Zero Unit: Ah, so today, we have a question from a fan. They're wondering how the Adventure gang is reacting to Tri. And since this technically involves the 02 gang, we'll ask them as well. But we'll be doing this in two parts. So… guys? What do you think about Tri?
Tai: *Slams hands on table* Why am I having so many doubts?! Of course I'm doing the right thing by fighting!
Mimi: And I am not nearly as egocentric as they portrayed me in the show. *Silence* This is the part where you guys are supposed to agree with me.
Joe: No.
Izzy: Definitely not.
Zoey: You guys can't even make it sound believable.
Sora: Well, there isn't much on my character except that they seem to have reignited that stupid love triangle. There's nothing wrong with Tai, Matt, and I all being friends. Why must everything need to be "shipped" and turned into "pairings"?
Ryouma: Because the fans love it. I'm sure many fans are going crazy over the fact that Tai and Matt were in the sauna together alone for who knows how long. And the fact that they rode to the Ogremon VS Togemon battle on the same scooter, one probably holding on tightly to the others. Is there something you boys aren't telling us?
Hideaki: Ryouma… by any chance… are you a fudanshi?
Airu: Forget that! I want to know more about Izzy's crush on Mimi! Do you return the feelings?
Mimi: Not even a little!
Izzy: I know it's not true since we're separate from the Tri characters but that actually hurts.
Joe: I just want to know why my character forgot something so important. Then again… *Glances at the piles of homework that he was recently assigned* Being a Chosen Child really has put a real burden on my studies.
Leomon: I want to know why my species seems to keep dying. I even died and I'm a partnered Digimon.
Zero Unit: Trust me, Jeri's Leomon, no one wants to know that more than I do. You're my favorite Digimon, especially with your *Censored* and *Censored* ...What? Don't you dare look at me like that! Anyway, we will have the 02 gang's reactions next time but for now, enjoy the newest chapter! No seriously, guys, there is no need to kink shame me with your eyeballs and facial expressions.
-X-
December 21: Hell – 10:17 AM
When Tai came to, he felt like he was inside the dragon's den and the beast was breathing down his back, making his spine melt. As he pushed himself up, he found that his throat had been replaced with sandpaper and every breath he took was like a full-body workout, inhaling in ash and dust.
"Matt?" he croaked out weakly. "Where are you?" Where was he?
Tai stripped off his winter coat and scarf but it still wasn't enough to cool him down. The flames that flickered around him, surrounding him from all sides was enough to make him sweat waterfalls down his face. So he ended up removing his shirt as well, tying it around his waist, and rolling up his pant legs.
A low voice called out from afar. "Tai? Where are you?"
"MetalGreymon!" Tai gasped though it came out as constrained as his breathing. "I'm here!"
He started walking towards the voice, unintentionally remembering the last time he was in a dark place and heading towards his Ultimate level partner. The semi-mechanical dragon's skin had started melting and his voice became distorted and it wasn't until Tai turned back around to run away that the skeleton, the monster, inside was showing.
"Snap out of it," Tai told himself. "That was just an illusion that SkullBaluchimon gave you to throw you off. You're better than this."
The young man pressed his palm against his chest and felt how rapid his heartbeat was. He then moved it over to the sun-shaped necklace hanging around his neck, rubbing his thumb over the sharp rays. Could someone this scared really say that they were the bearer of courage?
"Tai?" someone called.
The Chosen Child's head shot up. He recognized that voice! "Rinchei?" he murmured before raising his voice. "Rinchei? Is that you?"
"Tai…"
From in between the dancing flames, Rinchei appeared and never before had he ever seen so terrified. The leader of the DigiDestined attempted to reach for the older boy but he was blocked off by some other people around his age or older. They were his former schoolmates, and the same ones that had always bullied Rinchei. They were the same ones that held up one of his manga works and wrote insults on the covers.
"Rinchei!" Tai called out.
The boy had to have been a delusion, a fake, something that was created to throw Tai off again. But he looked so real. And the bullies that kept pushing Tai back felt real. And Rinchei's desperate plea for help as he was grabbed by the hair and yanked away into the flames sounded so real. How could any of this be fake?
"My… My heads just playing tricks on me," Tai shook.
"Big brother!" someone suddenly shrieked, causing a chill to run down the boy's spine. "Help me!"
Tai shot back up to his feet and started running in the direction of the mortified scream. He knew this was all some sort of elaborate illusion but everything felt so authentic. "Kari!" he shouted into the flames. "Where are you?!"
