34) An Epic Battle
They made it back to the desert zone, and decided the best thing was to return to the flagstaff. It worked before, and that would be the logical place for Jen, Takato, and Terreirmon to go.
Up ahead, something was emerging from underground, First, two large claws appeared, then pulled the rest of the serpent-like body up. It rose on powerful wings.
Koichi ran a profile
Megadramon
Ultimate, Virus
Darkness dragon digimon
Attacks are Ultimate Slicer and Genocide Attack
"This isn't looking good", he said.
"I will load you all!", he announced.
"Why?", Koichi asked, "why are you attacking? We didn't do anything to you!"
"Load the data of digimon with Tamers, and I get to go to the Material World!"
"Load us? We'll load you!", Koichi countered. "Everyone!"
"Super Evolution Plug-in S: digimodify!"
Renamon Evolve! ...
... KYUUBIMON!
Impmon Evolve! ...
... KYUUBIMON_Ag!
"Demon Spirit Fireballs!", Kyuubimon attacked. Megadramon fired something that sent the Demon Spirit Fireballs right back at her. Kyuubimon had to dodge her own attack.
"Foxfire Dragon!", Kyuubimon_Ag attacked, chasing down the Megadramon. This time, it fired cluster bombs that exploded all around the foxfire dragon. Kyuubimon_Ag dropped.
"Impmon!", Kazu called out. He ran to where he was dropping like a rock.
As Megadramon was closing in for the kill: "Fist of the Beast King!", Leomon attacked.
"Pyro Sphere!", Guilmon attacked at the same time.
This time, both hit Megadramon, turning him back, though setting himself up to begin another attack run.
"Dammit!", Kyuubimon_Ag swore, "he's a powerful one..."
"If only we could get to Ultimate!", Kazu said.
"If only you could evolve!", Kenta said to Guilmon.
"TA-KA-TO!", he called out in desperation.
Guilmon evolve! ...
... GROWLMON!
Calumon had sensed his urgency, even without the digivice.
"OK, all together now!", Koichi called out, "before he can attack again!"
"Foxfire Dragon!", both Kyuubimon attacked.
"Fist of the Beast King!"
"Exhaust Flame!"
This time, Leomon's attack destroyed the cluster bombs before they could detonate, opening the way for the Foxfire Dragons. The Foxfire Dragons struck first. Before he could recover, the Exhaust Flame struck. Megadramon dropped from the sky where Leomon was waiting: "Fist of the Beast King!", he hit him at close range.
It still wasn't enough to destroy Megadramon, but it was enough to make him rethink his plans. He quickly tunneled himself underground to escape.
"What the hell was that all about?", Koichi asked.
"It is said that if you load a digimon with a partner, you will attain the means to go to the Material World", Kyuubimon explained. "It's just a legend, but there are those who believe it, or at least grant it enough credence to try to load any digimon with partners. Like Megadramon".
"I'm not so sure I'd want him in the Material World", Koichi said. "not with an attitude like that"
"Indeed", Kyuubimon agreed.
They were on their way again, this time they were holding their Champion forms, just in case. To make better time, Growlmon was carrying Kenta, Koichi and Juri were riding Kyuubimon, and Kazu was riding Kyuubimon_Ag.
"I wonder", Kenta was speculating, "how will we get back?"
"What are you saying?", Kazu reprimanded, "we haven't found Takato and the others yet!"
"I meant after... how will we return to the Material World?"
"We'll find Takato soon", Growlmon replied.
"Juri, are you OK?", Leomon asked.
"I'm fine", she replied. "Sorry Kyuubimon, for using you like a horse"
"Don't worry about it"
"Anyway", she asked, "where are Takato and the others?"
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
"What's done is done", Takato told Jen. "Now that she's here, maybe Lopmon knows something about Calumon?"
Lopmon had no idea as to what they were talking about.
"Here", Takato brought out his drawing of Calumon: "Have you seen this digimon?", he asked Lopmon.
"Yes", he replied. "The last time I saw him, he was being transported to Suszakumon. The one who holds the Light of Evolution: I recognize him, but never knew he had a name. To recover the one who conceals the Light of Evolution, and to fight those who would oppose our evolution and threaten our world, Zhuqiaomon reconfigured the data of digimon recovered from dust packets to create us Deva".
"What's 'Suszakumon'?", Jen asked.
"It's the palace of our God: Zhuqiaomon. It lies beyond the Nondaimon Gate", he pointed across the suspension bridge, towards that red glow on the horizon that looked like the last of a perpetual sunset.
He was surprised that Lopmon was that forthcoming with critical information, both about Calumon and himself. He didn't figure a Deva would be that helpful, that truthful, as he had no doubt about Lopmon's honesty. It rang all too true.
The digignomes were back, flying all around them.
"Shibumi said they try to communicate by body and sign language", Jen theorized. "They seem rather agitated about something... Like they want something... By the way they're acting, it has to be important, but what..."
He got his answer, as they flew across the bridge.
"Wait! Come back!", Takato called after them. "I want to know more about Guilmon! I want to know where he is!"
They disappeared from view, on the other side of that artificial canyon.
"Zhuqiaomon", Jen said.
