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?

76. Chapter 53: Audacity

(Author's Notes: Chapter 53 is up! I decided to post the chapter a week early to coincide with the premier of Digimon Adventure: and also as a treat to you readers. Back to the regular schedule after this, so I can keep on top of my writing. Hope you enjoy the new chapter and the new Digimon season! Let me know what you think of the chapter. I had fun writing this one.)

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Chapter 53: Audacity

A long yawn escaped UlforceVeedramon's mouth. He cupped a gloved hand over his maw before he used it to push open the doors to the castle keep's entrance.

Upon hearing the doors creak open, the two castle guards standing sentry outside the entrance – a TiaLudomon and a Rinkmon – held the doors for the Royal Knight. Upon seeing the Royal Knight wobble outside, the pair of guards promptly saluted their superior.

UlforceVeedramon lazily saluted them with his good arm as he staggered out into the castle courtyard. He was still sleepily pulling his pauldrons on over his shoulders as he made his way outside. It was bad enough that he was still waking up, but with his left arm still in a sling; it made dressing himself even slower. It had taken him about ten minutes just to pull his body suit on.

"Good morning, Sir," the TiaLudomon greeted, holding the large door to the entrance hall open with his heavily armoured body.

"Do you need help with that, Sir?!" the Rinkmon eagerly questioned, letting go of his door to step forwards.

"Morning, guys…" UlforceVeedramon replied, stifling another yawn as he haphazardly tightened the buckle of his shoulder armour beneath his armpit. At this point, he was satisfied if his armour just stayed on; it wasn't like he'd really need it right now. "I'll be fine, Rinkmon. Thanks."

The Royal Knight began walking across the stone courtyard that was on the interior of the castle gate. When he was halfway across the stone cobbles, he turned and began heading down the road to the right.

As UlforceVeedramon headed out of earshot, the Rinkmon looked over at his fellow guard excitedly. "Did you hear that? He said my name…" he dreamily swooned.

"Amazing. You must be his favourite," the TiaLudomon sarcastically replied.

UlforceVeedramon wandered away from them, heading down the courtyard road. It was a few hours past dawn. The merchants were setting up their stalls along the main road in the castle interior, below the castle walls. They arrived from town early in the morning to ready their wares for all the Order members. It was still fairly early, so there was a refreshingly cool temperature for the late spring warmth. The rays cast across UlforceVeedramon's wings as the sun continued to rise above the Net Ocean to the east.

The blue dragon man arched his back and stretched his stiff wings behind him. They had been back for about a week now. He still felt tired. His chest faintly ached and his arm felt like rusty iron, even after all of the healing treatment and the accelerated healing of the Ulforce. The power of the Ulforce working in overdrive was a drain on his usually bountiful energy, hence why he was uncharacteristically low-energy. It turned out that getting shot point-blank in the chest and having your arm nearly ripped off by a giant crocodile really hurt.

UlforceVeedramon walked over to the blacksmith's that was situated between the rows of shops and the armoury. There, he saw a large Zudomon in a blacksmith's apron, walking out of the forge to carry in a box of ingots.

The Zudomon bent down to pick up the box with ease, his huge arm muscles bulging as they supported the heavy box. The humanoid walrus Digimon looked over and nodded at the Royal Knight. "Hey, UlforceVeedramon," he greeted in a gruff, husky voice.

"Hey, Zudomon," he replied with a friendly wave. "I know you're busy with all the weapons after the battle in New Terminal, but how're the V-Bracelets coming?"

"They're coming. You really did a number on the left one - or whatever bit you did," Zudomon replied, carrying the box of alloys inside the smithy. After he placed the box down, the blacksmith returned to the door. "Do you need 'em that fast? I thought you wouldn't need 'em until you've healed." He gestured to his bandaged and sling-bound arm.

"This?" UlforceVeedramon asked, raising his cloth-wrapped arm to show that it wasn't that bad. "This is nearly healed. Duskmon's just making me take it easy because he's mad about the time that I left the medical bay while I was still injured."

"I wouldn't want to get on the bad side of the guy who plays around with your injuries," the furry blacksmith said with a shrug. "As for the V-Bracelets, they'll be ready in two days. Sorry it's not faster, but, like you said, we've got a lot to work on. We only just finished Alphamon's armour."

"Damn. Alright. Don't worry about it. I guess I might not need it by then, considering all the downtime we have right now," UlforceVeedramon replied. "Just make sure you fix the shape, okay?"

"We'll do our best. I'd better get to work if I want to make a good start on it," Zudomon explained, shouldering his massive chrome digizoid hammer and giving the Royal Knight a nod.

"Thanks. Do what you can," the blue Royal Knight said to him, smiling before he started continuing past the smithy.

UlforceVeedramon proceeded to walk past the armoury and towards the three, large barracks buildings that stood at the end of the road, around a large courtyard at the corner of the two castle roads. Beyond them, he could see a few Order soldiers setting up in the shooting range.

To the right of that was the training field, where he noticed a handful of other soldiers running laps around the arena-sized field. Out in front of the pack was a familiar, purple Royal Knight. The predictability of seeing him exercising this early caused UlforceVeedramon to smile and roll his eyes.

He continued on to the courtyard ahead. It was when he focused his attention on the courtyard that something shiny caught his eye. UlforceVeedramon arched a brow at the scene in front of him.

In the middle of the courtyard was a small, fairy Digimon with a red and white body, and a pair of long ears like a rabbit. The Pucchiemon was standing in front of a tall canvas held by a wooden easel. In the Pucchiemon's gloved hands were a paintbrush and a palette smattered with different blends of gold, yellow, white, and blue.

Behind the canvas – the subject of the painting – was a familiar gold and blue Royal Knight. Magnamon was standing on a crate in the middle of the courtyard, striking a heroic pose. One hand rested on his hip while his other arm was raised, pointing dramatically with his claws. He raised his head nobly and he looked off into the distance with what could be described as earnest confidence.

UlforceVeedramon immediately started laughing.

Unable to help himself, UlforceVeedramon made his way over to Magnamon.

Magnamon didn't move. A consummate professional, he was like a living statue for the artist. However, his red eye glanced to the side, looking over at the Pucchiemon artist. "Have you drawn my arm yet?" he asked curiously. "I'm wondering if it's too late to change the pose."

"I haven't started your arm yet. What did you have in mind?"

"What do you think would work better? This?" Magnamon gestured to his pointed arm. "Or having my hand on my hip with the other?" He placed both hands on his hips in yet another strong and heroic pose. "I want to project noble confidence. Both hands on my hips would make me look more reflective and in-control. It would really show off my inner strength. However…" Magnamon extended his arm and pointed off into the distance again, replicating the posture from before. "This pose is much more dynamic, like I'm on the frontlines of a battlefield. I think that, after the Battle of New Terminal, it might be better to showcase an assertive and triumphant pose."

Pucchiemon mixed some white into the blues and glanced up at the Royal Knight. "Whatever you want to do, Sir," the fairy indifferently responded. "I'll draw whatever you want me to."

"Hmm…" Magnamon nodded confidently. "On second thought, I'll stick with this pose. Carry on," he told the artist.

The Pucchiemon nodded and went back to his careful and precise brush strokes.

UlforceVeedramon walked over to the pair, stopping a few meters behind the painter. He placed a hand on his hip and looked up at Magnamon with an amused grin. "Heeeyy… What are you doing, Magna-chan?" he asked, chuckling a little.

Magnamon's crimson eye narrowed and glanced towards UlforceVeedramon. "That's 'Sir Magnamon', Sir UlforceVeedramon," he admonishingly corrected him, hating to be called by that informal nickname while in public. "And it should be pretty obvious what I'm doing; I'm posing for a portrait."

UlforceVeedramon smirked. "And why are you posing for a portrait, Sir Magnamon?" he wondered. "Did you commission this?"

"Yes, I did," Magnamon answered, keeping his pose perfectly still. "Alphamon approved it."

"And here I thought we were supposed to be saving money for the war. Does Digmon know about this? She's been keeping a close eye on the treasury lately. She'll freak out if she sees you using Order money for something like this," UlforceVeedramon teased.

Magnamon shot him a look. "I'm not using Order money; I'm using my own money."

"At your own peril," UlforceVeedramon pointed out, looking at the Pucchiemon's canvas. He stared at the outline of the drawing critically. "First of all, you're way too big in this picture."

The Pucchiemon blinked and frowned. "What? Is it too big, Sir Magnamon?" the artist wondered, turning the easel around so that his subject could look at it. "I thought you asked me to make you look taller - and also to pay special attention to your muscles. Is this okay?"

At this admission, UlforceVeedramon had to put his gloved hand over his mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

Although Magnamon didn't move an inch from his pose, his eye started twitching and his cheeks began to flush a deep red. Absolutely determined to maintain his composure and not lose his dignity in front of UlforceVeedramon, Magnamon took a deep, centering breath.

