Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.

On a note, the whole mysteriousness of Homeostasis really is coming into view. And each time Rei is captivated and is completely thrown off course. The rivalry he has is of course with the Digital Creator, but he can't get to him if she is in the way messing up his plans. And each time they meet she becomes even more of a threat! I only bring it up because of the fated first meeting that showed us the first glimpses of the new generation of Digidestined. It's a homage to the early 1990s of that incredible movie release!


Chapter Thirty-Six: The Eyes of the Child

Rei kept to his thoughts as he left the coffee shop. He never smiled nor waved to anyone. Nor did he turn for a potential morsel. No, he felt anything but hungry. In fact, he was so sick to his stomach even for a digital being he felt as if he had been infected by a digital stomach virus, even though he was impervious to them.

He kept walking down the road, entering a side cafe computer without bothering to check if anyone had seen him, and stayed inside floating amongst all of the data just to calm himself. He could feel all of the portals squirming with negative feelings on certain ends of them, none more so than the frantic Shadow of Apotheoseia. With a turn of his head, and a scoff escaping him in frustration he guided himself through it and thrust himself on the other side, a look of gawkers staring at him.

"Well now," Rei said with a wicked smile, "I sent Hisashi to monitor the activities of the Watchers of the Periphery, and what do I find here? A bunch of chickens running around with their heads cut off. Who is in charge?" he asked.

"Th-that would be me," a man with mean looking eyes and a condescending gaze said stepping forward. "My name is Igatowa-"

"-I care not for your name," Rei said immediately snatching him up with his right hand mangling his negative attitude into an unsatisfying meal akin to prison bread. He winced at the taste, but let himself absorb it anyway.

The horrified eyes of his followers immediately bowed to him in reverence and terror. "Tell me," Rei said walking forward, sometimes stepping on a few hands, "What have you found regarding the events of Heighton View Terrace?"

One of the followers scraped their hand against the ground daring to raise their head. "We have found out my Lord that pertaining to the event a huge digital field manifested. Though we were unable to trace it in time to go ourselves two large signatures of different strengths appeared. One of them at first vastly weak, seemingly at first."

"Vastly weak?" Rei questioned. He leered towards the middle age man, a bit of scruff on his face, but a dead resoluteness in his eyes.

"How so?"

The man didn't blink. "It was just nothing, and little by little it increased in strength over time. I have never seen anything like it."

Rei pondered to himself the circumstances and then placed his hand on the man's shoulder.

"What's your name?"

"Ivanosuke."

Well, Mr. Ivanosuke, you're in charge from now on," he said tapping him by the shoulder.

"But why?" he asked.

"Men do well to fear me, but in their fear they forget to answer me. You at least have not done so. And had it not been for you I would have been in a foul enough mood to devour the whole assembly."

Ivanosuke swallowed, holding his fist tight to his chest. "I am grateful my Lord," he acknowledged. "Shall I organize a party to go investigate Heighton View Terrace?"

"No," Rei replied. "Rather, I would like you to concentrate your efforts on Izaiya and be in report to Hisashi. This Heighton View Terrace Incident has left me feeling a bit...peckish now."

"Peckish sir?" Ivanosuke said puzzled.

"Never you mind. I'll take care of Heighton View Terrace..." he chuckled, his eyes glinting in malice. "….And as well as any other obstacles that get in my way."


Early the next morning Rei made his move. After a quick cup of coffee at a local cafe, he walked along the sidewalk humming to himself, not a car around on that summery Friday morning after most adults had taken off for the day to their respective workplaces.

Rei happened to come across a delivery truck making their rounds. A hapless grumpy looking man in his late forties came out holding a package as he got out of the truck. Rei quicker than the eye could see darted into the nearest overhead tree, leering down, just waiting for the man to walk under the trees shadow. And before the man knew it, Rei swooped down on him, the man dropping his hat and package. Rei made short work of him absorbing his negativity and flesh converting him into viral digital particles. He then shot to the ground grabbing the delivery man's hat and package.

