I'm back! Took a while, I know but I hope you're still reading this fic. I'll skip the other unnecessary things and get on with the story!
But of course - I'd like to thank those who reviewed and read the story! Thanks a lot!
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon!
Chapter 14: Legion of Darkness
"Gabumon! Gabumon!" exclaimed Hikari as she shook Gabumon. He had fainted near a large expanse of water, presumably the lake of the Magi.
"Here!" said Takeru as he splashed Gabumon with water, trying to wake up the unconscious Digimon. It was, however, to no avail.
"Excuse me, Takeru, Hikari," said Seraphimon. The two cleared and waited for Seraphimon to proceed with whatever he was planning to do.
Seraphimon's wings shone a brilliant gold and emitted blinding flashes of light, all of which were directed at Gabumon. Moments later, he began to stir and started to open his eyes.
"Gabumon!" exclaimed Hikari, rushing to him. Takeru smiled at Seraphimon and redirected his gaze at Gabumon.
"What… happened?" he asked weakly. He could barely make out the figures of Takeru and Hikari, along with Seraphimon.
"That's what we'd like to know," said Takeru, sighing. "But we'll figure that out soon enough," he added, smiling.
"Yeah, when we got here, you were already unconscious," said Hikari.
"Wait… where are Angewomon and MegaKabuterimon?" asked Seraphimon flying above in order to examine the whole field. From his line of sight, he could not see the two.
"I didn't see them come back with us after we were transported here…" said Takeru, starting to grow worried.
"Could they have been left there?" asked Hikari, worriedly scanning the area.
"Cease your attempts, chosen children," said a dark and dreary voice. The sky turned pitch black once again, covering the sunlight.
"What's happening now?!" asked Takeru as the earth below his feet shook violently and emitted luminous violet lights. Despite his attempt to flee, the sudden blast from underneath caught up to him and flung him towards a tree.
"Takeru!" shouted Hikari as she ran towards him. He had fallen unconscious due to the impact of the hit.
"You shall not succeed chosen children," said the Digimon that had split the earth apart. He was now hovering above them, his tremendous physique.
A Digimon bearing semi-transparent yellow wings, wrapped in purple Chrome Digizoid armor stood before them. It had two metallic claws for hands and a serpentine-like lower body. It had jaws like that of a crocodile, its eyes like slits.
"Your executioner has arrived," it spoke; its eyes murderously gazing at the chosen children and their Digimon.
"W-who is that?" asked Hikari nervously, looking at the Digimon.
"A Mega level Digimon having dominion over the countless insect Digimon that reside in this world. It's name - TyrantKabuterimon," spoke Seraphimon, his tone serious.
"Nevertheless, I must fight. Regardless of any reason, TyrantKabuterimon may not harm Takeru or Hikari," said Seraphimon, standing in battle position.
"Is that so, LordSeraphimon?" he taunted. "Very well, I shall destroy you along with those gruesome things you call humans…"
"Lightning Wave!" he exclaimed, shooting two bolts of lightning into the sky. It puzzled Hikari as to what he was about to do.
"Run!" exclaimed Seraphimon immediately afterwards. When Hikari sought an answer as to why, lightning suddenly shot from the sky and hit the earth near her.
"Let's go!" shouted Gabumon as he tugged Hikari. She, on the other hand, was looking at Takeru.
"What about Takeru?" asked Hikari worriedly.
"Grab his feet, I'll carry his arms," said Gabumon as he lifted Takeru. To his surprise, he wasn't able to carry him.
"He got heavier!" he said, panting after his failed attempt. Another bolt raced downward and burnt a nearby tree. Seraphimon and TyrantKabuterimon were already battling. The two, after being nearly shot to death by the lightning, were able to lift Takeru and relocate him somewhere else.
"Hallowed Ascension!" exclaimed Seraphimon and sent a bolt of lightning at TyrantKabuterimon from the heavens.
"Bee Cyclone!" exclaimed TyrantKabuterimon. From the depths of the earth came numerous insects that fled to their master. They formed a wall to protect him from Seraphimon's attack.
