Wira Digital Chapter 64: Storm Front, Part II, a digimon fanfic

It didn't take Puspamon long before the KLCC Twin Towers were within her sight. Having flown for thirty minutes, she had utilized her super speed to the fullest, and realized that it was raining quite heavily. Her friends must be battling Digimon in this weather. She was glad that she had decided to fly back; there was a heavy traffic congestion on all the roads, made worse by the weather, if not the time.

Looking down, she passed the ravaged KLCC Park, noting that reconstruction processes had been abandoned due to the bad weather. The park and the buildings around it had suffered heavy blows during the Puaka Generals' attack two weeks back. She hated to think how her hometown would end up after the battle with the recent threats. The reporter had described the Digimon invaders being a giant white bird, a massive red crocodile and a winged demon in black. None of them rang a bell to her. Nevertheless, she had a feeling that she was direly needed.

And so, ignoring the gasps of people who had spotted her, she gathered speed and sailed towards the roads.

xxx

As Shawujinmon, he'd had high expectations on how strong he was going to be when he finally digivolved to Mega. Remaining an Ultimate was not an option when his opponents were also Ultimates. For nearly two months, he and Samudramon had clashed against each other a few times, and he could not recall just one time when he had actually beaten the merman Wira Digital. Sure, he had managed to overpower Samudramon on many occasions, but in the end the latter would turn the tides over him and he'd lose.

In terms of experience, he was better. Strength-wise, he was superior. Against many adversaries of SkullSatamon in the past, he had flourished, particularly against the marine Digimon. When he had been released from entombment, he had thought that against these children, it would be a menial task that could be taken cared of with one eye closed.

How wrong he was.

Samudramon had an advantage he never had, and that had been his weakness. Samudramon willed both water and thunder powers, and as a water Digimon he knew first-hand that those two powers did not mix. Yet Samudramon controlled both powers with relative ease, and was unaffected by them. For that he could never hope to achieve victory over the Wira Digital. Should Samudramon only have water power, then there was no doubt of who was the better fighter.

Now, fully-digivolved in his Mega form of the Demon Lord Leviamon, he was having the time of his life. Samudramon's combined powers didn't faze him much, and even with the other Wira Digital's – the sorceress – help, they still could not hope to match his profound power. He had the advantage now; his scales were so tough that electricity did not have an effect on it. They were also tough enough to serve as armors, protecting him from the attacks, since in return of his extreme durability he had sacrificed mobility. His massive stature had reduced the nimbleness he once had when he was Shawujinmon, but Leviamon thought that it was a fair exchange.

"Rostrum!" A stream of reddish-yellow blast was vomited out when he opened his maw. It had not the loveliest name, he thought, but that was put aside when one saw how the attack affected his enemies. Samudramon and Xianamon were both forced away; Xianamon's force-field did not seem to be able to block it completely while Samudramon's attempt on countering it with his glowing thunder dragon was proven ineffective. They were blasted towards the building nearby, crashing through the windows. Another wave of Rostrum destroyed half of the building, before the two Wira Digital retaliated.

Leviamon snorted. "Cauda!"

His serpentine twin-tails coiled over his head and lashed towards his incoming foes, sending them crashing once more. Then they seemed to hiss – the effect of waters pattering against them – and became erect, like two serpents ready to strike. Spirals of dark deluge appeared before sneeringly he aimed towards the fallen two Wira Digital. "Water Tail Blaster!"

Samudramon's feeble attempt to raise a water barrier from the rains was cancelled out totally when his Water Tail Blaster pierced through it. Xianamon's telekinetic barrier was resisted as well, before the attack flooded over them. Both Wira Digital were sent crashing onto the ground, rendered unable to get up as Leviamon unleashed more of his Water Tail Blaster against them. Leviamon was not letting up; it would be virtually impossible for them to resist. They would be drowned if nothing was done to stop him, and Leviamon was not going to stop.

However, a piercing blow over his snout forced him to stop. It was an arrow of light, sent by Angewomon. MagnaAngemon swooped down and struck him further with his purple blade. Both blows however did not faze him – his scales were almost indestructible against normal weaponries. With a snort, he lashed out both his tails against the two angels, intending to take them down quickly. Angewomon was forced back, but MagnaAngemon was undeterred as he held his shield forward, while raising his sword up. He made a circular motion with it, leaving trails of gold aura until a ring of gold became a gate of gold. Leviamon looked over warily, recognizing the attack.

"Gate of Destiny!"

