The dragon's roar
Forest of familiars
The forest of familiars, home to innumerable beasts. One such beast, a manticore, made its way back to its lair as it carried a fresh kill. While prey was abundant, it was still an effort to catch enough to stay fed.
As it continued on its way, its ears perked up as it sensed something, something wrong. Soon, the air ahead rippled as reality began to contort, and a tear in reality formed. Soon, the manticore watched in fear as a fearsome creature stepped through, roaring with untold ferocity as it glared at the much smaller manticore with furious red eyes. It dropped the prey it was carrying, and prepared for battle.
That night, the manticore's nest would remain empty.
•••
Occult research clubhouse, Thursday
A week had passed since the mission to rescue Asia during which she and Kanji were registered as members of the Occult Research club. Asia had been eased into her new life, and although saddened at being unable to pray to God, she quickly was overjoyed to live alongside Issei, with his parents happily welcoming her. It wasn't long before things began settling down. Although that would not last long.
"I still can't believe those weirdos hooked up together. Do you really think that'll last?"
"Look Impmon, I find it just as weird, but I don't want to rain on their parade."
Issei and Impmon were discussing a bizarre job they had the previous day, where they helped bring together a couple who shared a unique interest in each other's culture.
"I'm just saying, their interest seems superficial to me. Hopefully the next job Rias has for you isn't so weird… who am kidding its always weirdos."
They entered the main room, and found Kanji, Rias, and the rest of Rias's peerage waiting for them. What was quite a surprise, however, was the presence of Sona Shitori, the student council president, alongside her secretary Genshiro Saji, and Pulsemon sitting right in front of them.
"Oh, Sona Senpai! Um… so we can explain!"
Rias raised her hand to calm Issei. "It's okay. I told her everything already. After all, she is also a devil like me."
Sona stood up and made a small bow. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. My real identity is Sona Sitri, heiress of the Sitri clan."
"She's also a childhood friend of mine, so you can trust her."
Sona came over to Impmon and crouched down to have a closer look at him. "Hmm, this one is kinda cute, but not as cute as Kanji's." Pulsemon couldn't help but feel nice about the compliment, while Impmon was visibly angered by her statement.
"Hey, I'm not cute, I'm a terrifying badass! If I had all my power, I'd teach ya a lesson!" His bravado, however, only resulted in Sona and Rias chuckling in response.
After Sona returned to her seat, and Issei took his, Kanji cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "So now that Issei's here, we can get to the topic at hand. Sona, would you care to explain?"
"Well, the reason I have come here is due to a small disagreement with Rias here. You see, she had planned to take her peerage to obtain familiars for you and Asia, but I wish to do the same for mine. We can't exactly both go as that may cause issues."
Kanji confidently crossed his arms. "Luckily I thought of a good solution for this, one that's better than you guys duking it out."
He held out his digivice, once again displaying the hologram of the digital world that he previously showed them. "If you let Rias and her peerage go, then you and one of your servants can come with us on our trip to the Digital World."
His proposal took everyone by surprise, especially Issei. "Wait, you're taking us to the digital world?! For what reason?"
"That's because after the incident with Raynare, I sent a report to the CPA council about the events, and they finally responded yesterday. They want us to deliver the fallen angels for questioning, get you three registered in our tamer registry, and hopefully find Nummy." At the mention of Nummy, Asia couldn't help but look down at her digivice with sadness.
"Wait, but how would that be possible? We saw what happened."
"Remember when I said that a digi-egg is both the beginning and the end for a digimon? When a digimon dies, its data and memory is returned to the digital world, where it forms a new egg, allowing a digimon to be reborn with a fresh start. However, apparently when Nummy died, they held onto a wish to reunite with Asia, which is why a digivice was created. At least, that's what they told me."
Upon hearing that, Asia smiled as she clasped her hands over her digivice. "So Nummy is still out there?!"
"Yes, although there's no telling what they reincarnated as."
