(Author's Notes: Hey, a few notes. I recently made a tumblr blog for my stories at .com. There's art for my story there, and I'll be adding other things too.
Anyways, here's Chapter 21. Read, review, and enjoy!)
Chapter 21: Before the Storm
It was a busy morning in and around Saversburg. At the break of dawn, scouts had reported that the D-Brigade had formed up a few kilometers to the west of Saversburg. Their whole army was preparing for battle that day.
The combined armies of both the Order and Saversburg were getting ready to move out and meet the D-Brigade in the field. There was a lot of collaboration going on between the two allied armies, as they had to organise in a coherent, effective way. The Saversburg army went on ahead towards the battlefield, being the slower of the two armies. They were relieved when a military force from the Republic of Node showed up a few hours after dawn. It wasn't their full army, but it consisted of a few divisions and a few specialised teams like the so-called Greymon Five, who were a small but powerful anti-Dramon force. With this addition, the gap in numbers between the D-Brigade and the allied army was weakened, but the D-Brigade still had a numerical advantage.
Outside of Saversburg, the armies were hurrying to get ready. The whole scene seemed chaotic, with Digimon going every which way, but it was actually highly organised. The Saversburg army was gathered on the western outskirts of the large city, and were marching across the road and grasslands towards where the D-Brigade preparing their formations.
Meanwhile, the Royal Knights were busy organising their forces and preparing to move out after the Saversburg army. In the distance, there were already sounds of attacks being launched. The skirmishes between scouts had begun, as the scouts of each sides tried to keep the other away from their armies. These fights were usually short and fleeting, as they were hit-and-run in style. Still beams, flames, and explosions could be seen lighting up the cloudy sky every now and then as the armies prepared to engage each other.
Alphamon walked outside of the Royal Knights' temporary camp. It was packed full of busy Digimon. The Strike Forces and Defence Forces were getting organised outside of the camp with the help of the Royal Knights. Also around were the Reconnaissance Forces and the Stealth Forces, as well as support crews.
Alphamon strode beside Ouryumon as they made their way alongside the hundreds of Strike Force Digimon. "Are they ready to go, Ouryumon?" he asked the Strike Forces' captain.
"Yeah. They'll be ready to move out and kick ass in fifteen minutes," Ouryumon responded, looking over at his Strike Forces. "We're just doing last minute equipment checks."
"Good. We can't be too far behind the Saversburg army," Alphamon said to him. He turned and looked over to the equally large Defence Forces. Omegamon and Dukemon were talking with Captain Knightmon. Omegamon noticed Alphamon walking by and gave him a nod.
"It looks like the Defence Forces are ready to go," Alphamon observed from Omegamon's gesture.
"Okay. We'll finish up," Ouryumon stated, patting Alphamon's shoulder before flying off and soaring in front of the Strike Forces where his leftenants were.
Alphamon continued walking alongside the camp. On the outskirts of the makeshift camp were the Digimon from the Republic of Node's military. They were currently getting filled in by Duftmon and RhodoKnightmon, who were telling them what their roles would be in the coming battle. The Republic of Node soldiers had agreed to follow the Royal Knights' instructions, so that their combined armies could act cohesively. Gaioumon was among them, having gotten the Council of Seven's permission to supervise.
The closest group to him was a team of five Ultimate level Greymon – a KaiserGreymon, VictoryGreymon, ShineGreymon, WarGreymon, and BlackWarGreymon. He recognised them as the Greymon Five, a new special shock team that was created when the Republic reorganised their military structure. Since they were busy being told their role by Duftmon, Alphamon decided that he didn't want to interrupt. However, he noticed that some of the Greymon were staring at Duftmon with fanboy-like glee.
Alphamon smiled to himself and kept on walking. He needed to speak to Captain Karatenmon next to see how the Stealth Forces were doing.
"Alphamon!" a voice called out to the Royal Knight.
The black armoured Royal Knight turned in the direction of the sound. When he looked, he saw a familiar, gold and silver body of a cyborg skulking towards him. He recognised the fearsome, skull-like face of Reapermon anywhere.
Reapermon, the warden of the Royal Knights' Havelock Prison, stepped across the grass and made his way towards him. The slender Digimon lugged a heavy bag over his shoulder. He looked around the area as he walked over to Alphamon.
"Reapermon, I'm glad you made it," Alphamon greeted.
"Where is he?" Reapermon asked, cutting straight to business.
Alphamon turned and looked over his shoulder. His eyes landed on GrandisKuwagamon, who was located at the very edge of their camp. The black insect sat cross-legged, his arms and pincers bound with chains. He was under heavy guard by several Ultimate level Digimon of the Order. "I assume you mean GrandisKuwagamon," Alphamon spoke.
"Yeah," Reapermon spoke, his dark, glowing eyes resting on the mercenary. "I've been after Black Pincer Company for a long time, and they've always eluded my grasp. It's just a pity I didn't get to take him down myself."
"The other two are still missing," Alphamon explained to him. "But that is a problem for another time. We can't distract ourselves by taking on too much at once."
"Yes, I suppose you're right," Reapermon responded, turning his gaze back to Alphamon. "What do you want me to do with him?"
Alphamon rubbed his chin with his fingers. "Most importantly, get him to our castle dungeons safe and sound. Just restrain him and leave him under watch until we get back," he told Reapermon.
"The castle dungeons? What do you want from him?" Reapermon inquired.
"He might have important information," Alphamon explained.
Reapermon nodded slowly. "…I know what you're going to say, but I can always obtain that information in your absence…" the cyborg jailor offered ominously.
"No, Reapermon," Alphamon stated firmly. "I know you used to be a bounty hunter, but we don't operate that way. Just leave him to us."
"I've said it before and I'll say it again, Alphamon. You're no fun," Reapermon spoke, playfully eyeing the sharp tip of his sickle arm.
Alphamon smiled a bit. He turned and looked at GrandisKuwagamon. The prisoner was conscious but momentarily docile. "Can you transport him on your own? He's quite a handful," Alphamon cautioned. He smirked at Reapermon. "We had to replace two of the guards because he insulted them so badly that he reduced them to tears."
"Hmph," Reapermon grunted, tapping his metal exterior with his sharp claws. "I have thick casing."
Alphamon nodded. "Is there anything you need?"
"No, I have everything," the bounty hunter-come-prison warden explained, gesturing to the bag over his shoulder. "Heavy duty restraints and inhibitor viruses. I'll implant some in him to make sure he can't use his attacks or change forms."
"Very well. Just don't be too rough with him," Alphamon asked Reapermon. "'A foe today could be a friend tomorrow'."
"I'd say you're being idealistic, but I guess I'm proof of those words, huh?" Reapermon stated, shooting Alphamon an ironic grin.
Alphamon chuckled. "Heheh… Well, I can say from bitter experience that you are definitely better as a friend than as an enemy, Reapermon," he explained. He turned away from the cyborg Digimon and looked at GrandisKuwagamon. "I trust you with him."
"I'll behave. But if he's as mouthy as you say he is, I can't promise I won't shut him up somehow," Reapermon responded.
Alphamon smiled. "Do your best. I'm counting on you," he said to him.
Reapermon nodded quietly. He folded his arms and looked around curiously. "And how's everything going here?"
"We're about to make our way to the expected battlefield," Alphamon informed him. He closed his eyes with thought. "…It will be a difficult battle, but in times like this, we all have to do our best and work together."
"Well, if anybody can pull it off, it's the Aloof Hermit," Reapermon stated, glancing at Alphamon. He turned and looked over at GrandisKuwagamon. "Well, I'll go get my cargo and head out. You need to focus on doing your Royal Knight stuff."
