Charonmon couldn't help but step back in shock and horror.
Floating before him was the Primordial of Death himself, Mortismon, who had been hiding as Sciophobimon this entire time.
It was almost too much for the dark mystic Digimon to handle.
"Oh, shut your gawking mouth, you little shit!" Mortismon suddenly snapped as he glared upon the expression upon Charonmon's face, causing the dark mystic Digimon's eyes to widen, finding it off to hear an omnipotent being trash talk to him, before he remembered who the Death God Digimon had been masquerading as, where he then saw Mortismon straighten himself as he looked to the unconscious Digidestined receiving his power.
"I was cast down, stripped of my power and my body, reduced to nothing more than a spirit, a function of this world, unable to raise armies and wage war against a world teaming with life, all because of how I was made." Mortismon stated as he looked back to Charonmon, who could sense the darkness now unmasked and radiating from out of the dark Digimon before him.
"I am not a Digimon like you, death is my meat, the Digi-magic my wine, and for that, my power was locked away in a seal that I could not open, because I'm not some loathsome human!" The Death God Digimon then said with a further fury, this causing Charonmon's eyes to widen as he did not realize that requirement to unlock the seal.
"Why is it that in a world that has no humans or has ever had any visited before can only a human's hands open it?" Mortismon then commented as he looked at Charonmon and questioned. "Don't you think that's a little fucked up? I can't do it, but she could."
Hearing Mortismon's statement only increased the dark mystic Digimon's horror as he realized the Death God Digimon's manipulation as he continued in his information. "In her human need, her greed, she would do anything to bring her beloved back and raise him above his pathetic status. I dragged her and her lover from the void, I planted the idea to give him my power in her mind, and I have been making sure that everything went as planned, all for this."
"A new body, one capable of not only holding my power, but the power of my traitorous siblings as well." Mortismon then said, his declaration leaving Charonmon mentally cursing himself, seeing that the Dark Lady, the entire Dark Tribe, but most of all, himself, had been nothing more than puppets in the Death God Digimon's own self resurrection.
"But before my return, perhaps some entertainment is in order." Mortismon commented with a sinister tone as he stretched out his right hand, before Charonmon looked to see several symbols on the ritual circle change, the sight of which horrified him as he realized what these changes would do.
"You're insane! Without the mental ward, the power will overwhelm his mind…!" The dark mystic Digimon started to say in a clear panic, who was then silenced as Mortismon turned to him, his skull-like face twisting into a hideous smile.
"He will have millions of voices screaming in his head, he will be deranged and his rage will know no bounds! There will be death and murder on a scale that hasn't been seen in a millennia!" Mortismon bellowed with a dark glee, before telling Charonmon with a sickly-sweet smile. "I will feed and grow strong once again, stronger than anything in this world or beyond!"
Charonmon was mortified by this declaration, before feeling and seeing Mortismon place his left hand around the dark mystic's head, the skeletal fingers easily wrapping around Charonmon's face due to its size.
"Now, go on, finish it, it will be so much fun." Mortismon declared, his words horrifying Charonmon even more that the Dark Digimon thought the idea of mass genocide of the world to be fun, before the Death God Digimon then said in a serious tone. "Do it, or I will kill you here and now, and all your ambitions die with you."
Feeling defeated and fearing for his life, Charonmon outstretched his hand and sent more energy into the ritual, allowing the dark ritual to continue with the dark alterations Mortismon had made.
At the next moment, Davis' unconscious body began to shake a little, before the maroon haired Digidestined threw his head back and began to scream in pain and agony, his eyes opening to show them now pitch black as his mind was bombarded with the sounds of hundreds of thousands of voices screaming in his head, this slowly driving him towards madness, a sight that left Mortismon smiling wickedly.
.
.
.
With a great haste and a growing sense of urgency, the heroes, heroines, their friends and allies, including the newly Digivolved Arcanadramon, raced through the mountain ranges of the Dark Tribe's lands and toward the Dark Lady's citadel, eventually seeing the massive fortress on the horizon as they got closer.
