Disclaimer: I wouldn't be facing college debt if I owned any of these franchises, now would I?!
Reviews!
Candlite: I hope I can make Oikawa a better character than in the show. So much wasted potential… then again, that describes most of 02…
Freedom89Justice: So many questions that I want to give answers to. Pero ya pronto veras todo lo que planeo hacer, amigo mio.
Cold…
Kari opened her eyes and forced her body to sit up. With relief, she noticed that her friends were all around her. She looked at her surroundings and understood the reason behind the cold, a cold that she had only felt twice in her life and that she wished she didn't have to experience ever again.
Dull gray composed the ambiance, and the sound of crashing waves could be heard. She turned and her heart was gripped with dread as she started at those inky dark waters coming back and forth at the shore of near her and her friends' location.
Speaking of her friends, Kari looked around. Luckily, they weren't scattered when jumping into this world. However, for a moment she feared the worst over the fact that they weren't awake.
She scrambled to her feet and walked towards Gatomon. Grabbing her tiny shoulders and shaking her. "Gatomon, please wake up!"
"Gnngh… Kari?" Gatomon groaned, her eyes fluttering awake and looking up at Kari with grogginess. She looked at her surroundings once she was fully awake, and her face turned into a frown. "We're here…"
"Yes…" Kari muttered, rubbing her arms together. She now wished the Digital World didn't change their clothes when they went in, she could use her sweater right now. "We all did. We have to wake the others…"
One by one they shook the Digidestined and their partners out of their slumber. When the grogginess and dizziness went away, they took on their surroundings. For the ones who had being dragged into this world in the past it was no different, a grey beach with dark waters. However, there were small differences. Like signs that pointed in different directions, and behind them the most bizarre thing.
"Is that a… road?" Asked Davis, as he adjusted his jacket to protect himself from the cold.
A road of dirt, like one from a rural area, was paved in front of them. Surrounded by a prairie of gray grass, also with signs littered across them. Some even being nailed upside down, and some looking rotten and broken.
"So, this is the world of the Dark Ocean…" T.K muttered, scowling at the general area. "It's about what I expected from it…"
"I'll say…" Armadillomon said, rubbing his claws against his shell. However, that action made himself realize something in him. "Hey! Who turned off the color?!"
Those unfamiliar with the world looked at themselves in surprise. Everything in them, from their skin color, to the color of their clothes have been reduced to some scale of gray to match the ambience. "It's like the movies my grandfather uses to watch…" Cody muttered, feeling an unwanted sensation crept under his skin.
Kari shivered; the beach was different but the sensation was the same. Gatomon noticed and gave her a concerned look. "You ok, Kari?"
She took a shaky breath in through her nose that released from her mouth. "I'll be…" She said. "Let's not be here longer than we need…"
"Right," T.K said, also fighting shivers on his own. Although not as bad as Kari's.
Ken looked at the waters and rubbed the back of his neck. He wondered if Oikawa also had a connection to this world, twice were the times where they met here and the second one brought the birth of the Digimon Emperor. He shook his head, to get the name of the man out of his head, they had a mission to focus on.
Yolei looked at the lifeless landscape. She noticed that beside their voices, the waves and the wind, there were no other noises. No birds chirping, no bugs buzzing, nothing. She wondered how then those Deadmon came to… existence. "A world like this can make anyone depressed…"
Hawkmon put his hands on his hips and frowned. "Doesn't justify the attacks to our worlds, no sir!" He said in a firm tone.
"Exactly!" Davis said, adjusting Tai's goggles and pumping his fists. "So lets find Killua and beat whoever is behind this. Then Oikawa will go down! Can I hear a Huzzah?!"
"Huzzah!" V-Mon cheered with his partner.
The sudden enthusiasm from the couple of Miracles seemed to help in improving the mood. However, there was still a question lingering on their minds that Cody was the first one to voice, "But where exactly are we? And where do we go from here?"
"Well we are obviously on a beach…" Hawkmon started. "But that isn't really that much of a help, so maybe we could all see into the sky if needed."
"No, not now," T.K said, shaking his head. "I say we save our strengths. We are in hostile territory and while we have provisions let's not use evolution unless necessary."
"I'm with T.P in that one actually," Davis said, folding his hands behind his head.
"Oh god we really are in a Dark World…" Yolei muttered, looking at Davis in horror.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Davis growled and her. "After those Daemon and his groupies, I know we'll need the heavy guns for what this place might throw at us."
"You're only scaring me even further…" Yolei said, looking at him with wide eyes. Davis only glared at her.
"And besides," Ken said, getting the conversation back on track. "We already have a way to know where to go."
He looked at Kari and she nodded. Pulling out from her pockets the Tag Gennai make for the mission. It emanated a soft glow, barely noticeable at first, much more so with the gray filter of this world, however as Kari moved around in different directions, it started glowing when pointing towards the road right in front of them. Like it was the obvious route all along. "Over there it is," she said.
Yolei typed in her terminal and sent a message. Her shoulders slumping in relief when she saw that the message was carried through. "Just sent word to our friends. Told them that we made it safe and sound," she said, making an okay sign with her hands.
"Everything is going smoothly for now…" Gatomon said, her tail swaying behind her. "A lot if you ask me."
"Let's count these victories then," Patamon chirped in. "We'll continue with this streak even after we find Killua!"
Despite the colorless environment, things didn't look so bleak for the group anymore. They had a general direction and a plan of action, all looking ahead to what was to come. Yet this new and improved mood was broken by the sound of wet, sloppy footsteps coming in towards them.
Everyone tensed and turned around to the road behind them. A figure walked from it, one that Kari recognized. Made out of the same waters in the beach, and with red eyes that reminded Ken of the effect the Dark Rings had on the Digimon. A Deadmon, that had yet to take the form of a Digimon, had appeared before them.
"It's one of them…" Gatomon hissed, claws glistening, ready to pounce on it and tear it apart.
The creature stood in front of them, unmoving and head bowed. Slowly, too slowly, it lifted its head and its eyes settled on Kari. The girl tensing and her aura rising to protect her in case anything happened.
"Child of Light…" It spoke. Its voice raspy, distorted, like something in a broken radio. "You came at last…"
The Digidestined all stood in front of Kari, protectively. The creature hissed in anger, its eyes sharpening and its skin bubbling. "Trespassers. You are not welcome in our home!"
"Well, you weren't welcome in ours either!" Davis spats back, ready to put the Deadmon on his place. "Yet you waltzed in like you owned the place!"
