Chapter 21: The levels to reach
Takato thought hard about the words he wanted to say and in what way to say it as he had sat his parents down at the table, Guilmon besides him. His dad likely wouldn't be the issue here, his mother (understandably so) more. In order to convince her fully, he had to bring this perfectly.
He had already practiced this conversation in his mind multiple times. He also adjusted it multiple times. But now that the moment was there, he felt like he forgot all of it and that he'd have to improvise all of it. However, he was also determined to do this now and not to leave it to the last second.
His parents waited in both anticipation and worry, exchanging glances the more Takato stayed silent and seemed to search for words. He cleared his throat, began to mumble a bit and before the words could come out, his father took a stand, both palms on the table. Takato looked up in surprise, finding his father smiling at him.
"You're going again, aren't you?"
The brunet's eyes widened before nodding, staring down for a bit before his eyes filled with confidence, facing his parents. "We'll probably have to go soon to prevent things from getting out of hand. I wanted to tell you now because I know how you felt four years ago."
"Four years ago, you suddenly sprung it upon us with no idea about what's going on," his mother replied. "Guilmon, friends we didn't know and that at that age at the time..."
"But you came out unharmed and saved everyone from harm," his father continued. "We trust you and if you have to go, then we're sure it's something serious."
"And we also know that if you have to go, you will be alright," his mom added. "You're older and more experienced now. Your friends will look after you, too."
"So you're okay with this?" Takato wondered.
"Well," his mom sighed. "I'm still your mom and I'll always be worried about you. Your dad will too."
"But your our son," his dad added. "You're serious about this and responsible enough to know what you're doing. You did it all before and we know that worrying and stopping you from going won't change anything."
"Mom... dad..." he said, smiling as he looked at both of them, while Guilmon smiled at Takato.
"That's great, Takato!"
"Look after each other, Guilmon," Takato's dad spoke to him. "We're trusting in you as much as we do in Takato."
Guilmon nodded. "Leave it to me! We need to stay alive for a long time to eat a lot of bread!"
"Jen and Ruki are coming too, right?" Takato's father asked.
Takato nodded his head. "Ryuuji-kun is coming as well."
"'Ryuuji-kun?'" his mother repeated, not having heard his name before. "Is he a new friend of yours?"
"Ah..." Takato rubbed the back of his head, realizing he hadn't mentioned Ryuuji before and that his parents didn't know him, unlike the rest of his friends. "Ryuuji-kun recently moved here and transferred into my class. He's a Tamer, too."
Takato's parents looked at each other and smiled. "With so many friends going, I can sleep a bit easier at night," his mom spoke.
Takato nodded. "We'll be looking after each other, so don't worry, mom, dad."
"We can't not worry," his mother replied. "You will understand once you're a father yourself." Those words earned a nod from his father, while Takato's mind temporarily got evaded with a mental image of a small child running around, an older Juri and Takato watching the child play around in the park with Guilmon.
As his face heated up, he shook away those thoughts and got back to reality, even if the prospect of them were really nice. But reality also was quickly disturbed as his phone rang, with the caller ID telling Takato everything he needed to know.
Picking up, he heard the situation, promised to get there immediately and hung up, leaping out of his chair. Guilmon followed suit, even if he hadn't overheard the side from the other end, but he was with Takato long enough to know that his body language and facial expression meant business.
"Sorry, mom, dad! We have to go!" he said, hurrying off.
His parents stared at each other again, sighing. Even if they understood, like his mother told Takato, as parents, they still couldn't stop fully worrying.
"Will we ever get used to this?" Yoshie asked her husband.
"That he willingly inserts himself in danger?" Takehiro summarized. "Let's pray we never do. But we'll have to get used to our son growing up. Before we know it he'll move out of the house."
Yoshie's expression fell a bit, even if that moment was still years away, it was inevitable. Every kid had to leave the nest sometime but it would still take some time getting used to. "It will certainly be different around the place once that happens."
Takehiro nodded with a smile. "It will. But we did a good job. We'll be able to see him move out with a smile, knowing he'll be able to fend for himself."
Yoshie agreed with a nod and a pleasant silence befell. No more words had to be said.
For now, both drowned in the memories of their family up until now and what the future could look like. It was possible at this exact moment, after all.
Flanked by Jen and Ruki and their partners, Ryuuji looked up, mouth agape. His right eye twitched lightly while words failed to come to him. It was quite a sunny day but the size of the looming monster completely cast a shadow over them.
"Breakdramon," Jen read quickly. "Ultimate-level Digimon. A gigantic Machine Dragon Digimon said to exist in order to destroy everything on land."
"It's huge!" Ryuuji finally proclaimed, incredulous.
"This is nothing yet," Ruki reaffirmed, causing the boy to stare at her dumbfounded.
"Yeah, this much is normal in the Digital World," Sistermon chimed in. "Well, it ain't a regular thing, but there's quite a few big fellas like 'dis one."
Breakdramon uttered a loud roar and Ryuuji swore he could feel the ground shake along. However, even eye-in-eye with this massive behemoth, he grinned in delight. This was weirdly exciting.
"Quite a few, huh?" he smiled, grabbing a hold of his Digivice and the Blue Card. "Dorumon!"
The purple beast nodded, his body changing shape as the blond slashed the card, emerging as Dorugamon.
"What about me, Ryuuji-sama?" Ryuudamon asked. "Do you wish for me to engage in battle, too?"
"Nah, yer'll be goin' with me," Noir spoke, twirling her pistols. "We'll be waitin' in hidin' for a while. Gotta gauge this thing's capabilities for a bit."