Alphamon nodded. "Very well. He's all yours," the black Royal Knight answered.
"Good luck with the fight, Alphamon," Reapermon told him as he walked away and headed towards the insect prisoner.
"Thank you, Reapermon," Alphamon said to him, watching as Reapermon made his way over to GrandisKuwagamon and the guards around him.
Alphamon looked around at the Royal Knights' forces. He hoped that they were all ready for the battle. They would need to be. He didn't wish to lose any of his fellow Digimon if he could help it. However, it was war. He had to be prepared for that. Order Digimon would likely be deleted. Despite this, Alphamon would do everything in his power to protect as many Digimon as he could.
"Urngh… Huh…?"
Suijinmon uttered a deep rumbling groan that almost sounded like a fog horn. He began to regain consciousness after being knocked out since the previous evening.
He slowly opened his red eyes. His vision was fuzzy, so he began blinking to gain his focus. Even when he did, it was hard to see. The area he was in was mostly dark. He could deduce that he was inside somewhere, and he began to make out the faint surfaces of large walls around him.
There were only small rays of light entering the building – there were small apertures near the top of the side walls that allowed for light to shine in from the outside. This allowed him to see inside the building a little better. However, the beams of light in question were tempered by the thick clouds that covered the morning sky outside.
Suijinmon looked around, still trying to get his bearings. He realised that he was in the large warehouse that they had been converting into a hangar. It was then that he remembered the events of the previous evening. He remembered his argument with Fujinmon. He remembered getting drugged. His eyes widened with horror at the realisation. It was the day of the battle and Fujinmon was planning a coup.
He knew he had to stop it.
Suijinmon was lying on his side. He could feel the cool, steel floor against his metal body. He grunted and tried to get up from off the floor, but he felt that he couldn't. For some reason, his joints were stiff and immobile. Again, he tried to move his body, but he only succeeded in wiggling on the ground, causing the sharp, grating sound of metal friction.
"What…?" he asked in confusion. He glanced down at his large body and began to realise the situation that he was in, based on his sight and sensations.
His four, muscular legs were lassoed together with thick chains that wrapped around all of his ankles. His eyes widened at the realisation that his legs were tied up and rendered immobile, preventing him from standing or moving his heavy body. Suijinmon tried to move his giant, mechanical Accel Arms in order to break the chains, but he found that he was unable to move them either. His massive arms were pulled behind his back and restrained as well. His forearms were folded behind his back and chained together securely, resting against the horizontal part of his back. There were also a few chains wrapped around his upper body and biceps to make sure that he wouldn't be able to take advantage of the incredible strength of his Accel Arms.
He could also feel that something was wrong with his Accel Arms. He was having trouble even struggling against the chains binding them. It felt as if there was something wrong with the wiring of the machine arms.
"W-What?!" he demanded with anger and shock.
He struggled on the ground, attempting to use brute force to break his way out, but the chains weren't budging. Suijinmon began to panic, although it was completely internal. His outer exterior seemed calm, but his mind worked like a supercomputer as he tried to think of a way out of his predicament. His thoughts were distracted by the sound of footsteps walking across the metal floor.
Suijinmon stopped his movements and looked towards the noise. "Who's there?" he demanded, narrowing his eyes angrily.
"It's me…"
Fujinmon's form became visible as he walked into one of the rays of light. His green, metal form shimmered as the strands of light reflected off of his body. He stepped forwards for a few more paces before stopping several meters in front of the restrained Waterfall Commander.
"F-Fujinmon?" Suijinmon spoke, his eyes widening. His crimson optics hardened into a glare and looked down at his bound legs and arms. "What is the meaning of this?!" he said in a voice that demanded an answer.
Fujinmon closed his eyes calmly. "I apologise, Suijinmon, but these are necessary measures," he explained.
"How in the Digital World are these necessary measures?" Suijinmon asked, attempting to remain calm despite his circumstances.
"I tried to convince you to join me, but you refused to turn against Chaosdramon," Fujinmon explained. "You said that you didn't want to be put in a position where you had to choose Chaosdramon over me. Therefore, I chose for you. …This is for your own good, Suijinmon; I would hate to fight against you."
"Fujinmon… Don't do this…" Suijinmon spoke. He narrowed his eyes and there was a bristling in his deep voice.
"I have to…" Fujinmon responded serenely. "I agree with Chaosdramon about one thing: the status quo isn't good enough anymore. The Metal Empire is a shadow of what it once was. We're ruled by fear. We act how we're told to act – assigned to the roles given to us. Even us, the Storm Commanders, are at the mercy of Chaosdramon's wishes. …It is time to change that."
"Fujinmon…" Suijinmon rumbled in protest.
"I know you disagree. You think I'm crazy for even considering the idea… That's why I had to do this to you," Fujinmon explained, looking down at him and locking eyes with Suijinmon. "You would try to stop me otherwise."
"Of course I would. Think about what you're doing, Fujinmon. This is madness. Please see reason," Suijinmon beseeched his comrade, staring back up at him.
Fujinmon shook his head. "You are the one who won't see reason," he spoke in a voice that suggested that he was completely clear of mind.
"Fujinmon! You're going to betray, Chaosdramon! He will never forgive that, no matter how hard I try to convince him!" he begged Fujinmon. "If you rise up during battle, he won't hesitate to delete you! Even if he doesn't, you'll be executed afterwards!"
"Not if I win," Fujinmon challenged.
Suijinmon glared at the green cyborg in frustration. "How do you expect to win? Between Chaosdramon's forces and the enemy…" He glared deeper. "…I won't allow you to fight my soldiers."
"I will not be fighting your soldiers," Fujinmon responded confidently. "I have a plan."
"A plan… I've seen your plans. They're too reckless. You never think about the finer details… That's your problem, Fujinmon; you think you have all the answers when you don't!" Suijinmon argued. "I'm the D-Brigade's tactician; I need to be there if we have any hope of winning against the Royal Knights. Release me, Fujinmon! Remove these chains at once!"
"No. If you won't help me, then you will only run counter to my plans," Fujinmon stated. "Remain here. I will come and get you after the battle."
"You won't make it to the end of the battle at this rate!" Suijinmon protested, struggling and fighting against his bonds. "Chaosdramon will crush you! You are underestimating him!"
"You are underestimating me, Suijinmon," Fujinmon spoke, leering at the large, crimson machine Digimon. "This battle is my only chance."
Suijinmon rumbled angrily and continued fighting against his chains. "Fujinmon!" he thundered, slamming his heavy tail against the ground in frustration. "Release me at once! You don't know what you're doing! Listen to reason!"
"I'm sorry, Suijinmon," Fujinmon responded, turning his back to him. "This is my chance. I have to take it." He bowed his head and closed his eyes, as if having more doubts than he was letting on. "This is my best chance. I have to succeed. I can't do that with you against me."
The Waterfall Commander released a mechanical hiss as he strained his muscles and joints against his bonds.
Fujinmon glanced over his shoulder, looking past the large, green, halo-like protrusion that jutted out from his back. "I do not intend to lose… but if I do…" he began, regretfully. "Suijinmon, I don't want you to hate me. You—"
"You idiot…" Suijinmon spoke, grimacing hard with an uncharacteristic amount of emotion in both his pained expression and frustrated words. "Do… Do you have any idea how selfish you're being…?"
Fujinmon blinked and half-turned around. "Selfish…?"