"Then Calumon is there? Then let's go get him!", Takato declared.
"We can't!", Jen insisted. "Shuichon..."
"Moumentai!", Terriermon declared. "Shuichon and Lopmon became partners, right?"
"Right", Shuichon confirmed, as she displayed her digivice.
"Wait!", Lopmon called out, as he ran and stood before the suspension bridge. "I can't allow you to go to Suszakumon!"
"Lopmon?", Takato asked.
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Calumon saw a bright red light coming from above him; it was almost too bright to look at directly. He was being addressed by an unseen voice:
"You who bears the Light of Evolution, you are not a digimon. You must regain your previous form..."
"Calumon is Calumon, culu? I am a digimon, culu?!", he insisted, but it was as if he hadn't been heard at all.
"...You used to give the Light of Evolution to all digimon. You must spread the Light of Evolution once again"
Calumon had no idea as to what this voice was talking about. Though he did remember that Koichi once told him something very similar. He wondered: could it be true? Was there more to a past he couldn't remember than he suspected?
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
"The power of the God who created me is overwhelming...", Lopmon was explaining.
"That 'God' (finger quotes) was also the one who punished you by devolving you to a Rookie", Jen objected.
"Yes", Lopmon agreed. "That is why I know how powerful he is. The one who punishes is greater still than the one punished".
"Lopmon", Shuichon approached him with a stoke of the head. "You're very kind and considerate".
"I opposed his will", he explained. "I don't want to hurt anyone again, and I don't want to see anyone else get hurt".
"You're very nice, Lopmon", Shuichon told him.
"One who shows his power through punishment is no god to me", Jen explained. "That's a tyrant... That's more like a demon than a god".
"If we don't do anything, we can't rescue Calumon", Terriermon objected.
There was a bright flash of light: "What was that?!", Takato asked, "Lightening?" This came out of nowhere, as it didn't look even remotely like it was going to rain any time soon.
("The time has come for me to fulfill my destiny!", Catsuramon declared)
"Leomon, why did you become Juri's partner?", Growlmon asked.
"How did you become Takato's partner?", he asked instead of answering.
"I've been with Takato from the very beginning. He designed me".
"Kyuubimon, how about you?", Leomon asked.
"The first time, or the second?"
"You had two partners?", he asked.
"The first time was a big mistake. I partnered with Ruki, thinking that becoming stronger was enough. I was wrong, and she betrayed me. It was after that I met Koichi purely by chance. He swore he would never betray me, and I believed him. Then we were partners".
"You still haven't answered Growlmon's question", Koichi pointed out.
"I was born a digimon to become Juri's partner. Anyway, that's what I believe"
"Thanks, Leomon", Juri said.
"Leomon is strong and kind", Growlmon observed. "How did you get that way?"
"Up till now, all I've done is fight. That's the destiny of all digimon, or so I thought".
"If I fight more, then I can be like you?"
"You have your own destiny", Leomon explained.
"Maybe I'll ask Takato... I wonder where he is? How he's doing?"
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
"Jen, I appreciate you want to protect your little sister, that's natural... How about if I take Terriermon and check it out? If there's any danger, we'll come right back".
"Jen, how about it?", Terriermon asked.
"I don't know...", he said doubtfully.
"If one of the Holy Beasts is really there, even though they're very powerful digimon, they still want to protect this world, right? We want the same thing... I'm sure he'll understand".
"It's not that I'm unwilling, or that I don't trust you with Terriermon, it's that I don't agree. Look at what that digimon 'God' did to Antiramon, and for what? Because he showed kindness towards Shuichon instead of what? Destroying her? Should he have been disowned and devolved for that 'terrible crime' (finger quotes)? Look at what his Deva did before we left the Material World. Have you forgotten all those threats he made? Remember what Guilmon and Renamon told us? Does any of that suggest that this Zhuqiaomon would be interested in talking, let alone understanding?"
Jen shook his head: "Takato, Zhuqiaomon is nuttier than squirrel shit. Certifiable. Can you deny it, in all honesty, can you deny it? I don't think trying to reason with an extremely powerful psychotic digimon is such a swell idea".
"Shibumi didn't think so..."
"Shibumi also didn't have access to all the information we had. He wasn't there for the rampage of those Deva. He could still be very wrong. You may be willing to bet your life on it, but I won't have that on my conscience".
"I have to agree with Jen", Shuichon said. "That monkey... he tried to take me to his God even when I told him I didn't want to go with him. If it hadn't been for Antiramon..."
The argument was ended with an explosion that looked and sounded like incoming artillery. They all instinctively turned away.
"What?!", Takato asked, as he turned back to look: "Lilithmon!"
Lilithmon had arrived in a spectacular manner, with a tremendous explosion that created a shallow crater, with her seated on the Iron Beast motorcycle.
"What? Just the three of you? I was hoping to settle this business with all of you at once. Oh well..."
"Why do you want to kill us?!", Takato asked.
"Nothing personal", she explained, "I evolved, and that was the deal. I always keep my word".
"Jen!", Terriermon called out.
"Yes!", he agreed as he pulled out a random card, trusting it would be the Blue Card he really needed.
"Matrix Evolution: digimodify!"
Terriermon Matrix Evolve! ...
