Watching as the Water Realm's troop transports landed upon the beachfront, Kari, TK and the other newcomers to Nexus watched as legions of various types of soldiers began disembarking and marching upon the lands of the Fire Realm.
Looking upon the screen, those from the Digital World took in the first type of soldiers, whose appearance closely resembled to be humanoids, which were clad in white armour that were decorated with fin based designs upon their gauntlets, boots, shoulder pads, as well as their helmets, while a bright blue was shown over where their mouths would be and upon their chests, showing not only water within the suits, but circuit that seemed to run along their bodies.
Each of these soldiers seemed to be equipped with what appeared to be a plasma rifle, an energy spear and shield, or blue energy blade gauntlets as their weaponry as they marched on to the beach.
Alongside these soldiers were a variety of creatures that looked to be living water that were either encased in armour or held together by energy, each with circuits that all led to a chip embedded within their foreheads, the liquid beings marching along with their comrades as their arms turned into various types of weaponry for battle.
Moving out of the water and alongside their forces were what appeared to be a cross between a human and a crustacean, who were equipped with four crab-like legs and a gigantic crab arm.
And similar to the water troopers, these creatures also wielded a cybernetically infused plasma weapon upon their other arm and whose shells were made of the same smooth material as the Water Realm ships.
Finally, and most noticeable of the forces emerging from the water, meanwhile…
"Are those shark men?!" Tagiru questioned with an understandable surprise within his voice as he took in the sight before him on the screen and to see what appeared to be bipedal great white and hammerhead sharks who were clad in a similar white armour to the standard Water Realm Soldiers, with the same blue water upon their chests and a cybernetic visor over their eyes as each carried either hammers that held blue energy coursing through them, energy sabres upon their wrists, or large energy cannons.
"Rokian." Fire Lord Kormac merely said in reply as if to Tagiru's question, the automation lord explaining to those new to Nexus. "Possibly the fiercest of all the warriors of the Water Realm but bound like the rest to the commands sent to them."
"What do you mean?" Izzy questioned with intrigue.
"You can see the cybernetics upon their beings, correct?" King Luther questioned in reply, and once he saw those around him nod, the Sun King continued in his story. "The inhabitants of the Water Realm are all mostly connected by an ancient and advanced psionic and technological network. Almost all thoughts and knowledge are shared amongst all connected, while the Water Emperor and the other rulers of the realm use this to keep their realm in check."
"Though this network, knowledge and ideas are quickly shared amongst the Realm, this allows for the advancements you can see in their technology." Euphemia then spoke up, before frowning as she told Izzy and his friends. "But it comes at a price, as those connected to the Network often lose their emotions, before little more than machines connected to a greater whole, a sacrifice in their eyes for their idea of a better future."
"And an ideology I am sure is one of the main sources of conflict between your realms." Thomas then cut in, his words receiving nods from the Fire Realm rulers around him, who then looked back at the screen with concern, this prompting Kari and the others to do so as well.
Emerging from the waters behind the assembled Water Realm forces were six massive constructs, mechanical beings that held blue serpent-like bodies with two massive arms and allowed them to move along freely.
Several long electrified cables protruded from the being's heads, each with a gaping mouth upon their faces, their presence quite dreadful to those who looked upon them.
"Earth Devourers." Shogun Daisuke said with a fair growl, the ruler of Asahi refocusing as he told those around him. "Machines the Water Realm uses to harvest resources. They eat everything, and I mean everything, in their paths and convert it into energy for their underwater cities."
Watching the Earth Devourers move onto land, Davis narrowed his eyes and knew that their destruction was of the utmost importance, but the fire champion also knew that the quickest way to end such a battle would be to finish Krytus off once and for all.
Upon the command deck of the Cyber Fortress, Krytus looked out and upon the gathered barbarians of the Fire Realm, the Warlord arrogantly believing his forces would prevail this day, before his eye narrowed and zoomed in on a particular target, the Fire Dragon known as Blaze, and upon his shoulder, the Fire Emperor's Champion.
For too long had this individual stood in Krytus' way, and today, that defiance would end.
He would defeat the Champion and as promised, he would drop his broken body before the Arch-Savant and allow the Water Emperor's champion to know that his path was the correct one for the Water Realm, and he would not fail.
"All forces, commence attack pattern alpha!" Krytus then commanded, both with his words and mental commands, before sending out the command to attack.
