131

The Dark God's Advance

"The Thing cannot be described – there is no language for such abysms of shrieking and immemorial lunacy, such eldritch contradictions of all matter, force, and cosmic order. A mountain walked or stumbled." – H. P. Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu"

At first, no one had any idea what to do. Their towering adversary waded slowly landward. A noise reached them from across the water, a sort of vast, roaring hiss that seemed to echo in their brains as much as in their ears. The three Agents had turned to gape at Dagomon along with everyone else, but immediately after hearing that sound they remembered the Deep Ones, who resumed their advance and launched their black spears as if at a signal. One of the shafts Benjamin was unable to parry, and he cried out as it sliced through his sleeve and the skin of his arm.

"G-Gomamon, help Gennai-san and the rest!" Jou called out.

"R-Right…"

The brief exchange broke the spell. Several people moved or shouted at once.

"You too, Gabumon! All the Digimon that can't evolve should help take those things out," Yamato said, his voice rising above the others.

"What about us?" Lighdramon asked, sounding piqued at not being called to action.

"It'll be bad if that thing reaches Odaiba," Sora said. "Maybe if the Armor Digimon could hold it off…"

"We could fly out there…" Holsmon said, looking at Pegasmon.

"But I can't," Lighdramon finished.

"If I became Submarimon, I could attack from below, dagyaa," Digmon suggested.

Pegasmon looked at the knot of figures gathered about Hikari. He knew that Tailmon would not want to leave her partner in this state. And Wormmon couldn't evolve to Stingmon. Would just three Armor Digimon be enough to offer their gigantic enemy resistance?

Koshiro was wondering much the same thing. He wished that he'd thought to bring his Digimon Analyzer with him. If they knew the enemy's evolutionary level they might be able to judge his strength, and knowing what attacks he had at his disposal might give them a strategic advantage. Koshiro couldn't retrieve his laptop now, though. There were too many Deep Ones between him and Odaiba Mansion. He hoped his mother was safe in their ground-floor apartment. Thankfully he'd at least had her take the precaution of locking the door after he and Tentomon left.

By now Tentomon, along with Agumon, Piyomon, and Palmon, had joined in holding the Deep Ones at bay, their longer-ranged attacks providing needed support to the swords of the Agents. Meanwhile, many of the Chosen Children were unsure of just what to do. Those whose partners were fighting watched to make sure they would be alright, but only when they could tear their eyes away from the looming, pulsating Dagomon as he waded unhurriedly nearer.

Much of Taichi's attention was focused on his sister, but he had no idea what to do or say. No longer screaming, she knelt on the pavement, curled up, with eyes shut tight, though not tight enough to prevent tears of pure terror from escaping. He was at a loss. He'd never seen her like this, and it frightened him.

As once before, Miyako and Tailmon were at Hikari's side, offering what support they could. This wasn't much in Miyako's case; her own fear was beginning to grow, and she could do little but lean over her friend with a worried expression, often glancing at the colossal figure on the horizon. But Tailmon put her paws on her partner and gently shook her, speaking low and urgently.

"Hikari. Hikari! Try to pull yourself together. Everyone needs your help! I need your help. Please, don't give up already, when the fight hasn't even started."

"I'm sorry, Tailmon," Hikari whispered, her voice shaking. "I… I can't. I'm so afraid…"

"When has this ever been about not being afraid?" Tailmon asked, raising her voice. "Weren't we afraid before, in front of Vamdemon? And other enemies, too! We couldn't let it stop us, because if we didn't fight, then… then everything…"

"Can't you feel it?" Hikari asked, her voice rising in turn. "It feels different. Can we even fight something like it?"

"Why not?" Tailmon demanded. Hikari was so brave in the fight against Apocalymon, she was thinking to herself. And he was so powerful, almost more than a Digimon. So why is this so different? A kind of despair began to settle over her as well, but now it was Hikari, and not the enemy, that worried her. "Hikari…"

"I'm sorry," Hikari repeated. "I'm sorry I'm so weak. If I could have been strong like Onii-chan and the rest, then… maybe…"

A voice spoke. But it wasn't Tailmon's, it was Taichi's.