He converted his clothing to that of the delivery man matching the hat and placed it on his head noticing the badge and name tag on the cap. "Deliveries always come right on time, don't they Fujashi?" he mused to himself as if talking to the man he just snacked on and grabbing the package next to him.

No one seemed the wiser as he drove the truck forward and parking it in of the Heighton View Terrace Apartment Complex Parking Lot. Glancing around he noticed some kids playing around, obviously too young for school. He glanced around at the children wondering about them.

What kind of traits would they have? How could Homeostasis choose such insignificant beings to defeat him? Had it not been for his desire to reclaim his sealed power Rei would have devastated the area instantly, but alas, he had to turn the tables on the Denizen of Light.

Two girls playing tag accidentally got in his path, one of them bumping into him.

"I'm sorry," the other girl apologized profusely. "She didn't mean it."

"No need to worry," Rei smiled cruelly. "You best be off and play. It's good to enjoy your life while you have the opportunity."

The girl smiled giddily and ran off with her friend chasing each other once more.

Rei Kurenada shook his head glancing around wondering just how he could identify who was useful. Some children seemed way too young. Perhaps an older sibling? Or an only child? Perhaps he might even see a Digimon?

He had to admit he came in unprepared, but did not want to delay seeing the scenery of the battlefield.

"It happened right here," a boy said coming up to him.

"Hmm?" Rei wondered. A youthful with blonde spiky hair approached him. "You seemed curious so I thought I would tell you. Of course, if you want to know more it will cost you extra," he said mincing his index finger and thumb together.

"I've already gathered that info together," Rei said, "But is it really true that a dinosaur and a giant parrot appeared and fought here?"

"You're well informed," the youth said nodding his head. "It was really something, though, the grown ups don't believe us."

"That's a shame," Rei said. "Was their any particular children who seemed to stand out during the fight?"

"Not really," the youth said turning his head as if bored. "You ask a lot of questions for a deliveryman."

"I am quite the curious fellow," Rei smiled disingenuously. "My coworkers tell me that all the time."

The youth turned around shaking his head. "Sorry Mister. I don't know how to help you. I don't know why any of the other kids would look different. Good luck buddy," he said darting off.

Rei crunched his teeth together holding back his malignant nature. "Thank you...brat."


A couple of hours had passed, and, unfortunately people were starting to get suspicious of Rei. They started asking him questions about which apartment he wanted, Rei not quite sure how to answer. He was about to retreat and come back at a later time, but he knew he couldn't afford to waste this opportunity. He couldn't-

"-Hey!" a voice yelled from a window, Rei staring up at the third floor seeing a very young youth with sharp pointy hair messed up all over the place. "You're looking for 135, right Mister?"

The people stared up and glanced at him as if more understanding. "135?" Rei said allowed pretending to look at the package and then back at the boy.

"Yeah, the Yagami Residence!" the boy called out.

Rei continued playing along, the concerned adults going their ways, one of them muttering to themselves about mail taking too long to arrive.

"Yes, that's right!" he shouted. "Thank you for telling me! I'll be right up little boy!"

"Ok. Don't fall and hurt yourself!"

Rei snickered walking in the shadow of the building and heading up three flights of stairs. He walked over towards 135, the stale gray doors of each apartment door beckoning him closer and closer to it, Rei able to see it just ahead walking over the floor side down to the left.

As he got closer, a familiar brown spiky head perked up at the window and opened the door smiling and greeting him.

"Come on in! Come on in!" he said opening the door. "I bet you have that action figure my mom ordered for me huh?"

Rei did not know what to think. He somehow found himself in the child's home, no adults present at all. In fact, any normal sane child would have been taught by an adult to never let strangers in the home.

"Little boy, you have no idea who I am," Rei said walking inside. "Are you sure it's wise to invite a stranger into your house? What if I was a bad person?"

Taichi stared up at him innocently and then balled his tiny fists together. "Then I would have to beat you up!" he said throwing an example of a punch, but stumbling after. "I would protect my home."

