Once again, they have come.
Wait. Something is different.
THEY are different. A different pair. Nevertheless, the Light is strong within them.
The human, especially. The Digimon is but only a partner Digimon. The human however, wills the power.
This shall be interesting.
I shall keep watch; they shall not escape ME.
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When the familiar sensations of teleporting gradually faded away, Adam blinked as he took in his new surroundings. He had teleported near the tip of a stone bluff; the view of the sea greeted him. The view would have been breathtaking, hadn't the fact that they were murky black. In fact, Adam noticed immediately that everything around him was nothing but shades of gray. The dreariness of the place caused him to shiver; it was a vast contrast to the Digital World, what with the lack of color and warmth. It was cold, the sky gray, the seawater murky, the smell salty. And it didn't help much that this world seemed somewhat still, stale, and deathly quiet.
"Welcome to the Dark Ocean, Adam," Patamon whispered slowly, releasing his clutch from his partner's head as he flew down to Adam's shoulder level.
Adam grimaced. "You kidding? This place looks even worse than the Shadow Realm, and that's really saying something."
"I don't like it here. Let's just go look for JD and Agumon and get out of here."
"I guess we better."
The two turned around, and saw a straight path lined with thick trees. Strangely, those trees were also gray…although upon closer inspection Adam could see some hint of green. Then he realized how foggy the Dark Ocean was; the fog was the reason everything looked so gray, he supposed. They were just about to set forth, when Patamon suddenly tensed. It didn't take Adam long to learn why.
Coming from the distance, up from the sky, were two identical floating figures. They let out spine-tingling moans as they approached the gulf. Adam noticed that the newcomers stood out starkly against the bleak environment; with their scarlet capes, shining energy-based arms and weaponry, but what caused his heart to nearly stop beating was how these demons resembled SkullSatamon. He'd had one unpleasant meeting with SkullSatamon before, and was not looking forward to another. He quickly grabbed Patamon and teleported away. In his mind, he thought of a location where they would be safe against those demonic creatures they'd just seen.
They reappeared inside the forest; Adam recognized the trees as the ones he'd seen from the clearing. They were near the path, and Adam gasped softly when he saw the two demons sailing along the path, and took a step back. Patamon quickly moved behind a tree trunk and Adam bent down behind a shrub. He took a peek out, and saw the demons floating farther away, oblivious to their whereabouts.
Adam sighed, relieved. "That was close."
However, his heart nearly stopped beating when something…someone suddenly cupped his mouth from behind. Whoever that had seized him from behind was also quick to grab his hands, and dragged him farther deep into the forest. Adam attempted to struggle, and was quite surprised when the grab on his wrists were both loosened. He saw Patamon, but the Rookie was merely staring back at him…or them, with a frown. The Digimon seemed unsure of what action to take, but it could be said that the Digimon didn't think that Adam was in any dire form of danger.
"Shh…I'll let go but don't shout. They'll hear you." The slight-edgy, somewhat rough voice was instantly recognizable. That person let go of Adam slowly.
Adam turned around and stared irately at the taller profile of JD Kamaruzaman. "YOU!" He then took a few steps back, wary of the older teen instantly.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," JD cautioned, seeing that Adam was backing away towards the path. "Those MetalPhantomon have been lurking around here for hours now."
The younger teen didn't reply. Flashes of bad memories invaded his mind; this was the teen who'd pretended to be his friend, while at the same making attempts on his life under a different guise. Adam didn't know whether he could trust JD, despite positive remarks from Liu Ying, Manny and TobuCatmon earlier. In fact, he didn't even feel safe. He was reminded of how JD looked like when the blonde attempted to strangle him the previous day.
JD's face softened a little, seemingly recognizing Adam's silence and uneasiness. He raised both arms, a sign of surrendering. "Hey, relax. Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm me again."
"Meaning what?" Adam snapped. His voice was kept neutral, but it was his narrowed glare that caused JD to flinch slightly. It was a look of utmost distrust.
"Meaning I'm not under a spell," JD replied, braced. "Not anymore. I broke it. I'm my own person now. You can trust me."
"Trust," Adam echoed. There was well-masked venom dripping with every syllable. It didn't stay amiss, though, from the way his eyes shone. "That's a tough one."
JD's eyes narrowed. He had an urge to snap back at the somewhat sarcastic comment, but resisted it. It would be easier for the other DigiWira to trust him, but not Adam. JD was reminded immediately of what could have caused such a hostile reaction from the DigiWira, and sighed. He had been thinking about it nearly the whole previous night, while observing Koromon sleeping and not being able to sleep himself. He didn't know what he would do should his path crossed Adam's again, but he knew that an apology was due. Now was his chance.
"I'm really sorry, Adam." It was a heartfelt apology, but elicited no response from the other boy. JD grimaced. "I don't know what else to say."
He stared into Adam's eyes, searching for any sign that his apology was accepted. It proved to be difficult; JD had never seen emotions kept so well-hidden. One would look at Adam's face right now and only thought that the boy was listening with mild interest. There was no sign of acceptance or rejection at all. It unnerved the blonde teen, but he took Adam's silence as his cue to further elaborate with his apology. He took a deep breath and continued.
"Look, I totally get it if you're mad at me. I suppose I deserve it, given what I've done to you…"
"Let's just go," Adam cut in, still in his neutral-mode. He turned around and looked at the path, all the while kept his back on JD as he continued speaking, "I don't know how we're going to get back to Forest Sanctum, but I'm thinking that TobuCatmon has a plan somehow. Maybe we should head back to the clearing; that's the spot where Patamon and I had arrived just now."
JD blinked. He didn't know what to make off of the boy's sudden change of demeanor. He supposed Adam wouldn't be able to forgive him yet.
"Adam? Don't you trust me?"
Adam turned around, his eyes sizing up JD warily. It was as if he wasn't sure what to reply, or what would JD do. JD supposed that his reputation at school might make the boy extend the forgiveness unwillingly, so he kept his distance and tried to show that he wasn't going to harm Adam in any sort of way. If the boy needed his personal space for the time being, JD was willing to give him just that.
"Like I've said, trusting you is a tough one," the dark-haired boy finally replied with a low tone. He caught the disappointed look on JD's face, before adding, "But I'm working on it."
JD blinked, before letting out a small smile of gratitude. 'Well, I suppose it's as good a reply as any, for now.' "Thanks, Adam."
Adam nodded and turned his gaze away, towards the empty path. "Come on."
"We better walk through the forest, though," JD said, and scooped up Koromon who had been beside him. He wanted to make a conversation with the boy, to see how the boy really felt.
Adam nodded again, and started walking wordlessly. Patamon gazed at JD and Koromon momentarily before joining his partner. He however didn't fly fast enough to be out of their earshot, and thus managed to grasp an exchanged whispered conversation between the duo of fire and darkness.
"Do you think he really has forgiven me, Koromon?"
"Don't worry, Josh…I'm sure Adam will forgive you soon. Maybe he's still angry with you, and all he need is some time to vent some steam."
"I hope so, Koromon. I hope so."
Patamon was struck with the sincerity that came out from JD's reply. It was very different to how he'd heard JD speak during their few previous encounters. Patamon knew, and he knew that Adam was well aware of it as well, that JD and Koromon were already freed of Karatenmon's spell. Shouldn't Adam forgive JD for what he'd done, since JD couldn't be held fully responsible for the actions he had conducted? Manny was forgiven somewhat quickly, despite a brief moment of uneasiness. Patamon wanted to voice out his opinion to Adam, but then decided not to. He knew however, that something else was troubling his partner's mind. But what could that be? Patamon could only wonder; despite them being partners, Patamon had came to know that Adam was somewhat very secretive, while giving the impression to others that he had nothing much to hide.
Ten minutes later, the silence was broken again. It was Adam, who stopped and turned around, rubbing the back of the neck while doing so. He nearly causing Patamon to collide against his head hadn't the flying Rookie kept his eyes on him. The Rookie floated an arm's length away from Adam, while the boy looked at the other teen uneasily. "I'm curious about one thing, though, JD."
JD raised an eyebrow. "Ask away then."
