(Author's Notes: Here's a mini-chapter! Just 10 more chapters until the end of this part. I don't know if I mentioned this, but Holy War will be divided into two parts. You'll see once we get there.

Enjoy!)

Interlude

Fujinmon stood in Chaosdramon's austere, metallic throne room after having returned from the command base. He was in Chaosdramon's palace in Facture, where an air of tense silence loomed. The Hurricane Commander stood before his emperor, his green, v-shaped head bowed and concealing his grimace.

Chaosdramon towered over Fujinmon, even as he sat on his massive, metal throne. His red digizoid backpack was plugged into the large throne, which was fixed to the ground. His crimson eyes stared down at his subordinate, cold and calculating.

"So…" the giant dragon cyborg reverberated. "You mean to tell me that you were able to take Dukemon and Dynasmon prisoner, but you allowed them to escape while transferring them back to Facture?" There was no anger evident in Chaosdramon's stoic, monotone voice, but Fujinmon could tell by the words he chose that Chaosdramon wasn't happy.

Fujinmon bowed deeper. "I apologize, Emperor, but I didn't allow them to escape," he insisted. "It seems that one of my subordinates did not follow proper protocol when dealing with Class A prisoners. Neither of the Royal Knights were restrained with power inhibitors. I have already punished him personally for his blunder."

"You speak in a way that distances yourself from the mistake, but as that officer's superior, that blunder rests at your feet, Commander Fujinmon," Chaosdramon explained to him, narrowing his eyes ever-so-slightly. "As one of the Storm Commanders, you are expected to take responsibility."

"Then doesn't the fault also lie with you, Chaosdramon, since I am your subordinate?" Fujinmon wished he could say. However, the Hurricane Commander held his tongue. "Yes, Emperor Chaosdramon. I apologise. Such a mistake will never be repeated."

"I expect that it won't," Chaosdramon spoke in his terse, mechanical voice. He locked eyes with Fujinmon. "Despite the fact that you were once a staunch supporter of JumboGamemon, you have proven yourself to be a loyal and capable subordinate." Chaosdramon clenched and relaxed his giant, metal pincer. "I would hate for your loyalty to be called into question."

Fujinmon narrowed his eyes at the veiled threat. However, he maintained his composure. "So would I, as I am your loyal Commander, Emperor. It would wound me deeply for my dependability to be put into doubt. I will not disappoint you in the future," he responded, although he secretly had to choke out the words. They left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Chaosdramon nodded expressionlessly and relaxed his claw. "Do you happen to know where JumboGamemon went when he was exiled?" he questioned.

"Of course not," Fujinmon replied, standing up straight. "I have zero ties with him and his loyalists."

The red digizoid clad emperor looked at Fujinmon. "Then, perhaps it will interest you to know that I had him assassinated," he explained with cold indifference.

Fujinmon's eyes widened with shock. "W…What?" he questioned, attempting to appear calm. "This is the first that I have heard of this…"

"I personally gave the order to a specialized D-Brigade group. I assembled the group myself to ensure the loyalty of the members, and the group was disbanded immediately after the completion of the mission," Chaosdramon responded.

Fujinmon looked up at his emperor, attempting to rein in his anger and accusatory glare. "Why was I not told of this? Do Commanders Suijinmon and Raijinmon know about this?" he questioned.

"They do not. I managed the operation myself. Due to the sensitive nature of the operation, the less who knew about it, the better. I had to be assured of their loyalty so that JumboGamemon wouldn't be warned," Chaosdramon responded, keeping a close eye on Fujinmon. "Is there a problem, Commander?"

"So, what you're saying is that you don't trust me," he thought to himself. The Hurricane Commander closed his eyes and released a calming breath. "No… I am just surprised. I prefer not to be kept out of the loop."

"That was not my intention," Chaosdramon breathed, as if venting steam. "I simply had to be careful. I hope you understand."

"Of course…" the slender, green cyborg replied. "Shall I return to the Mamemon Kingdom?"

