A/N: We continue this run of brand new Ascendancy chapters. Now we begin the two-part Copy arc.
Without any further delay, let's begin.
xxxxx
Planet LV
(Cue Mass Effect 2 OST - Humans Are Disappearing)
After receiving a distress signal to this planet, the Galactic Council sent their officer, jacomon, to scope the situation. Upon arrival, Jacomon was aghast by his discovery.
"Hoo boy, this is worse than what the intelligence teams have told me," Jacomon blanched as he scoured a seemingly empty village. He used a visor to scan for any life signs, but so far nothing. "Where are the locals?"
Just then, he stepped on something soft and squishy. It gave a putrid sound and reeked of a bad aroma. Jacomon covered his nose and looked down. He stepped on a soft purplish slime.
"Eww, this smell and slime is revolting!" Jacomon squicked, pulling his foot off the slime. "What could made this?" He grabbed a stick and used it to prod the slime. He picked up the slime. "Hmmm, could this be what's been responsible for these sudden disappearances? Hard to believe. Maybe taking this and analyzing it can provide some clues…?"
"No! Don't touch that!" Yelled out a voice out of nowhere.
Alarmed, Jacomon dropped the slime on the stick. He turned around to see a tanuki Digimon humanoid garbed in tattered clothing. This is the same tanuki that narrowly escaped the slime creature's attack.
"That thing took all the villagers from this side and very unlikely has wiped out most of the people around these parts!" The tanuki warned the Galactic Patrolman. "Be thankful that piece isn't alive or we'd both be goners."
"What else can you tell me about that we're dealing with?" Jacomon asked the tanuki.
"My apologies, sir. I'm Tanukimon. You must be the one who got my distress signal."
"Our higher ups did and called for us to investigate this planet," another voice belonging to Ryo interjected as he finished scanning the area for Jacomon.
"Anything, Ryo?" Jacomon queried.
"Nothing except these sample pieces," Ryo showed him a jar of some of the same purple slime. "Oh, you've found a survivor." He noticed Tanukimon.
"Am I glad you two came? I'm now hopeful we can find other survivors."
"How long has this incident occurred?" Ryo asked Tanukimon.
"A little over a day."
Jacomon nodded. "Talk about working fast. This thing may end up proliferating the entire planet in a few days' time."
"Can you show us where this creature was last seen?" Ryo asked Tanukimon.
Tanukimon sighed. "Yes, but just some warning… we must approach this cautiously."
(End theme)
xxxxx
Later on, Tanukimon took Jacomon and Ryo to a far off location. They hid behind some rocks. They glimpsed at a purple-skinned humanoid creature, whose skin had a similar color to the slime. With this creature were four other smaller purple humanoids.
"What are those?" Ryo whispered to Tanukimon.
"Those happen to be war criminals that were prisoners of our world, but that slime ended up possessing them and took on their appearances."
"I'm not quite following," Jacomon was confounded by this. "Are you saying this slime possesses its host and then steals their appearances?"
"Yes, and then they disregard those people they possess. They're like body snatchers."
"Seems like we're going to need some outside help for this," Ryo whispered. "How about contacting our friends Max and company?"
"Sounds like an idea. I hope they can respond quickly," Jacomon said, taking out a communicator device.
xxxxx
Other World/X and Simms' Planet
Taking time away from usual activities, Max is seen floating and meditating. BW joined him in mediation, too. Gojiramon quietly watched the brothers hanging out meditating.
"Sirs, I've just received a distress from our friend Jacomon," Simms interjected, causing Max and BW to withdraw from their meditative states. "Oh, sorry, I interrupted your meditation training?"
"It's fine, Simms," Max sighed, floating down and stretching his body. "What does Jacomon want?"
"He sounds quite disturbed. He and Ryo have been caught in a crisis on Planet LV."
"Planet LV? I felt a loss of life there recently. They must've looked into it and found the culprit," Max said. "All right, I'll call for my team."
"Will you be going with them?" BW turned to Max.
"Maybe, or someone else could go in my place. Would you like to go with them, BW?"
"I'm down for that, but maybe if we call go together?"
"Yeah, let's go together, Max!" Gojiramon chimed in excitedly.
Max chuckled. "Fine, fine, we can look into this together. Let's go get Keke and the others then."
xxxxx
Odaiba Music Hall (お台場音楽ホール)/2:45 PM
Taking some time from their usual training, the other D3s left to spend time with the Chosen. Keke and Kara were on stage singing and dancing for a talent show. Needless to say, Keke had Kara beat in other categories.
Mimi clapped in her seat. "Wow, you're doing great, guys!"
Palmon sighed. "No offense, but between the two Keke's the real star. She's got the singing talent."
The Bearer of Sincerity puffed up her chest proudly. "Well, she does take after me and her father."
Tike covered his ears. "I can't even hear Keke since sis is stinkin' up the place!" He jeered. "Boo, get off the stage! You suck!"
Kara scowled. "What?! Why don't your ass on stage and sing?! I bet your ass you can't!"
"Who cares about singing? I got other talent besides that!" Tike retorted.
Sam nodded dismissively over the twins' spat. "This is not the place for this, you two."
Keke stomped her foot down. "Hey! Knock it off, you two! And Tike, last I checked it's me and Kara rehearsing now."
"Honestly, you've already won the talent show hands down," Max interjected, quickly garnering everyone's attention.
"Max?!" Tike and Kara shouted.
Max, Gojiramon, and BW walked into the auditorium. The D3s and the others attentively turned toward them.
"Hey, Max! What brings you here?!" David asked him.
"Yeah, this is a surprise. What's going on?" Mimi queried to the former watcher.
"Jacomon contacted me. Seems there's a situation on a far-off planet. He requires our assistance," Max informed them.
"Guess we've gotta put rehearsals on hold, Mimi," Keke said, getting off the stage. "Let's go get our fighting fear, Kara."
