Disclaimer: Nada Mio."
"Please."
"No."
"Please!"
"No."
"Pleaaaaase!"
"No."
Tai just stared blankly at the scene before him. Kari, his sister, on her knees, hands clasped together and eyes closed as she begged. Killua, his former leader and leader of the current Digidestined, on his bed, legs and arms crossed as he stared down at her with a frown and a twitching eyebrow.
He has been told, along with the new Digidestined, about the events that happened around his sister. A whole new world of darkness that drew his sister to it? Yeah, that was a reason to panick. Or it would be if Killua hadn't told him his inhabitants were so weak that they ran away the moment Killua and Angewomon antagonized them.
They would keep an eye open, but for now it was time to go home!
Upon arrival, and after dinner and a bath, this is the scene he's watching on his own bedroom.
"Please!"
"No."
He's had enough of watching this.
"What's happening here?" Tai finally asked, making the two, or Kari at least, to notice his presence.
"Oh, Tai," Kari's face brightened when she saw him. "Perfect, can you help me convice Killua?"
"No."
"I asked Tai..." Kari said as Killua answered instead, giving him a small glare.
Tai shrugged. "Okay sure, what do you want me to convice him in?" He asked, leaning by the doorframe.
"I want him to make me a Nen user!" Kari exclaimed, smiling and clasping her hands.
Tai blinked. "Is that... Even possible?"
"No."
"It is!" Kari said with a pout, glaring at the white haired boy. "Ken is one, so it's nothing from your world. And you explained us how you can become one!"
Killua sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Kari, being a Nen user isn't something that will achieve what you want. While it does enhace your body, against other Nen users there's other factors to have in consideration, like your body's own strength," He explained. "And it would take a lot of time. Reason why I didn't grabbed all of you five years ago and whipped you in shape to do it."
Tai scratched his head at his explanation. "Sorry sis, I had to give Killua the reason here," He said.
Kari had a stubborn look on his face as she turned to Killua again. "And can you train me on those aspects? Teach me how to fight and stuff?"
Killua hummed. "I could... But again, time is an obstacle. You have school, then right after the Digital World, and then we come back here."
"Then in any moment in between...?" She continued.
Killua deadpanned at her insistence and turned to Tai. "She had to be your sister," He half-growled.
Tai raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, leave me out of this. While the concept of having super powers sounds appealing, it won't be of much use with me since I can't get to the Digital World... But in football maybe."
"No."
"Back to square one..." Kari sighed. "Pleaaaaase!" She took out her secret card, one used rarely when she asked Tai something and he refused. The puppy dog eyes.
Killua just raised an eyebrow. "Girl, I have a ten year old sister that pulls those off way better than you. It won't work on me, I have a resistance to it as I have to lighting."
She slumped. So much for that plan...
Back to plan A.
"Please!"
"Urgh..." Killua groaned and fell back on the bed. "You know what? If you want to learn so badly, I only have one condition for you."
"Really?!" Both siblings perked up at that.
Killua pointed upwards. "Meet me at the rooftop at midnight."
The two exchanged looks and Tai shrugged at her sister, it was her choice. Kari just smiled and nodded.
Somehow, she managed to sneak out of her house without her parents noticing and reach the rooftop. Still on her pink pajamas, and wearing only a pair of sandals.
When she arrived, she realized that Killua was already there. Arms crossed and leaning on the fence surrounding the edge of the roof, and with something at his feet that she soon realized was a football.
"Just in time..." He said and walked forward, kicking the ball slightly so it would walk with him.
Kari beamed. "Yup, so... Are we going to start?!" She asked, excitedly.
"No," His words deflated her quickly. "You haven't met my condition yet."
Kari blinked. "Eh? But I'm already on the roof... I thought meeting on the roof was the condition. Because that way no one would notice us..."
Killua rolled the ball under his feet and smirked at her. "Meeting on the roof it's just a part of the condition. The other part is," He kicked the ball upwards and caught it on one hand. "That you take this ball from me."
Kari titled her head. "Is that it?" She asked. "If I do then... You'll teach me how to use Nen?"
"I'll train you, yes," He said. "So, when I say start, we start, ready?"
Kari looked down at her pajamas and hesitated for a moment, not feeling she was wearing the right thing for this. But shook her head and took a deep breath, she just needed to take the ball from him.
How hard could it be?
She charged forward, raising her hand to take the ball out from him. But in the end she only touched thin air.
"Eh?" She blinked and looked back. Killua was still there, in the exact same position. "Uh? How...?"
Killua turned and shrugged. "I sidestepped."
Kari frowned and turned around, her eyes focused on the ball. She charged again and tried to take the round object from him, but he moved his body away so the ball would always be out of her reach. Sidestepping and keeping his arm up to keep the ball high.
She lunged forward and Killua moved out of the way. Sticking his foot out to make her fall face first on the ground. "Ouch..." She whimpered.
Killua snorted. "You have two weeks to take this ball from me, we'll gather here at midnight and we'll be here on the rooftop for three hours each day, then we go to sleep again. If you do take it, then I'll train you. If you don't, then you won't ask me again, got it? ... Kari?"
A soft snore was his answer.
He sweatdropped as he realized the girl took the opportunity to be laying down to recover some sleep.
He sighed. 'She better gets her A game soon. It's not even been five minutes.'
Kari sulked as she entered the classroom.
Her first day to train with Killua and she falls asleep. What a way for her to become stronger.