"Yes. Everything is in place," the giant monarch answered. "Now, all that is left is to strike and crush that pathetic kingdom in a single blow."

"When shall we start the assault?" Fujinmon questioned.

"In three days. That is what Suijinmon recommended," Emperor Chaosdramon answered. "I trust that you know what to do?"

Fujinmon nodded. "Of course, Emperor."

"We will decimate their puny army and take control of Haganemame City. Then we will get rid of that incompetent, jumped-up, so-called monarch, PrinceMamemon. We will purge anybody who resists us and absorb that speck of a state into the Metal Empire," the giant machine Digimon declared. "If anybody dares to question us, we will show to them exactly what the Metal Empire it capable of."

Fujinmon nodded silently. "May I take my leave to the front lines now?" he asked him

"Go," Chaosdramon told him. "Relay to Raijinmon and Suijinmon that we will begin in three days."

Fujinmon bowed and turned to leave.

"And, Commander," Chaosdramon spoke, stopping him. "…Do not fail me again."

The Hurricane Commander turned forwards with a narrowed gaze. "Understood…" he answered. With that word, he strode out of the throne room and began to make his way back towards the D-Brigade camps on the outskirts of the Mamemon Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Black Pincer Company was in a bar in the town of Fulminus. As usual, the three insects sat at a corner table, with plates of food and glasses of alcoholic drinks in front of them. The bar itself wasn't as seedy as the ones they normally frequented. It was fairly clean and the patrons seemed to generally be well-mannered Digimon.

GrandisKuwagamon put a small, green fruit in his mouth and ate it. He glanced over when he saw a familiar Digimon enter the tavern. It was Wizardmon. GrandisKuwagamon gestured over with his head.

Wizardmon spotted the three mercenaries and walked over to their table. The short mage Digimon got onto the empty seat that they had saved for him. "Hello again," he greeted them.

"Yo," GrandisKuwagamon responded, putting his fork down. "We finished our job. That patrol is done."

"Not without great personal cost, either," Blitzmon added, tapping his finger on the table.

Wizardmon frowned. "Ah, yes… I heard about that. Your hideout was discovered," he stated.

Bolgmon narrowed his green eyes at the wizard Digimon suspiciously. "How did you hear about that?"

"Our mutual client told me," Wizardmon explained.

"Is there anything he doesn't know?" GrandisKuwagamon asked him dryly.

Wizardmon fiddled with the rim of his hat. "He is very well-informed," the magician replied. He looked at the three mercenary Digimon. "In fact, it is because of what happened to your hideout that he decided to give you a bonus for this job. A fifty percent increase on what was originally agreed upon. I hope that helps to compensate you."

Blitzmon's eyes widened with delight and surprise. "Fifty- percent?"

"Score!" Bolgmon spoke, punching the air with a cannon arm.

"Really? What's the catch?" GrandisKuwagamon questioned, although he didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth too much.

"No catch. My client values your service, so if this makes you able to continue working for him, then it is an acceptable arrangement," the mage Digimon stated.

"Okay. Sounds good to us…" GrandisKuwagamon responded, folding his arms and leaning his winged back against the seat cushion. He eyed Wizardmon. "It sounds like you know this client more than you let on before."

"I'm acquainted with him… I do other jobs for him besides just give you your payments, after all," Wizardmon explained sheepishly. "It is because of him that I am able to research."

"Research what?" the black insect man asked.

Before Wizardmon could reply, Bolgmon interrupted. "Who cares?!" He looked at Wizardmon. "Can we see all that money?"

"O-Oh, of course," Wizardmon answered, waving his wand and causing a case of money to appear on their table.

Blitzmon took the case and began to count the money inside. "It's like he said," the azure and yellow insect man replied as he looked through the money. "There's definitely extra."

"Well, thanks," GrandisKuwagamon said. He looked at the intermediary for their client. "So… what exactly does your client want? I don't like taking these jobs without knowing where it's going."

Wizardmon sighed and tugged at his collar. "…He wants a war between the Metal Empire and the Royal Knights."

"Thought so… Why?" GrandisKuwagamon questioned.