A mystical portal was opened, and the inside was filled with gleaming mercury-like substance. Leviamon felt a force pulling him inside as the portal grew larger to accommodate his size. He soon saw faint waves of energy wrapping around him. Yet, his stature was so massive that he remained unmoved. He saw MagnaAngemon grunt as the angel exerted more power into creating a gate. Leviamon snorted; against smaller Megas – smaller ones like Beelzemon, he thought snidely – the Gate of Destiny would be their undoing. Leviamon was thankful of whatever force that had determined that his form would be monstrous. The Gate of Destiny was powerful, but it would not work against him.

He opened his maw, and unleashed a concentrated Rostrum blast towards the gate. The blast went into the gate and for a moment the gate seemed to be absorbing it wholly. Leviamon continued releasing the attack, and soon felt the pulling force lessening. The golden frame of the gate crackled madly with electricity before the flawless circular shape of the gate began to deteriorate, like a drop of water that fell over a concrete ground. He roared, and the Rostrum blast increased to its maximum level. The gate combusted into data particles, and while still releasing the blast he aimed it towards MagnaAngemon and Angewomon, as well as the nearby buildings. The struck buildings crumbled. Shrieks were heard, and he saw the angels regressing into their Rookie forms. He laughed.

"Better luck next time!" He loomed over the helpless Salamon and Gatomon. His shadow washed over them, and he saw them shivering. "Except there won't be a next time!"

He opened his maw, ready to end the lives of the Saintly Siblings. However, a pure blast of white light invaded his maw and he was forced to close it quickly before it overwhelmed it. Even so, the light was able to push him away ever so slightly. He looked up to see Aldiyamon, sword in his hand, ready to strike. A shiver was sent along his spine; wasn't Aldiyamon involved in fighting Beelzemon? If he was here, then… He cast a look towards the roads that were led away from the intersection where he was at, where a heated battle was taking place. There was a new fighter, in white and pink, greatly resembling Rosemon… and she was now giving Beelzemon a rather challenging fight.

Leviamon snorted. So I'm now up against Aldiyamon, the only Mega-form Wira Digital… He turned around; Samudramon and Xianamon had both gotten up. With a grunt he lashed upon them with his tail, sending both of them flying.Better not risk being interrupted…

Aldiyamon sheathed his sword on his back, and swirled his hands in a circular motion. Leviamon saw a pearly sphere generated from the aura around him. That's it, he thought. He's releasing his strongest attack. This means, I'm going to have to match it with MY strongest attack!

"Transcendent Purification!"

"Poseidon Grave Strike!"

Leviamon's eyes glowed crimson. The winds picked up, and the rains grew heavier as he drew himself to full height, now standing on his hind-legs, taking pleasure to see Aldiyamon faltered a little upon his monstrosity. Two dark red lasers shot out from his eyes, followed by a blast of night blue spiraling waves from his snout before they were joined by two streams of chartreuse energy beams from both his front legs which were now his 'hands'. The three attacks converged midway and merged into a supercharged attack that collided soundly with Aldiyamon's attack. Elatedness coursed all over Leviamon – he hadn't expected this. Aldiyamon is weakening! Now's my chance…

Leviamon, you FOOL! Stop this at once!

Leviamon stopped dead at once at the voice that rang coldly in his mind. He recognized Lucemon's voice, and was caught with the harshness in it. But before he could power down the attack, it consumed Aldiyamon. An explosion like no other ensued, followed by the horrified screams from the other Wira Digital.

You better hope that Aldiyamon, or rather, the boy is not dead, spat Lucemon in his mind. Leviamon realized that Lucemon was communicating with him telepathically. The Master has specifically instructed that the boy is NOT to be harmed. You may have your way with the others, but Adam is not to be destroyed.

The smoke cleared. Leviamon heaved his breaths in anticipation. He saw the other DigiWira – the one with his partner deleted and reconfigured – ran towards Adam's prone, lifeless form, while shouting out dire threats towards him. He watched as JD lifted Adam and backed away, with Samudramon and Xianamon regained their composures and stood up defensively. And, to his relief, he saw Adam moving slightly while in his friend's arms. The boy's alive, he thought, with undisguised bitterness. He could have destroyed one Wira Digital that day. He had never understood the reason why SkullSatamon had taken a special interest in the boy. Lucemon seemed to know why, but the other generals did not.

He however, had no time to indulge his thoughts upon that matter, when Samudramon and two Xianamon leaped over the air to deliver their attacks.

xxx

WIRA DIGITAL

Chapter 64 – Storm Front, Part II

xxx

Samudramon spun his trident before launching the powered up mode of the Double-Edged Thunderblades. The electric-blue dragon coiled from his very being before it was blasted towards Leviamon. To his surprise, the crocodilian Demon Lord simply grasped the dragon with his scaly paw, and crushed it without much difficulty.

"Is that the best you can do?" Leviamon laughed.