He found his sister on the floor, her hands trying to keep her from being dragged into a dark pool of water where shadowy hands were trying to pull her in. When the brunette looked up, Tai felt his heart stop for a moment. Kari's eyes were wide in fear, tears spilling out of them and she bit down on her lower lip, breaking skin and causing her to bleed.
"Our queen…," one of the creatures bemoaned.
"Join us in the darkness," another said.
"Let go of her!" Tai snapped as he tried to grab her but fell over instead. His forehead smashed into the ground, disorienting himfor a moment but when it cleared, he realized that it was one of those Dark Ocean goons that had grabbed onto his ankle. They were keeping him from saving his sister. "Kari! Grab my hand!"
"Tai! I'm scared!" she cried out.
"Grab my hand!"
"I-I can't reach!"
Kari was getting farther and farther away from him and it wasn't long before she was waist deep into the pool. Tai kept shouting and trying to claw his way over to her but by the time the hand on his ankle let go, his hands could only grab the smoky air.
"Kari…," he said softly, tears streaming from his eyes. "Rinchei… What more… can happen in this hell?"
"Dark Shot!"
There was an explosion from behind and a giant object flying overhead, crashing down in front of him. Tai knew whose signature that was, and he knew what the battered and bruised creature lying motionless in front of him was. There's the distorted cackling from behind and the unsettling sound of nothing in front of him. There were the slow but purposeful steps behind and the nauseating smell of burnt skin in front.
"Metal… Greymon…," Tai whispered.
Please let him wake up from this nightmare. He couldn't take anymore. Visions flew past his eyes of his friends hanging from nooses, of his parents getting into a brutal car crash, of the Digital World being enslaved by the Demon Lords, and of his planet slowly crumbling into pieces and floating away into the never-ending void that is silent space.
"Somebody… somebody wake me up," Tai sobbed. When was the last time he cried like this? He couldn't remember. He just knew that the dragon was now breathing down his back, a bony claw slowly reaching down to pick up the boy. "Please…"
"Giga Blaster!" "Wolf Claw!"
Tai looked up in time to see his partner standing next to the fallen illusion, the chest that hid his artillery open. And from above, WereGarurumon landed beside him with a concerned expression on his face. The SkullGreymon from behind was nothing but raining data around him. No egg was left behind though.
"Tai!" said MetalGreymon, running to his partner. "I'm glad you're okay."
The boy pushed himself onto his feet and hugged his partner's leg, letting the tears run down the dragon's skin. "I'm glad you're okay too!" What sort of monster could do something so cruel to them? "Where's Matt?"
"We're looking for him," WereGarurumon answered as he sniffed the air. "If he's experiencing the same thing you are, then that won't be good. This pocket dimension is obviously a place designed to make people suffer and break them."
"Then we need to find him quick," said Tai. "And some water."
It didn't take long for them to figure out where Matt was when they heard him shout. "TK!" That meant he was being tricked by whoever made this sub-dimension and what he was seeing involved his brother getting hurt in some way.
"I will now show you another trick," a new voice cackled. "It's called, how much skin can I peel off of your brother before he dies?"
"That's Piedmon's voice!" MetalGreymon growled.
WereGarurumon took off like a rocket and the other two followed, finding Matt shackled to a chair as he was being forced to watch a passed out TK, strapped to a spinning wheel, bleed. The Dark Master they defeated seven years ago stood in front of the wheel, turning it with his left hand while spinning a knife in his other hand.
"Let go of him!" Matt screamed hysterically.
"Oh, but you must watch his head dangle from side to side!" Piedmon laughed. "It's quite the mesmerizing show!"
WereGarurumon suddenly tackled the clown down while Tai went to free his friend from the chair. MetalGreymon charged in to assist the werewolf and with their combined attacks, they were able to crush the Mega easily. That meant he really was a hallucination if he was defeated just like that. They had a rough time even when they were one level higher.
Once Matt was free from his chains, he tried to run towards his unconscious brother but Tai stopped him.
"That's not the real TK!" Tai snapped. "If you go up to him touch him, it'll only do worse things to your head."
Matt knew his best friend was right so instead, he turned away from the sight of his brother and vomited onto the floor. Tai rubbed circles into Matt's back as he continued retching with the Digimon waiting for them to come back to them. When the blond had finished emptying out his stomach, he fell to his butt.
"That didn't do much to help my thirst…," he muttered.
"Come on, let's find an exit out of this place," Tai huffed.