"I can't say," Wizardmon responded apologetically. "Perhaps he'll tell you himself when you meet him."

"Meet him?" Bolgmon wondered.

"He wishes to meet with you all eventually," the mage Digimon explained. "He says he prefers to know his clients, but, due to his situation, he needs to make sure that those who work for him are trustworthy."

"Fair enough," GrandisKuwagamon supposed. "When?"

"He will tell me when he's ready, I presume," Wizardmon responded. "Now… He has another job for you three."

Blitzmon nodded and closed the case. "Good. We need the money right now," he responded.

"What's the job?" GrandisKuwagamon asked him, leaning forward and placing his arms on the table.

"Do we get to blow anything up?" Bolgmon wondered with a smirk.

Wizardmon frowned and tugged at his collar again. "Well…"

Back at Castle Albion, the Royal Knights and the captains were in the middle of a meeting. The ten Royal Knights and four captains were situated in the council room, with the knights sitting around the round, stone table, and the captains lingering behind their seats. A large map of the continent was sprawled out across the table.

"—and the Metal Empire's main prison is located here in Facture," Grani explained, looking at the north-west part of the map. He hovered behind Dukemon's empty seat, as he would usually do when Dukemon was present at the meeting. "That is likely where the Dukemon and Dynasmon have been taken, correct, Karatenmon?"

"That's right," Captain Karatenmon explained, in one of the occasional moments where he was serious. "I have asked my spies to get clearance into the prison and find out which cells they will be in. If they can't, I'll have a team sneak in and break them out. It'll be a highly risky operation, given the strength of Facture's security."

"If you require any Aerial Guards to cover your escape, just tell me," Captain Knightmon said, standing with his arms folded.

Duftmon frowned, tapping his finger on the table top. "This isn't right," he spoke, a bit uncomfortable. "This isn't the proper venue to be speaking about operations; we should be doing this in the war room."

"Does it matter?" UlforceVeedramon asked with a faint smirk. "It'll be a waste of time to move now. Let's just focus on getting Dukemon and Dynasmon back."

The tactician squirmed in his seat and continued tapping his finger on the table. "I know that that is the main priority. Even so, proper protocol demands that we discuss these matters in—"

"Moving on," Gankoomon interrupted, leaning back in his seat and placing his hands behind his head. "So… Will this operation be just your infiltrators? Or will you need a Royal Knight or two?"

Karatenmon smirked and folded his arms. "Well… Having the extra firepower wouldn't hurt in case the escape gets messy. Even though a lot of the D-Brigade is away on campaign, there's no way they'd let the security of Facture suffer. Stealth is essential though. If anybody wants to volunteer…"

Duftmon raised his hand. "I volunteer," he stated, closing his eyes.

UlforceVeedramon blinked. "What? You, Duftmon?" he asked, turning and looking at the tactician.

"Really?" Examon wondered, surprised as well.

The slender, brown-armoured knight folded his arms. "Is that really so surprising?" he replied defensively. "Are you suggesting that I don't pull my weight around here?"

"Aren't you more concerned with the war with the Metal Empire?" Gankoomon questioned, arching an eyebrow.

"Going on this sort of mission alone isn't really your style," Craniamon concurred, his glowing, red eyes observing the blonde-haired leopard knight.

"Hmph," Duftmon scoffed. "I take missions just like the rest of you. In fact, this is a mission of great importance, so that is all the more reason why I should go and make sure that it is executed perfectly." Duftmon opened his green eyes and glanced down at his lap. "After all, it is my responsibility..."

The sound of the council room doors opening silenced any response. "That's very sweet, but it won't be necessary, Duftmon," a familiar, confident voice sounded out.

All of the Royal Knights and captains turned towards the voice. The large, double doors swung open and two figures strode in from the great hall.

It was Dukemon and Dynasmon.

The room was stunned to silence as the two missing Royal Knights walked into the council room as bold as brass.

Grani's blue eyes widened with shock before suddenly lighting up with joy. "D-…"

"Dukemon!" Omegamon exclaimed, standing up from the table.