"You aren't thinking about anybody but yourself… Do you understand what the effects of your illogical actions will be on the rest of us? Your subordinates? Raijinmon? Myself?" Suijinmon asked him, trying hard to persuade him. No longer was he using logic as his main argument. He was beginning to use emotion. "…Fujinmon… You and Raijinmon are my closest friends… If anything happened to you both… I…" Suijinmon trailed off.
"I… wouldn't know what to do…" he explained finally.
Fujinmon turned forwards. He made sure that his back was to Suijinmon so that the Waterfall Commander wouldn't be able to see his weakness and guilt as he grimaced. "…Nothing will happen to us, Suijinmon," he assured him. "It is because you are my friend that you are here. I know you too well."
Fujinmon strengthened his resolve and began walking away, heading towards the hangar doors. "I am sorry for putting you through this, Suijinmon. However, it must be done," he spoke, continuing forwards with determination. "As the Hurricane Commander, I will be the one who will summon the wind of reformation. Chaosdramon is finished."
"I won't let you…" Suijinmon spoke, narrowing his eyes.
Despite the fact that he couldn't move his limbs or even stand, Suijinmon acted. The four cannons on and within his broad, metal shoulders suddenly came to life. All four guns pointed at Fujinmon as he walked away. Suijinmon glared at Fujinmon. "You never focus on details, Fujinmon… You always make little mistakes as a result… You made a very big mistake this time…" Suijinmon explained to him. "You forgot to disable my Mugen Cannons."
Fujinmon stopped. He stood there for a moment, thinking about what Suijinmon said to him. He gently hovered a few centimeters off of the ground and turned around to face Suijinmon. Fujinmon saw the Waterfall Commander lying there, aiming his arsenal of shoulder-mounted weaponry at him. "I see…" he responded calmly.
"Release me and forget this idea… I won't let you betray Chaosdramon," Suijinmon stated, his voice deep and threatening. "Betray him… and I'll shoot you."
Fujinmon glanced at his Mugen Cannons and then looked back at Suijinmon. "No, you won't," Fujinmon answered confidently.
"I am not joking, Fujinmon," Suijinmon warned firmly. "Do not test me."
"You won't shoot me, Suijinmon," Fujinmon explained, staring at him directly.
Suijinmon began pouring energy into the Mugen Cannons. "Yes, I will!" he countered.
Fujinmon flew forwards a few paces, right into the cannons' angles. "…So, shoot me," Fujinmon challenged, staring into Suijinmon's eyes.
The loyal Thunderclap Commander growled angrily.
Fujinmon lowered his Critical Arms disarmingly, offering himself up to the restrained D-Brigade commander. "It's the only way that you'll get me to stop. If you feel that strongly about it, fire. End this coup right now. For the good of Chaosdramon and the Metal Empire…"
Suijinmon glared back at Fujinmon. The energy in his cannons intensified. "Fujinmon…" he warned.
Fujinmon leered into Suijinmon, calling his bluff. "…Fire, Suijinmon… Like a good soldier…"
Suijinmon inhaled. The beams swelled inside the steel chambers, causing the bores of the cannons to glow brightly. The energy looked as if it would shoot out at any second.
But after several tense seconds, the energy weakened. A hiss escaped from Suijinmon's body and the energy receded back down the tubes the connected to the cannons. Suijinmon grimaced and lowered his Mugen Cannons, indicating his submission.
"…Thank you, Suijinmon…" Fujinmon said to him sincerely. He turned around and floated away from Suijinmon.
Suijinmon shut his eyes as Fujinmon opened the heavy doors and closed them behind him. He could hear the sound of the doors shutting, and then the metallic clicking of locks. Silence overtook the warehouse and Suijinmon was left alone inside.
"Chaosdramon… I couldn't do it," he thought to himself bitterly. "Does that mean I care more about them than I do the Emperor…?"
Suijinmon opened his red eyes with a tormented look deep behind their pensive lenses. He looked down at himself and tried again to free himself from his bonds. "Fujinmon… Be safe, you imbecile…"
To the west of Saversburg were sprawling fields of grass. The plains were flat and level, making it ideal territory for mechanized Digimon that ran on treads and wheels. This would be the site of the battle.
On the southern edge of the fields was a tall hill that overlooked the battlefield. Due to the D-Brigade picking this battlefield and arriving first, they held the strategic hill. This hill served as a powerful flank that overlooked the battlefield, and the D-Brigade was already fortifying it with Digimon who had a lot of firepower.
The D-Brigade was still getting into position. Things had been stalled by the absence of Suijinmon and Fujinmon. This allowed the allied armies of the Order, Saversburg, and Republic of Node to get into formation as well. There were thousands of Digimon on each side of the battlefield.
On the east side of the battlefield, the allied forces were nearly ready to fight. The troops were organised into groups depending on their role in battle. They were spacing themselves out from each other based on where on the battlefield they were directed to go. It would be a huge mistake for everybody to clump together, given the D-Brigade's exceptional long-ranged bombardment capabilities.
The twelve Royal Knights stood in front of the combined army along with Ouryumon, Knightmon, Tactimon and Gaioumon. Duftmon stood beside Tactimon and Gaioumon, going over the tactics again for clarity.
"To repeat, Ouryumon, you will be leading the Aerial Strike Forces to capture that hill to the south. We need to secure that left flank and wipe out those bombardment troops otherwise they will decimate our ranks," Duftmon explained, tapping the ground with his rapier. "A contingent of Shield Guards and Aerial Guards will accompany you, led by Sleipmon and Examon." He looked at the two Royal Knights in question. "We will need your speed to take that hill as quickly as possible."
Duftmon eyed Sleipmon specifically before looking away. "Sleipmon, I assume you still do not desire to delete Digimon. Therefore, you may incapacitate them if you wish, just as long as you can absolutely get them to stop firing and retreat. How you do it doesn't matter," he said to him meaningfully.
At this, Sleipmon smiled with appreciation. "Thank you, Duftmon…" he responded warmly.
"Moving on," Duftmon said, quickly changing to the next order of business. "The Saversburg army will be in the middle with their ground, aerial and bombardment troops. This is where the majority of the Royal Knights will be as well. Tactimon will lead this portion of the army. Omegamon, Craniamon, Dynasmon, and Gankoomon will be at the front with our ground Strike Forces, serving as the vanguard on the ground. Your primary objective is to break through the D-Brigade's lines. Craniamon, Dynasmon, Gankoomon, I take it that this is where you are at your best," the brown-armoured tactician stated, placing a hand on his sash-clad hip.
Gankoomon smirked and cracked his knuckles. "That sounds about right. The thick of the action is where I shine," he agreed.
Craniamon nodded approvingly. "Can't wait…" he spoke, gripping the Claiohm Solais with excitement.
"Bet I can take out more than you, Moustache," Dynasmon challenged with a grin of anticipation.
Duftmon gave them both a bland look. "That is not to say that you can go jaunting about as you please. The all-important center serves as the anchor for our formations, and it is the area which will see the heaviest fighting. Having a strong, coherent center is the key to success here," he explained. Duftmon then turned. "Next, on the right will be the Republic of Node's military combined with the rest of our Aerial Guards and Shield Guards to ensure a sturdy flank. Alphamon, Dukemon, RhodoKnightmon, and Gaioumon will lead the right flank. Supplementing our armies from the rear will be the anti-air forces and the Reconnaissance Forces, who will help us to gain aerial superiority. Aiding them, as well as having flexible roles that allow us to move around the battlefield as needed, will be Magnamon, UlforceVeedramon, and I."
"Got it, Duftmon," Magnamon acknowledged, clenching his fists with dedication.
