Digimon Adventure: Destiny's Heroes

by Lichlord08

A group of Digital Heroes have been pulled to a world unlike any they've seen before, one being overrun and oppressed by a powerful evil. Seeking to find what brought them there, the heroes unite to learn why they were summoned and stop the Dark Forces in their tracks, while dealing with new, developing feelings amongst them. (special thanks to Liquidphazon) (M for later chapters).

43. Chapter 43

Narrowing their eyes, the heroes and heroines realized they were in a highly troublesome and dangerous situation.

With the new Digimon, Desumeijimon, the first Scion of Mortismon, which now stood before them, and Charonmon and the Dark Tribe forces behind them, the situation left the heroes and heroines trapped between two enemies.

Fortunately, it seemed to the group that Desumeijimon was no ally of the Dark Tribe as they noticed the Dark Digimon looking ready to defend themselves from the death mystic Digimon if necessary.

Looking to the tome in MedievalGallantmon's arms, Desumeijimon narrowed his eyes as he looked amongst the heroes and heroines, declaring with a menacing tone. "Return the Book of Death, and your ends will be swift."

"Sorry, pal, but we need this book, you can have it back after." MedievalGallantmon said back as he swung his halberd around and declared with might. "Rage of the Wyvern!"

"Rinkageki!"

"Holy Strike!"

"Holy Judgement!"

"Sacred Flame!"

"Full Spirit Wave!"

"Crimson Force!"

"Hurricane Spiral!"

"Flaming Destruction!"

"Violet Blast!"

"Omni Force!"

"Inferno Spiral!"

"Ancient Blaze!"

"Gaia Link!"

"Golden Arrow!"

"Rhythmic Stream!"

The attacks went soaring toward the death mystic Digimon, who didn't move as the onslaught headed straight for him, and instead, a large cloud of dark mist emerged from Desumeijimon's body, covering and protecting his being from the assault as the attacks bounced off the energy, much to the shock of the heroes and heroines.

"The Dark Mist, Mortismon's shadow." Charonmon just said in awe as he watched the dark energy emerging from Desumeijimon, the statement causing Novicmon to almost pale in response.

According to legend, it was this mist, this energy that poured from the Primordial of Death during his reign of terror, killing, destroying and absorbing all in its path to feed Mortismon's insatiable hunger.

The Dark Mist then shot from Desumeijimon's form, rushing towards the heroes, where MagnaVeedramon, MedievalGallantmon and Marcus moved in front of their friends to shield them from the attack.

"Magna Shield!"

"Dynas Protection!"

"Firewall!"

Combining their defensive abilities, MagnaVeedramon, MedievalGallantmon and Marcus created a barrier between them, their friends and the oncoming mist, where the trio groaned greatly as the dark energy tried to push through their attacks.

While the heroes tried to protect everyone, some of the Dark Mist bounced off the barrier and tried to move to the grounds below, where Charonmon, the Necromon and Lichmon quickly reacted, the Dark Digimon casting forth their own energy barriers to block the deadly attack from not only affecting them, but their artifacts as well.

As they tried to push back the dark forces set against them, MagnaVeedramon, MedievalGallantmon and Marcus looked through their barrier, seeing that, within the mist, what looked like skeletal spirits were trying to tear through the energy protecting the trio and their friends, trying to claw their way towards the heroes and heroines.

Refocusing, MagnaVeedramon, MedievalGallantmon and Marcus then let out great cries as they pushed forward, sending the Dark Mist back and allowing them some breathing room, before the three and their allies quickly dodged dark energy blasts from behind the mist as Desumeijimon shot out towards them with his blades ready to strike, heading straight for MedievalGallantmon and the tome still in his arms.

"Noble Strike!"

"Magna Saber!"

"Blazing Blade!"

"Cross Slicer!"

Moving with MagnaVeedramon, MedievalGallantmon and Marcus, Samudramon went to strike at Desumeijimon, hoping to take the death mystic off guard.