"It blocked out the sun, Noir," Ryuuji deadpanned. "One swing and we're paint on the walls."
"'We?'" Ruki repeated. "I think you should step back. It'd be too dangerous for the level you are at to engage this one."
"I got called here, too," Ryuuji informed the girl.
"Yeah, and frankly, I don't know why," Ruki shot back. "I'm saying this for your own wellbeing. Stay back before you get hurt."
Dorugamon glanced at his partner, wanting to speak up, but found his thunder stolen by Jen, who placed a hand on Ryuuji's shoulder.
"Ruki is right. It's immoble now, but there's no telling what it's real power is when it starts moving," Jen explained. "Only by getting to this point, it has left damage in its wake."
Ryuuji intended to protest, but found his collar grabbed before he got dragged off. "Alright, Jijicchi! Yer comin' with us while we work on a plan!"
The blond growled, showcasing his unwillingness. His partner was easier to reason with. "Ryuuji, we should do as they say. We can always fight if things get out of hand."
"But I just evolved you," he tried to argue, almost like a disappointed child, everyone falling quiet. Glancing around, he knew nobody was going to take his side. He turned his head away, crossing his arms to convey his dismay. "Fine, then. Have it your w-"
Renamon's head shot into the same direction as Ryuuji's, their eyes locking in on the same incoming projectile as the giant dragon had begun moving. The yellow kitsune moved as quickly as possible to try and get Ruki out of harm's way. "Ru-"
Before her eyes, she saw Ryuuji rush over to her, pulling her down to the ground, sliding across the ground as the giant shovel claw crashed into the ground, creating a dust cloud.
"Is everyone okay?!" Jen called out, Terriermon holding on to his head for dear life.
Sistermon held up a thumbs-up while Dorugamon sat on the ground blinking in silence as he nodded. Ryuudamon seemed awfully calm, unfazed by what happened.
Renamon crouched down, the palm of her claw on the ground as she scanned the area. Truthfully to their words, everyone seemed fine. Though, she didn't see one duo until the smoke cleared out, putting her on high-alert.
As Ruki laid on the ground, the strong smell of perfume filled her nostrils, jolting her eyes wide open, finding Ryuuji's face awfully close- way too close. Though, his head was turned away in order to scan his surroundings.
"Are you alright, Ruki?" he asked, seemingly much more unfazed by this position than Ruki was as he jerked his head to face her. Ruki nodded, prompting the boy to get up and hurry over to Sistermon, Dorumon and Ryuudamon's side, leaving her surprised as she sat right up, finding her face heating up.
She had expected him to make some sort of remark, an arrogant grin or anything else, but instead he acted like a responsible person and as if their faces weren't centimeters away from each other. Maybe she just thought too much of it, which would make sense, as they were in the middle of a fight, but still, that wasn't something to easily ignore, right? Though, if anything, it made him look kind of c-
"Ruki, are you alright?" Renamon spoke up, having appeared next to Ruki unnoticed to the latter. "You seem kind of-"
"I'm fine, Renamon!" she proclaimed, quickly shaking everything off and not letting Renamon finish her sentence. Mentally slapping herself, she got her head back in the game. She was not sure why she was thinking and feeling like earlier. This was not the time. Not now, not ever and definitely not with him. "We're going to have to evolve into Sakuyamon to fight this one."
"Let's go, Jen!" Terriermon ordered. "It's time for SaintGalgomon! I'm too young to die underneath a trampling! Even getting caught in it and losing 80 percent of my body would be too much!"
"Any part is too much," Jen sweatdropped.
"I want at least another twenty more years!" Terriermon called out.
"Why twenty?" Dorumon asked. "Wouldn't you want to stay in one piece your entire life?"
"Pay him no mind, Dorumon," the blunet sighed. "He's just being overdramatic right now. You're around Guardromon too much."
"Hey, everyone!" Takato and Guilmon came running as fast as they could, waving at everyone to get their attention. "Sorry I'm late! I came as fast as I could!"
"Just on time," Sistermon grinned. "Jijicchi, now that the pros are here, let's fall back and watch."
The blond glanced at her, not saying a word, though Sistermon knew what his look conveyed.
Sistermon's grin widened. "These are the guys that got me into this form, yer know. They got 'dis."
"And I don't?"
"Yer absolutely don't," Noir shook her head. "I love yer, but that's why I gotta be 'onest. Just watch."
"Is everyone alright?" Takato asked, having heard the impact from earlier. It forced him to speed up, after all.
Everyone gave their confirmation, with Jen granting additional information. "It stayed still for a while, but it suddenly decided to swing. We managed to get away just on time."
"There's not much else to explain so let's get this dealt with," Ruki spoke, taking out her Digivice.
Ryuuji didn't protest to anything, laying eyes on Takato and Guilmon, who disappeared in light together as the brunet ran a card through his Digivice. As it cleared, what emerged from it was a white knight, his red cape fluttering in the wind, brandishing a lance on his right while the golden patterns on the shield on his left shimmered in the light. "Dukemon!"
His teal green eyes widened. He saw this on television four years ago, but seeing it right before him was something else. This truly was an unison between Digimon and human and in nothing did this feel like Guilmon and Takato. Dukemon gave off an incredible aura and it felt as if it was a truly new entity stood before him.
"Please step back, Hoshizora-kun," Jen kindly requested, causing the boy to raise his eyebrow before he saw them disappear in light, following Takato's lead. What emerged explained why Jen made the request.