The two Xianamon both held out their hands, flicking them once, allowing stardust to rain upon Leviamon before flying away in opposite directions. Instantly, Leviamon's movement became somewhat sluggish, but he was still able – albeit forcefully – to move about. This was the opportunity the two sorceresses were waiting for. They converged and crossed their fly-whisks together, calling out the Diamond Matrix Mandala which slammed dead center on Leviamon's chest. To Samudramon's delight, the Demon Lord was sent crashing on his back, causing some of the abandoned vehicles around the vicinity to be crushed upon Leviamon's weight.

The Xianamon didn't waste time. They attacked in perfect unison; now sending their poisonous needles towards Leviamon. The needles bounced away against Leviamon's scales, forcing them to change strategy. But with Leviamon already down, they cast their immobilization spell towards the demon, hoping that they would be able to destroy him while he was in stasis.

"This will take time," the yellow-garbed Xianamon muttered. Samudramon noted that her voice sounded strained. "His hides…his scales…they are all too strong for our attacks to penetrate."

"Ah, no worries," came the lighthearted reply from her clone. "With your Magical Stasis and my Soul Frost spells, we can at least prevent him from moving."

"But we could not injure him with our attacks," said Xianamon.

"One step at a time, sister," said the clone easily.

Leviamon's movements grew more constricted. When he had fell on his back, his legs were still movable. His tails had swished wildly, like snakes that were retaliating upon threats. But now the tails had stopped moving altogether, while Leviamon's trashing grew feebler.

Samudramon could only wonder for how long they could keep up with this strategy. They had seen Leviamon's power – he was able to beat even Aldiyamon Juara Mode. He could have finished Aldiyamon, but something had stopped him. He wondered why; not that he wanted Aldiyamon destroyed – no, far from it – but the opportunity was there. Why did Leviamon hesitate? It had cost the Demon Lord when they managed to catch him with his guards down.

Samudramon also knew that nothing offensive from their part could destroy Leviamon.

Puspamon, he thought silently, casting one look towards the sky. I need you.

The Rolling Thunder Hurricane – Samudramon and Puspamon's joined attack – was by far the most powerful of all Mega-powered attacks that the team had, if compared to the Final Purification, the Diamond Matrix Mandala and the Firestorm Slasher. It was the only Mega attack that did not cause them to dedigivolve after its execution. And with Aldiyamon down, he would need it in order to hope that they could bring down Leviamon.

The Kappa General had been his personal enemy, but he recognized the fact that he could never take Leviamon down alone. The Puaka Generals had been Adam's personal enemies, and Aldiyamon Juara Mode had evoked the last amount of his and his fellow Wira Digital's powers to destroy the evolved Puakas once and for all. Would it be the same with Leviamon, who had exhibited tremendous power?

"Puspamon…"

A shriek from the skies averted his thoughts. He looked up, and saw flashes of white and red amidst the clouds. Opie's fighting Valdurmon now…

"Why can't we just call him by his Digimon name?" demanded Penguinmon. "The name's getting on my nerve, seriously!"

Force of habit, he replied, smiling a bit. He looked at the Xianamon, and caught the main Xianamon's eyes. She nodded, mouthing what easily interpreted as Go, and that she would handle Leviamon for the time being. Then he looked towards the flashing clouds once more, amidst the rains and thunders, analyzing the magnitude of the situation between the two birds. Opie, in his Silphymon form, was not going to be the victor against his Mega-level former comrade. He thought of Debbie, and how she had adored the former Avian Shine, and made his decision.

xxx

"Puspamon…"

Amidst the rain, a gust of wind swirled around Puspamon. She stopped short in midair, over the tallest building around the vicinity. Manny? No… Samudramon?

She looked around, confused. She could have sworn that she had heard him. But it was impossible. She was still so far away from Subang Jaya.

I'd call it hallucination, but I'm not seeing stuffs. I'm hearing them…

Shrugging it off, the fairy Wira Digital called upon her super-speed and flew gracefully and swiftly towards the direction of her hometown, tearing the rainy sky with a streak of solid pink light.

xxx

"Adam…Adam, wake up."

Adam opened his eyes slowly, hearing his cousin's desperate call. Then sensations returned to him, and he winced. He was in pain. Patamon – who had obviously seen better days – was unconscious and was on his chest, and he himself was currently being cradled by his cousin, who was running.

"Josh?" he asked weakly.

"Shhh. Hang on."

