Chapter 11 – Sympathy for the Devil
On the final day of Lucemon's rebellion against The High Authority of The Digital World, the digital cosmos trembled with fear. The celestial battleground was awash with cosmic fury and divine wrath, and the very stars seemed to weep for what was to come. Heaven had triumphed in the last battle, and Lucemon now lay defeated, his grand ambitions shattered. Amidst the smouldering ruins of rebellion, a lone demon figure fled the cataclysmic aftermath. His once-mighty wings, now tattered and scorched, bore him away from the fray, leaving behind a world unravelling in chaos. He was once Lucifer's confidant, a being of dark charm and ambition, but even before that Daemon had once been the resplendent guard of the heavens known as Seraphimon, in a time and place that all seemed but a distant and hazy memory.
In this conflict he had given everything, every fibre of his being to the cause of freedom and greater power, and he had lost so much. But one loss, above all, consumed his being— Lilithmon. As Daemon soared through the shattered skies, his heart ached with a pain that transcended the fires of war. An ember burned relentlessly in his soul; a symbol of love destroyed by divine enmity. From the clouds behind him, the armoured form of a SlashAngemon descended on metal wings and struck out with his great blades; an attack Daemon dodged by mere milliseconds before summoning a blast of demonic fire and sending the heavenly soldier flying. Daemon raced on through the crumbling realms, the very fabric of reality splintering around him. The heavenly host, triumphant in their righteous fury, were closing in from all sides. Yet, his resolve remained unshaken, his heart fuelled by vengeance. Daemon knew not what was causing this great sundering of the Digital World- whether it was an effect of the destruction of Lucemon or the final vengeance of their enemies on the rebellion, either way Daemon knew he was running short of time.
It was as this thought crossed his mind that ClavisAngemon's Heaven's Arrow pierced his back. With a cry of pain that echoed through the crumbling cosmos, Daemon fell from the sky, landing in a bare clearing many miles from his goal. Rising slowly, he cursed his enemies as a host of winged Digimon descended on him. ClavisAngemon, flanked by two Piddomon and her. Ophanimon looked disapprovingly over her shoulder at ClavisAngemon, shouting "I told you our goal was to take him alive!". ClavisAngemon shrugged "He still looks alive to me." Showing off for the two Champion levels no doubt, Daemon thought sullenly. Pathetic. Summoning celestial chains, Ophanimon stepped forward. "Come Daemon, let us bring you in. It's not too late…".
Internally, Daemon cursed everything. He cursed the betrayal that had condemned him, he cursed himself for the love that had turned to ash, and for all his enemies had taken from him. "So, you come for my life now…" he hissed through clenched teeth. Ophanimon only shook her head "No…". His anger only flared greater "My freedom then? You'll see me locked away for all eternity!". Ophanimon's face betrayed no emotion but stepping forward slightly she said "Seraphimon…". With that Daemon exploded "That is not my name! I am Daemon, and before my time is done, I will have my revenge!" With that he sped forward, sending two gouts of flame out of his right hand which at the last moment bent around Ophanimon's body and targeted the two Piddomon, who were instantly incinerated and destroyed. Dodging ClavisAngemon's blade as he flew by, Daemon again took to the sky and vanished into the shadows, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I will rise from the ashes of this rebellion, and I will become greater and more powerful than even Lucemon. One day, I shall have my revenge." As the celestial realm crumbled into chaos and Daemon fled, his oath of vengeance reverberated through the cosmos. The last day of Lucemon's rebellion marked not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter—a chapter filled with darkness, enmity, and the relentless pursuit of retribution.
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Tai Kamiya was experiencing something profoundly unique and special. Not his first kiss, that had happened a half an hour ago. Now he was experiencing something altogether more singular, but no less exciting. He was standing at the window of a skyscraper looking out at a cityscape, particularly that of West Shinjuku. But not as he knew it. This was city under siege. No, a city at war. Multiple columns of smoke rose high into the sky from every direction, and army helicopters buzzed through the air- some delivering crucial aid, others delivering no less crucial payloads of munitions to the Digimon attacking the city. He along with his friends had arrived here through a digital portal only a few minutes ago, and already Tai was dizzied by the amount of people he had met. First there was there Mitsuo Yamaki, a solemn and intense man wearing an eyepatch who had shaken each of their hands in turn when they had arrived.