But moving his four arms together, Desumeijimon used his weapons to block each strike, before pushing them all back with a powerful burst of energy, not only causing the four heroes to cry out in pain, but also caused the tome to fall out of MedievalGallantmon's hand, where it landed right at Charonmon's foot, much to Jeri and Novicmon's concerns.

Moving quickly, the chief mystic of the Dark Tribe picked the tome up and moved it to the table behind him, where Jeri and Novicmon looked on in concern as the dark mystic began flipping through the pages, before, much to the small mystic Digimon and the brunette's surprise, Charonmon began removing pages, placing them in a small satchel, which he then wrapped up and placing in his robes, closing the book when he was done.

As this was happening, the heroes and heroines were still fighting Desumeijimon, doing what they could to engage the death mystic in close combat and prevent him from using his dark magic against them.

"Cross Slicer!"

"Noble Strike!"

"Magna Saber!"

"Striking Light!"

"Phoenix Knuckle!"

"Spiritual Spear Strike!"

"Blazing Sabers!"

"Wind Blades!"

"Blazing Blade!"

"Thorn Saber!"

"Victory Slasher!"

"Mythic Strike!"

"Skydive Force!"

"Sage Cutter!"

"Savage Slash!"

"Ballistic Barrage!"

As the heroes and heroines continued to strike at him, Desumeijimon felt his rage growing.

The death mystic tried to find the right moment to push his foes back and use the power his Master gave him to finish off these intruders.

However, a nagging feeling filled the death mystic as he fought his foes, feeling a familiar light within them, the same light that fought against Mortismon so long ago, and it filled him with rage.

"Enough of this!" Desumeijimon suddenly bellowed as he brought his arms together, before he brought them out and sent out a devastating shockwave of dark energy that sent the heroes and heroines flying back with a cry, slamming into either the ground or into the rock face of the pit.

Getting up, the group looked to see the Dark Mist forming once again around the death mystic's being, ready to unleash his power once again as Desumeijimon's weapons began to glow with dark purple energy.

Quickly moved and regrouping, the heroes and heroines looked up at the death mystic, who glared down at his foes as he prepared to finish them off with one powerful attack.

"Your defiance of Mortismon shall end here! This world will be left in ruin and death!" Desumeijimon declared, casting forth not only the Dark Mist, but also powerful blasts of dark energy from his weapons, sending forth the dark power residing within him as the energy surged towards the heroes and heroines.

Seeing the attack coming towards them, the heroes and heroines braced themselves to try and fend off the powerful attack, only to stop as they felt a power within them grow, as though reacting to the darkness approaching them.

Sensing a powerful force himself, Charonmon looked to Novicmon, who took his hat off and looked into it, moving his head just as a cosmic light burst out from either, the six primordial fragments acting as one as their energies filled the heroes and heroines.

Seeing this, Charonmon then looked to Jeri, who's D-Bracer began to glow with bright energy, which caused out, causing the dark energy restraints to break and allowing the brunette to fall to the ground, where Novicmon quickly grabbed Jeri and rushed past the dark mystic, who let them go as he looked back at the battle.

Feeling the energy coursing through them, sensing the primordial fragments giving them strength to fight against Mortismon's darkness once more, the heroes and heroines unleashed their power together, using all their might to end Desumeijimon here and now.

"Rinkageki!"

"Holy Strike!"

"Holy Judgement!"

"Sacred Flame!"

"Rage of the Wyvern!"

"Full Spirit Wave!"

"Crimson Force!"

"Hurricane Spiral!"

"Flaming Destruction!"

"Violet Blast!"

"Omni Force!"

"Inferno Spiral!"

"Ancient Blaze!"

"Gaia Link!"

"Golden Arrow!"

"Rhythmic Stream!"

Their attacks combining as one, the energies turned into a great cosmic light as they slammed into the Dark Mist and Desumeijimon's attack, pushing against one another as the two powers fought against one another.

However, trusting in one another and giving it their all, the heroes and heroines let out great battle cries as they united and sent further energy into their attack as it pushed through the Dark Mist, dispelling the dark energy with Desumeijimon's attack and rushed towards the death mystic.

Shock and disbelief filled Desumeijimon as the powerful attack came rushing towards him, cursing himself for failing his Master.

