A/N: For those of you wanting me to make new stories. Stop insisting please, I have almost no plans on making a new crossover. The only one I have in mind is one inspired by a fic called the "Unfortunate One" a Crossover between Red vs Blue and RWBY. Check it out, although I think it's dead by this point.
So please, just leave a review about this story. What you thought of it, heck even flame me if you want, as long as it's about the story please.
Anyways, let's go.
As it was usual for the Digidestined, specially for Kari, they entered the Digital World in the middle of the night by their leader's instructions, all of them wearing their PE uniform. They were sitting down on a clearing, near the town where the SnowBotamon lived, barely containing their excitement as they remembered their leader's words. He was going to teach them how to use Nen. He was going to make them Nen users.
They had every right to be excited, even someone usually serious as Cody couldn't help the anticipation bubbling on his stomach, after seeing what Killua and Ken could do they couldn't wait to try and do similar things.
Speaking of Killua, he was missing at the moment, according to Kari he left as soon as the two of them arrived, saying he had to pick some things while the others arrived. That was almost ten minutes ago, and she was starting to feel worry.
It was no-founded however as the boy emerged from the trees, carrying a small, blank board and a marker on one hand and an easel on the other. "Sorry to keep you waiting," He said, setting the easel down and putting the board on it. "Had to pick some things for the essentials."
"What's the board for?" Davis asked, raising his hands as if this was a class.
"It's for visual presentations," Killua said. He took out the lid from the marker and started writing a kanji on the board. He moved to the side for everyone to see it:
Four Principles:
-Cloak (Ten)
-Improvement (Ren)
-Null (Zetsu)
-Activation (Hatsu)
Killua turned to them. He decided to not tell them about the 'other type of Nen,' the one used by meditation to burn your soul, as four-eyes Wing tried to seel them at first. With this mysterious woman lurking, he needed to teach them fast.
"Since we are short of time, this will be a crash course," He said. "Nen is the ability to use your aura, your own life force. The four principles are the bases needed to learn how to use it effectively. Ten allows you to create a shroud of your aura, it protects you and slows down the effects of aging. Zetsu nullifies your aura, allowing you to hide your presence and recover rapidly from fatigue. Ren allows you to create a stronger cloak of aura, used to augment your power." He let out his own Ren and turned to them. "Can you guys feel it?"
The group seemed confused for a moment... Until their face shifted to those of confusion and then realization. "Yes," Kari nodded. "It's like... A pressure."
"It's... Soft... Weird," Davis said.
"Well, that's my Ren," He said, cutting of the exposure. 'They must be adept at feeling it due to all the times I've used it around them. That, or their senses are just that good.'
He pointed to the final word. "Finally, there's Hatsu, the release of your aura, after stimulating it through Ren." He looked carefully at the group to make sure they were keeping up with him. To his delight, they weren't even blinking, all of them had their upmost interest on what he had to say about the power he wields. He nodded with satisfaction and regarded them with a serious look. "Remember when we discovered Ken was a Nen user? I told you Nen was both a secret and dangerous. So you guys will only be using Nen here in the Digital World, both for training and in the case we have to fight, understood?"
"OSU!" He received from them.
"Good," He nodded again. "Now then... Kari," He called, making the girl perk up.
"Uh? Y-yeah?" She said, feeling nervous at being called all of the sudden.
"... You'll go first," He said, making her eyes go wide. He gave a shrug at her reaction. "You're the one I've been teaching the longest, it's only fair you're the first to get it."
She nodded in understanding and walked up to him, a bit stiffly. She was nervous, not knowing how the process would go with exactitude.
Killua gave her a reassuring look. "Don't worry. It won't hurt, though it might give you a bit of a shock." His expression turned serious again. "I will basically be using Hatsu to liberate my aura and force yours to come out. I'll basically be waking you up with a shock" He said. "Now, turn around."
She did as she was told and suddenly she felt a warm sensation inches from her skin. It was almost as if something was pressing against her back, without Killua even touching her.
"This is the my aura was unlocked. According to the guy who did it for me, this method is frown upon. If the person who does this is weak or has evil intentions, then your body could be crushed," He explained, making sure both her and everyone else knows the risks.
Kari clenched her fists, gulping down her nervousness. "But... You aren't weak, or have evil intentions..." Even with the revelation of his past, she was sure Killua wouldn't do anything to harm either her or the team.
He glanced at the others, who seemed to share the sentiment by the looks on their eyes.
Killua smiled and nodded. "Very well then..." His eyes narrowed. "Here I go!"
His aura activated and bathed Kari. The girl let out a short cry as the sensation completely engulfed her, the kids all sat up for a moment, out of fear something might go wrong.
Unbeknownst to any of them... At that moment, Kari's Digivice started beeping rapidly.
Killua retreated his hand and nodded, as he watched the aura emerging from Kari's body. "Each node, or micropyles on your body has been opened!" He declared.
Kari looked at her hands with awe. A steamy energy coming out from her body. "T-this feels... Weird," She could hear her friends face-planting on the floor at her statement while Killua chuckled. Well, what else was she supposed to say? It was amazing yes, but also... Weird.
"You can see aura now because the micropyles on your eyes have been opened," Killua said. "That's your vital energy coming out of your body."
Kari paused and turned to give him a panicked look. "W-wait isn't that dangerous!? I-It's coming out, what if I can't stop it from coming out!?" She asked frantically.
Killua placed hands on her shoulders. "Calm down!" He commanded. "Remember all those sessions of meditation we've been doing," He said, removing his hands. "Concentrate. Close your eyes."
