As she stood at the centre of the ritual circle, the Dark Lady, the corrupt counterpart of Kari Kamiya, remained with a calm, albeit impatient expression behind her mask as the Lichmon and Necromon around her did their work.
Glancing to the side, the ruler of the Dark Tribe briefly took in the sight of the golden orb which contained the Data particles of her Davis Motomiya, her beloved, thus causing Kari to suppress the joy she felt temporarily.
Finally, at long last, the plan to bring her beloved back was finally in motion, with Charonmon overseeing the transference of Mortismon's power from the Seal and placing it within the body of the other Davis, to prepare his form for her Davis to take over and become the God he was meant to be, to be worshipped and loved instead of being looked down upon by those lesser then he ever was.
Despite her success and being so close to achieving her goal after fifteen hundred years, however, the former Digidestined of Light knew that there was a possibility that victory could be snatched from her, especially with her counterpart leading the others and the other Tribes against her.
She knew how the Digidestined of Light thought, for they were one and the same, both fighting solely to save the one they loved, but unlike her counterpart, the Dark Lady had already experienced loss and sorrow, and she would even allow the world to burn if it meant bringing her Davis back.
DeathTactimon and his forces would buy her the time needed to complete the ritual and even if the so-called heroes managed to surpass past them, Wraithmon would stand in their way, using his very lifeforce to prevent anyone from entering her citadel, less her counterpart and her allies end the very same lifeforce that held their dear Eclipsemon together.
And should the heroes bypass all of her servants, then she would deal with them personally.
She wouldn't hold back against those who sought to interfere with her lover's return, she would unleash her full might upon any who opposed her.
However and despite her confidence, the Dark Lady knew she could not underestimate her foes, knowing that doing so would only bring about the ruin of everything she had worked so hard for.
Thus, and at the suggestion of one of her servants, she was preparing herself for this ritual, one that would make a copy of herself and bind it to the crystal floating before her, a Soul Shard, where her loyal servants would take it, along with the orb containing her Davis' Data to a safe haven where they could revive her in the event of her unlikely defeat so that she could start her plans anew.
"Are you certain this will work?" The fallen Digidestined of Light questioned as she eyed the Necromon leading the ritual, who turned to face the Dark Lady and gave her a respectful bow in reply.
"Yes, my Lady." The Necromon, who held a feminine quality within her voice, informed. "All we need to do now is imprint your echo within the Soul Shard. Should it be used, it will merely be as though you have just blinked your eyes. You will awaken in the shadow form with your memories as they are now, while the… damage your body is experiencing from your power will fade. You shall be allowed use of your full strength without any hindrance. Now, please close your eyes, Mistress, this will only take a moment."
Turning her gaze once more toward her Davis' orb and seeing the golden light within briefly intensify as if reacting to her presence, the Dark Lady faced the Soul Shard once more before closing her eyes and allowed her servants to perform the necessary ritual.
Yet despite allowing herself to be copied, Kari knew that in the end it was just a precaution as she remained confident in her belief she would not fail her beloved, she would succeed and they would finally be together once more.
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Opening her eyes once again, the Dark Lady blinked several times as she saw that the scenery around her had changed, that her throne room was now in tatters, while newer Digimon surrounded her, some of which she had never seen before.
Quickly looking herself over as she descended down to the floor below, the fallen Digidestined of Light saw that as told, her form was made entirely out of shadow, while the Soul Shard now rested upon her chest, the sight causing a small panic to fill the former leader of the Dark Tribe as the horrifying realization came into fruition.
The Soul Shard had been used, and thus the Dark Lady was brought back, meaning that she had been defeated, that she had failed.
Though she briefly felt some comfort as she found that, as promised, the pain she had felt ever since she took the power of the Void within her form was now gone, the dark counterpart of Kari Kamiya found her panic only growing as she landed upon the ground.
