Within the Dark Palace, the centre of authority within the Dark Realm, Kari followed a pair of Bone Guards as she entered a massive chamber, the Chamber of the Dark Council.
Looking around, the Dark Empress saw that, unlike the Chamber of the Council of Fire Lord, the thrones of the Dark Council were arranged in two rows, six on the left and six on the right, with Azaghast, Ainz and four other Dark Lords seated on her left hand side, while Ravage, Hades, Vaddik and three more members of the council sat on their thrones on her right side.
Meanwhile, standing on the far side of the centre isle and grinning at the former Digidestined, Maligon held a familiar dark and wicked glint within his eyes, the vampiric Dark Lord uncaring in the slightest to the dark power emanating from Kari, or from the new weaponry within her possession, not with the power he secretly wielded.
It didn't matter how the younger Kamiya had changed, as far as he believed she was still the same scared little girl Wizardmon threw his life away to protect.
Off to the side and seated within black marble stands provided for them, Fire Davis, Julie, Caleb, Victor, Kenji, Gennai, Jun, Suzie, Terriermon and Lopmon sat silently as they watched Kari move before the Dark Council and Maligon, each of the narrowing their eyes as they looked upon the vampiric Dark Lord.
With the Dark Citadel about to become a part of the battle, it was no longer a safe place for those who cannot fight, and thus the group was invited by the Dark Council to sit in and observe both battles alongside them but were also unable to interfere in any way.
From his seat and with clenched fists, Fire Davis felt his anger growing.
He felt powerless to do anything to help Kari, especially against their oldest of enemies, all because of old traditions and ancient alliances.
All the fire champion could do was put his faith within Kari and his dark variant as he watched the events that were about to unfold.
As those gathered remained in silence for a moment, a sense of dread and despair then filled the room, a darkness seeping into the room as Kari looked past Maligon and toward a large black marble throne, one with a statue of Mordrakus looming over it as the darkness moved to the throne and gradually took form.
When it finished, the Dark Empress and all else within the chamber saw a large being, one that was the same size as the Fire Emperor, a dark entity clad in dark armour with dark skulls as shoulder pads, each with blade-like spikes emerging from the foreheads, and a dark purple gem upon his chest, while the being's head was encased in a dark helmet, one with a crown of bone spikes upon the top and a half skull mask covering the face, leaving only a pair or dark purple eyes shining through the eye slits.
Even more terrifying, wherever one could see into the armour, darkness seeped out of the being, revealing that underneath the armour, this individual was only a living shadow, much like Azaghast, but one far more powerful, this letting Kari and those newer to the Dark Realm know that this was the Dark Emperor himself, where the ruler of the Dark Realm sat back upon his throne as he kept his eyes upon the Dark Empress and her challenger.
Remembering what Dark Davis had told her beforehand, Kari knew that the Emperor would not speak, not until the Rite of Dark Combat was over and if he so choose to, where the Dark Empress then allowed herself to focus back on Maligon, who remained with an arrogant and dark look upon his expression.
"My lords, ladies and our great Emperor." Maligon then said with a flair of theatrics, the vampiric Dark Lord gesturing toward Kari as he told the Dark Council and the Dark Emperor with a continued superiority. "I have declared this challenge to correct the most grievous of wrongs against our great Realm, the introduction of a weak child into the ranks of the mighty Dark Lords of Nexus!"
Narrowing her eyes, Kari remained silent as she looked to Azaghast, whose shadowy hand raised a finger, indicating to her to keep quiet and to just allow Maligon his moment.
"You seem convinced that there was a mistake in her initiation, Lord Maligon." Hades remarked, gaining the vampiric Dark Lord's attention as he then said. "Even though she passed the Trials of the Dark Lord and is sponsored by Lord Shadow himself, our Emperor's own champion."
Mentally growling at the reminder that a variant of one of the humans he hated the most was in a higher position of power than himself, Maligon regained his composure and told Hades with a small smirk. "Despite our... Champion's past successes, in this case, along with his counterparts, he has thought more with his dick than his head."
