Ch12
Still continuing the part in Digital World, the king will return on later chapters. I swear it's not because of I forgot about him.
It's suffocating, that's the best word to describe what Yamaki is feeling right now. Right in front of him, two Digimons are in the middle of a cold war. Both of them stay silent yet keep glancing at each other, they seem to have enough bickering and want to talk normally again, yet their pride won't let them say something first because it'll mean they're in the wrong, that's what Yamaki currently thinks. It's been a few minutes, or maybe more than that, he just lost track of time after these two were about to duke it out just a moment ago. No one there to help him if a fight breaks out, one of them might have been polite to him before, but that doesn't mean she sees him as her friend.
One thing that's good about this situation for him is buying time, each second is precious for his survival. If Sealsdramon wanted to execute him before, he already survived a few minutes more than he should. It's frustrating when he can't even do anything about it, all he can do is pray that one of those brats comes to rescue him as soon as possible. If there is something that he can do, it's trying to figure out what these two are scheming. From what he saw, they seem to be close because there's just no way an inferior Digimon in terms of power and structural ranking dare to argue with his superior, it's just too absurd to think about it since he saw a lot of Zudomons bow their heads when Dianamon simply passes them. The way Dianamon handles this matter supports that theory, no matter how soft she is, this is way too far from her subordinate to challenge her view.
The tension starts to get into Yamaki, and he tries to distract himself a bit while thinking about their motive. He takes out a lighter and a pack of smoke which are almost empty. The thought of lighting the last of it crosses his mind, it seems crazy to pull that off but this atmosphere is really pushing him to the edge. Fortunately, he's not insane enough to do it and put that thing inside his pocket again, but his hand slips when holding the lighter. Both of their attentions instantly shifted to him, he feels like two knives are pointed at his throat. He grabs that lighter and shows it off to them, making sure that he wasn't meant to do it. Still, that gives enough reason for Sealsdramon to get up and take that lighter away from him, crushing it with his grip alone right in front of him.
Watching that happen, Dianamon can only sigh. "Is that really necessary?" She asked him. "It's petty you know, that thing won't hurt us."
"Oh yeah? I can't see it, maybe because my eyes are on something else." Sealsdramon walks to her, looking up right into her eyes. The right part of his goggle is glowing red again. "All I see right now is an incompetent leader, allowing our enemy to have a slight chance to get away." There is a pause, then he looks away while sighing before walking back to his spot earlier. "Sorry." He said it plainly.
"Don't.. you're right about it." Dianamon replied with closed eyes, there seemed to be no anger in her tone.
That's pissed off Seasldramon again. "Stop being-.. enough, let's just stop this."
Was that a trick? Show? Maybe that's it, it's a possibility in his eyes. But the leader herself committing to this? It could be called a humble move in his book, he saw this in his workplace before and it's not just one or two times. So as long as it catches his interest, he thinks that she'll do it. Moreover, her friend is already showing hostility to that degree, wouldn't be surprising if this is just an act and she actually has the same view.
"Pretty nice of you to let him live after that." Yamaki's remarks about Dianamon almost bring doom to himself, fortunately she's quick enough to stop Sealsdramon from throwing his knife. "Just saying, something like that won't slide off easily in my place. Except it's happened behind closed door, sometimes." Right now, Yamaki puts his hands behind his head while leaning back on the rock, hoping that putting pressure on them will hide his nervousness or if he's trembling.
Sealsdramon dropped his knife, its edge stabbed the ground, making it stand still. "Don't compare us to your kind, human. We're not the same."
It's getting dangerous with each word coming out of his mouth. Still, he needs to do this. "Not everything is different. Maybe that turned out this way because she is different than other Digimon in your eyes, and I feel like she feels the same." Yamaki pushes his glasses up a bit to see them more clearly, then lets them down again. "We humans also like that, some are more important, others don't. It's just how that works."
"What are you trying to say here?" Asked Sealsdramon, his knife already back in his hand.
"All I'm saying is maybe you saw us like that because you just didn't know about us."