"I'm sure you would," Rei stifled a laugh, noticing the whole place seemed empty of any adult supervision. Yet, the more he looked around, something about this boy started to bother him. Forget about being unintelligent. He was truly a fool. But, he was a brave fool. No, it wasn't bravery. He studied him realizing how courageous he was to confront the adults and let him into his house. Perhaps he knew that since the adults saw him if something ever happened to him Rei Kurenada would be blamed, but since his name tag said Fujashi's name he was sure no one would be the wiser.

"Can I get you a glass of water or anything?" the boy asked. "Sorry I probably should be treating you nicer as our guests."

"I'll be all right," Rei smiled. "But I do have to ask you. What is your name, son?"

"It's Taichi," he replied sternly. "Taichi Yagami."

"Taichi," Rei said curiously. "What do you think about everything that happened recently?"

"Everything that happened? You mean the monster fight!"

"Yes, exactly," Rei said paying attention to his reactions. "I heard a giant T Rex and a giant parrot fought each other. That must have been quite something to see."

"It was!" Taichi said enthusiastically, "But y'know my Mom and Dad didn't see it."

"Didn't see it?" Re questioned.

"They were already in bed for the night. For some reason no adult can remember it, but me and a lot of the kids do."

"Why do you think that is?" Rei asked.

"I dunno," he pondered. "But they didn't see Botamon either, so it doesn't really surprise me. Plus I kept him really well hidden," Taichi smiled missing his front teeth.

Rei glanced at him as if he had cornered his prey. "So, Botamon is it?" he questioned. "And did he become that giant T-Rex?"

"Yeah," Taichi replied. "But first he became this pinkish talking head, and, then a yellow orange mini T-Rex."

Rei scanned Taichi intensely wondering about everything. Botamon. Koromon. Agumon. And then, if it was an orange T-Rex that must have meant he had become a Greymon. Just like the others, Akama Akajirou, Daigo Nishijima, Maki Himekawa, and the other few that he could not remember, this process of digivolution was the common factor of all of those humans...Humans who bonded with a partner… Digidestined.

He placed his hand on Taichi's back, tempted to just grab him by the back of his head and cave it in. Or maybe he could just rip out his spine.

The boy stared at him innocently having no idea of Rei's loathing for humankind or the tools of Homeostasis. If the boy even had a trace of negativity perhaps Rei could have converted his data and absorb it into himself. Yet, despite this, the boy's body did not carry the necessary composition. Moreover it seemed as if Homeostasis's data had masked over him like a protective film.

His smile curved ever so slightly his fingers tense wondering what he should do. Should he cause the boy such unimaginable pain? Or should he let him grow and blossom hoping that his ridiculous trait whatever it would be he could use one day to unseal his power? Of course their were others he imagined. It couldn't have just been for this one boy. If he killed him then that would send Homeostasis and the other children a powerful message. In fact, maybe Homeostasis would somehow whisk them away and force them to get even stronger in a short amount of time knowing just how much of a threat Rei Kurenada is.

He licked his lips savoring this moment.

"Mister?" Taichi questioned as if sensing something was wrong.

It wouldn't take much. A little twisting of the neck. Or maybe he would just choke him to death. Whatever he decided Homeostasis would get the message loud and clear. Maybe he would even paint Homeostasis's name in blood. Oh, how delightful that would be!

"Mister," Taichi winced. "You're hurting me."

"Am I?" he smiled very slowly increasing pressure pinching his shoulder a little harder enjoying the irritation on his face.

Taichi groaned, but still he seemed unaware of just how much danger he was in.

"What's wrong?" Rei asked. "What is it I am doing that's causing you pain?" he questioned squeezing little by little waiting to see his terrified reactions. A sadistic grinned slowly spread over his face, Rei unable to mask the joy spreading through his entire data code.

Taichi's eyes for a moment lit up in a strange stupor, Rei too focused on his face to notice anything else.

"...Nichan?" a small voice said, Rei too focused to turn his head.

"Nichan?" the voice said coming closer, the sound of footsteps approaching them.