Clenching his fist, Fire Davis fought back the urge to summon his rifle and put a bullet through Maligon's head, especially when the vampire sent him a devious smirk as he knew that the fire champion could do nothing but watch the conflict.
However, Maligon's mood turned sour when Ravage spoke up and then demanded. "If she is such an affront and so weak, why haven't you killed her yet?"
Narrowing his eyes at the Dark Council member, Maligon told Ravage. "That is why we are here, to see justice is finally met."
"The Rite of Dark Combat is a child's game. Murder has no rules!" Ravage commented in annoyance, the Dark Council member already being aware of Maligon's plans and calling him out on his ploy, even if his words unnerved Fire Davis and those around him.
"The Rite of Dark Combat is an honoured tradition, one that many in this very room have taken part of in the past!" Maligon said with a small growl, reigning in his anger that Ravage was calling him out, before narrowing his eyes as Azaghast then spoke.
"The Question remains, why has this child, this weakling as you call her, proven so difficult to kill in the past?" The shadowy Dark Lord then questioned, bringing his finger down and allowing Kari to speak, the brunette gaining a smirk behind her own face mask.
"It is simple, my lords, my friends and I beat him at his own games." The Dark Empress said with a dark glint in her eyes as she looked at Maligon. "Twice he has tried to manipulate us and to bring us down, only to be brought to his own ruin, with the first time hiding as a shadow of a poor yet humble man, and now as a poor excuse of a Dark Lord."
"And let it be known that even though he calls me weak, with all the power he once had, he crossed to another world to hunt me down, all because he was afraid of what I would end up doing to him. He let a prophecy run his life and it made him a coward to the idea of a little girl bringing him down." The Dark Empress finished with a sly grin, which grew as Maligon glared at her with a growing rage and hatred.
"Don't you dare mock me, child!" The vampiric Dark Lord growled, rage filling him that the accursed Digidestined of Light had the gall to make fun of him for his past failures.
"I swear, if you don't silence him, then I will!" Ravage whispered to Vaddik in a fair annoyance, his words heard by Maligon and only enraging the vampire even more, who silently vowed to make Ravage and the rest of the Council pay once his plan was complete.
"Enough talk, let the Rite of Dark Combat begin!" Ainz then declared as a vision pool formed before the council, the Emperor, Kari, Maligon and those watching.
"Let the Armies of the Dark Empress and Lord Maligon prove their worth!"
At that moment, darkness formed within the Dark Emperor's right hand, turning into a dark blade, which he then slammed into the ground, sending out a screeching shockwave, one that passed through the vision pool and was heard by all upon the battlefield, declaring that the Rite of Dark Combat, and thus the battle itself had begun.
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"What the heck is that?!" HiAndromon questioned as the echoing sound bellowed all around the area.
"That is the signal." Dark Davis simply said in reply as he looked and saw Maligon's forces had begun their charge against them, where the Shadow then said with a dark glee. "The battle has begun!"
Withdrawing Shadow's Wrath and directing it toward his foes, the Shadow set forth the signal as his own forces charged to meet their enemies, while the Dark Imperium wore special visors that would allow them to tell their allies from their enemies due to an aura they emitted, the forces then opened fire with their Dark Mana infused weaponry.
From the Dark Citadel and the Dark Realm ships on both sides of the battle, swarms of fighters launched from the hangers, black ships with twin jagged wings and twin blades extending from the cockpit as they unleashed blasts of dark energy at their foes, adding their firepower to the battle in the air as the forces loyal to Kari clashed with those loyal to Maligon.
"Supreme Cannon!"
"Heaven's Thunder!"
"Fatal Flame!"
Unleashing their attacks simultaneously, Omnimon, Susanoomon and GrandGoldramon joined their temporary allies as they struck down many of the skeletal beings who served Maligon, before the trio looked as Lilithmon, Barbamon, Belphemon and Leviamon rushed past them, the Demon Lords imbued with Dark Mana as they cut through the vampiric soldiers before them.
