GranDracmmon was still staring at his captives suspended above him. He noticed four purple glows forming. "Hmm?" In a flash of purple light three more crosses appeared each with a captive bound to it like all the rest. Himari, Rikka, and Hudiemon. "Oh, ho! What an exquisite little treat. A human, her Digimon partner and the half-human half-Digimon hybrid!"
Blanc gapped. "Hudiemon?! Himari?!"
Himari mumbled as she regained consciousness. "Mmmm... wha...?" She looked down at the clamps around her feet. "...Huh?" She tried to move but found her arms were immobilized and more traps held her by the hips and neck. "What?!"
Hudiemon grunted as she struggled. "What the hell...?!" She looked around. "Where...?! GranDracmon! You freak, let us go!"
"Freak? That's rich coming from a mutant like you."
"What is this?!" Himari asked struggling.
"Your timing is perfect actually. My guests here are still tapped out from us draining their energy." GranDracmon explained. "We'll just take some more from you while we wait." He looked at Rikka. "How convenient one of you is a holy Digimon. And I'm curious what will happen if we apply human energy to the mixture."
"What are you- Rikka didn't get to finish her sentence before the crosses she, Himari and Hudiemon were bound to started shocking them making the three scream.
"Stop! Stop it you madmon!" Ceil shouted.
GranDracmon laughed. 'Once Lord Lucemon gets a hold of this energy all we'll need is Beelzemon's DigiCore... then... the dark prophecy will finally be complete!'
Keisuke, Kiryu, Sayo and Koh along with their Digimon, Agunimon and Lobomon carefully proceeded down the halls. Kiryu checked his Digivice. "We're getting close." They entered a large circular room.
"You sure? Isn't this a dead end?" Koh asked looking around. "I don't see anything here."
"Let's not jump to conclusions. The way forward could be disguised again. Let's search this room. I'll conduct a scan."
As they looked around the area Agunimon looked at Kiryu. "Hey, Kiryu?"
"What is it?"
"I know this isn't the best time but... I want to apologize. When it comes down to it, we couldn't protect Subaru..."
Kiryu didn't look away from his Digivice. "...You're not the one who should be apologizing. I'm the one who left his side while you and Lobomon died trying to protect him."
"Perhaps." Lobomon said. "But the fact that we were there only shows that we had the chance to protect him and failed... we weren't strong enough..."
"Does trying and failing really make it your fault?" Sayo asked.
Kiryu looked at her. "What?"
"If you try your hardest then there's nothing more you can do. In which case, there's no sense in blaming yourself. If the best of your abilities isn't enough, then all you can do is become stronger. But blaming yourself isn't going to change anything. Your time is better used to take action."
Kiryu looked down. "...Yes. Yes, of course you're right. That is why I came to this world. Because I knew cursing my powerlessness would do nothing to save Subaru. That is why I must become stronger. Why I won't hesitate to dirty these hands. No matter what I will save Subaru from his endless nightmare."
"Kiryu... you really care about your brother." Keisuke said. "Even if it means selling your soul to the devil."
"My soul exists for one thing. Protecting the brother I failed. Even if he still hates me for failing him before... I'll keep him safe now."
Keisuke looked away. "You remind me of another brother I know who made a deal to save his sister."
"You mean Ryuji Mishima?"
"Yeah. He ended up doing some dark things to keep Erika alive."
"I see. I did hear that he was doing work for Kamishiro. I guess he ended up working with the darker side of it..."
"Rie Kishibe used him to do his dirty work." MetalSeadramon replied.
"Rie... Kishibe..." Kiryu asked. "I see... that's why Crusadermon is pledged with guilt."
Keisuke looked at him. "Wait, so you know that she used that woman's body?"
"Yes. And she told me that vile woman's twisted ambitions manipulated her. Soon her selfish desires took over Crusadermon and made her commit crimes against her will."
"What? You actually believe that crap?" PileVolcamon asked skeptically.
"Why not? We all know human emotions can influence Digimon. Crusadermon's intentions upon entering the human world were pure. She simply wanted to find a way to save this world from the Eaters. But then her mind was taken over because of the greed of one woman. Rie Kishibe is the one responsible for the crimes committed by her body. Crusadermon is just another one of her many victims."
