Digimon Royale

by ZeothTheHedgehog

After the Digital and Human worlds avoided mutual destruction, coexistence between Digimon and Humans flourished, only for a new evil to rise, that forces them into survival game, the ideal world of the winner made true to entice the Players to help in their goals. Ten Kisei, and his new found partner BEMmon, embark on a journey alongside their friends to dismantle the wicked game.

Dusk Ω - Invitation of Fate

"I already told you no, I'm not buying you Ice Cream today."

A young man spoke into his phone as he navigated the busy streets with a bag in hand, his response clearly not sitting well with the person on the other end.

"But Teeeen."

The whiny voice of a young girl came through the speaker, making Ten sigh. "Listen, I know you like the stuff, but too much isn't good for you," he reasoned, dodging a passerby. "How about this? You've got that exam coming up, right? Do well, and I'll take you to your favorite ice cream place."

"Really?!" Her excitement made him smirk as he shook his head.

"Yeah—it's a promise." He answered, as the girl cheered.

"You better not make this the first promise you break, 'cause I'm gonna ace that exam so hard, you'll have to take me there for life!"

"Hey, don't go changing the promise no—"

Before he could finish, Ten stumbled backward as something solid collided with him, his groceries scattering across the pavement.

"Ten? Are you okay?!" the girl's worried voice crackled over the phone.

He looked up, and saw ahugepurple-furred lion sporting a black mane, a crate of fruit clutched in its claws. Their eyes met—Ten's green gaze locking with the lion's deep crimson stare. The creature opened its wide, toothy maw...

And apologized.

"Ten!? I'm so sorry, I didn't see you at all!" The purple-furred lion—a MadLeomon—said, hurriedly setting the crate of fruit aside to help Ten to his feet. "You aren't hurt, are you?"

Ten smiled, waving a reassuring hand as he quickly assured the young girl on the line he was fine and promised to talk to her later. "Nah, I'm partly at fault for not watching where I was going, so don't beat yourself up over it, Gao."

Gao's crimson eyes flicked over Ten's outfit, concern creasing his brow. "But your clothes... they looked expensive."

Ten brushed off the dirt with a casual shrug. "Don't worry about it. They're not actuallythatpricey, and a little dirt isn't gonna ruin them."

Surprised, Gao's gaze lingered on Ten's outfit: a white overcoat with blue accents and purple lining over a black shirt, matched with white pants and sleek black shoes. "You could make anything look good, huh?" Gao remarked, grinning as he shook his head.

Ten laughed, meeting Gao's grin with a smirk of his own. "I get that a lot."

"What's going on out here?"

Turning, Gao and Ten spotted a middle-aged man with a sturdy, muscular build stepping out of the store beside them.

"Ah, Mr. Genta, I accidentally bumped into Gao—and, well, you can see the aftermath." Ten gestured to the scattered groceries, prompting a sigh from Mr. Genta.

"I told you to be careful carrying those crates," Mr. Genta chided, glancing at Gao, who looked down, embarrassed. Then, he turned to Ten with a small, apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. Gao forgets how big he is sometimes."

Ten waved it off with an easy smile. "No harm done. I wasn't exactly paying attention to where I was going, so don't be too hard on him."

"Running errands today? Want to bring home fruit? I can offer a sweet deal~" Mr. Genta offered with a grin, as Ten bent down to gather his groceries.

"As tempting as that sounds, I will have to decline." Ten replied, giving him a friendly grin.

Mr. Genta shrugged in defeat. "Figured as much. I know you well enough by now to know changing your mind is a lost cause."

With a chuckle, Ten continued gathering his scattered groceries while Mr. Genta and Gao joined in. As they worked, Mr. Genta glanced over with a curious smile. "So, how's life been treating ya?"

"Good, things have been going well with my club, and my grades are as solid as ever," Ten replied, only to have his black hair ruffled by Mr. Genta.

"Well, aren't you the smart student," Mr. Genta teased. "Now, have you figured out how to get yourself a girlfriend yet?"

A frown crossed Ten's face as he glared at Mr. Genta. "Please don't bring that up. My dad nags me about it enough as it is."

"And we're going to keep nagging you about it!" Mr. Genta exclaimed. "You're at the age to experience love, you know! It's a good lesson, even if your first love doesn't work out. When I was your age—"

"Not listening~" Ten sang cheerfully.

As Ten and Mr. Genta "argued", Gao shook his head with a smile. Meanwhile, a small Digimon peeked out from under the fruit truck, its singular green eye scanning the scene before settling on a solitary can lying just in front of it.

Ten's gaze flicked to the side just as they finished gathering the missing a beat, he vaulted over the truck, running after he landed.

"Ten, where are you going?" Mr. Genta called after him, but Ten was already disappearing down the street.

"Sorry! Got a thief to catch!" Ten shouted back, leaving Mr. Genta and Gao to exchange puzzled looks.

The Digimon darted through the streets, its purple body zipping between the crowds of humans and Digimon. It clutched a can tightly in its grasp, its eye darting around as it took in the bustling scenery. Digimon and Humans cooked and ate meals, preformed to the masses, or constructed tall buildings

Rushing into a quiet alleyway, the Digimon paused, ensuring it was far from prying eyes. Holding the can to its mouth, it opened it, breaking the metal down into digital data before devouring it eagerly. In its frenzy, however, it failed to notice Ten sneaking up behind it, till he grabbed the metal collar around its neck, lifting it off the ground.

The Digimon's eye widened in surprise, shrinking as it stared at Ten. "If you were hungry," Ten said with a smile, "you could have just asked."

---

Having bought some sweet buns while replacing the lost can, Ten placed the Digimon that had ridden on his head onto a park bench before settling down beside it.

"Why are you doing this? The Digimon probed with a synthesized male voice, prompting a raised brow from Ten.

"What do you mean?"

"I stole food you paid for and made you buy a replacement because I consumed it," the Digimon clarified. "Based on my data, you should've handed me to the Digi-Police."

"Well, you're hungry, aren't you?" Ten replied, pulling out a sweet bun.

"Yes, but—" The Digimon didn't get to finish as a sweet bun was shoved in front of his face.

"Then you must've been desperate to resort to stealing and needed help over punishment. It's that simple."

The Digimon held the sweet bun, scanning it with his eye before looking back at Ten. "Why are you giving me this, human?" it asked, irritation flickering in Ten's gaze.

"To eat. And stop calling me 'human.' My name is Ten."

The Digimon stared at him for a few moments, then turned to the bun in his claws. It opened its mouth wide, and its eye widened as it took a "bite", tail swinging gently as it became mesmerized by the taste.

"Want more?" Ten asked with a smile, holding out another bun.

The Digimon eagerly extended his hands toward the bun, its eye sparkling with excitement, prompting Ten's smile to widen.

"Well, look who it is." A haughty voice cut through the air, causing Ten to turn and spot two girls from school strutting toward him.

"I didn't expect to see a loser like you today, Ten Kisei," one of them— the tallest—taunted, a smirk plastered across her face. The Digimon beside Ten scanned the two girls curiously.

"I'm not surprised," the second girl chimed in, poking a finger in Ten's face. "He always seemed like the type to wander around because he doesn't have anything better to do than hang out with his lame friends. When are you gonna start hanging out with someone who actually matters?"

Ten ignored the girls completely, handing the bun to the Digimon sitting beside him, who quickly devoured it.

"Oh?" The first girl's voice dripped with annoyance as she noted Ten's dismissal. "Do you think we're not worth your attention? Maybe Akane, 'the Engine of Destruction,' will change your mind."

"Don't drag me into this, Yuzuriha," a new voice interjected.

The Digimon turned his gaze to the source of the voice, landing on a girl with striking crimson hair and eyes, who wore a simple dark red puffer jacket and black baggy pants. She stood with her arms crossed, staring down Yuzuriha with a look of mild annoyance.

"Ten, do you know them?" the Digimon inquired, glancing between Ten and the girls, inadvertently drawing their attention.

"You don't need to worry about it," Ten replied, handing the Digimon another bun, which he happily accepted.

"Where the hell did you find such an ugly-looking Digimon?" the second girl sneered, pointing at the Digimon next to Ten. "Were all the cool and cute ones unavailable, or did they just not like you, so you had to settle for less?"

"I can't say I'm surprised," Yuzuriha chimed in, glaring at Ten. "He's always gravitated toward weirdos at school. He must realize nobody worth a damn would like him."

Even those words failed to provoke a reaction from Ten, who instead focused on the Digimon as he devoured the bun with delight, which caused Yuzuriha to click her tongue in frustration. However, unbeknownst to her, the words hit their mark, just not theintendedtarget.

Suddenly, Yuzuriha felt a strong grip on her shoulder, causing her to wince in pain as Akane walked past her.

"A-Akane? What are you—?!" Yuzuriha sputtered, a mix of shock and anger in her voice, but her complaints were silenced by Akane's fierce glare.

"Enough, Yuzuriha."

Two words, spoken with a chilling tone, shook Yuzuriha to her core. Akane released her grip and approached Ten, who finally looked up from his new Digimon friend and locked eyes with her.

"I'm sorry for what my friends said."

The unexpected apology prompted Ten to raise a brow, as Akane's friends stood there, stunned. Shrugging, he brushed it off. "I could care less about cawing crows, so you don't need to worry about it," he replied casually, much to Yuzuriha's irritation.

"...I see," Akane said after a moment, glancing at the Digimon next to Ten. "On another note, what Digimon is that?" She asked, making Ten look at her, confusion etched on his face.