"…It's… fine, Pucchiemon. Keep going as you're going," he told the artist, trying his best not to sound huffy. He cast an annoyed side-glare in UlforceVeedramon's direction. "Is there something you want to say, UlforceVeedramon…?" he said, his words as long and sharp as the blade of a sword.

UlforceVeedramon painfully swallowed his laughter. As much as he wanted to laugh, Magnamon was talking in his 'I'm trying to remain calm in public but I'm planning to kill you' voice. He was close enough with Magnamon to know to tread very cautiously. He didn't admit it, but the Knight of Miracles could be terrifying. "N-N-Nothing at all!" he insisted, biting back his trembling grin. "W…Why are you commissioning a portrait?"

"That's what I'd like to know," a deep, gruff voice said from nearby.

Magnamon and UlforceVeedramon turned their heads to the right. Walking over from the training grounds was Craniamon, clad in full armour and his violet body suit drenched with sweat. The purple paladin's glowing, red eyes leered at Magnamon exactingly. "If you have time to stand around, getting a fancy painting of yourself for you and your ego, you surely have time to train."

Magnamon's posture tightened with annoyance and he looked away from the shield-bearing Royal Knight to maintain his pose. "I don't need your permission, Craniamon," he answered indignantly. "And this isn't for my ego."

Craniamon folded his arms, panting slightly from his workout. He levelled the flattest stare that he could at the knight clad in golden chrome digizoid. "You're getting a lavish picture of yourself in a flamboyant, heroic pose that's immortalized for history," he dryly pointed out. "How could that possibly not be for your ego?"

UlforceVeedramon chuckled and gestured his head towards Craniamon. "The guy has a point. It is a little vain."

Unable to move, Magnamon simmered in place for a few moments. "I-I don't want to hear that from you two!" he fired back at them. He pointed his tail towards UlforceVeedramon. "You take every opportunity to show off in battle and make flashy, V-sign poses. The only reason you don't pose for pictures is because you're so impatient that you can't stay in the same spot for more than a minute!"

He then pointed his tail at Craniamon accusatorially. "And you. You're always talking about how great you and the Royal Knights are, and you throw a fit whenever somebody doesn't live up to your idealised standards. You're the epitome of pride! Anyways, you always say that the Royal Knights need to be respected, and I'll have you know that I'm doing just that!"

"Decisive confidence, Sir," the Pucchiemon reminded him as he painted brush strokes around his head.

Magnamon took a calming breath and nodded. "Decisive confidence…" he whispered, retaking his calm and dominant expression. "The reason I'm doing this is for public relations. Propaganda. Publicity. We need to show that we're calm and in control of the situation. Things like this will reinforce the trust and confidence of the Digimon of Eniac in us, the Royal Knights. They need to know that they can rely on us to protect them. We're the symbols of hope and security. You of all people should appreciate that we have to inspire the Digimon around us by appearing in control."

Magnamon puffed his chest up and straightened his body emphatically. "This is simply a part of being a hero. My father had paintings commissioned of himself all the time. It's all about propagating our image to the public."

"Uh huh. I'm pretty sure you already have more paintings of you than either of us combined, but whatever, Magna-chan," UlforceVeedramon pointed out.

"I've been a hero longer than either of you," Magnamon was quick to remind them. "And no I don't! You two are just as vain as I am!"

Craniamon narrowed his eyes at the posing Royal Knight combatively.

UlforceVeedramon looked at Craniamon with a smirk. "Though, Magna-chan also has a point. You are obsessed with the Royal Knights' image and recognition. You were almost as annoyed as Duftmon was when Sleipmon and Examon joined because 'Oh no. They're different and they'll damage our image!'" he mockingly reminded him.

"Tch," Craniamon scoffed and looked away sheepishly. "My opinions on them have evolved. They quickly earned my respect when I saw their battle skills," he insisted. "And that's the core of my issue. Yes, I understand what you mean, Magnamon. Making sure that Digimon have faith in us is important. Doing indulgent things like this when we have free time is one thing, but, right now, we're at war. We're the Guardian Deities - the Defenders of Net Security. We can play politics and pose with babies after we've won the war. Right now, the Seven Great Demon Lords are running amok. We have to be getting ready more than anything."

"We just beat them in a major battle. I'm pretty sure we have a few days of free time," Magnamon insisted.

"Time which we should be making the most of. Do you think the Demon Lords are wasting their time right now?" Craniamon pressed.

"The Demon Lords will be licking their wounds. They're not going to launch another attack so quickly after being beaten," Magnamon argued confidently. "Look, Craniamon, everybody's tired from the battle and the march to and from New Terminal. The Strike Forces and Defence Forces have been given some time off as well. Training is important, but overexerting ourselves is also a bad idea. Resting up and preparing in other ways for what's to come is important too."

UlforceVeedramon shrugged at Craniamon and nodded. "I don't like waiting around either, but Magnamon has a point. Let the Order soldiers have a break to enjoy themselves and visit their loved ones. Like you said, this is a war." UlforceVeedramon looked away a little. "There's a chance some of us won't make it out alive..."

An uncomfortable silence overtook the Digimon in the courtyard after UlforceVeedramon spoke those ominous words. The only noise that could be heard were the Pucchiemon's methodical brush strokes against the canvas.

Craniamon grunted and folded his arms. The crimson dots behind his helmet glanced down and he couldn't help but feel guilty. "…That's exactly why I want everybody to be prepared. The stronger and more organised we are, the less casualties there will be," he explained.

Magnamon sighed against his golden face mask. "Yeah, I understand where you're coming from, Craniamon…" he gently told him. The bite out of his words vanished and his usual soft tone returned. "I know you're stressed, but let everybody recuperate. We will be training and planning our next move soon. I'm sure that Alphamon and Duftmon want to reclaim the initiative from the Demon Lords."

UlforceVeedramon sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Uh, sorry about that. Didn't mean to make things so heavy there," he apologised with an awkward grin. "I'm supposed to be the optimistic one!"

"You were only saying what we already knew," Craniamon answered. The bulky, violet-hued knight pointed at Magnamon. "You're off the hook this time, but don't make a habit of it."

A bead of sweat dripped down the back of Magnamon's head and he had to keep himself from retorting. "…I'll try not to."

UlforceVeedramon grinned and folded his arms. "Be honest, Magnamon. You're loving being painted. You love the attention. 'Make me taller,' you said," he teased.

Magnamon's eyes narrowed and his cheeks flushed. The turbines underneath his shoulder armour began to rev and unleash golden particles threateningly. "Ulforce…" he said lowly.

The tall, winged, dragon man backed up and raised his free hand up in front of him. "Careful! You can't move from that pose, remember?" he reminded him with an uneasy grin.

"No, but I don't need to move to launch missiles at you," Magnamon calmly explained with a dangerous flash in his sideways-leering eye.

"H-H-Hey, you wouldn't hurt an injured guy…!" UlforceVeedramon nervously stammered, holding up his sling-bound arm emphatically. He edged his way behind Craniamon. "You'll protect me, Craniamon."

Craniamon stepped out of the way, leaving UlforceVeedramon exposed. "I'm going to the gym. Strength training," he quickly replied.

UlforceVeedramon glared at the violet Royal Knight as he began walking away. "Coward! …And make sure you take a shower while you're there! Who trains in full plate armour and a body suit on a warm day like this? You must be up to your knees in sweat under all that armour."

Craniamon shrugged in response. "It'll be summer soon. If you're going to train, match the conditions of battle. We're going to have to fight in worse circumstances than just a bit of heat," the dedicated knight explained.

Craniamon stopped and turned around, looking at the two Royal Knights. "…I wasn't there for Heavenly War. You two were. You should both know better than I do how dangerous the Demon Lords are. I want to see you both training hard too. We can't afford to take them lightly."

Magnamon smiled and glanced over his shoulder at Craniamon, though staying still enough for the artist to continue painting him. "Yes, you're right, Craniamon. I promise we aren't taking them lightly. We'll make sure continue our preparations soon," he explained diplomatically. Though, not before he cast a leer in UlforceVeedramon's direction. "Assuming Ulforce's injuries don't get any worse…"

UlforceVeedramon rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. "You know what? I'll come with you, Craniamon. Maybe I can do some light exercising as part of my rehabilitation," he decided, following after his friend.

Craniamon nodded and strode across the courtyard. "Good…" he grunted. The glowing, crimson dots of his dark eyes narrowed. He glanced at UlforceVeedramon, who walked up beside him.

"We can't afford our enemies any relief," he firmly reflected. Craniamon clenched his fists and brooded over their next moves.

"I'm sure that the Demon Lords are planning something sinister as we speak…"

---

Lilithmon strode down the boulevard of a high-end shopping district in the city of Sepulcrum.