"We will do our best," Alphamon assured him, looking at Dukemon and RhodoKnightmon.
"We must be allow for flexibility," Tactimon spoke up. "Suijinmon is their tactician, and, as we now know, he is a very dangerous one. As the battle unfolds, be prepared for split second changes in tactics."
"With that said, do not stray from the assigned battle plan too much," Duftmon added.
"Understood," Omegamon agreed.
Ouryumon nodded. "Yeah, gotcha. I'm gonna go fill in my leftenants," he responded. He levelled a look at Alphamon, quietly wishing him good luck in case they didn't see each other again before the battle started.
Alphamon smiled and nodded back at him. The black Royal Knight watched as Ouryumon took off into the air, curving his long body through the sky as he flew over to where his Strike Forces were gathered. With his eyes observing the skies, Alphamon noticed another familiar Digimon soaring across the sky.
It was Grani, and the Zero ARMS was making his way towards them swiftly. Grani flew down to the group and stopped in front of them softly, hovering in place.
"Grani?" Dukemon asked, turning and looking at him.
"I'm not interrupting, am I?" Grani questioned, glancing at the Royal Knights.
"Of course not, Grani. Do you have something to report?" Alphamon inquired.
"Yes. I have just come from a reconnaissance run, deep near the D-Brigade's lines," Grani explained. His deep, sapphire eyes turned towards Alphamon. "I have confirmed your suspicions."
"Huh? What suspicions?" Dukemon questioned.
Grani turned and gazed across the reaching field, eyeing the D-Brigade army. There were many giant Digimon visible among their ranks, including a Deckerdramon, a few Mugendramon, a Breakdramon, and a Chaosdramon. "You see that Chaosdramon there?" he asked the Royal Knights, looking at the giant red body that towered over many of the smaller D-Brigade soldiers. "That isn't just any Chaosdramon. That is Emperor Chaosdramon."
The Royal Knights turned and looked across the open terrain, staring at the huge, easily-spotted, crimson body of Chaosdramon standing at the back of the D-Brigade troops.
"What?" Duftmon asked incredulously. "He is taking part in this battle himself? But that… is uncharacteristic."
Magnamon narrowed his eyes and folded his arms across his chest. "He was an officer in the D-Brigade a long time ago… An extremely powerful and effective one, from what MetallifeKuwagamon has said. Cold, efficient, merciless, and devastating… This could be trouble for us," Magnamon pointed out.
Alphamon closed his eyes and rubbed his chin pensively. "They say, 'In every crisis, there is an opportunity.' This could be a golden opportunity for us. Opportunities are rare and easily lost," he spoke sagaciously.
"So, what you are saying is, if there was ever a time to take down Chaosdramon, it would be right now," Omegamon spoke, looking at Alphamon.
"Exactly," Alphamon confirmed. "We have been biding our time for a moment to take him down for a long time. We can assume that Chaosdramon will be a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, so this may be unavoidable regardless."
"You may have a point, Alphamon…" Duftmon mused, thinking about the possibility. "We will have to see how the battle goes, but it will require the power of a Royal Knight to bring Chaosdramon to his knees." He glanced at the dark Royal Knight. "Alphamon?"
"I will do what I can," Alphamon stated. He smiled with measured whimsy. "Though, I would feel better having one of you at my side."
"We'll be beside you every step of the way," Omegamon assured him.
Dynasmon nodded and looked at Omegamon. "Have you made sure that Imperialdramon Paladin Mode will stay in the academy with the others?" he asked with a grin.
Omegamon sighed. "I have done all that I can. There's only so much I can do where he is concerned. I think he'll focus on the Dark Area, so long as the battle goes well," he responded.
"It'll be tough, but we've faced worse than this," Dukemon explained. "I'm not about to let us be defeated by Chaosdramon and the D-Brigade."
Grani gave Dukemon a look. "If you are overly reckless, I will be very cross, Dukemon," he reminded him.
Dukemon let out a short laugh but nodded. "Okay, Grani…"
The Zero Arms chuckled slightly before looking at him seriously. "…Are you sure you don't need me?" he asked him.
"I'll be fine, Grani," Dukemon assured him. "You focus on your Reconnaissance Forces."
Grani nodded. "Very well… Then I suppose I should get back to them now," he stated. He looked across the gathered Royal Knights. "Good luck, everyone."
"You too, Grani," Dukemon said to him, smiling.
Alphamon pivoted and looked at the Royal Knights. "He has the right idea. We should all get to our positions, the battle will be starting soon, yes?"
Duftmon nodded. "On our terms, yes," he responded. "I am frankly rather surprised that the D-Brigade hasn't commenced the battle yet. I suppose they must either be still preparing or waiting for us to move."
Grani glanced at him. "There is still the matter that Commanders Fujinmon and Suijinmon are nowhere to be found. My scouts have swept the entire area to the north, south and east of Saversburg, but they couldn't see them anywhere. Furthermore, it seems as though most of the D-Brigade is present here, and there haven't been any other movements of activity. It may be nothing to worry about and they are just hanging back in Haganemame City," he stated.
"That seems unlikely, given how this is supposed to be a set piece battle, but…" Duftmon frowned and shook his head. "It is worrisome. The D-Brigade is known for stealth. We must remain vigilant."
"I shall," Grani stated. The Zero ARMS turned rotated in the air and shot off to reconvene with his scouts.
Alphamon looked around at the gathered Royal Knights. "If we don't see each other before it all begins… Good luck, everyone. Do your best, look out for each other, and count on one another. Each and every one of you is strong and capable. Show them what the Royal Knights can do," he told them, looking at the eleven Royal Knights with a commanding but warm and reassuring gaze. "Believe in your bonds, Royal Knights. I'm counting on you."
"Ooh, I'm getting chills," UlforceVeedramon said with a light-hearted smile. "I love when you do your rousing speeches, Alphamon. Your one to the troops this morning had a lot more passion, though. Really got my blood flowing."
"I personally prefer arousing speeches," RhodoKnightmon stated, placing his hands on his hips. "Alphamon does have quite the sexy voice, however. It's so calm and commanding."
Alphamon smiled. "I'll see you all on the battlefield…" he spoke, giving them a nod before walking away. He walked along the groups of hundreds of Digimon soldiers, making his way to his group at the far right flank of the formation. Dukemon and RhodoKnightmon followed after him, heading to their place half a kilometer away.
As they walked away, Omegamon watched them out of the corners of his eyes. He made a mental note to keep tabs on them during the battle. He walked forward with Dynasmon, Craniamon, and Gankoomon, while the rest of the Royal Knights went to get into position.
Gaioumon stood near Tactimon and Duftmon, also watching as Alphamon walked down the frontline of the allied army. "I have to say… I'm surprised that the Aloof Hermit is taking part in the battle," he mused, eyeing Alphamon curiously. "He only rarely takes part in Royal Knight missions and conflicts. I believe he has the lowest mission completion rate next to the recently-joined Gankoomon, correct?"
Duftmon leered at Gaioumon. "Yes, that is true… Alphamon normally tries to stay out of missions and, instead, he focuses on administrating the Order," he replied firmly. Duftmon closed his eyes and folded his arms. "However, that is not to say that Alphamon is any slouch. He is perfectly capable of winning a battle single-handedly, as a matter of fact. He is first-among-equals of the Royal Knights, after all."
Gaioumon calmly smiled at Duftmon. "Of course. I was not suggesting otherwise," he explained. "I simply meant that I am surprised that he is personally taking part in this battle."