"Right!" Kara chimed in, following Keke to the dressing room.
"What are we dealing with, Max?" Sam asked him about the crisis.
"We won't know until we get there," Max replied. "Hopefully something we can resolve within the day."
xxxxx
Digimon Fusion Ascendancy
Mini-arc: The Copy Infestation
Chapter XXXVIII: Invasion of the Digi-Body Snatchers
xxxxx
Planet LV
The D3s and their Kaijuu Digimon partners arrived at their destination thanks to Tike's Instant Movement. They convened with Jacomon, Ryo, and Tanukimon not long after their arrival.
(Cue Mass Effect 2 OST - An Unknown Enemy)
"So, long story short, there's some invasive organism that's started infecting an wiping out the planet's populous?" Max asked Jacomon and Ryo.
"Yes, and the parasitic organism have taken on the likeness of some of its victims," Jacomon informed.
"Why does this sound like Bebimon?" BW speculated. "But Tai and Dorothy wiped him out."
"They did, but this sounds like a different kind of situation," Sam pointed out. "Bebimon body hopped into other bodies and took them over. That's how he was able to spread his eggs inside his hosts to control them. This thing from what Tanukimon describes made its hosts vanish after possessing them. Moreover, this parasitic has created clones of a few of its victims and have absorbed their powers."
"What are we really dealing with here?" Keke wondered.
"A parasitic organism of unknown origin," Jacomon stated the obvious.
"Gee, tell us something we don't know," Tike sardonically muttered.
"Ok, so where are these slimy freaks?" Kara asked. "Cause I'm ready to bust a few heads!"
"The last we saw them, they've taken the form of war criminals once imprisoned on this world," Tanukimon said. "I can take you all to their latest location."
"You won't need to, because they found us," Max sensed the presence of the parasitic life forms.
The group turned up as they spotted the five purple-skinned humanoids floating over them. The creatures descended to meet the group. Each one had an evil demeanor, including glowing red eyes and fiendish smiles.
"Guys, do you sense their Ki? Doesn't it feel familiar?" BW asked the D3s.
"Yeah, their energies feel just like Bebimon's!" David exclaimed.
"Looks like we're dealing his offspring," Max concluded.
The leader of the five, a large-framed brute with protrusion resembling a fin framed on his head, came forward with a modified laser gun.
Tanukimon gasped, hiding behind Gojiramon. "That thing used to be the head of this band of criminals, Grielmon."
Max confronted Grielmon. "Look, could we possibly resolve this without fighting? You're not fooling our senses. We know your linked to the original Bebimon. His essence permeates within you. You're his offspring."
Grielmon evilly grinned, raising his laser pistol. "And that's Ascendant energy we can sense from you. How revolting. And since you mentioned our father, it seems you've dealt with him."
BW nodded. "That's right and you're next."
Keke chastised him. "You're not getting away with making these poor people vanish!"
Grielmon shrugged. "It's their fault for being feeble-minded and weak. Only the strongest are fit to survive in this universe. The weak deserve nothing more than extinction."
Gojiramon stood in front of a scared Tanukimon. "That's it. You're not getting away with this!"
The villainous parasite cackled. "And what are you going to do about it?! Become one of us!" He fired a laser blast, which Max easily backhanded away. "Eh?!"
"We're not taking anymore crap from you!" Max snapped. "All right, gang! Let's get them!"
"Jacomon, Ryo, can you two protect Tanukimon?" Gojiramon asked, leaving the tanuki Digimon with the two patrolmen.
Max and Gojiramon quickly headed off Grielmon. Grielmon fired more shots, but Max blasted the gun out of his hand. Gojiramon fired Atomic Flame, which merely annoyed Grielmon. Grielmon dove at Grielmon only to get clocked by Max's fist. Grielmon fell back with an imprint of Max's fist on his face.
"Next time I'm blowing your whole face off," Max threatened. "You ok, Gojiramon?"
"Yeah, thanks, Max!"
BW fought one criminal. Keke and Mosuramon engaged another. Tike and Radonmon handled one. Sam and Baranmon took on the fourth member.
"Oh crap, we're left out of the fun?" Kara scoffed. "This sucks."
Grielmon grinned. "We don't come alone." He whistled loudly, signaling for reinforcements.
Suddenly, the ground shook and split apart. As a big crack formed on the earth, two more purple-skinned humanoids emerged to fight Kara, David, and their Kaijuu Digimon partners.
"You had to speak too soon, Kara," David sighed.
"How was I supposed to know?!" Kara said. She grabbed David's hand. "But hey, I'm fighting alongside you."
"Right, let's just stay focused, Kara."
Watching the fighting on the sidelines, Tanukimon cheered for the D3s.
"Wow, they're amazingly strong! Who are these people?" Tanukimon marveled in awe at the D3s.
"They're the D3s," Jacomon revealed. "I think all of them are Ascendants."
"Ascendants?" Tanukimon blinked and smiled. "I've heard of stories related to the legendary Ascendant that perished ages ago. Are these warriors descendants of him?"
"We can't say," Ryo replied. "All we know is Alpha X's power ended up inherited by the Digidestined through their Crests. These six probably got Alpha X's power through another source."
"Or, maybe they're from a different universe," Jacomon speculated correctly.
Greilmon dove for a punch, but Max kicked him back.
"Face it, you're outmatched. I suggest you surrender," Max warned.
Grielmon spat out. "Surrender to Ascendant trash like you? Never! In the name of our father, Bebimon, we will spread and proliferate the entire universe!" He lunged at Max again only to get kicked back. "Ugh!"
Max sighed. "Now I just pity you. You're fighting for a dead man, whose ambitions died alongside with him. You'd be better off starting over and doing good, but sadly that's not how parasites live. You consume others to survive."
Grielmon slowly rose, scowling and gritting. "Preach to the choir, boy, but you Ascendants aren't much better. Your ancestors did nothing but destroy anything they touched, including our ancestors' civilizations."