The white haired boy didn't seemed to mind what happened last night. He actually took the time to take her back to her room and let her sleep, while also explaining her deadline: She has one week and six days now to take the ball from Killua, or else she'll never learn how to use Nen.
She sighed and looked down at her notebook as classes started and the profesor started to drone out. 'Okay, fist thing to do is changing my sleeping schedule. But then, how exactly am I going to get the ball from him?' She mused. "But then there's the thing about his speed, he moves around too fast for me to catch him. Maybe I should try and outsmart him?"
"Miss Kamiya?"
She yelped as she heard her name being called out. "Y-yes?"
"Are you feeling ill again or something?" The profesor asked. "Or do you have something to share with the class?"
Her cheeks flared in embarrassment at realizing she was mumbling out loud. "S-sorry, I was just lost in thought."
"Uh-huh."
Some of her classmates snickered and she ducked her head. Okay, now she was really getting that ball! Just to find some good in this situation with her mumbling.
Another day in the Digital World with nothing to comment, towers fell and Digimon were freed from Ken's grasp.
And now Killua was standing in front of Kari again, who was now wearing her usual attire instead of her pajamas, although without her gloves.
He tossed the ball up and down while watching her with a sly smirk. "Ready?"
She nodded. "Yeah!" And then she charged with a yell.
Again Killua dodged any and all attempts on her from getting the ball. He moved all around the rooftop and she tried to clumsily tried to get a hold on him.
Each time she leaped at him, he sidestepped and she fell face first on the floor or almost losing her balance.
Killua watched her with a neutral look as he dodged all of her jumps. 'Her body doesn't have any build on it. She will collapsed again before the first half-hour. And two weeks might not be enough time, but that's the time I'm willing to give her. Maybe she'll improved.'
As he moved out of her way again, he watched as she tripped over and rolled a bit before ending on her back while panting heavily. "Wanna take five?"
The moan he received as an answer told him that was a yes.
The training was hell for her, she fell like her limbs were about to fall off. And the worst part was that she didn't reached the three hours!
She lasted an hour, hour and a half at best, and then she just collapse on the ground just to wake up again on her room, no doubt because Killua carry her back there.
Her alarm clock went off and she almost felt like crying, tossing her covers over her head to hide herself from going to school. And even that single action, to cover herself, hurt like hell. 'Owch... I don't think I can continue like this... Two days and it hurts so much...'
She peeked from outside and saw Gatomon still resting a bit on her cat-bed along with the house cat Miko. Her mind went back to when Blademon attacked her and she shrank back to Salamon, and she was useless to do anything...
She shook her head. 'No! I already signed for this. I can't back down now!' She said, forcing her body to sit back up to get out of bed. Though with her aching muscles, this proved to be quite the titanic task.
Eventually, she found the strength to move and got out for breakfast. Her body moved stiffly due to her achings, something her mother noticed almost immediately. "Is everything okay, sweetie?"
"Y-yeah!" She said, smiling brightly. "I'm just still feeling a bit drowsy," She accentuate this by stretching, causing her muscles to ache even more.
As Killua ate, Tai leaned on his ear. "Is she doing okay?"
Killua shrugged. "About as well as I expected."
That night, Kari came up with something to try and get the ball. As she emerged to the roof where Killua was waiting for him, she kept something behind her back that might help her distract her friend.
He gave the signal and she charged. Killua noticed how she seemed to produce something from her back, and he already knew what it was. 'A water balloon, a distraction.'
Kari stopped a few inched in front of him, and rearing her arm back, she launched the balloon against the boy.
Killua rolled his eyes and jumped high in the air, the balloon passing below him and splashing on the ground. He landed behind Kari who stood on the exact same position, gaping at the feat the boy pulled to dodge her attack, or well... Her attempt of an attack.
"Points for originality," He said, making Kari turn to face him. "But... The ball is still on my hand."
Kari pouted quite adorably in Killua's opinion, and she went back to her usual charged. This time however, she started going for clumsy punches, none of them having any strength behind them.
Killua quirked an eyebrow. 'Now she's going for a more aggressive approach,' Killua dodged all of her attempts for a punch. 'Not quite effective though.'
That night didn't quite ended like the two previous ones though. Kari did collapsed again, yes, but lasting a good two hours. But unable to get the ball.
As she enteted the computer room to get to the Digital World again, Kari hold back a sigh.
The first week has gone by and she wasn't any closer of getting the ball. It didn't mattered what other tricks she pulled, like when she tried throwing a bucket of water on the roof to make Killua slip. Not only did he managed to retain balance... But her rear was still hurting for the times she slipped down.
Though, she was lasting more now. So that was a good thing.
"Okaaaaay!" Davis' voice, as he clasped his hands and grinned wildly called her attention, snapping her back to reality. "After a boring day of classes, there's nothing better than going to kick the Emperor's ass!'
The Emperor has really being out of it lately. During the last month, after the MetalGreymon incident, he didn't showed up for some empty boast, or to show them some new plan. Nothing. Just putting some towers over the nights that they gladly took down.
"That if he appears," Killua said back to Davis' words. "The guy has gone MIA. Not that I'm complaining though..."
"Bingo!" Yolei exclaimed, raising her hand and then proceeding to smash the keys of the computer. "You better strap to your seats everyone! Today we'll be... HUH?!"
"What? What is it?!" Cody asked, looking at the computer's screen.
