(Author's Note: Here's Chapter 34 everyone. I hope you all had good (or tolerable) winter holidays. Happy New Year, too. It's my resolution to try to write more, so hopefully I'll be able to. If any of you want to check out my A Dragon in Shining Armour tumblr blog, the Royal Knights (and other characters) reply to Asks there, which is a bit of fun. Anyways, enjoy Chapter 34. Things will be ramping up after this. Let me know what you think!)
Chapter 34: Arrière-pensée
The Gloaming Fields were an eerie place. The landscape was composed of vast plains of murky soil that was thick and loamy. Very few plants grew in the Gloaming Fields, and the ones that did exist were usually dead or decayed. The Desolate Moors within the Gloaming Fields took up much of the countryside. Ashen, lifeless trees with twisting, leafless branches speckled the landscape intermittently. The fields of grass were usually brown and dead, with verdant green grass only near the ominous marshes and the deep, rushing river.
However, the vast landscape wasn't completely empty. Every so often, there were dismal cemeteries, usually next to ruined churches, monasteries or temples. These decayed structures were usually hollowed out, with only the exterior skeletons of the buildings remaining standing. They were usually abandoned places of worship for Yggdrasil or the Being of Goodness. In some cases the ruins were merely created as mock structures - follies existing purely to create a gothic aesthetic. Sometimes, the ruined, decayed structures had simply always been there since time immemorial.
The main cities of Vespers and Sepulcrum both had a similar feeling to them. They were both reasonably large for their rural, out-of-the-way locations, and were home to many undead Digimon, as well as demon Digimon. They had stark, austere, Gothic architecture of rigid, foreboding stone. Imposing spires and towers dominated the cities' skylines. Great cathedrals and abbeys decorated the cities, although they weren't used for the worship of God. Most of the population of the Gloaming Fields lived in these two cities. However, outside of the cities, the landscape was feudal in nature. The land was divided into duchies held by the wealthiest and most influential landowners. These Digimon typically lived in the dark, towering castles and mansions than were scattered across the landscape. The castles were giant and domineering, striking a powerful silhouette against the dark sky.
During the day, the Gloaming Fields felt stark, empty, barren, and inhospitable. The skies were usually grey, and fog often drifted across the landscape. Storms were common, causing the landscape to become mired with water and mud. During the night, the Gloaming Fields looked like a gothic nightmare. At certain points in the Gloaming Fields, massive, craggy mountains of jagged, contorted stone reached into the night sky. They seemed to bear down on whoever walked below. Tall, black castles with intricate, imposing architecture stood like looming titans against the glowing, waxen moons. Some were built in the center of empty plains, some at the tops of hills, some near spectral monastery ruins, and others at the plateaus of cliffs. The Gloaming Fields were both fearsome and sublime. It wasn't hard for visiting Digimon to be stricken by a sense of awe and fright.
In one of these castles, a few kilometers to the east of Sepulcrum, an important meeting was being held. The castle was a giant mansion of stone that stood amid a craggy field. The moonlight shone down on the complex, gothic exterior, causing the black, stone surface to flush with a cool, pearl glow. The interior was lit by the warm, ochre glow of flames, casting a dim light onto the windows.
Several Digimon were gathered inside the great, castle hall. A long, crimson rug was draped across the stone floor, adding much needed pigment to the flat, grey colours of the stone foundations. On the wall arches were torches resting in sconces, lighting up the expansive great hall for the inhabitants. The walls were adorned with beautiful, masterfully-crafted paintings. The striking, realistic, and emotive paintings mainly showcased the struggle of the Heavenly War between the angels and the demons. The angels were basked in light and the demons in darkness; both pairs clashed in chaotic violence. Other paintings consisted of heavenly clouds against a luminous, empyreal backdrop, the abyssal night shadowed by the darkest shades of pain, and a few portraits of aristocratic-looking demon Digimon.
The subject of many of the portraits stood at the far end of the hall, with a glass of deep, sanguine wine in his clawed hand. His violet body was slender, his waist and arms like long twigs. His dark, purple armour was embellished with countless rows of spikes along his hips, chest, and shoulders. His face consisted of pale, grey skin and a smirking mouth. The rest was covered by a violet, winged helmet that covered the top half of his head apart from his curled, blond hair, and his deep, red eyes.
The NeoVamdemon walked back and forth in front of Bagramon, Lucemon, Lilithmon, and Barbamon. Behind him were several other demon aristocrats who had gathered for this meeting. Among them was the emerald armoured, humanoid form of a Murmuxmon, the energy-based, reaper-like body of a MetalPhantomon, the vampiric, noble Vamdemon, and the black, leathery, dignified form of a LadyDevimon.
Standing opposite to this gathering of demon nobility were the four visiting Demon Lords. Lucemon Falldown Mode stood at the front of the group. He was standing upright with his arms folded across his chest, smiling softly as he looked at the NeoVamdemon. Standing behind him was Bagramon, who rested easy on his feet despite the heavy, skeletal arm that hung from his right side. In his left hand was a glass of water which he took a soft sip from. His red eyes never strayed from the host. Next to him was Lilithmon, who stood with one hand on her hip. In her other, was a glass half-filled with deep, violet wine. She swirled the glass around, causing the potent liquid to slosh around the edges of the glass in a tiny vortex. Although mainly keeping focused on the discussion, every so often, she glanced at the Murmuxmon. She would smile encouragingly, but she didn't make any overt, suggestive actions – simply enough to get him thinking. Finally, Barbamon stood beside the others. As he listened to the NeoVamdemon speak, he looked around at all the expensive ornamentation that their host had in his castle, quietly estimating how much everything cost.
"-and I would be happy to offer my private army of two thousand demon Digimon to you for our renewed war against the Sky Colonies," NeoVamdemon explained, pacing back and stopping in front of the four Demon Lords.
"And this is in addition to the large sum of money that you promised us earlier, correct?" Lucemon asked for clarity.
"Of course," NeoVamdemon assured them. "Many of us have been waiting for this chance." He turned and gazed at the large, wall painting that portrayed demon Digimon viciously driving themselves into the ranks of the angel Digimon. "The Heavenly War is not yet over…"
"Excellent," Barbamon responded, leaning forwards on his tall staff. He furrowed his pronged eyebrows and tightened his scrutinizing, ruby eyes towards the demons. "However… You realise that we will be unable to bring the war to the Sky Colonies immediately, correct? We do not yet have the strategic foothold to be able to launch a successful attack on the Sky Colonies. We cannot yet face the Powers. It is most likely that we will have to start our campaign here on the surface of the Digital World."
"Fear not, Barbamon," NeoVamdemon insisted, smiling disarmingly as he raised his wine glass. "We are very patient… We have been waiting for this opportunity for a very long time. We are willing to do what it takes. Waiting a little longer is not a problem…"
"However… this is a big gamble that each of us are taking," the Murmuxmon spoke up, stepping forwards. "We all believe in the cause, but by helping you, we are exposing our intentions. If you fail, it will all be a waste and the Heavenly Choir could very well decide to get rid of us once and for all. We were lucky enough to simply be exiled here and left in peace after the Heavenly War."
Lilithmon closed her eyes and smiled. "You don't doubt us, do you, Murmuxmon?" she asked him reassuringly. "I am sure that you have heard of our abilities after that first wave of demon Digimon escaped to here from the Dark Area all those years ago. We learned how to command armies and outmanoeuvre dangerous opponents. We didn't have that experience during our rebellion, but we do now, after having survived countless years in the Dark Area."
Barbamon nodded. "Lilithmon speaks the truth," he agreed. "It is a gamble, yes, but there is never a reward worth achieving without risk. If we succeed, the riches will be greater than you could ever imagine…"
Murmuxmon released a breath and nodded. "…Very well. My will hasn't faltered. You have my support as well. I have a thousand demon and undead Digimon at my disposal, along with twenty thousand bits."
"I knew we could count on you, Count Murmuxmon," Lilithmon said with a pleased grin, raising her goblet in a toasting motion.
LadyDevimon stepped forwards, her poise confident and dignified. "I have one hundred demon Digimon who I could pledge to your cause, along with one hundred thousand bits."
Barbamon's head suddenly turned towards the black, feminine demon, the eyebrows on his gold face rising with interest upon hearing this monetary amount. "One hundred thousand… is a useful amount…" he responded, trying not to sound too eager.
"I can manage two hundred soldiers and fifteen thousand bits," the Vamdemon added.
Bagramon smiled and nodded. "We thank you all for your generous aid," he diplomatically said to them. "We will not disappoint your expectations."
"Just as long as we get a return on our investments," Murmuxmon stated, putting his wine goblet down on the nearby table.