"I'm not exactly an encyclopedia on Digimon," Akane replied, "but I do know some things. However, I've never seen this one before."

"I..." Ten glanced down, before shifting his gaze to the Digimon rummaging through the bag on his lap. "Don't know actually, you three showed up before I could ask."

The Digimon paused his searching, suddenly aware it was the center of attention. "So? What's your name?" Ten asked, prompting the Digimon to respond.

"Bug Eyed Monster, Designation: DW3-642O3."

.

.

.

Akane's friends erupted in laughter, their cackles echoing like hyenas in the park. Ten rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "We'll need to think of something else," he muttered, glancing at the Digimon, who tilted his head in confusion.

"BEMmon."

"BEMmon," Akane chimed in, her tone bright and playful.

Everyone fell silent, staring at her in disbelief. "Huh?" Ten finally broke the silence, bewildered.

Akane knelt down, positioning herself so she was face-to-face with the Digimon. 'It uses the initials of 'Bug Eyed Monster,' and it's a cute name for a cute Digimon," she explained, her voice warm and inviting.

The Digimon stared back at her, processing her words, while Ten and Akane's friends exchanged glances, still taken aback by her sudden enthusiasm.

"It's better than nothing," Ten said, as Yuzuriha exclaimed in shock at Akane finding BEMmoncute."Not like I was expecting much from you."

Akane's expression soured as she turned her gaze sharply toward Ten. "What's your problem?" she snapped, irritation evident as Ten simply stared down at her, unblinking.

"I get that Yuzuriha keeps picking fights with you," she continued, "but you're the one who told me not to stop her! I even defended BEMmon just now!"

"What? You think I'm gonna be nice just because you stood up for BEMmon?" His voice dripped with contempt, suddenly shifting his focus to Yuzuriha, who flinched under his gaze. "Considering what other things you let your friends get up to, I don't see a reason to be nice to you."

"Don't listen to him, Akane!" Yuzuriha yelled, her anger spilling over, causing another girl nearby to hush her anxiously.

"I'llhandle it."Akane shot Yuzuriha a chilling glance, silencing her, then turned back to Ten. "What are you talking about?"

Akane said as she sent a chilling glance that silenced Yuzuriha, before looking back to Ten.

Ten's curiosity remained piqued as he crumpled the now-empty snack bag and tossed it into a nearby trashcan. "You're either great at feigning ignorance or completely oblivious to what your friends have been doing."

"Just tell me already—" Akane's patience wore thin as she reached for the collar of his coat, but he caught her wrist with surprising ease, rising to his full height and locking eyes with her in one, fluid motion.

"Ten, I do not believe it is wise to escalate this situation further." BEMmon warned, , but Ten's gaze held steady, his expression unyielding. "Don't worry BEMmon, I don't pick fights I can't win."

"You think you can..." Akane growled, the edge of anger sharpening her tone. Yet, after a sigh, she forced herself to calm. "Just tell me what you mean." Akane said, looking fiercely into Ten's eyes.

For a long moment, they remained locked in a silent staredown, Ten's green eyes boring into her fierce red ones. Yuzuriha bit her lip, a wave of anxiety washing over her as she glanced between them, while the other girl shifted nervously.

"...Alright," Ten Ten finally spoke, breaking the charged silence. Just as Yuzuriha opened her mouth to respond...

DING!

All their phones buzzed with notifications, stirring confusion in Ten's gaze. He almost dismissed it—

"Check it."

Had BEMmon's stayed silent, which made his sudden demand confuse Ten, who turned to him. "...It's probably nothing, BEMmon—"

"Now."

As the humans stared at the adamant BEMmon, a voice chimed from Akane's phone.

"I second that notion," It said, as Akane pulled out her own phone. "Baku, what's wrong?" Akane said to Baku, seemingly the voice that spoke. "I'm getting a bad feeling from it."

As confusion settled in, Akane exchanged glances with Ten and her friends, who all pulled out their phones. They found a single message displayed on the screen—a simple sentence that echoed around the globe.

"Will you fight for your desire?"

Before anyone can even wonder what it meant, BEMmon's head swirled to a black dot that hung above the city, that thendevouredthe sky. In mere moments, a veil of darkness fell over the city in a dome, blocking out the rays of the sun, only splotches of glowing paint that suddenly appeared after being their source of light.

"W-What's going on?!" Akane's second friend said anxiously, huddling closer to the frightened Yuzuriha. "You just bring bad luck don't you?!" Yuzuriha yelled angerly at Ten, who stared at her, as Akane got between them. "Yuzuriha, calm down. Now isn't the time to-"

CRACK!

They froze at sound, Yuzuriha turned around slowly, her eyes stumbling upon a 'Crack' in the air, merely suspended slightly off the ground. Black fog seeped through the seems, before the Crack was shattered open by something falling out of it.

The being that fell out... glitched in place, as it stood, it's appearance resembling the silhouette of an Agumon, a shadowy apparition of the real thing with bloody red orbs for eyes, and a mouthless snout. The Agumon got to its feet like a puppet, locking its eyes onto Akane's friends, causing them to step back in fear.

Then a purple glow formed a seam across its snout, weak at first, then increasing 8n intensity until it burned bright as the Agumon reared back its head, causing Akane's eyes to widen, lips parting to warn her friends, a crimson light emitting from her phone.

Yet she wasn't fast enough, unlike Ten.

"BEMmon."

As the Agumon swung its head forward, ripping itself a liquidly maw as a violet and black fireball ripped through the air, BEMmon slipped between Akane's friends at Ten's command, brandishing his claws as sliced through the violet fireball, causing it explode.

BEMmon's eye shone through the smoke, before he pierced through as he closed the distance, readying to rip the Agumon apart.

"Back off, BEMmon!"

Ten yelled as he caught Akane's friends, who were blown back by the prior explosion. BEMmon wasted no time in obeying the command, backflipping away from the oncoming punch by another Agumon, similar to the first.

The two glared at BEMmon, the Crack behind them expanding more and more, spewing an endless stream of black fog, a dozen shadowy Digimon struggling to get through the small hole. Akane's friends screamed in terror as Ten struggled to get them on their feet, while the initial two Agumon roared as they charged at BEMmon.

Before BEMmon could move, a blazing comet shot past him and the shadowy Agumon, their singed and severed bodies dropping to the ground. The new Digimon skid to a stop, its stone wings that burned white hot cooling back down to their natural color.

"Trouble just keeps finding you, doesn't it, Akane?" The new Digimon spoke, turning to Akane, getting a smile out of her. "It sure does, Baku."

"A Vorvomon." BEMmon stated, having scanned Baku's data, who smirked at him. "Oi, you heard her. I'm not just any Vorvomon, you're speaking to the great Baku himself!" He said confidently with a wink, which didn't phase BEMmon at all, much to his dismay.

"We aren't done yet you two!" Akane exclaimed, BEMmon and Baku turning to Crack, other shadowy Digimon having escaped from it, an uneasy smile coming onto Baku's face as the small horde charged toward them. "This won't be easy, will it?" Baku asked to no one particular.

"Ten," Akane called, as Ten finally got her friends to calm down and onto their feet. "This is probably too much to ask, but I hope you and BEMmon could help—"

"BEMmon, we are getting out of here!"

...huh?

"Ten!" Akane's head swirled back, shocked to see Ten dragging her friends away as they ran away, spotting BEMmon not soon after rushing after them, having left Baku's side just as the horde of Digimon the two were facing began to charge. "You—" Whatever she was about to say, it died in her throat at what she saw.

Theentirecity was surrounded by Cracks, pouring out hordes of shadowy Digimon, up toUltimateLevelsunlike the Rookies they were dealing with, wrecking havoc in the distance.

"Hurry up, Akane!" Ten's voice and Baku's creating a miniature volcanic eruption behind her snapped Akane out of her stupor. "We'll get surrounded if we stay here!" He yelled as BEMmon cut through a shadowy Digimon, making her notice the horde that was closing in on them.

"R-Right!" Akane before she ran after them, turning to Baku. "Clear a path for us, Baku!" She exclaimed, Baku's wings glowing white with heat as he spun, burning the countless shadowy Digimon next to him while launching a ring of fire that burned through the small army of shadowy Digimon.

Planting his feet down as he leaned forward, Baku released a burst of fire from the soles of his feet, launching himself with great speed in order to catch up with the others as they ran the path he created.

Three shadowy Renamon jumped above them firing an array of sharpened leaves toward them. The orbs in BEMmon's claws glowed, producing an orb of yellow light in his palm that he chucked at the array, while Baku simply fired a Petite Flame. The attacks exploded upon contact with the leaves, taking the Renamon with them as the group ran by.

The rest of the city was in pandemonium, armies of shadowy Digimon flooding the streets and attacking anyone they saw.

"Ah!" Akane's friends screamed as a Meramon was sent flying above them and through a building, the group running as fast their legs could muster, a shadowy Stingmon soon following after its prey. Akane helped her frightened friends, biting her lips as she heard the haunting scream of the Meramon

"Keep going!" Ten order pierced through the carnage, as if he sensed what she felt. "We can't possibly help, all we can do is run!"

She understood the logic, but hated how they had let someone succumb to such a horrible fate without doing something,anythingto help, and the frustration in his voice made her think that Ten had felt the same. "Watch out Akane!" Baku cried, Akane noticing the shadowy Stingmon had spotted them, and would had gotten skewered by its arm spike had she not ducked at the last moment. "BEMmon—!"

