Mimi: Uh, where's Zero?
Thomas: Sleeping. He was on a plane from France to New York just a few days ago and he remains to be jet lagged. I think we should be grateful he even managed to post this chapter before passing out at his keyboard.
Jeri: Isn't his birthday coming up soon? We should do something to celebrate. Or maybe get him a present.
Taiki: How about the gift of reviews? After all, we only got three or four from the last chapter and Zero was pretty upset about it.
Rika: Could you be any more shameless?!
Zero Unit: *From behind the couch* Just read your lines!
JP: Desperation is practically oozing out of him. Honestly, it's kind of a sad sight to see. Let's just ask the readers and get this over with so we can get on to the new chapter. We don't want to keep anyone waiting for too long.
DemiVeemon: *Big baby eyes* Please readers, review after you're done reading today's chapter. We'd love to know your thoughts.
Rika: What the hell?!
Zero Unit: There is nothing wrong with using cuteness to persuade people to do things! Terriermon, Calumon, you guys are next!
Takuya: Okay… Moving on. We hope you guys enjoy this chapter and don't forget to leave a review. Please. This is getting embarrassing.
-X-
December 25: Miracle Sea - 1:17 PM
Armageddemon was a face that none of them had been hoping to see again but then it burst out of the water like a volcanic eruption. It took everything they got last time and they still couldn't destroy him. Though they had to consider themselves a little lucky at least. This time, they had two god Digimon with them and they knew the weak point of this behemoth.
"But how is this possible?!" Kristy screeched. "There is no way he should be able to stand in that water, it should be way too deep!"
CaptainHookmon turned the ship so that they wouldn't crash right into the front legs of the monster. "That's the 'Miracle' part in Miracle Sea! So long as you believe that you can, you'd be able to breathe underwater or even stand on top of it."
"Great, I always wanted to be Jesus for a day," Tomoki mumbled. He was starting to look a little green. It seemed like his heightened sense of touch made him much more aware of the rampant rocking of the boat, making him more nauseous than usual. "I'm getting off this crazy thing!"
The boy leapt off the side of the boat and landed on top of the water as Korikakumon, making nothing more than a few ripples rather than a giant splash. Turuiemon and Musyamon followed suit, running right behind the Legendary Warrior as they charged for the beast before them. The others on board took out their digivices and called out their Digimon allies or evolved them.
Takato pulled out his green card but before he could slide it through his D-Power, a voice cut through the salted air. "Shield of the Just!"
"Bio-Merge Activate!" At the last second before the beam of light hit, Gallantmon appeared. Using his shield, he was able to protect himself from the attack but it was still strong enough to blow him off his feet and send him crashing through the side of the boat and into the water.
"Takato!" TK called out.
"I'm fine!" Gallantmon coughed.
The humans that were not in Digimon form turned their heads to the assailant and to their shock, it was another Gallantmon. But this one exuded an aura of devastating power. It was Apollomon who recognized this newcomer.
"The Royal Knight, Duke!" Apollomon gasped. "But I thought he was destroyed by the Demon Lords."
Duke raised his joust and fired a beam that would've made a hole through the hull of the ship. And unlike a human or digital monster, an inanimate object was incapable of believing that it could stand on water. So they were lucky that Gallantmon gained wings and quickly flew in to block the shot with his two crossed swords.
"I'll handle him!" Gallantmon called out. "You guys deal with Armageddemon!"
Jeri bit her lower lip, unsure of leaving her friends by themselves but also knowing that the others needed her assistance. After all, Korikakumon, Turuiemon, and Musyamon were already knocked back just from a single swing of the enemy's legs. She had to focus on the bigger battle.
"Good luck Takato, Guilmon," she whispered.
Through Armageddemon's eyes, it was like observing several flying and running pests attempt to knock him down. Apollomon and Marsmon were the biggest threats as they used their strong legs to hop around like kangaroos. But MagnaAngemon was the one he had a grudge against. The other dimension that the angel had temporarily sent him into had been unbearably boring. Then there was OmniShoutmon, another nuisance that needed to be swatted down. The rest weren't much of a problem.
Apollomon and Marsmon zipped in front of the monster, the former using his foot while the latter used his fist to slam into Armageddemon's head. Much to the surprise of the DigiDestined, the creature actually shifted his position upon impact. But it definitely wasn't going to be enough.
Armageddemon opened his mouth and energy began gathering in the crevice, somehow darkening the sky along with it. Korikakumon and GrapLeomon slammed their bodies into CaptainHookmon's vessel and shoved it out of the way just as their foe fired a beam that sent the ship shaking like a cocktail. As for everyone on board, they were about ready to jump overboard.