"You cannot harm me, Seraphimon," he said arrogantly. He quickly flew towards Seraphimon.
"Shine of Bee!" he said. Seraphimon was caught off-guard as a powerful explosion that came from TyrantKabuterimon's body hit him. Reputedly, this attack was enough to incinerate foes to ash.
As the smoke cleared, Seraphimon was seen lying on the ground. His armor was able to withstand the explosion but he was injured.
"Your armor is truly powerful Seraphimon…" commented TyrantKabuterimon. His eyes were glinting with delight as was about to unleash his attack. He closed in on Seraphimon's seemingly lifeless body.
"This is the end, Seraphimon. Take this!" he hollered. But before he could initiate the attack, Seraphimon quickly rose and took the offensive.
"Seven Heavens!" he exclaimed, summoning forth seven holy orbs and launching them directly at TyrantKabuterimon. Surprised by the attack, he was propelled a great distance from Seraphimon.
"How the…?" he said irritably as he rose. TyrantKabuterimon noticed that his Chrome Digizoid armor had been damaged.
"Is this Digimon really that powerful to be able to harm my nearly impenetrable armor?" he whispered to himself. From this point, he was weighing his options. He'd incur the wrath of Daemon if he were to retreat. Likewise, he might die if this keeps up.
"Argh!" he exclaimed in irritation. "Whatever, I'll just finish this!"
He charged at Seraphimon at an incredible speed. However, Seraphimon was prepared for the worst. With a single sweeping motion, he quickly directed a punch at the incoming TyrantKabuterimon. The latter narrowly avoided the first direct punch but was unable to evade the uppercut.
"Hallowed Ascension!" exclaimed Seraphimon. Instantly, a bolt of lightning hit TyrantKabuterimon from the skies. It dealt enough damage to actually make him plummet to the ground. The lightning ceased to descend and Seraphimon took this as a sign that it was over.
"Nice one, Seraphimon!" congratulated Gabumon as he ran towards him. Seraphimon flew down and landed. Upon making contact with the ground, he devolved to Patamon once again.
"Phew! That was really tiring!" said Patamon in a contented but exhausted tone. "But what are we going to do with TyrantKabuterimon?"
The Digimon in question was still unconscious and lying on the ground.
"Why don't we just leave him here? I doubt he'll wake up in time to do anything to us…" suggested Gabumon. Patamon agreed and flew towards Hikari and Takeru's location. Gabumon quickly followed afterwards.
"Damn it, I guess I have no other choice…" thought TyrantKabuterimon. He was only barely conscious as he initiated his plan. Despite his weakened state, he summoned up all the strength he could and took flight silently. He lingered in the air for a while before finally summoning his minions.
"Legion of Darkness, descend!" exclaimed TyrantKabuterimon in a loud and booming voice that echoed through-out the large expanse of land. In an instant, a black portal was torn from the air. Hikari, Gabumon and Patamon were stunned, seeing the entry of numerous dark Digimon. From the rift came four Digimon, namely Devidramon, MegaKabuterimon, Okuwamon and Phantomon.
"Master TyrantKabuterimon, I warned you not to use 'Legion of Darkness' as your beckoning call. Master Daemon feels it is inappropriate to use the term when you only command a few of the actually legion," said Phantomon in an even and formal tone.
"I don't think he'll be complaining once we get rid of these creatures," arrogantly boasted TyrantKabuterimon. Phantomon did not bother replying.
"Let's finish this. The master is already irritated as it is…" spoke Okuwamon.
"Then go already!" he exclaimed and led the assault. Hikari, Takeru, Patamon and Gabumon were defenseless, it would seem. Neither Patamon nor Gabumon had the power to digivolve and escape was futile as four Digimon advanced towards them.
"Dark Gale!" exclaimed Devidramon, shooting deadly beams from his four eyes.
"Horn Buster!" bellowed MegaKabuterimon, sending an electric blast from his horn.