"We were claiming our last hope…!" The Deadmon claimed, raising its hand towards Kari. "Child of Light…"
The group seemed ready to rip the Deadmon to pieces. But to their surprise, Kari walked past them and towards the creature. "Kari…!" Yolei hissed in alarm.
The girl ignored her. She stood in front of the Deadmon and stared at it, barely keeping back the unnerving feeling this uncanny creature brought on her. "Your… Last hope?"
"Yes…!" The creature hissed, its arms wrapping around Kari's. Making her shake in repulsion and for the Digidestined to tense, ready to attack. "Once our God assimilates you, new life will be given to our kind…! No longer will have to devour our own to reach this level of sapience. We will evolve. We will be better. All thanks to you."
The way it spoke, it was one with such devotion and grandeur that made Kari shiver. She didn't understand what assimilation was, or what it meant when it said 'devour our own' though she had a pretty good idea and it didn't paint a nice picture in her head.
"… I… really wish I could help you in a way," She said, making the creature's grip tighten with desire. "However, you have done nothing more than harm others and disregard the lives of the people in my world just for it."
"Humans and Digimon alike have taken the light for granted!" The Deadmon's words were dripped with venom and clear envy. "They should know what is like to be in the dark for once!"
"That doesn't justify anything," Kari said, gripping her fists and letting her aura flow. "I'm sorry, but I won't help you."
"Then you condemn us."
The sudden shift in the tone of its voice caused everyone to freeze. The creature's eyes suddenly became wide open and its posture straighter.
"W-What…?" Yolei muttered.
Ken summoned Sochi and gripped it tightly. "Something is different…"
"Who… Who are you…?" Kari muttered, fear slowly gripping her heart.
"The ruler of this world. The one who seeks your power to turn my world around, to give my subjects a better life," The entity explained. "And yet you reject us. Condemn us to a life where to appreciate it we have to consume one another, for that is our nature. Until there is nothing left. Can you really live knowing that you could have prevent our extinction, Child of Light?!"
Kari stared at the possessed Deadmon with wide eyes. Not really knowing what to say for a moment. Then her fists clenched and her eyes hardened, her aura flows and she breaks free from the arms, leaping back to join her friends who stood by her side protectively.
"Then how can you live invading our world and harming innocent people?!" Kari accused back. "By even taking someone from another world to come after me?!"
"Along with me, you will achieve a great destiny! Why would you cling to such useless world, and creatures. When you could achieve Godhood with me…?!" The Deadmon drawled, its figure slowly dissipating in dust due to the damage on its arms. "When you could give new life to my kin!?"
"Now that's gaslight if I ever see one!" Gatomon hissed, her golden ring shining even in that gray world. "Kari doesn't need Godhood, and much less with you, you inky bastard!"
"Yeah," Davis joined in, glaring at the monster. "And once we have Sparky back, you are going to regret messing with our world and helping Oikawa!"
The Deadmon's body shook, they realized that it was chuckling. "Very well then. Find the dark entity that is the Anomaly and prove it. You lot will soon know your place. And your deaths will lay the foundation of the future of my people and this world… And for your insolence, maybe yours too." They all glared at their enemy for those words. "I will be waiting. Digidestined…"
With that, the last of the Deadmon vanished, leaving the group shaken from the experience. Their first contact with whom they supposed was their main target, the leader of the Deadmon and the one who orchestrated the attacks to their world. The one who unleashed Hisoka on them and the ally to Yukio Oikawa, the source of the Control Towers.
Yolei shivered, this time not due to the cold weather. "So that's… the big bad one… The one who made Daemon and his buddies…"
"Quite the frightening fellow…" Hawkmon muttered, cupping his chin.
Kari took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves after having the one responsible for her most recent banes so close to her. T.K walked to her and put a hand on her shoulders. "Kari?"
She put a hand on his and closed her eyes, taking one final gulp of breath that was released through her mouth. "I'm okay…"
"But we'll be even better when we get Killua back," Patamon said, landing on his partner's head.
"Then let's not waste any more time," Gatomon said. "Standing on this beach gives me the biggest creeps."
The group moved. Never lowering their guards after that first encounter. The enemy knows where they are now, and who knows what kind of creatures will they face in their trek of finding their friend.
The road was like they expected, one that lead them throw a rural field of what reminded some of them of the rice fields of outskirts towns. Or of some more common areas in the Digital World. However, those grassy fields soon gave away to…
"IS THIS A FREAKING DESERT?!"
It was the strangest thing. For in their eyes there was a clear divide between the grassy fields where they were standing and then just one step ahead was a desertic area. It was a geographic nightmare, worthy of such a nightmarish world.
"At least there is no sandstorm," Hawkmon commented. "Only Yolei and Davis are equipped for it."
"Make that 'only Davis'," Yolei said, while adjusting her glasses. "These babies aren't made for that kind of climate."
"This space is way too open," Ken commented, frowning with displeasure. "If an enemy attacks, we'd be sitting ducks…"
Kari checked the Crest, its glow kept shining right ahead of them. Even if she shared Ken's opinion, it didn't really left them with other choice. "Forward it is…"
Not being able to discuss that logic, the group advanced. Entering the sand and leaving behind the fields. It was not comfortable, and it was clear that many preferred to be in a somewhat humid place, than the dry and far more ruthless environment that was the desert.
And the journey on itself wasn't all that interesting. Grains of sand everywhere, with the eventual rock here and there. They were luckily not getting as hot as they expected from such a place, but that didn't mean their legs didn't start to feel numb from time to time. Oh sure, they all had grown in strength and stamina thanks to constant training, but walking constantly on sand wasn't challenging.
The whole time, everyone looked over their shoulders or above their heads. Waiting. Expecting a Deadmon to suddenly appear to try and take Kari straight to their so-called 'God', or just to tire them out. Considering they were in their world; it was a surprise that they weren't being swarmed by an army of monsters. But maybe they should just count their blessings.
At some point time stopped making sense. They just kept moving, following the dim light of the Crest. However, the dull scenery and the constant gray scales, and the lack of change in temperature didn't really help. Everything was so stagnant in time that it made them wonder if they were making any progress at all, or if they were just in the middle of a treadmill with one giant picture behind.
Deciding that enough was enough, Yolei took out her Terminal and flipped it open. She needed to have something else to do now that conversations weren't starting and everything in that place looked the exact same. She checked the time, and her eyes bulged so much that they almost knocked her glasses off. "WHAT?! This can't be right!"
Everyone stopped and turned to Yolei. "What is it?!" Ken asked.
