With the Breach closed and the Urgothian invaders driven back, a small sense of peace spread over Eiganjo, with the city's defenders, alongside their allies, both old and temporary from the other Realms, had allowed themselves a chance to breathe after such a harrowing battle against their ancient foes.
However, those of Nexus still sensed a growing tension as they turned their attention upon their newer allies.
Watching as the DDF forces that arrived from the Digital World and the soldiers of the Dark Imperium glared at one another, the two armies remained waiting for the other to give them a reason to attack.
Despite the end of their conflict back home, many within the DDF found they couldn't yet forgive the Dark Empress or her minions for the crimes they had committed within the Digital World and the various Real Worlds.
The Dark Imperium's warriors shared in this feeling as well and remained uncertain about the idea of working alongside those they have fought against for the past five years, especially after learning of the underhanded tactics the DDF's rogues had employed in order to capture their leader.
"Stand down." Kari then said with a deep authority, her voice carrying through all of the Dark Imperium's comm systems, earning the compliance of all the servants of the Dark Empress.
Standing down from their aggressive stances, their loyalty to their Mistress outweighing their hatred toward their old enemies, the Dark Imperium lowered their weaponry and remained at attention.
"All forces, stand down!" TK then ordered through the DDF's comms, the Digidestined of Hope frowning as many soldiers and their commanders looked skeptical of his orders as one officer questioned with an understandable uncertainty. "Sir?"
"I said, stand down. The Dark Imperium is no longer our enemies." TK said with a growing frustration expressed within his voice, before he looked over a group of commanders and told them with a further seriousness. "We are here to stop the Urgothians and aid our allies here in Nexus. When this conflict is over, we get to go home, while the Dark Imperium will remain here. Now stand down!"
"And if we don't?" Another commander questioned back, one TK knew used to be on Carson's payroll and was not too happy about his benefactor's fate.
However, the DDF officers then fell silent and gained nervous expressions as they looked behind their commander, this causing TK to look over his shoulder as he found all five Davises, their Nexus partners and Faustian looking upon the group of commanders as Dark Davis answered the question with a dark glint in his eyes. "Or you will have to deal with all of us, got it?"
Nodding in both panic and nervousness, the DDF officers began issuing the orders for their forces to stand down, their fear of the Shadow and of what he did to their rogue forces sent by Carson, as well as the knowledge of the council member's fate, overpowering their own disdain for the Dark Imperium.
With the last tensions within the air finally fading, the various children of the Dragon Gods returned to their energy forms and entered their partners' gems, with Rika looking upon and examining her brand new gem after Ravana returned within, giving the red haired Arbiter a sense of peace she had not felt in a long time, but this too added to her confusion toward the events that had transpired and made her a champion of the Light Realm.
Putting these thoughts behind her for a moment, Rika then joined with Kari as the five Davises, their allies within Nexus, as well as all the Digi-heroes and heroines gathered around the Dark Empress in order to speak about what the Urgothians were after.
But before anyone could speak, Kari, her beloveds, their friends and allies watched as the mech that was piloted by the individual called Zim stomped toward the group, this causing the DDF Digimon and Appmon to go into defensive stances, before the tension died down and all relaxed when the machine stopped a few feet from them.
Watching with their own intrigue, the five Davises, Henry and the others of Nexus watched as the top of the mech opened and three Digi-Goblins flew out of the mechanical suit and began to float down toward the group.
However, it was the middle individual of the dark counterparts of the Digi-Gnomes that interested the five Davises the most, that unlike his other companions the lead Digi-Goblin was twice the size of the rest of his kind, rivalling both Tai and Marcus' Agumon in their height and width, a pair of black horns protruded from the goblin creature's head, while a pair of small bat-like wings flapped from behind his and kept him airborne.
"Ah, so these are the infamous Davis Motomiyas I've heard so much about!" The large Digi-Goblin then remarked, his words surprising the Davises.
The variants of Davis were not only surprised by the fact that unlike the rest of his kind, this Digi-Goblin actually had the ability to speak, but their awe increased to the fact that it was also the same voice they heard speaking from the giant mech.