Though keeping a calm demeanour, the fallen Kamiya found herself shocked, not only to see the heroes and heroines she had battled many times in the past now standing before her, but to seeing many others now standing against her, this causing the Dark Lady to wonder how much time had passed since the Shard was created that more of the counterparts of her old friends had been summoned to Witchelny.
Having many questions on her mind, the Dark Lady then found her eyes landing upon one Digimon in particular, to see MagnaVeedramon standing before the rest of his allies, the sight of which only leaving the anxiety within the fallen Digidestined of Light to grow, for she knew that the Holy Knight Digimon standing before her meant only one thing.
Her hands clenching, the Dark Lady did her best to keep her emotions in check as the truth hit her like a ton of bricks, that the ritual had been stopped, that Davis had been freed and that her Davis had not ascended as she so desperately had desired, that she had failed him.
Meanwhile and despite feeling the immense darkness emanating from the being before them, Zetsubomon, GrandDominimon and the rest of those newer to Witchelny couldn't help but look between the Dark Lady and Lightbearer Ophanimon, each still unable to bring themselves to believe that the kind and caring Digidestined of Light they had known or had come to know and this dark entity were one and the same.
But looking upon their friends, Zetsubomon, GrandDominimon, KnightRosemon, BlitzKabuterimon and ArcaneRafflesimon could see MagnaVeedramon, Lightbearer Ophanimon, Samudramon and SacredPhoenixmon all tense up, each ready to move the moment their old foe would try to strike at them.
Behind them, ShaolinGargomon, KendoAntylamon and ArcaneAndromon watched as Medieval Gallantmon, MysticSakuyamon and even Jeri too tensed up and stood their ground, the seriousness within their eyes allowing the trio to know how seriously their friends took the situation presented before them.
Looking between CrimsonAldamon and GaleSilphymon, EclipseRhihimon and FrostKrigermon took note of the nervousness within their friends, a situation Thomas saw as he looked upon Marcus and Yoshi, this allowing the trio to truly grasp and understand how dangerous the situation now was, to their growing concerns.
Finally and with the rest of the team, Torikkusutumon, ShadowKitsunemon and ArcaneRevivemon looked upon their friends and saw the seriousness, along with the fear, within their eyes, this freaking out the fusion of Ariu and Opossumon as she looked upon ShaolinArresterdramon and found herself uncomfortable toward the to the growing seriousness within the fusion of Tagiru and Gumdramon's expression.
Behind the group, meanwhile, DarkKishimon, Ritchikuinmon and Kumichomon each took a defensive stance, ready to aid the heroes if necessary against the Dark Lady, while ignoring their own nervousness in the process.
Recovering from the shockwave, the Digimon of the Cult of the Fallen were in awe to see their great leader returned, most of them kneeling in the presence of the Dark Lady to show their reverence and devotion.
At the same time, an insane laughter filled the chamber as DarkShikyomon flew back down through the hole in the ceiling, where he prostrated himself before the Dark Lady and said with pure joy and devotion within his voice. "Great Mistress, we have brought you back in our time of need! The Dark Tribe has fallen to ruin without your divine leadership, ruled by the weak who have surrendered our might to the filth of the lesser tribes while invaders threaten to destroy the world that rightfully belongs to you! We, your followers, will aid you in reclaiming Witchelny and rule as you decree!"
Ignoring the Cult leader's ramblings, MagnaVeedramon and the rest of the original heroes and heroines took note of how the Dark Lady's eyes seemed to hold a small panic as they wandered around the room, as though searching for something, something those who saved Witchelny in the past knew all too well and knew what the fallen Digidestined's reaction would be to learning of its fate.
"My beloved… where... where is he?!" The Dark Lady then questioned, her voice distorted by her shadowy form.
Despite the darkness and calmness within her tone, a small sense of urgency could be sensed.
Though facing the Dark Lady, Zetsubomon and the rest of those newer to Witchelny could hear their friends tightening their grips around their weapons and found themselves preparing to brace for whatever was about to happen.