The group were about to start on their trek out of there when someone stepped out in front of them. It was a golden, dragon-like creature not much larger than MetalGreymon's lower half with three eyes on each side of his face and six spikes on his back. Every time he exhaled, he released a heatwave from his mouth that made the boys wish for nothing more than an air conditioned room.
"You must be the one that sent us down here!" Matt snapped.
Digital Analyzer: Huanglongmon is the Digimon Sovereign enshrined in the Center. He is thought to be the ruler of the entire world but was sealed underground because of Lucemon and the other Demon Lords. This being is known to embody both goodness and complete evil. Its gigantic body is covered in scales of the special Huanglong Ore which boasts absolute hardness. Thus, inflicting even a single wound upon him is impossible.
"A… Sovereign?" Tai whispered.
"So… does that mean he's on our side?" MetalGreymon asked.
WereGarurumon shook his head. "You heard the encyclopedia; he is both good and evil. Although if it were the Demon Lords that sealed him away, I would assume that they are his enemy. But do you remember what Gumdramon said?"
"Dorbickmon's right hand Digimon is a creature known as Huanglongmon," Matt recited. "But how do we beat something like that?"
The group got into defensive positions as they watched the dragon take a step forward. "I do not have the power to defeat you now," the creature told them ominously. "So you must settle for one of our reconstructions."
Tai frowned. "Reconstructions?"
From the flames ahead, an armored warrior approached them with his blue cape flapping in all directions. He was about the height of Omnimon and exuded the aura that he had just about as much strength, possibly more. Even though this was the first time they had ever met this Digimon, they knew exactly who he was.
Digital Analyzer: Despite being one of the Royal Knights, Alphamon is given the empty seat amongst his fellow warriors as he appears at abnormal times. It is also said that he is a being similar to a deterrent force. Another rumor surrounding this mysterious Digimon is that it is impossible to count the number of hits he makes in an instant and that his opponents are only able to see the final blow that crushes them. Alphamon can also produce a magic circle of DigiCode from his hands to perform his offensive and defensive attacks.
Matt swallowed. "This guy looks like bad news."
"Wait, a Royal Knight?" WereGarurumon growled. "That's impossible! They were all destroyed by the Demon Lords!"
Huanglongmon laughed as he started sinking into the ground. "And with Apocalymon's help, they reconstructed the Royal Knights, each and every one of them so that they will obey me, their Sovereign. After all, they don't listen to anyone else. But they've lost the ability to be reborn, so I hope you enjoy taking his life or getting destroyed!" With that, he was gone.
"We have to destroy–?"
Alphamon suddenly threw four punches and they didn't see any of them. But they did feel them as all four of them were sent soaring through the air and through the flames that burned their skin as they passed by. When they finally landed, there was Alphamon waiting for them again and he swung his leg in a powerful arc, the shockwave being enough to send them flying backwards again.
Tai and Matt would've gotten seriously injured if MetalGreymon didn't keep them safe. Not that he was in a better position seeing as when they crashed this time, his wings were crushed beneath his heavy body, bent at an unnatural angle.
"This guy…," WereGarurumon coughed. "How do we beat him?"
"We need to DNA Digivolve," MetalGreymon huffed.
But how? They had lost their ability to DNA Digivolve after Armageddemon's first appearance. It might be possible given the right circumstances and perhaps the help from all their friends but here, they couldn't even reach the Mega level. How were they supposed to be beat a Royal Knight as they were now?
Alphamon approached them, drawing out his Divine Sword Grade Alpha, a weapon that looked like it could slice the Earth in two. The Digimon stood firm between the enemy and their partners, arms splayed out in an act of protection but they knew that if his swordsmanship was even half as good as his close quarter combat skills, then they would be slaughtered on the spot. This was essentially their last act of defiance because if they just submitted to their deaths peacefully, the world would lose hope.
"We have to… keep fighting," Tai wheezed.
"For our friends, and this world," Matt agreed.
The two of them tried to push themselves up but only succeeded in falling back down to the ground. The first punches that had been thrown at them were already enough to leave their knees buckling and their hearts pounding. They couldn't even stand up!
Alphamon raised his weapon as the two Ultimates attempted to break through his armor with their claws, only to land back on the hot ground on their butts. So the best they could do was turn around and shield their partners, their backs facing their executioner. And as the four of them shut their eyes, they couldn't help speaking their last words of love from human to Digimon.
"I won't run if you won't," said Tai.
"I couldn't leave you if I tried," MetalGreymon returned.