"If I'm not mistaken, we left around nine in the morning," Yolei said. "And I want to believe some time has passed so… Why does this still says nine o'clock?!" She asked, turning her terminal around and showing it to everyone
"Excuse me?!" Gatomon exclaimed, dumbfounded expressions all around her sharing the sentiment. She looked up at the sky and glared at it. "Gaaaah! I can't even tell if the time passed with the sun!"
"Is there even a sun here?" Armadillomon asked. "Wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't the case…"
"How does that even work?" Wormmon asked. "Ken told me that the Earth goes around the sun. Shouldn't this world be the same?"
"Can we talk about dirt and suns later," V-Mon said, before rising one of his feet. "My legs are killing me. Can we just get some rest, please?"
Yolei unstrapped her backpack and rummaged through her things. "Thank God our store had a camping section," she muttered, before pulling out a package. "Bingo! An instant camp-tent at the order! No stick in the middle or need to nail it down. Our weight is enough!"
"Or so says the box!" Hawkmon added to this improvised commercial break
"Is it really safe though?" Cody asked, looking around. "We are still way too open…"
Ken and Kari nodded. While Davis crossed his arms and seemed to be thinking it. "Well, I guess this place is really dangerous but… My feet are killing me too…" He said, and looking conflicted. 'What would Tai do in this situation…?'
"I think we should get moving, even if for a little bit," Everyone turned to see T.K giving them a firm yet understanding look. "I understand that we're tired from walking, but it'd be better if we find at least a cave or a place that can keep us hidden. Let's do it for another hour, give or take, this time keeping an eye on our Terminals for the time and if in that period we don't find anything we settle a camp. Sounds fair?"
Rounds and murmurs of agreement rang across the group, until Yolei decided to pack back the tent and nod. "Okayyy… just for that hour," She said with a sigh.
T.K chuckled and nodded. "Right."
The rest of the group continued, however Davis lagged a bit behind looking a bit crestfallen. 'Yeah… that's what he would have done. Probably…'
Thanks to keeping an eye on Yolei's terminal, they kept track of the time. Some more than others waiting for the hour to be up to set the camp, and the others while desiring to rest felt on edge on this desertic area. However, both wishes would soon be fulfilled, for the end of the dessert was ahead. Sand gave away to concrete, and the lack of something noteworthy in the land was replaced with a familiar sight for the children.
"This… looks like your everyday suburban…" Davis muttered as he looked around. "But… Yikes…"
"Yeah, I think that's going to be a pattern here," V-Mon commented, as he stared at the houses.
It was a common neighborhood. Two-story houses, close to one another with narrow streets and overhead cabling in the light-posts. However, it looked like a disaster struck. Some houses had their roof's blown off, or a wall completely missing, and some looked just… strange. Crooked structure, some looked like they were melted with each other, and some looked… too normal. And in a place like this that was just unnatural on itself.
"Well, we did find a better place to rest…" T.K muttered, stuffing his hands on his pockets. "Doesn't mean we can lower our guard."
"Now we got a whole lot of options!" Wormmon said, sounding enthusiastic. "Which one should we choose."
"No offense, pal," Armadillomon said, scratching his head. "I don't trust the infrastructure of this place…"
Yolei readjusted the bag on her back and let out a low whine. "Then let's just pick the first, most secure one we find and lets get a five-minute break. Please~!"
No one really wanted to argue. The day, if one could call it that with the lack of change in time, had been a long one. And as much as they wanted to be with their friend and get out of that world as soon as possible, they knew rest was important.
Not really trusting the normal looking houses, and skipping through the ones that looked as if a simple breeze would make it crumble down to dust. They settled in one lacking a portion of the wall that lead to what seemed to be a kitchen.
Cody and Ken moved up to explore the second floor. There were four rooms and two bathrooms, one that would fit a family. But the group, even with that information decided to mount their camp in the lower floor's living room, while mounting guard in couples.
And with that everyone took out what food they had in their backpacks. Lots of instant noodles, canned meat—beef and fish—rice and vegetables were put in the middle of the group. As well as some basic snacks, salty and sugary in equal parts.
Cody took one of the candy bars and gave Davis a questionable look. "Is this… all you brought Davis?"
Davis' face flushed under the gray scale. "What? Those are some of my and V-Mon's favorite."
"You gonna eat that?" V-Mon asked the younger boy, mouth watery at the sight.
"Hmmm, all in all I think this is enough," T.K said as he gathered the supplies. "We still have to safe as much as possible for as long as we are here."
Kari looked outside the house, pensative. "We won't really find more food out there, would we?" She asked in general.
"Considering how… stagnant this world is, then I that's a no," Gatomon said, folding her hands above her chest.
Supplies ready, and a place to rest set, the group got ready for their first dinner of their adventure. They didn't know how long ago they had their breakfasts back home, but the walk had opened their appetites.
They tried to use the kitchen of the house at first, but it didn't had gas. They were pleasantly surprised when they found dishes they could use, made out of wood, but usable nonetheless. So, they mixed some of the canned beef with the vegetables. And a cooking pot that Kari had in her backpack they cooked the rice in the bags, "hehe, this is the sole reason why mom was so insistent about it," Kari giggled. Allowing the group to have a pleasant meal for the night—or whatever time they were in.
"Alright then," Ken said, setting down his plate after he and Wormmon finished eating. "How do we decide the watch?"
"I would like to go first," Kari said, raising her hand shyly. "If… that's okay."
"Of course it is," Yolei smiled at her, and looked at the rest of the group. "But it'll be better if two of us do it at the same time, right guys?"
"Yup, so I would like to go too!" Davis said, rising his hand more enthusiastically. "No probs, right?"
Yolei gave him a deadpan look. "Nope, not at all. As long as you focus."
He pouted. "And what is that supposed to mean?!"
"If that's settle then let's prepared the bed," Cody said, sitting up. "Or sleeping backs, in this case."
While Davis and Kari settled on the hole that once was a wall, the rest of the group moved to the living room. Not trusting this unknown world to go to what would probably be more comfortable beds in the upper floor.
With only the fire from their dinner to bring a small sensation of warm. Kari and Davis stayed alert for any sign of Deadmon, same with their partners who decided to look up in the roof for a better view.
Kari also kept looking at the Tag in her hands. Observing its glow as if afraid it might disappear. While Davis knocked his knees together, already feeling bored at the lack of anything to do in general on this gray land. "So…"
His voice snapped Kari out of her staring of the Crest and she turned to him with a smile. "What is it, Davis?"