"When they make an opening, shoot the core inside his head," CaptainHookmon ordered, cocking his gun-sword for emphasis.
Shinya and Ai, holding the sniper rifles that Commandramon had equipped them with, felt the firearms shake in their unstable hands. To them, it was incredible how the other humans could guide the Digimon from File Island into the lower quarters and glare at the monster without quivering. It was more impressive when they thought back to the last time they had seen Armageddemon. Some of their strongest forces had been helpless back then.
"Compose yourselves," Commandramon said. Like a needle, it pierced into their thoughts and suddenly, they weren't quaking so much. "I'm scared too."
"You don't look it," Shinya remarked.
"NeoDevimon took out my entire squadron except me," the armed Rookie told them. "I get scared whenever I go into every battle now. But I know, that if I let that fear take over, I'll lose more people. I won't lose anyone else."
Ai nodded, understanding. "Impmon and Noir. I won't die until I see them both again!"
Shinya had those that he wanted to see again as well. Takuya and his parents being the first ones to come to mind of course. But there was more. He had his whole life ahead of him. He couldn't lose those years now. "This is my adventure… And I'm going to take the reins."
"So, you do have guts," Commandramon chuckled.
"Black Rain!"
A black firework against the blue sky sent energy shells raining down from above. Two golden bodies, OmniShoutmon and Eaglemon, worked together to detonate the missiles before they hit the ship. The ones down below could do nothing more than cover their heads as the explosions sounded from all directions.
"Taiki, fuse me and the Star Sword with OmniShoutmon!" Musyamon called out. "I'll lend him my sword fighting abilities."
Marsmon landed in front of the General. "I'd also like to request a Xros with Turuiemon. Combining our martial arts abilities would benefit us greatly."
"Hmph, an Olympian asking for my help?" said Turuiemon. "An honor."
Without the rules of the Hunt constricting Taiki's fusion freedom, he was able to fulfill both of their requests. OmniShoutmon gained the swordplay abilities of a samurai while Marsmon's punching technique became smoother and swifter. As a bonus, Apollomon and Eaglemon were fused together, giving the Sun God powerful wings to allow him to soar through the skies at great speeds.
"Victory Slash!"
"Endless Surge!"
"Phoenix Solblaster!"
From the left, a V-shaped slash. From the right, a flurry of a thousand punches, tipped with spikes from the fusion counterpart. And the most important, from the back, a warrior coated in a blinding ball of flame that took on the shape of a phoenix.
But Armageddemon didn't have to do much to protect himself. He stomped down on the ones on his sides with two of his six legs while he used his tail to smack down the fireball from behind. It was like he wasn't even being serious. Though, it's not like the other three were either.
"They've got him!" Kristy called out.
The three powerhouses latched onto the appendages that had assaulted them, trying to keep the colossus down in one place. That was when any available Digimon charged for the forehead with MagnaAngemon leading. Blades striking, bullets flying, and energy being expelled only to bounce off his hard head.
"Well, that did about as much damage as a mosquito could to a brick," Korikakumon grimaced.
Armageddemon let out a piercing shriek and with a rapid spin, he was able to whip off his three captors. The spin also generated a tidal wave that capsized the ship and enveloped everyone on the battlefield. Meramon dove back into the ship while Elecmon desperately tried to gather up the eggs that had fallen out.
"My gun!" Ai gasped.
"I dropped mine too," Shinya coughed.
The two of them were neck deep in seawater, trying to believe that they could stand on it would be a lot easier if they'd been to the Digital World once before. Though Kristy didn't seem to have a problem with it either. Everyone else seemed to have no trouble remembering the fact that the laws of physics didn't apply to this world. Commandramon helped them both back onto their feet.
"New plan, you two get away from here," the Rookie told them. "Don't look back."
"Don't be stupid," Shinya argued. "We're staying."
There wasn't much room to say any more as Armageddemon started running forward, letting out more shrieks with each step. His front legs stomped down on anyone and anything that dared cross his path and his fangs bit down on anyone that flew too close to his face.
"Stay back!" Korikakumon roared. "Frozen Arrowheads!"
The Legendary Warrior's dreadlocks weren't enough to keep the behemoth from moving. But it was able to keep his mouth open. If any point should be a weak spot, it would be from the inside out. And that was exactly where Shoutmon and MagnaAngemon were charging into with their blades raised high over their heads.
"Omni Fusion Blade!"
"Excalibur!"
With a wave of his front leg, Korikakumon was propelled high into the sky. And in the next second, he was firing a concentrated beam from his mouth, blasting the two that were inside before they could strike. But while these three had him distracted, three others were aiming for his back.