"We need to hurry! Davis needs us!" Lightbearer Ophanimon stated with concern in her voice, her desire to save the maroon haired Digidestined pushing her as she tried to fly ahead of her friend in order to reach the citadel and find her beloved.
"We must also stop the ritual, lest this new deity destroy us all." GrandPyromon then stated, the chief mystic of the Fire Tribe wishing for his allies to see the bigger picture and that there was much more at stake.
"Yeah but… this is Davis we're talking about, do you really think he'd try to wipe us all out?" BardMusimon had to ask, the combination of Astora and Musimon unable to see Davis turning as dark and evil as everyone seemed to think he would.
"Our Davis, no." LordShoutmon added in agreement as he referred to the Davis they had befriended and had been working with since their arrival to Witchelny, before the Digimon King then said with a serious tone. "Her Davis… I'm not exactly sure. We have no idea of his mental state, if he is even aware of his situation or the world around him, we don't know how much of his has survived being trapped as Data particles for so long, or what that has done to his mindset, if anything."
"There's too many variables to consider the possibilities, and most of them aren't good for anyone." Sagemon thought aloud, his words causing the other heroes and heroines to nod in understanding, each feeling empathy for the alternate Davis and what fate had befallen him and his Kari.
But steeling themselves, the group knew that they would have to stop the fallen Digidestined of Light, no matter how much they sympathized with her, for her plan would destroy Witchelny if she wasn't stopped.
"We must keep pushing forward." Arcanadramon then stated, before adding as he narrowed his eyes. "There is something else, something dark and twisted waiting for us, I can sense it."
Nodding in reply and trusting Arcanadramon's increased magical senses, the heroes and heroines rushed forward, heading towards the gates of the Dark Lady's citadel.
Upon arriving at the gates, the heroes, heroines and their allies were at first confused to what appeared to be the Dark Tribe guards fighting each other, before seeing that some of them were in the lighter purple colours of the Resistance, where the group saw Kokumajutsumon unleash a barrage of dark energy blasts at the guards, disorienting them, before GulusGammamon leaped above his leader with a wicked smirk on his face.
"Desdemona!" The Dark Digimon declared as he unleashed a surge of dark blue flames, incinerating many of the Dark Lady's loyalists on the walls, before he and Kokumajutsumon turned to see the flying heroes and heroines come towards the wall.
"Um… how did you guys get ahead of us?" GaleSilphymon questioned, having last seen the pair back at the main part of the battle at the gates to the Dark Tribe's territory.
"These are our lands, and we know how the dark portal network works." Kokumajutsumon replied, before the leader of the Dark Resistance then bellowed. "Now help us open the gates so your allies can get in here!"
Mentally shaking their heads at Kokumajutsumon's ego, MysticSakuyamon and CrimsonAldamon moved to comply, quickly finding the dual gate controls and opening them, allowing Samudramon, the other ground heroes and heroines and their allies to rush in, joining the Dark Resistance as they met the forces guarding the outside of the citadel head on.
"This is our fight here." GulusGammamon stated as he impaled several Dark Digimon with his tail, looking to the heroes and heroines as he then stated. "You go and show your worth, end the Dark Lady once and for all!"
Though annoyed by how GulusGammamon talked down to them, the heroes and heroines nodded, with Veemon and Nyarukimon staying close to their friends as they rushed towards the massive fortress.
"I am sensing the ritual being held below, but there is power being transferred from the top spire as well." Arcanadramon stated, narrowing his eyes as he told the others. "It's her, the Dark Lady is supplying energy herself to the ritual from her throne."
"And yet, there is something…" The arch mystic Digimon then began to say, feeling something was going wrong with the ritual itself.
