Ultra Arcadiamon screeched as it loomed over Takumi, Ami, Keisuke, Arata, Nokia, Yuuko and their Digimon. The others were still trapped in Argomon's vines. "Hell Crusher!" Dark blades struck at the whole team knocking them back.
"Gah!" Takumi nearly fell of off Rapidmon Armor-X. "It's just like Alphamon said…his power rivals Examon!"
"Damn it…!" Arata growled. "We came here to stop it, but we still ended up in the worst-case scenario!"
"Mach Rush!" Arcadiamon charged towards the heroes who could barley get out of the way in time.
"He's faster then he looks too." Ami added. "This isn't looking good!"
"Nokia, free the others, we need their help!" Yuuko ordered.
"On it! Omegamon!" Nokia and her Digimon flew at Argomon, but just as Merciful Mode drew his sword a blue shell of light closed down in front of them. "Huh?"
The group looked around them as a dome of blue light closed around them and Arcadiamon whose eye was glowing. "This is…!" Keisuke gritted his teeth.
Outside the dome Takuto and the others watched. "Uhh…" Himari blinked. "Isn't a forcefield supposed to keep your enemies out? Arcadiamon just trapped itself with them!"
"No…" Mameo replied. "They're trapped with Arcadiamon."
Leopardmon laughed. "Exactly."
Samudramon Fierce Blade Mode and Yuuko activated their Matrix Link and scratched their sword against the barrier, but it didn't even leave a mark. "It's no use…" Yuuko murmured. "It won't break…"
"Guess we do this the hard way…" Arata growled.
"Rune Forrest!" HerculesKabuterimon X shot a green projectile that exploded in Arcadiamon's face.
Omegamon Merciful Mode flew up to him. "Saint Knuckle!" He punched Arcadiamon in the face making it move back slightly before getting hit by a blue beam from its eye.
Diaboromon X ran up Arcadiamon's massive body and leapt up in front of it's face. "Catastrophe Cannon!" He fired multiple golden spheres that exploded on contact.
Rosemon X flew up at it next. "Thorn Whip!" She slammed two whips onto Arcadiamon overhead. "Gaia Element!" She then shot an emerald projectile.
Purple tendrils extended from Arcadiamon's body and tied up Rosmeon X and Diaboromon X. "Ami! Arata!" Takumi directed his Digimon to fly towards them.
"Lasser Gattling Arm!" Rapidmon Armor X shot the tentacles freeing his friends.
"Dystopia Lances!" Tendrils formed skewers above Rapidmon Armor X and rained down. HerculesKabuterimon X flew overtop Rapidmon Armor X and shielded him.
"Keisuke!" Takumi shouted looking upward after they were slammed to the ground. He gasped as Arcadiamon loomed over them. "Rapidmon!" Takumi's Digimon grabbed HerculesKabuterimon X's arm and carried him out of the way just as the gigantic Digimon slammed down.
Samudramon Fierce Blade Mode leapt up next to Arcadiamon's head. "Splendid Blade of Tranquility!" The blade moved so swiftly it looked like Samudramon didn't move at all, and a loud slash was heard.
Arcadiamon turned around as the samurai Digimon was in freefall. "Heavy Strike!" It slammed its whole body into him. Samudramon Fierce Blade Mode smashed into the barrier around them and crashed into the ground.
"Yuuko, are you alright?!" Takumi shouted.
"Don't worry about me! We need a way to turn this around!"
"Yeah, swinging wildly at him isn't gonna do anything." Keisuke said. "It's a Virus Type! So, Takumi and Nokia's Digimon as well as mine should have better odds!"
"Okay." Arata nodded. "Ami, Yuuko and I will make an opening for you three."
"Samudramon, blind him!"
"Meteor Fall!" Samudramon Fierce Blade Mode dropped a smoldering bolder. Arcadiamon looked up to get it right in the eye.
"Scatter!" Yuuko shouted.
When Arcadiamon recovered its sight, it looked around for it's pray. "Up here freak show!" It looked up where Diaboromon X was in the air above it. Arata closed his eyes. "Abyss Rewind 13!" Diaboromon X emitted a purple shine.
"Rosen Blood!" Ami and her Matrix Linked Digimon glowed blood red joining them.
Arcadiamon growled as pink light rained down onto it. Then Samudramon Fierce Blade Mode ran in front of it. "Binding Whirlwind!" Yuuko activated Matrix Link before she and her Digimon trapped Arcadiamon in a giant hurricane. "Now!'
With a roar Arcadiamon broke free but was then surrounded by Rapidmon Armor X, Omegamon Merciful Mode, and HerculesKabuterimon X were taking aim. "Rapid Blaster!"
"Graceful Cannon!"
"Giga Blaster!" All three of them fired at Arcadiamon all at once. The lasers hit it from multiple spots. The monster roared in pain as the beams burned against it.
Leopardmon growled shielding his eyes outside the barrier. "The humans have used the X-Antibody and this new Matrix ability to enhance their Digimon into a major threat…"
"You got that right!" Shiki smirked. "Your monster doesn't stand a chance against them!"