Shunk! It's right beside his head, so fast and precise. Or maybe he just misses his head. "To you, I can see that. But those four.. no, they just didn't care. And they still have the audacity to claim this world for themselves, only a few of those who work under them got some reward and help from them. Us? They just left us on our own." Sealsdramon paused and snorted before he continued. "They really think we're rebelling or some other bullshit. No, we're just trying to survive! They don't even bother to help us when we need it! And now, they really have the audacity to take what's ours!?"
Yamaki leans forward, there seems to be something that he can learn right now. He takes the knife beside him, then throws it as best as he can near Sealsdramon, it seems that the cyborg takes that as he returns it. This time, he notices that Dianamon takes over while she calms her friend down.
"You must've heard of D-Reaper before, maybe even helping to take that thing down." Yamaki nodded to her. "Oh, then this will be a quick one. While you are busy dealing with that thing, there is a virus rampaging in this place."
"Virus?"
Dianamon nodded to him. "With so many plains in this world, some are just not important to be used. Not even once did D-Reaper touch this place, nor did those sovereigns and their devas. They focused on other places and we just stayed in this place, maybe because it's too far from the battle or because we're just too weak to be a help before. But.." She sighs, there is a pause for almost a minute. "A virus struck this place, it's something else. Our data starts to disintegrate and we can't do anything about it, our only hope that time is from those so called gods themselves. They.. never come, we're just not that important for them."
Hearing what she said, Yamaki starting to get to the root of this problem. "Then how do you survive?"
"One Digimon passed this plain, saying that this virus came from different plain. I got the cure from that DIgimon, but it's not complete. Although beside that cure, we got some programs to strengthen our body, giving some of us the power to digivolve." Dianamon pauses again, he thinks that this is a bitter memory of hers, and seems to be a bitter one for Sealsdramon as he's not saying much right now. "That Digimon isn't a god or anything, just like us. Even at that time, his body didn't seem to take that cure completely, in the end, I copied that program to most Digimon on this place. Just for us to survive."
Sealsdramon huffed when she stopped. "Those four think they're the strongest around here, what a load of bullcrap. All they want is control over us, if they give us something, then sure.. but what do they even do for us? Protecting us? Helping us to digivolve?" He shakes his head. "Bah! Now look at them, asking you to do their bidding. Shameless piece of junk couldn't even do a single thing, even their devas doing more work, running around doing their bidding."
There's not much he can say about it, it's not like he can say he sympathizes with them and they will believe him. "So you want to replace them?"
"Replace? I don't care about them, we just.. want to live normally." Replied Sealsdramon. "But they think we're rebelling over their authority! These shameless.. leave us alone, that's the only thing we want from them! But no, they keep playing god and now blinded by greed." He pauses, then turns to Dianamon. "I had enough, it's time." There is silence after he said that, Yamaki didn't get what he meant while Dianamon stayed still. "Don't you think this is enough? Let me have it, my lord."
Again, she's not complying with his demand. "I can't, it's too dangerous."
That almost makes him furious, as if their conversation isn't enough to make him angry. "So that's it, you just going to act like them now?" He sigh. "That Digimon gave that to us so we can be stronger, to fight those sovereigns back! Y-You gave it to Zudomon, you use it yourself! So why!? Why won't you give me that!?"
This time Dianamon grabs his shoulders, she's not trying to hurt him, and her eyes look sad. "You don't understand! None of them understand! It's not a cure or something that.. gives \power for free. Zudomons, especially that one becomes too loyal. Like.. it's insanity, I don't want you to be like them." She pauses, then releases her hands. "They're going to be blinded by power if I give it to all of them, just like Guilmon and Zudomon."
Yamaki's eyes widen, it was her who turned Guilmon into their lackey. He's right in front of a huge pile of information, yet he can't do anything about it, if only he could call them by phone or anything. Right now, leaving this room alone is straight up impossible. Out of nowhere, he feels tremors from the ground. He looks back and it seems that it's not just him who felt that. Before he could ask or move again, Sealsdramon already put his knife near his neck.