Issei, thinking over what was said, realized a detail he missed. "Wait, you said you wanted to register three of us, but only Asia and I have digivices."
Rias chuckled. "Are you sure about that?" She then took out of her pocket a red Digivice. "Just this morning, I found this just after finding Gigimon had digivolved again."
"Woah, you too?! Wait, so what did Gigimon become?"
Just then, the kitchen door as a red dinosaur close to Issei's height walked out. "Rias, I think I ate all the snacks."
"That's not a problem, we were going to buy more anyway. Come over here." He then came over and stood by her side. "Issei, allow me to properly introduce you to Guilmon." From where Guilmon stood, Issei noticed a bizarre symbol on Guilmon's torso that appeared similar to a biohazard symbol.
"What is that mark on him?"
"That was something I was discussing with Rias." Kanji pulled up a photo of a stone slab depicting the same symbol. "I've seen this before, but I don't know much about it, hopefully the council will know more."
Sona quickly cleared her throat, bringing everyone's attention to her. "This is interesting and all, but I'd like a good reason why accompanying you will benefit me."
Kanji held his chin as he considered her words. "Well, from what I understand, you and Rias need to show accomplishments if you want to rise up in devil society. Well, I'd say it would be quite an accomplishment if you two help with establishing relations with a new faction, wouldn't you agree? As a bonus we can even see if you have the potential to be tamers as well."
"Hmm, interesting. Let me discuss this with Saji before we come to an agreement." She then took Saji into the kitchen to discuss the decision in private.
Everyone then looked at Kanji, surprised that he made such an offer. "Okay before you say anything, I can't get credit for this idea, the council suggested it to me. Said they'd like it if I brought another representative of the devils. Just so happened I just got the perfect opportunity to rope one in. By the way, mind lending me your phone Issei? Kowloon gave me the all clear the download the scanner app on it." Issei did as he asked.
Focused on Kanji, Impmon didn't notice that Guilmon had walked over to him, at least until he began sniffing Impmon. "Hey what's the big idea! You better not be thinking of eating me or something!"
"Guilmon, please remember. What did I say about sniffing everyone?" "Rias called out to Guilmon as she motioned him to return to her side. "Sorry about that, he just seems so keen to look at everything. Still, by the looks of it he'll likely become a dragon like Kanji said. Imagine it, Rias Gremory, master of two red dragons!"
After Kanji handed his phone back, Issei raised his hand. "I gotta ask, why was there a dispute about obtaining familiars?"
"That's because one cannot go and find a familiar whenever they feel like. the familiar master only takes people to his forest once a month on the full moon, which is tonight?"
"So do you have a familiar?"
"Yes, I do." She snapped her finger, and a red bat creature flew to her shoulder. "Although you've met her already."
"What do you mean?"
To answer his question, the bat flew down to the ground, and in a puff of smoke, transformed into a woman who Issei quickly recognized. "Wait, that's the hottie who handed me the flyer!"
Kanji sweatdropped. "Why does it not surprise me that Issei remembers her?"
The kitchen door opened, and Sona and Saji came out and returned to their seats. "I've considered your offer, Kanji Inazuma."
"Hmm, so what will it be?"
"After weighing your benefits, I decided that it's tolerable to wait another month to visit the familiar master if it means the prestige of elevating my family's position."
"Nice! If things go well, the Council might even begin formal relations!" He stood up and made his way to leave, but stopped before the door. "Oh right. You guys should prepare some clothes for an overnight stay. Oh and Sona, bring a chessboard, I'm sure I'll beat you this time!" With that said, he left.
Rias looked at her peerage. "Well, you heard him. Set up some spare clothing and anything you might need. Just don't forget to meet up here later tonight."
•••
Occult Research Clubhouse later that night
After going through a summoning circle, Issei found that they were in a bizarre forest, where a red moon casted an eerie red light upon the landscape. "Man, this place is creepy, like something will jump out at me."