"Greetings, Lords and Ladies, I am Zim, King of the Digi-Goblins and the greatest mind in the Digital World!" The being known as Zim declared with a great pride and arrogance within his voice, one that caused most of the Digi-heroes, as well as the Davises and their allies, to sweatdrop, while Kari only glared upon the Digi-Goblin with restrained annoyance.
At the same time, the Davises then watched as the two other Digi-Goblins brought their right fins up and made a gesture that silently conveyed that Zim was either exaggerating or full of himself, before stopping and acting as if nothing had happened as their leader turned to look upon them.
Returning his gaze back upon the group before him, Zim focused his attention upon the five Davises and their allies of Nexus as he told them with a great excitement. "Since we are now confined to this world, we Digi-Goblins are more than willing to share our knowledge and creative skills with those of Nexus."
"For the right price, of course." The Digi-Goblin King then added with a mischievous grin, his words and apparent greed once again causing most within the group to sweatdrop, and for Kari's rage to slowly build as she prepared to get rid of the nuisance that is Zim, no matter how good his mechanical engineering mind really was.
Before Kari, or even Imperius could chastise the arrogant Digi-Goblin, Dark Davis held out his hand to calm them down, before the Shadow approached Zim himself.
Walking himself around Zim and placing a comforting hand upon his shoulder, Dark Davis then told the Digi-Goblin King. "That is a fine offer, Zim. And, if you are indeed as smart as I have heard, and spread that offer evenly amongst all the realms, making sure you aren't taking one side over the other, why, you could become quite the rich Digi-Goblin."
For a moment, Kari and the others could have sworn Zim's eyes changed into various currency signs, before the Digi-Goblin King said with a growing smile. "I think I am going to like it here!"
Looking back at the rest of the group, Zim continued and told those before him. "And to show our great engineering, I present the greatest of the Digi-Goblins' designs!"
Waiting for a moment to see what Zim was going to show, the five Davises, along with their Nexus allies and the DDF personnel, were then surprised when everything seemed to grow darker around Eiganjo, as though something was casting a shadow, this forcing the group to look upwards and to express a shared sense of awe and shock, while Kari and the rest of the Dark Imperium's heroes and heroines held their own understanding smirks.
High above and in orbit around Nexus was a massive ship that emerged from an equally large Digi-port, the vessel nearly the size of Nexus' moons as it hovered above the world below it.
Made of the same dark material as the rest of the Dark Imperium's weapons, armour and vehicles, the ship had a long centre form with twin points at the front, forming an energy cannon similar to the normal Dark Imperium airships, while a smaller part of the ship was connected below by a large column.
From the sides of the vessel, two massive wings spread out as several large hangar bays could be seen along them, undoubtable used to repair and even build the Dark Imperium's fleet if necessary.
Looking upon the ship, however, the five Davises and their allies sensed a familiar energy emanating from it, and a large amount of it, the dark magic of the Obscarians.
"W… what is that?" Yoshi questioned with a great concern, one shared by most of the DDF as they looked upon Kari for answers.
"We were building it in the void between the Digital World and the Real Worlds, using the fragments of the Dark Ark as part of its base." The Dark Empress explained in reply, before looking upon Zim as the Digi-Goblin King continued.
"Indeed, and now, I give you the mobile capital of the Dark Imperium, the Dark Ark 2.0!" Zim declared with a delighted and maddening glee, before clearing his throat as he saw the way Kari glared at him and said with a more professionalism within his voice. "Or simply the Dark Ark. We have transferred the entire capital from the Digital World, including our factory and our Empress' citadel to its interior."
"In short, we can provide quick and rapid aid to Nexus when called upon." Kari said with her own pride, the Dark Empress eager to show her continued willingness to aid all of Nexus and her inhabitants.
Nodding in response to the brunette's words, but looking around, Light Davis then suggested. "I think it is best if we all return to the Infinite City and continue this, we need to regroup and let the inhabitants of Eiganjo repair their city. The Host of Purity is on their way and I don't think any of you want to stick around as they try to convert you to Alpharius' Light, whether you want it or not."
Nodding in reply to the Archon's words, the Digi-heroes, heroines, the Dark Empress and their allies within Nexus moved to order their forces to return to the Infinite City, so that they all could rest and prepare themselves for the next time the Urgothians would strike.