"All servants of the Fire Emperor, defend our home from these vile invaders!" Fire Lord Lelouch declared from the command room of the man mobile fortress, his call earning a resounding and supporting cheer from the Fire Legions as they then charged forward.
Soon, blasts of fire and plasma were exchanged as the battle began, with those capable of melee combat meeting at the centre as they clashed blades and other weaponry, while the ranged forces opened fire upon one another.
In the skies, the manta ray fighters and arial automatons engaged within a massive dogfight, accompanied by the ships of both sides, which opened fire upon their foes.
As several blasts of fire struck one of the Water Realm ships, those watching from the safety of the Fire Capital saw a blue energy shield around the vessel block most of the attack, only to fail after several more shots from their foes.
"Ok, so they look more advanced, but they're not invincible." Mikey remarked as he watched the coastal cannons, which continued to open fire upon the Cyber Fortress, where the contraption's massive shields could be seen as the shots made their impact upon it.
Meanwhile, energy began gathering along the wings and the mouth of the Cyber Fortress, focusing on several points, before unleashing powerful blasts of plasma energy, striking at the Fire Legion forces upon the beach and pushing them back, which allowed the Water Realm forces to start advancing.
Dashing through the air, Blaze and Phirox joined the other dragons, wyverns and phoenixes within the midst of combat as they split and engaged the enemies in the air, striking down many of the manta ray fighters and flying cybernetic sea life and striking down the enemy forces advancing on the ground.
From upon Blaze's shoulder, Davis summoned his fiery rifle and began to open fire upon the enemy forces below, before putting the weapon away and drawing his blades, his helmet reforming upon his head as he leaped down and began cutting through the Water Realm soldiers below.
After cutting through a Rokian that was about to slice off the head of a Fire Knight, Davis found his attention drawn to a loud roar and to see one of the Earth Devourers approaching him as its true purpose came online, the machine activating a suction power that started to pull everything into its maw, costing the lives of several Fire Legion soldiers as they were pulled in and killed instantly.
Before his partner could be caught in the machine's suction, Blaze rushed at the Earth Devourer and slammed his fist into the side of its head, sending the machine staggering back a few feet.
Acting quickly, the fire Dragon quickly lifted the Earth Devourer over his head, which bellowed with a fearsome roar as he fired a powerful blast of fire right through the machine's torso, this causing the machine to explode in his arms and for Blaze to give a triumphant roar, before he threw the remnants of the Earth Devourer at a series of hover tanks that emerged from the sea, destroying the tanks before they had a chance to join in within the battle.
Back in the skies, Julie cast forth a series of fire blasts upon a series of flying cyborg eels that were rushing towards her and Phirox, the silver haired champion now wearing her own helmet, a golden headgear that only had two eyes as a facial feature and a pair of golden phoenix wings coming out of the sides.
Looking around, Julie soon found herself hanging onto Phirox as the Phoenix flew backwards, the phoenix skillfully dodging the strike of an electrical blast, where both champion and partner looked to see a Cyber Dragon fly past them, one resembling a massive eel with a pair of fin-like wings as circuitry ran along its entire body, before turning to look at its foes with a pair of electrified eyes.
However, Julie narrowed her eyes from behind her helmet, remaining unafraid as she saw the being standing upon the Cyber Dragon's head, a feminine humanoid dressed in blue armour and white robes, wearing a blue helmet that showed no facial features at all, only a blue light and what looked like numbers and runes appearing behind the mask and an illuminating chip upon the being's forehead.
Within the individual's hand, Julie saw a blue energy blade, while behind the individual were a pair of wings that looked like those of a manta ray, each with blue circuitry running down them, this causing the silver haired champion to sense and know what her foe was.
A savant, the Water Realm's answer to the fire champions, elite warriors, scholars and researchers that act on the will of the Water Emperor and bond with the children of the Water Dragon God, each a powerful and dangerous foe in their own rights.
At that moment, Phirox and the Cyber Dragon unleashed their attacks, the phoenix then unleashing a blast of fire as her foe fired a blast of electricity, the two attacks meeting and clashing for dominance as they tried to overpower one another.
At the same moment, the savant brought her free hand up as it glowed with a digital code, transforming into an energy blaster as she opened fire upon Julie, who responded by dodging the attack and firing a series of fire blasts at her foe, who brought up an energy shield to defend herself.
All around Davis, Julie and their partners, the battle continued to wage on, while those watching the battle could only do so with growing concern.
"This... this is too much." Shoutmon could only say as he took in the scale of the battle unfolding before his eyes, one two to three times the size of the battle that was recorded against the Orkkron.