The boy looked up into the air, seeing a giant green mecha, two giant missiles resting on its shoulders. The faces on the missiles stared down on him, almost as if mocking him. "SaintGalgomon!"
"So huge...!" he mumbled, as Sistermon was equally as impressed. "Heh. He didn't come out to fight back then. He would've trampled me flat!"
Ryuuji's head then jerked to the sole girl of the group, watching the final duo disappear, emering anew amidst a gust of sakura petals, yellow armor dazzling in the small bit of sunlight that came through. The rings on the staff announcing arrival through their ringing. "Sakuyamon!"
With his mouth agape, he muttered the only word that came to his mind in that moment, "beautiful...". Though, as soon as he uttered the words, he got swept of his feet by the Digimon, carried like a princess before being put down on the ground. Even when leaping off without a word, Sakuyamon continued to embody the word Ryuuji uttered.
"The princess-style suits yer pretty darn good, Jijicchi," Sistermon joked, sweeping him off of his feet again and leaping away with him to where Dorugamon and Ryuudamon were. "They're pretty impressive, right? Those three."
"Impressive?" Ryuuji repeated, raising both eyebrows. "I think I'm in love. You really fought those three?"
Sistermon nodded. "Though, not SaintGalgomon. But Dukemon and Sakuyamon were a plenty 'andful."
The blond's eyes narrowed, not letting the three out of their sights. The energy they radiated alone hit him in a way he couldn't explain, let alone what they were about to display. So this was could possibly await them, too. This was the level that they had to reach.
"Ryuuji-sama, are you confident that we stay here?" Ryuudamon inquired.
"I don't think we'd stand a chance, Ryuudamon," Dorumon replied. "Ruki and Jen told us to step back for that reason, probably."
"I see," Ryuudamon answered. "It seems I still have ways to go as a weapon. I must obtain a better understanding of gauging one's strength."
Ryuuji, overhearing their conversation, glanced at the armored Digimon. Even now, he kept insisting on that bunch of nonsense...
Ryuuji sighed inwardly as his head rested on his fist, his elbow digging deeper into the sofa's armrest as he continued to keep an eye on Ryuudamon, eyes narrowing further with every second. The Digimon had found himself engrossed in a show featuring information and the history on weaponry, not paying anything else around him any mind. Dorumon was watching along with him, but seemed to find it a lot less interesting, ocassionally throwing glances to the side.
Sistermon, meanwhile, was well aware of the current state of affair between the people present. Ryuuji's body language easily gave him away. And while Sistermon did understand what he was coming from, the boy did have to understand that Digimon were complex beings and that each had various circumstances that molded them to be who they were. Ryuudamon was the same, there was no doubting that.
"Hey, what is your obsession with weapons, Ryuudamon?" the boy asked, attempting to test the waters, secretly hoping for an answer that didn't make him feel like they were playing a broken record.
The golden dragon didn't turn away from the screen and stayed silent, making the blond wonder if he even heard him. As he was about to ask again, Ryuudamon spoke, keeping his eyes on the screen. "Because it's my destiny to become a weapon."
"That again..." the boy sighed. "Who's fed you this nonsense? Just because someone wishes for you to become something doesn't mean you have to live up to that unconditionally."
"No one did," the dragon spoke. "It's simply something I feel I must do."
Ryuuji began to scowl, gritting his teeth, his fist clenching tighter. Absolutely everything about this Digimon rubbed him the wrong way and his patience was already running thin. Sistermon noticed and interfered.
"Just let him be for now, Jijicchi," she suggested. "For all we know he could've been born only recently, not knowin' anythin' else but what he's feelin'."
"As long as he doesn't say anything other than this, we'll never know anything," the boy scoffed, before sinking back in his seat. "Well, I guess I also don't know enough about Digimon yet. I just find it weird that their sense of self and interest can range from a tunnel vision like Ryuudamon's to Renamon's wisdom."
"Ain't that just like humans, too?" Sistermon asked. "There's simpletons as well as guys with brains to power multiple computers."
The boy gave it some thought, lightening up somewhat. "I guess Digimon and humans aren't that different in many things, yeah." He then stretched, staring at the ceiling. "I really want to go to the Digital World soon. Maybe that'll explain things."
"The Digital World is not some amusement park," Sistermon informed. "It can be a pretty rough place if yer not prepared."
"I have three Digimon in my house and the others have been there before," Ryuuji shot back. "I don't think I could be any more prepared as a newbie than I am now."
"It just worries me that yer that eager to go there," Sistermon shrugged. "Do yer find yer life that borin'?"
The boy nodded. "Becoming a Tamer has already made my life more exciting than it's ever been, even if I still have a long way to go. But it's not about the excitement alone. I also simply want to learn more about Digimon themselves. The fact they can take various forms yet think, talk and fight like us and have an identity while people would say they are just data..." He then grinned at Sistermon, eyes twinkling. "That's just amazing, isn't it?"
"Yer finally realizin' how amazin' I am!" Sistermon applauded, pumping her chest forward.
"Not just you," Ryuuji deadpanned. "Dorumon and Ryuudamon, too. As well as Guilmon, Renamon and everyone else."
"Even if he just talks about becoming a weapon?"
The blond breathed out through his nose, smirking as he threw a glance at the two Digimon glued to the television. "We'll just have to show him there's more to life than blindly fulfilling a pre-set destiny."
The blond shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Oh, well. Let's go, guys. We'll pull back for a while."
Sistermon grinned. "So yer making the smart play to sit back."