Marsmon, coated in flames rained down like a meteor. "Corona Sanctions!"
"Never underestimate the gods!" Apollomon roared as he joined his comrade in a fiery fury. "Pheonix Solblaster!"
Jeri slid a card through her D-Power. "Don't forget about us! Digi-Modify! Double Dose Activate!"
"Lion Beast Wave Slash!"
For the first time since this fight started, it looked like they actually did some damage as Armageddemon arced his back and screamed in pain. But the craters they created started sewing themselves up almost immediately. Before they could try another attack, the creature used his Black Rain attack once more, blowing the trio away.
"Not again!" Kristy groaned.
Jeri quickly took out another card. "Digi-Modify! Anti-Gravity Field Activate!"
From her digivice, a circular yellow field appeared suddenly causing everything inside to start floating a few feet above the water's surface. The energy shells also went skywards and exploded like black fireworks, shrouding the sky. And when the card's effect wore off, everything landed with a splash, sending more waves rocking.
"I've had enough of this!" Korikakumon huffed when he fell. Balling up his hands into fists, the ocean began freezing over, starting from the area that he was on. It soon spread until everyone was stuck to the sea itself, including Armageddemon. Manipulating the ice a bit, he was able to free his comrades while keeping the enemy frozen. "Attack now! Before you lose the chance!"
"At the head!" Koh ordered.
"Kaiser Arrow of Apollo!"
"Shogun Metal Vulcan!"
"Soul Vanisher!"
A combination attack of their strongest fighters' long-range attacks. Even their Digimon allies got in on the action by adding their own attacks into the blast.
"Leg Revolver!" "Lightning Blade!" "Hearts Attack!" "Aerial Attack!" "Solar Ray!" "Subzero Ice Punch!" "Magma Blast!"
Just before the hailstorm of fire, ice, bullets, bubbles, and light hit, Armageddemon freed his four front legs and lifted himself up, standing on his hind legs for just a moment. But it was enough to change the trajectory of the attacks as they hit his underbelly rather than his face. And just like with his back, his wounds started healing themselves one second later.
"This is getting ridiculous!" OmniShoutmon yelled.
"And I hate to say it, but I'm running out of energy," MagnaAngemon huffed. "I think our best course action is to retreat."
"We can't!" CaptainHookmon retorted. "There's no way we'd be able to get away from that thing fast enough! We're bound to lose someone if we try to run."
They were back to square one. The Digimon started flying and running around the monumental enemy as they tried to come up with a new plan, any kind of strategy. But it was hard to think when the monster was constantly firing laser beams from his gaping maw. Though they were at least able to turn his attention away from the turned over ship, where most of the humans and Digi-Eggs were.
Unimon landed on the water beside Commandramon and the two partnerless humans. Ai and Shinya, without even talking about it, were pushed onto the equestrian's back. Commandramon ordered Unimon to take them to safety but before the horse could take off, Shinya dismounted.
"What are you doing?!" Commandramon snapped. "It's too dangerous here for you."
"Right, because it's so much less so for a Rookie Digimon," Shinya scoffed. "You need to come with us. You can't do anything against that thing!"
Commandramon's back faced the boy and he refused to turn and look at him. "You're wrong… So long as I'm still standing, breathing, living, I can still put up a fight."
This was the most passion Shinya had ever heard from the soldier Digimon. Most of the time, he was being a strict teacher or yelling at him for lazing around. Even when he was talking about how he lost his squadron to the opposing army, he sounded practically emotionless. But wasn't that what war was supposed to do to soldiers? Harden them?
"Then so can I," said Shinya. "I'll fight too."
"No!" Commandramon shouted, finally pivoting on his heel to face the human. "You… still have your family waiting for you back home, right? And the Legendary Warrior cares about you too. I overheard him talking to his spirits, about how he couldn't afford to lose a friend like you. As for me, I… My best friends, my own brother, the person I loved… They're all gone because of the Demon Lords. I… have nothing else to lose."
Before Shinya could make another argument, Commandramon broke into a sprint. With Armageddemon's back turned, he couldn't see the approaching Rookie and with his focus on the bigger threats, he couldn't hear the footsteps he made when his feet hit the water's surface.
"Shinya, come back!" Ai shouted when the older human ran after the dragon.
Commandramon pointed his assault rifle at Armageddemon's back and opened fire. "M16 Assassin!"
Like pebbles thrown against a steel wall, it did nothing to Armageddemon. So why was he turning around? As the behemoth spun around, more waves were generated, throwing everyone still standing off balance. His tail whipped down those in the sky and shot them down. Once he completed his one-eighty, his eyes fell upon Commandramon who froze up.