She did as she was told. She took a shaky breath to calm her nerves and slowly closed her eyes. The others were looking on nervously, wanting to make sure this was all completely safe for them, and wanting to make sure the girl didn't suffered some sort of weird side-effect.
"Use any position that it helps you concentrate," He said in a calm tone, remembering the instructions from Wing. "Visualize the aura flowing through you, like blood in your veins. From the top of your head to your shoulders, from there to your hands, and then to your legs. Then imagine that flow starting to slow down. Starting to hover around you."
Killua nervously watched as Kari's aura continued to flow. He mastered the technique himself in seconds because of his talent, but Kari might not have the same potential. Zushi took three months according to Wing, but that was with the deliberate mode. He could only think of knocking her unconscious to interrupt the flow of aura if she wasn't able to reign it in.
The Digivice continued to beep, more slowly. Before starting to settle down, no one noticed, all of them focused with the lessons Killua was giving them.
A minute or so passed, and the steam started to enclose around Kari, now hovering close to her body like a cloak. Killua gave a sigh of relief at this, thankful that the hours of meditation weren't in vain.
The Digivice's screen was now a pure white and it slowly died down, settling back to continue to rest.
"Open your eyes slowly," She did as he told her. "How does it feel?"
"It's... Like a moist and warm thing is covering me..." She said. "It's..."
He snorted. "Weird?"
"Yeah..."
"Now, practice Zetsu to stop the flow of your aura. Same concept, visualization. Visualize for a way to stop the flow," He instructed. "I'll unlock the others'"
Kari nodded with an excited smile and walked to the side. "Osu!"
Killua turned to see the rest of the group, who seemed paralyzed for a moment after the display showed to them. "Soooo..." He drawled. "Who's next?"
That broke them off their stupor and they all raised their hands, with Yolei and Davis going so far as to jumping to their feet to call the Hunter's attention.
The boy rolled his eyes and allowed them to come next. They turned their backs on him already. "Guess I won't have to tell the explanation again, you guys ready?" He asked, extending his hands.
"Osu!" They said, overly enthusiastic.
Killua smiled and repeated the process. Liberating aura on their bodies and going through the same explanation process and instruction with Kari. It would be more effective to help them step by step to visualize the way to keep the aura from drifting off their bodies.
The nervousness returned to Killua when he observed them. Praying that his meditation sessions would be enough to let them focus on how to stop aura from leaving their bodies. Fortunately for him, it seemed to do the job and their auras started to hover around them... Although, unlike with Kari their try took a few minutes to do so.
The same story happened with Cody and T.K, but with them it was surprisingly faster to keep their aura down. It might do with the fact that Cody was already a martial artist and had meditation waaaaay before Killua appeared on his life, and T.K could just be more mentally prepared for this after watching the others.
Their Digivices all had the same reaction as Kari's when their auras were awakened. Due to the excitement of their new abilities being unlocked, no one noticed them acting up...
Killua looked at the group as they stared down at their hands, letting their auras form Ten around them. "Okay, listen. Ten is a purely defensive technique, your offensive techniques are still the same. And you can still receive damage, even with it," He said, his hand flying unconsciously towards his shoulder. Flashes from his clash against Blademon coming back. "A highly skilled Nen user could penetrate — Davis laugh and I'll punch you," He threatened when he saw the boy's mouth twitching, "— your Ten and cause lethal damage. And that's without counting powerful Digimon, or those towers the woman is using, they could also go through your Ten and cause damage."
Again he received nods of understanding. It was good that they were catching up fast with Nen, he wondered how Gon would have explained to them since he knows his friend might not have the best of memories.
"For now, try to keep yout Ten active for as long as our lessons continue," Killua said. "That way it'll grow stronger. Think of it as a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it gets."
"Osu!" They chorused and took deep breaths, their Tens starting to seep through their bodies.
Killua nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Now listen, while I would like to take the time to go through each of the principles patiently, we don't have that luxury. That problem might be on me; if I had teached you sooner, then we wouldn't be running against the clock with the red lady lurking around."
"It's okay, we can learn fast," Yolei said waving off his concerns. "We got the Ten part down right?"
"Learning Ten it's like learning how to add and subtract in math," Killua explained. "It's just the base for what is going to be far more complex techniques and usages."
"Aww man! Now having superpowers is like having to do math?!" Davis complained. "I had a bad feeling when you brought the board."
"Anyways!" Killua said, rolling his eyes. "I need to know what I'm working with! So listen, in any free time you guys have between today and tomorrow you'll practice Nen through meditation.That way it'll become more naturally for you to use it," He explained. Recalling how Gon was forbidden for training Nen for two months and he accompanied him on that punishment, and in the meantime they meditated most of the time. When they used Ten again, it came out easily. That was in the span of two months true, but Killua was going to keep up their training while they do that. "And then, tomorrow we'll be moving on Ren and Hatsu. That's all for tonight, no sparring until you fully master the four principles."
"Osu!" Once again they chorused.
They started leaving the area leaving only Kari and Killua behind. Killua gave a sigh as they stood alone on the field. "Well, that worked out better than I expected."
Kari turned to look at him with confusion. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"I'll be honest, I didn't expected you guys to dominate Ten so quickly. I thought it would take more sessions and me knocking you out to prevent the auyrs from leaving your bodies," He explained with a bit of a grimace. That was the worst, and most likely scenario on his mind. 'I wonder if being a Digidestined plays a role on why they adapted so fast. It's always said that being a Digidestined makes you special in dome way, so let's mark it as a maybe.'
Kari gave a nervous chuckle at the statement he gave on the worst case scenario. "Glad it didn't came to that!" She said. "We should get going now. I have to start with all that meditation."
Killua nodded. "Sure. Tell me if you need any advice in the process."