"Kiryu..." Keisuke frowned.
"But right now... the one who must atone for her evil above all others... is Yuuko Kamishiro. The one who tried to conquer EDEN for herself and sacrificed countless upon doing so! Including one of yours! Chitoste was also a victim of that girl's schemes! How can you and Erika work with Yuuko, Nokia, and the Aibas after what they've done?! Don't you care about how much they made your friend and Hudie suffer because of that day?!"
"Of course I care! That's why Erika and I went through so much to save Chitoste!"
"What?!"
"You actually cured his EDEN Syndrome?!" BlitzGreymon asked. "How?!"
"It's... kind of complicated. And we couldn't have done it without Chitoste's Digimon."
"I see..." Kiryu's face saddened. "So even if you did share this secret, it wouldn't be able to save Subaru since his Digimon were devoured with him... Damn."
"But anyway, that's how we were able to save him! By focusing on helping our friends instead of lashing out on others! Kiryu, when I see you, I see what became of Ryuji after Under Zero. He became fixated on destroying all the hacker teams. He lost his mind."
"I heard about that." Kiryu replied. "And I applaud him for it. I was honestly thinking of going after Yuugo and Zaxon myself and deliver the witch that painful end I promised. But after hearing about Ryuji going after Zaxon, I decided that I could let him deal with it while I attacked the other fraction of Subaru's tormentors."
"What fraction?" Takuto asked.
"The filthy beasts that devoured his brother." CresGarurumon snarled. "The Eaters. Their crimes could not go unpunished either."
"So when we learned that it was not just Digimon appearing in the human world but Eaters as well, Kiryu knew what we must do." BlitzGreymon said.
Kiryu's eyes excited with hatred as he clenched his fist. "We had to destroy them. All of the Eaters! Down to the very last one!" Everyone shuddered at his violent reaction. "...But in the end, we just wasted our time. It did not change anything. In the end it was the rebooted reality that erased them."
"Thanks to Takumi and Ami nearly sacrificing themselves." Takuto said.
"Nearly" you say? Feh. So, they evaded judgment by the skin of their teeth."
"What? Come on!" Keisuke glared. "They were close to being EDEN Syndrome victims forever!"
"Not close enough."
"Kiryu, why are you so hard on them?! They fixed their mistake!"
"And yet the scars of it still remain on my brother! Besides, cleaning up your own mess hardly makes you a saint!"
"For the last time, they didn't mean for that to happen! How can you not understand that!?"
"A crime committed by accident is still a crime. And the effects of this one were catastrophic. What I don't understand is how you can just brush aside the pain and suffering they caused so easily? How can you be so forgiving over it?"
Keisuke's eyes glazed to the side. "...After I learned about the EDEN Demo event and the role that the Chosen Ones played in everything, I asked myself...what would I have done if I was one of them? My first instinct was to think that I wouldn't have opened the gate in EDEN and brought in the Eaters... but it occurred that I only thought that because I know what opening the gate led to... If I was in Takumi and Ami's position and saw that light... I don't know what I'd do. Especially if I was a kid. It's just like you said Kiryu. The young make naïve choices. So, who's to say I wouldn't have made the same mistake." Kiryu went silent staring at him. "Heck ask yourself. Can you be really sure you wouldn't have done that if you were a kid back there? What about Subaru? What would you think if it was him?" Keisuke looked at Kiryu's sharp glare and shuddered. "Okay, yeah, that was low, but come on! He chose to go to Under Zero even though you told him not to! Can you prove he wouldn't have done the same thing by accident not knowing what would happen?"
Kiryu's glare faded as he looked back at his Digivice. "The scan is complete. It looks like..."
"I'm not seeing anything here guys." Koh said.
"Me neither." Sayo added walking beside him.
Kiryu looked to his left at the two then looked back at the monitor showing what was in the room. "Stay where you are!"
"Huh?" Koh looked at him as he put his foot down. A circular part of the floor glowed blue. "Whoa!"
