Holy War

by Griff4823

The sequel to "A Dragon in Shining Armour". The Royal Knights secured victory and peace set over the continent, but it isn't to last. The autocratic Metal Empire, a team of amoral mercenaries, and a mysterious Digimon in the shadows; it's up to the Order of the Royal Knights to intervene. Can they stop things from spiraling out of control, all while dealing with their own issues?

40. Chapter 29: Daemonum et Angelorum

Chapter 29: Daemonum et Angelorum

Thousands of grains of sand swept across the Claw Desert. They were lifted by a strong gust of wind that rolled across the dunes. The loose granules blew off the wave-like dunes and cascaded across the desert in a golden breeze. Slowly drifting overhead was the hot sun, which beat down on the arid desert. The sands were scorching hot as they absorbed the thermal rays of the mid-morning sun. The scorching air rippled with heat, distorting the dunes on the distant horizon. Without water, the dry heat was oppressive, especially on a hot, desert day like today.

In the sands of the Claw Desert, the sound of a purring engine could be heard, gradually growing in volume as it approached. As the seconds passed, the intensity of the engine's roar increased. Then - suddenly - a sharp impact rung out, followed by the chaotic revving of an engine going out of control. The mechanical noise suddenly died down following the impact of something heavy skidding along the sand.

Beelzebumon lay flat on his back on the sea of soft, searing sand. The heavy sun's rays beamed down on his black leather jacket and pants; the sweltering heat on his body caused him to sweat profusely. As he lay in the granular sediment, he stared – dazed - up at the blue, cloudless sky. His face was numb with pain.

Looming over him was the hulking, orange body of a Spinomon. The sunlight reflected off the giant, deadly blades protruding from his back. The dinosaur's predatory eyes were glaring down at the demon, and his jagged teeth were put on fearsome display. The Spinomon curled the long, scaly tail that he had just struck the demon with, throwing him off his motorcycle just moments before.

The majority of the dinosaur Digimon in the Mesozoic Kingdom lived in communities: either in Brutalis, the capital city of the Kingdom, located next to Rex Oasis, or in towns and villages scattered across the Claw Desert. However, not all Digimon lived in civilized societies. Some were more savage and more self-interested. Some Digimon preferred to be on their own and were highly territorial, staking out pieces of land for themselves that they would control and guard jealously. This often led to battles over turf, especially in the wild expanse of the Claw Desert. This Spinomon was one of those Digimon.

Beelzebumon gazed up at the sky, gathering his senses after being struck in the face by the mass of muscle, scales, and bone. As blood began to ooze out of a deep cut in his lip, his mouth morphed into a wild, bloodthirsty grin.

He sat up and extended his tongue from his mouth, licking up some of the blood that trickled down his jaw. Beelzebumon drew one of his shotguns from his ankle holster and stood to his feet. He raised one of his long arms and wiped the blood that dripped down his chin with the back of his hand. The demon man spied his Behemoth motorcycle lying in the sand several meters in front of him.

Beelzebumon gazed up at the Spinomon with an untamed, adrenalized smirk. "You picked a fight with the wrong demon, big guy…" he said with a dark chuckle. He reached over his head and pulled out his other Berenjena shotgun from the holster on his back.

The Spinomon scoffed and lifted his giant, clawed foot to stomp on him. He brought his foot down with the full weight of his body.

Beelzebumon grinned and jumped out of the way with impressive agility, causing the foot to miss him and slam into the sand where he had been standing. As a blast of sand burst out from the stomp, Beelzebumon aimed his shotguns at the Spinomon and fired them in mid air. "Double Impact!" he shouted, grinning maniacally as he fired the shotguns simultaneously.

Two shotgun shells burst from the double-barrelled guns. The shells burst on contact with the Spinomon's thick chest scales, tearing across his hide and ripping at his data.

The Spinomon recoiled a step, putting a claw to his chest with pain and anger. Acting quickly, he spun his body and lashed his massive tail out horizontally. The long, muscular tail swept across the ground towards Beelzebumon.

Beelzebumon reacted swiftly, lunging upwards right as the tail whipped towards him. He performed an acrobatic flip into the air, allowing the tail to pass under him. As the Demon Lord flipped upside down, he aimed his left arm at the Spinomon and fired from his shotgun again. The shell burst open in mid air and sent a burst of pellets across the Spinomon's hide, further enraging the dinosaur.

Beelzebumon flipped right side up and landed on his feet with his legs wide apart. He looked up with an amused grin. "Looks like I'll have to use slugs for big game like you," he said, raising his smoking shotgun in front of him.

The Spinomon snarled and reached behind him to pull one of the massive blades from his back. He took the blade firmly in his claws and stabbed it down towards Beelzebumon, hoping to bisect the demon man into two.

The lithe demon man dashed to the side as the blade came crashing down on him. The shave was so close that he could see his reflection in the side of the blade as it embedded itself in the sand.

Seeing that he missed, the Spinomon ripped the blade from the ground in a burst of sand and proceeded to slash diagonally towards Beelzebumon to catch him in the air.

Through the cloud of golden sand, Beelzebumon could see the blade slashing towards him. As the blade that was thicker than his body cut through the air in his direction, the Demon Lord performed an acrobatic, mid-air axel. The decreased surface area of his body and the angle of his jump allowed him to narrowly avoid the oversized blade. The blade slashed by him with a metallic whish.

Beelzebumon performed a backwards flip and landed in the sand with a competitive grin. "Hah! You've got good instincts for an over-sized pin cushion!" he declared, his claws twitching and his tail flicking excitedly. The Demon Lord smirked, holstered one of his shotguns on his back, and gazed at the Spinomon hungrily. "Y'know, I wouldn't mind having a piece of that…"

The Spinomon snarled and flipped the blade in his hand to an overhand position. He swung the blade down towards Beelzebumon. The Demon Lord saw the vertical slash coming towards him and he used his superior agility to dodge, causing the blade to embed itself in the sand. The impacted parted the millions of grains in two, giant waves of sand. This time, when Beelzebumon escaped, the Spinomon was ready with a follow up. Sapphire plasma wafted out of his maw and white hot energy rippled in his throat. "Blue Prominence!" he roared, unleashing a torrent of azure flames towards Beelzebumon.

Upon landing, Beelzebumon immediately had to back flip over Spinomon's blade to avoid getting swept up in the hellishly-hot, molten energy. He landed on the opposite side of the massive blade and watched as the 15 000 degree plasma turned the sand into a crater of molten glass. Even the ancillary blast of the attack sent unbearable temperatures across Beelzebumon's body, if only for a moment.

Beelzebumon snarled with stimulation and turned his crooked smile towards Spinomon. The dinosaur was currently wrenching his blade out of the desert floor. This was his chance. "Okay, I think I'm done toying with you, big boy," he taunted, licking his bloody lips.

The Demon Lord of Gluttony leapt forwards onto Spinomon's wrist. He proceeded to start dashing up his scaly arm while dragging his left claws up his arm scales. The Spinomon reacted with pain and let go of the blade in order to try and throw him off. He reached his opposite arm towards Beelzebumon and attempted to grab him with his claws.

Beelzebumon smirked and fired a slug from his shotgun into the Spinomon's palm. He then kicked off his elbow and jumped up to the dinosaur's horned head. He slid down the theropod's neck and landed on his spiked shoulder. As the demon was about to fire at him, the Spinomon suddenly lurched forwards onto all fours, prompting Beelzebumon to start to stagger backwards.

"Sonic Slash Rain!" the Spinomon shouted unleashing a continuous salvo of blades from his sail at forward diagonal angle.

Beelzebumon just barely managed to regain his footing as the foremost blade sliced inches away from his back. "Whoa, do not wanna go back there!" he declared, bending forwards, away from the salvo of blades that ejected from the dinosaur's spine.

He pounced forwards and landed on the back of the Spinomon's head like a cat. "Okay, dinobutt, give me all that tasty data!" he ordered with ravenous eyes and a wild grin. His claws suddenly elongated and became cloaked with dark energy. "Darkness Claw!"

Beelzebumon plunged his claws into the Spinomon's head, piercing deep into his cranium. He then straightened his legs and lunged off his head, firing a slug from the Berenjena clear through the Spinomon's head. The massive dinosaur released a weak snarl and then collapsed to the ground, a blast of sand shooting up around his fallen body.

The Spinomon's data then fractured into rectangles, and millions to data particles began breaking apart. A gust of wind blew the data towards Beelzebumon, causing it to surround him.

Beelzebumon released an adrenalized laugh and arched his back, offering his chest up to the data. His arms were bent and rigid as the Spinomon's data began to flood into Beelzebumon's chest. He was absorbing his defeated opponent's data.

"HAHAHAH!" he cackled as data poured into his body. "Yes! Give it to me!"

He continued laughing as he forced the data into him. The cackle became euphoric as he felt his power increase slightly. His senses became numb with ecstasy and his body trembled as the massive amount of data swept through his form. "Oh, fuck, yes!"

When the last bit of data became a part of Beelzebumon's form, he lurched forwards, still snickering, but panting heavily. His body quivered as it struggled to contain the immense amount of foreign data. "Heh…" he laughed, slowly raising his hand and wiping a bit of saliva from the corner of his mouth.