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A few hours later, the combined forces of the Realms of Nexus and the factions of the Digital World had returned through the various portals to the Infinite City, with the DDF and the Dark Imperium setting up base camps on opposite sides of the massive city, while the Dark Ark remained in orbit around Nexus, the massive mothership now hovering miles above the city below as transports brought down troops and supplies for the Dark Empress' forces.
Meanwhile, Kari, her beloveds, Rika, Henry, along with their friends and allies from both Nexus and the Digital World had regathered within the war council chamber, not only for those present to discuss with them all about their next move against the Children of Urgoth, but for Rika's formal introduction as an Arbiter of the Light Realm.
"By order of the Conclave and by the grace of the Light Empress, we welcome you, Rika Nonaka, as an Arbiter of the Light." The Conclave member representing the Light Realm on the war council said as he stood before Rika.
The respect and authority remained within their voice as he told the red haired Arbiter. "You are assigned to the Host of Justice, where you will serve under the tutelage and guidance of the Lord Archon. May your Light shine as a beckon to the innocent and a warning to those who threaten our Realm."
Bowing in respect to the Conclave member, Rika then straightened herself and looked upon Light Davis, who smiled and nodded his own head in response, before the Archon and his variants moved to speak with the representatives of the various Realms, leaving Rika with Kari, Henry, the Digi-heroes and heroines, as well as their other friends from Nexus.
'I'm still not happy about this… you know this means we're going to have to fight one another someday, right…?' Henry questioned with a small annoyance within his voice as he wasn't too happy about the fact that Rika was now a member of the Light Realm and slightly worried if Takato, Jeri or Kenta might end up in either of the realms that were enemies of the Dark Realm.
"We can always find a way around it. Even meeting here if we have to, or anywhere with the Dark Imperium, as long as they keep their neutrality, that is." The red haired Arbiter said in reply as she understood Henry's concerns, before widening her eyes as she remembered something and brought her right hand up in order for everyone to see her gem.
"By the way, this is my new partner, Ravana." Rika then informed as she introduced her Seraphic partner to her friends and allies, an action that caused many of them to kindly smile in reply.
"Nice to meet you, Ravana." Veemon said with his usual kindness and friendly nature.
"And it is good to see you all again." Ravana said in reply, speaking for the very first time as her voice held a warm and inviting tone.
Hearing the voice, however, those of the Digital World, with the exception of the Appli Drivers, their Appmon partners, Team Lirurun and their Digimon friends, found themselves in shock, while the five Davises stopped their conversations with the war council respectively and to turn their attention toward Rika's gem, for each of them knew the voice well, even if it sounded more echoey then before.
For Rika, meanwhile, the red haired Arbiter's eyes were wide with shock as she fought back tears, for hearing her new partner speak for the first time, Rika found that she knew the voice well, a voice she had longed to hear again.
Turning her gaze upon the gem, Rika then found herself asking in a shaky, but hopeful voice. "R… Renamon…?"
"Not every soul brought to Nexus is reborn as one of its normal inhabitants, some are chosen by the Dragon Gods themselves to be reborn as one of their Children." Ravana, formerly known as Renamon, explained with a kind and caring voice.
Remaining with a further and familiar trust within her voice, Ravana then said. "I have waited patiently for your arrival, Rika, and I am happy to be at your side once again."
Unable to hold back her tears, Rika brought her right hand closer to her, holding her arm as though she wanted to hug Ravana, the red haired hybrid beyond happy to have her partner back with her, alive and well, even if it is in another form.
Feeling hands upon her shoulders, Rika opened her eyes to find Takato, Jeri and the rest of the Digimon Tamers and their Digimon partners circled around her, each feeling the same sense of joy to the knowledge that their vixen friend was once more amongst them, while Henry nodded his ghostly head toward his red haired friend.
From her perspective, Kari once again felt as though another weight had been lifted from off of her shoulders, that another of her sins had been erased, while another part of her began to become suspicious as to how not only Henry, but Renamon as well had been brought to Nexus, both having been prepared for her and the others' arrival as the Dark Empress thought on the words of Nexus' rulers and her own supposed role in the future of this world.
Watching the scene from his own perspective, Water Davis remained silent as he processed not only the knowledge that Renamon had been brought to Nexus and reborn as a creature of the Light, but also the events and revelations found during the battle of Eiganjo, where he silently excused himself and existed the war council chamber to collect his thoughts.