"How did you end up getting here in the first place?"
The question didn't faze JD; he knew it was bound to come up. 'Better that than that other thing….' "Oh…well, after breaking the spell yesterday, I was so mad of the fact that Karatenmon had brainwashed me, and all I could think about last night was revenge. But I couldn't find him…"
"Couldn't find him?" Adam asked skeptically. "Weren't you the one who destroyed him?"
"Me?" JD looked somewhat surprised of the inquiry, but then a look of understanding crossed his facial features. It did appear to be like that, after the battle, but he was not so sure. However Karatenmon hadn't been appearing at all and the abhorrence spell was broken, and the Cave of Solitude was practically deserted. Only Karatenmon's demise could break the amplified dark spell over JD; after Manny's betrayal JD knew that Karatenmon had increased the potency of the dark spell over him. It didn't give Karatenmon total control over JD, but it had clouded JD's mind even more, feeding upon his anger and resentment.
"As Satriamon, we are strong…but I don't think it's anywhere as strong as Karatenmon. Your little teleportation trick yesterday caused me to severely injure Karatenmon, but it wasn't supposed to be fatal for that birdbrain." JD grinned, trying hard not to look smug. "But apparently that's what had happened. Weird, eh?"
Upon the mention of Adam's trick which ended up in Satriamon and Karatenmon attacking each other, the said boy shifted uncomfortably. His eyes trailed to some gashes and wounds on JD's body, at the parts where his red shirt were torn. He paused upon looking at JD's right arm; the sleeve was torn partially, but nothing he was seeing there that caused the momentarily pause. But rather, what he knew to be there was what fixing his gaze there. He had seen the clear-defined slash mark there, which he had inflicted on JD during their scuffle at the Shadow Realm. It wasn't a pleasant thought for Adam now, but he'd justified his action as JD had been the one who kidnapped him, and for mercilessly taunting him after seizing away his Digivice and D-Terminal, leaving him defenseless and vulnerable.
JD saw that Adam was looking at his arm, and gave him an assuring smile. "Don't worry about it. It's healed. The scar's still there, though. Pretty cool, actually. Wanna see it?"
Adam shook his head, looking somewhat ill all of a sudden. "Umm…no thanks. Continue though; what made you end up here?"
"I thought that if I couldn't get to Karatenmon, then I'd destroy his home. But I wasn't satisfied with just that; it wasn't just Karatenmon – SkullSatamon was also responsible for me and Manny becoming the ShadoWira. So I went there…my plan was to delete as many of his minions as possible to teach him a lesson, for messing with my head…but those ghosts became MetalPhantomon and I was forced to step back. I opened a DigiPort with my phone, but something went wrong, I think. Instead of heading to any place else in the Digital World or in our world…"
"You end up here," Adam concluded stoically. "Teach SkullSatamon a lesson, huh? See what you've done?"
Normally, JD wouldn't respond well to people who chided him or giving him sarcastic remarks. If they came from a teacher or any other adult, he'd just turn a deaf ear to them. If it came from his peers – if it were from the guys, he'd usually bash them up, if it were from the girls, he'd retort with a tell-off so severe it would be enough to make some of them cry. That didn't happen too often, though. Many knew not to mess with him.
However, this time around, given the person, and their situation, JD was glad to hear it. At least Adam wasn't given him the cold shoulder, as JD had expected him to do so. And it was particularly amusing as well for the taller boy, as Adam was about two years younger than him, smaller in size and looked nowhere on par to him if physical strength was concerned. Normally, no one of those characteristics would dare to cross him. It baffled JD sometimes; he wouldn't pick on people for no reason – he might be a troublemaker, but he was not a bully. He'd tease sometimes, but he'd never lay a hand on smaller, weaker people than him. But words…rumors, more like it, had circulated at school and JD couldn't be bothered to set them straight. As far as he was concerned, it made people leave him alone, and he was fine with that.
Yet, recent news of him punching a student – Manny – over the face had caused the rumor to aggravate even more. It didn't matter that the seemingly shy boy had fought back – a number of people had seen him being the one who initiated the fight. JD supposed that 'caught under a dark spell' wouldn't fit the criteria of the reason for him to initiate the fight.
He smirked. "What would you do if you're in my situation?"
"Nothing that would get me here; I'm not that stupid," Adam replied with an even tone.
JD blinked. 'Did he just call me stupid?' The smirk turned into a lopsided grin. "So…since you're here now, I guess that makes you as stupid as I am."
Adam blinked twice. 'Huh?' He scoffed at the remark and retorted with another. "At least, I'm not stupid enough to get myself suspended!" He turned around and was about to resume the walk again. JD could hear that the younger boy mumbling, "And it's not like I have a choice." The boy then walked away.
JD looked visibly stunned. 'Huh? Suspended? Again?' He shrugged. 'Oh well, more holidays for me.' Something however stopped him short. It was what Adam had muttered before walking away. Quickly he jogged to catch up with Adam. "Hey, wait up. That thing you just said…"
Adam stopped without missing a beat. He however, assumed that JD was going to ask about the suspension. "For cutting out school for no good reason, and apparently for that punch you laid on Manny on Monday. Liu Ying told me; she heard it when the disciplinary teacher told your class teacher about it." He said all that without even glancing back to address JD.
"Oh…not that, but thanks anyway," JD said. "No, I was going to ask you about another thing."
Adam waited for JD to continue. JD took the silence as his cue to ask away.
"If you did have a choice, would you have come to rescue me?"
Adam was surprised; apparently JD had heard his mumble. He'd muttered that simply for his own hearing. Straining to keep his face straight, he thought about it, and imagined what he would have wanted people would do should he be in JD's shoes. JD wasn't at fault; that much he already knew. He and Manny were both victims. If he wanted to be bitter or angry, he should be doing that to Karatenmon or SkullSatamon. Channeling his frustration to JD might make the blonde teen's attempt to return to the side of good a whole lot more difficult than it already was. He trusted the fact that JD was now good, but other than that, he'd reserve his judgment still.
With that, he glanced through his shoulder, meeting the grinning JD's gaze with a steady look.
"Good or bad, you're still a person. I would've come anyhow."
It was a reply that shut JD up instantly, and the rest of their walk back to the clearing by the gulf was in complete, yet no longer uncomfortable, silence.
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WIRA DIGITAL
Chapter 23 – Burning at Both Ends
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Meanwhile, back in the Digital World the battle between two femme fatales of the nature was about to commence. Everything became still all of a sudden as Lilymon and Lilamon stared upon each other. On Lilymon's side, Liu Ying and Gayathri both stood side by side, carefully and warily watching their surroundings. On the other side, there were the remaining three Veggiemon, RedVeggiemon, Sunflowmon, Petaldramon…and Samudramon.
"Why's Samudramon standing on her side?" Liu Ying asked, confused.
"I don't know; I just got here," Gayathri whispered back. She was even more baffled by the fact that Samudramon seemed to be indifferent of their presences. She had just met Manny about four hours ago; and Manny was perfectly himself. Now, it was like deja-vu all over again; his indifference was similar to the time when he was under Karatenmon's spell.
Lilamon laughed lightly and floated near Samudramon, enjoying the repulsed looks on the girls and Lilymon's faces when she stroked Samudramon's chin with one hand. The merman, now on his two legs, stood a good inch higher than Lilamon and was sturdier and stronger in looks. He could have just swatted Lilamon away easily, with the close proximity the Dryad General appeared to be from him. It would be the most logical thing to do.
But Samudramon didn't act all. He merely turned his head slowly towards Lilamon, and stated, "I hear and I obey, mistress."
"I know you will, handsome," Lilamon purred. She shot a look at Lilymon. "Now, attack that second-rate flower girl. The Digital World is too small for two nature maidens." She leaned closer towards Samudramon, placing both hands on his chest. "If you're successful…you'll be greatly rewarded, if you get what I mean…" Lilamon winked seductively and her voice dropped to a few octaves, sounding like a hoarse whisper.
Samudramon nodded and advanced towards Lilymon with his metallic trident stretched out, while Lilamon gleefully retreated back to enjoy the battle that was about to commence.