"You're my best friend," Matt whispered.
"And you were always mine," WereGarurumon replied.
A magic circle appeared over the backs of the Digimon and with a wild swing, Alphamon cut into his own arm. The boys, facing forward, were stunned at the sight of Alphamon's data breaking apart as the Royal Knight fell to his knees. He was shouting out in agony and the only words they could make out was that he was telling them to run.
"I… I c-can't hold b-back!" Alphamon screamed. "R-Run! Chosen Children! W… We can't let you d-d-die!" It was like they were watching two Alphamon fighting each other, one that was breaking apart and another that was stable. Was it possible that the spirit of the original Royal Knight was trying to save them?
"No," Tai gasped. "There must be some way for us to save you too!"
Alphamon shook his head. "It's impossible! D-Don't b-b-be… fools! Just run!"
Being reconstructed from scratch would mean that none of his past life's personality or memories would remain if it were up to the Demon Lords. Either that or it was buried deep into his conscious. But if so, what dug it back up? Matt had a theory.
"We won't abandon a friend," he said. "That's just not our thing."
"A f-friend?" Alphamon shook.
Matt nodded. "To be honest, we heard Kudamon talking to our partners one day." The dragon and wolf Digimon both looked up with wide eyes. "And he told them and Veemon that the Royal Knights, Omnimon and Magnamon were one-of-a-kind Digimon. Our partners, they're your friend and fellow Knight, right?"
After the disappearance of the founder, Imperialdramon Paladin Mode, the leader of the Royal Knights became Omnimon. However, the enemies that threatened the Digital World grew in power and found ways to prevent the mightiest of Digimon to fight back. So the Sovereigns, when they brought humans to the Digital World to become saviors, they asked the leader, what he wanted to do.
"Why must the other Royal Knights be so close-minded?" one of Ebonwumon's heads complained.
"They're all acting like you, Zhuqiaomon!" added the other head.
The phoenix Sovereign spread out his wings and glared at the two-headed tortoise with all six of his eyes. "Do you want to get on my bad side, old man, is that what you want? Humans can't be trusted! They have a history of war and selfishness!"
"No one is denying that, Zhuqiaomon," Azulongmon chided. "But just like Digimon, there are humans that are capable of great good."
"Do you not remember the first humans?" Zhuqiaomon continued. "Hikaru and Kurogane! It's true that they brought along great things for us, they made us understand emotion and help us get stronger, but they introduced sins and destruction to us as well. Is that what you want? You want to bring another great war?"
"None of us have that intention, feathered brat!" Baihumon snarled.
Omnimon sighed, amazed that these four could get anything done when all they did was argue most of the time. "If I may, I think Zhuqiaomon's worries are not completely unfounded. To be completely honest, I'm not completely sure if we can trust humans either but as of right now, we don't have much of a choice. So I have a favor to ask of you." He had their attention now. "I wish to be dismissed from the Knights to be a partnered Digimon."
"I won't allow it!" Zhuqiaomon bellowed, releasing a shout that shook the heavens. Quite literally as tremors were somehow sent through the clouds they stood upon. "You want us to appoint a new leader of the Royal Knights so soon? Am I the only sane one here?"
"Please here me out," the Royal Knight continued. "I won't be dismissed permanently, I will still return if you or Lord Drasil need me. I just wish to be close to the humans to keep an eye on them. Make sure that they are fulfilling their duties as Chosen Children. I've already spoken with an entity named Homeostasis, she says that she knows a way she can make me a partnered Digimon. She says that I won't remember my life as a Royal Knight but that I should still be able to respond to your calls."
"How do we know we can trust her?" Baihumon frowned.
Omnimon took a moment to think about this. "I trust her… All you need to do is trust me."
After he left, Omnimon entrusted Alphamon to look after the Knights but the other warrior was enraged at the fact that Omnimon could abandon his duties. He made himself scarce, no one could ever say that they saw Alphamon for more than a day, thus making him the empty seat.
Gallantmon and UlforceVeedramon ended up splitting the leadership duties between them but they weren't nearly as charismatic as their predecessors. It wasn't long before Dynasmon and Crusadermon decided to do their own thing, succumbing to the sweet temptations of Lucemon after their defeat at the hands of the Data Squad. And Magnamon completely vanished after Lord Drasil proved to be an enemy, later encasing himself in the Digi-Egg of Courage.
