Seth stands quietly, staring out over the vast plains of the Digital World. Recovering after the digiports were repaired, and then going on to become the Universal Champion, hadn't been all that bad, honestly. He sighs softly, looking down at Betamon. Changes had come since, however. Miz and AJ Styles were both now on Raw, beginning to fit in on their Digidestined team, and he turns slowly, watching the group slowly grow accustomed to the changes in their numbers. He figures it's good to replace what they lost when Ziggler stopped showing up, and when... He swallows hard, worrying his lip. When Dean had left. Still a sore subject for him, he narrows his eyes back down to Betamon and sees his partner, his friend, staring up at him worriedly. "I'm ok," he tells him, forcing a smile. "Lots of changes lately, huh, buddy?"
"Yeah," Betamon says softly, inching closer to press against Seth's leg. He smiles and leans down, not surprised when the little guy crawls up and snuggles against his shoulder, cool and almost slimy, but a welcome presence nonetheless.
"Wanna get this party started?" When Betamon nods, Seth pulls out his digivice and accesses the map, staring at the dots scattered here and there. "Some things never change," he sighs, walking over to the others and choosing what looks like the most dire of the situations to tackle first. "Come on, guys, we're needed."
They're always needed when they're here, it's a silly thing to say- crime on earth is as prevalent as villages at risk here, but here, they're the only ones truly equipped to fight it, and so they do.
Taking advantage of the various ways to travel available to them, the group arrives at the dot as quickly as they can, and Mike walks up to Seth, peering into the village that had sent out the SOS call. "Seems quiet," he says, both of them thinking the same thing. Could be nothing, could be a very bad sign.
"Let's go," Seth says, relieved when the others all have his back as he walks past the stones that seem to be marking where the village begins. If anything, being trapped in the digiworld for so long prior had led to something of a bonding between this team, things so tense on the road to Wrestlemania only now starting to ease. He pauses, looking around, trying to spot some villager. Or the reason for the problem... when he hears it. Loud, rattling steps. Still, despite the pure volume of each step, he's startled when he sees what's causing it- a large, horrifying looking creature with seven legs with huge claws and ugly, bulbous eyes peering down at them. "Holy shit."
"Ogudomon," Seadramon breathes out but Seth doesn't even bother to ask, just joins the others in lifting his digivice. Seadramon moves quickly, digivolving up to MetalSeadramon, Justimon, Seraphimon and Duftmon flanking him, Youkomon, Garurumon and Stingmon hanging back, holding no real chance against such a massive, strong digimon. It's then that Seth realizes how much their ranks have been diminished with the loss of Alicia, Dolph and Dean- without Lotusmon, Plesiomon and Beelzebumon, he can't help but feel uncomfortable with their chances against such an awful looking creature.
Especially when he moves, skittering forward like the oversized, murderous spider he resembles and sending the other digimon flying, his large legs piercing out at them, hideous clacking noises coming from his massive pincers as he attacks. "Metalseadramon!" Seth cries out as data flows from a jagged wound along the sea creature's side. He struggles to breathe, running forward and pressing a hand to the side of his partner's face. "Hang on. Hang on," he pleads with him, unable to handle losing something else right now. "Please..."
There's a flash of light and Seth struggles to look up as Seraphimon kneels down and holds his hand out over MetalSeadramon, a surge of healing energy spreading over them. MetalSeadramon rasps out a soft groan, uncurling his body as he slowly looks up. "Thank you," he breathes out, his wound sealing. Seraphimon nods, Seth standing on shaky legs as his partner returns to the battle a moment later, blasting energy towards Ogudomon and holding him back long enough for Seraphimon to rejoin as well, Justimon taking advantage of the distraction and slicing off one of his legs.
The scream that bursts from him is deafening, terrifying, and Seth shivers as Tamina walks up to him, a serious look on her face. "I think we can help," she says, and he turns to find Youkomon glowing with what looks like remnants of Seraphimon's healing power. She lifts her digivice and he watches as it thrums and vibrates, a crest within beginning to shift in response to the pure energy. She smirks, just a little, and lifts her hand higher, the power melding with Seraphimon's as Youkomon begins to digivolve.
Taomon is regal looking, beautiful with simple, fox-like features blending well with a humanoid form. She rushes into battle and Tamina sighs, watching closely. "It never gets easier, does it?" she asks.
"No," Seth exhales. "It absolutely does not."
Despite the loss of his leg, Ogudomon is still fighting hard, keeping a step or two ahead of the others, striking out viciously in further attempts to destroy them. Electricity from MetalSeadramon, pure light from Seraphimon, Justimon and Duftmon's sword attacks are not enough, but then Taomon joins in, lifting a large brush into the air and tracing designs, her eyes fixed on what she's doing. Seraphimon and Duftmon feel the shift in the air behind them and turn sharply, gaping at her, before lunging to help, fueling her attack with more power, more holy energy. MetalSeadramon and Justimon only pause momentarily before continuing their attacks, trying to keep Ogudomon distracted, too busy to do anything to keep the digimon behind from finishing this latest attempt at sparing the village.
"MOVE!" Taomon snaps at them, voice strained from containing so much power. "NOW!" Justimon and MetalSeadramon quickly follow her commands, ducking aside. As Ogudomon turns, his legs flashing in the bright sunshine overhead as he scrambles to attack, she waves the brush and sends the attack flying off once more, everyone watching tensely as it impacts with the creature and deletes him immediately.
"Oh my God," Seth breathes out. "It's over."
Tamina nods, walking over to join her partner, not terribly surprised when Taomon only holds it together long enough to duck her head in acknowledgement of Tamina before collapsing, immediately dedigivolving back to Piyomon. "You did quite well," Tamina says softly to the young digimon as she cradles her closely. "I am proud of you."
Seth laughs softly, relieved, as the village slowly comes back to life around them, various digimon peeking out of houses and chattering as they realize the danger has passed. Betamon returns to his shoulder and he sighs softly, rubbing his partner's back.
Things may be changing at a brutal pace for any of them right now, but, he thinks, as long as days like this are possible, they'll make it through. He turns and smiles at Tamina as she nods at him, lips twitching upwards.