"This is larger than any of the battles we have had with the DDF in the past." The Digimon King then went on to say.
"And this is only a skirmish." Kormac merely said in reply, his words causing almost everyone not of Nexus to look at him like he was joking, before the Fire Lord explained. "This is not even a percentage of our own forces, as the rest are either on standby in the event we lose this fight or protecting our other borders, while the forces under Krytus' command barely make up a percentage of the Water Realm's full might. These small battles are waged in order to prevent a full scale Realm War, one that would rip Nexus apart. Likewise, in the event Krytus fails, the Water Realm can disavow him and call him a rogue, thus also preventing a larger scaled war. It is the sad, but necessary political life of Nexus."
Listening to Kormac and his words, TK and the majority of the DDF and Dark Imperium were left in shock as they now realized the scope of the world powers of Nexus and their military might, as well as many left wondering what the other three realms were capable of.
For Kari, however, none of what was said mattered at the moment as she kept her eyes focused upon the screen and upon the maroon haired champion who had claimed her heart.
All that mattered to her was Davis and his safety, as well as the promise he made to return safely to her.
"It is almost time." Euphemia then said in a serious voice, getting everyone's attention as she added. "My brother always thinks ahead, and Water Realm will soon learn that lesson again the hard way."
From the command room of his mobile fortress, Lelouch watched the battle with a cold and calculated expression, watching as the Cyber Fortress and the Water Realm armada drew closer and closer and were slowly falling right into his calculated trap.
"Now the real game begins." The raven haired Fire Lord said with a devious smile as the enemy fleet moved into position, while the timer he had counting down on the screen next to him hit zero.
"All forces, move back!" Lelouch then called over the comms, informing his forces that his plan had begun.
Deep below the waters that touched the Fire Realm's territory and deep within the earth, several seismic charges had been placed on the volcanic fissures that ran within the Fire Emperor's land and then detonated, which caused the volcanic energy to violently erupt.
All across his command chamber, Krytus watched as warning signs began to appear on holographic displays around him, where the Warlord looked down as a massive eruption of searing hot water and magma erupted below the Cyber Fortress and the fleet.
Hit by the eruption, many of the manta ray fighters were destroyed by the blaze, while the flying sea life were scorched by the molten waters, the Water Realm ships all receiving damage from the surprise event, with several being destroyed in the process.
The Water Realm troops on the ground, meanwhile, quickly moved as some of their artillery emplacements were destroyed by the infernal downpour.
Looking towards the Cyber Fortress as Blaze picked him up, Davis saw that while the shield of the flying base remained, several areas along the field began to collapse, thus giving him and Blaze the opening they needed.
"All forces, head for the Cyber Fortress and take down Warlord Krytus!" Lelouch ordered over the comms, his voice remaining with a fierce determination. "For all the lives that have been lost to his ambition, for our ancestors who gave their lives so that we could continue their fight, end this mad man once and for all!"
"You heard him, let's end this, Davis!" Blaze said with a growl.
Placing his partner on his shoulder as the Fire Dragon quickly shot towards one of the openings in the Cyber Fortress' shields, the maroon haired champion and his partner were followed by the accompanying aerial forces of the Fire Realm.
As a swarm of manta ray fighters, flying sea life and what appeared to be combat drones that looked like orbs with three horns, two on the side and one underneath, moved to strike at the force moving towards the fortress, Blaze unleashed a series of missiles, his attack joined by many of his companions as they struck through the enemy lines as Blaze, Davis and a few of the dragons and flying automatons made it past the shield before it began to close, where the group set off to try and strike at the Cyber Fortress from various areas.
Watching the enemy forces breach the defenses, however, Krytus remained calm and collected, seeing that everything was falling into place in no small part to his strategic planning.
The Warlord had predicted that his enemies would try something drastic to weaken his forces and breach his fortress, and though he had not expected such a brutal and barbaric tactic, Krytus found it to still be within the acceptable predictions of his plan.
In reality, the Warlord was merely stalling his enemies and slowly waiting for the reinforcements his allies were sending as they would take the already weakened forces of the Fire Legions by surprise and overwhelm them, where the warriors of the Water Realm would then push forward toward the Capital of their enemies.
For now, the Warlord focused his attention as he looked to one of the screens around him, looking to see the infamous Blaze, and more importantly, the Fire Emperor's Champion heading towards the fortress, allowing Krytus to move forward with his main plan.