Arriving within the same chamber he and his variants first met one another when they arrived within Nexus and were split into five, the Arch-Savant was about to begin mentally analyzing the Data he collected, only to stop when he sensed presences behind him, causing Water Davis to turn and see his variants before him, each with a serious expression upon their faces.
"Talk." Fire Davis all but demanded, a growing seriousness heard clearly within his voice. "You had a theory regarding Kari, now tell us what it is."
"There is not enough Data to…" Water Davis began to say, but found himself to be cut off as Dark Davis said with a fair annoyance. "Data or not, Gizar seems to think it can work, and therefore the rest of the Urgothians want Kari. Now what is it?!"
Looking to see his Light and Nature variants also having serious expressions upon their faces, Water Davis sighed, before the Arch-Savant began to explain to them. "With Kari's ascension to a Dark Lord and the Dark Mana balancing out the Obscarian magic within her, as well as the added bonus of the Obscarian ritual's effect, she is stable now and has full control over all of her powers."
"Theoretically, Kari should be able to now absorb even more Obscarian energy, particularly, the Obscarian energy that helps form the foundation of the Veil." The water variant of Davis then told the others, his words causing his counterparts to raise their eyes in shock.
"Without that fundamental energy source, the Veil would collapse entirely, reopening the path for Nexus to expand beyond our world and into the Multiverse." Water Davis added as his variants took in his words, as well as the meaning behind of them.
"They're trying to escape." Nature Davis remarked, his words causing his counterparts to look upon him as continued and told the others. "The Urgothians are trying to leave Nexus so they can spread Urgoth's influence across the Multiverse, and they need Kari to do it."
"Why haven't you mentioned anything about this before?" Light Davis then questioned of his watery variant, the Archon unsure as to why such important information hadn't been brought forth beforehand.
"Because I am uncertain as to what effects such a process would have upon Kari." The Arch-Savant said in reply as a growing frown expressed itself upon his face. "I do not have enough Data to know if the process would harm Kari, throw the stability of her powers off balance again, or even if she would survive such a process, a problem we all know that Gizar and the rest of the Urgothians have no care for."
Growling lightly as he clenched his fist, Dark Davis said with his own frustration. "I do not like this, not only has two of our other friends been brought here, reborn as members of this world and kept from us until the appropriate time, but now, not only has Kari been returned to us, but she is also apparently the one person capable of ending Nexus' imprisonment from the Multiverse. This is all not a coincidence!"
"The Emperors and Empresses have foreseen all of this and have done what they could to move all the pieces into place." Fire Davis remarked as he remembered the words of the various rulers of the realms, before he added with his own sigh of frustration. "The only problem is that we do not know what the end game is, or what our own roles are within it."
"Regardless of that, we have our duties to protect Nexus, as well as protecting Kari and we will not let them take her away from us!"Light Davis then said with a fiery determination within his voice.
Nodding toward one another, the five Davises returned to the war council room, keeping the knowledge of what they discussed to themselves for the moment as they tried to figure out how to keep Kari safe from Urgoth's clutches.
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Within the Urgothian realm and amongst the fiery plains that formed from Urgoth's own flames upon his form, legions of Fire Urgothians gathered and prepared themselves to strike upon Nexus, to burn it all in the name of their twisted Dragon God.
From a ridge, the Fire Urgothian ruler, Infernir, looked over his warriors with a vile and twisted sense of pride, the fiery beast ready to show the might of Urgoth's true champions and crush all before them.
"WE HAVE BEEN TRAPPED WITHIN THIS CAGE FOR EONS, WHILE THE FILTH OF ARKOTH HAVE FLOURISHED, TAINTING A CREATION THAT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO GREAT URGOTH! THEY BELIEVE THEMSELVES TO BE RIGHTEOUS, AND RIGHTEOUS THEIR BURNT CORPSES SHALL BE!" Infernir bellowed with a powerful might, his words causing the Fire Urgothians to cheer and shriek in a growing sense of rage and conviction.
