Chapter 13 - Truth and Lies
In a shadowed area of The Digital World, beneath an ominous canopy of gnarled trees, a malevolent presence stirred. Daemon, the demonic prince, was an enigma draped in scarlet silk, his eyes like smouldering embers, his every step echoing through the haunted forest. Silently beside him walked Barbamon, the bearded and robed unholy demon lord a silent presence beside his master. Both were guided by a dark purpose. It had been many years for them since Daemon had been to this corner of The Digital World. Behind them walked Takato and his partner Guilmon, their countenance a stark contrast to Daemon's dread-inducing aura. Takato was a mere mortal, his soul a delicate whisper next to the cacophony of darkness that was Daemon. He had been ensnared in this infernal journey by fate's cruel design, a pawn in a sinister game. Though they had not yet made any attempt to escape, in truth Takato had no idea where they would even go. This world was alien to them, and he did not imagine his captors would have much difficulty reacquiring them.
They had been walking through this haunted landscape for some time when they came to a cavern cut into a low cliff face. The cavern yawned before them like the maw of some maleficent beast, its entrance cloaked in a shroud of mist that clung to the rocky walls. The air grew colder with each step, as if the very breath of the underworld exhaled from the abyss. A churning dread gripped Takato's heart, but he dared not falter, for he felt something drawing him deeper with every second. As they ventured further into the cavern's unfathomable depths, they encountered grotesque murals etched into the stone, depicting scenes of torment and despair. They told the tale of an ancient demon who was charged with guarding a doorway by a fallen prince of heaven, but who had been worshipped as a God by The Digimon who lived above him. His form, a grotesque fusion of man and beast, haunted Takato as he gazed upon the nightmarish frescoes. With each passing moment, the atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive, and the air was heavy with a sense of foreboding. The very walls of the cavern seemed to throb with malevolence, as though they resented the intrusion of the unwelcome guests.
Suddenly, a guttural voice emerged from the shadows, a voice that seemed to emanate from the very bowels of the earth. "Who dares to trespass upon my domain?" it hissed, sending shivers down Takato's spine. Daemon stepped forward, his voice dripping with chilling confidence. "It is I- Daemon…" At that moment, a pair of crimson eyes materialized in the darkness, their malevolence piercing through the obscurity. The voice seemed to churn with recognition, replying "Fallen One…you return at long last. Has the time come?". From the dark, Mephistomon emerged, his grotesque goatlike form casting eerie shadows on the cave's walls. He inhaled deeply, a sound like the grinding of stones. "Not today my friend. I trust you still have the key, and that the lock remains secure?". For the first time Takato noticed the belt Mephistomon wore, upon which hung a great stone key. "Yes, my lord, I stand ready as ever to unleash Pandemonium. But tell me, who is this?" With a wave of his long arm, Mephistomon summoned forth a writhing mass of shadows that encircled Takato, binding him in a cold, suffocating embrace. The boy gasped, feeling the darkness seeping into his very soul. Beside him Guilmon snarled, shouting "Pyro Sphere!". The blast of red energy from Guilmon's mouth illuminated the cavern for a moment as the attack impacted harmlessly against Mephistomon's chest. From beside him, Barbamon swung his staff around and clattered Guilmon on the head, and the red dinosaur immediately fell the ground. Takato would have cried out if he could. Daemon's eyes flared with a sinister gleam. "Release him, the boy is under my protection." For a moment Mephistomon seemed to weight this up and then responded, "As you wish." The shadows dissipated from around Takato and he dropped to the ground.
Running over to Guilmon he knelt by his partner. Guilmon was breathing but unresponsive. Turning around, Takato's eyes blazed with a burning fury that seemed to shine through the dark more brightly than any flame. "Calm down Takato. He will be fine, I swear it." Said Daemon reassuringly. "If you would come with me, I would appreciate it." He continued, setting off into the darkness of the cave past Barbamon and Mephistomon. "Why should I?" Takato shouted after him. Daemon did not reply. For a moment Takato only looked down at Guilmon, but then he stood up and walked after the demon lord. They seemed to walk for some time, Takato barely able to discern Daemon's outline in the gloom of the cavern. He wondered for a moment if this was simply where he was going to die, if perhaps Daemon was going to leave him down here trapped forever.
As if sensing his thoughts, Daemon finally spoke, "These caverns are very old child. Some believe it was down here that Lucemon first discovered The Digital Hazard." Takato did not want to make conversation with an enemy, especially one as despicable as he was sure Daemon was, but his curiosity got the better of him. "What is The Hazard?" he asked finally. Daemon seemed to think for a moment, as if trying to find the right words, then responded "My master believed it was one of the primordial forces which were used to form The Digital World…" Something in these words gave Takato the impression that even Daemon was not entirely convinced by this explanation, so he had to ask "And you- what did you think?". Daemon let out a low chuckle, responding "I was never sure…but one thing I did know was that The Hazard seemed to have a will of its own, and was not merely a tool to be used." They continued on in silence for a while longer, until finally Daemon stopped.