"You're kidding me? This place feels homely! Brings back some nice memories of Witchelny!" Impmon said with a grin on his face.
"Gotta catch em all!"
Started by the yell, Issei, Asia, and Impmon looked up to see a bizarre sight in the trees, wearing shorts and a baseball cap. "Hello there! I'm the familiar master, Zatuji!" He then hopped down from his spot.
"I'm an expert at catching them! That's why it's my job to help young lads and lasses! Although…" He gazed at Impmon at Guilmon. "I've never seen familiars like these two. Rias, did you not already have your own?"
"Hmph, that's cause we're not some mangy creatures! We're digimon!" Impmon grumbled.
Impmon speaking surprised Zatuji. "Hm, this is interesting, Rias. If you have, I'd like to know more. For now it's time for business. Onward to catching familiars!"
Issei walked past Rias. "So Familiar master, got any cute familiars, like ones that look like cute girls?"
"Tsk tsk, You need to use your brain. You should choose one based on abilities that compliment your own. Now, follow me."
•••
After a bust with an Undine, which to Impmon's delight, left Issei in low spirits, they continued deeper into the forest, as Rias explained more to Zatsuji.
"So you're saying there's another world, full of amazing creatures!? AND You get a first-class ticket to visit it?!"
"Yes! Now please quiet down cause you'll scare away the prospective familiars."
"Oh Sorry."
"Look!" Asia pointed up, where they saw a small dragon flying down from the treetops. "Ah, it's so cute."
Zatsuji examined the dragon. "Hmm, that's a baby sprite dragon. You have to tame these young, and even then it's difficult. This is the first time I've seen one so close."
Impmon nudged Issei. "Oi, someone who has a dragon inside them like you ought to have a dragon as a familiar."
"Yeah! Zatsuji, what do I need to do?"
Before the familiar master could say anything, something fell on top of some of them from the trees. "Aaah!"
Asia, Kiba, Koneko, and Akeno were struggling with a slimy creature. Kiba was swinging his blade randomly, his vision obscured, while the clothing of the girls began dissolving. The sight left Impmon in hysterics.
"Oh, looks like we've run into a slime, a pretty useless creature to contract with. It has a fondness of dissolving the clothes of women." Katsuji said nonchalantly.
"Ahahahaha, you all look like idiots!" Impmon was rolling on the ground, making no effort to help anyone.
Seeing what it was exposing to his view, Issei quickly began thinking with his other head. "You know what, I think I want this slime as a familiar."
"Yeah, not happening, you pervert." Koneko then used her strength to smash the portion of the slime next to her, leading everyone else to begin to make efforts to destroy the slime, much to Issei's horror.
"Noooooo! Don't destroy slime-taro!" Thinking quickly, he hugged onto Asia, who now had the only bit of the slime left on her. Despite his valiant effort, it amounted to nothing, as he was then shocked, the heat causing the slime on Asia to evaporate. He craned his neck up and saw the sprite dragon had shocked him with lightning.
"Ahahahah, this just gets better and better!" Impmon made no effort to pity Issei, something which seemed to annoy the dragon as it also breathed lightning on him. "Bastard!"
It then flew over to Asia as it snuggled into her neck. "Ah, you're a cute little one, aren't you. Hmm?" A thought entered her name, one she did not know where it came but understood. "I feel that your name is Rassie."
Rias came over. "Hmm, I see you've found a familiar. You really know how to charm dragons. First Issei, and now this little one."
However, Guilmon began growling as his pupils slitted, while he looked towards the north, a behavior that worried Rias. "Guilmon, are you okay?"
Suddenly a powerful roar was heard, as the ground shook, as trees in the distance began falling as something tore through them. As Rassie hid behind Asia, the source of the disturbance made itself clear, as a large blue tyrannosaurus with blue stripes and wearing a feather headdress appeared, its eyes glowing red as it roared once more.
Issei whipped out his phone and activated the scanner. "Says here that it's an Alloman. You guys think it's another one of Devimon's victims?" They all had to quickly leap out of the way as Allomon swung his tail.