"Koh!" Sayo grabbed Koh's hand as the floor disappeared right under him. She shrieked as the sudden weight pulled her arm down and she started to fall into the hole with him.
"Freeze Frame!" Kiryu snapped his fingers at Sayo as he sprinted towards her, and she froze in place while tripping.
Koh gasped as he suddenly stopped by something pulling his wrist. He looked up and saw Sayo holding his hand while frozen like a statue. "...Sayo?" Suddenly she unfroze and Koh yelped as they started to fall deeper into the hole. Then they were stopped again this time by Kiryu kneeling at the edge of the hole holding Sayo by the wrist.
Sayo looked up at the man that saved them. "Kiryu...!"
"Hold on...!" Kiryu roared as he lifted both of the young Tamers out of the hole.
"Sayo! Koh!" Keisuke shouted as he and Takuto ran over.
"Nice save!" Takuto said as Kiryu put the duo down on the floor next to them. They were left on their knees recovering from their jolt. "Are you two okay?"
Y-yeah..." Koh replied.
"Agh..." Sayo groaned. "For a second I thought my arms were gonna pop out... thanks Kiryu."
Kiryu stood up. "Be more careful. This is enemy territory."
"Uh...right." Koh stared at him.
Keisuke looked at the hacker. "I've been meaning to ask... what is that snapping power you have?"
"Snapping power?"
"You know, how whenever you snap your fingers either somebody stops in place or one of your Digimon teleports!"
"I don't believe you had that power in the previous reality." Agunimon said.
Kiryu glanced away from them. "...I received this from Lord Leopardmon. It's a program created by the late King Drasil, who tainted it so Digimon can't use it...and it's not teleportation. It's altering a Digimon's flow of time in this world."
"The flow of...time?" Takuto asked. "Is that even possible?"
"Well, is it was King Dasil who created it and he was accentually God here." Keisuke replied. "So, it's not that big a stretch, is it?"
"This program targets Digimon and hacks their flow of time in the Digital World." Kiryu said. "It can either stop their time flow keeping them still or accelerate it to allowing them to move faster than everything else around them. As you saw, however it only works for a few seconds. Think of it like pausing an animation or skipping ahead in it."
"Time manipulation..." Koh murmured. "That's crazy. There's no way to fight back against that!"
"I thought that as well." Kiryu said. "However... when I tried to use it on Takumi's X-Antibody Digimon I couldn't stop his time..."
"It didn't work on him?" Sayo asked. "How?"
"Given the situation... I assume either it doesn't work on a Digimon who can overpower it, or this "Matrix Link" cancels it out."
"I see..."
Takuto chuckled. "What's so funny?" Kiryu asked.
"For someone who insisted we're enemies you sure seem to have warmed up to this group really fast. Telling us your secrets, saving Koh and Sayo's lives..."
"Hmph. Don't get it twisted. The enemy forces are unpredictable. Keeping you around as backup could be what secures my victory." He checked his Digivice again and started walking towards a wall.
"Doesn't explain why you told us about your secret weapon." Takuto whispered with a grin before muttering to Keisuke. "He's probably one of those wannabe cool loner types who cares more for people then they want to admit."
Keisuke chuckled. "I know the type."
Kiryu stood in front of a wall and looked at his Digivice again. "Here it is. CresGarurumon!"
One of his Digimon spun his spear and slammed it into the wall tearing it down. Behind it was another pathway. "Sneaky." Dianamon said.
"This is getting annoying." Nova sighed. "How do these guys get around their own place with all these traps and hidden passageways?"
"If they can get around, so can we." Kiryu replied. "Come on." Just as they were about to enter the doorway the room went dark. "What?"
"Another trap?!" Storm gasped.
A laughing voice echoed. "GranDracmon..." Keisuke growled.
"You seem to have little trouble scurrying through my hideout like the rats you are. But I'm afraid I'm too busy right now to deal with you myself. Please accept this as entertainment in my place."
One by one Ghoulmon appeared around the team. "Those Digimon...!" BlitzGreymon gasped.