Kari gave a nod and took out her pink D-3 to open the gate. "Osu."
All work and no fun for the Digidestined. On the next day of having their Nen awakened, they had to get back to work, there were still many parts of the Digital World on the need of repairing.
On other news, their clothes had gone back to be the same ones they used before the summer. Now that autumn was starting.
Right now, it was fixing a bridge on a town close to where the SnowBotamon lived. With the help of their now enhanced strength and the new evolutions they've achieved this last few days, the work on the bridge has been done far easily than usual.
But when it came to the kids... Well...
Killua watched them as he settled his tools aside. They were all panting heavily, keeping up their Ten and working on this bridge at the same time must've been taxing for their bodies, but it was a good way for them to get used to using the technique even in something so hard.
He clapped his hands to call their attention. "Okay, how about a break? Drop the Ten, the tools and let's bring out the snacks."
As one they collapsed while the Digimon regressed to their usual forms and cheered at the prospect of snacks.
They settled on the outskirts of the town. Taking out a blanket to sit on and drink some juice, while the Digimon all devoured the rations Yolei brought for them without any pause.
Davis laid on his back while letting out a sigh. "I'm beat! How can you keep that thing up all the time!?" He asked, referring to the Ten.
Killua shrugged. "How did you learn to do that slide in football? Through practice," He said. "It's not that hard. Eventually you could even do it in your sleep."
Cody tilted his head. "How could that work?"
"Beats me, but I do it," Killua said. It was more instinct than anything. Instincts built by training with a rock hanging over your head and if you fall asleep it would fall on your head — Thank you Dad, and Bisky!
Yolei looked at the horizon with a concerned look, something that didn't go unnoticed by Kari. "Is everything okay?"
Yolei snapped out of her thoughts and nodded. "Oh, yes, everything is fine... Well not completely, I was thinking about the situation."
"Situation?" Kari asked, tilting her head. "You mean..." She trailed off in realization.
Yolei nodded. "Yes. That woman in red Palmon and Ken mentioned... I can't stop thinking what does she gain in creating Digimon from the Towers. And specially... Who is she? And how could an adult come to the Digital World?"
The group as a whole could admit that they felt curious as well. Many question surrounded her mysterious figure, and they haven't even met her yet.
On one of the many arid landscapes of the Digital World, Ken and Wormmon stood in front of one of the giant obelisk the boy created. Ken was glaring at it while also wracking his brain in a process to try and understand the mechanism behind the towers.
Wormmon looked at his partner with a questioning look. "What is it?" He asked.
"I'm wondering how this things were able to turn into Digimon," Ken explained. "How can something like that happen?"
"You don't... Actually know?" Wormmon asked slowly, finding strange that his partner couldn't understand something he made... Then again, there's what happened to Kimeramon, but better to never bring that up again.
Ken walked to the structure and placed a hand against the cold surface. The material felt like rock, or something similar, yet it sent a shiver down his back just how... Wrong it felt. "No..." He answered to Wormmon. "I don't know..." He looked up at it again, clenching his fists in frustration. "If I was like before... Like the Digimon Emperor... Then maybe I could think of something. But now, no matter how hard I try, I can't understand the mechanism of these things."
Wormmon's eyes dropped a bit. "Ken, do you... Do you want to be the Emperor again?"
Ken jumped and looked down at Wormmon. "What?! No, no Wormmon! That's not what I meant!" He sighed and shook his head. "W-what I meant is that at that time, my head felt more clear, but I don't know why. It felt like I was above everyone, that I knew everything, but I kept forgetting about the important things. The things that did mattered to me," His head dipped down and his shoulders shook. "But there's one thing I can say... Even if it fills me with shame..."
"Ken..." Wormmon muttered.
Ken looked up with a solemn look. "All of this... I caused it," He declared with a look mixing sadness, regret and disgust.
Wormmon's eyes wavered and fell down. "I'm sorry Ken... Had I been stronger, or smarter, you wouldn't be suffering..."
Ken looked down at his partner with surprise. Even after everything, Wormmon tried to carry the guilt with him. "I'm the one to blame Wormmon," He said, kneeling down and grabbing his front paws. "Not you."
Wormmon nodded slowly. "Ken... Together, we can restore the Digital World."
Ken nodded and smile. "Yes. We'll make sure this world goes back to normal, and their inhabitants can live happily."
He felt a glow on his pocket, but it soon died down.
"Then let's get started!" Wormmon said, his eyes filled with conviction.
Ken nodded, pulling out his Digivice and activating his Nen to summon his book.
"Done!" Cody said proudly as he finished placing the last piece of the bridge in place.
Davis dusted off his hands and placed them on his hips. "Perfect! Aaaaand, we were able to keep this Ten thing on!" He said proudly, pointing to his mantle of aura.
"After a fifteen minute break," Killua oh-so-helpfully remarked.
Davis grumbled. "Yeah. Thanks for reminding us, sparky!" He said.
"Then let's go onward to the next!" Yolei declared, pointing to the horizon.
She received only nods and some enthusiastic 'Yeah!' from the group as they started to walk away towards the next town in need. Oblivious to the dangers around them.
From far, far away from the bridge they just reconstructed, the woman in red observed them through binoculars. Her teeth gritting together and her brows in a scowl. "Pesky brats!" She cursed. "Bad enough is that they stop the plan of causing chaos on this world, but with that stupid Anomaly close I can't watched them closely or else he'll see me!"
Despite her complains and constant grumbling over the children's actions, a smile slowly formed her way to her face.
"Well..." She said, taking out a piece of her hair and sharpening it. "It's not like I need to be exactly close to do my job."