Beelzebumon then stood up straight like a shot, feeling completely energized. He grinned with exhilaration, his three, red eyes wide with delight. "Fuck!" he exclaimed, laughing to himself and folding his arms. "Holy shit. That's as good as marathon sex!"

The Demon Lord of Gluttony then turned around and looked over at his motorcycle, which lay in the sand several meters away.

"Huh, I guess I'd better get moving. I'm supposed to meet the others at the Abyssal Ruins," he mused nonchalantly. He then grinned to himself. "Then again, it's not a bad thing to be fashionably late!"

Beelzebumon then cracked the bones in his neck and placed his claws behind his head, beginning to walk with long, exaggerated steps. He followed the skid marks in the sand over to the Behemoth and stopped beside the fallen motorcycle.

Beelzebumon bent over and hauled the heavy bike to a standing position. "Did the big, ugly dinosaur hurt you?" he asked the motorcycle with feigned concern. "Nah, you're fine! Now, come on, Behemoth! Let's haul some ass!"

He grinned and hopped onto the back of the Behemoth, bending forwards and revving the engine with his boot.

"And maybe we can find some nice ass on the way there too!" he said with a laugh as the wheels of the Behemoth began kicking up sand.

With that, he began tearing across the Claw Desert on his bike. He continued his long trek to the northern part of Eniac, where he was supposed to meet the rest of the Seven Great Demon Lords.

With one of his appetites satiated, he wondered if he could satisfy his others on the way.

---

The afternoon sun began to set over the west of the continent of Eniac. At the southern edge of the Forest of Equilibrium, the orange rays cast over the monastery that resided there.

The angel Digimon and the converts of the monastery were hard at work as suppertime grew near. The underground refectory was being prepared with plates and utensils, and the monks who made up the kitchen staff were occupied preparing the meal for the forty-some inhabitants. However, not all of the Digimon of the temple were busy.

Silence hung over the nave of the chapel. It was early in the evening, so rays of golden light shone through the oculus in the ceiling, casting a warm glow across the white, reflective, marble floor. The chapel was completely empty except for one Digimon.

TigerVespamon sat cross-legged on the floor of the chapel, resting on a soft cushion. His hornet-like head was bowed and his compound eyes, like flawless rubies, were distant and dull, as if his eyes were closed. The insect man was meditating peacefully. Through meditation, he made a silent prayer to the Being of Goodness and concentrated deeply in a fused state of focus, tranquility, contemplation, and reflection.

Recently, his mind had been clouded with doubt, uncertainty, and chaos. Meditation helped him to relax and put his thoughts and feelings in perspective. It cleared his mind of tumultuous thoughts and concerns, and soothed his soul. He had done a lot of meditation as of late. He felt at ease now. He had come to a decision.

TigerVespamon was absorbed in his empty state of serene concentration. He breathed softly yet internally, deep in his chest, in order to maximize his tranquility and contemplation. At the back of his mind, he sensed a pair of familiar footsteps approaching the chapel from one of the side corridors before stopping.

After taking in a soft breath and exhaling, TigerVespamon broke his meditative state and looked up. "It is fine, Father Angemon," he informed him, signalling that it was okay for him to interrupt. "I am finished now."

The angelic leader of the monastic mission smiled and walked onto the chapel's transept from the side corridor. He stepped out onto the large nave and made his way towards TigerVespamon. "Were you reflecting on your decision?" he asked him, walking up to the humanoid hornet Digimon.

"Yes," TigerVespamon responded simply.

"And are you positive? Have you changed your mind?" Angemon wondered, looking at TigerVespamon through the helmet over the top half of his face.

"I am sorry, Father; this is something that I need to do…" TigerVespamon explained apologetically. He turned his head and gazed off to the side, feeling guilty. "However… if you don't want me to go, I do not mind staying here. My feelings about joining the monastery have not changed, despite everything that has happened…"

Angemon smiled warmly and stepped forwards to lightly hug TigerVespamon. After a moment, the angel Digimon released him and stepped back. He placed his hand gently on TigerVespamon's cheek and gave him a reassuring smile. "You are an adult; you are old enough to make your own decisions without needing to ask my permission. I will miss you, but if this is what you have set your heart on, then you have my blessing. All that I ask is that you think about it carefully."

TigerVespamon nodded. "I feel that I have, Father. This is what I want to do. It is what I need to do," he explained calmly.

"Then that is enough reason for me," Angemon responded, lowering his hand and letting it rest at his side. "Still… I never would have expected that you would want to join the Order of the Royal Knights."

"I realise that it is somewhat sudden… However, I have considered the choice carefully. In light of everything that has happened, I feel that I need to do this," TigerVespamon informed him.

"When you say that, are you referring to the Seven Great Demon Lords? Or what happened in Vernal Springs?" the holy Digimon wondered sagely.

TigerVespamon sighed softly. "Both, if I am honest…" he admitted. "What happened in Vernal Springs with those Digimon… it shocked me deeply… To see those…" The hornet man trailed off and looked away. "It reopened old wounds…"

"I am sure that it did…" Angemon said sympathetically. "Now, I don't know you to be a rash Digimon, TigerVespamon. You haven't been impulsive since I took you in as a child. However, I hope that you aren't doing this for the wrong reasons…"

TigerVespamon shook his head. "I promise you that I am not," he serenely responded. "I refuse to dwell on the past. I am a different Digimon now, Father Angemon. I may have been bitter at first, but I will not let such feelings cloud my judgment. I have already moved on…"

Angemon gazed at TigerVespamon quietly. He softly nodded. "Very well…"

"I simply want to help the Royal Knights' struggle against the Seven Great Demon Lords," TigerVespamon explained. "I know that HolyAngemon said that I wouldn't be able to join the Powers since I am…" The insect Digimon stalled slightly. "Well, since I am not a part of the Heavenly Choir. I am simply an insect Digimon who follows the Religion of Light," he said with acquiescence. Before Angemon could offer him a word of reassurance, he spoke again. "Therefore, attempting to join the Order of the Royal Knights is the more realistic option. They will surely try to work against the Demon Lords, and, after that recent battle in Saversburg, they have opened up enlistment again."

TigerVespamon tugged at the crimson scarf around his neck before standing with ease and serenity. "I realise that the enlistment process for new recruits is extremely competitive, and that only the best, the most talented, and the most virtuous are accepted into the Order," he contemplated. "I know that I have to be realistic about my chances. However, I feel that I must try. I wish to do my best to join the Order. If I don't try and give my best shot, then I will grow restless and end up regretting it."

Angemon smiled warmly at his Ultimate level acolyte. "Do what you feel that you must do, TigerVespamon. No matter what decision you make or what outcome awaits you, I will always be behind you," he assured him tenderly.

"Thank you, Father Angemon…" TigerVespamon answered, a hint of appreciation in his calm, neutral voice. "I do not want you to think that I feel that working here isn't enough for me. It is… However, if I do not do this... Well, I cannot stand by while the Seven Great Demon Lords release more havoc onto the Digital World. I have already lost enough to wanton destruction… I cannot allow other Digimon to go through that same pain."

"You do not have to explain yourself to me, TigerVespamon," Angemon reassured him with a knowing smile. "To be honest, I have been expecting this… You have my blessing, my son. Do your very best. I know that you have the traits necessary to be a great warrior worthy of the Order. HolyAngemon has said so himself."

TigerVespamon nodded gratefully. He looked at the angel Digimon warmly, despite his cool exterior. "Thank you, Father, for understanding - for believing in me… For all that you have done for me since you saved me…" He stepped forwards and gave Angemon a gentle hug.

Angemon smiled fondly and returned the platonic hug. "The pleasure was all mine," he assured the comparatively younger bug. He pulled back and placed his hand in his pocket, searching for something. "You are leaving today, correct?" he asked for confirmation.

"Yes… The final chance for enlistment is in a week's time, so I really should go to Splendour's Reach as quickly as possible…" TigerVespamon responded, feeling a little guilty at having to leave so soon.

"Then may I give you a parting gift now?" Angemon asked, pulling something out of his pocket.

He opened his palm and offered his hand to TigerVespamon. Resting inside his fabric-covered palm was a necklace made of a durable type of fibres. Attached to the soft, sturdy string was a pendent. The pendent was a small, white, translucent crystal that shone brilliantly with light. "

TigerVespamon looked down at the resplendent gem with surprise. "A star crystal…" he mused, recognising the crystal. He looked up at Angemon with surprise. "But…"

"Now, now, it is rude to turn down a gift, you know," Angemon reminded him with a soft, playful smile.

TigerVespamon felt a bit uneasy about accepting it. He knew that star crystals were expensive. They were considered good luck and rather fashionable in the Sky Colonies. He must have bought it from one of the few merchants on his last trip to Lambent. TigerVespamon felt guilty about taking something that he knew was so valuable. However, he didn't want to be rude. "Thank you, Father Angemon…" he responded, taking the necklace in his hand and raising it to place it around his neck. He positioned the necklace underneath his red scarf, so that it hung just below the fabric. "It is beautiful. I will treasure it."

Angemon smiled. "It suits you well," he observed. "Now… are you packed?"