"Hikari," Taichi winced. "What are you doing up?" he asked, Rei glancing up at the approaching footsteps.

He froze, terrified, more so than he had ever had in his entire life.

A little girl, barely able to walk went over to him. She stood by Taichi and glanced at him, Rei hardly able to move.

Her lips pursed opening, Rei barely able to stand being in the room with her, her eyes glistening a gleaming radiance. Her head cocked to the side, glaring at him ever so dangerously.

"Just what...are you doing to my brother?" she asked, innocently, Rei blinded by fear turning and running as fast as he could away from her.

Like a vampire to sunlight, he fled from her. He hit himself pretty good on the side of the doors running blindly. He passed other people, their faces practically blurs as he headed for the stairwell, but as he turned the corner to go down he slammed into the railing fall over. The world spun even still as he got up in pain, but unfazed as he continued running and running, the eyes of Homeostasis more terrifying than he had ever seem them, Rei surprised he felt such fear at all. As he ran he ran past the sidewalks, into traffic, his body hitting vehicles, and then into trees barely able to see straight until he clothes-lined under a particular branch falling back on his back, his heart pounding and then slowly steadying itself.

For the time being all he could see was those eyes of that little girl, violent and dangerous, but elusive and powerful, and even condescending. They were the same as Himekawa when she had been possessed. But those eyes seemed so much more threatening even than when the Digidestined had their Digimon digivolve into their mega forms.

He took a few more breaths closing his eye remembering the girl clearly. Light pink pajamas, short hair, weak constitution. All of his impressions of an innocent girl went away when he remembered those eyes, his very data becoming unstable though he was unsure why he could feel this way.

He considered the situation, his hands shivering from the experience even now. Just what was that he saw? That girl, Hikari as Taichi called her, was more of a threat than any Digimon he had ever seen. In fact, she was on the same level as the Digital Creator and Homeostasis, but it made zero sense. He had literally just witnessed Homeostasis save King Yggdrasill. So, for this little girl to be possessed by...

He paused, getting up confounded. "...Wait," he said to himself aloud. "Was she possessed?" His fear turned to immense curiosity wondering about her. "Regardless that is quite a puppet Homeostasis has acquired. If she is also a Digidestined, those eyes could hold the power I need to free my sealed power," he considered. He grasped his hand into fist shaking off the jitters.

"So then, Taichi, Hikari," Rei said turning his head and staring their direction, "I'm sure when you're old enough Homeostasis will come for you. And as you grow, rest assured, I will twist that strength to suit my purposes. As a Digidestined that is your birth right to be used up by both of us...till you are no more than broken scraps of data thrown into the wind," he mused. A smile slowly returned to his face looking forward to the future. "...Especially to that little girl…"


Back inside the Dark Ocean Realm, Rei Kurenada took stock of all of his resources. Ygdrassil seemed to be in chipper spirits as did Cthulusmon. The Dark Masters however were nowhere in sight, and he had no idea where they were located. They had chased after Gennai who had stolen the crests and escaped into a portal to escape the destruction of the heavenly realm.

"My Lord!" Cthulusmon said enthusiastically to see him.

"Welcome back!" King Ygdrassil said converting a nightmare soldier into a piece of cake and taking a large bite out of it.

Rei nodded his head. "Any news of the Dark Masters?"

"We have somewhat of an update," Cthulusmon said. Data has been pouring in from the Digital World from slaughtered digimon. It appears they have been fighting real Digimon and causing havoc each in different areas of the digital world."

"I'm surprised the Digimon Sovereign have not intervened and destroyed them," Ygdrassill noted.

"I don't think they would be able to,"Rei informed them. "That battle with Fanglongmon sapped their strength by a really good margin. And according to the battle they had to sacrifice one of their Digicores permanently to do it. They will more than likely be out of commission for awhile."

"Then maybe they will take over the Digital World while they are there," Cthulusmon said. "It would be fitting for them to conquer and change it to their will."

"You'd think so," Rei mused, "But I have other plans," he said snapping his fingers manifesting the other sealed tubes containing the dark masters floating in a cloudy blue green liquid.