Everyone leaned in and gasped in horror as they saw the state of the grid map. Literally half of the map was covered in black squares, while the other one has various white ones turned into them rapidly.
"How did Ken advanced that much?!" T.K asked, wide-eyed. "This wasn't like this yesterday! How did he do this?!"
Killua clicked his teeth. "He must have been brewing something during this whole time laying under the radar. I doubt Blademon or Stigmon could have done something like this, otherwise they would have done it before. So who does he have that could have done this?"
"Leomon," Patamon said, landing on T.K's head. "He is still on the Emperor's clutches, he was caught in File Island along with Agumon and the others, before you guys freed them."
Killua's face drained of all color as he came to a realization. "Aw no..."
"What is it? And who's Leomon?" Davis asked, not liking the look on the Hunter's face.
"Leomon is a friend of ours," Kari explained. "Like Andromon. From our first adventure."
"Yeah," Killua nodded, looking at the screen with narrowed eyes. "A friend with the ability... To reach the Mega Level."
As he said this, horror and understanding settled on Kari and T.K's faces, as well as their partners. The new kids were confused though. "Mega Level?"
"... It's the level above Ultimate, Leomon could evolve to a level stronger than MetalGreymon's," Killua explained as their faces went to confusion, to disbelief, and terror. "If the Emperor could control MetalGreymon with his new Dark Spires, then it's not so out there that he could control a Mega with one two, or even two if necessary."
"Then what do we do?!" Yolei asked, getting up. "We barely beat MetalGreymon with Raidramon's help! And now we have to face someone stronger?!"
"Those Spires aren't indestructible," Davis scoffed and crossed his arms. "You saw it, Demiveemon and me could destroy one!"
"With Killua's help!" The little guy provided helpfully.
"Yeah... And that too..." Davis grumbled.
Killua nodded. "That's true. The plan is the same as always, destroy the Spires and Control Towers," He moved close to the computer. "We can't go to the black half of the map, we better go to what remains of the free areas and stop Ken from taking them over..." He pressed his finger on one of the white squares. "At the direction and rate the squares are turning black, this is most likely the next target. We'll wait there for Ken to appear, and he'll come just to get rid of us."
"Like he always does," T.K said, rolling his eyes at the Emperor's arrogance. "Okay then... This is going to be quite hard."
"Yep," Killua said bluntly. "Never a dull moment."
"Sadly..." Yolei slumped and pointed at the screen. "Digiport Open, Digidestined let's go!" She said, trying to pump herself up.
Flash of light, equals empty room.
The Emperor felt like a little kid in Christmas. He hasn't felt this way since he created his Hatsu ability.
Sleeping on his cage was his most recent breakthrough when it came to soldiers and firepower. A beast that he wished he could have awoken in the past, but now it's under his full grasp.
"SaberLeomon..." The name rolled off his tongue with pride and giddiness.
When he was testing his last General's power. He increased the input of energy from his Spires to the maximum amount, this evolution was unlocked. A beast with a power superior to MetalGreymon itself. He felt as if he applied a cheat code on a game to get the strongest character, and for the last two weeks he's been testing his limits to finally put him out on the field.
Since the he's been testing him over and over again with different subjects of different levels, all of them falling to his jaws. And when he checked the map, to see if the Digi-dorks had left, he took his chance and sent out the lion to give him new lands for his reing. And in one night, he gave him almost fifty percent of the continent! Simply marvelous and it didn't gave him any troubles like with his test with Agumon.
That's another reason to lay low. Aside from his tests, he didn't wanted the Digi-Imbeciles to take down his toy, somehow. They did it with MetalGreymon, he wasn't going to let them do it with Leomon.
Speaking of which, there was no point of comparation between his former General and the current one. It was like SaberLeomon was worth ten MetalGreymon's.
Sure it took him all night, but hey! Who needed sleep?
His two right hand Digimon were still... Useful despite everything, Blademon more than his so-called partner, the hooded Digimon cleaved through any resistance without hesitation, the Reaper itself indeed.
And Stigmon... He was keeping himself in line after his stunt with MetalGreymon. But The Emperor wasn't going to let him do as he pleased any time soon.
The Emperor pressed a button on his gauntlet and opened his General's jail, the giant lion opening his red-eyes to look at his master. "Time to work SaberLeomon," He said with a smirk.
The lion roared and ran out of his cage, towards the objective in his brain, sent by the spire.
The Emperor went back to his throne room. Fighting back the demand of his body for some rest. He didn't needed that, he was going to see hi greatest subject bring this world to his knees.
But at that moment his Digivice started beeping and he clicked his teeth. "Oh, this guys again..." He groused out as he saw the five signals on the screen.
Well, SaberLeomon should be able to take care of them.
When the group arrived at the Digital World, they did so at the foot of a moutain, surrounded by nothing but a barren land full of nothing with sand. The mountain wasn't as tall as Infinity Mountain from File Island, but it did reminded the kids of Santa Geria. However, unlike that town, this one didn't have any town or village on its top. It was completely barren of life.
"Are you sure this is the place where the Emperor is going to strike next, fearless leader?" Davis asked, looking up the mountain.
"It should be," Killua nodded, looking around and noticing the desertic ambient. "Although there doesn't seem to be anything of interest here."
Yolei opened her D-Terminal and nodded. "Yeah, it doesn't seem to be any Digimon nearby. Ken would only like a this place for expansion."
"Guys, you might wanna check this out!" Armadillomon called out as he looked at one of the mountain's side.