"I finished packing yesterday evening," TigerVespamon calmly assured him. "I didn't want to pack too heavily; there is a good chance that I will not even get in."

The angel Digimon chuckled. "While it is good to be humble, you shouldn't doubt yourself either."

The hornet Digimon shook his head. "I won't," he explained. "I just want to have realistic expectations. I will approach the tests with a cool head and a logical disposition."

"I know you will, TigerVespamon," Angemon responded. The angel Digimon turned around, his winged back facing the insect Digimon. "You should get some rest before your journey. Pidmon said that he would cook you something special before you leave. Do you have time to eat?"

TigerVespamon smiled softly with his insectoid mouth. "Yes. I will likely leave for Vernal Springs in a couple hours. Then I will spend the night in an inn and leave first thing in the morning," he explained.

Angemon nodded and smiled. "I bet you are thankful that I am not doing the cooking. At least you will not have to suffer through that any longer," he joked self-deprecatingly as he began to walk down the nave towards the corridor he entered from.

"I enjoy your cooking," TigerVespamon insisted with a smile.

"I appreciate the lie of kindness, but we both know that your and Pidmon's cooking lessons just don't seem to stick," Angemon replied with a chuckle.

TigerVespamon let a single, soft chuckle and followed Angemon. Before he left the chapel, he stopped at the doorway and gazed over his shoulder, looking at the stunning yet familiar nave of the abbey a final time. He wasn't sure how soon he'd see it again, so he wanted to be sure that he admired it now.

Once he was satisfied, TigerVespamon calmly strode into the passageway. He had a long journey ahead of him.

---

Paildramon strode up a stone corridor in the citadel of Castle Albion. It was early in the morning and the sun had only risen an hour ago. The cool, morning air nipped at her azure scales. It was refreshing to her, after having spent the night in her hot, stuffy, barracks room.

She had just finished getting ready for the day when a messenger came to the barracks telling her that she was being summoned by the Spymaster. It was unusual. She was the over-sergeant for the Aerial Strike Forces, so she couldn't think of any reason why Captain Karatenmon, the leader of the Stealth Forces, would want to summon her. It was rather mysterious, which she supposed she should expect from a spymaster. Still, she obeyed the summons dutifully. It might turn out to be a good opportunity.

Paildramon passed by two more doors before stopping in front of the third door down the corridor, right at the corner of the hallway. She stopped in front of door and knocked on the door of Karatenmon's office firmly.

"Come in," Karatenmon's voice sounded out.

Paildramon opened the door, expecting to see Karatenmon sitting behind his desk while cloaked in shadows. She was mildly surprised to see him sitting, instead, on top of his desk while leaning backwards on one of his hands in an informal manner. Standing near Captain Karatenmon was her superior, Captain Ouryumon, and Reapermon.

She briefly glanced around the Karatenmon's room. Directly opposite to her was a desk with several papers and books messily scattered across it. There was a personal computer on one side of the desk. On the other side was an open, bound book with a black feather quill beside it. One of the pages was blank, which meant that it was currently being worked on by Karatenmon. She had heard that he enjoyed writing fiction in his spare time. This was further evidenced by a large bookshelf against the wall that was full of fiction novels and poetry.

At the back of the room, behind Karatenmon's desk was a wide open window with a wide, flat sill that could easily be mounted. It was awfully exposed for a ninja's office – let alone a spymaster's – but she supposed that it wasn't too surprising, given what she knew about Karatenmon. He didn't like to be cooped up, and he was untraditional and lax when it came to rules and regulations. Paildramon also noticed several healthy, potted plants around the office, which benefited from all of the sunlight that poured in through the large window.

Paildramon glanced to the side and saw a large, paper folding screen that acted as a divider between the office part of his room and the bedroom part. These shoji weren't common in either the Free Area or New Terminal, but Karatenmon was a ninja from Yakumo, a ninja village deep within the secluded Enigmatic Forest in the north east. It was very much a part of their culture, so it probably reminded him of home to have it there.

The tengu spymaster gazed at Paildramon with a disarming smile. "Paildramon," he greeted, hopping off of his desk and standing up.

Paildramon saluted the three Digimon. "You called for me, sir?" she asked.

"I'm not part of the regular Order military; you don't have to call me 'sir'," he explained with a grin. "No need to be so formal."

Paildramon nodded. "Sorry. May I ask what this is about?" she wondered, her deep red eyes frowning slightly.

Karatenmon smiled and leaned back, placing his taloned hands on the edge of his wooden desk. "I have an assignment for you…" he explained with an enigmatic grin.

The dragon woman Digimon looked at Ouryumon questioningly. "Sir?" she asked. "Am I being reassigned?"

Ouryumon folded his arms and shook his head. "No, Paildramon," he told the over-sergeant. "Think of this as a special mission."

"It's an extremely important one too, so I hope you're up to the task," Reapermon added, leering at Paildramon and scrutinising her carefully.

Paildramon nodded calmly. "Of course," she replied. "What is the assignment?"

"Recently, we have taken an important prisoner," Reapermon explained. "His name is GrandisKuwagamon. He is the leader of the small but effective mercenary company known as 'Black Pincer Company'. You're aware of them, right?"

"Yes. I crossed paths with them during the BaoHackmon Rescue Operation," she responded, remembering their exchange of fire in the Forest of Memories. "They have been causing problems for the Order for the past few months."

Karatenmon nodded. "Specifically, they've been instrumental in setting up that war between us and the Metal Empire," the spymaster explained. "The whole thing was orchestrated by their shadowy client. We think that there may be a link between that war and the escape of the Seven Great Demon Lords. If that's true, then we need to find out who their client is."

"That's where you come in, Paildramon," Ouryumon explained to his subordinate.

Paildramon frowned with surprise and curiosity but nodded, continuing to listen.

"GrandisKuwagamon and his two comrades, Blitzmon and Bolgmon, were going to meet their client for the first time when we confronted them in Saversburg, before the battle. Although GrandisKuwagamon was captured, his two comrades have escaped. He is confident that they met their client by now, and he offered to help us find out who their enigmatic benefactor is," Karatenmon explained.

"'Offered'?" she sceptically asked.

"For something in return, obviously. Namely, he wants a more lenient punishment if he helps us get what we want," Karatenmon matter-of-factly informed her.

"Digimon like him don't do anything out of the goodness of their hearts," Reapermon added cynically. "Only if it benefits them."

Paildramon nodded. "I didn't think so…" she responded. "So…"

"So, we want you to take GrandisKuwagamon and find out who their client is," Ouryumon explained, placing his claws on his serpentine sides.

Paildramon raised an eyebrow curiously. "You want me to escort the prisoner?" she asked uncertainly, somewhat surprised by the idea.

"You'll be heading a small team so it won't just be you looking after him," Ouryumon informed her to dissuade her doubts.

Reapermon nodded curtly. "Single prisoner escort teams just don't work. It's better to have several eyes on GrandisKuwagamon at once. Have at least two other capable Digimon with you. He's cunning, manipulative, dangerous, and ruthless. Don't let your guard down for a moment."

"I have a few recommendations if you don't mind, but you're free to pick yourself, Paildramon," Karatenmon offered. "That is, if you're up for the job."

Paildramon thought about it for a few moments. It certainly did seem like an enticing challenge, and she was honoured to be considered for the part among all the other capable Order Digimon. She wanted to be able to help the Order, as well as prove her capabilities. This made it an easy decision. "Of course," she responded. "However, why me?"

"Ouryumon's shown me your record and the recommendations from your superiors in the Republic's military; they speak for themselves. Plus, I've seen your capabilities for myself. You're calm, responsible, smart, practical, and independent. Those are the qualities that we need. You're just the sort of Digimon I want leading this important mission," Karatenmon explained with an encouraging smile.

Paildramon sheepishly rubbed her neck. "Thank you, Karatenmon. That means a lot," she responded. "I will try not to disappoint you."

"We trust you, but you need to be vigilant with GrandisKuwagamon at all times," Reapermon warned her. "Give him a meter and he'll take a kilometer. He won't hesitate to kill you in your sleep if it means he could escape."

Paildramon nodded. "I will keep him on a tight leash," she assured him.

"About that…" Karatenmon added with a small smile. "He will be implanted with the standard power-inhibiting virus, but we plan to install another program that MetallifeKuwagamon developed, as well. A 'leash' might be a good way to think about it. A 'proximal restraint system', he called it. It should prevent him from running away."

"If he's as capable as you say he is, the extra security wouldn't go amiss," Paildramon agreed, folding her arms.

"I should let you know that the program will be linked to you, as well," Karatenmon informed her. "It's a painless process. The thing is that the system requires a focal point to work. Namely you."

The dragon frowned uncertainly. "Me? I won't be constrained by the same effects, will I?" she asked.

"No, but your distance to GrandisKuwagamon will affect him," Karatenmon responded. "It may be a bit limiting, but it's a necessary evil, I'm afraid."

Paildramon nodded understandingly. "It's fine. I don't mind." She looked at Karatenmon. "About your recommendations…"

Karatenmon's corvid face smiled waywardly. "I think Dorbickmon would be a useful guy to have along," he suggested with a hint of casual levity, knowing it would be an unconventional choice.