Before Ten could finish, a dark beam suddenly shot past them, annihilating the Stingmon and the buildings that were in its way, causing the one nearby to come crashing down on the group. "We're going to die!" Akane's second friend screamed in horror as they ran faster. And as a piece of rubble was about to crush them...

『Justice X Punch!』

The mighty cry was heard before a crimson blur cloaked in blue light came flying throw the hordes of shadowy Digimon, erasing them as it went till it crashed into falling rubble about to crush them, shattering it away.

"Are you all alright?" Landing, a Justimon X whirled to them as he spoke, the girls awed and relieved at his arrival. "For the most part," Ten answered on behalf their group, lacking the awe the girls showed as BEMmon slashed at the shadowy Digimon trying to approach. "Do you have a shelter nearby?"

"Yes," Justimon X nodded. "It's not far from here, follow me!" He said, transforming his left arm into its Critical variant, cleaving a path through the horde before the group ran behind him.

---

Baku, BEMmon, and Justimon X tore through the hordes, the four humans running behind them, but Akane's unathletic friends had long since rang out of steam, only able to move due to terror. Akane's second friend tripped, falling forward as a shadowy lunged toward her.

Akane's other friend only got to turn to her attacker as it came closer, unable to even scream... before it dispersed into smoke.

She blinked, glancing to her side to see the shadowy Digimon growling around them, yet not daring to step forward. "We're safe...?" She uttered, before a shadowy Meramon blasted a stream of violet fire, which was blocked by near invisible barrier of electricity, causing her to jump.

"It'sfarsafer inside!" Justimon X said as he picked up the girl and ran into the mall it led the group to.

Inside, Digimon and Humans were huddled together tightly, some far worse for wear, many had looks of fear and despair, and some of the children crying or sniveling. Yet others still held hope, providing care to the wounded and sharing rations.

"Justimon! You're back!" A Thetismon came over as everyone caught their breath, glancing at the rest of the group. "Is this everyone you could find?" She asked, receiving a nod.

"I'm planning to head back out after I check in with the others," He explained, before motioning to Akane as she tried to calm her friends. "Can you help her with that? The current situation has really shaken them." He asked. "I'd be surprised if it hadn't..." Thetismon sighed. "But this is what I'm here for, at least do me a favor and wait for a check-up before you head out."

Justimon X chuckled, giving her a thumbs up as she and Akane led the latter's friends inside with Baku in toe. Before he left, Justimon X turned to Ten, who shooed him away.

Ten leaned against a wall in exhaustion, lazily looking around to find BEMmon, who disappeared while no one was looking. "Ten!" Ten spotted Mr. Genta and Gao running up to him, who were luckily unharmed for the most part.

"Mr. Genta, you're alright." Ten smiled, while Mr. Genta groaned. "Hardly, all hell broke loose once that accursed dome fell over our heads." He said, gritting his teeth in irration. "What the hell is going...?!"

"That's something I'd like to know myself," Ten said seriously, looking ahead. "I take it even Mega Level Digimon can't break that dome?" He asked, prompting a sigh from Mr. Genta. "Unfortunately, Justimon X said he already tried everything, but it just swallows the force of his attacks." He said regrettably.

"Contact with the outside has also been lost, so we don't even know if or when we'll be rescued." Gao said worriedly. "We have plenty of rations here in the mall, but they won't exactly last forever..."

Ten narrowed his eyes upon hearing that bit of information. "That complicates things..." He said, deep in thought.

And that was when a bottle of water came into view.

The three turned to BEMmon, who offered the bottle to Ten. "Where did you run off to?" Ten asked as he toke the bottle, thanking BEMmon as he did so. "We've been running nonstop till now, and so I went to acquire some water for you." BEMmon explained statically. "I apologize if my disappearance caused any distress."

Mr. Genta and Gao blinked at BEMmon as Ten lowered the bottle. "No, it didn't. Was just wondering where you went." Ten brushed it off, before noticing the confusion on Mr. Genta's and Gao's faces. "This the little thief I went after, BEMmon." He introduced, BEMmon offering a greeting that Mr. Genta and Gao awkwardly returned.

"How does the barrier outside work?" Ten asked, having recovered enough to stand straight. "Ah," Gao chimed in, raising a claw. "It would be quicker to show you its source, besides, you need to meet him anyway."

With that, Ten and BEMmon were lead inside, during which did Mr. Genta start whispering to Ten. "Say, we saw some girls your age on our way over, were they with you? Were you... flirting with them before all this went down?" He said with a cheeky grin, much to Gao's exasperation. "Mr. Genta, please."

"Oh come on Gao, what's the harm in asking?" Mr. Genta argued, before turning to Ten. "So? Which one do you like—"

"They're classmates, I ran into them after I found BEMmon, and we were in the middle of an argument." Ten answered cheerfully, disheartening Mr. Genta. "You're no fun..."

"He's... quite the character." BEMmon noted, Gao sighing in response. "Tell me about it. He's probably saying that to lighten the mood, but of all topics..." Gao said, exasperated at his employer's antics.

"Hey! What's wrong in wanting to enjoy a young man's tales of romance?" Mr. Genta asked. "I personally think it would be more fun to discussyourlove life, Mr. Genta." Ten remarked with a smirk, earning a stiffled chuckle from Gao as he flustered Mr. Genta, before he held Ten in headlock. "You little!" Mr. Genta said, although he appeared more amused than insulted.

"I'm glad some people can still be lively, even during these trying times." A voice suddenly said, as the four realize they already arrived at their destination.

An orange pegasus-like Digimon, covered in radiant golden armor lined with green gems stood before them, numerous other survivors huddled by it and the armored Digimon that stood next to it, which had its claws dug into the ground as electricity coerced throughout them.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ten Kisei. I'm Seiya, a Pegasmon X, and the one behind me is Eijiro, a Raijiludomon." Pegasmon X, Seiya, introduced himself and his companion.

"I take it Mr. Genta already told you about me?" Ten asked as he returned the greeting, receiving a nod. "He had indeed spoke highly of you." Seiya commented with a light laugh.

Mr. Genta patted Ten's back. "Of course, I'm sure Ten could come up with some way to get out of this situation, or at least survive!" He proclaimed.

"Too. Loud." Eijiro suddenly spoke rather curtly, causing Mr. Genta to flinch. "Do forgive his tone, Eijiro only recently evolved, so he requires focus when expanding his personal shield over the mall." Seiya explained, which brought Ten back to his initial question.

"And I take it you're the reason those shadowy Digimon can't just force their way in here?" Ten asked, Seiya's expression lighting up in surprise.

"Indeed, my Secret Wall wards off evil Digimon," Seiya explained, then motioning to his wings. "Normally, I cannot expand it out of my own vicinity, but by feeding its data through Eijiro, I can imbue it into his own barrier."

"Based on the description, we can't use it to puncture a whole out of here..." Ten said as he pondered. "Indeed, though I have tried on the off-chance it might work." Seiya said apologetically. "No problem, whoever set up this dome must have something acting as it's core, getting rid of that and it should disapate." Ten said as he was deep in thought, but Seiya caught onto a particular word.

"Who... so you thinksomeonetrapped us here?"

Ten spoke seriously as he looked at Seiya. "Yes, before the dome appeared, my classmates and I received a strange message, although I have yet to confirm if we were the only ones." Mr. Genta's eyes suddenly widened before he pulled out his phone.

"Is this it? I got it around the same time." He said, presenting his phone to Ten. "Yeah, it is." Ten confirmed. "It would be awfully convenient if somebody sent this as a prank just a few moments before the dome appeared."

"I had hoped this was some unintended phenomenon we could just weather out... it appears that will not be possible." Seiya said as head hung low. "But to create a barrier able to completely absorb the attacks of Mega Level Digimon and of such magnitude, I don't think even Eijiro's barrier can compare."

"Indeed, whoever created that dome is certainly formidable." Ten said as he crossed his arms. "But as I said, the dome must have something generating it, so as long as we can find and destroy it-"

"How do you intend to that...?"

One of the survivors, a man wearing a suit, asked as he suddenly stood up, his face was riddled with panic and fear as he spoke, Ten turning to him with a calm look of indifference.

"Supposing this core of yours exists, where would begin to find it?"

"There's certainly quite the number of places it could be hidden," Ten admitted. "We'll simply need to check them all—"

"And risk our lives based on your theory?!"

The man yelled angerly, causing the other survivors around him to jump, and others to start murmuring among themselves. Ten's stare soured, but he stayed silent as the man went on his tirade.

"Sir, I understand what your feeling but—" Gao attempted to calm the man, only to receive a swift "SHUT UP!" in response.

"How could you understand? Did you not see those armies of shadowy Digimon?! And you want us to go out there to find and destroy some core?!" The man exclaimed, overcome with emotion. "This boy wishes to make us risk our lives! How many would need to be sacrificed to find this core, let alone destroy it!?"

"Ten won't let anyone get hurt—!" Gao hurriedly said, only forTento retort him. "As preferable as that is, that would be impossible. There are far too many enemies, the chances of any search parties we send out to return safely are incredibly low."

Gao was dumbfounded by Ten's reply, and the man shoved a finger in their direction accusingly.

"So you really intend to throw our lives away?! Assuming your 'core' even exists, how can you be sure it's inside the dome?!"

"We aren't," BEMmon chimed in. "But the probability of it existing inside are equal to it being out the dome, and the only method to confirm is by checking all possible locations inside the dome itself." He said matter-of-factly, which only seemed to anger the man even more.

