"Wait, Myotismon, as in...?" Kenta began to question in concern as he looked toward the rest of his allies, but found himself silenced as Gatomon let out her understandable anger and hatred.

Hissing furiously, the feline Digimon leapt onto the ledge of the stands and prepared herself physically and mentally, ready to rush down and protect her partner, the Digimon of Light feeling a sense of pure rage over the idea that the vampiric Digimon she had been forced to serve was still alive even after everything they had done to stop him.

Before she could move into attack, however, Gatomon quickly backed up as Wraith appeared before her, the ghostly being having drawn his blade and now aiming it toward the newcomers to Nexus, a threat in the event they tried to interfere with the plans of his Master.

However, the ghostly Dark Lord was taken aback for a moment as Dark Davis turned into a dark mist and Fire Davis turned into a small inferno, both of which shot past the ghostly being and headed down toward the platform, before Wraith turned to see Julie, Caleb, Desred, Cyoton, Sythial and Orphiais, all of which had their weapons drawn.

The four Dark Lords now pointing their own blades at their enemy and Caleb's pistols drawn and aimed at him, while Julie's hands were set ablaze, the silver haired girl ready to join in combat and to unleash a fiery attack upon the ghostly Dark Lord.

The two fire champions and the four Dark Lords were aware of Maligon's past with the Davises and were more than willing to stand against the vampiric Dark Lord if he threatened Dark Davis or Fire Davis, or if he dared turn his gaze upon Kari.

Down below and on the centre platform, Kari's body shook, but it wasn't from fear, but from rage, rage that after everything she, Davis and the others had been through, after having stopped the vampiric Digimon from destroying their world so long again, that Myotismon now stood once again, reborn as a dark being of Nexus.

What possessed the Veil to save and bring someone as twisted and evil as Myotismon to this world?

This question, among many others, filled the mind of the Dark Empress' mind, shadowed only by her growing rage.

Glaring upon Maligon with her dark purple eyes, the shadowy spider legs emerging from her darkness grew slightly, as though ready to skewer the vampire and end his existence for the last and final time.

At that moment, however, the dark mist and flame the two Davises had turned into then landed around Kari, reforming into their true forms.

As Fire Davis stood protectively before Kari, the action that caused her anger to subside slightly, Dark Davis stood before this beloved with his blade aimed at Maligon.

"Violence is forbidden within the Temple!" Ainz then declared with authority, his words directed not only toward the Shadow, Fire Champion and Maligon, but to Wraith and those ready to battle him, the call causing the ghostly Dark Lord to put his blade away, before flickering in a dark wisp and reappearing next to his Master, who continued to grin at the events before him.

Putting his blade down, Dark Davis then took a step forward and informed Maligon with a threatening tone. "I warned you to never come near her and you broke that deal, now Lady Vaddik can no longer protect you."

"A minor inconvenience." The vampiric Dark Lord said in reply with a dismissive tone, before declaring with a dark glint within his eyes. "But it doesn't change what I have planned. I invoke the Rite of Dark Combat!"

Grinning behind his helmet, the Shadow replied with his own dark glee. "Oh, I have waited for the day you'd screw up like this. Do you really think you can defeat me?"

"Oh, Lord Shadow, I have not challenged you." Maligon then said back with a devious expression.

Confused for a moment, Dark Davis' then snarled as he realized what Maligon meant as he turned to look at Kari, where even Fire Davis now realized that the vampire had challenged Kari to the ritual of combat.

"She is now a Dark Lord, and must accept the challenge, or her life will be forfeit." Ainz then informed, the Dark Council Member having already anticipated Maligon's plan beforehand.

It was then that another darkness descended upon the platform and revealed Azaghast as the living shadow looked between all present, before facing Maligon.

"While the Dark Empress must accept this challenge, she is not prepared for the Rite." The dark being informed, before announcing so that all within the temple could hear his call. "Therefore the battle will occur within three days in order allow our new Dark Lord to prepare herself, this is the will of the Council!"

"So be it." Maligon said with a respectful bow to Azaghast, before looking upon Kari and told her with further arrogance. "Three days, then I finish what I started on the day we met."

With that said, Maligon and Wraith then disappeared in dark wisps, which left Kari and the two Davises with a shared fury and concern about what their old foe could be planning.