Duftmon nodded. "Alphamon acts when it truly matters. He wouldn't sit back and leave something this big to the rest of us. The thing about Alphamon is that he doesn't ask Digimon to do anything that he wouldn't do himself. He is just that kind of Digimon," the tactician explained in a deliberate, informative manner.
As Duftmon spoke, Tactimon eyed the Royal Knight tactician with a thoughtful gaze. He was surprised to hear him speak that way about another Digimon.
Gaioumon smiled. "So he is… There are some truly interesting Digimon in the Digital World who are like that, aren't there?" he mused.
Tactimon looked at the black dragon samurai. "I take it you are referring to AncientGreymon as well, aren't you?" he asked him. "Just what is your history with him, exactly?"
Gaioumon closed his eyes. "That is a very long story…" he answered mysteriously.
"More importantly, will the Warrior Ten be showing up?" Duftmon asked, looking at Tactimon.
"I cannot be certain. We sent a message to their base, but we haven't received a response," Tactimon explained.
"They will come…" Gaioumon assured him with a certainty in his composed, deliberate voice. "He will come."
Tactimon eyed Gaioumon curiously. "…I hope you're right. We may have the Royal Knights, but we're still outnumbered by the thousands," he stated.
Gaioumon nodded. "I am certain of it," he spoke, narrowing his golden eyes slightly. He turned away and began to walk after Alphamon, Dukemon, and RhodoKnightmon. "I will go prepare the Republic of Node's troops. I will see you both later."
Gaioumon walked off, leaving Duftmon and Tactimon together at the head of the army. Initially, there was a pensive silence between the two tacticians. They stood side-by-side, each absorbed in their own thoughts in the face of the coming battle.
Tactimon broke the silence and turned to Duftmon. "…Once again, you have proven me wrong," he spoke, eyeing the leopard knight.
"Of course," Duftmon responded matter-of-factly, as if it was a knee-jerk reaction. However, he soon grew confused. "Pardon me, but how did I do that this time?"
Tactimon folded his arms. "I never thought I would say this… but you have changed," he observed, traces of pride in his voice.
Duftmon frowned quizzically. "I… have changed?" he asked him sceptically. "How?"
"The way you act as a tactician… You're actually taking into account different Digimon. You sent Sleipmon to take the hill because he would be able to incapacitate the Digimon there," Tactimon pointed out.
"Naturally," Duftmon dismissively replied, placing his hands on his hips. "If I allowed a pacifist to go into the thick of battle, he would only get in the way."
Tactimon looked at him dryly. "I noticed that you also put the most aggressive fighters at the vanguard of the center, where they could really let loose. This further proves my theory," he added.
"I merely placed them there because that is what any logical tactician would do. They have the brute force and temperament necessary for a vanguard," Duftmon answered confidently. "Your theory is false, Tactimon. I have not changed at all. I am merely doing what a good tactician should do; I am making the most of the Digimon at my disposal in order to make the most comprehensive and logical set of tactics. That is no different from what I have always done."
Tactimon couldn't help but sigh behind his helmet. "You are a stubborn Digimon, Duftmon. Even when I'm trying to be nice…" he stated.
Duftmon gave him a look. "I can't help it if you are drawing the wrong conclusions…" he casually informed him.
Tactimon scratched his cheek with a finger. "Even so—"
"HEY, TAC-CHAN!" a booming voice thundered out from the hundreds of Digimon soldiers behind them.
Tactimon tensed up. He wore a flat, irritated expression on his face. "I cannot deal with this right now as well…" he mumbled under his breath.
"Tac-chan~!" the voice chimed again, punctuated by the sound of thundering footsteps that sent vibrations through the ground.
Duftmon turned and looked over his shoulder. He saw what appeared to be giant, humanoid, mass of crystal marching towards them, walking between the groups of organised soldiers. The front of the Digimon's hulking body was composed almost entirely of pristine, flawless crystals that shimmered even in the dim light of the clouded day. He had large, tree trunk-like arms which contained gauntlets that were encrusted with crystals. His head had a hedgehog-like appearance, filled with sharp crystals jutting out from his large body like spikes. Around his waist was a belt that held a breechcloth in place. The cloth hung between his legs, which were covered by polished, metal armour and boots. Swinging behind him haphazardly as he walked was a long tail with a small, crystalline globe at the end of it. A large, black cape with a red interior flowed from his back, blustering in the wind as he marched towards them. Beneath it was a skin tight bodysuit that covered the grey skin of his back, arms, and legs. On his face were a broad grin and an excited look in his black, red eyes.
"Ah, General Blastmon," Duftmon greeted formally, nodding at the towering figure as he galumphed up to them. "Are the Saversburg troops ready?"
"Ready to kick ass!" Blastmon declared, punching his palm with his fist. He looked at Tactimon. "Are you done your tactics stuff now, Tac-chan? I'm itching to wreck these metal thingamajigs."
"Please do not call me that in front of the soldiers, General," Tactimon responded formally, subtly bristling. "…Or at all, for that matter. It is unprofessional and irritating. Refer to me as 'General'."
Blastmon yawned and stretched his arms out, pretending not to have heard him. "So, when do we start?" he asked him.
"Soon. Get into position and make sure the soldiers are ready for the battle to begin at a moment's notice," Tactimon advised him.
"Got it!" Blastmon declared, excitedly turning around to face the rows of Digimon soldiers. He folded his arms and stood in front of the Digimon dominatingly. "Listen up! We're about to attack these walking gizmos any second now! Spread out, you hear me?! Things are gonna start exploding soon, and if you're all clumped together you're gonna regret it! Put space between you, unless you're one of the ones shielding the attacks! Air troops, hang back and shoot those missiles down before they get close! Ground guys, help out and try not to get blown up!"
Duftmon observed Blastmon with a raised eyebrow. "He certainly is high energy…" he noted.
Tactimon sighed. "You have no idea…" he responded.
Blastmon then reached out and placed his giant hand on Tactimon's head. "And listen to whatever General Tac-chan says!" he said emphatically, unaware of Tactimon's withering glare. "He's directing the battle and he's a heck of a lot smarter than you! That goes for Duftie here too! Got it? Got it! Good!"
"Yes, General!" the Saversburg military and the Order's Strike Forces called out obediently.
Duftmon's eye twitched at the pet name. "Duftie…?"
"General Blastmon…" Tactimon spoke, quietly seething at the large hand on his head and the repeated nickname.
Blastmon blinked and removed his hand. He turned to Tactimon and wondered why there seemed to be a dangerous aura emanating from the tactician.
"…Something wrong, Tac-chan?"
Meanwhile, Gankoomon stood in front of the army. He set himself apart from the military and the other Royal Knights, standing ahead of them on the grassy plain between the two opposing forces. His arms were folded and he stared defiantly at the D-Brigade lines several hundred meters away.
Craniamon stood behind Gankoomon, along with Omegamon and Dynasmon. He glanced over at Gankoomon guardedly. "Get back here, Gankoomon," he told him. "The D-Brigade might try to pick you off."
"Yeah," Dynasmon said with a laugh. "That bright red hair makes an awfully tempting target."
"Tch," Gankoomon scoffed, undeterred. "I'd like to see them try."
"At least come back once the bombardment starts," Omegamon advised him. The white Royal Knight turned when he saw a Digimon running over to them. "SaviorHackmon?"
"Huh?" Gankoomon asked, arching an eyebrow and turning upon hearing the name of his pupil. He looked to see SaviorHackmon dashing across the field from the left. The bipedal dragon Digimon sprinted over with determination as he ran down the frontlines. His bladed feet kicked up dirt and grass, and his crimson cape fluttered behind him as he raced over.