... RAPIDMON!
"Heh", she dismissed, "fighting you is nothing"
"Don't underestimate me", Rapidmon warned. "Rapid Fire!", he launched his RPGs. The explosions had no effect whatsoever.
"I felt nothing", Lilithmon warned. "Go away!", she called out. "Evil Sigh!", she retaliated.
"Rapidmon!", Jen called out, as the Ultimate was blown out of the sky, landing on his back. He couldn't believe Rapidmon could be taken down so easily.
"At... at this rate...", Takato said. "Guilmon... Why aren't you here! I need you! GUILLLL-MONNNN!"
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Growlmon started.
"What's wrong?", Kenta asked.
"I thought I heard Takato"
"I heard it too", Juri agreed.
"I didn't...", then Kenta heard it.
"It seems to be coming from that data stream", one was headed directly their way.
"I believe he's right", Koichi agreed.
"We have to get out of here!", Kazu announced.
"Let's go, rejoin Takato", Growlmon said.
"Wait!", Kazu protested, "You don't know where it'll take you!"
"I don't care!", Growlmon replied. "Takato's calling, and that's where I'm going... with or without you!"
"This could be our destiny", Leomon said.
"Better than waiting around here", Koichi proposed. "We either find Takato, or we're no worse off".
The debate was finished, as they couldn't outrun the data stream now...
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Lilithmon was laughing at them, if she attacked again...
Jen and Lopmon were trying to keep Shuichon calm. This wasn't the sort of introduction he wanted for her to the Digital World, or digimon taming.
"Dammit!", he swore under his breathe. "Rapidmon!", he called out, "are you alright?!", he asked in desperation.
"Jen, she's strong", he stated the obvious.
"Of course, I've become the strongest digimon in the Digital World... I am the Digimon Queen! Some joke of a digimon like you has no chance against me!"
"Wait!", Takato called out. "You used to be Ruki! You helped us when Guilmon got trapped by that digital anomaly. Then there was that time in the underground garage, when Guilmon saved your life. What about that time when Guilmon, Jen, and I helped Renamon defeat Allomon. How about that time when Renamon evolved to save you from Dukugumon?" He tried thinking of other situations where Ruki had shown some signs of friendship. He wished he could come up with more examples. "Don't you remember?"
"Ruki", Lilithmon said softly to herself. "Ruki is already dead! She's nothing more than a bad memory!", she called back.
He was beginning to fear that Lilithmon had no better nature to which to appeal, however, he'd bought just enough time. The data stream appeared, depositing Koichi, Kazu, Kenta, Growlmon, and the two Kyuubimon, and Juri and Leomon.
("The wrath of God shall be satisfied soon. The infidels are gathering")
"Growlmon! Good to see you, and you're right on time!"
"What the hell's going on?!", Koichi asked.
"Takato, I missed you!", Growlmon called out.
"Yeah, I missed you too".
"Lilithmon, you...", Kyuubimon started to say.
"Shut up!", she demanded. "Don't look at me like that! This will be your final resting place!"
"Phantom Pain!", she attacked. Kyuubimon dodged that attack.
"Exhaust Flame!", Growlmon attacked.
The Iron Beast was finally operating in its proper environment as a street bike. It proved highly nimble, dodging every blast of Exhaust Flame. Still, this was enough to prevent another attack.
"Run!", Takato called out.
"Demon Spirit Fireballs!", Kyuubimon_Ag launched his attack. It had little effect, but was enough of a distraction. Kyuubimon ran at the Iron Beast, throwing her weight against it, and finally unseated Lilithmon, though knocking herself out in the process.
"Kyuubimon!", Koichi called out. "Evolve!"
"Evolve", she passed out again.
"Foxfire Dragon!", Kyuubimon_Ag attacked Lilithmon, but even that did little more than distract, and really piss her off.
She approached the semi-conscious Kyuubimon: "How dare you! How dare you make me look foolish!"
"Stop Lilithmon!", Growlmon called out.
"Don't!", Kyuubimon_Ag called out.
"Growlmon, that's it!", Takato called out. "Lilithmon... Ruki: she turned into a demon! Defeat her! Defeat her!"
"Takato?", Juri asked herself, as she stood by Leomon. She'd never seen such anger before.
Lilithmon leaped up, flattening Growlmon with a single punch.
"I'll take care of you later. I have some unsettled business with this x-partner of mine"
"Ruki...", Kyuubimon pleaded.
"Kyuubimon! Run! Get the HELL out of there!", Koichi called out to his partner. It wasn't looking good.
"I'll kill you right here and now!"
"...open your eyes", Kyuubimon completed that thought.
"Shut up! Shut up!"
"Phantom..."
Something stopped her. She looked around to see Leomon holding her by the arm.
"I don't know you", he told her. "I don't know how you got this way..."
"Who the hell are you?!", she demanded, as she broke his hold.
"Power has nothing to do with evolution", Leomon was explaining. "That is one thing I have learned", as he glanced at Juri, who looked surprised.
"Leomon...", she said.
Lilithmon pointed and shrieked with laughter: "That is your partner?", she was laughing too hard to contemplate an attack. "You'll have to break her pelvis before you even consider fucking her!"