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"He did what?!" Light Davis questioned in anger as he glared upon his dark and fiery counterparts, his rage shared by Nature Davis, while Water Davis remained with a neutral expression upon his face.

After returning to the Dark Citadel, Fire Davis and Dark Davis contacted their counterparts, not only to update the others toward Kari's situation, but to inform them of Maligon's actions, which did not sit well with any of the Davises.

"I should have crushed his skull the last time I saw him!" Nature Davis then growled as his eyes narrowed and held a feral look to them, the Grand Guardian mentally cursing himself for failing to end the vampiric Dark Lord the last time he had participated in an invasion of the Nature Realm.

"YOU should have killed him long ago." The Archon, Light Davis, then said with anger as he glared upon the Shadow, who narrowed his eyes in response.

"Until now, he has been protected under the laws of the Dark Realm and thus out of my reach unless his actions threatened the realm." Dark Davis said in reply, growling lightly due to his light counterpart's accusations and to the situation they were now in.

"Don't give me that bullshit!" Light Davis snapped as the hologram moved closer, the Archon looking directly at his dark variant as he then commented. "Your kind are always backstabbing each other and breaking your so-called 'rules'. You could have killed him off and blamed someone else for his death, but instead you have let him plot and scheme all these years!"

"Enough of this! All of you!" Fire Davis then yelled as he moved himself between Dark Davis and the hologram of Light Davis, while also sparing a glance toward Nature Davis.

"We need to focus on what to do now, not what we could have done in the past." The fiery champion went on to say, earning the agreement of his counterparts.

"He's right. Placing blame does not help us at this point of time, our focus must be centred on our next moves." Water Davis then said with an even tone, his comment getting the attention of his counterparts.

Looking upon Dark Davis, the Arch-Savant then suggested. "Even if clouded by his desire for revenge, Maligon is not a fool and would be fully aware of the power at Kari's command, therefore, this could be merely a smokescreen for a larger plot."

"One I am very certain Vaddik is part of." The Shadow growled as he thought of the vampiric member of the Dark Council and Maligon's superior, who had long taken an interest in the struggle between her servant and Dark Davis.

"Our next move is to prepare Kari for the Rite." The Dark Davis then told his variants, before he added with a growing determination. "And the first step of that is the Rite of Ascension, to give Kari full control over her power and to prevent it from harming her ever again. Then we shall prepare her for the battle ahead."

"Will you be able to help her in this fight?" Nature Davis then inquired, narrowing his green eyes to the way Dark Davis looked back at him.

"In a way." The Shadow merely said in reply, turning his gaze toward Light Davis. "As our light brother mentioned, there are loopholes we can use to our advantage and allies who can help us."

Nodding their heads in reply, Light, Nature and Water Davis ended the communication, the holograms turning off as Dark Davis and Fire Davis moved to meet their friends, both knowing that those new to Nexus would have many questions.

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As her beloveds were in the midst of their conversation, Kari was walking down the halls of the Dark Citadel.

Walking toward the grand hall and accompanied alongside Azaghast and Ainz who remained close to her sides, the Dark Empress held an understanding anger within her expression.

After the Trials were completed, Hades and Ravage returned to the Dark Palace, the seat of the Dark Council and the Dark Emperor, to inform the council of Maligon's challenge, while Azaghast and Ainz returned with the Shadow and his allies to the Dark Citadel, officially to inform the newly crowned Dark Lord of what is expected of her from the Rite of Dark Combat.

"Maligon is playing a dangerous game." Azaghast merely commented as the trio continued to move down the halls, adding with a sense of annoyance. "To challenge a newly risen Dark Lord, one favoured by two Eternal Lords, is an arrogant and destructive move, one that could affect the status quo of the Dark Realm."

"Which is why he must be planning something bigger." Ainz said in reply, mentally trying to discern what plans the vampiric Dark Lord was up to.

"You should have killed him instead of making him a Dark Lord." Kari then said to the two Dark Council members, the Dark Empress adding with a further spite in her voice. "All Myotismon cares about is his own power and glory. He'll destroy and betray anyone just to get what he wants."