"Gankoomon-sensei," he spoke, coming to a clean stop in front of them. It was clear from his dexterous movements that he was quite used to his new Perfect-level form now. He turned to the other three Royal Knights and bowed formally. "Omegamon-shishou, Craniamon-shishou, Dynasmon-shishou."
"SaviorHackmon? What are you doing here?" Gankoomon asked, turning to him with a scrutinizing gaze. "Aren't you supposed to be working as a messenger?"
"That's what I'm here for," SaviorHackmon explained, standing upright. He turned and gave Gankoomon a look. "Although, I don't know why I have to be a messenger; I'm part of the Strike Forces, not the Reconnaissance Forces."
"It's because you just joined the Strike Forces and you don't have enough experience or training to fight in a massive battle like this yet," Gankoomon explained firmly, his rigid tone telling SaviorHackmon not to get any ideas about joining in the battle.
Omegamon looked at SaviorHackmon. "Also, the Recon Forces are stretched thin right now. With everything they have to do, they really need the extra pair of hands for delivering messages," he explained, trying to appeal to his sense of duty.
SaviorHackmon sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I know… I'm not complaining, Sir Omegamon-shishou," he explained. He raised an arm and rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess I feel like I'm not contributing… while everyone else is going to risk their lives. I feel guilty."
"You are contributing, SaviorHackmon," Omegamon explained in his soft, echoing, caring voice. "Messengers are crucial in large battles like this. You need to relay vital information like changes in tactics or other developments. Good communication is crucial. Without it, things fall apart…" Omegamon smiled a bit, remembering the problems that poor communication caused for them when DarkKnightmon working against them. "Trust me…"
"Yeah… Yeah, you're right," SaviorHackmon spoke, brightening up. He smiled at Omegamon, wanting to show him his eagerness and dependability. "I'll do my best, Shishou."
Omegamon nodded and smiled. "I know you will," he said encouragingly.
Gankoomon eyed SaviorHackmon, scrutinising him. "So, what are you here for again?" he asked him suspiciously. "You weren't just trying to convince us to let you fight, were you?"
SaviorHackmon looked at his mentor blandly. "No, sensei…" he answered. For emphasis, he held up a piece of paper. "It's a message from Captain Ouryumon. He says that they're in position and ready to go."
"Good. Thank you, SaviorHackmon," Omegamon said gratefully. He looked over towards the left flank, which was preparing to move out and take the hill. "I'll tell Duftmon. As soon as the right's ready, we should be ready to start."
SaviorHackmon nodded and began to walk away. "I should get back to work. I have a few more messages to send," he stated. "Good luck in the battle."
"Stay outta trouble, kid," Gankoomon said, glancing over his shoulder at SaviorHackmon.
"Same goes for you, Sensei," SaviorHackmon answered back before dashing away to deliver his next message.
A tiny smirk formed in the corner of Gankoomon's lips before he looked forwards. "Mouthy dragon…" he muttered approvingly. Gankoomon went back to staring at the distant enemy. He watched as the D-Brigade troops made subtle movements, but the majority of the forces remained still.
"Isn't it weird that the Metal Empire is taking so long to attack?" Craniamon asked, folding his arms and looking across the field.
"Yeah," Dynasmon agreed, frowning suspiciously. "The Metal Empire hasn't moved for awhile. I don't understand why they're just letting us to get organised. Honour isn't something that you'd expect the Metal Empire to care about."
Gankoomon grunted. "Maybe they're planning something…" he suggested. "It just feels too easy. Things are never this straightforward with the D-Brigade."
Omegamon nodded. "We'll have to be vigilant," he stated. He leered across the battlefield, his cool, blue eyes landed on Chaosdramon, who walked back and forth at the rear of the D-Brigade's lines. "Be prepared for any surprises…"
"Where are they…?" a deep, monotone voice questioned. Although the tone was stoic, there was a lingering silence at the end of his sentence that subtly revealed his seething annoyance.
Chaosdramon paced behind the D-Brigade, marching from one end of the lines to the other.
In front of him were the several thousand D-Brigade soldiers, organised precisely in units and teams. Their total military stretched for a kilometer in length, from the hill they controlled to the south, to a small stream to the north. Even with Chaosdramon's heavy footsteps sending tremors through the ground, not a single D-Brigade soldier moved a muscle out of turn. They were completely organised and disciplined.
The units at the sides of their formation were the rapid attack troops like Tankdramon, MetalGarurumon, LoaderLiomon, and Assaultmon. Making up the base of their army were heavy duty ground troops like Tankmon, Guardromon, Andromon, HiAndromon, MetalTyrannomon, Tankdramon, Mechanorimon, MetalGreymon, and various other machine and cyborg types. The aerial units waited near the ground in front of the thousands of ground troops. These included Megadramon, Gigadramon, Pteranomon, MagnaGarurumon, Rapidmon, Tekkamon, Thunderballmon, Elephamon, Waspmon, Crossmon, WarGreymon X-Antibody, and RizeGreymon. Also, behind the D-Brigade military, as well as covering the hill to the south of them, were the D-Brigade's heavy bombardment units. These consisted of powerful Digimon like Mugendramon, Deckerdramon, SaintGalgomon, BlackSaintGalgomon, Cannondramon, ZekeGreymon, MetalGarurumon X, and RustTyrannomon. Due to the sheer power of these Ultimate-level Digimon, many of them were also officers of the D-Brigade. There were other D-Brigade officers such as Darkdramon, Justimon, HiAndromon, WarGreymon, and UltimateBrachimon who were difficult to contend with as well. Finally, the D-Brigade was known largely for their covert operations, so there were many teams of Sealsdramon, Commandramon, Tuwarmon, Chamelemon and other Digimon trained for stealth getting into hidden positions across the battlefield.
Chaosdramon turned around and began walking back the way he came, crushing the thoroughly trampled grass underfoot. He glared down at Raijinmon, who stood beside him.
"Where are they, Raijinmon?" he demanded.
"I have no idea, Emperor," Raijinmon assured the giant, cyborg dragon.
Chaosdramon expelled steam from the vents on his back, physically displaying his dissatisfaction. "How do you not know?" he asked him.
"I know as much as you do, Chaosdramon," Raijinmon explained. "I was with my division the whole time. I haven't seen Suijinmon or Fujinmon since we began our march yesterday afternoon."
The emperor stopped and narrowed his blood red eyes, which matched the hue of his red digizoid plating. "Both disappearing ahead of the decisive battle… when we require them most… It is… suspicious…" he breathed. Chaosdramon glanced at Raijinmon. "Wouldn't you say, Commander…?"
Raijinmon steeled his will in response to the implication. "We mustn't jump to conclusions, Your Majesty. Both Suijinmon and Fujinmon are extremely loyal. You know this… I know they wouldn't abandon their responsibilities. Not without a good reason…" he rationally stated.
Chaosdramon turned away from Raijinmon, gazing down at the D-Brigade before lifting his head and leering across the battlefield to the allied armies. "You had better be correct, Raijinmon," Chaosdramon spoke. "The dereliction of duty is a capital offence, even for the Storm Commanders of the D-Brigade. If they abandon their positions, the entire command structure will crumble and it will be anarchy. That is not permitted."
"That will not happen, Emperor Chaosdramon," Raijinmon assured him, folding his hands behind his back. Internally, he worried about Fujinmon and Suijinmon. This wasn't like them at all, especially not Suijinmon. Their absence was highly suspicious.
Chaosdramon was silent in response. He emanated an atmosphere of cold steel that restrained an inferno.