"Hmph. You presume too much child. Arcadiamon has yet to show his true potential!"
Arcadiamon snarled. "Character Reversal!" It emitted a white light. Rapidmon Armor X, HerculedsKabuterimon X, and Omegamon Merciful mode glowed a little.
Keisuke gulped. "Oh crap, I forgot it can do that."
"Bug status?!" Takumi gasped.
The attacks started doing less damage to Arcadiamon who then started charging up. "God Matrix!" He blew his three attackers away with a blue explosion.
Nokia screamed grabbing onto her partner before she could get flung right off him. "What just happened?!"
"It switched our resistances and weaknesses…" Omegamon Merciful Mode growled. "Now it has the upper hand against us…"
"Now what do we do?!" Ami asked. "Four of us are fighting at a disadvantage!"
"I'm not giving up!" Keisuke replied. "If Arcadiamon releases this power on the Resistance so many innocents are going to suffer! We have to stop it!"
"Keisuke's right!" Nokia nodded. "We didn't come this far just to bite it here! And we didn't get this far by giving up!"
"I concur." Yuuko nodded. "We swore we'd save this world from the Next Order!"
"Right." Arata nodded. "We're not dropping the ball here. We can't!"
"Yeah." Ami nodded. "Arcadiamon may be powerful…but we have something greater than power."
Takumi smiled at Rapidmon Armor X. "We got each other. And of course, we have our trusted partners. And together…we will win!" Takumi, Ami, Keisuke, Arata, Nokia, and Yuuko all closed their eyes and breathed deep. With Matrix Link activated, they all moved. "Speed Charge Field!" Rapidmon Armor X boosted the speed of the party.
"Attack Charge Field!" Samudramon Fierce Blade Mode powered up their attack power.
"Mental Charge Field!" Rosemon X boosted their intelligence.
"Guard Charge Field!" Diaboromon X Boosted their defence.
"Let's go!" Keisuke and his Digimon shouted. "Nanomachine Break!" They rushed in and punched Arcadiamon in the head. They pushed it back a bit before the were shoved away.
"Hell Crusher!" Arcadiamon attacked but its target escaped the projectiles. It then got shot by Rapidmon Armor X and Rosemon X. "Dystopia Lances!" It lifted tendrils above them in the shape of skewers. Both Cyber Sleuths and their Digimon dodged every one of them and closed in. Rapidmon Armor X's blades and Rosemon X's whips slashed at it. It turned around as they passed it and sent more tentacles to entrap them. They were pulled towards Arcadiamon before Samudramon Fierce Blade Mode cut them lose.
"Fearsome Blade!" Omegamon Merciful mode's sword extended and glowed white before slashing at Arcadiamon repeatedly.
"God Matrix!" Arcadiamon detonated a blue explosion where they were.
"Spooky Zapper!" Diaboromon X slabbed his claws into Arcadiamon's back. The monster spun and swerved around trying to shake him off as it was zapped.
"Kikurin Thunder Slash!" Samudramon Fierce Blade Mode electrocuted it further.
Diaboromon X retracted his long arms pulling himself onto Arcadiamon. "Catastrophe Cannon!"
Arcadiamon growled as he took direct hits to the back. After Diaboromon leapt off it, Rosemon X wrapped her whips around its neck as Ami and Takumi initiated Overclock along with Matrix Link. "Rosen Blood!"
As Arcadiamon Rapidmon Armor X's golden weaponry orbited around it. "Billion Bullet!" Golden energy pellets rained down on Arcadiamon.
Takumi and Ami looked behind them. "Keisuke!"
"Overclock!" HerculesKabuterimon glowed red as he and Keisuke shouted charging at Arcadiamon. "Horn Buster Revision!" Arcadiamon fired a red beam from his eye that crashed into the golden glowing horn that was approaching. Keisuke and HerculesKabuterimon X strained before shouting aloud as they dove full force through the laser and into Arcadiamon. A loud crash was heard.
From outside the dome, Takuto and the others watched a huge dust cloud rose up. The blue barrier dissipated as it cleared showing HerculesKabuterimon X standing on top of Arcadiamon who was flat on its back. "They got him!" Koh cheered.
As HerculesKabuterimon stood up, from his shoulder Keisuke looked behind him and glared at Leopardmon. "Now it's your turn. We're bringing your revolt to an end here and now!"
Leopardmon laughed. "You underestimate my cunning boy. I always have a contingency plan."
"What?"
Suddenly the whole ground shook. "What's happening now?!" Takumi asked.
A storm of vines burst out of the ground. One by one, Takumi, Ami, Nokia, Arata, Yuuko, and Keisuke along with all their Digimon were all grabbed before they could react and were hoisted into the air. "What the hell?!" Nokia shrieked.
"Where did…?!" Ami gasped looking up to the other giant Digimon who hand its hand on the ground. "Argomon!"