But before he could speak, however, the group came to a halt as a massive barrier of dark energy then erupted from and encompassed the entire dark citadel, a powerful shield of energy that would prevent the heroes and heroines from entering unless they found a way to bring it down.
At that moment, however, the heroes, heroines and Nyarukimon were caught off guard as hundreds of dark portals opened up around them, releasing a massive army of Dark Tribe Digimon, their reserve forces, who quickly surrounded the group, the sight of the attackers causing the humans, Digimon and Appmon to move into a protective circle around one another, standing back-to-back as they prepared to face the massive host of foes.
"So nice of you to finally arrive." A familiar voice then commented, the dark tone causing the heroes and heroines to look upon a rock ridge and to see DeathTactimon looking down at them with amusement in his eyes.
"You may have the power of all ten primordial fragments running through you, but even you can still feel tired and fatigued." The dark tactic Digimon declared, his tone remaining of wickedness as he then added. "And even if you somehow manage to defeat this army, and myself, you will be far too late to stop the ritual from being completed."
Gritting their teeth in frustration, the heroes and heroines looked for some way to get around their dark foes and reach the citadel, while DeathTactimon held a dark smirk behind his mask, finally having the heroes and heroines right where he wanted them.
It was then, however, that a loud explosion caught not only DeathTactimon's attention, but also the heroes, heroines and the other Dark Tribe Digimon, who turned to see a part of the mountain range fall apart, allowing all present to look in shock to see the vast majority of the allied forces breaking through and charging at the Dark Tribe's army, leaving the dark tactic Digimon flabbergasted that the other tribes had broken through the outer defenses.
"Firestorm!"
"Divine Judgment!"
"Tsunami Strike!"
"Nature's Fury!"
"Titanic Crusher!"
"Arctic Spear!"
"Storm Tempest!"
"Metal Fury!"
"Storm Annihilation!"
Working together, Infernomon, Celestimon, Tsunamimon, Silvamon: DM, Titanusmon, Odinmon, Ventusmon, Aurummon and Fulgurmon unleashed their attacks upon the dark forces, sending them scattering as the tribal champions pushed through the enemy lines, reaching the heroes and heroines as they cut through the Dark Digimon before them.
"Go! Leave this battle to us." BlazeShogunmon said as he struck down a DeathKnightmon, with SteelCrusadermon adding with her own confidence and trust. "We shall bring her followers down, while you end the Dark Lady's reign, now go!"
Uncertainty filled the heroes and heroines, not wishing to leave their allies alone in this battle, before Nyarukimon moved from the group and said with a smile. "Go forth, brave heroes, we will handle things here, save Witchelny from this darkness."
With her words said, the feline mystic Digimon rushed to join her tribesmen in the battle, leaving the heroes and heroines to turn and move toward the fortress, where DeathTactimon watched in rage as the allied leaders practically cleared the way for the cosmic-infused group, destroying every Dark Digimon in the way as the group rushed towards the ramp leading to the citadel's entrance.
About to bellow orders and get his forces to counter the heroes and heroines, the dark tactic Digimon felt a presence behind him, turning to see each of the Tactimon of the allied tribes standing before him, each glaring at him and leaving DeathTactimon with the knowledge that he was outnumbered, and may very well face his demise very soon.
"Dark Tactic!" The chief military of the Dark Tribe then bellowed in defiance as he fired a powerful blast of dark energy from out his set of dark cannons in the hope to take out a majority of his foes with him.
In response, ScorchTactimon, LightTactimon, AquaTactimon, the three Earth Tactimon, IceTactimon, KazeTactimon, IronTactimon and StormTactimon fired a combined blast from their own cannons, which quickly overwhelmed DeathTactimon's own attack, before consuming the Dark Digimon in their combined energies.
As his body began to break apart, DeathTactimon was filled with fury and pure hatred, furious that he was being taken down so easily, his fury growing that he could not face the heroes and heroines himself, which gnawed deeper into his dark core that he would not be there to celebrate the Dark Lady's victory.