"Sit back?" a blond eyebrow shot up before a grin plastered his face. "We're just observing so I can make a plan to topple that thing."
"Topple?" Dorugamon repeated. "A Digimon of that size? That's impossible!"
"I like to make the impossible possible," Ryuuji claimed. "There's no fun, otherwise."
"Well, at least yer doin' the smart option this time," Sistermon chimed in, hands behind her head. "Don't think yer'll get the chance to make a plan, though. They'll probably 'ave it finished before that."
"I don't think they can just freely fight like this," the blond countered. "I don't know how they did it years ago, but if both they and Breakdramon go all out without paying attention to their surroundings, parts of Shinjuku will just disappear. The citizens along with it."
"And yer think they don't know that?" Sistermon countered back. "Jen's a smart guy, too."
"And he's also in the mecha as we speak," Ryuuji shrugged, pointing at SaintGalgomon. "Which means it's up to this hidden genius to save the marbles."
Sistermon chuckled. "Aren't yer modest today."
"So we're not fighting?" Ryuudamon inquired.
Dorugamon shook his head. "Not for now."
"I see." Ryuudamon did not sound understanding, neither did he sound disappointed. "Restrain must be part of my training as a weapon, too."
"Hear that, Jijicchi?" Sistermon jabbed. "Reckless old yer can learn a thing or two from the lil' guy."
"Reckless?" Ryuuji grinned. "Don't get it wrong now. Everything I do has an idea behind it, I'm just a misunderstood genius."
"Just like the alley that day?" Dorugamon wondered, earning a smug nod from his partner.
"Maybe people would understand yer if yer actually told them about yer thoughts," Sistermon rolled her eyes.
Ryuuji breathed out through his nose, smirking as he closed his eyes with a shrug. "You stop trying to be understood after the first couple of times."
Sistermon and Dorugamon looked at each other, wondering what he meant with that, but left it for now, following after him to find a good spot to observe away from most danger.
"Director Yamaki! The drone has gained visuals!"
"Display them immediately!"
The screen showcased the drone footage from its current location, the first thing Yamaki seeing was SaintGalgomon and Breakdramon struggling with each other for dominance all the while Sakuyamon's foxes slammed into it. This caused a lash out reaction from the construction dragon, causing it to break free from SaintGalgomon by force, causing him to topple. As it swung for the mecha, Dukemon leaped in front of him, brandishing his shield and taking the blow, but being swung to the side as result.
Breakdramon then made an attempt to bite at Sakuyamon, who narrowly dodged it and leaped down onto its head with an axe kick, proclaiming, "Bewitching Moon Kick!" However, Breakdramon shook it off, rising to full height and width, roaring out wildly.
The situation didn't look the best but it was not necessarily the worst either. They were doing a good job restricting it and chipping away at it, but the mindlessness made it a hard enemy to take down. And furthermore, he had only seen three of the four right now.
"Lower the drone's flight path and look for Hoshizora Ryuuji," the blond ordered. "Find for spaces he could possibly hide behind in particular."
The drone lowered it's path of flight, circling around Breakdramon as it flew down, switching between footage of SaintGalgomon, Sakuyamon, Dukemon and Breakdramon, footage where they aren't in but none of an actual human. As result, the drone took a bit of distance from the scene, returning to a higher altitude to get a good overview.
Somewhere hiding away behind a corner was a blond boy, flanked by three Digimon of various sizes, one wearing armor, one with wings and one with a cat-eared klobuk. The drone caught the boy's eye, who jerked his head slowly into its direction, watching its trajectory.
"Do you reckon that's an enemy or an ally, Noir?" The Digimon jerked her head in the same direction with a "hm?" before grinning. "Should I shoot and find out for yer?"
The blond began to smirk. "Well, if it's who I think it is, it probably won't get me in his good books, but we can't take the risk that it may be an enemy."
"Verdict, yer 'onor?"
"Shoot it down," Ryuuji dismissingly spoke, smirking into the camera before Noir hit it straight in the center, causing it to breakdown and fall. Walking towards the wreckage with his hands in his pockets, the boy's smirk ceased as his eyes narrowed while he came to a stop. Looming over the broken down drone, he looked down on it, almost as if imagining someone else in its place.
"I don't trust you, Yamaki-san," he spoke calmly yet annoyed. His right leg swung back, letting it rest at its highest point before kicking the drone away full force and sending it flying. "Return to your doghouse and don't come out, government dog."
"If that's Yamaki-san, shouldn't we have kept the drone functioning?" Dorugamon questioned. "We can't get any help from him now."
"We don't need his help," Ryuuji shrugged. "Besides, he'd have footage of us that he can use."
"You really don't trust him," Dorugamon noted, the silence Ryuuji gave off giving him his answer. Meanwhile, elsewhere, the man in question slammed his fists down on the nearest solid surface he could find in anger and frustration, gritting his teeth as the drone lost its visuals insanely fast.
"What are you doing, Hoshizora Ryuuji!?" he shouted out, while Reika and Onodera did their best to roll out a back-up drone as fast as possible.
Lifting his fists, Yamaki breathed out to compose himself. Shouting at a rebellious child that wasn't even around was not going to help anything right now. He would have to settle that matter later, elsewhere. For now, he straightened himself out, adjusting his sunglasses.
"My apologies," he spoke. "Let's keep working to get new visuals. As of now, we know of everyone present at the battlefield. Once the new drone gets there, do not get back to the same place. Keep full focus on the Wild One and the Tamers. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
Breakdramon stretched out, uttering a roar as its drill began to rotate at high-speed and swinging the tails around. It alarmed the three Digimon that fought it, alarming each other.