The remaining Royal Knights became adventurers, sojourning the Digital World in search of something they weren't sure of. Only Craniamon remained with the two regents, only to become the first targets when the Demon Lords were revived.
"Alphamon… You have every right to destroy us," MetalGreymon huffed.
"Because of us, the Royal Knights fell apart," WereGarurumon agreed. "We are failures."
Alphamon chuckled humorlessly. "Don't be stupid. I watched everything, you know." He pressed his forehead to the ground so he wouldn't have to look up and it was easier to resist the torment that his body was going through this way. "I saw how the humans protect our world again and again. And the bonds you created. To be honest… I was jealous."
"Jealous?"
"Yeah," Alphamon nodded. "Now, stop playing around and destroy me already! If you won't abandon me then at least stop me from being a monster! If you let me go, the Demon Lords will force me to take innocent lives… So please… old friend."
During this exchange, Tai and Matt had been feeling something warm budding in their chests. And when their partners looked back to the humans, eyes asking for the power to take on a Royal Knight, they knew that they had to give it to their partners. MetalGreymon returned to being Agumon and WereGarurumon degenerated to Gabumon at the same time Alphamon stood back up, having lost control, he was back to being a simple reconstruction.
The two teenager shouted together. "Now!"
"Divine Sword Grade Alpha!"
"Agumon Warp Digivolve to… WarGreymon!" "Gabumon Warp Digivolve to… MetalGarurumon!"
The new Mega Digimon took their partners and flew out of the way as the sword made a fissure in the ground underneath them. Once they made it a safe distance, they let go of the humans only to find shadowy creatures coming out of the flames. They didn't look like illusions but who could really say anymore?
"Voidlings?" WarGreymon gasped.
"Void-what?" Tai frowned.
"We'll explain later," said MetalGarurumon. "But just know that you can't take them on without using the DigiSoul. The passion that you two have should be enough to bring it out but you have to get rid of the things inhibiting you."
"And what's that?" asked Matt.
The Royal Knight was charging towards them so their partners had no time to tell them as they shot forward, distracting the Warrior to keep him away from the humans. This left Tai and Matt on their own against the Voidlings, not that they knew how to fight them as they tried to hit and just passed through them.
But when they passed through the creatures, they felt a sudden fear, the same that they had felt when they were being forced to endure the tortures in this hell. Was it possible that these creatures were made from those feelings when they saw their friends and family members die in front of their eyes?
"We've got to keep trying," Tai huffed.
"And how do we do that?" Matt inquired.
A couple of the Voidlings pointed their hands at the boys, the blackness peeling back and revealing firearms which shot several glowing bullets at them. The humans had to tumble out of the way in opposite directions.
"We have to get rid of our inhibitions! The things that keep us from fully reactivating our crests!" Tai explained. He tried to continue running, only to find himself limping due to his soccer injury. "And it's easier to see the inhibitions in each other!"
"Grace Cross Freezer!" "Great Tornado!"
A multitude of missiles fired out, spinning in a massive tornado as they made a high-speed approach towards Alphamon. The Royal Knight shrouded himself in his mantle, disappearing and making a reappearance behind the two Mega Digimon. He then swung his blade down at them, only to have it get blocked by WarGreymon's Brave Shield.
"Metal Wolf Claw!"
WarGreymon broke off from the warrior so that the mechanical wolf could freeze the Digimon from top to bottom, keeping him completely immobile. This attack usually also freezes all the vital organs in a foe's body but Alphamon was much too strong for that to happen, especially with his armor. But this also meant that he wouldn't be encased in ice forever.
"Forgive me, friend," said WarGreymon as he made a giant sphere of blazing energy over his head. "Terra Force!"
Unfortunately for them, Alphamon broke out of the ice just a second before the attack reached him. The armored foe then took to the air and creating hundreds of magical circles that covered the sky, unleashed a hailstorm of energy bullets.
"Damn it! Start moving!" MetalGarurumon growled.
"Right!" WarGreymon nodded.
The pair started weaving through the storm but the attacks were fast, making small cracks and crevices appear in their armor. It wasn't long before Alphamon targeted them directly, knocking the two of them through the raging flames with a powerful backhand. Both WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon ended up crash landing but unlike before, they got up quickly in order to avoid getting another hit from their enemy.
As for Tai and Matt, they were running through the volcanic sauna, attempting to avoid the blasts that the Voidlings were attacking them with. Some even had knives under their black skin and when they came close, they nearly cut the boys.
"Matt!" Tai huffed, losing breath. "What's that attached to your belt?"