Max sighed. "Hate to break it to you, but we're Ascendants from an entirely different universe. We have no ties to these ancestral Ascendants, but that doesn't give you the right to wipe out innocent people." He pointed to Tanukimon. "He lost his entire family and community thanks to your selfish desire for revenge. You're taking your hatred out on the wrong people!"
"Spare me your lectures, Ascendant!" angrily roared Grielmon, who then lunged at and attacked Max.
(End theme)
Max dodged and parried Grielmon's blows. One punch from Max sent Grielmon crashing into a rock face.
"Enough!" Max yelled out. "Don't think you're getting off easy after what you've done to this world. We have a special containment for you and your crew here."
"Heh, I'd like to see you try," Grielmon grunted. Unbeknownst to Max, the creature popped a bottle out from his back. He flipped the cork open releasing purple slime.
(Cue Aliens OST - Newt Is Taken)
Gojiramon noticed Grielmon sneaking something into his hand. "Max, he's up to something!"
Grielmon chuckled as he rushed Max and tossed the slime from the bottle. "How would you like to see how we've assimilated these forms?!"
"What?!" Max prepared to stop Grielmon, but the slime quickly expanded and engulfed him. "Hey! Get this shit off!" He blasted at the slime, but it enveloped him whole.
The other D3s became alarmed by their leader being trapped. They hurried over to save him, but Grielmon's crew intercepted them.
"Max! No!" Gojiramon cried out as he tried clawed Max out of the slime.
"Get back!" Keke growled as she forged and tossed multiple Rosemary Discs that sliced apart Grielmon's crew.
BW tossed a Terra Destroyer, forcing Grielmon away from Max. However, the slime seemingly spat out Max, leaving in covered in mucus.
"Max! Oh thank goodness!" Gojiramon rushed over to his partner. "I thought we almost lost ya, buddy!"
Tanukimon, however, became disturbed by this. "Oh no, I was afraid of this."
"What? I don't get it?" Jacomon blinked in confusion.
"Get away from him, Gojiramon!" Keke called out to the Kaijuu Digimon. "That thing could've planted something in Max!"
Max shook his head. "I don't know what happened, but I didn't feel anything being planted in me. Although my body does seem strange…" He watched the slime that absorbed him land beside Grielmon.
Grielmon chuckled evilly. "Hehehe, good now we've acquired our first taste of Ascendant powers." He and the others then witnessed the slime morph.
Max and the others watched in horror as the slime took on an outward appearance familiar to them. The slime took on Max Kamiya's likeness, but lacked Max's friendly demeanor. Its red eyes scanned Max first.
"Crap, it's another Max," Tike gulped.
"Yeah, but he's not our Max," David said.
"Max!" BW checked on his brother.
"So, this is how they gain the likeness of their hosts," Max eyed the purple Max in front of him. "I look so ugly in purple."
"Hey, jerk! That fake can look like my Max, but he sure as heck ain't him! I doubt he's as strong!" Gojiramon chided Grielmon and the fake Max.
Chuckling, Grielmon turned to the fake Max. "Are you gonna let him talk to you like that Copy Max? Why don't you show him you're not second rate?"
Copy Max smirked evilly and pointed toward the D3s. "You heard him. I'm Max Kamiya now. This loser sitting there is second rate." His voice was different sounding to Max's.
"Yeah? I'll show you who's second rate!" Max retorted. He cupped both hands to his side and prepared to throw a Tsunami Wave. To his surprise, nothing came out. Not even a spark of blue Ki came out. "What?!"
Copy Max chuckled. "Heh, what are you doing? Posturing? Oh right, I think you were going for this." Then to the shock of the D3s, Copy Max cupped his hands and formed a Tsunami Wave. He fired off the bluish wave, which headed for Max, Gojiramon, and BW.
The trio quickly evaded Copy Max's destructive blast.
"Max!" Keke cried out as she and Mosuramon went to him.
"Excellent, seems you've acquired a large abundant of Ascendant power from this individual," Grielmon assessed.
Copy Max smirked connivingly. "Not just a large abundant, but he's ripe full of some immense power! Indescribable power and enough to wipe this trash out."
Max stood, almost falling over and feeling fatigued. "So, he's not only acquired my powers, but my techniques, too. I hate to know if he can go Super Ascendant Blue."
Hearing this, Copy Max elusively smiled. "Heh, thanks. Now that I have Max's knowledge, you've given me incentive to do just that!"
"Max, can you fight?" BW asked him.
"I'm feeling kinda weak…" Max said.
Just then, Keke, Sam, Tike, Kara, David, and their Digimon partners formed a wall in front of Max, Gojiramon, and BW. Grielmon and Copy Max encircled the group.
"Tike… go back and fetch Matt for us," Max suggested.
"Ok, but why not Tai?" Tike asked.
"I'm still not sure if he's 100 percent recovered to fight someone with my power now. Metalla X is our next available bet."
"All right then," Tike nodded. "Let's go, Radonmon!' With that, Radonmon flew onto Tike's shoulder. Tike used Instant Movement to teleport them off Planet LV.
(End theme)
"All right, who wants to have a go at me?!" Copy Max beckoned the D3s. He veered toward Keke. "How about you, babe?"
"Ugh, you're not my Max," Keke fiercely got into a fighting stance.
"Heh, go ahead and make short work of them," Grielmon convinced the copy.
"Don't need to tell me!" Copy Max shot forward and launched his first attack on the D3s.
"Get ready!" Max called out. "Don't hesitate to take him down!"
"Right!" The D3s shouted in unison.
(Cue Dragon Ball Super OST - Fistfight Battle)
As Copy Max headed for Keke and Mosuramon first, Gojiramon and BW both jumped in to save them. Copy Max landed a roundhouse kick, knocking Gojiramon and BW back. He turned toward Keke and sprung forward.