"WellIwon't let my life be sacrifice based on mere probabilities!"

"Don't be stupid," Ten said sharply, much to Gao's horror as he tried to keep Ten silent. "We lost contact with the outside world, and a war of attrition isn't something we can win." He explained rationally. "If we don't at least try to get rid of the dome ourselves, we'll eventually be killed regardless."

"So that means you can use our lives just to save your own skin?!"

Akane, Baku, Thetismon, and Justimon X came over to check the commotion just as the man's words were yelled, making the other survivors even more unsettled, some even rising in support of him. Not that Ten could blame them, the man had raised valid points, however—

"It's our best chance of survival." Ten said resolutely, which seemed to bring the man to his boiling point.

"I WON'T! I WILLNOTALLOW YOU TO MAKE ME THROW MY LIFE AWAY BECAUSE OF YOUR—"

"Sooooo boooorrrriiiiiinnng~!"

An female voice suddenly echoed through the mall, causing everyone to freeze. The man who seemed ready to attack Ten right then there looked around fearfully, while Akane and Baku got prepared for a fight, alongside Thetismon and Justimon X.

Ten stood still as Mr. Genta got closer to him, ready to brawl at a moment's notice, BEMmon and Gao brandishing their claws as they scanned the area.

Then, Ten's eyes lowered to Mr. Genta's phone that he still held, watching as it and his own phone— no, all of the electronic visual displays in the mall lit up, spewing shinning streams of data that coalesced into virtual screens that hovered in the air around the mall.

A beautiful woman in a black dress with an open thigh, similarly black long hair tied in a low pony tail, standing in a wireframe cube appeared on the screens, her crimson eyes staring at the frightened survivors in a... cutesy and frustrated way?

"Boring, boring, boring! Why are there so many spineless humans!?" The woman complained with puffed up cheeks, despite seemingly being human herself.

"Wha-what is going on?!"

The man from earlier screamed as he collapsed to the floor, backing away as the woman seemed to glare at him in particular. "'WhA-wHaT iS GoINg On?!', that's how you sound like!" The woman mockingly repeated the man, exaggerating parts of his sentence. "I knew there'd be some spineless cowards, but to think there'd be this many across the world."

"Across the world? So this isn't just happening here?" Ten calmly inquired, ignoring the insulted man.

The woman smirked arrogantly as her gaze focused on him. "Of course, how else can we get a descent number of participants?"

"Participants? Ah, sorry for the insistent questions, part of why everyone is so hesitant is due in part lack of knowledge on our current predicament." Ten replied casually, brandishing a smirk of his own.

"Well, I'm not even supposed to interfere like this..." The woman said as she pondered, before shrugging. "But I guess there no helping it now, and if it will help you get a move on, then listen up, my dear poor, pitiful, and pathetic future participants!" She exclaimed, before twirling in place as she continued. "You shall get an early explanation of the DGR, brought to you by the adorable, wonderful, and beautiful Nithe-Chan ︎~!"

The woman, Nithe, stopped in a dime as she finished, making a heart shape with her hands as she winked, her cheerful tone baffling everyone, bar Ten and BEMmon.

"The battlefield you find yourself in, the Vígvöllur," Nithe began. "Is part of the Preliminary Round of the DGR, a survival game where Humans and their Digimon partners fight against the hordes of Draugr, ghost data of vile Digimon from the Dark Area that have long since lossed their minds."

"YOU THINK THIS NIGHTMARE IS A GAME—?!" The man from earlier yelled, but Ten's and Nithe's intense glares soon silenced him.

"The point of the Preliminary Round is to gather the starting group of participants, by having them defeat the 'king' of the Vígvöllur, earning their freedom." Nithe explained... then pouted like a child as she crossed her arms, one of her crimson-nailed fingers tapping away at her elbow. "Which brings us to the problem, the king of your Vígvöllur is sleazy one, and was planning to just keep hiding until you all died." She said, her voice was filled with frustration.

"Why..."

As the survivors began to go into a panic, the man from before devolving into an incoherent mess, Akane spoke, prompting an exasperated glance from Nithe. "Why would you even do this?! Endangering so many people, all for the sake of your messed up game?!" She interrogated, stomping up to one of the screens.

"It's not like there's no reward for winning—" Nithe began to say, only to be interrupted by Akane's aggressive yell. "What reward is worth sacrificing countless lives?!"

"Your heart's greatest desire, of course."

Nithe said so casually, that Akane needed a moment to fully comprehend what she heard. "...Huh?" Akane breathed, looking at Nithe as if she was crazy, which gave her huff in return.

"You heard me, the one who wins the entire DGR will have their greatest wish made into reality." Nithe said, with her arms wide open. "Becoming rich, curing an incurable disease, bringing back a loved one from the dead, even conquering the world! Any wish you may have, itwillbe granted."

Everyone fell silent after the declaration, baffled at what they had just heard. Granting any wish... was such a thing possible? Akane's face seemed to consider the thought before shaking her head. "You expect me to believe that?!"

"Whether youdobelieve it or not is irrelevant," Nithe said. "You'll all die if the King isn't defeated regardless, and he won't face you."

"That's...!" Akane trailed off as Baku glared at Nithe with clenched teeth.

The shelter began to fall to horror, children held their parents in fear, some survivors had even began having mental breakdowns, starting fights as others attempted calm them down. "Please calm down!" Justimon X said as he tried to control the situation, and glared at Nithe who simply twirled her hair, as if their plight was none of her concern.

"Bring him out then."

Ten's voice pierced through the hysteria, evoking a shocked look from all nearby, and a raised eyebrow from Nithe. "Ten—?!" Akane got to say before the man from earlier recovered, yelling with all his might. "YOU'RE PLAYING ALONG?! YOU REALLY WANT TO GETS ALL KIL—!"

BEMmon jumped in front of the man, knocking him out with a single punch, getting an amused "HA!" from Baku.

"That's..." Nithe trailed off, glancing at BEMmon.

"I'd find it hard to believe you lack the ability to force the King of our Vígvöllur out in the open," Ten said, ignoring the man entirely, taking back Nithe's attention. "I can't do that," Nithe refused in a flat tone, giving Ten a bored look. "I already disobeyed my master's orders by interfering this much."

"Won't your master be disappointed if a round of the Preliminaries was ruined because its king refused to preform its duty?" Ten asked, a calm smile on his face. "And I'm sure you dislike the tactic the King of our Vígvöllur is using, you probably even told it to come out before only for it to refuse."

"..." Nithe stayed silent, yet her gaze has shifted as Ten continued.

"So just force him out then," Ten said, a hand reaching to Nithe. "That way the Preliminary can go as planned, and you won't lose any participants just because the King was too cowardly to fight." He reasoned. "I'm prepared to take responsibility for talking you into this, if your master still feels a punishment is necessary."

Everyone at shelter could simply watch on with baited breath, Akane anxiously staring at Ten, who exuded an air of unbelievable confidence.

He stared into Nithe's eyes, who peered soullessly into his with a blank expression, as if to gaze into his soul itself.

Some of the other survivors, although focused on Nithe and Ten's stand-off, had spared BEMmon a few glances as he stood like a statue over the unconscious man he knocked out, eye locked on Ten without a muscle moving a single inch.

Justimon X and Thetismon also mostly watched in silence, although the latter was more busy healing those hurt in the earlier fights, and the farmer's fingers twitched every so often.

Seiya seemed composed, yet his body unconsciously tense, twisting his hooves against the ground, even Eijiro seemed restless, his eyes focusing on Ten one moment, then snapping around the area the next.

Then Nithe suddenly raised her hand, causing everyone that wasn't Ten or BEMmon to flinch.

Her thumb and middle finger touched, as a smirk, whether mischievous, amused, or malicious, spread across her face. "For the record," She spoke rather calmly, yet her tone had only unsettled the crowd. "I already know you're playing me." Ten's grin widened upon hearing her words.

"But I'll bite."

SNAP!

Wth a simple snap of Nithe's finger, the ground began to shake violently, throwing the shelter into chaos once more.

"Wha—?!" Akane held onto Baku to maintain her balance, as Justimon X and the other Digimon in the shelter protectively covered the humans and weaker Digimon as the roof shook.

The screens that displayed Nithe flickered, changing to a part of the city, massive and numerous chains dug into the ground, attempting to unearth something which fought furiously against them in vain, as it finally surfaced, causing the ground to calm, yet no one noticed as they looked upon what came out.

It looked like mass of tar or inky mud that, like the Draugr, made out the silhouette of a Digimon that appeared to be plant-like due the vines connected to its body.

The King of Draugr, that was all they could believe it was, a massive beast that toward above buildings, roared in rage, spreading a purple smog from a mouth on its abdomen that seemed to disintegrate all of the Draugr unluckily nearby.

The smog even began eating away at buildings, causing them to melt as it spread through the streets, before a red cube grid was created around the beast, entrapping both it and its smog in, then quietly vanished out of sight.

The chains let go of the beast, dropping it on ground as they retracted back into the Vígvöllur, the beast subsequently attempting to rebury itself in the ground, only to growl in frustration as it failed.

"Hydramon..." Akane muttered unconsciously in a mixture of shock and terror, stepping back as she identified which Digimon the Draugr King was. "The poison it expels from its body is capable of dissolving or melting any that touch it, which it also spews from the mouth on its abdomen as a gas—"

"AKANE!"

Baku hurriedly snapped Akane out of her unconscious rambling as he recovered from his own shock, stopping her from rattling the survivors even more than she already had.