"Damn it…!" Takumi growled trying to break free. "We let our guard down!"
Leopardmon raised his hand. "Take their energy."
The vines glowed and the Tamers and Digimon cried out as they were sapped. "Oh, no!" Kouta shouted.
More vines came out of the ground and wrapped around Arcadiamon. They glowed yellow and as it's eye flashed and it rose up. "It's…giving our energy to Arcadiamon…?" Yuuko weakly murmured.
Leopardmon laughed. "It is you who are about to meet their end! But do not despair. The energy we have taken from you will serve to crush the Resistance and return he Digital World to how it should be! Arcadiamon, execute them!"
Takumi and the others tried to struggle out of the vines holding them as Arcadiamon turned towards them snapping out of its own vines. It eyed Keisuke first. "Keisuke!" Arata shouted.
The hacker looked at the glowing eye directed at him. 'Yu…Ryuji…Chitoste…Erika…I'm sorry…' He closed his eyes and braced himself for the killing blow.
The sight alone made his friends scream. "KEISUKE!"
"Soul Digitalization!" A storm of green energy tore through not only the vines coming out of the ground freeing Takumi, Ami, Keisuke, Nokia, Arata, Yuuko and their Digimon, but the ones holding Takuto and the others too.
"What?!" Leopardmon shouted. "Who dares interfere?!"
"Stop this madness Leopardmon!"
A familiar voice struck everyone's ears. The looked over to see Alphamon holding her hand out. "You…!" Leopardmon gasped.
"Alphamon?!" Ami gasped.
"Impossible!" Leopardmon took a step back shivering. "We trapped you in the Dark Area before we disconnected it from the Digital World!"
"I had a little help." Alphamon said before turning to her friends.
Leopardmon glared at them. "How did you discover the program we used?! It was a secret only BoltBoutamon knew about!"
"So that little trick came from him too…" Shoma murmured.
Takumi laughed. "Didn't you hear? Someone who used to work for you was pretty bitter about you and Crusadermon manipulating him with his brother!"
Leopardmon clenched his fist. "Kiryu…!"
"A word of advice…" Fei smiled. "Be more careful with how you treat those who trust you and don't let them become loose ends. It can come back to bite you."
"You made the foolish error of underestimating Kiryu Tenjo and abandoning him." Yuuko said with a coy smile. "You and I have that in common now."
Craniamon and Hudiemon flew to Alphamon's side. "Erika! Yuugo!" Keisuke stood up on his Digimon.
"Jeez!" Hudiemon panted looking at Alphamon. "I know you two are eager to help your assistants, but you could have waited for us!"
Ami looked at her oddly. "You two"?"
A familiar laugh was heard as someone climbed up from Alphamon's back and stood on her shoulder. "Always running into trouble."
A good amount of the group was shocked, but most of them were just confused. "Who is that?" Koh asked.
"Another human?" Noir stared at the blond woman. "How did-
"KYOKO?!" Takumi, Ami, Arata, Nokia, Yuuko and Keisuke shouting startled everyone else.
"In the flesh." the woman smiled brushing her hair aside.
"When and how the hell did you get here?!" Arata yelled.
"Thanks. Nice to see you too."
"Kyoko…" Shiki murmured. "As in Kyoko Kuremi? The detective Takumi and Ami work for?"
"Kyoko…what are you doing here?!" Ami asked.
"I was invited to join you in this exciting case."
"Mirei felt it would do me benefit to have a human partner of my own." Alphamon said. "And I must say, it's working very nicely for me so far."
"Another foreign object makes its way into our world." Leopardmon growled. "You have some nerve brining more of these fools into our world Alphamon."
"As they say in the human world, "the pot calls the kettle black". Didn't you and Crusadermon bring a bunch of humans in here just to do away with me?"
"It was not by choice! It was by necessity!"
"You blame others for your mistakes like a child and deflect responsibility for your choices." Kyoko said. "Someone as shallow and selfish as you has no right to decide the fate of lives. Much less an entire world. You need to be stopped."
"A human thinks she can order the King of this world around?! What blasphemy!"
"You're acting awfully arrogant for someone who had been forcing others to do his bidding for him all this time." Alphamon stated. "From what I heard this is your first time since you established your "Next Order" stepping into the battlefield!"
"And now the kettle calls the pot black!" Leopardmon scoffed. "In the previous reality did you not have these children fight all your battles for you, not entering the battlefield yourself until the very end?! And you show yourself NOW after sending these children to enforce your justice for you?! I'd say you're no different from me in that regard! You and that arrogant human on your back deserve each other! You're both cowardly failures!"
Alphamon stared at him then glanced aside. "…Maybe you're right. I am a failure. Protecting King Drasil…keeping the Royal Knights from running amok…once again I have failed my duties. And once again I am relying on outsiders to clean up my mess." She looked at Takumi and Ami. "However…my failures led me to Takumi and Ami. And while I may have allowed myself to get a little carried away with pushing them…and I could have provided a bit more support when they were faced with danger…especially when it came down to you and the others…I can say that we all gained something from it. Takumi and Ami became stronger. And I…I learned a great deal about humans. I learned of their good and bad traits…I learned of the joys of watching them grow…"
"All the humans are capable of teaching us is about failure!" Leopardmon growled.