"SaintGalgomon!" Dukemon called out.
"On it!"
SaintGalgomon caught the tails in each hand, cocking back his head to prevent the drills from hitting his face, while Sakuyamon and Dukemon made an attempt to restrain the drills on its back, though for Dukemon it was less so restraining, more so outright disabling.
"Royal Saber!"
Unleashing a beam upon the drills, the explosion startled Breakdramon, only causing it to struggle along even further. As it uttered a roar of pain, the trio found themselves pulled to the ground, unable to get up as easily.
"What is this gravity?" Sakuyamon wondered.
"It's Breakdramon's doing!" SaintGalgomon answered.
"We have to get up fast. It now has a clean break through!" Dukemon exclaimed.
"What are they doing?" Ryuuji asked, bored from a distance. "With power like theirs, they should be able to beat it without effort, shouldn't they?" He then jerked his head to Sistermon. "Do you just happen to be an extreme pushover in battle?"
Sistermon put her hands behind her head. "They're probably holdin' back on big attacks to not damage the surroundings."
"It doesn't even look like holding back to me," Ryuuji noted. "It seems they're more trying to prevent him from doing anything than anything else."
"Well, if they would fight it properly, damage to the city would probably be too big," Dorugamon answered.
The blond boy sighed, hands in his pockets. "I got all excited for nothing. Guess it's our turn, then."
"Our turn?" Dorugamon repeated.
"Noir, how willing are you to evolve into LadyDevimon right now?" the boy enquired.
"0 percent!" Noir replied with a blank smile.
"There goes that idea," he shrugged in response. "Well, not like I had planned for it. Then go and help those three the way you are right now. Keep it occupied."
"What will yer be doing, then?" Sistermon raised an eyebrow, one hand on her hip. As fine as she was with the idea, she was not sure what it would accomplish.
"I'll disable its movements with Dorugamon and Ryuudamon," he answered. "But I need his attention to be elsewhere so we can do it unnoticed."
"Good enough for me," Noir shrugged. "Any more instructions for lovely ol' me? Else I'm headin' out."
Ryuuji shook his head. "Go and be a nuisance. So just like usual."
"Alright. Headin' out then, chief stick up the ass!" Sistermon leaped off as she brandished her pistols, leaving the three guys on their own.
"How will we fight from here, Ryuuji-sama?" Ryuudamon asked.
"Yeah, we're just a Child and Adult stage," Dorugamon followed-up. "I don't think we can make a difference unless we work with SaintGalgomon, Dukemon, Sakuyamon and Sistermon."
"We're not outright fighting," Ryuuji grinned, eyes twinkling. "Like I said, we'll disable his movements outright, so the other four can finish it off without needing to pull their punches."
"How do we do that?" Dorugamon wondered. "I don't think putting my iron balls anywhere would work. I don't think they'd stick."
"That's why we use Ryudamon's blades," Ryuuji replied.
Dorugamon looked at Ryuudamon, who did not move.
"Ah, right! You can fire blades, right?" Dorugamon asked. "What was it called again...?"
"Iai Blade," Ryuudamon answered. "How do you have knowledge of this attack?"
Ryuuji showed his Digivice, smirking. "Information I got from here."
"Does it have information on weapons, as well?" Ryuudamon asked, eyes lighting up.
"It does not," Ryuuji spoke. "But if we pull this off, I'll supply you with a book that does."
Ryuudamon's eyes began to twinkle, but he played it cool. "Very well. Understood."
"Wouldn't Breakdramon notice that we're attacking it?" Dorugamon informed. "We're coming at it with swords."
"Well, four Digimon are distracting it right now," Ryuuji noted. "On top of that, it seems mindless like the lion Digimon. I don't think it would notice us due to our size."
"I see."
"Besides, we're using your speed, as well," the blond added. "We'll be done before he notices."
"Me?" Dorugamon tilted his head to the side lightly, not sure how he meant that.
"You'll carry Ryuudamon and me," Ryuuji explained. "Ryuudamon will be positioned near your head so he has easier access to Breakdramon's joints. I am only there to give the signal to use the blades to jam his joints."
"But how are we going to get to the arm joints?" Dorugamon asked. "They're up high."
Ryuuji stayed silent and so did Dorugamon and Ryuudamon. Dorugamon glanced around, wondering if he was the only one who found this awkward. Did they even hear him?
"Did yo-"
"I'm... still thinking about it..."
"Over here, Impmon!"
"No, over here, Impmon!"
Impmon glanced at Ai and Makoto, not sure on who to throw the disc to. Pondering his options, he then threw it at them with a smirk, creating an icicle with his hands, launching it after the disc.
The Child Digimon had made sure to give the icicle enough speed to reach the disc and even overtake it, a moment which had now arrived. The icicle then cut through the disc, seperating it in two parts, each part directing towards Ai and Makoto, respectively. Surprised, they each caught their half, sulking.
"Aw," Ai went.
"You're no fun, Impmon!" Makoto followed-up.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Impmon replied. "But it was a cool trick, right?"
Ai nodded with a smile. "It was, yeah! But make it two discs next time!"
"Two discs?" Ipmon crossed his arms, jerking his head away. "I'm not a magician!"
"Maybe we should make two Impmons!" Makoto suggested.
"But then we'd also need two of these," Ai answered, holding up the Digivice.
"It's not like we're ever using the one we have," Makoto sighed.