Thinking quickly, Issei took out his digivice as he concentrated digisoul into it, allowing Impmon to digivolve into Wizarmon, who then shot a bolt of lightning from his staff at Allomon. Allomon stumbled a bit, before focusing his attention on Wizarmon, who then looked at Issei. "Issei, we need to draw him away from the others."
"Right!" He then summoned his Booster Gear as he ran over and punched Allomon in the foot, causing Allomon discomfort and to look at Issei. "Hey ugly, bet you can't catch me!"
As Allomon chased Issei and Wizarmon, everyone convened together, only Rias noticed someone was missing. It only took a quick glance to realize that Guilmon had instead followed Allomon. "Guilmon, what are you doing?!"
After catching up to Guilmon, Rias found that Wizarmon and Issei were having trouble. While his attacks did manage to harm Allomon, it didn't slow it down, while they had to avoid any swings of its tail and beams of high temperature wind that it breathed.
"Stop Guilmon, it's too dangerous!" She grabbed onto Guilmon, trying her best to get him from coming any closer.
"No! They are in trouble!"
"Please Guilmon, you don't need to do this!"
Guilmon then managed to get out of her grip and turned around to look at her. "But I'm doing what you guys are doing, protecting what's important to me! Just like Issei protected Asia, and you protected him!"
"But you're not strong enough!"
"You said the same about Issei, yet you still helped him!"
Meanwhile, Allomon managed to hit Issei with its tail, sending him flying backward. This distracted Wizarmon, who was then hit by a blast of superheated air, causing him to fall to his knees. Allomon directed its attention at Guilmon and Rias and prepared to charge with its head lowered.
Seeing this, Rias pushed Guilmon out of the way, grazing herself against Allomon's hide as it narrowly missed them.
Getting up and ignoring her pain, she saw that Guilmon stood firm as he stared down Allomon, who did so in turn, seeing Guilmon as its next opponent.
"If you're to fight, then I'll fight by your side! I refuse to let my servants fight alone!" As Rias took a fighting stance beside Guilmon, her right hand glowed with crimson digisoul, and her digivice shone with light.
"Could this be, digivolution?" She took out the digivice from her pocket as she held it in her right hand. It then shot a beam of light at Guilmon engulfing him in a ball of light as a ring of light spun around him.
"Guilmon digivolve to-" As the ball of light expanded, Guilmon grew to a height as tall as Allomon, as small horns formed above his eyes, and a mass of white hair grew on his head. The small spikes on his forearms grew in length into blades, and his body bulged with powerful muscles. "Growmon!"
Allomon was started and stepped back, but quickly regained his composure, intent on defeating this foe. It lowered its head and charged with all its might. To its surprise, however, Growmon managed to grab its charge and hold it in place.
"Exhaust Flame!" Growmon fires a fireball into Allomon's face, sending him reeling. "Plasma blade!" Gathering plasma around his arm blades, Growmon dashed forward and slashed at Allomon's chest, who roared in pain.
As this happened, Wizarmon helped Issei back up, who now saw Growmon fighting with Allomon. "Man, why couldn't you have become a giant dinosaur?"
"You can complain later Issei, we have to get into the fight." They then rushed over to Alloman. Issei used his boosted gear to land a powerful hit on its leg, causing it to lose its footing.
As it fell to one leg, Wizarmon raised his staff. "Thunder cloud!" Clouds coalesced and darkened, as a mighty bolt of lightning struck it.
As it growled in pain and disorientation, Allomon could not resist as Growmon grabbed it and threw it ahead, knocking it out.
Growmon then roared triumphantly as he reverted to Guilmon, as Issei and Rias walked up to him. "See! I can be strong too."
Rias scratched him behind the ear. "Yeah, you sure did show em."
Wizarmon caught up to them, reverting back to Impmon as he did. "I'm all for celebrating, but I think we should make sure that asshole is down for the count."