Alphamon chuckled. "Well…you're not completely wrong. They did teach me a great deal about failure. My partner in particular taught me a lot on that front just now."
"Did I?" Kyoko asked. "Do tell."
"You taught me that nobody is above failure. You taught me the importance of identifying and accepting our failures…but most of all…you taught me that failure is not the end. That it's normal to fail. If we are willing to learn from our failures and improve from them, then failure can be an opportunity. After all…If I had not failed I would never have met you, or Takumi and Ami. And because of that meeting we all have what we have today." She looked dead at Leopardmon. "If overlying on those kids was a mistake, then I will learn from the bad that came from it and start taking the stage myself from here on out. And with the good that came from it, I will fight alongside the humans who developed under my wing. And together we will correct my mistake of letting you have free reign of this world! That is the difference between you and me! One learns from their mistakes! The other attempts to bury them under new ones!"
"Hmph. You think I am incapable of learning from my mistakes?!" Leopardmon asked. "Absurd! I learned a great deal from my failures! I learned how foolish my loyalty to King Drasil who allowed the corruption on our world was! In the end when I learned that what he truly desired was the end of all worlds I felt that all should end as he wished. But after I came back via the transformation, I asked myself…should that truly be what comes next? In the end King Drasil was defeated by you, a failure and her human puppets. Could someone so weak truly be fit to decide the fate off all worlds? That's when I realized that the King should be replaced! That a new order must stand for our world!"
"You were the one who jumped to the insane conclusion that you losing meant King Drasil wanted to destroy everything!" Ami shouted. "Even though you said before our battle that whoever won would be the carriers of his will! So, by that logic King Drasil wanted both worlds saved and he got what he wanted! You just couldn't accept him choosing us over you and now you're throwing a fit about it like a sore loser!"
"I do indeed find it odd how someone who can never admit their mistakes think he is any better fit then King Drasil to lead this world." Alphamon added.
"Your delusion makes you a threat to all. We won't let the future be decided by someone who's abandoned all reason!" Kyoko declared.
"How dare you." Leopardmon shouted. "I'll tolerate no more of your prattle! Argomon! Arcadiamon! Silance the rest of these worms! I will put this failure of a knight and that annoying human who corrupted her in their place myself!"
"Now who's arrogant?" Alphamon asked. "You know you cannot defeat me even with the other rouge knights. Is that not why you resorted to such an elaborate scheme to seal me away?"
"Perhaps as I was before…a former Royal Knight to King Drasil I would indeed not stand a chance against you. But as I am now, the king of the digital World, I have surpassed you in every way."
"Oh please." Takumi spat. "The only things you surpassed Alphamon and Kyoko in are insanity and evil."
"Wrong." Leopardmon held out his hand. "I have outsmarted Alphamon, proving my superior wits. And now…" A blue orb with a red x appeared in his hand. "I will surpass her in might."
"Oh, that ain't good." Himari cringed.
"We should have seen this coming." Mameo added.
"So, it is true." Alphamon said. "You're creating artificial X-Antibodies to strengthen your forces. You have no idea what you are playing with Leopardmon. The X-Antibody was originally created to save Digimon from a dangerous virus that killed nearly 98% of the Digital Worlds Digimon. Its power can be hazardous to those who do not carry it naturally like me."
Leopardmon laughed. "Why do you think I waited so long to use one?"
"Kyoko! Alphamon!" Then the detective and Digimon heard Keisuke speak they looked at him. "Dynasmon used one to become more powerful than any previous Royal Knight! Boltboutamon completed his final version of them that made Digimon stronger then ever!"
"Correct. Thanks to my subjects eagerly accepting the earliest versions of them, we obtained valuable combat data. I knew the X-Antibody held great potential. But in the hands of a genius like Boltboutamon they could provide so much more. Now that his work has reached its peak, I will now use the X-Antibody to evolve to even greater heights! Behold!" He held up the orb and it glowed blinding everyone around him in intense light.
"Guh…!" Kouta grunted. "He's evolving!"
Leopardmon spread his arms before they transformed. Then the armor on his body shifted shape followed by his legs. Two shoulder pads with green gems appeared and his wings grew purple and red capes. A tail with a yellow pom appeared and his mask changed resembling a lion's head with red eyes. He held his hand forward and a new sword with a red energy blade. "Behold! The true King meant to guide the Digital World, the messenger of absolute justice and most powerful warrior…Leopardmon X is born!"
"Leopardmon X…" Shoma breathed.
Alphamon sighed. "…I remember when the X-Antibody was supposed to be rare. Nowadays it seems like we have a bit of an X-Antibody bargain sale going on here."
"Damn it…" Rapidmon Armor X growled. "This power reading is higher than I imagined."