"They're residents of the Dark Area!" CresGarurumon exclaimed. "How did they get here after the seal was put up!?"
"Lucemon must have brought them over with him when he joined the Next Order." Kiryu growled. "What a nuisance."
Sayo and Koh stepped in front of the others. "Sayo? Koh?" Takuto looked at their backs. "What are you doing?"
"Covering your backs." Koh replied.
"You guys go on ahead, we'll Handel this!" Sayo said. "It sounds like that creep is up to something and we can't let him finish it!" As the Ghoulmon rushed towards them Dianamon and Apollomon charged.
"But-
"Don't worry about us Keisuke!" Koh grinned. "We're Union City's strongest Tamers! We got this!"
"Yeah, besides, I took down the Chrono!" Sayo added. "A few gremlins like these won't be a problem! Now get going already!"
Kiryu put a hand on Keisuke's shoulder. "If their minds are set on buying us time to complete our mission, then I say we use it wisely. Let's go."
"What he said!" Koh said amidst the battle Apollomon and Dianamon engaged in. "We'll catch up with you once we're done here!"
Takuto gritted his teeth. "...Alright, but you guys better be right behind us!" He, Kiryu and Keisuke ran on ahead.
Fei was standing on a rooftop looking at the sky. She sighed to herself. "...Why does it feel like that cursed day keeps coming back to haunt us..."
"Fei?"
The girl looked behind her surprised at who came to greet her. "Y-Yuugo? What brings you here?"
"I've been looking for you."
"How did you know I was here?"
"I put malware on your Digivice remember?"
"Oh, right... Wait have you been keeping track of where I am all this time?!"
"Wha- No! It's not like I don't trust you, I honestly forgot all about it until just now!"
"O-oh, right." Fei flustered replied. "I had a feeling it wasn't about trust..." Fei thought to herself. 'But for a moment I thought he was stalkin' me or somethin' ...Not that I'd find that too terrible.'
Yuugo brought a hand over his face. 'Smooth start Yuugo. Ugh, why is this so hard? Maybe I should try talking to her the way Yuuko would?' After gathering his thoughts Yuugo continued the conversation. "So... are you feeling alright Fei?"
"Huh? Why wouldn't I be?"
"I just thought you might be... conflicted. With this issue with Kiryu."
"Eh, I think if anything it's your sister who you should be worried over. She was the boss. I imagine this is harder for her to swallow then anyone."
"Takumi said he'd check in on her."
"Of course he did..."
"What about you? Kiryu was one of your allies too, wasn't he? Don't you feel conflicted about fighting him?"
Fei turned back around. "...The punk kidnapped me, brainwashed me into doing terrible things and is declaring war on Yuuko... and you. He's no friend of mine... and yet... I can't help but wonder..."
"Fei?"
"When I came back to my senses I promised I'd make Brother Sorrow suffer for what he did to me... now that I know who he is and why he hates us, I'm startin' to think that maybe I already did that to him."
"Fei...You and Yuuko didn't know that would happen. Neither did Subaru. That's why he chose to go with you through his own free will."
"Maybe he did choose..." Fei said. "But maybe he wouldn't have if a certain selfish someone didn't nudge him towards that path."
"What do you mean?"
Fei sighed lowering her gaze. "One time... while Subaru was reporting to me while Kiryu was out on a mission..."
"...and that concludes my report."
"Appreciate it kid. Keep us updated."
Subaru nodded. "I will. I better get going though. Brother told me not to be late getting home."
"Did he now?" Fei asked. "What's that guy's deal anyway?"
"Deal?"
"Yeah, I mean he clearly acts like he's in charge of you. You should stand up to him sometimes."
"But why? He only wants what's best for me."
"Does he now? And since when did he decide what's best for you? You're your own person Subaru. You should know what's best for you better then anyone."
"You really think so?"
"I know so kid. Don't let big bro push you around your entire life. Make your own choices."
Yuugo stared at Fei whose fists were clenched. "Oh Fei..."
"The hell was I thinking? I shouldn't have encouraged the kid like that! And who the hell was I to tell him of making his own choices? I followed Yuuko's every order up to this point..."