A pest. "Destiny…" Commandramon couldn't move, he couldn't bring himself to turn around or jump to the side. "Destroyer!" All he could see was the beam of dark energy coming right towards him. And then, Shinya's arms closing around him and spinning him around just as everything went black.
"NO!" Korikakumon bellowed.
"Shinya!" Ai screamed.
The sky returned to its blue color and Shinya and Commandramon were nowhere to be found. The Chosen Children and their comrades were in shock but there wasn't any time to grieve as Armageddemon was still on the offensive. Korikakumon was the only Digimon that was unable to move, his eyes glued to the spot where his best friend had been just seconds ago.
"No… This can't be," he whispered, shaking his head.
Just then, from out of the water in front of him, a giant book surfaced. The Legendary Warrior blinked, unsure of what he was looking at when it opened to somewhere in the middle. And out popped Wisemon holding Shinya and Commandramon under each arm.
"Just in time," Taiki sighed in relief, falling to his butt.
Wisemon had been given a special mission from Taiki, to make sure that no matter what, Shinya and Ai were kept safe. If anything were to come charging at them, the book would slam over them, sending them into Wisemon's personal subspace where they would be safe from harm.
"Shinya!" Korikakumon gasped, picking up the boy into a hug. "God, you scared me back there!"
"Tommy!" the boy gasped out. "Can't… breathe…!"
"Oh, sorry."
Commandramon watched as Shinya fell back onto the pages of the book. "That was… really stupid you know. I thought you were scared."
"More scared of having you gone," Shinya replied once he caught his breath. "I don't think your loved ones would've appreciated seeing you so soon. Not to mention, you were probably more scared than I was with the way you were frozen back there."
The dragon puffed up his cheeks and turned his head. "Hm… Not really."
"It's not a bad thing to be scared," Shinya chuckled. "If you're afraid of dying, that means you're happy to be alive, right?"
Commandramon was surprised by this moment of profound wisdom from the boy. The two of them looked to each other, realizing just how happy they both were to be alive. But then the moment was ruined when Korikakumon started snickering.
"Stealing a line from Lloyd Irving to sound cool?"
"Hey, he doesn't need to know that!"
Commandramon sighed. "That makes more sense. But… thanks, Shinya. Really."
At that moment, a bright light appeared right above their heads and landed in Shinya's hands. It didn't come as a surprise to Korikakumon, though Shinya was absolutely elated when he saw the black D-Power with a red ring in the center. That would mean his partner is… Commandramon!
"Interesting," Wisemon mused. "So this is what they mean when they say the digivice is a physical representation of a bond between partners."
"So I'm really a DigiDestined!" Shinya cheered, jumping up and down. "A Tamer to boot! Good thing I brought my deck with me."
Korikakumon's head tilted upwards when he noticed the drop in temperature. Clouds had gathered over their heads while they were distracted with their fight with Armageddemon. And this entire time, they had believed that the darkening sky was because of the enemy's attacks. But instead of rain, snow began falling.
"This is our domain now," Kumamon's voice called out. "Not to mention, it's Christmas! Do you guys think we can produce a Christmas miracle?"
Korikakumon's voice snorted. "You can be such a kid. Though… It wouldn't be a bad idea to try."
Tommy returned to his human form, standing beside his best human friend just as he found his digivolution card. He was going to have to work on pulling out cards as fast as the veteran Tamers. Together, the pair raised their digivices to the air.
"Digi-Modify! Digivolution Activate!"
"Commandramon Digivolve to... " The soldier felt like his skin was being torn off though not exactly in a painful manner, it was more like his current form was a cocoon and he was just coming out of his shell. Oddly enough, on the inside was solid, metallic armor. His snout became thinner and his tail became longer, whipping around behind him with enough force to break boulders. Blades popped out from his back and a knife appeared in his hands as he completed his transformation. "Sealsdramon!"
"Execute Fusion Evolution!" Tommy watched as his two spirits collided into each other and him, taking on a massive form that stood tall on the ice. He wasn't very intimidating considering how round he was and the deadpan expression on his face. Despite that, he didn't look like the type to be messed with considering he was about as large as MegaGargomon with two giant popsicles in each flipper just as big as he. "Daipenmon!"
Digital Analyzer: It is said that one in every hundred Commandramon can evolve into Sealsdramon. These Digimon may only be at the Champion level but they are not to be trifled with. They can close long distances in short amounts of time and they are said to bring down their targets with only their hand-to-hand combat. Their specialty is assassination.