Remaining kneeling, DarkShikyomon turned and looked upon the heroes and heroines, a dark and maddening glee grew within his eyes as he drew a finger toward the group and informed the Dark Lady. "After your defeat, they shattered the orb, they ended him!"
What happened next happened so fast, the newer group of heroes and heroines nearly missed as quicker than they could blink, the Dark Lady reached out and grabbed DarkShikyomon by the back of his head and promptly crushed it, the sudden attack causing the Cult leader's body to explode in a mass of Data particles with his hastily demise.
The sudden and violent death of the dark mystic Digimon was then followed by something far worse as the Dark Lady expelled a loud, ear-shattering and inhuman scream, startling those newer to Witchelny as her power lashed out so violently throughout the area.
Fearful toward the Dark Lady's outburst, many of the cultist Digimon turned and attempted to flee, but too were destroyed by the dark energy as the room itself was ripped apart.
Standing before their friends, however, MagnaVeedramon and the rest of the original heroes and heroines remained steady as they extended their auras, protecting their friends and allies as their foes during the Dark Lady's onslaught.
Outside of the citadel, the fighting stopped as the high tower where the throne room was located exploded, the debris of the structure floating and cracking around the ruined chamber as all heard the Dark Lady and felt her power once again.
Protected by their barriers, the heroes and heroines, along with the Grandmasters, heard not only a pure and unrefined rage within the Dark Lady's scream, but pure and soul clenching agony as well within her wails.
Her power subsiding, the echo of the Dark Lady took a moment to catch her breath, which was ragged and filled with raw emotion, before she glared upon the heroes and heroines with nothing but pure hatred within her gaze.
"You thought I was cruel before?! You thought I was wicked?! I will show you all pain and suffer, I will make you beg for death before I burn this world to ashes! Then I will find your worlds and make everyone you ever loved suffer before they die screaming!" The fallen Kamiya declared with a dark vengeance within her tone, for she had nothing left but her pain now and she would make sure that the heroes, Witchelny and everything else in existence felt her anguish.
"Ok, that's it!" ArcaneAndromon then yelled in retaliation as he rushed past his friends and to strike at the Dark Lady, the sight causing MagnaVeedramon to panic as he called with a great sense of concern. "Kazu, wait!"
"Mana Sabers!" The fusion of Kazu and Gaurdromon declared with a greater might as his hands turned into energy blades, before he leaped into the air, brought his hands up and prepared to deliver a devastating strike upon the shadowy being before him.
However, and much to the shock of ArcaneAndromon, alongside the rest of those who had never faced the Dark Lady before, the shadowy being merely brought her left hand up and grabbed her attacker by his wrists, not only halting the arcane cyborg Digimon's attack, but also holding him up within the air as the Dark Lady demonstrated her sheer strength to those before her.
"Kazu?" The Dark Lady questioned as she tilted her head slightly and examined the Digimon fusion within her grasp, before she quickly grabbed ArcaneAndromon by his face and slammed him into the ground, creating a crater within the stone marble in the process.
Her grip still tightly around her enemy's head, the echo of the fallen Kamiya dragged ArcaneAndromon's body around in a circle, destroying more of the floor in the process, before the Dark Lady flung his body toward the heroes, who saw their friend's form flickering due to the intense levels of damage received.
"Heaven's Light!"
"Petal Cure!"
"Arcane Genesis!"
Acting quickly, Lightbearer Ophanimon and ArcaneRafflesimon rushed up and grabbed ArcaneAndromon, using their healing abilities, alongside ArcaneRevivemon and Jeri to quickly heal their friend, while the fusion of Kazu and Guardromon was certain that he witnessed his life flash before his eyes.
"Are you so desperate now that you need a worthless piece of shit to help you?" The Dark Lady inquired as she watched her counterpart and the other newer Digimon help ArcaneAndromon to his feet as Lightbearer Ophanimon and the rest of the older heroes and heroines merely glared at their old enemy.
"Ouch…" ArcaneAndromon found he could only say, his lack of words not only a reaction from the intense pain he just experienced, but from the harsh way this version of Kari described him.