She launched the needle towards the tower that was closer to the bridge. She observed, and could even feel as the needle entered the obelisk and imbued it with energy. The shape of the tower started changing as the core entered it, and it took the shape of a Digimon resembling a bipedal bull.
She smirked. "Minotauromon, destroy the bridge."
Despite being far away from her creation, the beast nodded and started moving towards the recently fixed structure.
The Digidestined walked blissfully unaware of the danger approaching their most recent repair, until Killua's instincts caused him to tense. He turned around to see Minotauromon approaching the bridge and his eyes narrowed. "Guys?" He called.
Everyone turned around to see the Digimon. "Who's that guy?" Davis asked.
"And why is it going to the bridge?" Cody asked, starting to have a slight sense of deja vu.
"Does it want to destroy it?" Kari asked, clenching her fists.
Yolei groaned. "It better not! It took us a long time to fix it!"
Killua let his aura out. "I'll deal with it, see what it wants. It's possible it's a Control Tower, in that case I'll finish it before it can cause damage."
The group agreed with their leader and he charged forward to deal with the intruder, while readying their Digivices just in case he needs back-up.
Minotauromon used his left hand, one that resembled some sort of electric hammer to start causing damage on the support of the bridge. It stopped however, when he sensed something approaching. Its head turned to the left, just in time to receive a right hook that sent it away from the bridge.
Killua landed in front of Minotauromon, arms crossed and a scowl on his face. The violent monster stood up, part of its face having crumbled away to reveal a black interior. Killua scoffed. "So it is a Control Tower, no reason to hold back then." He unfolded his arms and let his nails sharpen before charging.
The limited mind of the artificial Minotauromon recognized the threat. It had a mission, but this newcomer wasn't going to let it finish it. So instead of engaging the boy, Minotauromon aimed its left hand towards the bridge and fired a single missile. That was the last action it did on its short life as the boy pierced its chest with his bare hands. It let out a growl before desintegrating.
Killua couldn't celebrate the victory as the missile the fake Digimon launched impacted with the side of the bridge... The same side they just fixed. He turned around slowly and his eye started twitching as he saw the damage. "OH, SON OF A BITCH!"
From afar, the woman in red had a similar reaction. "Damn that Anomaly!" She hissed. "It's obvious that my creations can't keep up with him!"
She turned around and walked away from the area. She had a mission and a itinerary to complete. Between Ichijouji, the Digidestined, and the otherworldly brat she couldn't get them done as soon as she wanted.
"Champions are useless... Time to bring out the bigger weapons..." She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Even Ultimates are nothing for the Anomaly..." Her eyes widened in realization and then she scowled. "Seems I have to ask the... brat for a favor."
She strode away from the area, she had forgotten she has an ally in this world... One she molded herself without him being a Control Tower.
Eventually, the group all gathered on the small crater caused by that attack. Killua was sulking on the side, while Davis collapsed to his knees and let our mournful tears. "All that work for nothing! Nice going sparky!"
"Shaddup!" A flustered and equally frustrated Killua said. For all his boasting, the bridge still payed the price.
"Hey, don't worry!" Kari said, keeping the positivism in the air. "We fixed it once, we can do it again!"
"We can do it even faster, it's small compared to the repairs from early," Yolei said. Then she brought her Ten up. "And we can work this sweet mantle out."
Killua sat up, a gloomy cloud still hanging around him. "Glad to see someone has the initiative..."
Davis mock-sniffed and nodded. "Whatever, let's get this over with..." An idea came to his mind and he sat up. "Hey, how about we text Ichijouji so he can give us a hand."
The reaction was not what he expected. Everyone looked uncomfortable with the prospect, except for Killua who merely raised an eyebrow and seemed to be considering the idea.
Davis crossed his arms. "Guys, don't tell me you still don't trust him. After he helped us out yesterday, and with Thundermon?"
Cody grimaced. "Davis sorry but... I can't just forget what he's done..." He said, his eyes momentarily drifting to Killua before settling in the floor. "I... I still need time to think he can be trusted, that's all."
Killua sighed. He did proved himself on the eyes of the team by being their leader, but Ken only did two things right on their eyes against months of evil plans. And for someone so strict as Cody, that didn't seemed to be enough.
"Umm..." Davis started. "Listen, I want you to trust the guy, to give him a chance because well..." He trailed off. "Think about it, Wormmon helped us stop him and Kimeramon and he is back with him after he was reborn. And well... there's another reason."
That caught their attention, including Demiveemon and Killua. They knew Davis trusted Wormmon's judgement on Ken, but what else could there be?
"When I picked that golden Digi-egg and the Crest of Kindness appeared, I could feel something... I don't know how to explain it," Davis explained. "As if it was trying to tell me something... Maybe that Crest was Ken's true nature, ya know?" He finished sheepishly while scratching the back of his head.
The veterans all exchanged look. Davis wasn't that far off. A Crest was the representation of a trait on the Digidestined's heart. Kari looked at him with curiousity. "So like... You could read his thoughts, Davis?"
"S-something like that," Davis said, feeling nervous at revealing something like that. It was a surreal feeling, it was like the Crest was telling him that Ken was someone that could be trusted. A possible friend to have. He hoped the others could see that too...
"Maybe is a thing one had to experiment for themselves to understand," T.K said.
"Can we drop it for now?" Yolei said with a groan. "Crests, thoughts, hearts, I'm getting dizzy!" She said.
Killua nodded. "I guess we are burning sunlight. C'mon let's fix the bridge. Ten up everyone!"
"Osu!"
On the northern regions of the Digital World, the woman in red covered herself from the blizzard raging on the field. It wouldn't cause her any sort of frostbite, she was above that, but it was still annoying. 'Damn that brat! Couldn't he choose a better place to stay!?' She growled.