His recollection of Juri's sexual attraction made him uncomfortable, though he was able to hide it from Lilithmon.
Lilithmon undid the snaps of her leather riding trousers, exposing her pussy. She began to rub herself up and down Leomon's leg, gyrating her pelvis as she jammed her lips to his. He clamped his jaws shut to keep her from sticking her tongue in his mouth, as her lipstick smeared itself over his lips. She smeared shiny stains of "girl cum" on Leomon's trousers.
"Let me wrap these wet, luscious pussy lips around that big, beautiful cock. You need a real woman, not some little girl!"
(This was one of the ways Lilithmon attacked: she literally fucked her victims to death.)
She was pulling at his belt: "C'mon, let's let that big fella out to play!"
Leomon gave her a right cross with a massive fist that hit hard enough to shatter any human skull. Lilithmon was hardly dazed at all.
"You are making a fool of yourself", Leomon told her. "It will never be your destiny to harm these people or their partners", he announced.
"HOW DARE YOU!", Lilithmon shrieked in rage. "NAZAR NAIL!", she drove it up to its hilt into Leomon's gut.
Leomon's eyes widened. He groaned in agony. He tipped over, dropping onto his back as he made no attempt to check his fall.
The rest, human and digimon, couldn't believe what they were seeing, didn't want to believe it.
"LEEEE-O-MONNNN!", Juri called out.
Jen was doing his best to keep Shuichon from seeing this. Kyuubimon tried attacking, but a karate style kick sent her flying.
"Kyuubimon!", Koichi called out.
"Why... why won't you understand?", Leomon asked. "Why do you refuse to listen?"
Juri was crying, shaking her head. Trying her best to deny what she was seeing.
"She... she killed Leomon", Kazu was saying.
"Get up! Run! Run away! Don't let her kill you!", Kenta called out, denying what was painfully obvious, as Leomon was shedding data rapidly now. He was dying, and nothing could save him.
"Leomon... dammit!", Jen said.
"This... might be my destiny...", Leomon said as the last of his data dispersed.
The LCD screen of Juri's digivice displayed a simple message: "Connection lost"
"NOOOOOOOOO!", she screamed.
"I load the strong ones", Lilithmon said as she loaded Leomon's data. "I will become stronger! I will! I WILL!"
"L-l-l-l-leo... Mon... Kind and strong Leomon...", Growlmon was saying. Suddenly, his eyes went reptilian.
"I... I always thought you were a bitch", Takato was literally shaking with rage. "How right I was! How? How could you be so evil? How could you do such a shitty thing! HOW COULD YOU!"
Takato and Growlmon began screaming in unison... Growlmon spontaneously evolved to Megalogrowlmon.
"What's this?", Juri asked. "What's happening?"
"Juri!", Kazu took her by the arm. "It's not safe here!", he warned.
"Don't touch me!", she reprimanded. "I don't want anyone touching me!"
"Juri?", he asked.
"Heh", Lilithmon dismissed Megalogrowlmon as he advanced on her. "So you reached Ultimate? I'm at the Mega level. You will die for nothing!".
"We're gonna defeat this cunt", Takato said through clenched teeth.
Megalogrowlmon fired his rocket packs, throwing himself at her.
"Stupid cyborg...", she underestimated how fast Megalogrowlmon could move, and found his jaws clamped down hard on her.
"That's it! Go! Finish her off!", Takato commanded.
"Stop", Juri said.
Lilithmon dropped Megalogrowlmon with a single punch.
"You can't lose Megalogrowlmon! Evolve! Evolve more! EVOLVE!"
Down in his prison, Calumon sensed the rising anger. Despite himself, he released a powerful blast of digientelechia.
"What's this?", Lilithmon asked.
The black emblem on Megalogrowlmon's chest began to glow red. A blood red light enveloped Megalogrowlmon. He roared with a sound the likes of which they'd never heard before.
Hypnos
"A large amount of data is accumulating in the network's deepest layer!", a tech called out. The same red symbols were beginning to appear on the main monitor.
"The highest level of crisis", Yamaki said, "the Digital Hazard".
"It's the worst we've seen", Megumi said, "this is going to affect the Material World itself".
More of the Digital Hazard symbols were appearing at a rapid rate.
"I don't know if we can hold it together".
"Break as many connections as possible", Yamaki ordered, "we have to do our best to preserve as many critical systems as we can".
A red beam of light shot up from the ground. Janyu saw this from his apartment.
"What's going on?", he asked himself. "What's wrong?"
His personal computer's Internet connection had gone all haywire, the screen showing a blank green background with the red Digital Hazard symbols filling the screen. He wasn't the only one...
"Dammit! Jen! The children! Please be alright! I can't do anything!"
"I have to go out for awhile", Janyu told his wife.
"Before you go, what's the weather like in Hong Kong?", she was packing clothes to send to Shuichon.
"Didn't you hear me? I'm going out..."
"Wait!", she called out, coming from Shuichon's bedroom. "Shuichon... is she really staying with your parents? I thought it was peculiar, her going off on such short notice... She went to that place Jen went, didn't she?"
"I'm... sorry"
"Janyu Lee! You are a horrible liar, and I know you too well. Is that where she really is?"