Raijinmon shifted in place and irritably flicked his long, yellow, wiry tail. He glanced at Chaosdramon. "How much longer should we wait, Emperor?" he asked him. "The enemy has already gotten into their formations. If we wait much longer, they will be the ones who make the first move."
"We wouldn't be in this situation had our head tactician not gone missing," Chaosdramon spoke angrily. "We wait another fifteen minutes precisely. If they do not show up, we will commence saturation bombardment."
"Yes, Emperor…" Raijinmon responded.
"Find me their second-in-commands," Chaosdramon added. "Perhaps they know where they went. Tell them to be ready to lead their divisions."
Raijinmon turned and was about to respond, but he stopped. The Thunderclap Commander sighed with relief as he stared past Chaosdramon, into the sky behind him. "That may not be necessary, Emperor. There is Fujinmon," he stated. "Suijinmon is probably right behind him."
Chaosdramon turned his head in the direction that Raijinmon was looking. He could see the unmistakeable green figure of Fujinmon soaring through the sky. "Good. I am interested in hearing their explanations pertaining to where they went," he stated, leering at the Hurricane Commander.
Raijinmon nodded, watching as Fujinmon skimmed through the grey sky. Once he was close enough to see him, Raijinmon waved one of his Blitz Arms and hailed him down.
Fujinmon spotted Raijinmon standing beside the far more noticeable Chaosdramon. He released a calming breath and flew down towards them. He knew that he would have to be convincing.
Lightly floating on the breeze, Fujinmon swooped down and stopped in front of them. He gently touched down on the grass before Chaosdramon and bowed deeply. "Chaosdramon, I am deeply sorry," he stated submissively.
Chaosdramon narrowed his eyes and looked down at Fujinmon. "Where were you? You were missing all of last night. You were not around for the march or the battle preparations, and you nearly missed the battle itself. This is unacceptable, Commander. What is your excuse?" he demanded.
"I am truly sorry, Your Majesty," Fujinmon insisted, wincing. "It's Suijinmon…"
"Suijinmon?" Chaosdramon questioned.
Raijinmon frowned at this. "Is something wrong? Did something happen?" he asked him concernedly.
"Yes, well…" Fujinmon paused and looked away. "I… I did my best to stop him… but…"
Chaosdramon's stare hardened. "Stop him…? Stop him from what? Explain yourself. Now."
"I tried to convince him otherwise, but I couldn't… I spent all night trying, but he was determined…" Fujinmon explained remorsefully. He forced himself to look up at Chaosdramon. "Suijinmon said that he wanted no part in this battle."
Chaosdramon stared down at Fujinmon incredulously. He was silent.
Raijinmon, meanwhile, shot Fujinmon a suspicious gaze, but likewise remained quiet.
"…What?" Chaosdramon finally spoke, his voice brimming with rage. "Explain…"
"He refused to come… He said he didn't want any part in this battle. He said that he didn't agree with the direction you are taking, Emperor Chaosdramon," Fujinmon explained.
"The direction that I am taking…? That is not for him to decide…" Chaosdramon spoke, simmering beneath his metal. The vectors on his scales seemed to glow a brighter red. "He is just a lowly commander."
Fujinmon gave Raijinmon a look at Chaosdramon's choice of words. The wording didn't go unnoticed by Raijinmon, who frowned with deep thought.
"He didn't like the aggression of the Metal Empire or the way you are taking charge on the battlefield," Fujinmon continued on. "He said that, although he couldn't condone what we were doing and refused to take any part in it, he wouldn't stand in our way."
"That is unacceptable," Chaosdramon declared, his monotone voice becoming biting. "Suijinmon thinks that he can so easily spit in the face of everything that I am doing? That is… treacherous…" His burning red eyes narrowed, fixing onto Fujinmon. "And what do you think, Fujinmon? What is your opinion?" He then glanced at Raijinmon. "What of you, Raijinmon?"
"Pardon?" Raijinmon asked, surprised. The gold cyborg Digimon stood up straighter and looked up at Chaosdramon. "I knew nothing about this, Your Majesty. I came here with the intention of following through with the battle. I am sure that Fujinmon did the same."
"Of course, Your Majesty," Fujinmon insisted, bowing deeply. "If I didn't, I never would have come back here. I did my best to convince Suijinmon, but you know how intransigent he can be when he gets set into a certain way of thinking."
Chaosdramon released a hiss that sounded like he was expelling more steam. "That stupid, stubborn, treasonous fool… Abandoning me when I require his tactics the most. He is a useless lump of scrap metal who needs to be dealt with…"
Raijinmon gazed at Fujinmon. There was a lot that he wanted to say, but not in front of Chaosdramon.
Chaosdramon breathed and turned away from the yellow and green cyborg Digimon. "I will deal with his insubordination after we achieve victory in this battle. We will proceed without Suijinmon. We will manage accordingly," Chaosdramon stated firmly. He glanced over his shoulder at the two D-Brigade commanders. "Get his second-in-command: Darkdramon. Fill him in on what he needs to do, but DO NOT tell him what Suijinmon has done. They may side with their precious Waterfall Commander. I bet Suijinmon has been preparing for a moment like this… Keep an eye on his divisions. They may share similar sentiments. They could desert during battle."
"Yes, Your Majesty…" Fujinmon answered.
"Of course," Raijinmon agreed, glancing at his slender, green friend.
Chaosdramon began walking away from them, heading towards the rest of the D-Brigade. "We start in exactly ten minutes," he added.
"Yes, Emperor…" Raijinmon answered, watching as Chaosdramon walked away from them. He waited until Chaosdramon began making his way to the front of the army, far out of their earshot.
Once he was gone, Raijinmon turned to Fujinmon. "…What the hell are you doing, Fujinmon?" he asked him.
Fujinmon looked at Raijinmon innocently. "Pardon?" he questioned.
"Don't play dumb, Fujinmon. You and I both know that Suijinmon would never do that. He would never defy Chaosdramon. He would certainly never betray him," Raijinmon explained, folding his arms. "So… Where is he? And what's going on?"
The Hurricane Commander hooked Raijinmon's arm with his Critical Arm and pulled him further away so that nobody could hear them. "Suijinmon is fine. He is just temporarily incapacitated…" Fujinmon explained, leaning in close to Raijinmon.
Raijinmon narrowed his eyes. "So that he would miss the battle? …Do you have any idea what danger you're putting him in? You are making it seem like he's betraying Chaosdramon. Chaosdramon may very well execute him," Raijinmon explained angrily.
"Not if we win," Fujinmon calmly explained. "Not if Chaosdramon is gone…"
"Gone…?" Raijinmon looked at Fujinmon incredulously. "You don't honestly mean…"
Fujinmon nodded. "Yes. It is time, Raijinmon," he told him. "This is our only chance. We need to eliminate Chaosdramon once and for all. If we miss this opportunity, everything will fall apart."
"'Our'? 'We'?" Raijinmon asked him. "I never agreed to treason, Fujinmon. You are talking madness…"
"Don't pretend that you haven't been thinking about what I've said, Raijinmon… Chaosdramon doesn't trust us. Did you see how quick he was to turn on Suijinmon? You could tell that I was lying about Suijinmon, but Chaosdramon couldn't because he was ready to believe that he betrayed him," Fujinmon explained calmly. "If we don't do something about him, he will do something about us."
"Because of what you are doing," Raijinmon countered.
Fujinmon shook his head, causing his long, green hair to sway behind him. "I merely revealed Chaosdramon's true feelings. He is suspicious of all of us, Raijinmon. You saw how he reacted back there… It is only a matter of time before he takes control of the D-Brigade and turns against us," Fujinmon explained, trying to appeal to rationality.