Digital Analyzer: Daipenmon is worthy of being the reincarnation of the ancient Legendary Warrior of Ice with power over his element that transcends legend. Although his wings have degenerated, by flapping Kakikaki-kun (Lil' Freezy on his right) and Kochikochi-kun (Lil' Stiffy on his left), he seems to momentarily fly. There is no worry for having these popsicles melt as he can manufacture more instantaneously.
"He's huge!" Shinya blanched.
"Ah, Taiki has fought both of these Digimon before," Wisemon mentioned. "I suppose not every one of them can be part of the Bagra Army."
Sealsdramon crouched down as Shinya quickly used a Hyper Wing card. The assassin Digimon gained six glowing wings and then vanished into thin air. Though in reality, he just moved faster than the naked eye could perceive. He reappeared on Armageddemon's face and with a spin, he slammed his foot and his knife into the monster's eye, causing him to screech in pain.
"Scouter Monoeye," said Koh.
"Eh?" Taiki blinked, looking over to the other boy. "What does that mean?"
"Sealsdramon have a special cybernetic eye that allows them to scope out the vital points in their opponents," Koh explained. "If I were to make a guess, I'd say the Demon Lords reinforced Armageddemon's defenses from the last time you guys fought him. That makes his weak point, the eyes."
Daipenmon slid across the ice, which had become thicker and thicker with the appearance of his new form, at incredible speeds. He raised his two popsicles in the air and slamming them down on Armageddemon's back, recreating the arc from earlier. "Strawberry Death! Blue Hawaii Death!" It was almost like he was chopping vegetables with two knives as he slammed the behemoth over and over again, not allowing him to get back up.
"Ruthless," Kristy cringed.
"But he keeps regenerating," Jeri murmured. "What we need is a force strong enough to not only break open his face, but his core at the same time." The idea struck her immediately though she couldn't be sure it would work until they tried it. "Taiki, fuse together both Olympians and GrapLeomon!"
"The three strongest martial artists in one?" said Taiki. "Sounds like a plan! Digi-Xros!"
Even this much power wouldn't be enough. After all, they've tried strong combinations like this one before. But if Takato could use a modify card while inside the Xros, perhaps if Jeri used one to boost her own partner who was inside… "Digi-Modify! Formation Alpha: Release Restraint Activate!"
With Apollomon as the base, he combined forces with two other anthropomorphic wild cats, causing him to exude power like never before. Coating himself in flames, he rocketed for Armageddemon's head. "God Beast King Fist!" With a force that seemed to shake the entire ocean, the face cracked and shattered, revealing the core underneath.
"Now!" Koh called out.
"Everyone attack!"
"Victorize Banking!" "Kaiser Phoenix!" "Strawberry Death!" "Soul Vanisher!"
The final screech echoed through their ears as the giant disintegrated before their eyes, leaving nothing but an enormous silhouette of an egg and a fractal code. Daipenmon returned to his human form and with a flick of the wrist, the code was loaded into the D-Tector. Everyone was finally able to take a breather.
"Tommy, Commandramon, you two were awesome!" Shinya cheered, running over to the pair.
"Really?" said Tommy. His face was the same color as Kochikochi-kun. "I didn't look silly?"
"What are you talking about?" Shinya grinned. "Armageddemon, the Digimon that couldn't be beaten by several powerhouses was being knocked down by a single Legendary Warrior! Don't you think that sounds awesome?"
Well, when he puts it like that. "Well, out of all the ancients, AncientMegatheriumon had the most physical strength so it shouldn't be that surprising."
"Now, who's trying to look cool?"
After retrieving a resting Biyomon, Kristy walked over to Jeri's side. The other brunette and the quadrupedal lion were both tired out. "Are you okay?" Kristy asked. "After what happened during our last fight…"
"Momentai. I'm just peachy," Jeri smiled, grateful for her schoolmate's concern. "GrapLeomon didn't get hurt so much as fatigued." Her smile fell as she looked over her shoulder. "The boat was rocked far away from its original course though. Do you think Takato's okay?"
"Knowing him, he should be fine," said Taiki. "But we should go and check."
Koh nodded in agreement. "We'll go as soon as we finish fishing up all the eggs."
They watched Elecmon slide across the ice on his belly after he had slipped. "The babies!"
December 25: ? - 1:20 PM
Ryo and Suzie no longer knew what was happening anymore. They had expected pain, suffering, and torture, not first-class service and fine dining. They were even put into aristocratic suits and dresses in a golden, glittering room filled with the aromas of delicacies from all over the Earth.