"Don't come near!" Keke shouted.
As Copy Max reached close to Keke, he seemingly froze. Keke noticed this.
He stopped? Keke noted Copy Max shifting over to Sam, Kara, and David. "Guys! Look out!"
Copy Max went on the attack on the other D3s. They tried fighting him off, bit Copy Max swiftly took them down with punches. The Kaijuu Digimon didn't fare any better.
"No…" Max gritted. But, that copy me refrained from attacking Keke. So he's acquired my love for her, too. And that personal attachment is what's holding him back. "So, not only can you take someone's strengths, but their weaknesses, too!"
Grielmon growled. "I wasn't counting on this. Fine." He quickly absorbed the pieces of his fallen cohorts and used them to augment his strength. "All right, who wants a go at me?"
"I'll take you on!" BW declared as he flew into Grielmon and pushed him back with a Black Tornado.
"Max, we've got to get you somewhere safe," Keke helped Max up. "C'mon, Gojiramon. Follow me!"
"Ok!" Gojiramon complied and helped Keke relocate Max.
Mosuramon followed behind Keke, Max, and Gojiramon.
"That's it!" Kara powered up into Ascendant.
Sam and David also turned Ascendant mode. Their Kaijuu Digimon evolved into their Champion-level forms.
"Ehehe, let's keep this up," Copy Max beckoned his foes to attack him.
(End theme)
xxxxx
Odaiba Music Hall (お台場音楽ホール)/3:45 PM
"So, they went and left for some planet?" Matt asked Mimi.
"Yeah, seems Jacomon needed them to help with a crisis," she answered him.
Shu, Gai, Inori, Mana, Madoka, and Homura were also present. Additionally, Ayase, Sayaka, and Kyoko came from the GCLK-1113 home dimension to visit Shu, Madoka, and the others.
"Aw man. Wish we could've gone and helped out," Shu said.
Suddenly, Tike and Radonmon returned via Instant Movement. Their arrival surprised the group.
"Tike?" Palmon blinked. "Hey, what are you doing back?"
"Did the mission go well? Where are Keke and the others?" Mimi asked with concern.
"We've got big problems! Matt, we need a hand," Tike said, noticing Shu and the others were present. "And maybe you guys, too!"
Matt arched a brow. "What's going on? Is Keke ok?"
"They won't be ok if we don't go back and help them!"
"We better check this out," Gai suggested.
"What do you think, Homura?" Madoka asked her dark-haired friend.
"This is worth looking into."
"Then, let's go and see what we're up against," Kyoko said.
Matt walked up to Tike. "Take us wherever they are then."
"Ok!"
xxxxx
Planet LV
(Cue Predator OST - Blain Gets Killed)
Back on the planet, Copy Max made short work of Kara, David, and Sam. He also fell Anguirusmon, Varanmon, and KingCeasarmon very quickly. He glanced over to Grielmon, who was having his hands full with BW.
Shoom.
Copy Max sensed an assorted number of powers arrive in the vicinity. He turned to see Tike and Radonmon again. However, the Ascendant child returned with Metalla X, Shu, Gai, Madoka, homura, Ayase, Sayaka, and Kyoko.
"So, this is that clone Max?" Metalla X inquired, assessing Copy Max's Ki. "You're not kidding. He does have Max's power now." He scanned the vicinity. "But, where's Keke?"
"She's safe! She took Max somewhere safe from here!" BW called out while engaging blows with Grielmon.
"And that's the monster who's responsible for this?" Metalla X sighted Grielmon.
"Damn, they've brought reinforcements! Hey, you stupid copy! Make yourself useful and help me out here!" Grielmon chided Copy Max. This proved to be a mistake as he took his eyes off BW, who dropped him with a sledgehammer blow to his face.
(End theme)
As Grielmon rose and recovered, a spear shoved through his chest. He ripped the spear out and closed up his wound. He glanced over his shoulder to see Kyoko.
"Shit, that didn't do much," Kyoko cursed, chuckling nervously.
"Stand back!" Madoka beckoned her friends back and shot up Grielmon with a barrage of arrows.
As the arrows pierced his body, Grielmon emerged a walking pincushion. He released an aura that dissolved the arrows.
"Is that all you've got?" Grielmon grunted.
Bang!
Homura fired a headshot point blank in the back of Grielmon's head. Grielmon spun around and reached for Homura, but Shu and Gai both intercepted the creature by chopping off both his arms with their swords.
"This is supposed to slow me down?!" Grielmon roared as his head wound closed up and he reattached both his arms.
"Sheesh, this guy's not gonna go down without a fight," Shu held his ground.
"You thought it was going to be that easy?" Gai scoffed, brandishing his Dancer's Sword.
"Think we can take him down, Madoka?" Sayaka readied her cutlass.
"No doubt about it," Madoka replied in determination.
"We just need to wear him down," Homura stated.
(Cue Dead Space OST - The Necromorphs Attack)
Extending his arms out, Grielmon removed several purple blobs that hit the floor. He summoned four purple-skinned humanoids to fight with him.
"Show them no mercy. Anyone who opposes our father's will shall be purged!" Grielmon declared.
With that, the creatures headed off Shu and Madoka's group. Madoka, Shu, and Gai teamed up against Grielmon. Homura, Sayaka, Kyoko, and Ayase handled Grielmon's henchmen. At some point during the battles, Ayase hoisted both Kyoko and Sayaka on her shoulders. Kyoko and Sayaka jumped off their girlfriend's shoulders while raining water and spear attacks on three of their opponents.
"I told ya our teamwork would be effective!" Sayaka said to Kyoko and Ayase.
"Never had any doubt," Ayase said, lightly patting Kyoko's back.
Kyoko lightly scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, yeah."
Meanwhile, Metalla X and Copy Max unleashed an exchange of furious blows. Metalla X punched Copy Max's face and caught him with an overhead sledgehammer blow to the copy's back. As Copy Max fell, the duplicate stopped himself from his fall and floated back up to meet Metalla X again.
