Fourth Epilogue: Replay
Despite his data having become completely viral, Rei Kurenada could not escape the fact he was once a fragile human. Every now and then his calm demeanor lashed out into anger and frustration, but he could not continue doing so. No- especially in front of Homeostasis? And the Digital Creator? He would rather die than show weakness in front of them!
Rei, his face dripping in viral data or sweat- he cared not which, breathed out calming himself, his cool dangerous aura flirting around him as if warning anyone not to get carried away with themselves. He then slightly lifted his head up looking into the sky. He tilted his head down slightly, shallow breaths helping him recover, slight chuckles escaping from his lips.
Yes, just like he had always done, he too would let this slide off his back and turn this display of weakness into strength.
"Well, that was an unexpected surprise," he said. "In the gaps of my receiving data since Fiermon was sealed away I had no access to this dimension nor the knowledge at the time that the world had been reset."
He then confronted his enemies once more, a dangerous smirk spreading across his face. "And yet, to think YOU had PURPOSEFULLY weakened the seals on the Digital Record then and deceived the Digidestined into thinking it was completely their fault all in order to spur all of this into motion…
...It really is quite amazing," he smiled lifting up his hand and staring at it. "Just when I thought you had started to care for them, you showed them for the tools they really are."
"I agree you did have the advantage against us," the Digital Creator said nodding his head, "However, we had the opportunity to set this up in our favor even though it did not go the way we expected. But neither did it result in the positive outcome you wanted as you have not won total victory. It is a stalemate, Rei."
"A stalemate THIS time," Rei countered, "but I won the first game before you intervened," he scoffed. "But even still the odds are in my favor. I don't see how rewinding a videotape and playing it again can result in a different outcome. You can't change the past no matter how hard you try. The world will be devoured by viral data and I will rule over all the realms. And nothing you do or say can stop it."
"What makes you so sure?" The Digital Creator asked.
"Because I control the narrative," he explained. "This is neither about the world, nor about the fate of the Digidestined. This is about my right for utter deification and the recreation of all beings and worlds in my image."
Rei Kurenada could not help but feel confident, so certain of the future he had once already tasted.
"The Digidestined will fail creating a miracle from hope and light, and once this fails- I will then upon the conclusion not have to wait till their next generation before I swoop in and slaughter them all this time. The clock has only sped things forward-even with everything you have done to use the Digidestined to prevent this from happening."
He couldn't help himself holding back his own laughter from this divine comedy the two of them had dug themselves into. Oh, it was too much.
"In short," Rei said regaining his composure, "The very moment they fail and it's too late to make the miracle you lose and I win. It will be Game. Over," he said with finality. "And you don't have any more quarters. You have no more lives. And you can't reset the game. You, the Digital Creator, the Earth, Humankind, and Digimon… will be finished," he said delighted. "I just can't wait to see it."
"But the consequence of intervening before that," Homeostasis replied, "is an opening. A very small, thin sliver of an opening set to overthrow you and your laws and everything you stand for should you decide to interfere with how history originally went," she warned. "And you do so at your own peril, yet you don't seem the slightest bit afraid."
"Why would I be afraid when the outcome has already been decided? You are the ones that are delusional even thinking you have a chance. But," he smiled even further. "It seems you do have a few more moves left until my ultimate victory."
He stretched his arms out getting ready to go at it again with them groaning out in anticipation. But then suddenly he made his move.
"Very well," he declared in one swift motion swiping his arm knocking all of the pieces off the board.
"Let's let the outcome play itself out and my victory procession be announced," he declared, his enemies facing him down, both of them facing him seriously, the future of Humankind and Digimon hanging in the balance.
"Then let it be finished," The Digital Creator agreed.
"For the last time," Homeostasis confirmed.
Rei Kurenada snickered, waiting for the drama to play out. The past would indeed repeat itself and he would shift a few pieces to remove any 'sliver of hope' the Digital Creator and Homeostasis believed would result in Rei's loss. He would finally win the war-for good this time!
Each of them positioned themselves, Homeostasis standing at the ready to cast judgment on either of them.
"Then let us begin," Rei said standing in a threatening manner, both him and the Digital Creator facing each other down, Homeostasis standing between them, her hands meekly pressed together.
"Rewind," The Creator commanded moving all of the pieces back in place on the board with his voice.
"Play," Homeostasis followed after holding out her hands towards both sides.
Rei Kurenada grinned forcefully throwing his pawn forward.
"Commence!"