At the head of the long dining table sat Lucemon, twirling a glass filled with sparkling wine and along the sides were the rest of the Demon Lords. Well, almost all them. Leviamon and Belphemon were obviously too big to fit in here so who knows where they were having lunch. And Impmon was sitting in between the captive Tamers, fancily dressed (a bowtie instead of his bandana) and served steamed lobster.
"This is weird, right?" Suzie whispered.
Ryo nodded. "Extremely."
"What, did you think we ate like barbarians?" Laylamon chuckled. "Darlings, only the big brutes are like that."
There was one thing that didn't seem to fit with this setting of pristine pillars, beautifully designed walls, and the crystal chandelier. And that was the holographic projection on the far wall, perfectly in place with Lucemon's line of vision. On screen was the battle that was occurring on top of the waters of Miracle Sea.
"If you know where they are, why don't you attack yourselves?" Impmon scoffed.
"It's more amusing this way," Lucemon chuckled. "More importantly, we cannot leave this place just yet. Not until those pesky Sovereigns are gone."
Suzie suddenly shot out of her seat, slamming her palms into the table and causing the fancy china to clatter around. "I've had enough of this! Where are our partners?! What's up with this whole setup?! What are you plotting?!"
Barbamon stroked his long beard as he picked up his bowl of soup, bringing it to his lips. "Oh? Someone's impatient."
"Just kick the bucket already, old man," Impmon spat.
"Is that how you refer to your elders on Earth?" Barbamon harrumphed.
At that moment, the doors swung open and surprisingly, it was a human that stepped into the dining room. Though it was not a face that Ryo, Suzie, or Impmon were happy to see. In the few days they had been held captive here, this was the first time they had seen Masamune Kurosaki. Not since the last Armageddemon appearance.
"I see you're all still eating lunch," Kurosaki muttered, his nose wrinkling in disdain.
This was actually the very first time Suzie had ever seen this person but she did know that he was the one who had wanted her older brother murdered. "You...!" Just then, her vision went hazy and her stomach felt empty. As if she hadn't been filling it with delicious food, breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the last few days. "What's… going on?"
"There's a reason why I don't eat any of that stuff," said Kurosaki.
Suzie turned to look to her friends but Ryo was suddenly gobbling down on his lobster, shell and all. And Impmon was no longer in his Rookie form though he was not Boogeymon or Beelzemon either. It was Devimon that sat next to her, eating as much as he possibly could.
"What did you do to us?" Suzie venomously growled, glaring at the Demon Lords.
"Do you know what sin Beelzemon represents?" Lucemon asked, taking a sip of his wine. The trio were incapable of answering as their mouths were stuffed. "Gluttony. This food is laced with negative emotions made from the denizens of your world. Doesn't change the flavor, but does change what it does to your bodies. Haven't you noticed that you've been getting crankier, more homesick? The effects of eating this."
Kurosaki walked over to Lucemon's side. "As for the reason why you can't stop eating… Just being near Devimon is enough to give you insatiable hunger."
Suzie didn't know how long it went on. It felt like years had passed when they finally stopped eating because they simply couldn't take it anymore. There were still crumbs from the apple pie falling out of their mouths as their chins hit the tabletop. They were exhausted, no matter how hard they tried, they could not keep their eyes open.
"Sleep well, little lambs," Laylamon giggled.
Daemon turned to address Kurosaki. "Well? Have you found them?"
"Of course I have," Kurosaki answered curtly. "What do you take me for?" He snapped his fingers and the doors opened again, with two Voidlings creeping in. They each dragged a coffin behind them, causing it to make an unpleasant scraping noise against the linoleum. "They're in there. But just so you know, I'm not getting involved with what comes next."
"We don't expect you to," Barbamon snorted.
"Let us do the rest," Daemon stated darkly. "Soon, the Akumako will be complete and Beelzemon will once again join our ranks."
December 25: Miracle Sea - 1:20 PM
Gallantmon watched as the vessel they were on just moments ago drifted away along with the moving mountain that was Armageddemon. Hopefully the others would be able to take him on without the winged paladin. For now, he had to focus on fighting Duke. Well, that was the worst-case scenario at least.
"Duke, why do you do this?" Gallantmon inquired. "You're a Royal Knight!"
"Precisely! I am, and you are not!" Duke stated.
"Is this a case of jealousy?" Gallantmon murmured to himself.
Duke seemed to be eyeing the incandescent wings on the other knight which made sense. After all, Duke probably couldn't access Crimson Mode like his opponent since Grani was created by the Monster Makers. But he didn't seem like he would back down just because Gallantmon had another mode.
"I had heard from my master that there was an impostor running around and wreaking havoc in the Digital World," explained Duke. "That impostor is none other than a human boy and a toddler Digimon. I will put an end to your mischief!"