"Um, well just thinking that…" Davis looked sheepishly ahead. He know had a chance to be alone with Kari yet his tongue and brain seemed to be plotting against him. "This… shouldn't be all that hard right? I mean, we survived worst with Daemon, right…?"
Kari frowned, as she cradled the Tag carefully in her hands. "Daemon could still be here… We… don't know if Killua was able to beat him."
'Darn!' Davis thought with frustration as he realized he brought down the mood. "H-He must have, right? I mean the Tag is giving off the glow that proves it, right?"
She looked at it again and a smile blossomed on her face as she pressed it close to her. "Yes. That must be it. It's silly to doubt Killua at this point but… I can't help but worry," despite her last words, the smile never left her face, and she was in higher spirits than before.
Davis' smile however faltered a bit when he noticed the expression on her face. He felt a pang that it only turned that way when talking about Killua. He hasn't really felt it in a way, and honestly it was kind of annoying at this point. 'Shouldn't I be happy that my friend is okay without having to feel this way? Of course she's happy, I'm happy too! That's all that matters, right?'
The rest of their turn on guard was mostly silent. With Kari feeling more optimistic for what was to come, while Davis' feelings were conflicting against one another.
Pieces were falling into pieces. Whether the Digidestined died in this world or in their own was of little matter. Soon both parts of the ultimate weapon he had longed to create will be in his power once again, and nothing will stop him.
Oikawa walked through the lowest level of the residence of the Dark World's ruler. Or 'God' as it like to call itself. The place empty and with only a few torches to light the way of the narrow hallway. Honestly, this world felt like one where he felt he fit in. It was no Digital World, but it was a close second. Especially after Hiroki's…
He shook his head. No time to think of the past. There'll be plenty of that for once their plans have come into fruition.
"… Sir," He spoke in a low tone, as he stopped in front of a door. "Are you there?"
"I'm always here, Yukio…" The voice in his head resonated. "Always there for you."
Oikawa smiled in happiness. Most would say that he was deranged, crazy for speaking with a voice in his head, but he knew there was more to it. So much more. He owned everything to that voice. Everything!
At first… the voice was a whisper. It was the one who showed him the wonders of Nen. Somehow, giving it snippets of the Anomaly's life that helped him know everything about the aura that resides within his body. He made researches, all of it mostly cultural babblings. Chakras, inner peace, all that jazz.
Yet that, mixed with those small flashes of another person's life, matched in some ways. And his body, started to gain new life. He felt better than ever, stronger, faster, smarter. It all became even better when he unlocked his aura. Nothing could stop it from that point on.
Everything except the boundaries between worlds, apparently.
He grimaced as he pushed the doors open as he recalled those bitter experience. The voice, had given him knowledge on how to create an artificial door to other worlds. It was effective, by all means it should have worked and yet it didn't! The frustration Oikawa lives with having created that door and being unable to use it eats him alive every day.
Yet he found a way around that thanks to his minions. And thanks to this world. A happy accident that was. Yukio calmly closed his eyes as he thought about the day he came into contact with this world, and how its nature helped accelerate his plans. Especially those magnificent towers that naturally cancel evolution.
Such an element, suddenly appearing in words not of their own. That stupid barrier would soon collapse thanks to it. It just needs one last push… And as he entered this chamber, he saw the necessary tool that would give him that push. Or well… half of it.
"Hello there, BlackMetalGarurumon," Oikawa cooed, like greeting his dog after coming home from his job. "How are you holding up, my loyal wolf?"
The artificial Digimon didn't respond. How could he? He was inside what seemed like a tank, full of the water that belong to this world's characteristic ocean. The cracks formed from his brief 'showdown' with Azulongmon were almost gone without a trace. The darkness in them merging with the one on its body.
"Once you're out, I have a way to lure out your rebellious brother," he said, putting a hand on the tank. "And you will finally serve the purpose you were born for…"
"Yukio," The voice of his leader spoke, making Oikawa's mouth clamp up. "You do know what will happen when the weapon is ready, don't you?"
Oikawa nodded, a steely look on his face. "Of course sir. This weapon is for you, in exchange of granting me my wish."
"Yes. I am glad you see that," The voice purred in his mind. "However. You won't be left behind, my friend," That word caused a sense of happiness to wash over Oikawa. "While your Nen abilities and your body have improved over the years. You are sadly no match for the Anomaly… or even those Digidestined."
Oikawa gritted his teeth in anger. Years training and honing his skills, yet it wasn't enough. Those entitled brats got everything he worked so hard for without even asking for it! Why was the world so UNFAIR?!
"We must correct that and quick!" His friend told him. "Hisoka has been told to hunt the Anomaly again, so that should give us some time…"
Oikawa closed his eyes and nodded. "Guide me. For never once have you let me astray."
"Fortunately…" Oikawa's eyes flashed blue as he looked around the room. For the first time, focusing in other things beside the tank where his weapon was. Debris of Control Towers and buckets filled with this world's water filled the space. "We have enough to work with. And your Nen, along with my presence, should be enough for you to survive the process."
Oikawa gulped, feeling nervous after his friend's speech. The voice seemed to caught on that, as Oikawa felt as if he was giving him an inquisitive look. "Are you afraid Yukio? Don't you trust me?"
Oikawa shook his head. "With my life!" He said. "Tell me where to start…"
Moments later, screams and inhuman roars could be heard. And inside a broken man's subconscious, a sadistic laughter resonated.
T.K and Ken stretched as they walked back again into the kitchen. It was hard to make the shift make some sense with the lack of time passing in this world, but they somehow made it work for now. T.K walked to Kari and Cody to shake them awake, with Ken doing the same for Yolei and Davis. "Come on guys, time to get going again," the blonde boy said softly.
Cody basically sprang out of his sleeping bag, Armadillomon struggling a bit more than his human partner. The boy gave a nod to T.K as an early greeting. "Good morning."
"Yeah, mornin'…" Armadillomon mumbled, removing the early crust from his eyes.
Kari struggled a bit more. She still sat up and yawned into her hand, while Gatomon stretched at her side. "Good morning everyone…"
Ken however didn't have that much luck with his charges. "Come on you guys, time to get up."
"Mrrrgh… five more minutes…" Davis grumbled rolling away from the hand shaking him away.
"I don't wanna attend the store today~" Yolei whined as she tossed the covers over her head.
Luckily Hawkmon was more responsible, he sat up and shook Yolei harder. "Yolei, you're programing test is about to start and you're late."
"NO!" She sat up so violently that she almost headbutted Ken.
"Woah!" He exclaimed as he leaned back.