'It cannot end like this… I cannot fail great Mortismon, I…' Desumeijimon thought to himself as the powerful blast headed for him, before turning his head upwards to the top of the pit, where he saw a Digimon looking down at him, Sciophobimon, who then disappeared into a dark portal behind him.

'I see…' The death mystic Digimon thought as the energy blast consumed him, his last thoughts before breaking into Data particles. 'All is as the Great One foresaw…'

When the blinding light faded, the heroes and heroines let out sighs of relief to see that the death mystic had been defeated, before familiar voices behind them caught their attention, all turning to see Jeri and Novicmon rushing towards them.

"Jeri! Novicmon!" MedievalGallantmon called with joy as he then started to say. "I am so glad you guys are…"

However, as the knight Digimon expressed his joy to see Jeri and the small mystic Digimon now seemingly safe, his expression turned sour as he and the others looked to see Charonmon approaching them, the tome in his hands, while the Dark Tribe Digimon quickly surrounded the heroes and heroines once again.

"Well, it seems we both upheld our ends of the bargain." Charonmon commented with an amused tone as he then added. "You retrieved the book for me, and I released your friend for you."

"Great, now what?" MagnaVeedramon then questioned, the holy knight Digimon knowing, along with his friends, that the wicked mystic Digimon would not simply let them go.

"I think now, you will all power down again, and we will take a trip back to the Dark Lady's citadel. She is eager to speak with you all in person once again." Charonmon said in reply, eyeing MagnaVeedramon in particular and keeping a mental smirk to not only retrieving the power his Lady desired, but to retrieving her chosen as well.

Steeling themselves, the heroes and heroines prepared to fight their way out of the pit and away from Charonmon's forces, while MagnaVeedramon eyed the tome in Charonmon's hands, trying to figure out how to destroy the item before the dark mystic Digimon could use its power for his and the Dark Lady's wicked desires.

However, much to everyone's surprise, the tense moment was then broken as loud shouts and cheers were heard from above the pit, causing the heroes, heroines, Novicmon and Dark Digimon to all look up, there their surprise turned to shock to see an army of Bandit Digimon on top of the pit and along the rock pathways leaning down to the ruins.

And on a rock not too far from the Dark Tribe's camp, the heroes and heroines quickly recognized DemiGrapplemon staring down at them with murderous intent in his eyes.

"Finally caught back up with you lot!" The Mega Level Bandit Digimon remarked as he stood up, pointing to the group of heroes, particularly MagnaVeedramon and Lightbearer Ophanimon, as he then declared to the Bandit Digimon gathered. "Remember, triple bounty for the one who brings me their heads! Those two in particular!"

"The Dark Lady's bounty was for them alive!" Charonmon then remarked as he and his forces moved to face DemiGrapplemon and his army, where the dark mystic Digimon then threatened. "You do not want to invoke her wrath!"

"I don't care about the Dark Lady or her bounty! They took down my brother and I want them dead!" DemiGrapplemon snapped back in reply, his fury earning a loud and greater cheer from the other bandit Digimon around them.

This left Charonmon to growl lightly upon hearing this.

While not caring about the majority of the heroes and heroines, the Dark Lady would not be pleased if the human boy was killed, leaving the dark mystic Digimon in a difficult position.

Likewise, Novicmon, remembering what he heard from the Necromon, looked between his friends and the Charonmon, wondering what their enemy would do.

"They will go to the Dark Lady, stand in our way and face the consequences!" Charonmon bellowed as he moved the tome into his left arm, while pointing his right hand at DemiGrapplemon as dark energy gathered within as he prepared to attack.

"You heard him, take them all down!" The Mega Level bandit Digimon commanded, the call causing the other bandit Digimon to let out battle cries as they rushed towards the Dark Tribe forces, who quickly engaged their attackers in battle.

"Should we run or something?" ShaolinArresterdramon questioned in some confusion as he and the others watched the two groups of Digimon fight amongst one another, seeing that, while outnumbering the Dark Tribe forces, the Bandit Digimon didn't stand much of a chance against the Dark Lady's servants as they cut through their foes.