He held out his hands towards each of them pleased that the composition had finally been reached.

"It's about time," he said snapping his fingers one more time, each of the tubes opening, and in a smoky haze emerged his other chosen human beings converted into viral digital entities.

The first to emerge, a dark gray demonic creature with crumbled gnarled wings, horns and ghoulish red eyes with a human-like mouth spread his wings brushing the liquid off of him.

"This place is...fitting," he snarled. "Truly a throne worthy of myself, but I seek to rule the tallest mountains not the lowest valleys," he grimaced. "Who is in charge around here?"

Rei Kurenada walked forward smiling courteously. "That would be me," he said walking towards him with one arm in his coat pocket.

"You? What are you supposed to be? Are you of the flesh or are you Digital?"

"It doesn't matter," Rei said. "For regardless you are my chosen general for...let's see," he said closing his eyes. "Yes, File island."

"File island?"

"It's an island with a large mountain in the center of it. Truly a throne you could appreciate," Cthulusmon said.

"I suppose," he said crossing his arms. "Of course you will leave me to my own devises? I demand not to be bothered."

Rei snickered. "Only if you leave the island," he said.

"Very well," he said spreading his wings.

"I've also taken the liberty to decipher an ancient mystery, a tool you can use against your enemies and enslave any digimon you come across," he suggested. "I'm sure you will have no shortage of slaves."

"Intriguing!" the demon digimon chuckled. "I, Devimon, will ensure to rule this island under an iron fist and a cloak of darkness! Anyone that ventures into my domain shall not escape!"

"Yes, as it should be," Rei said. "But, one day Devimon, and this goes for the rest of you to," Rei said as the other digimon became more aware of their surroundings, "You will be tested by human children called the Digidestined," he said. "There is a young child far more dangerous than the rest of them," he said. "That child it is prophesied will be your undoing," he informed him.

"A mere child?!" Devimon said astonished.

"This child will have terrifying power," Rei said. "However, I believe you are more than capable to handle this child. You have the skill to understand dark sayings and manipulate the powers of darkness. The child will be crushed in your grasp," he said positively.

"Delighted!" Devimon said. "Make haste! I desire to go to this island."

"Patience," Rei said. "With the destruction of the heavenly realm and the merging of the earth and the digital world the boundaries are as thin as ever," he said. "However, Homeostasis will be more keen to any beings that come out of a portal here. But do not be concerned. I have discovered a different method to get you to the Digital World. But, I will only be able to use it one time. After I have addressed you all I will send you to your respective locations."

"Hmm," Devimon scoffed turning around ignoring him.

"Then that means your next my monkey king friend," Rei said, an orange monkey with sunglasses and literally a monkey face whipping out a guitar.

"I say, I say now, I got this little ditty baby," he said strumming the guitar. "I know who you know is your number one, but let me tell you it doesn't matter what number I am because when the King enters the house, everyone rocks to the Music of King Etemon! Let's give it up for him little darlings!" he said strumming music as a bunch of viral digimon encouraged him enchanted by his music.

"Who is this fool?" Devimon questioned. "His music will make my ears bleed more than any victims of mine," he grimaced.

"Etemon, this is not a rock concert," Cthulusmon scolded him.

"Well, baby, you tell THEM that," he said, Rei struck a bit blindsided at the loyalty of his minions whipping out beam sticks cheering him on. Even Ygdrassil seemed into it, Cthulusmon a bit perturbed by her lack of sensibilities.

"Then take these Gazimon with you," Rei said. "Have your little rock concert...on the continent of Server. You can rock out to your hearts content."

"Will do baby," he chuckled.

"And while you're there be on the lookout for any human children that came your way with Digimon. They might just take away your title of King."

"What?" Etemon said stopping his concert. He took out a microphone. "Now listen here baby! Any human children that comes to my territory, they're gonna know there's just one King. And it's King Etemon! Nobody else! I say y'all got that?!" he snapped towards his new minions," The Gazimon shouting out an affirmative 'Yeah!'.