However, Lilymon had no intention to fight a fellow comrade. She knew what was happening, and she knew the perfect remedy for it. Lilymon spread his four leaf-wings and took to the sky, knowing too well that Samudramon had not the ability to fly. She had a better advantage if she came from the sky rather than on the ground. The flower woman saw Samudramon summoning a pillar of rising water from beneath him, and took chase to her. Lilymon waited; Samudramon acted exactly as how she had wanted him to be.
When the merman was on her flight level, she extended both arms forward and summoned, "Flower Wreaths!!"
Lilamon's eyes bulged. "NO!"
Wreaths of pleasant-smelled flowers materialized and wrapped around Samudramon's muscular, pale body. The merman attempted a struggle, but with each struggle the wreaths drew themselves around his body even tighter. As they began to take effect, Samudramon's head hung limp and he no longer resisted the healing effect the Flower Wreaths were exuding. Wisps of green vapor slowly evaporated from Samudramon, until the flowers – formerly fresh – that wrapped around his body wilted horribly and evaporated into data particles. This surprised even Lilymon; apparently Lilamon's influence on Samudramon had taken every ounce of the healing properties that her Flower Wreaths contain. Lilymon wondered whether it was enough to bring back Samudramon to their side.
"What…what's going on?" Samudramon suddenly spoke up, looking at his body, then at Lilymon, confused.
Lilymon wanted to test Samudramon first to ascertain whether Samudramon had been healed or not. "Are you going to fight against me, Samudramon?"
"Huh? Why would I?" Samudramon asked, confused yet again of Lilymon's inquiry. "We're supposed to be on the same side, right?"
Lilymon smiled. "Welcome back. You have fallen under Lilamon's influence just now. Luckily, no damage was done; I managed to put a stop into that before you could. Now, steer clear from Lilamon's path lest you fall under her love charm once again."
"Love charm?" Samudramon sounded ill all of a sudden. "First hate spell, now love charm? I don't believe it."
"Do not worry; no harm was done. I think you stand a better chance helping the girls against the other Digimon. Let me take care of Lilamon, her charm has no effect on me."
"Alright, Lilymon. And thanks." Samudramon looked down towards the direction where Liu Ying and Gayathri were standing at.
"I do what I must. And do not worry," Lilymon asserted with a smile. "You have not been under the love charm long enough to create an unimpressionable impression to Gayathri or Liu Ying."
Lilamon watched the turn of event with narrowed eyes and fury. She had thought something like this would've happened upon seeing Lilymon coming. She hadn't anticipated this; Sorcerymon and Shutumon failed to mention that the DigiWira possessed Lilymon as a partner as well! It could destroy her plan. A Lilymon and a Lilamon could never really fight each other; their attacks would only cancel out the other. Neither had the advantage against the other; the only thing that would make a difference now was their power.
And with that thought, Lilamon smiled, regaining her confidence. Of course, what could a measly Digimon partnered to a human actually do to her – a strong general in her own right? Centuries ago, she had to compete with many other for the coveted general role, and had it bestowed to her after proving her worth time and time again.
Lilymon descended steadily, and fixed a steely gaze towards Lilamon with her green eyes. Lilamon returned her gaze adamantly.
"So this is how it's going to be," Lilamon smirked.
"I believe so," Lilymon said nobly. She raised both arms forward, and joined them together with palms opened towards the front. Instantly her hands morphed into a blooming flower, with a metallic cannon hidden inside. "Flower Cannon!!"
"Marvel Shot!!" Lilamon countered the powerful green energy orb from Lilymon's cannon with several plasma orbs of her own. The attack collided in midair and caused an explosion. Smokes erupted from the collision, and the other DigiWira could hear a scuffle occurring from within the smokes. When the smokes cleared, they saw Lilamon attacking Lilymon with flurries of kicks, slaps and punches. The Dryad General was mercilessly fast and adept in fighting on a hand-on-hand battle, and was more than willing to demonstrate it for others to see.
Lilymon however, didn't strike back. She merely defended herself, and wasn't having trouble in doing so. It appeared as if Lilymon, due to her Youkomon half, thought that it was beneath her to partake with a catfight. There was however no mistaking the irritability that was displayed on her beautiful face as she blocked her opponent's assaults.
"Why won't you fight back?" Lilamon demanded angrily. She delivered a roundhouse kick towards the dress-wearing flower woman, but it was evaded by Lilymon by flying away.
"Very well, I will," Lilymon said calmly and charged towards Lilymon. The flower headdress she was wearing glimmered with bright yellow aura, and from the cloudy sky, a portion of the thick cumulus separated which allowed a beam of sunlight to pass through. The sunshine beam shone upon Lilymon, causing her whole body to glow. She spun with force, and her legs shimmered gold. Then, she thrust one kick upon Lilamon's head, forming a trail of yellow energy and flower petals as her kick moved upon Lilamon's head to her chest and thighs. "Sun-Crescent Kicks!!"
Lilamon shrieked as one of Lilymon's kick came into contact with her face. Her delicate cheek bruised instantly. Angrily she raised one arm and shouted, "Beauty Slaps!!" She executed a flurry of slaps onto Lilymon, who upon being hit with two of her slaps, retreated away.
"Such attack is beneath me," Lilymon huffed. "Take this. Flower Cutter!!" The flower woman delivered a high kick which nearly came into contact with Lilamon's chin should the latter woman was not quick enough to move away.
The two nature maiden then jumped away on opposite directions, realizing that the battle had ended with a tie. Nobody had the advantage against the other.
All the while, their battle was not witnessed by the DigiWira. They had their hands full dealing with RedVeggiemon and the three Veggiemon, as well as Petaldramon and Sunflowmon. Samudramon had taken it upon himself to battle the two bigger Champion Digimon, leaving the smaller Veggiemon for the DigiWira girls to deal with.
Liu Ying was earlier weakened when she (as Xianamon) astral-projected to the Dark Ocean to look for JD. Seeing that the Veggiemon's primary attack was only throwing excrements and sludge towards their enemy, she decided to erect a telekinetic barrier to block the attack away. Besides, she didn't fancy herself being hit by their attacks; they were too… gross.
Gayathri found herself being tailed by the sole RedVeggiemon. RedVeggiemon had attempted to hit her with his thorny, thick arm but was blasted away with the girl's supersonic scream. The scream however didn't do him much harm, and soon he got back to his feet and set chase for the girl's life. Fortunately, Gayathri had her super speed at her disposal, and easily escaped RedVeggiemon. Not satisfied, RedVeggiemon then resorted to firing long-distanced sludge, which Gayathri had no trouble evading.
Samudramon had gotten his hands full dealing with Sunflowmon and Petaldramon. He hadn't gotten the chance to use his more high-powered techniques, and had to resort in using his Divine Rain technique to leech out the energies from the two nature Digimon after failing to stop them with his water power and thunderbolts. Sunflowmon was quick to evade his attacks, while Petaldramon simply channeled his thunder power to the earth. They however, to Samudramon's credit, couldn't attack back as well.
The fused water dragon-man Digimon saw the two girls having no problem handling the Veggiemon, but figured out that the sooner they were done with, the better. With that in mind, he aimed his trident towards the Veggiemon that was attacking Liu Ying. "Deep Ocean Submerge!!"
A blast of pressurized water jet erupted from the trident, and smashed the Veggiemon away, sending them rolling down the steeper part of the Green Meadow. The Veggiemon were all soaking wet, and piled up against each other. Then he took aim towards RedVeggiemon, and blasted him with the water jet as well. RedVeggiemon was forced towards its fellow comrades. With the four Veggiemon grouped together, it would make Samudramon's attempt to finish them off easier. He summoned rising water from his feet, using it to propel him upwards. Upon reaching the higher heavens, the sky rumbled and a streak of blue lightning struck Samudramon's trident.
It was time to attack. Samudramon leaped off the water pillar and headed towards the pile of helpless Veggiemon. He spun his trident, and as before the three tips of the trident was energized with blue energy, and the lower end of the weapon glimmered in the shape of an azure energy blade. He slashed the spinning weapon towards the four Veggiemon with a mighty roar of…
"Double-Edged Thunderblades!!"