"Makoto..." Ai hissed, eyeing Impmon, who heard. His ears drooped a bit, feeling a bit of guilt. He had remained passive and out of the battlefield. Not only just because he had no reason to be anymore, but also to protect Ai and Makoto from any harm. So even if he did have to go, he'd go by himself.
However, the older Ai and Makoto got, the more curiosity got the better of them. They wanted to know more about Impmon and what he used to do when he was gone but they also wanted to try things. Use the Digivice like the other Tamers did, amongst others.
'I managed to hold them off on it for long enough...' he thought to himself. 'But at this rate, I won't be able to keep it like this for long...'
The trio were then shaken by tremors running through the earth and the sound of various impacts. Impmon's body stiffened up immediately and instinctively cocked his head in a specific direction.
"Ai, Makoto! I have to go!"
He immediately made a run for it, evolving into Beelzebumon as he did so, using the chance to create a large gap between himself and Ai and Makoto. However, as Ai and Makoto stopped, they looked at each other and through what might very well be 'sibling telepathy' decided on the same thing.
"Let's follow him to help him!" Ai suggested.
Makoto nodded. "Don't stop running, Ai!"
"Keep up the pace, Makoto! We can still make it if we hurry!"
"Please keep him still, SaintGalgomon!"
"I'm trying!" SaintGalgomon dug his heels into the ground, challenging for the upperhand with Breakdramon, who attempted to snap at SaintGalgomon with his jaws. SaintGalgomon managed to jerk his head away just on time, punching the Digimon away with the opening it carelessly left.
"It's proving harder than I thought, Sakuyamon," the Digimon answered, the fox spirits trying to enchain Breakdramon, however, with its restless rampaging that proved harder than impossible. And without the permanent restricting of movement, Sakuyamon couldn't properly cast her Diamond Realm Mandala.
"It feels as if Breakdramon doesn't lose any energy despite this struggle," Dukemon noted. "The biting movement just now seemed rather desperate, as well."
"That must mean it is losing energy, then," Sakuyamon answered. "That was a last resort attack."
"No, a last resort attack must be more than just a bite," Dukemon replied. Meanwhile, SaintGalgomon pushed Breakdramon back, joining up with Dukemon and Sakuyamon. However, before he had a chance to put in a say of his own, Breakdramon saw his chance with the three of them together.
In an attempt to finish all of them in one fell swoop, it furiously smashed both of his shovel arms into the ground, causing the ground to reverberate and crack open on various spots. Sakuyamon and Dukemon jumped away in different directions, while SaintGalgomon propelled himself into the air.
Not sure who to go for, Breakdramon simply jerked his head up to see SaintGalgomon, the biggest of them all. As a result, he failed to notice a particular trio slip past, jumping over the cracks in the floor with grace.
Sakuyamon, however, did notice, and brought it to attention. "Dukemon! SaintGalgomon! Don't attack!"
"Why?" SaintGalgomon wondered.
"Lashes? What is he doing?" Ruki wondered inside of Sakuyamon, slightly frustrated. "Dukemon! Look after those three, please!"
Dukemon nodded and lowered his altitude to pursue them, but due to the headstart and seemingly lack of anxiety, Dorugamon managed to keep a solid distance between them. The white knight noticed them make for the legs, but he could not think of what they could possibly be planning.
"Alright, that's joint one," Ryuuji muttered. "Now, Ryuudamon."
The helmet-wearing dragon nodded, firing off an iron blade from his mouth. "Iai Blade!" The blade flew off in a straight line, the tip jamming right into Breakdramon's joint, remaining solidly in place.
Dukemon noticed and as his eyes widened lightly, he opted to make his own move. "Very well, then. I, Dukemon, shall leave you to it."
"Why are you back here?" Sakuyamon wondered as Dukemon joined her side.
"They are restricting Breakdramon by jamming its joints," the knight explained. "Furthermore, they are going unnoticed by it."
Sakuyamon let the words sink in, before thinking of something. "How will they jam the arm joints?"
"I, Dukemon, have no idea." Dukemon shook his head, but didn't seem worried in the slightest. "But they will succeed, for sure."
Completely on cue, Sistermon popped up out of nowhere, using her Bless Fire to draw Breakdramon's attention. Or rather, to have him try and treat her like an annoying fly.
"Huh, guess that ain't workin'," she said to herself. "Guess I gotta- Ah!" She quickly jumped out of the way as Breakdramon smashed his shovel arm her way, an opportunity Ryuuji didn't plan on letting go to waste.
"Dorugamon! Quick!" he ordered, throwing his arm into the necessary direction. "Ryuudamon, launch it before he gets his arm back into the arm again!"
The two dragons nodded, each doing their part. As Dorugamon rushed over, Ryuudamon shot off the blade, successfully jamming the entire right side. Now they just had to repeat it for the left side.
Sistermon then sprinted off towards the left side in order to repeat the trick. Breakdramon didn't seem to care enough to think about it possibly being a trap. As such, this should work without issue.
As she was about to pull the trigger again, however, a big explosion caused by bullets that weren't hers to topple Breakdramon, causing Dorugoramon to make a run to safe distance in case Breakdramon truly would topple over.
"You're lucky that I am who I am," the unknown Digimon spoke. "Ya were in the way otherwise. I couldn't get a clean shot in, pipsqueek."
"'Pipsqueak?'" she hissed. "Who're yer callin' a pipsqueak!? Who the hell are yer?!"
"I'm Beelzebumon," the figure introduced himself, slotting his revolvers back into his holsters. "Now get out of the way and let the pros handle it."