Everyone went to the place where he called and saw a giant entrance to what they could only assume was a cave. "What's in here?" Yolei asked.
"Only one way to find out," Killua said. "Use the light of your Digivice's screens to light the way," He told them.
With the light of the Digivice to slightly guide them, the group entered the cave, finding it quite spacious compared to what they were used to. If Killua were to estimate, then he would say the cave could even allow Greymon to enter without a problem.
Aside from that, there was literally nothing in the cave. It was just a hallway made of dirt and rocks that continued forward for quite a long while.
And eventually, they reached the end.
"Is this it?!" Davis asked, looking at a wall of rock blocking their way. "This is the only thing inside of this mountain?! Are ya sure this was the right place, sparky?"
"For the last time, YES!" Killua growled out. "And look closer, idiot, this is a fake wall."
To everyone's astonishment, Killua put his hand on the wall and it phased through it.
"Like in Etemon's pyramid!" T.K gasped, remembering one of their enemies' bases from their first adventure.
"Yeah," Killua turned and pointed at the Digivice's. "I noticed because their light didn't touched the wall, instead it seemed to go through it. There's more here than it seems. Let's get going," He said and phased through the wall, the others doing the same.
What awaited on the other side, was a long spiral staircase going downwards the cave. And their lights weren't necessary anymore as giant, and brilliant gemstones were imbedded in the walls. "Wow! So pretty!" Kari couldn't help but admire.
"Someone must be living here. This stairs don't seem natural," Yolei said, looking down.
With nowhere else to go, the group went down the stairs for a long time. The giant gemstones were changing the colors as they descended. First they were blue, then yellow, and finally red. But as they reached the end of the stairs, and when they could spot an entrance of to some other part of the cave, two spears suddenly blocked their way, crossing over the other.
"HALT!" Two Digimon stood at the end of the stairs, behind them was the entrance to some place. "We are the PawnChessmon guards! I'm White!" The white Digimon said, looking like a small knight.
"And I'm Black!" A Digimon identical to the first, but in black identify themselves. "State your purpose or leave!"
"Hey, relax guys, we were just exploring!" V-Mon said, trying to calm the two Digimon.
White seem to stare at them for quite sometime. "Some of you are humans!" He realized. "We've heard various rumors about the humans!"
"What rumors?" Killua asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Good and bad," Black said. "Some say you guys are the saviors of the Digital World, and others that you've come here to slave us!" He said, his grip on his spear hardening.
"Both are true in some ways," Kari said. "We are here to help, but there's also a mean human wanting to slave you. And we think he might be coming soon."
"Hmmm..." Black mussed. "What do you think?"
"... Better call the boss,"
"Yeah, better call the boss."
The two took on a deep breath, their chests puffing outwards much to the group's amusement. Then they let all of that air out in a single, big scream.
"BOOOOOOOOOOOSS!"
The scream forced the kids, minus Killua, to cover their ears along with ther Digimon. The ex-assassin just blinked and dug his pinky finger on his ear. "Jeez, the lungs on this guys..."
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" A voice from the entrance said. The owner of the voice arrived at the scene while panting. "I came! ... Heh!"
"What?!" T.K, Patamon and Killua gasped at seeing the boss.
"So what do we got here?" The boss asked as he walked forward. "Human kids?"
"O-Ogremon?" T.K asked, eyeing the Digimon in front of them. Remembering the rough Digimon that saved Mimi years ago. "Is that you?"
"No..." Killua said, narrowing his eyes. "He's different."
"The white one is right," The Digimon said, the light from the crystals illuminating the chamber assenting his red skin. "I'm Fugamon, head security of the city! Nice to meet ya!"
"City?" Hawkmon asked. "There's a city behind that entrance?" He pointed to the door from where the Digimon came from.
"Yup, wanna see it?" The red Digimon asked.
The PawnChessmon turned to him. "But sir, what about the rumors?" White asked.
"They could be of those humans slaving us," Black added.
Fugamon turned to them with crossed arms. "According to the rumors there's only one human doing that, and I count..." He pointed and counted slowly. "Four... Err... Five! Five of them here. They could be the Digidestined!"
Killua's eyebrow raised as he looked at Fugamon. 'Weird. They don't seem familiar with who we are.' He thought. 'But... We can't drop our guard either, just like in all times this could be a trap.'
Fugamon crossed his arms. "But! Before you come in, tell us: Why are you here?" He asked. "Not many people come to this area."
"Well, the human of those rumors is probably going to come here," Gatomon said. "And if he does we want to help protect the area."
Fugamon tapped his chin as he heard that. "While I doubt that human can get here, I appreciate the thought. Good enough!" He gave them a thumbs up.
The PawnChessmon sweatdropped. 'Boss can be too trusty...'
"Now then, let me show you the entrance," Fugamon said, guiding the Digidestined while the two small knights stayed behind to keep on guard duty.
Running across a deserted area, accompanied by four Airdramon sent by the Emperor, SaberLeomon ran fast to reach his objective for his master.
Yet, through all his time on this sector, he hasn't found any Digimon or anything for his master to conquer.
He growled and started sniffling the air to try and track down something for his master. His nose pressed against the floor, he start moving around to try and detect the smell of any Digimon. Usually where there was one there were many. And those many would be useful for the Emperor.
His nose twitched as he finally caught some essence, he dashed towards the direction where he could feel not one, but five Digimon's smell. His pursuit led him to a tall mountain with a single entrance that lead to a cave.