Nodding his head upon hearing the original name of the Dark Lord, Azaghast then explained to the Dark Empress. "When he arrived here and was reborn as a creature of the Dark Realm, Maligon quickly adapted to his new life and rose through our ranks, with Lady Vaddik, the Blood Queen, taking an interest in him, raising him to be her right hand, where his potential and promise as a Dark Lord only grew."

"However, upon the arrival of the Shadow and his introduction as the Champion of the Dark Emperor, Maligon flew into a rage, where he attempted to kill Lord Shadow for their past, revealing his identity to him as the pair fought within the Council's chamber, only to be stopped by the Emperor himself." The shadowy Dark Lord then told Kari as he remembered that day well, having been the one to command the guards to retrain and remove Maligon from the chamber, the vampiric Dark Lord screaming about having his revenge.

"And once he learned that there were now five variants of the Shadow within Nexus, Maligon flew into a further rage, especially over the knowledge that he could not touch three of them due to our alliances with the Fire Realm and Water Realm." Ainz then said, getting Kari's attention as the skeletal Dark Lord told her. "Since then, he has been obsessed with trying to find a way to exact his revenge upon the Shadow and his counterparts. I believe your arrival has only accelerated his desires to bring the Emperor's champion down."

Nodding in response and knowing full well of Myotismon's obsessive behaviour, Kari then thought of Maligon's ghostly ally, this causing Kari to question the two Dark Council members with a fair intrigue. "And his right hand, this Wraith?"

"There is not much known about him." Azaghast said in reply.

Thinking about the ghostly Dark Lord and his dark past, Aghast added. "He arrived in Nexus not long after the Shadow, and has never uttered a word, mostly due to already being dead before being brought before the Council of Arbitration. From there, he worked his way to becoming Maligon's right hand and has served him since."

"He is a silent killer, a dangerous assassin and a master over a host of spectral forces." Ainz then told the Dark Empress. "Perhaps more than Maligon. The Wraith should not be taken lightly."

Nodding her head in reply and taking in the words of the two Dark Council members, Kari then realized the position they were putting themselves in just by being around her, where the Dark Empress then told the two Dark Lords with a sincere tone. "I thank you both for informing me of all of this, as I am sure it is forbidden for you to take sides in this rite."

"Officially, I am here to inform you of the challenge and to witness the Rite of Ascension, nothing more." Azaghast merely said in reply, before adding though with his own dark determination. "Unofficially, I want to see whatever scheme Maligon is planning brought down. You yourself have already proven to be a far more potential asset to the Dark Realm, and your connection to Lord Shadow only increases that idea. I will not see the Dark Realm destabilized because of Maligon's pride and arrogance."

Kari smiled behind her face mask upon hearing Azaghast's words, now realizing that he was indeed a powerful ally of Dark Davis'.

The shadowy Dark Lord did not care for power, he was already upon the Dark Council, the highest position of power beneath the Dark Emperor.

All Azaghast cared for was the stability and superiority of the Dark Realm, and if that meant holding a strong relationship with Dark Davis, then he would do what he could to make sure the Shadow was pleased.

Eventually, the trio arrived at a series of large doors, which opened before them, where Kari not only saw her servants in the Dark Imperium and the Digi-heroes of the DDF before her, but Fire Davis and his allies standing off to the side as Dark Davis directed the dark robed servants as they finished creating a ritual circle on the ground, one with runes that reminded Kari of the Dark Ark that gave her the Obscarian power.

Desred, meanwhile, was reading from an ancient tome, one with the same markings upon the cover, while Cyoton, Sythial and Orphiais stood around, acting as protection in the event the Rite did not go as planned.

Steeling herself for yet another ritual and another rite of passage, Kari stepped forward into the room, ready to finally tame the darkness within her and use that power to crush Maligon once and for all.

Approaching Kari and the Dark Council members, who he nodded to in respect, Dark Davis then informed his beloved. "The ritual is simple enough, you and I will stand at the centre of the circle, where we will be transported, at least mentally, within your mind and to the source of the Obscarian energy within you, where we will be confronted by some of the past rulers of the dark elven empire. We will then show them that you are worthy of carrying on their legacy and they will grant you their full power, ending this struggle against you and the darkness within once and for all, allowing you access to more power than anyone in this room."