"Naturally," Barbamon responded, leering over at the Murmuxmon in question. "Nothing is free, after all…"
"Although some of us truly believe in the cause enough for victory to be its own reward," NeoVamdemon pointedly added, casting a dismissive glance to his fellow Count.
"About that… Are these four the only ones willing to support us?" a bemused Lucemon asked, turning to Bagramon for confirmation. He turned back to NeoVamdemon. "Are you unable to convince the other demon Digimon around here to join us?"
"We are doing our best," NeoVamdemon responded. "There has been much clandestine diplomacy going on inside of our manors. We have to be discreet."
Bagramon nodded with agreement, looking at Lucemon. "Some of the demons want no involvement whatsoever, and wish to distance themselves from us entirely. Others are undecided. Some want to wait and see if we have any success, to gauge if there is any chance of victory. Some are supportive, but do not want to publically meet with us, and will instead be giving us anonymous donations of wealth and materiel. Others are apprehensive, and are weighing the benefits and the disadvantages of helping us. We still have chances to get more support, with the right tactics," he explained.
Lucemon: Falldown Mode nodded and looked towards their demon hosts with a confident smile. "Then we thank you for your courage and devotion. You will be rewarded for your services after our victory," he assured them. "We know how to thank all who show us proper loyalty."
"Then we are your humble subjects," Murmuxmon explained, making a show of bowing politely.
LadyDevimon folded her long, stringy arms across her chest. "Where are the other Demon Lords? Shouldn't they be here as well?" she wondered.
"Demon, Leviamon, and Beelzebumon are currently off picking up Belphemon," Bagramon explained to her. "They will be arriving within a couple days."
"I certainly hope they do it inconspicuously," Murmuxmon mused. "As Leviamon's body is incredibly conspicuous… It would be bad if they attracted attention here."
"Leviamon is intelligent; he knows that he stands out. He will likely use a lower form," Bagramon assured the demon nobles. "They know not to draw attention to themselves."
"'Intelligent' is generous for Leviamon," Barbamon murmured under his gravelly breath.
"Very well. The offer for all of you to stay here remains the same," NeoVamdemon explained. "Although fitting Belphemon may be a problem if he cannot take a lower form like Leviamon can."
"Oh, just throw him in a barn or something," Lilithmon suggested with a dismissive wave of her hand. "All he does is sleep anyways. He is very low-maintenance."
"We appreciate your generous offer," Bagramon responded graciously.
"Yes, of course," Lucemon added with a slight nod. "We require a base to reside and strategise from if we have any hope for success, after all."
"What is the strategy at the moment, if I may ask?" Murmuxmon questioned.
"Give us a chance; we only just escaped the Dark Area," Lilithmon responded before taking a sip from her deep, mauve wine.
"We are waiting for the other four Demon Lords to arrive before we start constructing any concrete plans," Bagramon responded. "However, that isn't to say that we do not have any ideas."
Barbamon nodded in agreement and shouldered his long staff. "It is just a matter of creating short-term tactical goals to best fit our long-term strategic goals," the bearded demon explained. "Rest assured, we will have that in hand as soon as the others arrive. Our priority at the moment is to establish a foothold on the Digital World."
"I see…" the Murmuxmon murmured.
"Well, with the important business now concluded, is there anything else?" NeoVamdemon asked the four Demon Lord Digimon.
"I think that is all," Lucemon answered simply. "Show us to our rooms."
"I will have my servants guide you," NeoVamdemon explained, snapping his claws.
Three small, spherical Digimon with bat wings and clawed talons flew into the great hall from the doorway at the far end. The trio of PicoDevimon fluttered over and bowed in front of the Demon Lords and their master ceremoniously.
"Right this way, please," one of the imps told them, flapping in place before turning around and leading the Demon Lords back down the hall.
Lucemon, Bagramon, Lilithmon, and Barbamon began to follow them, flanked by NeoVamdemon. As they walked down the hallway, Murmuxmon followed after them and closed in on Barbamon.
"Barbamon, a minute, if you don't mind?" Murmuxmon inconspicuously got his attention, murmuring in a low, conspiratorial manner.
"Hm?" Barbamon turned and gazed over his shoulder at the demon noble. "What is it?" he curtly asked.
"You are the primary tactician for the Demon Lords, are you not?" Murmuxmon asked him, glancing past him at the departing Demon Lords, who hadn't yet noticed that he had stopped Barbamon. "I wanted to suggest something to you… It might be something to your interest…"
"And to your interest as well, I take it…" Barbamon dryly mused, staring at Murmuxmon knowingly. "What is it…?"
"You mentioned establishing a foothold in the Digital World being a priority… To do that, you will need wealth. More wealth than us exiled demons can ever supply you…" Murmuxmon explained.
"Yes, that is true…" Barbamon suspiciously conceded, turning around to face him fully. With the movement, the jewellery around his neck jangled metallically.
"And you will also need a stronghold that is more defensible than this exposed castle..." Murmuxmon suggested.
Barbamon scowled at his pussyfooting around. "What are you suggesting, Murmuxmon? Out with it. I want to know what you're angling for," he bluntly told him.
"Very well, Lord Barbamon…" Murmuxmon subserviently agreed. "I'm speaking of New Terminal… It is one of the central hubs of Eniac. And most importantly, it is the home of Eniac's central bank… If you were to capture New Terminal and take control of that bank, you would not only capture the vast reserves of wealth within its deep, protected vaults, but you would also control Eniac's flow of commerce and establish a firm foothold on the continent."
An ambitious smirk slowly crept onto the covetous Demon Lord's sickly grey lips and he stared at Murmuxmon with a modicum of respect. "You know… I was thinking something similar, if I am completely honest… Intelligent minds think alike…" he mused, stroking his long, white beard. He let out a pensive hum. "New Terminal, you say… It is certainly a lofty goal… A high risk objective, even. The Republic's military base is located at the south east edge of the city… We could be throwing ourselves into the fire once more."
"I only ask that you consider my words," Murmuxmon proposed, giving off the air of pliability. "As the strategist, you know better than I what is in the best interests of the campaign."
Barbamon nodded. "The words you speak are true. There are many desirable elements to attacking New Terminal…" he conceded, although pausing afterwards. "…It is just a matter of deciding whether the reward is worth the risk, and whether the short and long term strategies make sense." Barbamon smiled and looked at Murmuxmon. "Although, I have to say… I know you are suggesting this for your own interests… You are an opportunist… You want a healthy return on your investment…"
"I want the rebellion to succeed, Lord Barbamon…" Murmuxmon insisted.
"And when it does succeed, you want to be remembered as the supporter who was most crucial to our victory," Barbamon answered with a knowing smirk that cut through the demon noble's pretenses. "I know what you want. It doesn't matter to me, Murmuxmon; I understand… Your suggestion was useful to me, and I will remember you in the future," the Demon Lord of Greed assured him with a crooked smile.
Although stalling at first, Murmuxmon nodded. "…Thank you, Lord Barbamon…" he graciously answered.
Barbamon nodded, his long nose dipping with the movement. "On your way, Count…" he advised him as he turned around. He continued to walk after the Demon Lords, who were already disappearing down the dark of the mansion corridor.
He used his staff to increase his strides as he hastened his pace to catch up. As Barbamon walked, he thought quietly to himself about the idea that had already been floating around in his head. A devious grin curved the corners of his mouth.
"Attacking New Terminal… Hm…"
The next day passed into existence. A sweeping blanket of overcast clouds hung over Splendour's Reach like a peppery haze. A few rogue raindrops escaped the compressed water vapour data and fell to the ground below. However, the grassy territory was spared an onslaught of showers for now.
With the spring season in full swing, the Free Area was prone to mild, comfortable temperatures and wet showers. Part of this was due to the relative proximity to the Thunderhead Rainforest to the Free Area's southern most provinces, along with the eastern coast that bordered the Net Ocean. With about two weeks into the Month of Mihiramon, it was a temperate but humid day around Castle Albion. The grass was dewy and moist, and the sturdy stones of the fortress were damp. However, that didn't stop the Order forces from training and drilling both within and outside of the walls of the castle.
Inside the headquarters, there was also work to be done.
Alphamon strode down the magnificent great hall, heading to the council room at the far end of the ostentatious gallery. His black and gold armour rattled softly with each step; his mantle flowed against his broad back as he walked with purpose.
"So, when did they get back?" a gruff voice asked him.
Gankoomon strode to the right of Alphamon, staring at the black paladin. He walked animatedly, his movements intense and dynamic. He held his white jacket over his right shoulder while the red geta that he wore for footwear created wooden clunking noises whenever they hit the beige, marble floor.