The trail was going to lead him and his two companions in.
He roared and the two Airdramon flanked his side, the three of them entering to follow the trail.
The group was greatly suprised from what they saw. It was a great underground city with the houses made of rocks, the ceiling had many glowing rocks that served to illuminate the whole city. It was so spacious, that they could easily think that the city was on the surface.
"This city was made after the Dark Masters were kicked to the curb," Fugamon said walking down the stairs and guiding the kids and the Digimon. "And around here are Digimon that can live by eating rocks." Looking around, the group saw Gotsumon, Hagurumon, and some others. "Sometimes they go up just to see the surface, that's how we know of you humans."
'If this place was made after the Dark Masters and before Ken, it explains how they don't seem familiar with humans all that much...' Killua mused. "And you're the leader or something?"
"Or something," Fugamon said shrugging his shoulders. "There's no law here, but there's also no crime. I only make sure that those who should stay out. Stay. Out. Along with Black and White."
"Never thought a place like this could exist in the Digital World," Cody mused, looking around.
"Should have seen what we've seen!" Patamon snickered.
"Now the Emperor would definitely like to get his hands in a place like this," V-Mon said.
"Emperor?" Fugamon asked. "Is that the human of the rumors?"
"Wow, down here you guys are really outdated," Davis said with a slight snicker. "But, yeah, that's the one. A big asshole forcing Digimon to do his will, blah blah blah, typical bad guy."
"Haha!" Fugamon laughed and crossed his arms. "Well no one has ever been able to get to this place before! And even less, they haven't got through Black and White!"
Killua noticed something wrong with that statement. "Oi, Fugamon... Has anyone before us ever found this place?"
"... Well actually no... Aside from this city this area in general in the surface has basically no Digimon," The red Digimon admitted.
"Then how would you know no one can get through Black and White?" Gatomon asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Ummm."
At that moment an explosion came from the entrance to the underground city and White and Black were sent flying through the air, landing a few meters away from the group.
"Did someone got the number of that truck?" White asked, lying on top of Black.
On the entrance, the big form of SaberLeomon was shown. His blood red eyes looking down at the city with hunger, four Airdramon's flying at his side. All of them wearing the new and improved Dark Spirals instead of the old Rings.
He let out a roar that seemed to rock the whole city, everyone having to cover their ears to prevent them from getting deaf. Killua was the only one who didn't flinched, he was glaring in SaberLeomon's direction. "I hate when I'm right..."
"T-that's SaberLeomon?" Cody asked in fear.
"Stay behind!" Killua told them and let his Nen flow. "None of you engage him! Deal with the Airdramon."
"You think you can beat him?" T.K asked, eyeing the form of the Mega ahead of them.
Killua frowned in thought. 'I was able to beat Piedmon, no doubt a Digimon stronger than SaberLeomon at the time. But at that time I went all out, I was aiming to kill. Here, it's something more of endurance to wheter I can destroy the spire first or not.' He sharpened his claws and took a step ahead. "I can try. All of those that can fly deal with the Airdramon. Davis, you evacuate the people of this city," He eyed Fugamon. "Is there a way out not including the entrance?"
"Yup," The red Digimom answered. "A few on the north of this place!"
"Then go!" He said, leaping to a building's rooftop and jumping from on to the other to reach the Mega.
SaberLeomon saw the Anomaly coming. His master having told him of the boy's level of threat. With a roar he jumped down and like the boy, he started leaping from roof to roof to reach him.
Killua brought his hands together and used Ryu to increase the level of Nen on his hands, as he got closer to the lion. He gave and high jump and gave his possessed friend a double fist punch to the head.
While above him, Killua looked over his body and spotted not one, but two Dark Spirals on his rear legs. 'Oh that's just perfect!' He growled as he leaped back, having finished his attack.
The lion growled at him, his face showing just a bit of pain after that punch and Killua glared back. "This would be nostalgic if it wasn't so annoying."
As Killua leaped away, the Digidestined got to work. "Digimental Up!"
"V-Mon Armor Digivolves to...Raidramon! The Storm of Friendship!"
"Hawkmon Armor Digivolves to... FlyBeemon! The Soaring Knowledge!"
"Armadillomon Armor Digivolves to... Pteramon! The Armed Love!"
"Patamon Armor Digivolves to... Pegasusmon! The Flying Hope!"
"Gatomon Armor Digivolves to... Nefertimon! The Angel of Light!"
While the four flyers took off to fight the four Airdramon's, Davis and Raidramon stayed on the ground, with the boy growling. "You know? You're cool and all Raidramon, but I wish you could fly."
"Me too, Davis..." Raidramon said, eyeing his friends with envy as they flew up.
"Don't just sit there!" Fugamon said as he carried Black and White over his shoulder. "Gather the citizens and let's the fuck out of here!"
"Right!" The two said, Raidramon taking off to gather the Digimon of the underground city.
Luckily for the big hitters like FlyBeemon and Pteramon, the underground city was spacious enough for them to fight freely.
"Spiker Attack!" FlyBeemon took his distance from the dragon and fired his spikes from his shoulders.
They hit the mark, but the spiral was in one piece, without so much as a scratch. "Dang it, what to we need to destroy those things?!" Yolei asked as FlyBeemon dodged an Air Attack from the possessed Digimon.
"Punch it really hard?" FlyBeemon supplied.
Yolei's mouth formed into a thin lime before finally shrugging. "It's as good as any other plan."