The two attacks had merged, the electricity enveloping the deadly beams from Devidramon.
"Argh!" shouted Gabumon in irritation.
"Howling Blaster!"
"Air Shot!"
The two rookie attacks were, as expected, useless against the incoming attack. Though not directly, the four were hit by the blast. The impact flung them even further, scathing all of them.
"Well, this should be interesting…" said TyrantKabuterimon. Hikari, in a desperate attempt, tried to shake Takeru awake.
"Wake up Takeru! We need you!" she exclaimed, nearly on the verge of tears.
"Phantomon, the finishing blow, if you please," said TyrantKabuterimon. Phantomon nodded and hovered slowly towards the Digimon.
"Now, I shall take your life," he said grimly as he approached them. Raising his golden scythe, he was about to strike the killing blow.
"Shadow Scythe!" he exclaimed, slashing the scythe into the air. Gabumon, realizing his role, jumped in front of the attack, receiving the complete blow.
"Gabumon!" shouted Hikari. Phantomon had grabbed the slashed Digimon from the horn and threw him to Hikari.
"Gabumon…" cried Hikari remorsefully. Tears had clouded her eyes as Gabumon faded into the wind.
"Don't… worry… this was… my role… anyway…" he whispered. He flinched as the slash intensified his pain.
"Also… tell Yamato… it was… a pleasure"
Gabumon had completely vanished. Hikari was crying, likewise with Patamon. Phantomon, however, laughed in delight.
"Well then, you're next!" he hollered and raised his scythe.
"Shadow Scythe!" he exclaimed. Hikari closed her eyes and waited in painful anticipation the incoming blow. She felt she couldn't move under the weight that had suddenly been put on her. However, she felt a cool breeze instead of a painful slash.
It was a wonder how she survived. Hikari slowly and cautiously opened her eyes. She felt safe, so she assumed she had gone to heaven. However, the pitch darkness and the android carrying her snapped her out of the delusion.
"Are you alright?" the Digimon asked. The girl could only nod in amazement as she gazed on the Digimon's face.
The android Digimon laid her on the grass and slowly made his way towards Phantomon. The Digimon being pursued was unfazed.
"Shadow Scythe!" he exclaimed and sent his scythe towards the ground. There was no painful and agonizing scream that was heard but the Digimon had disappeared completely.
"What the-" he muttered before sighting the Digimon behind him.
"You're weak," he muttered coldly and blasted him, incinerating Phantomon in an instant.
"W-Who… ah, whatever! Devidramon!" shouted TyrantKabuterimon. Before the Digimon could even act, the new comer had blasted the foe into ashes. He was, as could be seen, unfeeling towards them.
"MegaKabuterimon!" he shouted though weaker and more worriedly this time.
"Horn Buster!" exclaimed MegaKabuterimon. The electrical attack was quickly dodged by the android Digimon.
Before he blasted MegaKabuterimon, he said something that puzzled TyrantKabuterimon but relieved Hikari and Patamon.
"Don't worry, it isn't him," he merely stated before pointing his canon at the Digimon.
"Atomic Ray!" said the Digimon. In an instant, MegaKabuterimon was incinerated, leaving TyrantKabuterimon frightened.
"Any last words, Digimon?" asked the android. TyrantKabuterimon merely frowned.
"Shine of -," he started but was quickly blasted by the android Digimon. In his last moments, he sought the name of the one who had defeated him.
"It wouldn't do you good in the underworld anyway," he coldly replied and turned his back on the dying Digimon.
"Damn this cocky Digimon," said TyrantKabuterimon. With that, he fell silent.
"T-thanks for the help… b-but if I may ask, who are you?" inquired Hikari cautiously. The seemingly cold-hearted Digimon smiled at her.
"I guess it has been a while. Long story short, I'm Andromon," he said which surprised Patamon and Hikari.
"Andromon?!" they exclaimed in unison. The Digimon in question merely smiled.