The moons drifted over the city, shining pale light down upon the cobblestone streets. Lining the sidewalks were metal street lamps, fixed with hanging oil lanterns to help light the dark city. Although it was the middle of the night, this was when the city was most active.

Sepulcrum was a large city full of gothic architecture, giving it a dark, Victorian quality. The city was filled with towering, eerie buildings. The dark cityscape was lined with the silhouettes of old cathedrals, bell towers, spires, mansions, and even a castle. The main streets were long and dark, flanked by shadowy alleyways that were faintly lit by the flames of arched street lanterns. The ominous embers of these lamps glowed gently like will-o'-the-wisps in the night.

Gothic carriages rattled as they were led down the dark, hazy streets. Steam poured out of vents every so often, drifting across the larger roads and obscuring one's vision. Flowing through the middle of the city was the Weeping River, which was traversed using either gondolas or the stone, arch bridges spanning it. This provided the city center with the faint sound of trickling water and the aroma of damp stone.

Lilithmon kept to the side as a gothic carriage, much like the ones they had used on their campaign, rolled down the middle of the busy commercial street. She walked down the sidewalk, floating from shop to shop as she gazed into the windows of high-end boutiques.

The Demon Lord passed along a nearby shop, looking at the various dresses on display in the show window. They were almost all intricate, gothic dresses, which were typically pitch black, scarlet red, or a deep violet in colour. Her cosmetic-shadowed eyes lit up upon spotting a long, black, full length dress that caught her interest.

"Oh, that dress looks simply beautiful! It's perfect for me!" she declared, walking over to the boutique window and staring through it at the designer evening gown. "Hurry up! I want to go in here next."

She looked over her shoulder at Barbamon, who growled as he lagged behind her. In his arms were several large boxes of purchased clothes, piled on top of each other and reaching all the way up to his bearded chin. "Another one?! You must be crazy, woman! You already bought five!" he complained acerbically.

"There are more than five days in a week, old man. Besides, I want a dress for formal parties," she retorted, glaring at the Demon Lord of Greed.

"We are fighting a war! You think we will have time for parties?!" Barbamon argued.

"It's for after we win, you vile curmudgeon!" Lilithmon fired back. "I already told you, I'm buying whatever I want! Buying the best, most expensive fashion makes me feel better! As the one who screwed up the Battle of New Terminal, you don't get to complain."

"What are you talking about, you vexatious shrew?!" the greedy arch demon demanded. "My part in the battle went exactly according to plan!"

"Your plans. Not our plans. Honestly, old man. You must think me an idiot. I am no fool; I know exactly what you were up to," Lilithmon said, folding her arms and turning around.

"Is that so? Do enlighten me with your worldly knowledge," Barbamon sarcastically replied.

"Your goal was the bank all along," Lilithmon told him, smirking. "Forget the city; you wanted to capture the treasury reserves for yourself. That way, you could hold the purse strings and, therefore, the power for yourself. And don't insult me by denying it; I saw you holding back in the battle for myself. It's just a pity for you that I'm not the only one who saw straight through your little ruse." She walked up to him and trailed her finger along the edge of the top box of clothes. "And that's why I don't feel the least bit bad about doing whatever I want with the money."

Barbamon clenched his teeth sourly. "It was so that we could fund the war," he insisted.

"Ohoh!" Lilithmon laughed. "My, you don't have to lie. I already know you well enough to know what kind of snake you are. You're still the same scheming, rapacious miser as before."

"And you're a conniving harridan," Barbamon responded, narrowing his eyes.

Lilithmon smirked malevolently. "Just so long as you understand that I won't hesitate to expose you at the slightest misstep," she warned him.

The old demon scoffed. "As if that concerns me."

Lilithmon smiled and sauntered over to the door of the boutique. "Perhaps it should, down the road..." she idly mused. "For now, I am content to indulge myself in my pleasures as I see fit. And that pleasure at the moment is that captivating dress."

Barbamon readjusted the boxes in his arms and walked over the window to observe the dress – or, rather, the price tag – for himself. Upon finding the all-important piece of paper, he balked. "…It costs HOW MUCH?!" he shouted, his eyes wide and twitching.

"And no, you didn't miss a decimal point," Lilithmon teased him, opening the door to the tailor's.

"What in the name of everything valuable in the world could possibly justify that extortionate price?! Is it made with Qinglongmon's hair?! Blood suckers, the lot! I am the Demon Lord of Greed and even I am aghast at the sheer audacity! That dress looks dreadful regardless!"

Lilithmon rolled her eyes at his predictable overreaction. "It is called 'high fashion', old man," she told him, shooting him a simmering leer. "You're making my mood even worse. I've decided that, after this, I'm going to buy something else! Then, I am going to that patisserie we passed and gorge myself on sweets! Perhaps if I'm impressed, I'll hire the patissier as a personal pastry chef."

Barbamon sneered at the Demon Lord of Lust. "With the pastries that cost twenty bits a piece?! You wouldn't dare! I won't allow it!"

"Try and stop me!" Lilithmon fired back, marching into the store with little care for Barbamon's opinions.

"Lilithmon! Curses! Come back here right now!" he yelled at her, striding after her while trying to keep the stack of boxes from falling. "At least allow me to negotiate the price down, damn it!"

"Where is the catharsis in that?! If I wanted a cheap dress, I would have bought a cheap dress! And, by the way, I need matching shoes. This is an ensemble piece."

"Are you completely insane?! Are you trying to bankrupt us?! I have been in hell for the past several decades and nothing I saw there compares to this madness!"

"I'm buying it!"

"Over my dead body!"

"That would be a nice bonus!"

The two Demon Lords continued to squabble throughout the remainder of the shopping trip. Lilithmon would return to the castle with several boxes of expensive clothes and a personal pastry chef. Meanwhile, Barbamon would return with a throbbing headache and a hole in his coin purse.

---

"So, what is our next move?"

The twelve Royal Knights sat around the round table in the council room. A meeting had been called in the mid afternoon to discuss the situation with the Demon Lords. It was the best time for them to do so, with most of their subordinates taking time off.

Each and every Royal Knight was determined in their cause. However, lingering in the formal chamber was the air of uncertainty as to what the best course of action should be.

"That is the question that we strive to answer today," Alphamon responded, looking around the table at his friends.

"I suppose the real question is: do we want to continue with our campaign to advance on the Gloaming Fields?" Examon posited, looking between Alphamon and Duftmon. "That was our plan before the Demon Lords struck New Terminal."

"The Demon Lords have taken the initiative away from us. They attacked New Terminal and forced us to respond to them on their terms," Alphamon pondered.

"Yeah," Dukemon spoke up, looking over at the so-called Aloof Hermit. "But we won in New Terminal. We forced them to retreat."

"That was barely a victory, Dukemon" Alphamon answered, frowning as he returned the crimson knight's gaze. "They retreated, yes, but it wasn't anything like a decisive victory. They fled on their own terms, and they took much of New Terminal's financial reserves as they did. The central bank is in crisis mode and they are currently refusing to lend any money."

Duftmon nodded. His arms were folded and his index finger lightly tapped his slender bicep. "And that isn't all…" the feline strategist spoke up. His emerald eyes were narrowed with vexation. "Today I received word from one of my contacts within the Timeless Library. He informed me of some terrible news that has not yet been made public for fear of a public outcry…"

"Is it about DORUgoramon?" Dukemon asked with concern.

"It is much worse…" he decided. Duftmon placed his hands on the surface of the table and looked around at the other Royal Knights. "The Yggdrasil Codex has been stolen."

There was a collective pause…

After a moment of processing, Alphamon's eyes widened, as did that of many of the other Royal Knights. Utterances of disbelief and shock arose from around the table. "What…? The Yggdrasil Codex is gone? Are you certain?" Alphamon pressed.

"I am as certain as I can be without visiting the library myself," Duftmon answered grimly. "I am certain that the library's staff would have taken a complete stock of the books before and after the attack. This is especially true of such an important text. The Yggdrasil Codex was written by High Priestess Shakamon herself. It contains the history of the Null Origin and much of the First Cycle, not to mention Yggdrasil's written truth. They would never be so careless as to lose it. I can only deduce that it has been stolen, as they say."

"But how?!" Magnamon demanded. "We were fighting Barbamon outside the bank. They hadn't made it far enough east to reach the library!"

Alphamon nodded slowly. "Magnamon is right. The Timeless Library was untouched by the battle."

Omegamon glared down at his folded hands as they rested on the surface of the table. "That doesn't mean that somebody couldn't have stolen it in the chaos…"

"Omegamon is partially correct," Duftmon explained, leering at the white knight out of the corners of his eyes. "Somebody took advantage of the situation to sneak in and steal the Yggdrasil Codex. However, they did so before the battle began."

"Before the battle?" Sleipmon wondered.