FlyBeemon charged and started charging electricity on its stinger. "Lighting Stinger!" He said and twisted his body so his appendage would strike.
It impacted and the Airdramon let out a screech of pain, while FlyBeemon took the chance to grab the Spiral and grip it with all of his strength. Twisting it with might so it would break apart.
Seeing no results without brute strength, and the electricity of his stinger starting to wear off. FlyBeemon opted to use his classical attack at close range. "Spiker Attack!"
The small spikes on his shoulders impacted against the evil instrument used to slave the Digimon, cracking it and with a final tug breaking it apart. The Airdramon's eyes went back to normal and the Digimon fell to the ground.
"One down! Bingo!" Yolei cheered.
"We should go see how the evacuation is doing," FlyBeemon said and Yolei nodded. The two taking off to the site.
Pteramon was circling around his enemy, dodging Air Blast after Air Blast with high speed and launching missiles at the enemy, who just shrugged it off.
"There's no tiring this thing," He exclaimed as he stopped his flying to regain some breath. "Plans, partner?" He asked his passenger.
Cody looked at the possessed Digimon while chewing his inner cheek. The Dark Spirals were more troublesome than the rings, and without something as strong as Killua's electricity aided with Raidramon's it was hard to see them destroyed. "Maybe... Making it fall?"
"Fall?" Pteramon asked. "You mean attacking the wings?"
Cody gulped and nodded. He didn't wanted to damage the Digimon directly, but it would give them a chance to destroy the spiral.
"Well then, you da boss," Pteramon said and flew towards the Digimon deploying all of his weapons. "Missile Storm!"
Instead of aiming for the black device attached to the torso, all the missiles went to the wings of the Digimon. Airdramon, not on its right mind tried to blast the missiles away with its Air Blasts, but there were too many and they all impacted on its wings.
The Digimon started falling and Pteramon took his chance to charge at him, his metal wings glimmering with light. "Sharp Wing!" The wing cut through the Spiral, breaking it and letting the Airdramon be a free Digimon as he impacted against the ground.
Cody winced with guilt at being so harsh against the possessed Digimon, but Pteramon turned and gave him a smile. "Don't worry Cody, at least he's free now!"
"Yeah, you're right," He gave the metallic bird a grateful smile to make him feel better. The two went to reunite with Davis and Fugamon with the evacuating citizens.
T.K and Pegasusmon were having a bit less trouble when dealing with their opponent. They made the Digimon chase them across the deserted underground city, hovering across the alleyways and putting all kinds of obstacles on its way.
"Okay, this is good," T.K muttered as Pegasusmon flew low, with the dragon having his jaws open to swallow them.
"Now!" T.K said and Pegasusmon smirked.
Just as they were about to hit a wall, Pegasusmon changed his trajectory to fly upwards, while the dragon, with its larger size, couldn't do it in time. And so, it impacted its head against the wall, his face going through it and collapsing the building of the wall on top of it.
Pegasusmon flew over its body and extended his wings and his forehead started to glow. "Shooting Stars, Equis Beam, Needle Rain!" He shot all three of his attacks at once against the spire.
The holy powers of Pegasusmon were too much for the darkness of the spire. It cracked and exploded, leaving the unconscious Digimon free from the Emperor's control.
"That's it, what now?" Pegasusmon asked.
T.K cupped his chin. "I would like to see if Killua's okay, but the citizens should take priority. Let's go there for now, and check if everyone's safe. Then we go for Killua."
"Sounds good," Pegasusmon nodded.
Nefertimon dodged another Air Blast and looked down at her opponent. Kari was also glaring at it but for a different reason. While she knew it wasn't the same one, the Airdramon reminded her of the one they faced on the Dark Ocean.
And that reminds her she isn't even close on taking that ball... Focus!
"Nile Jewels!" Nefertimon shot forward the gems forward, but the serpentine body of the dragon allowed it to twist itself out of the way. "Rosetta Stone!"
The slab of rock slammed against the dragon, leaving it dazed for a few moments, but its spire remaining intact.
Nefertimon growled. "I've hit that thing with almost everything I have! What does it take to break it down?!"
The Airdramon took its chance and charged again with the intention of biting the sphinx's neck. Nefertimon moved out of the way and the Digimon launched an Air Blast that struck her on the chest, making her lose balance for a moment.
Kari gripped on tight to Nefertimon's fur to prevent herself from falling down. She looked at the Digimon's Dark Spire and an idea came to mind, remembering what has transpired on that world. "Nefertimon can you get us close to it, or maybe... Over?"
"I can try... Do you have something in mind?" Nefertimon asked, noticing her partner's tone.
She bursted forward, dodging incoming blasts from the dragon, and Kari narrowed her eyes in determination. But even with all that determination, she couldn't help but feel slight fear at what she was about to do. 'I can do this. I did it on that world, I can do this.' She chanted.
She sat straight on Nefertimon's balance, her whole frame trembling with fear and anticipation. As Nefertimon flew upward, over the frame of the reptile, she took her chance.
She jumped down and latched to the dragon's torso, near the Dark Spiral.
"KARI!" Nefertimon called alarmed.
Killua grabbed SaberLeomon's fangs. He tried to break them, but they proved to be harder than any steel that Killua has ever bent. 'Probably made of Chrome Digizoid!' He realized and threw the Digimon to the side.
Not ready to back down, SaberLeomon like a good cat landed on all fours and turned around, his mane shining. "Infinite Arrows!" Strands of hair were launched at Killua like arrows, making honor to its name.