"If I may, Lord Shadow?" Azaghast then questioned, gaining Dark Davis' attention as the shadowy Dark Lord then said to him. "I would like to be the one to participate in the Rite with Lady Kamiya."

Not only did the Shadow raise an eyebrow to this, but so did most of those present in the room, where Dark Davis asked in reply. "Wouldn't that go against your neutrality?"

"It might, but out of the two of us, I have more experience with the Obscarian." Azaghast replied, his words allowing all present to know just how old he was, that he was there during the multiversal war and encountered the Obscarian in the past, before he then told Dark Davis. "Consider this one of my debts fulfilled."

As everyone looked to the Shadow for his reply, Dark Davis looked towards his fiery counterpart, seeing Fire Davis look at him with a warning for if things go bad, before the Shadow nodded in reply.

"Very well. Both of you please move to the centre." Dark Davis then gestured.

Nodding in reply, both Kari and Azaghast moved into the ritual circle, where the Shadow's necromancers began chanting and channeling energy into the circle as Dark Davis and the others watching as the runes upon the ground lit up with a dark purple energy, before the Dark Empress and the Dark Council member were enveloped within a pillar of misty shadows.

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As the darkness around her cleared and faded away, Kari found that while Azaghast still remained by her side, four thrones now stood before the Dark Empress, each seated with a dark and spectral being.

Looking upon the individuals, Kari saw that there were two males and two females amongst the group, each clad within dark armour and black robes as spike-like protrusions emerged from out of their shoulder pads, gauntlets and their helmets, leaving their glowing and menacing red eyes showing through the eye slits.

Upon further inspection, the former Digidestined of Light noticed two of the individuals, one male and one female held a pair of matching dark blades within their possessions, while the other two held staves, this showing the difference between the warrior rulers and the magic rulers.

Gazing upon Kari, the Obscarian Warrior Emperor then spoke with a voice filled with authority and disdain. "This? This is what has become of our legacy, of our empire?! A broken memory wielded by a child obsessed with love and vengeance that allies with the filth of Nexus?!"

About to speak and defend herself, Kari was then cut off as the Wizard Emperor then spoke up and told his warrior counterpart. "Speak for yourself. I have looked through her eyes and seen what she has built with our power, an empire that rivals our own. And with the Darkness of Nexus at her command, her potential is limitless."

"And we are to just accept that? To have a mere human command our power and aid the enemy?!" The Wizard Empress then questioned, where Kari felt her frustration growing as she had yet to speak for herself.

"Our war ended long ago." Azaghast then commented, gaining the attention of the four Obscarian rulers. "And while we became trapped within our world, your world ended, your people died out, their memory erased, save for a single ark of power floating in the void."

Gesturing toward Kari with a shadowy hand, the Dark Council member then told the four rulers before him. "But through her, your memory lives once again. Through her, your legacy can be restored and rise to an even greater future. Through her, the Obscarian Empire will live forever!"

Seemingly examining Kari, Azaghast then nodded his head, allowing the Dark Empress to know that she could speak, where the former Digidestined stepped forward and addressed the four Obscarian rulers.

"With your blessings and your power, I will carry the Obscarian legacy... I will see your people's name remembered for all time, not just in books or tales, but in the fear I will carve into the hearts of those who stand against me and my beloveds. I will rebuild my empire in honour of the Obscarian and rule it until time itself ends. Grant me your blessings so that I may crush my enemies and stand alongside my loves forever, or let me die and remain forgotten forever, a legacy of nothing." The Dark Empress declared with a dark glare as she looked upon the spirits seated before her.

If he still had a face, Azaghast would've smirked upon hearing the fiery determination and the threat within Kari's voice.

It indeed seemed that the lost of her beloved, of the Shadow and his variants, had turned the girl of love and light he had heard so much about into a fierce, ambitious and conniving individual, into a perfect Dark Lord, and the Dark council member was quite eager to seeing what the future held for the Dark Empress.

Looking between one another, the spirits of the four Obscarian rulers nodded to each other, though the Warrior Emperor remained reluctant, before all four slammed their swords and staves into the ground before them and the darkness once again enveloped Kari and Azaghast as they heard the Wizard Emperor announce. "Hail, Kari Kamiya, Empress of the Obscarian Empire, may her reign be eternal!"