"There ︎~!" Nithe pushed the display of Hydramon to the corner of the screens, as she came back into view. "The Draugr King is now revealed and ready to fight! I hope you don't regret your decision now~"

She said playfully, watching on expectedly as the shelter immediately broke into disarray.

"We have to fightTHATthing?!"

"Fight? Didn't you hear what that girl said?! We'd melt before we even got close to that monstrosity!"

"Mom, I don't want to die!"

"It's over, it's over, IT'S ALL OVER! Why can't my miserable life just end peacefully?!"

Akane bit her lip as she heard the despaired voices of the shelter that drowned the others who tried to regain the order, even as they themselves seemed to have lost hope, ashamed her unconsciously verbalizing of her thoughts had worsened the situation.

She helplessly looked to Ten, whose face hung low as Nithe smirked acutely at him.

"What's wrong?" Nithe spoke softly, like one's crush whispering in their ear, gazing at Ten with a mockery of a kind and worried expression on her face. "Didn't you want this?" She tauntingly asked, taking pleasure in watching Ten's shoulders quake. "I understand how impossible it seems, but you can't give up."

Akane clenched her fists so tightly her nails threatened to draw blood, as she heard Nithe "encouraged" Ten as she held her hands in prayer, closing her eyes.

"In order to go back home, to hold your family, to save all these innocent people, youmustdefeat the Draugr King." Nithe spoke like a trained actress, perfectly portraying the role she toke and the emotion it needed.

Yet the second her eyes opened, revealing inhuman eyes that betrayed her wickedness.

"You're our only hope, Ten Kisei," Nithe spoke gleefully. "Be the hero we—"

"Heh..."

Nithe and Akane froze, blinking in place as Ten struggled to contain his own laughter, his giggling spreading across the shelter, some of the survivors slowly turned to him.

He spread his arms wide, before he suddenly—

Clap!

—Began to clap and laugh like a madman.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!"

His laughter, which should've been drowned by the hysteria flooding the shelter, yet it had rung clearly as it silenced the panic, drawing the full attention of nearly all of the survivors.

"Have you... gone mad or—?"

"Thank you, Nithe! You made everything so much simpler!"

Ten's sudden gratitude interrupted Nithe's question, even causing her jump as she stared at him, genuinely wondering if the despair broke him.

"Did you not see this thing?" She asked, baffled by Ten's behavior, pointed at the image of Hydramon still attempting to bury itself in the ground, even going as far to blast beams from its three heads at the invisible barrier.

"Yes, I did!"

His thunderous cry caused Nithe to flinch as he stepped away from Gao and Mr. Genta. "And because of that, I can kill it." He arrogantly, no,confidentlyproclaimed.

"Did you not hear what that tacky looking girl said?! How do you think you have a chance?!" Nithe asked, convinced that Tenreallyhad a few screws loose. "Of course I did," Ten spoke, ignoring Akane's complaints about being called tacky looking, staring right into Nithe's eyes as he stepped ever closer to one of the screens. "But that means she can help me find a way to beat it."

The screen Ten strode to began hoveringawayfrom him as he got up close and personal, Nithe putting up her hands as if to hold him from getting too close.

"You're certainly c-confidant..." Nithe said, a stutter fleeing her lips for the first time.

"Of course, confidant enough to ask for arewardin fact." Ten said, widening Nithe's eyes before her brow furrowed at his audacity. "I can't do that, wishes aren't meant to-" Nithe was once again interrupted by Ten before she could finish. "Oh what I want is something onlyyoucan do for me, Nithe." His statement made Nithe malfunction.

"Huuuuuuh?" She spoke dumbly, even more befuddled than before.

"It's not like I won't give you anything in return," Ten said, a wide grin across his face as he back the screen into a wall, Nithe struggling to look him in the eyes. "I will be showing you a highlight you willneverforget, so I hope you can look past my greed this once." He promised.

"F-Fine! Let's see if you can back up those words!" Nithe said, before the feed of Hydramon filled the screen, a satisfied expression appearing on Ten's face.

"That was quite the bold move you did there," Baku spoke up, getting Ten's attention as he and Akane approached.

"T-Ten..." Akane said, looking at Ten with worry written on her face. "Are you sure about this...?" She apprehensively whispered, as to not arouse the worries of the still unsettled survivors.

"Do you know this thing?" Ten simply asked, pointing his thumb at Hydramon. "Yes, but—" Akane tried to say, but then Ten stopped her.

"Then yes, I'm sure." Ten said with a reassuring smile that failed to ease Akane's anxiety. "I'm not underestimating that thing, but the only guarantee we can survive this is by taking it down."

"He's right," Justimon X agreed, before addressing the survivors. "I understand how everyone is feeling, but right now, our only chance for survival is by working together to take Hydramon down."

"You're all insane..."

The man from earlier woke up, BEMmon glancing down on him as he rambled. "You want to fightTHAT?! Have you all lost your minds?!" He yelled before standing, BEMmon returning to Ten's side at the his signal where Baku offered him a fist bump.

"Maybe," Ten said, eyeing the man lazily. "If that's what it takes to get out of this alive."

The man held his head in horror, his rambling going unabated. "You're insane, you're all insane, do you hear m—?!"

The man was once again knocked unconscious, but rather than by BEMmon's fist, the back end of a rifle came down on his head.

"We hear youloudand clear." A humanoid vulture Digimon said, irritated.

"Vulturemon, you're back!" Justimon X exclaimed as he recognized the new arrival, who only acknowledged him with a nod.

"I'm sorry you had to return to such a situation, Vulturemon." Seiya apologized, only for Vulturemon to shrug it off. "No worries, you can catch me up on the details later, but I take it that this," He said, pointing at a screen next to him with the muzzle of his rifle. "Is what we're taking down."

"Pretty much," Ten confirmed. "We just need to think of how."

"I believe we haveotherthing to deal with first." Gao said, looking at the wary eyes the survivors gave them, murmurs filling the air. "This unease will only cause problems..."

Ten stayed silent, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Well?"

Mr. Genta suddenly spoke up, looking at the other survivors with an irritated look. "If anyone got any complaints, now is the best time to bring them up." The survivors shrunk in his gaze as he spoke, only one brave enough to step forward.

"I understand defeating that thing is our only option, but-" He eyed Ten as he spoke, selecting his words carefully. "Can we really thrust someone who was willing to risk our lives to hunt down something we didn't know existed until now?"

A valid concern, from almost seemingly getting forced to risk one's life based on a stranger's theory, to being expected to trust them to save all of their lives, and yet—

"That's it? That's what got you all rattled?"

Mr. Genta responded as if it wasn't.

"We don't need you to trust him, we just need you to not start causing trouble." Mr. Genta said simply, as of it wasn't a big deal. "And he wasn't going to risk anyone—"

"But—"

"—Hewas going to go looking on hisown."

The survivor promptly shut his mouth, both out of surprise from the statement, and fear of Mr. Genta's tone, who hadn't taken kindly to being interrupted, sending a venomous glare.

Akane herself sent a surprised look to Ten, who nonchalantly shrugged. "Like I said, we're bound to lose some people if we went in groups, that's why I would've went looking by myself. " He explained. "Nithe making that unnecessary is simply a bonus."

"See?" Mr. Genta asked harshly, the survivors mostly staying silent, whether out of fear or not was up in the air. "Now sit tight while we handle this."

Mr. Genta's method aside, the survivors had more or less decided to stay calm. His job finished, Mr. Genta turned to Ten with a serious look. "Stay sharp out there, that thing isn't going down easy." He said looking Ten in the eye. "I'm no use to you out there, but if Gao could help in any way..."

Ten gave Mr. Genta a reassuring smile, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I got it, don't worry." Ten said, before going up to Vulturemon to debrief him on the situation, leaving Mr. Genta staring at his back.

"Ten is..." Akane absentmindedly muttered next to Mr. Genta. "...Far more selfless than I thought."

A hollow laugh escaped Mr. Genta, evoking confusion from Akane. "Selfless? I guess that how it looks like." He said cryptically but elaborate no futher, leaving Akane staring at Ten, before Baku impatiently told her to hurry up and dragged her over, after a silent moment.

---

Hydramon had ceased its attempts to escape, opting to glare angerly in front of him, awaiting any "challengers", so it could get things over with, his Biotoxin having completely covered the ground around itself in a thick fog.

The other Draugr stayed a fair distance away, fearing their king's prison would give way and release the poison clouds that would devour them in mere moments. Their movements had become less erratic and more organized, which had surprisingly benefited Ten's group, allow them to sneak their way to Hydramon's location unabated.

Ten, Akane, and Baku stood atop a building left of Hydramon, watching as a light flashed in one of the buildings right in front of it. Turning to the sky, Ten spotted a vague silhouette amidst the low lighting of the dome, which he nodded contentedly in response. "Everyone's in position, good."

Yet, he noticed Akane's hand shaking out of the corner of his eye. "Still nervous?" He asked, Akane jumping slightly in response. "I thought the 'Engine of Destruction' would have better nerves than that."

"Please don't call me that, it's embarrassing." Akane sighed, to which Baku laughed at wholeheartedly. "I told you I should've thought a nickname for you! Now you're stuck with what those punks you beat had thought up!" He said, embarrassing Akane even more. "You would've made up something worse!" She exclaimed.

"Besides, I can think of way better names, in fact—!" Before Akane could ramble on, Ten held a hand up to stop her, both him and Baku sharing a look of doubt. "While I would love to hear your alternative nicknames," Ten spoke, voice dripped with sarcasm. "Now isn't the time, is it?"