For a few seconds Takato could not see why he had stopped walking forward, but then he perceived it. A slight glitter in the dark, stretching out in every direction in front of them. In another few moments, Takato's eyes adjusted. In front of them stood a great wall of oily black volcanic glass. The one unbroken obsidian wall seemed to stretch out along the cave in every direction for as far as Takato could see. In front of Daemon, affixed to the black glass, there hung a circular stone mechanism of some kind. A lock, to match Mephistomon's key. The lock was black and carved with runes. "What is this?" Takato asked. Turning back to the boy, Daemon said "Let me show you!". Raising a hand, a small fireball appeared in his palm, illuminating the cave. Instantly, Takato saw a million faces surge forward from the darkness behind the glass. These beings tore and scratched against the surface, and Takato even recognised some of them. Devimon, IceDevimon, NeoDevimon, LadyDevimon, Devidramon, MarineDevimon, DemiDevimon, Vilemon- though their eyes seemed unfocused and their behaviour animalistic, these were Digimon. "My people…" said Daemon with a tone that sounded almost mournful. Takato looked up at him questioningly.
"When we were cast out for our rebellion, the greatest of us bore the change in our Data with little ill effects…but many of the lesser angels, those not powerful enough to resist the corruption, slowly began to lose more and more of themselves as time went on, until eventually they became these vicious mindless monsters you see before you." Reaching forward, Daemon put one his clawed hands against the dark glass. "I imprisoned them in The Dark Area, with this window as a connection to their prison. They still recognise me as their master and follow my orders…but they are not the beings they used to be." Takato was lost for words. But slowly he began to form a singular thought. "But why did you imprison them if they're still loyal to you?"
Daemon turned back, and though his face was still obscured, Takato was sure he could see something soften in his eyes from behind his cowl. "Because I wish to cure them. Long ago they were promised that we would rule The Digital World together. And we will, but as ourselves- not as ravening beasts. I will undo the effects of the corruption to their Data and return them to their former selves." As Takato looked at the snarling faces that pressed themselves against the glass of their prison, for the first time he felt some measure of pity. "But is it even possible to cure them?". Turning back from the glass, Daemon began to walk back the way they came. "Of course it is, I have seen it before. And before my time is done, I will find out how."
The fireball still in his hands, Daemon cast it out to his right. Takato watched it travel, until finally hit a brazier that had sat completely obscured by darkness twenty feet away. Instantly the brazier exploded into life, filling the cavern with light, and for the first time Takato could see it's true size and shape. The room they found themselves in was large with convex stone ceilings carved high above them. The floor was a mess of cracked and broken stone tiles, but otherwise the space was empty. "Now, would you like to learn to control The Digital Hazard, Takato Matsuki?" Daemon asked, turning back to Takato. The boy studied him for a moment before replying "Don't you know that if I do learn to control it, I'll use it against you?". Daemon's inscrutable cowled face made no movement, he simply replied "I understand. All the same I wish to teach you." With these words he reached out with his clawed hand. From the far end of the now illuminated cavern, Takato saw Guilmon walk into the room. His partner had heard the conversation thus far. From a distance, he nodded to Takato. Turning back to Daemon, Takato stared at his offered hand for a few moments and then with a sigh, reached out and shook it, the demon lord's massive hand engulfing his. "Ok." Takato said with a sigh. Daemon said nothing, but inside he was smiling.
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From the vantage point of Parasimon, the war-torn city below was a theatre of chaos and desperation. The streets echoed with the cacophony of conflict, and the air was heavy with the acrid scent of fear and burning buildings. Parasimon nestled within the hidden crevices of this ravaged metropolis, a patient predator waiting for the perfect host. In The Digital World, the colossal parasitic bug Digimon was a hunter, a creature of cunning and opportunism. Here, on this desolate Earth, it was an outcast, an alien monstrosity amidst a sea of humans. But within the turmoil, Parasimon found its chance for survival and domination. Its colossal, segmented body quivered with anticipation, its single eyes scanning the warring factions below. It perceived this world through senses that defied human understanding, sensing the anguish and vulnerability of the inhabitants.