"Now Alphamon!" Leopardmon X pointed his weapon at the 13th Royal Knight. "This world no longer requires you and your incompetence. For returning from your exile to dare to side with these Resistance rats, as the King of the Digital World, I sentence you to death!"
"Kyoko!" Ami flew towards the knights on Rosemon X, only to be forced to back away when purple tendrils flew at her.
"Flying Kick!" Hudiemon flew at Arcadiamon and bounced off its head. Agromon sent tentacles back at Shiki and Faye to recapture them. Claímh Solais spun by cutting through them before returning to Craniamon.
"Kyoko! Alphamon!" Takumi turned to his two mentors.
"Takumi, Ami, focus on your battle." Kyoko ordered.
Alphamon looked at Leopardmon. "This fool was my subordinate and is my responsibility. I have relied on you and your sister for so long in the last reality. And in this one you've been fighting against his madness without me all this time. Now it's my turn to step up to the plate."
"No." Kyoko replied. "It's OUR turn. I can't have my assistants putting up with all the risk. It would look pretty bad for the agency's reputation."
"Hmph. I'll burry both of you fools under the same grave." Leopardmon X pointed his blade forward. "Here lies the most pathetic worthless fools of their receptive worlds"."
"Blade of the Dragon King." Alphamon summoned a sword of light to her hand. "En guard!"
The two knights charged into each other with a loud clash. Two swords slammed against each other repeatedly. After ten collisions Alphamon and Leopardmon X backed away from each other. "Hmph. I figured you would be rusty from all that time in the Dark Area." Leopardmon said.
"Well, there was no shortage of Digimon down there who tried to kill me. I suppose I should thank them for keeping my skills from dulling."
"Those weaklings pale in comparison to the might of a King! Black Aura Blast!"
"Dodge!" Kyoko ordered. Alphamon flew to the right to evade. She then flew straight at Leopardmon with a thrust, but he deflected it and thrusted his own blade into her.
Alphamon backed up with a hand over the wound. "He's not only stronger but faster now…"
"Hold on." Kyoko took out her Digivice and activated a HP Capsule healing Alphamon. "We need to catch him off guard somehow."
"Power Energy!" Alphamon threw a projectile at Leopardmon X who sliced it in half with his sword before she flew above him. "Soul Digitalization!"
Leopardmon X deflected a storm of green pellets with his blade until Kyoko used a Speed Boost that made the attack go faster. Leopardmon took a few hits before striking back. "Extinction Wave!" A blade of light knocked Alphamon away. 'That human is providing support via healing and enhancements. In that case…' He reeled back his arm then thrusted at Alphamon charging towards her. But the knight wasn't his target. His blade approached the woman on her shoulder.
Kyoko smirked. "Predictable." The red rapier stopped inches in front of her face. Alphamon had grabbed it with one hand. Her other hand stabbed the Blade of the Dragon King into Leopardmon X.
"Gah…!" The knight growled. "You…!"
"Did you really think I would just let you get her?" Alphamon asked. "Your hatred for humans makes you easy to read."
Leopardmon X snarled. "How dare you…strike your king! HOLY LIGHT!" A burst of energy blew Alphamon away while shattering her sword as the same time. Leopardmon X held up his sword and charged at her. "Eine Billion!" When Alphamon saw Leopardmon X fly at her with shocking speed she covered Kyoko with her hand. Leopardmon started flying around her so fast it looked like he was everywhere at once slashing, and stabbing her repeatedly with the glowing red blade. Alphamon's cape started to rip. Her armor had deep cuts forming. As one of her wings were slashed sending golden feathers flying she started to lose altitude. Leopardmon went in front of her and finished with a roaring thrust right to the chest that knocker her right into the ground with a hard slam. Kyoko yelped falling off the knight and landing in the dirt.
"Elimination Line!" Eyes opened up all over Agromon's limbs.
"What the heck?" Takuto asked before all the eyes flashed red. "Oh god, run!"
Lasers fired in all different directions. Omni, Faye, Noir, Zero, Yukimura, and Rikka all scattered dodging laser beams. Once Yukimura got some distance he aimed his lance at Agromon. "Rage of Wyvern!"
Agromon was pushed back by a giant Wyvern. That allowed Noir to zoom in with Omni. "Supreme Sword!"
"Transcendent Sword!" The two Omegamon got good deep cuts into Agromon.
Then Faye, Himari and Zero followed up. "Gran Del Sol!"
"Fire Tornado!"
"Hyper Infinity Cannon!" Agromon blocked three powerful attacks with his hands and slid back on his feet. But he was caught off guard by two more Digimon.
"01 Crusher!"
"Sunfire Punch!" Apollomon and Dianamon attacked Agromon's arms making his grip slip and was blown away.
"Nice work guys!" Mameo said. "We just gotta keep this up!"
"Hopefully the others are doing okay with Arcadiamon." Himari said.
Shiki smirked looking over her shoulder. "I'm sure they got it covered."