"WE SHALL CLAIM THE CATALYST, WE WILL PROVE OURSELVES GREATER THAN THOSE WHO BELONG AT OUR FEET, WE SHALL SPREAD URGOTH'S FLAMES ACROSS THE MULTIVERSE! ONCE CREATION BURNS, WE WILL DEFINE RIGHTEOUSNESS!" The leader of the Fire Urgothians declared with a further might and fury within their voice, which echoed throughout his hordes as the fiery abominations cheered in reply toward their leader's words.
Out of the side of his vision, Infernir saw another army of Urgothians approaching and saw his closest ally amongst, as well as their kin and forces moving to fight alongside his infernal legions.
As they prepared to move upon the surface of Nexus, Infernir's fellow ruler not only desired to crush the Children of Arkoth, but to exact vengeance from their previous defeat.
Together, they would capture the Catalyst, they would present Urgoth with the means to finally escape this prison forever and they would prove their superiority over the other Urgothian rulers.
Anything that would stand between them and the Catalyst would burn before their wrath.
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Several hours later, and after the war council took a break in order to allow the realm representatives to speak with their superiors, the five Davises brought Kari, Rika, TK, Mikey, their Digimon partners and a few of their allies from Nexus, including Julie, Caleb, Desred, Henry, Sakuya and Erik to the gathering chamber the five champions were just in, while at the requests of the five Motomiyas, TK contacted Gennai, Sampson, Yamaki and Hashima, the four Provisional Council members wondering what was happening that the Davises needed them involved.
Once the group had gathered, Water Davis explained to those before him of his theory and toward the reason why the Urgothians seemed to be after Kari, the revelation that the Dark Empress could be the one to bring down the Veil and end Nexus' imprisonment a shock to them all.
Within her own mind, Kari found herself laughing with an almost insane glee, to know that she could potentially have the power to fulfil her hidden desire, to break the Veil and return her beloveds home or to wherever they desired, before mentally frowning as she realized that perhaps this is what has been the endgame of the rulers of Nexus this entire time, bringing Davis to this world knowing that she would follow him in time.
"Kari." Water Davis said, his concerning voice causing the Dark Empress to look upon the watery variant of her beloved as he then told her. "As stated, I am unsure as to how the process would affect you, and until I am certain I will not risk your life, even for the possibility of opening Nexus back up to the Multiverse."
"Plus, we cannot allow Urgoth's spawns to run rampant across the Multiverse, so until they are stopped, we cannot even discuss this issue further." Nature Davis added, knowing full well the damage and destruction the Urgothians would cause amongst the rest of Creation.
"It may also be wise that we keep this to ourselves for now, because the more people who know the more dangerous this could be." Shoutmon said with a growing seriousness, the words of the Digimon King causing Mikey to nod in reply as the Red General voiced his own thoughts.
"Lilithmon and the rest of the Demon Lords here are loyal because they know they are trapped here, but if they were to find out that they could potentially leave Nexus and return to the Digital World with the Dark Mana at their disposal, they would lead an uprising to other throw Kari and take the Imperium for themselves." Mikey commented with a growing concern within his voice, the brunette knowing that the six Demon Lords at Kari's command would do anything to regain the power they once held in the Digital World before Kari had turned into the Dark Empress.
"Likewise, it won't be good if the rest of the Provisional Council finds out about this." TK added with his own concerns as he looked toward the holographic images of Gennai, Sampson, Yamaki and Hashima, who all nodded their heads in reply.
"Agreed, the only reason this ceasefire and truce has remained is because we believed that Kari and the Dark Imperium would remain trapped within Nexus for the rest of their existence." Yamaki told those present, the blond too sharing his own concerns. "If the Council learns that there is the possibility that the Dark Imperium can leave Nexus, those who sided with Carson will use this to their advantage, stroking the paranoia that this was all a rouse for Kari to gain more allies in our war, and demand a preemptive strike upon Nexus in order to stop her."
"We need to make certain that none of that happens, and we need the four of you to help us with that." Fire Davis told Gennai, Sampson, Yamaki and Hashima, before the fire champion looked toward the Arch-Savant and told him. "And we'll need your… computer skills as well, if we are to prevent them from starting another war if the Veil ever does fall."
Nodding in response toward his fire variant's request, Water Davis then turned his attention upon the Shadow as Dark Davis went on to say. "For now, let us put this behind us, we need to focus on the Urgothians and prepare for their next assault."