The dark tactic Digimon cried out in a final outburst of rage as his body completely dissolved into Data particles, this ended the first of the Dark Lady's inner circle.
Not paying attention to DeathTactimon's downfall, the heroes and heroines broke away from the battle and made their way toward the dark barrier surrounding the citadel, looking to find some way to breach it and gain entrance.
But as they drew closer, the group came to a halt as a black meteor came crashing down before them, which sent a shockwave of dark and powerful energy.
Once the shockwave cleared the dust, the heroes and heroines were concerned to see Wraithmon before them, his body covered in a dark aura of energy as he looked upon the group with a dark chuckle.
"As long as I live, this barrier shall not fall." The champion of the Dark Tribe declared with glee, his words causing the heroes and heroines to growl in frustration, knowing that if they killed Wraithmon, then they would kill Eclipsemon as well.
.
.
.
Within the Fire Tribe's capital and within Infernomon's palace, Eclipsemon gripped his head in pain as a vision filled his mind, seeing the heroes and heroines, each empowered by all ten primordial fragments, standing before him, as he felt a dark power course through him.
But shaking his head, Eclipsemon's vision returned to normal, where the dark mystic Digimon growled, knowing that he was seeing things through his brother's eyes, and that Wraithmon was now between the heroes and their chance to save Witchelny.
"Eclipsemon, are you alright?" GrandPiximonquestioned with clear concern in his voice as he flew next to his colleague, having seen the dark mystic Digimon grab his head as they walked down the hallway.
"Damn you, Wraithmon, and for what you've forced me to do." Eclipsemon said to himself as he began walking down the corridors of Infernomon's palace with determination, leaving GrandPiximon worried as he went after his friend.
.
.
.
Back upon the battlefield, Lightbearer Ophanimon and the others knew they could not just sit back, hoping that at least knocking Wraithmon out and detaining him could stop the barrier, and thus charged at the Dark Digimon as they prepared to strike.
"Striking Light!"
"Cross Slicer!"
"Noble Strike!"
"Blazing Spear Strike!"
"Spiritual Spear Strike!"
"Wind Blades!"
"Blazing Blade!"
"Thorn Saber!"
"Victory Slasher!"
"Mythic Strike!"
"Skydive Force!"
"Sage Cutter!"
"Savage Slash!"
"Ballistic Barrage!"
"Dark Lance!" Wraithmon announced in retaliation, his spear ablaze in dark energy as he blocked, parried and pushed each of the heroes and heroines back from their strikes, even knocking Jeri back as she tried to strike at his with her cosmic-infused blade, before the Dark Digimon quickly took to the air, dodging and striking down BardMusimon's arrows in the process.
Seeing Wraithmon deflect their cosmic-infused attacks so easily left the heroes and heroines in shock, now realizing that the Dark Lady had given her champion some of her own power to assist him in this battle.
Arcanadramon then attacked himself, unleashing a series of cosmic blasts from his hands to try and strike down Wraithmon, who merely used his spear to deflect each attack, before shooting up into the sky as Arcanadramon tried to use the same light chains he used on Muretemon to restrain the dark champion, who once more used his dark energy spear to deflect and disrupt the chains.
"Dark Eradication!" Wriathmon announced as he unleashed a powerful surge of dark energy toward the heroes and heroines, forcing Arcanadramon to form a powerful protective shield between him, his friends and the oncoming darkness, groaning from the strain as the dark energy collided with his power.
It was at that moment that Veemon, who was tailing in the back of the group and watching his friends in their endeavor, felt something suddenly grab him and hold him by the neck.
When the darkness faded, the heroes and heroines looked around, trying to find where Wraithmon went, before turning around, where Lightbearer Ophanimon and the others looked in horror to see the Dark Digimon holding Veemon in his dark grasp as the Digimon of Miracles struggled to break free.
.
.
.