He was followed quickly by a more friendly and welcoming woman named Riley Ohtori who had been keen to know where Takato was and why he had not checked in. Unfortunately, Tai had not had much to tell her on that front. It was as he and Izzy were explaining that Takato had turned into a monstrous Mega-level named Megidramon that three kids a few years younger than Tai had entered the room. Tai had been about to ask who they were when their Digimon had walked into the room after them. Introductions had been made and soon Tai, Izzy and TK were sitting at a table opposite Henry Wong, Rika Nonaka and Ryo Akiyama. "So…" said Henry, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Tai could see the extensive bandages beneath the boy's shirt, as well as the cuts and bruises across his face. "We realised what we're asking a lot of you here, we know this isn't your fight- but Mister Gennai assured us you could help us get the Digimon of our world to return to the Digital World."
"I don't know about that…" TK said uncertainly, with Patamon looking up at him from his lap, "We can fight them, we can beat them- but make them all go home of their own free will?". With that Davis shouted over from across the room. "Well, nobody likes getting their butt kicked, maybe if they see you guys have reinforcements they'll choose to go home?". Yamaki, who so far had only been flicking a lighter open and shut silently by the window turned and spoke "Even if they wanted to go home, they can't. The portal Barbamon opened and sent them through is closed. Our only option is to use The Juggernaut…"
"…Which won't work…at least not on the stronger and larger Digimon." Said Rika Nonaka impatiently. From behind her Renamon nodded, adding "And with no ability to differentiate between friend and foe, that weapon may end up doing more harm than good." Riley Ohtori turned back to Gennai, who was pacing silently in the corner of the room. "Do you have any ideas Mister Gennai? After all you gave us the idea for the Digibands in the first place." Stopping, Gennai turned and said patiently "Potentially- if we had a powerful celestial Digimon we could open a stable portal easily that would be large enough to transport every Digimon who was willing to return to the Digital World at once- which begs the question-" he turned back to Tai and The Digidestined, "-where is Ophanimon?"
Ken smiled, "So you sent her?" Gennai nodded solemnly in response, before replying "I coded what remained of her data into The Digibands in the hope that they would find a suitable host in Gatomon. I assume I was correct?". Tai and his comrades nodded. "Good. So where is she, Ophanimon as a High Celestial Digimon should be able to open a stable portal of any size to nearly any location, without the limitation of needing Digibands." Sora turned to Gennai, her face a mixture of sadness and hesitance. "Well, the last time we saw her she was hit by one of Barbamon's attacks, we think she might be…" with that she trailed off, her eyes looking at her feet. But Gennai seemed unperturbed, saying "I very much doubt it. Ophanimon is too smart and too tough to die like that. Wherever she is, she must have her reasons."
His face fell. "Although that does not help us much now. We need her to save this city." With that silence fell among all assembled, as they each took in the enormity of their problem and the gulf that existed between them and a solution. But it was Davis who pierced the silence, standing up and pointing triumphantly "We don't need her, we already have a Celestial Digimon!". In the silence that followed everyone followed the path of Davis's finger, realising he was pointing at none other than Patamon, who at this moment was sitting on TK's lap absent-mindedly chewing on one of his own wings for comfort. Feeling everyone's eyes on him, the little Digimon spat out his wing and said "What?".
Davis continued; his enthusiasm undimmed. "All we need is for Patamon to digivolve to mega-level and then he can open the portals we need!". Patamon's eye's opened wide in horror at what was being asked of him. "I can't do that; I don't know anything about portals!". Gennai raised his hand to his chin thoughtfully, saying "Well in your mega form you would be capable of doing what Davis is suggesting…you know this might not be such a bad idea.". Izzy at this point spoke up, his natural scepticism and keen intellect shining through. "But we can't simply force Patamon to digivolve because we want him to. We've seen what happens when you try that!".