Parasimon's vantage point allowed it to perceive the city not as a place of despair, but as a fertile ground for parasitic conquest. From its hidden lair, Parasimon extended delicate antennae into the chaotic ether, sensing the thoughts and emotions of the humans. Fear was its most potent ally, for fear opened the door to the mind. The parasitic Digimon craved a host more than anything else, a powerful body and weak mind ripe for the taking. As the city's denizens fought tooth and nail below him, Parasimon felt a tremor of trepidation. It was not invincible, and there were dangers lurking in this alien realm as well. Other creatures sought refuge amidst the chaos, and territorial disputes brewed in the shadows. Yet, fear also offered opportunity.
Parasimon sensed two powerful souls coming into being near him. Beings driven by fear and prickled by an encroaching hopelessness. No wait, three powerful souls. For the first time in many days, Parasimon segmented body began to move, its long legs drawing it out of the shadows of its lair and down the side of the building. There they were, just below. On the street, Wargreymon and Justimon were locked in battle with MetalEtemon and Puppetmon, while much nearer Parasimon, Imperialdramon was advancing down the street to aid his allies. Parasimon felt a sick joy as it realised the powerful mega level had turned his back on him. Leaping down from the building, Parasimon extended his psychic tendrils and began to colonise Imperialdramon's mind as soon as it landed on his back. The mega gave more resistance than Parasimon had expected, almost as if he had the mental capacity of two Digimon rather than one, but all too soon Parasimon's control took hold and he found himself with complete autonomy over Imperialdramon's body. Good. Now, time to have some fun. Raising his new positronic laser at Wargreymon, Parasimon fired.
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The two Digibands data awoke at the same time as Salamon. Combining in a flash of light, Ophanimon found herself standing in a room she had once known very well indeed. The central chamber of The Azure Citadel where the high celestial Digimon had interpreted and passed down the will the Digital World's creators had changed so very much since the last time Ophanimon had stood in it. The marble and lapis lazuli amphitheatre was covered in a thick film of dust, and many of the carvings and frescoes on the walls which had once been beautiful and well-preserved were now faded or damaged. What was most noticeable though was the stillness, as if the room was fixed in time.
Suddenly, Ophanimon remembered herself and called out "Kari?". Hearing no response, she walked out of the room, her wings folded behind her. "Kari, are you ok?" She walked for some time, past empty room after empty room. Where was she? Finally, as she approached the main staircase, Ophanimon heard a faint noise. Music. Music she knew. Instantly she became aware that she knew where Kari was and untucking her wings, flew up to the next floor, turned right and walked for twenty or so feet down the corridor before taking her second left. The third door on the right hung slightly ajar and Ophanimon was careful not to step on the floorboard closest to the doorframe, knowing it always creaked. When she had lived here, this room had been her chambers. Now, as she peaked in through the door, she watched as Kari sat in front of the fireplace on a stool, holding in her hands something Ophanimon had thought she would never see again. The music box was a small silver device in the shape of pair of crossed wings which when unfolded would play beautiful, mournful little tune from Its mechanism. Hearing that song now, a thousand memories both happy and sad flooded back to Ophanimon's mind and as she stood silently in the doorway, she felt a weight upon her that was all too familiar.
Opening the door a few moments after the music box finished its tune, Ophanimon plastered on her most convincing smile and said "Oh, there you are!". Kari turned, music box still in hand. "Oh, you're back." She said, a little coldly, putting the music box up on the mantle. "Are you alright Kari?" Ophanimon asked. "Oh I'm fine, apart from nearly getting torn to pieces by those monsters outside." Ophanimon cringed. So she had encountered the reapers after all. "I'm sorry, I never wanted to leave you on your own, but clearly you made it through unscathed. Well done Kari." Kari's expression didn't soften, but she did adopt a more curious expression after a moment when a thought occurred. "So things, the reapers- what are they?". Ophanimon sighted, "They were created originally to protect ROM- to deal with any malicious data or undesirable presences. Imagine a police force and an antibody all in one. However, after the Digital World was broken their programming became scrambled. Now they attack anyone and anything they deem a foreign presence." As Ophanimon explained she crossed the room and peered out of the window. Far below on the street she could see reapers flitting aimlessly around. Turning back to Kari, she said "Come, it's time we left here."
"You don't have to tell me twice, so where are we going?" Kari asked as she stood up eagerly. As she walked towards Kari, Ophanimon summoned her lance and opened a portal. As Kari's attention was elsewhere, she reached up and grabbed the music box, pocketing it silently while replying "We're going to go see Gennai." At this Kari turned, and Ophanimon attempted to look as natural as possible. "Gennai, is he a part of this?". The angel nodded, saying "Yes, and he'll be eager to see you, so let's go." Kari nodded and with that the two set off, leaving Ophanimon's old chambers behind them.
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Thanks for reading x