"Glad to hear it," Rei said turning to the last minion who freed himself. He stood their covered in his cloak eyeing them all.

"As for you," Rei said turning towards him, "You are an ultimate digimon but far on another level," Rei informed him. "You know your power nearly matches a mega level digimon. Only the holy attribute is your weakness, and you must stamp out any threats of light that dares approach you," he warned.

"It will be perpetual night," the digimon answered. "Under my mist, and the shadows of my bats these fangs will taste the innocent and my whips will lash out against dissenters including any brats that show themselves."

"I see then," Rei said. "That being said, "I will leave it to you. Where would you like to go?"

"The other side of Server," the Digimon quipped. "I do detest loud music as do my pets," he said manifesting a vampiric bat and stroking it's head. "But I am always ready to try new cuisine," he said with a fanged grin. "Children sound especially delicious."

Rei clapped his heads approvingly. "Wonderful. Then you can all do to your heart's content," he said. 'You only have one mission should you come across human children: Destroy them wonderfully. That is the only thing I ask of each of you," he said. "That is my one and only commandment."

"I assure you the children will not make it past me," Devimon declared. "I will crush them where they stand!"

"Big words baby," Etemon chuckled. "But between you and me I'll be the one to kill those kids. May be I'll even give you an autograph after!"

"I don't need it!" Devimon seethed. "You can keep your monkey antics to yourself. You better hope I never see your dumb monkey face on File Island!"

"Ditto baby. Don't ever even thinking about visiting my continent of Server," he warned growling into his microphone.

"Myotismon, you're being awfully quiet," Cthulusmon said. "What do you think about this matter?"

He closed his eyes under his off-crimson mask. "Only the weaklings threaten each other with barbaric taunts," he leered. "If they are not careful I might just make them my servants should they ever step into my domain."

Etemon seemed all the more enraged. "Don't you make me go after you to you bat-"

"-Bat what?" Myotismon glared at him paralyzing Etemon with a shocked look on his face.

He gripped his microphone paralyzed by his calm blood lust. "I said don't you worry about me. I'll never see ya. I'm in the land of rock and roll. Not night time and nightmares," he said shaking a little.

Rei coughed in his fist catching all of their attention. "It seems you have all made your decisions," he said. "I have traces of the data from where Homeostasis transported King Ygdrassil back here, and, while I have the trace data remaining I will send you to these locations. But," he smiled, "Before I do I have a send off present for each of you."

"A present?" Cthulusmon wondered.

"Tell us what it is!" King Ygdrassil said excited for them.

"Very well," Rei said snapping his fingers, whole elements of the ground being torn off as what appeared to be cogs floated over towards Devimon, and not just a few. He practically had a mountain of them placed underneath him. "These black gears will be spread all over your island. Collect them if you wish but they will help you enslave and strengthen your minions."

"I shall find and recover them all," Devimon proclaimed. "Not one shall escape me."

"Glad to hear it," Rei said curtly.

"As for you my rock and roll friend," he said walking towards Etemon and grabbing his guitar, "I have infused your instrument with the power to summon Dark Digital Cables, a Dark Network if you will to to help you rule over your vast territory."

"Thanks baby," he replied. "I'll truly have the best concert venue around!"

Myotismon glared over at Rei with a paralyzing stare, Rei not a bit bothered at all by him.

"Your immense blood lust doesn't intimidate me at all," Rei chuckled making his own malice completely surround Myotismon.

He shielded himself, his bats falling over paralyzed.

"That was not my intent," he said indifferently. "If you are my master then you must be strong. I merely meant to test that strength."

"And now you have been humbled," Rei said flitting his hand towards him. "However, I too have a present for you Myotismon," he said stomping on the ground, a massive castle emerging in it's place.

"It's...magnificent," Myotismon said staring wondrously at it.

"This is your magic castle," he declared. "You can use it as your base of operations. And, like my realm, if mostly any fool dares to try to find their way through it they will become hopelessly lost. Use it however you wish."