"I'm sorry, I... didn't know how to tell you..."
"Why?!", she demanded. "Why does it have to be our children?!"
"I'll explain it later", he said as he left the apartment, and his wife crying in the hall, as Shuichon's remaining brother and sister looked on.
"Later?", she sobbed, "when's later?"
"What's going on?", Janyu asked as soon as he entered the control room at Hypnos.
"We don't know", Yamaki told him. "Some enormous power developed in the deepest layer of the Digital World, and it's affecting all other layers".
"Jen and the others?"
"We don't know", Yamaki shook his head. "It probably has something to do with their mission".
"Why? Why now?", Janyu asked. "My colleagues have been working on an Ark to bring them home, and now it's too late", he said in despair.
"I still have confidence in them", Yamaki explained. "They've already shown us that they can accomplish what the military and even Hypnos itself can't".
"Yes, that's right", he had to agree. "But what's happening now?"
"We simply don't know and have no way to find out", Yamaki apologized.
The Digital World
"Is he evolving", Jen asked.
"That's it!", Takato encouraged. "Evolve to Mega!"
Megalogrowlmon was screaming horribly inside that red light. It dispersed, revealing a winged dragonish creature with a serpent like body, jaws filled with sharp teeth, mouth dripping saliva. It roared.
Takato had just received his own lesson in dark digivolution: "I... wanted you to turn into that?", he asked himself. His digivice was too hot to hold, its circuits overloaded and burning out. It burst into data as soon as it hit the ground.
The dragon and Lilithmon were doing nothing, just sizing each other up.
"I'm scared", Shuichon said.
"That's Guilmon's mega-form?", Kyuubimon asked herself.
"I know Guilmon is a Virus", Rapidmon said, "but I never imagined..."
Koichi brought up a profile
Megidramon
Mega Viru
Dark dragon digimon
"He really is a Mega", he announced.
"That's Guilmon? The digimon I created?", Takato asked himself.
Megidramon struck first, coiling his serpent-like tail around Lilithmon. At once threatening to crush her, and/or tear her apart. She held back the powerful jaws.
"What the fuck are you? You're too strong!" She had another problem: Megidramon's saliva was as corrosive as oleum. It burned through her leather jacket, and would blind her if it got in her eyes.
"Stop already!", Juri called out, as she buried her face in her hands.
"Juri", Takato said.
"I... I wanted to defeat her, and because of that Guilmon..."
An earthquake struck, causing massive fissures of the whole plaza. They widened at an alarming rate.
"What's going on here?!", Koichi called out.
Jen figured it out, as he watched the symbol emblazoned on Megidramon's chest continue to flash red: "This evolution is fucking up the entire Digital World... That's what that emblem means!"
"Jennnn!", Shuichon called out. He jumped across a fissure that was growing fast, separating him from his sister and Lopmon. That didn't do him much good, as another fissure opened, stranding them on a small island no bigger than a throw rug. They could fall in any second... Fortunately, Rapidmon wasn't totally out of commission, as he flew in to rescue them.
"Are you OK?", Jen asked.
"Don't worry, I won't lose!", he promised.
"Guilmon!", Takato called out, "you have to stop this!"
Megidramon's fangs were getting too close for comfort: "What is this? Was this monster born just to defeat me?", Lilithmon asked herself. "I can't allow myself to lose to you!"
Makuramon arrived, traveling inside one of his Primal Orbs: "What do you think you're doing?", he asked as his Orb evaporated. "If you continue this fight, you'll not only screw up the realm of our God, but the rest of the Digital World along with it", he explained.
"Shut up!", Lilithmon hissed at him.
"That dipshit Catsuramon: what the hell was he thinking? Making a digimon from an Outworlder..."
"I told you to shut the fuck up!"
Makuramon made a critical error: he got too close. Lilithmon's hand shot out, grabbing the monkey Deva by the head.
"What do you think you're doing?! I am a Deva! I am a servant of God, without whom you wouldn't even exist!"
She screamed as she crushed his skull. He burst into data, which Lilithmon loaded.
"She just loaded a Deva!", Koichi said.
"She really is a demon now", Kyuubimon said, as she began running towards the site of the battle.
"What do you think you're doing?!", Koichi called after her. "That's insane!"
Rapidmon also flew after her: "We have to stop this fight, otherwise the whole Digital World will be ruined! We have no choice!"
Out came digivices and random cards.
"Matrix Evolution: digimodify!"
Kyuubimon Matrix Evolve! ...
... TAOMON!
Kyuubimon_Ag Matrix Evolve! ...
... DEINONDRAMON!
Lilithmon was finally getting the upper hand over Megidramon, she forced herself into a standing position...
"Bonhitsusen!"
"Raptor Slash!"
"Golden Triangle!"
They tried attacking all at once. Lilithmon reached out and fired something at all three.
"Dammit!", Jen called out. "She loaded Makuramon and can use his defenses!"
Taomon, Deinondramon and Rapidmon found themselves trapped in Primal Orbs. They were beginning to phase out, as they were being destroyed.
"I'll load all three of you!", Lilithmon threatened. "I'll load and load until I become the strongest digimon ever!"