"They're very impatient, or lucky to found this place. Stand back, I won't hurt you because I know you've been brainwashed by them. But.. you heard too much. Do it, last warning." With no other choice, Yamaki walks away from the entrance to this room. Meanwhile, Sealsdramon is facing Dianamon again. "Save that lie for later, we got some guests. Do I need to remind you that they're our enemies?"
Dianamon grabs her weapon and gets up. "We fight to protect our home, you don't need to go overboard. I got this."
A few minutes ago, on the surface.
"What's going on!? What was that!?" A Commandramon runs toward his friend. "Eh, you see that thing?"
One of them narrows their eyes, trying to see something that is flying towards them. "Isn't that.. what in the world is-MOVE! RUN!"
An Ikkakumon flung towards their post, smashing the three meters high tower into pieces. They didn't have time to react and knocked out cold instantly, trapped below Ikkakumon's body. That loud crash instantly got nearby attention, they quickly run to them and trying to help. Some on the back are talking and whispering, but they're quickly interrupted by loud noises coming towards them.
Three four-legged Digimons and one two-legged Digimon running at full speed with tamers on their backs, they don't care about their enemies and keep charging forward. The best attack fight or attack comes from Vajramon and Antylamon, they're able to do this thanks to their hands. Still, they're just pushing or knocking away enemies on their way and not bothered to deal the final blow.
Those Digimons are scared and confused, thinking how come they aren't afraid of them? Their numbers are way higher and these four seem to run towards more of them instead of taking a safer route. In the end, the best they could do was to delay them.
It's not long before they discover the secret passage, turns out that following where the enemy's numbers are higher is proven to be a good thing. They come down and look at the big door, all while Vajramon guarding the entrance. For now, Vajaramon alone is enough to scare them. "See? It's like playing a game. The more you meet monsters, the closer you're to the boss~" Kazu said proudly, he was the one who suggested that earlier, although he got the idea from Ruki when she searched for Yamaki.
"Yeah yeah yeah, shut up. We're just arriving at the starting line and you already think that we're winning it already." Replied Ruki, he just chuckled at her. "You sure this is the one?"
Jian shrugs. "What else? Surely they weren't just guarding a random crumbling building with a fake basement. Look at this door, it's massive for a normal basement." He explained to them, then knocked on the door a few times. "I don't know how hard this is, but Antylamon or Taomon should be able to blast it off." He turns to his sister and nod, she happily asks her partner to do it.
Changing her right hand and forearm into an axe, Antylamon is ready to smash that door. "I'll show you my partner power, Ai. Go!" Said the girl cheerfully. Antylamon swings her arm down and it bounces back when hitting the door, which makes Shaocung embarrassed when Ai giggles. "T-That isn't count! I'll use my card! Digi-modify, power!" With the new surge of power in his body, Antylamon slashed that door with ease.
That easily impressed Mako, he couldn't hide his envy as he was forced to wait for his partner to do something like that. "W-Whoa.."
"See~! It's not a big deal!"
Clank! The sound of metal clashing made them turn around, behind them Vajramon already battling Zudomon. He pushes Zudomon away then lifts his forefeets and kicks him right in the chest, sending Zudomon away and scaring those Digimons around him again. "I'll keep them off, go!" Vajramon's blades are glowing, he slashes the air in front of him and his blades shoot out some kind of energy beam. Those beams pushed their enemies further back.
"Let's go! Before those Digimons inside come to get us!" Takato hops on Kyubimon's back and about to lead the way with Ruki, that before he sees Juri helping Ai and Mako down from Gaogamon. "Juri, what are you doing?"
"I don't think he'll able to fend off all of them." She replied and tilted her head towards Vajramon. "And.. it's my first day with him. Give us the easy stuff, alright? We can't fight their boss at first try you know, I'll leave that to the veterans~" Her eyes still locked on Takato, Ruki, and Jian. Ruki chuckles while Takato and Jian nod at her.
Ai is holding her hand, still not letting her go. "But Juri..."
