It hurts. He doesn't think he'll last much longer at this rate. Culumon's body is weak, each burst of energy spent to help the digivolution process along leaving him closer to death. He can feel it, even with as much energy as he has stored within, to use as a conduit, he has limitations as well. He struggles to breathe, feeling the pain ebbing and flowing within him. Not for the first time, he regrets this life- not that he had much of a choice, considering how weak he is. Emotionally and physically.

As soon as Chicomon has evolved as high as he can go, he's gone and Culumon wavers in place for a few moments before collapsing face first into the ground, barely twitching as his body struggles to survive on for even one moment longer.

-x

Cass is gone. James Ellsworth is back. Carmella smiles a little as Luke fights to make sense of this abrupt change in his Smackdown Digidestined team. She squeezes James' hand, teeth flashing when he winks at her, as Choromon chatters at his feet, a little cowed by both the world they find themselves back in, and how Floramon towers over him now. But Floramon is gentle, patient, even picks Choromon up and helps him when they make their way on to the next spot in the digiworld in need of their focus.

Carmella breathes softly and thinks about everything that's going on, this new mounting danger, and glances back over at James, who is keeping a close eye out for danger just in case he should need to protect her. She exhales softly, relieved to have him back in her life. The last few months without his calm, gentle spirit had been really difficult, in more ways than she'd realized.

She's about to say so when there's a massive crash in front of them and everyone, including Shinsuke, tense up. It's Imperialdramon Paladin mode, and he looks close to murder, brandishing a large sword at them all. "You," he says, pointing the sword at them all. "You will all die. Here. Now." He laughs before swooping forward, sending his sword in a circle, slashing at all of them. James moves, quickly, tackling Carmella down and covering her body with his, tense and waiting. "Oh," Imperialdramon Paladin Mode says, voice dull and rough with the darkness his body is comprised of. "We have a hero in our midst." He throws his head back in a short, smug laugh. "I hate heroes."

The tip of his sword eases under James' chin and lifts his head up, staring into his scared blue eyes. Carmella is trembling under him and the others are all tense, watchful. James swallows hard, closing his eyes but careful not to move off of her as he steels himself for sharp pain.

"Still willing to risk it all, I see," Imperialdramon says, releasing him with a sarcastic chuckle. "It will be especially fun to break you. I look forward to the day." Then as quickly as it'd appeared, his sword is gone from James' throat and he sobs out in relief, feeling Carmella squirming and writhing under him, just to dive into his arms as soon as he moves enough for her to do anything.

"I was so scared-" she wails into his neck.

"I know," he soothes her, running his fingers through her long hair. "You're gonna be fine. Shhhhh..."

"So scared he was going to hurt you," she finishes, barely focused on what he's saying. She hugs him only tighter and he exhales hard, face flushing softly.

"I'm fine," he says, pulling away gently to look her in the eye. "He didn't do anything to me. " Physical anyway, and he shivers a little when he feels Carmella's fingers graze over his jaw. He grips her hands and brings them up to his face, where he presses soft kisses to each hand. "We're gonna be just fine," he promises her.

"I hope so," she mumbles, burying her face in his chest. anew, happy to have him close nough to just hold her.