Sistermon's eye began to twitch, teeth grinding together in frustration as she balled her fist.
"Let it go, Noir," Ryuuji spoke. "We managed to jam his entire left side because of this guy. All that's left is for those three to take out this sitting duck. Good job."
"Good job on a job I did nothin' for," she huffed out, clearly unsatisfied. Ryuuji simply shrugged with a smirk. "Let's just fall back again. It's up to them now."
"Ya look like ya need some help here," Beelzebumon called out from the ground to Dukemon and Sakuyamon, who landed upon noticing him. "If I didn't know better I'd think it were a bunch of amateurs at work here."
"Beelzebumon," Dukemon adressed him. "We are focusing on keeping damage to a minimum."
"As such, we're trying to restrict this Digimon," Sakuyamon added.
"Yeah, well, he's restrained now," Beelzebumon replied nonchalantly. His right arm then morphed into a elongated blaster and black wings sprouted from his back. "Let's put this thing back in its place."
"Diamond Realm Mandala." Striking the ground with her staff, Sakuyamon created a mandala on the ground underneath Breakdramon, sending out the fox spirits as extra enchainment to keep it in place.
Dukemon had flown overhead, taking his position right above it, while SaintGalgomon had taken position in front of Breakdramon. The trace of black feathers had given away Beelzebumon's position behind Breakdramon, effectively cornering him from every side.
Ryuuji watched from a distance with the side of his hand against his forehead. "Surely this is overkill?" Sistermon shrugged.
Then, light arose from Sakuyamon's mandela, while Dukemon's shield began to light up and charge. SaintGalgomon gave the starting sign. Literally.
"Giant Missile!" As SaintGalgomon called out his attack, the missiles left their turrets, launching into Breakdramon at full-speed, causing an explosion upon impact and pushing it back as it roared out in pain. However, angered, it immediately cocked it head back forward, but found itself unable to move due to the blades jammed into its joints.
"Death Slinger!" From Beelzebumon's side, a destructive wave of energy left his blaster, hitting Breakdramon from the back. Leaving no time to waste, Dukemon unleashed his own attack. "Finaly Elysion!"
A beam of light unleashed from the shield and almost like divine punishment, rained down upon Breakdramon, who sank through its limbs to fall onto the ground.
"Alright!" Dukemon called out. "Everyone, let's-"
"Stop it, Tamers."
The voice was familiar to all of them, but they could not fathom why and how he'd be here. Then, the sound of a propellor caught everyone's attention, drawing their eyes towards a helicopter. The helicopter landed, his personel exiting first before Yamaki Mitsuo himself followed, followed by Reika and Onodera Megumi.
"I request you all to leave it here," Yamaki spoke. "We will be taking in this Digimon for researching by the Wild Bunch."
Ryuuji's eyes narrowed. "'Research', huh? Guess my bad hunch about you was right."
"How were you planning on getting it there in that helicopter?" SaintGalgomon asked, Terriermon's influence showing.
"Don't worry about that," Yamaki replied. "We got that covered."
"How do you plan to keep it subdued?" Sakuyamon followed up.
"That we also got covered," Yamaki replied.
"I, Dukemon, understand," the Ultimate nodded.
"You understand?" Ryuuji repeated. "This guy shows up and outright says he wants to research this thing, you all have the power to stop him from doing so and you say 'you understand'?" he muttered under his breath.
"Thank you for your effort and performance," Yamaki bowed. "It was rough to keep damage to a minimum while weakening it, but you did well."
"Was there ever any doubt?" SaintGalgomon wondered. "We kicked the D-Reaper's ass, too."
The three Digimon then reverted back to human and Digimon partner, surprising Ryuuji even more as he laid eyes on Ruki.
"Long hair?" Ryuuji went, a single eyebrow raised. "Is that a fashion choice?"
"Ruki's hairtie disintegrates when merging with Renamon," Jen asked.
Ryuuji scratched his head, wondering over the finer specifics. "How does a hairtie disintegrate but everyone's clothers are alright? Or Matsuda-kun's goggles?"
Takato and Jen looked at each other, never haven really given that any thought. They could do nothing else but awkwardly laugh in response.
"Well, let's put that aside for now," Sistermon interrupted, before pointing at the tall, leather-clad figure. "Just yer wait until I got all my power back! I'll show yer who's a pipsqueak, then!"
Beelzebumon simply huffed. "I don't have time for silly games like this. I'm le-"
"Impmoooooon!" The leather-clad Digimon then stiffened up, quickly returning to his smaller form, shocking Sistermon even more. "You!"
Then, everyone was joined by two younger children, both with brown hair. A boy and a girl.
"Who are that?" Dorumon asked.
"Ah, those are Impmon's Tamers," Guilmon replied. "Ai and Maki?"
"Makoto," Renamon corrected.
"Even children this young have partners?" Ryuuji wondered.
"Jen's younger sister also has a partner," Takato informed him.
The longer he knew these guys, the more he learned. What was next? An older teen or young adult with a partner?
"Let's go home, Ai, Makoto," Impmon hurrily said, grabbing both of their hands before pulling them forward.
"Who are these people, Impmon?" Ai asked.
"And how did that Onii-chan get golden hair?" Makoto asked in turn as he was dragged away by Impmon. "So cool!"
Ryuuji was not sure whether to be troubled by that question or proud of the compliment. "Why does nobody believe this is my natural hair color?"
"It seems Impmon doesn't want to involve his partners too much into all this," Renamon noted.