Raijinmon narrowed his eyes pensively. He didn't respond, and it was clear that he wasn't completely convinced.
"It is as you said, Suijinmon will be in trouble if we don't act now," Fujinmon pointed out.
"We will all be in trouble if we do turn against him," Raijinmon argued. "This is an incredibly dangerous game you are playing, Fujinmon."
"It is not a game, Raijinmon. It is our lives and our freedom. Our dreams and desires… They are stifled under Chaosdramon's iron fist," Fujinmon spoke, narrowing his eyes passionately at Raijinmon.
Raijinmon matched his gaze. "It is incredibly risky… If you… if we fail, our lives will be over."
"And if we succeed, we will be heroes," Fujinmon spoke, attempting to play to Raijinmon's own desires.
Raijinmon frowned. "Heroes…? How do you figure that…?" he asked him.
"If we win, we will be the ones who turned on our evil dictator and helped the Royal Knights defeat Chaosdramon," Fujinmon explained. "We will be lauded for our heroism. The Storm Commanders will become known as pillars of strength, skill, and liberty, not as accessories to oppression. As we are now, we are subordinates under Chaosdramon's shadow, but here, during this battle, we will be able to break away from Chaosdramon and make our mark. We can take down a tyrant and restore the Metal Empire to glory…"
Raijinmon thought about his words long and hard. His yellow eyes darted back and forth pensively as he considered Fujinmon's argument. "…You make some compelling points, Fujinmon, but there is still a matter of practicality. You want to turn against him in the middle of a battle against the Royal Knights? How do you plan to pull that off?"
"We will have to play along with Chaosdramon at the beginning, but I have a plan for how to turn the battle against him. We just need to make our intentions clear to the Royal Knights…" Fujinmon explained.
"The Royal Knights…" he mused, obviously biting at the chance. "…And the D-Brigade?" Raijinmon asked. "They may largely be loyal to us, but there is no guarantee that they will help us commit treason against the Emperor. Loyalty has been hammered into them all through their D-Brigade training. They will be highly conflicted between their loyalty to us and their loyalty to him." Raijinmon frowned. "And there is still the matter of Suijinmon's troops."
"There is another reason why Suijinmon is incapacitated, Raijinmon," Fujinmon explained mysteriously. "Leave Suijinmon's forces to me. Just go speak to your subordinates."
Raijinmon was hesitant, but he nodded. "…Very well," he agreed. He shot Fujinmon a deep stare. "…I am putting my faith in you, Fujinmon. I'm pinning everything on this… I hope you know what you are doing. If we fail…"
"We won't fail…" Fujinmon assured him. "I will not let you down…"
Raijinmon nodded again and turned away. He stopped when he saw sub-commander Darkdramon, Suijinmon's subordinate, walking towards them. "Now is your chance," he muttered to the green cyborg.
Raijinmon walked away from Fujinmon as Darkdramon drew near. Darkdramon stepped up to Fujinmon, looking around the area nervously. "Uh, Commander?" he asked Fujinmon.
Fujinmon looked at Darkdramon. "Darkdramon… I was going to find you next," he stated ominously.
"Find me…? Is this about Commander Suijinmon?" Darkdramon asked him.
"I'm afraid so…" Fujinmon responded, glancing away.
The Darkdramon officer narrowed his eyes angrily and looked at Fujinmon with a pleading look. "…What happened, Sir? Please, tell me…" he beseeched him.
Fujinmon made a point of looking around to make sure nobody was listening. He then leaned in towards Darkdramon. "It was as I feared… Chaosdramon had Suijinmon arrested for sedition and high treason…"
Darkdramon's eyes widened. "What?!" he demanded. "But that's… Suijinmon would never! He would never do that! The Emperor is… he is…" Darkdramon trailed off, not wanting to say anything treasonous.
"I completely agree with you, Darkdramon. Chaosdramon is becoming power-hungry and paranoid. He needs to be stopped," Fujinmon put forward. "Don't you agree?"
Darkdramon looked up at Fujinmon with a wide, shocked look. "I… I…" he stammered hesitantly.
Fujinmon locked his gaze with Darkdramon. "I have been thinking about how to save Suijinmon since yesterday. Taking out Chaosdramon is the only way. You know Suijinmon well, Darkdramon. He would never think of betraying Chaosdramon. This is how far the extent of Chaosdramon's suspicions have come," he explained to him. "You do want to save Suijinmon, don't you? I certainly do."
"O-Of course, Commander!" Darkdramon exclaimed, although obviously with misgivings. "It's just…"
"I understand, sub-commander. I do not take this decision lightly, but it is the only way," Fujinmon responded. "I should tell you this for your own safety, but Chaosdramon also suspects Raijinmon and I."
"That's ridiculous!" Darkdramon exclaimed, clenching his fists.
"You agree that he must be brought to justice, don't you? Otherwise, the rest of us will suffer under his arbitrary oppression. He needs to be stopped," Fujinmon continued.
Darkdramon narrowed his eyes, his face darkening as he considered his points. "Yes… I agree…"
Fujinmon nodded. "Good… Since Suijinmon is under arrest, that means that you are in charge of his forces," he explained. "Tell them what Chaosdramon has done. We will make our move during the battle. Get your troops on board as the battle begins. When the battle begins, just carry out the regular battle plan, so as not to arouse suspicion. Wait for my signal before we attack him."
"Yes, Commander. And your troops?" Darkdramon asked him.
"My direct subordinates know what the plan is. The rest will obey," the Hurricane Commander stated.
"Yes, sir. I understand. Secrecy will be kept from Chaosdramon," Darkdramon assured him.
"Good. Thank you," Fujinmon replied, smiling.
They were interrupted by the sound of Chaosdramon's footsteps. They turned and watched as Chaosdramon walked through the D-Brigade formations, heading over to them.
"Get into your positions!" Chaosdramon ordered them, obviously unaware of what they had been discussing. "We are beginning now!"
"Yes, Emperor!" Fujinmon stated, saluting before flying off to his D-Brigade soldiers.
Darkdramon wordlessly saluted and did the same, flying to where Suijinmon's troops were located.
Chaosdramon got to the back of the lines with the rest of the bombardment Digimon. "Prepare to fire!" he shouted, his deep voice booming across the field.
He turned around and angled his body down. The sounds of rounds clicking into their chambers and the hiss of energy swelling could he heard. The two massive cannons connected to Chaosdramon's giant, metal backpack suddenly began moving from their resting, downwards position. They curved upwards until the two cannons rested on his broad, muscular shoulders. They aimed over the D-Brigade, pointing across the battlefield at the Royal Knights' and Saversburg's army.
Chaosdramon's blood-hued eyes glowed as he began building up energy within the two cannons. The cannons howled as energy began to swell and gather inside them, pouring into them from Chaosdramon's backpack. As he sent dark energy spilling into his cannons, the lines of his body glowed with a bright red. Dark, burning energy and steam expelled from the vents at the backs of the cannons, helping to cool and diffuse them as they prepared to fire.
Beneath Chaosdramon's heavy, clawed boots, dark cracks began to emerge in the ground, sending dark energy wafting up from deep below the earth.
Chaosdramon narrowed his eyes and bent forwards, taking careful aim at the Royal Knights.
"Commence bombardment…" he spoke, just loud enough for the D-Brigade to hear his deep, bellowing voice. "Hyper Mugen Cannon!"
Intense, dark beams exploded from his cannons and surged across the battlefield, prompting the D-Brigade to start unleashing their munitions.
The battle had begun.