The dark digimons had red glowing eyes and they were all roosters. Each had pale coloured wings with horns on the back. They also had steel armour each protecting their body. Takato pulled out his D-Ark.

"Sinduramon, Data, Ultimate. We're up against three ultimates!" cried Takato.

"Takato," called out Guilmon.

"Yeah, we have no choice. Matrix Evolution (Biomerge)!"

"Guilmon shinka...Dukemon!" The red knight jabbed at the ultimates with his spear. The three roosters dodged and launched lightning beams straight at the knight - "Positron Pulse!"

"AAAaaaah!" cried Guilmon and the brunette within him.

"TAKATO!" cried Juri.

"We've got to help them! Guardromon!" yelled Hirokazu, glancing at his partner.

The mechanical digimon shot whistling missiles at the enemy. "Destruction Grenade!" Though the missiles hit the birds, it didn't faze them one bit.

"Mako, I'm joining in," said Impmon to his partner before digivolving into Beelzemon. "Double Impact!" The mega fired continuously at the birds till the seemed like they were backing away.

"Lopmon, help them!" said Shaochung, pulling out a blue card from her deck. "Digimodify! Matrix Evolution!"

"Lopmon shinka...Turiemon!

Turiemon choushinka...Antylamon!"

The large rabbit pulled out two blades and began tossing them at the roosters. The birds deflected it using their positron pulse. The four digimon charged at the dark digimon and barely managed to keep them away from the others. In the battle that ensued, Guardromon was squatted away like a mosquito. "Guardromon, NO!" cried Hirokazu, running towards his partner. One Sinduramon tried to attack the visor boy however, Beelzemon managed to knock the bird away in time.

"Get your partner, Mako and the others to a safe place!" barked Beelzemon.

"Thanks, Beelzemon. I owe you one," thanked Hirokazu. "Guardromon, can you stand?"

"Y-yes... I'm very sorry, Hirokazu..."gasped the machine digimon.

"It's alright. Now let's go." Hirokazu and his partner proceeded to gather Juri and the others and led them behind a large rock a little away from the main battle. He then turned to the Sovereigns who quietly observed the battle. "Why aren't you helping them?" he asked. Qinglongmon glanced over him briefly before training his eyes back on the battle before him. He remained quiet as did the others. "Answer me!" yelled Hirokazu. He shook with anger and was about to say something when Juri held his hand and shook his head. "Perhaps there's a reason why they aren't helping us this time," she said quietly.

Kazu let out his frustration by kicking a small stone nearby. "Damn it!"

Meanwhile on the battle field, Dukemon tried to pierce a Sinduramon but the hard metal on its chest made it almost impenetrable. The flow of dark energy around also seemed to become stronger around them.

"Something's not right. They shouldn't be this strong..." stated Takato.

"Ugh... How is it that a bunch of cuckoo ultimates are standing up against megas like us?" asked Beelzemon in annoyance.

"I sense some kind of evil power beyond them. But I can't locate the source," said Antylamon.

"So, if we destroy the source, things should go back to normal right? I'll search for the source," said Beelzemon. Before Dukemon and Antylamon could stop him, he disappeared. The knight and rabbit digimon instead focused on keeping the cuckoos at bay.

From behind the rock, Juri whispered sadly, "I wish Leomon was here. We could have lent them a hand…."

"Don't worry, culu. Everything will be fine, culu," assured Culumon.

Hirokazu glared at the holy beasts in anger. 'They won't even look me in the eye let alone tell me anything! This is frustrating! I wish I could get Guardromon to digivolve somehow!'

"I'm...sorry, Hirokazu... If only I was much stronger..." said Guardromon sadly upon seeing his partner's frustration. Hirokazu's face softened when he looked at his partner. "Don't be. It's me who's not good enough for you..."

The Sinduramon were now agitated. Their attacks became even more ferocious. Dukemon and Antylamon had a tough time keeping them at bay.

"This is bad. We need to find some weakness," stated Dukemon .

"Whatever is the source must be it. After Beelzemon took off, the three seem quite jittery," said Antylamon.

"Then we can only hope Beelzemon can destroy whatever the source of this dark energy is."

Beelzemon sped towards the direction indicated by Antylamon. After a point he too was able to sense the evil aura. Something was radiating in the air around him. The scenery was now dull and grey with all signs of life seemingly withered. That's when he chanced upon it, a small black stone pulsating from the ground. "No doubt, this is the source that the bunny was talking about," said Beelzemon to no one in particular. He raised his gun arm and pointed it at the stone. "Double Impact!" he cried. The stone shattered instantly. Though that should have been end, a black mist poured out and was now surrounding Beelzemon.

"W-What is this?" he cried, when the darkness enveloped him.

'Beelzemon...' said an eerie voice from within the mist.

"Who are you? Where are you speaking from?" yelled Beelzemon.

'Beelzemon...Where is that heart of yours that once craved for power?' it asked.

"I have Ai and Mako! They are my strength! I no longer need to crave for power as long as I have my partners!"

'Fufufufu... Oh, you are a fool. Can't you see they are holding you back? You have much more power than this. Join me and you shall regain what you lost. You shall have all the power you need.'

"Tempting but no thanks. I don't need your help. I will grow stronger with my partners."

'We shall see about that. I'm sure you'll join us. I shall contact you again...'

"Don't bother! I ain't taking your sales pitch!" growled Beelzemon. The mist vanished and he was left standing along in the field. Colour was slowly coming to the grey lands. He made his way back all the while curious about the voice. When he reached, he found Dukemon and Antylamon standing over the deleting data of the Sinduramon. After the stone was destroyed, a barrier that had both provided the rooster digimon both power and protected them from harm disappeared. This made the task of destroying them much easier for the knight and bunny. They all reverted to their original forms. Hirokazu and the others joined them. Beelzemon spoke to them of the dark stone, excluding his conversation with the mysterious voice.

"I wonder what or who it is that we're dealing with," said Juri. "If only we had a clue."

"Whatever it is, we'd better be on our guard. I hope Ruki and the others are ok. I think we'd better regroup with them as soon as we can," stated Takato.

A/N: Update (Sorry I mention Kokatorimon instead of Sinduramon half way through. Made sure to correct that and the title)