Flows of concern rushed into Adam via empathy, and he smiled contently. Suddenly the pain didn't seem to hurt as much anymore. He frowned. There was a burning emotion coming from his back. Something related to anger, frustration and dire – all not directed towards him, but bothered him all the same. He tilted his head slightly, and caught hints of crimson aura. Adam wanted to say something, to assure his cousin, but his head felt heavy and his eyes drooped down by the patters of rain that had mostly been shielded by his cousin's stature. Another slight movement of his head, and Adam brushed against JD's chest where the heart was, and winced upon the darkness that he was getting from it. That accursed tattoo… he thought. He closed his eyes, trying to push away the darkness.

"Adam?" JD had stopped. They had reached somewhere where it was not raining. Or rather, somewhere protected from the rain – Adam could still hear the rains. He opened his eyes blearily and saw that they were at a driveway of a house. An abandoned house, probably, from the looks of the weeds that grew at the gardens. "My arms are a bit sore, so I'm gonna put you down, okay?"

Adam nodded. He was merely glad that he was not out in the open rains anymore. When JD helped him to sit, Adam realized that they were not alone.

"Are you alright, Adam?" Dina asked, concerned. Adam didn't have to have empathy to realize that.

"I'm okay," he said, petting Patamon gently. He saw that JD also had the Saintly Siblings with him, both perched on his shoulders. He hadn't noticed them earlier. The two's conditions were no better than Patamon, though they managed to remain conscious. "Where is…. where's Rosemon?" he asked, realizing that Rosemon Burst Mode had been battling Beelzemon before Aldiyamon left to assist the others. Rosemon had insisted that she was able to take care of the murderer herself.

"Still fighting him," said Dina, and there was dark conviction when she was referring to Beelzemon. "She told me to get to safety, so that Beelzemon won't be able to get to me the same way he got to…" Dina paused, and looked down. She took a deep breath, and when she looked back at him, Adam saw her eyes twinkling. But she did not cry. "So that I won't end up like Bel," she said finally.

"How's she faring against him?" asked Adam.

At this, a flicker of a smile appeared on Dina's face. "She's amazing, Adam. She's even more powerful than before. I really hope that she'll win." She sighed. "It will be the best news to tell Gaya when she gets back here."

A dry chuckle turned Adam and Dina's attentions towards JD. "At least there's one good news she's gonna have when she's back," he said darkly.

"Oh, Josh…" Adam murmured sadly, as JD turned away. Adam saw he was clutching his Digivice, his hand still flaring with crimson aura as he stood up and skulked towards one of the dirty pillars that were holding the driveway's roof. His empathic power picked up JD's emotions easily, despite them not being in contact.

JD turned around and stared upon him. There was suspicion in those blue-green eyes, which at first look made him want to turn away. However, Adam resisted doing so, lest it would rile JD's suspicion even further. So he carefully met JD's gaze, and their eyes remained fixed upon each other before JD finally relented. The hard look in the older boy's eyes slowly diminished, but were not gone completely. JD looked away momentarily, before a sigh was heard and he was seen clipping the Digivice back on the knee-length Bermuda shorts he wore. Then, he turned back towards him.

"I can tell, you know," JD said quietly. "You lived with me long enough."

"Tell what?" Adam asked, although he knew what JD was referring to. He simply didn't expect that JD would ask him about it in the midst of a battle.

"That you're hiding something," JD returned.

"What makes you…?" He stopped when JD raised one hand up, halting him.

"You won't even tell me what you were up to earlier this day. It was a simple question, yet you were so evasive about it."

Adam sighed. "I've told you, I was at the Digital World."

"Didn't think that I'd check on you?" asked JD, his voice low and dangerous. He briefly tapped on his Digivice.

"Honest, Josh. I was there." Adam looked at his cousin. He had never heard JD talking to him like that. "I was looking for some leads, about the curse."

"Then why didn't I detect your signal?" he demanded.

"I…" Adam honestly didn't know why. "I don't know."

"You don't know," echoed JD, crossing his arms over his chest. Adam knew that pose, and that look he was giving him. He was going on his big-brother-mode. At times, it annoyed him, but most of the times he loved that – to know that someone was watching out for him. It was then that he was reminded of the deal he had made, and kept his eyes down from JD.

"I don't know. Really, Josh…I'm not lying." He chanced a look towards his cousin, and saw the hard look gone.

"You don't have to go around looking for the cure, if that was what you were doing," JD said, a hint of worry was made apparent. His expression softened. "Manny and I tried, for almost a whole freaking month. No clues. Nobody can heal me. Persiamon's made sure of it."

Not if I can help it, Adam thought grimly.

"Adam, just…don't do anything foolish, okay?"