"At first light," Alphamon responded. "They slept on the Locomon on the way back."
"And? How did it go?" Gankoomon asked, his low, gruff voice itching with impatience to find out the result. "Did they take care of Belphemon?"
"I know as much as you do, Gankoomon," Alphamon explained, shifting his golden eyes to meet Gankoomon's visor. "At the very least, they're all in one piece…"
"That's definitely a relief," Magnamon spoke up from behind Alphamon. The shorter, dragon knight followed the pair down the great hall, his body clad in his golden armour. He readjusted the digizoid bracer on his arm so that it fit comfortably around the blue appendage. "I was worried about them going up against a Demon Lord as wild as Belphemon."
"Hopefully he didn't wake up," Alphamon mused, as the group passed one of the pairs of pillars that supported the ceiling of the expansive great hall.
Magnamon turned his head and looked up at Examon, who loomed over the three as he walked alongside them. Examon stood a couple feet taller than Alphamon and Gankoomon, but he had been so quiet that they had barely noticed him. The Dragon Emperor seemed lost in thought, and his placid emerald eyes were distant and thoughtful.
"…Is everything okay, Examon?" Magnamon asked him curiously. Although Examon was typically introspective and didn't wear his emotions on his sleeve, Magnamon could tell that something was on his mind. "You seem bothered."
Examon blinked, Magnamon's light voice catching his attention. "Oh, uh… It's nothing important, Magnamon," he answered minimally. "Just something trivial…"
"It might help to share, if something is troubling you," Alphamon suggested, looking over his caped shoulder.
"It's miniscule compared to the problem of the Demon Lords," Examon assured them, dismissively. "It's just something about Dorbickmon…"
"Dorbickmon…?" Alphamon wondered. "Did you and he have an argument or something?"
"Nothing major…" Examon admitted. "I was annoyed by the way he was talking to GrandisKuwagamon. I… might have made some judgments about his character that offended him…"
"Really?" Magnamon asked him. "You don't usually lose your cool, Examon; even back when Duftmon made snarky comments towards you at an hourly basis."
"I know… It was a moment of weakness," Examon said with a sigh. "I guess I assumed that since he joined our side, he would be moral and stop having the darker traits that he had when we were fighting against him. But he still has a savage, belligerent, and wrathful side. It was naïve of me to think that he would change overnight."
"Change and self-improvement is a slow, gradual process," Alphamon agreed. "Even if Digimon make progress in the right direction, they can always regress. Or they might diverge down a completely different route. That is the nature of evolution, is it not?" he proposed with a wry smile. "There is no clear path… It's what makes us Digimon."
Magnamon smiled up at the dark knight. "You're always so wise and philosophical, Alphamon."
Alphamon gave a single chuckle. "Heh… I do attempt to be…"
Gankoomon grunted and glanced over at the sizeable dragon. He raised his visor to his forehead and stared at Examon with his sharp, almost stern eyes – a rare moment that they were seen without the visor. His bushy, red, multi-pronged eyebrows were furrowed low, emphasizing his seriousness. "Don't look down your nose at Dorbickmon just because he's not the way you expected him to be. Digimon won't just change their ways because you want them to, Examon," he bluntly explained. "There's nothing wrong with having emotions - even anger. They can even be useful if they're channelled the right way. Besides, every Digimon is flawed in their own way. You can't just purify someone of their faults."
After a few moments of thinking over Gankoomon's words, Examon sighed. "…You're right about Dorbickmon. Both of you are. I should have known that I couldn't just erase countless years of his life or aspects of his personality. Dorbickmon is who Dorbickmon is…" he conceded. "I suppose that I should accept that…"
Gankoomon nodded and folded his arms. "Yeah. It's better to just accept that rather than to try to change him and impose Royal Knight values on him. Stuff like that can't be forced," he affirmed.
"Well, you may have a point," Alphamon conceded, rubbing his chin with a finger as he gazed at Gankoomon. "Trying to 'impose Royal Knight values' onto you has certainly been a difficult task…" he observed with a touch of sly levity to his words.
Gankoomon smirked and chuckled slightly. "I'm a free spirit! Can't tie me down with that stuff… I think Dorbickmon's the same way; that's why I understand where he's coming from," he informed them, casting Alphamon an adversarial grin.
Examon smiled. Despite Gankoomon's rough nature, he did have an outlook that was different from many of the other Royal Knights. Examon often found himself surprised at the amount of times that he found wisdom in his words. Rather than books, Gankoomon's knowledge came from his vast travels and experiences. It was both refreshing and enlightening to somebody like Examon, who had a limited experience with the world beyond the UDC and Free Area. "I'll take your advice to heart," he replied.
"Hah! If only more Digimon did," Gankoomon exclaimed, targeting Alphamon with a smug, contesting grin.
"Gankoomon, for the last time, we are not turning the library into a martial arts arena," Alphamon said with a dry smile. "Duftmon would threaten resignation."
A sarcastic murmur escaped from Gankoomon's mouth. "Wouldn't that be too bad?"
Examon looked down at Magnamon with a grin. "Gankoomon and Duftmon still aren't getting along?" he asked, though already knowing the answer.
"Like fire and ice," Magnamon replied, smiling back.
Examon chuckled a bit. "It's nice not to be the main target of Duftmon's ire anymore," he wryly mentioned.
Alphamon chuckled as they reached the end of the great hall, stopping in front of the closed double doors of the council room. "Heh… I did tell you that Duftmon would move on once he became acclimatised to you. He has his favoured targets of criticism - myself included. Now Gankoomon is thoroughly on the bottom of Duftmon's tolerability ranking."
"Ha ha…" Gankoomon gruffly responded, rolling his eyes before lowering his raised visor back over them.
"Duftmon has been a lot better lately though. Ever since the mistake he made, he has been putting in more of an effort," Magnamon optimistically suggested, walking up beside Alphamon as the black knight reached for the doors.
With a gentle push, the doors swung open to reveal the rest of the eight Royal Knights sitting in their seats around the table of white stone. Their gazes all turned to the entrance as the remaining four Royal Knights entered the room.
Duftmon, who sat in his seat on the far right end of the circular table, checked the mechanical watch resting on his wrist. "You are now five minutes late. I expect this sort of tardiness from the likes of Gankoomon, but I expected better from you, Alphamon," he chastised them. "What kind of example are you setting for others if you cannot be bothered to arrive on time? We have had to resort to making small talk."
Alphamon smiled ironically and wordlessly turned his gaze back down to Magnamon. The Knight of Miracles chuckled abashedly. "Relatively speaking…" Magnamon amended.
Alphamon walked over to his seat on the opposite end of the table from the door – the Empty Seat. "I apologise, Duftmon. I was delayed since High Treasurer Digmon asked to speak with me about something. However, I told Digmon that I would speak with her later," he explained.
As they entered the room and made their way to their seats, they noticed Omegamon, Dukemon, UlforceVeedramon, and Sleipmon all in their usual seats. Apart from looking tired and a bit scuffed up, they didn't seem that much worse for wear. Alphamon walked around the table and took his seat on the opposite side. He sat down beside Omegamon and Magnamon. Gankoomon slumped down next to Examon and Craniamon.
As the remaining four Royal Knights settled in, a tense silence began to emerge over the council room. After the cluttering of armour and shuffling of bodies faded, the only sound that could be heard was the soft, intermittent pattering of raindrops on the stained glass window at the back of the room. The vibrant, coloured glass rippled aquatically as rivulets of water crawled down its opposite side.
"So…" Gankoomon was the first to speak up and shatter the silence. "How did it go?"
"…Regretfully, not as planned," Omegamon tentatively spoke up, his cyan eyes frowning softly. "He escaped… I'm sorry… The blame is mine."
Duftmon turned his head and stared at Omegamon. The gaze levelled by his emerald eyes pierced with incredulity and distaste. "Belphemon escaped…" he repeated, the words phrased as if he had just bitten into a lemon. "Do tell me, Omegamon, how you managed to allow a slumbering ball of wool to flee…? Did he sleepwalk?"
Omegamon didn't reply. His only reaction was when he glanced aside shamefully, turning his eyes away from Alphamon's gaze. He didn't feel as if he had the right to defend himself. He felt as though the decision – and blame – ought to fall at his feet.
"It wasn't that simple, Duftmon," Dukemon ardently defended, leaning forwards on the table and leering across at the feline tactician. He felt that he had to speak up in Omegamon's defence, since he knew that Omegamon was the type of Digimon to subserviently accept all responsibility and not make an effort to defend himself when things went wrong. "You don't know the circumstances."