"You're not weak! What are you talking about?"

Hikari's eyes snapped open in surprise. Her brother had stepped closer while she and Tailmon had been talking, and he'd caught part of the conversation. She looked up at him, wonderingly, the tears ceasing to run and standing still in her eyes.

"But… Onii—"

"Hikari, you're one of the strongest people I know!" Taichi said. "You always put everyone else's needs before yourself. If something's wrong, you try to fix it without letting it worry anyone. You have the strength to do all that… so how can you say you're weak?"

Hikari stared up at him as the words sank in. She had always cared deeply about earning her brother's approval, so why was it that being berated at this moment lifted her spirits? In spite of everything, she suddenly felt better than she had for several days. He had told her she was strong.

Taichi saw the change come over her face, not yet understanding that for the first time he had revealed to her his assessment of her character, just as he'd once revealed it to Koshiro while he sat crying for her in a cathedral. Always she had seen herself as his inferior. Sometimes she'd even wondered if maybe he considered her someone not to be relied upon, unworthy of leading her fellow Chosen Children. Now he had expressed for the first time the depth of his admiration for her, and it filled her heart with joy.

Tailmon smiled. She saw her partner beginning to recover. "It's what I've always told you," she said softly.

"I'm sorry… everyone…" Hikari said, getting slowly to her feet. She kept her face averted from the water, though she sensed a tugging at her mind that seemed to emanate from that direction, too powerful to be imagination. "Don't worry about me," she said, speaking particularly to Tailmon. "We have to do what we can—" Her voice quavered. "—while there's still time."

It was what Tailmon had been waiting for. Raising her voice, she called to her fellow partner Digimon. "Everyone, we're going to fight that thing now! We need to keep it from reaching this place if we can."

"Wait!" Daisuke interjected. "How is Lighdramon supposed to get out there?"

For the last few minutes, Daisuke had been as concerned about Hikari as anyone. Like others, he had been surprised by her outburst, and deeply worried by it. And yet while some of them had turned to Hikari herself, his thoughts had turned to that monstrous Digimon that had so terrified her. Daisuke wanted a fight. Needed a fight. The Dark Man had denied him one, but he would forget all about that if he could face this other enemy that threatened Hikari-chan. Under no circumstances could he fail to protect her as he had failed to save Nat-chan.

As for Tailmon, she knew that there was no practical way for Daisuke's partner to join the battle while Dagomon remained in the deep water, but also knew that Daisuke wouldn't take kindly to hearing her say so. Fortunately, she knew what to say instead.

"I can't take Hikari out there with me," she told him. "It's up to you and Lighdramon to protect her until I get back. Don't let any of those things near her."

She could see from his expression that he had mixed feelings about sitting out on the main battle, but knew he'd answer, "Alright!" before he actually said it. "You hear that, Lighdramon?" he added.

"…Right," Lighdramon answered.

"I'm counting on you," Tailmon told them. "Hikari! I need to Armor Evolve."

Hikari half raised her D-3, but her hand was shaking. "Tailmon… I…"

"It'll be okay, Hikari," the little Digimon answered. "I will always come back to you. Please trust me!"

Hesitantly, Hikari nodded. "Alright. Digimental Up!"

There was a flash of brilliant light against the grim grayness of the day, and when it faded Nefertimon stood where Tailmon had been.

"Let's go, everyone!"

She leapt into the air, followed by Pegasmon and Holsmon, whose partners called out after them to be careful. Digmon reverted to Armadimon and looked at his partner. "Iori?"

"Alright…" Iori said. "But keep your distance until we know how strong that thing is. Digimental Up!"

His evolution completed, Submarimon launched himself into the water where the Odaiba street abruptly ended, and as his winged companions flew towards Dagomon in formation, he sped through the dark waters in the same direction.

Dagomon took another step and then stopped to watch Nefertimon and the others approach, his glowering red eyes inscrutable. The three flying Digimon came in just above the level of their target's nightmarish arms. The moment they had come within range the three of them unleashed their attacks without waiting to see what he would do.

"Curse of Queen!"

"Silver Blaze!"