The attack deleted the four Veggiemon instantly. Samudramon landed on the ground, and his feet morphed back into the merman tail and he collapsed onto the ground. The disorientation that came with using one's most powerful technique was getting to him again. The strain from previous day's battle was still eminent, but he still managed to retain his fused form. His power might be severely depleted for the time being, but if he was lucky, he might be able to rectify that. For now, he would just have to wait. He saw Liu Ying and Gayathri approaching him.
"Manny…Samudramon, are you ok?" Gayathri asked, concerned. From behind her, Liu Ying looked at him inquiringly. Her eyes basically were asking the same question.
He mustered a strained smile. "I'm alright. I just need some time."
Lilamon fumed. Her minions, save for Sunflowmon and Petaldramon, were all deleted by a single fused DigiWira. It didn't bode well with her ego; she knew that as an Ultimate, Samudramon wielded enough power to trash up till ten Champion Digimon with average power level and needless to say, the Veggiemon and the Woodmon were not exactly her strongest bunch of followers. She just hadn't expected it all to happen so soon. Suddenly there was nothing about Samudramon that interested Lilamon any more – he was, to her, now an enemy.
"Now it is only you," Lilymon said smoothly. "So what is it going to be now, Lilamon?"
Lilamon sneered. "Don't count me out yet. You might think that you're so tough now that you've beaten the Mage General. But I have one more trick up my pretty little sleeves that I haven't displayed yet." She cocked her head towards Sunflowmon and Petaldramon, and upon returning her gaze towards Lilymon, her eyes were glowing with a menacing dark green hue. Her whole body erupted with dark pink aura.
"I'll teach you for playing me for a fool…" she muttered, and raised one arm up.
Pink energy ribbons spiraled out from her raised arm, and went towards her remaining minions. Petaldramon and Sunflowmon were engulfed by the ribbons, and they glowed with the same dark pink hue, similar to their mistress. At first, the DigiWira thought that Lilamon, out of frustration, was attacking her minions. But soon they saw that that was not the case, when Sunflowmon and Petaldramon both turned into two motes of dark pink motes of light.
"Champions might not be your match; but with your current situation, another Ultimate Digimon would suffice to end your miserable existences," Lilamon said with an ugly sneer. She narrowed her eyes towards Samudramon and the girls. "Especially with handsome over there having not much left. He's a buffoon; using so much power against mere Champions. His foolishness will be your end. Sunflowmon, Petaldramon…DNA DIGIVOLVE! NOW!!"
The DigiWira team gasped in astonishment, and Lilymon too was unnerved. They could only watch as the two motes coalesced behind Lilamon, and with a flick of the Dryad General's arm, they slammed against each other, commencing a powerful burst of dark pink light. A bigger shadow lurked within the light – a successful amalgamation of the two Digimon's power.
Sunflowmon, Petaldramon, DNA Digivolve to….
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TobuCatmon sweated profusely as he flipped through the yellowy pages of a leather-bound thick book.
"Come on. There must be something else I've missed! Gah…NOTHING!!"
Angrily he snapped the book shut. He had attempted to look up for some information on that book, but nothing was said about bringing somebody who had traveled to the Dark Ocean. It did mention how to go; a teleportation power would work with some power amplification. But TobuCatmon suspected that the power charge the runes had given Adam worked only one-way. If that was to be true, and TobuCatmon hoped that it wasn't, then there would be no way for Adam, Patamon, Joshua and Agumon to come back.
He flew back and forth all around the Forest Sanctum, trying to calm himself down and work out his nervous energy.
"There has to be another way!" TobuCatmon convinced himself.
He flew back to the table, sighing. The sun staff was displaying the battle occurring over at the Green Meadow, but TobuCatmon had lost interest watching it. He couldn't conjure any image which would show Adam or Joshua's well beings at the Dark Ocean. He regretted his decision of not making detailed research about going to the Dark Ocean, but he'd been so panicked when Xianamon confirmed to him that Joshua and Agumon were stuck there.
"There is a lot of evils unspoken lurking within the shadows of the Dark Ocean," TobuCatmon whispered, merely reciting a quote from the ancient book. "But no one stands higher than the Master of the Dark Ocean himself. His power is extremely high. He is feared and revered by his followers, called the Digital Deep Ones…"
The flying cat snorted. "Reciting the book won't help. I need to focus! What can I do?"
His eyes fell on the floor, where Grademon's rune was inscribed. He had forgotten to cover the runes with the rattan floor mat after sending Adam to the Dark Ocean. The five spheres on the rune were not glowing at present, but TobuCatmon knew that it had some mystical power which was still left undiscovered. Right now, the rune wasn't glowing, like it had a number of times before.
TobuCatmon sighed. "Oh, please, please…you've brought Adam and Patamon to that horrendous place. Somehow, you must bring them back…all FOUR of them, back here, safe and sound."
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After making sure that the MetalPhantomon were nowhere in sight, Adam and JD stepped out from the forest, towards the clearing. Warily they looked around, afraid of a sudden ambush. Koromon was in no state to digivolve, and Adam wasn't sure whether Sagittarimon Radiant Mode could handle two Ultimates on his own.
Adam rubbed the sides of his sleeves, looking around with anxiety affixed on his face. Something was bothering him. The very fine hairs on the back of his neck were standing, and the atmosphere seemed to be unnaturally cold.
"Something bothering you, Adam?" JD inquired. The older teen was walking behind the younger one, and he saw all the boy's actions. Adam had been acting that way every now and then for the past one hour they trekked the dark jungle. At first, JD thought that Adam might still be uncomfortable around him, but he hoped that was not the case.
"Nothing," Adam quickly replied. He paused, and turned around. Something came up from his mind. The sensation he was feeling now was familiar, but several degrees more elevated. He had felt like this before…back at school, and while with Liu Ying. The sensation of something dark and foreboding tailing his every movement; it was nerve-wrecking. He had a rising suspicion of the cause of the creepiness he was experiencing. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. "JD, can I ask you something?"
Adam's tone was polite, but JD could tell that the boy was super-annoyed. "You just did," he pointed out, smirking, trying to break the tenseness.
"I'm serious." Adam looked downright uncomfortable now, from the way he kept shooting looks at the empty ocean.
"Ok. Shoot."
Adam heaved slowly, narrowing his eyes towards the looming darkness that was the Dark Ocean, and asked, "I felt something creepy right now…and I've felt like this before, back at school. Even Liu Ying too felt it once, when we were on our way to her house."
JD raised an eyebrow. "What are you trying to say, Adam?"
Adam decided to utter his suspicion out loud. "Were you the one who was following me? I felt it back then, and I feel it now, when with you." He narrowed his gray eyes suspiciously.
JD thought about the inquiry. "Ok…I admit I was the one who followed you around… but I have no idea that I generated that kind of aura to you. I know I freaked people out sometimes, but definitely not to this kind of degree."
Adam inhaled sharply, and took a step back from JD. Did JD just admit for being responsible to what Adam was sensing right now?
The older boy rolled his eyes. "Really, Adam, this is getting old real quick. I've said it too many times already, and I'm gonna say it again. I. AM. NOT. EVIL. ANYMORE!!" JD was getting exasperated of not being trusted. "And I'm not gonna hurt you anymore like I did last time. I know the promise sounds empty, but what can I do now to earn your trust?"
Silence. The two boys stared towards each other; JD with an annoyed look, Adam with a steel-gazed expression.
"So how do you explain the creepiness that I'm feeling right now?" the dark-haired DigiWira finally asked.
JD sighed; all his frustration melted away upon hearing the inquiry. "I don't know. Really. I wish I do. If I'm the one who cause it, I'll stay away then."
"Wait," Patamon stopped him. "I might have an explanation." The two boys looked up at the flying Rookie. "Ok, Adam said that he was feeling some creepy sensation. He felt it before, and JD, you admitted that you were tailing him while you were under Karatenmon's spell. So, my opinion was that since you were evil then, Adam might have picked up some bad energy vibes from you."
"How's that possible?" JD asked.
"And I didn't feel the same when JD started hanging out with me, although I should've been suspicious," Adam added.