"Dynasmon!" Magnamon called out happily, standing up as well.

The table erupted with surprise and relief upon seeing the two Royal Knights free and safe. Dukemon and Dynasmon started to become sheepish – grinning, rubbing the backs of their heads, and waving in response to the relieved reactions of their friends and comrades.

"Well, well… look who decided to show up," Gankoomon said, looking over his shoulder with a broad smirk. He looked at Dynasmon. "I can't believe you managed to get yourself captured, Bull-face. But I guess you're back safe and sound now."

"Took you guys long enough," UlforceVeedramon exclaimed with a happy grin, standing to his feet without the use of a crutch.

"You had us worried," Sleipmon stated with a relieved smile.

"Very," Examon added, grinning as he looked at Dukemon.

Dynasmon scratched his cheek. "Sorry…" he answered with a sheepish grin.

Dukemon chuckled a bit as he rubbed the back of his helmeted head. "Yeah…" he agreed.

"You'll have to do better than that," Craniamon grunted, folding his arms as he eyed them.

"Oh, don't be like that, Craniamon. Just be relieved that they have returned," RhodoKnightmon exclaimed. "This calls for a celebratory dinner!"

"It's a bit late at night for that, Rhodo," Examon responded. "They probably want to rest."

"Eat, then rest," Dynasmon stated, smiling excitedly at the idea. "Are there any leftovers? Hey, can I get some risotto?!"

Before he could get a response, both of the returning Royal Knights saw another Royal Knight stand up. They were surprised when they saw Duftmon move from his seat and walk up to them. The tactician stopped in front of Dukemon and Dynasmon, leveling a cold glare at the pair.

Dukemon and Dynasmon exchanged glances. They both expected one of Duftmon's chastising rants about how they screwed up his tactics or did something reckless. They prepared themselves for the worst.

After a few tense seconds, Duftmon grunted and looked away from them. "…You idiots," he muttered softly. "Do you have any idea what you put us through…?"

Both of the Royal Knights were briefly stunned. It wasn't anywhere close to the reaction they had been expecting. "…Sorry," Dukemon apologised sheepishly. He didn't really know what else to say.

"Think before you act, next time," Duftmon told them bitterly. Without a word, he turned around and began to make his way back to his seat.

Although he felt guilty, Dynasmon couldn't help but be a little amused. "…Were you worried about us, Duftmon?" he asked with a half-smile.

"Hmph," Duftmon murmured in response. He went and retook his seat, sitting with dignified poise. "Why in the Digital World would I worry about you?"

Dynasmon let out a boisterous laugh. "You had me worried there for a second!"

Dukemon chuckled as well, though he made a note to talk to Duftmon later.

However, his smile faded when he saw Grani float over to him. His gaze softened when he looked at the Zero ARMS, who stopped in front of him and hovered at eye level. He was able to see past the calm of Grani's blue eyes. "Grani…" he spoke, his voice soft with guilt.

"…What an irresponsible, reckless, stupid stunt that you pulled," Grani told him, his sapphire eyes piercing into Dukemon. "You could have been imprisoned, tortured, deleted..."

"…I'm sorry for worrying you," Dukemon replied with a wince. He looked up at the rest of the Royal Knights. "All of you."

Grani closed his eyes and released a somewhat uneven sigh. "…It's just like you to get out of such a mess unscathed," he spoke, opening his eyes again and looking at the crimson knight with a veiled look of levity. More than humour, it was his relief that shone through his calm façade. "Thank goodness you're back."

"Thank goodness indeed," Alphamon spoke, smiling as he rose to his feet. "Are you both alright?"

Dukemon smiled and walked forward to pat Grani's head. "Yeah, we're both fine. Just exhausted, really," he responded.

"You are lucky that that is the worst of it," Grani reminded.

Omegamon released a sigh of relief. "Can you tell us what happened?"