"Dorbickmon…?" Paildramon questioned, frowning.

"Really? Him?" Ouryumon asked Karatenmon with lingering distaste. "He's not even part of the Order."

Karatenmon nodded. "He was our enemy in the past, yes, but I trust him now. He's a capable mercenary with a lot of worldly experience and knowledge of mercs and the criminal underworld," he explained. "Plus, he hates GrandisKuwagamon after being grassed up by him."

"Wouldn't that cause a lot of drama within the group?" Paildramon inquired. "It would be a hassle to break up fights between those two."

"Probably, but at least you know that you can trust him," Karatenmon explained pragmatically.

"I see your point…" she replied thoughtfully. "His animosity with GrandisKuwagamon would make his intentions predictable."

"Is there anybody you want to have on your team?" Karatenmon asked her, softly tapping two of his talons against the wood.

"VictoryGreymon. I know him from the Republic's military; he is a strong and loyal Digimon, and he's good at following orders. It would be helpful to have a bit of muscle with us," she responded.

"Isn't he new to the Order?" Ouryumon inquired dubiously. "Hmm… How long will this take, Karatenmon?"

"I'm aiming for a week," the crow ninja replied. "It could go on for longer, though."

"As long as that's it. I don't want him to miss out on his training," Ouryumon responded.

Paildramon nodded. "I won't dawdle."

"Is there anybody else you want to add?" Karatenmon asked her. "I suggest keeping the group as small as possible. The more of you there are, the more attention you're likely to attract. You're going to be headed into some rough territory, so you want to keep a low profile."

"Four should be enough," Paildramon agreed. "But if we're going to the seedier parts of the Digital World, won't that be a problem for Dorbickmon? Doesn't he all but have a bounty on his head?"

Karatenmon smiled enigmatically at this. "No, I don't think that'll be a problem," he answered with a carefree grin.

"If you're positive…" Paildramon responded, although with a bit of underlying scepticism.

The avian ninja nodded and folded his arms. "This probably goes without saying, but try not to stand out. Listen to Dorbickmon and GrandisKuwagamon's advice, but also be sceptical. Use your best judgment, Paildramon. You'll do just fine," he said with a confident smile.

"Yes, Sir," Paildramon answered, saluting the corvid spymaster. "I won't let you down."

"Keep a close eye on GrandisKuwagamon, especially when it comes to Blitzmon and Bolgmon," Reapermon added. "Karatenmon said he had a falling out with them, but I wouldn't put anything past that bug."

"I'll be vigilant. When will everything be ready?" she asked.

Karatenmon scratched his feathery chin with his talons. "We'll install the virus in him either today or tomorrow. Leave the day after that's finished. Make whatever preparations you need in the meantime," he said.

"We'll let Dorbickmon and VictoryGreymon know," Ouryumon stated, folding his brown arms.

"Very well. Thank you very much for asking me. I will make sure that GrandisKuwagamon leads us to the truth," Paildramon assured them.

"I'll give you the details of what we know about Black Pincer Company later. Thanks, Paildramon. I'm done here," Karatenmon informally explained.

"Yeah, you're dismissed," Ouryumon added.

Paildramon nodded and turned around before walking out.

Reapermon turned and looked at Karatenmon. "Are you sure about this? It's a bit unconventional."

"Oh, I've never been one for convention," Karatenmon responded, sitting down in his chair, leaning back and putting his taloned feet up on the desk. He grinned at Reapermon. "Besides, this might just be our chance to finally find out who this mystery Digimon is…"

---

"This is terrible news…"

A meeting of the Council of the Three Angels was currently in session. The three highest ranking angel Digimon in the Heavenly Choir sat around a golden rimmed, hexagonal table with a prismatic surface that caused it to glow like a miniature aurora. The Council was taking place in the Supernal Sanctum, the place where the Three Great Angels met to discuss official business.

The floor of the meeting hall was covered with smooth, white, marble tiles, adorned with ornate, golden patterns. The walls were also ivory and gold in colour, and they reached fifty meters high, all the way up to the ceiling. The ceiling had a dome shape and was decorated with a glowing, gold, floral finish. At the center was a large oculus that opened the room up to the sky, where they could see the spiral vortex of clouds that circled directly above the First Sphere. Guards dutifully kept sentry outside of the oculus as well as the doors to the chamber.

The owner of the voice was a female. She had an angelic, humanoid form with a feminine shape. As the light shone down from the hole in the ceiling, it caused her fine, turquoise, battle armour to glisten splendidly. The teal armour covered her upper body, particularly her chest. Shining plates covered her hips and lower torso before curling around much of her legs, all the way down to her knees. The armoured battledress was segmented to allow for easier leg movement, and the large plate that covered her thighs was emblazoned a large, golden cross with equal, studded arms. Underneath the armour was an immaculate, white dress that reached down to her angles. It stopped just above her feet, which wore a pair of turquoise, high heeled shoes. The shield that covered her gauntlet was teal with gold trimming that graced the feather-like protrusions extending from the shield's sides. On the face of the shield was a large, equine face with a horn, like that of a unicorn.

The angel Digimon's shoulders were covered in more turquoise armour, except this armour was designed in the shape of chariot wheels, with spokes leading from her shoulders to the thick, studded rims that encircled. The ends of her shoulder blades were even that of large spikes that stuck out from the axles of the wheel shapes. Over her humanoid head was a bluish-turquoise helmet that covered her eyes and nose so that only the fair skin of her cheeks, chin, and mouth were visible. Her long, golden blonde hair flowed out from under the ornamental helmet, with two ponytails tied together with bands hanging beside her face so that the free-flowing strands rested against her chest. The rest of her blonde hair hung down her back, all the way down past her waist. It hung in between four resplendent pairs of wings that extended from her back.

Ophanimon sat at the table, looking over at Seraphimon, who sat nearby. He had told them that the Seven Great Demon Lords had been freed. A tense silence permeated the meeting hall.

"…Are you absolutely certain, Seraphimon?" a deep, bass voice asked. The voice sounded calm, deliberating, and intelligent, but it managed to betray a passionate edge to his careful words.

This deep, male voice belonged to a large Digimon who sat on the opposite side of the table from Seraphimon and Ophanimon. Sitting on a large, wide chair was a giant, rabbit-shaped, angel Digimon. His body was covered in soft, trim, pink fur which glowed sleekly in the rays of light. He loomed over the two angel Digimon, standing at twice their size with his much larger, thick and slightly pudgy body. Two, long, tail-like appendages hung from the rear of his muscular-yet-podgy lower body as it rested in the seat. His two powerful, rabbit-like legs hung off the chair comfortably so that his feet touched the marble floor.

His long, bulky, muscular arms rested on the crystalline surface of the table. His large hands had expansive palms and long, thick, clawed fingers that could easily wrap around a whole Digimon. Around the Digimon's neck was a long, white and gold collar with pointed tips, which was a part of his body. The angel Digimon had a round, rabbit-like face with pink cheeks and a white snout and forehead. Extending from the top of his head was a pair of long, angelic ears with feather-like tips that made them look like wings. Around the base of his ears were two thick, loose-fitting, golden rings that shimmered with his holiness. Jutting from his forehead were three small horns that were formed in a triangular pattern.

Cherubimon's black, beady eyes shimmered expressively as he frowned. The corners of his mouth were curved downwards as he observed Seraphimon.

Seraphimon gazed at Cherubimon calmly. "I am completely certain, Cherubimon," he said to the large, rabbit-like angel. "SlashAngemon's scouts in the Powers have confirmed it."

Cherubimon leaned forwards onto his arms, his brows furrowing deeply. "The Seven Great Demon Lords freed… This could be a calamity," he spoke, his deep voice sounding troubled.

"How could this have happened?" Ophanimon questioned, rubbing her chin pensively.

"There must have been outside help," Seraphimon mused bitterly. "Perhaps there is a pocket of crypto-heretics loyal to Lucemon and his ilk."

"We cannot jump to that conclusion, Seraphimon," Cherubimon stated, frowning at the blue and gold archangel. "I don't want to start up another inquisition."

"I didn't say that, Cherubimon," Seraphimon debated. "Neither do I, as it happens. However, we must consider the possibility that the threat comes from inside the Heavenly Choir."

Cherubimon shook his head ardently. "Do we? The barrier of the Dark Area has been fractured ever since DarkKnightmon escaped. The Royal Knights have said as much. They could have very well escaped due to the barrier's deterioration. What does it say about us if we suddenly start suspecting our own people? Do not stoke fears and reopen old wounds, my friend," he debated.

"I am merely being realistic, Cherubimon. Do you think so little of me that I wish to suspect our loyal followers?" he asked, gazing at the tall, pink archangel.

"You know I don't. However, I can't—"

Ophanimon placed her hands on the table. "That's enough, both of you," she stated firmly yet empathetically. "This news is shocking to all of us. Now is not the time to be arguing with one another. We must focus on the future, not the past."

The two male angels looked away sheepishly.

"You're right, Ophanimon…" Cherubimon conceded with an embarrassed expression.

Seraphimon sighed and nodded. "Yes…" he agreed, looking over at Cherubimon. "I apologise, Cherubimon. I am just overwrought and tense about the situation."