The girl blinked at her surroundings, she blushed as she recalled the situation and fiddled nervously with her fingers. "Hehe, I'm sorry about that Ken."
He scratched the back of his head and waved it off. "N-No big deal."
Wormmon and Patamon waddled closer to the sleeping forms of V-Mon and Davis. "C'mon guys! It's time to wake up," the little worm said.
Patamon tilted his head. "I once saw Matt waking up T.K this way," he said, walking to V-Mon and covering his nose. "Like this."
"Ummm Patamon," T.K sweat-dropped seeing his partner's actions. Matt did do that to him once or twice when he stayed over, but those were pranks. Then again…
"BWAH!" V-Mon jumped up after not being able to snore. "Whede ad wi?!" He asked, nose still blocked.
…It always worked.
"Good morning!" Both Wormmon and Patamon said to him, with the latter unblocking his nose.
"Morning!" Despite his rude awakening, the tiny dinosaur was chipper in the morning. Then he turned to see his sleeping partner. "Davith!"
To everyone's shock the blue dino jumped on top of Davis' gut. The boy gagged and moaned in pain. "V-Mon… D-Don't do that! Only do it when you're Demiveemon! We've been over this!" He coughed.
"Oops, sorry…" V-Mon said, poking his fingers together sheepishly. "It was a long time since I slept as a Rookie."
Laughter came from around the group. While Davis just grumbled and rubbed his stomach to sooth the pain.
They packed their sleeping bags back into position and decided to dig in on a lighter breakfast. Only using some of their canned veggies to fill their stomachs.
When Kari was done, she picked out the Tag to know where to head next. However, when she had it in her hands she paled. "What…!?" She gasped.
Everyone turned to her with that exclamation. "What's wrong?!" Yolei asked, coming to her side.
"The Crest's glow!" She said, showing it to everyone. "It's way too dim!" What once was a strong glow was now a dim light. She moved to the hole in the wall and waved it in different directions. "It was glowing more last night, even when we entered here so why…?"
"I think it's fairly obvious," Gatomon said, walking to the girl and putting a paw in her leg. "Killua isn't clearly holding still in a single place. He must be moving around, trying to find a way out of this place by himself."
"If he keeps moving then the connection between his Tag and his Crest will grow weaker," Ken said, crossing his arms. "We have to catch up to him."
T.K nodded. "As much as I'd prefer saving energy, it'd be useless if we lose track of Killua." He took out his D-Terminal, and gestured for the others to do the same. "Time to get the wings out."
"Alright! No more walking through sand dunes!" Yolei cheered throwing her arms up, while also rising her Digivice.
Hers, Davis and Ken's glowed individually, while Kari, T.K and Cody gave a yell of: "Digimental Up!"
"V-Mon Digivolves to… Exveemon!"
"Wormmon Digivolves to… Stigmon!"
"Hawkmon Digivolves to… Aquilamon!"
"Gatomon Armor Digivolves to… Nefertimon! The Angel of Light!"
"Armadillomon Armor Digivolves to… Pteramon! The Armed Love!"
"Patamon Armor Digivolves to… Pegasusmon! The Flying Hope!"
With a new sense of urgency, the group took to the skies, leaving behind the comfort of the barren town. Kari looked at the Crest, waving it around at all directions until it started regaining its glow.
She gave a sigh of relief and nodded. "North, that's where it grows stronger."
Everyone nodded, their partners doubling the speed.
Leaving behind the city, below they could see how once again the bizarre contrast in the landscapes. From what looked like a simple suburban neighborhood soon changed into a swamp-like territory. Their trees rotten and twisted, and as far as they could see the ground had turned muddy with sinking holes everywhere. And of course, even from their position in the air, a pungent smell rose from it invading their nostrils and forcing them to cover with the neck of their shirts or whatever cloth they had in hand.
"Phewww!" Yolei gagged and waved her hand around, trying to clear the air from the potent smell. "It smells like death around here!"
"Fitting…" Aquilamon said, struggling to keep his eyes from watering.
Davis spat to the side, and clenched his nose shut. "Did somebody bring an aerosol or something?" He asked in a nasal voice. "Could use one right now…"
"Sorry, but smelling good wasn't on my priorities while preparing…" Cody said, hiding the lower part of his shirt on his tunic's long neck.
Ken frowned as he looked below. Grimacing when he saw bubbling pools of some liquid at some random parts of the swamp. It didn't looked slimy enough to be what the Deadmon were made of, but it was certainly the cause of the smell. And he didn't need the Digimon Emperor intelligence to take a guess on what it was. "I think they might be sulfuric acid…" He grimaced and covered his nose and mouth with his hand. "Certainly, smells like it…"
"So, stay away from those things," Stigmon summarized, giving a light shrug. "Nothing different from what we've been doing…"
T.K was trying as well from keeping the smell from invading his nose, while also keeping his eyes below. He stole a glance at Kari and the Tag, like him she was covering her mouth with one hand but her eyes never strayed from the Tag, though she was starting to look a little green.
He cupped his hand around his mouth to gather her attention. "You doing okay?"
Kari blinked and looked at him, lowering the Tag. "Yes, everything is… Ugh," Her cheeks puffed and she covered her mouth with both hands. "Sorry… Between the smell and the speed…"
"Kari, if you need to rest then tell me, because I for one don't want to be bathed with your breakfast!" Nefertimon said, both concerned for her partner's wellbeing and her own dignity.
Kari patted her side affectionally and managed to smile. "I-I'm fine, just not used to the smell."
"I don't think anyone can ever get used to it," Pegasusmon said with a shake of his head. "Can't wait to see the way out of this place."
T.K opened his mouth to speak when suddenly he closed it with a click. His spine going rigid as he looked below. "Did you hear that?"
"What?" Pegasusmon asked.
Kari and Nefertimon both looked around, trying to find what the blonde was talking about. When Davis' voice made them turn around. "Guys! We got company!"
They whirled around to see that from the bottom of the swamp, many Deadmon jumped up to their level. Their shaped twisting and bubbling, clearly mutating. One of them stretched its arms to unnatural levels, catching two others by the waist and pulling them towards it. The Digidestined watched in horror as those two melted in the body of their captor and how its body mass increased.
Kari gagged, and not for the smell of the swamp. "Is this what… Consuming is… Is this what Dagomon meant…?"
Yolei looked closed to retching, however she held it in. "That's just wrong…!"
It didn't stop there. All the surrounding Deadmon shared the same fate. Getting trapped by the one who committed the act in the first place and getting absorbed into its body. Soon its shaped began to change. Various eyes appearing around its body and its mouth growing along with the rest of his body. The Deadmon descended, but from the place where it landed a large mass of a slimy substance arose.