Adam nodded. "Okay. I promise. Again." Nothing is foolish, if it can save your life…

Adam realized that the only way out now was to sidetrack JD. He didn't want to lie, but he didn't want to be entirely truthful either. If JD knew what he had done… the deal he had struck with SkullSatamon… No, it was better that JD didn't know that Adam now was aware of the whole truth about the curse, courtesy of SkullSatamon. He now knew the exact nature of the curse and the supposedly only cure, and it had shaken him greatly that night. The cure required a sacrifice. Now he knew why his cousin had kept this vital information out when he admitted about the curse the previous day. Adam could not blame him; he must have guessed what Adam's immediate action would be. In fact, it was what that had first crossed his mind, before SkullSatamon offered the deal.

xxx

(Flashback)

"How is it that I know that I can trust you?"

"I have use for you, young Adam," SkullSatamon said bluntly. "Your powers intrigued me. I think you know that."

"No use trying to take it from me. Even if I want to give them to you, I can't."

"Oh, who says I want to take them from you? On the contrary, young Adam…on the contrary…"

"You want meinstead? You want to make me evil."

"You, my boy, is incorruptible by evil. The holy aspect of your power has made sure of that. You can, however, be consumed."

"Consumed?"

"Your dark digivolution into Aldiyamon Fury Mode has proven that. You didn't dark digivolve due to evil; you did so because you succumbed to your emotions. You had been sad, bitter, angry, and most of all, consumed by your desire to seek vengeance against the Puaka Generals, and the result was beautiful!"

He stared at the skeletal demon, disgusted of his definition of beautiful. Aldiyamon Fury Mode was destructive.

SkullSatamon paid no heed to him. "And now, you have the power to sense emotions…perceive emotions from others. How very wonderful. I have wondered why you were able to dark digivolve with the protection given by your DigiSphere. Now, I know why…"

"So what is it that you want?"

"Straight to the point? Alright. In exchange for my answer to your current predicament, you will have to train under me and my Hellion General. Your powers are too precious to be left untrained. We shall tap into their fullest potential soon. You can already achieve various wonders with them, wonders that are extremely rare even among the most noble and purest of Digimon. No single Digimon has the power to purify attack to use it at its own whim, or reconfigure deleted Digimon, as you have done to Agumon. You, my dear boy, are precious."

"First, give me the cure…"

SkullSatamon aughed fervently at his demand. "Oh, surely you don't think I am stupid, young Adam? No, I think not."

"Josh only has ONE WEEK to live!"

"Then I will give you the answer when it's almost time."

"How do I know that I can trust you? You've made it pretty clear that you don't care about my life back when I was taken here. Why should you care for Josh?"

SkullSatamon chuckled. "I recognize opportunity when I see one, Adam. My minions are dwindling, thanks to you and your friends. But that won't matter if I have you in return."

Adam squirmed. There was something odd from the way SkullSatamon mention about his dwindling servants. Thanks to us? SkullSatamon probably was being sarcastic, but Adam still thought that there was something else beyond sarcasm to that statement.

"And furthermore…you are incorruptible, as I have said. Should you feel any danger from me or Lucemon, all you have to do is teleport away. I will not lose anything, but you on the other hand will lose JD..."

"No..."

"Unless, of course, if you die in his place. It'll be a shame, but in the long run, it doesn't matter. For me, if you're alive I'd rather have you in my side, but if you're dead…I'll shrug and say ' whatever'. Your team will suffer a heavy blow without you, and that is advantageous enough for me. But…endure one week with me, and both of you shall live. That, I am positive."

"Why do you want to train me?" Adam asked suspiciously. SkullSatamon had given him the impression that he had something more that he was not telling. "If my powers are honed perfectly, I can destroy you all so easily." He suddenly stopped, clasping his mouth. There was a chilling edge in his voice while he made that threat. It sent shivers down his spine.

"Ah…we're making progress already!"

The demon's reply made his blood ran cold. It was the sheer lightheartedness of the reply that made him doubting his decision to go along with what SkullSatamon's plan. SkullSatamon had looked so elated when Adam came out with that threatening inquiry. But it had only taken a mental picture of JD, how he looked when he was in pain, and the memory of the times they had spent together, and the doubt was gone. Whatever that will happen, will happen, he assured himself. I'll save you, Josh. Whatever it takes...

"Might I add," SkullSatamon said, "that only by this training that you can save his life? That sweetens the deal, I'll wager?"

Adam didn't miss the hungry look on the demon. The eyeless sockets seemed to gleam with glutton, the lights within them dancing with mirth, as if knowing what Adam would be saying. SkullSatamon had chosen his words perfectly; there was no way Adam could refuse now.

"So…do we have a deal?"

(/Flashback)

xxx

JD cleared his throat, pulling Adam out of his thoughts. "That still doesn't explain why I couldn't get a trace of your Digivice's signal when I went to the Digital World."