Patamon thought about it. "Remember, this is only solely my opinion. I think this is because of your DigiSpheres. Adam's DigiSphere of Light could detect the power of darkness, and JD's DigiSphere is of Fire and Darkness. With light and darkness being two opposing elements, it might just be a reaction elicited from the White DigiSphere upon the darker half of the Red DigiSphere. Being a DigiWira, Adam is bonded with his DigiSphere, so he too, picked up the vibe. And Adam couldn't feel the vibe after JD befriended him…because by that time JD had already seized the White DigiSphere from him. The bond was there, but severely weakened from the separation."
JD scowled slightly upon the memory. He didn't look satisfied. "What about Manny? Adam didn't seem to notice any difference with him."
"The Blue DigiSphere has the power of Water and Thunder," Koromon answered for him. "Neither are the opposing factors to the Light. And Karatenmon's spell was well-executed, it would be impossible under natural circumstances for the spell to be detected."
"But he can detect me being evil?" JD asked.
"I think it's because the Darkness element in your DigiSphere elicited a vibe intermixed with the dark spell's aura, which would be strong enough for the White DigiSphere to detect," the little In-Training answered. He knew about the DigiSpheres from his time spent as TobuCatmon's messenger, but hadn't been made aware of the existence of the Blue and Red DigiSpheres. Right now, he was just beginning to put two and two together.
JD still didn't look like he would be able to accept the explanation. "Ok, say that you two are right. But I'm not evil now. So why's Adam still sensing something from me, or my DigiSphere?"
Patamon and Koromon looked at each other, seeming to have reached a certain understanding. The two Digimon became slightly pale.
"Ok, whatever silent messages you two have relayed to each other, mind sharing it with us non-telepathic ones?" JD snapped.
Patamon looked at Adam first, then at JD. "I think," he began, and cast an all-round look towards the gloomy world. "Adam is not detecting the darkness from you anymore – the Darkness element in your DigiSphere should already be purified, if you are already good." He cast a long look at JD.
"I told you guys many times that I'm no longer under that birdbrain's spell," JD grumbled. "So many times, that I'm beginning to sound like my grandpa's ancient broken record."
"Frankly speaking, for now I'll take your word out of it," Patamon replied. Then he drew a long breath. "Because if you are, then Adam's feeling another kind of darkness. Something greater, and much more evil. He's sensing the darkness of this world – the darkness of the Dark Ocean."
Both Adam and JD looked at one another. JD could see that Adam had accepted Patamon's explanation wholly; he too, believed it, and it was unnerving him. If Patamon was right, then Adam was in a greater danger than he was in this world of darkness. And the boy was here to rescue him.
"We better get moving then," the blonde said bracingly. "What do we have to do?"
"That's the problem," Adam muttered, looking around him. "I don't know."
"WHAT?!" JD's eyes nearly bulged out from their sockets in surprise. "I thought you're our ticket way out of here!"
Adam shook his head gloomily. "You know as well as I do, that my teleportation power is limited to only a short distance…and one person at a time. I can bring up to two Digimon with me, but not human. I've tried it; it didn't work."
"So how did you get here in the first place?"
"TobuCatmon sent me with some ancient runes inscribed on the Forest Sanctum's floor. He said that the runes would increase my teleportation power."
JD thought about that, and remembered that Xianamon had mentioned that it would take great power to transport Adam to the Dark Ocean. They seemed to have taken into account that Adam's teleportation would enable Adam to be teleported there; the other DigiWira wouldn't be able to do so. But then, what Adam had just said gave him an idea.
"Ok, so maybe your power is still in its supercharged mode. Maybe all we have to do is to hold to each other, and you bring us back to the Digital World."
Adam considered JD's opinion, and nodded in agreement. "Maybe. It's worth a shot."
With that stated, he darted towards the smaller boy and grabbed the boy's wrist. Adam's first reaction was a flinch; JD realized that he'd grabbed hold too tightly. JD loosened his grip, smiling apologetically to the boy. His other hand secured Koromon close to his body, and he saw Patamon descending on Adam's head. He found it amusing, but brushed it off. They had a bigger situation to think about. JD then saw Adam closing his eyes. Sparkles of white orbs began to emanate from his body, slowly enveloping himself and Patamon. The orbs then spiraled around JD's arm, but before they could reach his body and head the orbs died down.
"Let me guess. It's not working?" JD inquired.
"Afraid so," Adam said slowly. He looked up to the taller teen. "Sorry. I told you it's not work."
"Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault," JD said glumly. He released his grip and stepped back. "But, it's going to work for you, right? You should get going then."
"What?" Adam couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I didn't come all the way here to return empty-handed."
JD looked like he was going to retort back, but Adam stopped him first by raising his palm, effectively silencing him.
"Besides, it's not gonna work; I can only teleport a short distance away," he added. "I thought you knew that."
"I do. So why the hell did TobuCatmon send you here if he knows that you're not gonna be able to come back?" JD asked back.
Adam shook his head. He had no answer to that. Everything had happened so quickly back at the sanctum; he hadn't had the chance to ask the mentor about it. "I…I don't know. Everything happened so quickly, and he was so bothered by the fact that you're here. I guess he forgot to tell me the details of how to get back."
"Just freaking great," JD muttered.
"So what are we going to do?" Koromon asked. The In-Training shivered as a cold gust of wind blew towards them.
"Looks like we're stuck here," JD said. "We should start a fire; it's getting cold."
"Don't be like that," Adam hissed. JD looked at him, interested of what he was going to say. "Maybe…maybe TobuCatmon's working on a way to get us back. He has to."
The blonde teen nodded. "Maybe. But, I'm not gonna get my hopes up. Besides, aren't you cold?"
Adam was about to say 'no', when his nose decided to betray him instead. He felt a tingling sensation in his nostril and quickly turned away before letting out a sneeze. He muttered something distinctive, before looking back at JD.
"A fire it is," JD decided. He was about to walk away, when suddenly two identical beings emerged from the sides of the cliff. "Oh, crap!!"
Adam whirled around and gasped. "It's them! The MetalPhantomon!"
The two caped, hooded demons leered at their preys menacingly. They let out a low moan, which was nerve-wrecking. The lights crackling from their orbs flashed excitedly, and the orange glow in their empty eye sockets reverberated upon setting sights of the humans and Digimon.
"Patamon…digivolve now." Adam took out his Digivice and pointed it towards his partner.
However, the MetalPhantomon had no intention to allow the digivolution to take place. One of them glided swiftly towards Adam, making a slicing motion towards the boy. Adam's first reaction was to teleport, but before he could do that a hand grabbed hold on his wrist and pulled him away from the scythe's slash. A stream of fire then erupted from another arm which suddenly was stretched out above Adam's right shoulder.
"Back off," JD said warningly towards the MetalPhantomon. He watched with grim satisfaction as the fire he had released caught the MetalPhantomon's cape. The said MetalPhantomon let out a howl in anger. He looked down to Adam. "You ok there?"
Adam nodded, said his thanks, and decided not to waste any more time. "Patamon, digivolve!"
Patamon…Golden Armor Digivolve to….Sagittarimon, Radiant Mode!
The diminutive Rookie Digimon was instantly transformed into a blue-scaled, white armored centaur, which stood impressively at eight-foot tall. He saw the two MetalPhantomon backing off, seemingly repelled by the light exuded by Sagittarimon's pristine, gold-accented armor. They however recovered quickly and charged towards Sagittarimon.
"Celestial Judgment Arrow!!"
Sagittarimon released a powerful arrow of light, but to his shock the MetalPhantomon crisscrossed their energy scythes…and destroyed the arrow upon contact.
"How…how did they do that?" Adam asked.
"I don't know, but they just did," JD replied quickly, and pulled Adam away. "C'mon, we need to get away to safety."
The MetalPhantomon however wouldn't allow them to escape, now that they've found what they were looking for.
Sagittarimon galloped in front of them. He withdrew another arrow from his holster, and took aim to the MetalPhantomon. "Run! I'll distract them!"
"But…" Adam said, but JD grabbed hold on him and began pulling him towards the wood.
