Monimon are small creatures. Hard to find, only easily noticeable by their cries. Asuka had found the first that way, and the others they do succeed at finding are only located in the same fashion. She holds a group of them in her arms, the others lagging behind with their own collection of the little creatures. It's taken a lot of time, just finding this small group of Digimon, and Asuka has a horrible sensation that most of them haven't survived. it makes her hug the group of Monimon closer as she walks on.
"How much further should we look?" Dakota wonders quietly, already enamored by the small creatures clustered up and down her arms. "I don't think I hear any more."
Asuka doesn't either. it aches at her, how if they had arrived just a little sooner, they maybe have been able to stop this entirely, but it's too late to think about what ifs, so she turns to answer Dakota. Her eyes widen as soon as she shifts in that direction, lunging forward and tackling Dakota down, just missing a sweeping black fire that sizzles just over their heads.
"Wha- oh my god," Dakota gasps, clutching her group of Digimon close. "Wha- what was that?"
Asuka sits up, glowering forward. "Barbamon," she says, unsure how it's even possible, but aware that there's no other Digimon it could be. "How did you get here?"
He laughs at her, waving his staff at her. "You should know by now, digidestined. Creatures of my strength can never be stopped by anything as pathetic as you."
She scoffs, pushing off her group of Monimon onto Dakota. "I suppose we'll see," she says. "Calumon."
"Ready," her partner chirps, already leaping up to attention. "Let's do this."
Barbamon laughs at them, seemingly unbothered by their presence. "You digidestined are always so cocky," he sighs. "Oh well, I suppose it will be good entertainment. For a few moments."
"Let's shut him up," Calumon says.
"Yes," Asuka agrees, holding her digivice up. "Go!"
The bright light from the device that leads into digivolution doesn't even make Barbamon squint, but Asuka refuses to give up or lose hope. She glances back over at the Monimon and it shores her resolve.