"I've told you…I don't know why." Adam took a deep breath and veiled his emotion. It was something he was good at and he hoped that it would be enough to fool JD. "I…after you told me about the curse last night, I went to the Digital World to ask around for the cure. I had to do something…"

"Manny and I looked, but we've found nothing," JD pointed out.

"I know. I just wanted to try…but I couldn't find anything. Then…" Adam looked up at JD. "It finally dawned into me. That I…" He looked down and coached himself to take a few deep breaths. He was surprised at himself…he had failed to inhibit his emotion. That was made painfully obvious when a choked sob escaped his throat. "That I…am gonna lose you."

Whatever trace of hardness on JD's face was wiped out completely when he heard that. Adam saw a look of anguish crossed his cousin's face, and at that precise time he knew that whatever that would happen, it would be worth it. He would give anything so that his cousin would be rid off this curse. All he had to do was to fulfill his half of the bargain.

"I'm sorry, if I made you worried. It…" He took a deep breath, trying to conceal his emotion. He had pulled it off before, he could do so again. "It just that, I got sidetracked. I…I was so shocked, and sad….I didn't know what to do. So I…I took Sagittarimon, and we went to…"

Adam stalled again. JD raised his eyebrow. "And…?"

"I asked Sagittarimon to take me, to all the places that we have met previously."

JD gave him an odd, surprised look. Clearly he had not expected Adam to answer that.

"You know…Stone Valley. Megalith Coliseum, or what's left of it. Cave of Solitude, or what's left of it." He smiled grimly. "You destroyed the cave… and someone's destroyed the coliseum. I don't know who, but words got around that it was one of the generals. Beelzemon fits the description I got…" Adam halted, before shaking his head grimly. "That's not the point anymore."

"Why did you go to those places?" JD asked softly. "Those aren't good places to remember our meetings. They're not how I want you to remember me, when I'm…" He inclined his head awkwardly. "Y'know. Evil."

Adam's shoulders sagged. "I guess I was just reminiscing…both good and the bad times. It made me appreciate you even more, and…" He looked away, noting to his surprise that the emotional barrier he had was threatening to fail. He could not do this as perfectly as he had thought he could. Dina, who happened to meet his gaze, gave him a sympathetic nod.

What he had told JD so far was the truth. He did go to all the places where he had met JD in the Digital World. Peculiarly, the places he had gone to were the places where he had encountered the evil JD. It ultimately led him to the Shadow Realm and straight to SkullSatamon, who Adam thought, as the head honcho of all the villains they have been facing all these times, would know something about the curse. And he was not wrong.

The only thing was, SkullSatamon had no intentions to help him without getting something from him in return.

"I know, it's weird," murmured Adam, finally regaining his composure once again. He decided to keep the part where he'd already known about the curse and its nature out from JD.

"No, Adam. It's not weird at all," said JD. "I guess…well…" He grunted. "I don't know." He gazed down towards Adam, and a ghost of a smile appeared on his forlorn face. "I'm gonna miss you, Adam." He frowned sadly. "If there is a me to miss."

"Don't say that!" Adam said shrilly. "We'll think of something. Anything…" Adam stopped abruptly, knowing that if he spoke any more there was a chance that he would blurt everything out to his cousin. After all the times he had spent with JD, he was no longer the same boy he had been. His former trait, developed out of grief and pain, was beginning to crumble. It was different then. He was able to suppress his emotions then because he did not have to watch them die. With JD, he would be going to witness JD die if SkullSatamon did not comply with his end of the bargain.

JD looked away, staring towards the battles ahead. The Xianamon duo were immobilizing Leviamon, Samudramon had rushed towards where the Avian Shines were battling each other, and they could hear a feminine scream and a snarl exchanged intermittently somewhere close by. This went on for a while, before an ear-splitting scream was heard, and they froze. That wasn't a normal scream – it even outclassed the thunders.

"Gayathri?" Adam wondered; Gayathri was the only one who could scream like that.

"Puspamon?" At the same time, JD wondered out loud.

"No!" Dina, wide-eyed, shot up to her feet. "It's Rosemon! Something's wrong."

"Dina, wait!"

Adam and JD were too late; Dina had run back under the rains, her umbrella abandoned. They exchanged one look. JD couldn't Digital Access without Agumon, and Adam was too beat to digivolve, but they still had their powers whereas Dina had no such enhancement. She was in graver danger than they were. So they got up on their feet and chased the girl.

xxx

Along the Federal Highway, Puspamon sped over the vehicles that were caught in traffic jam, well-aware that she was not helping the situation when many vehicles stopped short upon her sighting. She could hear cheering sent her way, and smiled grimly. There seemed to be a road block instigated by the police at the entrance of her hometown, and over the distance she could make out flashes at the sky, as well as a distinct feminine scream that was so much like her own Sprite Scream, followed by a flash of crimson.