"There's no doubt you stole Max's power. Well, if I'm able beat you, by extension I've beaten Max," Metalla X stated.
Yamato then chimed in Matt's head. 'And unless you want Keke to hate you forever, we better beat this disgusting freak.'
"I'm going to guess if I beat you, your powers will return to Max?" Metalla X asked the duplicate.
"Who's to say? I doubt you'll have the chance to beat me, Yamato," Copy Max replied calmly. He hastily flew at Metalla X and exchanged punches with him.
Tike rushed over to his fallen D3 friends.
"Hey, guys! Wake up!" Tike checked on Kara first. Then, he went over to David, who slowly stood looking less beaten than Kara and Sam. "Dude, what the hell?! Why did ya let that bastard hurt my sister?!"
"He was too strong for all us! Don't forget he's using Max's power!" David snapped.
"Oh, yeah…" Tike facepalmed. "Anyway, I think we should try some Meta-Fusion."
"Yeah, great idea, David!"
xxxxx
Somewhere in seclusion from the fighting, Keke and Mosuramon nursed Max. Gojiramon immediately noticed Metalla X and Copy Max in mid-air battle.
"Guys, Matt's here! And he's already fighting the fake Max!"
"What?! Dad's here?!" Keke looked out and gasped. "Matt!"
Overhearing Keke's voice, Metalla X briefly took his eyes off Copy Max.
"Keke, are you with Max?!"
"Yeah, and he's a little worse for wear! He's lost too much of his energy after that thing took over his body! Those things are Bebimon's offspring!"
Metalla X scowled as he turned and barely caught Copy Max's fist. "So, you're that bastard's child?"
Copy Max chortled. "Yes, we carry the will of our father, Bebimon. Though we have a very different method of bodysnatching. We don't possess hosts like our father does. We take a host's body and rob them of all their energy. Additionally, we acquire a host's abilities and memories. And yes, based on Max Kamiya's knowledge, I see you were briefly possessed by our father. Correct, Yamato Ishida?" He flew at and punched at Metalla X, who blocked with his right arm.
"Don't remind me. I still can't get the stench of that freak out of my mouth," Metalla X resisted the urge to vomit.
"And it took Taichi Kamiya to kill him. Well, I hope he shows up so we can kill him and exact our father's revenge!" Copy Max unloaded a barrage of punches and kicks.
Metalla X had trouble keeping up with Copy Max. The Bearer of Friendship managed a lucky punch to Copy Max's gut and knocked him back.
"By the way, Yamato, you punch like a little bitch…"
"What was that?" Metalla X sneaked an evil grin. "I'm sorry, can you say that louder? My hearing isn't what it used to be." He raised his hand and launched a Big Bang Attack on Copy Max.
Copy Max narrowly dodged Metalla X's blast. When he turned, Metalla X booted him in the face and sent him crashing to the ground. Metalla X flew down and waltzed over to Copy Max's location.
"You put up one hell of a fight. Now it's time to end this," Metalla X raised a hand over Copy Max.
"Wait, dad!" Keke called out.
Seeing his biggest ace about to be obliterated, Grielmon willed the remains of his warriors to slip through some rocks and sneak under Metalla X. The purple slime amassed into a blob and snuck up on Metalla X.
"Dad! Behind you!" Keke screamed toward him.
"Oh no, not him, too!" Tike cried out.
Grielmon grinned mischievously. "Heh, yes."
"What?! Son of a bitch!" Metalla X yelled out. Before he could react, the slime engulfed him the same way it did to Max and spat him back out.
"Dad!" Keke hastily flew over to catch Metalla X.
"What just happened?!" Shu asked as confused as his crew became.
"Ugh, gross," Sayaka squicked at the purple slime.
"That slime's changing shape! It's becoming…!" Shu gasped as the slime morphed and took on a familiar.
Metalla X grunted as he leaned onto Keke. "Ugh, damn. It feels like all my strength is gone."
"This is why you're weak!" A sinister sounding voice, almost weasel-like in tone, came out of the slime molding itself into the shape of Metalla X.
Copy Metalla X materialized with arms folded. A smug grin adorned his features. While his entire body structure was purple, his eyes are red. Black lines vertically went down his eyes.
Metalla X gawked as if he were looking himself in a mirror. "What the hell?!"
Yamato mentally commented. 'My, this is quite an interesting development. I better take over from here.'
(End theme)
As Yamato took over Metalla X, the Ascendant intensely glared down Copy Metalla X.
"Damn, this is bad," Keke paled at this shocking development.
(Cue Aliens OST - Face Huggers)
"All right, just who the hell are you?! And why the hell do you look like me?!"
Copy Metalla X responded arrogantly. "It's more than just looks. I possess all your powers and fighting skills." He was joined by Copy Max and Grielmon. "Now I'm the only Yamakins in the universe!"
"How joy, now you're spouting off that stupid nickname, too?" Metalla X scoffed irritably.
Copy Metalla X pointed to Metalla X. "You're nothing but an old shell I left behind."
"A shell you left behind? I don't have time for this crap!" The prideful Ascendant stood as he beckoned Keke back. "You're nothing but a cheap imposter!" He cupped his hands to his right side. "Now I'm going to blow you into hell!" He pushed his hands forward attempting to fire off an earth shattering blast.
Nothing. No energy came out of Metalla X's hands.
Copy Metalla X chortled. "Heheheh!"
"Damn! What the hell…?!"
"Is this what you'd like to do to me? Too bad," Copy Metalla X stood in a similar posture and cupped his hands to the side. He fired off Metalla X's own Final Blaze at the original user's way.
However, Copy Metalla X redirected the beam, which flew over the group and carved a path through an entire rock formation.
"Did he deliberately miss us on purpose?!" BW wondered.