"Is that really a bad thing?" Yuugo asked walking up to Fei.
"Well no, I-
"You simply believed in Yuuko. That's why you put such faith in her. But Fei... not everyone has equal faith. Nor do they all hold the same value in the people you do."
"I know that now Yuugo. It's just... First Ryuji and his team, now Kiryu and Subaru. I feel like our actions from that day keep coming back to haunt us. I ask myself... if I didn't say that to Subaru... would he have left with his brother? Would Kiryu not have become Brother Sorrow? Could I have... stopped this from happening?"
Yuugo stood next to Fei overlooking the city. "I know what you mean. Do you know how much Takumi and Ami think about what happened in this world eight years ago? If it wasn't for what us six did that day, this war wouldn't even be happening right now."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. But that's why they won't give up. Why we can't give up. If we feel responsible for what happened, we have to do everything within our power to fix it. It's the same with Yuuko. She wants to help Kiryu because she believes it's her fault he's hurting so much right now. So, she'll do whatever it takes to save him. Fei... if you feel responsible for what happened to Kiryu and Subaru, then let's think of a way to make things right and help her get through to him."
Fei turned to Yuugo. "You'll help to...?"
Yuugo smiled. "I'm a part of the problem. If I stepped in to stop the Eaters in Under Zero sooner, maybe I could have saved Subaru."
"Yuugo…"
Yuugo smiled and held his fist towards Fei. "So, let's save Kiryu from the path we set him on for his and his brother's sake. Together."
Fei smiled as she bumped his fist with hers. "Yeah. We'll get through to that blockhead yet."
Kiryu led Keisuke and Takuto down a hall and towards a purple door with what looked like red devil wings. Kiryu checked the pink marker on his Digivice. "Himari's just behind this door."
"Then let's get in there and save her!" Takuto said.
"Hmm. Judging by the Ghoulmon GranDracmon sent at us, I think it's safe to say he knows we're here. Swift and decisive action may be our best bet."
"Sounds like a plan." Keisuke punched his palm. "We'll save Erika and teach that leach a lesson in one go."
Kiryu looked at him. "You're certainly eager to save the girl."
"Let's just say Hudie is my own family I swore to look after."
"You're not the only one with a family on the line." Agunimon said. "The Legendary Warriors are our family. And we cannot let them down."
"I see." Kiryu briefly closed his eyes. "In that case... CresGarurumon, kindly knock on the door so we can get in."
"I thought you'd never ask."
"Nova, back the big guy up." Takuto said.
"With pleasure. Back away from the doors guys." Nova and CresGarurumon backed up as the others cleared their path. Then the duo rushed at the door. "War Driver!"
"Fury: Ice Moon Fang!" They charged into the door smashing their weapons into it and the double doors flew off their hinges. Starting with Keisuke the others walked in.
They started looking around. "It's pitch black in here." Takuto said as they moved forward.
Kiryu's eyes stayed on his Digivice and stopped holding his arm out. "Wait." Everyone stared at him. As he looked up the others lifted their heads to see a shocking sight.
Keisuke gasped. "Erika!"
"Himari!" Takuto looked up and saw Himari, Rikka, Hudiemon, the two Sistermon and the remaining Legendary Warriors all bound to crosses floating above them. "Himari, are you okay?!" The girl was seemingly unconscious.
"Erika, say something!" Keisuke shouted.
The half-human half-Digimon mumbled before opening her eyes. "Uh…Keisuke…?"
Kumamon looked down. "Agunimon! Lobomon!"
"Keisuke and Takuto are here too!" Grumblemon exclaimed.
"I can see that." Arbormon said gazing at Kiryu. "But who's that other human with him?"
"Brother! Everyone!" Lobomon shouted.
"They were all captured?!" Agunimon gasped.
"Wait… isn't that Brother Sorrow?!" Mercurymon asked looking at Kiryu. "What's he doing here?!"
Keisuke turned to one of his Digimon. "Get them down from there TyrantKabuterimon!"
"On it!" TyrantKabuterimon flew up towards the crosses. But as he got close, he bounced off a purple flash. "Ow! What the hell?!" He looked up and saw a purple barrier crackle before fading.