"How the hell's that possible?" Gankoomon growled. "As soon as they learned that the Demon Lords were coming right for them, the city was put on heavy security! There's no way a demon could have gotten in."

Deep in thought, Alphamon rubbed the metal point of his chin with a bent finger. "A demon Digimon, no. However, GrandisKuwagamon was able to enter. The guards were likely only looking for demon species at the time."

"It couldn't have been GrandisKuwagamon," Craniamon contended, his gleaming crimson eyes shifting towards the Knight of the Empty Seat. "He didn't have the book on him when we found him. If his job was to open the gates, I don't know how he'd have the time, unless he stashed the book somewhere."

"Can you provide us with any more information, Duftmon?" RhodoKnightmon requested, staring intently across the table at the tactician. "This is quite the paramount mystery."

"Of course," Duftmon confirmed. "One of the library assistants reported that his keys were missing. This includes the key to the vault, where the Yggdrasil Codex is kept. He mentioned that, on the day that he last had his keys, two Digimon he had never seen before appeared in the library. They requested to see the Yggdrasil Codex for research. They were the last ones to set eyes on the Codex."

Duftmon looked at Alphamon emphatically. "Those two Digimon were described as a Blitzmon and a Bolgmon."

Dynasmon bit back a growl and leaned forwards on the table. "Black Pincer Company again…"

"They are still acting as agents of Bagramon," Alphamon considered. "They likely freed Wizardmon as well; he had been expecting them when I returned to Bagramon's hut." The Aloof Hermit sighed and looked around the table. "There is something that I must tell you all…"

The knights sitting around the table all looked and focused on the black armoured knight. Omegamon and Ouryumon eyed Alphamon, though they already knew what had happened and what he was likely to say.

"While I was investigating Bagramon's hut, I encountered Bagramon there," Alphamon explained. "We had a minor fight."

"What?!" Dukemon exclaimed, his reaction the most pronounced among the surprised Royal Knights. "You fought with Bagramon?!"

Duftmon frowned deeply as he gazed at the leader of the knights. "You should have said so. Did he say anything?" he wondered.

"I asked why he was doing this. He told me his reasons," Alphamon responded. "He won't be persuaded otherwise."

"I'm not surprised…" Dynasmon muttered.

"He destroyed his hut to prevent me from finding any evidence as to what his future plans were," Alphamon explained. "Unfortunately, I have no solid evidence, but the fact that Blitzmon and Bolgmon have stolen the Yggdrasil Codex leads me believe that my current hypothesis may be on the right track…"

"And what hypothesis is that, Alphamon?" Duftmon wondered, cocking his brow with interest as he rested his chin on his arched, clasped hands.

"I will tell you later, Duftmon. Perhaps you and I can have a brainstorming session about it," Alphamon suggested. "I don't wish to take us off track with baseless hypotheticals."

Dukemon nodded. "So, Blitzmon and Bolgmon stole the Yggdrasil Codex. Was GrandisKuwagamon involved too?" the scarlet-caped knight asked with a serious frown.

"I doubt that," Karatenmon spoke up, walking over from the side of the council room. "From what I know, he's on bad terms with Blitzmon and Bolgmon. Apparently when we cornered them in Saversburg, the pair of them used GrandisKuwagamon as a scapegoat in order to escape themselves. SaviorHackmon mentioned that he noticed there was some tension between them too."

Zero ARMS: Grani floated in his usual place, several meters behind Dukemon. From that position, he leered at Karatenmon with his icy blue eyes. Although his face was calm, only Dukemon would be able to notice the frigidity of his gaze.

"Can you be certain of that, Spymaster?" Grani inquired sceptically. "It is equally possible that they reunited under Bagramon and resolved their differences. Perhaps his change of heart is nothing more than a ruse."

"I concur with Grani," Duftmon spoke up.

Karatenmon smiled wryly. "If Grandis is acting, he's incredibly committed to his role. He took a fatal attack for VictoryGreymon," he pointed out.

"He's got a point," Gankoomon agreed with a shrug. "As much as I don't like the bug, his actions speak for themselves. You don't do something like that if you don't mean it."

Grani frowned a little. "While it is statistically unlikely that GrandisKuwagamon would wound himself as part a ploy, are we certain that that he was wounded attempting to protect VictoryGreymon? Perhaps the wounds he sustained were not from an altruistic action."

"Grani's hypothetical is not inaccurate," Duftmon spoke up. "Are we to believe the word of SaviorHackmon, the only witness?"

Gankoomon snarled across the table at Duftmon. "Are you calling my student a liar? I taught SaviorHackmon to always tell the truth! I know him better than anybody, Duftmon. He wouldn't lie about that, got it?!"

Duftmon folded his arms and straightened his posture defiantly. "Hmph… I did not call him a liar. However, you cannot dispute that SaviorHackmon is biased when it comes to the mercenary. Perhaps he saw what he wished to see."

"Now, Duftmon," Alphamon spoke up. "I have read Paildramon's report this morning, and I know you have as well. She corroborates SaviorHackmon's account of events, as does GrandisKuwagamon."

"The over-sergeant Paildramon of New Terminal states by her own admission that much of her experience in her dark evolution was a haze," Duftmon argued. "Likewise, the mercenary will say whatever he needs to in order to protect himself."

"She also explained that in her dark evolution, she had vivid moments of lucidity. I trust her," Alphamon explained. "Furthermore, Karatenmon used his Satori technique on GrandisKuwagamon to read his heart."

"Neither of which would be admissible in court," Duftmon contended.

"While we are on the topic, what exactly are we planning to do with GrandisKuwagamon?" RhodoKnightmon questioned. "Are we definitely going through with Karatenmon's proposal?"

Duftmon scoffed. "I still object to that on the grounds of security. Allowing a criminal into our ranks who, just a week ago, aided the Demon Lords without remorse is incredibly naïve and absolutely farcical," he explained, levelling his eyes with Alphamon.

"It is a risk," Magnamon agreed, his arms folded and his eyes a bitter frown. "Even if he has changed, I can't forgive some of the things he has done. They killed several of our soldiers, not to mention tried to assassinate Metallife… I'm sorry, but I don't trust him."

"He will be outfitted with the proximal restraint system and placed under a watchful eye," Alphamon explained. "He knows that this is his last chance."

Duftmon locked eyes with Alphamon. "Respectfully, but GrandisKuwagamon has tricked you before. It could be that he is trying to infiltrate our ranks in order to feed information back to Bagramon."

"After talking to him, I don't believe that is the case," Alphamon answered, matching Duftmon's hard gaze with a calm one of his own.

Karatenmon took a step forwards. "I agree with Alphamon. And if I'm wrong about him, I'll take full responsibility. This was my idea, after all," he declared.

Grani's cool, blue eyes narrowed on Karatenmon, but he refrained from saying anything.

"I'm with Duftmon and Magnamon," Craniamon replied, his fists resting tightly on the stone surface of the table. He looked over at Karatenmon. "No offence, Karatenmon, but I still don't even like having the Rooks as a concept. The idea that we, the Royal Knights, are using underhanded tactics like sabotage, subversion, and sneak attacks… it's dishonourable. We're supposed to fight with honour."

"I can't say I disagree with Craniamon," Gankoomon replied with a shrug. "I realise that the world isn't black and white, but when it comes to fighting, a battlefield should be pure. We can't pretend we're heroes if we fight dirty."

"Don't be so naïve," Duftmon responded sharply. "We are not 'fighting dirty'. We are using the necessary tools to fight evil. That is our priority as Royal Knights. We are protecting the Digital World, not fighting a refereed sparring match."

Craniamon scowled faintly. "If we discard our honour, then what's the point? If we're picking up criminals and mercenaries, then what makes us any different from Bagramon?" he argued.

"Not to mention the Rooks' blatant disregard for rules and norms," Grani responded, narrowing his eyes at Karatenmon. "Particularly their leader…"

Karatenmon smiled. "I understand the resistance. I did when we were formed, and I do now. However, we aren't black claw mercenaries. We don't act without any oversight. We just bend the rules in order to keep the Royal Knights competitive. After DarkKnightmon's rebellions and with the likes of the D-Brigade's special ops, a covert spy network and fast-response team is necessary to keep the Order from fighting with our hands tied behind our backs."

Alphamon nodded and looked over at Craniamon and Gankoomon. "I do understand what you two are saying, but not every issue can or should be resolved on a battlefield," he maintained. "As protectors of Net Security, we have to use what tools we can to uphold our ideals. I agree that we all must have lines that we can't cross, but we do have to carefully toe the line at times to keep from being outflanked by those who have no such qualms."

Craniamon folded his arms and sighed. "I'm not saying they aren't useful, just…" He shook his head. "Forget it. I just have strong feelings." The violet armoured knight leaned back in his chair. "I still don't think adding Grandis to the Rooks is a good idea though."