"It's fine." Juri smiled and patted Gaogamon's back. "We're going to be fine, why don't you go first? Impmon might be inside there, waiting for you two."
With the two of them smiling, Juri asks Antylamon to carry them. She watched them walk down those stairs before shifting her focus to Vajramon, the deva didn't question her choice. Juri is guessing that Vajramon aware and admits his own power is lacking, or maybe he doesn't have the luxury time to think about all of that, their enemies are starting to get close even when he keeps attacking them with his blades.
Gaogamon stands right behind the deva, ready to pounce if one of them is close enough. "Juri, are you sure about this? Let me stay here, you go with them."
"I won't leave you alone, you're my partner." She takes out her deck, choosing one card. "You ready?"
"That card, didn't you said.. wait, you mean.." Gaogamon smirk. "Alright, let's see what it means to have a partner. I'm ready, Juri!"
A long walk from that jungle wasn't the first thing that crossed their minds when they got captured, it's the opposite of what they thought. A fierce battle that almost cost their lives, sneaking past enemies while holding their breath—those are what they expected. Who knows that their captor would let them go without any care in the world? Naturally, that's bothering Terriermon. Plus, they were directed to a place where there is a way to another plain, with nothing else to help them, it's just blindly walking in a certain direction. After walking for quite a while, he's not focused on the direction he walks into anymore, it's just plain, dry land with nothing important to pay attention to. A few minutes ago, he kept looking left and right because there were still a lot of trees around them. Now he can put his body in auto mode and think about his captor.
There are a few Digimons that Terriermon is scared of because of his condition, the rest of them are a bunch of low level Digimons that he doesn't really pay attention to. If he thinks about the worst thing that could happen coming from those lackeys, it's getting swarmed by their numbers, though he doubts that would happen since one shot from Beelzemon's guns will scare them off. "That useless vine.." He wonders what Jian would think about it, another Digimon in hiding? Humans? Thinking about this alone already gives him headaches, and he hates it.
One more Digimon also becomes a thorn in his mind, that Ajatarmon looks strong and calm all the time. It's weird, but looking at it again, maybe they just want him to be on their side. Still, that last threat sent chills all over his body. Terriermon stops, turning his head to see that jungle once more. His eyes widen as he realizes something from their stay, they're confident about it. Those data in the shape of fruits aren't just for gestures, they must've believed in their strength so much that helping him and Impmon back in shape won't be a threat for them.
Slam! "Hrrrghh... give me.. a break.." Terriermon groaned in pain, he wanted to curse himself for being tripped by his own ears and fall face first to the ground. He rolls his body and stares at the sky, it's about to rain again. "Heyyy.. it's a good time to lend me a hand.." Said Terriermon, he lifted his right arm lazily but the help from his friend never came. "Oh great Impmon.. a weak Digimon needs some help hereee.." Still, not even a response from his friend, not even mocking or something else like that. "Impmon?"
Terriermon quickly gets up and sees Impmon still walking, now even faster. With an annoyed grunt, he tries to catch him up. Catching up with Impmon is already hard with his smaller legs, not to mention that he's also tired as well, although that can be said the same for Impmon.
"Hey! Wait for me!" He runs until they're side by side, then slaps Impmon's back with his ear. "So much help for a friend, huh? Leaving me behind like that? Hmph, say goodbye to your fluffy pillow tonight!" Terriermon's pout and words got no reaction at all, yet he's not trying to push it too much. He's well aware of how tired they are.
Finally, Terriermon sees a portal. It's not that big, but that one seems to be the one that Ajatarmon talked about, he said it's connected to another plain that isn't controlled by his master. That might be a trap, but what choices do they have? Leaving that place without fatal wounds alone is already a miracle.
"You ready?" Asked Impmon.
Terriermon sighed. "Do you.. hahh.. let's just get this over with."
"Good, I'll distract him. Go for those legs, just one of them will do it." Said Impmon. "Then I'll finish him off."