Flustered, yet noticeably calmer, Akane cleared her throat. "Ri-Right." She said, as Ten lazily stared toward her.

"...It's not too late you know," Ten suddenly spoke, prompting a curious gaze from Akane. "To go back to the shelter I mean, I need to be here to make sure everything goes according to plan, or to improvise if something went wrong," He explained. "You don't exactly have a need to be here."

Akane and Baku looked surprised at first, before Akane let out a chuckle while Baku smiled. "I didn't think you'd be concerned about me."

"Not liking you doesn't mean I want you dead." Ten huffed, much to Baku's amusement. "Are you sure you don't secretly like her instead?" Baku teased, subsequently dodging Ten's fist.

Akane smiled before staring back at Hydramon. "...Baku means a lot more to me than you think, if I hide away while he's risking his life like this..." She balled her fist as she spoke. "I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."

Ten said nothing, the slight twitch of his expression going noticed only by Baku, who refrained from pointing it out.

"Suit yourself." Ten stated, turning to the sky once more, uttering a single word.

"Go."

『Reaper Strike!』

Hydramon looked up once it heard the cry from above, before it was pelted by numerous bullets of compressed sand, which had done nothing but earn its ire. Vulturemon continued shooting nonetheless, avoiding the vines that jutted from Hydramon's poisonous fog.

『Wither Wing!』

Among the volley, some of Vulturemon's shots transformed to condors made of sand, and soon enough, a huge flock was assembled that began to attack Hydramon as well, angering it further.

Just as planned.

A faint light streaked through Hydramon's Biotoxin, going unnoticed by it due to the flock of birds pecking away at it as Vulturemon continued his barrage. That light was Thetismon, protecting herself from the fog by rapidly purifying it with her healing powers.

She weaved through Hydramon's vines as they came up to swat away at Vulturemon, finally making her way to maw on Hydramon's abdomen, diving toward it. And that's when it began to instinctively close, trying to crush Thetismon in its grip, yet she remained undaunted, extending her tentacles outward.

『Dokutease!』

In an instant, Thetismon injected massive amounts of unknown medicine into Hydramon's body causing to roar in pain as its fog began to change color, now purified of its toxic properties. Even as the mouth on its abdomen shut tightly, Thetismon suddenly appeared in front of it, floating out of reality as if it was a calm lake.

She smirked mischievously at Hydramon, blowing it a kiss as it charged its Intense Lamptér, with every intention of annihilating her right then there.

『Adieu World~』

Thetismon sung, vanishing as she dove back, evading the beams fired from Hydramon's heads. Thetismon joined Vulturemon in dancing around Hydramon as it kept firing Intense Lamptér, buying time for the fog around them to fully purify.

And when it did, a black shadow rushed within the fog toward Hydramon in a violent frenzy, its legs smashing against the ground before launching it into the air at great speed.

The roar of a chainsaw coming to life caught Hydramon's attention, causing its main head to whirl back in time to see Gao, in his Armed Mode, let out a bloodcurdling roar, his eyes burning with crimson madness as he spun in the air, his chainsaw arm catching alight, becoming a massive piller of dark flame.

Gao swung at one of Hydramon's secondary heads, severing it and burning the stem, causing Hydramon to howl in pain, attempting to charge another Intense Lamptér with its other secondary head to incinerate Gao to a crisp.

"Baku, now!" Akane ordered Baku, who launched himself forward with a quick burst of flame as light enveloped his body. "Show those damn bastards what they'll get for endangering so many lives!"

The light coating Baku's body grew brighter and brighter, as Baku himself began to morph in appearance, becoming bigger than he was before, and developing spouts of smoke on his back, that ignited alongside his light, turning him into a blazing arrow that tore through the air.

『Burning Divider!』

Baku roared as he shot right through the head preparing to fire, causing it to harmlessly discharge the energy it had accumulated as it was severed like the first, its stem burned away.

Those in the shelter watched the battle unfold upon the myriad of screens Nithe used to speak to them, their fear, doubt, and despair steadily replaced by awe, excitement, and hope.

But Ten didn't share their enthusiasm, because he knew—

"None of the Digimon in the shelter are strong enough to beat Hydramon."

BEMmon stated during the time they were planning this attack, using the screens Nithe used to analyze Hydramon from the shelter.

"That much huh?"

Ten had guessed as much at the time, but hoped he was wrong.

"Even if we all fought to the bitter end, the chances we can defeat Hydramon are low."

This had troubled them greatly, but before they struggled for a solution, BEMmon already had one.

"There is still something we can do, I have a move that allows me to devour the data of other Digimon."

This had surprised them, and when asked why he hadn't revealed that much sooner, or why they couldn't simply use it to finish Hydramon off in one blow.

"It requires direct contact with the target, and their data needs to be in unstable state, such as after being defeated in battle, for there to be a smooth absorption."

This explained things, but then prompted the question of why he suggested it if beating Hydramon was the wanted to do.

"From what I could grasp, as well as what Nithe had told us, the Draugr's data is in a constant state of instability, only barely holding itself together."

That was amazing news to the group, as if meant they simply had to neutralize Hydramon's Biotoxin and get BEMmon close enough to finish the job. Yet it wasn't as simple.

"There is no guarantee I can fully absorb Hydramon's data, or even to a point it's weak enough that we can defeat it."

This complicated things, but Ten decided they'd go for it, as it was all they had to increase their chances, as much of a gamble as it was.

Back in the present, Vulturemon reached for the passenger on his back, tossing BEMmon with all his might towards Hydramon's still screaming central head. BEMmon dug his claws into Hydramon's forehead with blue spark of energy, getting its attention as it commanded its vines to attack BEMmon.

Ten watched as the vines sped towards BEMmon as he began raising his head high, opening his mouth, Ten vividly remembering when he asked BEMmon what his move was called.

『Fusionize』

In a flash of blue light, BEMmon let out an ethereal shriek that drowned out Hydramon's agonized howl, as bolts of blue energy shot out from BEMmon, devouring the vines that had came up to him, and eating away at Hydramon's body.

Hydramon, despite the damage it had accumulated, still endured, withstanding the pain as it attempted once more to pry BEMmon off, but that was when a crimson blur shot to the sky, filling it with its own blue light, and that blur—

—Was Justimon X.

His right arm toke on its Blitz form, his left toke on its Critical form, and his left leg toke on its Accel form. With all three active simultaneously via ABC-sert, Justimon X was at the height of his power, as he readied his strongest attack.

『Justice X Kick!』

Justimon X roared as he was propelled forward, aiming his Accel Leg toward Hydramon's forehead. BEMmon doubled the strength of his Fusionize the closer Justimon X got, waiting until the last moment to jump into Justimon X's arms, before a blinding explosion of light erupted the moment Justimon X made contact.

The light swallowed everyone in the vicinity whole, Hydramon letting a agonized howl as Justimon X roared, Vulturemon and Thetismon looking on anticipation, as Akane, Baku, and Gao shielded their eyes, while Ten stared intensely into the light that shattered the invisible barrier that had trapped Hydramon.

The survivors awaited for the light to die down, praying with all their hope that Hydramon was vanquished.

And when the light finally died down, Hydramon—

—Had the upper part of its body disintegrated.

A loud chorus of celebration broke out in the shelter, everyone happy that Hydramon was defeated and that they were all saved.

Justimon X walked out of the crater he created upon his landing, looking at BEMmon who was curled up in his embrace. "You alright?" He asked, receiving a nod as he set BEMmon down.

"That's good." Justimon X said happily, as Vulturemon and Thetismon flew down to them. "You two are certainly flashy," Thetismon commented, glancing on singed half of Hydramon, before smiling at Justimon X and BEMmon. "But good job nonetheless."

"Your gamble seems to have worked." Vulturemon said to BEMmon, who... stayed silent, which Vulturemon toke notice of. "What's wrong?" He questioned, receiving no answer as BEMmon scanned Hydramon's remains.

"We did it..." Akand breathed, full of shock and awe as she turned to Ten. "We won! Your plan worked Ten!" She excitedly said to Ten, who... looked tense.

"...Ten?" Akane called out to him, a hand reaching for his shoulder, taking his eyes away from Hydramon's remains. "...The Vígvöllur is still there." He said, returning his eyes to the scorched half of Hydramon.

"Maybe it takes some time for it to dissipate?" Akane guessed, before alarm came onto her face. "Do you think Akane lied to us?!" She asked, but Ten immediately dismissed the idea. "No, something else is wrong." He said, unable to figure out what.

Baku and Gao made their way to their allies after having landed, the former excitedly while the latter trudged, still trying to calm down from his frenzied state. But because of this, Gao caught glimpse of movement in the smoke emitted from Hydramon's remains, as anarmslowly rose in BEMmon's direction.

Eyes widening, Gao forced his maddened mind to howl a single world, catching everyone by surprise.

"SCATTER!"

But just as he said it, as he charged forward to attack the new enemy, Gao was skewered by a vine, thousands more exploding from Hydramon's remains.

"What?!" Thetismon exclaimed.
"Shit!" Vulturemon yelled.
"Move!" Justimon X ordered.
"Huh?!" Baku said in shock.
"...!" BEMmon's eye widened.
"How—?!" Akane gasped.
"DAMN IT!" Ten cursed.

Everyone responded one after the other, while the survivors in the shelter descended to disarray, Mr. Genta's faced frozen in shock.