"At this rate, they'll be loaded!", Koichi called out.
"The Alias card!", Jen called out, "the duplication".
"Alias: digimodify!", Koichi, Kazu, and Jen scanned the card. It worked, as they watched Renamon, Impmon, and Terriermon drop out of the Primal Orbs.
"That saved our lives...", Renamon began.
"But now Lilithmon can still load all the power we had as Ultimates", Impmon finished that unpleasant thought.
Lilithmon began punching Megidramon in the side of the face.
"STOP!", Juri called out. STOP IT!"
It took a half-dozen blows before he released her, and began to fall away. She delivered a karate kick to his chest that shattered his breast plate. Takato expected to see his partner dissolve into data, but that didn't happen. Megidramon lay on his back, inert, unmoving. As quickly as they began, the earthquakes ceased.
The Material World
The Digital Hazard symbols began disappearing from the main monitor: "It looks like the crisis is over", Megumi stated. "None too soon, it looks like we've contained the damage, minimized the loss. Bringing systems back on-line"
"Does this mean the kids are alright?", Janyu asked.
"That's the hell of it: we don't know", Yamaki explained. "All this useless junk I've built... what a fool I've been!"
"We were working on the Ark...", Janyu wondered if it was still necessary.
"When will it be complete?", Yamaki asked.
"We still have a lot of calculations... rematerializing multiple passengers at the same time..."
"Then you can have the use of the Hypnos mainframe for as long as you need it. Bring the Tamers home ASAP"
"Thank you"
The Digital World
Lilithmon was incapacitated by what looked like an epileptic episode. The others looked on, not knowing what to make of this.
"Did she really become the strongest digimon?", Kazu asked.
They also wondered, was this a case of loading too much data too fast? Was Lilithmon going to burn herself out, or was this a prelude to much worse to come?
Koichi, Kazu, and Jen took the opportunity to check on their partners.
Takato turned to Juri: "Juri?", he asked as she backed away from him.
"Stop this", she said. "Stop this already"
"I didn't want this fight", he said as he stepped closer.
"Stay away from me!", she demanded.
"Juri..."
"Look!", she demanded. "Look at what you did to Guilmon! He used to be so kind, so gentle... and now he's a... A MONSTER!"
"Megidramon", Takato said as he walked over to his stricken partner. He knelt by the head of the Dragon of the Digital Hazard. "This happened because of me. It's all my fault. I always loved digimon. I thought how great it would be to play with one, not just the cards or on-line, but with a real digimon. It was like a dream come true, when I discovered you were real. Like magic, but digimon are data, so it wasn't magic at all..."
"Juri?", Kazu was calling to her. "Juri! It isn't safe, being so close all alone". She acted as if she didn't hear, just looking forlornly at the "Connection lost" message on her digivice.
"It can't be helped... oh well...", he began to say. "I'm going!", as he prepared to make the leap across a chasm.
Lilithmon's seizure passed, as she stood: "I won! I won!", she proclaimed. "I finally became the strongest digimon!"
"Lopmon! Evolve and help us", Shuichon requested.
"I... am not allowed to evolve", he told her with regret.
"But everyone's in danger!", she protested.
"Shuichon", Jen reprimanded, "you can't ask more of him than he can give".
"It's alright", Koichi told her, "everyone's here: Renamon, Impmon, Terriermon - everyone. We're still together, and we won't let anything happen to you or anyone else"
"You!", Kenta called.
"I don't have anything to do with any god anymore", Lilithmon explained, "but a deal's a deal. I'll load you Outworlders too... because I haven't turned into a god, but a demon", she said it so matter of fact that it was all the more chilling for it. Lilithmon began striding towards Megidramon to finish what she started.
"Takato! Fuck're you doin'? Get the HELL out of there!", Koichi commanded him. "You can't save him now!"
"This... this isn't right", Takato was telling Megidramon, "because Guilmon is always Guilmon! We've always been friends! We played, laughed, and fought together..."
"Damn kid", Lilithmon said, "you're still there? Then you'll be the first to die!", she threatened
"Guilmon!", Takato hugged the Dragon, who softly growled. A bright red eye opened. He was regaining consciousness.
"Phantom Pain!", Lilithmon launched her attack to a chorus of voices all urging Takato to run.
"Guilmon is my friend", he said.
Ta-ka-to", Megidramon said weakly.
"Guilmon!", Takato called out.
"What am I doing here?", he asked no one in particular. He was back in his own bedroom, looking at a figurine of Augomon he kept on the top of a book case. He ran to his desk, where a freshly drawn picture of Guilmon awaited. He realized this was before he'd completed his notes for a new digimon character. "Why am I being shown this?"
"I'm data too", he realized, "since I'm in the Digital World... The time I spent with Guilmon was completely real. The feelings we shared were real".
"That's right, Takato. We'll always be friends", it was Guilmon's voice. As he looked out his bedroom window, he saw a red ball of light coming on fast.
"Guilmon!". The scene changed. He was in a featureless red space, except that it was filled with Guilmon, like hundreds of figurines.
"No! My Guilmon is the only one! It doesn't matter how many copies of his data there are: there's only one Guilmon!"