Henry echoed that sentiment, saying "We've experienced that too, and of course we wouldn't do that. But still, maybe there is a way…" With that, the door to the conference room opened and a rather timid young girl with brown hair and green dress stepped in. In her arms she held a small little white Digimon with large ears and a red triangle on his forehead. Jeri Katou and Calumon looked at the assembled Tamers and Digidestined with a perplexed look, but it was Rika who spoke up first, rising from her chair and smiling. "I think we've found the solution to our problems!"
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Daemon looked down at the two sleeping children at his feet. Takato Matsuki and his partner Digimon lay on the floor next to Kari Kamiya inside the cave in which Daemon spent most of his time during his banishment to The Dark Ocean. Someone more cynical might called it his "home", but that implied Daemon ever relaxed or let his guard down here. He did not. This was merely a place where the prying eyes of Dagomon's slaves could not see him. The cave itself was bare and dark, made of sharp crags of black stone knotted with seaweed and barnacles, and lit by a few pieces of dried driftwood burning in a circle in the flattest and lowest part of the floor. Barbamon had briefly explained how and why the two children had come to be here, and as soon as he was done Daemon had commanded him to leave so that he could talk to them on his own. Even now he could feel Barbamon's presence at the mouth of the cave standing watch, waiting impatiently for his master to call him back. Putting his hand over Kari, Takato, Guilmon, Daemon simply said "Awaken." Instantly all three pairs of eyes flicked open.
Of the three, Takato seemed to most subdued, as if his mind was rising slowly from a deep and profound fog. His partner Guilmon sniffed the air and instantly bridled as he perceived Daemon standing in front of them, his back straightening and a low continuous growl rumbling out of his chest. This seemed to shake Takato back to himself, who reached out and put his hand on his partner's head to calm him, all the while struggling to his feet and taking a few steps away from Daemon. But, satisfyingly for Daemon, it was Kari Kamiya who had the most immediate and visceral reaction to his presence, skidding back along the wet ground of the cave to get further away from Daemon's cloaked form, her expression frozen in horror. As she struggled away, he heard her let out a cry of pain and grip her hand tight to her chest. No doubt in the dark of the cave she had impaled her palm on a sharp rock. A small trickle of blood ran down Kari's wrist. After a moment's silence, Daemon began to speak.
"I'm sure Barbamon could fix that for you, if you like…" he said courteously. Kari seemed perplexed by his words, as if this pleasantry seemed utter incomprehensible coming from him. "Why bother, aren't you just going to kill us?" Kari spat the words as Daemon with surprising bravery, despite her situation. "I am many things Kari Kamiya, but I am not wasteful. Everything I do, I do for specific reasons. Could I slaughter all three of you here in this cave now? Certainly, I could. Would it give me joy to do so? Arguably, yes it would. But it would be a waste. You may yet prove useful to me, all of you- especially you…Takato…"
With that Daemon turned to Takato and Guilmon, who eyed him with scepticism and fear. Placing a hand on his chest in a respectful greeting, Daemon said "Greetings friends, I am Daemon. It truly is an honour to meet two who command The Hazard with such ferocity…albeit perhaps a lack of finesse…" Takato confusion seemed doubled by these words, but the mention of The Hazard sparked a curiosity in his eyes which Daemon felt he could almost reach inside the boy and grasp hold of, so tangible was it. "May I ask, why do you use such a wild and uncontrollable form when utilising the power?" asked Daemon knowingly. He knew exactly what he was doing. "Do- do you mean Megidramon?" asked Takato uncertainly. "Yes. The Red Dragon of The End is a wonderful form, but so wild and untameable. I'm sure with just a small amount of training you could utilise The Digital Hazard far more effectively."
"You know what The Hazard is?" Takato asked guardedly, as if every word he spoke to Daemon was a betrayal of some internal principle. "Of course I do, I wonder though if I can say the same about you. The Digital Hazard is a force that pre-dates The Digital World itself. A force of pure chaos and destruction, lost to time. And now found, within the both of you." With these words Daemon opened his arms in a wide gesture to Takato and Guilmon, signalling a magnanimity and friendliness neither trusted. "Come with me, all of you." Daemon said suddenly, turning on his heel and walking towards the mouth of the cave. With a small gesture of his right hand he extinguished the fire, sending the cave into pure darkness. All three stayed where they were, and after a moment Daemon spoke again. "I said- come!" sweeping his fingers forward, the two children and Guilmon found that the ground skidded beneath their feet as an unseen force dragged them against their will out of the cave.
