to the village a few times, and focusing was easier said than done with all these questions swirling in her head.

"Then get to it," He ordered simply, focusing on ClavisAngemon. "Or we're all doomed."

"Another would-be lord of the shadow?" The Angelic warrior scoffed, "But you're a far cry from the Undead King, aren't you?"

"Hmph, well you certainly seem to know much about me," Myotismon huffed in response, "And yet all I know of your kind is that you're all insufferable self-righteous bastards."

"Cheap words from another monster." ClavisAngemon said simply, "Our cause is to save the Digital World, nothing less."

"And yet you seem actively at odds with those chosen to protect it." He countered with a smirk, "All because your little Alliance is too weak to save itself."

Madison felt like she was really out of the loop on this one, but would save her questions for later. Though it was clear Myotismon had learned something she didn't, "Come on, just focus, try to stay calm, just a simple gateway!"

"Silence filth!" ClavisAngemon barked back at him, raising his KeyBlade, "Your life was forfeit the moment you revealed yourself to me," He declared with a righteous anger. "You and all your kind must be purged! It is your Fate!"

Myotismon chuckled in amusement at that, "The entire reason I'm standing here now is because I do not believe in Fate."

Madison felt it finally click, and a doorway opened before them. "It's ready! Come on!" On the other side was sunny pastures, green fields, distant smokestacks from that seaside village.

ClavisAngemon realized too late that Myotismon was simply stalling, and slashed his keyblade through the air as more golden stars appeared. "You will not escape!" Heavenly Arrows firing in an instant, racing towards them. "The Demon must DIE!"

The Vampiric Digimon saw the incoming danger, turning he scooped up Madison and jumped through the doorway as the bolts reached them. The moment they were through he shouted, "Close it!"

And Maddie obliged, releasing her power and slamming the door shut before ClavisAngemon could follow them. Panting heavily as Myotismon set her down in the grass, she landed on shaky legs while holding Tsu tight. "That was close, looks like I was a little off the mark." She noted, scanning her surroundings. "The village shouldn't be far though-" Before noticing the massive plume of smoke in the distance, "What on earth is that?"

When Madison looked back at Myotismon however, her heart sank. "Damn," He rasped out, with several Heavenly Arrows protruding from his back. "Seems I'm not as spry as I thought..." Before collapsing to his knees.

"Hang on!" She nearly dropped Tsu as she rushed to his side, fear gripping her. "I'll find Kai! H-He can heal you!" But his body was already starting to break down, pixels of light drifting away from his form.

"Have I ever mentioned how much I hate that naïve optimism of yours?" He questioned between heavy breaths, starting to fall forward.

"Gnngh!" Madison turned and caught him on her shoulders, her legs nearly buckling as she struggled to hold his weight along with Tsu tucked under one arm. Her hair started to glow as she tried to use her crest, "D-Don't worry, I'll save you!" She promised, clenching her eyes shut as she tried to create another gateway. But with her heart racing, thoughts clouded, body exhausted from the enormous leap she'd just made, nothing would form. "Dammit! Hang on!" Every movement was painful, but she started attempting to carry him on her tired legs alone.

"You are truly insufferable," Myotismon grunted in response. "The least you could do is be quiet while I'm dying."

"You're not going to die!" Madison was trying to assure herself more than him, and with every step his body was getting lighter. "I-I'm going to save- Agh!" Before her foot caught a bit of loose gravel causing her to slip. She fell forward, hitting the ground and causing him to roll off of her.

"Ow." Myotismon said in an almost sarcastic manner, as he stared up into the sky. When Madison pulled herself back up, tears were already running down her face. Myotismon took one look at her and sighed, "You're really going to make this as uncomfortable as possible aren't you?"

"I'm sorry," She knew there was nothing she could do to save him now, the lower half of his body was completely gone and with each passing second more faded. She hung her head low as she sat on her knees beside him. "It's all my fault, if I just had better control of my Crest!" Slamming a fist into her own knee, turning to self-harm as punishment for weakness.

Myotismon did not respond immediately to her weeping, instead he turned his head to look upon the western shores. Watching as the sunlight glistened off the calm tides, "You know... I've never watched a sunset before." He stated, ignoring her lamentations. "For all the lifetimes I can remember, I have avoided direct sunlight, not quite sure why, it just felt... Natural."

Madison raised her head slowly, looking at the waves as well, it only brought a fresh wave of tears to her eyes. "Why... Why did you save me?" She asked between her sobs. "You always hated me... So why!?"

"I was born to destroy," He said simply. "It's in my very nature to be hateful, to seek power, to seek dominion over lesser beings..." All things Madison already knew about him. "When I broke the chain, let Mephistomon take up the mantle of Dark Lord, and sank into obscurity... I thought perhaps I could find my own happy ending..."

Which only served as another slap to her face, "And instead... You chose to save me." Her hands clenching so tightly on her knees she feared her nails but break the skin.

"Who says I had to choose?" Myotismon questioned her suddenly.

Causing Madison to pause for a moment in her weeping, "But... What about your happy ending?"

At this point, he finally turned his eyes from the sea to look back at her. "I was able to save something that I, regrettably and against all odds, care about... And for the first time in all my lifetimes, I don't die alone... Surrounded by enemies that hate me, former subjects that rose up against me... Or Digidestined sent to defeat me." He slowly lifted one hand up, Madison took it immediately. "I think this is perhaps the happiest ending, I've ever had." A soft smile gracing his purple lips. "Perhaps Fate isn't as cruel as I thought..."

Madison squeezed his hand, trying to remain strong as she knew he seemed at peace with this. But couldn't help continuing to weep as she closed her eyes. She remembered something she'd been told before, about how Digimon are never truly dead so long as their cores aren't destroyed. There wasn't much she could say from this point on, knowing that lamenting her failure would only sour his happy ending.

But perhaps their parting did not have to be solely in sorrow?

Opening her eyes, she did her best to force a smile through the tears. "I hope when you're reborn, we can be friends again."

"Friends?" His hand faded from her grip, but as the last bits of him disappeared his voice was heard on the wind. "I suppose anything is possible, when you're the one involved..."

And then, he was gone.

Leaving Madison sitting there, beside her unconscious partner. So many questions left by the events leading to this moment, but for now she felt nothing but bittersweet sorrow. Lifting her head slowly, her eyes widened and she blinked away those remaining tears. "What?"

Something was burned into the ground where Myotismon had been laying, sizzling with the same crimson of his attacks. It read a simple, chilling message that gave Madison at least a bit of insight into this horrible fight.

"Sam is in danger."