Omegamon sighed and nodded, looking over at Alphamon and Karatenmon. "You two are putting a lot of faith in GrandisKuwagamon. Is he really worth it?" he wondered.

"Especially after that aggravation in the cafeteria yesterday," RhodoKnightmon added.

"I think he could be," Alphamon answered with an understanding smile. He chuckled a little. "My idealism aside, he is a great source of information. He knows Black Pincer Company, the underworld, and he has connections to Bagramon. I have said this before, but I believe he will be a valuable asset to us."

"I trust your judgements," Dukemon said to them. He grinned. "I can't say I like the guy yet, but it's better to have somebody who's trying to change his ways than a criminal who's stuck in prison, isn't it?"

"Unless he doesn't change his ways," RhodoKnightmon reasoned. He made an embellished shrug and shook his head. "However, we need not debate this any further. I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt… for now."

"Hmph…" Duftmon muttered, closing his eyes and folding his arms as he leaned back in his chair. "If we may get back on topic… Why was the Yggdrasil Codex stolen? What would Bagramon and the Demon Lords want with it?"

"To destroy it?" Examon put forward. "Hold it for ransom?"

"Maybe. DarkKnightmon tried to get at us the same way by trying to destroy the World Tree," Dynasmon remembered.

"Perhaps. Symbolic iconoclasm isn't outside of the realm of possibility, but I have my doubts," Alphamon reasoned, stroking his chin pensively. "What is the fundamental purpose of books…? To store knowledge."

"You are correct, Alphamon," Duftmon concurred. "The book disappeared before the battle began, so if they wished to destroy it, surely they would have done so during the battle in an attempt to destroy our morale. No… they must have more nefarious intentions… There must be something stored within the book that they wish to access."

"I thought they were crusading against 'God'. Why do they care about the Yggdrasil Codex?" Dynasmon asked with a confused shrug.

"To the Demon Lords, we're all a bunch of heathens," Craniamon spat. "Ironic, considering they're rebelling against their own God."

"Also, to some, God and Yggdrasil are one and the same," Alphamon replied. "Though, based on my own deductions, I suspect that Bagramon's views of the Two Faiths are much more nuanced… I believe that he is the one behind this theft, rather than the Seven Great Demon Lords."

Duftmon looked to the Royal Knights' leader with a probing gaze. "Have you any evidence?"

"Nothing concrete," Alphamon admitted. "In Bagramon's hut was a book regarding Tritheism. Whether this is anything more than an intellectual fascination is unclear… However, Bagramon's actions make me wonder what his true intentions are."

"So, let's say all this is true," UlforceVeedramon asked, shrugging his good shoulder. "What's he after?"

"Something sensitive about Yggdrasil?" Sleipmon suggested with a worried frown. He clasped his fist in his palm and squeezed gently. "Encrypted data, maybe? Network vulnerabilities?" Sleipmon's eyes tightened "…The Archives? Yggdrasil's Primary Memory Storage?"

"Right now, all we can do is guess," Magnamon said with a grim sigh.

Omegamon frowned deeply. "If you're right, Alphamon, that is deeply concerning… We have to find a way to reclaim the Yggdrasil Codex."

"Which means we can't just sit around on our asses doing nothing!" Gankoomon impatiently declared, slamming his palms onto the surface of the round table.

"And what do you suggest? Marching off and blundering into the Gloaming Fields without a plan?" Duftmon challenged the impulsive Royal Knight.

"If it means actually fighting them instead of talking about fighting them, then yeah!" Gankoomon fired back passionately. "Just because they attacked New Terminal, it doesn't mean we have to go back to the drawing board."

"I'm with Gankoomon," Dukemon spoke up, folding his arms. "The longer we wait, the more time they have to prepare."

"I must reanalyze the situation," Duftmon argued. "We were able to beat the Demon Lords back during the Battle of New Terminal, but they are likely prepared for a counterattack. It would be a mistake to underestimate them. If we make a mistake, many will die and we could very well jeopardize our ability to fight them. I will not allow another blunder."

Gankoomon growled and ground his fists onto the table. "How long?" he demanded, making his reluctance clear at having to wait.

"No more than a week," Duftmon answered. "The soldiers are still on leave for a few days regardless. We will make the most of this reprieve to adjust and perfect our preparations."

"We are still going to attack them, right?" Craniamon questioned, cracking his gloved knuckles with leathery pops.

"That is the idea," Alphamon confirmed, looking at Duftmon.

"Naturally. We must reclaim the initiative, after all," the tactician responded, nodding. "However, we must be intelligent about how we do so. We must step up our patrols of the Gloaming Fields so that we may follow their movements."

"It might be worth bribing one of the unaligned demon nobles to spy for us as well," RhodoKnightmon suggested. He beckoned over at Karatenmon "Don't you think, birdie?"

Karatenmon grinned and nodded. "That can be done. I have it on good authority that there are some aristocrats who are against the Demon Lords."

"If that's true, they won't be around long," Dynasmon stated.

"Dynasmon is correct. The Demon Lords will likely try to consolidate their holdings and crush any local resistance in an attempt to safeguard their powerbase," Duftmon explained. "This should give us ample opportunity to make our move."

"Finally!" Gankoomon exclaimed, punching his palm.

"Tch. Didn't you get your fill in New Terminal?" Craniamon jeered at the red-haired knight. "Or were you too busy getting beaten up?"

Gankoomon sneered over at the violet knight. "You're just jealous that you didn't get any action."

Craniamon narrowed his eyes bitterly. Despite the cold simmering he felt, he calmly rose to his feet. "Yeah, well, next time we face the Demon Lords, I'll be on the front line," he declared. The heavily armoured knight looked around at the others. "Is there anything else we need to do here? I want to get back to training."

Examon frowned and rubbed his scaly chin. "Well… How have the other states and kingdoms reacted to the attack on New Terminal?" he asked, wondering about one place in particular.

"They've generally spoken out against the Demon Lords or kept silent," Karatenmon answered. "In terms of actual support… The Council of Seven is still deadlocked and dealing with an economic crisis. The Mesozoic Kingdom is maintaining their stance of neutrality. The Metal Empire also declared their neutrality, which is pretty understandable, given the casualties from their recent war and the sudden power shift to the Storm Commanders. The Jungle Troopers offered their assistance to us, but that's about it. Everybody's afraid to throw their chips in."

As Examon listened to Karatenmon's debrief, his green eyes furrowed quizzically at a notable omission. "What about the United Dramonic Coalition?" he asked, looking at the crow who was clad in ninja garb.

"Nothing yet," the avian spymaster responded. "I'm sure many leaders are still weighing their options. The Four Great Dragons have been known to disagree with each other, as I'm sure you know."

Ouryumon looked at Examon curiously. "I'd have thought you'd know what they were thinking before anybody, Exa. You are the Dragon Emperor, right? You were the Four Great Dragons' trump card, once upon a time," he pointed out, though not without a teasingly pointed tone.

Examon glanced down at his scaly hands with a soft frown. "I wonder what they're planning…" he murmured.

"What about the Warrior Ten?" Sleipmon asked.

Dynasmon grinned a little. "With AncientGreymon in charge? There's no way he'd turn his back on the Digital World. The salamander's too hard-headed for that," he confidently suggested.

Alphamon smiled dryly and nodded. "For better and for worse. We should attempt to coordinate with them, in the same way that Cherubimon promised with the Heavenly Choir."

"That is, if the dragon hasn't already blundered off in an attempt to be a hero," Duftmon sarcastically muttered.

"Speaking of which, we haven't heard anything from the Heavenly Choir or the movements of the Powers yet," RhodoKnightmon noted. "For an information sharing agreement, things have been rather quiet, no?"

Sleipmon frowned pensively. He hadn't heard from Cherubimon since his surprise visit. "Indeed… Maybe we should send a message to the Three Great Angels to confirm," the equine knight suggested.

"So, to confirm, in a couple week's time at most, we will begin our campaign north via the Grand Highway and Saversburg," Omegamon spoke up, looking around at the other Royal Knights.

"Correct," Duftmon replied. The tactician carefully straightened the papers in front of him. "Grani, make sure that every patrol report of the Gloaming Fields sectors ends up on my desk. Karatenmon, send some agents and see if you can sway some of the unaligned nobles to our way of thinking."

"Sure," Karatenmon replied, looking at Alphamon for confirmation.

"Affirmative, Duftmon…" Grani answered distantly.

Dukemon glanced over his shoulder and eyed Grani curiously. The crimson Zero ARMS seemed lost in thought, which was strange for the normally alert Captain.

Alphamon nodded at Karatenmon. "I will meet with Digmon to see how much money can be spared for 'diplomatic expenses'," he informed the spymaster. The Knight of the Empty Seat rose from the Siege Perilous. "Well, then. With our next course of action confirmed, we can adjourn this meeting."

