Two more days passed.

Two less days on the countdown to destruction.

For most of those two days, Megidramon, Sakuyamon, and MegaGargomon fought each other, testing their strength, their abilities, and their power.

Jeri and Leomon were often spectating, going over strategies and ideas.

Bonding.

Getting to know each other. Learning about each other. Finding out what made the other tick.

What they were trying to do didn't escape me.

Exactly once; Leomon had joined the battle between the three Mega Level Digimon, on the side of Sakuyamon and MegaGargomon.

He made absolutely no difference in the battle at all, not even when Jeri pulled out the Blue Card she had been given, and turned Leomon into GrapLeomon.

Not even after Jeri had swiped half a dozen power cards and then tried again.

It was kind of funny, though; watching the supped-up Ultimate Level Digimon pulling out all the stops, and then literally bouncing off of Megidramon once his wonderfully executed but unfortunately failed roundhouse kick actually hit him.

I wasn't actually sure whether or not Megidramon had even noticed the kick.

Even if he did, he didn't do anything about it, so GrapLeomon simply left the battle and waited on the sidelines until he degenerated.

A good four hours later.

"Hello Calumon." I greeted.

The little white puff ball landed on my head, giggling. "Hi!"

I continued walking forwards, enjoying the night sky, what little peace time was left.

"Do you remember what we talked about a few days ago?" I asked him.

He slowed down, the humour draining away from his Heart. "Yeah..."

"We're nearly out of time.".

"... I know." He slid off my head, dropping to my shoulder. "I... don't really want to go back."

"I know." I reached up, plucking him off my shoulder and cuddling him to my chest. "But I promise, we will leave as soon as we can."

He snuggled closer. "Culu..."

My non-existent heart just about burst out of my chest.

"Not today." I shook my head. "We are very nearly out of time."

"Great..." Takato slumped. "So, what are we going to do?"

"I am going to be sticking around the Monster Makers for today." I looked to the side, staring at the Metropolitan building. "With Azulongmon ready to tell us the exact moment that the D-Reaper comes, it would be best if we were all together."

Takato turned to Rika, Renamon, Henry, Terriermon, Jeri, and Leomon.

"May as well." Rika shrugged. "It's not like we've got anything better to do."

It was at mid-day when time finally ran out.

"The True Enemy has awoken."

The words brought a chill throughout the room that was entirely unrelated to the cold.

I nodded.

"Calumon and I are ready." I stood up. "We'll be over soon."

Azulongmon nodded. "We are prepared as well." He glanced to the side- and, on cue, a swarm of DigiGnomes promptly appeared in the picture.

"Ready to help!"

I hugged Calumon a bit closer.

I turned away from him, looking at the others in the room.

"We'll be back as soon as we can."

I twisted space-

And we appeared in the Sovereign's domain.

I stepped forwards, looking up at Azulongmon.

Alongside Zhuqiaomon, Baihumon, and Ebonwumon.

A bubble of streaming, chaotic red floated upwards, the D-Reaper mass floating slightly closer before Zhuqiaomon sent a burst of flame at it.

I nodded at them. "Greetings."

The swarm of DigiGnomes came closer, swirling around us. "Friend!"

"Catalyst- No. Calumon." Azulongmon called. "Welcome to our realm."

"Hi?"

I hugged him slightly, before releasing him.

He floated upwards, the DigiGnomes swirling around him.

There were thousands of them, each one smiling, moving in sync.

"The time has come." Azulongmon stated. "The True Enemy is at hand."

"We are all that stands between our world, and its total destruction." Baihumon continued.

"It is our duty to protect the sanctity of our home." Both of Ebonwumon's heads said.

"We need the Light of Digivolution to do so." Zhuqiaomon finished.

"As the Catalyst, it is your duty to reveal that light to us." Azulongmon twisted his body. "But you are no longer just the Catalyst. You are now also a Digimon, and it thus your right to choose your destiny. Calumon, will you help us?"

"That's a silly question." Calumon told him. "Of course I will."

shudder

His eyes closed.

shudder shudder shudder

The DigiGnomes began to glow a magnificent white, starting to circle around Calumon.

For a few moments, all was silent.

And then-

"Shining Digivolution!"

There was a flash of light- bright and blinding, obscuring Calumon's form.

Rainbow clouds of energy shot out, spreading throughout the Sovereign's domain, and then heading further, into the rest of the Digital World.

One tiny piece of that energy passed through me, enveloping me for a single moment, before continuing onwards.

The light faded, revealing Calumon and the DigiGnomes, the latter of whom began to fall down to the ground, their bodies grey, the Hearts and Souls weak.

But not dead.

Another change.

A light blue aura suspended them in the air, and they began to float towards Azulongmon, his eyes glowing.

shudder

I looked up as I felt a Heart enter this dimension-

shudder shudder shudder

And then another, and another, and another.

Golden light flashed as the other Digimon entered the Sovereign's domain, each and every single one of them a Mega Level Digimon.

There were...

A lot.

Diaboromon, MetalSeadramon, Machinedramon, Pukumon, Hououmon, GranKuwagamon, Gryphonmon, Boltmon, Plesiomon, Babamon, Jijimon, MarineAngemon, and more and more and more.

More flashes of golden light heralded even more Mega Level Digimon, the numbers quickly climbing up into the thousands.

An army.

I nodded.

We now have that much more time.

The light surrounding Calumon faded, and he dropped out of the air.

I stepped forwards, reaching up catching him as he came close.

I cradled him against my chest. "Did I do good?"

"You did, Calumon."

He smiled, before falling into unconsciousness.

"It is done." Baihumon stated.

I looked up. "Indeed."

A spurt of red chaos rose into the air, dropping back down into the chasm.

I looked at it as it went.

There is no Heart or Soul.

"And now..." I looked back upwards, staring at the horde of Mega Level Digimon, growing with every passing second.

"The war begins."