The blond didn't stop running but he did glance down and notice twin pistols attached to his hips. Since firearms are banned in Japan, this was his first time ever seeing these weapons in real life. But there was something peculiar about them. When he touched them, the metal was cold, which wouldn't be unusual if they weren't where they were.
"Did… MetalGarurumon give these to me?" Matt wondered aloud before noticing something on Tai. "Your arms!"
"Huh?" Tai blinked before looking down at his forearms. Golden gauntlets were strapped onto there, similar to WarGreymon's own armor. Not only that but when he put them together, the symbol for the crest of courage appeared on them. "When did they…?"
A Voidling jumped out in front of them and they quickly threw a punch at it out of instinct. Just as they expected, their fists passed right through the creature but they could feel less fear. And to their surprise, small sparks of orange and blue data was emerging from their hands.
"Tai, you keep hesitating," Matt suddenly said as he drew his weapons and aimed at the Voidlings. "That soccer injury you got healed already! Your leg is fine! But you're so scared of getting hurt again that you keep limping!"
"What was that?!" Tai blanched angrily as he blocked some bullets with his gauntlets. "You're the one scared, man. You break up with Sora and you don't want to try being friends anymore? You hardly talk, awkwardly interact, and the rest of us are tired of playing the middlemen for you guys!"
"Sh-Shut up! Like you know what I'm going through!" Matt snapped, pulling the trigger. The blasts were actually able to hit a few of the Voidlings. "Of course I want to keep being friends with Sora but…"
"Forget the 'but'!" Tai interjected.
"Fine, how about this?" Matt grumbled.
The two of them were back to back as they used their weapons to deflect and protect themselves from the Voidlings. And when the shadowy creatures got close, they became enveloped in their DigiSouls as they punched and kicked out the humanoid monsters.
"I'll play soccer again after this!" Tai huffed, using his healed leg to knock out one of the Voidlings.
"And I'll talk to Sora again!" Matt added, butting heads with one of the creatures and shattering the white mask.
"Only if you do what you promise!" they shouted at each other.
WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon lunged forward once more, both becoming lights that spiraled towards Alphamon who blocked it with a defensive magic circle. But when the two lights hit the Royal Knight, they had merged together, blinding everyone in the vicinity. And suddenly, they found themselves back in Aokigahara Forest, surrounded by flaming trees. But where Alphamon stood, was Omnimon.
"He… DNA Digivolved…," Tai huffed.
"A… Amazing," Matt coughed though he was grinning.
Who would've thought that the entire area was an illusion? Well, aside from the heat. Tai and Matt returned their focus to taking out the Voidlings while their combined partner clashed blades with Alphamon. A news helicopter was hanging over them, probably recording the fire, but when the two Royal Knights appeared, the cameras were suddenly pointed at the warriors.
"Tai! Matt!" someone called.
"Yushima?" they blinked when they saw the old man running towards them.
The balding man stopped when he made it to them, trying to catch his breath after taking in the sight of two powerful Digimon stuck in a brawl. "My partner's leading a group of firefighters to wash the flames but we need to get that helicopter out of the way. We called in some backup but he can't make an appearance with the paparazzi up there."
Tai glanced up at the flying vehicle before turning to the older man. "Can you bring your partner over here?"
While Matt focused on blasting Voidlings with his firearms, Shawjamon was being asked to throw Tai into the open door of the helicopter. Obviously, it sounded absolutely ludicrous and reckless to just toss a human boy into a moving vehicle in the sky but Tai wanted to put out the fire as soon as possible. So Yushima came up with another idea before his partner could go through with it.
"You ready, Tai?" Yushima asked.
"Whenever you are," was Tai's response.
The old man nodded towards his partner. "Shawjamon, now!"
The aquatic Digimon spun his staff around before slamming it into the ground. "Kouyoujou: Whirlpool Formation!" A water spout from under Tai's feet began to emerge, making the Chosen Child rise into the sky. Without looking down, he leapt from the geyser and landed in the helicopter, causing the news reporter and the cameraman to scream in fright.
"Th… That was dangerous!" the reporter screeched.
Tai ignored her and went up to the pilot. "Can you please get out of the way? A friend of mine is going to be putting out the fire but he can't do that with this chopper in the way."
The reporter pouted, puffing out her cheeks, as she tapped on Tai's shoulder. "Excuse me, we're trying to make a story here."
"And we're trying to protect lives," Tai countered, effectively shutting her up and making her red with embarrassment. As the chopper started making its way back to Tokyo, Tai turned on his earpiece to communicate with Yushima. "All clear."