Duftmon closed his eyes and took a long, meditative inhale. He held his breath for several calming moments before exhaling and opening his eyes. After finishing the calming exercise that he remembered reading about, he turned his icy but composed gaze to Dukemon. "Very well… Enlighten us," he permitted.
"We had Belphemon. He was asleep and we were about to finish him off, but then the Demon Lords showed up," Dukemon explained, leaning back in his chair.
"The Demon Lords?" Alphamon asked with a frown. "All of them?"
"No. Three of them: Demon, Leviamon, and Beelzebumon," Dukemon informed him.
"They attacked us and kept us away from Belphemon," UlforceVeedramon explained, folding his arms and frowning indignantly. "They came with the intention of retrieving Belphemon while he was in his Sleep Mode."
Sleipmon nodded, rubbing his hands together on top of the smooth table. "Leviamon and Demon stalled us while Beelzebumon hooked Belphemon to the back of his bike and drove off with him. They ran off into the snowstorm, and the storm was too heavy for us to safely follow them," he added. "We couldn't be sure if they were luring us into an ambush, so we disengaged."
"I see…" Duftmon mused, tapping his finger irritably on the table top. "Tactically, I suppose was not a terrible move… However, strategically, this is a major blow to us. We can suppose from this that the Seven Great Demon Lords have now all gathered. We had a chance to eliminate one of the seven before they could consolidate and gain a foothold."
"It slipped through our fingers…" Omegamon said with a repentant sigh.
Alphamon smiled at him. "Don't beat yourselves up over it. Nobody said that fighting the Demon Lords was going to be easy… 'The easiest victories are often the most fleeting' I like to say," he reassured them.
"Even so, it was a good opportunity," Omegamon contended, looking at Alphamon. "It troubles me that we missed it. We should have followed them."
"And risked your safety? Us losing a Royal Knight would be a greater blow than them gaining a Demon Lord. There will be other opportunities, Omegamon," Magnamon offered, smiling optimistically at him.
"I suppose there is no point on dwelling on it now," Duftmon supposed, folding his arms. "However, I will want to read your after-action reports."
"We'll get on it after we have our checkups with Duskmon," Sleipmon explained to him. "Though none of us are hurt too badly outside of some light bruising."
"What were the Demon Lords like?" Examon asked, looking across the table at Sleipmon curiously. "Did they say anything?"
"They were strong. They might be able to fight us one on one and have it be a tough fight," Dukemon responded, remembering his skirmish with Beelzebumon. "They were stronger than they were during the Night of Falling Stars."
"They must have improved their combat abilities in the chaotic realm of the Dark Area," Alphamon mentioned, stroking his chin with a deeply serious and pensive expression. "Just like DarkKnightmon."
"They are zealous. They are planning something," Omegamon explained gravely. "Demon said that they needed Belphemon and that the Royal Knights were not to interfere with their plans. They made it clear that they would not hesitate to kill us if given the chance. It is also clear that they have unfinished business with the Heavenly Choir."
"Is that why they were set free, I wonder?" RhodoKnightmon pondered. He sat with his arms folded and his head was raised attentively. This was a time where his demeanour was cold and serious. "Perhaps by a follower of theirs back from the rebellion?"
"Many of the exiled demons from the Heavenly War settled in the Gloaming Fields," Dynasmon explained. "They've got wealth and landholdings there now…"
"Enough to fund a rebellion," Alphamon supposed. "It is possible…"
"Not to mention they have an axe to grind," Craniamon added.
Examon nodded as he thought about the suggestion. "Maybe they were just biding their time after being exiled." The crimson dragon's scaly brows furrowed. "Deep-rooted desires for revenge don't go away that easily…"
Gankoomon grunted and folded his arms before leaning back in his chair. He emphatically raised his legs and placed his feet up on top of the table, crossing one over the other. This brazen disregard of etiquette caused Duftmon's eye to twitch, but Gankoomon ignored the ensuing glare.
"Don't be so quick to judge them just because they're demon Digimon who live in the Gloaming Fields. I've been to Sepulcrum, Vespers, and the Gloaming Fields' countryside. There're some mischief-makers and thieves, sure, but most of the Digimon around there are alright," Gankoomon insisted.
"We aren't saying that they aren't," Alphamon answered diplomatically. "However, a demon Digimon exiled from the Sky Colonies would make the most sense as the Demon Lords' backer. We have to at least consider the possibility."
"At this point, you're just guessing," Gankoomon debated, looking over at the Knight of the Empty Seat. "Why don't we wait to see what Paildramon's team finds before we make any assumptions?"
"I suppose that's fair, but we also need to be proactive. It might be pertinent to have some of Karatenmon's spies in Vespers and Sepulcrum investigate and see what they might find," Alphamon suggested.
Duftmon nodded and looked over at Dukemon. "Perhaps Grani could increase the number of patrols in the Gloaming Fields as well," he put forward.
"We can talk to him about it later," Dukemon responded.
The crimson glows of Craniamon's eye sockets turned to Omegamon. "Where did the Demon Lords escape to?" he asked him.
"Northwards," Omegamon responded. "Leviamon swam up the river to attack us. He must have come from the northern sea. I can't say for sure where exactly they're headed."
"But it's safe to assume that they're operating in the north of the continent," Dynasmon suggested.
"Yeah, but that doesn't exactly narrow things down. Eniac's a big continent," UlforceVeedramon said with a shrug.
"It's something to work with, at least," Dukemon reasoned. "We should tell the Warrior Ten and warn them to keep an eye out."
Alphamon nodded in agreement. "I will try contacting them later. In the meantime, we will have to rely on the spies and scouts for further information. I can only hope Paildramon's team is able to find some useful information."
Before anybody could say another word, there was a firm knocking on the closed doors of the council room. The wooden thump echoed across the stone walls of the meeting room, commanding the attention of all twelve of the Royal Knights.
"Enter," Alphamon said, loud enough to be heard on the other side of the doors.
The door opened to reveal a short, armoured sphere standing behind it. The Gladimon, clad in plate and leather, swept his skinny arm in front of his chest and bowed politely. Behind the shadow of his visor, his blue eyes looked upon his superiors tentatively. "I apologise for interrupting, but there is a visitor. High Administrator Shutumon arranged the appointment."
"Oh, of course," Alphamon said, standing to his feet. "Please, send in the guest."
The Gladimon turned and looked behind him. "You may enter," he said to the Digimon behind him.
The tall, lanky body of a holy Digimon stepped inside. His form was stained a pure, ivory colour that stood out against the austere greys of the room. Covering his body were dozens of silver belts and metal bands that acted as power restraints. The Gargomon was an ascended demon Digimon, purified and reinstated by the Heavenly Choir. His holiness was evidenced by his fluffy wings, the golden symbols emblazoned on his long, thick forearms, and his disciplined demeanour.
"Salutations, Sir Alphamon, Lord of the Empty Seat, and the venerable Royal Knights," the Gargomon formally greeted them. He dropped to one knee and bowed his draconic head with respect. "I am Gargomon, the Grand Herald of the Heavenly Choir. I have been sent here to speak with you on behalf of the holy trinity, the Three Great Angels."
"Welcome, Gargomon," Alphamon received him warmly. "Please, stand."
Gargomon stood to his feet, his stringy body straightening up politely. "The Three Great Angels wish to discuss an imperative and troubling matter…"
"Would that be the Seven Great Demon Lords?" Dukemon questioned him.
"That would be correct," the Gargomon confirmed. "I assume the Royal Knights know all about the situation?"
"We aren't aware of every detail at the moment. We know that somebody manipulated the Metal Empire to degrade the Dark Area's barrier to the point that they could release the Seven Great Demon Lords," Alphamon specified. "We also know that all seven have escaped and are likely planning something."
"We also confirmed that they're hostile," Dukemon added.
"My, that is a problem…" a deep voice softly hummed from the great hall.
The Royal Knights looked past Gargomon to see a large wall of milky pink fur appear in the doorway.
Cherubimon stood in the doorway, smiling warmly and ducking under the tall, arched doorframe. He entered the council room and smiled at the twelve Royal Knights around the table. He stepped up beside Gargomon and bowed politely with a fluid sweeping gesture, causing his long rabbit ears to dip forwards slightly.
Sleipmon's face lit up upon seeing the large, archangel Digimon. "Cherubimon!" he exclaimed, nearly jumping out of his seat.
Cherubimon raised his body and gazed at Sleipmon, gifting a warm smile to his former apprentice. "Sleipmon… It is lovely to see you…" he kindly greeted him.
"It is nice to see you as well," Sleipmon agreed, smiling over at the sizeable angel who was even taller than he was. "But what are you doing here?"