Everyone scattered to avoid the vines, Thetismon and Vulturemon taking to the sky as the vines chased them, Justimon X charging forward with his Critical Arm after tossing BEMmon away, cutting the vines in his path to reach their source, spotting a figure among them.

"Hyah!" Justimon X exclaimed as he swung, cutting the figure in half, only to notice it was nothing more than a bundle of vines. "Wha-?" Before he could finish asking, a green stained hatchet slashed at his back, before his assailant reared back for another blow that he narrowly blocked.

"An Ajatarmon?!" Akane exclaimed as she recognized the new foe, a Draugr variant of an Ajatarmon, but it wasdifferent.Unlike the other Draugr, who were only black masses shaped like Digimon whose eyes burned crimson, it also had splotches of green paint spread across its body. "Is that the real King?!"

"Was Hydramon just acting as an outer shell?!" Ten asked as he watched Justimon X be overwhelmed Ajatarmon's rapid swings, receiving numerous cuts before he was kicked away, a set of vines ensnaring him before repeatedly slamming into the ground.

"Impossible! Ajatarmon is supposed to be an Ultimate Level Digimon, Justimon shouldn't have had a problem with him!" Akane exclaimed. "Clearly it's quite the strong Ultimate." Ten grit his teeth.

『Heat Claw!』

Baku rushed toward Ajatarmon, brandishing his heated claws in a swipe that Ajatarmon easily sidestepped, before subsequently raising its hatchet to strike Baku from behind, whose eyes narrowed into slits.

『Exhaust Explosion』

The minerals Baku spouted from his body ignited, creating a miniature explosion that forced Ajatarmon back.

Where BEMmon came charging in, a yellow orb of light in hand, with the intention of slamming it in Ajatarmon's face, only to be batted away by one of Ajatarmon's own vines. As BEMmon flew away, Baku charged back in, his wings burning white hot as they slashed at Ajatarmon, who easily evaded.

Just as Baku went for another slash did vines suddenly grabbed him by the throat, lifting him in the air, tightening their grip as to choke him. "Baku-!" Akane exclaimed, but just as she did—

—Did her neck start to "glitch."

She collapsed to the floor much to Ten's surprise, clutching her throat as she struggled to breath. "Akane!" Ten worriedly called as he held her. "What's wrong?!"

"Can't...breath...argh!" Akane struggled to utter, before she doubled over in pain. "What the hell...?!" Ten asked, racking his mind as he attempted to make sense of the situation. That was when he felt something, someone's gaze centered on him. Turning, he found out who.

Ajatarmon,staringright at him.

"Shi—!" The second Ten had processed what was going on, Ajatarmon held its reached its hand towards Ten and Akane, causing vines and roots to attack the building they stood on. Ten immediately embraced Akane as the building collapsed, in order to shield her as they fell.

---

"...!"

Akane's eyes twitched, her breath was still strained, but less than before. She felt something... warm, coercing through her, like a tender touch that alleviated the pain all over her body. The last thing she remembered was the building she and Ten were on suddenly collapsing.

"A...ne!"

"...m...wn!

She felt someone gripping her shoulders desperately, calling out to her. She didn't recognize the voice at first, her hearing all kinds of messed up, likely from the fall. The fact a second voice was arguing with first.

She forced her eyes open, her vision vague and blurry, but she could make out that someone was in front of her. And as her vision cleared-

"T...en...?"

Akane groggily asked, finally able to see Ten's worried expression clearly. A relieved sigh escaped once he noticed she awoke, letting go of her as he leaned back. Akane tried to sit up, only to wince in pain, spotting glitches across her body. "Don't move." Thetismon said from above, whose lap Akane realized she rested upon.

Akane heard the sound of vines whipping the floor, compressed sand being shot, and the charge of energy from outside the ruined building they were in.

"What...happened...?" Akane asked, a frustrated Ten clicking his tongue. "Ajatarmon destroyed the building you two were on, I barely caught you before you got crushed." Thetismon explained as she embraced Akane, soft light right beneath her touch. "Vulturemon and BEMmon are currently the only ones fighting it off."

"More like entertaining it." Ten angerly cut in. "That thing could finish all of us whenever it wanted to, the only reason it hasn't is because it wants to toy with us." He ruffled his hair in frustration, no doubt silently hurling curses in his mind. "I had a feeling Nithe might have hid something, I should've planned some countermeasure...!"

Akane's eyes blankly stared as she comprehended their words, then shot open as she remembered. She suddenly attempted to stand, catching Thetismon by surprise, only to fall over in pain. "What do you think you're doing?!" Thetismon exclaimed, rushing over.

"I need...to help Baku...!" Akane responded trying to force her aching body forward.

"Don't be stupid!" Thetismon yelled, attempting to hold Akane down. "You are innocondition to do anything!"

"I...can't...just stay here...!" Akane forced out as she attempted to shake Thetismon off her.

"What can you even do?"

Ten suddenly interjected, yet Thetismon felt that his tone... was different. "That doesn't matter...!" Akane exclaimed before Thetismon could speak on the matter. "I need to something...anything...!" She said, struggling even more. "I can't just leave Baku...!"

"Youaren't," Ten said, hints of rage in his voice. "But rushing in without a plan is suicide, we need time—"

"WE DON'T HAVE TIME!" Akane yelled, her trashing intensified as Thetismon attempted to calm her. "Every second we waste is another lost before Ajatarmon decides to kill us!" She exclaimed, ignoring the screams of her body. "Baku was the first friend I ever had! If anything happened to him...!" She shuddered at the thought, before lifting her gaze resolutely. "Even if I die trying, I won't—!"

"Have youevenconsidered how those you leave behind will feel?"

Whatever resolve Akane had mustered was shattered in an instant, when Ten had suddenly grabbed her shoulders roughly, his eyes piercing into hers. "Do you haveanyidea how Baku will feel if you threw you life away just so his can continue?" He asked with a glint in his eyes that Akane never saw before.

Anger, sadness, hatred... all manner of negative emotions seemed to swirl together into a pitch black void that stared back at her.

"How he'll feel everyday, cursing at himself for not having done more? To relive the day he lost you so he could fix everything?!" Ten spoke in anguish, yet it felt as though... he wasn't speaking about Baku.

"Well?!" Ten angerly demanded, gripping Akane with even greater force it felt as though her shoulders will crumble. "Did you?!"

Akane mouthed sentences her mind tried and failed to form, unsure of what to even say.

Not that she the time to find out.

Pixelated light suddenly gushed out of Akane's waist like blood, evoking an agonized wail as she doubled over, clutching her "wound" much to Thetismon's and Ten's mutual shock. "Akane! Hold on!" Thetismon exclaimed, using Dokutease to heal Akane, or at least ease her pain.

Ten stared silently as Akane writhed on the ground, suddenly rushing to an opening among the building's debris, which gave view to Vulturemon's and BEMmon's "battle" with Ajatarmon.

Vulturemon peppered Ajatarmon with shots of condensed sand, which were blocked by vines that immediately chased after Vulturemon, who darted through the air to avoid them.

All the while BEMmon kept rushing toward Ajatarmon, attempting to land any attack it could think of, only to be batted away by another vine, the process repeating over and over.

And then there was Ajatarmon, standing still as a statue over Hydramon's remains as he stared in Ten's direction, Baku now ensnared by another set of vines bound tightly around his neck and body, hurling strained insults in Ajatarmon's way,whose hatchet was lodged in his waist.

Ajatarmon noticed Ten's gaze, its eyes seeming to curve as if itsmiledat him, before it roughly stirred the hatchet it buried in Baku's waist, causing Akane to scream ever louder.

"...Thetismon." Ten called without turning, causing Thetismon to look at him as she tended to Akane. "Take care of Akane."

"Wha- you can't be seriously planning on going out there!" Thetismon exclaimed, only to be reminded of Akane's pain by a yelp. "We unfortunately ran out of time." Ten said matter-of-factly, frustrating Thetismon. "Don't you remember what you just said?!" Thetismon asked.

"I do." Ten confirmed, Akane staring at his back weakly as he moved more rubble. "Then why are you doing this?! You've got as much of a chance Akane has!"

Ten stopped, finally turning his head slightly to the side. "Don't worry about it," he said, before crawling out from among the debris as Thetismon called out to him, Akane hearing the faint sound of the words he told her earlier that day.

"I don't pick fights I can't win."

---

Ajatarmon dislodged its hatchet from Baku's waist, looking pleased as Baku gave it one more insult.

The vines attacking Vulturemon doubled in speed and number, as if they were holding back to prolong the chase, only to immobilize him in an instant, slamming him to the ground soon after.

BEMmon charged back in once more, the dance of weaving through vines attempting to keep him at bay before swatting him away threatening to repeat, as vines came for a swing just as he got in range of Ajatarmon, no doubt sending him flying back... had BEMmon not went past Ajatarmon, instead aiming to free Baku.

But BEMmon's claws came up short, as Ajatarmon caught him by the tail and tossed him away. BEMmon attempted to stop his momentum by digging his feet into the ground.

"...!"

But the ground gave out, causing BEMmon to lose his balance and tumble through the air.

Until he was caught by a certain someone.

"...Ten?" BEMmon asked as he looked to see Ten staring back at him, offering him a smile before turning his gaze to Ajatarmon.

And then rushed forward.

The vines that came to obstruct Ten moved much slower than the ones that immobilized Vulturemon, in fact they were slower than the ones BEMmon had been dodging to attack Ajatarmon, letting him shorten the distance between him and Ajatarmon.