"Did they really not see the giant construction dragon?" Terriermon asked, somewhat flabbergasted. "Or the adult with the sunglasses that stepped out of a helicopter?"
"Terriermon's asking the real questions," the blond boy reaffirmed.
"Please don't encourage him," Jen sighed.
"Isn't that the boy who shot down the drone?" Megumi turned to Reika, eyeing Ryuuji, who noticed.
"Yeah, that was my mistake," he admitted. "I got startled and out of reflex had Noir shoot it down. My apologies."
Reika frowned and Ryuuji knew that this woman did not buy into it whatsoever. Ryuuji simply glanced at her and Yamaki unsubtly, but remained with his words. As long as neither of them brought up anything, there was no reason to say any different.
The woman then suddenly beamed into a smile, taking both blondes (Onodera and Ryuuji, that is. Yamaki had seen this sight before) by surprise. "Well, it happens!"
"Y-yeah? I guess?"
"Just make sure it won't happen again, okay?" Reika continued to smile, unnerving the boy massively. "That equipment is expensive and it's a an inconvenience to us while we do our job."
"Yes, ma'am," the boy nodded, causing the Tamers to be impressed. What they had been trying for a while, Reika-san had managed to do instantly. While he didn't show it on his face, Yamaki was approving silently, while Ruki's smug smirk didn't go unnoticed to Sistermon.
"Is this the power of an older woman?" Sistermon wondered, cupping her chin as she rested her elbow on her other arm. "Once I'm able to return to BeelStarmon, it'll be game, set and match!"
"Well, anyways, we were asked to leave, so let's leave," the blond hurrily suggested, turning away. "I got quite hungry from all this anyways."
"Guilmon, too!" the red dinosaur spoke up, raising his claw. "Do you like bread, Ryuuji? Let's go get Guilmon bread! It's delicious!"
"I-I want Guilmon bread!" Dorumon spoke up.
"I wanted a hamburger, though," Ryuuji muttered, to which Sistermon slapped the back of his shoulder. "Let's make Noir-oneesan bread, Jijicchi! We can always get a hamburger another time!"
"'We'? Who invited you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, to which he was only given a wide grin.
"What's a 'hamburger'?" Ryuudamon asked. "Is it a weapon?"
At that question, Ryuuji rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and mayonaise is an instrument."
"Really? Interesting."
"Mayonaise is not an instrument," Renamon interjected. "It's part of a human's cuisine, just like a hamburger."
Then, Ryuuji felt a weight on his head, two small paws grabbing the sides of his head. "Let's go get hamburgers!"
Ryuuji's eyes began to twitch, while Jen wondered how quick Terriermon had gotten over there as Ryuuji pulled him off. "Oi, why are you on my head... Get off before you permanently damage my hair."
"Terriermon, don't jump on someone else's head like that," Jen sighed.
"No, I'm going with them!" Terriermon protested. "You barely ever let me have hamburgers!"
"Huh?" Ryuuji stared at Jen, not able to believe what he was hearing. "You're denying him of hamburgers? Keeping the taste of them to yourself is cruel, Lee-san."
"I barely have them myself..." Jen sweatdropped.
Ryuuji then stared at Terriermon, who blankly stared back in silence. "Let's go, Terriermon. We're getting you hamburgers. Just don't sit on my head."
"Moumentai!" he proclamed, raising his paw as he took residence on the blond boy's shoulder. "Jen! I'm partnering with Ryuuji now! Bye bye!"
"Terriermon...!" Jen proclaimed walking after them, while Dorumon began to panick. "Wh-what about me?!"
Guilmon then waved at Takato. "Bye bye, Takato! I'm going, too!"
"Wait up, Guilmon!" Takato called out in response as he began to ran over. "I'm coming too!"
"Didn't he want bread before?" Ruki wondered. "So did Dorumon."
"I suppose with Takato around, Guilmon bread will always be accessible," Renamon deduced. "Additionally, somehow, Ryuuji managed to sweep everyone along."
"It's always something with that guy," the redhead sighed in response, to which Renamon smiled. "I take it that means you are not interested in a hamburger?"
"Not necessarily," her partner shrugged. "But if everyone's going, why not?"
As the group, albeit chaotically, set foot for the nearest place that offered hamburgers, the adults watched them leave, leaving them on their own with a knocked out Breakdramon. Yamaki shoved his sunglasses further up his nose, hands clasped behind his back.
"Impressive work on reprimanding Hoshizora-kun," he spoke, turning to Reika. "I was not sure how to reprimand someone else's child."
"Let's just call it a mother's intuition," she winked, having given Yamaki a taste of what the future would look like.
"Onodera, is the Wild Bunch ready?" Yamaki asked, turning to the blonde woman.
She gave Yamaki a nod. "They're all willing to analyze the Wild One, though they could not offer a timeframe of succession."
"That's fine," Yamaki spoke. "We have the Tamers that can focus on the fieldwork while we focus on analyzing this Wild One. It's one less thing for them to worry about."
As he stared at the giant construction dragon, he couldn't help but feel apologetic.
"Sorry for getting all of you involved again, Wild Bunch..."
A hefty writer's block and a busy life severely slowed down this chapter for which I can do nothing else but apologize. Additionally, I'm noticing that due to the big gaps, some minor details are slipping my mind, so that's something I definitely need sorting to prevent making any continuity errors.
Hopefully I can put out the follow-up chapter (a lot) faster but who knows. I'm trying my best and work on chapter 22 has already started.
Regardless, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and until next time. Hopefully faster than this time around.
See ya!