The twelve Holy Knights rose from the table and made their way out of the room in an orderly fashion.

"The waiting is the worst," UlforceVeedramon complained, fidgeting with his injured arm as he walked out into the great hall.

"Use that time to recover," Magnamon advised him, eyeing the cobalt knight's sling. "And don't immediately get hurt again. You're always rushing off and wounding yourself. Dukemon told me that he saved you from Leviamon in that last battle."

"Uh… That was more of an assist," UlforceVeedramon insisted, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.

"You nearly lost your arm," Dukemon spoke up from behind him, slinging an arm over his neck and leaning over his wings and shoulder. "The least you could do is buy me lunch."

"Gah! Watch the arm, Dukemon! It's still tender!" UlforceVeedramon complained, trying to nudge him off with his wings.

Dukemon chuckled and released the tall dragon from his hold. As the Royal Knights began splitting off in different directions, Dukemon looked over at Grani.

The Zero ARMS was floating dutifully beside him, following the knight as they made their way to the end of the great hall. Although he followed Dukemon, his blue eyes stared off to the left. Dukemon looked at Grani's focal point and saw Karatenmon walking towards one of the side doors.

As the raven man slipped into the complementary corridor, Dukemon placed a hand on the tip of Grani's wing, prompting the draconic bird to slow down along with him. As soon as he felt physical contact, Grani's sapphire optics looked up at Dukemon with machine-like reflexes.

"Yes, Dukemon?" Grani asked with a voice so calm and monotone that anybody but Dukemon would have questioned themselves.

"Is something wrong?" Dukemon asked him.

"Requesting clarification. Define 'wrong'," Grani replied, looking up at Dukemon innocently. "Are you inquiring if something is erroneous? Or perhaps if something is not in accordance with what is moral?"

Dukemon's expression flattened with doubt. "…I don't buy it. Maybe back when we first met, when you didn't understand social cues, but not now. You're too smart for me to believe you don't know what I'm talking about." Dukemon folded his arms and grinned triumphantly. "Well?"

Grani stared at him, able to avoid rolling his eyes. "Why, I am just a simple Zero ARMS, Dukemon. I have no idea what you are talking about," he dryly insisted.

"Now you're just being a smart aleck," Dukemon answered. He turned and looked towards the door that Karatenmon walked through. "If you have something to say to him, you should say it. Keeping your feelings bottled will only cause things to fester."

Grani pivoted his floating body away. "That recommendation is particularly incongruous when it is coming from you," he reminded him

Dukemon scratched his cheek. "…Fair point. But you could say that I'm speaking from experience." With Grani's body turned, Dukemon walked behind him and slowly ushered him forwards. "Go talk to him, even if it's only to give him a lecture. Take your own advice."

Grani sighed but realised that Dukemon had a point. "Affirmative…" he confirmed with resignation.

Dukemon smiled proudly as he watched Grani float down the length of the great hall. Grani's static, jet-like body flew through the opened doors to the foyer, and he continued on outside so that he could more easily access the upper levels of the castle.

"Dukemon?" a light, resonant voice spoke from behind him.

The silver armoured knight turned around, his crimson cape furling his leg with the motion. Behind him, he saw the majestic, white form of Omegamon walking over.

"…Oh, hey," Dukemon greeted his friend. By now, it was just the two of them left in the spacious, golden hallway.

"Is there something wrong?" Omegamon wondered, glancing past him towards where Grani went.

"No. I was just giving Grani some advice," the red knight explained, placing a hand on his armoured hip.

"Isn't it usually the other way around?"

Dukemon chuckled and walked over to Omegamon's side. "These days? Yeah, usually…" The Royal Knight smiled warmly and turned around, just in time to see Grani vanish from view as he flew down the entrance hall. "…Grani's really come a long way."

"Has he?" Omegamon asked, turning to his friend curiously. "I remember when we first met, he was more stoic and literal-minded, but I hadn't noticed a drastic shift in his personality."

"I have," Dukemon explained. "I guess it's because I know him the best. When we first met, he was… well, like a machine. He was incredibly smart, but he didn't innately understand things like emotions or intent. Like you said, he was literal-minded. I remember I'd tease him and then spend half an hour trying to explain the joke." He chuckled a little and rubbed his neck. "He'd insist that he was my Zero ARMS, and he'd almost only interact with me as we travelled. He never expressed any emotions or desires outside of aiding me."

Omegamon nodded thoughtfully. "I see…"

"But now…? He's his own person. He's the leader of the Reconnaissance Forces. He has relationships outside of just me, and he feels some emotions, however subtly. He even has his own sense of humour," Dukemon explained, smiling fondly. "He really has grown a lot. He says he's a Zero ARMS, but he's not that different from me."

"I would say that you deserve a lot of credit for that," Omegamon pointed out. "You have rubbed off on him after all these years."

Dukemon rubbed at the center of his armoured chest. "I don't know. Maybe. He's helped me so much over the years. We help each other."

Omegamon smiled. "You two have an incredible bond of friendship. He's lucky to have a friend like you, and I'm sure the reverse is true as well."

Dukemon chuckled and turned back to Omegamon. "Yeah. Well… I'm just glad he's living for himself too. He's my Zero ARMS, but I'd feel guilty if that's all he was. It's a relief that he's starting to have a life outside of me."

"I understand what you mean," Omegamon answered knowingly. Not dwelling on the point, Omegamon looked at him. "Is it something about Karatenmon?"

Dukemon scratched his cheek. "You got it in one. Out of everyone, Karatenmon definitely brings out the angry side of Grani. I think that's a good thing…?"

Omegamon grinned and eyed Dukemon. "It might be his carefree, rule-defying nature. I wonder why Grani might find that annoying, Dukemon…"

The crimson knight smirked and nudged Omegamon's arm. "I have no idea…"

"Well… perhaps a spar is in order, now that most of the castle is empty?" Omegamon suggested, walking ahead.

Dukemon raised an eyebrow and followed him. "A spar…? Sounds good to me. It's been awhile since you and I fought."

"You're one of my best opponents, Dukemon," the white knight informed him as he walked.

Dukemon smirked competitively. "Well, I'll be sure not to disappoint you, Omegamon…"

With that, the pair of Royal Knights began making their way off towards the training grounds for what promised to be an epic duel.

---

Karatenmon stepped into his office. He tucked his jet black wings inwards as he manoeuvred through the door frame. As he approached his desk, he reached down to his belt and untied a cloth pouch that hung beside his feathery tail plumage. He took out a bundle of scrolls and papers and dumped them haphazardly on top of his cluttered desk.

The humanoid crow dropped the empty pouch and walked up to the sizeable bow window that opened up the wall behind his desk. As he reached the window, he disconnected some strings and wires that were part of his personal security system. When he was done, he unlocked the windows and slid the glass frames open so that he could feel the open air outside. The windows opened to their greatest extent and the warm air rushed into the musty office, prompting Karatenmon to sigh with relief.

The raven gazed out of the window overlooking the training grounds. It was a peaceful day. The afternoon sun was in full view overhead. The grassy fields were bright green and puffy clouds drifted in the cyan sky.

Karatenmon smiled peacefully, taking in nature's vista. He felt most at home when he was in a natural environment. The beauty of the world provided him with inspiration. Feeling a sudden burst of that inspiration, he began to reach his talons for a black feather quill and his notebook.

However, something suddenly rose into his field of vision. The red, mechanical form of Grani wordlessly floated upwards, moving vertically like on an invisible elevator. The Zero ARMS ascended right in front of the window and stopped at eye level with Karatenmon. Grani was face to face with the corvid spymaster, staring right into his eyes with an unreadable gaze.

"…Grani?" Karatenmon asked, blinking with surprise. "Uh, hi there. What can I do for you?"

"May I come in? I require a forthright conversation with you," Grani methodically explained.

Karatenmon cocked a fuzzy eyebrow. "Okay… Come in. I disarmed the security traps," he explained.

"You should just have a smaller window installed," Grani informed him, carefully flying through the spacious window.

"But then I wouldn't be able to enjoy the view." He gestured with his taloned hands to the majestic view that he had from the top floor of the castle. He watched Grani float into his office and gave the Zero ARMS a grin. "Plus, then I wouldn't be Grani-accessible."

"You rarely are," Grani dryly muttered. He carefully flew around Karatenmon's desk and floated on the other side of it, putting a physical barrier between them.

"So, Captain Grani," Karatenmon began with his usual playful and irreverent tone. "What seems to be the problem?"

Grani didn't move. His eyes remained statically fixed on Karatenmon, bearing into the raven with his glacial stare. "…Is that a serious inquiry? Or are you feigning obliviousness again?" he asked pointedly.

"…Huh?" Karatenmon asked, still grinning slightly.

Grani's stare sharpened just slightly. "With all due respect, Karatenmon, do you take any matter seriously?"