"Rapid Blaster!"
"Catastrophe Cannon!" Diaboromon X and Rapidmon Armor X shot Arcadiamon pushing it back a bit.
Arcadiamon's eye flashed blue. "Get away!" Hudiemon yelled.
"God Matrix!" Arcadiamon emitted a giant blue explosion. Everyone managed to clear out in time.
Once the smoke cleared Hudiemon flew in front of it's face. "Infinity Dream!" Arcadiamon screeched as it was blinded. "Now!"
Samudramon Fierce Blade Mode, Omegamon Merciful Mode and HerculesKabuterimom X all shouted as they charged in. The beetle's horn, and the blades of the two warriors went right into Arcadiamon's eye who screeched in pain. Fei stood on Sakuyamon-X's shoulder with a smirk. "Ya got my back Yuugo?"
"Always!" Yuugo replied from Craniamon. "We'll cover you and you go in for the kill."
Craniamom charged towards Arcadiamon. When it's eye glowed, he held up his shield. "Breath of Gods!" He blocked the beam as he continued his advance.
Sakuyamon X flew out from behind him with staff in hand. "Amathyst Mandala!" She stabbed her staff into Arcadiamom and unleashed a holy glow enveloping it.
Now that they had some breathing room the Cyber Sleuths looked back towards where Alphamon was. They were shocked to see her and Kyoko on the ground. "No!" Ami screamed. "Rosemon!"
"Rapidmon, help them!" Takumi instructed.
"Stay back!" Alphamon ordered. The two Digimon halted in their tracks. Alphamon rose back to her feet. "I failed to prevent this war. Failed to protect the king. I refuse to let you two down as well."
"As both your mentors and as leaders we have a responsibility to provide an example for you." Kyoko said. "To be the shining example you chase as you move towards the future. I won't forgive myself if you two ended up looking down on me."
Leopardmon X landed on the ground in front of them. "What a joke. That's just your ego talking! You really think you can defeat me with arrogance?!"
"I think I can defeat you with willpower and persistence." Kyoko smiled. "Maybe it is my ego talking, but so what?"
Leopardmon X pointed his blade at her. "I think it's time you and your ego were silenced! Black Aura Blast!" Alphamon threw herself in front of Kyoko and took the hit. "Hmph. That quick to throw your life away for that woman? You haven't even known her for that long."
"On the contrary." Alphamon grunted. "She and I have been working together longer than any of the humans and their Digimon."
"That's right." Kyoko replied. "Though I may not remember it, I know we have been working together for our common goal. Even without those memories I felt something when I saw Alphamon. A connection."
"When I met Kyoko again..." Alphamon stood up. "I felt I had found something I had lost. A piece of me I was missing. And now...we stand together once more. Fighting for a common goal."
"And right now...in this moment...that cause, is stopping you."
"You? Stop me?" Leopardmon X laughed. "You're the ones who are deluded. Or are you still so oblivious to this power gap between us?"
"Doggedly and with all my might exhibit endurance like hard black iron"." Alphamon closed her eyes. "That is another thing I learned from Kyoko Kuremi."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"It's simple." Kyoko smiled. "It means we don't give up. No Matter how bleak the situation. No mater how difficult the task at hand may be. We will persevere. We will continue to move forward. And we will find the truth." The detective took out her Digivice.
"Choose the future." Alphamon's body started glowing. "We will believe in that possibility!"
Kyoko held her Digivice up. "Haaaaaaaaa!" Alphamon was enveloped in white light.
Leopardmon X shielded his eyes. "What is this?"
Everyone stopped what they were doing to look at them. "Kyoko..." Ami murmured.
Takumi was mesmerized. "Alphamon..."
Alphamon's cape mended itself and the cuts in her armor faded. Her golden wings extended, and she thrusted her hand into a green light. She pulled out a giant black and gold sword. This form was known as Alphamon Oryuken. "Now Leopardmon." Kyoko lowered her Digivice.
Alphamon Oryuken pointed her colossal blade forward. "Judgment has passed!"
"Indeed." Leopardmon X pointed his blade forward. "Digimon and humans, bow to my will!" He flew directly into Alphamon Oryuken who blocked his red rapier with her new blade. "Hmph. That new weapon is impressive. And wasted on a fool like you!" He started thrusting repeatedly. "Do not think brandishing a new sword will make any difference!"
Alphamon Oryuken continued to deflect each of his swings then thrusted her blade back. Leopardmon X blocked it and was knocked backwards. "I think you're the one being foolish. There is more to this form then just a fancy new weapon."
"Human emotions affect Digimon." Kyoko said. "If Takumi and Ami's emotions can make their Digimon what they are now, then what can mine do for Alphamon?"
"Let's find out." Alphamon rushed at Leopardmon X and swung her blade repeatedly. Leopardmon X blocked each swipe before she got a slash in on his shoulder. "It seems my speed has also been enhanced."