With the new power coursing through them, the four Demon Lord's appearance changed, each gaining shadowy wings in place of their original wings, while Leviamon gained wings and a pair of long horns.
The Demon Lords had bone-like armour over their beings, giving the four an intimidating and even more wicked appearance.
Likewise, Lilithmon gained a dark scythe which she swung with a dark delight, Barbamon's staff had transformed and now wrapped itself around his right arm, giving the two Demon Lords an even darker look to their features.
"That's going to take some getting used to." Tai remarked as he looked over the Dark infused Demon Lords, before the Digidestined of Courage, accompanied alongside Matt and TK, turned their attention toward a large group of vampiric-like creatures rushing toward them.
Drawing their own pistols and about to defend themselves, Tai, Matt and TK then stopped as Mimi moved before them, the Digidestined of Sincerity armed with a massive gatling gun, one infused with Dark Mana.
Keeping a cold glare within her eyes as she opened fire, boys were left in silent awe to Mimi's behaviour, not only to seeing how well the pink haired Digidestined handled such a weapon, but to how Mimi struck down the vampiric beasts with clear and deadly strikes of precision.
Having seen this himself, Dark Davis held an understandable expression of confusion k behind his helmet to witnessing such a savage side to the pink haired Digidestined, a feeling shared by Maligon and Fire Davis as they also watched the scene from the Council Chamber, to see the normally peace loving Digidestined of Sincerity gunning down her foes with no remorse.
"Um... did I miss something...?" Fire Davis whispered, his question causing Gennai, Jun, Suzie, Terriermon and Lopmon to all share a lighthearted sigh.
"It's her story to tell, but let's just say it's been a long five years for us." Jun merely told Fire Davis, already knowing the situation that drove Mimi to be more violent than the woman she had become, secretly praying that a certain red haired Digidestined was not in her crosshair today.
"Ultimate Adamas!"
"Trident Fall!"
"Astral Eruption!"
"Melan-Explode!"
"Eclipse Eraser!"
Unleashing their attacks as a team, Gaiamon, Poseidomon, Ouranosmon, Hadesmon and Rebootmon struck down several of the Death Dragons who fought for and sided with Maligon, striking at a few of the Dark Realm airships on the enemy's side through their midst of strength and raw power.
Floating alongside their partners upon the holographic chips, Haru, Eri, Astora, Rei, Hajime and Yujin then looked in panic as they were all surrounded by a swarm of vampiric creatures and Dark Realm fighters, of all which were about to move in and to strike down the Appli Drivers.
However, it was at that moment that the creatures loyal to Maligon were struck down by a series of dark lightning bolts, along with a familiar swarm of floating eyes that released a series of dark purple energy blasts upon their enemies.
Turning their attention over, Haru, Gatchmon and the other Appli Drivers saw Deusmon and Charismon fly past them, the Dark Mana infused Appmon moving forward and striking down their enemies all in the name of their Dark Empress.
Looking upon their former enemies and putting the past behind them, Haru and the others quickly took in their changes now that they were infused with the dark energies of Nexus, with Deusmon's armour now silver in colour, his red eyes now dark purple and the lightning coursing through him now black as night.
Meanwhile, Charismon's silver armour was now pitch black, many of his eyes glowed with a dark purple light.
The Mind Control Appmon not only displayed his new power as he wiped out a group of vampiric beings, but further showed his evident devotion to Kari's dark will.
"I know this is going to sound weird, but it's groovy having these guys on our side for once!" Astora declared as he posed and brought his thumbs and fingers up, his signature pose mimicked by Ouranosmon, while the rest of the Appli Drivers merely nodded in reply as they were still wrapping their heads around the situation, to having the three of the Appmon who nearly killed them and ended their friendships now fighting by their side.
"Eternal Darkness!" Ophanimon: DM then bellowed.
Showing her power, the former Digimon of Light extended her arms, her hands glowing with a dark aura as four spheres of dark purple energy formed around her body, which then released themselves as a series of powerful dark energy blasts, striking down a pair of Death Dragons that were charging at her and TyrantVeedramon, before the dark knight Digimon moved in front of his beloved, gathering energy within his chest piece.