When the darkness faded, Kari and Azaghast found themselves back within the ritual room of the Dark Citadel, with Dark Davis, Fire Davis and the others looking on with concern, hope and intrigue.

Looking at her hand, Kari raised her right arm and channelled a sense of newfound energy within her palm and formed a sphere of darkness.

The Dark Empress felt more power coursing through her then ever before, the former Digidestined now knowing that her initial trials had passed, and only Maligon now stood in her way of her future with her beloveds.

"She has passed the rite and is now the Empress of the Obscarian Empire." Azaghast told all within the chamber, the news causing both Davises to express small and relieved sighs at the knowledge that Kari was safe from the power that was destroying her from within.

The Dark Council member then looked upon the Dark Empress and atold her. "And now, you must prepare for the Rite of Dark Combat."

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Re-gathered within the grand hall, Kari and those new to Nexus, as well as those from the Fire Realm, sat as Azaghast explained the upcoming battle to them. "The Rite of Dark Combat is a battle of power, not just between the Dark Lords themselves, but those who serve them."

"While Lady Kamiya and Lord Maligon will be within the Dark Council's chamber for their own battle, your armies and Maligon's will meet upon the designated battlefield, and will clash for supremacy, which will end when the commanders of one side are wiped out or surrender, or all forces loyal to that Dark Lord are eliminated." The Dark Council Member then explained, surprising most within the room, while Arcturusmon held an expression upon his face at the idea of a heated battle that could spell death for the losers.

"So, basically, we will need to bring in some of our own forces from the Digital World to fight this battle." Shoutmon then commented, while Mikey was already trying to figure out the logistics of the battle and wondered what forces they could bring into Nexus within the next three days.

"Our forces might have a tough time dealing with Dark Realm creatures, especially after what happened to the DDF rogue forces." Marcus remarked, his words causing many in the room to shiver as they remembered the horrid battle between those who tried to arrest Kari and the undead forces that ripped them apart.

Thinking for a moment, the Dark Empress then looked to her allies and expressed her fair interest. "What if they were infused with Dark Mana?"

To the question, most within the room, especially the DDF members, looked to Kari with mixed reactions, with those who once stood against the Dark Empress having once feared this possibility, that her forces would gain the power of the Dark Realm and use its power against them.

But now, the situation had changed, where Mikey then told Kari with a serious tone. "We need to warn our soldiers beforehand that once this is done, they won't be able to return home to the Digital World, they will remain here for the rest of their lives."

"I am pretty certain their loyalty to Kari will win out over that possibility." Takato then said in response, the former leader of the Tamers was more than willing to stay and fight for Kari, given that in his mind, he had no home to return to.

Continuing in his explanation, Azaghast then told the Dark Empress and all present. "Likewise, a Dark Lord participating within the Rite of Dark Combat may call upon their allies within the Pyramid they serve in to aid, with the exception of the Dark Council member ruling it."

"And since Lord Shadow is not a part of the Dark Council, while you are a part of his pyramid, you may call upon his forces to fight alongside yours." The Dark Council member then said to the Dark Empress, who looked briefly to see the dark glint within Dark Davis' eyes and knew that he was prepared to do anything for her.

"But keep in mind that Maligon will also be able to bring in his own forces of his own to challenge that power." Ainz then said.

Receiving the attention of Kari and the others, the skeletal Dark Lord then finished explaining the Rite. "Once enough forces on either side of conflict are near defeat, you and Maligon will then battle, the Dark Council... and the Dark Emperor himself, as your witnesses. It is a fight to the death."

"Then I will make certain he stays dead this time." Kari replied with a cold chill in her tone as she remained ready to deal with her old enemy once and for all.

Nodding in reply and respect, Azaghast and Ainz prepared to leave, with the shadowy Dark Lord informing those before him. "We will take our leave then. Lord Shadow will help you the rest of the way in preparing for the Rite. We shall see you again in three days."

"Before you leave, I have another question, one regarding the second Eternal Lord that favoured me." Kari then said, getting not only the two Dark Council members' attention, but everyone else's as Dark Davis questioned. "You mean Lady Azara?"

Nodding in reply, the Dark Empress then questioned. "She told me 'Our stories are not so different', what did she mean by that?"