Cherubimon smiled and nodded. "I'm sorry, as well. I didn't mean to question your intentions. We all want what's best. This is just a troubling situation…"

"I think we are all in agreement there," Ophanimon stated, smiling as she looked between the two. "So, let's look at our courses of action."

Cherubimon placed his elbows on the table and raised his large hands, clasping them together and resting his chin on top of them. He closed his eyes and nodded his head softly, causing his long ears to bob slightly. "Obviously, we should watch the situation closely. We need to find out where they are and monitor their movements," the archangel suggested.

"And then we must strike," Seraphimon stated resolutely.

Cherubimon cocked one of his black eyes open and looked at Seraphimon with measured scepticism. "If necessary," he answered guardedly. "However, should that really be our first option?"

"Of course… The Seven Great Demon Lords – the heretics who destroyed one of our Sky Colonies and thousands of our brothers and sisters – are a threat that must be extinguished," Seraphimon firmly said with a bit of incredulity in his tone.

"And if they wish to live a peaceful existence?" Cherubimon put forward in reply. "Should we not let them?"

Seraphimon shook his head emphatically. "That is simply out of the question… I can forgive a lot, Cherubimon, but I cannot forgive what they have done."

"They have been punished enough. What if they intend to be peaceful, only for us to attack and provoke them?" Cherubimon suggested.

"I think that is uncharacteristically naïve of you, Cherubimon," Seraphimon stated, looking at the rabbit Digimon.

"That does seem a bit far-fetched," Ophanimon agreed. "It is likely that they escaped with a purpose in mind. Whether it is their own purpose or somebody else's is another discussion. Surely, you must see that, Cherubimon."

"I am merely trying to debate Seraphimon's point, Ophanimon," Cherubimon explained calmly. "We both know that he can hotheaded and prone to action before thinking." He turned and looked at Seraphimon with a wry smirk. "Apologies, Seraphimon, but surely you must concede that, if I am to concede your point."

Seraphimon leaned back in his seat and folded his arms. "Very well. Your point is well-taken," he responded, although not without a note of indignation and huffiness in his voice.

"For somebody with such thick armour, you do have rather thin skin," Cherubimon dryly teased, smiling warmly at his friend.

This elicited a small chuckle from Ophanimon. "Back to the topic at hand," she followed up, growing serious again. "We cannot simply ignore the re-emergence of the Seven Great Demon Lords." She looked at Seraphimon and then turned back to Cherubimon. "However, I agree that we shouldn't rush into this. I suggest that we watch the Demon Lords carefully and prepare the Powers for battle in the meantime."

"Very well. That seems like a logical course of action," Cherubimon concurred.

"Yes, that is fine," Seraphimon agreed.

Ophanimon nodded. "Good. And what of the Royal Knights? Shall we ask for their help?" she suggested.

"They would be a useful ally," Cherubimon stated. "We don't have a large contingent of soldiers on the ground of the Digital World, so if we worked with them, we could cover more ground. Plus, my former apprentice, Sleipmon, is among their ranks now."

"That is true… However, I don't want us to be too dependent on them. They already helped us during the Heretics' Rebellion, but we cannot necessarily expect to rely on them again. The Demon Lords are an internal matter when it comes down to it," Seraphimon debated.

"I think they stopped being an internal matter when the Demons dropped Sky Colony: Empyrea onto the Digital World," Cherubimon deadpanned, glancing over at Seraphimon as he rested his chin on his hands.

"I'm inclined to agree. The more allies that we have, the better," Ophanimon concurred. "By turning our backs, we would only be making things easier for the Demon Lords, whatever their intentions may be."

Seraphimon nodded softly. "Yes, you bring up good points… Very well, we will send an envoy to the Royal Knights," he agreed. "If the Demon Lords are back, the very Digital World is in danger, not just our Sky Colonies."

"I wonder how Bagramon will respond," Cherubimon mused. "He has lived in peace and reclusiveness for all of these years. I wonder if he has put his incendiary days behind him, especially after the death of his brother."

"Or perhaps he knows something. We cannot rule out the possibility," Seraphimon suggested.

"He may have been a high-ranking angel who governed over death, but he was really more of a follower during the rebellion," Ophanimon mused.

"If only he weren't so stubborn," Cherubimon said bitterly. "All he needed to do was repent."

"It is a shame…" Seraphimon mused wistfully. "To think that I once called him my friend…"

"Anyways… We have more important things to deal with," Cherubimon stated.

Seraphimon nodded. "We should consult with God for divine guidance," he suggested.

Cherubimon stood to his feet, raising his large, pink body up. "I am going to the library. I want to do some research," the great angel explained. "I will come by the Supernal Sanctum later."

"Very well, Cherubimon," Seraphimon responded. "Don't get lost in mountains of books."

Cherubimon raised an eyebrow and looked at the seraphim with an amused grin. "Was that a joke, Seraphimon? How very unlike you…" he teased right back.

"It was a fact. I know how you get lost, reading one book and then another," Seraphimon stated seriously. "Before long, you have your nose buried in every page."

Ophanimon smiled and turned to Cherubimon. "Well, you can't deny that you are something of a bookworm, Cherubimon," she said to him light-heartedly.

The cherubim Digimon chuckled with a warm and soft laugh. "I guess not… I promise I won't be too long. I know there is much that we need to do together," he assured his two friends.

With that, Cherubimon nodded at the two similar angel Digimon and walked out of the meeting hall of the Supernal Sanctum.

As Cherubimon walked out of the white and golden hall, Seraphimon gazed after him, quietly absorbed in his thoughts.

Ophanimon, perceptive as ever, noticed his lingering stare. "…Is there something on your mind, Seraphimon?" she asked him, standing up and walking over to the archangel Digimon.

"Cherubimon has a big heart…" Seraphimon mused broodingly.

Ophanimon smiled and nodded. "Yes, he does… That is one of his many qualities," she responded tenderly.

"…Do you think I am being too harsh?" he asked, standing up and turning to Ophanimon.

"No, I don't. This is a very serious threat and you are acting how you should be acting," Ophanimon assured him.

Seraphimon turned his head and stared out the door that Cherubimon exited from. "I know he still feels guilty over the Heretic's Rebellion. A lot of our brethren died. Do you think he will have misgivings about acting against the Demon Lords again?"

"No… Cherubimon knows what is right. Trust him, Seraphimon. Trust yourself. You don't usually have doubts," Ophanimon said to him, gently taking his hand.

"Yes, you are right, Ophanimon… This news has just left me somewhat shaken. I fear for the future," he admitted, looking away. "I know that I must be calm in my heart and mind, but I cannot help but feel uncertain."

Ophanimon smiled sweetly at him. "We all have doubts. All we can do is work together to ensure a bright future," she assured her friend.

Seraphimon nodded softly. "Yes… You're right. I think I have indulged my worries for long enough now. It is now time to look forwards," he stated more confidently.

"Good…" Ophanimon said, pulling her hand away. "We should hold a meeting with the Three Commanders later. Shall I tell them?"

"Yes, good idea," Seraphimon responded.

Seraphimon nodded at Ophanimon. He then flapped his ten wings and began rising towards the oculus in the ceiling, making his way out of the sanctum.

"There is much that needs to be done."

---

To the northwest part of the continent, was a large region of darkness and ruin. It was a place that seemed to constantly have shadows cast over its landscape. It was known as the Gloaming Fields.

It was a stark and barren land with very few signs of life. There was thick, loamy dirt covering the ground as far as the eye could see. Dead, leafless trees were scattered across the landscape and their crooked, gnarled branches reached out at sharp angles like twisted bones. Despite the initially monotonous landscape, the Gloaming Fields was actually home to many diverse (and equally creepy) settings. There were the silent, rolling hills of the Desolate Moors. Also, there were the dark, verdant, unwelcoming woods of the Forgotten Forest. The landscape also contained cemeteries, abandoned churches, marshes, and haunted castles.

Due to the spooky nature of the setting, most Digimon preferred not to enter the area if possible. Despite it seeming mostly barren, the Gloaming Fields were actually home to a sizeable population of undead Digimon, as well as some demon Digimon and other virus types who preferred to be among similar company. The two main cities were the cities of Vespers and Sepulcrum, and the wealthy, aristocratic Digimon of the area often had their own castles. Although many of the Digimon were virus types who were stereotypically evil and there was often crime and mischief-making, not all of the Digimon inhabiting this area were necessarily evil.

However, beyond the traditional western and northern outskirts of the Desolate Moors was the Deserted Wastes. Whereas the barrenness of the Desolate Moors was a natural part of the Digital World, the desolation of the Deserted Wastes was unnatural. The region was once verdant and full of life. All of that changed during the Death-X Incident, where the mysterious, savage, undead Digimon - the dreaded 'Death-X' Digimon - went on a rampage, consuming other Digimons' digicores and laying waste to the Digital World.