Turning to walk out of the command room, the Warlord then looked to one of the main beings within the room, one contained within a container of clear water as Krytus said to them. "Continue to coordinate our forces, my friend. I will deal with the Champion once and for all."
Seeing the individual simply nod their head in confirmation, Krytus then left the control room, a part of his cybernetic being feeling a sense of eagerness to confront Davis Motomiya and end him once and for all.
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Dodging a volley of plasma blasts from the Cyber Fortress, Blaze flew around the massive machine as he looked for a spot to enter and to destroy the fortress within, while Davis kept his eyes peeled for any other threats around the vicinity.
However, much to the concern of Davis and Blaze, the attacks aimed towards them seemed to stop and refocus upon the rest of their allies that had passed through the shield.
"This doesn't look good, Blaze." Davis remarked as the maroon haired champion looked around, knowing that their foes had something up their sleeves as he then told his partner. "Keep your eyes out for..."
Before Davis could finish, however, something slammed into Blaze at great speeds, pushing and pressing him against the metal hull of the Cyber Fortress and dragging him upward, while the maroon haired hero held tightly onto his partner, before the Fire Dragon was thrown a few feet from the flying machine.
Quickly regaining his composure and remaining in the air, Blaze growled as he faced his foe, narrowing his eyes along with Davis' as they took in the Cyber Dragon before them.
While resembling a bipedal dragon, the creature's body seemed to be made of a blue transparent material as water and cybernetic circuitry coursed throughout its very being.
Advanced weaponry covered the creature's wrists, legs and torso, leaving two pairs of energy cannons fused to its hands and back.
A pair of four energy wings emerged from the back and around the electrified spins of the Cyber Dragon, which continued to glare at Blaze with a fierce desire to harm him as the being had a series of cyber tendrils coming out of the back of its head and four horns protruding around its face.
Growling with his own fury, Blaze easily recognized the Cyber Dragon known as Cybris, Warlord Krytus' own companion, and a foe the Fire Dragon had clashed with many times in the past.
"This time you won't escape, you poor excuse of a dragon!" Blaze bellowed as Cybris expelled a fearsome roar, where energy gathered within his mouth and back cannons as he opened fire at Blaze, who dodged the attack within the air and unleashed a series of missiles upon his foe.
In response to the counterattack, Cybris closed his energy wings around him, creating an energy shield that blocked the incoming missiles, before the Cyber Dragon launched himself at Blaze, which led to the two dragons clashing within the air.
Watching the battle unfold from the safety of the Fire Palace, Kari did her best to control her breathing and reign in her frustration and desperation.
She had the power to break armies, bring terror to entire worlds and shatter anyone who stood against her, however, Kari felt powerless as she watched the man she loved battling before her, and she was unable to do anything to help him.
Clenching her fists as she saw the Cyber Dragon and Blaze clashing on the screen before her, dark energy began to form around Kari as the Dark Empress was mere moments from breaking her promise to Davis and leaving to save him from any danger.
Feeling a comforting hand on her shoulder, however, Kari looked over and saw Rika looking upon her with a calm and comforting smile.
"Believe in Davis. I know you are worried, but I also know, no matter what, he will keep his promise to you, he will come back to you." She assured the Dark Empress softly.
Allowing her dark energy to subside, but still shaking a little, not only from her worries, but from the pain she felt from the harm her power was causing her, Kari nodded in reply and looked back upon the screen, the former Digidestined of Light ignoring the glances sent her way as Kari watched the battle continue to play out.
Clashing and dodging strikes from Cybris, Blaze then flew back and unleashed a powerful blast of fire at the Cyber Dragon, who then retaliated by firing an energy blast from his own mouth, the two attacks colliding in a powerful struggle for dominance.
Using his arm to shield his eyes from the blast, Davis then looked to see an exhaust opening along the side of the Fortress, one that, though not large enough for Blaze to fit through, was big enough for the maroon haired hero to enter.
"Blaze!" Davis then called out with a great might, his call causing the dragon to look for a second at what his partner saw, before the Fire Dragon put more energy into his fire blast, pushing Cybris back as Davis' partner then flew toward the opening.
Leaping from Blaze's shoulder, Davis landed in the exhaust port.
Looking back at his partner, Blaze then told Davis with a determined voice. "I will deal with this loser, you find Krytus and end this!"
Nodding in reply and to Blaze's words, Davis entered the Cyber Fortress, while the Fire Dragon dodged a series of energy blasts from his foe, before rushing at Cybris with a desire to rip the Cyber Dragon apart once and for all.