"Oblivion Ray!" The Dark Mana infused form of Veemon declared as he unleashed a powerful dark blast, turning with Ophanimon: DM as they were back to back and struck down many flying foes through their sheer power and combined teamwork in the process.
Taking a moment to catch their breaths, the new Digivolutions of Veemon and Gatomon looked to their hands for a moment, the pair feeling the overwhelming power of Darkness flowing through them, a feeling which gave them a sense that they could take on the entire world and bend it to their knees if they desired.
However, the loyalty and devotion they felt toward their partners outweighed any desire of personal glory, as did the bond they shared with one another and thus allowed the two Digimon to focus on the task at hand.
"Shall we continue, my love?" TyrantVeedramon asked over his shoulder as more of the dark forces loyal to Maligon approached the duo.
Chuckling lightly, Ophanimon: DM replied with a dark smile behind her mask. "Oh, yes. It feels like everyone we kill is another stab at that bastard, and I want to make sure he suffers before Kari kills him!"
About to move in and to continue in their battle as one, TyrantVeedramon and Ophanimon: DM stopped as a series of dark energy blasts shot past them and destroyed a flight of Dark Realm fighters, where the Dark Digimon turned to see Belezar floating before them.
"While I do admire your enthusiasm, we need to focus on more... important targets." The Shadow Demon remarked, adding as he looked behind the pair. "Such as our friend approaching us, Maligon's personal pet."
To the sound of a sudden and loud shriek, TyrantVeedramon and Ophanimon: DM turned around to see a massive beast flying toward them, a horrid cross between a dragon and a bat.
Keeping itself within the dark sky with four massive wings, each emanating with darkness, the remainder of the beast's body held four claw-like hands and a menacing bat's head, the beast gave out a fearsome shriek toward its foes.
"Comatzar, a powerful, yet feral Death Dragon." Belezar informed TyrantVeedramon and Ophanimon: DM as they looked upon the menacing beast, before the Shadow Demon then said with a dark glee. "And he is our opponent in this battle."
Nodding in reply, TyrantVeedramon and Ophanimon: DM prepared to fight alongside Belezar and to defeat their latest foe, as well as to put another dent into Maligon's plans.
All around the battlefield, the forces loyal to Dark Davis and Kari continued to battle their foes, with Orphiais cutting through her enemies as she led a host of spectral forces against Maligon's legions, while Sythial lead her more superior vampiric forces against the enemy's skeletal warriors, ripping their enemies apart and from limb by limb.
Likewise, Cyoton and Desred led the Bone Guard against the feral vampires, using their superior fighting skills, tactics and a phalanx formation to cut through the feral creatures with ease.
Aiding within the fight and providing what assistance they could, Siriusmon, Diarbbitmon and Amphimon found themselves in a situation they had never dreamt of, fighting alongside Arcturusmon.
As the forces of human and Digimon battled a large group of Chimera, Hiro, Ruli and Kyoshiro remained at a safe distance from upon HoverEspimon's back, the trio acting as emotional support and doing what they could to aid their partners within their battle.
While Siriusmon, Diarbbitmon and Amphimon remained united, fighting with skill and shared teamwork, Hiro and the others took in Arcturusmon's changes since his infusion with Dark Mana.
Looking over Arcturusmon and seeing that his wings were now made of pure darkness, along with the array of drills-like protrusions connected to his body, the Dark Digimon seemed even more insane than they remembered.
Though he knew he would no longer be able to challenge the Endbringer one day and avenge his world, Arcturusmon could only find himself sated with the power he now wielded and looked forward to crushing anyone who dared oppose him, evident as he all but crushed the skull of one of the vampiric abominations with his foot.
On the ground below and using a makeshift trench to act as protection while Arresterdramon: SM fought to his fullest, Tagiru fired several shots from the rifle provided to him, the brunette taking out a trio of feral vampires, but found several more to take place of their fallen brethren and to charge toward him.
Growling in frustration to the massing forces, the brown haired Superstar was about to let out a few more shots, but froze up when several blasts of dark energy shot past him and struck through his foes.