It was claimed to have started in the Desolate Moors after an ambitious scientist was researching and experimenting with Digicores in order to better understand the newly discovered X-Antibody. Many Digimon had been evolving with the X-Antibody for decades previous to that. After the copied prototypes created in the experiment went horribly wrong, the Death-X Digimon multiplied and consumed, spreading out across the Digital World. Although nobody can confirm the validity of the story (which became a morality tale to keep Digimon from messing with the natural laws), since the scientist was said to have been to have been the first killed, the Death-X Incident was so bad that the strongest Digimon had to step up and stop them. This included the likes of Alphamon, Omegamon, Dukemon, and Magnamon. Although the mindless banquet of killing was stopped through the combined efforts of many Digimon, much of the Digital World was devastated. The area around the Gloaming Fields was thus turned into the Deserted Wastes that it is today.

The Deserted Wastes are still home to a few landmarks, such as the town of Lacuna and the Void Mountains. The mountains were so-named because they were thought to be cursed or tainted by the several destructive incidents that had taken place around them. There were also reports of spatial distortions around them, further adding to their name.

The Void Mountains were giant, sky-reaching monuments of black stone. They dominated the landscape with their towering, obsidian forms. They were imposing, even from a distance. Their occasionally crooked peaks stretched into the sky, brushing the undersides of some low-hanging clouds.

At the base of the Void Mountains were several caverns. The gaping mouths of rock led underneath the mountains into a large cave complex. They were known as the Abyssal Caves. Some of the caves were natural while some were dug by Digimon. The caves had served as a strategic outpost against the Death-X Swarm during the invasion, providing a pivotal sanctuary for the resistance, and a strategic chokepoint to defend from the undead swarm. That event was long in the past. Now, the caves have long been abandoned.

The caverns were extremely dark. Entering them was like walking into the Dark Area itself. Every so often, there were glow stones – a luminous type of rock that lit the way – but, for the most part, the caves were tenebrous. The walls were made up of the same sturdy, black stone that formed the mountain. The caves were labyrinthine and there were tunnels leading both up the mountain and below it. Some reached up to the cliffs and plateaus of the mountainside. Some went far down enough to reach a deep, subterranean river. The calm river flowed beneath the mountain and eventually filtered out into a bay connected to the Delta Ocean. This river caused several underground ponds to exist within the cave system. They were a warm cyan colour and the water was clear and tranquil. Below the river were deep, cavernous ravines that stretched as far as the ocean floor.

Although the Abyssal Caves were usually empty, one of the caverns was illuminated. It wasn't lit up by glowstones, but, rather, two floating wisps of light. The phosphorescence cast a strong light across the tunnel. The light revealed a massive, descending tunnel that was about a few hundred meters down from the mouth of the cave. The cavern was wide and spacious, with large stalactites reaching down from the ceiling. The tunnel led down before stopping, and then it opened up wide into an expansive chamber of rock before meeting water at the tunnel's end. The white glow cast across a spacious pond at the bottom of the chamber, causing the azure water to shimmer and reflect the rocky walls of the cave. The pond was big enough to fit a MetalSeadramon, and it was deep enough for one to swim around freely.

Five Digimon were revealed to be standing in the cave tunnel, near the edge of the subterranean pond. The five Digimon in question were Bagramon, Lucemon: Falldown Mode, Demon, Lilithmon, and Barbamon.

Bagramon and Lucemon both stood with a calm, patient aura about them. Demon, still in his cloaked form, gazed up the length of the tunnel impatiently. Lilithmon kneeled beside the placid pond and stared at her reflection in the calm water, idly curling a few strands of hair around her finger as she did. Meanwhile, Barbamon sat on a large rock, irritably tapping the butt of his staff against the stone floor.

"Where the hell is he?" Barbamon hissed as he scratched one of his claws against the stone, creating a grating noise that was as gravelly and shrill as his voice. "We've been waiting for hours! That damn lout has no sense of responsibility…"

"Patience, Barbamon," Lucemon calmly told him, seeming not at all concerned by the absence of the others.

"Time is money, Lucemon," Barbamon retorted irritably. "The sooner everyone's here, the sooner we can begin our preparations and planning."

Bagramon closed his eye and leaned against a stone outcropping that was jutting up from behind him. "It's true that the Royal Knights and their allies will be searching for us, so the spectre of time will be ever-present. However, we mustn't act hastily. I suggest that we take things slowly and carefully," Bagramon proposed even-handedly.

"That has nothing to do with tardiness," the slender demon man explained with a sneer. "This is a waste of my time!"

"Oh, pipe down, old man. Honestly…" Lilithmon said with an exasperated sigh as she glanced over her shoulder. She looked down at her reflection and cocked her head slightly. With nothing else to do but wait, she brushed her bangs aside with a finger and gazed at her fair complexion studiously. An annoyed expression formed on her face when the water suddenly began to ripple tumultuously, distorting the clear, liquid mirror that she was staring through.

Large, rolling waves began forming from the center of the underground pond. The water splashed against the rocky cave walls noisily and sent ripples of water towards the edge of the pool where Lilithmon was kneeling. A gigantic, crimson body could be seen under the waves, emerging from the depths. The first thing to emerge was the tip of a giant, red snout.

Leviamon swam up from the deep, aquatic passage below. He surfaced above the pond with water dripping from his scales and mouth. He floated on the tempestuous water and gazed at the other Demon Lords with gold, reptilian eyes. There was a large, translucent fish impaled on one of his jagged teeth, which he promptly snapped into his mouth and swallowed.

"I'm back," he announced, gulping the fish down and licking his lips with a massive tongue.

Lilithmon scowled and hopped away from the pond as a large wave splashed up near where she had been kneeling. She cast an annoyed glare at the massive crocodile Digimon that emerged. "You idiot. You almost splashed me!" she scolded him.

"And wouldn't that just be terrible?" Barbamon muttered under his breath, leering over at the two with aggravation.

"Forgive me for breathing," Leviamon sarcastically replied, casting his gaze to Lilithmon.

"It's hard to forgive breath as foul as yours, Leviamon," Lilithmon was her riposte, answered with a blasé tone of voice as she brushed off dirt from the violet fabric hanging from her. She turned and looked over at Barbamon. "And did you say something, you old codger?"

"Nothing at all, my dear," the lanky demon man snidely responded with a roll of his eyes.

Leviamon swum over to the edge of the underground pond so that the chin of his massive snout rested on the rock tunnel. "Beelzebumon still isn't here?" he asked, glancing around the tunnel.

"Not yet," Lucemon replied, closing his eyes.

"Tch. Let's forget him and start already. I doubt he'll even show up," Leviamon suggested cynically, his deep, reptilian voice echoing down the tunnel.

"No. We will wait," Lucemon answered simply and decisively, not even looking over at Leviamon.

Leviamon grunted distastefully. "He's not exactly reliable. He does what he pleases, when he pleases. He was a wildcard throughout our stay in the Dark Area," he argued. "No sense of loyalty."

"Some could say that about you, Leviamon," Barbamon stated pointedly as he leaned forwards on his staff. "You were an alliance to yourself."

"For good reason," Leviamon growled back. "It's no secret that you were only out for yourself, Barbamon."

"You should put all of that behind you," Bagramon suggested diplomatically. "What happened in the Dark Area is one thing. If we all wish to survive, we need unity."

"That is exactly what I was thinking, Bagramon," Lucemon stated, placing his hands on his hips. "I will forgive any previous transgressions committed against me, you will all be glad to know. As of right now, we must look at the bigger picture, don't you agree?"

"I suppose so…" Barbamon complied, although his voice purposefully reluctant.

"Tch," Leviamon scoffed. "I don't know where you get off being so holier-than-thou. It was your failed rebellion that got us into this situation in the first place," the giant reptile reminded Lucemon bitterly.

"You were my willing follower," Lucemon: Falldown Mode calmly reminded him, casting a superior gaze towards Leviamon. "Do you regret taking up arms against God and His imperfect world, Leviamon? You were such a loyal soldier to me during our rebellion."

Leviamon gritted his teeth. "I wasn't your soldier," he spoke lowly, bubbles floating up in front of his snout as he mumbled. "No, I don't regret the rebellion in principle, but it didn't exactly work out well for us, did it?" he responded.

"We would have won if the Royal Knights and the Warrior Ten hadn't stepped in…" Demon mentioned with a harsh and bitter edge to his words. His glowing, violet eyes narrowed within the black shadow of his concealed face.

Lilithmon made her way over to the group. She stopped beside Bagramon and Lucemon, placing her hands on her hips. "There is no point dwelling on the past," she said with a sigh. "Lucemon is right. We have to put the past behind us and look forwards. If we have any intention of surviving in the Digital World, we will need to have a united front that cannot be broken. That requires us to look past our own egos and past rivalries from our wars in the Dark Area," she informed them, letting one arm drop to her side. "We all wanted power when we created our new homes in the Dark Area. We gathered armies from the fellow 'evil' Digimon whose deleted data was prevented from being revived and was sent to the trash bin that was the inner circles of the Dark Area. We fought with each other and the other prisoners like GranDracmon for control and pre-eminence in the Dark Area. This is not the Dark Area. All too often will weak, petty Digimon with personal scores work against their best interests just to have a bit of revenge or to grab a tempting opportunity. We cannot have that. We have a second chance now that we're free and we must make the best of it."

Leviamon climbed halfway out of the water, the lower part of his body still submerged underneath the sloshing pond. "A second chance to do what?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.