Leopardmon X growled. "Don't get so full of yourself!" He ascended overhead. "Black Aura Blast!" Alphamon Oryuken flew in and grabbed Kyoko before a trail of black and red destruction chased after them. It carved into the ground as Alphamon Oryuken put Kyoko on her shoulder and flew away from the attack. Leopardmon X kept on them before unleashing a new attack. "Extinction Wave!"
"Counter it!" Kyoko instructed.
Alphamon Oryuken turned around and cut the Extinction Wave in half. She then flew up to Leopardmon X thrusting the Oryuken. The knight deflected the giant sword with his own blade but didn't not expect Alphamon Oryuken's other hand to be preparing another attack. "Saint Knuckle!" A glowing fist met his face before he was slammed into the ground. Alphamon Oryuken then went at him from above. "Heavy Strike!"
Leopardmon X blocked the giant sword with his weapon again, this time with one hand holding the hilt and the other against the blade. As Alphamon Oryuken pushed harder and harder the giant sword drew closer and closer. Leopardmon X early rolled out of the way before the Oryuken slammed into the ground. He got up and backed away. "How is this possible...?" He flew straight up and held his sword skyward. "Gale Storm!" A giant tornado enveloped Alphamon Oryuken. But with a spinning sword swing blew it away. "What?!"
"It ends here Leopardmon." Kyoko said.
Alphamon Oryuken leapt into the air with the blade glowing. "Ultimate Oryuken!" She swung her sword against Leopardmon X's. He blocked the blow but was pushed back by the explosion made. He rocketed straight to the ground.
Meanwhile Keisuke, Takumi, and Ami activated Matrix Link and Overclock. "Giga Blaster!"
"Thorn Whip!"
"Laser Gattling Arm!" Their three Digimon attacked Arcadiamon all at once knocking the giant beast to the ground.
"One down!" Nokia cheered.
"Terabyte Disaster!" Argomon opened his mouth and fired a giant beam that made his opponents split up.
Mameo saw this as an opening. "Now!"
"Destroyed Hook!" Zero shot his giant drill that flew into Agromon's mouth and exploded.
"He's on the ropes!" Sayo said. "Now let's finish him off!"
"You got it!" Shiki replied activating Matrix Link with Faye. "Let's see how you like getting tied up! Seed Belt!" They shot seeds into the ground in a circle around Argomon that sprouted into plants binding the giant.
"Transcendent Cannon!"
"Supreme Cannon!"
"Fire Tornado!" Takuto, Shoma and Himari all attacked with their Digimon.
"Now it's our turn!" Kouta declared with Yukimura. "Final Crest!" Their ultimate attack toppled the beast.
Leopardmon X hissed at the sight of his two allied monstrosities falling. "It seems even those two are not enough..."
Alphamon Oryuken pointed her blade towards him. "Checkmate Leopardmon X."
"We have decided to reap what we sow just as Takumi and Ami did." Kyoko said. "You should do the same."
"Humans and Digimon can work together to make our world greater the right way. It's not too late to change course."
"Don't make me laugh." Leopardmon X glared before reverting to his normal form. "I will never join the humans. This is our world. And I will not let them decide what happens to it! No matter what sacrifice I must make the Next Order will rule the Digital World! And no one, not even the Legendary 13th Royal Knight will stop us!"
"You really are full of shit, aren't you dumbass?" Arata scoffed. "In case it slipped your notice you and your toughest weapons are in the dirt. You got nothing left to challenge us with."
"Don't be so certain. I still have my trump card. And once Project Nexus commences you power will mean nothing! Soon...my design will finally come to fruition." Leopardmon snapped his fingers and Argomon along with Arcadiamon disappeared. "Enjoy this hallow victory while you can. It won't stop what is to come." He then vanished himself.
"Wait!" Takuto shouted. "Crap, we let him get away!"
Koh sighed. "Right when we had the chance to finish him off and end all of this."
"Don't get hung up over it." Kyoko replied. "Even if we did finish him off here there's no guarantee that it would finish this war."
"True." Alphamon Oryuken nodded. "There is still Dynasmon and BoltBoutamon. I doubt they'd give up even if Leopardmon fell."
"Kyoko and Alphamon are right." Mameo said as all their Digimon landed and they dismounted as their transformations canceled. "The only way this is going to stop us if we take the entirety of the Next Order down."
"And we'll do just that." Yuuko said. "As soon as Mirei and the others figure out how to use the Brave Snatcher, we will infiltrate the Cloud Sanctuary. It will be the final battle."
"Yeah." Keisuke looked at his hand. "And now that we have to worry about Arcadiamon, Argomon, and X-Antibody Dynasmon AND Leopardmon to deal with...It's gonna be the toughest battle yet for us all."
Alphamon Oryuken's sword disappeared as she returned to normal. "I can feel it as we fought...Leopardmon still couldn't fully control the X-Antibody. He'll grow stronger with time."
Hudiemon nodded. "Yeah. And it looked like Arcadiamon was struggling to use its full power as well."
"Interesting." Takumi said. "Maybe that means the Parasimon can't fully control it...yet."