Eventually she found a trail filled with many broken swords, all of them leading to a cave. She snorted, the neanderthal rejected staying with her and the master and instead decided to stay in such an primitive place. The fool...
Her thoughts were interrupted however when the cold tip of a sword was pressed against her neck. A soft chuckle came from behind. "You are slipping, mistress..."
"Brat..." She growled and the sword parted from her neck. Turning around she fixed her shades and glared at the Digimon. "I have a favor to ask you, Blademon."
Blademon chuckled and dispersed the sword. "Must be something serious if it isn't an order, but a favor. Is Ichijouji causing problems?"
"Yes," She gritted out. "He is, but we can deal with him later. It's more about the Digidestined... And the Anomaly."
Blademon's eyes narrowed and clenched his fist in hate. "I'm listening."
"Good boy," She said, mocking the attitude of a proud mother. "We have to go to the leftovers of an empire..."
As usual, Izzy is mounting guard to keep an eye for the kids, in case a teacher or member of the staff came around looking for them. Everything was going as dull as usual, more so since Tentomon went back to the Digital World after Ken's defeat. So it was a surprise when his computer picked something up.
"What is this?" He wondered.
The readings were not the same as an SOS signal, it was more like something was gathering on a certain form. Waves of energy that if concentrate could... "Oh no!"
He started to type furiously, he had to warn them!
The job was interrupted when all of the D-Terminal on the team started to go off. The Digidestined flipped them open, while Killua watched with a raised eyebrow. "What is it?" He asked.
"It's from Izzy..." Kari said. "He sent a picture of a zone and he says that... Energy is gathering on that place."
"Energy? How so?" He asked, tilting his head.
"Bad energy maybe..." Cody said. "Energy from the darkness."
"That sounds bad..." Davis said. "Let's get going!"
He received nods all around.
With a big explosion, many towers fell down. Ken and Stigmon looking at their job solemnly, and with a small sense of pride. Ken looked at Stigmon. "Thank you. You must be tired."
"You as well," Stigmon replied. "I know how much of a toll it takes you to use that book."
Ken dismissed said book and smiled. "I'm getting the hang on it," He said. "I think I can continue a bit more."
"Then so can I," Stigmon, while not having any noticable features, seemed to return the smile.
Ken sighed. Knowing his partner wasn't going to yield on this. "Then we can continue tomorrow," He looked back at all the wrecked towers laying through the field.
Stigmon regressed and the two started making their way back to the nearest TV. Ken was continuousness checking on Wormmon throughout the way back. "Are you sure you are okay?" He asked.
"Yes, I am. You worry too much," The worm reassured.
Ken grimaced and looked down. "I wish there was more I could do for you."
"Ken, you're being too hard on yourself!" Wormmon said with a frown. "You are helping me destroying the spires with your ability, and without you I wouldn't be able to Digivolve. There's no need to worry for me."
Ken smiled at him, but inwardly he kept his worries. His ability wasn't as versatile as he hoped, it gave him more firepower yes, but with the limitations he set his armament was quite limited. Wormmon for his part destroyed more towers than him, thanks to his agility in Champion form. He just didn't wanted to cause him any problem.
For now, he could compensate him. "I'm sure my mom will have some snacks ready, and if not I'll do some for you," He promised.
"Yummy!"
Raidramon touched land and both Killua and Davis dismounted him. In front of them was the remaining of the Emperor's base, the coordinates Izzy sent had led them here. Pegasusmon, Nefertimon, Aquilamon and Pteramon arrived later on. The whole group having their Ten up in case something goes wrong.
"This is it!" Yolei said, watching the D-Terminal. "This is the source." She typed to Izzy to tell them of their arrival.
Almost instantly, the D-Terminals dinged again with a new new message from Izzy. "The energy is gathering in this spot... If it continues this way it will cause an explosions with the magnitude of a small... A SMALL OF A NUKE!?" Davis yelled as he read the last part.
"WHAT!?" The outburst was expected. Even Killua from another world knew about nukes, he heard of the terrible power of bombs such as the Miniature Rose...
"A-And how do we stop it?!" Cody asked, panic clear in his voice.
"Can Ten protect us from that!?" Yolei asked Killua.
"Like hell it can't!" He snapped, then he turned towards the base. "What is causing this!?" He asked with gritted teeth.
Davis' eyes widened. "Maybe... It's because it doesn't have the core... That golden Digi-egg..." Then he gulped. 'Oh-oh...'
Yolei exhaled in relief. "Good, then that means we just need to put it back in place, right?" Davis didn't answered. "R-right?"
"Davis?" Kari questioned, seeing his expression.
"I... Uh... Don't have that Digi-egg anymore..." He revealed.
"WHAT!?"
He sighed. "After beating Ken, I checked my D-Terminal and... I only had the original two... The third one was... Gone."
"And you didn't tell us before!?" Yolei screeched.
"Cut me some slack! It didn't came up before!"
"Enough!" Killua snapped. "Listen, there was another core in there!" He said.
"Uh?" Everyone looked at him.
"The Crest... Ken's Crest was with the golden Digi-egg," Killua said. "Maybe if we put it back, we can avoid the explosion."
Cody grimaced at the idea. "Then that means..."
Davis' fingers were already dancing on the keys of the terminal. "Are you going to?" Yolei asked.
"Yeah..." Davis nodded. "I'm calling Ichijouji to help us!"
Wormmon offered one of the slices of the cake Miss Ichijouji made to his partner. "Here, let's share it!"
Ken nodded and accepted the slice. "Sure."