"Yes, we were not expecting you…" Alphamon spoke. "Not that the meeting isn't pleasant. It is just rare for us to meet each other in person."
"His Holiness, Cherubimon, insisted on joining me, given the severity of the situation," Gargomon explained dutifully.
A soft, wry smile formed on Cherubimon's expressive and pliable face. "Against the Grand Herald's wishes, admittedly," he conceded with controlled levity, glancing over at Gargomon good-humouredly. "I hope it is not a problem, esteemed Royal Knights."
"Not at all, Cherubimon," Alphamon assured him, receiving him with hospitality.
"Ophanimon and Seraphimon send their regards, but unfortunately they could not come with me. With all that is happening, we have much that we must see to. I hope you understand," Cherubimon reasoned courteously.
"Of course…" RhodoKnightmon responded. "I am sure that the Heavenly Choir must be in a state of panic at this unexpected development…"
"A 'state of panic' would be putting it too strongly, I think… However, to say that the news of the Demon Lords' release is deeply troubling is quite accurate," Cherubimon conceded, his approachable smile fading and becoming replaced by an unsettled frown. "We do not seek war with them, but the mere fact that those who committed the atrocities of the Night of Falling Stars are free… We cannot help but be fearful of their intentions."
"We can confirm with a sufficient amount of certainty that their intentions are indeed malevolent," Duftmon methodically explained. "We set out to eliminate Belphemon… However, three of the Demon Lords intervened and attacked the team. They were able to retreat with Belphemon in tow."
"I see… So they are not peaceful…" Cherubimon reflected, his beady eyes growing disappointed and ponderous. "That is unfortunate…"
"What are the Heavenly Choir's plans regarding the Demon Lords?" Magnamon inquired.
"That is a sensitive topic…" Gargomon spoke with tentative guardedness.
Cherubimon smiled slightly. "Yes, but we are among allies…" he reassured the Grand Herald. He clasped his large hands together, curling his fingers around each other as he looked at the Royal Knights. "We are still debating the best course of action… Seraphimon wants to strike them pre-emptively. Ophanimon is more cautious, but she is swaying in his direction. I wish to wait and establish what their intentions are, but if what you are saying is true… I suppose conflict is looking quite likely, as much as it pains me to say. …We will mobilize the Powers. The only question that remains is whether we will take an offensive or defensive posture."
"What would you like, Cherubimon?" Sleipmon asked his former mentor.
Cherubimon smiled wistfully at the equestrian knight. "I would prefer not to fight at all… The Rebellion claimed the lives of so many of our brothers and sisters. I would hate to repeat that…" he honestly replied. "But if we must fight in order to protect, I would prefer to minimise the casualties. The question is, would attacking the incipient Demon Lords bring about a swift and bloodless end or would it be a rash and foolhardy action that would be giving the Demon Lords what they want? Would it be better to fortify and hold the Sky Colonies, which are extremely difficult for them to attack? Or would that draw out the conflict?"
"A defensive posture would be a mistake," Duftmon enlightened him with clear decisiveness in his voice. "The Sky Colonies will not be the Demon Lords' first target; it will likely be their final one. What they will seek to do in these early stages is attack strategic locations on Eniac. They will seek to establish a foothold in the Digital World. Once they have secure holdings, they will expand to both eliminate their most pressing threats and expand their resource base. They will likely attempt to build up their forces and resources in preparation for a final assault on the Sky Colonies. That is their end goal."
Cherubimon's brows furrowed and his eyes tightened, creating creases at the corners of his eyes. "While that is certainly a possibility, we do not know that for certain, Duftmon…" he debated cautiously.
"Nor will we know for certain until it happens," Duftmon reasoned methodically, brushing his blond hair back with a hand. "The whole idea behind war planning is attempting to decipher your enemy's strategy based on what is in their best immediate and future interests. I anticipate this to be their grand strategy, given their disadvantageous situation upon escaping the Dark Area. Of course, it will require more information before we can hope to theorize their immediate objectives." His sharp, leafy-green eyes remained fixed on Cherubimon. "By sitting around and fortifying the Sky Colonies, you will be giving the Demon Lords the time and reprieve that they require to build up their army and resources."
The corner of Gankoomon's mouth stretched into a scowl. He lowered his feet from the table top and leaned forwards, staring at Cherubimon judgmentally. "Holing up in the Sky Colonies… That isolationist attitude also means abandoning the Digimon of the Digital World to their fates at the hands of the Demon Lords. Is that okay with you, Cherubimon? As long as the Sky Colonies are safe?" he asked him bluntly. "That whole war started under your guys' watch. You have a responsibility to the Digimon of the Digital World, not just the Heavenly Choir. Have you forgotten the Night of Falling Stars and the tears that that caused?! You may not have seen the destruction from way up in those clouds, but I have…"
Cherubimon winced at Gankoomon's words, which pierced deep into his heart. "No, of course not…!" he retorted, his voice wavering between calm restraint and insistent passion. "I understand that better than anybody! The Heavenly War started because of us… Rebellions do not simply happen in a vacuum, so, of course, blame rests at our feet as well…"
"Most of the blame rests in the vice of the heretical Demon Lords!" Gargomon added encouragingly. "You mustn't be hard on yourself, Lord Cherubimon."
Alphamon shot Gankoomon a sharp look, urging him to be less confrontational. "We are not blaming the Three Great Angels for this, Cherubimon," he assured the cherubim Digimon diplomatically. "However, as the Order of the Royal Knights, we have a duty to stop the fugitive Demon Lords and protect the Digimon of the Digital World from their wrath and cruelty. We hope that we can rely on the Heavenly Choir to aid us."
Cherubimon closed his eyes meditatively. "…Yes. We will need to debate amongst ourselves further to decide our course of action, but I will assure you that we will not let you or the Digital World down," Cherubimon promised. "I believe that it would be better if we worked together, but there is still time for us to decide in what capacity we shall cooperate."
Alphamon smiled at him, his golden eyes shining like the sun. "I appreciate that, Cherubimon. We think it would be wise for us to work with the Heavenly Choir as well. Our gods may differ, but our goals are the same."
"I am pleased to hear that, Alphamon. It is a great comfort to know that we can rely on the Royal Knights," Cherubimon reciprocated pleasantly.
"On what matters do you think that cooperation is possible, Sir Royal Knights?" Gargomon tentatively asked.
"We would be willing to share intelligence and information," Alphamon suggested. "I think it might be too early at this juncture to propose our militaries working together."
Cherubimon smiled and nodded. "I agree. That sounds agreeable to us. This is still early stages yet," he concurred. "As long as we understand one another."
"I believe that we do," Alphamon said, looking around at the other Royal Knights. He looked back Cherubimon and Gargomon. "Is there anything else that you would like to discuss?"
Gargomon looked up at Cherubimon. "I believe that was all that we wanted to bring up, correct?" he asked his superior.
"That is my understanding. We just wished to make our intentions clear," Cherubimon agreed.
"Thank you for taking the effort to come see us in person," Dukemon spoke up. "I know you must be really busy with everything that's going on."
Cherubimon nodded and smiled. "It was no trouble," he insisted, his deep voice reverberating in the acoustic council chamber. He looked over at Sleipmon. "Would you mind if I loitered around for an hour or so? I would love to take this chance to speak with my former apprentice," he said, shooting Sleipmon a playful, aslant grin.
"Please, feel free," Alphamon allowed.
"Thank you for taking the time to see us," Gargomon humbly spoke. He bowed his body deeply. "We shall allow you to continue your meeting."
Cherubimon nodded softly and turned around with Gargomon. The angel Digimon walked alongside the ascended demon, and the pair exited the council area. The Gladimon awaited them at the near end of the great hall and escorted the pair away to a guest area.
As the doors closed behind them, UlforceVeedramon waited several moments before releasing a breath. "It must be bad if one of the Three Great Angels is visiting us in person," he speculated.
"The Seven Demon Lords have escaped, are working together, and are plotting something," Dynasmon stated, looking at UlforceVeedramon. "It's bad."
"If the Heavenly Choir is serious about working with us, it will be useful to have another set of eyes," Magnamon mused.
"Speaking of eyes," Dukemon said, standing to his feet. "Should I go inform Grani? The sooner we get scouts up there, the better."
Omegamon nodded and rose as well. "That sounds like a good idea, Dukemon," the white knight agreed. "I will work on the after action report."
Alphamon placed his gauntleted hands on the table and pushed himself up. "Those of you who aren't preoccupied with your duties or helping to train the recruits should work on your own training. Omegamon, Dukemon, Sleipmon, and UlforceVeedramon, have Duskmon check you all over when you can," he advised. "We will all need to be in top form if we wish to take on the Demon Lords."