"We won this battle." Kyoko said. "But we can't let our guard down."
"Maybe not." Ami smiled walking up to Kyoko. "But I'm feeling more confident now that we have you with us. Both of you."
Kyoko turned around to look at her assistant. "Ami…I'm glad to see that you're safe."
"Sorry. I guess I had you worried huh?"
"Indeed. After all your mother made it clear to me when we first met face-to-face that if I let something happen to you or your brother while on the job, she'd make her next big scoop as a reporter my head on the other end of a stick." That comment made the group shudder.
"My, my." Alphamon said. "I didn't think she'd be so…"
"Overprotective?" Takumi asked. "I guess it runs in the family."
Ami nervously chuckled. 'Maybe that's why Kyoko was so much more cautious with us then Alphamon…'
"That's…one word for it…" Alphamon seemed deep in thought over something. "…Should you two ever introduce her to me, kindly refrain from telling her about the time I had you two Connect Jump into that laser."
Takumi and Ami laughed. "Sure thing Alphamon."
Kyoko looked at her new partner with a raised eyebrow. "Laser?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Still, I'm glad you're here." Takumi smiled. "I feel like myself when you are with us."
"Are you saying that to me, or to Alphamon?" Kyoko smirked.
"Both of you. You both played a role in shaping us into who we are today."
"I agree." Ami smiled. "Seeing you two together makes us feel more...complete."
Alphamon glanced at Kyoko. "We are two halves of a better whole after all."
"Indeed." Kyoko closed her eyes. "Our traits...our similarities...our differences...our flaws...our benefits...they mesh together perfectly."
"I think the two of us together can become the leader and mentor that these two really need. And deserve."
"You two don't need to prove yourselves to anyone." Takumi replied.
"Yeah. Least of all us." Ami added.
"Is that so?" Kyoko asked. "I appreciate the faith you two hold in us.".
"And it falls to us to honor it." Alphamon said. "We will defeat the Next Order together."
Kyoko walked up to the Aibas and put a hand atop each of their heads. The others smiled watching. "It's like looking at a family." Takuto smirked.
"They are a family." Nokia replied. "And it feels good seeing them back together."
Leopardmon groaned as he teleported into his base. Argomon and Arcadiamon were close by. "Your majesty!" Dynasmon flew over to him. "Hold on, I'll call the medics!"
"Compose yourself Dynasmon, I am fine. But it seems you were right to be concerned. Our problems continue to multiply."
BoltBoutamon sighed as he walked over. "Do they? Goodie. What's gone to hell now?"
"Alphamon has returned. And she has obtained a new power."
Dynasmon did a take. "How is that possible?!"
"Our victory is no longer guaranteed. We must hasten our preparations. BoltBoutamon, get an X-Antibody ready for Examon. He will be our last line of defense."
"Got it."
"Dynasmon and I will see to the preparations of Project Nexus."
Dynasmon growled. "If only we were able to get that last Sovereign DigiCore from Darcmon. "It" would make even Alphamon a non-issue."
Boltboutamon smirked. "Actually...I've been thinking on a possibility to work around that..."
Everyone gathered back at the wartable. "Well...it seems like everything worked out." Mirei smirked.
"Yeah. Thanks to you bringing Kyoko here." Takumi replied.
"Did I? Your and your sister's destinies were always intertwined with Kyoko and Alphamon alike. And as I already established after sending Sayo home you two wield power to decide fate."
Sayo sighed. "And as I said before you sent me back, I think all lot of your talk about "fate" is just talk."
"You're free to believe what you want. My point is I only made things the way they should be. More importantly Alphamon, I trust you had a chat with Kyoko that illuminated a few things and restored your confidence?"
"Indeed. Having my other half has helped me reflect on my actions both good and bad. It's impossible to say all my choices were the right ones. But as long as I can't change them there is no point in mulling over them. Still...I need to reflect on it all. So, none of my future decisions leave me in uncertainty."
"Good. Now that your head is cleared up, we can all focus on the task at hand. And on that note..." Mirei projected an image of the city from the wartable. "We are just about ready to put our plan into action."
"So the time has come at last." Shiki said. "To take the fight to the Next Order!"
The table showed a projection of the Brave Snatcher. "We have safely made a special battery powered by the Brave Snatcher that should allow the city to evade any detection systems in Cloud Sanctuary and bypass the barrier." Datamon said.
"We ran all the simulations we need on it." Bokomon said. "It should get us to the city while allowing us to get the drop on our enemies."
"Leopardmon is probably still sore from the asskicking Alphamon and Kyoko gave him." Fei pointed out.
Shoma nodded. "Argomon and Arcadiamon might still need time to recover too. This is our chance."
"Then it's agreed." Kyoko said. "We'll depart in one our. Get your final preparations done."
Ami nodded. "We stop the Next Order today...or we die trying."
Alphamon and Kyoko re now part of the Resistance. Now stronger then ever our heroes will soon confront the Next Order at their home base.