"What was that?!" Takuto asked.
Kiryu closed his eyes. "I knew it. There's no way in hell he'd leave his prisoners unprotected." He looked to the side. "I know you're here. Show yourself GranDracmon."
The group heard laughter then saw a red orb of mist appear. GranDracmon slowly emerged from it. "It seems the traps we laid out were not enough to stop you rats. I thought it would be enough to stop any Resistance snoops… but I did not expect to see you here helping them, Brother Sorrow. Don't tell me you mean to betray the Next Order."
"First of all, my name is Kiryu Tenjo. I have no need for that charade any longer. Secondly my orders were to not engage the Resistance and focus on hunting you down. It is you and Lucemon who have betrayed the Next Order. I will give you one chance to come quietly and attempt to justify your actions to his majesty."
GranDracmon laughed. "Me? Justify myself? To a usurper? What a joke. I have but one master. And that is he who will fulfill the Dark Prophecy! Soon the Next Order and this entire Digital World will be under the heel of the Super Deadly Digimon!"
Kiryu brushed his bangs out of his eyes. "Then you have chosen death." He held his hand towards the Digimon. "BlitzGreymon! CresGarurumon!"
"Roger!" The two Digimon charged at GranDracmon who just stood there grinning. BlitzGreymon threw a punch and CresGarurumon thrusted his spear. Just when they were inches away two giant Digimon appeared in front of GranDracmon and blocked their attacks. One was a red and black goliath with wings, blond hair, yellow eyes and a horned mask. The other was white and blue, also with yellow eyes and hair a red mask and two heads with mouths on his shoulders.
The red one threw CresGarurumon by the spear and the white one punched BlitzGreymon. Both were knocked back to Kiryu's side. Keisuke looked at the large one. "You're the one from before!"
The Digimon laughed. "We meet again little human. How fortunate that I have the chance to settle things with you…"
"This is the human who slew you in the last reality?" the other one asked. "Pathetic. You're slipping VenomMyotismon."
"Shut it MaloMyotismon. He got lucky last time. Today I will obliterate this welp and prove my worth to our lord."
"Hmph. Do as you please. Just don't get in my way."
"If you two are done bickering we have pests to deal with." GranDracmon said. "We have a surplus of batteries to provide energy for our plans. We can dispose of the rest of this garbage."
"It seems we have no choice but to fight." Kiryu said. "Keisuke, you defeated VenomMyotismon before. I trust you can do so again?"
"Uh, yeah. Leave it to me."
"Good. I will take GranDracmon. Takuto, you take MaloMyotismon."
"You got it!" Takuto said pressing his Digivice. "Nova! Storm! Let's go all out! Extra Xross Evolution!"
MaloMyotismon watched as Nova and Storm combined into Omni. "The Omegamon of the other world…interesting. I shall enjoy this."
GrandDracmon teleported in front of Kiryu. BlitzGreymon and CresGarurumon stood ready to guard him. "Brother Sorrow… the Next Order's secret weapon armed with forbidden programs. This will be interesting."
"I have no interest in your games." Kiryu said. "I am here on a mission given to me. And I will fulfil it by any means necessary. Are you prepared to face judgment?"
VenomMyotismon approached Keisuke. "I am far stronger than I was last time. This time… it is you who shall disappear!"
"Hate me all you want. But I will protect Erika and all of my friends from you!"
Agunimon whispered to Lobomon. "While the humans keep those three distracted, we can rescue the others."
"Right."
Lobomon and Agunimon ran towards their trapped friends when Loweemon saw red sparkles in the darkness behind them. "Brother! Agunimon! Behind you!"
Lobomon looked at the red light behind him, grabbed Agunimon and rolled out of the way. Kiryu noticed red lasers fire past them. "Agunimon! Lobomon!"
"Who's there!?" Omni asked.
A Digimon with long blond hair and black armor covered in red eyes stepped out of the shadows. "That's… Duskmon!" Agunimon gasped.
"Friend of yours?" Keisuke asked.
"Us Legendary Warriors defeated him before…" Lobomon said standing up.