The Royal Knights all ascended from the table as the meeting came to a close. They began to funnel out of the room of conference and went on to make steps, however small in the short term, towards dealing with the massive struggle before them.
Cherubimon sat on a large, cushioned couch in the guests' waiting room, his body taking up most of the seat.
The waiting lounge was adjacent to the foyer for easy access as well as making sure that guests don't stray too far into the castle unattended. It was a pleasant and comfortable room filled with several amenities. There were several couches made of fine material and adorned with soft cushions arranged around three of the four sides of the room. In front of two of the couches was a pair of long, wooden coffee tables for drinks to be placed on. There were a couple landscape paintings hung on the walls to give the room a bit of flavour. At the back of the room was a door leading to a small washroom.
The herbal, gingery aroma of tea filled the room pleasantly, hanging over the area and drifting out into the castle hallway. Using the tips of his large, awkward fingers, Cherubimon daintily held a saucer in one hand, and a cup of tea in the other. He carefully brought the cup to his lips and sipped the herbal tea politely. He took in the fragrance and sighed contently as the taste and smell.
His long, rabbit ear twitched when he detected a familiar noise. It was the sound of six hooves clopping against the ground in a soft, continuous tempo. Cherubimon smiled and lowered his tea cup onto the saucer and placed it back on the coffee table. He looked over just as Sleipmon appeared in the doorway. "Sleipmon… Greetings," he addressed him; the warmth in his eyes and smile was as warm and sweet as the tea that he drank.
A broad smile formed on Sleipmon's face, and he immediately entered the room and made his way over to Cherubimon. "Cherubimon… It's great to see you," he welcomed him, his deep voice overflowing with affection.
As he approached the couch, Cherubimon stood to his feet and placed his large, furry arms around Sleipmon's back, gently pulling him against his soft body. Sleipmon smiled and returned the hug.
"It is wonderful to see you, my young apprentice…" Cherubimon greeted, pulling away slowly. He smiled down at Sleipmon. "Though, perhaps not so young, nor my apprentice any longer… You are a strong and noble Royal Knight now."
Sleipmon smiled warmly at his former mentor. "It is thanks to you, Cherubimon… I wouldn't be half the Digimon I am today without everything that you taught me," he explained.
"You don't give yourself enough credit, Sleipmon," Cherubimon encouraged him. "There was a reason that I chose you as my apprentice to become the guardian of the Arcane Ruins… I saw a determination, caring, and great strength in you. I saw great potential, and I take pride in the fact that I was correct," he added with a joking wink.
Sleipmon chuckled softly. "How have you been? How is life in the Sky Colonies?" he asked him.
"Very busy, admittedly. I hardly have the time to sit down and read a good book any longer," Cherubimon explained with a small but regretful smile. "And yourself?"
"It's the same with me. There's always something for me to do as a Royal Knight. If it isn't going on missions, it's inspections or training or paperwork or commanding others on the field," Sleipmon explained.
Cherubimon chuckled, his laugh deep, yet soft and warm. "You love it, however… I can tell. You are truly happy here, being able to help Digimon on such a wide scale," he deduced.
Sleipmon smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck, his fingers disappearing in his mane of pale violet hair. "Yes, I do…" he confessed. "I have to admit, it's not all altruistic… Part of me loves the attention that comes with being a Royal Knight," he explained with a guilty smile. "I like seeing the awed smiles of our fans when they recognise me."
"I won't judge you for that," Cherubimon told him as he sat back down. "Nobody is completely absent of the seven sins that the Demon Lords exhibit. All we can do is strive to not let those vices control us and drag us into depravity." Cherubimon smiled warmly at Sleipmon. "I have nothing to fear about your morals, Sleipmon. You are a good Digimon."
Sleipmon turned his equine head and glanced away. "Mm… Thank you for saying so," he responded noncommittally. His amethyst eyes narrowed into a soft frown. "…I am sorry that I don't write as much as I used to. I just… became busier with my responsibilities. First with… guarding the ruins, and then later with joining the Royal Knights. It frequently slipped my mind…"
"I understand, Sleipmon…" Cherubimon responded, large mouth flattening. "I admit, at first I was worried. I thought something might have happened to you at the Arcane Ruins or, perhaps, you resented me for going on the Exodus... However, those fears were assuaged when I received your letter, telling me that everything was going fine."
Sleipmon's lips curled downwards at the memory and he was quiet. However, he didn't tell Cherubimon the real reason why he had trouble writing to him. He was too ashamed to tell him what had happened. He couldn't bear to see the look in Cherubimon's eyes… "…I could never resent you, Cherubimon. We follow different gods, but that doesn't matter to me. You are still very important to me."
"It comforts my heart to hear that. I know there can be difficulties, due to me being one of the leaders of the Heavenly Choir and you being a Royal Knight. Politics and other things might get in the way," Cherubimon spoke. He placed his large hand on Sleipmon's armoured shoulder, squeezing. "As long as we can remain friends, that is all that I need."
A small smile formed on Sleipmon. "Me too, Cherubimon. Thank you…"
The rabbit angel nodded gently. "How are the Arcane Ruins?" he inquired.
"They are safe… A trusted friend of mine is guarding them in my absence, but I still go and check on them whenever I can. I just checked up on them a few days ago while I was in Ocean Cove," Sleipmon explained.
Cherubimon leaned forwards and placed his chin on his clasped hands as he looked at Sleipmon. "Good… I know that I handed the guardianship to you after I began the Religion of Light… However, just because I believe the Kernel holds the information data that explains the secrets of the Digital World, it doesn't mean that I believe that the information held within the Arcane Ruins is not also important. It is, very much so. You know as well as I do… I know that you will look after it."
Sleipmon smiled a bit. "Of course I will. That hasn't changed, despite becoming a Royal Knight," he assured Cherubimon.
Cherubimon closed his eyes and nodded gently, his chin still flat against his intertwined fingers. "I know. I trust you."
"Thanks…" Sleipmon replied. His expression grew serious and he looked at Cherubimon directly. "Cherubimon, what do you think of the Seven Great Demon Lords?"
The muscles between Cherubimon's beady eyes tightened softly, creating a rippling frown. "I…" he hesitated. "…I believe that they are Digimon whose souls have been corrupted by sin. They are malevolent, and they have caused immense suffering, both to the Sky Colonies and to the Digital World… I believe that they need to be stopped, with force if need be…"
Sleipmon nodded slowly. "I see…"
Cherubimon exhaled meditatively and reached forwards to pick up his cup of tea, "However…" he began before taking a gentle sip of the steaming liquid. "…There has been wrongdoing on the side of the Heavenly Choir as well. As the Three Great Angels, we bear at least some responsibility for what has happened, and not all of our actions have been just or even moral… It is a controversial opinion, but I believe it to be true…"
Cherubimon opened his eyes and stared seriously at Sleipmon. The kindness and warmth of his eyes was gone, and it was replaced by deep solemnity and seriousness. "The Religion of Light emphasises self-reflection… If all we do is shift the blame and demonize, how can we hope to reform ourselves and fix the problems that caused that which we still face? The Demon Lords are a threat, yes, but they are not the only threat."
"I understand what you mean…' Sleipmon said, listening to the Archangel of Wisdom carefully.
"Mm… Seraphimon seems to think that the demons are the only problem that we must face. He is consumed by the ghosts of the Heavenly War and exterminating the rot that caused the rebellion. Ophanimon constantly enables him and she is more inclined to listen to him than she is to me…" he admitted, his black eyes frowning with bitter frustration. "If she does, they can outvote me… even if I protest from the depths of my heart. I don't know if I can stop the situation from spiralling out of control and into a bloody and self-destructive war again…"
Sleipmon stared at Cherubimon. He could see the fear and anger in his eyes. He always did wear his emotions clear on his face. It troubled the Royal Knight to see him in such turmoil. "I'm sorry, Cherubimon. Perhaps you should speak with them about how you feel. They are your friends, so they will surely listen," he suggested.
Cherubimon blinked and caught himself. Sheepishly, the angel looked away from the beast knight. "No, I… I am sorry, Sleipmon. I should not be burdening you with my idle thoughts…" he apologised, bowing his head. "I am simply stressed because of the whole situation. My emotions are getting the better of me… I know that Seraphimon and Ophanimon are trying their best to come to a solution, just like I am. We all have our own opinions, and they do not always align."
"I can understand that, Cherubimon. That happens all the time here between us Royal Knights,' Sleipmon explained with a knowing smile. "What's important is that we can talk about our differences, and try to understand each other… rather than digging our feet in."