A gust of wind swirled around her. She heard voices again.

"Gayathri?" Adam's voice.

"Puspamon?" JD's...

"No, it's Rosemon! Something's wrong." ...And lastly, Dina's.

There was no time to think. Whether this was something she had newly acquired, it was not important. From the sounds of it, her friends were hoping for her to show up. And she knew that it must be really bad for them to wish for her - she could even sense direness in the voices she had heard.

Hang on, you guys…I'm coming!

xxx

"Tifaret!"

Beelzemon hissed as from the sky, Rosemon launched her seven glowing jewels upon him. They looked harmless, but Beelzemon knew better – these jewels possessed the powers of the stars that could burn through him if he did not evade them. He took out two Berenjena shotguns and began shooting towards the jewels, two by two. The jewels combusted, but to his disgust that did little to befuddle Rosemon, who upon a mere tap of the main jewel that fastened her cape to her, another seven jewels appeared around her, ready to do her bidding.

"Blasted woman!" snarled Beelzemon, clicking on his guns. He aimed them towards Rosemon. "Take this!"

Rosemon swung her black whip towards the incoming attack, proclaiming "Charite!" as she did so. The black whip glowed rosy pink and seemed to develop a life of its own as it elongated and struck the incoming bullets, destroying them into bits of data. This however, was the opportunity Beelzemon was waiting for. He launched upward and grabbed the whip, wrapped it around his wrist before yanking it back, forcing Rosemon towards him.

"Whoa, woman, are you coming onto me?!" he laughed.

"What's the matter? Afraid you can't handle it?" Rosemon returned icily and slapped him hard on the face.

"Sorry, woman. Bitch-slapping isn't my style." He ignored the burning pain on his left cheek where he had been struck while drawing his claws up. The black claws glinted with scarlet glow. Rosemon attempted to escape but Beelzemon still had her whip curled around his wrist, thus preventing her escape. "There's no running away, rosey."

"How about a kiss, then?" Before Beelzemon could comprehend what Rosemon had just said, Rosemon drew one hand over her mouth, and blew him a kiss. "Aguichant Levres!"

"What the hell!" His eyes widened when six hearts shot out from her mouth; this attack was unexpected! The hearts shot lasers upon him, on his helmeted head, chest, and arms. One laser caught his hand and melted a portion of the whip that was coiled around his hand. Rosemon was thus free and flew back up, before releasing another round of Aguichant Levres upon him.

Beelzemon made a backward somersault to avoid the laser-spewing hearts, and executed several shots to destroy the hearts. He heaved; without his wings and blaster, he was at a serious disadvantage against the powered-up Rosemon. And she seemed to know it too.

He cursed his luck; he hadn't anticipated that D'Arcmon's will was that strong to be able to shift from his body to Rosemon's. It was even worse that he had trained in his powered-up form, with the wings and the blaster, and now had only so little experience in his current form. He was still strong, still on par with Leviamon or Rosemon, but he needed at least his wings if he were to fight Rosemon.

Who can I absorb? He thought, while avoiding another rains of jewels. He looked around.She's ensured everything! Aldiyamon's not around, her partner's escaped…nobody around here that I can use as leverage against her. Damn it! I'm better off as Astamon rather than this wingless form!

"There's no other Digimon around here for you to absorb!" Rosemon's clear voice rang amidst the rains. "You'll meet your end now, murderer. The death of my partner's friend and D'Arcmon will be avenged today. Aguichant Levres!"

Beelzemon quickly brought out his guns and shot the energy hearts. Rosemon attacked again, and he repeated the same attack. This could go on forever, he thought.

Rosemon continued attacking, and Beelzemon noticed that she had refrained from using her whips again – another drawback for him. He couldn't seize the whip and draw her close as he had done previously. Now, she would only use either her jewels or her energy hearts against him. On both accounts, he could either avoid them or destroy them, but Rosemon was leaving him no chance to attack back.

"And now…" Rosemon said darkly, as her whole form glowed with pink-crimson aura. She brought both arms up, joining them together side by side. Red crackling energy spiraled around her entire being before they condensed around her hands, forming a crimson sphere that grew from the size of a marble which bloomed into an energy rose the size of a house in a span of several seconds. "ROSEN BLOOD!"

A banshee-like shriek resulted as the rose petals opened, blasting a stream of pure energy that resembled a burst of blood. It looked more potent than the Forbidden Temptation, and when Beelzemon tried to intercept it he was surprised upon finding that the technique was not purely an energy technique – energy thorns were shot, and they tore and pierced him so viciously that he was forced to break contact. The blast consumed him, and it was just lucky that he had energized his claws prior in intercepting the Rosen Blood, or the blast would have killed him. He managed to reduce the attack's full-potency, but the blast was strong enough to throw him off his feat, blasting him towards a house and crashed him right through it.