"To finish what I started," Lucemon explained decisively.

"To take my revenge," Demon deeply muttered, slowly closing his fist.

"To profit from our gambit," Barbamon stated, tapping his clawed fingers against his staff.

"To have the freedom to do what I please," Lilithmon added with a designing smirk.

Leviamon sneered. "…Yeah. Fine. I'm in," he conceded. "I hate the way Seraphimon, Ophanimon, and Cherubimon think they can just dictate whatever they want. They're idiots blinded by their unwavering faith and self-righteousness…"

"Then we will have to show them the errors of their ways, won't we?" Lucemon decided with a calm half-grin.

"Indeed," Bagramon stated in concordance. "However, we are a long way from that point as it stands right now."

"Which is why it's important that we get started soon," Barbamon complained insistently. "That—"

"Be quiet," Demon spoke sharply, narrowing his eyes. "I hear something…"

The five quieted down in response to Demon's words. There was a good chance that it might be a threat. If that was the case, then it would have to be eliminated. None of them were at full strength since leaving the Dark Area, but with the six of them there, they were a force to be reckoned with.

They listened intently.

At first, it was quiet. Only the hollow whistle of the wind blowing down the mouth of the cave could be heard. But after a few seconds, a distant whirring began to sound out. It was the mechanical hum of an engine.

The engine's purr gradually amplified into an audible roar as it drew nearer. The engine's excited drone echoed down the cave with an ominous wail. The Demon Lords stared up the tunnel to see a motorcycle tear up the floor of the cave and soar down the incline towards them.

Beelzebumon grinned as he drove towards them. Right when it seemed like he was going to slam into the Demon Lords, he hammered on the breaks. The rubber wheels screeched against the stone below as he angled the bike sideways and skidded to a sharp stop. The Behemoth halted with dust wafting out beneath it, the smell of burnt rubbed and exhaust thick choked the air.

After pushing the kickstand down, Beelzebumon hopped off his motorcycle and strolled over nonchalantly. "Hey, assholes," he greeted.

"Hmph. You're here," Lucemon: Falldown Mode said, glancing at Beelzebumon with a cold leer.

"What took you so long?" Barbamon asked him, glancing at the demon man distastefully. "Did you stumble drunkenly into some poor fool's bed again?"

"I had to ride here all the way from the ass-end of Eniac, is what took me so long!" Beelzebumon responded, indignantly folding his slender arms across his chest. "I came outta the Dark Area all'a way down in the Claw Desert, so get off my ass already. Cripes…"

"It doesn't matter," Bagramon said. "Everyone's here now, so we can begin."

"Shit, is that you, Bagramon? You got way uglier from when we last saw each other! When they tossed you outta the Sky Colonies, did you hit every branch of the World Tree on the way down?" Beelzebumon stated with a laugh. After a moment, his smile turned into a look of confusion as he looked around at all of the Demon Lords. "Wait a sec. The hell do you mean 'everyone's here'? We're missing Belphemon! I mean, I know your eyesight isn't that good, havin' lost an eye an' all, but come on! It's hard to forget the giant wad of fluff."

"Belphemon is unable to join us at the moment," Bagramon calmly explained. "I have successfully released him, but he cannot physically be here. You may already know this, but when you were imprisoned in the Dark Area, Belphemon was far too dangerous and bloodthirsty to control. They placed him in an indefinite sleep state before sending him to the Dark Area. Since he is currently in Sleep Mode, I was unable to tell him to come here."

"So, where the hell is the furball?" Beelzebumon asked, placing his hands on his hips. "Sleeping in a bed with a nightcap and a teddy?"

"Don't say such stupid things, Beelzebumon," Lucemon responded with a dismissive shake of his head.

"Belphemon is currently deep in the Cathode Tundra," Bagramon explained. "It is an extremely remote and treacherous location filled with deep snow and thick blizzards, even at this time of year. He should be safe to leave alone in the short term, but we will need him eventually. We don't want him to fall into the hands of the Royal Knights or the Heavenly Choir. I should mention that the Royal Knights have a sophisticated search system. They can detect large influxes of power and most dark rifts. We can assume that they will investigate the areas that you all resurfaced from."

"Forget Belphemon," Leviamon grunted disdainfully. "He was uncontrollable during the rebellion; he just caused as much destruction as he wanted. He's more trouble than he's worth."

"I will be the judge of that," Lucemon stated with confident poise. "He will serve us well as a powerful soldier."

Leviamon released a sharp exhale from his nostrils, which caused rainbow steam to flow out of his nose. He locked eyes with Lucemon. "You honestly think you can control him?" the massive reptile questioned the blond fallen angel with obvious scepticism.

"Of course," Lucemon: Falldown Mode answered, his voice smooth with calm certainty. "I am quite used to dealing with beasts," he explained, not gracing Leviamon with a look until the final word.

Leviamon sneered a bit deeper. "Whatever… Bagramon? I want to hear what you think. You're the one who got us all out," he stated, turning his narrow, golden eyes towards the demon man.

"As unruly as Belphemon can be, I believe that we will need his unmatched strength and ferocity in the trials to come. We need every ally that we can get; we will need to be able to match the strength of the Royal Knights," Bagramon explained. "Belphemon's strength is a match for that of the Royal Knights."

"Tch…" Leviamon scoffed bitterly. "…Very well. I trust your judgment, Bagramon. You haven't been stuck in the Dark Area all this time, so you know what's going on."

"How very big of you, Leviamon," Lilithmon teased him, smirking as she stroked her chin with a hand. "At least we have that settled."

"And what of our armies in the Dark Area?" Barbamon asked, resting his staff against his body and folding his arms. "With the exception of some of us…" He cleared his throat and looked over at Beelzebumon. "…we all had our own loyal counts, barons, and soldiers. Have they escaped as well? We could certainly use an army."

"I'm afraid I cannot be certain," Bagramon explained in response, shaking his horned head. He raised up his giant, skeletal hand and gazed at its bony, wooden palm. "When I pulled you all from the Dark Area, I was concentrating on you seven alone. There were large rifts opened up all across the Digital World, not to mention the porous barriers between the levels of the Dark Area. It's possible that some of your fellow demon Digimon escaped as well, but I can't say how many. At any rate, the rifts are completely sealed now, thanks to Imperialdramon and the Royal Knights, so there is currently no chance for any more reinforcements."

"Blast it. I have entire legions down there!" Barbamon complained. "If any of those miserable whelps try to take over my palace in my absence, I will personally skin them alive! Bah! All of my treasures are still in the Dark Area! You must be able to access the Dark Area again, Bagramon. We need to be able to pass in between there! We need the soldiers, the wealth, and the supply lines to wage a war!"

"That would be difficult, Barbamon," Bagramon calmly answered in a sage-like tone. "Imperialdramon: Paladin Mode has done a complete rewrite of the Dark Area's barrier. All of the holes have been sealed and it is as strong as it was when it was first created. I will try to look into the possibility, but I feel that it won't be possible. Now that we have escaped, the Royal Knights will be sure to have sealed any vulnerabilities. It would be safe to assume that it is sealed for good. We should not expect them to be so careless."

"Damn it… They are nothing but thorns in our sides," Demon said with a soft tightening of his fist. "If only we could remove them from the equation."

"Our job would be much easier if we had our armies," Lilithmon mused. "Right now, we are at a clear numerical disadvantage."

Barbamon glanced at the demon woman. "I'm sure we can live without your harem, Lilithmon," he sarcastically said.

Lilithmon turned and cast him a dangerous leer towards him, her eyes glowing like murderous rubies. "Shall I rip that beard off, you ugly, old miser?" she asked in threatening retort. "I'll have you know that I have the second largest army out of all of us, and my followers are far more loyal than any of yours will ever be."

"That is debateable, Lilithmon," Lucemon dismissively answered.

"Is it now?" she replied indignantly. "I actually know how to handle my followers. I know what they want, what they desire, and what they need. I can manipulate any Digimon to my wishes and they will think that they are doing themselves and me a favour. I reward their loyalty and foster their devotion, and they love me for it. They are not simply motivated by hatred, greed, and ambition like all of your followers. Their loyalties to you are built on shaky foundations, and now that we are isolated from the Dark Area, your armies will all succumb to factional in-fighting while my lovely followers will remain strong and chant 'Empress Lilithmon' to the end."

Demon scoffed at this. "A foolish notion, 'Empress'. Fear is a far stronger motivator than love," he insisted. "My followers know who's in charge and they know what happens when they fail. They are too afraid to move one foot out of turn. That's why my armies are the most disciplined and effective. When you separate the wheat from the chaff, the cream rises to the top."

"Your clumsy metaphor aside, I agree that self-interest as a motivator is far more effective than loyalty," Barbamon responded. "When it comes down to it, Digimon only care about one thing: themselves. Rather than assume any foolish pretense of my follower's loyalty to me, I look at the cold, hard truth that other Digimon are only seeking to further their own goals, not my own. I can control that by manipulating Digimons' perceptions and telling them how working in my interests will best further their own interests. Every Digimon wants something. You just need to find out what that is and how to exploit it. They will fall in line as long as they know they are getting something out of it."