"I don't know," Keke was at a loss for words.
"What is going on here?!" Metalla X was flabbergasted.
"Keep denying it all you want, but I'm the real Yamato Ishida now," Copy Metalla X proclaimed.
Grielmon massaged Copy Metalla X's arm. "That's right. Who would've thought acquiring an Ascendant's energy could possess such great power!"
"Those two are the strongest of these parasites I've ever seen!" Tanukimon exclaimed, cowering behind Jacomon and Ryo.
"C'mon, you two. Go absorb the energy of these other Ascendants and we'll make ourselves strong like our father before us," Grielmon pleaded to the Copy duo. "In fact, make your first target that woman over there." He eyed Keke, who readied a fighting stance.
Copy Metalla X recognized her. "Keke." He turned to Copy Max, who frowned.
"Hurry and absorb their power before they have a chance to run away!" Grielmon ordered the Copy duo.
The Copy duo quickly shot out tendrils from their hands. These tentacles reached for Keke, BW, Tike, Kara, Sam, and David.
"I don't think so!" Shu interjected as he cut through the tendrils with his Singer's Sword.
"You're not getting to them!" Gai declared, swinging down and cutting more tentacles with his Dancer's Sword.
"Keep your slimy hands to yourselves!" Sayaka cut through some wit her cutlass.
Kyoko severed a bunch of tendrils with her spear. "Stick those hentai hands up your asses!"
Madoka and Homura helped cut down some of the tentacles.
"Stay back or you deal with us!" Homura threatened the parasitic beings.
"Don't you two stand there! Keep going!" Grielmon demanded.
As the Copy duo shot more tentacles, Mosuramon evolved into Mothramon and flapped her wings, sending air to blow the tentacles away.
"It's hero time, Jacomon!" Ryo grabbed his partner's hand. With that, they performed a merger and Fusion Evolved into Decade X. The Kamen Rider-esque warrior karate chopped a tentacle and blasted another.
Decade X struck a Rider pose. "Galactic Patrolman is here to clean up some bad guys!"
Metalla X beckoned Keke away. "Go, Keke! Get Max and get away from here!"
"But, dad…!"
"Don't argue with me! Go now!"
Sighing, Keke turned and left with Mothramon. They left to fetch Max and Gojiramon.
"Don't worry. We've got this," Decade X said.
Grielmon, Copy Max, and Copy Metalla X were surrounded by Decade X, Shu, Gai, and the Puellas. Tike had Radonmon evolve into Rodanmon and ordered him to carry the other D3s on his back. Tike grabbed Metalla X and flew him on his back.
"Fools, you think you can slow us down?!" Grielmon grunted.
"Maybe, because our aim isn't to beat you. All right, let them have it!" Madoka cried out.
With that, the group fired simultaneous attacks. Everything between sword slashes, arrows, gunfire, and laser beams to hold off the trio. This distraction tactic alloted the heroes enough time to give the villains the slip and escape.
"Damn it! They got away!" Grielmon snarled in annoyance. "Ugh, before this day is done. We will absorb all their powers!"
(End theme)
xxxxx
Relocating inside a rock formation, Keke set Max down. Max began to stir and awoke to his girlfriend's loving face.
"Keke… thank goodness you're ok, babe."
"Don't try and get up. That duplicate thing still has your energy and powers."
"So, I figure if we destroy those clones of ours, we'll have our powers returned to us," Metalla X speculated.
"That does sound logical," Decade X added.
"Yes, but that's if you can destroy them before it's too late," Tanukimon said.
"What do you mean? Tell us," Shu demanded.
"Sounds like you know a lot more about the nature of these creatures," Gai realized.
"Please, tell us for our friends' sakes," Madoka pleaded to Tanukimon.
(Cue Dragon Ball Super OST - Freeza's Scheme)
"All right, well since of you weren't here from the start, I'll recap what happened to my civilization," Tanukimon recapped, catching everyone else on the events leading to this point.
"Bebimon's offspring?" Homura was taken aback. "That parasite laid eggs here and they only recently started to attack this planet's population?"
"Yes, when the parasites began proliferating my people, they consumed them. They took their energy. Shortly afterwards, they weakened and eventually ceased to exist. Some of you can already surmise why there's little life on this planet. My people are gone. I'm all that's left."
"How horrible," Sayaka muttered sadly.
"And what about that freak that was ordering around those copies of these two?" Ayase asked, mentioning Max and Metalla X.
"He was originally a war criminal named Grielmon. He and his band tried raiding our planet, but we managed to take them down and lock them away. That was when the parasites emerged and attacked. Since Grielmon and his gang were already stronger than all my people, the parasitic life forms gained sentience once they absorbed the criminals. But, in turn, they inherited Grielmon and his gang's evil, violent natures. They also gained strength and wiped out villages one by one, leaving no life behind. I was fortunate to escape."
Madoka hugged Tanukimon. "I'm so sorry. That's so terrible."
Homura reassured him. "You needn't fear anymore. That's why we're here to save you and the remaining populations."
(End theme)
"That's right! We're gonna beat them and take our friends' powers from them!" David openly vowed. "Right, Tike?"
"You bet your ass we will!"
"It's fair to say if we don't stamp out these parasites, they'll spread spread through the universe and consume all life," Max spoke, sitting up.
"Take it easy, Max," Gojiramon tended to his partner.
"Thanks, buddy, but I'm fine. I'm just not my usual self without my powers."
"Don't worry, Max. We'll get you back to normal in no time," Keke reassured her boyfriend. She kissed his cheek.
"Well, isn't that touching? How come you didn't give me a kiss, Keke?" The voice of Copy Max was heard above them.
(Cue Dragon Ball Super OST - The Terror of Freeza's Army)
"Great, they found us," BW grumbled as the entire group sighted Grielmon, Copy Max, and Copy Metalla X floating over them.
"Heh, my body's itching for some action!" Kyoko grinned sadistically.'