•••
After reconvening with the others, during which Asia contracted with Rassie, they all stood prepared before the unconscious body of Allomon, as Koneko went to bring Kanji.
Soon Kanji arrived, with Pulsemon right behind him. "Wow, you guys had quite a fight."
Suddenly, Allomon began stirring awake, causing everyone to take fighting stances, until they saw its eyes, which were no longer glowing red.
"Uuuhhh, my head. Hmm? Where am I?" He looked around at unfamiliar surroundings, before noticing the people before him.
"Oh, humans! This must be the human world. Hey, you guys mind telling me what happened?" He said as he got up.
Kanji looked up at him. "From the looks of it, you ended up going through a digital gate after devimon made you evil."
"What? I don't remember running into someone called Devimon."
"Wait, if he didn't make you become all savage like, what did?"
"Hmm, I'm not sure, though now that I think about it, I did get attacked by a digimon who was acting the same."
"Hmm, that's not good. Still have another issue though."
"What would that be?" Issei asked curiously.
"What we're gonna do with this fella." Kanji said at Allomon.
"I don't mind if he stays. He could have lots to tell me about the digital world. Are you okay with that?" Katsuki says, looking at Allomon.
"Sure, I don't mind."
•••
The following day, after classes
After everyone was prepared, with Issei giving an excuse to his parents and Rias being given a letter to deliver, they arrived at the clubhouse, from where Kanji then led them and the prisoners from the church into the nearby woods until they arrived at a clearing in front of a dilapidated train station.
"Hmm, this should be the place."
"Um, what exactly are we supposed to find here? Cause I don't see anything, not even something like a summoning circle." Rias said as she looked.
"That's because I need to set things up… and there!" He then set up an old radio TV on a rock.
"And, that's how we enter the digital world?" Issei looked at the tv, dumbfounded.
"Yeah, I just need everyone to stand a bit closer to me."
They did as he said, with the fallen angels requiring a bit of prodding, at which point he took out his digivice and pointed it at the radio TV, and shot a beam of light at it, causing the screen to light up brightly, causing everyone but Kanji to recoil and close their eyes.
As the light faded, they opened their eyes and looked around. At first it appeared like nothing had happened, until Koneko looked toward the sky.
"Look, the sky, it's different!" As she pointed to the sky, they quickly saw what she meant. Lines of light were overlaid over the sky, and various digimon of a myriad of shapes and sizes flew.
"Consider this a big moment in history guys, you're the first devils to set foot in the digital world, and fallen angels too I guess." He motioned to the fallen angels who were still astonished with what they were seeing.
"Come on guys, we got a train to catch."
"Train?" Issei wondered as he followed along with the others. They soon arrived at a train station that looked like the one in the real world, except it wasn't dilapidated. Soon enough a bell rang, indicating a train's arrival, its smokestack seen in the distance.
Soon it came to a stop at the station, with various cars behind it. Two things were immediately obvious. First, there was no conductor, and second, the train had eyes.
"Hey Locomon, how's it going?" Pulsemon punched the side of the train as if greeting a friend.
To everyone's surprise, however, the train responded. "Not bad, doing my job as usual." His gaze landed on the fallen angels, all bearing magical restraints on their wings and chrome digizoid cuffs, and a caged Evilmon. "Ah they must be the dangerous cargo I'm supposed to transport. Put them in the second car."
Rias and Sona moved the fallen angels towards the second car, which was notably heavily armored. The door slid open, and out came a pair of digimon that appeared to be small knights, one white and the other black, who saluted them. "Pawn Chessnmon reporting for duty! Ready to escort the prisoners!"
After leaving the prisoners with the Pawn Chessmon, they convened with the others as they entered the first car with their bags, which was lavishly furnished. However, there was another passenger whose presence surprised Issei and Koneko, as at a table, sipping a cup of coffee, was a familiar client.
"Kuremi Kyoko?!"