A red path materialized beneath his feet, leading to one "figurine" out of all of them. As he ran down the path, he saw, and heard, all those Guilmon figurines being smashed with a sound of breaking glass.
"Guilmon!", he called out repeatedly. When he reached the end of the path, he was back in the Digital World. Megidramon had devolved.
"I'm... here... Takato", he said.
"Thanks for being here, Guilmon"
"Takato!", someone called out a warning.
Just as Lilithmon's attack struck, for a flash of an instant, Guilmon was Megidramon for one last time, as he deflected the attack.
"Takato, let's fight together!", Guilmon called out, now as strong as ever. No lasting effects of having been Megidramon; no sign he'd just been on death's door.
"Yeah, just like always", Takato agreed.
The Light of Evolution was already beginning to appear.
"How do we fight together? How do I fight with you?", he asked.
"I don't know, but if we want it badly enough, I'm sure we'll find a way to make it happen"
"I won't hide behind you ever again!"
Guilmon Matrix Evolve...
... DUKEMON!
"Is that his true mega-form?", Jen asked.
"What the hell are you?", Lilithmon asked.
"Lilithmon: you sold your soul to the devil and became a devil yourself. I, Dukemon, will never forgive you". Dukemon had a habit of issuing these "declarations of war".
"You can't forgive me", Lilithmon mocked. "Can't forgive me for being who I am? Try defeating me before saying bullshit like that!"
They rushed at each other. Dukemon tried to strike with his lance, but the blow was parried. They clashed again, Lilithmon trying to strike with her Nazar Nail, and Dukemon defending with the lance. Neither getting the best of the other.
Jen ran a profile
Dukemon
Mega
Holy Knight digimon
Attack: Royal Sabre
"Mega... Dukemon...", Renamon was saying.
"I'm speechless", Shuichon said.
"Me too", Lopmon agreed.
"What happened to Takato?", Kenta asked.
Juri was off by herself, not paying attention as she mourned Leomon.
"Holy Knight digimon", Lilithmon was saying, "or whatever you are. Do you really believe you are a match for me with just a lance and shield? Don't make me laugh", she threatened.
"Phantom Pain!", she launched the attack.
Dukemon's shield deflected it. ...
"What do you mean? Takato's gone missing?", Kazu asked. They walked over to the artificial canyon. "You don't suppose he fell down there?"
"No, he didn't", it was Impmon. "Takato and Guilmon somehow merged their data, became Dukemon".
"How do you know?", Kenta asked.
"Because, unlike the rest of you dumb asses, I was paying attention. I saw it happen".
"So Takato is really fighting with his digimon?"
"Isn't that just what I told you?" ...
Koichi was helping support Renamon: "What's wrong?", he asked.
"I'm supposed to be protecting you", she complained.
"No shame in admitting you bit off a bit more than you could chew... I think we can switch roles once in awhile, don't you?" ...
"Damn! She's fast!", Dukemon complained to himself. "Where did she go?", he asked. "Behind!", he answered himself, just in time to present the strongest part of his armour to her Nazar Nail. He was knocked off his feet, but at least it didn't penetrate.
"Dammit!", Terriermon said, "if only I could evolve!"
"Shuichon! Come here!", Jen called to his sister. ...
Juri was oblivious to the battle that raged around her, as she sat there, looking at her useless digivice: "Is this what you call destiny, Leomon?" ...
Dukemon also had a trick or two, as Lilithmon was coming at him again...
"Nazar Nail!", she attacked, but all there was, was Dukemon's red cape.
"Where did he go?"
"Royal Sabre!", she got her answer, as he attacked from above. Now it was her turn to get knocked flat on her ass...
Suszakumon: Zhuqiaomon's Audience Chamber
"Now that that digimon you created is running amok", Zhuqiaomon was telling his Deva, Catsuramon, "is the perfect opportunity for you to take my vengeance on the one who betrayed me".
Catsuramon didn't need any explication: "As you wish, My Lord". He disappeared from the chamber.
The Courtyard
Another earthquake struck, this one isolating Shuichon and Lopmon.
"I perceive...", Lopmon began. On an adjoining ledge, Catsuramon had appeared.
"You are a Deva, and yet you protect an Outworlder", he announced. "That is an unforgivable act!"
"Lopmon, is he a friend of yours?", Shuichon asked.
"He's a Deva... like me", he explained.
"Traitors shall be punished!", Catsuramon announced.
"No!", Shuichon protested, as she grabbed hold of Lopmon.
"You have to let me go! You have to get away! Save yourself", Lopmon ordered her.
"No! I won't do it!", she insisted.
"Then the Outworlder shall die with you!"
"Shuichon is innocent!", Lopmon objected. "Don't harm her!", he demanded.
"Innocent? No such thing. It is a deadly sin for any Outworlder to trespass into our world, let alone the realms of the Holy Beasts themselves!"
Catsuramon leaped at them, transforming himself into a mallet large enough to flatten the both of them. "Feel the wrath of God!"
"Shuichon!", Jen called out.
"NOOOOOOO!", Terriermon called, as he flew towards Catsuramon as fast as he could. He struck, and deflected Catsuramon's attack, but the rebound dropped him into a crevasse.
"Terriermon!", Shuichon called out.