Entering the chamber of the Eternal Flame, Eclipsemon looked upon the primordial fragment, seeing that even with the energy stolen from it, the source of the Fire Tribe's Digi-magic was still a raging inferno.
Watching his friend move toward the flames, GrandPiximon kept a concerned expression upon his face, this causing Eclipsemon to say. "My entire life, I devoted myself to studying, to the betterment of other, to protect those I view as the future of our world, while separating myself from my depraved brother."
"But Shoutmon was right, this is not a fight I can stay out of." The dark mystic Digimon then said as he turned to look at GrandPiximon and added with a solemn tone. "This darkness must end."
.
.
.
"Let him go!" Lightbearer Ophanimon screamed in rage, that part of her that was Gatomon fearing for Veemon's life as Wraithmon's grasp around the Digimon of Miracles tightened.
"Quiet!" Wraithmon snapped back, slamming his spear into the ground as he looked between the heroes and heroines, seeing them each glaring at him and showing they were ready to strike at any moment.
But remaining stationed, none made a move, afraid of hurting Veemon in the process.
"You are all weak and pathetic!" The champion of the Dark Tribe bellowed with a dark laugh, looking upon his foes and declaring wickedly. "I have become stronger, stronger than any in Witchelny! Nothing will stop me!"
Looking down upon Veemon, Wraithmon then said with a dark glee. "Without your partner, you are useless, and I don't have to hold back any longer, now die!"
The Dark Digimon then grabbed Veemon's head with his free hand, looking ready to rip the Digimon of Miracles' head from off of his body, the sight causing the other heroes and heroines to cry out as they rushed toward Wraithmon, who continued to laugh wickedly in response.
.
.
.
Standing at the edge of the Eternal Flame, Eclipsemon turned to GrandPiximon, who held a confused and worried look as the dark mystic Digimon said with a smile. "Now, let us see what lies beyond this life."
With that said, Eclipsemon allowed himself to fall backwards and into the raging inferno, a sight that left GrandPiximon horrified as he watched his friend fall to his demise.
Back on the battlefield, Wraithmon continued to laugh wickedly as he prepared to take Veemon's head off, seeing the heroes and heroines charging at him.
But before he could complete his dark deed, the champion of the Dark Tribe saw his vision change, now seeing himself falling into a raging inferno, which caused him to stop laughing and left his body shaking, where Wraithmon realized that what he was seeing was not through his own eyes.
Seeing Wraithmon shaking filled the heroes and heroines with further confusion, especially when Veemon was released from his grasp.
Confused himself, but deciding to ask his questions later, the V marked Digimon quickly moved away and reunited with the others, before the group saw smoke start to rise from the Dark Digimon's body.
"Brother…!" Wraithmon screamed out as he moved forward a few feet, before slumping to his knees and screamed in rage. "What have you DONE...?!"
From his perspective, as he fell into the inferno of the Eternal Flame, hearing GrandPiximon desperately calling for him, Eclipsemon felt a sense of peace, despite his situation, knowing that his students would now be safe.
One brother closed his eyes as the end came, dissolving into Data particles, while the other screamed in rage and defiance as he exploded in smoke, leaving only a crater in his place.
With Wraithmon vanquished, the dark barrier around the citadel slowly came down, this allowing Lightbearer Ophanimon and the others to once again advance and reunite with their friend and face the Dark Lady.
Even though their foe was defeated, none of the heroes and heroines felt joy, only sorrow and pain as each held a downcast expression, knowing exactly what Wraithmon's death meant, to Eclipsemon's sacrifice.
"We need to keep going." Lightbearer Ophanimon simply said as she started to move forward, some within the group looking at her with shocked expressions.
"Hold on a second, we..." GaleSilphymon started to say, expressing some concerns in her tone, but found herself silenced when the Digimon of Light turned to her, the Warrior of Wind noticing a teardrop sliding down her cheek.