Until the vines sped up, whipping him back as Ajatarmon gazed tauntingly. Ten skid across the ground roughly, grunting as he came to a halt. "Ten, stop this," BEMmon said, concern evident even through his usually monotone voice. "You can't beat it."

Ten didn't answer, only forcing himself back up and charging toward Ajatarmon once more, meeting the same result. "Why are you even doing this?" BEMmon asked, receiving no answer as Ten went for another attempt, the vines faster than before, batting Ten soon after sending him back.

No matter how many times Ten tried, he was flung back over and over, becoming even more battered as time went on. His outfit, long since ruined, was now in tatters. From being inside a collapsing building, to crawling out of it, just to get tossed around like a rag doll.

Slamming his fist into the ground as he forced himself up through gritted teeth, Ten glared at the amused Ajatarmon. "Stop it Ten, your body can't handle more of this." BEMmon warned, as if Ten wasn't aware of how much pain his body felt as he let out a hollow laugh.

"You don't stand a chance." BEMmon repeated. "Merely throwing yourself at him won't change that no matter how many times you—"

"Then why were you doing it?" Ten suddenly asked, befuddling BEMmon.

"...Our fighting force is already limited as it is, we can't afford to lose more of it." BEMmon rationalized after a moment, only for Ten to laugh. "So that was enough to make throw yourself against an enemy you can't possibly beat?"

"That's..." BEMmon trailed off, looking to the side. "You're needed to devise a strategy to deal with Ajatarmon, I tried to buy time for you to escape—" Ten interjected once more as he wobbly got to his feet. "I'm not, you could probably figure out something without me."

"You know," Ten chuckled. "You like to pretend your logical, but really you made a lot of illogical decisions." He said, much to BEMmon's confusion. "You saved Akane's friends despite them insulting you and being useless, you listened to my orders and helped us survive the hordes of Draugr, and didn't run away once things went south. And I have a guess why."

BEMmon stared at Ten intently, who smiled to him. "You don't like people getting hurt."

"I...don't...?" BEMmon repeated. For such a simple reason, he had fought a hopeless battle? It didn't make sense to him, yet it felt right on the mark.

"And I'm the same."

Ten declared, standing tall in spite of his aching body. "I don't like seeing innocent people getting hurt, I will fight with all I have to protect them, but," He said as he glared at Ajatarmon, who stared back lazily. "I will never throw my life away to do that like some dumb hero." He suddenly stated, confusing BEMmon.

Thetismon brought Akane outside the ruined building, after the latter's condition improved enough to move, the two spotting the battered form of Ten clutching onto BEMmon from a distance.

"Because that would just hurt the people who care about me," Ten said, causing Akane turning to meet Baku's pained gaze.

"So I will fight," Ten swore as he stared down at Ajatarmon, whose brow furrowed.

"I will fight to protect everyone without throwing my life away, so I can keep fighting until my last breath." A confident smile made its way to Ten's face, as BEMmon gazed in awe at him. "So I guess that makes us partners."

"...Part..." BEMmon slowly said, as if only comprehending the concept at that moment. "...ners?"

In an instant, Ten's body was covered in glitches as he dropped BEMmon, causing his legs to falter, much to everyone's shock. "Ten!" BEMmon cried out, his worry finally seeping into his voice, watching Ten fall.

Until he planted foot in the ground, halting his momentum.

"How were you moving that fast with these injuries?" Ten asked with a lighthearted tone, much to BEMmon's exasperation. "Ten—!"

"It's fine," Ten said, a pained yet reassuring smile on his face. "If this is what I will have to endure as your partner, I'll do so happily." Ten said, tauntingly grinning in Ajatarmon's way as he glared at it much to BEMmon's horror.

Ajatarmon stretched out a hand, commanding innumerable vines as sharp as spears to hail upon the injured Ten, whose name Akane cried out, and those in the shelter could only watch helplessly as their only hope was about to die, Mr. Genta grinding his teeth to dust with how hard he bit on them, tightly clutching his fist.

But as the vines came down, as Ten faced certain death with a grin, BEMmon forced its battered body forward.

Before the two were swallowed by innumerable vines...

And a brilliant white light exploded from where they stood.

The light eradicated the nearby vines as everyone exclaimed in shock, as blue light raced through the stem to Hydramon's remains like wildfire, forcing Ajatarmon to jump away lest it get devoured as well the vines ensnaring Baku were erased, freeing him as what was left of Hydramon swallowed into the light.

The light coalesced into a figure resembling BEMmon, only larger, with longer limbs and a tail that extended from his head. "BEMmon...evolved?" Akane asked, gazing upon BEMmon's new form, her body clear of the glitches that plagued it, bar the one on her waist, allowing her to breath and stand normally.

The Evolved BEMmon turned slightly to Ten, who was free of the glitches as well, allowing him to stand tall as he nodded to BEMmon. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Ajatarmon," Ten called as Ajatarmon glared at the two of them, tightly gripping its hatchet.

"It's time for round 2."

BEMmon closed the distance between himself and Ajatarmon in an instant, seizing the latter by its face and slamming it to the ground. Ajatarmon retaliated with a powerful kick, but BEMmon easily blocked it by crossing his arms over his chest, the golden orbs on his forearms glowing brightly.

Ajatarmon's eyes widened like those of a fish as BEMmon fired two piercing lasers, forcing the Digimon to recoil in shock.

Anger surged through Ajatarmon, and it charged forward, its hatchet glowing ominously green as it swung wildly. BEMmon parried the attack perfectly with his claws, now coated in a shimmering blue light. The sound of their clash serving as music to their "dance."

Though they appeared evenly matched, it was clear that Ajatarmon was taking the brunt of the damage. In a desperate attempt to create distance, it prepared to counter with—

『Justice X Punch』

Justimon X growled as his fist connected with the side of Ajatarmon's head. Ajatarmon barely had time to register the blow before it was sent spinning through the air, the world blurring around it.

『Reaper Strike!』

Bullets of condensed sand riddled Ajatarmon with holes just as it regained its balance. Vulturemon zoomed past, forcing Ajatarmon to awkwardly dodge, presenting Justimon X and BEMmon the perfect opportunity to close the gap with simultaneous kicks.

The three Digimon grouped up, attacking from different angles and covering any possible openings in a seamless display of teamwork.

Ajatarmon struggled to keep up, frantically searching for an escape. Just as it thought it could break free—

SLAM!

A deafening roar interrupted its thoughts. The whir of a chainsaw sliced through the air, accompanied by searing flame. Ajatarmon turned slowly, dread creeping in as there stood Gao, his eyes wild and devoid of sanity, a gaping hole in his stomach oozing dark flames.

With a vicious roar, Gao brought his chainsaw arm down on Ajatarmon, blowing it away with an explosion of dark fire, a deep gash across its back.

As Ajatarmon balanced in the air, desperate to escape, Thetismon suddenly embraced it from behind. "You've been quite the naughty boy..." She whispered, her tentacles injecting a powerful poison into its body with Dokutease, causing Ajatarmon to writhe in agony.

With a swift motion, she pushed Ajatarmon into Justimon X's Justice X Blade, slashing it across the chest. Just as Ajatarmon staggered from the blow, Baku slammed into it, releasing a cloud of minerals that enveloped them. Ajatarmon's eyes nearly popped out as Baku's filled with unrestrained hatred.

『Exhaust Explosion!』

The cloud ignited, creating a massive explosion that consumed Ajatarmon's poisoned body, which was already breaking down. Baku glared through the flames, as if daring Ajatarmon to endure any longer. In a desperate bid, Ajatarmon tossed Baku away and spotted Ten merely staring at it.

Which filled Ajatarmon with rage.

Fueled by fury, Ajatarmon charged forward with inhuman speed, disregarding the fact that the other Digimon had not pursued it. All it wanted, all it desired, was to rip Ten's off his shoulders and drag him down with him.

Swinging its hatchet with all its might, Ajatarmon expected an easy strike. However, it was shocked to find Ten had vanished just as the hatchet was about to connect, cutting through a void of pixelated darkness that swirled downward. Ajatarmon glanced down just in time to see Ten gathering the darkness into a swing.

Trapped and unable to dodge its wild swing, Ajatarmon's eyes widened as Ten's fist, infused with the pixelated darkness, soared through the air. A familiar blue light began sparking from that darkness, a light Ajatarmon recognized as the one that devoured Hydramon. The light of—

『Fusionize』

A mouth tore open upon Ajatarmon's face, to let loose the scream of a million sinners, spewing an endless curses that unheard over Ten's own roar. The light of Fusionize exploded with impact, piercing through Ajatarmon's wounds with a thunderous bolt, cackling as it collided with the Vígvöllur.

And cracked it.

The impenetrable black dome that trapped everyone, began to crack before their eyes, the might of Fusionize refusing to be contained.

The cracks began at the center of the collision, spreading rapidly across the dome as Ajatarmon was consumed by the light's wrath. Its hateful eyes locked onto Ten until they too vanished.

As the Vígvöllur shattered, letting in the evening sunlight that burned away the remaining Draugr, everyone stared in awe. Ten shook the lingering light from his hand, and those who fought alongside him celebrated. Akane silently beheld Ten, while those in the shelter cheered and contacted their loved ones. Mr. Genta sighed in relief, finally at ease as Eijiro laid back to rest, and Seiya smiled.

Breathing heavily from exhaustion, Ten stood firm, almost toppling over had BEMmon not caught him. "...We did it Ten," his evolved partner declared. "We won."

And Ten just smiled.

To be continued