Turning, Tagiru looked over with a mix of confusion and a small sense of uncertainty, to see Nene, who was wielding a pair of pistols infused with Dark Mana then move to his side and to help him against the waves of enemies.
"Why are you here, Nene?" Tagiru found himself asking as he fired a few more shots at a group of oncoming enemies.
Keeping his eyes upon the battle but remaining bitter, Tagiru then said with some sarcasm in his tone. "I figured you'd be checking in on Yuu and Airu."
"I came here to check on you!" The former idol snapped in reply as she also took aim and fired upon the vampiric beasts charging against her and at Tagiru, while frowning at the brown haired Superstar's attitude.
In the years that followed the battle with Quartzmon and up to Davis' supposed death, Tagiru and Nene had grown close as friends, the Superstar putting his childish crush aside and getting to know Nene as a true friend, unaware and oblivious of the growing feeling she began to hold for him.
"Do I really need to explain myself?!" Nene then questioned as she and Tagiru continued to fire at the charging foes, but remained with tense tension between one another, part of Nene still desperate for Tagiru to try and understand her.
"Will you two just focus on the battle?!" Arresterdramon: SM practically screamed with an understandable annoyance within his voice as he flew past his partner and slammed into a row of skeletal enemies, accompanied alongside JetMervamon, who flew above and unleashed a barrage of electrical blasts upon their foes.
Teasing Tagiru and Nene, JetMervamon then remarked. "You can both have make up sex after we finish up here."
Leaving their partners and continuing to focus on the battle, Arresterdramon: SM and JetMervamon didn't see the looks of shock upon Tagiru and Nene's faces, nor the deep blushes they gained as they tried not to look at one another in a more romantic sense.
Not too far off from Tagiru and Nene's position, ShadowGallantmon, Justimon, Rika, HiAndromon, Jeri, Kenta and Cythllamon found themselves back to back as they fought off a swarm of feral vampires, the two Infected humans and Infected Digimon, along with the hybrid power Rika now wielded allowed the group to hold back their foes and to retaliate.
As Justimon and HiAndromon did their best to support their teammates, each felt a strange sense of nostalgia at having the original Digimon Tamers fighting side by side, save a few missing from this reunion.
Speaking through his Biomerged form, Kazu asked the others as he cut through a vampiric creature trying to attack him. "Can I just say something?"
"Focus on the battle, Kazu!" Takato yelled through ShadowGallantmon, the Infected Tamer wanting to remain focused on the fighting instead of dealing with anything else.
"No, I need to say this!" Kazu snapped as HiAndromon slammed his fist into a feral vampire and sent it flying, before he then confessed through his Biomerged form. "I'm sorry, ok! I am sorry for everything. I was scared and panicked, and in doing so I lost several good friends... I should have let you guys speak, I should have been there for all of you... I'm sorry!"
"All of us are sorry." Rika said in reply and with a sincerity within her voice.
Tapping into and with great control over her power, Rika unleashed a gathering of spiritual foxes upon her foes, the kitsune spirits tearing through their enemies and allowing the red haired hybrid to look amongst her friends, to express herself further. "We let fear, pain... even some of us, jealousy, cloud our judgement, we saw a threat when we should have seen people in need of help."
"But no matter what happens now, we won't rest until we have our friends back, no matter what they are now!" Justimon then said as he slammed his fist into a Chimera that came charging at him, expressing his own sincerity and his desire to have his friends back.
Remaining silent, but smiling behind their masks nonetheless, ShadowGallantmon, Jeri, Kenta and Cythllamon felt some peace with what their friends had said, which left the Infected Digimon Tamers that more determined to live through this fight and to find a cure to the virus inflicting them.
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Continuing to watch the screen and despite seeing his forces being decimated, Maligon remained with a familiar and arrogant smirk.
Shaking his head as he looked upon the Dark Mana infused Digimon and the beings known as Appmon, there was part, a very small fragment of the vampiric Dark Lord which admired their strength, but was also disappointed in their loyalty.