Ayase punched her fists together. "I'm ready!"
Shu warned them. "Let's not get carried away, guys. Two of them possess Max and Yamato's powers. We won't beat them alone."
"Heh, not unless we perform our Meta-Fusion," Tike turned to David. "You ready?"
"Yeah, let's do it, Tike!"
"Fusion! Ha!" Tike and David quickly performed the technique as they merged into Daike.
"Dun, dun, dun! Say hello to the almighty Daike!" The Meta-Fused Ascendant announced.
"Whoa, they totally fused?!" Sayaka gaped at the boys' fusion.
"Y'all better not get any crazy ideas about us fusing," Kyoko said this, eyeing both Sayaka and Ayase.
"Will that be enough though?" Gai wondered.
"It has to though," Shu hoped for the best.
"C'mon, Tike and David!" Radonmon and Anguirusmon cheered their fused partners.
"Incredible!" Tanukimon was in awe of the fused warrior.
"So, they became one?" Grielmon balked at Daike. He shifted away. "I'll let you two handle him."
"Daike's gonna need help," BW said as he flew up next to Daike. "You might need a hand."
Daike shrugged. "Sure, whatevs. Just let me handle Yamato's clone." He shot up to Copy Metalla X. "Say your prayers, imposter! You're going down!"
Copy Metalla X chuckled in amusement. "Oh really? Attack me however you want."
"You asked for it! Take these!" Daike unloaded a barrage of closed fists on Copy Metalla X, who dodged without lifting a finger. He unloaded a barrage of kicks. Once again, the duplicated being dodged so casually.
BW confronted Copy Max.
"Hello, brother," Copy Max taunted him.
"You're not my brother," BW rebuked as he rocketed toward Copy Max and attacked him with punches.
Copy Max parried BW's punches and kicks.
"Not bad, but I already know your moves, BW!"
Max stood up watching BW taking on his duplicate.
"He's practically fighting me. As strong as BW is, he isn't going to last," Max dreaded.
"You don't think that clone of yours has Super Ascendant Blue in his disposal, right?" Keke asked him.
"If he's stolen all my powers, then I wouldn't be shocked."
(End theme)
Metalla X quietly viewed his copy casually dodging Daike's punches.
As Daike went for a straight jab, Copy Metalla X seized his hand.
"Hey, kid. Let me show you what a real attack looks like!" Copy Metalla X punched Daike back.
"Ugh! That not good enough for ya?! How's this?!" Daike quickly powered up into Ascendant as his hair turned gold. Then, his spiky gold hair extended backward looking like a long mane. He tapped and reached into Level 3 status. He struck a pose. "Yeah! Let's see ya fight Level 3 Daike!"
(Cue Dragon Ball Kai OST - The Ebb and the Flow)
Grielmon was confounded by all this. "So, they can transform and fuse? We need those powers!"
"What the hell are you boys doing posturing?! Go and attack him!" Metalla X hounded Daike.
"Right! Here we go with round two!" Daike sounded off like a bell. He flew right in front of Copy Metalla X. "Let's see if you can handle me now!"
Copy Metalla X smirked.
"Great Almighty Kick!" Daike landed a roundhouse kick to Copy Metalla X's face, which didn't even faze him.
"Bored now."
"I've got more! Super Special Crusher Hammer!" Daike flew high up and dropped down with a sledgehammer into Copy Metalla X's head.
The force of the impact unleashed a shockwave that smashed into the ground and knocked back most of the bystanders. Only Metalla X, Keke, Sam, Kara, and Decade X managed to hold their ground.
"Is everyone ok?!" Shu turned and asked his friends.
"A little rough on the landing, but we're just peachy!" Ayase sardonically replied.
"Those kids ain't pulling punches!" Kyoko exclaimed.
"Madoka, are you ok?" Homura asked her pink-haired friend.
"Yep, just hurt my bottom when I fell, but I'll manage! Madoka put on a cheery smile to calm Homura down.
BW and Copy Max ceased fighting to watch the other fight.
Daike taunted Copy Metalla X. "Got a headache much? I bet that had to hurt!"
"Hn, did a mosquito land on me?" The duplicate snorted.
"You prick! In that case, here's my next special!" Daike announced, firing a barrage of golden balls. "Big Bomber!"
Copy Metalla X yawned with boredom, absorbing the incoming blasts. Copy Metalla X flew through the blasts, batting them away.
"Feh, you thought that would stop me?!"
"Whoa, they didn't leave a single mark!"
Tanukimon nervously gulped. "It's no use. They can't beat that clone!"
Just then, Keke noticed both Metalla X and Max's bodies starting to fade.
"Max! Matt!" Keke cried out.
"They're starting to disappear!" Kara shouted.
"It's what I was afraid of! They don't have much time left!" Tanukimon warned them.
"Shit, this is bad," Daike grimaced at Max and Metalla X's dire situations.
Copy Max chortled darkly. "Well, well, our shells are starting to fade away. How sad."
Copy Metalla X nodded. "We really do like your disappearing acts."
"Hey, you two! While you still have the chance, go absorb the kids' and that other guy's powers!" Grielmon ordered the Copy duo.
"All right, bring it on!" Daike shouted as he and BW flew down to attack their opponents.
Copy Metalla X quickly gut punched Daike hard. Copy Metalla X then flew around landing repeated blows to the Meta-Fused Ascendant's body. BW tossed a Terra Destroyer, which Copy Max caught with one hand and kicked it away. Copy Max jetted over to BW and kicked him back hard. Copy Metalla X made short work of Daike. The two warriors plunged and hit the ground. Daike defused back to the kids. BW was left lying in a heap.
(End theme)
"Hn, you runts didn't stand a chance," Copy Metalla X scoffed at Tike and David, veering toward the others.
Copy Max sighted Keke getting up.
"That's enough!" Keke yelled out.