"Zim and the Digi-Goblins are already retrofitting our weapons, vehicles and ships with Dark Mana energy cores, which will increase their firepower against the Urgothians, while the majority of our troops are receiving Dark Mana in order to increase their own strengths and powers so they can go head to head with the Urgothians." Mikey informed the five Davises, the Red General hoping that the additional power of Dark Mana would help improve their soldiers' ability to fight their twisted foes.
"Likewise, Suzie is using the same designs she used for the Dark Mana rifles she gave us during the battle with Maligon's forces to create energy filters that will allow our forces to use Nexus Mana within our attacks, but not allow it to flow through our soldiers so that they can return home once this war is over." TK then added with a small sense of pride toward Suzie and her brilliance.
Gaining a frown, however, the DDF commander then informed the group with a small sigh. "However, Suzie did tell me that retrofitting our forces will take time, as the devices are being constructed at her lab in Miracle's Stand and need to be brought to Nexus first."
While understanding of the delay that the DDF forces will have in aiding in their next battle, something TK had said brought curiosity toward the five Davises as the Archon questioned. "Miracle's Stand?"
"It's the new name for Omni City." Patamon commented, the answer causing the five Motomiyas to nod their heads in understanding.
With the help of themselves, the other Digi-heroes, DATS and the Digimon of the time, Omni City was the first city built in the merged Digital World, a metropolis that housed both humans and Digimon, serving as a union between all worlds, as well as the headquarters of the DDF.
"We renamed it Miracle's Stand to honour you." TK then said with a soft smile, but his features quickly twisted to a frown when Kari growled lightly. "Only after the war started."
Ignoring the Dark Empress for a moment and focusing upon the five Davises, Gennai continued from where TK left off and told the five champions. "The city is now five times the size it used to be, but it is also a military city, having served as a refuge for those fleeing the Dark Imperium's advances. With the war over, however, I can see things eventually returning to normal."
"As long as we do our part to make it happen." Sampson added, looking upon the Davises as he told them. "We will do what we can to help reign in the Council, you all just focus on winning this war."
With his words said, the holograms of Sampson, Gennai, Yamaki and Hashima disappeared, leaving just those within the room as the five Davises then looked toward Kari, this confusing the brunette for a moment, until she realized what they were going to ask of her.
"No! I am not going to sit back and let you all fight them without me!" The Dark Empress declared as she got to her feet, the brunette refusing to be on the sidelines while her beloveds fought to protect her.
"Kari, they are after you, and unlike us, they do not care if you live or die, they will kill you to get what they want." Nature Davis argued, his desire to protect the woman he loved guiding him as he dared not think of what would happen if Elezar and the other Urgothian rulers got their claws upon the former Digidestined of Light.
"None of us are denying your strength or your determination, Kari, but the less you are in their path, the more chances we have to find a way to end this invasion." Light Davis then said as the light variant of Davis too shared in the emotions and didn't desire to upset Kari, but needed for her to understand that protecting her was their most important goal right now.
Before anyone else could comment and before Kari could rebuttal their arguments, the alarms within the Tower began to blare once again, indicating that another Breach had formed on the surface of Nexus.
Putting their conversations to the side for now, the five Davises, Kari and those with them rushed toward the War Council chamber, the group finding the rest of their friends, allies and the Realm representatives had already arrived.
"A Breach has formed in the Fire Realm, near the border between Ignisia and Asahi!" Lelouch told the group with a growing urgency within his tone, his words causing Victor and Kenji to gain shocked expressions upon hearing that the Urgothians were now heading toward their homes.
"There are Fire Urgothians… and Nature Urgothians marching toward the two kingdoms." Ainz then informed, where this new information brought concerns to the five Davises, for not only did they have to contend with Infernir and his might, but they would also have to deal with Velgoth and his rage once again.
"Gather our forces, we move out at once!" Fire Davis ordered, his determination evident within his expression as he looked upon the holographic maps displayed before him, while the fire champion mentally prepared himself for another battle against the vile spawns of Urgoth.
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Author's Note: The true reason the Urgothians seek Kari is now revealed, and the Fire and Nature Urgothians are on the move. What will happen next? Stay tuned as the adventure continues.