Outside the entrance, Barbamon sat on a rock. As soon as he saw his master appear from the darkness he rose, taking a hold of his staff. "Are we killing them yet?" he asked hopefully. "Not yet." Daemon replied plainly. Barbamon ground his pointed teeth in response, eager to end the lives of the kids. In Kari Kamiya's case, he had been waiting many years, but the special hatred he now felt for Takato and Guilmon burned brighter still. Across his body, he still bore the wounds from his bouts with Gallantmon and then Megidramon, and he knew he would not be satisfied until he had his revenge. "Open us a portal to The Digital World- the one closest to this reality." Daemon commanded Barbamon. Grumbling, Barbamon turned and raised his staff in compliance.
Daemon had been aware of the presence hiding amongst the tallest treetops since he had walked out of the cave, but he betrayed no such awareness, curious what manner of creature was stalking them. As Barbamon turned, their silent watcher made their move. Ten blasts of crystalline energy shot out of the canopy above them, and while four of them nailed Barbamon on the head and back and sent him flying away, the remaining six impacted against Daemon's wing, which he had extended over his head to block the attack before he had even seen it. Blasting out of the trees with a flurry of movement, Ophanimon landed between the kids and Daemon.
Beneath his cowl, Daemon's red eyes widened in shock. Her. For a moment nobody moved, as if frozen in the moment, and then Ophanimon struck out with her lance, sending wave after wave of face strikes at Daemon which he dodged. Finally, he extended a claw and caught her last strike in mid-air, pulling the angel in close. "You…" he said, forming the words like a curse. "Yes, me…" replied Ophanimon. With that, she flashed a smile which caught Daemon off-guard more than any attack. Striking out with her shield, she created some distance between them as Daemon backed away. Capitalising, Ophanimon flexed her wings, sending her body flying backwards until she was standing right between Takato and Kari. Reaching out with both hands for the children's wrists to pull them away, at that moment Barbamon rose from the nearby bushes, and raising his arms shouted "Dark Inferno!" sending a cascading wave of hellfire right at Ophanimon. In that moment, she had to make a decision. Pushing Takato away with all her might, the angel placed her body between Kari and the attack. Her scream of pain as the flames impacted against her were horrifying to Kari, all the more because in that moment she recognised the voice and presence of Angewomon in this mega-level angel. Sagging, Ophanimon's armoured body was heavy against Kari's as smoke rose from her singed skin.
Daemon and Barbamon advanced on them. Takato and Guilmon were too far away now to be saved. Cursing herself, Ophanimon summoned her lance and stabbed it into the ground beneath herself and Kari, and in a moment they both fell through the golden glowing gate that was created and out of that reality. Cursing, Daemon dived for two of them, and was just a moment too late. The gate closed and Ophanimon and Kari were gone. Pounding his fist into the spot where they had been mere seconds earlier, Daemon regained his momentarily lost composure and turned back to Barbamon. "No matter. Lets go."
For a moment it seemed like Barbamon was going to say something, but casting that thought aside he then turned and opened a portal to their destination. Daemon walked towards it and stopped, turning back to Takato and Guilmon. "Hazard Tamer- I won't force you to come with us. Stay here if you wish. Apparently, you weren't important enough to be rescued like Kari Kamiya. But I offer you the chance to come with us- will you take it?"
Takato looked at Guilmon, and although the dinosaur's eyes seemed filled with misgiving, Takato put his hand on his partner's head and nodded to him encouragingly. "Yes, we'll go. But only because it's better than staying here."
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That's all for Chapter 11. I hope you enjoyed it- I'm trying to ascertain how many people are actually still reading, so if you are I'd really appreciate a short review of what you think of the story so far to give me a sense that at least a few people are actually engaged and the story is worth continuing with.