He winced. His back ached. He had crashed through a wall. He looked behind; the house was obviously occupied, judging from the furniture and the cleanliness. But the quietness hinted that the occupants were not around. Lucky them, thought Beelzemon snidely. I'm so frustrated now I could kill anyone in plain sight. He pushed himself back up, grunting and kicking the debris, before panting heavily. What the HELL was that? She's gotten so strong! That power could have been MINE!

He walked through the large gaping hole resulted from the crash, and squinted through the rains. Hmm…where is she? He looked around, before noticing her on the roads. Unmoving. And not too far from Rosemon – still in her Burst Mode – a girl was running frantically towards her, followed by the two DigiWira. She's unconscious! This is my chance!

Beelzemon leaped down from the hole, landing on the house's driveway. He flexed his claws and sliced the gate open, kicking it to make way. It's dinner time…

xxx

Valdurmon was not kidding when he declared that they were fighting to death.

The massive bird of light had not once relented in sending him blows of light wave, never caring whether they would hit him or not. Obviously, Opie thought, that Valdurmon was not taking his betrayal well, and was now showing how much he was appreciating it. Opie winced upon feeling the heat from a Purge Shine sent his way, and utilized his speed to evade it. In his Silphymon form, speed was his only advantage; all his attacks were useless against Valdurmon, who was one level higher than he was.

"Static Force!" A supercharged pink energy sphere was sent towards Valdurmon. He had been sending out those countless times, and every time the result was the same.

Valdurmon drowned the energy sphere with another Purge Shine, as he had done previously. Then he sailed the stormy sky, aiming his deadly talon towards Opie.

Opie sped away, casting a glimmering after-image of him being caught by the talons instead. His pink image exploded in Valdurmon's grasp, flustering the mighty bird. Opie smirked, and launched several Static Forces towards Valdurmon again, hoping that he could at least overwhelm the Mega, if not beating him. For a while, it seemed to work, before Valdurmon squawked amidst the thunder and lightning and flew upon him. The Static Forces that Opie tried sending were deftly thwarted.

"This has gone far enough," snarled Valdurmon, as his six wings shone with blinding white aura. "Aurora Undulation!"

Valdurmon curled his six wings forward and blasts of light shot out in six different directions, before converging towards Opie. There was no escaping the attack, no matter how fast he tried to evade them; the light streaks came from all over him. Opie was hit full-blast by the attack, and felt the wind knocked out of him. He lost control of his senses and only felt himself plummeting towards the ground. Pain shot all over his body, blood trickled out his mouth and went into the small gap between his visor and his face, nearly flooding his eyes.

The changes of the winds alerted him that Valdurmon was giving chase, and Opie forced himself to recall his flight power to balance himself. He managed to do so, but was struck by Valdurmon's strong talons and was sent crashing on the ground. He groaned, clutching his chest. The blow was strong and he was having a hard time gathering his breaths, while at the same time trying to get out of the small crater resulted from his crash. A dark shadow made him stall; Valdurmon loomed over him.

"So long, traitor." Valdurmon stretched his wings wide, and amidst the lightning it only made him look even more formidable.

Opie quivered, his body tensed. He would not survive this attack. How unfortunate, he thought direly, my first day fighting as a good guy, and I'm doomed…

Two streaks of blue lightning suddenly streaked down the heavens and struck Valdurmon, halting him. Both Avian Shines gasped and searched for the perpetrator. When they saw the source of the lightning, Valdurmon snarled, Opie sighed in relief before it turned into a surprise.Them? But I thought…

Samudramon stood several yards away, his trident crackling with thunderbolts.

Author's Notes:

I know, I know. I've said before that Storm Front will only have two parts, but it seems not possible. There are just too many characters to focus on. Opie, Rosemon, Leviamon, Beelzemon, Samudramon, Puspamon, Adam, JD and the others. By splicing the finale into three-parts, the story is able to proceed at a much steadier pace. If all goes well I might be able to post the third part by the story's second anniversary.

Rosen Blood actually is an attack that belongs to Rosemon X instead of Rosemon Burst Mode. I figured I'd use it here as her most potent technique. I don't know how Charite is executed but I've read somewhere that it involves her whip so I decided to go with that.

Leviamon has two new attacks: Water Tail Blaster and Poseidon Grave Strike. Why? To make him deadlier. Beelzemon however retains his original attacks, and while he is still powerful to match Rosemon Burst Mode's strength (she has the power of a normal Mega in this story) I've decided to show him struggle with the fact that he is wingless.

Edited: 24th March 2008