Wormmon gave him a smile, but it soon morphed into a face of worry. He was staring the computer and inching away. Curious about this reaction, Ken turned around and his eyes widened at what he saw.
"Hello there," The woman in red greeted through the screen. "How is my little Emperor doing?"
Ken immediately sat up, his Nen flaring around him. "You dare-!" He growled. This woman had the gall to appear before him after using his towers to cause even more damage!?
"Ken, just ignore her!" Wormmon said. Not wanting his partner to get worked up because of her manipulations.
"Oooh, the little worm has a spine after all," The woman sneered. "And it seems I'm not welcome around you. Very well then..." She turned around, getting away from the screen.
"Wait!" Ken growled, glaring at the screen.
The woman turned, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? Make up your mind, silly boy."
Ken walked closer to the screen, his eyes about to make a hole on the screen due to the heat they emanated. "Who the hell are you?! And what do you know about me!?"
The woman scoffed. "I know enough."
"Why did you came here!? What to you want to do with the Digital World?!"
"That doesn't have anything to do with you, boy. You have played your part, mind your own business," She all but ordered. As if she expected him to obey.
All she received was a glare that could melt an iceberg.
The base was shaken by an inward explosion. The energy accumulating there was growing more unstable as the seconds passed.
"What was that?!" Kari yelped.
"A signal of the explosion to come," T.K explained, frowning in worry. "We don't have much time."
"Goddamn it! Ichijouji, respond!" Davis growled as his hands tightened around the D-Terminal.
Killua shook his head. "That might take a lot of time!" He turned to Kari. "Come with me, I have an idea."
"What is it?" She asked.
"I saw a TV nearby, send me to the Human World and with my Godspeed I'll look for Ken!" He explained, running away from the scene.
"O-Okay!" She said, following after him.
Ken slammed his hands on his desk. "This has everything to do with me!" He snarled. His eyes were planted on the floor. "You... You're using stuff I created to cause damage to Digimon that didn't do anything wrong!"
"Like you did?" The woman chuckled, specially when she saw Ken's enraged face.
"Just... Why?!" He asked, in an impotent tone.
The woman smirked. "Why what? Why am I doing this? Or maybe... Why did you turned into the Digimon Emperor?"
Ken flinched, but didn't denied the question.
"You are so easy to read," She said condescendingly, no doubt rolling her eyes under her shades. "That's all you want to know, right?"
Wormmon watched the exchange on the sidelines. Worried of what this woman could do to his partner, or what effect she could have in him. Those thoughts were thankfully interrupted as the phone started ringing. "Umm, Ken?" He tried to call his attention, but his partner was too distracted by the woman.
"So, how about it?" She asked, twirling her hair between her fingers. "Do you want to know why you became the Emperor?"
Ken knew he had several reasons. He wanted a escape from reality after Osamu's death, but his transformation truly started when he received that email. An email the woman knew about. "I... I do."
"Then get on all fours and bark for me!"
"What?!"
The woman chuckled again. "You're not special, boy. I only needed someone to plant Control Towers around the world for me. You were only a pawn, nothing more."
"Then you used me," He mumbled.
"Bravo," She drawled, "give the boy a prize for his deductive skills." This only caused Ken to glower more at her.
Wormmon decided to play secretary in the meantime and picked up the phone for his partner. "Hello? You've reached Ken Ichijouji's room, he is busy at the moment, please leave a message."
"I-Is this a recorded message?"
"More like a recorded Digimon," Wormmon couldn't help but say.
"You are Ken's partner, aren't you?" The voice on the other side didn't sounded surprised.
"Ummm, yes? Ken is busy at the moment," He said, no point in hiding his nature when the person on the other side already knew.
"Listen, this is an emergency, we don't have much- WOAH!"
"SORRY, IZZY!"
"I-is everything okay?" He asked, after hearing the commotion.
"Y-yeah, just... A whirlwind..." He didn't sounded so sure. "But back to the point, there's an emergency happening right now and I need to talk to Ken!"
As Wormmon talked to the stranger, Ken continued to get information from the woman. Yet she continued to avoid his questions, and only repeated herself. "I already told you. Is easy to trick a human suffering from their own weakness. You were the perfect pray, mourning the death of your dear brother and with a Digivice! I couldn't ask for a better pawn."
Ken growled. So it was all because of his circumstances?! This woman manipulated him, used his desire to avoid the guilt from Sam's death, and his status as a Digidestined for her own benefit?! For... Her...
Her?
"Who are you working for?" He asked in a low tone. "... There was a man... A man with a Digivice... He was there when my Digivice turned black. Who is he?"
For the first time the woman seemed surprised, though she hid it well. "I don't know who you're talking about."
"Liar!" He shouted. "That man did something to me! What was it?!"
"Ugh, so annoying," She grumbled, ignoring the question. "Keep it like that and I'll punish you."
"Ken, there's someone at the ph-"
"Ichijouji!"
All talked in the room was interrupted, when in the balcony that lead to Ken's room, one Killua Zoldyck appeared. Startling everyone inside.
"Z-Zoldyck?" Ken stammered at seeing the leader of the group on his home.
The woman sneered. 'Anomaly.'
He forced the glass door open and looked at the boy with an stern look. "We have a problem in the Digital World, we need your help! It's about your old base."
Wormmon blinked. "T-that's what the boy on the phone said," He mumbled.
"I'm assuming Killua arrived there?" Izzy said from the other side.
Although he couldn't see him, Wormmon nodded and let out an affirmative sound. That was enough for the redhead to get the message.
"Then I'll leave it up to him," He said before hanging up.
When Ken received the news, he turned around to glare at the woman. "What did you do?!"
Killua walked to his side and observed the screen, getting a good look of the new enemy. "So that's her."