Perhaps if they survive, he'll give them a chance to kneel before him and his new regime, a thought that left the vampiric Dark Lord smiling.
That smile briefly turned into a frown, however, when Ravage spoke up.
"You call this an elite force, Maligon? This is an embarrassment!" He told the vampiric Dark Lord with a growing annoyance in his tone.
"This is merely the introduction, Lord Ravage." Maligon said in reply, looking upon the vision pool as his smirk grew. "Now the real terror begins!"
The sound of rumbling then caught the attention of Dark Davis, his friends and allies upon the battlefield, where looking past Maligon's air forces, the Shadow and his forces saw a massive storm cloud approaching.
But upon closer examination, however, those fighting for Kari quickly realized that it wasn't a cloud at all, but a conglomeration of souls, a vast and monstrous legion of spectral beings, and at the head and upon a ghostly horse with wings was the Wraith, who surveyed the battlefield as his legions prepared to join the battle.
"Now, all who have dared to ally themselves with this child will learn the true meaning of fear!" Maligon declared with an insane and maniacal laugh, with Kari, Fire Davis, those around him and even Vaddik feeling nervous as they looked upon the massive spectral host.
Seeing the mass of spirits, Dark Davis held his hand up as his necromancers prepared to use a series of spells to hold their ghostly foes back, while the rest of his allies and forces regrouped and prepared to deal with this new threat.
With an inhuman shriek, the Wraith held his sword out as his ghostly servants rushed down like a dark tide... and began slaughtering their own allies.
"Wait, what the hell?!" Airu then questioned to the sight before her, the Digimon Hunter watching as the spectral army swooped downwards and began striking down Maligon's other forces and even destroying the airships in the process.
Back in the Dark Council chamber, Maligon held an expression of confusion and shock, which was shared by most witnessing this betrayal.
Even Vaddik couldn't understand what was happening, while Fire Davis, Julie and Caleb remained puzzled by this turn of events.
Why was Maligon's most trusted right hand turning on him, and now of all times?
"Oh, ho oh, what an entertaining plot twist!" One of the other Dark Council members commented, one with a mask that always reminded Fire Davis of Cthulhu, who then let out an insane chuckle as he watched the turn of events.
"Traitor!" One of the vampiric Dark Lords on the battlefield bellowed as he tried to charge at the Wraith, only to have his head severed from his body by the spectral Dark Lord as he moved in between Maligon's lieutenants, cutting them down with inhuman speed and agility.
"I don't know how you got him to change sides, but well done." TK whispered to Dark Davis as he watched the Wraith's forces turn against their allies, believing that the Shadow was somehow responsible for this.
"I didn't do anything..." The dark variant of Davis confessed with his own understanding bewilderment, the Shadow unable to fathom why Maligon's right hand had now betrayed him.
Holding his hand out, Dark Davis reached out his mind toward the Wraith, who stopped momentarily and looked toward the Shadow, allowing him to connect with the spectral being for the first time ever.
A moment later, TK and the rest of the Digi-heroes and heroines were startled when Dark Davis let out an insane and joyous laugh, the Shadow looking toward Wraith with a dark glee as he then said. "Oh, you have been playing a long con, my friend. To think, you have been waiting patiently all this time for this moment, and now that patience has paid off!"
"So, show us what you are capable of... Henry!" The Shadow then declared with a dark joy, his words causing many upon the battlefield, especially the Tamers, to look with great shock and to then turn their attention upon the Wraith.
Back within the Dark Council chamber, Fire Davis, Gennai, Suzie, Terriermon and Lopmon leaped to their feet, shock and disbelief upon their faces, while Kari's eyes widened upon hearing the name of the friend whose life she had ended so long ago.
For a moment, the mask covering the Wraith's face vanished, revealing the face of Henry Wong to all who looked upon it, his skin paled, his hair white, along with his white eyes, showing his ghostly nature, before the mask reformed and the spectral Dark Lord resumed his killing spree upon his former allies within Maligon's service.