Renamon quickly removed Shuichon and Lopmon from the scene.
"You can't run...", Catsuramon was saying when Dukemon showed up
"Not even the Deva are worthy opponents for Dukemon", he threatened. "Royal Sabre!", he fired this energy attack.
"No, am I defeated?", Catsuramon asked just before breaking apart.
Lilithmon rushed in: "Thank you for destroying that filthy mutt", she said. "I'll take that!", as she began loading Catsuramon's data. "You allowed me to power up!", as she laughed.
"Terriermon...", Shuichon was saying to Jen.
"You have to let him go", he told her.
"No..."
"Shuichon! He's a Deva! He's dangerous! Now let him go!", he ordered.
"I can't... Lopmon's my partner... He's my partner", she said as she showed her digivice.
"What am I saying?", Jen asked himself.
"I'll look for Terriermon", Renamon volunteered, as she took off.
She soon found him where he had fallen: "Are you alright?", she asked, concerned.
"Mou-men-tai", he replied, weakly.
"Let's get you back to the others". ...
Lilithmon and Dukemon were dueling
"Get out of here!", he ordered Kazu, Kenta, and Impmon. He bought them the time they needed to escape.
"Takato and Dukemon: they're one and the same", Kenta informed the others.
"Dukemon is... Takato?", Jen asked.
"How do you know?", Koichi asked.
"Because I told him so", Impmon replied. "I saw the evolution happen" ...
Dukemon body slammed Lilithmon, sending the both of them flying. Lilithmon somehow kept her feet.
"Aren't you the lucky one?", she asked sarcastically. She "disappeared".
"Where did she go?", Dukemon asked himself.
This time, she did to him what he'd done to her: attacked from above. This time, she flattened Dukemon, got the upper hand as he was knocked senseless.
"Good night sweet Prince", she said sarcastically as she pushed him into a sitting position with a foot. "Farewell", she said.
Takato screamed in fear. He was certain he was going to die
"Takato!", Jen called out, as he was expecting this was the last he was ever going to see of his friend.
"We have to help him!", Koichi called out.
"It's too late, there's nothing we can do for him", Renamon accepted the inevitable.
"Pillar of Fire!", the flames erupted all around Lilithmon. Impmon had used his second most powerful attack, one that didn't require the charge-up of Summon.
"We won't let you hurt Takato!", Kazu challenged Lilithmon.
"You...", Lilithmon began to threaten. Impmon's attack couldn't do any damage, but it was just enough of a distraction, as Dukemon shoulder slammed Lilithmon into a pillar of rock thrust up by the earthquake Megidramon had caused.
"Thanks, Impmon", Dukemon called back.
"Royal Sabre!", he fired the energy weapon at Lilithmon. It drove her through the rock, and beyond.
"DAMNYOU!", she screamed in rage.
Dukemon began to charge up his ultimate attack. The count down began as the eight yellow triangles surrounding the periphery of his shield lit up, one after another.
"Prepare yourself, Lilithmon, for your wicked soul shall burn in pure light", Dukemon announced. "Final Elision!", he launched the energy weapon.
"My... power!", Lilithmon called out as it struck her, "My power!"
It still wasn't enough to destroy her, but it was enough to take all the fight out of her. She sat back on her heels, as Dukemon rested his lance on her shoulder.
"This fight is over", he informed her.
"I... lost?", she asked. "Am I defeated? I was supposed to be invincible... I was going to be the Digimon Queen... Finish it, load my data, in my shame".
"Stop", Juri said to herself.
"You're still just thinking of yourself...", Dukemon was saying.
"Spare me the f'kin' sermon!", Lilithmon hissed at him through clenched teeth. She didn't even close her eyes.
Takato and Dukemon screamed in anger as his lance struck Lilithmon with such force it tore right through her, and embedded itself in the ground behind her. She threw her head back and screamed in agony before exploding into data which Dukemon let drift off. He wasn't about to load that data, and could only hope that its evil didn't contaminate any innocent digimon who might happen across the dust packets it would become part of.
Takato saw that Lilithmon wasn't completely gone...
"How appropriate", he said, "it matches her filthy soul".
A black sphere remained: Ruki's Data Sphere left over from the biomerge with Icedevimon. It burst, and Ruki was laying on her back, semi-conscious, as Dukemon stood over her.
"Ta-ka-to", she said, as Dukemon lifted his lance high above his head.
"This one's for Leomon".
"NOOOO!"
The point of the lance hovered just above the center of the blue broken heart on her T-shirt. Stopped by the only power in the Digital World that could do that: Juri's voice.
"Juri?", Dukemon called out. "She killed your partner!", he objected. "She has it coming!"
"Yes, and I'll always hate her for that... Even if you did it, Leomon wouldn't come back...", Juri paused to wipe the tears from her eyes. "You'd be just as bad as she is: a cold blooded killer... I don't want to see anyone else hurt on my account. Please. Please stop fighting..."
"Juri", Dukemon said.
Takato and Guilmon broke their biomerge, and appeared beside Juri. He didn't know whether to try to comfort her with a touch or hug. They watched as Ruki pushed herself to her feet.
"Fuck this shit", she said as she walked off.