Holding her right hand out, MagnaVeedramon, his friends and allies then watched as a shadowy wisp snaked its way around the Dark Lady's arm, forming her familiar dark energy scythe within her grasp as she swung it slightly, the dark purple energy of the blade glowing with intensity as its wielder narrowed her eyes upon her foes.
"It doesn't matter how many fools you bring with you, you will all die here! I have nothing left to lose, nothing to hold me back! No more games, so just die!" The fallen Kamiya screamed with a further fury as she quickly rushed forward with blinding speeds.
"Magna Sabers!" MagnaVeedramon bellowed as his wrist blades ignited in golden light, before the Digimon of Miracles quickly rushed forward and met the Dark Lady head on.
Using his weapons to block the fallen version of his beloved's blade as she swung her weapon down, the impact between MagnaVeedramon and the Dark Lady caused a small shockwave of energy to cackle around the pair, while the ground beneath the Holy Knight Digimon began to crack apart.
Despite the overwhelming power forced down upon him, MagnaVeedramon held his ground.
Having long since gotten used to the power held by the Dark Lady as he looked into her eyes, MagnaVeedramon could see the usual coldness now replaced with a dark and unbridled malice.
"What's wrong, MagnaVeedramon? Where is that fire, that determination to smite me down?" The echo of the Dark Lady wondered with a condescending tone of voice as she no longer saw the hatred the Holy Knight Digimon once held in his eyes toward her, only now MagnaVeedramon held empathy and pity, this further enraged the fallen Kamiya.
"Is that truly what you want from me? To hate and despise you?" The fusion of Davis and Veemon then questioned, the calmness within his soft and gentle voice reminding the Dark Lady briefly of her beloved.
But knowing this wasn't the man she loved, this angered the Dark Lady, who then expelled a rage filled cry as she pushed MagnaVeedramon back.
Skidding back a few feet, the Digimon of Miracles managed to stand his ground as he kept his blades at the ready.
"You are not him! You are a copy, a fake who took him from me!" The echo of the fallen Kamiya declared furiously as she floated within the air.
Clenching her left fist as dark energy formed around her hand, the ground beneath the Dark Lady continued to crack apart, before the very floors of the throne room were reduced to rubble and began to float around the area as the columns and pillars that once supported the room segmented and floated within the sky.
Though startled by the sudden change within their environment, those newer to Witchelny, alongside the Grandmasters, then watched with a further sense of awe as the original heroes and heroines sprang into action, with MagnaVeedramon and those who could fly making a beeline toward the Dark Lady, while Samudramon and the rest of the group used the broken pillars and debris to make their way toward the battle.
Leaping from one broken object to the other, Samudramon and his allies held a great look of determination within their eyes.
"Magna Saber!"
"Cross Slicer!"
"Blazing Sabers!"
"Noble Strike!"
Moving alongside MagnaVeedramon, Samudramon, CrimsonAldamon and Medieval Gallantmon swung their weaponry toward the Dark Lady, who dodged and parried their attacks with ease, while doing her best to strike down her enemies in the process.
"We were not amongst those who stopped you that day. I couldn't, even after everything you have done... I couldn't bare to harm my own sister." Samudramon confessed as his swords clashed with the blade of the Dark Lady.
"But now, if it means ending your pain, I'll do whatever it takes to end this!" He then announced with a fiery determination within his voice.
"You can try and you can fail, just like you always do, big brother!" The Dark Lady screamed in retaliation as she pushed Samudramon aside and attacked.
Bringing her left hand up and casting forth a series of streams of dark flames, each shaped like dragon heads, the dark inferno surged itself toward MagnaVeedramon, Samudramon, CrimsonAldamon and Medieval Gallantmon, each of whom moved to dodge the onslaught of powerful attacks.
"Divine Calling!"
"Sacred Flame!"
"Full Spirit Wave!"
"Arcane Twister!"
"Flaming Destruction!"
"Rose Blizzard!"
"Omni Force!"