"And that cynical way of thinking is precisely why your followers will turn on you and crumble now that there is a power vacuum in the Dark Area," Lucemon responded, a smug grin gracing his lips. "I believe in a medium between Lilithmon's and Demon's approaches. Reward loyalty and success while brutally punishing treachery and failure. That keeps the demons in line… However, more important than that, is that I actually have a cause for Digimon to believe in. They are actually working towards an ideal future when they follow me. That is why my army was the largest out of all of you."

"You and your causes, Lucemon," Leviamon dismissively retaliated. "I remember your 'cause' that started one of the many Dark Area wars; it was so that you could unite the Dark Area under you as the ultimate overlord. So noble."

"If that over-simplification of my goal was all that you were able to understand, then it is no wonder I sent you fleeing with your tails between your legs on more than one occasion," Lucemon calmly taunted. "I was the only one who could lead the Dark Area out of the depths of vice and depravity that it found itself in after years of degradation. I provided a bastion of hope and success for the future. Is it any wonder that I was loved by the Digimon who had ambitions for something better."

Leviamon rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say…" he sceptically responded. "My followers were good; better than all of yours, that's for sure. I found like-minded individuals who hated the rest of you. I knew how to handle them. I could play on their insecurities that came from living in a shitty world that was filled with Digimon like all of you. They didn't want to be dominated by your guys' tyranny and ideals and shit. I actually got my soldiers and commanders. They trusted me; they knew I was just like them."

"Hideous beasts with no sense of purpose or loyalty, you mean?" Barbamon deadpanned.

"If you want to talk about no sense of purpose, look at Belphemon and his faction. All they cared about was being neutral. They'd join whatever army seemed like the path of least resistance, goals or purpose be damned," Leviamon complained bitterly. "At least I had goals and principles."

Beelzebumon rolled his three eyes, becoming utterly bored of their debate. "Tch. You losers and your precious armies… Who needs 'em?" Beelzebumon asked with a shrug. "I sure as hell don't. I'm strong enough on my own. In the Dark Area, I could take on every one of you assholes and your piddly, little armies."

"And you're the biggest idiot of them all," Leviamon growled. "You had Digimon begging for you to lead them. And what do you do? You turn them down and do your stupid lone wolf act. It's just like the Heavenly Choir all over again, with you."

"That was annoying," Lilithmon agreed with an annoyed leer directed at the leather-clad demon. "You're so easy to read, Beelzebumon. You only care about satisfying your own desires."

"Look who's talkin'," Beelzebumon fired back.

Lilithmon leered dangerously at him. "I am measured and exacting when it comes to satisfying my appetites. You will jump at whatever's offered to you."

"Tch," Beelzebumon argued. "Bullshit. I don't fight weaklings. I don't eat trash for food. And I don't bed annoying people. Think whatever you want, Lili. I know myself best."

Lilithmon's mascara-toned eye twitched and an incredulous grin formed on her face that was less a smile and more a ticking time bomb. "Beelze… What have I told you about calling me that…?" she warned him.

A cat-like grin curled onto Beelzebumon's face and he shrugged innocently. "Dunno. Don't?" he casually responded, completely unconcerned by her restrained-yet-threatening demeanour.

"Anyways… Do not assume that you can fight solo here like you have before," Lucemon told Beelzebumon emphatically.

"Tch. I can take on the Royal Knights. They aren't so tough, one-on-one," Beelzebumon indignantly responded, casually shrugging his shoulders. He folded his arms and leaned back against the cave wall.

"Even so, it would be better if we had more numbers," Lucemon responded. "We should try to find out if any of our armies managed to escape. We must recruit allies wherever and however we can."

"I agree, Lucemon," Bagramon stated, nodding his head. "Depending on how many other demon and undead Digimon escaped, they will either be in hiding in the likes of Shroud, Dark Point, and Sepulcrum, or, if their numbers are larger, they could even be raiding. We should try to find them and recruit them to our cause. However, we shouldn't expect whole legions to have escaped. My guess would be a few hundred Digimon at the most."

"What else do we have at our disposal?" Barbamon questioned.

"There are two powerful mercenaries who have been working with me: Blitzmon and Bolgmon," Bagramon responded. "Additionally, I have been making contact with some possible allies. Like myself, not every angel who rebelled against the Heavenly Choir was deleted to the Dark Area. Some were merely exiled to the Digital World. I have been speaking with some of the fallen angels of the Desolate Moors who have been doing quite well for themselves. They have small, private armies of loyal demon and undead Digimon. Several have expressed a willingness to join us. However, others want nothing to do with us. Regardless, we should be able to get a good amount of support from there, now that all of you are released."

"Good… So the cause hasn't faded out completely," Lucemon observed with a satisfied smile.

"As long as we have loyal followers, we can continue with our righteous ambitions," Demon added in agreement. "We must ensure their support swiftly."

"It seems as though we are on a decent footing with all of that," Barbamon mused, stroking his beard with his clawed fingers. "Assuming we can capitalize on it."

Leviamon grunted and nodded. "Okay, so we get support. What else?" he asked.

"We require a financial base, obviously," Barbamon stated. "Perhaps we can take over a large bank or something. If we're cut off from our castles in the Dark Area, we need money. If we have money, we can hire mercenaries and bribe others to join us, not to mention buy food, weapons, and supplies."

"That may not be necessary," Bagramon explained. "Some of the demon aristocrats who don't want to help us directly have, instead, offered to be our benefactors. They are quite wealthy. If we can sort out a good deal, then we will have more than enough of a financial base for our future goals."

"Even so, it couldn't hurt to have more," Barbamon responded leering at Bagramon.

"So, you expect us to rob a bank? I am no petty criminal," Lucemon stated unwaveringly. He released a dismissive scoff and shook his blond head. "I am a messiah, not a common thief."

"Too good to get your hands dirty?" Leviamon asked him with a critical leer.

Lucemon smirked. "Why should I bother? If you want to, then, by all means, go right ahead. I won't object. Someone like you is far better suited for petty crime anyways."

At this barb, Leviamon sneered antagonistically at the half-angel, half-demon.

"Well, I still think it's a good idea," Barbamon stated firmly. "We need all the money that we can get."

"Tch. Honestly… You just want to horde the money for yourself," Lilithmon deduced with a roll of her eyes. "You are as greedy as ever."

Bagramon closed his remaining eye. "We can leave it as a possibility, but at this point, we don't want to do anything that draws unwanted attention. If we require additional money after we meet with our supporters, we could entertain that as an option," he suggested.

"So, I guess the Desolate Moors is our first stop. Wouldn't be a bad place for us to hide for the time being either," Leviamon stated, frowning deeply as he let his tails drift underwater. "What's next?"

"We should access Belphemon soon afterwards," Bagramon suggested. "Then, we should choose our subsequent courses of action according to our needs at the time."

"Very well. That makes sense from a strategic standpoint," Barbamon stated, nodding sagely. "There is no point focusing solely on the long game at this point."

Lilithmon placed her hands on her hips. "What is the end goal here? The same as before?"

"The destruction of the Heavenly Choir as it currently is," Lucemon: Falldown stated matter-of-factly. "As well as the culling of the other 'gods' and their supporters, such as the Royal Knights. They must be eliminated one way or another…"

Lucemon: Falldown Mode smiled darkly. "…Then a new world order can be established. One of perfection... One of harmony… I will achieve that with my own two hands, no matter who tries to stand in my way…" he said with calm composure and ambition.

"I believe that we all have mutual goals here," Demon explained, turning towards Bagramon and the rest of the Seven Great Demon Lords. "We should work together as Bagramon says if we wish to put the Heavenly Choir and their pathetic allies in their places."

"That would be the most prosperous course of action…" Barbamon dryly stated.

"Fine," Leviamon uttered before sliding back into the large, underground pond, causing a big splash that sent waves crashing up against the rocks of the cave.

Lilithmon was about to speak when a wave splashed up and soaked the part of her dress that dragged along the ground. She turned to the massive crocodile with a scowl. "You are really testing my patience, lizard…" she warned him.

Leviamon rolled his eyes as he floated on the large pond. "Sorry, my lady," he answered, his voice dripping with sarcasm as much as his body was dripping with water.

"Okay. Let's do this, then," Lilithmon spoke, a smirk growing on her face. "We don't have many other options. This sounds like the most beneficial. It might even be fun."

"That's for damn sure," Beelzebumon agreed with an excited grin. He spun his Berenjena shotgun up into the air and deftly allowed it to land back in its holster on his back. "Bring it on."

Bagramon nodded calmly. "Good… Then we are all in agreement," he mused.

Bagramon turned and gazed up the tunnel of the cave towards the distant exit. He could see light shining down, dimly illuminating the darkness of the tunnel. His ruby eye glowed dimly as a soft smile formed on his face.

"We will put right what went wrong all that time ago…" he explained. "Our rebellion – no – our holy war will continue from here on out."

Bagramon's red eye flashed menacingly. "But this time, nobody… not the Three Angels… not the Warrior Ten… not the Royal Knights… and not God Himself will stand in our way…"

The Demon Lord turned away from the six others, closing his eye.

"I will do what you couldn't do, Brother… I will restore justice to this world…" Bagramon brooded. "New Justice… My Justice… Just as I always intended…"