Feeling her curiosity grow as she watched Azaghast, Ainz and Dark Davis look between one another, the two council members nodded to the Shadow, informing him that he could speak, before disappearing in dark wisps and causing Kari to look upon the dark variant of her beloved.

"What she means is that your stories are almost the same... to a point." Dark Davis said in reply, before he then told the love of his life. "Long ago, before the Veil, before the War, Azara was an elven queen, a being of life within the Nature Realm, who ruled alongside the love of her life, an elven king named Alacard."

"Their love was considered the stuff of fairy tales, a love that could never be broken, and through that love, they brought forth many children and created some of the most powerful of the elven kingdoms within the Nature Realm." The Shadow then went on to say.

Looking upon Kari, Dark Davis then said with a serious tone. "However, there were those who were jealous of the pair, not only for their love for each other, but for their success, and eventual, the jealous rivals struck, killing Alacard and throwing his corpse into the fires of a volcano, where Azara chased after him, desperate to save her beloved as her enemies slew the firstborn of her children."

"However, Azara survived her ordeal, emerging from the fires with her flesh gone, leaving only her charred skeleton, which clenched Alacard's heart within her hand. In her pain and rage, she called out to the Dragon Gods to give her the power to seek her vengeance, and Mordrakus replied."

"Gifted with the power of death, Azara rose the kingdom of her firstborn into a legion of the dead, the very same that follows her to this day, where she wage war upon those who wronged her and Alacard, slaughtering their people and unleashing her pain and hatred upon her enemies." Dark Davis then told Kari and the others, with most seeing the similarities between Azara and what Kari had gone through, who had blamed the world for Davis' supposed death, communing with a dark power and waging a war of vengeance against those she believed wronged her and her love.

"However, even after killing her enemies, Azara could not let go of the pain, of the sorrow of not having her beloved alongside her, and thus sought his resurrection, using Alacard's heart and blood gathered from their living children, who fought against their Dark Mother and what she had become." The Shadow then went on to say, his words also causing a few to shiver as they remembered the event that led to them learning of Davis' survival, of how Kari attempted to resurrect Davis as a Digital God, only to learn that the ritual would not work due to him still being alive and upon Nexus.

"But this, however, is where your story and hers diverge." Dark Davis then stated, confusing most as he continued the tale. "For while Azara was successful in bringing Alacard back from the dead, the elven king was a being of life and peace, and he was horrified by what his beloved had become and of the horrors she had committed in his name."

"He spurred their love and left Azara, seeking to find his children and rebuild their kingdoms of old, but as the saying goes, 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.'." The Shadow then commented with a dark glint within his eyes.

"Enraged that Alacard would abandon her, that he would turn on their love, Azara decided to teach her beloved a lesson, to make him taste, even for a moment, the hate that consumed her eternally. And thus, the Dark Mother resurrected some of her and Alacard's first children, who at her direction, taunted and belittled the elven king, filling him with rage he had never experienced in his life." Dark Davis told Kari, his words unnerving a few as they started to comprehend what happened next.

"It is a terrifying thing to see a god of life wish death upon anyone." The Shadow told the others, before adding with a dark glee within his tone. "Alacard's fury manifested in the form of a horrid beast makes from the very earth itself, which went on a rampage, killing thousands before it was brought down. And when the beast was felled and Alacard realized what he had done, his mind shattered, splitting into two personas, the wise elven king and a raging animal, where he went into hiding, emerging every now and then in one persona or another as he tried to aid his children."

"And every time he appears, Azara is waiting to remind him of what he turned his back on." Dark Davis then said as he finished his dark tale, his words shaking a few to such a twisted and deep story.

However, most of those new to Nexus then felt concern as Kari then expelled a light chuckle, causing everyone to look at her as she held an understanding look within her eyes.

"Do not waste the gift you have been given." Kari said as she repeated the rest of Azara's words, before looking not only at Dark Davis, but Fire Davis as well as the Dark Empress remarked. "She wasn't talking about her favour, she was talking about your love for me."

Smiling softly, Fire Davis then told Kari with a fair amount of love in his voice. "I can't see any of us ever turning our backs on you, Kari, we love you too much to just let you go."