"We can't, not while Charonmon has that book." MedievalGallantmon said in reply, refusing to leave the dark item in the Dark Tribe's clutches, a thought that ran through everyone's minds as the heroes and heroines rushed into the battle and made their way to Charonmon.

"Guys, wait!" Novicmon called in warning and concern, wanting to inform his friends that Charonmon already took some pages out of the book, but his call fell on deaf ears as the heroes and heroines charged through the Dark Tribe and Bandit Digimon.

As the pair fought amongst one another, Charonmon cast forth blasts of dark energy at DemiGrapplemon, who's body extended and morphed to allow him to dodge, extending his arms as he moved to strike at the dark mystic, who created an energy barrier to block the strike.

"Holy Strike!" A familiar voice called from behind, the battle cry causing Charonmon to turn and put up a dark barrier between him and MagnaVeedramon's strike, before his eyes widened to see MedievalGallantmon upon him with his halberd raised high.

"Final Crest!" The knight Digimon declared, bringing his weapon down, not upon the dark mystic, but the book within his hand, causing Charonmon to let go of the tome as MedievalGallantmon's weapon cut through it, even the bone cover and bindings burning from the energy unleashed by the attack as it burned away, before releasing a powerful blast that caused all the fighting to stop as the Dark Digimon and Bandit Digimon looked to their leaders.

"You will pay for that!" Charonmon stated furiously as he glared at the heroes and heroines, with Novicmon and Jeri catching up to their friends as the group glared at the dark mystic, while DemiGrapplemon landed a few feet from them and said. "They're mine, you robed freak!"

However, a loud shriek, one familiar to the heroes and heroines that entered the temple, caught the attention of all present as they looked to the temple, seeing something leap out of the opening and land near the throne, where it let out another ear-piercing shriek as it looked down upon all below.

"Not again!" MagnaVeedramon and the other heroes and heroines could only say, while both Charonmon and DemiGrapplemon questioned in confusion and shock. "What is that?!"

Getting over her own shock, Jeri brought her D-Bracer up, where the information on the horrid Digimon appeared before her as she informed everyone. "SkullGrendelmon, a Mega Level Digimon with an insatiable hunger!"

Upon hearing the information, the other heroes and heroines felt vindicated for running for their lives from the creature, before the now named SkullGrendelmon leaped down to the battlefield, its spiked tendrils wrapping around a pair of DarkWolfmon and quickly pulling them into its maw, the two Digimon crying out as they broke into Data particles, before chaos ensued as the Dark Tribe Digimon and Bandit Digimon tried to avoid the rampaging beast.

"Run, quick!" CrimsonAldamon quickly called, getting no argument from his friends as MedievalGallantmon picked up Jeri and Novicmon, ignoring the small mystic Digimon's protests, before the flying heroic Digimon and Appmon grabbed their friends and took off, leaving Charonmon, DemiGrapplemon and their forces to one another and the insatiable form of SkullGrendelmon.

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Once they found that they were not followed by the Dark Tribe Digimon or the Bandit Digimon, the heroes and heroines stopped and made camp for the night, the humans, Digimon and Appmon all hoping to relax and catch their breath after their encounter in the dark temple.

However, the mood was then soured once Novicmon informed them that Charonmon had taken several pages out of the tome before it was destroyed, the dark news causing the heroes and heroines to frown, realizing that even though they had destroyed the book, the Dark Tribe still might have taken something dangerous from it.

As the sun set that night, after a small meal, the majority of the heroes and heroines turned in for the night, learning from Novicmon, after he checked his map, that they would reach a small village at the border of the Frost Tribe the next day.

Taking the first shift as to assure they weren't attacked in their sleep, Davis sat by the fire, while Veemon went out to collect some firewood in order to keep the campfire going, this leaving the maroon haired Digidestined to his thoughts.

"Davis." A familiar voice then said softly from behind, the call causing Davis to look and see Novicmon emerge from his tent, a nervous look on his face as the maroon haired Digidestined questioned. "Hey, Novicmon, is everything alright?"