"I will not let Eclipsemon's sacrifice go to waste! He's given us a chance and we have to take it!" Lightbearer Ophanimon said with heartbreak in her voice, the Digimon of Light knowing that if she stopped for even a moment, then what just happened with Wraithmon and Eclipsemon would have been for nothing.
"She is right, we can't stop now." LordShoutmon said in agreement, which was shared amongst the others.
Preparing to advance to the Dark Lady's citadel, but looking toward her friends, the Digimon of Light then went over and knelt before Veemon, expressing a continued seriousness and care within her expression.
"Vee, please stay out here and let us handle this." She told Veemon.
To hear this, the Digimon of Miracles about to object, to protest he too wanted to see Davis saved from harm, only the words never left Veemon's lips.
Resting a hand on his head and keeping a warm smile, the Digimon of Light promised. "We will save him. No matter what it takes, we will bring him back to you."
Gritting his teeth, but understanding the concerns of his friends, Veemon sighed in defeat, nodding in reply as the others gave him a look of sympathy and understanding.
"I must head for the ritual." Arcanadramon then said, his words causing the others to look at the arch mystic Digimon.
"There is something amidst here, and I need to find out what it is." He went on to say, as if sensing another darkness at work, one rivaling the Dark Lady's own power.
"I'll go with you." Samudramon offered.
Looking toward Samudramon, the Digimon of Courage was trembling, the grasp around his swords shaking as he told his sibling and those close to him. "I… I can't fight her... I know she isn't my Kari, but I just can't do it... I am sorry, but if I can help save Davis, I will."
The other heroes and heroines understood, knowing that the Digimon of Courage could not fight Kari, no matter what world she was from, this left MedievalGallantmon to act on a support for Samudramon and to offer. "I'll go with you. There are bound to be some heavy hitters guarding Davis."
"And you can count me in as well." CrimsonAldamon then stated as he and MedievalGallantmon moved over to Arcanadramon, the four looking to the others, who nodded in reply.
"Then we will go for the Dark Lady herself." Lightbearer Ophanimon declared, her words causing those left with her to nod in reply, knowing that this would be their toughest battle to date.
With their minds made up, the heroes and heroines rushed into the citadel, to face the Dark Lady, to save Davis and to save Witchelny once and for all.
.
.
.
Within her throne room, the fallen Kari sat upon her throne, the orb holding her Davis' Data particles on a pedestal close to her.
However, the Dark Lady expressed some frustration in her expression.
She had sensed DeathTactimon and Wraithmon's defeats, but cared little about her former servants, for they were just tools in her grand scheme to bring her beloved back to her.
What was annoying the Dark Lady, however, was that she was sensing something was off with the ritual and would soon need to go investigate this possible problem herself.
But first, the Dark Kari had some pests to deal with.
At that moment, the doors to her throne room burst open, revealing all the heroes and heroines, save for Arcanadramon, Samudramon, Medieval Gallantmon, CrimsonAldamon and Veemon, who all glared at the one responsible for the terror reigning across Witchelny, especially Lightbearer Ophanimon.
"I will give you one last chance, turn around and leave, and I might consider sparing your lives." The Dark Lady offered as she stood up, her dark energy scythe appearing in her hand as she glared at Lightbearer Ophanimon, who simply glared back in response.
"You know we can't do that, that we won't do that." The Digimon of Light said back, her determination shared by everyone else in the group as the fallen Kari narrowed her eyes through her mask.
"So be it." The Dark Lady said in reply as the dark aura around her intensified, the fallen Digidestined of Light ready to end this once and for all, while her counterpart was ready to do whatever was necessary to end this war and save Davis, no matter what it took.
.
.
.
Author's note: DeathTactimon and Wraithmon have fallen, sadly at the sacrifice of Eclipsemon. Now the majority of the heroes and heroines prepare to face the Dark Lady one last time. However, Mortismon's dark ambitions may threaten all life in Witchelny. Can he be stopped? Stay tuned as the final battle with the Dark Lady begins.