Ken's eyes narrowed at her. "You were stalling me..." He said. "So I wouldn't go to help."
The woman chuckled. "You humans are so easy to trick."
'You humans?' Both boys caught on the way she phrased that, and Ken thought back to the way she talked about humans in a condescending way. Like she wasn't one herself.
The image of the woman frizzled away, leaving behind the Digiport program. Killua turned to Ken. "Let's go, I'll tell you the details in the way."
Ken clenched his fists and nodded.
Another eruption came from the base. The group didn't dared to even enter without knowing of a way to defuse the situation. "That's another one..." Cody said in worry.
"I hope Killua managed to get Ken in time," Kari said, bitting her lip in worry.
From the nearest TV, both boys and the worm emerged. Running as fast as they could to reach the zone of disaster.
Ken grimaced as an explosion rocked the area. "I built that place, I lived there."
"Lived, past time!" Wormmon reminded him.
"I made it because I thought I was above everyone... But I was just delusional myself. I was scared and lonely," He remembered that feeling of isolation he felt when Osamu died. Like the whole world suddenly stopped, and the only thing that mattered was that his brother, his hero, had died. "I was too weak to face it... I have to fix this... I have to!"
Killua turned out most of what Ken said. His focus solely on his friends, hoping that it wasn't too late to do something. 'Well, considering that this isn't a wasteland yet...' He shook his head and continued running.
Another eruption, this time bigger than the last ones. The explosion was imminent. "Again!" Kari grunted, shielding herself.
"There must be something we can do!" Yolei said. "What if Ken doesn't come?!"
"He will!" Davis insisted, though inwardly he added, 'I hope.'
A chuckle called their attention. It was soft and arrogant at the same time. "Oh so much faith... It sickens me."
The group looked down to see a woman dressed in red. The group immediately recognized her looks. "It's her! The woman Palmon talked about!" Cody gasped.
"I don't want them to ruin this explosion we both worked so hard in making... Specially after taking the necessary measures for his survival," She muttered. "Time to bring out a bigger toy." She plucked ten of her hair strands and launched them to the towers surrounding the base.
Like usual, the needles sank into the structures. But instead of each tower turning into a Digimon, they all started to float and gather above the woman's head. Merging together. All of the towers turned into a single shape, bigger than even Golemon.
The kids watched the process with a growing sense of dread. "The Control Towers..." Kari mumbled
"Formed a Digimon," Yolei continued, the process bizarre on her eyes.
"So that's how she does it," Cody analyzed the process. Finally knowing the method of creation.
The woman smirked and pointed in their direction. "Go, Okuwamon!"
The giant Digimon looked like Kuwagamon, except bigger and with a grey tone on its skin. It landed in front of them liberating a screech that rippled through the area.
"It's an Ultimate..." T.K muttered in realization.
All of the Digivices started shining in response of the threat, except for Kari's. The Rookies getting bathed by the light, while Gatomon's ring merely glowed.
"V-Mon Digivolves to... Exveemon!"
"Hawkmon Digivolves to... Aquilamon!"
"Armadillomon Digivolves to... Ankylomon!"
"Patamon Digivolves to... Angemon!"
"X-Laser!"
"Explosive Rings!"
Both of the flying Digimon's attacks impacted against the artificial Ultra, but it didn't even flinched. Ankylomon tried to use his robust body to tackle the beast, but Okuwamon merely bathed him aside.
Cody gasped at seeing his partner's fall. "Ankylomon!" He ran to his side while the rest attacked.
Kari clenched her fists. "If we only we could go Ultra again!" She said. 'Why isn't that glow coming back again? It was easier in that beach... Why it doesn't come out?!' She thought with frustration.
"No use in getting upset," T.K said, although by the way his teeth were clenched he was frustrated as well. "For now we can only stand aside..." Two words went unsaid, three words that marked their usual frustrations.
'Like usual.'
Aquilamon was slammed against the floor and then kicked away. The damage and not being used to the Champion form caused him to reverse back to Hawkmon.
"Hawkmon!" Yolei screeched and ran to his side.
"All together!" Angemon said, Gatomon on his shoulders as they, accompanied with Exveemon prepared their attacks. "Hand of Fate!"
"X-Laser!"
"Cat's Eyes Beam!"
All three attacks merged together and impacted against Okuwamon, creating an explosion. Everything was quiet for a moment before a pair of cutting waves of energy impacted the three of them and sent them to the floor. Scattering across the battlefield.
Angemon and Exveemon reverted back to their Rookie forms, while Gatomon simply fell unconscious.
"Oh no! Guys!" Davis gasped as he, along with T.K and Kari ran towards their partners.
Okuwamon aimed their next attacked at them, but then...
"Narukami!" A blue lightning bolt impacted the monster, paralyzing him momentarily.
Both Killua and Ken had finally arrived to the battlefield, with the Hunter immediately leaping to attack the monster. Ken lagged behind to point his Digivice at his partner, while also summoning his book. "Wormmon, now!"
"Wormmon Digivolves to... Stigmon!"Killua jumped over the head of the monster and landed an axe-kick to its head. It fell to its knees and Stigmon soon followed with a right hook and then with a Stinger Attack that sent it to its back.
"Sparky! Ichijouji!" Davis cheered at seeing his friend and ally arriving to the battlefield.
V-Mon cracked one eye open. "Stigmon..."
Killua landed and ran towards Davis, while Stigmon kept the beast distracted. "Situation?" Killua asked, keeping an eye on the enemy in case Stigmon needed help.
"It's about to blow, and the woman in red was here," Davis said.
"Damn we just missed her, then," Killua said.