"Adam, we need to go, NOW!" JD said urgently.
Adam tried to shake JD's hand off him. "You go! I can teleport."
The MetalPhantomon soared towards the sky, and loomed towards all four of them. They saw the clearing on which their four preys were currently at. The clearing was conveniently located towards the end of the stone hill; the DigiWira were all cornered around the bluff. The demons instantly saw a way to finish them off with one clean strike.
"Soul Predator!!" they both summoned simultaneously with their eerily scratchy voices. With one clean slash of their scythes, they sent barrages of energy waves towards the bluff.
Sagittarimon quickly loomed his large body towards the humans and Koromon, hoping that his armor and power were strong enough to withstand the onslaught from the MetalPhantomon. Strangely however, he only felt a few tinges over the back – some of the energy waves had hit him, but not ALL of them. Sagittarimon saw from the corners of his eyes that the energy waves had hit the precipice all around them as well. He wondered why the MetalPhantomon purposely missed out the attack; a focused offensive would have dedigivolved Sagittarimon immediately.
Then he saw the MetalPhantomon's true intention.
The promontory began to rumble wildly. Sagittarimon's eyes widened in shock when he saw zigzagged cracks on the stony clearing – he now knew that the MetalPhantomon had intended to do that all along. The energy barrages had precipitated the quake, and given the fact that they were currently on a very unstable place, they were in danger of falling down below the shore below. They began to loose their footing as the quake intensified. The cracks widened into crevices and the rumbles became wilder.
"What's going on?!" Adam yelled.
"We're going to fall!" Sagittarimon exclaimed.
"WHAT?!" JD roared. "Oh, SHIT!!"
No sooner than that, the bluff gave way completely. It bent down at a dangerously narrow angle, causing them to loose their footings. Sagittarimon fell sideways with a loud crash due to his massive stature, further aggravating the unstable, bent bluff. Adam and JD – still with Koromon clutched close – both fell on their sides as well. They began to slide down the bent, towards the tip, and Sagittarimon was the first who fell across the tip due to his weight. Adam and JD followed, both shouting at the top of their lungs.
xxx
xxx
The dark pink glow behind Lilamon slowly dissipated, revealing a hulking humanoid figure. It stood at an impressive 13'5" height, nearly double to Lilamon's seven-foot tall. Barely little traces of Petaldramon OR Sunflowmon were evident in this new Digimon; it was a radical transformation from two floral reptilians.
The Digimon's head was patterned in a shape of a flower with eight light yellow petals. The whole face was colored pale green, with pink markings decorating the forehead and cheeks. Sharp pair of white eyes, lined with black, flashed over the center of the flower. A low growl was elicited from the mouth that housed two rows of jagged saw-like teeth. Long, light-green mane of hair cascaded down its back and front torso, which was garbed in a loose dark, earth-green garment and trousers, (similar to the color of Petaldramon's gator body) over a yellow-green robe underneath (which had Sunflowmon's reptile-like body color). The robes were fastened with a white sash. Its legs and hands were all pale green in color, and the hands were also patterned to look like flowers, similar to the head but with less-defined characteristics. The arms however, as revealed with the sleeves of the robe pulled down, were green and bore plant-like characteristics – they were almost similar to how Sunflowmon's body had been like.
"I present to you…Kabukimon!" Lilamon smirked in delight, gesturing towards the massive creature behind her.
"Kabukimon?" Lilymon looked at the DNA digivolved Digimon with a look of mild confusion. "I thought the Kabukimon species are supposed to be Armored Champion Digimon?"
Lilamon snorted scornfully. "Shows what you know, second-rate. Usually, Kabukimon are Armor Digimon, but I've taken pride in doing some modifications in this one, three hundred years ago! He's an Ultimate Digimon now and way over your leagues!"
The dress-wearing flower woman tensed; Kabukimon looked to be a formidable opponent. Lilymon immediately braced herself.
Lilamon smirked. "What's the matter, afraid?" She laughed loudly. "Well, you should be! Kabukimon, attack her!"
Kabukimon nodded obediently and raised both hands up. Whirlwind began to form around the flower-man, and cherry blossom petals took form from within the whirlwind. Kabukimon's eyes flashed with green aura and he willed the floral hurricane towards Lilymon.
"Cherry Blossom Storm!"
Lilymon countered by forming her Flower Cannon. She released the green energy-based cannonball, but the sphere's course was set off upon colliding with the hurricane. It was thrown haphazardly, and nearly crashed towards the DigiWira hadn't it been for Samudramon's timely intervention. The Flower Cannonball was countered with a well-executed Cosmic Thunderstrike, which nullified it completely.
"Thanks, Samudramon," Liu Ying breathed with relieved. She had erected her telekinetic barrier on-reflex, but was fortunate not to have to use it. Lilymon's cannonball would shatter her energy barrier without much effort, and would gravely hurt the girl as she was no match for an Ultimate Digimon's power.
"That was so close," Gayathri said.
"Don't mention it," Samudramon grinned. He however flinched when some of the petals generated from Kabukimon's attack came into contact with his body. "Liu Ying, don't let down the barrier. These petals are razor-sharp…OUCH!"
The girls saw several more cherry blossom petals slicing through the bare part of Samudramon's torso. Samudramon grunted as he generated cool water to wipe through the wounded part, hissing in pain. The merman looked up, and saw that Lilymon too had suffered the same fate as he had. The flower woman was fully enveloped by the hurricane which was generated by Kabukimon. He quickly summoned the pillar of water to propel him towards the sky.
Lilamon laughed with glee upon seeing that Lilymon was overpowered by Kabukimon's relentless tornado attack. "Now this is more like it! Don't hold back, Kabukimon!" But her gleeful expression turned into a frown upon noticing that it was raining…again. She turned around and saw Samudramon being responsible for the rain. She didn't know for what reason Samudramon had summoned the rain, but immediately suspected that something was wrong when Kabukimon's hurricane suddenly ceased. And somehow, Samudramon looked reenergized.
"It's really rude to interfere!" the Dryad General hissed, and lashed her arm out towards Samudramon. "Beauty Slap!!"
Samudramon was hit by a forceful gale that came from Lilamon, and was thrown away from his water pillar. But no matter; he'd done what he had intended to do. His Divine Rain had momentarily distracted Kabukimon, giving Lilymon time to regain her stance. More importantly, Samudramon managed to steal some of Kabukimon's power to add to his own. And luckily, Lilamon's Beauty Slap didn't hurt too much either.
With the additional power he had gained, Samudramon managed to retain his human figure again. His tail changed into legs and he stood defensively in front of the DigiWira. Several forceful gales were suddenly sent his way again, sending him flying and crashing against the telekinetic barrier Liu Ying had erected. The barrier stung his back a little, but did no harm as Liu Ying was quick to let down of the barrier. Samudramon quickly stood up and saw Lilamon walking casually towards the three of them. One of her arm was transformed into a pink energy blade.
"While my Kabukimon plays around with that second-rate flower girl, how about I play with you three?" Lilamon asked sweetly.
"Not. A. Chance." Samudramon pointed his metallic trident towards Lilamon.
"Oh. So you want a duel?" A simper graced Lilamon's delicate features. "Fine. I haven't tested my dueling skill for a long time! On guard!"
The fairy Digimon leaped with a cry and slashed her dagger-arm towards Samudramon. Samudramon quickly countered by thrusting his trident…but to his surprise Lilamon was surprisingly strong despite her smaller stature. A loud clang echoed all over the battlefield meadow as Lilamon forced Samudramon to back away, with flurries of kicks and punches. Samudramon didn't…or couldn't attack back; the dryad was extremely fast.
"Don't refrain to attack her just because she's a woman!" Liu Ying cried exasperatedly, seeing Samudramon's lack of attack. The merman was only defending himself.
"She's evil! Just attack her!" Gayathri shouted.
"You think I'll let him do that?!" Lilamon snarled and delivered a roundhouse kick towards Samudramon. To her surprise, Samudramon bent down and grabbed her right ankle. He twisted it slightly, eliciting a yelp from the dryad before brushing her off aside. She fell on her back on the ground with a loud thud. Growling, she attempted to get up but was stopped short when Samudramon pointed his trident towards her chest, effectively immobilizing her. Should she move her body up one bit, the sharp pointed tips of the trident would pierce her chest.