For a few moments, Cherubimon stared at Sleipmon before smiling. "Yes… Yes, you're right," he admitted, chuckling. "You have matured so much. Here you are, giving me sound advice… Thank you…"
Sleipmon smiled wider. "Anytime, Cherubimon…"
Cherubimon nodded and finished tea. He slowly stood to his feet and nodded at the Gladimon guard who stood at the doorway. "It was wonderful to see you, Sleipmon, but I need to be leaving now. It is a long journey back to the Sky Colonies," he explained.
Although somewhat disappointed, Sleipmon nodded. "Alright… I will see you out of the castle myself, then…" he told him.
Cherubimon nodded and placed his hand on Sleipmon's wing-adorned back. He walked out behind the large Royal Knight and followed him towards the foyer. "I hope that fortune and light shines down upon you and the Royal Knights, Sleipmon."
Sleipmon smiled and looked over his shoulder at Cherubimon gratefully. "Thank you… I hope the same for you."
Burdened, Cherubimon closed his eyes and meandered in a pensive gait. "Mm… I fear that we will all need it in the coming days…"
Night time passed over the Desolate Moors. The abyssal landscape glowed with an eerie pearl hue as the twin moons radiated reflected light down from the empty night sky.
Outside of NeoVamdemon's stone castle were several lesser buildings, dwarfed in size by the fortified mansion. At the center of these buildings was a stone courtyard that acted as a focal point connecting them. It attached to a small road that led away from the rural castle and further into the Gloaming Fields, down towards Sepulcrum. Further down the road were the hollowed-out vestiges of a small chapel, which gave the already intimidating castle a haunting atmosphere. Among the buildings surrounding the mansion was an empty coach house which lay in front of a basic, but oft-trodden dirt path. It was a large, spacious building was similar in shape to a barn, with a pair of thirty foot doors leading inside. Usually resting in the interior of the coach house was a black, ostentatious, bat-drawn carriage used by NeoVamdemon. However, the carriage was absent in order to make room for the much larger occupants.
A pair of long, crimson tails could be seen poking out of the opened barn doors. They belonged to the massive, reptilian body of Leviamon, who was stuffed ingloriously inside the spacious coach house. The interior of the large building was quite expansive in order to fit a pair of large stage coaches, but that space soon disappeared with the presence of both the titanic Leviamon and the massive form of Belphemon.
Belphemon: Sleep Mode snored contently as he rested on large bales of hay that were stacked at the back of the building. His large furry body expanded and deflated as he took in and released his soft, slumberous breaths. Leviamon, in order to fit inside the barn as well, had to be squished into the corner with the left side of his snout pressed right up against Belphemon. This garnered a deep, annoyed scowl on his lengthy, reptilian maw.
Meanwhile, the five remaining Demon Lords and Bagramon were gathered in a circle in the middle of the barn. The barn was illuminated by a several tall candles, ignited by the flames of Demon's hellfire. On top of the large crate was a map of the continent, which the Demon Lords stared down at intently. Barbamon was closest to the map; he was hunched over and pointing with his bejeweled, gangling finger so that his violet claw prodded a point on the map.
Beelzebumon leaned back against one of the wooden beams that acted as a support of the expansive building's roof. He folded his arms and leered at the gathered group from several meters away, right beside Belphemon's left foot. "You want us to what?" he asked Barbamon flatly, staring at him quizzically.
"I wish us to attack New Terminal. Must I repeat everything?" Barbamon reiterated, tapping the riverside city on the map with his claw. "It is the power center for the Republic of Node and it is at the epicenter of the continent. It contains the central bank of Eniac along with vast reserves of bits, gold, and gems. If we can take control of this city, we will be sitting extremely comfortably… We would have a clear, defensible stronghold and a foothold on the continent."
"Hmm…" Lucemon mused, twirling a strand of his long, blond hair around his index finger. "This is quite the bold strategy, Barbamon," he remarked ambivalently.
"It is an incredibly risky proposal," Bagramon contended, his red eyes resting on the gilded demon. "This is moving the timetable ahead quite a bit, Barbamon. New Terminal is one of the major centers of power, and the Republic's military is no minor force."
"Which is why they must be quelled early before they can mobilize against us, Bagramon," Barbamon explained. "A surprise attack would be our best chance against them; if we strike at their heart, we will send them into disarray and they will lose their fighting spirit. We need this early momentum to carry us through."
Lilithmon placed her hands on her hips and leered at Barbamon sceptically. "Apparently, we already have the Royal Knights on our backs and you want to make more enemies? Would it not be better to woo them?"
"The Republic of Node is unlikely to work with us," Bagramon admitted. "Despite disagreements with the Royal Knights in the past, the two have become closer, even sharing military forces. There is also the fact that Angewomon, who is associated with the Heavenly Choir, is one of the Council of Seven. She would never work with us, and she would likely inform the Heavenly Choir of any of our overtures. …Besides, Digimon would not so easily forget the Night of Falling Stars. Diplomacy is simply not an option that we can easily take."
"Then that is precisely why we should strike at New Terminal," Demon growled softly behind his scarlet hood. His baleful eyes landed on Bagramon, piercing like icicles. "The Republic of Node was always against us, even back during our days in the Sky Colony. For that, they need to be punished for their transgressions…" he muttered in a low husk. "The fact that they are an ally of the Royal Knights gives us even more cause to attack them. If we take out their army, their capital – their Council even – then the Republic will crumble and the Royal Knights will lose an important ally. A victory there would show to the world our strength and cause them to fear us too much to band against us."
"Precisely!" Barbamon insisted ardently. "Apart from the reasons already mentioned, it would be a crushing blow to the morale of our foes and be a prosperous boon to our momentum!"
"I understand the logic," Lucemon mused, his glossy blue eyes gazing down aloofly. "Bagramon is not incorrect when he says that it is a risk, however."
Barbamon looked up at Lucemon insistently. "A risk, but a calculated one."
"The last time we took a risk like that was in our rebellion. Look how that ended up," Leviamon murmured sarcastically.
"We were facing execution. We had no other choice but to take drastic actions," Barbamon insisted. "This is a feasible strategy for our lasting success."
"Assuming we can win," Bagramon pensively debated. "I am not disagreeing, but do you think we can win against the Republic's army? Their main military base is right at the edge of the city. Can we take them with the few thousand troops that our allies here have promised us?"
"With the right strategy, we can…" Barbamon assured him.
Lucemon hummed and trailed his finger down the strands of hair to their golden tips. He closed his eyes and folded his arms across his suit-clad chest. "I am willing to attempt this, Barbamon…" he agreed. "I doubt that our enemies will be able to stand coherently against our might and intellect."
"Hah!" Beelzebumon chuckled at the idea. "I'm in. Sounds like a hell of a time!" he declared, grinning excitedly at the prospect of intense combat. "Hey, when we win, maybe we can become the new Council of Seven, heh!" He thumbed over his shoulder at Belphemon. "The snore-ball can be our official mascot or somethin'."
"I suppose it is not a terrible idea…" Lilithmon conceded. "If we must fight them eventually, it is best that we do so now."
"It is our best course of action," Demon decided, raising his hand and closing his fist tightly. "We will crush the Republic beneath our feet…" The robed arch-demon turned towards Bagramon with leering, lavender eyes. "What say you, Bagramon?"
Bagramon sighed. He wasn't completely behind such a risky operation this early on, but he understood where they were coming from. "Barbamon, if you can create a good strategy of attack, I will be willing to go along with it," he responded. "Not just for my sake, but to get our benefactors to agree to commit their armies to this as well."
Barbamon stood up straight and tapped the butt of his staff on the floor of the coach house. "Very well, Bagramon. Leave it to me," he assured him. "I will come up with a foolproof plan."
"You will need to, Barbamon," Lucemon spoke, glancing over at Leviamon pointedly.
Leviamon snarled at this veiled insult. His rows of dagger-like teeth became visible as his lips parted and receded. "Nobody asked me what I think about it…" he spoke with an indignant growl.
Lucemon glanced aside with distaste. "It doesn't matter what you think. We have already decided," Lucemon haughtily informed him.
Deciding it was a good idea to assuage the large demon Digimon, Bagramon turned to the leviathan. "What do you think, Leviamon? Do you disagree?" he asked him.
Leviamon closed his narrow, reptilian eyes and let out a humph. The breath sent out multicoloured steam in front of his snout, enveloping Belphemon and causing the goat demon's nose to wiggle. "I want to know what their troop numbers are like first," he decided. "In theory, it's not a terrible idea."