Yushima, back on the ground, nodded as he pressed a button to talk to an auxiliary Tamer waiting on the edge of Aokigahara Forest. "Hibiki, you're all clear. Let's not waste any more time than we already have."
Tai watched as a pair of Whamon suddenly floated into the sky with two smaller Digimon on their backs. He received an explanation from Yushima which was that there were two Tamers using a Levitate Modify card to help the giant mammals fly. As for where the Whamon came from, they had claimed that they were friends of the Chosen Children.
"Whamon!" Tai called out while the reporter and cameraman stood shell-shocked. "Are you the one I know?"
"You protected my home, Tai," Whamon chuckled, bringing a big smile to Tai's face. "Now allow me to return the favor! Blasting Spout!" Both of the Whamon shot water from their blowholes, straight into the sky which began to rain down like a fountain, slowly but surely putting out the flames.
"A rainbow…," Tai gasped.
Matt's voice came through the earpiece. "Hey, Tai, I'm glad you're enjoying the view but our partners need our support now."
"I know, Matt," Tai chuckled before looking down at the Royal Knights. "But I'm sure they'll win. But I am worried about Marcus and Tagiru, Dorbickmon doesn't exactly look like he'll be an easy foe to defeat."
"Yeah…"
"Double Shot!" Omnimon pointed both of his hands at his opponent, firing out blasts of extreme heat and cold in quick succession. But both were blocked easily by a magic circle that Alphamon created to shield him. "Omni Blast!"
Alphamon's eyes widened when he saw dark clouds appear over his head and a bolt of lightning come down on him. He quickly raised his arm, hand splayed out, and produced another circle which defended him from above. But that left his attention to the front vacant as Omnimon shot forward, shattering the other circle with his Transcendent Sword.
"Curse you!" Alphamon snarled.
"Ultimate Uppercut!"
Using his Grey Sword, he blasted the caped warrior into the sky where the Omni Blast was still in effect so he was being attacked from the back while his front was exposed to the Garuru Cannon, liberally expelling bullets.
Shawjamon carried his partner away from the Voidlings. "Did he get him?" Yushima asked no one in particular, adjusting his glasses.
But unfortunately for them, Alphamon's mantle protected him from the lightning and he had used his sword to deflect the gunfire. When the debris cleared, he raised his hands to the sky once more and a massive magic circle appeared, bigger than the sky, one that wasn't used for offense or defense.
"A summoning circle?!" Omnimon gasped.
"Soul Digitalization!" Alphamon shouted.
From the circle, a giant claw reached out and crushed Omnimon into the ground, much to everyone's surprise. The owner of the claw was a beast unlike any they had seen before. The only thing that could possibly compare to its colossal size and hideous body would be Leviamon. It was wispy, like the Voidlings, but something about the texture was also rather gooey, like it was slowly melting with every move it made. It didn't have any eyes but there was a long mouth that reached from one side of the face to the other in an unsettling smile. His teeth were blood red, sharp, and overlapped each other.
"What is that thing?!" Matt yelled.
"A legendary monster from another dimension," Omnimon answered.
"Wha–?!" Matt blinked when he realized that his partner was standing next to him. "How did–? I thought that thing crushed you!"
Said thing let out a roar so monstrous that it shook the air they breathed and by then, it had finally reached the ground, crushing the trees like they were broccoli under an adult's cleats. The newscaster was completely speechless for a full twenty seconds before screaming for the pilot to get them out of there faster.
"I was able to evade it," Omnimon explained. "It's like you said, Alphamon and I were once friends. We still are. So I know all his tactics and techniques." He pointed his cannon at the mysterious creature. "This means I know all of his weaknesses as well. Supreme Cannon!"
The creature was pushed back a meter or two by the freezing cannon, slowly solidifying in a coating of subzero ice. The creature tried to let out another cry but his mouth was frozen shut by that time. Just like when Alphamon was frozen, it was obvious that this wouldn't hold for very long. But Omnimon's freezing capabilities were far superior to that of MetalGarurumon.
"Amazing," Matt breathed.
"Transcendent Sword!"
In a flash, the beast was sliced in half though it didn't break apart in two like one would expect. Since he was frozen from the skin inwards, he shattered like a massive glass figurine, raining down on the forest like glittering rain.
"I-Impossible!" Alphamon gasped. "I am the alpha! I am superior to you, Omnimon!"