Karatenmon's smile began to fade as he realised the sincere anger in Grani's voice and disposition. His amiable eyes slowly furrowed with confusion. "…Sorry? What do you mean?"

"What in the Digital World are you thinking?" Grani scolded him, his calm voice becoming increasingly more pointed. "Allowing GrandisKuwagamon of Black Pincer Company to join the Rooks?"

"Oh, I see. That's what you're angry about…" Karatenmon sighed, placing his hands on his desk.

"Yes. That is indeed what I am angry about," Grani confirmed. He gazed at Karatenmon perceptively. "Your face muscles have relaxed, which indicates that you do not take this matter seriously. You deem my complaints as trivial. Have you no consideration at all?"

Karatenmon scratched the feathery scruff behind his head with his talons. "Look, Grani, I understand your misgivings, but it's like I said before: GrandisKuwagamon's an asset. He can access information that we can't get to, and he's a hell of a fighter."

"His skills are not so unique that we cannot find more trustworthy replacements," Grani insisted.

The raven stared across his desk at Grani. "He can get to Bagramon, Black Pincer Company, and the Demon Lords. For all they know, he's still on their side," he contended. Karatenmon managed a smirk. "Besides, I like him."

Grani's sapphire eyes narrowed just that much further. "…You 'like' him?" he questioned with frost lacing his levelled words. "No, Karatenmon; what you 'like' is nothing more than upsetting the status quo for your own amusement. You have always held the rules and established order with irreverence and disdain. You suppose that you can simply tread outside the bounds of what is acceptable because you and your Rooks work outside of the official structure of the Order. It matters not to you the ramifications of your decisions. You simply enjoy being a contrarian."

Karatenmon's smirk disappeared and his avian eyes narrowed contentiously. "…What? Where is this coming from?" he asked, his words becoming stiff and serious.

"Have you considered GrandisKuwagamon's crimes?" Grani calmly questioned. "Did it occur to you that he has attacked us several times with his mercenary team?"

"Yes, I have. Digimon can change," Karatenmon insisted ardently.

The Zero ARMS stared emphatically into Karatenmon's narrowed eyes. "…Four members of the Reconnaissance Forces were killed by Black Pincer Company outside of the Forest of Memories. Under-sergeant JewelBeemon's patrol was deleted. They were my subordinates. Two members of the Castle Guard were also certainly killed by them, and MetallifeKuwagamon was seriously injured. For those reasons, I find myself unable to forgive GrandisKuwagamon."

Karatenmon winced and looked down at the surface of his desk. "…I'm sorry."

"I am to presume that your apology means that you have not changed your mind," Grani calmly spoke.

"…Sorry, but I haven't."

Grani scoffed and finally broke his unblinking gaze. "Despite knowing how I and the Reconnaissance Forces feel about it?" he questioned. "My anger, it seems, was justified. You care not for the feelings or considerations of others."

Karatenmon clenched his teeth a little. "I'm not doing this to offend you!" he spoke up, his easygoing façade breaking for once and giving way to anger. "I'm giving GrandisKuwagamon a second chance. Digimon make mistakes, Grani. We aren't infallible beings who always make the optimal decision. We can't always see the bigger picture. Sometimes we can't even see what's in front of us!"

Grani's glared at him distantly. "I realise that… It may surprise you, but my databanks do enjoy some comprehension of Digimon," he answered with icy sarcasm. "It was my understanding that your argument was that utilizing GrandisKuwagamon was for the bigger picture."

"It is, but I also think that he deserves a chance to make up for his mistakes," Karatenmon insisted. "He's serious about helping us. He's a capable Digimon who wants to atone. Against the Demon Lords, we need every bit of help we can get. I'd have thought that you of all people would be able to see the logical side of it."

"I, of all people, would be able to see the logical side?" Grani challenged, his otherwise calm voice inflecting with offence. "By that, you mean that because I am a Zero ARMS, I am only able to make judgments based on logic and algorithms?"

Karatenmon's eyes tightened. "…That wasn't what I meant, Grani," he maintained. "I just meant that you're usually so objective. You don't usually let your emotions affect your decision making."

"And you are not usually so thoughtless," Grani countered. "Even if you are stubborn and unorthodox, I can usually depend on you to have a better grasp at understanding the emotions of others than I do."

The avian ninja sighed and looked away. "I'm a ninja, Grani, and the spymaster. Sometimes I have to make difficult decisions."

Grani frowned. "Perhaps. And perhaps I am being subjective due to the fact that they were my subordinates who were deleted. I apologise if that is the case, but I am having trouble justifying what you are suggesting…"

Karatenmon smiled a little. It wasn't his usual cheeky, easygoing grin that he often wore. Rather it was wistful and distant. "No… I understand where you're coming from. I'm sorry that I'm upsetting you," he explained, looking back into Grani's eyes. "Maybe you're right. Maybe part of the reason I'm doing this is because I'm so nonconforming."

The crimson Zero ARMS stared at Karatenmon quietly. "Is that so…?"

Karatenmon looked over at the calligraphy scrolls that hung from the wall of his office. They were fixed beside a wooden target board that had several shuriken and kunai embedded within the rings of the target.

"Even as a ninja, even as the Gold Crow of my village – the one in charge of external security - I've always been a bit of a rare bird," he said with an ironic smile. "A nonconformist, a contrarian, a rebel, an oddball, whatever you want to call it. Hououmon-sama said I always marched to the beat of my own drum."

Karatenmon folded his arms and grinned. "My friend Ravemon, the Silver Crow of Yakumo, had much harsher words for it. 'Renegade', 'subversive', 'insubordinate', 'stubborn', 'rebellious', 'turbulent'…" As his ruby eyes glanced out the window to the sky, he was quiet for a few moments. "He's a lot like you, actually. We're as much rivals as we are friends."

"Should I be offended?" Grani wondered.

Karatenmon grinned and turned back to the large Zero ARMS. "No. For all of his inflexible uncompromising and his cold, aloof personality, he was right a lot of the time. He was loyal and he wanted to preserve our traditions, no matter what I thought. We clashed all the time, but I respect him."

"I cannot help but notice that your praise is laced with negatively-associated words," Grani dryly added. The red bird sighed and floated down a little. "I admit, I do not know much about your past… You are from the hidden ninja village of Yakumo, correct?"

"Ninjas and birds, in the Enigmatic Forest. We have an alliance with the nearby insect village of Mushia, but we were all devoted to the same cause…" Karatenmon explained.

Grani frowned curiously. "Cause?"

"Do you know how the Warrior Ten began?" Karatenmon asked him.

"Vaguely. They are gods of ten elements who received their powers from ancient artifacts, are they not?"

The raven ninja nodded and ran his palm across the wooden surface of his desk. "Susanoomon, the god of destruction and regeneration…" he began in a soft but weighty voice. "It was rumoured that he appeared during the Great Sealing, the great catastrophe of the First Cycle, in order to defeat the Dragon of Chaos."

"The Dragon of Chaos had defeated Huanglongmon and sealed him deep beneath the Digital World. It was wreaking havoc in its fight against the Four Holy Beasts. Supposedly Susanoomon intervened in an attempt to defeat the Dragon of Chaos and save the world. Susanoomon was the one who landed the fatal blow on the Dragon of Chaos, but, by then, the powers of chaos running rampant in the world caused his destructive nature to take over. Although he was the hero who destroyed the Dragon of Chaos, he then tried to destroy the chaotic Digital World in order to create a new one. Through the efforts of the Four Holy Beasts and others, Susanoomon was ultimately defeated and his power was broken up into Ten Spirits. These Ten Spirits were cast throughout the Digital World and were lost in dormant obscurity for most of the Second Cycle." Karatenmon smiled and shrugged. "At least, that's the story we were told. Nobody actually knows for sure."

Grani nodded, swiftly processing Karatenmon's information. "Understood. Continue."

As he spoke, Karatenmon idly drew vague shapes on the surface of his desk with his talon. "One of these spirits – the Spirit of Wood – ended up in our forest long ago. One day, our ninja clans were tasked by a Baromon, a caretaker sent by Xuanwumon, to guard the Spirit, along with a prophecy. It became the sacred duty of the ninjas, the birds, and the insects of the forest, passed down from clan to clan, from generation to generation. It has been our duty centuries before I hatched. We were to guard the Spirit of Wood at all costs…" Karatenmon explained weightily.

He gazed down at his desk and slowly closed his taloned fingers. "It was our sole purpose; to protect the village… Outsiders weren't allowed in. And we weren't allowed out." His fists tightened softly. "That's how it came to be known as the Enigmatic Forest. Nobody could actually enter the place without us turning them around. It became a mythical place to outsiders."

Grani gazed at him. "…That is quite the responsibility."