Seeing the uneasiness in Novicmon's eyes, Davis watched as the small mystic Digimon moved to sit next to him by the fire, where the small Digimon then said. "I… I don't know who to tell this to… and I am worried about what it might mean."

"It's alright, Novicmon, you can tell me." Davis then said with a reassuring smile, the Digidestined of Miracles not sure what was bugging his little friend, but was willing to help in any way he could, especially after all Novicmon has done for him and their friends.

Taking a moment, looking around to make sure no one else was listening, Novicmon then looked to Davis and he informed his friend. "While you guys were in the temple, and Charonmon had Jeri, I heard some of the Necromon talking."

"One asked if Charonmon would really have let you guys die in there, and the other replied, and I quote." Novicmon continued, bringing his hands up and gesturing with his fingers as he said quote, before finishing as he said. "No, not while the Dark Lady's chosen is among them."

Hearing this, Davis' eyes widened in shock and confusion.

"Chosen?" The maroon haired Digidestined questioned as he was left trying to think of who in their group was their enemy's chosen, and what they were chosen for.

"That was all I could hear, they never mentioned who or what they were chosen for, I… I just don't know what to make of it." Novicmon said, not realizing that he was in fact explaining all this to the Dark Lady's unknowing chosen.

Looking deep in thought for a moment, Davis then said to Novicmon. "Let's keep this between us for now, at least until we figure out what it means."

Nodding in reply, Novicmon got back to his feet, before looking at Digidestined of Miracles as he told his friend. "You and Veemon should get some sleep too. I have no idea what awaits us in the Frost Tribe's lands when we get there tomorrow."

"Other than freezing cold weather, I assume." Davis remarked with a grin, smiling as Novicmon let out a light laugh and went back into his tent, leaving Davis to his thoughts as the maroon haired Digidestined frowned, taking in the new piece of information his friend gave him.

Whatever the information meant, and whoever among their group was the Dark Lady's "chosen", it could only spell trouble for them all.

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Struggling with all his might, DemiGrapplemon fought to keep SkullGrendelmon from trying to eat him, the beast pinning him down with its tendrils as it tried to bring its maw closer to his prey, who wrapped his extendable arms around the beast to keep it back.

Unbeknownst to either, however, both were now contained within a black energy sphere, one that now rested within the Dark Lady's own hand as she glared at the pair within, before a dark portal opened and the sphere fell in, sending both into the void between dimension and away from the Dark Tribe Leader.

Looking up, the Dark Lady then narrowed her eyes at Charonmon, whose robes were slightly torn as he growled, hearing Wraithmon, DeathTactimon and Sciophobimon chuckling at his condition behind him.

Once the heroes and heroines had left, the majority of the Bandit Digimon fled for their lives, before the Dark Lady herself appeared, ending the battle and trapping the Bandit Digimon and the monstrous creature that was SkullGrendelmon within the sphere, before bringing Charonmon and his forces back to their territory.

"It seems you have failed me, Charonmon." The Dark Lady then said as she narrowed her eyes at her chief advisor, though felt amused as he didn't seem phased by her words.

"Not at all, my Lady." The dark mystic Digimon replied as he took his satchel out and removed the pages from within, seeing the glint in his Mistress' eyes as he then told her. "I found a few spells within the book that would be of some interest, including the page for the Ritual."

Her servant handing the pages to her, the Dark Lady then nodded as she then said to Charonmon. "Recover, then inform our… 'allies' in the Frost Tribe's lands that the heroes are heading in her direction."

"As you command, my Lady." Charonmon replied with a bow, turning to leave as the Dark Lady signaled her remaining servants to leave, leaving the Dark Tribe's leader with the pages of the Book of Death, where one could almost sense the wicked glee from the Dark Lady as she looked upon the top page.

"We are almost ready…" The Dark Lady said to herself as she scanned the page and added with a dark laugh. "And when we are done, a new God will be born!"

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Author's Note: That ends this arc. The heroes managed to get out of this, but the Dark Lady has what she wanted, leaving the question, what is this Ritual? Stay tuned as the Adventure continues. See you all in the New Year with the Frost Tribe.