"The corruption in your heart," said Omnimon. "It has possessed you and your soul." Alphamon drew his blade and flew down at top speed. "During Apocalymon's first attempt at conquering the Digital World, he used Dark Chains that amplified negative feelings. Is that what he did to you, friend?"
Alphamon was completely ignoring the other Royal Knight. "Divine Sword!"
"Did my leaving hurt you that badly?" Omnimon wondered aloud. Both of his partners were surprised to see a single tear roll down his cheek. "I hadn't realized even though I should've. We were practically brothers, weren't we? The alpha and omega."
"Grade!"
Omnimon's blade was drawn. "I'm sorry for everything I put you through. Now… I'll set your soul free!"
"Alpha!"
"Sword of Ruin!"
Both blades clashed with each other, sending sparks to fly everywhere but it was Omnimon's that turned out to be superior as Alphamon was suddenly cleaved right down the middle. Their enemy crashed into the ground with his data slowly floating up towards the sky and the painful part was that nothing was going to be left behind. No egg, no chance of redemption, he was gone forever.
"You did the right thing," Matt told Omnimon. "We didn't have any other choice."
Omnimon nodded as he returned to being an exhausted Tsunomon and Koromon. "I know… but it doesn't make it any easier," Tsunomon sighed. "Those Demon Lords… Forcing even old allies to fight against each other. I can't forgive them!"
Koromon glanced around, his round body bouncing in a circle before looking up at Matt. "Um… Where's Tai?"
Matt paused, as if forgetting about the existence of his own best friend before it hit him that the bearer of courage was still in that helicopter, flying towards the city. At this point, Tai's probably lost all the visuals so he has no idea who won the battle. Not only that but… Where was he going?!
December 21: Sovereign Lab – 12:00 PM
Each of Azulongmon's eyes were scarred and leaking red data, showing that he suffered a loss that brought him blindness. The dragon wouldn't have liked what he saw anyway. He was trapped in a glowing blue tube in a dark laboratory filled with sophisticated machinery and equipment. And all around him were his fellow Sovereigns, trapped in tubes.
One of Zhuqiaomon's wings were completely burnt and it was also significantly smaller than the other. Baihumon was missing his hind leg and his tail was frayed and cut beyond compare. Ebonwumon probably had it worse of all as one of his heads was sinking inwards, like he had taken an anvil to the skull. All four of them were certainly looking worse for wear though.
"Huanglongmon! You traitor!" Zhuqiaomon screeched when the golden dragon entered.
"Traitor?" Huanglongmon chuckled. "You four were the ones that left me to rot in the Center. And none of you even noticed when the chunk was broken off to later become Shoutmon's Kingdom. If it weren't for Bagramon, I would've been trapped for all eternity!"
"Please, don't do this Huanglongmon," Azulongmon begged. "You're not an evil Digimon."
"Nor am I good," Huanglongmon reminded them. "The Demon Lords have shown me that my good self was weak. I banished him from my soul." That explained why he was significantly smaller compared to them. "But I lost a good amount of energy because of that. If I steal yours, I will be strong once again. No, stronger than you four!"
"You fiend!" Ebonwumon croaked weakly. Only one of his heads was able to speak since the other was resting.
Baihumon just watched as Ebonwumon sobbed quietly over the deformation of his other head, as Zhuqiaomon screamed profanities, and as Azulongmon pleaded to the fifth Sovereign's goodness. As for the tiger Sovereign, he was simply thinking about how they were caught by the hands of evil. It was a trick, Huanglongmon lured them out by pretending to be on their side, and then the Demon Lords ambushed them. If they hadn't been caught by surprise, they might not be having their life energy sucked out of them.
"Can the Chosen Children really beat them?" Baihumon growled, not speaking to Huanglongmon. "Azulongmon, answer me. You are the one who trusts them most. You are the one who convinced us to trust you. But tell me… If we can fall to their hands… What can they do?"
Azulongmon didn't even hesitate when he came up with answer. "They can surpass us."
-X-
In a battle between the alpha and the omega, Omnimon has come out to be victorious! But who would've thought that he was the actual Royal Knight? Another jaw dropper, Huanglongmon turns out to be that legendary Sovereign? And he's captured his own former allies to make himself stronger! The cruelty! But the biggest question is, what's going on with Marcus and Tagiru at this point? Find out on the next Digimon: Children of the Future!
I actually had a lot of fun writing this chapter. So I hope you guys enjoyed and tell me what you thought in the form of a review down below. Sayonara!