The new form the Deadmon had taken towered over the swamp with ease, had the upper part of its body covered in armor while the rest of its body was slimy. Its arms had mouths of their own and various limbs and eyes poking from every other part of what one could only call its body.
"Rare…Raremon… RARERAREMON!" The titanic Deadmon roared the name of its assimilated form.
"Rareraremon?" T.K questioned. He heard of Raremon before so… could this be what an evolution of that Digimon would look like? He shook his head. 'I can worry about that later! We got to do something!'
"That thing is FREAKING BIG!" Davis exclaimed, while letting his aura flow. "Are ya ready to rumble, Exveemon?!"
"Sure am!" Exveemon said, stopping mid-flight to turn around and glare at the monster coming their way. He crossed his arms over his chest and released a beam of energy. "X-Laser!"
The attack travelled fast, however Rareraremon just rose one hand and blocked it as if it was nothing. Much to their displeasure, multiple mouths formed around its body, bulging and forming something inside of them before releasing them in the form of acidic blasts.
"Oh no! Evasive maneuvers!" Yolei screeched.
As the toxic rain fell down on them, the Digimon flew and ducked beneath the balls of disgusting substances. They observed in horror as they fell into the trees below and melted them in a manner of seconds.
Cody gulped. "Just like MarineDevimon. That thing must be an Ultimate…"
"Then Aquilamon, Stigmon and Exveemon should face them!" Pteramon said, looking back at the monster rampaging through the swamp. "They're the ones that can access Ultimate right away!"
"You heard the mon!" Aquilamon said, stopping mid-flight to turn and face the creature. "Ready, Yolei?!"
"That thing doesn't know who their messing with!" She said, raising her Digivice high just as her aura flared around her.
Stigmon also stopped, giving Ken a nod. "You got my back?"
As Ken raised his Digivice, his free hand formed Sochi. "Of course!"
Davis slammed his hand on his fist, his aura flowing and pumping on his legs. "It won't see what hit it! Get them partner!"
"Float like a bee, sting like a butterfly, right Davis?!" Exveemon asked excitedly.
"You're a bit confused, but you got the spirit!"
"Exveemon Ultra Digivolves to… Wingdramon!"
"Aquilamon Ultra Digivolves to… Hippogryphmon!"
"Stigmon Ultra Digivolves to… JewelBeemon!"
The three Ultras charged at their opponent, its cheeks bulging up again and spitting the same acidic blast from before. They ducked and weaved around them, leaving them to move closer and closer.
Davis tightened his hold around Wingdramon's back, before giving a grin and standing up. "Alright. Here we go!" He focused Nen on his legs and jumped. Twirling around he focused what he had on his feet and formed a ball. "Fire Tornado!"
Three consecutive shots were launched at the mid-section of their opponent. Ken saw this and gestured JewelBeemon to move to the monster's back. The explosion, however was minimal along with the damage to the main body. Rareraremon roared and set his sights on Davis, which just grinned at that.
"Don't blink, big guy!" Rareraremon was about to launch its toxic attack, when a bigger explosion came from its back, as well as a piercing pain on one of its shoulders.
When Davis launched his shots, Ken moved behind the monster and ripped a page of Sochi and stamped it into the monster's back while it took form. Bombs were then formed on its back and detonated right on time, as JewelBeemon stabbed it in one of its many limbs.
Wingdramon swooped in to catch his partner, who grinned thankfully in return. "Thanks bud!"
"Don't mention it!" Wingdramon grinned back.
"Umm, guys?" Yolei said, gesturing to their opponent.
To their astonishment, Rareraremon's body started regenerating after the explosion. Its missing part filling up and leaving it unscathed, as if nothing had ever happened. It roared and from its various mouths, fireballs were launched.
"Blaze Sonic Breath!"
"Heat Wave!"
"Spike Buster!"
Both hot attacks coming from the Ultimates' mouths helped in detonating the fireballs before they made contact, while JewelBeemon's speed helped in batting them away and dispelling them midair.
Davis clenched his fists and glared at the monster. "Okay! How the heck did that thing healed?!"
Ken frowned and put his hand on his chin in thought. "Must be the poisonous elements on this swamp. This form it took must be of a Digimon that benefits from them!"
Yolei stuck her tongue out. "So, its drinking the sulfur?! Yikes!" She composed her self and gave a nervous glare at it. "We're basically playing at its home…"
The rest of the kids watched the fight with apprehension. Cody frowning and turning to his friends. "Should we help them?"
"Even if we join in, you heard Yolei…" Kari frowned as she looked down at the swamp below and the multitude of pools filled with sulfur. "Its basically invincible while we are here."
T.K narrowed his eyes at that. He didn't want to believe that the first obstacle that they are facing in this world was really going to be invincible. There was an even bigger threat looming over them in this world and they needed to get past this to get to it, so right now they had to act.
"T.K!" Pegasusmon's voice made him look at his partner, who had turned in the direction where the Tag was guiding them. "I think I see something ahead."
Sadly none of them had brought a scope of some kind to see what he meant, so T.K adjusted his hat and gripped his partner's mane. "Let's go check, maybe it can help us…"
"The others will be okay without us?" Cody asked as he turned back to the fight.
Kari bit her lip as she looked at it too. Seeing Hippogryphmon and Wingdramon blast the monster with their fire while JewelBeemon took every chance it could to thrust his lance at it. "They're holding up… but we need something that can stop it from healing."
"And we might find what we need ahead," T.K reaffirmed. "Or else, with how crazy this world's landscapes are we might drag him somewhere where it can't heal. Or we get far enough to reach Ultimate. But for now, let's scout!"
Not having many other options, the three flew towards where Pegasusmon directed them. The feeling of trepidation ever present in them as they only saw the same rotten trees, acidic pools and scorched and mistreated dirt from below. And the nauseating smell invading their nostrils.
Then, they saw how the pools stopped and noticed how the smell started to become less and less infectious and nauseating. And ahead of them was a sight that forced them to stop. A big wall from which behind the sound of water could be heard.
"Is this… a dam?" Pteramon questioned.
Nefertimon floated upwards, with Kari's eyes going wide as she noticed that the water, while still gray, didn't look as obscure as the one from the beach. The whole dam seemed to extended around a kilometer or so, encapsulating a large portion of water. "It looks… clean."
"And just what we need!" Nefertimon exclaimed. "Talk about convenient!"