"That jerk!" Ranemon scowled. "He's working with this creeper now?"
"Of course." Duskmon said as thin red blades emerged from his hands. "To avenge the insult you children inflicted upon my pride. I will enjoy watching you suffer."
"Tch! Can we beat him with just us?" Lobomon asked. "It took all ten of us last time…"
"We have no choice!" Agunimon got into a fighting pose.
"Well then…" GranDracmon cracked his knuckles. "Shall we play?"
"Venom Infusion!" VenomMyotismon fired red lasers from his eyes at Keisuke's party who scattered.
"Screaming Darkness!" The two mouths on MaloMyotismon's shoulders fired black orbs at Omni. He blocked the first with the Brave Sheild on his shoulder then slashed the other with his Grey Sword. He charged at MaloMyotismon who dodged the sword swing. "Chaos Crusher!" His hands glowed red as he sent Omni skyward. "Crimson Mist!" As Omni came down his fired red lasers from the extra heads.
"Hell Crusher!" GranDracmon summoned black energy at Kiryu's Digimon who dodged.
CresGarurumon rushed at him head on. "Beast Cyclone!"
GranDracmon blocked the beast Digimon with his hands then threw him aside. He noticed BlitzGreymon was right behind him. "That old trick?"
"Plasma Stake!"
GranDracmon held up his hand and blocked the attack with a barrier. 'Hmph. A Data Type like CresGarurumon won't be able to scratch me anyway. BlitzGreymnon is the only one I need to worry about.' "Nightmare!"
"Elect Guard!" BlitzGreymon blocked the attack.
CresGarurumon dashed past GranDracmon slashing his face. "Hmm?" GranDracmon examined the cut. "How could a Data Type…" He stared at CresGarurumon as he landed on his feet. "Ah. I see. Bug status." He looked at Kiryu. "You swapped his resistance and strengths. Clever. However…" The cut patched itself up.
"He regenerates?" Kiryu scowled. "How annoying."
"Zwei Sieger!" Lobomon rushed towards Duskmon.
"Lunar Plasma!" Duskmon's blades clashed with Lobomon's weapons repeatedly. The darker Digimon kicked Lobomon in the legs, tripping him.
"Pyro Darts!" Agunimon threw embers at him.
"Ghost Move." Duskemon teleported behind Agunimon and shoulder charged him into Lobomon as he tried to get up. "Death Gaze!" Lobomon and Agunimon rolled away as the eyes on Duskmon's body fired lasers.
VenomMyotismon swatted PileVolcamon when he jumped at him. "River of Power!" MetalSeadramon fired a blue beam into his head making him stumble back.
"He really is stronger than last time." TyrantKabuterimon said.
"So are we!" Keisuke said. "And we have to do this! To save our friends!"
"Supreme Cannon!" Omni fired at MaloMyotismon who tried to block the attack but was pushed back.
"Not bad." MaloMyotismon said. "I can see why the Next Order struggles with you humans. But I will not lose!"
"Crystal Revolution!" GranDracmon summoned a giant blue crystal and threw it at Kiryu's Digimon.
"Skip Frame!" Kiryu snapped his fingers and both his Digimon appeared on the other side of it and in front of their target.
"Eye of Gorgan!" Red light flashed under GranDracmon's mask and both of Kiryu's Digimon froze in place. "Gotchya!" He reeled his fist back to throw a punch.
"Freeze Frame!" Kiryu snapped his fingers again and GranDracmon was frozen as well. All three Digimon were as still as statues. BlitzGreymon and CresGarurumon started moving first. They looked at GranDracmom just before he resumed moving and backed away from his attack. "Two can play that game. It seems even you are not immune to the forbidden programs."
"Hmph. Cheap tricks will not save you from me!"
Kiryu heard a shout and looked behind him. Lobomon was hurting on one knee holding his shoulder. "Pyro Tornado!" Agunimon spun towards Duskmon.
"Brute Strike!" Duskmon knocked Agunimon out of his attack and he landed on the ground next to Lobomon. "This is the end." Duskmon charged at the downed Digimon with his swords ready.