"Mischief?!" Gallantmon blanched.
"The Demon Lords must be tricking him with these lies," said Guilmon.
Takato nodded. "Yeah, you're right. We have to make him see the truth!"
Gallantmon's swords disappeared, leaving behind twinkles as he took a few steps forward. "Duke, I can promise you that I am not evil. Please, open your eyes and realize that you are being manipulated by the Demon Lords! They are the true evil."
"The Demon Lords have been sealed away for a long while now," Duke replied. "If you're going to lie, make up a believable one. And if you think I can't win just because of your red armor, then allow me to show you a trick."
"A trick?"
Duke splayed out his palm and raised it high over his head, summoning a magic circle. It lowered itself onto the Royal Knight, slowly changing his appearance from top to bottom. When it got past his shoulders to reveal the shining red-plated armor, Gallantmon was almost afraid that he had somehow entered Crimson mode. But then his transformation was completed and his lower armor was shining silver and instead of wings, there was a glittering scarlet cape with a gold hem.
"MedievalGallantmon!" Duke bellowed in his new form.
Digital Analyzer: MedievalGallantmon is a warrior Digimon and a carrier of the X-Antibody. He is praised as a Legendary Hero in the hidden land of Witchelny, having driven off foreign invaders from there once before. In battle, he is equipped with armor made from the greatest sorcery and the mightiest magical lance, Dynas, which conceals the power of a Wyvern. Though none have seen this legendary Digimon in the Digital World, there are many myths surrounding him, thus dubbing him "Warrior of Fantasy."
"Unbelievable," Gallantmon gaped.
"Coated in this suit of arms and armed with Dynas," Duke stated. "I sealed the Demon Lord of Gluttony on my own. You are the second to ever witness it."
Gallantmon was about to say something when Duke shot forward. The red knight immediately flew upwards as Duke made his slash. They didn't have to look back to see the tidal wave that had been generated behind them. If it hit land, everything would be eroded away into sand.
"Takato! We have to fight!" Guilmon shouted.
As much as the Tamer didn't want to, he knew his partner was right. "Digi-Modify! Hyper Speed Activate!"
Gallantmon flew back down at breakneck speed, swinging his two swords in front of him with the skill of a pro. But Duke didn't budge from his spot. With one armored hand, he was able to maneuver Dynas in a way that parried every single one of his opponent's blows. Then, with his free hand, he slammed a punch into Gallantmon's gut and then tossed back onto the water where he skipped like a stone.
"So this is how much power it would take to combat a Demon Lord?" Gallantmon huffed.
Duke pointed his lance at Gallantmon. "There is more where that came from. Rage of Wyvern!"
Dynas began shooting out magical bullets from the tip. Gallantmon quickly leapt to the side, tucking and rolling as he heard the bullets hit the water, causing explosive geysers in their wake. As soon as the angelic paladin landed on his feet, he shot forward once more.
"I won't lose!" Gallantmon roared. "Invincible Sword!"
Duke swung his own blade in a very similar arc. "Final Crest!" Though it seemed like he had more power as Gallantmon was easily blown away. "Hmph… I probably could've beaten you in my previous form if this is all the strength you possess. You don't even have a right to be my phony."
Gallantmon skidded across the water and when he came to a stop, Duke noticed that something seemed different about his winged foe. The scratches on his armor mended themselves and he stood as tall and firm as he did in the beginning in the battle. It was as if he hadn't expended any energy at all.
"I'm glad," Gallantmon breathed.
Duke frowned, unable to understand the relief in the other knight's face. "For what, knave?"
"If this is all the power it takes to fight a Demon Lord, then we'll definitely win," Gallantmon explained. "I can surpass your power."
"What?!" Duke scowled. He jabbed his lance at Gallantmon. "You dare to mock me, you cur?! A phony?!"
Gallantmon put up his hands to show that he didn't mean to word it in such a way. "No, I didn't intend to make it sound like that. It's just that… half of me is a Tamer. And that half has the power to make this form exceed boundaries. And that half has also received lots of special training from a certain king and queen. As well as a gift from a future programmer."
At the park, Rika and Ryo sat all the Tamers down around Guilmon's shed for a special training session. This didn't have anything to do with making themselves stronger or faster. It didn't even have to do with their Digimon partners. All they needed was their Digimon decks in front of them and a few new packs of cards.
"Don't be so quick to attack," Rika scolded Kazu, hitting him on the head with a rolled up newspaper. "You need to assess your opponent first!"
Kazu flopped down into the grass, nearly destroying the game he was playing against Jeri. "But that's so boring!"