Nodding in agreement, Dark Davis then commented with a serious tone. "For now, we must prepare for the Rite. Summon your forces Kari, we have a battle to win and a vampire to put down once and for all!"

Nodding her head in reply, Kari then turned to face the Digi-heroes and heroines that sided with her in the Dark Imperium, where she told Mikey and those before her. "You have all sacrificed so much for me. Betraying your friends and family, turning against the world you swore to protect..."

"Following me for a promise I didn't even know if I could keep." She then added as she looked at Takato, Guilmon, Jeri, Kenta and Cythllamon, before continuing on. "All to help me. I don't have the right to ask this, but I am. Will you follow me into battle one last time?"

Looking amongst one another, Matt, Gabumon, Yolei and the rest amongst the Dark Imperium heroes and heroines all stood up and gave their Empress a bow, a sight that left the DDF members in awe, before they too refocused on the task at hand.

There was a battle coming and they all needed to prepare.

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Within the halls of the Vampire Clans' section of the Dark Capital, Maligon looked down from a ledge as he saw his forces gathering.

Along with the skeletal forces most common within a Dark Lord's legion, Maligon also had legions of vampiric servants at his command as well, from knightly warriors who fought with a dark honour and taste for blood, to feral half, man half bat creatures that made up the majority of the Vampires in Nexus, creatures who lost themselves to the hunger for blood and devolved into ravenous beasts that were either crawled on the ground or flew with mutated bat wings that replaced their arms, all while being loyal to the Dark Lord masters.

Likewise, the vampiric Dark Lord had legions of spectral forces, all of which were at the Wraith's command, all of which would follow Maligon's forces into battle and overwhelm the weak forces of the Dark Imperium and the Shadow's own legion.

Grinning madly, Maligon felt he could almost taste his vengeance, to see all his ambitions finally come to fruition, and not even the Digidestined or their friends would be able to stop him this time.

"It seems you are almost ready, Lord Maligon." A feminine voice then remarked.

Turning, Maligon took in the sight of the one he had allied with since his arrival within Nexus, the Blood Queen, Lady Vaddik.

Vaddik was a dark being who was clad in blood red robes with gold bat designs along her outfit, the vampiric Dark Council member held the appearance of a young girl in her mid-twenties who had long white hair flowing down her back, twin golden claw-like gauntlets, red gems upon her being and a pair of large bat-like wings sprouting from her back.

And while her body and pale skin could be seen, Vaddik's face was covered in a golden death mask, showing only her dark purple eyes and a pair of pointed ears, while a pair of bat wings extended upward from the sides of her mask, giving her a dark and regal appearance.

Though only admitting it to himself, Maligon found his dark Mistress to be quite beautiful, not only in her appearance, but in her intellect and her power, power the former Digimon turned Dark Lord desired for himself.

But knowing that he could use Vaddik much better as an ally, at least for now, Maligon watched as the Dark Council member approached the ledge and looked down upon the gathering forces, where she then told her subordinate. "I will grant you a regiment of my elite knights for the battle, use them well."

"Thank you, my Lady." Maligon said with great respect within his voice, while Vaddik continued to look out upon the forces below.

"You are moving ahead with our plan much sooner than I expected." The Dark Council member then commented, adding as her dark purple eyes shifted toward Maligon. "I do hope that your desire for vengeance against the Shadow and this... girl, has not clouded your judgement."

"I can assure you, Lady Vaddik, nothing will interfere with the plan." Maligon replied with a dark grin as he too resumed looking upon his forces."

"I do not care if the Shadow aids her, or that Noctus and Azara have favoured her, the former child of Light will finally die at my hands and new order shall rise with us ruling a new Dark Realm!" The vampiric Dark Lord declared with a wicked laugh, feeling his victory already assured.

So caught up within his desire for vengeance, Maligon didn't take note of how Vaddik flinched at the mention of Azara, where the Dark Council member merely nodded in reply to Maligon's declaration and took her leave.

And all the while, the Wraith watched the scene from the shadows as he narrowed his eyes.

Everything was going according to plan.

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Author's Note: Kari finally has full control over her power and prepares to deal with Maligon, but what is the former Digimon turned Dark Lord's real plans? Stay tuned as the adventure continues.