Gasping and shaking in disbelief and rage, Maligon couldn't believe what he was seeing, to learn that his right hand had been one of Motomiya's friends all along and was playing him from the very beginning.
How had he deceived him all these years, how did he allow himself to get played like this?!
These questions now drove Maligon crazy as he did not feel any more souls being added to the Crucible of Blood, sensing that the Wraith had cut off the flow and stopped his plans in their tracks.
Still surprised herself, Vaddik was unsure as to how she didn't see this coming, before a low and dark chuckle of amusement filled her ears, this causing the vampiric Dark Council member to turn her head toward the source of the sound and toward the Dark Emperor himself.
It was in that moment that Vaddik realized the truth, that the Emperor knew of their plans all along and had purposefully placed the Wraith with Maligon to prepare for this moment, leaving Vaddik to shake a little as she realized she needed to support the Shadow and the Dark Empress going forward.
Back upon the battlefield, the Shadow and the Wraith began to fight side by side as they cut down the remaining Dark Lords loyal to Maligon, while Dark Davis' forces, the Digi-heroes, heroines and the Dark Imperium forces began pushing back the servants of the vampiric reincarnation of Myotismon.
"You know, you could have told me who you were a while ago." Dark Davis commented to Henry as he grabbed a vampire Dark Lord and destroyed him with a great mass of dark energy, the Shadow looking over his shoulder as he told the spectral being. "I could have kept your secret."
Instead of reply, however, the Wraith sent him impressions through their link, where Dark Davis realized the situation as he then said. "You can't speak. There's a seal upon you preventing such an occurrence. Don't worry, we'll remove it once this is over."
Nodding in reply, the Wraith then disappeared from the Shadow's side, before reappearing upon the other side of the battlefield.
Now accompanying ShadowGallantmon, Rika, Justimon, HiAndromon, Jeri, Kenta and Cythllamon, the Wraith remained facing from his old friends and prepared to join Takato and the others within their onslaught.
At the same time, the rest of the Tamers held back tears of joy to have their lost friend back, even if he was a ghost.
Although emotional with this reunion, the Digimon Tamers knew they had to remain focused upon the battle before them, one they all intended to win.
Back within the Dark Council Chamber, Suzie and Terriermon were openly crying with joy.
Each placing a comforting hand upon the younger Wong's shoulders, Lopmon and Fire Davis remained supportive and kind toward the crying purple haired girl.
As he remained assuring toward Suzie, the fire champion mentally chuckled to the ironies of Nexus as his dark variant put it.
Keeping his hand upon Suzie's shoulder and remaining as a support, Fire Davis then looked to Kari, to see a light within her eyes, as though a weight and a heavy burden had been lifted from off of her.
Turning and facing Maligon, the Dark Empress held a dark glint within her eyes.
"It seems the poor excuse of a Dark Lord is you, Maligon." Ravage then commented with a sly grin, which only fueled the rage within the vampiric Dark Lord.
"I will not be betrayed... I will not die... I will not be defeated...!" Maligon then snapped with a growing rage as a red mist formed within his right hand.
Transforming the mist into his rune blade, Maligon then declared within his madness. "And after I kill this child, you will ALL answer for this!"
"Maligon's forces are in disarray, let the final battle of the Rite of Dark Combat begin!" Ainz then declared as he slammed his staff into the ground.
At that moment, the very floor of the chamber began to move, with the thrones of the Dark Council members lifting, along with the stands, and moving backwards, leaving only the centre area where Kari and Maligon stood floating over a dark and seemingly endless abyss.
Drawing her own sword out and holding both her blade and staff within a fighting position, the Dark Empress prepared for her final battle with Maligon, ready to end this threat to her future and to those she loved once and for all.
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Author's Note: The Wraith's true identity has been revealed, and with it, the battle has completely turned in favour of our heroes and heroines, but what of Kari's battle with Maligon, or the battle between Belezar, TyrantVeedramon and Ophanimon: DM vs Comatzar? Stay tuned as the battle continues.
PS: The Dark Realm fighters are based off of the ship Unfinal Shape from Destiny 2.