Dynasmon shrugged and walked over to the table. "We got taken prisoner and they were bringing us to their prison in Facture. We escaped on the way and ran south until we lost them," he explained, taking his seat. "Yesterday, we stopped at a little monastery and stayed there for the night. We've been travelling here since this morning."

"That's pretty much it," Dukemon agreed, going and sitting down in his seat as well. "What have we missed?"

Gankoomon grunted. "A lot," he said, folding his arms.

"Gankoomon did something stupid too," UlforceVeedramon explained, smiling broadly.

Dynasmon cast Gankoomon a shit-eating grin. "Really?" he asked, leaning in curiously.

"We can discuss that later," Alphamon responded.

Craniamon gave the two returning Royal Knights a look. "You guys should go get checked by Duskmon," he advised.

"I agree," Omegamon said. "The main purpose of this meeting was to come up with a plan to rescue you both. Now that you're both safe…"

Dukemon smiled at Omegamon. "Yeah, but hold on a second," he said. "What about the Metal Empire and the Dark Area stuff?"

"You'd know more about what the Metal Empire's doing than we would," UlforceVeedramon pointed out lightly.

"They didn't exactly talk about their plans in front of us," Dukemon responded with a grin. He rose a hand to stroke his chin. "But we did stay at their military camps for a couple of nights. It definitely looked like they were preparing an imminent assault on the Mamemon Kingdom."

"We suspect that they will launch an attack within a matter of days," Duftmon stated with a nod. "It puts us in a difficult situation. There is no guarantee that we will be able to make it there in time. In addition to timing, they have taken the southern flank of the Mamemon Kingdom, which serves to protect their main army from our northward advance."

Dynasmon frowned at his words. "Isn't there anything that we can do?" he asked, reluctant to just stand by and do nothing. "I mean, we can't just sit on our hands and let them get away with it."

"There is still plenty that we can do. It is just unlikely that we will be able to reach the Mamemon Kingdom in a timely fashion and be in a favourable position to stop them from taking Haganemame City," Duftmon explained. "We will have to break through that southern flank."

"The guys who beat us before?" Ouryumon asked, cracking his knuckles. "I'm itching for a rematch."

"It is likely that we will be able to defeat that army if we were to put more of our forces into the attack, but time is still an issue. We may have to cede Haganemame City to the Metal Empire and confront them afterwards instead," Duftmon explained.

"But if they take Haganemame City, then isn't that it?" UlforceVeedramon questioned. "Doesn't that mean they've won? The reason they started this war was to get back at PrinceMamemon for allegedly stealing those blueprints. Wouldn't they be satisfied after that?"

"Perhaps," Duftmon reasoned, although with a hint of scepticism in his voice. "Even so, we can't be sure about what they might do afterwards. We may have to wait and see."

"Unfortunately, that's true," Alphamon agreed with the tactician. "However, that doesn't mean that we'll just let them have their way. We'll send our forces north, gauge the situation, and retake Haganemame City if we need to." The black Royal Knight frowned as he spoke. "I just hope that PrinceMamemon will act in the best interests of his people. He can't honestly consider putting up a fight against the D-Brigade. He should surrender peacefully and wait for us."

"Remember who we're talking about here," UlforceVeedramon reminded him with a chuckle.

"As for the Dark Area," Duftmon began, "the meeting about how the best way to deal with the weakening stability of the Dark Area has began. Imperialdramon Paladin Mode and Anubismon have attended in order to explain the situation to the attending members. I will be keeping track of the daily progress via encrypted messages."

"The Mesozoic Kingdom has agreed to help us as well," Omegamon added. He walked over to Dukemon's seat and looked down at him insistently. "Now… the medical bay?"

Dukemon grinned a bit and released a sigh. "Okay, okay…" he said in a reluctant but teasing voice. "We'd better go, Dynasmon. You know how Omegamon gets when he's stubborn."

Dynasmon chuckled and stood to his feet. "Fine, okay."

"You are really in no position to be talking about stubbornness," Grani reminded Dukemon, huffily floating towards the door.

Dukemon laughed a bit and looked at Omegamon as he stood up. "Looks like I'm still in trouble."