Killua jumped to another roof to dodge, and when the arrows continued to chase him, he started running from roof to roof, until SaberLeomon was forced to stop and persecute him.
The lion's body allowed him to reach the boy. With a jump he attempted to pounce on the boy, but Killua moved and the lion's claws dug themselves on the concrete of the roof. Spider cracks forming along and causing the place where they were standing to collapse and making them fall in into the building's interior.
Killua groaned and rubbed his head as everything was covered to dust. His body told him to dodge and he moved out of the way as SaberLeomon's claw shot forward to try and pierce his chest.
Noticing the close space they were in, Killua ran to a wall and charged Nen on his fist and with a punch brought it down and giving him a way outside. He jumped to the roof of the next building, but the Emperor's last General was hot on his heels.
As they landed Killua turned and gave his possessed friend a right hook with Ko, then a left and then a rising kick to the chin. SaberLeomon shook the attacks off without showing any signs of tiredness and swiped with his mighty claw at the boy's left side. Killua blocked, but the swipe was enough to make him skid across the roof and living him almost at the border.
SaberLeomon's mane glowed again, ready to launch his attack again. Killua clicked his teeth and focused Nen on the plant of his feet and was launched over the Digimon's head. He landed behind him and grabbed his tail and charged lighting. "Sorry Leomon!" He said as he released a current of electricity.
SaberLeomon howled in pain and tugged forward to get free from the boy's grip. Killua gritted his teeth and clenched the tail harder to prevent the General from escaping, with a yell he lifted the lion over his head and slammed him down against the concrete at their feet.
Somehow, despite the double attack with electricity and slam, SaberLeomon was still conscious and tried to get back up.
Killua sighed and crouched. "Sorry, dude, but now it will be over," He grabbed the spirals on his rear legs and tugged with all of his strength. The Emperor's evil tools broke apart in a moment.
SaberLeomon's body started glowing and shrank back to being Leomon. This time his consciousness leaving him.
"Finally!" Killua said. "Now to gather with the others and-"
"KARI!"
The scream make him pause and look up. Kari was latched to one of the Airdramon's body, holding for dear life as the monster thrashed around to make her fall.
Killua blinked. "Eh?"
Then his brain caught up to him.
"WHAT THE FU-?!"
This was a bad idea. She realized the moment she grabbed herself to the Airdramon's body. She opened her eyes and saw the Spiral just ahead of her, she tried to reach it but the Airdramon thrashed and she was forced to wrap her two arms around it to prevent her from falling.
'I have to do this... I have to reach it!' She thought and tried again, the Airdramon having slowed down its movements at the moment. 'Just... Do the same I did with those creatures!' She thought.
Her hand started glowing with a pink color. She streched her fingers to even graze the Emperor's tool on the Digimon's body, and just with her index finger she touched the spiral and a reaction took effect. The Spiral cracked and it ended up breaking. Just like with all the others, the Airdramon's eyes went back to normal, and the damage he took from Nefertimon's previous attacks caused it to collapse.
"Waaaah!" Kari screamed as she fell along with the Airdramon.
A white and blue blur caught her and landed on a roof with her in arms. She opened her eyes and realized Killua caught her... And he was giving her the most blank look she's ever seen. "O-oh, Killua-Eep!" She yelped as he let go of her abruptly. "Owww."
"So... You just jumped and latched to a possessed Digimon's back... Mind explaining that?" He asked in a bored tone, arms crossed.
"W-well... Before, back in that other world. I could use light to free one of those... things, like Angewomon did, but we were interrupted by that giant Airdramon. So I thought I could do the same again?" She explained.
At that moment Nefertimon landed behind Killua and reverted to Gatomon, giving the same expression as Killua. "Kari... That was dumb," She said and the girl flinched.
"Couldn't you... Oh I don't know, wait until some of us could give you back up?" Killua asked, crossing his arms and giving her an annoyed glare.
Kari scowled and got up. "I wanted to try and do something for myself this time around, and it worked!" She said.
"That it worked doesn't make it any better!" Killua growled back. 'Damn who thought she could be so stubborn?!' He inwardly groaned. "You shouldn't repeat something like that again!"
"But it worked!" She continued.
"That isn't the point!" Both Gatomon and him shot back. Killua inwardly adding, 'Damnit she could try it again if she keeps this up!'
A groan called their attention and they turned to another roof to see Leomon sitting up and shaking his head. "Uggg, what was I... Uh? Killua, Gatomon?" He said in surprise, recognizing the Anomaly and the partner of the Child of Light.
Killua sighed. "Better update him on what's happening," He said. "Oi, Leomon, meet us down below, we'll explain everything there."
The lion nodded and leaped down. Kari sighed and went to climb down with Gatomon's head, who kept berating her on her actions, with the girl still defending them.
Killua watched them with a frown. 'She said she wanted to train in Nen to not sit on the sidelines anymore. But even so she jumped to action without it... Let's first finish her test within this last week and then we'll see...'
After explaining everything to Leomon, and that the Airdramon recovered and left the underground city, the Digidestined gathered in the entrance of the cave. Leomon and Fugamon, along with the inhabitants of the subterranean city gathered to say goodbye to the Digidestined and Killua. "You are staying?" Killua asked the lion.
Leomon nodded. "As sad as I am to say, with the Emperor's Control Towers around I won't be able to access to SaberLeomon's form. And with his two bodyguards with him, I run the risk of being captured again," He smiled. "I trust that you will be able to change that."