"Inferno Spiral!"
"Ancient Blaze!"
"Ultimate Search Strike!"
"Golden Arrow!"
"Ballistic Barrage!"
Working together and assisting their friends, the rest of the original heroes and heroines unleashed their attacks upon the Dark Lady, who ended her assault upon MagnaVeedramon, Samudramon, CrimsonAldamon and Medieval Gallantmon.
Bringing her free hand down and in the direction of the oncoming attacks it was to the shock of those newer to Witchelny, that the attacks heading toward the Dark Lady suddenly came to a halt and all but faded into mere Data particles, a sight that reminded Zetsubomon, BlitzKabuterimon and ArcaneRafflesimon of the battle against Myotismon so many years ago.
But undeterred by this action and having already expected such an occurrence, ShogunOujamon quickly closed the distance and leapt into the air above the Dark Lady.
Her hands glowing with her familiar energy, the combination of Eri and Dokamon bellowed with a further might within their voice. "Palm Crusher!"
Having sensed the fusion of Eri and Dokamon nearby, the Dark Lady brought her scythe upward as to block the attack.
Anticipating ShogunOujamon to backdown, surprise overtook the fallen Kamiya as ShogunOujamon continued her assault.
Pushing the echo of the Dark Lady down to one of the floating stone blocks below, the corrupted version of Kari then pushed her foe aside with a growl of frustration.
"Nature's Wrath!"
"Spirit Ring!"
Working together, Yoshi and MysticSakuyamon unleashed their abilities upon the Dark Lady, with a series of vines emerging from the stone block as they wrapped around in an attempt to restrain the fallen Kamiya, while a dome of spirit energy formed around the Dark Lady as a further attempt to temporarily cut off her power.
"Do you fools really think this will hold…?!" The Dark Lady began to question with a condescending tone of voice, but stopped half way through her inquiry when her senses suddenly kicked in.
Turning her head upwards, she looked to see a massive circle of Digi-magic forming in the skies above her, one courtesy of Jeri.
Her eyes glowing with arcane magic, the brunette then expelled a great and mighty battle cry and brought her hands down in the direction of the Dark Lady, this causing a powerful blast of Digi-magic to be unleashed as it fired down upon the echo of the fallen Kamiya, while also striking the ground near those newer to Witchelny, who backed up a bit.
"Holy crap, Jeri!" ArcaneAndromon all but screamed in bewilderment as he and the others barely missed being struck down by Jeri's onslaught, many amongst the group now wondering if this was overkill on the brunette's part, until they saw more of their friends join in on the assault.
"Holy Strike!"
"Holy Judgement!"
"Rage of Wyvern!"
"Gaia Reactor!"
"Arcane Inferno!"
"Flaming Destruction!"
"Thunder Force!"
"Gaia Link!"
"Rhythmic Stream!"
Working alongside Jeri, MagnaVeedramon, Lightbearer Ophanimon, Medieval Gallantmon, Samudramon, CrimsonAldamon, Marcus, ShaolinArresterdramon, Sagemon and BardMusimon unleashed their assault upon the Dark Lady.
Despite the great might being unleashed by the group of heroes, those newer to Witchelny, alongside the Grandmasters remained shocked as a powerful blast of darkness shot straight through Jeri's attack.
Shattering the magic seal and dispelling the other attacks, the shockwave caused by the Dark Lady knocked Jeri aside and tumbled off of the floating pillar she had been standing upon.
Fortunately for Jeri, Medieval Gallantmon managed to catch her in time.
Placing Jeri down upon one of the floating stone slabs and away from the conflict, Medieval Gallantmon then turned as the Dark Lady rushed out of the smoke cloud created from the attack and charged toward the hazard Knight Digimon, her scythe ready to deliver a powerful strike.
"Phoenix Knuckle!" SacredPhoenixmon suddenly bellowed as she swung a series of flaming fists toward the Dark Lady.