"Tempest Wing!"

The attacks, so impressive under normal circumstances, appeared pitifully tiny against that vast wall of body. The beams of pink and the ray of green scorched the dark flesh but left no mark, while Holsmon's tornado beat vainly against it a moment and faded.

A low, huge rumble filled the air. Gigantic though it was, it might have been only the sound of Dagomon's exhalation. His wings moved a little as if in a shrug, and the wind generated by the casual movement drove his attackers back a little. The Chosen Children, who had been able to watch the Armor Digimon's assault from Odaiba, each felt something stir darkly in their minds as that low growl swept over them, as if the reverberations had set their souls atremble.

The sea erupted where Dagomon's body rose from it. Submarimon had launched his Oxygen Homing attack, but with no more effect than Pegasmon and the others had managed.

"Let's try again," Pegasmon urged. Flapping his wings he ascended to about the level of Dagomon's head, then spread them wide. "Shooting Star!"

As Pegasmon's projectiles rained down, the tentacles of Dagomon's left arm went into motion, seeming to lengthen rapidly, shooting in all directions, some up towards Pegasmon and others at Nefertimon and Holsmon, who took evasive action.

"Mach Impulse!" Holsmon just had time to launch his attack before dodging, his energy blades severing one of the tentacles that had gone for Pegasmon like a striking snake. He danced between the pulpy cables and around Dagomon's right side, hoping to get clear of the tentacles and attack from the enemy's flank. And yet just when he thought himself out of immediate danger an entirely new tentacle shot out from the bundle and slammed down on his body, driving him down and into the water.

Up in the sky, a tentacle hit Pegasmon like a giant uppercut, knocking him head over hooves with a scream. Nefertimon dodged several of the onrushing tentacles, only to be knocked senseless by a careless flick of Dagomon's huge right arm.

Having tossed his opponents about like so many toys, Dagomon resumed his walk towards Odaiba. The Chosen Children watched, aghast, the proximity of the Deep Ones forgotten. Takeru stood tense, and Miyako screamed for Holsmon, who as far as they could tell hadn't resurfaced. Hikari hung her head.

"I knew it," she murmured. "We can't fight something like that." A kind of calm had come over her, a numb despair that overrode even her concern for her partner.

Nefertimon and Pegasmon had recovered somewhat and taken up position once again between Dagomon and the shore. The dark god came on, unconcerned, as if he didn't acknowledge their presence.

"What do we do?" Nefertimon asked her friend, but at the moment he had no answer for her. Dagomon took another gigantic step. Pegasmon spoke.

"If we destroyed that giant Dark Tower, do you think it would let us evolve normally?"

"Maybe," Nefertimon said. "I don't know."

A series of underwater explosions blasted spray into the air as Submarimon let loose with a long volley of Oxygen Homing. It seemed a signal for the other Digimon to act.

"We have to try!" Pegasmon shouted, and shot as quickly as he could to the right side of the living mountain. Nefertimon, anticipating his strategy, flew to the left, hoping that their enemy would not be able to concentrate on both of them at once.

In fact, Dagomon did absolutely nothing to hinder them, only stopped walking, and they were soon behind him and heading as fast as they could for the black city on the horizon and the mile-high obelisk at its center. Dagomon paid them no heed, and appeared not to feel the impact of Submarimon's missiles. Rather than counterattack, he lifted his arms, raising them above his head. The bundled tentacles writhed and lengthened, the huge right arm swayed slowly in the sky. To Hikari, who had looked up to see what would happen to her partner, those tentacles looked long enough to enwrap the world in their cold clutch.

A great cry filled the air – deep and shrill, loud and soft, all at once, heard with the ears and with the mind. Something like a great wind radiated from the gigantic figure, and all about it the sea exploded into huge waterspouts twisting like huge gray tentacles. The waters surged upwards and met over their master's outstretched arms. The next moment they exploded, and sent four shining gold objects hurtling back towards Odaiba. They struck the surface of the sea, bounced like skipped stones, and after their momentum had dissipated and their glow faded floated like so many corpses not far from shore.

Slowly, Dagomon lowered his arms, and resumed his walk.