"Keke, wait…!" Max called to stop her.
"You can attack anyone, but I doubt either of you will dare to lay a hand on me!"
"Keke, don't entice them!" Sam chided her.
Mosuramon added. "No, Sam. She's right. The Max duplicate didn't dare to attack her once. The duplicate even stole Max's love for Keke."
Hearing this, Copy Max tried to prove their theories wrong and raised a hand to blast Keke. However, she walked over to confront him. Copy Max seemed hesitant to shoot her.
"What are you waiting for?" She goaded him. She looked over to Copy Metalla X. "What about you? You wanna blast your own daughter?"
Metalla X growled. "Keke, what in the hell are you doing?! Stand down!"
"She's freaking crazy!" Tanukimon cried out.
Keke closed her eyes and smiled. "You two don't have it in you to kill me."
As the Copy duo exchanged confused looks, Grielmon grew agitated.
"What the hell? Either kill her or assimilate her energy! She's rich with Ascendant power!"
Gojiramon had an idea. "Max, this is our chance. While Keke's got them distracted, send a telepathic signal to Tai."
"I've considered it, but I don't want to disturb his recovery period," Max muttered.
"We don't got much options. And who knows? Maybe he's already recovered?"
Nodding, Max patted Gojiramon. "All right, buddy. It's worth a shot. Thanks." He then closed his eyes and concentrated. He tried forging a mental link with his father. Tai. Tai, can you hear me? It's Max. We've got an urgent situation!
xxxxx
Digital World/File Island
On the shores of File Island's coastline, Tai and Sora were having a spar session. Agumon and Biyomon watched their partners sparring.
As Sora charged shooting a fiery arrow, Tai sidestepped and jumped over her. He seized Sora's arm and locked it.
"I've got you."
The Bearer of Love forged a fiery Ki ball in her free hand and pushed it near his gut. "Nah, I've got you."
Tai managed a smirk and withdrew his hand. "You're getting the hang of this, Sora. Good job."
"Well, hey, don't forget for a very short time I was stronger than you," Sora reminded him.
"Only 'cause that DOED thing. Now, I'm back at top form," Tai chuckled.
"It was a fun while it lasted kicking your butt around," Sora rolled her eyes around. She took out one of her Arrows of Love and channeled her fiery Ki. She successfully lit the arrow with flames. "I'm getting a better grasp of my powers, Tai. By the way, don't you think Mimi, Joe, and Izzy have potential to unlock the Ascendant energies in their Crest like me?"
"Who knows? It's up to them if they want to try," Tai said. "We can't force them. And besides, I don't see Mimi as the training type."
"True, but you never know?" Sora winked. "Maybe I can convince her."
"See how that works out."
Tai? Tai, can you hear me?
Tai paused and put a had on his left temple. "Max?"
Sora overheard him. "What about Max?"
"Tai? Who's contacting you?" Agumon queried.
"It's Max."
Tai, we have an urgent situation on this planet. We're in trouble… Matt's in trouble… I'm in trouble.
"What?! Max?" The Bearer of Courage gasped in shock. "Max!"
xxxxx
Next chapter: Omega X vs. Copy Metalla X
xxxxx
A/N: A twist! Rather than one Copy, there are two!
You knew Copy Metalla X would be a thing, but I doubt anyone (who isn't creatively involved with me behind the scenes) saw Copy Max coming.
Initially, I was back and forth on doing an adaptation of this arc while preparing Ascendancy. I thought the Potaufeu arc was very meh by itself during my subbed viewing. But, lo and behold my surprise what they did for the English dub: they brought back Brian Drummond (the Ocean Vegeta VA) to return to voice Duplicate Vegeta to counter Chris Sabat's Vegeta. Talk about a blast from the past. And marking the first time two Vegeta English VAs mouth off on screen. It was a surreal moment. That enticed me to do this arc for that sake. So, yes, my 'headcanon' (stupid name, really Internet? Just call it my 'fanboy wet dream' and we'll call it a day?) VA for Copy Metalla X is Drummond.
Now what about Copy Max? Well, Ian James Corlett, the original English VA for Goku, much thanks to Ford1114 for this idea.
Yes, I've also decided the parasitic life forms are Bebimon's offspring. While I didn't show Bebimon as a villain in this series (opted to skip and just summarize the events of his mini-arc), he still left his mark in some ways. I have taken elements of that Super Human Water nonsense and implemented them into the parasites. However, instead of being man made weapons of war, I made them actual parasitic life forms. Add Bebimon's hatred for Ascendants and you got a motivation to cleanse the universe. So, the Children of Bebimon (sounds cultish and not an official name) intend to spread and proliferate the Digiverse. Though, as evidence after consuming Max and Metalla X, acquiring personality traits can dilute Bebimon's anti-Ascendant programming. Once absorbing its victims, they gain the strengths but also their flaws.
Other tidbits: Tanukimon is a nod to Suguro from Dragon Ball GT, who was that tanuki thing who tricked Goku in that afterlife game during Baby's arc. And what do you know? We have a tanuki character in a mini-arc related to a Baby expy. This mini-arc is just full of callback references.
Yay, Shu, Madoka, and their friends are guest stars for this arc. They amounted in getting rid of mooks, but that's about it. Ultimate Madoka could've showed up, but the goddess figures her living avatar should not have to rely on her too often.
Sora's training is further building to her Ascendant transformation into Houou X in Black Rebellion.
Food for thought: Sora, for a brief minute, in her base form was stronger than Tai, Matt, and Max (since Metalla X and Max are powerless now thanks to the parasites, and Tai had his energy control issues for a short time). Something to be proud of, I guess.
Yes, Tai is back to full strength and as next chapter implies he'll confront Copy Metalla X. What of Copy Max? Well, that's where Keke comes in and possibly joined by Sora.
Anyway, next chapter will end this mini-arc. Should be fun. Send a review and see you in the next update!