"I was merely waiting for the right moment to strike," Samudramon said with a small smile. "Observe your opponent, analyze their skill," he added slowly. "Lesson number one, Ninjutsu class."
Lilamon didn't look fazed. She merely stared towards Samudramon's protective helmet. "Look deep into my eyes, handsome…" she lured with a sweet smile. Her body glowed with soft pink aura, and a sweet aroma began to exude from her body. "Un Deux Pollen," she said softly, and pollens began to erupt from every part of her body. The pollens spiraled around the trident and all around Samudramon's body. Lilamon raised her right leg, and placed it at the center of Samudramon's torso, and gently pushed him away with a charming smile affixed on her face. Samudramon abided and moved aside without protest. Then, Lilamon smiled dangerously and raised her dagger-arm once again.
"Foolish, foolish boy," she said, and pointed the tip of the energy dagger towards the center of Samudramon's throat.
"What's he doing?" Gayathri cried exasperatedly, seeing that Samudramon didn't even protest the dagger being placed in front of his throat.
"It looks like Lilamon has him under a spell…again," Liu Ying said.
"That dirty woman! Why can't she fight fair for a change!" Gayathri tapped the energy barrier with one finger. "Lower the barrier, Liu Ying. I'm gonna go help Samudramon."
"What are you crazy?" Liu Ying hissed. "You're no match for her."
"That's why I need you to back me up, Liu Ying. I want to go there and scream my lungs off. Maybe that'll break the control spell or whatever that Lilamon is using against Samudramon."
Liu Ying thought about it, but quenched all doubt that welled within her upon seeing the sparkle from Gayathri's eyes. She could see that her friend was really worried. Nodding, she lowered her arm and the barrier dissolved. They quietly crept towards Lilamon, who had her back facing them.
"Hmm…before I delete you, maybe I want to take a closer look at your face. Remove your helmet, Samudramon," Lilamon ordered. "And throw away your trident. You don't need it."
Samudramon did what he was told in a heartbeat. The metallic blue helmet was dropped onto the ground. His face was then revealed, and Lilamon whistled in pleasure as she took in Samudramon's facial profile. Cascades of aquamarine hair framed the finely-balanced facial feature of the pale-skinned Samudramon. The cheekbones were prominent and the eyes were narrow and pointed. They however, were glowing unnaturally – this was the result of Lilamon's control over him.
Lilamon licked her lips. "Nice. Very nice. You know, if only you're weren't an enemy… I'd keep you around."
"Hey! Stay away from him!" a ringing voice shouted, which nearly caused Lilamon to jump in surprise. She turned around and saw the DigiWira girls.
"YOU two?" the dryad snorted derisively. "What do you think you want to do?"
"This." Gayathri inhaled deeply with her mouth, and shrieked loudly. Gales of supersonic sound waves were blasted towards Lilamon and Samudramon. However, Lilamon was unfazed.
"What was that?" she wondered mockingly. "A cry? A pathetic attempt of a scream? What are you – a Harpymon wannabe?"
Gayathri was about to retort when saw something else which cut her short. She saw Samudramon…blinking. The glow was still in his eyes, but his face harbored a look of confusion. Gayathri's scream must have somehow slowly snapping him out of the dazzling trance Lilamon had placed him. She screamed again, louder than ever.
"I've had enough of your incessant screaming, lass!" Lilamon floated and waved her arm, sending a gale towards both girls, throwing both off their feet. She then seized Samudramon from the back, placing her dagger in front of the merman's throat. "I'm going to finish him off now, although I was thinking of sparing him, but thanks to you and your incessant screaming made me change my mind. Congratulations, you've just delivered your friend to his doom!"
Samudramon blinked again, and the glow in his eyes disappeared. Everything became clear again and his eyes widened upon seeing the girls both lying on their backs, struggling to get up. Then he was instantly aware of Lilamon seizing him with one arm circled around his waist while the other – the daggered one – was placed right before his throat. Quickly, he grabbed the daggered arm over the wrist hard with both arm, and clunked the back of his head hard against Lilamon's forehead.
THUDDDD!!!
"YEEEEEEEOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!"
Lilamon shrieked and instantly let go of Samudramon, grabbing her throbbing forehead. Then she realized her folly, but it was too late; Samudramon had escaped her. She cursed loudly, clutching her head, and saw the merman heading towards the girls. Viciously she raised both arms, pointing towards Samudramon's retreating back, and shouted, "Marvel Shot!!"
Barrages of energy pods were released from her flower hands, and they all hit Samudramon on the back. A loud explosion ensued, followed by Lilamon's vicious victorious laugh.
She had won. Samudramon was trounced. Now all she needed to do was to wait for the outcome of the battle between Lilymon and Kabukimon.
Oh, what the heck. She had secured one victory. She didn't want to wait for another for so long. The battle had been dragging on far too long to her liking.
"It's time to get down and dirty, you second-rate," Lilamon hissed and took off towards the sky, where a heated battle between Lilymon and Kabukimon was still raging.
xxx
xxx
Those MetalPhantomon…they are starting to become thorns over my side.
They are endangering the life of the chalice of light. I desire his Light! Therefore, the MetalPhantomon shall have to be stopped!
I shall have to make my move now, lest the MetalPhantomon will spell the end for the chalice of light. I simply CANNOT allow that! Not after centuries of waiting.
I have missed my chance once. I shall not waste this opportunity.
It is time to interfere.
The calm ocean surface stirred, and from behind the clouds, a massive figure slowly emerged from the depth of the sea, unseen and unnoticed.
xxx
xxx
Adam saw that they would be heading to their doom when they crashed. This was not a cartoon or a movie, where the protagonists would survive a long fall like this. He had to think of something. Sagittarimon was in the lead – he'd crash on the shore first. JD was a good distance down from him – it was impossible for Adam to reach him. JD was still clutching Koromon, yelling and spitting out curses at the same time.
The boy closed his eyes desperately. In times like this, he'd always hoped for something to come up. But this time around, he knew he was the one who needed to take action. There was only one thing to do. He willed all the power he could muster, and teleported himself to JD. It was the easy part of his desperate plan.
He appeared on JD, and managed to grab hold on JD's free, flailing arm. This caused the blonde to yelp, and JD's greater weight was pulling down both of them. Sweat drops formed on Adam's forehead, despite the winds that flapped against his face.
"Adam, what're you doing? LET GO!! You can't teleport both of us!" JD screamed.
Adam's grip on JD nearly slipped, causing the blonde to reconsider.
"Ok! I was kidding! Please DON'T let go!"
Adam nodded and his body glowed white, and the familiar orbs of light erupted. This time around, Adam exerted more strength, more and more…until the orbs multiplied and extended all around JD's arm, body, legs and head. He closed his eyes tight and clenched both rows of teeth together, trying to teleport them altogether. They vanished, and JD's surprised yell echoed their fall. They reappeared on top of Sagittarimon, and Adam once again attempted the same thing he had done, while not letting go of JD. Transporting Sagittarimon along was easier as they were linked with a bond. All four of them vanished, and reappeared again a foot away over the damp shores.
The four fell in a pile, with Sagittarimon on the bottom of the pile. JD was next, followed by Koromon and Adam. A deafening crash ensued; the bluff had crashed onto the shoreline just several hundred meters away, sending debris and smokes of gray dust towards their direction. All of them closed their eyes to block the smokes out.
Five minutes passed with an eerie stillness before the smokes vanished completely. JD was the one who recovered first. The shock of near-death was still evident on his face, and his back was very sore as he had crash-landed onto Sagittarimon's steel armor. He attempted to slide down the centaur, when the weight of two figures above him caught his attention. Koromon was shivering in fright, and Adam looked almost down for the count. His face appeared absolutely strained and very sweaty, dark hairs plastered on his forehead as he opened one bleary eye to meet JD.
"I…I did it." Adam said wearily. He mustered a weak grin. "I…can teleport more people."