"Well, not exactly… It's HiAndromon now,"
"What happened over the years?" asked Hikari as she sat on the grass. The sun had finally been set free from the clutches of darkness. Now, it seemed they were in a peaceful, open field.
"Before that, what happened to Takeru?" asked HiAndromon. Takeru was placed gently on Hikari's lap to make Takeru feel more comfortable.
"He was thrown off the ground and he hit a tree. I'm worried as to why he hasn't woken up yet…"
"Yeah, it's as if something is preventing him from waking up…" added Patamon.
"Let me take a look…" said HiAndromon. He surveyed Takeru intently. After a few moments, he sighed in relief.
"Well, as much as I can tell, he hasn't suffered any serious wounds. He's probably not used to being hit like that…"
"Well, anyway, what happened over the past few years?" asked Hikari again.
"Nothing but hell… for the most part, at least," replied HiAndromon. "After another three glorious years of peace, the Seven Great Demon Lords came into play. They imprisoned the Sovereigns; massacred the Digimon Angels and, finally, summoned the malevolent GranDracmon to cease all digital life," he retold grimly and with fury.
"They… but…" whispered Hikari, face aghast.
"Well, the massacre didn't go as planned. They weren't able to locate both Seraphimon and Ophanimon. Likewise, Cherubimon wasn't present during the Sovereigns' summons so he was excluded. For the most part, only the angel generals were completely obliterated. Regardless, we still are at a standstill…"
"So, neither of the three angels were killed. Thank Heavens! But what is this about the Seven Great Demon Lords? Naoki didn't mention anything about that…" thought Hikari.
"What do you mean standstill?" asked Patamon.
"We can't make a move unless we rally enough troops to vanquish the newly established 'Legion of Darkness'. What TyrantKabuterimon summoned were the mere pawns of the Demon Lords. Unfortunately, the resistance cannot garner the necessary cooperation needed due to the many downfalls of our current leader,"
"Why, who's the leader of the resistance?" asked Hikari. HiAndromon sighed.
"Ironically, a Digimon we believe to be working hand in hand with the Demon Lords…" he stated grimly.
"Who is it?" asked Patamon. HiAndromon shook his head, faced the clouds and sighed.
"Well, Cherubimon himself…"
"What?! Why?!" asked Hikari in surprise.
"He hasn't been himself lately. He's become dogmatic and his eyes shine a menacing red every time I try my best to alter his mistakes. He does things in an underhanded way. I, along with numerous Digimon in the resistance, believe he is selling us to the Demon Lords since his plans always include sacrifices. We have won a few battles but nothing that actually made an impact…"
"If that's the case… then why don't you stand-up against him?" asked Hikari. HiAndromon merely smirked.
"If there's one thing that this war has taught me is that there are always spies among the group. Out of every three warriors, there are two who will turn on you," he said grimly.
"Then how are we to fight?!" angrily argued Hikari. Patamon was doing his best to console her but to no avail.
"That's just it. Basically, we need the chosen children to fight in this war. With them, there isn't a wall we can't climb, an ocean we can't cross, a Digimon we can't defeat!" reasoned HiAndromon.
"Well, he's got a point there," suddenly interjected Takeru. The conversation was cut short and everyone flocked to Takeru.
"Takeru!" exclaimed Hikari, hugging her fiancé tightly. The blond, in turn, could hardly breathe.
"Let… go… honey," he forced himself to say as the lack of air was deterring him even more.
"You had us extremely worried!" she exclaimed, on the verge of tears. Takeru merely flashed his clumsy but very appealing smile.
"Not to break this beautiful moment but I believe you'd prefer to be united with your two other Digimon," stated HiAndromon.
"Where are they?" asked Hikari.
"They're currently residing inside the crystal cavern a short distance from here. Anyway, let's go," he said.
They followed HiAndromon to the cavern. Along the way, Takeru had initiated a conversation with the three which was nothing but intriguing
"I have a plan to finally overthrow those Demon Lords…"
Not exactly the best ending but I had difficulty ending this...
Anyway, I hope I don't take long for the next chapter! See ya then!