Ken slid down the hill to run to their side. "Is everything okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, sure," Davis nodded. "You brought the Crest?"
Ken nodded, taking out the pink item. "Here it is."
"Okay then," Davis said, sitting up. "Let's go," He stretched his hand to grab the Crest.
Ken however closed his hand and pulled it back. "You guys go away, that includes you Zoldyck... Go back to the Human World."
"What?!" The three of them exclaimed.
Stigmon narrowly dodged another swipe. No doubt one attack from the monster could knock him out.
Ken scowled at them. "There's no time. We can stay and fight them on our own, you guys go!"
Stigmon hovered over them. "Get out of here, quickly!"
V-Mon frowned at him. "If we escape, you guys have to come with us!" He said while clenching a fist.
"We can't!" Stigmon said back.
"Ichijouji, do you realize what's happening!?" Killua said. "Look around you, five Champions couldn't win against that thing! Even if you back Stigmon up you won't stand a chance!"
"He is right! What can you do on your own?!" Davis asked, not liking the look on Ken's eyes.
Ken refused to meet his eyes. "This is all my responsibility, for the things I did as the Emperor!. I can't let you guys get involved, please just go!" He pleaded.
"Ichijouji..." Davis muttered.
Killua just stared at him with a frown.
"I was the Digimon Emperor! The creator of the those towers and the base!" He said with his voice shaking.
Stigmon dodged the rest of Okuwamon's attacks, while in his mind he was having similar to thoughts as his partner. 'I couldn't stop him. Even when I became Stigmon, I didn't have the courage to stand up to him. The least I can do is help him fix everything!'
"Stigmon..." V-Mon muttered in worry, fearing he might sacrifice himself again.
Ken looked at his trembling hands, clenching his fists. "I want the Digital World to go back to the peace I disrupted! But everything always seems to get worst! I can't stand it, I don't want to cause more damage!"
"Ken, you," As Davis tried to find the right words, Killua's eyes narrowed to the boy.
"If I can fix it!" Stigmon growled as he stabbed away another slash from Okuwamon. "Then..."
"I don't care what happens to me!" Ken and Stigmon said almost at the same time.
"You idiot!" Both boys said, with Davis adding a slap, only possible due to him having Ten now.
"Are you seriously saying you're content with dying as long as it's fixing your mess?!" Killua asked with a growl. "Can you be anymore selfish?!"
"U-uh?" Ken was stunned by their words.
"Have you thought of those who'd feel sad if you die? Like your parents?!" Davis asked, remembering how distraught they were on the news broadcast about his disappearance. "If I let you go alone and you don't come back, I'll regret it for the rest of my life!"
"Moreover, you can't just die here!" Killua said. "You want to fix your mistakes, to make up for what you did and see the Digital World back to normal?! Then make sure you live to see it!"
V-Mon moved away from Davis' grip to follow Stigmon's movements. "Stigmon! Are you saying is okay if your partner dies!?" He accused. "Are you sure that's what you want?!"
Stigmon flew away from Okuwamon, to stare at V-Mon. His words downing on him.
"Even if you don't care, I don't want you to die!" Davis said.
"You can't just throw your life away when there's things you want to do!" Killua scolded. "It would be like giving up mid-way!"
"Z- Killua, Davis..." Ken's throat closed. Images of how his parents crumbled after Sam's death repeating on his mind. And after the realization they worried for him just as much, the idea of him causing them the same pain... It sickened him.
"Partners are there for each other, to live together no matter what!" V-Mon yelled. "Just accept your guilt and share the burden with him!"
Stigmon looked down, he was out of Okuwamon's reach for the moment, and clenched his fist. "You are right... I have to live on. For Ken's sake."
"If you die now, you will never see your objectives fulfilled, is that truly what you want?!" Davis yelled, glaring at Ken, who seemed to be folding with shame.
"Dying means you will be like throwing away the responsibilities you have!" Killua remarked. "Do you understand that!?"
"I..." He trembled. "I don't want to die..." He admitted. "There's so much I want to do... That I have to do. I can't die now and besides... I don't want my parents to suffer again!" He declared, his eyes closed but his voice full of conviction.
A bright glow came from his closed fist. He opened his hand to see his Crest was glowing with more strength that ever. And it wasn't the only thing...
His Digivice started floating out of his hands. It hovered over his head and the Crest soon followed.
The group watched with astonishment as a slot was opened on the side of the Digivice, and the Crest slide in. The Digivice amplified the glow and bathed Stigmon with it.
"T-this is..." Killua muttered in astonishment.
"The power of... My Crest?" Ken muttered.
Stigmon clenched his fists and let the power flow through him. "Let's do this Ken!"
"Stigmon Ultra Digivolves to..." Stigmon's body started to crack all around, like it was a chrysalis. The shell broke and the pieces floated all around him, starting to reform into a spear. The new Digimon grabbed the weapons, twirling the spear around and stating his name. "JewelBeemon!"
Everyone watched with awe at Stigmon's new form. It bore a resemblance to him, but with a lighter shade of green, with gems imbedded around his body, and gauntlets like claws.
"His Crest... Fused with his Digivice?" T.K muttered, him along with Kari suprised by the process.
"JewelBeemon..." Yolei and Cody muttered staring at the new form.
JewelBeemon glared down and Okuwamon, twirling his spear and pointing it at the monster with a silent glare.
Now the field was even.
N/A: Yeah... No Paildramon. I'm hurting too, but this is all part of a greater plan. So stay tuned! Because next episode will be a Lore dump, and discovering the group's Nen type.
And about the kid's progress learning Ten, well... I left a clue as to why it was so fast, it's up to you to figure it out.
Peace out!