"Agunimon! Lobomon!" Kazemon shouted.
Kiryu growled and ran towards Duskmon. "Freeze Frame!" He snapped his fingers and Duskmon halted. "Move!"
By the time Duskmon finished his attack his targets were out of his reach. He turned around and glared at Kiryu. "You pest!" Duskmon jumped at the human and swung his sword at Kiryu who rolled out of the way.
"Kiryu!" CresGarurumon gasped as he and BlitzGreymon went towards their partner.
"Hell Crusher!" GranDracmon struck both from behind. "Fools! Don't turn your back on your opponent!"
Kiryu jumped back dodging a downward swing. "Freeze Frame!" Kiryu paused him again to evade another swing.
Once he started moving again Duskmon glared at the man. "Ghost Move."
After watching him vanish in red, Kiryu turned around to see the Digimon behind him in the process of bringing his blade down towards him.
"Pyro Punch!"
"Howling Laser!" Lobomon and Agunimon shot Duskmon in the back making him stumble. "Stay away from Kiryu!"
"I won't let you hurt Subaru's brother!" Agunimon glared.
Kiryu looked at them in surprise. "You…"
As the battle raged on below her Himari slowly started to stir from the floating cross she was bound to. "Uhhh… wha…?" She looked below and saw Takuto and his Digimon fighting MaloMyotismon. "Takuto!" Himari tried once again to pull free, but she was still trapped.
"Don't worry Himari!" Sistermon Ceil said. "I'm sure the boys will beat those jerks and get us out of this fix in no time!"
"Yeah…" Himari stared at Takuto. "…Takuto will save us… just as he and Shiki always do…" Himari had rapid flashbacks of her two sibling friends. How she met them. How they saved her Partner from the BH Program… how she watched them save their Digital World… how they saved her from BoltBoutamon's grasp… Himari's face saddened at the thought…
"You're on of the best Tamers I know."
Himari gritted her teeth. "No. That's just pathetic!"
Blanc looked at her. "Huh?"
"How many times am I just going to sit back and watch as Takuto and Shiki save me or the world like some kind of…damsel in distress! Takuto told me he believes in me… so I…" Himari clenched her fists. "I need to answer that faith!" Himari's Digivice glowed.
Rikka weakly turned to her partner. "Him…ari…?" She stared at her partner's Digivice.
"Rikka! We have the X-Antibody! Let's prove that Mirie was right to give it to us! Let's stop watching helplessly from the sidelines and take action! For everyone!"
"Okay… I'm with you! Now and forever!"
The glow of the Digivice grew stronger and enveloped Himari and those imprisoned with her. The crosses they were bound to disappeared. VenomMyotismon turned around when he heard thumping onto the ground. "What was that?"
GranDracmon looked at Himari as she stood with her Digimon by her side. Hudiemon, the Sistermon and the Legendary Warriors were on the floor behind him. GranDracmon looked at the glowing Digivice. "What?! Impossible! I drained them of their energy!"
Takuto stared in awe. "Himari… you…!"
Kiryu's gaze narrowed. "This is just like what Kouta did when I fought him earlier…"
Himari held up her glowing Digivice. "I can defend myself! Defend my friends! Together with my partner!" On the Digivice, the words X-Evolution with a giant red X and an image of Rikka and Himari. Himari put her hand over it. "Rikka!" X-Evolution!" Rikka roared as a shell of light becoming a white egg formed around her body. Her body became longer as from her belly white spread across her fur on the frontside. The rest of it became a darker shade of pink. Her wings grew in size, then her black horns extended. Her head and mouth changed shape and a white fur mail appeared around her neck with a black trim. The shell burst revealing a Magnadramon X.
"The X-Antibody!?" GranDracmon gasped.
Takuto smiled. "I knew it."
Himari stepped forward. "GranDracmon… you won't stop me from protecting the ones that matter to me! Rikka! Let's show this jerk what we can really do!"
"Yes Himari! Together we can do it!"
Haven't forgotten my promise to do more with the Next Order characters. Next chapter it's Himari and Rikka's time to shine. Literally.