Takato was playing a game against Henry since they were nearly at the same skill level. Well, that was what their card game instructors said but the brunet couldn't seem to beat his opponent at all. Every single move he made was easily countered and at some points, he was prevented from attacking at all. It was like trying to move Mount Fuji.
"Are you guys sure I can beat Henry?" Takato huffed. "I've lost five times in a row already."
Ryo knelt down beside the younger boy. "You've become a lot better than the 'Hyper Wing is my trump card' kid from five years ago. But your tactics are still too simplistic and straightforward. You've got a lot of shield, stalling, and healing cards in your hand, try to make your opponent reveal as much as they can before going at him."
Takato glanced over at Kazu and Rika, the pair were bickering over which was a better tactic. Striking down the general or observing the army first. "What if I'm fighting someone really strong, like the Demon Lords?" he asked. "Guilmon and I might not have the time or luxury. We're not as skilled as you guys."
Even though Henry wasn't one of the instructors, he decided to put in his own thoughts. "Try calming down a bit. Not every situation presses you for time."
"Exactly," Ryo said. "And even if they do, Doppelganger and New Coat of Arms are great cards to stall. The first for distraction and the second for immediate rejuvenation. Don't save them for later. Use them to bring you closer to victory."
"There is something else," Henry added, pulling out nine cards from his back pocket. "These are brand new, designed to be compatible with only our partners, since there are nine of them in total. Here Takato, this one is for you. Just be careful, the repercussions are supposedly awful. So only use them when fighting a truly strong opponent."
"I don't understand," Duke stated. "How did you heal so fast?"
Gallantmon raised his hand and a card appeared in it. "The Nine Cosmic Cards, used only for emergency situations and are only compatible with us. This one is Earth Life, a card that will bring me in tune with all of nature and heal me instantly. One use per battle, like any other card, but don't think that I was the same as I was few seconds ago."
"Don't get cocky!" Duke scoffed, aiming his lance once more. "Rage of Wyvern!"
Earth Life didn't just heal but it also heightened every one of Gallantmon's senses. He could see the bullets coming towards him as if they were in slow-motion, hear the wind whistle as they flew, and even feel the slight change in pressure from a few miles away. It was snowing somewhere. If things went well, this battle would be finished before the snow reached them.
His two swords flashed in front of him, deflecting every single bullet with ease. "Like I said, I'm not the same. Royal Saber!"
Duke avoided the bolt of lightning that struck down with a tumble. As soon as he was upright again, he charged forward, swinging his lance. "Final Crest!"
Gallantmon blocked the magical weapon with one of his own and then used the other to slash his foe's armor. Then with a turn, he was able to slam a back kick into Duke's stomach sending him backwards. As a final attack, he shrouded himself in a bright red light and expanded it outwards.
"Crimson Light!"
When it was no longer too bright to see, Gallantmon saw that Duke had protected himself by using his cape as a shield. One would think that such a thing would be too flimsy to be effective as protection but since it was forged by magic, there was no telling what it was capable of. Had Gallantmon seen what had happened, he'd have known that the cape became a barrier made out of wind, practically a hurricane, that bent the Crimson Light attack around him.
"Impressive," said Duke. "I suppose this means I can get serious as well."
"You mean he hasn't been?" Guilmon blinked.
Once again, Duke raised his splayed out hand towards the sky but instead of a magic circle, a cross appeared over his head. Gallantmon frowned, not quite comprehending before it clicked that it was actually an X. A bit too late as it closed around the knight and then burst into little flecks of light, revealing another new form of the Royal Knight.
This shape was most similar to the original though his armor was certainly sleeker and reflected light like fresh snow. His blade was made out of pure energy while shield also seemed to gain some improvements in terms of design and functionality. This exalted knight exuded much more power than MedievalGallantmon had which was quite a feat considering how powerful the magical paladin had been.
"Gallantmon X!" Duke bellowed.
Gallantmon adjusted his stance. "So this is when the real fight starts."
-X-
Armageddemon was defeated and Tommy even found his fusion form while Shinya found his partner! But not all's good. What is happening with the Demon Lords and their captives? Will Ryo and Suzie really become Akumako? And which Gallantmon will win this battle of the knights? And just how many forms can they possibly have? Find out on the next Digimon: Children of the Future!
I do hope this chapter has been adequate enough. I feel like fight scenes have been slipping through my grasps lately. Maybe I'm imagining it. Anyway, to the reviewer who asked about what was happening with Tai and Matt, you'll find out soon. Hope you all enjoyed and please leave a review. Getting kind of tired of feeling desperate. Until next time!