Karatenmon smiled wistfully. "Yes, it was… When I was growing up, I dreamed of seeing the outside world. I daydreamed about the lands beyond the forest. We had been guarding the Spirit for so long that I think we forgot that there was more to our lives than protecting an old artifact. We were the guardians of the forest, but we had become prisoners to it. I wanted our clans to have more in our lives than just protecting an artifact. There was a whole world out there… We were Digimon with dreams. I started to ask questions, but our duty was so ingrained in everybody in the clan that nobody dared question it."

The ninja gazed down thoughfully at his talon as he traced more shapes on his desk. "It was frustrating… but I continued to do my duty as a ninja and I rose to the rank of Gold Crow. When I felt that my position made me respected enough, I tried to convince the clan leaders and Ravemon that we should just abandon the Spirit of Wood… but they wouldn't listen. The only one who shared my curiosity was my young student, Shurimon. His sheer wonder and inquisitiveness about the outside world was what made me determined to do something about it."

Grani stared up at Karatenmon quietly, methodically studying the bird's face.

Karatenmon grinned and rubbed his black cheek with a talon. "I know that look. I'm sure you think I was being selfish. I know how important duty is to you, after all, Grani."

"…Perhaps a little," Grani admitted. "However, I know you well enough to know how stifled you would be in that environment."

"That's very reasonable of you, considering how you were chewing me out minutes ago," Karatenmon teased him. "You should wait until I tell you about how I did something drastic."

"Again, unsurprising," Grani deadpanned, prompting a brief smirk from the crow man. He floated upwards just a little, his emotions from before having calmed to his usual even cadence. "…Inquiry: What did you do?"

Karatenmon unclenched his talons and looked down at his open palm. "I took matters into my own hands… I snuck into the temple where the Spirit of Wood was held and tried to steal it. I thought that with the Spirit gone, there would be no reason for us to stay in isolation. I tried to take it away, but… I underestimated its power. The Spirits have defence mechanisms to protect themselves. The Spirit of Wood's was defence mechanism to take over the body the threat and control its mind. Vines and weeds grew on me, spores clouded my mind, and I could feel its power running through me. I thought I was in control, but in reality, I became controlled by it. It made me stronger. It made me into its guardian."

Grani frowned at the dramatic account of events. "A parasitic relationship… What happened?"

"Luckily for me, about three months after I disappeared within the temple, a group of outsiders apparently managed to slip past our illusory defences: a KaiserGreymon, a Beowolfmon, a Wisemon, a PileVolcamon, and an AtlurKabuterimon."

"The first half of the Warrior Ten," Grani noted, remembering some of the group's tale.

Karatenmon nodded. "They were apparently on a quest to gather all of the ten Spirits. I don't know exactly what happened, but they managed to band everyone together and restrain me once I broke out of the temple in a mind-controlled rampage."

Grani nodded softly. "They were able to break the connection between you and the Spirit. What happened to you after?"

"Oh, I turned into a tree for a few years," Karatenmon explained with a nonchalant grin.

Grani stared at him and blinked.

Karatenmon shrugged sheepishly. "Backlash of power from the Spirit of Wood," he explained. "After the connection was severed, the excess power from the Spirit turned me into a tree. It's not as weird as it sounds."

"…I see," Grani calmly replied. "That sounds dreadful. I cannot imagine you being rooted in place for so long."

Karatenmon smiled a little. "The ultimate punishment for my crimes… After being so desperate to leave, I was to remain in the forest for all eternity."

"You could have left on your own if you wanted to. What you did was for your whole clan, even if the way you went about it was impetuous and disobedient," Grani conceded. "…What happened next? Obviously, you are no longer arboreal."

Karatenmon chuckled. "The Warrior Ten were the ones who Baromon prophesised would take the Spirit from us, so they took the Spirit and freed us from our stewardship. After that, Shurimon went with KaiserGreymon and the others to help with their search for the Spirits. He went in order to see the outside world, due to the fact that I couldn't." Karatenmon smiled fondly. "Eventually, my cute, little student became AncientTroiamon of the Warrior Ten. He never gave up on me, and he eventually found a way to cure me. The rest is more or less history."

"Have you ever gone back there?"

The raven man shook his head. "Not really. They had to punish me for my oath-breaking deeds, so they punished me by exile, but everybody knew that I wanted to travel the world anyways, so it worked out for everybody. I miss my friends and students, especially Ravemon. I do run into them sometimes, now that they're free to leave the forest."

"I see… It seems that my assessment of you as a troublemaker is correct," Grani peacefully teased.

Karatenmon gave him a wink. "I have my moments."

"…Thank you for divulging that personal information to me. However, what was the purpose of that story?" Grani wondered.

The spymaster looked out the window. "To show you why I feel the way I do…" he explained. "Digimon make mistakes in the moment. Some of us make big mistakes… Thanks to Shurimon, I was given a second chance to make up for the mess I made. I believe that most should be allowed a chance to change. At the very least, we deserve a chance to make our own decisions."

Karatenmon smiled as the sun poured across the black feathers of his face. "I can understand GrandisKuwagamon - the feeling of being trapped on a path that we can't control. I don't know his exact circumstances, but I can understand how it feels to be helpless. I can understand the desperation to take control of one's destiny, for better or for worse."

After a few moments of quiet thought, Grani floated up beside Karatenmon and stared out the window. "Acknowledged… I suppose that it is not a feeling that I can easily understand," he explained. "Ever since my creation, I have always known my purpose. My purpose is to help Dukemon. I have never once questioned my function, and I never intend to. I have always felt secure in my existence."

Karatenmon grinned down at the large dragon-bird who floated beside him. "I know."

"…If you wish to give GrandisKuwagamon a second chance, I will not contest it," Grani told him. "I cannot forget that he killed four of my subordinates, but I can work with him in a professional manner befitting of a Captain."

The raven man looked down at his fellow captain with an appreciative smile. "…Thank you, Grani."

"…Addendum: I apologise for my rudeness earlier. It was unprofessional of me to allow my subjectivity to get the better of me."

Karatenmon chuckled a little. "No, you had every right," he insisted. "…Actually, I'm glad. It was nice to see you so forthright with your emotions. It's rare to see that side of you."

"I try to maintain a composed and rational demeanour at all times."

The ebony bird man placed his hand on Grani's wing. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, it shows how far you've come from when we first met. You used to be so stoic and dispassionate."

Grani stared at him blankly.

"Well, it's true. It was like talking to a block of stone," Karatenmon pointed out playfully. "I wasted some of my best jokes on you."

"They were mediocre jokes."

"Admit it, 'Zero Charms: Grani' was pretty funny."

"It was not."

Despite his wit, Grani frowned and pivoted slightly, being careful of Karatenmon's nearby desk. He looked up at Karatenmon with concern.

"Have I really changed perceptibly?" he asked. "If I begin to make decisions based on an emotional catalyst, it will get in the way of my duty."

"Logical, level-headed Grani?" Karatenmon asked, grinning at him. "I don't think you have to worry about that. It's just a slight change. Being able to understand people on an emotional level is a good thing; it's not a hindrance. Seeing how good of a friend you are to Dukemon is evidence of that."

"Hmm…" Grani considered. "I suppose you are not incorrect. Part of serving Dukemon involves understanding his emotional needs. He is an emotional Digimon, after all." He glanced at Karatenmon. "As are you, underneath."

Karatenmon rubbed the back of his neck. "Maybe a little," he answered. He smiled and turned towards the window. "Anyways… Am I off the hook now, Grani?"

"…Yes. For now," Grani enigmatically stated. The Zero ARMS floated out of the window and hovered just outside.

As he did, they could hear the sounds of blades clashing loudly. Grani turned around and Karatenmon looked past his large, red body. They could see Dukemon and Omegamon clashing in the air above the training grounds, drawing sword against lance. The two caped knights moved at high speeds, like they were jousting in the sky. The sheer power of their blades impacting one another caused shockwave blasts to flatten the grass below.

"Speaking of which…" Grani spoke with a sigh.

"They're starting to draw a crowd," Karatenmon noted, leaning against the stone window sill and watching as a small crowd of guards and castle staff began to gather in the stone courtyard to watch the epic clash.

"Dukemon has that effect," the Zero ARMS dryly murmured. He pivoted his body so that he could look back at Karatenmon. "I must return to my work, Karatenmon. Thank you for listening to my grievances, even if you are a stubborn raven."

Karatenmon grinned at him. "It was my pleasure, Grani."

The ninja watched as Grani turned forwards and began diving down towards the road below. When crimson Zero ARMS disappeared around the corner of the tower, Karatenmon's gaze turned out to the distant vista of grassy plains and hills. He focused in on a distant forest, watching as the wind blew through the verdant canopies of the trees.

He daydreamed, just for a few moments. Then, with his usual smile, Karatenmon turned around, sat down at his desk, and returned to his duties as spymaster.