"Funny how not long ago we protected a dam and now we're breaking one," Pteramon said, as he got ready to attack. "Missile Sto—"
"Wait!" Cody said as he took a closer look at the dam. "The water here might not be enough. It could reach where they are, but there's more and more swamp Rareraremon could use."
"Cody's right," T.K said, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes in the direction of the fight. "We'll have to hit it with the water and make sure it affects the area where it is at. To bring it closer."
"How do we do it?" Pegasusmon asked, looking up at his partner.
Kari frowned and bit her lower lip. "Well… the Deadmon do come after me…"
"I DO NOT like where that train of thought is going!" Nefertimon said in exasperation. "Kari, it's too dangerous!"
"Only if it catches us…" She said, trying to think of a good argument to ease her partner's worries. "And its not like we have any other way of doing it…"
Nefertimon growled. "I hate that you are right…" She extended her wings ready to fly. "Fine! But no more daredevil plans!"
"S-Sure…!" She told her. Inwardly though, 'Only if it's necessary…!'
"Be careful," T.K told her, giving her a worried look.
Cody did the same with a nod. "Good luck…"
Kari nodded and with Nefertimon headed back into their friends' fight.
Which was not going anywhere for the three Digidestined. Davis and Wingdramon used the latter's speed on their favor to get on as many blasts from the Nen spheres or the dragon's breath as they could, only for the toxic Deadmon to regenerate. Fire weapon that Ken created, fire weapon which its ammunitions only sank into the body of the monster, and each stab JewelBeemon did was covered up in seconds. And each time Yolei and Hippogryphmon got close enough to cut the monster's eyes with their blades and claws respectively, the monster would just pop new eyeballs in any part of its body.
And the beast wasn't just a reactive force. It spat and sent bubbling and corrosive spheres of unidentified liquid, along with the dark fire that they had grown accustomed to seeing from the creatures of this world.
The group flew low, hiding from their opponent, while also keeping an eye on them. Davis panted and glared at the beast in question. "So… Does anyone have a new plan?! ANYTHING WORKS!"
"I doubt nothing short of complete vaporization will solve this," Yolei said, biting down her thumb. "Maybe Ophanimon or Seraphimon could…?"
Ken shook his head as he worked on making new sketches on his book. "No good. You've seen how tired they get when they use those forms. We'd have to carry them until we found another safe place to rest and that might make us lose Killua's track again…"
"Then what are we supposed to—"
"HEY!"
Their heads snapped up to see Nefertimon and Kari approaching the battlefield. Wingdramon tilting his head as he observed them. "What're they doing?"
"They're… back-up?" JewelBeemon offered.
Rareraremon turned around. It's multiple eyes settling on Kari, and all its mouths speaking at the same time in a distorted-high pitched voice. "Child of Light…!" Its eyes narrowed at her. "Lord Dagomon might be patient in waiting for you. But we do not have such patience! Come and let your power be harvested!" With that he thrusted one of its tentacles towards her, one with mouth included and teeth wanting to catch her.
Nefertimon avoided the limb and Kari glared back at the monster, knowing what part she had to play in this. She had to make it follow her and for that, she decided to take some taunting examples from Davis and Yolei. "T-Then come and get us, blegh!" She pulled down her eyelid and stuck her tongue out, before looking at Nefertimon. "Let's go."
"Sure thing," She nodded turning tail and flying as fast as she could. "Keep up the pace, ugly!"
Roaring in annoyance and fury, Rareraremon followed them. The trio of Digidestined starring at the scene in confusion.
"What was that all about?!" Davis hissed, scratching his head furiously. "Those things might catch her at this rate!"
Ken's eye narrowed in the direction where Kari and Rareraremon were going. "Maybe she and the others found something and since they want her…" He turned to them. "We should follow."
"Of course, we should!" Yolei said, puffing out her chest. "I ain't letting that thing put a single, slimy drop on Kari or the others!"
"Took the words right outta my mouth!" Davis said, gripping tightly on Wingdramon's back.
They elevated to fly above the trees once more and followed the path their friend and their foe were leaving behind. However, it wouldn't be so easy, as Rareraremon had eyes on its back and mouths to back them up and kept spitting fire and toxic slime in spades towards them that were hardly blocked by the Ultra Digimon.
"I'm getting the urge to bath just by being close to that thing!" Said JewelBeemon as he swatted away a blob of acid.
Hippogryphmon exhaled a Heat Wave that crashed against a fireball and nodded. "Ditto, but for me it's because of all this stupid fire!"
At the front, Kari kept her eyes ahead, turning from time to time to glare at the monster following them. The nerves kept making her stomach turn into knots, until finally she saw the dam ahead of them. She patted Nefertimon's fur and pointed forward. "We're close!"
"I see it!" Nefertimon said with anticipation, her wings flapping faster and faster. "Just let that thing get a bit closer."
Kari nodded. They reached the dam and joined with T.K and Cody, who were looking at the monster with barely contained disgust, a shared feeling by their partners.
T.K turned to them and then at the dam. "Okay, ready…" They watched as Rareraremon grew closer and closer. "Now!"
"Equis Beam!"
"Queen's Curse!"
"Missile Storm!"
All three attacks impacted the dam, causing it to crack. Seeing that it hadn't broke completely, they continued to attack until managing to make a hole in it. However…
"It's not big enough…" Cody noticed, seeing how the flood was just a decent size, waterfall and not enough to completely fill the terrain. "We should break it down completely."
"I have an idea," T.K said, letting his aura flare. "Let's strike one place with Ko and then have our partners attack it!"
"We'll make sure not to let you fall," Pegasusmon reassured. He looked back and gulped when he saw Rareraremon getting closer. "But we gotta hurry…"
The three kids nodded and together, they jumped towards the dam. Focusing all of their auras around their fists and impacting. Massive cracks started appearing around the dam. And the Digimon all took their chance to act.
"Queen's Curse!"
"Equis Beam!"
"Missile Storm!"
This time the damage was massive. The whole wall fell down, just as Rareraremon was reaching them. The water fell down, covering the earth and making Rareraremon groan in discomfort. "CHILD OF LIGHT!" It screeched. The teeth on its tentacles reaching towards Nefertimon.
"Spike Buster!" However, it was interrupted by a thrust from behind that caused part of its shoulder to explode and fall down, getting washed away by the stream.
Rareraremon turned around, its body regenerating yet losing a good part of mass. Mouths formed all around its body and started spewing in all directions, hoping to just strike one of the flying Digimon. However, its attacks were already predictable for the kids. They saw them coming, and their partners vaporized them or hit them before they could make contact, all while being able to see openings on its guard.