Lilithmon rolled her eyes. "Are you happy now?" she blandly asked him. The raven-haired demon turned around and gestured to Belphemon. "And what do we do about him? We can't exactly bring him into a battle as he is… or take him anywhere, for that matter."
"There are ways to dispel the power inhibitors placed on him," Bagramon explained. "The real concern is keeping him under control once he is awake."
Demon nodded in agreement at the bearded fallen angel's words. "Yes… While Belphemon is in his Rage Mode, he still has his sentience, but his mind becomes clouded with unquenchable fury. It makes him an extremely powerful and savage fighter, which is good. However, he becomes wild and has trouble listening to orders until he tires himself out. Setting him loose is like unleashing a wild river of hatred. It must be done at the right time."
"So, we should leave him out of this attack," Lucemon decided. "There is a time and a place for chaos. This is not it."
"Yes, well… I will factor that into my plans," Barbamon responded, looking back down at the map. "I will require more reconnaissance in order to strategize. The planning process will likely take at least a week. There are many considerations that require attention.
"I understand, Barbamon," Bagramon reaffirmed to him. "I will aid you in any way that I can."
"Yeah, well, you do know what's going on best," Leviamon admitted.
His reptilian eye snapped over to the door upon seeing movement. He tentatively moved his pair of tails that hung out of the wide doorway. A PicoDevimon became visible against the glow of the candle. The familiar knocked his talons against the side of the opened door to announce himself.
"Excuse me for the interruption," the PicoDevimon spoke, bowing his head deeply as he flew in place. "Lord Bagramon?"
Bagramon turned his crimson eye over to the small demon Digimon, arching the one eyebrow on his left side. "Yes?"
"There is a Mister Blitzmon and Mister Bolgmon of a Black Pincer Company who are here to see you. Shall I allow them in or have them wait in the guest lounge?" the PicoDevimon inquired.
"Ah…" Bagramon gazed around at the Seven Great Demon Lords. "Do any of you mind if I see to them? My mercenaries have arrived ahead of schedule."
"Go ahead, Bagramon," Lucemon permitted, smiling slightly. "It would be rude to keep them waiting…"
"Speaking of which, it might be pertinent to use some of our newly acquired funds to hire some more mercenaries," Barbamon suggested. He looked at Bagramon, who waited for the PicoDevimon messenger to go and fetch the pair of insect mercenaries. "Have you any suggestions on that matter, Bagramon?"
Bagramon nodded gently and walked past them, stepping over Leviamon's tails as he neared the door. "I would suggest Kowloon Company. They aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. Or maybe the Cimmerian Adventurers, as their species are generally closest in alignment to your Nightmare Soldiers," he explained, turning his head as he heard the low hum of an engine approaching.
"Mercenaries for what?" Beelzebumon asked, placing the sole of his boot back against the beam that he leaned on. "To pour into that attack?"
"No, you idiot," Barbamon answered. "It would be a mistake to put all of our forces into a single attack. You do not put all of your funds into a single bank. We must have reserves in case something should go wrong. It is simple common sense."
"Well, excuse me…" Beelzebumon sardonically replied, grinning contentiously at Barbamon. He shrugged boredly and turned his attention away, gazing out into the night. He saw two forms emerge from the darkness and stop in the barn doorway.
Blitzmon and Bolgmon stepped out of the night and into the crowded building, coming to a stop right at the edge of the doors. The pair of mercenaries clad in Egyptian blue armour gazed around the barn at the Seven Great Demon Lords.
Bagramon approached them with a small smile. "Hello," he greeted. "Blitzmon, Bolgmon, these are the Seven Great Demon Lords…" he introduced, gesturing his long, wooden hand out at the seven behind him. "Everyone, these are Blitzmon and Bolgmon. They were instrumental in setting the groundwork for your escape."
The Demon Lords leered at the pair of mercenaries, receiving them coolly. Lucemon, Demon, Leviamon, Barbamon, and Lilithmon all observed Blitzmon and Bolgmon with aloof, scrutinizing eyes.
Lilithmon half-smirked. "Is that so?" she spoke up, breaking the chilly silence. "What a pleasure it is, then…"
Beelzebumon grinned and sized the pair up. "…Yo," he greeted. He folded his long arms and leaned back against the wooden support. He wasn't warm to them, but he could tell that the pair had combat skills just be looking at them. "So, you two were Bagramon's right hand then?"
"Sort of," Blitzmon responded with cool confidence despite the intimidating group before them. "We're just skilled mercenaries doing our job. We'll do whatever you guys want, just as long as we can expect a paycheck."
"And as long as we can have a good fight while we're at it!" Bolgmon said with his usual sharp laugh.
His steely blue eyes staring judgmentally at the pair of mercenaries, Lucemon internally regarded them with condescension. However, he allowed a smile on his supple lips and nodded congenially. "Very well… Your hard work in our service is appreciated."
Beelzebumon chuckled at their responses. "I could get to like you two, if you're any good," he decided with a toothy smirk.
"Oh, we're good," Bolgmon declared, leering back at Beelzebumon competitively.
Barbamon smirked and stared at Blitzmon. "It is good to have you working with us. I like a Digimon who knows what he wants…" he observed, his crooked smile growing. "What are your talents?"
"We specialize in covert operations… Infiltration, reconnaissance, theft, kidnapping, neutralization, assassination… We have a vast skill set," Blitzmon advertised. "We are also proficient in general combat, logistics, and bombardment."
"Their record speaks for themselves. Their aptitude and diverse abilities was the reason why I selected them in the first place," Bagramon explained methodically.
Blitzmon nodded and turned to Bagramon. "Can we speak in private?" he asked him.
Bagramon nodded and looked at the Demon Lords. "Excuse me. I'll just be a few minutes…" he informed them. He turned and began walking outside with Blitzmon and Bolgmon following behind him.
Both Lilithmon and Beelzebumon took the opportunity to eye Blitzmon as he walked away.
The three Digimon strode out into the small courtyard in front of the mansion, which rested at the end of a road. After walking away from the couch house for a minute, they stopped at the center of the courtyard, underneath a stone statue of an amorphous demon, who reached up towards the clouds with wretched black, claws.
Bolgmon drove up beside the statue and leaned his cannon arm against it. Blitzmon stopped beside him and looked at Bagramon, who stood opposite to them.
"Thank you for coming," Bagramon told them. "Do you have any news?"
"There are two hundred escaped Dark Area demons in Dark Point," Blitzmon informed him pithily. "They're generally trying to carve out their own turf there, but it's getting heated. Thought you might want to know."
"I see… I did expect some unintended spillover when the Dark Area's barrier was at its weakest, but not so many in one place… That is useful to know. Thank you," Bagramon replied.
Blitzmon nodded. "Do you have another job for us?" he inquired, his sharp, green eyes staring at Bagramon expectantly, like a hungry pet waiting for a meal.
"Yes, I do…" the fallen angel confirmed as he ran his fingers through his scruffy, obsidian beard. "I would like you both to contact Kowloon Company and offer them a job on my behalf…"
Bolgmon narrowed his eyes at their mention. "Really? Them?" he questioned with distaste.
"Yes… They are a large mercenary group and we require their numbers," Bagramon explained. "Don't worry. I will continue using you two for my more important jobs. However, a team of two is good for some things, but not for others."
Blitzmon nodded. "I understand what you mean. We are not suited to large operations like a full scale attack," he agreed pragmatically. "We will get into contact with them for you and arrange a meeting."
"Thank you. Now that I have recuperated my funds, I can pay you regularly again," Bagramon informed them.
"That is good to know…" Blitzmon responded, eyeing Bagramon with interest. "We are still very much in need of money. Any more jobs would be good for us…"
Bagramon stalled for a moment, rubbing his chin with his left hand. "Actually… There is one thing that I would like for you to look into…" he admitted after considering it carefully.
"What is it?" Bolgmon asked.
"…Find Wizardmon. I want you to go to the Timeless Library and get the book called the Yggdrasil Codex," Bagramon asked them, his crimson eye narrowing while the empty one glowed faintly. "Once you have it, escort Wizardmon to me."
"Okay…' Blitzmon agreed tentatively. "Why do you want that?" he couldn't help but ask why they were getting paid to get a book.
Bagramon smiled. "…Just further research…" he furtively replied.
"Well, whatever," Bolgmon answered, making his disinterest obvious. "We can do that."
"Good… We will be making a move in the near future. I will be relying on you both," Bagramon assured them.
Blitzmon smirked. "You can count on us…" he promised.
Blitzmon turned away from the demon lord Digimon and stared down the barren road, into the empty void of the night.
"Black Pincer Company is back in action…"