"You did do something reckless," Omegamon stated. "Noble, but reckless."

Alphamon smiled a bit. "It seems we're finished here," he spoke. He looked at both Dukemon and Dynasmon with a warm gaze. "It's good to have you both back."

Dukemon rubbed the back of his head but smiled. "It's good to be back, Alphamon."

"Not good, not good, not good…"

In his dome-shaped palace in Haganemame City, PrinceMamemon paced back and forth in his throne room. He walked across the carpet, his hands folded behind his large, yellow, spherical body. His eyebrows were furrowed with anxiety and concern, and his usually present smile was curved downwards into a frown. The echoes of his boots hitting the floor reverberated throughout the throne room.

His chief advisor, Mercuremon, calmly stood before the restless monarch, watching with an eyeless face as the large king paced back and forth In front of the throne. The steel Digimon made of mirrors raised one of his shields to look at himself in the reflection.

"Please try to remain calm, Your Majesty," Mercuremon suggested, not looking up from the mirror.

"How in the Digital World can I remain calm?!" PrinceMamemon exclaimed, rubbing his face with his hands. "The Metal Empire is going to invade us any day now, and my loyal subordinates are nowhere to be seen!"

"The Royal Knights were routed in the battle to our south several days ago. They have likely made a tactical withdrawal in order to regroup," Mercuremon dismissively stated, lowering his arm and looking at the king. "Your Majesty, I am not sure that you should depend on the Royal Knights. They were reluctant to get involved to begin with."

"But they wouldn't leave their king at the mercy of that thuggish brute Chaosdramon!" PrinceMamemon insisted, kneading his thick cheeks with his hands. He looked at Mercuremon with wide eyes. "They simply wouldn't! The Royal Knights are loyal and just!"

"Even so…" the metal aristocrat spoke. "They may not be able to help us immediately. It would be a mistake to put all of our faith in them."

PrinceMamemon's lip trembled. "Th-Then what should I do, Mercuremon?! Please tell me!"

Mercuremon turned away from the Mamemon monarch. A smirk grew on his lips. "…What do you want to do, Your Majesty…?"

PrinceMamemon took a breath to try and compose himself. "I… I don't want to be made a fool of by Chaosdramon!" he exclaimed. "I don't want to surrender to him under humiliating conditions!"

"Those are likely the only conditions that he would offer," Mercuremon stated. "So… Would you like to resist him?"

The large, yellow monarch frowned. "He has a very sizeable army, does he not? Can we win? The D-Brigade outnumbers us greatly…" he reasoned.

Mercuremon turned around to face PrinceMamemon. "Do you trust me, Your Majesty?" he asked him.

"Of course, Mercuremon!" PrinceMamemon stated worriedly. "You are my most trusted advisor!"

"Then I ask that you leave it to me…" he beseeched the monarch. "I am a master strategist, after all. I will ensure that we will persevere against this threat to our kingdom."

"Do you really think you can do that?" PrinceMamemon questioned nervously.

Mercuremon cast a reassuring smile at the king. "I am positive. I will ensure that our kingdom is spared. Just leave it in my hands," he asked PrinceMamemon. "I will make sure that Chaosdramon respects the throne of the Mamemon Kingdom."

This was what PrinceMamemon wanted to hear. "Splendid, Mercuremon! I knew I could count on you!" he exclaimed, his demeanour suddenly becoming confident and cheerful once again. "Do whatever you need to do! You have my full blessing!"

Mercuremon bowed before PrinceMamemon. At the nadir of his bow, he couldn't help but smirk to himself. "I thank you, Your Majesty…" he spoke.

The mirror Digimon then stood up straight and turned around. "I shall begin the preparations. I will have somebody send word to General PlatinumNumemon," he assured his king as he began to walk away.

"I leave it in your capable hands, Mercuremon," PrinceMamemon chimed, his optimism returning in full force.

Mercuremon's lips smirked deeper as he walked towards the exit of the throne room. Once he reached the end of the room, he strode out and left the doors open behind him.