"Sure thing, leave it to us!" Davis said, giving him a thumbs up.
Leomon smiled at the new Digidestined. "I wish you good luck then, and if you ever need help don't doubt on asking."
"Of course!" Yolei and Cody nodded and smiled at the warrior.
Fugamon chuckled. "This is the more lively the city has been in a long time!" He said. "And now, I have a new security staff," He said, pointing to Leomon.
"Then the city is in good hands," Kari smiled.
"And now, officially, Ken has lost all his Generals!" Patamon cheered.
"We lost a lot of time here, but tomorrow we go back to taking down the towers he set," Killua said. "Let's get going. See ya around Leomon!" He said turning to the stairs.
"Goodbye for now, Digidestined," The Lion said back.
As the Digidestined left the city, Fugamon took Leomon. "C'mon big guy! I gotta show you the ropes of this place!"
Leomon stared at the red Digimon and chuckled. "Not only in the physic, but your personality reminds me of him as well."
"Who?"
"An old friend of mine," Leomon said, a nostalgic smile on his face.
Blademon and Wormmon entered the Emperor's room, having received the news of Leomon's liberation. "My lord..." They bowed.
The Emperor just remained silent and staring at the screen in front of him.
"Do you wish for us to go hunt the traitor?" Blademon asked, not rising his head. "He is the only one who can't escape to the human world with the Digidestined."
"... Nah."
Blademon did a double take. "S-sir?"
"You heard me. Nah," The Emperor got up his chair and extended his arms looking at the screen. "Look at this! While his power would have allowed us to control the Digital World completly, he did gains us almost fifty percent of the continent already!" He said with an excited tone. "And by ourselves we can take the rest," He turned to look at them with a smirk and his arms crossed. "The Digidorks and Zoldyck will fall soon. And if Leomon tries to play hero, then we capture him again. But for now, let him be a scaredy cat, while we plant more and more towers," He turned again to the screens. "If my calculations are right, by the begining of summer, more than sixty percent of the world would be mine. And by the end, everything will be!"
His laughter echoed across the room. Wormmon looked down and shivered a the laugh, while Blademon grinned. If the brat managed his objective, then his master will be satisfied and then his plans would be put in action.
Kari was getting desperate.
A week has passed since they freed Leomon. It was the final day. The final day of her test to get the ball, and she wasn't even close. Nothing she did worked, even when she started throwing kicks and punches to try and take it away. He would just dodge out of her way with insane speeds.
Now he stood there, panting and drenched in sweat, while also shivering because of the cold of the night. Tears of frustration gathering on her eyes, but she wiped them out quickly.
Killua for his part just stared at her. Impressed that she had pressed onwards to get to the last day. Him and Gatomon had decided to stay quiet on her little stunt, mostly because no damage was done and so Tai wouldn't pop a vessel.
But that didn't meant he was forgetting about it any time soon. Even when he and Gatomon tried to scold her, she would defend her action saying that it worked and nothing bad had happened.
Who knew the girl was so stubborn? And who knew if she would try something like that again.
And back to this test. She has been... Improving in some ways. Those being that she was now using more force behind her punches, aside from just flailing them around, and she went for kicks. The first time was hilarious, she tried a rising kick and fell on her back. Not only that, but now she could keep up the three hours he had ser... Although immediately after she would collapse due to exhaustion.
She charged again and tried to take the ball while using various punches, but he danced around them. To tease her, he threw the ball over her head and blurred past her to catch it. She growled quite adorably by panting and charged again, but then.
*DING!*
She stopped and fell to the ground, Killua looked at the egg timer he brought from the kitchen to mark the end of the test. It was over.
Kari whimpered and fought back the tears on her eyes. She failed.
Killua sighed and dropped the ball. "The test is over."
He received a choked sob and a "Uh-huh" as an answer.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow, at this same hour in your room to go to the Digital World," He said.
"Eh?" Kari looked up and whipped her tears away. "W-why?"
"That's where I'll start training you to fight."
"Eh?" Kari asked again. "B-but I failed... I couldn't get the stupid ball."
"True," Killua said, throwing the ball from one hand to the other. "But in these two weeks you improved yourself to try it. You adapted to the schedule I set, you started using your head instead of just charging, and use different methods like punches and kicks. I can see something to work with."
Inwardly he was musing. 'Is this how Bisky felt when she saw me and Gon? With so much potential but, according to her, unable to use it?' His lip twitched in nostalgia for those times. 'And besides...' He turned to look at Kari, who was barely containing her excitement. 'That stunt she pulled... She might do something like that again, Nen or not. At least with Nen she'll be able to protect her body from something like that.' He thought.
"But! I'll be only giving you training to fight for now," He said. "No Nen, because that would be too complicated to do so, and it would require more time. And I also have one additional condition, as long as I train you on that, no more stunts like the one in the city. Otherwise, I will stop." And he meant it, he was going to find a way to prevent her for doing something like that.
"O-oh... Okay... I get it!" She said getting up. "So... You're really going to train me?"
"... Osu," He nodded.
Kari beamed and dropped to her knees then fell on her back. "Okay..." She said, her voice drifting and replaced by soft snores.
Killua rolled his eyes and picked her up to put her on bed. This might take a while, but it would be better on the long run. And he wasn't in any rush to teach her Nen, he could take on Ken without problem.
But who knew what else would come in the future?