JD slowly raised his body up and helped Adam getting down from Sagittarimon. "Sure you did, Adam! That was amazing!" He clasped both of Adam's shoulders, seeing that the boy's knees beginning to give way. "Thanks, Adam. We'd been goners if it weren't for you. I…I owe you one."
"Don't…be happy yet," Adam wheezed sharply. One hand was drawn towards the back of his neck, while the other was pointed upwards weakly. "Heads up."
"DAMN those MetalPhantomon!" JD cursed loudly, upon seeing the two demons gliding down the cliff. "They've just almost sent us to our doom! What more do they want?"
"I think…they want to get the job done," Adam said slowly.
"What are we going to do?" JD whispered, watching the looming demons with dread. "We gonna need one hell of a miracle to get out of this!"
Thunder suddenly rumbled from the eerily quiet world of darkness. Once. Twice. Thrice. Sounds of streaking lightning echoed from the clouds. Then, a guttural, ungodly roar ensued.
"Forbidden Trident!!"
The roar was thunderously earsplitting, coming from the thick clouds that hovered above the murky ocean. It echoed all over the dark world with such ferocity that was spine-chilling. The roar was rapidly followed with two ferocious purple thunderbolts streaking from the thick clouds with malevolence. Both struck the MetalPhantomon, causing them to freeze midway. Their bodies shook wildly as another pair of purple thunderbolts was struck directly onto the orbs that constituted their bodies. The orbs shattered, and the MetalPhantomon let out a pained howl before they too, combusted loudly into data particles.
"What's going on?" JD wondered in amazement.
He looked down at Adam, and was reminded of how Adam was able to escape from deadly predicaments with a last-minute help that seemed to appear out of nowhere. JD was involved in all those occurrences, so he should know. A wide grin was split on his face. "You have something to do with it, miracle-boy?" To his surprise, Adam looked visibly tensed. He was looking all around him with panic. His attention soon was fixated towards the ocean, where a massive shadow began to take form from behind the clouds. "Oh, great God, what the hell is that?"
A sinister chuckle came from the shadow. They saw two flashes of red coming from a bulbous shadow all the way at the top of the shadow. The clouds began to clear and the shadow became more well-defined. The DigiWira both gasped as the profile of the newcomer became more and more prominent.
"After years of more waiting, another chalice of light has stepped into my domain."
The voice was as malicious as the laugh. The clouds and fogs cleared away completely, revealing the creature that had spoken to them in all its grotesquery.
The teens and the Digimon gasped upon the sight that greeted them. "Oh, God, what the hell is that?!" JD exclaimed in horror.
Towering in front of them was a hunched, purple monstrous figure so tall that its head reached the blackened stratus. One glance upon it and one would think that it was a winged creature of the sea, with it having some semblance to an octopus, and the pair of orange and purple leathery wings jutted out from his back. Its skin was leathery, slimy in composition and purplish gray in color. The arms and legs were all tentacles, bound by black or gold ringlets to form the four major extremities. The tentacles that formed the right arm joined towards the end, forming a flipper-shaped appendage. The creature had a bulbous well-pronounced forehead which was decorated with peculiar curved blood-red markings on it. His face could only be described as extremely grotesque; slimy, jaw wide-opened with a set of sharp yellow fangs. Three yellow curved horns jutted out from each of his shoulder. Large, dark blue, beaded necklace adorned the creature's greasy body. Its chest was protruded while the abdomen sunken. The bound tentacles that formed the legs were sturdy, fully capable of supporting the great weight of the creature's upper body.
"As unexpected as it was, you are welcomed, child of light. Do not worry; I have no intention to harm you."
The creature moved forward, sending waves of dark water towards the shore. He extended one free arm forward, with the other wielding a slime-encrusted metallic trident, almost similar to Samudramon's. He was now close enough to trample the DigiWira…except he had specifically said that he had no intention to harm them.
Adam twitched; the foreboding sense of dread he was feeling before intensified upon setting sights with the hideous creature in front of him. What was it, anyway? Adam could only wonder. A Digimon? Or an entirely different being altogether? He eyed it warily.
The winged creature shook his head, seemingly taking specific note of Adam and Sagittarimon. "It was a female pair last time; now it is male. No matter – gender is nothing but just a label of classification. It is of no importance to me. Your power, however, is something that I desire. Your radiance is amazing, equally matching with the lovely pair that has graced my domain with their presence three years before."
Adam balked – the monstrosity was referring to him. 'Oh, no. Not again!' SkullSatamon had wanted his power before. And now this gross creature? Adam felt ill instantly, as the creature bent down his head to take a closer look. He had to lean one hand on Sagittarimon, who was visibly strained as well.
"Not a chance!" JD and Sagittarimon both spoke up simultaneously. They looked at each other in surprise, before defiantly glaring up at the monster.
"Just who the hell are you?" JD said fiercely.
The creature stared down at JD with malice. "How dare you speak to me in such manner, child? But no matter, I shall entertain you. I am Dragomon, master of the Dark Ocean! I may be an Ultimate Digimon, but my powers have been known to eclipse even Mega Digimon. And now… no more talking. I have let the chalice of light escape years back, due to the incompetence of my minions and my own lack of prudence. That shall not happen again!"
Without warning, one extremely long, thick tentacle shot out from his outstretched free arm, snaking across the dark surface of the sea before coiling securely around Adam's body. With a light tug, Adam was pulled off his feet.
"ACK! Help!!" Adam closed his eyes, attempting to teleport, but the grip of the tentacle was very firm. Besides, he had just over-exerted himself.
"ADAM!!" JD, Koromon and Sagittarimon screamed at once.
The orbs of light that were elicited from Adam's body however, caused Dragomon to hiss in pain. The dark creature seemed to be revolted, yet also entranced, by the light as well.
"The light is strong in you," he noted. "Excellent. The stronger you are, the stronger I will become!"
Both JD and Sagittarimon were about to give chase, when Dragomon's sinister chuckle stopped them short.
"Be careful, you do not want yourselves to be immersed by the darkness of my ocean. It has been known to corrupt one's mind easily." Dragomon focused his attention at JD, and simpered lightly. "Or should I say…re-corrupt, given both of your history?" he said knowingly. "Am I wrong, Black Knightmon, Red ShadoWira?"
"Damn you, octopus-head!" JD snarled, halting instantly. His face felt hot suddenly.
Sagittarimon however wasn't quick enough to halt, as he had galloped towards the water. When he was at the knee-level of the water, his white armor glowed and changed back to its original crimson color. He had reverted to his regular mode and he could feel the loss of power. Quickly he jumped away before the water could do more damage to him. He took aim with one arrow, and shot it towards Dragomon.
The arrow was swatted away by Dragomon lazily, as if he was merely swatting an offending fly. He laughed contemptuously as he withdrew Adam closer.
"Finally, the chalice of light is mine!" he sneered, drawing Adam close to his face. "Your power shall be joined with mine, and I shall reign supreme!"
"ACK! Stay away from me!" Adam shouted. His shout however sounded strained and helpless. He was bound tight and completely at Dragomon's mercy.
JD swore loudly, but had no choice but to remain by the shorelines. He had just broken a dark spell; the last thing he'd want was to be corrupted again. Who knew what he'd do again if he were brought back to the side of evil? He hesitated, but stared at Dragomon defiantly. He turned his palm upward and generated a flicker of flame.
"Let him go, sucker-face!" JD warned, as the flames blazed into a fireball. "Or I…"
"Do not fight me, human, for I can give you what you want!"
There was a dark, inviting tone in Dragomon's voice which faltered JD. However, he shook it off quickly. "I doubt that. What I want right now is for you to let go of my friend, NOW!!"
"Really? How about I make you another offer?" Dragomon flicked a tentacle, and to JD's surprise the air space near him rippled.
The ripple expanded and morphed into a portal, and JD inhaled sharply as he saw a familiar sight inside the portal. He recognized the elliptical building instantly. It was the Megalith Coliseum.
Dragomon had opened a DigiPort back to the Digital World.
"Leave the Child of Light to me, and I shall allow you three to return to the Digital World safely. Walk away and forget about your friend. He is mine."