"I certainly will," Myotismon said. "I look forward to establishing my dominion."

"Well said," Rei agreed. "Now then, to each of you I wish you prosperity and to spread as much terror as you can to your domains. Put the fear of of Viral Digimon into these children and then mercilessly slaughter them," he grinned.

'We will," they all said at once, Rei pleased by their loyalty.

He closed his eyes finding the tracing of Homeostasis's transportation technique, each of them lighting up in a strange purple hue.

"And now, to your destinations," Rei said holding out both hands, all of the data vanishing into portals of darkness.

As soon as all of them were gone he panted, falling back to his throne.

"Well, that took far more out of me than I expected," he said.

"Shall I get you something to drink my Lord?" Cthulusmon asked.

"No need," he said reflecting on the current state of affairs.

"It's a pity things have turned out this way,"Cthulusmon sighed. "But you will win the war my Lord."

"Pity?" Rei inquired curiously. "Tell me, Cthulusmon, if everything goes your way in battle how does that help your enemy?"

"Helps? Does that even happen?"

"Of course," he replied.

"Well," he said staring over at King Ygdrassil gorging herself on desserts, "I suppose that makes them scramble to fortify their defenses."

"Precisely," Rei said. "But, if their plan does go right as well they will assume the enemy is incompetent, a most grievous sin," Rei said clenching his throne, breaking a huge chunk of hit and dropping the crumbled up pieces in front of him.

"I see," Cthulusmon observed. "So then what is the plan now? Just wait until the brats are old enough to be grabbed by Homeostasis and thrown to the Digital World to save it from you again?"

"Of course," Rei grinned. "But you'll be glad to know I took your suggestion and created a difficulty curve this time. And I am very curious to see the youngest one do battle."

"The youngest?"

"You should have seen her Cthulusmon," he said staring at him, but imagining the little girl Hikari was right there. "She positively gave me a fright!" he chuckled lightly. "Imagine Homeostasis having such a host as her. I imagine her digimon at a mega level could have destroyed anyone of you aside from the three of us."

"That is quite the threat," Cthulusmon agreed. "But if she is that threatening won't that make your plan to get your power back go all the more smoothly?"

"I don't know about that," he said nodding his head. "If she lives through all of this including the final test maybe one day she will be able to do it. Though I will admit not even the Sovereign are strong enough unless they were that savage beast again."

King Ygdrassil finished up scarfing her meal down, crumbs on her cheeks.

"Goodness," Cthulusmon said taking out a napkin from his pocket and wiping her face. "At least eat your meal properly."

"Heh heh," she chuckled. "But I have to eat and get stronger if I want to meet my sister again," she said her smile thinning.

Rei Kurenada got up and bent down rubbing her head, Ygdrassil enjoying it. "As long as you prove yourselves useful, you will get that chance to achieve your desires."

"Really?" Cthulusmon answered.

"Hmm?" Rei questioned looking at him.

"And just what do you mean by that Cthulusmon?" he said a bit condescendingly.

"Nothing my Lord. It's just, the more you speak about this child, the more I desire to devour it," he said smiling devilishly. "If she survives I'll have to have her over as an honored guest some time."

Rei snickered back. "We'll see. In the meanwhile," he said turning around, "I have no doubt the children will get the tags and crests we saw in the battle earlier. After each of the generals are destroyed the Digital World will slowly change thanks to the influence of Ygdrassill corrupting and infecting that world with viral data. If it gets to that point then the ultimate test will await them to see if they truly are worthy to break the seal."

"The ultimate test?" Cthulusmon wondered.

"What's that?" Ygdrassil also said curiously.

"A most cunning devil," Rei admitted. "An adversary worthy of a Digital Adventure..." he said snapping his fingers making a much more intimidating figure appear in a pressurized capsule filled with liquid. "...An unstable demon desiring the collapse of all things pure and good," he said placing his hand on the capsule. He smirked cherishing the thought of unleashing him. "The abomination of desolation and darkness.." he said staring at him intensely, the two of them a bit on edge.

"...Apocalymon!"