It's anger, an expression of pure rage shown by Impmon. His fists are trembling, and he lets out a growl like never before. Terriermon looks back to the portal, then Impmon. "Calm down, that might not be the case. If this is a trap, we can just-.. Impmon?" His words are passing through him like nothing. He tries patting Impmon's back, but that doesn't soothe him at all. "H-Hey, Impmon?"
"Not the case? He's right there! That piece of junk called deva.. I'll.. I will.."
Hearing Impmon's incoherent ramblings worries him, he's not waiting any moment to hop on Impmon's back and cover his eyes with ears. Still, that didn't faze Impmon at all. The purple imp steadily walking forward like nothing happened, his walk is too normal for someone with a small Digimon on his back. Terriermon starts to pull his body so Impmon will fall on his back, just to snap him out of it. But in their rookie form, Impmon's physical strength is just stronger than his. The thought of blasting him with his tornado is there, but he's too scared since that definitely hurt Impmon.
"Hnnghh.. Impmon!" Terriermon slaps his head a few times. "Snap out of it you idiot! What is wrong with you!? Nothing's there!"
"Look at him! Arrrrgghhh!"
Impmon starts running towards that portal, full charge without caring about Terriermon on his back or even himself. Meanwhile, Terriermon sees that Impmon's back is shining. Not a blinding one, it's more like a void creeping up closer. "Impmon!" Now's not the time to be worried if Impmon's hurt from his attack. After slapping his head to nothing, Terriermon uses Impmon's as a stepping stone and jumps forward. "Terrier Tornado!" That gust of wind hit Impmon directly, which gives Terriermon a mixed feeling. Still, that had to be done before they leap into different plain with that condition.
That wind blew some dust, obstructing Terriermon's vision. What comes out of that isn't Impmon anymore, but something bigger and stronger. Terriermon is trying to shout as loud as possible, but in the end he got pushed into that portal.
A Digimon sits in front of Ajatarmon, looking angry. "It's very hard to get them, I almost died because of that. Now.. where are they?" He's not satisfied when Ajatarmon only tilts his head. "Not funny." With sigh, he gets up and about to leave. In mere seconds, thorny vines quickly surrounded them, trapping both of them inside a sphere like prison before he could get away. "Are you picking a fight with me? You're crossing the line now."
"That wasn't me." Ajatarmon replied calmly. "And that decision, also wasn't mine."
His eyes widen in shock as a thick vine appears between them, he quickly goes back to sit again. Their eyes met and he glanced away from him, then closing them before giving Ajatarmon a silent nod, admitting his wrong. After their tension was gone, the vine prison slowly retracted to the ground.
"With due respect, I strongly disagree with this decision, my lord. I didn't mean to question your choice, but shouldn't we finish them while we can?" He's not waiting for the vine to talk first, because he wants to chase them the moment he gets the green light. "I believe you can consider them a threat, at the very least to our weak friends. That Impmon.. isn't that weak."
The vine moves closer and goes around his back, patting him gently. "Isn't that weak? That's a bit rude, wasn't it?" He tensed up a bit, not because of the vine but from the response from his leader. "They are strong, once you open their gate. Same goes for us. Impmon is.. a bit different from them, he can open his gate by himself. And on top of that, he can close it as he pleases."
"If that so, doesn't that give us more reason to dispose him?"
Now he hears the vine chuckle. "No no no, we still have a chance to get him. After all, she's more suitable for this job. Both of them felt like they'd been betrayed, or tricked."
It's not too hard for him to guess that. He narrows his eyes toward Ajatarmon, quite displeased because Ajatarmon could've explained it to him rather than having this discussion with their lord. "And if that's not working?"
"Heh, if she can't do that then there's still her friend. He had the same hatred and a bit hot-headed when it come to that topic. They'll get along just fine~ So don't worry too much about it, my plans will work, one way or another."
I don't want to say much on this one, except about Ryo on the start of course. Next chapter will up on next week, if my schedule isn't mess up again. Let me know your thought from review if you have so, or guess the story, hehe.
Thanks for reading!