"Okay, here I go!" Davis said, as he jumped from Wingdramon's back, positioning in the air as if about to do a cycle kick. "Fire Tornado!" Three consecutive spheres struck the main head of the monster. Leaving Davis' friends to deliver the last blow.
"Blaze Sonic Breath!"
"Heat Wave!"
"Spike Buster!"
"Shooting Stars!"
"Rosetta Stone!"
"Missile Storm!"
Each attack detonated and blew away chunks of the liquid and toxic body of the monster, until all that was left was a creature that was just above the water level. It looked up at the Digimon and their partners, and even in its reduced stated, its tentacles kept trying to reach out for the one its kind have been seeking out.
"Ch-Child of Light…" Its voice sounded almost pleadingly, as if begging her to save it.
Kari could only look away. Nefertimon's eyes narrowed at it and the slot on her headset opened to deliver the final blow in the form of a Queen's Curse beam that finally disintegrated the creature into the familiar black dust.
"I…" Kari began, as she stared at the creature. "I shouldn't feel sorry for them but… with what they've said…"
"Living in a world such as this…" T.K said, staring at their surroundings. "And their only way to be better is what they did back then… consuming each other."
"I get why they're desperate…" Cody said, feeling the same pity in his heart along with the, unfortunately, now familiar weight of taking a life. "But…"
Yolei shook her head. "That's no reason to attack our world… to hurt so many people."
Davis huffed and crossed his arms. "We haven't been here for more than two days and I'm already done!" He declared, adjusting Tai's goggles above his head.
JewelBeemon flew closer to Nefertimon, for Ken to address Kari. "So, in which direction is the Tag pointing now?" He asked, also hoping to get off the topic clearly distressing his friends.
Kari pulled out the Tag and Nefertimon moved above the remains of the dam. "The same as before, the north. Luckily the light hasn't died out so, he must not have moved much…"
"Then let's not wait any longer!" Pegasusmon said, taking the lead. "Let's go!"
JewelBeemon, Hippogryphmon and Wingdramon glowed. Their partners having enough time to be swept by their friends before reversing back to Rookies and being caught by their respective Digidestined.
"I'm hungry…" V-Mon moaned as Davis accommodate him in Nefertimon's back.
Yolei and Hawkmon sat on Pteramon's back, with the girl rummaging through her backpack. "Woookay, let's hope we don't need the Ultra Level until the Final Boss."
"I think that's asking a bit much…" Hawkmon muttered.
"Sorry, Ken…" Wormmon said, slightly ashamed of draining so fast.
"No worries, you did great," The purple haired boy said, as he gave him an energy bar.
"Everyone okay?" T.K asked, receiving a nod from the main combatants of the fight, as well as the armored Digimon. "Then let's continue!"
With no further objections, the group's searched continued onwards.
Fortunately, their flight went uninterrupted. They spotted black masses in the land beside what once was a river full of water held back by the dam, which they supposed where more Deadmon, however none of them reacted in the same hostile way as the one who ignited the transformation into Rareraremon.
The shift in the landscape didn't make itself wake. Again, the divide was clear. Where was once a large pool of water that was slowly draining due to their actions, now concrete dominates once again. However, unlike the last time in the suburbs, this was cracked and some vegetation had started to sprout from beneath the broken cement, until eventually there was nothing but dirt as a road.
The Digidestined passed by what they assumed was an old village, however everything was destroyed. Scorch marks and the footprints of some giant beast adorning the place.
"It looked like there was a fight here…" V-Mon pointed out, seeing the destruction. "Or maybe it was already like that?"
"Knowing this place, I wouldn't be surprised," Davis said, scratching his head. "Maybe these Deadmon like to fight each other?"
"They always seemed like really solid unit, all things considered," Ken said, eyes narrowed at the scene. "So I don't think so. They must have fought something else or… someone."
"The trail's getting hotter!" Yolei said with excitement. "Killua is going to be just around the corner, guys! I can feel it!"
They left that trail of destruction behind, the Crest glowing brighter as they headed deep into the forest surrounding the ruined town and that lead them to a highway on a mountain, that was suddenly cut off once they reached its edge.
"This place gives me a headache," Cody muttered, as he stared at the unfinished road.
Over a landscape filled with rocks and holes they flew. And, reminding them of the blazing pits in the Digital World, only filled with the same black water that they saw in the ocean, they flew for what felt like hours over this rocky landscape until they changed sceneries to an icy field covered in snow, that left them wishing their winter clothes hadn't changed when they used the gate to get to this bizarre world.
And then, what greeted them once they passed the snow was a crooked forest. With trees with no leaves and dry earth, this world was already lifeless, but this just seemed like the perfect place for a graveyard. And in the middle of it all…
A big entrance with a crooked sigh that read 'WELCOME' in all bold letters and with a red color to them greeted, accompanied by the smiling face of a clow. There was a large fence surrounding a deteriorated amusement park. With a ferry wheel missing a cart, a rollercoaster missing some pieces of wood and metal bars, a merry-go-round with horses missing their head or legs, and abandoned stalls all over the place.
Yolei shivered, and not because of the weather. "And this place wasn't creepy before or anything…"
"Piedmon would love this place…" Pegasusmon muttered darkly.
"Look!" Kari's voice called their attention. The Crest was glowing brighter than ever the closer they got to the amusement park. "He must be around… Killua must be here!"
"Then let's spread out and search for him!" Cody offered, the others nodding and agreeing with him. Sans for one.
"I don't think that's going to be necessary dude," Davis said, nervousness on his tone. He thrusted his finger downwards and exclaimed, "Look!"
They looked towards where he was pointing. Running across the park, carrying something on their backs and looking slightly battered and bruised, was their leader. Killua was looking behind his back and behind the bundle he was carrying behind his back.
The relief they felt when they saw him was short live. Because when they followed his line of sight, they froze when they saw of what… or rather whom he was running away from.
Emerging from behind one of the food stalls, Hisoka grinned at Killua with a predatory grin on his face. And his sole presence, just made the Digidestined pale for they knew their task of retrieving their friend had just gotten a lot harder.
A/N: Ooooof… This chapter didn't took as long as others I've made, but it definitely wasn't easy.
For this Arc, I have the climax already figured out. But the in-between is what I'm struggling the most on figuring out. I don't want to drag situations more than necessary, nor do I want to make everything easy for our dear Digidestined.
And what's harder than Hisoka?
Hisoka: Me seeing Gon during the Chimera Arc~
GET OUT OF MY AUTHOR'S NOTE!
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