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Dashing through the Cyber Fortress, Davis frowned as he remained on high alert, the maroon haired warrior cutting through the security forces that tried to stop him.
Knowing that the command centre would be too heavily guarded, Davis instead focused on his secondary objective, knowing that Krytus would know that he was heading there, the Fortress' power core.
Cutting through a group of Rokian that stood in his path and reaching his destination, Davis entered an empty room with a massive energy core at the centre, one pulsating with Water Mana and plasma energy, the beating heart of the Cyber Fortress.
However, from his years of experience, especially when dealing with this foe, Davis looked around cautiously and called out. "Come out, Krytus, I know you are here."
Walking out of the shadows and standing before Davis, Krytus' eye narrowed as the Warlord stated in a superior and arrogant tone. "It seems you are more intelligent than I gave you credit for... for a primitive beast that is."
Scoffing at Krytus' usual arrogance, the pair began to circle around the room, waiting to see who would make the move, where Davis then remarked. "I doubt the Arch-Savant agreed to this little invasion."
"He voiced his objections, but his support was not needed in the end." Krytus said in reply, before bringing out his right hand as blue energy formed within as he created a long and powerful looking electrified blade. "I did promise him I would deliver your broken body to him, however."
"You can try." Davis said with a smirk as he withdrew his own blades and prepared for combat.
"Your arrogance, your pride, your reckless emotions make you weak, unfocused. You lack our unity, our clarity, our logic, and you will all fall before the might of the Water Realm." The Warlord then stated as he too moved into a fighting stance himself.
Rolling his eyes in response, Davis then questioned with a minor annoyance. "You are calling us arrogant? Your forces are in shambles and you still think you can win?"
"They are merely a distraction until reinforcements arrive." Krytus then said, before several holographic screens activated around the room, displaying an even larger armada of Water Realm ships deep below the sea and on route to the battlefield.
"And soon, your allies will be broken." The Warlord then added as more screens appeared, showing the Fire Legions fighting back against the remaining Earth Devourers and the rest of Krytus' forces, while another showed Julie and Phirox combating the savant and her Cyber Dragon.
Among the images, however, Davis saw a new threat rushing through his allies' lines, blue clad cyber ninjas, elite assassins of the Water Realm, which cut through and took down the artillery crews upon the side of the Fire Legions, doing their best to take out as much of the leadership of the fiery forces in the process.
Though long used to war and the toll it brings, Davis still growled to see many that fought alongside him being pushed back and eventually taken down.
But focusing on Krytus and keeping a stern glance upon the Warlord, Davis merely said back. "Then I guess the only way to end this is to end you, once and for all."
"You may be the Champion of the Fire Emperor, but you are inferior to me." The Warlord said in reply, before swinging his blade and sending out a wave of blue energy toward Davis.
Swinging his fiery blades, Davis cut through the energy surging toward him as he rushed upon Krytus, who blocked the attack with his own blade, the Champion and the Warlord began their battle.
Clashing their weaponry and moving in blinding speeds thanks to their great strength and inhuman powers, Davis and Krytus dodged and parried the attacks of one another, each trying to outdo their foe and prevail within their battle.
Leaping back, Krytus brought his free hand up as it was covered in blue Data, which then converted into an energy gun as he began to fire at Davis, who easily dodged the shots fired at him.
Putting his own blades away, the maroon haired champion then summoned his own rifle and began to fire at Krytus, who brought his arm up and formed an energy barrier before him, blocking the attack, before he had to then bring his blade up and block a sudden and swift strike from the maroon haired champion.
Pressing their attacks upon one another, Davis and Krytus continued in their battle, one fighting for personal glory and the glory of his Realm, the other to protect his home and those he cared for.
Outside the Cyber Fortress, the battle continued to be waged as other fire champions drove the cyber ninjas back and joined their allies upon the battlefield and took on the overwhelming Earth Devourers.
Meanwhile and within the skies, Julie and Phirox continued to battle their opponents as they too clash in the air, one side desiring to protect their home as the other side fought for their Master's glory.
Finally and within the shields around the Cyber Fortress, Blaze and Cybris continued with their battle, the pair eager to end their old score and rivalry once and for all.
And as Krytus' reinforcements slowly approached the battlefield, it would only be a matter of time before the battle was decided, one way or another.
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Author's note: The battle between Realms begins and Davis confronts Krytus, what will the outcome be? Stay tuned as the adventure continues.