Ceasing her attack against Medieval Gallantmon, the Dark Lady quickly forced herself to dodge the attack, before the corrupt Kamiya found herself once more on the defensive as the original heroes and heroines worked together in order to bring down their foe.
Meanwhile and from the council chambers of Mt. Brocken and from the throne room of the Dark Tribe's capital, the tribal leaders, Arcanadramon and the leaders of the Dark Tribe watched the battle with a continued sense of mixed reaction, both in awe to see the heroes of old once again battling Witchelny's ancient foe, but also nervous, for they knew that without the power of the ten Primordial Fragments, the heroes did not stand a chance in defeating the Dark Lady, this also left a few as to wonder why MagnaVeedramon had yet to use his Divine Mode against his foe.
At the same time, the newer heroes and heroines looked upon one another, knowing that, despite being afraid of the dark power they have witnessed so far, they had vowed to aid their friends against their foe.
Getting annoyed with the constant and pointless attacks from her foes, the Dark Lady expelled another scream of rage.
With the swing of her blade, the Dark Lady cast forth another shockwave that sent the original heroes and heroines flying backward with a pain filled cry.
Crashing into various forms of floating debris, but pulling themselves up, MagnaVeedramon and the others looked to see the Dark Lady's left hand once again in the air and gathered a tremendous force of dark energy within her palm.
"No more games, no more mercy, you all die here and now!" The Dark Lady screamed with a continued fury as she formed the darkness into a spherical form and cast forth her attack.
The fallen Kamiya remained eager, not only to destroy the heroes and heroines who stood before her, but to see everything around her destroyed in the process.
Nothing mattered anymore to the echo of the fallen Kamiya, there was only her rage, and all would suffer for it.
"Dark Celestial Rage!"
"Hyper Horn Buster!"
"Nature's Fury!"
"Seraph's Wing!"
"Gift of the Rose!"
"Tai Chi Strike!"
"Bunny Stars!"
"Arcane Blaster!"
"Shadow Spirit Burst!"
"Zero Force!"
"Full Moon Force!"
"Master Art: Final Cyclone!"
"Saver Blast!"
Hearing the list of attacks announced, the Dark Lady cancelled her attack and used the dark energy to form a barrier of dark energy around her being, deflecting each of the attacks in the process.
Removing the darkness around her, the fallen Digidestined of Light looked down upon the newer heroes and heroines with a dark malice in her eyes, seeing that though unnerved by her power, the group remained defiant as MagnaVeedramon and the rest of the original heroes and heroines moved to join their friends upon the central platform, the sight of which caused the Dark Lady to narrow her eyes.
"So, you all want to die together then? Very well, let's take this someplace more private!" The fallen Kamiya bellowed as she brought her hands up, which caused the heroes and heroines to scan the area and to see a circle of darkness quickly forming around their feet.
"Magna Shield!"
"Dynas Protection!"
"Spirit Ring!"
"Firewall!"
"Thunder Shield!"
"Arcana Protection!"
Working alongside Jeri, the heroes and heroines who had access to protective energies formed barriers around themselves and their friends just before the darkness could consume them.
Forming a sphere of shadows, before, and much to the shock of the Grandmasters, a pair of shadowy hands emerged and wrapped themselves around the sphere of darkness, before pulling it down into the circle and disappearing entirely.
When the darkness faded, DarkKishimon, Ritchikuinmon and Kumichomon were left in shock, not only to see the heroes and heroines had vanished, but to see the Dark Lady had vanished herself.
To the sight, the Grandmasters' concern continued to grow, not only for the heroes and their safety, but also for whatever fates the fallen Digidestined of Light had planned for them.
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Author's note: The Dark Lady has returned, and her vengeance has only begun. Will the heroes be able to stop her? Find out as the adventure continues, for this battle is far from over.
PS: This battle has been a long time coming, so don't expect it to end so quickly. Furthermore, if anyone feels DarkShikyomon was a wasted character, that was the point, he was a fool who died a fool's death, nothing more. Hope you all enjoy this chapter and see you for the next one.